Glenmore Concerts: 1900-1950
In previous blog posts we highlighted various Glenmore entertainment activities including: the Glenmore Mummers , The Amazing Dr. Powell and his traveling show,, the Irish music and dancing held at Lucy’s Rock, and the Glenmore cinema operated by Bill Walsh. Earlier this week we posted a video clip recorded by John Ennett, a native of Cappagh, Glenmore who recorded local musicians and dancers circa 1980 playing and dancing in the Glen Bar. We received several requests for further information concerning local music. A search of local newspapers provided some interesting information concerning concerts held in Glenmore and various Glenmore musical and dramatic groups. Today, we are going to feature the Glenmore concerts held in the first half of the Twentieth Century.
The Munster Express in 1903 reported via its local correspondent that on Saturday the 20th of September, Mr. and Mrs. Cussens gave a “splendid entertainment in the schoolroom. They provided the “most enjoyable entertainment ever presented in Glenmore.” Although the weather looked threatening a bright sky appeared at six and a crowded house at seven. “The programmed was a wisely selected one for a country audience, and received well merited appreciation. Mr. Cassens always managed to set the house in roars of laughter which sometimes waxed to excitement, yet the evening might have lacked completion without the appearance of our local artists, Messrs Peter Brophy and McManus. ‘Peter’ ever happy in the ‘Harbour Lights,’ took the house by storm, while Mr. McManus rendered his Irish songs with truly exquisite pathos” (Munster Express, Sat. 26 Sept. 1903, p. 8). It is believed that Peter Brophy was a native of Ballinaraha, Glenmore and later lived in Buckstown, Mullinavat.
In 1911 a concert was held to buy new school desks for the Robinstown Boys’ National School on Easter Sunday evening. The “indefatigable pastor,” Rev. T. Phelan, P.P. suggested the fund raiser. It was reported in the newspaper article that Father Phelan had already made several improvements to the school buildings of the parish. Father Phelan was also responsible for renovations to St. James at this time. For further details concerning the Church renovations click here.
Relying upon the teachers of the boys’ and girls’ schools a programme was developed including a “comic” skit performed by the Glenmore schoolboys regarding two poor house inmates. Artistes included: Miss Marian Spratt, Feis Gold Medalist, Rosbercon; Miss Harris, pianist, Waterford; Mr. M. Murray, Waterford’s leading tenor and Mr. Tommy Power, Waterford’s famous comedian. “The house was perhaps overcrowded and many who travelled far were unable to get admission. So many were unable to procure seats that it has been decided to repeat the concert next Sunday. There will be new attractions to the programme, and the artistes from Waterford and Rosbercon will again contribute.”
“The concert opened with a beautiful rendering of ‘Let Erin Remember,’ in two-part harmony, by a mixed choir of boys and girls of the Glenmore Schools. This choir, in opening the second part of the programme, also sang with much tase and soul stirring Irish anthem ‘Go Mairigh ar nGaedig Slan,’ and rendered equally well the national anthem ‘A Nation Once More,’ at the close. The school girls gave a beautiful exhibition of Irish dancing, which evinced very careful training, and evoked rounds of applause. A most humorous play, descriptive of the petty jealousies and quarrelsome tendencies of two workhouse inmates was admirably staged by the school boys. The boys grasped to perfection the wit and humour of parts, and succeeded in throwing their audience into roars of laughter. These schoolboys also gave an exquisite rendering, in two party harmony of that quaintly pathetic melody, ‘Home Sweet Home,’ beautifully intermingling with the different performances of the school children were the songs of the artistes … Miss Marian Spratt, Rosbercon, who possesses a voice remarkable for truth and sweetness in a pretty Irish song, and ‘Sweet Vale of Avoca.’ Miss Harris who presided at the piano, in addition to her excellent accompaniments, gave very artistic piano selections … Mr. Murray, in the ‘Fairy Boy’ and ‘She is Far from the Land,’ held the audience spell bound with a beautifully clear and cultured tenor voice. For encores he sang ‘Kitty of Coleraine,’ and ‘Believe me if all These Endearing Young Charms.’ For a rendition of “Kitty of Coleraine” by Bing Crosby click here and “Believe me…” by John McCormack, click here.
“Mr. Tommy Power was comicality personified. His songs possessing the richest vein of humour never even approached vulgarity, and were appreciated beyond measure. His friends in Glenmore would like to have a few more hours with Mr. Power. Mr. W. Curran, though looking fatigued from the strain of stage management did justice to his comic “Walkers Walked Away.”
“At the close, Rev. T. Phelan, P.P. delivered a short address in which he thanked the artistes from Waterford and Rosbercon who had contributed, the teachers Miss F. McGrath, Miss A. Curran and Mrs. H. Curran who trained the children with such success, and the people who had appreciated their efforts by attending” (Waterford News & Star, 21 April 1911, p. 6).
No Glenmore concerts could be located in the local newspapers in the turbulent 1920’s. The Waterford News & Star reported in 1931 that “for the first time in many years a concert and dramatic entertainment will be held at Glenmore by the re-organised Dramatic Class with Waterford artistes contributing to the concert programme” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 26 June 1931, p. 5).
In June 1933 the New Ross Standard advertised a “Grand Concert and Dramatic Entertainment” was to be held at Glenmore on June 29th and July 2nd. A programme of Irish Music was to be performed by Liam Walsh, of Waterford, the Champion Irish Piper. Comedy was to be provided by Box and Cox, of Slieverue and comic sketches by P. Delaney and John Kehoe, of New Ross. Musical selections were to be provided by the Glenmore String Band with choruses and dances. “Doors open 7.30 (old time). Admission 2/- and 1/-. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1933, p. 10).
A few years later the Munster Express reported on a “Talkie and Variety Show” that visited Glenmore. “Patrick Walsh is at present showing to full houses in Ballyfacey with his Irish-American Talkiedrome. He will visit Tullogher on Sunday and Glenmore on Friday next. This show is meeting with great success, as part of the country, and apart from the entertainment provided, are a novelty, while the variety items are first-class, making this show the best and most up-to-date touring at present” (Munster Express, Fri. 8 Oct. 1937, p. 8).
In the 1940’s concerts became a favoured fundraiser for groups such as the Glenmore GAA, Glenmore Ploughing Association and the Glenmore LDF. The Glenmore venue of choice was Lizzie J.K.’s dance hall built according to Danny Dowling in 1937 behind the old Gaffney shop premises. The dance hall was the subject of a public health report to the Kilkenny County Council. The report stated that an inspection of the building for structural and fire safety had been performed and concluded that it was “all right.” The report noted that one fire extinguisher was installed and also a stirrup pump. The report concluded that these should be replaced by a pump with a long hose and fire buckets (Munster Express, Fri. 14 Sept. 1945, p. 6). The Munster Express in its column, “Echoes from South Kilkenny” stated that concerts and variety entertainment had become a very popular pastime in the southern area (Munster Express, Fri. 16 March 1945, p. 3).
On St. Patrick’s Day 1940 the Glenmore Ploughing Association held a Ceilidhe in Walsh’s Hall (Munster Express, Fri. 15 March 1940, p. 8), and the following year the Glenmore Football club held a Ceilidhe and Old Time Waltzes in Walsh’s. The advertised admission fee was £1 (Munster Express, Fri. 21 Nov. 1941, p. 5).
The LDF in 1946 also held a fundraiser consisting of a “grand concert and dramatic entertainment” in Walsh’s Hall. The Slieverue Dramatic Class presented a two-act comedy entitled “When a Man Marries.” The programme also included “concert items by leading Waterford and district singers and dancers (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Feb. 1946, p. 5). Unfortunately, none of the district singers and dancers were identified. The comedy theme regarding marital status also appeared in the “Grand Concert” held in 1947 to aid the Glenmore Football club on the 1st and 2nd of November. The Mullinavat Dramatic Society presented a 3 act comedy entitled “Troubled Bachelors” along with a “full variety programme (Munster Express, Fr. 31 Oct. 1947, p. 5).
The Glenmore Hurling and Football Club held a “Grand Concert” in 1949. The “Rathinure Players” were the advertised featured group with the admission advertised as £2 (Munster Express, Fri. 8 April 1949, p. 5). The following year the Glenmore PTAA (Pioneer Total Abstinence Association) held a “Grand concert and variety entertainment” as a fundraiser in Kirwan’s Hall. The Poulpeasty Dramatic Society presented a three-act comedy “Poor Jimmy” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Dec. 1950, p. 7). From this advertisement it appears the Lizzie J.K. Walsh family had sold the hall.
Although local musicians played at local cross road dances and in homes across the parish these activities were not reported in local newspapers. If readers have any information concerning Glenmore musicians and singers we would like to record and share this information.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
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