It seems everyone’s Irish
Although more than half of San Benito County residents claim
descent from either Mexico or Germany
– 46 and 9 percent, respectively – those with Irish blood come
in a close third at 8 percent.
This week it seems like more because many Schultzes, Kosmickis
and Garcias don green clothing, shout
”
Erin go Bragh!,
”
and buy the ingredients for corned beef and cabbage dinners on
March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.
It seems everyone’s Irish
Although more than half of San Benito County residents claim descent from either Mexico or Germany – 46 and 9 percent, respectively – those with Irish blood come in a close third at 8 percent.
This week it seems like more because many Schultzes, Kosmickis and Garcias don green clothing, shout “Erin go Bragh!,” and buy the ingredients for corned beef and cabbage dinners on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.
The first Americans of Irish descent to permanently settle here were the Patrick Breen family that left the Midwest in the 1840s for California. The trip was lengthened by an unplanned winter’s stay in Donner Pass where many of their party died of cold, illness or starvation.
After their rescue the Breens made their way to San Juan Bautista where they farmed, practiced law and took up residence in the Castro Adobe. Their descendants figure prominently in law: James Breen, the county’s first Superior Court judge, retired Superior Court Judge Thomas Breen, and his cousin, attorney Paul Breen. Thomas Breen’s son chose journalism but Adam Breen is now on the staff of San Benito High School. Another Breen descendant is Harvey Nyland, former county sheriff.
Mark Regan, whose Irish-born father drowned when Mark was three, enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 14. After the war he settled in San Juan. He drove a stagecoach from there to Gilroy and back for 40 years until he bought a car and modernized the operation.
The Doolings have excelled in several fields, including law. They include late U.S. District Court Judge Maurice Dooling, and son Maurice Dooling Jr. who served on the California Supreme Court in the 1960s.
The Hudners originated in County Cork and settled in California in the 19th Century. Some family members took up ranching but others followed the law. John Hudner became the county’s district attorney, then later a Superior Court judge. Hudner Lane is named for them.
The O’Donnells contributed many members to public service. Two years after his arrival in the newly formed county in 1874, Thomas O’Donnell sent passage fare to his fiancee, Sarah Moran. Their seven children and following generations added vigor to the community.
The oldest son, Joseph, became a doctor and practiced locally for more than 50 years until his death in 1959. He was chairman of the high school board of trustees for more than 35 years. The school’s gymnasium was named for him.
His brother, Thomas, was an attorney and married Amy Breen a century ago. Their son, Tommy, became an attorney and joined his father’s law firm. In 1960 he was appointed Superior Court judge.
Eugene (Frank) O’Donnell, another son, was named Hollister postmaster by Postmaster General James Farley during the Depression and served until his death in the 1940s. Another family member, Mary O’Donnell, married attorney James Paxton in 1955 and had two sons, one of whom, Mark Paxton, is publisher of The Pinnacle. Jack O’Donnell, the oldest living member of the family, will turn 96 on Sunday.
Many Irish men went into the priesthood. Father Patrick O’Reilley came here in the 1930s and was pastor of Sacred Heart Church for 37 years. His name lives on in O’Reilley Youth Center.
Thirty years ago in Dublin, a youth who aspired to the priesthood worked for a while in a bottling plant. Imagine Father Gary Byrne’s delight after assignment to Sacred Heart Parish when he learned that Monsignor Thomas Morgan of Immaculate Conception Church had worked in the same bottling plant many years earlier.
Patrick McMahon donated the land for Sacred Heart Church when the building was divided and moved to its present location from today’s Dunne Park in the early 1940s. The park was named for James Dunne, as is Dunneville on the outskirts of town.
William Howard O’Brien excelled in many fields. He was editor and publisher of the Hollister Advance, fire chief, Hollister postmaster and city clerk.
His son, John O’Brien, is the senior practicing lawyer in the county in a career that includes service as district attorney, then Hollister city attorney for a record 24 years.
Attorney David Pipal may or may not be of Irish descent but his wife, Bernadette, still bears a lilt of her native country in her voice.
The McCulloughs come from a local Irish family. Gerald McCullough is a business and civic leader. His late cousin, Barney McCullough, was an attorney, county district attorney and judge. The latter’s wife, Eileen Brennan McCullough, had brothers who also followed the legal profession, but not Terry. He was more interested in athletics and eventually became coach of Notre Dame’s renowned Fighting Irish football team.
It doesn’t seem very long ago that Ed Brady was Superior Court Judge; George Malone, Hollister police chief; and William Cagney, county superintendent of schools, as his uncle had been before him.
One never knows where a person of Irish descent will turn up. At Nino’s Restaurant some years ago a couple passing through town finished dinner, and the woman inquired, “Who made that wonderful sauce?” Nino Imbronone replied, “My wife, Kaye Imbronone.”
She nodded and said, “I thought so; no one but an Italian could get exactly the right piquancy.”
Imbronone laughed about it later. “I didn’t have the heart to tell her that my wife was born Kathleen Burke.”
