Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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Two More Glenmore Post Office Postcards
Last Wednesday we posted a postcard of the second Glenmore Post Office in Fluskey’s shop. Two more similar but different postcards of the second Glenmore Post office in Fluskey’s shop were shared this past week. We were very excited to receive postcard 2 below because it is not within Danny’s collection and Pat Dowling noted that he has never seen it before.
Postcard 1– Posted 29 January 2025
The post card above features Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) mother Hannah Dowling née Murphy (1903-1989) carrying a bucket to the Village pump. The Village pump was removed in 1931, thus we know that the photo was taken before 1931. For information on the Village pump see our post of 23 May 2020. The Village pump was located where the Glenbar is located today.
The house to the left of Fluskey’s is the house where Danny was born in 1927. Previously Mary Hanrahan, née Murphy (1863-1938) (Danny’s great-aunt) married James Hanrahan of Glenmore Village in 1905. They owned the house along with a farm of nearly forty acres. Her husband, Jimmy Hanrahan (c.1876-1920) died aged 44 of TB in 1920. Ten months later her son, John Hanrahan (1906-1921) died of appendicitis at 15 years of age. Mary Hanrahan née Murphy asked her niece Hannah Murphy to come to live with her. Mary Hanrahan née Murphy died in 1938 and Pat Dowling was present when she died. She gave the house and land to her niece Hannie Murphy, who was married to Pat Dowling, of Jamestown.
Special thanks to Mick Breen for sending on these two postcards and providing some close ups. This closeup of the postcard with Danny’s mother is very similar to the postcard we posted last Wednesday. There are three people who appear to be the same 3 people as last week, namely: Maggie Holden (b. 1911) of Weatherstown; James “Jim” Power (1884-1947) postman and Jim Walsh (1898-1958). for further details on these individuals see our post of 22 January 2025.
The graffiti behind the two men depicted looks the same as what was depicted on the postcard we posted on 22 January 2025. The difference between the photos is that the bicycle is gone from in front of the shop; the two men have moved away from the door and Hannah Murphy and the Village pump are visible as well as what appears to be a Model T automobile. Model T Fords were made in England from 1911 to 1927.
Given the three people depicted at Fluskey’s appear to be the same three people, dressed the same we believe that the postcard posted the 22nd of January and this one were taken the same day. It is not clear who owned the depicted automobile. It could have been a patron of Fluskey’s, or belonged or was being used by Jim Walsh or perhaps it belonged to the photographer.
Postcard 2– posted 29 January 2025
To the left is a head on shot of Fluskey’s without other buildings being depicted. There are 3 individuals depicted but all three are men. The post office and telegraph are present, but there is no graffiti on the walls. There is no bicycle leaned against the wall. There are window boxes in the windows and a sign over the door states C? Fluskey. A pony or cob is pulling a two wheel farm cart. The man to the right appears to be a farmer, and we wonder if the man to the left is Robert Fluskey based upon his dress and stance. The younger man in the centre we believe may be Jim Fluskey but this is a guess. We believe that this postcard is older than the postcard above and the postcard posted last Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
Unfortunately, the postcard was not mailed it has no stamp, postmark or written date. Mick Breen acquired it from a man in Scotland who collected post office postcards. The collector did not appear to realize the post card was from Ireland. It appears that Beatrice’s father once lived in Glenmore.
Have you seen this postcard before? Do you have other postcards of Glenmore that you will share? Please comment below or send corrections, thoughts, other postcards to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore
A Glenmore Postcard [Updated]
In the early 20th century cameras became smaller and were more affordable. Film was purchased in chemist shops and the exposed film returned to be processed because few people had the chemicals, facilities or training to develop their own photographs. Often photos or copies of photos would be placed on thin cardboard postcards for customers by the chemist with the subject of the photo hand printed on the postcard. These post cards were very popular. However, the Glenmore post card above has “Post Office Glenmore” professionally printed (not hand printed) on the bottom left. Post cards of all descriptions were very popular in the early twentieth century as advertising of businesses or beauty spots and as a means of cheap communication.
Dating the Glenmore Postcard
The exact date of the photo is unknown. However, the photo is of the second Glenmore Post Office at Fluskey’s shop. We believe that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) enlarged the postcard and was able to identify the three people standing in front of the Post Office. Danny identified them as Maggie Holden of Weatherstown; Jim Power, the Postman; and Jim Walsh, Glenmore (uncle of Eamon Walsh). Special thanks to Martin Gahan for sharing the photo and the identification provided to him by Danny.
Dating the photo postcard is difficult because we just have a copy. We can not view the stamp affixed if any, the postmark if any, the other information on the back such as the producer’s name or, whether it was linen etc. The best clues come from what is depicted in the photo.
For example, one of the signs on Fluskey’s references a telegraph. The telegraph came when the railway link from Waterford to New Ross was being built through Glenmore in the first years of the twentieth century. Thus we know it was not taken before circa 1902. There also appears to have been graffiti on the walls of Fluskey’s on both sides of the door. Some of the letters that are still visible when the photo is enlarged appear to be “REPU” perhaps for republic or republican? (None of the other buildings appear to have graffiti.) From 1916 to the mid-1920’s the country was fighting for independence and then engaged in a civil war.
The dress of the people photographed appears to be after the First World War because Maggie Holden’s skirt is knee length. The two standing near the entrance to the other shop appear to be a girl and woman, but unfortunately they are too out of focus to be of much use in terms of their hair and dress. Two chickens in the road were also photographed, but wandering fowl in the Village continued well into the mid-twentieth century.
Glenmore Persons Depicted
The easiest to obtain information on was Jim Power, the postman. James “Jim” Power (1884-1947) was the son of Tommy & Mary “Main” Power née Walsh of Robinstown, Glenmore. James was born on 19 December 1884. In the Robinstown,1911 Census James is 24, single, living at home and employed as a postman. James Power never married and died 1 June 1947 in the County Home at Thomastown.
The man to the far right of the photo was identified as Jim Walsh (uncle of Eamon Walsh). The Eamon Walsh that springs to mind is the son of Bill Walsh (1912-1985) and his wife Peg Roche (c.1918- 2012). Bill Walsh (1912-1985) indeed had a brother Jim Walsh (1898-1958). Jim Walsh was Captain of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA during the War of Independence and was imprisoned. After Independence he joined Garda Siochana and married a Rosbercon Doherty and had several children. Jim Walsh died on 22 February 1958.
Unfortunately, we could not locate a Maggie Holden in Weatherstown. We do not know if Holden was her maiden or married name. If anyone has any information on Maggie Holden of Weatherstown please send it to us.
[Update 25 Jan. 2025: We were provided the following information. Maggie Holden was born on 13 August 1911 to Thomas Holden (c. 1870-1948) and his wife Hannie Duggan (c. 1877-1953). Thomas and Hannie were married in 1895 Thomas was from Gaulestown and Hannie was from Weatherstown. After they married they lived in Weatherstown in the house now occupied by John Murphy. Maggie Holden (b. 1911) was the youngest of the family, she married on 10 June 1942, Patrick Keogh who was from Wexford. Patrick and Maggie had two daughters Mary and Johanna and they both went to school in Ballyfacey. Patrick went to England and sometime later Maggie and the girls followed.]
Glenmore Buildings Depicted
The post office and telegraph were in Fluskey’s shop. This two storey building is now a home in Glenmore. To the left, Danny Dowling’s original and last home is mostly hidden by Fluskey’s. This house was a traditional two up and two down which later was extensively extended.
The next building to the left, which hosts a sign over the door, we believe was the Glenmore Dispensary. The store front to the left was up until circa 1904 Gaffney’s shop. Behind the shop was their mill. After the last Gaffney left Glenmore the premises were bought by P.N. O’Gorman. Eventually the Heffernan’s acquired it and Lizzie Heffernan married James K. Walsh of Ballybrahee. Lizzy JK as they were known built in 1937 a dance hall behind their shop. The Mill, dance hall, the shop and the attached house no longer stand.
Our best guess is that this photo was taken in the turbulent 1920’s.
Update: 23 Jan. 2025 Special thanks to Mick Breen for sending a clearer closeup of the group of three.
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Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
To learn more about Fluskey’s see our post of 28 May 2020.
See our post of 25 April 2020 for further information on the Glenmore Dispensary.
For further information on Glenmore Post Offices see our post of 24 Nov. 2019.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Rest of the Story of the Murder on Glenmore Hill
In one of his many notebooks, Danny Dowling (1927-2021) recorded contemporary newspaper accounts regarding the executions of three local men for murder in 1834. Patrick Meany, a native of Glenmore, had moved to Rosbercon and was convicted and executed for conspiring to kill his landlord Joseph Anthony Leonard, Esq. Please see our post of 9 February 2020 for the shocking details of how the murder was perpetrated and details of Philip Malone’s trial. Perhaps the biggest surprise Danny discovered and recorded in his notebook concerned Meany’s corpse after his execution. The place of the murder, and two of the executions arising from it, took place at the site of the murder just about a mile east of the N 25 Glenmore roundabout.
Danny found and recorded the following articles from the Waterford Mail newspaper.
Robert Malone (?-1834)
On Saturday the 26th of July 1834 at the Kilkenny County Assizes Robert Malone was convicted of the murder of Joseph Anthony Leonard, Esq. Robert Malone was sentenced to be hanged. The newspaper article noted, “It will be recollected that last Assizes his brother, Philip Malone, suffered for the same murder” (Waterford Mail, Mon. 28 July 1834).
After being found guilty and sentenced when Robert Malone was being taken from the court to the gaol “he exhibited great and disgusting levity. His execution took place in front of the gaol. Among the very great assemblage that witnessed his ignominious end, all seemed to think that he deserved his fate” (Waterford Mail, Wed. 30 July 1834.) [It is not clear why Robert Malone was executed outside the gaol in Kilkenny City after his brother Philip Malone was executed at the place of the murder on the Hill of Glenmore on the old mail coach road between Waterford and New Ross. Later Patrick Meany was also executed at the place of the murder.]
Patrick Meany (c. 1784-1834)
Patrick Meany was tried on Monday the 28th of July 1834 for conspiring to murder his landlord, Joseph Anthony Leonard, Esq. and inciting others to commit the murder. The jury was out for three hours and returned at 8 P.M. The jury returned a guilty verdict “The judge pronounced the culprit’s awful doom—to be hanged on Thursday.” The newspaper noted that Meany was the owner of the goods [cattle] Mr. Leonard had distrained (Waterford Mail, Wed. 30 July 1834).
The execution of Patrick Meany was set to take place on Tuesday the 12th of August at the scene of the murder (Waterford Mail, Sat. 2 Aug. 1834).
The Execution
“Another of the misguided persons concerned in the sanguinary murder of the late estimable Joseph Anthony Leonard, Esq. atoned for his share in the dreadful deed yesterday, at Shanbo (sic), the scene of the consummation, within three miles of New Ross, and 9 of this city. The malefactor upon this occasion was Patrick Meany…”
“An immense concourse of persons assembled yesterday to witness Meany’s ignominious departure from this world. A strong force of cavalry, infantry and police was also collected. The culprit—who seemed a man advanced at least to middle age—appeared to suffer very much from exhaustion, so much so that he was obliged to depute to his Reverend attendant the duty of addressing the immense multitude…”
“Although he expressed his contrition for having uttered denunciation against his prosecutor, he died without acknowledging the justice of the sentence or declaring his innocence. Soon afterwards the culprit was launched into eternity and the motely group of spectators separated. Five children we are informed, witnessed the execution of their guilty parent.”
Since the above was in type we received the following from a correspondent.
New Ross, August 12—Patrick Meany …was executed at the scene of the murder and where Philip Malone, one of the perpetrators of the murder, was executed on last St. Patrick’s Day. Meany was present at Philip Malone’s execution and also travelled to Kilkenny to attend the execution of Robert Malone during the last assizes.
“At half past eleven the cavalcade, consisting principally of the 9th Lancers, passed through New Ross. The unhappy individual who was the object of this mournful procession was seated in a chaise receiving religious consolation from his clergyman. He appeared to be fully sensible of his awful situation. If this could be a criterion to judge by he was fully resigned to meet his fate in a becoming and Christian like manner.”
At New Ross the 32nd Reserve and a large party of constabulary joined the cavalcade as did the Sheriff and Resident Magistrates. When they arrived at the fatal spot Meany descended from the chaise, accompanied by his Clergyman. He kneeled for some time in prayer at the foot of the gallows.
“The grim finisher of the law put the rope about his neck from behind. Meany turned suddenly round, and seemed to shrink from the trial he had to encounter. The Rev. Gentleman interposed his hand to shade his eyes. The man again looked agitated when his arms were being pinioned. When all was ready, he ascended the ladder with a firm step attended by the Rev. Gentleman, who first retired, and then returned again to strengthen the individual about to depart into eternity. He supported him by his back.”
“Meany now seemed weak, and the attentions of his spiritual adviser were continued to the last moment. His cap fell off, but it was quickly readjusted, and the fatal drop having been withdrawn, he died almost instantaneously.”
“Before ascending the gallows, the clergyman told the people that Meany felt sorry for having accused his prosecutor as he did in the Courthouse, that he willingly forgave all men and begged the prayers of all Christians” (Waterford Mail, Wed. 13 Aug. 1834).
The Wake & Burial of Patrick Meany
After having been suspended for some time, the body was taken away in an ass’s car by the family of the criminal, but it was afterwards removed to the Police Station at Rosbercon, to be conveyed back to Kilkenny (Waterford Mail, Wed. 13 Aug. 1834).
The body of Patrick Meany was waked on the night of his execution in the Rosbercon police barracks. His friends were admitted, and the body was interred the next day by the family, in the presence of the police (Waterford Mail, Mon. 18 Aug. 1834).
Generally, by the 19th century executions were public and carried out in front of gaols, and after 1868 executions were required to be held within the confines of the gaols. The corpse of an executed prisoner belonged to the State. Most were buried within the confines of the gaol in an unmarked grave in un-consecrated ground. From the time of Henry VIII authorities provided fresh executed prisoner corpses to doctors for training new doctors in anatomy. Due to religious and other beliefs families sought the bodies of their executed kin. The Meany family is the only family we have found so far that was allowed to wake and bury their father after his execution.
Thirteen years’ later convicted murderer Henry “Bounce” Walsh of Cat’s Rock, Glenmore asked the judge to give his body to his father and the request was refused. See our post of 16 August 2020 regarding the execution of Henry “Bounce” Walsh.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Photo Album 5.0
Today, we are featuring a winter photo Danny Dowling (1927-2021) took at the top of “the Churns” at its intersection with the “New Line” or Main Road from Waterford to New Ross, currently called the N25.
We believe the photo was taken in the winter of 1963 and snow is visible. The van was owned by Clover Meats. Clover Meats was an important local employer at that time. The driver was a Forristal, but his first name is not known.
Can you identify any of the people in the photo?
Special thanks to Martin Gahan for sharing this photo he received from Danny.
If you would like to view previous posts from Danny’s Photo Album see our,
Post of 4 May 2022;
Post of 10 May 2022;
Post of 24 May 2022;
Post of 9 June 2022.
If you have any photos of Glenmore or Glenmore people you would like to share please send them to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
From Danny’s Files: Glenmore Criminal Injuries Claims 1924
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) copied a large number of newspaper articles into small notebooks. Today we are going to feature an article Danny copied regarding property claims heard in December 1924 involving two Glenmore residents and a New Ross man who tracked his stolen automobile to Glenmore.
The Damage to Property (Compensation) Act 1923
The Damage to Property (Compensation) Act 1923 applied to “injuries” to property committed on or before the 11th day of July 1921. Section 8 excluded Railway companies from applying for compensation. This was probably due to the extensive damage inflicted on the railways during the War of Independence and subsequent Civil War.
Section 7 excluded losses for (i) watches, jewellery or articles of personal ornament kept by the owner otherwise than as part of his stock in trade; (ii) Coins, bank or Government notes or currency of any country; (iii) postage or other adhesive stamps and (iv) postal orders or post office money orders. In other words the things of value most often stolen were not covered.
Section 9 excluded applicants who “connived, assisted in or actively facilitated” the injury. Section 9 also excluded applicants who associated or “were in league” with the person(s) who committed the injury or the applicant was “a member or helper of or active sympathiser with any organisation engaged in armed opposition to the late Provisional Government of Ireland or the Government of Saorstát Eireann.
The Glenmore Related Claims
The Kilkenny People (6 Dec. 1924, p. 9) published a long list of claims heard in Kilkenny by Judge Scally or Sealy. (The name is spelled differently in each article.) The actual wording of the article is in italics.
Claim by Patrick Hanrahan of Robinstown, Glenmore
Patrick Hanrahan, Glenmore, claimed £36 5s for goods taken. Capt. W.A. Redmond, BL, T.D. (instructed by Mr. Kelly, solicitor, New Ross), for applicant. James Hanrahan, brother of the applicant, gave evidence as to the goods being taken by armed Irregulars. Judge Scally reported for £24 6s. Captain William Archer Redmond (1886-1932) was the only son of John Redmond (1856-1918). For information concerning Glenmore support for John Redmond see our post of 4 January 2020.
Claim by Thomas Mullins of Flemingstown, Glenmore
Thomas Mullins claimed £7 17s. 6d. for clothes taken. Same counsel was engaged. Applicant Mullins stated the clothes were taken by armed Irregulars. Judge Scaly said he would report for £5.
Claim by Charles Kavanagh of New Ross
Charles Kavanagh, New Ross, claimed £608 for a motor car. Mr. Matheson, BL (instructed by Mr. Kelly, solicitor) for the applicant. Applicant’s motor driver stated he drove the car with passengers to Kilkenny Feis in 1921. When he went to the yard where he left the car, it was gone and a note was left saying, “Taken by the I.R.A.” The Kilkenny Feis of 1921 was held on Sunday the 9th of October( New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 Oct. 1921, 4). We could not locate any newspaper article regarding the car being taken in Kilkenny in October 1921.
Witness got to know that the car was in Glenmore and he went there and saw the car with the I.R.A. He asked for the return of the car but this was refused.
Applicant stated that the motor car was used by the I.R.A. to drive around a commandant named McDonald, who afterwards became an Irregular. Witness had not got back the car. The Judge reported for £50 for the car; £5 for two overcoats; and £2 for a rug taken away with the car.
There was no McDonald listed in the volunteers of the Glenmore Old IRA see our list including ranks and dates of service.
Appeals
The Kilkenny People (Sat. 27 Dec. 1924, p. 5) reported that the state appealed two of Judge Sealy’s (sic) judgments at the recent special sitting of the criminal injury to property. The State was relying on Section 9 of the Act which barred people who gave active assistance to the enemies of the duly constituted Government from any right to compensation to which they would otherwise be entitled. None of the cases above were reported as appealed.
The newspaper concluded with “it is only fair to say that Mr. Justice Sealy patiently investigated the circumstances of the cases, and his judgments in both cases seemed to be models of fairness, common sense and judicial impartiality.”
The Glenmore Claimants
Patrick Hanrahan (1886-1957) was the eldest child of Michael Hanrahan (1848 -1898) (farmer) of Powerswood, Thomastown and his wife, Hanoria Mullins (1854-1902) of Gaulstown, Glenmore. Patrick was born in Gaulestown, Glenmore. The family moved to Waterford City where they ran a business. Tragedy struck when the parents both died leaving their young sons orphaned. For information on the orphaned Hanrahan Brothers see our post of 6 Dec. 2020.
Patrick Hanrahan (1886-1957) (shop keeper) of Robintown, Glenmore married Mary Duggan of Flemingtown, Glenmore on 12 February 1924. Thus the couple were married 10 months before his claim was heard. For further information on Pat Hanrahan during the War of Independence see our post of 20 June 2021.
Thomas Mullins (1873-1936) of Flemingstown was the son of John Mullins and Mary Mullins née McDonald. Thomas Mullins married Mary Mullins née Walsh (1873 -1948) of Davidstown on 2 March 1897. Mary was the daughter of Patrick Walsh and his wife Margaret “Peggy” Walsh née Kennedy. Thomas Mullin’s funeral in 1936 was the last horse drawn funeral in Glenmore according to Danny Dowling. An inquest was held on 22 August 1936 where his death from a gunshot was ruled an accident.
Charles Kavanagh (b. 1890) of New Ross
There were two men named Charles Kavanagh living in New Ross in 1924 per a newspaper search. One was a Civil Guard and the other was a publican/undertaker. We do not believe that the claimant was a Civil Guard.
On the 15th of September 1922, Charles J. Kavanagh of Cross Lane, New Ross, applied to have a liquor license transferred from Mary Anne Kavanagh to himself (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Sept. 1922, p. 1). The 1911 Census shows only one Charles Kavanagh in New Ross. He is 21 and a grocer’s assistant living with his 48 year old widowed mother, Mary Anne Kavanagh, publican and grocer. Interestingly, a boarder in the house is Austin A. Butler, aged 22, a newspaper reporter.
In 1913 Charles Kavanagh began an undertaking business at “Kelly’s (old posting establishment) Cross Lane, New Ross” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 June 1913, p. 7). In searching for a birth record we found a Charles Kavanagh, born 25 March 1890 at Balynamcont (?), Wexford to James Kavanagh (farmer) and his wife Marianne Butler.
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
The photo of Capt. W.A. Redmond (1886-1932) is courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, part of the First World War Portrait Collection, Catalogue number: HU 124788. The featured photo above is the Kilkenny Courthouse.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Trial for the Killing of Catherine Hanrahan (c. 1798-1822) of Rochestown,Glenmore
On 6 November 2022 we published newspaper accounts of the manslaughter of Catherine Hanrahan in July 1822 at her home in Rochestown, Glenmore. While transcribing another Danny Dowling (1927-2021) notebook we discovered that Danny recorded articles from the Waterford Mirror that outline the testimony presented during the murder trial. These newspaper accounts provide more detail including the testimony of the landlord Pierse Edward Forristal, Esq. and conflicting testimony of other witnesses. It appears that the testimony of Pierse Edward Forristal, Esq. influenced the jury that only considered the case for a few minutes before returning its manslaughter verdict.
The Arrest
Danny recorded the following from the Waterford Mirror (Sat. 20 Aug. 1822). Thomas Marks was charged with the murder of Catherine Hanrahan, at Rochesstown, in Co. Kilkenny. Thomas Marks was taken without resistance at a house in Kilmacthomas. Marks when arrested stated that he was on his way to surrender. He was transmitted to the County Kilkenny gaol.
The Waterford Mail on Wednesday the 14th of August 1822 provided an account of day three of the Kilkenny Assizes. In this account Thomas Marks was indicted for the murder of Catherine Hanrahan and the assault of Luke Power “by presenting a pistol at him.” Hereafter Marks is described as the prisoner.
The Testimony of Luke Power
Luke Power was sworn and testified. Unfortunately, the newspaper account does not provide his relationship, if any, to the deceased Catherine Hanrahan née Power, his occupation or residence. Later in defence testimony it appears that Luke and Thomas Power are brothers. Luke Power testified that he knows Rochestown and was there the Monday after the fair of Thomastown. He knows Thomas Power who lives at Rochestown. On that Monday, very early in the morning, he saw the prisoner at Rochestown.
Luke Power testified that the dog barked at the prisoner. Luke Power got up and asked who was there. The prisoner responded that he was distraining for Mr. Forristal. Luke Power testified that the prisoner was armed. Witness shut the door and would not let the prisoner in. Luke Power then went down to where the cows were and saw three bailiffs there, but the prisoner was not with them.
Luke Power heard a shot and returned to the house and saw Catherine Hanrahan “kilt” on the floor. She died six days after being shot. Luke Power went out to the road where some of the neighbours were gathered. The prisoner said “here’s the man was going to kill me,” and cocked his pistol at Luke Power. It was an hour before sunrise when the prisoner came with six men.
Cross-Examination of Luke Power
Luke Power testified that Mr. Forristal was his landlord. He stated that he paid some rent to Mr. Sherlock and owed Mr. Forristal one hundred pounds “or that way rent.” His brother was his partner in the land. He first saw the prisoner and his assistants in the yard, it was not then 3 o’clock.
Sherlock distrained Luke Power four weeks earlier, but he did not think there was a reason at that time. He did testify that a horse had been taken away to the bog at that time. The prisoner distrained Luke Power before for Mr. Forristal, but could not say how long before. At the time the shot was fired Luke Power was four or five fields away and had not walked a step with the prisoner that morning.
The Testimony of Alicia Power of Rochestown, Glenmore
Alicia Power testified that she was the daughter of Thomas Power and the sister of the deceased Catherine Hanrahan. She remembered people coming to her father’s on the first of July last before sunrise. She saw the prisoner there. She testified that her sister was driving pigs out of the bawn. The prisoner desired that her sister leave them there. When she refused Alicia Power testified that the prisoner ran over and caught her sister by the neck and “squeezed her.” Her neck was cut by his “iron hand.”
Alicia Power stated that she could hear “all that occurred” between the deceased and the prisoner. The prisoner said, “Come leave the pigs there.” Deceased answered, “How do you know who owns them?” Prisoner then struck the deceased and was choking her. Prisoner lifted his foot on a stone and saying, “by G-d I’ll shoot you,” and then fired his pistol. Deceased was then running away and was shot 6 yards from the prisoner. She fell at the door, the ball entered her back. There was another man there minding the pigs where the deceased left them.
Her sister was “shot on Monday morning and died the Sunday following.”
Cross Examination of Alicia Power of Rochestown, Glenmore
Alicia Powers was driving the pigs with her sister the deceased. “They had been in the cabin and were driving them out of the bawn.” Deceased had a stick in her hand. She usually brought a stick to drive the pigs. The deceased did not strike the prisoner and Alicia Power never saw a stone in the deceased’s hand. Alicia Power testified that she never saw the prisoner fall or see any stone thrown at him. She testified that the deceased could not have thrown a stone without her seeing it. Alicia Power was at the prisoner’s side when he fired.
Alicia Power said that the prisoner had only one pistol. She saw Luke Power come up. But never saw the prisoner “present a pistol at him.” Alicia Power swore information against prisoner before Mr. Snow. She did not swear against any other person except the prisoner. She did not hear the deceased, or any other person calling out, “kill the black protestant,” and firmly stated that she did not say it either.
Examined by the Bench—Alicia Power clarified to the judge that the prisoner had six or seven men in his party, one of whom was present when the shot was fired. Bridget Cashin was present but no boys or men. They were down on the land where the cows were.
The Testimony of Bridget Cashin
Bridget Cashin was present when Catherine Hanrahan was shot. She saw the prisoner that morning and saw him fire a shot at Catherine Hanrahan. The deceased was Bridget Cashin’s cousin. She observed the deceased driving the pigs out of the bawn. Only her sister was with the deceased. None of the men of the house were present. She testified that the prisoner had two men with him. She denied that the deceased struck the prisoner or threw stones at him. “He cursed G-d, he would fire at her in a minute.”
Bridget Cashin testified that the prisoner caught the deceased by her neck and choked her. The prisoner laid the pistol on his left knee and fired. The deceased walked four steps and fell. “She did not get up since.” Deceased was 24 years of age, was married 2.5 years, and had one child. Interestingly the Waterford newspaper did not acknowledge that the deceased was pregnant when she was shot in the back.
Cross Examination of Bridget Cashin
Bridget Cashin could not identify the two men with the prisoner. The house was distrained for Mr. Forristal’s rent, but she could not say whether the men were “keepers.” Deceased refused to leave the pigs and was driving them away. The deceased said she would drive them in spite of the prisoner. Bridget Cashin stated that she did not say anything, and the deceased did not say “kill the bloody or the black protestant.” She did not see Luke Power come up. She went to Mr. Snow’s and swore information about six days after “the business occurred.”
The Testimony of Dr. John Briscoe of Waterford
Dr. Briscoe testified that he attended Catherine Hanrahan at Rochestown on the second of July. She had received a gunshot wound in the lower part of the back “of which she afterwards died.”
Cross Examination of Dr. John Briscoe
The wound was horizontal in the lower part of the spine on the right side near the hip. The doctor did not see a mark of bruises or a cut on the deceased’s neck.
The Crown rested and the defence began.
The Testimony of William Cooney
William Cooney testified that he knew the prisoner and went with him to Rochestown on the first of July to distrain for Mr. Forristal. The distraining party consisted of: Thoman and John Marks; William and Richard Jeffers; —Lonergan and himself. They first went to the fields where they collected three horses and some cows. Three men were left in the field to guard the animals. Prisoner then brought Lonergan and William Cooney to the house and told them to take charge of all the property there both inside and outside. He testified that they never entered the house. The pigs were seized in the lane. Prisoner brought William Cooney down towards the fields and they met Luke Power and his brother Thomas.
Prisoner advised the Powers to get bail to release the cattle. Thomas Power had a wattle and struck at Lonergan. The blow was prevented by Luke Power. Prisoner went down to Mr. Forristal’s which was about a field away. Lonergan and Cooney were left in charge of the house. Whilst prisoner was away the two Powers and a woman (not the deceased) pushed Lonergan out of the yard. Lonergan left to tell the prisoner. Cooney was alone and went out onto the road.
Power’s two daughters and another girl were driving the pigs out of the bawn. Deceased had a wattle in her hand. When Lonergan returned one of the girls said, “Mr. Forristal knew nothing of the pigs and for God’s sake let them go.” Lonergan and Cooney refused and the deceased then said, “she would have them (the pigs) or she would knock one of their brains out sideways with the wattle.”
Cooney testified that the wattle was heavy and two and a half yards in length. Prisoner returned and upon hearing the deceased told her, “for God’s sake go in and be quiet and all will be well.” Cooney stated that deceased advanced toward prisoner and said, “you black protestant are you come again to rob us?” She made a blow of the wattle at him. She said the words in Irish. Prisoner gave the deceased a shove and said, “go in God’s name and don’t be aggravating me.”
The deceased raised the wattle and struck the prisoner two or three times. She called out for someone to come “knock the black protestant’s brains out.” The deceased then took up a stone according to Cooney and struck the prisoner in the knee. The other two women were running with stones in their hands. Cooney and Lonergan went between the women and the prisoner. Cooney saw and heard the shot fired. The deceased when shot was stooping for a stone.
The prisoner when he fired was down, “having dropped down sideways when hit on the knee with the stone.” The prisoner was not flat on the ground. He was supported by his elbow. A quarter of an hour later Luke Power came up. The prisoner only had one pistol and it was re-loaded. Luke Power was very angry and was according to Coney going to injure them if he could. Luke Power called the prisoner a “bloody rogue” and “all of them robbers.”
Cross Examination of William Cooney
Cooney was asked to repeat what the deceased had said in Irish and he did. No men of the Power family were present from the time the pigs were driven out first until after the shot was fired. Cooney admitted that he and Lonergan had sticks, but were not otherwise armed. He continued to assert that the three women were very violent, but admitted that the three men could have defended themselves without a shot.
It was daylight when they came on the ground. They left Waterford at 11 o’clock at night. They stopped at Mackey’s on the way and too refreshment. They remained at Mackey’s until “clear daylight.” Cooney described Mackey’s as 4 or 5 miles from Rochestown. Deceased had not run from the prisoner she was sideways, stooping for a stone, about 6 or 8 yards from prisoner.
When the prisoner fell his pistol went off. Cooney stated that the prisoner had not aimed at the deceased. Cooney stated his belief that the prisoner did not intend to fire at the deceased or to pull the trigger. About an hour after the shooting the prisoner said that the pistol went off by accident. Although Cooney stated that the prisoner’s life was in danger, if Cooney was in the same situation he would not have fired at the deceased. Cooney could not say how the pistol went off.
Dr. Briscoe Recalled
Dr. Briscoe was asked about the wound. He testified that it was horizontal. He stated that if the deceased was stooping he could not conceive how she received such a wound unless she and the shooter were both kneeling. Thus Dr. Briscoe did not find injuries on the deceased’s neck and ruled out that the deceased was stooping when shot.
The Testimony of Pierse Edward Forristal, Esq. of Rochestown, Glenmore
“Recollected the morning when this transaction happened.” He saw the prisoner 6 or 8 minutes after the shooting. Prisoner was distraining for Forristal and had frequently before acted as bailiff on his lands. He had distrained them a short time before. The prisoner had “always behaved himself well, and if he had a bad character, he would not have employed him.” Forristal stated that the prisoner is a pensioner and lost his hand “on service.” He went on to testify that the prisoner “frequently interfered” with Forristal in favour of the tenants by always speaking kindly of them and “procured time for them.”
Cross Examination of Pierse Edward Forristal, Esq.
Forristal testified that he sent for the prisoner to act as bailiff and bring 5 men with him. He also instructed that they should be very early on the land “as the Powers had removed their cattle on a former occasion.” Prisoner called to Forristal about 3 o’clock in the morning and told Forristal he had affected the distress. Forristal ordered his horse to be got ready. Jeffers arrived and said that the Powers had taken away horses and cows. The prisoner returned to Power’s. When Forristal arrived he learned of the shooting.
Forristal asked the prisoner why he fired. Prisoner responded that “he’d rather he had wounded himself than the girl.” Forristal testified that Tom Power said to the prisoner, “you have murdered my daughter.” The prisoner replied, “I did not intend to shoot her, but if I did it was her own fault.” The prisoner then unbuttoned the knee of his breeches and showed a large mark on his knee saying, “See Mr. Forristal, how I have been used.” [Of course he could have injured his knee at any time stumbling around in the dark after leaving Mackey’s where they had “refreshments.”]
The prisoner did not tell Mr. Forristal that the pistol went off by accident and Forristal never heard that it did.
The last witness called was Rev. Francis Reynett who testified that he knew the prisoner for about 18 years. He considered him a well conducted man and never heard anything against his character.
Jury Decision
The Lord Chief Justice charged the jury and they retired, “and in a few minutes they returned with a verdict, acquitting the prisoner of murder, but finding him guilty of manslaughter. They also acquitted the prisoner of presenting the pistol at Luke Power.”
The Chief justice sentenced the prisoner to be burned on the hand and imprisoned for 6 months.
What Happened to the Power Family of Rochestown, Glenmore?
We know that no one by the name of Power or Hanrahan were listed as tenants in Rochestown in the 1829 Tithe Lists. We are currently searching Prof. Mannion’s Newfoundland records of Irish emigrants 1750 to 1850 because several Rochestown families moved there in the early 19th century.
UPDATE–28 June 2026–The one armed killer, Thomas Marks a few years after escaping the noose committed another violent assault. “Committed to the City Gaol, by the Right Worshipful the Mayor, Thomas Marks, a man who has lost a hand and replaced it with an Iron substitute, and who is now charged with having violently assaulted and struck with his iron hand a man called Peter Power (Waterford Mirror, Mon. 10 May 1824, p. 3).
For some information on Rochestown see our post of 3 December 2023.
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Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh