Alice Mansfield (1906-1985) - Find a Grave Memorial

Alice Mansfield

Birth

21 Jan 1906

Irishtown, County Dublin, Ireland

Death

25 Dec 1985 (aged 79)

Sandymount, County Dublin, Ireland

Burial

Holmpatrick Cemetery

Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland Add to Map

Memorial ID

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Ainm Gaeilge
Ailíse de Móinbhíol

Alice was the 1st born & only daughter of the 10 children of John Joseph & Elizabeth (née McGowan) Mansfield of Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

She was like a 2nd mother to her 9 younger brothers. The family spent the summers living in Skerries & even many decades later, now elderly relatives would recall 'Alice & the Boys' making the rounds to visit. The few non-relations living in Skerries called them 'Alice & the Mansfield Boys'.

Living in a fiercely Republican family, it was Alice, as much as anyone, who instilled the pride & family history of Irish Nationalism in her younger brothers.
Among the many stories, songs & poems she taught them was -

Let me Carry Your Cross for Ireland, Lord
by Thomas Ashe, 1917, Lewes Gaol, England

Let me Carry your Cross for Ireland, Lord The hour of her trial draws near,
And the pangs and the pains of the sacrifice
May be borne by comrades dear.
But, Lord, take me from the offering throng,
There are many far less prepared,
Through anxious and all as they are to die
That Ireland may be spared.

Let me carry your Cross for Ireland, Lord My cares in this world are few.
And few are the tears will for me fall
When I go on my way to You.
Spare. Oh! Spare to their loved ones dear
The brother and son and sire.
That the cause we love may never die
In the land of our Heart's desire!

Let me carry your Cross for Ireland, Lord! Let me suffer the pain and shame
I bow my head to their rage and hate,
And I take on myself the blame.
Let them do with my body whate'er they will,
My spirit I offer to You.
That the faithful few who heard her call
May be spared to Róisín Dubh.

Alice was an avid golfer and yatchswoman, winning a number of the Regattas of the Skerries Sailing Club. She enjoyed singing and dancing Irish.

From the outset of it's founding by Eamon de Valera in the 1920's, Alice was active in Fianna Fáil and remained heavily involved with the party throughout her life.

She was lifelong friends with her childhood sweetheart, Joe Shiels of Skerries.

In failing health and very near her end, she said "The boys were no trouble", spoken more like a 2nd mother than a sister.

✞ Alice Mansfield is buried in the family plot at Holmpatrick Graveyard in Skerries. Buried with her are her parents, John & Elizabeth, 2 of her 9 brothers Seán & Cathal & her grandparents Capt. Thomas & Mary Anne Mansfield. Buried next to her are 3 of her brothers Liam, Rory & Foncie and sister in-law Maureen.

Over Alice's grave is the Mansfield Family Memorial Stone erected in 1988 by her brother Liam. Along with her ancestors remembered and honorered on it are her brothers Michael & Tom, both buried in New York, USA. Yet to be added to this stone are the names of Alice's brothers Morgan O. P. (buried in New York, USA) & James de V. (buried in Co. Wicklow).

Inscription

I N Dhíl Chuimhne Ar
✝
IN MEMORIAM
MANSFIELD ( DE MOINBHIOL )

[ ALSO McGOWAN, GOWAN, KiNG, BRITT,
DERHAM, MORGAN, REDDIN, GRIMLEY ]

• John Joseph Mansfield Former Vol. Officer 3rd Batt.
Dublin Brig. Old I.R.A. 21-2-1880. 25-5-1932
• His Wife (married 3-6-1905)
Elizabeth née McGowan 31-7-1882 25-2-1980

THEIR CHILDREN
• Cathal Joseph 19-9-1922 8-2-1929
• John Joseph ( Seán ) 6-3-1914 21-2-1933
• Thomas F. 12-2-1908 29-3-1933 (In New Jersey, U.S.A.)
• Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael S.J. 23-1-1910 24-4-1982 (In New Jersey, U.S.A.)
• Alice (Only Daughter) 21-1-1906 25-12-1985

ALSO IN MEMORY OF THEIR FORBEARS

• Capt Thomas Mansfield Master Mariner 7-2-1841 16-2-15
His wife (married 8-6-1874 )
• Mary Anne née King 8-5-1838 18-6-1920
• Their Son James 4-4-1876 194? (In New York, U.S.A.)

• Capt. . James Mansfield Master Mariner 5-8-1800
His Wife (Married 22-9-1833)
• Anne née Derham Died 4-12-1879 age 73

• Thomas Mansfield Born 18-12-1758
• His Wife (Married 18-11-1793) Judith née Grimley
• His Parents Michael and Jenny Mansfield

• Capt John King Master Mariner 30-7-1792 22-3-1880
• His Wife Alice (née Browne) Born 25-11-1795
Daughter of Thomas and Mary Browne
• Thomas King Born 12-10-1821 (Died Abroad)
• His Brothers Peter (Born 11-6-1824) and John (Born 2-10-1828)
Both Former Officers od the Confederate Army in American Civil War (-861-1865) Who Died in the U.S.A.
• Also their Brother Patrick (Born 20-3-1832)
• And Sister Margaret (Born 20-7-1834)

• Capt. Michael McGowan (Gowan) Master Mariner 16-6-1856 Who Died 9-1943 in Brooklyn, U.S.A.
• His First Wife Alice (née Britt) Who Died in Dublin 3-2-1908 Aged 49
• Daughter of Thomas Britt And Mary Anne (née Reddin)
• And His Second Wife Ellen née Duff Who Died in the U.S.A.

• Capt John McGowan (Gowan) Master Mariner Born 17-8-1826 (Son of Michael and Anne McGowan)
Lost At Sea Off Angelesy on 7-10-1878
With His Ship the Brigantine "REAPER" 353 Tons And All His Crew
• His Wife (Married 24-4-1850) Mary née Morgan 23-6-1827. 5-5-1916

R. I. P.

Gravesite Details

The Mansfield Family Memorial was erected by Liam Mansfield in 1988. Two brothers are not yet added to it: Dr. Morgan O. P. (New York, USA) & Dr. James de V. (Wicklow)