Glenmore Co-opertive Creamery
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The Glenmore Creamery & the Dublin Milk Strike of 1939
One of our readers came across the Glenmore Creamery being discussed in Dáil Debates regarding the Dublin Milk strike of November 1939. The 1930’s were a difficult time in Ireland and elsewhere. Today we are going to try to capture some of the difficulties faced by farmers during that era and the stance that Glenmore farmers and others took regarding the Dublin Milk strike.
Background
In October 1929 the Great Depression commenced. Economic hardship was placed on most countries around the world including Ireland. In the United States, for example, the economic plight of farmers resulted in dairy wars and even involved the gangster Al Capone (Dairy News Today (2024).
In Ireland in 1932 the Fianna Fáil government under de Valera commenced a protectionist economic policy and tariffs were introduced on a wide range of imported goods primarily from Britain. Britain was Ireland’s largest trading partner. The new government sought to make Ireland agriculturally and industrially self-sufficient.
That same year de Valera determined that the land annuities paid to Britain by Irish tenant farmers per the Land Commission were public debts from which the Free State was exempted. His government passed the Land Act 1933 which allowed the collected monies to be spent on local government projects. Thus, farmers were not relieved of their annuity burdens. The money was paid to the Irish government instead of the British government.
To recover the annuities the British Prime Minister imposed a 20% import duty on Irish agricultural products into the UK which comprised 90% of Ireland’s exports. Ireland responded with similar tariffs on British goods. Thus, the Economic War commenced. It primarily affected farmers, and it fuelled class tensions in rural Ireland. Similar to the Land War of the 19th century some Irish farmers refused to pay their property rates or their land annuities. The Irish Government impounded livestock, and sold the animals for less than their value. Boycotts thrived and roads were blocked etc.
Due to the hardships suffered by Irish farmers there was little demand for manufactured goods, thus Irish manufacturers were also affected. By 1935 Irish farmers without a viable market began to slaughter their cattle in great numbers. The Economic War ended in 1938 when both countries reached an agreement to remove the tariffs. (Tim Pat Coogan (2003) Ireland in the Twentieth Century).
Then on 1 September 1939 World War II commenced. Although Ireland maintained neutrality during “the Emergency” her nearest and largest trading partner was completely immersed in the war and introduced the rationing of food, clothing and other items.
The Dublin Milk Strike of 1939
Two months after the war commenced, a large meeting of the Irish Milk Producers’ Association (Leinster Area) was held on 6 November. At this meeting the decision to withhold milk to Dublin City was agreed. The milk farmers noted that they were being asked to supply war time milk at peace time prices. Notwithstanding the increases in the price of cows and the price of feed, they were being asked to supply milk at a price lower than the price they received in 1938. The Minister of Agriculture refused to consent to a 6d per gallon increase for wholesale milk (Evening Echo, Tues. 21 Nov. 1939, p. 2).
On Friday the 17th of November 1939 members of the Association decided to give effect to their decision. The Government brought in supplies of milk by special trains under Gardaí escort. The Co. Dublin Farmers’ Association supported the milk farmers and pledged to stop supplies of milk, vegetables and farm produce and stop all fairs and markets (Evening Echo, Tues. 21 Nov. 1939, p. 2). Initially the newspaper accounts noted that there was no impact from the Dublin milk strike.
Escalation
Before the strike the Dublin and District Milk Producers’ Association brought into Dublin 19,000 gallons of milk per day. After the strike commenced the amount supplied decreased to 10,000 to 12,000 gallons per day. The Association supplied numerous wholesalers who supplied the shops where the milk was generally sold over the counter to poor people (Irish Press, Thurs. 23 Nov. 1939, p. 8).
The Dublin Milk strike reached a new phase, on the 22nd of November. There were shortages of cabbage, turnips and mangolds in metropolitan markets. Prices almost doubled above their normal price. Less milk reached Dublin, but a shortage was not experienced (Irish Examiner, Thur. 23 Nov. 1939, p. 4). To deal with the threat of no fresh milk for the capital the Irish Government reversed the monopoly it had established limiting milk sales in Dublin to 5 surrounding counties. It also under threat of penalty requisitioned milk from various creameries across the country including Glenmore.
By Friday the 24th of November “a large number of farmers picketed the vicinity of the Dublin Cattle Market, and a strong force of Guards were on duty. Buyers and salesmen remained until the afternoon, but no animals appeared. Stock on the way to the market during the night and early morning were stopped by pickets” (Irish Independent Fri. 24 Nov. 1939, p. 9).
The Munster Express (Fri. 24 Nov. 1939, p. 5) wrote a very passionate statement regarding the milk strike and the general farmers’ strikes that broke out across the country shutting down livestock markets and fairs.
“Not since the days, now exactly 60 years ago, when Michael Davitt launched the Land League…had the spirit of the Irish farmers been stirred as at the present moment. They have borne with the agonizing disappointment of the Economic War and all the misery following in its train. …They braced themselves up to bear the burden enforced upon them until the last straw has, in the name of the war, been laid upon their broken backs…They are a class not easily roused to action, but being moved, aroused in the extreme. The increase since the war broke out in the prices of essential feeding stuffs, such as maize, bran and pollard, regarding which the standstill order has not operated…” In other words milk prices were capped but the price of animal feed etc. were not capped.
The End of the Milk Strike
By 1 December 1939, after the Minister for Agriculture met with the milk producers the milk strike was over, but the general farmer’s strike continued. The Minister for Agriculture refused to meet for some time with the farmers’ representatives. Over 80 farmers across the country had been arrested. The Minister for Justice announced that the Government was satisfied that the ordinary courts were not suitable for dealing with the farmer cases. Fine Gaels’ Dr. O’Higgins stood up in the Dáil and objected to the Government imposing Special Courts for the trial of farmers arrested during the strikes. He noted that Members of the Government had at one time or another done all the things that caused the farmers to now be arrested (Anglo-Celt, Sat. 2 Dec. 1939, p. 12).
Nevertheless, the Government pressed ahead with the Special Criminal Courts for the arrested striking farmers. Nine County Meath farmers, plead guilty to offences arising out of the milk strike. The defendant farmers were bound to the peace by the Special Criminal Court sitting at Collins barracks. The defendant farmers agreed to pay £4 14s for the value of the milk they spilled and £11 13s for witnesses’ expenses (Evening Herald, Mon. 4 Dec. 1939, p. 4). The ordinary courts were obviously well equipped to deal with these types of cases.
In the Dáil on 1 December, Timothy J. O’Donovan of Fine Gael representing Cork West stated that he believed that the milk producers of Dublin had a grievance. The producers got 1s 4d per gallon, and the distributors got 2s 4d. “At these prices one wondered who owned the cows” ((Anglo-Celt, Sat. 2 Dec. 1939, p. 12).
Glenmore Creamery
Timothy J. O’Donovan was not happy to allow the issue of the penalties imposed on creameries across the country to go unchallenged. During Dáil debates on Wednesday 15 May 1940, (Vol. 80, no. 4) O’Donovan requested the Minister for Agriculture to identify all creameries which failed or refused to respond to the Government requisition regarding the milk supply to Dublin during the milk strike of November 1939. He also wished to know if any of the creameries had been penalised as a result of their failure or refusal and the amount of the fine in each case. There were 38 creameries listed as fined and below are 3 local creameries with their imposed fines.
Glenmore Co-operative Creamery Ltd. was fined £35 6s. 5d.
Kilmacow Co-operative Creamery, Ltd. was fined £23 12s. 2d.
Mullinavat Co-operative Agricultural and Dairy Society, Ltd. £19 6s. 2d
It was reported in the Munster Express that “milk suppliers to Kilmacow Creamery, at a meeting after last Mass on Sunday [26 November 1939] unanimously decided not to send any milk to Dublin during the period of the strike. Glenmore and Mullinavat suppliers passed similar resolutions” (Munster Express, Fri. 1 Dec. 1939, p. 8).
Conclusion
“The Dublin Milk strike, if it did nothing else made several prominent politicians think a few times…The Minister for Agriculture was able to view the effects of the monopoly he created for limited the supply of milk to Dublin to 5 counties.” “For generations Dublin drew it supplies…from any district that had milk to spare…For at least 50 years it was a common sight to see churns of milk loaded on the early trains…consigned to Dublin distributors” (Irish Examiner, Sat. 2 Dec. 1939, p. 7).
The milk strike in 1939 was not the last milk strike held in Ireland. In 1953, another milk strike was debated in the Daíl. The 1953 strike was even covered by the New York Times. Perhaps readers will remember the milk strike of 1978? It was covered by RTE.
See our post of 27 December 2020 regarding rabbit trapping in Glenmore during World War II.
Special thanks to Veronica F. for forwarding the Dáil Debates regarding the Glenmore Creamery.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: October 1923
There were several articles in local newspapers in October 1923 concerning Glenmore people and teams.
Glenmore Junior Hurling and Junior Football
Although by 1923 Glenmore was well known for its Senior Football Teams, having won several county championships in a row, in October 1923 the Glenmore Junior Hurling team and the Glenmore Junior Football team made it to the Southern semi-finals.
On the last Sunday of September, a meeting of the Southern Board of the County GAA met at Knocktopher to fix the remaining ties in the Southern Championship. Four teams, Hugginstown, Ballyhale, Glenmore and Moondharrig still remained in the junior hurling championship. “Ballyhale was fortunate in securing the coveted bye in the second round…” Ballyhale was paired with Hugginstown. Glenmore was to play Moondharrig.
In Junior Football there were five teams remaining. These included: Cotterstown, Nore Rangers, Haristown, Glenmore and Tullogher. Tullogher had a bye in the second round, thus it was determined that Tullogher would play the winner of the Harristown and Glenmore game. The winner that match would then play the winner of the Cotterstown v. Nore Rangers match (New Ross Standard, Fri. 5 Oct. 1923, p. 8).
Glenmore’s schedule at the end of October was as follows:
Junior Hurling Semi-finals—11 Nov. at Mooncoin, Ballyhale vs. Glenmore, referee Mr. Mark MacDonald.
Junior Football Semi-finals—4 Nov. at Slieverue, Glenmore vs. Tullogher; referee Mr. T King (Munster Express, Sat. 27 Oct. 1923, p. 5).
Glenmore vs. T.F. Meagher
Notwithstanding the forthcoming semi-final games, “a permit was granted for a hurling match between Glenmore (Kilkenny) and T.F. Meagher (Waterford) at Waterford on the 14th (Nenagh Guardian, 12 October 1923, p. 1).
On the 14th at the Sportsfield in Waterford “two matches which excited much interest” were decided. The football match between De La Salle and Gracedieu resulted in an easy win for the former, and, “ if they can retain yesterday’s form, they will have to be reckoned with in the forthcoming League competitions.
“The ball was set in motion for the hurling contest between Glenmore and T.F. Meaghers. This match was considered by many too stiff a test for the city representatives, and as it was played in a continuous downpour it was thought that the much heavier Kilkenny team would obtain a runaway victory. The Meagher’s, playing with great determination under such adverse conditions, and only being defeated by such a narrow margin, must be congratulated on their plucky display. A feature of the game was the magnificent defence of both teams, and the general feeling was that a return match would be well worth witnesses. At the final whistle the scores were: Glenmore, 2 goals, 1 point; Meagher’s, 1 goal, 1 point. Mr. T. King (Knockboy) had charge of the whistle” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 12 Oct. 1923, p. 3).
Letter to the Editor Re: Glenmore vs. T.F. Meagher
Waterford News & Star, Fri. 12 Oct. 1923, p. 11
Dear Sir—As a consistent admirer of Ireland’s national game, I went to the Sportsfield on yesterday (Sunday) to see how Waterford’s young hurlers would behave against the visitors from “Glenmore.” When the respective teams lined up the disparity in size and weight was very obvious, but having seen the T.F. Meagher’s in action in Dungarvan and defeating the County Champions on their own ground, I did not share the pessimism of some outside the railings who predicted that it was all over bar the shouting. When the first quarter of an hour had elapsed it was plain that the lanes which the “Glenmore” men were expected to make through the home team were a long time becoming visible.
I happened to be at the “Glenmore” goal when the two Co. Kilkenny umpires disallowed the goal for Waterford, although it went fully one foot inside the goal posts before being cleared by the inter-county goal keeper. Size for size the T.F. Meagher team are much superior, and had the ground not been sodden and the goal at the city side not been a mass of slippery mud the result would have been different in spite of the fact that the “Glenmore “men included three parishes and some whose names are a household word in inter-county hurling. All honour to the T.F. Meaghers for their splendid performance against stupendous odds (being short two of their best men). They have chosen an appropriate name, as nearly all of them are fellow townsmen of the illustrious patriot and orator. Thanking you in anticipation for insertion of above, Yours Truly, N. McCann (Camán).
According to the Kilkenny GAA Bible 2019 (p. 31) Glenmore won the County Senior Football Championship and the Junior Hurling Championship in 1923, but failed to win the Junior Football Championship title. See our post of 13 August 2023 regarding the 12 Glenmore Senior Football players who played in the Leinster Senior Football Semi-Finals.
Who was Mary Murphy of Glenmore?
A Remarkable Centenarian—The death took place at Glenmore during the week of Mrs. Mary Murphy at the great age of 102 years. An Instance of her remarkable health was that she was able to walk to Mass up to a short time ago, and was moving about up to a few days before her death. Her recollections of the stirring events of the past hundred years were most interesting. Her varied accounts of the famine of ’48 and ’49 would make interesting reading. She was a young woman then and saw many cases of death from slow starvation; it was a common thing for people to supplement their dole of Indian-meal with cabbage and nettles in order to procure a full meal, and she witnessed men employed in the public works then organised, leaving their homes in the mornings with only a pint of thin gruel for their dinner, the gruel being generally boiled in a large pot at some particular farmstead, the meal and pot being supplied by the authorities. There were no National schools then; the master taught his little class in an old house, or beside a hedge, no trains, no motors or bikes, much less flying machines.
She knew men having to go to Dublin to walk the journey to and back because of not having the money to avail of the mail coaches. In her young days when tea was as rare as ten shilling told pieces are now the family able to procure a pound of it for Christmas were considered well off people. She was held in great respect and the funeral was largely attended by the people of the village and district (New Ross Standard, Fri. 26 Oct. 1923, p. 8).
Unfortunately, no newspaper identified where in Glenmore Mrs. Mary lived or who her husband was. Also, no death register could be located for a Mary Murphy who died in October 1923 at the age of 102.
Watching the World Go By
“An old man in Glenmore district who is past his labouring interested himself by counting the number of motor cars and motor lorries that passed his house between Ross and Waterford during one week recently. At the end of the seventh day his list totalled 352. Truly the age of horsepower has vanished” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 26 Oct. 1923, p. 8).
One hundred years later, 352 vehicles must pass over the N25 between New Ross and Waterford in an hour or two. Can anyone identify the Glenmore man who counted vehicles in October 1923?
Glenmore Creamery
Mr. N.J. Murphy secretary of the Farmer’s Union was appointed to organise the locals at Campile for a proposed creamery. “He visited Glenmore and interviewed the manager of the creamery there, as well as the milk suppliers and obtained a lot of useful facts and figures” (New Ross Standard, Fri.19 Oct. 1923, p. 4).
The Campile Creamery was established and during World War II it was bombed by German bombers in August 1940. For a short article on the bombing click here.
Please send any corrections or additional information etc. to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Waslh
Glenmore Creamery Featured in Butter Museum’s Latest Video [updated]
The video is on facebook. The fastest way to find it is to go to the Butter Museums webpage and click on the little facebook symbol in the upper right side of the home page.
Here is a link to the video on Vimeo
One Hundred Years Ago: June 1922
In keeping with previous reviews of local newspapers from 100 years ago, today we are going to feature local events and news from June 1922 including the General Election and a summary of a local article at the end of the month that informed local readers that a Civil War had commenced.
Glenmore in the News
“Boy’s Narrow Escape—When riding a young horse home from New Ross a boy named Irish from Glenmore had a narrow escape from being killed. Near the Pink Rock the animal reared up and fell backwards on the top of the rider pinning him to the ground. Part of the boy’s skull was fractured, and he was taken to New Ross hospital where he was surgically treated. He is progressing satisfactorily” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4).
June 1922 marked the First Anniversary of the Coolbawn Ambush. A large gathering of people from different parts of the Co. Kilkenny, New Ross, Waterford and Carlow assembled at Coolbawn, Castlecomer, “where two brave IRA officers, Jack Hartley, Glenmore, and his cousin, Nicholas Mullins, lost their lives.” The proceedings were very impressive. An eloquent oration was delivered by the Rev. Father MacNamarra, C.C., and a touching address by Mr. Philip Lemmon, MCC, Brigade Registrar, New Ross. The Rosary was recited for the repose of the souls of the deceased. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4). An Anniversary Office and High Mass was held at Glenmore on Monday the 26th for the late Sean Harley. The members of the Cuman na mBan and several of the IRA were present. The Rev. Father Holohan, P.P., presided and the celebrant was Rev. Father Bergin, C.C. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 June 1922, p. 5). For previous articles concerning Jack Hartley and Nicky Mullins see our previous post of 20 June 2021.
The Glenmore Creamery Co-op showed a reduction in the number of gallons of milk it received during 1921. In 1920, 568,496 gallons were received but only 465,804 were received in 1921. This was due to the creamery being forced to close by order of the British in June 1921. The newspaper went on to note that the 1921 reduction was not an indication of the lowering of milk production in the district. In 1921, 203,066 pounds of butter were made and the Creamery showed a profit available for distribution to shareholders of £672. The newspaper noted that the Glenmore Creamery came through “the troublous period” of the previous year very well (Munster Express, St. 17 June 1922, p. 6).
Sports
Glenmore played in the junior football championship. The opposing team was Curagh. The final was played at the Rower, “and after a good exhibition of football, Glenmore retired winner, the scores being Glenmore 6 points; Curagh, nil (Munster Express, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5).
Denis McDonald, of Tullogher, covered himself with glory on Sunday the 18th when he won three first places at the Leinster Championship Sports held in Croke Park. He threw the disc 113 feet 6 inches nearly 9 feet further than his nearest opponent. He hurled the 56 lbs. between legs without follow 25 feet, 4 inches, and cleared the bar with the 56 lbs. at the “magnificent height” of 13 feet, 10 inches. “At the Tailteann Games to be held in Dublin in August it was opined that “some of the premier honours are sure to be captured by the Tullogher boy” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4). For a previous article regarding Glenmore weight thowing click here.
During the last week of June 1922, a large number of Irish Americans arrived in New Ross on a visit to their friends in the town and rural districts. They stated that a big number of people were coming across for the Tailteann Games in Dublin in August (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 June 1922, p. 5).
Dublin & South Eastern Railway
During the month of June the newspapers carried several notices of special excursion trains and fares for events taking place. It appears that people were eager to get back to sport and other entertainments greatly curtailed during the War of Independence. A special excursion train ran from New Ross to Kilkenny for the Co. Kilkenny Feis held on Sunday the 25th of June 1922. Leaving New Ross at 11:15, a third class return fare to Waterford was 2 shillings while passengers joining the train at Glenmore at 11:27 paid 1 shilling. The train arrived in Waterford at 11:45 and departed for Kilkenny at noon arriving at Kilkenny at 1:10 p.m. The Waterford to Kilkenny return ticket was 4 shillings (New Ross Standard, Fri 23 June 1922, p. 1). A special excursion train was also arranged for the Diocesan Choir Festival held at Wexford on the 29th. A single fare was charged for the double journey from various stops including Glenmore. Glenmore residents also had the opportunity to travel via the excursion train to Dublin on the 29th with a first class ticket costing 20 shillings while a third class cost 11 shillings. On 2 July an excursion train was arranged for the Waterford Feis with the train leaving Glenmore at 11:50 with a ticket costing 1 shilling (New Ross Standard, Friday 23 June 1922, p. 1).
Local Farming & Fishing
In a few places near New Ross farmers intended to cut early meadowing at the end of the month. The salmon season was disappointing. With the exception of the first month of the salmon season the season was very poor (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 June 1922, p. 4).
On the night of Thursday, the 15th a number of cattle were driven off the lands of Patrick Foskin, Deerpark, Mullinavat, and put on the lands of a farmer in Bigwood. The reason reported in the newspapers was that Foskin’s sons had taken an active interest in the Pro-Treaty or Free State side. The matter was referred to in condemnatory terms at both Masses in Mullinavat on the following Sunday (Munster Express, Sat. 24 June 1922, p. 6).
Law & Order
The total number of Officers and men of the RIC in Southern Ireland prior to disbandment was approximately 10,000 according to British Parliamentary Papers. No disbanded man was offered or accepted employment under the Provisional Free State Government. Of the 8,000 men disbanded, 5,200 left Ireland. Some of these men who left Ireland enlisted in Great Britain (3,200), and 300 men joined the Palestine Gendarmerie (Munster Express, Sat. 3 June 1922, p. 5).
On the 4th of June a number of Ex-RIC men were served with notice, purporting to come from the IRA, ordering them to leave Kilkenny within a specified time. In a number of cases the order was immediately complied with (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5).
In the early hours on Wednesday the 7th of June, “a sensation was created in Mullinavat.” Previously some men were working in Mullinavat in the interest of the Treaty and were arrested. Consequently, Free State troops came down from Kilkenny and, at 2 a.m., rushed the Mullinavat barracks and made prisoners of all the occupants. The prisoners were then taken away in lorries. As a result of a conference in Kilkenny, the prisoners were set at liberty and returned to their quarters in Mullinavat (Munster Express, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5).
General Election
A General Election was scheduled for 16 June 1922. Prior to the election, the Labour Election Committee announced that reports from various places in Carlow-Kilkenny were encouraging. On Sunday, the 21st of May, large and enthusiastic meetings were held at Kilmacow, Mooncoin, Mullinavat and Glenmore in Co. Kilkenny (Nationalist & Leinster Times, Sat. 3 June 1922, p. 3). We know from information that Danny Dowling recorded that politicians generally spoke from the stage of the small building near the Village bridge and next to the Glen Bar. This building was removed when the houses were built behind the pub.
Just prior to the General Election it was reported that here were 34,297 voters on the County Kilkenny Register of voters. Voters in selected districts were recoded as: Glenmore 1,517; Kilmacow 2,229; Mullinavat 1,221, Thomastown 1,712 (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 5). One of the candidates D.J. Gorey, of Burnchurch House, ran as a Farmers’ Union candidate for a Carlow-Kilkenny seat. About 5:30 am on the 4th of June 8 or 9 armed men arrived at Burnchurch House. On hearing the men enter the yard Gorey went to his bedroom window and asked them their business. They asked him to come down to speak to the men, but Gorey declined. He said he would hear whatever they had to say from his window. The leader of the visitors told him to come down or he would have to bear the consequences. Gorey left the window and returned with shotgun which caused his visitors to leave the vicinity of the house. One of Gorey’s workmen was taken prisoner. The visitors subsequently returned to the house and opened fire. Gory had no ammunition in the house and barricaded the window. In the meantime, Mrs. Gorey slipped out of the house and went for help. When she returned with neighbouring farmers the visitors had left. The only damage was the bedroom window smashed by bullets (Munster Express, Sat. 10 June 1922, p. 6).
Ultimately Gorey was elected to one of the four Carlow-Kilkenny seats. Also elected was P. Gaffney (Labour), Alderman Cosgrove (Pro-Treaty), and Major General O’Sullivan (Pro-Treaty). The defeated candidates were both sitting members: E. Aylward (Anti-Treaty) and J. Lennon (Anti-Treaty) (Munster Express, Sat. 24 June 1922, p. 6).
The Waterford News & Star (Fri. 30 June 1922, p. 4) published an article stating that a special courier from Dublin reported that on the 28th “irregulars” or anti-treaty fighters seized various buildings in the centre and suburban areas of Dublin. One of the buildings seized was the Four Courts. Free State troops entered the Four Courts and took 33 Anti-Treaty forces prisoner. The streets were dangerous and no fewer than 11 civilians were killed, while 25 were wounded. Business was at a standstill. The Beggar’s Bush official bulletin that was released stated, “after considerable fighting during the course of yesterday evening our troops succeeded in dislodging the irregulars from the greater part of the Four Courts.” The fragile peace ended.
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. We would be interested in learning the first name of the Irish boy injured in June 1922 near the Pink Rock.
Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sharing the featured c. 1924 photo of the Glenmore Creamery.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Glenmore Garda Station [Updated]
Danny Dowling in his quest for information concerning Glenmore and its people corresponded with various agencies from the Naval Historical Center of the U.S. Navy to the Garda Siochána Archives. Although Danny was unable to verify that a Glenmore native was killed while serving on the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbour in 1898, Danny was able to obtain correspondence concerning the early Glenmore Garda Station. This correspondence not only provides information concerning the local Garda Station, but it also gives a fascinating glimpse into the early workings of the Free State. Lacking in the correspondence is any indication as to why the presence of Garda in Glenmore was so important to generate the correspondence where the “occupation” of Glenmore was deemed important. As we highlighted in a previous post of 11 April 2020, the Glenmore R.I.C. Barracks was burned in 1920 by the Glenmore Company of the old I.R.A.
Occupation of Glenmore
In early February 1924 a memo was sent to the Garda Commissioner regarding the “Occupation of Glenmore.” Notwithstanding this interesting choice of words, it was noted that the Board of Works apparently located a temporary accommodation in Glenmore but the owner was not willing to rent the house. The Board of Works wanted to know whether it should proceed to “commandeering under the Acquisition of Premises Act.” In turn on 21 February 1924, a letter was written to the “Minister of Home Affairs” noting that there was no suitable accommodation in Glenmore for the Garda except for a cottage belonging to Mr. Dalton, of Waterford. The owner offered the house for sale but refused to rent it to the Garda. “Under the circumstances the Commissioner is of the opinion that the Board of Works should be urged to negotiate for the rebuilding of the old R.I.C. Barracks at Glenmore so as to provide accommodation of a suitable permanent nature for the Garda.” Then 11 days later, on 4 March 1924, a second letter was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs stating that the Commissioner was of the opinion that the “provision of the Civic Guard (Acquisition of Premises) Act 1923 should be brought into operation in order to secure the vacant cottage belonging to Mr. Dalton, for the use of An Garda.” Although it is not clearly stated in the correspondence one interpretation could be that the Commissioner was seeking both a temporary and permanent accomodation in Glenmore to provide immediate services to an area without police since 1920.
The Garda Commissioner received a response letter dated 22 March 1924, where it was queried if “it has been definitely decided to have a Garda Station permanently at Glenmore…” The Board of Works had stated that the “landlord of the old Royal Irish Constabulary Barrack has received compensation for the destruction of the house. He will not rebuild but is understood to be willing to sell the site and ruins.” If a permanent Garda Station is required for Glenmore the Board of Works would be instructed to open negotiations with the landlord with a view to submitting the proposal to the Ministry of Finance for authority to purchase the site and ruins and to restore the building as a permanent station for the Garda. The owner of the site and ruins was Lord Bessborough although his name does not appear in the letter.
Two days later the Commissioner wrote to the Kilkenny Chief Superintendent informing him that the Board of Works were of the opinion that securing Mr. Dalton’s premises “would scarcely be worthwhile.” The Chief Superintendent on the 24th stated he only recommended it “owing to the very urgent necessity for the Guards in this area.” He noted that the purchase and rebuilding of the old R.I.C. barracks would require a couple of years. Ultimately the Board of Works concluded terms for the purchase of the site and ruins in late November 1924 and on 3 December 1924 the Commissioner was advised that “the legal steps for the conveyance are now in progress.”
On 23 December 1924 the Chief Superintendent received a letter from the Thomastown Superintendent that a vacant house was located in Weatherstown, Glenmore for Garda accommodation. The house was visited and Mr. Fitzgerald, the owner, agreed to rent it for £25 per year. The house was located 1.5 miles from the Village and 3.5 miles from the Glenmore Railway Station, 6 miles from Tullogher, 5 miles from New Ross and 7 miles from Mullinavat. After erecting a “dry closet” (a.k.a. outhouse/privy) the Weatherstown Garda Station received three gardai from Thomastown on the 24th of January 1925. For the first time since 1920 there was an operating police station in the parish of Glenmore.
Repairs to the Old R.I.C. Barracks were completed and on the 3rd of November 1925, the key of the Weatherstown Garda Station was returned to Mr. Fitzgerald. The only item not completed at the Glenmore Village Garda Station was the installation of a cooking range. “Although the Barrack is suitable for the permanent accommodation of An Garda, married quarters are not available.” Within 20 days of occupation a request was made for the installation of a telephone. It was noted that the “cost of installation would be small as the wires pass close to the barracks.” (Letter DC/1806/23 dated 23 Nov. 1925).
[Update 10 April 2022: Amazingly the Civic Guards taking over the old R.I.C. barracks at Glenmore was reported in the New York newspaper The Advocte (Sat. 18 Dec. 1925, p. 5). It was noted that these barracks were “wrecked during the troubled times and recently repaired.]
The Glenmore Water Scheme
A lull in correspondence occurred until an article was published in the Kilkenny People on 21 March 1931. The article stated that the Board approved a new water supply for the Village of Glenmore as the public water available was unfit for human consumption. The article was attached to letter dated 26 March 1931 asking the Commissioner to approve the Glenmore station for “private water supply” at the estimated cost of £2 per annum. This letter, written by J. Murphy, provides interesting details concerning the conditions in the Station. “The old village pump is situate about 140 yards down a steep incline from the Garda barracks,” and under the new scheme it is here that the public tap would be provided. For information on the pollution of the Glenmore public water, we previously published an article on the Glenmore water scheme on 23 May 2020.
During the summer months it was reported that about 30 gallons of water was needed in the Glenmore station for domestic and other purposes. “The Barrack servant provides only what is necessary for household use, and the remainder is provided by the Station party at an expense of approximately £3.10.0 per annum. I was not aware until now that the Station party were paying for the carriage of water to the Station…The expense is not shown in the Mess Book as the money is paid from a reserve fund on hand at the Station as a result of discount received on mess bills.” Thus the Station had a servant who carried the water from the Creamery to the Station. The village pump was located in front of where the pub is now and described in the letter as being on a “steep incline.” Instead the water came from the local creamery pump which “is situate about 300 yards from the Station, with the consent of the manager.” No mention is made of the steeper incline between the Station and the creamery or further reference to the “reserve fund.”
When J. Murphy did not receive a response he sent a memo dated 14 May 1931 to Commissioner “A” noting that should his recommendation that a private water supply be provided to the Glenmore Station it would be necessary to advise the contractors as the work on the scheme had commenced. He noted that “…special piping to which connections can be linked up will only be provided where ordered…” In December 1931 a private water supply was approved for the Glenmore Garda Station and the connection was made in January 1932.
In August 1934 the Glenmore Garda Station made a request for a “bucket or receiver for use in closet.” It thus appears that although the Station received running water in 1932 no sanitary improvements such as a flushing toilet followed. In October 1934 a list of works and repairs was made. In addition to the painting and distempering of various walls and ceilings in the kitchen, day room, hall, stairs and sergeant’s office and bedrooms the strong room walls required white wash. The strong room was a cell which was located at the back of the building. It was also noted that the water supply should be extended to the wash house with three basins and taps to be provided. “The lavatory is of the pail type and is unsuitable owing to its close proximity to the kitchen door a flush lavatory or septic tank should be provided.” The Board of Works invited tenders for repairs and the contractor hired was M. Bailey of New Ross with work to be completed on the 5th of December 1934. However, the extension of the waterline to the washhouse and the lavatory were recommended but not approved for tender.
In March 1936 the request to extend the water line to the wash house and the provision of flush lavatory and septic tank was renewed. It was also requested that two window blinds be fitted to the bedroom windows as the rooms face the street and have neither shutters nor blinds. Here the correspondence file ends. It is believed that the station did obtain a flushing lavatory, but it is not known when this occurred.
Lastly, the file contains a handwritten list of Sergeants stationed in Glenmore from 1932 to 1997:
1932-1935 John Mullane
1935 Corneilius Tully
1936-1938 Nicholas Garvey
1939-1956 John Dalton
1957-1964 James Flynn
1965 VACANT
1966-T.D. Malone
1967-VACANT
1968 D.F. Bulger
1969-1970 M. Murphy
1971-1974 A.J. Hallissey
1975-1976 J. O’Sullivan
1977-1979 P.F. M’Govern
1980-1981 F.J. Stafford
1982-1985 No Directories
1985-1997 VACANT
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for the photo of the the Glenmore Barracks after it was set on fire by the local Company of the Old I.R.A.
Next week we are going to highlight Garda Sergeant Nicholas Garvey and the story of how he met his Glenmore bride.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The 1961 Irish Press Article on Luke Murphy [Updated]
Tucked safely in Danny Dowling’s voluminous collection of Glenmore related files is a sixty-year-old article featuring Luke Murphy (c. 1927-2003) of Ballybrahee, Glenmore. The article is entitled “High Production on an 18-Acre Farm: Little Denmark in South Kilkenny,” written by Maurice Liston and published in the Irish Press on Saturday the 11th of February 1961. In addition to honouring the industrious Luke Murphy and his high produce yields, the article is important as it is one of the markers of the development of Irish agricultural journalism. According to the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, which was founded also in 1961, “the first half of the twentieth century Ireland was a barren land as far as agricultural communication of any kind was concerned.” (Guild of Agricultural Journalists, 50th Anniversary, p. 4). The Guild publication notes that Maurice Liston was one of two prominent national Irish agricultural journalists when the Guild was founded in 1961. Maurice Liston (c. 1901-1973) was a native of Co. Limerick, and began his journalistic career with regional newspapers such as the Limerick Leader, the Drogheda Independent and Mayo News before joining the national Irish Press in 1932. Although Maurice Liston covered all types of news stories he became “best known for his well-informed articles on farming” (Irish Press, 20 April 1973, p. 3).
Today, we are going to highlight various aspects of the ground breaking 1961 article that provides a glimpse into a self-sufficient mixed farming enterprise that was once prevalent in Glenmore, but has disappeared. We will conclude with some information on Luke Murphy’s parents and grandparents.
The 1961 Article
In early February 1961 Maurice Liston visited Luke Murphy’s 18 statute acre farm in Ballybrahee, Glenmore “famed for top quality potatoes and mixed farming generally.” The author noted that the parish of Glenmore previously had been described “by a well-known agriculturalist as a ‘little Denmark.’” He noted that Luke Murphy “by intelligent planning and personal hard work, has achieved an output even greater than that of the Danes.” Luke Murphy had 2 acres of potatoes, 13 acres dedicated to tillage and hay production and the remaining 3 acres were devoted to pasture for grazing. The article further breaks down that 2 acres were in feeding barley, 1.5 acres in wheat, 1 acre in sugar beet, 1 acre in mangold, and half an acre in turnips and 3.5 acres in hay.
Ballybrahee in 1961 was one of the few districts in Ireland where the yield of Golden Wonders potatoes averaged 12 tons an acre although Luke Murphy enjoyed even higher yields. The author noted that the soil “is a typical South Leinster Silurian, free working loam and eminently suitable for tillage and early sowing.” The early sowing and good management of the crop were identified as the reason for the high yields. In addition to the high yield Luke Murphy maximised his profit by selling his Golden Wonders mainly after Christmas. He built a special potato store for sorting and grading the potatoes for market.
The beet crop produced sixteen tons to the acre and it was noted that in some years Luke Murphy was able to achieve twenty tons to the acre. “The farm is practically self-supporting with by-products of the beet crop, roots and barley in plentiful supply for stock feeding. The stock consists of four fine milch cows which yield around 700 gallons each per year. The milk is sent to Glenmore Co-operative Creamery…one of the most successful creameries in the South of Ireland…The calves are fed with hay, roots and beat pulp and are sold as yearlings. The pig enterprise is a highly successful one. Three sows are kept and they average twelve bonhams each, which is really very prolific and well above the national average…with around 70 store pigs sold off the farm annually. All are fed on home produced food supplemented by purchased pig meal produced at the local creamery.”
It was noted that the rotation of crops on this farm was sound but flexible. Farm manure was the main fertilizer. Root crops followed stubbles in some years, but invariably feeding barley and wheat followed beet or potatoes. “One of the outstanding successes on the farm [was] the creation of new pastures, which have trebled the stock carry capacity of the land. This high yield output results from the method of sowing down tilled land to a crop of grass…by direct seeding…” In 1961 Luke Murphy maintained four milch cows, five yearlings, two horses and three sows. “on six statute acres is tremendous stocking—exceeding the very high outputs that we hear of from New Zealand and other countries.”
Luke Murphy attributed his success to science. “Convinced that science is as necessary to agricultures as to any other industry” he regularly attended agricultural classes” including those held in Glenmore the previous year. The article concludes that from “a very small acreage Mr. Murphy has provided himself and his family with a high standard of living, using his car for business and for pleasure. The comfortable residence, well-appointed out-offices, including haybarn and well-kept yards, are in keeping with the exceptionally high standard of husbandry practised.” Interestingly, although an automobile is mentioned there is no mention of a tractor which may explain why two horses were kept.
The Murphy Family
Luke Murphy was married to Alice Murphy née Forristal (c. 1922- 2018) of Rochestown, Glenmore. The couple had four children. Unfortunately, public records for births after 1920 are not available nor are marriages after 1945, thus we have provided what information that we could verify concerning Luke Murphy’s parents and grandparents. A tree is provided for ease of access followed by further information including townlands etc.
Luke Murphy’s Parents
Luke Murphy (c. 1927-2003) was the son of Daniel Murphy (5 April 1876-18 Nov. 1948) and Ellen Murphy née Murphy (c. 1884-29 July 1951). Daniel Murphy and Ellen Murphy were married on 8 November 1911 at Glenmore. The groom, Daniel Murphy, was 35 years of age, a farmer from Shambogh (sic) and his father was listed as James Murphy (farmer). The bride, Ellen Murphy, was 27 years of age, from Ballybrahee, Glenmore and her father was listed as John Murphy (farmer).
The following children of Daniel Murphy and Ellen Murphy née Murphy have been identified from various family obituaries: [1] Mary Murphy (c. 1908-1998)(emigrated to England); [2] James Murphy (29 Nov. 1915-2 Dec. 1941); [3] John Murphy; [4] Con Murphy (emigrated to England); [5] Stasia Furlong née Murphy ( ?-1999); [6] Hannie Brennan née Murphy (? -c. 1996)(emigrated to England); [7] Luke Murphy (c. 1927-29 March 2003).
Luke Murphy’s Grandparents
Daniel Murphy (1876-1948) was the son of James Murphy and Johanna Neil of Shanbogh, Rosbercon. James Murphy and Johanna Neil, of Glyn, were married on 28 February 1870 at Rosbercon.
Ellen Murphy née Murphy was born on 1 August 1884 the daughter of John Murphy and Mary Murphy née Henneberry. John Murphy (farmer) of Ballybrahee and Mary Henneberry, of Ballyverneen, were married at Glenmore on 19 January 1884. John Murphy’s father was listed as John Murphy (deceased) and Mary Murphy née Henneberry’s father was listed as James Henneberry (labourer). James Henneberry married Ellen Walsh, of Weatherstown, on 17 January 1853.
Mary Murphy née Henneberry was born on 23 June 1859 at Jamestown. Her parents were James Henneberry and his wife Ellen Henneberry née Walsh. James Henneberry and Ellen Walsh, of Weatherstown were married on the 17th of January 1853.
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Luke Murphy was a contemporary of Danny Dowling, and for further information about 1927 see our previous post.
[Updated 16 August 2021–Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sending the photo of the three men of Ballybrahee. Updated 17 August 2021–Special thanks to Julie Hoyne for the correction: the man in the centre of the men of Ballybrahee is Jim Murphy, the older brother of Luke Murphy. ]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh