Glenmore Co. Kilkenny
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From Danny’s Files: Interview of Tom Jones (1905-1978) of Glenmore Village
On the 27th of March 1971, Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Tom Jones (1905-1978) of Glenmore Village. The interview is only three paragraphs, but it does appear to answer the question of when the stream that once was the border between the townlands of Graiguenakill and Robinstown was altered in the Village.
Tom Jones’s Parents and Maternal Grandparents
Tom’s parents were George Jones (c. 1866-1945) and Bridget Murphy (1870-1945). Tom’s parents died within two months of each other. Tom’s maternal grandmother was Mrs. Mary Murphy (b.c. 1831) of Moulerstown. His maternal grandfather was Patrick Murphy (c. 1835-1912). According to Tom his grandmother’s maiden name was Rigby. She was born near Cat’s Rock, Glenmore. She worked on the building of the road from Glenmore to Tom Connolly’s. It is assumed that this referred to Tom Connolly, of the Mile Post. In any event, Mary was paid 2d per day for her work on the road.
Tom believed that his grandmother may have been married twice. He thought her first husband was Laurence Hartley’s father. A review of parish records provides that Laurence Hartley was born in 1901 to Laurence Hartley and Mary Murphy. The couple were married in 1888 in Rosbercon. This Mary Murphy was the daughter of James Murphy. Tom’s grandparents were married in 1869. However, it was his grandfather, Patrick Murphy, who was married twice not his grandmother.
According to Tom his grandparents met when Mary Rigby went on “binding operations down in his country” which he referred to as Iverk. On 30 September 1869, at Slieverue, Mary Rigby of Molarstown (sic) married Patrick Murphy (c.1838-1912) (widower) of Ballynooney East (Mullinavat?). Their fathers were recorded as Laurence Rigby (deceased farm labourer) and James Murphy (farm labourer).
1911 Census
Two children were born to this union. Tom’s mother, Bridget Murphy, was born in 1870 and his uncle, Jack Murphy, was born in 1872. In the 1911 Census, Mary Murphy née Rigby stated that she was 80 and her husband Patrick Murphy reported he was 76. The couple resided in Moulerstown, and their son Jack (aged 38) and his growing family lived next door.
The Death of Patrick Murphy in Glenmore Village
Tom stated in his interview that his grandfather, Pat Murphy was over 80 when he died. He was at the Jones house in the Village “when he got bad in Dunnes Workshop, Cappagh on a Good Friday. The same day a bridge was being built in the Village.” Mick Walsh, of the “Masonry Walsh’s,” [of Haggard] was on the building of the bridge. When Pat Murphy died he discontinued the work for the day. A death cert was located for Patrick Murphy. He died on 5 April 1912 of aortic regurgitation. His daughter Bridget Jones was present when he died. In 1912, Good Friday did fall on 5 April. Tom was only 7 years old when his grandfather died.
Moving the Stream in Glenmore Village
In his interview notes Danny wrote, “Before that time the water ran down in front of our house in the Village.” We believe that the stream that ran from the Creamery down into the Village ran in front of Danny’s house and was re-routed to meet the stream coming from Mullinahone at what is now the pub side of the bridge. There are two upstream arches visible from the Coach House. One is for the Mullinahone stream that once powered Gaffney’s Mill and the other is for the stream that flows from the Creamery down under the Vee Road, through what was Fluskey’s field behind Hanrahan’s, under Barry Jones’s drive, out next to the late Marita Cummings home and under the road where the Robinstown Road meets the Churns Road.
Tom also explained that the Dunne’s Workshop was for carpenters and it was located in an old house that once stood in Patsy Ryan’s yard [near where Pauline Power now lives].
See our post of 23 May 2020 regarding the pollution of the Village pumps within 2 decades.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Culliton Brothers of Niagara Falls, N.Y. & Natives of Kilbride, Glenmore
While researching a shipwreck an obituary from a New York newspaper revealed two Glenmore brothers who emigrated to Niagara Falls, New York in the late 1860’s. The name Culleton was long associated with Kilbride, Glenmore although sadly it has become “extinct” in the townland as Danny Dowling (1927-2021) would have said. What Danny meant was that the name was no longer present although there are descendants present. We have found several different spellings of the name Culleton/Culliton/Coleton etc.
In Kilbride there were two Culleton families. Perhaps the families had nicknames to distinguish them. If you are aware of how locals distinguished the two Culleton families please comment below. The oldest located Culleton baptismal parish records reflect two families in Kilbride. Michael Culleton, of Kilbride, was baptized 27 July 1777, the son of Michael Culleton and his wife Eleanor Grant. Eleven years later another Michael Culleton was baptized in Kilbride on 13 January 1788, the son of James Culleton and his wife Mary Haberlin. James Colleton (sic) and Mary Haberlin of Glinmore (sic) were married at Slieverue on 17 April 1784.
Michael Culliton (1843-1907) Native of Kilbride, Glenmore
The obituary that revealed the Glenmore brothers was published in the Niagara Falls News (11 Feb. 1907, p. 1).
Michael Culleton—The death of Michael Culleton, which occurred at the family home, No. 1517 South Avenue, at 2:10 o’clock this morning, removes a highly respected citizen of this city. He was born at Glenmore, Kilkenny County, Ireland, August 10, 1843. He came to this country in 1869, and to Niagara Falls in 1873. He was for many years in the employ of the Erie railroad as a baggageman at Suspension Bridge. He resigned this position and entered the milk business. He was forced to give this up on account of ill health and sold out to the Niagara Dairy company, in which he was at the time of his death a large stockholder. Mr. Culleton has for many years served as a flagman on the Pine Avenue crossing of the Erie railroad.
Deceased is survived by one brother, James Culleton of Buffalo, four daughters and three sons, all of this city, and his death will also be regretted by a large circle of friends. He was a man of unusual intelligence and estimable character. He was a member of the C.M.B.A. The funeral will be held from the Sacred Heart Church Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock. Interment will be made in St. Mary’s cemetery. [To view Michael’s headstone see, Findagrave.]
It is of interest to note that the first horse ever used by the Niagara Falls fire department was purchased from Mr. Culleton.
From the above obituary it appeared that Michael was a widower. However, an obituary from the Niagara Falls Gazette (11 February 1907) revealed that he was survived by his spouse, but the Gazette made no mention of the horse he sold to the fire department.
“Michael Culliton, a resident of this city for the last 40 years died at his home no. 137 South Avenue this morning. The deceased was 63 years old. Besides his wife he is survived by four daughters Alice, C.; Nellie G.; Margaret W. Culliton and Mrs. Daul (sic) Curry and three sons James V.; Thomas F.; and Edward J. Culliton, all of this city. The deceased was for a long time employed by the Erie railroad but of late had engaged in the milk business.“
The 1900 Census
The 1900 Federal Census provided that Michael Culliton was born in August 1843, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1865. His wife, Anastasia was born in August 1850, and she emigrated in 1870. The couple were married 27 years (c. 1873) and 8 children were born, but only 7 children were alive in 1900. The family lived at 1317 South Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York.
Michael Culliton’s Family
From cemetery markers etc. we were able to glean that Anastasia Culliton’s (1850-1919) maiden name was Costello. The children were: (1) James Culliton (1874-1920); (2) Mary A. Culliton (b. 1876); (3) Thomas Culliton (b. 1878); (4) John J. Culliton (1882-1882); (5) Nellie G. Culliton Albright (1883-1950); (6) Margaret W. Culliton Savage (1884-1964); (7) Edward J. Culliton and (8) Joseph Culliton (b. 1887).
For interesting information concerning, Niagara Falls, New York, see “The Movement to Save Niagara Falls,” (2025) on New York Almanack website.
James Culliton (1847-1927) Native of Kilbride, Glenmore
The Buffalo News (Wed. 10 Aug. 1927, p. 29) published the following obituary which highlighted some important events that occurred in Buffalo while James lived there.
“James Culliton—One of the first Buffalonians who had his residence “north of Cold Spring,” has passed from the neighbourhood which was a wilderness when he went to live there 48 years ago. He is James Culliton, who celebrated his 79th birthday a couple of weeks ago on the same spot, 2977 Main Street, where he first settled in Buffalo in 1879.
Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Mr. Culliton came to America in 1869 at the age of 19. He first located at Niagara Falls, where he was employed for a time by the New York Central. In a few years, he went to work for the Erie railroad, moving to Buffalo where he continued in that Company’s employ for 51 years. [Editor’s note–Buffalo is approximately 20 miles from Niagara Falls, New York.]
Buffalo’s greatest growth has come during the span of close to half a century during which Mr. Culliton lived here. He saw its population more than double and Central Park Region change from an uninhabited area of woods and fields to one of the principal residence sections of the city. President McKinley’s assassination and the public upheaval which followed were all a part of Mr. Culliton’s memories of earlier Buffalo.
Mr. Culliton is survived by four sons and three daughters, all residents of Buffalo. They are: Edward H.; William C.; Richard J.; Joseph E.; and Miss Catherine M. Culliton; Mrs. Hannah Madigan and Mrs. John Brennan. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from Saint Joseph’s Church, 3269 Main Street. Interment will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery. The Rev. Joseph Schemel, pastor of Saint Joseph’s will officiate.” To view James’s headstone see Findagrave.
James was a widower at the time of his death in 1927. His wife, Johanna died in 1918. (The Buffalo Times, Fri 1 Nov. 1918, p. 13).
Mrs. Johanna Culliton—The funeral of Mrs. Johanna Culliton, who died at her late home, No. 2977 Main Street, will be held tomorrow morning at 2 o’clock (sic), from St. Joseph’s Church, Main St. Mrs. Culliton was born in Ireland, and came to this country 40 years ago, residing first at Niagara Falls. She had been a resident of Buffalo for 29 years. She was one of Buffalo’s most respected and esteemed residents and hosts of friends mourn her sudden and unexpected death. She is survived by four sons, William C., Richard, J.; Edward H.; and Joseph Culliton, and three daughters, Mrs. Jeremiah Brennan; Mrs. S.V. Madigan; and Caroline Culliton. Interment will be at St. Mary’s cemetery, Niagara Falls.
Thus, James was buried in Mount Calvary of Buffalo and his wife was buried in St. Mary’s of Niagara Falls, however no grave could be located for Johanna Culliton (c. 1853-1918).
1910 Census
In the 1910 Federal Census, (Buffalo Ward 17) James Culliton was 61 years of age and recorded that he had been married for 40 years. He emigrated in 1870 and was naturalized. His wife was Johanna and she emigrated from Ireland in 1868. They had 10 children and 7 of the children were living at the time of the 1910 census. James worked for a railroad as a section foreman.
James Culliton’s Family
Identifying the children of this family proved difficult because it appears that in different census the children were identified by different names and family members were identified with different dates of birth. For example, in the 1900 Federal Census the father James was reported as being born in September 1850 and his wife Johanna was born in January 1853. In the 1880 Federal Census James was 32 (b.c. 1848) and Johanna was 30 (b.c. 1850). It was recorded that James could not read or write which may explain the different dates given across various records. Known children located in Census and cemetery markers include: (1) James Culliton (b.c. 1871 per 1875 State Census); (2) Mary Culliton (c. 1874) married Jeremiah Brennan in 1902; (3) William C. Culliton (c. 1875-1955); (4) John Culliton (b.c. 1877); (5) Edward H. Culliton (1879-1960); (6) Richard J. Culliton (b.c. 1881); (7) Catherine Culliton (b.c. 1885-1947); (8) Johanna “Anna” Culliton Madigan (b.c. 1886) and (9) E. Joseph Culliton (1886-1935).
The Culleton Families of Kilbride, Glenmore
Michael Culliton (1843-1907) and his brother James Culliton (1843-1927) were baptized respectively at Kilbride, on 11 August 1843, and 9 June 1847, the sons of James Culliton and his wife Mary Murphy. To determine which Kilbride family the brothers belonged we examined headstones for both families as well as parish records.
Family A–Johnny Culleton line
Johnny Culleton (1911-1998) m. Maggie Reid (c. 1918 -2009)
Johnny’s parents: James Culleton (1867 -1962) m. Hannah Grace (c. 1873 -1950)
Johnny’s grandparents: John Culleton (1836-1882) m. Bridget Walsh (c. 1876 -1917)
Johnny’s great-grandparents: James Culleton (c. 1807 -1847) m. Mary Murphy
Thus, Michael Culliton (1843-1907) and James Culliton (1847-1927) were Johnny Culleton’s (1911-1998) great uncles or Johnny’s grandfather John’s brothers.
Family B–Jim Culleton line
Given the names Michael and James it was initially believed that the two brothers were from Jim’s line. We have included this line for completeness. For more information on this line see our post of 26 August 2024 and 8 October 2020 concerning Patrick Culleton (b. 1848) the son of Michael Culleton and his wife Ellen Morrissy.
Jim Culleton (c. 1927-2012 m. Anna Brennan ( c. 1933- 2025)
Jim’s parents: Michael Culleton (1878-1968) m. Alice Hartley (1895-1982)
Jim’s grandparents: James Culleton (1845-1912) m. Margaret O’Connor (c. 1840-1918)
Jim’s great-grandparents: Michael Colleton (sic) m. Ellen Morrissy
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Special thanks to everyone who was contacted today for information including: Michael Roche; Paschal Roche; Mary Doherty née Culleton; Michael Hoynes and Ann O’Rourke.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo of Niagara Falls, New York, is courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “The great cataract of Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.A. [Hand-colored view. 1850-1930]” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/cbe58960-c55c-012f-c5eb-58d385a7bc34
The photo of the tug pulling a ship through ice at Buffalo, New York in May 1869 is courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Tug and vessel in the ice, May 1869.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/cca47580-c553-012f-ee68-58d385a7bc34
Jim B. (1918-1988) of Glenmore Village [Updated]
In 1988, Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Jim Walsh (1918-1988) of Glenmore Village. Locally Jim Walsh was known as Jim B. and worked as a painter. His passion was music. See our post of 7 April 2022 for John Ennett’s clip of Jim B. and others playing in the Glen Bar. Jim B. was interviewed by Danny just a month before his death. Danny wrote that when he called to see Jim B. he was sitting up in a chair in his pyjamas. He was so thin; he was nothing but skin and bones. Although looking very bad Jim B.’s memory was good. His voice was very low.
Below are Danny’s notes entitled “Conversation with Jim Walsh, late of Glenmore Village, in St. Bridget’s Unit in Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford on Monday 22 February 1988″. Information, such as birth and death dates, has been added and most added information has been placed in square brackets [ ].
Danny was the First Baby Jim B. Saw
Jim B. said that Danny was the first baby he ever saw. He was brought down by Liz, his mother, to see Danny’s mother. Jim told Danny that Danny was born in the room over the parlour and that the bed was over by the gable wall. Nellie Doyle (c. 1930-2015) was the next baby he remembers seeing. She was born in the little room off of the kitchen.
[It is assumed that Jim B. was referring to new born babies. Ellen “Nellie” Doyle (c. 1930-2015) was the daughter of Statia Doyle née Cassin (c. 1906-1996). Nellie was born in the Village next to Heffernan’s shop. Nellie married John Sutton (1927-1989), and they lived in Ballyrobin, Ferrybank. They are buried in Glenmore.]
Mill Fire in Glenmore Village
Jim stated that he was 69 years of age, and he remembered the fire in J.K.’s mill in the Village. He said he was about 6 years of age at the time. That would have been about 1925. It took place in the harvest time and during the day.
J.K.’s mill had an “overshot wheel.” Jim said that it was extremely well balanced, and it was quite easily turned.
[We performed a newspaper search and found that the old Gaffney Mill, then owned by James K. Walsh (1891-1934) and his wife, “Lizzy J.K.” Walsh née Heffernan (1884-1955), did catch fire in December 1923. “FIRE AT GLENMORE—On Saturday evening a fire occurred at Glenmore which destroyed a corn mill and corn the property of Mr. James Walsh, a merchant. The machinery was damaged. A number of outhouses surrounding the mill escaped, water from an adjoining pond having been thrown over them (Free Press (Wexford), Sat. 22 Dec. 1923, p; 12).]
Circus Wagon Crash in Glenmore Village in 1941
Jim B. also remembered the day well that the circus waggon carrying the “king pole” went out of control coming down the hill opposite Mary Walsh’s of the chapel. There were two ponies under the waggon and it was driven by two young men. The one from Enniscorthy was killed when it crashed into Fluskey’s gable end. Both the ponies had to be put down. One had his leg severed from his body.
The wheels of the wagon were iron shod, and the brake block broke around Mary Walsh’s. The breaking of the brake block was responsible for the accident. It appeared that the driver had the ponies galloping when they were passing the chapel gate. The circus was to be in the field at the Barracks.
When the circus wagon crashed into Fluskey’s gable, the impact threw all of the tins and jars from shelves. The crash nearly knocked the wall. See our post of 27 June 2020 for further details regarding the circus wagon crash on 4 July 1941.
Jim Brien [Fitzgerald] of Aylwardstown, Glenmore
Jim also remembered Jimmy J.K. Walsh having a charalanc(?). [See our post of 28 Dec. 2019 regarding the first motor cars etc. in Glenmore Parish.]
“Jim Brien” [Fitzgerald] (1896-1979), of Aylwardstown “gave years working in J.K.’s. Jim Brien always wore a cover over one of his eyes. He lost it owing to getting lime in it. The accident happened at J.K.’s.” [“Jim Brien” was married to Mary Murphy, of Moulerstown, Glenmore. The couple lived beside Hoynes in Aylwardstown, and they had no family.]
Mick Power (c. 1905-1980), of Jamestown, also worked at J.K.’s. [Mick Power was the eldest of eighteen children in the family of John and Mary Power, of Jamestown.]
Jim “the Weaver” Walsh (1870-1960) of Glenmore, Village
Jim described “the Weaver” as a decent quiet little man. He was always “spic and span” and kept himself very clean. Every Sunday he wore a spotless serge suit to Mass. See our post of 31 Oct. 2020 for further information on Jim “the Weaver” Walsh.
The Glen Bar
Jim B. lived next to the Glen Bar. He told Danny that there was a curse on the pub and there was no luck attached to it. Jim B. said that he was in the Glenmore Bar the evening when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
Danny wrote a note at the end of the interview notes that Jim B. died on Monday, 21 March 1988 at 20 minutes to 9 at night in Rosario Nursing Home, Ferrybank, of cancer which he had for four years. See our W family page for information concerning Jim B’s parents James Walsh (c. 1875-1946) (carpenter) and his mother Mary Ellen “Lill” Walsh (1892-1968) as well as James K. Walsh (1891-1934) and Elizabeth “Lizzy J.K.” Walsh née Heffernan (1884-1955).
[Update 15 October 2025–The drawing below was drawn by Jim B. in 1973 in front of the Slieverue Church during an all night vigil on the first anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Jim B., Martin Gahan and others attended the vigil. In less than five minutes Jim B. drew Sitting Bull with a marker on cardboard. Martin said Jim B. loved Native Americans’ history. Martin saw a lovely sitting dog that Jim B. painted on a silk scarf for a lady.
Martin also noted that Danny Dowling’ (1927-2021) mother, Hannah Dowling (1903-1989) née Murphy was Jim B.’s godmother. She was very fond of her godson.]
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo of Jim B. above is from John Ennett’s clip. Special thanks to Martin Gahan for sharing the drawing of Sitting Bull and more information concerning Jim B.
Thatched Houses in Glenmore at the End of WWII [Updated]
Danny Dowling (1929-2021) made lists of various local things including: local Irish words, Mass Paths, elderly parish residents and thatched houses in Glenmore at the end of WWII. Thatch was the traditional roof in Glenmore prior to the twentieth century. The Second World War ended in 1945, and it appears that thatch roofs were then in the minority. Below is Danny’s list of the 35 houses identified and their respective townlands. The list is not dated. We note that several townlands are not included. The entire original list with notes from Danny is included. Any comments or additional houses that have been added are is square brackets [ ].
- Jack Forristal, of Cappagh (Bolger’s) [today Frankie Kirwan’s].
- Greene’s, of Jamestown
- Wattie Power, of Jamestown
- Anne Gaule, of Busherstown
- Johanna Closh Walsh, of Busherstown
- Main Gaule, of Busherstown
- Neddie Power, of Busherstown
- Anne Doherty, of Busherstown
- Doherty’s, of Milltown (part of)
- Haberlin’s, of Forristalstown
- Grace’s, of Forristalstown
- Jimmy Doherty’s, of Forristalstown
- Statia Butler, of Ballycroney
- Seamus Fitzgerald, of Ballycroney
- Luke Murphy, of Ballybrahee [See our post of 15 Aug. 2021 for more information on Luke Murphy]
- Dick Power, of Ballybrahee
- Dick Murphy, of Robinstown
- Pat Grant, of Robinstown
- Reddy’s, of Robinstown
- Neddie (Watts) Fitzgerald, of Ballinaraha
- Brophy’s, of Ballinaraha
- Moran’s, of Ballinlammy
- Doherty’s, of Ballinlammy
- Gahan’s, of Rochestown
- Shawn’s, of Rochestown [nickname for 1 of the Forristal families of Rochestown. We believe that this was the home of John Forristal (c. 1838-1915) and his wife Mary née Reddy (c.1851-1917). The couple were married at Glenmore on 31 Aug. 1880 and had five children; Bridget, James, John, Thomas and Patrick.]
- James “Browley” Walsh, of Rochestown
- Larry Walsh, of Rochestown
- Foran’s, of Kearney Bay
- James Phelan “The Walker”, of Ballyhobuck
- Larry Kirwan, of the Shanty [Scartnamore]
- John Kennedy, of Rathinure [Sean Óg where Johnny Garvey lives today]
- Pat Kennedy, of Rathinure [The Faddies]
- John Haberlin, of Aylwardstown
- Jim “Brien” Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown
- Ryan’s, of Kearney Bay
- Pat Ryan, of Kearney Bay (Cousin of Mike Ryan, went to Ringville)
The following not on Danny’s original list
[37] [Johnny “Billy” Roche, of Rathinure] [Thatched house remained until 1972]
[38] [Holden’s, of Clune, Jamestown]
[39] [Paddy Kennedy, of Newtown]
[40] [John Power, of Newtown]
[41] [Martin Forristal, of Rochestown]
[42] [Paddy Mullally, of Ballyhobuck] [Later Walsh’s of Ballyhobuck]
[43] [Condon’s of Mullinahone (part thatched)]
[44] [Pat & Jimmy McDonald of Ballyfacey]
[45] [Kitty Murphy of Mill Road, Mullinahone (part thatched)]
[46] [John Power, of Newtown, lived in until the mid-1970’s; last coat of thatch by Murty Kearney with rushes.]
[Update of 9 Oct. 2025–Jimmy Roche (1927-2018) of Rathinure often told the story of when he was a young fellow helping to rid the Faddie’s of rats in their thatch roof. A ferret was placed on the roof, and soon rats were attempting to escape by leaping from the roof. Jimmy and a number of young men armed with hurley’s dispatched the rats as they leaped from the thatch.]
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
1798: “The Rebels Are Gone to Glenmore”
Every month old newspapers are added to the various historical online newspaper services. Thus, every couple of months we perform generic searches among the added newspapers to try to find new information regarding Glenmore. Today, we feature 3 articles. The oldest is an article from June 1798 where a person in Waterford wrote to an English newspaper describing his understanding of the Battle of Ross and that the rebels “had gone to Glenmore.” The second found article provides the date when Glenmore parish was given land to build St. James and the final article concerns a Glenmore woman who died in 1826 at the age of 100.
Rebels to Glenmore
The Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal (Tues. 12 June 1798, p. 4) published the following article:
“Of this engagement the following is the account given in a private letter brought by the Waterford mail which arrived this morning. WATERFORD, June 6. I promised to give you of the battle—a dreadful battle indeed for Ireland! It commenced yesterday morning at four o’clock, and ended at seven. The rebels began the attack. They engaged the King’s troops with hellish fury, and the rebels were alternatively in possession of Ross. About 3,000 of the later are killed; but we do not know what number of our troops and officers have fallen. The town of Ross is almost burnt to ashes. If we had 2,000 more troops not a rebel would have been left; but 2,000 men were not enough for 20,000. All the Ross people are come to here. The ladies are gone to England. The rebels are gone to Glenmore and the communication with Ross by land we fear is cut off. All here is consternation! Our yeomanry behaved wonderfully.”
“New Ross, the theatre of the engagement here mentioned, is a market town in the county of Wexford, and is situated near the confluence of the rivers Nore and Barrow. It is on of the Staple ports for exporting wool. It has a barrack for a troop of horse, and is strongly defended on the Kilkenny side by the river, which is not fordable, but over which there is a ferry. It is situated 15 miles west of Wexford , and 67 southwest of Dublin.”
For further information on Glenmore in 1798 see our post of 22 February 2020. For further information on Gaffney’s Mill see our post of 6 April 2025.
Land Given for the Glenmore Church
Just five years after the 1798 Rebellion the Earl of Bessborough gave an acre of land to the Parish of Glenmore to build the Catholic Church of St. James. Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often remarked that the Earl must have been a kind man because he did not in any apparent way punish the family of William Gaffney (c. 1762-1798) the executed Glenmore miller and leader of the local United Irishmen.
Prior to the building of St. James’s Church there was a church hidden in Hanrahan’s field across from the present creamery. See our post of 16 November 2018 for a brief history of St. James’s which was consecrated 1813.
“The Earl of Bessborough has very liberally granted an acre of land in the parish of Glenmore, in the County of Kilkenny, to erect a chapel on, for the Divine Worship and adoration of the Author of All Good, for which his Lordship has received the sincere thanks of the Rev. Dr. Malley, P.P. and the Roman Catholic gentlemen, farmers, and inhabitants of the parish” (Saunders’s News-Letter, Thur. 27 Oct. 1803).
We believe this gift was from the third Earl of Bessborough, Frederick Ponsonby (1758-1844). He inherited the Bessborough title and lands upon the death of his father, William Ponsonby, the second Earl of Bessborough, in 1793. For further details regarding Frederick Ponsonby, his wife, Lady Henrietta Spencer and their daughter Lady Caroline Lamb’s scandalous affair with Lord Byron, see Marjorie Bloy, A Web of English History website.
The Death of Mrs. Kennedy of Rathinure, Glenmore
Mrs. Kennedy’s death in April 1826 was published in a Dublin and a London newspaper.
“At Rathnure (sic), Parish of Glenmore, County of Kilkenny, Mrs. Kennedy, aged 100 years. She retained her faculties unimpaired to the last moment of her existence; she was remarkable for her cheerful and charitable disposition, which endeared her alike to the young and the old” (Dublin Morning Register, Thurs. 27 April 1826, p. 4). A shortened death notice was published in Baldwin’s London Weekly Journal (Sat. 6 May 1826, p. 1) giving her date of death as 22 April 1826.
Unfortunately the combined Slieverue/Glenmore parish death records ceased long before 1826. Although a local newspaper probably reported this death and other newspapers then carried the story, we were unable to locate the original local article. Perhaps we will learn more about this lady as more historical newspapers are digitalized.
Please send any corrections and further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Glen Bar Fire 1987
This afternoon a reader contacted us by email enquiring whether we knew when the Glen Bar fire occurred in the 1980’s. Apparently the reader and another Glenmore native disputed the date of the fire. One believed the fire occurred in 1985 and the other believed it occurred in 1986. A quick newspaper search revealed that both gentlemen were wrong. The fire occurred according to the Munster Express on Tuesday, 3 March 1987. The short articles regarding the fire and re-opening are below.
Glenmore Watering Hole Badly Damaged–
“The well-known Glenmore licensed premises ‘The Glen Bar’ was partly destroyed by fire, which was first noticed by a neighbour in the early hours of Tuesday morning of last week, the owner of the establishment, Mr. Michael Barron and his family were not in the premises at the time as they live on the family farm some miles away. Michael is a current selector on the Kilkenny under 21 hurling team and he told us that limited business is being carried out in that portion of the premises not affected by the fire.”
“Units of Thomastown, New Ross and Waterford fire brigade services were quickly on the scene and had the fire controlled. The Glen Bar was purchased by Mr. Barron some years ago from its former owner Mr. Sean Walsh, and has, as the only public house in the parish of Glenmore, enjoyed a very good trade, needless to say most of the conversation is about hurling and we do hope that Mr. Barron’s premises will again see a prosperous trade after renovations have been carried out” (Munster Express, Fri. 13 March 1987, p. 20).
Five months later the pub re-opened. “The Glen Bar, Glenmore has re-opened its new lounge and has a full line-up of entertainment this weekend. On Friday top entertainer Pat Hogan and his band Travelling Sound will appear (Saturday is Glenmore Field Day). And on Sunday it’s the turn of Seattle” (Munster Express, Fri. 14 Aug. 1987, p. 23).
See our post of 8 May 2023 concerning the opening of a Glenmore pub in 1963.
Please send any corrections, additional information, queries or photos etc. to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh