Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

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South Kilkenny Historical Society: Andrew Doherty, “Freighting the River Blackwater, Co. Kilkenny”

On Friday, 29 November at 8 p.m. in the Mullinavat Parish Hall (opposite St. Beacon’s Church) Andrew Doherty will present his lecture entitled “Freighting the River Blackwater, Co. Kilkenny.” We were furnished with a zoom link (below) thus it appears that the event will be also available online.

‘Freighting the River Blackwater’

For centuries the rivers were the highways by which we travelled, fed ourselves and traded. Most of Europe’s major cities and towns developed along rivers and the Vikings, realising the strategic and trading importance of the three rivers Nore, Suir and Barrow, founded the city of Waterford in 914 AD at the estuary of these rivers.

This talk will explore the freight that once graced the River Blackwater, the cargo, the boats and the people, drawing on the fading memories of those times which remain. It will look at the knowledge of locals, maps, what remains and by the waterways themselves. It will also look at the use of the word Pill which has a long association with the rivers of the South East of Ireland and on the Three Sisters river network in particular.

Andrew Doherty was reared on the river at Cheekpoint, fished commercially for 15 years and spends much of his time exploring it.  He has an interest in local history and regularly delivers talks, articles and features on radio and TV, highlighting the maritime and fishing heritage of Waterford Harbour and the Three Sister Rivers; Barrow, Nore and Suir.  He blogs at www.tidesandtales.ie

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86205779957?pwd=XM25E2FvdGZVcleFCqN4VyzubC6bjq.1

Meeting ID: 862 0577 9957
Passcode: 328757

ÉIGSE SLIABH RUA 2024

The annual festival of history returns to Slieverue on November 15th and events continue until November 24th.  The topics presented at Éigse this year will vary from the Macro to the Micro, from National and International events to the local townlands.  

The official opening of Éigse will take place in the Rhu Glenn Hotel at 7.30 p.m. on November 15th and the festival will be opened by Mr. Sean Nugent, sport historian, GAA official and author. Professor Paul Rouse of the U.C.D. School of History will then deliver the opening lecture on the “Tailteann Games: Myth, History and Memory.

On Tuesday November 19th Éigse will meet at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, Slieverue at 8.00 p.m.  The Lecture titled “Taking the Boat” will be delivered by Ultan Cowley.  Ultan himself took the boat, and is the author of The Men Who Built Britain; A History of the Irish Navy.

St. Mary’s Parish Hall is again the venue on Thursday November 21st at 8.00 p.m..  The lecture is on a now largely forgotten incident a century ago,  “The 1924 Irish Army Mutiny.” The lecturer is John Dorney author of Peace After The Final Battle; The Fight for The Irish Capital and the Civil War in Dublin.

Éigse will visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship and the new Emigration Exhibition as well as the Kennedy Homestead on Saturday November 23rd.

Katherine Grant will explore local history through a series of talks in the local schools Ringville and Slieverue.  Topics will include the local links with Newfoundland, Big Houses, Slieverue Village and Church.  Of special interest will be the local folklore submitted to the Irish Folklore Commission in 1937/38 by the school children at that time.

All are Welcome

Happy Halloween!

Mr. Jack O’Lantern is visiting Glenmore for a few days thanks to the Glenmore Tidy Towns & Glenmore History.

For an interesting history of jack-o-lanterns see , The History Guy, “Best of Halloween.” Chapter 1 is the history of the jack-o-lantern and chapter 2 is the mysterious death of Harry Houdini.

For a classic local tale see our post of 27 October 2020 with a link to an RTE recording from 1974 of Kitty the Hare telling the story of the headless coach.

South Kilkenny Historical Society

The South Kilkenny Historical Society has sent out its programme of events for September to December 2024.

LECTURES


Friday, September 27th–Title: Murder and Justice in 19th Century Kilkenny, Speaker: Donal Cadogan

Friday, October 25th–Title: Francis McManus: County Kilkenny’s Greatest Novelist, Speaker: Willie Nolan

Friday, November 29th–Title: Freighting the River Blackwater, Speaker: Andrew Doherty

All lectures will be held in Mullinavat Parish Hall, commencing at 8pm.


November

Mass for deceased members of South Kilkenny Historical Society, their families and friends
Details to be confirmed at a later date.


December

Friday, December 6th–Night of Reminiscing, Venue: The Rhu Glenn, Slieverue, Time: 7pm.


Thursday, December 26th, Lá an Dreoilín (Wren Day), Details to be confirmed at a later date.

Any queries to Ed Synnott at edsynnott@yahoo.co.uk

Survey of Local Holy Wells

We received a request today from Kilkenny for help in locating some local Holy Wells, or any local folklore regarding these Holy Wells. Please note that not all of the Holy Wells on the list are in Glenmore and not all Glenmore Holy Wells are on the list.

1. Davidstown, Tobar Phádraig (well of St. Patrick)
2. Flemingstown (2 x wells)
3. Jamestown, Tobar an tSagairt (well of the priest) (Ballygurrim area)
4. Shanbogh (James Murphy’s Rosbercon Parish history mentions a well to the north-east of the old church, called Loughmans Well (pg. 17), possibly quite close to the old national school; St Fintan’s Well, believed to be west of the old church)
5. Kilbraghan (St. Broghan’s or St. Brochan’s Well, which is also mentioned by James Murphy, pg. 14)
6. Ballyneale (somewhere near the old Dysartmoon Church)

Please feel free to reply below and we will gather up responses, or send any information you may have to glenmore.history@gmail.com.