Rev William John Burke moved to an address at Windsor Terrace, in the town of Edenderry in 1863. It became home to he, his wife son William and daughter Miriam Sophia. The Burkes would live at that address until 1872, when Rev Burke was transferred to Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
In the decade that Emily’s family lived in Edenderry, it was a thriving little town. On the banks of the Grand Canal, much traffic passed through it.
Without the Grand Canal, Edenderry in the nineteenth century would have not prospered as it did the canal providing a much needed communication network and transportation for goods such as peat, corn and flout to Dublin.
In 1862 a branch of the Ulster Bank opened as did Edenderry’s first post office in February. This boosted the amount of local businesses and trades men. By the time Emily was born in 1867, Edenderry was a prosperous little Leinster town, and a hub of activity. As a clergyman Rev. Burke would have been part of the establishment and status quo, but was not liked by all.
The statue of Arthur Hills, 3rd Marquess of Downshire, overlooking Edenderry