The story of last man hanged in Mayo

by Auld Stock

EDWARD Walsh, better known as Ned, was the last man to be hanged in Castlebar.

Ned, aged 35, was accused of murdering his wife Mary in 1873.

A prominent businessman, Ned had a public house in Main Street, Castlebar.

He married a local girl, Mary Kilboyne, only daughter of Mrs. Mary Kilboyne, Richard Street.

The premises owned by Ned Walsh was later occupied by K.M. Kelly. The entire story surrounding the trial of Ned Walsh was published in The Connaught Telegraph in 1953.

The story was written by John P. Waters, Newtown, Castlebar.

John P. had been a reporter in The Connaught Telegraph before joining the clerical staff of Mayo County Council as stenographer or note taker.

On his retirement, John P. wrote a series of articles under the title ‘Peeps Into the Past’.

I vividly remember typesetting his stories on the linotype machine, a wonderful piece of equipment, long since replaced by computers.

I served my time under the watchful eye of Jack Farnan, Newtown, Castlebar, a native of Omagh, County Tyrone, a wonderful craftsman.

Constable Thomas O’Rourke, Royal Irish Constabulary, Castlebar, was the chief witness for the state.

Medical evidence was given by Dr. Knott, chief surgeon, Mayo County Infirmary, The Green, and Dr. Charles J. Walsh, Castlebar.

Mrs. Mary Kilboyne, mother, said she had formally identified the body of her daughter.

Evidence was given by several other witnesses, including Jane McKeon, aged 11 years, sister of James McKeon, who was a porter at the County Infirmary.

After a hearing lasting several days, Edward Walsh was found guily of the murder of his wife Mary and was sentenced to death by hanging.

The hangman was a man named William Marwood who was born in 1818 in a village in England called Goulceby. Like his father, he was originally a cobbler.