The O'shaughnessy story

Gilbert Ryan O'Shaughnessy was born on July 10, 1858, in Labasheeda, County Clare, Ireland. He was the youngest of three boys, born shortly before his mother died. He was the fastest runner in County Clare. Since his older brother Michael inherited the family farm, he left for America, to Galveston, Texas, in the 1870s.

He married a woman whose parents were from County Galway. He was President of the AOH and the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Galveston. They and their 4 children moved to San Antonio, Texas, after losing a daughter in the 1900 Galveston Storm (the largest natural disaster in the US).

He was President of the AOH in 1908 in San Antonio, a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and a founding member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church. He assisted his cousins, Sisters of Divine Providence, Sr. Emma and Sr. Marcellina O'Shaughnessy, and Mother Angelica O'Neill at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

Gilbert and Mary had three more children in San Antonio. They loved music. He was a good Irish dancer, and she played piano and sang in the church choir. Mary and her oldest daughter were Suffragettes, and Gilbert totally supported their efforts. Gilbert helped organize a St. Patrick's Day celebration at the German Beethoven Hall every year. He and two of his sons, Michael and Gilbert, danced Irish jigs. The Rocky Road to Dublin was one of his favorites. Gilbert owned the San Antonio Auto and Tire Company. He also owned the Brady Parlour Bar, a reputable place across from San Fernando Cathedral.

He died in San Antonio in 1932. His oldest son, Patrick, served in the US Army in the Mexican War and WWI. His youngest son, Michael, served as an Officer in WW2 and as Chief of Police in Paris, Texas. His daughter Margaret's son, Joseph Conrad, Jr., won the British Amateur Golf Tournament in Scotland in the early 1950's. His son, Michael, was chosen Best All-Around Athlete at St. Edward's University in 1928. Michael was Captain of their football team, the Saints. Coached by Jack Meagher and, in the summer, by Knute Rockne (the University of Notre Dame football coach), they won the Texas Conference Football Championship.

One of Gilbert's cousins was the famous engineer Michael O'Shaughnessy, who helped build the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Another cousin was Dr. T. K. Whitaker, the "Irishman of the Century" in Ireland. Gilbert's cousin, Sister Kieran O'Shaughnessy, Brigidine (from Labasheeda) taught at St. Paul's in San Antonio for many years. Gilbert's son Michael started the first AOH in Austin, Texas, the Gilbert Ryan O'Shaughnessy Division, in the 1980's. Michael's daughter Marie started the first LAOH in Austin, the Daughters of Erin Division, in the 1980's.

Michael was very involved with the Irish community in Austin and San Antonio. He taught his daughters Marie and Molly his jigs and Irish songs. Marie participates in many events of the Irish Consulate in Austin, is a member of a Pennsylvania LAOH, and is a member of the San Antonio Irish Cultural Society.