John Fiitzgerald (1881-1970) of Moulerstown Glenmore

Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Moulerstown or Ballyvoulera around 1961. The Irish for the townland of Ballyvoulera, according to Kelly’s, The Place Names of the County of Kilkenny (1969, p. 109) is Baile Bholaerigh or Bowler’s homestead. The townland is comprised of 323 acres and it is in the old civil parish or DED of Kilcoan. Kelly makes no mention of Moulerstown.

In the 1833 Griffith’s Valuation Applotment Records the townland is spelled as Moulerstown and Mowlerstown.  The landlord is listed as Mr. John Doyle, of Graiguenamanagh, and it is noted that there were no leases. However, there is a list of six residents and the land they farmed including: James Butler (4 acres of first class land); Richard Walsh (118 acres of second class land); James Rigby (73 acres of third class land); Patrick Fitzgerald (19 acres of fourth class land); Laurence Rigby (32 acres of fifth class land) and Thomas Grace (listed but no further details). Unfortunately, Danny is not available to explain why there were no leases. It is assumed that the listed farmers worked directly for the landlord.

Danny Dowling, in 1961 recorded five families or households in Moulerstown. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died. The recorded information reveals that in 1961, 25 people resided in Moulerstown with the population comprised of 19 males and 6 females. The Butler family was the largest family with seven members in the household. There were no households recorded of a single person living alone.

Recorded Residents

Males= 19
Females= 6

Eldest Recorded Resident= John Fitzgerald (18 March 1881- 5 Feb.1970). According to the Diary kept by James Aylward of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore and copied by Danny Dowling [DD Notebook 2]  John Fitzgerald, of Moulerstown and Molly Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, were married on Sunday the 1st of July 1906. In searching for John’s date of death we came across a number of articles after 1961 concerning John’s success at various horse shows. For example in 1968 at the age of 87 John won two classes at the Inistioge Horse Show. Class 1—The Royal Dublin Society; Premiums for Suitable (non Thoroughbred) Mares 7 years and younger and Class 2—Prize for Colt Foal. (Munster Express, Fri. 31 May 1968, p. 14). A copy of John’s obituary has been added to our family pages and may be accessed by clicking here. 

Recorded Work

Farmers = 4 (all males)
Farm Workers = 8 (all males)
Creamery Workers = 1 (male)
Factory Workers (meat) = 1 (male)
Machine Fitter = 1 (male)

MOULERSTOWN RESIDENTS

[1] FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald, John (18 March 1881) Farmer
Fitzgerald, Paul (b. 1915) son, creamery worker
Fitzgerald, Luke (b. 1916) son, farm worker
Fitzgerald, John, son, farm worker
Fitzgerald, Michael, son, factory worker (meat)
Fitzgerald, Thomas, son, farm worker

[2] RYAN
Ryan, Patrick (18 Aug. 1896) Farm Worker [died 21 Oct. 1968]
Ryan, Johanna (14 March 1906) wife [died 9 Jan. 1971]
Ryan, John, son, machine fitter

[3] GREENE
Greene, Thomas (b. 1917) Farmer
Greene, Margaret (b. 1919) wife
Greene, Thomas, son
Purcell, Ellen, sister-in-law

[4] DOHERTY
Doherty, Michael (22 Sept, 1881) Farmer (died 18 March 1964)
Doherty, Kat (sic) (11 Feb. 1898) wife
Doherty, Edward, son, farm worker
Doherty, Richard, son, farm worker
Doherty, John, farm worker

[5] BUTLER
Butler, Martin (25 May 1903) Farmer
Butler, Johanna (1 May 1913) wife
Butler, James, son, farm worker
Butler, Edward, son 
Butler, Francis, son
Butler, Martin, son
Butler, Bridget, daughter

During our newspaper search we came across another interesting article. As previously highlighted at the end of December 1961 Telefís Éireann began broadcasting. Michael Doherty, of Moulerstown, Glenmore was hired as a member of the technical staff of the fledgling television station. It was noted that Michael was  “a former pupil of New Ross Technical School, he served his apprenticeship with Mr. P.J. Maddock, Electrical Contractor, Mary St., New Ross. He subsequently went to England, and was on the maintenance staff of Messrs. Henry Ford Ltd. He was later on the technical staff of the BBC. He secured the position with Telefís Éireann as a result of a competitive examination, gaining first place from twelve candidates.” (New Ross Standard, 9 March 1962, p. 16).

Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

The featured photo above is John Fitzgerald, of Moulerstown, Glenmore with his mare “Kilt” at the Piltown Show in September 1961. The mare won 2nd and 3rd prizes as well as a Premium (Munster Express, Fri. 15 Sept. 1961, p. 3).

Update 4 Nov. 2022–Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sharing the photo of her grandparents Pat & Hannie Ryan.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh