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On the Road to the Pink Rock: The Anthony Merrigan Memorial Plaque
Last Saturday we highlighted an event that took place in the mid-19th century at the Pink Rock in Glenmore. One reader queried a memorial plaque on the roadside in Ballyverneen Townland, Glenmore on the west side of the railway underpass. Although the road along the Pink Rock was once part of the main road from New Ross to Waterford, it ceased being the main road in about 1992. It is not surprising that some people might believe that the Anthony Merrigan plaque signified his death arose from a car accident on that once busy road.
Ballyverneen, Glenmore
Today, the road along the marches in Ballyverneen, that goes under the railway and along the Barrow river past the Pink Rock, is no longer a main road and has become a favourite place for walkers. Over the decades the nearby Barrow River and the marshes provided areas of recreation for shooting, swimming, fishing and boating. Unfortunately sometimes the recreation resulted in serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
The plague simply reads:
In loving memory of Anthony Merrigan Milltown, Glenmore Who died the 8th of Sept. 1963 Aged 26 years R.I.P. On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy
Anthony “Tony” Merrigan ( c. 1937-1963) of Milltown, Glenmore
An account of the accident that resulted in Anthony Merrigan’s death is found in the New Ross Standard, of Friday the 13th of September 1963. On Sunday the 8th of September 1963, Anthony Merrigan, of Milltown, Glenmore tragically lost his life when his shotgun accidentally discharged into his chest. Anthony, was known locally as Tony, he was twenty-five years of age [although the plaque appears to state he was 26] and worked in Waterford City as an electrician. Tony was the son of John Merrigan and Bridget Merrigan née Lee and was the youngest of five boys and three girls. John Merrigan predeceased Tony. Although his mother survived him, it is said that she never got over Tony’s death.
Parents & Grandparents
A quick search of vital records revealed the following information regarding Tony’s parents and grandparents, all of whom were engaged in farming in or adjacent to Glenmore Parish. Tony’s father John Merrigan was born on the 11th of July 1882. John Merrigan was the son of Dennis Merrigan and Ellen Merrigan née Doherty, of Milltown, Glenmore. John Merrigan married Bridget Lee, of Kilbrahon, Rosbercon on the 10th of June 1920 at Rosbercon. Bridget Merrigan née Lee was the daughter of Patrick Lee and his wife, Ellen Lee, née Cashin. Bridget was born on the 24th of July 1896.
Details of Tragedy
On that Sunday in September 1963, Tony left his Milltown home at 8 a.m. to go duck hunting with his shotgun and dog. He drove to Ballyverneen and parked on the side of the road. Sometime later his body was found on the grass margin of the road by a passer-by who notified the Glenmore Garda. Sergeant J. Flynn went to the scene and found Tony dead beside his car. The stock of his double-barrelled shot gun was resting on the seat of the car and the barrels of the shotgun were facing out of the car over the body.
The newspaper account provides that the news of the tragedy cast a gloom over the entire area as the deceased was popularly known. He was active in the local GAA and played hurling for the Glenmore Club. Several older residents confirmed that they can still remember where they were that Sunday when they heard the awful news. Sunday morning, Tony’s body was removed to the morgue at the District Hospital, New Ross, where a post mortem was conducted. On Monday evening the 9th the remains were removed to Glenmore Church where the attendance was reported in the newspaper as being the largest ever seen in the town. The following day after Office and High Mass in St. James, Glenmore Parish Church, and Tony was buried in the adjoining cemetery. The newspaper reported that the attendance at the church service and burial was again exceptionally large and representative.
The Inquest
An inquest into the circumstances of the death was conducted by Mr. R. Nolan, solicitor, Kilkenny City, in Glenmore on Monday evening. Sergeant J. Flynn. Glenmore, described how he was alerted, went to the scene and found the body. He said that the deceased was beside his car on the grass margin and described the position he found the shotgun in the car. He noted that the shotgun was not in the best of conditions and one of the springs of one of the hammers was weak. Dr. G. A. Hickey, New Ross, was the doctor who performed the post mortem. Dr. Hickey stated that he found that a shot had penetrated the chest and vital organs and death was instantaneous. Superintendent R. Coogan, Thomastown, said the theory of the police was that when Mr. Merrigan got out of the car he reached in for his gun and pulled it by the barrel. It was believed that the hammers stuck in the door frame and caused the discharge of two cartridges. The Coroner said a hammer gun was one of the most dangerous weapons and people could not be too careful in carrying a loaded one over fences or in bringing it into a house. The Corner returned a verdict of accidental death.
Should you have a question or are curious about something around or about Glenmore please send us an email to glenmore.history@gmail.com and we shall endeavour to find an answer.
For information concerning the families of Milltown, Glenmore recorded by Danny Dowling in 1961 ee our post of 16 June 2022.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh