Carlow-Kilkenny General Election June 1922

In keeping with previous reviews of local newspapers from 100 years ago, today we are going to feature local events and news from June 1922 including the General Election and a summary of a local article at the end of the month that informed local readers that a Civil War had commenced.   

Glenmore in the News

“Boy’s Narrow Escape—When riding a young horse home from New Ross a boy named Irish from Glenmore had a narrow escape from being killed. Near the Pink Rock the animal reared up and fell backwards on the top of the rider pinning him to the ground. Part of the boy’s skull was fractured, and he was taken to New Ross hospital where he was surgically treated. He is progressing satisfactorily” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4).

June 1922 marked the First Anniversary of the Coolbawn Ambush. A large gathering of people from different parts of the Co. Kilkenny, New Ross, Waterford and Carlow assembled at Coolbawn, Castlecomer, “where two brave IRA officers, Jack Hartley, Glenmore, and his cousin, Nicholas Mullins, lost their lives.” The proceedings were very impressive. An eloquent oration was delivered by the Rev. Father MacNamarra, C.C., and a touching address by Mr. Philip Lemmon, MCC, Brigade Registrar, New Ross. The Rosary was recited for the repose of the souls of the deceased. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4). An Anniversary Office and High Mass was held at Glenmore on Monday the 26^th for the late Sean Harley. The members of the Cuman na mBan and several of the IRA were present. The Rev. Father Holohan, P.P., presided and the celebrant was Rev. Father Bergin, C.C. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 June 1922, p. 5). For previous articles concerning Jack Hartley and Nicky Mullins see our previous post of 20 June 2021.

The Glenmore Creamery Co-op showed a reduction in the number of gallons of milk it received during 1921. In 1920, 568,496 gallons were received but only 465,804 were received in 1921. This was due to the creamery being forced to close by order of the British in June 1921. The newspaper went on to note that the 1921 reduction was not an indication of the lowering of milk production in the district. In 1921, 203,066 pounds of butter were made and the Creamery showed a profit available for distribution to shareholders of £672. The newspaper noted that the Glenmore Creamery came through “the troublous period” of the previous year very well (Munster Express, St. 17 June 1922, p. 6).

Sports

Glenmore played in the junior football championship. The opposing team was Curagh. The final was played at the Rower, “and after a good exhibition of football, Glenmore retired winner, the scores being Glenmore 6 points; Curagh, nil (Munster Express, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5).

Denis McDonald, of Tullogher, covered himself with glory on Sunday the 18^th when he won three first places at the Leinster Championship Sports held in Croke Park. He threw the disc 113 feet 6 inches nearly 9 feet further than his nearest opponent. He hurled the 56 lbs. between legs without follow 25 feet, 4 inches, and cleared the bar with the 56 lbs. at the “magnificent height” of 13 feet, 10 inches. “At the Tailteann Games to be held in Dublin in August it was opined that “some of the premier honours are sure to be captured by the Tullogher boy” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4). For a previous article regarding Glenmore weight thowing click here.

During the last week of June 1922, a large number of Irish Americans arrived in New Ross on a visit to their friends in the town and rural districts. They stated that a big number of people were coming across for the Tailteann Games in Dublin in August (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 June 1922, p. 5).

Dublin & South Eastern Railway

During the month of June the newspapers carried several notices of special excursion trains and fares for events taking place. It appears that people were eager to get back to sport and other entertainments greatly curtailed during the War of Independence. A special excursion train ran from New Ross to Kilkenny for the Co. Kilkenny Feis  held on Sunday the 25^th of June 1922. Leaving New Ross at 11:15, a third class return fare to Waterford was 2 shillings while passengers joining the train at Glenmore at 11:27 paid 1 shilling.  The train arrived in Waterford at 11:45 and departed for Kilkenny at noon arriving at Kilkenny at 1:10 p.m. The Waterford to Kilkenny return ticket was 4 shillings (New Ross Standard, Fri 23 June 1922, p. 1). A special excursion train was also arranged for the Diocesan Choir Festival held at Wexford on the 29^th. A single fare was charged for the double journey from various stops including Glenmore.  Glenmore residents also had the opportunity to travel via the excursion train to Dublin on the 29^th with a first class ticket costing 20 shillings while a third class cost 11 shillings.  On 2 July an excursion train was arranged for the Waterford Feis with the train leaving Glenmore at 11:50 with a ticket costing 1 shilling (New Ross Standard, Friday 23 June 1922, p. 1).

Local Farming & Fishing

In a few places near New Ross farmers intended to cut early meadowing at the end of the month. The salmon season was disappointing. With the exception of the first month of the salmon season the season was very poor (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4).

On the night of Thursday, the 15^th a number of cattle were driven off the lands of Patrick Foskin, Deerpark, Mullinavat, and put on the lands of a farmer in Bigwood. The reason reported in the newspapers was that Foskin’s sons had taken an active interest in the Pro-Treaty or Free State side. The matter was referred to in condemnatory terms at both Masses in Mullinavat on the following Sunday (Munster Express, Sat. 24 June 1922, p. 6).

Law & Order

The total number of Officers and men of the RIC in Southern Ireland prior to disbandment was approximately 10,000 according to British Parliamentary Papers. No disbanded man was offered or accepted employment under the Provisional Free State Government. Of the 8,000 men disbanded, 5,200 left Ireland. Some of these men who left Ireland enlisted in Great Britain (3,200), and 300 men joined the Palestine Gendarmerie (Munster Express, Sat. 3 June 1922, p. 5).

On the 4^th of June a number of Ex-RIC men were served with notice, purporting to come from the IRA, ordering them to leave Kilkenny within a specified time. In a number of cases the order was immediately complied with (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5).

In the early hours on Wednesday the 7^th of June, “a sensation was created in Mullinavat.” Previously some men were working in Mullinavat in the interest of the Treaty and were arrested. Consequently, Free State troops came down from Kilkenny and, at 2 a.m., rushed the Mullinavat barracks and made prisoners of all the occupants. The prisoners were then taken away in lorries. As a result of a conference in Kilkenny, the prisoners were set at liberty and returned to their quarters in Mullinavat (Munster Express, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5).

General Election

A General Election was scheduled for 16 June 1922. Prior to the election, the Labour Election Committee announced that reports from various places in Carlow-Kilkenny were encouraging. On Sunday, the 21^st of May, large and enthusiastic meetings were held at Kilmacow, Mooncoin, Mullinavat and Glenmore in Co. Kilkenny (Nationalist & Leinster Times, Sat. 3 June 1922, p. 3). We know from information that Danny Dowling recorded that politicians generally spoke from the stage of the small building near the Village bridge and next to the Glen Bar. This building was removed when the houses were built behind the pub.

Just prior to the General Election it was reported that here were 34,297 voters on the County Kilkenny Register of voters. Voters in selected districts were recoded as: Glenmore 1,517; Kilmacow 2,229; Mullinavat 1,221, Thomastown 1,712 (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5). One of the candidates D.J. Gorey, of Burnchurch House, ran as a Farmers’ Union candidate for a Carlow-Kilkenny seat. About 5:30 am on the 4^th of June 8 or 9 armed men arrived at Burnchurch House. On hearing the men enter the yard Gorey went to his bedroom window and asked them their business. They asked him to come down to speak to the men, but Gorey declined. He said he would hear whatever they had to say from his window. The leader of the visitors told him to come down or he would have to bear the consequences. Gorey left the window and returned with shotgun which caused his visitors to leave the vicinity of the house. One of Gorey’s workmen was taken prisoner. The visitors subsequently returned to the house and opened fire. Gory had no ammunition in the house and barricaded the window. In the meantime, Mrs. Gorey slipped out of the house and went for help. When she returned with neighbouring farmers the visitors had left. The only damage was the bedroom window smashed by bullets (Munster Express, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 6).

Ultimately Gorey was elected to one of the four Carlow-Kilkenny seats. Also elected was P. Gaffney (Labour), Alderman Cosgrove (Pro-Treaty), and Major General O’Sullivan (Pro-Treaty).  The defeated candidates were both sitting members: E. Aylward (Anti-Treaty) and J. Lennon (Anti-Treaty) (Munster Express, Sat. 24 June 1922, p. 6).

The Waterford News & Star (Fri. 30 June 1922, p. 4) published an article stating that a special courier from Dublin reported that on the 28^th “irregulars” or anti-treaty fighters seized various buildings in the centre and suburban areas of Dublin. One of the buildings seized was the Four Courts. Free State troops entered the Four Courts and took 33 Anti-Treaty forces prisoner. The streets were dangerous and no fewer than 11 civilians were killed, while 25 were wounded. Business was at a standstill. The Beggar’s Bush official bulletin that was released stated, “after considerable fighting during the course of yesterday evening our troops succeeded in dislodging the irregulars from the greater part of the Four Courts.” The fragile peace ended.

Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. We would be interested in learning the first name of the Irish boy injured in June 1922 near the Pink Rock.

Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sharing the featured c. 1924 photo of the Glenmore Creamery.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh