Michael Whelan

Michael Whelan was an Irish educator and local historian from County Leitrim. A national school teacher by profession (signified by the title “N.T.” for National Teacher), Whelan served as principal of Aughavas National School until his retirement in 1991. He was renowned for his pioneering work in preserving and documenting Leitrim’s history – from compiling educational resources for schools to authoring scholarly articles and books on local history. Whelan’s deep passion for the heritage of County Leitrim earned him a reputation as a dedicated historian and teacher who instilled a love of language and knowledge in his pupils.

Career in Education

Born and raised in Drumrahill in the Eslin area of Mohill Parish, Co. Leitrim, Michael Whelan pursued a career as a primary school teacher. He eventually became Principal of Aughavas National School, a post he held until retiring in 1991. During decades of teaching, Whelan was beloved by students and respected in the community – former colleagues and pupils recall him as “a dedicated historian and researcher” who inspired generations through his teaching.

In the early 1970s, alongside his classroom duties, Whelan undertook a project that brought local history into schools. He was “responsible for breaking new media ground” by compiling an extensive set of notes and slide presentations on the history of County Leitrim for the Department of Education. This pioneering two-volume educational resource – often referred to by its Irish title Stair Liatroma (History of Leitrim) – provided teachers and students with accessible material on Leitrim’s heritage. Whelan also worked through the local Teachers’ Centre to research placenames, contributing a series of articles on County Leitrim’s townland names in the Leitrim Observer in 1975. These efforts reflect his belief that understanding local history should be an integral part of education for Irish youth.

Historical Research and Publications

Beyond his teaching career, Michael Whelan was deeply involved in historical research and writing. He became a prolific contributor to local history journals and publications over several decades. From the founding of the Leitrim Guardian (the county’s annual magazine) in 1969, Whelan was an active writer for the magazine, authoring “numerous articles” on Leitrim’s history. Notably, the 1970 issue of the Leitrim Guardian featured Whelan’s comprehensive article “Selton Hill,” which is regarded as the definitive account of the March 1921 Selton Hill ambush during the Irish War of Independence. Spanning pages 30–40 of that 1970 edition, Whelan’s “Selton Hill” piece drew on both oral testimony and archival research to chronicle the events and aftermath of the ambush. This early work established his reputation as an authority on Leitrim’s 20th-century history.

Over the years, Whelan continued to publish historical essays and reminiscences in various local outlets, including parish newsletters and newspapers. His contributions often highlighted the lives of ordinary people and the folklore of South Leitrim. He was a sought-after speaker for local historical societies as well, delivering lectures to groups such as the Carrick-on-Shannon & District Historical Society (of which he was made an honorary life member). Through both print and public talks, Whelan shared the fruits of his research with the wider community, preserving many stories that might otherwise have been forgotten.

Whelan’s lifelong research culminated in the publication of a book in 1998. That year he released The Parish of Aughavas, Co. Leitrim: Its History and Its People, an expansive 371-page history of the Aughavas area. This work is a comprehensive chronicle of Aughavas from earliest times up to the late 20th century. Every era of the parish’s story is covered – from ancient settlement and the Medieval period, through the Famine and political upheavals, to modern community life – with local stories presented in a broad national context. The book has been praised as an authoritative reference on the area’s history. Because of its level of detail and scholarship, The Parish of Aughavas became an invaluable resource for local historians and genealogists researching County Leitrim. Though now out of print, it remains available in libraries and is fondly regarded by the community as the capstone of Whelan’s historical work.

Personal Life and Legacy

Michael Whelan made his home in Drumgunny, Aughavas, where he lived with his wife Mossie Whelan (née McNamee) and their seven children: Tomás, Micheál, Mairéad, Cathal, Helen, Elizabeth, and Turlough. Despite his many extracurricular projects, Whelan was a devoted family man and was actively involved in parish life. Both he and his wife Mossie gave tremendous volunteer service to the community – for example, supporting local cultural events (the couple were deeply involved in the GAA’s Scór competitions celebrating Irish music, drama and dance) and church activities. In 1998, in recognition of their decades of community contributions, the Leitrim Guardian named Michael and Mossie Whelan as “Leitrim People of the Year.”

Whelan passed away on 2 November 2023, at the age of 91, peacefully at his home in Drumgunny surrounded by family. His death was widely mourned in Leitrim and beyond. Tributes poured in noting his warm personality, his generosity in sharing knowledge, and his lasting achievements as an educator and historian. As one condolence message observed, Whelan “leaves an enormous legacy to generations to come” through the history he documented and the knowledge he passed on.

Fittingly, that legacy has been preserved for future scholars and the public. After his passing, the Whelan family donated Michael’s entire personal archive of historical research to Leitrim County Library. In November 2024 the Library’s Local Studies department officially launched the “Michael Whelan Historical Archive,” a vast collection of notes, documents, photographs and slide material that Whelan had built up over his lifetime. This archive, now held in the Local Studies Collection at Ballinamore Library, is recognized as an “important local history collection relating to Leitrim and its people,” spanning material as far back as the 1960s. By placing his papers in public custody, Whelan’s family ensured that his meticulous research will continue to educate and inspire.

Michael Whelan, N.T., is remembered as a pioneering local historian and beloved teacher who devoted his life to his community’s heritage. Through his publications – from the “Selton Hill” article to his Aughavas history book – and through the historical archive bearing his name, Whelan’s work preserves the story of County Leitrim for future generations. His impact endures in the county’s schools, libraries, and local memory, confirming his place among Leitrim’s most respected chroniclers.