Sunday, October 24th, 2021

Previously in our blog post of 7 March 2021 we highlighted the establishment of the Glenmore Ploughing Association in 1938. Today, we are going to feature three ploughing events that took place in County Kilkenny in January 1959 and the Glenmore men and woman who organised or competed in these events. Although tractors had been available for some time in 1959 the hydraulics were limited to lifting the plough, no power steering, no cabs and no heaters for cold January days. The featured photo is the committee responsible for the competition at Glenmore and are identified in the newspaper photo as: front row, left to right J. Kelly; J. Culleton; P. Fitzgerald; M. Heffernan; W. Grace; and N. Mullins. Back row, left to right—J. Doherty; P. Hynes; T. Aylward; P. Roche; J. Irish; M. Fitzgerald; M. Kirwan; S. Barron; and J. Freyne. The two men in the front row to the far right were not identified. (Munster Express, Fri. 23 Jan. 1959, p. 8).

County Kilkenny Macra na Feirne Ploughing Competition—17 January 1959

Not much was published in the newspapers concerning this event, but it was reported that Thomas Mullally, of Davidstown, Glenmore, was the winner of the Kilkenny Macra na Feirme Ploughing competition at the Racecourse held on Saturday, 17 January 1959. Sixteen entries were received for the competition (Munster Express, Fri. 23 Jan. 1959, p. 8).

County Kilkenny Ploughing Championship, 20 January 1959

The County Ploughing Championship was held in Aylwardstown, Glenmore on the fields of Michael Fitzgerald and James Fitzgerald and Michael Heffernan, of Kearney Bay and James Kelly, of Aylwardstown were the honourable secretaries (Munster Express, Fri. 9 Jan. 1959, p. 5). The advert to the right also provides details concerning the classes as well as entries could be made by phone to “Glenmore 5.” On the appointed day Mr. P. Doyle, Mooncoin, “brought off a treble” when he won the senior title and was awarded the Smithwick and Glenmore Ploughing Association Cups. M. Muldowney, of Kilkenny, was second and Richard Mullally, of Davidstown, Glenmore, the former all Ireland Champion, third (Munster Express, Fri. 23 Jan. 1959, p. 1). There were 36 competitors in the County Championship and Thomas Ryan, of Glenmore came in third in the Novice class while Joseph Walsh (c. 1913-1980) of Rochestown, Glenmore tied for third in the senior horse class with P. Murphy of Piltown. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 Jan. 1959, p. 10).

National Ploughing Championship—28-29 January 1959

The two-day National Ploughing Championship as held at Burnchurch, Co. Kilkenny at the end of January 1959. Over 200 entries were received and notwithstanding the fact that there was a heavy snowfall and frost the site of the match was declared “ideal” by contestants (The Cork Examiner, 29 January 1959, p. 8). Glenmore members of the national committee included J. Kelly and T. Mulllly (Irish Independent, 27 Jan. 1959, p. 5).

It was noted prior to the competition that Peggy Mullally, of Davidstown, Glenmore, was the reigning “Queen of the Plough” but she faced stern competition from leading “farmerettes” from several counties (Irish Independent, Wed. 28 Jan. 1959, p. 9). Successful Glenmorians included: Thomas Mullally, of Davidstown, who came in third in the Individual, three furrow class while his sister Peggy Mullally was second in the “Farmerettes’ class” (Irish Independent, Fri. 30 Jan. 1959, p. 4). 

Although baking competitions are often found in modern farm shows and ploughing championships, in 1958 wholemeal bread baking competition was introduced at the National Ploughing Championship with a milling twist. Competitors were supplied with a quantity of Irish wheat that the competitor had to grind it in a small mill then bake their bread in electric ovens. This competition continued in 1959 and was sponsored by the National Ploughing Association, the ESB and the Department of Education. (Farmer’s Journal, Sat. 24 Jan 1959, p. 33).

The photo of Joseph Walsh, Richard Mullally and Thomas Mullally were all taken at the County Championship held at Aylwardstown Glenmore on 20 January 1959. All three photos were taken by photographer (c) Simon J. Farrell and appeared in the Munster Express (Fri. 30 Jan. 1959, p. 5).

Special thanks to Michael Hoynes for sharing the group photo of the Committee above. Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh