June, 2024

In May 1924 Glenmore GAA hurling and football were prominent in the local newspapers. Due to the volume of information we shall supply the May 1924 hurling and football information in our next post. Today, we feature other news items from local newspapers that were probably discussed at lenth in Glenmore.

The Free State continued to wrestle with the legacies of the War of Independence as well as the Civil War. Unemployment and in particular resistance of the citizens to taxes including rates on land made it difficult to deliver services and repair damages. During April 1924 unemployment in the country fell from 28,391 (persons registered for employment) to 27,947, showing a decrease of 444 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 May 1923, p. 2). The emigration flow of young people out of Ireland also slowed due to U.S. restrictions. However, by the end of May 1924 bookings to the United States were resumed by the Cunard and White Star line subject to passengers obtaining visa immigration certificates from the U.S Consul (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 30 May 1924, p. 8).

Civil War Internees

Although the Free State continued to release people arrested during the Civil War the leaders, such as Eamonn de Valera (1882-1975) continued to be incarcerated. It was reported in early May that De Valera’s mother, Mrs. Catherine de Valera Wheelwright, travelled from her home in Rochester, New York, to Washington D.C. where she plead before the U.S. Congress for de Valera’s release. She based her plea on the US action in 1923 on behalf of the Russian Archbishop the Soviets sentenced to death (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 2 May 1924, p. 5).  Later in the month, the Supreme Court of New York ruled that de Valera and O’Mara were entitled to a reasonable part of the two and a half million dollars of the Irish Republic Fund deposited in New York. A Commission was to be appointed to determine what constituted a reasonable part (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 May 1924, p. 5).

Rates & Rent Arrears

Every local newspaper carried articles regarding the newly established rates. The chart below covered Glenmore.

IDA District (in £)	(New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 May 1923, p. 8)
	Agricultural Land	Sums Deducted for Agricultural Grant	Other Hereditaments
County Charges	32 ½	3	35 ½
Board of Health Charges	6	10 ½	16 ½
District Charges	27	7 ½	34 ½
TOTAL RATES FOR YEAR	65 ½	21	87 ½

Notwithstanding the difficult financial circumstances most Councils and other public bodies encountered appointments to posts continued. For example, Mr. James Farrell, Ballynock, Tullogher, a member of the Ida District Council, was appointed Peace Commissioner (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 May 1923, p. 5).

Taxes

Citizens had been urged during the War of Independence not to pay rates or other taxes to the British authorities. Some citizens critical of the Free State continued this practice. Over 100 rate defaulters were summoned to the New Ross Court in mid-May. The cases were from the New Ross Urban area and some were from South Kilkenny districts. It was noted that several defaulters had paid before the court date. The justice said that out of 68 cases there were only 9 decrees given (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 May 1924, p. 2).

All Councils were seeking methods to increase their revenues, and the Waterford County Council placed a £3 tax on petrol pumps erected on the roads of Co. Waterford during its May meeting (Munster Express, Sat. 24 May 1924, p. 4)

Wexford Rate Collectors’ Case

Wexford Rate Collectors who were not retained after the establishment of the Free State made a claim. Mr. Justice Wylie was appointed in October 1923 to conduct the inquiry. Justice Wylie awarded pensions in six cases for rate collectors with over ten years’ service, and gratuities in six other cases when the rate collectors had less than 10 years’ service. The Wexford County Council refused to pay any of the awarded compensation and it was noted that there was a rightf appeal to the Minister for Local Government.

Captain W. Redmond raised the failure to pay the rate collectors in the Dáil to Seamus Burke the then Minister for Local Government. Captain Redman—Was not this tribunal set up by Government, and have not awards been made by this tribunal, and is it not the Government’s duty to insist on these awards being executed?

Mr. Burke—”That is not altogether true. The matter should have come before me in a different way as a matter of fact” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 2).

[Minister Burke’s approach appears to still serve as a method of answering questions by politicians today.]

Rent Arrears

In May 1924, the thorny issue of the evicted tenants under British rule continued to evade settlement, and the various Councils that provided housing had to deal with current tenant defaulters.

The editor of the New Ross Standard recalled that two or three years before a number of evicted tenants took possession of their former holdings, some of them using violence to “gain their object.” They were prosecuted for taking forcible possession and the holdings given back to the people in possession. The evicted tenants were told that courts would be established immediately to hear their claims and that they should wait and lay their cases before these courts. The promised courts were never established and the evicted tenants under the Free State were still required to “grin and bear their unhappy lot” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 May 1924, p. 4).

Glenmore Rent Defaulter

The Waterford No. 2 R.D. Council met and after considering a number of rent arrears made the following order regarding Richard Young of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. If the arrears of £3 6s were not paid to Mr. Fitzpatrick, collector, before the next meeting of the Council, the Council solicitors would be instructed to proceed against him. Young was also told that he should apologise to the collector for his behaviour toward the collector (Munster Express, Sat. 3 May 1924, p. 5). In the last Munster Express published in May 1924 it was reported that Richard Young tendered “his regret if he used offensive words towards the collector, and also paid up the arrears of £3 6s (Munster Express, Sat. 31 May 1924, p. 6).

Public Works

The question of rebuilding the old GPO in Dublin destroyed in 1916 was being debated in May 1924. The British intended to re-build it and obtained several adjacent sites on Henry St., but when it became evident that an Irish Government would be coming into power the work on re-building ceased. The British never got beyond clearing the debris. Each side wanted the other to pay for the re-building (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 May 1923, p. 5).

The work of repainting the New Ross bridge began in mid-May 1924. It was reported that it would take two or three months at a minimum to complete the job (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5).

The Waterford RD 2 Council awarded a contract to James Butler of Moulerstown, Glenmore “to maintain 173 perches of road between the main road at Moulerstown and the district bounds at Guilcogh, for one year; cost not to exceed 1s per perch–£4” (Munster Express, Sat. 31 May 1924, p. 6).

Similar to today one hundred years ago when funding was tight rural services were cut. It was stated in the New Ross Standard, “For some considerable time alarm has been caused and indignation has been expressed in a great many of the rural districts in consequence of the curtailment of the postal facilities they used to enjoy” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 2).

Farming and Fishing

Farm Prices

The highest price realised for hay during the past winter and spring was that paid for a quantity in New Ross in the last week in April at the rate of £6 per ton. The average price was £5  (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 May 1923, p. 8).

There was an improvement in demand and prices for stock at Campile monthly fair at the end of April. Fat lambs sold particularly well, some cases reaching 57s. each (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 May 1923, p. 8). The price of wool at New Ross was 1s 3d or 1s 9d for washed wool (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). Calves realized from £2 to £4 at New Ross on the 10^th of May. Some calves made £4 10s according to their age, quality and condition (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5).  Fat pigs sold at New Ross on the 12^th from 50s to 54s per cwt, live weight (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). The following prices were published for the New Ross Market: eggs 1s per dozen; chickens (young)1s 2d per lb; hens 3s per pair; butter 1s 2d fresh and 1s 3d salted; potatoes 1s 3d per stone; salmon 2s 3d per lb. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 May 1924, p. 8).

Fishing

Salmon fishing on the Barrow and Nore continued to be poor in May. “There was scarcely one good week of fishing since the season opened” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). However, during the second week of May a glut of herrings were found off of Dunmore. So great were the catches that hands engaged in the kippering sheds of Mr. Arthur Miller were employed throughout Saturday dealing with the catches from Thursday and Friday. A fleet of Irish, English and Scotch steam and motor boats engaged in the herring fishing. It was stated that there was not such an abundance of fish in local waters for a quarter of a century. The shoal was predicted to remain off the coast until July (Munster Express, Sat. 17 May 1924).

Two fish dealers from New Ross named Mrs. Harney and Michael Cotton, were driving along the Quay in a pony cart when the pony became frightened. When the frightened pony headed for the river, Mrs. Harney threw herself from the cart and had a “miraculous escape from serious injury.” “Cotton, however, pluckily held on to the reins, and retained his position in the cart until the pony, came into contact with the chains opposite the Graving Bank, came to a temporary standstill.” The backband broke, and the cart fell on to the quayside. Cotton was not injured. Released from the cart the pony turned round and careered madly along the quay heading toward the bridge. A young man caught the pony after going 200 yards. The animal suffered minor injuries to one of his hind legs (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 9 May 1924, p. 8).

Commemorating the Kilkenny Fallen

Large numbers from Co. Kilkenny and adjoining counties took part in the commemoration ceremony at Thomastown on Sunday the 11^th of May to honour the memory of the men who sacrificed their lives for Ireland during the fight with the British and of other men who died since the evacuation of the British forces.

The different Sinn Fein Clubs, and Cumman na mBán in the County took part in the procession which formed at Jerpoint Abbey at 2. The bands that took part included: Waterford Fianna Pipers (headed the procession), Kells Pipers, Inistioge, Kilkenny City, Thomastown, Ballyhale, the O’Hanrahan Pipers, New Ross, and the  Callan Brass Band. The route of the procession was Mill St., Low St., Logn St., Chapel St., the Quay, Market St., and Church St. Passing the graveyard where the remains of the late Mr. N. Mullins, Thomastown, who was killed by British soldiers in the Coolbawn ambush, and the late Mr. Peter Frehne, Kilcullen, who lost his life in the attack on the North Star Hotel (Auxilary Headquaarters) Dublin, are interred.

The procession, on the Quay, under the cemetery halted and the “Last Post” was played. The procession marched on to the field on the Station Road, where the cenotaph, the work of James Kelly, of Oldtown was admired. Thirty-one names were inscribed on the cenotaph including: Nicholas Mullins, Thomastown; Peter Freyne, Kilcullen; and John Hartley, Glenmore. Both Nicholas Mullins and Peter Freyne were the sons of Glenmore men and John Hartley was born, raised, and buried in Glenmore (Kilkenny People, Sat. 17 May 1924, p. 5).

The Waterford News & Star provided some additional information. The cenotaph, was in the shape of a large Celtic Cross and it was inscribed “In Proud and Loving Memory of the Faithful Soldiers of the Republic.”  No trains were running to Thomastown that day. “Despite restricted travelling facilities available, at least 10,00 people attended” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 6).

For further information on Peter Freyne (1903-1921) see our post 5 April 2021. For further information on John “Jack” Hartley (1897-1921) and Nicholas Mullins (1893-1921) see our post of 20 June 2021.

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

The featured drawing above is the Triumphant Studebaker found in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 7). It was stated that over 154,000 people bought Studebaker Automobiles during 1923.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh