Hi, it is the boy from Barrystown, charming, charismatic, erudite, scholarly, writes, talks and moves with panache; a right boyo, historian supreme; the most devious and wily of them all, that wily boy from beside the mine pits; an intelligence higher by far than Einstein; my likes will never be replicated but it not necessary for me to labour the theme of my greatness. The wonder has to be that one small head could carry all that I know!
Kathleen Holohan Bach. Ed. will give a presentation on National Education from 1850 to O’Malley’s free education in 1967 with special reference to the history of Clonroche National Schools on Wednesday April 19th at 8.30pm in Clonroche National School. I will chair this event. Kathleen Holohan who is Vice Principal of Clonroche National School has extensively researched the history of Clonroche National Schools.
The Free Press on the 26th of June 1959 carried an article on Mr Patrick Monoghan from the Lodge Ballygow, Bannow who had returned to live in his native place “after travelling in many lands for the past 64 years”; he looked hale and hearty when he called to “The Free Press” last week to visit the office of the paper that he had read so often during his long
absence.”
Mr Monoghan, aged 80 years, was brother of Mr James Monoghan, farmer of Blackhall. He left Ireland in 1895 to join a sailing ship crew. After a couple of voyages he joined the Royal Navy in which he served for nine years. Despite the considerable representation that Wexford always had in that navy, Mr Monoghan met only one Wexfordman whom he had known before he joined—Mr Mark Serale (sic possibly Searle) of Cullenstown.
“Mr Monoghan lived in Australia, Tasmania, Canada and New York and he has visited the Arctic regions along the Pacific coasts during years spent in merchant ships of various nations.
War and adventures of various kinds were among his outstanding memories. He saw service during the Boxer Rising in China in 1900 and in the South African War about the same time and took part in prospecting for gold from time to time.”
The first thing that struck him about the country on his return “was that everyone here is better dressed nowadays than when he went away in 1895. They seem, also, to have more money to spend and to have wider interests, as they will discuss general matters with more intelligence. There is less manual labour and more machinery in use. Even on the roads most people seem to go on wheels nowadays compared with the old days when they all walked. The farmers seem to be better off. The old houses of mud walls seem to be going fast and better class houses are being built.”
Mr Monoghan wanted the high hedges along the roads cut as they were blocking a view of the scenery:–
“You have many attractions for travellers in this country but why do the people try to hide your beautiful scenery? Going along most of the roads there is nothing to be seen except high hedges along both sides and who wants to be looking at hedges, all the time?”
The article continued:–
“Mr Monoghan met his cousin, Miss Martin, who resides in New York, when he arrived in Wexford. Miss Martin is going back to the States in August. He was saddened to find that most of his old schoolmates have passed away; one of them being Mr John White, whose regretted death occurred only a fortnight before Mr Monoghan arrived home.”
The article concluded:–“Mr Monoghan carries a curiously shaped walking stick that, he says, nearly everyone he meets wants to know about. It is of plum tree timber, with an ivory handle shaped like a duck’s head and is a momento of the Dancing Brolga of Northern Queensland, which is nearly the farthest point from his native Wexford that he ever touched on.”
From The People the 27th of August 1927:–
“The 15th At Cullenstown
Monday last, the 15th of August, was the annual “big day” at Cullenstown and not in the memory of the oldest inhabitant had such bad weather been experienced. A large number of people were present and had the weather been fine, it might have been the most successful “big day” for many years. The football match was poorly patronised owing to the inclement weather…
FORMER BANNOW ATHLETE WEDDED
Mr Sim Purcell, the famous Bannow athlete, who has been doing great things in the athletic arenas in Wales, has been recently married; his bride being a young lady from Bannow. The bridegroom was the recipient of the most beautiful presents from the members of Swansea Athletic Club.”
From The Freeman’s Journal February 10th 1820:–
“Marriages
By the Rev. Joseph Mider, Doctor Carroll of Bannow, in the county Wexford, to Sarah, youngest daughter of the late Reverend Edward Carr, Rector of Kilmacow, in the county of Kilkenny.”
From report of Wexford Summer Assizes in The Wexford Independent on the 17th of July 1850:–
“Margaret Connors and Ellen Lyons were placed at the bar and given in charge for unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to the dwelling house of one Edward Furlong at Cullenstown on the night of the 12th of June last.
Michael Furlong sworn—Lives at Cullenstown, in this county; remembers the 12th of June last; about half past twelve o’clock at night he and his family were in bed; he heard a child crying and got up and found the house was on fire and dragged out all the children; the fire was after burning about fourteen feet of it; had it got it, no one could have put it out; about twenty men collected and the fire was put out; saw the prisoners down in a lane about four o’clock the day before the fire took place; is sure the prisoners at the bar are the persons; one of them was lighting a fire and cooking something in a saucepan.
George Galivan sworn—Lives near Cullenstown; remembers the time the fire took place; saw both of the prisoners on Saturday in a lane; they were boiling something in a porringer in the lane; observed a parcel of ropes lying there; on a second time saw an old grey cloak thrown over the ropes and suspected they were stolen and took them from them; Margaret Connors said she would have revenge if he did not give them back and that it would be a sore job for him; his house is but a small field from that which was burned.
Patrick Tench sworn—recollects the night that Furlong’s house was set on fire; saw the prisoners the day before; they passed him going in the direction of Furlong’s, about a mile from his house; saw no more of them then; saw them the next day; met them immediately after the fire and Mary (sic) Connors said the next fire would be better than the last; the other prisoner was there but said nothing.
Patrick Stafford sworn—Lives near Mr Furlong’s at Cullenstown; remembers the time his house was set on fire; found a switch among the rubbish with the top of it burned, that would enable anyone to reach the thatch; it was at the hall-door he found the switch; also found the tops of some burned bushes at the back of the house.
Constable Thomas Murphy sworn—saw the prisoner at the police barrack on the 8th of June (sic); they had a bucket with old iron and lead in it, the lead was such as fishermen use on ropes; she said that the rope was taken from them by a man who she heard lived near the sea; took them subsequently into custody, on the 14th , on the charge of setting fire to the house.
Samuel Greene sworn—Is a magistrate of the county; remembers the time the prisoners were brought before him; he asked if they had anything to say to the charge of setting fire to the house; but cautioned them before he asked he asked them not to say anything to incriminate themselves, or it would be used against them; it was on the 15th day of June; told the prisoners what they were charged with; Mary Connors said they had set fire to a rag and put it in the thatch with a sally switch; he then remanded them till the petty sessions day. The jury found both of the prisoners guilty.
The Judge in passing sentence said—Margaret Connors and Mary Lyons, you have been found guilty of the heinous offence of setting fire to the dwelling house of Edward Furlong, not knowing that you might have taken the lives of the helpless inmates when asleep in their beds; it is an act that one cannot think of without abhorrence and deserve the severest punishment; it is in fact almost the highest wickedness that one can imagine; you most miserable beings, you imagined by setting fire to the house during the darkness of night you would not be discovered, but such doings must be put a stop to—it is, therefore, my painful duty to sentence each of you to 15 years transportation.”
I believe that these two awful women intended to burn the home of George Galavan—they were asserting a grievance against him: did they mistake the home of Edward Furlong for that of Mr Galavan? They were convicted on the basis of very flimsy evidence and if they had got free legal aid, a clever lawyer would have undermined the prosecution case. If they had said nothing to Magistrate Sam Greene, there would be no case against them. I have little doubt that these women deliberately set the house of Mr Furlong on fire.
From The People, the 3rd of August 1912:–
“CLOSE OF BALLYMITTY MISSION
The largest crowd ever seen together in the district attended at Ballymitty on Sunday evening last on the occasion of the closing of the Mission which had been conducted by Rev. Fathers Sutton and Porter for the preceding week. The Church was packed to its very utmost and a fairly large section of the congregation had to be content to remain in the churchyard, being unable to gain admittance owing to the great throng. The closing sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Sutton, in which he congratulated the parishioners on their splendid attendance during the mission. He earnestly exhorted them to persevere in their devotions and keep away from all sinful habits. He, also, exhorted them to keep away from beer drinking and such dances as they were the curse of the country. He, then, gave them the Papal Blessing after which the devotions concluded with Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament.”
From The People the 9th of August 1890:–
“Hornsby’s Binding Machine was started at Major Boyse’s Bannow on Tuesday the 5th instant, in a heavy crop of tawny oats (we believe the first cut in the county this season) with complete success. The corn was tied and heads and points laid together in the neatest order; never a sheaf missed. A number of large farmers in the district witnessed the cutting and expressed themselves highly pleased. The knotter was inspected in course of trial and its simplicity much admired. Mr John Keating (Messrs Brien and Keating, Wexford) stood sponsor for the machine as local agent.”
From The People the 10th of August 1912:–
“BANNOW FAIR
There was a slight improvement in the matter of attendance and supply at the fair held at Carrig-on-Bannow on Thursday week last. For some time past there has been scarcely any fair held here; some of the monthly dates passing off with …the attendances of one or two carts with as many people. However, on Thursday week there was a pretty large attendance and a few of every class of stock were offered for sale. Small pigs were much in prominence and demand all round was extremely good. Price for small pigs showed an upward tendency and nearly all those offered were disposed of at very remunerative figures. No bacon pigs were offered as those are disposed of throughout the district by other means which is no small way responsible for the bad fairs in South Wexford.”
From The People the 12th of July 1890:–
“F. A. Leigh, Rosegarland, charged two young lads named William Fardy, Wellingtonbridge and Patrick Power, Whitty’s Hill, with trespass on his land at Ballyowen, in pursuit of game, on the 11th June. Mr Taylor for the complainant, said he would like to have the charge read to the defendants, in order to see what course they intended to adopt. The charge was then read over and both defendants pleaded guilty. Mr Taylor said under these circumstances he was instructed not to press the case. It was brought under a section which dealt with night poaching and if pressed, the only course the bench could adopt was to send the boys to jail. They would be bound, if convicted, to sentence the defendants, if the first offence, to three months imprisonment. The second offence would be much more considerable and the third offence would be misdemeanour by 12 months’ imprisonment. It would be very well for the public to know what they are liable to for this offence. He wouldn’t press for punishment in the present case but would ask to have it postponed for three months in order to see if the defendants would conduct themselves. If they didn’t break through again before that time the case would be allowed to drop. The case was accordingly adjourned for three months.”
From The People the 12th of July 1890:–
“LARCENY
George Smyth, Waterford, was brought up in custody, charged with the larceny of a number of painters’ tools, the property of F. A. Leigh J. P. Rosegarland
An information made by Mr Leigh was to the effect that the prisoner was in his employment up to Saturday night, 14th June. He did not go to work on the following Monday and on examining the tools and materials which he had supplied to him to work with, he missed one glazier’s diamond, two brushes, one comb, a softener and one top-grainer. The brushes had since been found but, from information he had received, he believed the other articles were stolen and taken away by the prisoner. Head-Constable Joyce mentioned that the diamond had, also, been recovered. Mr Leigh said its present value would be about 3 shillings and 6 pence. The prisoner pleaded guilty. He said he took the diamond but not with the intention of stealing. As to the other tools, he knew nothing about them. He pawned the diamond and got 2 shillings on it and had already been a fortnight in jail. He was not sentenced to a week’s imprisonment with hard labour.”
From The People the 13th of March 1897:–
“For Hire, a 13 row Corn Drill. Apply to James Hillis, Aughermon, Ballymitty or William Warriner, Faneystown, Duncormack.”
From The People the 23rd of July 1890:–
“THE VACCINATION ACT
Dr Boyd reported four defaulters under the Vaccination Act in Bannow dispensary district. The Clerk added that as two of the cases were unfit and two deferred there was no reason for taking action in the matter.”
From The People the 31st of August 1912:–
“LARGE TAKES OF MACKEREL
Mackerel seem to be very plentiful at present as very large catches have been made at the different fishing centres during the past week. The Cullenstown fishermen have been most unusually lucky of late, their takes being extremely large, far exceeding those of neighbouring districts, which shows they are something more than novices at work. We hope that a continuance of their good luck may be the result of their further labours.”
