May, 2020

During the current pandemic research discussions with Danny Dowling have been limited to phone calls, access to libraries is limited to internet sources and in particular old newspapers that may be found on line. Below are some of the Glenmore newspaper articles encountered while looking for other information. These articles span 110 years.

CATHOLIC CHURCH. New Cathedral, Kilkenny—

(Waterford Chronicle—Sat., 17 Dec. 1842)

On last Sunday the people of Glenmore district subscribed the large sum of £lO, 7s, Id. On the previous Sunday the people of Slieverue had given the sum of £67, 0s, 8d which we have now to add Alderman Forrestal’s subscription of two guineas, and one pound from two others. Besides which Lady Esmonde, some time ago, subscribed fifty pounds—making in all the splendid sum of £209, Os, 9d from this union. —Kilkenny Journal.

For a brochure on renovation of St. Mary’s Cathedral with information regarding the building of the Cathedral click here.

“Kilmacow Petty Sessions: A Serious Case”

(Waterford Chronicle—Wed., 18 Sept. 1895)

Thomas Phelan, described as a fisherman, residing near Glasshouse, was charged on remand before the magistrates at Kilmacow Petty Sessions on Thursday, with having murderously having assaulted a young man named John Roche by striking him on the head with a bar of iron, near Glenmore, County Kilkenny. Mr. Allingham defended. After hearing evidence, which showed the assault to be of a most murderous nature, the accused was sent to gaol for two months.

[Just beneath this “serious case” was found the following. It is assumed that the turn of the century joke was a space filler for the newspaper.]

A very stout lady got into an omnibus and overheard the grumbling remark of a gentleman there, “Omnibuses were not made for elephants.” “Sir,” she replied, “Omnibuses are like Noah’s Ark—intended to carry all sorts of beasts.”

Glenmore Post Office Gets Telegraph

(New Ross Standard,  Fri., 8 Feb. 1907   p. 1)

Pursuant to the Provisions of the Telegraph Acts, 1863-1892—Notice is hereby given, that His Majesty’s Postmaster-General, having obtained the consent in that behalf of the body having the control of the public road between railway crossing near Bearston and Glenmore Post Office, intends to place a telegraph over and along the said public road, and have for that purpose to erect and maintain posts in and upon the said public road under the powers conferred on him by the telegraph Acts above mentioned. R.A. Egerton, Sec., General Post Office, 29^th January 1907

CONFUSION OVER GLENMORE?

The unemployed left rural areas to work in towns and cities. If they sought “relief” Unions in towns and cities sought to send the poor back to the areas they left often decades earlier. In response the Unions of their birth often sought to stop transfers back. In the article below, James Grant gave his birthplace as the townland of Glenmore which is in the Electoral District of Stonyford in the Barony of Knocktopher…not so far from Thomastown. The clerk ignored Glenmore townland and focused on Glenmore parish which was mainly in the Waterford Union.

THOMASTOWN GUARDIANS—Transfer of a Pauper. A communication was received from the magistrates assembled at Birkenhead petty sessions, in the county of Chester, authorising the transfer to the Thomastown union from the Birkenhead union of a pauper named James Grant who (the communication stated) was born in the townland of Glenmore, County Kilkenny. The Clerk stated that when he got that communication, he wrote back stating that the parish of Glenmore was not in the Thomastown union but in the Waterford union, and that if he was sent, he would not be received at the union. He did not get a reply to that letter since (New Ross Standard, Friday 4 Sept. 1908).

BRAKES FAIL RAILWAY MISHAP AVERTED

STATIONMASTER’S PROMPTITUDE—An exciting incident, that might have been attended with serious consequences, and possibly grave loss of life, took place at Glenmore near New Ross, on Thursday morning.  The brakes of a special goods train from Waterford to Wexford failed, and the train, running down an incline to Glenmore, crashed into a stop-block, the driver, fireman and guard being obliged to jump clear to save their lives. Fortunately, when the mishap occurred, the train was deflected off the main line, which an oncoming passenger train was due.

The force, of the impact turned the engine across the main line. The first two trucks were crumpled in a heap across the engine, and the remaining wagons were thrown off the rails. The 9.30 train from New Ross and the 9.40 from Macmine Junction were both held up, but passengers were transferred by special conveyance to Glenmore and taken by special train to Waterford.

For the prevention of a catastrophe which would have resulted had the mail and goods train collided, much credit is due to Mr. Peter O’Sullivan, stationmaster, Glenmore, for the presence of mind he displayed. He was in the signal box when the train was due, and seeing her come, he said at the rate of about forty miles an hour, the siren whistling all the time, he suspected what was wrong and made the line for the train to be deflected into the stop-block siding.

So great was the crash, the engine was lifted into the air and thrown across the main line, the two next trucks were smashed, and the bank which formed the stop was practically cut away. Had the train gone on to collide, with the ordinary train due from New Ross, the crash would be too fearful to contemplate (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Dec 1927).

THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

Miss Kathleen Aylward, Glenmore, has left for France to enter the Sacred Heart Convent there. She is niece of Very Rev. Canon Aylward, P.P., Durrow (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 Oct. 1935).

GLENMORE NOTES

(New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Aug. 1951)

Regretted Death

The death of Mr. Patrick Foran, formerly of Kearney Bay, Glenmore, which occurred last Monday evening at Waterford, where he was in residence for a number of years, is deeply regretted. The funeral took place from Ballybricken Church to Glenmore cemetery on Wednesday, and was attended by a large gathering of relatives and friends. R.I.P.

Prize Winners

Glenmore prize winners at the New Ross Agricultural show were:  M. Aylward, Ballinclare; J. J. Doherty, Forritalstown; Reps. of the late T. Mullally, Davidstown; Maura Mullally, do.; James Freyne, Kilbride, and Laurence Walsh, Rochestown.

Back to the States

Mr. James Walshe, Weatherstown, returned to America last Saturday after an enjoyable holiday in the homeland. He has played in the Kilkenny senior hurling and football teams in New York and while at home, played a few matches with the Glenmore club.

Home on Holidays

Messrs. Michael O’Connor, Ballyfacey, and Sean Hennessy, of Glenmore village are home from England on holidays. Miss Nellie Grace, of Kilbride, is also home on a holiday from Dublin.

Gymkhana

The Glenmore gymkhana was held last Sunday at Robinstown, and attracted a fair crowd, which would have been larger, but for the inclemency of the weather. Jumping was of a high standard, over thirty horses; competing. The following were the owners of the winners, the riders being in brackets.

Class A–1^st—Mr. Rd. Doherty, Coolnaleen (Patk. Hartley); 2^nd—Mr. Foskin, Mullinavat (owner); 3^rd—Mr. D. McEvoy, Mullinavat (Luke Doyle).

Class B—First and second divided between Miss Maura Mullally, Davidstown, Glenmore, and P. Hutchinson. 3rd Mr. R. Doherty, Coolnaleen (P. Hartley).

Class C—1^st—Miss Bury, Ballymountain; 2^nd—Mr. T. Walsh, Mullinavat (owner); 3^rd—Mr. P. Hutchinson, Danesfort, (owner).

Class D Sweepstakes—1^st—P. Hutchinson; 2^nd—Miss M. Mullally; 3^rd—Miss Costelloe.

The tractor backing competition was won by Mr. Michael Murphy, Robinstown, who received a silver cup. The runner-up was Mr. T. Mullally, Davidstown.

The Dance Board

The Scow Bridge dance board was patronised by a huge crowd last Sunday night, most of the visitors having remained over after the gymkhana. A couple of touring buses stopped when passing, and helped to swell the throng of dancers, where an enjoyable evening was spent. Mr. Paul Fitzgerald, well known in Gaelic circles, was in charge, and has succeeded in making the dance board at Scow Bridge a most popular rendezvous for outdoor dancing in South Kilkenny.

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The black and white photos of the train crashes were found in old newspapers, but are not photos of the Aylwardstown crash of 1927. The horse and rider appeared in a magazine; it is not a photo taken at the Glenmore Gymkhana of 1951. The photo of St. Mary’s Cathedral is from the Renovation brochure. The photo of the French nun is from an old 1910 postcard.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh