January, 2026

Today, we present a short interview that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) conducted by telephone on 27 March 2004, of Nicholas “Nicky” Walsh (1919-2015) of Davidstown, Glenmore. Reading the interview notes it appears to be random subjects covered, but with skill Danny was able to extract information without revealing what information he wanted. Given other interviews about this time it is believed that Danny was seeking information on Fr. Thomas Phelan and an early dispute occurring within the Glenmore Creamery.

Some of Fr. Phelan’s best known acts while Parish Priest of Glenmore include: objecting in court to the continued operation of The Shanty pub of Scartnamore, Glenmore in 1906; harassing and threatening courting couples with his blackthorn stick on Sunday afternoons; and holding multiple Missions in a three year period to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Glenmore Church circa 1910.

Glenmore Animal Calls and Commands

Danny during the interview recorded the following words or sounds used by the “old people” of Glenmore to call animals and birds as reported by Nicky Walsh:

Hub, Hub–called horses;
Dhock, Dhock–called pigs;
Jhuck, Jhuck–called fowl;
Bí, Bí–called turkeys;
The following commands were used by the “old people” of Glenmore:
Hub Off–“horse language” telling the horse(s) to the right; and
Come Here–“horse language” telling the horses(s) to the left.

Two other agricultural terms were recorded:
Over & Hither–used to describe ploughing etc meaning to go over and back; and
Ghirocks–short drills in the corner of a field.

The Glenmore Creamery

Nicky Walsh’s grandfather was Pat Walsh (1838-1913) of Davidstown, Glenmore. He was first Chairman of the Glenmore Creamery Society. Pat Walsh’s first creamery number was 8. Nicky told Danny that Fr. Willie Walsh, the Glenmore Curate, got his grandfather to leave the Society. Apparently Pat Walsh wasn’t getting along with Fr. Phelan. After some time Pat Walsh was asked by Fr. Phelan, “When are you coming back to us Pat?” Pat Walsh went back, and his second Creamery number was 131. Nicky stated it was still 131 in 2004.

Although not explicit in the interview it is well known that Fr. Phelan was very single minded and forceful. In A Place in Time: Glenmore Creamery 1905-2005 (2005) it is noted that Fr. Phelan came to Glenmore in the autumn of 1904 as Parish Priest. He proposed the idea of a co-operative creamery, but his proposal was not met with universal enthusiasm (p. 16). Nevertheless the project proceeded, and Pat Walsh was elected as the first Chair. At the first AGM he was re-elected as Chair.

In June 1906, disharmony caused a rift in the Board as well as between the Parish Priest, Fr. Phelan, and the Curate, Fr. Walsh (p. 35). It centered on the Treasurer of the Society. When the Chairman (Pat Walsh) refused to sign Minutes of a meeting that was not properly noticed, the Committee was dissolved and a new Committee was elected. Only James Kirwan, of Gaulstown, was elected from the dissolved Committee onto the new committee. Fr. Phelan “was declared” both President and Chairman (p. 37). He retained both positions until 1915. Fr. Walsh, on the other hand, was excluded from the new Committee.

The Slieverue Creamery did not open until 1917, so either Pat Walsh took his milk to Mullinavat or processed his milk at home. It is not known how many other Glenmore farmers did not provide their milk to Glenmore as a result of the issues that arose in 1906. It is not known when Fr. Phelan asked Pat Walsh to rejoin the Society, but Pat Walsh died in 1913, so it must have been prior to that date. Danny believed that Fr. Phelan was motivated to establish a creamery by a desire to boost local prosperity to enable his plans for the rebuilding of St. James to take place.

For further information on the Glenmore Creamery see our post of 9 May 2020.

Taking Glenmore Milk to Slieverue

Nicky Walsh in his 2004 interview spoke about the closure of Glenmore Creamery in 1921 by order of “the Government.” We know it was closed by the British Military for a month during the War of Independence because of the number of roads and bridges in Glenmore destroyed by the Old IRA. Nicky Walsh reported that “the farmers in Glenmore had to bring their milk to Slieverue Creamery.” Nicky’s sister remembered Ned Cody of Ballycrony, bringing the milk to Slieverue Creamery via Davisdstown. “He said to her that it was the same as going to the Dardanelles.” We know that some farmers took their milk into New Ross and sold it directly to townspeople. See our post of 5 May 2021.

We believe that this Ned Cody was born in 1858 at Ballycrony, Glenmore the son of Richard Cody and his wife Catherine Holden. Edward “Ned” Cody died on Christmas Day in 1939 at home in Ballycrony of “senile decay.” His age at death was recorded as 82, and his sister Bridget Cody (b. 1862) was present at his death.

Pat Walsh (1838-1913) of Davidstown, Glenmore

Pat Walsh (1838-1913) was the son of Laurence Walsh and his wife Bridget Murphy. He was born at Davidstown on 3 May 1838. Pat Walsh had two known brothers: John Walsh (b. 1835) and Fr. Robert Walsh (1841-1909). For further information and photos of Fr. Robert Walsh see our post of 26 November 2020.

On 6 February 1868, Pat Walsh married Margaret Kennedy (1836-1913) of Rathinure, Glenmore. Margaret was the daughter of Patrick Kennedy and Margaret Kennedy née Kennedy. At the time of their marriage in 1868 both of their father’s were deceased. The couple died in 1913 within 4 months of each other. Margaret died 7 February 1913 of a malignant abdominal tumour (18 months) and asthenia (21 days). Asthenia is profound weakness. Pat Walsh died 1 June 1913 of heart failure. The couple are buried in Slieverue cemetery.

The couple had the following children:
[1] Bridget Walsh (1868-1890) went to Massachusetts to keep house for her uncle Fr. Robert Walsh.
[2] Laurence Walsh (1871-1940) (twin born at 10:30 a.m.) became an Ossory priest.
[3] John Walsh (1871-1929) (twin born at 10:32 a.m.) became an Ossory priest.
[4] Robert Walsh (1872-1951) married Mary Walsh, of Carriganurra, Slieverue. The couple had 12 children and Nicky Walsh (1919-2015) was their youngest son.
[5] Mary Walsh (1873-1948) married Tom Mullins of Flemingstown. They had a large family.
[6] Patrick Walsh (1875-1952) married Catherine Brennan. They farmed at Ballincrea, Slieverue, and had 7 children.
[7] Margaret “Maggie” Walsh (1879-1959) never married. See our post of 26 November 2020 for photos and information on Maggie and her siblings.

For information on the “traveling” Glenmore Sanctuary Lamp donated in 1911 by Pat Walsh (1838-1913) and his wife, Margaret (née Kennedy) (1836-1913) see our post of 2 May 2020.

Special thanks to Margaret Phelan née Claridge for the photos of her great-grandparents Pat Walsh (1838-1913) and Margaret Walsh née Kennedy (1836-1913) and the featured photo above of her uncle Nicky Walsh (1919-2015).

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

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

For further information on the closure of “The Shanty” of Scartnamore, Glenmore in 1906 see our post of 8 May 2023.