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L A T E S T P O S T S
The Culliton Brothers of Niagara Falls, N.Y. & Natives of Kilbride, Glenmore
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Lecture: “100 Years of Ireland’s National Police Force, 1925-2025”
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Jim B. (1918-1988) of Glenmore Village [Updated]
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Thatched Houses in Glenmore at the End of WWII [Updated]
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1798: “The Rebels Are Gone to Glenmore”
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The Glen Bar Fire 1987
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Dominic Fitzgerald of Rathinure, Glenmore, Part II
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From Danny’s Files: Rose Strange (1847-1935) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
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Dominic Fitzgerald of Rathinure, Glenmore, Part I
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Early Glenmore Death Records
A Glenmore Dispute: The Location of Leacht Ui Deaghaidh
Today, as our sixth excerpt from Carrigan’s, The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory,( v. 4 p. 97-100 (1906)) we feature Canon Carrigan’s coverage of his correction of acclaimed Irish scholar John O’Donovan. Carrigan’s correction of O’Donovan was based upon two interviews Carrigan conducted in 1900 of a Ballyrahan, Glenmore native Peter Grant (1811-1902). Although we could not find a headstone or obituary for Peter Grant, he is forever immortalised in Canon Carrigan’s work.
John O’Donovan (1806-1861)
In previous posts we covered various aspects of John O’Donovan’s early life. His mother was from Rochestown, now in the Parish of Glenmore. After his father’s death in 1817 John spent a substantial amount of time with his paternal uncle Patrick O’Donovan, of Donovan’s Mill, at Ballyrowragh, Slieverue on the border of what is now Glenmore Parish. O’Donovan is said to have started his education in a hedge school and then attended the Hunt Academy in Waterford City. His father, Edmund O’Donovan died in 1817, and a few years later at the age of 17 O’Donovan went to Dublin.
For further information regarding O’Donovan’s early life see our post of 9 Sept. 2023.
Schoolmaster O’Donovan
According to Carrigan, John O’Donovan started a school about 1822 “in his native district.” He gathered a number of pupils some were several years older than himself. “Of the alumni of this modest academy the last survivor was blind old Peter Grant, of Ballyrahan, Glenmore, whom the writer met on two occasions, in the year 1900, and spoke of his old master, ‘poor Johnnie Donovan,’ with the greatest admiration and affection.” (Carrigan, vol. 4, p. 356). If this and other information concerning when he moved to Dublin is correct, O’Donovan was a schoolmaster for about a year. Nothing has been found in any of Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) transcribed notebooks concerning John O’Donovan being a schoolmaster in Slieverue or Glenmore.
Although a place was secured for O’Donovan to study at Maynooth he declined to go there because he did not wish to become a priest. O’Donovan’s first job was in the Public Service Office where he translated and transcribed ancient manuscripts (Munster Express, 10 Nov. 2006, p. 13). From 1830 to 1842 O’Donovan was employed on the first Ordinance Survey researching place names. He was sent into the field and travelled across Ireland. From around Ireland, O’Donovan sent letters to his boss containing descriptions of local lore, traditions and antiquities. These letters were placed in 103 volumes and became known as the “O’Donovan Letters.”
O’Donovan’s Incorrect Birthdate
Carrigan pointed out that O’Donovan incorrectly wrote that he was born in 1809 when he was actually born in 1806. In volume 4 Carrigan printed a copy of the Slieverue Parish Register proving that O’Donovan’s baptism occurred in 1806 (Carrigan, vol. 4 p. 356). Certainly, in that time before passports, driving licenses or even the State registered births and deaths many people provided incorrect ages or years of birth.
We all learn our age and birthdate from our parents. Prior to modern times little importance was attached to birthdates. Also, incorrect dates of birth for persons born in the early 19th century were probably due in large part to the fact that a sizable proportion of the population were unable to read or write. Penal laws were only fading when O’Donovan was a boy.
Notwithstanding Carrigan’s public comment that O’Donovan had utilized an incorrect year of birth, Carrigan failed to check the year of birth of Peter Grant, of Ballyrahan, Glenmore. Carrigan had access to the Parish Records, but did not find that Peter Grant was baptized on 30 June 1811. In 1900 Grant was not “over 90 years of age” as Carrigan claimed. Peter Grant was 88 or 89 when he was interviewed by Carrigan twice in 1900. Peter Grant (1811-1902) was the late Jimmy Reddy’s (c. 1926-2011) grandfather.
O’Donovan’s Letter of 30 Sept. 1841
Carrigan reprinted O’Donovan’s entire letter of 30 Sept. 1841 (Carrigan, vol. 4, p. 98-100). There were four sentences that appear to have caused Carrigan concern. After speaking with Peter Grant, Carrigan concluded that O’Donovan was wrong concerning the place where the Leacht Ui Deaghaidh was located.
“In the townland of Scartnamo about a half mile to the north of the Mill of Ballyrowragh and immediately to the left off the old road as you go from Waterford to New Ross, is shown the site of a monument called Leacht Ui Deaghaidh, i.e. the monument of O’Day, whom tradition calls the Ridire O’Day i.e. the Ritter or Knight O’Day. The site of his house is pointed out in a field on the other side of the road not far from the site of his leacht, but in a different townland, viz, in little Gaulestown…(O’Donovan’s Letter, 30 Sept. 1841)
Carrigan’s Location of O’Dea’s House and Leacht
“In the late Peter Grant’s Moon a’ Ridhizha (locally translated, the Baronite’s Bog), low down on the slope of Ballyrahan townland, and close to the old frowning rock of Corriganurra, is shown the site of “the Ridhizha O’Deaw’s house.” Who the Ridhizha O’Deaw, or O’Dea, is not quite clear. If we have to credit tradition, he was lord or owner of the whole Barony of Ida, and gave it the name of the Barony, viz., Ida, Eedeaw, or Ui-Deaghaidh, represents not the name of an individual after the adoption of surnames, but the name of the tribe that occupied it in much earlier times (Carriagan, p. 97).”
“The site of Ridhizha’s house was something more than half an acre in extent, and was covered over with foundations and low mounds, till it was levelled and tilled by the late owner, about 1840. It is now clothed with the greenest grass. The remainder of the field is low lying and boggy, and hence its name, Moon a Ridhizha. There was formerly a well here called Thubber-a-Ridhizha, or the ‘Baronite’s well.’”
“Leachth Ee Deaw, that is O’Dea’s monument bush, or ‘lone bush’ as they call it here, is on the roadside, opposite the Half -Way House in Aylwardstown, one mile and a half north of Moon-a-Rihizha. The bush was formerly surrounded by a little mound or earthen ring, which has been broken down by the trampling of cattle. Here rests ‘Brian O’Deaw,’ sometimes identified by tradition with the Ridhizha O’Deaw, who lived in Moon-a-Ridhizha. The Leachth field commands a view sublime in its extent and variety.”
“O’Donovan incorrectly placed Leachth Ee Deaw on the bounds of Scartnamore and Ballyrahan. There is, no doubt, a leachth, or lone bush on the spot he indicates, but it has never been known as Leachth Ee Deaw. It was planted there a great many years ago by a man named Kierevan, in memory of his deceased mother. The late Peter Grant, of Ballyrahan, when over 90 years of age, assured the present writer that this leachth was never called Leachth Ee Deaw; and that if it had any name at all it should be Leachth Ee Kierevawn or Kierevan’s Leachth, from the man who planted it, and was still living in his own early days.”
Peter Grant (1811-1902) of Ballybrahan, Glenmore
Peter Grant died the 10 August 1902 at Ballyrahan. He was a widower, a farmer, and aged 95, according to the death register. His daughter, Johanna Reddy, was present when he died.
Peter Grant was baptized 30 Jun 1811 at Ballinguile?, Glenmore, the son of John Grant and Bridget Aylward. Sponsors were William Grant and Mary Grant. His sister Anastatia Grant, baptized 10 June 1809, was born at Ballavrahen (sic), Glenmore and his sister Margaret Grant bapt.12 April 1807, the record reflects the address again as Ballinguile.
Peter Grant’s father is found in The Tithe Applotment Books (1829) for the townland of Ballyrahan. Plot 55 was comprised of 18 statute acres and John Grant was the tenant.
It is believed that Peter Grant (1811-1902) married Anne Grace of Glenpipe on 12 Sept 1846 at Rosbercon. Johanna Reddy (daughter of Peter Grant per the death register) married James Reddy on 24 Feb. 1881. Her address was recorded as Gaulestown. Their son John Reddy (1882-1961) married Margaret Hennessey (1886-1970) of the Rower. One of her sisters was the mother of May Roche (c. 1918-2001) of Scart, Glenmore. John and Margaret’s son, James Reddy (c. 1926-2011) married Kitty O’Hanlon of Newtown, Glenmore. Kitty died on 18 July 2021. The couple had no children.
Who Was Correct?
Generally, historians rely upon the earliest reliable written record, yet in this case both O’Donovan and Canon Carrigan were relying upon what they were told. O’Donovan was from the area and was an Irish speaker, and did not indicate where or when he obtained his information. Carrigan was not from the area and did not speak Irish. However, Carrigan found an elderly life-long resident who was about the same age as O’Donovan and provided what he had been told about the lone sceach. Relying on living boundaries or monuments is fraught with difficulties as trees fall are cut down etc. Loose stones are also easily moved or trampled by cattle.
It appears that O’Kelly (The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 112)) agreed with or followed Carrigan’s view. It seems unlikely that we will ever know definitively who was correct, if either, but O’Donovan and Carrigan were agreed that the local tradition put an O’Dea house and monument in Glenmore.
For a brief outline of Canon Carrigan’s (1860-1924) early life and work see our post of 17 Sept. 2023
For a brief history of O’Donovan’s (1806-1861) early life see our post of 9 Sept. 2023 and our post of 13 March 2021.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above is Donovan’s Mill taken in 2023.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Brigid Hunt née Brennan (1922-2015) of Glenmore Village & the 1965 Tramore Murder
While transcribing Danny Dowling’s Notebook 30 this week, there were two entries recorded where Danny twice interviewed Brigid Hunt née Brennan (1922-2015) who was born and reared in Glenmore Village. Danny after providing her full name in his notes thereafter referred to her a “Bridgie.” Danny’s interviews with “Bridgie” centred around her time in Glenmore, and what she remembered about her school day and her early work that led her to Tramore. However, it was only after attempting to locate an obituary for this Glenmore native that we learned of her direct link to a murder that shocked Tramore in 1965.
Early Years in Glenmore
Brigid Brennan was born on 23rd November 1922 [DD Notebook 25] to John Brennan (1872 -1957) and his wife Ellen Cahill (1876-1946). Her father was employed by the Kilkenny County Council on the roads and was paid fortnightly. Although he held a steady job, Bridgie stated, “the poverty we experienced was terrible as wages even on the Council were small.” John did odd jobs to supplement his income such as gardening for Bevan’s and Curran’s. Sometimes he also worked for Pat Hanrahan (1886-1957). [DD Notebook 30].
John Brennan (labourer) and Ellen Cahill of Ballycroney, Glenmore were married at Glenmore on 27 October 1903. John’ address at the time of the marriage was Cluan, Kilmaganny, he was 30 years of age and his father was John Brennan (labourer). Ellen was 24 years of age and was the daughter of Peter Cahill (labourer) [Civil Marriage Records].
Ellen Cahill was the daughter of Peter Cahill and his wife Mary Carty. She was born on 29 May 1876 and baptized the following day. Her godparents were James Norris and Bridget Dooling (Glenmore Parish Records).
Bridgie’s Siblings
According to Bridgie her parents, John Brennan and Ellen Brennan née Cahill had four daughters in their family. [1] Margaret “Maggie” [1905-1997] was the eldest. She was born in Kilmaganny [Birth Register: on 25 Feb. 1905] and married to Willie Brown of Tramore. They had family. [According to the marriage Register Margaret Brennan married William Browne on 25 September 1939]. [2] Bridgie married Sean Hunt (1928-1965) and lived in Tramore. [3] Mary Brennan never married and lived with Bridgie in Tramore. [4] Ellie Brennan died aged 11 of eczema in St. Patrick’s in Waterford, “in Dr. Michael Gibbon’s time in Glenmore. He made all the funeral arrangement and she is buried in Ballygurrim with the Cahills” [DD Notebook 30].
The 1911 Census shows that John, Ellen and their eldest were residing in Kilmaganny. John was working as an agricultural labourer and the couple had been married for 6 years and had two children born, but only one child was alive in 1911.
According to the death register Ellen Brennan (c. 1919-1934) died 4 December 1934 in the Co. Hospital of Waterford. She was aged 15 and died of “acute eczema of the whole body and nephritis” (12 days) (Death Register). It is likely that the renal problems she suffered caused the eczema.
Glenmore Girl’s School
Bridgie told Danny that when she was going to the girls’ school in Glenmore in the 1930’s there were about 90 girls attending the school. The teachers were Mrs. Heffernan, the principal, and Mrs. Alice Power who taught the infants and the younger girls. There were about 60 girls in Mrs. Power’s class and in Mrs. Heffernan’s class there were about 30 girls. There was religious instruction every day and the religion class started at 11 o’clock.
She said the country girls used to bring kindling for the fire. She remembers a lot of the boys were barefoot, and some of the girls in the summertime. She also remembered the children in the top seats of the chapel every Sunday before second Mass for prayers.
Danny also interviewed his sister, Mary Barron née Dowling (1928-2019) of Ballyconway concerning the girl’s school. Mary reported that when she was going to school in the 1930’s the principal teacher in the girl’s school was Teressa McGrath a native of Russellstown, Clonmel. Miss Russell came to Glenmore in the early years of the century. She then married Mikey Heffernan of Cappagh, Glenmore Village. Alice Power née Curran of Jamestown was the assistant teacher with Mrs. Heffernan. She was a native of Robinstown, Glenmore.
The school consisted of two rooms each with a fireplace. When the fire was lit in the wintertime some of the girls were sent out to collect kindling and firewood from the nearby ditches on a regular basis. Sanitary facilities consisted of dry toilets situated outside at the back of the school. There was a half hour of religious studies every morning [DD Notebook 30].
Jo Doyle née Mernagh (1932-2021) always stated that it was a wonder that children were not injured or killed on the hill behind the old schools. The dry toilets were located about a quarter way down the steep hill behind the old schools. Children would stop their rapid descent by grabbing the trees.
Glenmore Dispensary
Bridgie when working for JK’s used to tidy and clean the dispensary which was used every Tuesday when the doctor attended. She remembered well old Dr. Matt Coughlan and his son Dr. Val. The old man, she said was very lucky with his patients He used also pull teeth without an anaesthetic. She remembers Mollie Murphy of Moulerstown, to have teeth extracted by Dr. Matt Coughlan without any anaesthetic and Dick Walsh of Ballyfacey, to have a lump removed surgically from him without the aid of an anaesthetic [DD Notebook 30]. For a history of the Glenmore dispensary see our post of 25 April 2020.
Bridgie also recalled Danny’s father threshing the corn in the yard behind Patsy Ryan’s with Martin Walsh’s engine. She also said that one of the Dowling’s of Jamestown stood for her mother. A review of the baptismal record of Ellen Brennan née Cahill shows that Ellen’s godmother was Bridget Dooling [Dowling].
Glenmore Shops
The Brennan family dealt in Lizzie JK’s for their groceries and obtained their milk in Hanrahan’s. At that time Hanrahan’s and Fluskey’s, who had the Post Office, did the best business. Lizzie JK’s shop also did a reasonable trade. Bridgie said Mike Heffernan’s did the least business.
Brigid herself worked with Lizzie and said she was great to make a living. Her sister Minnie Heffernan lived with her. Their brother Fr. Tom used to spend his holidays with them in Glenmore. [DD Notebook 30] Lizzie JK Walsh née Heffernan (1884-1955) was a sister of Mike Heffernan. Mike Heffernan was the husband of Teressa Heffernan the schoolteacher.
Moved to Waterford
During the Emergency [WW II] about 1943 Lizzie got the running of one of the canteens in the Military Barracks in Barrack Street in Waterford. Bridgie worked with her as well as another girl from the City. The canteen was opened between 9 am and noon and from 6 pm until midnight. Lizzie rented a big house in Thomas Street, and it was there that they both lived. The canteen closed after the war ended in 1945.
After the War Lizzie ran a café in Tramore during the summertime. It closed during the winter. Bridgie also worked with her in Tramore. [DD Notebook 30]. On 25 September 1939 her sister Maggie married William Browne of Tramore.
Tramore, Co. Waterford
Around 1950 Bridgie married Sean Hunt and they had three children. Sean was employed with CIE as a goods porter at the Waterford north railway station. The couple had three children and resided in Ballinattin, Tramore in a Council House on Lodge Lane just off of Shrine Road. [People v. Dominic Griffin, Cr. Ct. Appeal 1965]
Bridgie told Danny that her mother went to visit her daughters in Tramore in June 1950 and died suddenly while visiting. Ellen Brennan née Cahill was in her 70’ and had been suffering with heart trouble. Ellen was buried in Tramore [DD Notebook 30]. Ellen actually died in 1946 (Death Register). John Brennan also died in Tramore in 1957 and is also buried in Tramore.
The Ballinattin, Tramore Murder 1965
There is no notation or mention in Danny’s Notebook 30 concerning the murder of Bridgie’s husband on 24 January 1965.
John Hunt was 37 and on that Sunday night he had been in Tramore at his local playing cards and enjoying a few pints with his sister and friends. He caught the bus and when he reached his stop he bid goodnight to a friend and started the mile walk home. Within 150 feet of his front door he was found by his wife Bridgie the following morning kneeling dead against the ditch. Bridgie had gone out a number of times during the night looking for him but never saw him. She only found him when she was taking her child to school. The Coroner reported that Sean had been stabbed 20 times.
The murder was widely reported in the local press. Johnny Garvey’s mother operated a guest house in Tramore and Johnny said the entire population of 4,000 were shocked and alarmed. He also said that ugly rumours circulated (Johnny Garvey, 10 Feb. 2024).
A fund was established “for the widow and young family of the late Sean Hunt, who was found stabbed to death in the vicinity of his home at Ballinattin, Tramore… The widow, Mrs. Brigid Hunt, is daughter of the late John and Mrs. Brennan, Glenmore Village” (Munter Express, Fri 12 Feb. 1965, p. 4).
Arrests & Conviction
Eventually, Dominic Griffin [Jr.], a 24 year old married panel beater from 12 Mall Lane in Waterford City was charged with the murder (Munster Express, Fri. 19 March 1965, p. 1). The ugly rumours that Johnny recalled may have been due to the fact that Dominic Griffin, Jr. was charged with raping a 17- year-old Tipperary girl at Ballinattin between November 1963 and April 1964 (Munster Express, Fri. 19 Feb. 1965, p. 1).
It is not clear what happened in the rape case, but Dominic Griffin was sentenced to “penal servitude” for life by Justice Teevan in the Central Criminal Court on 30 June 1965. The jury returned after 90 minutes finding Griffin guilty of the murder of Sean Hunt (Irish Independent Thur. 1 July 1965, p. 5).
The Appeal
Dominic Griffin appealed and his appeal was dismissed (Irish Press, Sat. 6 Nov. 1965, p. 13; (People v. Dominic Griffin, Docket 34-1965, delivered 5 Nov. 1965). The Appeals Court outlined the facts before dismissing the appeal. Dominic Griffin married on 1 August 1964 and he and wife lived in a seaside hut on Shrine Road, Tramore. On the night of 3 January 1965 a man shouted offensive remarks about he and his wife. Griffin was concerned because they were expecting their first child shortly. He suspected 3 men and the deceased was one of his suspects.
On 16 January he took his wife to the nursing home where she gave birth. On the 24th he drove to the hut to tidy it for the homecoming of his wife and child. He heard a man outside addressing offensive remarks to him. Arming himself with a bicycle lamp, shovel handle, and a knucleduster with an attached knife, he went out to search.
At the intersection of Shrine Road and Lodge’s Lane he heard the shuffling of feet on the Lane. He ran up the lane and claimed that he was attacked by the deceased. The jury and the court of appeal rejected that he had acted in self defence. The State argued that the physical evidence supported that the killer lay in wait. The Appeals court was not persuaded that the physical evidence matched the defendant’s version of events. Further the State effectively argued that “in considering self-defence, the jury would be entitled to take into account that the deceased was in his own laneway, where he had a right to be and that Griffin was in a laneway where he had no business.”
Widowhood
Bridgie appears to have remained a widow from 1965 to her death in 2015. If Brigid spoke to Danny concerning her husband’s murder Danny either did not record it or perhaps it was recorded in a notebook yet to be transcribed.
Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
See our post of 9 April 2020 regarding Glenmore Village in the 1930’s.
For a few interesting Tramore historical facts see the Tramore Surf School’s webpage.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore History Update
Thanks to the tireless work of Pat and Orla Dowling, we are happy to report that another box of our founder Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) notebooks have been located. We are beginning the process of transcribing and recording the information on the Glenmore History webpage. Today, DD Notebook 29 containing the inscriptions Danny recorded in the 1960’s of the headstones in Kilcolumb graveyard has been added to our Roots page. You can access the inscriptions by clicking here.
The earliest date of death recorded is 1711 and the most recent is 1929. The inscriptions feature common local names including Aylward and Mullally and some unusual names for Glenmore such as Myler and Archdeacon. Danny noted some of the headstones were common quarry slabs with homemade inscriptions and some were from O’Keefes stone masons. Simple prayers are reflected as well as “Do Thou Her Soul From Sins Deliver Who Art The Only Pardon Giver. Amen.”
Over the past month we have also been adding to information and obituaries contained in the Glenmore Family pages.
Dr Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Glenmore Malnutrition Death in 1938
Last week while helping a student complete a history project we came across a Glenmore woman who died of malnutrition in 1938. Seven decades after the Great Famine, on the cusp of World War II, it is difficult to understand how anyone could die of malnutrition in 1938. Further research revealed that her husband died of a hernia a couple years earlier.
Bridget Nolan née Delahunty (1899-1938)
Today, we are going to feature this tragic couple. Bridget Nolan, the widow of John Nolan, died on the 6th of July 1938 at the Central Hospital of Kilkenny. The death register provides that Bridget was 49 when she died and a resident of Rochestown, Glenmore. Her obituary in the Munster Express (Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8) states that she was 35 when she died, and the daughter of Mr. and Mr. Patrick Delahunty of Rochestown, Glenmore.
A review of the Glenmore baptismal records revealed that Bridget Delahunty was born on 3 July 1899, the daughter of Patrick Delahunty (labourer) and his wife, Lizzie Hawe. Thus, Bridget died just 3 days after her 39th birthday. Brigid had been a patient in the Central Hospital of Kilkenny for two weeks before her death (Munster Express, Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8). The death register states that Brigid died of malnutrition.
Bridget’s Parents & Siblings of Rochestown, Glenmore
Bridget’s parents, Patrick Delahunty (1878-1945) and Elizabeth Hawe (1877-1951) were married on 14 September 1898 at Glenmore. Patrick was a labourer and the son of John Delahunty and his wife Mary Walsh. At the time of his birth the family was living in Ballyconnaght, Tullogher. Elizabeth was the daughter of Michael Hawe (boatman) and Catherine Malone of Rochetown. The 1911 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore provides that Patrick was 32 and working as a fisherman. Lizzie was 33 and there were 7 children in the family at that time, but a family obituary revealed another two daughters born after 1911.
Bridget Delahunty and her siblings were a typical Glenmore family in the first half of the 20th Century. Some stayed in Glenmore, some emigrated to England for work and some emigrated to the United States. They were also typical in that some of the siblings died young and some lived into their 70’s and 80’s.
[1] Bridget Delahunty (3 July 1899-6 July 1938) was the eldest. She married John Nolan (labourer) of Ballincreigh (Ballincre) on 30 January 1918 at Glenmore. John was the son of Martin Nolan (labourer).
[2] Catherine Delahunty (b. 21 Dec. 1900) arrived at Ellis Island on 19 July 1920. She had $25 and was going to her aunt Mrs. Mary Farnham at 40 Washburn Ave, Boston. She was described as being 5 feet, 1 inch tall, with dark hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. She married a man named G. Ryan. In 1979 per her brother Bill’s obituary she was residing in New York.
[3] William “Bill” Delahunty (16 June 1902-5 January 1979) worked at Loughcullen Creamery, Kilmacow and later worked for Kilkenny Co. Council. He married Josephine Roche of Ballymountain, Kilmacow and the couple had 9 known children. Bill died 5 January 1979 (Munster Express, 12 January 1979, p. 17).
[4] Michael Delahunty (b. 29 Dec. 1903—30 April 1974 ) never married and worked for years for Mai Roche of Scartnamore, Glenmore. He was a nice, jolly man. (Danny Dowling, Notebook 13).
[5] Richard Delahunty (4 Dec. 1905-13 July 1973) emigrated to Boston circa 1923, married, served in the US Army during WWII, and became an electrician. Richard died while home visiting Ireland on his way back to Shannon Airport in 1973 leaving his widow and children to mourn him.
[6] Mary “Molly” Delahunty (14 May 1908—1 Jan. 1990) married John Halligan (c. 1908-1983). The couple had four known children and the family resided in Aylwardstown. John worked for years for Kelly’s of Aylwardstown “looking after the cows.”.
[7] Patrick Delahunty (4 June 1910–?) never married and remained in Rochestown.
[8] Elizabeth Delahunty (10 Nov. 1913–22 Jan. 1982) married Patrick Carey ( ? -16 March 1976) in Waterford in 1935. The couple with their children resided in Ballindud, Waterford on the road to Tramore.
[9] Margaret Delahunty (8 July 1916- ? ) per her father’s obituary she died in England years before he died in 1945.
Several of the Delahunty obituaries may be read on our Glenmore H Surname page.
Bridget’s Husband, John Nolan (1878-1935)
As previously stated, Bridget Delahunty married John Nolan (labourer) of Ballincreigh (Ballincre) Slieverue on 30 January 1918, at Glenmore. John was the son of Martin Nolan (labourer). Witnesses to the wedding were William Atkins and Lizzie Hawe. John Nolan was 21 years older than his wife Bridget. After the famine well into the twentieth century marriage patterns changed in Ireland. People married later, and it was not unusual for men to marry much younger women.
John Nolan (1878-1935) of Ballincrea, Slieverue
John Nolan was born on 2 September 1878, to Martin Nolan (farm labourer) and his wife Catherine Power of Ballincrea, Slieverue. A review of birth records revealed that John Nolan had at least 5 sisters: [1] Mary Nolan (b. 16 Nov. 1871); [2] Ellen Nolan (b. 26 Aug. 1873); [3] Anne Nolan (b.12 April 1875) and [4] Catherine Nolan (b. 27 Feb. 1881).
In the 1901 Census of Ballincrea, Slieverue, John Nolan (aged 20) was living with his mother Catherine Nolan (widow) aged 40 and his sister [5] Bridget Nolan, aged 13 (b.c. 1888). John was employed as a farm labourer and was actually 24 years of age. His mother, Catherine Nolan, could not read or write. This could explain why Catherine incorrectly gave her age as 40. Her daughter Mary was born in 1871, thus her daughter Mary was 30 in 1901. The Census notes that John could read and only his sister Bridget, still at school, could read and write.
John and Bridget lived in Ballincrea, Slieverue. It does not appear that the couple had any children. John died 3 July 1935 in their home in Ballincrea, Slieverue. His widow, Bridget, was present when he died. From the death register it appears that he suffered a cardiac event after “hernia retention” (the handwriting is difficult to read).
Obituary of John Nolan (1878-1935)
The following obituary was published in the Munster Express (Fri. 5 July 1935, p. 8).
We regret to record the demise of Mr. John Nolan, which sad and unexpected event occurred at his residence at Ballincrea on Wednesday morning. Though not in entirely robust health for some time past, deceased retired to bed as usual on Tuesday night, but early the following morning complained of feeling unwell and expired in a short time afterwards.
Aged about 60 years, the late Mr. Nolan was a very popular and esteemed inhabitant of the district, where his demise, coming as it did with such tragic suddenness, evoked feelings of sincere regret. Much sympathy will be extended to the widow on the sad bereavement she has sustained. The interment takes place today (Friday) at Slieverue. R.I.P.
A shorter article appeared the following week in the Munster Express (Fri.12 July 1935, p. 8).
Requiem Office and High Mass were offered up at Bigwood Church on Friday morning for the repose of the soul of the late Mr. John Nolan, Ballincrea (whose demise we announced last week). The celebrant of the Mass was Rev. M. Doyle, C.C., Slieverue, and the other clergy present were: Rev. Hally, .C.C, do; Rev. M. Gibbons, D.D. C.C., do; and Rev. P. Darcey, C.C. Mullinavat. The interment took place subsequently in the adjoining cemetery in the presence of a large attendance. Deceased was brother of Mrs. Martin, Knockbrack, Glenmore, and Miss Bridget Nolan, U.S.A.
Strangely none of his other sisters were mentioned. Three years later his wife Bridget died.
The Obituary of Bridget Nolan née Delahunty (1899-1938)
Bridget’s short obituary follows:
We regret to record the death of Mrs. B. Nolan, widow of the late Mr. John Nolan, Ballincrea, in which sad event occurred in hospital in Kilkenny on Wednesday last.
Deceased, who was aged 35 years, was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Delahunty, Rochestown, Glenmore, and sister of Messrs J. and M. Delahunty, do.; William Delahunty, Ballincrea, and Mrs. Carew, Ballindud, to all of whom sincere sympathy will be extended on their sad bereavement. She had been in failing health for some time, and was in hospital for the past fortnight. Her passing was learned of with regret in her native district, where she was well known and widely esteemed. R.I.P. (Munster Express, Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8).
Malnutrition in Glenmore in 1938
According to medical websites there are several ways in which a person can become malnourished and die. The elderly and young children are in the highest risk groups. The first way malnutrition occurs, that often springs to mind particularly in Ireland, is due to a lack of food, or famine. There were tough times in the 1930’s for many families in Glenmore, but there was no famine. There was also little processed food, thus the most common problem today was not present.
Another reason a person may become malnourished is because their body cannot process the food eaten and use it. This is generally due to disease (e.g. Crohan’s) or injury. Nothing was recorded on the death registry concerning any disease or injury that may have caused Bridget’s malnutrition in 1938. A third possible cause of malnutrition is an eating disorder. Again there is nothing recorded regarding this, however, it would decades before eating disorders were widely recognised and understood by the medical community.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The feature photo above is of the Waterford City Infirmary, John’s Hill.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: January 1924
Glenmore only featured in a couple of local newspaper articles in January 1924. We have also included some local newspaper articles that illustrate what Glenmore people were reading or experiencing one hundred years ago. The original words and phrases of the newspaper articles have been utilized where possible.
The New Year: Past Reminders
In Waterford “the New Year was ushered in by the shrill shriek of engine whistles, the hooting of steamer sirens, and the creation of the customary pandemonium. ..Christ Church Cathedral chimes pealed forth as usual, but their dulcet tones were easily drowned by the fearful noise created, and were not heard except by those who happened to be in the immediate vicinity of Cathedral Square.”
On board the SS Arklow rockets were sent up at regular intervals, the display of these projectile fireworks being witnessed by a fairly large crowd assembled at Reginald’s Tower. Some of the rockets burst into beautiful flame but then followed a loud detonation which “resembled something in the nature of a discharge from an 18 pounder gun.” This disturbed a lot of the inhabitants and reminded them of the recent Civil War (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 5).
Weather
January 1924 supplied the area “with a continuous round of snow, rain and slush.” “Not for years past” was there “such flood in the hills and valleys of South Kilkenny” (Munster Express, Sat. 19 Jan. 1924, p. 5).
Epidemics & Population Growth
Waterford City suffered a whooping cough epidemic in the autumn and it was still severe in January 1924. The epidemic resulted in a large number of deaths. Waterford City’s death rate for the four weeks ending the 27th of November 1923 was “exceedingly high—26.6 per 1,000” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 5). Chicken pox was also making the rounds and like most diseases it did not distinguish between the classes. The wedding of Lord Arthur Butler, son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, was postponed when his fiancée Miss Jessie Carlos Clarke, and her sister, caught chicken pox (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p.7).
The Registrar General estimated that the population of the Free State in June 1923 was 3,165,000 persons. He noted that the last census taken was in 1911, and no attempt was made in 1921 to take a census. He estimated that the population had increased by 30,000 since the 1911 census (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1924, p. 3). It is rather surprising that the population increased given the events between 1911 and 1923 including: WWI, the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Civil War and emigration.
Local Education
Nuns for Rosbercon
A rumour was published in the New Ross Standard that a secondary school conducted by Nuns of the Order of St. Louis will, open at Rosbercon. The school was said to located in the Ida House which was recently purchased from Mr. John J. Kehoe (New Ross Standard, Fri .4 Jan. 1923, p. 7).
Glenmore Irish Teacher
At the monthly meeting of the Joint Technical Committee for Kilkenny it was noted that the Department sanctioned the appointment three men and a woman as part time teachers of Irish. Mr. Matt O’Donnell left Glenmore and was engaged at work in Rosbercon. Another teacher was needed in Glenmore to take his place.
It was suggested that Mr. Curran, the school teacher at Glenmore, who was pulling well up in Irish, might be induced to take on the work. The difficulty was that Mr. Curan’s health had not been good for some time. It was supposed that they might be able to engage a teacher from New Ross (Kilkenny People, Sat. 19 Jan. 1924, p. 8). Exactly one year later, Nicholas “Nick” Curran (c. 1884-1925) was dead, aged 41, from cancer of the stomach. His obituary can be found on our obituary page.
New Motor Barge
John Tyrell & Sons, Arklow, boat builders launched a motor launch for a New Ross firm. The motor barge was fitted with a 50 h.p. double cylinder marine engine, with an estimated cargo capacity of 50 tons. The motor barge was to be used for direct trade between Waterford and New Ross and was also capable of towing other barges. Unfortunately, the name of the vessel was not published in the article (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1924, p. 6).
Civil War Repairs
Bridges
The railway bridge at Palace East, which was wrecked 14 times in 1923 was being “rebuilt in a substantial way with new girders” (New Ross Standard, Fri.11 Jan. 1924, p. 7). Also, the New Ross bridge was to receive a much needed coat of paint. The bridge was vested in both the Wexford County Council and the Kilkenny County Council. Repairs were also being carried out on the Ferry Mountgarrett bridge (New Ross Standard, Fri.4 Jan. 1923, p. 7).
Fight for £500,000 Deposited in New York
John F. Finerty, a New York Attorney, travelled to Dublin to meet Eamonn de Valera. The meeting was held at Arbour Hill Detention Barracks where de Valera was imprisoned. About £500,000 was deposited in the U.S. and the Republicans and the Free State were claiming it. The U.S. set up a Commission to take evidence from de Valera and Austin Stack. Justice Wagner, of the New York Supreme Court, in making the order for the Commission, ruled that if de Valera and Stack were not allowed to testify, the Free State Government would be barred from continuing its claim for the money.
Attorney Finerty reported to the Press the difficulties he encountered in speaking to de Valera. He was asked to sign an agreement that he would only speak about the litigation. He agreed. The military in charge of the prison demanded that a third party be present at the meeting. Attorney Finerty “point blank refused.” The military then demanded that both he and de Valera agreed to be searched. Both Finerty and de Valera refused.
After two hours Attorney Finerty was unconditionally admitted and spent over an hour and a half with de Valera. He found him “looking none the worse for his four and a half months incarceration.” Attorney Finerty then travelled to Mountjoy to meet Stack. Finerty noted Stack was able to get about but looked very ill after his hunger strike (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 4.)
Glenmore Breach of Promise Case
Glenmore made the news when a breach of promise case was heard and settled in the King’s Bench Division in mid-January 1924. The defendant was a Glenmore farmer who settled the claim of breach of promise for £52 10s. The brother of the woman also sued the defendant for seduction of his sister. The seduction case settled for £21 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 25 Jan. 1924, p. 5). It was claimed that the defendant has asked the plaintiff to marry him and the wedding was to take place after his mother purchased a Glenmore farm for him. In the interim the plaintiff became pregnant and had the child and sent it to Dublin for fostering. The child died at the age of 2. The defendant’s mother refused to allow him to marry the plaintiff and the plaintiff after years of waiting sued him for breach of promise.
Glenmore Senior Football Objection
At the meeting of the Kilkenny Co. Board of the GAA, it was reported that a lengthy communication was received from Mr. J. Ryan, the Secretary of the Southern Board. Mr. Ryan asked the Chairman to rule on issues that arose out of fixtures. The Charman stated that it was unusual for such a request before the issues were considered by the southern board. He refused to decide matters “over the heads of the Southern Board as he believed they were perfectly confident in doing so themselves.” He affirmed that the Southern Board had complete control of the minor championships in the South, and if any club had a grievance against its decision the matter could be appealed to the County Committee.
The Objection
Later in the meeting the Chairman stated that there an objection by Glenmore to Barrow Rovers in connection with their senior football match at Knockmoylan on December 23. He read out the correspondence from Mr. Ryan, Southern Secretary, Glenmore were drawn to meet Barrow Rovers and as neither club was represented at the meeting and in order to facilitate the clubs the county committee asked the Southern board to fix a date and venue for the match. The Southern Secretary reported having arrangements made and later reported the carrying out of the fixture.
Glenmore Representatives
Mr. Heffernan (Glenmore) asked if the Southern Secretary had mentioned the date of the meeting at which the Southern Board arranged the match. As far as he was concerned, he would positively state that his club got no notification of the venue until the Southern Secretary notified them of the date and venue. He submitted that the Southern Secretary had taken the law into his own hands.
Mr. P. Cody (Glenmore) stated that he was a regular attender of the meetings of the Southern Board and he heard nothing of this match at any meeting. The first intimation he was a letter from the Southern Secretary stating that the fixture was made and he believed that the match had been fixed in the usual way by the County Committee and so his team travelled. The venue was inconvenient for both teams and the Southern Secretary later admitted it.
Other Representatives
Mr. Lyng (Barrow Rovers) agreed that he had heard nothing of the match at a meeting of the Southern Board but queried why Glenmore travelled if they believed the match was not officially fixed.
Mr. Dowling (Danesfort) stated that it seemed to him as if the Southern Secretary outstepped his duty. It was a serious matter if the Secretary took the responsibility on himself of fixing a match and no board or committee could justify such action. He proposed that the Southern Secretary be asked to attend the next meeting of the County Committee and produce the records of the Southern Board regarding the fixture.
The Ruling
The Chairman ruled that the case would be considered at the next meeting when the referee’s report of the match would be considered. There were matters in the referee’s report that required action by the Committee and deserved serious consideration. Glenmore’s objection was also held over to the next meeting (Kilkenny People, Sat. 26 January 1924, p. 9).
Requested Censorship in the Free State
Many people in Dublin were wondering how soon the new Free State Film Censor would make his presence felt. Pictures shown in Dublin were “very seldom grossly immoral or objectionable. But a great many of them are always on the borderline and very often suggestive. It is quite plain that the titles are always framed to appeal to morbid sentimentality, and often to worse feelings, even when the pictures themselves are not as objectionable as their titles suggest.”
It was reported that the Dublin picture houses were in a difficult position, “for no films are now produced in Ireland and those produced in America or England have reference to a low standard of morality which fortunately this country is unacquainted with.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 Jan. 1924, p. 4).
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Please send any and all corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The feature photo above is Prince Edward Place, Clonmel flooded (Freeman’s Journal, Fri. 18 January 1924, p. 10).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
More Ancient Glenmore Churches
Today, as our fifth excerpt from Carrigan’s, The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, v. 4 p. 95-98 (1906) we feature more of the ancient churches found in Glenmore or nearby including: Kilcolumb, Rochestown, Rathaglish (Slieverue) and Davidstown. More is known about Kilcolumb because it continued to be used as a church until about 1830. Kilcolumb was in ruins by the time Canon Carrigan visited it at the turn of the 20th century and the ruins and graveyard still remain today.
Kilcolumb
“Part of the [civil] parish of Kilcolumb belongs to Slieverue, the remainder to Glenmore. In Irish, Kilcolumb is call Kill-Chullm, which means the church of St. Colum. As many saints bearing the name of Colum are commemorated in the Irish Martyrologies, it is impossible to determine which of them gave name to the Kilcolumb of which there is question here.”
“Some centuries ago, probably soon after the Norman Invasion, Kilcolumb church was withdrawn from the patronage of St. Columb and was dedicated, or rededicated, under the title of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. September 14th, the feast day of the Exaltation of the Hoy Cross, is now the patron day of Kilcolumb parish.” See our post of 29 August 2022 for a link to the 1991 video of Danny Dowling (1927-2021) discussing Kilcolumb.
The Ruins in 1900
“The church of Kilcolumb is a rectangle, 51 feet long, internally. The north side wall and the east and west gables are badly built and are, certainly, no older than the 17th century. The south side wall is very ancient. It is 3 feet 2 inches in thickness, at the ground, and batters, on the outside, to a height of 5 or 6 feet; it has a door and two windows, all modern, and evidently, of same date as the later portion of the church. Protestant service was held here down to about 1830, when the one solitary individual who formed the congregation having become Catholic, the church was closed for good.”
Kilcolumb Graveyard
“In the graveyard [that surround the ruins] is a headstone inscribed:
‘Erected by Eleanor Archdecan alias Greace, in memory of her uncle-in-law, the Revd. Father Richd. Archdecan, who depd. this life, Octbr. ye 26th, 1775 aged 76 yrs.; also his father, mother, and sisters. Requiescant in Pace. Amen.'
The Shees or O’Sheas, of Nicholastown [Slieverue], a respectableold family, have their tomb here at the eat end of the church.
The Headache Stone and Well
“Fifty yards north of the churchyard is a rude rock, 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and the same in thickness, and know as Cluch-Chullm, or St. Colum’s Stone. On its smooth upper surface there are, in a line, one after the other, three bowl shaped artificial hollows, of which that to the north 1 foot in diameter and 6 inches deep, and has a small aperture in the bottom communicating with the outer surface of the stone; the middle cavity is 1 foot in diameter and 7 inches deep; the third is 1 foot in diameter and 5 inches deep.”
“The stone is held in great veneration by the people, who come here to pray when affected with headache, and expect relief through St. Colum’s intercession. Kilcolumb holy well is about 100 yards east of the church. It is called Thubber na gcullm, which the people say means well of the pigeons or doves.”
“In pre-Reformation times, the church of Kilcolumb, like that of Kilbride, belonged to the Augustinian Canons of the Congregation of St. Victor, St. Catherine’s Priory, Waterford.”
Editor’s note
Saint Columbcill’s stone is in the field west of the Kilcolumb church ruins in the townland of Rathinure. The stone has three large hallowed out bowls and originally had two small holes in one side of the stone. It is believed that this stone was the holy water font of the church and it was removed from the church during penal times and dumped in the field where it has remained.
Local lore has it that any person who can place his head in the centre “bowl” at the same time placing one knee in each of the other two “bowls” will never suffer from headaches. This was a common cure for headaches in the old days. Tom Walsh (1908-1992) related that one of the small “holes” where a thumb was able to fit in, by persons desiring to rid themselves of headaches, was knocked off by the swing of the plough striking against it. It appears that the man was ploughing the field and kept so near the stone that the damage was caused. He was dead before the next morning.
Kilcolumb Church ruins are located in the townland of Rathinure, Glenmore. For more information on Rathinure see our post of 29 October 2023.
Rochestown Church
“Rochestown, in Irish Bollanróshtla, is divided into Rochestown West or Bollialogue, and Rochestown East or Bollianakilla. The cill or church, from which Bollianakilla has its name, stood at the Gorry-vceldhuv, in the field opposite the entrance gate of Mount Ida House. Not the slightest trace of it remains, but a standing stone, lately set up, marks the exact spot on which it stood. Tradition states that the timber of the roof of this church was taken down and afterwards made use of at Kilcolumb, when the later church was being rebuilt for Protestant service.”
“According to O’Donovan, the name of Rochestown church was Thompel Feenan, or the church of St. Finian (of Clonard); the name, as given on the spot, to the present writer [Carrigan] was Thomple na groo-in-eeny.” See our post of 3 December 2023 for more information on Rochestown, Glenmore.
Rathaglish [Slieverue] Church
“In Irish the townland of Rathaglish is called Rahglish, the Rath of the Church (Ecclesia). Evidently an ancient church stood within or beside the rath from which the townland is named.”
Davidstown Church
[Another ancient church that has been obliterated from the landscape was “Kilcliggin, the Church of the Skulls, which stood near the village of Davidstown” [Glenmore]. “An old laneway that formerly led to it is still called Bosheen a thomple, the Church Bosheen” [church lane]. See our post of 28 December 2022 for more information on the townland of Davidstown.
The Cunnia-vwee
“The small field called ‘the Cunnia-vwee’ is situated on Davidstown hill, on the bounds of the townland of Attateemore [Slieverue]. There is nothing remarkable in it, at present, but two small cairns, or heaps of stones, one about the centre of the field, the other close to the fence, at the north side.”
“The former merely consists of loose stones thrown carelessly together. The later is of the same description, and measures 6 or 8 feet across; in its upper surface are embedded two large, rough blocks of stone, one having an artificial bowl 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot deep; the other having a similar bowl 1 foot in diameter and 4 or 5 inches deep. The deeper bowl always contains some water and is known as Thubber Phaudhring, or St. Patrick’s Well.”
The curious legend connected with this place is known over the whole Barony of Ida. In our next instalment of Carrigan we shall explore Canon Carrigan’s treatment of O’Donovan’s earlier work and the curious legend.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh