Co. Kilkenny
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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.
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 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).
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.”
(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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Creative Boycotting in Late 19th Century Ireland
Long before old newspapers were available on-line, Danny Dowling spent a substantial amount of time visiting libraries in Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny, pouring over the old newspapers, and making notes or copies of various articles about Glenmore or other subjects or places that took his interest. One area of interest was boycotting. Although protests and the joining of ordinary people to shun, or place economic pressure on another person, in an effort to change behaviour, probably goes back to the beginning of humans living together, and forming societies, the term boycott to describe such a protest only came into popular use in 1880. The verb boycotting came about due to Captain Charles Boycott, a land agent in County Mayo.
Charles Stewart Parnell advocated non-violence and the banding together of tenant farmers and labourers to stop the abuses associated with evictions. In 1880, Boycott, a retired army officer, raised the rent on his tenants and evicted a number of families. The newly formed local Land League pressured local farmers, labourers and tradesmen to refuse to work for or deal with Boycott. What started as a local protest soon garnered international news coverage after Boycott wrote to London newspapers complaining about his treatment. With no workforce willing to bring in his harvest several hundred Protestant farmers from northern Ireland journeyed to Mayo and clashed with local Land League members. By the end of the year Boycott left Ireland and died 123 years ago on the 19th of June.
Within a short time of 1880 Land League Branches were established in parishes across the country and boycotting became a common means of protesting evictions. Not only were landlords and their agents targeted, but people who took up cottages and farms where evictions occurred were identified as “land grabbers.” By placing pressure on prospective tenants not to take up evicted farms this reduced the economic benefit of the landlord to evict existing tenants. In some instances when farms sat idle deals were brokered and evicted tenants were returned to their previous holdings. As reflected in our earlier post on 8 March 2020 “The Glenmore Land League and the Ballyfacey Evictions” the local Parish Land League Branches were formed and influenced by the clergy. Father Cody, born in Glenmore, and the curate of Mullinavat, was arrested and tried for engaging in boycotting against Darby Walsh.
Generally boycotting included not associating with or engaging in any business with the landlord, his agent, and the “land grabber.” Often the “land grabber” was the only local person that people could influence. When the “land grabber” came into the local village or town he was followed around the village or town by a bell ringer to warn local people and businesses that he was present. The Waterford Standard of the 22nd of December 1880 reports that when Darby Walsh arrived in Mullinavat the Railway Bell was rung and he was followed up the street by a large crowd, amid shouts of “boycott him.” The newspaper stated “much excitement prevailed.” As time went on people became creative in how they protested or boycotted. In addition to “land grabbers,” people were also identified and shunned for “grass grabbing.”
Shortly after the Ballyfacey, Glenmore failed evictions in 1885, Father Patrick Neary, the Parish Priest of Mullinavat, attended and spoke at a “monster meeting” at Portlaw, Co. Waterford. The meeting was held to consider the action to be taken against a local farmer and cooper named Michael Hickey. The meeting was chaired by Rev. T. Aherne the Parish Priest of Portlaw and sitting with him on the stage were four other priests including Father Neary. Also present were two MP’s and “a number of minor lights in the National ranks.” Father Neary was introduced to the meeting by the chair as the “unconquered and unconquerable hero of Mulllinavat.”
After speeches a usual resolution of boycotting was unanimously adopted, “[t]hat we, the labourers and farmers of this Branch, resolve to have no dealings with Michael Hickey in the way of labour, lime, milk, or cooperage, and call on the surrounding Branches to take due notice of this resolution particularly.”
What occurred next was reported widely across Ireland and England and resulted in another unanimous resolution. “Miss Margaret Sheehan came forward and said—Reverend Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, it is with no ordinary feeling of gratitude that I present myself here as a lover of my oppressed country, as a sympathiser with her coerced children, and as far as is in my power a vindicator of her rights. To serve Erin has been, and must always be, the cherished wish of my heart, but words of mine are not adequate to express the gratitude I feel for the honour conferred on me by being chosen to propose a resolution to this monster meeting—a meeting whose unanimous voice will condemn any man whose desire is like that of Michael Hickey, to crush the spirit of the poor labourer—the labourer who by the sweat of his brow produces the fruits of the earth. I certainly feel honoured by the warmth of your reception; but by adopting the following resolution you will afford me far more pleasure—”
“That we the young girls of Waterford, Tipperary and Kilkenny resolve and promise this day, before this vast multitude, to treat with scorn and contempt any matrimonial proposals from Michael Hickey, as punishment for his high handed hostility to the poor labourer Burke and his young and helpless family of seven.” (Waterford Standard, 18 September 1885).
Although a large number of evictions and boycotts were reported in the newspapers sometimes evictions did not result in boycotts or other actions by the local Land League Branch. The New Ross Standard of the 17th of June 1893 reported that on the 10th of February 1893 a faction fight took place on the streets of Rosbercon resulting in the arrest of fourteen people including two women. The cause of the faction fight was an eviction in Busherstown, Glenmore in 1891. It does not appear that the Glenmore Land League Branch engaged in boycotting when this eviction took place. However, as illustrated by four other newspaper accounts of assaults and arrests the fighting between the two families continued for some time.
Danny had a mark next to the reference to the following article which provides another example of a creative boycott and the involvement of the clergy in carrying it out. The Kilkenny Moderator of the 2nd of January 1889 reported the following:
“SANGUINARY IN CHAPEL. An extraordinary scene occurred in Dungloe chapel, near Londonderry, before Mass on Sunday last, on two boycotted men named Condy Boyle and Charles Gallagher attempting to take their accustomed seats. At the annual auction of pews on Sunday week the boycotted men had been dispossessed, and their seats given to men who had been imprisoned for refusing to attend the so-called “Star Chamber” inquiry. On the arrival of the opposing factions at the chapel they found the doors locked, and a crowd assembled, which the priest let in through the sacristy until the disputed pews were filled. When the boycotted people entered the gallery they were violently assaulted. Blood flowed freely, eight combatants being injured. The chapel had to be re-consecrated, and the police called in.”
In the twentieth century boycotting was widely used and became an effective means by various groups including civil rights, animals rights, trade unions and environmental groups. Today it continues to be an important means of non-violent protest. However, the more creative 19th century boycotting involving pews and matrimonial proposals appear to be resigned to history alongside pew auctions.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Victualler & General Trader, Michael O’Hanlon (1897-1957)
When Danny Dowling was young his parents moved from Glenmore Village to the Dowling farm in Jamestown, Glenmore. Danny found a number of old receipts that belonged to his grandparents and placed them in a biscuit tin. A few years back Danny’s son Pat found the tin and placed all the receipts in a photo album. The artwork on the receipts is elaborate certainly more interesting than the cash register receipts of today. There are dog licenses, several receipts from New Ross businesses, but perhaps one the most rare has to be the receipt from the M. O’Hanlon, Victualler & General Trader of Glenmore establishment. Danny described the O’Hanlon establishment as a butcher shop that was located in the Village and operated by Michael Hanlon (sic), of Newtown Glenmore. Michael O’Hanlon was generally referred to as “Mick Hanlon” by Glenmore residents.
The shop was a very small one near JK’s (formerly Gaffney’s) and Danny believes that it was not in operation when he was a chap in Glenmore in the 1930’s although his grandmother’s receipt is dated May 1931. Danny said that he believed that Michael Hanlon was a native of New Ross and married into the Delaney farm in Newtown, Glenmore. He learned his trade in New Ross and after marriage he moved to Glenmore and opened the butcher shop in the village. For more information see Glenmore Village in the 1930’s published 9 April 2020.
A quick review of various vital records reveals that Michael John O’Hanlon was born on the 23rd of June 1897. His father was James O’Hanlon (c. 1856), a grocer and his mother was Margaret O’Hanlon née Culleton (c. 1866). The family was living on Mary St. in New Ross. By the 1901 census James O’Hanlon was employed as a publican. The 1911 census reveals that there were ten children in the family: Lizzie O’Hanon (c. 1885); Mary Ann O’Hanlon (c. 1886); Patrick O’Hanlon (c. 1889); Anastatia O’Hanlon (c. 1891); John O’Hanlon (c. 1892); James O’Hanlon (c. 1895); Peter O’Hanlon (c. 1896); Margaret O’Hanlon (c. 1899) and Annie O’Hanlon (c. 1900).
On 26 October 1921 at the Glenmore Parish Church, Michael John O’Hanlon, of New Ross, married Bridget Delany, of Newtown, Glenmore. Bridget Delany was born on the 28th of November 1893. Her parents were Michael Delany (c. 1851) and Kate Delany née Power (c. 1868). The bride’s father was a farmer. The groom’s brother, Peter O’Hanlon, and Julia Ryan were the witnesses to the wedding. At the time of his wedding the groom was employed as a clerk and his father was working as a waiter.
Danny remembers Mick Hanlon as a nice man. Mick Hanlon and his wife had a daughter Kitty who married Jimmy Reddy. A small death notice provides a little more information about the Glenmore butcher. In the New Ross Standard of the 10th of May 1957 the following death notice appeared:
Recent Death—Mr. Michael Hanlon, Glenmore, whose death occurred at the Co. Hospital, Kilkenny, on Friday of last week, was formerly prominently identified with rowing in New Ross. He was also a member of the New Ross Confraternity Band and a prominent singer. He is survived by his wife, daughter, brothers and sisters to whom sympathy is extended. Interment took place in Glenmore. R.l.P
The advertisement for the Hanlon, butcher shop, on Mary St. in New Ross was found in the New Ross Standard of 19 December 1924. It is believed that this James Hanlon was Mick Hanlon’s brother.
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Blog update
Inscriptions recorded on headstones in the Kilivory and Ballygurrim cemeteries have been posted on the “Lists” page. These inscriptions were recorded by Danny in the 1960’s. A few burials have taken place in these ancient cemeteries after Danny recorded the inscriptions and we updated Kilivory last Sunday.
Several obituaries or death notices have been placed on the family pages.
The pandemic shut down in Ireland is slowly being lifted and we are going back to a weekly blog (Saturday night) to allow more research and to organise the transcription of more of Danny’s notebooks. We hope that during the lockdown that the webpage and blog provided a helpful diversion. This week when I told Danny that the blog exceeded 20,000 hits during the pandemic he shook his head and said, “imagine that.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh