Power, Edmond (d. 1799)

The Power family are said to have lived at Ballygagin to the west of Dungarvan, where Edmond's father held a large amount of land. Edmond's father may have been John Power. John Power of Ballygagin is named as one of the executors in the will of Pierce Britt of Ballynalahessary in 1784. His father was said to have been comfortably well off. This John Power made his will on 15 August 1787. In it he directs that he be buried in the family burial place at Kilgobnet, he refers to his wife Mary Walsh and his children. Edmond had a brother John and two sisters, one of whom is said to have married an O'Keefe of Mountain Castle near Modeligo. He became involved with the local branch of the United Irishmen. Power and a companion, Francis Hearn, were arrested by the authorities. According to Canon Power, Edmond was betrayed by Michael McGrath from Ballynamuck. Another account written by Mary Ellen Barron (whose grandmother, Mary Power, was a great - grand niece of Edmond Power) in the 1950's states that the informer was Seamus A. Gabhann, (James Duggan) the Blacksmith. Edmond was arrested in September 1799 and taken to Waterford where he was courtmartialled in October of that year and sentenced to be hanged. A monument in the form of a celtic cross by Molloy of Callen was erected to his memory in the Park. (This is the only 1798 memorial in Co. Waterford). It was officially unveiled by Richard Henebry in 1903, six years after it was first planned. Henebry gave a speech in which he stated that Power was hanged from a window of the Old Market House. Power's body is said to have been removed to Kilgobnet for burial.
 

Author: William Fraher