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One Hundred Years Ago: September 1921
Only one article in local newspapers could be located which mentioned Glenmore in September 1921, and it involved a meeting of the Glenmore Branch of the Transport Workers. The industrial strife that had plagued Britain after the end of the First World War was initially dampened in Ireland by the Irish War of Independence, but by September 1921 it was developing. In terms of the War of Independence the truce continued to hold and negotiations between Britain and Dail Eireann sought an agreed settlement. While the national newspapers contained large articles on the negotiations, which were conducted by letter, the local newspapers contained much smaller articles and these articles were often found on the inner pages of the newspapers. The New Ross Standard summed it up as “the greatest anxiety still prevails to what the outcome of the peace negotiations regarding Ireland will be. The Government, through Mr. Lloyd George, aver that full Dominion status has been offered, while Dail Eireann deny this…” (New Ross Standard, 2 Sept. 1921, p. 3).
Prisoners
While the politicians negotiated, 3,200 citizens remained interned awaiting a decision regarding their status. It was reported that there were 1,500 political prisoners serving sentences, and there were approximately 1,000 more who were neither tried nor sentenced. It was estimated that there were 15,000 dependents of the prisoners (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 16 Sept. 1921, p. 5).
The prisoners at Spike Island became impatient and it was reported that 450 went on hunger strike. The Cork Liaison Officer of the I.R.A. reported that when he went to “arrange matters” he was not allowed to see the prisoners. Twenty prisoners in Spike Island Internment Camp went on hunger strike on Sunday the 28th of August because their demands for unconditionally release were not met. They were joined by others and ultimately 450 of the 473 prisoners joined the hunger strike. The demand served on the Government by the 450 stated “Take notice that we, on behalf of the internees here, demand immediate and unconditional release on the grounds that the English Government has neither legal nor moral right to hold us by force. If the internees here are not released by Tuesday, 30th inst., at 6 p.m., we will refuse, and continue to refuse to partake of any food until our just demand is complied with.” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 2 Sept. 1921, p. 6). In contrast on the 16th of September between 40 and 100 prisoners escaped from the Rath Interment Camp, the Curragh. It was reported that they escaped via a tunnel (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 17 Sept. 1921). It was also reported that Rev. Father Loughrey, C.C. Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny was released from Waterford Jail on the expiration of the sentence “inflicted on him by a court martial in connection with the Belfast boycott” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Sept. 1921, p. 4).
Early in the month the withheld corpse of an executed R.I.C. Officer was provided to his widow. District Inspector Potter, of Cahir, was executed by the I.R.A. in April. Potter was motoring from Clogheen in his private car when he ran into an ambush at Carraghclooney, Cahir on April 22nd. One soldier was killed, two soliders were wounded and Potter was taken prisoner. Potter was allowed to write a farewell letter dated the 27th of April to his wife and children. The letter stated that he was to be executed later that day. With the letter were his personal effects including his diary, a signet ring and gold watch. The parcel was postmarked the 27th at Cahir. In late August Mrs. Potter received a message that if she went to Clonmel her husband’s remains would be provided to her. She went and the remains were removed from an ordinary motor car to a Crossley tender and conveyed to the Cahir military barracks, where a military inquiry into the cause of death was held. The medical evidence showed that he had been shot in the head (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 3 Sept. 1921, p. 5).
Courts & Police
After the signing of the truce, and the withdrawal of martial law, the court system was again in operation, however I.R.A. courts sprang up in some areas. On Monday the 27th of September “a Republican district court was in New Ross” with four cases listed for hearing. No further details were provided (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 Sept. 1921, p. 4). At a Republican Court in Thomastown, the first of its kind held in public in Co. Kilkenny, about twelve cases were dealt with, principally dealing with trespass. Some of the cases were appeals from decisions of Parish Courts. A number of youngsters were fined for stealing apples. However, in nearby Bennettsbridge, two young men were tied to the church railings on Sunday morning. Each had a label indicating that they had been convicted of theft (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 Sept. 1921, p. 8). A similar event took place in Wexford where a “man of the tramp class” was tied to the railings of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, on Sunday morning with a card hanging from his neck. The inscription on the card, “robbers beware.” “The exposure and punishment were evidently the carrying out of a sentence passed on him by a Sinn Fein tribunal” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 16 Sept. 1921, p. 4).
In addition to providing Republican courts volunteers also engaged in policing. It was reported early in the month that Volunteers in Youghal had captured a runaway couple. The young man captured was an ex-soldier from Cork and the young lady was from Macroom. The young ladies’ mother contacted the Macroom Volunteers and was present to witness the capture which caused a sensation in Youghal (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 2 Sept. 1921, p. 15). More locally it was reported that the antics of “a lunatic” in Slieverue caused considerable alarm amongst women and children. “Roaming around the roads and making violent gestures, the mentally deranged man” chased women and children. It was reported that he also attacked houses, using stones as missiles. Eventually I.R.A. forces arrived and hunted down the lunatic who put up a violent resistance. “After some time he was overpowered and carried to a waiting car.” He continued to resist, and it was found necessary to bind him. He was taken to an unknown destination. The man was a complete stranger and from his appearance he did not look as if he escaped from any mental institution (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 2 Sept. 1921, p.2).
Local Funeral
Under Martial Law attendance at funerals was restricted and the military removed the Tricolour from coffins etc. It was reported in the Waterford News & Star on Fri. 2 Sept. 1921 ( p. 7) that a mason named William Power, of Tramore, died from shocking injuries sustained by falling from the scaffolding at the site of the new Munster and Leinster Bank Building (Gladstone Street). The deceased was about 50 years of age, and left a wife and young family. The deceased was also a staunch and active member of the I.R.A. The coffin as draped with the Tricolour and about half way along the route from Waterford to Tramore the funeral was met by a large contingent of the Tramore Volunteers, who marched in military formation behind the hearse.
Local Industrial Strife
At the end of August, a “lightening strike was declared on the Dublin and South Eastern Railway in consequence of a remark made by an official at the arbitration tribunal last week. The whole system was idle from midnight on Sunday to Monday afternoon” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Sept. 1921, p. 2). “Motorists in New Ross were literally besieged with people looking for cars on Monday as a result of the railway strike. Travellers and others intending to travel by the morning mail train were not aware of the strike until they reached the station,” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 2 Sept. 1921, p. 8). Toward the end of September it appeared that the dispute was settled then it was reported that there were disastrous developments with the practical closing down of the Great Southern and Western railway system. “The continuation of the dispute has meant grave losses to the traders and farmers of the south as well as the greatest inconvenience to the traveling public…”“That such a shut down of the railways should occur at a critical time in the history of the country is a double misfortune in that it depresses public spirts and makes for lasting bad feeling between classes in Ireland” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 Sept. 1921, p. 7). This strike resulted in no trains through New Ross.
In addition to the difficulties with the railway, it was reported that an industrial dispute left Waterford without gas. Business and manufacturing firms, including newspaper offices, were seriously inconvenienced and the two evening papers could not be published. The dispute was solely between employees of the gas works. The fitters left the Irish Transport Union to join the Engineers’ Society, with the result that members of the Transport Union declined to work with the fitters (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 Sept. 1921, p. 3). A notice was placed in local newspapers as follows, “NOTICE—The city of Waterford Gas company regrets that, owing to a dispute between their employees resulting in the fitters being out from work, they cannot give prompt attention to complaints, and ask for the forbearance of their consumers pending a settlement. J. Grant, Manager” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 23 Sept. 1921, p. 5).
The Glenmore Branch of the Transport Union held a meeting and M. O’Sullivan, addressed the members on the necessity of preserving their branches and increasing the number of active members. O’Sullivan noted that the wages board was to be demolished and if labourers did not have a union at their back then their present wages would fall to pre-war rates. It was agreed that any member more than 8 weeks in arrears, or any non-member, after 11 September would not be worked with in any part of the districts and that action would be taken immediately at the creameries and non-members names published (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 Sept. 1921, p. 5). The Kilkenny Moderator noted that “All over the country farmers are facing absolute ruin. To the great majority of them the only possible solution appears to be a sweeping reduction in the labour bill. This could be achieved with a reduction in wages or the reduction in the number of labourers employed.” The second solution the paper claimed is the “attitude” of the Union (Sat. 3 Sept. 1921, p. 2). In the same article it was opined that farmers need a tractor which can be used for road haulage at a speed or four or five miles an hour.
By the end of the month so-called profiteering was identified as the culprit for unrest locally. “Every day there are fresh exposues of the disgraceful way in which the public are being fleeced by retailers. Cattle prices have fallen enormously, so has wheat. Yet the price of meat and the price of bread are just as formerly” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 30 Sept. 1921, p. 4).
Lastly, efforts to produce items locally resulted in the proposed opening of a cigarette factory in Waterford. J.P. O’Shea, President of the Dublin Industrial Development Association stated that a new private enterprise by a “very large wholesale tobacconist and cigarette distributor” was to be located in Waterford City. The enterprise was prompted when it was discovered that there was a weekly consumption of about 2,500,000 cigarettes in Waterford and within a radius of 30 miles including Kilkenny and Wexford. The venture was expected to provide thirty jobs and to incur an outlay of about £2,000 per week in wages. A machine of the most up to date American pattern will soon be installed capable of turning out 130,000 cigarettes a day. It is expected, in time, to extend the industry to tobacco making (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 23 Sept. 1921, p. 7). For an interesting account of tobacco manufacturing in Waterford prior to W.W. 1 see our previous blog post of 22 March 2020.
The featured photo above is the Kilkenny Courthouse from an old postcard.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
What’s a Shebeen?
Over the years, Danny Dowling interviewed several local people concerning Glenmore drinking establishments. As previously reported in our blog of 4 January 2020 in about 1870 the then parish priest forced all three pubs in Glenmore Village to close. After the pubs closed Glenmore remained a dry parish until 1963. In addition to licensed public houses Glenmore had its fair share of síbíns or shebeens, particularly in the years following 1870. Today we are going to focus on the information Danny collected and a case that arose 114 years ago today when a Glenmore woman’s house was raided as a shebeen.
One of the pubs, operating at the time of the pub closures in Glenmore was known as Cashin’s. It was situated just in front of the present priest’s house and Mass was disrupted with drunken shouts, inappropriate conduct and the banging of mugs on the bar. Old Johnnie Hanrahan, of Glenmore Village, told Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill that when Johnny was a chap he brought beer out of Howlett’s Brewery in Priory Lane, New Ross, to Cashin’s Pub in Glenmore. Walter Power, of Jamestown, in his January 1955 interview revealed that another pub in the Village was in Peter Dunphy’s house in Robinstown. He was married to Nellie Grace, nicknamed Nellie Grawsheen and their house stood somewhere near Hanrahan’s shop. Margaret Walsh, in 1955, noted that her father David Walsh had a pub in the Village not too far from the Chapel.
Another pub just outside of the Village was identified in 1958 by Nicholas Forristal who stated that Cardiff’s had a pub in Graiguenakill in their house upstairs. Interestingly Father Delahunty whilst in Glenmore lived in Cardiff’s. Danny’s mother, Mrs. Hannah Dowling, of Jamestown, in January 1970, stated that Duggan’s had a public house in the Halfwayhouse on the “New Line” in Ballinaraha.
The shebeens identified were primarily outside the Village. In December 1969 Nicholas Forristal, stated that the local Whitefeet drank in a shebeen in Ballygurrim before their nightly escapades. The Whitefeet was a secret society that engaged in land agitation activities. The shebeen where the local Whitefeet drank was kept by Billy Walsh, nicknamed Billy Buíde. Billy Walsh used to say to the Whitefeet, “Drink plenty and it’ll make chickens of ye. It will strengthen your bones and put speed in your feet and make ye well able to whale the police.” Pat Coady, of Ballycroney, in November 1955 identified five “shanties” that operated in Glenmore including: Big Dinny Whelan had one in his house in Ballyfacey; Dick Young in Ballyveria; Tom Long in Moulerstown; Jack Hart in Darbystown and Johnny Scanlon in Knockbrack.
Paddy Foley, of Rahora, Tullogher in June 1970 provided more information regarding Tom Long’s shebeen in Moulerstown. It was in a house alongside Butler’s yard. Long was married to a Butler, of Moulerstown and the police used to drink in this shebeen. Danny identified another well-known establishment which was referred to as the Shanty. It was located off the High Road near Scartnamore and operated by a man named Kirwan. It was going strong during the building of the railway. The last known area referred to as a shebeen was located on a turn on the grassy lane that runs up from the Main Waterford-New Ross Road in Ballinamona. There was no building, just a lot of beer stored in the open allegedly for a Fete being held in Hanarahan’s field in Ballinamona. The Guards learned of it, raided and closed it in 1961 or 1962 at the time of the Fete.
In notebook 23 Danny listed a large number of newspaper articles that he found in old local papers. Perhaps not surprising given the fact that Glenmore parish was dry there are several articles listed concerning local people being charged, and often convicted, of operating a shebeen. One of the articles relates to a raid on the house of Mrs. Catherine Connolly, of Graiguenakill, 114 years ago today.
The New Ross Standard on the 13th of April 1906 printed an article entitled “What’s a Shebeen?” It was stated that Catherine Connolly was a poor woman who was being prosecuted by Sgt. Lynch, of the Glenmore RIC, at the New Ross Petty Sessions the previous Friday. Mr. R.C. Brehon, J.P. presided over the trial and sat with four other magistrates hearing the case against Mrs. Connolly “for exposing intoxicating drink for sale without a license, for otherwise being guilty of shebeening.” Three men were also being prosecuted for being on the premises for the unlawful purpose of purchasing drink, namely: Edward Kelly, Thomas Kelly and Patrick Carroll. Mr. Henry B. Langrishe, solicitor, represented Mrs. Connolly and the two Kellys. Pat Carroll defended himself.
Sgt. Lynch testified that on Saturday the 31st of March he visited Mrs. Connolly’s house at 9:30 p.m. with Constable Power. He asked Mrs. Connolly if she had any intoxicating drink and she said that she had a few bottles of stout. Armed with a warrant he searched the house and found 3 bottles of stout in a bed and a couple dozen empty bottles found throughout the house. In the kitchen he found a gallon whiskey jug that only contained a small amount of beer. In addition to the three men present in the house a chap named Scanlon was in the house but Sgt. Lynch testified that he did not believe that he went to Mrs. Connolly’s house for drink. Sgt. Lynch testified that he had the house under surveillance for some time, that two of the defendant’s had already been convicted of drunkenness and he knew them both to be “fond of drink.” From his observation and information received he was satisfied that the house was conducted as a shebeen.
Mr. Langrishe conducted a cross examination of Sgt. Lynch. Among other questions the solicitor asked, “Is a shebeen usually stocked with 3 bottles of stout?” The Sgt responded, “it might be.” The solicitor then asked if 14 empty porter or beer bottles and 5 empty whiskey bottles are proper stock for a shebeen. The Sgt. responded, “I suggest that from all appearances it is an improper stock of porter and bottles to have in a cabin of a poor woman.” The Sgt. went on to explain that he had been watching the house for 15 days before serving the warrant. He saw a van from Waterford call to the house 3 days a week. It came on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday. He believed that Mrs. Connolly received her liquor stock from this van. When asked what type of van it was the Sgt. Lynch stated it was a bread van.
Constable Power was called to testifiy and corroborated the evidence of Sgt. Lynch. During cross examination Constable Power admitted that Sundays are the best business days for shebeens generally because public houses are not open on Sundays. He went on to state that there is no public house in the district any day of the week. He also agreed that there would be no more than a penny profit on a bottle of stout. It would take a long time for Mrs. Connolly to earn enough selling three bottles of stout at a time to pay a £50 fine for shebeening.
The defence called Mrs. Connolly who denied the charges. She testified that the three men were neighbour boys. Edward Kelly came to her home every night. Tom Kelly worked with her son in Waterford and Pat Carroll stopped by that night. Sgt Lynch on cross examination asked her why she put the bottles in bed rather than in a press. She replied, “Sure I just left them out of the way.” She explained that the empty bottles were from when her father was on the bed and the empties were waiting for the peddler. She could not state how far she lived from Slieverue or Ross, so Sgt. Lynch advised her that her home is 7 miles from Slieverue. Her solicitor inquired of Sgt. Lynch if 3 bottles of stout are a curiosity when found 7 miles from a public house.
Tom Kelly testified that he worked with Mrs. Connolly’s son in Waterford and stopped to visit her. Both he and Pat Carroll denied that they bought or received any drink from Mrs. Connolly. Pat testified that he was only in the house 3 minutes when Sgt. Lynch arrived and he did not bring, buy or receive drink in the house. The last person to testify was Edward Kelly, he corroborated Mrs. Connolly’s testimony, and admitted that he was fined the previous June or July for drunkenness. When asked if that was the first time he was drunk Edward Kelly replied, “It was the first time I was fined.”
At that point Mr. Brehon interposed and stated there was no need to proceed further as he believed that there was absolutely no case for the Crown. All summons were dismissed on the merits. The 3 bottles of stout which were present in court as evidence were returned to Mrs. Connolly who asked what she should do with them. Her solicitor, Mr. Langrieshe helpfully advised her to go outside, draw the corks and give a drink to each of the men. “This remark greatly tickled the assembled gods, who rushed out in a body after the Glenmorites to see the interesting operation performed.” “The exodus caused such a commotion as interrupted the business for some minutes.”
The featured scene above is entitled Irish Petty Sessions Court printed in the Feb. 1853 Illustrated London.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Ida
The parish of Glenmore is strategically placed mid-way between Waterford and New Ross. Previously we highlighted the roads that connected Waterford and New Ross as well as the railway line. Today, we shall highlight the Ida a river steamship that linked these two inland ports. According to Anthony Marimon in his 1856 book entitled, The Ancient and Modern History of the Maritime Ports of Ireland, in 1835 the port of Waterford had 115 merchant sailing ships. The first steamships had paddlewheels and were designed and built for rivers and canals.
One of the first river steamers to ply between Waterford and New Ross was the Shamrock which was built in Glasgow in 1836. The last steamer to daily ply between the two cities was the Ida (Waterford Standard, 17 August 1929). For interesting articles concerning the ships and photos of the ships see, Andrew Doherty, www.tidesandtales.ie , February 2018 blog posts. See the update below for information on the Eclipse sailing between Waterford and New Ross in 1829 in 2 hours.
Launch of the Ida
In addition to conducting interviews, over the years Danny Dowling has amassed a large number of newspaper articles relating to Glenmore and nearby environs. For example, the Waterford Chronicle on 27 September 1867 published an article describing the launch of the Ida at the Neptune Iron Works in Waterford. Miss Graves, the daughter of J.P. Graves, Esq. of Waterpark House, Waterford, broke the bottle on the bow of the ship and christened her Ida. This name was selected because the Barony of Ida links Waterford and New Ross and the steam ship would link the ports via the River Barrow. The steamer was described as being 156 feet in length and had a breadth of 92 ½ feet.
After her christening the Ida was equipped by the Neptune Iron Works with a “splendid pair of engines, of about 90 horse-power, with two large and powerful boilers, and two feathering paddle wheels for speed.” It was announced that Captain George Brennan would be at the helm. The Ida first steamed between Waterford and New Ross on the 31st of January 1868. She was accompanied by the Shamrock, and although a strong gale was blowing, and rain was pouring, the Ida made the journey in 70 minutes (Wexford People, 8 Feb. 1868).
Danny interviewed Michael Forristal in 1969. Michael was born and raised in Rochestown, Glenmore but living in Ballybagley in 1969. Michael revealed that when he was young the Ida left Ross daily at 9:15 a.m.; by 10 a.m. it was at the Piltown Hulk; and at 11 a.m. it arrived at Waterford. It began its home journey at 3:15 p.m. when it left Waterford; arrived at the Piltown Hulk at 4 p.m. and was back in New Ross by 4:45 p.m. In Michael’s time, the master of the Ida was Captain Murphy of New Ross. The Ida was able to carry 600 passengers and cargo.
Rochestown Ferry
There was a ferry boat that operated from Rochestown. It ferried passengers across the Barrow to the Wexford side to Piltown Hulk or floating landing stage, to meet the Ida. This ferry was able to carry up to 40 passengers. The most Michael ever saw it carry was 34 passengers. It was powered by two men who rowed the ferry each using two oars. During his time, the two rowers of the ferry were brothers John and James Forristal, of Rochestown. John and James Forristal were the last rowers of the ferry boat. They were the sons of Michael’s cousin Johnny Forristal. They were each paid 6/= per week wages.
In 1976, Danny interviewed Nicholas Forristal, the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore, who named Sean Jim and Sean Jack Forristal of Rochestown as the two men that manned the oars of the ferryboat from the Blackrock Quay in Rochestown, to the Piltown Hulk on the Wexford shore. He noted that the two men were first cousins and were paid by the Waterford Steamship Company. Today, Danny stated that he believes Michael Forristal and Nicholas Forristal were speaking about the same men given their names, but could not clarify whether the two men were brothers or cousins.
Another Glenmore man connected to the Ida was Edward Walsh, of Glenmore Village. Edward Walsh worked as a steward on the Ida. Edward and his sister Margaret were the children of David Walsh, who had a pub near the chapel in Glenmore. Danny interviewed Miss Margaret Walsh shortly before her death in 1955 at her home on Peter Street, Waterford concerning her brother’s work on the Ida.
Cargo
Nicholas Forristal stated that local farmers brought fiskins of butter by the Ida to the Waterford Butter market. Jim Phelan, of the bog in Shanbogh, was one of the men who brought fiskins of butter to Waterford via the Ida along with the Kearneys and Farrells, of Ballyfoyle. Today, Danny explained that a fiskin was a British measure of a quarter of a barrel, it was made by a cooper for cheese and butter and when filled weighed 56 pounds (25 kilograms).
It wasn’t all clear steaming for either the Shamrock or the Ida. On the 7th of June 1852 the Shamrock made two trips because the pig fair had been held at New Ross. On the second trip as the steamer approached the quay in Waterford the pigs rushed to one side of the ship causing water to be taken. The crew and the few men aboard were saved, but several pigs drowned although sailors and others along the quay rushed to save the animals (Derbyshire Times, 10 June 1854). In 1895, it was a frightened cow that caused panic on the Ida when it attempted to jump overboard and injured two elderly ladies (Wexford People, 27 April 1895). Two years later a young lady dancing on the deck of the Ida as she steamed toward Waterford fell overboard. Patrick Dooley, of Garrenbehy, quickly dived into the river and saved the young lady from drowning (New Ross Standard, 8 April 1932).
Ida Related Deaths
At least two deaths connected with the Ida appeared in newspapers. On the 3rd of January 1872, Patrick Scanlon while unloading cargo in New Ross at 9 p.m. fell into the river and drowned. At his inquest concerns were raised regarding the lack of railings to protect workers unloading cargo (Wexford People, 13 January 1872).
In the New Ross Standard on the 28th of December 1895 it was reported that 30 to 40 people were huddled in a cabin with no light. Half way to New Ross from Waterford (ie near Glenmore) a soldier named Noy died, but no one present was aware of his death due to the lack of lighting. The newspaper was scathing of the failure of the owner of the steamship to provide lighting for passengers. “Surely the company might hang up a second hand oil lamp in this apartment of the boat, and on a winter’s evening squander a penny in paraffin …for their passengers.”
Rescued & Rescuer
Perhaps the biggest threat to the Ida occurred on Friday the 13th of February 1880. The Ida at about 4 p.m. was trying to berth at New Ross, but the Liverpool steamship Earnholm was also trying to berth. The Earnholm was owned by the New Ross Steamship Company and Captain Henry was at her helm.
The Ida was swept along by the strong spring tide, which was running at about six knots an hour and there was a strong gale from the south west. Captain Brennan let go his anchor nearly opposite Mrs. Plummer’s hotel, but the ship dragged her anchor and broke the stock of the anchor. Captain Brennan set the engines in motion, fearing that the Ida would strike the centre of the New Ross bridge. Ultimately he ran her into the bridge dock, and with her bow against the quay, her stern crashed against first cylinder of the bridge, at the Wexford side.
This caused a great commotion on the quay, and “people ran hither and thither and entertained great fears that the ship would become a total wreck, as the tide was fast rising and the ship’s stern was jammed tight under the bridge, so that the rising of the tide would keep her down.” Captain Henry brought the Earnholm to assist the Ida, made fast to the Ida and when the Earnholm steamed ahead, the Ida was pulled from her perilous position. Although the Ida suffered some damage the hull sustained no damage.
The Ida in January 1896 came to the rescue of the steamship Mermaid. The Mermaid left New Ross with a cargo of pigs and at the Pink Rock, of Glenmore, “a point on the river difficult to navigate” the steering failed and the ship struck the rocks and began to take water. The Ida was on her way to Ross, stopped to give aid, took on board all of the passengers and cargo and went on to New Ross. After depositing safely the passengers and cargo she returned to the Pink Rock with another ship, the Vandaleur, and together the two steamers could not pull the Mermaid off of the rocks (Wicklow People, 11 January 1896).
Glenmore Men Remember the Ida
In 1969, Danny interviewed Michael Walsh of 80 Manor Street, Waterford. Michael was 87 years of age and was born and raised in Rochestown, Glenmore. Michael stated that the Ida sailed between Ross and Waterford and the steamer Vandaleur sailed between Waterford and Duncannon. Both ships were plying at the same time and were owned by the Waterford Steamship Co. The Clyde Shipping Co. took over the Waterford Steamship Co. and the new owners then sold both of the river paddle steamers.
Mikey Power of Jamestown, Glenmore was interviewed by Danny in 1957. Mikey reported that he worked in the Brick Marsh belonging to Billy Forristal that was located between where the two railway bridges are now situated. He worked for a whole summer in either 1899 or 1900. Work in the Brick Marsh usually started at 8 a.m. and finished at around 6 p.m. with a break for dinner at noon and a tea break at 4 p.m. They knew what time to break for the afternoon tea as the Ida passed every evening on her way to Ross. Billy Forristal’s brick works finished up about 1900 just shortly before the Ida ceased sailing the Barrow in about 1905. The Ross-Waterford railway line caused the Brick Works and Ida to both cease operating.
For further reading see, Bill Irish (2001) Shipbuilding in Waterford, 1820-1880: A Historical, Technical and Pictorial Study.
The River Steamer Eclipse
Update: Andrew Doherty sent on the following article from the Waterford Mail (Sat. 16 May 1829, p. 4).
“COMMUNICATION BETWEEN WATERFORD AND ROSS. —That beautiful little steamer the Eclipse arrived the quay at ten o’clock morning from Ross with between twenty and thirty passengers, performing the voyage which is eighteen miles, in two hours. This vessel is quite new and has been brought over from Bristol to see if she can made to answer on our river. We think there is little doubt of the fact. As a mode of conveyance between this and Ross, it will have many advantages.
The present road is quite abominable —rough, and all up and down hill, …[and this] journey of ten miles usually occupies three good hours! The Steamer will do the thing in two ; she has plenty of room for stowage; she has a snug cabin ; the sail is quite delightful. The scenery up the Nore and Barrow, though little known, is really some of the most picturesque and beautiful in Ireland, and we dare this attraction alone will induce many persons to avail themselves of the advantage of the steam-boat. Some advertisements on this subject will be found worthy of attention; but we will not dwell on the subject at present further than to hope that fair trial will given the spirited English Gentleman’s undertakings, that it may meet with the success it so really merits.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY!
Today, the 15th of February 2020, is Danny Dowling’s 93rd birthday. When I visited Danny today he was enjoying his birthday cake with a number of family and friends. Danny while reflecting on his age stated that this week the theme of the blog should be, “Time Marches On.” He indicated that instead of one subject we should highlight interesting facts from across his notebooks and I’ve included interesting historical facts that Danny provided over the last few months.
Waterford Stable–Before automobiles Glenmore people who drove their ass or horse into Waterford went to a yard where later the Metropole was built. At this yard the Glenmore people would park their cart, and stable their horse or ass. If their business would take some time they might bring oats and hay to be fed to the animal while they transacted their business.
City of Waterford–At the turn of the 20th century the City of Waterford had its own abattoir on Morrison’s Road.
How Danny Met Mollie–Danny Dowling met his wife, Mollie Lambert (1926-2015) when he was a patient in the fever hospital in New Ross. Mollie was a nurse. Maureen Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore was working with Mollie and introduced her to Danny. Danny and Molly were married in Marshalstown, Enniscorthy and Danny’s brother Michael Dowling was his best man.
Kilcolumb Churchyard of Rathinure–Lots of Glenmore people from the western side of the parish went to work in Waterford, and until the mid 1800’s returned to be buried in Kilcolumb churchyard long after the church was converted to Protestant use and fell into ruins.
Glenmore Creamery–At one time there was a saw mill and canteen in the Glenmore Creamery.
Kearneybay–The settlement of Kearneybay, originally was down nearer the river.
Glenmore’s Last Native Irish Speaker–Patsy Power, of Jamestown, Glenmore, was the last native Irish speaker and died in 1947.
Nicholas [correction William] Gaffney, of Glenmore Village–was executed in Ross on 6 June 1798. He was involved in the 1798 Rebellion, was captured and hanged from the old New Ross bridge. [Correction 1 March 2020–Nicholas Gaffney was William’s son. A link to Danny’s 1983 published article on William Gaffney may be found on the Link’s page.]
Post Box House, Aylwardstown–The cottage that was located behind the wall containing the Aylwardstown post box was sometimes referred to as the Gate Lodge (to Aylwardstown House) or later it was often called the Post Box House. Danny identified three known families that resided in the house. Wattie Power, the post man, was reared there. The Halligan’s or Hannon’s lived in the house as well as the Irish family.
The Building of Mullaly’s House in Forristalstown–Michael Dowling, of Forristalstown, Glenmore in 1980 informed Danny that the stones of 13 dwelling-houses went to build Mullaly’s house in Forristalstown. [DD Notebook 1]
Summer of 1907–Danny copied the diary of James Aylward, of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore. In the diary it was noted that Summer of 1907 was one of the wettest in years. The harvest was out in the fields until the latter end of November. [DD Notebook 2]
Mick Keegan, from Runaway to WWI Veteran and Ross Publican–Dan Doyle, formally of Ballyverneen, Glenmore was interviewed by Danny in 1980. Dan Doyle worked on the railway and he provided information concerning Mick Keegan. Mick Keegan, was the son the station master in Aylwardstown, Glenmore. Mick Keegan ran away from home and was missing. At the time that Mick Keegan ran away his father had not become the station master in Rathgarogue. Tim McMahon, of Rathgarogue, then a member of the Irish Guards in England wrote home to say that a Mick Keegan was in the Irish Guards. It turned out the man in question was in fact the missing son of Keegan the stationmaster. Mick Keegan won the King’s Cup at Bisley, in the championship shooting before the First World War. This award enabled him to gain admission to every Irish Guards’ club in any part of the world. He was in the infantry. When the Royal Flying Corps was being established they were recruiting tradesmen and technicians. Mick Keegan joined as a carpenter. He rose to the rank of major, and was in the First World War. When the war ended, Keegan came back to Ross where he bought a public house where Maher’s Bakery was located in 1980. Keegan ran this with his wife until the Second World War started. He rejoined the Royal Air Force. [DD Notebook 3]
Quintal of Fish–Professor John Mannion, St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1976 informed Danny that a quintal (qntl) of fish is 112 pounds of fish. The word quintal is a middle English word used in the Newfoundland fish business. [DD Notebook 4]
Newtown, Glenmore–Nicky Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore was interviewed by Danny in 1957 and revealed that Newtown, Glenmore, is the old town of Kilmakevoge. Old Micky McGrath of Newtown told Nicky Forristal that the people lived in Killivory at first. They had a dispute with the landlord and when they moved they settled in Newtown hence the name. [DD Notebook 5]
Tombstone Inscriptions Recorded in St. Mary’s (Protestant) Graveyard of New Ross–In 1978 Danny recorded a number of inscriptions from headstones in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Here is one of the inscriptions. [DD Notebook 6]
Under this stone lie the remains of Margaret O’Donovan
Who died ripe in years and virtue
A.D. 1859
Christians who read this say
God give rest to her soul
Dog’s Road of Gurteens, Slieverue–Michael Cuddihy, formerly of Gurteens, was interviewed by Danny in 1980. Michael stated that at one time, long before the famine, a big lot of houses stood along the side of this road. A priest who had been appointed to Slieverue parish, was out on visitation and as he was passing this road, he found dogs in every house, and all of them were barking at him. He thereupon named the road “Dog’s Road.” Dog’s Road is situated in the townland of Gurteens, and Hackett, of Glasshouse, was the Landlord of the area and the houses in question. Hackett was not satisfied with the tenants, and he arranged with Boyd, of Ross, to have all the houses burned. This foul deed was executed on a Sunday morning when all the occupants were at mass. The ruins were later pulled down by horses and swings supplied by a family known as the “Gosh Walsh’s,” who had land in Gurteens. This family later lived in the lodge in Ringville. Among those who lived in the burned houses were Walshs, Powers and Lyons. [DD Notebook 7]
Waterford Street Fountains–Danny interview in 1971 James Ryan, Foreman Plumber, of Waterford Corporation. James stated that there were 300 street fountains in Waterford City when he came to work with the Corporation on the 19th of January 1931. There were also stand pipes for filling the water carts and about half a dozen of those still remained in 1931. [DD Notebook 8]
Kilkenny Assizes, notes from the Waterford Mail, 28 March 1825–Kilkenny, March 26, –the chief Justice arrived here on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning, at the usual time the Grand Jury was sworn. The charge was short. He congratulated the County on the state of the calendar, and the prospect of peace before us. No very important trials are expected. Two only for murder. Five o’clock—a man to be transported 14 years for having a 30 s., note no. 71,699, in his possession—knowing it to be forged. Another to be transported 7 years for robbing his master of a beam, for scales. [DD Notebook 10]
Buffalo Bill Circus Played Glenmore–Nicholas Forristal during a 1972 interview stated that he saw Buffalo Bill’s Circus in J.K’s field (over the Mill Road). They stayed one night there over fifty years ago. The night was bad and the crowd was small. At the start of the show it was stated, “We will do our best, the very best, and the best can do no more.” [DD Notebook 11]
Prices During the Economic Wars–In an undated interview with Nicky Walsh, of Grogan, Davidstown, Glenmore prices during the economic war of the 1930’s were recorded. Heifers aged 2 ½ years old were sold for £5 a piece; slaughter young calves sold for 10/= each and fat pigs sold for £1 each. [DD Notebook 12]
Update—over the past couple of weeks a second guest author’s paper was added, under the Irish menu pages have been added for field names and entries have been added to links and families.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photo of the Post Box house and Louise Walsh for the photo of Kilcolumb Churchyard.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore and the New Ross to Waterford Railway Line
The Dublin Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company built the Dublin to New Ross line in stages down the coast. Dan Doyle, formerly of Ballyverneen told Danny Dowling in 1977 that the Bagnalstown station opened in 1848 and the railway bridge and tunnel between Ballywilliam and New Ross were built in 1885. The date is on the Kilkenny side of the bridge. It was in 1887 that the first train arrived in New Ross from Dublin.
Danny explained today, that planning for the building of a railway line between New Ross and Waterford commenced about the time the New Ross station opened. Originally the Glenmore station on the line was to have been built in Ballyverneen nearer the Glenmore Village. The landlords, Strange, of Aylwardstown House and Conn, of Mount Ida, lobbied and got the Glenmore station placed in Aylwardstown nearer their estates and further from Glenmore Village. Work began from the New Ross end of the Ross-Waterford line in 1899 and the line was opened in 1904. Although the Ross-Waterford line connected New Ross and Waterford City, the New Ross station was in Rosbercon, Kilkenny and the Waterford City station was in Ferrybank, Kilkenny.
Dan Doyle in his 1977 interview explained his family connections to the building of the railways. His grandfather, Dan Doyle of Ballywilliam, was the first of the family to work on the railway. He was a ganger on the Ballywilliam line and lived in the crossing gate house known as the Red House from the colour of its roof. Dan Doyle’s father, Ned Doyle, used to bring “grub” to Dan’s two elder brothers, Jack and Tom, when they were building the railway bridge between Ballywilliam and Ross. Later, Ned Doyle was responsible for a section of the Ross-Waterford railway line. A length of railway line was 3 ½ miles plus crossings and sidings. Ned Doyle’s section was from the station gates in Rosbercon to the Forristalstown Bridge in Glenmore. He had four men under him: Murt Cashin, of Mudhouse; Willie (Crows) Forristal; Tom Mullally and Bill Fortune, all of Shambogh.
During the building of the Ross-Waterford Railway line there was an influx of strangers into Glenmore and at least one skeleton was discovered. In 1977 Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore told Danny that a body was dug up during the building of the railway at Rosbercon. At the time it was said that the corpse was that of Nicholas* Gaffney of Glenmore Village. Nicholas* Gaffney lived in the late 18th century in the house [next to the house]* now occupied by Danny Dowling in Glenmore Village. Nicholas* Gaffney participated in the 1798 Rebellion, was captured, was hanged from the New Ross bridge and it was said that his body was buried in unconsecrated ground near the bridge by the British authorities.
*Corrections–Danny on 29 February 2020 asked that corrections be made. The first name of the man hanged in 1798 was William Gaffney. Nicholas Gaffney was a son of William Gaffney. A link to Danny’s 1983 article concerning William Gaffney may be found on the Link’s page.
Shortly after railway workers dug up the body in Rosbercon, Jim Comerford, of Ballyhale, Kilkenny was killed in the Shambogh cutting. Nicholas Forristal in a 1963 interview revealed that a man named O’Donnel was the ganger in charge of the work crew.
In addition to the obvious impacts on the landscape such as bridges and tracks cutting through fields and dividing farms, there were some subtle impacts. For example, in 1980 Richard Dunphy of Ballyverneen informed Danny that there is a field on Denis Dwyer’s farm in Ballyverneen that still bears the name it acquired during the building of the Ross-Waterford railway line. The 25 acre field comprised of a long, narrow strip of land was called the Magazine because powder and explosives were stored in it. Patrick Forristal, of Graiguenakill in 1980 also told Danny that when the Ross-Waterford railway was built, the line of track cut across the double ditch at Ballyverneen. This double ditch was used for a considerable time as a Mass Path for the people of Forristalstown to walk to mass in Glenmore. At this point of intersection, the railway company provided a wooden footbridge, to link both sides of the double ditch.
With the coming of the railway came the workers and businesses attempted to cash in on their steady incomes. Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, in 1972 described some of the entertainment that travelled to Glenmore. He identified McCormack’s Show as a stage show that annually came to Glenmore. “A family concern they gave months here at one time during the building of the Ross-Waterford Railway line.” They used to set up at the back of Peggy Gaffney’s house in Glenmore Village.
Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, in his 1977 interview identified and discussed some of the navies (laborers) who came to Glenmore during the building of the railway. Christy Lennon was a navie. He brought with him his wife, son Paddy and daughter Maryanne who was then about 30 years of age. Fred Bell, also a navie, was a native of Wexford Town. He brought his wife, daughter and son-in-law with him driving an ass and car. They lived for a long time in the wood in Ballyverneen. Bell left and went across the road on to railway property. Bell built a sod hut. All the walls were built of sods, reeds were on the roof, a hole in the wall for a window, the bare earth for a floor and a sod chimney with a railway sleeper holding up the chimney breast. There was a hole in the roof for the chimney. There was a kind of door. They slept on bags of straw and at night they stuffed the window with a bag of straw. Paddy English was Bell’s son-in-law. Another navie on the railway was a man named Coughlan who also built a sod hut in the same area nearer to the marsh. Hamilton Dick was a ganger on the railway and Hamilton Jim worked on the railway. They lived in Glenmore during the building of the railway and later moved to Rosbercon.
In the same interview Nicholas Forristal stated that Peter Kennedy of Rathinure told him that Kennedy and his cousins the Heffernan’s of Aylwardstown got a wagon of 11 tons of coal delivered at Aylwardstown Station shortly after the railway line opened. They paid 11/6 per ton carriage paid from Morrises of Waterford. It was the first wagon of coal delivered at Aylwardstown Station in 1904.
Mernagh has become a well known name in Glenmore. The Glenmore Mernaghs can trace their arrival to John Mernagh who was known as Jack. He was a ganger with the railway and according to the 3 April 1911 Census for Ballyverneen, Glenmore, he and his family arrived in Glenmore in about 1906. Jack Mernagh died in the autumn of 1911. According to his granddaughter Jo Doyle née Mernagh he came home from work, ate his supper and went out to help a neighbour named Forristal with the threshing. He was on the thresher feeding the oats into the machine when he lost his footing and fell into the machine. He was only on the machine for about 10 minutes when he was killed. The 1911 Census reveals that he was 53 years of age and had been married to Mary (aged 42) for 26 years. They were both born in Wexford and were the parents of 16 children, but only 12 of the children were alive in 1911. The ten children living with them in 1911 included: Patrick, aged 23; John, aged 21; James, aged 19; Stephen, aged 17; Bartholomew, aged 13; Thomas, aged 10; Adain, aged 8; Nicholas, aged 6; Mary, aged 5 and Lizzie, aged 3. The eldest three boys were employed as railway miler men and Stephen was employed as an agricultural labourer. All the children except Mary and Lizzie were born in Wexford. The 1911 census records that there were 12 members of this family living in a three room house owned by the Dublin and South East Railway.
On the same page of the Census also living in a three room house owned by the railway is the James Delaney family. James was 26 years of age and was a native of the Queen’s County. He was married for 3 years to his 23 year old wife Kate and the couple had two children. Patrick Delaney, age 2, born in Kilkenny and Mary Delaney, aged 9 months.
In 1919, Dan Doyle first went to work in a temporary capacity in New Ross station. The stationmaster was Daniel O’Brien a native of Bray. He had three clerks on goods side, one clerk on passenger side. There was a herd porter, checker, four porters and generally an extra man. There were also two platform porters, two signalmen and one night watchman.
New Ross in 1919 was a busy station, everything went by rail—people, food, and cattle. On the week before the Fair, 100 wagons were brought to Ross. Each of these had to be cleaned, washed, disinfected and whitewashed. The night before a fair a Dublin Special Train arrived with 30 wagons. The morning of the fair the Wexford Special with 30 wagons arrived and at least two specials from Waterford arrived with each Waterford train having 30 wagons. In May and October, when the big fairs occurred, three special trains would arrive the morning of the fair from Waterford.
The fixed time table of train arrivals and departures 100 years ago was:
6:30 A.M. IN…Goods train from Wexford
8:30 A.M. IN…Night goods train from Dublin.
9:30 A.M. Dep… Night food from Dublin with passengers from Ross de/. for Waterford
8:10 A.M. Passenger train out of Waterford. IN… at 8:30 in Ross.
10:25 A.M. IN…Mail, Passenger from Dublin.
11:05 A.M. Passenger out of Waterford. IN… at 11/30.
2:15 P.M. Passenger from Waterford for Dublin. IN…at 3:40.
3:15 P.M. Mail out of Waterford for Dublin. IN… at 3:40.
6:15 P.M. Mixed train to Waterford. Dep passenger and foods
5:05 P.M. Dep. Waterford food. Arrive Ross at 5:50.
Today, Danny stated that he often travelled by train from Waterford to Glenmore. He recalls that the trip between Waterford and New Ross took about 30 minutes. He believes that passengers trains stopped running in 1963 and freight continued, but all trains ceased in the early 1990’s. Danny has a list of the stationmasters of the Aylwardstown station and as soon as he can locate the list he will share it.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photos of the Aylwardstown Station and the photo of the steam engine is from the National Library of Ireland.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Redmond Volunteers and the Fife & Drum Band
For many, history was a subject in school that concentrated on Kings and wars. The everyday life of ordinary people did not feature in history books or lessons, thus it is often difficult to determine how national events impacted on Glenmore people. Thanks to Danny Dowling’s interviews and research we have details of how Glenmore people reacted to evictions and supported various national political movements. Today, we highlight the 1914 establishment of the Glenmore Committee of Redmond Volunteers and the Glenmore Fife and Drum “Redmond Volunteer Band.”
In February 1970, Danny interviewed Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill ( 1888-1979) concerning the Redmond Volunteers of Glenmore. For our international readers, John Redmond (1856-1918) of Wexford, was a politician who advocated Home Rule for Ireland by peaceful, constitutional means. Today, Danny stated that Redmond endeared himself to locals when he was first elected to the House of Commons for New Ross in 1881 and was suspended within 24 hours after giving his maiden speech. Redmond and couple dozen other Home Rule for Ireland supporters, including Michael Davitt the founder of the Land League, were suspended from Parliament.
John Redmond was a great admirer of Charles Stewart Parnell and Redmond became the party whip for the Irish Parliamentary Party. After the Parnell divorce scandal in 1890 Redmond continued to support him. When Parnell died in 1891 he became leader of the minority Parnellite faction and was elected to Parliament from Waterford which he represented until his death. In 1912 the third Home Rule Bill was introduced and passed in 1914. Implementation of Home Rule stalled first with Ulster Unionists forming the Ulster Volunteers to resist Home Rule by threatening force and secondly, due to the outbreak of World War I. In response, the nationalists formed their own paramilitary group, the National Volunteers in 1913.
The National Volunteers split over Redmond’s support of the British war effort and his advocacy that National Volunteers should serve in the British army. The Easter Rising in 1916 is said to have taken Redmond by surprise, led by a faction of the National Volunteers. As the First World War dragged on support disappeared for Redmond and his policy of Home Rule for Ireland based on peaceful, constitutional means. Controversy still exists surrounding Redmond’s support of the British war effort. For example, in 2016 a banner featuring Redmond in Dublin was defaced by protesters (see, https://www.thejournal.ie/misneach-1916-college-green-banner-john-redmond-2681018-Mar2016/ ).
In Glenmore in early 1914 a meeting was held in the Glenmore School. Father Phelan, the Glenmore Parish Priest, presided over the meeting to discuss and elect the Glenmore Committee of “Redmond Volunteers.” The school was full, and a secret paper ballot was held for the election. The “Redmond Volunteers” Committee Members elected included: Nicholas Forristal, the Mill; Jack Dunphy, Ballyverneen; Pat Reddy, Kilbride; Pat Hanrahan, Glenmore; Jim Fluskey, Glenmore; Bill Power, Robinstown. Nicky Forristal topped the poll, and Pat Reddy, of Kilbride, came in second. John Dunphy of Ballyverneen, and Nick Curran, of Robinstown, were both not elected but due to the persistence of Father Phelan they were both co-opted onto the Committee.
Danny revealed this morning that the Parish Priest was not a supporter of Redmond. Danny does not know whether it was because Redmond supported Parnell after his divorce scandal or he could not support Redmond due to his personal political affiliations. Danny stated that several Redmond supporters returning from a night drinking in New Ross stopped to shout abuses outside the house where the priest resided waking local inhabitants. Another interesting fact was revealed. In about 1870 the Parish Priest, of that time, forced all three pubs in Glenmore to close. One of the pubs was situated just in front of the present Priest’s house and disrupted Mass with drunken shouts, inappropriate conduct and the banging of mugs on the bar. Glenmore remained a “dry” parish until 1963, therefore causing those seeking a drink prior to 1963 to travel outside of the parish.
Shortly, after the “Redmond Volunteers” Committee was established in 1914 the Glenmore Fife and Drum Band was founded as a “Redmond Volunteer Band.” The band trainer was Tom Butler a sanitary officer with the New Ross U.D.C. He came out to Glenmore once or twice a week. Peter and Stephen Mernagh of Foristalstown played in it, as well as Stephen Heffernan, of Aylwardstown, and Pat Kennedy of Kilbride. Jack Murphy of Weatherstown was the Drummer. Nicky Forristal stated that he was “no use at it at all.” Ned Murphy, Jack’s father, was a drummer in the St. Mary’s Brass Band of New Ross. (Ned Murphy died in the great flu epidemic of 1918.)
The Glenmore Fife and Drum Band gave a long time training in front of Peggie Gaffney’s house in the Village. They then went into the Board Room above Fluskey’s and ended up in the outbuilding opposite the Barrack’s across the Ballybrahee Road in the Village.
Nicky Forristal reported that the Glenmore Fife and Drum Band only played once outside the parish. The band played in New Ross at a parade of the Volunteers in Barrett’s Park about the beginning of the war on a holiday the 29th of June 1914. It was the only band at the parade of Volunteers that day. Nicky reported that “they weren’t able to play at all. All the children of Ross were mocking them. Nicky Denny, of Mullinahone, who was drunk that day, tried to get the drum off Jack Murphy to belt it.”
It is not recorded whether the band broke up due to disillusionment with Redmond, the war or due to some other reason such as the lack of appreciation for their musical efforts.
The painting of the fife player above is by Manet, entitled The Fife Player (1866) Musée d’Orsay.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh