Glenmore Redmond Volunteers and the Fife & Drum Band

For many, history was a subject in school that concentrated on Kings and wars. The everyday life of ordinary people did not feature in history books or lessons, thus it is often difficult to determine how national events impacted on Glenmore people. Thanks to Danny Dowling’s interviews and research we have details of how Glenmore people reacted to evictions and supported various national political movements. Today, we highlight the 1914 establishment of the Glenmore Committee of Redmond Volunteers and the Glenmore Fife and Drum “Redmond Volunteer Band.”

In February 1970, Danny interviewed Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill ( 1888-1979) concerning the Redmond Volunteers of Glenmore. For our international readers, John Redmond (1856-1918) of Wexford, was a politician who advocated Home Rule for Ireland by peaceful, constitutional means. Today, Danny stated that Redmond endeared himself to locals when he was first elected to the House of Commons for New Ross in 1881 and was suspended within 24 hours after giving his maiden speech. Redmond and couple dozen other Home Rule for Ireland supporters, including Michael Davitt the founder of the Land League, were suspended from Parliament.

John Redmond was a great admirer of Charles Stewart Parnell and Redmond became the party whip for the Irish Parliamentary Party. After the Parnell divorce scandal in 1890 Redmond continued to support him. When Parnell died in 1891 he became leader of the minority Parnellite faction and was elected to Parliament from Waterford which he represented until his death. In 1912 the third Home Rule Bill was introduced and passed in 1914. Implementation of Home Rule stalled first with Ulster Unionists forming the Ulster Volunteers to resist Home Rule by threatening force and secondly, due to the outbreak of World War I. In response, the nationalists formed their own paramilitary group, the National Volunteers in 1913.

The National Volunteers split over Redmond’s support of the British war effort and his advocacy that National Volunteers should serve in the British army. The Easter Rising in 1916 is said to have taken Redmond by surprise, led by a faction of the National Volunteers. As the First World War dragged on support disappeared for Redmond and his policy of Home Rule for Ireland based on peaceful, constitutional means. Controversy still exists surrounding Redmond’s support of the British war effort. For example, in 2016 a banner featuring Redmond in Dublin was defaced by protesters (see, https://www.thejournal.ie/misneach-1916-college-green-banner-john-redmond-2681018-Mar2016/ ).

In Glenmore in early 1914 a meeting was held in the Glenmore School. Father Phelan, the Glenmore Parish Priest, presided over the meeting to discuss and elect the Glenmore Committee of “Redmond Volunteers.” The school was full, and a secret paper ballot was held for the election. The “Redmond Volunteers” Committee Members elected included: Nicholas Forristal, the Mill; Jack Dunphy, Ballyverneen; Pat Reddy, Kilbride; Pat Hanrahan, Glenmore; Jim Fluskey, Glenmore; Bill Power, Robinstown. Nicky Forristal topped the poll, and Pat Reddy, of Kilbride, came in second. John Dunphy of Ballyverneen, and Nick Curran, of Robinstown, were both not elected but due to the persistence of Father Phelan they were both co-opted onto the Committee.

Danny revealed this morning that the Parish Priest was not a supporter of Redmond. Danny does not know whether it was because Redmond supported Parnell after his divorce scandal or he could not support Redmond due to his personal political affiliations. Danny stated that several Redmond supporters returning from a night drinking in New Ross stopped to shout abuses outside the house where the priest resided waking local inhabitants. Another interesting fact was revealed. In about 1870 the Parish Priest, of that time, forced all three pubs in Glenmore to close. One of the pubs was situated just in front of the present Priest’s house and disrupted Mass with drunken shouts, inappropriate conduct and the banging of mugs on the bar. Glenmore remained a “dry” parish until 1963, therefore causing those seeking a drink prior to 1963 to travel outside of the parish.

Shortly, after the “Redmond Volunteers” Committee was established in 1914 the Glenmore Fife and Drum Band was founded as a “Redmond Volunteer Band.” The band trainer was Tom Butler a sanitary officer with the New Ross U.D.C. He came out to Glenmore once or twice a week. Peter and Stephen Mernagh of Foristalstown played in it, as well as Stephen Heffernan, of Aylwardstown, and Pat Kennedy of Kilbride.  Jack Murphy of Weatherstown was the Drummer. Nicky Forristal stated that he was “no use at it at all.” Ned Murphy, Jack’s father, was a drummer in the St. Mary’s Brass Band of New Ross. (Ned Murphy died in the great flu epidemic of 1918.)

The Glenmore Fife and Drum Band gave a long time training in front of Peggie Gaffney’s house in the Village. They then went into the Board Room above Fluskey’s and ended up in the outbuilding opposite the Barrack’s across the Ballybrahee Road in the Village.

Nicky Forristal reported that the Glenmore Fife and Drum Band only played once outside the parish. The band played in New Ross at a parade of the Volunteers in Barrett’s Park about the beginning of the war on a holiday the 29th of June 1914. It was the only band at the parade of Volunteers that day. Nicky reported that “they weren’t able to play at all. All the children of Ross were mocking them. Nicky Denny, of Mullinahone, who was drunk that day, tried to get the drum off Jack Murphy to belt it.”

It is not recorded whether the band broke up due to disillusionment with Redmond, the war or due to some other reason such as the lack of appreciation for their musical efforts.

The painting of the fife player above is by Manet, entitled The Fife Player (1866) Musée d’Orsay.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh