INTRODUCTION t the age of 83, Grant MacEwan, former mayor of the city of Calgary and lieutenant-governor of the province of Alberta, Can- ada, travelled from that city to Limerick in 1985 for the specific purpose of gathering information about the Nolan family, formerly of Barrington Street. He was particularly interested in Patrick James (Paddy) Nolan, KC., who emigrated from ~imerickto Calgary in 1889. MacEwan has been described as 'a distinguished agriculturalist, historian, public servant, author and lecturer'. He has been the recipient of five honorary degrees, is a Member of the Order of Canada, and is considered to be 'western Canada's foremost historical writer'. Patrick J. (Paddy)Nolan, K.G., There could hardly be any greater tribute to Paddy Nolan than this journey of a of Calgay, Alberta, Canada man of Grant MacEwan's age and (1862-1913). Thomas Costello (1836-1914), of stature, 72 years after Nolan's death, in Trineragh, Duagh, Co. Kery, first quest of information for his book"' on the article. In that article, he misleadingly life and times of this frontier lawyer. states that the 'O'Nolans ... were Wexford cousin of Patrick J. (Paddy)Nolan. In the Summer, 1986, issue of the Old and Carlow County people'. He may Limerick Journal,(2' MacEwan briefly have consulted one of the standard Office in Dublin in the High Court case described his visit to Limerick and works on Irish surnames, such as that of of Waldron v. Dee,'5' which concerned the sought further information from readers. Dr. Edward MacLysaght, which says that estate of one Julia Nolan of William While it appears that all Alberta knows 'in early times', the Nolan family held Street, Listowel. Julia, a first cousin of the of Paddy Nolan, Irish readers may need 'hereditary office under the Kings of Canadian lawyer, died intestate in 1922. some introduction to this illustrious son Leinster', and that 'the chief of the sept She was survived by eight of her 23 first of Limerick, a century after his departure was known as Prince of Foherta, i.e. the cousins on the Nolan side and by nine from his native shores. To quote from the barony of Forth& the present county of more first cousins on her mother's side. preface to MacEwan's book: Carlow where the name was and still is These surviving first cousins, including very n~rnerous'.'~'MacLysaght goes on to the plaintiff, Mrs. Margaret Mary (Polly) The life story of the young Irishman, remark that 'there was also a sept of the Waldron, nke Nolan, and the defendant, Patrick James Nolan, who came to the name [Nolan] of Corca Laoidhe which is John Dee, were left as next-of-kin to Northwest Territories in 1889, caught the now well represented in Co. Kerry'. In squabble over her estate. spirit of the frontier, and became a legend, fact, Paddy Nolan's father had moved to The Waldron v. Dee case is reminiscent deserved well to be written - and sooner. Limerick from his birthplace at Green- of the famous Dickensian case of Jarndyce The reasons should be clear: in addition to ville, in the townland of Gortcurreen, just v. Jarndyce, detailed in Bleak House, in the becoming one of the most successful outside Listowel, Co. Kerry. long drawn out nature of the proceed- criminal defense lawyers in Canada, he Unfortunately, MacEwan's task in ings, but suffice it to say that hearings was recognized as one of the two best preparing a biography of Paddy Nolan were still going on as late as 27 February, orators in the West and also as a wit and was made more difficult by the fact that 1947, in a case in which the originating humorist unsurpassed. Nolan had 'left no diaries or personal summons was issued on 19 March, 1924. documents. ... incinerated iust about The final order, made on the former date, This article is an attempt to describe the everything ..'. (and) never appieciated the -2ected of the funds remaining family background of this notable importance of leaving something in court to the solicitors on account of Limerick emigrant, to fil in some of the behind.''4' In particular, Grant MacEwan their costs. There was not enough left to gaps in Grant MacEwah's book, and to must now regret that he did not have pay the lawyers in full, and there was correct some inaccuracies in his 1986 access to the papers in the Public Record nothing at all left for the next-of-kin! The papers in the case first passenger train. W.N.'s included pedigree affidavits son, John Alberta Costello, sworn by plaintiff and de- (born 17 November, 1883), fendant. The plaintiff's affidavit was the first white baby born outlines the Nolan family tree, in Calgary."2'W.N. later tried but errs in ignoring certain his luck further afield, and on deceased members of the family. 9 March, 1904, was secretary Nevertheless, it was invaluable of the Washington and for the preparation of this article. International Mining Comp- any, incorporated under the laws of the state of Washipg- THE NOLAN ton, with a capital stodkof $l,000,0000."3' As he is not mentioned in the pedigree affidavit, it would appear that The story of the Nolan family W.N. Costello predeceased must then begin, for want of Julia Nolan. earlier records, with the (C) John William Costello, reput- grandparents of Paddy Nolan of ed to have been a hedge Calgary. Griffith's Valuation schoolmaster before he left shows William Nolan (the elder) Ireland, was the first school occupying a tiny holding of 3 teacher in Calgary."*) He had a acres, 1 rood and 25 perches in class of seventeen children Gortcurreen, rented from the and was paid $50 a month Earl Of Listowel. The earlier until the money ran out. Then Perambulation Books in the he became inspector of Valuation Office In Dublin break weights and measures. His this down into 2 acres, 1 rood daughter, Elizabeth Lillian and 10 perches of 'good clayey, (Lillie) Costello (born 15 but cold arable' land; also 3 December, 1883) was the first roods of 'moory arable' land; an white girl born in Calgary. His '~ffice''~'occupying 6 perches; son, Dr. Michael Copps the 'waste of 1/2 road', taking Costello, was 'mayor of up 34 perches; a garden of 9 Calgary from 1915 to 1918, a perches and a house and further Margaret May (Polly) Waldron (nke Nolan). period during which Prohib- 'offices' on another 6 perches. ition was a live issue, which The total Poor Law Valuation he is said to have handled came to £2.65. The Nolan homestead lay O'Connor (born circa 1843, died 1939) with dipl~macy."~'Lillie was one of on the northern bank of the old course of and had no less than 13 children, the few members of the family who the River Feale, just west of Listowel. although some of these died in ever travelled from Calgary to visit Much of the nearby land is marked infancy. Notable among this family their Irish relatives. On 7 August, 'liable to floods', and the river itself has was James (Jimin) Costello (died 1910, she signed a form requesting the changed to a more southerly course on 19721, who took a prominent part postmaster in Limerick to redirect her more recent maps. It is difficult to follow locally in the War of Independence mail to the General Post Office, the various changes in area and (1919-21) as company captain of the Listowel, where she intended to ownership over the years, but, although Duagh company of the Kerry No. 1 remain until 15 August, with her the Nolans gradually accumulated a little Brigade of the Old I.R.A.'9'This was in travelling companion, Florence Lee, a more land in Gortcurreen and the marked contrast to the military sister-in-law of Paddy Nolan. Unlike adjoining townlands, the holding never exploits of at least three of his ~olan his brother, John Costello seems to exceeded a dozen acres. There is no second cousins, who all served in the have remained in Calgary, or at least promise in these early details of the British Army. In the Civil War (1922- he was there when his uncle, William success that later generations of Nolans 3), Jimin was prominent on the anti- Nolan (the younger), died in 1905.'"'' were to enjoy in such far-flung places as Treaty side. In July, 1922, he went with As he, too, is not mentioned in the Calgary, Limerick and Burma. a flying column to Co. Tipperary, pedigree affidavit, it is presumed that William Nolan (the elder) married where he was eventually captured he also predeceased Julia Nolan. Johanna Buckley in the early years of the between Kiworrery and Mitchel- l Johanna Costello (christened 27 May, nineteenth century, and appears from the stown. He was imprisoned at Port 1849) married Timothy Dillon (died Valuation Office records to have lived Laoise and the Curragh until 22 ante 21 May, 1922) of Knockaneoun, until about 1860. As the tenancy December, 1923.'1°' Three of Jimin's Listowel and Duagh, Co. Kerry and immediately passed to his son, Patrick, brothers were priests in the United left issue, three sons and three his wife most likely predeceased him. States. The Trieneragh farm, into daughters. The pedigree affidavit William and Johanna had six which Kit Nolan married around declares that she survived Julia ~hildren'~': 1835, is now occupied by Jimin's Nolan. daughter, Mrs. Mary Stack, and her (1) Catherine (Kit) Nolan son, Paul.