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John Ennett’s, “Dancing at Sean Walsh’s”
For generations, the local pub has been a venue for meeting and catching up, whether it be GAA, politics, work matters and sometimes for a musical get together. Glenmore for a long period of time after 1870 had the distinction of being the only parish in Ireland that was dry and had no pub, at least not a legal one. This changed when our own local pub, The Glen Bar was opened in 1963 by Sean Walsh, and he continued to trade there until 1982, when Michael Barron took ownership of the premises. We are very fortunate to be given a piece of movie gold, by John Ennett, originally from Cappagh, who now resides in England. John recorded this piece in Sean Walsh`s bar around 1980. It`s guaranteed to bring back memories.
Below are a list of local people that appear in the short clip. If you recognise anyone else please describe what they are doing or where they are seated, their name and where they lived or if you have any corrections to the list and information below please send it to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
If you would like to read about the pre-1870 pubs and local shebeen’s recorded by Danny Dowling see our blog post of 30 March 2020 by clicking here.
Special thanks to John Ennett for sharing this wonderful clip.
Pat Dowling
Musicians
James “Jim B.” Walsh, of the Village (18 Sept. 1918-21 March 1988)
Watt Murphy, of Mullinahone, was married to Kitty Walsh.
Jimmy Long (playing the spoons) of Carrigcloney (17 July 1913-11 Oct. 2003)
Nicky Larrissy (playing the banjo) of Slieverue (son-in-law of Jimmy & Alice Long)
Dancers
Paddy Phelan of Ballyhobuck (28 Nov. 1934-28 Dec. 1992)
Alice Long (15 July 1924-7 Nov. 1997)
Ritchie Forristal, son of Bob the Miller, and nephew of Nicky the Miller, of Graiguenakill (21 Jan. 1923- ).
Patrons
Mr. O’Donnell the schoolteacher’s husband seated on right, leaning on his knees (gray hair)
Mikey Phelan, of Mullinahone, standing a the bar with hat, coat and gray hair.
John Ryan, of the Village, far left near Watt Murphy wearing a sports coat.
Nicky Martin, of Upper Ballinlammy, next to Jimmy Long, (wearing a flat cap, tweed coat, jumper, open collar white shirt)
Johnny Sinnott and his wife, of Weatherstown, seated to the right of Jim B (Johnny wearing a flat cap)
“Mick Mack” McDonald?, of Scartnamore, dark hair & sideburns to the left of Watt Murphy (wearing a tie & lit a cigarette)
Jack Dollard, of Ballyfacey, seated on right (hat, white shirt and tie).
Special thanks to John Hennessey for identifying some of the patrons.
One Hundred Years Ago: April 1922
A review of the local newspapers revealed that while crime continued to be a problem across the country fewer criminal events were reported in local newspapers in April 1922. As the Free State set about governing, in April 1922 it encountered various difficulties from political meetings being disrupted to evicted farmers seeking redress in the newly established Irish Free State courts. A 25 year old Glenmore eviction case was such a case that made its way into the new Irish courts.
Disruption of Pro-Treaty Meetings
On the first of the month the Munster Express (Sat. 1 April 1922, p. 2) published an article describing a Pro-Treaty meeting held in Waterford. Michael Collins was accompanied by Joe McGrath, Sean Milroy and Ernest Blythe. The anti-Treaty side cut the railway signal lines which caused the speakers’ train to be delayed in arriving. When the meeting did commence De Valera spoke without disturbance, yet the Free State speakers were subjected to what the newspaper described as persistent and organised interruption by a party of 50 to 60 young men and women who sang and cheered drowning out the speakers. When Collins and the other speakers set off for Dungarvan the roads were blocked making them take a longer route. Upon arriving they were standing on a lorry and beginning to address the crowd when a man jumped into the lorry and attempted to drive off with Collins and his fellow pro-Treaty speakers.
On the 9th of April a “monster” pro-Treaty meeting was scheduled for Wexford. The Dublin and South Eastern Railway in support of the Treaty offered special fare to a Monster Meeting. Michael Collins was also scheduled to address this meeting. The special train left Waterford at 10:30 and Glenmore at 10:47. A third class return fare cost 4 shillings (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 April 1922, p. 1). Not content to cause a delay to the speakers, on this occasion two sections of track were removed which would have derailed the Dublin train except for the fact that a railway ganger while walking the track early that morning discovered the sabotage.
Co. Kilkenny Registered Voters
There were 34,297 voters on the 1922-23 Register of Co. Kilkenny. The number of voters registered in each of the polling districts were published and here are a local selection: Glenmore, 1517; Kilmacow 2,229; Mullinavat, 1,221; Piltown, 2,228; and Thomastown, 1,712. The Co. Kilkenny registrar was H.H. Langrishe, Clerk of the Peace assisted by Fred Chambers (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 8 April 1922, p. 4).
Glenmore Women in the News
The Community of Mount Carmel, New Ross, acknowledged receipt of subscriptions and gifts from 8 April 1922…nearly half the page of the newspaper contained the long list of donors, and within the list were the following Glenmore donors: Mrs. Duggan, Glenmore, 10 s; Mrs. Breen, Glenmore, potatoes and eggs; Mrs. Hynes, Glenmore, potatoes and eggs. Friends that promised farm produce were asked to deliver it to the Convent by the 15th (New Ross Standard, Fri. 14 April 1922, p. 8).
Monument for Sean Hartley
“Steps are being taken to erect a monument to the late Sean Hartley, Glenmore, 5th Batt., Co. Kilkenny I.R.A., and who was killed in the Coolbawn ambush on last June. A month ago the people of the Co. Kilkenny and Wexford, and some from Carlow for the second time demonstrated their love and veneration for a brave soldier who gave his life for his country, by attending in large numbers at Glenmore when the remains were removed to the family grave almost facing the church door in the beautiful cemetery where lie the ashes of one who was gentle as a child yet brave as a lion in battle for his country’s cause. Trustees for the fund have been appointed, and there is no doubt but everyone who knew brave Sean Hartley and the thousands who heard of him will contribute toward the erection of a monument worthy of the man” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 14 April 1922, p. 7).
Ship Wreck in New Ross
In early April a steamer with 160 tons of flour arrived from Liverpool. The cargo was for John Butler a merchant on John Street, New Ross. While the ship was berthed at New Ross it snaped its mooring, turned on its side, got stuck and when the tide came in the water swept over it. An attempt was made by the town fire engine to pump the water from the engine room and after two hours work it had to be stopped (New Ross Standard, Fri. 14 April 1922, p. 3). The cargo was estimated to be worth £3,000, and 40 tons were pulled from the vessel and placed on the quay. The flour disappeared and at the next tide several bags of flour floated from the vessel and the newspaper described the scene of poor people rushing to secure the floating bags. Several people proceeded up the town with ten stone bags of flour on their backs and water dripping from the bags. “Loads of flour were sold to farmers by people in the town, and it was reported that some of it exchanged hands at prices from 3s. to 10s. per bag (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 April 1921, p. 3).
25 Year Old Glenmore Eviction Case
In the District Court of the Thomastown Courthouse a 90-year-old Glenmore man, Michael Walsh, and his daughter Mary Anne Walsh, sued Matthew Cottrell, of Ballycroney, Glenmore for compensation. The case was heard by: George Dooley (chair); Commandant J. Walsh; J.F. Drennan, Co. C.; Michael Delahunty and Sean O’Duffy (representing the Minister for Home Affairs). Both parties were represented by solicitors. The proceedings commenced with the solicitors stating that the parties agreed to have the justices hear the case. “This case is brought by arbitration—friendly arbitration—by two Irish people before an Irish court.” It was noted that previously evicted people began seeking redress and the Government of Ireland had to issue an order on the 20th June, 1920, preventing any claims regarding land to be made in Ireland. The court in April 1922 was being asked to decide the right of a tenant farmer, Michael Walsh, who was evicted from his 42 acre Glenmore farm 25 years previously.
Walsh, his wife and daughter were evicted by their landlord Strangman when 3 years’ rents were unpaid. Walsh’s solicitor explained, “It was not through the plan of campaign that he was evicted. If you cast your minds back to that period you will recollect at the time there was a terrible disease raging amongst cattle, and this poor man’s cattle died, one by one, until he had none left. As a consequence, he was unable to pay his rent and was evicted, and the farm was taken possession of by the present defendant, who is now before the court and is prepared to pay any compensation that the court may decide.” Walsh testified that the farm was boycotted after his eviction. He went to the landlord with a years’ rent but his landlord had rented the farm to Cottrell.
The most interesting aspect of the case was the testimony of Mary Anne Walsh who admitted on cross examination to having sent threatening letters to the defendant Cottrell. She had in one letter included an article where a man who occupied an evicted farm was executed by the I.R.A. in Tipperary. She wrote that what happened to him would happen to Cottrell. After admitting that she sent the letter she was asked if it was still her honest conviction and she said that it was. However, she agreed that she would abide with whatever the court ruled. The justices deliberated, and the chairman announced that they had decided to dismiss the claim (The Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 1 April 1922, p. 10).
Glenmore Deaths
DEATH OF MR. MICHAEL MAHER, GLENMORE—On Thursday last there was interred at Glenmore one of the fine old Type of South Kilkenny men, in the person of Mr. Michael Maher. Deceased, who had attained a fine old age, was most esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He was father of the late Mr. John Maher, formerly of the firm of Power Brothers, drapers, Waterford. R.I.P. (Munster Express, Sat. 15 April 1922, p. 5). The death register reveals that Michael Maher was 82 years of age, was a widower, living at Rochestown, Glenmore and his son Michael was present when he died on 11 April 1922.
DEATH OF MRS. JOHANNA AYLWARD, GLENMORE—The death occurred of Mrs. Johanna Aylward, mother of the Very Rev. R. [Richard] Aylward, President St. Kieran’s College, at her residence, Ballinclare, Glenmore on Friday April 7th. She had attained her 88th year. She was devotedly attended to by the priests of the parish during her last illness. The funeral, which was very largely attended, took place to the family burial place in Glenmore. Solemn Requiem Office and Mass were celebrated at Glenmore. Right Rev. Mgr. Doyle, D.D., P.P., VG presided. The celebrant was Very Rev. R. Aylward, son of deceased. There was a large attendance of clergy (Munster Express, Sat. 22 April 1922, p. 5). The death register reveals that Johanna Aylward was a farmer’s widow and her son John was present when she died.
Blog Update—over the next few weeks we hope to expand the blog to publish some lists Danny Dowling compiled in 1960/1961 regarding Glenmore residents as well as photos and other items we hope that will be of interest to readers.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Fr. John Duggan (1932-2021) of Flemingstown, Glenmore and Super Bowl IX
This week while we were preparing to post the obituary of Fr. John Duggan the reference therein to his time served as Chaplain to the Pittsburgh Steelers caused a search of a pile of future “From Danny’s Files” articles. In the pile was a Kilkenny People article entitled “Priest Who Prays for Success,” (Fri. 27 Dec. 1974, p. 6). This week we are going to feature the association and circumstances of Fr. John Duggan becoming unofficial chaplain, or as the press in the United States dubbed him, the “lucky charm” or the “secret weapon” of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ football team in the early 1970’s. To put this into context the Pittsburgh Steelers did not have a winning season from 1933 until Fr. Duggan came on the scene.
Fr. John Duggan was born on 7 February 1932 to Richard Duggan and his wife Molly Duggan née O’Gorman, of Flemingstown, Glenmore. Fr. Duggan attended St. Kieran’s College and Maynooth Seminary and was ordained a priest on 17 June 1956. He went on to earn an MA in Education and a PhD in Counselling from Boston College and had a fellowship to Harvard. It was during the three years when Fr. Duggan was pursuing his PhD that he is credited with helping the Pittsburgh Steelers become Super Bowl champions.
Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. (1901-1988) nicknamed “The Chief” was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1933 he established the Steelers as an expansion team in the National Football League. Much has been written concerning Rooney’s big win at a race track that funded the team for several early years. Although Rooney was lucky allegedly at the racetrack, his football team did not enjoy much success. Prior to 1972 the team only played in one post season game. This occurred in 1947 when they played one game in the Eastern Division Playoffs and lost 21 to 0 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 1969, The Chief hired a young Chuck Noll (1932-2014) as head coach and kept him on as head coach notwithstanding his first year record was only 1 win and 13 loses. In 1970, the American Football League and the National Football League merged and “The Chief” agreed to leave the NFL Eastern Conference and joined the AFC central conference. The Steelers became a powerhouse, and today Noll is credited with building the team through the recruiting of gifted players via the football draft. Noll recruited players like Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and “Mean” Joe Green who was a leading member of the infamous “Steel Curtain” defence. In 1972, the Steelers after over 40 years of losses began a remarkable 8 year run of playoff appearances, and 13 straight years of winning seasons. They are the only team to accomplish two consecutive Super Bowl wins twice with these four Super Bowl wins in six consecutive seasons. Chuck Noll at the time was the youngest head coach to have won the Super Bowl.
At the same time the two football leagues were merging, and Chuck Noll was trying to find his feet as head coach, in the spring of 1970, two young Americans were on a tour of Ireland. Tim and Pat Rooney, two sons of the Chief, stopped at the church where Fr. Duggan was parish priest in an attempt to locate the birthplace of one of their ancestors. While Fr. Duggan was speaking to the Rooney brothers’ he asked them what kind of business they were in, and Fr. Duggan thought they said “vestments.” He invited them to attend Mass the following day, so he could show them the beautiful vestments that had been made in Paris. They came and after Mass explained that they were in investments not vestments. They invited Fr. Duggan to get in touch if he ever got to America as they would take him to a football game. “I thought they were just fans. I didn’t know until I got here that their family actually owned a team” (Kilkenny People, Fri. 27 Dec. 1974, p. 6).
Fr. Duggan went to the U.S. the following year to take some summer courses. He contacted the Rooney brothers and they flew him to Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a shockingly bad record the year before winning only 1 of 13 games. In 1971, while Fr. Duggan was present the team won the first four games. Fr. Duggan stated, “I didn’t know much about the game. It was confusion, especially the change of teams from offence to defence and the specialty teams.” After he returned to Ireland the team lost four out of the next six games. The following year Fr. Duggan learned that he would be back in the U.S. for three years to study full time for a doctorate (Kilkenny People, Fri. 27 Dec. 1974, p. 6). While working on his doctorate Fr. Duggan was based at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
“The Chief sat me down and told me he wanted me to become the Steeler’s chaplain. He thought the team had a good chance to win the division and that to date the priest was undefeated. As it turned out the Steelers did win the division that year” (The Boston Globe, Tues. 14 Jan. 1975, p. 22).
During his three years in the U.S., Fr. Duggan travelled to all the Steeler games home and away, at the request of the Rooney family. During these weekends he became close to the players, and often counselled them when they had problems. Fr. Duggan was said to have stated that he offered “…mass every weekend during the season so that no players be injured badly and that in all games involving the Steelers, the better team will win. But, I have an understanding with God that the Steelers are the better team always.” As part of his unofficial duties to the team on the eve of every game, he offered a Mass, with different players, regardless of their religion, helping him with the readings” (The Boston Globe, Tues. 14 Jan. 1975, p. 22). [John]”Frenchy” Fuqua, a running back who is not a Catholic volunteered as a reader. “That afternoon Frenchy had one of the best games of his career,”…”Frenchy came to me and said when can I do another reading?” (Kilkenny People, Fri. 27 Dec. 1974, p. 6).
It was widely reported that the night before the Central Division championship game played between the Steelers and the Oakland Raiders, in December 1972, Father Duggan was in the stadium. Father Duggan was asked to leave because the Raiders did not want anyone watching their closed practice. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazetted (23 Dec. 1972, p. 11) thought this very odd and reported that the Steeler team, coaching staff, and their families were at a Christmas party in the stadium club overlooking the field. “All the Steelers had to do to see the Raiders was look out the club’s huge picture windows. None seemed that interested.” Some newspapers reported that there was an exchange between Father Duggan and an official from the Raiders. One reported that Father Duggan allegedly objected to leaving stating, “But I don’t know enough about football to do any harm.” The Raider official was alleged to have replied, “You are a priest aren’t you? That makes you dangerous. Art Rooney has every priest in the country pulling for him tomorrow.”
The Steelers won the game, 13-7, in the last five seconds when Franco Harris caught a pass that had deflected off of Fuqua and ran 60 yards for the touchdown. That catch is often referred to as the ”Miraculous reception,” or the “Immaculate reception.” (Kilkenny People, Fri. 27 Dec. 1974, p. 6). After winning the Central Division championship newspaper articles began to appear linking Fr. Duggan to the team’s success. It was noted that Chuck Noll was a man of intense faith, but did not proclaim “his creed with evangelistic fevor…he attended the Thanksgiving Mass offered by Fr. Duggan” the day after the game at a chapel adjoining the Rooney home. Noll was the reader, Dan Rooney, the general manager and Ed Kiely, the publicity director for the team, served as altar boys. According to Kiely, “Fr. Duggan’s presence, apparently has helped us…He was present for 12 of our games and saw us only lose once.” (New Castle News [New Castle, Pennsylvania] 19 Dec. 1972, p. 20).The following week the Steelers lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins in the final AFL championship.
Super Bowls are played in January based upon the previous season. Super Bowl IX was played on 12 January 1975 in New Orleans. For the first time the Pittsburgh Steelers made it to the Super Bowl and played the Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers defence was said to hold all in awe. Several newspapers noted the attendance of Fr. Duggan. “One unheralded part of the Steelers’ game plan is Rev. John Duggan, a priest from Kilkenny, Ireland…the Mass saying lucky charm [is] at every Steelers’ game (The Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Jan. 1975, p. 21) and the Steelers won 16-6.
Later, in what appears an attempt to explain how the lovable losing Steelers, became Super Bowl IX winners, journalists began to refer to Fr. Duggan as Rooney’s secret weapon. The Pittsburgh-Post Gazette that just noted in 1972 that Father Duggan had been asked to leave the stadium because the Raiders didn’t want anyone at their practice later in 1975 published a column written by Joe Browne where he outrageously wrote that “maybe this is why the Stealers crushed Oakland and went on to become Super Bowl champs…John Duggan, an Irish priest who’s nuts about the Steelers, walked in on a secret practice of the Raiders. John Madden, Oakland coach, tactfully asked him to scram. Father Duggan snorted, “I didn’t come to spy on y’—I came to lay a curse on y’” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wed. 19 Jan. 1975, p. 27).
Father Duggan while in New Orleans after Super Bowl IX gave an interview to the Boston Globe where he noted that the Chief had paid for everyone including waterboys and the entire ground crew from the Steelers to come to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. A week before the big game Dan Rooney, the General Manager, asked Fr. Duggan to make preparations for a Mass of Thanksgiving for 9 a.m. the day following the game—win or lose. Fr. Duggan explained that for them “just getting this far was reason enough to be thankful.” On the eve of the Super Bowl, as was his custom Fr. Duggan offered a Mass. Rocky Bleier gave the first reading and five of the Chief’s grandsons served the Mass. Although Fr. Duggan denied that he provided pep talks to the players he did state that he selected appropriate readings. The reading by Bleier pertained to courage and the Christian athlete. The second reading was on the body and its ability to withstand suffering. “After all these years of losing, for the Steelers…[from 1933] I felt that we should say something about suffering. They had their share.”
In a short conclusion that indicated the true depth of his understanding of football the self-described “simple parish priest” stated that he was returning to Ireland in June and “you might say I have prayed out my options” (The Boston Globe, Tues. 14 Jan. 1975, p. 22).
The obit published by Fr. Duggan’s parish in Rhode Island is contained on our obituary page, and we extend our condolences to his siblings and families and the members of his parish. Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Lyrics to “Fluskey’s Motor Car” [Updated]
Found in Danny Dowling’s voluminous files are lyrics entitled “Fluskey’s Motor Car.” The humorous song concerns the Irish War of Independence and an automobile belonging to James Fluskey (1882-1960) of Glenmore Village. An extensive newspaper search was conducted, but no newspaper account could be located regarding James Fluskey and his volunteering his motor car or having it commandeered. The name of the author of the lyrics is not recorded and the music is also absent. It is believed that Jim B. of Glenmore Village may have been the author and sang this song.
[Update 18 Sept. 2021…Thanks to Nicholas Hogan we have further information concerning the lyrics. The original song was written about a true event that occured in Ulster in 1921 and was entitled “Johnston’s Motor Car” written by William Gillespie. According to wikipedia it was first recorded by the Clancy Brothers in 1963 and the Dubliners a decade later. “Fluskey’s Motor Car” is a local version. For the original and another version, see generally, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnston%27s_Motor_Car ].
Here is a you tube link to the Dubliners performing the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOcEGXBWul8.
At the conclusion of the lyrics we have listed and provided links to the previously published Glenmore verses and information on the Fluskey family.
Fluskey’s Motor Car
I.
It was down Fluskey’s corner, One evening I did stray, It was there I met Jack Scanlon, And this to me did say, "I’ve orders from the Captain, To assemble and go far, But how can we assemble, Without a motor car?"
II.
"Oh, Scanlon dear be of good cheer, I’ll tell you what we’ll do, The Black and Tans are plenty, While we are only few, I’ll ring up Jamesy Fluskey, Before we’ll get that far, And we’ll give the boys a jolly spin, In Fluskey’s motor car."
III.
When Fluskey got the wire my boys, He soon stuck on his shoes, Says he my case is urgent, And I’ve got no time to lose. He wore a velvet Chester hat, And on his breast a star, You could hear the din, going to Ballyquin, In Fluskey’s motor car.
IV.
But when we got to Mullinavat, We met the die-hards there. The game he knew was up with him, And at them he did stare, Say’s he, "I have a permit, To take me near and far." "We don’t want your English permit, We want your motor car."
V.
They got the car in motion, And filled her to the brim, With guns and shining bayonets, And Fluskey he did grin. Then Scanlon hoisted the Sinn Fein flag. We shot off like a star, We gave three cheers for the I.R.A., And Fluskeys’ motor car.
VI.
"What will the sergeant say of this, When I will reach Glenmore? To have my car commandeered, By those rebels from the Rower." "We’ll give you a receipt for it, And signed by Dinny Meagher, And when Ireland’s free, It’s then we’ll see to Fluskey’s Motor Car."
VII.
And when the Sergeant heard of this, Like a trooper he cursed and swore, Says he, "I’ll meet those blokes halfway, Before I will give o’er." They searched all Bishop’s Mountain, And the hills of Ballinclare, But the I.R.A. were far away, In Fluskey’s motor car.
VIII.
So now my song is ended, I’ve got no more to say, But here’s to Jamesy Fluskey, A hero in his day. So stand up to attention, And give a ringing cheer, Long life to Jamsey Fluskey, And his rattling open gear.
James “Jim” Fluskey (1882 -1960) was the son of Robert Fluskey and his second wife, Catherine Fluskey née Dunne. See the blog post of 28 May 2020 for details regarding the Fluskey family. Jim Fluskey is not listed as one of the members of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA. The list of known members of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA may be accessed by clicking here.
According to the birth register, John “Jack” Scanlan, of Glenmore Village, was born 1 November 1889 to James Scanlan (shoemaker) and his wife Anastatia Scanlan née Fitzgerald. However, the Glenmore Parish records record his birth as 30 October 1889 and his baptism was on 1 November 1889. According to Danny Dowling’s notes Jack Scanlan never married and like his father worked as a shoemaker. Jack Scanlan is not listed as one of the members of the Glenmore Company of the IRA.
No local records could be found for “Dinny Meagher” in the IRA. However, during the Emergency (World War II) a man bearing that name was involved in the Black Market and sold difficult to obtain items, like tea, to Glenmore residents. My father-in-law, Tom Walsh (1908-1992) told the story of how the Custom Officials visited Pat “Cushey” Grant, of Robintown, Glenmore asking questions concerning Dinny Meagher. It was said that Cushey replied to their queries that he did not trade in Dinny Meagher’s shop, but if they saw Dinny Meagher would they tell him to call to him (Cushey) because he (Cushey) owed Dinny Meagher some money.
If anyone has any corrections or further or different information concerning the lyrics, author or the persons named in the lyrics please send same to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Special thanks to Nicholas Hogan for sending on the wikipedia article.
Other Local Verses, Rhymes and Lyrics
On 11 January 2020 we published an article entitled Glenmore Verses, Rhymes and Lyrics , and on 23 September 2020 we published the Glenmore Version of the Ballad of Carrickshock. To access the old blogs just click on the titles. Lastly, guest author Dick Claridge shared the local versus he has collected. Click here.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
One Hundred Years Ago: June 1921
The Irish War of Independence ended on 11 July 1921 when a truce was agreed. The six months between 1 January 1921 and the truce were the bloodiest of the War of Independence with almost 1,500 people killed the majority of which were killed in the South. (Corrain & O’Halpin, (2020) The Dead of the Irish Revolution). On 18 June 1921 two young volunteers closely connected to Glenmore were killed in action, at Coolbawn, near Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, just 21 days before the truce.
Partition
In June 1921 the Northern Ireland Parliament was established pursuant to the Government of Ireland Act (1920). This partition of Ireland in May 1921, when the legislation went into effect, established an essentially two state solution that is still in place today. Six of the thirty-two counties of Ireland were placed under the control of the Northern Ireland Parliament. Elections were held in March 1921 for the Northern Ireland Parliament and 40 of the 52 seats went to Unionists. The other 12 seats remained empty as the Sinn Fein and the Irish nationalists who had won the seats refused to take the oath of loyalty. King George V officially opened the Northern Ireland Parliament on 22 June 1921 and called for peace and conciliation. Sinn Féin and the nationalists rejected the Government of Ireland Act and it was replaced in December 1921 with the Anglo-Irish Treaty which founded the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.
The War
By June 1921 the Crown Forces were firmly entrenched in their barracks in mainly urban areas and did not venture out much making it difficult to engage or ambush them. Both sides realized that they had reached a stalemate particularly for the IRA after the burning of the Custom House led to 5 deaths and 80 IRA volunteers being captured. To take the pressure off of Tipperary, and other areas, the IRA ordered the Kilkenny volunteers to engage the Crown Forces more notwithstanding the fact that the Kilkenny volunteers had limited arms. This led to the Coolbawn ambush. For an interesting history of Co. Kilkenny during this period see, Eoin Swithin Walsh, (2018) Kilkenny: In Times of Revolution 1900-1923.
Contrary to previous months there are fewer local events recorded in the local newspapers. It may be the case that the censorship of the newspapers increased and stopped the reporting of events, or it may be the case that there were fewer objectives remaining such as bridges or roads that were not damaged or trenched. We were able to find various local news items in some of the Dublin papers.
Waterford
The Crown forces continued to raid various premises and it was reported that the licensed premises of Miss Gleason, of O’Connell Street in Waterford were raided on the first of June. The raid lasted 20 minutes and nothing was taken from the premises (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 3 June 1921, p. 5). It was reported that during week of the 10th the Granagh bridge just outside of Waterford in County Kilkenny was partially destroyed. There were two large excavations made in the centre of the bridge and dropped into the stream below (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 17 June 1921, p. 5).
Five young men on the 15th of June were tried by a Waterford Military court for waging war against the Crown on 12 March 1921 by attacking Crown forces at Garryricken House, Co. Kilkenny. The five defendants were James McKenna, John Luttrell, Patrick Luttrell, James Luttrell and Thomas Luttrell. A policeman was killed when he went to Garryricken House due to a report that rebels were using it as a hiding place. Ultimately three of the defendants were exonerated and only ex-solider James McKenna and Patrick Luttrell were convicted (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 17 June 1921, p. 2). For further information on the Garryricken battle see the podcast of Kilkenny County Library. Also tried by a Waterford military court were Rev. John Loughrey, C.C. of Thomastown and three of his parishioners: John Minogue, Patrick Ryan and James O’Neil. Although the priest was charged with multiple offences the four men were convicted of promoting the Belfast Trade Boycott in March and May 1921. The court sentence for each defendant was a fine of £10 or the alternative was 3 months imprisonment. “All chose the alternative” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 17 June 1921, p. 3).
Although the military did not apparently order the cancellation of the Waterford Regatta, which should have been held on 30 June, the Waterford Boat Club decided to abandon it due to the “present unsettled state of affairs,” (Freeman’s Journal, Sat. 4 June 1921, p. 6).
New Ross
As violence increased new martial laws restricted gatherings including fairs and markets. In New Ross this extended to the closing of shops. In an article entitled “Excitement in New Ross,” it was reported that Crown Forces visited the shopkeepers in New Ross and ordered them to close on Saturdays from 12 to 4. “There were a number of country people in the town at the time, and the closing of the shops gave rise to considerable speculation, but it transpired, however, that the order was in pursuance of the ban prohibiting the holding of markets” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 3 June 1921, p. 5). By mid-June one of the New Ross businesses was burned, but the newspaper report does not indicate who may have been responsible. “The premises of Timothy Butler, New Ross, consisting of his dwelling house, shop and store, with the entire contents, were completely destroyed by fire at 3 o’clock yesterday morning. The family who were in bed, were ordered out, getting only a few minutes to dress, and the place was then set on fire by four armed and disguised men who made use of bombs,” (Evening Echo, (Dublin) Tues. 14 June 1921, p. 7). By the end of June it was reported that New Ross men were being commandeered by Crown forces on a daily basis to saturate the bridge crossing the Barrow with water. “Fifteen New Ross men have been commandeered to saturate with water a wooden portion of the big bridge over the Barrow that was recently set on fire. Since the occurrence and accompanied by the town surveyor and Crown forces the urban council’s hose is taken each evening to the bridge to flush the wooden part to prevent it being set on fire again” (Freeman’s Journal, Wed. 29 June 1921, p. 6).
In May it was reported that foot and mouth disease was detected near New Ross. This report immediately stopped the shipping of cattle from Ireland to England. Eventually a 15 mile exclusion zone was established around New Ross and cattle outside the exclusion zone could be shipped. “On the afternoon of May 26th” a Dublin Castle report states, “about 100 armed men raided Newtown farm, New Ross district, Co. Wexford, and intimidated a number of workmen employed in connection with the foot and month disease operations of the Department of Agriculture. They seised and took away all appliances for the slaughter of animals. It is stated that all the carcases had been buried with the exception of a few, and that they were completed the next day” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 3 June 1921, p. 5). It transpired that the “appliances” seised were picks and shovels used to bury the slaughtered animals. It is assumed that they were taken to “arm” more men for the trenching of roads. On the 24th of June it was reported that Major Little, of Berkley House, New Ross had consented to the slaughter of his cattle and this had been carried out by the Department’s veterinary inspectors, “as no fresh case has occurred in the district, and it is believed that the radius limit of fifteen miles as regards restrictions will be reduced the coming week” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 June 1921, p. 5).
Thomastown
On the morning of 3 June 1921 on every route around Thomastown trees had been felled and trenches cut in all roads. In response the Crown forces at 10 a.m. commandeered a large number of men including shopkeepers, shop assistants, and laborers to remove the obstructions. Men were also commandeered from the Inistioge district (New Ross Standard, Fri, 10 June 1921, p. 8). The monthly Thomastown fair that was due to be held on the 7th of June was not held as Thomastown was in the “scheduled area.” Fat pigs were not taken at Thomastown stations for the same reason during the past fortnight. The result has been a serious loss to pig feeders who have pigs fit for sale” (New Ross Standard, Fri, 10 June 1921, p. 8).
Mooncoin
In subtle ways the editors of the local newspapers were able to inform the public that the Crown authorities in Dublin were no longer obtaining good intelligence from outlying areas. An example is found concerning an ambush at Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny “Segt. Sweetman, Fiddown, is reported killed and a constable seriously wounded in an ambush at Mooncoin. The patrol, numbering 7, were cycling back to Fiddown when heavy fire was opened on them from both sides of the road. A Dublin Castle communique, which possibly refers to the same encounter, states a party of 8 police was attacked at Fiddown, and adds—’Const. Albert Bradford was killed and Constable John Stuart, wounded in the left arm. The police captured four shotguns and 200 cartridges charged with buckshot, a revolver, and revolver ammunition left by the rebels. At the time of receiving this report the attackers were being pursued by a mixed party of Crown forces. The casualties of the attackers are not known’” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 June 1921, p. 5).
Glenmore
As we reported in the blog last month due to the trenching of roads and destruction of local bridges the Glenmore Creamery was closed for a month by the military. It was allowed to re-open after the closure (Irish Independent, Fri. 1 July 1921, p. 6). Although there are no reports of road trenching, train or mail raids reported as occurring in or near Glenmore during June, the annual meeting of the Glenmore Creamery was reported. The meeting was held on the 15th of June and it was noted that the “Creamery had received nearly 60,000 gallons more milk in 1920 than in 1919 which brought the total received up to 519,496 gallons, from which 244,965 lbs of butter was made, or an average of 2.32 gallons per lb. The turnover for the year was over £46,000 and a profit of £198, 11s., 1 ½ d., was made.” Given the turbulent times the Company “had deemed it wise to pay a very big premium of £250, for insurance against claims of riot, rebellion and civil commotion.” The article concludes that, “The recent closing of the creamery by military order will considerably lessen its profits for the current year” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 1 July 1921, p. 10).
There was not a person in Glenmore that was not impacted directly or indirectly by the War by June. Notwithstanding, the raids by Crown forces, men being dragged from their homes, the difficulties of travel on trenched roads and damaged bridges, produce could not be taken to any local fairs or markets because the military ordered them all closed. Farmers had to continue to milk their cows then had to dump the milk because the Creamery was closed. Even the commodities sought by the British such as beef could not be sold because Glenmore was in the Foot and Mouth exclusionary area. Danny Dowling recorded that several area residents indicated that by the time the parish was reeling from the death of John Hartley, of Weatherstown, Glenmore, who was killed in action at Coolbawn on the 18th of June, they were sick of the conflict and just wanted it to end.
Some of the first local newspaper reports of the Coolbawn ambush were carried in the Munster Express (Sat. 25 June 1921, p. 6) and the Kilkenny People (Sat. 25 June 1921, p. 6). Interestingly the Munster Express article is entitled “Castlecomer Affray” while the Kilkenny People article is entitled “Mine Laying Party Attacked.” Both articles report that two men were killed, John Hartley, a native of Weatherstown, Glenmore, who until a few weeks previously had been employed as a shop assistant in the establishment of Mr. T. Grace, Parliament Street, Kilkenny City. The second man killed was Nicholas Mullins, a native of Main Street, Thomastown. The Munster Express reported that the two men were cousins. A third volunteer, Doyle, of Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny was shot in the leg and captured.
John or Jack Hartley, as he was called by his family, or Sean Hartley as is recorded on the monument erected by his comrades in arms, was the son of Edward Hartley (c. 1865-1947) of Weatherstown, Glenmore. Nicholas Mullins was the son of Laurence Mullins (c. 1860-1913) a native of Gaulstown, Glenmore.
In a future post this month we will provide further information Danny Dowling gathered as well as details regarding how the volunteers who were setting up the ambush at Coolbawn became the hunted.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above of the IRA volunteers killed in action at Coolbawn, Hartley and Mullins, was a post card courtesy of the National Library of Ireland. It is believed that the postcards were sold to help raise funds for one of the memorials erected for the fallen men.
Old Rural Recreation: Faction Fighting
Danny Dowling interviewed and recorded some interesting information from elderly residents of Glenmore concerning some of the other business transacted during and after fairs and markets–faction fights. To try to put this information in context some general information on faction fighting is first provided.
Faction Fighting
Faction fighting was where large groups of rural men, and sometimes women, would meet to engage in fighting. The faction could be comprised of extended or allied families or persons from the same parish or townland. It is commonly understood that the practice continued until shortly before the Famine when reforms to the police and judicial systems and Father Theobald Matthew’s temperance crusade impacted on it. This pacification movement was also endorsed by Daniel O’Connell and the Catholic Association (Owens, p. 537). Expressions of concern over faction fighting at this time usually had more to do with the image projected than with injuries or deaths resulting from the fights. As long as the Irish could be portrayed as drunken barbarians bashing each other for fun all economic or political hardships could be blamed on the Irish character. However, “even at its worst the level of violence in Ireland was less than that of England” (Conly, p. 67).
Notwithstanding the efforts to stop faction fighting it re-surged after the Famine. Nineteenth century fiction and materials in the folklore archives at UCD suggest that faction fighting was an immensely popular and violent pastime (Thuente, p. 136) and its legend lived on in oral histories recorded in the twentieth century. Faction fighting was often viewed as a sort of release valve that prevented less controlled kinds of violence, and there were not many actual deaths relative to the enormous number of participants (Thuente, p. 137).
Carolyn Conley conducted a study based upon a Return of Outrages prepared by the R.I.C which listed the 1,932 reported homicides between 1866 and 1892 (occurring outside of the metropolitan area of Dublin), newspaper accounts of the killings and court documents. The author concluded that there was tolerance for recreational violence as displayed in faction fights among judges, jurors, police and journalists, witnesses and even victims. Recreational violence was not a form of misplaced resistance by an oppressed rural population, but a form of sport (Conley, p. 60). After the famine with more prosperity more assaults took place. “It was in the most prosperous areas of the countryside that the violent traditions were longest lived” (Conley, p. 58). The goal was not to injure or kill but to participate in a mutual display of skill and strength. Forty-one percent of all Irish homicides (outside of Dublin) between 1866 and 1892 were recreational in origin (Conley, p. 59).
“A formal faction fight, which might involve hundreds of men on each side, usually began with the ritual of wheeling which included chants, stylized gestures and insults. The traditional wheel included the name of the person(s) issuing the challenge as well as the intended opponent” (Conley, p. 60). There were two recognised acts that signified consent to the fight. The wheel and the removal of one’s coat (Conley, p. 61). While wheels might include insults or references to past grievances, a challenge to see who was the better man would suffice for consent. Women who engaged in “the sport” took the same pride in their prowess as their men (Conley, p. 62).
“In keeping with the recreational aspect of fighting there were rules. Though supporting one’s comrades was expected, in most cases justice required roughly even sides…ganging up was not acceptable…nor was continuing to pummel a defeated opponent” (Conley, p. 61). Due to the fact that the participants had to consent to engage in the fight there were numerous instances where onlookers and witnesses expressed to the authorities that they were not in fear when a faction fight commenced, thus making a conviction for riot impossible. Acceptable weapons included: fists, feet, teeth, stones and sticks. Two and a half percent of the homicide victims in Conley’s study died from kicks and five from infected bites (Conley, p. 62).
The most popular venues for recreational fighting were fairs, markets, and races. “One hundred people died as a result of brawls in these settings, but only a third of the killers served any jail time and only nine served more than two years” (Conley, p. 65). “Brawls were such an integral part of wakes” that even deaths did not make the incidents serious to authorities. Not one person was convicted in any of the fourteen homicides that occurred at wakes and funerals (p. 65). Even in twenty-one cases in which innocent bystanders were killed, deaths from brawls were considered regrettable but not serious. Twenty-six children were killed from injuries sustained in brawls. Only seven of the killers served any jail time at all. Only four people were sentenced to more than two years for the death of a bystander. The brawling tradition began so early in life that a quarter of the children less than sixteen years of age (killed by non-relatives) were killed by another child under the age of sixteen.
Danny Dowling Interviews
On the 22nd of May 1964 Danny Dowling interviewed Nicholas Forristal (1888-1979) of Graiguenakill, Glenmore. Nicky the Miller recalled hearing that the fair or market held at Nash in Wexford had two families that were great faction fighters, the Gunnups and Quigleys. In one of the factions was a family with eleven brothers and one sister. On one of the fair days the sister said—“There is twelve o’clock and not a stroke struck yet. She had a stone in her stocking and she started the melee by striking one of the opposition.” Nicky informed Danny that a stone in the stocking was a dangerous weapon.
Nicky stated that there were various Glenmore factions during nineteenth century at about the time his father was born in 1849 “Grants had upper side of parish, and Paddy Merrigan of Milltown, was the leader of another from the Jamestown side.” A member of the Merrigan faction was Paddy “the Weaver” Walsh from Glenmore Village. Paddy “the Weaver” Walsh cut, prepared, and seasoned the sticks used as weapons by the Merrigan faction.
“On a certain occasion in Glenmore Village before the pubs were out of it, there was a wake in Hanrahan’s house in the Village (alongside Fluskey’s). As the pub was closing members of the rival factions started drifting into the wake. It was a lovely night. Paddy the Weaver was at the wake and someone said to him it was a fine night and he replied, ‘It is a fine night but I think it will be a bloody morning.’ He was anticipating a big row.” Danny Dowling noted that the Glenmore parish priest in about 1870 caused the three Glenmore pubs to close and Glenmore parish remained dry for nearly 100 years making it a very unique Village. Hanrahan’s house in the Village where the wake was being held was the house where Danny Dowling was born in 1927.
Nicky said people were very crude and backward then, and when they got a few pints they deliberately set out to create rows. “The order of the day then was to return home from fairs and hooleys with blood all over you. That was held to be a sign that you were a good man.” Nicky stated that “Watt Power, of Jamestown, was an awful man for rising rows.” He always believed in having blood on him before returning home. He and his wife had a shebeen for awhile where Dick Whelan was living in 1964. “Watt used tell sometime that he had been fighting with Phil Dyháwdin from around Ross. Phil DyhAwdin was renowned as a fierce fighter. Watt, of course, never had anything to do with him.”
James McDonald, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore was interviewed by Danny Dowling on the 11th of June 1970. James reported that Big Jack Ryan of Knockhouse, Kilmacow, was the first of the Ryans to come to Guilcogh, Tullogher to where Richie Ryan was located in 1970. It was due to faction fighting that Big Jack Ryan went to Guilcogh. The Norris family, of Guiclogh, “were the leaders of a great faction fighting team and always won their combats. As they were getting on a bit, they felt that they could not last much longer at the top. Jack Ryan was a great big man and was a renowned faction fighter, so Norris said that if he could get Ryan, he would continue to win the faction fights. Norris therefore got Ryan, brought him to Guilcogh and got him married to his daughter. Ryan had three sons with this Norris girl. She died on the birth of the fourth child. After Ryan joined the Norris faction team it continued to win fights for a long period.
James McDonald stated that after his first wife died Ryan married a girl named Long and had more children. Ryan was said to have divided the farm to each of his four children from his first wife. Each of the four children received ten acres of land. The land allocated to each was too small to support a family. The four children asked their father to give them each four pounds in order for them all to go to America. Ryan gave the four children the money. The four children emigrated to America. The land reverted to Ryan and he divided it among the children he had by his second wife. Unfortunately, in reviewing early parish records the only marriage that could be located between a Ryan and Norris was in 1860 where Thomas Ryan married Margaret Norris in Guilcogh on 12 June 1860.
On the 16th of January 1956, Walter Power (c. 1888-1961) of Jamestown, Glenmore shared with Danny Dowling a poem that the elderly residents of Glenmore recited when he was a lad. It alleges that the first faction fight in Old Ireland was “all on account of St. Patrick’s Day.”
Some fought for the eighth, For the ninth some would die, And whoever said wrong, They would blacken his eye, Until Father Mulcahy, he told them their sin, He said boys don’t be fighting but sometimes combine, Don’t be always disputing about 8 and 9, Combine 8 and 9, 17 is the mark, And let that be his birthday, Amen said the Clerk.
Ironically, the last known faction fight involving Glenmore participants, that Danny Dowling identified, was reported in the New Ross Standard, just a day after St. Patrick’s day in 1893. Fourteen persons, including a woman, were arrested for the faction fight that occurred in Rosbercon after the New Ross fair. According to the newspaper account the court was packed with spectators for the trial of the faction fighters.
If anyone has any corrections or additional information please send it to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
[Additional information from Peter Walsh of Rathinure, Glenmore 20 May 2021–Maths and Irish Teacher, at Good Counsel College of New Ross, Mr. Toby Kavanagh, collected Irish folklore and told his students in 1969/1970 that the shillelagh black thorn sticks used in faction fights were coated in goose greese and put up the chimney for the smoke to harden them.]
The featured drawing is entitled “The Kilkenny Election,” published in the Graphic on 17 Dec. 1890 (p. 723) and depicts a scene at Castlecomer where Parnell was present when “a regular good old fashion faction fight began.” (c) The British Library Board.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Carolyn Conley (1999) “The Agreeable Recreation of Fighting,” 33(1) Journal of Social History 57-72.
Gary Owens, (1997) “A Moral Insurrection: Faction Fighters, Public Demonstrations and the O’Connellite Campaign, 1828” 30(12) Irish Historical Studies 513-541.
Mary Helen Thuente (1985) “Violence in Pre-Famine Ireland: The Testimony of Irish Folklore and Fiction Author(s),” 15(2) Irish University Review 129-147.