Monday, March 7th, 2022
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One Hundred Years Ago: March 1922
As we have reported over the past few months, the fledgling country began to address some of the issues and problems associated with the administration of the Free State. However, the Treaty and No Treaty politics continued to dominate the local newspapers. In March 1922, just a few months before the outbreak of the Civil War, various leaders were concerned about the possibility of a civil war. At the beginning of March, the New Ross Standard reported that Rev. Dr. Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe, whose patriotism “is so widely known,” stated, “unless we are careful we may find ourselves one day without either Treaty or Republic…” (Fri. 3 March 1922, p. 3). Today, we are going to focus again on articles that appeared in local newspapers.
Establishment of Civil Guardians
Early in the month it was announced that the arrangements for establishing a new police force were almost complete. The police were being trained at the R.D.S. grounds, Ballsbridge, under the control of Mr. P. Brennan, brother of Commandant General Brennan, of Clare. The new force was said to be strictly non-political and its duties were confined to checking the activities of criminals (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 March 1922, p. 4).
The new police were called Civil Guardians, and the public were informed that they would operate with 1,000 members outside of Dublin. The DMP (Dublin Metropolitan Police) continued in Dublin “for the present.” The members of the Civil Guardians were drawn from four classes: (a) The army and Irish Republican police; (b) men who were dismissed or who resigned from the RIC and DMP from conscientious or patriotic motives; (c) the civil population and (d) the RIC and DMP, after disbandment. Applications from Class B were verified according to RIC and DMP records; applications from classes B & D were also to be verified by IRA officers. The pay of a constable started at 70s per week, and a sergeant at 100s per week. The qualifications of members included: height, at least 5 feet 9 inches; mean chest measurement 36 inches; strong and active; unmarried; between the ages of 19 and 27 years, and of good appearance and physique. The public were notified that if first class men filled the available posts no men from classes (b), (c) or (d) would be hired. Candidates were examined in reading, writing from dictation, spelling and arithmetic. They were required to write a short composition on simple subject, either as a letter or statement. At Ballsbridge a party of RIC handed over 26 Ford cars, 4 Crossley tenders, and 2 Crossley touring cars to the new Civic Guards (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 March 1922, p. 9).
The new army members were being sent to Beggar’s Bush Barracks to undergo a short period of training and to be properly uniformed and equipped. “A number of armoured cars purchased from the departing British were turned over … to the authorities in Beggar’s Bush, as well as another fleet of Crossley tenders and motor transports” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 March 1922, p. 5). Thus while the RIC turned over its vehicles the British army sold unwanted vehicles to the Irish Free State.
Crime
Crime continued to plague the country. One murder that was widely reported was that of Max Green, the 57 year old, son-in-law of the late John Redmond. Max Green was murdered in St. Stephen’s Green on the 3rd of March by armed robbers fleeing and shooting at their pursuers. The alleged killers were 19-year-old, Laurence Dowling, and 23-year-old, James O’Neill. They were being chased by the IRP and DMP after a holdup in Molesworth street where they took £50. Some newspapers reported that “by sad coincidence Monday was the fourth anniversary of the death of John Redmond” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 March 1922, p. 8). [For more information concerning Redmond see our post of 13 July 2021].
More locally the National Bank , on the Quay, New Ross was robbed on the 15th of March. “A motor car conveying the robbers drove along the Quay, and suddenly pulled up outside the bank premises, remaining in gear.” One of the robbers was dressed as a woman, complete with a woman’s hat and veil and two other men wore masks across the lower part of their faces when they entered the bank and held up the staff. The sum stolen was thought to be about a thousand or twelve hundred pounds. The robbery lasted about 15 minutes. All five of the staff members were ordered to put up their hands as were some customers who were also in the bank. “The manager, Mr. O’Brien, on being asked for the keys of the safe, refused, and promptly made a dash for the door and got out, rushed up the street and gave the alarm.” In their hurried search of the Bank the robbers missed some silver and notes. “The robbers went through their work with coolness.” One of the robbers when leaving dropped a bundle of notes and left the money. The car drove quickly away and out the Greywell Road toward Ferrymountgarrett bridge. Word was sent to the IRA, and shortly afterwards they went in pursuit of the motor car armed with rifles. The IRA caught up with the motor car at Drummond on the borders of South Carlow. They found the driver tied up, but the robbers had disappeared (New Ross Standard, NRS, Fri. 17 March 1922, p. 5).
Luckily, we have further information regarding the robbery because a reporter for the Waterford News & Star, went to the premises of Sheridan Motors, on the Quay, Waterford and interviewed Michael Carolan. The car used in the robbery was owned by Mr. Sheridan, the Quay, and his employee Michael Carolan, was the driver of the vehicle used in the robbery. “At the point of the revolver, he was reluctantly compelled to drive the robbbers.” He reported that he left Waterford driving Capt. Brennan, of the IRA Headquarters Staff, who went to New Ross shortly after 10 a.m. to inspect the Ross barracks. On the way back to Waterford about a mile outside of Ross they were accosted by three men, one was dressed as a woman. Armed the three men ordered Michael Carolan to drive back to Ross and they put Capt. Brennan on the side of the road. Michael Carolan was ordered to stop at the National Bank on the Quay and two of the robbers entered the building with the man dressed as a woman leading the way. The third man stood guard outside. After ten minutes the three men rushed to the car and ordered Carolan to drive toward Graiguenamanagh. About a mile out of town he was order to stop and his hands were tied and he was blindfolded. Carolan was put in the back of the car and driven for about 15 minutes then the robbers abandoned the car and driver (Thur. 16 March 1922, p. 5).
Glenmore in the News
On the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, the remains of John E. Hartley were removed from the grave in the Republican plot and re-interred in the family burial ground in Glenmore cemetery. “Following his death at the Coolbawn fight on last June the remains were brought to Glenmore encased in a magnificent coffin and interred in the Republican plot…In the same fight and on the same day his cousin, Nick Mullins, fell, and he sleeps in Thomastown…For some time back Mr. Hartley wished that the remains of his son be disinterred and laid to rest in the family grave, and the Volunteers of Glenmore decided to gratify the wish of the respected parents…From different parts of South Kilkenny Volunteers came in their numbers to pay a fitting tribute to the memory of one whom they not alone respected, but loved in life.”
A description of the event is reported. “The village was specially decorated for the occasion. Arches of evergreens, from which were suspended tricolour mourning flags, spanned the streets… A touching feature of the proceedings was the presence of over half a dozen of the young men who fought with poor Jack in the flying column and in the Coolbawn fight. To them was fittingly assigned the honour of taking the coffin from the grave to the new one, and firing the volleys over the grave when the ceremony was over. The procession formed up about three o’clock, headed by the New Ross O’Hanrahan pipers’ band, and the order was: The band, next a body of the Glenmore IRA (C) Company, carrying a large tricolour mourning banner bearing the inscription in Gaelic, “Shaun E. Hartley, who died for God and Ireland;” next the staff of the 6th Batt. IRA, including his comrades in that column; next the Glenmore C Company, IRA, followed by the Listerlin B. Company, Tullogher A Company, Graiguenamanagh Company, the Glenmore Cumann na mBan, carrying a large mourning flag; the Mile Bush Fianna, each boy being dressed in green jackets and hats, and in charge of their captain, Mr. Murphy. The generality of the IRA carried arms on their shoulders.” The newspaper then listed a number of officers including Lt. James Roche and Lt. Edward Hartley of the Glenmore Company. “The rear of the procession was brought up by the general public. It proceeded up to the Waterford road, down by the Creamery, on to the graveyard, covering a distance of close on half a mile, the band playing appropriate airs, which gave a solemn and touching tone to the demonstration” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 March 1922, p. 7). For further information on John Hartley and Nicholas Mullins see our blog post of 20 June 2021.
An unnamed Glenmore woman featured in the New Ross Standard on Friday the 24th of March 1922 (p. 8) reflecting difficulties faced by the poor in attempting to access services after the demise of the workhouse system. It also highlights the hostile attitudes unmarried mothers faced. During the monthly meeting of the County Board of Health, Patrick Kavanagh, house steward of the County Home, reported the admission of an unnamed Glenmore woman. She had applied for admission to the New Ross workhouse, but was refused. She went to the County Home but did not have a ticket. She was a maternity patient in a very fragile state and walked from New Ross to Thomastown. Dr. Mitchell questioned how such people are to get to Thomastown? He requested that an ambulance be sent. He noted that she was kicked out of her home and had no place to go except the County Home. The Mayor of Kilkenny City suggested that she could travel on the bus to Kilkenny, and then take the train to Thomastown. He did not address how the costs would be met. A Mr. Gibbons opined that at some future time a system of penitentiaries must be established for these cases. Ultimately the Board consisting of men ordered that the resident medical officer at the Central hospital and the secretary draft out a list of instruction to Receiving Officers with reference to the use of the ambulances.
Lastly, two death notices for Glenmore residents or former residents were reported in the local newspapers. The New Ross Standard reported that Mrs. Bridget O’Doherty of Moulerstown Glenmore died on 5 March 1922 (Fri. 17 March 1922, p. 1). According to the death register Bridget Doherty (sic) was a 71 year old widow. Her son Michael was present at her death. The Munster Express reported the death of Mrs. Anastatia Fluskey née Maher, wife of Mr. Terence Fluskey, of St. Ignatius street, Waterford, on the 11th of March. The deceased was interred in Glenmore in the family burial place (Sat. 18 March 1922, p. 6). According to the death register the deceased was 42 years of age and her cause of death was thought to be due to influenza. For further information regarding the Fluskey family of Glenmore see our post of 28 May 2020.
The advertisement for Sheraton’s was published in the Waterford News & Star (16 March 1922). The featured photo above was taken 19 June 2021 at the laying of the wreath on the grave of John Hartley, the Commemmoration Ceremony, Glenmore Cemetery.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh