Glenmore Co. Kilkenny
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The Glenmore Football Club: The Trials and Tragedy of the 1906 County Kilkenny Gaelic Football Champions
It is not yet known when the first Gaelic football team was established in Glenmore. Prior to 1890 there were few newspaper articles concerning sports and most of the earliest accounts of football matches appear to have been written and submitted to newspapers by the teams. However, in petty session records commencing in about 1887 there are several references to Glenmore men being charged with assaults that occurred coming home from football matches. Unfortunately, there are no details provided in the newspaper accounts to indicate whether the men were returning from attending a Gaelic football match where a Glenmore team played. According to the GAA Kilkenny Bible (2011, p. 56) in the first half of the twentieth century Glenmore won 15 Senior County Football Championships and 3 Junior County Football Finals. Glenmore won its first Senior County Football Championship in 1906 although the final was actually played on 5 May 1907. Thanks to the sports columns that began appearing in newspapers at the turn of the century we also know that by 1908 Glenmore had a Senior, Junior and “Schoolboy” teams. Glenmore was a recognised Gaelic Football powerhouse in County Kilkenny.
From the newspaper accounts it appears that GAA clubs in the early decades of the twentieth century engaged in fundraising by hosting tournaments among other activities. To entice teams to a tournament medals or jerseys were advertised and provided for the winning team members. On the 31st of July 1904 a “highly successful tournament” took place at Glenmore (The Waterford News and Star, 5 Aug. 1904). It was held in a field given by Dr. Philips, of Rochestown House (Mount Ida). Two matches were to be held that day. The first was a championship match between Slieverue and Nore Bangers and the other a friendly between Mullinavat and Campile. It was reported that the young and inexperienced men of Slieverue proved that they were equal to their opponent though they did not win. The Campile team failed to appear for the friendly, so the Glenmore team took to the field to play Mullinavat and the game ended in a draw. The article concluded that the Glenmore Football Club Committee are to be congratulated on the silver medals awarded, the excellent field arrangements and it was noted that the “new extension railway line affords unique facilities to meet in Glenmore” with a field convenient to the Aylwardstown station. Undoubtedly the opening of the railway line through Glenmore aided in allowing Glenmore teams to compete in more matches. One article in 1907 referred to a match being held at “Lucy Rock” Glenmore (Munster Express, 23 Feb. 1907).
Letters to the editor of local newspapers proved a popular vehicle for players and spectators to comment on the matches, issue challenges, appeal to the public, and call for corrective lenses for referees. At the end of 1903 the New Ross Standard printed several letters to the editor which criticised a match that took place in the Rower between neighbouring parishes Tullogher and Glenmore. Glenmore lost and J. Dunphy and J. Grace, the Honorary Secretary and Captain of the Glenmore Football team, sought to appeal the loss. There was also an allegation that they had referred to the Tullogher team as half savages. (New Ross Standard, 25 Dec. 1903). The grudge continued and played out in the letters to the editor in 1904 when the appeal was granted and the re-match was held in Kilkenny on the 24th of April 1904. The language of the time is interesting particularly the use of the word “unmanly” to describe what might be described today as unsportsmanlike conduct.
The newspapers, at that time, were full of reports of appeals of championship match results. Most of these appeals reflect some of the teething problems of the young organisation. It was also not unusual for a team that felt rules had not been followed to refuse to play or to continue to play the match. For example, in 1889 a semi-final match result was appealed. Kells played the Thomas Larkin team in what was thought to be the final. The game was declared not the final and Ballyhale was allowed back into the championship. Kells refused to play Ballyhale, and Ballyhale was awarded the 1889 County Kilkenny Senior Football Championship title.
During the 1906 championship matches, Kilmacow knocked Lamogue (the Senior Football County Champions of 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905) out of contention. Kilmacow then played Glenmore in a semi-final at Ballyhale on the 20th of January 1907. The account below of the match appeared in the Munster Express on 26 January 1907. Glenmore wore scarlet and green jerseys and fielded the following team: J. Grace (captain), R. Dunphy, J. Dunphy, B. Grace, M. Morrissey, J. Heffernan, J. Power, M. Murpby, R. Reddy, P. Reddy, J. O’Brien, T. Kennedy, M. Hoynes, John Walsh, P. Hanrahan, N. Curran, and P. Morrissey.
[Update: John Grace, of Kilbride (Captain); Richard Dunphy, of Ballyverneen; John Dunphy, Ballyverneen; Bill Grace, of Kilbride….Tom Kennedy (townland unknown)….John Walsh (townland unknown)…Pat Hanrahan, the Village; Nick Curran, the Village…]
Semi-final, Kilmacow vs. Glenmore
Kilmacow won the toss, and got possession from throw in, and scored a point per Reid within two minutes of the start. From the kick out Glenmore got possession, and the ball travelled along the left wing. Murphy making a good run. A free against Kilmacow was taken by John Dunphy, who kicked a beautiful goal. Kilmacow again got down by the good kick in of Byron, Burris, Synntt, Cooke, O’Keeffe and M Walsh, and registered a second point. The play remained for some time in the Glenmore half, until a free brought relief, but Kilmacow came on again and keeping up pressure forced a “fifty,” and soon afterwards a second, but were unfortunate in not making either materialise a score, as the Glenmore defense was too strong. Afterwards Glemore attacked along the right, and Tom Kennedy, handling, had hard luck in hitting one of the goal uprights. From this till the interval Glenmore had the better of the game, and scored a goal and two points per Dunphy, Kennedy, and Brien. The half-time score was: Glenmore—2 goals, 2 points; Kilmacow—2 points.
Kilmacow got possession of the ball on resuming, and made tracks for the Glenmore citadel, and were again unfortunate, as the defence was sound and the ball travelled back. After some mid-field and wing play Glenmore added a point by Kennedy, and shortly afterwards a second by Brien. At this point the men from the Big Glen were undoubtedly holding the whip hand in the game, and the conquerors of Lamogue were rarely ever able to cross the half way. At three quarter time Kilmacow, owing to a dispute originated by an outsider, refused to continue the match. The referee, Mr. D. Hoyne, of the Kilkenny County Team, awarded the match to Glenmore. . . The final score: Glenmore—2 goals, 3 points; Kilmacow—2 points.
The article noted the contribution to the win of the Dunpheys, Currans, Brien, Grace, Kennedy, Morrissey “and some others played with magnificent dash and accuracy. The goal scored by one of the Dunphys from a free was one of the most brilliant pieces of football kicking I ever witnessed. Young John Curran, the junior I believe of the Glenmore boys, deserves a word of praise for the manner in which he held his own amid a team of veterans. After a few years he bids fair to outshine his stalwart brother, Nick, in brilliant play. I still hold to my opinion that it will be Kilkenny’s own fault if they are not the next All Ireland Champions.”
Within a few days the Captain of the Kilmacow team, James Burris, of Gaule’s Mill, wrote a letter to the editor of the Munster Express, taking sole responsibility for the withdrawal of his team. He noted that there were some trips and catching and when he brought to the referee’s attention that a spectator had rushed onto the field and held the hands of one of his men the referee stated that he did not see the occurrences. Burris wanted to assure the public that he was not influenced by any person and his action was not due to cowardice or fear of defeat.
Kilmacow objected and appealed the semi-final, not based on the incident involving a spectator, but rather based on the composition of the Glenmore team. It was reported in the Kilkenny People (2 March 1907) that after a lengthy discussion the Kilkenny County Committee awarded the match to Glenmore, owing to the fact that Kilmacow left the field before the game terminated. Kilmacow gave notice of appeal of this decision to the Leinster Council and the final of the football championship between Glenmore and Kells was set for March 31st at St. James Parkland, Kilkenny with Mr. John Lalor, the Central Leinster Representative, as referee.
The Championship Final, Kells vs. Glenmore
Due to the objection and appeal the final between Kells and Glenmore was not played until 5 May 1907. “Ned of the Hill” reported in the Munster Express on 11 May 1907 that Glenmore prevailed in “one of the hardest fought contests that was witnessed in the Marble City for many a long day. The Boys of the Big Glen well deserved their victory, for they won on sheer merit. The fight was fought out tooth and nail…and the better team unquestionably won.” The referee was praised for his impartiality and at the final whistle the score stood: Glenmore—2 goals, 2 points; Kells—1 goal, 2 points. Ned of the Hill singled out Glenmore players Nick Curran, the Dunphy’s, Grace’s, Reddy’s, Morrissey’s and Tom Kennedy and his colleagues in the front as deserving a word of praise.
In the same newspaper Kilmacow issued a public challenge to Glenmore. Notwithstanding, the fact that Kilmacow refused to continue playing in the semi-final, then filed appeals based on the composition of the Glenmore team, the Kilmacow team wanted to play the Glenmore champions. They stated that the gate receipts, after meeting the costs of medals, could go to charity. It is not known if this challenge was accepted.
The Withholding of the Championship Medals
By the time that the final championship match was held in May 1907 newspapers had already moved on to the regional championships, so very little was written about the match. “Ned of the Hill” published an article in the Munster Express on 2 November 1907 entitled, “Who Won the Kilkenny Football Championships 1906? Kells or Glenmore?” calling attention to the fact that after the normal appeals had been exhausted the Championship medals for the Glenmore team had not been given to the team.
To those Gaels of Kilkenny who are clear sighted this question may sound extravagant, if not humorous. There are those, however, who would deem it debatable; some, in fact, who witnessed the great final struggle in Kilkenny last May; some, may I add, who actually played in that great contest. My apologies, then, to our clear-sighted and honest-hearted Gaels, since I intend offending your sense of justice. I intend making public how it is that the Glenmore champions have so far been refused the County Championship medals for 1906. The exposure of wrong-doing may scandalise the innocent, but it may bring to light the wrong-doers.
I shall begin at the beginning. Glenmore played and beat Kilmacow at Ballyhale last February. Kilmacow objected. The case came before the Kilkenny County Council, D. J. Gorey, Esq., J.P., in the chair. At this meeting D. J. Gorey, Esq., J.P., proclaimed in loud and soul-stirring tones that if Glenmore met Kells in the final Kells, if beaten, would never object. Not those men Kilmacow were objecting to—never. We shall instantly see was D. J. Gorey, Esq., J.P., a man of his word. As it happened, Glenmore and Kells did meet in the final, and Kells came under. D. J. Gorey, Esq., J.P., lodged an objection in hot haste. He lost his case at the home Council, and in hot haste again he appealed to the Leinster Council, which was unanimous in declaring Glenmore legally constituted champions of Kilkenny. Nothing daunted, D. J. Gorey, Esq , J.P., approached in August the highest Council of the Gaels of Ireland with this same objection he had pledged his word at home never to bring forward. This Central Council were again unanimous in declaring Glenmore legally constituted champions of Kilkenny.
A rule of the G.A.A. states that there can be no appeal beyond the Central Council; yet, not later than last week, the County Secretary, Mr. D. O’Donnell, with characteristic good faith to the Chairman, forewarned to the Secretary of the Glenmore F.C., a marvelous document, stating that he cannot hand over the medals as Mr. D. J. Gorey had again objected. What Council has D. J. Gorey, Esq., J.P., now in view? There can be no appeal beyond the Central Council. I wonder has he sought the benign protection of the Crown. Is it possible we may yet read of a long and heated discussion in the English House of Lords on the rules of the G.A.A.? Should not the G.A.A. feel mighty secure and consoled in having as one of its chief advisers a Magistrate of the Crown! No wonder, indeed, the boys of the Big Glen have decided to stay quietly at home this year. No wonder Gaelic football is fast declining in Kilkenny county. To my mind it is high time that the Secretary of the Glenmore Football Club should ask the Central Council to compel D. J. Gorey and Co. to hand over the medals so bravely won.
“Ned of the Hill” reported on 21 September 1907 that the Glenmore football club was “out of fighting line.” He had a sad good-bye from Dick Grace one of Glenmore’s best backs. He and Edward O’Connor, of Ballyfacey, were leaving for the United States. Both stated that they were going to return to Glenmore. Ned reflected that he thought that there was enough “material in Glenmore” to make a championship team and wanted to once again hear the well known rallying cry “Gee Up, Glenmore.” A month later he reported that big sinewy “Tom” Phelan, Mullinahone, a latter day “Matt the Thresher,” was also off to the United States (Munster Express 19 Oct 1907).
Finally, in March 1908 at a meeting of the Kilkenny County Committee the Secretary called attention to the question of providing the County Championship to Glenmore. Mr. Gorey, as representing Kells, apparently having exhausted every avenue of appeal and delay, directed the Secretary to forward the medals to Glenmore. It is not known what, if any, impact the withholding of the championship medals had on the Glenmore players, however it is apparent that several of the Glenmore football team immigrated. The month following the decision to forward the medals, Richard Dunphy, of Ballyverneen, Glenmore, tragically died at the age of 30.
The death of Richard Dunphy had a profound impact on the remaining team members. According to the death register Richard was only ill for four weeks and died at home with his brother at his side. In an obituary written by an unnamed team mate it was stated that when the Glenmore Football team needed help Richard was home like a streak of lightening. He worked in England as an Excise Officer and several times he travelled home from England to help the Glenmore boys win the 1906 championship. “He was our guiding star and light.” (Munster Express, 18 April 1908). It is believed that Richard was one of the players that both Kilmacow and Kells named in their objections.
“Ned of the Hill” in September 1908 revealed that “the boys of the Big Glen met during last week to reorganise their football club. There was cause for both joy and sadness in the meeting. The county champions of 1906–all that was left of them—were glad to renew the old committee that heralded woe to many a team up the county. But some of its bravest and best were missing. Emigration, and alas! even death, had told the old, harrowing tale. The proceedings were marked by hopeful enthusiasm. Arrangements were made for weekly practice matches and means of bettering the unsatisfactory condition of the funds. The following officers were elected: President, Rev. Father Crotty, C.C., Glenmore: captain, N. Curran: vice-captain, John Grace hon. sec., N. Curran; committee, J. Dunphy, M. Murphy, T. Morrissey, M. Hoynes, P. Reddy, P. Hanrahan.”
Special thanks to Pat Dowling for the photo of the 1905/1906 team. Pat said that the team photo came from a post card. At the bottom it states Winners of the Hugginstown Medal Tournament 1905 and Co. Kilkenny Football Champions 1906. If anyone can identify the first names of the players, their townlands, any of the men in the photo or can identify where Lucy Rock is in Glenmore, please comment below or email glenmore.history@gmail.com to update the information.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A few readers asked for a larger copy of the team photo. One reader believes the team captain is John Grace, of Kilbride. His brother Richard Grace was a teacher in Ringville School, and another brother Bill Grace was actually the player that emigrated to the US in 1908 where he sadly passed away within a few years.
John Grace, of Kilbride, Captain, holding the football.
The Public Execution of Henry “Bounce” Walsh in 1847
In our last blog we outlined the local story passed down in Glenmore concerning Henry “Bounce” Walsh, of Knockbrack, Glenmore, as well as the contemporary newspapers accounts of his 1847 murder trial. Today, we will outline the circumstances concerning his execution.
Henry “Bounce” Walsh was convicted of murdering John Walsh in July 1847. The Kilkenny Journal, and Leinster Commercial and Literary Advertiser, of Saturday the 31st of July 1847 on its front page, covered the murder trial. The judge charged the jury, who retired and returned in less than half hour with verdict of guilty. The prisoner heard the verdict with apparent indifference, and was removed from the bar to await his sentence at the end of the assizes. Throughout the trial it was reported that the accused seemed quite indifferent to the proceedings.
On Friday the 30th of July 1847, Henry “Bounce” Walsh appeared for his sentencing with two others, James Daniel and James Larkin, who were convicted during the assizes of the murder of Arthur William Prim. The trial judge addressed all three convicted men together and told them, “I cannot hold out to any of you prisoners, the slightest hope of a change in the sentences that the law obliges me to pronounce. I have no discretion whatsoever…I would conjure then to employ the short time that remains between the present moment and that in which they are to leave this world, in making their peace with God—repent for the crime that they have committed—and in the hope of that mercy which, through the merits of our Saviour, the Almighty, will show the repentant—in endeavouring to obtain the peace in the next world which they have forfeited in this one…” The convicted man Larkin requested of the judge, “The longest day you can give my lord.” The judge replied that he would provide sufficient time for the convicted murders to seek God’s forgiveness.
Upon hearing his sentence of death, Henry “Bounce” Walsh asked the judge if his father could have his body. The judge replied that was not possible as the law required that he be buried in the gaol yard. Henry “Bounce” Walsh then stated that Jones and another man in the courtroom that he pointed at were responsible for his death. It is not clear who Henry “Bounce” Walsh indicated were responsible for his death sentence. In the newspaper accounts there is no mention of a juror, witness or prosecutor named Jones.
The date of execution for Larkin and Daniel was set for the 25th of August and Henry “Bounce” Walsh was to be executed on the 1st of September. The Kerry Evening Post on Wednesday the 8th of September 1847 reported that Henry “Bounce” Walsh and the other two condemned men, Larkin and Daniel, had on “Monday week” attempted a daring escape from the jail. Given the fact that Larkin and Daniel were hanged on Wednesday the 25th of August the unsuccessful jail break involving the three convicted men, if it occurred, must have occurred at that time or prior to the 25th of August. It was also reported that after the unsuccessful jail break Henry “Bounce” Walsh was exemplary and penitent. “His attention to his religious duties has been intense and unwavering.” It was reported that he regretted involvement in the failed jail break and stated that Larkin had enticed his involvement. When he heard that the other two convicted men had been executed he is alleged to have stated that his mind was at ease and he could devote himself to “making peace with an offended Deity.”
In addition to the alleged jail break another unusual aspect of the newspaper account provides that as he was being prepared for his execution the condemned man joined in the prayers with “great fervency” his “knowledge of English was very imperfect.” An article in the Waterford Mail on the 8th of September stated that when he entered gaol he did not know the Lord’s Prayer, but by the time of his execution he recited it with fervor. It is not clear how much English Henry “Bounce” Walsh understood. For a fascinating account of the impact of the failure to provide interpretation and translation services to Irish speakers see, Margaret Kelleher, The Maamtrasna Murders: Language, Life & Death in Nineteenth Century Ireland (2018).
Henry “Bounce” Walsh was publicly executed on the 1st of September 1847 in front of the Kilkenny gaol in what was described as a mis-managed hanging. His hanging was covered in a number of newspapers across Ireland and England. The below account is taken from the front page of The Waterford Mail, published on Wednesday, the 8th of September 1847.
Execution of HENRY WALSH, (alias BOUNCE), for the MURDER at BISHOP’S HALL
On Wednesday another of those disgusting and barbarous exhibitions, a public execution, took place in front of our [Kilkenny] county prison. Walsh the unfortunate convict let under sentence of death at our last assizes for the murder of a man, also named Walsh, at Bishop’s Hall, expiated that fearful crime by the hands of the executioner. . .
About half-past one o’clock on Wednesday, the unfortunate criminal made his appearance in the corridor, preceded by the High and Under Sheriffs, and the governor of the prison—gentlemen who, we understand exhibited the greatest humanity and kindness to the unfortunate culprit, and throughout were most anxious that all the wretched men who suffered the extreme punishment of the law, should have every comfort and attention consistent with the duty and discipline of the prison, and the miserable condition of the criminals.
His step was firm and unshaken, and his countenance, serene, the colour remaining in his cheeks, and his eyes bright and steady. He joined with his two attending clergymen, the Rev. Messrs. Maher and Hennessy, in prayer, with great fervency, though his knowledge of English was very imperfect. On reaching the press room he prayed with them for a length of time, repeating the responses to the several litanies and penitential psalms with apparent devotion, particularly such portions as from the greater simplicity of the language he appeared to understand. The by-standers, who had heard that on his first entering the prison he did not know the Lord’s prayer, were much surprised at the decency, fervour, and firmness which he displayed all through. When told by the hangman to get up, he did so with readiness, displaying no weakness whatsoever; and he gave that functionary every facility in his power whilst pinioning his arms. He then walked forward boldly on the drop, having the usual white cap over his face, and being placed in the proper position, after standing a moment or two, the unhappy culprit turned his head half round to the pressroom, and exclaimed—“Will I be let spake (sic) a few words? There was no answer, as his meaning was not at once caught. He then repeated firmly—“Will I be let spake a few words, gentlemen?” It was at once intimated to him that he might do so; when he said in a satisfied voice, “that’s right.”
After obtaining permission to speak, the prisoner remained for some time beating his breast, and exclaiming in a low tone, “Lord have mercy upon me. He then in a loud and distinct voice, and leaning forward over the drop, exclaimed in Irish, “Wilshiev-in-shin?” (Are you there?) There being no answer he said in English—“Boys, are ye all there?” More than one voice from outside exclaimed, “we are, we are.” The unhappy man then continued as follows:–“Now, I’m goin’ to die, an’ I’m innocent. An’ I hope I haven’t a lie in my mouth goin’ before my God, bringing my poor soul before him. I wasn’t there, or hadn’t hand, act or part in it. I came up after—if I had been five minutes sooner I’d have saved his life and my own. I forgive all that swore against me,” (here he mentioned various persons by soubriquets, “living,” he said, “in Sliev-rhu,” and “father and brothers,” he continued, “don’t have any revenge in your hearts against them—I forgive them all. An’ boys, let ye all keep from bad company and drinkin’—and iv I was said by me true love I wouldn’t be here today. Let ye all pray for my poor soul (murmurs outside.) “An’ God be wid ye all now, neighbours.” According to other newspaper accounts the crowd cried out, “Lord, have mercy on your soul.”
Here the fatal bolt was drawn, but from the mismanagement the poor culprit, instead of being thrown off, fell on his back upon the board, so that the hangman was obliged to push him out from behind; and from the short and gradual fall the wretched man struggled very hard for some moments, appearing to suffer most poignant agony. During his struggles his father and two brothers who were on the green, beneath the drop, vented their grief in loud cries and exclamations. We were sorry to perceive that a large crowd had assembled to witness this brutalising exhibition, and that women formed a considerable proportion of the multitude, and some of those of a class which though humble, we had hoped did not contain the depraved or indelicate.
We are not advocates for the total abolition of capital punishments—in murder cases alone we think it necessary, but we agree with those who contend for private executions. Should such a barbarous “treat” we again offered to our citisens (sic) a more efficient apparatus of death should be provided than the strangling process which disgraced the execution on Wednesday. Kilkenny Moderator
It is not clear how much of the above account is accurate. For example, a condemned man’s arms were generally pinioned behind his back, yet in the account it is alleged that he beat his chest after his arms were tied. Almost every newspaper that covered the execution in detail condemned public executions. However, it was not until the Capital Punishment (Amendment) Act 1868 that executions were restricted to take place within the confines of prison walls. Shortly before this execution a short article appeared in the Kilkenny Journal and Leinster Commercial Advertiser (18 August 1847) concerning the number of capital convictions and death sentences imposed as reported in the House of Commons. For ease a chart of the information is provided below.
| Years Covered | Persons Convicted of Capital Crimes | Persons Executed |
| 5 yrs prior to 1826 | 5,286 | 307 |
| Next 5 years | 7,077 | 304 |
| Next 5 years | 3,877 | 175 |
| Next 5 years | 707 | 44 |
| 5 years ending in 1846 | 304 | 56 |
It is difficult to believe today that under the common law in the 19th century capital offences included a number of crimes in addition to murder such as rape and even some thefts. For an online list of Irish executions from 1831 to 1899 please see, Richard Clark. From this list persons executed in Tipperary after 1847 were reviewed but there is no apparent link to the Glenmore oral tradition that the real killer was discovered and executed in Tipperary.
Over the past week we received several queries concerning the victim, the executed Henry “Bounce” Walsh and possible links to local Walsh families.
The Victim—John Walsh
Danny Dowling yesterday was not able to shed any light on the murder victim John Walsh. Because the witnesses stated that he turned off the road near the Black Corner it is assumed that he was a resident of Kilmacow parish. There is nothing contained in any newspaper account regarding the age of the victim, whether he was married, had children, or was supporting a widow mother etc. John Walsh was a common name and without a townland or other information we have no way of determining which John Walsh was the murder victim.
The Link—Ned “the Mason” Walsh & Henry “Bounce” Walsh?
Danny stated that he believed that Henry “Bounce” Walsh lived in Knockbrack based upon what he was told over the years by Glenmore residents. Danny believes that this Walsh family, or part of this family, eventually moved to Haggard as this is where Ned “the Mason” Walsh and his brother Michael were born and raised.
The 1901 Census provides that Ned was 21(c. 1880) and Michael was 25 (c. 1876). Thus the men claiming kinship to Henry “Bounce” Walsh were born about 30 years after his execution. The parents of these two brothers were Michael Walsh (bapt. 9 Apr. 1841 at Haggard) and Margaret Walsh née Moore (c. 1849). Michael Walsh and Margaret Moore were married at Glenmore on 1 August 1870. Michael’s father is listed as Michael Walsh, deceased. Michael Walsh (1841) was the son of Michael Walsh and Mary Walsh née Aylward. Michael Walsh and Mary Walsh née Aylward were married at Glenmore on 12 October 1832 and the record indicates that they were both from Hagard (sic). Unfortunately the parents of the bride and groom are not recorded. The only Walsh listed in the 1833 Griffith’s Valuation in “Higgart” (sic) was Michael Walsh who had 21 acres. Thus, it appears that “the Mason” Walshes were in Haggard at least fifteen years before the hanging. We have not ruled out a family relationship, but we have yet to uncover the relationship link. It could be that Michael Walsh married into Haggard and was a brother, uncle or cousin etc. to Henry “Bounce” Walsh.
Other Possible Family Links?
Griffith’s Valuation was conducted in Knockbrach in 1829, and there were no Walshes recorded there. There is no Walsh listed in Coolnaleen, but there is a Michael Walsh in Ardbeg who had 42 acres. Also, in nearby Cat’s Rock, Walter and John Walsh had a joint holding of 120 acres. Danny explained that Ardbeg was the old name for Coolnaleen and just as the Catholic parishes changed in Ossory in 1842 the names of various areas have changed. Unfortunately, there is no obvious baptismal record for a Henry “Bounce” Walsh. No clues are provided in the newspapers as to his age. With respect to his family the newspapers reported that his father and two brothers attended his execution, but no further information was provided.
Lastly, an inquest into the death of a Henry Walsh, aged about 31, was held in Parkstown, Glenmore in December 1864. (Kilkenny Journal and Leinster Commercial Advertiser, 17 December 1864). The jury ruled that this Henry Walsh died of natural causes. It appears that he was born about 1833 and thus was about 14 when Henry “Bounce” Walsh was executed. Could this man who died in 1864 be a cousin or nephew? There are two potential baptismal records for the Henry Walsh that died in 1864. [1] Henry Walsh, baptized 11 March 1831 in Glenmore, the son of John Walsh and Antice Gill. [2] Henry Walsh, baptized 4 June 1835, at Rochestown, Mooncoin, son of Philip Walsh and Mary Smith.
Hopefully a reader will be able to provide further or different information concerning Henry “Bounce” Walsh.
Blog update—Long obituaries are being moved onto their own page which is located under the “Roots” button on the home page. Short obituaries and death notices will remain on the relevant family pages.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Murder Trial of Henry “Bounce” Walsh, of Knockbrach, Glenmore
Local Account
In November 1955, Pat Coady, of Ballycroney, Glenmore told Danny Dowling of a murder case that had taken place over a hundred years previously and was still remembered in Glenmore. Pat Coady informed Danny that Bounce Walsh, of Knockbrack, Glenmore was hanged in the wrong for the Black Corner murder. Further details were provided in November 1977 by Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Gaiguenakill. He stated that Bounce Walsh’s real name was Henry Walsh. Henry Walsh was executed for the murder of a local man at what is now known as the Black Corner which is opposite the entrance to Bishop’s Hall. Henry Walsh was in Waterford and when coming home with either his horse or ass and cart, stopped and gave a lift to a farm laborer who was employed somewhere around Bigwood. During the journey this man asked Bounce for a loan of his penknife to cut a pipe full of tobacco. Bounce gave it to him and forgot about it. He left the farm labourer at his destination, and he went off home. As it afterwards transpired, the man lay in waiting for the murdered man with whom he had a row earlier and killed him. The murderer then left Bounce’s knife which had its owner’s initials stamped on it, beside the body. The murderer then shouted “don’t kill me Bounce,” and a local farmer working in a nearby field heard the shout.
The farmer who heard the shout was a Doherty from Rathnasmolagh. Doherty afterwards testified what he heard, and with Bounce’s knife found alongside the body, Bounce was arrested, charged with murder, tried, convicted and executed. It was discovered afterwards that the farm labourer had already murdered a man in Co. Tipperary, and was a fugitive from justice in that county. The farm labourer was eventually arrested, tried for murder and executed. Before he died he confessed to the murder for which Bounce Walsh was executed. Bounce Walsh was related to Ned and Mick Walsh, the masons of Haggard, who provided details of the story to Nicholas Forristal. It was said that the locals afterwards never liked the Doherty man.
Contemporary Newspaper Accounts
A newspaper search revealed that during the Kilkenny Assizes in July 1847, Henry “Bounce” Walsh was convicted of murdering John Walsh. The Kilkenny Journal, and Leinster Commercial and Literary Advertiser, of Saturday the 31st of July 1847 on its front page covered the murder trial. In 1847 the country was in the midst of the Great Famine and it was noted that several jurors had sent to the court doctor statements explaining that they could not attend due to illness and fever. Eventually twelve men were selected and the trial commenced.
The first witness called for the State was Peter Doherty who testified that he, his mother, the deceased and others were in Halligan’s pub Easter Monday evening after the Waterford fair. The defendant was there and was talking to Michael Boyle. A group comprising the witness, his mother, the victim (John Walsh) and Michael Boyle left the pub walking home. Although he insisted that none of the group was drunk the victim fell in the road and his mother picked up the victim’s hat. She asked Michael Boyle to help her get the victim up onto his feet and he declined to help. Bounce Walsh who had not been with the party, was three or four yards away. The victim left the group to go up the path to his house. About “40 perches” up the road Peter Doherty testified that he heard a “bawl” and “Don’t kill me Bounce.” He testified that he wanted to turn back, but Michael Boyle dissuaded him. The group went to a house where a wake was being held and Doherty noticed that Boyle had deceased’s stick at the wake house. He did not leave the wake until after 3 a.m.
The defendant’s barrister cross-examined Doherty who admitted that he was in goal for twelve months for attempted rape. The attempted rape case was before Mr. O’Gorman, and Doherty took the pledge to stop drinking. Doherty explained that he broke his pledge when a doctor gave him leave to drink to cure a tooth ache. He admitted he drank the previous night, but could not say whether it was for his tooth or for himself he drank. He bizarrely went on to explain that the tooth was pulled, and because he is married he will hand the tooth to his eldest son as an heirloom, if he can find it. In a response to a question from a juror, Doherty stated that Bounce Walsh and Michael Boyle went out of Halligan’s in advance of witness and his mother. He admitted that he did not tell anyone at the wake regarding what he heard and did not tell the magistrate when he was questioned immediately after the murder that he heard “don’t kill me Bounce.”
The next witness was Michael Boyle who testified that he knew the defendant, the victim and Peter Doherty. On Easter Monday last, in Halligan’s he heard the victim, in the hearing of the defendant, bargaining about a cow. He testified after passing Foley’s a little stone got under the victim’s foot and he took a tumble. The defendant was within two or three yards of Ellen Doherty when she was picking up the victim’s hat. Ellen Doherty asked Boyle to help the victim up, but Boyle said he refused telling Ellen that he would not like to have anything to do with the victim on account of having heard him talking about money. He didn’t want to be blamed if something happened to the money. Boyle and Peter Doherty continued. Boyle testified that Foley’s was the last place where he saw the defendant. At Baron’s Lodge Doherty’s mother bid good night and safe home to the victim, Johnny Walsh. Shortly after leaving the victim they heard “two bawls.” Boyle did not hear anything but the bawls. He described the defendant as having on that night an old pair of pataloons, and old blue bodycoat. When questioned by the Court, Boyd stated that it was not a very dark night.
Ellen Doherty was the third witness to testify. She testified that on last Easter Monday night she was in company of the victim, Johnny Walsh, until they came to Baron’s lodge. She did not hear any noise after parting with the victim. She testified that she did not hear Boyle say anything in reply when she asked him help the victim up, but admitted that he did not help the man.
Patrick Hackett next testified. He stated that he knows the place where the victim’s body was found. On the night of the murder, Henry “Bounce” Walsh came and bought bread and tea from him. He could not state at what hour the defendant arrived because he had been in bed before the defendant arrived. To get from Foley’s to his place a person would have to pass where the victim’s body was found.
Betsy Murphy, of Coolnaleen, Glenmore testified that on the night of the murder Henry “Bounce” Walsh came to drink tea with her. She did not know the time when he arrived. He brought tea and bread with him that he said he purchased at Hackett’s. He remained with her for an hour and a half. He had a candle and they had tea. He had about 8 or 9 shillings silver and some pence. He told her that he had sold some pigs and was going to sell more pigs. She testified that his manner was as usual. To the Court’s question she stated that she lives about two miles from the scene of the murder and she believed that the defendant lived about a quarter of a mile from her.
Michael O’Neill testified that he was the manager to Mr. Milford, of Waterford. On the 5th of April he gave the victim, John Walsh £4. O’Neill heard of his death the next morning.
Micheal Keating was the last witness called by the State. He testified that he lives in Ballinamooney within about two miles of Waterford. He had only been living there since the third of April just two days before the murder. Prior to this he lived at Ballykeoghan, (Kilmacow) about six miles from Waterford. He testified that he had been working on the public works, and that made him move. He stated that on Easter Monday night he went out, but did not know at what time. It was a bright night when he went out leaving his wife, three sons and a daughter at home. He testified that he was going to the house at Ballykeoghan “to throw down the house that he had lived in” as required by his landlord. He stated that he went at night in order to be back at his work next morning. At Mr. Baron’s gate he heard a bawl and went into the field to get closer. He described the noise as being similar to the bawl of a calf or yearling that was being killed. Thirty of forty yards away he saw a man striking another man. He got closer and leaned across the ditch and saw the defendant striking the other man with a lump. After the defendant left he came out and the “body was dead.” He went home terrified. To answer questions posed by jurors he stated that he could not distinguish anything the two men said because dogs were barking. He said that the defendant had a blue coat and corduroy trousers on that night and the moon did not appear. During cross-examination Keating admitted that he did not divulge what he had seen until the 18th of May. He and other men were dismissed from the public works on the 14th of May because James Aylward charged him with breaking an old gate for fire. When he went to confession his confessor told him he would be culpable in the sight of God if he did not tell what he saw.
Perhaps the most damning evidence was a statement alleged to have been made by the defendant after the murder. William Cooke, Resident Magistrate, noted that the defendant was present during his examination of several witnesses. When the Magistate took Bounce’s statement he informed him that it was going to be in writing. Because the statement could be used against as evidence, he cautioned Bounce that he should not “criminate” himself. The statement the defendant provided stated that when he left Foley’s he came upon two men and a woman who had a man on the ground. He named them as Dick Walsh, James Walsh and Dick Walsh’s wife. They swore him to secrecy. He stated he went on to Hackett’s and then onto Betsy Murphy who he was courting. All of the persons named in his statement denied any involvement and had alibis for the night of the murder.
Bounce Walsh was arrested in Waterford on the 7th of April. He had purchased new clothes and the police collected his old clothes from the shop. At the time of his arrest he was drunk and had £1.2.6 and some coppers in his possession. The Dublin Evening Mail, on Monday the 2nd of August 1847 noted that after a great many witnesses were examined to corroborate the facts on which the prosecution rested, Mr. Howard opened the case for the defendant in an able and energetic speech. He called the previous landlord of Michael Keating, who denied knowledge of any agreement to level the house at Ballykeoghan.
Obviously the account that was orally passed down in Glenmore regarding a knife is incorrect. Next week we shall present the rest of the story as found in contemporary newspapers.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore: The Final Resting Place of Capt. Patrick Colford (1811-1887)
Colford is not a name usually associated with the Glenmore area, hence when we were recently transcribing headstones in the cemetery adjacent to St. James’ parish church in Glenmore an old stone with the name Colford stood out. In attempting to determine the Colford connection to Glenmore we came across a shipwreck, a sailmaker from Glenmore and the High Constable from Waterford City. The inscription on the Colford stone simply reads;
In memory of CapT P. Colford of Waterford Who Died Nov 11th 1881 And his deceased children Sarah who died young And his wife Catherine Who Died August 5th 1894 Aged 73 years Pray for the souls of the undernamed Michael & Patrick who drowned at sea 3rd October 1895 Aged 38 and 37 years
What connection this family had to Glenmore was not apparent, without the wife’s maiden name, and unfortunately Danny Dowling was unable to provide a Glenmore connection. The British Merchant Service records were able to provide some information concerning Captain Patrick Colford, of Waterford. Per his Masters’ Certificate of Service (No. 36.954) Patrick Colfer (sic) was born at Slade, Wexford on 1 January 1811. In January 1851 it was noted that he had been employed as a Seaman Master and Master for 25 years in the British Merchant Service in the coasting and foreign trade.
Attached to the certificate was a copy of Captain Colford’s service record. From 1826-1830 he served as a seaman on the Hibernia, of London which was engaged in foreign trade. From 1830-1835 he served as a Mate on the Three Sisters, of Waterford which was engaged in coasting. During the period of 1835 to 1841 he served as a Master on the Pilgrim, of Waterford which was engaged in coasting. From 1841 to 1850 he returned to serve on the Three Sisters, this time as the Master.
A couple of years after obtaining his Masters’ Certificate, Patrick Colfer (sic) married Catherine Grant on 5 April 1853 at the Cathedral, Waterford. Danny Dowling explained today that there were numerous families of Grant in several townlands in Glenmore. The Glenmore headstone provides the names of two children born to Captain Colford and his wife Catherine (Kate) Colford née Grant. Michael Colford was born in 1857 and Patrick Colford in 1858.
The death register for Patrick Colford, who died on 11 Nov. 1881, states that he was a carpenter rather than a master mariner and lived on Queen’s Terrace in Waterford City. He was married, aged 75 and his wife, Kate Colford was present at his death. Kate Colford, née Grant died on 5 August 1894, aged 73. Her niece Sarah Grant was present when she died.
After a newspaper article revealed a close relationship between Patrick Colford, Jr. and Michael Grant, the High Constable, of Waterford, Danny Dowling easily made the Glenmore connection. Danny explained that the High Constable of Waterford in the late 19th and early 20th Century was Michael Grant and he was buried in the right hand side of the Glenmore cemetery near the road wall. Unfortunately, the marker is now gone or the marker is perhaps the one next to the Colford stone and is not legible.
The High Constable, Michael Joseph Grant (1858-1920) was the son of Michael Grant (1823–1887) who was baptized in Glenmore on the 10th of August 1823. His parents were Michael Grant and Sally Murphy, and it appears that he was the youngest child in the family. Michael Grant (1823—1887) went to Waterford and became a sailmaker. His sister Catherine (Kate) Colford née Grant (1821- 1894) married Captain Patrick Colford (1811-1887). Given that the graves in the front of the churchyard are the oldest it is believed that the Colford grave was utilised by the Grant family long before Captain Colford’s death in 1887. In notebook 13 Danny recorded several townlands where Grants lived and Michael Grant is associated with Ballybrahee. The farm later went to the Henneberry’s. Today, at the mention of Michael Grant being a sailmaker on King Street in Waterford Danny thought that this Grant family may have originated in Rochestown.
The sons, Captain Patrick Colford (c. 1858-1895) and Michael Colford (c. 1857-1895)
A little over a year after their mother died Patrick and Michael Colford drowned when their ship the Zoe sank. The Munster Express on the 5th of October 1895 printed that it had received a telegram at 10 that morning from the editor of the Swansea Daily Post stating “Brigantine Zoe supposed wrecked off Mumbles with all hands. Lifebuoy picked up.” The Munster printed that the crew all “belonged to Waterford. The Skipper was Captain Colfer (sic), Thomas Terrace, and the mate was his brother. They are near relations of the (Waterford) City High Constable Mr. Grant.”
The Irish Independent on Saturday, the 5th of October 1895 reported that the Mumbles lifeboat went at 2 a.m. on the 4th after the brigantine Zoe, of Waterford, was driven on to Mizen sands during a strong gale from the north west. The first alarm was raised by the women of Mumbles Head who could hear the cries of the ship wrecked mariners. The lifeboat men, reached Mizen in time to see the schooner sink suddenly, stern first, and then break up. All of her crew were lost. The lifeboat crew picked up a board from among the wreckage, bearing the words “Zoe, Waterford.” A Waterford correspondent reported that the brigantine Zoe was on her way to Swansea from Liverpool with a cargo of pitch. The Zoe put into Waterford “on Monday week,” and sailed again on last Wednesday evening. In addition to the two Colford brothers the crew consisted of Michael Hanley and his son.
A week later the Munster Express (12 October 1895) published what it stated was the complete list of the crew of the brigantine Zoe: Master, Patrick Colfer (sic), Waterford; mate, Michael Colfer (sic), Waterford; AB, Martin Hanlon, Cheekpoint; boy, Michael Hanlon, Cheekpoint; AB, shipped in Liverpool, name unknown. “Mr Kirwan, Mall-lane, and several other Waterford people have been to, the scene of the wreck, but excepting a few things washed ashore, which were identified as being portion of the things in the Zoe, no bodies have yet been recovered, although a ceaseless watch is being maintained.”
Later, the Kerry Weekly Reporter (Sat. 19 Oct. 1895) noted that the body of a man of about fifty years of age and bearing the initials J.B. on his left arm was washed ashore at Portcawl. Although it was stated that authorities believed that it was one of the crew of the brigantine Zoe, of Waterford, no further articles could be located.
A review of the personal estates of Michael Colford (mariner) and Patrick Colford (master mariner), of Queen’s Terrace, reveals that the men had a sister, Catherine Furniss the wife of Captain Thomas Furniss, of 46 the Glen, Waterford. Michael Colford left an estate of £120.11.2 and Patrick left an estate of £79.5.2. Kate Colford had married Thomas Furniss of Henry St., Waterford on the 19th of July 1891. Kate was 28 and Thomas Furniss was 35 and working as a master mariner. It is believed that Catherine Furniss put the inscription on the Colford headstone in the Glenmore cemetery for her two brothers who were drowned when the Zoe sank in 1895.
The Brigantine Zoe: Sank Twice
In 1880 the Belfast Newsletter (Fri. 14 Nov. 1880) advertised that the Zoe would be sold at Carrickfergus by Public Auction. She was described as being 96 feet in length, 26 feet in breadth, with a depth of 9 feet. It was noted that she carried 245 tons d.w. on 10 ½ feet of water. It is noted in the advertisement that the Zoe sank in Belfast lough on the 17th of March 1879 and was raised and placed in dry dock. She was to be sold in her damaged condition, together with all Masts, Spars, Rigging, Sails, Anchors and Chains etc. The advertisement concludes that “the Zoe was built at New Brunswick, in 1868, in a very strong and substantial manner, and she is copper fastened in the bottom. She is an admirable and profitable coaster, carries a large cargo on a light draught, sails fast, and crosses Channel without ballast.”
Eight years later the Munster Express (Sat. 15 Dec. 1888) published an article stating that a new coal vessel, the “handsome brigantine, the Zoe,” was towed up the river with a cargo of 294 tons of coal. “The Zoe has been purchased by Captain Colford, and others, and is intended for the Waterford trade, principally in coal…In 1882 she was completely remodelled at Fleetwood, and is now one of the fastest sailing and thoroughly-equipped coasting vessels afloat.” Unfortunately, after only 7 years engaging in the Waterford trade under Captain Patrick Colford (c. 1858-1895) she sank for the second time, taking the entire crew down with her.
Blog update—A link has been added to the Irish page of a transcript of a recording made of the last Glenmore native Irish speaker, Patrick Power (c. 1853-1945), of Jamestown, Glenmore. This was part of the work undertaken by the Folklore Commission in the 1930’s. The original is held at UCD.
Special thanks to Louise Walsh for the photos of St. James (taken 2019) and the Colford Stone (taken 2020).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
An Unusual Glenmore Memorial: Fr. Thomas Walsh (1911-1945)
Earlier this month as we were recording inscriptions on headstones in the cemetery adjacent to St. James’ Parish Church in Glenmore we came across a number of unusual memorials. Today, we shall highlight Columban Father Thomas Walsh who died on 13 December 1945, aged 34, in Burma. The stone where his name and details appear is located in the centre of the back part of the Glenmore cemetery.
The Walsh Family
From the information on the Glenmore headstone we were able to determine that Fr. Thomas Walsh was born on the 11th of April 1911 at the family home at 5 Thomas Street in Waterford. He was the son of James Walsh and Catherine (Kate) Walsh née O’Sullivan. His parents were married on the 4th of September 1906 at the Rosbercon Chapel. The bride was from Glenballyvalley, Tullogher and her father is recorded as Thomas Sullivan (farmer). The groom was the son of Richard Walsh (farmer). The groom is listed in the marriage records as being a brewery foreman. Danny Dowling on the 20th of July 2020 stated that he believed that the bride was from the Ballyfoyle O’Sullivans.
Fr. Thomas Walsh had two sisters and three brothers. Most of the following information was obtained from obituaries, marriage, birth and death records. The Walsh family resided in the Cathedral parish in Waterford. The boys were educated at Mount Sion C.B.S.
- The eldest of the family was Mary (Sister Madeleine) Walsh (20 Aug. 1907–23 Nov 1974). Mary became a Sister of Mercy. According to her obituary in the Evening Echo (30 Nov. 1974) she trained, as a nurse in the Mercy Hospital, Cork and worked in St. Finbarr’s Hospital from 1939 until her retirement in 1972. She was described as gentle, artistic and musical.
- The second child, was Catherine Walsh (12 Aug. 1908—22 June 1998) who married Walter Cullen (c. 1908—31 May 1998) and had at least three children.
- The third child of the Walsh family was Richard Walsh (16 Sept. 1909—17 Nov. 1996). Richard worked for Customs and Excise and resided in Dublin.
- The fourth child in the family was Fr. Thomas.
- James Walsh (24 Apr. 1912– ? ) was the fifth child and he married Dorothy Connolly, of Douglas Road, Cork on 23 Sept. 1941 in a nuptial ceremony conducted in Irish. James Walsh, or Seamus Breathnach, had an MA in Modern Irish and worked on the translation staff of the Oireachtas, and as a lecturer in the Leinster School of Irish. James or Seamus is the only sibling not listed on the Glenmore headstone.
- The baby of the Walsh family was John Joseph (Sean) Walsh (1 Mar. 1918—30 Oct. 1921). This child tragically died of tubercular meningitis at the age of 3 years, 7 months.
James Walsh, Sr. worked at Strangman Brewery in Waterford. On the birth cert of the eldest child, Mary, he is listed as a weightmaster in the brewery. At the time of Catherine’s birth he is listed as the firemaster at the brewery. By the time of Father Thomas was born his father was listed as “brewery foreman” on his birth records. Danny stated that quite a number of Glenmore men worked at this brewery over the years both full time and as seasonal workers. (For a concise history of Strangman Brewery see, https://waterfordwhisky.com/element/william-strangman/). When Fr. Thomas sent a letter, dated the 23rd of July 1929, seeking to join the Columban Missionary Society, he noted that his father was foreman in Strangman’s brewery and had been employed there for over 40 years.
In this application letter Fr. Thomas also revealed that he was an 18 year old student at Mount Sion Christian Brothers Schools (1915-1929) and described himself as “…healthy as the average boy of my age.” He noted that his eldest brother was in the Civil Service since 1927 and his other brother had completed his leaving certificate in accordance with the pupil teaching scheme. Fr. Thomas reported that he failed the matriculation exam in the summer of 1929. He explained that he failed geography but passed maths, Irish, English and Latin. His parents were not against him entering a Missionary Society, but desired that he should enter St. John’s College in Waterford because, it was “near home, friends, cheap etc.”
The brief biography found in Fr. Thomas’ file held in the Columban archive reveals that he was admitted to the seminary, at St. Columban’s College, Dalgan Park, Galway in 1929 and was ordained a priest on the 21st of December 1935. For his first, and as it transpired only, appointment he was sent to Bhamo, Burma as a member of the Maynooth Mission to China in 1936.
Burma Assignment
Bhamo, Burma, now Myanmor, is in the north of the country. The first efforts to establish Catholicism began in 1856 when French Bishop Paul Bigandet visited the northern region. In 1873, three priests were sent to form a diocese. The mission work stalled due to malaria. Between 1873 -1901 fourteen priests died or became incapacitated due to malaria. The mission was slow to spread in the Kachin populations until 1936 when the first St. Columban Missionaries arrived from Ireland. (Official Catholic Directory 2016, p. 184, Catholic Bishop Conference of Myanmar Yangon).
The Maynooth Mission in 1936 was led by the Right Reverend Mgr. Patrick Usher, of Tullyallen, Co. Louth, who led the “pioneer band of young priests who were specially appointed to this difficult mission field which is considerably larger in extent than the whole of Ireland.” Within this pioneer band of young priests numbering 24 was Rev. Thomas Walsh (Waterford) and Rev. Thomas Murphy (Naas). (Catholic Standard, 5 June 1942). In addition to the difficult climate, missionaries found that each of the hill tribes had its own language, and twelve languages were spoken in the province. (Catholic Standard, 18 Feb. 1949).
After the Maynooth Mission group arrived in Burma, according to a letter written by Mgr. Usher on 13 December 1945, Fr. Thomas Walsh was assigned to a mission station in Namhapalan, sixty miles north of Bhamo. The language of his parish was Kachan. “In a difficult and lonely mission he never showed that he gave his troubles or hardships a thought.” When he met any of the other priests he was full of jokes and good humour in his quiet gentle way “and no joke had a sting in it at another’s expense.” He became fluid in the Kachan language, built a school and dedicated himself to his people.
World War II
In 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army captured Burma which cut off war supplies to China via the Burma Road. Desperate to keep the Japanese fighting on two fronts, the Allies air dropped supplies and built the Ledo Road through Bhamo to supply China. The Ledo Road was eventually named the Stillwell Road after an American General and was completed in early 1945. American veterans of the China-Burma-India campaigns referred to the jungle terrain surrounding the famous Burma Road and Ledo Road as the “Green Hell.” (Catholic Standard, 18 Feb. 1949). This difficult terrain is where Fr. Thomas Walsh worked.
There are various accounts of the internment by the Japaneese of the Columban Fathers in Burma. In May 1942 when the Japanese Imperial Army captured Bhamo the missionaries were held for a month, released and ordered to report to Mandalay. At Mandalay they were assigned to a house in the Agricultural College. They were bombed incessantly by the Allies as they were surrounded by Japanese troops. They were moved to St. John’s Leper Asylum (James Durney, “The Emperor’s Kildare Slaves”(2013) http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2013/07/the_emprerors_kildare_slaves.asp ).
According to a March 1946 interview of Mgr. Usher he recalled that from October 1942, twenty-one of the priests of the Maynooth Mission were interned in Mandalay. Two of his priests were interned in Rangoon and two others had crossed into India via China. For the last 18 months of the war the Mandalay internees were interned in the leper hospital with about 500 leper patients and most of the other missionaries from northern Burma including a number of French and Italian missionaries. Mgr. Usher stated, “To be staying in a leper hospital is not as terrible as it may seem for those who, like us, were used to seeing lepers. It is certainly not pleasant to see sufferers from the disease, but the disease itself is not very contagious” (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946). St. John’s Leper Hospital was conducted by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (Catholic Standard, 18 May 1945).
Contrary to the majority of films and books describing the brutal and inhumane treatment of civilians interned by the Japanese during the war, Monsignor Usher stated, “We were not treated too badly by the Japanese. They did not do very much for us, but they did not do much against us. They did not interfere with our private life. We could say Mass, but were not permitted to carry out our priestly duties.” He noted that it was a great worry that their parishioners were without priests for so long. He also said that the priests missed not having any communication with their relatives at home. They read all the books they could lay their hands on. When Monsignor Usher was asked about food, he stated that they were never hungry, although they did not have a variety of food. They lived mostly on rice, with some vegetables, tea and coffee. He stated that other missionaries fared much worse than they did. Mandalay was a good rice-growing area and was fairly self-supporting. (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946).
As the Allies were fighting to liberate Mandalay on the 16th of March 1945, Father Thomas Murphy (of Naas) and a number of other priests were saying Mass at different altars in the oratory when a shell burst over the one story building mortally wounding Father Murphy and injuring five or six of the other priests (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946). Father Thomas Walsh, (of Waterford) was one of the other priests wounded by the shrapnel. Although he had shrapnel wounds in both arms and with his back laid open with a great gash, he “hoisted on his back the first man he could see through the blinding dust and carried him to the dispensary conducted by missionary Nuns.” (Irish Press, 17 Dec. 1945).
The Rev. Edward J. McCarthy, sent a cablegram to the Columban’s, in Nebraska reporting Fr, Murphy’s death during the battle for the liberation of the priests. He explained that Fr. Murphy, was at one of the side altars, and was badly wounded when the shell exploded overhead. Fr. Murphy was anointed and died two hours later as he was being carried behind British lines. With the exception of the two Columban priests held in Rangoon, all Columban priests held by the Japanese in the Burma area were freed that day. (Catholic Standard, 18 May 1945).
After the War
Fr. Thomas Walsh after recovering from the wounds he received on 16 March 1945 returned to Bhamo in September. In early October he journeyed the 60 miles to his former mission station in Namhapalan and made a “complete tour of his district and found the position on the whole satisfactory.” Although his parishioners had been without a priest since 1942 the majority kept their faith (Usher, Letter 13 Dec. 1945). Most of the buildings used by the mission had been destroyed (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946) and Fr. Thomas set about re-building his school which Msg. Usher noted was no easy task at that time (Usher, Letter 13 Dec. 1945).
In late November 1945, Fr. Thomas fell ill with malaria. He took a course of treatment, but after nine days when he could not shake off the illness he decided he needed to go to the hospital in Bhamo. His parishioners carried him to the foot of the hills and on the road he was picked up by an American truck and taken to the hospital in Bhamo. For three days he appeared to be improving, but on the 10th of December he took a turn for the worse. His lungs became congested. He received the last Sacrament fully conscious and did not have much pain. Although two Franciscan Sisters took turns staying at his bed side, and the hospital nurses and doctors did everything possible, Fr. Thomas died at 9:15 on the morning of the 13th of December 1945 of malaria at the age of 34. Msg. Usher wrote two personal paragraphs on the back of the letter he wrote that day. He noted the paragraphs were not for the Far East magazine. On the back of the page Msg. Usher expressed his grief and noted that the death of Fr. Thomas “is a terrible blow to us.” They had lost one of their very best missionaries and friend. He expressed that Fr. Thomas’ flock would be very saddened as “his people had a great affection for him. They could hardly help it because he had such an ardent affection for them” (Usher, Letter 13 Dec. 1945). Fr. Thomas Walsh was buried in the Christian Cemetery in Bhamo, Burma.
Gone But Not Forgotten
In a letter to his parents written a few months before his death, Fr. Thomas stated that had been offered an extended holiday in Ireland, but decided to stay at his post (Catholic Standard, 21 Dec. 1945). His father, James Walsh, Sr., died on the 10th of February 1956, at the age of 91, after falling while walking along the Quay in Waterford. His obituary stated that he was a native of Thomastown and worked for Strangman’s Brewery for 50 years until his retirement in 1936. Interment took place at the family burial ground at Glenmore (Munster Express, 17 Feb. 1956). His mother, Catherine Walsh née O’Sullivan died on the 5th of October 1970 at the age of 95. Her obituary in the Munster Express (9 Oct. 1970) reveals that one of Fr. Thomas’ nephews became a priest. Rev. Seamus (Fr. Majella) Cullen. O.F.M. was ordained in 1968 and was working in Rhodesia, Africa in 1970.
The Maynooth Mission to China, expanded in 1949, but by 1966 all missionaries were expelled from Burma. Only those who had been in the country prior to 1948 were allowed to remain. However, if a missionary left the country he or she could not return. The last of the Columbans left in 1977 (Fr. Pat O’Donoghue, “A Great Harvest, 24 June 2020 available at https://columbans.co.uk/a-great-harvest.) Eventually restrictions on missionaries eased, Burma has become Myanmar, and in 2010 Columban Father Neil Magill turned the old, disused, leper hospital, where the missionaries were interned by the Japanese during the war, into a higher education institution (Far East, Sept. 2015, “Education for the Poorest, but Brightest.”) In 2014 five Kachin priests were ordained and Fr. Bosco N-lam Hkun Seng when interviewed stated that his grandfather converted to Catholicism and his father studied in a Columban Mission School in Myitkina under Father Thomas Walsh who died of malaria in 1945 (Far East, March 2014).
Special thanks to Barbara Scally, Archivist, Columban Fathers, Dalgan Park and Louise Walsh for taking all the photos of the Glenmore headstones.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
For further information on Columban Father Thomas Murphy (1906-1945) of Naas, Kildare, see Columban Martyrs available at https://columbans.ie/about-us/columban-martyrs/
The Far East archive is available at https://www.columban.org.au/media-and-publications/the-far-east-magazine/archive/
The featured photo above of the fresco of St. Columban, was taken in 2007 by Davide Papalini – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brugnato-IMG_0141.JPG
For information regarding the work addressing leprosy in Burma/Myanmar see, https://leprosyhistory.org/geographical_region/country/myanmar
Glenmore in the 1860’s
In searching for information on one subject in local newspapers it is quite common to come across interesting articles relating to Glenmore or its people. The following articles were recently discovered concerning events in Glenmore in the 1860’s. Although it is generally known that there were several local murders of landlords in the 19th century Danny Dowling stated this week that he was not aware of the manslaughter of John Kelly of Graiguenakill by his friend Thomas Forrestal in 1862. The majority of incidents in the articles below occurred after a Waterford fair and we previously highlighted that it was in early 1867 that ice took down the New Ross Bridge. For an account of the 1867 bridge collapse see our post of 14 December 2019.
Manslaughter of John Kelly of Graiguenakill, Glenmore–1862
In the Penny Despatch and Irish Weekly Newspaper on Saturday the 25th of October 1862 it received a report dated the 18th from Kilkenny that a quarrel took place in Kilkenny between John Kelly, a farmer’s son, residing at Graiguenakill, and Thomas Forrestal. The two men were returning from the fair of Waterford, on the 6th of October, when Forrestal drew a knife and stabbed Kelly in the breast, penetrating the right lung. Kelly lingered until the 15th of October when he died from his wound. Previous to Kelly’s death Walter Sweetman, Esq., J.P., attempted to take his dying declaration, but Kelly refused to give the name of the party who stabbed him. An inquest was held on the I6th of October, at which an unnamed witness testified that Kelly told him he was stabbed by Forrestal. The jury indicted Forrestal for manslaughter. Forrestal absconded. The newspaper article concludes by reporting that both Kelly and Forrestal were under the influence of liquor at the time of the “unfortunate occurrence.”
The Trial of Thomas Forrestal–1863
The Saunder’s News-Letter of Wednesday the 29th of July 1863 reported on the trial of Thomas Forrestal for the manslaughter of John Kelly during the Kilkenny Summer Assizes on the 28th of July 1863. The defendant, Thomas Forrestal is described as a respectable farmer and he was defended by Mr. P. White. From the article it appears that Thomas Forrestal on the 21st of October 1862 surrendered to the police and was jailed for nine months as he awaited his trial. The case was prosecuted by Sergeant Armstrong, Messrs. Wall, Q.C., and Curtis. The principal witness for the Crown was Philip Walsh.
Philip Walsh testified that on the 6th of October 1862 he was at the fair in Waterford, with Forrestal and the deceased Kelly. They had ridden into Waterford, and on the way home in the evening, Kelly appeared have fallen upon the road, for his clothes were covered with dust. Forrestal suggested to Kelly to get into a creel, but Kelly said he would walk. [For our international readers a creel, was made when slated wooden sides were added to a horse’s cart to form a sort of cage to convey pigs or a calf to market. The creel sides would slot into the cart and add between two or three feet to the four sides of the cart.]
The three men “proceeded accordingly” on the road as far as the house of a man named Donovan. It was surmised by Danny that this may have been Donovan of the Mill at Ballyrowrah as this was near the junction of the old Waterford to New Ross post road (today known as the High Road) and the New Line (today the N. 25). [Regarding these two roads, see, Glenmore: Between Waterford and New Ross, posted 14 Dec. 2019] The three men remained for some time at Donovan’s. Kelly at first refused to leave the place with Forrestal. The witness Walsh testified that Kelly wished to court a girl who was there.
Eventually, the witness Walsh, with Forrestal and Kelly, proceeded from Donovan’s, and Forrestal was angry with Kelly for delaying. The witness stated that he said to the defendant Forrestal, “Tom, have sense.” The witness Walsh then left Kelly and Forrestal and crossed the field for a short cut, leaving the others on the public highway. Walsh heard some altercation in the distance, and a voice he considered to be Kelly’s saying first, “Keep out of that,” and afterwards, “That is the worst turn that ever you done.”
The next witness called was James Hanrahan who testified that the morning after this occurrence he went to Forrestal’s house, and informed him that the police were coming. Forrestal and Hanrahan left Forrestal’s house before the police arrived. Constable Powell testified that Kelly was wounded on his left side by a knife, which cut through his shirt. Kelly died on the 15th of October, and on the 21st Forrestal surrendered to the police. When Forrestal surrendered he told Constable Powell “that there was a bad case against him.” [Constable Powell when he retired from the RIC became the first postmaster of Glenmore, see, The Glenmore Post Office: Its Rise and Demise posted 24 Nov. 2019]
Forrestal’s counsel submitted that there was not sufficient proof that the voice heard on the road was that of Kelly, and that in any event the accused might have been defending himself from the attack of an excited drunken man. The dying declaration of Kelly was given in evidence, in which he said he did not know who wounded him and he had himself to blame for what occurred. The article concludes that Forrestal received the highest character reference, was found guilty, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Given that Forrestal had spent nine months in jail awaiting his trial the three months’ sentence gave him a total period of incarceration of 12 months for the manslaughter. Unfortunately the townlands of the defendant Forrestal and the witnesses were not provided nor any of the ages of the victim, defendant or witnesses making it difficult to identify these persons.
Another Assault after the Waterford Fair—1864
The Waterford Mail on Monday the 16th of May 1864 reported the following: “Ferocious Assault—Mr. John Costello, a respectable farmer from the vicinity of Glenmore, while returning from the Waterford May fair on the 4th, was met near the Glenmore Police-station, by James Irish at the head of party. Irish knocked Costello out of the car with a blow of a stick, and while on the ground struck him several times on the head with a large stone. A man named Delany came to the assistance of Costello, and Irish fled. Costello reached the barrack in an exhausted state. His assailant has absconded.”
Killed on the Way to a Funeral–1864
The Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor on Wednesday the 12th of October 1864 reported that on Tuesday a man was killed when he fell from his horse while attending the funeral of a man named Irish. Irish had been killed on Monday evening when he too fell from his horse. “It was stated that the melancholy occurrence [on Tuesday] took place near Carriganurra, on the road leading to Glenmore, the destination of the [Irish] funeral.” The article concludes that this was the third death which took place in this “melancholy” manner within the past week.
Killed from Fall Off Horse Coming Home from Waterford Fair–1866
It was reported in the Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor on Wednesday the 21st of November 1866 that an inquest was held at Parkstown, near Glenmore, by T. Izod. Esq., Coroner on the body of Patrick Murphy, a labourer. Murphy fell from a young horse on the 1st of November when he was returning from the fair of Waterford. Murphy lingered until the 5th of November when he died. “A verdict was returned that deceased died from paralisis (sic), caused by injury to the spine from the effects of the fall.”
Police Raids at Cat’s Rock–1867
In the Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor of Wednesday the 24th of April 1867 it was reported that the police of Kilmacow, Mullinavat and Glenmore Police Stations, under Constables Warde and Powell, have been to Cat’s Rock, in the Glenmore District,, and searched several house for concealed arms or other “contraband of war” but without success. No further information was supplied regarding why the inhabitants were suspected of having arms or other “contraband of war” and no further articles were found on the subject.
The featured drawing above is from 1849 found in the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “Appearance Of Ye Crymynyal Courte Dvryng An “Interestyng” Tryal For Mvrder.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-0cbd-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Blog update—we are pleased to announce that two guest articles from Brian Forristal were published earlier in the week on our guest author page. These articles are stories recorded by Brian as told to him by Tommy “of the river” Connolly (1907-1987) concerning Tommy’s experiences as a boy in Aylwardstown, Glenmore during the War of Independence.
Grave Inscriptions—We have completed a survey of the headstones in the churchyard adjacent to St. James the Glenmore parish church, and we are in the process of placing all the inscriptions in a searchable file. The searchable file we hope to put on the blog (technology permitting) and the photos of the markers are being also submitted to Find a Grave to allow descendants around the world to view the headstones.