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Native of Ballinclare, Glenmore: Richard Canon Aylward (1872-1954)
Today, we feature Richard Canon Aylward (1872-1954) a native of Ballinclare, Glenmore. Canon Aylward had a love of the Irish language and from 2009 has a biographical sketch in the Dictionary of Irish Biography written by Lesa Ní Mhunghaile. Unfortunately, the biographical sketch has his birthplace wrong. Canon Aylward was born and reared in Ballinclare, Glenmore, not Aylwardstown, Glenmore.
Historian Julian Walton wrote an article regarding Canon Aylward which was published in the Old Kikenny Review in December 1978 (p. 349-351). Julian Walton sent a copy of his article to Danny Dowling (1927-2021) Glenmore’s historian with a note to Danny stating “With Compliments.” This article is now available on line.
Early Life
Canon Aylward was born at Ballinclare, Glenmore on 26 January 1872 to Edmund/Edward Aylward (c. 1835-1908 and his wife Johanna Phelan (1834-1922).
Ballinclare has two Aylward families. According to locals the two Aylward families were the same family going back. Another Richard Aylward was baptized at Glenmore on 23 January 1871 to Thomas Aylward and his wife Judtih Hennessy. This has proved difficult for some people tracing their family trees who have wrongly identified Canon Aylward as a married man with three children.
Canon Aylward wrote in 1927 that both his parents could speak Irish, but they did not speak Irish to their children (Walton, p. 349). Canon Aylward noted that after he became a priest and learned “a few books of O’Growney”…”they really delighted to speak it to me” (Walton, p. 350).
Siblings of Canon Aylward
Edmund/Edward Aylward (1835-1908) a farmer of Ballinclare married on 13 Feb.1868, at Glenmore, Johanna Phelan (1834-1922) of Ballyfacey. Edmund’s father was John Aylward (farmer) and Johanna’s father was Richard Phelan (farmer). To this union we have found in parish records that six children were born:
[1] Mary Aylward (b. 27 Nov. 1868)
[2] John Aylward (9 Feb. 1870—6 Jan. 1956) [Per death register John never married.]
[3] Richard Aylward (26 Jan. 1872—1 Dec. 1954) [Canon Aylward]
[4] Edmund Aylward (25 May 1873—19 Dec. 1904) [Died aged 30 of suspected T.B.]
[5] Michael Aylward (29 Oct. 1874—3 March 1961) [Married Maryann Irish of Ballinlammy on 11 July 1907 in Waterford City].
[6] Johanna Aylward (25 July 1878—8 April 1890) [We believe that Johanna died at the age of 12 of influenza at Ballinclare. Michael Aylward was present when she died].
Obituaries
Several newspapers published obituaries for Canan Aylward outlining his education and work. Below is the obituary from the Kilkenny People (Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 7) which perhaps unsurprisingly provides the most detail concerning his education and work. Additional information gleaned from other sources has been added in square brackets [ ].
Other obituaries for Canon Aylward not cited elsewhere in this post include: Irish Times (Fri. 3 Dec. 1954, p. 7); Irish Independent (Fri. 3 Dec. 1954, p. 10); Irish Examiner (Fri. 3 Dec. 1954, p. 4); and Evening Herald (Thur. 2 Dec. 1954, p. 1).
Death of Very Rev. Richard Canon Aylward, Native of Glenmore (Kilkenny People, Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 7)
We very deeply regret to announce that the Very Rev. Richard Canon Aylward, P.P. Durrow, died at Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny, on Wednesday. He had been in failing health for some time past and was in Aut Even for about 6 weeks before his death. [Per the death register Canon Aylward died of a cerebral thrombosis or blood clot in the brain. He suffered with it for 6 weeks]. By his death the Diocese of Ossory has lost one of its best-known priests.
Education
Born 82 years ago in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, he received his early education at the local Schools [Glenmore National School per Fr. M. Mernagh, (2000) Glenmore Times, p. 41] and at the old Classical College, Kilmacow. He later went to St. Kieran’s College and Maynooth. [Per Fr. M. Mernagh he studied for the priesthood at Maynooth.] He was ordained in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on June 9, 1898.
Appointments
His first appointment was to the curacy of Dundee, Scotland, and on his return to his native diocese he was appointed Bishop’s Secretary [Canon Aylward was secretary to Bishop Brownrigg (Munster Express, Fri. 10 Dec. 1954, p. 8)]. [Before taking up his role as Secretary to the Bishop he was curate of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Dec. 1954, p. 2)].
In 1905 Canon Aylward was appointed first Professor of Irish in St. Kieran’s College, and in 1919 he succeeded Very Rev. C. Canon McNamara, P.P., VF. Castlecomer, as President of St. Kieran’s. His appointment to the Presidency came at a very critical time when the minds of people were turned away, to some extent, from educational natters, but his sterling qualities of mind and health fitted him admirably for the responsible work which he was called upon to perform.
[Per Lesa Ní Mhunghaile, Canon Aylward in 1920 wrote a document “strongly criticising the educational standards attained by boys entering the college, as he believed that they had not received in national school the basic training required for entry to St Kieran’s. During his presidency the college was raided on more than one occasion by crown forces in search of evidence of students or staff being involved in subversive acts.”]
In 1925, he was appointed Parish Priest of Durrow, being succeeded as President of St. Kieran’s by Father Patrick Collier, now [in 1954] the Bishop of Ossory. In Durrow, Canon Aylward succeeded a man of similar interests, the Very Rev. Canon Carrigan [(1850-1924)] whose History of the Diocese of Ossory is the leading work of its kind.
Irish Revival Movement
Canon Aylward took an early interest in the Irish Revival Movement and it was while Professor of Irish in St. Kieran’s that he was asked by the local branch of the Gaelic League to give a lecture on his great kinsman, John O’Donovan [(1806-1861)] of Slieverue, whose greatest work The Annals of the Four Masters, is numbered among the Irish classics.
Canon Aylward’s interest in O’Donovan was aroused at an early age and he spent many years of his life in research on the subject. The fruits of his labour will be seen when his original work, The Life of John O’Donovan will be published.
[According to Julian Walton (1978) after Canon Aylward’s death his work was given to Father Peter Birch and Professor Delargy, with a view to having it published. Father Birch later became the Bishop of Ossory. Scholars who reviewed it all agreed that it represented a vast amount of work, but it was too long and cumbersome and full of transcripts of materials published elsewhere. No publisher would touch it. “So the work on which Canon Aylward had lavished so much care over so many years remains unpublished to this day.”]
The Irish language was ever dear to Canon Aylward’s heart. He was one of the foundation members of Ring College [Waterford, officially recognised in 1907], and was appointed to the committee of Management of that college in 1920. The Chalice presented by him is still used. [He spent many years as teacher in the summer courses at Ring College and while there presented a chalice which is used in the chapel (Kilkenny Journal, Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 7)].
As a Parish Priest
Canon Aylward was not only a great priest but a great Irishman, imbued as he was with all the qualities that go to make an Irish priest. He was quiet and unassuming to the point of shyness, and it was characteristic of him that in 1948 on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of his ordination, at his own request, no public demonstration was held to mark this event other than the prayers of his parishioners. He was fond of his books, but scrupulously exact in his attention to his duties of his state.
His kind and gentlemanly character won for him the love and devotion of his people. His special friends were the children of the parish, whom he loved tenderly and for whom he always had a wonderful attraction. [According to the Nationalist & Leinster Times (Sun. 11 Dec. 1954, p. 22) Canon Aylward during “his 30 years ministry in the South Laois parish…endeared himself to the parishioners. His charity knew no bounds and his saintly ways were an edification.”]
Parish Building Projects
As Parish Priest of Durrow he was responsible for the renovation of Cullohill schools the building of Gurteen new school, the extension of Durrow cemetery and securing of sites for a new boys’ school and parochial House in Durrow.
Survived By
Canon Aylward was survived by two brothers Messrs Michael and John Aylward, Ballinclare, Glenmore. He was uncle of Sister Alphonsus [Mary Aylward (1913-1992)], Presentation Convent, Kilkenny, and Sister Philomena [Catherine Aylward (1918-1997)] of California. He was a first cousin of Mother Gerard, Mother-General of the Order of the Sacred Heart, Marymount, United States, and a distant relative of Mother Mary Butler of the same Order, the Cause of whose Beatification is being promoted. He was also a cousin of Rev. John Hoynes [(1916-1978) native of Ballybrahee] C.C., Callan. [Fr. Hoynes paternal grandmother was Margaret Hoynes née Aylward of Ballybrahee, Glenmore.]
[The Bishop of Ossory, Most Rev. Dr. Collier presided at Office and Requiem Mass in Durrow Parish Church, after which the funeral took place (Irish Press (Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 11)].
Canon Aylward’s Glenmore Grandparents
Canon Aylward’s paternal grandparents were John Aylward (Ballinclare) and Mary Walsh (Davidstown). They were married at Glenmore on 4 Feb. 1834.
Canon Aylward’s maternal grandparents were Richard Phelan and Judith/Joanna Dunphy. Richard Phelan and his wife Judith/Joanna Dunphy were also the grandparents of Mother Gerard (1873-1960). Canon Aylward’s mother, Johanna Aylward née Phelan (1834-1922) was a sister of Mother Gerard’s father John Phelan (bapt. 1832).
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See our post of 28 Jan. 2021 regarding the Very Rev. Mother Marie Gerard Phelan (1873-1960).
See our post of 24 Jan. 2021 regarding Nicholas F. Phelan (1857-1941), Mother Gerard’s brother and family.
See our post of 13 March 2021 regarding John O’Donovan (1806- 1861).
See our post of 17 Sept. 2021 regarding William Canon Carrigan (1860-1924).
Please send any corrections or additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The photo above of a young Richard Canon Aylward (1872-1954) was taken from his memory card.
From Danny’s Files: Glenmore Notes (1968)
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today, is the fourth anniversary of our founder Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) death. At 5 p.m. a sign will be unveiled at the mural in Glenmore Village the site of the historic Gaffney’s Mill to commemorate Danny’s anniversary. The sign was created by Glenmore Tidy Towns and Glenmore-History.com., and over the coming months we hope to mark other historic sites around the parish. The signs will feature the new Glenmore-History.com logo designed by Jamie Kent of Waterford.
Below are a few excerpts from Danny’s 1968 notebook featuring several Glenmore people and local facts.
Kitty Norris née Ryan (1824-1902) of Ballyveria, Glenmore
We are all aware that the last native Irish speaker of Glenmore was Patrick Power (c. 1856-1942) of Jamestown, who died in 1942. However, Danny recorded a rather startling fact regarding a Glenmore woman Kitty Ryan of Ballyveria. “Kitty Ryan, later Mrs. Jimmy Norris of Ballyveria never knew a word of English until she was 20 years of age She became a good English speaker. She died in 1902.” If Kitty Ryan did not have a word of English it seems likely that she never attended a National School because all National Schools taught English. See our post of 23 August 2020 regarding “Glenmore and the Irish Language”.
The Glenmore Parish records provide that James Norris (c. 1835-1908) and Catherine “Kitty” Ryan were married on 13 February 1866 at Glenmore. The townland provided was Ballyveria. The fathers were not recorded, but the witnesses were John Ryan and Mary Connors. Both parties were of age, therefore, they both were over 21. The Civil Records provide more information. The groom was a labourer, and his father was Michael Norris. The bride’s father was William Ryan, (farmer).
Finding Kitty or Catherine’s date of birth was difficult. The 1901 Census revealed that James and Katherine (sic) Norris were living in Ballywairy (sic) Lower. James was a farmer and 66 years of age. Kitty was 50. Both spouses were born in Co. Kilkenny, and both spoke Irish and English. In 1901, their two closest neighbours were the Garrett Hanrick family and the Richard Murphy family.
Kitty died on the 22nd of May 1902, at Ballywairy (sic) at the age of 76. In one year she aged 26 years! The death register records that she was the wife of a labourer, and died of senile decay. Her husband James was present at her death. James himself apparently died aged 73 at the workhouse hospital on 8 March 1908. He was a widower, labourer and died from prostatitis. The register records that he was from “Ballyfacey, Co. Kilkenny.”
Parents & Siblings
Catherine “Kitty” Ryan was baptized 21 September 1824 at Bally-Vereah (sic) Glenmore. She was the daughter of William Ryan and Margaret Cassin. William Ryan married Margaret Cashin at Ballynuna, Kilmacow on 28 October 1809. Kitty had at least four brothers:
[1] Robert Ryan, baptized 14 October 1810;
[2] Patrick Ryan, baptized 9 March 1815;
[3] James Ryan baptized 11 May 1817; and
[4] Thomas Ryan baptized 4 June 1820.
We did not find any records that Kitty and Jimmy had any children. We could not locate a headstone. Without Danny’s note it seems likely that Kitty would have remained unknown.
Kitty may have had another brother William Ryan. We found some baptismal records regarding children William Ryan, of Ballyveria, fathered. James Ryan “Illegitimate” was baptised on 25 February 1843 at Glenmore the son of William Ryan and Mary Malone. Margaret Ryan “bastard” was baptised 7 June 1850 at Ballyweair (sic) to William Ryan and Mary Malone. William Ryan of Ballyveria married Mary Malone on 19 August 1850 at Glenmore. It is not clear what impediment may have stopped the couple from marrying before 1850. However, given the power of local priests in the mid-nineteenth century (for example closing all pubs in Glenmore Village) it is surprising that this situation was not resolved prior to August 1850.
Ballycroney School at Cody’s
“About 90 years ago Paddy Butler used hold classes in Cody’s of Ballycroney. It was attended by the locals.” This would have been around 1878. Danny’s note also provides that Paddy Butler died “about 70 years ago in the Carrick Union, “the master of which was a Glenmore man James Mullins.” See our post of 10 January 2021 regarding James Mullins. This appears to be the same Paddy Butler who was the master of Kilbride who was from Rahora and milked for Mullins of Flemingstown. See our post of 12 January 2025 regarding what was said from the altar regarding Paddy Butler and our post of 6 September 2020 regarding Glenmore Hedge Schools and Early National Schools. From other sources it appears that Paddy’s teaching ended in Kilbride when the Ballyfacey School opened in 1868.
Ballyfacey School at George O’Connor’s
Daniel Galavan was a teacher in a cow house belonging to George O’Connor in Ballyfacey. Charlie Linegar (1839-1923) went to the Daniel Galavan school. See Dick Claridge’s, “Glenmore Versus from the Early Twentieth Century,” including the famous prank recorded in Charlie Linegar’s Ball.
Mowing Machines
Mowing machines were first introduced into the parish over 80 years ago (circa 1888). The first to get one was Hogan of Weatherstown. Other early mowing machines were owned by Greene’s and Cody’s.
Spraying of Spuds
Spuds were first sprayed in Glenmore in 1904. The Creamery had four sprayers. [The Creamery did not open until 1905, so we believe the correct date is probably 1905.]
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Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore-history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Again special thanks to Jamie Kent for designing our new logo!
From Danny’s Files: Some Old Local Words & Phrases
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) loved old words and phrases. Danny recorded the following list of words and phrases. Most appear to be Irish. Danny often expressed regret that he didn’t have more Irish, but confessed that he did not enjoy school when he was a boy. For more local Irish words or information on the last Native Irish speaker in Glenmore see our Irish page. See our post of 23 August 2020 regarding Glenmore and the Irish language.
Glenmore Farming Words
Ray—9 drills usually of potatoes. This word still in common use in Glenmore.
Girock—Short drills in the corner of a field.
Corcóg—A little heap of sods from baiting, made for drying which resembled a skep or straw beehive preparatory to burning and spreading the ashes as manure.
Fittin—Tilling for a corn crop. “I was Fittin.” A word which was in general use in the Enniscorthy area. Obtained from Vincent Codd, Rathnure, Wexford in 2006.
Scilóg—A portion of a potato tuber containing an eye or sprout used for planting. The practice of cutting larger tubers into portions containing an eye was much in use for potato planting in the old days. This word was used by Paddy Forristal of Graiguenakill on Sunday, 25 March 2007 in Maypark Nursing home.
Sop—A small amount such as a fistful of hay.
Sugan—A hay or straw rope. It was used for holding down a cock of hay. Update: Andrew Doherty of Tides & Tales, stated that the word was also used by fishermen. Sugán meant that the rope or a net was completely twisted and knotted up. Sometimes a small salmon (peal) would be twisted in a sugán in the nets…ie hard to clear.
Filipín—A piece of timber like a gawlóg for twisting a sugan.
Hinny—a jennet
Dromán—a strap across a horse’s back for holding up the drafts.
Glugger—a hatching hen
Corandy—a loft
Calling Farm Animals
Tiuc-Tiuc—Words used for calling chickens.
Chick-Chick—Words used for calling chickens.
Bí- Bí—Words used for calling turkeys.
Finnie-Finnie—Words used for calling ducks.
Dhock-Dhock—Words used for calling pigs.
Bhoc-Bhoc—Words used for calling piigs.
Hi-Hi—Words used for calling cows.
Cob-Cob—Words used for calling horses.
Glenmore Household Words
Guddy—White bread mixed with tea, milk, and sugar. A food given to children from about the age of 1 to about 3 years or more. Usually given at evening time.
Choppy—Mashed potatoes with butter and a little milk given as food to children from about a year upwards.
Hotchpotch—A Scottish mutton and vegetable dish.
Flummery—A dish made from flour or mill dust, a kind of dessert.
Sillabub—A trifle dish.
Bóshán—A sun or air dried cow dung picked from the field in summertime and used by poor people for burning in the fire.
Tránín—A variety of grass with seed heads which was picked by women from poor households to supplement income of the household.
Mogabulya—A piece of timber which was used in old times at the back of the door to make it more resistant against people who might attempt to break in the door.
Faggot—A bundle of sticks for fuel.
Glenmore Personal Words
Mogalore—A state of intoxication.
Buineac—Diarrhoea or looseness of the bowel. (Tom Roche of Coolnaleen gave Danny this word on the 11th of January 2007. This word was formerly in use in the Coolnaleen area of Glenmore.)
Bouzhgee—Another word for diarrhoea used in the Coolnaleen area. Also provided to Danny by Tom Roche on 11 January 2007.
Cutting in the guts—The phrase Danny recalled used during his youth for diarrhoea.
The Mudge—Sulking. From Martin Gahan, Ballinamona, Slieverue.
Offensive Local Words
Beak—An offensive word for mouth.
Melt—An abusive word meaning a useless person. From the word meilit meaning blunt or useless. Update: Andrew Doherty of Tides & Tales related that a hoors melt or Whore’s Melt…that was the worst of all.
Bockety—A beggar or deformed person from bacach.
Dunderhead-A stupid person.
Some Local Sayings
The worst cow in the yard balls the loudest (from Mrs. Morrisseyy, Milepost.)
The smartest of flies get caught in a shit.
Don’t care a continental (could not care less).
There was no take on her. (A girl who had no admirers or requests of marriage.)
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above is an old postcard depicting the the interior of St. James’ Catholic Church of Glenmore (date unknown but prior to Vatican II).
Dr. Katheen Moore Walsh