Glenmore Co. Kilkenny
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John Ennett’s, “Dancing at Sean Walsh’s”
For generations, the local pub has been a venue for meeting and catching up, whether it be GAA, politics, work matters and sometimes for a musical get together. Glenmore for a long period of time after 1870 had the distinction of being the only parish in Ireland that was dry and had no pub, at least not a legal one. This changed when our own local pub, The Glen Bar was opened in 1963 by Sean Walsh, and he continued to trade there until 1982, when Michael Barron took ownership of the premises. We are very fortunate to be given a piece of movie gold, by John Ennett, originally from Cappagh, who now resides in England. John recorded this piece in Sean Walsh`s bar around 1980. It`s guaranteed to bring back memories.
Below are a list of local people that appear in the short clip. If you recognise anyone else please describe what they are doing or where they are seated, their name and where they lived or if you have any corrections to the list and information below please send it to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
If you would like to read about the pre-1870 pubs and local shebeen’s recorded by Danny Dowling see our blog post of 30 March 2020 by clicking here.
Special thanks to John Ennett for sharing this wonderful clip.
Pat Dowling
Musicians
James “Jim B.” Walsh, of the Village (18 Sept. 1918-21 March 1988)
Watt Murphy, of Mullinahone, was married to Kitty Walsh.
Jimmy Long (playing the spoons) of Carrigcloney (17 July 1913-11 Oct. 2003)
Nicky Larrissy (playing the banjo) of Slieverue (son-in-law of Jimmy & Alice Long)
Dancers
Paddy Phelan of Ballyhobuck (28 Nov. 1934-28 Dec. 1992)
Alice Long (15 July 1924-7 Nov. 1997)
Ritchie Forristal, son of Bob the Miller, and nephew of Nicky the Miller, of Graiguenakill (21 Jan. 1923- ).
Patrons
Mr. O’Donnell the schoolteacher’s husband seated on right, leaning on his knees (gray hair)
Mikey Phelan, of Mullinahone, standing a the bar with hat, coat and gray hair.
John Ryan, of the Village, far left near Watt Murphy wearing a sports coat.
Nicky Martin, of Upper Ballinlammy, next to Jimmy Long, (wearing a flat cap, tweed coat, jumper, open collar white shirt)
Johnny Sinnott and his wife, of Weatherstown, seated to the right of Jim B (Johnny wearing a flat cap)
“Mick Mack” McDonald?, of Scartnamore, dark hair & sideburns to the left of Watt Murphy (wearing a tie & lit a cigarette)
Jack Dollard, of Ballyfacey, seated on right (hat, white shirt and tie).
Special thanks to John Hennessey for identifying some of the patrons.
From Danny’s Files: The Search for Missing Friends, Part II
Last month we highlighted six entries that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) found in a set of books entitled The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot. These books were published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society of Boston. Today, we are going to highlight several more Glenmore related entries. The original missing person advertisements are in italics and where possible we have listed the baptismal date and parents of the missing emigrant. Readers can access Part I published 13 February 2022 by clicking on the date. Most of the missing emigrants below are from the 1850’s and appear to have fled the famine and lost contact with their family as they attempted to seek opportunities in the US on the eve of the Civil War.
(1) James Roche, native of Ballyfascie (sic), Glenmore, the following advertisement was published in the Boston Pilot on 6 March 1852 (Vol. II, p. 186)
James Roche, native of Ballyfascie, Parish of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who sailed from Waterford 1st of May 1849 & landed in Quebec. When last heard from was in Peru, Clinton County, N.Y. Any information from him will thankfully received by William Gaul, North Brookfield, Worcester County, MS.
We located two possible James Roche’s from Ballyfacey. (A) James Roche (bapt. 13 July 1834) son of James Roche and Ellen Costelloe of Ballyfacy, Glenmore, and (B) James Roche (bapt. 23 Sept. 1826) son of Richard Roche and Catherine Mullins of Ballyfacey, Glenmore.
While searching for records on the above James Roche we came across some other Glenmore Roches missing in the US in the 1850’s.
(2) Martin Roach, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, advertisment in the Boston Pilot was published 8 Feb. 1851 (vol. II, p. 16).
Martin Roach, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny who sailed for Quebec in June, 1849, and not heard from since. Any information of him will be thankfully received by his brother, James Roach, care of James Coughlan, South Groton, Ms.
Although we could not locate anything on Martin Roach in the US we did find a James Roach (aged 25) in the 1855 Massachusetts State Census, for Newton, Middlesex, Mass. This James Roach was living with the Lord family who were merchants.
(3) James & Martin Roach, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, advertisment published in the Boston Pilot on 11 Oct. 1851 (Vol. II, p. 126)
James & Martin Roach, from parish Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny. The first left Ireland 1st May, 1849, in the Lavina for Quebec; the other left 29th June 1849, in the Alert, for Quebec. Any information respecting them will be thankfully received by their brother Patrick Roach, Peoria, Ill.
We did not locate a Martin Roche from Ballyfacey, but we did locate one from Ballyhobuck (bapt. 10 April 1829). This Martin Roche was the son of John Roche and his wife, Catherine Corcoran.
In the 1870 Census for Peoria, Illinois we found a Patrick Roach (aged 33) employed as a miner and married to Johana (aged 31). The couple have a 3 year old daughter Anna. In the 1880 Peoria Census, Patrick is working as a labourer, provides his age as 45 and Johana’s age is also recorded as 45. Their daughter’s name is recorded as Anna Stacey (aged 13), but it is more likely Annastatia.
(4) Martin Malone, native of Glenmore, this advertisment was published in the Boston Pilot on 4 Dec. 1858 (Vol. IV, p. 319)
Martin Malone, a native of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, when last heard from was in Albany, New York, 8 years ago. His wife Ellen (maiden name Morrissey) is anxious to hear from him, care of M.O. Grady, Canandaigua, New York.
An Irish wedding record was found for Martin Malone and Ellen Morrissey. The couple were married on 6 November 1847 in Rosbercon. Martin Malone’s address at the time of the wedding was listed as Kilbrahan. A daughter, Ellen Malone was baptized on 30 March 1849 at Rosbercon. According to the advertisment Martin emigrated in 1850 and his wife appears to have followed in 1858.
(5) Margaret Murphy (bapt. 1834) of Ballinlammy, Glenmore, the advertisement below was published in the Boston Pilot on 1 Aug. 1855 (Vol. V, p. 218)
Margaret Murphy, of Ballinlammy, Parish of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who sailed from Ireland in 1855, and landed in Quebec, Canada. Any information respecting her will be thankfully received by writing to her brother Nicholas Murphy, Waverly, Morgan County, Illinois.
Danny Dowling’s mother was a Murphy from Ballinlammy. Nicholas and Margaret Murphy were his mother’s aunt and uncle. Per the Glenmore church records Margaret Murphy was bapt. 13 July 1834. For further information on Nicholas Murphy (1836-1917) see our page “Finding Glenmore Needles in US Haystacks” by clicking here.
(6) Thomas Powers of Glenmore, this advertisment appeared in the Boston Pilot on 13 January 1855 (Vol. III, p. 241)
Thomas Powers, of parish Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who came to this country 3 ½ yrs ago, and when last heard from was in Ohio. Information will be received by his sisters Bridget and Mary, care of Aaron D. Williams, Roxburs (sic), Mass.
There were four Thomas Powers baptized in Glenmore from 1826 to 1834. (A) Thomas Power of Knockbrack, Glenmore bapt. 14 April 1826, son of Maurice Power and Mary Henneberry. (B) Thomas Power, of Glenmore bapt. 3 Dec. 1832 son of Richard Power and Mary Moore. (C) Thomas Power, of Ballanguile (Gaulstown), Glenmore, bapt. 12 Oct. 1834, son of Edmund Power and Joney Aylward. (d) Thomas Power, of Ballanguile (Gaulstown), Glenmore, Bapt. 1 Aug. 1834, son of James Power and Ellen Shea
However, the only Thomas Power who had sisters named Mary and Bridget was the son of Edmund Power and Joney Power née Aylward. Mary Power (bapt. 23 Oct. 1838) and Bridget Power (bapt. 3 Nov. 1836).
Census records revealed that Aaron D. Williams was an industrialist in Roxbury, Mass. It is likely that either Mary or Bridget were working for him in 1855 when the advertisment was placed in the paper.
(7) Margaret Norris, James & Patrick Hartley, of Glenmore, the following advertisment was published on 23 January 1869 in the Boston Pilot (Vol. 6, 1866-1870, p. 430)
Margaret Norris, a native of the parish of Meelinharaga,(sic) Co. Kilkenny, Ireland; when last heard from, in 1861, was in New Orleans, La. Also of James Hartley and Patrick Hartley, of the parish of Glenmore, county Kilkenny. Any information will be gratefully received by their cousin, Alice McSweeny (maiden name Alice Norris), daughter of Michael Norris and Mary Hartley. Direct to William Moore, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Margaret Norris (bapt. 28 May 1835) at Gurteen was the daughter of Michael Norris and Mary Hartly. Her parents were married in Glenmore on 5 Jan. 1822. Her mother, Mary Hartly, was from Weatherstown, Glenmore. James Hartley and another Mary Hartly were witnesses at the wedding.
While looking for information on the above we found the following:
(8) James, John and Margaret Norris, of Gilcugh (sic), this advertisment was published 12 January 1861 in the Boston Pilot (Vol. 2, p. 4)
James, John and Margaret Norris, children of Michael and Mary Norris, of Gilcugh (co. Kilkenny), supposed to be in New Orleans. Information of them or either of them, will be thankfully received by their sister, Alice Norris. Direct to Bryan McSweeny, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
We located Alice McSweeney née Norris (b. 1835) in the 1860 US Census. She was married to Bryan McSweeney (aged 35) and the couple had two daughters Mary (aged 5) and Ellen (aged 3). The family was living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Both Bryan and Alice were born in Ireland. Alice could not read or write and Bryan was working as a labourer. The 1870 Census provides that Alice was still living in Cape Girardeau and gave her age as 34. With her daughter Ella (age 13) who cannot read or write; John (aged 4) and Alice (aged 1). Apparently, Bryan died before the 1870 census and Alice McSweeney married John Dade on 20 January 1873 at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Cape Girardeau is on the Mississippi River about 100 miles south of St. Louis. During the Civil War Missouri was a Confederate State and directly across the river Illinois was a Union State. In 1863 a small battle took place at Cape Girardeau. Alice McSweeney née Norris was living in Cape Girardeau before, during and after the Civil War.
(9) Patrick Doyle, native of Glenmore, the following advertisement was published in the Boston Pilot on 7 January 1865 (Vol. V., p. 436)
Patrick Doyle, native of Glenmore, county Kilkenny, who left Ireland for America about two years ago. His friend in America has neither seen or heard from him since his arrival, save a rumor that he was seen in the city of Newport about ten days ago. Any information respecting him will be thankfully received by his sister, Mrs. Mary Powers (maiden name Doyle). Direct to her No. 13 Lincoln street, Boston, Mass.
We found a Patrick Doyle (bapt. 30 Jan. 1836) the son of Thomas Doyle and Bridget Brian of Ballyveria, Glenmore. The couple had a daughter Mary Doyle (bapt. 17 Sept. 1840) and the address given at the time of her birth was Darbystown, Rosbercon.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured drawing is courtesy of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1851). Irish emigrants leaving home — the priest’s blessing Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-37f2-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 .
The photo of the riverboat “Glenmore” (c, 1904) was taken on the Ohio River at Tell, Indiana. (The original photo is in the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Danny Dowling (1927-2021): One Year Anniversary
It is difficult to believe that St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) will mark the first anniversary of our founder Danny’s death. Much over the past year remained the same, yet at the same time much has changed. The last year witnessed the continued scourge of COVID and over the last few weeks the invasion of Ukraine has brought death and misery to millions. Locally, Danny’s death left a void with more than one person expressing that they wished they had spoken to him just one more time. Luckily, Danny left a huge corpus of information that he collected over 7 decades regarding Glenmore and the South-East of Ireland. Although Danny is no longer at the helm, providing advice, information and sending messages to readers, thanks to his son Pat, most posts continue to draw upon the interviews Danny recorded or the voluminous files he kept on the research he conducted in newspapers and libraries.
A memorial Mass for Danny will be held in St. James’ Church, Glenmore at 11 a.m. on March 17th. The website for Glenmore Parish is https://www.glenmoreparish.ie/.
For anyone who did not have the pleasure of meeting Danny, the blog in addition to the posts contains static pages where family information is found as well as Irish words and field names Danny recorded are listed. Below is a list of selected information available online regarding the man and his work:
[1] Introducing Glenmore Historian: Danny Dowling, our first post. https://glenmore-history.com/introducing-the-glenmore-historian-danny-dowling/
[2] Happy Birthday Danny: Danny’s 93rd Birthday published 15 Feb. 2020. https://glenmore-history.com/happy-birthday-danny/
[3] First Anniversary of Blog: Message from Danny, published 3 Nov. 2020. https://glenmore-history.com/first-anniversary/
[4] Some Interesting Events in 1927: The Year Danny Dowling Was Born, published 12 Feb. 2021. https://glenmore-history.com/some-interesting-events-in-1927/
[5] The Sad Farewell, published on 20 March 2021. https://glenmore-history.com/the-sad-farewell/
[6] Month’s Mind, published 17 April 2021, containing several photos of Danny,
https://glenmore-history.com/months-mind/
[7] Danny Dowling’s Appearance in Land and Sea: Talamn An Eisc, posted on 22 October 2021. https://glenmore-history.com/some-interesting-events-in-1927/
[8] The Waterford Library has put Danny Dowling’s (1998) Waterford Streets Past and Present on line. https://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/departments/library/local-history-books.htm
[9] Old Waterford Society: Decies–this journal is available on line via the Waterford Library and contains several articles written by Danny including:
- Daniel Dowling (1976) “Eviction of James Holden” (vol. 2, p. 24);
- Daniel Dowling (1983) “South Kilkenny in 1798 and the Role of William Gaffney,” (vol. 24, p. 14);
- Daniel Dowling (1983) “New Geneva,” (vol. 29, p. 32);
- Daniel Dowling (1986) “Piltown: Kildalton and its Past,” (vol. 32, p. 28);
- Dan Dowling (1990) “Tory, Rapparee & Highwaymen: Social Unrest in the 17th & 18th Century,” (vol. 43, p. 25).
Decies is available on-line at https://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/departments/library/ejournals/decies.htm .
Lastly, after Glenmore History volunteers recorded the inscription on headstones in the cemetery adjacent to St. James’ Church in Glenmore Village during the summer of 2020, Danny reviewed the information and remarked on how his friend Nicky “the Miller” and his father died on the 17th and the 18th of March. Danny then noticed that there were a number of Glenmore men who died on St. Patrick’s Day. A computer search of all the inscriptions revealed that Danny was correct. Up to 2021, five inscriptions revealed that five men died on St. Patrick’s Day; no women were found with this date of death.
Michael Ribby died 17th March 1891, aged 84.
Patrick “the Miller” Forristal, died 17th March 1931, aged 82.
Nicholas “the Miller” Forristal, died 18 March 1979, aged 91.
Laurence Patrick Forristal, died 17th March 1994, aged 77.
John Downey, died 17th March 1995, interred in England.
Peter Kennedy, died 17th March 1962, aged 83.
Daniel “Danny” Dowling, died 17th March 2021, aged 94.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
One Hundred Years Ago: March 1922
As we have reported over the past few months, the fledgling country began to address some of the issues and problems associated with the administration of the Free State. However, the Treaty and No Treaty politics continued to dominate the local newspapers. In March 1922, just a few months before the outbreak of the Civil War, various leaders were concerned about the possibility of a civil war. At the beginning of March, the New Ross Standard reported that Rev. Dr. Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe, whose patriotism “is so widely known,” stated, “unless we are careful we may find ourselves one day without either Treaty or Republic…” (Fri. 3 March 1922, p. 3). Today, we are going to focus again on articles that appeared in local newspapers.
Establishment of Civil Guardians
Early in the month it was announced that the arrangements for establishing a new police force were almost complete. The police were being trained at the R.D.S. grounds, Ballsbridge, under the control of Mr. P. Brennan, brother of Commandant General Brennan, of Clare. The new force was said to be strictly non-political and its duties were confined to checking the activities of criminals (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 March 1922, p. 4).
The new police were called Civil Guardians, and the public were informed that they would operate with 1,000 members outside of Dublin. The DMP (Dublin Metropolitan Police) continued in Dublin “for the present.” The members of the Civil Guardians were drawn from four classes: (a) The army and Irish Republican police; (b) men who were dismissed or who resigned from the RIC and DMP from conscientious or patriotic motives; (c) the civil population and (d) the RIC and DMP, after disbandment. Applications from Class B were verified according to RIC and DMP records; applications from classes B & D were also to be verified by IRA officers. The pay of a constable started at 70s per week, and a sergeant at 100s per week. The qualifications of members included: height, at least 5 feet 9 inches; mean chest measurement 36 inches; strong and active; unmarried; between the ages of 19 and 27 years, and of good appearance and physique. The public were notified that if first class men filled the available posts no men from classes (b), (c) or (d) would be hired. Candidates were examined in reading, writing from dictation, spelling and arithmetic. They were required to write a short composition on simple subject, either as a letter or statement. At Ballsbridge a party of RIC handed over 26 Ford cars, 4 Crossley tenders, and 2 Crossley touring cars to the new Civic Guards (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 March 1922, p. 9).
The new army members were being sent to Beggar’s Bush Barracks to undergo a short period of training and to be properly uniformed and equipped. “A number of armoured cars purchased from the departing British were turned over … to the authorities in Beggar’s Bush, as well as another fleet of Crossley tenders and motor transports” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 March 1922, p. 5). Thus while the RIC turned over its vehicles the British army sold unwanted vehicles to the Irish Free State.
Crime
Crime continued to plague the country. One murder that was widely reported was that of Max Green, the 57 year old, son-in-law of the late John Redmond. Max Green was murdered in St. Stephen’s Green on the 3rd of March by armed robbers fleeing and shooting at their pursuers. The alleged killers were 19-year-old, Laurence Dowling, and 23-year-old, James O’Neill. They were being chased by the IRP and DMP after a holdup in Molesworth street where they took £50. Some newspapers reported that “by sad coincidence Monday was the fourth anniversary of the death of John Redmond” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 March 1922, p. 8). [For more information concerning Redmond see our post of 13 July 2021].
More locally the National Bank , on the Quay, New Ross was robbed on the 15th of March. “A motor car conveying the robbers drove along the Quay, and suddenly pulled up outside the bank premises, remaining in gear.” One of the robbers was dressed as a woman, complete with a woman’s hat and veil and two other men wore masks across the lower part of their faces when they entered the bank and held up the staff. The sum stolen was thought to be about a thousand or twelve hundred pounds. The robbery lasted about 15 minutes. All five of the staff members were ordered to put up their hands as were some customers who were also in the bank. “The manager, Mr. O’Brien, on being asked for the keys of the safe, refused, and promptly made a dash for the door and got out, rushed up the street and gave the alarm.” In their hurried search of the Bank the robbers missed some silver and notes. “The robbers went through their work with coolness.” One of the robbers when leaving dropped a bundle of notes and left the money. The car drove quickly away and out the Greywell Road toward Ferrymountgarrett bridge. Word was sent to the IRA, and shortly afterwards they went in pursuit of the motor car armed with rifles. The IRA caught up with the motor car at Drummond on the borders of South Carlow. They found the driver tied up, but the robbers had disappeared (New Ross Standard, NRS, Fri. 17 March 1922, p. 5).
Luckily, we have further information regarding the robbery because a reporter for the Waterford News & Star, went to the premises of Sheridan Motors, on the Quay, Waterford and interviewed Michael Carolan. The car used in the robbery was owned by Mr. Sheridan, the Quay, and his employee Michael Carolan, was the driver of the vehicle used in the robbery. “At the point of the revolver, he was reluctantly compelled to drive the robbbers.” He reported that he left Waterford driving Capt. Brennan, of the IRA Headquarters Staff, who went to New Ross shortly after 10 a.m. to inspect the Ross barracks. On the way back to Waterford about a mile outside of Ross they were accosted by three men, one was dressed as a woman. Armed the three men ordered Michael Carolan to drive back to Ross and they put Capt. Brennan on the side of the road. Michael Carolan was ordered to stop at the National Bank on the Quay and two of the robbers entered the building with the man dressed as a woman leading the way. The third man stood guard outside. After ten minutes the three men rushed to the car and ordered Carolan to drive toward Graiguenamanagh. About a mile out of town he was order to stop and his hands were tied and he was blindfolded. Carolan was put in the back of the car and driven for about 15 minutes then the robbers abandoned the car and driver (Thur. 16 March 1922, p. 5).
Glenmore in the News
On the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, the remains of John E. Hartley were removed from the grave in the Republican plot and re-interred in the family burial ground in Glenmore cemetery. “Following his death at the Coolbawn fight on last June the remains were brought to Glenmore encased in a magnificent coffin and interred in the Republican plot…In the same fight and on the same day his cousin, Nick Mullins, fell, and he sleeps in Thomastown…For some time back Mr. Hartley wished that the remains of his son be disinterred and laid to rest in the family grave, and the Volunteers of Glenmore decided to gratify the wish of the respected parents…From different parts of South Kilkenny Volunteers came in their numbers to pay a fitting tribute to the memory of one whom they not alone respected, but loved in life.”
A description of the event is reported. “The village was specially decorated for the occasion. Arches of evergreens, from which were suspended tricolour mourning flags, spanned the streets… A touching feature of the proceedings was the presence of over half a dozen of the young men who fought with poor Jack in the flying column and in the Coolbawn fight. To them was fittingly assigned the honour of taking the coffin from the grave to the new one, and firing the volleys over the grave when the ceremony was over. The procession formed up about three o’clock, headed by the New Ross O’Hanrahan pipers’ band, and the order was: The band, next a body of the Glenmore IRA (C) Company, carrying a large tricolour mourning banner bearing the inscription in Gaelic, “Shaun E. Hartley, who died for God and Ireland;” next the staff of the 6th Batt. IRA, including his comrades in that column; next the Glenmore C Company, IRA, followed by the Listerlin B. Company, Tullogher A Company, Graiguenamanagh Company, the Glenmore Cumann na mBan, carrying a large mourning flag; the Mile Bush Fianna, each boy being dressed in green jackets and hats, and in charge of their captain, Mr. Murphy. The generality of the IRA carried arms on their shoulders.” The newspaper then listed a number of officers including Lt. James Roche and Lt. Edward Hartley of the Glenmore Company. “The rear of the procession was brought up by the general public. It proceeded up to the Waterford road, down by the Creamery, on to the graveyard, covering a distance of close on half a mile, the band playing appropriate airs, which gave a solemn and touching tone to the demonstration” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 March 1922, p. 7). For further information on John Hartley and Nicholas Mullins see our blog post of 20 June 2021.
An unnamed Glenmore woman featured in the New Ross Standard on Friday the 24th of March 1922 (p. 8) reflecting difficulties faced by the poor in attempting to access services after the demise of the workhouse system. It also highlights the hostile attitudes unmarried mothers faced. During the monthly meeting of the County Board of Health, Patrick Kavanagh, house steward of the County Home, reported the admission of an unnamed Glenmore woman. She had applied for admission to the New Ross workhouse, but was refused. She went to the County Home but did not have a ticket. She was a maternity patient in a very fragile state and walked from New Ross to Thomastown. Dr. Mitchell questioned how such people are to get to Thomastown? He requested that an ambulance be sent. He noted that she was kicked out of her home and had no place to go except the County Home. The Mayor of Kilkenny City suggested that she could travel on the bus to Kilkenny, and then take the train to Thomastown. He did not address how the costs would be met. A Mr. Gibbons opined that at some future time a system of penitentiaries must be established for these cases. Ultimately the Board consisting of men ordered that the resident medical officer at the Central hospital and the secretary draft out a list of instruction to Receiving Officers with reference to the use of the ambulances.
Lastly, two death notices for Glenmore residents or former residents were reported in the local newspapers. The New Ross Standard reported that Mrs. Bridget O’Doherty of Moulerstown Glenmore died on 5 March 1922 (Fri. 17 March 1922, p. 1). According to the death register Bridget Doherty (sic) was a 71 year old widow. Her son Michael was present at her death. The Munster Express reported the death of Mrs. Anastatia Fluskey née Maher, wife of Mr. Terence Fluskey, of St. Ignatius street, Waterford, on the 11th of March. The deceased was interred in Glenmore in the family burial place (Sat. 18 March 1922, p. 6). According to the death register the deceased was 42 years of age and her cause of death was thought to be due to influenza. For further information regarding the Fluskey family of Glenmore see our post of 28 May 2020.
The advertisement for Sheraton’s was published in the Waterford News & Star (16 March 1922). The featured photo above was taken 19 June 2021 at the laying of the wreath on the grave of John Hartley, the Commemmoration Ceremony, Glenmore Cemetery.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Glenmore Cinema: William “Bill” Walsh (1912-1985)
Over the last couple of years while typing up Danny Dowling’s notebooks and writing articles for this blog there have been several times when I wished that I could have met some of the interesting former Glenmore residents. One such person was Bill Walsh (1912-1985) who before television was available brought films to Glenmore, and other local areas, and often took films to individual homes for people who were ill. He was instrumental in the founding of the popular Glenmore Athletic Club, was an avid cyclist and operated a dancehall in Mullinavat. Thanks to Marion Coady Hendrick née Walsh we now have further information regarding her father and the social history of Glenmore of the twentieth century created by his endeavours. Information not part of Marion’s article, gleaned from public records, is included in square brackets [ ].
My Father, by Marion Coady Hendrick née Walsh
Family Background
William “Bill” Walsh was born 110 years ago this coming week on 2 March 1912. He was born in Cappagh, Glenmore and lived his entire life in Glenmore. He was the youngest child of Patrick Walsh (1857-1933) and his wife Margaret “Maggie” née McGuiness (1868-1952). Patrick and Maggie met when Maggie came from the North of Ireland to stay with relatives in Gaulstown. [The couple married on 12 September 1893 at St. John’s of Waterford. According to the marriage records Patrick Walsh, of Glenmore, was the son of John Walsh (deceased weaver) and Maggie McGuinness was residing on Hennessy’s Road, in Waterford, and was the daughter of James McGuinness (retired policeman).] Patrick and Maggie Walsh had nine children, including (1) Annie Walsh (b. 25 Oct. 1894); (2) Katie “Kit” Walsh (b. 12 Oct. 1896); (3) Jim Walsh (b. 30 Nov. 1898); (4) Mary “Molly” Walsh (b. 19 Feb. 1901); (5) Ellen “Eily” Walsh (b. 4 Aug. 1902); (6) Sarah Walsh (b. 4 April 1904); (7) John “Jack” Walsh (b. 10 June 1906); (8) Margaret “Gretta” Walsh (b. 5 Oct. 1908); (9) William “Bill” Walsh (b. 2 March 1912).
Patrick Walsh died in 1933 at the age of 76. Patrick worked in the dairy in the Glenmore Creamery up until his death. Bill at 15 years of age took over his father’s job in the dairy. Sometime later there was an exam for the storekeeper’s position in the Creamery. Bill got the highest marks in the exam and got the job. He was a man of great intelligence, and this was borne out over his lifetime. He also had the greatest attribute of all which cannot be picked up in any university, he possessed common sense in abundance. [Bill worked full time in the Creamery until his retirement in the late 1970’s.] In addition to Bill being employed at the Glenmore Creamery, his sister Molly Walsh (1901-1988) was employed there as the dairy maid. While working at the Creamery she met Larry Fortune, of Shanbogh and the couple later married.
In 1946, Bill Walsh married Margaret “Peg” Roche (1917-2012) when Peg returned from England after working there throughout WWII. They had been engaged for 5 years. Peg was the daughter of Edward Roche and Mary Roche née Forristal, of the High Road, Rathinure, Glenmore. Mary was born and reared in Forristal’s Mill in Graiguenakill, Glenmore and was a sister of Nicky “the Miller” Forristal. Bill Walsh and his wife Peg had six children. The eldest three children were boys and the youngest three were girls. Their names are: (1) Pat Walsh; (2) Eamonn Walsh; (3) Jimmy Walsh; (4) Marion Walsh; (5) Ann Walsh; and (6) Monica Walsh. Sadly, Jimmy passed away at 3 years of age.
Athletic Life
In the St. Joseph’s Athletic Club, Third Annual Yearbook, 1984/85 a tribute was penned about Bill by Danny Dowling (1927-2021) under the heading “Well known athlete of former years passes away.” Danny described Bill as an “indefatigable worker for the advancement of athletics in the South East, particularly in the Glenmore/Rosbercon area, his lifelong association with the sport earned him the admiration and esteem of all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His colleagues in the sport of cycle racing included such well- known personalities as Richie Cotterell of Ballycroney, Tommy and Dick Hamilton and Jack Doolan of Tinneranny, and the late Paddy O’Brien of New Ross and the Parish Pump.”
Bill was a keen racing cyclist for many years, particularly in the 1930’s and 40’s when he took part in almost every road and track event in the South East. His intense interest in the sport was mainly responsible for the foundation in 1943 of the Glenmore Athletic Club, and some of his colleagues in this venture included Larry and Pat Roche of Haggard, Peter Egan of Mullinarrigle, Stephen Walsh, Rochestown, Tommy Cotterell, Ballycroney and Tommy Fitzgerald of Moulerstown. The Glenmore Club remained active for many years and was responsible for keeping alive a vibrant interest in local athletics. Its success in that regard is mainly due to the dedication and enthusiasm of Bill Walsh. Local athletes, of both the present and future, owe him a debt of gratitude for his unselfish dedication and service which he unstintingly gave in the interest of youth and sport. He was the personality portrait in the Munster Express on more than one occasion, as Hon Secretary of the Glenmore Athletic Club, highlighting the annual sports day at Skow Bridge the only one of its kind to be held annually in South Kilkenny.
Cinema in Glenmore
Before television came into use in the early 60’s the weekly film was a huge event in the social life of Glenmore. JK Walsh’s was the venue right next to Danny Dowling’s house in the village. Every week the new film arrived. First, they came as 3 reels but later one large reel the size of a bicycle wheel. Bill had two projectors one large and one smaller. He built a high wall behind the screen to mount the screen on, but also to make the cinema easier to heat. The excitement before the film started was palpable. Some of the films included: Ben Hur, Quo Vadis, all the old cowboy films High Noon, Gunfight at the OK Corral. The boys in the village would run around firing cap guns for weeks after a cowboy film. The Song of Bernadette he showed “Pro Bono” to the Good Shepherd Nuns and girls. On different days of the week, he showed films in Mullinavat, Hugginstown, and Bigwood. When he had a free night, he showed his film of the week to whatever invalid or bedridden person in the parish who wished to see it. For a screen he used one of his wife’s starched white sheets.
In 1961, Bill installed new state of the art seating, it seemed the height of luxury to us after the benches. The winter of 1962/63 was savage, the coldest for more than 200 years. It began freezing on Christmas day 1962 and didn’t relent until March 1963. The roof of Bill’s cinema collapsed under the weight of the snow. For a while he continued to show films in the old school, but with the advent of television the popularity of local cinema died out it was the end of an era for Glenmore cinema.
Mullinavat Dance Hall
In 1957, Bill in partnership with Paulie Fitzgerald Moulerstown, bought Mullinavat Dance Hall, known locally as Harney’s Hall. They installed a new maple floor which cost £1,000 (which is €1,269.74) an enormous sum at the time when the average wage was £8. (or €10.16) per week. How we loved to slide around on that floor! There was a long tube which contained a kind of floor wax like Lux flakes that you shook on the floor, and it gleamed.
The dancehall became a popular venue during the 50’s and 60’s. It is where love stories began. A wonderful place full of music and song, youth and vitality, noise, and energy. Girls and boys from all over the country came to dance the night away, they waltzed and fox-trotted to the big bands, they huckle-bucked and jived, and twisted the night away. The excitement of the Sunday night dance.
A lot of girls and boys cycled miles to get to the dances as evidenced by the headscarves, raincoats and bicycle lamps hung in the cloakroom. Hundreds of bikes were parked in Walsh’s Garden on the corner near Mill Bridge. The girls dressed in beautiful dresses of every hue and the men wore suits.
The dance halls had to close down during Lent, the torment of that, never had 7 weeks seemed so long. During Lent we all had to lend a hand painting and refurbishing the hall for the grand opening after Lent. St. Patrick’s Day was the exception when the hall opened for concerts and anyone off drink for Lent could have a drink on that day only. Of course, there was no drinking in the dance hall, there was only a mineral bar, tea, and sandwiches. There was a license with the hall when it was first bought from Harneys, but Bill and Paulie having kept it for a while decided it was better to just have a mineral bar as most other dancehalls did at the time. The drinking was done beforehand in the local pubs. On Sunday nights the pubs all closed at 10 p.m. A big night which stood out in our minds as children was when Maggie Barry came to the Dancehall and all the mothers in the village went to see her. My mother made the tea on a Sunday night and welcomed the girls from around the area into the house, they were waiting for our father to give them a lift to the Dance after he had finished showing films in one of the halls around the country. We remembered as children the girls sitting us on their laps, they wore hoops in their dresses to make them stand out, and we would wiggle on their knees to get comfortable. All consigned to history now.
Mullinavat Fete
The Fete’s were also held at the Dance Hall, but in a huge marquee tent adjacent to it, to accommodate the crowds that came. The Junior and Senior hurling tournaments and the excitement of the hurling final. The Victors Showband and the Barrow Boys, Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners. Buses came from all over, people got a lift, walked, and cycled, it was the highlight of the summer. There was a spinning wheel, where you bought a ticket and if your number came up you got to pick a prize. Pongo, a tea tent which served the best homemade cakes, buns and sandwiches, fish and chips and ice cream were served. Loud music and great excitement, people everywhere and of course the big bands and dancing in the Hall. Mullinavat was booming at that time.
Bill sadly passed away on 1st March 1985 the day before his 73rd birthday. It was sudden and shocking to us all, he was always so full of vitality. The day before he died, (he was in hospital for 2 days) when asked what he wanted for his birthday he said “I just want to go home, I’m only going to dig half the garden this year.” He stayed busy to the end.
On 19th January 1987 the Hall was sold to Monsignor Maher, Parish House, Mullinavat. There was a one off “Last Dance” held there on Sunday 1st June 2014 and the hall was demolished in July 2014. Today the area where the Hall stood now house the local school and community hall.
Special thanks to Marion for sharing her knowledge, memories and photos and writing the above interesting article.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Roaring Twenties: Glenmore’s Championship 1920 Senior Football Match Played in February 1922
According to the Kilkenny GAA Bible, Glenmore won the Kilkenny Senior Football Championships in 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1929 (Gerry O’Neil, Kilkenny GAA Bible 2018, p. 64). As we previously highlighted the football season commenced in one year and the championship was held usually in the spring of the next year. During the War of Independence, no Kilkenny County football championships were played or awarded for 1917 or 1918. Further no championship was held in 1921 and the 1920 Senior County Football Championship did not conclude until February 1922. For details concerning the first 1920 championship game between Glenmore and Cloneen (Castlecomer) see our previous blog of 9 August 2021.
The Kilkenny People, on Saturday the 18th of February 1922 (p. 2) covered the G.A.A. County Finals, held on Sunday the 12th of February 1922, but never provided what championship year was being played. However, the football teams and the scores line up with the information recorded in the Kilkenny GAA Bible for the 1920 Championship.
Although the article was to cover the County junior hurling and senior football championships it commences with a statement regarding other events that were occurring in Kilkenny City at that time. The author also employs a great deal of flowery language that is not generally found in more modern sports commentary, but does provide unsolicited advice that is found generally in more modern sports commentary.
“St. James’s Park, historic through the mobilization there of our Irish soldiers for the taking over of the City Military Barracks last week, was again a scene of giant national life on Sunday. The beautiful spring sunshine on that day—a harbinger of another season of freedom now that the foreign garrisons have left our midst, and the eager anxiety as to the destination of the coveted championships all tended to encourage the Gaels of our county to make the Marble City their rendezvous on Sunday last” Moondharrig (Mooncoin) was one of the teams to play in the first fixture, the junior hurling championship, and “brought in their train a huge crowd of admirers. “And what shall we say of the study supporters of the boys from the Big Glen all ready to cheer their doughty footballers to victory. The combined teams from the south—Moondharrig (Mooncoin) and Glenmore—with their big quota of supporters, supplied a goodly cargo to the Waterford special, and their jubilant mood on arrival in the Marble City showed that they fancied the south were confident of capturing the double honours of the day.” The author then went on to describe that the train from the north, “the Castlecomer special disgorged by far the greater portion of a thousand enthusiastic Gaels, all confident of a victory…”
“About 2 o’clock, as the hour approached for the opening contest, the Park presented an animated appearance—the pitch was in splendid condition, bare, firm, and showing just a faint tinge of reviving green, the hundreds of spectators already assembled eagerly discussed the prospects of the clubs concerned and the ideal weather conditions with the prospect of two thrilling encounters seemed to make everybody happy, not excepting the County Board officials, who, though exceedingly busy, were still being aptly rewarded by the large patronage afforded the fixture. Close on 2,000 people must have been present when the teams appeared for the first contest.”
The first fixture was the junior hurling championship. The newspaper account provides that the Tulla team beat Moondharrig (Mooncoin) 5 goals, 1 point (16) to 1 point. The Kilkenny GAA Bible (2018) p. 30 provides that in the 1920 championship Tulla beat Mooncoin by a score of 5 goals, 1 point (16) to 1 goal, 1 point (4) and the teams played a total of four times before Mooncoin was declared the 1920 County Kilkenny Junior Hurling Champions.
The Senior Football Final
“The chief interest of the day was centred in the replay of the senior football championship final between Glenmore and Cloneen (Castlecomer). A regrettable delay of almost three-quarters of an hour was caused through disagreement as to the referee for the game—this hitch was the more unseemly as it was the only blot on a splendid day’s sport, all other arrangements for which left nothing to be desired. Eventually the game was started with Mr. P. Dunphy (Dublin) in charge and the game was as expected, a robust one.” Unfortunately, the newspaper article does not indicate which team objected to the referee. As highlighted in our previous post Glenmore was fined £1 for not being punctual in an earlier championship game in 1921 with Cloneen where the team objected to a referee and thereby delayed the start of the first championship match.
In the 12 February 1922 match “[t]he ball was only set in motion when the game was held up through a foul, and Glenmore getting free were early invading. They pressed very strongly, but from a spectator’s point of view the game was most disappointing, as it was nothing but a succession of fouls—no less than ten frees being awarded in the first eight minutes of the game. The players on settling down were more amendable to discipline and a very fast, vigorous contest resulted. Glenmore were the stronger, heavier team, and being better fielders they did nearly all the pressing in the first half. Their large following were loud in their applause when, after about twelve minutes’ play they scored a major, to which they added two points before the interval, which case with the scores: Glenmore 1 goal, 2 points; Cloneen 1 point.”
In the second half, “the teams were quickly into stride and though not so numerous as in the opening stages fouls were still frequent. Doherty, Heffernan, Hanrahan, Cody and Connolly were the outstanding players on the Glenmore side, and though the back division of Cloneen was sound, they were unable to cope with the strain which two weak front lines allowed to press on the and the Glenmore team notched several useful points. Cloneen made some spirted rushes, but the finishing was weak, and though they scored two points in this half they lost several openings, while Glenmore grasped every opportunity, and with brilliant goal in the closing stages they ran out winners on the score: Glenmore 2 goals, 6 points (12); Cloneen 3 points (3).”
Not content with reporting on what other newspapers dubbed the “splendidly contested match” the author provided advice to the Kilkenny G.A.A. County Board. “Concerning the game we must say that though the pace was fairly fast and the fielding of Glenmore exceptionally good, there was absent altogether that technique and finish which is characteristic of present day football, notably among the leading clubs of Leinster’s premier football counties—Dublin and Kildare. They display of the teams on Sunday was rather an aggregate of disjointed good individual work than a harmonious combination and blending into a unified whole, hence we had no brilliant passages that delight and thrill in the big games of the inter-county contests. No doubt this is due to lack of training, but we point out this as we feel it a pity that such splendid material is not properly trained, as then Kilkenny might look again to making fame on the football field. Cloneen seemed to have lost their old dash, and one got the impression that they never got properly going, at least their display fell short altogether of the standard reached by them in the previous contests. A judicious selection from both teams, strengthened by some leading players, from other clubs in the county, should do credit to Kilkenny in the approaching Leinster championship contests.”
“Concerning the fixture we must admit—that never was better order kept in the Park and while congratulating the County Board and its officials on the arrangements so splendidly carried out, we trust that this high standard of order, regularity and punctuality will be maintained. That no team can have any ground of dissatisfaction as there was “A fair field and no favour” for all, and we agree with the wisdom of the Co. board in ordering all finals to be played in the Park. That the Co. Board has no excuse to plead poverty for many days to come, but after all the airgead síos (money down) is necessary to provide the sinews of war.”
For an account of earlier teams see, The Tenacious Glenmore 1915 Football Team: Co. Kilkenny Senior Football Champions and The Glenmore Football Club: The Trials and Tragedy of the 1906 Co. Kilkenny Gaelic Football Champions.
The featured photo above was taken in 1925 and part of the Poole Collection (POOL_WP_2720a, POOL_K_4144 & POOL_WP_3651) and the photo is Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh