1920’s

Edmond V. Drea (1858-1929) was a retired school teacher and employed as a journalist for the Munster Express in 1924. He often used the name  “E.V. Drea” or  “Ned of the Hill.” He was also author of Carrickshock: A History of the Tithe War.  The battle of Carrickshock took place on 14 December 1831. Ninety-three years later, the Carrickshock Memorial Committee, raised funds for a memorial for the scene of the battle and the foundation stone was set on 14 December 1924. The secretary of the Committee was Ed Walsh (1862-1946) the proprietor and editor of the Munster Express (20 Dec. 1924, p. 8). Today, we feature a short story that Drea recorded and published 100 years ago about a young lad who participated in the Carrickshock battle and some of Drea’s other work.

Young Fitzpatrick

One humorous incident connected with the Battle of Carrickshock related by friends to Drea concerned a Fitzpatrick boy from Ballinaraha, Mullinavat. The Fitzpatrick boy was a near relative of the late Mr. William Fitzpatrick, T.C., Blackfriars, Waterford. “This boy took part in the Battle, and was consequently on his keeping. Like all young men of the Mountains he was very fond of playing tricks and to his many other humorous accomplishments he added that of crowing like a cock. This feat, my informant tells me, he could perform to the ‘veins of nicety.’” [William Fitzpatrick (c. 1836-1919) was a grocer, wine and spirits merchant at 7 Blackfriars, Waterford.]

When finally arrested in connection with the Carrickshock affair the young Fitzpatrick was placed in the Waterford Jail. He was not long incarcerated when one night at the witching hour of 12 o’clock the jail authorities were “startled out of their seven senses” by the loud crowing of a cock which went echoing and re-echoing through the corridors and cells of the jail. The warders, when their surprise somewhat abated, proceeded to search for the rooster, whose clarion tones were still ringing through the jail.

On opening young Fitzpatrick’s cell they found the poor fellow on his knees trembling with fright. He made the most piteous appeals to them to remove him from the cell, or to have some of them remain with him. He said that the cell was haunted by a crowing cock. The jail authorities pooh-poohed the idea that the jail was haunted by a cock and “set it down to rank Popish superstition.” No one else could see the crowing cock except Fitzpatrick who was ready to swear on a stack of bibles that the demon of a cock was in the cell with him.

No matter which cell young Fitzpatrick was moved the cock accompanied him. Eventually the case became so serious “they laid the whole circumstances before Dublin Castle, who at once sent a special Commissioner to conduct a searching inquiry into the origin and genesis of this truculent ‘jail bird’ that was kicking up such an unseemly row in his Majesty’s Prison at Waterford.”  The investigation was still going on when the news of the acquittal of the Carrickshock prisoners reached Waterford prison.

Fitzpatrick was released. The crowing cock was never heard after in Waterford prison although many people still living will tell you it was plainly and clearly heard for years afterwards around Acres and the Milltown hills [Mullinavat] (Munster Express, 13 Dec. 1924, p. 7).

Who Was Young Fitzpatrick?

Ballynaraha, Mullinavat, was divided into Ballynaraha north and south. It was located in the Barony of Knocktopher, Civil Parish of Killahy in the Waterford Poor Law Union. The 1850 Griffith’s Valuation lists several Fitzpatrick’s in Ballyknockbeg and Moneyhenry, but only James Fitzpatrick of Ballynaraha south was the only Fitzpatrick in either of the Ballynaraha townlands. Thomas Boyce was the landlord.

The only other clue that we have regarding the young Fitzpatrick from Drea was that Mr. William Fitzpatrick, T.C., Blackfriars, Waterford was an undisclosed near relative. William Fitzpatrick (c. 1836-1919) was a successful grocer, wine and spirit merchant at 7 Blackfriars (Waterford New & Star, Fri. 15 Aug. 1919, p. 5). He married Ellen Lee on 3 July 1901 at Carbally, Woodstown, Waterford. Her father was John Lee (farmer) and his father was James Fitzpatrick (famer). The 1911 Census revealed that Fitzpatrick was born in Kilkenny.

Was the young Fitzpatrick who participated in the Battle of Carrickshock and haunted the Waterford Jail William Fitzpatrick’s (c. 1836-1919) father James Fitzpatrick?

Obituary of Edmond V. Drea  

The Munster Express published a lengthy obituary (Fri. 7 June 1929, p. 8) here are excerpts reflecting Drea’s work.

It is with feelings of deep and heartfelt regret we record the death of Mr. Edmond V. Drea, which took place on Sunday morning last at his residence, St. John’s Hill Waterford. Though deceased had been up and about the previous day, yet it had been noticed by his family and more intimate friends that he did not enjoy his usual robust health for some time past. Nevertheless, the news of his death came with a shock, and occasioned deep and widespread regret amongst his numerous friends in the city and far outside it. His passing has removed one who gave a long life to the service of his country in various ways.

The late Mr. Drea, who was aged over 70 years, was born near Hugginstown, Co Kilkenny, and came to Waterford as a young teacher some fifty year ago on his appointment to the workhouse male school, and following the death of Mr. Felix Moss, the Principal, he was appointed his successor. He retained that position up until the Amalgamation Act, under which he retired on a pension a few years ago.

Mr. Drea had not been long in Waterford when he began to take a prominent part in the politics of his day. Aiding the fight for Home Rule, he contributed to the Waterford and Dublin Press many stirring articles written with all the fire which characterised his deep love of country. To the Munster Express he was for many long years, under the pen name of Ned of the Hill, a prolific contributor. “Tales of the Walsh Mountains,” a serial from his pen, was followed by “Rambles Through the Walsh Mountains,” two remarkable pen pictures with a wealth of folklore and traditional incident.

He was also a lyrist of no mean order. His verses appeared regularly for years in The Shamrock, The Irish Emerald, and other publications. His verses were principally in the patriotic strain and full of genuine poetic feeling. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the GAA from its earliest foundation, and wrote many graphic descriptions of matches and article on the national games.

It was only natural a South Kilkenny man so gifted would commemorate Carrickshock, of which only a few years ago the deceased wrote a history descriptive of the gallant and bloody fight made during the Tithe War. The men who fell on Carrickshock still live in the pages of Mr. Drea’s history. It was only last week, as our readers will remember, a splendid tribute was paid to this work, published in our printing work, from a Walsh Mountaineer, at present in a prominent position in San Francisco.  To the erection of the splendid monument now standing on the historic site of the decisive battle.

Mr. Drea gave a strong helping hand by tongue and pen and by none will his death be more lamented than by the surviving colleagues of the Carrickshock Memorial Committee.  His interest in education led to the compilation of a School Reader which was accepted by the old National Board of Education and known in their schools as the Munster Reader.

In politics the deceased was foremost among the loyal supporters of Charles Stuart Parnell. Later his allegiance was given to his successor Mr John E. Redmond, and in recent years to his son, Captain W. A. Redmond. Years ago the late Mr. Drea was connected with many political societies in the city. He was a member of the Young Ireland Society and on the committee who made arrangements to receive the relics of Thomas Francis Meagher…

When the National Teachers’ Congress first met here over 23 years ago, Mr. Drea was instrumental in arranging the venue. He was the promoter last year, when at the Corporation, he got a resolution passed inviting the Congress to Waterford for 1929. On the former occasion he compiled a souvenir of Waterford, a guide to the city, which was much appreciated by the visitors. On the last occasion he was a constant attendant at the meeting of the reception committee where, despite increasing old age he was as enthusiastic as the youngest.  

After his retirement from active teaching the deceased concerned himself with public affairs. He became a member of the Corporation and was unseated at the last election by only a few votes…It was the night of the teacher’s reception in Waterford for the Congress his health failed…He was prevented from attending the Congress having taken suddenly ill on the Mall, and was confined to bed for several weeks. He rallied and was out again, acting to the last. He worked in his garden up to Saturday evening. In the early hours of Sunday morning he summoned his daughter, whom he told the end had come. Within half an hour it did come peacefully. ..

The late Mr. Drea, who was twice married, leaves a large family…

Personal Life

Edmond Drea was born 28 July 1858 at Huggintown to John Drea and Nelly Voss. Interestingly, one of the defendants who stood trial and was acquitted for the murder of Edmund Butler at Carrickshock was William Voss. Sometime before 1885 Edmond Drea moved to Waterford. He married his first wife Margaret Caulfield on 3 February 1885 at St. John’s, Waterford. He was employed as a teacher and was 27. The bride was 22. His father, John Drea, was a carman and her father, James Caulfield, was a ship’s carpenter. The groom’s mother was listed as Ellen Bass (sic) and bride’s mother was listed as Mary Morrissey.  In the Church notes the word Hugginstown is recorded.

Drea and his first wife had five children. Tragedy struck in 1901 when Margaret Drea died of TB. She was 36 years of age.  Drea married his second wife on 18 February 1903. His second wife was a spinster named Eleanor O’Leary. She worked as a nurse and lived at the Waterford Union Workhouse Hospital. The bride’s father was James O’Leary, RUC. The groom was working as and living at the Waterford Union Workhouse as a teacher. His father, John Drea, was listed as a farmer. Drea and his second wife had 3 children. Eleanor Drea died the 14^th of August 1912 at the age of 31. She died of a sarcomia of the neck.

E.V. Drea died on 2 June 1929 and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ballygunner, Waterford. Although his age at death was recorded as 61 he was actually 70. He died of heart disease, and his daughter Alice was present at his death at John’s Hill.

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For further information on Edward Walsh (1862-1946) Proprietor & Editor of the Munster Express see our post of 24 January 2022.

For further information on Carrickshock and the tithe war see, our post of 23 September 2020 (A Glenmore Version of the Ballad of Carrickshock) and our post of 6 March 2023 (Glenmore’s Secret Society of Whitefeet).

See generally, “The Brave Men of Carrickshock” (2020) Kilkenny Archaeological Society.

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

The above photo of E.V. Drea (1858-1929) was published in the Munster Express on 20 Dec. 1924, p. 8. The featured drawing above of the Battle of Carrickshock was by Rev. E.A. Foran, O.S. A., New Ross, published in the Munster Express (20 Dec. 1924, p. 8).

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh