Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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A Glenmore Landlord: Dr. Mackesy [Updated]
We are teaming up with Glenmore Tidy Towns to develop small informational signs for historical buildings/areas around Glenmore parish. One of the buildings identified for a sign is the coach house. From Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) notebooks we know that the coach house was owned by the landlord of Graiguenakill and Cappagh, Dr. Mackesy who lived at 22 Lady Lane, Waterford. However, there were several Dr, Mackesy’s who were related and resided on Lady Lane in Waterford.
We know that 13 houses were built on both sides of the Village Stream by “Dr. Mackesy” circa 1855. It is not known when the coach house was constructed. We could find no contemporary newspaper articles regarding the building of the houses in Glenmore Village. However, we did find an interesting letter to the editor in the Waterford News & Star (Fri. 30 June 1854, p. 4) concerning some political issue or appointment at that time. “We find Dr. Mackesy and his party going to Glenmore, on a shocking wet day that would drown an alligator…not of course to vote against Dr. Denn, but to vote for a highly accomplished and qualified young gentleman.” Unfortunately the first name of the doctor is not printed.
Going back to Griffith’s Valuation (1833) it was recorded that George Toie/Ivie(?) of Waterford was the landlord of Cappagh. Sir John Gahan was the landlord of Graiguenakill. Thus, “Dr. Mackesy” obtained the townlands sometime after Griffith’s Valuation.
The First Mackesy Landlord of Glenmore
There are two Dr. Mackesy’s who were alive in the 1850’s and could have been the first of a line of Dr. Mackesy’s who were landlords in Glenmore. The two men were father and son. The father was Dr. Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790-1869). The son was Dr. Joseph Poulter Mackessy (1815-1866).
Dr. Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790-1869)
Thomas Lewis Mackesy was born in Waterford to an apothecary [chemist/pharmacist]. It is believed that his father was William Mackesy who had his shop at 4 the Mall. Thomas apprenticed under his father, then in 1809 successfully took the London College of Surgeons. Thomas trained as an assistant surgeon before joining the Royal Artillery. In some accounts of his life it is alleged that he was at the Battle of Waterloo. After approximately 7 years he returned to Waterford and became the surgeon for the Fanning Hospital and Leper Hospital. He married his first wife Mary Poulter (1777–1818) in 1813. She was 13 years older than Thomas.
Dr. Thomas L. Mackesy became interested in civic life. In 1826 he became a Freeman of Waterford City, served as a Poor Law Guardian, a Magistrate and became Mayor in 1841/2. Although other Presidents of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland were from outside Dublin, Dr. Thomas L. Mackesy, in 1862, was the first President who practiced outside of Dublin. For further information concerning his military and medical work that includes his photo see, Journal of Medical Biography (2025) “Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790-1869): Eminent Surgeon of Waterford.” In 2018, the Waterford Civic Trust placed a blue plaque at 22 Lady Lane to honour him. For further details see, The Irish Times .
Landlord of Dunkitt
Dunkitt is located about 12 kilometres southwest of Glenmore near Grannagh on the old Waterford to Limerick railway line. Dr. T.L. Mackesy was one of a group of three who owned 79 acres. The other two owners was Joseph Poulter Budd, Esq. [assumed to be nephew] and Rev. William Mackesy [his son].
In September 1850 newspapers across the country reported that “Dr. T. L. Mackesy has, within the last few days, given all his tenants on his Dunkitt estate clear receipts up to the 1st of May last, wiping off all arrears, some of his tenants owing upwards of sixty pounds—Waterford Mail (Cork Examiner, Fri. 27 Sept. 1850, p. 2).
Then in 1855, T.L. Mackesy, Esq., Joseph Poulter Budd, Esq. and the Rev. William Mackesy as owners of a 79 acre estate in Dunkitt petitioned for partition. The solicitor for the Mackesy’s was Henry V. Mackesy, Esq. of 126 Grafton St. Dublin and Waterford (Waterford Mail, Sat. 6 Oct. 1855, p. 7). Henry Vincent Mackesy (c. 1826–1889) was from Dr. Thomas L. Mackesy’s second marriage.
In 1864 the Dublin Evening Mail. (Mon. 4 Jan. 1864, p. 2) reported that His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant presented the Rev. William P. Mackesy, A.M. , eldest son of Dr. Thomas Lewis Mackesy, of Waterford, to the living of Dunkitt, in the diocese of Ossory, vacated by the death of the late Rev. Patrick Rennie with a value of £450 per annum. The Waterford Mirror (Wed. 6 Jan. 1864, p. 2) gave further details. The Reverand’s father, Alderman Mackesy, recently held the honourable position of President of the College of Surgeons, and his brother, Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy, inherited the extensive estates of the Poulter family. Rev. Mackesy’s “appointment to this incumbency must be most gratifying to the family generally.”
Notwithstanding Dr. T.L. Mackesy’s long list of achievements and ownership of lands in Dunkitt there is nothing found in his obituary or other sources to suggest that he was a landlord in Glenmore.
Dr. Joseph Poulter Mackesy (1815-1866)
Joseph was the eldest child of T.L. Mackesy and his first wife Mary Poulter. We did find a published link to Joseph who was also a doctor holding land in Glenmore. For example, in 1863 it was reported in the Dublin Daily Express identified that Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy, Esq. was the landlord of the Ballyverneen or Pink Rock weir. For further details see our post of 18 July 2020. It is not clear if Dr. Joseph Poulter Mackesy acquired lands in Glenmore as part of the Poulter family estates he inherited or whether some of the land was part of his wife’s dowry or more likely an inheritance.
In 1843, Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy married Frances Rosetta Ivie (1816-1891), the daughter of George Ivie, Esq. a Waterford solicitor. The couple had four children, two sons and two daughters. Both daughters died in April 1860 (Waterford News, Fri. 6 April 1860, p. 3). Below is Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy’s obituary which provides details concerning his injury, medical care and death.
Death of Joseph P. Mackesy, Esq, M.D. (The Waterford News, Fri. 6 April 1866, p. 3).
Seldom has it fallen to our lot as journalists to record an event so unexpected, and producing in its train feelings of deeper regret and commiseration, then the demise of Dr. Joseph Poulter, Mackesy, son of Dr. T.L. Mackesy, J.P., which sad event occurred on Tuesday afternoon, whilst he was yet unmissed by any in that community, to almost every one of who he was well known by his personal appearance, kind disposition, and affable demeanour. The few facts which immediately preceded the termination of his useful earthly career, at the age of 51 years, when he appeared only entering late the zenith of his profession, are as follow:–On Monday night, the lamented gentleman having paid his customary evening visit to his father, retired to rest apparently in his usual good health, but had been only one hour asleep when he awoke with a suffusion about the chest, and otherwise feeling so ill that he deemed it advisable to send for his father, who immediately applied the usual remedies in such cases.
The deceased gentleman continued in almost the same state until about ten o’clock on the fatal morning, at which hour a consultation and an examination took place between Dr. W. Carroll and Dr. T.L. Mackesy, when for the first time it became apparent that the deceased was suffering from disease of the heart, but no immediate termination of life was anticipated. He was visited by his uncle, Dr. John Mackesy, and other medical gentlemen, and continued in an unaltered state sitting at a fire in his bedroom until about half past two o’clock, when no one being present but Mrs. J.P. Mackesy, and whilst making some trifling exertion about his toilette, he suddenly dropped upon the hearth rug.
Dr. Carroll, who resides next door, and happened to be within at the moment, was almost instantly upon the spot, but found medical aid of no avail. He applied water to his face, which had the effect of producing the last sigh from his apparently motionless body, and thus the spirit fled from earth.
The immediate cause of Dr. Mackesy’s decease is ascertained to have been disease of the heart which, however, never developed itself until this fatal attack, owing possibly to the even tenor of his life, but was probably Accelerated by unusual exertion which he subjected himself to on the previous day in rendering assistance with his coachman to a horse which had fallen under his carriage, whilst paying a visit to the country. A post mortem examination on yesterday by several medical gentlemen of this city, revealed the facts that the heart of deceased was of usual size but of a very fatty nature, and that death had been caused, by the rupture of the left ventricle, and coating of which, to the extent of about one square inch, had been tenuated (sic) to the finest degree.
When the sad intelligence was first announced, It seemed to be credited by few only, but when the dread reality could no longer be doubted, it cast a gloom over the entire city and brought forth many a tear from the eyes of the poor who knew him well, as their benefactor in the hour of sickness, when either in his capacity as physician and surgeon to that valuable institution, the Leper Hospital, or as the private practitioner, he freely administered to them medical advice; or if the case were beyond his reach, the courteous, kind-hearted manner in which he reluctantly set aside the suppliant, was more calculated to create a feeling of love and veneration than relentlessness or ill will. As a physician and surgeon of about 26 years’ practice in this neighbourhood, he had been successful, and enjoyed a very large practice, from which he derived a handsome income.
To the whole population, it may be said, he was personally known, and by his affability and urbanity he was esteemed and respected by all who enjoyed his acquaintance, and who now deplore his sad and unexpected demise. Dr. Mackesy, apart from his large income from his practice, was possessed of considerable landed property and securities, and died a wealthy man.
He was married to a daughter of the late George Ivey, Esq. a well known solicitor in this city, by whom he had four children—two sons and two daughter—of whom the sons alone survive. One of these young gentlemen has nearly completed his studies for the medical profession, but has, by the will of Providence, been thus bereft of the sure guide in the paths of the profession, in which his father attained so high a standard. [His two daughters died in April 1860, Waterford News, Fri. 6 April 1860, p. 3.]
Much genuine sympathy is felt for his afflicted family, as also his respected father, in their sad bereavement, which again should bring to the mind of all alike—the rich, the poor, the sick man and the robust constitution—the wisdom of remembering the words of solemn caution contained in Holy Writ, that “in the midst of life we are in death.” The remains of deceased will be conveyed from Lady Lane at ten o’clock tomorrow (Saturday) morning, for interment in the family burial ground at Dunkitt, County Kilkenny.
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The citation for the Journal of Medical Biography article on Dr. T.L. Mackesy, see, van Riel-Jameson R, Cooper M., “Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790–1869): Eminent Surgeon of Waterford”, Journal of Medical Biography (2025) doi:10.1177/09677720241311205.
Special thanks to Veronica who forwarded information on the Dr. T.L. Mackesy as well as other Mackesy’s in 2021 and provided updates in 2025..
The featured photo above is the blue plaque placed on 22 Lady Lane, Waterford commemorating Dr. Thomas L. Mackesy (1790-1869). A portrait of his son, Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy is hanging in the Waterford City and County Offices, and we hope to add a photo of the painting to this post.
[Updated 15 April 2025–the bust of Dr. J.P. Mackesy was originally in the entrance to the Infirmary and now is found in University Hospital Waterford.]
Please send any corrections or additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
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