John Whelan was born around 1840 in Aglish Co. Waterford.  John joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) on Nov. 11th, 1858 and was assigned to Co. Westmeath where he would serve for his entire 30 year career.

John married Alice O’Brien on March 9th, 1867.  John and Alice had nine children:  Delia, Mary, Margaret, Alice, Catherine, Edward, Michael, John Joseph “Jack” and Anna.  Following John’s retirement from the R.I.C., John and Alice moved to Co. Kildare and lived there at the time of the 1901 Irish Census.  By the time of the 1911 Irish Census, John and Alice had moved to Dungarvan Co. Waterford, where John died on July 21st, 1911.  He is buried in the Whelan family burial ground in Aglish.