18th Century
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Glenmore Landlord: David O’Neill Power (c. 1788-1863)
David O’Neill Power, of Snowhill House, Slieverue was the landlord of the townlands of Ballinlammy, Ballyhobuck, Gaulestown, and Ballinclare in Glenmore during Griffith’s Valuation circa 1829. David O’Neill Power was a tragic figure as he suffered from some form of mental illness that lead to his sons bringing a petition for the Commission de Lunatico Inquirendo, in the Court of Appeal in 1835. Roughly translated this was a Commission established to determine the sanity of David O’Neill Power. At that time David O’Neill Power was described as a gentleman of considerable landed property (Drogheda Journal, Tues. 27 Oct. 1835, p. 4) with vast holdings in Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford which generated rent in excess of £4,000 per year.
Snowhill House and Estate
An article in Sliabh Rua: A History of its People and Places provided that the house was built about 1765 by the Snow family. In 1792 Elizabeth Snow was the heir to Snowhill and she married Patrick Lattin. Patrick Lattin apparently got into financial difficulties and the property was sold in 1808. The buyer was Nicholas Power, of Knockaderry, near Kilmeadon, Waterford. The Powers of Knockaderry were large landowners in Co. Waterford. Nicholas Power was married to Rachel O’Neil of Dublin and their family became the O’Neil Powers. David O’Neill Power married Elizabeth Nash, of Cork in 1807. It is speculated in the article that Nicholas bought the estate for his son David when he married. (Jim Walsh (2001) “Snowhill House and Estate,” in Sliabh Rua: A History of its People and Places, p. 429.)
However, a newspaper search revealed that N. Power was residing at Snowhill in 1799 when at a General Meeting of the Roman Catholics of the City of Waterford, and its Vicinity, held on the 28th of June 1799, he signed a Declaration calling for a “complete and entire Union between Great Britain and Ireland, founded on equality and liberal principles…” (Saunder’s News-Letter, Mon. 22 July 1799, p. 3.) Of course, Nicholas Power may have leased the property before he bought it.
Snowhill House was an impressive three storey Georgian mansion. The house was comprised of 40 rooms which included 17 bedrooms. Around 1850 one room was converted to a private chapel. “This alteration was designed by Pugin, one of the foremost Church architects of the period and was regarded as a special feature of Power Hall.” The house was renamed Power Hall. We believe based on David O’Neill Power’s death notice the name change occurred after his death in 1863. Snowhill continued in the ownership of O’Nell Power family until 1953. The new owner Richard Power (no relation) had it demolished about 1955 due to its poor condition. (Jim Walsh (2001) “Snowhill House and Estate,” in Sliabh Rua: A History of its People and Places, p. 429.)
Commission de Lunatico Inquirendo—13 October 1835
On the 13th of October 1835, “a highly respectable jury, of whom Alderman Arthur Perrin was foreman, was empanelled in the Court of Appeals, Four Courts, to determine if David O’Neill Power was sane. Master Townsend and Messrs Mitford and Beatty were the commissioners. The petitioner was identified as Edward O’Neill Power, the middle son. His barrister, Mr Moore addressed the commissioners and the jury and asked that they determine whether David O’Neill Power was sane, to determine which periods he had been sane, and determine the extent of his property, real and personal as well as his heirs of law and next of kin.
By way of background the jury was informed that “the gentleman, who was alleged to be a lunatic,” was 50 years of age, a widower, his wife having died several years before; his family consisted of three sons, the youngest was still under age; and the two eldest had only lately attained the age of twenty-one. The barrister went on to state that David was a gentleman possessed of considerable property in landed estates, but all of his life he was a person of “weak intellect.”
In 1822 David went with his family to France and took up his residence in Paris. He appeared to have become insane. “It being ascertained that he was possessed of property, he got into the hands of evil designing person, and he parted with some of his property under circumstances” leaving no doubt he was not capable of managing his affairs. Although a commission of lunacy was considered in 1822 it was determined that it might be better for his family that he not be declared a lunatic at that time. His property was entrusted to trustees, and he was not allowed the management or direction of his own property affairs.
It was explained that the petitioner and his elder brother Nicholas were not happy with how their father’s property was being administered, or with the degree of attention that was paid to their father. Two witnesses William Rounan and Patrick Hogan were examined however the newspaper account does not indicate what their said. Master Townsend adjourned the court and ordered that a communication be sent to Nicholas O’Neill Power informing him of the case. It was noted that he was at his father’s residence in Kilkenny (Saunders’s News Letter, Wed. 14 Oct. 1835, p. 1).
Commission de Lunatico Inquirendo—23 October 1835
Witness 1: Dr. Harty
The investigation resumed. The first witness called by the Petitioner was Dr. Harty.
Dr. Harty testified that he was asked to visit David O’Neill Power in August 1835 at his residence in County Kilkenny, near Waterford to assess his condition. The doctor stated he conversed with David very freely. He was introduced to David as Mr. Hart because he did not want to disclose his profession or mission. He opined that he had every opportunity during his visit to judge David’s state of mind. In his opinion David was both weak in mind and deranged in intellect and was not capable of managing his affairs.
The newspaper account reported in detail what the doctor observed during his visit. When Dr. Hartly arrived he was introduced to the family. He was speaking to Nicholas, the eldest son, when Edward, the petitioner, introduced the doctor to his father David. David took the doctor by his hand and entered into a conversation with the doctor. David was scarcely seat when he talked very loudly to himself regarding matters the doctor could not follow. It was a fine summer’s day, and it was proposed that the family and their guest should take an excursion down the river in a boat. The ladies of the family promised to go on the boat. The doctor reported that David, with a knowing wink, objected to waiting for the ladies, and said, “let them remain where they are.” David took the helm of the boat, under the guidance of Hogan (his keeper) and the men sailed to Dunbrody Abbey.
During the trip David was childish, and exclaimed, “D—-n the rascal! I wish he were hanged.” The doctor asked if David was alluding to Hogan and David replied, “Oh I thought it was you who said it.” David was observed constantly slapping his stomach. When asked why he did it David replied, “to keep down the flesh.” When they landed at the Abbey, they examined the building, and sat in the shade. Hogan produced some wine and bread. David then commenced talking incoherently about his property and woods. David denied that he received rent and spoke about shots being fired. David did not appear to be concerned about his safety “because his mind did not dwell for any time upon any one subject.”
At times David would speak rationally during casual conversation. At dinner that evening he sat at the foot of the table and spoke incoherently to himself. The remainder of the evening was spent listening to music which David seemed fond of. David amused himself by playing tricks on the young ladies. David showed perfect obedience to Hogan who appeared to act as David’s keeper.
Witness 2: Lady Maria Cecilia Browne
Lady Browne testified that she was David’s sister-in-law. She knew him for many years because he was married to her sister. In 1816 she did not think that he was insane. “He was not in very good circumstances” before his father’s death which occurred in 1816. Lady Browne explained that he was in the habit of drinking which made him noisy and violent when drunk. She spent two months in the household before her sister died in 1818. Lady Browne believed that he was capable of managing his affairs at that time. He made a settlement for her sister the day before she died of £1,200 a year for her three destitute children. There was no settlement made before the marriage.
In 1822, Lady Browne considered him sane, but noted that he was imposed upon by everyone. By 1828 he was not making any rational use of money and appeared to be insane. Lady Browne visited in 1830 and last saw him in 1831 when she stayed six or seven weeks at his home. “He fancied that there were persons constantly under his window, abusing him, and cracking whips.” He wanted to burn his title deeds. David would remove his shoes and dance to music. She witnessed him crushing the hat of Mr. William Rowan in 1830. She also related that there is a picure at Snowhill of the Virgin and Child, which David believed was a drawing of one of Lady Browne’s friends. Mr Rowan warned Lady Browne of David’s propensity of “secreting articles.” David took her spectacles, shawl and gloves. She found him one day in a closet where he was burning some of her vouchers. Lady Browne summed up, “I would not trust him with the rational expenditure of a pound.”
Third Witness: Denis Doyle
Denis Doyle testified that he was a gardener at Snowhill since April 1831. Being engaged by Mr. David O’Neill Power, he frequently saw him. Denis noted that he often heard his employer talking to himself. The gardener reported that on at least 50 occasions David stated that “his insanity lies in the suspicion of his being taken by some persons who have the charge of his property.” David expressed fear of a sheriff’s bailiff or a policeman, and of red cuffs and red collars. Since May of 1835 David was placed under the direction of Hogan, whom he dreads. Denis testified that Nicholas and Edward Power placed their father under Hogan’s care. Denis opined that from what he observed of Mr. Power, he is insane. By way of example, David once asked Denis for a spade because he wanted to bury some bills. The gardener agreed that the mansion was in good condition and Mr. Power appeared to be comfortable and “well off since Hogan is minding him.” He noted that Mr. Power talks about bagpipes being played across the river at Cheap-point (sic). The witness knew there is a public house and there may be dances, but he never heard bagpipes. (Saunders’s News-Letter, Sat. 24 October 1835, p. 2).
Commission De Lunatico Inquirendo—27 October 1835
The investigation resumed on Tuesday the 27th of October 1835. Captain Thomas Pratt Barlow and Lady Browne were examined regarding a trust deed executed in Paris by Mr. Power in 1822. A lengthy conversation took place as to whether another medical man should examine David regarding his state of mind. Surgeon Cusack was the agreed doctor. The Solicitor-General expressed his readiness to produce Mr. Power in person to the jury. (Saunders’s News-Letter, Wed. 28 Oct. 1835, p. 2).
Commission De Lunatico Inquirendo—19 November 1835
The jury in the case of Mr. Power, after hearing counsel for and against the petition, and also a very able and elaborate charge from Master Townsend, returned the following verdict, “We find that David O’Neill Power is of unsound mind, and incapable of managing his affairs, and had been so since February 1823, with the exception of a lucid interval on the 18th August 1823. The jury meets this day to find the amount of the property, real and personal, and the heir or heirs belonging to the lunatic (Saunder’s News-Letter, Wed. 18 Nov. 1835, p. 2). That Nicholas O’Neil Power, his eldest son, is heir-at-law, and that the said Nicholas, together with Edward and Joseph O’Neil Power, his other sons, are his only next of kin, and that the said Edward O’Neil Power (sic) [David] had lands in Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford, with an annual value of £4,000 and upwards and that he had personal property of £5,000 and upwards (The Pilot, Friday 20 Nov. 1835).
Thus the jury by its findings, after at least four days of hearings, endorsed the prior arrangments of providing an annual income to his sons and the work of the trustees by finding that David was sane when crucial agreements were entered into. No record could be located that David was ever found to be sane after 1835.
The Death of David O’Neill Power
David died at Snowhill on the 19th of August 1863. It was reported that although he had been labouring for some time under “mental aberration” he died suddenly of disease of the heart. An inquest was held on Monday by T. Izod, Esq. county coroner, and on the evidence of the servants and Dr. P.E. Connolly a verdict of “death from natural causes” was returned (Waterford Standard, Sat. 5 Sept. 1863, p. 3).
Below is the obituary that appeared in the Waterford News (Fri. 4 Sept 1863, p. 3).
Died at his residence, Snow Hill, county Kilkenny, on the afternoon of the 29th of August. David O’Neill Power, Esq. the venerable head of that ancient and highly respectable branch of the steadfast Catholic Powers. The deceased gentleman was born at the old family mansion at Williamstown, near this city, about 80 years since, and although he had been for a considerable period in a delicate state of health, yet his death was, we regret to state, quite sudden and unexpected at the moment.
On Tuesday morning last, his remains were taken out for interment, and after High Mass and Office had been celebrated for the eternal repose of his soul, at which the Lord Bishop of Ossory, the Right Rev. Dr. Walsh, presided, assisted by several clergymen from his diocese and from Waterford, they were deposited with those of his grandchildren in the graveyard at Slieverue. The funeral cortege was very numerous and respectable stretching from the door of the magnificent mansion of Snow Hill along the avenue which winds through the splendid demesne out far on the high road, the numerous tenancy of the estate on horseback and foot, leading the way, followed by many respectable citizens of Waterford, Tramore etc. and then the carriages of several of the gentry of Waterford and Kilkenny.
Following the chief mourners were the Bishop and clergy, and next a large number of vehicles and occupants, the entire line of procession being marked with the funeral emblems of hat bands and scarfs which were worn until the funeral service was complete, and all that was mortal of David O’Neill Power, Esq., had been consigned to their last earthly home. Requiescat in pace. The deceased is succeeded in his estate by his son, Nicholas O’Neill Power, Esq.
The National Library has several photos in the Poole Collection of Snowhill House/Power Hall as well as several photos of some of David O’Neill Power’s descendents. Click here for the Catologue search page. For a list of Ballinlammy tenants in 1829 see our post of 14 December 2022.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Rev. Stephen Lower (c. 1727-1799): The Saviour of Slieverue & His Grave in Glenmore
Last month Danny Dowling made a point of explaining the importance of the grave of Father Lower in Kilivory graveyard. Danny explained during the 19th century and well into the twentieth century people from all over the country visited the grave of Father Lower believing that the soil had healing powers. In fact, as reported in a 1951 newspaper article written by a clearly sceptical author people were still visiting the grave. Danny Dowling also provided two other important contributions that Father Lower made locally. Father Lower was the first priest to record the baptisms and marriages in the old combined parish of Slieverue and Glenmore. Thus, the early church records, commencing in 1766, that we rely heavily upon today in performing family research is due to the efforts of Father Lower. Father Lower is also credited in 1798 with stopping the burning of Slieverue by British soldiers during the uprising.
Today, the graveyard and ruins of the Kilmakevogue Church are locally known as Kilivory. The church originally was dedicated to St. Mochaevog, an Irish saint, an abbot and patron of Liath Mochevog in Co. Tipperary. After Strongbow’s invasion of Ireland in 1170, the church was placed under the patronage of St. James. In about 1240 Kilmakevogue Parish was one of the parishes that came under the control of the Nunnery of Kilculiheen, of Ferrybank. It is believed that local people began to refer to the area as Kilivory because they thought mochaevog meant ivory in Irish. Irish historian and scholar, John O’Donovan (1806-1861) did not believe that the translation was correct. Interestingly, John O’Donovan was born and raised locally in Atateemore, Slieverue. O’Donovan was the son of Edmund O’Donovan, of Atateemore and Eleanor Hoberlin of Rochestown, Glenmore.
The grave of Father Lower is found in the interior of Kilivory church ruins. Thus we know that by 1800 the church was no longer being used as a church but it was the place where Father Lower chose to be buried. His marker is a large slab that does not lie on the ground. The marker is on several large stones ensuring that the marker is several inches above the grave itself. Although the inscription is faint from exposure to the elements the inscription is still legible and reads as follows:
Erected by the Rev’d Tho Malley Doctor of the Sacred and White Faculty of Bordeaux in memory of the Rev’d Stephen Lower Bachelor of Lovain, Doctor of Rome Prothnotary Apostolic Archdeacon & Vicar General of Ossory & Parish Priest of Ida who dep’t this life the 9th of January 1800 aged 73 years.
Jeroen Nilis, in “Irish Students at Leuven University, 1548-1797,” Archivium Hibernicum (Vol. 60 (2006/2007), pp. 1-304, p. 212) listed in entry 831, dated 1750, Lower, Stephanus. “Born of Protestant parents and brought up in that religion until he reached his twenty-third year; then, moved by divine grace, he left his parents and his native land and went to Flanders with the intention of becoming a Catholic; this he did, having renounced the Protestant religion before Abp. Crivelli who preceded Molianari as nuncio.” It is noted that for nearly 30 years Father Lower was the parish priest of Slieverue and Glenmore parish.
On Friday the 20th of July 1951 the following article appeared in the New Ross Standard. Corrections and translations not part of the original newspaper article are in square brackets [ ].
CUSTOM AS REGARDS PRIESTS GRAVE—There is a peculiar custom in one of the old parochial districts, comprising the once united parishes of Glenmore and Slieverue, that, in the old churchyard of Kilmakevogue, people, for many generations, are in the habit of taking away the clay that covers the last resting place of a priest. The writer understands that the custom still prevails and, on questioning an inhabitant of the district that, if this custom continued for so many generations, the coffin of the dead priest must have long ago been exposed. He was informed that this was not so, and that everyone who took away soil replaced it with other clay; so that the grave remains in its way as it originally stood.
Parish Priest of Ida—To ascertain the authenticity of this story, the writer had access to the diocesan history of Ossory, published by the able archaeologist, the Very Rev. Canon Carrigan. He gives a description of the old church of Kilmakevogue and its surrounding graveyard. He states that in the south-east corner, opposite where the altar stood, rests the Very Rev. Dr. Lower, P.P., and that his “grave is hollowed out to a considerable extent by people taking away the clay therefrom in the belief that it possesses virtue to heal their bodily ailments.” This Fr. Lower was the Vicar-General of Ossory in his time, and is described as the ” parish priest of Ida.” In fact, he was pastor of the united parishes of Slieverue and Glenmore, which were divided into separate parochial districts in 1846. He died in the year 1800, aged 73, and as recorded by Father Carrigan, was buried in Kilmakevogue.
Reared a Protestant—Became a Priest—According to Very Rev. E. O’Farrell, P.P., who wrote a paper on the parish of Ida, which appeared in Transactions of the Ossory Archaeological Society, Father Stephen Lower, D.D., was born in the parish of Glenmore, at a place called Trinaree. He goes on to say: His father was commonly called Shaun Lower. It is said of him that he was an expert ploughman, and a great whistler. [Trinaree is in Slieverue parish] He was landlord of Trinaree, where he lived, and of the adjoining townland of Ballarourach. He was, however, a Protestant, and from this fact the lane leading from the high road to where he lived is, up to this day called Boreen-a-Sassanach [translated the English lane]. Dr. Lower was consequently reared a Protestant. In his youth he was taken from his native place, sent to the Continent, and placed in a Protestant College for his education. Young Lower soon began to feel scrupulous with regard to the religious tenets inculcated by the Superior of the establishment, and becoming more uneasy every day, determined to make his escape, and did so after a short time. He made his way to Rome, renounced Protestantism, studied for the priesthood, and in due time became a priest. Having been ordained, he came back to his native country.
Canon Carrigan, who describes Fr. Lower, as one of the grandest characters that figured in the ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Ossory, says his fathers’ name was not Shaun but Richard. He also mentions that Fr. Lower took out the Degree of Doctor of Divinity in Louvain. On May 4th, 1764, he was appointed P.P. of the newly-formed parish of Rosconnell or Ballyouskill, and was translated from thence to Slieverue and Glenmore on November 16th, 1766. He became Vicar- General of the diocese in December, 1773; Canon of Blackrath. January 5th, 1775. and Archdeacon of Ossory, June 14th, 1778, and died on Jan. 9th, 1800.
‘98 incident—Here is an incident recorded of Fr. Lower, quoted by Fr. Carrigan, from the Transactions of the Ossory Archaeological Society— ” During his missionary career he lived in the village of Slieverue. In the troubled times of 1798, it is said that a party of cavalry passing through, were, in their wantonness, about to set fire to the place, having, it is well known, liberty at that time, without the least hindrance, to destroy property of every description, and even to take away life. History relates that the cruel Attila surnamed ‘the Scourge of God,’ when proceeding to sack Rome, was met by the holy Pontiff, Leo the Great, and was persuaded by him to relinquish his impious designs on the city. The barbarian was so terrified by the holy Pontiff, that he commanded his soldiers to cease hostilities, and thus Rome was saved. In like manner, Father Lower boldly approached the ruthless officer of those ruffians, took his horse by the bridle, and led him and party to a considerable distance from the place. Whether, as Attila was frightened into compliance by seeing two venerable personages guarding the person of St. Leo this wicked officer was deterred from resisting the good priest by seeing some similar vision we know not. Certain it is that he allowed himself and party to he led away from the place, and saved the little village from conflagration and the inhabitants, from insult, if not massacre.
Although local tradition makes no comparison to St. Leo, the Great, the memory of Father Lower and his intervention in 1798 at Slieverue is still remembered today among older Glenmore residents.
UPDATE–two death notices were published in December 1799 indicating that Rev. Stephen Lower died a year earlier than the date recorded on his flat grave marker.
In Saunder’s News-Letter on Thursday the 12th of December 1799, the following death notice appeared on page 2. “Died–On Monday last, in the 74th year of his age, the Rev. Stephen Lower, D.D. Titular Vicar General of the Diocese of Ossory, and for nearly thirty years P.P. of Ida, in the county Kilkenny.”
A slightly longer death notice appears in Finns Leinster Journal on Saturday the 14th of December 1799:
“Died. Friday evening in the 74th year of his age, the Rev. Stephen Lower, D.D. titular vicar general of the Diocese of Ossory, and for nearly thirty years P.P. of Ida, in the county of Kilkenny. He was deservedly beloved by his relatives and parishioners, and universally esteemed for the innocent and probity of his life.”
For a brief history of the current parish church of Glenmore, St. James, see, https://glenmore-history.com/st-james-catholic-church-of-glenmore/ .
The featured painting is a fresco painted by Rapheal of Pope Leo the Great (c. 400-461) meeting Attila the Hun in 452. Leo persuaded Atilia not to sack Rome. The Feast day for St. Leo, the Great, is 10 November. The fresco is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leoattila-Raphael.jpg .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Deep Defile Called Glynmore in 1798
Danny Dowling has interviewed and recorded the memories of Glenmore people and sometimes long held family secrets were disclosed including secrets concerning events in the days following the Battle of Ross in June 1798. A contemporary work published in 1801 by Sir Richard Musgrave (1757-1818), an MP for Lismore in the Irish Parliament provides a useful background and sheds some light on Glenmore during the 1798 Rebellion. Musgrave’s work has the unusual title Memoirs of the Different Rebellions in Ireland From the Arrival of the English With a Particular Detail of That Which Broke Out on the 23rd of May 1798; The History of the Conspiracy Which Preceded It, and The Characters of the Principal Actors in It.
For a concise biography of Musgrave see, Waterford Museum or Library of Ireland .
The Battle of Ross commenced at sunrise on the 5th of June 1798 (around 4:30 a.m.) and by all accounts it was a bloody affair. Musgrave wrote that had New Ross fallen the rebels were planning to march on to Waterford. He applauded General Johnson who was in charge of the defence of New Ross and noted that during the battle the General had two horses shot out from under him.
About ten in the morning of the 5th of June, Colonel King marched two divisions of the Roscommon regiment from Waterford to reinforce the garrison of Ross which Musgrave noted was ten miles from Waterford. After he set off Colonel King came upon some deserters from Ross, who informed the Colonel that the Ross Garrison had been overpowered by numbers, exhausted by fatigue, defeated and slaughtered. They said that they fled to Thomastown and Ross had been burned. Given that Glenmore is half way between New Ross and Waterford, and Colonel King did not set off until 10 a.m., and Colonel King had not yet reached Glenmore, it seems likely that the deserters, if they had gone to Thomastown first, had fled New Ross soon after the battle commenced.
The Colonel “determined to do his duty” marched on to a high hill over a deep defile, called Glynmore, in a straight line, about 2 ½ miles from Ross. A defile is a military term that describes a pass or gorge where troops can only march in a narrow column. With a “good glass” the Colonel saw smoke coming from Ross, but could not discern any troops in it. He concluded that the deserters had been correct. The Colonel retreated to Waterford. Musgrave noted that rebels had retired to Corbet Hill in Wexford where they saw the Roscommon regiment. Not realizing that the Roscommon regiment retreated back to Waterford, the rebels believed that the soldiers were reinforcements for New Ross and decided not to renew the attack on New Ross that evening. Mulgrave believed that had they renewed their attack New Ross would have fallen.
The following day Colonel King again marched toward Ross. He brought two battalion guns and a piece of flying artillery. He found the people of County Kilkenny in a state of general insurrection. When he approached Glynmore, “a deep valley, with a river which is crossed by a bridge,” he perceived great numbers of people on all the adjacent hills, who fired signal guns. The rebels at Glynmore had made the bridge impassable, by breaking down one of the arches of the bridge. The soldiers made the bridge passable by laying beams and planks on it. Today, Danny Dowling articulated that he believes the Glynmore bridge mentioned is near the current bridge in what is now the Village of Glynmore. The Gaffney Mill was close to the bridge.
Colonel King sent before his main column his grenadier company along with a piece of artillery. (Today, grenadiers might be called assault troops). Musgrove reports that after a few discharges of the artillery piece a large body of rebels posted on the opposite hill dispersed. The day before, the local rebels captured 25 soldiers and Captain Dillon, of the Dublin regiment who had all deserted Ross. At the first discharge of the artillery the rebels “massacred 15 of the soldiers, and Captain Dillon, whose head they converted into a foot-ball.”
According to Danny Dowling, the local leader of the United Irishmen was William* Gaffney, of the Gaffney Mill in what is now the Village of Glenmore. Danny believes that the next quotation from the Musgrave book refers to William* Gaffney. “One Gaffney, the leader of the assassins (of Captain Dillon and 15 soldiers) was taken and hanged next day at Ross. He was a miller in very good circumstances.” Musgrave throughout his work denounces the idea that the rebellion was in anyway connected to the conditions suffered by the rebelling people, thus he made a point of highlighting the “good circumstances” of several rebels. Today, Danny stated that William* Gaffney was captured at Milebush, in Rosbercon, and was hanged from the old Ross bridge. His body was buried in an unmarked grave in Rosbercon. It was uncovered a century later when the Ross-Waterford railway line was being built and his remains were moved to Kilivory Cemetery in Glenmore Parish.
Also throughout his work Musgrave states that it was discovered that the Kilkenny rebels were to co-operate with the Wexford rebels regarding the attack on Ross, but the Kilkenny rebels “mistook” the day for the attack. He noted that this was fortunate as the Kilkenny rebels if present on the 5th would have cut off a great part of the Ross Garrison when they fled over the bridge, overcome with hunger and fatigue. Obviously this does not make a lot of sense given the fact that the Kilkenny rebels captured Captain Dillion and 25 soldiers on the 5th. Perhaps Musgrave meant that they were not present at the bridge itself.
Musgrave in his appendices provides a great deal of information concerning court martial trials that took place later in 1798. In a court martial held in Waterford on the 6th of July Garret Murphy confessed before some magistrates that John Forrestall, publican at New Ross, told him that the rebel army would march through the county of Kilkenny to Waterford, if the King’s troops were beaten at Ross. Two other court martials held on the 14th of June and on the 23rd of July in Waterford proved that Walter Power, Richard Connolly and James Hynes, went to the house of Mr. Valentine Lannagan, of Charlestown (Parish of Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny) with other rebels on the 7th of June. Lannagan overhead the men state that had it not been for the cannon, they would have cut off the Roscommon regiment, on the 6th of June, as two thousand United Irishmen had assembled in Glanmore (sic) to stop reinforcements reaching Ross.
Danny today noted that several local families reported to him that their ancestors heard the Battle of Ross. Danny recorded in Notebook 13 that a monument tree stood on the bounds of John Grennan and John Cotterell’s farms in Ballycurrin (Rosbercon) and Ballycroney (Glenmore). This tree marks the spot where Captain Dillon of the Roscommon Militia was killed and buried during the 1798 Rebellion. Pat Cody, of Ballycroney, Glenmore, in November 1955 told Danny that Captain Dillon was killed in Harmon (Cody’s) field in Ballycroney. The site of the grave is presently marked by a sycamore tree. Also, there were three British soldiers killed and buried in Hogan’s rath in Weatherstown after the Battle of Ross.
Tommy Cotterell, of Ballycroney, told Danny in 1971 that Old Paddy Mullally of Ballycroney told him that Paddy’s grandmother brought sups of water and buttermilk to the dying soldiers in Ballycroney, at the time of Captain Dillon’s death. It was often repeated that a lot of soldiers were killed in the Ballycroney area at the time of the Battle of Ross.
Bartley Holden, of Clune, Glenmore told Danny in February 1980 that in 1942 or 1943 Walter Holden, whilst ploughing in a field over Tobair a Tsagairt (Priest’s Well), ploughed up the skull of an English soldier. It fell into pieces when it was disturbed. Years before his grandfather had dug up the shin bone of a man. The grave was under a bank against the ditch of the road in a field known as “Soldier’s Field.” Local tradition provides that this soldier was at the Battle of Ross in 1798. He was wounded, and strayed out into the country. The Kneefes, of Ballycroney, took in the soldier and nursed him. One day when he was better he saw a group of English soldiers approaching and he threatened he would get the soliders to burn down the house. As he ran away the Kneefes followed him, and on overtaking him, they killed him with a spade and buried him. In 1980 the field was on Peggie Holden’s farm in Ballycroney, adjacent to the Ballygurin-Ballycurran Road.
Pat Cody, of Ballycroney, in his November 1955 interview revealed a similar account. Kneefe’s owned the farm in Ballycroney now occupied by Hennessy’s and Fitzgeralds. The Kneefe family lived where Lukey Fitz is now. This house was burned in 1798 by a stray British solider after the Battle of Ross. It appears that they gave him lodging and when leaving he set fire to the house. They followed and killed him in the field under Boland’s where he is buried under the headland adjoining the road.
Ballycroney wasn’t the only area of Glenmore where soldiers were killed and buried after the Battle of Ross. Nicholas, Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, in November 1977 told Danny that there is a British Army Officer buried in the Power corner of Barron’s Field in Graiguenakill, down Kehoe’s Lane. On the evening of the Battle of Ross, or the day after, the officer rode a horse down to Kehoes and asked if he was on the right road to Waterford. The Officer was on his own, and he got down off the horse. He was armed and had a sword. From what Kehoe observed he appeared to be acting suspiciously and asked Kehoe to give him a leg up, which he did. Kehoe got afraid then, and he gave him a shot out over the horse. The officer fell and broke his neck. Kehoe then buried him, and kept the horse.
Perhaps the most unusual local 1798 story recorded by Danny was that of Wattie Power, of Jamestown, in 1956. Wattie’s great-grandfather was an elderly man during the Battle of Ross and lived in the house down the Ling Lane (Poll Guide Lane as it was formerly called). He was bedridden for several years before the Battle. One day two soldiers came down the lane and called into the house. The daughter of the house gave them a meal. After the meal one of them said he wanted to go down to the room, and she refused to let him down to the room. A violent struggle ensued and she bested him. The other soldier then stood up and said you got what you wanted and now you’re not satisfied. So come on now or you will get the contents of this meaning his rifle which he took in his hand. They both then went away. Wattie’s great-grandfather, who was in the bed, got an awful fright. Shortly afterwards when the soldiers were coming again his sons decided they would have to run for it. When they were going into the long bog they looked back and saw their elderly father coming in over the ditch from the road. He wasn’t up out of the bed for years. This reflects how terrified the people were at that period.
Locally, William* Gaffney although hanged was labelled a traitor and William* Gaffney will be the subject of a future blog.
The statue of the pikeman above is located in Wexford Town.
*On 29 February 2020 Danny asked me to correct the first name of the Gaffney man who was the South Kilkenny leader in the 1798 Rebellion. His name was William and he had a son named Nicholas. Apologies for any and all confusion. In the Links page a link is listed to an article Danny wrote in 1983 and published in Decies concerning William Gaffney.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh