Glenmore Co. Kilkenny
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One Hundred Years Ago: October 1922
In October 1922 the death and destruction caused by the Civil War continued. The postal strike ended, but post offices and mail continued to be targets for both Irregulars and criminals. Railway lines, bridges and telegraph wires also continued to be targeted by the Irregulars hoping to disrupt communications. Locally there was an increase in ambushes of National Troops. Glenmore featured in local newspapers in October 1922 primarily due to attacks upon the Dublin & South Eastern Railway (D.&S.E.R.) and its equipment. Also, located was a small obituary of a young Glenmore woman, Kate Ryan née Hoynes (1877-1922). Today, we are going to feature these Glenmore stories and other local events that were reported in local newspapers 100 years ago.
Local Ambushes
AMBUSH NEAR BALLYHALE. A group of six members of the National Army stationed in Thomastown were ambushed at Knockwilliam bridge, a short distance from Ballyhale, at about 2 a.m. on October 3rd. The soldiers led by Commandant Denis O’Brien were travelling in a lorry and were returning from Mooncoin. They were within about ten yards of the bridge, when they were ambushed by the Irregulars, who had taken up positions behind the wall overlooking the road. The National troops immediately took cover and returned fire. The Irregulars, who are stated to have numbered 30, called on the troops to surrender. No surrender took place and after about ten minutes the Irregulars retreated. Thomas Murphy, the driver of the lorry was wounded in the wrist and leg. The National troops returned to Thomastown (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 8.
AMBUSH AT JERPOINT. On the afternoon of the 4th of October Commandant Denis O’Brien with three troops were traveling in a motor car heading in the direction of Ballyhale when they were fired upon by Irregulars at Jerpoint Abbey (New Ross Standard, Fri. 13 Oct. 1922, p. 3).
AMBUSH AT FERRYBANK. On Monday night the 9th of October a considerable amount of shooting took place near the Ballybricken Jail caused by people refusing or neglecting to halt when challenged by the sentry. No injuries were reported. However, on the Kilkenny side of the river, Sergt. Stanny Furlong of the National Army at 11 p.m. was walking along Ferrybank when he was held up by two men armed with revolvers. One then shot him twice at point blank range in the thigh and abdomen. The ambulance came under fire as it came to the scene to pick up the wounded soldier (Munster Express, Sat. 14 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
Attacks on Railways & Post Offices
Telegraph poles were cut in the Glenmore district on the night of the 6th of October (New Ross Standard, Fri. 13 Oct. 1922, p. 5). Later, the railway wires were cut as well as the signal cabin broken into and the telephone stolen. In consequence of the railway wires being cut between Glenmore and Waterford on the D.&S.E. Railway, the up morning passenger trains for Dublin were unable to run in time to catch the connection at Macmine (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 Oct 1922, p. 5). The continued disruption of rail services through Glenmore led to the Great Western Railway steamers sailing everyday between Waterford and Fishguard instead of 3 times per week (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 4).
The down passenger train arriving in New Ross at about 9:20 was held up south of Rathgarogue and some parcels taken from the van (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 8). On the evening of the 18th the upmail train was held up near Glenmore and cigarettes were stolen (New Ross Standard, Fri. 20 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
A determined but unsuccessful attempt was made during the first week of October to burn down the signal cabin at Kilmacow railway station. A telegraph pole near the signal cabin was sawn through (Munster Express, Sat. 7 October 1922, p. 6). Near Ballyhale railway station on Tuesday night as the train left the station a man in a group of men hurled what turned out to be a large bomb into a carriage filled with people. Two of the passengers were national soldiers, Lieut. Foley and Lieut. O’Rourke. Foley “pluckily seized it and hurled it through the opposite window…before it had time to explode” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 13 Oct. 1922, p. 3).
The Postmaster of Knocktopher featured in the news for his response to men threatening to blow up the post office. On the 28th of September at 8:45 p.m. loud knocking was heard at the door of the Knocktopher Post Office. The attackers demanded the post office be opened at once for the IRA. The postmaster, E. Cody, refused to open. The men insisted, stating they would bomb the house. The Postmaster told them to bomb away, but he would not open the door. He then began to ring a hand bell which made the attackers leave. The local pubs were raided the same night (Munster Express, Sat. 7 Oct. 1922, p. 4). The Mullinavat Post Office was raided during the last week of October and some money taken. Shops in the village were also visited and cigarettes, etc. stolen (Munster Express, Sat. 28 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
The Ferry Mountgarrett bridge which was destroyed during the War of Independence was again damaged in October 1922. The wooden bridge crossing the Barrow River just north of New Ross had its beams sawn through rending the bridge unsafe (New Ross Standard, Fri. 13 Oct. 1922, p. 8).
Efforts to End the Civil War
It was reported that peace negotiations towards a “desirable ending of the present armed conflict” was being led by a member of Dáil Éireann (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 5). It was also reported that a Proclamation was issued by the Free State Government at the beginning of October 1922 The Proclamation provided for a full amnesty and pardon to any person engaged in insurrection or rebellion who, on or before the 15th of October, voluntarily turned in all firearms, arms, weapons, bombs, ammunition, and explosives, and public and private property, unlawfully in his possession and lands or buildings unlawfully occupied by him, and agreed not to take any part in, or aid or abet social insurrection, rebellion, or armed opposition to the Free State Government. All who fulfilled the conditions would be allowed to return to their homes. The proclamation was issued in hopes of “restoring peace without further bloodshed” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 4).
An editorial in the New Ross Standard stated, “We have always thought it very unfortunate that the irregulars and their friends and supporters did not throw in their lot with the Free State party, when they would have been in a position of effecting good instead of inflicting injury and ruin on the country. In the popular assembly they might have stiffened up the backs of those whom they declared to be too tame and not advanced enough. Those young men, who are now without voice in the nation’s Government, owing to having taken up an antagonistic attitude towards the majority might have urged their views and impressed the majority in the National assembly, to which they might have belonged, and thus have accomplished many of their objects” (New Ross Standard, Friday 6 October 1922, p. 4).
Under the Proclamation, no arms were surrendered in New Ross, but several young men in the districts near Bunclody surrendered their arms thanks to the efforts of Rev. Kevin Doyle, C.C., Kilmyanal (New Ross Standard, Fri. 20 Oct. 1922, p. 7).
Prisoners
Locally a few arrests were reported in newspapers who also made a point of reporting where arrested persons were taken. Early in the month National Troops arrested a young man near Tullogher and took him to Thomastown (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 8). After the local ambushes, National troops quartered at Mullinavat made several arrests in the neighbourhood, including a man named Phelan, of Listerlin, who was conveyed to Kilkenny (Munster Express, Sat. 14 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
The New Ross Standard reported that the London Observer published that the Free State was seeking to acquire the largest of the Saltee islands, off the coast of Wexford, to build a concentration camp to accommodate all the Civil War prisoners. It opined, “the situation is most healthy, but a large amount of building would be required.” Ironically the newspaper noted, “It was in a cave on this island that Bagenal Harvey, a leader of the rebels in 1798, was captured by soldiers. It was not suspected as a resort for some time until a soldier observed some soap suds outside the cave, and discovered that it was occupied by Harvey, who, was immediately apprehended, and later executed” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 4).
On the morning of the 10th an attempt to escape from Mountjoy Prison was made by a number of Irregular soldiers. The escape attempt resulted in the deaths of a national solider, two military police officers, and a prisoner. Two other soldiers were wounded and a prisoner was also wounded. Found in the cells of prisoners were 2 land mines, explosive chemicals, a revolver and ammunition (New Ross Standard, Fri. 13 Oct. 1922, p. 4).
Restoring Law & Order
In an attempt to stop the crime spree that had gripped the country a Proclamation was issued on the 2nd of October. This Proclamation provided that civilians charged with 4 categories of criminal offences would be tried in Military Courts. The offences included: (1) taking part in, or aiding or abetting any attacks upon National Forces; (2) looting, arson, seizure, destruction or removal of, or damage to public or private property; (3) possession of any bomb or explosive substance (without proper authority), firearm or lethal weapon, or any ammunition; and (4) the breach of any general order or regulation made by the Army Council. Possible sanctions listed in the notice included: death, penal servitude, imprisonment, deportation, internment and fine (Munster Express, Sat. 21 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
It was reported in early October that the Civic Guards were established in most of the towns In “Southern Ireland.” Described as “…a fine body of young men and must not be regarded in the same light or spirit as the old R.I.C., who were a semi-political force.” The New Ross Standard wrote, “The R.I.C., in addition to giving a certain amount of protection to the civil population, were utilised to bolster up and protect landlordism and foreign domination during the people’s struggles. They were the prop of alien rule in Ireland. Now all has been changed. Young men from our midst have been appointed to protect life and property in the country. Their hands will be full for some time at least, as during the struggle of the last 5 years the people of Ireland, particularly the youth, become very much demoralised and given to mischief. For instance, where houses have become vacant the windows have been smashed by incorrigible youths, and in those places where electric and other means of public lighting have been installed the lamps have been smashed by the same urchins. Playing handball on the streets and general disorder and lawlessness characterise those young parties everywhere. They overly declare, ‘We can do what we Iike; there is no law in the country now.’ It is now up to the new police force to restore order, and it is up to the people to support them” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 4).
On the 14th of October 1922 a detachment of 28 men of the Civic Guards arrived in Waterford from Dublin. These new unarmed police officers were to replace the armed troops attempting to police the City (Munster Express, Sat. 21 Oct. 1922, p. 3).
Others blamed the unrest on emigration. The Irish Evicted Tenants and Land Settlement Association stated that hopes were given to young people during the long struggle for Ireland’s rights that thousands of acres under grazing and other land held under the eleven months’ system would be split up and divided to afford young people a living. “Thousands of our young men and women who would have been glad to settle down at home have emigrated to America and elsewhere…This is the cause of unrest in this country” (New Ross Standard, Friday 6 October 1922, p. 4).
Impact on Civilians
Bullets and bombs kill indiscriminately not being able to tell friend from foe. In October 1922 civilians across the country were killed. On Sunday the 8th of October at about 3 p.m., about a mile south of New Ross, Julia Molloy was fatally shot on the Camblin Road. At the military inquest others testified that they were out walking when shots rang out. No witness was certain where the shots originated although some heard shooting earlier on the Kilkenny side of the river. Witnesses included: Michael O’Connor, merchant, South St. Robert Rickerby, John Locke, William Walsh and Samuel Jacob, all of South St. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 13 Oct. 1922, p. 5). The death register provides that Julia died on the 8th of October at Oaklands. Her sister K. Molloy was present when she died. Julia was a single 45 year old shopkeeper on South Street, New Ross.
On the same day that Julia Molloy was shot and killed, a group of young men motoring from Kilkenny to Waterford to attend a terrier coursing meeting at Mulinabro, were fired on at Castlebanny. One of the men named Reilly was wounded in the side. The wind screen of the car was destroyed by the bullets. The men did not proceed to Waterford, but returned home via Thomastown, where Reilly had his wound attended to by Rev. Fr. Grace, of Ballyhale (Munster Express, Sat. 14 October 1922, p. 5.)
An excursion train was scheduled to run on Sunday the 15th of October 1922 for the Wexford vs. Kilkenny, Leinster Hurling Semi-Final in Dublin. The train left Waterford at 8 a.m. and Glenmore at 8:17 A third return fare from Waterford or Glenmore was 8s. while from New Ross the fare was 7s. 6d (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 Oct. 1922, p. 5). The game was played under ideal conditions so far as the weather was concerned, the ground was excellent, but the attendance was on the small side. It was a “rather one sided contest, and the superiority of the Kilkenny men was in evidence…despite the fact that they had considerable difficulty in fielding a team. Members of the team only reached Dublin a couple of hours after the scheduled time due to damage on the Great Southern line in Kildare. Other team members from Mooncoin traveling on the D.&S.E.R. from Waterford also encountered rail trouble. To overcome the problem four members of the junior Kilkenny team played in the senior team. Wexford also had difficulties in fielding a team due to “troubles at home.”” The County Champions, Crossabeg were not represented. Sean O’Kennedy, the ex-All Ireland football captain, came to the rescue and played as the goalkeeper. He, J. Mythen and M. Neville were members of the 1910 team. Kilkenny won 6 goals, 6 points to Wexford 1 goal. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 20 Oct. 1922, p. 3).
The Kilkenny People (Sat. 7 Oct. 1922, p. 4) appeared more interested in football. “With the passing of the Leinster Championship matches the next big game to be looked forward to is the senior football match between the old rivals, Glenmore and Cloneen, which should again prove a red letter attraction at St. James’s Park.” A football challenge match, between De la Salle College (Waterford) and Glenmore was billed to take place at Slieverue on the 29th of Oct. (Munster Express, Sat. 28 Oct. 1922, p. 5). Unfortunately, we could not locate a report of the match or the score.
A Glenmore Funeral
A brief obituary appeared in the Munster Express. On Thursday the 19th the funeral of Mrs. Ryan, Gaulstown, Glenmore took place and was largely attended. The deceased lady had been apparently in good health up to a short time previous to her death, and much sympathy is extended to her relatives in their bereavement (Munster Express, Sat. 28 Oct. 1922, p. 5). A search of 1922 death records revealed that Mrs. Ryan was Kate Ryan née Hoynes (1877-1922) a 43 year old widow of a farmer. She died of acute gastric enteritis on the 17th of October. Her brother Michael Hoynes of Ballybrahee was present at her death. Thanks to the Hoynes family tree prepared by Michael Hoynes (b. 1948) we know Kate was married to Peter Ryan (c. 1869-1921) and the couple had no children. A marriage record was located. Peter Ryan of Gaulestown (farmer) married Kate Hoyne of Ballybrahee on the 22nd of February 1906 at Glenmore. The fathers of the couple were Laurence Ryan (farmer) and John Hoyne (farmer). Peter Ryan died at Gaulestown, Glenmore on the 21st of May 1921 at age 52 of endocarditis.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above is the Junior Kilkenny Hurling Team that played and defeated Dublin on the 15th of Oct. 1922 in the Leinster Junior Hurling Semi-Final at Croke Park (Freemans Journal, Mon. 16 Oct. 1922, p. 3).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore’s “Thrilling” Motor Accident & Famous Bonesetter
On Friday the 8th of March 1929 the Munster Express published an article entitled “Thrilling Motor Accident in Glenmore” (p. 3). Today, we are going to highlight the colourful and dramatic newspaper article as well as the well-known Glenmore bonesetter who helped injured people before x-rays were commonly available.
The Accident
In what the newspaper dubbed “a rather sensational motor accident” occurred on the Waterford-New Ross road on the 3rd of March 1929. William Hill left his residence, Belmont Lodge, Ferrybank, early in the afternoon, taking with him a man named William Grant who had been injured the day before while working on a steamer at Waterford. Their objective being the home of a well-known Glenmore bonesetter. Accompanying Hill were Miss Hill and Peter Grant, the son of the injured man. The newspaper did not identify the Glenmore bonesetter. It did state that all went well until the party reached a spot known as the “Scorebridge Bend.” We believe that this is a typographical error and should be the Scowbridge. It was noted that the bend was “a well known but perfectly safe turning, with vision at either approach, located midway between Robinstown and Gaulestown.” The Scowbridge is actually located where the stream crosses under the road from Grogan to Gaulestown, but as Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often said newspapers never let facts get in the way of a good story.
When Mr. Hill was one hundred yards from the bend, still on the Waterford side of the bend, he noticed a Ford saloon coming in the opposite direction “going for the turn at a “terrific speed.” “His practised eye realising the corner could never be negotiated safely,” he had to decide in a fraction of a second whether to “stop dead” or “keep going.” He decided to keep going, and “to this fact he owed his safety.”
“Around the bend the Ford came, and, to the terror of the occupants of Mr. Hill’s car suddenly canted over to an angle of 45 degrees, taking the turn on two wheels. For a moment the driver corrected his course, but this only sent her [the Ford] in a mad plunge to the off-side of the road, but gave Mr. Hill the chance to get safely past her, where he came to an immediate stop and was just in time to see her cannoning off the fence in her mad momentum, and plunging once again across the road, not yet even to stop, but once again taking a final leap to the off fence and landing on her head or bonnet, and, poised momentarily in the air, came down with a sickening crash on the road.”
Mr. Hill and the injured Mr. Grant rushed to the crashed car. They expected to find a “mangled mass of humanity,” but were surprised to find the occupants of the crashed car uninjured. They immediately helped two ladies out through the roof of the crashed car and they hauled the driver clear of it. It was stated, “had the petrol fired a horrible death would have been their lot.”
The driver and owner of the car was an elderly gentleman named Rossiter, who lived outside New Ross. “A relief car was secured, and the fortunate survivors were brought home. The remains of the car were left on the road, it being a wreck.” This probably provides a good indication of the amount of traffic in 1929 when a wrecked vehicle could be left on the road near a bend.
Mr. Hill was then interviewed subsequently and surprisingly the newspaper published his opinions regarding the accident and driving in general. Hill said—“It was just a case of speed in the wrong place. The driver must have either been a stranger of the road or else forgot about the turn until it was too late. The danger of modern saloons is that they become overheated, and, unless ventilation is seen to, a drowsy feeling overtakes one. The feeling I had was one of powerlessness, the same as you would realise were you are to meet a runaway horse. Sooner or later, more stringent driver tests must be insisted on, as otherwise the ever increasing motor traffic will bring appalling accidents. I have not the slightest objection to anyone taking driving risks or stunting etc., where he only endangers his own life, but where mine or the public is involved it is altogether another matter. One of the oldest motorist I know said to me his dictum was: ‘It’s the other fellow is going to kill you.’”
The article ends with, “a remarkable feature of the accident was that the car coming from New Ross, after turning over three times, landed on the road facing in the direction from which it had come.”
James Roche (c. 1854-1940) of Haggard, Glenmore
The bonesetter that William Hill was taking William Grant to visit was probably Jimmy Roche of Haggard. According to Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) notes the Roche’s of Haggard were recognised as good bonesetters. On the 28th of December 1969, Danny interviewed his mother Hannah Dowling née Murphy who related that the Roches farmed 70 acres in Haggard. Hannah recited that Luke Roche was a bonesetter and married Biddie Aylward, of Parkstown, Glenmore. Luke and Biddie had three children: (1) James Roche who also became a bonesetter. James married Kate Aylward, of Ballyfacey. Hannah recalled that James was over 80 years of age when he died in 1940. James had two sisters (2) Bridget Roche, never married and died in her 60’s in about 1939; and the last child was Statia Roche who never married and died in her 75th year in 1945.
According to Hannah Dowling, Jimmy and Kate Roche of Haggard had the following family
(1) Luke Roche, married in Mooncoin; (2) Jack Roche, [never married and farmed the home farm]; (3) James Roche [married a woman named Kearney and worked at the Glenmore Creamery and was also a bonesetter]; (4) Larry Roche, [never married]; (5) Pat Roche, [never married]; (6) Matthew Roche [never married] and (7) Catherine Roche, died as a result of burns from falling into the fire at the age of 5-6 months.
James Roche (c. 1854-1940) died at his residence at Haggard. His obituary in the Munster Express is also colourful. It provides that James was a well-known figure in farming circles and was widely known as a competent bonesetter, “whose fame at this important aspect of manipulative surgery established a name for him ever far outside his own district. His home was at all times a hospitable centre for visitors, and his cheery and kindly disposition endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his genial acquaintanceship. Strong, well-built, and of a commanding personality Mr. Roche was a splendid type of Irishman, and his passing, though coming at the fine old age of 86 years, is deeply and deservedly regretted by his family, relatives and a wide circle of friends.” Deceased was husband of Mrs. Kate Roche, Haggard; father of Larry Roche, the well-known footballer and athlete; James Roche, who is a popular member of the staff of Glenmore Creamery; Luke, John, Pat and Matty Roche, all of Haggard; and brother of Miss Stasia Roche, also of Haggard. Interment took place at the family burial ground at Kilbride (Munster Express, Fri. 13 Dec. 1940, p. 12).
Hannah Dowling also said that Katie Roche née Aylward died in 1946 at the age of 68. An obituary was located for Katie Roche and it revealed that she died in January 1946. She was said to be one of the best-known residents of the parish and was the widow of the late James Roche, “who was widely known in the district as a competent bonesetter the art of which is still being practised by members of the family,” (Munster Express, Fri. 1 Feb. 1946, p. 6).
The last of the Roche family was Mattie who died in 1999 at the age of 77.
The featured photo above in a 1929 Ford Saloon. Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
One Hundred Years Ago: September 1922
By the end of August 1922, the Free State troops firmly controlled New Ross and Waterford. However anti-Treaty troops or Irregulars continued to attack the troops in New Ross and Waterford. Additionally, the Irregulars continued to employ disruption tactics honed during the War of Independence. Telegraph and telephone wires were repeatedly cut or damaged, roads were blocked, and bridges destroyed. Ambushes of mail and goods trains were prevalent and ambushes of Free State troops became a common feature around the country. Newspapers had difficulties communicating during this month because the postal workers went on strike which restricted or stopped the delivery of mail and the use of telegraphs and telephones by the general public. Today, we shall highlight what happened locally and what Glenmore people were reading in local newspapers 100 years ago.
The Civil War
The month of September commenced with reports in local newspapers of heavy fighting elsewhere around the country. Deadly ambushes were reported in Kerry, Cork, Offaly, Mayo, Tipperary, and Sligo. It was reported that a railway repairer engaged in repair work near Mallow was killed by Irregular forces who warned other railway employees that they would “meet the same fate if they took up sjmilar work.” Due to the attacks on bridges, roads and railways in some areas of the west food became scarce. “All fairs and markets have been stopped for some time and the people are in a deplorable way. They are faced with starvation…” Rev. Father Hayes, of Labasheeds, appealed to his parishioners, and 100 men turned up and repaired all the destroyed bridges in their locality. In response the Irregulars threatened to set barricades with bombs, with the lever pins of the bombs removed (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 5).
Rumours began to surface that peace talks were taking place. However, all efforts to arrange negotiations failed. After a lull of almost week in early September ambushes in Dublin resumed. Four attacks on Free State troops took place in a single day in four different parts of Dublin. This led to “the civilian populace…[receiving] more than its share of the casualties” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922, p. 4). Newspapers also reported that a female courier was apprehended on her way to Mountjoy. It was reported that in her possession were confidential communications from de Valera to Liam Mellowes. The Daily Express of London reported “the communications reveal the hopelessly chaotic state of the entire Republican organisation. More significant still are the confessions by de Valera of his personal errors in judgment which led up to the beginning of the civil war…” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Sept. 1922, p. 5).
Reminiscent of the War of Independence, 39 prisoners escaped from the Cork jail on Friday the 22nd by tunnelling from a cell to a ventilation shaft that led to a manhole in the centre of the footpath in front of the jail (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Sept. 1922, p. 7).
At the end of September the threat of starvation from the Civil War continued. With no train service for several weeks and roads and bridges damaged and blocked, serious shortages of food were reported in Killarney. On the 16th fifteen cartloads of food being conveyed were seized by the Irregulars at Brennan’s Glen. The people of Tralee were said to be facing starvation. People attempting to travel through Kerry were warned that “the jaunting car …offers virtually the only means of getting about with any degree of safety. It may be that it is more innocent looking that a motor car in the eyes of armed men…and road obstructions are more easily negotiated…” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 September 1922, p. 3).
Locally, mail and goods trains were targeted by Irregulars and others. On the 28th of August armed men between Waterford and Glenmore took mail from the up mail train, including mail for New Ross (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 7). Due to the continued attack on trains the railway suspended some services. Locally, this meant that the last mail leaving New Ross was at 4:20 p.m. instead of 9:15 p.m. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 4). Twice during the week of the 4th of September goods trains from Waterford were held up by a party of Irregulars between Mullinavat and Ballyhale. Goods consisting of bacon sugar, tobacco and cigarettes were stolen (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922, p. 8). On Saturday the 15th in the evening the up mail train between Waterford and Glenmore was help up by a number of men. “A quantity of stuff was taken including some drapery. Some of the articles were subsequently returned. The passengers were ordered not to look out of the windows” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Sept. 1922, p. 7). On Friday the 22nd the up train from Waterford to New Ross was held up in the Slieverue area. “Stuff was taken away” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Sept. 1922, p. 7).
Armed Attacks on Waterford & New Ross
On Sunday the 26th of August about 10:30 p.m. “another attack” was made on the Free State troops at the Waterford railway station. Six men opened fire on the soldiers from behind a wall running up from the railway on the Ferrybank side. A bomb was flung into the station from the cliff above the station resulting in glass shattering. The Free State soldiers returned fire and brought out a machine gun which drove the attackers out. On investigating the place where the attacking irregulars had been a handkerchief saturated with blood was found as well as fifty rounds of ammunition. The wall behind the irregulars was also splattered with blood. There were no casualties among the Free State soldiers (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Sept. 1922, p. 2). Private George Lackey, a native of Glenmore, was not so lucky. On the 2nd of September while stationed at Thomastown with other Free State troops he and another private named Martin Brennan, of Castlecomer, were serious injured by the accidental discharge of a rifle (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 Sept. 1922, p. 8).
Notwithstanding the attack on Sunday the 26th of August, the curfew on Waterford was removed on the following Tuesday (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Sept. 1922, p. 5). On the night of the 5th of September heavy firing took place in Waterford when bands of Irregulars attacked different places in the city. Shortly before dusk a flying column of Irregulars was spotted on the heights overlooking the city, on the Ferrybank side of the Suir. A second band of Irregulars began shooting near Grace Dieu. A third band took up sniping positions behind Larry’s Knock. Once the shooting began it continued until a lull occurred when the cinema was being emptied. Two unarmed Free State soldiers were shot at just outside the Coliseum Theatre, but both avoided being injured while the woman behind them was shot. By 11 p.m. at Newtown the Irregulars began firing a Thompson machine gun. “Fortunately, at this period virtually all pedestrians had left the thoroughfares.” In the city centre most of the shooting took place in the vicinity of George’s Street, Peter Street, Broad Street and High St. Less intensive firing took place on the Quay, the Mall and Parnell Street (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 Sept. 1922, p. 6).
The Irregulars attacked the Manor St. Police barracks. Shots were also fired at Lady Lane Barracks, but the garrison did not respond. It was reported that six or seven Irregulars were wounded in the attacks. Other casualties included an elderly lady named Katie Walsh who was shot and killed while reading in her sitting room in Bakehouse Lane near the Lady Lane Barracks. The bodies of two Irregular who were believed to have been killed in the attack on the train station a week earlier were discovered and dug out of a field in Ferrybank (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 Sept. 1922, p. 6).
Further details were gleaned from the Munster Express such as the fact that the Irregulars’ position on Larry’s Knock was on Mount Misery and provided a commanding view of the city. It was also reported that 15 to 20 Irregulars within the city were using a weapon known as “Peter the Painter.” This weapon was a German automatic pistol that converted into a short rifle. It was reported that the Irregulars mixed among the crowds leaving the local picture shows. Kate Walsh who was shot and killed while reading a book in her sitting room at 13 Bakehouse Lane was 66 years of age. She was shot in the arm and called out to her upstairs neighbour. The neighbour rushed for help and sent neighbours scurrying for the priest, doctor, police and the widow’s son. A few minutes after the priest and doctor arrived, she died (Munster Express, Sat. 9 Sept. 1922, p. 6).
As the Irregulars continued to re-destroy bridges near New Ross, the town reintroduced bicycle permits (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 7). Thus while the Irregulars continued to use the guerrilla tactics of the War of Independence the Free State Forces exercised some of the same unpopular control tactics as the British. For example, the Munster Express reported on a raid in Ferrybank conducted by Free State troops. These troops seized a duplicator, typewriter and a huge quantity of Irregular propaganda. Patrick Murphy, a prominent Irregular, was taken into custody (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Sept. 1922, p. 40). At the beginning of the article a little notice stated that the article was “passed by military censor.”
Between one and two a.m. on Sunday the 11th the people of New Ross were awakened by brisk rifle fire. Shots were coming from Rosbercon and also from places in the upper streets of the town. Just before the shooting began a sentry at the Tholsel stopped a man who was staggering as if drunk. The sentry began to search the man. Suddenly three or four men in their stocking feet rushed the sentry and took his weapons and fled (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922, p. 5).
Post Offices
Post offices featured heavily in the news articles in local papers. At the end of August, the Rower was the scene of “An exciting affair.” Near midnight eight to ten men broke into the post-office. The men demanded the old age pension money. When told that the pension had been distributed, they searched the office but did not find any money. They then went to the shop of an elderly man in the village and took away his goods. Next they broke into the shop of Mr. Butler. While in the Butler’s shop a group of Irregulars arrived having been summoned by a resident. The Irregulars surrounded the Butler shop and although the raiders were armed with a shot gun and a couple of revolvers they were disarmed by the Irregulars. The raiders were compelled to return everything that they had stolen and they were paraded in front of the villagers for identification. The raiders were found to be civilian who lived nearby. “After getting a severe threshing they were allowed to go” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 8).
The Munster Express at the beginning of September published articles regarding the threatened postal strike. The New Free State government proposed to cut the wages of the workers because the “cost of living had decreased.” The workers disputed that the cost of living had decreased and thus began a war of words. In the same edition the Munster also published the story of a post card that took was in transit for six years. “On Saturday the 26th of August Wm. Morrissey, a draper, on the Main St. of Carrick-on-Suir received a postcard that had been posted in Clonmel on 6 November 1916. The card was legible and in good condition. It related to the purchase of wool from the War Office” (Sat. 2 Sept. 1922, p. 6).
The Irish Postal Service workers went on strike at 6 p.m. on Sunday the 10th of September (Munster Express, Sat. 16 Sept. 1922, p. 3). In Dublin the services were almost at a standstill. The public had neither letters or telegrams during the strike. As the strike was nearing two weeks, a frustrated New Ross Standard editor wrote, “One of the most regrettable features of the struggle is the nature of the propaganda supplied to the Press…It is time the public made itself felt in this matter, otherwise both the strikers and the Postmaster-General may continue to think that the Irish people want columns of propaganda instead of a postal service” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Sept. 1922, p. 4). A notice appeared on the back page of the edition that the New Ross post office remained open for the paying of the old age and army pensions. It was also noted that some letters arrived by armed guard from Dublin but had to be collected at the post office (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Sept. 1922, p. 8).
As outlined in our previous blog posts the Glenmore post office in 1922 was in Fluskey’s. In addition to collecting and distributing mail the post office had a telegraph as well as telephone and telephone exchange. On Friday the 22nd of September “a number of men” under the cover of darkness visited the post office and dismantled the telephone (Wicklow People, Sat. 23 Sept. 1922, p. 8). It is not clear from the article whether the dismantling was the work of Irregulars or striking postal workers. (To read our previous blog post on the history of the Glenmore Post Offices click here.)
Resident Magistrates Terminated
During the later part of the War of Independence some areas or parishes set up IRA or parish courts to hear minor criminal cases. It is believed that an IRA court or parish court was established in Glenmore, and this court sat in the Glenmore Creamery. At the same time the former Royal Petty Sessions courts in Rosbercon and Kilmacow etc. continued to operate with Resident Magistrates sitting as judges.
On the first of September local papers advised the citizens that all resident magistrates in Ireland were notified by the Irish Free State Government that their services were terminated. Pending the expiration of their notices the resident magistrates were placed on leave. The decision to terminate the resident magistrates was part of a general scheme of reconstruction of Irish Legal machinery (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 5). Under this scheme the parish courts developed in some areas were also to be terminated and district courts establish with trained lawyers to be appointed as judges.
Life Went On
Notwithstanding the ambushes in Dublin and attacks on trains etc. the Glenmore area appeared to remain calm. For example, a two week Mission was conducted by the Vincentian Fathers and opened in Glenmore on the 3rd of September. Also, the employees of the malt stores of P.J. Roche & Sons, New Ross went on their annual excursion to Duncannon (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1922, p. 7). Other areas were not so fortunate. Boarding house keepers and hotels in Tramore reported that 1922 was one of the leanest years on record (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Sept. 1922, p. 5).
Notwithstanding the difficulties of travel the fairs and markets continued to operate in New Ross, Waterford and Thomastown. Good supplies of stock and buyers were reported although prices were down. The potato crop around Waterford was reported as being the best for many years both in quality and quantity. Farmers were perturbed at the bad weather, but the heat wave compensated for everything (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922, p. 7).
The New Ross Show was held mid-month and some competitors traveling by train encountered a recently repaired railway bridge was again destroyed. These competitors unloaded their horses and walked them to the Show. There were also two reports of women with pony and carts attempting to cross damaged bridges on their way to New Ross and they and/or their animals ended up in waterways and required rescue (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 September 1922, p. 5). At the New Ross Show John Hartley, of Ballincrea, Slieverue, was awarded first prize in the class for the best sire, other than thoroughbred, calculated to get good hunter and harness horses. T. Freaney, Glenmore and Dick Doherty, Mooncoin were awarded first and second awards for the best untrained 4 year old gelding and filly (Munster Express, Sat. 23 Sept. 1922, p. 5).
It was reported that the [grain] harvest in 1922 was a month later than in 1921. In some local places barley was not ripe (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922, p. 8). The Agricultural Gazette published that R.B. Matthews developed a method of harvesting with the aid of electricity. His sheaves of corn were stacked as soon as they were cut. Traditionally, farmers allowed the corn to mature in the field. Through his stack he passed a current of air driven by an electric Sirocco fan. It was proclaimed that all risks of weather or bird damage to the stocks in the field were eliminated and his ground cleared for ploughing as soon as the corn was cut (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922). Unfortunately, electricity was not available in all areas of Glenmore parish for almost 40 years.
A woman from Shanbogh died at the remarkable age of 103 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922, p. 8). Unfortunately, no further information such as the centenarian’s name was provided. The elderly also featured in an article about a sports carnival to be held in Ballycullane on the 17th where “old man’s races and challenges” was advertised. One man aged 70 wagered that he could beat anyone of the same age in a half mile flat race or over the hurdles in a 120 yards race. He was staking two weeks of his old age pension on the races (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Sept. 1922).
At the quarterly meeting of the Kilkenny Co. Council on the 17th the Council set about appointing rate collectors based upon tenders received. For the vacant collectorship in Ida district six tenders were received. Each candidate for the post submitted a tender indicating how much of each pound of the rates collected they would keep for their services in collecting the rates. The six persons seeking the post included: Richard Duggan, Flemingstown, Glenmore, 2 ¾d in the £ (d is one pence in a pound made up of 240 pence); P. Walsh, Inistioge, 3½d; Peter Kirwan, do. 4 ½d; E. J. Murphy, New Ross, 4d; Martin McGrath, Listerlin, Tullogher, 4d; and Richard O’Keefe, Coolull, 4d. Richard Duggan, of Flemingsown, Glenmore was unanimously elected (Kilkenny People, Sat. 23 Sept. 1922, p. 2).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
The featured photo above is from Freemans Journal, Thurs. 14 Sept. 1922, p. 3. The caption: Farmer carrying a bag of flour on his back across a destroyed bridge following a narrow footpath in the centre of the bridge.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: Clippings of Glenmore People from the Irish Farmers Journal [Updated]
It is always surprising the type and amount of newspaper clippings and copies of articles that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) collected over the years. Today, we are going to feature five photos that Danny clipped from the Irish Farmers Journal. The photos appeared in the Farmers Journal from 1974 through 1982 and depict Glenmore people attending sales, open days and a ploughing match at Glenmore. The feature photo is Rathinure, Glenmore’s own Johnny Garvey. The only date on the clipping of Johnny’s photo is January 1982. For some of the people depicted we were able to gather further information regarding deaths etc. from headstones. Readers are invited to share further information including native townlands etc.
Above–James Reddy and Ned Kirwan, both of Glenmore, attended the clearance sale at Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny (Farmers Journal, 16 Feb. 1974, p. 18).
Jimmy Reddy ( c. 1927-2011) was from Gaulestown, Glenmore. Jimmy was married to Kitty Hanlon of Newtown, Glenmore. Jimmy was a renowned local story teller. Ned Kirwan was a native of Robinstown, Glenmore (c. 1921-1979) and never married. He tragically died at the age of 58 from a brain tumour.
Above–Neddy Coady, Glenmore; John Mullally , Tullogher, & Willie Crow, Glenmore (Farmers Journal, 8 Feb. 1975, p. 35).
[Update: Two readers have identified the man on the left as Nickie Cody, of Ballywairy, Glenmore. One reader identified the man on the right as Willie Green, of Jamestown, Glenmore.]
It is believed that Neddy Coady was from Ballyreddy, Tullogher and may have been an agricultural contractor.
John Mullally is a native of Ballyeden, Tullogher is married to Margaret Vereker of Ballincrea, Slieverue. Margaret worked in the office of the Glenmore Creamery in the late 1960’s. John in addtion to farming operated an agricultural contracting business. Doesn’t the man over his left shoulder look like comedian John Belushi (1949-1982) of Animal House fame?
Above–Imelda Walsh, Anna Murphy, Dody Murphy, Joan Culleton and Breda Walsh at the Glenmore Macra na Feirme, annual ploughing match at Glenmore (Farmers Journal, Sat. 23 Feb. 1980, p 49).
It is believed that Anna Murphy was from Slieverue and later moved to Carrigcloney, Glenmore after she married Paddy Hoynes a native of Ballybrahee, Glenmore. Dody Murphy was from Tullogher and competed in ploughing.
Above–Present at an open day on Waterford Co-op’s farm, Sean Merrigan and Michael Heffernan of Glenmore (Farmers Journal, 30 Oct. 1982, p. 24).
Sean Merrigan (1930-2012) was a native of Milltown, Glenmore. Sean was married to Margaret (c.1933-1993). We featured the tragic death of Sean’s youngest brother Tony in our previous blog post of 21 May 2020. Michael Heffernan (1916-1988) was a native of Kearney Bay, Glenmore and married Mary Doherty of Davidstown, Glenmore.
With respect to Johnny Garvey he is married Breda Hartley, of Busherstown, Glenmore and in addition to farming he operated an agricultural contracting business. In our previous blog post of 3 October 2021 we featured Johnny’s parents.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
All Ireland Reel Champion 1943: Bernie Kirwan (1933-2014) [Updated]
Recently Michael Ashcroft contacted us to correct our blog post of 19 June 2022. While sharing information concerning his grandparents and Glenmore kin he sent the beautiful photograph of his mother as a child with one of her Irish dancing trophies and her medals that covered her skirt. Today we are going to highlight the role of the Gaelic League in promoting Irish dance and feature “Little” Bernie Kirwan and some of her early Irish dance achievements as recorded in local newspapers. [See our corrected blog of 19 June 2020 regarding Bernie’s mother Mary Kirwan née Dillon (b. 1899).]
The Gaelic League & Irish Dancing
The Irish céilí dates back to the end of the 19th century when Ireland was trying to assert itself politically and culturally as a separate nation. The Gaelic League was established in 1893 as a cultural nationalist movement. Its primary objective was to promote cultural nationalism and the “de-anglicisation” of Ireland. It sought to re-establish the Irish language as the primary language of Ireland, to promote Irish literature, singing traditional music and dancing. The Gaelic League established numerous branches both in Ireland and wherever Irish people emigrated (Foley p. 44). A Branch of the Gaelic League was established in Glenmore in 1910. [See our post of 19 Aug. 2020 for details regarding Glenmore and the Irish language.]
Irish céilí events were held in public dance halls, hotels, and community centres. The approved dances were collected from rural areas predominantly in the west of Ireland. The céilí dances were performed to lively reel and jig tunes played by a live céilí band. The names of the dances reflected places in Ireland and historical events and included the popular Ballaí Luimní (Walls of Limerick) and Iosaí na hÍnse (The Siege of Ennis) (Foley p. 46). Gaelic League céilí were popular cultural and social events throughout Ireland and abroad, particularly before and after the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 (Foley p. 49).
In 1930 the Gaelic League established the Irish Dancing Commission in order to provide a governing body for the teaching of, and competition in Irish Dance. From the 1940’s on one of the ways in which dance schools defined themselves was through the wearing of class costumes, with specific colours and embroidery motifs. For girls costumes were simple knee length dresses with long sleeves and full skirts with embroidery on the skirt, bodice and cape (Wilson, Costume Society blog). Little Bernie Kirwan danced with the Rolleston School of Dancing of 22 Waterpark, Waterford City from 1940 until about 1946 when she appears to have joined the Troy Dance School of Waterford. In 1947 the younger Kirwan children emigrated with their parents to England. Bernie’s older siblings had previously emigrated to Canada and the United States.
Bernie Kirwan (1933-2014)
Bernadette Kirwan was born on 23 July 1933 at Knockboy, Waterford to William Kirwan (b.1898) and his wife Mary Dillon (b. 1899). William and Mary were married at Glenmore on 16 July 1919. Mary had originally been from Shortcourse, Waterford but was living and working in Gaulestown, Glenmore at the time she married. Bernadette, or Bernie as she was called by the local newspapers, was the second youngest child of the family of 13. Her father William Kirwan was the eldest child of James Kirwan (c. 1872-1941) of Scartnamore, Glenmore and Mary Kirwan née Lowry (c. 1873-1938) of Rochestown, Glenmore.
Rolleston School of Dance
Bernie Kirwan (1933-2014) received her first dance lesson in Ballygunner in 1940 when she was 7 years old (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 13 Oct.1944, p. 5). Bernie belonged to the Rolleston School of Dance. Bernie’s teacher was Mrs. William Denn (c. 1895-1974) who was known in the Gaelic community by her maiden name Mai Rolleston. Mai Rolleston was the winner of the All Ireland Step-dancing Championship at the Oireachtas in 1917. The Waterford Standard labelled the Oireachtas Waterford’s biggest Gaelic Festival (Waterford Standard, Sat. 19 April 1941, p. 3). According to Mai’s obituary she was well known in South Kilkenny where her students performed at many concerts and she gave lessons in many parishes. Her son-in-law Michael Power was a native of Bigwood, Mullinavat and he and his wife lived in New York (Munster Express, Fri. 18 Oct. 1974, p. 18).
The earliest dance award that we could find that was won by Bernie was in June 1940 the year she began dancing. The students of the Rolleston School of Dancing competed in the Dundrum Feis in June 1940, and Bernie achieved a first in the (confined) Jig & Reel (Waterford Standard, Sat. 15 June 1940, p. 9).
In the spring of 1941 Mai Rolleston took four of her pupils to the Father Mattew (sic) Feis in Dublin. Over 1,500 contestants from across Ireland competed in Irish dancing. The newspaper noted that she received “remarkable success” with her students as all four of her students won prizes (Waterford Standard, Sat. 19 April 1941, p. 3). Although Bernie did not participate in the Father Mattew Feis in 1941 she was photographed in a Rolleston School of Dancing photo that appeared in the Waterford Standard (Sat. 16 Aug. 1941, p. 5). The caption for the 1941 photo is Left to right: Front Row—K. Casey, winner of the Bro. Brendon Cup; B. Kirwan, first prize winner under 8 and 10 years, and Betty Bible, winner of numerous first prize medals under 10 & 14 years. Back Row—Sisters Tess and Angela Heery and Master Collins (seated), first prize winners at the Father Matthew Feis, Dublin, the first named winners of the Sean Goulding Cup. (Centre) Miss Mai Rolleston (Mrs. Denn), Oireachtas Championship of Ireland; Bridie Cleary winner of the P.J. Little Cup and two medals; K. Madigan, winner of the Ml. Morrissey Cup. Thus, Bernie is the child in the front centre and it appears that she is wearing 3 medals. Mai Rolleston is standing at the centre of the back row.
In addition to competitions the Rolleston School of Dancing also performed at variety concerts. For example, on St. Stephen’s night in 1942 they entertained troops at the Military Barracks in Waterford City. Topping the bill was Mick O’Shea and his Olympia Dance Band, who performed “a fine selection of popular melodies.” Miss Rosey Power, the well-known vocalist, opened with “Smiling Through.” John “Hal the Great” Roche, described as the “tiny youngster with a high entertainment value kept the audience in a merry mood. His conjuring tricks were of a very high order.” T. Fitzsimmons sang “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair.” “The Rolleston School of Dancing gave a fine exhibition of a reel and hornpipe and double jig and hornpipe.” Bernie Kirwan was one of nine dancers named in the article (Waterford Standard, Sat. 2 January 1943, Front page).
Just three years after her first dance lesson Bernie participated in the Feis Maitius, held in the Father Maitius Hall, on Church St., Dublin in the spring of 1943. The Rolleston School of Dancing won 22 prizes that day and “received very high praise for their fine display of the traditional art from the adjudicators. Bernie gained an All Ireland honour with a “1st in Reel, under 9 P.W.; 3rd in Hornpipe; and 3rd in Double Jig.” Phyllis Denn, youngest daughter of the teacher Mai Rolleston, won a “3rd in the Babies Jig, under 7; and highly commended in Babies’ Reel.” (Munster Express, Fri. 14 May 1943, p. 2).
The Ferrybank Feis of 1943 was interesting because a new rule was introduced that no medals were to be worn by competitors as some people thought in former years that the display of medals by competitors helped to influence the judges (Munster Express, Fri. 18 June 1943, p. 5). It is not clear from the article whether this was a local or national rule. However, we did locate later photos of dancers wearing medals, but it may have been the case that the medals were not worn during the competition.
In October 1944 the Waterford News & Star congratulated “Little Bernie Kirwan” for winning the Morrissey cup at the Moloney Social Club Aerdheacht (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 13 Oct. 1944, p. 5). Earlier in the summer at New Ross Bernie had taken a 1st in the Jig and Reel (Munster Express, Fri. 2 June 1944).
Bernie continued to dance although it appears in 1946 she joined the Troy Dance School of Waterford.
[Update: Thanks to a Waterford reader we learned that Nancy Parker née Troy started the Troy Dancing School in Waterford. A newspaper search revealed that Nancy Troy commenced teaching Irish dance in October 1944 (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 28 Oct. 1994, p. 19). By June 1945 Bernie was dancing competitively with the Troy Dancing School. At the County Wexford Feis held in Adamstown Bernie received awards in two compeitions: 4 hand Reel under 15—1st place was awarded to the team of Shiela Murphy, Kathleen Tyrell, Betty Bible and Bernie Kirwan; Jig, Reel under 14—2nd place went to Bernie Kirwan (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 29 June 1945, p. 3). We also have a better idea of when Bernie left Ireland in 1947. She was still present in June when the Troy Dancing School at the annual Feis in Youghal (Cork) was awarded 18 of the 18 prizes awarded. Bernie at Youghal took a 1st in Jig, Reel, Hornpipe (under 15); a 2nd in the Jig and Reel (under 15); and a first in the Junior Four Hand Reel (under 15) Set A—with her team of Eveline Kavanagh, C. Keane, and S. Murphy.]
About the same time Bernie left Ireland in 1947 her former teacher Mai Rolleston was flying to New York to attend the annual New York Feis (Waterford Standard, Sat. 24 May 1947, p. 4). In 1958 Bernie married Michael H. Ashcroft (1936-2015) in Liverpool and the couple had four children. Bernie died in 2014 one month shy of her 81st birthday. Her former teacher, Mai Rolleston Denn continued to teach Irish dancing and died in 1974 at the age of 79.
Foley, Catherine E., “The Irish Céilé: A Site for Constructing, Experiencing, and Negotiating a Sense of Community and Identity,” in 29(1) Journal of the Society for Dance Research (Summer 2011) p. 43-60.
Wilson, Valerie, “A Step in Time: The Story of Irish Dance” The Costume Society blog, at https://costumesociety.org.uk/blog/post/a-step-in-time-the-story-of-irish-dance [accessed 10 Sept. 2022].
Special thanks to Michael Ashcroft for his corrections, family information and sharing his wonderful photographs.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Flemingstown, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Flemingstown around 1961. The Irish for this townland, according to Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny (1969, p. 109) is Baile Phleimeann, or Fleming’s homestead. The townland is comprised of 196 acres and located in the civil parish of Kilcoan. Flemingstown had a hamlet which is found on the Ordinance Survey. Tobar Chuain, St. Cuan’s holy well, is a quarter of a mile from St. Cuan’s church site, and Tobar Mhuire are in this townland. Tobar Mhuire is the source of the Glenmore Village water. See our blog post of 23 May 2020 concerning the Glenmore Village water works in the 1930’s.
In the 1830 Griffith’s Valuation Applotment Records the townland had two listed landlords namely: Mr. Wm. Dennis of Waterford and Tobias Budd, a minor. Interestingly these two were also the listed landlords for Weatherstown. It was noted that there were no leases in Flemingstown. The listed tenants included: Patrick Mullins (45 acres) Laurence Mullins (18 acres); Patrick Mullins and Patrick Walsh (23 acres); John Butler (18 acres); Thomas Butler (22 acres) John Mullins (18 acres); Patrick Skierivan (12 acres); ? Hartilly (house); Tobias Budd (12 acres); and Bros. Fowd? (house)
Danny Dowling in 1961 recorded only 3 families or households in Flemingstown. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died or left the townland. The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 16 people resided in Flemingstown with the population comprised of 7 males and 9 females. The Fitzgerald family was the largest family with seven members in the household. There was no household recorded of a single person living alone.
Recorded Residents
Males= 7
Females= 9
Eldest Recorded Resident= James Fitzgerald (1888-1963) who was a native of Knockbrack, Glenmore. At the time of his death in 1963 James was 74 years of age, thus he was 72 in 1961. A copy of his obituary is located on our family page and may be accessed by clicking here. It provides that James was a native of Knockbrach, Glenmore and married Lizzie Burke. According to local farmers James bought the Felix Mullins farm in Flemingstown.
Recorded Work
Farmers = 3 (3 males)
Farm workers = 2 (2 males)
Motor mechanic = 1 (1 male)
Rate collector = 1 (1 male)
Shop assistant = 1 (1 female)
Domestic servant =1 (1 female)
FLEMINGSTOWN RESIDENTS
[1] DUGGAN
Duggan, Richard (12 Dec. 1894) Farmer
Duggan, Mary (26 Feb. 1901) wife
Duggan, Thomas, son, motor mechanic
Duggan, Richard, son, rate collector
[2] MULLINS
Mullins, Nicholas (3 July 1913) Farmer
Mullins, Maureen (1923) wife
Mullins, Mary, daughter
Mullins, Geraldine, daughter
Mullins, Breda, daughter
[3] FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald, James (12 Oct. 1888) Farmer (died 26 Jan. 1963)
Fitzgerald, Elizabeth (8 March 1900) wife
Fitzgerald, Paul, son, farm worker
Fitzgerald, James, son, farm worker
Fitzgerald, Elizabeth, daughter, shop assistant
Pender, Joan, boarder, domestic servant
Fitzgerald, Mary, daughter-in-law
As often happened in the past sometimes in a single townland two or three people shared the same name which often led to confusion. To remedy this nic names were bestowed. Sometimes the reason for the nic names are obvious sometimes they are not. Danny Dowling interviewed Mary Stapleton, of Slieverue in 1977 [DD Notebook 4]. Mary stated that there were three Paddy Mullins in Flemingstown, at the one time in the 19th century. They were known by the following names: (1) Pad Fada—Mary Stapleton’s grandfather [Long Paddy]; (2) Pad Mór—[Big Paddy]; and (3) Pad Beg—[Small Paddy].
For earlier blog posts on former Flemingstown folks click on the dates below:
Fr. John Duggan (1932-2021) of Flemingstown, Glenmore and his connection to the American Football Classic, Superbowl IX (post of Nov. 14, 2021).
James Mullins (1841-1912) of Flemingstown, Glenmore who became the Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union (post of 10 January 2021)
Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) a native of Flemingstown who emigrated to the US and returned for a visit in 1913 (post of 18 October 2020).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above was on the front page of the Irish Farmer’s Journal of 9 September 1961.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh