20th Century
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“For the Love of a Glenmore Girl” (1903)
While recently transcribing one of Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) notebooks we came across several poems or verses recorded by Danny. Danny noted the editions and dates where the verses were published in The Nightingale. After a search we located a reference to The Nightingale in the National Library of Ireland’s Catalogue. It is described as a “weekly broadside of news, verse, etc.” published by Kellystown, Co. Wexford, and printed by J.J. Evoy. The National Library only holds one edition of The Nightingale, and this does not feature in Danny’s Notebook. We believe Danny must have read The Nightingale in the New Ross or Wexford libraries.
From the verses Danny recorded, it appears that at the turn of the twentieth century young men entertained themselves by making fun of their friends or foes. In the verses Danny recorded, the common theme is that young men were making fools of themselves over a girl seldom identified by name. The most prominent of the verses Danny recorded is “The Love of a Glenmore Girl,” appearing in the 24 October 1903 edition of The Nightingale (Vol. 34, No. 15). Danny noted the price of the publication was ½ d. (half a penny) and he found the verse in the “Co. Kilkenny Notes” section of the publication.
It is not known how long The Nightingale was published, but before radio or television it must have been something young people looked forward to reading each week.
“The Love of a Glenmore Girl” is below followed by the possible identification of persons named in the verse. Rather than recite other verses that Danny recorded from The Nightingale we have an extract where another Glenmore suitor was mentioned.
“The Love of a Glenmore Girl” (1903)
Come on now Mr. Editor,
I’m going to make a start,
I’m looking at a couple here,
Which nearly broke my heart.
Around the windows in the shed,
Each night I see them stray,
And one of them his Sunday trousers,
He’s wearing every day.
His name it tis D. B—n,
He came here from the Rower,
And I need not tell the dolly’s name,
It is well known before.
She said she loved him deeply,
And letters to him wrote,
And where they met to stand the set,
Was at the Ferryport.
But when he saw the sight of her,
His heart it leaped with joy,
But alas she did him pass along,
With a John Hill’s boy.
Poor Dick lamented sorely,
The day that he went there,
He raised his hands where he did stand,
And began to tear his hair.
I thought she loved him dearly,
But now I understand,
That everyday she does the Quay,
With Johnny—clap—hands.
Her name I’ll here not mention,
She is a charming maid,
A soaper in the laundry,
I think is her trade.
She’s known by every corner boy,
From John’s Street to the Square,
In Barrack Lane I heard them say,
Each night she travels there.
But now she’s home on furlough,
Theres others on her track,
D. Barron at the front door,
And T. Kelly at her back.
T. Kelly says he’ll gain her,
And Barron have no chance,
The other night I saw him kiss her,
At a threshing dance.
Each night he comes to see her,
And to the street he will jog,
And then he’s watching at the door,
Just like John Hearne’s dog.
So now Mr. Kelly I think its better you’d knock off,
And let D.B. go there and play ram-cat-faf.
And if you don’t o’r the railroad your car stick,
And then on Sunday you won’t have a penny in your fist.
Yours Truly, Dog Breath(?) Esq.
The Suitors
T. Kelly—In a notation on the page Danny wrote Graiguenakill. In the 1901 Census there was a Thomas Kelly (b.c. 1881) aged 20 years of age in Graiguenakill, Glenmore. Thomas Kelly in 1901 was working as a railway labourer. He lived with his widowed mother Catherine (aged 53) and his maternal uncle Michael Breen (aged 54). The railway was being built through Glenmore and Thomas Kelly probably came and went with the railway.
Dick Barron—in the 1901 census there were two Richard Barron’s in the Rower. The first candidate was a 19 year old farm labourer working for the 70 year-old widow, Bridget Carney at Ballyfolle Upper, the Rower, Kilkenny. The second candidate was an 18 year old son of John Barron (farmer aged 50) and his wife Ellen aged 45 of Kiltown, the Rower. The second candidate was still living at home in Kiltown in the 1911 census. The birth register reveals that candidate 2 was born on the 28th of February 1883.
John Hearne—The 1901 Census does not reflect a John Hearne in Glenmore. There are over a dozen John Hearne’s in Waterford including a 20 year old carpenter living on Barrack St. His father was a publican. In New Ross there were ten John Hearne’s in the 1901 census. It is unclear from the census who owned a dog that watched doors.
Excerpt from “The Big Blow-up in Newtown(?) Co. Kilkenny”
There’s another boy he’s a courtin stray,
His name I will give down,
His name it is Jack Heffernan,
And lives in Aylwardstown.
He was courting one Miss Orchard,
And that without a doubt,
Until by Richard Dehy,
He was finally done out.
The Aylwardstown, Glenmore Suitor
John Heffernan (1881-1951) was the eldest child of Michael Heffernan and his wife Bridget Heffernan née Kennedy (c. 1853-1947). According to the 1901 Census, John was 20 years old and was one of 11 children. According to a diary kept by James Aylward of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore (and recorded by Danny Dowling) John Heffernan of Aylwardstown married Mary Freney (c. 1880-1913) of Fahee, Kilmacow on 24 July 1907. “They sailed for America July 31st 1907.” Tragically, Mary died on 18 June 1913, aged 30 of T.B. See our H Surname Page for further information on the large Heffernan family.
For further information concerning the killing of Mary Heffernan née Freney’s father at Christmastime 1884, see our post of 12 December 2021.
For additional local verses see, Dick Claridge’s collection.
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Please send any and all corrections or additional information or local verses to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured drawing is courtesy of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. “The two suitors” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1913. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/9410fddb-04ac-cc65-e040-e00a180623c3
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: March 1924
Today, we feature articles about the Glenmore senior football team, the Glenmore junior hurling team, a marriage and local deaths, as well as an eclectic mix of articles that appeared in local newspapers in March 1924 and were undoubtedly discussed one hundred years ago. By all accounts the weather from January to March 1923 was poor and was blamed for the continuing spread of flu as well as poor fishing and farming prospects.
St. Patrick’s Day Shamrocks Seized
“Upon the arrival of the Saxonia in dock the New York Customs Authorities confiscated six little pots, especially brought from Ireland by Father Robinson of Wicklow, containing growing shamrock for wear on St. Patrick’s Day. The attitude of the authorities was most sympathetic, but they explained that they were compelled to seize the shamrock by virtue of a stringiest law forbidding the importation of vegetation with roots,” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1924, p 2).
Fishing
Whether due to weather conditions or otherwise, the reported catches of salmon in the Barrow are not at all up to the average of previous years ((New Ross Standard, Fri.7 March 1924, p. 8).
W. Fleming, J. Gehegan, D. Kennedy and W. Carroll, four Ballindine cot fishermen, caught a salmon weighing 50 lbs. the other night. The salmon was brought from them by Mr. P. Bourke, Lough Street, Carrick-in-Suir (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 7 March 1924, p. 8).
A 42 pound salmon was caught in the Barrow near New Ross and another weighing 35 pounds was caught during the week. The fishing season was still poor. The price of salmon was 2s 3d per pound (New Ross Standard, Fri. 28 March 1924, p. 5).
Farm Prices
There was a scarcity of butter thought to be due to the weather conditions (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 March 1924, p. 8).
Potatoes were scarce. The retail price in New Ross during the last week of March was up to 1s., 2d, per stone. At New Ross pig market on Monday fat pigs sold at 48s. to 53 s. per cwt., live weight (New Ross Standard, Fri. 28 March 1924, p. 5)..
Message in a Bottle
At Cove, near Passage East, a young girl named Mason found a bottle on the strand. In the bottle was a message written by one of the men who “went to their last resting place amidst the din of war, when the now famous Formby, with her sister ship the Coningbeg, was set to the bottom of the sea by a German torpedo.”
The ships sank in December 1917. The message in the bottle was written on a plain piece of white paper but had become almost undecipherable from the elements. “As far as the closest and most careful scrutiny of the message can show, the words written by the hand of a man in a moment of supreme crisis are as follows:
‘Oh, God have mercy on me, from Jack (or Jock) Burns…sinking now. …to Waterford…It is too bad. She never rounded…’ Here the message ends. The blanks in the sentences have evidently been caused by the action of time and water, or both, or mayhap in the excitement and stress of the sailor’s last moments his confusion of mind may have been responsible for the want of coherency in this the last message he could indite, and which he sealed in a bottle and cast to the care of the waves, with the hope of its ultimately reaching those who love and cherished him…” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 7 March 1924, p. 8).
For further information on the sinking of the two ships see, Andrew Doherty’s, Tides and Tales article of 16 December 2016, “Remembering the S.S. Formby and S.S. Coningbeg.” For further information of the impact of the message in the bottle see, Waterford Treasures.
Flooding and Flu
Owing to the prevalence of the flu epidemic the Thomastown National Schools were closed for the first two weeks of March. There was much illness in both adults and children in January and February in the parish due to the flooding (The Kilkenny People, Sat. 22 March, 1924, p. 7).
Ford Motor Cars
Early in March an editorial in the Munster Express made a couple of predictions. “With the reduction in price in the Ford car, we may expect to hear soon that every farmer has got a car, and that the milk now carried by the horse or ass is whirled to the creamery by motor. A close shave will then be the order of the day and the humble pedestrian (who has to rely upon shanks’ mare) had better prepare to walk the fences” (Munster Express, Sat.1 March 1924, p. 6).
A week later, on Saturday the 8th of March, on Waterford’s market day, a “magnificent display of Ford cars” was provided by Mr. T.J. Sheridan, motor proprietor, The Quay. Shortly before one a fleet of cars, comprising the touring and commercial vehicle type, left the garage premises at the Quay, and headed by the famous Fordson tractors, were driven by the firm’s employees, through the streets of Waterford. The vehicles were heralded by the loud sounding “of the hooters” The parade was witnessed and admired by a large number of citizens and country folk. “It is yet another remarkable and practical demonstration of the progressive stride that have been made of late by this particular firm” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 14 March 1924, p. 3).
1924 Spring Cleaning Advice
Although it was stated that mid-March was too early to think about sweeps, carpet-beating and paint cleaning housewives were told that there was much they could do to minimise the discomfort of spring cleaning. “For instance they can concentrate on timber rooms, chests, and cupboards in those parts where coal fires are not.” These items can be dusted, re-papered and re-arranged. “Mattresses too are best overhauled early in the season as when remaking is in question they are likely to be more quickly returned than later when upholstering departments are rushed with work. Bolsters and pillows no longer fresh can be given new cases, the feathers being well picked over and the necessary new ones added.” On dry days all mattresses and pillows should be given a sun bath, and as extra blankets can be dispensed with they should be cleaned or washed, ready for next winter’s use” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 14 March 1924, p. 7).
Kilivory Cemetery of Glenmore
The No. 2 (Co. Kilkenny) District Council met in the Council’s Offices, John’s Hill, Waterford. J. Donovan, D.C. wrote to the Council that he had visited the Kilmakevogure Graveyard (also known as Kilivory) “and found the state of affairs there worse than he anticipated. All round the graveyard there was evidence of trespass by goats. The bark was pulled off the strubs, and he saw the clay on graves scooped out as if by fowl. He saw a number of trees, the barks of which had been deliberately hacked away. There was now only one uninjured tree in the graveyard.”
A committee was appointed to visit the graveyard and report. The committee was comprised of Messrs. Donvan, Ennett, Cororan and J. Flanagan engineer (Munster Express, Sat. 1 March 1924, p. 3).
Wedding & Deaths
Glenmore Wedding
The wedding of Mr. Richard Doherty, Coolnaleen, to Miss Fitzgerald of Knockbrack was announced in the Munster Express. (Sat. 1 March 1924, p. 5).
According to the Glenmore Parish Records Richard Doherty of Coolnaleen, Glenmore married Bridget Fitzgerald of Knockbrack, Glenmore on the 27th of February 1924. Richard was the son of James Doherty (farmer) and Bridget was the daughter of Paul Fitzgerald (farmer). The couple were married by Fr. Patrick Freyne and the witnesses were John Doherty and Ellie Fitzgerald. For further information on the Doherty’s see our D family surname page. For further information on the Fitzgerald’s see our F family surname page.
Reported Deaths
Death of Hon. Granville Ponsonby (c. 1846-1924)
The same newspaper reported the death of the Hon. Granville Ponsonby (c. 1846-1924). He died in London, aged 78. He was the third son of the 7th Earl of Bessborough, and uncle of the then present peer. He was formerly Chief of Police in St. Lucia (Munster Express, Sat. 1 March 1924, p. 5). The Earl of Bessborough was one of the landlords of Glenmore.
Death of Miss May Walsh (c. 1911-1924) of Mullinavat
The 13 year old daughter of Ellen Walsh, née Mullins died in March 1924 at Mullinavat. Ellen Walsh née Mullins was a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore and the daughter of John Mullins. Miss May Walsh (c. 1911-1924) tragically died of T.B. after being ill for 3 months (Munster Express, Sat. 15 March 1924, p. 5 and death register).
Police Blotter
James Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore was prosecuted in the Waterford court for having on the 23rd of February 1923 unlawfully assault, beat, and inflicted a dangerous wound on Kate Ryan or Lady Lane, Waterford. The case was adjourned by Supt. Halligan because a number of Kate Ryan’s family had died and “all the parties were that day attending the funeral.” A cross summons was made by the defendant James Walsh against John Ryan (Munster Express, Sat. 1 March 1924, p. 4).
Patrick Scanlan was charged in the special court in Waterford for having on the 24th of October 1922, “at Slieveue, with others, armed with firearms, feloniously breaking and entered the premises of Mr. Michael Rockett, and did there and then rob a quantity of groceries etc, and the sum of £2 in cash” (Munster Express, Sat. 22 March 1924, p. 5).
Glenmore Sports
Glenmore Junior Hurling
On the last Sunday in February Glenmore played Ballyhale at Clogga in the semi-final of the Southern Division of the junior hurling championship. “The attendance was rather on the small side, due probably to the coldness of the day ad the rumours that had gained currency in the surrounding district that the fixture had been postponed.” In the preliminary rounds both teams had “good displays” and it was expected that Sunday would have been a good game.
Ballyhale lacked the services of their most prominent players, while Glenmore was at full strength. “The game was fairly evenly contested, and towards the end interest was livened p considerably when Ballyhale came along with a great dash and tried their utmost to draw level, and live to fight another day. However, the Glenmore defence held out, and the balance of five points which separated the teams one time about represents the run of play.”
“The backs on both teams gave a good display, but both sets of forwards missed many likely chances. For the winners Hanrahan (goal), Phelan, Rockett, Heffernan and Williams played well. While for Ballyhale, MacBride (goal), Dalton, Fitzgerald, Darmody, and Phelan were about the pick.”
Final Score
Glenmore—2 goals, 3 points
Ballyhale—1 goal, 2 points
The Teams
Glenmore—J. Murphy; P. Murphy; J. Fitzgerald; M. Coady; P. Coady; R. Duggan; P. Mullins; S. Heffernan; J. Hanrahan; J. Phelan; T. O’Neill; T. Williams; R. Rockett; J. Quinn; L. Phelan.
Ballyhale—J. McBride; J. Phelan; J. Fitzpatrick; G. Darmody; T. Dalton; W. Ryan; J. MacNamara; T. MacNamara; M. Kearns; R. Kennealy; T. Fitzgerald; W. Dalton; W. Sullivan; J. Roche; J. Phelan (Munster Express, Sat. 1 March 1924, p. 5).
Glenmore Appeal
The Glenmore junior hurling club appealed against the decision of the Southern Board in awarding the semi-final championship tie to Ballyhale. The matter was to be dealt with at the April meeting of the Kilkenny County Committee G.A.A. Also to be discussed was the continued ban on foreign games (Munster Express, Sat. 29 March 1924, p. 5).
Glenmore Senior Football
The finals of the 1923 senior championships in hurling and football were played at St. James Park, Kilkenny on Sunday the 23rd before a large crowd. Although it was wet in the morning there was no rain during the games. The pitch was in “splendid condition” (Munster Express, Sat. 29 March 1924, p. 4).
The football final was between Glenmore and Cloneen. “The boys from the Big Glen by their display, left no doubt in the minds of anybody present as to who’s who in football in Co, Kilkenny. The game was a disappointing one, however, as the Glenmore men had matters all their own way after the first ten minutes, and with the exception of two runs, the Cloneen men were hemmed in their own territory for practically the hour.”
The Scores
“For the winners the scores were: Connolly (3 goals); Fitzgerald, 5 points; Hanrahan, 1 point; Mullins, 1 point. At the long whistle, Glenmore were declared the winners on the score of 3 goals, 7 points to 2 points. Mr. R. Walsh, Chairman Kilkenny Co. Board, G.A.A., carried on the duties of referee in a creditable manner” (Munster Express, Sat. 29 March 1924, p. 4).
The Glenmore Team
Elsewhere in the paper the score was reported as 3 goals. 6 points to 2 points. “Glenmore, the southern opponents were undefeated in the Kilkenny Senior football championship since 1915, and to judge from their display on Sunday last they are likely to hold the honour for some time yet.” The Glenmore team was comprised of: A. Heffernan (goal); M. Cody (Captain); P. Cody; M. Cody; S. Heffernan; J. Doherty; P. Murphy P. Fitzgerald; J. Phelan; W. Irish, J. Hanrahan, J. Mullins, W. Hartley, P. Hartley and M. Connolly (Munster Express, Sat. 29 March 1924, p. 5).
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Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The cigarette card featuring shamrocks above is courtesy of George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “Do you know which is the true shamrock?” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 14, 2024. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e2-1de3-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: February 1924
In February 1924, the Irish Civil War was over, but the new Free State was struggling with unemployment, crime, inflation, lack of housing, prisoners, flu and finding the money to rebuild damaged or destroyed infrastructure. Only three direct Glenmore articles were located in local newspapers published in February 1924. Two were obituaries and the other concerned a Glenmore dance. Below is a sample of articles that were published in local newspapers that undoubtedly were discussed in Glenmore 100 years ago.
Criminality
The New Ross Standard editor wrote a long editorial concerning criminality with the wanton destruction of public property, looting, and robberies. Below is an excerpt from his editorial.
“The newspapers report daily murders and robberies and other incidents of a disgraceful nature having no connection with politics. It was our claim in the old days of agitation for national autonomy for Ireland, that under a home government we would not need so many police or peace guardians as under British rule, but …there is evidence that we must have even a larger police force for the maintenance of law and order than we had before…There seems to be a spirit of mischief in the air…we seem to have a penchant for destruction in Ireland…We are past masters of at pulling down, but we do little in the way of building up” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Feb. 1924, p. 4).
Balancing the Books
At the February meeting of the New Ross Urban Council, members were exercised at the Government’s cutting of the old age pension. The Chairman stated, “It is a disgrace to a Government to take off a shilling a week. The English Government whom we criticised gives 10s. a week and our own men took off a shilling. I say it is a scandal.” Mr. D. Murphy, observed, “They seem to practise economy only on the poor class. There is no economy in their own departments.” Mr Hand opined,” There will be a general election soon and they will be kicked out of office.” A unanimous resolution was passed protesting against the action of the Government in cutting the old age pension and suggested that the Government cut their own wages first (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Feb., 1924, p. 6).
Within a week it was announced that the anticipated cuts to pay for the Civic Guards and Dublin Metropolitan Police would commence March 1st. The cut reduced the salary of rank and file police by 10 shillings per week and the higher grades of officers would have a corresponding reduction also (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Feb. 1924, p. 4).
War Claims
Claims for destruction of property during the irregular campaign [Civil War] were adjudicating at the Quarter Sessions in Kilkenny in February 1924. The principal claimant in South Kilkenny was Lord Bessborough for the burning of his mansion, the courthouse and other valuable property he owned. (Munster Express (Fri. 29 Feb. 1924, p. 5). One of his properties damaged was the Glenmore Barracks, but this occurred in the War of Independence and he received an award in 1920. See our post of 11 April 202o regarding the burning of the barracks and our post of 26 Sept. 2021 for the re-building after the Civil War.
Prisoners
There were about 1200 prisoners still on the Curragh, 700 in Harepark and 500 in Tintown No. 2. The flu was reported as being prevalent in the camps with many prisoners being removed to hospital. It was believed that the camps would be shortly cleared and the prisoners either released or transferred to Harepark (Munster Express, Fri. 2 Feb. 1924, p. 5)
Industrial Strife
Proposed wage cuts were not limited to public service employees and the pensioners. At the end of February, a lockout took place in Waterford. Ten prominent drapery firms shut down. For our international readers these were clothing shops or businesses. The firms proposed to reduce the salaries of their employees by 12.5%. Immediately 7.5% would be cut and the remaining 5% on 1 August. Most of the employees were drapery employees and members of the Distribution Workers’ Union.
Between 80 to 90 of the drapers’ assistants left the Distributive Worker’s Union and joined the Allied & Clerical Worker’s Union. By a three to one vote the Allied & Clerical Workers rejected outright the proposed pay cuts. The employers reacted by shutting their doors and putting 200 to 250 people out of work. The firms shut included Robertson, Ledlie & Co.; Hearne & Co.; J. Carroll & Co.; Phelan Bros. George’s St.; Edward Deevy & Co.; J.J. Phelan, Gladstone St. etc. Smaller drapery establishments around Waterford City were not affected by the dispute (Munster Express (Fri. 29 Feb. 1924, p. 5).
Influenza Epidemic
While the flu was spreading quickly through the prison camps, it was also reported that the New Ross Union Hospital “was practically filled with patients, principally from the country districts; many of whom were ill from the flu” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Feb. 1924, p. 5). It was reported in Waterford that, “a mild form of the flu has struck down many persons throughout the South Kilkenny districts. Happily, there were no fatal results reported” (Munster Express, 9 Feb. 924, p. 4).
Out of Quarantine
As we reported last month a childhood disease postponed the society wedding of the year when the bride contracted chicken pox. “Captain Lord Arthur Butler, M.C. 17th Lancers, son of the Marquess and Marchioness of Ormond, was married on Saturday at the Summerhill parish church, Ascot, to Miss Jessie Carlos Clark, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chares Carlos Clarke of Woodlands, Summerhill. The wedding was postponed on 3 January due to the bride falling ill” (The Kilkenny People, Sat. 2 Feb. 1924, p. 6).
Glenmore Obituaries
KEEGAN
William Keegan was the first stationmaster at the Alywardstown, Glenmore railway station. His widow died in February 1924. See our post of 29 July 2020 and our post of 15 Feb. 2020, regarding her son Lt. Michael Keegan.
“Mrs. Sarah Keegan—The death occurred on the 9th, at Bray, of Mrs. Sarah Keegan, relict of the late Mr. William Keegan, stationmaster, Aylwardstown, and previously at Rathgarogue, Co. Wexford. The deceased having passed away fortified by the rites of the Catholic Church. She was held in great esteem and belonged to a very respectable family. One of her sons fills a position in the offices of the D. and S.E. Railway, at Bray, and another in the air force, and is stationed presently in Palestine. The remains were brought to Rathgarogue and interred with those of her husband. The chief mourner was Mr. Wm. Keegan (son). R.I.P.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Feb.1924, p.1).
GAHAN
The second Glenmore obituary was for Mrs. Brigid Gahan née Doherty (c. 1846-1924), of Newtown, Glenmore. See our post of 19 March 2023 for further information on the Gahan’s of Newtown.
MRS. GAHAN, GLENMORE—The death took place on the 30th of Mrs. Brigid Gahan, Newtown, Glenmore. The deceased lady had reached a good age, and had been ailing for some months. Thoroughly resigned to the will of her Creator she peacefully passed away after receiving the last rites of the Catholic Church. She belonged to a very respectable and popular family and was held in great esteem in the district. The funeral at Glenmore after Office and High Mass was of huge dimensions and testified to the great popularity of the deceased and her family. There was a large attendance of priests at the Office and High Mass. R.I.P. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 Feb. 1924, p. 8).
The death register (No. 262) provides that Brigid Gahan, a farmer’s widow, died at Newtown, Glenmore aged 78, on the 28th of Jan. 1924. Her son Patrick Gahan was present at her death. Strangely the next death recorded (No. 263) is Bridget Gahan of Weatherstown, Glenmore, who died 6 Sept. 1923, aged 66. Her nephew, James Roche, was present when she died. Her death was recorded on the 16th of Feb. 1924.
Tullogher Obituary
Death of Well-Known Public Man—The death occurred at the end of last week of Mr. Andrew Walsh, Glenballyvalley, Tullogher, who was for a number of years a member of New Ross Board of Guardians and Ida District Council. Deceased was held in great esteem by his colleagues on these boards and by the general public. He contracted a cold which developed into pneumonia. His death has occasioned the deepest public regret. The funeral was of huge dimensions (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Feb., 1924, p. 5.)
Fishing & Farming
On the 8th of February it was reported that salmon fishing was poor on the Barrow. Prices opened at 3s. per pound at New Ross (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 Feb. 1924, p. 7). The following week fishing on the Barrow and Nore was poor. However, “whilst the number of catches was small, the sizes of the fish were good, a number being 30 lbs. each. The price about 2s. 10d. per lb. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Feb., 1924, p. 5).
There was a considerable increase in the number of rabbits plaguing Irish farms, and there was a keen demand for Irish rabbits in the British markets. Prices ranged up to 1s. 3d per rabbit with the highest prices paid for those shipped in fresh conditions (Munster Express, Sat. 23 Feb. 1924, p. 4). See our post of 27 Dec. 2020 regarding Glenmore rabbit trapping.
Due to ongoing robberies, “the banks in New Ross were guarded by military on Saturday and fair day. There was a big supply of fat pigs at New Ross fair Monday. Top prices were 47s. and 48s., average 46s. per cwt (i.e. 51 kilos) (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Feb., 1924, p. 5).
Entertainment
“Dr. Frank Powell, the famous entertainer and well known visitor to South Kilkenny was fined £50 at the New Ross District Court, “remitted to £12 10s., under the Amusement Tax Act, in respect of two tickets” (Munster Express, Sat. 9 Feb. 1924, p. 4). The Amazing Dr. Powell (c. 1861-1939) is buried in Glenmore. For details concerning his interesting life see our post of 11 April 2021 and his more famous son-in-law Edward Fossett.
Football Excitement
Many people enjoy being entertained by a good football match, but in February 1924 two sudden deaths were attributed to football excitement.
“Towards the close of the Scottish Cup tied football match between Falkirk and East Fife, played at Edinburgh, on Saturday, William Nicol, manager of Falkirk team, dropped dead from excitement. Another sudden death, due to football excitement was reported from Ayr, where a man named Thomas Kelly collapsed while watching the Cup tied match between Ayr and Kilmarnock. He died from hear failure shortly after reaching hospital” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Feb., 1924, p. 6).
First Wireless in New Ross
For our international readers wireless sets were radios. In February 1924, it was reported that “quite a number of people in New Ross are preparing to get in wireless sets. Some of the clubs are, contemplating the installation of sets. Mr. Daniels, dentist, who is the first in town to get in a set got in touch with London, Cardiff, and other places and the reproductions (sic) were perfect.”
To help local people use the new technology, “in the Technical School a wireless set is being installed and when completed a series of lectures and demonstrations will be given. This will be welcomed by people interested and especially by those thinking of installing a set” (New Ross Standard (Fri. 29 Feb. 1924, p. 5).
The Dance Craze
Waterford
The Munster Express noted in early February that a dance craze had swept the area. In town or country where ever a “passable floor” was found, it was “subjected to the demands of fox trotters and the like.” It was also noted that there were “an unusual number of all night dances and Cinderellas” being held in Waterford. “Many feet are feeling ticklish in anticipation of trying the light fantastic on the new floor of the Town Hall. This latter is expected to be ready in a few weeks’ time (Munster Express, Fri. 2 Feb. 1924, p. 5).
Glenmore
“A successful dance was held at Glenmore on Sunday night, the 19th, in aid of the IRPD Fund. Upwards of 130 couples were present. The music was provided by a band of local instrumentalists under the direction of Mr. T. Sullivan. The dance was considered the most successful and the best attended held in Glenmore for many years. Mr. J. Hartley acted as MC” (Munster Express Fri. 2 Feb. 1924, p. 5).
New Ross
However, not everyone was happy with the dance craze. One person identified as PP sent a letter to the New Ross Standard (Fri. 1 Feb. 1924, p. 4) blaming the lack of supervision at modern public dances for the decline of Christian modesty with deplorable consequences. He also blamed the increase of personal debt on this expensive past time.
PP stated that it was “…high time to cry halt to the dancing campaign which has been running riot in town and country for the past month. In olden days when the moral law was regarded with a reverence which has unhappily ceased to be fashionable, public dances were never tolerated except under careful supervision. It was sometimes difficult enough, even with supervision, to confine certain individuals within the bounds of Christian modesty, especially when liquor was lavishly and indiscriminately supplied to the assembled guests.”
“Today the Christian practice of supervision is regarded as too old fashioned for an enlightened age and hence we need not be surprised to learn that the absence of this desirable precaution has resulted sometimes in sad and deplorable consequences. Another point associated with these expensive entertainments is especially pertinent at the present time. ..It is an open secret that traders and shopkeepers never experienced so much difficulty in collecting debts as at the present time…”
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above is courtesy of the Freeman’s Journal (29 Feb. 1924, p. 10) and depicts an unemployment protest held in Dublin.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Brigid Hunt née Brennan (1922-2015) of Glenmore Village & the 1965 Tramore Murder
While transcribing Danny Dowling’s Notebook 30 this week, there were two entries recorded where Danny twice interviewed Brigid Hunt née Brennan (1922-2015) who was born and reared in Glenmore Village. Danny after providing her full name in his notes thereafter referred to her a “Bridgie.” Danny’s interviews with “Bridgie” centred around her time in Glenmore, and what she remembered about her school day and her early work that led her to Tramore. However, it was only after attempting to locate an obituary for this Glenmore native that we learned of her direct link to a murder that shocked Tramore in 1965.
Early Years in Glenmore
Brigid Brennan was born on 23rd November 1922 [DD Notebook 25] to John Brennan (1872 -1957) and his wife Ellen Cahill (1876-1946). Her father was employed by the Kilkenny County Council on the roads and was paid fortnightly. Although he held a steady job, Bridgie stated, “the poverty we experienced was terrible as wages even on the Council were small.” John did odd jobs to supplement his income such as gardening for Bevan’s and Curran’s. Sometimes he also worked for Pat Hanrahan (1886-1957). [DD Notebook 30].
John Brennan (labourer) and Ellen Cahill of Ballycroney, Glenmore were married at Glenmore on 27 October 1903. John’ address at the time of the marriage was Cluan, Kilmaganny, he was 30 years of age and his father was John Brennan (labourer). Ellen was 24 years of age and was the daughter of Peter Cahill (labourer) [Civil Marriage Records].
Ellen Cahill was the daughter of Peter Cahill and his wife Mary Carty. She was born on 29 May 1876 and baptized the following day. Her godparents were James Norris and Bridget Dooling (Glenmore Parish Records).
Bridgie’s Siblings
According to Bridgie her parents, John Brennan and Ellen Brennan née Cahill had four daughters in their family. [1] Margaret “Maggie” [1905-1997] was the eldest. She was born in Kilmaganny [Birth Register: on 25 Feb. 1905] and married to Willie Brown of Tramore. They had family. [According to the marriage Register Margaret Brennan married William Browne on 25 September 1939]. [2] Bridgie married Sean Hunt (1928-1965) and lived in Tramore. [3] Mary Brennan never married and lived with Bridgie in Tramore. [4] Ellie Brennan died aged 11 of eczema in St. Patrick’s in Waterford, “in Dr. Michael Gibbon’s time in Glenmore. He made all the funeral arrangement and she is buried in Ballygurrim with the Cahills” [DD Notebook 30].
The 1911 Census shows that John, Ellen and their eldest were residing in Kilmaganny. John was working as an agricultural labourer and the couple had been married for 6 years and had two children born, but only one child was alive in 1911.
According to the death register Ellen Brennan (c. 1919-1934) died 4 December 1934 in the Co. Hospital of Waterford. She was aged 15 and died of “acute eczema of the whole body and nephritis” (12 days) (Death Register). It is likely that the renal problems she suffered caused the eczema.
Glenmore Girl’s School
Bridgie told Danny that when she was going to the girls’ school in Glenmore in the 1930’s there were about 90 girls attending the school. The teachers were Mrs. Heffernan, the principal, and Mrs. Alice Power who taught the infants and the younger girls. There were about 60 girls in Mrs. Power’s class and in Mrs. Heffernan’s class there were about 30 girls. There was religious instruction every day and the religion class started at 11 o’clock.
She said the country girls used to bring kindling for the fire. She remembers a lot of the boys were barefoot, and some of the girls in the summertime. She also remembered the children in the top seats of the chapel every Sunday before second Mass for prayers.
Danny also interviewed his sister, Mary Barron née Dowling (1928-2019) of Ballyconway concerning the girl’s school. Mary reported that when she was going to school in the 1930’s the principal teacher in the girl’s school was Teressa McGrath a native of Russellstown, Clonmel. Miss Russell came to Glenmore in the early years of the century. She then married Mikey Heffernan of Cappagh, Glenmore Village. Alice Power née Curran of Jamestown was the assistant teacher with Mrs. Heffernan. She was a native of Robinstown, Glenmore.
The school consisted of two rooms each with a fireplace. When the fire was lit in the wintertime some of the girls were sent out to collect kindling and firewood from the nearby ditches on a regular basis. Sanitary facilities consisted of dry toilets situated outside at the back of the school. There was a half hour of religious studies every morning [DD Notebook 30].
Jo Doyle née Mernagh (1932-2021) always stated that it was a wonder that children were not injured or killed on the hill behind the old schools. The dry toilets were located about a quarter way down the steep hill behind the old schools. Children would stop their rapid descent by grabbing the trees.
Glenmore Dispensary
Bridgie when working for JK’s used to tidy and clean the dispensary which was used every Tuesday when the doctor attended. She remembered well old Dr. Matt Coughlan and his son Dr. Val. The old man, she said was very lucky with his patients He used also pull teeth without an anaesthetic. She remembers Mollie Murphy of Moulerstown, to have teeth extracted by Dr. Matt Coughlan without any anaesthetic and Dick Walsh of Ballyfacey, to have a lump removed surgically from him without the aid of an anaesthetic [DD Notebook 30]. For a history of the Glenmore dispensary see our post of 25 April 2020.
Bridgie also recalled Danny’s father threshing the corn in the yard behind Patsy Ryan’s with Martin Walsh’s engine. She also said that one of the Dowling’s of Jamestown stood for her mother. A review of the baptismal record of Ellen Brennan née Cahill shows that Ellen’s godmother was Bridget Dooling [Dowling].
Glenmore Shops
The Brennan family dealt in Lizzie JK’s for their groceries and obtained their milk in Hanrahan’s. At that time Hanrahan’s and Fluskey’s, who had the Post Office, did the best business. Lizzie JK’s shop also did a reasonable trade. Bridgie said Mike Heffernan’s did the least business.
Brigid herself worked with Lizzie and said she was great to make a living. Her sister Minnie Heffernan lived with her. Their brother Fr. Tom used to spend his holidays with them in Glenmore. [DD Notebook 30] Lizzie JK Walsh née Heffernan (1884-1955) was a sister of Mike Heffernan. Mike Heffernan was the husband of Teressa Heffernan the schoolteacher.
Moved to Waterford
During the Emergency [WW II] about 1943 Lizzie got the running of one of the canteens in the Military Barracks in Barrack Street in Waterford. Bridgie worked with her as well as another girl from the City. The canteen was opened between 9 am and noon and from 6 pm until midnight. Lizzie rented a big house in Thomas Street, and it was there that they both lived. The canteen closed after the war ended in 1945.
After the War Lizzie ran a café in Tramore during the summertime. It closed during the winter. Bridgie also worked with her in Tramore. [DD Notebook 30]. On 25 September 1939 her sister Maggie married William Browne of Tramore.
Tramore, Co. Waterford
Around 1950 Bridgie married Sean Hunt and they had three children. Sean was employed with CIE as a goods porter at the Waterford north railway station. The couple had three children and resided in Ballinattin, Tramore in a Council House on Lodge Lane just off of Shrine Road. [People v. Dominic Griffin, Cr. Ct. Appeal 1965]
Bridgie told Danny that her mother went to visit her daughters in Tramore in June 1950 and died suddenly while visiting. Ellen Brennan née Cahill was in her 70’ and had been suffering with heart trouble. Ellen was buried in Tramore [DD Notebook 30]. Ellen actually died in 1946 (Death Register). John Brennan also died in Tramore in 1957 and is also buried in Tramore.
The Ballinattin, Tramore Murder 1965
There is no notation or mention in Danny’s Notebook 30 concerning the murder of Bridgie’s husband on 24 January 1965.
John Hunt was 37 and on that Sunday night he had been in Tramore at his local playing cards and enjoying a few pints with his sister and friends. He caught the bus and when he reached his stop he bid goodnight to a friend and started the mile walk home. Within 150 feet of his front door he was found by his wife Bridgie the following morning kneeling dead against the ditch. Bridgie had gone out a number of times during the night looking for him but never saw him. She only found him when she was taking her child to school. The Coroner reported that Sean had been stabbed 20 times.
The murder was widely reported in the local press. Johnny Garvey’s mother operated a guest house in Tramore and Johnny said the entire population of 4,000 were shocked and alarmed. He also said that ugly rumours circulated (Johnny Garvey, 10 Feb. 2024).
A fund was established “for the widow and young family of the late Sean Hunt, who was found stabbed to death in the vicinity of his home at Ballinattin, Tramore… The widow, Mrs. Brigid Hunt, is daughter of the late John and Mrs. Brennan, Glenmore Village” (Munter Express, Fri 12 Feb. 1965, p. 4).
Arrests & Conviction
Eventually, Dominic Griffin [Jr.], a 24 year old married panel beater from 12 Mall Lane in Waterford City was charged with the murder (Munster Express, Fri. 19 March 1965, p. 1). The ugly rumours that Johnny recalled may have been due to the fact that Dominic Griffin, Jr. was charged with raping a 17- year-old Tipperary girl at Ballinattin between November 1963 and April 1964 (Munster Express, Fri. 19 Feb. 1965, p. 1).
It is not clear what happened in the rape case, but Dominic Griffin was sentenced to “penal servitude” for life by Justice Teevan in the Central Criminal Court on 30 June 1965. The jury returned after 90 minutes finding Griffin guilty of the murder of Sean Hunt (Irish Independent Thur. 1 July 1965, p. 5).
The Appeal
Dominic Griffin appealed and his appeal was dismissed (Irish Press, Sat. 6 Nov. 1965, p. 13; (People v. Dominic Griffin, Docket 34-1965, delivered 5 Nov. 1965). The Appeals Court outlined the facts before dismissing the appeal. Dominic Griffin married on 1 August 1964 and he and wife lived in a seaside hut on Shrine Road, Tramore. On the night of 3 January 1965 a man shouted offensive remarks about he and his wife. Griffin was concerned because they were expecting their first child shortly. He suspected 3 men and the deceased was one of his suspects.
On 16 January he took his wife to the nursing home where she gave birth. On the 24th he drove to the hut to tidy it for the homecoming of his wife and child. He heard a man outside addressing offensive remarks to him. Arming himself with a bicycle lamp, shovel handle, and a knucleduster with an attached knife, he went out to search.
At the intersection of Shrine Road and Lodge’s Lane he heard the shuffling of feet on the Lane. He ran up the lane and claimed that he was attacked by the deceased. The jury and the court of appeal rejected that he had acted in self defence. The State argued that the physical evidence supported that the killer lay in wait. The Appeals court was not persuaded that the physical evidence matched the defendant’s version of events. Further the State effectively argued that “in considering self-defence, the jury would be entitled to take into account that the deceased was in his own laneway, where he had a right to be and that Griffin was in a laneway where he had no business.”
Widowhood
Bridgie appears to have remained a widow from 1965 to her death in 2015. If Brigid spoke to Danny concerning her husband’s murder Danny either did not record it or perhaps it was recorded in a notebook yet to be transcribed.
Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
See our post of 9 April 2020 regarding Glenmore Village in the 1930’s.
For a few interesting Tramore historical facts see the Tramore Surf School’s webpage.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Glenmore Malnutrition Death in 1938
Last week while helping a student complete a history project we came across a Glenmore woman who died of malnutrition in 1938. Seven decades after the Great Famine, on the cusp of World War II, it is difficult to understand how anyone could die of malnutrition in 1938. Further research revealed that her husband died of a hernia a couple years earlier.
Bridget Nolan née Delahunty (1899-1938)
Today, we are going to feature this tragic couple. Bridget Nolan, the widow of John Nolan, died on the 6th of July 1938 at the Central Hospital of Kilkenny. The death register provides that Bridget was 49 when she died and a resident of Rochestown, Glenmore. Her obituary in the Munster Express (Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8) states that she was 35 when she died, and the daughter of Mr. and Mr. Patrick Delahunty of Rochestown, Glenmore.
A review of the Glenmore baptismal records revealed that Bridget Delahunty was born on 3 July 1899, the daughter of Patrick Delahunty (labourer) and his wife, Lizzie Hawe. Thus, Bridget died just 3 days after her 39th birthday. Brigid had been a patient in the Central Hospital of Kilkenny for two weeks before her death (Munster Express, Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8). The death register states that Brigid died of malnutrition.
Bridget’s Parents & Siblings of Rochestown, Glenmore
Bridget’s parents, Patrick Delahunty (1878-1945) and Elizabeth Hawe (1877-1951) were married on 14 September 1898 at Glenmore. Patrick was a labourer and the son of John Delahunty and his wife Mary Walsh. At the time of his birth the family was living in Ballyconnaght, Tullogher. Elizabeth was the daughter of Michael Hawe (boatman) and Catherine Malone of Rochetown. The 1911 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore provides that Patrick was 32 and working as a fisherman. Lizzie was 33 and there were 7 children in the family at that time, but a family obituary revealed another two daughters born after 1911.
Bridget Delahunty and her siblings were a typical Glenmore family in the first half of the 20th Century. Some stayed in Glenmore, some emigrated to England for work and some emigrated to the United States. They were also typical in that some of the siblings died young and some lived into their 70’s and 80’s.
[1] Bridget Delahunty (3 July 1899-6 July 1938) was the eldest. She married John Nolan (labourer) of Ballincreigh (Ballincre) on 30 January 1918 at Glenmore. John was the son of Martin Nolan (labourer).
[2] Catherine Delahunty (b. 21 Dec. 1900) arrived at Ellis Island on 19 July 1920. She had $25 and was going to her aunt Mrs. Mary Farnham at 40 Washburn Ave, Boston. She was described as being 5 feet, 1 inch tall, with dark hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. She married a man named G. Ryan. In 1979 per her brother Bill’s obituary she was residing in New York.
[3] William “Bill” Delahunty (16 June 1902-5 January 1979) worked at Loughcullen Creamery, Kilmacow and later worked for Kilkenny Co. Council. He married Josephine Roche of Ballymountain, Kilmacow and the couple had 9 known children. Bill died 5 January 1979 (Munster Express, 12 January 1979, p. 17).
[4] Michael Delahunty (b. 29 Dec. 1903—30 April 1974 ) never married and worked for years for Mai Roche of Scartnamore, Glenmore. He was a nice, jolly man. (Danny Dowling, Notebook 13).
[5] Richard Delahunty (4 Dec. 1905-13 July 1973) emigrated to Boston circa 1923, married, served in the US Army during WWII, and became an electrician. Richard died while home visiting Ireland on his way back to Shannon Airport in 1973 leaving his widow and children to mourn him.
[6] Mary “Molly” Delahunty (14 May 1908—1 Jan. 1990) married John Halligan (c. 1908-1983). The couple had four known children and the family resided in Aylwardstown. John worked for years for Kelly’s of Aylwardstown “looking after the cows.”.
[7] Patrick Delahunty (4 June 1910–?) never married and remained in Rochestown.
[8] Elizabeth Delahunty (10 Nov. 1913–22 Jan. 1982) married Patrick Carey ( ? -16 March 1976) in Waterford in 1935. The couple with their children resided in Ballindud, Waterford on the road to Tramore.
[9] Margaret Delahunty (8 July 1916- ? ) per her father’s obituary she died in England years before he died in 1945.
Several of the Delahunty obituaries may be read on our Glenmore H Surname page.
Bridget’s Husband, John Nolan (1878-1935)
As previously stated, Bridget Delahunty married John Nolan (labourer) of Ballincreigh (Ballincre) Slieverue on 30 January 1918, at Glenmore. John was the son of Martin Nolan (labourer). Witnesses to the wedding were William Atkins and Lizzie Hawe. John Nolan was 21 years older than his wife Bridget. After the famine well into the twentieth century marriage patterns changed in Ireland. People married later, and it was not unusual for men to marry much younger women.
John Nolan (1878-1935) of Ballincrea, Slieverue
John Nolan was born on 2 September 1878, to Martin Nolan (farm labourer) and his wife Catherine Power of Ballincrea, Slieverue. A review of birth records revealed that John Nolan had at least 5 sisters: [1] Mary Nolan (b. 16 Nov. 1871); [2] Ellen Nolan (b. 26 Aug. 1873); [3] Anne Nolan (b.12 April 1875) and [4] Catherine Nolan (b. 27 Feb. 1881).
In the 1901 Census of Ballincrea, Slieverue, John Nolan (aged 20) was living with his mother Catherine Nolan (widow) aged 40 and his sister [5] Bridget Nolan, aged 13 (b.c. 1888). John was employed as a farm labourer and was actually 24 years of age. His mother, Catherine Nolan, could not read or write. This could explain why Catherine incorrectly gave her age as 40. Her daughter Mary was born in 1871, thus her daughter Mary was 30 in 1901. The Census notes that John could read and only his sister Bridget, still at school, could read and write.
John and Bridget lived in Ballincrea, Slieverue. It does not appear that the couple had any children. John died 3 July 1935 in their home in Ballincrea, Slieverue. His widow, Bridget, was present when he died. From the death register it appears that he suffered a cardiac event after “hernia retention” (the handwriting is difficult to read).
Obituary of John Nolan (1878-1935)
The following obituary was published in the Munster Express (Fri. 5 July 1935, p. 8).
We regret to record the demise of Mr. John Nolan, which sad and unexpected event occurred at his residence at Ballincrea on Wednesday morning. Though not in entirely robust health for some time past, deceased retired to bed as usual on Tuesday night, but early the following morning complained of feeling unwell and expired in a short time afterwards.
Aged about 60 years, the late Mr. Nolan was a very popular and esteemed inhabitant of the district, where his demise, coming as it did with such tragic suddenness, evoked feelings of sincere regret. Much sympathy will be extended to the widow on the sad bereavement she has sustained. The interment takes place today (Friday) at Slieverue. R.I.P.
A shorter article appeared the following week in the Munster Express (Fri.12 July 1935, p. 8).
Requiem Office and High Mass were offered up at Bigwood Church on Friday morning for the repose of the soul of the late Mr. John Nolan, Ballincrea (whose demise we announced last week). The celebrant of the Mass was Rev. M. Doyle, C.C., Slieverue, and the other clergy present were: Rev. Hally, .C.C, do; Rev. M. Gibbons, D.D. C.C., do; and Rev. P. Darcey, C.C. Mullinavat. The interment took place subsequently in the adjoining cemetery in the presence of a large attendance. Deceased was brother of Mrs. Martin, Knockbrack, Glenmore, and Miss Bridget Nolan, U.S.A.
Strangely none of his other sisters were mentioned. Three years later his wife Bridget died.
The Obituary of Bridget Nolan née Delahunty (1899-1938)
Bridget’s short obituary follows:
We regret to record the death of Mrs. B. Nolan, widow of the late Mr. John Nolan, Ballincrea, in which sad event occurred in hospital in Kilkenny on Wednesday last.
Deceased, who was aged 35 years, was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Delahunty, Rochestown, Glenmore, and sister of Messrs J. and M. Delahunty, do.; William Delahunty, Ballincrea, and Mrs. Carew, Ballindud, to all of whom sincere sympathy will be extended on their sad bereavement. She had been in failing health for some time, and was in hospital for the past fortnight. Her passing was learned of with regret in her native district, where she was well known and widely esteemed. R.I.P. (Munster Express, Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8).
Malnutrition in Glenmore in 1938
According to medical websites there are several ways in which a person can become malnourished and die. The elderly and young children are in the highest risk groups. The first way malnutrition occurs, that often springs to mind particularly in Ireland, is due to a lack of food, or famine. There were tough times in the 1930’s for many families in Glenmore, but there was no famine. There was also little processed food, thus the most common problem today was not present.
Another reason a person may become malnourished is because their body cannot process the food eaten and use it. This is generally due to disease (e.g. Crohan’s) or injury. Nothing was recorded on the death registry concerning any disease or injury that may have caused Bridget’s malnutrition in 1938. A third possible cause of malnutrition is an eating disorder. Again there is nothing recorded regarding this, however, it would decades before eating disorders were widely recognised and understood by the medical community.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The feature photo above is of the Waterford City Infirmary, John’s Hill.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: January 1924
Glenmore only featured in a couple of local newspaper articles in January 1924. We have also included some local newspaper articles that illustrate what Glenmore people were reading or experiencing one hundred years ago. The original words and phrases of the newspaper articles have been utilized where possible.
The New Year: Past Reminders
In Waterford “the New Year was ushered in by the shrill shriek of engine whistles, the hooting of steamer sirens, and the creation of the customary pandemonium. ..Christ Church Cathedral chimes pealed forth as usual, but their dulcet tones were easily drowned by the fearful noise created, and were not heard except by those who happened to be in the immediate vicinity of Cathedral Square.”
On board the SS Arklow rockets were sent up at regular intervals, the display of these projectile fireworks being witnessed by a fairly large crowd assembled at Reginald’s Tower. Some of the rockets burst into beautiful flame but then followed a loud detonation which “resembled something in the nature of a discharge from an 18 pounder gun.” This disturbed a lot of the inhabitants and reminded them of the recent Civil War (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 5).
Weather
January 1924 supplied the area “with a continuous round of snow, rain and slush.” “Not for years past” was there “such flood in the hills and valleys of South Kilkenny” (Munster Express, Sat. 19 Jan. 1924, p. 5).
Epidemics & Population Growth
Waterford City suffered a whooping cough epidemic in the autumn and it was still severe in January 1924. The epidemic resulted in a large number of deaths. Waterford City’s death rate for the four weeks ending the 27th of November 1923 was “exceedingly high—26.6 per 1,000” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 5). Chicken pox was also making the rounds and like most diseases it did not distinguish between the classes. The wedding of Lord Arthur Butler, son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, was postponed when his fiancée Miss Jessie Carlos Clarke, and her sister, caught chicken pox (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p.7).
The Registrar General estimated that the population of the Free State in June 1923 was 3,165,000 persons. He noted that the last census taken was in 1911, and no attempt was made in 1921 to take a census. He estimated that the population had increased by 30,000 since the 1911 census (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1924, p. 3). It is rather surprising that the population increased given the events between 1911 and 1923 including: WWI, the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Civil War and emigration.
Local Education
Nuns for Rosbercon
A rumour was published in the New Ross Standard that a secondary school conducted by Nuns of the Order of St. Louis will, open at Rosbercon. The school was said to located in the Ida House which was recently purchased from Mr. John J. Kehoe (New Ross Standard, Fri .4 Jan. 1923, p. 7).
Glenmore Irish Teacher
At the monthly meeting of the Joint Technical Committee for Kilkenny it was noted that the Department sanctioned the appointment three men and a woman as part time teachers of Irish. Mr. Matt O’Donnell left Glenmore and was engaged at work in Rosbercon. Another teacher was needed in Glenmore to take his place.
It was suggested that Mr. Curran, the school teacher at Glenmore, who was pulling well up in Irish, might be induced to take on the work. The difficulty was that Mr. Curan’s health had not been good for some time. It was supposed that they might be able to engage a teacher from New Ross (Kilkenny People, Sat. 19 Jan. 1924, p. 8). Exactly one year later, Nicholas “Nick” Curran (c. 1884-1925) was dead, aged 41, from cancer of the stomach. His obituary can be found on our obituary page.
New Motor Barge
John Tyrell & Sons, Arklow, boat builders launched a motor launch for a New Ross firm. The motor barge was fitted with a 50 h.p. double cylinder marine engine, with an estimated cargo capacity of 50 tons. The motor barge was to be used for direct trade between Waterford and New Ross and was also capable of towing other barges. Unfortunately, the name of the vessel was not published in the article (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1924, p. 6).
Civil War Repairs
Bridges
The railway bridge at Palace East, which was wrecked 14 times in 1923 was being “rebuilt in a substantial way with new girders” (New Ross Standard, Fri.11 Jan. 1924, p. 7). Also, the New Ross bridge was to receive a much needed coat of paint. The bridge was vested in both the Wexford County Council and the Kilkenny County Council. Repairs were also being carried out on the Ferry Mountgarrett bridge (New Ross Standard, Fri.4 Jan. 1923, p. 7).
Fight for £500,000 Deposited in New York
John F. Finerty, a New York Attorney, travelled to Dublin to meet Eamonn de Valera. The meeting was held at Arbour Hill Detention Barracks where de Valera was imprisoned. About £500,000 was deposited in the U.S. and the Republicans and the Free State were claiming it. The U.S. set up a Commission to take evidence from de Valera and Austin Stack. Justice Wagner, of the New York Supreme Court, in making the order for the Commission, ruled that if de Valera and Stack were not allowed to testify, the Free State Government would be barred from continuing its claim for the money.
Attorney Finerty reported to the Press the difficulties he encountered in speaking to de Valera. He was asked to sign an agreement that he would only speak about the litigation. He agreed. The military in charge of the prison demanded that a third party be present at the meeting. Attorney Finerty “point blank refused.” The military then demanded that both he and de Valera agreed to be searched. Both Finerty and de Valera refused.
After two hours Attorney Finerty was unconditionally admitted and spent over an hour and a half with de Valera. He found him “looking none the worse for his four and a half months incarceration.” Attorney Finerty then travelled to Mountjoy to meet Stack. Finerty noted Stack was able to get about but looked very ill after his hunger strike (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 4.)
Glenmore Breach of Promise Case
Glenmore made the news when a breach of promise case was heard and settled in the King’s Bench Division in mid-January 1924. The defendant was a Glenmore farmer who settled the claim of breach of promise for £52 10s. The brother of the woman also sued the defendant for seduction of his sister. The seduction case settled for £21 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 25 Jan. 1924, p. 5). It was claimed that the defendant has asked the plaintiff to marry him and the wedding was to take place after his mother purchased a Glenmore farm for him. In the interim the plaintiff became pregnant and had the child and sent it to Dublin for fostering. The child died at the age of 2. The defendant’s mother refused to allow him to marry the plaintiff and the plaintiff after years of waiting sued him for breach of promise.
Glenmore Senior Football Objection
At the meeting of the Kilkenny Co. Board of the GAA, it was reported that a lengthy communication was received from Mr. J. Ryan, the Secretary of the Southern Board. Mr. Ryan asked the Chairman to rule on issues that arose out of fixtures. The Charman stated that it was unusual for such a request before the issues were considered by the southern board. He refused to decide matters “over the heads of the Southern Board as he believed they were perfectly confident in doing so themselves.” He affirmed that the Southern Board had complete control of the minor championships in the South, and if any club had a grievance against its decision the matter could be appealed to the County Committee.
The Objection
Later in the meeting the Chairman stated that there an objection by Glenmore to Barrow Rovers in connection with their senior football match at Knockmoylan on December 23. He read out the correspondence from Mr. Ryan, Southern Secretary, Glenmore were drawn to meet Barrow Rovers and as neither club was represented at the meeting and in order to facilitate the clubs the county committee asked the Southern board to fix a date and venue for the match. The Southern Secretary reported having arrangements made and later reported the carrying out of the fixture.
Glenmore Representatives
Mr. Heffernan (Glenmore) asked if the Southern Secretary had mentioned the date of the meeting at which the Southern Board arranged the match. As far as he was concerned, he would positively state that his club got no notification of the venue until the Southern Secretary notified them of the date and venue. He submitted that the Southern Secretary had taken the law into his own hands.
Mr. P. Cody (Glenmore) stated that he was a regular attender of the meetings of the Southern Board and he heard nothing of this match at any meeting. The first intimation he was a letter from the Southern Secretary stating that the fixture was made and he believed that the match had been fixed in the usual way by the County Committee and so his team travelled. The venue was inconvenient for both teams and the Southern Secretary later admitted it.
Other Representatives
Mr. Lyng (Barrow Rovers) agreed that he had heard nothing of the match at a meeting of the Southern Board but queried why Glenmore travelled if they believed the match was not officially fixed.
Mr. Dowling (Danesfort) stated that it seemed to him as if the Southern Secretary outstepped his duty. It was a serious matter if the Secretary took the responsibility on himself of fixing a match and no board or committee could justify such action. He proposed that the Southern Secretary be asked to attend the next meeting of the County Committee and produce the records of the Southern Board regarding the fixture.
The Ruling
The Chairman ruled that the case would be considered at the next meeting when the referee’s report of the match would be considered. There were matters in the referee’s report that required action by the Committee and deserved serious consideration. Glenmore’s objection was also held over to the next meeting (Kilkenny People, Sat. 26 January 1924, p. 9).
Requested Censorship in the Free State
Many people in Dublin were wondering how soon the new Free State Film Censor would make his presence felt. Pictures shown in Dublin were “very seldom grossly immoral or objectionable. But a great many of them are always on the borderline and very often suggestive. It is quite plain that the titles are always framed to appeal to morbid sentimentality, and often to worse feelings, even when the pictures themselves are not as objectionable as their titles suggest.”
It was reported that the Dublin picture houses were in a difficult position, “for no films are now produced in Ireland and those produced in America or England have reference to a low standard of morality which fortunately this country is unacquainted with.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 Jan. 1924, p. 4).
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Please send any and all corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The feature photo above is Prince Edward Place, Clonmel flooded (Freeman’s Journal, Fri. 18 January 1924, p. 10).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh