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Dr. James Butler Norris Cane (c. 1840-1906)
In 1867, Dr. James Butler Norris Cane (c.1840-1906) became the Kilmakevogue Dispensary doctor. From 1867 until his retirement in 1900, Dr. James Cane attended to the poor of the very large Kilmakevogue Dispensary area which included most of the parish of Glenmore and also treated private patients in the area. Dispensary doctors are said to have had a difficult and thankless job and an examination of his early paternal influence may provide an understanding of his dedication to his professional duties often in the face of extreme interference by Poor Law Guardians.
Dr. James Cane was the son of Alderman Robert Cane, M.D. (1807-1858) and his Protestant wife. Dr. James Cane was born and raised in Kilkenny City, and he had at least four brothers. Richard and Francis became doctors, and Robert Jr. became an army officer. His father, Alderman Robert Cane, was a doctor with a thriving private practice that included the Butler family of Kilkenny Caste, but he was also the Medical Officer for the Kilkenny Poor Union (Waterford Chronicle, 27 June 1906).
In addition to medicine, Dr. Robert Cane, was involved in politics and became a leading figure in the Young Ireland Movement. In July 1848 the Tablet newspaper of London printed that Dr. Robert Cane, of Kilkenny, handed in a list of 1,700 men, including the mayor of the city and three magistrates, stating that English Parliament offered sufficient proof of the “utter hopelessness of looking to it for either justice or good government.” Dr. Robert Cane was a magistrate and was stripped of his office. On the 31st of July, Dr. Robert Cane was arrested in the middle of the night under the Habeas Corpus Act (Cork Examiner, 2 Aug. 1848). During his imprisonment in the Kilkenny gaol his third son Edward became ill. The authorities refused to allow him to see or treat his child, and Edward died on 2 November 1848 (Freeman’s Journal, 4 Nov. 1848). The citizens of Kilkenny were outraged.
Ultimately Dr. Robert Cane was released after several months, without any charges having been made against him. He was elected Alderman a post which he held until his death. He was also elected Mayor. Due to his popularity, for a week prior to his death the newspapers carried updates on his illness. He died on 17 August 1858 (Cork Examiner, 23 Aug. 1858). One newspaper reported that he died of kidney disease (Waterford Mail, 19 Aug. 1858, yet it has also been stated that he died from consumption. Dr. Robert Cane is buried in St. John’s Cemetery on Maudlin Street, Kilkenny. In 1874 a large memorial was placed on his grave (Kilkenny Moderator, 12 Dec. 1874). Among other achievements, Dr. Robert Cane was the editor of the Celt and wrote The History of the Williamite and Jacobite Wars in Ireland: From Their Origin to the Capture of Athlone. This book was published shortly after his death.
At the time of Dr. Robert Cane’s death he had not made sufficient financial provision for his young family and a subscription appeal was published as well as an auction was held to sell off various personal property including his horse and car and silver household items (Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser, 15 Sept. 1858 & 6 Oct. 1858). The eldest son, Dr. Richard Cane applied in September 1858 to his father’s post as medical officer for the Kilkenny Union, but he was not successful. It was noted by the Poor Law Guardians of Kilkenny that he obtained his diploma from the Edinburgh Medical School on 8 May 1858 (Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser, 4 Sept. 1858).
In the 19th century work of a doctor was difficult. Doctors were called to the sick at all times of the day and night and in rural districts a doctor could be required to travel miles to a patient. Often dispensary doctors caught the illnesses and diseases in the district. An ill dispensary doctor was required to pay for his replacement, however by 1875 it was reported that a dispensary doctor was entitled to up to a month if ill, but thereafter would be required to pay for his replacement (Waterford Standard, 16 Oct. 1875). In February 1862, Dr. B. C. Fitzpatrick, the relieving medical officer in Mullinavat wrote to the Guardians outlining the “malignant fever epidemic” that killed the district’s medical officer, the Catholic Curate and nearly killed himself (Waterford News, 7 Feb. 1862). In 1865, Dr. MacCabe, the Medical Officer in Mullinavat contracted typhus and no replacement doctor could be found (Kilkenny Moderator, 11 Feb. 1865). One of Dr. Cane’s first reports contains reference to treating 14 typhoid cases in the district in 1868 (Kilkenny Moderator, 17 Feb. 1869).
Shortly after Dr. James Cane took up his post he married Mary Carroll on 10 August 1869 at St. John’s in Waterford. His bride was the daughter of Thomas Carroll, a deceased merchant. At the time of her marriage, Mary Carroll, was the Matron of the Waterford Leper Hospital, which was located on John’s Hill (Waterford Chronicle, 27 June 1906.)
In that same year Dr. Cane encountered interference concerning the treatment of a patient from one of the Guardians. Dr. Cane wrote to the Board stating that he did not think that he was required to follow the directions of any Guardian with respect to a patient (Waterford Standard, 9 Oct. 1869). This appears to have been the beginning of a power struggle between some of the Guardians and Dr. Cane. Dr. Cane openly defied some Guardians who expected the doctor to drop everything when they issued a red ticket. A few of the Guardians began to report alleged complaints made by patients concerning Dr. Cane. Commencing in 1872 complaints regarding Dr. Cane’s attendance at the dispensaries as well as the language he used were reported. Although the Guardians found that the matters raised were trivial at least three of the Guardians were vocal and accusatory. Even the Glenmore parish priest at the time, Rev. James Aylward wrote to the Guardians complaining that Dr. Cane had failed to attend the Glenmore dispensary on the 21st of January 1873 as well as having not addressed housing and other sanitary issues. An exasperated Dr. Cane, wrote to the Guardians noting that he was not the sanitation officer and explained that he was ill on the 21st. He asked the Guardians to split the large Kilmackevogue district into thirds and give Rev. Aylward to one of the new hired doctors. (Waterford Chronicle, 8 Feb. 1873). The district was not split.
For a couple of years Dr. Cane on almost a monthly basis replied to one alleged complaint after another. He sought a sworn inquiry to face the accusations. The complaints became more outrageous. At one point Dr. Cane was accused of telling a man he would castrate him. When Dr. Cane requested the dates of the alleged conduct the accusing Guardian refused to provide it. In August 1875, the Secretary of the Local Government Board advised the Kilmakevogue Dispensary committee that after considering the many charges brought against Dr. Cane it declined to grant any sworn inquiry (Waterford Standard, 11 August 1875).
Eventually Dr. Cane sued William Raftis, a Guardian from Mullinavat, for slander. The case was heard by the Queen’s Bench in Dublin in December 1875. It was alleged that the defendant, William Raftis was a large farmer who subjected Dr. Cane to relentless persecution in an effort to destroy his reputation. Raftis denied he uttered the words alleged and if he did utter the words they were true in substance or he was protected by privilege as he was elected. During a two day trial, one witness after another stated that Raftis had been abusive, and had set out to ruin Dr. Cane. One woman who had allegedly told Raftis that Dr. Cane verbally abused her testified that Dr. Cane had never used abusive language in her hearing. The Court rendered a verdict finding Raftis liable. Damages were awarded of £500.
Thereafter very little is reported in the newspapers except from time to time temporary replacements were appointed for Dr. Cane due to illnesses or accidents he suffered. He was granted leave in 1888 (Waterford Standard, 29 Sept. 1889) and in late June 1895 local newspapers reported that Dr. JBN Cane was better. He had suffered an “excessive attack of bronchitis” (Waterford Mirror and Tramore Visitor, 4 July 1895). In 1899, Dr. Cane suffered injuries with a horse and car. He was off work for four months and applied for two more months (Waterford Standard, 2 Dec. 1899). Dr. Cane retired in 1900 after, it was stated, 38 years of service. It was agreed that a sum between £7O and £8O a year superannuation to Dr. Cane be recommended for approval to the Local Government Board (Irish Independent, 1 Feb. 1900). Dr. Cane was awarded the largest pension from the Board of Guardians which the regulation permitted. (Waterford Chronicle, 27 June 1906). Only one candidate sought Dr. Cane’s position at his retirement. Dr. W. White was hired at the rate of £120 per year plus £2O for vaccination fees.
After his retirement Dr. Cane and his family moved to Dublin. The 1901 Census indicates that Dr. Cane was living in Dublin with his wife, Mary Joseph and daughter Catherine Frances, age 26. Dr. Cane lists himself as a medical professional of the Royal College of Surgeons. Also residing in the home is a boarder, Henry Burke, who was 21 years of age, was born in County Mayo, and was a medical student. When his son, Dr. Richard James Cane, obtained the medical officer post for the Swinford Union in County Mayo in 1902, Dr. Cane and his family moved to County Mayo. Dr. Cane died there on 22 June 1906, aged 66.
On 20 May 1910, Dr. Cane’s youngest brother, Dr. Frank Cane, a Division Surgeon of the London Metropolitan police, died at Edmonton, London. The last surviving brother was listed as Lieut. Colonel Robert Cane, R.H.A. (Royal Horse Artillery), Blackheath, London. The 1911 Census of Kilmore, Urlur, Mayo provides that Dr. Cane’s widow, son and daughter were still living in Mayo. In late 1912, Dr. Richard James Cane resigned his position as medical officer of the Swinford Union (Kilkenny Moderator, 30 Nov. 1912). Dr. Cane’s widow, Mary Joseph Cane, died at Rathmines, South Dublin on 12 February 1916 at the Harold’s Cross Hospice. Her death cert provides that she was the widow of a doctor, and died of cancer of the liver. An address is recorded as 156 Old Ford Road, London. In the index of Wills of the National Archive of Ireland, William F. Delaney is listed as her primary heir.
An obituary for Dr. Cane appeared in the Waterford Chronicle of 27 June 1906 and provides a fitting conclusion
“As a professional man he was clever, and he possessed a kindly heart for the poor. He has been known at dead of night, in slush and rain, to travel miles on foot to the relief of a suffering patient, and to find himself abused next morning for not coming in time, an accusation which he bore with the most perfect equanimity. The late Dr Cane was a careful student of national history, a lover of birds and animals, and an expert in their habits. He was first to, herald in the local newspapers the coming of the pioneer swallow, and the first primrose by the river’s brim. He was a book lover as well, and his fondness of archaeological works was such that he accumulated a valuable collection of old books and records, which we hope have not been carelessly dissipated.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Glenmore Dispensary
Prior to the Poor Law Act of 1838, a dispensary doctor could be employed for the giving of medicine and advice free to the poor. However, to pay for the service local donations were collected and the grand jury, which today would be similar to a County Council, was required to match the donations with local taxes. In general, there were few dispensaries and they were unevenly spread across pre-famine Ireland. The Poor Law Act of 1838 divided Ireland into 130 administrative units called Poor Law Unions. This Act is often cited as the first real effort to put in place a public health system. Each Union had its own workhouse governed by the Poor Law Guardians who were elected by the rate payers. The existing dispensaries were now run by the Guardians and new dispensaries were established.
The dispensary system generated a substantial amount of criticism. Although the Guardians were elected they were all men and came from the upper classes. As highlighted in our last post, the Guardians “elected” the medical staff to treat the poor within their districts. The newspapers are full of reports of conflicts between Guardians over these “elections.” Other controversies arose around decisions regarding the award of contracts as well as to who was eligible for free services, and the nature of the free services.
In general, for medical treatment a ticket system was utilised. The Guardians were each issued with a ticket book. The Guardian would scrutinise the request for services and issue a ticket if he deemed it appropriate. In many cases the persons seeking medical services had to ask their landlord for a ticket. A black ticket entitled the recipient to see the doctor in the dispensary, and a red ticket entitled the recipient to have the doctor call to the recipient’s home. The red ticket was meant to convey urgency, and the doctor would be required to attend the patient as soon as able.
There are numerous complaints of favourtism and graft surrounding the dispensary ticket system. Around the turn of the 20th Century due to the ongoing abuse of the system auditors were appointed by the Government. Any Poor Law Guardian wrongfully providing “outdoor relief” or dispensary tickets to a person not eligible was made to bear the cost of the support wrongly provided. Outdoor relief was support provided without requiring the person to enter the workhouse. Due to the stigma attached to entering the workhouse outdoor relief was preferred by the poor and discouraged by the authorities. The workhouse and Poor Law Union system were not abolished until after Irish Independence in 1922. The dispensary system, for the provision of medical services, continued until 1972 when the medical card was introduced. Today, Danny Dowling related that when he was about 13 (around 1940) he was asked to take a ticket to Rosbercon to get Dr. Fitzgerald for an elderly neighbour. The Greens, of Jamestown, were in charge of the tickets, and Danny rode his bicycle to Rosbercon.
In terms of the parish of Glenmore during the Poor Law Union it was in the Kilmakevogue Dispensary District which fell under the control of the Waterford Poor Law Union. The workhouses of the Waterford Union were all located in Waterford. A description of the vastness of the Kilmakevogue Dispensary District was articulated by the Glenmore Parish Priest, Rev. Robert Phelan, in 1912 when he was seeking a fairer proportion of medical services for the poor of Slieverue and Glenmore.
“It is 18 Irish miles long, extending from a point near Harristown; five miles north of Mullinavat village to the Barrow; 13 Irish miles south of Mullinavat, and varies in breadth from Lukeswell to Kilmacow village, from the bounds of New Ross to Slieverue village and from Ballyverneen Pill to Ballinlaw Ferry. It includes the greater part of the parish of Glenmore, a part of Slieverue and Kilmacow parishes, and all Mullinavat parish, and is intersected by the Bishop’s Mountain, which forms a natural barrier dividing Glenmore parish from Mullinavat parish, thus cutting off all traffic between the parishes. The extent and general hilly formation of the district make it impossible for one doctor to work it without very great hardship to his patients and himself and at a cost for car hire almost equal to his salary. The roads are soft and bad, and after heavy rain almost dangerous to traffic…” (New Ross Standard—Friday, 13 Dec. 1912).
Today, Danny stated that he believes that there was no dispensary in Glenmore until the 1840’s. A newspaper article in 1846 supports this observation as a Glenmore district was formed when the Guardians agreed to appoint Dr. Boyd to the Kilcolum, Kilbride and Rathpatrick electoral divisions within the Kilmakevogue Dispensary district (Waterford Chronicle, 27 May 1846). On 14 October 1853, an advertisement appeared in the Waterford News seeking a medical officer for the Kilmackevogue Dispensary District. The salary was £80 a year and the area to be covered was 30,000 acres, with a population of 8,000. The election for the post was to take place at Glenmore on the 1st of November 1853. Candidates were instructed to send their qualifications to Robert Grant, Honorary Secretary, of Haggard, Glenmore.
Danny believes that the first dispensary was located in attached premises adjoining the Gaffney shop and currently the end of Danny’s house in the Village. However, Danny stated that an old man years ago told him that the dispensary was once located in an outbuilding near where the current Glenmore Pub is located. The Waterford News of 18 September 1857 provides an account of the report of Dr. Purcell, the medical inspector. When Dr. Purcell went to visit the Glenmore dispensary he found that it had been converted into a public house, by the owner and caretaker. Unfortunately, the owner is not identified. The room where the committee held their meetings was converted to a whiskey shop and the patients’ room was a drinking room. This conversion had been done with the “approbation of the managing committee.” The Guardians were requested to immediately provide other and more suitable premises for a Glenmore dispensary.
Whether the Gaffney dispensary was the first or second dispensary is not known, however, by 1874 Gaffney was reported in the newspapers as being the caretaker of the Glenmore dispensary. Mr. Duggan, the Guardian, proposed that the salary of Nicholas Gaffney, the caretaker of the Glenmore dispensary, be raised from 9d a month to 16d per month. Dr. Mackesy, of Waterford, seconded the motion and it passed with one dissenting vote.
Eventually, due to the fact that the Kilmakevogue Dispensary district was so large dispensary buildings were established at Mullinavat, Slieverue and Glenmore. The doctor established hours at the various dispensaries and did his best to respond to the needs of the poor in the district. The dispensary doctor was required to provide and pay for his own horse and car. Danny does not believe that a dispensary doctor ever lived in Glenmore. The doctors were generally based in Mullinavat, and over the years much has been written about the poor quality of the house provided to the dispensary doctor in Mullinavat. The work of the dispensary doctor has been described as a hopeless and thankless job (John Dorney, A Hopeless and Thankless Job: The Dispensary Doctor in Ireland (2017) available at https://www.theirishstory.com/2019/12/13/a-hopeless-and-thankless-job-the-dispensary-doctor-in-ireland/#.XqQyCGhKhPY. ) The next post will highlight the trials and tribulations of Dr. James Butler Norris Cane who for 38 years was the dispensary doctor of Glenmore.
In 1906 P.N. O’Gorman & Co., of New Ross, purchased the premises of Nicholas Gaffney and was prepared to take over the Glenmore dispensary and caretaking on the same terms. This was accepted by the Guardians. (Waterford Standard, 31 March 1906). In June 1908 the medical inspector issued a report concerning the poor condition of the Slieverue and Glenmore dispensaries. Repairs were immediately commenced in both dispensaries and it was reported that the Glenmore dispensary was temporarily moved to allow for the repairs.
By August there was an open and very public dispute with the newspaper labelling the meeting of the Guardians as heated. The dispute centred on whether the dispensary should remain where it had been or move. It was agreed to put in place a Glenmore Committee to review and make recommendations. Only after the committee was agreed was a letter from Robert Fluskey provided to the Guardians. Fluskey offered a detached house with sanitary accommodation and stabling for the doctor’s horse at the rent of £3, 17s., 6d.. P.N. O’Gorman was getting £13. Various Guardians expressed outrage that the letter was withheld and the arguments erupted again. (Waterford Standard, 22 August 1908). Eventually the Glenmore committee met and more battles took place until it was agreed to recommend to the Guardians that the dispensary stay in the P.N. O’Gorman building with extensive repairs and improvements being carried out at the landlord’s expense. (Waterford Standard, 19 September 1908). This dispensary was later incorporated into the end of Danny’s house.
Danny believes that the last dispensary that was built on the hill (just above the barracks) in the late 1940’s. Prior to it being built a temporary dispensary was on that spot until the new one was built. After 1974 the last dispensary was used infrequently by the public health nurse until it was eventually sold around 2000 and became a house.
The featured photo is a Google Earth view of Glenmore Village.
Further reading: Brian Donnelly, “The Historical Development of Irish Hospitals and the Importance of their Records,” in National Archives, Survey of Hospital Archives in Ireland (2016) p. 5-10 available at https://www.nationalarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PRF_106780_SURVEY_OF_HOSPITAL_BOOK_V7.pdf
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Election of Glenmore Midwives
An interesting article can be found in the Waterford Standard newspaper of Saturday the 23rd of July 1910 where two young Glenmore women were being considered for the same midwife post. The article notes that the Waterford Board of Poor Law Guardians met in their weekly meeting on Wednesday the 20th of July 1910 in the Boardroom of the Union Workhouse. The Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Mr. David Hyland presided. One of the items on their agenda was the “election” of a maternity nurse for the Workhouse. The salary associated with the position was £25 per year with the “usual allowances.” The Clerk reported that he had received two applications for the position. The first candidate was Miss Johanna Young, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, who had a certificate of training from the Cork Lying-in Hospital which was dated the 14th of December 1909. The second candidate was from Miss Annie Power, of Glenmore, who obtained her diploma from the Coombe hospital, in Dublin, in June of 1910.
It is reported that the Board immediately became divided. A vote was taken and how each member of the Board voted is reported in the article. Newspapers from before and around the turn of the twentieth century are full of criticisms regarding the political nature of how people were appointed to positions under the control of the Poor Law Guardians.
The 1910 article provides that eleven members of the Board voted in favour of Miss Power including: Thomas Power, of Callaghane; Michael Flynn, of Ballygunner; George Gamble, of Kilmeaden; James Power, Raheen; Edmond Curran, Ballintray; Thomas Kelly, of Aylwardstown; John Power, Ballygunner—temple; Richard Fitzgerald; Edmond Donovan; Captain W. Coghlan; and James Kirwan.
Seventeen members of the Board voted in favour of Miss Young including: The Mayor of Waterford, Councillor James Hackett; Captain R.C. Carew, Justice of the Peace; Maurice Power, of Moonamantra; James Maddock, of Gracedieu; Patrick Shortis, Ferrybank; John Vereker, Michael Riordan, of Ballyshoneen; John Healy; T. Holden; J. Holden; John Moore; G.D. Bishop; P.W. Kenny; James Farrell; P. Fitzgerald; John O’Neill, of Ullid; and James Young.
Miss Johanna Young, was declared elected to the position. Miss Young obtained her qualification 6 months prior to Miss Power, but that is not discussed in the newspaper article. A review of the 1901 Census of Glenmore reveals that Johanna Young was from Ballyfacey Upper, Glenmore and was born in about 1885. She was the daughter of Richard Young (c. 1843) and Kate Young (c. 1844). Her father was a carpenter and farmer. Johanna Young in 1901 had three brothers and a sister living at home including: George Young (farm labourer, aged 32); Laurence Young (carpenter, aged 26); Richard Young (farm labourer, aged 21) and Mary Young (aged 23). Also living with the family was Richard and Kate’s niece Kate O’Leary who was 4 years of age. In the 1911 Census, Johanna Young was 25 years of age living at John’s Hill in Waterford City with 27 other health care workers, primarily nurses. Johanna’s occupation is listed as “maternity nurse, workhouse.”
The unsuccessful candidate Miss Annie Power, was the daughter of Thomas Power (c. 1847) and Mary Power (c. 1847) of Robinstown, Glenmore. Annie was born around 1883, so she was about two years older than Johanna Young. Annie’s father, Thomas Power was a farm labourer and in the 1901 Census four of her brothers are also living in the home as well as her 12 year old cousin Michael Walsh. The names of her brothers are: Patrick Power (farm labourer, aged 25); John Power, (labourer, aged 23); William Power (farm labourer, aged 20); and James Power (scholar, aged 15). The 1911 Census reveals that Annie is 27 and her occupation is maternity nurse. Her parents are aged 66 and only one of her brothers is living at home; James Power is 24 and employed as a post man. Also in the house is Kate Power, aged 10, Thomas and Mary Power’s granddaughter.
Twenty-four years before the two young Glenmore women sought the midwife position at the workhouse, the Kilmackevoge Dispensary Committee met to commence finding a midwife to replace Mrs. Alice Mackey who had died. The death register provides that a Mrs. Anne Mackey, of Weatherstown, Glenmore died at the age of 80 on the 8th of June 1886. Her husband Philip Mackey was present when she died and her occupation is listed as midwife.
An account of the Kilmackevoge Dispensary Committee meeting is found in the Waterford Standard of 17 July 1886. The Committee members in attendance included: Thomas Reidy, William Fitzgerald, John Fitzgerald, Thomas Freaney, Richard Phelan, P.L.G. (Poor Law Guardian); David Carroll, and Mr. John Lawless, P.L.G. These men determined that due to the size of the area to be covered that the district should be divided into thirds and two new midwives were required for the poor to “obtain the attendance of a midwife when required.” The Committee men then went on to recommend that the salary of Mrs. McGrath, the midwife at Mullinavat, be reduced from £12 to £7 per year, and that the two new midwives would also be paid £7 per year. One of the new midwives would reside at Glenmore and the other at Slieverue. They were required to send their proposal for approval to the Local Government Board. It was also proposed that the “election” of the new midwives would take place at Slieverue the first Tuesday in August.
As reported in the Waterford Standard of 16 October 1886, the Local Government Board wrote to the Kilmackevogue Dispensary Committee and inquired into whether Mrs McGrath, midwife, was satisfied regarding the reduction of her salary from £12 to £7 as proposed by the Dispensary Committee. Not surprising it was reported that Mrs. McGrath was not satisfied with the proposal to reduce her salary. The attendees at the October meeting were: Thomas Reidy; John Lawless, P.L.G.; M. Malone; Patrick O’Reilly; J. McDonald, P.L.G,; P. Grant; Edmond Forristall, P.L.G., William Fitzgerald; Edmond Delahunty; Edward Duggan, Ryan, and Major Gyles, J.P.; Thomas Freany and John Fitzgerald.
John Lawless proposed and John Fitzgerald seconded a motion that recommended that Mrs. McGrath’s salary would be reduced from £12 to £8 a year, which was the original salary she had when appointed. It was noted that in the future she would have a smaller district and less duties. An amendment to this resolution was proposed by Mr. Forristall, seconded by Mr. Ryan, that proposed no reduction in Mrs. McGrath’s salary. The amendment lost by one vote. The Lawless resolution to cut Mrs. McGrath’s salary to her starting wage of £8 was adopted by one vote.
It was further proposed to divide the district midwife duties as follows. For the midwife to be appointed for Slieverne, she would be responsible for part of district of Electoral Division of Rathpatrick and Kilcolent (sic), also adjoining townlands of Ballincrea Electoral Division, including: Nicholastown, Attateemore, Ballincrea, Davidstown, and Monroe. The midwife to be appointed for Glenmore, would be responsible for the Electoral Division of Kilmackevogne and Kilbride, also the adjoining townlands of Ballincrea Electoral Division, including Knockbrack, Catsrock, Coolnaleen, Ballindare, and Ballinlaimmy. Mrs. McGrath would be responsible for the Electoral Divisions of Killahy, Farnogue, and Kilbacon.
Just prior to the meeting ending a resolution was made not to reduce Mrs. McGrath’s salary. Perhaps there was concern that the Local Government Board would not sanction the advertising of the two needed midwife posts if the Committee continued to seek to cut Mrs. McGrath’s salary. Unfortunately, the newspaper does not record the reason for the resolution. Mr. Forristall seconded the motion. Although the Chairman said in his opinion it would be unwise to interfere with the matter he took a vote. Mr. Lawless opposed the motion on the grounds of economy and convenience. Unfortunately, the newspaper article does not record why he thought his proposal to put Mrs. McGrath back on her starting salary was convenient. The motion not to cut Mrs. McGrath’s salary was voted upon and declared passed.
Our next posting will outline some of the unusual events surrounding the Glenmore Dispensary.
The featured image of the midwife is by Andres Campillo. The drawing of the nurse is by Henry Monnier.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
New Book on the Forrestals and Blog Updates
Michael Forrestal Keller just published The Forrestals of Ireland: An Historial and Genealogical Guide (2020). The author identified, after two decades of research of early records, the main branches of the Forrestal/Forristal or Forstal families and their origins. Three of the main branches were located in three areas within the current parish of Glenmore. These include the townlands of Carrigcloney, Mullinahone and Forristalstown. Although the book does not attempt to trace the various main branches to current descendants it is an important work. This is true for any person interested in researching Forristal, or is interested in other early Glenmore families such as the Aylward or Strange families that married a Forristal. For further information see, https://www.blurb.com/b/9993769-the-forrestals-of-ireland.
Blog Updates
A list of the officers and men in the Glenmore Company of the old IRA can be found on the website list page. The names and 1935 addresses were gleaned from records of the Military Archive. You may access the page by clicking here.
A new page “Connections” will be added to Glenmore-History.com to allow individuals who are researching the same Glenmore family or families to make contact. Due to the fact that email addresses will be public please consider what email you wish used for this purpose. It may be advisable to have in place an email to be used solely for this purpose. If you would like others to contact you regarding a Glenmore family you are researching please send an email with the family name, townland and the email address you want used to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
A number of readers have asked how Danny is doing during these difficult times. I spoke to him on the phone last Saturday. Danny is in good spirits. He answered several queries and expressed delight in how many people around the world are reading and using his notes. Danny looks forward to the pandemic ending and being able to have visitors again.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Glenmore Barracks [Updated]
Danny Dowling was informed by older Glenmore residents that the first police barracks in Glenmore was located in the field behind the present pub. There was no mention of any barracks of any description in Glenmore in 1798. The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was established in 1822, but it is not known when the RIC Glenmore Barracks was established. The present barracks was built in the Village in the townland of Robinstown (on the corner of the main Village road and the Mullinahone road) on the lands of Lord Bessborough.
Today we are going to highlight that one hundred years ago on Easter Saturday 1920, Company C, the Glenmore Company, of the 6th Battalion of the Kilkenny Brigade of the old IRA burned the Glenmore RIC barracks. For a short time after the War of Independence a police barracks was located in a house in Weatherstown until the Glenmore Village barracks was rebuilt. Thereafter the Garda Siochana occupied the Glenmore barracks. By 1995 this Garda station was only opened a day or two a week and then permanently closed. The last officer to work out of the barracks was Garda Joe Quirke.
In the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage it is provided that Forristal’s (just down the hill from St. James on the same side of the road) was a RIC barracks in 1903 https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12404105/glenmore-roryal-irish-constabulary-barracks-robinstown-glenmore-co-kilkenny . Danny does not believe that this is correct. A quick review of the 1901 Census indicates that Anastatia Forristal, was a widow, age 51, and her son Martin Forristal, age 21, lived in the house. In 1911 the house was occupied by Anastatia Forristal, age 60, her son Martin Forristal, age 31, and James P. O’Donovan, age 27, the Glenmore Creamery Manager. Given the fact that the same family lived in the house in 1901 and 1911, it seems unlikely that the Forristal house was a RIC barracks in 1903.
The first two census of the 20th century provide some information concerning the RIC officers who were assigned to the Glenmore barracks at that time. The 1901 Census provides that there was a RIC Sergeant and four constables were resident in the Glenmore barracks namely: Sgt. Michael Stapleton (age 42, born Roscommon, the son of a farmer, single), Constable John Lennon (age 47, born Roscommon, the son of a farmer, single); Constable William Brazil (age 33, born Waterford, the son of a farmer, single); Constable Florence O’Donohue, age 24, born Cork, the son of a farmer, single); and Constable Patrick Grace (age 33, born Tipperary South, the son of an ex-RIC Sgt, married). The 1911 Census only provides the initials of the RIC Sergeant and two constables in the Glenmore barracks including: Sergeant M.K. (age 41, born in Limerick, the son of a farmer, single); C.P. , age 36, born in Cork, the son of a farmer, married; and W.P. (age 23, born in King’s County [Offaly], the son of a farmer, single). All but one of the officers in these two census were sons of farmers.
Notwithstanding the confusion regarding where the Glenmore RIC Barracks was located in 1903, the photos of the roofless fire damaged Barracks illustrates that in 1920 the RIC Glenmore Barracks was at the corner the main Village road and the Mullinahone road.
Thomas Treacy, of Kilkenny City, in 1951 provided a witness statement (Doc. No. 1093) to the Bureau of Military History concerning the Kilkenny Brigade of the IRA during his time as Battalion Commandant (1917) and Brigade Commandant (1918) until his last arrest and internment in November 1920. Treacy’s witness statement is available at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1093.pdf
In 1920 Treacy was ordered to capture a RIC barracks to secure firearms and ammunition, and after a couple of difficulties regarding other locations, he chose Huggingstown, Kilkenny RIC barracks. On the 8th of March 1920 the attack on the Hugginstown RIC barracks commenced at 10:30 p.m. IRA units from Kilkenny City, Outrath and Dunmaggin Companies were present as well as the Hugginstown Company that performed scout, and patrol work and guided men to the barracks. Ironically, the IRA mobilized near the Carrickshock Monument on the Carrickshock Road about 250 yards from the rear of the Hugginstown RIC Barracks (p. 33). After a 45 minute battle the Hugginstown RIC Barracks surrendered. The IRA suffered no losses, but a RIC Constable died from the injuries he sustained.
Treacy noted that the successful capture of the Hugginstown barracks had a demoralising effect on the RIC. A number of RIC rural barracks all over Kilkenny were quickly evacuated and the officers sent to larger barracks. Treacy received orders from Dublin to burn the vacated RIC barracks, income tax books and documents found in County Kilkenny. This was to occur on Easter Saturday night 1920 or Saturday the third of April 1920. In his witness statement Treacy lists 17 abandoned RIC barracks that were burned on Easter Saturday night. The list includes Rosbercon and Slieverue, but Glenmore is not included (p. 57).
The best witness statement concerning the activities of the Glenmore IRA Company was provided by Michael Connolly, of Dunbell, Kilkenny, who was on the date of truce in July 1921, the Battalion Vice Commandant. His witness statement (No. 1618) is dated 22 May 1957 and is available at
Connolly commenced his statement by indicating that he joined the Irish Volunteers in 1917 when he was living with his parents in Rochestown, Glenmore. He was 25 years of age and was asked to join by a neighbour James Walsh. He joined the first Glenmore Company comprised of about ten men and led by James Walsh. Eventually the company grew to between 70 and 80 men.
In 1920 Walsh and Connolly were planning how to capture the Glenmore RIC Barracks. He reports that it was the usual type of barracks where there was one Sergeant and three constables. As a rule two constables went out together, thus Walsh and Connolly were convinced that the barracks could be captured by a ruse while the barracks was manned by the Sergeant and one constable. While they were awaiting orders to proceed with their plans the “garrison was withdrawn” thus leaving the barracks empty.
“On Easter Saturday night of 1920, in accordance with the general order to demolish evacuated R.I.C. barracks, the Glenmore barracks was destroyed by the local company. “There was very little difficulty in carrying out the job a few tins of petrol and paraffin, with a liberal supply of inflammable material, were spread on the floors and woodwork and, within a few minutes of being set alight, the whole building was ablaze. The barracks at Tullogher was destroyed on the same night, and by the summer of 1920, only one enemy post, viz., the R.I.C. barracks at Mullinavat remained in the battalion area.” (p. 4)
In an article in the Waterford News and Star on August 6, 1920 it was reported that Lord Bessborough’s application for alleged criminal injury to the vacated police barracks at Robinstown [Glenmore] was heard by the Kilkenny County Court. The judge held that the damage was maliciously done and awarded £900 compensation, the amount to be levied off of the county at large. Because the Co. Surveyor’s re-evaluation was considerably in excess of the damage award the Kilkenny County Council gave no evidence in the case.
[On the 13th of September 1963 Danny Dowling interviewed Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore who related that Sergeant Moynihan was the last R.I.C. sergeant to be stationed in the Glenmore Barracks. There were also four constables with him. They all went to Kilmacow prior to the burning of the Barracks in 1920. Prior to Moynihan, a Sergeant Kirby was in charge of the Glenmore Barracks.]
Connolly in his witness statement reported that Company activities during the summer of 1920 were minor in character. Except for convoys that passed along the Waterford-New Ross road, men in uniform were seldom seen in Glenmore. He noted that the Glenmore IRA company lacked arms to go and seek the enemy. In August 1920 orders were received to collect any arms or shotguns held by local farmers or others. “In a country district like Glenmore, everyone knew who had, or was likely to have, a gun.” About 40 shotguns were collected. Most of the owners were friendly and when asked handed over their guns. Company members took the precaution of masking themselves when they approached persons thought to be hostile or were not well known. (p. 5) Notwithstanding precautions James Walsh was captured and interned.
On January 17, 1921 Connolly with about 20 Glenmore Company members met up with 20 men from the Tullogher Company and attacked the barracks at Mullinavat as it was the sole remaining R.I.C. barracks in the battalion area. The garrison at Mullinavat was comprised of about 10 RIC officers and 10 Black and Tan soldiers. The garrison withstood the attack.
Until the truce in July 1921 the actions of the Glenmore Company were confined to road blocking and road trenching. (p. 8) As a reprisal for the blocking of roads, the British authorities ordered the closing of the Glenmore Creamery for one month in May 1921. (p. 9)
For readers interested in the membership and activities of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA there are several online documents available in the Military Archives.
See, Military Service Archives, Pension Collection, [MA/MSPC/RO/160, pp. 36-46; lists of membership commence p.38] available at
For ease a list of the persons named as members of the Glenmore Company as found in these records will be posted on our lists page in the next few days.
See generally, Eoin Swithin Walsh (2018) Kilkenny: in Time of Revolution, 1900-1923.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the close photo of the damaged Glenmore barracks and Pat Dowling for the photo taken from the Churns hill of the damaged barracks.
[Updated 6 June 2020, DD Notebook 5]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Village in the 1930’s [updated]
Tucked in Notebook 24 were three loose pages of handwritten notes Danny Dowling started regarding the Village of Glenmore in the 1930’s when he was a boy. Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photos of the Village. [At the request of a reader a map of the Village is attached below with numbers inserted into the text to correspond to the map. The map is not to scale.]
Throughout the decade of the 1930’s, the Village of Glenmore was mainly situated in the townlands of Graiguenakill, Cappagh and Robinstown. Danny refers to the area around the present pub as the original village area. This original village area was at the T in the roads where the road called the Churns ran down the hill from the New Line (now N25) into the village and intersected with the main Village road that ran between Cappagh and up the hill past St. James’ Catholic Church. A village pump was located in this area in the 1930’s just in front of where the pub is now located.
In the original village area commencing with the buildings that lined the main Village Road (and facing up the Churns road) the building closest to the stream was Jim Fluskey’s shop[1]. His wife was Mollie Murphy, of Davidstown. Fluskey’s shop was the busiest and most thriving in the whole Village. They sold all types of foodstuffs, bran, flour, and meat such as bacon, cigarettes and Tobacco etc. They also sold animal feed such as meal, bran and pollard. The second Glenmore Post Office was in these premises.
The next building (toward the Church) was Dowling’s house [2]. This was the house where Danny was born in 1927. Previously Mary Hanrahan, née Murphy owned the house along with a farm of nearly forty acres. Both her husband, Jimmy Hanrahan, and her son, John Hanrahan, were dead. Mary Hanrahan gave the premises and land to her niece Hannie Murphy, of Ballinlammy who was married to Pat Dowling, of Jamestown. Jimmy Hanrahan had been a cooper by trade and Hanrahan family had their cooperage in the townland of Robinstown on the other side of the road opposite to the Gaffney premises and corn mill. [3]
Gaffney’s once had the next buildings toward the church. The last of the Gaffney’s sold out and moved to England before 1930. The premises in the 1930’s were in the possession of the Heffernan—Walsh family. [3] In addition to a shop there was a dance hall established in 1937. Lizzie and Minnie Heffernan were sisters. Lizzie was married to Jimmy Walsh, of Ballybrahee, and they had three children: Eric, Hal (Harry) and Etta. Etta Walsh married Pat Fitzpatrick who was a superintendent in the Garda Force. Minnie was not married and lived in the shop while Lizzie and her family lived in the attached dwellinghouse next door which was known as J.K’s. The dance hall was at the rear and accessed from the Mullinahone Road. [3a]
Across the main Village Road (opposite the present pub) at the bottom of the Churns there were three attached houses. The middle house belonged to John Cody, [5] the local postman, his wife Allie and their three daughters; Maryanne, Katie and Alice. Alice Cody married John Ryan from County Carlow. Alice had the post office after Fluskey for a number of years, thus the third Glenmore post office was here. [5] Next door, going up the hill, lived the Jones family. [6] [Danny’s notes do not indicate who lived in the corner house [4] but I was able to verify with Noeleen Fogarty, née Hennessey that her father was born in this house in 1926. It is believed that previously the Flynn’s her grandmother’s people resided here.]
Further up the hill on the same side of the road were the shoemaking premises of Jim Scanlon and his son Jack [7]. They manufactured man made boots and shoes for heavy work and repaired shoes. In busy periods, Scanlon’s workshop employed journeymen shoemakers. Jim Scanlon was reputed to produce work which was considered to be first class. Jim Scanlon was a native of Knockbrack, Glenmore and started his shoemaking business in Glenmore about 1920 or earlier. Jim Scanlon died in 1931 and that was the end of the shoemaking business. His son Jack remained in the shoe repair business until after the Second World War.
A little further up the hill toward the New Line there were two small houses built together [8 &9]. Doolans lived in one of the houses. Later O’Keefe’s lived in the other. [Per Jo Doyle, née Mernagh one of these houses was split and then there were three houses. Jo in the early 40’s went to school with Biddy Doolan who lived there and Wattie Walsh lived in the other house. It is believed that Wattie was the son of Jim Walsh who also had a couple of step-daughters.]
Across the Road (next door up the hill from the current pub) was Jim B’s. [10] James Walsh, a native of Ballyfacey, was the local carpenter who did all kinds of work including the making of farms carts. He operated a workshop from his premises and lived here with his wife and family. Where the pub is now were outbuildings. The pub was established in 1963 by Seán Walsh and is currently operated by Michael Barron, of Carrigcloney. At the bottom of the hill across from Fluskey’s stood Mackessy’s stage house or grain store[11]. Previously a forge was located across from Fluskey’s.
Crossing the Mullinahone stream into Cappagh, Mackessy’s coach house [12] was the first building on the stream side of the road. Opposite the coach house in the 1930’s the first house was occupied by Patsy Ryan. [13] The next house was occupied by Paddy Jones [13a], who was married to Alice Dunne and the couple had two sons Pakie and Seamus Jones. Mrs. Cashin [14] had the third house . Her husband drowned in the River Barrow. The Cashin’s had four children. Jimmy Cashin was the engineman in the Creamery; Mick Cashin was in London; Ellie Cashin married John McBride and Statia Cashion married a man named Doyle from New Ross. Statia worked with P.N. O’Gorman Auctioneers and Valuers, of Rosbercon, for several years until O’Gorman’s death. Statia Doyle [15] lived next door to Heffernan’s shop. Prior to Mrs. Cashin the house was occupied by Miss Bolger who had a dressmaking business there.
The next building was Heffernan’s shop [16] which was operated by Mikey Heffernan and family. His wife was a native of Co. Tipperary and was principal of the Girl’s National School. Previous to being a shop the building served as accommodation for the married police in the Village. Single officers had accommodation provided in the Barracks. The last house before leaving the Village was a two-storey house occupied by Maggie McGuniesse. Maggie was married to Patsey Walsh and had a large family. [17]
Going up the main Village road, from the original village, the hill at the Barracks [18] (at the corner of the intersection with the Mullinahone Road just past J.K.’s) was called the Barrack’s hill. In the 1930’s the next house on the same side of the road as the barracks was Forristal’s. [19] When James O’Donovan, the first Creamery manager, first came to Glenmore he lodged at Forristal’s. The next house going up the hill on the main village road was the Sacristan’s house [20] in the front corner of the church yard. Across the road from the Sacristan’s house was Pat Hanrahan’s premises. [21] Much later Hanrahan’s became the location of the 4th and final Glenmore Post Office.
At the end of Hanrahan’s house, the Vee road intersects with the main village road. On the Vee road opposite Hanrahan’s field (this field is where the first Glenmore Chapel was located prior to 1813) the Glenmore Creamery [23] was located in the 1930’s. When the creamery was established in 1905 it was situated in the townland of Kilmakevoge. When the creamery was extended the shop and corn storage facilities were situated in Robinstown.
Further up the Vee road hill toward the Old Line the next building in the 1930’s was the tiny shop of Bridie Doolan [24] also located in the townland of Kilmakevoge. Danny expressed in November 2019 that when he was a boy Christmas stockings were hung in the window of the shop and he spent a lot of time admiring the Christmas stockings. The next building up the hill was where John Hennessey [25] had his forge. This premise is directly across the valley from St. James.
At St. James church, [22] on the main Village road, the next building up the hill was the Curate’s [26] two-storey house. A little further up the main Village road, on the same side as the Church, there were three houses (across from the old Boy’s and Girl’s National Schools.) Heading out of the Village in the 1930’s, Powers [30] lived in the first house. Henry Bevins, N.T. [31] lived in the second house, and the O’Donovan sisters [32] lived in the third house. The O’Donovan sisters were sisters of the first Creamery Manager. Later Daisy and Pat Irish lived in this house.
Across the main Village road from the Curate’s house, and up the hill a bit, was the school teacher’s house [27]. It is believed that Mrs. McCarthy (Mariah Deady) lived in this house in the 1930’s. Prior to this the Curran’s lived in this house. On the same side of the road up the hill further was the Boy’s National School [28] and then the smaller Girl’s National School [29]. In the 1930’s this was considered the end of the Village.
If anyone can add to the information or has corrections please send them to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Our next blog will highlight events that transpired 100 years ago at Easter at the Glenmore Barracks.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh [updated 9 April 2020]