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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.
One Hundred Years Ago: May 1921
The War of Independence continued with no truce in sight. Although most books on the War focus on the big events, that took place in Dublin and elsewhere, we are going to continue to focus on more local events as well as the news Glenmore people received via local censored newspapers. In the first week of May it was reported in the official report from Dublin Castle that “attacks on Crown forces continued unabated.” There were 2,593 internees (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 6 May 1921, p. 5) Not only did the attacks on Crown forces continue there were four more Irishmen executed on the 30th of April at the Cork Detention Barracks. Their names were: Patrick Ronayne (24), and Thomas Mulcahy (18), sentenced in connection with the Mourne Abbey ambush, and Maurice Moore (24), and Patrick Sullivan (22), sentenced in connection with the Clonnult fight. Press representatives were prohibited from reporting anything except the bare announcement of the executions and the history of the cases. It was reporting that since the beginning of 1921 eighteen men were executed. Eleven men were shot in Cork and seven were hanged in Mountjoy Jail (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 May 1921, p. 3).
Kilkenny man Patrick Walsh, of Dunamaggin, was wounded on the 23th by Crown forces at a battle at Tubrid. He died on the 19th at the Fermoy military hospital after one of legs was amputated due to the gunshot wound to his knee. It was reported that he was recently released from Waterford Jail where he served a term of imprisonment for a political offence. During his wake at Dunamaggin the wake was visited by Crown forces. The attendance at his funeral was limited and the tricolour was removed from his coffin (Munster Express, Sat. 28 May 1921, p. 6).
New Ross
More locally in New Ross, “a town which had hitherto [been] immune from things of a startling nature,” the month started with a bang. On the 4th of May a bomb was thrown at members of the R.I.C. who were patrolling Cherry’s road. The bomb was thrown from an upper road known as Creywells. No police were injured, and they immediately raised the alarm. Military were at once on the street, and issued a command for all civilians to keep indoors. Several civilians were halted and ordered to put up their hands. One man named Murphy, believed to be from Rathgarogue district, was fired at and wounded. Murphy, it is stated, disobeyed the challenge to halt, but complied with the order to put up his hands. Later all lights were ordered extinguished and it was anticipated that a curfew would be introduced. “The place or road where the bomb was landed takes its name from a Waterford gentleman named Cherry, who started and for many years had a controlling interest in Cherry’s Brewery” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 6 May 1921, p.7).
Before the month ended the military informed New Ross merchant, Joseph McCarthy, that the colour of his shop front had to be altered. The shop front was painted green, white and gold, with margins of black. Following the military order McCarthy employed a painter to alter his colour scheme (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 May 1921, p. 5).
Waterford
Just down the road in Waterford City the month commenced with a great amount of military activity and several arrests were made. Crown forces visited the licensed premises of Mrs. O’Neill, Sallypark, where her brother Jack Dowling was being waked. Dowling died on the first following a fall from his horse. The people attending the wake were search, but no arrests were made. In Ferrybank two men Grant and Norris were arrested Saturday and later Purcell and Cummins were also arrested. It was believed that several men “on the run” were hiding in the Waterford Lunatic asylum. It was raided by Crown forces and searched for over three hours. Two attendants named Thomas Gallagher and J. Bret were arrested. Tuesday David Grant, of Ferrybank was released (Munster Express, Sat. 7 May 1921, p. 6). James O’Mara, a T.D. from South Kilkenny cabled from the safety of Chicago “expressing gratitude for the opportunities given him to serve the country, and stating that circumstances imperatively prohibited his further candidature, or his acceptance if elected” (Munster Express, Sat. 7 May 1921, p. 5).
On the first of May five simultaneous raids took place in sub-post offices across Waterford city shortly after 6 o’clock. The total amount taken in cash, stamps, and post orders amount to about £250. The raiders were mostly young men and were not disguised. It was reported that the King Street Office [now O’Connell St.] was robbed by five men who were not disguised, and armed with revolvers. Upon entry they immediately cut the telegraph wire to the general Post Office. They took about £100 in stamps and cash. Three men arrived on bicycles and entered the Barrack Street post office where they pretended to buy stamps. When they presented a revolver and the clerk screamed. Mrs. Ryan the sub-post mistress raised the alarm and the three men fled. A child ran in front of one of the men and he slowed to avoid the child and was caught by a plain clothed policeman. The other two men made off with 10 shillings in stamps. Three armed men also entered the Newtown post office. The Postmaster James Kelly, aged 74, when confronted fought with one of the robbers. Kelly was hospitalized after being struck in the forehead. Four armed men entered the Parnell Street post office and Denis Clery, the post-master, was held at gunpoint. His wife and daughter fainted and the four robbers made their escape by bicycle. Two went to the left toward the Mall and two to the right toward the carstand. In less than 5 minutes the military arrived. The amount taken was small. Across the river the Ferrybank post office was entered by four men who were not disguised. Mrs. McCoomb, the postmistress, reported that the men took about £47 in postal orders, stamps and money, but only about £7 of the amount was negotiable (Munster Express, Sat. 7 May 1921, p. 6).
Only two weeks later it was reported that Peter Grant of Belmount Road, Ferrybank and James Cummings, of 66 Sallypark were convicted of robbing the Barrack St. post office and were sentenced to 3 years prison (Munster Express, Sat. 14 May 1921). On the 26th of May two Waterford city postman were held up by masked men as they were cycling with mail from the city to rural areas of Slieverue and Snowhill. The mail was taken from them both (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 27 May 1921, p. 8). In addition to the continued disruption of mail rail transit facilities were also affected, but Guinness hired a special steamer to supply stout to their Waterford clients. The cargo was unloaded near the bridge (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 May 1921, p. 5).
Glenmore
Glenmore featured a few times in the news. Road trenching continued to disrupt the military traveling through rural areas. A Dublin Castle report stated that a number of men armed with rifles and shotguns commandeered a number of civilians in Glenmore village, as they were coming from evening prayers. The villagers were marched to Ballinclea, where they were compelled to dig trenches in the public road (Munster Express, Sat. 28 May 1921, p. 6). The military responded by issuing a proclamation that Mullinavat, Glenmore and Glenpipe creameries were to close from the 21st of May until the 21st of June for the trenching of roads and raiding of mails in local areas (Munster Express, Sat. 28 May 1921, p. 6).
[Update 24 May 2022–It was reported in the New Ross Standard, (Sat. 12 June 1971, p. 4) that 50 years ago, ss a result of the closing of Glenmore Creamery by the military, suppliers brought new milk into New Ross and sold it at 2d. per pint.]
It was also reported that a bread van belonging to Mr. Costello, of Mullinavat was stopped by armed masked men on the Glenmore road at Walsh’s mountain. The driver was robbed and the bread van and harness were set on fire and completely burned. An unnamed farmer in the Glenmore district was robbed when a number of masked and armed men forcibly entered his house and searched it. The armed men decamped with an “amount close to £100” (Munster Express, Sat. 28 May 1921, p. 6).
The local IRA responded to the creamery closure on the 21st of May by stopping the last evening train from Waterford to New Ross. The train was stopped at a cutting that the newspaper described as being about two miles from Glenmore. It is believed the train was stopped near Scartnamore, Glenmore. It was reported that masked men held positions at the “tops of the lofty embankments.” All the passengers were commanded by an unspecified number of masked and armed men to alight from the train. The men were ordered to walk up the line, while the women and children were detained at the train. The raiders entered all the carriages and then directed their attention to the guard’s van. The newspaper does not indicate if mail was taken. The women and children were ordered back to their seats. The men were then searched and their papers and other documents examined. “One passenger was particularly questioned, and a bicycle, apparently his property, was commandeered.” The men were ordered to take their seats and the train pulled into the Aylwardstown, Glenmore station about forty minutes late (Munster Express, Sat. 28 May 1921, p. 3).
Dublin, Custom House Attack
On Wednesday the 25th of May 1921 at 1:15 in the afternoon a number of loud explosions were heard in the centre of Dublin. It was reported in the New Ross Standard based upon the Evening Herald that the Estates Office section of the Custom House was attacked by armed men. Almost simultaneously a lorry of Auxillaries drove into Bereford Place from the Eden Quay end. The lorry came under fire and the Auxillaries responded with rifles and a machine gun fire. As it was dinner hour the streets were full of pedestrians and residents who in a blind panic ran into houses. It was reported that the firing was directed at Gardiner and Store streets and one civilian unlucky to be in the area had his head practically blown off. Witnesses reported that as the Auxillaries moved from their lorry flames could be seen billowing from the western section of the Custom House. Numerous loads of auxiliary police, armed military and armoured cars kept racing down the quays to the scenes. Crowds began to gather on O’Connell Bridge and did not seem “the least perturbed at the arrival of Crown forces…” General Headquarters issued a report later that night that stated 100 men rushed the Custom House and set it on fire. Crown forces were immediately on the scene where they were bombed and fired upon from the railway bridge adjoining the Custom Houses. Four cadets were wounded. A small party of rebels ran from the building firing revolvers. Civilians poured out of the burning building with their hands over their heads. Among the civilians a large number of rebels sought to escape.“ Over 100 were civilians whose presence in the building could not be satisfactorily explained, and several of those people had distinct traces of petrol on them.” Seven civilians were killed, ten were wounded and 111 were arrested. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 May 1921, p. 5). As reported in an earlier blog one of the men arrested was James Francis “Frank” Freyne (1902-1974) the son of Glenmore native John Freyne (1866-1936).
For futher detailed information on the burning of the Custom House see
John Dorney, Today in Irish History blog.
Paul O’Brien, Operation Ares .
The featured photo above is a May bush in Glenmore Village on May Day 2021.
The photo of the horse drawn bread van was owned by Mr. Faulconbridge, Bedworth in the 1920’s. “Reproduced from the “Our Warwickshire” website © “Bedworth Library.” IMAGE LOCATION: (Bedworth Library), Reference: Bedworth Library, 371, img: 4032.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Kilkenny Gaelic Football Team: USA Champions 1920
In October 1920, James Reddy, the Secretary of the Kilkenny Gaelic Football Team of New York, sent the following poem to the Kilkenny People newspaper which published it (Sat. 16 Oct. 1920, p. 6). The poem was written to commemorate the victory of the Kilkenny Gaelic Football team in the 1920 U.S. championship game played on 15 August 1920 between Kilkenny and Cavan exiles in New York. In the run up to the game it was reported that Cavan obtained a number of out of town “stars” for this game (New York Herald, 12 Aug. 1920, p. 11). Glenmore is mentioned twice in the poem along with Hanrahan. It is assumed that Hanrahan may be a reference to Glenmore native Michael J. Hanrahan (1888-1968) Interestingly the colours of the Kilkenny team in the poem are listed as green and black rather than the usual black and amber.
There is a joy tonight in Ossory, From Gowran to Glenmore, From ancient Kells across to where Poulnassy waters roar.
From the hurlers of Moondharrig, To the banks of the Linaun, From the storied town of Rebel Ross, To the highlands ‘round Faranaun.
Proud are the white-walled villages, That claim a gallant son, Among Ireland’s best in New York town, Who have played today and won;
Who have met the north, the south and west, In battle fierce and keen, Who have never lowered their colours yet— Kilkenny’s Black and Green.
They have won today far, far away, Upon the Yankee shore, Let their praises ring through mount and glen, By Barrow, Suir and Nore;
And let old Slieve-na-man look down, And sing their praises too, For her gallant sons before them fell, Across the ocean blue.
Besides the towering turrets, Of mighty Gotham Town, Where monuments to Irish brawn, From lowering clouds look down.
To battle for the championship, Your gallant sons went forth, Against Cavan’s famed O’Reilly’s, Great champions of the North.
The scattered Gael in thousands came, ` from the north, south, east and west, To see his game of boyhood days, Played by Old Ireland’s best.
And many a cheer ‘rose ringing there, When Cavan took the field, Prepared to test Kilkenny’s best, Who were never known to yield.
Now silence fell upon the field, As the ball goes into play, And like flashing fire from out the sky, Jim Reddy broke away.
The leather goes from Whelan now, To Duggan, of renown, And across to Tommy Daly, The pride of Cotterstown.
Here Furlong and Jim Farrell, Now charged the Cavan back, With Kilkeasey, Matty Butler, In a fierce but grand attack.
Great was that Cavan back defence, ‘Gainst the miners from the Nore, But the white flag fluttered in the breeze, For the first Kilkenny score.
Down came the mighty northmen, And charged the miners’ ground, But down upon our half-back line, Some fearless men they found;
Here Hanrahan and Dowling, From Gowran and Glenmore, Met and sent back in slashing style, Amid a thund’rous roar.
Again the red-clad northmen, Came charging down the field, In fierce determination, To make our back men yield.
But Carroll, Dwyer and Aylward, Across the goal were drawn, Sons of Kells and old Knocktopher, With Jack Maher from Faranaun.
There goes the final whistle sound— Kilkenny wins the day! There goes the news across the wave, To homes far, far away;
To home in verdant Orrorie, Which sigh for them in vain, Saying, “Come back to me, I yet will be A nation once again.”
by James P. Veale, New York City, U.S.A., August 15th, 1920.
[Update 7 Dec. 2024. The author James Patrick Veale (1878-1930) was born at Ballyglossom, Templeorum, Kilkenny, the son of Michael Vale (sic) and his wife Margaret Butler. ]
The featured photo is from a 1924 championship senior football match played in Ireland between Wexford and Dublin. Both photos were originally published in the Freeman’s Journal.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
May Bush Tradition & Update
Last May when I visited Danny Dowling I showed him a photo of a May Bush that was outside his brother Pat’s house in Cappagh, Glenmore. Danny’s face lit up when he saw the May Bush, but he remarked it was a bit small. Danny spoke briefly about the old traditions associated with May. Danny noted that the first of May, or May Day, in the traditional Irish calendar was considered the first day of summer. All the fairies, and their like with malign intent, would be out the first of May. The traditions associated with May Day were rooted in the pagan Bealtaine Festival where people sought protection from supernatural forces. For a concise article on May Day traditions see, http://irisharchaeology.ie/2011/05/mayday-and-bealtaine/.
A lot of piseógs are associated with May Day. Sometimes for a number of factors the cream would be churned and churned and would not form into butter. Often the farmer would believe that the cream had been stolen and replaced by a “neighbor in league with the fairies.” According to Danny this belief was held well into the twentieth century by some Glenmore people. When the Glenmore Creamery was starting Fr. Crotty was very supportive of the creamery. When a local farmer said to Fr. Crotty that he was unable to make the butter and he believed that his neighbours in league with the fairies were stealing the cream on him Fr. Crotty instructed the farmer to “send the cream down to us and we will make butter out of it.”
Danny said that his wife Mollie, being a girl from Wexford, always put out a fine May Bush as did most of the other women in Glenmore Village. Danny also recalled that several years ago in an effort to keep the tradition alive he was asked to judge a May Bush competition in New Ross. We were unable to find any old photos of Glenmore May Bushes, but we did locate a 1994 newspaper account of “the Glenmore folklorist Danny Dowling judged the competition, with SuperValu sponsoring the prizes” (New Ross Standard, 12 May 1994).
In attempting to find a set of instructions for the making of a traditional Glenmore May Bush the only thing that everyone seemed to agree on is that the bush is generally a young sceach (white thorn). Some people insisted that the May Bush had to go up at the stroke of midnight others insisted that it had to be decorated before sundown on the 30th of April. Most people said that they gathered wild flowers and strung them into chains to hang on the sceach. Others added ribbons, bits of bright rags and even the shiny tops from the old milk bottles. Whether you are in Glenmore, or anywhere in the world, we invite you to revive this ancient tradition, which could provide your children with an interesting craft project, and the fairies will pass your house to find an unprotected house. Please post a photo of your May Bush on the glenmore history facebook page. For details concerning the tradition in Wexford see, https://www.rte.ie/culture/2020/0213/1115073-the-wexford-may-bush-festival-keeping-an-irish-tradition-alive/
Update
We are happy to report that Glenmore native Eddy Synnott is our guest author today. His interesting article on Cardinal Wiseman (1802-1865) is entitled “The South Kilkenny and Waterford Connections of the first English Cardinal since the Reformation – Nicholas Wiseman.” The article may be accessed via our homepage by clicking on the guest author button and selecting the article. Cardinal Wiseman’s mother was a member of the Strange family of the Aylwardtown House of Glenmore. To mark the 400th anniversary of the house the Kelly Family in conjunction with the South Kilkenny Historical Society organised an open house on the 8th of August 2009. The photo to the right was taken at the Aylwardstown Open House on 8 August 2009 and features James Kelly (RIP) and his daughter-in-law Mary Kelly. Further photos provided by Eddie Synnott from the day are posted with his article.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Glenmore Co., Local Defence Force, 1940-1946 [updated]
It is no exaggeration to state that Danny Dowling, in 70 years of gathering information and records regarding Glenmore and other local areas, filled over 8 large filing cabinets with records he collected or made. Today, straight from one of Danny’s files we are going to provide an excerpt from the speech given by Bill Roche, a native of Haggard, Glenmore, at the reunion of the Glenmore Co. of the Local Defence Force (LDF) held on 11 December 1997 at the Rhu Glenn. The speech provides a lot of information concerning Glenmore during the Emergency (Second World War). A complete list of the local men who joined the LDF is found on the lists page available at https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-co-ldf-1940-1946/.
“1939 was a very memorable year for all people living in the western Hemisphere. On 1st September 1939 World War Two broke out in Europe when Germany invaded Poland. On 3rd September 1939 Great Britain, France and other European countries declared war on Germany. Six long dark years of vicious fighting was to follow when a total of over 60 million lost their lives. Russia alone lost 20 million people.
Also on 3rd September 1939 something of greater interest to us Kilkenny people was happening nearer home—in Croke Park to be exact. The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final between Cork and Kilkenny was being strenuously fought out under a dark, damp overcast sky. The tense game ended in a flurry of thunderclaps, lightning flashes and torrential rain. When the final whistle was blown the score stood Kilkenny 2-7 (13) Cork 3-3 (12). Those of us who had the privilege of listening to the game on the radio will never forget that day. Radios were very scarce then and whatever families were lucky enough to have one made sure that the dry battery was new and that the wet battery was fully charged. For miles around all the neighbours descended on that house with the crowd overflowing into the yard outside. The cheering when Kilkenny scored was deafening. When Cork scored there was total silence…that was Jack Lynch’s first all-Ireland Final and was rated by him as one of the best all-Ireland finals in which he ever played.
In later years I got to know Jimmy Phelan very well. On that day he wore the No. 15 jersey and scored 2-1 of Kilkenny’s 2-7… I had lunch with him today in Carlow. He is the only one of the original 15 players to be still alive and is looking forward to Kilkenny’s next All Ireland win.
With the outbreak of war the Irish Government of the day adopted a policy of neutrality. This was a very brave decision since a neutral Ireland presented our neighbour, Great Britain, with very acute problems concerning the defence of their own country. Our government had to take steps to preserve this neutrality. Their outspoken policy was that the Irish army would repel first invader and by inference would accept the help of the other side in so doing. To implement this policy the government, backed by all opposition political parties launched a massive soldier recruiting drive. In September 1939 the strength of our regular army was only 6,000. By March 1941 the Army and Reserves totalled 56,000. This was boosted, however, by the strength of the Local Defence Force, including our present company…contributed over 200,000 volunteers between 1940 and 1946. Local Defence Force companies were set up in almost every parish, made up of young men totally raw in military matters but with the guts and determination to do what was needed to fight the first invaders.
It did not take long for the war in Europe to impinge on Ireland. Three Wexford women were killed when a German bomber attacked the Campile Co-Operative creamery on 26th August 1940—only 8 miles as the crow flies from where we are here tonight or about 2 ½ -3 minutes flying time. For the first time the Irish people realised that this was not just a far away war in distant places with strange sounding names, like the First World War. Bombs were dropped on Irish soil and Irish people were killed and we hadn’t declared war on anybody, nor nobody had declared war on us. By the end of the Emergency a total of 16 bombing incidents had been recorded on Irish soil, mainly along the Eastern seaboard.
The new LDF volunteers were trained in discipline and in all aspects of modern warfare of that time by Officers and NCO’s of the Irish regular army. Fifty-seven years have now passed since the Glenmore company was established and memories get a bit hazy. However, from the records that are presently filed in the military archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, I extracted the names and addresses of a total of 68 volunteers as being our Company’s strength 1940-1946. From investigations carried out over the past few months we have established that 43 of our colleagues, …are now deceased. May they rest in peace.
Our Company Commander in Glenmore was James Kelly, Aylwardstown…only recently he had had a new knee joint fitted very successfully and I am told it has a guaranteed life of 50 years of 100,000 miles. Neddy Aylward [of Graiguenakill]was Company Adjunct … both of these men helped me in no small way to make tonight possible. Also people like Joe Walsh, Billy Forristal and Danny Dowling were very helpful in locating our members’ present addresses and making contact. Regrettably our other Officers and NCO’s have passed to their rewards.
Just for a few minutes I will try to revive some memories of that period that are long forgotten in the mists of time.
1. Can I bring you all back in memory to the cold, wet, winter nights or else the dry, frosty, moonlit nights when we drilled in full uniforms and hobnailed boots in J.K. Walsh’s Hall in the Village. The grizzly Army Sergeants from Bawn James roared and bellowed and usually used a language that us innocent country boys have never heard before. It was the first time we became exposed to Trooper’s Language. Prior to this the four letter word was never heard in Glenmore.
p. 106
In the summer months we spent our evening training outdoors, covering all aspects of warfare tactics. We were clad in the early years in a light material khaki uniform, with a cheeky cap set at an angle. Later we were issued with a heavy green woolen uniform of tunic, pants, leggings, boots and beret cap. We were also supplied with a waterproof ground sheet and a massive heavy, warm, woolen great-coat. For up to 25 years after disbanding similar great-coats could be seen on men delivering milk to the creamery, or ploughing, or at the fair in Ballybricken which looked very similar to the LDF great-coats in cut and appearance but peculiarly none of them were of army green colour. These great-coats always did take a good dye. Brown and black were the commonest colours and the most practical for farm wear. We were also armed with rifles and bayonets and shotguns; Remington and Lee Enfield being the commonest rifle types. We always carried 50 rounds of live 303 ammunition. Bayonet practice consisted of charging at full speed at a strawman or sand bags and sticking the bayonet into the hilt in it. Throwing of lighted Molatov Cocktails gave us an exhilarating time. Hand grenade throwing was a skill many Glenmore men excelled at.
2. How many of you can remember the summer camps at Pickardstown, Tramore where for 2 weeks every year we lived under canvas—2 men to every bivouac. The sergeants woke us each morning with the banging of a heavy stick on the taut canvas roof. You could hear the shout—“show a leg, show a leg” half-mile away. Shaving was done from a canvas bucket of cold water, drawn from the stream alongside. Breakfasts on the sunburned grass were synonymous with hard-boiled eggs and boiling hot tea. After a strenuous day of training we walked every evening into Tramore. There were two dancing sessions each evening in the Majestic Ballroom. The first session generally had about 80% of green uniformed virile young men in heavy leather boots trying to negotiate their female partners across the polished dance hall floor, in a very adventurous manoeuvre. Girls were heard to comment afterwards—“I will never dance with him again—he has two left legs.”
4. You will remember the Skow Bridge Platform, financed and managed by the Glenmore LDF. We charged 4 pennies, old money, entry fee. What money was left when we had paid the musicians were towards an annual spree in the Village Hall after Christmas each year. We wined, dined and danced all night and it was generally about noon on the following day when many got home to bed. I later years the West of Ireland was attributed with having launched and expended into every town in the West what became known as ‘The Ballroom of Romance.’ If truth be known the real first ‘Ballroom of Romance’ as J.K. Walsh’s Hall in Glenmore. I should add that the word ventilation and sound decibels were not in the vocabulary. The expression that ‘even the walls ere weeping’ was coined about our Village Hall.
5. You will remember the rifle firing sessions we had down in the Grannagh Quarries on hot Sunday afternoons. Remember the meat teas in Londergan’s café on the Quay in Waterford on our way home and then on to the dancing session at the Skow Bridge.
I pity the young men and women of today that have not experienced the feeling of open air dancing on a warm sunny evening with the sun slowly slipping down behind Tory Hill, when the beautiful melodious strains of piano accordion and violin could be heard on a calm evening up to two miles away. The music was generally rendered by Jim Walsh (Jim B) and Mick Gahan. Those not dancing were involved in animated discussion on the progress of Hitler’s armies across Europe, or why Glenmore failed to win the Kilkenny Senior Football Final that afternoon. We thank God for those very happy memories and pray that God has been merciful to all those friends of our youth…Who knows, Jim B, may still be playing the accordion for those ‘tripping the light fantastic’…and Paddy Tyler may still be acting as MC…
You may remember the competition we entered at the New Ross Feiseanna when all the commands were given in Irish.’
A service certificate was printed and provided to each volunteer present by James Kelly. [A copy not issued was found in Danny’s file.] It was also noted at the reunion that service medals were supposed to have been awarded to all LDF members after discharge. This did not occur and after discussion with the Army application forms were provided for medals at the reunion. The speech concluded with the sponsors of the reunion being thanked.
The feature photo is the front cover of the Local Security Force Gazette, Christmas 1940. The Local Security Force Gazette, Christmas 1940 was also located in Danny’s file.
[UPDATE 3 October 2021, for an early photo of the Glenmore LDF marching under the command of Richard Fluskey see, https://glenmore-history.com/francos-glenmore-recruit-richard-dick-fluskey-1907-1942/. This early photo was shared by Michael Hoynes, of Ballybrahee, Glenmore.]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Photo of Glenmore Co. of LDF 1944 at Tramore shared by Marion Coady Hendrick
Her father, Bill Walsh, of Cappagh, is middle row 2nd from left.
Her cousin, Jim Mernagh is middle row 4th from left.
Jim B. Walsh, of GLenmore VIllage is middle row far right (no relation).
If you can identify any other members of the Company in the photo please email glenmore.history@gmail.com
[UPDATE 4 May 2021] Joe Walsh, of Ballinlammy, Glenmore has been identified by his nephew Leo Walsh as being in the back row on the far left.