March, 2021
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One Hundred Years Ago: April 1921
British newspaper articles in April 1921 reflect how industrial strife in the post-World War I period seized the attention of the authorities. As Britain loosened control of the war industries wages were cut. When the coal mine owners in March 1921 announced more wage cuts it led to a strike and fear that the transport and rail workers would join in a “Great Strike.” On what has been dubbed Black Friday, the National Transport Union and the National Union of Railwaymen refused to join the striking coal miners. Although there was initial relief that that the Great Strike was averted, individual transport unions and workers refused to carry the coal. Against this backdrop of industrial strife, “outrages” in Ireland were reported with more frequency. In Dublin alone, in April, over 65 attacks on Crown forces were reported. By the end of the month the newspapers were commenting on the growing lists of wounded and killed police, auxiliaries, soldiers, “rebels” and civilians across Ireland.
Glenmore Labour Dispute
Glenmore, in the midst of the industrial strife in England and the War of Independence in Ireland, had its own labour dispute. The dispute was between the farm labourers and the farmers of the Glenmore district. After negotiations between the Transport Workers’ Union and the employing farmers a settlement was reached. Ploughmen were to be paid £1 a week with board and lodgings and general hands 18s. per week with board and lodgings (Kilkenny People, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6).
Glenmore Man Arrested
It was reported in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 1 April 1921, p. 5) that Mr. James Hanrahan, of Glenmore was arrested the previous week, brought to New Ross and afterwards taken to Inistioge. In the same newspaper, a few columns to the right it was reported that he was released from custody on Monday. The Munster Express (Sat. 2 April 1921, p. 6) provides a few more details including that he was arrested by auxiliary forces (Black and Tans) and that he was well known in sporting circles, and was a former all-Ireland representative on the Kilkenny football team. What isn’t reported in either newspaper is the fact that the Crown had James Hanrahan, the intelligence officer for the Glenmore Company of the old IRA, in custody and released him. For the list of members of the Glenmore Company see, https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-company-of-the-old-ira/ .
Son of Glenmore Man Killed in Action
Last fall when Danny Dowling was discussing the War of Independence, he identified three men with direct Glenmore connections who were killed in action during the war. The first of the trio was Peter Freyne, Kilcullen, Thomastown. Peter Freyne was born on the 28th of May 1903, [Update: some records record that he was born on the 28th of April 1903] the son of John Freyne a native of Kilbride, Glenmore. In our next blog post we will provide more information regarding John Freyne and his two sons who fought in the War of Independence.
Very little information was published in April 1921 regarding the attack on the 11th on the London and North Western Railway Hotel, North Wall, Dublin where the Black and Tans were quartered. Peter Freyne (1903-1921) who was a Sergeant in Company E. of the 2nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade was killed in the action. After his father, John Freyne, a widower, identified his body, he was brought to Thomastown for burial on the 14th of April (Munster Express, Sat. 16 April 1921, p. 4). Previous to the arrival of the train a crowd numbering several thousand knelt and recited the rosary. A large force of auxiliary police and the R.I.C. was present. The coffin was draped with the republican flag and covered with wreaths. The flag was seized by the Crown forces, who accompanied the funeral to the church, which they entered. On leaving the church the mourners were surrounded by the forces and searched. John Fleming, D.C., and John Gardiner were arrested the following morning (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 April 1921, p. 6). In addition to the local clergy present Rev. Thomas Freyne, C.C. of Gathabawn and Rev. Patrick Freyne C.C. of Johnstown, uncles of the deceased (Kilkenny People, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6) and natives of Glenmore were present. There was subsequently much activity by Crown forces, and further arrests included: Michael Murphy, D.C., and Richard Doyle (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 April 1921, p. 6).
Martial Law
In April there were fewer executions carried out by the Crown Authorities than in the previous month. In Cork, on the 28th of April, Patrick Sullivan, Maurice Moore, Patrick Ronayne and Thomas Mulachy were shot for levying war against the King. (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 29 April 1921, p. 6). In Dublin, Thomas Traynor, the father of ten children, the youngest being five months old, was executed by hanging on the 25th of April. Traynor was implicated in the shooting of Cadet Farrell in Dublin on the 15th of March.
The martial law requiring a military permit for the day time use of bicycles in Kilkenny caused widespread arrests and the seizure of bicycles. An official of the National Transport Union was walking his bicycle after alighting from a train in Kilkenny City and he was detained and his bicycle seized. Workers cycling home from New Ross, where there were no restrictions on the use of bicycles, were detained and their bicycles seized. The cases against Patrick Lee, Richard Maddock, Mary Fitzgerald and Patrick Murphy, of Ballyknock, Tullogher, for cycling without permits in county Kilkenny came before the military court of Kilkenny. The cases were dismissed and the bicycles returned to their owners (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 April 1921, p. 5).
In New Ross, early in the month a military Proclamation was posted warning the public that anyone passing the police barrack between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., new time, would be fired upon if they failed to halt and put up their hands immediately when required by the sentry (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).
On the Sunday following the burial of Peter Freyne the auxiliaries surrounded the chapel in Hugginstown while Mass was being conducted. As the faithful left the church all the men and boys were lined up outside the wall on the street and searched. The search included removing their caps and examining the lining of coats. Some young men wearing Sinn Féin ties were compelled to remove their ties. The names of all men and boys were recorded. J. Aylward, R. Barron, D. Butler, and W. Lynch were detained for some time, but later Aylward and Barron were liberated. Butler and Lynch were conveyed away in the lorries. The forces also visited Hugginstown on the previous Tuesday evening several shots were discharged. “They had an exciting chase after two young men for nearly a mile, but failed to capture them. The Auxiliaries conducted themselves very well whilst Mass was being celebrated” (Munster Express, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6).
James Hoban, a farmer’s son, from Glendonnell, Mullinavat was shot through both legs on the 19th in broad daylight while transacting business at the pig fair in the village. He was shot by Crown forces with a single shot fired from a machine gun. The shot apparently came from an armoured car that had just arrived at the barracks. James Hoban died later that night of shock in the County and City Infirmary, Waterford (Munster Express, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6). James was born in 1897 and was the son of James Hoban and Ellen Hoban née Walsh.
Local I.R.A. Activities
As reported in March most of the local activities were designed to slow the movement of Crown forces and to keep Crown forces deployed outside of the major population centres. One I.R.A. activity that increased significantly was the seizure of mail. This was undertaken to stop communications to and between Crown officials and to intimidate civilians from reporting or informing on local men or activities.
In Waterford an army field kitchen vehicle was unloaded from one of the Clyde Shipping steamers. That night it was removed and dumped into the river Suir. It was salvaged a few days later and sent to its destination in County Wexford (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4). What route the army field kitchen vehicle took to County Wexford is not known, but it could not have been transported to County Wexford via the Waterford-New Ross road. As previously reported in our March blog two bridges on the Waterford to New Ross Road, in the townland of Ballyverneen, Glenmore, near Forristal’s Mill, were damaged in March. “The bridge on the New Ross-Waterford road, at the foot of Glenmore was blown up on Friday night [the 8th of April]. Previously the arch of the bridge had been destroyed a few weeks ago” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4).
In terms of raids on mail it was alleged that early in the month John Harrison, a farmer, of Drumreilly, Co. Leitrim, wrote a letter to the authorities. When his letter was discovered during a mail raid he was executed by the I.R.A., and a note was left with his body labelling him an informer. The Belfast News-Letter (Mon. 2 May 1921, p. 5) reported that the “official details concerning the murder …of Mr. John Harrison of Drumreailly, County Leitrim, show that he was not only shot, but so chopped about with an axe that even the doctor who examined the remains fainted at the sight.” We were unable to find this “official detail” reflected in any other contemporary Irish newspaper.
In Wexford town on the 1st of April raiders consisting of five armed and masked men entered the post office at 7:20 a.m. and held up the staff who were sorting the mail. Initially it was reported that the staff thought it was an April Fool’s prank, “but on presenting of arms the seriousness of the situation became apparent. The R.I.C. correspondence was demanded, and having secured it the party left” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).
On the 4th of April the mail car between Waterford and Dunmore East was raided (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8). On the 5th of April a parcel from London arrived at the Waterford G.P.O. When the bags were being emptied for sorting two revolvers dropped out. The weapons were wrapped in paper, but no address could be deciphered (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 5). That evening the “up mail train” from Waterford and New Ross was boarded by mask men who seized three of four mail bags. (New Ross Standard, Fri, 8 April 1921, p. 8). The Waterford G.P.O. was raided by masked gunmen on the 15th of April and the mail was returned to the Post Office, marked “Censored by I.R.A.” (Munster Express, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6). On Sunday the 24th of April the Thomastown postman, Thomas Dack, was held up a short distance from the railway station by a party of masked men. Dack had just collected the morning mail from the 7:30 train from Kilkenny. He was blindfolded and his hands and feet were tied. The mail bags were taken. Dack extricated himself and reported the occurrence at the post office. About noon three of the mail bags were found untampered near the viaduct bridge, about 500 yards from the railway station. The remaining bags were not found (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 April 1921, p. 5).
In addition to the increase in mail seizures, the Mullinavat R.I.C. Barracks was again attacked on Tuesday the 13th of April commencing at 12:30 a.m. The Official Report recites that the attack commenced with a considerable number of armed men armed with rifles and revolvers throwing explosives at the barracks. Police responded with rifles and revolver fire and grenades. “A section of the garrison which is numerically small, threw up Verey lights and signals for assistance.” All wires, telephone and telegraph, connecting Mullinavat with surrounding towns and villages were cut. Three large holes were made at the rear of the building from bombs. There were no reported injuries or deaths on either side although the Official Report believed that there were some losses among the “assailants.” The attack ended at about 2:30 a.m. when the attackers withdrew (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921). The Waterford News & Star (Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 7) provided a few more details. “A thatched cottage opposite the barracks took fire during the melee, and was burned down. As a preliminary to the attack, the wires were cut (including some in the city of Waterford), and the bridge at Lough Cullen, near Mullinavat, was blown up…The roads converging on Mullinavat were, it is said, otherwise blockaded.”
Battle for Hearts, Minds and Intimidation
Both sides in the conflict put up posters and both sides tore down posters. The month commenced with a number of Belfast boycott posters being put up in New Ross and promptly taken own by the military (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 April 1921, p. 5). The following week the New Ross military posted posters stating, “Home Rule is alright. But don’t build it on ruins. Stop the murder of policemen and soldiers.” Overnight the posters were cut down (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8). In Waterford it was reported that several prominent persons received type-written notices, signed “Anti-Murder.” The message read, “Sir or Madam—we have credible information that you employ or harbour assassins, the gentlemen who shoot in the back, fire from behind fences. If any of these commit any of their usual crimes in this city or vicinity, you or your house and business WILL GO UP.” The notices were mailed in Waterford city, and printed on paper bearing a “certain watermark” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 5).
Newspaper Censorship
Most local newspapers were already under military censorship, but Mr. E. T. Keane, Editor of the Kilkenny People received notice that because he had reported on a meeting of the Board of Guardians, where a letter from Dáil Eireann was read, the newspaper was placed under military censorship (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4). Although no further details are provided it is believed that the letter was a demand for taxes raised from licenses etc. to be sent to Dáil Eireann rather than to Crown Officials. Mr. D. O’Carroll, J.P. resigned as clerk of the Law Guardian Board and Castlecomer Union stating he could not serve two masters (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).
On the first of April four masked and armed men, in the middle of the night gained access to the residence of Michael Rockett (c. 1876-1966) of Slieverue. The men demanded in the name of the Irish Republic, the money that had been collected from neighbours for dog licences. When they were informed that the money had already been sent the men sternly demanded that the sum sent be paid to them or they would raid the house. After receiving €11 the men left (Munster Express, Sat. 9 April 1921, p. 5).
Notwithstanding the military censorship often interesting articles and advertisements are found in the censored newspapers. For example, the New Ross Standard (Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4) published a column of old Irish which prior to the censorship was not generally translated. The following translation of the Irish joke that passed censorship is as follows:
TRANSLATION, THE ORPHAN– An Irishman was going to market one day, and when he was nearing the town, he heard the bell tolling. The first man he met was an Englishman. He did not know why the bell was tolling, and he asked the Englishman the reason. “Oh,” said the Englishman, “did you not hear that the devil is dead?” ” I did not,” said he. “Come here,” and with that he put his hand in his pocket and handed him a penny. “Why are you giving me the penny?” said the Englishman. “That is a custom our people have when the father dies we give alms to the orphans.”
Lastly, the following unusual advertisement appeared in the New Ross Standard on the first of April 1921. Was it an April Fool’s prank or a coded message to get past the military censorship?
Desperate Tragedy at Old Ross, Co. Wexford—During steam rolling operations outside the premises of L. T. Doyle, Universal Provider and Anti-Kodologist, Old Ross and Palace East. “High Prices ” were deliberately pushed under the wheels and crushed to atoms. After cremation the remains were despatched by aerial post to “The Torrid Zone ” from whence there is no return. Everything is now selling in above stores at bedrock prices, and there was no cessation of business during the mourning period, nor no whiskey at “The Wake.” The War Baby. High Prices Killed in Action at Old Ross, Co. Wexford, March 1921. No prayers, by request. (k475:5-4)
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above is from the Irish column that appeared in the New Ross Stanard on 15 April 1921, p. 4. The English translation is above.
There is no known photo of the destroyed bridges on the old main Waterford to New Ross road. Below is a photo taken in 2020 of the bridge on the old main Waterford to New Ross road nearest to where Forristal’s mill stood in Graiguenakill. Danny Dowling noted that it was once a humped back bridge that allowed small vessels to carry grain up the pill to the mill.
[Clarification the publican that was raided in Slieverue in early April 1921 was Michael Rockett not Michael Stapleton who died later in April 1921. Apologies for the error.]
Ciss Dillon (1919-1997) of Rochestown, Glenmore & Her WWII Work [updated]
In the early decades of the twentieth century many young women went to England to seek employment and in many instances the employment or profession they pursued was nursing. Today, we are going to highlight Catherine Cecilia Dillon (1919-1997) who was known as Ciss Dillon. Although born and raised in Rochestown, Glenmore, in the 1930s she went to England to train as a nurse. Molly Walsh (1905-1937) also a native of Rochestown, Glenmore and her sister Nell Walsh also went to England to train as nurses. Molly was educated at the Mercy Convent in New Ross and graduated from the Queen Anne Nursing Training of London. (See, the obituary of Mary “Molly” Walsh née Walsh on the W family page.) However, unlike most of her peers, Ciss Dillon did not remain in England, or return to Ireland, she moved to France where she remained and worked during the Second World War.
The Dillon Family of Rochestown, Glenmore
Ciss Dillon was the eldest daughter of John Dillon (1891-1955) and Catherine “Kate” Dillon née Hawe (1896-1981).
John Dillon was born on the 9th of Feb. 1891, in New Ross, son of Michael Dillon, labourer and Kate Dillon née Fenlon. Michael Dillon married Catherine Fenlon on 16 Feb. 1885 at Templedagon, Wexford. The marriage records reveal that Michael Dillon, was from Ballynaberva, was employed as a labourer and was the son of Laurence Dillon, a farmer. The bride, Catherine Fenlon was from Ballygalvert, and she was employed as a servant. Her father was John Fenlon, who appears to have died prior to the wedding.
Catherine “Kate” Dillon née Hawe was born on the 28th of October 1896 at Rochestown, Glenmore. Kate was the only child of Patrick Hawe (1871-1933) and Mary Hawe née Merrigan (1856-1922) of Milltown, Glenmore. Patrick Hawe and Mary Merrigan were married at Glenmore on 30 October 1895. The parish records reveal that Patrick Hawe was baptized at Glenmore on the 16th of March 1871 and he was the son of Michael Hawe and Catherine Hawe née Malone of Rochestown. His wife, Mary Hawe, née Merrigan was the daughter of Michael Merrigan, a labourer and Mary Morrissey of Milltown. As reported in a previous blog post, Patrick Hawe drowned in the River Barron in August 1933. At the time of Patrick Hawe’s death he was a widower and resided with his daughter Kate Dillon née Hawe, her husband and children. See, https://glenmore-history.com/patrick-hawe-1871-1933-of-rochestown-glenmore-the-curse-of-the-river-barrow/.
When Ciss Dillon’s parents married on 2 August 1915 her father, John Dillon, was a 24 year old fisherman living in Carrigcloney, Glenmore. Her mother, Kate Hawe was 19 years of age and living with her parents in Rochestown, Glenmore. At the time of the wedding the groom’s father, Michael Dillon, was a platelayer for the railway and the bride’s father, Patrick Hawe, was recorded as fisherman. The witnesses to the wedding were Laurence Dillon and Mollie Murphy.
Ciss Dillon was one of seven children born to John Dillon and Kate Dillon née Hawe.
(1) Patrick Dillon (1916-2003) lived in Slieverue; (2) Michael Dillon (1917-1995) lived in Slieverue; (3) Catherine Cecilia “Ciss” Dillon (1 Sept. 1919-2 May 1997); (4) Laurence “Larry” Dillon (1921-2016) lived in Wolverhampton. (5) Mary “Maureen” Dillon (1924-2002) went to England to work. She married a local chap Michael O’Neil whose mother was Bridie O’Neil née Connolly. (6) Margaret “Peggy” Dillon (1927-1995) married a man named Haberlin, and lived in Ballinlaw, Slieverue and (7) John Dillon (1934-2001).
Nursing Training Before World War II
According to Barbara Mortimer, the author of Sisters: Heroic True-Life Stories From the Nurses of World War Two (2013), nursing as a profession in Britain began developing in the mid-19th century. Although it was one of the few professions open to respectable women it was a “pioneering career choice, but the job was accompanied by a stifling regime of disciple and service.” (p. 2) The first Nurse Registration Act was passed into law in 1919. This law established the statutory General Nursing Councils which began to organise the national education, training and regulation of nurses.
Leading up to the outbreak of war in 1939, there was a shortage of nurses. At this time there were no antibiotics and often the only course of treatment a doctor could order was rest and good nursing. As women had more choices regarding jobs, nursing was not an attractive career choice because of the way in which nurses were trained and hospitals were organised. In 1937 a committee was appointed to advise on improving recruitment. As is the case with most committees only an interim report was issued by the time war broke out.
In order to train as a nurse, a woman had to apply to a nursing school attached to a hospital where she worked as an apprentice in the wards. The best nursing schools had an organised Preliminary Training course (PTS) where she would be taught anatomy, physiology and hygiene and learn on the job skills including: bed making, damp dusting, scrubbing rubber mattress protectors called mackintoshes, filling hot water bottles, sluicing dirty linen and preparing special diets. Each student had a General Nursing Council booklet that listed the required skills and when the trainee nurses mastered a skill her book was signed by the sister tutor. At the end of this 3 year preliminary training the trainee nurse took her completed book to her final practical examination, where it was inspected (Mortimer, p. 2).
Nurses’ pay during the 3 year preliminary training was poor, the hours were long, the work hard and included exhausting domestic labour. During PTS in those years trainee nurses were entitled to a day off a month plus a half day every other Sunday. Once the PTS was completed there would be some formal lessons in a classroom, normally given by a doctor or a sister tutor. In all hospitals nursing skills were honed at the bedside where the student nurse was taught, supervise and “almost driven” by more senior nurses. Training usually took 4 years but often took 5 or more years if the trainee was ill or injured during the training period (Mortimer, p. 3).
Irish Nurses in War Torn France
Ciss Dillon told her daughter Bernie that she worked in hospitals in Nice, Lyon and Grenoble during the war. After the Nazi’s invasion in June 1940, France quickly fell and the Franco-German Armistice of July 1940 was signed. France was divided. The Nazi’s controlled the north of the country and the Free French nominally controlled the south under the Vichy government until 1944. It is not known when Ciss Dillon worked in each of the three cities, but Nice and Grenoble during the war were primarily under Italian control. Lyon was not too far from the town of Vichy and remained under the control of the Vichy government. As the war progressed Lyon became central to the French resistance. Ciss told her daughter Bernie that a plaque was placed on one of the hospital walls as a tribute to the three Irish nurses who worked there during the war. At one point Ciss fell ill while nursing in France and the local priest wrote to her worried family in Rochestown, Glenmore regarding her illness and recovery.
How or why Ciss went to France at such a dangerous time is not known. It is not known how much French Ciss could read or speak prior to moving to France. Another Glenmore woman who spent the war working in France was Sr. Eileen Roche, of Rathinure, Glenmore. Sr. Eileen was assigned to the Good Shepherd Convent in Angers, France. It may be the case that Ciss was recruited by a religious order to go to France to nurse. It may be the case that she was recruited by an international humanitarian organisation such as the Red Cross. There is a military record for a Catherine Dillon who served with the RAF during this time, but this does not appear to be Ciss Dillon, of Rochestown, Glenmore. One contemporary article in the Catholic Standard (12 Jan. 1945) provides information regarding the Irish nursing nuns of the Bon Secour Order. It was estimated that 150 to 200 of their Order in France were Irish. The Mother General sent a message to Dublin in 1945 and noted “None of our nuns has been killed, or has died, except from natural causes.” Convents, hospitals and clinics in many areas were obliterated but the nuns continued working from the ruins. In Lorient not a stone remained in place of the convent and clinic. In Aras, their hospital was destroyed during the First World War, rebuilt and “blown to bits” during the Second World War. Both sides respected the nuns and their work. It was reported that early in the conflict the retreating Allied armies brought the nuns south in lorries away from fighting and the Germans brought them back again in more lorries to resume their work. “Both sides honoured them.”
After the War
After the war Ciss Dillon returned to England and while working at the Glenside Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Bristol, she met another employee, Robert Arthur Honeyfield (c. 1920-2015). Ciss and Bob were married in Bristol on 1st of November 1947. They raised a family and made almost yearly trips to Glenmore as reflected in the New Ross Standard. In 1988 it was reported, “FAMILY REUNION—Seven members of a family had a happy reunion last week. They are Bob Honeyfield, his wife Catherine; Maureen O’Neill and her son John and his wife Bernie, who are all home on holidays together from England. (New Ross Standard, 7 July 1988, p. 18)
Ciss Honeyfield née Dillon died on 2 May 1997. The following obituary appeared in the New Ross Standard (21 May 1997, p. 31).
DEATH OF CISS HONEYFIELD—The death took place recently after a brief illness in Bristol Hospital of Mrs. Ciss Honeyfield (nee Dillon). Funeral took place over the weekend and burial took place in Bristol Cemetery after Requiem Mass. Sincere Sympathy to her husband Bob Honeyfield, son Kevin, daughter Bernie, grandchildren, brothers Paddy Dillon Slieverue, John Dillon, Waterford, Larry Dillon, England, Sister Maureen O’Neill, sisters-in-law, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. She was daughter of the late John and Katie Dillon, Rochestown, Glenmore. She was predeceased by her brother Mick Dillon, Airmount, Slieverue and her sister Peggie Haberlin. The late Ciss emigrated to England about 52 years ago but never forgot the homeland as she and her husband Bob and her son and daughter spent their annual holidays in Rochestown. Members of the family travelled to Bristol for the funeral Mass and burial.
Bob Honeyfield survived Ciss by 18 years and died at the age of 94 on the 18th of January 2015.
As we head toward the 80th anniversary of the end of the war it is hoped that the plaque on the wall of the unknown hospital, paying tribute to her and the other Irish nurses, still survives to bear witness to their toil to save lives. Ciss Dillon belonged to the selfless generation of Irish women who nursed in France during the war to save lives amidst shortages, chaos and danger.
Special thanks to Bernie Kefford née Honeyfield for sharing the family photos and information. The featured photo above is Ciss Dillon. It is believed that the photo was taken during her time in France.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
[The post was updated on 29 March 2021 with corrected and omitted dates.]
WWII Map By Eric Gaba (Sting – fr:Sting) for original blank mapRama for zones – Own workSource of data: NGDC World Data Bank II (public domain)Image:France map Lambert-93 with regions and departments-blank.svg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5285193
The Sad Farewell
On Friday the 19th of March, a fine spring morning, people began to gather in the Village of Glenmore to bid a final and sad farewell to a man who had called Glenmore his home for 94 years. As friends and neighbours met, absent were the customary hugs and handshakes. The scourge of COVID continues and impacted on the customary Glenmore funeral practices. Undaunted, behind the mandated face masks and imposed distances, the gathered began to remanence and share fond memories of the wonderful, colourful Danny. As the bell of St. James began to toll the hearse carrying the earthly remains of Daniel Dowling (1927-2021) left the house where he was born in the village and slowly climbed the hill to the church followed by his family and a large crowd of mourners on foot. Along the roadway friends and neighbours stood in respect. At the gates of St. James’s, the hearse stopped and the six pallbearers placed the wooden coffin on their shoulders and carried it to the church. With COVID restrictions only ten family members could attend the funeral Mass, but loudspeakers broadcast the service to the mourners outside and the internet allowed family and friends across the globe to hear and see it. I was struck that Danny would have commented upon and written a note or two concerning the restrictions and the resulting blending of the old funeral customs with the new technology.
I had the privlege of meeting Danny and Mollie Dowling thirty years ago this coming October. My first, of what would become hundreds of outings with Danny, was to Kilcolumb ruins and graveyard. As Danny led me to the oldest Kennedy headstone in the parish he said, “None die so well as the poor.” He went on to explain that the poor did not feature in history and did not have headstones etc. There is little doubt that Danny embraced the field of social history as it emerged as an academic field of study in the mid-twentieth century. It was an alternative to conventional history that focused on great civilizations, politics and wars. Although Danny had an interest in history in general, he was far more interested in learning and recording the lives of ordinary local men and women. With absolutely no training, and few examples to follow, Danny went about interviewing and recording information regarding the local areas, events, traditions and people. Ever evolving and learning, Danny in 2018 told me that he thought that family history was the more correct title for his type of work.
Whatever category that may be put on Danny’s work, when Danny began what was to become his life’s work, he started with a simple pen and paper. There were no computers, internet, copiers or mobile phones. Danny never obtained a drivers license and traveled to libraries, archives, institutions and individuals via public transportation. He hand copied records into notebooks. He corresponded with a large number of individuals and institutions within Ireland and abroad. Danny often spent long hours reading old newspapers on micro-film in various libraries in order to find information to a query he received. Danny enjoyed his retirement where he devoted himself full time to pursuing his work armed with his transportation pass. When public transportation wasn’t available Mollie, or others, drove him to his destination. He was also a well known and well liked visitor to bookshops and book fairs across the country where he searched for books for his extensive collection.
Danny often remarked that there is no person that does not have an interest in history. It may not be the history taught in school, but it might be a history of their family, their land, sport, fashion, music or horse racing. He exhibited an uncanny ability to draw information out of people who often did not believe that what they provided was worth recording. Danny “never met a stranger” and never missed an opportunity to gather local information and record it. Some of his interviews were conducted after funerals, on the bus into Waterford, in the pub, in nursing homes or on the street when he encountered an old acquaintance. Danny always carried a small notebook, or sheets of paper, and would jot down notes of what was said. It is fascinating to transcribe Danny’s notebooks and follow his lines of inquiry across the years.
In education the term “life long learner” is a commonly used phrase, but Danny is actually one of the few people I have known who was a life long learner. In 2019 when Danny asked me to help put his work into a book about Glenmore, I suggested a blog. Danny had never seen a blog, didn’t understand how it would work, but liked the idea of a “weekly” history article backed by a website with static pages for family and townland information etc. Although 92 years of age he caught on quickly, and after we went live he soon began to ask how many visitors and “hits” we had and where they originated. He marveled at the ability of people around the world to view his work and to hear that descendents of long gone emigrants were able to research their way back to Glenmore. He expressed delight when he learned something new about Glenmore uncovered this past year in old newspapers now available on-line. Of course none of this would have been possible without the support and care Danny received as his health declined. It was no small task for Danny’s son Pat, and daughter-in-law Orla, to keep Danny well and safe particularly after COVID struck the country, but they succeeded.
Lest anyone who never met Danny is given the impression that he was a stuffy scholar, Danny, in fact, possessed a wicked sense of humour, had an infectious school boy giggle and his smile would light up the room. Like many others I shall miss my old friend, and thank him for asking and allowing me to help bring his life’s work to the world.
Ní beidh a leithéad ann arís. (His like won’t be here again.)
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Danny Dowling (1927-2021): The End of an Era
A wonderful gentleman, historian, friend and founder of Glenmore-History.com has passed away at the age of 94 years.
Condolences may be left via the following link https://rip.ie/death-notice/danny-dowling-glenmore-kilkenny/453083
Deepest sympathy to Pat, Orla, Aoife, young Danny and all extended family members.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé agus. (May he be at God's right hand.) Go neirí on bóthar leis ar neamh. (May the road rise to meet him in heaven.) Kathleen
John O’Donovan (1806-1861) and Genuine Irish Proverbs
As we approach St. Patrick’s Day 2021, we wanted to provide a few Irish proverbs to readers. In our quest for proverbs, we discovered a paper written in 1832 by the well-known Irish scholar John O’Donovan (1806-1861) who was born and reared in the former united Catholic parishes of Slieverue and Glenmore. For a concise biography of O’Donovan and his important work see, https://libraryireland.com/biography/JohnODonovan.php .
As Danny Dowling explained, in some of our earliest posts, the parish of Glenmore did not exist until 1846 when the Catholic parish of Slieverue was split. The old civil parish of Kilcolumb was divided unequally between the Catholic parishes of Slieverue and the new Catholic parish of Glenmore. John O’Donovan’s mother was Elleanor Haberlin, from Rochestown townland, now in Glenmore. She married on 6 October 1788 Edmond O’Donovan, of Atateemore townland, Slieverue. Atateemore was where John O’Donovan was born in 1806. During the 1846 division, Attateemore although in the civil parish of Kilcolumb, and alongside Rochestown, remained in Slieverue Catholic parish.
John O’Donovan is said to have started his education in a hedge school and then attended the Hunt Academy in Waterford City. His father, Edmund O’Donovan died in 1817 and a few years later at the age of 17 O’Donovan went to Dublin. Although a place was secured for him to study at Maynooth he declined it because he did not wish to become a priest. O’Donovan’s first job was in the Public Service Office where he translated and transcribed ancient manuscripts (Munster Express, 10 Nov. 2006, p. 13). From 1830 to 1842 O’Donovan was employed on the first Ordinance Survey researching place names. He was sent into the field and travelled across Ireland. From around Ireland, O’Donovan sent letters to his boss containing descriptions of local lore, tradition and antiquities. These letters were placed in 103 volumes and became known as the “O’Donovan Letters.” “They are not heavy with more erudition, but are enlivened with flashes of humourous anecdotes and many a merry ‘quip and crack and jest.’” (Catholic Encyclopedia, available at https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11210c.htm ). From 1842 until 1861, from time to time, O’Donovan continued to perform work on the Ordinance Survey when requested.
by Bernard Mulenan (wiki)
In 2014 Professor Michael Herity, presented to the Royal Irish Academy a lecture entitled “John O’Donovan’s Work for the Ordinance Survey 1830-61” the slides are available at Prof. Michael Herity, MRIA, ‘John O’Donovan’s work for the OS’. 29-10… (slideshare.net). In addition to highlighting the work undertaken see, slide 23 which highlights an interesting excerpt from one of O’Donovan’s letters. “There is a tradition here that the Goldsmiths are descended from a foreign friar who came to Ireland about a couple of centuries ago, and who seeing every inducement to embrace the Religion of the state broke his vows of chastity, poverty etc. and became a Minister legens. And hence the family were called by the old Irish in their own language lioct maga laide an tean báta, which I avoid translating for the sake of decency. This may or may not be true, but it is worthy of remark that the family are remarkable for lasciviousness and that almost all of the Goldsmiths now living here are illegitimate…All this has little to do with topography.”
Irish Proverbs
In 1832, while working for the Ordinance Survey, John O’Donovan’s article entitled “Irish Proverbs,” was published in the Dublin Penny Journal (Nov. 1832, p. 158-19 available at URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/30003762). A proverb is usually a short saying of popular wisdom to provide practical advice or teach a lesson. O’Donovan noted that from ancient times proverbs were recorded by Plato, Aristotole and Plutarch. “Proverbs owe their origin to the sayings of wise men, allusions of ancient poets, the customs and manners of nations, they are adapted to common use as ornaments of speech, set rules of instruction, arguments of wisdom, to which time has given assent, and maxims of undeniable truth. The peculiar veneration which the Irish have for their ancient proverbs, has given rise to a well known assertion: Ni feider an sean-fhocal do sharúghadh. It is impossible to contradict the old word (proverb.)”
O’Donovan lamented that for a people who entertain such a high opinion of proverbs, it should be expected that a trace of wisdom would appear in the printed collections of proverbs. However, he found that “amongst all the nations of the world,” the proverbs attributed to the Irish, were “the most vulgar, awkward, incoherent, and ridiculous, indicating a lowness of sentiment, and a total lack of mental refinement.” O’Donovan expressed disbelief that no one had previously objected to the proverbs attributed to the Irish. He referenced the Ray collection and re-produced a list of seven “modern English-Irish proverbs of the lowest order, and rudest nature” found in the Ray collection. John Ray (1627-1705) in 1670 published a collection of English proverbs. His book continued to be published through the 19th century long after his death. The new editions were updated and expanded to include proverbs from other countries including Ireland. The seven offending proverbs identified by O’Donovan in Ray’s collection include:
- She is like a Mullingar heifer, beef to the heels.
- He is like a Waterford merchant, up to the ___ in business. [Unfortunately, the blank was not filled in.]
- His eyes are like two burnt holes in a blanket.
- Full of fun and foustre, like Mooney’s goose.
- He looks as angry as if he were vexed.
- ‘Tis as bad as cheating the devil in the dark, and two farthing candles for a halfpenny.
- He’d skin a louse, and send the hide and fat to market.
O’Donovan then listed 84 “genuine Irish proverbs, that he translated principally from Hardiman’s Irish Mintrelsy…” Below is a selection of the “genuine Irish proverbs.”
1. An t-scod dofhaghála’s I is áilne. The rare jewel is the most beautiful.
2. Air li ni breíth fear gan suilíbh. A blind man is no judge of colours.
3. Anuair a bhidheann an cat a muigh bidheann na lucha a g rainnceadh. When the cat is out, the mice dance.
5. Bidh ádh air Amadán. Even a fool has luck.
6. Beul eidhin a’s croidhe cuilinn. A mouth of ivy, a heart of holly. [O’Donovan offered the following explanation “The leaves of ivy are soft and smooth, those of holly rough and prickly—a metaphorical proverb.”]
9. Bidh boirbeacht in-geal ghaire. There is often anger in a laugh.
11. Buaine clú na saoghal. Fame is more lasting than life.
13. Bocht an Eaglais bhios gan cheol. The church that has no music is poor indeed.
17. Claoidheann neart ceart. Force overcomes justice.
18. Caomhnann dochas ant-ingreamach. Hope consoles the persecuted.
22. Dearbhrathair leadranachta clachán. Drunkeness is the brother of robbery.
30. Feárr dreoilin in-dorn ‘ná corr air cairde. A wren in the hand is better than a crane out of it.
31. An te Chidheann amiúgh fuaruigheann a chuid. He who is out, his supper cools.
46. Is treise gliocas ‘ná neart. Wisdom exceeds strength.
47. Is milis fion, is searbh a ioc. Wine is sweet; to pay for it bitter.
50. Is Dall an gradh baoth. Foolish love is blind.
61. Ni fhuil gaol ag aon re saoi gan scun. No one is related to a man without prosperity.
64. Ni fhuil ro aosta re foghuim crinachta. Never too old to learn wisdom.
65. Ni fhuil saoi gan locht. There is no one without fault.
69. Righ miofhoghlamtha is asal corónta. An ignorant king is a crowned ass.
70. Saruigheann Eagna gach Saidhbhreas. Wisdom exceeds riches.
71. Soightheach folamh is mo torann. An empty vessel makes most noise. [O’Donovan noted this was applied to a talkative man.]
72. Saidhbhreas sior subhailce. Virtue is eternal wealth
73. Sgeitheann fion firinne. Wine pours out the truth. [O’Donovan noted that this is applied to a drunken man who foolishly “blabs” out his secrets.]
77. Tosach coille a’s deirc móna. The beginning of a wood; the end of a bog.
79. Fion a n-diu, uisge amarach. Wine today, water tomorrow.
82. Dearg anoir is ionann a’s sioc. Red [sky] in the east [dawn] is a sign of frost.
83. Bogha fliuch na maiden, bogha tirm na trathnona. A rainbow in the morning is a sign of rain; in the evening, of dry weather.
When I first visited Glenmore thirty years ago there were two sayings that I heard that were so expressive that I have never forgotten the sayings or the Glenmore people that said them. While the first saying might be labelled a proverb the second would never be recognised by O’Donovan as a genuine proverb .
- You can’t put a old head on young shoulders.
- Fur coat; no knickers. [For our international readers knickers in Ireland refers to underwear/panties.]
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2021
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
For information concerning John O’Donovan’s family see, Canon Carrigan, “John O’Donovan and His Immediate Relatives: From the Registers of the Formerly United Parishes of Slieverue and Glenmore, in the County Kilkenny,” Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (6th series, 30 Sept. 1915, p.167-169). Available at https://www.jstory.org/stable/25514417.
The Glenmore Ploughing Association, Est. 1938
Today, we are going to highlight the first two years of the Glenmore Ploughing Association which held its first match on the 16th of February 1938. Ploughing Associations in Ireland began to form early in the 1930’s. According to the National Ploughing Association the first inter-county ploughing contest took place in 1931. Two friends got into an argument over which of their counties had the best ploughmen. However, unlike most arguments, that remain unresolved, Denis Allen, of Gorey, Co. Wexford and J.J. Bergin, of Athy, Co. Kildare determined that a ploughing contest would settle the issue. Thus, the friendly rivalry between two friends gave birth to what would become the National Ploughing Association. On Monday the 16th of February 1931 the first contest took place in W.K. Hosie’s 26 acres field at Coursetown in Athy. For the history and some old photos of the National Ploughing Association see, https://www.npa.ie/historymenu/.
The following description of the first Glenmore Ploughing Match was found in the Munster Express (Fri. 18 Feb. 1938, p. 8) and contains the names of 45 Glenmore men and women. In the early years of Ploughing Associations women were not contestants, but rather were listed for the “catering arrangements.” In reviewing a number of newspaper accounts, of early ploughing associations forming and holding matches, it is very unusual for the names of women who supported the cause to be acknowledged let alone named.
The First Glenmore Ploughing Association Match
On the hillside of Robinstown, with a beautiful panorama of fertile land stretched beneath, the first ploughing fixture in the history of Glenmore parish took place on Wednesday last, being favoured with ideal weather. The number of entries totalled 30, representative of Kilkenny and Wexford and included David O’Connor, Campile, All-Ireland champion; Michael Redmond, former champion, and Pat Walsh, Clogga, Kilkenny senior champion. The judges were Messrs John Walsh, Ballycraddick, Co. Waterford; J. Kinsella, Crosstown, Co. Wexford, and David Egan, Wexford. Interviewed by our representative, the judges stated that the work done was of an exceptionally high standard, particularly in the junior class, the winner of which was notably outstanding. So keen was the competition that a number of
competitors tied for places with equal points. Nothing was left undone to make the initial fixture a success, and the committee deserves the highest credit for the splendid success achieved, and it is almost certain that the fixture will now be an annual event.Those responsible for the arrangements were — Messrs R. Murphy, Robinstown, Chairman; Thos. Mullally, Davidstown, Vice-Chairman; James Kelly, Aylwardstown, Hon. Sec.; Patk. Corcoran, Mullinahone; Hon. Treas., and the following committee — Messrs. J. Phelan, do; Thos. Walsh, Davidstown; John Doherty, do; Nicholas Walsh, do; John Kirwan, Gaulstown; Michael Kirwan, do; John Kirwan, Robinstown; Michael Reddy, do; Thomas Murphy, do; Thos. Roche, do; Thos. Heffernan, Kearney Bay; Ml. Heffernan, do; Ed. Heffernan, do; James Irish, Aylwardstown; Jas. Delahunty, do; John Culleton, Kilbride; Thos. Freyne, do; Wm. Grace, do ; Nicholas Mullins, Flemingstown; Joe Walsh, Rochestown; P. Roche, Rathinure; Luke Roche, Haggard, and John McBride, Newtown.
The catering arrangements were efficiently carried out by the following ladies’ committee —The Misses Molly Culleton, Kilbride; Teresa Freyne, do; Alice Grace, do; Stasia Aylward,Parkstown; Mary Aylward, do; Sarah Kelly, Graignakill; Margaret Kelly, do; Bridget Connors, Ballyfacey; Mary Connolly, Scartnamore; Minnie McDonald, Gaulstown; Margt. McBride, Robinstown; Margt. Sheehy, Ballinclare; Kathleen Walsh, Rochestown; Bridget Roche, Rathinure; Bridie Delahunty, Aylwardstown; Cecilia Heffernan, Kearney Bay; Bessie Murphy, Mullinakill, and Bridie Phelan, Mullinahone.
A number of subscriptions were contributed by Waterford and New Ross traders, as well as locally, a sum of £5 being given by Glenmore Co-operative Creamery. A valuable cup presented by Major McCalmont. M.F.H., Mount Juliet, will be competed for at next year’s fixture. [Notwithstanding this announcement per a statement made by P.N. O’Gorman (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11) Major McCalmont wasn’t asked to sponsor a cup until December 1938.]
The Awards. The results were as follows —
- Class 1 (senior, open)—1st, W. Kehoe, Boley, Co. Wexford; 2nd, tie between Michael Redmond, Wexford, and David O’Connor, do : 4th. J. Byrne, Oldtown. Best furrow, Pat Walsh, Clogga; best middle and prize for Star plough, D. O’Connor.
- Class 2 (junior, open)—1st, John Golfer, Campile; 2nd, Ml. Murphy, Ballyanne ; 3rd, tie between Thomas Walsh, Davidstown; Wm. Mackey, Mooncoin, and Stephen Curtis, Clongeen, Co. Wexford. Best middle and best furrow, John Colfer.
- Class 3 (novice, confined to Co. Kilkenny) —1st, Joe Walsh, Rochestown; 2nd, tie between John Dunphy, Mooncoin, and John Walsh, Firhouse, Kilkenny; 4th, Michael Reddy, Robinstown. Best middle, tie between Joe Walsh and John Walsh; best furrow, John Dunphy.
The field was kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr. Richard Murphy, Robinstown, and there was an extremely large attendance of spectators, who followed the work of the competitors with keen interest. At the conclusion, Mr. Murphy, on behalf of the committee, thanked the competitors, the judges, the ladies’ committee, the subscribers, those who had kindly lent horses, and all who in any way had contributed to the success of the fixture. He announced, amidst applause, that a cup had been presented for next year’s ploughing match, and added that Wexford would have to fight hard for the honours next time. “The British Government are having a big ploughing fixture in Northern Ireland,” concluded Mr. Murphy, “and have invited representatives from Southern Ireland to compete. The Wexfordmen will go, and the Kilkenny men will go too and they will show the British Government how to plough, the same as they showed them how to fight over a hundred years ago.” (Applause.)
The New Ross Standard (Fri. 18 Feb. 1938, p. 3) also contained a large article on the first Glenmore ploughing match. Unfortunately, the New Ross Standard incorrectly identified Rochestown as the venue and its article did not name the members of the ladies committee. The article does contain several flowery statements concerning the event including, “… it can be truthfully said that this year’s initial one has with one bound placed Glenmore in a lofty place in the map of ploughing importance in the provinces of Leinster and Munster.”
The day following Glenmore’s first match, the 8th National Ploughing Championship was held at Oak Park, Carlow where it was reported that 10,000 people were in attendance. Among the numerous events the award for the best pair of farm horses went to Major McCalmont, of Mount Juliet, Kilkenny (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 Feb. 1938, p. 3).
In order to fund themselves the Glenmore Ploughing Association began organising dances. The first dance was held on St. Patrick’s night (Munster Express, Fri. 4 March 1938, p. 8). Shortly thereafter an “all night” dance was held by the Association in the Glenmore Creamery on Easter Sunday night. Dancing was from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. with an admission of 3/- and 2/- including supper. (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Apr. 1938, p. 8). In September 1938 as the Association prepared for its second dance James Kelly, of Aylwardstown House, the Secretary of the Association obtained a dance license for the Glenmore Creamery (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 Sept 1938, p. 6). The New Ross Standard reported that, “The members are leaving nothing undone to make the social as successful and enjoyable as possible, and the catering arrangements will be in the hands of a capable and experienced committee of local ladies, which is a sufficient criterion that all will be perfect in this important section. The music has been entrusted to the popular New Ross Accordion Band, which is held in high regard by local dance devotees.” (Munster Express, Fri. 23 Sept. 1938, p. 8).
By the time the 1939 Glenmore Ploughing Match was held a number of additional men had joined the Association including: Michael Phelan, John Power, George O’Connor, John O’Connor, P. Walsh, P. Hynes, J. Doherty, Thomas Fitzgerald, T. Hartley, and P. Ennett. (New Ross Standard, Fri 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11).
The Second Annual Glenmore Ploughing Match
The 1939 Glenmore Ploughing Match was held on the 18th of January and a total of 34 teams competed. The match was held in a “splendid field” kindly offered by Mr. John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack.” “Since the Glenmore Ploughing Association was formed it has been going from record, to record in the successes of their fixtures. When the initial match was organised last year the huge number of teams competed, thus making a record that had scarcely a parallel in history of ploughing matches in any, county in this country, but this year witnessed the enormous number of teams competing. Entries were received from no less than 44 teams, ten being unable to come owing to weather; conditions and other causes. Such outstanding entries establish the immense and the widespread popularity of the Ploughing Association’s fixture. Added evidence of this was also in the fact that, it was attended; by over one thousand people. The competing teams came from the counties of Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford; amongst the competitors was last year’s All-Ireland champion. Mr. David O’Connor, Knockes, Campile, and some have won the championship for several years, including Mr. Michael Redmond, The Ballagh. In Class 1. Senior open, Mr. Wm. Kehoe, Yoletown, Ballycullane, won first prize again this year.”
Awards won by Glenmore men included:
- Class, I senior (open) (All three places went to Wexford men)
- Class II, senior —3rd place, Joe Walsh, Rochestown
- Class III, junior—1st Thomas Walsh, Davidstown; best furrow (tied) Thomas Walsh, Davidstown & Michael Heffernan, Kearney Bay
- Class IV (novice)—1st Patrick Hogan, Haggard and 4th place, Thomas Freyne, Kilbride. Best middle and best furrow went to Patrick Hogan.
- The Major McCalmont Cup for the best ploughman in the parish of Glenmore was presented by New Ross auctioneer, P.N. O’Gorman due to the death of the Major’s wife in December. The Cup was won by Joe Walsh of Rochestown and Patrick Hogan, of Haggard, was second.
- The Special Prize by the Glenmore Co-op Creamery for ploughmen under 21 went to Nicholas Walsh of Davidstown with James Connolly, of Gaulston, second. Special prize for best turned out team (of horses) 1st James Freyne, Kilbride; 2nd James Cody, Weatherstown and 3rd Patrick Doolan, Jamestown. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11).
That same month newspaper accounts of the success of the Glenmore Association members at other matches began to be published. For example, at the Mooncoin Ploughing match Joseph Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore was first in the junior class and Thomas Walsh, of Davidstown, Glenmore was awarded a first for best centre in that class. His brother, Nicholas Walsh, of Davidstown, obtained a fourth in the novice class. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 12).
Although it is not clear from the newspaper accounts whether any Glenmore men competed in the County Kilkenny contest, held three miles from Kilmacow, in January 1939, it was reported that 43 of the best ploughmen of the county vied for the honour of representing Kilkenny in the National Ploughing Contest which was to take place at Killarney on the 8th of February. “They ploughed a sod that was last ploughed by oxen 104 years ago. They acquitted themselves well in a field which, in formation and on top was very difficult.” Mr. Michael Kinsella, Mooncoin, who was only 20 years of age won the senior class and the McCalmont Challenge Cup. It was noted that championship ploughing is comparatively new in Kilkenny, and the majority of entrants were men in their late teens and early twenties. Five years earlier, at a like fixture, although there were very few fixtures, the majority of entrants were men over 40. In the last five years of the decade almost every district began holding annual ploughing matches resulting in young farmers and labourers becoming accomplished ploughmen. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11).
Special thanks to Kelvin Johnson Treacy for locating and sharing the 1938 Munster Express article and to other readers who furnished information concerning the Association. We hope to provide further information regarding this group in future blog posts.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh