James Francis Leahy of Tipperary and Leamington Spa

James Francis Leahy - Brother Kenelm (painting by K Leahy)

Brother Kenelm was but a small part of the life of Jim Leahy yet it was one he chose to make account of, and for that reason I have documented it in his honour. (Anthony James Leahy Jan 2012)

James Francis Leahy was born in Tipperary Eire in 1926 the first born of Patrick and Margaret Leahy. He entered into the Novitiate in Cork from 1944 to 1945, where he was known as Brother Kenelm.

A certificate exists stating that he entered the Brothers of Charity of his own free will.

Following profession in 1945 he took the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

He was based at Lota from 1946 to 1947, and he was at Belmont Park, Waterford and from 1947 to 1948. Then at Lota Lodge which was an annex of Lota.

The gates of the monastery at Lota The Chapel at Lota

It was likely that he was engaged in a care teaching capacity both in Lota and Lota Lodge and probably went to Waterford to study Psychiatric Nursing.

He may not have completed the course, however, when he made an application to Pope Pius X11 for dispensation to be released from his vows when his mother died aged thirty nine. James was the older of fourteen, and aged twenty two, felt a need and responsibility to support his family.

He was a Brothers of Charity who were operating a psychiatric hospital in Belmont Park, Waterford, when Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lota was founded in 1938 as a school catering for children with learning disabilities at the monastery at Lota in Glanmire.

The first patients being in residence at Lota the following year.

The gates of the monastery at Lota The Chapel at Lota

The motto of the Brothers of Charity is ‘Deus caritas est’, God is Love.

Their mission is ‘caring for people whose human dignity is threatened through disability, age, poverty etc’. James Francis Leahy moved to Warwick in England and worked as a nurse for a short time at Hatton near Warwick following on in from his vocation for people with need of Psychiatric care.

He met Yvonne Malin who was also employed at Hatton and they later married at Hampton On the hill. They moved to Leamington where they had four children; Margaret, Christopher, Anthony and Walter. They also had seven Grandkids, Maria, Tobias, Sonia, Christopher, Amber, Kelly and Adam.

James known as Jim was employed as a foreman at Leamington Spa Plating in the electro plating industry for the majority of his working life.

Left - Patrick, Yvonne, Jim and Brendon Leahy - Centre Patrick, Jim and Margaret Leahy - Right Jim and Yvonne Leahy

In James Francis Leahy's (Jim) Own Words

My name is James Francis Leahy, I was born on 24^th August 1926 in a small little town in Ireland called Tipperary. As a young boy I roamed the hills, went to the woods, picked the hurts and sold them on my way home to get enough money for a trip to the seaside at Tramore.

I was educated at the Christian Brothers School on the hills of Tipperary. After passing my primary leaving certificate I worked at Kelly & Company with my father for about a year and a half. During that period I felt a calling to the religious life. I wrote to the Brothers of Charity who were in County Cork. I had an interview with the Novice Master Father Emanuel. The end result was that I was accepted.

I left home February 3^rd 1944 and joined the Brothers of Charity as a postulate. Following a six months trial period of prayer and abstinence I was accepted into the initiate, where I received a religious habit in the presence of my mother and father. I entered an enclosed order taking the religious life very seriously. After only a year as a novice I was accepted into, the Brotherhood the Brothers of Charity.

On the 15^th August 1945 I took the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for a period of three years. Life was very happy for me then, in prayer to a closed life. Following my act of profession I was sent to Waterford where the brothers educated mentally deficient children. In the capacity of a male nurse. I lived and worked there for twelve months. At the end of that period I was sent to the Brother of charity’s institution for the mentally afflicted at Belmont Park Waterford. It was during that period that my mother who was then thirty nine died. This was a tragedy that I could not face. The great loss of someone I loved so dearly left me very distressed. The end result being that the vocation I cherished, I began to lose.

Eventually I wrote to Pope Pius 12^th for dispensation from my vows which through the his Secretary of State Cardinal, was refused in 1947. After a period of six months I again wrote to his holiness for dispensation from of my vows as I felt I couldn’t carry on.

In August 1948 I received word from Rome that I could leave the order which I duly did with much sorrow.

The above is a transcription by Anthony James Leahy from a barely audible audio cassette tape account by James Francis Leahy.

Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely

Tiobrad Arann

Greeted by the breeze

as it fiercely kissed my cheek

I could feel Tiobrad Arann

as it flowed through my veins;

clouds holding back the tears,

offering a much needed

refreshment for life.

Standing on the cup and saucer

breathing in the green

and tasting all it had to offer,

I drank from its well.

Ara had satisfied my need;

whilst cleansing my heart

it gave clarity to my soul,

anointing the continuance

of my journey to Lota.

Lota photographs taken and Tiobrad Araan written by Anthony Leahy in June 2001 (the day of the Killer Whale visit)

Left Patrick Leahy, Margaret Leahy, Maire Leahy, James Francis Leahy (Standing centre) Edmond? Leahy - Right RIP Patrick and Margaret Leahy

Thanks to Brendon Leahy for his hospitality in 2001 and for the above image (Left)

A Single Branch From An Ever Growing Tree

Patrick Leahy - Margaret Leahy (Murphy)

James Francis Leahy - Yvonne Dorothy Leahy (Malin)

Margaret Leahy - Christopher Leahy - Anthony Leahy - Walter Leahy

Maria Leahy - Sonia Leahy Christopher Leahy - Tobias Leahy Amber Leahy - Kelly Leahy Adam Leahy

(Maria) Keshia, Jordon, Amie, Jack - (Sonia) Laura - (Chris) Connor, Max - (Tobias) Luna - (Kelly) Shannon, Luke, Matthew - (Adam) Thomas

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