Uncategorized
now browsing by category
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.
Danny Dowling (1927-2021): The End of an Era
A wonderful gentleman, historian, friend and founder of Glenmore-History.com has passed away at the age of 94 years.
Condolences may be left via the following link https://rip.ie/death-notice/danny-dowling-glenmore-kilkenny/453083
Deepest sympathy to Pat, Orla, Aoife, young Danny and all extended family members.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé agus. (May he be at God's right hand.) Go neirí on bóthar leis ar neamh. (May the road rise to meet him in heaven.) Kathleen
The Glenmore Ploughing Association, Est. 1938
Today, we are going to highlight the first two years of the Glenmore Ploughing Association which held its first match on the 16th of February 1938. Ploughing Associations in Ireland began to form early in the 1930’s. According to the National Ploughing Association the first inter-county ploughing contest took place in 1931. Two friends got into an argument over which of their counties had the best ploughmen. However, unlike most arguments, that remain unresolved, Denis Allen, of Gorey, Co. Wexford and J.J. Bergin, of Athy, Co. Kildare determined that a ploughing contest would settle the issue. Thus, the friendly rivalry between two friends gave birth to what would become the National Ploughing Association. On Monday the 16th of February 1931 the first contest took place in W.K. Hosie’s 26 acres field at Coursetown in Athy. For the history and some old photos of the National Ploughing Association see, https://www.npa.ie/historymenu/.
The following description of the first Glenmore Ploughing Match was found in the Munster Express (Fri. 18 Feb. 1938, p. 8) and contains the names of 45 Glenmore men and women. In the early years of Ploughing Associations women were not contestants, but rather were listed for the “catering arrangements.” In reviewing a number of newspaper accounts, of early ploughing associations forming and holding matches, it is very unusual for the names of women who supported the cause to be acknowledged let alone named.
The First Glenmore Ploughing Association Match
On the hillside of Robinstown, with a beautiful panorama of fertile land stretched beneath, the first ploughing fixture in the history of Glenmore parish took place on Wednesday last, being favoured with ideal weather. The number of entries totalled 30, representative of Kilkenny and Wexford and included David O’Connor, Campile, All-Ireland champion; Michael Redmond, former champion, and Pat Walsh, Clogga, Kilkenny senior champion. The judges were Messrs John Walsh, Ballycraddick, Co. Waterford; J. Kinsella, Crosstown, Co. Wexford, and David Egan, Wexford. Interviewed by our representative, the judges stated that the work done was of an exceptionally high standard, particularly in the junior class, the winner of which was notably outstanding. So keen was the competition that a number of
competitors tied for places with equal points. Nothing was left undone to make the initial fixture a success, and the committee deserves the highest credit for the splendid success achieved, and it is almost certain that the fixture will now be an annual event.Those responsible for the arrangements were — Messrs R. Murphy, Robinstown, Chairman; Thos. Mullally, Davidstown, Vice-Chairman; James Kelly, Aylwardstown, Hon. Sec.; Patk. Corcoran, Mullinahone; Hon. Treas., and the following committee — Messrs. J. Phelan, do; Thos. Walsh, Davidstown; John Doherty, do; Nicholas Walsh, do; John Kirwan, Gaulstown; Michael Kirwan, do; John Kirwan, Robinstown; Michael Reddy, do; Thomas Murphy, do; Thos. Roche, do; Thos. Heffernan, Kearney Bay; Ml. Heffernan, do; Ed. Heffernan, do; James Irish, Aylwardstown; Jas. Delahunty, do; John Culleton, Kilbride; Thos. Freyne, do; Wm. Grace, do ; Nicholas Mullins, Flemingstown; Joe Walsh, Rochestown; P. Roche, Rathinure; Luke Roche, Haggard, and John McBride, Newtown.
The catering arrangements were efficiently carried out by the following ladies’ committee —The Misses Molly Culleton, Kilbride; Teresa Freyne, do; Alice Grace, do; Stasia Aylward,Parkstown; Mary Aylward, do; Sarah Kelly, Graignakill; Margaret Kelly, do; Bridget Connors, Ballyfacey; Mary Connolly, Scartnamore; Minnie McDonald, Gaulstown; Margt. McBride, Robinstown; Margt. Sheehy, Ballinclare; Kathleen Walsh, Rochestown; Bridget Roche, Rathinure; Bridie Delahunty, Aylwardstown; Cecilia Heffernan, Kearney Bay; Bessie Murphy, Mullinakill, and Bridie Phelan, Mullinahone.
A number of subscriptions were contributed by Waterford and New Ross traders, as well as locally, a sum of £5 being given by Glenmore Co-operative Creamery. A valuable cup presented by Major McCalmont. M.F.H., Mount Juliet, will be competed for at next year’s fixture. [Notwithstanding this announcement per a statement made by P.N. O’Gorman (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11) Major McCalmont wasn’t asked to sponsor a cup until December 1938.]
The Awards. The results were as follows —
- Class 1 (senior, open)—1st, W. Kehoe, Boley, Co. Wexford; 2nd, tie between Michael Redmond, Wexford, and David O’Connor, do : 4th. J. Byrne, Oldtown. Best furrow, Pat Walsh, Clogga; best middle and prize for Star plough, D. O’Connor.
- Class 2 (junior, open)—1st, John Golfer, Campile; 2nd, Ml. Murphy, Ballyanne ; 3rd, tie between Thomas Walsh, Davidstown; Wm. Mackey, Mooncoin, and Stephen Curtis, Clongeen, Co. Wexford. Best middle and best furrow, John Colfer.
- Class 3 (novice, confined to Co. Kilkenny) —1st, Joe Walsh, Rochestown; 2nd, tie between John Dunphy, Mooncoin, and John Walsh, Firhouse, Kilkenny; 4th, Michael Reddy, Robinstown. Best middle, tie between Joe Walsh and John Walsh; best furrow, John Dunphy.
The field was kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr. Richard Murphy, Robinstown, and there was an extremely large attendance of spectators, who followed the work of the competitors with keen interest. At the conclusion, Mr. Murphy, on behalf of the committee, thanked the competitors, the judges, the ladies’ committee, the subscribers, those who had kindly lent horses, and all who in any way had contributed to the success of the fixture. He announced, amidst applause, that a cup had been presented for next year’s ploughing match, and added that Wexford would have to fight hard for the honours next time. “The British Government are having a big ploughing fixture in Northern Ireland,” concluded Mr. Murphy, “and have invited representatives from Southern Ireland to compete. The Wexfordmen will go, and the Kilkenny men will go too and they will show the British Government how to plough, the same as they showed them how to fight over a hundred years ago.” (Applause.)
The New Ross Standard (Fri. 18 Feb. 1938, p. 3) also contained a large article on the first Glenmore ploughing match. Unfortunately, the New Ross Standard incorrectly identified Rochestown as the venue and its article did not name the members of the ladies committee. The article does contain several flowery statements concerning the event including, “… it can be truthfully said that this year’s initial one has with one bound placed Glenmore in a lofty place in the map of ploughing importance in the provinces of Leinster and Munster.”
The day following Glenmore’s first match, the 8th National Ploughing Championship was held at Oak Park, Carlow where it was reported that 10,000 people were in attendance. Among the numerous events the award for the best pair of farm horses went to Major McCalmont, of Mount Juliet, Kilkenny (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 Feb. 1938, p. 3).
In order to fund themselves the Glenmore Ploughing Association began organising dances. The first dance was held on St. Patrick’s night (Munster Express, Fri. 4 March 1938, p. 8). Shortly thereafter an “all night” dance was held by the Association in the Glenmore Creamery on Easter Sunday night. Dancing was from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. with an admission of 3/- and 2/- including supper. (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Apr. 1938, p. 8). In September 1938 as the Association prepared for its second dance James Kelly, of Aylwardstown House, the Secretary of the Association obtained a dance license for the Glenmore Creamery (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 Sept 1938, p. 6). The New Ross Standard reported that, “The members are leaving nothing undone to make the social as successful and enjoyable as possible, and the catering arrangements will be in the hands of a capable and experienced committee of local ladies, which is a sufficient criterion that all will be perfect in this important section. The music has been entrusted to the popular New Ross Accordion Band, which is held in high regard by local dance devotees.” (Munster Express, Fri. 23 Sept. 1938, p. 8).
By the time the 1939 Glenmore Ploughing Match was held a number of additional men had joined the Association including: Michael Phelan, John Power, George O’Connor, John O’Connor, P. Walsh, P. Hynes, J. Doherty, Thomas Fitzgerald, T. Hartley, and P. Ennett. (New Ross Standard, Fri 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11).
The Second Annual Glenmore Ploughing Match
The 1939 Glenmore Ploughing Match was held on the 18th of January and a total of 34 teams competed. The match was held in a “splendid field” kindly offered by Mr. John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack.” “Since the Glenmore Ploughing Association was formed it has been going from record, to record in the successes of their fixtures. When the initial match was organised last year the huge number of teams competed, thus making a record that had scarcely a parallel in history of ploughing matches in any, county in this country, but this year witnessed the enormous number of teams competing. Entries were received from no less than 44 teams, ten being unable to come owing to weather; conditions and other causes. Such outstanding entries establish the immense and the widespread popularity of the Ploughing Association’s fixture. Added evidence of this was also in the fact that, it was attended; by over one thousand people. The competing teams came from the counties of Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford; amongst the competitors was last year’s All-Ireland champion. Mr. David O’Connor, Knockes, Campile, and some have won the championship for several years, including Mr. Michael Redmond, The Ballagh. In Class 1. Senior open, Mr. Wm. Kehoe, Yoletown, Ballycullane, won first prize again this year.”
Awards won by Glenmore men included:
- Class, I senior (open) (All three places went to Wexford men)
- Class II, senior —3rd place, Joe Walsh, Rochestown
- Class III, junior—1st Thomas Walsh, Davidstown; best furrow (tied) Thomas Walsh, Davidstown & Michael Heffernan, Kearney Bay
- Class IV (novice)—1st Patrick Hogan, Haggard and 4th place, Thomas Freyne, Kilbride. Best middle and best furrow went to Patrick Hogan.
- The Major McCalmont Cup for the best ploughman in the parish of Glenmore was presented by New Ross auctioneer, P.N. O’Gorman due to the death of the Major’s wife in December. The Cup was won by Joe Walsh of Rochestown and Patrick Hogan, of Haggard, was second.
- The Special Prize by the Glenmore Co-op Creamery for ploughmen under 21 went to Nicholas Walsh of Davidstown with James Connolly, of Gaulston, second. Special prize for best turned out team (of horses) 1st James Freyne, Kilbride; 2nd James Cody, Weatherstown and 3rd Patrick Doolan, Jamestown. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11).
That same month newspaper accounts of the success of the Glenmore Association members at other matches began to be published. For example, at the Mooncoin Ploughing match Joseph Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore was first in the junior class and Thomas Walsh, of Davidstown, Glenmore was awarded a first for best centre in that class. His brother, Nicholas Walsh, of Davidstown, obtained a fourth in the novice class. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 12).
Although it is not clear from the newspaper accounts whether any Glenmore men competed in the County Kilkenny contest, held three miles from Kilmacow, in January 1939, it was reported that 43 of the best ploughmen of the county vied for the honour of representing Kilkenny in the National Ploughing Contest which was to take place at Killarney on the 8th of February. “They ploughed a sod that was last ploughed by oxen 104 years ago. They acquitted themselves well in a field which, in formation and on top was very difficult.” Mr. Michael Kinsella, Mooncoin, who was only 20 years of age won the senior class and the McCalmont Challenge Cup. It was noted that championship ploughing is comparatively new in Kilkenny, and the majority of entrants were men in their late teens and early twenties. Five years earlier, at a like fixture, although there were very few fixtures, the majority of entrants were men over 40. In the last five years of the decade almost every district began holding annual ploughing matches resulting in young farmers and labourers becoming accomplished ploughmen. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Jan. 1939, p. 11).
Special thanks to Kelvin Johnson Treacy for locating and sharing the 1938 Munster Express article and to other readers who furnished information concerning the Association. We hope to provide further information regarding this group in future blog posts.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh