Busherstown, Glenmore (1961)

Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Busherstown, Glenmore, around 1961. The Irish for this townland, according to Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny (1969, p. 102) is Baile Bhuiséir or Busher’s homestead. This townland is comprised of 345 acres and is situated in the Civil Parish of Ballygurrim.

Griffith’s Valuation 1830

In 1830 Edward Murphy, Esq. was the landlord of Busherstown. Seven tenants are listed, but there is no breakdown of the acreage. The tenants include: [1] Edward Dooling; [2] Joseph Walsh & [3] Cashin (no first name recorded); [4] James Hartilly; [5] Michael Walsh; [6] Edmund Prendergast; and [7] William Purcell.

Interview of Michael Power, of Busherstown, Glenmore

On the 9^th of May 1969, Danny interviewed Michael Power, of Busherstown, Glenmore (DD Notebook 4). Michael provided information concerning the “extinct” Tobin’s of Busherstown. The Tobin’s house stood in a field under land over to Hartley’s and Fitzgerald’s. The field contained 1.5 acres. Michael also noted that “Aunty” Matthew’s field of 1.5 Irish acres is at the double turn going up to Weatherstown. In 1969 it belonged to Hartley’s of Busherstown.

Lastly, Michael told Danny about the Busherstown ghost. The “Billy Joe’s” lived in a house where in 1969 the Hartley’s hayshed was located in Busherstown. “Old James Hartley said he saw her (an old lady spinning) sitting on a stool when she was dead and gone.” Unfortunately, no last name was provided for the “Billy Joe’s”.

1961 Busherstown

Danny recorded eight families or households in Busherstown around 1961. 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 43 people resided in Busherstown with the population of 18 males and 25 females. Two families were comprised of 8 members each. Thus, the Walter Walsh and Hartley/Mullally families tied as the largest families recorded. There were no households recorded of a single person living alone.

Recorded Residents

Males= 18
Females= 25
Eldest Recorded Resident= Anne Power born 4 February 1882.  Death register reveals that Anne died on the 19^th of June 1962. Thus, Anne was 79 in 1961.

Recorded Work

Farmers= 6  (5 males; 1 female)
Farm/Agricultural Workers=8 (all males)
Meat Factory Worker=1 (1 male)
Carpenter= 1 (1 male)
No women were recorded as being employed outside the home or off the farm.

BUSHERSTOWN RESIDENTS

[1] MACKEY
Mackey, William(12 Aug. 1910) Farmer
Mackey, Alice (1912) wife

[2] WALSH
Walsh, Walter (24 March 1907) Farmer
Walsh, Ellen (1917) wife
Walsh, William, son, farm worker
Walsh, Anastatia, daughter
Walsh, Margaret, daughter
Walsh, Anne, daughter
Walsh, Mary (20 Sept. 1885) aunt, (died 17 March 1962)
 Walsh, Jane (3 June 1895) aunt

[3] POWER
Power, Michael (20 Sept. 1884) farm worker
Power, Anne (4 Feb. 1882) wife [died, but no date of death recorded]
Long, Walter, Lodger
Long, Mrs.   

[4] HENNESSEY
Hennessey, Richard (1925) Carpenter
Hennessey, Mary, wife
Hennessey, John, son
Hennessey, Hannah, daughter
Hennessey, Margaret, daughter

[5] HARTLEY
Hartley, Bridget (12 June 1911) Farmer
Hartley, Eileen, daughter, (married 30 Aug. 1961)
Hartley, Breda, daughter
Hartley, Loretta, daughter
Mullally, Thomas, son-in-law, farm worker
Mullally, Mary, daughter
Mullally, Thomas, grandson
Hartley, Thomas (3 April 1900) brother-in-law, farm worker

[6] FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald, John (25 March 1897) Farmer
Fitzgerald, John, son, farm worker
Fitzgerald, Patrick, son, farm worker

[7] HOLDEN
Holden, John (17 March 1912) Head, Farmer
Holden, Michael (1921) brother, farm worker
Holden, Margaret (1926) wife
Holden, Mary, daughter
Holden, Helen, daughter

[8] HOLDEN
Holden, Bartley (16 Nov. 1916) Farmer
Holden, Margaret (1921) wife
Holden, Mary, daughter
Holden, Breda, daughter
Holden, Edward (1919) brother, farm worker

[9] POWER
Power, James (1924) Meat Factory Worker
Power, Mary Eliz. (1927) wife
Power, Bernadette, daughter

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

The drawing of the woman spinning is courtesty ofo the New York Public Library Digital Collection. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library. “Beauty in a state of adversity” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1813.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh