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Bridget “Bridie” Doolan (1913-2007) was born in Glenmore Village on the 29^th of June 1913 to Edward Doolan (labourer) and his wife Alice Rice (b. 1886). Edward Doolin (sic) and Alice Rice were married on 10 July 1912 in Waterford. In Glenmore the family lived in the house at the top of the street where Kitty Morrissey (Bridie’s sister) later lived. Bridie had a brother Paddy Doolan (1917-1997) (who married Nancy “Civil” Forristal) and two sisters Kitty Morrissey (wife of Phil Morrissey) and Mary Ellen Jones (wife of Tom Jones).  

Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Bridie Doolan around 1961. He did not date his notes in his notebook but other entries are dated 1961. Bridie started a shop in 1930 when she was just 17 years old. At the time there were several shops operating in Glenmore. The shops in Glenmore Village included: [1] the Creamery, [2] Hanrahan’s, [3] Lizzie JK’s, [4] Fluskey’s and [5] Heffernan’s. Bridie’s shop was a tiny metal building on the “Vee” Road near what was then the Glenmore Creamery. The tiny shop was on Fitzgerald’s ground. It is assumed that the ground was Michael Fitzgerald’s, of Aylwardstown. His brother Richard Fitzgerald (1868-1955) had the Halfway House and farm in Aylwardstown.

Bridie Doolan’s Tiny Glenmore Shop

At the time Bridie opened her tiny shop local farmers brought their milk daily to the creamery on horse drawn or ass drawn carts either passing by her shop or turning into the creamery near her shop. In the early days of her shop Bridie sold tea, sugar, bread, mutton, beef, sausages, lamp oil, soap and candles. Danny Dowling (1927-2021) fondly remembered as a young lad standing with his nose pressed against the shop window to view the Christmas toys. He recalled an airplane that he wanted Santa to bring him. Unfortunately, Danny must have been on the naughty list as Santa did not bring the coveted toy airplane.

As time went on Bridie carried more household essentials and tobacco products. One local resident recently stated that Bridie was the first woman in Glenmore to have a license in her own name to sell tobacco products. Danny Dowling’s notes do not address tobacco products, but he did record that Kelly’s had a shed at the creamery side of the shop. In between the shop and Kelly’s shed was a space where Kelly’s used to house their horse. It is assumed that the Kelly referenced was Michael “Micky” Kelly (c. 1885-1946) of Graiguenakill, Glenmore.

Jim Power (1884-1947) the postman, told Bridie that in the space between her shop and Kelly’s shed was the location where all the old Powers were born. For a photo of Jim Power and information regarding his parents see our post of 22 Jan. 2025.

Bridie kept her tiny shop operating until about 1948 when she ceased trading.  Today, only the shop remains the shed and horse house are long gone. Members of the Glenmore Tidy Towns over the past few years repaired and painted the tiny shop and replaced its window. It stands testimony to a woman who made her own way and a Village that once had 5 or 6 shops. Today, there is no shop in Glenmore Village except that of the Creamery that is a farm shop.

[Update 14 May 2025–The postcard to the right depicts a Glenmore cabin or cottage. The postcard was post marked in Glenmore and London. The London post mark is clear 23 May 1905. We believe that the Glenmore cabin or cottage was the place where the old Powers were born. In other words, we believe that this cottage stood between where later Bridie Doolan’s tiny shop stood and the Creamery which was being built in 1905. The addressee is Miss L. Erickson, 49 Kelmscott Road, Wandsworth Com., London S.W. The message reads, “Glinmore……Fancy living here with a family of 3 or 4. This is only a stone’s throw from my place. Will give you some idea of rural Ireland……B.” Was this a person working on the creamery? For further information on the establishment of the Glenmore Creamery see our post of 9 May 2020.]

Bridie O’Keefe née Doolan (1913-2007)

Bridie married Martin “Murt” O’Keefe (c. 1905-1985) and Danny Dowling recorded in 1961 that the following members of the family living in Glenmore included three daughters: Alice O’Keefe, Mary O’Keefe and Ann O’Keefe; and a son Edward O’Keefe. Another son William “Billy” O’Keefe was already away working. Murt O’Keefe in 1961 worked for the Kilkenny County Council.

Murt O’Keefe died in 1985 at the age of 79. Bridie died in 2007 at the age of 94. Both are buried in Glenmore.

Please send any corrections, additional information of photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .

The photo featured above was taken in 2023 of Bridie Doolan’s tiny shop. For further information regarding Glenmore Village in the 1930’s please see our post of 9 April 2020.

Special thanks to Mick Breen for reminding me regarding the 1905 post card and the reader who originally shared it on our Facebook page.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh