New Ross-Waterford railway

In February 1922 all the national and local newspapers were full of coverage of pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty stances being taken across the country by various politicians and groups. Today, we are going to focus on more local events or events that directly impacted on Glenmore residents just after the signing of the Treaty and before the Civil War commenced.

British Troops Withdrawn

The process of withdrawing British troops from the military barracks began in early February. On the 8^th the Kilkenny military barracks were formally handed over to representatives of the Irish Provisional Government (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Feb. 1922, p. 5.) The Ferrybank barracks were evacuated by the R.I.C. nine months previously and on 10 February the Ferrybank Company of the Waterford City I.R.A. Battalion flew the Tri-colour from the building. Other local barracks taken over by the I.R.A recorded in the Munster Express included Dunmore, Portlaw and Tramore (Sat. 18 Feb. 1922, p. 5). In some areas, the local economy suffered with the withdrawal of the British troops. For example, in one week 400 men were thrown out of employment in the Curragh area (Munster Express, Sat. 25 Feb. 1922, p. 4).

The Glenmore Barracks could not be taken over because it was burned in April 1920 by the Glenmore Company of the I.R.A. as were several other local rural R.I.C. barracks during the War of Independence. The Glenmore Barracks was rebuilt in 1925. For more information concerning the burning of the barracks see our post of 11 April 1920. For more information concerning the re-building of the barracks see our post of 26 September 2021.

Crime

Although crime had been a feature during the War of Independence it continued and appeared to flourish as the Free State began planning for taking over the running of the country. The I.R.A. on the 30^th of January 1922 proclaimed martial law in five parishes in the Dundrum area of South Tipperary “in consequence of a number of hold ups, robberies, and in one case murder, by armed desperadoes” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 3 Feb. 1922, p. 5). A similar martial law proclamation was issued in County Kilkenny on the 9^th of February “…owing to grave disorders and serious injury to property, resulting in throwing a large number of men out of employment…regulations will be rigorously enforced…in the Parish of Glogh, Parish of Doonane and that portion of Castlecomer Parish lying to the north of the town of Castlecomer…signed George O’Dwyer, commandant, Kilkenny Brigade I.R.A.” (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Feb. 1922, p. 5).

The Co. Kilkenny proclamation appears to have been made following an attack on coal mines near Castlecomer. On 9 February 1922 a large body of men, estimated to be 80 or more, went to the Rock Bog and Vera Pits and caused £15,000 of damage to the mines and mining equipment. The Vera Pit immediately closed throwing 250 men out of employment. It was estimated that it would take five months to get the other mine back to its normal production (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Feb. 1922, p. 5).

However, in the policing vacuum it wasn’t just groups of men attacking various business,  that caused unemployment. Sometimes it was direct action against businesses by the I.R.A., or members of the I.R.A., that caused businesses to threaten to close. The Munster Express published an article that the Going and Smith Mills of Cahir were to close their large mills after the 25^th of February. Prior to the end of hostilities several motor cars, each worth £800, belonging to the owners of the mills were seized in lieu of levies by the I.R.A. Decrees of compensation were obtained by the owners against the British authorities. Subsequently another I.R.A. levy of £100 was made on the mills, but the owners, because of the previous seizures declined to pay. In response a load of materials sent out from the mills was seized in Cahir, but the representatives of the labourers of the Mill caused the materials to be returned to the Mill. On the 17^th of February materials were again seized along with a motor lorry. The owners then gave notice of their intent to close the mills. Commandant Robinson sent a notice to the firm that there would be no more commandeering and the owners agreed to continue operating the mills (Munster Express, Sat. 25 Feb. 1922, p. 4).

Closer to Glenmore, lawlessness in New Ross became such an issue that the I.R.A. directed that the electric and gas lamps in New Ross were to remain on all night (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Feb. 1922, p. 7). In Waterford City, toward the end of February, a man named Conway, described as being of the “tramp class,” smashed a large plate glass window valued at £70 of the Phelan Brothers, drapery shop on George’s street. It was stated that there was no known reason for the damage. Conway was immediately apprehended by the staff and held until the I.R.A. arrived and placed him under arrest. He was brought before the local Sinn Fein magistrates and remanded in custody to the Ballybricken jail (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 24 Feb. 1922, p. 5).

During this period two “catch and release kidnappings” were reported. On the 31^st of January two men, who were not disguised, entered the offices of Colfer and Sons, Solicitors, New Ross, and asked for Mr. Colfer. When he came out of his office, he was placed in a motor car and driven across the bridge and up through Co. Kilkenny. After crossing the bridge Mr. Colfer was blindfolded and he heard shots being fired. When the car stopped he was placed in an outhouse and kept there until about 1 o’clock the following morning He was given some tea, blindfolded, put back into the motor car and driven to the Mile Bush and released. He walked from the Mile Bush to Rosbercon and was at his office at ten that morning (New Ross Standard, Fri. 3 Feb. 1922, p. 4). The newspaper gave no indication why Solicitor Colfer was kidnapped.

In February the courts continued to operate alongside the newly formed I.R.A. courts. In February, three railways officials from Aylwardstown, Glenmore, on their way to the Rosbercon petty sessions court were kidnapped by three or four men and held until the petty session court was over. One of the men kidnapped was Michael Fleming, a signalman, who was the complainant against Glenmore native Thomas Morrissey for assault. It was alleged that on the 23^rd of January Thomas Morrissey assaulted Michael Fleming at Aylwardstown. Another signalman and the stationmaster were summoned as witnesses and were also kidnapped. When the case was called before Col. R. Tyndall, it was noted that Denis Daly had left the summons with the wife of the defendant Thomas Morrissey. The defendant did not turn up either. The railway sent Solicitor James J. O’Connor to the proceedings who reported to the court that he was instructed by the railway company to appear on behalf of the prosecution. When queried why the complainant was not prosecuting Solicitor O’Connor stated that he was and asked for the case to be adjourned. Col. Tyndall adjourned the case for a fortnight (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 Feb. 1922, p. 4).

The New Ross Standard published the following editorial calling on citizens to help put down crime and restore social order.

“A National Duty—In every community the criminal is ever on the alert watching his opportunity to perpetrate crime. Pending the setting up of a regular police force in this country during the transition stage there are offences committed against persons and property, mainly against the latter, and all of a more or less serious character. Robberies and minor thefts are terribly prevalent. Under our own Government, therefore, which is functioning under very great difficulties, it is the obvious duty of our people—irrespective of political views—to help to put down crime. That is the first essential of good Government, and no good citizen will hesitate to co-operate with the existing authority to restore social order. These are not the days of foreign rule when assistance in this direction would be regarded as the action of a loyalist. Our temporary police force are displaying much activity, and it is a national duty to assist them in protecting our people from opportunist criminals who are becoming so numerous” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 4).

Football, Fishing and a Runaway Deer in Glenmore

In February 2022 Glenmore played Cloneen for the senior Co. Kilkenny football final and won by a large margin. It was described by the New Ross Standard (20 Feb. 1922, p. 7) as a “splendidly contested match” which we will feature in a forthcoming blog post. For information on the 1920-1921 Glenmore football seasons see our previous post of 9 August 2021.    

Although it was reported that the salmon fishing season had started off well by mid-February it was reported that it “…had become rather poor primarily because the weather was against fishing” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 5).     

Lastly, events described in a small article in the New Ross Standard may have rivalled the football title as a conversation topic when Glenmore people met each other. It was reported that a “runaway deer” caused excitement as it “careened through parts of the South Kilkenny districts.” Unfortunately, the article does not indicate where the deer escaped, but it did note “that near Glenmore it jumped a gate eight feet high, dashed through the village and headed towards Coolnashaw.” A dog then began to chase it and “it jumped clean over a donkey and cart with a woman in it. The cart was drawn across the road whilst the woman was speaking to a neighbour. The dog soon lost sight of the antlered monarch” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 5).

The advertisement for Barry and Butler dressmaking Carrigcloney, Glenmore appeared in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 8). More Glenmore related advertisements may be found in our post dated 19 December 2020.

The drawing of the deer is courtesy of the New York City Public Library digital collection. (The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1849). Common deer Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-4213-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.)

If anyone has any further information or corrections please send them to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh