Cornelius LYHANE – grave tales

Obituary.

DEATH OF DR. LYHANE.

The Irishmen— indeed the public generally — of Western Australia, will learn with profound regret of the death of Dr. Cornelius Lyhane, one of. the youngest, the most earnest, and the most talented of Ireland’s sons in all Australia.

Cornelius Lyhane

The late Dr Lyhane had made a name for himself in Kalgoorlie as a legal practitioner, a platform speaker, and a friend of Ireland. Young, vigorous, talented, and with the warm impulsive nature of his race, the Irishmen of this State had hopes for great achievements from the deceased gentleman. The doctor had lain for the past few weeks, suffering from Broncho Pneumonia, in Nurse Shapcott’s private hospital in Kalgoorlie. Every effort was made to restore him to health. Despite the assiduous care that was bestowed. upon his case, the patient gradually sank and died at 9 o’clock on Friday, August 25 1905.
The deceased gentleman was a native of County Cork, Ireland, where he was very well connected. He had a first class school career, and he afterwards studied at Dublin University, where he had a brilliant course.  Subsequently he went to London, where he qualified at the Middle Temple for admission to the English Bar. He was duly called, and after the lapse of a year or two he emigrated to Western Australia.

Cornelius Lyhane – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – photo Danelle Warnock

Dr. Lyhane arrived in Kalgoorlie five or six years ago, and practiced his profession on the eastern goldfields up to the period when he was struck down by the illness which had a fatal termination. Dr. Lyhane had wonderful gifts as a platform speaker and postprandial orator. His addresses on subjects pertaining to Ireland and her people were models of their kind.

We take the following account of the funeral ceremonies from the Kalgoorlie Miner of Monday last : — “Prior to the interment of the remains of the late Cornelius Lyhane, LL.D., at the Kalgoorlie cemetery, there was a very large congregation in attendance at St, Mary’s Catholic Church, where the customary service for the dead was read by the Rev. Father Hayes. The proceedings were of a solemn and impressive character. Subsequently one of the longest funeral corteges ever witnessed on the eastern goldfields was formed. Precedence was given in the procession to the C. S. Parnell branch (Boulder) of the Irish National Forrester’s, of which the deceased gentleman had been a member. Next came the members of the Robert Emmet branch of the same organisation. These were followed by representatives of the All Hallows branch and St. Mary’s branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, and by the adherents of the United Irish League. Representatives of the Australian Natives’ Association and of the Amalgamated Workers Association also attended as a tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased.

The Sun – 27 August 1905, page 12

Fully 250 members of the societies enumerated followed the hearse conveying the remains. Following the, mourning coach came between two and three hundred members of the general public, who marched ahead of a very long line of cabs and private conveyances. The pall bearers were Messrs. M. G. Lavan (Perth), Dwyer (Perth) ,P. Whelan, P. O’Connor (Perth),
J. Monaghan (Coolgardie), M. Mannion, J. B. Ryan and F. Boylan (Boulder), with Bros Gerald Hartrey, W. Cowan, M. Joyce and Houson, of the Irish National Foresters. Mr. Monaghan, of Coolgardie, also represented the United Irish League in his capacity of president of the goldfields executive. Mr. F. H. Rickarby, legal partner of the late Dr Lyhane, and Mr. Norbert Keenan (Mayor of Kalgoorlie), were among those present.

Members of the legal profession and many others of professional and business standing in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and districts also took part in the procession. The streets in the vicinity of St. Mary’s Church were crowded with spectators. The service for the burial, of the dead was performed! at the grave by the Rev. Canon Robinson. Floral tributes were numerous and costly.

After the funeral ceremonies had ended, a number of personal friends of the late Dr. Lyhane met by the graveside and decided to erect a monument in the form of a Celtic Cross, to his memory.” R.I.P.”

Cornelius Lyhane – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – photo Danelle Warnock

Cornelius LYHANE was 35yrs old when he died, his mothers name was Catherine KELLEHER and he was born in Co Cork Ireland. he never married.