Catherine Whelan née Ryan of Waterford

[Maiden Stone]

OP mentioned that Nicholas Whelan died in 1961 but I was unable to find a death in Waterford area.

There was an Edward Wheland & Mary Ryan having children in Waterford area at the same time so could be easy to confuse families if not checking actual registrations.

There was a Nicholas Whelan age 71, a widower, who died in hospital in County Dublin in 1961. Balrothery Superintendent's Registration District, Swords Registration District. His occupation was storekeeper (if I read it correctly).
There were a couple of elderly Nicholas Phelans who died early 1960s in other places.

[Artiechokes]

Thanks for the interest everyone. Nicholas Whelan was indeed a soldier, a private in the 8th Royal Irish Hussars - the military record is sparse and annotated with military abbreviations. He was born in 1890. Margaret was his eldest daughter. I will try those census records. The St Otteran cemetery index seemed pretty clear Catherine was 37, which does sound about right. I will have to sit down and map all this out!

[aghadowey]

Thanks for the interest everyone. Nicholas Whelan was indeed a soldier, a private in the 8th Royal Irish Hussars - the military record is sparse and annotated with military abbreviations. He was born in 1890. Margaret was his eldest daughter. I will try those census records. The St Otteran cemetery index seemed pretty clear Catherine was 37, which does sound about right. I will have to sit down and map all this out!

Was the death certificate posted earlier for the correct Catherine? If so, have you found her in 1901 and 1911 census to see approx. year of birth then search for her birth registration?

[Maiden Stone]

Thanks for the interest everyone. Nicholas Whelan was indeed a soldier, a private in the 8th Royal Irish Hussars - the military record is sparse and annotated with military abbreviations.

RootsChat has a military board. Experts on it can explain military jargon. Was he a soldier before 1914 or only during the Great War? The military board has a section for WW1. 

[Maiden Stone]

In the title of this post you say her maiden name is Ryan. Is this the right marriage?

Nicholas Phelan m. Catherine Ryan 1 January 1917 in Waterford
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1917/09739/5534263.pdf

Nicholas was a soldier. His address was the same street (no number) as Ellen Whelan who married at the same church 2 days later. They had different fathers.

The wedding was actually 1st February. The month was incorrectly transcribed on the index. I've submitted a correction.

Artiechokes, do you have definite information about Nicholas, birth, marriage, life before marriage?

After some fossicking among Whelans & Phelans in Waterford, I'm inclined to think that Nicholas Phelan and Ellen Whelan whose weddings are on the same page and who both gave the address May Lane were related.
Ellen's father was Michael.
Birth registration Waterford 1898 Ellen Whelan. Parents Michael & Anastasia (Dawson). Address Chapel Lane.
Marriage Waterford 1897 Michael Whelan & Anastasia Dawson. Michael's father was James, a labourer.
Birth registration Waterford 1889 Nicholas Whelan. Parents James & Margaret (Regan). Address Chapel Lane.

1901 census May Lane, Waterford
Michael Whelan age 35 born Waterford City + wife Anastasia (transcribed Anne Stasia) + Ellen.

[Kiltaglassan]

1901 census May Lane, Waterford
Michael Whelan age 35 born Waterford City + wife Anastasia (transcribed Anne Stasia) + Ellen.

Younger siblings of Ellen.

Patrick born 1902, Mary born 1904, William born 1911.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rvp/

[Maiden Stone]

1901 census May Lane, Waterford
Michael Whelan age 35 born Waterford City + wife Anastasia (transcribed Anne Stasia) + Ellen.

Younger siblings of Ellen.

Patrick born 1902, Mary born 1904, William born 1911.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rvp/

The family seems to have moved lodgings frequently during that decade.

They were Phelan on 1911 census. Neither Michael nor Anastasia could write. Michael couldn't read. Address Balteen Lane in Waterford Number 3 Urban.

Probable deaths of Michael and Anastasia, abode of each was May Lane. Both died in hospitals:
1913 Michael Phelan
1932 Anastatia Whelan, widow

It seems they were known/recorded as both Phelan and Whelan. 

[Kiltaglassan]

They are living on Morgan Street in Waterford in 1901.

Ryan   John   59   Male   Head of Family   Roman Catholic
Ryan   Mary   37   Female   Wife   Roman Catholic
Ryan   Margaret   11   Female   Daughter   Roman Catholic
Ryan   Catherine   9   Female   Daughter   Roman Catholic
Ryan   Christopher   6   Male   Son   Roman Catholic
Ryan   Thomas   4   Male   Son   Roman Catholic
Ryan   Aileen   2   Female   Daughter   Roman Catholic

1911 census - Ryan (Catherine as Kate) ?
House 65 in Yellow Road Lower (Waterford No. 3 Urban, Waterford).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Waterford/Waterford_No__3_Urban/Yellow_Road_Lower/674105/

Catherine's address on her 1917 marriage record was L^o Yellow Road.
Her elder sister Margaret and younger brothers Christopher and Thomas still there.

[Artiechokes]

This is amazing and I’m very grateful. It will take a while to process and map. Fortunately another member of the family is researching so we can compare notes. Thanks again.