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L A T E S T P O S T S
Glenmore Man Killed 120 Years Ago on the U.S.S. Bennington
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Maurice Hennebry (1859-1917) Native of Rochestown, Glenmore—Killed on the S.S. Formby
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Ballyfacey, Glenmore 1913 School Photo
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From Danny’s Files: A 1911 Haggard, Glenmore, Malicious Injury Case
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November Updates
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A Disputed Glenmore Cottage
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Rev. William “Willie” Brennan (1891-1973) Parish Priest of Glenmore
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Glenmore Walking Tour 2025
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Interviews of Andrew Heffernan (1893-1975) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
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Glenmore: Upcoming Local Talks & Walk
GRAIGUENAKILL, GLENMORE (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Graiguenakill, Glenmore, around 1961. From about 1870 until 1963 Glenmore Village did not have a pub. When the Glenmore pub did open in 1963 it was located in Graiguenakill townland.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 116) is Gráig na cille, or hamlet of the church. This ancient church, in ruins, and Tobar Shan Shém, St. James’s well, is in the southern angle on the Kilmakevoge border. The greater portion of Glenmore village is in this townland. Graiguenakill is comprised of 156 acres. O’Kelly concluded the entry for Graiguenakill with “The parish [Glenmore] was noted for its Gaelic football team.”
Tithe Applotment Books 1833
The Applotment Books record the townland as Graignokill (sic), in the Civil Parish of Kilmacanoge (sic). There are seven tenants listed in the 1833 Applotment Book including: [1] John Fitzgerald, 16 acres (notation under quality states “High Road”; [2] James Murray, 15 acres; [3] Richard Aylward, 14 acres; [4] John Barden, 14 acres; [5] Patrick Kelly 6 acres; [6] Sylvester Murphy 5 acres; [7] Rep late Richard Cody, 7 acres. “These lands are held by the present occupiers from Sir John Niford? Yellagor? Gahan as tenants at will.”
Very little was found regarding the landlord Sir John Gahan. It is not clear whether the landlord of Kilmakevoge, Major Gahan, was Sir John Gahan (landlord of Graiguenakill) or were these landlords relatives? A John Gahan Esq. was located in contemporary newspapers and he was the Surveyor General of Munster for Griffeth’s Valuation.
1961 Graiguenakill, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded 11 families or households in the townland of Graiguenakill. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died or left the townland.
The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 44 people resided in the townland of Griguenakill with the population comprised of 26 males and 18 females. The largest family was the Morrissey family with 7 in the household. There was 1 household recorded with a single person living alone. All information under residents of Graiguenakill not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets[ ].
Recorded Residents
Males= 26
Females= 18
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in 1961 was Mary Kelly (5 Dec. 1875-11 May 1963) née Maher. Mary was born and raised in Rochestown, Glenmore in the family known as Maher’s of the Rock. She was the daughter of Michael Maher (farmer) and Sarah Maher née Murphy.
On 20 July 1911, Mary at the age of 35 married Michael Kelly of Graiguenakill, Glenmore. Michael Kelly was born on 4 May 1873 at Graiguenakill, the son of James Kelly and Margaret Kelly née Irish. Michael Kelly and Mary Kelly née Maher had two daughters Sarah and Maggie. Michael Kelly died 4 March 1946, and Mary died on 11 May 1963. Mary’s obituary has been placed on our K family surname page.
Recorded Work
Farmer= 2 (1 male; 1 female)
Creamery Worker= 1 (male)
Council Worker =l (male)
Blacksmith (retired)= l (male)
Mechanic= 1 (male)
Farm Labourers =2 (2 males)
Labourer=2 (2 mles)
Clover Meats Employees= 2 (2 males)
CIE = 1 (1 male)
Domestic=l (1 female)
Shop Assistant=1 (1 female)
Painter= 1 (1 male)
Dressmaker = l (1 female)
Residents of Graiguenakill, Glenmore
[1] KELLY/O’CONNOR
Kelly, Mary (5 Dec. 1875) Farmer, dead [Died aged 87 on 11 May 1963]
O’Connor, Edward (b. 1919) son-in-law, assisting relative
O’Connor, Sarah (2 Dec. 1912) daughter
O’Connor, Patrick, grandson, at school
O’Connor, Mary, granddaughter, at school
O’Connor, Peter, grandson, child
[2] FORRISTAL
Forristal, Nicholas (1 Feb. 1888) Farmer [Nicky the Miller died 17 March 1979]
Forristal, Norea (12 Nov. 1887) wife [Nicky’s second wife]
Forristal, Patrick (17 Aug. 1917) son, assisting father
[3] FORRISTAL
Forristal, Richard (b. 1923) CIE Employee
[4] MORRISSEY
Morrissey, Phillip (b. 1917) Clover Meats Employee
Morrissey, Kitty (b. 1919) wife
Morrissey, Michael, child dead [Child died 23 March 1962, aged 6 of encephalitis]
Morrissey, Edward, son, child
Morrissey, Philip, son, child
Morrissey, Patrick, son, child
Morrissey, Thomas, son, child
[5] O’KEEFFE
O’Keeffe, Martin (13 May 1907) Council Worker
O’Keeffe, Bridget (b. 1913) wife [Biddy Doolan had the tiny shop next to the Creamery]
O’Keeffe, Alice, daughter, shop assistant
O’Keeffe, Mary, daughter, domestic
O’Keeffe, Edward, son, tech student
O’Keeffe, Ann, daughter, child
[6] RYAN
Ryan, John (b. 1922) Clover Meats Employee
Ryan, Alice (b. 1918) wife [Later became post-mistress of Glenmore]
Ryan, Mary Theresa, daughter, child
Ryan, John Patrick, son, child
Ryan, James Paschal, son, child
[7] HENNESSEY/CUMMINS
Hennessey, John (16 April 1894) Retired Blacksmith [Died 5 June 1981, aged 87]
Cummins, Mairita, daughter, dressmaker
Cummins, Laurence, son-in-law, mechanic
[8] JONES
Jones, Thomas (16 Dec. 1905) Labourer [Died 2 July 1978, aged 73]
Jones, Ellen (7 Oct. 1916) wife, home duties
Jones, George (b. 1952) son, child [twin]
Jones, Eamon (b. 1952) son, child [twin]
[9] WALSH
Walsh, Mary Ellen (1 Aug. 1892) [Ellen “Lill” died 25 Dec. 1968]
Walsh, James (18 Sept. 1918) son, painter [Jim B. died 21 March 1988]
[10] WALSH
Walsh, Mary Ann (4 Jan. 1886) Dead [Died 16 July 1962, aged 80, at Co. Home]
Walsh, Walter (b. 1933) son, labourer at Stafford’s—Gone to New Ross
[11] POWER
Power, Patrick (b. 1929) Creamery Worker
Power, Mary, wife
Power, Patrick (1 April 1959) son, child
Power, _____ , daughter, child
Power, Martina, daughter, child
[Kathleen O’Connor, of Rathinure, Glenmore, was a sister-in-law of Neddy O’Connor. Kathleen related that Sarah O’Connor née Kelly used to prepare dinner (lunch) for the Glenmore gardaí who would travel to Graighnakill, up the Churns (across the New Line) to Kelly’s on the High Road.]
Other Posts
(1) For information concerning Glenmore Village in the 1930’s see our post of 9 April 2020.
(2) See our post of 7 June 2020 for further information and photos of Forristal’s Mill of Graiguenakill.
(3) For further information regarding Glenmore Postmistress, Alice Ryan née Cody (1918-2009) see our post of 3 July 2020.
Please send any further information, photos, or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Marian Cody Hendrick for sharing the featured photo above of Forristal’s Mill. Special thanks to Jackie Ryan Walsh for sharing the photo of Jim B’s cottage. Lastly, thanks to the Glenmore Tidy Town’s Committee and volunteers in 2022 for re-storing Biddy Doolan’s tiny shop next to the Creamery.
13 March 2023, Special thanks to Tricia Bradfield for the photo of Jim B as a chap and hs family.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore’s Secret Society of Whitefeet [Updated]
Secret agrarian societies in Ireland date back to the 1760’s when the Whiteboy movement started in Tipperary. Whiteboys were a form of rural vigilantism to fight against tithes or the enclosing of common land. Sometimes they were referred to as Levellers because they levelled fences or ditches enclosing land. (James S. Donnelly (1977-1978) “The Whiteboy Movement, 1761-5.” Irish Historical Studies, p. 21). Between 1760 and the Famine in 1845 there were outbreaks of rural violence in Ireland. Other groups developed including: the Threshers, Carders, Rockites, and Whitefeet. The most common agrarian crime committed by these groups was the anonymous notice or threatening letter (S.R. Gibbons, (1982) Rockites and Whitefeet: Irish Peasant Secret Societies, 1800-1845 (University of Southhampton, Doctoral Thesis)).
Threatening Letters
S. R. Gibbons examined 500 threatening letters and concluded that these groups were concerned with five primary issues.
The first issue concerned land, especially conacre, the availability of tenancies, rents and wages. Conacre was the letting of a small piece of land for the growing of a specific crop. Usually, the crop was potatoes. No relationship developed between the landlord, middleman or grower under conacre.
The second issue concerned efforts to regulate local employment and necessities. Thus, threatening letters were used to maintain employment, to procure the dismissal of “stranger labourers”, to regulate the prices of basic commodities and to prevent the export of food from the immediate locality.
The third issue the secret societies sought to control were the tithe valuations and the elimination of proctors. The tithes were taxes imposed for the support of the Church of Ireland. Eventually, the secret societies sought to abolish the tithe.
The fourth issue concerned the condemnation of Protestants and Orangemen.
The fifth issue the secret societies sought to influence in their threatening letters and notices concerned legal and political issues, including distraint, the police and the obtaining of arms. (Gibbons (1982) Rockites and Whitefeet: Irish Peasant Secret Societies, 1800-1845). Distraint was the legal mechanism where a landlord could have the personal property of his tenant seized for the payment of rent arrears. Animals or crops were often seized and then sold.
Growth and Membership of the Secret Societies
The growth of such societies was fuelled by the end of the Napoleonic Wars when the price of crops plummeted and grazing became more lucrative than tillage. In order to survive many Irish men resisted by joining secret societies and violence often followed. It has been opined that membership of the secret agrarian societies depended on whether disturbances took place during the period of prosperity when the landless revolted or during depressions when substantial farmers joined (James S. Connelly, Jr., (1983) “The Social Composition of Agrarian Rebellions in the Early 19th Century Ireland: The Case of the Carders and Caravats, 1813-1816” in Radical, Rebels & Establishments (Corish ed.) 151-170 Maynooth: Appletree. p. 154-155). Thus, at various times different classes joined the secret societies.
Glenmore Whitefeet Letters & Notices
Below are copies of threatening letters or posters that were placed in or around Glenmore primarily in the 1830’s.
The oldest reference to a secret society operating in Glenmore, then referred to as Glanmore, was published in June 1777. “On the 9th ult. After sunset, upwards of 300 of those lawless miscreants, called White Boys, assembled on the High Road, leading from Ross to Waterford, in Ireland, near the lands of Glanmore, and, without the least provocation, beat and wounded in a cruel and barbarous manner, Mr. W. Innes, of Rathpatrick, in the County of Kilkenny. In consequence of which, the principal neighbouring gentlemen have offered a spirited reward, for apprehending, and prosecuting to conviction, the persons concerned therein” (Northampton Mercury, Mon. 16 June 1777, p. 3).
In December 1831 the Tithe War resulted in the killing of 14 police at the townland of Carrickshock in Co. Kilkenny. [For further details regarding the Tithe, see Stephen McCormack (2005) “The Tithe War: Reports by Church of Ireland Clergy to Dublin Castle,” 4(13) History of Ireland. See our post of 20 Sept. 2020 regarding Glenmore and the Tithe Tax.]
Within a month of Carrickshock notices regarding Whitefeet threats made in or around Glenmore began to appear and were reported widely in newspapers.
1832
The Waterford Mail (Sat. 3 Nov. 1832, p. 3) published copies of two notices posted on the chapel doors of Glanmore.
“Take notice, Mr. Strange of Elwardstown (sic) not sell or bestow the value of one penny to the Police of Glanmore or else if you do, quit this land—Written by the Gentlemen regulators of Ireland. I hope you all will take notice by this, let no person take down this notice.”
“Take notice any person or persons that will sell or bestow to the value of one penny to the Police of Glanmore, or else if you do ye will be condemned to ashes both yourself and your property it is written by the grate (sic) and worthy regulators of Ireland.”
Laurence Strange, Esq., of Aylwardstown, held a lease from the Earl of Bessborough. The 1833 Griffith’s Valuation provides that Strange farmed 63 acres and was landlord to 252 acres. Thus, Laurence Strange was the landlord of the townland although he was not the owner of the land.
[Updated 8 Oct. 2025] In October 1832, “the house of Patrick Fitzgerald, of Weatherstown, near Rosbercon, was attacked on Wednesday night by an armed party of Whitefeet, who broke in his door and robbed him of a gun. They fired several shots into the house” [Dublin Evening Packet & Correspondent, Sat. 13 Oct. 1832, p. 3].
Patrick Fitzgerald of Weatherstown continued to be attacked. The following month, “on Sat. night a cow, the property of Patrick Fitzgerald, of Weatherstown, near Ross, was hanged in consequence, it is supposed, of his taking land about 18 months back (Wexford Conservative, Sat. 17 Nov. 1832, p. 1). Other newspapers stated that the cow was haughed.
“The houses of Laurence Sullivan, of Ballybrahy, and Martin Holden, of Annis, in the above neighbourhood, were visited by parties of Whitefeet on Saturday night who robbed them of fire arms. They fired several shots but did no injury to any of the inmates” (Wexford Conservative, Sat. 17 Nov. 1832, p. 1).
1833
The Chutes Western Herald (Thurs. 7 Feb. 1833, p. 3) published citing “From the Kilkenny Moderator of Saturday—Six armed men entered the house of Patrick Fitzgerald, of Aywardstown in the Barony of Ida, on the night of Sunday last, and threatened him with instant death if he attempted to prosecute James Cleary at the ensuing assizes. Cleary compelled him some time since to pay £5 5s., for which he gave a docket of protection, which he told Fitzgerald would save him from any future attack from the Whitefeet.”
In the 1833 Griffith’s Valuation Pat Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, farmed 12 acres. Given the extortion and threats of violence it was surprising to find the following article in the Morning Advertser (Thurs. 14 February 1833, p. 1) where the priests induced the Glenmore parishioners to surrender their arms.
“Surrender of arms by the Peasantry—you will be gratified to learn that the deluded people in the county of Kilkenny are at length delivering up their arms. In the parish of Glanmore in that county, no less than 20 stand of arms have been given up to the Catholic clergy within the last few days. One of those clergymen communicated the fact to J. Esmond, Esq, a Magistrate of the county of Kilkenny, requesting that he should take charge of the arms. Mr. Esmond readily acquiesced, and had them forwarded to Waterford, where they were lodged by his direction on Friday.”
At the beginning of March 1833 the Leinster Express (Sat. 2 March 1833, p. 4) published several notices or threats posted across the region including:
“A Whitefoot Notice was lately posted up in the neighbourhood of Glanmore, ordering the people of the County of Waterford to desist from working at the farm of Glinn of Shambough. If they attempted to go there again the notice stated that they would be shot.”
Later that month, Glenmore was propelled into the news with the murder of a Catholic landlord of Shanbogh, Anthony Joseph Leonard, Esq., on the hill of Glenmore by three of his tenants. See our previous post of 9 Feb. 2020.
The Chutes Western Herald (Mon. 7 Oct. 1833, p. 4) referenced the Kilkenny Moderator as its source for the following threats with multiple men named and threatened.
“The following is the copy of an illegal notice posted on the chapel of Mullinaharrible, in the parish of Listerlin and barony of Ida, on Sunday last: “All such land jobbers as gave up the ground and began to till it again will be sorry; it happen them more than Marum or Joyce. We neither hough cattle or burn houses, to destroy the country as we did before. No sheet iron inside the doors will not prevent us, but we will go and drop them on the spot. Phelan, Philip Malone, Trasey, Forestal, and Kerewan, so prepare, the long nights are coming. Let the parish see we are neither afraid of informers or pointers. Such as will visit you will have no informers or pointers. There is a great deal that we did not mention that will suffer as well as the rest.”
On the night of the 10th of October, “the dairies of Patrick Fitzgerald, James Malone, and Thomas Keeffe, all of Weatherstown, in the Barony of Ida, were feloniously broken open by some evil disposed persons in search of plunder. A quantity of butter in firkins was taken out of Fitzgerald’s dairy, but nothing was found in either of the others worth removing (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 16 Oct. 1833, p. 3). Unusually the break-ins and theft were not associated by the newspaper with the local Whitefeet although Patrick Fitzgerald, of Weatherstown, was targeted several times by the Whitefeet.
1834
The Waterford Mirror (13 Jan. 1834) published in its column on Whitefeet activity in Co. Kilkenny the following: “All gates of Bawnjames, a farm belonging to Mr. Magrath of Rosbercon, in the Barony of Ida, was maliciously broken and destroyed on the night of Sunday last.”
Toward the end of the month, the Kilkenny Moderator (Sat. 25 January 1834, p. 2) reported: “A few nights since the windows of Michael Rigby’s dwelling house at Ballyvera, in the parish of Glanmore were maliciously broken and a stone flung into his bedroom. Rigby says he is not aware of having done anything to cause this attack on his house.”
Seven years later Michael Rigby (c. 1791-1841) was murdered by one of his Ballyveria neighbours as the men were walking to attend Stations in the Glenmore Chapel. The murder was committed over two fields. See, our post of 18 July 2021 regarding the murder.
The following notice was published in the Belfast Commercial Chronicle (Sat. 29 March 1834, p. 4). “From the Kilkenny Moderator—on Sunday night last a Rockite Notice was posted upon the chapel of Glanmore, barony of Ida, threatening death to any person who would dare, after that notice, to take possession of the land Graignakilla (sic) in the above neighbourhood.
Describing the conditions in Kilkenny and Cork as approaching a Civil War, Bell’s Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (Sun. 23 Nov. 1834, p. 1) published the following article that highlighted Patrick Kennedy of Robinstown, Glenmore.
“The police of the County of Kilkenny have, ever since the unfortunate affair of Carrickshaugh (sic) been marked objects of antipathy to the peasanty, who have never hesitated to manifest their feeling (whenever a safe opportunity occurred) in insult, or even personal outrage. But of late a more systematic proceeding has been observed in the warfare carried on by the peasantry again the unpopular police force. Although the police were feared in the open field, they were not treated with the least appearance of respect by the multitude with whom they come into contact at fairs, markets, races etc.“
“In the Barony of Glanmore the spirit of defiance is progressing in a very marked manner, and the police now think it prudent not to interfere in what are very properly termed its ‘Whiskey fights’ wherein their interposition has generally had the effect of adding fuel to fire. About two months ago it was observed that there was a disinclination to provide the constabulary with country provisions, and instead of any thing like a competition for the supply of the canteen in the neighburhood, there was, on the contrary, a marked ill will towards any who undertook such contracts.”
“One of these, Mr. Patrick Kennedy residing at Robinstown, in the barony of Ida, who was hardy enough to undertake to supply the Glanmore police with milk, found a threatening Whitefoot notice nailed on his door, warning him of the consequence if he persevered in this “disloyal” contract. He did persevere, confiding in the protection of the police; nearly two months elapsed, and he thought himself forgotten by the midnight legislators, but on Monday night last he was reminded of their existence by finding a valuable colt houghed in his stable.”
“In Cork the peasantry have refused to work for landlords who have made themselves ‘marked men’ The Cork papers relate the case of one of these proprietors who for some time past found it impossible to hire labourers.” When it was time to dig potatoes near Dunamanway the landlord was told to dig the potatoes himself or get Orange Protestants to do it for him. A group in Dumanway, “including some respectable shop keepers, arrived and in a few hours of work dug and picked up the potatoes. The group attempted to engage some Catholic labourers to assist, but as soon as the Catholic labourers learned where they were to work, they refused notwithstanding the fact that they were offered double wages for the day. As the Orange group started home they were ‘hissed and hooted…’”
1835
Notwithstanding the efforts of the Glenmore priests in 1833 parishioners continued to have arms. The following article appeared in the Carlow Sentinel (Sat. 23 May 1835, p. 1).
“Six persons were convicted at the Petty Sessions of Rosbercon, on Saturday last, before Colonel Osborne, R.M. and Mr. Keogh, the sitting Magistrates, for having unregistered arms in their possession. The Police found in their houses, in the neighbourhood of Listerlin and of Glanmore—6 guns, 1 pistol, 1 blunderbuss barrel, 1 sword cane, 1 pike, besides 6 powder horns, some bullets and slugs.”
Glenmore Oral Tradition of Whitefeet
Thanks to Danny Dowling (1927-2021) we know the identify of two of the leaders of the local Whitefeet as well as where they met. Danny interviewed Nicky “the Miller” Forristal (1888-1979) in 1955. Nicky identified the leaders of the Whitefeet in the Glenmore area as Captains Starlight and Lusty.
Nicky related that Captain Starlight was a Malone and the family bore the nickname of Spur. They lived in a small cabin which was situated under the road leading to Forristalstown from the Mill Cross Road at a point alongside the path which Tom Walsh used as a shortcut to Forristalstown.
Captain Lusty was a Purcell and lived in a small house in Forristalstown on the bounds of Ballyverneen. Billy Tománsín of Killivory, Glenmore was a descendent of his.
Before their nightly escapades they used drink with their men in a shebeen in Ballygurrum which was kept by one Billy Walsh nicknamed Billy Buíde. According to Nicholas Forristal the Billy Buíde was a grandfather to the present Henry Doolan’s wife of Shanbough.
The following rhymes were written about the two Whitefeet Captains.
Here’s a health to Billy Buíde
And may he long reign.
We’ll call for spring water,
And he’ll bring us brown ale,
To strengthen our bones and
Put speed in our feet,
To make us well able to whale the police.
Are you in bed Captain Lusty?
And he answered us no.
Are you in bed Captain Starlight,
And he answered also.
Billy Buíde’s house at Ballygurrim cross was later occupied by Dick Cahill.
Interview of Wattie Power (c. 1888-1961) of Jamestown, Glenmore
Also in 1955 Danny Dowling interviewed his Jamestown neighbour Wattie Power and recorded the following regarding the Glenmore Whitefeet.
“The following is verse in connection with the Whitefeet which body was active in this area in the first half of the last century, and also in part of the previous century. Four verses is all Wattie could remember.”
“The Whitefeet and Blackfeet were crossing a bog,
As tired and as weary as any mad dog.
Says one to the other if we were at home,
T’would be the best of our play to leave the Whitefeet alone.
Long life to Pol Cahill and long may she reign,
When we called for spring water, she brought us down cream.
To put strength in our body and speed in our feet,
And make us well able to chase the police.”
See our post of 23 Sept 2020 for the Glenmore Version of the Ballad of Carrickshock.
The featured drawing is from sheet music, The Irish Peasant (Ireland 1800-1870) © Trustees Indiana University http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/lilly/starr/LL-SSM-2-136-0014. The drawing of the midnight raiders was drawn by an artist for The Graphic (Sat. 14 Jan. 1882, p. 8) (c) Illustrated London News Group, Courtesy of British Library Board. The owners of the goats related that they evicted a tenant and later their goats were slaughtered in the middle of the night.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Did Cromwell Camp in Glenmore?
Recently when we published a short article on Kilmakevoge, Glenmore, Richard Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, forwarded a short newspaper article printed in 1943. This article appears to have been printed in a newspaper or trade paper called Irish Travel. It appears that Irish Travel was an Northern Irish publication. The 1943 article is entitled, “Kilkenny Buttermilk Stopped Cromwell,” and recites local Glenmore folklore concerning how a woman from Kilmakevoge [now Glenmore] stopped the burning of her home with a churn of buttermilk. This story is not the usual sort of Irish story associated with the much hated Cromwell and his troops.
“Kilkenny Buttermilk Stopped Cromwell”
The Exile or tourist visiting Kilkenny county now cannot fail to be deeply impress with the change of scenery, brought about by the increased tillage, wherein the former grassy slopes of the undulating hills and green-carpeted plains have given way to the soft brown silky furrows in the wake of the farmer’s plough. It is a pleasing sight to take a look over the wide ridges and rolling plains of this fertile county, down the happy valley of the Nore, with miles and miles of the richest land, well streaked with the trail of industrious cultivation from Urlingford, in the North, to the golden vein of the Sur valley in renowned Mooncoin, home of some of Ireland’s greatest Camán players in the past.
A field recently to come under the plough is one at historic Kilmakevogue, Glenmore, owned by Mr. Richard Fitzgerald, M.C.C., which has not been tilled for a period of two centuries. An interesting little bit of local history is associated with this field. It appears that when Cromwell and his army were marching from New Ross to Waterford in 1650, they encamped in this field, adjacent to the little hamlet of Kilmakevogue. They did not get a very friendly reception, and, incensed by this attitude of the people, Cromwell ordered his soldiers to burn the cluster of houses which comprised Kilmakevogue, and they set about doing so in callous fashion. One woman whose home adjoined the field, implored Cromwell’s men to save the house as her husband was seriously ill, and offered them a churn of fresh buttermilk if they would do as she wished. Eventually her pleading had the desired effect; they accepted the gift and spared the house, which still stands amidst the ruins, and is the object of interest to passing tourists.
The cyclist making his way down the excellent roads, a tribute to the County Surveyor and his staff, will find many a local tale and quaint sport like that on the road in Kilkenny (June 1943, Irish Travel). Richard Fitzgerald was able to identify the field and where he thinks the house in question stood. “There was a ruin of a house where Kathleen Aylward now lives opposite Pat Ryan in that field in front of Kilmakevogue old church, this could have been her house. The field across the road is called Sheanstraid there were houses there too.” [Kilmakevoge Church ruins is also referred to as Kilivory locally.]
Brief Background to Cromwell’s Invasion
Irish Rebellion 1641
In 1641 an Irish rebellion took place leaving most of Ireland under the control of the Irish Catholic Confederation. Demands included an end to Anti-Catholic laws, greater self-governance and the return of confiscated lands. During the 16th and 17th centuries land in Ireland was seized by the Crown and then colonised with men from Great Britain. It was hoped that the plantations would control, anglicise, and civilise the Irish.
Both King Charles I and Parliament wanted to stop the Irish rebellion but neither side trusted the other with control of an army. Some English troops landed in Dublin in December 1641 and recaptured much of the Pale. A large area around Cork was also re-captured. In March 1842 the Adventurer’s Act was enacted which was “for the speedy and effectual reducing of the rebels …in Ireland.” The Act allowed for the funding of military operations by the seizing of rebel land. In April 1642 an army landed in Ulster and quickly captured most of the eastern side of Ulster. Especially in Ulster the rebellion led to the death or eviction of Protestant settlers who responded in kind. Protestant settlers formed a militia in Donegal and controlled the northwest of Ulster. Outside of the Pale, Cork and Ulster the remainder of Ireland was not controlled by the Crown.
The Irish Catholic Confederacy 1642
Ireland’s Catholic Bishops met in Kilkenny in May 1642 and took steps to gain control of the rebellion with the Catholic nobility. The Irish Catholic Confederacy government was formed. The Irish Catholic Confederation remained in place for almost a decade mainly due to the fact that the first English Civil War commenced in August 1642. This led to the second English Civil War and ultimately the execution of King Charles I on 30 January 1649.
In early 1649, the Confederates joined with the English Royalists, who had lost the English Civil war. The English Royalists were led by Charles II, the eldest son of the executed Charles I. Charles II was proclaimed King of Ireland in January 1649 following his father’s execution. The Royalist forces in Ireland were led by the Marquis of Ormond, James Butler, of Kilkenny Castle. He later became the first Duke of Ormond.
Invasion of Ireland
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) with his New Model Army, invaded Ireland in 1649. Although much has been written and said about Cromwell he actually only campaigned in Ireland for 9 months. In that short period he took 28 towns and cities. This was accomplished because he made an example out of cities or towns that refused to surrender such as Droheda and Wexford. “He offered generous terms elsewhere and honoured them to the letter whenever they were accepted. Most remarkable was his restraint at Clonmel. He lost 2,000 men in a foiled assault there. He then took the town on terms and honoured them, although perhaps 200 retreating soldier were chased and killed” (John Morrill (2000) “Was Cromwell a War Criminal?” The Cromwell Association Website www.olivercromwell.org).
New Ross
Cromwell arrived at New Ross on 17 October 1649. The governor of New Ross, anxious to avoid the fate of Drogheda and Wexford persuaded the Marqus of Ormond to allow the town to surrender if Cromwell succeeded in breaching the city walls. On the 19th of October Cromwell’s artillery began bombarding the town walls resulting in a breach. The Governor sought terms. Cromwell in order to demonstrate that he would grant lenient terms in order to induce other towns to surrender, allowed the Governor and his soldiers to leave with their weapons. He also stated that the town would not be plundered and the civilians could remain unmolested or leave with their belongings. However, the practice of Catholicism would not be tolerated.
It took Cromwell’s troops about two weeks to build a bridge of boats across the Barrow. Cromwell’s field army was reduced to about 5,000 men as men were posted to garrisons to hold captured towns and fortresses. When Cromwell and his army crossed the Barrow they entered Co. Kilkenny on 15 November. Cromwell was ill. While other officers took the troops toward Kilkenny City they were forced to return to New Ross because Royalist troops had destroyed the bridge at Thomastown. A large group of calvary were sent from Thomastown to Carrick-on -Suir. The town fell without Cromwell losing a single soldier. The bridge at Carrick allowed Cromwell an easy route from New Ross into County Waterford, to approach the City of Waterford from the west along the southern side of the River Suir.
Did Cromwell Pass Through Glenmore?
Cromwell was not able to take Waterford City in 1649. The following year Cromwell’s son-in-law did succeed in taking the completely isolated Waterford City. Per the Down Survey Map the most direct route from New Ross to Waterford was the old road through Glenmore that was still in use in 1798. However, it does not appear from the history books that Cromwell used this direct route in 1649. He and his troops apparently went to Thomastown then turned to take Carrick-on-Suir. The Glenmore road would also have been the most direct route to Carrick as well as Waterford, but we have not been able to locate any texts that provide any route from New Ross other than Thomastown. If the incident in Kilmakevoge occured during the second attempt to take Waterford in July 1650, Cromwell was not present as he returned to England on 26 May 1650.
Cromwell’s Legacy
By May 1652, Cromwell’s army defeated the joined Confederate and Royalist army, and occupied Ireland bringing to an end the Eleven Year’s War or Irish Confederate Wars. Plague then swept across the battered country. Cromwell passed a series of Penal Laws against Roman Catholics and confiscated their lands. The Act of Settlement 1652 legalised the change of land ownership with over two thirds of land in the country changed hands. The displaced were sent to Connaught, deported to the continent, or sold into indentured servitude on the Caribbean sugar plantations.
Last year Sarah Covington’s, The Devil from Over the Sea: Remembering and Forgetting Oliver Cromwell in Ireland was published. In this interesting work the author explores the many ways in which Cromwell was both remembered and pointedly forgotten in Ireland over the centuries after his conquest. The author investigates his continued presence in folklore, the landscape, in ruins and curses. What emerges is how successive generations have remembered or forgotten Cromwell and his legacies to shape and re-shape Irish political discourse and history. The author commences her book with an oral tradition found in County Meath concerning Cromwell.
John O’Donovan and Cromwell’s Legacies
Amazingly the author reveals some local information provided by the Irish scholar John O’Donovan (1806-1861) concerning his own ancestors and Cromwell’s legacies. (For information on O’Donovan’s family see our post of 13 March 2021.)
John O’Donovan recalled an ongoing dispute that his ancestor had with Robert Snow, of Snowhill, accusing Snow of being “descended from a weaver who came over with Cromwell and his pickpockets.” Snow “who was a very sensible man,” argued that in the end “all bloods were equally red and equally old; and that it would be found that all bloods were good or bad according to the kind of food the possessor used.” To this William O’Donovan, O’Donovan’s great-grandfather replied “families settled by Cromwell had never any food but what they stole or earned by mean trades.” Sarah Covington (2022) The Devil from Over the Sea: Remembering and Forgetting Oliver Cromwell in Ireland, p. 162-163; citing John O’Donovan, “Ancient Tribes and Territories of Ossory,” No. II, Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaelogical Society.”
O’Donovan alleged that his mother, Eleanor Hoberlin (sic), of Rochestown, [later to become Glenmore] was descended from a soldier who came to Ireland with Cromwell. She married Edmond Donovan and freed herself from the grasp of “puritanical preachers, converted to Rome and strange to say, learned to hate and despise Cromwellian settlers.” (Sarah Covington (2022) The Devil from Over the Sea: Remembering and Forgetting Oliver Cromwell in Ireland, p. 163, citing John O’Donovan, Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, by the Four Masters, vol. 3 (Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1848, p. 2158).
The featured photo above is from the Down Survey Map (1656-1658). The map is available at Trinity University. The drawing of Cromwell is courtesy of the New York Public Library, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. Oliver Cromwell. Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-3223-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.
Special thanks to Richard Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, for sharing his newspaper clipping and information.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Are there any other oral traditions regarding Cromwell in Glenmore?
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
One Hundred Years Ago: February 1923
Today, we are going to feature local events as recorded in newspapers local to Glenmore. After years of turmoil and violence, Glenmore residents had to be frustrated. The Irish Civil War entered its 8th month and the death and destruction showed no signs of dissipating. Just taking produce or animals to market was difficult and dangerous. Even fishing brought risks.
Targeting of Civilian Infrastructure
Roads
In February 1923 the Irregulars or Republicans continued to attack, damage and often destroy civilian infrastructure. At the end of January and continuing throughout February there was extensive felling of trees to block roads in both Kilkenny and Wexford. Telegraph wires were also cut in some places. People traveling to New Ross in February often had to pass through fields to avoid blocked roads. Trenches were re-opened in places between New Ross, Campile and Ballycullane (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Feb. 1923, p. 5). Several New Ross buyers traveling to Thomastown fair had to return home because the roads between New Ross and Thomastown were blocked (New Ross Standard, 9 February 1923, p. 8).
Kilkenny County Council gave £150 toward temporary repairs to the destroyed timber bridge at the Ferry, Mountgarrett. The bridge was targeted and destroyed in the War of Independence as well as the Civil War (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Trains
Trains continued to be targeted. The up train to Macmine was delayed nearly two hours because rail chairs were broken between Waterford and Glenmore. The down passenger and goods train was derailed on Wednesday the 31st of January between Glenmore and New Ross. It was run off the line out onto a public road and was badly damaged (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Water Works
Armed men wrecked the Youghal waterworks, at Boula, Co. Waterford, in reprisal for the execution of two men captured in Co. Waterford. The Council complied with the order of the Irregulars to petition the Government for clemency for the captured men. The Council also passed a resolution condemning the executions, yet the waterworks were destroyed. A limited supply of water was in the Cork Hill reservoir but there were hundreds of patients in St. Raphael Mental Home, the Workhouse and other Institutions. It was predicted that the water supply would only last two days and steps were taken to get some of the old pumps, long disused, in working order (Munster Express, Sat. 3 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Violence Continued
Battles
At the end of January a large force of Republicans were active on the Walsh Mountains, between the villages of Hugginstown and Templeorum. A “sharp engagement,” took place on Thursday of last week between Republican forces and the National garrison from Mooncoin and Mullinavat. A running fight took place on the hills near Templorum. No casualties were reported from either side (Munster Express, Sat. 3 Feb. 1923, p. 6).
Civilian Killed
Miss Cissie Ryan, aged 16 of William St., Waterford was walking home with her sister and accompanied by two lieutenants of the National Army on the 23rd of January. Armed men attacked the soldiers on Wilkin St. Cissie who was behind her escorts was shot in the abdomen by the attackers. Although “little hope was entertained for her recovery she rallied for more than a week” before she died of her injuries (Munster Express, Sat. 3 Feb. 1923, p. 7).
Threats
Five well known Carrick-on-Suir residents received threatening notices. The notices were allegedly sent by the I.R.A. ordering the men to leave town because the men had allegedly made “statements prejudiced to the Republic and its citizens.” The local National Army authorities notified some leading Republicans that if any harm befell the recipients of the notices there would be serious consequences (Munster Express, Sat. 17 Feb. 1923, p. 4).
Snipers
Firing which became intense took place in Waterford on the night of the 18th. The sniping was directed toward the post office from points on the Kilkenny side of the River Suir. The replying fire of National troops silenced the attackers after about twenty minutes. No casualties were reported (Kilkenny People, Wed. 21 Feb. 1923, p. 7).
Prisoners
Richard Burke, a prisoner in Kilkenny goal was slightly wounded when he refused to withdraw from his cell window. A shot was fired by a guard and a splinter struck the prisoner (Kilkenny People, Wed. 21 Feb. 1923, p. 4).
Criminality Continued
As highlighted in previous months, from the newspaper accounts, it is often difficult to determine if reported activities were done to further the Republican agenda or if people were just taking advantage of the lack of police and the turmoil.
Kilmacow Raid
For example, on 20 February 1923, Ryan’s public house in Kilmacow was raided by armed men and a considerable amount of goods were taken. “The premises, have on many occasions recently received these unwelcome attentions.” The only occupants of the premises were two ladies (Kilkenny People, Wed. 21 Feb. 1923, p. 4).
Civic Guards for New Ross
In early February 1923, it was announced that Civic Guards were coming to New Ross. The National Troops vacated the Tholsel and have taken up residence in the old police barracks (New Ross Standard, 9 February 1923, p. 8).
The Murder of Mrs. Annie Devereaux, in Waterford City
Mrs. Devereaux was killed on the 15th in her home at 28 Slievekeale, Waterford City. At the time of her death, between 1 and 2 p.m., only two of her five children were in the home. Five year old Michael Devereaux ran from the home screaming that his mother was dead and that his uncle Willie killed her with a hatchet. Eleven-month-old Kathleen Devereaux was on the floor beside her mother.
Mrs. Devereaux had a deep wound on her neck that stretched from ear to ear as well as other gashes and died before help arrived. The infant was removed to the County and City Infirmary, but her condition was “nigh hopeless.” The deceased was the wife of James Devereaux, who was away working at the time of the murder. Kathleen Devereaux also died from her wounds (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 16 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
William Devereaux, the deceased’s brother-in-law, was arrested for her murder. At the inquest the doctor who was summoned to the scene believed that Mrs. Devereaux was holding Kathleen when she was attacked by her brother-in-law with a hatchet (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 23 Feb. 1923, p. 2). The death register records Mrs. Devereaux’s first name as Annie and she was 38 when she was killed.
Fishing
It was reported with the opening of the fishing season on 1 February 1923 that “due to flagrant and extensive violation of the laws by professional fishermen the Suir was very poorly stocked with fish.” Major General Proust, when informed of the illegal operations of cot men and others, issued a notice that pending revision by the Dail the existing fishery laws would be strictly enforced.
Major General Proust noted that illegal fishing would result in forfeiture of nets and other equipment and that cot men who refused to come to the bank when summoned by the authorities would be fired upon. It was immediately reported that two or three Clonmel fishermen had their nets seized, but because the fishing season was open the men would have their nets returned when they procured licenses.
While fishing for pike in the Slaney, near Enniscorthy, a local fisherman, named Butler, had his line fouled. When he was attempting to clear the line he found that it was caught in the ring of a Mills bomb, which had apparently been thrown into the river. An ex-British solider, also fishing in the vicinity, removed the grenade (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Postal News
Not all news regarding the postal service involved shooting or raids in February 1923. J.J. Walsh, the Postmaster General, issued a press release that the building of a G.P.O. on the ruins in O’Connell Street, Dublin, would start as soon as possible. The large ground at the back of Henry Street would be included in the new layout. He stated that work was being done from 20 to 30 out-offices instead of two or three. A new 1 ½ d. stamp was issued on 2 February. The new stamp “was an artistic one of maroon, with a blank map of Ireland in the centre” (Munster Express, Sat. 3 Feb. 1923, p. 3).
Economic Woes
The “old established jute factory” of Denny & Sons, of Waterford, closed because of a shortage of work due to a reduction in “killings in Irish bacon curing establishments.” The jute factory was engaged in making bacon wrappers (Munster Express, Sa. 3 Feb. 1923, p. 6).
Wages
Fifty shillings per week for a 48 hour week was agreed as the standard wage for labourers by Walsh and Dowley, Carrick-on-Suir and by the Carrick Urban Council for its employees (Munster Express, Sat. 10 Feb. 1923, p. 4). What the Munster Express failed to mention was the fact that the 50 shillings per week agreement represented a 4 s. reduction in wages. This reduction was to remain in place until June. The boatmen’s wages were settled by the men accepting the 4 s per week reduction, but getting a penny per ton extra for goods transported in the boats (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 2 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Recruiting
The National Army made an appeal for recruits in February 1923. Allowances were advertised “in respect of dependents on a liberal scale.” A wife would receive 4s per day; a wife and child, 5s 6d; wife and two children, 6s 6d; and 9d per day extra for every other child under 14 years of age (Munster Express, Sat. 10 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Glenmore in the News
Death of Mr. Paul Fitzgerald of Knockbrack, Glenmore
“The death of the above highly respected and popular gentleman, which took place on 20th, January at his residence, Knockbrack, is very deeply regretted. The deceased was a member of one of the most respected families in South Kilkenny. He was a man of splendid physique, a fine athlete n his time, a good and generous supporter of every charitable and patriotic movement for the past 30 years, a fond husband and father, and was liked by all with whom he was known for his good qualities of mind and heart, and to his neighbours especially, for his social and hospitable manner. “
“To know Paul was to love him, and his death on the above mentioned date is deeply mourned by his widow and family, relatives, and a large circle of friends. His funeral bore striking testimony to the esteem in which deceased was held, and was the largest seen in Glenmore within living memory. Solemn High Mass was offered up for deceased’s soul at the Parish Church after which the remains were conveyed to the family burial ground for interments. R.I.P.”
Chief Mourners
The chief mourners were—Mrs. Fitzgerald (widow); sons: Michael Fitzgerald; James Fitzgerald; Paul Fitzgerald; Thomas Fitzgerald; John Fitzgerald; daughters: Bridget Fitzgerald ; Ellie Fitzgerald; Mrs. Crowley, Mooncoin; Mrs. Fitzgerald, Mowlerstown; brothers: John Fitzgerald; Patrick Fitzgerald, Raheen; Edward Fitzgerald (do); brothers-in-law: Rev. Thomas Freaney, C.C. Gauthabawn; Rev. Patrick Freaney, C.C., Callan; James Freaney, Kilbride; John Feaney, Cullen Castle, Inistioge; Patrick Byrne, Brownsford, Tullogher ; and nieces: Mrs. O’Brien, New Ross; and Ellen Nolan, Raheen (Munster Express, Sat. 3 Feb. 1923, p. 7).
Vote of Sympathy
At a meeting of the Glenmore Football Club a vote of sympathy was passed for the Fitzgerald brothers, Knockbrack, prominent members of the club, on the death of their father (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 Feb. 1923, p. 5).
Wife & Parents
Paul Fitzgerald (1854-1923), of Knockbrack, Glenmore, married Johanna Freany (1857-1945) of Kilbride, Glenmore on 14 November 1883 at Glenmore. The witnesses to the wedding were John Murphy and Johanna Knox. We believe that Paul Fitzgerald was born in 1854 to Michael Fitzgerald and his wife Anne Murphy. Johanna Freany Fitzgerald (1857-1945) was the daughter of James Freany, of Kilbride, and his wife Bridget Knox. See our post of 5 April 1921 regarding Johanna’s nephews James Francis “Frank” Freyne (1902-1974) and Peter David Freyne (1903-1921) and their service in the War of Independence.
Arrests at Ballyvaring, Glenmore
Two men named E. Dowley and J. Ryan were arrested on the 23rd of February by National Forces at Ballyvaring, near Ringville, Glenmore. A fully loaded revolver was found close by (Munster Express, Sat. 24 Feb. 1923, p. 2).
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.historu@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Kilmakevoge, Glenmore (1961) [updated]
Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded in 1961 regarding the residents of the hamlet, area or sometimes referred to as townland, of Kilmakevoge, Glenmore. Kilmakevoge is one of the local areas that has been spelled in multiple ways over the centuries.
Background
Kilmakevoge is also the civil parish in which the following Glenmore townlands are located: Aylwardstown, Ballynaraha, Carricloney, Graguenakill, Haggard, Mullinahone Parkstown and Robinstown. The Irish for this civil parish and area, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 115-116) is Mochaomhóg, which is the name of an early Celtic saint. O’Kelly cites Cannon Carrigan’s work stating that Mochaombóg’s name was Latinized as Pulcherius and the church and nunnery, “long in ruins, were appropriated to the Inistioge Priory in 1240.” For a brief history of St. Mochaombóg (c. 550-656) see his listing in the National Biography 1885-1900.
The hamlet, area or townland of Kilmakevoge is comprised of 211 acres and O’Kelly noted that it is marked on the Ordinance Survey map.
Tenants in 1833
In the 1833 Tithe Applotment Books 1833, the townlands in Kilmacanoge(sic) include: Aylwardstown, Ballynaraha, Bessborough, Carrickcloney, Glebe, Higgart (sic), Higgart Mountain, Killogeenaghan, Kilmackauogue, Kilmackavough, Kilmakevoge, Knockduff, Mullinahone, Parkstown, Parkstown Kearneystown, and Robinstown.
There are 5 tenants listed in the 1833 Applotment Records including: [1] Thomas Mcgrath, 28 acres; [2] James Aylward, 30 acres; [3] Michael Gehan (sic) 30 acres; [4] John Delany, 30 acres; and [5] Patrick Walsh, 1 acre. A notation in the record reveals the names of the landlords, “those lands are held from Sir John Newport and Major Gahan.
Danny’s 1961 List
In 1961, Danny recorded 2 lists of Kilmakevoge families or households in the hamlet or area of Kilmakevoge. The first list was comprised of the first 5 household listed below. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died or left the townland. The recorded information reveals that in 1961, XX people resided in the townland of Kilmakevoge with the population comprised of XX males and XX females. The largest family was the Ryan family with 6 in the household. There was 1 household recorded with a person living alone. All information under residents of Kilmakevoge not in Danny’s original lists have been placed in square brackets[ ].
Recorded Residents
Males= 15
Females= 16
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in Kilmakevoge hamlet or townland was Patrick “Cushey” Grant, a confirmed bachelor farmer. Patrick is said to have earned his nickname Cushey because of his clever, thrifty ways. Patrick “Cushey” Grant was born 10 October 1882 and died 26 November 1961).
The second eldest was James Cassin who was born on 23 December 1899. His parents were James Cassin (c. 1878-1907) and Ellen Cassin née Malone (c. 1879-1963). Young James (1899-1968) was only 8 when his father drowned in 1907. See our previous post of 8 November 2020 regarding the circumstances of the drowning, the rescue attempt and other family members.
It is believed that James (Jimmy) Cassin (1899-1968) was married to Ellen Synnott, of Weatherstown, Glenmore. Ellen was a talented knitter and made lovely warm jumpers for local school children. See our “C” Glenmore Surnames page for Cassin obituaries.
Recorded Work
Farmer= 2 (1 male; 1 femle)
Creamery Managers= 2 (2 males)
Creamery Worker= 2 (2 males)
Council Worker = 2 (2 males)
Electrician=1 (1 male)
Blacksmith= 1 (1 male)
Farm Labourer = 1 (1 male)
Fitter = 1 (1 male)
Typist= 1 (1 female)
Hair Stylist= 1 (1 female)
Shop Assistant= 1 (1 female)
Clover Meats= 1 (1 female)
Residents of Kilmakevoge, Glenmore
[1] CASSIN
Cassin, James (23 Dec. 1899) Retired Creamery Worker
Cassin, Ellen (13 Feb. 1913) wife
[2] BARRY
Barry, John (25 Aug. 1907) Council Worker
Barry, Kate (27 Feb. 1914)
Barry, Nellie, daughter, child
[3] JONES
Jones, Michael (10 Feb. 1910] Council Worker
Jones, Bridget (b. 1917) wife
[4] RYAN
Ryan, Dermot, farm labourer [with James Kelly, of Aylwardstown, Glenmore] [c. 1924-1998]
Ryan, Peggie, wife [née O’Neill (c. 1926-2010)]
Ryan, Michael, son, child
Ryan, John, son, child
Ryan, Germiah, son, child
Ryan, Mary, daughter, child
[5] HENNESSY
Hennessy, William (b. 1926) Blacksmith
Hennessy, Pauline (b.c. 1937) wife
Hennessy, John, son, child
Hennessy, Noleine (sic) daughter, child
[6] GRANT
Grant, Patrick (10 Oct.1882) Farmer, Died 26 Nov. 1961
[7] O’HANLON
O’Hanlon, Bridget (8 Nov. 1893) Farmer, “Dead” [no date recorded]
O’Hanlon, Catherine (4 April 1932) daughter, Clover Meats “married in Gaulestown”
[8] HENNESSEY
Hennessey, William, Fitter
Hennessey, wife [no details recorded]
[9] McBRIDE
McBride, John (12 Dec. 1903) Creamery Employee, “Dead” [no date recorded]
McBride, Ellen (15 Feb. 1908) wife
McBride, Ellen, daughter, shop assistant “married”
Connolly, Margaret, daughter, hair stylist
Connolly, Martin, son-in-law, electrician
[10] CUDDIHY
Cuddihy, Thomas (14 Aug. 1900) Creamery Manager
Cuddihy, Kathleen (15 Oct. 1900) wife
Cuddihy, Kevin, son, asst. creamery manager
Cuddihy, Hilda, daughter, typist
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured illustration above is a Player’s Cigarette Card (1929) featuring St. Canice (517-600), a better known contemporary of St. Mochaombóg (c. 550-656).
The featured illustration above, and its reverse on the right, are courtesty of the New York Public Library Digial Collections. George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “Kilkenny, Cill-Cainnigh” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 15, 2023. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/5e66b3e8-7c10-d471-e040-e00a180654d7
Special thanks to David A. McTameney for providing the years of birth and death of Dermot and Peggy Ryan.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News
While searching for various information in local newspapers we often come across short interesting articles that provide a glimpse of long forgotten Glenmore events or people. Today, we are going to present some of the articles collected from primarily the twentieth century while conducting newspaper searches of local newspapers. If you have any additional information concerning these events or people please leave a comment below or email us. The email address is listed below.
Glenmore Police Blotter
Sheep Dipping
In 1914, a number of Glenmore residents were summoned by Sergeant Kirby of the R.I.C. for failing to send notice of intention to dip sheep within the sheep dipping period. The first defendant was James Doherty [no townland was published].
The Judge (to defendant), “Why did you not give notice?”
Defendant—”I had one little pet lamb.”
The Judge—”But that is a sheep. What is the penalty?
Sergeant Kirby—”You can fine him as much as £5; but I had cases at Ross the other day in which fines of 1s were imposed.”
Other Glenmore residents that were summoned for similar offences included: John Fitzgerald, Knockbrack, fined 5 s.; Paul Fitzgerald, fined 5s.; Catherine Raftis, Rochestown, fined 5s; Mary Walsh, do., fined 2s 6d; Patrick Walsh, fined 5 s. (Evening News (Waterford), Thurs. 8 Oct. 1914, p. 3).
Stolen Glenmore Bicycle 1942
Supt. Feeney prosecuted John Walsh, Annestown, on a charge of taking a bicycle at Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, the property of Mr. Hynes (sic) of Ballybrahee. The bicycle had a value £4. He was also charged with taking a pair of boots the property of Mr. John O’Connor, Annestown. The defendant pleaded guilty.
Garda Doghlan, New Ross, gave evidence and said that the defendant admitted stealing a bicycle in Glenmore, but that he did not know the owner. The Garda said the frame of the bicycle was in a house and the wheels in a shed. He admitted getting the boots. There was no attempt to hide the bicycle; the Garda stated that the defendant told him where to find the bicycle.
The defendant was the son of a respectable farmer, and was in continual employment since leaving school. His employer, Mr. O’Connor of Annestown, gave the defendant a good reference and testified that he was a very good employee. The defendant’s solicitor stated that the defendant was in Glenmore and took the bicycle from Glenmore to New Ross, intending to return it. He then alleged that the owner of the bicycle was a good friend of the defendant.
The Judge imposed a sentence of one months’ imprisonment on each charge with both sentences to run concurrently (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 Dec. 1942, p. 7).
Defendant Jim Fluskey (1882-1960)
During World War II, or what was known in Ireland as “The Emergency,” the disruption to shipping resulted in shortages and often consumers bought items that turned out not to be what the consumer requested. In order to tackle this problem weighing scales, food and drugs etc. were inspected more often than before the war.
In 1943, James Fluskey, of Glenmore Village, was charged with selling a substance that was not ground coffee. Gerald T. Griffin, of Foods and Drugs testified that he went to Fluskey’s shop and requested three quarters of a pound of ground coffee from Mrs. Fluskey. He sent the sample to the analyst who reported that the item was not of the nature requested.
Garda Griffin stated that he believed that Mrs. Fluskey made a mistake in giving him Café for coffee. The solicitor for the defendant Fluskey explained that Café was supplied in 1 lb. and ½ lb. packets, but as customers were in the habit of purchasing small quantities some of the packets were emptied into a biscuit tin. Besides this tin was another tin in which coffee was kept. Unfortunately, neither tin was labelled and Café was sold in mistake for coffee. He said Mr. Fluskey was 45 years in business and had never been in court before.
The justice said he would impose a nominal fine of 6d. defendant to pay the analyst’s fee (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Oct. 1943, p. 5). See our posts of 28 May 2020 and 22 November 2020 for further information on the Fluskey family and business.
Glenmore Sports
T. Kennedy Famous Glenmore Handball Player
The Waterford Chronicle reported in 1905 that “three very interesting and closely contested handball games were played in the Waterford Racquet Court.” It was noted that handball had lost some of its popularity but was being revived.
The first match was between J. Knox and F. Brennan, the Kilmacow and Slieverue champions against J. Grant another Kilkenny player and J. Hurley, a famous Kilkenny player. An exciting game was won by Grant and Hartley only by four aces.
The second game was won by Brennan and Knox with a lead of three aces. “The final match was the piece ‘de resistance.’ The contestants were J. Hurley and T. Kennedy, the famous Glenmore Player, against J. Grant and the celebrated Irish champion, Trooper Joseph Quinlisk, R.I.C.
“The spectators showed exceptional interest in the match which created the greatest enthusiasm.” “The betting was very considerable, a large sum having exchanged hands, one of the players retiring from the court with a far larger amount than when he entered.” The match was won by Grant and Quinlisk by only a single ace (Waterford Chronicle, Sat. 6 May 1905, p. 2). Does anyone know who T. Kennedy was?
South Kilkenny Hot Rod Motor Racing Club
Paddy Mackey, of Mullinahone,, Glennmore was the Founder and later Hon. Secretary of the of the South Kilkenny Hot Rod Motor Racing Club. In 1976, Paddy was elected Hon. Secretary of the Irish Hot Rod Racing Federation, the governing body of the sport, at its annual general meeting, held in Cahir House Hotel, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Paddy was educated at the Glenmore National School and C.B.S., New Ross. He was married, the father of three children, and employed at the Sunraised Fruit Co. Ltd., Waterford (Munster Express, Fri. 6 Feb. 1976, p.1).
Glenmore Homecomings in 1998
“Paddy Kehoe formerly of Rathnure (sic), Glenmore spent a very enjoyable month’s holiday with his sister Mary Delahunty, Aylwardstown. During his visit he visited all his nephews and nieces and also attended all the GAA games played locally and also the Leinster Senior Hurling Final. Paddy emigrated to the USA 41 years previously and came home on several occasions.
Also home on holidays was Larry Dillon (1921-2016) formerly of Rochestown, Glenmore, who spent a holiday with his brother Paddy in Slieverue. Larry was in Wolverham(sic), England for over 35 years and paid yearly visits to Glenmore (New Ross Standard, Wed. 22 July 1998, p. 23). See our previous post of 27 March 2021 concerning Larry’s sister, Ciss Dillon (1919-1997).
Glenmore Lands & Buildings
In 1901, a small notice appeared in the New Ross Standard concerning Daniel Cody’s lands.
“WARNING is hereby given that any person found trespassing on my lands at Carrigcloney, Graiguenakill, and Ballinamoney (sic), otherwise than on the Mass Path, will from this date be prosecuted— Daniel Cody, Carrigcloney “(New Ross Standard, Sat. 19 Jan. 1901).
A decade later the Waterford No. 2 Rural District Council, which had charge of most of Glenmore parish, it sought tenders “to repair and cope a wall at Forrestall’s (sic) Mill, Glenmore.” However, no tender was received by the Council (Evening News (Waterford) Mon. 27 Nov. 1911, p. 3).
On the 7th of November 1917, Mount Ida, of Rochestown, Glenmore, a freehold residential estate of 154 acres, the property of Philip Conn, was put up for sale by public auction. The poor law valuation was £135 5s. Mount Ida was purchased by William Forrestal, of Ballyverneen, Glenmore for £4,700 (Enniscorthy Guardian, Sat. 17 Nov. 1917).
In 1958, Glenmore Creamery began “reconstructing” its buildings. When completed it was reported that it would be one of the finest creameries in South Kilkenny. The new premises were built by Glenmore contractor, Patrick Kennedy, of Kilbride, Glenmore (Munster Express, Fri. 3 Oct. 1958, p. 8).
Shortly after the reconstruction a house that was adjacent (in front of where the weigh bridge is now) went up for sale in 1961. The owner selling the property was Mrs. Anastatia Walsh. This was the house where Paddy Griffin (1937-2022) and his brother Larry Griffin (c. 1940) were raised.
Glenmore Farming Accidents
In August 1899, a sad occurrence took place at Michael Delaney’s farm, at Newtown, Glenmore. While threshing some corn with a horse-power machine, a man named Tom Fowley was feeding the machine and went to stop the machine. “John Gahan jumped to the feeding table and pushed a sheaf of corn into the machine,” which brought Gahan’s hand into the machine. The hand entered the drum beaters to the arm, which was mangled and torn to pieces. “Young Gahan lost an enormous quantity of blood, and when Dr. Sheehan, of New Ross attended him, he found the poor fellow in such a bad plight that he could not guarantee that his life would be saved.” He remained in a precarious condition (Evening News (Waterford) Sat. 26 Aug. 1899, p. 2).
No death for a John Gahan could be located in the 1899 death register. The Delaney farm was near the farm of Laurence Gahan and his wife Bridget Doherty. It is believed that it was their son John Gahan (b. 8 Dec. 1879) was the unfortunate victim of the threshing accident. John Gahan (farmer) of Kilmakevogue, Glenmore, married Mary Haberlin, (c. 1884) of Aylwardstown on 21 August 1911 at Glenmore.
In July 1907, a “labouring man, named Donovan,” was making a rick of hay in Ballinlammy, Glenmore. He fell 9 feet from the rick, landing on his head and broke his neck. The deceased “belonged to Slieverue” (Evening News (Waterford), Sat. 27 July 1907, p. 3).
The death register recorded that John Donovan (c. 1878-1907) died at Ballinlammy on 23 July 1907 at the age of 29 when he fell from a hay rick and died instantly. John Donovan was not married, and Richard Doherty was present at his death perhaps indicating that the accident occurred on the Doherty farm.
First Cousins in Slander Suit
In 1918, Andrew Heffernan (c. 1898-1975) of Aylwardstown sued his first cousin, Peter Kennedy (1878-1962) of Rathinure, for slander arising from an argument during a party at the home of John Irish, of Aylwardstown. John Irish was also a first cousin of Peter Kennedy. Below is the public apology issued and published by Peter Kennedy.
I, Peter Kennedy, of Rathinure, Glenmore, in the County of Kilkenny, Farmer, hereby withdraw and apologise for the statements I made against the character of Mr. Andrew Heffernan, of Aylwardstown, Glenmore, aforesaid, by accusing him and his family of being dishonest, in the presence of several guests at the house of Mr. John Irish, of Aylwardstown, on the 17th July last. The statements then made by me were altogether unfounded and entirely untrue, and I deeply regret the pain, annoyance and injury such statements may have caused Mr. Heffernan. I have paid all legal expenses incurred by Mr. Heffernan in connection with the action for slander which he has taken against me, and also the expenses of the publication of the apology. Dated this 11th day of November, 1918. ((Signed)PETER KENNEDY. Witness, Thomas C. Brazil, Solicitor’s Assistant, Waterford. Daniel Dunford and Co. Solicitors, for Andrew Heffernan, O’Connell-Street, Waterford (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Nov. 1918).
Misc. Articles
In November 1931, Cullen’s travelling circus paid a visit to Ballyfacey, Glenmore. It was reported that the circus was well attended nightly (Munster Express, Fri. 20 Nov. 1931, p. 8).
Glenmore historian Danny Dowling (1927-2021) made the news in March of 1952. “HEALTH INSPECTOR TRANSFERRED Mr. D. Dowling, a native of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who had been temporary health inspector for Waterford Corporation, has secured a permanent position from Kildare County Council” (Waterford Standard, Sat. 15 March 1952).
Please send any correction, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo of the handball players is courtesy of the Digital Public Library of America <http://hdl.handle.net/10339/88339>.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh