Ballycroney Glenmore
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Glenmore Skittles Teams & Tournaments
A few months ago a reader asked if we have any information on a Glenmore skittles team. The reader’s grandfather mentioned that he played skittles before he emigrated to the UK. We were able to locate quite a few articles regarding local skittle tournaments held from 1938 -c. 1949. Apparently different areas of the country employed different rules and some tournaments were for teams and some were for individual contestants.
The local tournaments were played in the summer and were impacted by weather, so the games were played outdoors. We did find that there is an indoor skittles game which is often played in pubs. We could not find an article referencing a tournament being played in Glenmore Village, but it would be difficult to find a flat area for the game in the village. Ballycroney and Moulerstown were the two Glenmore townlands that were mentioned regularly as having skittle teams competing in local skittles tournaments.
Skittle Rules
It is widely accepted that skittles are played in various countries using various rules and equipment. For our American readers skittles is said to be the forerunner of bowling or ten pin bowling as it is often called here.
A brief description of how the local children played the game was recorded in the 1930’s by a Ballyfacey school child. See our post of 27 November 2022. This description is consistent with the RTE Archives (1979). Donncha Ó Dúlaing had a series entitled “Donncha’s Travelling Roadshow” where he travelled across Ireland highlighting the people, music and traditions of rural Ireland. On 4 April 1979 he featured a Cavan skittles match.
“Five skittles with values 1,2,3,4 and 10 are placed in a ring in a cross shape. Each player takes his turn at a throw line and attempts to knock all of the skittles with four throwers made from cylindrical blocks of wood.” To view the wonderful RTE archived 1979 footage click here.
1938 Glenmore Teams
Skittles may have been played in Glenmore long before 1938, but local newspapers only began reporting on and advertising skittles tournaments around this time. Several teams from Glenmore and nearby parishes/townslands were identified. Unfortunately the number of players on a team was not revealed in any newspaper article.
Shambo-Rosbercon Tournament
The New Ross Standard (Fri. 2 Sept. 1938, p. 12) reported that the Shambo (sic) Rosbercon Skittles Tournament began on Sunday the 27th of August 1938 “with players from Shambo, Ballycroney, Ballygurran (sic), New Ross, Glenmore, Waterford, Pink Rock and Moulerstown.” The games were described as very interesting to the large crowd of spectators.
“The ‘Butler’ Moulerstown team were very unlucky to go over the game number in the semi-finals after a grand display, but for being the most consistent players all round, the Egan team Ballycroney highly deserved their victory in the initial round. Saunders’ team, of Shambo, being runners up. The Committee thanked Mr. Daniel Whelan for seating and all other facilities provided during the game. The tournament will be continued on next Sunday.”
The second round of the tournament took place on Sunday the 11th of September 1938. Ten teams made it through the semi-finals and the third day of the tournament was scheduled for the 18th where the newspaper predicted “an exciting finish is anticipated.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 Sept. 1938, p. 12).
Final Between Two Ballycroney, Glenmore Teams
The Shambo skittle tournament was played on the 18th and was proclaimed “an outstanding success.” The full ten team took part “in the final issues. Ballycroney, Moulerstown and Shambo teams proved their skill to enter the semi-final after very keenly contested games with excitement at its highest. Moulerstown and Shambo had to admit defeat, leaving the final issue, which was only decided by the best hand, between the two Ballycroney teams, the winners being D. Cahill, B. Hogan, J. Hennessy and W. Walsh, the Runners-up, Pat Egan, and the Holden Brothers, being very unlucky to be only beaten by the small margin of four. The teams are beginning another challenge game on next Sunday” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 Sept. 1938, p. 12.)
The Emergency Years
The Second World War is often referred to as the Emergency in Ireland. On 2 September 1939 the Emergency Powers Act was passed into law the day after Germany invaded Poland. Hardships prevailed as commodities such as coal, medicines and foodstuffs were difficult to import. Skittles remained a popular pastime in this area during the War.
A South Kilkenny Committee was established to run tournaments in the summer months with most of the parishes in South Kilkenny represented. For this league teams were grouped to allow draws and fixtures to be made “locally to suit players and the committee” (Munster Express, Fri. 28 June 1940, p. 8 and Fri. 8 May 1942, p. 66). However, teams were not limited to parishes, townlands or villages. Clover Meats had a skittles teams. Its July 1944 contest against Dangan, fixed for Ballykeohan Crossn had to be postponed “owing to unfavourable weather conditions” (Munster Express, Fri. 21 July 1944, p. 4).
One of the new features of skittles during the Emergency were concrete rings. An individual skittles contest was advertised for Tullahought (near Piltown) where a “new concrete ring” was built. “It is sure to attract a big entry from members of the skittles teams.” The entry was 10s. and first prize £1. “It is hoped to have all the contests in the one day” (Munster Express, Fri. 3 July 1942, p. 6). In early July 1942, it was reported that Jamestown (assumed to be Jamestown, Glenmore) “formed a new team and a newly painted ring” was announced (Munster Express, Fri. 8 May 1942, p. 6).
Ballycroney, Glennmore 1945 Team
The skittles tournament organised by the Listerlin Club attracted an entry of nineteen teams to the local venue on Sunday the 22nd of July 1945. It “provided a nice afternoon’s sport for a record attendance. After keen competition, in which some interesting play was witnessed, Ballycroney and Acres (Mullinavat) qualified for the final, which was won by the former after a great contest. The teams were as follows: Ballycroney—W. Holden, B. Holden, M. Holden, P. Hogan, J. Hennessy¸ J. Cody, T. Fitzgerald. Acres—Thomas Holden, Ed. Holden, Hames Holden, J. Holden, Jas. Farrell, Wm. Fitzpatrick, E. Kelly, Pat Anderson. Sergt. Conlon was judge and Mr. P. O’Connor marker.” (Munster Express, Fri. 27 July 1945, p. 5).
Moulerstown, Glenmore Tournaments
Tullogher’s tournament was played in early August 1945, and 18 teams competed (Munster Express, Fri. 10 Aug. 1945, p. 5).
Twelve teams entered for the skittle tournament held at Moulerstown, Glenmore, on the 12th of August, “which attracted a large attendance of spectators. After an interesting series of games, first prize went to the Moulerstown team, who defeated Smithstown in the final after an exciting contest” (Munster Express, Fri. 17 Aug. 1945, p. 5). The newspaper did not indicate where in Moulestown the 1945 tournament was held.
The following week the Moulerstown team competed in the Ballyanne (Wexford) tournament. “There was a large attendance at the … tournament held on Sunday, [the 19th] and great interest was centred in the games. Seventeen teams competed and Rathgarogue team were the winners of the tournament. Moulerstown came second and Rathnure were third. The prize for the best throw was won by J. Breen of Ballintubber, and gate prize by M. Fitzpatrick of Carranoure (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 August 1945, p. 6).
In 1946, the Moulerstown tournament was held at the Moulerstown Dance Board on Saturday the 19th of June “commencing at 1:30 p.m. (old time) with £14 in prizes advertised (Munster Express, Fri. 21 June 1946, p. 5). A tournament held in an enclosed yard in the Borris & Graig district raised £29 7s. at the entrance gate “which goes to prove the interest taken in such contests” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 August 1945, p. 6).
Local Decline of Skittles
After 1949 fewer articles appeared in local newspapers concerning skittles. In the summer of 1949 it was announced that a “monster” skittles tournament was to be held in Mooncoin the first Sunday in August “in conjunction with the local sports. A number of new teams [were] also being organised in the area for the competition” (Munster Express, Fri.29 July 1949, p 8).
Stand alone skittles tournaments were no longer reported, however, skittles continued to be played in conjunction with sports days and sometimes with dances. For example, in the summer of 1952 a “Monster Skittles Tournament was held at the Glenmore Skow Bridge Dance Board on Sunday the 27th of July at 1 p.m. (old time). The entry fee was 16/- for a team of eight and £12 in prizes were on offer. A “big dance” was to be held the same night (Munster Express, Fri. 18 July 1952, p. 10).
Request
If you played skittles for a Glenmore team, or you recall hearing someone speak of their experiences, we would love to hear from you. If you have any old skittles trophies, medals or photos of skittle players or games please send a photo of them to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Please also contact via the email provided regarding any errors, omissions, or additional information.
The drawing featured above is courtesy of the New York Public Library and is a cigarette card issued in 1938; available at George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “Skittles.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 28, 2023. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7d20cdeb-e40d-4a73-e040-e00a18060ccc.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh