People on board

McGLYNN, Edward

Edward McGlynn (sometimes McGlinn) was born on the 5th of February 1894 in Glashaghmore, Co Donegal to James McGlynn and Mary Molloy. He was the second or third of their six children, four of whom were alive in 1911. When James McGlynn married he gave his occupation as Farmer but by the time of Edward’s birth he was a Stone Mason. The first five children were all born in Co Donegal but in the 1901 census the family was in Aylwardstown in south County Kilkenny where James was employed as a Stone Mason.

By 1905 they were living in Irish Street in Armagh city where a final son was born. James’s occupation was then a Mason but in the 1911 census he was simply a Labourer. At that time the family were living outside Armagh in Cargagh while Edward, then aged seventeen, was working as an Agricultural Labourer in nearby Drumconwell.

It would appear that Edward enlisted in Armagh in 1914 in the Royal Irish Fusiliers as a Private, later being promoted to Lance Corporal and in 1918 was with the 1st Battalion. He would have fought in France and he qualified for the British War Medal and Victory medal. A newspaper report of October 1918 said that he was attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps. On the 2nd of October he married Mary Ann McCoy in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh.

Just days later Edward McGlynn was presumably returning to his post after his marriage when he travelled on RMS Leinster on the 10th of October 1918. He did not survive the sinking but his body was recovered and brought to Armagh by motor hearse. He was buried in Sandy Hill burial ground, the cemetery for the Cathedral. The Armagh Gazette reported that the funeral was very large, the coffin was draped with the Union Jack and was accompanied by a firing party from the Military Barracks. The “most profound sympathy” was offered to his young widow.