July, 2023

Trying to find information concerning ancestors beyond dates of birth, marriage and death is often difficult. Every once in a while a  newspaper article can be located that provides interesting details concerning an ancestor. Today, we are going to feature a list of Glenmore men who attended an Irish Tenant League rally in Kilkenny City in October 1869.

“Magnificent Demonstration”

On the 18^th of October 1869 “a truly magnificent demonstration” took place in Kilkenny City. The purpose of the demonstration was the land question and the support of the “fixity of tenure and fair rents.” To put this into context, the Irish Tenant League was established in 1850 and demanded the 3 F’s: fair rent, fixity of tenure and freedom of sale. At the 1869 Kilkenny demonstration several speakers referenced Gladstone’s proposed legislation. The Gladstone Land Act became law in 1870 and provided some protection from arbitrary evictions.

The Waterford Mail in covering the 1869 Kilkenny demonstration wrote, “Kilkenny has spoken, and spoken in accents not to be misunderstood. No uncertain or equivocal sound characterised the splendid demonstration of this day. From all quarters of the county, near and remote…the People the source of all legitimate power, the faithful, industrious people—the cultivator of the soil, flocked in thousands upon thousands until the spacious Parade, flanked by the walls of Ormond Castle, was one dense mass of human beings.  Fine, respectable, orderly men they were. No wild revolutionists they. No communistic ideas occupied their thoughts. Their one object, their sole aspiration was Justice! Justice in the complete overthrow of “felonious landlordism.”

Banners held included “Gladstone, Bright and Gray,” “Fair Rents,” and “Fixity of Tenure.” Not less than 60,000 were present according to the newspaper. After several speeches, motions were made and a County Tenants’ Right League was formed. In addition to the politicians named in the article several hundred people near the stage were named including the following Glenmore men. More importantly the newspaper provided their respective townlands (Waterford Mail, Wed. 20 Oct. 1869, p. 2).

Glenmore Attendees

[1] Rev. James Aylward, P.P., Glanmore (sic)

[2] Thomas Murphy, Kearneybay

[3] Wm. Rowe, Ballyhobuck

[4] Michael Cody, Carrigcloney

[5] James Walsh, Rochestown

[6] James Aylward, Rochestown

[7] Peter Kennedy, Rathanure

[8] Nicholas Mullins, Gaulestown

[9] James Irish, Ballinclare

[10] Edmond Aylward, Ballinclare

[11] Robert Raftis, Davidstown

[12] Patrick Walsh, Grogan

[13] R. Dogherty (sic), Coolnaleen

[14] Michael Fitzgerald, Knockbrack

[15] Walter Grant, Haggard

[16] John Aylward, Parkstown

[17] Denis Phelan, jun., Ballyfacey

[18] Thomas Freyne, Kilbride

[19] Wm. Fitzgerald, Wetherstown (sic)

[20] Patrick Hogan, Wetherstown

[21] James Malone, Wetherstown

[22] John Mullins, Flemingstown

[23] Martin Walsh, Ballybahey (sic)

[24] Daniel Dowling, Busherstown

[25] Patrick Forristal, Ballyverneen

[26] Martin Hoyne, Carrigcloney

[27] J. Fitzgerald, Aylwardstown

[28] R. Kennedy of Rathanure

[29] John Walsh, Ballylamy (sic)

[30] Richard Cody, Ballycroney

[31] Richard Phelan, Mullinahone

[32] James Freyne, Kilbride

[33] Luke Roche, Haggart (sic)

[34] John Kirwan, Ballyrahan

[35] Thomas Mullally, Parkstown

[36] Patrick Ennet, Cappagh

[37] Richard Barron, Carrigcloney

[38] Thomas Freyne, Catsrock

[39] Richard Walsh, Ballyfacey

[40] John Merregan (sic), Milltown

[41] James Dogherty (sic), Forristalstown

Further related blog posts that may be of interest to readers:

For further lists see our lists pages.

See our blog post of 11 July 2020 for general Glenmore newspaper articles from the 1860’s.

See our blog post of 30 January 2022 regarding Glenmore’s St. Stephen’s night stabbing in 1864.

For inquests of Glenmore residents in the 1860’s see our posts of 29 August 2021 and 21 October 2021.

Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh