Glenmore Waterworks 1931
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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
Prosperity, Pollution and the 1931 Glenmore Waterworks
Danny Dowling this week was able to identify five known hand operated public water pumps in the Village of Glenmore. One pump was located in front of where the Glenmore pub is now located. This was a deep well. Another pump was later located across the road at Rita Cummins née Hennessy’s gate on the footpath. A third pump was located outside the old National Boys’ School. Danny also stated that he was told that Gaffneys had a pump, but Danny did not know if it was in front of the buildings or at the side or rear of the property. Today, next to the Coach House a pump painted red still remains in the Village.
As previously discussed in our post of the 9th of May 2020, the Glenmore Co-opertive Creamery was established and commenced operating in 1905. According to the newspaper coverage at the time the site was chosen because it contained a spring and a stream. An expert who advised the founders noted that a creamery needed a good supply of clean spring water and a fast moving stream to carry away the waste generated by the operations of the Creamery. The stream at the Creamery went under the road; into Hanrahan’s field where the original Glenmore chapel was located; it ran down the hill under the Village Street to meet the stream from Mullinahone at the pub side of the bridge; flowed behind the Coach House into Cappagh; on to Graiguenakill and out into the Ballyverneen marshes and into the Barrow River.
On the 23rd of October 1931 the New Ross Standard featured a long article regarding the opening of the Glenmore waterworks.
“For some years Glenmore was faced with a serious problem in its water supply. The old pump had done its duty for generations, but in all material things the wear and tear of time inevitably leaves its impress. Gradually the old fundamental work became faulty and gave grounds for misgivings as regards the purity of the water feeding the storage vault. Shortly the situation was clarified when it was proved that the water was no longer safe for human consumption.”
Although the article implies that the water became unfit due to the wear and tear on the pumps, the article also reveals that the water in the Village pumps had become so unfit that farmers would not allow their horses to drink it. Danny believes that the discharges from the Creamery polluted the stream and then the nearby wells. It was reported that anxiety arose in 1929 in the Village concerning the state of the Glenmore water. The Very Reverend, Canon Holohan, P.P. and the Very Reverend, Dr. Gibbons, Curate out of concern for their parishioners set out to find a supply of good water for the Village. They wrote to Mr. Dooley, a member of the Kilkenny County Council and Mr. Flanigan, the engineer for the County Council. Mr. Dooley and Mr. Flanigan travelled to Glenmore on a very wet day. They examined the water, the old pump, took up buckets of water, and found that it was absolutely unfit for human use.
Originally a suggestion was made that another pump be sank in the village, but this was rejected as the likelihood was that the water in a new pump would also be polluted. Finally, the priests hit on a new source of water for the Village. Danny said that they chose the Tobar Mhuire Holy or blessed well in the Flemingstown Townland on the lands of Mrs. Mary Mullins, née Walsh. [Mary Mullins, née Walsh was the daughter of Patrick and Margaret Walsh, of Davidstown, Glenmore the couple who gave the sanctuary lamp to the Glenmore Parish Church during the 1910-1912 renovations that travelled to Crosspatrick Church.] Danny explained that Tobar Mhuire translates as St. Mary’s Well. The site of the well was considered ideal because it was at a good elevation over the village and thus would ensure a good pressure. It was reported that the water was pure and abundant.
The priests wrote the Board of Health, and correspondence went on for some time between them and the board. Mr. Flanagan, engineer, then drew up plans, specifications, and an estimate for the proposed work, and submitted it all to the Board of Health. The Board agreed to the plan and guaranteed that it would pay for the work. The work started in March 1931 by the contractor, Mr. Power. This work included the running a mile of pipe to the Village. According to Thomas Mullins, of Flemingstown, grandson of Mrs. Mary Mullins, the original pipe was cast iron and subject to leaks. The newspaper article indicates that fountains or faucets were placed in the Village and several of the houses in the village and the schools immediately connected as did some houses outside the Village that were adjacent to the main pipe. It was noted that it was predicted that in a short time the scheme would be a source of substantial revenue for the Health Board and would recoup the £1,200 expended on it. At the opening ceremony Councillor Dooley was thanked for working tirelessly to get the Glenmore scheme sanctioned, and for also securing a £300 grant for the project from the Government when President Cosgrove visited Kilkenny.
A couple of hundred people attended the opening ceremony held at the well. Speeches were given by various politicians and Father Holohan blessed the water. One politician told a joke concerning a thirsty man that provides a glimpse into the humour of the time. A thirsty man was working hard under a blazing sun. He went to a neighbouring house for a drink of water. He was handed a glass of water and asked if he would have a little stick in it. “What do you mean? How could a bit of stick improve it?” asked the thirsty workman in surprise. The householder explained, “In this part of the country a bit of stick means a little whiskey.” The thirsty man replied, “Well, if that is the case then, put a telegraph pole into it.” After the ceremony had concluded, Mrs. Mullins, who so generously gave the concession of land, was handed the apparatus, and she formally turned on the water to the main at the stopcock, midst applause.”
Although various works have been performed to the system over the past 89 years, and the Village has grown, the water supply to the Village of Glenmore is still the Tobar Mhuire Holy well. [UPDATE on 28 June 2020–The New Ross Standard reported on Thursday the 28th of June 1990 that “[t]he old metal pipes which were laid 60 years ago when the Village of Glenmore got its first water supply, are currently being replaced by the outdoor staff of Kilkenny County Council. The supply is provided by a well at Flemingstown.]
On a separate matter—with the partial lifting of the lockdown this week I drove to a socially distance visit with Danny. He was in very good spirits. On my way through Cappagh I spied a May Bush in front of Pat Dowling’s house. It was nice to be out of the house, visit with Danny and see this old tradition on the approach to the Village. Apologies for the quality of the photo.
Special thanks to Thomas Mullins, of Flemingstown for providing details concerning the well and waterworks.
The featured photo is the Village Stream taken at the water pump looking toward Cappagh, Glenmore.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Tobar Mhuire Holy Well in 2020