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Glenmore in the News: December 1923
Although Christmas 1923 was heralded as the first Christmas of peace in a decade, the truth was that the Free State authorities continued to round up and hold some of the Irregulars from the Civil War. The Free State Government did not make a formal announcement, but it was understood and published that by the end of December “practically every internment camp in the Free State will have been closed.” With the exception of a hundred of the leaders all the prisoners were to be at liberty before Christmas (New Ross Standard, Fri. 14 Dec. 1923, p. 4).
Six South Kilkenny men were released from interment on the 17th (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 Dec. 1923, p. 4). On Christmas Eve 166 prisoners were released and four more were released on Christmas Day. “The total number still imprisoned was 1,866 (Freeman’s Journal, 28 Dec. 1923, p. 7). Among the list of released prisoners from the Curragh was R. Murphy, of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny (Freeman’s Journal, Fri.28 Dec. 1923, p.7).
Shot in Glenmore
For our international readers, the 8th of December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the Roman Catholic calendar. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. In Ireland, in the 1920’s, children were off school, and all the farmers around Glenmore went to nearby towns. It was the start of the Christmas season when Christmas baking and shopping commenced in earnest. On the night of the 8th of December 1923 a party with dancing was being held at a house in Glenmore.
An irregular named David Grant, a native of Slieverue was present at the party. “For some time past Grant, who was a column leader in the local irregulars, and who was much wanted by the military authorities” had successfully evaded the authorities. He hid principally in the neighbourhood of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, described as nine miles from Waterford.
On Saturday the 8th the Military searched the Glenmore house where the party was being held. Grant refused to give his name and address, was arrested and placed in the care of an escort. Suddenly, Grant broke away from his guards and “made a wild dash for liberty. He ran from the house and was hotly pursued by the military. A chase for a short distance ensued, the soldiers all the time keeping the fugitive in sight and repeatedly calling on him to halt which he refused to do. The soldiers then opened fire for warning purposes, but in the course of discharges Grant was struck by one bullet in the hip…” (Irish Examiner, Tues. 11 Dec. 1923, p. 5).
The wound was described as serious and it stopped Grant from further movement. Grant was taken into custody the second time by the Free State forces. He was later conveyed to the Waterford Co. and City Infirmary where he underwent surgical treatment (Waterford News and Star, Fri.14 Dec. 1923, p.16).
David Grant (1899-1969) of Slieverue
A fellow by the name of Williams, from Kilmacow, was said to have shot Grant when he need not have done so. Grant was from Drumdowney, Slieverue and suffered from the wound for the rest of his days (Thomas Walsh, native of Davidstown, Glenmore (1908-1992)). No other newspaper accounts could be located regarding David Grant after his arrest in December 1923. Given that the Civil War had ended months before, and the authorities were releasing prisoners at the time, it is difficult to understand why David Grant was shot by an alleged warning shot.
David Grant was born 11 August 1899 at Rathpatrick, Slieverue, the only child of Patrick Grant (c.1837-1922) (farmer) and his wife Anastatia Grant née Power (c. 1858-1932). Anastatia was born in Waterford and according to the 1911 Census her widowed mother, Mary Power, lived with the small family.
It is believed that David Grant married Mary Kathleen Alcock on 22 Nov. 1933 at Slieverue. Mary Kathleen was from Kilmurry, Slieverue and the daughter of Edward Alcock (farmer). The couple do not appear to have had any children. David Grant, a married farmer, of Drumdowney, Slieverue, died in the County and City Infirmary on 8 March 1969 some 46 years after his admittance in 1923. His age on the death register was listed as 87 however it is believed he was 70.
Glenmore Holiday Football
Waterford military command football section, beat the Wexford military section at Barret’s Park, New Ross. Then the Waterford military command were beaten by the Glenmore team in a contest near the village the last week in December (New Ross Standard, Fri. 28 Dec. 1923, p. 7).
Glenmore Man Injured in Rosbercon
Mr. Corcoran, Mullinahone, was kicked by a horse in Rosbercon resulting in a broken rib (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 Dec.1923, p. 5). It is believed that the only Mr. Corcoran in Mullinahone, Glenmore in December 1923 was Edward Corcoran (c. 1876 -1932). He was married to Kate Cororan née Meany (c. 1877 -1927). Edward and Kate were married at Inistiogue, Kilkenny on 3 February 1910. Edward was from Mullinahone and his father was Pat Corcoran (farmer). Kate was from Carrigeen and her father was Micheal Meany (farmer).
The couple had at least one son Patrick Corcoran (c.1911-1970) (farmer). Patrick married Katie McDonald (c. 1919-2013) of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Katie Corcoran née McDonald lived to be 94 years of age and was a widow for 43 years.
A Glenmore Village Fire
A fire occurred in the cornmill of Mr. James K. Walsh, Glenmore, on Saturday the 15th of December 1923. Mr. Walsh had been in New Ross at the time, and when the fire started it made such headway that it was impossible to extinguish it, despite the efforts of a large number of people who gathered “and used water freely.” However, the flames were prevented from spreading to the outhouses adjoining, but the mill and machinery were destroyed. It was stated some of the corn was also destroyed (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 Dec. 1923, p. 5).
For further information on the J.K. Walsh family and an early photo of Gaffney’s Mill see our post of 22 December 2020.
New Ross Turkey Sales and Post
£10,900 was paid out by New Ross merchants for turkeys in New Ross during the 1923 season. There were 12,300 turkeys bought. It was reported that one South Kilkenny woman sold her turkeys for £67 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 Dec. 1923, p. 5).
Christmas business in New Ross was brisk and the number of parcels and mails dealt with at the post office and the parcels dispatched and received at railway offices were exceptionally heavy (New Ross Standard, Fri. 28 Dec. 1923, p. 7).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history @gmail.com. The featured photo above of the toddler hanging what appears to be his father’s stockings was published on Christmas Eve 1923 in the Freeman’s Journal (p. 10).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Wash