Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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Rev. William “Willie” Brennan (1891-1973) Parish Priest of Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Rev. William “Willie” Brennan (1891-1973) a little over a year before his death. At that time Fr. Brennan was the Glenmore Parish Priest although he was over 80 years of age. Fr. Brennan provided Danny with an outline of his assignments since being ordained and provided a list of his siblings. Fr. Brennan spent over 30 years in Glenmore and continued to reside in the Glenmore Priest’s House until his death on 30 September 1973. Danny at the end of the interview noted that Fr. Willie was a well-liked man, keen gardener and hurling enthusiast.
Brennan Family
Danny recorded that Fr. Brennan was the son of James Brennan (Huggingstown) and his wife, Bridget Fitzpatrick (Kilcreddy, Ballyhale). Based upon parish records we believe that Fr. Brennan’s mother was Bridget O’Donnell. His parents were married on 26 Februrary 1881 at Piltown. James Brennan was from Kilkeasy and the bride, Bridget O’Donnell was from Barnacole, Co. Kilkenny. The groom’s father was Edmund Brennan (farmer) and the bride’s father was Thomas O’Donnell (farmer).
James and Bridget Brennan farmed at Kilkeasy and had three sons and two daughters.
[1.0] Edmond Brennan (b. 1882) remained on the farm. He survived Fr. Brennan. Danny noted that he was married to ______ Farrell, of Scart, Dungarvan(?), Co. Kilkenny. Edmond and his wife had 5 sons and 2 daughters. Edmond appears to have predeceased Fr. Brennan. However, one of Edmond’s daughters was Anna Culleton née Brennan (c. 1933-2025) of Kilbride, Glenmore.
[2.0] Thomas Brennan (b. 1883) survived Fr. Brennan and was residing in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. He farmed in Flood Hall, Knocktopher. Sometime after his wife died in 1953 he sold out and moved to Dublin. He was married to E. Holden a native of Windgap, Co. Kilkenny. Thomas Brennan, and his wife, had two children [2.1] Earnest Brennan and [2.2] Lulu Brennan.
[3.0] Bridget Brennan (b. 1885) married James Carroll, of Stonyford. Bridget and James had 3 sons and 2 daughters. In 1973 at the time of Fr. Brennan’s death Bridget was living in Laucus, Stoneyford.
[4.0] Margaret Brennan (b. 1887) married Martin Farrell of Scart and at the time of the interview the couple were living in Jerpoint Hill, Thomastown. The couple had 4 sons and 1 daughter.
[5.0] William Brennan (1891-1973)
Assignments
William Brennan was ordained at St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny 1917 (his obit has 1919 as his date of ordination). Below are the nine assignments and the duration of each assignment that Danny recorded in Father Brennan’s 1972 interview. Further information has been gleaned from Fr. Brennan’s obituary as well as contemporary newspaper articles.
Assignment 1.0 British Mission
Fr. Brennan after ordination served on the British Mission. He first went to North Shields, England, where he spent 2 years.
Assignment 2.0
Thereafter he was transferred to Jarrow on Tyne, where he gave 5 years.
Assignment 3.0
For his third assignment he was sent to Whitley Bay, U.K. for a period of 6 months.
Assignment 4.0 Back to Ireland
Fr. Brennan was recalled to Ireland from Whitley Bay. He was appointed the temporary C.C.in Inistige for 6 months.
Assignment 5.0
Fr. Brennan was then transferred to Ballycallan, as C.C. for 2 years.
Assignment 6.0
After Ballycallan Fr. Brennan was transferred to St. Mary’s, Kilkenny, as C.C. for 9 years. While at St. Mary’s Fr. Brennan presided at a meeting in June 1933 of the Junior and Minor Hurling Selection Committee held in City Hall Kilkenny (Munster Express, 23 June 1933, p. 8). At the end of May 1934, the Kilkenny All-Ireland Hurling team winners of the 1933 All-Ireland Championship travelled to the United States by ship. “The players were accompanied by Sean Gibbons, Chairman of the Kilkenny Board and Rev. Wm. Brennan, C.C.. (now curate at Glenmore)…” (Munster Express, Fri. 19 May 1939, p. 6 ).
Assignment 7.0–C.C. of Glenmore
After St. Mary’s he became C.C. of Glenmore, replacing Dr. Michael Gibbon’s who had died. According to Fr. Brennan’s grave marker he served in Glenmore from 1935 to 1946. During this time in 1941 he was elected Chair of the Glenmore Football Club and re-elected in 1942 (Munster Express, Fri. 18 April 1941, p. 3).
Assignment 8.0–C.C. Seir Kieran, Offally
After 9 years as C.C. in Glenmore he was transferred to Seir Kieran, in Offally where he was A.D.M. for 7 years.
During this assignment he conducted a wedding with his cousin. His cousin was also named Rev. William Brennan. This Fr. W. Brennan was the C.C. Murrinstown, Co. Wexford (Munster Express, Fri. 27 Aug. 1948, p. 3.)
Assignment 9.0–Parish Priest of Glenmore
Fr. Brennan was reappointed to Glenmore this time as the Parish Priest in 1953. He remained in this post until shortly before his death in 1973.
In 1953, as Glenmore Parish Priest, he was appointed to the Kilkenny Old Age Pensions Committee to fill one of the vacancies due to the deaths of Thomas Mullally and John Irish of Glenmore (Munster Express, 11 Dec. 1953, p. 3).
Fr. Brennan also represented Glenmore on a Committee of the Kilkenny Co. Vocational Education, regarding the erection of a new vocational school in this area. Other Glenmore representatives included: T. Cuddihy, Glenmore Creamery Manager; James Kelly, Aylwardstown; Wm. Walsh, Cappagh and Nicholas Mullins, Flemingstown (Kikenny People, Fri. 18 June 1955, p. 6).
In 1967, Fr. Brennan celebrated his Golden Jubilee. The following year he was elected President of the Glenmore Muintir na Tire (Waterford News & Star, 6 Dec. 1968, p. 2). He is credited with the building of the new National Schools in Ballyfacey and Robinstown in 1958. He is also credited with establishing a Parish Hall in the old National School. He also completed extensive work on St. James Church including having the exterior pebble dashed. The Church was re-dedicated in June 1973.
Fr. Brennan retired shortly before his death. He was replaced by his Curate Rev. Phil Madigan. Fr. Brennan was allowed to stay in the Glenmore Parish Priest House on the Priest Lane, Robinstown. His housekeeper, Hannie Kennedy (c. 1920-1982) of Ballinclare, Glenmore worked for Fr. Brennan from his days as the Curate of Glenmore right up to the time of his death. See our obituary page for Fr. Brennan’s obituary.
As a mark of respect the National Schools in Robinstown and Ballyfacey were closed. The children formed an honour guard. Fr. Brennnan was laid to rest next to his predecessor Fr. William Grace (c. 1899-1953).
Fr. Brennan’s Estate Sale at the Glenmore Parochial House
A Notice to Creditors was published in the Kilkenny People (19 October 1973, p. 5) for the very Rev. William Brennan, late of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, Parish Priest, deceased. It called upon all persons claiming to be creditors or otherwise having any claims against the estate to send detailed particulars in writing to James P. Coughlan and Co. of New Ross.
The next month advertisements were in all the local newspapers (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Nov. 1973, p. 19) for the Estate of Fr. Brennan. The Estate sale was held on 5 November 1973. Fr. Brennan’s black Morris Minor 1000 with license plate LIP 75 had 31,000 miles, and was insured until February 1974. It is believed that Ned Kennedy “the builder” of Kilbride purchased this automobile.
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Fr. Brennan conducted a lot of Glenmore marriages. Do you have a photo of Fr. Brennan that we can add to this post? Did you attend the Estate Sale on 5 November 1973?
Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history @gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Walking Tour 2025
Thirty people took a chance on the weather and took the Eigse Slieverue’s Glenmore walking tour this morning. Special thanks to Katherine Grant and the Eigshe Slieverue Committee, and to Glenmore Tidy Towns (Orla Dowling, Trish Bradfield and Pat Dowling) for providing high vis vests, stewardship and the lovely tea afterwards in the Glenmore Community Centre. Of course no meaningful walk would have been possible without the seminal historical work done by Danny Dowling (1927-2021).
Brief Outline of Walk
We met at the Glenmore Community Centre and started with a discussion of the National School. It was opened in 1835 as a co-ed school. It had 17 desks for students which seated 10 students. The first year 200 students were enrolled. In 1840 the second school was built and the boys and girls were separated. The “new school” was opened in 1958 and was again co-ed. The land for the school was donated by the 4th Lord Bessborough (John Wm. Ponsby (1781-1847)). [John Vereker, of Carriganura, noted that the desks were still being used in his time.]
Stop 1
St. James was completed in 1813. One acre of land in 1803 was given by the 3rd Lord Bessborough (Frederick Ponsonby (1758-1844)) for the building of a Catholic church. This was just 5 years after the 1798 Rebellion. The cemetery was established in 1805. The first person buried in it was a woman named Reilly who was homeless. She is buried in the stanger’s corner.
Various graves were highlighted and the fact that the churchyard was utilized for important meetings. The Parish Priest in 1836 held an Anti-Tithe meeting here imploring the parishioners to resist the tax to support the Church of Ireland. In 1880 the then Parish Priest called the parishioners of Glenmore and Slieverue to form local Land League chapters. St. James was renovated extensively in 1910, and 3 Missions were held in 5 years to raise funds. In 1907 the chapel bell split in half when it was vigorously being rung for a Mission. In 1885, it also rang out with other local parish bells to call people to resist evictions that were to take place in Ballyfacey, Glenmore.
Stop 2
Consisted of the Glenmore Creamery, the site of the original St. James, and Bridie Doolan’s shop that operated from 1930-1948. The Creamy was established as a co-op in 1905. It underwent extensive rebuilding in 1958. Across the road in Hanrahan’s field, the original St. James was built c. 1711. Because it was during Penal Times, it was hidden. It looked like a barn and Mass goers carried straw to kneel on as it had no furniture. The stones of this church were removed and used in the wall of the current St. James. [Dick Claridge stated that when his mother attended Glenmore National School students were sent down the steep path behind the school to the Creamery to get wood for the fire.]
Stop 3
We stopped at Hanrahan’s (across fro the Church) the fourth and last Glenmore Post Office. In 1902 at a meeting of the Poor Law Guardians John Ennett of Cappagh made a motion to extend the gullet up past the church gates. John Hanrahan at the meeting stated that his house was often being flooded, and during the last heavy rain bones were being washed downhill from the churchyard into the gullet.
We highlighted the work of two of the Hanrahan brothers who were officers in the Glenmore company of the old IRA during the War of Independence. [At this point our luck ran out and it began to rain.]
Stop 4
Forristal’s house where Martin Forristal was carried home on a door by his workmates after being killed in the Creamery in 1931. All his clothes were torn from his body except his boots and socks. He left a widow and 8 children who were aged from 15 to 11 months. In 1901 during the planning and building of the Creamery the first manager Donovan boarded with the Forristal family. Directly across the road was where the first Glenmore Post office stood. It was established c. 1870 by William Powell.
Stop 5
The dispensary (on the Barrick hill) was built in the late 1940’s and was not used much after 1974. It was closed and sold about 2000 and converted into a house. The original dispensary was established around 1850 adjoining Gaffney’s shop. The doctor came once or twice a week from Mullinavat. In 1857, he arrived to find that it was turned into a pub. [Catherine Grant recalled as a girl attending Ringville School cycling to the Glenmore dispensary on the hill around 1959 for a vaccine injection.]
Stop 6
The Barracks was built by Lord Bessborough. The RIC was esablished in 1836, but it is not known when Glenmore received a Barracks. The first was in a field behind the Glen Bar. At Easter 1920 the Glenmore Company of the Old IRA burned the empty barracks. With the establishment of the Free State a Barracks for the Guardians of the Peace was established in Weatherstown. In 1925 the State bought the Barracks from Lord Bessborough and re-built it.
Stop 7
Gaffney’s Mill stood behind the current mural. It is not known when it was built, but it was operating in 1798 when William Gaffney, the head of the local United Irishmen was captured and hanged from the New Ross bridge. William Gaffney’s widow remarried and had at least 3 more children by her second husband, Richard Young. The Mill suffered two fires. The White Feet set it alight in 1833 and it also caught fire in 1923. The newspapers did not report the cause of the 1923 fire. There were Gaffney’s in Glenmore until about 1905. The property was later a shop, and a hall was built by Lizzie J.K. Walsh née Heffernan.
Danny’s house was where he was born in 1927 and he lived there until he was about 10. The family moved to Jamestown and Danny returned when he married. This house was where the local Land League met in the 1880’s. Sometimes the windows were opened to allow people who were unable to get into the Land League meeting to hear it.
Stop 8
Fluskey’s was established c. 1880 by Robert Fluskey. The upstairs was where the Grand Jury (today the County Council) met. The gable end was damaged by a run away circus wagon in 1941.
Across the road the row of houses were built by the landlord of Cappagh and Graiguenakill, Dr. Mackessy, of Lady Lane, Waterford, in 1855. In total he built 13 houses for his tenants. The second house from the corner was the third Glenmore post office and the post slot is still visible in the front wall of the house. The Glen Bar was opened in 1963. Glenmore Village had not had a pub since 1870.
Stop 9
We crossed the bridge into the townland of Cappagh. Our last two points of interest were Mackessy’s coach house and Heffernan’s shop.
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When I was first asked to do the walk I was concerned I couldn’t find enough to fill half an hour. The walking tour took approximately 2 hours (apologies) with a lot more details than are provided here.
Thank you to all the attendees today and all the additional information provided. Further information is available on all the places visited today and people mentioned. Please use the search function on the right hand side of the page.
Special thanks to Trish for taking the photos and sharing them.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Interviews of Andrew Heffernan (1893-1975) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) for over 7 decades interviewed and recorded various Glenmore residents. We have discovered two short interviews that Danny recorded on 28 February 1964 and 28 August 1964. Both took place in Waterford. These interviews address some queries that we received earlier this year concerning the origin of the Heffernan family of Aylwardstown and the relationship between the Kennedys of Dunganstown and Rathinure. Dates of birth and death have been added, and other information not from the interviews has been placed in square brackets [ ]. Andrew Heffernan was able to provide information back to the early years of the 19th Century.
From Haggard to Aylwardstown
According to Andy Heffernan, the Heffernan family came to Aylwardstown from Haggard, Glenmore. The Heffernan family had been evicted from Haggard. They lived in Haggard where John Byrne (1893-1976) was in 1964.
[John Byrne married Mary Aylward (c. 1898-1983) of Haggard on 8 February 1932. Her father was John Aylward (farmer). John Byrne was a native of Taghmon, Wexford. He was the son of Laurence Byrne (farmer). As an interesting aside, (per Thomas Walsh (1908-1992)) John Byrne during WWII drove his horse to either Slieverue or Ferrybank seeking cigarettes. No cigarettes were available, but he heard that cigarettes were available in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary. He drove his horse all the way to Carrick-on-Suir and back. For our international readers Carrick is today (via the N24) about 43 km from Glenmore. However, if John cut across country on smaller lanes the journey would have been shorter. We hope and assume it was a successful mission.]
In Aylwardstown there was a farm of about 100 [Irish] acres at the time the Heffernan family moved. This farm was divided among the Heffernan’s, two Morrissey families and the Delahunty’s. They all came to Aylwardstown together. Each family had 25 [Irish] acres [or 40 statute acres]. Later, Delahunty’s bought the second Morrissey place.
Heffernan Glenmore Burials
The Heffernan’s were buried in Kilivory. Andy told Danny to look for the headstone of Tim Heffernan. [Danny did find the headstone and recorded it as follows:
Erected by Tim Heferin of Haggard
in memory of his father Patrick Heferin
who dep’d this life April 7th 1797 aged 60 yrs
Also the body o Bridget Heferin who dep’d this
life March 17th 1797 aged 34 years]
Andy stated that his brother was the first of the family to be buried in Glenmore Cemetery. His brother died 52 years previously [or in 1912]. He came home from America owing to being delicate. [James Heffernan (1882-1912) died on 2 August 1912 at Aylwardstown. He was single, 30 years of age at the time and worked as a draper’s assistant. He died of heart disease, and his sister Mary O’Connor, of Ballyfacey, was present when he died. In 1908, James Heffernan (25, a draper) traveled with James Delahunty (35,farmer) aboard the Adriactic to New York landing on 1 October. The address in the old country was Glenmore, Waterford and they were going to Chicago, Illinois. Both gave James’s brother Richard Heffernan (1889-1947) as nearest relative or friend. Richard James Heffernan (1889-1947) resided in Chicago. ]
Rathinure Link with Dunganstown, Wexford?
Andy told Danny that he was a first cousin to Peter Kennedy (1878-1962) of Rathinure. [Andy’s mother was Bridget Heffernan née Kennedy (1854-1947) her father was Pierce Kennedy (b. 1809). Bridget Kennedy married Michael Heffernan (1847-1924) on 12 February 1879 at Glenmore. Their photo is above.] Andy often heard his mother say that the Kennedy’s of Dunganstown used to visit Rathinure regularly. She said that they were related. Andy believed that a Kennedy went to Dunganstown from Rathinure originally. Andy also stated that all the Kennedy families in Rathinure were originally the one family. [It is not surprising that Dunganstown came up in this interview. President Kennedy was assassinated just 3 months earlier in November 1963.] For more information on the Heffernan family see our H surname page. For further information on Dunganstown see The Kennedy Homestead webpage.
[Around 1996 an elderly lady named Mrs. Doyle stopped to ask me directions. She said that her grandmother, Hannie Kennedy, came from Rathinure and married her grandfather, Tom Shanahan, of Dunganstown. I took her to Danny who after asking a few questions started searching his copy of the parish records. He found a marriage that took place on 15 February 1843 at Glenmore between Thomas Shannon (sic) and Johanna Kennedy of Rahanure (sic). A notation in the record noted a certificate was provided by Rev. James Cullen, P.P. of Sutton Parish, Wexford for the groom. He explained to Mrs. Doyle that there were a lot of marriages across the Barrow. Before the automobile it was easier to travel by boat than by road.]
Grants of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
Andy stated that the Grants lived where Dick Brien (Fitzgerald) lived. [Per Ann Fitzgerald, Dick Brien was the name Richard Fitzgerald went by. The Fitzgerald family came to Aylwardstown in the early 1800’s from Ballinaraha, Glenmore. They used their mother’s maiden name (Brien) to distinguish themselves from other local Fitzgerald families.]
The last of the Grant’s was a woman. She had a public house there. [We believe that Andy was referring to the Half Way House of Aylwardstown located on the old Stage Coach or High Road.] Jim Dunphy (1855-1943) of Ballyverneen, born over the Rock, gave his life to the Clyde Shipping Company. Jim Dunphy told Andy that a British soldier got a drink in Grant’s public house on one occasion and was leaving without paying for it. The Grant woman told him he would pay or it would be on his soul. The soldier replied, “Will you give me another on my soul?” [Jim Dunphy’s obituary may be read on our D surname page. We are uncertain what “born over the rock” means in this context, but it is likely that he was referring to Jim Dunphy being born on the far side of the Pink Rock.]
The Brien Fitzgerald’s of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
Andy explained to Danny that Dick Brien’s uncle was the present Jim Brien’s father. [We believe that Andy was explaining that Dick Brien and Jim Brien (1896-1979) were first cousins. We were able to verify through parish records every statement made by Andy regarding the Brien Fitzgeralds.] See our F Surname page for further information on the Brien Fitzgerald’s.
Michael Coady of Carrickcloney, Glenmore was married to one of the Brien’s (Fitzgerald’s) of the Half-Way House. [We found in the parish records that Michael Cody married Catherine Fitzgerald of Aylworthstown (sic) on 3 February 1823.]
Pierrie Barron, of Carrigcloney, married into a Mrs. Kirwan née Brien of the Half-Way House. He was her second husband. He came from where Richie Barron had the farm in Carrigcloney. Pierrie Barron was Mikey’s father. [We found where Bridget Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, married Michael Kiervan (sic) on 29 February 1848 at Glenmore We also found where Peter Barron married Bridget Cervan (sic) on 22 January 1852. Michael Barron was baptized on 26 May 1855 at Carricklony (sic) to Pierce Barron and his wife Bridget Kerivan.]
Uncles Emigrated to U.S.
Andy told Danny that he had grand uncles who went to America in the early part of the last century [ie early 1800’s]. [See our post of 9 February 2025 regarding his grand-uncle James Heffernan (1825-1891). It is not altogether clear if Andy was also referring to John Dollard (1801-1888) who was married to his great-aunt Bridget Dollard née Heffernan (1811-1891) native of Aylwardstown. See our post of 17 February 2025 regarding John Dollard and Bridget Dollard née Heffernan.
Andy also had two uncles who later went to America. They settled near Stone Wall City on virgin territory and called the settlement Glenmore. They also called the church there St. James’s. When Andy’s uncle John first went out first they could only go to Mass once a year on Christmas Day as they lived 40 miles from the nearest church. This man John on one occasion with a man called Brennan rode 40 miles to the Christmas Mass. Andy said that this took place in South Dakota. [We believe based on contemporary documents that these events actually took place in Glenmore, Wisconsin. We were not able to find a Glenmore in South Dakotas, but we did locate an obituary for Andy’s uncle John Heffernan (1842-1930) who was an early settler of Grant County, South Dakota.]
Grant County Review, Thurs. 19 June 1930
[A VALUED CITIZEN PASSED SATURDAY—Pioneer Settler Near Big Stone Victim of Heart Attack Last Saturday
Big Stone township and Grant county lost one of their most honorable citizens with the sudden death last Saturday evening of John Heffernan, a pioneer of this section. Exactly one month and one day previous to his death Mr. and Mrs. Heffernan celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. At that time and since the deceased appeared to be enjoying ordinary health, was about daily and assisted his sons with work about the farm, taking a lively interest and apparently with many years of life and usefulness before him. Saturday afternoon, accompanied by Mrs. Heffernan, he visited the pastures and looked over the stock, and made no complaint of felling ill until about 8:00 o’clock that evening. He then told Mrs. Heffernan that he had a pain in his chest, and went and laid down for a short rest, which was not an unusual procedure on his part.
When the pain persisted Mrs. Heffernan volunteered to apply a mustard plaster or something of that sort. About that time, however, Mr. Heffernan remarked that it had left his chest and gone into his arm, and then without further word or complaint dropped peacefully into that long, last slumber. Mrs. Heffernan was alone in the house at the time, but despite the shock managed to summon her son James, who was about the place, and also just at that time her son John and daughter Alice, who had been to town trading, arrived home. Aid was immediately procured, but the spark of life had fled and all efforts to rekindle it were unavailing.
John Heffernan was born October 12, 1851, at Glenmore, county Kilkenny, Ireland. In 1874, when 23 years of age, he came to America and located at DePere, Wis. In 1879 he came among the pioneers to this county and filed on a homestead in Big Stone township. The following year he returned to DePere and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Shea, his surviving wife. Together they returned to this county and since that time have resided continuously in Big Stone township. For better than a half century the deceased has commanded the respect, friendship and confidence of his neighbors and acquaintances in this section in a most unusual manner, and never hesitated to lend his support to any worthy project or enterprise. Religiously he was always a devout and faithful practitioner of the Catholic faith, and his home was truly a model husband and father.
Besides his wife the immediate family members are seven sons and two daughters, namely, James, John, Raymond, William and Norbert, all of Big Stone township; Thomas, Omaha, Neb., and Dr. Bernard Heffernan, Milwaukee, Wis.; Miss Alice at home and Mrs. A. H. Flatley, Stockbridge, Wis. All the children and their families were home to attend the funeral.
During his residence in Big Stone township deceased had served as a member of the school and township boards and at the time of his death was president of the Gib Stone Creamery Association, a position he had filled continuously since the association was organized and the creamery built 33 years ago. It will be remembered also that when the Grant County Telephone Co. was organized in this city many years ago, Mr. Heffernan served it for some time as president and in able and praise-worth manner. During the World War he served faithfully in the Liberty loan drive. He was a member of the Milbank Council, Knights of Columbus, and also charter member of Milbank Camp 1887 Modern Woodmen of America.
The funeral services were held at 10:00 o’clock yesterday forenoon at St. Charles Catholic church, Big Stone City, with a solemn Requiem Mass celebrated by the pastor, Rev. Fr. Estergard, with Fr. Joseph O’Neill, of Danvers, Minn., as deacon, and Fr. P. J. Callanan, of Ortonville, Minn., as sub-deacon. A short but very appropriate sermon was preached by Fr. Estergard at the conclusion of the services, and the remains then taken to the church cemetery and laid at rest. Members of Milbank Council, Knights of Columbus, attended in a body. The pallbearers were John Gowan and Dr. O’Donnell, Ortonville, Minn.: Edward Rourk, Big Stone City, and John Huben, C. W. Martens and W. S. Dolan, Milbank. As a mark of respect and the high esteem in which deceased was held in that community, the business places of Big Stone City remained closed yesterday forenoon.
Other relatives from a distance in attendance at the funeral were Mrs. Ellen Daugherty, Medford, Oregon; Mr. and Mrs. Will Daugherty, Brainard, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Calnan and daughter Marguerite, DePere, Wis.; William Calnan and Miss Esther Calnan, Miss Ella Conley and George Peters, all of Green Bay, Wis.; Mrs. Margaret Irish, Stockbridge, Wis., and Mrs. Carl Coe, Minneapolis.] To view John Heffernan’s grave see Find-a-Grave.
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Special thanks to Ann Fitzgerald for the information on the Brien Fitzgerald’s and texasceltfirl for posting John Heffernan’s obituary.
The featured photo above his Andy Heffernan’s parents, Michael Heffernan (1847-1924) and Bridget Heffernan née Kennedy (1854-1947) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore. A copy given to me in around 1993 by Nellie Doherty (their granddaughter). Nellie thought the photo was taken around 1920.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore: Upcoming Local Talks & Walk
Eigse Sliabh Rua 2025
We are proud to present the flier for Eigse Sliabh Rua 2025. There are 5 events scheduled for Slieverue. See details below.
Glenmore Walking Tour
Please note that on Saturday the 15th of November commencing at 11 a.m. a historical walking tour of Glenmore Village will take place. Hopefully the weather will co-operate. See further details below.
Kilkenny Library
We have also been asked to circulate the following talk which will take place in the Kilkenny Library.
“Lady Louisa Tighe of Woodstock: A Life Well Spent”
Date: Thursday 20th, November
Time: 11.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Place: Loughboy Library,
Speaker: John Kirwan, retired archivist and manager of the Kilkenny Archives Ltd.
Lady Louisa Tighe (1803-1900) led a fascinating life. She was born in 1803, a daughter of the 4th Duke of Richmond. In 1825, she married William Tighe of Woodstock. Together, they created the High Victorian gardens at Woodstock. During and after the famine they provided help and support to locals & tenants through various schemes. Her husband established the Woodstock Agricultural School in an effort to improve farming methods. Lady Louisa Tighe died in 1900.
Places are limited. Phone 056 7794176 or email loughboy@kilkennylibrary.ie to book a place.
From Danny’s Files, Michael “Mick the Mason” Walsh (1874-1948) of Haggard, Glenmore [Updated]
Earlier in the week we published a short interview that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) conducted of Tom Jones (1908-1978) of Glenmore Village. Tom during the interview mentioned Mick Walsh of the “Masonry Walsh’s” was building “a bridge” in the Village when his grandfather died in 1912. Also within the file was an article about a court case in 1912 held at Thomastown arising over Michael Walsh’s (1874-1948) bicycle. We have since located an obituary and newspapers articles that reveal that Michael Walsh built the Glenmore and Slieverue Creameries as well as a new Garda Station in Inistioge in 1938 (Waterford Standard, Sat. 23 Oct. 1937, p. 10, contract awarded). One of our readers noted that this Haggard family were known as the “Mhicil’s” [pronounced Vickel’s]. Mhicil is Irish for Michael.
The Bicycle Case
The Kilkenny People ( Sat. 22 June 1912, p. 3) published details of the bicycle case. On Thursday, the 13th of June 1912 the Hon. David Fitzgerald, K.C. County Court Judge sat in the Thomastown Courthouse and opened the business of the quarter Sessions for the Thomastown district.
William J. Cordner was a cycle agent with a shop on Henrietta Street in Waterford. In 1912, Cordner sued Michael Walsh, mason and contractor, Haggard, Glenmore to recover £2 14s. 6d. for repairing and overhauling Walsh’s bicycle. Walsh counter-sued claiming damages to cover the expenses he incurred because Cordner had not carried out his instructions. Walsh claimed he had to pay 3s. 6d. a week for the hire of a bicycle while his own machine was lying in Cordner’s workshop. He also included in his claim an item for expenses incurred in going to Waterford about his bicycle. Solicitor H.D. Keane, of Waterford represented the plaintiff Cordner, and Solicitor O’Conner represented the defendant Walsh.
Cordner testified that Michael Walsh came to his establishment in Waterford and asked for a quotation for doing up his bicycle. Cordner stated his price of £2 7s for the agreed upon work. The bicycle was to be stove enamelled, and plated with old parts to be replaced by new ones where necessary. A few days later Walsh brought in his bicycle and it was in very bad shape.
During the trial, the bicycle was placed on the witness table to allow the Judge to examine it. Some of the old parts that Cordner said he replaced out of necessity were also produced for the Judge to examine. The difference of 7s. 6d. represented the cost of the new parts.
In cross examination by Mr. O’Connor, Cordner stated that the lining of the bicycle was never mentioned. “If the defendant had asked him to line the bicycle he would have done so with the greatest pleasure.” When Walsh saw the bicycle finished, himself and a friend who was with him, expressed themselves highly pleased with it. In fact, Walsh told Cordner that he would not have recognised it as his own machine owing to its improved appearance.
The defendant Walsh was sworn. On direct examination he stated that he was in the habit of carrying out contracts around the country. The bicycle was to be stove-enamelled. Cordner agreed to do the work for £2 7s. Walsh claimed the bicycle he took to Cordner was almost as good as a new and it required no new parts. He stated that he bought the bicycle 3 years before. He asked to have the bicycle stove enamelled, plated and lined, and Cordner said he would carry out the instructions.
Walsh claimed that when he took the bicycle to Cordner the front wheel was bright. At trial he noted it was removed and full of rust. When he saw the bicycle finished, he was not pleased with it at all. He noticed that several new, and what he considered were inferior parts had been put on it. None of his bicycle remained except the frame. All he wanted to have done was to have his own bicycle, which was a strong one, properly repaired. He did not want any new parts put onto it. He stated that he refused to pay for the repairs because he considered the machine produced in court was not as good for the work he had to do with it as was the one he brought to Cordner
Cordner’s solicitor stated to Walsh, “But you are getting a new bicycle instead of an old one that was scarcely worth rolling across the bridge when you brought it into Waterford.” Cordner produced the book in which he had entered Walsh’s instructions concerning the bicycle. It was to be stove enamelled, plated, and the old parts to be replaced by new ones where necessary. He produced the old front wheel which was in the same condition then as it was when the bicycle was brought in to be repaired. It was almost eaten through with rust, and it could not be put on the machine again “if a good job was to be done.” He made a first-class machine out of the old bicycle, and the old parts were only replaced where necessary and the new parts were of the best possible make.
The Judge gave a decree for the claimed amount and dismissed the counter claim. In other words, Cordner was awarded £2 14s. 2d.
Michael Walsh’s (1874-1948) Parents & Siblings
Michael Walsh (1874-1948) was the son of Michael Walsh (1841-1917) (stone mason) of Haggard, and Margaret Walsh née Moore (c. 1852 -1917) of Knockbrack, Glenmore. His parents were married on 1 August 1870. The wedding records reflect that the groom’s father was also Michael Walsh, and he was deceased at the time of the wedding. The bride’s father was Michael Moore (labourer).
The children of Michael Walsh (1841-1917) and his wife Margaret Walsh née Moore included:
- Mary Walsh (b. 26 Jan. 1872)
- Michael Walsh (b. 23 Sept. 1874)
- Ellen Walsh (b. 28 Nov. 1876)
- Edmund “Ned the Mason” Walsh (b. 6 June 1880)
- Brigid Walsh (1882-1958) married Joseph Walsh of Drumdowney, Slieverue
- Margaret Walsh (1885-1956) on 9 Oct. 1917 at Glenmore, Edward Griffin (railway man) of Rathpatrick married Margaret Walsh, dressmaker of Haggard.
- Andrew Walsh (b. 30 May 1888) per family obits Andrew emigrated to the U.S.
Michael Walsh’s (1874-1948) Wife and Child
Michael Walsh (1874-1948) married Anastatia Walsh (1874-1948) of Ballyhomuck, Mullinavat, on 3 March 1908 at Glenmore. The groom’s father was Michael Walsh (mason of Haggard) and bride’s father was Thomas Walsh (farmer of Ballyhomuck).
Anastatia Walsh née Walsh was baptized at Bigwood on 29 October 1874 to Thomas Walsh and Mary Carroll. Her parents were married at Glenmore on 9 February 1871. Thomas Walsh was the son of John Walsh (farmer) of Ballyhomic (sic) and her mother was Mary Carroll, the daughter of Richard Carroll (farmer) of Foristalstown, Glenmore.
Michael Walsh and his wife Anastatia Walsh were living at Cappagh, Glenmore when their son Michael Walsh was born on 10 April 1910. As far as we have been able to find this was their only child. Michael Walsh (1910-1984) did not follow the family trade of becoming a stone mason. He obtained a degree in Agricultural Science and in the 1930’s became a vocational teacher and later, Headmaster of Ferbane (Offaly) Vocational School. He married a Glenmore girl, Margaret Roche, the daughter of Thomas Roche (c. 1875 -1960) of Coolnaleen, Glenmore.
Death of Michael & Anastatia Walsh, of Haggard Glenmore
Michael Walsh died the 24th of July 1948 at Haggard. He was married and aged 73. He died of cancer of the larynx. His son Michael Walsh (1910-1984) was present when he died.
Michael Walsh’s death notice was published in the Waterford News & Star (Fri. 30 July 1948, p. 3) “DEATH—Mr. Michael Walsh, Haggard, Glenmore, whose death has taken place was a mason by trade and was responsible for the erection of Slieverue and Glenmore creameries.” A longer obituary was published in the Munster Express (Fri. 30 July 1948, p. 3).
Death of Mr. Michael Walsh—Mr. Michael Walsh, Haggard, Glenmore, who died at his residence on Saturday night last, was a well known mason by trade in former years, and built many houses in the area, as well as constructing the creameries at Slieverue, Glenmore, and other places, which will remain as a monument to his art and genius. Deceased who had attained to the age of over 70 years, was husband of Mrs. Walsh, Haggard; father of Mr. Michael Walsh, Technical Instructor; and brother of Mr. Ed Walsh, Glenmore (also a well-known mason); Mr. Andrew Walsh, U.S.A.; Mrs. Walsh, Slieverue; and Mrs. Ed. Griffin, Rathpatrick, do. To all of whom sincere sympathy will be extended in the sad loss they have sustained. Interment took place at the family burial ground at Glenmore on Monday, in presence of a large attendance of relatives and sympathisers.—R.I.P.
Five months later Michael’s widow, Anastatia Walsh née Walsh, died on 7 December 1948 at Haggard of senile decay. She was 73 years old. Her son Michael Walsh (1919-1984) was present at her death.
We will be adding a number of Walsh obituaries to our W Surname Page that were located in researching this post.
The featured drawing above is “Stone Mason at Work,” Louis Phillippe Joseph, duc de Chartres (French 1762) courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum (New York).
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Special thanks to Tom Roche for providing the wedding photo of his aunt Margaret Walsh née Roche.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: Interview of Tom Jones (1905-1978) of Glenmore Village
On the 27th of March 1971, Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Tom Jones (1905-1978) of Glenmore Village. The interview is only three paragraphs, but it does appear to answer the question of when the stream that once was the border between the townlands of Graiguenakill and Robinstown was altered in the Village.
Tom Jones’s Parents and Maternal Grandparents
Tom’s parents were George Jones (c. 1866-1945) and Bridget Murphy (1870-1945). Tom’s parents died within two months of each other. Tom’s maternal grandmother was Mrs. Mary Murphy (b.c. 1831) of Moulerstown. His maternal grandfather was Patrick Murphy (c. 1835-1912). According to Tom his grandmother’s maiden name was Rigby. She was born near Cat’s Rock, Glenmore. She worked on the building of the road from Glenmore to Tom Connolly’s. It is assumed that this referred to Tom Connolly, of the Mile Post. In any event, Mary was paid 2d per day for her work on the road.
Tom believed that his grandmother may have been married twice. He thought her first husband was Laurence Hartley’s father. A review of parish records provides that Laurence Hartley was born in 1901 to Laurence Hartley and Mary Murphy. The couple were married in 1888 in Rosbercon. This Mary Murphy was the daughter of James Murphy. Tom’s grandparents were married in 1869. However, it was his grandfather, Patrick Murphy, who was married twice not his grandmother.
According to Tom his grandparents met when Mary Rigby went on “binding operations down in his country” which he referred to as Iverk. On 30 September 1869, at Slieverue, Mary Rigby of Molarstown (sic) married Patrick Murphy (c.1838-1912) (widower) of Ballynooney East (Mullinavat?). Their fathers were recorded as Laurence Rigby (deceased farm labourer) and James Murphy (farm labourer).
1911 Census
Two children were born to this union. Tom’s mother, Bridget Murphy, was born in 1870 and his uncle, Jack Murphy, was born in 1872. In the 1911 Census, Mary Murphy née Rigby stated that she was 80 and her husband Patrick Murphy reported he was 76. The couple resided in Moulerstown, and their son Jack (aged 38) and his growing family lived next door.
The Death of Patrick Murphy in Glenmore Village
Tom stated in his interview that his grandfather, Pat Murphy was over 80 when he died. He was at the Jones house in the Village “when he got bad in Dunnes Workshop, Cappagh on a Good Friday. The same day a bridge was being built in the Village.” Mick Walsh, of the “Masonry Walsh’s,” [of Haggard] was on the building of the bridge. When Pat Murphy died he discontinued the work for the day. A death cert was located for Patrick Murphy. He died on 5 April 1912 of aortic regurgitation. His daughter Bridget Jones was present when he died. In 1912, Good Friday did fall on 5 April. Tom was only 7 years old when his grandfather died.
Moving the Stream in Glenmore Village
In his interview notes Danny wrote, “Before that time the water ran down in front of our house in the Village.” We believe that the stream that ran from the Creamery down into the Village ran in front of Danny’s house and was re-routed to meet the stream coming from Mullinahone at what is now the pub side of the bridge. There are two upstream arches visible from the Coach House. One is for the Mullinahone stream that once powered Gaffney’s Mill and the other is for the stream that flows from the Creamery down under the Vee Road, through what was Fluskey’s field behind Hanrahan’s, under Barry Jones’s drive, out next to the late Marita Cummings home and under the road where the Robinstown Road meets the Churns Road.
Tom also explained that the Dunne’s Workshop was for carpenters and it was located in an old house that once stood in Patsy Ryan’s yard [near where Pauline Power now lives].
See our post of 23 May 2020 regarding the pollution of the Village pumps within 2 decades.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh