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1960 Glenmore Confirmation Photo [Updated]
Special thanks to Ann O’Rourke for sharing this photo. On the 9th of May 1960 students from Glenmore and Ballyfacey National Schools were Confirmed.
[Update 13 June 2025]
Back row of girls: Eily Fitzgerald (?); Ann O’Rourke; Breda Hartley(?); Josie Culleton; ____ Tracey (?); ____ Butler (?)
Second Row of girls: ?, Mary Cody, ?, Mary Mullins
Front Row of girls: It is believed that the girl in the suit at the right was a Phelan.
The Munster Express published the following:
“Confirmation at Glenmore—Most Rev. Dr. Collier, Bishop of Ossory, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Children of Glenmore and Ballyfacey National Schools at Glenmore Parish Church on Monday last” Munster Express, Fri. 13 May 1960, p. 6.
If you can identify any of the people in the photograph taken 65 years ago, please comment below or email glenmore.history@gmail.com .
“Glenmore Boy” & the Tramore Donkey Derby [Updated]
Last week a reader queried whether Danny Dowling (1927-2021) had collected any information on the famous Tramore Donkey Derby. No such information was located, and a newspaper search was conducted. The Tramore Donkey Derby appears to have operated from 1960 to 1965. It was labelled a “fringe” attraction of the Waterford Light Opera Festival. Unfortunately, although Donkey Derbies were advertised often the results, particularly heat results, were not published. We have been able to identify two Glenmore donkeys that participated in the Tramore Donkey Derby. One was owned by Larry Kirwan of Scartnamore and the other by Dan Aylward of Ballyfacey.
Before the Tramore Donkey Derby
Donkey Derbies were popular in this area long before the Waterford Light Opera Festival’s involvement. For example, in 1919 the Suirvale Carnival in Carrick-on-Suir featured a Donkey Derby as well as Donkey Polo (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Aug. 1919, p. 2). In the 1950’s the various local Fetes held Donkey Derbies as fund raisers.
Kilmacow Fete
The Kilmacow Fete held Donkey Derbies in 1951 (Munster Express, Fri. 1o Aug. 1951, p. 1) and 1953. The 1953 Fete was held on Sunday the 2nd of August with the Donkey Derby at 8 p.m. (Munster Express, Fri. 24 July 1953, p. 5). The event was won by Master J. Phelan, Lower Kilmacow with his unnamed mount (Munster Express, Fri. 7 Aug. 1953, p. 6).
Tenpleorum Fete
Templeorum held a Fete on 1 July 1951. Their Fete contained a a tug-of-war competition, donkey derby and a bullock raffle (Munster Express, Fri. 22 June 1951, p. 5).
Slieverue Fete
The 1951 Slieverue Fete stated that it had 10 declared runners for the Donkey Derby. The Donkey Derby was held Sunday the 17th of June 1951 at 7:30 p.m. (Munster Express, Fri. 15 June 1951). First place went to T. Kavanagh on Griffin’s donkey; 2nd went to M. Cummins on Cashin’s donkey and the fastest lap went to W. Rochford on Haberlin’s donkey (Munster Express, Fri. 22 June 1951, p. 7).
In 1952, the Slieverue Fete, held a Fancy Dress Cycle Race and Donkey Derby (Munster Express, Friday 23 May 1952, p. 5). The Fancy Dress Bicycle Race was from Ferrybank to Slieverue. Winners were Wm. Doyle, Billy Atkins and James Kavanagh. There were 8 entries in the Donkey Derby as follows: (1) Mr. R. Grace’s “Lough Cullen” was ridden by Gay Donovan; (2) Mr. M. Kirwan’s “Bucko was ridden by Pat Evans; (3) Mr. M. Connolly’s “Rockey Rover” was ridden by Bud Freany; (4) Mr. T. Flynn’s “Gracedieu Belle” was ridden by T. Flynn; (5) Mr. T. Flynn’s “Beefsteak” was ridden by J. Flynn; (6) Mr. J. Maher’s “Charlie” was ridden by Sean Kirwan; (7) Mr. P. Cashin’s “Big Lad” was riden by Eddie Hartley; and (8) Mr. T. Wall’s “Luffany Lass,” was ridden by Liam Rochford (Munster Express, Fri. 20 June 1952, p. 2).
The Derby was described as follow: “All got away to a good start, and ran well—some too well for their riders, and others somewhat in the wrong direction. Kirwan’s Bucko, with his broncho antics, as he tried unsuccessfully to unseat his rider (Pat Evans) provided the spectators with much amusement, as did Bud Freany on Rockey Rover, who had ten falls to the lap, but still rode his mount to the finish.” The Donkey race results were: (1) Big Lad; (2) Charlie; and (3) Luffany Lass (Munster Express, Fri. 20 June 1952, p. 2).
“A realistic note was provided by the presence on the course of that well-known turf-accountant, Mr. Jim Rice. The erratic behaviour of the runners militated against a successful book” (Munster Express, Fri. 20 June 1952, p. 2).
For an unknown reason, in 1953 the Slieverue fete announced it would hold a “New Style Donkey Derby” (Munster Express, Fri. 12 June 1953, p. 4). No explanation could be found regarding the new style derby. The races were also held in 1954 (Munster Express, Fri. 11 June 1954, p. 6).
Mooncoin Fete
A one-day Fete was held by Mooncoin in 1952 with a Donkey Derby. The Derby was held on Sunday the 20th of June at 3 p.m. Admission was 3/ (Munster Express, Fri. 18 June 1954, p. 6). The Donkey Derby was held again in 1954 (Munster Express, Fri. 18 June 1954, p. 8).
Glenmore Fetes
There were Donkey Derbies held in Glenmore. In 1957, at the Glenmore Muintir na Tire’s 2nd Annual Feis, held at the Scow Bridge, a Donkey Derby was held as well as a Senior Football Challenge between Tullogher and Glenmore (Munster Express, Fri. 17 May 1957, p. 19). Another Donkey Derby was held by the Glenmore Fete & Hurling Tournament on Sunday 28 June 1964. All entry forms were to be sent to L. Byrne, of Haggard, Glenmore (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 26 June 1964, p. 4).
Glenmore Boy & his Glenmore Jockeys
One of the entrants to the Tramore Donkey Derby was a donkey owned by the Larry Kirwan family of Scartnamore, Glenmore named “Glenmore Boy.” At home when he was relaxing with his hooves up “Glenmore Boy” was simply known as Neddy. He won a few donkey races at Tramore. Jim Kirwan (d. 2019) or Peter Doran, of Aylwardstown were his jockeys. “Glenmore Boy” was transported to Tramore by Johnny Garvey of Rathinure.
The Tramore Donkey Derby
1960
In September 1960 it was reported that thousands had attended the Donkey Derby held on the strand in Tramore (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 30 Sept. 1960, p. 10). People travelled all across the south of Ireland to attend the Tramore Donkey Derby which was labelled a “fringe” attraction for the Waterford Light Opera Festival. Over 40 animals took part, which was run over a course of about six furlongs. Mr. Ronnie Milne’s (Waterford) “Scant Bikina” was the first donkey home and won £20. Second place went to Tom Power, Farrenogue, Mullinavat whose “Tory Hill Boy” earned £10. Third place went to Edward Phelan (Kilmacow) with “Silver Catch” who won £5. The starter was James Power, the Mayor of Waterford.
Another popular “fringe” attraction was the waiter’s race. Waiters dressed in white would run holding a tray with a drink upon it. There were a large number of entrants from local hotels and guest houses. Oliver O’Reilly of the Grand Hotel won the race. J. Coffey of the Terminus Guest house was second, and John Ryan of the Grand Hotel was third.
1961
In 1961, the Tramore Donkey Derby moved to Tramore Racetrack because at previous year’s Derby on the strand, “which attracted one of the biggest crowds ever seen in Tramore in September, it became, at times, impossible to control the spectators, particularly children” (Munster Express, Fri. 1 Sept. 1961, p. 3). An entry form was published in the Munster Express for the 1961. Rules were published: No whips, sticks, or spurs to be used. Only short reins permitted. Jockeys limited to 9 stone (126 pounds). All animals subject to full veterinary and S.P.C.A. inspection before taking part in the race (Munster Express, Fri. 8 Sept. 1961, p. 14). The prizes or purses for the Tramore Donkey Derby in 1961 were: Winner £80; 2nd £15 and 3rd £5. Also cash prizes were paid to heat winners (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Sept. 1961, p. 14).
In 1961, buses were arranged to bring spectators from across the Southeast to the Tramore Donkey Derby (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Sept. 1961, p. 14). There were 90 entries for the Derby (Waterford News & Star, Tues. 19 Sept. 1961, p. 1). After the event it was estimated that 15,000 attended the “fringe attraction.” A BBC unit was in Waterford for the Light Opera Festival attended the Donkey Derby and made a special film of it (Munster Express, Fri. 22 Sept. 1961, p. 8).
It was reported to be the best Donkey Derby ever held in Ireland in recent years. “Winner of First Prize of £80 went to Ned Gleason, of Ballyheen, Templemore, Tipperary, whose entry “Rip It Up,” ridden by J. Ryan, pipped the odds on favourite “Flying Saucer,” owned by Joe McCarthy, Hill Height, Tralee with J. McCarthy in the saddle. Another County Tipperary donkey, “Galtee Rover,” owned by G. Fleming, of Brown Bog, Bansha, and ridden by J. Walsh was third (Munster Express, Fri. 22 Sept. 1961, p. 8).
The Waiters’ Race was also held at the racecourse. First prize of £5 went to Patrick Coffey of the Terminus Guest House, Tramore. William Curran won £2 for coming in second. He worked at the Grand Hotel as did Oliver O’Reilly who came in third and received a prize of £1 (Munster Express, Fri. 22 Sept. 1961, p. 8).
1962
In 1962 the Tramore Donkey Derby was held at the Tramore Racetrack. It was noted that attendance was down from the previous year, but an estimated 10,000 attended in 1962 with 13 or 14 bookmakers also in attendance. Mr. T.A. Fleming, Manager and judge of the Irish Racing Board arrived from Dublin to act as a judge with the Marquis of Waterford and two other men. The race was sponsored by several brewers of Phoenix Ale, Harp Lager, Double Diamond, and Skel Lager. In the fifth heat, Mr. Dan Aylward, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, took second with his donkey “Shebeen” (Munster Express, Fri. 28 Sept. 1962, p. 10).
The waiters’ race results were: (1) W. Curran, of the Grand Hotel; (2) Oliver O’Reilly, of the Grand Hotel and (3) N. Kiely, of Hotel Majestic (Munster Express, Fri. 28 Sept. 1962, p. 10).
The Munster Express published an article concerning Michael Fogarty of Clone, Freshford, and the two Donkey Derbies he won. Fogarty related that his proudest memory was when he won a Donkey Derby at the age of 10 at a local sporting fixture. In August 1961, at the Freshford Carnival at the age of 69, Fogarty was “accorded a tremendous ovation” when he won his second Donkey Derby (Munster Express, Fri. 4 May 1962, p. 14).
1963
The Tramore Donkey Derby was held on Sunday, 8 September 1963. In August it was announced that two fleeted footed ladies from London were considering running in the Tramore Derby. Their names were “Violetta” and “Carmen.” “Violetta” had recently won the Epsom Donkey Derby as well as the Brighton Donkey Derby. “Carmen” was a maiden but placed in her two previous races (Munster Express, Fri. 30 Aug. 1963, p. 10). Unfortunately it is not clear whether the two ladies participated.
(Munster Express, 26 June 1964, p 16)
1964
In 1964 the Tramore Donkey Derby was moved by the Waterford Light Opera Executive to Sunday, 16 August 1964. The Derby was to be held at the end of Tramore Race Week. It was hoped that race goers and tourists would remain in Tramore for an extra day to attend. There were 60 donkeys entered in the Derby. The prize money increased to £175 with 5 heats. The price of admission to the enclosure was Adults 3/; Children 6d (Munster Express, Fri. 14 Aug. 1964, p. 6).
That same year the Ferrybank Convent Committee arranged a Donkey Derby to be held at Kilcohan Park, Waterford, for the Ferrybank Convent Building Fund. The entry fee was 5/ per donkey (Munster Express, Sun. 26 June 1964, p. 16).
1965
It was announced by the Waterford Light Opera Executive in 1965 the demise of the popular Tramore Donkey Derby (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 Aug. 1965, p. 7). “The vagaries of our Irish weather which last year caused a serious loss on the Festival Donkey Derby at Tramore caused the Festival Executive to change its policy on promoting outdoor “fringe” events… the trend now is to making assurance double sure by putting on events of an indoor nature only” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 10 Sept. 1965, p. 7).
Special thanks to Tom Kirwan for sharing his memories of “Glenmore Boy.” Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above depicts the Marchioness of Waterford presenting the winner’s prize to jockey John McCarthy who rode his father’s donkey “Fast Away to Victory” (Munster Express, Fri. 28 Sept. 1962, p. 10).
[Update 11 June 2025: Special thanks to John Kirwan, of Scartnamore, for sharing the above photo of Glenmore Boy.]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Photos from Peoria, Illinois of a Glenmore Native
In our post of the 26th of August 2024 we featured Monsignor Patrick O.’C. Culleton (1877-1960) a native of Kilbride, Glenmore.
Today we have three new photos of Msgr. Culleton. Special thanks to Patrick Kelly who shared these photos with us. In 1950 Msgr. Culleton was celebrating the golden jubilee of his ordination.
We will be adding these photos to the original post thanks to Patrick Kelly sharing these photos. If you have any photos of Glenmore natives please send them to glenmore.history@gmail.com where they will be preserved.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Captain C.F. McLoughlin (1897-1967) of the Glenmore Volunteers, Part II
For Part 1 see our post of 26 May 2025.
1916-1919
On Fred McLoughlin’s release after about a month’s detention he carried on activities as before. (Heffernan letter, p. 1) After McLoughlin returned the Glenmore Volunteers resumed drilling and this time some new men joined as public opinion turned in their favour (Mernagh letter, p. 4)
McLoughlin went to Gorey in the autumn of 1916, but returned to Glenmore from time to time. During 1917, 1918 and 1919, while living in Glenmore he continued and intensified his volunteer activities. He took part in the Waterford City by-election and the volunteers were active in the General Election of 1918. During the conscription crisis of 1918 he was on the run for months (Heffernan letter, p. 2). Ellen’s eldest son, Jimmy Cassin joined the volunteers. Cassin was working for Tom Mullins in Flemingstown (Cassin letter, p. 1).
About 1918 a large body of men from Ballybrahe, Weatherstown and Ballyfacey marched to Coolnaleen to link up with another large group. Elections were held at that time and Fred McLoughlin was again appointed Captain, Jack Hartley, Weatherstown 1st Lieutenant; Jack Doherty of Coolnaleen was appointed 2nd Lieutenant (Power letter, p. 2).
McLoughlin’s Glenmore Headquarters
Of all the letters submitted by Glenmore people on behalf of McLoughlin the one containing the most detail of the activities of the Company was that of John Power, Jr. He stated that from an early stage, Fred McLoughlin was experimenting with explosives and trying to make gunpowder. Power had a new bicycle about 1918 and several times lent it to McLaughlin to make long journeys. Power constantly carried dispatches for McLoughlin. Although McLoughlin lived with his aunts in Glenmore Village he made his headquarters Pat Walsh’s farm in Ballybrahee less than a mile from the Village.
John Power, Jr. worked for Pat Walsh. The barn, boiler house, the haggard and other places on the farm were used for volunteer purposes. Buckshot from moulds was made in the boiler house where cartridges were loaded. The loaded cartridges were tested in the fields (Power letter, p. 2). McLoughlin was also experimenting with making bombs. “Some of the powder made by Fred McLoughlin was very strong and a gun would not stand more than a small amount in a cartridge” (Power letter, p. 2).
Power stated that during the Black and Tan period (after the end of WWI c. 1918-1922) the Glenmore Company cut trees, dug trenches and demolished bridges to block roads and hamper communication of the enemy. Power was usually on outpost duty armed with a shotgun. He noted that it took three nights to break one bridge on the Pill. When it finally collapsed Dick Ryan was standing on it and went down into the Pill with it (Power letter, p. 1).
The Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil War there were divisions in Glenmore amongst the men. McLoughlin arrived from Dublin about the end of July. Power, Neddy Purcell and some others got in touch with McLoughlin and continued their activities as they were anti-Treaty. Power borrowed Pat Walsh’s spring car and drove it from Ballybrahee to a place outside of Waterford where McLoughlin had dumped some munitions stolen from General Prout’s arm. Power noted that this was the army that had taken Waterford in 1922 (Power letter, p. 3). For further details regarding the Siege of Waterford see our post of 17 July 1922.
Soon thereafter, McLoughlin’s mother, Sarah Jane McLoughlin née Heffernan died 17 May 1923 at Tullow, Carlow, at the age of 54 of tubercular meningitis.
McLoughlin’s Account of His Service
On 7 December 1933, McLoughlin filed an 8 page application for a military pension. Within this document he provided important details concerning his service, incarceration, injuries and employment. In 1933, he was residing at 35 Marlboro Road, Donnybrook. He applied under the name of Con. F. McLoughlin.
McLoughlin in his 1933 application stated that he was a volunteer in the I.R.A. from 1913 to 1923. He first volunteered in Glenmore in 1913. His commanding Officer in 1913 was Nick Curran N.T. (National teacher). McLoughlin noted in the application that Curran was deceased. From 1914 until the summer of 1915 McLoughlin was a Captain of the Blackrock College Corps. As a senior school boy, he organised and drilled independently this non-affiliated unit (1933 Application, p. 2).
From summer 1915 to 1919, McLoughlin was the Captain of the Glenmore Company, of the Kilkenny Regiment. He listed his commanding Officers as T. Treacy, Brigadier and M. Kealy, Commandant of the Southern Battalion. In 1919, he served under T.D. Synott, Enniscorthy in the Gorey area organising. He was attached to the Kilkenny brigade. In 1920 he served with J Co. of the Dublin City Brigade. J. Freaney was the Captain of J Company. At the end of 1920 McLoughlin was back in Glenmore and engaged in an attempted ambush at Lucy Rock in Ballyverneen (1933 Application, p. 2).
McLoughlin became a Lieutenant in J. Co. (Dublin) in 1921 under Captain J. Freaney and Capt. J. Goulding. The following year he became Captain and remained active until disabled. His commanding officer was P. Houlihan, Commandant (1933 Application, p. 2).
Wounds
McLoughlin stated that during his service he suffered shrapnel wounds from a bomb which he described as minor to his right hand. This wound was received during independent action (evading capture) in 1920. His second shrapnel wound injured his left hand. It too was described as minor and was received during the defence of the Talbot St. area of Dublin in 1922.
McLoughlin suffered serious bullet wounds on 13 October 1922 that caused deformity of his left hand, wrist and forearm. He claimed these injuries were received while engaged in organizing and leading authorized local action against civil disturbers at Clonaslee, Leix. At that time and place he was using the name O’Sullivan (1933 Application, p. 2).
The Irish Civil War began on the 28th of June 1922. A review of a contemporary Nationalist and Leinster Times article (Sat. 28 Oct. 1922, p. 3) provided that this little village in the North-West corner of Leix was embroiled in a strike of farm labourers. An un-named organiser “came amongst the farmers and the tide began to turn.” The farmers after having crops destroyed etc. formed a Parish Protection Party as well as a “Flying Column.” There is no mention of anyone being shot in the newspaper article. Based upon the foregoing and the fact his employer paid his hospital bill, even though it was in the name of O’Sullivan, it appears that the Clonaslee incident was related more to McLoughlin’s work for the Farmers’ Union than it related to his work for the I.R.A.
Resulting Illnesses
McLoughlin claimed “Ordinary health, as schoolboy and youth was good, till endangered by volunteer activities.” As a result of hardships and exposure experienced while organising volunteers and campaigning on borders of East Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Tipperary at Easter 1916 and while detained in New Ross, Wexford, Richmond Barracks, Dublin before deportation to Wakefield in May 1916, McLoughlin suffered occasional ill health (1933 Application, p. 3).
McLoughlin revealed in his application that while at Blackrock he was treated and isolated with mumps in 1912 or 1913 (1933 Application, p. 4). We also discovered that his grandmother, Elizabeth Heffernan of Glenmore died outside the Chapel in Tullow in May 1913 (Carlow Nationalist, Sat. 24 May 1913, p. 8). See our family H surname page for the full article.
McLoughlin noted that while he was held at Wakefield he was placed on bread and water and suffered several assaults from a British Army N.C.O. During the interment he lost a stone in weight and it took a long time for him to recover. In 1918 he contracted influenza and pneumonia while “on the run” during the anti-conscription campaign. In 1921 he had a minor rheumatic attack aggravated by camping with Battalion J as Lieutenant. He attended Dr. Powell of Fitzwilliam Square during this period (1933 Application, p. 3).
McLoughlin had surgery performed by Dr. V. McCallister at Mater Hospital, Dublin in October 1922 for bullet wounds. He was in St. Patrick’s accident ward under the name of O’Sullivan. He recalled that the wounds were dressed regularly by a student who later qualified as Dr. M. O’Donnelly (1933 Application, p. 3). He was admitted to the Mater on the 13th or 14th of October 1922 and released about the 12th of November. He attended out-patient massage for a further period (1933 Application, p. 4). His hospital and surgical expenses were about £18 and were paid by the Irish Farmers’ Union (1933 Application, p. 2).
The Board contacted McLoughlin’s former commanding officer in Wexford T.D. Synott. Synott verified that McLaughlin came under his command about 1917 and remained until 1919. He served as an officer of the Glenmore Corps and was attached to the Wexford Brigade at Gorey. Synott stated that he knew McLoughlin “He came to Enniscorthy for munitions on one or two occasions in early 1918. Later (?) to form a company at Gorey.” Synott was not aware of any illness or injuries McLaughlin suffered during the time McLaughlin was in his command.
Employment History
McLoughlin reported that he was a free-lance writer from 1915 to 1919. He was also employed as a teacher in 1916-1917 although he failed to state where he taught. From 1919-1920 he worked as a journalist for the Enniscorthy Echo. From 1920-1928 he was the sub-editor of The Irish Farmer and then the Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Farmers’ Union (1933 Application, p. 3). McLoughlin became the publications manager for Cabell & Co. in 1928 and was still in the position when he filed his application in 1933 (1933 Application, p. 4).
On the 14th of July 1937 the Military Registration Board certified that McLoughlin was a member of Oglaigh na h-Eireann (I.R.A.) having engaged in military service from 1917-1919 as a volunteer in Kilkenny and Wexford. However, on 28 August 1937 McLoughlin was notified by the Minister for Defence that no award would be made to him because he did not receive a wound or injury while engaged in Military Service. This led to McLoughlin contacting Glenmore people and requesting letters outlining his work, so he could appeal.
PHILATELIST
While researching C.F. McLoughlin we came across several references to his stamp collection. In 1927, W.G. Meredith published The Postage Stamps Of Ireland 1922-1927. This book was dedicated to C.F. McLoughlin, “a distinguished Irish philatelist, thanking him for his contribution to the compilation of the handbook.” In 1971, a priest deemed a world class collector noted that C.F. McLoughlin had helped him when he was commencing collecting. He labelled McLoughlin a prominent stamp collector (New Ross Standard, Sat. 3 July 1971, p. 1).
Member of the United Arts Club of Dublin
Perhaps one of the more ironic discoveries in researching McLoughlin was the fact that McMaster University of Canada has material on McLoughlin. The material was donated to the University by William B. Ready, a former McMaster University Librarian. To view details regarding the holding click here.
As a member of the United Arts Club of Dublin, McLoughlin was a friend of Jack Butler Yeats (1871-1957) and other Irish writers. The McMaster archive contains 37 letters from Jack Butler Yeats (1871-1957) to McLoughlin.
McLoughlin published two volumes of poetry. He used the pseudonym Conn Macado and also used Maelseachlainn for the annotations he added to letters and manuscripts. He was nicknamed “the Gunman.” According to Patricia Boylan (1988) in All Cultivated People: A History of the United Arts Club, Dublin, she described McLoughlin as “… a peaceful man who spent most of his time behind a newspaper in the Dante Room [of the Club], scowling at intruders, and was seldom seen in the bar. He got his nickname from his habit of wearing his hat well down over his eyes and his trench coat tightly belted in the manner of a Chicago gangster.” We think it likely that his nickname may have been due in part to his earlier life.
The other items in the McMaster collection belonging to McLoughlin are: a poem by Padraic Colum (1881-1972), “The Sea Bird to the Wave.” Colum wrote it out for McLaughlin in 1958 one night at the Club. There are also two manuscripts, one about the 1916-1921 troubles and the other a collection of Irish proverbs from a social evening at the Club in 1967. The 1916-1921 manuscript came about when McLoughlin in 1966 contacted veterans and asked them to provide their memories. For a concise history of the United Arts Club, see, An Irishman’s Diary, The Times (5 March 2007).
McLaughlin’s Poetry
Due to the number of pseudonyms employed by McLaughlin we were able to locate a few of his poems and two volumes of poetry.
The National Gallery of Ireland has McLoughlin’s poem entitled “1940” in its Yeat’s Collection. This poem was inscribed with a Christmas greeting from McLoughlin to Jack Butler Yeats. (National Gallery of Ireland, donated by Anne Yeats in 1996.) A second poem entitled “Id Est” is also in the Yeat’s Collection and was inscribed with a Christmas greeting from McLouglin to Jack Butler Years (1943). This poem was privately printed 100 copies. (National Gallery of Ireland, donated by Anne Yeats in 1996). “Cognito” was privately published in 1946, and “Three Things” was published in 1951. “Cognito” includes “copious manuscript notes by McLoughlin under the pseudonym Maelseachlainn.” Both works are held in the National Library of Ireland.
Imaginative Meaning: a Prismetric Medium (1941) was published by McLoughlan under the pseudonym Conn Macado. McLoughlin sent a copy to J.B. Yeats. This work is a 20 page volume published by Elp Press. McLoughlin also published a 6 page volume of poetry in 1942 entitled Glenechomore: A Prismetric Primitive. We wonder if this work Glen-echo-more reflects any of his time in Glenmore.
The End
Finding an obituary for McLaughlin was not a straightforward task. We found his obituary when we went in search of his brother’s obituary. The Evening Herald (Tues. 7 March 1967, p. 2) carried an obituary for Peter McLaughlin, of Cloone, Co. Leitrem. On the same page C.F. McLoughlin’s obituary appeared as follows.
MAELSEACHLAINN (Dublin)—March 6, 1967 at 100 Leeson Street Upper, Cornelius (Conn); deeply regretted by his sorrowing brothers, sisters, relatives and friends. RIP Remains will arrive at St. Mary’s Church Haddington Road, this (Tuesday) evening at 5:30 o’c. Funeral tomorrow (Wednesday) after 10 o’c Mass to Dean’s Grange Cemetery. House private.
The Irish Independent (Thur. 9 March 1967, p. 12) provided: Mr. Cornelius Maelseachlainn (71), Leeson St., Upper, Dublin, who has died, Was a native of Co. Kilkenny.
He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and took part in the 1916 Rising. After the Rising he was deported to Wakefield. He subsequently became Captain in the I.R.A. From 1921 to 1925 he was assistant general secretary of the Irish Farmers’ Union and was sub-editor and later editor of the “Irish Farmer” between 1920 and 1928. He was Vice Chancellor of the Bailiwick of Ireland of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Lazarus of Jerusalem.
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Please send any corrections, additional information, photos etc. to glenmore.history@gmail.com . Special thanks to Carlow Local Studies Librarian, Christopher Power for his location and sharing of John McLoughlin’s 1944 obituary. Efforts to locate the McLoughlin family grave in Tullow were not successful yesterday. However, it provided a lovely stroll through a well maintained cemetery. The featured photo above is St. John the Baptist in Grange, Tullow, Carlow where we believed John McLoughlin and his wife Sarah Jane were buried.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Glenmore Mystery: 1905 Photographer [Updated]
One of our readers, Mick Breen, bought three post cards depicting Glenmore. These post cards were post marked March-May 1905. He also shared two post cards of New Ross that the same sender sent to the same receiver in early June 1905.
The Glenmore post cards are not professional post cards. In the early part of the 20th century photographers, who did not possess the equipment to develop their film, took their film to a pharmacy or chemist to have their film developed. Photographers could have their developed photos placed on regular photographic paper or they could have them placed on post cards. Post cards were an economical method of sending photos as there was no need for an envelope and the postage was much less then sending a letter containing photos. The two New Ross post cards are professional post cards.
Below there are three Glenmore post cards postmarked 22 March 1905; 8 April 1905 and 22 May 1905. The two New Ross post cards are both postmarked 8 June 1905.
Who Was the Photographer?
From the various post cards it appears that the photographer and sender of the 1905 post cards had the initials B.A. Given the sender’s reference to working at the school we checked the National School Teachers’ Register and could find no one with B.A. as initials. Thinking that B might stand for Bill we also looked for W. A. Given the fact that B.A. stayed in Glenmore for at least a couple months we do not believe that he or she was a school inspector.
By 1905 the building of the railways was complete and the building of the Glenmore Creamery was commencing. An extensive newspaper search began to determine who may have been in Glenmore in March-June 1905 and connected with the school.
The Agriculture & Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act 1899, and the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act 1902, established the Department of Agricultural Technical Instruction for Ireland and provided funding for local schemes in agriculture and technical instruction. These Acts remained in place until 1930 when the Vocational Education Act repealed most of the technical instruction provisions. The following year the Agriculture Act dissolved the Department and transferred its functions.
The Kilkenny County Council established the Kilkenny County Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. Instructors were hired and by April 1905 the Kilkenny People (Sat. 29 April 1905, p. 2) were providing excerpts from Miss J.M. Campbell’s, Poultry Report; T. Rea’s, Horticulture Report and William Smyth’s, Agricultural Instruction Report. Glenmore was mentioned in the Poultry and Horticulture Report. William Smythe spent the spring of 1905 providing instruction regarding fruit trees. The closest his report mentioned to his being in Glenmore was Mullinavat.
Based upon what we have uncovered thus far we believe that the photographer was associated with the Agriculture and Technical Instruction which usually took place in schools.
The Addressee: Miss L. Ericsson
The receiver of the post cards was Miss L. Ericsson of 49 Kelmscott Road, Wandsworth Commons, Surrey, London. The address where she lived in 1905 is a terraced house now worth £1,715,000 (per the Move Market). No ties with Glenmore were discovered. Interestingly on one post card B.A. appears to write a few words of Swedish “Minga Halsningus friss(?)” Given the statements made on the post card it appears obvious that Miss Ericsson was unfamiliar with Ireland. There is no marriage record for L. Ericsson in Ireland from 1905 to 1920 and no obvious match could be found in British records.
[Update 30 May 2025– Per the1901 Census, for 49 Kelmscott Road, Battersea, Wandsworth, Surrey the Ericson (sic) family included Eric, the father. Eric was 46 (b. 1855 in Sweden) and worked as a tailor’s cutter. His wife Louisa was 33 (b. 1868). Their daughter Lilian was 14 (b. 1887) and their son Eric was 10 (b. 1891). The baby of the family was Winifred who was 8 (b. 1893). Thus, the recipient of the 1905 post cards was Miss Lilian Ericsson who was 18 in 1905.
In the 1911 Census the family was residing at Crescent Wimbledon Park SW, Surrey, England. The father Eric was 56 and still employed as a tailor’s cutter. His wife, Louisa was 43. Lilian Catherine Ericson was 24 and employed as a school teacher. Winifred Nellie Ericson was 18 and employed as a telegraphist.
Lillian Catherine Ericsson married Edward Charles Cull in 1914. They were both 27 years of age. They were also both teachers although Edward was employed since 1901 as a lecturer. His father was John Cull, a Civil Service Clerk. The witnesses were Louisa Ericson and Louisa Cull. Lilian’s father was dead by the time of her marriage (Portsmouth Evening News, Tues. 21 April 1914, p. 4).
The 1921 Census reveals that Lilian and her family were residing at 10 Watson’s Green, Kates Hill, Dudley, Staffordshire, England. Her husband Edward was 34, and he was a University lecturer in Education at the University of Birmingham. Their son, John Ericson Cull, was born 15 April 1919, at Dudley, Worcestershire. Lillian’s widowed mother, Louisa was also in the household. In the 1939 Census Lilian, Edward and John were living at 90 Oakfield Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Edward was employed as a University Lecturer in Education and Psychology. John aged 20 was a university student.
Lillian C. Cull died in 1958 at the age of 71 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, and Edward Charles Cull died aged 79 in 1966 in Malvern District, Worcestershire.]
Post Card 1
“This is Glenmore. Looks better through the trees than close to. I am staying just at the foot of the road.” This appears to be “The Churns.”
Post card dated Wed. 22nd 3.05. “Dear L./ Received yours this morning. Having grand weather here today. Quite like summer. Will write soon. B.”
Post Card 2
“This is Glenmore. The photo shows nearly all of the houses. Right under the arrow is my little place. The school where I work is at S.” The S is obviously pointing to the National School. The church can be clearly seen to the right. The arrow indicating where he is staying is problematic by its placement, but given the previous post card it appears that he stayed in one of the small houses built by the Landlord Dr. Mackesy.
” Postcard dated Glenmore 8.4.05. I expect you wonder where I get classes of 18 & 20 from in a place this size. This is big compared to my other district. Minga Halsningus friss? [Swedish = best wishes?] B.A.”
Post Card 3
“Cottage at Glenmore”
“Glenmore. Fancy living with a family of 3 or 4. This is only a stones throw from my place. Will give you some idea of rural Ireland. B.” [postmarked 23 May 1905] We believe that this cottage was on the Vee Road between Bridie Doolan’s tiny shop was later located and where the creamery was being built in 1905.
Post Card 4
Back of Postcard dated 8 June 1905, Glenmore. “A sample of some of the back streets of New Ross.”
Post Card 5
Back of Post Card dated 8 June 1905, Glenmore. “Another St. Michael’s. Looks a smaller place than yours. B”
Please send any corrections, additional information, or suggestions to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Old Kilkenny County Council records are stored in the Kilkenny Archives and as time permits we shall search these records for instructors sent to Glenmore in 1905. Special thanks to Mick Breen for sharing these post cards.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Captain C.F. McLoughlin (1897-1967) of the Glenmore Volunteers, Part I
The Military Service Pension Act 1934 caused the former officers of the old IRA to be contacted in 1935 to obtain the names, ranks and dates of service on two designated dates, 11 July 1921 and 1 July 1922, of the men who served in their units. A list was duly made and submitted. See our list of members of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA.
C.F. McLoughlin applied for a pension noting that he was a Captain with the Glenmore Volunteers in 1915 on. However, McLoughlin does not appear on the Glenmore list submitted, and McLaughlin wasn’t a name generally associated with Glenmore.
It transpires that C.F. McLoughlin, was Cornelius Frederick McLoughlin born in Callan, Kilkenny in 1897 the eldest child of R.I.C. Sergeant, John McLoughlin (c. 1864-1944) and his wife Sarah Jane Heffernan (1866-1923) of Glenmore. The couple were married in Glenmore on 17 June 1896. Sarah Jane, of Cappagh, Glenmore, was a dressmaker and her father was Michael Heffernan (c. 1839 -1914) a retired R.I.C, sergeant. John MacLoughlin was a native of Roscommon. John and Sarah Jane McLoughlin had 9 known children; 5 boys and 4 girls.
Evidence Submitted in 1938
In 1938, C.F. McLoughlin was seeking recognition and a pension for his work as an Irish Volunteer from 1915-1923. His first application was rejected. The National Library of Ireland has digitalized four letters that were sent by Glenmore people to provide information concerning his work as a Volunteer. The letters include: [1] Michael Heffernan’s letter dated 1 February 1938; [2] James Power, Jr. of Jamestown letter dated 27 December 1937; [3] Peter Mernagh’s letter dated 27 December 1937; and [4] Widow Ellen Cassin’s letter dated 1 February 1938.
The First Glenmore Volunteers
Ellen Cassin née Malone (c.1879-1963) moved to Glenmore in 1899. She first heard of the Volunteer movement when men began drilling in Glenmore under Nick Curran, John Dunphy and Jim Fluskey about 1913 or 1914. George Jones, an ex-soldier of the British Army used to instruct them. The movement fell away for a time, but it began to revive again on a smaller scale at the end of 1915 when “Freddie McLoughlin began training men. (Cassin letter p.1).
Michael Heffernan (c. 1877-1951) in 1938, was the Peace Commissioner in Glenmore. He stated that C.F., or Fred, as he was known in the family was his nephew. “He spent a great part of his youth and usually all his holidays in Glenmore. After finishing at Blackrock College in the summer of 1915 he had some difference with his father and came to live with his aunts—my sisters—Mrs. J.K. Walsh [1884-1955] and Miss M. Heffernan [Mary “Minnie” Heffernan (c. 1872-1944)] in Glenmore. About that period, the autumn or winter of 1915, he began organising and training a company of Irish Volunteers. We knew some of the men who were with him, but we had not exact knowledge of all he was doing, and it was not his practice to talk much to anybody. Some things we could not help noticing. (Heffernan letter p. 1).
Peter Mernagh (1892-1990) stated that he joined the Irish Volunteers at Glenmore in October or November 1915. “C.F. McLoughlin, known to us then as Fred, and sometimes now as Conn, was the Captain at the time.” (Mernagh letter, p. 1)
The Glenmore Volunteers of 1915
- Neddy Purell (moved to America)
- Johnny Barron (died in America)
- Johnnie Power, Jr. of Jamestown
- Jimmy Roche, of Weatherstown
- Jim Mernagh (moved to Castlecomer)
- Batty Mernagh (deceased)
- Little Mick Power
- Tom Dunne (moved to Wexford)
- Needy (sic) Doolan, of Shanbogh
- Paddy Barron, of Carrickcloney (moved to England)
- Peter Mernagh, of Ballyverneen
- Captain C.F. McLoughlin
The men drilled regularly, about twice a week, at Cappagh Lane, in the lane at Graiguenakill, in Doyle’s big field opposite the schoolhouse, Robinstown, and at Haggard Line, Mullinahone. (Mernagh letter, p. 1).
Warnings & Threats
“On several occasions before the 1916 Rising an R.I.C. man in New Ross who was friendly disposed asked me [Michael Heffernan] to speak to my nephew and to advise him to be careful in what he was doing. The Parish Priest at the time, Fr. Phelan, also asked me to get him to stop this work; but my nephew was set on his purpose. As far as I recall he used only to smile when I mentioned these things, and to carry on as before. He was not a person to be easily altered once he was set on a thing.”
“On the second occasion that Fr. Phelan spoke to me, I remember he threatened something to the effect that if I was not able to influence young McLoughlin he would take steps to have him shifted as the activities he was engaged in might create disturbances in the parish. Anyhow, my nephew carried on in spite of these warnings and advices. He was drilling men over the Cappagh Road and in other places.”(Heffernan letter, p. 1)
A day or two before the actual Rising of 1916 Fred visited Michael Heffernan and his wife, to say goodbye. He did not expect to see them for some time. A few days later they heard of the Rising and they then realized that something serious was afoot.
Easter Week 1916
Before the Rising the Glenmore Volunteers had an idea that something was “to come off.” Peter Mernagh knew that at any time he could get a shotgun from John Dunphy, of Ballyverneen. Dunphy was sympathetic and allowed Peter Mernagh to sleep on his premises. (Mernagh letter, p. 1)
On the Tuesday after Easter, Peter’s brother Batt relayed orders from Captain McLoughlin to proceed to Buttersbridge, Rosbercon about dusk to meet others. Batty knew that the Rising had started in Dublin and they were hopeful that they would get rifles in New Ross and join up there. Captain McLaughlin returned from New Ross and told the men to quietly return to Glenmore. (Mernagh letter, p. 2)
For the rest of that week Peter Mernagh kept an eye on the “New Line” (main road from Waterford to New Ross). He worked in John Dunphy’s fields and had a view of the “New Line” from the Creamery Manager’s house to Ballyverneen. Peter Mernagh got very little sleep that week watching the road night and day. (Mernagh letter, p. 3)
Arrest in Glenmore
The week after Easter Week, on Tuesday the Glenmore Volunteers heard of the surrender in Dublin. “We were not disposed to believe it.” The volunteers were disappointed that they did not have an active part in the Rising. “The police began to come out again and to show some activity.” (Mernagh letter, p. 3)
Michael Heffernan heard of arrests in New Ross. “One day when I met the friendly policeman in New Ross he informed me that my nephew Fred was noted as one of the ringleaders in the district and was a marked man, and it was not advisable for him to remain in the area.” When Michael Heffernan told Fred he was not frightened by the news and determined to carry on as before. (Heffernan letter, p. 1)
Captain McLoughlin was arrested. John Dunphy broke the news of the arrest to Peter Mernagh. Peter thought that it was the 6th of May 1916, and he expected that he too would be arrested. However, he was not. (Mernagh letter, p. 4)
Ellen Cassin was working for Fred’s aunts and was milking a cow when the police arrived to arrest Fred. “There was great excitement in the Village that day over Freddie’s arrest. It was expected that others might be taken at any moment. Freddy’s aunts were very upset…” No other arrests were made and the excitement died down.” (Cassin letter, p. 1)
Michael Heffernan learned one morning that the police and military were arresting Fred at his sister’s house in Glenmore Village. He was not surprised. “I went to see what was happening and saw the R.I.C. and military with rifles standing about the house where Fred was sleeping. There was some little delay. I went to hunt fowl out of the new potatoes that were coming up in my garden on the hill. On clapping my hands loudly, I remember that two R.I.C. turned the corner at the bridge. They appeared to have some interest in the noise, but I explained that I was only frightening fowl away, and the incident ended. I saw Fred being taken off under escort a few minutes afterwards…” (Heffernan letter, p. 1).
John McLoughlin’s Letter of 18 May 1916
John McLoughlin wrote to Robert Chalmers, expressing his disappointment in his 18-year-old son Cornelius F. McLoughlin. Sir Robert Chalmers, was famous for being the rudest man in Whitehall whose “pomposity and cynicism concealed his many benefactions,” as Under Secretary. (G.C. Peden, “Chalmers, Robert, Baron Chalmers (1858-1938),” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as cited by Martin Maguire (2008) in The Civil Service and the Revolution in Ireland, 1912-38, Manchester University Press, p. 39.)
Sir,
I have just heard that my son Cornelius F. McLoughlin, who is aged 18 years and 10 months, has been arrested in connection with this Sinn Fein insurrection, at the residence of his aunt (Miss Minnie Heffernan) at Glenmore, Waterford where he resided for the past five months, and has been deported to some part of England. If this boy has by Overt act or otherwise done anything to merit punishment I trust the authorities will deal with him in a firm manner. I spent a considerable sum of money in the bringing up and education of this boy, up to the summer examinations of last year, where he completed his Intermediate course. As he was young, able, active, clever and physically fit, and in my opinion eminently suitable for his Majesty’s forces, I did my utmost during the autumn of last year to induce him to join the O.T.C. or other branch of the regular forces but failed. As he had no taste for soldiering and as he expressed a wish to go seek his fortune in America and join friends who are out there, and so I had no employment for him here. I consented to his wish. It was just then that the stampede of young men took place which caused the Government to prevent the departure of passengers unless provided with passports. He filed papers with the view of getting one, and as he saw there were some obstacles put in the way, he allowed the matter drop and changed his mind. As he was not willing to join the army or go to America and so I had no business for him, he went to his aunt’s at Glenmore.
While under my charge he never mixed with any evil companions, what evil company he with since he left me, I do not know. How or when he became connected with this Sinn Finn business, if he has been so connected, I have no knowledge. I need hardly say I have no sympathy for him in his present miserable predicament, and that is m reason for saying that I trust he may be fittingly punished if there is any evidence of guilt brought home to him, as I do mot believe in making heroes of young fellows by arrest and discharge without adequate punishment, which would be a lesson to them in the future.
As I look upon this attempted insurrection as the greatest curse that could befall this unhappy land when everyone should be united in the midst of this awful war to combat and beat the enemy. I am compelled by a strong sense of duty to write this letter. I am a ex Sargeant of the R.I.C. and had the honour of serving my King and country for 30 years.
This is confidential and the contents are not to be shown or made known to the boy as it might cause him to have ill feeling toward me afterward.
I am, Sir
Your Obedient Servant
J. McLoughlin
(National Archives of Ireland; Chief Secretary’s Office Registered Papers, CSO RP/1916/5611/8501/1) To view a copy of the handwritten letter see the website, Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Times: Letters 1916-1923.
Impact of His Father’s Letter
By January 1913 John McLoughlin had retired from the R.I.C. and was living at Maryville, Tullow, Co. Carlow with his wife and children. That month he was appointed Collector of Income Taxes for 26 districts in Carlow and parts of Kilkenny (Carlow Sentinel, Sat. 18 Jan. 1913, p. 2). His post as Tax Collector was omitted in his extraordinary 1916 letter regarding his son’s arrest and detention.
Given that Fred was detained about a month. It is unlikely that the letter had a negative impact on his case. It transpired that he was sent to Wakefield Prison in Western Yorkshire, England. After the 1916 Rising, Wakefield Prison was taken over by the military. In Part 2 we will outline Fred’s continued work as a Volunteer and information we found regarding his later life.
Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com . Also we would like your thoughts concerning John Loughlin’s 1916 letter.
The featured photo is Wakefield Prison in 1916 courtesy of wikimedia commons [http://maggieblanck.com/Land/WakefieldPrison/WP5.jpg Maggie Blanck] |Date=1916 |Author={{author|unknown}}.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh