Death of Mr. Charles Bergin, Abbeyville, Kildare, in 1986

Leinster Leader, 16 August 1986

Death of Mr. Chas. Bergin

The death took place on August 2nd of Mr. Charles Bergin (92) of Abbeyville, Kildare. Born on January 17, 1894, he was the second son of the Charles Bergin who was a member of the first Kildare Co. Council. The late Mr. Bergin’s family came from Dublin to Kildare in 1807-8.

He was educated at Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, and Clongowes Wood College.  He studied engineering in Trinity College, Dublin, and graduated in 1916. He joined the Dublin Fusiliers then and was on the Western Front in World War I. He was awarded the Military Cross in September 1918. He then went to India and was involved in the construction of dams. He left there due to health reasons, after contracting malaria. He came home in 1923 and for few years worked with his uncle, Mr. Francis Bergin who was a consulting engineer, and lived in Beechgrove.

Mr. Bergin joined Kildare Co Council staff in 1926, and was in the Kilcock area until 1938. He was active in the North Kildare Tennis Club. In 1938 he married Maire McEntee from Monaghan. She died in 1973.

Mr. Bergin had a long term involvement with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and helped out in many local projects over the years.  While is father was an extensive farmer and auctioneer, and was active in politics, Mr. Bergin took no interest in political life. His brother James, who died in the 1960’s was a member of the Co. Council. Mr. Bergin had a family link with Cardinal Cullen, and to the Lee family of Kildare. Mr. Bergin’s grandmother was a Lee. He is survived by his son Charles, a solicitor in Carlow, and four grand children Charles, Thomas, Maureen and William. His burial took place after Requiem Mass in the parish church, celebrated by Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Duffy (nephew of Mr. Bergin’s late wife) assisted by local clergy.

 Re-typed by Lydia Potts