Whether you are climbing your family tree or interested in social history, local place names or folklore we welcome you to Glenmore-History.com and hope that you enjoy your visit.
L A T E S T P O S T S
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Some Ballinlammy, Glenmore, Moran Family Photos
Finding an Answer Regarding Mother Jones (c. 1837-1930)
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Archaeology Around Glenmore
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From Danny’s Files: The Early Public Transport Through Glenmore
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Founder of Glenmore History’s Anniversary
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An Unusual Glenmore Grave: The Brereton Family
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The Plight of Richard Fitzgerald (1793-c. 1860) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
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The 1882 Contested Application for a Glenmore Pub
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From Danny’s Files: Rev. Fr. John Fitzpatrick (c. 1758-1835) P.P. of Slieverue-Glenmore
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The Tragic Death of John Millea (1870-1935) of Treanaree, Slieverue
Some Ballinlammy, Glenmore, Moran Family Photos
Special thanks to Robert Moran for sharing some of his family photos and correcting a typo and error on our post of 26 March 2023 regarding his great aunt Sr. Mary Theresa “Nellie” Moran (1925-2005). See our post of 26 March 2023 for details regarding the Moran family of Ballinlammy, Glenmore.
The Moran Farm of Ballinlammy, Glenmore
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Finding an Answer Regarding Mother Jones (c. 1837-1930)
Several years ago, I was driving Danny Dowling (1927-2021) to a book fair and inquired if he had read anything of interest since our previous outing. Danny replied that he had read an article about Mary Harris Jones. I did not recognize the name, and Danny expressed amazement that I was not familiar with the greatest labour leader in American history.
After a good bit of teasing centring on my lack of education, Danny began to recite in detail the life of Mary Harris Jones. When he stated that her husband and four children died in a yellow fever epidemic it finally struck me that he was referring to “Mother Jones” an influential organizer for the United Mine Workers of America in the early 20th Century. I don’t think I ever knew her real name. She was always known as Mother Jones and is also known for fighting child labour. She led a march of children to Washington during Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency to protest the use of child labour.
I mentioned to Danny that Mother Jones is buried in Mount Olive, Macoupin County, Illinois, just off of Interstate 55 with informational signs on Interstate 55. (I-55 replaced the famous U.S. Route 66 between Chicago and St. Louis). Danny asked why she was buried there, and I had no answer until now. Last week while visiting Southern Illinois, I went to the grave and memorial erected for Mother Jones. I also visited the Illinois Coal Museum, of Gillespie, Illinois, which features several interesting mining displays including one of a life size cut out of the tiny Mother Jones. For a concise biography of Mother Jones’s work see, the AFL-CIO website. For a virtual tour of the Illinois Coal Museum see their webpage.
The Tragic Widow Found a Purpose
After the tragic deaths of her husband and children in 1867, Mother Jones for the remainder of her life dressed in black. It was only at her funeral that she wore a different colour. Mother Jones was laid out and buried in a lilac dress. A few years after her family’s demise her dressmaking business was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. She began to work as a union organizer and travelled the country. She referred to the coal miners as “her boys.” She also mobilized their wives and children to support the miners.
In 1897, she was dubbed “Mother Jones.” She was around 60 years of age. Historians have found her baptismal record in 1837 parish records in Cork, but she often gave her birth year as 1830. It is likely that she may not have known her exact date of birth.
Why Mount Olive, Macoupin County Illinois?
According to a large plaque listing various unions and others who donated to the memorial, Mother Jones asked to be buried with “her boys” who died in the Virden, Illinois, Massacre.
“When the last call comes for me to take my final rest, will the Miners see that I get a resting place in the same clay that shelters the Miners who gave up their lives on the hills of Virden Illinois on the morning of October 12, 1898 for their heroic sacrifice of their fellow men. They are responsible for Illinois being the best organized State in America. I hope it will be my consolation when I pass away to feel I sleep under the clay with those brave boys.”
The Union Miners’ Cemetery has an interesting history. It only came into existence in 1899 as a burial place for the members of the Miners’ Union killed at Virden in 1898. Apparently, the person or family that donated land to the nearby Mount Olive Cemetery objected to a memorial or memorial services for the miners. The Union decided to buy land for their own cemetery and several of the Virden miners were dug up and transferred to the new Union Miners’ Cemetery. For further details see Macoupin County, Illinois, Genealogy Trails webpage.
Although Mother Jones was always buried in the Union Miners’ Cemetery once the monument was built she too was moved to her present resting place. The feature photo above shows the flowers placed on the foot of her grave in the front centre of the large monument.
The Virden Massacre
At the Mother Jones’s Memorial, the Battle of Virden is referred to as the Virden Massacre. It occurred on 12 October 1898, after the Chicago-Virden Coal Co. rejected a nationwide agreement with the United Mine Workers of America. The agreement gave miners a wage of 40 cents per ton. Work was also to be reduced to 48 hours per week (comprised of 8 hour shifts in a 6 day week). The Virden mine was one of the biggest in Illinois; it employed 400 miners.
The Chicago-Virden Coal Co. locked out miners unwilling to accept the 30 cent a ton rate it offered. A strike ensued and an armed stockade was erected around the mine entrance indicating that the company was aware that the situation likely would turn violent. By the time of the massacre most of the local miners had been out of work for over a year.
To break the union and get the mine operational again, the Chicago-Virden Coal Co. hired 105 non-union black Alabama miners at 30 cents per ton. The Chicago-Virden Coal Co. failed to tell the black miners that there was an ongoing strike at Virden. As the Company shipped the black miners north by train members of the Thiel Detective Service Co. boarded the train in East St. Louis, Illinois armed with rifles.
The Company demanded that Governor Tanner send troops to protect the strike breakers and mine property. Tanner responded, to the sheriff of Macoupin County that “as long as the coal company persists in importing labor I will not furnish troops unless rioting occurs.” It was alleged by some newspapers that Tanner did not send troops because he was seeking votes from the labour element (The Daily Review (Decatur, IL) Tues. 29 Nov. 1898, p. 4).
When the train arrived in Virden it was swarmed by about 1,200 armed local miners. Both sides blamed the other for firing the first shot. The gun battle lasted for 15 minutes and left 13 people dead. Eight of the dead were local coal miners, four of the dead were mine “guards” and a switchboard operator of the railroad was killed. There were also a large number of men injured on both sides. It was reported that 30 other local miners were also shot but survived. The black Alabama miners were apparently not harmed and removed from the area. If memory serves me these men were abandoned in E. St. Louis by the Chicago-Virden Coal Co. and had to make their own way back to Alabama.
For further information concerning the Virden Massacre see, the National Public Radio (NPR) Illinois webpage .
Tanner Sends Troops
It must have come as a surprise to the greedy Chicago-Virden Coal Company that Governor Tanner sent several hundred soldiers to Virden and ordered them to stop the unloading of any “imported miners.” The troops were to preserve peace and protect life and property of “bona fide citizens” and disarm every person having arms (The Champaign (Illinois) Daily News, Sat. 15 Oct. 1898, p. 1).
Virgil Bishop, a Virden miner, filed a complaint charging various officials of the Chicago-Virden Coal Co. and their armed guards with conspiracy to murder and murder. It was anticipated that the families of the dead miners and the injured would file personal cases for damages also against the officials. To keep all trains from being stopped and searched the railroad quickly reached an agreement with Governor Tanner that they would not assist the Chicago-Virden Coal Company in further attempts to transport armed men or “imported miners” to Virden (Streator (Illinois) Daily Free Press (Sat. 15 Oct. 1898, p. 1).
Membership in the United Mine Workers of America soared. Within a month the Chicago Virden-Coal Company bowed to public and political pressure and agreed to the terms of the national agreement.
The Death of Mother Jones
Mother Jones died on Sunday, 30 November 1930 near Washington, D.C. The contemporary newspapers gave her age as 100 and just previous to her death she helped celebrate her 100th birthday. “For more than 60 years she was one of the most peaceful and militant personalities with which capital and labor had to deal” (Henderson County Graphic-Reporter (Stronghurst, Illinois)(Thur. 4 Dec. 1930, p. 4). At the time of Mother Jones’s death, Emmaline Pitt, United State’s Commissioner connected with the Office of the Secretary of Labor wrote, “She stood for all that was noblest and best in womanhood, for the defence of childhood believing as Christ taught, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least one of these yet have done it unto me’” (Belleville (Illinois) Daily News Democrat, Mon. 1 Dec. 1930, p. 2).
Pursuant to her wishes Mother Jones was laid to rest in the private Union Miner’s Cemetery at Mount Olive, Macoupin County, Illinois. Notwithstanding it was during the Great Depression of the 1930’s a large memorial was built for the miners killed at Verdin and Mother Jones.
Mother Jones’s Quotations
“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!”
“I’m no angel, Get it straight. I’m not a humanitarian, I’m a hell raiser.”
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos etc. to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Archaeology Around Glenmore
The National Monuments Service has a Historic Environment Viewer (HEV) that allows a person to look at archaeology in the townland where you live or where your ancestor lived. In the upper left corner just type in your townland e.g. Rathinure, Glenmore, Kilkenny. The HEV is a free digital service provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Some of the most common archaeology recorded in the parish of Glenmore and adjacent parishes include: [1] standing stones; [2] fulacht fia; [3] Ballaum stones: [4] ringforts/raths; [5] barrow mounds.
[1] Standing stones are also call gallauns or menhirs. They can stand alone or be part of a group of stones. There are over 5,000 standing stones recorded across Ireland. Theories abound regarding their purpose, from pre-historic burial markers to markers of tribal boundaries or paths. It is believed that they were erected during the late Neolithic and Early Bronze age, roughly 3,300 B.C. to 1,200 B.C.
The photo below is of the Three Friars standing stones of Smithstown, Tullogher, Kilkenny. (Photo by Kieran Campbell).
[2] Fulacht fia were pits dug into low lying ground. Sometimes these pits were lined with stones or wood. Often cracked stones are found heaped nearby suggesting that the stones were heated in a fire and placed in the water in the Fulacht fia. There are numerous theories regarding the purpose of the fulacht fia. Originally it was believed that meat such as venison was boiled in it. Other people have argued that it would be easier to roast the meat over a campfire. It has also been suggested that these were brewing vessels, bathing spots or dye vats. It is believed that the majority of fulacht fias were built during the mid– to late Bronze Age roughly, 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Because they are mainly earthen they are easily damaged or destroyed. There have been about 7,000 fulacht fias recorded in Ireland.
[3] Ballaum stones are large stones with one or more man-made bowl-shaped depressions or basins. The Irish word bullán means bowl. These stones are often found around early Christian monastic sites, holy wells and ancient churches usually from the Early Medieval period roughly, from the 5th through 12th centuries. A good example of a Glenmore ballaum stone is the “headache stone” adjacent to Kilcolumb Church ruins which is featured above.
[4] Ringforts or raths are very common. There are about 1,200 raths recorded in County Kilkenny. It is thought that raths were the dwelling places of farmers from about 500 to 1000 A.D. Although they vary greatly in size they were circular mound structures and were often located near important routes and resources. Some raths had one ditch others had two or more ditches. Excavations have revealed that raths were used for more than just shelter. It is thought that that in addition to shelter for farmers, livestock and crops raths often had workshops such as for the production of pottery and metal works. In some parts of Glenmore all the raths in the townland were within view of each other possibly to provide security.
[5] Barrow mounds are prehistoric burial monuments. They are usually circular or oval of earth forming a mound. They are usually encircled by a ditch. Barrow mounds in Ireland usual date from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age or roughly from about 2400 B.C. to 400 A.D. They are not nearly as old as the Neolithic passage tombs such as Newgrange. The National Monuments Service has divided the barrow mounds into seven types. There are over 3,000 barrows recorded across Ireland. Due to the fact that Barrow mounds are usually surrounded by a circular ditch they are often mistaken for raths.
New Infrastructure Findings : Ballyverneen, Glenmore
When new infrastructure is being built, such as roads, archaeologists are employed to check the infrastructure site for archaeology. During the construction of the 14 km New Ross by pass, 35 previously undocumented archaeological sites were found. Unfortunately, for Glenmore only a small fraction of the 35 undocumented sites were in Glenmore and were not considered significant. Of the 16 townlands involved along the by-pass route four townlands were in Glenmore including: Jamestown, Graiguenakill, Forestalstown (sic), and Ballyverneen.
There were three Ballyverneen sites. Ballyverneen 1 was easternmost and consisted of a short linear feature and a shallow pit. Ballyveneen 2 consisted of three small pits which contained charcoal rich fills with flecks of burned bones. Ballyverneen 3 contained a curvilinear feature with burned material in the fills and a further three features of uncertain archaeological significance. (See the Archaeological Excavation Report, E4531, Ballyverneen 1,2, 3, Co. Kilkenny). It is believed that charcoal was being produced at the Ballyverneen 2 site. See generally, Digital Repository Ireland website (DRI).
Other helpful websites to learn about sites in your townland include: the Kilkenny Digital Archive, Excavations.ie; and TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland).
For further information concerning the New Ross Bypass excavations see, James Eogan (2024) “Nine Millennia of life on the Banks of the ‘goodly Barow:’ Archaeological Excavations on the N25 New Ross Bypass in South-east Ireland,” The Past website.
The featured photo above is the Three Friars standing stones in Smithstown, Tullogher by Kieran Campbell (Wikimedia Commons).
See our post of 7 July 2021 regarding Glenmore castles.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Early Public Transport Through Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) for over seven decades collected a vast amount of information on Glenmore. His files are a treasure trove of interviews he conducted, articles and books, and newspaper clippings etc. The following front page advertisement from 1824 was copied by Danny Dowling (1927-2021) from the Waterford Mirror (Sat. 12 June 1824, p. 1). It provides a glimpse how people with money were able to travel to and from Waterford City in the first half of the 19th century via “The Commercial Day Car Establishment.”
After 1798 the main road from Waterford to New Ross was altered such that it no longer went through the Village itself. We know that by the time Mr. Leonard was murdered on the hill of Glenmore in 1833, the Waterford-New Ross road by-passed Glenmore Village. It is likely that the alteration took place prior to 1824. (See our post of 14 December 2019 regarding the early roads and maps. For further information on the 1833 murder see our post of 9 February 2020).
Unfortunately toll bridges at Waterford and New Ross kept many people from accessing New Ross and Waterford. The only other market town of any size was Thomastown about 17 miles (28 kilometres) from Glenmore. The obstacles of toll bridges and distance probably contributed to the isolation that allowed Irish to be spoken in many Glenmore homes right up to the 20th century. In 1867, the Ida a river steamer began to sail between Waterford and New Ross. Although Glenmore people had to be rowed across the Barrow to a hulk on the Wexford side, it was very popular mode of transportation. (For further information on the Ida see our post of 29 February 2020).
Below is the 1824 advertisement. All cars traveling to Wexford passed through Glenmore Parish. We believe that the cars that went to Kilkenny via Mullinavat also passed through Cat’s Rock in Glenmore Parish.
The advertisement was placed by Charles Bianconi (1786-1875) the founder of Ireland’s first public transport system. For further information on Bianconi see McElroy & Butterfield, Dictionary of Irish Biography. We have attempted to present the advertisement as it was published with capitalizations, italics etc., but removed a couple of destinations. Editorial comments and explanations that are not part of the original advertisement have been placed in square brackets [ ].
The Commercial Day Car Establishment, Waterford 1824
The Public are respectfully informed, that the DAY CARS for PASSENGERS and PARCELS, leave Commin’s Hotel, Quay, opposite the Market-House, EVERY DAY (Sunday excepted) for the following places; and the Proprietor begs to assure his Friends and the Public, that no expense or exertion on his part has been spared, to have this, so useful an Establishment, appointed with careful and sober Drivers, good Horses and comfortable, safe and easy Cars, and at most reasonable Fares. [The Cummin’s Hotel is today the Granville Hotel, of Waterford. For a concise history of the Granville and Bianconi see, “Ask Ireland” webpage.]
The LIMERICK CAR leaves this Office every Morning at 5 o’clock—Through Carrick, Clonmel, Caher, Tipperary and Landscape; and arrives at GLEEN’S Hotel, Limerick at 5 ½ o’clock, same day. [The distance between Waterford City and Limerick is approximately 78 miles or 126 kilometres. This journey took 12 ½ hours.]
The WEXFORD CAR at 8 o’clock, Traveling Five Miles an Hour—through Ross, Fook’s-Mills, Taghon; and arrives at the Royal Mail Coach Office, Wexford, at 3 o’clock; leaves it at 8 o’clock, and arrives at Waterford in time to proceed to Kilkenny, and by the Regulator to Clonmel, same day. [Today the distance to drive from the Granville Hotel, Waterford to Wexford Town is approximately 56.6 kilometres or 35 miles. However, the route today is shorter than the Wexford Car route of 1824. It took a passenger in 1824 seven hours to make this journey.]
The CORK CAR every morning at 5 o’clock—Through Carrick, Clonmel, Caher, Mitchell’s Town, Fermoy, Watergrass-Hill; and arrives at the Car Office, Patrick’s street, corner of Prince street, before 7 o’clock, afternoon; leaves at 3 ½ o’clock, and arrives at Waterford by a quarter past 7 o’clock.
The TELFORAPH every Morning at 5 o’clock—Traveling Six Miles an Hour, and arrives in Clonmel 20 minutes past 9 o’clock; leaves Clonmel at 3 o’clock, evening, and arrives at Waterford, 20 minutes past 7.
To DUBLIN, BY KILKENNY CAR, every day at 3 o’clock—Passengers forwarded by Day Coach next Morning, at 6 o’clock, and arrives at 15, Duke street, Dublin before 5 o’clock; leaves same Office at 9 o’clock, and arrives in Kilkenny by 7 o’clock, and proceeds to Waterford by Day Car next morning at 6 o’clock, and arrives before 11 o’clock. [This journey took 16 hours to 27 hours depending on if the night was spent in Kilkenny City.]
THURLES CAR at 8 o’clock, Morning—Through Carrick, Clonmel, New Inn, Cashel, Holy-Cross, and arrives at Quinlan’s Hotel, Thurles, at 7 o’clock. Evening; leaves Thurles at 5 o’clock next Morning, and arrives at Waterford at 4 o’clock, giving Passengers an Hour to transact Business at Clonmel, to and from Thurles.
ENNISCOROTHY CAR at 8 o’clock, Monday—Through Ross, where Passengers are allowed nearly two hours to transact Business, and arrives at Enniscorothy in time to proceed to Dublin by Mail Coach through the County Wicklow; leaves Enniscorothy at 8 o’clock, after the arrival of the Dublin Mail, and arrives at Waterford with the Wexford Car.
KILKENNY CAR every day at 3 o’clock—Through Mullinavat, Ballyhale, Stonyford, and by the Merino Factory, and arrives at Bush Tavern, before 9 o’clock, in time to proceed by the Cork Mail to Dublin same Night, or by the Day Coaches or Caravan next Morning to Dublin.
ROSCREA CAR at 5 o’clock in the Morning—Through Carrick, Clonmel, Feathard, Cashel, (Thurles, o’clock), Templemore, and arrives at Roscrea in time for the Dublin Coach; and leaves Roscrea every Morning, and arrives in Waterford at 20 minutes past 7 o’clock, same Evening.
The CLONMEL REGULATOR with Two Horses, and Travelling Six Miles an Hour including all stops, at 3 o’clock and arrives at Clonmel 7 o’clock; leaves Clonmel at 6 o’clock in the Morning and arrives in Waterford at 10 o’clock.
CARRICK CARS 6 and 8 o’clock in the Morning; 3 o’clock in the Afternoon.
ROSS CARS at 8 o’clock every Morning, 3 and 5 in the Evening; leaves Ross at 6 and 7 o’clock in the Morning , and One o’clock in the Afternoon. [The distance between The Granville Hotel, of Waterford and the Quay in New Ross is approximately 14 miles or 23 kilometres.] …
DUNMORE and TRAMORE CARS, as usual, at every necessary hour.
The Proprietor will not be accountable for any Money, Plate, Jewels or Millinery whatsoever, or for any article above the value of Two Pounds Sterling; neither will he be answerable for Damages occasioned by wet or friction. Hats, Coats, Umbrellas, or any undirected Parcels not taken in charge at any of the Offices connected with this Establishment, and for which he will not therefore be accountable. 20 lbs. of Luggage allowed to Passenge3rs, Free; for any quantity over that weight and under 50 lbs. 1d per lb.; under 80 Miles 1 ½ d; and for any distance over that, 2d per lb.
CHARLES BIANCONI, PROPRIETOR
E. COMMINS, Agent
Waterford, June 7, 1824
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The drawing of the horse drawn vehicle above was at the top of the advertisement in the Waterford Mirror.
Founder of Glenmore History’s Anniversary
As the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day we mark this day as our founder, Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) fifth anniversary. To mark Danny’s anniversary, and celebrate his life’s work, in partnership with Glenmore Tidy Towns, we have three more Glenmore golden heritage signs. This brings to 8 the heritage signs that have been placed around the Parish of Glenmore.
Kilivory Cemetery
The first of the three signs was placed at the entrance to Kilivory Cemetery referred to on maps as Kilmakevogue Cemetery. This cemetery has several prominent graves including the Forristal vault and William Gaffney (c. 1762-1798) the leader of the local United Irishmen during the 1798 rebellion. For the markers recorded by Danny in 1961 for this cemetery see our Roots page. However, perhaps the most important grave is that of Rev. Fr. Stephen Lower (c. 1727-1799) who, according to Danny, is credited with three important events:
[1] Fr. Lower was the first priest to record the birth, marriages and deaths in the old combined parish of Slieverue and Glenmore. Thus, we are fortunate that our records go back to 1766.
[2] Fr. Lower during the 1798 Rebellion is credited with stopping the burning of Slieverue Village by British soldiers returning to Waterford after the Battle of New Ross. It is said that Fr. Lower took the bridle of the officer’s horse and led the troops away from the Village.
[3] Well into the middle of the 20th Century locals took soil from Fr. Lower’s grave for the treatment of skin complaints.
Site of Penal Church in Glenmore Village (c. 1711-1813)
Across from the Creamery low in Hanrahan’s field is the site of Glenmore’s Penal Church. Irish Penal Laws were first enacted in 1695 after the Williamite Wars and the Siege of Limerick. The Penal Laws commenced with Catholics being unable to keep weapons and expanded until Catholics could not teach or run schools within Ireland. Eventually, it was a crime for a Priest to celebrate Mass. During the penal period Catholics gathered in secret to attend mass. Danny as a young man learned that the first Catholic Church in the Village of Glenmore was a penal period church consisting of a thatched stone building that looked like a barn. He believed that it was built around 1711.
Enforcement of the Penal Law relaxed, and in 1803, just five years after the 1798 Rebellion, the 3rd Earl of Bessborough gave an acre of land to the Parish of Glenmore for a new Catholic Church. The new St. James’s was completed in 1813. The stones from the Penal church in Hanrahan’s field were used to build the cemetery walls around St. James. This adjoining cemetery opened in 1805. For a brief history of St. James’s of Glenmore see one of our first posts 16 November 2019.
The Site of the Thwarted Ballyfacey Evictions in 1885
Our third sign is to go up in Ballyfacey Upper sometime this week at a site where evictions were stopped.
On 27 August 1885 a large party of armed bailiffs, police and a Resident Magistrate walked from Mullinavat to Ballyfacey, Glenmore, to evict six tenants. Mullinavat and Ballyfacey townland were owned by the widow Louisa Tigue of Woodstock House near Inistioge, Kilkenny. Locally, Land League Chapters had been organised early by local clergy to try to stop evictions.
On that day in August 1885, Church bells across the area rang out from Mullinavat, Glenmore, Listerlin and Tullogher calling the people to Ballyfacey. Fr. Patrick Neary (1828-1887) was driven to Ballyfacey from Mullinavat in an ass cart and is credited with stopping blood shed and saving lives that day as locals pelted the armed party with stones.
The home of Mrs. Anastatia Dollard (c. 1819-1898) was barricaded. It was to be the place of the first eviction. When three bailiffs attacked the house boiling water was thrown on them from inside the house. Eventually it was suggested to R.M. Bodkin that they could gain entry through the thatched roof. Fr. Neary pleaded with Bodkin not to enter through the roof or his wife would be a widow before night. After conferring with the Sheriff, it was decided that the armed party would return to Mullinavat. Subsequently, this success story was reported extensively at Land League meetings and in newspapers. For further information, see our post of 8 March 2020 regarding the Glenmore Land League and the Ballyfacey evictions.
Please send any corrections, additional information, suggestions for other heritage markers or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Thanks to the Glenmore Tidy Town’s team and especially Pat who erects the signs.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
An Unusual Glenmore Grave: The Brereton Family
In 2020, during the COVID lockdowns, two Glenmore History volunteers photographed all existing headstones in the graveyard adjacent to St. James’s in Glenmore Village. We also transcribed the inscriptions which were legible and uploaded the photos and transcriptions to our webpage as well as to Find-a-grave. Recently we have started to update the information and to verify dates of births and deaths with Parish records and the Death Register.
It is surprising how many dates inscribed on the headstones are incorrect. This is probably due to the fact that headstones were often erected years after the recorded death. We were also surprised how many people from Waterford and elsewhere are buried in Glenmore. In most cases their family originated in Glenmore. However, there is at least one headstone with no known family connection to Glenmore. It is the Brereton headstone that is at the back of the Church, about three rows from the back footpath in the centre.
In researching this family we came across some interesting facts with only one being connected directly to Glenmore, namely Margaret Brereton who died on 21 March 1871 in Cappagh, Glenmore. The headstone has her date of death as 15 March 1871. We shall highlight information on all four of the Brereston family members recorded on the Glenmore stone and others in the family which provides insight into an 1897 stabbing in New Ross.
The Brereton Headstone of Glenmore
In memory of Michael Brereton who died Oct 23rd 1887 aged 66 years
Also his beloved wife Catherine Brereton who died January 7th 1888 aged 59 years
Also his daughter Margaret Brereton who died March 15th 1871 aged 20 years
Also their son Michael Brereton who died 14th Feb 1919 aged 64 years
Michael Brereton (Sr.) (c. 1819-1887)
It was easy to learn that Michael Brereton (Sr.), (c. 1819-1887) was a retired R.I.C. officer. In some newspaper accounts he is referred to as a constable and in others he is referred to as a Sergeant. Whatever his rank it does not appear that he was assigned or worked in Glenmore. We have attempted to track his assignments based on where his children were born.
From the R.I.C. records [database R.I.C 1816-1921] it appears that Michael Brereton joined the force in 1839 at the age of 20, and he was born in Tipperary. Thus, he was born about 1819 in Tipperary. Efforts to locate a baptismal record for Michael were not successful, but we note several Brereton baptisms taking place at Roscrea within ten years of his suspected year of birth.
On 21 November 1847 in the Parish of Conna, in County Cork, Michael Brereton married Catherine O’Neill. We believe this to be the correct place of his marriage based on the birth of their children. Michael served in Cork from at least 1847 to sometime before 1865 when he was transferred to Rosbercon, Co. Kilkenny.
While stationed at Rosbercon, Michael Brereton was involved in a few cases involving Glenmore residents. For example, on 29 July 1871, Michael Brereton brought charges against John Hanrahan [1843-1921], of Robinstown, [Glenmore] cooper; William Barry, of Carrigcloney, [Glenmore] labourer; and Patrick Bergin of Millbanks, for committing a breach of the peace by assaulting each other at Rosbercon, Kilkenny.
Retirement from RIC
After Michael retired from the R.I.C. he moved from Rosbercon to New Ross and opened a shop and eventually a pub on the Quay. The Wexford People, (Wed. 27 July 1881, p. 3) noted that “The application of a Mr. Brereton for a licence for the sale of spirituous liquor until the October Sessions was granted.” His permanent license was granted in late October 1881 (Wexford People, Wed. 16 Nov. 1881, p. 8). Soon the corner where his business was located became identified in police reports as Brereton’s corner (Wexford People, Wed. 10 Dec. 1890, p. 7 & Wexford People, Wed. 19 Aug. 1891, p. 7). We believe the business was located at the corner of the Quay and Mary Street.
Michael died on 23 October 1887 and left his entire estate to his eldest son Thomas. No obituary could be located for Michael, but a death notice was located in the Wexford Independent (Sat. 29 Oct. 1887, p. 3). “October 23, at New Ross, aged 66, Michael Brereton late Head Constable, Royal Irish Constabulary. R.I.P.” About ten weeks after Michael died his wife of Catherine died on 7 January 1888 at their home on the Quay, New Ross.
Catherine Brereton née O’Neill (c. 1829 -1888)
The Glenmore headstone merely notes that Catherine Brereton is the wife of Michael (Sr.) and died shortly after Michael Sr. died. Without her father’s name being recorded on the marriage license we were unable to verify her baptism as O’Neill was a common name in the Parish of Conna, Co. Cork. Catherine died on 7 January 1888 at their home on the Quay, New Ross. She was the mother of at least 9 children.
Known Children of Michael Brereton (Sr.) (c. 1819-1887)
[1] Catherine Brereton was baptized at Ballynascurclogy?, Co. Cork on 2 December 1848. She married James Sweeney, policeman of Rosbercon on 12 October 1871 at Rosbercon, about 7 months after her sister Margaret died in Glenmore. Catherine’s first child, Mary Sweeney, was born at Rosbercon on 29 June 1872.
[2] Margaret Brereton (1850-1871) was baptized at Sandrum, Co. Cork on 7 September 1850.
[3] Thomas Brereton (1860-1938) was born in County Cork [1901 Census]. Thomas Constable Brearton (sic) was baptized at Liscarroll, Cork on 15 December 1860 the son of Michael Brearton and Kate O’Neil.
[4] Michael Brereton (Jr.) (1855-1919) was baptized 3 March, 1855, at Churchtown, Co. Cork. Per the 1911 Census he was born at Liscarroll, Co. Cork.
[5] Mary Brereton was baptised 4 April 1858 at Churchtown, Co. Cork.
[6] John Brereton was baptized 2 August 1863 at Churchtown, Co. Cork.
[7] Susan Brereton was baptized at Liscarroll, Co. Cork, on 1 October 1859.
[8] Frances Brereton (1865-1948) was born on 9 March 1865 at Rosbercon, Co. Kilkenny. She is believed to have worked as a schoolmistress and never married. The Irish Press (13 March 1948, p. 14) published the following death announcement: “DEATHS—Brereton (late of New Ross)—March 11, 1948 at St. Joseph’s, Portland Row. Frances Brereton; deeply regretted R.I.P. Funeral from above at 9:30 o’c this (Saturday) morning to Glasnevin.”
[9] Bridget Brereton was born on 20 March 1868 at Rosbercon, Kilkenny.
Margaret Brereton (1850 -1871)
Margaret Brereton (1850-1871) died on 21 March 1871 of inflammation of the bowels at Cappagh, Glenmore. She was ill for two weeks. According to the death register she was employed as a schoolmistress, and at the time of her death Elizabeth Brereton was present. The register does not state what relation, if any, Elizabeth was to Margaret.
Margaret was obviously the first of the family to die and be buried in Glenmore. However, the headstone does not commence with her death. The headstone commences with Michael Sr.’s name. Thus, it appears that one or more of the children had the stone erected after the death of their parents in 1887/1888 at least 16 years after Margaret Brereton’s death in 1871.
Michael Brereton (Jr.) (1855-1919)
Michael Brereton (Jr.) enlisted in the R.I.C. in 1873 in Cork at the age of 18. It is not clear why Michael enlisted in Cork, but he was born at Liscarroll, Cork and it appears that his mother’s people were also in Cork. (R.I.C. Pensions 1873-1925). On 7 September 1885, Michael married Ellen Moran of New Ross at New Ross. At the time of the wedding Michael was stationed with the R.I.C. at Suir Castle, Tipperary. Ellen Moran (c. 1860-1910) was the daughter of Pierce Moran, a New Ross shopkeeper. Michael listed his father Michael as a shopkeeper.
At the time of Michael’s retirement from the R.I.C, in 1899, the New Ross Standard published a short article concerning his career. “MR. MICHAEL BRERETON, NEW ROSS—Not every man on severing his connection with the police force get such a hearty godspeed as did Mr. Michael Brereton, New Ross. Down in Tipperary Mr. Brereton spent the majority of his years in the force, and though during the land war, very strained relations subsisted between the police and people of that county. Mr. Brereton was one of the few members of the R.I.C. who held the confidence and respect of the people. That such was the fact was amply testified by the testimonial which the leading Nationalists of Cashel and Killenaule presented him on his departure, an account of the pleasant little function pertaining to which was published last week” (New Ross Standard, Sat. 17 June 1899, p. 5).
In the 1901 Census Michael was 45 years of age and listed for his occupation that he was an Ex RIC Sgt. and Merchant’s Clerk. He was born in County Cork. From his R.I.C. records we know his last posting was at Carlow and he was receiving his pension at New Ross. In 1901, his wife, Ellen (c. 1860-1910) was 40 and their three sons were: Michael P. Brereton (14); George Thomas Brereton (12); and Terence Henry Brereton (3). All three of their sons were born in Tipperary.
In 1910, Ellen died. A brief death announcement was placed in the Irish Independent, (Sat. 12 Nov. 1910, p. 6) as follows: “BRERETON—Nov. 7, 1910 at her residence Robert St., New Ross, Ellen, the beloved wife of Michael Brereton, ex-Sergeant, R.I.C., deeply regretted.”
In the 1911 Census, Michael was a widower. Only his youngest son, Terence was living with him on Robert St., New Ross. He had three men boarding with him and 1 servant. Michael (Jr.) died 14 February 1919. It is not clear why he was buried in Glenmore rather than with his wife.
School Teachers
We know that at the time of Margaret Brereton’s death in 1871 she was employed as a school teacher. It is assumed since she died in Cappagh, Glenmore that she was employed in the Robinstown National School in Glenmore Village. Through newspaper searches we have found that at least two of her sisters were employed as school teachers in the New Ross Workhouse.
In 1875, the New Ross Union advertised for a Schoolmistress “at the salary of £25 per year with rations and apartment. Candidates who may offer for the above situation must produce Testimonials showing they are at least First or Second or Third class teachers under the National Board of Education, and who are otherwise qualified and competent to fill the office. Candidates personal attendance indispensable” (Wexford People, 23 Jan. 1875, p. 1).
The Wexford People (Wed. 23 Nov. 1881, p. 3) in 1881 published the following article regarding Frances filling in for her sister. “New Ross –a letter was read from the Local Government Board respecting Miss Frances Brereton, whom the Board of Guardians have elected to take charge of the female school of the workhouse during the absence of a few months of her sister, the schoolmistress, at a training school of the National Education Board in Dublin. Because Frances was not more than 17 she was deemed too young to be placed in such a position. The Board’s Inspector, Mr. Hamilton suggested that the schools be amalgamated and placed under the charge of the infant school teacher, during the absence of the schoolmistress, and that Miss Frances Brereton should be employed as monitress. The suggestion was approved.” [Unfortunately we could not locate the name of Frances’s sister who was the schoolmistress for the New Ross workhouse.]
The Brereton Shop & Pub of New Ross
As stated above, Michael (Sr.) left his entire estate to his eldest son, Thomas. Newspapers in the 1890’s identify Thomas Brereton, as a clerk in the employment of Cherry Brother’s brewery (Wexford People, Wed. 13 May 1891, p. 7). A few years later Thomas Brereton was identified as the manager of that establishment and it was noted that he also had a pub on the Quay. On the night of 21 August 1897, Bernard Sweeney assaulted Thomas Brereton by stabbing him with a knife and inflicting grievous bodily harm (New Ross Reporter, Sat. 9 Oct. 1897, p. 3). Thomas Brereton had left the pub and was listening to an open air concert when Sweeney demanded money from him. Brereton refused to give him any money and Sweeney slashed and stabbed him with a knife.
Bernard Sweeney was charged with the attempted murder of Thomas Brereton. Sweeney plead guilty. Dr. Meehan testified that Thomas Brereton was carried in by two men. He was bleeding profusely and had two wounds on the scrotum and one on the inside of his thigh. Brereton’s life was endangered for 3 weeks and he was confined to bed for 1 month. Sweeney was sentenced to 18 months hard labour for the assualt (New Ross Reporter, Sat. 27 Nov. 1897, p. 5).
The 1901 Census reveals that Thomas Brereton was recorded as being 38 when he was actually 41. He was single, a shopkeeper and had three unmarried sisters residing with him. Susan Brereton was 37 and it was recorded that she was a shopkeeper. Frances Brereton (35) and Bridget Brereton (32) were recorded as housekeepers.
No marriage records could be located for Thomas or his three sisters after 1901. They were not found in the 1911 Census. A newspaper search revealed that in 1903 Thomas sold his liquor license. “Richard Doherty of 30 Barronstand St. in Waterford applied to have the license to be transferred to him from Thomas Brereton of the Quay New Ross.” He described the premises as being on the “right hand side of the street leading from the Quay to Mary Street,” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 October 1903, p. 7).
Thomas Brereton, late of New Ross, died 17 March 1932, died in County Home, Enniscorthy in 1932 at age 76.
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh