Ballinaraha Glenmore

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 [ ].

1. Jack Forristal, of Cappagh (Bolger’s) [today Frankie Kirwan’s].
2. Greene’s, of Jamestown
3. Wattie Power, of Jamestown
4. Anne Gaule, of Busherstown
5. Johanna Closh Walsh, of Busherstown
6. Main Gaule, of Busherstown
7. Neddie Power, of Busherstown
8. Anne Doherty, of Busherstown
9. Doherty’s, of Milltown (part of)
10. Haberlin’s, of Forristalstown
11. Grace’s, of Forristalstown
12. Jimmy Doherty’s, of Forristalstown
13. Statia Butler, of Ballycroney
14. Seamus Fitzgerald, of Ballycroney
15. Luke Murphy, of Ballybrahee [See our post of 15 Aug. 2021 for more information on Luke Murphy]
16. Dick Power, of Ballybrahee
17. Dick Murphy, of Robinstown
18. Pat Grant, of Robinstown
19. Reddy’s, of Robinstown
20. Neddie (Watts) Fitzgerald, of Ballinaraha
21. Brophy’s, of Ballinaraha
22. Moran’s, of Ballinlammy
23. Doherty’s, of Ballinlammy
24. Gahan’s, of Rochestown
25. 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.]
26. James “Browley” Walsh, of Rochestown
27. Larry Walsh, of Rochestown
28. Foran’s, of Kearney Bay
29. James Phelan “The Walker”, of Ballyhobuck
30. Larry Kirwan, of the Shanty [Scartnamore]
31. John Kennedy, of Rathinure [Sean Óg where Johnny Garvey lives today]
32. Pat Kennedy, of Rathinure [The Faddies]
33. John Haberlin, of Aylwardstown
34. Jim “Brien” Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown
35. Ryan’s, of Kearney Bay
36. 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