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One Hundred Years Ago: September 1923
Today, we are featuring some news that appeared in local newspapers in September 1923.
1923 General Election
A general election was held on Monday the 27th of August 1923. This was the first general election held since the establishment of the Free State in December 1922 and it was held shortly after the end of the Civil War. Before radio the results were distributed by newspapers and the earliest reports of results in local newspapers occurred on the first of September.
Canvassing in Glenmore
On Sunday the 26th of August 8 meetings were held in the Southwest (sic) of Kilkenny County, President Cosgrave and Sean Gibbons, accompanied by Judge Cohalan and Senator P. De Loughry wound up their election campaign. Beginning at Callan (the native place of Mr. Shelly, principal anti-Treaty candidate, and regarded as an anti-Treaty stronghold) they received a great welcome…Earlier in the morning, Mr. Gibbons, Senator De Loughry and Mr. R. Purcell, organiser, addressed meetings after Masses in Glenmore, Tullogher and Tullahought (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 8).
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) stated that politicians delivered speeches in Glenmore at the “stage” that was on the front of the storehouse next to the Village Stream. This storehouse was removed when the Sallies houses were built.
President Cosgrave, said that Ireland experienced the same sort of history that every country just coming into its own had experienced. There was no reason to be disheartened or despondent. “The people should remember that on one side in this election they had real sound evidence of solid work for the nation, and on the other side practically every act made for disorder and destruction and belittling the name of the country that gave them birth.”… “He compared the work of the opposition for the past year to that of Cromwell…” ”The list of destruction performed by these people for 12 months. Were it not for that we would not be spending seven million on an army and we would have wound up last year with something in hand instead of being on the wrong side” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 8).
Election Results
President Cosgrave had a triumphant return in Carlow/Kilkenny with 17,709 first preferences which was 11,015 more than the quota required. Election day passed off quietly in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency. The ballot boxes were delivered to the various centres during Sunday night by the military. The boxes were collected on Monday night by the military and deposited in the Courthouse with a military guard. It was not until 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night when the result of the first count was made known (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat 1 Sept. 1923, p. 6).
Cumann na nGaedheal 63 seats; Anti-Treaty 44 seats; Independents 17 seats; Farmers 15 seats; and Labour 14 seats.
Wexford Corp adopted a resolution calling on the Government, in the interest of peace, to release De Valera, Dr. Ryan, and give Bob Lambert his freedom to take up his duties as T.D. It was then added that the Government should release all the political prisoners (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 Sept. 1923, p. 5).
Although local newspapers mentioned Ireland joining the League of Nations in September 1923, there was very little coverage of the event in the local newspapers. For further information see, RTE‘s recent coverage.
Civil Strife
Although the Civil War was officially over, many people continued to attack others or their property. Early on the 3rd of September an extensive fire occurred at the printing works of the Waterford News. The office, editorial department and paper stores were completely destroyed, but the machinery escaped fire damage. “Strenuous exertions” by the fire brigade stopped the spread of the fire to the machinery department although extensive water damage did occur to the machinery.
The damage was estimated at several thousand pounds and was not wholly covered by insurance. Edmund Downey, the managing editor had recently taken a “decided attitude in favour of the Republican candidate Mrs. Cathal Brughu” (Munster Express, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 4). A £17,000 claim was made by the Waterford News for the alleged malicious burning of their commercial and editorial offices (Munster Express, Sat. 8 Sept. 1923, p. 6)
A threshing set, the property of P. Galavan, The Rower, was burned. Galavan had presided at a meeting addressed by President Cosgrave in the run up to the general elections (Munster Express, Sat. 8 Sept. 1923, p. 6).
Industrial Strife
Still no signs of a settlement of the County Waterford farm labourers’ strike. The farmers were co-operating among themselves and harvesting proceeded without much interruption. Pigs continue to be shipped from Dunmore the last shipment was sent to Bristol. Most ports continued to be out of commission due to striking workers (Munster Express, Sat. 8 Sept. 1923, p. 5). It was estimated that about 3,000 men, directly or indirectly, were unemployed in Waterford due to the agricultural labourers’ strike in Eastern Waterford and the dockers’ strike in Waterford City (Munster Express, Sat. 22 Sept. 1923, p. 7).
Food Prices
According to the New Ross Standard, it was apparent to everyone that retail food prices in Ireland were unjustifiably high. The farmer knew that he did not get the full value of his produce; the consumer knew that he paid over the shop counter double or treble the price which was originally handed to the farmer (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 Sept. 1923, p. 4).
Thomastown Fair
The monthly fair was held on the 4th of September and showed no improvement on previous fairs due to the continuing docker’s strike. The supply of cattle was small and few buyers attended. The business done was purely local and a small number of cattle changed hands. There was a large supply of sheep and the majority were sold at remunerative prices. There was also a large supply of young pigs with the greater number were taken home unsold (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 Sept. 1923, p. 7).
Kilkenny Potatoes
In Co. Kilkenny early sown barley turned out good although the yield was under average due to poor weather. Most of the early and mid-early potatoes were dug and used. Prices in Dublin at the beginning of September were 9s. to 10s. per cwt. (112 lbs.) for British Queens and 8s. to 9s. per cwt for other types (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 15, Sept. 1923, p. 11).
Two Glenmore Firsts at Kilkenny Agricultural Society Show
At the annual Autumn Show of the Kilkenny Agricultural Society, held in St. James Park, Kilkenny there were a record number of entries. In class 73 for best 56 lbs. box of unsalted butter, Glenmore Co-operative Agricultural and Dairy Society, Ltd. of Glenmore tied for first with Castlecomer Co-op. In Class 80 for the best three sections of honey exhibited by a cottager in the County or City of Kilkenny, John Cody of Glenmore was first (Kilkenny People, Sat. 29 Sept. 1923, p. 5).
T.B. Cures in the News
T.B., or consumption as it was called in 1923, caused great suffering and pre-mature deaths. Consumption Cure—French scientists were investigating the claim of Rafael Santos, a 25 year old medical student at the University of Paris. Santos claimed to have discovered of an infallible cure for tuberculosis in 30 minutes. Santos constructed a set of lens instruments for introducing sunrays and ultra-violet rays into human lungs (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 8).
At the same time another medical student was working on a T.B. cure. Waterford researcher, J.V. Walsh (son of John Walsh, The Mall, Waterford City) carried out research at Oxford under Professor Deyer. Walsh was awarded the resesearch scholarship of the British Medical Associations for his work on serological variability amongst micro-organisms. (Munster Express, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 5).
Some people appeared to be immune to the disease. For example, the Very Rev. John J. Roche. O.F.M., Wexford entered his 99th year in 1923. Born on 30 August 1825, Father Roche was reported to enjoy excellent health. He was uncle of Most Rev. Dr. Brownrigg, Bishop of Ossory, and had two bothers who were also priests in Wexford (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 8 Sept. 1923, p. 6). Per the death register, Fr. John James Roche died on 26 November 1924 at the Franciscan Convent, Wexford, just 9 months short of his 100th birthday.
Adverse Weather
A circus tent at Towyn, Mercionethshire, Wales, packed with nearly 2,000 people, partly collapsed during a violent gale. A number of people fought their way out by slashing the tent open with knives. Tents where three big elephants were kept were also blown down. The gale caused widespread havoc all over Great Britain (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 Sept. 1923, p. 2).
New Ross Bridge
At the meeting of the New Ross Urban Council, John Hand, said that they paid a lot of money to the Wexford County Council, but the bridge at New Ross was in a disgraceful state. The upper portion was covered with rust and the underneath part was in a bad state. Others agreed and stated it was a pity that there was no New Ross representative on the County Council (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 Sept. 1923, p. 3).
Glenmore Sports
On the last Sunday in August at Mullinavat, Glenmore scored an easy victory over Hugginstown in the second round of the South Kilkenny Junior hurling championship. The winners had a strong selection, and judging by their displays in their two games, The Munster Express said they should give a good account of themselves in the further round of the championship(Munster Express, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 5).
The Kilkenny Senior Hurling team beat Tipperary for the All Ireland Senior Hurling title. Local newspapers did not list any of the Kilkenny team members, so it is doubtful that any Glenmore players were on that team.
1923 Recipes
The Kilkenny Moderator printed a few “new” recipes in September 1923.
Tipsy Cake Recipe
Ingredients—
A stale sponge cake
½ pint of orange wine or sherry
1 pint custard
½ lb. of blanched sweet almonds
Method—Make holes in the sponge cake with a clean steel skewer. Pour the wine over it and leave it to soak till the wine is absorbed by the cake. Stick the almonds in the cake and then pour the custard over it and leave to set (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 1 Sept. 1923, p. 4).
Apple Snow Recipe
A Pretty Supper Dish—peel and core some apples and stew them gently until they are quite soft. Beat them lightly and place in a glass dish. Make a thick custard, using the yokes of two eggs to a pint of milk and pour it over the apple. Beat the whites to a stiff froth with a little fine sugar and arrange in a heap on top of the dish. A few crystallised cherries and strips of angelica can be added to adorn the sweet for festive occasions (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 8 Sept. 1923, p. 4).
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above is from the Freeman’s Journal (Tues. Sept. 1923, p. 11) and was taken at the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship game held in Croke Park between Kilkenny and Tipperary. Kilkenny won.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh