Jack Whelan in Albany (circa 1930)

John Joseph “Jack” Whelan was born Oct. 5th, 1879 in Killucan Co. Westmeath.  He was the eighth of nine children born to John and Alice (O’Brien) Whelan.  Jack enlisted in the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) on June 1st, 1899, following in his father’s footsteps.  Jack was assigned to Hospital Co. Limerick where he met his future wife Mary Agnes “Mae” Millea.  In addition to Hospital, Jack was assigned to posts in Co. Tipperary, Co. Cork and Co. Galway.

Jack and Mae had 8 children: Elsie, Moira, Kathleen, Agnes, Jack, Alice, Paddy and Carmel.  The family moved to Dublin when the RIC was disbanded following the Irish War of Independence.  They emigrated to Renfrew, Scotland and then to Albany, NY in 1927.  Jack returned to Dublin in 1932 to attend the Eucharistic Congress.  It is believed that he died in Jan. 1938, possibly in Liverpool, England.