Eugene O'Driscoll
25^th June 1884 to 24^th June 1919

Eugene O'Driscoll, "Owen", son of Daniel Driscoll from Dunmanway Ireland, and my grandfather, was born on 25^th June 1884 in Collingwood.  He died one day before his 35^th birthday, on 24^th June 1919 in St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy.   He was buried on 26^th June 1919 in the Melbourne Cemetery.

He was employed by the infamous John Wren in one of his betting shops in Collingwood.   He worked as a bouncer.   Whilst not a big man he was believed to be very handy with his fists.   He also worked at Mac Robertson's chocolate factory in Fitzroy.

Richard Driscoll & Margaret Flynn
Wedding Photo early 1920's
(photo supplied by Tricia Filter)

Grandparents of Tricia Filter, Richard Driscoll (seated) and Margaret Flynn (Molly).   Standing to the left is Richard's brother, and on the far right is Margaret's brother Sylvester Flynn.   Richard was a soldier in the 1^st World War, a stretcher bearer.   Following their marriage, they lived in Burwood, and later in Ryde, in NSW. During the great depression, he would walk from Burwood to the city to look for work. Family history suggests that he was a direct descendant of Daniel or Dennis Driscoll, convicts sent to Australia in 1815 & 1791 respectively.

Funeral of John John O'Driscoll June 2002
(courtesy of Irish Examiner 25/06/02)

The man, known as the `King of the Travellers', recently bade farewell to this world and, in a unique and solemn ceremony of great pomp and splendour, entered his new kingdom in the heavens.   When John John O'Driscoll of Kilbeg, Bandon went to his final resting place he was carried out in a style that befitted a royal monarch.   The busy town of Bandon, gateway to the West, shut down as the funeral procession paraded in solemn glory through the streets.   The King was resting in an ornate, embossed, silver casket, within a glass panelled, Victorian funeral hearse.   The carriage was pulled by two perfectly groomed, black Gelderlander stallions, in nickel mounted harness, each bearing, a black ostrich plume, symbol of mourning on its head.  Accompanying the hearse, in silent march were two grooms in full mourning livery, and driving the funeral coach was a coachman and assistant, both in frock coats (coachman's aprons), and top hats.  Ahead of these was a lone piper, playing a haunting lament, the strains of the music ringing out in the silence that fell on the town.   Beneath that silence was a quiet sombreness, broken only by the piper's music, and the constant clip clop of the horses' hooves.   The horse drawn hearse was an exact replica of that which pulled the remains of famous Irish hero, Michael Collins, through the streets of Corm, before leaving for Dublin.