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The First Death: Building the Railway Through Glenmore
The railway extension line from New Ross to Waterford began in August 1900 and by February 1901 newspapers were reporting on the drunkenness of the railway labourers or navvies as well as injuries and a death. Surprisingly, in the same article where it was reported that two navvies suffered severe injuries the editor of the Waterford News & Star opined that the best course of action to tackle shebeening and drunkenness by the navvies was to put a well managed pub into Glenmore Village.
See our post of 3 June 2024 regarding the setbacks the railway encountered, the recorded feelings of New Ross leaders regarding the project, and the published list pf proposed compensation to people in the path of the line from Rosbercon to Balyverneen, Glenmore.
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) stated that there were two pubs in Glenmore Village until the then parish priest forced them to close circa 1870. Glenmore Village did not obtain a pub until 1963. See our post of 8 May 2023 regarding Glenmore Village losing its dry distinction.
Tremendous Drunkenness Among the Navvies
The Waterford News & Star (Fri. 22 Feb. 1901, p. 8) published the following article:
“At the Petty Sessions,… District Inspector Mercer, Piltown, Prosecuted one Mary Fokes, alias Russell, a New Ross traveling huckster, with selling intoxicating drink without a license. The prosecution was brought under the 3rd section of the Licensing Act of 1872, and for the defence, Mr. John B. Colfer, solicitor appeared. Sergeant Stapleton proved that the navvies working on the Railway line at Glenmore were lately more drunk than ever, and that Mary Russell’s movements amongst them he suspected that she was conveying them lots of stimulants.”
“On the fourth of the present month he ambushed the defendant with a pony and car arrived on the scene, the navvies regaled themselves with porter, and he saw money pass. The car contained several dozen of full and empty bottles of porter and whiskey. John Power, navvy, deposed to having purchased three bottles of stout, and paid six pence for them on the occasion, where Mr. Colfer remarked that they were dirt cheap. Mr. Mercer pressed for the full penalty, and said there was tremendous drunkenness amongst the navvies.“
“Mr. Colfer ridiculed the D.I’s statement as to all he drunkenness amongst navvies being attributed to Mary Russell. He confessed that he never heard of sober navvies. He submitted that the defendant was ignorant of the law…, however the court imposed a £5 fine…”
Dry Glenmore
The editor of the Waterford News & Star then stated, “Those who like navvies are determined on obtaining drink will surely succeed somehow in their intention, and the persistent refusal of the licensing authority to grant a license between the bridge of Ross and the village of Slieverue, a distance of nearly 12 miles, covering a populous district of country serves as a strong inducement to the carrying on of such illegitimate drink traffic, and much Sunday debauchery as well as on Monday.”
“The granting of a publican’s license in the parish of Glenmore to our mind would raise instead of lower the morale of the district. It would be waste of time to argue the superiority of a well conducted public house where good drinks would be sold, over the prevailing shebeening in noxious intoxicants carried only in stealth all over the district, particularly on Sundays and holidays.”
“There seems to be a basis of old standing against granting a license for the sale of intoxicating drinks in Glenmore. It dates from the time that faction fights, when there were a couple of badly conducted licensed houses in the village, and of course in the time of Sunday selling, and it would appear that forty or fifty years ago, the abuses had become so glaring that the authorities felt bound to abolish the then publican’s license.“
“Since then applications, all without avail have been made for new licenses, consequent on the fears and apprehensions given rise by the sandals of two or three generations ago. The writer, however, thinks and believes the majority of people in Glenmore will agree that the time has come when the ban of half a century ago ought in justice be removed” (Waterford News & Star (Fri. 22 Feb. 1901, p. 8).
Serious Injuries at the Milltown Cutting, Glenmore
After advocating for a pub the newspaper then reported on two very serious accidents that occurred on the Ross and Waterford railway line under construction. “The accidents, though two miles apart, occurred almost at the same time. At the Milltown cutting, within 3 miles of New Ross, a man named Power, who belonged to the locality was the victim of an embankment slip of a couple tons of earth. Power’s body was badly crushed and one of his legs broken. He was conveyed by the ambulance car to the Union Workhouse Hospital, New Ross” (Waterford News & Star (Fri. 22 Feb. 1901, p. 8)
Serious Injuries at the Carrigcloney Rock Cutting, Glenmore
“The second accident took place at the Carrigcloney rock cutting, and where a navvy named Roche unknowingly approached a part of the cutting where an explosive was just set, and one of his limbs was just severed from his body, while his body and head suffered terribly. The doctors in attendance decided that an amputation of the limb was necessary to prolong his life, but Roche would not assent to the ordeal and was sent to the Waterford Union Hospital. It is considered that his case is a very serious one indeed” (Waterford News & Star (Fri. 22 Feb. 1901, p. 8).
Death of Patrick Roche (c. 1859-1901)
Our research in the death register has revealed that Patrick Roche, a 42 year old married, labourer, residing in Glenmore, died on the 22nd of February 1901 at the County and City Infirmary of Waterford. He died “from the effects of injuries accidentally received on the 19th of February whilst blasting.” An inquest was held into his death on the 28th of February by the Waterford Coroner, Edmund Power. We believe that Patrick was the first man to die during the construction of the railway line through Glenmore.
The Munster Express reported that Patrick Roche was injured on Wednesday the 20th of February. He was engaged in blasting a quarry at Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny. “His injuries were very serious, and he was at once conveyed to the County Infirmary, where it was deemed by the doctors necessary to amputate one of his legs. He, however, succumbed to his injuries on Friday at 3 pm. His remains were removed to his late residence on Saturday evening. An inquest was held at Mr. David Cant’s public house, Johnstown [Waterford City], on Thursday last. Mr. Smith, D.L., Head Constable Alen, and acting sergeant Teese watched the case on behalf of the police, and Mr. D. Dunford, solr. was present on behalf of the contractors (Pearson & Son, New Ross).” A jury was sworn (Munster Express, Sat. 2 March 1901, p. 5).
The Evening News (Waterford) provided additional details. Evidence was given by Michael Connolly, who was working with the deceased at the time of the accident, to the effect that the deceased, whose business it was to set the charge and ignite it, returned after putting the fuse to it, bit as there was no explosion, and thinking he had not set fire to it, he again returned, and just as he was within a yard of the place it exploded (Evening News (Waterford) Thurs. 28 Feb. 1901, p. 3.)
After hearing the evidence of the widow, Mr. Bannett (engineer) and a labourer named Walsh, employed on the extension; also Dr. Kelleher and Head Constable Allen, the jury found that the deceased died from the effects of the injuries of an accident received whilst blasting on the New Ross and Waterford Extension Railway at Carrigcloney, and that as deceased was inexperienced blasting, the company should compensate deceased’s widow for the loss she has sustained, and they came to the conclusion that an experience person should be in charge and see that the proper time should be given before the men should return to the place of blasting” (Munster Express, Sat. 2 March 1901, p. 5). According to the New Ross Standard, Patrick Roche was from the north County Kilkenny (New Ross Standard, Sat. 23 Feb. 1901, p. 5).
James Power (c. 1854-1920) of Jamestown, Glenmore
The New Ross Standard, identified the other man injured, named Power. He was James Power of Jamestown, Glenmore. He was badly crushed by falling earth from the Forrestalstown (sic) cutting rather than the Milltown cutting (New Ross Standard, Sat. 23 Feb. 1901, p. 5). James Power survived his injuries and was found still residing in Jamestown, Glenmore in 1911.
We believe that the injured James Power, of Jamestown, was married to Catherine Purcell (c. 1861-1945). The couple married on 3 October 1886 at Glenmore. James was a labourer and son of John Power (farmer) of Jamestown. Catherine was the daughter of Edmund Purcell (labourer) of Forrestalstown (sic). At the time of their marriage James was 34 and Catherine was 25. In the 1901 Census Catherine was living in Jamestown, Glenmore (aged 35) with her children. James was not present, but he may have still been in the hospital. In the 1911 Jamestown Census he gave his age as 60 and Catherine or Kate said that she was 50. In 1911, James was employed as an agricultural labourer. The couple are buried in Glenmore, and their headstone provided their dates of death.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmai.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: May 1924
In May 1924 Glenmore GAA hurling and football were prominent in the local newspapers. Due to the volume of information we shall supply the May 1924 hurling and football information in our next post. Today, we feature other news items from local newspapers that were probably discussed at lenth in Glenmore.
The Free State continued to wrestle with the legacies of the War of Independence as well as the Civil War. Unemployment and in particular resistance of the citizens to taxes including rates on land made it difficult to deliver services and repair damages. During April 1924 unemployment in the country fell from 28,391 (persons registered for employment) to 27,947, showing a decrease of 444 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 May 1923, p. 2). The emigration flow of young people out of Ireland also slowed due to U.S. restrictions. However, by the end of May 1924 bookings to the United States were resumed by the Cunard and White Star line subject to passengers obtaining visa immigration certificates from the U.S Consul (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 30 May 1924, p. 8).
Civil War Internees
Although the Free State continued to release people arrested during the Civil War the leaders, such as Eamonn de Valera (1882-1975) continued to be incarcerated. It was reported in early May that De Valera’s mother, Mrs. Catherine de Valera Wheelwright, travelled from her home in Rochester, New York, to Washington D.C. where she plead before the U.S. Congress for de Valera’s release. She based her plea on the US action in 1923 on behalf of the Russian Archbishop the Soviets sentenced to death (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 2 May 1924, p. 5). Later in the month, the Supreme Court of New York ruled that de Valera and O’Mara were entitled to a reasonable part of the two and a half million dollars of the Irish Republic Fund deposited in New York. A Commission was to be appointed to determine what constituted a reasonable part (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 May 1924, p. 5).
Rates & Rent Arrears
Every local newspaper carried articles regarding the newly established rates. The chart below covered Glenmore.
| IDA District (in £) | (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 May 1923, p. 8) | ||
| Agricultural Land | Sums Deducted for Agricultural Grant | Other Hereditaments | |
| County Charges | 32 ½ | 3 | 35 ½ |
| Board of Health Charges | 6 | 10 ½ | 16 ½ |
| District Charges | 27 | 7 ½ | 34 ½ |
| TOTAL RATES FOR YEAR | 65 ½ | 21 | 87 ½ |
Notwithstanding the difficult financial circumstances most Councils and other public bodies encountered appointments to posts continued. For example, Mr. James Farrell, Ballynock, Tullogher, a member of the Ida District Council, was appointed Peace Commissioner (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 May 1923, p. 5).
Taxes
Citizens had been urged during the War of Independence not to pay rates or other taxes to the British authorities. Some citizens critical of the Free State continued this practice. Over 100 rate defaulters were summoned to the New Ross Court in mid-May. The cases were from the New Ross Urban area and some were from South Kilkenny districts. It was noted that several defaulters had paid before the court date. The justice said that out of 68 cases there were only 9 decrees given (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 May 1924, p. 2).
All Councils were seeking methods to increase their revenues, and the Waterford County Council placed a £3 tax on petrol pumps erected on the roads of Co. Waterford during its May meeting (Munster Express, Sat. 24 May 1924, p. 4)
Wexford Rate Collectors’ Case
Wexford Rate Collectors who were not retained after the establishment of the Free State made a claim. Mr. Justice Wylie was appointed in October 1923 to conduct the inquiry. Justice Wylie awarded pensions in six cases for rate collectors with over ten years’ service, and gratuities in six other cases when the rate collectors had less than 10 years’ service. The Wexford County Council refused to pay any of the awarded compensation and it was noted that there was a rightf appeal to the Minister for Local Government.
Captain W. Redmond raised the failure to pay the rate collectors in the Dáil to Seamus Burke the then Minister for Local Government. Captain Redman—Was not this tribunal set up by Government, and have not awards been made by this tribunal, and is it not the Government’s duty to insist on these awards being executed?
Mr. Burke—”That is not altogether true. The matter should have come before me in a different way as a matter of fact” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 2).
[Minister Burke’s approach appears to still serve as a method of answering questions by politicians today.]
Rent Arrears
In May 1924, the thorny issue of the evicted tenants under British rule continued to evade settlement, and the various Councils that provided housing had to deal with current tenant defaulters.
The editor of the New Ross Standard recalled that two or three years before a number of evicted tenants took possession of their former holdings, some of them using violence to “gain their object.” They were prosecuted for taking forcible possession and the holdings given back to the people in possession. The evicted tenants were told that courts would be established immediately to hear their claims and that they should wait and lay their cases before these courts. The promised courts were never established and the evicted tenants under the Free State were still required to “grin and bear their unhappy lot” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 May 1924, p. 4).
Glenmore Rent Defaulter
The Waterford No. 2 R.D. Council met and after considering a number of rent arrears made the following order regarding Richard Young of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. If the arrears of £3 6s were not paid to Mr. Fitzpatrick, collector, before the next meeting of the Council, the Council solicitors would be instructed to proceed against him. Young was also told that he should apologise to the collector for his behaviour toward the collector (Munster Express, Sat. 3 May 1924, p. 5). In the last Munster Express published in May 1924 it was reported that Richard Young tendered “his regret if he used offensive words towards the collector, and also paid up the arrears of £3 6s (Munster Express, Sat. 31 May 1924, p. 6).
Public Works
The question of rebuilding the old GPO in Dublin destroyed in 1916 was being debated in May 1924. The British intended to re-build it and obtained several adjacent sites on Henry St., but when it became evident that an Irish Government would be coming into power the work on re-building ceased. The British never got beyond clearing the debris. Each side wanted the other to pay for the re-building (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 May 1923, p. 5).
The work of repainting the New Ross bridge began in mid-May 1924. It was reported that it would take two or three months at a minimum to complete the job (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5).
The Waterford RD 2 Council awarded a contract to James Butler of Moulerstown, Glenmore “to maintain 173 perches of road between the main road at Moulerstown and the district bounds at Guilcogh, for one year; cost not to exceed 1s per perch–£4” (Munster Express, Sat. 31 May 1924, p. 6).
Similar to today one hundred years ago when funding was tight rural services were cut. It was stated in the New Ross Standard, “For some considerable time alarm has been caused and indignation has been expressed in a great many of the rural districts in consequence of the curtailment of the postal facilities they used to enjoy” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 2).
Farming and Fishing
Farm Prices
The highest price realised for hay during the past winter and spring was that paid for a quantity in New Ross in the last week in April at the rate of £6 per ton. The average price was £5 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 May 1923, p. 8).
There was an improvement in demand and prices for stock at Campile monthly fair at the end of April. Fat lambs sold particularly well, some cases reaching 57s. each (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 May 1923, p. 8). The price of wool at New Ross was 1s 3d or 1s 9d for washed wool (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). Calves realized from £2 to £4 at New Ross on the 10th of May. Some calves made £4 10s according to their age, quality and condition (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). Fat pigs sold at New Ross on the 12th from 50s to 54s per cwt, live weight (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). The following prices were published for the New Ross Market: eggs 1s per dozen; chickens (young)1s 2d per lb; hens 3s per pair; butter 1s 2d fresh and 1s 3d salted; potatoes 1s 3d per stone; salmon 2s 3d per lb. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 23 May 1924, p. 8).
Fishing
Salmon fishing on the Barrow and Nore continued to be poor in May. “There was scarcely one good week of fishing since the season opened” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 5). However, during the second week of May a glut of herrings were found off of Dunmore. So great were the catches that hands engaged in the kippering sheds of Mr. Arthur Miller were employed throughout Saturday dealing with the catches from Thursday and Friday. A fleet of Irish, English and Scotch steam and motor boats engaged in the herring fishing. It was stated that there was not such an abundance of fish in local waters for a quarter of a century. The shoal was predicted to remain off the coast until July (Munster Express, Sat. 17 May 1924).
Two fish dealers from New Ross named Mrs. Harney and Michael Cotton, were driving along the Quay in a pony cart when the pony became frightened. When the frightened pony headed for the river, Mrs. Harney threw herself from the cart and had a “miraculous escape from serious injury.” “Cotton, however, pluckily held on to the reins, and retained his position in the cart until the pony, came into contact with the chains opposite the Graving Bank, came to a temporary standstill.” The backband broke, and the cart fell on to the quayside. Cotton was not injured. Released from the cart the pony turned round and careered madly along the quay heading toward the bridge. A young man caught the pony after going 200 yards. The animal suffered minor injuries to one of his hind legs (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 9 May 1924, p. 8).
Commemorating the Kilkenny Fallen
Large numbers from Co. Kilkenny and adjoining counties took part in the commemoration ceremony at Thomastown on Sunday the 11th of May to honour the memory of the men who sacrificed their lives for Ireland during the fight with the British and of other men who died since the evacuation of the British forces.
The different Sinn Fein Clubs, and Cumman na mBán in the County took part in the procession which formed at Jerpoint Abbey at 2. The bands that took part included: Waterford Fianna Pipers (headed the procession), Kells Pipers, Inistioge, Kilkenny City, Thomastown, Ballyhale, the O’Hanrahan Pipers, New Ross, and the Callan Brass Band. The route of the procession was Mill St., Low St., Logn St., Chapel St., the Quay, Market St., and Church St. Passing the graveyard where the remains of the late Mr. N. Mullins, Thomastown, who was killed by British soldiers in the Coolbawn ambush, and the late Mr. Peter Frehne, Kilcullen, who lost his life in the attack on the North Star Hotel (Auxilary Headquaarters) Dublin, are interred.
The procession, on the Quay, under the cemetery halted and the “Last Post” was played. The procession marched on to the field on the Station Road, where the cenotaph, the work of James Kelly, of Oldtown was admired. Thirty-one names were inscribed on the cenotaph including: Nicholas Mullins, Thomastown; Peter Freyne, Kilcullen; and John Hartley, Glenmore. Both Nicholas Mullins and Peter Freyne were the sons of Glenmore men and John Hartley was born, raised, and buried in Glenmore (Kilkenny People, Sat. 17 May 1924, p. 5).
The Waterford News & Star provided some additional information. The cenotaph, was in the shape of a large Celtic Cross and it was inscribed “In Proud and Loving Memory of the Faithful Soldiers of the Republic.” No trains were running to Thomastown that day. “Despite restricted travelling facilities available, at least 10,00 people attended” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 6).
For further information on Peter Freyne (1903-1921) see our post 5 April 2021. For further information on John “Jack” Hartley (1897-1921) and Nicholas Mullins (1893-1921) see our post of 20 June 2021.
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Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com
The featured drawing above is the Triumphant Studebaker found in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 16 May 1924, p. 7). It was stated that over 154,000 people bought Studebaker Automobiles during 1923.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: January 1924
Glenmore only featured in a couple of local newspaper articles in January 1924. We have also included some local newspaper articles that illustrate what Glenmore people were reading or experiencing one hundred years ago. The original words and phrases of the newspaper articles have been utilized where possible.
The New Year: Past Reminders
In Waterford “the New Year was ushered in by the shrill shriek of engine whistles, the hooting of steamer sirens, and the creation of the customary pandemonium. ..Christ Church Cathedral chimes pealed forth as usual, but their dulcet tones were easily drowned by the fearful noise created, and were not heard except by those who happened to be in the immediate vicinity of Cathedral Square.”
On board the SS Arklow rockets were sent up at regular intervals, the display of these projectile fireworks being witnessed by a fairly large crowd assembled at Reginald’s Tower. Some of the rockets burst into beautiful flame but then followed a loud detonation which “resembled something in the nature of a discharge from an 18 pounder gun.” This disturbed a lot of the inhabitants and reminded them of the recent Civil War (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 5).
Weather
January 1924 supplied the area “with a continuous round of snow, rain and slush.” “Not for years past” was there “such flood in the hills and valleys of South Kilkenny” (Munster Express, Sat. 19 Jan. 1924, p. 5).
Epidemics & Population Growth
Waterford City suffered a whooping cough epidemic in the autumn and it was still severe in January 1924. The epidemic resulted in a large number of deaths. Waterford City’s death rate for the four weeks ending the 27th of November 1923 was “exceedingly high—26.6 per 1,000” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 5). Chicken pox was also making the rounds and like most diseases it did not distinguish between the classes. The wedding of Lord Arthur Butler, son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, was postponed when his fiancée Miss Jessie Carlos Clarke, and her sister, caught chicken pox (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p.7).
The Registrar General estimated that the population of the Free State in June 1923 was 3,165,000 persons. He noted that the last census taken was in 1911, and no attempt was made in 1921 to take a census. He estimated that the population had increased by 30,000 since the 1911 census (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1924, p. 3). It is rather surprising that the population increased given the events between 1911 and 1923 including: WWI, the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Civil War and emigration.
Local Education
Nuns for Rosbercon
A rumour was published in the New Ross Standard that a secondary school conducted by Nuns of the Order of St. Louis will, open at Rosbercon. The school was said to located in the Ida House which was recently purchased from Mr. John J. Kehoe (New Ross Standard, Fri .4 Jan. 1923, p. 7).
Glenmore Irish Teacher
At the monthly meeting of the Joint Technical Committee for Kilkenny it was noted that the Department sanctioned the appointment three men and a woman as part time teachers of Irish. Mr. Matt O’Donnell left Glenmore and was engaged at work in Rosbercon. Another teacher was needed in Glenmore to take his place.
It was suggested that Mr. Curran, the school teacher at Glenmore, who was pulling well up in Irish, might be induced to take on the work. The difficulty was that Mr. Curan’s health had not been good for some time. It was supposed that they might be able to engage a teacher from New Ross (Kilkenny People, Sat. 19 Jan. 1924, p. 8). Exactly one year later, Nicholas “Nick” Curran (c. 1884-1925) was dead, aged 41, from cancer of the stomach. His obituary can be found on our obituary page.
New Motor Barge
John Tyrell & Sons, Arklow, boat builders launched a motor launch for a New Ross firm. The motor barge was fitted with a 50 h.p. double cylinder marine engine, with an estimated cargo capacity of 50 tons. The motor barge was to be used for direct trade between Waterford and New Ross and was also capable of towing other barges. Unfortunately, the name of the vessel was not published in the article (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Jan. 1924, p. 6).
Civil War Repairs
Bridges
The railway bridge at Palace East, which was wrecked 14 times in 1923 was being “rebuilt in a substantial way with new girders” (New Ross Standard, Fri.11 Jan. 1924, p. 7). Also, the New Ross bridge was to receive a much needed coat of paint. The bridge was vested in both the Wexford County Council and the Kilkenny County Council. Repairs were also being carried out on the Ferry Mountgarrett bridge (New Ross Standard, Fri.4 Jan. 1923, p. 7).
Fight for £500,000 Deposited in New York
John F. Finerty, a New York Attorney, travelled to Dublin to meet Eamonn de Valera. The meeting was held at Arbour Hill Detention Barracks where de Valera was imprisoned. About £500,000 was deposited in the U.S. and the Republicans and the Free State were claiming it. The U.S. set up a Commission to take evidence from de Valera and Austin Stack. Justice Wagner, of the New York Supreme Court, in making the order for the Commission, ruled that if de Valera and Stack were not allowed to testify, the Free State Government would be barred from continuing its claim for the money.
Attorney Finerty reported to the Press the difficulties he encountered in speaking to de Valera. He was asked to sign an agreement that he would only speak about the litigation. He agreed. The military in charge of the prison demanded that a third party be present at the meeting. Attorney Finerty “point blank refused.” The military then demanded that both he and de Valera agreed to be searched. Both Finerty and de Valera refused.
After two hours Attorney Finerty was unconditionally admitted and spent over an hour and a half with de Valera. He found him “looking none the worse for his four and a half months incarceration.” Attorney Finerty then travelled to Mountjoy to meet Stack. Finerty noted Stack was able to get about but looked very ill after his hunger strike (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Jan. 1924, p. 4.)
Glenmore Breach of Promise Case
Glenmore made the news when a breach of promise case was heard and settled in the King’s Bench Division in mid-January 1924. The defendant was a Glenmore farmer who settled the claim of breach of promise for £52 10s. The brother of the woman also sued the defendant for seduction of his sister. The seduction case settled for £21 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 25 Jan. 1924, p. 5). It was claimed that the defendant has asked the plaintiff to marry him and the wedding was to take place after his mother purchased a Glenmore farm for him. In the interim the plaintiff became pregnant and had the child and sent it to Dublin for fostering. The child died at the age of 2. The defendant’s mother refused to allow him to marry the plaintiff and the plaintiff after years of waiting sued him for breach of promise.
Glenmore Senior Football Objection
At the meeting of the Kilkenny Co. Board of the GAA, it was reported that a lengthy communication was received from Mr. J. Ryan, the Secretary of the Southern Board. Mr. Ryan asked the Chairman to rule on issues that arose out of fixtures. The Charman stated that it was unusual for such a request before the issues were considered by the southern board. He refused to decide matters “over the heads of the Southern Board as he believed they were perfectly confident in doing so themselves.” He affirmed that the Southern Board had complete control of the minor championships in the South, and if any club had a grievance against its decision the matter could be appealed to the County Committee.
The Objection
Later in the meeting the Chairman stated that there an objection by Glenmore to Barrow Rovers in connection with their senior football match at Knockmoylan on December 23. He read out the correspondence from Mr. Ryan, Southern Secretary, Glenmore were drawn to meet Barrow Rovers and as neither club was represented at the meeting and in order to facilitate the clubs the county committee asked the Southern board to fix a date and venue for the match. The Southern Secretary reported having arrangements made and later reported the carrying out of the fixture.
Glenmore Representatives
Mr. Heffernan (Glenmore) asked if the Southern Secretary had mentioned the date of the meeting at which the Southern Board arranged the match. As far as he was concerned, he would positively state that his club got no notification of the venue until the Southern Secretary notified them of the date and venue. He submitted that the Southern Secretary had taken the law into his own hands.
Mr. P. Cody (Glenmore) stated that he was a regular attender of the meetings of the Southern Board and he heard nothing of this match at any meeting. The first intimation he was a letter from the Southern Secretary stating that the fixture was made and he believed that the match had been fixed in the usual way by the County Committee and so his team travelled. The venue was inconvenient for both teams and the Southern Secretary later admitted it.
Other Representatives
Mr. Lyng (Barrow Rovers) agreed that he had heard nothing of the match at a meeting of the Southern Board but queried why Glenmore travelled if they believed the match was not officially fixed.
Mr. Dowling (Danesfort) stated that it seemed to him as if the Southern Secretary outstepped his duty. It was a serious matter if the Secretary took the responsibility on himself of fixing a match and no board or committee could justify such action. He proposed that the Southern Secretary be asked to attend the next meeting of the County Committee and produce the records of the Southern Board regarding the fixture.
The Ruling
The Chairman ruled that the case would be considered at the next meeting when the referee’s report of the match would be considered. There were matters in the referee’s report that required action by the Committee and deserved serious consideration. Glenmore’s objection was also held over to the next meeting (Kilkenny People, Sat. 26 January 1924, p. 9).
Requested Censorship in the Free State
Many people in Dublin were wondering how soon the new Free State Film Censor would make his presence felt. Pictures shown in Dublin were “very seldom grossly immoral or objectionable. But a great many of them are always on the borderline and very often suggestive. It is quite plain that the titles are always framed to appeal to morbid sentimentality, and often to worse feelings, even when the pictures themselves are not as objectionable as their titles suggest.”
It was reported that the Dublin picture houses were in a difficult position, “for no films are now produced in Ireland and those produced in America or England have reference to a low standard of morality which fortunately this country is unacquainted with.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 Jan. 1924, p. 4).
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Please send any and all corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The feature photo above is Prince Edward Place, Clonmel flooded (Freeman’s Journal, Fri. 18 January 1924, p. 10).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Interesting Life of Hugh Mahon (1857-1931)
Below is an article written by John Dowling, Danny Dowling’s nephew, concerning the interesting life of Hugh Mahon (1857-1931). Hugh Mahon was the “special reporter” who interviewed the Widow Doolan, of Jamestown, Glenmore, on 8 August 1880 the day that Charles Boyd was murdered. After exposing various abuses perpetrated again the Widow Doolan, and the local men accused of the murder, Mahon also raised funds for their defence. Mahon later emigrated to Australia where he became a politician and to this date is the only MP to be expelled from the Australian Parliament.
For an account of the plight of the Widow Doolan (Bridget Dowling née Cody (1831-1916)) and the murder of Charles Boyd see our post of 7 November 2021 .
Hugh Mahon (1857-1931)
Hugh Mahon was born at Killurin, County Offaly, in 1857, the 13th of 14 children of James and Anna Mahon. At the time James Mahon farmed a sizeable holding in the barony of Geashill owned by Edward St. Vincent Digby. From 1856 onwards there was ever increasing tension between the new Baron Digby and his tenants. James Mahon was caught up in these tensions but increased his lands under rent from 114 acres to 264 acres by 1866. His son Patrick farmed approximately 68 of these acres.
The North American Years
For unknown reasons, James and Anna Mahon and eight of their children emigrated to America in 1869, leaving behind Patrick to continue farming.
The Mahon family arrived in New York in March 1869, but by October they were farming a 50 acre farm close to Toronto, Canada. They lasted less than 4 years in Canada when they moved to Albany, New York.
Albany, at that time, was a thriving rail connection attracting many emigrants looking for work. James Mahon purchased a house for $1900 in May 1873. However, the American dream continued to turn sour for the Mahon family as an economic panic struck America in 1873 with many railroad companies going bankrupt. Also, the construction of rail bridges across the Hudson River reduced rail activity in East Albany.
During this time Hugh Mahon started to learn the printing and newspaper trades, and eventually at the age of 20 started working for himself selling printing materials. However, he was not left with good memories. Later in life he commented in a letter about the long workhours, poor conditions and clients who refused to pay for services rendered.
It is not clear when the Mahon family left Albany but in 1878 their name disappeared from the Albany Directories, and the house they bought for $1900 in 1873 was sold in approximately 1880 for $1000.
Return to Ireland
By 1880, with James Mahon in his 73rd year, he and his wife were facing a very uncertain twilight to their lives. Their fate must also have been experienced by many other emigrants, but the Mahon’s had one option that was not available to others. They still had a son living and farming in Ireland, and at some stage between 1878 and 1880 they decided to return to Ireland with their son Hugh.
In 1880 Hugh Mahon ended up as editor and manager of the New Ross Standard and a reporter for the Wexford People. The owner of both newspapers, Edward Walsh, was an outspoken critic of the local landlords. Walsh served three prison terms for articles that were printed in his newspapers.
The Irish Land league was formed in 1879 and was initially led by Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt. Hugh Mahon became Assistant Secretary of the New Ross branch of the Land League. Mahon was forced to leave Ireland in late March 1882, but in the two years he spent in New Ross he was a considerable thorn in the side of local landlords.
Mahon Involvement in Boyd Murder Trial
Mahon became acquainted with Walter Phelan of Shanbogh in the summer of 1880. Walter made Mahon aware of the situation of the Widow Doolan (Bridget Dowling) of Jamestown, Glenmore. On the evening of the 7th August, Walter Phelan met with Hugh Mahon in his New Ross office and agreed to go with him the following day to meet the Widow Doolan. Hugh Mahon was interested in publishing her plight in his newspaper.
On the evening of the 8th of August after meeting the Widow Doolan, Charles Boyd, nephew of local landlord Thomas Boyd was shot, and died the morning of the 9th of August.
John and Walter Phelan were identified by Evans Boyd as two of the men in the attack. They were arrested, along with ten others, and remanded first to Rosbercon and then to Kilkenny.
Hugh Mahon organised a defence fund to help the two Phelan brothers, Walter and John, who were charged with the crime. He used his newspaper to criticise the police and prosecution authorities, whom he accused of intimidation and coercive practices. He was also an important witness at the trial, providing an alibi for Walter who accompanied him to visit the Widow Doolan on the day of the assassination. The trial of the Phelan brothers was delayed to June 1881 and moved to Dublin due to the tension in the area.
Various witnesses were also moved to Dublin. These included young girls who were working as servant girls in the area. They were taken against their families wishes and held in Dublin and attempts to coerce them in giving damning evidence against the Phelan brothers was carried out (reported by Mahon in The Wexford People, Oct. 16 1880, p. 6). The girls did not succumb to the Crown coercion, nor to the offer of money.
The two Phelan brothers were acquitted in June 1881, largely based on the alibi provided by Hugh Mahon and a lack of credible evidence.
Hugh Mahon was an instrumental figure in the defence of the Phelan brothers due to
- The report of the killing of Charles Boyd, “one of the most atrocious deeds of blood”, [i] which was published on the 11 August 1880 in the Wexford People, was accompanied, on the same page, by his report of the mistreatment of Evans Boyd towards the Widow Doolan and her orphaned family. The reporting of the Boyd killing throughout Ireland and Great Britain was nearly always accompanied by the reference of mistreatment of the Widow Doolan.
- The continual criticism of local landlords by Mahon in his newspaper reports and organised boycotts of local landlords, in particular Thomas Boyd
- The raising of £765 to cover the costs of legal defence
- Providing an alibi for Walter Phelan on the day of the murder, due to both being together to interview the Widow Doolan.
One can start to think how the accused would have fared without the agitation of Hugh Mahon and his fundraising efforts.
Mahon’s Involvement in New Ross Land League
Mahon used his printing skills to print and post boycott notices around the New Ross area. Thomas Boyd was one of the landlords targeted and in September 1881 Boyd wrote to the Under-Secretary of Ireland calling for Mahon to be arrested under the Protection of Person and Property Act. Mahon was eventually arrested on 27 October 1881 and imprisoned in Naas. Mahon was suffering from tuberculosis and the prison authorities were worried that his delicate health conditions could cause his premature death whilst in their custody. He was offered a release based on his commitment to leave Ireland to move to sunnier climes to help his health condition. Eventually in late March 1882 Mahon left Ireland. He eventually arrived in Melbourne on 22 May 1882.
Australian Journalist, Activist & Politician
Upon landing in Australia Mahon quickly resumed his Land League Activist role amongst the Australian Irish. In 1883 he accompanied William and John Redmond on their 10-month tour of Australia, where he organised many of their events.
However, after the Redmond’s left Australia Mahon quickly parted company with the Land League activities to concentrate on his own journalist career, and in supporting his new wife and family.
Gold was discovered in Western Australia in the early 1890´s. Mahon decided to move there to run a newspaper covering activities in the newly formed gold districts in 1895. Over the next 5 years he would run various newspapers providing news to the local miners, expose corruption in mining and government and actively support the miner’s interests. He ran for local government on various occasions but was only successful when the Australian colonies joined together in 1901 to form the Australian Commonwealth. He was elected as the representative for Coolgardie as the Labour Party´s candidate. Over the next twenty years he would serve as Minister on four occasions, including the Minister for External Affairs during the First World War.
Mahon became active again in Irish affairs and was an ardent support of the Irish Parliamentary Party and Home Rule, but his outlook was changed by the events of 1916. The aftermath of the 1916 Rising, and the executions of the leaders was a moment when “All Changed, Changed Utterly” with “A terrible beauty … born.”[ii]
Over the next few years Mahon moved from Home Ruler to Sinn Fein supporter, and by 1919 was president of the Irish-Ireland League of Victoria. When Terence MacSwiney, Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Cork, died on 25 October 1920, after 74 days on hunger strike, Mahon attempted to have the Irish situation debated in Australian parliament but was refused. At a meeting on 7 November 1920 in Melbourne, Mahon attacked British policy in Ireland,
“Never in Russia under the worst [rule] of the Czars had there been such an infamous murder as that of the late Alderman McSwiney. They were told in the papers that Alderman McSwiney’s poor widow sobbed over his coffin. If there was a just God in heaven that sob would reach round the world, and one day would shake the foundations of this bloody and accursed Empire.”[iii]
Mahon´s outburst came just four days before the second anniversary of the end of the First World War. Australia was still mourning the deaths of approximately 60,000 of its sons and daughters, and its Empire loyal population was not willing to accept such criticism as expressed by Mahon.
The Prime Minister, Billy Fisher, was one seat short of a majority with Mahon´s Labour party in opposition. Seeing an opportunity to secure a government majority he moved a motion, which was successful, to expel Hugh Mahon from Parliament due to his “seditious and disloyal utterances at a public meeting”[iv] and being “guilty of conduct unfitting him to remain a member of this House.”[v]
Mahon failed to win back his seat in the subsequent by-election in December 1920. To this day he remains the only MP ever to have been expelled from the Australian Parliament.
Outside of politics he continued to run the Catholic Church Property Insurance Co. He died on 28 August 1931, eventually succumbing to the lung disease that had affected him during much of his life.
John Dowling
Further reading:
Jeff Kildea (2017) Hugh Mahon Patriot, Pressman, Politician: Vol. 1 The Years from 1857 to 1901, Anchor Books: Melbourne, Australia
H.J. Gibbney (1986) “Hugh Mahon (1957-1931)” in the Australian Dictionary of Biographies, vol. 10.
Frank Sweeney (ed) (2005) Hanging Crimes: When Ireland Used the Gallows, Mercier Press: Cork
[i] Wexford People, 11 Aug. 1880, p. 4
[ii] William Butler Yeats (1997) “Easter 1916” and Other Poems, Dover Publications
[iii] Jeff Kildea (2020) Hugh Mahon; Patriot, Pressman, Politician: Vol 2 The Years from 1901 to 1931, Anchor Books: Melbourne, Australia
[iv] Kildea (2020) supra n. iii
[v] Kildea (2020) supra n. iii
New Ross Historical Society
Public Service Announcement–the New Ross Historical Society will hold its next lecture on Thursday, the 19th of October 2023 at 8 p.m. in the in Pastoral Centre, Michael Street, New Ross, Y34N799.
The speaker will be Dr. Bill Kissane. His lecture is entitled, “ Ireland after the Civil War.” Dr. Kissane is a native of New Ross and is an Associate Professor in Politics at the London School of Economics. He is the author of numerous publications. His last book Civil Wars: The Contemporary Challenge was published by Oxford University Press in 2016. Dr. Kissane has also participated in many historical debates and discussions on the BBC. Dr. Kissane’s webpage is available by clicking here.
On the 19th, Dr. Kissane will discuss Ireland after the civil war of 1922-1923 and highlight how the new Irish State managed to establish its authority in the period between the two World Wars.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
A non member charge of €5 is payable at the door.
A Photo of JFK’s 1963 New Ross Visit
On 19 March 2023 we published a post concerning the Gahan family of Newtown, Glenmore and featured Peter Gahan (1888-1958) who left Glenmore to work in New Ross. Eventually, Peter Gahan established two businesses in New Ross, married and raised a family. This week we received an email from Peter Gahan’s grandson, who is also named Peter Gahan. Peter corrected a few errors in our original post and forwarded the iconic photo that hung in the Gahan pub on Priory Steet, New Ross. Here is a link to the updated original post of 19 March 2023.
The Iconic Photo
There were a lot of photos taken of President John F. Kennedy (1919-1963) in New Ross during his 1963 visit. The photo forwarded by Peter depicts the easily recognisable JFK standing in his car. Over his right shoulder, looking down on the presidential motorcade from her premises on Priory St., New Ross, is Peter’s grandmother, Mary Teresa “Tess” Gahan née Sheehy (c. 1887-1963). We were unable to find the photo in the New Ross Standard. However, we know that JFK visited New Ross on 27 June 1963.
The Presidential Schedule
Sixty years ago, the presidential schedule was published prior to his visit to Ireland. Per the Irish Independent (Thur. 17 June 1963, p. 16) the presidential schedule for New Ross was:
9:30 Meets the Taoiseah (Dublin)
10:30 Departs by helicopter for New Ross
11:15 Arrives O’Kennedy Park, New Ross. Leaves Park by Car for New Ross Quay.
11:30 Addresses crowd at New Ross Quay. [For a 3 minute audio of JFK’s remarks courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum click here.
12:00 Leaves by car for Dunganstown (For further information & photos of JFK’s visit to his ancestoral home visit the Kennedy Homestead site).
12:15 Arrives Dunganstown for visit to house of great-grandfather and meeting with cousins.
Time & Place of Photo
President Kennedy was 15 minutes late in arriving at the GAA’s O’Kennedy Park, New Ross. On the pitch was painted the word FAILTE (welcome) in 20 foot white letters. The President travelled in “his own special car through the gaily decorated streets” of New Ross. After addressing the crowds on the Quay, President Kennedy upset his schedule further by walking around and speaking with people in the large crowd. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 28 June 1963, p. 10).
Thus, given the presidential schedule, the location of the various places referenced and the roads of that time, we know that the presidential motorcade left the New Ross Quay sometime after noon on the 27th of June 1963 and proceeded down Priory St. toward Dunganstown. The photo was taken as the motorcade passed Gahan’s pub on Priory St.
Deaths
Tragically, JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on 22 November 1963. Less than a month later, on 16 December 1963, the lady photographed over his right shoulder, Mary Teresa “Tess” Gahan, also died tragically in a fire on Priory St., New Ross.
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Special thanks to Peter Gahan for sending on the photograph and correcting the original post.
Does anyone know the identity of the child and woman photographed in the window above JFK’s left shoulder?
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh