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
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