Owen "Eugene" O'Connor
Owen O'Connor was born 27th April 1890 at Batterfield,
a farm between the towns of Killarney and Tralee in County Kerry.
He entered the Civil Service, became a Customs and Excise officer,
and worked in counties Cork, Sligo and Dublin. He married Nora Wiseman from
Cork and they had 9 children. The home was a happy one in the
small seaside town of Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Owen loved good
company, poetry, well-written books, growing vegetables and had
a rich spiritual life. Though he lived most of his life in urban
areas he was deeply influenced by his country childhood as
is shown in these stories, of which four were published in the
1930's in the Capuchin Annual which had a very high literary standard.
Owen died 9th August 1976.
The Writings of Owen O'Connor
Some Personal Memories from Brian - one of Owen's sons
Owen and Nora's wedding photo
Owen was born April 1890.
His father died when he was very young, so the parental influence which
helped form his personality and character was provided solely by his
mother, Kate O'Sullivan. She seems to have been a powerful influence.
She was a direct descendant of the poet Eoghan Rua O'Suilleabhan.
She loved poetry and indeed all learning. Eugene inherited and practiced
these gifts to the full. He loved language, written or spoken. Some of what
he wrote is included on this website. His spoken words only exist in memory.
He was wonderfully questioning, tolerant and I realise now, deeply spiritual.
When in the mood, he quickly dispensed with chat and moved into discussing
what he called "the immensities".
Owen at his home, Meentogues
His major forum was I suppose the household of the novelist Maurice Walsh,
where he and friends, many of a literary frame of mind, would gather and
converse, often into the early hours. Inspiration was assisted by glasses
of uisce beatha, dispensed from a jug.
But he also loved conversation in our home, often with just the family.
Probably my happiest earliest childhood memories were of being with
him when he was gardening and I bombarded him with all kinds of
questions, to which he responded with endless patience.
Space does not permit me to write of my mother, Nora, but if it did it
would be with deep love and affection that I would do so. Eugene
and Nora created a family of nine of us. We have remained a united
family. That in itself is a wonderful tribute to them both.
Brian O'Connor
June 2005
