William James Phelan a newspaper reporter

[kenilworth]

I believe my great grandfather William James Phelan (born 1848 possibly in Cork or Limerick) was a young reporter with the Nation newspaper, probably from about 1865 before going to Natal, South Africa and continuing as a reporter and later a fiery Editor there. He died in 1886. Does anyone have any suggestions as to sources where I might look for background information on him as an apprentice reporter in Ireland please?

[dathai]

1860s was the height of Fenianism the editor of the Nation Mr A M Sullivan was not a popular man with the Fenian's over some of his or his papers disclosures.
Wonder could this have prompted William Phelan to leave.
see page 35 Chapter V   The Fued with the Sullivans.

from John Devoy's Recollections of an Irish Rebel
https://archive.org/stream/reollectionsofir00john/reollectionsofir00john_djvu.txt

[kenilworth]

Thank you - I will read what you suggest.

[dathai]

https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/the-nation-newspaper-archive

[LH]

Hi

There can't have been too many Irish PHELAN folk working as Reporters/Editors, who emigrated to South Africa at that time.

Do you know the names of W J Phelan's children?  If you'd like to post them here, someone might recognise a naming pattern.

Cheers

[kenilworth]

An interesting thought - thank you!
The children's names were, from first born to last born,
Arthur Patrick
Alice Mary
Ernest William
Harold Methley
Hubert James
Percy
Robert Albert

Not sure what to make of these.

[LH]

Hi again

Several PHELAN queries have appeared on this website in recent days and I wonder whether any of these people are related to your W J Phelan, who emigrated to South Africa. 

Might be worth keeping an eye on these queries, to see what unfolds.

For the record, it appears the Phelan surname cropped up in many Irish counties, so perhaps keep an open mind as to where your ancestor may have originated

Cheers

[SharonTutt]

I believe WJ Phelan was my great grandfather. Born in Ireland came to South Africa and was a reporter during the gold rush in pilgrims rest. He later moved to work for the natal Mercury paper. My grandmother was Mona Rozalie Phelan and her brother was Ernest Phelan lived in Nelspruit. She married my grandfather Charles Alfred Tutt. I am looking for more information on JW Phelan.

[kenilworth]

Hello, I have you on my family tree already and would be happy to share what I know about W J Phelan with you. He is my gt Grandfather too.