April, 2025
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From Danny’s Files: First Passenger Train Through Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) over seven decades amassed an enormous collection of information concerning Glenmore and nearby areas. Recently work has commenced to attempt to file or refile Danny’s work into accessible files. Below are several articles that were copied into a file that had no name or subject matter attached to it. All the articles concern Glenmore or her people, are from the beginning of the twentieth century and several concern the new railway line that ran through the parish.
The Waterford & New Ross Extension Railway Line
First Passenger Train Through Glenmore
The Evening News (Waterford) on (Wed. 27 April, 1904) reported that 121 years ago today “at six o’clock in the morning the first regular passenger train left Waterford for New Ross over the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford line. Trains arrived from New Ross at 9 a.m.; 10:30; 2:35 p.m.; 4:30 and 6:10. This service is only temporary, and will continue each week day until the 31st of May, after which date the full train service will be in force.”
Sale of Railway Buildings
The following month the Waterford News & Star (Fri. 20 May 1904, p. 5) advertised the sale of three wooden houses owned by the railway
“To be sold by auction, on Wednesday, 25th May 1904, at 12 o’clock, at Abbeylands, Waterford by direction of Messrs S. Pearson & Son, Ltd., 3 large wooden houses used in connection with the New Ross to Waterford Railway Extension. The houses can be easily removed, and are most suitable for farmers, builders and others. Terms—cash. Thomas Walsh & Son, Auctioneers, The Mall, Waterford.”
Glenmore Robbery After Missing Train
Eight months after the first passenger train went through Glenmore it was reported that an elderly man who missed the last train was robbed.
“A daring highway robbery took place near Glenmore one night last week. It appears an old man named Thomas Fitzgerald, of Glenmore, left the city on his way home and missing the last train for Aylwardstown, he drove on a car as far as Rowe’s gate where he alighted, intending to walk the remainder of the journey. On the way he met a young man who offered to carry his bag, and the old man, being considerably under the influence of drink, allowed him to do so. Another man subsequently came on the scene, and said the police were coming. They then persuaded the old man to get inside a gate, which he did, they following. Fitzgerald sat down and fell asleep, and when he awoke he found himself minus his watch and chain, his bag, and a quantity of silver. On Monday the old man came to Waterford and made an information before Alderman Ward, J.P.” (Munster Express, Sat. 17 Dec. 1904, p. 5).
Waterford and New Ross Railway Extension: Hearing of Traverses at Kilkenny Assizes
At the Kilkenny Assizes last week [March 1903], the Lord Chief Baron was engaged three entire days hearing 18 traverses cases lodged by Mr. Daniel Dunford, solicitor, O’Connell St., Waterford on behalf of the undermentioned tenants, whose lands were compulsorily taken by the Dublin, Wicklow & Waterford Railway Company for the purpose of their new line from New Ross to Waterford.
The amounts awarded by Mr. Abbott, the Arbitrator, as compensation for the value of the land taken and for severance caused dissatisfaction, and on Mr. Dunford’s advice the eighteen tenants for whom he acted consented to him entering traverses. The result has been most gratifying, as all the tenants succeeded in getting very substantial sums for compensation, as will be seen by the following awards, the amount in brackets denoting the compensation awarded by the Arbitrator:–
Daniel Cody, Carrickcloney [£57 19s 6d yearly rent abated £3 9s 2d.] £188 0s 11d.
Reps. Patrick Delahunty, Aylwardstown [£55 19s 4d, rent abated £1 2s 8d]. £160.
Michael Heffernan, Aylwardstown [£20 13s 6d, rents abated 4s 8d] £70
Patrick Morrissey, Aylwardstown [£17 0s 2d, rent abated 7s 10d.] £85
Reps. John J. Morrissey, Aylwardstown [£53 9s, rent abated £1 14s 6d.] £100
Robert Irish, Aylwardstown [4s 6d, rent abated 2s 2d.] Settled with Railway.
Richard Kehoe, Rathinure [£3 18s 1d, rent abated 6s 4d.] £10
Richard Roche, Rathinure [£3 9s 10d, rent abated 5s 4d.] £6
Reps. Martin Roche, Rathinure [£15 8s, rent abated £1 8s.] £45
Elizabeth Roche, Rathinure [£8 5s, rent abated 15s.] £10
James Wall, Rathinure [£5 10s, Rent abated 10s.] £8
John Roche (Pat), Rathinure [13s 6d] £9 10s
Thomas Walsh, Rochestown [£26 15s 4d, rent abated £1 0s 4d] £79
John Roche, Scartnamore [£12 2s, rent abated £1 12s] £30
Thomas Walsh, Ballyrowrah [£25 17s, rent abated £2 7s.] £50
John Donovan, Ballyrowragh [£30 3s 2d, rent abated 15s.] £90
Pat Duggan, Luffany [£4 6s 2d, rent abated 15s.] £23
In addition to the amounts awarded by the jury the abatements of each tenant’s yearly rent were left the same as fixed by the Arbitrator…(Munster Express, Sat. 21 March 1903, p. 1).
Glenmore Wedding, 1902
I wondered why the wedding below was in the file, but it appeared to fit because the bride’s father was one of the plaintiffs in the case outlined above. Additionally, her brother Richard Delahunty (1867-1954) sued the railway after his house was destroyed by fire in 1935 started by the “Hell Fire Jack” steam engine. See our post of 10 October 2021 for further details of the fire and lawsuit.
“MARRIAGE OF MR. JOHN DOLLARD, D.C.—A very happy event took place at Glenmore on Tuesday, when Mr. John Dollard, D.C., Ballytarsney, Mooncoin, and brother to Rev. J.B. Dollard, the famous writer of Gaelic news, was united to Miss Delahunty, Aylwardstown, Glenmore. The marriage ceremony was celebrated by the Rev. Father Walsh, formerly of Clogga, and at present officiating in Canada. A large number of friends witnessed the interesting event (Munster Express, Sat. 16 Aug. 1902, p. 5).
[The bride was Ellen Delahunty of Aylwardstown, Glenmore, daughter of Patrick Delahunty (farmer). The groom, John Dollard (1863-1913) was the son of Michael Dollard (deceased farmer) and Anastatia Quinn. Ellen Delahunty (1877-1954) was born at Glenmore on 7 April 1877 the daughter of Patrick Delahunty and Mary Grant. The groom died in 1913 and the bride died in 1954 after being a widow for 41 years.]
Farmer Injured Working on Railway (1901)
“A great many accidents have occurred on the Ross Railway since operations were commenced there. Last week a farmer named John Murphy met with a serious accident by getting his leg fractured. The railway company had him and his horse and cart employed. It appears when going down an incline near Aylwardstown, with a heavy load on the beast, some of the harness got broken and the animal became restive and attempted to break away. In Mr. Murphy’s attempt to rectify matters he got knocked down, the wheel going over his leg, with the result already related. I am glad to say the poor fellow is progressing favourably (Munster Express, Sat. 25 May 1901, p. 5).
The ”sappers” are having a gay old time of it around Glenmore. They appear to be a jolly fine crowd. Their waltzing on the “Rocky Road” is simply fine (Munster Express, Sat. 25 May 1901, p. 5).
For further information regarding railway related injuries see our post of 12 August 2024 and our post of 8 July 2024.
Other News
Reward for Missing Bullock
“Strayed from the bridge on Monday (Fair Day) a year and a half old red Bullock, with scissors mark K on right hip. Any person giving information of same will be rewarded by Thomas Kelly, Aylwardstown, Glenmore, or at any of the Waterford Police Stations” (Munster Express, Sat. 17 Oct. 1903, p. 4).
Valuable Glenmore Grass Farm For Sale in 1901
“Ballyrowragh, Aylwardstown, Co. Kilkenny—Valuable Grass Farm For Sale. To be sold by auction on Thursday, 17th January 1901, at 12 o’clock, at our salesrooms, the Mall, by direction of G.H. Bloomfield, Esq, JP, his interest in Ballyrowragh, Aylwardstown, containing 72 Statute Acres, for first class grazing land, held yearly at £20. This farm is situated within three and a half miles of Waterford and five of New Ross. For further particulars apply to Thomas Walsh & Son, Auctioneers” (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1901, p. 1).
Aylwardstown Bicycle Crash in 1903
A bad smash took place at Aylwardstown, Glenmore. On Sunday. James Sullivan, who is a bargeman to Mr. James Farrell, Kilmacow, was riding his bicycle to the coursing meeting when he lost control of the machine and ran into the stone wall at Aylwardstown Lodge. It was feared at first that he was killed, but eventually he recovered sufficiently to be removed on Mr. Hennessy’s car to hospital at Waterford (Munster Express, Sat. 21 Feb. 1903, p. 5).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above is the Aylwardstown, Glenmore, train station. For other photos of the Aylwardstown railway station see the Kilkenny Digital Archive. For information concerning a train crash averted by the Aylwardstown Station Master see our post of 5 May 2020.