1960’s
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Gaulestown, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Gaulestown, Glenmore, in 1961. Unfortunately Danny did not leave notes as to how he determined the boundaries of this townland, and we note that Danny listed the Reddy’s in Ballyrahan townland, but according to their obituaries their address was given as Gaulestown, Glenmore.
We are fast approaching the last of the Glenmore townlands.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 113) is “Baile na nGall, homestead of the Gaul family. Area 140 acres.” That is all that O’Kelly recorded regarding Gaulestown which is located in the Civil Parish of Kilcolumb.
Tithe Applotment 1829
The Tithe Applotment books, lists David O’Neill Power (c. 1788-1863) as the owner of the townland. David O’Neill Power also owned Ballyrahan & Ballinlammy, Glenmore. See our post of 26 December 2022 concerning the landlord David O’Neill Power.
There were 5 tenants listed in the 1829 Applottment Books for Gaulestown. The tenants include: Plot 51 [1] Edmond & [2] John Power (69 statute acres); Plot 52 [3] Thomas Murphy & [4] John Donovan & [5] William Kennedy (66 statute acres).
1961 Gaulestown Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded 4 families or households in the townland of Gaulestown. 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 or left the townland.
Danny’s recorded information reveals that in 1961, 14 people resided in the townland of Gaulestown, with the population comprised of 8 males and 6 females. The largest family was the McDonald family with 7 in the household. There was 1 household recorded with a single person living alone. All information under residents of Gaulestown not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets [ ].
Recorded Gaulestown Residents (1961)
Males= 8
Females= 6
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in 1961 in Gaulestown was James Phelan (22 Jan. 1887—24 Dec. 1964) who was 74 years of age in 1961. Shortly before James died he had to have one of his legs removed. James was born in Robinstown, Glenmore in 1887 the son of Patrick Phelan (farm labourer) and his wife Mary Foran. His wife, Bridgie Phelan (19 May 1891– 5 Sept. 1972) operated a little shop out of their home in Gaulestown as late as the early 1960’s. That part of Gaulestown was known as Ballinamona (town of the turf).
Shortly after James Phelan died in December 1964 (see our P Family Surname Page for his obit), his widow sold their home. “Gaulestown, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, sale of vested cottage with .5 acre of land, to be sold by private treaty, by directions of Mrs. Bridget Phelan. The accommodation consists of: kitchen, parlour, pantry, and 2 bedrooms. E.S.B. lighting. The out-offices consists of 3 sheds including fowl house, car house, pig house, tool house, etc. The half acre of land is at present under pasture. For further particulars, apply P.N. O’Gorman,…New Ross.” (New Ross Standard, Sat. 23 Jan. 1965, p. 1)
Recorded Work
Farmer= 2 ( 2 Males)
Farm Worker (retired) = 1 (1 Male)
Clover Meats Employee= 1 (1Male)
Gaulestown, Glenmore Residents 1961
[1] McDONALD
McDonald, Patrick (25 Aug. 1910) Farmer
McDonald, Bridget (b. 1924) wife
McDonald, John, son, child
McDonald, Patrick, son, child
McDonald, Michael, son, child
McDonald, Timothy, son, child
McDonald, Margaret, daughter, child
[2] DOYLE
Doyle, James (b. 1918) Farmer
[3] O’CONNOR
O’Connor, Willam (b. 1921) Clover Meats
O’Connor, Alice, wife
O’Connor, Mary, daughter, child
O’Connor, Johanna, daughter, child
[4] PHELAN
Phelan, James (22 Jan. 1887) Retired (died 24 Dec. 1964)
Phelan, Bridget (19 May 1891) wife
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
BALLYRAHAN, GLENMORE (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Ballyrahan, Glenmore, in 1961. Unfortunately Danny did not leave notes as to how he determined the boundaries of this ancient townland, and we note that the Reddy’s, according to their obituaries gave their address as Gaulestown, Glenmore.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 112) is “Baile an rathain, place of the little rath. Area 139 acres. The rath is by the roadside on the northern border. The Ridire (pronounced Ridise) O’Dea’s house, long destroyed, is near the Carriganurra border. Moin an ridise, the knight’s bogland, lies low down the slope. Ballyrahan hamlet is marked on the O.S. sheet. A field here is Garraidhin na sraide and other fields are Carraigin, and Pairc na reidhe, field of the level spot.”
Ballyrahan is located in the civil parish of Kilcolumb. For an interesting short article on the Barony of Ida click here.
Tithe Applotment Books 1829
The Applotment books, lists David O’Neill Power (c. 1788-1863) as the owner of the townland. David O’Neill Power also owned Gaulestown & Ballinlammy, Glenmore. See our post of 26 December 2022 concerning David O’Neill Power.
Ballyrahan Townland was divided into 4 plots with a total of 11 tenants listed. Plot 53 was comprised of 47 statute acres with J and Patt Aylward listed as the tenants. Plot 54 was comprised of 54 statute acres with 5 tenants: Patt & Edmond Aylward, Widow Neill, Wm. Neill and Michael Kirwan. Plot 55 was comprised of 18 statute acres and John Grant was the tenant. Plot 56 was comprised of 31 statute acres and had three tenants: John Kirwan, Colum Kirwan and William Bohan.
1961 Ballyrahan, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded 2 families or households in the townland of Ballyrahan. 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 or left the townland.
Danny’s recorded information reveals that in 1961, 17 people resided in the townland of Ballyrahan, with the population comprised of 8 males and 9 females. The largest family was the Kirwan family with 13 in the household. There was no household recorded with a single person living alone. All information under residents of Ballyrahan not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets [ ].
Recorded Ballyrahan, Glenmore Residents
Males= 8
Females= 9
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in 1961 in Ballyrahan was Margaret Reddy née Hennessy (4 Sept. 1886—2 April 1970). The headstone in St. James Cemetery in Glenmore records that John Reddy (c. 1882-1961) of Gaulestown died on the 13th of February 1961, aged 79. His wife Margaret died 2 April 1970, aged 83. Their son James Reddy (c. 1926-2011) died 14 August 2011, aged 84.
Danny interviewed his mother, Hannah Dowling of Jamestown, Glenmore on 18 January 1970 and she stated that the Reddy’s of Gaulestown originated in Ballinaraha (sic). “Jack Reddy of Gaulestown married Margaret Hennessey of Ballilogue, Rochestown, Glenmore. However, Margaret’s obituary states that she was from Ballylogue, the Rower (Munster Express, Fri. 3 April 1970, p. 41). See our R Surnames Family page for Jack and Margaret’s obituarries.
Recorded Work
Farmer= 2 (2 Males)
Farm Workers = 2 (2 Males)
School Secretary= 1 (1 Female)
Clerk= 1 (1 Female)
Ballyrahan, Glenmore Residents 1961
[1] KIRWAN
Kirwan, John (28 Feb. 1902) Farmer [died 27 July 1993, aged 91]
Kirwan, Bridget (1916) wife [née O’Connor, died 24 Nov. 1974, aged 58]
Kirwan, Michael (20 Jan. 1906) brother, assisting relative
Kirwan, Margaret, daughter
Kirwan, Mary, daughter, school secretary
Kirwan, Anne, daughter, clerk
Kirwan, Kathleen, daughter
Kirwan, Eily, daughter
Kirwan, James, son
Kirwan, Joan, daughter
Kirwan, Michael, son
Kirwan, Patrick, son
Kirwan, John, son
[2] REDDY
Reddy, James (1926) Farmer [died 14 Aug. 2011, aged 84]
Reddy, Margaret (4 Sept. 1886) mother [died 2 April 1970, aged 83]
Maher, William, nephew, assisting relative
Reddy, Kathleen, wife [née Kitty Hanlon, of Newtown, Glenmore]
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com . Please be patient for a reply, and further posts, as our home phone and internet have been out of order for over a week.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
ROBINSTOWN, GLENMORE (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Robinstown, Glenmore, around 1961.
BACKGROUND
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 116) is Baile Roibin, or little Rob’s homestead. It is in the Civil Parish of Kilmakevoge and contains 322 acres. O’Kelly noted that “Glenmore R.C. chapel and national school adjoin the village to the north-west. There is one semi-circular rath.”
Tithe Applotment Books 1833
The Applotment Books record 18 tenants in Robinstown in 1833. The tenants include: [1] John Roche, 2 acres; [2] Pierce Lyons, 1 acre; [3] John Walsh, 7 acres; [4] Michael Murphy, 3 acres; [5] Richard Costello, 22 acres; [6] John Costello, 23 acres; [7] Laurence Meany, 21 acres; [8] Richard Meany, 16 acres; [9] Patrick Kehoe, 20 acres; [10] John Gehan (sic) 16 acres; [11] Edmund Grant, 10 acres; [12] John Power, 10 acres; [13] James Cashin, Sr., 4 acres; [14] James Cashin, Jr., 5 acres; [15] Thomas Edward, 9 acres; [16] Patrick Kenedy (sic) 9 acres; [17] Michael Aylward, 5 acres; and [18] Nicholas Gaffney, 1 acre. “These lands are held by lease from the Earl of Bessborough.”
Gaffney
See our post of 22 February 2020 concerning Nicholas Gaffney’s father, William Gaffney, a miller, was executed as leader of the local United Irishmen during the Battle of New Ross in 1798. The photo to the right of the Gaffney Mill, in the Village of Glenmore, was taken in Dec. 2021. Nicholas Gaffney according to a marker in St. James’s cemetery was 91 years of age when he died in 1873. However, a baptismal record reveals that Nicholas Gaffney was baptized on 19 September 1790 the son of William Gaffney and his wife Bridget Dunphy.
Meany
See our post of 9 February 2020 regarding the 1833 murder of a Catholiic landlord on the old coarch road on the hill of Glenmore. One of the men convicted and hanged in 1834 for the murder was Patrick Meany. Danny Dowling believed that Patrick Meany was from the Church Lane area of Robinstown. A quick review of the Slieverue parish records reveals that Griffith’s Valuation tenant, Laurence Meany (bapt. 1789 at Robinstown) was the son of Thomas Meany and Elizabeth Ryan. Griffith’s Valuation tenant, Richard Meany was his brother and baptized in 1779. They had a brother, Patrick Meany, who was baptized 5 March 1791. If this is the convicted killer he was executed in 1834 and he was 52 rather than 45 as reflected in one of the newspaper accounts.
1961 ROBINSTOWN, GLENMORE
In 1961, Danny recorded 20 families or households in the townland of Robinstown. 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 or left the townland.
The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 105 people resided in the townland of Robinstown with the population comprised of 58 males and 46 females. There is one infant recorded without gender identified. The largest family was the Kirwan family with twelve people recorded in that household. There was 1 household recorded with a single person living alone (Kieran Walsh). All information under residents of Robinstown not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets [ ].
RECORDED RESIDENTS
Males = 58
Females= 46
1 Infant’s gender not identified
ELDEST RECORDED RESIDENT
The eldest recorded resident was Laurence Kirwan (10 June 1880-16 January 1963). Laurence was born the 12th of June 1880 per the birth register the son of John Kirwan (publican) of Ballyrahan and his wife Mary Kirwan née Kelly. Laurence was a farmer and married Ellen Halligan on 29 April 1912 at Slieverue. The bride was the daughter of Edmund Halligan (farmer) of Drumdowney, Slieverue. At the time of his marriage Laurence was residing in Robinstown. He bought the Costello farm in Robinstown.
RECORDED WORK
Unusually Danny listed multiple work for several people in Robinstown. Only the first listed work is reflected here.
Farmer= 5 (3 males & 2 females)
Retired Farmers= 2 (2 males)
Farm Labourer= 4 (4 males)
Creamery Worker = 3 (3 males)
Creamery Manager = 1 (1 male)
Catholic Clergy= 3 (3 males)
Council Worker = 1 (1 male)
Clover Meats = 3 (2 males; 1 female)
Factory Worker = 1 (1 male)
Retired Teacher = 1 (1 male)
Tech Teacher = 1 (1 male)
Shopkeeper = 1 (1 male)
Shop Assistant = 4 (2 males; 2 females)
Sub-postmaster= 1 (1 male)
Railway (plate layer) =1 (1male)
Greyhound Trainer = 1 (1 male)
Greyhound Worker = 1 (1 female)
Garda Retired= 1 (1 male)
Garda= 11 (11 males)
Garage Proprietor= 1 (1 male)
Clerk (garage) = 1 (1 female)
Mechanic = 1 (1 male)
Lorry Driver= 1 (1 male)
Housekeeper= 3 (3 females)
OAP (old age pensioner) = 1 (1 male)
ROBINSTOWN, GLENMORE RESIDENTS (1961)
[1] PARISH PRIEST’S HOUSE
Brennan, Rev. Wm (8 April 1891) Catholic Priest
Kennedy, Hannah (29 Jan. 1915) employee, housekeeper
[2] REDDY
Reddy, Michael (4 April 1906) Council Worker
Reddy, Mary (1 June 1890) wife
Reddy, Eily, daughter
Reddy, Eily (10 June 1915) sister
Barron, Teresa, niece, shop assistant “married July 1962”
[3] McBRIDE
McBride, James (1 April 1907) Farm Labourer
McBride, Patrick (20 June 1903) brother, farm labourer
McBride, Mary (11 Sept. 1901) sister
[4] MURPHY
Murphy, Richard (b.c. 1926) Farmer [Died 12 June 2022 at the age of 97]
Murphy, Johanna, wife
Murphy, Richard D., son, child
Murphy, David M. (b. 1960) son, child “Died in farm accident 1965”
Murphy, Richard (15 Aug. 1883) father, retired farmer
Murphy, Bridget (2 Feb. 1896) mother
[5] MURPHY
Murphy, Michael, Garage Proprietor
Murphy, Margaret, wife
[Michael Murphy the founder of Murphy Motors was killed in a car crash in 1974 at the age of 44. For further details concerning Michael Murphy see our post of 27 June 2020.]
[6] KIRWAN
Kirwan, John (10 May 1915) Farmer
Kirwan, Annie (b.c. 1919) wife
Kirwan, Eileen, daughter, clerk with garage
Kirwan, Josie, daughter, Clover Meats
Kirwan, Mary, daughter, shop assistant
Kirwan, Kate, daughter, secondary school
Kirwan, Alice, daughter, at school
Kirwan, Laurence, son, child
Kirwan, William, son, child
Kirwan, Edward, son, child
Kirwan, Laurence (10 June 1880) father, retired farmer “died 16 Jan. 1963”
Kirwan, Edward (b.c. 1920) brother, assisting relative
[7] GRIFFIN
Griffin, Thomas (19 Oct. 1897) Retired Garda
Griffen, Mary, (14 April 1902) wife
Griffen, Patrick John (26 Aug. 1937) son, mechanic
[Garda Griffin has featured in a couple of our blog posts 31 May 2023; 27 June 2020]
[8] McDONALD
McDonald, Michael (b.c. 1929) Lorry Driver & Creamery Worker
McDonald, Teresa, wife
McDonald, Infant
[9] WALSH
Walsh, Kieran (25 April 1906) Farm Labourer
[10] BARRACKS
Flynn, James (23 March 1901) Head, Garda Sergeant
Bryan, John (2 July 1903) (left to Cappagh), Garda
O’Donovan (b. c. 1940) assistant, r. Garda
Thompson, James, assistant Garda
Cunningham, Edward, assistant garda
Murray, Patrick, Garda Sergeant
McArdle, Michael, assistant Garda
Malone, T.S., Sergeant
O’Halloran, J.F.,Assistant, R/Garda
Hurley, Joseph, Garda Sergeant
Dixon, P.N., Gda Sergeant
[Danny said there were usually 3 or 4 gards and a sergeant. It is assumed that Dany recorded all the men who transferred in or out of Glenmore in 1961.]
[11] WALSH
Walsh, Patrick “Eric” (b.c. 1916) Factory Worker
Walsh, Margaret (b.c. 1912) wife
Walsh, Elizabeth, daughter, secondary school
(Moved to Waterford)
[12] BEAVANS/DEVANE
Beavans, Henry Peter (3 March 1890) Retired Teacher
Devane, Margaret Mary, daughter
Devane, Ellen Carmel Ann, granddaughter
Devane, John Gerard, grandson
Devane, Margaret Mary, granddaughter
[13] FURLONG
Furlong, Francis (b.1918) Greyhound Trainer
Furlong, Stasia (b.c. 1923) wife
Furlong, Marita, niece, child
Roche, Peggy, employee, domestic greyhound woman
[14]] ROCHE
Roche, Richard (b.c. 1920) Plate Layer C.I.E.
Roche, Ellen, wife
Roche, Edward, son, child
Roche, John, son, child
Roche, Mary, daughter, child
Roche, Anastasia, daughter, child
[15] FORRESTAL/O’BRIEN
Forrestal, Michael (10 Aug. 1916) Creamery Worker
Forrestal, John (b. 1927) brother, farmer
Forrestal, Martin (b. 1930) brother, creamery worker
Forrestal, Mary (b.c. 1923) sister
O’Brien, John, brother-in-law, shop assistant
O’Brien, Nancy, sister
O’Brien, Francis, nephew, child
[See our post of 13 May 2020 regarding the tragic death of Martin Forristal (1879-1931) of Robinstown, Glenmore at the Glenmore Creamery.]
[16] CURATE’S HOUSE
Murphy, Rev. James, C.C. (14 Aug. 1913) Curate “Gone to Bennetsbridge”
Morrissey, Margaret (28 Jan. 1896) employee, housekeeper
Dunphy, Rev. Joseph, Catholic Clergy “died 31 Dec. 1961”
Phelan, Mary, employee, housekeeper
[17] HANRAHAN
Hanrahan, Mary (14 Aug. 1892) Farmer and Shopkeeper
Hanrahan, Richard (b. 1928) son, shopkeeper
Hanrahan, Nicholas, nephew, university student
[18] IRISH
Irish, Patrick (14 March 1906) Shop Assistant Creamery
Irish, Johanna (11 June 1917) wife [Known as Daisey née Walsh of Rochestown]
[19] CAHILL
Cahill, William (b.c. 1923) Creamery Manager
Cahill, Mary, wife
Cahill, Joan Marie, daughter
Cahill, Mary Selina, daughter
Cahill, Bernadette Margaret, daughter
Cahill, Aine E., daughter
Cahill, Edward Joseph, son
Nolan, Mary (12 Feb. 1890) Mother-in-law
Gone to reside at 72 Ard Muire, Ferrybank on 22 Oct. 1962 [Cahill’s lived in Danny Dowling’s house in the Village]
[19] McKENNA WALSH
McKenna Walsh, Elizabeth (b. 1940) Farmer, Shopkeeper & Post Mistress
Fluskey, Terence (25 Jan. 1885) uncle, acting sub-postmaster
Walsh, Sean, husband, technical teacher, counterhand
Walsh, Geraldine, daughter, infant
Walsh, Helen, daughter, infant
Walsh, James, son, infant
[20] POWER
Power, William (27 Sept. 1879) Retired O.A.P.
Power, Ellen (1 Nov. 1902) wife
Power, Thomas (b.c. 1921) son, creamery worker
Power, Kieran (b.c. 1925) son, Clover Meats
Power, Liam, son, Clover Meats (gone to reside Bigwood)
Power, Mary, daughter-in-law
Power, Helen, granddaughter
Power, grandson
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Parkstown, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Parkstown, Glenmore, around 1961.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 116) is Baile Phaircéir, Park’s or Parker’s homestead. The townland is divided into Upper and Lower Parkstown with a total acreage of 357 acres.
The following is the oldest newspaper account located regarding Parkstown. It was published in 1824.
Hampshire Chronicle (Mon. 14 June 1824, p. 1)–Several tons of Irish iron ore have been entered at Waterford, for export, for Cardiff. T is of excellent quality, and this commencement bids fair to open the way to an extensive and highly profitable branch of commerce, of very peculiar interest at this moment that the public attention is so decidedly turned towards the discovery of mineral riches in Ireland. This ore is from Parkstown, in the county of Kilkenny, about midway between Waterford and Innistogue (sic), It is from a plentiful and very rich bed, and other valuable minerals are supposed to be in the immediate neighbourhood.
An earlier version of this article appeared in the Droheda Journal (Wed. 2 June 1824, p. 3) citing the Waterford Paper and providing a few more details. For example, the ore was loaded onto the Janet, of Kincardine. James Scotland, the master of the ship was sailing for Cardiff.
The Tithe Applotment Books 1833
The Applotment Books of 1833 list two areas: [1] Parkstown, Kearneytown and [2] Parkstown.
Parkstown, Kearneytown
Five tenants were listed in Parkstown Kearneystown: Michael Walsh (24 acres); Charles Linegar (19 acres); Pat Henesy (19 acres); William Butler (13 acres); Thomas Linegar (28 acres). “These lands are held from Major Kearney by lease.”
Parkstown
Seven tenants were listed in Parkstown and three were recorded for “Glebe Land.” Edmund Hanway (5 acres); Willam Doyle (11 acres); John Aylward (18 acres); Thomas Aylward (18 acres); Charles Linegar (46 acres); Widow Walsh (10 acres) and Carlisle (1 acres). A notation on the record reads that “these lands are held from Mr. Careau by the present occupiers by lease).
Glebe Lands
Three tenants of Parkstown were listed on Glebe Lands: John Enid (10 acres); Laurence Murphy (3 acres); and Thomas Howell(?) (1 acre). “The Glebe is held from the Vicar the Rev. Thomas Wallis.”
“Extermination” in Parkstown, Glenmore
A decade after Griffith’s Valuation, on the eve of the Great Famine, the following newspaper article was published about Thomas Linegar, of Parkstown, Glenmore in the Vindicator (Wed. 12 June 1844, p. 4).
Extermination in the County Kilkenny—Another Job for Lord Devon—We have just heard of another horrible case of extermination which, we are told, took place a few days since at a locality about six miles from this city. The facts which have been related to us are briefly as follows: A poor man, named Thomas Linegar (or Linegan), who held a small farm (about twenty acres) at Parkstown, parish of Glenmore, county Kilkenny, having been served with an ejectment for a sum amounting to only £4-6s-4d arrears, was, some short time since, driven from his little holding, though perfectly inclined to pay the alleged debt.
But this is not all—we have yet to state the most frightful, the most heart rending(sic) part of our narrative. He (Linegar) happened to be at the fair of Mulliavat the day on which the ruthless exterminators settled on besieging his comfortless domicile; but, on his return home, the first scene that came before his eyes (and oh! How awful it must have been!) was, his wife and her six little ones lying beside a ditch on the road-side, with all his scanty furniture thrown over the ditch and broken in pieces!
He then begged to be admitted, for a day or two, under his own roof (where his countless ancestors lived before him), until he would look out for some place for his family—But to no avail. All would not do—the heartless landlord, or his fiends of the law, were inexorable! The poor creatures, it appears, are now trying to live in a cabin adjacent to this city, in the most deplorable condition! Oh! What a painful case have we not here?
When shall the people’s condition be bettered? Will the “landocracy” ever happen to have hearts that can feel for their fellow beings? We have heard that one or two kind hearted gentlemen are about taking this poor family’s case into consideration. A more charitable act could not be performed. For the present we shall forbear giving the landlord’s name, though we almost think it a pity. However, he may rest assured we shall not lose sight of him.—Waterford Chronicle. (The same article appeared in the Dublin Weekly Register, Sat. 8 June 1824, p. 4).
1961 Parkstown, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded 3 families or households in the townland of Parkstown. One family lived in Parkstown Lower and two families in Parkstown Upper. 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 or left the townland. Amazingly all the surnames found in Parkstown in 1961 were also present in 1833.
The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 14 people resided in the townland of Parkstown (Lower= 4; Upper= 10) with the population comprised of 5 males and 9 females. The largest family was the Butler family with 6 in the household. There was no household recorded with a single person living alone. All information under residents of Parkstown not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets[ ].
Recorded Parkstown Residents
Males= 5
Females= 9
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in 1961 in Parkstown was Bridget Aylward (15 May 1875-2 Feb. 1963) of Parkstown Lower. The death register provides that Bridget Aylward was 87 years of age when she died in 1963. She was listed as a single farmer. Her nephew John Aylward was present at her death. For further details on Bridget’s family see our post of 21 June 2020 concerning her brother who made headlines in 1909 when he died on his honeymoon.
Recorded Work
Farmer= 3 (2 Males; 1 Female)
Farm Workers = 2 (2 Males)
PARKSTOWN LOWER
[1] AYLWARD
Aylward, Bridget (23 Dec. 1890) Farmer
Aylward, Bridget (15 May 1875) sister-in-law “died 2 Feb. 1963”
Aylward, Mary, daughter
Aylward, Margaret, daughter
PARKSTOWN UPPER
[2] LINEGAR
Linegar, Michael (18 March 1887) Farmer “died 11 Jan. 1963”
Linegar, Bridget (11 Feb. 1881) wife “died 17 April 1964”
Linegar, Charles, son, assisting relative
Linegar, Bertie, son, assisting relative
[3] BUTLER
Butler, Thomas (21 April 1906) Farmer
Butler, Mary (4 May 1910) wife
Butler, Patrick, son, at school
Butler, Mary, daughter, child
Butler, Statia, daughter, child
Butler, Bridget, daughter, child
Dick Claridge collected some local poems and one is entitled “Charlie Linegar’s Ball” regarding a prank. See our guest author’s page to read “Charlie Linegar’s Ball” by clicking here. Danny Dowling (1927-2021) thought that the Linegars were French Huguenots. Huguenots were French protestants who fled France to avoid persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Please send any additional information, corrections or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
When Glenmore Lost Its Distinction
It is hard to believe today that Glenmore was once heralded the only Village in the country that did not have a pub. In previous posts we identified some of the early pubs in the Village and ultimately the entire parish was dry from 1906 to 1963. For information on early Village pubs, see our post of 31 March 2020. The lack of a pub led to some unusual cases where locals were charged with operating shebeens. This law was generally enforced against the poor. It was presumed alcohol was being sold when the police deemed the person in possession could otherwise not afford the alcohol. For further details on Glenmore people charged with operating shebeens see our post of 5 April 2020. Today, we are going to feature the newspaper accounts from 1963 when Glenmore lost its distinction as the only Village in the country without a pub.
Front Page Kilkenny People
On Friday the 5th of April 1963, Glenmore was splashed across the front page of the Kilkenny People under a headline “Dry Village May Get Two Pubs.” The first sentence of the article shows the lack of knowledge the jounalist had regarding Glenmore. “Glenmore’s traditional boast it never had a pub or a police-barracks may end as far as the pub aspect is concerned.” Over three years ago when we were doing the shebeen research I read this first sentence of this Kilkenny People article to Danny. I can still recall Danny’s reaction. He moved swiftly from amazement, visited annoyance and settled on dismissal. “The author,” he concluded with a smiled “hasn’t a clue.”
Just Plain Got It Wrong
Danny identified the field where the Sallies now stands as the site of the first RIC Barracks in Glenmore. The old people often spoke about its location when he was a young chap. He was not certain of the date it moved to its present location, but he noted it was before the mid-19th century. He also stated that he knew of no Glenmore man who boasted that there was no pub in the Village or Parish. Danny explained that there was a belief that many people were killed returning to Glenmore from distant pubs. It was believed that it would have been safer to have a local pub. When I queried whether the article was correct that “two pubs” were on the cards for Glenmore, Danny nodded and said that much was true.
Other Front Page Kilkenny People Articles
We then spent some time laughing at other stories on the same front page. One was entitled “Should Women Be in Public Life,” and another that caught Danny’s attention was simply entitled “A Papal Bull.” (For our non-Catholic readers a papal bull is an edict or official document issued by the Pope.) The papal bull on the front page was in reference to the fact that Ireland was presenting an Aberdeen Angus bull to the Papal Farm at Castle Gandolfo. That short article really tickled Danny.
Glenmore’s Two Applications
[1] Anastatia Walsh
Getting back to the two pubs proposed for Glenmore, the article relates that Mrs. Anastatia Walsh, of Graiguenakill, Glenmore was granted an application by Judge McD. Fawsitt for a declaration that premises she proposed to build in Glenmore Village were suitable for a pub. The application for the actual license had to go before the Circuit Court at a later date.
Getting a license to operate a pub was an expensive undertaking. Mrs. Walsh was represented by a barrister in the circuit court, various notices had to be placed in newspapers and the number of licenses across the country was limited. An existing license had to “be extinguished” before a new license could be issued. Needless to say a person with a license willing to extinguish did it for a fee.
[2] Richard “Dick” Hanrahan
At the Kilkenny Circuit Court in April 1963, a similar application was made by Richard Hanrahan of the Village. His application was adjourned to be heard in Carlow Circuit Court the following week. We did find that Richard Hanrahan placed a notice in the Munster Express (Fri. 25 Jan. 1963, p. 12) advising that on the 2nd of April he would seek a certificate from the Circuit Court allowing him to apply for an intoxicating liquor licence for premises in Glenmore. We were unable to find what happened at Carlow Circuit Court, but Dick Hanrahan never opened a pub in Glenmore.
Midleton’s Loss Was Glenmore’s Gain
Mrs. Walsh’s application was brought under Section 15 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act of 1960. Although it was stated in the article that the Village had a population of 1,250 it was the entire parish that had that population not the Village. The article noted that Mrs. Walsh had procured the consent of two existing license holders in Midleton, Co. Cork, to the extinguishment of their licenses (Kilkenny People, Fri. 5 April 1963, p. 1).
Michael Keohan, Main Street, Midleton, testified that he was the holder of a license in Midleton and he was prepared to extinguish his license if Mrs. Walsh’s application was granted. Miss Johanna Kavanagh, Main Street, Midleton also testified that she was prepared to extinguish her license if Mrs. Walsh’s application was granted. The Judge then stated, “I hope they have not given up drinking in Midleton.” Miss Kavanagh replied that there “were still a good number of public houses there.”
Other Witnesses
Supt. W. Coonan, Thomastown, testified that the gardai had no objection to Mrs. Walsh’s application. The plans for the proposed premises had been submitted to him, and he considered they were satisfactory.
Michael J. Shalloe, a Waterford architect, testified that Glenmore was ten miles from Waterford and as far as he could judge the nearest licensed premises would be four and a half to five miles away in Slieverue.
Mrs. Walsh told the court that if her application was granted she would run the business herself.
Munster Express
The journalist from the Munster Express was a bit more knowledgeable concerning Glenmore, but still managed to confuse the Village with the Parish. On the same date of publication, the Munster Express placed its article on page 16 while the Kilkenny People placed it on the front page. In its article entitled “Glenmore Loses Its Distinction,” the Munster Express explained that “after a lapse of just over 100 years, the parish reputed to be the only one in Ireland without a “pub” is again to have a licensed premises. The Village was without a pub, but the parish had a licensed pub until 1906. Citing the Licensed Vintner’s March issue, the Munster Express noted “the last pub in Glenmore was closed just over a hundred years ago by a decree of the then parish priest” (Munster Express, Fri. 5 April 1963, p. 16). The article ironically ended with the fact that the Glenmore district was renowned for its malting barley contracts for Guinness, Smithwicks and other breweries and distilleries.
Correction by Kilkenny People
After its front page article of 5 April 1963 the Kilkenny People on 26 April 1963 attempted to correct its earlier article. Ignoring the fact that it got the information concerning the police barracks incorrect, it did attempt to address the widely held belief that Mrs. Walsh’s establishment would be the first licensed premises in Glenmore Village. “However, this is not the case as a seven day licence was held by the late Mr. J. Kirwan, of Scartnamore, Glenmore. The licence was withdrawn 57 years ago in 1906,” when an RIC sergeant caught a housewife leaving the premises with a “can” of beer, before opening time on a Sunday morning.” (Fri. 26 April 1963, p. 8). Needless to say Scartnamore is not in the Village of Glenmore, cans of beer were not available in 1906, and there were pubs in the Village of Glenmore prior to c. 1870 when Masses were disrupted and the parish priest caused the pubs to close their doors.
Grand Opening
The long awaited Glenmore Village pub opened in November 1963. Notwithstanding its popularity in the press earlier in the year, very little was written about its opening. The Waterford News & Star in its Clover Meats Column wrote that “during opening night at the new local pub at Glenmore last Friday, Mick Morrissey, Bacon Dept, was the first to tap out a hornpipe on the new floor” (Fri. 15 Nov. 1963, p. 12).
The Munster Express also published a few lines. “New pub opened for the first time in many years—a new licensed premises opened in Glenmore village on Friday night last and good patronage is being accorded the new enterprise. The proprietoress (sic) is Mrs. Anastasia Walsh” (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Nov. 1963, p. 10).
Distinctive Glenmore Discussed in New York
Perhaps the most unusual article appeared in the Evening Herald written by a correspondent in New York in May 1964 just six months after the grand opening. The correspondent stated that he had the pleasure of meeting a young hurler, Mike Duggan, of Glenmore ”which he described as a “fair sized town” near New Ross. “Mike who hurls for Kilkenny, told me an interesting fact about Glenmore. The fair sized town never had a pub until last year. Mike is a Pioneer” (7 May 1964, p. 12).
Anastatia Walsh née Doherty (c. 1907-1972)
Anastatia Walsh continued to operate the pub from 1963 until her death in June 1972 at the age of 65. She was a native of Rosbercon and was the widow of James Walsh (c. 1901-1958). James Walsh was a native of Glenmore and was the Captain of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA. In 1933 he joined An Garda Siochana and was serving in Limerick where he died in 1958. He was survived by Anastatia and two sons and two daughters. James’s obituary can be viewed on our W Family page by clicking here.
After Anastatia’s death the pub was operated by her son Sean Walsh (c. 1936-1995) for a time, and Sean sold the pub to Mickey Barron. We are happy to report that the Glen Bar has survived COVID and continues to operate in Glenmore Village and is run by Pat Barron.
See our post of 7 April 2022 featuring a recording made by John Ennett entitled, “Dancing at Sean Walsh’s.”
Please send any photos, corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. For anyone who hasn’t visited Glenmore in a while I did not crop the photo of the pub because it shows the recent addition of road and parking lines as well as the patio area in the front of the pub.
Update 8 May 2023: A reader contacted me to state that the village of Annestown, Co. Waterford has never had a pub. However according to Annestown Heritage Trail From Battles to Tranquility (p. 5) Annestown once had 5 pubs! A local magistrate in the early 1800’s ordered all the pubs closed because they were used as meeting places for local gangs.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Mullinahone, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Mullinahone, Glenmore, around 1961. Over the years the spelling of Mullinahone, similar to other townlands, has varied and included Mullenahone. Mullinahone is located in the Civil Parish of Kilmakevoge.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 116) is Mullan na h-uamhan, or hillock of the cave. The townland is comprised of 295 acres. O’Kelly notes that “there was a mill on the Glenmore river which rises in Ballynaraha and flows into the Barrow at Ballyverneen. The site of a castle which was levelled circa 1800 is in the Castle field a few fields west of Glenmore chapel. Another field is Moin fhluich.” Danny recorded that Muínlucs was the area of Mullinahone near the Ballybrahee bridge. For further information on Glenmore Castles see our previous post of 8 July 2021.
The Tithe Applotment Books 1833
The Applotment Books record 5 tenants in the townland. The Mullinahone tenants listed in the 1833 Applotment Book include: [1] Richard Phelan, 119 acres; [2] Kyran Mullins, 29 acres; [3] Pat Grace, 6 acres; [4] James Aylward, 16 acres and [5] Thomas Aylward & [6] James Aylward, 21 acres. “These lands are held from the Earl of Bessorough by Mr. Richard Phelan.”
1961 Mullinahone, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded 4 families or households in the townland of Mullinahone. The only surname recorded in Griffith’s in 1833 that was recorded in 1961 (and is still present today) is the Phelan family. 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 or left the townland.
The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 13 people resided in the townland of Mullinahone with the population comprised of 7 males and 6 females. The largest families were the Walsh/Murphy and Phelan families which each had 4 members in the two households. There was no household recorded with a single person living alone. All information under residents of Mullinahone not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets[ ].
Recorded Residents
Males = 7
Females= 6
Eldest Recorded Resident
Walsh, Patrick (31 Oct. 1899-30 July 1965) who was only 62 in 1961 was the oldest resident recorded in Mullinahone, Glenmore. Update: Patrick was buried with his in-laws the Condons. The inscription on the stone states that he died on 30 July 1965 at the age of 53 or it might be 63. Special thanks to Patty Brown for locating the information on the Condon stone. Patrick’s wife, Catherine “Kate” Walsh née Condon died on 9 December 1971 at the age of 71. The death register reveals that Patrick Walsh was 65 when he died in 1965. His daughter Kathleen Murphy was present at his death.
Recorded Work
Farmer= 2 (2 males)
Farm Labourer= 1 (1 male)
Creamery worker = 1 (1 male)
Builder= 1 (1 male)
MULLINAHONE RESIDENTS (1961)
[1] MACKEY
Mackey, John (28 Oct. 1908) Farm Labourer
Mackey, Bridget (28 Nov. 1908) wife
Mackey, Patrick, son
[2] WALSH/MURPHY
Walsh, Patrick (31 Oct. 1899) Retired Creamery Worker “dead” [died 1965]
Walsh, Catherine (4 June 1900) wife [died 1971]
Murphy, Walter, son-in-law, builder [c. 1918-1995]
Murphy, Kitty, daughter [c. 1929-2011]
[3] CORCORAN
Corcoran, Patrick (24 April 1911) Farmer [died 6 Jan. 1970, aged 58]
Corcoran, Catherine (b. 1919) wife [née McDonald died 30 March 2013, aged 94]
[4] PHELAN
Phelan, Michael (b. 1920) Farmer
Phelan, Mary (b. 1923) wife
Phelan, Bridget, daughter, child
Phelan, John Joseph, son, child
Further Information
“South Kilkenny Hot Rod Motor Racing Club, ” (Munster Express, Fri. 6 Feb. 1976, p.1)
Paddy Mackey, of Mullinahone, Glennmore was the Founder and later Hon. Secretary of the of the South Kilkenny Hot Rod Motor Racing Club. In 1976, Paddy was elected Hon. Secretary of the Irish Hot Rod Racing Federation, the governing body of the sport, at its annual general meeting, held in Cahir House Hotel, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Paddy was educated at the Glenmore National School and C.B.S., New Ross. He was married, the father of three children, and employed at the Sunraised Fruit Co. Ltd., Waterford.
See our post of 12 September 2021 regarding Mullinahone native, Patrick Condon (1898-1989).
The carved stone head featured above was found in Mullinahone, Glenmore and is in Danny Dowling’s collection.
Please send corrections and additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh