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From Danny’s Files: Margaret Dunphy née Hagan (c.1845-1920) of Glenmore
In his quest to record local history Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often asked people he encountered in Waterford if they had any Glenmore connections. Sometimes he hit pay dirt and sometimes he just jotted down something he considered interesting whether there was a Glenmore connection or not. On 1 March 1971, Danny interviewed Miss Margaret Dunphy of 52 Poleberry, Waterford. It is assumed that Danny met Miss Dunphy while working as a Waterford Health Officer. Danny learned that Miss Dunphy had a Glenmore connection and some interesting information concerning the Dunphy “eating house” of Rosbercon was recorded.
It is not known how long the eating house was operating in Rosbercon. We know from the interview and the 1901 Census that it was operational at least for thirty years. This means that from 1901-1940 every person going into New Ross from Glenmore, via the main road, passed the Dunphy eating house. This interview was found in Danny’s voluminous files recently when we were seeking information on a different Dunphy family from Ballyfacey, Glenmore.
The Interview
Philip Dunphy, a baker by trade, had an eating house in Rosbercon, on the opposite side of the street to P.N. O’Gorman’s shop. He was married to Margaret Hagan, a native of Glenmore, and she married into the shop. They had in family 8 children—7 boys and 1 girl including James who was married to ___ Crowe of Marley, Co. Carlow.
This James Dunphey worked all his life for 51 years on the railway, retiring in 1940-1941 with a pension of 15/= per week. It was he who left off the first train from Ross to Waterford, and also from Waterford to Rosslare. He lived in Waterford. The above Miss Margaret Dunphy of 52 Poleberry, Waterford, is his daughter. She is now aged almost 70 years.
The eating house in Rosbercon, was carried on until 1940, when the then owner Miss Cissie Dunphy (aunt of Miss Margaret Dunphy, of Waterford), retired and went to live in a flat in New Ross.
The Dunphy family are buried in Rosbercon, but the foresaid James Dunphy and his wife are buried in the Crowe burial plot in St. Mullins Cemetery, Co. Carlow. They were related to the Dunphy’s of New Ross. Miss Dunphy thinks that the above Philip Dunphy, had no brothers or sisters.
Miss Dunphy used to spend her holidays every year in the eating house in Rosbercon, when she was young. She told me that when the farmers went in for a meal, the bread was never cut, and each diner got a full loaf which he cut according to his needs. This bread was never used again, that is what was left over. It was given to an old woman in the town who came to collect it. Miss Dunphy said that the people in those days who went in for a meal were very particular as to the grub and particularly the bread.
D. Dowling 1-3-71
Dunphy Eating House of Rosbercon
We know that the eating house, was located across the street from P.N. O’Gorman Auctioners of Rosbercon. Prior to the new bridge being built the old bridge was up river from the present or new bridge. The main road from Waterford proceeded to the old bridge. P.N. O’Gorman auctioneers was originally on the Rosbercon side of the river almost exactly across from where it currently is on the Quay, New Ross. From the brief description provided by Miss Margaret we believe the eating house was across the main Waterford to New Ross road from P.N. O’Gorman. [See our post of 18 May 2026 regarding the P.N. O’Gorman family.]
We could not find any reference to the eating house in any contemporary newspapers although it is not known what the proper name of the establishment was. In the 1901 Census it was referred to as a shop. The 1901 Census provides that Philip Dunphy was 50 years of age, and he and his family lived in house 8 of Rosbercon. His profession was listed as an agricultural labourer. The house was comprised of 7 rooms and was listed as a shop located between a public house and another shop. In the 1901 census only Mary Ann Dunphy (25) was listed as having anything to do with the shop. She was simply listed as a “shop girl.” The shop or eating house was not reflected in the 1911 Census although four of the family were residing in the same 7 room house.
It is believed that this eating house, which operated at least in the first 3 decades of the 20th century, was a no-frills establishment where a farmer could eat a simple, hearty meal after attending New Ross on a market or fair day. My resident expert has stated that the local older generation pronounced such establishments as “atein houses.” Given that each customer received his or her own loaf of bread begs the question–how large were the loaves? For an interesting paper on public dining in Ireland see, Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire (2012) “Public Dining in Dublin: The History and Evolution of Gastronomy and Commercial Dining 1700-1900,” (25(2) International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, pp. 227-246, DOI: 10.21427/d71r03).
Philip Dunphy (c. 1841-1913) and Margaret Dunphy née Hagan (c. 1845-1920)
Philip Dunphey (c. 1841-1913)
Locating when Philip Dunphy was born proved difficult because his age varied greatly in the 1901 Census (50); the 1911 Census (70) and the death register (1913; 60). Thus, he could have been born around 1851 or 1841.
Although Philip Dunphy is not a common local name four Philip Dunphys were baptised in Rosbercon from 1835 to 1865. Given that Philip Dunphy married in 1865 we can eliminate candidates [C] b. 1859 and [D] b. 1865 as being too young.
[A] Philip Dunphy was baptised 31 July 1835 to Patrick Dunphy and his wife Bridget Grangil. They were married at Rosbercon on 26 January 1832.
[B] Philip Dunphy was baptised at Rosbercon on 24 July 1841. The son of Thomas Dunphy and Mary Corcoran of Tinnakelly.
[C] Philip Dunphy was baptized at Rosbercon on 24 Jan. 1859 to Patrick Dunphy and Mary Murphy of Tinnakilly. They were married 22 Sept. 1856 at Rosbercon. Patrick was from Shanbo.
[D] On 21 February 1865 a Phillip Dunphy was born at Rosbercon to John Dunphy (baker) and Anne Crosdale, his wife. They were married 7 April 1864. John’s father was John Dunphy (boatman).
Given that Philip and his wife were recorded as the same age in the 1901 and 1911 Census it seems unlikely that he was several years older or younger than her, so we believe that Phillip was Candidate B. Regardless of when Philip was born he married Margaret Hagan on 20 February 1865 at Rosbercon. Philip Dunphy died 20 March 1913. He was aged 60 according to the Death Register, married, and his occupation was baker. His son, John Dunphy was present at his death in Rosbercon.
Margaret Dunphy née Hagan (1845-1920)
Finding Margaret Hagan was also a challenge. Danny recorded an extinct family named Hagan primarily in Ballycroney, Glenmore. No Margaret Hagan was found in Ballycroney. In reviewing the Parish records we did find a Margaret Hagan/Hogan was baptized at Moulerstown, Glenmore on 20 March 1845. Margaret was the daughter of James Hagan/Hogan and his wife Ellen Ribgy. Given the handwriting in the record the name may have been Hagan or Hogan. When Margaret Dunphy née Hagan died on 5 March 1920 at Rosberon, she was a 74-year-old widow. Her son Richard was present when she died.
Children of Philip Dunphy (c. 1841-1913) & Margaret Dunphy née Hagan (c. 1845-1920)
In the 1911 Census it was recorded that the couple were married 40 years and had had 7 children and 6 were alive in 1911. In 1911 the couple had been married 46 years. We were able to locate only 6 of their children.
[1] Mary Dunphy was born 11 Feb. 1868 at Rosbercon. Godparents Thomas Nolan and Mary Hagan. In the 1901 Census her age was recorded as 25 and she was employed as a shopgirl. In 1911 she was 30, single and a housekeeper. In the 1926 Census, Mary A. Dunphy was the sole family member living in the Dunphy home in Rosbercon. She recorded her age as 48 and was employed as a shopkeeper. It is assumed that she was Aunt Cissy that Miss Margaret Dunphy of Poleberry referenced to Danny as being the last to run the eating house.
[2] John Dunphy was born 3 Jan. 1870 at Rosbercon Godparents were William Cleere and Catherine Nolan. In the 1901 Census he was 27 and working as an engine cleaner. In 1911 he was recorded as being 32 years of age, single and working as a railway labourer.
[3] Bridget Dunphy was bapt at Rosbercon on 3 August 1871. Godparents were John Fleming and Mary Shanahan.
[4] James Dunphy was born on 3 July 1873 at Rosbercon. His godparents were Rev. John Walsh and Johanna Whelan. In the 1901 Census he was recorded as being 23 and employed as a railway guard. By 1911 he was married and living in Ferrybank.
[5] Michael Dunphy was born 11 October 1875 to Philip Dunphy (baker) and his wife Margaret Egan (sic).
[6] Richard Dunphy per the 1901 census was born about 1881. In the 1901 Census he was recorded as being 20 and employed as a carpenter. He was not living at home in 1911. It is believed that he married Esher Murphy of Mary St., New Ross, on 4 November 1907. Esther was the daughter of Patrick Murphy, baker. The groom, Richard Dunphy, of Rosbercon was a carpenter and his father is recorded as “Patrick” Dunphy, baker. Richard Dunphy, of Mary St., New Ross died on 19 October 1959 in the Fever Hospital at the age of 82. His widow Esther Jane Dunphy née Murphy died on 7 November 1966 at the age of 83.
James Dunphy (1873- ? )
James Dunphy married Ellen Crowe on 10 February 1907 at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. James’s address was Ferrybank and he was employed as a railway guard. His father was Philip Dunphy (baker). Ellen had an address of Queen St. and she was employed as a cook. Her father was Edward Crowe (farmer).
The 1901 Census provides that Ellen Crowe was 19, employed as a general domestic servant and was living at home in Marley, Co. Carlow. Her father Edward Crowe, was 57 and employed as an agricultural labourer. Her mother Ellen was 58, and her sister Mary was 21 and also employed as a general domestic servant. In the 1901 Census there was an older woman named Ellen Crowe (27) in Glynn, Co. Carlow, but although her father was a farmer his name was not Edward.
Miss Margaret Helena Dunphy was born 11 January 1908 in Ferrybank to James Dunphy, railway guard and his wife, Ellen Crowe. No other children were found. In the 1911 Census the little family was living on New Lane in Waterford City. In the 1926 Census the family was living in Dyehouse Lane, Waterford City. James was 52, recorded he was born in Rosbercon, and was employed as a railway guard. His wife Ellen was 43 and recorded that she was born at Glynn, Co. Carlow. Miss Margaret was 18, born in Ferrybank and per the Census form was “not yet at work.”
Unfortunately, no death records or obituaries could be located for Miss Margaret Dunphy and her parents.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above depicts the old New Ross bridge taken from the Ross side looking across the river toward Rosbercon.
Murder on the Hill of Glenmore
As highlighted in a previous blog post–on the 8th of March 1833, Joseph Leonard, of Waterford, was stoned to death on the Hill of Glenmore about 3 miles from New Ross in Shanbogh Townland on the old Coach Road.
The Murder: Account I
In 1980 Danny Dowling interviewed Patrick Hennessy, of Hoodsgrove, Rosbercon concerning the murder of the landlord Joseph Leonard in 1833. According to Patrick his mother’s people were the same Malone’s that were involved in the murder. Patrick went on to explain that Master Moore, the National teacher, stated that there was a mill in Kilbrahan townland of Rosbercon. Meany who was executed for the murder of Joseph Leonard, along with the Malones lived on a farm where the mill was situated. According to Patrick Hennessy, Meany was thrown out of the farm before Leonard’s murder.
On the day of the murder, one of the Malone men was home on leave from the British army. He was a veteran of some wars. He said to the mother, Mrs. Malone, who was a Treacy born in Ballymagill, that if Leonard the landlord was living where he had been he would be murdered. Mrs. Malone said in reply, “Why can’t ye do away with him?” She was putting down the spuds for the dinner when her two sons went off to kill the landlord. When they returned she said, “Ye are bad men to take so long to kill him.” Later, she claimed not to have known that they had gone to kill Leonard. The Cashins lived at Shambogh, and a Cashin girl, “gave the game away.” One of the Malone brothers escaped and when he was caught, he was strapped to the wrists and made to walk or dragged between two mounted horse soldiers. In this way he either walked or was dragged to jail. More than likely it was the way he was conveyed to jail when arrested. After the trials the Malone family on their farm in Kilhalan got it tough.
The Murder: Account II
A second oral history of the murder was provided by Ned Fortune and was recorded and can be found in the Folklore Commission. According to this account Joseph Leonard was the landlord of Kilbrahan, a small townland to the north of Shanbogh. Although Joseph Leonard lived in Waterford he was in the habit of traveling to New Ross a few times a week. By all accounts Joseph Leonard was a “good man” and there was “no reason for killing him.”
Leonard was murdered on the 8th March 1833, where the Old Coach Road just enters Shanbogh. A lime-kiln is close to the spot. Leonard was beaten to death, the horse then galloped toward Ross till the body was observed hanging out of the chaise or car. A man named Cassin gave information to the police, and they went to a house in Kilbrahan of a man named Meaney. The police found the whip of the murdered Leonard. This evidence was regarded as conclusive and Meaney was sentenced to be hanged.
The Execution
The scaffold was erected at the scene of the murder. The hanging was witnessed by thousands of people. Mrs Greene recalled her grandmother telling of how she dressed up in her best for the occasion and went off to witness the execution. The place of execution and murder in now known as Leonard’s Corner. A man named Malone was also convicted of the murder. He escaped at the time, but twelve months later was arrested in Tipperary. He was brought to Kilkenny Gaol and later executed outside it. Cassin, the informer, was given money by the government to leave the country, he did, and was never heard from again.
Contempoary Newspaper Accounts
Danny has collected a large number of copies of contemporary newspaper articles that give further and often conflicting information concerning the murder, trial and executions. Similar to what often happens today with the media linking crime to terrorism some contemporary newspaper linked the murder to agrarian eviction violence. The Battle of Carrickshock occurred on the 14th of December 1832 and was fought over the imposition of Tithes for the upkeep of the Church of Ireland on Catholics and other Protestants. The Battle resulted in several of the police being killed. Most of the contemporary newspapers articles did not link the murder of Joseph Leonard to the White Feet, Carrickshock or any other cause.
The Murder
According to the contemporary newspaper accounts, Joseph Leonard left Waterford in high spirits at 11 in the morning for New Ross on the 8th of March 1833. He was on his way to New Ross to arrange to sell some “distrained” cattle belonging to a tenant. The sale was to take place on the 9th of March. It was reported that £125 of rent was overdue and Joseph Leonard offered to settle for the sum of £80, but the tenant refused. Joseph Leonard was described as an inoffensive gentleman. At 2 or 3 in the afternoon Joseph Leonard was walking alongside his horse that was pulling the gig up the hill of Glenmore.
As he walked along Joseph Leonard was attacked in an area where there were several houses nearby. According to Danny the nearby lime kiln became known as the murdering kiln because of the murder. A blunderbuss was fired at Joseph Leonard, but it missed. He was taken by three men who broke his right arm and they put his head on a low adjacent wall and beat his head with stones until he was dead. The killers then cut off his left ear. His corpse was placed in the gig and large stones were placed in front of the wheels to keep the horse from moving. Some accounts provide that the Wexford Car came along and brought the gig and corpse into Ross. Other accounts provide that a “country boy” came along and brought the gig and corpse into Ross. Joseph Leonard’s death is recorded in the Roman Catholic Parish records thus indicating that the newspaper accounts stating that the murdered man was a Catholic landlord were correct.
Arrests
Joseph Leonard’s corpse was returned to Waterford on the 11th of March 1833 and buried according to Danny in the St. Patrick’s cemetery of Ballybricken. A quick hunt through the cemetery on the 7th of February 2020 did not result in his grave being discovered. The newspaper articles record that the Kilkenny magistrate, Henry Alcock, Esq. acting on information received, from what was described as two children named Cashin, arrested four men at the funeral. Other newspaper articles provide that Magistrate Alcock arrested only one man at the funeral, Philip Malone, of Kilbrahon, Rosbercon. Eventually three men and one woman were charged in connection with the murder of Joseph Leonard.
Defendants Philip Malone and his mother
Philip Malone and his mother Mary Malone stood trial in Kilkenny in March 1834 and although Mary Malone was acquitted Philip Malone was convicted. He was sentenced to be executed by hanging in chains. The grand jury petitioned the court to allow the execution to be carried out at the place of the murder. The principal witnesses at the trial were: James Roche, a boy of 14, who witnessed “the transaction,” and James Cashen, aged 18, who gave King’s evidence as an approver. Apparently James Cashen was hired by Malone to kill Joseph Leonard. Another witness named in newspaper articles was Richard Cashen whose age is not revealed.
On the 17th of March 1834 Philip Malone was taken from Kilkenny City and transported to the place of the murder and hanged at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Newspapers accounts provide that Philip Malone conducted himself in an exemplary manner and acknowledged the justice of his sentence. The execution was well attended and there was little sympathy expressed for the condemned. Philip Malone was described as a “remarkable as a man of great physical prowess.”
Defendant Patrick Meany
Patrick Meany, a neighbour, attended the hanging of Philip Malone and later while drinking in a public house was arrested by Magistrate Esmond of Kilkenny. Patrick Meany believed that because he did not do the actual killing he could not be convicted of a crime. Danny believes that Patrick Meany was originally from Robinstown, in Glenmore. Due to a land dispute he moved to Rosbercon. Patrick Meany stood trial in Kilkenny city for conspiring to murder Joseph Leonard. He too was convicted and sentenced to hang at the place of the murder. According to newspaper accounts an immense number of country people assembled and covered the surrounding hills around the place of the murder to witness the execution.
The condemned man left Kilkenny City on the 7th of August 1834 at 6:30 in the morning in a chaise chair. Just prior to execution he prayed and asked the attending priest to speak for him. The priest said that Patrick Meany asked him to convey that Meany was sorry for the expression he used against the prosecutor when he was convicted and hoped the people would pray to God to pardon him. Patrick Meany was described as being about 45 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches tall and of “Herculean make.” Although he was described as in “comfortable circumstances” he was dressed like a common labourer. The newspaper accounts noted that he was a widower, and left five children orphans. His eldest child was a daughter who was 18 and attended her father’s execution with her father’s sister and his son aged 14 also attended.
Aftermath of Executions
The night after the execution of Patrick Meany, four men attacked and stoned to death a soldier just outside New Ross. All four men were arrested.
The stigma to the families of the convicted murders continued for some time. Danny recorded in a 1974 interview of Nicholas Forristal, of Graiguenakill, Glenmore an incident that occurred near the Glenmore Parish Priest’s house in Robinstown. Father Aylward, the Parish Priest, asked a beggar if he “…was anything to Meany who killed Leonard the Landlord.” The beggar responded by asking Father Aylward, “How near related are you to the Belekums, who killed the girl on the mountain and buried her in a bog?”
The Victim
Very little information is recorded concerning the murdered Mr. Leonard. His age is not recorded and there is no indication that he was married at the time he was murdered.
House of Commons’ Account
In attempting to try to find information concerning the brother of Philip Malone, I came across perhaps the most unusual contemporary account of the murder conspiracy in the Evidence on Drunkeness: Presented to the House of Commons (1834) by James Silk Buckingham. In this account Philip Malone when the guilty verdict was rendered against him pointed to his 80 year old mother who shared the dock with him and said, “Yes, my Lord, I am guilty. She is the cause of it.” It was reported that his mother agreed to the price of the blood to be shed by her two sons. She watched Joseph Leonard approach and handed the pistol to her son. Malone was startled, “How can I murder the poor gentleman?” His mother called him a coward and handed him the remains of a ½ pint of whiskey which he drank and then went and killed his landlord.
Special thanks to Louise Walsh for the photos taken in St. Patrick’s Church Yard, Ballybricken, Waterford City.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh