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The Glenmore Cinema: William “Bill” Walsh (1912-1985)
Over the last couple of years while typing up Danny Dowling’s notebooks and writing articles for this blog there have been several times when I wished that I could have met some of the interesting former Glenmore residents. One such person was Bill Walsh (1912-1985) who before television was available brought films to Glenmore, and other local areas, and often took films to individual homes for people who were ill. He was instrumental in the founding of the popular Glenmore Athletic Club, was an avid cyclist and operated a dancehall in Mullinavat. Thanks to Marion Coady Hendrick née Walsh we now have further information regarding her father and the social history of Glenmore of the twentieth century created by his endeavours. Information not part of Marion’s article, gleaned from public records, is included in square brackets [ ].
My Father, by Marion Coady Hendrick née Walsh
Family Background
William “Bill” Walsh was born 110 years ago this coming week on 2 March 1912. He was born in Cappagh, Glenmore and lived his entire life in Glenmore. He was the youngest child of Patrick Walsh (1857-1933) and his wife Margaret “Maggie” née McGuiness (1868-1952). Patrick and Maggie met when Maggie came from the North of Ireland to stay with relatives in Gaulstown. [The couple married on 12 September 1893 at St. John’s of Waterford. According to the marriage records Patrick Walsh, of Glenmore, was the son of John Walsh (deceased weaver) and Maggie McGuinness was residing on Hennessy’s Road, in Waterford, and was the daughter of James McGuinness (retired policeman).] Patrick and Maggie Walsh had nine children, including (1) Annie Walsh (b. 25 Oct. 1894); (2) Katie “Kit” Walsh (b. 12 Oct. 1896); (3) Jim Walsh (b. 30 Nov. 1898); (4) Mary “Molly” Walsh (b. 19 Feb. 1901); (5) Ellen “Eily” Walsh (b. 4 Aug. 1902); (6) Sarah Walsh (b. 4 April 1904); (7) John “Jack” Walsh (b. 10 June 1906); (8) Margaret “Gretta” Walsh (b. 5 Oct. 1908); (9) William “Bill” Walsh (b. 2 March 1912).
Patrick Walsh died in 1933 at the age of 76. Patrick worked in the dairy in the Glenmore Creamery up until his death. Bill at 15 years of age took over his father’s job in the dairy. Sometime later there was an exam for the storekeeper’s position in the Creamery. Bill got the highest marks in the exam and got the job. He was a man of great intelligence, and this was borne out over his lifetime. He also had the greatest attribute of all which cannot be picked up in any university, he possessed common sense in abundance. [Bill worked full time in the Creamery until his retirement in the late 1970’s.] In addition to Bill being employed at the Glenmore Creamery, his sister Molly Walsh (1901-1988) was employed there as the dairy maid. While working at the Creamery she met Larry Fortune, of Shanbogh and the couple later married.
In 1946, Bill Walsh married Margaret “Peg” Roche (1917-2012) when Peg returned from England after working there throughout WWII. They had been engaged for 5 years. Peg was the daughter of Edward Roche and Mary Roche née Forristal, of the High Road, Rathinure, Glenmore. Mary was born and reared in Forristal’s Mill in Graiguenakill, Glenmore and was a sister of Nicky “the Miller” Forristal. Bill Walsh and his wife Peg had six children. The eldest three children were boys and the youngest three were girls. Their names are: (1) Pat Walsh; (2) Eamonn Walsh; (3) Jimmy Walsh; (4) Marion Walsh; (5) Ann Walsh; and (6) Monica Walsh. Sadly, Jimmy passed away at 3 years of age.
Athletic Life
In the St. Joseph’s Athletic Club, Third Annual Yearbook, 1984/85 a tribute was penned about Bill by Danny Dowling (1927-2021) under the heading “Well known athlete of former years passes away.” Danny described Bill as an “indefatigable worker for the advancement of athletics in the South East, particularly in the Glenmore/Rosbercon area, his lifelong association with the sport earned him the admiration and esteem of all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His colleagues in the sport of cycle racing included such well- known personalities as Richie Cotterell of Ballycroney, Tommy and Dick Hamilton and Jack Doolan of Tinneranny, and the late Paddy O’Brien of New Ross and the Parish Pump.”
Bill was a keen racing cyclist for many years, particularly in the 1930’s and 40’s when he took part in almost every road and track event in the South East. His intense interest in the sport was mainly responsible for the foundation in 1943 of the Glenmore Athletic Club, and some of his colleagues in this venture included Larry and Pat Roche of Haggard, Peter Egan of Mullinarrigle, Stephen Walsh, Rochestown, Tommy Cotterell, Ballycroney and Tommy Fitzgerald of Moulerstown. The Glenmore Club remained active for many years and was responsible for keeping alive a vibrant interest in local athletics. Its success in that regard is mainly due to the dedication and enthusiasm of Bill Walsh. Local athletes, of both the present and future, owe him a debt of gratitude for his unselfish dedication and service which he unstintingly gave in the interest of youth and sport. He was the personality portrait in the Munster Express on more than one occasion, as Hon Secretary of the Glenmore Athletic Club, highlighting the annual sports day at Skow Bridge the only one of its kind to be held annually in South Kilkenny.
Cinema in Glenmore
Before television came into use in the early 60’s the weekly film was a huge event in the social life of Glenmore. JK Walsh’s was the venue right next to Danny Dowling’s house in the village. Every week the new film arrived. First, they came as 3 reels but later one large reel the size of a bicycle wheel. Bill had two projectors one large and one smaller. He built a high wall behind the screen to mount the screen on, but also to make the cinema easier to heat. The excitement before the film started was palpable. Some of the films included: Ben Hur, Quo Vadis, all the old cowboy films High Noon, Gunfight at the OK Corral. The boys in the village would run around firing cap guns for weeks after a cowboy film. The Song of Bernadette he showed “Pro Bono” to the Good Shepherd Nuns and girls. On different days of the week, he showed films in Mullinavat, Hugginstown, and Bigwood. When he had a free night, he showed his film of the week to whatever invalid or bedridden person in the parish who wished to see it. For a screen he used one of his wife’s starched white sheets.
In 1961, Bill installed new state of the art seating, it seemed the height of luxury to us after the benches. The winter of 1962/63 was savage, the coldest for more than 200 years. It began freezing on Christmas day 1962 and didn’t relent until March 1963. The roof of Bill’s cinema collapsed under the weight of the snow. For a while he continued to show films in the old school, but with the advent of television the popularity of local cinema died out it was the end of an era for Glenmore cinema.
Mullinavat Dance Hall
In 1957, Bill in partnership with Paulie Fitzgerald Moulerstown, bought Mullinavat Dance Hall, known locally as Harney’s Hall. They installed a new maple floor which cost £1,000 (which is €1,269.74) an enormous sum at the time when the average wage was £8. (or €10.16) per week. How we loved to slide around on that floor! There was a long tube which contained a kind of floor wax like Lux flakes that you shook on the floor, and it gleamed.
The dancehall became a popular venue during the 50’s and 60’s. It is where love stories began. A wonderful place full of music and song, youth and vitality, noise, and energy. Girls and boys from all over the country came to dance the night away, they waltzed and fox-trotted to the big bands, they huckle-bucked and jived, and twisted the night away. The excitement of the Sunday night dance.
A lot of girls and boys cycled miles to get to the dances as evidenced by the headscarves, raincoats and bicycle lamps hung in the cloakroom. Hundreds of bikes were parked in Walsh’s Garden on the corner near Mill Bridge. The girls dressed in beautiful dresses of every hue and the men wore suits.
The dance halls had to close down during Lent, the torment of that, never had 7 weeks seemed so long. During Lent we all had to lend a hand painting and refurbishing the hall for the grand opening after Lent. St. Patrick’s Day was the exception when the hall opened for concerts and anyone off drink for Lent could have a drink on that day only. Of course, there was no drinking in the dance hall, there was only a mineral bar, tea, and sandwiches. There was a license with the hall when it was first bought from Harneys, but Bill and Paulie having kept it for a while decided it was better to just have a mineral bar as most other dancehalls did at the time. The drinking was done beforehand in the local pubs. On Sunday nights the pubs all closed at 10 p.m. A big night which stood out in our minds as children was when Maggie Barry came to the Dancehall and all the mothers in the village went to see her. My mother made the tea on a Sunday night and welcomed the girls from around the area into the house, they were waiting for our father to give them a lift to the Dance after he had finished showing films in one of the halls around the country. We remembered as children the girls sitting us on their laps, they wore hoops in their dresses to make them stand out, and we would wiggle on their knees to get comfortable. All consigned to history now.
Mullinavat Fete
The Fete’s were also held at the Dance Hall, but in a huge marquee tent adjacent to it, to accommodate the crowds that came. The Junior and Senior hurling tournaments and the excitement of the hurling final. The Victors Showband and the Barrow Boys, Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners. Buses came from all over, people got a lift, walked, and cycled, it was the highlight of the summer. There was a spinning wheel, where you bought a ticket and if your number came up you got to pick a prize. Pongo, a tea tent which served the best homemade cakes, buns and sandwiches, fish and chips and ice cream were served. Loud music and great excitement, people everywhere and of course the big bands and dancing in the Hall. Mullinavat was booming at that time.
Bill sadly passed away on 1st March 1985 the day before his 73rd birthday. It was sudden and shocking to us all, he was always so full of vitality. The day before he died, (he was in hospital for 2 days) when asked what he wanted for his birthday he said “I just want to go home, I’m only going to dig half the garden this year.” He stayed busy to the end.
On 19th January 1987 the Hall was sold to Monsignor Maher, Parish House, Mullinavat. There was a one off “Last Dance” held there on Sunday 1st June 2014 and the hall was demolished in July 2014. Today the area where the Hall stood now house the local school and community hall.
Special thanks to Marion for sharing her knowledge, memories and photos and writing the above interesting article.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Early Glenmore Business Newspaper Advertisements [Updated]
While searching local newspapers various advertisements for Glenmore businesses, or businesses belonging to people from Glenmore, were found. Prior to 1925 there were very few advertisements, however several were located in local newspapers in the late 1930’s. For a short article on Glenmore Village in the 1930’s see, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-village-in-the-1930s/.
The following two ads were found together in the Munster Express of 16 December 1938. The J.K. Walsh shop and hall was the former premises of the Gaffney shop and mill. Locally Mrs. E. Walsh was called Lizzie J.K.
The Fluskey shop housed the second post office of Glenmore, was the place of the first telegraph and later the Glenmore telephone exchange. Robert Fluskey died in 1925, thus his sons who later ran the business appeared to have continued to leave the business in their father’s name. For details regarding Robert Fluskey see, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-businessman-robert-fluskey-1843-1925-and-the-sisters-of-charity-of-the-incarnate-word/.
The above ad for the Glenmore Creamery was found in the 15 December 1939 Munster Express. This ad confirms that the Glenmore Creamery had the second telephone in Glenmore. Danny Dowling earlier this month stated that he believes that the Glenmore parish priest was Glenmore 1.
The above ad for Pat Hanrahan’s shop in Glenmore Village was published in the Munster Express on 15 December 1939. For information on the Hanrahan Brothers who were reared in Glenmore and ran businesses in Glenmore Village and New Ross see, https://glenmore-history.com/michael-j-hanrahan-1888-1968-struggled-along/ and https://glenmore-history.com/michael-j-hanrahan-1888-1968-early-twentieth-century-gaelic-football-on-both-sides-of-the-atlantic/.
The ad below was also published in the same newspaper in 1939.
The following two ads were published in the New Ross Standard on 17th of December 1937 for two different businesses in New Ross owned and operated by two of the Hanrahan brothers raised Glenmore.
[Update 22 June 2021: At Christmas 2020 Danny Dowling remarked that the Holden that was in business with Hanrahan in New Ross was originally from Clune, Glenmore and P.N. O’Gorman was connected to Glenmore. ]
[Update 22 June 2021: At Christmas 2020 Danny Dowling remarked that the Holden that was in business with Hanrahan in New Ross was originally from Clune, Glenmore and P.N. O’Gorman was connected to Glenmore. William Aylward was a native of Parkstown, GLenmore and operated a grocery/pub in Waterford in the early 20th century.]
Lastly, there were some earlier ads found that are not directly related to Glenmore, but are interesting. For example, below is an ad for the Michael F. Murphy Company of Kilkenny. This ad was published in the Kilkenny People in 1907 and reflects the wide range of services offered from furniture removal and warehousing to steamship agent.
However, the strangest ad found from an early 20th century newspaper was found in the Munster Express of Saturday the 12th of October 1901 on page 6.
OLD FALSE TEETH BOUGHT—many people have old or disused false teeth. Send your teeth to R.D. and J.H. Fraser, Ltd., Princes St. Ipswich (estab. 1833), and they will remit the utmost value by return, or make you best offer. Largest and oldest buyers of old false teeth anywhere in the world.
In attempting to find out when the Fraser Company of Ipswich may have ceased trading in the buying of old false teeth the below sign was found. The sign indicates that R.D. & J.B. Fraser engaged in more trade than just the buying of old false teeth.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Memories of Glenmore: Late 1960’s Through 1970’s
Danny Dowling over the years corresponded with a great number of people all over the world with Glenmore connections. One of his correspondents was Margurerite Ennett, of Cappagh who now lives in Perth, Australia. Danny still loves to hear from people, and this week we received an email from Margurerite’s brother, Jimmy Ennett, who shared a number of his memories of being brought up in Glenmore in the late 1960’s through 1970’s. With Jimmy’s permission we are going to share his memories and ask others to help record information concerning Glenmore in the 1960’s and 1970’s by commenting, providing dates, names, and sharing their memories of Glenmore at that time.
Margurerite and Jimmy were two of the six children of Pat and Mai Ennett, of Cappagh, Glenmore. After Jimmy left Glenmore he taught at Beneavin College in Dublin from 1973 to 1980. Jimmy migrated to Australia with his wife and family to undertake a PhD scholarship in Chemistry at the Australian National University in Canberra. The family settled in Canberra, Jimmy worked in Government science areas, and he retired a few years back. Jimmy wrote that he is very interested in the parish history and has great memories of Glenmore.
School
Jimmy started in the Glenmore National School in 1954, and actually moved to the new school in 1958, when he was in 3rd class. Teachers in his time were Master Murphy, Mrs Murphy, Miss Cunningham, and later Miss Kearney. There was a heavy emphasis on religion – which Jimmy notes, at the time, we thought was normal for a state funded school. Jimmy still has an old school photo taken around 1958 -59.
Altar Boys
When Fr W. Brennan was Parish Priest and Fr Murphy was Curate (late 1950s early 1960s). Jimmy recalled, “How we loved getting out of school to serve at funeral Masses and Weddings (gave us time out of class)!”
Travelling Shows
Travelling shows that came to Glenmore during this time, generally followed a music hall format, one notable one was Vic Loving’s ‘Talk of the Town.’ Jimmy believes it came over from the UK. The travelling shows set up in the village, and concerts were held in the village hall. There was also a local dramatic arts group who put on plays from time to time. Jimmy in trying to recall some of the people involved in the local drama group came up with some names: Mick Mac? one of the Halligans (Mickey?), a Murray ? who taught at Ballyfacy school.
Cinema
Bill Walsh (Village, Cappagh) used to show movies also at the village hall (cinema) next door to Danny Dowling’s house. In those days, there were lots of cowboy movies, including some good ones such as ‘High Noon’. However, one winter the roof collapsed after a heavy snowfall (no one inside!). Bill moved his movies to the ‘new’ hall (old school). However, the movies petered out around the early 1960s.
Fete
The Glenmore Fete was an annual event over a few weeks at the Scough Bridge up to early 1960s(?). The Fete had entertainment such as merry-go-rounds, swing-boats, raffles etc, and even an illegal shebeen – which was raided one night by Garda. [This raid was mentioned in an earlier post https://glenmore-history.com/whats-a-shebeen/ and is believed to have occured in 1961 or 1962.]
During Jimmy’s time Glenmore also had a hurling tournament involving other parishes – including Wexford parish. Jimmy recalls, “As far as I’m aware, there were good rewards, such as set of watches, for the winners. I suspect the GAA authorities were not totally enamoured by this, as it smacked of professionalism!”
Creamery
Jimmy remembers farmers queued to deliver milk in milk cans or churns to Glenmore creamery. Bill Walsh and ? Forrestal often took in the milk at the stage, marked the creamery book etc. Glenmore had its own brand of butter. Jimmy believes the creamery at Lochcullen (near Kilmacow) was also part of the same cooperative.
Other Recollections
The Hunt (both Mullinavat Harriers and McCalmont’s Mt. Juliet)
Church attendance – different sides for men and women; plus reading from the altar each parishioner’s contribution to Easter and Christmas dues!
Shops – Eily Heffernan’s, Fluskey’s and Hanrahan’s. Flusky’s had the Post Office and phone exchange in the shop. Phone exchange operator knew all that was happening in the parish!
If you would like to comment, add to, provide names, dates etc. or just say hello to Danny or Jimmy, please insert the comment or information into the comment box at the bottom of this post. If you don’t see the comment box at the bottom of this page, please scroll up to the list of recent posts and click on this post. The post will open in a new page and you will find the comment box at the bottom. Or please feel free to send us an email at glenmore.history@gmail.com and we can post for you.
The featured photo of the VW Bug at the beach was taken by Tom Arrowsmith (London) and is available on “Unsplashed.”
Kathleen Moore Walsh