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Ballyverneen, Glenmore (1961)
Today, we are going to feature information that Danny Dowling recorded regarding the residents of the townland of Ballyverneen around 1961. The Irish for this townland is Baile uí Bheirnín, and Danny recorded that there was a settlement, or area in Ballyverneen, called Bearstown. We located one headstone in the cemetery adjacent to St. James that has the following transcription, “Erected by Richard Dunphy, of Bearstown, in memory of his father James Dunphy who departed this life 10th August 1841, aged 65 years.” We also found Bearstown recorded on the Ordinance Survey Maps (Between 1829 and 1842 the first large scale survey of Ireland was completed. OSI historical maps and information are available to view at Ordinance Survey Ireland. For other links to old maps click on our useful links button on our homepage.) It was only with the building of the New Ross to Waterford railway at the beginning of the 20th century that brick making in Ballyverneen ended.
Danny recorded eight families or households in Ballyverneen as well as a group of men who were dredging the river. Further information concerning the dredging operations is below. Birthdates or birth years are provided for some of the older residents gleaned from available public records. For some time after drafting his notebook, Danny recorded the dates of death or simply recorded that a resident had died. The recorded information reveals that 43 people resided in Ballyverneen with the population of 24 males and 19 females. If the visiting dredgers are removed from the population there were 37 people residing in Ballyverneen (18 males & 19 females). The largest family recorded was the Forristal/O’Dwyer family comprised of eight persons and there were two households of a single person.
Recorded Residents
Males=24
Females=19
Eldest Recorded Resident= Laurence “Larry” Forristal(b. 11 Dec. 1886. Death register reveals that he died on the 27th June 1963.) Thus Laurence was 74 in 1961.
Recorded Work
Farmers= 2 (both males)
Farm/Agricultural Workers= 4 (all males)
Labourer= 6 (all males)
Carpenter= 1 (male)
Bookkeeper= 1 (female)
Domestic Servant = 1 (female)
Dredge workers= 6 (all males)
BALLYVERNEEN RESIDENTS
[1] LINEGAR
Linegar, James (b. 19 May 1889) General Labourer (died but date of death not recorded)
Linegar, Annie (b. 1912) wife
Cass, Martin, step-son, General Labourer, (note moved to Aylwardstown)
Linegar, Kathleen, daughter, domestic servant
Linegar, Anne, daughter
Linegar, Josie, daughter
Linegar, Christopher, son
[2] DOOLAN
Doolan, Patrick (b. 1919) Co. Council Labourer
Doolan, Annie (b.1929) wife [known locally as Nancy]
Doolan, Mary, daughter
Doolan, Edward, son
Forristal, Mary (10 May 1896) mother-in-law [This Forristal family was known locally as the Civil Forristals.]
[3] KENNEDY
Kennedy, John (b. 1926) Carpenter
Kennedy, Margaret (b. 1934) wife
Kennedy, Patrick, son
Kennedy, Nora, daughter
Kennedy, Daniel, son
[4] DUNPHY
Dunphy, Ellen (b. 4 June 1898) Farmer
Dunphy, Seamus (b. 1927) son, farm
Dunphy, Margaret, daughter, bookkeeper [known as Maudie Dunphy & worked in Glenmore Creamery]
Dunphy, Mary, daughter [known as May Dunphy}
Dunphy, Richard, son, farm
[5] FORRISTAL
Forristal, Patrick (b. 28 Sept. 1898) Farmer
Forristal, Kate (b. 15 Aug. 1895) wife
O’Dwyer, Denis, son-in-law, farm
O’Dwyer, Margaret, daughter
O’Dwyer, John, grandson
O’Dwyer, Moyra, granddaughter
O’Dwyer, Kay, granddaughter
O’Dwyer, Margaret, granddaughter
[6] DUNPHY
Dunphy, Mary (b. 11 July 1915)
Dunphy, Thomas, son, farm worker (recorded that he moved to England)
Dunphy, Bridget, daughter
Dunphy, Michael, son
Forristal, Laurence (b. 11 Dec. 1886) uncle, labourer (noted that he died, no date given in notebook. The death register records his date of date as 27 June 1963 ) [Larry Forristal was Nicky “the Miller” Forristal’s brother.]
[7] WALSH
Walsh, Michael (b. 1918) general labourer [locally known as Mick the Weaver.]
[8] DUNPHY
Dunphy, Richard (b. 5 July 1893) retired labourer
[9] DREDGE WORKERS
Robson, Richard Ernest (b. 1901) Skipper dredge boat
Davies, Thomas H. (b.1903) dredge worker
Johnston, Kenneth R. (b.1924) dredge worker
Matthews, Richard A. (b. 1906) dredge worker
Owen, William I. (b. 1923) dredge worker
Ethington, Fred, dredge worker
Dredging at the Pink Rock
The New Ross Standard (Fri. 17 March 1961, p. 12) reported that in an effort to improve the condition of the River Barrow to allow larger ships to enter New Ross, the New Ross Harbouor Commissioners hired a dredge from a firm in Milford Haven. The dredge, named the “Basingstroke,” arrived on the 12th of March and began working. It dredged the Kilkenny bank channel at the Pink Rock and was to remove 30,000 tons. It was reported that the dredge had an output of about one hundred tons per hour and had capacity for about four hundred tons. A crew of seven operated the dredge including John Culleton “whose parents live in the Ballymitty area.”
The dredging “on the Red Bank at the Pink Rock” was completed in mid-August with a “considerable portion of the toe of the dangerous sand bank which curtailed the length and draught of ships entering the port has been removed.” The dredger removed 24,000 cubic yards of material at a total cost of £6,000 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 Aug. 1961 p. 12).
We hope that you have enjoyed or found this snapshot of Ballyverneen interesting and over the coming weeks we will feature the residents of other townlands from Danny’s notebook. The featured photo above is the railway underpass on the Ballyverneen road to the Pink Rock [known locally as the “County Road Bridge”. ]
Please send any corrections, additional information, or queries to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Thanks to all the readers who have provided additional information and we will continue to update as more information is provided.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore Fishing and Weirs
For generations Glenmore men, and at least one woman, fished the River Barrow. Some of fishermen were also farmers and others were cottagers working on farms when needed part of the year and fishing the remainder of the year. Although the River Barrow is home to several different types of fish and eel, the king of the catch was the salmon. (For a list of the type of fish of the Barrow see, http://riverbarrow.net/fishing.html .) Danny Dowling interviewed and recorded various aspects of local fishing in the 1970’s as fishing declined significantly.
Nicky Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore in June 1977 identified five fishing “pools” on the River Barrow that Glenmore fishermen fished. All of the fishing pools identified had Irish names and were described as follows:
- Thowshkeen—above Cherry’s Brewery at Ross, mid-river.
- Ling Voor—off Castle Annaghs. From Stafford’s wharf to turn of Camblin.
- Lahóge—Between Maid’s Quay and Glenmore Pill.
- Málya—Between Glenmore Pill and Carrickcloney strand.
- Corrigalú—On Wexford side almost opposite Tommy Connolly’s, of the river, at Aylwardstown. Below Dunganstown Quay wood of the same name.
Patrick Hennessey, of Hoodsgrove, Rosbercon, in February 1980 identified seven fishing “ponds,” on the Barrow and Nore Rivers. All of the fishing ponds identified by Patrick Hennessy are also in Irish.
- Ling Voor—in Barrow off Camblin.
- Ling Beg—in Barrow at bridge of Ross.
- Thowshtheen—in Barrow at Ross side of railway bridge.
- Vawnúg—at Barrow mouth. Confluence of Nore and Barrow.
- Pawl Útha—in Nore under Luke Hennessy’s of Glensensaw.
- Portloss—in Nore at Ballyneale.
- Scíordhawns—in Nore under Lambert’s of Newgrove.
Michael Forristal, of Rochestown, Glenmore in 1969 stated that there were 14 fishing boats at the Black Rock, Kearneybay and at one time 40 boats were fishing the river. John Power, of Carrigcloney, Glenmore, in February 1970 identified the fishermen with boats who trawled the Malya around the turn of the twentieth century.
- Tommy Power of Robinstown (own boat).
- Jim Scanlan, Glenmore (own boat.)
- Jimmy Forristel, The Mill (own boat).
- Pat Kennedy, Duganstown, Co. Wexford (own boat).
- Patsy Hough, Rochestown (own boat).
- Jack Forristal, Rochestown (own boat).
- Micky Foran, Rochestown (own boat).
Salmon was then about 6 d. per lb. Salmon was so plentiful that asses and carts were required to transport it away. The fish were generally sold in Ross. A man named Murphy was identified as a New Ross fish buyer.
However, some boats were owned by people who did not live along the river. Nicky Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill (Nov. 1977) told Danny that Patsy Henneberry (Mártín) of Jamestown, and Bill Roche, of Jamestown, (Main Roche’s father) owned between them a cot which they fished in for at least one season. Patsy Henneberry was going with another crew on this particular season, and he asked Roche, “how will we settle about the cot?” Roche replied “we can do nothing with her except cut her in halves.” No matter what Henneberry suggested, Roche would not agree, so in the end Henneberry, rather than see it cut in halves, left it to Roche.
Nicky Forristal (1888-1979) in his 1977 interview also described to Danny the fish joulter’s cars that he observed as a young man. This horse drawn vehicle with four wheels, had high sides and was used by the fish dealers in Ross, Enniscorthy and Graiguenamanagh. They traveled in convoys of up to 8 or 9 cars by the Mill on their way to Dunmore to collect sea fish. They would leave in the day, pass by the Mill in the evening, stay overnight in Dunmore, and return the next day. He was told that they travelled in a convoy to let some of the drivers sleep for part of the journey and the cars and the fish would be minded by the other drivers.
Brian Forristal in an interview of Tommy Connolly, of the river, (1907-1987) recorded that Tommy recalled a time when 30 or 40 boats were on the river during the salmon season. Tommy and his crew, in the 1961-1962 season, held the record for the number of salmon caught in one sweep. They were fishing in the “Mallagh” and caught 65 salmon during the one run and on the next they caught another 20 or so. The haul was so heavy it took several crews to help them pull in the net.
Weirs on the Barrow River
An interesting article appeared in the Dublin Penny Journal (30 Jan. 1836, available at https://www.jstor)org/stable/30003343) concerning the fishing of “the famed salmon of the Barrow.” The author a man from New Ross described the salmon fishing as follows: “a net is dropped between two small boats called ‘cots.’ (The author described the cot as a small boat generally built of four or five boards.) Each cot holds two men, one holds the net, while the other ‘conducts the cot with a paddle, shaped like a shovel.’” It was noted by the author that upwards of four hundred individuals earn a comfortable livelihood during the fishing seasons. This livelihood came under threat in 1834 when large Scotch weirs, some nearly a mile in extent, were illegally placed at the mouth of the Waterford harbour. One of these weirs frequently caught five hundred salmon each tide. “Impelled by hunger and despair” the up-river fishermen could not wait for the legal prosecution of the weir owners. Men manned two hundred cots and armed with hatchets and saws they left New Ross one morning cut down the nets of the giant Scotch weirs and returned with the returning tide, exhausted having travelled nearly 50 miles. “The lovers of cheap salmon welcomed their return with three hearty cheers, and made a handsome collection to buy bread and beer to refresh these nautical heroes.”
Although the newspapers of the nineteenth century are full of fishing prosecutions and inquiries there is one article in the Dublin Daily Express of 15 December 1863 that identifies and discusses three weirs in Glenmore parish and the people associated with them sometimes going back to 1800, namely: the Ballyverneen weir; the Carney (sic) Bay weir; and the Rochestown weir. Under an Act of Parliament, the Fisheries Commission was appointed to investigate the rights and titles of parties to fisheries by means of fixed weirs and to decide whether they were an obstruction to navigation.
Ballyverneen Weir
Dr. Joseph P. Mackesy, Esq. was identified as the landlord and Michael Irish was the occupier of the weir who paid rent for it. Robert Brazil measured the weir and advised the Commission that it was 59 yards from the end of the enter ring to the shore. At the outside pole it was in 30 feet of water, and at the upper end of the channel wing there was 24 feet of water at full tide. Pilot William Fortune testified and referred to it as the Pink Rock weir. He stated that the tide sets right into it and said that it was an obstruction to navigation of a vessel when “working up a vessel, coming up with a flood tide.” Daniel Walsh testified that his brother fished the weir in 1801 and he took it after that. Daniel testified that he was about 72 years of age. The nets were cut down by the cot men once since he took the weir. It never happened again. He never knew a gabbard or ship to be tangled in the Ballyverneen weir. Thomas Mullally, Dr. Mackessy’s rent-warner, testified that he had no recollection of being told of any damage being done to the weir by boats. “There is a good flood tide going into the weir.”
The Commission deemed the weir injurious to navigation and the public right of fishing. It ordered the removal of the weir.
Kearneybay Weir
The landlord was Col. Kearney and the occupant was Thomas Murphy. [Update: Danny Dowling stated on 20 July 2020 that Col. Kearney lived near the Carlow border and only resided in Kearneybay for a short time.] The weir was described as a “head weir.” Robin Brazil testified that from the shore to the extreme end of the channel wing of the weir measured 72 yards. At spring high water he found the depth of 27 feet at the end of the channel wing. Gabbards, boats and vessels pass up and down the river by this weir. Michael Barron a boatman testified that in his opinion the weir made navigating the river difficult. James Bolger a boatman trading up and down the river testified that he did not think it was injurious. Thomas Wall, a Kearneybay farmer, testified that the weir had been there as long as he could remember for the past 65 or 66 years. It was fished as a salmon weir during that time and before that it was fished by Andrew Neil and Mark Brine.
Thomas Murphy testified that he was the tenant of the weir for the past 12 years since his father died. He paid £5 rent per year to Col. Kearney the landlord. He had helped fish it for the past 40 years. He stated that to his knowledge Col. Kearney and his ancestors owned the weir for over 200 years. Thomas Murphy stated his father fished it for 45 years as a salmon weir. He never heard of a complaint that it was an obstruction to navigation. Murphy noted that at high water the breadth of the river was about 300 yards. About 30 or 40 yards of the weir were stripped out at low spring tides. It was a flood weir. There were no complaints made to him about a boat going into the weir, but he admitted it was injured by a vessel going against it about 15 years earlier.
The Commission ruled that no evidence was given to sustain the title and that there was evidence that it was injurious to navigation. It ordered the weir be removed.
The Rochestown Weir
The owner of the weir was identified as Peter Strange, J.P. The occupier was Joseph Hunt. The weir was described as a flood weir. Hunt testified that he held the weir under a lease of 21 years for which he paid 1 shilling per year. His father purchased the lease for 21 years for £80, 12 years earlier leaving 9 years still on the lease. Hunt stated that the weir does not pose an obstruction to navigation. John Crook testified that he had worked the weir for the past 60 years and it was always used for salmon. Myles Dempsey, a boatman for twenty years, testified that he did not think that the weir caused an obstruction to navigation. The newspaper report does not provide further detail and the Commission ultimately decided that the weir should be abated, and it if was not removed after the proper lapse of time (assumed to be the remainder of the lease) it would issue a warrant for its removal.
The featured drawing is from the Dublin Penny Journal (30 Jan. 1836, available at https://www.jstor)org/stable/30003343) and depicts Castle Annaghs which was located on the Barrow River in Kilkenmy between Glenmore and New Ross. In the foreground is a cot and two fishermen.
For further information concerning local fishing, Andrew Doherty’s blog Waterford Harbour Tides & Tales see, for example “Growing Up Amongst Nets,” https://tidesandtales.ie/growing-up-amongst-nets/ .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
On the Road to the Pink Rock: The Anthony Merrigan Memorial Plaque
Last Saturday we highlighted an event that took place in the mid-19th century at the Pink Rock in Glenmore. One reader queried a memorial plaque on the roadside in Ballyverneen Townland, Glenmore on the west side of the railway underpass. Although the road along the Pink Rock was once part of the main road from New Ross to Waterford, it ceased being the main road in about 1992. It is not surprising that some people might believe that the Anthony Merrigan plaque signified his death arose from a car accident on that once busy road.
Ballyverneen, Glenmore
Today, the road along the marches in Ballyverneen, that goes under the railway and along the Barrow river past the Pink Rock, is no longer a main road and has become a favourite place for walkers. Over the decades the nearby Barrow River and the marshes provided areas of recreation for shooting, swimming, fishing and boating. Unfortunately sometimes the recreation resulted in serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
The plague simply reads:
In loving memory of Anthony Merrigan Milltown, Glenmore Who died the 8th of Sept. 1963 Aged 26 years R.I.P. On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy
Anthony “Tony” Merrigan ( c. 1937-1963) of Milltown, Glenmore
An account of the accident that resulted in Anthony Merrigan’s death is found in the New Ross Standard, of Friday the 13th of September 1963. On Sunday the 8th of September 1963, Anthony Merrigan, of Milltown, Glenmore tragically lost his life when his shotgun accidentally discharged into his chest. Anthony, was known locally as Tony, he was twenty-five years of age [although the plaque appears to state he was 26] and worked in Waterford City as an electrician. Tony was the son of John Merrigan and Bridget Merrigan née Lee and was the youngest of five boys and three girls. John Merrigan predeceased Tony. Although his mother survived him, it is said that she never got over Tony’s death.
Parents & Grandparents
A quick search of vital records revealed the following information regarding Tony’s parents and grandparents, all of whom were engaged in farming in or adjacent to Glenmore Parish. Tony’s father John Merrigan was born on the 11th of July 1882. John Merrigan was the son of Dennis Merrigan and Ellen Merrigan née Doherty, of Milltown, Glenmore. John Merrigan married Bridget Lee, of Kilbrahon, Rosbercon on the 10th of June 1920 at Rosbercon. Bridget Merrigan née Lee was the daughter of Patrick Lee and his wife, Ellen Lee, née Cashin. Bridget was born on the 24th of July 1896.
Details of Tragedy
On that Sunday in September 1963, Tony left his Milltown home at 8 a.m. to go duck hunting with his shotgun and dog. He drove to Ballyverneen and parked on the side of the road. Sometime later his body was found on the grass margin of the road by a passer-by who notified the Glenmore Garda. Sergeant J. Flynn went to the scene and found Tony dead beside his car. The stock of his double-barrelled shot gun was resting on the seat of the car and the barrels of the shotgun were facing out of the car over the body.
The newspaper account provides that the news of the tragedy cast a gloom over the entire area as the deceased was popularly known. He was active in the local GAA and played hurling for the Glenmore Club. Several older residents confirmed that they can still remember where they were that Sunday when they heard the awful news. Sunday morning, Tony’s body was removed to the morgue at the District Hospital, New Ross, where a post mortem was conducted. On Monday evening the 9th the remains were removed to Glenmore Church where the attendance was reported in the newspaper as being the largest ever seen in the town. The following day after Office and High Mass in St. James, Glenmore Parish Church, and Tony was buried in the adjoining cemetery. The newspaper reported that the attendance at the church service and burial was again exceptionally large and representative.
The Inquest
An inquest into the circumstances of the death was conducted by Mr. R. Nolan, solicitor, Kilkenny City, in Glenmore on Monday evening. Sergeant J. Flynn. Glenmore, described how he was alerted, went to the scene and found the body. He said that the deceased was beside his car on the grass margin and described the position he found the shotgun in the car. He noted that the shotgun was not in the best of conditions and one of the springs of one of the hammers was weak. Dr. G. A. Hickey, New Ross, was the doctor who performed the post mortem. Dr. Hickey stated that he found that a shot had penetrated the chest and vital organs and death was instantaneous. Superintendent R. Coogan, Thomastown, said the theory of the police was that when Mr. Merrigan got out of the car he reached in for his gun and pulled it by the barrel. It was believed that the hammers stuck in the door frame and caused the discharge of two cartridges. The Coroner said a hammer gun was one of the most dangerous weapons and people could not be too careful in carrying a loaded one over fences or in bringing it into a house. The Corner returned a verdict of accidental death.
Should you have a question or are curious about something around or about Glenmore please send us an email to glenmore.history@gmail.com and we shall endeavour to find an answer.
For information concerning the families of Milltown, Glenmore recorded by Danny Dowling in 1961 ee our post of 16 June 2022.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Attack at the Pink Rock: Glenmore Repeal Supporters and the Shamrock Steamer
Although contemporary newspaper articles can be a useful source of details regarding historical events sometimes they can provide a distorted account of events due to prejudice, political views and other influences. In 1843, just prior to the Great Famine, it was reported in one Waterford newspaper that a mob of nearly 100 men at the Pink Rock, in Glenmore, attacked the river paddle steamer, the Shamrock. However, this account was challenged by another Waterford newspaper.
On Wednesday the 26th of July 1843 the following article appeared on page 2 of the Waterford Mail.
“ATTACK ON THE SHAMROCK STEAMER. Saturday last, the Shamrock steamer was proceeding from this city to Ross, on passing Glenmore, close to Pink Rock, in the Ross river, a mob of nearly 100 fellows, who were collected on the rock, commenced flinging stones at the passengers on board, shouting at the same time ‘Hurrah for Repeal.’ ‘Swamp the b—–y Tories.’ One female is, we are informed severely injured from the effects of a blow of a stone in the back of the neck, that she is confined to bed in consequence. The mob followed the steamer, throwing stones, for about 400 yards, when the course of the river enabled her get out of their reach —The captain from his conspicuous position on the paddle box had several narrow escapes. We understand that a party of the military accompanied by a magistrate were at the scene of the outrage, on Monday morning, in order to afford protection, if necessary, to the Shamrock on her return from Ross. We learn that some of the ringleaders in this brutal assault are known, and it is to be hoped will be dealt with according to their deserts.”
To put the events into context, Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847), referred as the Great Liberator, established the Repeal Movement which sought to Repeal the Act of Union of 1801 and introduce Home Rule for Ireland. It is reported that the repeal movement reached its climax in the mid-1840’s with branches established across Ireland and abroad. The year 1843 has been identified as the “season of the monster meetings.” (Ruddy (2015) “Dublin 1843: O’Connell’s Repeal Meetings,” 68(1) Dublin Historical Record, pp 60-70). During these monster meetings, attended by thousands, O’Connell implored followers to use lawful means. “He who commits a crime strengthens the enemy of his country.” The Waterford newspapers of 1843 contain numerous articles regarding and detailing activities across Ireland including meetings and alleged “outrages” perpetrated by proponents and opponents of the repeal movement. (See generally, Whyte (1959) “Daniel O’Connell and the Repeal Party,” 11(44) Irish Historical Studies, pp. 297-316.)
On Saturday the 29th of July 1843 the Waterford Chronicle, republished the Waterford Mail’s article of the 26th, and stated that the Mail “might as well have told the whole truth…” The Waterford Chronicle alleged that the Shamrock tried to run the rival paddle steamer, the Maid of Erin, onto the Pink Rock. It was due to this “reprehensible conduct of the Shamrock’s Captain” that caused a “few stones” to have been flung on board the Shamrock. There were no shouts of “Hurrah for Repeal.” The Chronicle failed to deny the other shouts of “Swamp the —-_Tories.” The Chronicle recorded that there were “very hostile” feelings between the rival Steam Companies plying between New Ross and Waterford.
The Chronicle alleged that there was no surprise concerning the hostility because in “Orange-land there dwells not more Rabid Miscreants are to be found amongst the gang who patronise the Shamrock.” It was alleged that landlords along the river threatened distraint and ejectment of tenants who utilised the Maid of Erin steamer for travel or “freighting her” with even a sack of potatoes. It was alleged that one tenant had to hide in the engine room when he saw his landlord standing on the river side, and another had “keepers” placed on his property after information was given to his landlord that he sent his wife with a basket of eggs to Waterford on the Maid of Erin.
The Chronicle condemned the tenants who submitted to the “tyranny” of their landlords as deserving their degradation with no recognition that the laws of the time were written by the landlord class that also provided the magistrates and judges. At the conclusion of the article, the Chronicle called upon the Clergy of Glenmore to bring the stone throwing perpetrators to justice. “We will hold their names up to scorn, and take care that if associated, they shall be erased from the lists of the Loyal Repeal Association, for the man who lifts his hand in riot at this glorious and important crisis of his country’s destiny, is a dangerous and deadly enemy.”
It seems evident that the Waterford Chronicle editor was pro-repeal and was trying to distance whatever occurred at the Pink Rock from the Repeal Movement. It is likely that the truth may lie somewhere between the two accounts. It seems unlikely that men just happened to be gathered at the Pink Rock and grabbed stones to pelt the Shamrock when they perceived the Captain of the Shamrock was trying to force the Maid of Erin on the rocks. It seems likely that the captain of the Maid of Erin would have reported to the authorities any attempt to force it on the rocks. Perhaps it was reported to the authorities, but the Chronicle does not state that it was.
Interestingly both paddle steamers were built in Scotland by the same builder, Tod & MacGregow. The Shamrock was built in 1836 while the Maid of Erin was completed in 1839 and first went to Cork. She plied between Cork and Cobh. In July 1841 she collided with a fishing yawl. The yawl sank with loss of three of ten youths who were on board. In 1843 she was acquired by the New Ross and Waterford Steam Investment Company. Although the Shamrock stayed on the New Ross and Waterford route, and was later joined by the Ida, the Maid of Erin returned to Cork in around 1847. (For details concerning the two paddle steamers see, Caledonian Maritime Research Trust webpage, http://www.clydeships.co.uk).
Danny Dowling when interviewing Nicholas Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore in 1951 recorded that the area where the Glenmore Creamery built its coal shed, on the Barrow, was known as Maid’s Quay after the boat. The name of the boat is not recorded in the interview, but it is surmised that the Maid of Erin may have been the ship that used this quay and lent it her name.
The repeal movement lapsed with the death of Daniel O’Connell in 1847. However, the Great Famine had already commenced before his death and for most rural inhabitants the potato blight, starvation and emigration replaced concern regarding the Act of Union of 1801.
The featured image is a google map of the Barrow River at Glenmore. The Pink Rock is at the Kilkenny side of the Rose Kennedy Bridge. The photo to the right is the Rose Kennedy Bridge taken from the Wexford side of the Barrow.
Update: Another notebook has been transcribed and next week items will be added to the various family pages etc. If anyone has a photo or information regarding Glenmore, or a person from Glenmore, that they would like to share, please send same to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
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