and District Local History Society

of the Road Knights By DympnaMurphy

- had taken Tramps and vagrants or as some of them liked years many significant changes place, - of the had to call themselves, Knights of the Road were most notably, that the population country in 1841 and a common sight on the roads of Ireland 100 been virtually halved -8,175.000 - as a the numbers of years ago. Then, for those who fell upon hard times, 4,458,000 in 1901 and, result, as well. there was no unemployment benefit or social securi destitute had also fallen ty and many, for whatever reason, took to the roads had estimated the walking from town to town begging on the way. The 1833 Royal Commission number 'being in great need of food* to be 2,385,000 on on Poor Relief was The report of the Vice-Regal Commission while in 1906 the number relying Poor Law Reform, 1906' set out '.. to ascertain, reckoned to be about 30,000. The 1906 Commission to the levels how, if at all, a reduction could, without impairing concluded that in comparison 'shocking the Famine the efficiency, be made in the expenditure for the relief of of destitution* which existed before was for the poor,* and gives some interesting insights into the 1906 figure 'proportionately insignificant* as a had been reduced various classes of destitution prevalent at the begin while the population whole by destitute now amounted ning of the 20th Century. almost 50%, the numbers of to 1% of the former figure. This was, the Commission of a of dis The Report compares conditions in 1906 with those concluded, because combination famine, of affected prevailing in the 1830's when a previous 'Royal ease, eviction, and emigration all which Commission' (1833) had reported on the problem of the poorest classes to a much greater extent than the as a poverty in Ireland. During that period of seventy population whole.

Poor law unions in Ulster.

[56] Poyntzpass and District Local History Society

The describes a as, "a who Report vagrant person nity, were universally detested and often feared. wanders from (Poor Law) Union to Union, frequently a obtaining, in workhouse, a bed for the night and a Of this latter type the Commissioner states "All the meal or his These two, before resuming journey. evidence we received is most hostile to tramps. wanderers, as on are they journey foot, generally Witnesses, almost without exception, were in favour known as or 'tramps* 'night lodgers.* of depriving this class of their liberty to march around the country terrorising women while men are While in the memories of some of our and in the parents fields, and collecting food and money to enable of these 'wanderers' are remem them to shirk grandparents many work and escape any regular exertion as - bered benign, harmless and colourful characters for self-support." often genuinely poor old men or women of the roads - the were less a Commissioners sympathetic. A para Like many Commission, before and since, mem entitled 'Characteristics of the Class' states 'All bers took graph obviously their work seriously and their a old countries have considerable percentage ofne*er report made recommendations which, no doubt, were do-wells their inhabitants. The imme read with interest and among chief largely ignored. They were causes are diate of these failures drunkenness (most enlightened and humane. "We would not, however, and other vicious idleness or the of all) habits, physical suggest punishment for vagrant for his culpable or mental to do a inability satisfactory day's work. conduct, but restraint and education for his own good . These bad habits have a tendency to divert men and It is obvious that these vagrants are homeless women from earning their own subsistence by honest wanderers who need kind, firm, wise treatment." labour, and they readily become dependent upon pri or vate charity upon public rates, unless indeed they The commissioners recommended the setting up of turn thieves, robbers or swindlers.* Labour Houses' on the same lines as those appar ently current in Belgium at the period. If a person While many of these tramps stayed within a rela was found by the Courts of Justice, or the police, to tively small area, others travelled widely and public be a vagrant he would be sent to serve a period of social events such as fairs and markets, horse racing, from one to three years in a Labour House* where he sporting events and other gatherings attracted them would acquire the "habits of sobriety, regularity and ** in large numbers. The Commissioners noted that industry. However, lest they might be thought soft admissions to Workhouses in towns where such hearted, they went on to say: "As regards the Labour events were taking place increased significantly at Houses we should be sorry to see in them anything these times. suggestive of more comfort than can be derived from very hard work, enough of simple food, clean healthy According to the Commissioners, of the 30,000 buildings, fittings and surroundings, but everything identified as being in need of, or dependent upon of the plainest, roughest kind." Poor Relief, 2,000, were classified as vagrants or made similar tramps. Four-fifths of these were males. Many of The Royal Commission of 1833 had also that those them, "...sleep in out-houses, hay-barns, or even in recommendations and had proposed '* be sent "as the open when the weather is fine. They go on to vagrants deemed suitable should free say that the poor householder in the country districts labourers to non-penal colonies." of Ireland is reluctant to refuse a night's shelter to a to Labour Houses for wayfarer when asked for charity, especially when the However sending people peri one to for wandering appeal is made "For the love of God*'. ods of three years simply was seen as close to around the countryside getting liberties. There were obviously two very distinct types of an infringement of civil one tramps roaming the country. The being gener and The Commissioners recommended that travelling ally old and infirm basically decent, unfortunate should be well known and respected in a clearly defined circuit musicians and ballad-singers exempted were confined to 'Labour Houses' or area. The other, often young and able-bodied but and that those who dan "... be taken in hand like children and be, if lazy ne'er-do-wells, dishonest and potentially should, in the commu educated into a capacity for leading a use gerous particularly to the vulnerable possible, [57] Poyntzpass and District Local History Society

T ytmaiAmi/ 0*NniiAKD WEST J?> |I EAST^J JL

TfNAH 1 /-^ MAKKltKILL*1 I J

^k ^V \-y^ / NEWTOWN-1MOLLAQHQLASS

\ UPPER ( OR?Mt \

7?)e Relief Committees inCo. . ful independent life. No person has the right to Casualdom.' In the report we learn that the remain idle and live upon the public...** Guardians of Clones Union had decided to employ a detective to gather evidence to prosecute the legions Some towns to seemed suffer periodic 'invasions' of tramps, then infesting the area. We also learn that of to a tramps. According report in the 'The Frontier some tramps actually travelled around on bicycles. Sentinel' of December, 1904, Clones, Co. Monaghan Enniskillen was another town to suffer from, what the unwanted title of 'the Irish was enjoyed Capital of described in the same paper in 1906, as 'a tramp [58 1 Poyntzpass and District Local History Society

At a of the Enniskillen Union it was - plague.* meeting Mr. P. 0*Hare Long or short ones? stated that a bed and breakfast for - providing supper, Mr Toman A pair of hunting ones. a cost the Board of Guardians 2!/4(L At that - tramp Torley Bravo, Mr. Toman, (laughter) time there was no work for to do to earn their tramps "The Chairman said that he was afraid that they and the Board resolved to 10 tons of could keep acquire not legally entertain the application. stones from Drummee for the to Quarry tramps - Mr. Send round the "hat" and that will break. Murtagh settle it.

'The and other local Mr. Reporter* papers regu Cardwell brought round the "hat" with the result the activities of in the that a sum - larly reported tramps of 17s 6p was subscribed, the money area and while of the read handed over Poyntzpass many reports to the Clerk, with the request that he seem the events should today may amusing, surrounding purchase the required articles for the appli them were certainly not funny at the time. There are cant." many accounts of special courts being convened to deal with tramps in the area and the local justices, Patrick MacGill the author of several books includ obviously with the intention of making the area as ing 'Children of the Dead End' left his native Donegal as severe sen unattractive possible to tramps, passed with the annual migration of potato gatherers to tences when tramps appeared before them. For beg Scotland. When he lost his earnings through play ging, two months in Armagh Jail with hard labour ing cards he was ashamed to return home penniless was so a regular sentence. and took to tramping. He wrote, ".I tramped through the country, hating all men, despised by Some of those who would come under a general everyone and angry with my own plight. A few gave heading of 'tramps' were simply colourful characters me food, some cursed me from their doors and a great - and appeared to have considerable education or at number mocked me as I passed. "We*re sick o* look - least an impressive vocabulary as this report from ing at the likes o* you!" the fat tubs of women, who 'The Newry Reporter* of January, 1903 shows : stood at their cottage doors, said, 'Get out o* our sight or we*ll tell the policeman about you." An Amusing Application In another of his books 'Moleskin Joe,* MacGill John Torley, better known as "Jack the Hunt** gives details of a tramp he became friendly with. He as appeared before the Board, and in his own style was told. "My name's Moleskin Joe I've told you seen or moth applied for a pair of boots. He wanted, he said, some already. I don't mind havin' my father 40 compensation to get a pair of "relievers**- (laughter) er, and I was bred in a workhouse. I'm years of - when I was to comfort him in the pursuit of his avocations age, more or less, and I started work a among the ancient aristocracy in his representative seven. Vve been in workhouse, reformatory, prison own will capacity, which as they all knew, was associated with and church. I went to prison of my free theNewry Harriers (laughter). He hoped with great when times were bad and I couldn *tget a mouthful of - est that the Honourable mem outside, but it was always against my will that sublimity -(laughter) food ** to bers of the Board in their sagacity, coupled with their I went church. great benevolence, would do him that one favour, and to to Patrick the was maintain the reputation of that co-habitable insti According MacGill, tramp on for food or tution (loud laughter). always the 'look-out* for opportunities He any other plunder which might come his way. - - a cow or even a The Chairman What do you want? would milk in the field, steal eggs - the sea hen! take apples or any other crop or fruit - and son Torley Something to help, aid, assist, comfort provided. and otherwise sustain my feet in this amphibious In winter or times of very bad weather weather (laughter). during or Moleskin Joe would break a shop window commit - some crime and allow himself to The Chairman A pair of boots? other very obvious - be sent to for a until times got better. Torley Please. prison period [59] Poyntzpass and District Local History Society

As Patrick MacGill discovered, when a person took old and particularly the old who lived in isolated to 'tramping' itwas extremely difficult to get 'off the places. road' and back into normal society. With no money, no home and ragged clothes where did he begin? At Poyntzpass Petty Sessions a tramp called Thomas Finnegan appeared in one such serious case One class of people much inclined to becoming involving a brutal attack on an old woman named . tramps were ex-soldiers and Kilkenny Union was Ann McCourt, of Aughantaraghan On the night of noted by the Commissioners of 1906 to have more Sunday 23rd January 1910, Finnegan broke into Ann than 20 ex-soldiers as almost permanent lodgers. McCourt's home on the Old Road and "subjected her When their pensions were due they discharged them to vile abuse, and left her weak and helpless." At the selves and having spent their money quickly, mostly Court Ann McCourt was described as being "afrail, on drink, had to be readmitted on the grounds of old, crippled woman.** The case was adjourned to 'destitution.' That none of their pension went Armagh Assizes where Finnegan was sentenced to - towards their upkeep was regarded as a state of nine months hard labour strangely lenient in all the affairs "..that needs alteration" circumstances.

Occasionally there were cases reported, where Misses Minnie and Sarah Savage of Laurelhill, tramps, not satisfied with what they could steal on have happier memories of the beggars they were the sly or with what alms was given to them at the familiar with in the Lissummon area in the years door would force an entrance and attack and rob a around the time of the Great War. householder. Most at risk of such attacks were the

Z.o(/re/Ay///Ayot/5e.

[60] Poyntzpass and District Local History Society

"Beggars, as we knew them long ago, were decent, so poor, but mother nodded for me to accept it old country people who had worked hard all their knowing that it was innate honesty and independ days but because wages were so low they could ence which prompted the gift. My sister Sara never put any money away for old age. It was hard thought Mary Kelly was from Whitecross way where enough to earn what kept body and soul together. she had a shack. Father left her home in the horse Old age pensions came in about 1909 at half-a and trap. crown a week. The pension was granted to people over 70 years of age. This was a tremendous boon to those old people. Indeed later when the amount was raised to 5/= (25p) per week, one woman told an old uncle of ours that she could live well on the half

crown and she wondered was it right to take the "mate out of some other crater's mouth."

"We remember old people who came on their rounds occasionally. They probably had a little cot tier house or shack somewhere but no help to sustain them. They would have travelled quite a long way, and appeared to have some sort of circuit, calling on the same houses about three times a year. They often carried little linen bags into which they collected wheaten or oat meal and had wee tin boxes for a

grain of tea or sugar. One man would ask "Could you spare a smell of tea?"

"Some of the names of the beggars we remember were 'Jack the Flute,' 'Red Margaret,' 'Susie The Shoot,' and Daniel Murnaghan. The latter was noted for repeating 'The Lord's Prayer' as he travelled along. Another lady, Mary Kelly was a small old women who wore a black cape. Maggie Anne McGailey.

was was a trade Minnie remembers "When I three years old "Nailey Rice really tinker by and stilly one winter's evening Maggie Anne McGailey came carried solder and a soldering iron. He was a very running to our kitchen door shouting "Mrs Savage, lean old man who had, at one time, a house and a come quick! There is a woman lying dead down the wife, although itwas said she had left him. He had road." Mother called to the men in the yard and a service to offer mending tin cans and buckets that when she reached the woman she found it was Mary had developed holes (nothing was thrown away in Kelly. Sam Woods of Ballinaleck happened to be those days). These were kept until Nailey's next visit. coming from Newry in a horse and cart, so he helped Nailey had a loud voice and shouted a lot, children was our men. They hooked off the byre door to use as a were afraid of him. On one occasion Nailey at stretcher to carry Mary up to the house and they laid a house where there was a feeble-minded old man, her in front of the kitchen stove. his daughter came out and said "Nailey don*t shout so much it annoys head." gave one " father*s Nailey I had hidden myself up the hall as the talk of a leap off the road and hit the tin with the soldering dead woman was too much for me. After she had iron and bellowed, "What would he do if there was sipped a little warm milk she was able to sit to the thunder?" During the First World War 'Pheasant' table and eat a meal. Mother wanted her to sit by the Brand margarine was used. Nailey asked for some stove till morning but she said she 'must push on.' thing to eat and was given two slices of bread and Before she left she presented me with a penny. I margarine, he said "Mem, that*s old cart grease" and remember wondering if I should accept it from one threw it away. [61 ] Poyntzpass and District Local History Society

a big old woman and a lady called 'TheGreen Shawl Woman.' Also 'Praying Biddy,' who was from Mountnorris.

"I mentioned tramps asking for a grain of meal. This could have been oaten or yellow maize meal. All went into the bag. Sometimes when our own supply of oat meal ran done and Mother added a lit tle yellow meal she would say, "You are getting tramp's porridge." When they asked for help maybe a penny was enough to satisfy them, or bread or sugar.

"'Jack the Flute' was known to run a piece, then stand and look around the countryside talking to himself. Somebody listened to him behind a ditch and he was saying 'The Lord's Prayer' like Daniel Murnaghan. 'Soncy Mary' dealt in cures (Soncy means big, plump and comfortable looking) whether by charm or natural procedure is not known but when animals were ill she was sent for. A friend of mine once told me the following:

An old tramp who did his rounds twice or three times a came to a certain farmhouse. The mis TommyMcGailey. year tress was counted or "near" of herself. " pretty thrifty, Mother told me about a woman who called at her The tramp was given a butter box to sit on in the mother's home. This woman had lost both arms in a scullery as the mistress was afraid of fleas coming off flax beetling mill. There wasn't any law of compen the tramp. She always gave him a round of loaf but sation in those days. My grandmother always had a tered and a mug of tea. On this occasion she had had new chemise (vest) made from flower bags, laid by visitors the night before, and the tramp nearly faint for this old woman, and took her in and washed her ed when he found a leg of chicken on his round of and put on the new garment. She would have eaten loaf. He waited until she had gone the house" "up " haws from the hedge as she went along being able to then he called the servant girl over and said / say pull them off with her mouth. The only things she Kate, what happened the auld hen?" feared were dogs. Other beggars were 'Red Margaret'

C62J