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Glenmore in the 1860’s
In searching for information on one subject in local newspapers it is quite common to come across interesting articles relating to Glenmore or its people. The following articles were recently discovered concerning events in Glenmore in the 1860’s. Although it is generally known that there were several local murders of landlords in the 19th century Danny Dowling stated this week that he was not aware of the manslaughter of John Kelly of Graiguenakill by his friend Thomas Forrestal in 1862. The majority of incidents in the articles below occurred after a Waterford fair and we previously highlighted that it was in early 1867 that ice took down the New Ross Bridge. For an account of the 1867 bridge collapse see our post of 14 December 2019.
Manslaughter of John Kelly of Graiguenakill, Glenmore–1862
In the Penny Despatch and Irish Weekly Newspaper on Saturday the 25th of October 1862 it received a report dated the 18th from Kilkenny that a quarrel took place in Kilkenny between John Kelly, a farmer’s son, residing at Graiguenakill, and Thomas Forrestal. The two men were returning from the fair of Waterford, on the 6th of October, when Forrestal drew a knife and stabbed Kelly in the breast, penetrating the right lung. Kelly lingered until the 15th of October when he died from his wound. Previous to Kelly’s death Walter Sweetman, Esq., J.P., attempted to take his dying declaration, but Kelly refused to give the name of the party who stabbed him. An inquest was held on the I6th of October, at which an unnamed witness testified that Kelly told him he was stabbed by Forrestal. The jury indicted Forrestal for manslaughter. Forrestal absconded. The newspaper article concludes by reporting that both Kelly and Forrestal were under the influence of liquor at the time of the “unfortunate occurrence.”
The Trial of Thomas Forrestal–1863
The Saunder’s News-Letter of Wednesday the 29th of July 1863 reported on the trial of Thomas Forrestal for the manslaughter of John Kelly during the Kilkenny Summer Assizes on the 28th of July 1863. The defendant, Thomas Forrestal is described as a respectable farmer and he was defended by Mr. P. White. From the article it appears that Thomas Forrestal on the 21st of October 1862 surrendered to the police and was jailed for nine months as he awaited his trial. The case was prosecuted by Sergeant Armstrong, Messrs. Wall, Q.C., and Curtis. The principal witness for the Crown was Philip Walsh.
Philip Walsh testified that on the 6th of October 1862 he was at the fair in Waterford, with Forrestal and the deceased Kelly. They had ridden into Waterford, and on the way home in the evening, Kelly appeared have fallen upon the road, for his clothes were covered with dust. Forrestal suggested to Kelly to get into a creel, but Kelly said he would walk. [For our international readers a creel, was made when slated wooden sides were added to a horse’s cart to form a sort of cage to convey pigs or a calf to market. The creel sides would slot into the cart and add between two or three feet to the four sides of the cart.]
The three men “proceeded accordingly” on the road as far as the house of a man named Donovan. It was surmised by Danny that this may have been Donovan of the Mill at Ballyrowrah as this was near the junction of the old Waterford to New Ross post road (today known as the High Road) and the New Line (today the N. 25). [Regarding these two roads, see, Glenmore: Between Waterford and New Ross, posted 14 Dec. 2019] The three men remained for some time at Donovan’s. Kelly at first refused to leave the place with Forrestal. The witness Walsh testified that Kelly wished to court a girl who was there.
Eventually, the witness Walsh, with Forrestal and Kelly, proceeded from Donovan’s, and Forrestal was angry with Kelly for delaying. The witness stated that he said to the defendant Forrestal, “Tom, have sense.” The witness Walsh then left Kelly and Forrestal and crossed the field for a short cut, leaving the others on the public highway. Walsh heard some altercation in the distance, and a voice he considered to be Kelly’s saying first, “Keep out of that,” and afterwards, “That is the worst turn that ever you done.”
The next witness called was James Hanrahan who testified that the morning after this occurrence he went to Forrestal’s house, and informed him that the police were coming. Forrestal and Hanrahan left Forrestal’s house before the police arrived. Constable Powell testified that Kelly was wounded on his left side by a knife, which cut through his shirt. Kelly died on the 15th of October, and on the 21st Forrestal surrendered to the police. When Forrestal surrendered he told Constable Powell “that there was a bad case against him.” [Constable Powell when he retired from the RIC became the first postmaster of Glenmore, see, The Glenmore Post Office: Its Rise and Demise posted 24 Nov. 2019]
Forrestal’s counsel submitted that there was not sufficient proof that the voice heard on the road was that of Kelly, and that in any event the accused might have been defending himself from the attack of an excited drunken man. The dying declaration of Kelly was given in evidence, in which he said he did not know who wounded him and he had himself to blame for what occurred. The article concludes that Forrestal received the highest character reference, was found guilty, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Given that Forrestal had spent nine months in jail awaiting his trial the three months’ sentence gave him a total period of incarceration of 12 months for the manslaughter. Unfortunately the townlands of the defendant Forrestal and the witnesses were not provided nor any of the ages of the victim, defendant or witnesses making it difficult to identify these persons.
Another Assault after the Waterford Fair—1864
The Waterford Mail on Monday the 16th of May 1864 reported the following: “Ferocious Assault—Mr. John Costello, a respectable farmer from the vicinity of Glenmore, while returning from the Waterford May fair on the 4th, was met near the Glenmore Police-station, by James Irish at the head of party. Irish knocked Costello out of the car with a blow of a stick, and while on the ground struck him several times on the head with a large stone. A man named Delany came to the assistance of Costello, and Irish fled. Costello reached the barrack in an exhausted state. His assailant has absconded.”
Killed on the Way to a Funeral–1864
The Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor on Wednesday the 12th of October 1864 reported that on Tuesday a man was killed when he fell from his horse while attending the funeral of a man named Irish. Irish had been killed on Monday evening when he too fell from his horse. “It was stated that the melancholy occurrence [on Tuesday] took place near Carriganurra, on the road leading to Glenmore, the destination of the [Irish] funeral.” The article concludes that this was the third death which took place in this “melancholy” manner within the past week.
Killed from Fall Off Horse Coming Home from Waterford Fair–1866
It was reported in the Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor on Wednesday the 21st of November 1866 that an inquest was held at Parkstown, near Glenmore, by T. Izod. Esq., Coroner on the body of Patrick Murphy, a labourer. Murphy fell from a young horse on the 1st of November when he was returning from the fair of Waterford. Murphy lingered until the 5th of November when he died. “A verdict was returned that deceased died from paralisis (sic), caused by injury to the spine from the effects of the fall.”
Police Raids at Cat’s Rock–1867
In the Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visitor of Wednesday the 24th of April 1867 it was reported that the police of Kilmacow, Mullinavat and Glenmore Police Stations, under Constables Warde and Powell, have been to Cat’s Rock, in the Glenmore District,, and searched several house for concealed arms or other “contraband of war” but without success. No further information was supplied regarding why the inhabitants were suspected of having arms or other “contraband of war” and no further articles were found on the subject.
The featured drawing above is from 1849 found in the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “Appearance Of Ye Crymynyal Courte Dvryng An “Interestyng” Tryal For Mvrder.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-0cbd-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Blog update—we are pleased to announce that two guest articles from Brian Forristal were published earlier in the week on our guest author page. These articles are stories recorded by Brian as told to him by Tommy “of the river” Connolly (1907-1987) concerning Tommy’s experiences as a boy in Aylwardstown, Glenmore during the War of Independence.
Grave Inscriptions—We have completed a survey of the headstones in the churchyard adjacent to St. James the Glenmore parish church, and we are in the process of placing all the inscriptions in a searchable file. The searchable file we hope to put on the blog (technology permitting) and the photos of the markers are being also submitted to Find a Grave to allow descendants around the world to view the headstones.
Glenmore 19th Century Sports: Cricket and Weight-Throwing
Most people today know that Glenmore produced some high achieving athletes. The 20th century hurling and football teams, and indeed a four legged Glenmore bred athlete that won Cheltenham gold, are well known. Today, at the request of a reader we are going to highlight two of the lesser known Glenmore sports of the 19th century, cricket and weight-throwing and hope that readers might be able to provide more information.
Cricket
In the late 1950’s Danny Dowling interviewed Jim Culleton (1867-1962), of Kilbride, Glenmore who at the time of the interview was one of the oldest members of the parish of Glenmore. When Jim died a few years later in 1962, he was 95 1/2 years of age. Jim informed Danny that in his father’s time Kilbride had a good cricket team. Jim’s father, John Culleton (1836-1882) died aged 46 in 1882. Jim stated that prior to the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), being established cricket was very popular in Glenmore. (For a concise history of the organisation see, https://www.gaa.ie/the-gaa/history/ ). Jim Culleton was able to recite a verse from a local song, “Kilbride Cricketers” that was composed in honour of the team.
“I have been at Kilbride Crickets on the 8th April last, I have been in many places during thirteen summers past, Pleasures sure, I always had but pleasure I cannot describe, I enjoyed them beyond measure on the green hills of Kilbride.”
Although an extensive newspaper search was made for any matches played by the Kilbride cricket team, or a Glenmore parish cricket team, none could be located. However, there are reports in newspapers in the 1890’s concerning the Raheen and Rosbercon cricket teams. Although fields have been identified as the practice fields for later Glenmore Gaelic football teams, no field was ever identified to Danny as the field where cricket was played in Glenmore.
According to the Cricket Ireland website, cricket by the mid 1850’s had become the most popular sport in Ireland and was blind to class or creed. In 1855, the first team to represent Ireland beat the English team by a 107 run “thrashing.” (See, https://www.cricketireland.ie/about/history ). While cricket may have become popular in Ireland by 1855, a review of newspapers articles from the south east suggests that it was more popular and commonly reported on in urban areas. The Waterford Steamship Co. announced on 18 June 1879 that it was running “their favourite river Steamer ‘Ida’ to New Ross” on the 1st of July for those who wished to attend the cricket match at Ross. “Several metropolitan amateur athletes intend coming down to see what they can do…1 s. 6 d. for the double journey.” (New Ross Standard, Wed. 18 June 1879). It is believed the athletes referenced were coming down from Dublin.
Although it has been asserted that cricket was blind to class an article in 1879 clearly indicates that engagement in sport was a luxury not provided to the poor. Most of Glenmore was in the Waterford Poor Law Union which meant that children of the Glenmore poor were taken to the Waterford workhouse. In 1879 a motion was made to provide a playground for the boy inmates of the workhouse to play sports such as cricket. At a special meeting of the Poor Law Guardians a motion was made to set aside half an acre on the grounds of the workhouse to provide a playground for healthy recreation. The proposer reminded the other Guardians that the boys were “inmates” through no fault of their own. “It was a pitiful site to see those poor boys caged like prisoners within the precincts of the workhouse without anything to relieve the dull monotony of their lives.” It was decided by these civic leaders of the day, that the duty of the Guardians was to provide training to make the boys into farm labourers and therefore useful members of society. Teaching them to play cricket or football was not necessary. One Guardian warned that the boys might regard the workhouse as home and seek to return to it if a playground was allowed. A vote was taken and the Guardians rejected the playground by a vote of 10 to 6. (Waterford Standard, 5 Nov. 1879).
Weight Throwing
According to Paul Rouse the author of Sport and Ireland: A History (2015, OUP, Kindle Ed.) weight throwing and running and jumping were woven into the fabric of rural life. Men gathered on Sunday evenings or during long summer evenings and competed. “Weight throwing was perceived to be a great form of exercise and was practiced in many variations across the countryside.” (Rouse 2015, p. 139). It was only in the 1860’s and 1870’s, that formal athletic events and associations were organized in towns, cities, and villages across Ireland. A contemporary and very condescending article on Irish athletics was published in London in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News on 6 May 1875. With respect to Irish weight throwing, heavy weight throwing was considered good, however the 16 pound or hammer throwing was considered bad “as it is little practiced.” Notwithstanding the 1875 opinions concerning Irish weight throwing, Rouse notes that the tradition of weight throwing in Ireland “…was the back story to the extraordinary success enjoyed by Irishmen in the Olympic Games throwing competitions after 1896” (Rouse 2015, p. 139).
No newspapers accounts of weight-throwing events in Glenmore were located. However, the New Ross Standard of 14 Sept. 1889 does provide information concerning the events of the programme held in the Rower, Kilkenny. There were 21 events, 14 of which were open to all comers. There were two weight throwing events, slinging 56 lbs between legs without follow, in “the usual way in which this weight is thrown when a number of young fellows meet for ‘diversion,’ and throwing 7 lbs with follow.”
(c) Illustrated London News Gr.
Within ten years the local newspapers covered a greater number of weight throwing events and results. For example, in 1899 an all-round weight throwing and jumping competition was held in Carrick-on-Suir. “The weather was most unfavourable, yet the competitors decided to have the issue tried out, and the contest was held amidst a heavy downpour of rain. Kiely had three firsts—7 lbs (standard 78 ft), 80 ft 3 in; hammer from 7 ft circle (standard 115 ft), 142 ft 6in; slinging 56 lbs unlimited run and follow (standard 30 ft.), 35 ft 6 in. Horgan had also three firsts—throwing 14 lbs (standard 48 ft), 50 ft 9in ; putting shot, 7 ft circle (standard 35 ft), 42 ft 5 inches ; putting 28 lbs (standard, 29 ft), 33 ft 4in.; Phelan, Mullinahone, was the third with a trio of events: pushing 56 lbs (standard 20 ft), 21 ft 2 in; slinging 56 lbs between legs with follow (standard 25 ft), 27 ft 8 in; slinging, 56 lbs over bar (standard 12 ft), 12ft 3in.” (New Ross Standard, Sat. 4 Nov. 1899).
A weight-throwing champion from Glenmore is found recorded in the National Folklore Collection. In 1935 young Paddy Kennedy (1922-1997), of Rathinure interviewed his father Patrick Kennedy, Sr. (c. 1868-1951) concerning a Glenmore weight-thrower named William Forristal, of Ballyverneen. (Nat’l Folklore Collection UCD, The School’s Collection, vol. 845, p. 13, Ringville School Roll 6621.)
Patrick Kennedy, Sr. stated that 60 years previously William Forristal, of Ballyverneen was noted for his strength. He was a champion weight thrower for several years. Once he threw in Wexford. To get there he had to cross the River Barrow and then walk seven or eight miles. He was put against the Wexford champion. After several heavy throws he was awarded the title which he never lost. He walked a further ten miles and was put against a man named Pat Kent who was champion of Belfast “and William’s success was never doubted.”
An extensive newspaper search was conducted but no articles could be located concerning William Forristal, of Ballyverneen or Pat Kent and weight-throwing. It is likely that these men competed before weight-throwing events were well organised and covered in newspapers.
A search then was conducted to determine if the William Forristal, of Ballyverneen, the weight-thrower circa 1875, could be identified. In the Tithe Applotment Books (Griffith’s Valuation 1830) there were only two tenants named Forristal in Ballyverneen; James Forrestal and Patrick Forrestal. The Glenmore parish records indicate that James Forristal of Ballyverneen married Bridget Dunhy and had a son William baptized on 23 June 1857. Patrick Forrestal (c. 1816-1901), of Ballyverneen married Ellen Kennedy (c. 1819-1887) and had a son named William baptized on 13 May 1851. The parish records reveal that in 1857 the James Forristal family moved to Graiguenakill as all the children born after 1857 are recorded in Graiguenakill. Thus in 1875 the only known William Forristal, of Ballyverneen was the son of Patrick Forristal and Ellen Kennedy.
Thus, it is very likely that William Forristal, the weight-throwing champion circa 1875, recalled by Patrick Kennedy, Sr., of Rathinure in 1935 was his first cousin Billy Forristal (1851-1931) who died at Mount Ida, Rochestown a few years earlier. Billy Forristal remained in Ballyverneen from his birth in 1851 until 1919 when he sold his farms in Ballyverneen and Rathinure to purchase Mount Ida, in Rochestown, Glenmore. Further, Tom Walsh (1908-1992) of Rathinure, formerly of Davidstown, often repeated stories he heard concerning young Billy Forristal. Tom Walsh’s father was also a first cousin to Billy. Billy was described as a big, strong, rough kind of man. Fairs were often rowdy affairs. When Billy was a young man attending the Waterford Fair with his father a dispute arose which was a common occurrence at fairs. As young Billy squared off to fight the other fellow to settle the dispute, his father Paddy, offered a wager to all on the outcome of the fight– “5 pounds on my Billy.” That was a great sum of money before 1900, and it is said that Paddy did not lose his money.
The featured photo above is the earliest drawing found depicting a weight thrower in the 19th century. It is a drawing of George Stephenson (1781-1848) throwing a hammer. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. George Stephenson throwing the hammer. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/c5831e4d-c31d-1ecb-e040-e00a18067b87.
The cover of Ireland and Sport features a weight thrower.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh