William Joseph Culkin

William Joseph Culkin (Willie) was born in Knockanbawn, County Sligo, Ireland in 1923. He was the loving husband of Philomena Barrins Culkin, father to Fr. Michael Culkin of Leola, Pa, Eamonn (Jenny) Culkin of Spokane, Washington, and Sean (Denise) Culkin of Silver Spring, Maryland and doting grandfather to Liam, Moira, McKinley, Jesse, Jordan, Michael, Sean and Rory.

William was born to Michael and Ann (Connolly) Culkin, along with siblings Michael John, Celia, Annie and Mary Kate. He married Philomena at St Brendan’s church in Castleconnor, County Sligo on January 4, 1950. Their son Michael was born in 1951, and they emigrated to America for the first time in 1953. They returned to Ireland where their son Eamonn was born in 1958, then returned to America for good in 1959 where their son Sean was born in 1960.

Willie was man of many talents; His ability to weld brought him to Scotland and England during World War Two. Along the way he looked for work in Belfast, Ireland but was not wanted, despite his qualifications, because he was a Catholic. He cut down ships in Scotland to recycle the steel for the war effort. He survived Hitler’s bombing while working in Coventry, where he lost his cousin, her child and husband. As the second son, he would not get the farm and having enough of England and the war he began to serve his apprenticeship in horse shoeing and blacksmithing in Ireland. After 3 years, Willie was ready to open his own shop and he did so in Corbala, Co. Sligo. It was at a crossroad on the High Road between Sligo town and Ballina in Co. Mayo. It was Hope’s Shop that became Willie’s. In no time Willie’s reputation spread and he made a good business for himself. It was at the shop door one day, while lighting a cigarette with a hot coal, that he saw Philomena ride by on her bike. Willie missed the cigarette and burned the cheek!

Being a blacksmith with a good business, Willie was a catch. It wasn’t long before Willie and Philomena were winning the waltzing competitions in and around Sligo and Mayo. Their mode of transportation in those days was bicycles, they covered many miles in Ireland on their bicycles!

There’s was a great match. Philomena was the first in her family not to be matchmade as was the custom at the time. St. Brendan’s Church was the place to be January 4th, 1950 for their wedding. And “The Pair” were sent off with a great party. They took off for Sligo town. Not a big deal now but for a young woman who hadn’t been much further than 10 miles from home, it was the big city. As Auntie Mai would say, she’d never been anywhere but to the well and to Mass. That’s just what it was like in 1950’s rural Sligo, Ireland.

But things were beginning to change all over Ireland. Farm machinery was coming in and the need for the horse was disappearing. Seeing this coming, Willie and Philomena put in their paperwork for Australia and America. Emigration was the best choice for them at the time. And so, the American paperwork came back first and off to Cobh Harbor they went. Philomena had a cousin who was a Captain in the New York City Police Department and he sponsored The Pair. It didn’t take long for Willie to get a job with Pontiac in Elizabeth, New Jersey. But as it was, last hired, first fired with Pontiac. Just by chance Willie stopped into an Irish pub to cash his paycheck. He got into a conversation with the owner who told him of a Blacksmith he knew in Maryland. Next thing you know, The Pair are moving to Silver Spring, Md. Philomena wasn’t too thrilled about all this moving around. “Willie,” she said, “you’re a gypsy, you’ll never settle down!” Settle down they did, not to leave Silver Spring for many years to come.

During the 1960’s Silver Spring and Montgomery County had lots of horses, so it wasn’t long before Willie went out on his own and started his own business. One of the contracts he took on was for the US Park Police. Willie continued to shoe horses for private customers and stables, but the US Park Police was his major contract. By now Willie had become a Master Blacksmith and was in demand. Many veterinarians learned about horses’ hooves from Willie. His knowledge of horses and his ability to spot a problem became very important and he was able to help many a horse with his own handmade corrective horseshoes. Because of his expertise, Ronald Regan hired Willie as the full time Blacksmith for the US Secret Service as well as the US Park Police. Willie continued as their Blacksmith until his retirement on St. Patrick’s Day, 1993.

St. Patrick’s Day was a special day for the Culkin family, as you might expect. Willie was at every DC St. Patrick’s Day parade from the beginning in 1976, as a member of the Irish American Club, that began the parade, up till 2019. Willie loved seeing his horses in the parade with the US Park Police. Being Irish and continuing to love and live his Irish culture in America was so important to him. In a way, both Willie and Philomena never left Ireland. They just continued their lives in America pretty much as they would have in Ireland. Their faith never skipped a beat as they continued to attend Mass at St. Michael’s in downtown Silver Spring. In fact, they bought their family home on Gist Avenue because it was within walking distance of the Catholic school and church. For them, practicing their faith was a part of their Irish culture, and the gift of faith was passed on to their children and grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in William’s name can be made to the Sr. Kathleen Lannak IHM School Endowment Fund, 10201 Woodland Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902, https://www.sjte.org/donate, or the St Johns College HS Baseball program, https://stjohnschs.myschoolapp.com/page/support/make-a-gift?siteId=897&ssl=1 (enter “baseball” in the comments box), or St. John's Baseball, 2607 Military Rd., NW, Chevy Chase, DC 20015.Please use the link below to livestream the serivce:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRAR8KRywzd1SQhh0F9OuWA