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The Siege of Waterford: July 1922
Two hundred and seventy-three years after Cromwell bombarded Waterford City, in July 1922 Waterford City again came under siege. After a four day battle the City fell to the Free State Troops and the Republican, or anti-Treaty forces, that had previously controlled the City were ousted. The account of the siege below is extracted from an article that appeared in the Munster Express (Sat. 22 July 1922, p. 6) and readers may recognise several of the landmarks and buildings that came under fire.
When the Civil War broke out in Dublin in June, the Republican troops in charge of Waterford City took precautions and nightly raised the drawbridge that spanned the River Suir and connected Waterford City to Kilkenny. The Republican troops also commandeered motor cars, clothing and other necessities. They isolated the city by removing the wireless apparatus from the barracks as well as from three of the steamers in the port. Systematically newspapers from Dublin and England were destroyed.
Sunday 16 July 1922
On Sunday the 16th of July, word reached the Waterford City Republican forces that the Free State forces had left Kilkenny City bound for Waterford. The Republican forces raised the bridge at 8 p.m. instead of Midnight and ordered the vessels docked on the Kilkenny side of the river to move to the Waterford side.
Tuesday 18 July 1922
Tuesday the bridge remained closed and was only opened at about 1:30 p.m. to allow a funeral to proceed to County Kilkenny. Large numbers of people assembled on the quays as it was believed that the Free State forces were near Waterford. People and goods arriving at the train station were ferried across the river on boats. About 6:50 p.m. Free State troops were seen on the brow of the hill over Sallypark. The crowds were startled by the loud report of machine gun and rifle fire from the Republican forces in Waterford City. As a result one of the Free State volunteers, named Costeloe, was wounded. He became the first casualty of the Battle for Waterford when he died on Thursday in the Infirmary.
The Free State troops returned fire and from 7 to 10 p.m. sniping across the river continued. The Republicans in the city took over the following buildings: Adelphia Hotel, Country Club, Reginald’s Tower, Granville Hotel, Munster Express Office, Andrew Farrell’s corn stores and S. Phelan’s stores. Amazingly large crowds remained on the quays watching the cross fire…”at this juncture the people did not fully appreciate the danger to which they were exposing themselves…”
Wednesday 19 July 1922
On Wednesday morning sniping resumed. When the Republican forces observed activity on the Kilkenny side of the river machine guns rattled from the jail. The Free State troops brought an 18 pounder field gun (artillery) into position across the Golf Links and placed it on a rock overlooking the city.
At 10:40 a.m. the first shots of the bombardment by artillery were fired into Waterford city. It started with a couple of range finding shrapnel shells but the Free State troops quickly moved on to high explosive shells. The targets were the military barracks and the jail at Ballybricken. “Many houses in Barrack street, in the immediate vicinity of the barrack had been evacuated, and later many people in the neighbourhood of the barracks and jail took refuge in Tramore.” In total thirty-six shells were fired on Wednesday most of them were direct hits. However, some shells fell on the Hurley home in Jail street blowing away the roof and chimney. Mrs. Nolan directly opposite the Infantry Barracks suffered a large hole in the front of her house while the Little Sisters of the Poor Convent on Bunker’s Hill had a large portion of their side walls collapse from a shell hit. The Ursuline Convent grounds received two shells but they caused no damage.
In the evening the shells were directed toward the two military barracks. The Republicans evacuated the buildings. After they left a large group of people entered and set fire to the buildings and began looting. A mine in the Infantry Barracks exploded resulting in four casualties “and this had the effect of temporarily suspending the proceedings.”
After dark on Wednesday a number of troops under Captain Mackey, Chairman of the Clonmel Board of Guardians, went three miles downriver to Giles Quay. By boat they crossed over to the Waterford side of the Suir. While the Republicans lay in wait to ambush the party on the road to Waterford, Mackey and his men worked their way along the river bank. At a house about 100 yards to the rear of the County Club they entered and set up a machine gun to cover the principal windows of the Adelphi Hotel. Entering through the back of the County Club Mackey and his men surprised the sentry and took the Club’s garrison prisoner from their beds without a shot being fired. Creeping over the wall between the County Club and the Adelphi Hotel the hotel garrison was also captured in the same fashion. They next moved onto the adjoining Steamship Offices and again captured the sleeping Republicans.
The Imperial Hotel was captured by 12 men, but no armed men were found there. Although a Red Cross flag was posted on the building no doctor or patients were present. The Free State troops then went to Reginald’s Tower but found it was empty. The Republicans vacated leaving behind a large quantity of arms and ammunition.
Thursday 20 July 1922
On Thursday morning the Republican garrison continued to hold the GPO, the Granville Hotel, Ballybricken jail and some sniping posts on the Quay. Having captured the positions on the Mall the Free State troops turned their attention to the Post Office. After extensive small arm and machine gun fire into and from the Post Office six shells were lobbed into the building by the Free State Troops across the river. The Republican garrison abandoned the Post Office and some retreated under fire to the Granville Hotel. Some of this group entered the Granville and others went into Bolger’s Grocery Shop on Barronstrand Street.
The Free State troops continued along the Quay. During the bombardment of the Granville 18 Republicans were captured including Jerry Cronin, Commandant of the Republicans in the City. Bolger’s premises came under attack and was captured by the Free State troops. A group of citizens watched from Cinema corner.
Friday 21 July 1922
Friday morning the Republicans still held Ballybricken Jail, some houses in Ballybricken and Barrack streets and a few sniping posts on the Quay. In the early afternoon the 18 pounder was put into a position near the Ferrybank railway station. While attempting to set up the artillery piece heavy fire was raining down from the jail. Sergent Howlett, a young Free State soldier from Duncannon district, jumped onto a Lancia car with a Lewis gun and though bullets were striking all around him he repeatedly fired on the jail giving the gunners time to move the 18 pounder. Howlett was eventually killed.
Five shells were lobbed into the centre of the jail and the garrison of 15 evacuated via Chapel Lane. As the Republicans left the looters moved in. Within 20 minutes the Free State troops were at the jail and began to deal with the looters. The jail was the last Republican stronghold and “by evening practically normal conditions had been restored within Waterford.”
It isn’t clear from the newspaper account when the Free State troops lowered the bridge but there is an account that the operation had to be performed by hand because part of the machinery had been removed. It took some hours to lower the bridge by hand, so while the work was in progress the Free State troops raked the hill opposite with machine gun and rifle fire to prevent snipers from firing on the men lowering the bridge.
Throughout the battle volunteers distributed milk and bread to citizens of the City who did not flee the fighting. Within a few days the railways were working again and the Post Office, and searches by the Free State troops were carried out for loot taken.
Casualties
The following casualties were listed in the Munster Express:
[1] John Joseph Dwan, a native of Portarlington, married aged 25, shot dead in Olaf Street, near the Franciscan Church on Wednesday.
[2] William Long (40) a carpenter of Bath Street Waterford. Shot in the head on Wednesday near the Catholic Cathedral;
[3] Martin Flynn (14) of 88 Doyle Street, was badly burned on his face and hands by the explosion at the Infantry Barracks;
[4] John Grant (17) of Thomas’s Avenue, suffered injury to his legs by the same explosion;
[5] Thomas Costello, of the Upper Yellow Road, was wounded in the left arm on the Quay on Wednesday; [6] Patrick Kiely (18) of Brown’s lane, was seriously wounded in the neck by a bullet which “cut close to his to his spinal column;
[7] Patrick Cullen [23] of 5 Francis Court was knocked down by a motor car and badly injured;
[8] Michael Keeffe (66) of Bachelor’s Walk suffered a bullet wound;
[9] William McBride, a fitter on the GSWR and native of Thurles, received a bullet wound in his leg at North Station on Wednesday morning;
[10] Michael Callaghan (23) of Mayor’s Walk, was badly burned all over his body by the explosion in the Infantry Barracks;
[11] Mary Hearne (15) of Shortcourse, was seriously injured losing part of a foot and suffering severe burns at the Infantry Barracks explosion;
[12] James Dalton (19) of Barrack Street and
[13] George Calvin of Sallypark was injured in a “motor accident.”
[14] John Doyle was wounded in the Post Office shortly before it was evacuated. He received wounds in the face, mouth, nose and hands but it was reported that he was expected to recover;
[15] Michael Callaghan of Mayor’s Walk, died in the City and County Infirmary on Saturday from injuries received in the explosion of the Infantry Barracks magazine;
[16] Emily Decourcy (10) of Miller’s Marsh, died in the Infirmary on Sunday afternoon. During a lull in the fighting on Friday she went up to get bread and she was shot through the stomach near the jail;
[17] Volunteer McCarthy, of the Free State forces, a native of Slate Quarries, Carrick-on-Suir, was struck by a bullet which lodged in his knee on Friday while clearing looters away from the jail;
[18] Martin Flynn, of Doyle Street, was shot in the side outside the jail on Friday evening, but received only a flesh wound;
[19] William Stafford, (aged 13 1/2) of Monastery Street, had two fingers and half of his right thumb blown off on Friday when he picked up a detonator which he picked up in the Infantry Barracks;
[20] Michael Walsh was wounded in the hand by a richochetting (sic) bullet, and some of his tendons were severed;
[21] J. McGrath (33) of Peter Street was shot through the stomach on the Quay and died in the Infirmary; [22] Patrick Hutchinson (40) of Ballybricken, a single labourer was shot through the stomach and also died in the Infirmary;
[23] Michael Cuddehy (16), Newport’s Lane was admitted to the hospital with a bullet wound in the leg; [24] Volunteers Howlett and [25] Costello were killed in the advance on Waterford and were buried in their respective counties of Wexford and Tipperary.
For further information on local events in July 1922 see our blog post of 11 July 2022.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above is from the Handbook for the Q.F. 18-pr. gun, Mk. IV on carriages, field, Mks. III, IIIt, III and IV (Land Service), 1921 courtesy of the State Library of Victoria.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
One Hundred Years Ago: July 1922
Tensions over the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the partition of Ireland continued into 1922. In June of 1922 elections were held in the Free State. Pro-treaty candidates won the majority of seats. The Civil War broke out shortly thereafter. Much has been written regarding the Battle for Dublin between Free State troops and Anti-Treaty Republican forces. Today, we are going to focus on events that occurred local to Glenmore as reported in contemporary local newspapers in July 1922.
Due to the length of the materials gleaned from local newspapers we will include the “Siege of Waterford” in our next post. In July 1922 the Anti-Treaty Forces were referred to by various names by various newspapers including Irregulars, Republicans and Executive Troops.
Fatal Typhoid Case in Glenmore
It was reported in the Munster Express that Mr. Patrick Dunphy, S.S.O. (Sub-Sanitary Officer), reported that owing to the recent fatal case of typhoid fever in the neighbourhood of Glenmore he made a thorough inspection of the village a short time ago. There were complaints made to him about the large number of pigs housed and fed in the village.
As the village was congested and low lying, he impressed upon the residents the necessity of keeping their places in a sanitary condition. In the greater number of cases the yards and out-offices were clean and well kept. One or two yards were unsatisfactory, as manure heaps were not removed, but since his visit the state of things had been remedied. (Munster Express, Sat. 1 July 1922, p. 5)
Impact of the Battle for Dublin
The Munster Express reported at the beginning of July that the Battle for Dublin commenced when Lt. General O’Connell, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Free State Army, was captured late at night in Dublin by what the newspaper referred to as Irregulars (Anti-Treaty troops). O’Connell was detained in the Four Courts as a hostage for exchange for Leo Henderson and others. Troops of the Irish Free State surrounded the Four Courts and demanded the garrison surrender.
When an armoured car was fired upon by the Irregulars two eighteen pound artillery pieces were fired at the Four Courts. Both sides used machine guns and the fighting lasted all day Wednesday the 27th of June. Dublin was completely isolated from telephone communications and no trains were allowed to enter the city. Up to Thursday afternoon there were 15 people killed and 37 wounded. A number of the casualties were civilians. (Munster Express, Sat. 1 July 1922, p. 5)
New Ross Man Killed
An 18-year-old New Ross man working at the Ormonde Hotel, Dublin was one of the civilian casualties. “The body of Willie Doyle, Robert St., New Ross, who was killed at the door of the Ormonds Hotel, Dublin, on Wednesday of last week during the fighting, was brought to New Ross on Thursday night. Mr. F. J. Mackey and the deceased’s brother journeyed to Dublin in a motor car on Thursday. They were unable to get the car into the city, and having succeeded in reaching the hospital they got the body out in a hearse. In the same hospital were a number of dead bodies awaiting identification.”
They reached New Ross some time after midnight. When they reached the Ferry Mountgarrett bridge it was drawn some hours previous by the Executive Forces (Anti-Treaty Forces). They were expecting Free State Forces to try to cross it to take New Ross. The coffin was transported in a boat, and the military had it placed in a lorry, and it was then taken to the home of his parents. The deceased was employed in the Ormonde Hotel for the previous year. It was reported he came out of the door to assist a wounded officer who fell there and got struck by a bullet beneath the heart and died about ten minutes later.
“He was a member of the Fianna in New Ross and was a great favourite with everyone in the town who knew him. The deepest sympathy is felt with his bereaved parents and the members of the family. The funeral on Friday evening to St. Mary’s Cemetery was of huge dimensions and representative of all classes and creeds. The coffin, which was draped with a large tri-colour flag, was borne on the shoulders of the IRA. The IRA with rifles reversed also formed a guard of honour. Preceding the coffin and following it were a large number of the Fianna and also members of the Cumam na mBan, all carrying wreaths…Three volleys were fired over the grave by the IRA.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 July 1922, p. 3)
Tullogher Man Killed
Another local man killed in Dublin during the fighting was Mr. G. Walsh, Glenpipe, Tullogher. At the time of reporting his death the New Ross Standard was unable to report on which side he was fighting. His remains were brought home via New Ross, in a motor on Tuesday the 4th of July. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 July 1922, p. 6)
GPO & Four Courts
On Thursday the 28th of June the Waterford G.P.O. (General Post Office) and branch offices were closed about 2:30 pm when the Postmaster General, J.J. Walsh, TD sent out a notice instructing the suspension of all services including telegraph and telephone. During Wednesday and Thursday morning, prior to the notice, IRA censors had been placed in the telephone department by order of the local City Commandant of the Anti-Treaty garrison in the City. None of the other postal departments were interfered with prior to the closing. (Munster Express, Sat. 1 July 1922, p. 5)
The Four Courts fell on Friday the 30th of June to Free State forces. Fighting continued in Dublin during the week mainly in O’Connell Street. The Republicans lodged themselves on the north side of the street. The buildings they occupied included: the Gresham Hotel, Hammons Hotel, Tramway Offices, Sackville Hall etc. Shortly after noon on Wednesday the 5th of July the Hamman Hotel burst into flames. By late Wednesday afternoon ten buildings including three hotels were ablaze. (Munster Express, Sat. 8 July 1922, p. 5).
Frustration of Citizens
An editorial in the New Ross Standard entitled “From Bad to Worse” perhaps reflects the frustration of citizens.
“The situation in Ireland shows no sign of settlement. There are unrest and fighting everywhere and the populace simply lives in dread of what may occur next. The situation is nearly as bad as it was a year or more ago when the English myrmaidons (sic) patrolled the country. There has been fighting in Dublin resulting in the loss of several lives and the wounding of many persons. Now, Irishmen are pitted against Irishmen—brothers in the cause against brother in the cause…Irishmen are murdering and shooting down Irishmen, and there is every prospect that the civil strife will consume the provinces, and that Ireland as a whole may find itself in the same unhappy condition as her grand old capital…Both sides in the conflict declare they are well intentioned, but they differ in opinion regarding Free State and Republic.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 July 1922, p. 4)
Immediately after the Battle for Dublin, the country braced itself for further battles and bloodshed. Public events were cancelled. The New Ross Regatta planned for the 12th was postponed indefinitely and the New Ross Agricultural Show was postponed to a later date, because of the “condition of things” (New Ross Standard, Friday 7 July 1922, p. 4). At an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Aonach Tailteann cancelled the event after receiving a telegram that the American Athletic Union decided it was impossible to send athletes to Ireland because of the fighting in Dublin. (Munster Express, Sat. 15 July 1922, p. 5)
Local Events
On Friday the 30th of June, Free State troops arrived in Mullinavant and took over the barracks which had been in the possession of the Republicans. The Free State troops gathered up all arms and equipment in the barracks and left. Later a group of Republicans returned to Mullinavat and resident’s homes were smashed and Mr. Nealson, N.T. was shot in his home. As a result of these actions Free State troops again came from Kilkenny City and arrested Pat Aylward, of Knockmoylan and Richard Kenneally of Ballynooney. It was also reported that the main road between Waterford and Kilkenny was blocked by felled trees.
Employing the same techniques used against the Black and Tans the Anti-Treaty forces cut telegraph wires and stopped telegraphic communications between Waterford, Cork, Dublin and London. Five railway bridges between Dublin and Belfast were blown up causing the suspension of railway traffic between the cities. (Munster Express, Sat. 15 July 1922, p. 5) English newspapers arriving at New Ross railway station on Wednesday, were seized by the IRA, taken away and burned. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 July 1922, p. 6)
An Executive Forces soldier named Duggan, a native of Cork, was admitted to Waterford Infirmary suffering from a bullet wound to his thigh. It appears that Volunteer Duggan, with two others, went to the house of H.R. Hamilton, estate agent, on Sunday night to seek billets for their company. They were fired upon as they approached the house. Hamilton was placed under arrest. (Munster Express, Sat. 15 July 1922, p. 5)
Aylwardstown Bridge Blown Up
The resumption of train services announced on Wednesday, the 20th of July, on the D.S.E. Railway between Waterford and Dublin was short lived. On Thursday a small bridge near Aylwardstown, Glenmore at the Waterford side of Glenmore was blown up.
“A large party of linesmen was immediately despatched from New Ross to effect the necessary repairs, but discovered in time that the bridge had been not only badly damaged but mined. In consequence of the discovery of this veritable death trap they were unable to carry out the work of restoring the bridge to a workable condition, and were compelled to return to New Ross. Technical experts were sent from the latter town for the purpose of disconnecting and removing the mines. The Dublin dailies, which had been sent by this route, were conveyed to Waterford by motor, arriving at 3:30 p.m.” (Munster Express, Sat. 22 July 1922, p. 5)
Michael Gaule of Glenmore
“Shot at Waterford—Following a search carried out by members of the Kilmacow (Co. Kilkenny) IRA on Saturday morning, in consequence of a robbery that had been committed in the district during the night, a man named Michael Gaule, Glenmore, was shot in the chest, and had to be removed to the Waterford Infirmary.”
“Gaule and two companions were found by the IRA search party lying asleep on the railway siding at a place called Milltown, and on awakening it is alleged that Gaule jumped up, grasped the lanyard of one of the IRA men’s revolver, and endeavoured to snatch the weapon from him. A shot was discharged, and Gaule fell wounded. At the Infirmary it was learned that the wound was a very serious one, but hopes were entertained for the injured man’s recovery.” (Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner, Sat. 15 July 1922, p. 5)
In our next post we will highlight the July 1922 siege of Waterford City.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above is the Aylwardstown, Glenmore railway station.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Ballybrahee, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Ballybrahee around 1961. The Irish for this townland, according to Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny (1969, p. 109) is Baile Bhrachaidhe, which translates to Broughy’s homestead. Ballybrahee or Ballybrahy is in the old civil parish or DED of Kilcoan. There are 160 acres in this townland.
In the 1833 Griffith’s Valuation Applotment Records the townland had eight tenants: Martin Sullivan (42 acres); Michael Murphy (15 acres); Walter Grant (15 acres); Widow Walsh (6 acres); Patrick Kierivan (31 acres); Edmond Walsh (3 acres); James Freeman (house) and John Sullivan (13 acres).
Danny Dowling, 130 years later, in 1961 recorded 3 families or households in Ballybrahee. 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. No such entries are found in this townland. The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 21 people resided in Ballybrahee with the population comprised of 9 males and 12 females. The Hoynes family was the largest family with eleven members in the household. There were no households recorded of a single person living alone.
Recorded Residents
Males= 9
Females= 12
Eldest Recorded Resident= Kathleen Hoynes (1917-2018). Kathleen was 44 in 1961. For further information on Kathleen Hoynes (1917-2018), a Glenmore centenarian, see our previous post of 19 September 2021.
Recorded Work
Farmers = 3 (3 males) No other occupations are recorded.
BALLYBRAHEE, GLENMORE RESIDENTS
[1] HOYNES
Hoynes, Philip (b. 1918) Farmer
Hoynes, Kathleen (b. 1917) wife
Hoynes, Michael, son
Hoynes, Mary, daughter
Hoynes, Brigid, daughter
Hoynes, Anna, daughter
Hoynes, Gerard, son
Hoynes, Margaret, daughter
Hoynes, John, son
Hoynes, Carmel, daughter
Hoynes, Rita, daughter
[2] WALSH
Walsh, Patrick (b. 1921) Farmer
Walsh, Margaret, wife
Walsh, Theresa, daughter
Walsh, Martin, son
Walsh, Luke Bernard, son
[3] MURPHY
Murphy, Luke, Farmer
Murphy, Alice, wife
Murphy, Ellen, daughter
Murphy, Daniel, son
Murphy, Margaret, daughter
For further information on Luke Murphy (c. 1927-2003) see our previous post of 15 August 2021.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Postmistress: Alice Ryan née Cody (1918-2009) [Updated]
A frustration that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often articulated was that his work was misquoted in newspapers. When we were working on the article regarding the Glenmore post offices in 2019, Danny spoke of how he put together a history of the Glenmore post office for a retirement celebration and two of the newspapers that covered the retirement got the history wrong. He worried that this wrong information published in the newspapers would mislead. This week we are featuring Glenmore Postmistress Alice Ryan née Cody (1918-2009) and the newspapers articles that frustrated Danny.
See our previous article of 24 November 2019 entitled “The Glenmore Post Office Its Rise and Demise” that identifies all four of the Glenmore Post Offices from 1870-2018).
Alice Ryan’s Parents
Alice Ryan née Cody (1918-2009) was the daughter of John Cody (1878-1957) and his wife Alice nee Cody (1874-1957) (Cody Headstone, St. James’ Cemetery, Glenmore). Her parents were married in Glenmore on 18 February 1901. John, the groom, was a labourer and his address was recorded as Glenmore. The bride Alice Coady (sic) was a servant, with an address recorded as Ballyverneen. John the groom, was the son of John Coady (deceased, labourer) and Alice was the daughter of Patrick Coady (deceased, carpenter). The witnesses were Patrick Forristal and Johanna Coady.
According to the Glenmore Parish records Alice Coady née Coady was born on 23 February 1874 at Ballycroney, Glenmore the daughter of Patrick Coady and his wife, Catherine Long. Her husband, John Coady was born on 24 December 1878 at Graiguenakill the son of John Coady (farm labourer) and Catherine Butler.
1901 Census Glenmore
Alice Ryan’s parents, according to the 1901 Census, began their married life living in a 3 room house in Milltown that they rented from Thomas Forrestal. John’s age was recorded as 22 in the 1901 Census while Alice’s age was recorded as 27.
At the time John and Alice Cody were married, John’s widowed mother Catherine Cody (age 45) was living in Glenmore Village (Graiguenakill Townland) with 7 of her children: Maria (age 19); Thomas (age 16); Bridget (age 12); Ellie (age 10); Stasia (age 8); Nicholas (age 4); and Richard (age 3).
Also present in the four room house were six boarders: Laurence Curran, of Co. Carlow (age 30); William Murphy, of Co. Wexford (age 60); John Kiely, of Co. Waterford (age 29); Mike Bearley of Co. Wexford (age 44); Peter Trainor, from Tipperary (age 40) and Richard Burke, from Co. Kilkenny (age 36). All of the boarders were single and worked as navvys (sic) (railway labourers).
Thus, there were 14 people living in this four room house in 1901. The house was in Catherine Cody’s name in the census (no landlord was recorded). Maria Cody (age 19) was working as a farm servant and interestingly Thomas Cody (age 16) was employed as a “post boy.”
1911 Census Glenmore
The 1911 census reveals that John and Alice Cody were residing in Graiguenakill (Glenmore Village) in a three room house with their two children; Pat (age 8) and Kate (age 4). Also present in the home were three of John’s siblings, Nicholas Cody (age 15), Richard Cody (age 13) and Johanna Cody (age 33). Also present is John’s nephew, John Cody (age 4). Thus, in 1911 eight persons were living in the 3 room house that was in John’s name (no landlord was recorded). It is assumed that John’s mother died and he and his family moved to Glenmore Village, however, it is not clear how the house went from 4 rooms in the 1901 census to 3 rooms in 1911.
John and Alice Ryan
According to Danny’s notes Alice Ryan née Cody was born on 30 September 1918. Unfortunately, her birth is just outside the available public records, but it does line up with the information recorded on the Cody headstone. Alice married John Ryan sometime in the mid 1950’s. According to Danny’s notes, John Ryan was born on 7 Sept. 1922 and was employed at Clover Meats. Shortly after John and Alice Ryan were married both of Alice Ryan’s parents died within a few months of each other in 1957. John and Alice Ryan had at least three children Mary Ryan, John Ryan and James Ryan.
Post Mistress
The New Ross Standard (Thursday 3 June 1993, p. 15) published an article in 1993 entitled “Alice was at her Post for Over 40 Years.” Corrections or comments not original to the article are placed in square brackets [ ]. It was noted that Alice spent about twenty of her forty year service in the employment of the Cluskey family, who had been operating the post office from the early days. Alice was the postmistress in her own right and in her own house from 1974. [We know that the second post office was located in Fluskey’s shop. The name Cluskey is obviously a typographical error.]
New Ross Standard
The article provides that Alice received from the people of the parish of Glenmore a beautiful Waterford Crystal table lamp to mark her retirement. It was presented to her by Father Dunphy who thanked her for her service to the community and wished her many years of happy retirement.
“Local historian, Danny Dowling … gave the interesting background to the post office system in Ireland. He referred back to the mid-80’s [this should be the mid 1800’s] when letter writing [by the masses] first began and recalled that no envelope, or stamp was used, but the open letter was conveyed by a courier. He [the courier] was paid by the sender and the charge was in keeping with the length of the letter. The gummed envelope and stamp came into being later, as did the post office, the postmaster/mistress and the postmen. “
“The first post office in Glenmore was run by Robert Fluskey whose son, James, took over in 1929. [The first postmaster in Glenmore was actually a retired RIC Officer named Powell. The first post office was opened around 1870. Robert Fluskey was the second postmaster]. The first postman employed was Edward Kehoe, Aylwardstown, who had to deliver letters on foot throughout the parish of Glenmore. A second postman was later appointed and the deliverymen were supplied with bicycles. Danny Dowling said that the post office had always been the centre of the community and he felt it would be a sad day if the present system was ever terminated.”
Alice thanked the speakers and said that she would treasure the presentation from the community. The evening concluded with song, music and dance. Joan Doyle performed step dancing and the ICA performed set dances. Music was provided by John and Liam Doyle.
The Kilkenny People
The Kilkenny People (Friday 4 June 1993, p. 11) also covered the event but added a few more details. For example, Alice actually retired in March 1993, her father John Cody was one of two post men and “Mr. Danny Dowling said that the Post offices had a busy time today with old age pensioners, children’s allowances and many other duties. It would be a sad day for the community if this system was abolished, he added.” The Kilkenny People article states that John Cody worked with Jim Power, Robinstown. This newspaper also made some errors. It wrongly stated that “Glenmore’s first post office opened in 1929 and was in the name of Edward Kehoe and his son James.” [Edward “Ned” Kehoe was never the postmaster and did not have any chidren.]
In addition to Alice Ryan and her father John Cody working for the postal service, thanks to the 1901 Census we also know that Alice Ryan’s uncle, Thomas Ryan, while a teenager, worked as a “post boy.”
John Ryan died in November 2003 and was buried in St. Mullins, Co. Carlow. Alice Ryan née Cody died on 14 October 2009 at the age of 91 and is buried in the Cody family grave, St. James’ Glenmore.
The featured photo above is from an old postcard of Glenmore Village. The second post office (Fluskey’s) is the tallest building on the right. The third post office (Ryan’s) was located on the left in the line of attached houses across from the pub. It was the second house from the corner near where the two people in the photo are standing. The post card has a caption “Glenmore, Waterford” which was the mailing address for much of the parish for many years.
Please send corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
UPDATE
5 July 2022: Thanks to two readers we have further information concerning two of Alice’s sisters. In the 1911 Census, Katie Cody was four years of age and was the eldest of the sisters. Catherine “Katie” Cody (c. 1907-1973) married Thomas Walsh (c. 1905-1988) of Parkareid, Kilmacow. Another sister, Mary Ann Cody married Thomas Desmond of Slieverue. For over 40 years Thomas owned and operated Desmond Garage of Slieverue, the first local garage outside of Waterford City. Prior to their marriages both Katie and Mary Ann worked at Power Seeds of O’Connell Street, Waterford. Mary Ann Desmond née Cody’s obituary has been placed on the family pages under Desmond.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The School Collection: Ballyfacey, Glenmore, National School, Local Heroes
Between 1937 and 1939, 5000 primary schools in Ireland participated in recording local information for the National Folklore Commission. Over 288,000 pages were created by students in exercise books. Students in all 26 counties were aksed to collect information ranging from oral history, topographical information, folklore, legends, riddles, pastimes, games, trades and crafts by interviewing their parents, grandparents and neighbours. From 15 November 1937 to 7 December 1938 a dozen students in the Ballyfacey, Glenmore National School, under teacher Domhnall Mac Cárthaigh, participated in the School Collection. The Ballyfacey Glenmore School Collection (Vol. 845, pp 484-596) is available on line, (Roll Number 9880).
The School Collection not only recorded valuable oral histories and traditions, but it also provides the names and addresses of the participating students as well as the persons interviewed. Today, we are going to feature the topic that generated the least number of responses from the Ballyfacey students, the topic entitled “Local Heroes.” While we hoped that the students recorded information concerning the men and women who banded together to stop the Ballyfacey evictions of 1885, or engaged in the more recent War of Independence, this was not the case. (Our previous post of 8 March 2020 provides information on the Glenmore Land League and the Ballyfacey eviction riots). On 26 March 1938, four students recorded information concerning “Local Heroes.” All four students identified athletic or physical abilities with the topic. Three of the students were from Ballyfacey and one was from Haggard.
Jumping the Áth
A local stream called the Áth was “in olden times” jumped for sport. “The part of the stream that was jumped across was about twenty-three feet wide. The best jumper was Marks Walsh who is now about 83 years old,” (William Roche, of Haggard, p. 514). Dick Grace was also identified as a man who jumped the Áth (Eddie O’Connor, Ballyfacy (sic), p 515). Other men who were identified as performing this feat were Tom and Pat Power, of Farnogue and Jack Malone (Mary Aylward, Ballyfacey, p. 513).
Weight Lifting & Throwing
In terms of weight lifting and weight throwing, Ned Moore, of Shambo and Jack Power of Jamestown were identified for their ability to lift heavy stones (Peggy Aylward, of Ballyfacey, p. 513). It was also recorded that Old Paddy Grace lifted the Kilbride stone on his back and brought it up to Grace’s yard and down again on his back. The Kilbride stone was also lifted by Tommy Freyne of Kilbride (Mary Aylward, Ballyfacey, p. 513-514). We know from the information that Danny Dowling (1929-2021) recorded that local men gathered, usually at or near blacksmith forges around the parish, to lift heavy stones to test their strength. As previously discussed in an earlier blog weight throwing was a regular athletic event. Larry Roche, of Haggard, and James Power, of Bigwood were identified as heavy weight throwers (Peggy Aylward, of Ballyfacey, p. 513). Tommy Murphy, of Kilbride, was noted for carrying forty stones (for our international readers a stone is 14 pounds of weight) at Mullen’s threshing (Eddie O’Connor, of Ballyfacy (sic), p. 515). For a previous blog post on weight throwing see our post of 4 July 2020.
Running & Mowing
In terms of running, some current runners and former runners were identified. Peter Egan and Pat Roche of Haggard were good runners in athletic sports as was Tommy Fitzgerald (Mary Aylward, of Ballyfacey, p. 513). “There was once a man named Hollyhawk and he used to beat horses running.” “Pat Roche of Haggard is a good runner he runs at sports and runs about three miles” (Peggy Aylward, Ballyfacey, p. 513).
Men good at mowing were also identified. Ned Long, of Guilcough, was a good mower and was said to mow more than an acre in a day (Mary Aylward, of Ballyfacey, p. 513). Jack Murphy, of Moulerstown, on the other hand was credited with mowing 1.5 acres in a single day (Peggy Aylward, of Ballyfacey, p. 514).
Lastly, only one woman was identified in the topic “Local Heroes.” “Mrs. Statia Dunphy walked to Kilkenny and home again in less than a day” (Mary Aylward, of Ballyfacey, p. 513).
Given the fact that Glenmore had by the 1930’s won several senior county Gaelic football championships it is surprising that none of the Ballyfacey National School students identified any of the persons named above as GAA players. In fact, a review of the items recorded by the students reveals that very few persons were interviewed, or perhaps the persons interviewed, did not wish to have their names recorded. It is also not known what instructions these students received. The students did identify a number of local people with some addresses that may aid researchers particularly as the last publicly available census is from 1911.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Native: Mary Kirwan née Dillon (b. 1899) [Updated]
A couple of months ago we were asked by a reader in New York to help identify which Glenmore family Mary Kirwan née Dillon descended. Mary Kirwan née Dillon was featured in the Irish Advocate newspaper of New York on Saturday the 17th of December 1983 (p. 9). The article provided some valuable as well as interesting information and photos. Below is the entire article.
Irish Advocate
“Mrs. Mary Kirwan of Liverpool, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday, is one of the best known and best loved figures in Comhaltas in Britain. Mrs. Kirwan who is a fine singer and plays the melodeon was born Mary Dillon in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny: she married William Kirwan. After marriage she moved to Liverpool and here was active in a number of Irish organisations.”
“She is the mother of 13 children of whom six are alive today. Through her children she became interested in Irish dancing and this brought her in contact with the music again. In 1947 she moved to England to join her husband who was already working over there. The two youngest daughters took up dancing again and in 1959 she moved to Liverpool. Here she was, and of course still is, a leading light in Irish organisations.“
“She was one of the first members of Comhaltas in Liverpool and was one of the people who helped to found the Irish Centre. She is well known figure at Fleadhanna throughout Britain and of course Fleadhn Cheoil na hEirenn. Her two grand-daughters, Maria and Catherine Bolger, are keen musicians and are members of the Liverpool Junior Bands. All in Comhaltas wish Mrs. Kirwan many more years of health, happiness and music.”
The Mary Dillon (b. 1901 in Glenmore)
Dillon and Kirwan are Glenmore names, so it came as a surprise when we found that Mary Josephine Dillon was born in Glenmore, but only remained in Glenmore for a very short time. On 25 May 1901 Mary Josephine Dillon was born to George Dillon, mason, of Graiguenakill and his wife Ellen Dillon née Curray. The 1901 census provides that George Dillon was 25 years of age and his wife Ellen was 24. He was born in County Derry and she was born in Co. Tyron. Three other masons were boarding in the Dillon home in Graiguenakill, Glenmore including: Pat and John Murphy (aged 43 & 55) and Martin Honan (aged 29). It is assumed that George Dillon and the other masons were working on the New Ross to Waterford railway line that was being constructed about this time.
We could not locate a local marriage record for George Dillon and Ellen Curry, so we cast the net a bit further and found that the couple were married on 29 July 1900 in County Tyrone. The groom was 22 years of age, lived in Strabane and his bride, Ellen Corry, was aged 22 and from Castlegore. The groom was the son of George Dillon, Sr. who was also a mason, and the father of the bride was William Corry, a labourer. A baptismal record was found for Ellen Corry who was born on 23 March 1873 to William Corry (farmer) and his wife Mary Leonard of Coolcreaghy, Castlederg, County Tyrone.
After Mary’s birth in Glenmore, in 1901, all of her younger siblings were born in County Tyrone. Mary’s brother George Joseph Dillon was born in 1902; followed by William James Dillon in 1903 and Margaret Francis Dillon in 1904. At the time of Margaret’s birth, the family was living at Bridge End, Strabane, County Tyron. The 1911 census shows that another sibling named John L. Dillon was born in 1907, but no records of his birth could be located.
The 1911 census indicates that George J. Dillon (aged 8); William J. Dillon (aged 7) and John L. Dillon (aged 4) were residing with their widowed grandmother Mary Corry (aged 60) at 3 Victoria Terrace, Castlederg, Tyrone. Three of their mother’s siblings were also in the house: Jeannie Corry (aged 25); William Corry (aged 22) and Michael Corry (aged 18). We could not locate Ellen Dillon or the two daughters, Mary Josephine (b. 1901) and Margaret Frances Dillon (b. 1904). A George Dillon was found in the 1911census boarding at 34 Mardyke Steet in Athlone. His age is given as 37, it states that he is an unmarried mason, and was born in Londonderry.
Unfortunately Mary Dillon (b. 1901) in Glenmore was not the Mary Kirwan née Dillon featured in the 1983 Irish Advocate (New York) newspaper article.
Mary Kirwan née Dillon (b. 1899)
Thanks to Mary Kirwan née Dillon’s grandson, Michael Ashcroft, we learned that the newspaper article was wrong. The Mary Kirwan featured in the article was not born in Glenmore, but she married William Kirwan (b. 1898) of Scartnamore, Glenmore on 16 July 1919 in Glenmore. At the time of their wedding William Kirwan was a farm labourer residing in Newtown and Mary was residing in Gaulestown, Glenmore.
William Kirwan (b. 1898) was the son of James Kirwan (c.1872-1941) (farmer) and his wife Mary Lowry (c. 1873-1938). James Kirwan was a native of Scartnamore and Mary Lowry Kirwan was a native of Rochestown. Their eldest child, William Kirwan was born at Milepost, Slieverue, but by 1911 the family was residing in Scartnamore. Mary Dillon (b. 1899) was born at Shortcourse, Waterford. On her birth registration her parents are listed as Michael Dillon (pipe maker) and his wife Elizabeth Rogers. However, on her marriage record her father is listed as John Dillon (baker).
Michael Ashcroft’s mother, Bernadette Kirwan (1933-2014) was born in Knockboy, Waterford the second youngest of the 13 Kirwan children. When she was 14 she moved to England with the family.
After Mary Dillon Kirwan moved to England we found that she registered to vote in 1945 and gave her address as 18 Suburban Road, Lancashire, England. In 1950 her address was 55 Hampden St., Lancashire. In 1951, the Comhaltas, an Irish traditional music association was formed and members of the Liverpool Ceilidh Band together with Mary Coghlan and Florrie Breannan entertained at the 21st anniversary party at the Liverpool Irish Centre (Liverpool Echo, Tues. 27 June 1972, p. 3).
Michael Ashcroft shared that The Livepool Irish Centre had a surprise party for his grandmother, Mary Kirwan née Dillon, on her 85th birthday. “Every Irish person in Liverpool was present or so it seemed to me.”
See our post of 11 September 2022 for an article about William and Mary Kirwan’s daughter Bernie.
Please send further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The two photos appeared with the article in the Irish Advocate (New York) newspaper (17 Dec. 1983, p. 9). Special thanks to Michael Ashcroft for sending the correct information and the photos of his family.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh