June, 2020

Danny Dowling’s Notebooks are full of references to old newspaper articles. Some directly relate to the Parish of Glenmore and some are more general such as the 1857 article from New York warning prospective emigrants of the economic conditions prevailing in New York.

WATERFORD CHRONICLE, Sat. 7 Nov. 1857

Caution to Emigrant —The editors of Irish journals will well to give as extensive a circulation as possible to the following paragraph, which we copy from the New York Tribune of the 21st; and intending emigrants will do well to lay to heart the lesson it teaches;— “By the first or middle of next December we shall have least one hundred thousand persons out of employment, and nearly out of means, in this city. Already our ship-yards are nearly idle, our foundries are but half working, and our great clothing stores are doing very little. Women have recently come hither from places three hundred miles away in quest of work from those stores, only be turned off with none, and compelled to make their way home again. Hardly since 1837 has so gloomy prospect for winter lowered upon the labouring classes in our city. As yet humbler classes have scarcely felt the pressure; but their turn must come. Places have looked for servant girls for some time past soon servant girls will look earnestly for places, and very glad to find them. Soup houses for hungry labourers who can find no labour will be wanted before January.”

In 1880 the Glenmore Land League was established. (See post, The Glenmore Land League and the Ballyfacey Evictions, 8 March 2020).  The people and priests engaged in grass roots actions to challenge evictions and other acts carried out against tenant farmers. While evictions are often well covered lesser events such as the forced sale of animals are not so well covered. The article below reveals some details including the clergy made pointed and unflattering remarks concerning the police who did the bidding of the landlords, and the Land League used bands to disrupt forced auctions.   

WEXFORD PEOPLE, Sat. 30 April 1881

 THE BATTLE OF BALLYVERNEEN!  Father Furlong [of New Ross] said he was sure they had all heard of the affair at Ballyverneen, near Glenmore, on the previous day, where some cattle belonging to Mr. Patrick Forristal were put up for sale at the instance of his landlord by the sheriff (groans). There was quite an army of police present. The course the proceedings took when the first animal was put up and sold, was that Mr. Forristal paid the rent, there being no use in making up fees for the sheriff or auctioneer (hear, hear). What struck him [Father Furlong] was that if the cattle had been in as good condition as the sub-inspector from Thomastown who commanded the police on the occasion, they would have brought a great deal more (laughter). If the heifer put up had been as well fed, and had her hide been as smooth as this active officer, there was no knowing what price she would have brought (great laughter).

Another instance of police impertinence which he had noticed at the sale was a young policeman with a beardless face, who was making himself as officious as possible, who told a person that happened to jostle him accidently that he would ” knock the head off him.” Passing from this, he wished to say a word in praise of the young men of the Fife and Drum Band, who were kind enough to attend the sale, and who rendered good service; and also to the members of the Brass Band. The latter did not hear that the sale was to take place until it was too late to reach the scene, but when they did hear of it, they laid aside their work, and came out to meet the people. Both bands were deserving of the warmest thanks of the members of the League (applause). Mr. John Meehan, P.L.G. [Public Law Guardian], said he would propose that the thanks of the New Ross Land League be tendered to both bands for their patriotic action on this occasion. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cheevers, P.L.G., and unanimously passed.

Just like today newspapers in the 19^th century and early 20^th century covered crime and in particular murders. Incidents or accidents resulting in fatalities or serious injury were also well covered. The more unusual the circumstances the more likely the death, risk or serious injury would be covered in the newspaper.

NEW ROSS STANDARD–Sat. 26 Nov. 1892

NARROW ESCAPE of A FARMER NEAR NEW ROSS. On Wednesday night a farmer named Kirwan, residing at Ballygurran (sic) in the county Kilkenny, about three miles from New Ross, had a very narrow escape from being drowned in a bog at Carrigcloney or Ballyverneen, near Glenmore. He was going home on foot from New Ross. and whether from an overdose of liquor or the darkness of the night, he walked into the bog off the road at a place within one hundred yards of the cross-roads of Ballyverneen. The tide was coming into the place from the river at the time, and was very dangerous. When the man got in he yelled as loudly as he could for help, and some children hearing him, word was conveyed to the nearest house, when one of the men ran out and rescued the man from what might have proved his grave. The night was intensely dark, and the road near the spot is narrow, and in a dangerous state. The man was when taken out, in a very weak state and exhausted condition, and some time s before he could proceed on his journey home.

While researching the drownings of William Forristal and Patrick Connolly, in 1899, the following article was found concerning Patrick Forristal, of Ballyverneen. No death certificate was located for Patrick Forristal, of Ballyverneen, in 1894. It is assumed that he survived his injuries and was one of the men that found the two drowned men. The 1901 Census provides that only one Patrick Forristal was residing in Ballyverneen in 1901 and he was 42 years of age. From a legal perspective it is interesting that a Resident Magistrate not only took what he considered was a deposition of a dying victim, but the defendant was in attendance at the deposition.

Wexford People, Sat. 31 March 1894

THE SERIOUS ASSAULT NEAR NEW ROSS DYING DEPOSITIONS OF THE INJURED MAN TAKEN. Last week Mr. D. G. Bodkin, RM, attended at Ballyverneen, near Glenmore, for the purpose of taking the dying depositions of the man, Patrick Forrestal, who was so severely injured by the blow of a stone as narrated in the last issue of this journal. The man remained insensible from the time he received the blow until Wednesday, and on recovering consciousness it was decided to have his dying deposition taken. The prisoner was brought out from the New Ross Bridewell by the Glenmore police, and was present while the depositions were being taken. The statement of the injured man was to the effect that he had a dispute with the prisoner, Cooney, and about an our afterwards he was speaking to some boys and girls when he met Cooney who threw the stone at him, striking him in the jaw and breaking the bone. The prisoner was remanded by Mr. Bodkin to Kilkenny jail for eight days.

NEW ROSS STANDARD–Fri. 8 Jan. 1932

GLENMORE WOMAN’S DEATH. TRAGIC AFFAIR AT WATERFORD CITY INFIRMARY. At the County and City Infirmary, Waterford, on Monday, Dr. Denis Kennedy, City Coroner, returned a verdict of death from heart failure, following bronchitis and asthma, at an inquest touching the death of Mrs. Margaret Haberlin, Glenmore, who collapsed at the infirmary and died as she was about to be taken in the lift to a ward.

Dr. J. J. Hogan deposed that deceased was admitted into the County and City Infirmary about 11.45 on Monday morning. He was called urgently about that time by the Sister on duty to the main hall of the infirmary and found the deceased lying on the floor, being supported by two nurses. She was pulseless, and, in his opinion, then dead. He ministered restoratives without any effect. From the history of the case as given to him he had no doubt the cause of death was heart failure, supervening on chronic bronchitis and asthma.

John Haberlin, a blacksmith and farmer, husband of the deceased, said she was aged 44 years. She was suffering fairly constantly from illness for the past three years. Her complaint was lung trouble. About three weeks ago she got very ill, and was confined to bed. She was attended by Dr. Fitzgerald, of New Ross. He was in attendance on the previous morning, when he said her heart was weak and she bad bronchitis and asthma.

Dr. Fitzgerald recommended her removal to the County and City Infirmary, and that morning she was removed in a car, owned by Rev. Father Gibbons, P.P. She was seemingly improved when Father Gibbons arrived to take her to Waterford, and she was able to walk, with help, to the car outside. The nurses took charge of her at the hospital, and he did not go inside. When parting she gave instructions as to things she wanted done. He was called to the infirmary a few minutes later, and when he saw her she was dead. Nurse Elizabeth O’Connor deposed she was a trained nurse in the County and City Infirmary. On that morning at about 11.45 a.m. she was called with another nurse to assist a patient into the hospital. With the assistance of the other nurse the patient walked in. She spoke and said she felt very hot, that the shawl had slipped off her head. They were in the hallway at the lift when she said: “I feel I am going to faint.” At the same time she collapsed between them, they still holding her. The doctor less summoned by Sister Agnes who saw the woman fall. Dr. Hogan came at once, but the woman was dead when he arrived.

Although all of these events took place between 90 to 163 years ago the events if they occurred today they would probably still make the local news.

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is available at https://www.buildingsofireland.ie.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh