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From Danny’s Glenmore Photo Album 3.0 [updated]
The photo featured today was taken about 1970 by Danny Dowling (1927-2021) of Glenmore Village, outside the then parish hall (the old boy’s school) just inside the wall. Two of the depicted men at the back have been identified. Back row: the on the far left is Eamonn Jones, of the Village, and the man on the far right is Michael Hoynes, of Ballybrahee, Glenmore.
If you can identify any of the other people in this photo please post below or email glenmore.history@gmail.com. As people are identified we shall update this page as we do with other photographs. Thank you for your assistance.
[Update 24 May 2022, 19:32–Since the post went up this morning a number of readers have helped identify some of the people in the photo.]
Back Row, Left to Right: [1] Eamonn Jones, the Village; [2] –?–; [3] –?–; [4] –?–; [5] Mickey Fitzgerald, of Moulerstown; [6] Johnny Mackey, of Ballycroney; [7] Pat Dowling, of Cappagh; [8] Michael Hoynes, of Ballybrahee.
[Update 28 May 2022–Thanks to several readers we believe the people in the photo include: (back row left to right) [1] Eamonn Jones, the Village; [2] Paddy Mackey; [3] Mike Whelan, Ballywairy; [4] Mick Murphy, of Jamestown; [5] Micky Fitzgerald, of Moulerstown; [6] Johnny Mackey; [7] Pat Dowling Cappagh; [8] Michael Hoynes of Ballybrahe. (front left to right) Packie Morrissey ? and the child on the left is believed to be a nephew of Eamonn Jones. The little boy in front of Pat Dowling is Danny’s son Pat Dowling.]
From Danny’s Files: The 1837 Killing of Michael Phelan of Rochestown, Mullinavat
In Danny Dowling’s files an article was found which was copied from the Waterford Mail (Sat. 15 June 1839, p. 2). It provides that Laurence Foley, who brutally murdered his landlord, Pat. Phelan, of Rochestown, County Kilkenny in October 1837 evaded arrest for two years. Foley was arrested in County Tipperary and identified by the mother of the deceased. According to the Ballyshannon Herald (Fri. 21 June 1839, p. 3) Foley was arrested by Chief Constable Roney and Head Constable Mason. This is an interesting pre-Famine case because no motive was revealed for the killing although the newspapers at the time drew attention to the fact that the victim was a landlord of the defendant Foley. However, it appears that the victim had a modest holding.
Unfortunately, the Waterford Mail published the wrong name of the man killed, and from the information presented it was not clear which Rochestown in Kilkenny was the home of the victim. The victim was identified as Patt Phelan, Michael Phelan and sometimes Whelan in the newspapers. Knowing that trial accounts often are the more reliable of newspaper information we located reference to the trial of Laurence Foley in the Freeman’s Journal (Wed. 24 July 1839, p. 1). Baron Foster arrived from Clonmel for the Kilkenny Assizes the previous day and opened the Kilkenny Commission in the County Court at 10 a.m. Baron Foster addressed the Grand Jury and stated that he was happy to be able to congratulate them on the state of the court calendar. There were sixteen defendants for trial. He said that it was gratifying to find that agrarian outrages had ceased in County Kilkenny. However, he regretted that of the few cases to be heard there were four homicides. The totality of the report on the Laurence Foley case in this particular newspaper was that he was indicted for the manslaughter of Michael Whelan (sic) and found guilty.
Luckily, the Kilkenny Moderator (Sat. 27 July 1839, p. 20) provided details concerning the case that arose with the slaying of Michael Phelan (sic) near Mullinavat on the 3rd of October 1837. From this article and a review of Griffith’s Valuation we were able to determine that the victim lived in Rochestown, Mullinavat rather than Rochestown, Glenmore. The article provided the names of the jurors that heard the case: Richard Lalor, John Power, Edward Hunt, Edward S. Delaney, John Brenan, Anthony Nugent, James Butler, Emmanuel Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Cahill, Robert Walshe, Daniel Lalor, and Daniel Phelan.
The first witness to give evidence was John Phelan, a brother of the victim. John Phelan testified that the defendant, Laurence Foley, struck his brother Michael two years previously at Moonvoor, near Mullinavat. He had seen the defendant at the Mullinavat fair that day, and the defendant walked part of the way home with John and his brother, the victim. The brothers stopped at Patt Browne’s house on their way home to enquire about shoes that Browne was making for the victim. Soon after they went into Browne’s house the defendant Foley came to the door with a stone in his hand. Browne saw the defendant and as Browne went to push him out of the house the defendant dropped the stone. He then “caught up” a spade. With the help of the brothers, Browne pushed the defendant out of his house. The brothers then pushed the defendant outside the yard and “desired him to go home.” They turned to go back into Browne’s house and the defendant took up a stone and threw it at the victim, Michael Phelan, who was knocked down. John Phelan turned and saw defendant at the yard wall after throwing the stone. He heard one blow. The stone hit his brother in the back of the head. John immediately collared the defendant and tripped him up. When his brother did not rise he called out “murder.” He let go of the defendant and ran to his brother, but his brother could not stand. The victim lived till the following day. He did not see anyone other than the defendant near his brother when his brother was struck.
John Phelan testified that the defendant had taken “a sup” that night, and had been in the Police barracks that evening before he struck the victim. There had been no previous quarrel and he could not say why the defendant struck his brother. After striking the victim the defendant ran away, and the defendant left the place where he had been living. John Phelan admitted that he struck the defendant when he had him collared.
To questioning by the Judge, John Phelan stated that the defendant was not very drunk that night as he was well able to walk and talk when he came to the door with the stone in his hand. John Phelan could not say whether the defendant said anything. Prior to the attack the three men walked about a quarter of a mile together. The defendant called Browne a Whitefoot. John Phelan stated that Browne was a cousin of the Phelan brothers. He admitted they were all in dread of the defendant Foley because he was a bad character. The defendant was their tenant for some ground.
Patrick Browne then testified that he was working in his shop on the evening when the Phelan brothers came in to look for a pair of shoes. They were with him a few minutes when he heard shouting on the street. The defendant came and called the boys out to fight. Browne wanted to keep the defendant out, but the defendant managed to enter his door. Browne wanted the defendant to go home. While Browne was pushing the defendant out of the door a stone dropped from his hand. The defendant then seized a spade, but they shoved him out. The defendant then said to Browne, “You have my two landlords with you—to the devil with them—I’ll have my revenge.” He heard the cry of “murder” soon after, but when he heard it a second time he ran out and saw Michael Phelan nearly dead. He did not see the defendant then or later in the neighbourhood after that occurrence, nor since until the present assizes.
Doctor A. Cuilinan proved the nature of the wound which, he said, caused the death of the deceased. The Judge shortly “recapitulated the evidence” and the Jury, in a few moments returned a verdict of Guilty of Manslaughter. Foley was sentenced to transportation for 7 years.
The Kilmainham Prison Register provides that Laurence Foley, prisoner number 2405, was sentenced to 7 years for manslaughter by Baron Foster on 20 July 1839 at Kilkenny. The New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 reveals that Laurence Foley, of Kilkenny, arrived in Australia on 8 October 1839 aboard the Nautilus although this appears to be too quick a sailing time even if the ship left immediately following the trial. Perhaps the 8 October 1839 date reflects the date the ship sailed from Ireland? The records reveal that Foley was 30 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches tall and had hazel eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.
Three Rochestown townlands were located in Kilkenny. In the Griffith’s Valuation: Tithe Applotment Books there were no Phelan/Whelan in Rochestown, civil parish of Kilcolumb, Glenmore. Likewise, there were no Phelan/Whelan in Roachestown, civil parish of Rathkieran of Mooncoin (1833). Rochestown in the civil parish of Ballylarkin in 1827 had a Thomas Whelan who held 14 acres. It appears that Ballylarkin was originally in the Catholic Parish of Kilmacow but was transferred to Mullinavat Parish in the early 1840’s about the time Glenmore became a parish distinct from Slieverue.
In searching for Michael and John Phelan, utilizing the possibility that Thomas was their father, we located a John Phelan baptised on 16 June 1811 in Templeorum the son of Thomas Phelan and Catherine Crowly with an address of Kilonerry. Michael Phelan was baptized on 26 December 1807. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain that this is the correct family, and we were unable to locate a baptismal record for Laurence Foley.
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured sketch above is from the New York Public Library, Digital Collection, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture CollectionShelf locator: PC IMM. “London : printed and published at the Office, 198 Strand, in the Parish of St. Clement Danes, in the county of Middlesex, by William Little, 198, Strand, aforesaid. Saturday, June 19, 1852.”Source note: Illustrated London news. (London : Illustrated London News and Sketch Ltd., 1842-).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Weatherstown’s Crafter: Jo Doyle née Mernagh (1932-2021)
Today, we are going to feature the craft work of the late Jo Doyle née Mernagh of Weatherstown, Glenmore. Danny Dowling once described Jo as the woman who could turn her hand to anything. Jo was equally adept at weilding an angle grinder as a crochet hook.
Jo Doyle née Mernagh was born and raised in a thatched cottage in Weatherstown, Glenmore. Jo attended the Robinstown National School for girls and after completing it she began a succession of jobs that ultimately took her to England. While living and working in England she met her future husband, Larry Doyle, a native of Wexford. Soon after the couple married in 1957 they moved to Glenmore and updated the cottage where Jo was born and reared. Until she retired Jo worked for local farmers, fished for eels with Larry in the Barrow, reupholstered furniture, fitted wallpaper, knitted sweaters, and worked as a seamstress. She sewed, repaired and altered clothing and made Irish dancing costumes etc.
When Jo retired she turned to arts and crafts that she now had the time to pursue. Jo never drove, so Larry with his usual good humour drove her to various agricultural shows in Wexford, the Kilkenny show and the Piltown Show. They both enjoyed meeting old friends at the shows, and while awaiting the judges’ verdict for her craft work Jo would join Larry to view the animals on display and cheer for Glenmore horses in the show rings. A couple of typical show results for Jo were found in the New Ross Standard. For example, the New Ross Standard (Wed. 18 Aug 2002, p. 10) reported on the winners of the various classes or competitions held at the 55th Adamstown Show in 2002. Jo took six 1st places in Craft and Needlework including: Machine Sewn Garment; Embroidered Table Cloth; Patchwork; Soft Toy; and Cushion. Jo also won two 3rd places in Hand Knitted Garment and a handmade household article. Jo took a 1st in baking for a homemade novelty cake and a 2nd in the flower section for a Miniature Arrangement. Two years later, Jo at the 57th Adamstown Show took seven 1st place ribbons, one 2nd place and one 3rd. The firsts included: Best Machine Sewn Garment; Best Hand Knitted Garment; Best Patchwork; Best Soft Toy; Best Handmade ornament, Best Miniature Flower Arrangement and Best Small Flower Arrangement. Her second place was for the Best Household Article and her third was for Best Embroidered Tablecloth. (New Ross Standard, Wed. 7 July 2004, p. 24).
Jo also began to paint in oils and watercolour. She delved into mosaics, rug making, stencilling, counted cross stitch, quilting, and revived long forgotten crafts such as what she called silver paper pictures which were popular when she was a girl. Her favourite craft work were soft toys and dolls. She named each doll and animal that she made. Jo was awarded over 140 ribbons or certificates for her entries at the shows. However, her proudest award was a Brannra awarded in 1998 for her proficiency in soft toys.
Thanks to Jo’s daughter Pat we have several photographs below of a few examples of Jo’s extraordinary work to share today.
Please send any additions or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above is a view from Jo’s front gate looking over the fields.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Forristalstown, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Forristalstown around 1961. The Irish for this townland, according to Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny (1969, p. 102) is Baile Fhorastail, or Forrestal’s homestead. The townland is comprised of 316 acres. Kelly noted that the Forrestals lost their lands under Cromwell, and were transplanted to Connaught. Their castle in Forristalstown was demolished about 1800 shortly after the 1798 Rebellion. The hamlet of Forrestalstown (sic) is marked on the Ordinance Survey Maps and part of the roadway is called Clodach, or a miry place.
Danny interviewed Nicky “the Miller” Forristal (1888-1979) on Friday the 13th of March 1964. Nicky disclosed that the last of the local Forristals to leave during the Cromwellian period left a small son with the Gorman family of Ballycroney. Nicky believed that the Gormans were related to the Forristals. “When the chap grew up he married one of the Gorman girls and it is from this union that the present Ballyverneen Forristal’s descend from.” (DD Notebook 26) During an interview in 1970, Nicky told Danny what Tom Haberlin (1840-1920) of Forristalstown had described as occurring in Forristalstown. There were nine houses situated in Mullally’s field in Forristalstown which was opposite Cullen’s house on the other side of the lane. The Roches lived in a little house in the field. Previously the people in the nine houses were driven out of their houses. This occurred before 1870. Later, Tom Mullally knocked the derelict houses and used the stones to build his own dwelling house (DD Notebook 2). It is always amazing how accurate Nicky was. He told Danny that Tom Haberlin died between 40 or 50 years prior to 1970 and he was about 80 when he died. The parish records reveal that Tom Haberlin, of Forristalstown was born in January 1840 and the death register reveals that he died in 1920.
In 1961 Danny recorded ten families or households in Forristalstown. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died. The recorded information reveals that 48 people resided in Forristalstown with the population of 25 males and 23 females. The largest family recorded was the Power family comprised of 8 persons and there was 1 household of a single person.
Recorded Residents
Males= 25
Females= 23
Eldest Recorded Resident= James Doherty (1891-1963) although there were two other residents born in 1892. In 1961 James Doherty was 70 years of age.
Recorded Work
Farmers= 6 (4 males; 2 females) (included retired famers)
Farm/Agricultural Workers= 9 (all males) (included retired farm workers)
Labourer= 3 (all males)
Fisherman = 1 (male)
Domestic Servant = 1 (female)
ESB Lineman = 1 (male)
Postman = 1 (male)
FORRISTALSTOWN RESIDENTS
[1] MURPHY
Murphy, Edward (8 Aug. 1913) Builder’s Labourer
Murphy, Bridget (10 Feb. 1913) wife
Murphy, John son, farm worker
Murphy, Hannah daughter, domestic servant
Murphy, Edward, son
Murphy, Thomas, son
Murphy, Eileen, daughter
[2] McGRATH
McGrath, Martin (31 Aug. 1906) Farm Labourer
McGrath, Bridget (22 Jan. 1906) wife
Fortune, Alice, daughter
Fortune, Joseph, son-in-law, E.S.B. Lineman
[3] POWER
Power, Thomas (29 Nov.1904) Postman
Power, Anastatia (27 Sept. 1908) wife
Power, Johanna, daughter
Power, Patrick, son, farm worker
Power, Kathleen, daughter
Power, Kieran, son
Power, Angela, daughter
Power, Margaret, domestic servant
[4] MERNAGH
Mernagh, Peter (18 Feb. 1892) Retired Farm Worker
Mernagh, Mary (14 March 1897) wife
Mernagh, Patrick, son, road labourer
Mernagh, James P., son, labourer
Mernagh, N. William, son
Power, John, grandson
[5] DOHERTY
Doherty, James (6 Oct. 1891) Farmer (died 27 Jan. 1963)
Doherty, Margaret (10 Nov. 1901) wife
Doherty, Catherine, daughter
Doherty, Edward, son, farm worker
Doherty, Patrick, son, farm worker
Doherty, Anastatia, daughter
[6] DOHERTY
Doherty, Mary (18 April 1896) Retired Farmer (died 7 Jan. 1962)
Doherty, James, son, farmer
Doherty, Mary, daughter-in-law
Doherty, Josephine, daughter
[7] DOHERTY
Doherty, John Joseph (1923) Farmer
Doherty, Ellen, wife
Doherty, Mary Christina, daughter
[8] HABERLIN
Haberlin, Thomas (29 June 1919) fisherman
[9] GRACE
Grace, Anastatia (9 Feb. 1896) Farmer (died 19 March 1965)
Grace, Margaret, daughter
Grace, Mary, daughter
[10] CULLEN
Cullen, James (15 Aug. 1900) Farmer
Cullen, Ellen (8 June 1903) wife
Cullen, James, son, farm worker
Cullen, Edward, son, farm worker
Cullen, Patrick, son
Lannigan, Richard (4 June 1892) brother-in-law, farm worker
The feature photo above is of a coat of arms found on an ancient burial vault behind the east wall of Killivory Church ruins. The photo was sent of this coat of arms to the Heraldry Office and the following information was provided.
“This is indeed a coat associated with several branches of Forstall in the counties Kilkenny and Wexford and the City of Dublin. They all appear to have used the pronominal coat rather than with their proper differences; there was and is a good deal of carelessness about this which generations of heralds have failed to cure.
The inescutcheon – charged with three helmets – indicates a Forstall marriage to a Kennedy heraldic heiress. (A lady whose father left no son to continue the name.) It is borne to indicate that this armiger’s children have part of their inheritance from their mother and after her death might marshall the two coats together by quartering.” (Micheál Ó Comáin, Herald of Arms, 6 June 2020)
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Photo Album 2.0 [updated]
Last week we had a very good response to the photo readers identified as Forristal’s Mill of Graiguenakill, Glenmore. Today, we are featuring a photo of 11 Glenmore boys with hurleys found in one of Danny’s photo albums. Can you identify any of these boys and when Danny took this photo?
[Thanks to everyone for the speedy responses. So far we have several possible identifications…
From row (left to right) [1] Billy O’Keefe of the Village (?) ; [2] John Shea or Pat Power, the Village (?); [3] John Power, the Village(?); [4] —?—; [5] —?—
Back row (left to right: [1] Neddy Dowling, of Jamestown; [2] Jimmy Phelan (?); [3] Seamus Jones (?) the Village; [4] —?—; [5] Paddy Griffin (?); [6] Packie Jones (?) the Village or Martin Forristal (?) the Village. ]
Update 1 June 2022–back row (chap with glasses) [4] Christy Power, of Carrigcloney
“Glenmore Notes”: A Munster Express Column [Updated]
Commencing in about August 1900 and continuing until the end of 1903 the Munster Express published a column entitled “Glenmore Notes.” The newspaper proudly proclaimed the column was “From our own Correspondent.” Unfortunately, the Munster Express never identified its Glenmore correspondent for the Glenmore Notes (1900-1903).
From the topics covered in “Glenmore Notes” from 1900 to 1903 it is likely that the unnamed correspondent was a local man. An example of the typical column in 1900 was published on Saturday, 8 September 1900 (p.8) and is as follows:
“A great many farmers have their corn safely secured in the stackyard at present. The two new Reaper and Binder Machines, purchased this summer by Messrs Willie Rowe and Pat Fitzgerald, Weatherstown, did splendid work.
[Editor’s note: Thanks to a reader Wm. Rowe has been identified. Wm. Rowe, of Ballyhobuck, was married to an aunt of John Kirwan, of Gaulestown. She died shortly after their marriage. He later married an aunt of Mick and Andy Walsh who was from near Powerswood in Thomastown. Wm. Rowe had no children with either wife.]
[Updated 9 May 2022: Thanks to information supplied by two readers it is believed that William Rowe was a native of Mooncoin. The following information was gleaned from public records. On 11 April 1883 William Roe (sic) married Mary Kirwan of Gaulestown at Glenmore. On the 8th of September 1884, Mary Rowe née Kirwan (c. 1857-1884) died at the age of 27 of pulmonary congestion. William Rowe married a widow Ellen Dollard at Chapel Hill on 28 February 1889. The marriage records reveals that William’s father was William Rowe (deceased) and the bride’s father was Michael Cassin. Both father’s were listed as farmers. William Rowe (c. 1848-1932) died on 29th of July 1932 at Ballyhobuck of pneumonia at the age of 84. His nephew Andrew Walsh was present when he died. Ellen Rowe née Cassin (c. 1859-1937) died at the age of 78 on the 29th October 1937 at Ballyhobuck.]
A collision took place at ” The Churns” on Sunday last between a traveller for a certain machine company and the local postman. Both were on wheels. Except a little shock received everything else was all right. They parted in good humour, one wishing the other good luck for the rest of the day.
A Mullinavat gentleman took a remarkable eel out of the Mullinavat stream with his fishing rod on Tuesday last. He gave the following description of it to a friend of mine at the dispensary door:—Length, 3 feet, without the head; the latter was of a prodigious size, and without eyes. I may mention that he intends making a purse out of the skin.
I noticed four of the Glenmore boys cycling at racing speed along the ‘V’ road on Sunday afternoon. On arrival at the Cross Roads, Mr G. gave the order ‘Turn to the right;’ all obeyed. He did not cry ‘Halt’ until they arrived at Mr. Rockett’s, Slieverue. Of course, all went in. Needless to say their wants were attended to in capital style. After a short stay they remounted, bound for Dunmore, next to Tramore, and back again to Glenmore. At present I’ll say no more.”
The old “Glenmore Notes” from 1900-1903 provides a glimpse into what local people were discussing 120 years ago. Later in the late 1990’s the Munster Express again began publishing a column called “Glenmore Notes” which was written by Billy Forristal (c. 1915-2005) of Rochestown, Glenmore. Billy continued to write his column until January 2001. For further infomation concerning Edward Walsh (1862-1946) the proprietor and editor of the Munster Express, and his Glenmore connections, see our previous blog post of 24 January 2022.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The old cigarette card depicting an eel is courtesy of the New York City Library’s Digital Collection; NYPL catalogue ID (B-number): b15262620 Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): fe260800-c53f-012f-018b-58d385a7bc34; and is part of the George Arents Cigarette Card Collection.