Tallow Road Railway Station Staff

Tallow Road Railway Station Staff

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

Tallow Road Station

On 17^th May 1860 the Great Southern and Western Railway opened a 17 mile railway to Fermoy from Mallow at a cost of £109,000 or costing £6,411 per mile.[1] In 1865 two railway companies were formed to connect Fermoy with Waterford city. The Waterford, Lismore and Fermoy Railway proposed to connect Waterford to Dungarvan and Fermoy to Lismore. The other company, the Clonmel, Lismore and Dungarvan Railway was to bridge the gap between Lismore and Dungarvan with a connecting line to Clonmel from Dungarvan. At Clonmel the line would join the Waterford and Limerick Railway for the onward journey to Waterford. None of the two companies succeeded in attracting enough investment money. Late in the 1860s the Duke of Devonshire decided to build his own railway line between Fermoy and Lismore. In June 1869 The Fermoy and Lismore Railway Act was passed. On 26^th July 1872 the Duke of Devonshire made the first private railway journey on the line from Fermoy to Lismore and it was officially opened for business on 1^st October 1872. In 1878 the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway built the line to connect Lismore to Waterford and so establish the through line from Mallow to Waterford.

Tallow Road station was located about two miles north-east of Tallow town on the old road to Glencairn. A new road was built to make a direct connection between the station and Tallow Hill. The station building was a single story ticket and waiting room area with a two story section on the eastern side. A good shed was a short distance from the building. Although the station had distance and home signal posts, it had no signal box. The signalling was controlled from Lismore.

Early business reports for the Fermoy and Lismore Railway in the 1870s show that about 5 tons of goods were deposited at Tallow station per week while one ton was loaded onto passing trains. Some weeks could see up to 18 tons goods at the station while at other times it could be as low as a few hundred weights. The summer months usually saw about ten tons offloaded at Tallow and seven tons placed on trains. In the 1890s about 90 to 150 people used the station on a weekly basis with up to 200 on some weeks.[2] Slater’s Postal Directory in 1881 mentions the existence of Tallow Road station two miles from Tallow but didn’t record the name of the station master.[3] In the period 1910 to 1920 Tallow Road was a Class 5 station.[4] In the 1960s the station was reduced in status to just a halt site.

Sometime in the 1870s or 1880s a certain Miss Anthony from Tallow boarded a train, possibly at Tallow Road station, without purchasing a ticket. She was the daughter of a deceased Tallow merchant and from a family with old merchant money and so thought the train was her personal carriage. She lived in the grand house in Convent Street, now known as St. Patrick’s Hall. A railway guard discovered she had no ticket and ejected her from the train onto the platform where she is said to have suffered injuries. Miss Anthony took the railway company to court and a young lawyer called Edward Carson successfully defended her and by so doing made a name for himself as a formable defence lawyer. The railway company appealed the case and lost a second time to Miss Anthony.

In a report on railway rationalisation in 1950 C.I.E. proposed closing the Mallow to Waterford railway but the powers that be said no. In 1966 C.I.E. tried again to close the line and was successful. On 25^th March 1967 the last passenger train stopped at Ballyduff and the line from Mallow to Waterford was closed. Demolition of the railway began almost immediately from Cappoquin towards Dungarvan and in 1968/9 from Cappoquin westwards to Mallow. The fixture and fittings at Tallow station were removed and the station building was sold. The building was left idle for a number of years and fell into ruin. It was later rebuilt by new owners with stone faced additions on both the east side.

The single platform was 300 feet long; the shortest on the Fermoy to Lismore network with Clondulane at 301 feet, Ballyduff 320 feet, Lismore 404 feet and Fermoy 775 feet.[5] The platform was on the up side as was the facing connection for the goods shed.[6] Another siding faced the goods siding on the east and connected with the cattle pens and sugar beet loading platform in the south-east corner of the station yard.

Tallow Road Station c.1970 after closure

Station master

William Hedderman, station master = It is said that William Hedderman was appointed station master on 28^th November 1849 but this year is clearly an error.[7] In 1893 William Hedderman was the station master at Tallow Road station as quoted by Guy’s Postal Directory.[8] But the Directory was out of date as on 3^rd November 1892 William Hedderman died when station master at Tallow Road. William Hedderman was married at the time and 70 years old. Mary Hickey was present at death which occurred after just 18 hours of illness from haemorrhage apoplexy.[9] 

John O’Keeffe, station master: On 22^nd September 1879 John O’Keeffe joined the railway service.[10] John O’Keeffe was the station master at Tallow Road Station in the 1890s. His salary was £52 per year. On 18^th December 1899 he transferred to Queenstown station (page 334).[11] At Queenstown John O’Keeffe was a head porter on 22s 6d per week but he didn’t stay long as on 27^th December 1899 he was discharged.[12] The 1901 census records two people of interest called John O’Keeffe. One was a railway station master living at Manserghshill, Co. Tipperary, aged 40 and married while the other was a railway ganger, aged 43 and unmarried living at Longford, Co. Tipperary. It is unclear if any of these two men were the John O’Keeffe who was at Tallow Road.

William Ottley, station master by error: William Ottley joined the railway service on 14^th September 1877. In 1899 he was serving at station 149 when on 18^th November 1899 he was recorded as the new station master at Tallow Road station. But this was an error by the scribe as Tallow still had John O’Keeffe as the master and William Ottley was instead supposed to have transferred to station 364.[13] Station 364 was Cappagh where William Ottley was station master in 1899.[14]

Christopher Duffy, station master: on 16^th February 1875 Christopher Duffy joined the railway service. On 19^th December 1899 he transferred from station 29 to be station master at Tallow Road at £60 per year. But his time at Tallow was brief as on 4^th June 1900 he transferred to Kingsbridge station, now Heuston station (page 31).[15]

James Sheedy, station master: James Sheedy was born on 21^st August 1860.[16] On 17^th November 1885 James Sheedy joined the railway service. On 1^st July 1900 he transferred from station 310 to become station master at Tallow Road where his salary was £52 per year.[17] The railway staff book of 1900-1910 stated that James Sheedy transferred to Tallow from station 367 but station 367 was Tallow in the railway staff book relating to the 1890s.[18] Thus the scribe was simply writing into the new staff book that James Sheedy was already at Tallow Road.

In the 1901 census James Sheedy (aged 36) was described as a railway servant and lived at Ahaunboy North. James was born in County Tipperary. In the house in 1901 were his daughters, Mary (aged 10), Anne (aged 5) and two sons, William (aged 8) and James (aged 4). James was a widower by 1901. Also in the station house in 1901 were Johanne Quinn (aged 22), a visitor who worked as a milliner, and Norah McNamara (aged 60), a domestic servant and cook. Johanne Quinn (written as Johanna) was visiting Thomas Barry at nearby Glenbeg House and was recorded on the census form there. Earlier in the day, or after coming from Glenbeg, James Sheedy asked her to fill in her details on the census form, thus Johanne was counted twice in the one census. The house had five rooms and six outbuildings, a stable, a coach house, a fowl house, a store shed and two waiting rooms. The house was rented from John Wood.[19]

In the 1911 census James Sheedy described himself as the station master at Tallow Road Station and lived on the premises in Ahaunboy North townland. James Sheedy was then aged 51 and was born in County Tipperary. By the 1911 census James was a widower with three sons, William (19), James (14) and David (12). The three boys were all born in Corn City. On census night they had a visitor, Johanna Quinn from Cork city. Johanna was then aged 30 years and didn’t give her occupation and was unmarried.[20] It is not clear if Johanna Quinn was again visiting Thomas Barry at Glenbeg house. She was only counted once in the 1911 census.

Peter Carroll, station master: on 21^st June 1874 Peter Carroll was born and on 1^st October 1895 entered the railway service (staff number 1606).[21] In the 1901 census Peter Carroll was living in house number 3 in Power’s Court townland near Newbridge, County Kildare. He was unmarried and worked as a railway porter. Living with him was his brother, Denis Carroll (aged 24) who also worked as a railway porter and their uncle, Michael Carroll (aged 41), a farm labourer. Peter Carroll said he was born in county Limerick.[22] In the 1911 census Peter Carroll was the station master at Ballyduff and lived in the station house in the townland of Marshtown. Peter was 36 years old. He could read and write and was a Roman Catholic. He was married to Anastasia Carroll (aged 35) for nine years and they had two children of whom one was living in 1911, Margaret (aged 4). Anastasia was born in County Limerick while Margaret was born in County Kildare. The station house had only one room for the family to live in and three outbuildings, a piggery, a fowl house and a store.[23]

On 12^th September 1911 Peter Carroll became station master at Tallow Road at 20s per week. In 1912 his salary was increased to 23s per week and in 1915 became 26/10 per week. In 1919 his salary was £200 per year with a £5 allowance which was later cancelled. By 1924 his salary was £210 per year.[24] On 1^st March 1942 Peter Carroll retired from the railway after over thirty years as station master at Tallow Road. His grade on retirement was as a class 5 station master.[25] After retirement Peter Carroll lived in Chapel Street, Lismore. He died on 9^th November 1960 and was predeceased by his wife. He was buried in Lismore.[26]

John Joseph Callaghan, station master: on 17^th October 1898 John Callaghan was born.[27] He was possibly the son of Daniel Callaghan of 13 School Street, Wexford town in the 1901 census as John was two years old and his father was a railway guard. Daniel Callaghan, aged 36 was born in County Wexford as was his wife, Mary. They had two daughters (Maria J. and Margaret A.) and two sons (Daniel H. and John J.). The house had four rooms as did most houses on the street except that of Eliza Redmond which had fourteen rooms.[28]

In 1911 Daniel Callaghan and family were living at house 29 in Ballygillane townland as part of Ballygeary village in St. Helen’s District Electoral Division, County Wexford. Daniel was a railway checker, his son Daniel Henry was a railway clerk and the daughter, Maria Jane, was a railway telegraph clerk. John Joseph Callaghan was still at school. Daniel and Mary Callaghan were married for twenty-four years and had five children of whom four were alive in 1911. Their house in 1911 had five rooms.[29] On 24^th October 1916 he joined the railway service. Before coming to Tallow John Callaghan worked at station 221.[30] On 27^th March 1942 John Callaghan was appointed a class 5 station master at Tallow Road.[31] On 24^th July 1944 he transferred to station 278.[32]

Thomas Cooke, station master: on 16^th February 1884 Thomas Cooke was born. On 25^th June 1905 he joined the railway service. On 14^th May 1943 Thomas Cooke was working at station 100. On 24^th July 1944 Thomas Cooke was appointed as a class 5 station master at Tallow Road at £190 per year. In 1945 the salary was £200 and £210 in 1946.[33] Later Thomas Cooke was made a class 3 station master.[34] In 1947 his salary was £350 per year. On 1^st March 1949 he retired from the railway.[35]

Denis Barry, station master: on 16^th March 1892 Denis Barry was born. On 14^th November 1914 he entered the railway service. In December 1924 Denis Barry was working at station 194. In June 1927 Denis Barry was earning £210 per year. On 19^th March 1949 Denis Barry was appointed as a class 5 station master at Tallow Road.[36] This was later changed to a class 3 station master. Denis Barry died on 13^th August 1952.[37]

Later notes

By the early 1960s the station master at Tallow Road was reduced to that of a halt keeper. Of the former Fermoy and Lismore Railway only Fermoy had a station master in 1962 with the person in charge of Clondulane, Ballyduff, Tallow and Lismore reduced to halt keepers and thus could be paid a lower wages than a station master.

Ground plan of Tallow Road Station

Porter

The railway staff book of 1900 to 1910 allowed Tallow Road station to have two porters.[38] The railway staff book of 1910 to 1920 allowed the porter 5s 10d per week for extra duties.[39]

John Scanlan, porter: John Scanlan was born on 23^rd February 1873.[40] On 30^th January 1894 John Scanlan joined the railway service. It seems he started worked at Tallow Road or transferred there shortly after entering the railway service. His staff number was initially 1686 but was later changed to 1948. In 1900 John Scanlan was paid 14s per week. On 1^st July 1901 this increased to 14/6 and became 15s in July 1902 before increasing to 15/6 in July 1903.[41] On 3^rd September 1908 John Scanlan transferred to station 101.[42]

John Kearney, porter: on 21^st March 1870 John Kearney was born.[43] On 1^st March 1899 John Kearney joined the railway service with staff number 1322.[44] His first job was as a porter at Tallow Road station where he received 14s per week. On 1^st July 1901 his salary increased to 14/6, on 21^st June 1902 to 15s and on 1^st July 1903 to 15/6.[45] On 5^th March 1910 John Kearney left Tallow Road but the record doesn’t say where he went.[46] Sometime afterwards John Kearney returned to Tallow Road to resume his job as a porter. In 1920 his salary was 16s per week and this increased to 45/6 on 15^th May 1922 in line when the increase for all railway workers.[47]

John Murray, porter: John Murray was born in 1884 and on 16^th September 1907 joined the railway service (staff number 2207). On 3^rd September 1908 he was appointed porter at Tallow Road at 14s per week which salary was increased to 15/6 on 16^th September 1909. On 5^th March 1910 he transferred to station 257 and subsequently was discharged from the railway.[48]

David Spillane, porter: on 13^th March 1892 David Spillane was born. On 20^th April 1910 he joined the railway service (staff number 775) and his first job was as a porter at Tallow Road at 11s per week.[49] In 1911 his salary increased to 12/6 and to 15s in 1912, 16s in 1913 and in May 1922 to 45/6 per week.[50]

The goods shed platform and the sugar beet platform in the distance

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[1] Bill Power, Fermoy on the Blackwater (Mitchelstown, 2009), page 194

[2] Information from the archive of the Fermoy and Lismore Railway in the Waterford City and County Archives at Dungarvan Library

[3] Guy’s Postal Directory, 1881, Munster, page 200

[4] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern & Western Railway, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 409, Tallow Road Station

[5] Ernie Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company (Newtownards, 2015), page 265

[6] Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company, page 203

[7] Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company, page 273

[8] Guy’s Postal Directory, 1893, County Waterford, page 55

[9] Waterford City & County Library, Online Local Studies, Family History Databases, Death Register, Record ID 5832, Certificate No. 386

[10] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern & Western Railway, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 334, Queenstown Station

[11] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 367, Tallow Road Station

[12] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern & Western Railway, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 334, Queenstown Station

[13] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 367, Tallow Road Station

[14] Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company, page 273

[15] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 367, Tallow Road Station

[16] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern & Western Railway, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[17] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 367, Tallow Road Station

[18] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[19] National Archives of Ireland, Census online, 1901 Census, Ahaunboy North, County Waterford

[20] National Archives of Ireland, Census online, 1911 Census, Ahaunboy North, County Waterford

[21] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 409, Tallow Road Station

[22] National Archives of Ireland, Census online, 1901 Census, Power’s Court, County Kildare

[23] National Archives of Ireland, Census online, 1911 Census, Marstown, County Cork

[24] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 409, Tallow Road Station

[25] Irish Railway Record Society, Córas Iompair Éireann, General Manager’s Register of Staff, page, 239, Tallow Road Station

[26] Waterford City and County Library, Local History Online, Lismore Burial Register

[27] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern Railway, Register of Clerical Staff, Traffic Department, page, 263, Tallow Road Station

[28] National Archives of Ireland, Census online, 1901 Census, 13 School Street, Wexford town

[29] National Archives of Ireland, Census online, 1911 Census, 13 School Street, Wexford town

[30] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern Railway, Register of Clerical Staff, Traffic Department, page, 263, Tallow Road Station

[31] Irish Railway Record Society, CIÉ, General Manager’s Register of Staff, page, 239, Tallow Road Station

[32] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern Railway, Register of Clerical Staff, Traffic Department, page, 263, Tallow Road Station

[33] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern Railway, Register of Clerical Staff, Traffic Department, page, 263, Tallow Road Station

[34] Irish Railway Record Society, CIÉ, General Manager’s Register of Staff, page, 239, Tallow Road Station

[35] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern Railway, Register of Clerical Staff, Traffic Department, page, 263, Tallow Road Station

[36] Irish Railway Record Society, Great Southern Railway, Register of Clerical Staff, Traffic Department, page, 263, Tallow Road Station

[37] Irish Railway Record Society, CIÉ, General Manager’s Register of Staff, page, 239, Tallow Road Station

[38] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[39] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 409, Tallow Road Station

[40] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[41] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 367, Tallow Road Station

[42] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[43] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[44] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[45] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Traffic Department, Register of Officers and Servants, page, 367, Tallow Road Station

[46] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[47] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 409, Tallow Road Station

[48] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[49] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 332, Tallow Road Station

[50] Irish Railway Record Society, GS&WR, Register of Officers and Servants in the Traffic Department, page, 409, Tallow Road Station

Advertisement

Tallent: Land steward of Glencairn Abbey

Tallent: Land steward of Glencairn Abbey

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

The Glencairn Abbey estate was located about three miles upriver from Lismore, Co. Waterford, on the south bank of the river. In the late 19^th century the estate was owned by the Bushe Power family who were often absent from the estate, serving the British Empire in its overseas colonies. To manage the estate a land steward was appointed and in the late 19^th and early 20^th century the Tallent family from Co. Kilkenny served as land stewards.

Ballygarron of Power and Gumbleton

In the 16^th century a tower house castle occupied the site of later Glencairn Abbey and was called Ballygarron. The medieval castle was remodelled in 1619 by a Mr. Gay. Shortly afterwards Ballygarron was occupied by Pierce Power, who had in about 1600 married Elizabeth Boyle, sister of Sir Richard Boyle, later 1^st Earl of Cork. the Earl of Cork and his successor were owners of Ballygarron into the mid 18^th century and Pierce Power leased the property. In 1695 Richard Gumbleton (died c.1732) of Curraghlass, west of Tallow, purchased the lease Ballygarron and the adjoining townland of Ralph of 542 and 79 acres respectively. The Gumbleton family had come from Wiltshire in England in the 1650s and obtains lands in the Cromwellian settlement as a soldier in the army.

For more on the Power family at Ballygarron see https://niallbrn.wordpress.com/2018/12/22/power-family-of-ballygarran-in-seventeenth-century/

Richard Gumbleton remodelled the old house into the new style part of which survives today as the guest house of the Cistercian Nuns of Glencairn Abbey (the house and estate became a nunnery in 1932). In 1739 Richard Gumbleton (1675-1757) took out a new lease of Ballygarron in fee farm for £2,354 16s with a yearly rent of £5. This effectively meant that Gumbleton was the owner of the property. Yet it wasn’t until the 1820s that Henry Amyas Bushe, successor of the Gumbletons, purchased the high rent of £5 from the Duke of Devonshire, successor of the Earls of Cork. In 1746 the place was still called Ballygarron as it was in 1777.[1]

Glencairn Abbey late 19th Century

From Ballygarron to Castlerichard

In 1757 Richard Gumbleton (1709-1776) succeeded his father and did remodelling and extensions to the house in the mid 1700s. In 1776 he was succeeded by his son, Richard Gumbleton (1744-1793) who changed the name of the house to Castlerichard which name continues today as the name of the surrounding District Electoral Division. In the late 1780s Richard extended the house and improved the gardens. In 1793 Richard was succeeded by his son Richard Edward Gumbleton (1786-1819) who was placed under his guardian uncle John Hamilton O’Hara. In 1796 John O’Hara knocked some of the house and commissioned John Hogan of Tallow to build a new east wing (father of John Hogan the sculptor).[2]

Castlerichard to Glencairn Abbey

In about 1814 Richard Edward Gumbleton remodelled the house with the intention of making a neo-Gothic castle designed by Richard Morrison. Richard Edward Gumbleton died in 1819 and was succeeded by his sister, Lavinia Gumbleton who had married c.1800 Henry Amyas Bushe (1773-1831) of Kilfane house, near Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. Henry Amyas Bushe was a nephew of Henry Grattan, MP, via his mother Mary Grattan, daughter of James Grattan of Dublin. The remodelling of the house was incomplete in 1819 when Richard Gumbleton died and was completed by Henry Amyas Bushe. He abandoned the neo-Gothic castle design and gave it a monastic appearance which he renamed the house as Glencairn Abbey.[3]

Glencairn 1825 to 1851 with James Galwey and Richard Egan as land stewards

In 1825 the tithe applotment book recorded the total rental income for Ballygarron and Ralph was £731 4s. The chief tenants of the estate were Henry Amyas Bushe with 344 acres; Richard Egan with 57 acres in Ballygarron and 73 acres in Ralph (both held by lease for life made 8^th August 1806); Timothy Grady 51 acres, and Thomas Green 54 acres (the then Captain Bushe was liable for tithe on Green’s farm). Gumbleton of Fortwilliam held 102 acres for life in Ballygarron. The small tenants were David Shallow (3 acres), Michael Walsh (3 acres), James Donohue senior (4 acres) and James Donohue junior (5 acres). James Mathew Galwey (1800-1880) of Kilsheelan, and later Colligan Lodge, was the estate agent. He was also the breeder of that most famous of greyhounds, Master McGrath. James’s sister Alicia married Thomas Nelson Trafalgar Foley of Ballygally, just beside the Glencairn estate to the west.

In 1831 Henry Bushe was succeeded by his son, Colonel Gervase Parker Bushe (1806-1879). Gervase, also spelt as James Parker Bushe, kept on James Mathew Galwey as agent in the 1830s. Gervase Parker Bushe was the landlord of Glencairn townland and the neighbouring townland of Ralph in the time of Griffith Valuation in the 1850s. It appears that Richard Egan was the land steward in those times. In the mid 1840s John Leahy with a farm of 54 acres for which he paid rent of £66 per year and held at will, was land steward for the Glencairn estate. By 1850 John Leahy had reduced his holding to 28 acres and had ceased to rent a farm by 1851. Meanwhile Richard Egan held 33 acres in 1850 which he increased to 57 acres in 1851. It seems that John Leahy got into trouble and by 1851 the Leahy farm was absorbed into that held by Richard Egan who assumed the role of land steward. The main part of the dwelling house of Richard Egan measured 21.6 feet by 15.9 feet by 12 feet. Various extensions of the house measured hallway (20ft by 8ft by 8ft); kitchen (18ft by 18ft by 7ft); parlour wing (29ft by 17ft by 8ft); bedroom wing (12ft by 10ft by 6ft) and kitchen storage area (25ft by 11ft by 6ft). According to the house books Richard Egan had two piggeries, one turnip house, one stable, one fowl house, one dairy, one barn and a cow house.[4]

Gervase Parker Bushe estate

In 1851 Richard Egan was succeeded by Maurice Egan who farmed 57 acres of Glencairn townland (along with 5 acres in Ralph townland) while Gervase Bushe farmed the remaining 471 acres. Much of the estate consisted of labourer cottages with small gardens, except for the townland of Ralph where John Egan farmed 67 acres of the 79 acres in that townland (in 1901 and 1911 this farm was occupied by Philip Lane). In Ahaunboy North Gervase Parker Bushe leased 34 acres from the Duke of Devonshire and leased a further 27 acres in Garrycloyne townland from the Duke.[5] The neighbouring Fortwilliam estate to the east of Glencairn, owned by John Bowen Gumbleton in the 1840s, was possibly once part of the Glencairn estate. In 1787, and previously, Fortwilliam was a separate estate.[6] In the 1840s-1850s John Gumbleton rented 4 acres and a few houses in Glencairn townland from Gervase Bushe.[7]

In County Kilkenny Gervase Parker Bushe was owner of 577 acres of Cloghala townland in Dungarvan parish. He also held a number of townlands in Kilfane parish including Ballykeoghan (60 acres), Kilfane Demesne (514 acres), Kilfane East (15 acres), Kilfane West (12 acres), Knockanroe North (109 acres), Knockanroe South (24 acres), Stroan (205 acres) and Sugarstown (247 acres). In Columbkille parish Gervase Bushe held Niljames Upper (37 acres plus 150 acres with various tenants). In Tullaherin parish Gervase Bushe had Ballykeoghan townland (45 acres) along with a few houses in Tullaherin townland itself including the site of the Roman Catholic Church. In Kilkenny City Gervase had a house an yard in Water Lane leased to Patrick Cody.[8] In total Gervase Bushe held 1,894 acres (113 acres in fee) across fourteen townlands in Co. Kilkenny, valued for rates at £1,616. In 1884 the estate office at Kilfane was operated by Messrs Morrissey and Tallent.

Glencairn estate after 1879

In 1879 Gervase Parker Bushe was succeeded by his daughter, Frances Maria (1859-1917) who in 1884 had married Ambrose William Power of Barrettstown Castle, Co. Tipperary and Kilfane house. His grandfather, Sir John Power of Tullamain castle, Co. Tipperary, had married Harriet, daughter of Gervase Bushe of Kilfane and eventual heiress of Kilfane where Sir John was a tenant of Gervase. In 1796 on the marriage of Harriet Bushe to Sir John Power, Henry Amyas Bushe gave a lease forever of Kilfane to Sir John. It was not until 1903 that the Power family acquired the freehold of Kilfane. Ambrose took the Bushe name to become Ambrose Bushe Power. His was the son of Rev. Ambrose Power, long time archdeacon of Lismore, and for whom the monument in the centre of Lismore is dedicated. In 1907 Ambrose was succeeded in name by his son Major Ambrose Grattan Power (1887-1926). The Glencairn estate was held in trust by the representatives of Ambrose Bushe Power. The Major didn’t come to live in the house until 1918. After Irish independence in January 1922 Major Ambrose decided to leave Glencairn and died in 1926 in New Guinea. The house remained empty for four years before it was purchased by the Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin. In March 1932 Mount Melleray established a nunnery at Glencairn with thirteen nuns. Today (2022) the nunnery of Glencairn Abbey is a thriving community.[9]

Glencairn Abbey circa 1910

Tallent family of Glencairn

Ambrose William Bushe Power served for many years in the Indian Civil Service and his son, Major Ambrose Grattan Power spent many years in the army in various overseas postings. Thus the house and estate had no resident landlord for many decades. To manage the estate a land steward was appointed and in the late 19^th century this position was held by the Tallent family. The family of Tallent, spelt as Tallant in the 1850s Griffith’s Valuation and earlier documents.

The name appears in medieval England in the 12^th century. In 1150-66 Otes de Talent gave the manor of Hensington in Oxfordshire to the Knights Templar.[10] In 1402 John Talent, alias Batache, appears in the Close Rolls with Francis Talent in 1407.[11] In 1444 John Talent was the husband of Matilda de Perkelee of London and held property in Middlesex.[12] The name first appears in Ireland in 1602 with Walter Tallent acting as the interpreter for Shane McManus Oge O’Donnell.[13] It is not known how Walter Talent came to know Irish or when he first arrived in Ireland. In 1609 Walter Tallent held part of the estate of the former monastery of St. Columkill in Derry.[14] In 1611 Walter Talent was paid £6 for two houses in Derry by the King as part of a general scheme of property purchase by the government for later development. Walter was described as an ancient inhabitant of Derry.[15] In 1649 Patrick Tallant of Dublin purchased several houses in Goulding’s Lane, Dublin, for £700 from Luke Hussey. During the 1650s he took possession of Downstown in Co. Meath.[16] In 1660 and 1661 Patrick Tallant was one of a number of tax commissioners for Dublin city.[17]

In about 1870 James Tallent from County Kilkenny came to Glencairn to take up the job of land steward in the employment of Colonel Gervase Parker Bushe. James Tallent possibly came to Glencairn on the encouragement of Thomas Tallent, manager of the Lismore Gas Works in 1901, who had come to County Waterford in about 1860. On 29^th November 1883 Thomas Tallent of Lismore was mentioned in The Freeman’s Journal as part of a group of Lismore people writing a letter to the editor.[18]

Thomas Tallent and family before 1901

In 1867 Thomas Tallent was recorded as the manger of the Lismore Gas Works, a position he held for over three decades. The Lismore Gas Works was in operation from the early 1850s until 1934 when it was voluntarily closed down.[19] Thomas Tallent, spelt as Tallant, is often recorded in the Lismore canal log book between 1873 and 1901 importing barges of coal via the canal for the Gas Works.[20] In the 1880s and 1890s Thomas Tallent also received imports of coal at Youghal for the Gas Works that was transported by barge to Killahala and by cart to Lismore.[21] In 1893 Guys Postal Directory recorded Thomas Tallant of Ballyrafter as manager of the Lismore Gas Works.[22]

Apart from his work at the Gas Works, Thomas Tallent was a family man and some records of his family exist before the 1901 census. On 17^th November 1867 the death occurred of Bridget Theresa Tallent of Ballyrafter, aged 6 years after just two days of illness from scarlatina. She was the daughter of Thomas Tallent and was followed the next year by her new brother. On 21^st March 1868 James Tallent of Ballyrafter died aged just six weeks after four days of illness. On 25^th October 1883 the death occurred of Annie Tallent, aged 18 years, of Ballyrafter as notified by her sister Agnes Tallent. Annie was sick for six months with ulcers.[23] 

Ballyrafter Warehouse near the Gas Works

James Tallent and family before 1901

In 1871 James Tallent was recorded as land steward at Glencairn. His arrival was shortly to be overshadowed by grief as on 30^th December 1871 his son Thomas, aged 2½ years died after just one day of convulsions as ported by Margaret Grogan.[24] This event possibly led to his wife Agnes returning to Kilkenny in 1873 to give birth to their next son, Stephen Tallent. The job of land steward at Glencairn was mainly involved in managing the crops, breeding livestock, buying and selling livestock, and over-seeing the employment of the estate staff. In most other estates rent collecting and interacting with tenants was a big part of a land steward’s job but the Glencairn estate had few farming tenants to deal with. Yet directing farming an estate was not without its challenges. In the late 1870s three years of bad weather ruined tillage crops. In 1883 and 1884 the major outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Ireland lasted fifteen months and fairs were suspended which meant the cattle could not be sold. When the fairs reopened the backlog of cattle coming quickly onto the market depressed prices.  

On 23^rd December 1885 the death occurred of Agnes Tallent, the daughter of James Tallent, land steward. Agnes was just one year and seven months and died after three days of illness. On 26^th December 1890 the death occurred of James Tallent junior, son of James and Agnes Tallent of Glencairn aged 15 years.[25] James junior was a grocer’s assistant and had suffered from broncho pneumonia for six days as reported by his brother Pius Tallent.[26] Many years later, on Thursday, 5^th November 1936, Pius Tallent of Glenmore attended the funeral in Tallow of James Clancy of Coolydoody.[27]

On the 15^th January 1898 the Cork Examiner reported that on the 11^th January at the Roman Catholic Church in Tallow William E. Ahearne of 1 West Beach, Queenstown (Cobh) had married Mary, second daughter of James Tallent of Glencairn, Lismore.[28] On 6^th August 1898 the death occurred of Thomas Tallent, son of James and Agnes Tallent of Glencairn aged 25 years.[29] His death from a tumour endured for over two years was reported to the local registrar by his brother, Matthew Tallent.[30]

Tallent in the 1901 census

In 1901 James Tallent, land steward of the Glencairn estate, was living in the steward’s house with his wife Agnes and three of their children. James talent was aged 66 years and was born in County Kilkenny circa 1835. He was a Roman Catholic and especially useful for his position could both read and write. Agnes Tallent was aged 56 and born in County Kilkenny. She was also a Roman Catholic and gave her occupation as house keeper who could read and write. The daughter Bridget (aged 30) was born in County Kilkenny and was unmarried. Their eldest son Stephen Tallent (aged 28) was also born in County Kilkenny and gave his occupation as assistant steward. The younger son, Matthew Tallent (aged 22), was born in County Waterford and gave his occupation as assistant, presumingly to his father and elder brother. With the Tallent family on census night in 1901 was their granddaughter, Ellen Ahearne, aged just one year old and born in Co. Cork. The dwelling house had six windows in the front elevation and five rooms within along with five outbuildings including one stable, one cow house, one barn, one potato house and one shed.[31] 

At Ballyrafter Flats, opposite Lismore on the north bank of the River Blackwater, lived Thomas Tallent and his family in 1901. Thomas Tallent was aged 79 and manager of the Lismore Gas Works. He was born in County Kilkenny circa 1822 and was a Roman Catholic. His wife Johana, aged 75, was also born in County Kilkenny. Their daughter Margaret (aged 40) and her brother John (aged 37) were both born in County Waterford and were unmarried. Margaret was a music teacher and John worked as an assistant at the gas works. All were Roman Catholics and could read and write. The dwelling house had one window in the front elevation and seven rooms within along with two outbuildings. Thomas Tallent claimed the house as his own property.[32] Elsewhere Margaret Tallent was called Peig Tallent, an aunt of Kevin and Tom Noonan (employed at the Gas Works) of Chapel Street, Lismore. Peig Tallent used to play the piano in the South Mall cinema of Cyril Hynes in the days of the silent movies. In winter time she was a noted skater, doing figures-of-eight on the frozen Ferry Inch.[33]

On census night in 1901 another Matthew Tallent was visiting the house of Denis O’Brien on Main Street in Lismore. Matthew Tallent was then 24 years old and born in Co. Kilkenny. He gave his occupation as farmer and was a Roman Catholic who was unmarried. Matthew Tallent could both read and write but apparently couldn’t speak Irish.[34] In 1901 Matthew Tallent said he was born in County Kilkenny both in the 1911 census he changed this idea and said he was born in County Waterford.[35]

Tallent between 1901 and 1911

On 30^th August 1901 the death occurred of Bridget Tallent, daughter of James and Agnes Tallent of Glencairn aged 35 years. Her death register said she died from heart disease and gave her aged as 34 years as reported by her brother, Matthew Tallent. She was sick for just three months.[36] On 9^th September 1908 Agnes Tallent of Glencairn died and was buried in Lismore Catholic cemetery. She was 65 years old. 

Tallent in the 1911 census

By the time of the 1911 census James Tallent of Glencairn townland had become a widower. He was then 78 years old and still employed as a land steward on the Glencairn estate. Living in the house with him were his sons, Stephen Tallent (aged 38) a mail car driver and Matthew Tallent (aged 35) a farmer. Both sons were unmarried. With them in the house for census night was their cousin Alice Noonan (aged 25) from Lismore town. All could read and write. The dwelling house had seven windows in the front elevation and ten rooms within and was leased from the representatives of Ambrose Bushe Power. James Tallent had 12 outbuildings which included one stable, five cow houses, one dairy, one piggery, one fowl house, one barn, one potato house and one workshop. The dwelling house and the outbuildings of 1911 had doubled since the 1901 census.[37]

In 1911 John Tallent (aged 45) and his sister Margaret Tallent (aged 48) lived in Lismore. On census night they were both staying in the house of Michael Noonan, a relation, on Main Street. John and Margaret were both were born in County Waterford and were unmarried. They could read and write and were both Roman Catholics. John Tallent worked as a gas fitter at the Lismore Gas Works.[38] On 25^th October 1873 Michael Noonan had married Mary Tallent, daughter of Thomas Tallent, in the Roman Catholic Church at Cappoquin. Mary died on 20^th July 1922 at Chapel Street, Lismore. Michael Noonan had a draper’s shop on Main Street, near the Red House.[39]

Kilkenny ancestors

Thomas Tallent (born 1822) of Lismore Gas Works and James Tallent (born 1833-1835), land steward of Glencairn estate, both claimed to be born in County Kilkenny. Griffith’s Valuation of the 1850s records Michael Tallant living at Ballygowney in Coolcashin parish holding 29 acres from Viscount Mountgarret and holding 13 acres at Gurteennamuck from James Caulfield. Elsewhere James Tallant was living at Maddockstown in Blackrath parish in the 1850s holding 74 acres from Thomas J. Roberts. In 1848 James Tallant held at will 4 acres at Maddockstown with a dwelling house and outbuildings from Thomas Egan for £1 5s rent acre per year with another 38 acres of land at the same rent.[40]

The old cemetery of Blackrath parish at Maddockstown, south-east of Kilkenny city, records three gravestones of the Tallent family. The first grave records Thomas Tallent who died in August 1821, aged 30 years and Tobias Tallent of Sheestown who died in July 1842, aged 70 years. The second grave records Alicia Tallent, née Fennelly who died in 1818, aged 64 years and that of Nicholas Tallent who died 6^th February 1820, aged 45 years. The third grave records John Tallent of this town (presumingly Kilkenny) who died 3^rd June 1814, aged 72 years.[41] In 1820 and 1824 Thomas Tallent was governor of Kilkenny jail.[42] The tithe books record Tobias Tallent of Sheestown, Kilferagh parish, in 1835 renting 28 acres at £26 8s 9d per year.[43] In 1826 Michael Talent was living at Ballygoony Grogan Lower in Freshford parish, Co. Kilkenny with 17 acres.[44] In 1884 Michael Tallant was living at Ballygowney near Johnstown, some six miles from Freshford.

It is not possible at present to connect Thomas Tallent of Lismore and James Tallent of Glencairn with these Kilkenny families. Thus we have to leave James Tallent, land steward of the Glencairn estate and his kinsman, Thomas Tallent, manager of the Lismore Gas Works for another day.

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[1] Information gathered from Sr. Veronica G. Kelly, Glimpses of Glencairn (Glencairn Abbey, 2005)

[2] Information gathered from Sr. Veronica G. Kelly, Glimpses of Glencairn (Glencairn Abbey, 2005)

[3] Information gathered from Sr. Veronica G. Kelly, Glimpses of Glencairn (Glencairn Abbey, 2005)

[4] National Archives of Ireland, Genealogy Online, Valuation Office Books, Glencairn, field, tenure and house books

[5] Ask About Ireland online, Griffith’s Valuation, Waterford, Gervase (Jervis) Bushe

[6] Cork City and County Archives, IECCCA/U195, Preston Collection, Descriptive List, p. 25, No. 105, Settlement Deed, 18^th December 1787

[7] Ask About Ireland online, Griffith’s Valuation, Waterford, Gervase (Jervis) Bushe

[8] Ask About Ireland online, Griffith’s Valuation, Waterford, Gervase (Jervis) Bushe

[9] Information gathered from Sr. Veronica G. Kelly, Glimpses of Glencairn (Glencairn Abbey, 2005)

[10] A.P. Baggs and others, edited by Alan Crossley & C.R. Elrington, A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12, Wootton Hundred (South) including Woodstock (London, 1990), p. 20

[11] Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry IV, 1399-1402, p. 447; Ibid, Henry IV, 1405-1409, p. 249

[12] William Page (ed.), A History of the County of Middlesex, Volume 2 (London, 1911), p. 404

[13] Robert P. Mahaffy (ed.), Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, 1601-1603 with addenda, 1565-1654 (London, 1912), p. 376

[14] T.W. Moody & J.G. Simms (eds.), The Bishopric of Derry and the Irish Society of London, 1602-1705, olume II: 1670-1705 (Dublin, 1983), p. 313

[15] T.W. Moody, ‘Ulster Plantation Papers, 1608-13’, in Analecta Hibernica, No. 8 (March 1938), pp. 180-297, at p. 261

[16] Geraldine Tallon (ed.), Court of Claims: Submissions and Evidence 1663 (Dublin, 2006), nos. 112, 698

[17] Seamus Pender (ed.), A Census of Ireland circa 1659 with essential materials from the Poll Money Ordinances 1660-1661 (Dublin, 2002), pp. 620, 639

[18] The Freeman’s Journal, 29^th November 1883, page 6

[19] Waterford City & County Archive Service, Lismore Castle Archives catalogue, page 177

[20] Waterford City & County Archive Service, PP/LISM/LCK/1-40, Lismore Canal Log Book, 1851-1901

[21] Niall O’Brien, Blackwater and Bride, Navigation and Trade, 7000 BC to 2007 (Ballyduff, 2008), pp. 474, 478, 480, 485

[22] Guy’s Postal Directory, 1893, County Waterford, p. 49

[23] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Family History Databases, Death Registers, Lismore district

[24] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Family History Databases, Death Registers, Ballyduff district

[25] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Local History Online, Gravestone Inscriptions, Lismore Catholic Graveyard

[26] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Family History Databases, Death Registers, Ballyduff district

[27] Dungarvan Observer, 7^th November 1936, page 6

[28] Ahearne Family History Online

[29] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Local History Online, Gravestone Inscriptions, Lismore Catholic Graveyard

[30] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Family History Databases, Death Registers, Ballyduff district

[31] National Archives of Ireland, Census 1901 online, Glencairn, Co. Waterford

[32] National Archives of Ireland, Census 1901 online, Ballyrafter Flats, Co. Waterford

[33] Paddy Vaughan, Farewell to Chapel Street (Dublin, 2011), p. 76

[34] National Archives of Ireland, Census 1901 online, Lismore, Co. Waterford

[35] National Archives of Ireland, Census 1901 online, Lismore, Co. Waterford ; National Archives of Ireland, Census 1911 online, Lismore, Co. Waterford

[36] Waterford City & County Library, Online Resources, Family History Databases, Death Registers, Ballyduff district

[37] National Archives of Ireland, Census 1911 online, Glencairn, Co. Waterford

[38] National Archives of Ireland, Census 1911 online, Lismore, Co. Waterford

[39] Paddy Vaughan, Farewell to Chapel Street (Dublin, 2011), p. 76

[40] National Archives of Ireland, Genealogy online, Valuation Office Books, Tallant

[41] Kilkenny Archaeological Society.ie, Maddockstown/Blackrath Cemetery PDF online

[42] Pigot’s Directory, 1824; National Archives of Ireland, Chief Secretary Office, CSO/RP/1820/784

[43] National Archives of Ireland, Genealogy online, Tithe Applotment Books, Tallent

[44] National Archives of Ireland, Genealogy online, Tithe Applotment Books, Talent

Rev. Thomas Crawford of Lismore and family

Rev. Thomas Crawford of Lismore and family

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

Rev. Thomas Crawford served in a number of clerical benefices in the Church of Ireland diocese of Waterford and Lismore from 1772 until his death in 1822. His origins are uncertain. The admission roll of Trinity College Dublin record two people called Thomas Crawford. The first Thomas was educated by William Jessop of Lismore and entered Trinity in June 1765. He was made a scholar in 1768 and in 1770 graduated with a BA. The second Thomas was educated by Mr. Kenney of Elphin and entered Trinity in June 1767, became a scholar in 1769 and graduated in 1772 with a BA. The father’s name of both gentlemen was not recorded.[1] In September 1770 a person called Thomas Crawford of Whitechurch, Co. Waterford converted from Roman Catholicism to the Protestant Church of Ireland and was enrolled in January 1771 with a certificate in October 1771.[2] The personage of this article is likely to be that Thomas Crawford who was educated in Lismore and entered Trinity in 1765.  

Lismore cathedral southeast side

Curate Lismore and Mocollop parish

Rev. Thomas Crawford first appears in the records of the diocese of Waterford and Lismore in 1772. In that year he was appointed curate in the large parish of Lismore and Mocollop. This large parish included the area in and around Lismore town as well as the later perpetual curacies of Mocollop in the west and Cappoquin in the east. It extended from along the north bank of the River Bride northwards to the county boundary with Tipperary. The vicars of this large parish were the five member vicar choral in Lismore cathedral. The next curate in succession to Rev. Crawford was Thomas Parks in 1818.[3] It would seem that Rev. Crawford held the curacy of Lismore even after his appointment in 1794 to the vicar choral.

Also in 1772 Rev. Thomas Crawford was appointed curate at Mocollop and served there until 1820 when John Jackson became curate.[4] Although a grant was given in 1808 for a new church at Mocollop it was not completed and dedicated (to St. Mary) until October 1820.[5]

Vicar at Derrygrath

In 1774 Rev. Thomas Crawford became vicar of Derrygrath (about 2½ miles southeast of Cahir) in south Tipperary in succession to Laurence Broderick (appointed vicar in 1745).[6] The rector of the parish was the chancellor of Lismore cathedral as had being the case since medieval times. The chancellors/rectors that served during Crawford’s time were; William Grueber (1772-74), John Bowden (1774-76), Hon. James Hewitt (1776-96) and John Cleland (1796-1834).[7] Rev. Thomas Crawford was assisted in the parish by Edmond English who was curate since 1772. Later on, Robert Carey was curate around 1802 and John Wallace served around 1810 with Robert Carey returning in 1818.[8] In 1806 the vicarage of Derrygrath was worth £6 per year.[9] In 1820 Derrygrath had a parish church and 16½ acres of glebe land but no glebe house. The church was finished in 1816 by way of a loan of £400 from the Board of First Fruits and a gift of £600 from the Board.[10] With no glebe house, Rev. Thomas Crawford lived in Lismore where he had other concerns to attend to.[11] In 1806 it was said that the curate in the neighbouring parish of Clonmel attended the spiritual needs of the Derrygrath parishioners.[12] In 1822 Henry Prittie Perry became vicar of Derrygrath on the death of Rev. Crawford.[13]

Lismore Free School

In 1774, Rev. Thomas Crawford was appointed headmaster of the Lismore Free School. The school was endowed in 1610 by Sir Richard Boyle, later 1^st Earl of Cork.[14] In 1613 construction began on the school and in 1617 the first headmaster, Mr. Goodwyn,  was appointed.[15] Rev. Thomas Crawford had attended the school as a child under Rev. William Jessop and succeeded Jessop as headmaster. His early years of tenure seem to have been good for the school such that by the 1790s the school had a healthy roll of forty pupils which was one of the highest among the Church of Ireland schools in Munster. Yet decay had begun to appear. A report in 1794 found part of the school building to be in need of repair. By 1811 Rev. Crawford was old, infirm and deaf and it was reported that no students attended after 1812.[16] In May 1822, at the time of his death, Rev. Crawford was described as master of the endowed school at Lismore.[17]

Vicar choral at Lismore

In 1794 Rev. Thomas Crawford was appointed a member of the Lismore cathedral vicar choral on a vacancy created by the death of Jocelyn Ingram.[18] The vicar choral was created sometime between 1223 and 1246 under Bishop Christopher. The choral was formed by five clerics presented by the respective dignitaries and admitted by the dean. After the Reformation it would appear that the dean elected the five clerics without reference to the other dignitaries. The choral was charged with reading prayers in the cathedral each week and attending to the cure of the souls of the parishioners of the united parish of Lismore and Mocollop. The choral received the vicarial tithes of the parish for its support. After the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland the choral was left to decline in size with the death of each vicar with the death of John Bain in 1900 as the last vicar choral.[19] In 1822 Hercules Richard Langrishe was appointed to the vicar choral on the vacancy created by the death of Rev. Thomas Crawford.[20]

Rev. Thomas Crawford and Sarah Curran

In 1795 Sarah Curran, the wife of John Philpot Curran, was found to be pregnant from an affair with Rev. Michael Sandys. John Curran, a noted orator, barrister and politician, throw his wife out of their house in Rathfarnham, near Dublin. It was then found out that Curran was also having an affair and the children were sent to friends and relations. John sent his youngest daughter, Sarah Curran, to stay with his friend, Rev. Thomas Crawford at Lismore. In 1799 young Sarah attended her debut ball in Wicklow where she first met a friend of her brother called Robert Emmet.[21] Even after Sarah left the Crawford household, Rev. Thomas Crawford received a number of letters in the period 1803 to 1808 concerning Sarah Curran.[22] One of the letters from Curran’s son was delivered to Rev. Crawford via an intermediary.[23] John Philpot Curran composed one of his poems, The Plate Warmer, with his college friend, Rev. Crawford in mind.[24]

Personal life of Rev. Crawford

The life of Rev. Thomas Crawford was not all about raising a family, serving the spiritual needs of his parishioners or teaching in the Lismore Free School. In 1795 he was one of the subscribers to the two volume work of James Muallalla entitled, View of Irish Affairs since the Revolution of 1688 to the Close of the Parliamentary Session of 1795 (published Dublin in 1795).

The family of Rev. Thomas Crawford

Few details are known about the family of Rev. Thomas Crawford. We don’t know who were the parents of Rev. Crawford but considering that he went to school in Lismore and a contemporary Thomas Crawford of Whitechurch parish (between Dungarvan and Cappoquin) converted to be a Protestant, it is likely that Rev. Crawford was a local man to the west Waterford area. We equally don’t know who his wife was but Thomas had at least three children. The eldest son, also called Thomas Crawford, was born about 1782 but we known little of his life’s story apart from his death notice. On 24^th March 1819 Thomas Crawford, son of Rev. Thomas Crawford, died at Bristol in his 37^th year.[25]

On 4^th May 1785 his youngest son, Abraham Crawford, was born or baptised in Lismore.[26] Other sources say that Abraham Crawford was born in 1788.[27] In 1800 Abraham Crawford joined the Royal Navy and assumed the rank of captain in 1829. In 1831 Captain Crawford married Sophia Mockler, daughter of Rev. James Mockler. In 1849 he retired from the navy and in 1865 was given the rank of admiral. In 1869 Admiral Abraham Crawford died at Teignmouth.[28]

Rev. Thomas Crawford had more than one daughter but we know only about the youngest. On 26^th May 1812 Francis, the youngest daughter of Rev. Thomas Crawford, married Rev. John Swayne (curate at Monanimy (Killavullen) in 1811 and curate at Kilworth in 1819), eldest son of John Swayne of Midleton, and had issue. Rev. John Swayne later served as rector of Ballymurreen (Magorban) in the diocese of Cashel.[29] Rev. John Swayne was the father of Charles Broderick Swayne, Abraham Crawford Swayne, Edward Crawford Swayne, Richard Woodward Swayne and Frances Swayne Singleton. On 25^th November 1866 Rev. Swayne died at Margorban, Co. Tipperary.[30]

In May 1822 Rev. Thomas Crawford died – his burialplace is unknown.[31]

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[1] Burtchaell, G.D., & Sadleir, T.U. (eds.), Alumni Dublinenses (3 vols. Bristol, 2001), vol. 1, p. 189

[2] O’Byrne, E. (ed.), The Convert Rolls: the calendar of the Convert Rolls, 1703-1838 (Dublin, 2005), p. 53

[3] Rennison, Rev. W.H., Succession List of the Bishop, Cathedral and Parochial Clergy of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore (Dublin, 1920), pp. 181, 182

[4] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 183

[5] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 182

[6] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 132

[7] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 56

[8] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 132

[9] Carlisle, N., A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Volume 3 (London, 1810), Derrygrath

[10] Erck, J.C., The Ecclesiastical Register; Containing the Names of the Prelates, Dignitaries and Parochial Clergy in Ireland (Dublin, 1820), pp. 92, 93

[11] Returns of the Several Dioceses in Ireland, 1806, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, chancellor of Lismore

[12] Carlisle, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Volume 3, Derrygrath

[13] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 132

[14] Various writers, At School by the River Bend (Cappoquin, 2007), p. 147

[15] Casey, A.E., & O’Dowling, T., O’Kief, Coshe Many, Slieve Loughter and Upper Blackwater in Ireland(15 vols. Wisconsin, 1964), vol. 6, pp. 344, 369

[16] R.B. MacCarthy, The diocese of Lismore, 1801-69 (Dublin, 2008), p. 56, note 37

[17] The Brighton Magazine, 1822, p. 697

[18] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, p. 79

[19] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, pp. 76, 77, 79

[20] Rennison, Succession List of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore (Dublin, 1920), p. 79

[21] https://www.dib.ie/biography/curran-sarah-a2323 (accessed on 9th February 2022)

[22] National Library of Ireland, MS 8905

[23] Murphy and Chamberlain, Mankind for a Monument: the poetry of John Philpot Curran (London, 2014), p. 189

[24] Murphy and Chamberlain, Mankind for a Monument: the poetry of John Philpot Curran, p. 79

[25] The Gentleman’s Magazine, Volume 89, Part 1 (January-July 1819); Volume 125, p. 378

[26] De Breffny, B., ‘Extracts from Admiralty passing certificates, 1802-1808’, in The Irish Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 12 (September 1967), pp. 501-505, at p. 504

[27] Brown, A.G., ‘The Irish Sea-Officers of the Royal Navy, 1793-1815’, in The Irish Sword, Vol. XXI, No. 86 (Winter, 1999), pp. 393-429

[28] Boase, F., Modern English Biography (4 vols. London, 1894) Vol. 1, Crawford, Abraham

[29] Casey & O’Dowling (eds.), OKief, Coshe Many, Slieve Loughter and Upper Blackwater, vol. 6, p. 927

[30] www.wikitree.com John Swayne (abt. 1786-1866)

[31] The Brighton Magazine, 1822, p. 697

Mallow to Waterford Diesel Locomotives: A Class

 Mallow to Waterford Diesel Locomotives: A Class

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

“A” Class

As late as 1948 a report for Córas Iompair Éireann recommended continuing with steam tractor traction and proposed building 50 new steam trains. Meanwhile in the late 1940s the Inchicore works experimented with building five diesel-electric locomotives which proved successful. In 1950 Oliver Bulleid was appointed as Chief Mechanical Engineer from his work with Southern Railways in England. Bulleid favoured buying North American locomotives but a shortage of dollars meant the government favoured a British manufacture. In 1954 CIE signed a contract with Metropolitan-Vickers for 90 locomotives of which 60 were to have a Co-Co wheel arrangement and 1,200hp and these units became known as A Class with the letter A signifying the top power rating of the planned diesel fleet. The Co-Co wheel arrangement means three axles on each bogie given 6 wheels per bogie and twelve per locomotive. [Source: Irish Railway Models, Córas Iompair Éireann/Irish Rail, A/001 Class Diesel-Electric Locomotive (Dublin, 2021), pp. 1, 2]

Metropolitan-Cammell of Birmingham made the bodywork while the bogies were by the English Steel Castings Corporation of Sheffield. The bogies proved highly successful and it was said that on the worst line in Ireland that you wouldn’t feel a bump. The engines were manufactured by Crossley Brothers of Manchester. The locomotives were assembled at Dukinfield with delivery beginning in 1955. The A Class pulled passenger and freight trains across the network. The braking system on the A Class was very responsive to its work load, especially working loose couple freight trains. The Crossley engines were not so satisfactory. Although powerful the engine caused excessive vibrations and imbalanced the locomotive. In 1968 the engines were replaced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division 1,325hp engines. A58 and A59 were the first two to get the new engines and had the letter R applied to their loco number to become A58R and A59R. The GM motors saved the A Class from the scrap yard as the Crossley engines cost an arm and a leg to maintain. [Source: Irish Railway Models, Córas Iompair Éireann/Irish Rail, A/001 Class Diesel-Electric Locomotive (Dublin, 2021), pp. 2, 3, 7]

The specifications of the A Class were 51feet long with a wheel base of 12foot 3inches and a wheel diameter of 3foot 2inches. The locomotive weighted 85 tons with an axle load of 14.1 tons. The Crossley V8 engine gave a max speed of 75 miles per hour with a traction effort of 61,000lbs (pounds). Before getting the GM motors the locomotives often developed oil leaks in the engine room and had a high failure rate with the cabs noisy and draughty. After re-engineering the locomotives proved to be the work horses of the system with few failures and better driver comfort. [Source: Jack O’Neill, Engines and Men, Irish Railways: a View from the Footplate (Portlaw, 2005), pp. 59, 60] Michael Baker once travelled between Waterford and Cork via Dungarvan in a passenger train pulled by an A Class loco with a Crossley engine. The machine billowed brown smoke and proceeded with a ‘continuous shattering roar’. The engine struggled on the steeper inclines pulling the wooden-bodied carriages. [Source: Michael Baker, Irish Railways Since 1916 (London, 1972), p. 151] The re-engineering programme only began with A58 in 1968, a year too late to have any chance to prove itself on the Mallow to Waterford line.

In 1955 the A Class arrived with a silver grey livery which proved to be ill suited to the Irish weather. Over the next forty years the locomotives received various different liveries from green to black and tan, to super-train livery and everything in between. [Source: Tom Ferris, Irish Railways in colour: From Steam to Diesel 1955-1967 (Dublin, 1992), pp. 88, 89] In 1972 CIE replaced the letter classification to a number system and the A Class became the 001 Class. In 1977 the arrival of the 071 Class displayed the 001 to branch duty. By 1990 some 43 locomotives of the A Class were still in service but these were quickly withdrawn by the arrival of the 201 Class. The lack of air brakes to handle the new freight liner trains of the late 1970s onwards meant that the A Class was left to do secondary work on the network. In 1995 the last A Class was withdrawn. [Source: Irish Railway Models, Córas Iompair Éireann/Irish Rail, A/001 Class Diesel-Electric Locomotive (Dublin, 2021), p. 4]

A39r at Downpatrick

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Loco number A9: in 1966 Tony Price travelled in the cab of A9 between Dungarvan and Waterford (driven by Harry Acheson of Waterford) as it hauled a goods train and took a film of the journey. [Source: Irish Railway Record Society film uploaded to YouTube entitled CIÉ A Class A9 – Dungarvan to Waterford Railway (1966) = accessed on 31^st October 2020]

In 1967 loco A9 was filmed by Tony Price at Ballyduff hauling a goods train from Waterford to Mallow. On another occasion A9 was filmed at Cappagh station pulling a freight train from Mallow to Waterford. She was in the black livery with the CIE broken wheel logo on the side. [Source: Irish Railway Record Society film uploaded to YouTube entitled CIÉ – Passenger + Freight trains @ Mallow – Waterford (1967) = accessed on 31^st October 2020]

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Loco number A11: in March 1963 loco A11 was photographed at Fermoy station pulling a west bound goods train. Beside it on the station platform was B141 pulling a passenger train bound for Cork while loco 90 was standing in the Mitchelstown platform. [Source: photo uploaded to Facebook group “North Cork Railways by Paudie McGrath on 19^th September 2020 = https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10223944706501185&set=pcb.1337308653274373 accessed 26^th November 2020]

In 1982 Tony Price filmed 011 passing through Kilmacthomas station as the driver collected the token from Jim Kirwan, the signalman. The loco was pulling 20 freight cars possibly containing dolomite for Ballinacourty. Another part of the film shows 011 parked at Ballinacourty with some Quigley magnesite factory workers and the C.I.E. crew standing in front of it. [Source: Irish Railway Record Society film uploaded to YouTube entitled CIÉ – Freight trains @ Ballinacourty to Waterford Railway (1982) = accessed 31^st October 2020]

A11 remained in service on the Irish railway network for many years after the closure of the Mallow to Waterford line. In 1988 she was filmed by Joe St Leger pulling a permanent way train around Mallow area. [Source: Irish Railway Record Society film uploaded to YouTube entitled CIÉ A Class PWD-trains @ Mallow (1988) = accessed 7^th December 2021]

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Loco number A19r: in 1971 Joe St. Leger filmed A19r pulling a fifteen car magnesite train from Ballinacourty to Tivoli in Cork through Limerick Junction. [Source: Irish Railway Record Society film uploaded to YouTube entitled CIÉ – Passenger + Freight trains @ Limerick Junction & Rathpeacon (1971) = accessed on 31^st October 2020]

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Loco number A20: in about 1960 Tom Tobin photographed the A20 at Dungarvan station pulling a passenger train westwards to Fermoy and Mallow. It appears to have the grey livery. [Source: Waterford County Museum, No. TT476]

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Loco number 030: on 6^th June 1975 Liam O’Mahony took a photograph of loco 030 near the magnesite plant at Ballinacourty pulling a train of tanker wagons. The photograph included Liam O’Mahony sitting on a farm gate with the train driver looking out of the cab right window. [Source: Waterford County Museum, No. UK2519] 

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Loco number A39r: this loco was a member of the A class of locomotives. In January 1971 Joe St. Leger filmed the A39r pulling a lifting train between Abbeyside and the Ballinacourty junction. The train uplifted and took away both rails and sleepers. [Source: Irish Railway Record Society film uploaded to YouTube entitled CIÉ A Class A39R lifting train – Ballinacourty-Dungarvan (1971) = accessed on 31^st October 2020]

The A39r is persevered by the Irish Traction Group in Co. Down at the D.C.D.R.

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Loco number 041: in July 1982 number 041 pulled a five car passenger train for the Irish Railway Record Society between Waterford and Ballinacourty and back on a farewell tour of the railway. She had the black and tan livery. [Source: film by Tom Ryan posted on the Facebook page Mallow Fermoy Lismore Waterford Railway & Branch Lines on 3^rd December 2020]

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Ballinacourty Magnesite Factory and the Railway

Ballinacourty Magnesite Factory and the Railway

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

The Quigley Magnesite Limited factory at Ballinacourty by the sea, and east of Dungarvan, operated from 1970 to 1982 producing magnesite which was used in the manufacture of heavy duty furnace bricks.[1] The factory was situated beside Ballinacourty lighthouse and is now (2021) the location of the Gold Coast golf course. It used dolomite limestone from Bennettsbridge to manufactory the magnesite. The enterprise was established by John A. Mulcahy, an emigrant with ancestors in the Dungarvan area. The plant was built in 1969 by P.J. Hegarty and Sons of Cork.[2] The railway network was an essential component in the success of the enterprise. The Waterford to Kilkenny railway passed along the west side of the quarry at Bennettsbridge, just south of milepost 32. Freight wagons carried the dolomite to Waterford where it passed over the Suir Railway Bridge and onto the Waterford to Dungarvan railway. At milepost 49 a short spur line of 1½ miles was built off the Waterford to Dungarvan railway to reach the Ballinacourty factory. On 4^th September 1968 Córas Iompair Éireann (C.I.É.) applied to the Minister for Transport and Power for permission to construct the new line of track. A ministerial order of 9^th December 1968 gave powers to C.I.É. to compulsory purchase the necessary land, and to build the single line of railway.[3]

030 brings full oil wagons and empty magnesite wagons to Ballinacourty (Waterford County Museum photo)

Not everybody in Ballinacourty was happy with the new railway. The area was noted for its early potatoes and the new railway seemed to like travelling across the best of farmland.[4] Although angry at first, the local farmers accepted the railway.[5] They possibly found the seemingly endless white clouds that came out of the magnesite factory more irritating.

On 5^th June 1968 Deputy Richard Barry, T.D. (Fine Gael, North-East Cork), asked Deputy Patrick Lalor, T.D. (Fianna Fail, Laois-Offaly, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Power), if it was intended by C.I.É. to re-open the Mallow to Waterford railway for passengers and freight following the awarding of a contract to bring dolomite to the proposed new Ballinacourty factory. The last service on the Mallow to Waterford line ended on Saturday 25^th March 1967.[6] Deputy Lalor replied that C.I.É. had no intention of re-opening the line for passengers or freight. Instead the Waterford to Ballinacourty line was purely just for the dolomite traffic and the magnesite would be transported to Cork via Waterford and Limerick Junction.[7] C.I.É. said the magnesite/oil train between Cork and Ballinacourty would not of itself make it economic to open the line between Ballinacourty and Mallow. By March 1968 a large section of the railway between Lismore (milepost 32) and Ballyhane (milepost 38) east of Cappoquin had already been removed. This was even done before an extraordinary general meeting of the Fishguard & Rosslare Railway Company (owners of the line) on 4^th April 1968 approved the Abandonment Order and appointed C.I.É. to implement the winding up proceedings.[8] Deputy Thomas Kyne, T.D. (Labour, Waterford), asked Deputy Lalor, T.D., if the 1½ miles of track from Dungarvan to the proposed Ballinacourty junction be retained so to allow passenger services to continue between Dungarvan and Waterford. Deputy Lalor expressed no personal objections but that the re-opening of the line was only for a specific purpose.[9]

On 3^rd April 1970 the first dolomite train travelled over the newly reconditioned Waterford to Ballinacourty railway.[10] The line was in pretty good condition in 1970 to take the heavy freight traffic.[11] The first production manager at Quigley-Magnesite was Frank O’Riordan. Yet the satisfaction of seeing the new factory begin operations and provide employment in the Dungarvan was short lived for John Mulcahy. The cost of setting up the facility was a bit too much and in 1971 John Mulcahy sold the factory.[12] Fortunately the new owners, Pfizers, were willing to continue operations for another eleven years.

Initially there were two dolomite trains at day travelling in each direction with one train a day service to Cork. The business for C.I.É. was worth about £1½ million per year.[13] The service with Cork supplied the factory with usually five tank wagons of heavy fuel oil and about a dozen empty magnesite wagons. The return journey carried the loaded magnesite wagons to Tivoli, east of Cork, for export and the empty oil wagons. Occasionally the empty dolomite wagons would collect ballast at Carroll’s Cross quarry as the railway line passed through the quarry.[14]

The magnesite/oil train between Ballinacourty and Cork was usually pulled by an A Class diesel locomotive.[15] The A Class locomotives were built in 1955 by Metropolitan-Vickers using parts made by Metro-Cammell and engines by the Crossley Works. The original Crossley engine was insufficient for the mainline work asked of the A Class and so in 1968-70 the locomotives received the better General Motors engine from the US and so could work the freight trains.[16] The loaded wagons were placed next behind the locomotive for better braking effect. Thus coming from Cork the oil wagons were next to the locomotive with the empty magnesite wagons at the rear. On the return journey the magnesite wagons would be next to the locomotive with the empty oil wagons at the rear.[17] A20r pulled such a train towards Cork as seen on the section of track between Clonmel and Cahir.[18]

The oil tankers and the magnesite wagons began their journey at Tivoli but were hauled as separate trains through Glanmire station and Glanmire tunnel uphill as far as Rathpeacon. There a number of sidings beside the double track mainline allowed the two trains to be joined into one train for the long journey to Ballinacourty. At Limerick Junction the locomotive had to do a run around and push the train around a curved track onto the Limerick railway. After straightening up and given the all clear to cross the Cork-Dublin mainline, the driver received the staff from the signalman as he proceeded onto the Waterford bound railway.[19] At Waterford the locomotive had to run around the train again so as to face the curved track onto the Suir Railway Bridge. As he went the driver would have received another staff to take him as far as Kilmacthomas where Jim Kirwan exchanged the staff for another one to allow the train to proceed onwards to Ballinacourty. The Dungarvan to Mallow railway would have eliminated all that running around by a short west facing spur line at Ballinacourty junction with an east facing spur for the dolomite trains.

Sometimes, depending on production schedules, an A Class locomotive would bring a train of only empty magnesite wagons to Ballinacourty, usually about 15 to 22, and return to Waterford with just empty oil tank cars, usually 5 wagons. A loaded magnesite train would be about 15 to 22 wagons. The number of oil cars varied between 3 and 5 wagons. Sometimes empty oil wagons would be left in the sidings at Kilmacthomas station.[20] Occasionally a longer 9 to 10 empty oil wagons train came off the Ballinacourty railway across the Suir Bridge and onto Cork hauled sometimes by A8r. This 10 wagon train would later return to Ballinacourty from Cork with full wagons without any magnesite wagons.[21] In the beginning the magnesite wagons were often covered with just a tarpaulin cover.[22] Later an iron roof was placed over the wagons which could be opened and closed for loading and unloading.[23]    

The dolomite train was usually hauled by a pair of locomotives of the 141 Class.[24] The 141 Class were built by General Motors of the USA and introduced in 1962 with double cabs. The heavy dolomite trains often required the driver to work the route with the throttle at full power.[25] Before the development of the Tara Mines railway freight traffic, the dolomite trains from Bennettsbridge to Ballinacourty were the heaviest on the railway network. The dolomite train was usually about 24 wagons long.[26] Occasionally a single 141 Class locomotive would haul a short dolomite train of about a dozen wagons between Bennettsbridge and Ballinacourty as B144 did in 1971.[27] The Waterford to Ballinacourty railway was serviced by the engineering department at Waterford station. Line inspection vans, permanent way crew, weed spraying train and mechanical serving units at various times travelled and worked on the line.

Ballinacourty freight wagons
	Dolomite	Magnesite	Oil
Capacity	20 tonnes	20 tonnes	20 tonnes
Load empty	10 tonnes	10 tonnes	12 tonnes
Maximum load	30 tonnes	30 tonnes	32 tonnes
Car numbers	26612/26627	26590/26593	26570/26589
Car numbers	26632/26635	26595/26596	26628/26631
Car numbers	26594/26597/26598	26599/26600	26636/26652
Car numbers	26601/26607/26610	26602/26606	26723/26728
Car numbers	26760/26769	26608/26609
Car numbers		26611

To extract the magnesite from the dolomite the rock needed to be mixed with sea salt hence the location of the factory at Ballinacourty beside the sea. The factory was able to achieve an extraction rate of 92%.[28] Apart from the endless white clouds across Dungarvan Bay, the factory was a major boost to the local economy. Some 150 workers were employed at the factory generating about £1½ million in annual wages for the local economy. Local business also benefitted from about £3½ million in local supply contracts.

Before the Ballinacourty factory closed in 1982 the volume of magnesite transported to Cork/Tivoli by rail had decreased with an increasing amount carried by road as there were difficulties offloading the railway wagons at Tivoli.[29] By 1982 the Quigley-Magnesite Company discovered magnesium carbonate in East Asia that could be extracted cheaper by open cast mining. The seams at Bennettsbridge were still available and further seams of dolomite limestone were available at the Ballyellen quarry on the east side of the River Barrow. The manufacturing process could also be done cheaper in Asia.[30] Another consideration was that the factory had outlived the ten year obligatory period for state grant aid. Thus the company announced the closure of the factory in 1982. The last railway traffic serving the factory was made on 28^th July 1982.[31] Inspection cars and the occasional locomotive without any wagons travelled the line until 1990.   

In August 1993 the Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company announced that they intended to abandon the railway between Waterford West junction and milepost 49 on the Waterford/Ballinacourty railway. The 1½ mile rail line from milepost 49 to the former Ballinacourty factory was owned by C.I.É. The crossover at Waterford West was discounted and the signals were removed. On Sunday 21^st November 1993 the line at Waterford West was converted into a railway siding.[32] The track was lifted using diggers and excavators. Much of the track was recycled for use elsewhere on the railway network.[33] In 1997 a group was formed in Waterford with the purpose of building a narrow gauge railway between Kilmeaden and Waterford. In 2002 the group took on their first passengers as the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway with the line extending from Kilmeaden to Bilberry by 2004.[34] In the 1990s the Gold Coast Golf Club purchased the derelict Quigley-Magnesite factory. The site was cleared of its industrial past and the Club’s previous 9-hole golf course was expanded into an 18-hole one.[35]

Weed spray train at Ballinacourty (Waterford County Museum photo)

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[1] Waterford County Museum, photo image, No. UK2530

[2] Power, Patrick C., A history of Dungarvan Town and District (Dungarvan, 2000), p. 294

[3] Shepherd, Ernie, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company: An illustrated history (Newtownards, 2015), pp. 161, 162

[4] Cantwell, Eddie, The Way it Was, Ballinacourty, Ballinroad & Clonea: The Families & their History (Dungarvan, 2004), pp. 14, 16

[5] Barry, Michael, Tales of the Permanent Way: Stories from the Heart of Ireland’s Railways (Dublin, 2009), p. 87

[6] Flaherty, Cian, William Fraher, Julian Walton & Willie Whelan (eds.), The Towns & Villages of the Waterford Greenway: a history of Dungarvan, Abbeyside, Stradbally, Kilmacthomas, Portlaw & Waterford City (Dungarvan, 2018), p. 254

[7] Dáil Éireann debates, Vol. 235, No. 4, 5^th June 1968, oral questions and answers, Mallow-Waterford Railway Line.

[8] Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company, p. 162

[9] Dáil Éireann debates, Vol. 235, No. 4, 5^th June 1968, oral questions and answers, Mallow-Waterford Railway Line.

[10] Baker, Michael H.C., Irish Railways Since 1916 (London, 1972), p. 151

[11] Barry, Tales of the Permanent Way: Stories from the Heart of Ireland’s Railways, p. 87

[12] Power, A history of Dungarvan Town and District, p. 294, based on information given by Frank O’Riordan to Patrick C. Power, 21^st March 1999

[13] Flaherty, Fraher, Walton & Whelan (eds.), The Towns & Villages of the Waterford Greenway, p. 254

[14] www.irishrailwaymodeller.com questions and answers, Waterford Station, answer posted 17^th October 2014 by Junctionmad who occasionally travelled on the dolomite train and saw it stop at Carroll’s Cross (accessed 8^th November 2021)

[15] www.irishrailwaymodeller.com questions and answers, Waterford Station, answer posted 17^th October 2014 by aclass007 (accessed 8^th November 2021)

[16] Baker, Irish Railways Since 1916, pp. 171, 188

[17] www.irishrailwaymodeller.com questions and answers, Waterford Station, answer posted 10^th October 2014 by aclass007 (accessed 8^th November 2021)

[18] Irish Railway Record Society, film, Irish Railway Film Show-“From Cork to Mayo and the Suir Valley” by Joe St Leger/Ciarán Cooney as seen on YouTube

[19] Irish Railway Record Society, film, Irish Railway Film Show-“From Cork to Mayo and the Suir Valley” by Joe St Leger/Ciarán Cooney as seen on YouTube

[20] Irish Railway Record Society, film, CIÉ-Freight Trains @ Ballinacourty to Waterford Railway (1982) as seen on YouTube

[21] Irish Railway Record Society, film, Irish Railway Film Show-“From Cork to Mayo and the Suir Valley” by Joe St Leger/Ciarán Cooney as seen on YouTube

[22] Irish Railway Record Society, film, Irish Railway Film Show-“From Cork to Mayo and the Suir Valley” by Joe St Leger/Ciarán Cooney as seen on YouTube

[23] Irish Railway Record Society, film, CIÉ-Freight Trains @ Ballinacourty to Waterford Railway (1982) as seen on YouTube

[24] www.irishrailwaymodeller.com questions and answers, Waterford Station, answer posted 17^th October 2014 by aclass007 (accessed 8^th November 2021)

[25] O’Neill, Jack, Engines and Men, Irish Railways: a View from the Footplate (Portlaw, 2005), p. 63

[26] Irish Railway Record Society, film, CIÉ-Freight Trains @ Ballinacourty to Waterford Railway (1982) as seen on YouTube

[27] Irish Railway Record Society, film, CIÉ-Passenger + Freight trains @ Waterford West (1971) as seen on YouTube

[28] Power, A history of Dungarvan Town and District, p. 294

[29] www.irishrailwaymodeller.com questions and answers, Waterford Station, answer posted 18^th October 2014 by aclass007 (accessed 8^th November 2021)

[30] Power, A history of Dungarvan Town and District, p. 294

[31] Anon, ‘Irish Railway News’, in the Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society, Vol. 18, No. 123 (February 1994), pp. 353-363, at p. 359

[32] Anon, ‘Irish Railway News’, in the Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society, Vol. 18, No. 123 (February 1994), pp. 353-363, at p. 359

[33] Barry, Tales of the Permanent Way: Stories from the Heart of Ireland’s Railways, p. 87

[34] Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company, pp. 173, 174

[35] Power, A history of Dungarvan Town and District, p. 294

Kilmeaden Railway Station Staff

Kilmeaden Railway Station Staff

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

In 1872 construction began on building the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway which linked the city of Waterford via a station at Bilberry on the south side of the River Suir with the town of Lismore via Dungarvan. At Lismore the line joined the existing Fermoy & Lismore Railway (opened 1872) which took passengers and goods to Fermoy from where they continued on to Mallow via a railway built in 1860. The line took six years to build and was opened in August 1878. Kilmeaden was the first station on the line out of Waterford after the railway had passed along by the River Suir. The location of the station not only facilitated local access for passengers and goods to the port cities of Waterford and Cork but also had good road communication with the important industrial town of Portlaw. In 1906 the construction of the Suir Railway Bridge linked the Mallow to Waterford line with the station at Waterford North. This connection allowed the through run of the Rosslare express from the ferry at Rosslare to Cork via the new South Wexford Railway. The bridge also connected Kilmeaden with the other railway lines in the south-east such as through Kilkenny and Carlow and a more direct route to Dublin than going all the way around via Mallow. [Cian Flaherty, William Fraher, Julian Walton & Willie Whelan (eds.), The Towns and Villages of the Waterford Greenway (Dungarvan, 2018), pages 246, 250]

Modern Kilmeaden Railway Station

In 1916 a number of local farmers in the Kilmeaden area came together to form Kilmeaden Co-op and a new creamery was built in the village. The first month of operations (October 1916) processed 10,932 gallons of milk and by July 1920 some 38,000 gallons per month was received. The railway facilitated the transportation of this milk and process butter and cheese to Waterford, Cork and further afield. The train time table allowed a few minutes for the engines of passenger trains to attach freight cars of milk and butter for transportation to the big cities. [Michael Carberry, (edited by Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin), Ballyduff-Kilmeaden: Portrait of a Parish (Kilmeaden, 1998), page 31]

Since before 1900, the Mallow to Waterford railway had competed with the Waterford and Limerick Railway for the best connection between the Rosslare ferry and Cork city. The 1906 gave the route through Kilmeaden the edge but it was never outright victory for the southern route. In 1950 CIE proposed closing the Mallow to Waterford railway and send the ferry train through Clonmel and Limerick Junction but this was opposed locally and the idea was put on the back burner. In 1959 CIE changed the train time table and made the Rosslare express stand at Mallow for ten minutes so as to give the impression that the route was slow. On 26^th March 1967 the last passenger train passed through Kilmeaden as CIE finally won its plan to close the line. Work at dismantling the line began almost overnight at Mallow and had reached Dungarvan before the building of the Quigley Magnesite factory at Ballinacourty required the reopening of the line between Waterford and Ballinacourty. CIE agreed to this but removed the track between Ballinacourty and Dungarvan to make sure the line was only for freight traffic. Government regulations and the changing economic environment forced the closure of the factory in 1982 and the last loaded freight train passed through Kilmeaden on 28^th April 1982. [Cian Flaherty, William Fraher, Julian Walton & Willie Whelan (eds.), The Towns and Villages of the Waterford Greenway (Dungarvan, 2018), pages 250, 254] The permanent way was thereafter occasionally inspected by an inspection railcar and a loco engine until 1990. In August 1993 the Fishguard & Rosslare Railway Company got permission to remove the tracks while CIE were allowed to remove the short section of track between Ballinacourty and milepost 49. [Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society, Vol. 18, No. 123 (February 1994), page 359]

It was likely that the permanent way between Waterford and Ballinacourty would be totally destroyed like that between Mallow and Dungarvan but ideas of opening the line as a heritage railway quickly surfaced. It was considered that reopening the full line with the standard gauge to be overly ambitious so a narrow gauge railway was begun at Kilmeaden station in 2003 and it has progressively extended the line back towards Waterford city and presently (2021) reaches the old WD&LR station at Bilberry. The old line from Bilberry to Dungarvan was opened in 2017 as a greenway with a hard surface roadway for walkers and cyclists. 

John Connington, station master = in April 1885 Mr. Connington was the station master at Kilmeaden when on 17^th April their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the station. They were accompanied by Prince Albert Victor, the Marquess of Ormond, the Earl and Countess of Listowel along with Lord and Lady Lismore. The royal party was greeting by the station decked out with flowers and flags along with a large police presence and a large crowd of local people observing in silence from the railway bridge overlooking the station. [Ian d’Alton, ‘Before Molly Keane: image and reality in the lives of the nineteenth-century gentry of east Cork and west Waterford’, in Decies, No. 70 pp. 85-101, at p. 91, note 30 a transcript of the newspaper article in the Waterford News, 19^th April 1885]

In 1901 census records a John Connington, aged 50, as a station master at Carrick-on-Suir. He was originally from County Mayo. John could read and write but only speak English. He was a Roman Catholic as was his wife Margaret Connington. Margaret Connington, aged 43, was a native of County Waterford and could read and write. In the house at Knocknaconnery was a general servant, Mary Connington, aged 14. The house was the Carrick-on-Suir station house owned by the GS&WR and had three rooms within for the family use with four windows in the front elevation and no outbuildings. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901] By 1911 John Connington had moved house to become the station master at Milltown in County Kerry. Living with him at house number 4 in Rathpoge East was his wife of 27 years Margaret Connington. The couple had no children of their own and nobody else lived in the house. The house was separate from the railway station house and had six rooms with four windows in the front elevation and no outbuildings. It was owned by the GS&WR as was the house of Timothy Sullivan next door. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

John Burgess, station master = in September 1889 John Burgess was appointed station master at Kilmeaden. [Ernie Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company (Newtownards, 2015), page 273] The periods of employment at Kilmeaden station of John Burgess, George Mulcahy and James Cunningham appear to be a bit incoherent in the published history books and warrants further investigation. 

George Mulcahy, station master = on 1^st May 1892 George Mulcahy was appointed station master at Kilmeaden. It would seem that George only stayed a short time before he was replaced by James Cunningham in 1893 but George was reappointed station master at Kilmeaden on 25^th April 1904. [Ernie Shepherd, Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company (Newtownards, 2015), page 273]

James Cunningham, station master = in 1893 James Cunningham was the station master at Kilmeaden [Guy’s Postal Directory, 1893, County Waterford, page 47] In 1901 census records a James Cunningham, aged 50, who was a railway ganger in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. The 1901 census records a James Cunningham, aged 44, at Cooltederry near Portarlington who was a train examiner. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

John Burgess, station master = In 1901 John Burgess was the station master at Kilmeaden. John Burgess was then 28 years old, a Roman Catholic, born in County Waterford who could read and write but not speak any Irish. John Burgess was unmarried in 1901 and lived with Kate Power, aged 67, an unmarried house keeper who could read and write and was born in County Waterford. John Burgess described himself as the son of Kate Power yet Kate said she was unmarried. John and Kate lived in the station master’s house which had four rooms, five windows in the front elevation and one outbuilding. The Great Southern & Western Railway Company owned the building which still stands today (2021). [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

In 1911 John Burgess was aged 40 and a mill labourer at Kilmeaden. He was married to Mary Burgess for six years and they had four children, three sons (John, aged 6; Patrick, aged 1 and Francis a few weeks old) and one daughter (Kate, aged 3). They lived in a house rented from Robert Ardagh. The house had three rooms with three windows in the front elevation and one outbuilding. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Francis Lappin, station master = in 1901 Francis Lappin (aged 22) was living in Bennetsbridge where he worked as a postman. He lived with his sister Jane Lappin, aged 24. Both were born in County Kilkenny and members of the Church of Ireland. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901] In 1911 Francis Lappin, aged 31, from County Kilkenny, was the station master at Kilmeaden. He could read and write and was a member of the Church of Ireland. Francis Lappin was married to Kate Lappin (aged 30, from County Waterford) for six years and they had three children of whom only one, Martha, was alive in 1911. On census night there were two visitors in the station master’s house; Maurice Herbert, aged 74, a gardener from County Cork and Martha Stafford, aged 14, a school pupil from County Kilkenny. Both were members of the Church of Ireland. Maurice Herbert was a widower along with being deaf and dumb. The station master’s house had seven rooms with five windows in the front elevation and one outbuilding, a fowl house. Initially somebody wrote on the census form that the G.S. & W.R. Company owned the house but this was later crossed out. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Patrick O’Keeffe, railway porter = in 1901 Patrick O’Keeffe was a railway porter at Kilmeaden station and he lived in the townland of Stonehouse. Patrick O’Keeffe was aged 24 years, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. In 1901 Patrick O’Keeffe was unmarried and lived with his widowed father and three sisters. Patrick’s father was William O’Keeffe, a railway labourer. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Peter Sweeney, railway porter = in 1911 Peter Sweeney, aged 17, was a railway porter at Kilmeaden station. He lived in the townland of Gortaclade with his father Edmond Sweeney (general labourer at the woollen mill) and his mother Kate Sweeney. Also in the house were Peter’s five brothers and two sisters.  [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Michael Cuddihey, railway labourer = in 1901 Michael Cuddihey lived in house number 15 in the townland of Kilmeaden, County Waterford. Michael was 52 years old, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. He was married to Bridget Cuddihey, aged 46, a house keeper and native of County Waterford who could not read or write. The couple had four sons (Thomas, 19; Edmond, 12; Patrick, 10 and Michael, aged 7) and four daughters (Kate, 17; Bridget, 15; Margaret, 5 and Ann aged 1) who were all born in County Waterford. Michael Cuddihey lived in his own house with four rooms, three windows in the front elevation and one outbuilding. The house was built of stone with a slate roof. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

In 1911 Michael Cuddihey, aged 62, was described as a milesman for the Great Southern and Western Railway Company. He was married to Bridget Cuddihey for 34 years and they had ten children of whom nine were alive in 1911. In 1911 one son (Patrick) and three daughters (Maggie, aged 15; Annie, aged 11 and Katie, aged 9) lived in the family home and all were unmarried. Patrick Cuddihey also worked as a milesman for the railway. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Patrick Cuddihey, railway milesman = in 1911 Patrick Cuddihey was a railway milesman for the Great Southern and Western Railway operating in the Kilmeaden area. His father Michael Cuddihey was also a milesman making the Cuddihey household a railway family. Patrick Cuddihey was 20 years old, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. He was unmarried and lived with his parents and three sisters at house 14 in Kilmeaden townland. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Peter Dee, railway labourer = in 1901 Peter Dee lived in the townland of Kilmoyemoge East. Peter Dee was aged 59 years, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. Peter Dee could speak both Irish and English as could his wife Margaret. Margaret Dee was aged 56 years, a house keeper born in County Waterford. Living with the Dee family in 1901 was Margaret Mulcahy, a boarder aged 11 from County Tipperary who was a school pupil who could read and write. The Dee family lived in a house owned by the Great Southern and Western Railway. The house had two rooms with two windows in the front elevation and no outbuildings. The house was built with stone walls and had a slate roof. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

In 1911 Peter Dee described himself as a railway servant. He was married to Margaret Dee for 46 years and they had five children all of whom were still alive in 1911. Margaret Dee couldn’t read. Also in the house was Margaret Mulcahy, aged 20, who was still a boarder in the Dee household and worked as a dressmaker. She was unmarried and could speak only English but could read and write. Contrary to her statement in the 1901 census Margaret now said that she was born somewhere in County Waterford. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Train at Kilmeaden Station

Patrick Hearne, railway servant = in 1901 Patrick Hearne was a railway servant living house number 8 in the townland of Gortaclade in Kilmeaden District Electoral Division. Patrick Hearne was aged 55 years, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. Patrick Hearne was married to Bridget Hearne, aged 58, a house keeper born in County Waterford who could also read and write. They had two sons, Patrick (aged 22, labourer) and P. William (aged 15, scholar). The family lived in a house rented from Robert Ardagh that had three rooms and two windows in the front elevation with one outbuilding. The house had mud walls and a thatched roof. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

By 1911 Patrick Hearne had retired from the railway and was employed as a general labourer. Patrick and Bridget Hearne was still living in Gortaclade. They were married for 41 years and had seven children of whom six were still alive in 1911. At census time their son Patrick Hearne was living with them. Young Patrick was aged 34 years and was employed as a general labourer. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Thomas O’Keeffe, railway labourer = in 1901 Thomas O’Keeffe lived in house number 29 in the townland of Ballyduff East in the District Electoral Division of Kilmeadan. Thomas O’Keeffe was aged 50, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who couldn’t read. Thomas was married to Margaret O’Keeffe, aged 43 who was born in County Waterford and could read and write. The couple had two children, Anastasia, aged 11 and Patrick aged 5. They lived in a house rented from Mrs. K. Nichol that had two rooms and two windows in the front elevation with one outbuilding. The house had mud walls and a thatched roof. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

In 1911 Thomas O’Keeffe was employed as a railway milesman and was aged 62 years. Thomas could speak Irish and English. Thomas and his wife Margaret O’Keeffe were married 25 years and had two children of whom one (Patrick) was deceased by 1911. A granddaughter, Anastasia, was only a few weeks old. The records say their house was built with stone walls and had a thatched roof. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

William O’Keeffe, railway labourer = in 1901 William O’Keeffe lived in Stonehouse townland in the Kilmeaden District Electoral Division. William O’Keeffe was aged 50 years, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. By 1901 William O’Keeffe was a widower. In 1901 William lived with his son Patrick and his three daughters, Minnie (aged 22, domestic servant), Anastasia (aged 19, domestic servant) and Sarah (aged 12, scholar). In 1901 William’s son Patrick O’Keeffe was a railway porter at Kilmeaden station and lived in the family house. The O’Keefe house had four rooms with two windows in the front elevation and two outbuildings. It was built of stone with a slate roof. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Maurice Fitzgerald, general railway labourer = in 1911 Maurice Fitzgerald lived in house number 2 in the townland of Stonehouse. He was 31 years old, a Roman Catholic born in County Waterford who could read and write. He was married for 12 years to Kate Fitzgerald (aged 28) and they had three daughters who were all alive. Their children were Kate, aged 11; Bridget aged 1 and Mary a few weeks old. Kate junior could read and write. The house had only one room with only one window in the front elevation and no outbuildings. The house was made with mud walls and a thatch roof. It was rented from Daniel Lynch. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Richard and William Joy, engine drivers = the 1911 census records Richard (aged 25) and William Joy (aged 27) as living in the townland of Curraghataggart in Kilmeaden and that both were engine drivers. They lived with their mother Catherine Joy (widow), farmer, and brothers, Ned (aged 28, farmer’s son) and Michael (aged 21, farmer) with their sister Anastasia (aged 33, farmer’s daughter). All were unmarried. Their house had six rooms and three windows in the front elevation with five outbuildings. [National Archives of Ireland, census returns 1911] It is not clear if the Joy brothers were train engine drivers or drivers of steam lorries.

Robert McBride, signalman = in the 1960s Bob McBride was the signalman at Kilmeaden station. [Michael Carberry, (edited by Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin), Ballyduff-Kilmeaden: Portrait of a Parish (Kilmeaden, 1998), page 46]

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Ballyduff Upper Railway Station Staff

Ballyduff Upper Railway Station Staff

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

On 17^th May 1860 the Great Southern and Western Railway opened a 17 mile railway to Fermoy from Mallow at a cost of £109,000 or costing £6,411 per mile. [Bill Power, Fermoy on the Blackwater (Mitchelstown, 2009), page 194] In 1865 two railway companies were formed to connect Fermoy with Waterford city. The Waterford, Lismore and Fermoy Railway proposed to connect Waterford to Dungarvan and Fermoy to Lismore. The other company, the Clonmel, Lismore and Dungarvan Railway was to bridge the gap between Lismore and Dungarvan with a connecting line to Clonmel from Dungarvan. None of the two companies succeeded in attracting enough investment money. Late in the 1860s the Duke of Devonshire decided to build his own railway line between Fermoy and Lismore. In June 1869 The Fermoy and Lismore Railway Act was passed. On 26^th July 1872 the Duke of Devonshire made the first private railway journey on the line from Fermoy to Lismore and it was officially opened for business on 1^st October 1872. The local landlord, Basil Orpin, who was a solicitor acting for the Duke of Devonshire, got the station at Ballyduff erected on his land and near his own house. In 1878 the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway built the line to connect Lismore to Waterford and so establish the through line from Mallow to Waterford. Ballyduff had the lowest goods traffic on the network before and after 1878 so that its most important facility was as a double track station which allowed trains to pass each other on what was otherwise a single track line. Every train had to stop at Ballyduff to receive a token which would allow them to proceed into the next section of railway track. Although processing a signal box to regulate traffic Ballyduff appears to have had no full time signalman employed. Instead the station master or one of the porters worked the signal box. In a report on railway rationalisation in 1950 C.I.E. proposed closing the Mallow to Waterford railway but the powers that be said no. In 1966 C.I.E. tried again to close the line and were successful. On 25^th March 1967 the last passenger train stopped at Ballyduff and the line from Mallow to Waterford was closed. Demolition of the railway began almost immediately from Mallow towards Dungarvan. The fixture and fittings at Ballyduff station were removed and the station building was sold.

Ballyduff station 1961, photographer unknown, care of Waterford County Museum

James Jones, station master = in 1881 James Jones was station master at Ballyduff. [Slater’s Commercial Directory of Ireland, 1881, Munster, page 139] In 1886 James Jones was station master at Ballyduff [Guy’s Postal Directory, 1886] In 1901 a person called James Jones was station master at Milltown, County Kerry. He was 58 years old and was born in County Kerry. By 1901 James Jones was a widower. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901] On 24^th December 1903 James Jones, station master, died at Cork leaving effects worth £332 1s 9d. Administration of his estate was granted to Annie Maguire, widow. [Source = National Archives of Ireland, Calendar of Wills and Administrations 1858-1920]

Thomas O’Keeffe, station master = in 1893 Thomas O’Keeffe was the station master at Ballyduff [Guy’s Postal Directory, 1893, County Waterford, page 34] In 1901 a person called Thomas O’Keeffe (aged 34) was a railway goods agent at Tipperary town. He was born in County Cork and was married to Maria O’Keeffe (aged 34), born in County Waterford. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Denis A. O’Regan, station master = in 1901 Denis O’Regan (aged 36) lived in the station house at Ballyduff in Marshtown townland. Denis was born in Lismore, County Waterford. He declared on the census form that he could read and write as well as speak Irish and English. His wife, Mary E. O’Regan (aged 38) came from Kilcalf, near Tallow, Co. Waterford and her maiden name was Mary Connors. She could also read and write and speak both languages. They had a daughter, Mary Agnes (aged 4), and two sons, Maurice Joseph (2) and John Benedict (1). There was one visitor in the house on census night; Ellen Cunningham (aged 14). The station house had five rooms and five outbuildings, a shed and four store houses. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901] In 1911 Denis O’Regan was station master at Ballyhooly railway station. He was then 48 years old. His wife of 15 years, Mary Regan was aged 40. By 1911 they had seven children of whom six were alive. Mary (aged 14) and Maurice (aged 13) were both born in County Waterford while their other children, John (aged 11), Hannah (aged 10), Denis (aged 8) and Bridget (aged 5) were born in County Cork. All the family were Roman Catholics. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

Peter Carroll, station master = in 1911 Peter Carroll was the station master at Ballyduff and lived in the station house in the townland of Marshtown. Peter was 36 years old and was born in County Limerick. He could read and write and was a Roman Catholic. He was married to Anastasia Carroll (aged 35) for nine years and they had two children of whom one was living in 1911, Margaret (aged 4). Anastasia was born in County Limerick while Margaret was born in County Kildare. The station house had only one room for the family to live in and three outbuildings, a piggery, a fowl house and a store. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1911] In 1901 Peter Carroll was living in house number 3 in Power’s Court townland near Newbridge, County Kildare. He was unmarried and worked as a railway porter. Living with him was his brother, Denis Carroll (aged 24) who also worked as a railway porter and their uncle, Michael Carroll (aged 41), a farm labourer. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Christy Cusack, station master = by 1918 Christy Cusack was the station master at Ballyduff. In that year his young son, Dermot Cusack, was photographed standing on the station platform. in 1920 Christy Cusack was photographed at Ballyduff station in his railway uniform standing behind a bench upon which Jack O’Neill (in railway uniform) and Ned Higgins were sitting on. In 1924 Christy Cusack was photographed standing on the platform in suit, hat and dicky bow with a group of other Ballyduff waiting for the train to take them to the senior football county final. The game was played by Ballyduff against Rathgormuck and Ballyduff were victorious. Dermot Cusack was photographed in 1928 at Ballyduff in his confirmation suit suggesting that his father was still station master at Ballyduff. [Paddy John Feeney & Maurice Geary (eds.), Ballyduff Pictorial Past, volume one (Ballyduff, n.d.), pages 8, 11, 15, 18] It is not know where Christy Cusack came from or where he went after Ballyduff.

Hugh Collins, railway porter = in 1901 and 1911 Hugh Collins worked as a railway porter. In 1911 Hugh Collins lived in house number 3 in Ballyduff Upper townland. Hugh was then 40 years old and was born in County Waterford (in the 1901 census he was 28 years old). He could read and write as well as being able to speak Irish and English. He was married to Margaret Collins (aged 35) for six years. Margaret could also speak Irish and English along with reading and writing. She was born in County Cork. The couple had two children, John Joseph (aged 5) and Mary Catherine. Living in the house was Hugh’s father, John Collins (aged 78), a farm labourer born in County Waterford. In the 1901 census John Collins was described as a road contractor. John’s wife had died pre 1901 and his married daughter, Jane, did the house keeping. John Collins could read and write as well as speak Irish and English. The house had three rooms and four outbuildings, a stable, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901 and 1911]

John Corcoran, railway porter = in 1901 John Corcoran lived in house number two in Cloonbeg townland. John was aged 32 years and was born in County Cork. He could read and write and was married to Nora Corcoran (aged 27). Nora was born in County Waterford and could read and write. The couple had two sons, James (aged 2) and Thomas (aged 1). The house had three rooms and three outbuildings. The family rented the house from Basil Orpin. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Edward A. Coleman, railway milesman = in 1901 Edward Coleman (aged 26) lived in house number three in Glenagurteen townland. Edward was born in County Waterford as was his father and could read and write. In 1901 Edward was unmarried and lived with his father, Edmond Coleman (aged 74, farm labourer) and mother. Mary Coleman (aged 67, born county Cork). The house had three rooms and one outbuilding, a fowl house. The Coleman family rented the house from Hanora Maher [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Richard Barry, railway labourer = in 1911 Richard Barry lived in house number four in Ballinaroone East townland. He was 22 years old and was born in County Waterford. Richard was unmarried and lived with his widower father, John Barry (aged 70), an agricultural labourer. Richard could read and write while his father could only read. The house had two rooms and three outbuildings, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1911] In the 1901 census Richard’s mother, Anne (aged 46) was alive. She could only write and was described as deaf yet could speak Irish and English. Richard had a brother, William (aged 20) and two sisters, Mary (14) and Anne (aged 9). [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Jeremiah Keane, railway labourer = in 1911 Jeremiah Keane lived in house number one in Glenagurteen townland. He described himself as a labourer for the Great Southern and Western Railway. Jeremiah was 45 years old and was born in County Cork. He could read and write and was a Roman Catholic. Jeremiah was married for seven years to Minnie Keane (aged 30) and they had five children, Annie (13), John (7), Lizzie (5), Michael (2) and Maggie (3 months). Minnie Keane was born in County Waterford. The house had two rooms and two outbuildings, a piggery and a fowl house. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1911]

William O’Keeffe, railway labourer = in 1911 William O’Keefe lived in house number four in Ballyduff Lower townland. He was then aged 42 years old and was married to Mary O’Keeffe (aged 33) for nine years. They had five children, Bridget (7), Mary (6), William (5), Maurice (3) and Michael (2). Also living with the family was a boarder, Kate Whelan (aged 14). William O’Keeffe could read and write as could his wife while she could speak Irish and English. The house had two rooms and two outbuildings, a piggery and a fowl house. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1911] In 1901 William O’Keeffe lived with his widowed mother, Bridget (aged 72) and gave his aged as 27 and his employment as workman on the railway line. William O’Keeffe said he could speak Irish and English. They then lived in house number three in Glenbeg townland. The house was owned by Thomas Barry of Glenbeg house. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

Peter Ryan, railway labourer = in 1911 Peter Ryan lived in hose number three in Ballydorgan townland. He was 34 years old and unmarried. Peter was born in County Cork and could read and write. He lived with his parents, Peter (70) and Mary (64). Peter Ryan senior was an army pensioner and was born in County Tipperary. Peter could read and write but his wife didn’t have either skill. She was born in County Cork and was married for 36 years with only one child, Peter Ryan junior. The house had four rooms and three outbuildings, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed. It was owned by the Fermoy Rural District Council. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1911] In 1901 Peter Ryan junior lived in house number 13 in Waterpark townland where he worked as an agricultural labourer. Also in the house were his parents, Peter Ryan senior (aged 50) and Mary Ryan (aged 49). Mary couldn’t read yet could speak Irish and English. The house had two rooms and three outbuildings. The family rented the house from William Brien. [Source = National archives of Ireland, census returns 1901]

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Tallow Church of Ireland church

Tallow Church of Ireland church

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

 

Tallow Church of Ireland church is variously dedicated to St. Paul and St. Catherine. The most common dedication is to St. Catherine. Sometime between 1177 and 1199 Richard de Carreu gave Tallow church to the abbey of St. Thomas in Dublin.[1] In the 1190s the bishop of Cork claimed the church of Tallow as part of the paruchia of Cork but was unsuccessful.[2] Sometime afterwards Tallow parish and church became the property of Molana Abbey near the mouth of the River Blackwater. Yet Molana had difficulties controlling Tallow parish.

Sometime before 7th April 1469 Molana Abbey petitioned the pope for the recovery of the Tallow vicarage. The vicarage was occupied by Raymund Staccabul for about eight years without title. The previous vicar appointed by Molana, William Nurruyn, was long since dead (pre 1461). The petition of Molana said that its fruits etc. were so slight that they could not decently maintain themselves, or have the buildings repaired and keep hospitality. Molana said that the rectory of Tallow church was canonically united to the said monastery, and that the values of the said vicarage and monastery did not exceed 6 and 40 marks sterling respectively. The abbot of Inislounaght was to examine the case and if the facts were correct, unite the vicarage to Molana in perpetuity. Thereafter Molana could appoint, and remove at pleasure, its own canons as vicars to Tallow.[3]

At the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 Molana held Tallow church.

 

Tallow 18th century church 

Tallow church was subsequently granted to the new Protestant Church of Ireland. in December 1616 Sir Richard Boyle paid to have a gallery installed in Tallow church. Mr. Langredg was paid ten pounds for the work.[4] In 1746 Tallow church was one of only 16 churches in repair in the Diocese of Lismore.[5]

In 1746 Charles Smith described Tallow church as ‘the church is low, and has but an indifferent aspect’.[6] The low-church aspect is in keeping with a medieval church design with its small windows.

The present church is described as a detached four-bay double-height single-cell with single-bay single-storey lean-to vestry to south-east, and single-bay three-stage entrance tower to west on a square plan.[7] It was built about 1772-3 as three new registry books were started in 1772 to record baptisms, marriages burials.[8] In the map of Tallow in 1774 a drawing of the church is depicted showing a tall structure as like the present church and not the low church described in 1746 and so confirming the 1772-3 date. An un-dated front elevation drawing of the new church exists in the Lismore papers in Dublin.[9]

In 1827 the church expenditure included: parish clerk £20, sexton £10, elements £4, washing church linen £2 5s, repairs to the church £8, coffins for paupers £2 and foundling children £10 giving a total of £56 5s. The churchwardens in 1827 were A. Burrudge and William Hudson.[10]

In 1834 Tallow parish had 352 Anglican Protestant residents, making it the second largest rural parish in County Waterford after Lismore which had 494 Anglican Protestants. As a percentage of the total parish population, Tallow came in fourth in size (7.1%) after Killea (9.7%), Kill St. Nicholas (9.7%) and Clonegam (8.7%). The Anglican community in Lismore was only 3.1% of the total population.[11] A report in 1835 gave the Protestant population of Tallow as 357 people, second in County Waterford behind Lismore with 539 Anglican Protestants. In percentage terms against the total population Tallow was fourth (7.2%) behind St. Mary’s Clonmel (11.1%), Clonegam (9.2%) and Monksland (8.0%).[12]

In 1833 it was noted that Rev. John Jackson of Tallow was owed £260 in unpaid tithe. This placed him twelfth in the order of unpaid clergymen in the Lismore part of the Diocese. Yet the amount owed to Rev. Jackson amounted to almost his entire income and he was reduced to some ‘painful embarrassments’ when it came to paying his bills.[13]

In 1943 G.B. Nason (Sandy Hill, Tallow) and J.B. Tuckey of Tallow were the churchwardens.[14] In 1945 the value of the rectory at Tallow was given as £28.[15] Rev. R.B. Bryan, MA, MD, was then the rector.[16] The glebe land was sold sometime before 1942 for £1,419 1s 3d with the money realised going into the parish fund.[17]

Tallow church closed in the late 1960s and many of its fixtures and fittings were removed to other local churches. The east window (originally donated by the Percival family in 1894) was moved to St. Luke’s church at Curraheen. The pews and lectern were also removed to Curraheen.[18] A number of other items were removed to St. Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore. Having concluded all income and expenditure the vestry books were closed in 1972.[19]

Hayden gateway

At the southern boundary of the graveyard is a pair of cut-stone panelled piers with moulded capping and quatrefoil panels. Between the piers is a decorative wrought iron double gate with spear-head finials, with sections of wrought iron railings flaking the piers. This gateway is said to date to about 1775 but this is incorrect.[20]

 

Church gateway

In a map of Tallow in 1774 the area of present-day Mill Road didn’t exist. Instead the road was the glebe land of the church. Access to the graveyard was via a lane coming south from Tallow mill and another lane coming west from the Glenaboy River. This western lane turned north at the Glenaboy river and linked up with West Street beside O’Neill’s house.

In the 1840 Ordnance Survey map Mill Road was still not built. Instead a new access road was constructed directly north from the church towards West Street opening at the gateway into MacCarthy’s former hardware premises. When Griffin’s Valuation was done in 1851 no Mill Road was mentioned. The glebe land of the church was included on Mill Lane, a small lane, still in existence, south of the present Mill Road. Sometime after 1856 Michael Hayden of West Street, the man who made the gates and railings died or ceased trading. Therefore Mill road and the gateway date to sometime in the 1850s.

 

Site of Michael Hayden’s forge behind the wall on West Street

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A biography of the 18^th and 19^th century vicars of Tallow is available at

https://niallbrn.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/the-vicars-of-tallow-co-waterford-1639-1910/

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[1] Flanagan, M.T., ‘Conquestus and adquisicio: Some early charters relating to St. Thomas’ abbey, Dublin’, in Clerics, Kings and Vikings: Essays on medieval Ireland in honour of Donnchadh Ó Corráin (Dublin, 2015), pp. 127-146, at p. 137

[2] MacCotter, P., A history of the Medieval Diocese of Cloyne (Blackrock, 2013), p. 75

[3] Twemlow, J.A. (ed.), Calendar of Papal Letters relating to Great Britain and Ireland, Volume XII, 1458-1471 (Stationery Office, London, 1933), p. 668

[4] Casey, A.E. & O’Dowling, T. (eds.), O’Kief, Coshe Many, Slieve Loughter and Upper Blackwater in Ireland (15 vols. Wisconsin, 1964), vol. 6, p. 363

[5] MacCarthy, R.B., The diocese of Lismore, 1801-69 (Dublin, 2008), p. 42

[6] Charles Smith, The ancient and present state of the County and City of Waterford, edited by D. Brady (Dungarvan, 2008), p. 36

[7] http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA&regno=22818047 [accessed on 21 May 2019]

[8] https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/registers/ParishRegisters/PARISHREGISTERS.pdf [accessed on 26 May 2019]

[9] National Library of Ireland, Lismore Castle Papers, AD 3,594/8

[10] http://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi/documents/10167/page/224867 [accessed on 21 May 2019] Report on Account of Sums applotted by Vestries in Ireland under Parochial Rates, 1927, p. 119

[11] Broderick, E., ‘Waterford’s Minority Anglican Community during three crises – 1824-25; 1831-35; and 1848’, in Decies, Number 59 (2003), pp. 161-183, at p. 168

[12] Broderick, E., ‘Protestants and the 1826 Waterford County Election’, in Decies, Number 53 (1997), pp. 45-66, at p. 65

[13] Broderick, E., ‘Waterford’s Minority Anglican Community during three crises – 1824-25; 1831-35; and 1848’, in Decies, Number 59 (2003), pp. 161-183, at pp. 173, 174

[14] Church of Ireland, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Report of the Diocesan Council, 1945 (Waterford, 1946), p. 33

[15] Church of Ireland, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Report of the Diocesan Council, 1945 (Waterford, 1946), p. 28

[16] Church of Ireland, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Report of the Diocesan Council, 1945 (Waterford, 1946), p. 8

[17] Church of Ireland, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Report of the Diocesan Council, 1942 (Waterford, 1942), p. 24; Church of Ireland, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Report of the Diocesan Council, 1945 (Waterford, 1946), p. 12

[18] Anon, St. Catherine’s Parish: Conna, Ballynoe Glengoura: A Christian Heritage (Conna, 2000), p. 109

[19] https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/vestrybooks.pdf [accessed 26 May 2019] Vestry book at the Representative Church Body Library, Dublin

[20] http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA&regno=22818047 [accessed on 21 May 2019]

Tallow Army Barracks

Tallow Army Barracks

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

 

Before a national police force was organised in the mid-19^th century, the army was employed to keep the peace and enforce the laws under direction of the local magistrates. In the 17^th century the army was billeted in private houses and inns. This divided the army about a town and exposed the soldiers to the evil drink. In the 18^th century this practice of army deployment was phrased out and purpose built army barracks were constructed at key locations around the country. The town of Tallow in west County Waterford had accommodated a troop of cavalry in the 17^th century and was strategically located at a crossing point on the River Bride allowing troops to move north or south of the river as the situation demanded.[1]

 

The ruins of the army barracks at Tallow.

 

Building the barracks

It is not known exactly when the Tallow army barracks was built but a reference in the Journal of the Irish House of Commons places the building of the barracks as occurring between 1743 and 1752 during the time when Arthur Neville was Surveyor-General. Neville employed his clerk, George Ensor to be the contracting builder of Tallow barracks while at the same time constructing a barracks at Cappoquin and Mallow.[2] A British Parliamentary report on the date of the erection of army barracks across the United Kingdom, taken in 1847, fails to mention Tallow as it was no longer an army barracks by that time. Mallow barracks is mentioned but unfortunately no date of construction is given.[3] It was possibly the Earl of Cork who provided the site for the barracks at the southern end of what would become Barrack Street. The rising ground would give the soldiers an observation platform to see all approaches to the town.

The setup costs and economic benefits

In 1719 the initial cost of building a barracks for a troop of horse was about £500-£700 while in operation it would generate £500 to £1,000 per year for the local economy. A barracks for a troop of horse, like Tallow, would fall into the higher range.[4]

Designer and builder

George Ensor went on later in the 1760s to become a recognised architect with his own practice. In 1766-69 he designed the new church of St. John the Evangelist in Fishamble Street, Dublin. The church was demolished in 1884 as part of a road widening scheme.[5]

The dragoons in 1762

Like in the 17^th century Tallow was home to a troop of horse which could give a greater range of operations compared to foot soldiers. It is not known when the first troops arrived. In March/April 1762 a troop and a half of dragoons were stationed in the army barracks at the southern end of Barrack Street. But the dragoons were of limited value for security when trouble came. In April 1762 during the Whiteboys disturbances across west Waterford, a large assembly of people invaded the town with weapons of guns and pikes. They freed all the prisoners in the town jail and took over the town.[6] Troops from Youghal had to come and restore order. About 13 Whiteboy prisoners were then confined to the barracks. In November 1763 the army barracks at Tallow and Cappoquin were united under the control of Youghal army barracks.[7]

Later dragoons

In 1789 two companies of the 18^th Regiment of Dragoons was stationed at Tallow. Another two companies were stationed at Clogheen while there was one company at Clonmel, and Cappoquin.[8] In 1811 we get a better glimpse into the size and structure of the Tallow army barracks. In that year there were eight cavalry officers and 68 privates were stationed in the barracks. There were no infantry units.[9] The cavalry had 76 horses.[10] It is not exactly clear where these people and horses were accommodated in the barracks. It is possible the horses were on the ground floor with the day rooms on the first floor and the sleeping quarters on the top storey.

Closure of the army barracks

After the end of the war with France in 1815 and the growth of Fermoy as the main army garrison in the south of Ireland, small local army barracks like Tallow were closed down. It is not known when Tallow was closed but the site was an auxiliary workhouse in the second half of the 1840s. In 1818-1826 the Army department in Dublin was in talk with the agents of the Duke of Devonshire about the future of the army barracks suggesting the army had no further use for it.[11] In 1819 a proposal letter was sent to William Curry, agent for the Duke on the sale of the barracks.[12] In 1824 another offer of sale was made to the Duke.[13]

Later life of the barracks buildings

After its use as an auxiliary workhouse from the 1840s to the 1890s the old army barracks became a corn store by 1900 under the Jacob family and was later known as Bride valley Stores when owned by the Kelleher family. In 1920-22 the army barracks was re-occupied by the military – first the British army, then the Irish Republican Army and then by the Irish Free State army. In 1923 the Duke of Devonshire sought compensation from the Board of Works for damaged to the army barracks.[14]

Today (2019) the barracks continues to stand at the southern end of Barrack Street. Even in its ruinous state the barracks still exerts an influence upon the town as the building lives on in the street name of Barrack Street. Such was its impact that it is unknown what the name of the street was before the barracks was built in the 1740s. As the barracks at Mallow is no longer standing and that at Cappoquin much altered, the barracks at Tallow is a time capsule of George Ensor’s work and a picture into how a barracks for cavalry was built.

 

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[1] For more on the 17^th century soldiers at Tallow see https://niallbrn.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/a-seventeenth-century-horse-troop-in-tallow-2/

[2] McParland, E., Public Architecture in Ireland, 1680-1760 (New Haven, 2001), p. 129 which referred on note 46 to the Journal of the House of Commons, V, p. xxi ff. Volume V covers the period 1723 to 1730 and so the correct reference must be to a later volume.

[3] British parliamentary Papers, Barracks return from each barracks in the United Kingdom relative to its date of erection, 1847 (169), XXXVI, pp. 376-405, at p. 402

[4] Dickson, D., Old World Colony: Cork and South Munster 1630-1830 (Cork, 2005), p. 424

[5] Bennett, D., Encyclopaedia of Dublin (Dublin, 1994), p. 188

[6] Hayman, Rev. S., The Hand-book for Youghal (reprint Youghal, 1973), p. 67

[7] Hayman, Rev. S., The Hand-book for Youghal (reprint Youghal, 1973), pp. 68, 69

[8] The Gentleman’s and London Magazine: Or Monthly Chronologer, 1741-1794, p. 222

[9] British Parliamentary Papers, Return of Army Barracks, 1811, p. 187

[10] Butler, D., South Tipperary 1570-1841 (Dublin, 2007), p. 285

[11] National Library of Ireland, Lismore Castle Papers, MS 43,388/3

[12] National Library of Ireland, Lismore Castle Papers, MS 43,545/11

[13] National Library of Ireland, Lismore Castle Papers, MS 43,545/19

[14] Waterford County Archives, Lismore Castle papers, IE/WCA/PP/LISM/515

Dr. Eaton William Waters of Brideweir

Dr. Eaton William Waters of Brideweir

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

 

Dr. Eaton William Waters was born in Co. Waterford on 17^th January 1865.[1] He had an older brother, George Alexander Waters born about 1863.[2] Eaton Waters was the son of another Eaton William Waters and Mary Waters of Tramore, Co. Waterford.[3] Eaton Waters senior was a physician and surgeon.[4] Eaton Waters junior had three sisters, Bessie, Anne and Helen.[5] The family grew up fast as on 14^th September 1870 Dr. Eaton Waters senior died leaving Mary a widow with a young family to bring up. His personal effects were worth under £800 so the family were not poor.[6] In 1876 Marys Waters, living in Tramore, was the owner of 67 acres of land.[7] Eaton Waters junior’s grandfather was George Alexander Waters, M.D., who lived at Crobally Upper in the parish of Drmcannon, County Waterford, in the 1850s.[8] George Alexander Waters was a surgeon in the Royal Navy and was born in Cork in 1774 and died in Tramore in October 1858.[9]

Education

Eaton Waters began his education in Waterford High School before moving onto Queens College, Galway, and the Carmichael College of Medicine in Dublin. As the son of a doctor and grandson of a doctor the medical profession was in his blood. In 1886 he obtained a M.Ch. from the Royal University of Ireland and in 1887 got a M.A.O. (Hons.). After qualification he became a Demonstrator of Anatomy at Queens College, Galway before moving to England to pursue his medical career.[10]

Medical doctor

In England, Eaton Waters operated a private practice in Huddersfield and Bolton for many years before returning to Ireland in the early twentieth century.[11]

Census 1911

In the 1911 census Dr. Eaton Waters was living at Brideweir, Knocknagapple, Aghern. He was then aged 46 years and a member of the Church of Ireland. A physician and graduate of the Royal University of Ireland, Eaton Waters could read and write and was a bachelor. In the house with him on census night was Lizzie Griffin, a thirty year old general domestic servant of the Roman Catholic faith. Lizzie could read and write and was single in keeping with the usual marital status for domestic servants.[12] Lizzie was an experience domestic servant. In 1901 she worked for Rev. John Nason, curate of Mogeely, at his house in Ballynoe village where he lived with his widowed mother, Angelina Nason.[13] In 1911 Rev. John Nason was married and living in Glenville with his mother and new wife along with a single domestic servant of the Church of Ireland faith.[14]

Interest in history

Eaton Waters and his elder brother George Waters, both had a great interest in Irish history. In 1920 Eaton Waters was a subscriber to the Succession list of the Bishop, Cathedral and Parochial Clergy of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore (Dublin, 1920) by Rev. W.H. Rennison. Later Eaton Waters joined the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. In 1939 Eaton Waters was a member of the Council of the Royal Society of Antiquaries.[15] George Waters was a member of the Irish Text Society.[16] In 1939 Eaton’s son Adrian became a member of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society.[17]

 

Dr. Eaton Waters (care of Conna in History and Tradition, p. 327)

Cork Historical and Archaeological Society

In 1911 Dr. Eaton Waters was elected a member of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society.[18] He took an active part in the Society, in its proceedings and welfare and was a member of the governing council for a number of years. In the Society journal and on Society outings Eaton waters enjoyed sharing his knowledge of local topography with members and entertaining members on Society tours of north-east Cork.[19] In 1931 Dr. Eaton Waters wrote a history of the Waters family in the Society journal.[20] In 1939-1941 Dr. Eaton Waters was president of the Society.[21]

The Great War

Eaton’s elder brother, George Waters also took up a medical career becoming a surgeon in the Royal Navy. At the start of the Great War in 1914 George Alexander Waters was a fleet surgeon serving aboard H.M.S. Drake at Gibraltar as part of the 5^th Cruiser Squadron.[22] When the Gallipoli campaign began in early 1915 George Waters got involved as a fleet surgeon aboard H.M.S. Goliath.[23] On 13^th May 1915 he was killed off Gallipoli when the ship was torpedoed.[24]

Life at Brideweir

Brideweir house was built as a vicarage in 1822 by the then vicar of Aghern and Britway, Rev. Ludlow Tonson for £923. The last vicar to live in the house died in 1899 and it was sold as a private residence to Clement Broad.[25] In 1901 Brideweir house was owned by Clement Broad but was unoccupied.[26] In 1905 Dr. Eaton Waters purchased the house and made it his home.[27] In 1911 Brideweir house had five windows in the front of the house and seventeen rooms within.[28] There were eight outhouses made up by one stable, one coach house, one harness room, one cow house, one dairy, one fowl house, one workshop and one shed.[29] In the 1930s Eaton Waters had his own electricity in the house by the use of a water wheel on the river.[30]

Away from Brideweir Dr. Eaton waters invested in the number of house properties in at Chapel Street and Barrack Street in Tallow, Co. Waterford. There he employed a Mr. Conway to collect the rent. But just like the landlords of the nineteenth century the rent was not always forthcoming and some tenants who made improvements to the houses sought to put the cost against the rent. In 1936 Michael Harty of Barrack Street sought such accosts against his rent but Eaton Waters said the costs were unauthorised and Harty was in arrears of rent and was served with an ejectment order. In court Harty’s wife promised to pay the rnet and E. Carroll, solicitor of Fermoy, acting for Eaton Waters, agreed.[31]

Marriage and family

On 11^th December 1918 Dr. Eaton Waters married Annie Martin Orr from Bengal in India. They had six children: Helen (d. 18^th March 1933), Christopher (d. 20^th March 1936), Cicely (wife of Martin Hurley), Adrain, Ormond and Maeve.[32]

In 1919-21 the Aghern area saw action during the War of Independence. On 16^th February 1920 the R.I.C. barracks in the village was attacked. One stray bullet with through a window of Brideweir and after hitting off the wall landed on the floor but thankfully the room was unoccupied at the time. After a four hour gun battle, the barracks was not captured but six weeks the police abandoned the building. Two weeks later the empty building was burnt down on a night when the wind blew from the north so as not to burn any of Dr. Waters’ trees.[33] During the War Dr. Waters treated injured soldiers from both sides.[34]

In the summer of 1921 the central arch of Aghern Bridge was blown up. After the Truce it was repaired but during the Civil War the bridge was blown up again. Some of the demolition crew had breakfast at Brideweir by their own invitation.[35]

Death

On 28^th February 1945, Dr. Eaton Waters died at his residence, Brideweir, after a protracted illness.[36] He was buried in the nearby Aghern graveyard. Eaton’s son Adrian continued to live at Brideweir until 1954 when he sold the house to Dr. Kevin McCarthy who established a thriving medical practice.[37] Annie Orr Waters moved to New Zealand where she died on 30^th March 1969 in Hamilton.[38]

 

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[1] https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/eaton-william-waters-birth-1865-death-1945-ireland/192514554 [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[2] White, G., & O’Shea, B. (eds.), A Great Sacrifice: Cork servicemen who died in the Great War (Cork, 2010), p. 479

[3] White, G., & O’Shea, B. (eds.), A Great Sacrifice: Cork servicemen who died in the Great War, p. 479

[4] http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014889/005014889_00643.pdf [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[5] https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/eaton-william-waters-birth-1865-death-1945-ireland/192514554 [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[6] http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014889/005014889_00643.pdf [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[7] Anon, Return of Owners of Land on one acres and upwards in the several Counties, Counties of cities and Counties of towns in Ireland (Dublin, 1876), p. 178

[8] Griffiths Valuation, Crobally Upper, Drumcannon parish

[9] https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/george-alexander-waters-birth-1774-death-1858/192545266 [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[10] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278

[11] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278

[12] http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001924742/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[13] http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000571942/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[14] http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001851234/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[15] Report of the Council, 1939, in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Seventh Series, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Jun. 30, 1940), pp. 103-109, at p. 103

[16] Irish Text Society, Vol. XVI (1914), p. 22

[17] Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Vol. XLIX, No. 170 (July-December 1944), p. 7

[18] Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Vol. XLIX, No. 170 (July-December 1944), p. 7

[19] Holland, M., ‘Obituary, Eaton W. Waters, M.B., M.Ch., M.A.O., F.R.S.A.I.’, in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Vol. L, No. 171 (January-June 1945), p. 68

[20] Martin, J., ‘Annual Report for 1931’, in the Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society, Vol. 7, No. 3 (Dec., 1931), pp. 444-449, at p. 444

[21] http://corkhist.ie/about-chas/past-presidents-of-the-society/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[22] Irish Text Society, Vol. XVI (1914), p. 22

[23] White, G., & O’Shea, B. (eds.), A Great Sacrifice: Cork servicemen who died in the Great War, p. 479

[24] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278

[25] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 277

[26] http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000571710/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[27] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278

[28] http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001924720/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[29] http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001924722/ [accessed on 20 May 2019]

[30] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 330

[31] Dungarvan Observer, 19 December 1936, page 3; For the purchase of Tallow town by Dr. Waters from the Duke of Devonshire (1904-1932) see Waterford County Archive, Lismore castle papers, IE/WCA/PP/LISM/512

[32] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278

[33] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), pp. 101, 102

[34] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 101

[35] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 102

[36] Holland, M., ‘Obituary, Eaton W. Waters, M.B., M.Ch., M.A.O., F.R.S.A.I.’, in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Vol. L, No. 171 (January-June 1945), p. 68

[37] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278

[38] Anon, Conna in History and Tradition (Conna, 1998), p. 278