Moulerstown Glenmore
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Glenmore Skittles Teams & Tournaments
A few months ago a reader asked if we have any information on a Glenmore skittles team. The reader’s grandfather mentioned that he played skittles before he emigrated to the UK. We were able to locate quite a few articles regarding local skittle tournaments held from 1938 -c. 1949. Apparently different areas of the country employed different rules and some tournaments were for teams and some were for individual contestants.
The local tournaments were played in the summer and were impacted by weather, so the games were played outdoors. We did find that there is an indoor skittles game which is often played in pubs. We could not find an article referencing a tournament being played in Glenmore Village, but it would be difficult to find a flat area for the game in the village. Ballycroney and Moulerstown were the two Glenmore townlands that were mentioned regularly as having skittle teams competing in local skittles tournaments.
Skittle Rules
It is widely accepted that skittles are played in various countries using various rules and equipment. For our American readers skittles is said to be the forerunner of bowling or ten pin bowling as it is often called here.
A brief description of how the local children played the game was recorded in the 1930’s by a Ballyfacey school child. See our post of 27 November 2022. This description is consistent with the RTE Archives (1979). Donncha Ó Dúlaing had a series entitled “Donncha’s Travelling Roadshow” where he travelled across Ireland highlighting the people, music and traditions of rural Ireland. On 4 April 1979 he featured a Cavan skittles match.
“Five skittles with values 1,2,3,4 and 10 are placed in a ring in a cross shape. Each player takes his turn at a throw line and attempts to knock all of the skittles with four throwers made from cylindrical blocks of wood.” To view the wonderful RTE archived 1979 footage click here.
1938 Glenmore Teams
Skittles may have been played in Glenmore long before 1938, but local newspapers only began reporting on and advertising skittles tournaments around this time. Several teams from Glenmore and nearby parishes/townslands were identified. Unfortunately the number of players on a team was not revealed in any newspaper article.
Shambo-Rosbercon Tournament
The New Ross Standard (Fri. 2 Sept. 1938, p. 12) reported that the Shambo (sic) Rosbercon Skittles Tournament began on Sunday the 27th of August 1938 “with players from Shambo, Ballycroney, Ballygurran (sic), New Ross, Glenmore, Waterford, Pink Rock and Moulerstown.” The games were described as very interesting to the large crowd of spectators.
“The ‘Butler’ Moulerstown team were very unlucky to go over the game number in the semi-finals after a grand display, but for being the most consistent players all round, the Egan team Ballycroney highly deserved their victory in the initial round. Saunders’ team, of Shambo, being runners up. The Committee thanked Mr. Daniel Whelan for seating and all other facilities provided during the game. The tournament will be continued on next Sunday.”
The second round of the tournament took place on Sunday the 11th of September 1938. Ten teams made it through the semi-finals and the third day of the tournament was scheduled for the 18th where the newspaper predicted “an exciting finish is anticipated.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 Sept. 1938, p. 12).
Final Between Two Ballycroney, Glenmore Teams
The Shambo skittle tournament was played on the 18th and was proclaimed “an outstanding success.” The full ten team took part “in the final issues. Ballycroney, Moulerstown and Shambo teams proved their skill to enter the semi-final after very keenly contested games with excitement at its highest. Moulerstown and Shambo had to admit defeat, leaving the final issue, which was only decided by the best hand, between the two Ballycroney teams, the winners being D. Cahill, B. Hogan, J. Hennessy and W. Walsh, the Runners-up, Pat Egan, and the Holden Brothers, being very unlucky to be only beaten by the small margin of four. The teams are beginning another challenge game on next Sunday” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 Sept. 1938, p. 12.)
The Emergency Years
The Second World War is often referred to as the Emergency in Ireland. On 2 September 1939 the Emergency Powers Act was passed into law the day after Germany invaded Poland. Hardships prevailed as commodities such as coal, medicines and foodstuffs were difficult to import. Skittles remained a popular pastime in this area during the War.
A South Kilkenny Committee was established to run tournaments in the summer months with most of the parishes in South Kilkenny represented. For this league teams were grouped to allow draws and fixtures to be made “locally to suit players and the committee” (Munster Express, Fri. 28 June 1940, p. 8 and Fri. 8 May 1942, p. 66). However, teams were not limited to parishes, townlands or villages. Clover Meats had a skittles teams. Its July 1944 contest against Dangan, fixed for Ballykeohan Crossn had to be postponed “owing to unfavourable weather conditions” (Munster Express, Fri. 21 July 1944, p. 4).
One of the new features of skittles during the Emergency were concrete rings. An individual skittles contest was advertised for Tullahought (near Piltown) where a “new concrete ring” was built. “It is sure to attract a big entry from members of the skittles teams.” The entry was 10s. and first prize £1. “It is hoped to have all the contests in the one day” (Munster Express, Fri. 3 July 1942, p. 6). In early July 1942, it was reported that Jamestown (assumed to be Jamestown, Glenmore) “formed a new team and a newly painted ring” was announced (Munster Express, Fri. 8 May 1942, p. 6).
Ballycroney, Glennmore 1945 Team
The skittles tournament organised by the Listerlin Club attracted an entry of nineteen teams to the local venue on Sunday the 22nd of July 1945. It “provided a nice afternoon’s sport for a record attendance. After keen competition, in which some interesting play was witnessed, Ballycroney and Acres (Mullinavat) qualified for the final, which was won by the former after a great contest. The teams were as follows: Ballycroney—W. Holden, B. Holden, M. Holden, P. Hogan, J. Hennessy¸ J. Cody, T. Fitzgerald. Acres—Thomas Holden, Ed. Holden, Hames Holden, J. Holden, Jas. Farrell, Wm. Fitzpatrick, E. Kelly, Pat Anderson. Sergt. Conlon was judge and Mr. P. O’Connor marker.” (Munster Express, Fri. 27 July 1945, p. 5).
Moulerstown, Glenmore Tournaments
Tullogher’s tournament was played in early August 1945, and 18 teams competed (Munster Express, Fri. 10 Aug. 1945, p. 5).
Twelve teams entered for the skittle tournament held at Moulerstown, Glenmore, on the 12th of August, “which attracted a large attendance of spectators. After an interesting series of games, first prize went to the Moulerstown team, who defeated Smithstown in the final after an exciting contest” (Munster Express, Fri. 17 Aug. 1945, p. 5). The newspaper did not indicate where in Moulestown the 1945 tournament was held.
The following week the Moulerstown team competed in the Ballyanne (Wexford) tournament. “There was a large attendance at the … tournament held on Sunday, [the 19th] and great interest was centred in the games. Seventeen teams competed and Rathgarogue team were the winners of the tournament. Moulerstown came second and Rathnure were third. The prize for the best throw was won by J. Breen of Ballintubber, and gate prize by M. Fitzpatrick of Carranoure (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 August 1945, p. 6).
In 1946, the Moulerstown tournament was held at the Moulerstown Dance Board on Saturday the 19th of June “commencing at 1:30 p.m. (old time) with £14 in prizes advertised (Munster Express, Fri. 21 June 1946, p. 5). A tournament held in an enclosed yard in the Borris & Graig district raised £29 7s. at the entrance gate “which goes to prove the interest taken in such contests” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 August 1945, p. 6).
Local Decline of Skittles
After 1949 fewer articles appeared in local newspapers concerning skittles. In the summer of 1949 it was announced that a “monster” skittles tournament was to be held in Mooncoin the first Sunday in August “in conjunction with the local sports. A number of new teams [were] also being organised in the area for the competition” (Munster Express, Fri.29 July 1949, p 8).
Stand alone skittles tournaments were no longer reported, however, skittles continued to be played in conjunction with sports days and sometimes with dances. For example, in the summer of 1952 a “Monster Skittles Tournament was held at the Glenmore Skow Bridge Dance Board on Sunday the 27th of July at 1 p.m. (old time). The entry fee was 16/- for a team of eight and £12 in prizes were on offer. A “big dance” was to be held the same night (Munster Express, Fri. 18 July 1952, p. 10).
Request
If you played skittles for a Glenmore team, or you recall hearing someone speak of their experiences, we would love to hear from you. If you have any old skittles trophies, medals or photos of skittle players or games please send a photo of them to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Please also contact via the email provided regarding any errors, omissions, or additional information.
The drawing featured above is courtesy of the New York Public Library and is a cigarette card issued in 1938; available at George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “Skittles.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 28, 2023. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7d20cdeb-e40d-4a73-e040-e00a18060ccc.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Moulerstown or Ballyvoulera, Glenmore (1961) [Updated]
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
Glenmore Centenarians [Updated]
During the summer of 2020 when the headstones in the Glenmore cemetery, adjacent to the parish church, were being recorded only one headstone recorded that a person had attained the age of 100. This distinction belongs to Kathleen Hoynes née O’Connor. When Danny Dowling was reviewing the recording work that summer he said that he only knew one native of Glenmore to have attained 100 years of age. Quite a few people came close, but he could only recall one who made it. A recent newspaper search revealed a second candidate and readers are invited to forward information on any other Glenmore natives who celebrated their 100th birthday.
Kathleen Hoynes née O’Connor (1917-2018)
Kathleen was born on 24 September 1917. She was the third child born to George O’Connor (1881-1965) and his wife Bridget O’Connor née Maddock (1886- ) of Ballyfacey. There were ten children in the family: [1] John O’Connor (b. 1914); [2] Bridget O’Connor (1916-1974); [3] Kathleen O’Connor (1917-2018) [4] Michael O’Connor (b. 1919); [5] Patrick O’Connor (b. 1921); [6] Margaret O’Connor (b. 1923); [7] Mary O’Connor (b. 1925); [8] Edward O’Connor (b. 1927); [9] Luke O’Connor (b. 1929) and [10] Stephen O’Connor (b. 1931). Further information on the Maddock family, and a copy of a 1907 photo of Bridget O’Connor née Maddock and her family may be found on our post of 21 February 2021.
Kathleen attended the old Ballyfacey National School. When it came time for secondary school she attended the Holy Faith in New Ross and cycled the 13 km from her home every day. Kathleen then went on to study nursing at the County and City Infirmary in Waterford. She moved to England and took a job at a boys’ boarding school in Nanwich, Cheshire before moving to London. Kathleen was in London during World War II and in her work nursed soldiers and civilians who were traumatised and injured during the war and the bombing of London. In our previous blog of 27 March 2021, we highlighted another Glenmore native who trained as a nurse at this time and the hard training regime for nurses prior to World War II.
In 1947 Kathleen married Phil Hoynes (c. 1918-1990) of Ballybrahee, Glenmore and the couple had ten children: [1] Michael Hounes; [2] Mary Hoynes; [3] Bridget Hounes; [4] Anna Hoynes; [5] Gerard Hoynes; [6] Margaret Hoynes; [7] John Hoynes; [8] Carmel Hoynes; [9] Paddy Hoynes; and [10] Rita Hoynes.
A woman of a deep and abiding faith, it was said that no matter how busy she was at home or on the farm Kathleen always attended Mass in Glenmore every morning. In 2014 Kathleen was awarded the Bene Merenti Medal for her committed service to the Church and parish. It was stated that she took the shocks of life in her stride and “embraced every day with great positivity and purpose.” She drove an automobile well into her nineties and attributed her longevity to eating porridge every morning and before bed every night. Kathleen’s last two years were spent at the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Nursing home in Ferrybank. Kathleen died on 12 August 2018 six weeks shy of her 101st birthday (New Ross Standard, 4 Sept. 2018, p. 13).
Mary Murphy née Rigby (1832?-1923)
When Kathleen was six years of age, Mrs. Mary Murphy, of Moulerstown, Glenmore died and the New Ross Standard (26 Oct. 1923 p. 8) published the following article:
“A REMARKABLE CENTENARIAN. The death took place at Glenmore during the week of Mrs. Mary Murphy at the great age of 102 years. An instance of her remarkable health was that she was able to walk to Mass up to a short time ago, and was moving about up to a few days before her death. Her recollections of the stirring events of the past 100 years were most interesting. Her varied accounts of the famine of ’48 and ’49 would make interesting reading. She was a young woman then and saw many cases of death from slow starvation; it was a common thing for people to supplement their dole of Indian-meal with cabbage and nettles in order to procure a full meal, and she witnessed men employed in the public works then organised, leaving their homes in the mornings with only a pint of thin gruel for their dinner, the gruel being generally boiled in a large pot at some particular farmstead, the meal and pot being supplied by the authorities. There were no National schools then; the master taught his little class in an old house, or beside a hedge; no trains, no motors or bikes, much less flying machines. She knew men having to go to Dublin to walk the journey to and back because of not having the money to avail of the mail coaches. In her young days when tea was as rare as ten shilling gold pieces are now, the family able to procure a pound of it at Christmas were considered well off people. She was held in great respect and the funeral was largely attended by the people of the village and district.”
Unfortunately, the article did not provide Mary Murphy’s maiden name. The only older Mary Murphy found in the Glenmore 1911 Census was Mary Murphy, of Moulerstown. Her age is listed as 80 and she resided with her husband Patrick Murphy aged 76. The 1911 Census provides that the couple were married for 42 years and that two children were born to the marriage and both were living in 1911. A marriage record dated 30 September 1869 was found in the Glenmore parish records for Patrick Murphy (widower) of Ballynooney East and Mary Ribby (sic) of Moulerstown. Patrick was the son of James Murphy (farm labouorer) and Mary was the daughter of Laurence Rigby (deceased farm labourer).
The 1901 Census provides that Patrick Murphy was aged 67; his wife Mary was 69 and his deaf and blind sister-in-law Alice Ribby (sic) was aged 66. Alice Rigby died on 10 August 1901 at the age of 67. Her sister Mary Murphy was present when she died at Moulerstown. Baptismal records were found for Ally Ribby (baptized 7 July 1835, at Ballavorea, Glenmore) and John Ribby (baptized 3 August 1828) the children of Laurence Ribby and his wife Bridget Rigby née Millea. If Ally is Alice Rigby and she was born in 1835 her sister Mary Murphy née Rigby should have been born about 1832. A baptismal record was located for a Mary baptized at Glenmore on the 7th of March 1832 to Laurence Rilly (sic) and Bridget Blea (sic), the townland of residence was recorded as “B.vooling”. Another name for Moulerstown was Ballyvoulera. Based upon the two census records and the parish records it appears that Mary Murphy née Rigby was born in 1832, and thus was 91 years of age when she died in 1923.
[Update: Thanks to Patty Lee Brown who located the marriage record for Laurence Ribby (sic) and Bridget Mallay (sic) in Kilmacow dated 16 April 1809. Both parties provided addresses as Clume. Patty Lee also sent the names and baptismal dates for four more of Mary’s brothers: James Rigby bapt. 11 May 1815 at “Nowlerstown,” Glenmore; Thomas Rigby (bapt. 28 Dec. 1817); Michael Rigby, (bapt. 30 July 1819); George Rigby (bapt. 22 Dec. 1821). Thus there were at least 7 children born to Laurence Rigby and his wife Bridget Rigby née Millea.]
Mary’s husband Patrick Murphy died 5 April 1912 at the age of 74 in Glenmore. His daughter Bridget Jones was present at his death. Baptismal records for the two children of Patrick Murphy and Mary Murphy née Rigby were found. Bridget Murphy was baptized at Glenmore on 20 June 1870 and John Murphy was born on 12 April 1872 and baptized at Glenmore on the following day. John Murphy (b. 1872) married Bridget Walsh at Rosbercon on 13 February 1901. At the time of his marriage John was living in Guilcogh and working as a servant. His bride, was the daughter of Edward Walsh of Ballalog. His sister, Bridget Murphy (b. 1870) married George Jones, of Weatherstown on 16 August 1894 at Glenmore. For further information concerning the Jones family see our previous blog of 21 April 2021 highlighting two of their grandsons Pakie and Seamus Jones.
Thus, it appears that to date only one Glenmore native has been identified who lived to be 100 years of age. Notwithstanding the error concerning Mary Murphy’s age when she died in 1923, the lives of Mary and Kathleen overlapped by 6 years. They came from the same side of the Parish and between them they lived in three centuries and witnessed the Great Famine, the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence, the founding of the Republic, two World Wars, man walking on the moon, and 9/11 etc.
If anyone knows of any other Glenmore native, in addition to Kathleen Hoynes née O’Connor, who reached the 100 year milestone please send the information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Please send any corrections, further information, photos etc. to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Michael Hoynes for all the information on the Hoynes and Maddock familes.
[Update 9 Oct. 2021–thanks to Martin Forristal we have received another contender for centenarian status was Catherine Forristal née Doherty. The family headstone was erected by her grandson, Thomas Forristal (c. 1846-1925). Thomas had recorded that his grandmother Catherine died aged 100 on the 2th of July 1875. A death cert was located for Catherine Forristal, widow, who died on 4 August 1875 at Ballyverneen, Glenmore at the age of 102. Mary Forristal was present at her death. To verify the correct age a search was made of the parish records. We were able to verify that Catherine Doherty, of Forristalstown, married Patrick Forstal (sic) of Ballyverin (sic) on 1 March 1808. No baptismal record could be found for a Catherine Doherty baptised between 1770 and 1780. We did locate a baptismal record for Catherine Doherty (bapt. 13 January 1781) of Forristalstown, the daughter of Thomas Doherty and Madge Murphy. We also searched for the children of Patrick Forristal and his wife Catherine Forristal née Doherty and found 5 baptismal records: [1] Thomas Forristal (bapt. 3 Sept. 1809) at Ballyverneen; [2] Patrick Forristal (bapt. 4 March 1814) at Bearstown; [3] Thomas Forristal (bapt. 23 Dec. 1815) at Bearstown; [4] James Forristal (bapt. 25 Sept. 1818) at Bearstown and [5] William Forristal (bapt. 6 April 1822) No residence recorded. From the information we have been able to glean from the parish records it appears that Catherine Forristal née Doherty was born in 1781 and when she died in 1875 she was 94.5 years of age. A very elderly age for that time.]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh