Martin Forristal (1879-1931)

Last Saturday we focused on the establishment of the Glenmore Co-Operative Creamery. According to Danny Dowling only two fatalities were associated with the operations of the Creamery. One involved the death of an employee, Martin Forristal (1879-1931) and the other involved the death of a volunteer worker on the Creamery threshing engine, Jack Mernagh, in 1911. The Mernagh tragedy was briefly covered in our blog of 2 February 2020  entitled “Glenmore and the New Ross to Waterford Railway Line.” Today we will focus on Martin Forristal.

Martin Forristal was born on the 16^th of August 1879 in Robinstown, the son of Michael Forristal, of Rochestown and Anastasia Grant. Martin only had one sibling, his brother John Forristal who was born on the 15th of June 1877. At the time of the birth of his sons, Michael Forristal listed his occupation as servant. Michael Forristal died prior to 1901. [According to Francis O’Brien, of Glenmore Village, his great-grandfather was the coachman, Michael Forristal, who died in October 1880 in Rochestown, Glenmore of meningitis at the age of 35. Thus Martin was only a year of age when his father died.] The 1901 Census of Robinstown provides that Martin was living with his mother, Anastasia Forristal and they both list their occupation as farmers. In 1911 in addition to Martin and his mother, Mr. James P. O’Donovan, the first Glenmore Creamery manager, is aged 27 and is also living in the home. Anastasia is 60 years of age and Martin is 31. John Forristal was not residing at home in 1901 or 1911.

On the 9^th of June 1915 Martin Forristal, aged 36 married Anne Roche (1890-1955) of Rathinure, Glenmore. Anne was 26 years of age, having been born on the 1^st of January 1890 and the daughter of farmer John Roche and Kate Phelan. (See Guest Author, Walsh, (2020) The Enduring Names of Rathinure for additional information regarding the eviction of Johnny Paddy Roche from his field in Rathinure).

 Martin Forristal and Anne Roche were married by Rev. Fr. Thomas Phelan, Glenmore P.P. and witnesses were Patrick Kennedy and Kate Roche. To this union at least 8 children were born: (1) Michael “Mick” Forristal (1916-1981); (2) Stasia “Sister Paschal” Forristal (1918- 1990) of the Sacred Heart of Mary Order; (3) Catherine “Kit” Forristal (1920-1998) married John Phelan; (4) John Forristal (1927-2004); (5) Bridget “Sister Bernadette” Forristal (1921-2001) of the Sacred Heart of Mary Order; (6) Mary Forristal (1923-1975); (7) Ann “Nancy” Forristal (1924-1997) married John O’Brien and (8) Martin Forristal (1930-1995). The obituary of Nancy Forristal O’Brien provides that another child, Johanna Forristal died young (at the age of 5 weeks in 1927). The photo of eight Forristal children was taken in front of their home in 1935.  All of the Forristal children remained single except Kit and Nancy. [Ironically, Martin Forristal, Jr. like his father was only about a year old when his father died.]

In addition to operating the small farm Martin Forristal began working at the Glenmore Creamery in 1905 when it was being built and began operations. Martin Forristal died tragically on the 8^th of June 1931 at the Glenmore Creamery. At the time of his death, at his place of employment, Martin Forristal was 51 years of age, married with eight children between the ages of 15 and 11 months. An inquest was held on the 10^th of June and extensive newspaper articles appeared in the New Ross Standard (12 June 1931) and the Waterford Standard (13 June 1931) providing graphic details of the death.  Dr. Fitzgerald, coroner, held the inquest into the death, and the following jury was sworn: Patrick Hanrahan, merchant (foreman), Patrick Dowling, Edward Corcoran, M. O’Hanlon, John Phelan, M. Hynes, and M. Kelly. Superintendent N. Walsh, Thomastown, conducted the proceedings for the Garda. Mr. Shannon, inspector of factories and workshops under the Department, was in attendance, as was Mr. O’Shaughnessy, solicitor, Waterford, for the Creamery Committee.

There were ­six witnesses called. Dr. Matthew P. Coghlan, the dispensary doctor, testified that be saw the body of the deceased on Monday evening. The deceased was then lying on the loft of the creamery at the place of the accident. Dr. Coghlan made a superficial examination of the body, and satisfied himself that he was dead. The following day in conjunction with Dr. Valentine Coghlan, he performed a post mortem. There were contusions, on the back of the shoulders and on both arms, hips, and legs, and the back of his skull was broken into small pieces, some of it was driven into the brain. The scalp at the back was also in pulp. The brain was lacerated, and a portion protruded at the back of the head. In his opinion the cause of death was fracture of the skull, with laceration of the brain. He testified that the injuries were consistent with the deceased being caught in a revolving shaft. Dr. Valentine Coghlan stated that he performed the post mortem with Dr. Matthew P. Coghlan, and had heard his evidence, and agreed with it in every particular.

The third witness was Martin’s brother John Forristal. John Forristal testified that he resided at the Quay, New Ross, and was a grocer’s assistant. He viewed and formally identified the body of his brother Martin. He stated that the deceased would have been 52 years of age next August and was employed as an engine driver by Glenmore Cooperative Creamery.

The fourth witness was James Cashin a general worker of the Glenmore Creamery. Cashin testified that at about 3:30 p.m. on the 8^th of June he was on the ground floor of the creamery. He stated that he was having a cup of tea and the deceased talked to him for about two minutes. The deceased then went upstairs to the mill. “I heard an awful racket upstairs, and it sounded like bones cracking. I dashed up the stairs, and the first thing I saw was some clothes spinning around on the mill shafting.” Without waiting to ascertain if Forristal had been injured, Cashin ran back to the ground floor and stopped the machinery. When he went back upstairs he saw the deceased lying on his back on the pulley. The shaft had ripped the clothing off of the deceased; the only clothing on the deceased were his boots and socks.  He appeared to be dead. Cashin immediately informed the manager James O’Donovan.

The fifth witness was the Creamery Manager, James P. O’Donovan. He testified that James Cashin reported the death and he immediately went to the mill loft. He stated that the deceased was employed as engine driver and had been an employee of the Creamery for 26 years. When he went up to the mill on the 8^th with Cashin he saw the deceased on his back under the pulley. He was devoid of clothes, and appeared to be dead. He saw the deceased’s clothing on the shafting between the small pulley and the driving wheel. O’Donovan immediately sent William Walsh for the priest and phoned the guards and Dr. Coughlan. In response to questions O’Donovan stated that it was the business of the deceased to look after and work all machinery in the creamery. The wheel that was part of the accident was protected by a timber guard. The coroner requested the exact duties o the deceased and O’Donovan stated that his duty was to start the engine in the morning, fire the boiler, and work the mill and other machinery in the creamery. It was usual for the deceased to go to the loft to grind corn. To engage or start the shafting it was on the ground floor. He had been grinding corn for eleven years. In order to start the screen working it was necessary to get in between the driving wheel of the mill and the wall. As a precaution the deceased should have stopped the shaft which would have required him going downstairs.  

The final witness was Mr. Shanahan, inspector stated that the machinery where the accident occurred was in what was known as a dangerous area, and, owing to its character, it was impossible to fence off every portion of it. He opined that the deceased should have shut off the shafting and made it safe before going into the loft. In his opinion, all the necessary precautions had been taken by the management of the creamery.

After a few minutes’ deliberation, the jury returned a verdict that the cause of death was due to fracture the skull and laceration of the brain as a result of being accidentally caught in the shafting. The Foreman, on behalf of the jury, tendered their deepest sympathy to the family and relatives of the deceased, who was a most upright and popular man. The coroner, the doctors, the Superintendent, Mr. 0’Shaughnessy, solicitor, and inspector Shannon joined in the expression of sympathy. The New Ross Standard noted that the eldest son, Michael, had been at school at St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, during the preceding nine months, and came home on vacation the day before the tragedy. It was also reported that the deceased had a most excellent work record. “He was intensely devoted to his work, and was held in the greatest esteem by the manager and the creamery committee. He had a most pleasant manner, very obliging, and was extremely popular in the district.” 

After the inquest the remains were taken to the Glenmore Parish Church, accompanied by a large concourse of people. The following morning Office and High Mass, at which a large number of clergy were present, was held in the Parish Church, after which the remains were interned in the Glenmore cemetery. It was reported that the funeral was one of the largest seen in the district for a long time, and it was notable tribute to his memory and expression of sympathy with his family and relatives.

Danny Dowling said that after Martin Forristal’s tragic death his eldest son Mick went to work at the Glenmore Creamery. Mick’s brother John worked the small Robinstown farm and during busy periods at the Creamery also worked there. Their brother Martin, who was almost a year old when their father died, worked for 43 years at the Glenmore Creamery. When the son, Martin Forristal, retired in 1995 it was noted in a New Ross Standard article that his retirement ended a 90 year employment relationship between the Forristal family and the Glenmore Creamery.  

Special thanks to Francis O’Brien, Glenmore Village for the photos of his grandfather, Martin Forristal, the eight Forristal children and the 1958 photo of the Glenmore Creamery workers and also for the dates of births and deaths for his grandmother and aunts and uncles.

The featured photo is of the Forristal house in Glenmore Village as it looks today. [The post was updated on 28 May 2020 with additional information provided by Francis O’Brien.]

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh