Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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From Danny’s Files : Christmas Baking 1922
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) the Glenmore Village Historian, in addition to interviewing people also spent a substantial amount of time reading and researching in old newspapers. Before local libraries were equipped to provide copies of old newspaper articles Danny often wrote out the articles in one of his notebooks. Sometimes, he just took down notes concerning the prices of produce at fairs etc. he found in a newspaper. Today, we are going to feature recipes that appeared in the New Ross Standard in 1922 (15 Dec. 1922, p. 3). Danny recorded the recipe for Brandy Butter on a piece of paper that he stuck into one of his notebooks with a notation citing where he found it.
In Danny’s voluminous book collection there were several cook books including some very old cookbooks. Danny was interested in how people lived in the past and although he never mentioned cooking or baking himself to me, he did tell me one December that his brother Pat Dowling (1941-2023) of Cappagh, Glenmore enjoyed making Christmas puddings. Pat started his puddings early and gave most of them away to family and friends. We shall check with Danny’s son Pat, to see if he can shed some light on the Brandy Butter recipe that Danny recorded.
In looking up the original Brandy Butter recipe, from Danny’s notation, we found several other Christmas recipes published with it. It is interesting to see how recipes have evolved over the past 100 years. In 1922 the measurements, when provided, are Imperial measurements. Reference is made to kitchen paper which today must mean greaseproof baking paper. The recipes also employ raw eggs that would not be considered safe today due to salmonella concerns. The Christmas Pudding recipe is called “Grannie’s” and if true must have been in use pre-1900. It is not known how many Glenmore households had stoves or cookers in 1922, but it is believed that most households were still cooking over open fires in large kitchen fireplaces.
A Good Christmas Cake
One and half pounds of flour, one pound of butter, one pound of sugar, one pound of currants, one pound of sultanas, half a pound of mixed peel, small teaspoon of mixed spices, a saltspoonful of salt, a tablespoon of golden syrup, two ounces of chopped almonds and eight eggs.
Beat the sugar and butter together until it creams, then add the eggs, one at a time, beating each one well. When four eggs have been beaten, add a little of the flour, then beat the other four, gradually adding the remainder of the flour. Put the golden syrup into half a teaspoon of milk and add to the mixture, then the salt, spice, fruit, and peel. The fruit should be cleaned, but not washed, and the peel chopped finely.
The fruit is best cleaned by placing on a wire sieve, sprinkled with flour, and rubbed with the palm of the hand. A wineglassful of brandy improves the flavour of the cake. When all the ingredients are well mixed, butter some kitchen paper and line a cake tin, putting a double layer at the bottom.
Bake from five to six hours in a slow oven. Leave in the tin when baked tlll cold.
Icing for Cake
Almond Icing
Two pounds of icing sugar, one pound of ground almonds, three eggs. Mix the sugar and almonds together, well beat the eggs, mix into a stiff paste. When the cake is quite cold, level the top and spread with the paste. [Warning this recipe uses uncooked eggs!]
Sugar Icing
To every pound and half of icing sugar add the whites of three eggs and the juice of a lemon. Beat or whisk the whites of eggs, add the sugar and lemon juice, stirring all the time till becomes stiff, spread over the almond icing, using a clean knife, which should be dipped in cold water. If required more ornamental pipes may be used. {Warning this recipe uses uncooked egg whites!]
Christmas Pudding (Grannie’s Recipe)
1 ½ pounds raisins, 1 ½ pounds currants, 1 ½ pounds sultanas, 1 ½ pounds suet (beef), 1 ½ pounds sugar, 1 ½ pounds mixed peel, 2 teaspoonsful mixed spice, 1 large nutmeg, crumbs of one small loaf, 1½ pounds of self-raising flour, 3 new laid eggs, 2 tablespoonsful of treacle, spoonful of salt, 1 lemon, 3 ounces almonds (ground), 1 medium sized carrot, old ale to mix.
Clean and pick the fruit, chop the suet, and peel finely, grate the nutmeg, rub the loaf into fine crumbs, beat the eggs with the treacle, adding the lemon juice slowly, grate the carrot. When all the dry ingredients are well mixed add the eggs, treacle and lemon juice with sufficient old ale to make a fairly stiff mixture. It should drop from the spoon, which should be a wooden one. This quantity will make several good-sized puddings. Butter some pudding basins, fill them, tie down with floured cloths or kitchen paper, steam for twelve hours. When required, reheat and serve with brandy butter.
Brandy Butter
Two ounces of butter, two ounces of sugar, beat well together, then add gradually a tablespoon of brandy. Serve in a sauce boat. If preferred wine sauce makes a good addition to this pudding.
Wine Sauce
One wine glass of sherry, one of water, a teaspoonful of cornflour, one of sugar. Mix the cornflour with the wine and water; add the sugar, put into a saucepan and stir over the fire until it boils.
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The featured photo of the Christmas pudding is an 1897 postcard. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “X-mas pudding.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed November 26, 2023. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e3-f516-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Are any of these recipes close to your family favourites? Did your Glenmore parents/grandparents/great-grandparents in 1922 have a cooker/cooking stove? Danny recorded the earliest motor cars, bicycles, tractors etc. in Glenmore but did not record the earliest cooker/cooking stove or milk machine etc.
Please comment below and send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Three Ancient Glenmore Churches
As our third instalment of Chapter 4, of volume 4 of Fr. Carrigan’s History & Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory (1906) (p. 91-93) three ancient Glenmore Churches will be discussed including; Kilcoan (Weatherstown); Kilbride and Kilmakevoge (also called Kilivory). For all three of these ancient churches Carrigan provided not only the dimensions of the churches, important stones he found in the ruins and nearby Holy Wells. While reading the rest of this fascinating volume in the Mullinavat chapter we came across Big Wood Church which we have also included below because it was supported by nearby Glenmore people.
Kilcoan
“Irish speakers call it Kil-choo-ann, that is, the Church of St. Cuan (pronounced Coo-ann, accent on second syllable). Kilcoan church was a rectangle, 18 feet wide internally, and about 37 feet long, the walls being 2 ½ feet thick. The foundations alone now remain. From the amount of very large rough stones lying on and around the site, it must be concluded that the church was rudely built and was of great antiquity. A graveyard of about two acres is believed to have surrounded it in ancient times; but, at present, all appearances of a burial ground have been obliterated, and the site of the church itself is merely a small patch of unprotected commonage beside the public road. About 150 yards to the south, in the wall of a lane-way, is a great, rugged stone, with a basin-shaped artificial hollow, 12 inches in diameter and 3 inches in depth, cut on the surface” (Carrigan, p. 91).
“St. Cuan’s holy well, called Thubber-chooann, is about a quarter of a mile from the site of the church, in the townland of Flemingstown. Beside it is another holy well, enclosed by a wall and called Thubber-Wizzha (Tobar Muire), or the Blessed Virgin’s Well. Both wells are still frequented for devotional purposes by the people” (Carrigan, p. 91).
Previous to the Reformation the parish and church of Kilcoan belonged to the Priory of Inistioge, as appears from the Red Book of Ossory (Carrigan, p. 91)”
[According to Danny Dowling (1927-2021) the site of this ancient church was in the hamlet of Weathertown in a common at the side of the junction of two lanes. Danny recorded that he spoke with Larry Doyle (c. 1933-2021) of Weathertown regarding some stones Larry uncovered on or near the common in Weatherstown. Larry said that he was working for old “Billy Fitz” (Bill Fitzgerald, c. 1905-1983) of Weatherstown in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Larry was clearing an area and came across what appeared to be paving stones. From their description and the location Danny concluded that they may have been part of a floor or yard connected to the ancient church of Kilcoan.]
Kilbride
“In Irish, Kyle-vzheedha (Iold Irish Script that looks like, Cill Drugue) or St. Bridget’s Church. The Church was a rectangle, 43 feet long, internally, and 18 ½ feet wide; but the walls, which were 2 feet, 5 inches thick, are now all fallen to a height of one yard from the ground. The entrance door was in the north wall, near the west gable. The graveyard is very large, with portion of a deep fosse at the south-west end. At the east end of the church is an uninscribed head-stone chamfered on both sides, in front, and having carved on it, in relief, an ancient cross patee, [head] inscribed in a circle; it is now deeply sunk in the ground (Carrrigan, p. 91).
“The baptismal font lies in the fosse at the south-west end of the churchyard; it is square on the outside, and quite rough; the basin is 1 foot 7 inches by 1 foot 5 inches; and is 7 inches deep. A holy water stoup, near the west gable of the church, has a round bowl, like a basin, 11 inches in diameter, and 4 ½ inches deep. Another holy water stoup, much resembling this, was taken away out of the churchyard about 1878. A stone, or rather rock, weighing some tons, in the field under the churchyard, has a basin-shaped cavity on the surface, 1 foot in diameter and 6 inches in depth. Besides this rock is a well, supplied with water by a drain from a holy well about 30 or 40 perches distant, called, Thubbervzheedha or St. Bridget’s Well. The drain was made, and the holy well destroyed in the year 1842″ (Carrigan, p. 91).
Kilbride church and parish belonged to the Augustinian Canons of the Congregation of St. Victor, St. Catherine’s Priory, Waterford” (Carrigan, p. 91).
[For further photos of Kilbride ruins and graveyard taken in 2020 click here]
Kilmokevoge
“The church of Kilmokevoge was originally dedicated to St. Mochaevog, or Pulcherius, abbot and patron of Liath-Mochavog, in the Co. Tipperary; but, after the Norman Invasion, it was placed under the patronage of St. James the Apostle (July 25). In Irish it is called Kill—mo-chac-voogue, that is, the Church of St. Mochaemhog or Mochaevog. In English it is often called Kilivory, from a popular notion that mochaemhog means ivory; but this, writes O’Donovan, ‘is truly ridiculous and in every way incorrect’ (O’Donovan’s Ordinance Survey Letters)” (Carrigan, p. 92).
“Kilmokevoge church is rectangular, and, though long a ruin, is still substantially perfect. Internally it measures 42 feet by 18 12 feet. In the west gable, 12 or 14 feet from the ground, are two narrow loops, somewhat damaged and widely apart, each having at top a round arch cut out of a single stone. There is a door in the north side-wall, 3 feet wide below, but all the upper part of the framework is broken away. The wall here 3 feet 2 inches thick. There is a broken window in the same wall, near the east gable, and another window, also ruined, opposite this, in the south side wall. The east window is blocked up by a mural monument of the Stranges of Aylwardstown. There are corbels in the west end for the support of a gallery; and a broken locker in the north side wall, near the east end. Some very large stones may be observed here and there in the walls” (Carrigan, p. 92).
“The church is undoubtedly ancient, but, as its distinguishing features are either entirely destroyed or seriously injured, its age cannot be fixed. Most probably it is older than the middle of the 12th century. In the south east corner beside where the altar stood, rests the Very Rev. Dr. Lower, P.P., on whose monument may be read:
‘Erected by the Revd. Thos. Malley. Doctor of the
Sacred and White Facility of Bordeaux in memory
of the Rev. Stephen Lower, Bachelor of Lovain,
Doctor of Rome, Prothonotary Apostolic, Archdeacon &
Vicar General of Ossory & Parish Priest of Ida,
Who depd. This life the 9th of Janry, 1800, aged 73 years,
Requiescat in pace. Amen.’
Dr. Lower’s grave is hollowed out to a considerable depth by people taking away the clay therefrom, in the firm belief that it possesses virtue to heal their bodily ailments(Carrigan p. 93). Carrigan later in the volume describes Fr. Lower as “one of the grandest characters that figure in the ecclesiastical history of our Diocese. (Carrigan, p. 210).”
“The Strange monument, besides Dr. Lower’s, commemorates Peter Strange of Aylwardstown, who died Dec. 22nd, 1872, aged 67 years; his father Lawrence; his grandfather, Peter, who died at Aylwardstown, Sept. 1824, aged 89 years; and Thomas F. Strange, who was born, May 11th, 1812 and died Feb. 2nd 1897.”
“In the graveyard, at the end of the church, is an altar tomb marking the burial place of the Forrestalls of Rochestown; it has the family arms, and is inscribed to the memory of Mr. Edmund Forrestall, of Rochestown, who died in 1797, aged 45 years” (Carrigan, p. 93).
“A little to the north of the church is St. James holy well, called, in Irish, Thubber San Seeum, or Well of St. James. The church and parish of Kilmokevoge were appropriated by the Nunnery of Kilkilliheen, probably by David fitz Milo, about the year 1240” (Carrigan, p. 93).
[For further information on Fr. Lower, the saviour of Slieverue in 1798, see our post of 11 November 2020.]
[For photos and headstone inscriptions in Kilivory (Kilmakevoge) churchyard click here.]
Bigwood
“The present chapel of Bigwood was built in 1824, by the contributions of the people of the neighbouring townlands in the parishes of Mullinavat, Kilmacow, Slieverue and Glenmore; and to the present day the inhabitants of these same townlands, no matter to which of the four parishes they may belong, look on Bigwood chapel as their own, pay their share of its expenses, and contribute to all parochial collections held here. The old chapel of Bigwood, erected some time after 1787 and discontinued in 1824, stood at the extreme end of the present chapel yard” (Carrigan, p. 179).
[Since Carrigan’s work was published Bigwood has built a newer church in the 1960’s.]
Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Interesting Life of Hugh Mahon (1857-1931)
Below is an article written by John Dowling, Danny Dowling’s nephew, concerning the interesting life of Hugh Mahon (1857-1931). Hugh Mahon was the “special reporter” who interviewed the Widow Doolan, of Jamestown, Glenmore, on 8 August 1880 the day that Charles Boyd was murdered. After exposing various abuses perpetrated again the Widow Doolan, and the local men accused of the murder, Mahon also raised funds for their defence. Mahon later emigrated to Australia where he became a politician and to this date is the only MP to be expelled from the Australian Parliament.
For an account of the plight of the Widow Doolan (Bridget Dowling née Cody (1831-1916)) and the murder of Charles Boyd see our post of 7 November 2021 .
Hugh Mahon (1857-1931)
Hugh Mahon was born at Killurin, County Offaly, in 1857, the 13th of 14 children of James and Anna Mahon. At the time James Mahon farmed a sizeable holding in the barony of Geashill owned by Edward St. Vincent Digby. From 1856 onwards there was ever increasing tension between the new Baron Digby and his tenants. James Mahon was caught up in these tensions but increased his lands under rent from 114 acres to 264 acres by 1866. His son Patrick farmed approximately 68 of these acres.
The North American Years
For unknown reasons, James and Anna Mahon and eight of their children emigrated to America in 1869, leaving behind Patrick to continue farming.
The Mahon family arrived in New York in March 1869, but by October they were farming a 50 acre farm close to Toronto, Canada. They lasted less than 4 years in Canada when they moved to Albany, New York.
Albany, at that time, was a thriving rail connection attracting many emigrants looking for work. James Mahon purchased a house for $1900 in May 1873. However, the American dream continued to turn sour for the Mahon family as an economic panic struck America in 1873 with many railroad companies going bankrupt. Also, the construction of rail bridges across the Hudson River reduced rail activity in East Albany.
During this time Hugh Mahon started to learn the printing and newspaper trades, and eventually at the age of 20 started working for himself selling printing materials. However, he was not left with good memories. Later in life he commented in a letter about the long workhours, poor conditions and clients who refused to pay for services rendered.
It is not clear when the Mahon family left Albany but in 1878 their name disappeared from the Albany Directories, and the house they bought for $1900 in 1873 was sold in approximately 1880 for $1000.
Return to Ireland
By 1880, with James Mahon in his 73rd year, he and his wife were facing a very uncertain twilight to their lives. Their fate must also have been experienced by many other emigrants, but the Mahon’s had one option that was not available to others. They still had a son living and farming in Ireland, and at some stage between 1878 and 1880 they decided to return to Ireland with their son Hugh.
In 1880 Hugh Mahon ended up as editor and manager of the New Ross Standard and a reporter for the Wexford People. The owner of both newspapers, Edward Walsh, was an outspoken critic of the local landlords. Walsh served three prison terms for articles that were printed in his newspapers.
The Irish Land league was formed in 1879 and was initially led by Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt. Hugh Mahon became Assistant Secretary of the New Ross branch of the Land League. Mahon was forced to leave Ireland in late March 1882, but in the two years he spent in New Ross he was a considerable thorn in the side of local landlords.
Mahon Involvement in Boyd Murder Trial
Mahon became acquainted with Walter Phelan of Shanbogh in the summer of 1880. Walter made Mahon aware of the situation of the Widow Doolan (Bridget Dowling) of Jamestown, Glenmore. On the evening of the 7th August, Walter Phelan met with Hugh Mahon in his New Ross office and agreed to go with him the following day to meet the Widow Doolan. Hugh Mahon was interested in publishing her plight in his newspaper.
On the evening of the 8th of August after meeting the Widow Doolan, Charles Boyd, nephew of local landlord Thomas Boyd was shot, and died the morning of the 9th of August.
John and Walter Phelan were identified by Evans Boyd as two of the men in the attack. They were arrested, along with ten others, and remanded first to Rosbercon and then to Kilkenny.
Hugh Mahon organised a defence fund to help the two Phelan brothers, Walter and John, who were charged with the crime. He used his newspaper to criticise the police and prosecution authorities, whom he accused of intimidation and coercive practices. He was also an important witness at the trial, providing an alibi for Walter who accompanied him to visit the Widow Doolan on the day of the assassination. The trial of the Phelan brothers was delayed to June 1881 and moved to Dublin due to the tension in the area.
Various witnesses were also moved to Dublin. These included young girls who were working as servant girls in the area. They were taken against their families wishes and held in Dublin and attempts to coerce them in giving damning evidence against the Phelan brothers was carried out (reported by Mahon in The Wexford People, Oct. 16 1880, p. 6). The girls did not succumb to the Crown coercion, nor to the offer of money.
The two Phelan brothers were acquitted in June 1881, largely based on the alibi provided by Hugh Mahon and a lack of credible evidence.
Hugh Mahon was an instrumental figure in the defence of the Phelan brothers due to
- The report of the killing of Charles Boyd, “one of the most atrocious deeds of blood”, [i] which was published on the 11 August 1880 in the Wexford People, was accompanied, on the same page, by his report of the mistreatment of Evans Boyd towards the Widow Doolan and her orphaned family. The reporting of the Boyd killing throughout Ireland and Great Britain was nearly always accompanied by the reference of mistreatment of the Widow Doolan.
- The continual criticism of local landlords by Mahon in his newspaper reports and organised boycotts of local landlords, in particular Thomas Boyd
- The raising of £765 to cover the costs of legal defence
- Providing an alibi for Walter Phelan on the day of the murder, due to both being together to interview the Widow Doolan.
One can start to think how the accused would have fared without the agitation of Hugh Mahon and his fundraising efforts.
Mahon’s Involvement in New Ross Land League
Mahon used his printing skills to print and post boycott notices around the New Ross area. Thomas Boyd was one of the landlords targeted and in September 1881 Boyd wrote to the Under-Secretary of Ireland calling for Mahon to be arrested under the Protection of Person and Property Act. Mahon was eventually arrested on 27 October 1881 and imprisoned in Naas. Mahon was suffering from tuberculosis and the prison authorities were worried that his delicate health conditions could cause his premature death whilst in their custody. He was offered a release based on his commitment to leave Ireland to move to sunnier climes to help his health condition. Eventually in late March 1882 Mahon left Ireland. He eventually arrived in Melbourne on 22 May 1882.
Australian Journalist, Activist & Politician
Upon landing in Australia Mahon quickly resumed his Land League Activist role amongst the Australian Irish. In 1883 he accompanied William and John Redmond on their 10-month tour of Australia, where he organised many of their events.
However, after the Redmond’s left Australia Mahon quickly parted company with the Land League activities to concentrate on his own journalist career, and in supporting his new wife and family.
Gold was discovered in Western Australia in the early 1890´s. Mahon decided to move there to run a newspaper covering activities in the newly formed gold districts in 1895. Over the next 5 years he would run various newspapers providing news to the local miners, expose corruption in mining and government and actively support the miner’s interests. He ran for local government on various occasions but was only successful when the Australian colonies joined together in 1901 to form the Australian Commonwealth. He was elected as the representative for Coolgardie as the Labour Party´s candidate. Over the next twenty years he would serve as Minister on four occasions, including the Minister for External Affairs during the First World War.
Mahon became active again in Irish affairs and was an ardent support of the Irish Parliamentary Party and Home Rule, but his outlook was changed by the events of 1916. The aftermath of the 1916 Rising, and the executions of the leaders was a moment when “All Changed, Changed Utterly” with “A terrible beauty … born.”[ii]
Over the next few years Mahon moved from Home Ruler to Sinn Fein supporter, and by 1919 was president of the Irish-Ireland League of Victoria. When Terence MacSwiney, Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Cork, died on 25 October 1920, after 74 days on hunger strike, Mahon attempted to have the Irish situation debated in Australian parliament but was refused. At a meeting on 7 November 1920 in Melbourne, Mahon attacked British policy in Ireland,
“Never in Russia under the worst [rule] of the Czars had there been such an infamous murder as that of the late Alderman McSwiney. They were told in the papers that Alderman McSwiney’s poor widow sobbed over his coffin. If there was a just God in heaven that sob would reach round the world, and one day would shake the foundations of this bloody and accursed Empire.”[iii]
Mahon´s outburst came just four days before the second anniversary of the end of the First World War. Australia was still mourning the deaths of approximately 60,000 of its sons and daughters, and its Empire loyal population was not willing to accept such criticism as expressed by Mahon.
The Prime Minister, Billy Fisher, was one seat short of a majority with Mahon´s Labour party in opposition. Seeing an opportunity to secure a government majority he moved a motion, which was successful, to expel Hugh Mahon from Parliament due to his “seditious and disloyal utterances at a public meeting”[iv] and being “guilty of conduct unfitting him to remain a member of this House.”[v]
Mahon failed to win back his seat in the subsequent by-election in December 1920. To this day he remains the only MP ever to have been expelled from the Australian Parliament.
Outside of politics he continued to run the Catholic Church Property Insurance Co. He died on 28 August 1931, eventually succumbing to the lung disease that had affected him during much of his life.
John Dowling
Further reading:
Jeff Kildea (2017) Hugh Mahon Patriot, Pressman, Politician: Vol. 1 The Years from 1857 to 1901, Anchor Books: Melbourne, Australia
H.J. Gibbney (1986) “Hugh Mahon (1957-1931)” in the Australian Dictionary of Biographies, vol. 10.
Frank Sweeney (ed) (2005) Hanging Crimes: When Ireland Used the Gallows, Mercier Press: Cork
[i] Wexford People, 11 Aug. 1880, p. 4
[ii] William Butler Yeats (1997) “Easter 1916” and Other Poems, Dover Publications
[iii] Jeff Kildea (2020) Hugh Mahon; Patriot, Pressman, Politician: Vol 2 The Years from 1901 to 1931, Anchor Books: Melbourne, Australia
[iv] Kildea (2020) supra n. iii
[v] Kildea (2020) supra n. iii
Rathinure, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of Rathinure in 1961. Similar to other townlands in Glenmore, Rathinure has been spelled in different ways across the centuries. It was spelled Rathnewre on Sir William Petty’s, Down Survey Map (1656-1658); it was spelled Rathaure in the Tithe Applotment Books (1829); and a popular spelling in late 19th century newspapers was Rathenure.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 114) is Ráth an iubhair, or rath of the yew. The townland of Rathinure is comprised of 575 acres. O’Kelly listed the ancient Kilcolumb church site, Tobar na gcolm (according to Danny the well of the doves), and Cloch Choilm (the Kilcolumb holy water font that was tossed into a field by Cromwellians and is locally known as the headache stone). O’Kelly wrongly noted that the Bóithrin fada “is the by-road running southward from the main road to a number of houses.” The Bóithrin fada is a narrow unpaved farming lane that runs west from the High Road to the old hamlet of Rathinure coming down behinnd Johnny Garvey’s house.
O’Kelly lists a number of fields with Irish names including: Bán riach; Garaí; Cabúis; Cabus’s garden; Garaí glas; Gort ne sidheog or the fairies field a tradition of losing one’s way at night here; the Móineáns; Ocht na grainsí or hill breast of the grange; Sceathánach, sceach lland; Sean-bheitin; Sileáns or rivuets or drains; and Srath lia mhór, or field of the big grey fern. For further Rathinure families and field names see “The Enduring Names of Rathinure”.
Tithe Applotment Books (1829)
Rathanure was owned by S.W. Aylward who split his holding into Rathanure (566 statute acres) and the Hill of Rathanure (29 statute acres).
There were two tenants for the Hill of Rathanure (29 acres) namely, Philip and John Wallice (sic). There were 18 tenants listed for the 566 acres of Rathanure including: [1] James Wall; [2] William Roach; [3] Patt Kennedy [4] Patt Kennedy; [5] William Kennedy; [6] James Kennedy; [7] Michael Kennedy; [8] John Kennedy [9] John Malone; [10] Patt Eade; [11] Edward Murphy; [12] James Murphy; [13] Patt Murphy; [14] James Deighan; [15] Thomas Sullivan; [16] John Roach; [17] Jno Roach; [18] William Roach.
Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864)
The immediate lessor (landlord) was James C. Aylward, Esq. Tenants included:
[1] Thomas Wall who had 32 acres, a house & offices;
[2] John Freeman who had a house and garden;
[3] John Roche, 46 acres, house and offices;
[4] Margaret Kennedy, 32 acres, house & offices;
[5] Richard Kennedy, 50 acres, house and offices;
[6] Peter Kennedy, 52 acres, house & offices;
[7] John Kennedy (the wall) had no landlord the word “free” appears in the record for immediate lessor. John the Wall Kennedy owned a house worth 10 shillings;
[8] Patrick Kehoe, 44 acres, house & offices;
[9] Thomas Delahunty had a house he leased from Patrick Kehoe worth 10 shillings;
[10] John Kennedy (Khosub), 41 acres, house & offices;
[11] John Malone, 33 acres, house & offices;
[12] John Kennedy (Ogue), 30 acres, house & offices;
[13] Richard Kennedy, jun. leased a house from John Kennedy (Ogue) worth 6 shillings;
[14] Patrick Geehan, 29 acres, house & offices;
[15] William Kennedy, 30 acres, house and offices;
[16] Mary Den leased a house valued at 5 shillings from William Kennedy;
[17] Jeremiah Greene leased a house (value 9s.) and garden (value 3s.) from William Kennedy;
[18] Edmund Murphy 46 acres, house & offices;
[19]Anastatia Kelly leased a house (valued 5 s.) from William Kennedy;
[20] Oliver Neill leased a house and small garden (valued at 8s.) from Edmond Murphy;
[21] Philip Wallace, had a house (valued at £1) and his immediate lessor were “Tenants of the Townland.” [22] Tenants of the Townland held 1.6 acres of land in 3 parcels of commons valued at £2.15.;
[23] John Murphy, 25 acres, house and offices;
[24] Ellen Murphy had a house and garden (valued at 12s.);
[25] John Kehoe and
[26] Lawrence Sullivan together leased 1 acre of land; houses & offices from James C. Aylward;
[27] John Roche (Luke),
[28] John Roche (Anne) and
[29] Bridget Roche, the three Roches [27, 28 & 29] shared 72 acres. They had houses and offices valued at respectively £3.10; £4.5 & £2.15.
1961 Rathinure, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded 14 families or households in the townland of Rathinure. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died or left the townland.
Danny’s recorded information reveals that in 1961, 52 people resided in the townland of Rathinure with the population comprised of 29 males and 23 females. The largest households was the Maguire family with 8 persons in their household. There were 4 households recorded with a single person living alone in each house. Information under residents of Rathinure not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets [ ].
Recorded Rathinure, Glenmore Residents (1961)
Males= 29
Females= 23
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in Rathinure, Glenmore was Peter Kennedy (5 Nov. 1878-17 March 1962) who was 83 in 1961. Peter Kennedy was the son of Thomas Kennedy and his wife, Anastatia Irish, of Aylwardstown. Peter only had one sibling Bridget who married Peter Foskin of Big Wood, Mullinavat. Peter Kennedy married Elizabeth Walsh (c. 1884 – 1958) of Powerswood, Thomastown. The couple were married on 8 February 1921 at Thomastown. Elizabeth pre-deceased him Peter. Peter Kennedy and his wife had five daughters and the youngest Cissy Kennedy will be 94 on the 5th of January 2024.
Recorded Work
Farmers= 8 (7 Males; 1 Female)
Retired Farmer= 1 (1 Male)
Farm Workers = 11 (11 Males)
Council Worker= 1 (1 Male)
Builder’s Labourer= 1 (1 Male)
Odd Jobs = 1 (1 Female)
Rathinure, Glenmore Residents 1961
[1] KAVANAGH
Kavanagh, Annie (b. 5 May 1901)
[2] ROCHE
Roche, Mary (b. 1918) [née Forristal of the Mill was the widow of Edward “Ned” Roche of the High Road, Rathinure who died 15 August 1957 aged 75. Mary died on 26 January 1984 aged 87].
[3] GRACE
Grace, John (7 Sept. 1893-22 June 1964) Farmer
Grace, Bridget (b. 12 Dec. 1899) wife
Grace, Patrick , son, assisting on farm
Grace, Ellen, daughter-in-law
[4] ROCHE
Roche, Catherine “Katie” (b. 1 Jan. 1912) Farmer [died 9 August 1967, aged 56]
Roche, Mary “May” (b. 4 Aug. 1916) sister [May Roche died 28 September 2001].
Delahunty, Michael (b. 20 Dec. 1906) farm labourer
[5] ROCHE
Roche, John (b. 11 Oct. 1911) Farmer
Roche, Margaret (b. 1917) wife
Roche Michael, son
Nolan, Nicholas, nephew, assisting on farm [died 22 Sept. 2013, aged 69, of Garryduff, Piltown]
[6] KENNEDY
Kennedy, John (10 Feb. 1885-11 Feb. 1962) Farmer [John Sean Og Kennedy]
Kennedy, Mary (b. 13 April 1881) sister [Mary Sean Og Kennedy died 8 February 1971]
Garvey, John, grand-nephew, assisting on farm
For more information on the Sean Og Kennedy’s of Rathinure see our post of 3 October 2021.
[7] KEHOE
Kehoe, Richard [19 July 1914—15 Dec. 1974] Farmer
[Dick Kehoe married Mary Doherty, of Ballinlammy in the late 1960’s. Mary Kehoe née Doherty died 7 December 2016 at the age of 94.]
[8] WALSH
Walsh, Thomas (b. 27 May 1908) Farmer [died 2 April 1992]
Walsh, Stacia (b. 31 March 1922) wife [died 12 Nov. 1984]
Walsh, Robert, son [4 May 1950-14 Aug. 1984]
Walsh, Peter, son
Walsh, Elizabeth “Elsie”, daughter
Kennedy, Peter (5 Nov. 1878-17 March 1962) father-in-law, retired farmer
[9] FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald, Anastasia (b. 14 Feb. 1900) [née Sullivan]
Fitzgerald, Stephen, son, farm labourer [died 8 July 1999, aged 76]
Fitzgerald, Patrick, son, farm labourer [died 28 Oct. 1981, aged 55]
Fitzgerald, John, son, farm labourer
Fitzgerald, Bridget, daughter [died 22 May 1994, aged 66]
[10] DALTON
Dalton, Johanna “Josie” (b. 31 Dec. 1907) odd jobs [died Dec. 1978]
[Josie Dalton’s grandfather, R.I.C. Hearn, arrested Roger Casement in Kerry c. 1914. Danny Dowling said her father was a cobbler from Tullogher and moved to the Railway Cottage in Rathinure. Josie had two sisters and a brother Pat. All her siblings went to England and Josie lived in the isolated Railway Cottage until shortly before she died. Josie broke her leg and was found by a neighbour and taken to the hospital. She lived in a small mobile home where Willie Cummins had lived. Although Josie told friends she was going to return to the Railway House she died at the mobile home.]
[11] KENNEDY
Kennedy, Thomas (b. 26 Aug. 1912) Farmer [died 9 Jan. 1987]
Kennedy, Laurence (b. 12 Aug. 1914) brother, assisting on farm
Kennedy, Richard (b. 5 Oct. 1917) brother, assisting on farm [died 10 Jan. 1994]
Kennedy, Patrick (b. 14 March 1921) brother, assisting on farm [died 19 May 1997]
Kennedy, Bridget (b. 1922) sister
[12] ROCHE
Roche, Edward (b. 4 Nov. 1887) Farmer [died 14 Jan. 1969, aged 81]
Roche, Alice (b. 22 Dec. 1886) [née Heffernan of Aylwardstown died 28 Nov. 1972, aged 86]
Roche, James [2 Nov. 1928-13 Dec. 2018 aged 91]
Roche, Alice “Ciss” (b. 1930) daughter-in-law [née Culleton of Kilbride]
Roche, Eddie, grandson
Roche, Michael, grandson
Roche, Alice, granddaughter
[13] WALSH
Walsh, John “Jack” (b. 5 Feb. 1893) Farm Labourer
Walsh, Anastatia (b. 14 March 1899) wife
Gahan, Michael (b. 10 Feb. 1911) brother-in-law, Council Worker
[14] MAGUIRE
Maguire, John, Builder’s Labourer
Maguire, Catherine, wife
Maguire, James, son
Maguire, Catherine M., daughter
Maguire, Margaret M., daughter
Maguire, Thomas J., son
Maguire, Mary, daughter
Maguire, Anastatia, daughter
(Family moved to Ballinlaw, Slieverue).
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Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above is Kilcolumb ruins and churchyard. See our post of 22 December 2019 concerning what happened to persons who abused or damaged Cloch Choilm (the Kilcolumb stone for curing headaches).
For a link to a recording of Danny Dowling in 1991 speaking on Kilcolumb click here.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Redgap, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the two residents of Redgap in 1961, as well as other information he recorded regarding Redgap, the smallest townland in Glenmore.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 114) is Bearna dhearg, which means “a red gap”. Redgap is the smallest townland in Glenmore and is comprised of only 33 acres. That is the sum total of the information O’Kelly provides. Redgap is located on the edge of Glenmore parish in the civil parish of Kilcolumb. It borders Slieverue on the crescent of the Rochestown/Scart hills.
Tithe Applotment Books 1829
We were unable to find any reference to Redgap, in the Kilcolumb Civil Parish list of townlands in the Tithe Applotment Books. We believe that Redgap was an area within a larger townland. Given its proximity to Slieverue it may be the case that it was once part of the townland of Ballyrowragh and was separated from that townland when the Catholic parish of Glenmore was established in 1846. In the 20th century Redgap was usually identified as being part of Rochestown.
Oral Tradition Regarding Redgap, Glenmore
Philip Wallace (c. 1806-1883)
In 1956, Danny interviewed Matt Aylward of Ballyfacey, Glenmore (DD Notebook 4). Matt stated, “In the last century a man named Philip Wallace who lived in Redgap conducted a hedge school.” Matt recited and Danny recorded the following crude local verse in reference to Philip Wallace’s school—“Philip’s scholars against the wall, A pint of piss would drown them all.”
A couple of sayings Matt shared with Danny that Phillip Wallace used were “go that” pronounced “gow that” and “No moiseac (mozhic) on him” or “No worry on him.”
Phillip Wallis (sic) (c. 1806-1883) schoolmaster, died on 24 November 1883 at his home at Redgap at the age of 77. His wife, Ellen Wallis was present when he died. According to Glenmore Parish records, Phillip Wallace married Ellen Fitzpatrick of Rochestown on 1 March 1870. According to the marriage records, Philip was a bachelor, schoolmaster, and was the son of Luke Wallace, farmer. Ellen was a servant and the daughter of Patrick Fitzpatrick (labourer) of Rochestown. If Philip’s age at his death is correct, he was about 64 when he married.
The John O’Donovan Connection to Redgap, Glenmore
According to Martin Walsh (c. 1918- 1996) of Rochestown, Glenmore there were three “botháns” in the long, narrow, hilly field in Redgap (the field currently owned by John Hoynes). The small houses were at the sheltered side of the north facing ditch where the field is level. May Roche (c. 1918-2001) of Scart, Glenmore said that her father (John “Sal” Roche (c. 1861-1931) and aunt Allie (Alice) Roche (c. 1859 -1933) told her that there was once a small shop in Redgap (May gave this information to Michael Hoynes of Ballybrahee, Glenmore).
Michael Hoynes also recalled this week that May Roche (c. 1918-2001) stated that the great Irish scholar John O’Donovan (c. 1806-1861) was connected to Redgap. Michael went on to research this statement and found a biography of John O’Donovan written by Diarmaid Ó Catháin that provides the connection.
Leased Redgap
John O’Donovan’s father, Edmund, did well during the Napoleonic wars (c. 1803-1815). In 1816, he built a new house but due to circumstances he was forced to move. Edmund leased 33 acres in the adjacent townland of Redgap near where his brother Patrick O’Donovan (1753-1831) had a cornmill. At the same time John O’Donovan’s eldest brother, Michael (bapt. 1789) leased 40 acres in Ballyrowragh, Slieverue. John O’Donovan’s father died in 1817 and John appears to have gone to live with this brother. His uncle, Patrick, was an important influence on John. Patrick went to sea as a young man, was widely read in both English and Irish, and had a great interest in history and tradition. Irish was the primary language in the locality at the time.
Donovan’s Mill, Ballyrowragh, Slieverue
The corn mill at Ballyrowragh still stands, and today it is still called “Donovan’s Mill.” The Tithe Applotment Books, 1829, provides that Patrick Donovan held 9 acres in Ballyrowragh, Slieverue. Given that Redgap, Glenmore is only comprised of 33 acres it appears that Edmund O’Donovan leased the entire townland. See our post of 13 March 2021 for information on John O’Donovan’s work.
Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864)
Supporting the local oral tradition, Griffith’s Valuation lists three households in Redgap: [1] Philip Wallace (house & 1 acre); [2] John Gahan & Joseph Gahan (house and 13 acres) and [3] John Roche (house, offices and 17 acres). It is assumed that the Gahan’s were uncles or great-uncles of Martin Walsh (his mother was Elly Gahan). It is also assumed that John Roche was May Roche’s grandfather.
1961 Redgap, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded one family or household in the townland of Redgap. In 1961, there was a married couple living in Redgap, Edward “Ned” Baldwin and his wife, Ellen “Elly” Baldwin (1916-1988) née Ryan.
Recorded Redgap, Glenmore Residents (1961)
Male= 1
Female= 1
Eldest Redgap, Glenmore, Resident 1961
Edward “Ned” Baldwin (1903-1991)
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in 1961 in Redgap, Glenmore, was Edward “Neddy” Baldwin (30 May 1903- 26 May 1991). Edward Baldwin was born to John Baldwin (labourer) and his wife, Elizabeth Doyle. The address on the birth cert is Knockroe, Waterford. In his obituary it is stated that Edward was a native of Passage East. As a young man Ned was a member of the Defence forces. He was skilled in all aspects of mechanical farm equipment and worked for years for James Kelly of Aylwardstown. Please see our B Family surname page for Edward’s obituary.
Marriage
Edward Baldwin married Ellen Ryan on 26 April 1937 in the Cathedral of Waterford. Edward was a labourer living in Skeard, Kilmacow. He was the son of John Baldwin (farmer). Ellen was living in Glenmore the daughter of Michael Ryan, labourer. Given the fact that Redgap is often referred to as part of Rochestown we believe that Ned and Ellie moved to Redgap in 1947. According to the Munster Express (Friday 6 June 1947, p. 2) Edward Baldwin, of Ringville, was appointed tenant of cottage 190L, of Rochestown, formerly in the occupation of Martin Connolly.
Ellen “Ellie” Baldwin née Ryan (1916 -1988)
The second resident of Redgap, Glenmore in 1961 was Glenmore native Ellie Baldwin née Ryan. Ellie was born on 17 February 1916 at Kearneybay, Glenmore, the eldest child of Michael Ryan (labourer) and his wife Mary Manning. Her parents were married on the 9th of February 1915 at Glenmore. At the time of their wedding Michael Ryan was 35 years of age and Mary Manning was 30. Both gave their address as Karneybay (sic). Michael was the son of Jermiah Ryan (labourer) and Mary was the daughter of Martin Manning (farmer).
Ellie’s Parents & Grandparents
According to the 1911 Census Michael Ryan had 8 siblings. His father Jeremiah (66) and mother Mary (54) had five children still at home. Jeremiah Ryan (labourer) of Kearneysbay married Mary Prendergast of Scartnamore, Glenmore on 20 November 1878. Jeremia Ryan was the son of Michael Ryan (labourer) and Mary Prendergast was the daughter of Richard Prendergast (farmer).
In 1911, Mary Manning was residing in Rathinure, Glenmore, with her father Martin Manning, a widower. The 1901 Census provides far more information. Her father was 52 and was a navy. Her mother, Ellen, was 48. Mary had three brothers listed: Bartley Manning was 21; Edward Manning was 20 and John Manning was 18. All three of her brothers were also navies we assume with the railway that was being built between New Ross and Waterford.
Ellie’s Siblings
Unfortunately, Irish births after 1916 are generally not available to the public. However, per Ellie’s and other family obituaries we know that Ellie Balldwin née Ryan had at least three brothers and a sister. Her brothers included: Martin “Mattie” Ryan, Patrick Ryan (1917-1973) of Kearneybay and Dermot Ryan of Kilivory, Glenmore, and her sister was Mary Walsh née Ryan of Mary Street, New Ross. See our R family surname page for Ryan obituaries.
Children of Ned and Ellie Baldwin
Ned and Ellie Baldwin had three children: [1] John Baldwin (Newbridge, Co. Kildare) [2] Mary Baldwin Tohill (Aylesbury, England) and [3] Elizabeth “Lizzy” Baldwin Davis (Aylesbury, England).
John Baldwin went into the army as a teenager and at the age of 19 in 1962 was sent to the Congo (Munster Express, Fri. 18 May 1962, p. 9). For further information and Baldwin obituaries please see our B surname page.
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Special thanks to Michael Ryan, of Kearneybay, Glenmore for sharing the photo of his parents Dermie Ryan & Peggy Ryan née O’Neil and to Michael Hoynes of Ballybrahee, Glenmore for his help.
The featured photo above is Donovan’s Mill, Ballyrowragh, Slieverue, on the border of Glenmore Parish.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Kearneysbay, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Kearneysbay, Glenmore, in 1961. This townland has been spelled multiple ways over the past three centuries. Sometimes it is spelled without an “s” as Kearneybay. Sometimes it is spelled as two separate words Kearney’s Bay. Some 19th century newspapers spelled it Carney Bay.
Background
The Irish for this townland, according to O’Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny Ireland (1969, p. 113) is Trian an ri, or the King’s third. The townland is comprised of 141 acres. “The ‘third’ is an ancient land measure term. There is another townland in the parish [Kilcollumb] far removed from here called Trinaree. James Kearney of Kearneysbay held lands in Parkstown, Ballyvoulera, Luffany and Kearneysbay according to his will registered in the Registry of Deeds Office, Dublin, on 9th May, 1754 —from Abstract of Wills, Vol. II by P. Beryl Eustace.”
Tithe Appotment Books 1829
In 1829, Major Charles Kearney held 139 acres and was the only person listed in the applotment books for Kearneysbay.
Landlord of Kearneysbay, Glenmore, Charles Kearney (c. 1787-1871)
Major Charles Kearney (c. 1787-1871) of the 2d Dragoon Guards, or Queen’s Bays married Mary Anne Massy of Limerick. The bride was the youngest daughter of Hon. George Eyre Massy, of Limerick City (Dublin Weekly Register, Sat. 17 October 1829, p. 8).
Major Kearney was promoted to Lieut.-Col. in 1837 “by purchase” (Dorset County Chronicle, Thur. 2 Nov. 1837). Kearney died on 24 July 1871,”at his residence, 3, Upper Brook street, Grosvenor square, London.” He died in his 85th year (Waterford Standard, Sat. 29 July 1871, p. 3) His widow, Mary Anne died on the 31st of August 1886, at Homburg (Dublin Daily Express, Fri. 10 Sept. 1886, p. 1).
1961 Kearneysbay, Glenmore
In 1961, Danny recorded three families or households in the townland of Kearneysbay. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died or left the townland.
Danny’s recorded information reveals that in 1961, ten people resided in the townland of Kearneysbay, with the population comprised of 9 males and 1 female. The largest family was the Heffernan family with 8 in the household. There were 2 households recorded with a single person living alone in each house. All information under residents of Kearneysbay not in Danny’s original list has been placed in square brackets [ ].
Recorded Kearneysbay, Glenmore Residents (1961)
Males= 9
Females= 1
Eldest Recorded Resident
The eldest resident recorded by Danny in 1961 in Kearneysbay, Glenmore was Thomas Foran (b. 14 Jan. 1885) who was 76 years of age in 1961. A headstone in St. James’s Cemetery provides that Thomas died 22 June 1973, aged 88. The birth register and parish baptismal records provides that Thomas Foran was born on the 4th of January 1885 the son of John Foran (farmer) of Kearneysbay and his wife Ellen Power. Mary Foran of Robinstown was present at his birth and registered his birth on the 13th of January 1885.
Kearneysbay, Glenmore Residents 1961
[1] HEFFERNAN
Heffernan, Thomas (10 Mar. 1888-12 Jan. 1965) Farmer
Heffernan, Michael (b. 22 Mar. 1916) son, assisting relative [per headstone 1916-1988]
Heffernan, Mary, daughter-in-law [per headstone née Doherty (1931-2015)]
Heffernan, Thomas, grandson [per headstone 1929-2003 buried in Calif.]
Heffernan, John, grandson
Heffernan, Christopher, grandson
Heffernan, Desmond, grandson
Dunphy, Thomas (b. 14 Dec. 1894) employee, farm labourer
[2] FORAN
Foran, Thomas (b. 14 Jan. 1885) Retired Labourer. [See above, Tom Foran died 22 June1973].
[Tom Foran lived in a long thatched house down at the end of Kearneysbay road. He was a big man and spent most of his life in the merchant navy. Tom Foran was in England and came across another Glenmore man reared in Aylwardstown, Foxy Wattie Power’s brother. The Power man was in a fight and was so covered with blood Tom Foran said that his own mother wouldn’t recognise him. “But he stuck it out and beat the other fella.” (Tom Walsh (1908-1992) of Rathinure, Glenmore)] For further information see our F surname page.
[3] RYAN
Ryan, Patrick (b. 1917) Farm Labourer [Per newspaper notice died in July 1973].
[Paddy Ryan collapsed and died as he was about to enter a cot to go fishing on the River Barrow. His brother, Dermot Ryan (Kilmakevogue, Glenmore) was with Paddy when he collapsed and died. For further information see our family R surname page.]
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh