Aylwardstown Glenmore
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Thatched Houses in Glenmore at the End of WWII
Danny Dowling (1929-2021) made lists of various local things including: local Irish words, Mass Paths, elderly parish residents and thatched houses in Glenmore at the end of WWII. Thatch was the traditional roof in Glenmore prior to the twentieth century. The Second World War ended in 1945, and it appears that thatch roofs were then in the minority. Below is Danny’s list of the 35 houses identified and their respective townlands. The list is not dated. We note that several townlands are not included. The entire original list with notes from Danny is included. Any comments or additional houses that have been added are is square brackets [ ].
- Jack Forristal, of Cappagh (Bolger’s) [today Frankie Kirwan’s].
- Greene’s, of Jamestown
- Wattie Power, of Jamestown
- Anne Gaule, of Busherstown
- Johanna Closh Walsh, of Busherstown
- Main Gaule, of Busherstown
- Neddie Power, of Busherstown
- Anne Doherty, of Busherstown
- Doherty’s, of Milltown (part of)
- Haberlin’s, of Forristalstown
- Grace’s, of Forristalstown
- Jimmy Doherty’s, of Forristalstown
- Statia Butler, of Ballycroney
- Seamus Fitzgerald, of Ballycroney
- Luke Murphy, of Ballybrahee [See our post of 15 Aug. 2021 for more information on Luke Murphy]
- Dick Power, of Ballybrahee
- Dick Murphy, of Robinstown
- Pat Grant, of Robinstown
- Reddy’s, of Robinstown
- Neddie (Watts) Fitzgerald, of Ballinaraha
- Brophy’s, of Ballinaraha
- Moran’s, of Ballinlammy
- Doherty’s, of Ballinlammy
- Gahan’s, of Rochestown
- Shawn’s, of Rochestown [nickname for 1 of the Forristal families of Rochestown. We believe that this was the home of John Forristal (c. 1838-1915) and his wife Mary née Reddy (c.1851-1917). The couple were married at Glenmore on 31 Aug. 1880 and had five children; Bridget, James, John, Thomas and Patrick.]
- James “Browley” Walsh, of Rochestown
- Larry Walsh, of Rochestown
- Foran’s, of Kearney Bay
- James Phelan “The Walker”, of Ballyhobuck
- Larry Kirwan, of the Shanty [Scartnamore]
- John Kennedy, of Rathinure [Sean Óg where Johnny Garvey lives today]
- Pat Kennedy, of Rathinure [The Faddies]
- John Haberlin, of Aylwardstown
- Jim “Brien” Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown
- Ryan’s, of Kearney Bay
- Pat Ryan, of Kearney Bay (Cousin of Mike Ryan, went to Ringville)
The following not on Danny’s original list
[37] [Johnny “Billy” Roche, of Rathinure] [Thatched house remained until 1972]
[38] [Holden’s, of Clune, Jamestown]
[39] [Paddy Kennedy, of Newtown]
[40] [John Power, of Newtown]
[41] [Martin Forristal, of Rochestown]
[42] [Paddy Mullally, of Ballyhobuck] [Later Walsh’s of Ballyhobuck]
[Update of 9 Oct. 2025–Jimmy Roche (1927-2018) of Rathinure often told the story of when he was a young fellow helping to rid the Faddie’s of rats in their thatch roof. A ferret was placed on the roof, and soon rats were attempting to escape by leaping from the roof. Jimmy and a number of young men armed with hurley’s dispatched the rats as they leaped from the thatch.]
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: Rose Strange (1847-1935) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
As we sort through the vast amount of material Danny Dowling (1927-2021) collected over 7 decades our progress is often hampered when interesting interviews or clippings send us looking for more information. Such was the case of an 1880 Kilkenny Journal article announcing a Waterford Prize winner.
Kilkenny Journal (10 Nov. 1880)
The Proprietors of “Society,” a London publication, announced that they awarded the prize for the best Parody of Sir Walter Scott’s lines, “Breathes there a man,” etc. to Miss Rose Strange, of Aylwardstown, Glenmore, Waterford. (To read the original poem see, Scottish Poetry Library.) The original poem questions whether there exists any man with such an empty heart and dead soul that he has no love for his country. The prize winning parody penned by Miss Rose Strange is:
Lives there a man who once loved sound,
Of echoing horn and baying hound,
When Autumn yellows o’er the plain,
Feels not his soul within him burn,
Feels no bright dreams of youth return,
With Winter’s glorious sport again,
Oh, be there such, whose heart is stealth,
The cities’ toil, the race for wealth,
Has stolen away, or made too cold,
To quicken as in days of old,
When the good hunt came sweeping by,
With all its’ gladsome revelry,
Masters of thousands though he be,
Broad through his acres, poor is he,
Vainly for him good steed shall neigh,
Life’s keenest joy has “Gone Away.”
Who was Miss Rose Strange of Aylwardstown, Glenmore?
We could not locate a Miss Rose Strange born at Aylwardstown. However, we did locate Rose Charlotte Strange who was baptized on 11 August 1847 at Trinity Within of Waterford City. Her father was recorded as Thomas Strange, but her mother and godparents were not recorded. Rose C. Strange was the daughter of solicitor Thomas F. Strange (1812-1897) and his wife Mary Strange née Nevins (1821-1909). Thomas Fitzgerald Strange (1812-1897) was born and raised at Aylwardstown. According to Danny, in the 1830’s Thomas and one of his brothers moved to Waterford where they purchased the Waterford Chronicle newspaper. For a history of the Strange family in Aylwardstown see, Danny Dowling (1996) “Cardinal WIseman & His Association WIth South Kilkenny” (Kilkenny Archaeological Society, p. 38).
While Thomas F. Strange went to Waterford and became a solicitor his eldest brother Peter Strange (1805-1872) remained in Aylwardstown. Although Peter did not marry the parish records reveal that he had an illegitimate son also named Peter Strange. The infant was baptized at Glenmore on 4 July 1840. He was born at Roachestown (sic) and his mother was Mary Forestal. It is not known what became of this infant. Peter Strange (1805-1872) never married, and when he died in 1872 he left Aylwardstown to his nephew Thomas Alexander Strange (1856-1907) and Rochestown to his niece Rose Charlotte Strange (Danny Dowling, p. 43). See our post of 9 February 2025 for a letter written in 1873 to James Heffernan of Glenmore, Wisconsin, which provides details regarding Peter Strange’s (1805-1872) death and the refusal of the Glenmore Parish Priest to pray for him or bury him.
We believe that Thomas A. Strange and his sister Rose C. Strange took up residence in Aylwardstown House. The newspapers of the era refer to Mr. and Miss Strange of Aylwardstown House attending many hunts with Lord Waterford and others.
Siblings of Rose C. Strange (1847-1935)
Thomas Fitzgerald Strange (1812-1897) married Maria Nevins (1821-1909 ) on 9 December 1845 in Holy Trinity, Parish of Brikenhead, Cheshire, England. In addition to Rose C. Strange (1847-1935) and Thomas A. Strange (1856-1907) the couple had 3 more daughters and another son.
[1] Agnes Mary Strange (1850-1947) died 23 October 1947 at East Ferry, Ballincura, Middleton, Ireland. Agnes never married. She apparently liked to travel and went to the US several times. Agnes died of influenza at the age of 97.
[2] Grace or Frances Strange (1854-1946). Grace Strange died on 18 May 1946 at East Ferry at the age of 91. She was a retired nurse and spinster.
[3] Mary Strange (1852-1942) died at Ballincura, Middleton, Cork. In 1913 she sought to become the executor of her father Thomas F. Strange’s estate. Her mother and brother, Laurence C. Strange had commenced the Estate in March 1897, but due to circumstances discussed below the Estate was never administered. Mary Strange, spinster was granted letters. In 1913 the Estate was worth £550 5s. 4d.
[4] Laurence Charles “Charlie” Strange (1858-1902) was baptized 12 August 1858 at Tramore. On the record his mother is incorrectly listed as Mary Burns. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a solicitor in 1883. The following year, Laurence Charles Strange of 6 Harcourt Row (solicitor) married Letitia Janette Scott daughter of James Scott (gentleman) of 23 Upper Sheriff St. Dublin. The couple were married at St. Barnabas, Church of Ireland on 20 December 1884.
The Aunt, Eliza Chapman née Strange (c. 1807-1881)
Peter (1805-1872) and Thomas F. Strange (1812-1897) had a sister Mary Elizabeth or Eliza Strange. Eliza married Edward Chapman on 28 August 1832 at Glenmore. Edward Morgan Chapman, Esq. of Ringwood, the Rower, died on 18 May 1852 at the age of 48 (Dublin Evening Mail, Mon. 31 May 1852, p. 3). The couple do not appear to have had any children. In 1863, Eliza sought to sell the lands she held at Busherstown (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 25 Feb. 1863, p. 1).
At some point before her death in 1881 Eliza Chapman née Strange returned to live in her childhood home in Aylwardstown. Eliza Chapman died 18th January 1881 at Aylwardstown. She was a 73 year old widow of a gentleman. Her nephew, Thomas Strange, was with her during her last illness. According to the death register she died of “severe pain probably in connection with curvature of the spine and old age.” When Eliza Chapman died she named her brother Thomas F. Strange as her executor and her secondary beneficiary was Rose Charlotte Strange. (Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1852-1922).
Shortly after the death of Eliza her nephew, Thomas A. Strange began selling Aylwardstown. See our post of 8 January 2024 to learn what happened to Thomas A. Strange after he sold Aylwardstown circa 1883. Thus, just three years after Rose Strange won the poetry contest “life’s keenest joy” hunting went away. Mary Eliza Chapman née Strange is the only woman listed on the Strange family stone in Kilivory Cemetery, Glenmore.
The Marriage of Rose C. Strange (1847-1935)
In the later part of 1889, Rose C. Strange married William Weekes Nevins (1853-1904) in Dublin South. They were not married in a Catholic Church. She was William’s second wife. His first wife Clara, died earlier in 1889. At the time of their marriage Rose was 42 years of age and about 6 years older than William Weekes Nevins (1853-1904) . William had a daughter, Gertrude Nevins (b.c. 1874) from his first marriage. Gertrude Nevins, aged 23, married William Charles Seaton (aged 28) on 16 January 1897. His father was Walter Lewis Seaton (gentleman). In 1901 William and Rose were living in Lambeth, London at 39 Electric Avenue. The 1901 census provides that William was born in Canada and listed no profession or trade in the census.
One Tragedy After Another
In the 1901 Census, Laurence C. “Charlie” Strange (solicitor) was a guest at a home in Greystones, Dublin. He refused to provide his religion to the census taker. In Waterford, his wife, Janette Strange was listed as the head of the house on Mary Street. She was 37 years of age. Her sister-in-law (sic) Frances E. Scott, was 39 and not married. Both ladies were Church of Ireland members and born in Dublin. Also living with them was Laurence Strange (cousin) solicitor, aged 30, born in County Kildare. Laurence Strange, cousin, was part of the Strange and Strange law firm of Waterford. We believe that he was the son of Richard Strange, J.P. (1824-1877) another brother of Thomas F. Strange ( 1812-1897). Laurence “Laurie” Strange was baptised on 13 February 1871 at Graney, Rashvilly, Union of Baltinglass.
Death of Laurence Charles Strange (1858-1902)
At the end of the Boer War, Laurence C. Strange was appointed to take a position in South Africa as an Assistant Crown Prosecutor. He traveled to South Africa and shortly after arriving died on 8 December 1902. He was 42 years of age and died of acute nephritis which he suffered with for 8 days. He is buried in the Klerksdorp Old Municipal Cemetery.
Death of an ex-Mayor of Waterford–News reached Waterford on Tuesday of the death at Klerksdop, Transvaal, of Mr. Laurence C. Strange, solicitor, formerly of the firm of Strange and Strange, solicitors, Waterford. Mr. Strange who was, comparatively speaking, a young man, was prominently identified with local, Municipal, and political affairs for many years. He was Mayor of Waterford in 1899. He went to South Africa early last year, and shortly after the termination of the war was appointed Assistant Crown Prosecutor at Klerksdorp (Evening Herald, Thur. 8 Jan. 1903, p. 3).
Death of Laurence “Laurie” Strange (1871-1903)
Twelve months later, Laurence “Laurie” Strange died in Denver Colorado. DEATH OF MR. LAURIE Strange—The death is announced at Denver City, Colorado, of Mr. Laurence Strange, solicitor, formerly of Waterford. The deceased gentleman, who was admitted a solicitor in 1893, contracted a severe cold some time ago, and serious lung trouble supervening, he went to Colorado, thinking that its climate might stay the ravages of the disease. He was cousin to the late Mr. L.C. Strange (Munster Express, Sat. 26 Dec. 1903, p. 8).
Death of Letitia Jannette Strange née Scott (c. 1854-1904)
Laurence C. Strange’s 40 year old widow, Letitia Jannette Strange died in London on 20 January 1904.
Death of Mrs. L C Strange—We regret to announce this evening the death of Mrs. L C Strange, which took place this morning at Somerleyton Road, Brixton. She was widow of the late Mr. L C Strange, solr., ex-Mayor of Waterford. We also announce with regret the death of Mr. William Nevins, the brother-in-law of Mr. L C Strange, solr., which was coincident with that of Mrs. Strange. These dual announcements will doubtless be heard with much regret (Waterford Chronicle, Wed. 20 January 1904, p. 2). It is not clear how the two deaths are coincident, but it is assumed that Janette Strange was visiting her sister-in-law Rose C. Nevins née Strange when she died.
East Ferry House, Ballincurra, Middleton, Cork
At some point Rose C. Nevin née Strange returned to Ireland and lived in Cork. Either she joined her three spinster sisters or they joined her. Rose Charlotte Strange (1848-1935) died 15 September 1935 at East Ferry House, Ballincurra, Middleton, Cork. At the time of her death she was an 88 year old widow and her death cert notes she was a “Lady of Independent means.” She was the first of the four sisters to die. Both of her brothers pre-deceased her.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Vernacular Barns: Glenmore & Ontario
Recently Richard Corcelli shared some information and photos of barn raisings in Ontario, Canada from sometime around the turn of the twentieth century. In many respects the building of barns in Ontario and Glenmore at the time were similar in that both were examples of vernacular architecture. “Vernacular architecture refers to buildings outside the academic or professional architectural tradition. Vernacular building methods and building styles are handed down during the building process by demonstration, rather than by architects’ plans.” These buildings were built by local builders or semi-skilled builders and followed local tradition, limited by local needs, using available building materials. (“Vernacular Buildings” in Art & Architecture of Ireland, Vol. IV: Architecture 1600-2000, Andrew Carpenter (ed.) Royal Irish Academy (2015) p. 330). See our post of 13 June 2024 featuring several old photos of the Murphy family of Ontario, Canada, in the early 20th century shared by Richard.
Irish Vernacular Barns
Vernacular farm buildings in Ireland cannot be readily dated, but examples earlier than 1750 are considered rare. Use of timber as a walling material ceased by this time and outhouses [farm buildings] were built in various Irish regions by mud walling or of rubble stone laid in earthen mortar, with thatched roofs and white washed. (“Vernacular Farmsteads” in Art & Architecture of Ireland, Vol. IV: Architecture 1600-2000, Andrew Carpenter (ed.) Royal Irish Academy (2015) p. 337).
Barns were often the largest structures in Irish farmsteads, and were especially important in the tillage regions of south Leinster and east Munster…often housing lofts for grain and shuttered window openings onto the haggard where corn was stored and threshed. Barns generally had one door and a single slit window for ventilation. Stables and byres were commonly lower structures with cobbled floors. (“Vernacular Farmsteads” in Art & Architecture of Ireland, Vol. IV: Architecture 1600-2000, Andrew Carpenter (ed.) Royal Irish Academy (2015) p. 337). There are still a large number of stone barns across Glenmore, but they no longer feature thatch roofs.
It was not uncommon for Irish stone buildings, no longer in use, to have their stones re-used to build other structures or walls. Danny Dowling noted that the stones from the early church in Hanrahan’s field (across from the present Creamery in Glenmore Village) were used to build the walls around St. James’s Church of Glenmore.
Ontario Vernacular Barns
An unusual event for the Murphy family of Ontario, Canada in the late 19th-early 20th century era was the communal barn raising “bee” where 60-100 men and boys would gather to erect a barn. Women and girls would also gather to prepare the meals for the huge work crew.
The photo above of the men sitting atop the skeleton of a barn being raised was found by Richard Corcelli in his grandparent’s archives, so it likely the featured barn raising took place in their community in Ontario. The Ontario barns were ‘timber built’ due to the large local forests.
Barns were of the ‘post and beam’ design using 10 inch by 10 inch white pine beams to build the skeleton of the structure followed by pine boards as exterior cladding. Classically, barns in the area were 40 foot x 60 foot, built on a local stone foundation, which would form the stable for winter time housing of cattle and horses. Most barns had four bents, (an engineering term for a transverse frame), so that there was a threshing floor in the middle and two bays on either side for the hay and straw and a built-in granary to one side.
Often, barns were ‘bank’ barns’ with one foundation side built into a shallow hill to provide a ramp so that horse drawn wagon loads of hay or grain could be pulled up onto the central ‘thresh floor’.
The beam framework, or ‘bent’, was built lying on the floor of the barn and then raised into position by many men with long pike poles, first to breast height; then supported with short timber beams while the raisers got a breath, then hoisted to the upright position. As illustrated in the photo some men ‘rode’ the bent to upright, then drove hardwood pegs into previously squared mortise and tenon joints,…no metal nails were used.
The roof was made of decay resistant, split cedar shake shingles, once again using local, natural building materials. Richard’s uncle bought a farm on which the timber barn had burned but the stone foundation survived. He located a no longer used intact barn about a 100 miles away; numbered all the beams and hauled them on flatbed trucks to his farm where the barn was re-assembled. An example of early re-cycling.
Thus, the Irish who remained in Ireland like their emigrated kin used local materials to construct their barns and built the buildings with no professional plans. The barns were built to take advantage of local landscape features and needs. It would be interesting to determine how many stone barns are still standing in Glenmore as well as how many are still in use.
Special thanks to Richard Corcelli for sharing the information and photos of the Ontario barns.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. For further information on Irish architecture see the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Strange Family of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
Today, as our fifth excerpt from Carrigan’s, The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, v. 4 p. 94-95 (1906) we feature what he published concerning the Strange family of Aylwardstown, Glenmore as well as information that Danny Dowling collected and recorded regarding the last of the family to live in Aylwardstown House.
The Strongs, Strangs or Stranges
They were settled at Waterford, from an early period, and held a foremost place among its citizens. Richard Strong was Mayor of the city in 1484 or 1485; Peter Strong in 1560; Paul Strange in 1597; Thomas Strange in 1607; and Richard Strange in 1634. At least two of them represented the city in Parliament, viz. Peter Strong in 1559 and Richard Strange in 1634. To this stock also belonged the Most Rev. Thomas Strong, Bishop of Ossory from 1582 to 1602, and his nephew, Most Rev. Thomas Walsh (son of Robert Walsh and Anastatia Strong), Archbishop of Cashel from 1626 to 1654.
In course of time the family acquired, probably by purchase, considerable estates in South Kilkenny. About 1560 Peter Stronge held lands to the value of £51, of the manor of Grannagh. Richard Strong, of Waterford, probably his son, is found in possession of the manor of Drumdowney, in 1573, and of the manor of Dunkit, in 1585. Edward Strong of Dunkitt, son and heir of Richard, died June 1st, 1621, being then seised of the manor of Dunkit and of the reversion of the manor of Drumdowney after the death of Thomas Strong; he left issue Richard, his son and heir, then but 12 years old, Thomas, Peter, Joan and Margaret.
Thomas Strong just mentioned, who had been seised of the manor of Drumdowney, and who may have been brother of Edward, of Dunkit, died May 28th, 1625, leaving a son and heir, Laurence, then but 10 years of age.
Another member of the family, Paul Strong of Waterford city, held the fee of several townlands in Inistioge and the Rower. He died Nov. 22nd, 1617, leaving Peter, his son and heir, then aged 39 years. Peter was succeeded, in turn, by Richard, his own son and heir. This Richard appears on the list of those who forfeited in 1653, as do also Peter Strong, of Dunkitt, who was transplanted to Connaght, and Richard Strong, the proprietor of Drumdowney.
Lawrene Strong or Strange, of Drundowney, son of Thomas (who died as above in 1625) is mentioned in one of the depositions of 1641. He was still living in 1661, at which date he was 46 years of age. He was probably the father of Richard Strange, who was appointed a Burgess of Inistioge in 1688, and grandfather of Lawrence Strange, of Aylwardstown. The said Lawrence Strange, of Aylwardstown, in his Will, proved in the year 1720, mentions his brothers James and Pierce Strange; his brother (i.e. brother-in-law) Nicholas Aylward; his sisters, Ellen Walsh, alias Strange, and Mary Kealy alias Strange; his wife Mary Strange, alias Aylward; his eldest son and heir Richard, then a minor; and his other sons, Patrick and Pierce Strange. Some of the later members of this family are mentioned on their monument in Kilmokevoge.
His Eminence, Cardinal Wiseman’s mother was a Miss Strange of Aylwardstown, probably a daughter of Peter, who died in 1824; her sister, Harriet Strange, wife of Mr. James Butler, of Kilmogar, Johnswell, died in 1858 aged 68. [Fr. Carrigan was correct. “Marriages–On the 2d instant, James Butler. Esq. of Killmogar, County Kilkenny, to Harriet, youngest daughter of Peter Strange, Esq. of Aylwardstown, in the same county,” (Freeman’s Journal, Thurs. 13 Nov. 1823, p. 3)] [For further information on Cardinal Wiseman and his visit to Glenmore see our guest author page or click here.]
In Irish, Strange or Strong is pronounced Sthraoung (a monosyllable). Strang’s Mill, in the parish of Kilmacow, is called by Irish speakers, Mwillin a Straounga, i.e. Muilleann.
Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) Strange Research
In the 1970’s Danny was corresponding with Professor John Mannion of Newfoundland. From his research he informed Professor Mannion that he believed that the Strange family came to Aylwardstown about 1690, as tenants of the new Cromwellian owners, the Ponsonby family of Kildalton, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. Danny stated that it appeared that the first Strange that came married a girl of the Aylward family. The Aylward family previously owned the Aylwardstown property before Cromwell (DD Notebook 4, Copy of letter from DD to Prof. John Mannion, of Newfoundland dated 10 Dec. 1977).
Danny informed Professor Mannion in 1977 that “some 20 years ago all the Strange family papers were stored in Aylwardstown and burned by a Mrs. Connolly.” Her son Thomas told Danny about the burning in 1975 (DD Notebook 4, Copy of letter from DD to Prof. John Mannion, of Newfoundland, dated 25 January 1977).
Thomas Alexander Strange (1856-1907)
The last of the Strange family to live at Aylwardstown appears to have been Thomas A. Strange (1856-1907). In Danny’s voluminous records we found a copy of a newspaper auction notice for February 1883.
“Received instruction from Thomas A. Strange, Esq., who is giving up his dairy to sell by auction on Thursday, 1 February 1883, at his farm at Aylwardstown, 30 prime young dairy cows, in and with calf at foot, served by a highly bred bull; 6 three year old heifers in calf; 5 two year old heifers; 3 well-bred yearling bulls; 2 five year old Hunters, well known with hounds may be inspected by V.S. before sale; 2 capital farm mares; one sow/ 12 forward store pigs, 40 tons of prime mangolds in lots; carts, tackling, plough, harrows, dairy utensils. Sale at twelve o’clock precisely and terms are cash.” The auctioneers were Thomas Walsh and Son, The Mall, Waterford (Waterford News & Star, Fri.19 Jan. 1883, p. 2).
Also in Danny’s files was another article which may help explain the auction. In January 1882, Thomas Strange entered into a wager with Mr. W. Power of Williamstown regarding their horses. Strange’s horse Garsfield was to race Power’s Hawk over a 2.5 mile hunting course. The bet was for £25, a large sum of money in 1882. Mr. JP Kennedy of George’s Street held the money (Munster Express, 14 Jan. 1882, p. 6). We could not locate an article regarding which horse won the race, but there are other articles regarding Strange and his love of fast horses and racing.
Lily Strange née Jones (b.c. 1863)
On Halloween 1973, Danny interviewed Nicky the Miller Forristal (1888-1979) who provided another reason why Thomas A. Strange may have held an auction and eventually left Aylwardstown.
“Thomas A. Strange married a girl who worked in one of the Waterford Hotels either the Adelphie or the Imperial. She was a barmaid. He was not long married before they left Aylwardstown. She was either an English or Welsh girl…When Thomas A. Strange left Aylwardstown he brought with him Tommy Neill and Anty Walsh to Liverpool where he lived on the outskirts. He had a jarvey car for hire. He got broke there and had to leave off Tommy Neill and Anty Walsh. Tommy Neill then emigrated to America, Anty Walsh returned home and went to work in Tramore.”
The Strange Children
The first English census where we could locate Thomas A. Strange was the 1891 Census for Cheshire, Birkenhead. Thomas Strange was 34, reported that he was born in Ireland and was working as a horse dealer. His wife, Lily Strange, was aged 28, working as a pork butcher, and reported being born in Wrexham. The couple had two children. Thomas Strange, aged 4, born in Ireland, and Lily Strange, aged 6, born in Wrexham. Also, present were three of Lily’s siblings (whose family name was Jones) and Jane Dargan a 21 year-old general servant, born in Ireland.
We were unable to find a marriage record for Thomas A. and Lily, but we did find a birth record for their son. In Dublin North on the 15th of January 1886, Thomas Alexander Strange of East Pier, Howth, farmer and his wife Lily née Jones had a son that they named Thomas.
By 1901 the family was living at 80 Mozart St., in Toxeth Park, Lancashire, and the family consisted of three people. Thomas Strange, aged 44, was a cab proprietor. Lily Strange was 40, and their son Thomas Strange was 15, and employed as a van driver.
Death of Thomas Alexander Strange (1857-1907)
Thomas Alexander Strange, died aged 51, in Sept. 1907. At the time of his death he was living in the workhouse and gave his profession as cab driver. He was buried in the Catholic Section of Anfield Cemetery, of Lancanshire, in a public grave.
The following year, on 19th of April, 1908, at the Parish Church of Liverpool, Thomas (1886-1959) at the age of 22 married Mary Louisa Douglass, aged 21. The groom was working as a cab driver and he listed his father as Thomas Alexander Strange (deceased). The bride was the daughter of Albert Edward Douglass, storehouse keeper. Young Thomas died on 15 December 1959 at Mill Lane Hospital.
Six years after her father’s death, at the Parish Church of Liverpool, on 5 May 1913, Lily Strange (aged 26) married Thomas Birney (aged 30) of Clare Street. The bride recorded that she was the daughter of Thomas Strange, car driver.
We were unable to determine what happened to Lily Strange née Jones, but are hopeful a reader might be able to shed some light on this.
Please send any and all corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The feature photo above is Aylwardstown House taken in 2004 and is courtesy of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Old Style Threshing: Aylwardstown, Glenmore 1976
Forty-seven years ago in September 1976, Michael and Kate Fitzgerald, of the Half-way House, Aylwardstown, Glenmore hosted an exhibition of threshing involving a steam engine, drum and pitcher. It was the first time in about twenty-five years that old-style threshing took place in the Glenmore area (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17).
Michael & Kate Fitzgerald
Michael Fitzgerald (1917-1982) was the son of Richard Fitzgerald (1868-1955) and Mary Fitzgerald née Walsh (1884-1962) of Aylwardstown. Michael’s wife, Kate Fitzgerald née Hoynes (1923-2008) was the daughter of John Hoynes (1888-1956) and Maryanne Hoynes née Rigby (1882-1926) of Aylwardstown. Michael and Kate Fitzgerald had six children: (1) Richard Fitzgerald; (2) Mary Fitzgerald; (3) Ann Fitzgerald; (4) Carmel Fitzgerald (1957-1976); (5) John Fitzgerald and (6) Michael Fitzgerald. Tragically the couple lost their daughter Carmel in May 1976.
Planning the Event
The original date for the threshing was Sunday the 19th of September. The newspapers reported that the summer of 1976 was hot and dry. However, in September a lot of rain fell. The threshing was to take place between 1 and 4 p.m. but had to be abandoned shortly after it commenced on the 19th due to heavy showers (Munster Express, Fri. 24 Sept. 1976, p. 21).
In an interview in the New Ross Standard, Michael Fitzgerald stated that he deliberately held over barley(sic) and wheat because he thought it was a pity to see the old-style threashing disappear altogether. “For anyone over twenty-five years of age it will remind them of the great threshing days that used to be and it will be an education and thrill for the younger generation who never saw the old fashion threshings” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17).
Michael Fitzgerald put a lot of planning into this threshing event. To make the event as authentic as possible Michael attempted to secure ling fish for the threshing celebration as it was the local custom to serve ling at the old threshing dinners. Unfortunately, he was not able to secure ling and had to settle for another type of fish (Peter Walsh, of Rathinure, threshing volunteer).
Michael “retained about six acres of oats and wheat for threshing.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17). He harvested the rest of his oats and wheat utilising a combine, that cut and threshed in the same operation (Munster Express, Fri. 1 October 1976, p. 22). Michael cut the six acres using a tractor and binder, then stooked and stacked. For the last step of the traditional saving of the crop he drew the stacked oats and wheat into old fashion ricks.
Binding, Stooking & Stacking
When the binder cut the oats it tied it with a binder twine into a sheaf of oats. The sheafs were stood up, against each other, in a stook, with the seed heads on top. This allowed the sheaves to dry. Later, maybe 5 or 6 stooks were made into a stack. The stack would be about six feet tall with the sheaves at the top being placed with their heads down and the stubble facing upwards. This formed a circle at the top of the stack to preserve it from the weather. The stack was then secured with a sugán or rope twisted from straw. When the crops were in stacks they were considered saved.
The stacks were left in the field until they were brought to the haggard where they were then made into a rick which was substantially larger. The rick was made in the shape of a house with an eve going up to an apex. The size of the rick depended on the size of the crops that year. Each type of crop had its own rick.
The Threshing
The old threshing equipment was supplied by Michael O’Brien, of Ballyknock, Tullogher, and included a steam engine, drum and pitcher. Thirty men from Kilcolumb, Kilmakevogue and Ballygurrim, Glenmore volunteered to help. The newspapers published that RTE was going to be present to film and a modest charge would be collected from spectators to meet incidental costs. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17). One of the volunteers said this week that he does not remember RTE being present on either day and no footage could be found in available archives.
In terms of the admission fee, Richard Fitzgerald shared three photos this week from the 1976 threshing. To the right is the photo of May Cashin (1946 -2021) of Aylwardstown collecting at the gate with Michael and John Fitzgerald. One of the side-effects of the old fashion threshing was the fact that “first-class oaten straw” would be available for thatchers. The New Ross Standard published Michael’s phone number for any interested thatchers.
After the threshing was abandoned on the 19th it resumed on the 26th which was a dark, oppressive day, but the rain held off. The grain was collected and stored in the safety of the barn. The threshing attracted a large crowd of spectators concluded with a traditional barn dance and celebration (Kilkenny People, Fri. 24 Sept. 1976, p. 15). This article was published two days before the second day of threshing occurred.
Richard Fitzgerald this week revealed that the steam engine and mill were stored in his father’s barn for a few years after the threshing perhaps reflecting the difficulty of moving the heavy old machinery. Richard said that straw bales would be stacked around and on the stored old machinery.
Photos
The featured photo above was taken by Danny Dowling (1929-2021). Michael Fitzgerald is standing on the right wearing a hat. The man on the left holding up a bottle of beer is Wattie “Ody” Cody (1928-2009) of Ballycroney, Glenmore. It is believed that the boy on the engine (on the left looks like he is reaching for the beer) is Richard Duggan, of the Garage.
Special thanks to Richard Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, for sharing the other three photos. Special thanks to my resident expert, Peter Walsh, for patiently explaining stooking, stacking and ricking.
For further information on the 1907 Glenmore threshing agreement see our post of 7 August 2022.
Please send any corrections, additional information, or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Anglo-Norman Aylward Family of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
Today, as our fourth excerpt from Carrigan’s, The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, v. 4 p. 93-94 (1906) we feature what he published concerning the Aylward family that gave its name to the Glenmore townland of Aylwardstown. In an Inquisition of 1637, Glanseline appears as an alias for Aylwardstown, it was probably, the original name of the townland (Carrigan, vol. 4, p. 94). In Irish, Aylward is sometimes called Eye-lurth, and sometimes El-e-wurth; Aylwardstown is always called Ball-an-Eye-lur-tha (Carrigan, vol. 4, p. 94) .
The Aylwards of Aylwardstown
“They were an Anglo-Norman race and, presumably, a branch of the Aylwards of Faithleg, in the County Waterford.”
“William Aylward of Aylwardstown, gent., was pardoned in 1562 and 1571; was a juror, 20th March 1585; and was pardoned, Nov. 18th, 1602. Piers Aylward, of Aylwardstown, probably son of William, was Constable of the Barony of Ida, in 1608, and appears as a juror, in 1623. He married Ellen, daughter of John Fitzgerald, Esq., of Gurteen, and had a son and heir, Nicholas Aylward, of Aylwardstown, who forfeited the ancestral estate, viz., Knockduff, Aylwardstown, Robbinstown, Ballinerahy and Haggard, under Cromwell, and was transplanted to Connaught in 1653″ (Carrigan, v. 4, p. 93).
“In 1677 the said Nicholas Aylward had a royal confirmation of the lands (911 acres), that had been assigned him at his transplantation, in the Baronies of Clonmacnoen and Longford, in the Co. Galway. By his wife, Ellinor, sister of Thomas Kelly, Esq., Portreeve of Gowran, he had a daughter, Ellice, who married Mr. James Frayne, of Browntown; and a son Piers. Piers Aylward was made a burgess of Inistioge, in 1688, and was outlawed, as of Aylwardstown, in 1690. He married Eliza Butler (daughter of Sir Richard Butler, and sister of Sir Walter Butler, of Paulstown), by whom he acquired the house and estate of Shankill, near Gowran. His son and heir, Nicholas Aylward, of Shankill, born in 1686, conformed to Protestantism in 1711; from him descends the present Aylward family of Shankill castle” (Carrigan, vol. 4, p. 94).
Returned to Aylwardstown, Glenmore
In attempting to find out if any of the Aylwards returned to Aylwardstown post Cromwell, we did locate a Will dated 28 May, 1715. The Will of Piers Power of Carriogorontory, Co. Waterford suggests that an Aylward was back in Aylwardstown. In his Will, Power left his lands of Carrigorontory, Knockandull, and Ballygarren, with £500 due him by several persons, to Michael Head of Dublin and Nicholas Aylward of Aylwardstown, as Trustees (Entry 212, John Ainesworth, “Survey of Documents in Private Keeping: Third Series,” Analecta Hibernia (1967) Irish Manuscripts Commission).
See our post of 5 January 2023 regarding the townland of Aylwardstown and Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) 1961 list of residents. See our post of 17 September 2023 regarding Rev. Carrigan and the publishing of his four volume work.
See, Burtchaell, Jack. “The south Kilkenny farm villages.” Common Ground: essays on the historical geography of Ireland (1988): 110-23. This interesting article discusses farm villages of South Kilkenny including Glenmore’s Aylwardstown, Rathinure and Weatherstown. The author acknowledged Danny Dowling (1927-2021) at the end of his article.
Aylwards from across the globe gathered in Waterford in late August 2023. The gathering was organised by John Aylward, retired Waterford publican and the grandson of John Aylward (1870-1929) of Rochestown, Glenmore. Julian Walton delivered an informative and entertaining account of various Aylwards. See our post of 9 October 2022 regarding John Aylward (1870-1929) of Rochestown, Glenmore.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The photo of Shankill Castle was transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by RHaworth. For a concise description of “a Queen Anne home with a medieval tower house at its heart,” see the Shankill Castle webpage.
The feature photo above is Aylwardstown House taken in 2004 and is courtesy of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.