Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

  • Maurice Hennebry (1859-1917) Native of Rochestown, Glenmore—Killed on the S.S. Formby

    The National Archives has the Irish Merchant Navy Crew Lists 1857-1922, and it is available on line.    The list has the names of twoRead More

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  • Ballyfacey, Glenmore 1913 School Photo

    Special thanks to Ann O’Rourke for sharing this photo that she obtained from Danny Dowling (1927-2021). Danny obtained the photo from Mary Statia Ivory (secondRead More

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Whether you are climbing your family tree or interested in social history, local place names or folklore we welcome you to Glenmore-History.com and hope that you enjoy your visit.

L A T E S T   P O S T S

Glenmore Fishing and Weirs

For generations Glenmore men, and at least one woman, fished the River Barrow. Some of fishermen were also farmers and others were cottagers working on farms when needed part of the year and fishing the remainder of the year. Although the River Barrow is home to several different types of fish and eel, the king of the catch was the salmon. (For a list of the type of fish of the Barrow see, http://riverbarrow.net/fishing.html .) Danny Dowling interviewed and recorded various aspects of local fishing in the 1970’s as fishing declined significantly.

Nicky Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore in June 1977 identified five fishing “pools” on the River Barrow that Glenmore fishermen fished. All of the fishing pools identified had Irish names and were described as follows:

  • Thowshkeen—above Cherry’s Brewery at Ross, mid-river.
  • Ling Voor—off Castle Annaghs. From Stafford’s wharf to turn of Camblin.
  • Lahóge—Between Maid’s Quay and Glenmore Pill.
  • Málya—Between Glenmore Pill and Carrickcloney strand.
  • Corrigalú—On Wexford side almost opposite Tommy Connolly’s, of the river, at Aylwardstown. Below Dunganstown Quay wood of the same name.

Patrick Hennessey, of Hoodsgrove, Rosbercon, in February 1980 identified seven fishing “ponds,” on the Barrow and Nore Rivers. All of the fishing ponds identified by Patrick Hennessy are also in Irish.

  • Ling Voor—in Barrow off Camblin.
  • Ling Beg—in Barrow at bridge of Ross.
  • Thowshtheen—in Barrow at Ross side of railway bridge.
  • Vawnúg—at Barrow mouth. Confluence of Nore and Barrow.
  • Pawl Útha—in Nore under Luke Hennessy’s of Glensensaw.
  • Portloss—in Nore at Ballyneale.
  • Scíordhawns—in Nore under Lambert’s of Newgrove.

Michael Forristal, of Rochestown, Glenmore in 1969 stated that there were 14 fishing boats at the Black Rock, Kearneybay and at one time 40 boats were fishing the river. John Power, of Carrigcloney, Glenmore, in February 1970 identified the fishermen with boats who trawled the Malya around the turn of the twentieth century.

  • Tommy Power of Robinstown (own boat).
  • Jim Scanlan, Glenmore (own boat.)
  • Jimmy Forristel, The Mill (own boat).
  • Pat Kennedy, Duganstown, Co. Wexford (own boat).
  • Patsy Hough, Rochestown (own boat).
  • Jack Forristal, Rochestown (own boat).
  • Micky Foran, Rochestown (own boat).

Salmon was then about 6 d. per lb. Salmon was so plentiful that asses and carts were required to transport it away. The fish were generally sold in Ross. A man named Murphy was identified as a New Ross fish buyer.

However, some boats were owned by people who did not live along the river. Nicky Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill (Nov. 1977) told Danny that Patsy Henneberry (Mártín) of Jamestown, and Bill Roche, of Jamestown, (Main Roche’s father) owned between them a cot which they fished in for at least one season. Patsy Henneberry was going with another crew on this particular season, and he asked Roche, “how will we settle about the cot?” Roche replied “we can do nothing with her except cut her in halves.” No matter what Henneberry suggested, Roche would not agree, so in the end Henneberry, rather than see it cut in halves, left it to Roche.

Nicky Forristal (1888-1979) in his 1977 interview also described to Danny the fish joulter’s cars that he observed as a young man. This horse drawn vehicle with four wheels, had high sides and was used by the fish dealers in Ross, Enniscorthy and Graiguenamanagh. They traveled in convoys of up to 8 or 9 cars by the Mill on their way to Dunmore to collect sea fish. They would leave in the day, pass by the Mill in the evening, stay overnight in Dunmore, and return the next day. He was told that they travelled in a convoy to let some of the drivers sleep for part of the journey and the cars and the fish would be minded by the other drivers.

Turf Cigarette Card Depicting Salmon

Brian Forristal in an interview of Tommy Connolly, of the river, (1907-1987) recorded that Tommy recalled a time when 30 or 40 boats were on the river during the salmon season. Tommy and his crew, in the 1961-1962 season, held the record for the number of salmon caught in one sweep. They were fishing in the “Mallagh” and caught 65 salmon during the one run and on the next they caught another 20 or so. The haul was so heavy it took several crews to help them pull in the net.

Weirs on the Barrow River

An interesting article appeared in the Dublin Penny Journal (30 Jan. 1836, available at https://www.jstor)org/stable/30003343) concerning the fishing of “the famed salmon of the Barrow.” The author a man from New Ross described the salmon fishing as follows: “a net is dropped between two small boats called ‘cots.’ (The author described the cot as a small boat generally built of four or five boards.) Each cot holds two men, one holds the net, while the other ‘conducts the cot with a paddle, shaped like a shovel.’” It was noted by the author that upwards of four hundred individuals earn a comfortable livelihood during the fishing seasons. This livelihood came under threat in 1834 when large Scotch weirs, some nearly a mile in extent, were illegally placed at the mouth of the Waterford harbour. One of these weirs frequently caught five hundred salmon each tide. “Impelled by hunger and despair” the up-river fishermen could not wait for the legal prosecution of the weir owners. Men manned two hundred cots and armed with hatchets and saws they left New Ross one morning cut down the nets of the giant Scotch weirs and returned with the returning tide, exhausted having travelled nearly 50 miles. “The lovers of cheap salmon welcomed their return with three hearty cheers, and made a handsome collection to buy bread and beer to refresh these nautical heroes.”

Although the newspapers of the nineteenth century are full of fishing prosecutions and inquiries there is one article in the Dublin Daily Express of 15 December 1863 that identifies and discusses three weirs in Glenmore parish and the people associated with them sometimes going back to 1800, namely: the Ballyverneen weir; the Carney (sic) Bay weir; and the Rochestown weir. Under an Act of Parliament, the Fisheries Commission was appointed to investigate the rights and titles of parties to fisheries by means of fixed weirs and to decide whether they were an obstruction to navigation.

Ballyverneen Weir

Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy, Esq. was identified as the landlord and Michael Irish was the occupier of the weir who paid rent for it. Robert Brazil measured the weir and advised the Commission that it was 59 yards from the end of the enter ring to the shore. At the outside pole it was in 30 feet of water, and at the upper end of the channel wing there was 24 feet of water at full tide. Pilot William Fortune testified and referred to it as the Pink Rock weir. He stated that the tide sets right into it and said that it was an obstruction to navigation of a vessel when “working up a vessel, coming up with a flood tide.” Daniel Walsh testified that his brother fished the weir in 1801 and he took it after that. Daniel testified that he was about 72 years of age. The nets were cut down by the cot men once since he took the weir. It never happened again. He never knew a gabbard or ship to be tangled in the Ballyverneen weir. Thomas Mullally, Dr. Mackessy’s rent-warner, testified that he had no recollection of being told of any damage being done to the weir by boats. “There is a good flood tide going into the weir.”

The Commission deemed the weir injurious to navigation and the public right of fishing. It ordered the removal of the weir.

Kearneybay Weir

The landlord was Col. Kearney and the occupant was Thomas Murphy. [Update: Danny Dowling stated on 20 July 2020 that Col. Kearney lived near the Carlow border and only resided in Kearneybay for a short time.] The weir was described as a “head weir.” Robin Brazil testified that from the shore to the extreme end of the channel wing of the weir measured 72 yards. At spring high water he found the depth of 27 feet at the end of the channel wing. Gabbards, boats and vessels pass up and down the river by this weir. Michael Barron a boatman testified that in his opinion the weir made navigating the river difficult. James Bolger a boatman trading up and down the river testified that he did not think it was injurious. Thomas Wall, a Kearneybay farmer, testified that the weir had been there as long as he could remember for the past 65 or 66 years. It was fished as a salmon weir during that time and before that it was fished by Andrew Neil and Mark Brine.

Thomas Murphy testified that he was the tenant of the weir for the past 12 years since his father died. He paid £5 rent per year to Col. Kearney the landlord. He had helped fish it for the past 40 years. He stated that to his knowledge Col. Kearney and his ancestors owned the weir for over 200 years. Thomas Murphy stated his father fished it for 45 years as a salmon weir. He never heard of a complaint that it was an obstruction to navigation.  Murphy noted that at high water the breadth of the river was about 300 yards. About 30 or 40 yards of the weir were stripped out at low spring tides. It was a flood weir. There were no complaints made to him about a boat going into the weir, but he admitted it was injured by a vessel going against it about 15 years earlier.

The Commission ruled that no evidence was given to sustain the title and that there was evidence that it was injurious to navigation. It ordered the weir be removed.

The Rochestown Weir

The owner of the weir was identified as Peter Strange, J.P. The occupier was Joseph Hunt. The weir was described as a flood weir. Hunt testified that he held the weir under a lease of 21 years for which he paid 1 shilling per year. His father purchased the lease for 21 years for £80, 12 years earlier leaving 9 years still on the lease. Hunt stated that the weir does not pose an obstruction to navigation. John Crook testified that he had worked the weir for the past 60 years and it was always used for salmon. Myles Dempsey, a boatman for twenty years, testified that he did not think that the weir caused an obstruction to navigation. The newspaper report does not provide further detail and the Commission ultimately decided that the weir should be abated, and it if was not removed after the proper lapse of time (assumed to be the remainder of the lease) it would issue a warrant for its removal.

The featured drawing is from the Dublin Penny Journal (30 Jan. 1836, available at https://www.jstor)org/stable/30003343) and depicts Castle Annaghs which was located on the Barrow River in Kilkenmy between Glenmore and New Ross. In the foreground is a cot and two fishermen.

For further information concerning local fishing, Andrew Doherty’s blog Waterford Harbour Tides & Tales see, for example “Growing Up Amongst Nets,” https://tidesandtales.ie/growing-up-amongst-nets/ .

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

Wed & Dead Within a Week: The Widow’s Update

On the 21st of June we posted an article concerning the tragic circumstances surrounding the wedding and death of James Aylward, of Parkstown, Glenmore in 1909. Although the bride widow, Catherine (Kate) Aylward née Gaul was located in the 1911 census living with her father and brothers in Ballynooney West, of Rosbercon no further records could be located.

We are happy to report that through the help of a reader we were able to speak with a great-niece of the lady and learned that the woman widowed while on her honeymoon re-married, had four children and lived in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.

We were not able to locate a marriage record for the widow Catherine (Kate) Aylward née Gaul but we were able to find a child born in Moyhora, Castlecomer on the 31st of July 1916 to Michael Murphy and Kate Murphy née Gaul. The child was named Kate Murphy. Unfortunately the public birth records end in 1919 and we were unable to discover the names of the other three children.

In terms of the Gaul family it was verified that the father, Luke Gaul, died on 7 February 1917 at the age of 70 and Kate had two brothers. John born on 19 April 1873 married and stayed on the Ballynooney farm. William Gaule was born on 23 September 1879; he married Honara Dalton and farmed in Keatingstown, Hugginstown, Co. Kilkenny. They had eight children. It was said that Honara lived to be 101 years of age.

Lastly, Cissy Kennedy, a native of Rathinure, Glenmore, aged 90 verified last week that John Joe Aylward of Parkstown, Glenmore (nephew of the tragic groom) had a sister Nellie Aylward who married a farmer from Wexford and had two sons.

Below is the headstone bearing the name of the tragic groom located during the recent survey of the Glenmore cemetery.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

Glenmore in the 1860’s

In searching for information on one subject in local newspapers it is quite common to come across interesting articles relating to Glenmore or its people. The following articles were recently discovered concerning events in Glenmore in the 1860’s. Although it is generally known that there were several local murders of landlords in the 19th century Danny Dowling stated this week that he was not aware of the manslaughter of John Kelly of Graiguenakill by his friend Thomas Forrestal in 1862. The majority of incidents in the articles below occurred after a Waterford fair and we previously highlighted that it was in early 1867 that ice took down the New Ross Bridge. For an account of the 1867 bridge collapse see our post of 14 December 2019.

Manslaughter of John Kelly of Graiguenakill, Glenmore–1862

In the Penny Despatch and Irish Weekly Newspaper on Saturday the 25th of October 1862 it received a report dated the 18th from Kilkenny that a quarrel took place in Kilkenny between John Kelly, a farmer’s son, residing at Graiguenakill, and Thomas Forrestal. The two men were returning from the fair of Waterford, on the 6th of October, when Forrestal drew a knife and stabbed Kelly in the breast, penetrating the right lung. Kelly lingered until the 15th of October when he died from his wound. Previous to Kelly’s death Walter Sweetman, Esq., J.P., attempted to take his dying declaration, but Kelly refused to give the name of the party who stabbed him. An inquest was held on the I6th of October, at which an unnamed witness testified that Kelly told him he was stabbed by Forrestal. The jury indicted Forrestal for manslaughter. Forrestal absconded. The newspaper article concludes by reporting that both Kelly and Forrestal were under the influence of liquor at the time of the “unfortunate occurrence.”

The Trial of Thomas Forrestal–1863

 The Saunder’s News-Letter of Wednesday the 29th of July 1863 reported on the trial of Thomas Forrestal for the manslaughter of John Kelly during the Kilkenny Summer Assizes on the 28th of July 1863. The defendant, Thomas Forrestal is described as a respectable farmer and he was defended by Mr. P. White. From the article it appears that Thomas Forrestal on the 21st of October 1862 surrendered to the police and was jailed for nine months as he awaited his trial. The case was prosecuted by Sergeant Armstrong, Messrs. Wall, Q.C., and Curtis. The principal witness for the Crown was Philip Walsh.

Philip Walsh testified that on the 6th of October 1862 he was at the fair in Waterford, with Forrestal and the deceased Kelly. They had ridden into Waterford, and on the way home in the evening, Kelly appeared have fallen upon the road, for his clothes were covered with dust. Forrestal suggested to Kelly to get into a creel, but Kelly said he would walk. [For our international readers a creel, was made when slated wooden sides were added to a horse’s cart to form a sort of cage to convey pigs or a calf to market. The creel sides would slot into the cart and add between two or three feet to the four sides of the cart.]

The three men “proceeded accordingly” on the road as far as the house of a man named Donovan. It was surmised by Danny that this may have been Donovan of the Mill at Ballyrowrah as this was near the junction of the old Waterford to New Ross post road (today known as the High Road) and the New Line (today the N. 25). [Regarding these two roads, see, Glenmore: Between Waterford and New Ross, posted 14 Dec. 2019]  The three men remained for some time at Donovan’s. Kelly at first refused to leave the place with Forrestal. The witness Walsh testified that Kelly wished to court a girl who was there.

Eventually, the witness Walsh, with Forrestal and Kelly, proceeded from Donovan’s, and Forrestal was angry with Kelly for delaying. The witness stated that he said to the defendant Forrestal, “Tom, have sense.” The witness Walsh then left Kelly and Forrestal and crossed the field for a short cut, leaving the others on the public highway. Walsh heard some altercation in the distance, and a voice he considered to be Kelly’s saying first, “Keep out of that,” and afterwards, “That is the worst turn that ever you done.”

The next witness called was James Hanrahan who testified that the morning after this occurrence he went to Forrestal’s house, and informed him that the police were coming. Forrestal and Hanrahan left Forrestal’s house before the police arrived. Constable Powell testified that Kelly was wounded on his left side by a knife, which cut through his shirt. Kelly died on the 15th of October, and on the 21st Forrestal surrendered to the police. When Forrestal surrendered he told Constable Powell “that there was a bad case against him.” [Constable Powell when he retired from the RIC became the first postmaster of Glenmore, see, The Glenmore Post Office: Its Rise and Demise posted 24 Nov. 2019]           

Forrestal’s counsel submitted that there was not sufficient proof that the voice heard on the road was that of Kelly, and that in any event the accused might have been defending himself from the attack of an excited drunken man. The dying declaration of Kelly was given in evidence, in which he said he did not know who wounded him and he had himself to blame for what occurred. The article concludes that Forrestal received the highest character reference, was found guilty, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Given that Forrestal had spent nine months in jail awaiting his trial the three months’ sentence gave him a total period of incarceration of 12 months for the manslaughter. Unfortunately the townlands of the defendant Forrestal and the witnesses were not provided nor any of the ages of the victim, defendant or witnesses making it difficult to identify these persons.

Another Assault after the Waterford Fair—1864

The Waterford Mail on Monday the 16th of May 1864 reported the following: “Ferocious Assault—Mr. John Costello, a respectable farmer from the vicinity of Glenmore, while returning from the Waterford May fair on the 4th, was met near the Glenmore Police-station, by James Irish at the head of party. Irish knocked Costello out of the car with a blow of a stick, and while on the ground struck him several times on the head with a large stone. A man named Delany came to the assistance of Costello, and Irish fled. Costello reached the barrack in an exhausted state. His assailant has absconded.”

Killed on the Way to a Funeral–1864

The Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor on Wednesday the 12th of October 1864 reported that on Tuesday a man was killed when he fell from his horse while attending the funeral of a man named Irish. Irish had been killed on Monday evening when he too fell from his horse. “It was stated that the melancholy occurrence [on Tuesday] took place near Carriganurra, on the road leading to Glenmore, the destination of the [Irish] funeral.” The article concludes that this was the third death which took place in this “melancholy” manner within the past week.

Killed from Fall Off Horse Coming Home from Waterford Fair–1866

It was reported in the Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor on Wednesday the 21st of November 1866 that an inquest was held at Parkstown, near Glenmore, by T. Izod. Esq., Coroner on the body of Patrick Murphy, a labourer. Murphy fell from a young horse on the 1st of November when he was returning from the fair of Waterford. Murphy lingered until the 5th of November when he died. “A verdict was returned that deceased died from paralisis (sic), caused by injury to the spine from the effects of the fall.”

Police Raids at Cat’s Rock–1867

1860’s Beaumont-Adams English revolver

In the Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor of Wednesday the 24th of April 1867 it was reported that the police of Kilmacow, Mullinavat and Glenmore Police Stations, under Constables Warde and Powell, have been to Cat’s Rock, in the Glenmore District,, and searched several house for concealed arms or other “contraband of war” but without success. No further information was supplied regarding why the inhabitants were suspected of having arms or other “contraband of war” and no further articles were found on the subject.

The featured drawing above is from 1849 found in the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “Appearance Of Ye Crymynyal Courte Dvryng An “Interestyng” Tryal For Mvrder.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-0cbd-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

Blog update—we are pleased to announce that two guest articles from Brian Forristal were published earlier in the week on our guest author page. These articles are stories recorded by Brian as told to him by Tommy “of the river” Connolly (1907-1987) concerning Tommy’s experiences as a boy in Aylwardstown, Glenmore during the War of Independence.

Grave Inscriptions—We have completed a survey of the headstones in the churchyard adjacent to St. James the Glenmore parish church, and we are in the process of placing all the inscriptions in a searchable file. The searchable file we hope to put on the blog (technology permitting) and the photos of the markers are being also submitted to Find a Grave to allow descendants around the world to view the headstones.

Glenmore 19th Century Sports: Cricket and Weight-Throwing

Most people today know that Glenmore produced some high achieving athletes. The 20th century hurling and football teams, and indeed a four legged Glenmore bred athlete that won Cheltenham gold, are well known. Today, at the request of a reader we are going to highlight two of the lesser known Glenmore sports of the 19th century, cricket and weight-throwing and hope that readers might be able to provide more information.

Cricket

In the late 1950’s Danny Dowling interviewed Jim Culleton (1867-1962), of Kilbride, Glenmore who at the time of the interview was one of the oldest members of the parish of Glenmore. When Jim died a few years later in 1962, he was 95 1/2 years of age. Jim informed Danny that in his father’s time Kilbride had a good cricket team. Jim’s father, John Culleton (1836-1882) died aged 46 in 1882. Jim stated that prior to the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), being established cricket was very popular in Glenmore. (For a concise history of the organisation see, https://www.gaa.ie/the-gaa/history/ ).  Jim Culleton was able to recite a verse from a local song, “Kilbride Cricketers” that was composed in honour of the team.

“I have been at Kilbride Crickets on the 8th April last,
I have been in many places during thirteen summers past,
Pleasures sure, I always had but pleasure I cannot describe,
I enjoyed them beyond measure on the green hills of Kilbride.”

Although an extensive newspaper search was made for any matches played by the Kilbride cricket team, or a Glenmore parish cricket team, none could be located. However, there are reports in newspapers in the 1890’s concerning the Raheen and Rosbercon cricket teams. Although fields have been identified as the practice fields for later Glenmore Gaelic football teams, no field was ever identified to Danny as the field where cricket was played in Glenmore.

According to the Cricket Ireland website, cricket by the mid 1850’s had become the most popular sport in Ireland and was blind to class or creed. In 1855, the first team to represent Ireland beat the English team by a 107 run “thrashing.”  (See, https://www.cricketireland.ie/about/history ). While cricket may have become popular in Ireland by 1855, a review of newspapers articles from the south east suggests that it was more popular and commonly reported on in urban areas. The Waterford Steamship Co. announced on 18 June 1879 that it was running “their favourite river Steamer ‘Ida’ to New Ross” on the 1st of July for those who wished to attend the cricket match at Ross. “Several metropolitan amateur athletes intend coming down to see what they can do…1 s. 6 d. for the double journey.” (New Ross Standard, Wed. 18 June 1879). It is believed the athletes referenced were coming down from Dublin.

Although it has been asserted that cricket was blind to class an article in 1879 clearly indicates that engagement in sport was a luxury not provided to the poor. Most of Glenmore was in the Waterford Poor Law Union which meant that children of the Glenmore poor were taken to the Waterford workhouse. In 1879 a motion was made to provide a playground for the boy inmates of the workhouse to play sports such as cricket. At a special meeting of the Poor Law Guardians a motion was made to set aside half an acre on the grounds of the workhouse to provide a playground for healthy recreation. The proposer reminded the other Guardians that the boys were “inmates” through no fault of their own. “It was a pitiful site to see those poor boys caged like prisoners within the precincts of the workhouse without anything to relieve the dull monotony of their lives.” It was decided by these civic leaders of the day, that the duty of the Guardians was to provide training to make the boys into farm labourers and therefore useful members of society. Teaching them to play cricket or football was not necessary. One Guardian warned that the boys might regard the workhouse as home and seek to return to it if a playground was allowed. A vote was taken and the Guardians rejected the playground by a vote of 10 to 6. (Waterford Standard, 5 Nov. 1879).

An unusual business advertised in the Waterford Standard in 1874

Weight Throwing

According to Paul Rouse the author of Sport and Ireland: A History (2015, OUP, Kindle Ed.) weight throwing and running and jumping were woven into the fabric of rural life. Men gathered on Sunday evenings or during long summer evenings and competed. “Weight throwing was perceived to be a great form of exercise and was practiced in many variations across the countryside.” (Rouse 2015, p. 139). It was only in the 1860’s and 1870’s, that formal athletic events and associations were organized in towns, cities, and villages across Ireland. A contemporary and very condescending article on Irish athletics was published in London in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News on 6 May 1875. With respect to Irish weight throwing, heavy weight throwing was considered good, however the 16 pound or hammer throwing was considered bad “as it is little practiced.” Notwithstanding the 1875 opinions concerning Irish weight throwing, Rouse notes that the tradition of weight throwing in Ireland “…was the back story to the extraordinary success enjoyed by Irishmen in the Olympic Games throwing competitions after 1896” (Rouse 2015, p. 139).

No newspapers accounts of weight-throwing events in Glenmore were located. However, the New Ross Standard of 14 Sept. 1889 does provide information concerning the events of the programme held in the Rower, Kilkenny. There were 21 events, 14 of which were open to all comers.  There were two weight throwing events, slinging 56 lbs between legs without follow, in “the usual way in which this weight is thrown when a number of young fellows meet for ‘diversion,’ and throwing 7 lbs with follow.”

Thrown 28 lb weight, Sphere 1922
(c) Illustrated London News Gr.

Within ten years the local newspapers covered a greater number of weight throwing events and results. For example, in 1899 an all-round weight throwing and jumping competition was held in Carrick-on-Suir. “The weather was most unfavourable, yet the competitors decided to have the issue tried out, and the contest was held amidst a heavy downpour of rain. Kiely had three firsts—7 lbs (standard 78 ft), 80 ft 3 in; hammer from 7 ft circle (standard 115 ft), 142 ft 6in; slinging 56 lbs unlimited run and follow (standard 30 ft.), 35 ft 6 in. Horgan had also three firsts—throwing 14 lbs (standard 48 ft), 50 ft 9in ; putting shot, 7 ft circle (standard 35 ft), 42 ft 5 inches ; putting 28 lbs (standard, 29 ft), 33 ft 4in.; Phelan, Mullinahone, was the third with a trio of events: pushing 56 lbs (standard 20 ft), 21 ft 2 in; slinging 56 lbs between legs with follow (standard 25 ft), 27 ft 8 in; slinging, 56 lbs over bar (standard 12 ft), 12ft 3in.” (New Ross Standard, Sat. 4 Nov. 1899).

A weight-throwing champion from Glenmore is found recorded in the National Folklore Collection. In 1935 young Paddy Kennedy (1922-1997), of Rathinure interviewed his father Patrick Kennedy, Sr. (c. 1868-1951) concerning a Glenmore weight-thrower named William Forristal, of Ballyverneen. (Nat’l Folklore Collection UCD, The School’s Collection, vol. 845, p. 13, Ringville School Roll 6621.)

Patrick Kennedy, Sr. stated that 60 years previously William Forristal, of Ballyverneen was noted for his strength. He was a champion weight thrower for several years. Once he threw in Wexford. To get there he had to cross the River Barrow and then walk seven or eight miles. He was put against the Wexford champion. After several heavy throws he was awarded the title which he never lost. He walked a further ten miles and was put against a man named Pat Kent who was champion of Belfast “and William’s success was never doubted.”

An extensive newspaper search was conducted but no articles could be located concerning William Forristal, of Ballyverneen or Pat Kent and weight-throwing. It is likely that these men competed before weight-throwing events were well organised and covered in newspapers.

A search then was conducted to determine if the William Forristal, of Ballyverneen, the weight-thrower circa 1875, could be identified.  In the Tithe Applotment Books (Griffith’s Valuation 1830) there were only two tenants named Forristal in Ballyverneen; James Forrestal and Patrick Forrestal. The Glenmore parish records indicate that James Forristal of Ballyverneen married Bridget Dunhy and had a son William baptized on 23 June 1857. Patrick Forrestal (c. 1816-1901), of Ballyverneen married Ellen Kennedy (c. 1819-1887) and had a son named William baptized on 13 May 1851. The parish records reveal that in 1857 the James Forristal family moved to Graiguenakill as all the children born after 1857 are recorded in Graiguenakill. Thus in 1875 the only known William Forristal, of Ballyverneen was the son of Patrick Forristal and Ellen Kennedy.

Old postcard of the Waterford Fair

Thus, it is very likely that William Forristal, the weight-throwing champion circa 1875, recalled by Patrick Kennedy, Sr., of Rathinure in 1935 was his first cousin Billy Forristal (1851-1931) who died at Mount Ida, Rochestown a few years earlier. Billy Forristal remained in Ballyverneen from his birth in 1851 until 1919 when he sold his farms in Ballyverneen and Rathinure to purchase Mount Ida, in Rochestown, Glenmore. Further, Tom Walsh (1908-1992) of Rathinure, formerly of Davidstown, often repeated stories he heard concerning young Billy Forristal. Tom Walsh’s father was also a first cousin to Billy. Billy was described as a big, strong, rough kind of man. Fairs were often rowdy affairs. When Billy was a young man attending the Waterford Fair with his father a dispute arose which was a common occurrence at fairs. As young Billy squared off to fight the other fellow to settle the dispute, his father Paddy, offered a wager to all on the outcome of the fight– “5 pounds on my Billy.” That was a great sum of money before 1900, and it is said that Paddy did not lose his money.

The featured photo above is the earliest drawing found depicting a weight thrower in the 19th century. It is a drawing of George Stephenson (1781-1848) throwing a hammer.  The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. George Stephenson throwing the hammer. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/c5831e4d-c31d-1ecb-e040-e00a18067b87.

The cover of Ireland and Sport features a weight thrower.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

Runaway Vehicles in Glenmore Village

Last week when Danny Dowling was speaking about traveling shows and entertainment that visited Glenmore in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he spoke about a terrible accident that occurred in Glenmore Village involving a circus wagon. He recalled that a man and two horses were killed.

Runaway Circus Wagon

At Fuskey’s gable end looking up the hill

The main road through the village has a very long incline which stretches approximately .5 k from the National School, down past the Church, past the old Garda Barrack’s, down to the gable end of Fluskey’s building. Fluskey’s housed the second Glenmore Post Office as well as a shop, (see blog post “Glenmore Businessman: Robert Fluskey (c. 1843-1925) and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word” published 8 May 2020.) In cold weather the hill can be very treacherous, but Danny has recorded two serious events involving runaway vehicles on the hill that took place during summer months.  

On the 4th of July 1941, a 17-year-old farmer’s son named Richard O’Neill, from Ballinglee, Ballymitty, Co. Wexford was fatally injured when the horse drawn circus wagon he was driving crashed into the gable end of Fluskey’s building. According to Danny the wagon hit with such force it cracked the wall of the gable end, and although the crack was patched and painted over several times, the crack was visible right up to this year when a new owner began renovating the building.

According to an article published in the New Ross Standard on 11 July 1941 the “runaway” horses galloped down the hill and the young driver Richard O’Neill could not control them. Unable to make the turn at the bottom of the hill the wagon crashed into the gable end of Fluskey’s and the driver was thrown between the horses. The driver was taken to the hospital at New Ross and transferred to the County Hospital where he died on the 5th of July. An inquest was held on the 7th before Mr. F. M. O’Connor, LLB, solicitor and Coroner for South Wexford. A brother of the deceased, John O’Neill of Ballinglee, identified his brother’s remains. Other witnesses reported that the deceased was in the employ of Richard McCormack, of the McCormack’s Variety Show, but no information was provided concerning how long he worked for McCormack. Very little is known about the McCormack  Variety Show although there are mentions of it in the Leinster Reporter in 1928.

The gable end of Fluskey’s (2019)

Garda Thomas Griffin, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, testified that on Friday, the 4th of July, at 1 p.m. he was on the road in front of the Garda Barracks at Glenmore. He saw a four wheeled van coming down the hill, being drawn by three horses. The deceased, Richard O’Neill, was sitting in the driver’s seat, and was trying to control the horses. The wagon had a load of metal poles, seating accessories, circus tents, etc. The animals were going at a fast pace, galloping down the steep hill and the deceased was doing his best to control them.

The young driver had a tight hold of the reins and was leaning back in an effort to stop them. The galloping horses and wagon passed Garda Griffin and about 80 yards further down the hill the horses and wagon crashed into the gable wall of “a house.” We know that the house was in fact Fluskey’s building that housed a shop, the post office and the telegraph office. Garda Griffin stated that it seemed that the horses could not negotiate the corner round the house. O’Neill was thrown from his seat and landed between the injured horses.

Garda Griffin ran down to the scene, and two men from the Village, Patrick Walsh and Michael Walsh, rushed to assist. The three men removed the deceased from the injured horses.  The deceased was badly injured and could not give a coherent account of what occurred. Garda Griffin when asked during the inquest if the vehicle had any braking system could not say because his attention was solely on the deceased. The deceased was removed to New Ross Hospital and he was then transferred to Wexford County Hospital for X-ray treatment.

Dr. J. A. O’Driscoll, the house surgeon, of the Wexford County Hospital, testified that he examined the deceased when he was admitted to the County Hospital at 11 am on Saturday the 5th. His condition was very grave. He complained of great abdominal pain and was deeply shocked. He received treatment and there was an operation. A part of the small intestine was found to be completely severed. He died at 8.15 p.m. on Saturday. In witness’s opinion the cause of death was perforation of the intestine, shock and peritonitis. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

Update 12 October 2025

The following updated information was provided by Jim B. Walsh (1818-1988) of Glenmore Village. See our post of 12 October 2025. Jim B. also remembered the day well that the circus waggon carrying the “king pole” went out of control coming down the hill opposite Mary Walsh’s of the chapel. There were two ponies under the waggon and it was driven by two young men. The one from Enniscorthy was killed when it crashed into Fluskey’s gable end. Both the ponies had to be put down. One had his leg severed from his body.

The wheels of the wagon were iron shod, and the brake block broke around Mary Walsh’s. The breaking of the brake block was responsible for the accident. It appeared that the driver had the ponies galloping when they were passing the chapel gate. The circus was to be in the field at the Barracks.

When the circus wagon crashed into Fluskey’s gable, the impact threw all of the tins and jars from shelves. The crash nearly knocked the wall.

The Runaway Tractor

Early in 2020 Danny when asked about Murphy Motors of Glenmore recalled his childhood friends, brothers Mikey and Richie Murphy, of Robinstown, Glenmore. Their father, Richard “Dick” Murphy, of Robinstown had the first tractor in Glenmore. Danny spoke about Mikey’s love of anything mechanical and how one of his tractors ran away with him and crashed into the village stream. In a 2002 interview Danny was told that Mikey’s runaway tractor had been “converted.” Mikey’s father, Dick Murphy, was so upset after the runaway incident that it was said that he took a sledgehammer to the tractor further converting it by breaking it into pieces.

Glenmore Village Stream at the bridge (June 2020)

The Waterford Standard published an article on 13 June 1953 concerning the runaway tractor. Thus, a dozen years after the horse drawn circus wagon crash, Michael Murphy (c. 1930-1974), of Robinstown, Glenmore was taken to the Houghtan Hospital in New Ross with minor injuries. He sustained these injuries when the tractor he was driving ran away 300 yards down “a steep” hill, crashed through a wall, and plunged into the stream near the bridge. The article states that, “Mr. Murphy remained in the driver’s seat and diverted the tractor from crashing into the gable wall of the Glenmore Post Office.” Danny reported that it was no easy job getting the tractor out of the stream.

Allgaier Tractor Advert

According to an article that appeared in the New Ross Standard on 4 March 1960, Michael Murphy at a very early age took a keen interest in farm machinery. He began trading as Agricultural Machinery Services and started selling farm machinery in 1950 from the Murphy farm in Robinstown. By 1954 he became an agent of German Allgaier Porche tractor and soon Allgaier tractors were found across the parish on Glenmore farms. His business interests continued to expand and in March 1960 the current premises opened on the main Waterford to New Ross Road (N 25). In 1960 Thomas Clasheen, joined Murphy Motors as a director and general manager.   

Twenty-one years after the runaway tractor incident Thomas Clasheen was tragically killed in April 1974 in a tractor accident on a farm he owned in Killenaule, Co. Tipperary. Thomas Clasheen’s obituary can be found in the 26 April 1974 edition of the New Ross Standard. Five months later in September 1974 Michael Murphy was tragically killed at the age of 44 in a two car crash. The New Ross Standard in an article published on Friday the 13th of September 1974 reported that he was killed three miles outside Kilkenny at approximately 12:50 p.m. at Grevine, on the old main Waterford/Kilkenny road. He left a widow, Peggy Murphy née Coady and six young children aged between 10 and 1 years of age. His brother-in-law, Fr. Dan Coady, was the celebrant at his requiem mass. There was a large and very representative attendance at the funeral.

Fluskey’s gable end (June 2020)

Special thanks to Louise Walsh for the photo of the gable end of Fluskey’s building taken in October 2019.

The horse drawn wagon featured above was published in The Sphere (1954) (c) Illustrated News Group.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

Blog update—a new list of information from 90 memory cards has been added to the lists page. Various obituaries, death notices and short newspaper articles have been added to family pages.

James Aylward (c. 1869 -1909) of Parkstown, Glenmore: Wed and Dead Within a Week

It isn’t often that an event in 1909 resulted in the type of sensationalised headlines that became much more common in the last decades of the twentieth century. However, the tragic death of a Glenmore bridegroom in 1909 resulted in headlines such as “Wed and Dead Within a Week,” “Married and Buried Within a Week” and “Shrovetide Sensation.” Amazingly all the older Glenmore residents that were contacted this week knew the story of the Glenmore man who died on his honeymoon. Much less is known about his widow.

St. Beacon’s, Mullinavat (Nat’l Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

The man behind the headlines was James Aylward, of Parkstown, Glenmore. James was married in the neighbouring parish church in Mullinavat on Monday the 15th of February 1909. His bride was Catherine “Kate” Gaule, of Ballynooney, Mullinavat. James Aylward died in Cork City during their honeymoon on Saturday, the 20th of February 1909 and was buried in Glenmore on Monday the 22nd of February 1909. Danny Dowling preserved the diary of James Aylward, of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore. James Aylward, of Ballyhobuck, recorded in his diary the following: James Aylward, Parkstown and Kate Gaule, Ballynooney married 15 February 1909 and James was buried the following week.

The death cert for James Aylward reveals that James died on the 20th of February 1909 of acute peritonitis and suffered with it for 36 hours. Thus he began becoming unwell on Wednesday only two days after getting married. Peritonitis is often associated with a ruptured appendix.

The following two newspaper accounts provide details concerning the honeymoon as well as how the widow after only five days notified her in-laws concerning James becoming ill and dying.

Old Postcard of King St., Cork City

“Sad Death of Glenmore Bridegroom. MARRIED AND BURIED WITHIN A WEEK. On Monday were laid in graveyard, Glenmore, the mortal remains of Mr. James Aylward, Parkstown. Glenmore, a large farmer, in the prime of life, who was married only that day week. Mr Aylward had most auspicious marriage and went for a most extensive tour on the honeymoon. Himself and his wife went to Cork, via Loughren, County Galway, where a relative of Aylward lives. They reached Cork nearing the weekend. On Friday evening Mr. Wm Aylward, shopkeeper, Waterford, a brother of the bridegroom, was startled by receipt of a telegram from Mrs Aylward that her husband was taken suddenly ill. This wire only prepared for the worst, for shortly afterwards came the sad news that James Aylward was dead. The intelligence was grievously shocking for the deceased’s brother and all the friends, and the misery of the young bride alone in a hotel in Cork with her husband turned to clay can only be faintly imagined. The remains reached Waterford at ten o’clock on Saturday night, whence they were taken home by hearse and a sad cavalcade at a late hour. Interment took place on Monday, and concurrence is regarded as the saddest which visited the parish for a very long time.” (Waterford Mirror and Tramore Visitor of Thursday the 25th of February 1909).

“A SHROVETIDE SENSATION. – The sad sudden death, whilst on his honeymoon, of a young and well-known Glenmore farmer, the sad particulars of which are narrated elsewhere, shocked the neighbourhood and district. Last Monday week James Aylward, the owner of a large farm, and in good circumstances, left his home a happy. bridegroom. Last Monday finds his remains under the green sod in Glenmore graveyard. Death reached him in Cork on Friday evening. The return of the dead bridegroom to his home in Parkstown furnishes one of the saddest episodes that could well be imagined, and certainly the mournful spectacle made the deepest impression on the people. From bright gaiety to blackest tragedy is often but a very short step in this fickle world. The suddenness of the transition here could not well be paralleled except we go to the chronic plague stricken topics, where it is not unusual to meet a person in the best of health in the morning and meet that same person’s funeral in the evening.” (New Ross Standard of Friday the 26th of February 1909).

The bride and groom were both from local farming families from neighbouring parishes.

The Glenmore Groom

It is difficult to determine when James Aylward was born. On the marriage records his age is listed as 40 (c. 1869) and yet less than a week later on his death certificate his age is listed as 42 (c.1867).  A review of the 1901 Census provides that James was 30 years of age thus born about 1871). On the marriage records his father is listed as John Aylward, deceased.

The Glenmore Parish records provided several facts concerning the Aylward family of Parkstown. John Aylward, of Parkstown, married Bridget Costello, of Robinstown, on the 7th of March 1859. The witnesses to the wedding were James Walsh and Honora Fitzgerald. Bridget Costello was born the 13th of February 1836. She was the daughter of Thomas Costello and Judy Costello née Aylward.

A baptismal record for James Aylward could not be found for the years 1867 through 1875. However, several other baptisms were recorded for other children born to John Aylward and Bridget Aylward née Costello of Parkstown, Glenmore including: [1] Mary Aylward was born on the 19th of March 1863 and baptized the following day; [2] John Aylward was born on the 1st of September 1865; [3]  Patrick Aylward was born on the 26 of May 1868; [4] William Aylward was born on the 10th of November 1870; [5] Bridget Aylward was born on the 25th of October 1875; and [6] Johanna Aylward was born on the 19th of June 1880.

The father, John Aylward, was dead by 1901. The 1901 Census lists the mother Brigid Aylward as 60 years of age and heading up the household that includes: James Aylward (age 30); William Aylward (age 26); Bridget Aylward (age 26) and Hannah Aylward (age 19). The eldest child, Mary Aylward had married Patrick Butler, of Parkstown, on the 26th of February 1895.

As outlined in the newspaper accounts William Aylward by 1909 was a shopkeeper in Waterford City. According to Danny Dowling this week William Aylward’s premises were on O’Connell Street in Waterford. He commenced trading as a grocer and obtained a spirit’s licence. The 1911 Census for Waterford places William Aylward living on O’Connell Street, single, aged 36. He recorded that he was a grocer and publican. Residing with him is his youngest sister Johanna Aylward who was 26 years of age and also single. In 1911 on the Aylward farm in Parkstown the mother Bridget Aylward is 73 and two of her children are residing with her. Patrick Aylward who was not living on the farm in 1901 returned home to take over the farm, was single and listed as 39 years of age while his sister Bridget Aylward’s age is difficult to decipher.

Danny said that Patrick Aylward went on to marry and had a family. A search revealed that Patrick Aylward, of Parkstown, on 1 November 1917 at Rosbercon, married Bridget Doolan, of Shambough. Bridget was the daughter of Dany Doolan a farmer. The witnesses to the wedding were John Aylward and Margaret Doolan. On the 2nd of October 1919 Patrick Aylward and his wife had a daughter Bridget Aylward. Danny identified John Joe Aylward as another child. John Joe Aylward died a couple of years ago (20 February 2018) and his sister Peggy Aylward died about a decade earlier (2009).

The Mullinavat Bride

Catherine “Kate” Gaule was born at Ballynooney, Mullinavat, on the 7th of January 1875, the daughter of Luke Gaule and Margaret Gaule née Corcoran. Luke Gaule, of Ballynooney, Mullinavat, married Margaret Corcoran, of Liserlin, Tullogher on the 13th of June 1872 at Mullinargle (sic). Witnesses to the wedding were Laurence Gaule and Johanna Walsh. Luke’s father was listed as John Gaule, deceased, farmer and Margaret’s father was listed as Edmund Corcoran, deceased, farmer. Kate Gaule had at least two brothers: John Gaule was born 19 April 1873 and William Gaul born on the 23rd of September 1879.

Margaret Gaule née Corcoran died on the 17th of November 1897, aged 60 of heart disease. The 1901 Census provides that Luke was 54 years of age and three of his children were residing with him. John Gaule was 27, Kate Gaule was 25, and William Gaule was 22.  John Gaule married Margaret Ryan, of Ballynooney on the 26th of January 1916 at Mullinavat. Margaret was the daughter of Patrick Ryan, a farmer. A William Gaule, of Keatingstown, Thomastown married on the 15th of October 1914, Nora Dalton the daughter of farmer Pat Dalton. William Gaule, of Keatingstown, was a farmer and the son of Luke Gaule.

Kate Gaule married James Aylward in 1909 and became a widow 5 days later. Danny Dowling this week stated that he did not know what happened to James Aylward’s widow. The 1911 Census reveals that she was living with her father and brother, John on the Gaule farm in Ballynooney. In the 1911 Census: Luke Gaule was a widower aged 64; John Gaule was single and aged 36 and Catherine Aylward, a widow was aged 35. It is believed that Luke Gaule died on the 7th of February 1917 at the age of 70. The townland is listed as Ballyvatheen rather than Ballynooney on the death cert, but the person with the deceased was John Gaule the son of the deceased.

While James Aylward’s life was tragically cut short, unfortunately, we don’t know what happened to his widow, Catherine “Kate” Aylward née Gaule. Did she re-marry? Did she live out her life with one her brothers and his family? We hope that a reader has the answer to what happened to the woman from Mullinavat who was widowed 5 days after she was married.

Update: In our blog post of 15 July 2020 we revealed what we learned about the widow.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The featured image is of an ancient Egyptian funeral.

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