Lord Bessborough

Danny Dowling located and took handwritten notes regarding Glenmore from George Henry Bassett’s, Kilkenny City and County Directory published in 1884. A few weeks ago we posted the extract of farmers and landowners from the Directory on the Glenmore-History webpage. Today, extracts of other categories of information in the 1884 Directory concerning Glenmore will be highlighted and supplemented with information gleaned from Danny’s research as well as interviews he conducted and recorded of local people.

POPULATION

In the 1884 Directory Glenmore is noted as having a population of 106. This population relates solely to the Village and not to the parish. Glenmore is also noted as having good salmon fishing and flanked by “handsome plantations.”

In 2016 Danny began an article on the population of Glenmore. The research conducted by Danny reveals that according to the 1841 census the population of the present area of the Parish of Glenmore was 4482. This was the highest population figure ever recorded for the townlands of the parish in their present size and extent. The Parish of Glenmore, as it is at present, was established in 1846. The population recorded in 1841 was resident in 679 dwelling houses. According to Griffith’s General Valuation of Property in 1850 there were 367 land occupiers in the parish, of these, 284 had holdings under 10 acres, and 288 had holding over 10 acres. 

Twenty years after the 1841 census, the 1861 census illustrates that the population dropped to 2658 which represents a decrease of 40.6 per cent. In the same period the number of dwelling houses in the area dropped from 679 to 466. The residents of 231 dwelling houses  disappeared within this twenty year period well known for the Great Famine and immigration. The 1901 census provides the population of the parish was 1964 persons residing in 367 dwelling houses, and 202 of the residents of the parish were classified as farmers.

Although the 1884 Directory refers to “handsome plantations” a photo believed to be taken in the early years of the 20^th century shows the Village from the vantage point of the road known as the Churns. The hillsides along the road, as depicted in the photo, reveals that every inch of land in and surrounding Glenmore Village was being utilised either under cultivation or being grazed. The circa 1912 post card at the top of the post depicting the Village may be a better representation of the “handsome plantations.”

LANDLORDS OF VILLAGE

The landlords are listed in the 1884 Directory as Lord Bessborough and Mr. George J. Mackessy of Waterford. It is further noted that in 1884 all the houses in the village were slated, and none of the traders in Glenmore were licensed to sell liquors. Although there were a number of landlords outside the Village the excerpt of the 1884 Directory does not refer to any other landlords.

In his 1957 interview Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill (1888-1979) told Danny that 13 houses in Glenmore Village, in the townlands of Graiguenakill and Cappagh, were built to replace the dilapidated hovels which then existed. The 13 new houses were built about 1855 by Mackessy, of Waterford, who was the landlord. Nicky Forristal’s father (Patrick Forristal, 1849-1931) remembered seeing them built. Each house cost £30 to build and this amount included both the cost of the labour and the materials. Although 12 houses were planned, a 13^th house was built when Kitty Bardin went to Waterford to Mackessy and made a pitiful plea asking for a house to be built from the remaining building materials. After Kitty Bardin’s death the 13^th house later was occupied by Kate Ryan.

Thomas and James Malone of Shanbough, known as “the Masons” were the builders of the 13 houses and they were paid 1/6 per day (1 shilling and 6 pence). At that time a work day consisted of working from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The labourers on the job were paid 10d (pence) a day. The thatched hovels which preceded the 13 houses were in a terrible state of disrepair and contemporary eye witness accounts stated that the interiors of the cabins could be seen through the large holes which existed in the thatched roofs.

In 1963 Nicholas Forristal revealed that Mackessy also performed work on the stream in Glenmore. “It goes straight through the marshes towards the mill (Forristal’s) and was known as the canal. It was cut like it is now by Mackessy eight feet across from bank to bank and lined with stones. This work was carried out in James Dunphy’s time.” James Dunphy (c.1858 -1940) died in November 1940 at the age of about 82.

According to Danny, Mackessy lived in Lady Lane in Waterford and his Glenmore coach house still stands. The “Coach House” is located near the stream and at the end of the bridge on the south side of the Cappagh road. This building was built to house Mackessy’s coach when he visited Glenmore. On the other side of the stream on the corner of the bridge near the Glenmore pub was the Stage House built by Mackessy to store grain. For years politicians stood on the “stage” and sought the votes of the local people.

Danny’s notebooks, that have been transcribed, contain very little information regarding the Earl of Bessborough. Danny did record that in 1850, the Earl of Bessborough, owned the following townlands in Parish of Glenmore: Ballinaraha, comprised of 290 acres; Aylwardstown, comprised of 55 acres; Haggard, comprised of 543 acres and Robinstown, comprised of 321 acres. Nicholas Forristal revealed in a 1970 interview that “Nicholas Gaffney was Bessborough’s man,” and all Bessborough’s tenents had to deal in Nicholas Gaffney’s shops and go to his mill. If they did not deal with Gaffney the tenant’s would be in trouble with the landlord. Seven years later Nicholas Forristal told Danny that a man named  

Hewetson, who lived in the big house in Bishop’s Hall, was the agent for Bessborough in the 1850’s.  The Dominican Church in Bridge Street in Waterford, was built with the stones from the big house of Bishop’s Hall. (The present Dominican Church opened in 1876).

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

The 1884 Directory also provides that the Village of Glenmore had a Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Edward Nolan, Parish Priest and Rev. Micheal Corcoran the Curate. St. James was built in 1813. (Please see an earlier post for photos and information concerning the church.)

In 1884 the Village also had a dispensary and James B. Norris is recorded as the Medical Officer. A National School is also present in the Village and in the 1884 Directory John Curran was the Master and Mrs. Curran the Mistress. Danny recorded in his notebook that the National School system was established in 1831 and the Glenmore National School opened in 1835, thus the school was operating for 49 years in 1884.

Robert Fluskey is recorded in the 1884 Directory as the Postmaster. Another institution included in the 1884 Directory is the Royal Irish Constabulary with William Broderick, recorded as Sergeant. The Barracks of 1884 is today an empty building in the Village, but according to Danny the first Barracks was located in the field behind the Glenmore pub. Interestingly, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage lists the Forristal house in Robinstown, (just down the hill from the Church on the same side of the road) as being built in about 1870 and serving as the RIC Barracks in 1903. In October 2019 Danny stated that he was not aware that Forristal’s was ever a Barracks. Danny did state that in 1920 after the present Barracks suffered a fire a temporary Barracks was located in a house in Weatherstown.

Lastly, Michael Morrissey is listed in 1884 Directory as the Civil Bill Officer (today this post holder would generally be known as a process server). Danny in November 2019 explained that the Session’s Loft was at the top of Fluskey’s shop. The Session’s Loft was used as a courthouse and meeting room. It was not until 1898 that County Council’s came into existence and took over some of the work of the Session’s Loft.

CARPENTERS

James Dunne and David Walsh are listed in the 1884 Directory. In a 1973 interview Nicholas Forristal, informed Danny that David “the Carpenter” Walsh worked for Strange who was a landlord who lived in Aylwardstown House. David Walsh was constantly employed by Strange at 12 shillings a week with “no grub.”

Pat Coady, of Ballycroney, Glenmore in 1955 provided Danny with a list of Glenmore tradesmen who practiced their crafts from about the 1860’s to the turn of the 20^th century. Carpenters on the Coady list include: Davy Walsh, Graiguenakill; James Dunne, Glenmore; Pat Coady, Ballycroney; Paddy Mullally, Ballycroney; Richard Young, Ballyfacey; and ____ Butler, Ballycroney.

COOPERS

John O’Hanrahan is the sole cooper listed in the 1884 Directory. The Pat Coady list of Glenmore craftsmen includes the following coopers: John Hanrahan, Glenmore; James Ivory, of Kilbride; James Dunphy, of Ballyverneen and Nial Brophy, of Slievecarrig, Tullogher (who died about 1914). In 1969, Paddy Forristal provided the name of Wattie “the Cooper” Grant, of Haggard, as another Glenmore cooper who worked in the late 19^th century.  

DRESSMAKERS

In the 1884 Directory three dressmakers are named: Margaret Bolger, Mrs. Fluskey and Mary Murphy. Nicholas Forristal, in a 1957 interview, noted that Peg Purcell of Busherstown in the 1870’s was a dressmaker and the first person in the district to get a treadle (foot powered) sewing machine.

GROCERS, FLOUR & PROVISION DEALERS

In the 1884 Directory, Robert Fluskey and Nicholas Gaffney are listed under this category.

MASONS

Edward O’Kill is the only person listed as a mason in the 1884 Directory. The Pat Coady list of Glenmore tradesmen has a much more extensive listing of stone masons including: Mick Moore, of Haggard; Mick Doherty, of Ballyveria (Dancer Doherty); Edward Neill, of Weatherstown; Tom Butler, of Flemingstown and the Malones, of Shanbough.

SMITHS

The 1884 Directory lists Edward Haberlin and Patrick Kelly as smiths. The Pat Coady list of Glenmore tradesmen provides the following men working as blacksmiths in the late 19^th century: Edward Haberlin, of Aylwardstown; ________ Bohan, of Ballyhobuck; ______ Larrissey, of Robinstown; Paddy Kelly, of Graiguenakill; Dinny Bergin, of Coolnaleen; Tom Henneberry, of Jamestown; Dinny Merrigan, of Ballycroney; George Tracey, of Ballyfacey and Jack Donovan, of Gaulstown. Nicholas Forristal also named Billy and Tom Purcell, of Busherstown as blacksmiths.

TAILORS

Only 2 tailors are listed in the 1884 Directory, namely: John Condon and Philip Malone. The Pat Coady list of Glenmore craftsmen includes the following tailors: Philip Malone, of Mullinahone; Peter Dunphy, of Glenmore Village; J. Walsh, of Glenmore Village; Martin Roche, of Haggard; John Hogan, of Haggard; and John Condon, of Mullinahone.

BAKERS

Although not included in the 1884 Directory, the Pat Coady list of Glenmore craftsmen provides that Nick Hanrahan, of Glenmore Village was a baker. Nick Hanrahan later migrated to Baltinglass.

SHOEMAKERS

The Pat Coady list of Glenmore craftsmen includes the following shoemakers: John Scanlon, of Knockbrack; Jack Hogan, of Rathinure and John Duggan, of Kilbride; Richard Duggan, of Flemingstown (died 1956 at age of 88); John Cassin, of Glenmore Village; Mick Shanahan, of Glenmore Village and James Scanlan, of Glenmore Village.

THATCHERS

The Pat Coady list of Glenmore craftsmen includes the following thatchers: Pat Haberlin, of Forristalstown; Mick McGrath, of Newtown; Jimmy Power, of Jamestown; Richard Hennessy, of Ballyfacey, Tom Laherty, of Ballyfacey (died in 1892) and Martin Kennedy, of Kilbride.

MILLS

Danny in November 2019 named three mills that were operating in Glenmore Village in the 1850’s namely: the Gaffney Mills of Robinstown; the Grace Mill and the Forristal Mill, of Graiguenakill. In addition to grinding grain Gaffney’s also had what Nickolas Forristal referred to as a tuck mill where linen cloth and sheets were made. Old Jack “the Weaver” Walsh of Glenmore came from the Campile area of Co. Wexford, to work as a weaver in Gaffney’s. In 1959 Nicholas Forristal informed Danny that he had been given a couple of items including a shirt made in the Gaffney Mill and described them as “white and as coarse as a bag.”

BRICK MAKING

Danny wrote an article that was published in the Old Kilkenny Review in 1972 and entitled “Glenmore Brickyards: A Forgotten Industry” detailing the brick making that took place in the parish of Glenmore. Billy Forristal operated the last brick works in the Ballyverneen marshes. This business closed in about 1900. The New Ross-Waterford Railway started in 1902 and was completed in 1906. It crossed the Ballyverneen brick marsh and filled most of the brickholes. Earlier in the 19^th century a man named Meany made bricks in a brick marsh nearer the river in Carrigcloney.

We hope that you have enjoyed this snapshot of late 19^th Century Glenmore. Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photos of Glenmore and Louise Walsh for the 2019 photos of Glenmore.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh