Carloviana 1958

Carloviana Journal 'of the Old Carlow Society USE Golden Harp Flour For Better Baking in the home

Packed in convenient weights 1Ost. to 31lbs.

and Manufactured only by THE BARROW MILLING CO., LTD., CARLOW 1903 OVER FIFTY YEARS SHOE MAKING 1958

Manufacturer~ ,of gent's Goodvear welted footwear and ladies '·casual" shoes in many fashionable styles and colours. Also Governey Agricultural Boots which still "lead the field" Sold in all leading Shops in Towns and Villages

Manufactured by

Michael Governev.. Ltd • CARLOW

Telephone 110

A. E. COLEMAN Motor and Cycle Dealers TULLY'S

19 DUBLIN STREET 142 TULLOW STREET, CARLOW Phone: Carlow 257 CARLOW ALSO 34 MAIN STREET, GOREY Phone: Gorey 27

Agent for GENERAL DRAPERY, BOOT AN,D SHOE WAREHOUSE, HOSIERY SPECIALISTS RALEIGH CYCLES AND DOT. VIVI

TRAVEL AGENTS REPAIRS A SPECIALITY World-Wide Bookings by Air, Rail and Sea.

ACCUMULATORS CHARGED Radios, Records and Electrical Goods at

OILS, GREASES & SPARES IN STOCK 145 TULLOW STREET, CARLOW A.A RI.AC. Times Change, but the Tradition of COMFORT, COURTESY and CUISINE Remains at the ROY AL HOTEL, CARLOW

Fully Licensed ·'· Extensive Car Park ·'· Night Porter 'Phone 21

KEHOE'S FOR RADIOS "Doctors, Statesmen. Sportsmen and Editors SMOKE> G.B.D., Dr. PLUMB and K.P. PIPES Sole Carlow Agents for And no wonder! they are manufactured MURPHY AND PYE RADIO from 1st grade material and give 100 % satisfaction." Philips, Pilot, Bush Models also stocked. "The Thinking Man Smokes a Pipe"

Efficient After Sales Service and Repairs to all Makes. For All Smokers' Requisites

YOUR PORT OF CALL IS Servis and Electrolux Agent GERALD KEHOE CIGAR DIVAN 50, DUBLIN STREET, CARLOW Radio and Electrical Service 136 TULLOW ST., CARLOW ESTABLISHED 76 YEARS PHONE 189 First-Class Proficiency Diploma, Academy of Carlow's Leading Bakers Gent's Hairdressing, and Confectioners London, 1932. CARLOVIANS We take pride in being the .oldest established Gentlemen's Hairdres­ sers in Carlow, but Christmas Cakes a Speciality we also take pride in our work and are al­ ways prepared to cut Purest Ingredients only used hair as you wish it. A trial· will convince. BURNS DUNNY'S College St., CASTLE STREET CARLOW Prize-winner Mallon CARLOW Cup, Hairdress'ng Competition, Dublin, Phone 151 1952.

NOLA NS FOR BEST DRINKS CHEMISTS AND GROCERIES 'VISIT FOR ALL HIGH-CLASS PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS The Crystal Bar

Manufacturers of the highest grade medicines. PROPRIETOR - JOHN McEVOY All the leading Brands of Ethical Pro­ prietaries stocked. Local Agent . for H~lena Rubenstein's Famou3 Cosmetics. S1ght­ testing daily by fully qualified Opticians. Comfortable Accommodation FILMS DEVELOPED AND PRINTED and High-Class Catering. QUICK SERVICE BEST RESULTS

Lunches, Dinners and Teas. E. J. Nolan Parties catered for on short notice. M.P.S.I., F.B.O.A., Prop., I, DUBLIN ST., & I, CASTLE ST., Tullow St., Carlow CARL:OW 'Phone: 80. DRY CLEANING WITH A DIFFERENCE

One Day Service available to customers at our Montgomery Street Works, Carlow. *

Door to Door Collection and Deliveries in most districts.

Phone Carlow 228

Hughes Bros. Michael Doyle Monumental Works Carlow Grocery and Provisions General Hardware • Coal Merchant Memorials erected in Marble, Limestone and Granite THE SHAMROCK ...... 71 TULLOW STREET All work carried out under Personal Supervision CARLOW Designs and Quotations on Request Telephone: Carlow 7 CARPENTERS take over all the trying Everything details of funerals from Relatives and Executors. Let us quote for "all-in" arranged for arrangements including FUNERALS CEMETERY NEWSPAPERS and without WREATHS, MEMORY CARDS, Etc. For the finest and most economical service in unnecessary expense the county, telephone, call or write to: CARPENTER BROTHERS FUNERAL UNDERTAKERS BARRACK STREET, CARLOW C.i Phone: Carlow 237

-1 Carlow's Leading William Mulhall I Drapers Clothiers, Ladies' and Men's I Outfitters, and House Furnishers, Boot and Shoe Warehouse. Auctioneer and Ladies' and Gentlemen's High­ Valuer Class Tailoring on the premises by expert cutters and tailors.

You can get your Odearest Mattress Dublin Street here.

Carlow MICHAEL MOLLOY

Phone 121 Tullow Street, Carlow Telephone 53. Telegrams: "Sutton, Carlow" 3Jrian Cunningham Suttons' Supply Photographer Stores 17 GJ)ublin Street. Carlow

Wholesale and Retail Grocer and Provision Merchant, Hardware, !Industrial, Commercial China, Glass and Delph Preff and 'Wedding Photographer Castle Street -<$> -<$> Carlow Phones: Carlow 281 and 324

NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN OLD CARLOVIANS THAT

W. & G. Hadden, Ltd., have carried on the family business for over one hundred years and that the Carlow Branch was purchased from Mr. Adam Ford in 1909. Mr. Ford's predecessor was Mr. Luttre1l, in partnership with Mr. Burgess of Athlone, and Mr. Luttrell's predecessor was Mr. Henry Banks (a grand uncle of Mr. W. H. Hadden and at one time Chairman of Carlow Urban District Conncil) who owned the main part of the present business in the middle of the r 9th century. HAD DENS W. & G. HADDEN LTD. CARLOW ·catloviana

Vol. I. No. 7, New Series, Dec. 1958 Journal of the Old Carlow Society

W. V. HADDEN ancl MISS M. T. KELLY, Joint J,.ditors

Congratulations

II II CONTENTS THIS issue of Carloviana marks another milestone in the history of the Old Carlow Society. We are pleased MYLES W. KEOGH to report a very satisfactory year. Our Outings have been an outstanding success. It is also gratifying to note that the 1957 issue of our Journal was completely sold out. *

Our appeal to the younger members for papers has THE BALLYBAR RACES brought some response. In this issue of the Journal we * publish articles written by two of our teenage members. We hope that their example will bring a bigger response DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO CARLOW IN THE from other members next year. There is a wealth of 19th CENTURY material as yet untouched. With a membership well over the hundred rr.ark, there should be a variety of papers * available for reading to our members at our Winter Sessions. DR. MICHAEL COMERFORD

Seventy-five years ago the first issue of a weekly * II THE STATELY HOMES Newspaper was put to bed " in a tall Georgian House OF CARLOW in Brown Street. On Saturday, September 22nd, the first copies of the II Carlow Nationalist" saw the light of day. * Those early files of the II Nationalist," now beautifully TEACHERS IN TULLOW bound and carefully preserved, were made available to the members of The Old Carlow Society at its foundation, ·* and have proved a wonderful source of information-in fact the only source-of the history of the town and BY THE BANKS OF THE county three-quarters of a century ago. BARROW

We offer the Directors., Editor and Staff of the * •· Nationalist" our warmest congratulations on their NEWS ROUND-UP 1958 achievements over the years. We can be assured they will continue to maintain the very high standard of the * II Nationalist " that we have come to accept and expect. SECRETARIES' SURVEY

SEVEN JOHN MONAHAN relates the exploits of a famous Carlow soldier Myles W. Keogh

JN the country chapel of St. Joseph at Tinryland, County Carlow, is a window of the Holy Family. It is a memorial to "Thomas Keogh of Park, his wife Alice Keogh, and his brother, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Myles W. Keogh, Capt., 7th U.S. Cavalry, killed in action, June 25, 1876." Who was Myles Keogh, brevet Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army? How did he get killed in action in the peaceful nineteenth cen­ tury? Myles Walter Keogh was a Carlowman. born at Orchard House, near Leighlinbridge, on March 25, 1840. Into a short life of thirty-six years he packed a military career in three wars. He left behind him a tradition that still lives in the U.S. Army. This is a brief outline of his career. The Keoghs were (and are) a prominent Catholic family of counties Carlow and Kil­ kenny. To-day another Myles Keogh lives in Orchard House, where Colonel Myles Keogh was born. Other relatives occupy the lands and dwelling of Clifden Castle, County Kilkenny, lar.ds which were at one time owned by the Colonel himself. But Myles found his career far from Orchard and the County Carlow. PAPAL ARMY

In 1860 Myles Keogh enlisted in the Papal Army of Pius IX as a second lieutenant in the Battalion of St. Patrick, the unit of Irish Vol­ unteers that went to defend the Papal State in the war of 1860. The Papal Army was ill­ equipped, badly organised and short of money. The Irish battalion never received its full equipment, it had little time to train before it was committed to battle, yet it gave a good account of itself. Myles served with the company which formed part of the garrison of Ancona. This east-coast city was attacked from land and sea and eventually forced to surrender. Most of the Irishmen were repatriated after a few months as prisoners of war. Myles Keogh, however, and some others, elected to stay on as regulars in the reduced forces of the Pope. Myles had distinguished himself during the siege of Ancona, and received two Papal medals for his services. UNITED STATES ARMY Myles W. ,Keogh, Captain in the United In a matter of months after the end of the States Cavalry. war in Italy, civil war broke out in the United States. The six-foot, ruddy-faced Irish Papal Photo by courtesy of Myles Keogh, Orchard House. officer soon applied for a commission in the } EIGHT j I f] United States Army. In a few weeks he was in or two away. These Araphu,., allies of Black America, and a captain in the cavalry. Kettle counter-attacked and cut off Major Elliott Myles Keogh started the long civil war as and fourteen of his men and killed them. The a captain, aged 22. He ended it a brevet lieuten­ rest of the regiment rode away safely. ant colonel, aged 26. In 1866 he applied for There were no more major battles for some a commission in the new post-war regular army. years. Sometimes the 7th Cavalry garrisoned In his application he stated that he had taken forts patrolled the west, protected whites against part in eighty engagements during the civil Indians-and sometimes engaged in protecting war. At one time he had commanded a brigade the Indians' hunting grounds from white tres­ of cavalry, at another time, while ::;taff officer passers. The men spent their pay of sixteen with Major General Stoneman, he had been dollars a month on drink. The officers went in captured on a long raid into southern territory. for hunting trips and picnics. There is a photo­ He had been exchanged after some time as a graph of Custer and his officers, their wives prisoner of war. With his record in the Civil and girl friends on a picnic in the summer of t War, and the influence of friend3 he had made 1876, just before tragedy overtook the regiment. I in high places, Myles was given an appointment About 1870 Myles Keogh broke his leg in a fall as captain in a new regiment, 7th U.S. from a horse. He went home to Ireland on Cavalry. leave. He became engaged to a Miss Martin, The commander of 7 Cavalry was another who lived in Auburn, New York. Custer wrote ' famous Civil War veteran-Lieutenant Colonel his experiences in the west for the newspapers. George Armstrong Custer, now reduced two The regimental band, of which the cocky little ranks from his war-time position as Major­ Custer was very proud, kept in practice on the General. He was now 27, a year older than regimental march "Garryowen"-said to have Myles Keogh. Myles's fellow officers were all been introduced to the regiment by Myles Keogh. Civil War veterans-Major Benteen, a former Brigadier General, Captain Reno, a former SITTING BULL AND CRAZY HORSE Colonel and so on. Then, in 1876, when Custer was 37 and WAR WITH THE INDIANS Myles Keogh 36, a big campaign was launched against the Sioux and their allies in what is During most of Myles Keogh's service with now the States of Montana and North and South 7th U.S. Cavalry they were on duty in the west. Dakota. The Indians now had two great leaders This was the largest undeveloped area left on -Sitting Bull, who had forged a collection of earth. It stretched north 2,000 miles from the small bands into one great unit of 20,000 Gulf of Mexico to Canada and 2,000 miles west Indians. Sitting Bull's right-hand man and fight­ from the Mississippi to the Rockies. The Ameri­ ing commander was Crazy Horse, at 32 years cans were trying to expand into this vast open of age the Indians equivalent to the American space. They were pushing railroads and tele­ " Boy General " Custer. Events were to prove graph lines across it. The job of the Army wa3 that of the two boy generals Crazy Horse was to protect these enterprises from the attacks of the better man. the Indian tribes who lived a sort of stone-age After a long night march through the hills life in the plains, largely depending on the of Montana, Custer located Sitting Bull''3 buffalo for their existence. encampment about ten miles to the north-west Modern American writers speak of Ameri­ in the valley of a f'tream called the Little Big can policy at this time as genocide-wiping out Horn. He divided his force of about six hundred the Indian race. The slogan was "No good men into three battle groups. The largest group Indian but a dead Indian," but not everyon0 he retained under his own command, with Myles in the Army or the Indian Department approved Keogh as his second in command. Major Ben­ of this policy of extermination. teen' s group were to swing out far to the left The first major engagement of Custer's to come in on the village from the south-west, new command certainly would be classed nowa­ Captain Reno's group were to attack from the days as unwarranted aggression. In the first­ south, and Custer himself would come in from ever winter campaign against the Indians Custer the north-east. marche4 across the great plains in zero weather. Soon after the units departed on their tasks, In November 1868 he launched his regiment in Benteen ran into heavy opposition from con­ an attack against the sleeping and unguarded cealed Indian riflemen. Reno ran into ambush in village of the big Cheyenne band commanded woods and was lucky to get half his force out by Black Kettle. The Indians, who believed that of trouble and on to a high bluff where they a truce was in effect, didn't even have sentrie'3 defended themselves against heavy fire from posted. Indians armed with repeating rifles. Reno Custer's men rode into the village, shooting might have been wiped out if Benteen hadn't down everyone they met. They slaughtered the arrived to join his force to Reno's survivors on pony herd, took fifty women prisoners and set the b!uff. fire to the Indians' buffalo-hide tents. The thing looked like a complete success, but Custer had CUSTER'S LAST STAND committed a fatal piece of carelessness-he had Suddenly, about three o'clock in the after­ overlooked another Indian camp only a mile noon, the Indians disappeared. The hard-pressed

NINE noldiers were relieved-until they heard a tre­ where the dead were found, and from a little mendous outburst of firing some distance to the information furnished by the Indians. Reno and north-west. It was realised that this was Benteen were much criticised for their failure Custer's force in action but no attempt was made to go to Custer's help, and investigations and to go to his help. The firing the men on the enquiries went on for years, creating trouble bluff heard was the battle later known as within the ranks of the American Army. "Custer's Last Stand." When the firing stopped, A brewery company mass-produced a pic­ it was because the Indians had wiped out the ture of " Custer's Last Stand " that hung behind whole of Custer's command. every bar in the States until Prohibition. Holly­ Several days later other American troops wood, in a later period, produced many filmc; found the bodies of Custer's men. They were ha ed on the brewery's picture, and not on the scattered over a little grassy knoll-all scalped facts. The picture showed the soldiers firing and mutilated but two-Myles Keogh and Custer from behind their horses at the Indians riding himself. The only living thing left on the battle­ madly round them. Custer, in buckskin shirt field was a buckskin horse, name Comanche, and slouch hat, with his shoulder-length h"'ir owner Captain Myles W. Keogh of Company" I." fL,wing in the breeze, stands in the midst of his This horse was taken care of by Keogh's men, with the little flag of the regiment bearimj friend, Captain Nolan, another Irishman. The the crossed swords and 7 of the regiment. It';; horse was made the subject of an army order very picturesque-but inaccurate. -he was never to be worked or ridden again, The Indians actually wiped the white men and he was to be kept alive as a living memorial out with rifle fire from the repeating rifles given to the battle. When Comanche died about to them by the U.S. government for hunting­ twenty years after the battle, he was skinned buffalo. The soldiers were armed with a singl,3 and stuffed, and is now on exhibition in the shot .44 carbine, much inferior to the Indian:;' museum of the University of Kansas. rifles. It was short range and unreliable-it The dead men were buried on the hill, but frequently jammed. When the Indians had when the area was pacified Keogh's body was disabled or killed every man with long-range brought back and buried in the Martin's plot rifle fire they rode in and killed off the wounded in the cemetery in Auburn, New York. His with shots in the head. fiancee never married and laid a wreath on They scalped and mutilated all the dead Keogh's tombstone every June 25 until she died but two--Custer, who was known to the Indians in 1927. as the great chief Yellow Hair-and "the man No white man really knows what happened with the buckskin horse"-Myles Keogh. to Custer. His fate has been reconstructed from

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·.t·I " VICTOR HADDEN writes on THE BALL YBAR RACES

PE Ballybar Races were well established and DANGEROUS DRIVING in their prime long before either the Grand National or the Derby was even thought of! We are inclined to assume that traffic In fact, the further back we go the larger and problems are a phenomenon of the 20th century more important was this event and the indica­ but it would be difficult for us to over-estimate tions are that the Meeting had its origins in the hazards of the road to Ballybar. Listen to the first part of the 18th century or even the account of a Mr. Lacey who attended the earlier.• In the 1860's there were usually races Races in 1846: - on two days; in the 1840's on three days but in the 1810's and as far back as we can go, to " On my way to the celebrated Races at 1766, there were Races on six days, from Ballybar, I witnessed what might easily Monday to Saturday. have been a fatal accident. A young man from the neighbourhood of Bagenalstown The Races were an annual event of the was walking carelessly to the Races when greatest significance, not only in and around he was struck from behind by the shaft Carlow but for all the adjoining counties and of a car which knocked him down, when visitors thronged to the town and to Ballybar one of the wheels passed over his neck and from places as far distant as Dublin and Cork. the other over his legs. He was lifted up In the words of the Editor of the Carlow Post:­ in a state of insensibility and laid against " The anniversary of the great Derby is not the side of the fence; ; on my return, in the anticipated with greater interest by the sporting evening, I endeavoured by inquiry to ascer­ sons of Britain than that of Ballybar is looked tain more particulars concerning him but forward to by an enthusiastic local public. what became of him I could not learn. The This great event-great in local repute­ driving along the road to these Races was is conducive to merry meetings and happy very furious; this may be accounted for gatherings and the absentee dates his return by the circumstances of the Race Course home so as to be " in time for Ballybar" where being so near the town; each driver can cheerful friends surround him and almost for­ make several journeys in the course of the gotten faces greet him-faces which, perchance, morning and as they are struggling with remembrance may suggest, were met long years each other to make the most of their time, ago on the same green sod. Excursions, too, no remonstrance can enduce them to pro­ were deferred and visits curtailed in order to ceed at a moderate rate. The car in which put in an appearance at Ballybar, and in fact I sat was very near being upset; the horse every circumstance contributes some element or having fallen on his knee, but owing to the other to constitute it a gala meeting." Indeed, driver's dexterity, he was enabled to recover in 1846, the opening of the Great Southern and himself by an upward spring; ; and a 'miss Western Railway from Dublin to Carlow, was is as good as a mile' was the feeling of arranged to coincide with the Ballybar Races the reckless fools who were so fortunate in August of that year. as to escape. perhaps, with their lives."

ELEVEN The exodus to Ballybar began early in the waved in the breeze and served to heighten the morning on the days of the Races. At about lively appearance of the scene." 9.00 o'clock the whole town seemed to be in In the majority of cases, certainly from the motion until about half past two when it pre­ 1840's onwards, the results of many of the sented the appearance of a place deserted and Races run at Ballybar are available in the files seemed as if its inhabitants had fled. Sporting of the local newspapers. In some cases the characters of all descriptions thronged through details of a few of the Races are also mentioned the streets or scrambled for seats on some means and here and there an interesting incident of conveyance to the racecourse, three miles occurs. . One of these is reported in the Irish hence. After the introduction of the Railway, Racing Calendar for 1816 where we are told­ special trains were run, and hour after hour " all the horses in running the second heat these unloaded their thousands into the town. (which Spider came in first for) ran the wrong Besides the visitors each train brought a number side of a post that had fallen down and still of racehorses and these passed through the lay visible on the ground. Tooley we'nt back streets en route to their destination, the admira­ to the proper side of the course, came in, weigh­ tion of all beholders. Contemporary- sources state ed, and walked ·over for the third heat. Referred that the attendances at Ballybar Races num­ to the stewards of the Turf Club for their bered 30,000 to 40,000 and even if this is a decision; who awarded the plate to Tooley." gross exaggeration it is not to be wondered at It would appear that from time to time that every description of horse-drawn carriage there was a certain amount of carelessness not and every conceivable conveyance, both in and only in the marking of the course but also in out of repair, was requisitioned on the route to the finish. This gave rise to very unsatisfactory Ballybar. and even dangerous situations until eventually steps were taken to right matters. An accident THE SCENE occurred in one of the Races in 1861 by which a valuable horse lost its life. " Eleanor " ran The Racecourse varied over the years and with the other horses for the first heat but on was " improved " from time to time but in the coming to the last hurdle, near the distance first decade of the last century most of the post, unluckily fell, dismounting the rider and Races seem to have been only two miles. Down breaking his collar bone. The other horses had the centre of the course ran a slight natural just passed when some reckless man rushed eminence which formed a. yerfect embankment forth from the crowd, mounted the animal, and for viewing the Races. Here, too, were pitched dashed off at full speed in the ip.idst of the the tents which housed every conceivable form multitude of people who had just congregated of amusement, from the sale of liquor to the at the Stand House, under the impression that performance of Ballet and theatricals, and the heat was over. In making an effort to get which, in most cases, numbered between 60 and through, the horse fell, and broke its neck. 90, " some of them 100 yards in length," to say nothing of the show boxes and side shows. STEEPLECHASING Opposite the finish stood the "Cambridge In the 1860's the popularity of Ballybar Club House " which was the Grand Stand pat­ Races was beginning to dwindle and some of ronised by the gentry and country folk. Here its critics, including the Editor of the Carl

TWELVE could accommodate some hundreds more than is said, in his time plays many parts, but in previous years. The saddling paddock, and, oh! thrice honoured Thespis! has it come in fact, the entire enclosure in connection .with to this with thy disciples-a prince by the Stand House appears to have been arranged night to labour all the day. Where were on a principle adopted in Punchestown at that the remainder of the Corps Dramatique ?­ time and was the theme of general admiration. probably they had not yet arrived on the Although the Editor of the Carlow Post stated scene of their next labours. And now num­ that the Steeplechase and flat courses were now erous speculators were arriving; here were " distinct," it is interesting to find that in the some thimble riggers, and card sharpers-­ Ballybar Grand Open Steeplechase, in that year, the one with his battered tea chest and the three of the horses-" Wild Fox," " Louisa " other with his carpet bag, and next came and "Stevens" galloped up the flat course by a tinker, who has deserted his lawful pro­ mistake for the Steeplechase course-" by which fession, accompanied by his wife and half gregarious mistake their chance was completely a dozen heirs; this man trudged along, extinguished" ! It was on the day of this race having a joyful countenance, and was evi­ that a notice was posted up in the Betting Ring dently calculating upon the success of the carrying the following legend: -" I am author­ speculation in which, probably, all his ised by Lord Howth to state that ' Stapolin ' resources were invested-he carried with will run in the Carlow Mee.ting only for the him three live ducks and some sticks where­ purpose of claiming an allowance as a beaten with to divert the pleasure seekers. Multi­ horse in the Hopeful Stakes at Jenkinstown," farious spectators continued to arrive from -Hopeful Lord Howth ! every quarter but 'ere the rain had ceased the shades of evening had closed upon the curious tribe of trafficers."

The Authorities eventually had to take steps to restrain some of the many abuses which were associated with Walking Sunday, rather to the regret, it would seem, of the Editor of the Carlow Post-"Verily the spirit that in olden times originated in these festive celebra­ tions is fast disappearing and the light of other days is waning even as the memory of the past is being obliterated. A new generation, possess­ ing little of the romantic spirit of their fore­ WALKING SUNDAY fathers, is now rising up and the Genius of One of the most interesting features of Wisdom and Propriety reigns where the Demon Ballybar in its heyday was what was known as of Wickedness was wont to hold sway. On Sun­ "Walking Sunday." For days before the Races day a goodly number of folk visited the course started great preparations were under-weigh at and in the evening the tents were well filled. Ballybar. Officials and Stewards were laying The busy hum of voices was everywhere audible, out the courses preparing the enclosures; booth and preparation was rapidly progressing in all keepers were erecting their tents and horse quarters. The itinerant vagrant, with his essen­ dealers, tinkers and chancers of all descriptions tial satellites-a host of famishing babies-an were preparing their stands. It was the custom occasional cripple, the Jacks-of-all-trades, leisur­ for the people of Carlow to make their way to ely wending their way over the course and, the course on the Sunday before the Races, to proceeding to assume their respective positions. inspect the course, to promenade along the hill Unworthy wretches! how little deserving of con­ and to indulge in whatever forms of amusement sideration those who trade on their own misery! and entertainment were readily offered by those The presence of the Police retards the festivi­ who had them for sale. ties and begets a certain dullness and despon- Thanks to the eloquent pen of the Edito1 dency." of the Carlow. Post, we can reconstruct the GORGEOUS ARRAY scene:- During the days that followed, however, " Here was a pensive Actor, perchance the general hilarity continued unabated. "Bally­ a Hamlet in disguise, busily engaged in bar presented a most animated and gay appear­ erecting his minor theatre; he, poor man, ance. The hill in the centre of the plain was seemed to be weary of his occupation, but literally clothed with silks and broadcloth and not even the turbulence of the agitated in the immediate· rear brisk business was being booth-keepers, nor the observations of the transacted in the tents; before the theatres, too, passers-by, had the effect of distracting his the performers decked in gorgeous array, were attention to the task before him. Man, it exhibiting themselves by way of attraction

THIRTEEN whilst the magic music lent an additional charm influence over the scene. In the midst of the to the allurements and not a few spectators scene it was gratifying to pause and think of were quite willing to join in the minstrelsy; the absence of any ingredient calculated to pro­ card sharpers and thimble riggers were eagerly duce regret or dis-satisfaction; merriment, itself, soliciting the spectators to patronise their was personified in every face, whilst the num­ amusements; cheesemongers, ballad singers, bers of those who had indulged to excess were cigar vendors, were most loquacious and the few indeed. As the evening wore on the last conglomeration of all these voices produced an crowds were gradually dispersing and the tents effect which may have been pleasing enough to were entirely cleared 'ere the gloom of night the majority. Further on in proximity to the had overshadowed the plain." Stand House a large number of tents were also erected. Here, too, the gamblers fixed their Ballybar Races are no more than a memory stands. and only a few greybeards, here and there, speak of boyhood days at Ballybar. There is no " At the end of the day a movement was sign now of the Stand House or the Cambridge observable in the great line of vehicles all of Club; the hill in the centre of the plain is no which were soon under weigh, homeward bound. longer clothed with silks and broadcloths and Pedestrians then flocked across the hill in the neither the flags nor the tents beyond it flutter direction of the tents where scenes of festive in the breeze. But the green fields still lie under gaiety were being enacted. In truth these tents a blue sky, at the foot of Slieve Margy, and were for the while Elysian bowers of rural a way to the north the graceful spires of Car­ felicity; harmless gaiety animated everyone; low's Churches still rise amid the trees. ar-d the mirthful aspects of all spread a cheerful

OUR COVER QUR Cover Picture is a fine study of the Entrance Gate at Ducketts' Grove. Being off the beaten track, this gate is not well known. it was built to match the Mansion House, which was also turetted. ln the years when II the Grove II was the residence of the Duckett family, the demesne was one of the show-pieces of the county, its fine avenue being lined with up to one hundred statues. The property was acquired in 1920 for division among the landless people in the district, and during the Truce period' after the War of Independence, the mansion house was the headquarters of Carlow Brigade I.R.A. 'When the contents of the house were auctioned the organ which stood in the main hall was acquired for St. Clare's Church, Graigue­ cullen. The building itself was dismantled and is now practically a ruin.

Photo by D. Godfrey

FOURTEEN ir i 1. TERESA KELLY tells of ~ Distinguished Visitors to Carlow 1n the Nineteenth Century ro travel to Ireland and in Ireland in the 19th The roads are in a shocking state, he wrote, century was only the privilege of the but "happily the weather is perfect to-day and wealthy and leisured classes; but it was less by a miracle there was no set-back." After a arduous and dangerous than in the 18th century. journey of 35 miles in an Irish coach Montal­ Roads had improved. Before the appointment ambret (at last) arrives in Carlow. He was of Co. Surveyors, only main line roads and those never so exhausted since he made a journey leading to Gentlemen's Estates were looked from Hamburg to Lubeck. Carlow, Montalam­ after. County roads were repaired by Grand bret wrote, in his Irish Journal, the chief place ' Jury Presentments. There were Coach Services of the County of that name, is situated on the to most towns. In 1824, Carlow had two daily Rivers Barrow and Burrin and had in 1830 a services to and from Dublin, by the " Fair population of 10,000. It is a very pretty town Traveller" and "Retaliator Coaches." The and he was well looked after at Lennon's Inn, Dublin to Cork Mail Coach and Dublin to "The Yellow Lion," in Burrin Street. He Waterford Mail also called at the Carlow Offices. brought a letter of introduction from the Abbe With the introduction of Carriage springs at the Yovaux to Dr. Doyle (J.K.L.) who sent Fr. beginning of the 19th century coaches were made Clancy to call on him. Montalambret was de­ speedier and more comfortable. Inns had lighted with the Bishop, his pleasant manne1· improved, and there meals and accommodation and ardent patriotism. Montalambret spoke of for weary travellers. Guides and Guide Books the loyalty of the Irish Clergy. "Yes," replied were to be had but very often the former were Dr. Doyle, "we have fought for our country" dishonest and the latter were unreliable. The and "those of us who have not fought have closing of the way to the Continent by the prayed for her night and day." Napoleonic Wars turned the attention of those The next day (Sunday, September 19) he (Continental) travellers to Ireland, and they recorded the weather very bad but he passed decided to see a country which was less well a pleasant day in St. Patrick's College. He known to them than many distant parts of lunched and dined with Fr. Clancy, Professor Europe. With the introduction of steam boats of Philosophy; Fr. Nolan, Theology, and Fr. in 1819, the journey by sea from England to McLeod, Humanity. Montalambret was very Ireland was shortened. impressed by their manners, opinions and love of Ireland, and their expressive faces when they COUNT CHARLES DE MONTALAMBRET, spoke of the English oppressor. He heard Dr. 1830 Doyle preach with eloquence and simplicity to a huge congregation in his Cathedral beside the One of the 19th century personali­ College. ties to visit Carlow and vicinity was Count Charles de Montalambret, the French author Montalambret left Carlow on Monday for and traveller. He was deeply interested in Kilkenny to continue his tour. Three weeks later Ireland and the Irish people and was anxious he visited Carlow again on his return journey to see what the country looked like after win­ to Dublin. He arrived from Kilkenny at night ning Emancipation under the leadership of D. when he was immediately taken up by his earlier O'Connell. He also had an idea of · writing friends among the professors in the College, a history of Ireland but decided to visit the Frs. Clancy, Nolan and McLeod. He also met country first. He arrived in Dublin on Septem­ Dr. Andrew Fitzgerald, President of the College, ber 4, 1830, provided with introductions from who had been for a long time in Louvain. relatives and friends in France and England Dr. Cahill, Professor of Natural Science, which had the effect of opening the houses of whom he described as a handsome, vigorous the Ascendency to him. and energetic young man. He had lunch He kept a journal of his impressions. with these friends and afterwards went A fortnight after his arrival in ·Ireland for a walk with Frs. Nolan and Clancy. He Montalambret set out for Carlow from Avoca saw the Castle and Mills which had fallen into via Rathdrum and Aughrim. He stopped in decay. He admired the newly-built Churche'! Coolattin Village for lunch for which he paid erected in the Gothic style. The Cathedral and three pence. After a few hours drive he reached St. Mary's Church in Carlow and the Church Tullow where (he wrote) there is a Convent (St. of the Holy Cross in Killeshin are all Gothic Francis de Sales) which has charge of the buildings designed hy Thomas Cobden, an Eng­ education of Catholic children. He saw the lishman. He built and lived in the house in famous Raths or Circular forts so beloved of College Street, now occupied by Mr. W. Duggan. antiquarians, but they had no interest for him. (Cobden also designed Braganza Palace, Thorn··

FIFTEEN r I ville (Palatine), portico and stone steps of of their Convent which she gratefully accepted. Duckett's Grove House). Mother McCauley often referred to Carlow as one of her pleasantest foundations and visited MOTHER CATHERINE McCAULEY, 1837 it more often. The kindness of the Bishop and Clergy were unceasing, and the people showed THE next distinguished visitor to Carlow was such a willingness to help in every way, that she Mother Catherine McCauley, Foundress of never grew weary of praising them. the Sisters of Mercy. In 1836 she was approach­ A visit to Carlow was a delightful recrea­ ed by the Bishop, Dr. Nolan, to establish a tion to Mother McCauley, and Dr. Fitzgerald House in Carlow, but it was not until 1837 and Fr. Maher encouraged her to come as often that preparations for the new foundation were as possible. (Note: Fr. Maher was spiritual completed and Mother McCauley accompanied director to St. Leo's and was a devoted friend by six Sisters, four of whom were to remain, to the Sisters in these early days). Fr. Maher left Dublin for Carlow on the 10th April, 1837. survived Mother McCauley thirty-six years. In " Leaves from the Annals of the Sisters of During his last illness Rev. Mother of St. Leo's Mercy" the jomzney is described-" The morn­ who, incidentally, was his niece, and other ing was damp and gloomy and the weather Sisters looked after him. He took pride in having did not brighten much as the day wore on. The known Mother McCauley and would tell them uneasy jolting vehicle known as "Purcell's Mail "Your Foundress was a saint" and "A great Coach" which had been chartered for the party, Saint." The climate was considered exception­ sped at something better than a snail's pace ally mild and Mother McCauley brought now through the counties of Dublin and Kildare to and then as companion some members of the the fair inland city of Carlow." As the Sisters Community in St. Mary's, Dublin, who had been approached the town they found that the bad ill to recuperate in the mild air of Carlow. weather had not prevented the Bishop, Clergy Mother McCauley visited Carlow less than and laity from coming far outside the town a year before her death in 1841. Never had St. to meet and give them a hearty welcome. A Leo's looked more beautiful than when the large crowd accompanied the coach as the tired Foundress saw it for the last time. horses toiled slowly up to the Coach Office-an "We can well imagine her gazing from the important institution in those days. After more Dublin Road at the elegant structure in the greetings, the party went to the Cathedral where midst of its sweet old-fashioned garden, soaring a fervent 'Te Deum' was sung; afterwards the poplars and glossy evergreens, the mound cover­ travellers were escorted to the College, where ed with roses (which she loved). Its noble they were received by the President, Dr. Fitz­ proportions, the green verandah, the staircase gerald, who entertained them to lunch. The leading to the garden, the graceful wings and Bishop and the College both wished to entertain above all the chapel with its semi-circular the visitors to dinner but the Sisters of the arches, and thanking God that her' children are Presentation Convent offered Mother McCauley so well housed and so worthy of their destiny a pressing invitation to accept the hospitality in God's House."

The Mills at Milford referred to by Mrs. Hall. (Courtesy of Bord Failte Eireann l

SIXTEEN

,,,'!i MR. AND MRS. S. C. HALL, 1825-1840 The next day, Thackeray started on the journey to the South. The drive was through MR. AND MRS. HALL made five tours of a more beautiful part, but not as prosperom; Ireland from 1825 to 1840. The last in the and well cultivated as the district (that is North Autumn of that year (1840). They describe Kildare) through which he had passed on his Carlow as one of the most fertile and best journey from Dublin. He was enchanted with cultivated of the counties in Ireland, called the Col. Bruen's fine modern residence and estate, "Garden of Erin." It is almost exclusively an which he drove through in the coach on his way agricultural county; its soil being admirably into Carlow. There is a deerpark on one side adapted for the production of corn of every of the road and an oak park on the other. description; a fact that may account for the Thackeray was anything but complimentary number of Flour Mills to be found in every to Carlow. He had a very caustic pen and he district of it. The Barrow affording great used it unsparingly. I cannot do better than facilities for the export through the towns of quote his impressions of Carlow in 1842_ " It New Ross and Waterford. The principal mills was market day in the town, a wretched place, are those of Mr. Alexander of Milford and the which is tolerably full of poor-looking shops, Lodge Mills at Bagenalstown of which Mr. the streets thronged with donkey cars and • Crossthwaite was then the owner. people eager to barter their wares. Here and The grain grown commands a high price there were picture stalls, and, indeed, the objects in the markets of London and Liverpool. It, of barter seemed scarcely to be of more value butter is also famous competing with that of than the articles which changed hands in a Cork and Kerry. Large tracts of rich pasture town of African huts and traders on the banks lands are occupied as dairy farms. Milford of the Quotta. Carlow has a fine Courthouse Mills are the most extensive and celebrated in and a couple of fine churches. The Protestant Ireland. They are situated four miles from Church a noble structure and the Catholic Cathe­ Carlow on the River Barrow. The roof of th~ dral built after some Continental model. Dr. mill is flat, covered with terceira (a mixture Doyle, the founder of the church, has the place of chalk, tar and sand). of honour within it.'' Thackeray, who had no The walls are castellated, so that it has love for Irish Catholics or Catholic Clergy, from a distance a very pleasing and striking praised Dr. Doyle as a high-minded man, and effect. The mill was originally established in the best champion the Catholic Church, and 1790. Mr. Alexander carries on his corn trade cause, ever had in Ireland. He was not impressed in eight different places in Carlow and transports by the architecture of the Cathedral. It seemed it to Milford to convert it into flour. to him overloaded with ornaments, innumerable spires and pinnacles, some of which were out of -WILLIAM M. THACKERAY, 1842 perpendicular. " The interior is quite plain, almost bare and unfinished. A wide large floor, W M. THACKERAY, the Cockney traveller some Confession boxes against the blank walls, •and author of" Vanity Fair," visited Ireland here and there humble pictures of the ' Stations,' in July 1842. He left a record of his impres­ and the statue of Dr. Doyle under a mean can­ sions in the " Irish Sketch Book." opy of red woollen stuff,'' were the chief furni­ On his arrival in Dublin he was directed ture of the Cathedral. Beside the Cathedral is to the " Shelbourne " where he was comfortably a "large tumble-down-looking Divinity College" accommodated at the very moderate charge of with upwards of a hundred students which is 6/8d. per day. While there, it was suggested licensed to give Degrees in Arts as well as that he should visit Cork Agricultural Show. An Divinity. He was shown some souvenirs of Dr. invitation from Mr. Peter Purcell of Halvers­ Doyle which were in the sacristy. town, Co. Kildare ( to whom he had brought Of his journey from Carlow to Leighlin a letter of introduction) to accompany him, was Bridge, Thackeray wrote-" The road is exceed­ accepted by Thackeray. They left Dublin that ingly beautiful, noble purple hills rising on evening for Halverstown. Next day, before either side, and the broad silver Barrow flowing starting on the journey to Cork, Thackeray through rich meadows of that astonishing made a tour of his host's estate. Mr. Purcell verdure which is only to be seen in this country. farmed 400 acres and employed 110 persons. Here and there was a country house or a tall The land was in a very high state of cultivation; mill by a stream-side but the latter buildings a twenty-acre field of potatoes had not a single were for the most part empty-the gaunt weed. In another field a score or more of women windows gaping without glass and their great and children were thinning and weeding turnips. wheels idle." Their pay was 6 pence and 8 pence a day. Mr. Not far out from Carlow the party met Purcell was also carrying out experiments in a couple of cars drawn by white horses and manuring-an acre of turnips was treated with holding Quakers and Quakeresses in white hats, bone dust, another with Murray's Composition clothes, shoes, driving along the road. At that and another with a new manure called "Guano." time there was a big colony of Quakers in Carlow The turnips treated with "Guano" were three and these were probably going there for a weeks ahead of the others. Behind the house meeting of Friends. was a village of corn and hayricks and a street Two months later, after visiting most cities of outbuilding, cart houses and stables. and towns in Ireland, Thackeray returns to

SEVENTEEN Halverstown. From here he was taken to shows Aylwardstown (near Waterford); while in Ire­ and fairs at Naas, Ballytore and Castledermot; land he visited his 1elatives. the quality of the stock at Naas was a surprise to him, some of them had already won medals Cardinal Wiseman, accompanied by Fr. at Cork and Dublin Shows. After the distri­ Burke, and his kinsman, Mr. Wiseman, left bution of prizes the party dined in MacEvoy's Dublin by the evening train on a Saturday, Hotel (Naas). Saddle of mutton, boiled leg of on his way to Castledermot. At the variom; mutton, roast beef, turnips, cheese, followed by stops on the journey crowds had collected to a "squadron of apple pies" was served to the receive his blessing. At Maganey Station a guests. large concourse of people had gathered and on The next day at Ballytore Show and Fair, the arrival of the train they gave His Eminence the stock was even finer than at Naas and could a tremendous welcome. 'rhe Cardinal was compete with advantage at any show in Eng­ received by Canon Dunne, P.P., Castledermot; land. Thackeray was enchanted by the rural Dr. Quinn, of Athy; Dr. Dunne, President of beauty of the Quaker village of Ballytore with Carlow College, and several of the Clergy. its neat shops and neater cottages and gardens. Mr. Strange had his carriage waiting to convey He saw hay sold for £2 per ton and oats 8/3d. him to Graney House. Surrounded by crowd:; per barrel (14 stone). of country people, carrying flowers and ever­ greens and cheering loudly, the carriage moved The last of his agricultural excursions was off on the journey to Castledermot. At St. to the Fair of Castledermot on the 29th Sep­ Laurence O'Toole's Church, Levitstown, the tember, celebrated for the show of cattle to be carriage stopped, His Eminence entered and seen there, and attended by the farmers and prayed at the altar steps for a short time. After gentry from the surrounding counties. Long giving his blessing to the people, he continued before reaching Castledermot, he met large his journey but before the carriage had proceed­ droves of cattle coming from it, beautiful stock, ed far on the road to Castledermot, the crowd most of them bound for England. At the turn­ insisted on removing the horses from the pike of Castledermot the droves of cattle carriage and drawing it themselves. Thus increased and the long street of the town was Cardinal Wiseman entered the town of Castle- thronged with cattle, sheep and horses and with people who wished to see, sell or buy. This was the last of the sights which the owner of Halverstown had taken Thackeray to see. They were the most pleasing he had witnessed in Ireland. Rich and poor working together, all interested in these honest, homely agricultural festivals. Thackeray's opinions of Ireland and the Irish may be summed up in his letter from Dublin in October, 1842, before his departure for England to his mother, Mrs. Carmichael Smyth, who was living in Paris. " The country is priest-ridden beyond all bearing and it is well to see, but as for living in, I would sooner live in a garrett in dear old smoky London, than in a fifty-windowed house here."

CARDINAL WISEMAN HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL NICHOLAS Courtesy of "The Standard." WISEMAN, ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER dermot. The streets were decorated with archet5 of ever-greens and !lowers, and banners bearing TOUR IN IRELAND AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, inscriptions of greetings. After refreshments 1858. at the Canon's House, the Cardinal went to thfl Church of the Assumption, was conducted to IS EMINENCE CARDINAL WISEMAN a chair on a richly carpeted dais where he heard H visited Ireland at the end of August, 1858; an address of welcome from the Catholic Clergy he came to assist and preach at the Consecra­ and Laity of Castledermot. He then left the tion of St. Michael's Church, Ballinasloe, at the Church, and was driven in his cousin's carriage invitation of the Bishop. His Eminence was the to Graney House where he spent the night. first English Cardinal since the Reformation to set foot on Irish soil and the. first Cardinal. The next day, Sunday, His Eminence accom­ since Cardinal Rinuccini came for the Confedera­ panied by his relative drove to Carlow to tion of Kilkenny. Cardinal Wiseman had preside at High Mass and preach. The Catholic relatives in Castledermot, Carlow and Water­ Clergy of the town headed by the Bishop and the ford. His mother was a Miss Strange from whole Catholic Laity combined to give the dis-

EIGHTEEN tinguished visitor a rousing welcome. Most of fate of that chair on which the Duke of Clarence the streets were decorated. Tullow Street and sat to "change." College Street were crossed with arches of ever­ Mr. H. Fennell's father bought Terry greens while flags and banners floated in the Byrne's coach at the dispersal sale of his pro­ air bearing words of welcome. A large crowd perty after his death in 1897. of people met the carriage at Knocknagee Cross A three-foot length, cut from one of the Roads and, as before, removed the horses and Lancewood shafts of the coach many years later drew the carriage into the town amid cheering, was made into a fishing-rod by Mr. Lyster, waving of hats and evergreens. At the College game-keeper in Oak Park. The fishing-rod is and Cathedral, an immense crowd awaited the still in use. Cardinal, and as the carriage proceeded through the gates, the clerical and lay students who (I am indebted to Mr. H. Fennell for the lined the drive-way cheered. He was receive:! above information). at the College by the President, Vice-President and other dignatories. Shortly after 12.0 o'clock, SEQUAH. 1890 the Cardinal in scarlet robes and white ermine cape entered the Cathedral and was conducted N Monday, 2nd August, 1890, Sequah, the to the Throne. Pontifical High Mass was cele­ O' celebrated Indian man, arrived in Carlow. brated by his Lordship, Bishop Walshe. After He drove through the town in a gilded chariot the Gospel was sung, Cardinal Wiseman came ( caravan), accompanied by an excellent band. to the foot of the sanctuary and delivered his He was dressed in a suit of buckskin and wear­ sermon which was given on behalf of the Sisters ing a broad brimmed wide-awake hat; his bands­ of Mercy. Rev. Mother Rose Strange was first men were attired in imitation suits of the same cousin of Cardinal Wiseman. material. He set up in Potato Market and started In the afternoon the Cardinal was enter­ extracting teeth, the band playing outside to tained in the Academy Hall of the College and drown the cries of the victims. He extracted was presented with several addresses of welcome 60 teeth in 20 minutes. Sequah then called for from the Bishop and Clergy of the College. He sufferers from rheumatism to come forward. also received addresses from the Catechism "Old Parr," a sufferer, was assisted up. Society, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and He was given a draught of the Prairie Flower, Catholic Institute of Carlow. His Eminenc~ brought into the caravan and rubbed with th~ later paid a visit to the two Convents. That Indian Oil for thirty-five minutes. When he night he dined with Bishop Walshe at Braganza, came out he was able to walk down the steps who was host to a large number of Catholic unaided. Clergy and Catholic Laity. The next day, the William Leonard, of Bridewell Lane, Doyle, Cardinal left to visit his cousin, Mr. Peter Pat Keating (a very bad case) and Joe Hilliard Strange, Aylwardstown, Waterford. all testified to have been cured. On 3rd November, Cardinal Wiseman gave A representative of the N'ationalist called a lecture on his visit to Ireland in Hanover on Seauah in Tynan's Hotel. " The Great Medi­ Square Rooms, London. The chief reason was cine Man is a pleasing looking gentleman, about to refute certain rumours which were noised thirty-five, with an intelligent face." The ver­ about his visit to Ireland. He told his listeners dict of the Carlow ladies was that he was a he never wrote or received a letter or made very handsome fellow. He told the reporter notes or kept a diary of his stay in Ireland. that his headquarters was at Rochester in New York. THE DUKE OF CLARENCE During the week Sequah continued to give exhibitions. In his drives through the town he ANOTHER distinguished visitor to Carlow in was presented with bouquets of flowers. the 19th century was the Duke of Clarence, The great sensation of the week was the grand-son of Queen Victoria, and heir-presump­ appearance of Mr. J. F. Lecky, J.P., Ballykealv tive to the Throne. The Duke came from the House, on the platform of Sequah's car. Mr. Curragh to play in a notable polo match in the Lecky had been suffering from a bad form of County Grounds at Tinypark. Robert· Watson rheumatism for years and was permanently of Ballydarton and Thomas Edge of Tolerton lame in one leg. He could get no cure from the House were crack polo players at that time. medical profession. The Duke was the guest of the Rochfords of Mr. Lecky wanted to be treated at home or Clogrennan Castle, who gave a banquet and at Sequah's Hotel but he would not consent. The ball in honour of the Royal visitor. cure h

NINETEEN won:e than ever." Mr. Lecky said he felt better There was a torchlight procession around the than before he received the treatment. Sequah town that night. Biddens, a character of that refused to return Mr. Lecky's walking stick, period, exclaimed, " Hurrah! for the great remarking "'tis my payment." American Doctor that flattened the humps and On Tuesday, August 11, Sequah gave his bumps of the old men of Carlow." last public exhibition in Carlow. No patients Sequah gave 10s. to the collection for the were treated. Testimonials were read from Rev. '98 Memorhl at Graigue. T. Bailey, Mr. John Ross and Miss Alice Dytcher.

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The above photograph was taken of a bottle of Sequah's famous remedy in the possession of Mr. Martin O'Rourke, Montgomery Street, Carlow. Photo by D Gcdfrey.

TWENTY Dr. Michael Comerford Bishop and Historian By ALICE TRACEY

THE parents of the historian of the Diocese of Royal Society of Antiquaries. 'Kildare and Leighlin hailed from the Bun­ Father Comerford had scarcely celebrated clody district of Co. Wexford, though it is the Silver Jubilee of his arrival in the parish of possible that their forebears had originated Monasterevan, an event which his parishioners in Clonmore, Co. Carlow. had taken good care not to let pass unnoticed. In 1830, when the future Bishop was born, when the announcement was made of his James Comerford and his wife resided in Brown appointment as co-adjutor to the Venerable Street where they carried on a successful busi­ D.c. Lynch who had succeeded to the See th·~ ness in one of the large houses there and had previous year on the death of Dr. Walshe. their private residence in the adjoining one. He was consecrated in the Cathedral by These houses, by the way, have now sadly the Most Re,v. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, deteriorated since the days prior to the Comer­ assisted at the ceremony by Dr. Lynch and the fords' occupation, when they served as "town Bishops of Waterford and Ferns, Drs. Power residences" for some of the elite of the county. and Browne. Young Michael Comerford attended the local' academy and, destined for the priesthood, he TAKES UP RESIDENCE IN BRAGANZA entered St. Patrick's College in 1848. He completed his studies in 1855 but his During his co-adjutorship Dr. Lynch had ordination was postponed owing to the death resided in Tullow and on his accession to the of Dr. Haly in that year. In May, 1856, he See did not change his residence; consequently, received Holy Orders from the recently conse­ on his consecration, Dr. Comerford took up his crated Dr. Walshe who succeeded Dr. Haly. abode in Braganza House. He ministered for short periods in various He immediately set to work on much needed parishes until 1863 when he was appointed C.C. improvements therei and in the Cathedral. The in Monasterevan; he was made Parish Priest imposing Portico which adorns Braganza was here in 1878 and in all laboured in the parish erected by him. The flooring and seating in the for twenty-five years. Cathedral was next given attention and a heat­ In addition to his onorous priestly duties, ing system introduced. Very fine Stations of Father Comerford carried out extensive building the Cross were erected and at his own exense schemes. He had the parish church of SS. Peter he installed the fine stained glass window in the and Paul completed, erected parochial residences sanctuary representing the Crucifixion. and the Christian Brothers' Schools. This was exeootecl by the noted firm of Mayer of Munich which was also responsible "COLLECTIONS "-A MINE OF LOCAL for the window in the south transept HISTORY erected at the same time. In May, 1890, the magnificent high altar of white marble, Keenly interested in local history, he glean­ erected to the memory of Dr. Walsh ed the story of every parish in the diocese, was consecrated by Dr. Comerford and bringing it up to date regarding educational the High Mass on the occasion at which he establishments, etc., and published the results presided was celebrated by a young Curate whom of his researches in three volumes between 1883 he had ordained the previous year, Father and 1886. These " Collections of the Dioceses Patrick Gorry. Another example of Dr. Comer­ of Kildare and Leighlin," as they are aptly ford's generosity was his donation of a large named, are a boon to the local historian of bell to augment the peal in the Cathedral. to-day. He also translated several important works from Latin and wrote a number of spiri­ UNEXPECTED DEMISE tual treatises. I Following these improvements and addi­ As might be expected, he enthusiastically encouraged others to take an interest in matters tions, the work of decorating the Cathedral was historical and was largely responsible for the put in hands but before its completion Dr. 1 formation of the County Kildare Archaeological Comerford had passed to his eternal reward. Society of which he was a Vice-President and The end came unexpectedly on the 19th of to whose Journals he contributed several valu­ August, 1895 in Braganza. able papers. The aged Bishop, Dr. Lynch, presided at He contributed also to the success of the his obsequies at which Dr. Browne, Bishop of Ossory Archaeological Society and was a mem­ Ferns, Dr. Brownrigg of Ossory, and Dr. Don­ t ber of both the Royal Irish Academy and the nelly, Titular Bishop of Canea, attended,

TWENTY-ONE together with a large number of clergy and handsome marble altar to the Chapel in St. laity. Patrick's College and his Alma Mater was also Very Rev. Patrick Foley, D.D., President generously endowed with gifts for the education of St. Patrick's College, preached the Panegyric of priests at home and abroad. and the remains were interred in the nave of It may not be out of place here to remark the Cathedral. that on the 18th of September in the current An inscribed brass tablet on the floor at year the Very Rev. Patrick Gorry, P.P., Mon­ the Gospel side marks his grave. asterevan, died. He had been closely associated A magnificently carved pulpit designed and with Dr. Comerford during the latter's all too executed in Bruges by a notable firm was erected brief career as Bishop and eventually spent the to his memory in1899. last thirty years of his life as Parish Priest of During his lifetime Dr. Comerford gave Monasterevan. At the age of ninety-three he was many gifts in addition to those already men­ doyen of the clergy of Kildare and Leighlin tioned. While in Edenderry he donated a and the last clerical link with Dr. Comerford.

\ Pen Picture of Dr. Comerford \, from letters written to his mother, by Rev. Gerald Manley 11 Hopkins, S.J. Christmas Eve, 1888, he writes that: "In an hour or so I shall I start for Monasterevan where I may be addressed to Miss Cas­ sidy' s. "The Parish Priest has just been made Co-adjutor Bishop with right of succession to the see, and has asked me to his Consecration. I can hardly go to it. His appointment is of some importance. He is no campaigner, would take no part in the League (presided over i by his hot-headed Curates) and rt - had the unusual courage to for­ it· I, bid boycotting. . . . · ''He is a learned antiquary and remarkably silent for anywhere, (sic) portentiously so for an Irishman; so that it is hard talk­ ing to him ...." The previous Christmas he had also visited Monasterevan and mentions that he had as­ sisted the Parish Priest, who was just recovering from a dan­ gerous illness, to give Holy Communion on Christmas morn­ ing "When hundreds came to the rails with the unfailing de­ votion of the Irish." (Acknowledgment to Mr. P. J. Murphy. Myshall, for the above extract).

A striking picture o,f the base of the Pulpit erected in Carlow Cathedral to the memory of Dr. Comerford. Photo by P. McCormaic.

TWENTY-TWO i~,, In this article MARY O'HANLON visits :~~L.,·.'.111' ! The Stately Honies of Carlow

fHIS is the story of some interesting houses there with full military honours. Colonel Bruen, in the neighbourhood of Carlow which are son of Henry, built the two wings of Oak Park familiar sights to most Carlovians. Many of House, East and West. Atkinson's Irish Tourist these buildings are to-day in ruins, but that published in 1815, described Oak Park House­ does not prevent us from recalling their former " A very neat edifice, but not extensive, com­ glory, or tragedy, as the case may be. We will posed of a centre and two wings. Although not begin with the history of Oak Park. extensive it is what one would denominate H fashionable hunting lodge in the English Style." OAK PARK Atkinson says-" The grand feature of this • The family of Cooke was situated at Oak demesne is that of a very valuable oak wood." Park, or Painstown, as it was formerly called, It was from this oak wood that the estate through many generations. Their property was derived the name "Oak Park." Fraser in 1844 taken over by the Crown and sold to the Bruen described the house as a "handsome Grecian family in 1775. Henry Bruen, the first of the mansion." name at Oak Park, built the main structure of One of the wings of the house was burnt Oak Park House. The architect was Johnston down but was rebuilt by the Right Hon. Henry who was also architect for the General Post Bruen. Two of the Bruens were members of Office in Dublin. Parliament for Carlow. Col. Henry Bruen was The Bruen family built the village of Nurney elected for Parliament in 1812. He was strongly and Henry Bruen was buried in the family vault in favour of Catholic Emancipation. It was he

OAK PARK HOUSE, CARLOW (Courtesy of ' 1 The Nationalist.")

TWENTY-THREE who commenced to build a church, the facsimile BURTON HALL of a Greek Temple in the grounds of Oak Park. This church was never finished. In its stead Burton Hall Mansion, home of the Burton the Bruen Memorial Church on the Athy Road family, was built in the year 1730. Benjamin was erected. Col. Bruen's son represented th~ Burton who died in 1828 was the founder of the constituency from 1857 to 1880-. The following famous Burton's Bank in Castle Street, Dublin. appeared in the Carlow Post of May 2, 1857--­ This, I am told, is how the Burtons got posses­ " On Wednesday night last a Ball was given by sion of Burton Hall, or Ballynakill as it was Henry Bruen, Esq., to his supporters at the late originally called: A certain gentleman was to election. Robert Clayton Browne, Esq., attended be tried on a very serious charge. As he had and as he was returning home an accident not sufficient capital to defend himself or to occurred which caused the death of a beautiful pay law expenses, he approached Mr. Burton for horse. He proceeded to the Ball in Mr. Whit­ a loan for the purpose and gave Burton Hall as more's omnibus and when returning the shaft a security for that loan. He was sentenced to snapped and ran into the horse's bowels causing death and Mr. Burton came into possession of almost instantaneous death. No other accident his property. occurred." John Loveday, an English tourist, described Tp.e death of Capt. Arthur Bruen in 1954 Burton Hall in 1732-" The gardens are hand­ marked the end of the Bruen family at Oak some, ye waterworks, though not large, are Park. The house closed its doors to open only very pretty; wide shady walks between -trees, to the sound of the auctioneer's hammer. The a park beyond ye garden, a kitchen garden and estate was taken over by Browne's Hill Farms fruitery to ye house." Again we find this Ltd. account of it in 1806-" Burton Hall, seat of Col. William Burton, avenue a mile long, park 200 acres, wall 9 feet high. At this hall are BROWNE'S HILL HOUSE some original statues brought from Italy. The hall is built on a stream dividing the counties fN the year 1650, Robert, son of John Browne, Carlow and Kildare." Esq., of Wickham and Abbess Roding, passed into Ireland. His son, William Browne, settled About the year 1780, the following inci­ at Browne's Hill. Robert, son and successor of dent occurred and is told in a tourist book William, built Browne's Hill House in 1756 after dated 1788-" A few years ago a person once the plan of a Mr. Peters, the architect. Lewis's possessed of a considerable estate by unforseen Post Chaise Directory thus described the house, misfortunes came to decay. A rigid creditor " It is situated on an eminence and is built of had noticed the unfortunate gentleman - had hewn stone in a grand arrd finished style, gone to pay his respects at Burton, Hall. The commanding an extensive prospect of the sur­ creditor hurried away to the Sheriff of Kildare rounding countryside. The demesne is encirc:ed who, with his proper officers soon went to with a stone wall, and is laid out in the modern Burton Hall. The debtor was the first to see taste of improvement, with parks and plantations them coming up the avenue. He turned pale at once extensive and ornamental in a high and said, 'I am undone.' The master bid him take degree." courage for he should dine with this inhuman creditor in safety. As soon as the creditor It is interesting to note that the materials entered the hall he cried out ' There is your for the park wall, mentioned above, came from prisoner; take care of him.' He was soon the remains of an old abbey known as " St. informed that the 'Prisoner,' as he called him, Kieran's" which stood at Viewmount, Browne's was on the Carlow side of the table and Hill, and is said to have been founded about the consequently the Sheriff of Kildare had no year 634. Part of the wall was built during power over him." the famine to give m~n employment. Originally the main road ran right through the Browne's The Burtons took an active part in local Hill Estate but the Brownes had it closed and affairs and, it appears, they were highly built gates at either end of it. respected by their tenantry. An annual affair was the harvest home for the workers at the The Brownes, a great British Army family, mansion. An account of one of these festivals were prominent in the affairs of Carlow town. was in the Carlow Post of November 1855-"The They had their town house in " Brown Street " dinner tables were arranged in the servants' and Charlotte Street is named after Lady Char­ hall and about eighty men and women partook lotte Burke, wife of William Browne of Browne's of a most substantial dinner at 3.00 o'clock. Hill. In the year 1867, Robert Clayton Browne The party then commenced the amusement of built Barrack Street National School as the the evening, which consisted in hunting a soaped Browne Memorial School. pig and running races in sacks and other suit­ able entertainments. At the close of these Just a few years ago, Lt. Col. William sports the party having been joined by the Browne Clayton sold the Browne's Hill Estate surrounding tenantry entered the dancing hall to Mr. G. W. Harrold and went to live in Conne · which was tastefully decorated to the occasion. m:1ra. The dancing continued until 10.00 o'clock when

TWENTY-FOUR tea was served and shortly after this a cold house now standing in the walled-in garden, supper of very sumptuous viands was partaken adjoining the mansion. Thus ends the story of of. The dancing, singing and festivity continued Burton Hall. until about 3.00 o'clock in the morning when the party separated in the greatest peace and DUNLECKNEY MANOR harmony. These convivial meetings are the means of cementing the most perfect union between This is the ancient house of an ancient landlord and tenant and of establishing peace family, the Bagenals of !drone. Nicholas Bagenal and goodwill in every district which happens to succeeded to the constableship of Leighlinbridge be blessed by the influence- at suc}l kind and Castle in 1602 (a post previously held by his friendly owners as Mr. Burton:" father and his uncle). After his time the From about 1865, the Burton family ceased Bagenals retired to a mansion they built at to reside at Burton Hall. A Mr. and Mrs. Moore Dunleckney. The estate was confiscated in 1652 occupied the house for about ten years. It was because of the part played by Col. Walter subsequently let to Charles J. Engledow, Bagenal in the Confederate War. After the through whose labours the evicted of Clongorey Revolution in 1660, Dudley Bagenal, son of Sir were re-instated to the'ir farms. In February Walter, regained his father's estates. In 1688, 1913 an action was tried in London for the he supported James and he fought at the Battle recovery of a portrait of Lady Anne Ponsonby, of the Boyne; as a result, the family estates painted by the famous Gainsborough. The por­ were again forfeit, but Dudley's son, Walter, trait, it was alleged, was removed from Burton succeeded in proving his title after his father's Hall during the tenancy of Charles J. Engledow. death in exile at Bruges, in 1712. Walter's son, Mr. Engledow left Burton Hall about 1901 and Beauchamp, was the next Lord of the Manor. the residence remaining unoccupied greatly He commenced selling large portions of the deteriorated. About 1927 the Burton Estate estate. Walter, son of Beauchamp, was the last was divided up by the Land Commission. The of the male line of the Bagenals of !drone. It mansion house was purchased by the late was he who had the idea of erecting at Moneybeg Harmon Herring Cooper who partly demolished a second Versailles, the present Bagenalstown. the old residence of Burton Hall. The materials In October of 1785, Sarah Bagenal, heir he used in the building of a new two-storeyed of Dunleckney, married Philip Newton of Benne-

I l i DUNLECKNEY MANOR, BAGENALSTOWN ( Courtesy of Messrs. J. H. North & Co.)

TWENTY-FIVE MAIN STAIRCASE, DUNLECKNEY MANOR (Courtesy of Messrs. J, H. No1th & CJ.) kerry. Thus it was that the name Newton still to be seen at the back of M\ss Walshe's in continued on in Dunleckney. About 1850 the Coalmarket, in what was formerly the old Castle house underwent renovations in the Tudor style Graveyard. Perhaps the most illustrious resi­ of architecture. In 1871 Anne Henrietta Newton dent of Old Derrig was the former Bishop, married a Vesey, and the Veseys were the own­ J.K.L., who came to Old Derrig in 1822. ers of Dunleckney Manor until it was taken over by the Donnellys who had an extensive In a letter to his niece Dr. Doyle wrote-"! stud farm there. am leaving Carlow next month, having taken a house and thirteen acres of land, a mile and a half distant from it, in the beautiful country l that lies beyond the river. The house, avenue You will notice that the names of the four and garden are fine and will enable me to indulge last-mentioned families all commenced their in that love of solitude which has assailed me surnames with the letter B. There were numer­ from my youth." Dr. Doyle playfully called ous other English settlers in this county whose himself the hermit of Old Derrig, and from this retreat came many of his important pas­ surnames began with B. Long ago this gave torals and writings which had so much influence rise to such sayings as " Beware the Carlow on the affairs of his time. There was a lovely B's" and "The B's of Carlow carry a sting!" rookery at Old Derrig which Dr. Doyle mentioned. He referred to the house as "an ancient rambling house." Therefore even in his time, it must have been very old. However the date of its erection is not known. An Elizabethan OLD DERRIG map of Leix and Offaly shows Old Derrig as a village of some few houses. This charming old residence is situated mid-way between Carlow and Killeshin. The A few centuries ago the old road from earliest known resident of Old Derrig is Mr. Springhill to Sleatty went right by the hall Benjamin Fisher, Magistrate for the Queen's door. Traces of this remain in laneways. Also County in 1751. At the end of the eighteenth at one time there was a mill in Old Derrig. The century Captain B. Galbraith of the Carlow mill wheel is not so long gone and the sockets Militia occupied the house. His burial tomb is are there to the good. A part of the millrace

TWENTY-SIX I is also in existence. The tower in the garden as 1902. One of the family, Frederick, was was somehow connected with the mill, for the killed outside the avenue gate in 1894. A I offices were in the ground floor of the tower. we-man threw a bag of thistles over the hedge in front of his horse. The animal shied and The little Church in the garden which Dr. l!'redei-ick was killed in a fall from his horse. Doyle used as an oratory, although it is a very He was a brother to the late William John ancient structure, still has its roof. The visitor Haughton, shareholder in the Great Southern to Old Derrig may also see the coach houses and Western Railway. used by J.K.L. The noted Father Maher of Graiguecullen lived for a time with Dr. Doyle After the time of the Haughtons, Old in Old Derrig. One night Father Maher's quick Derrig was for a time unoccupied. Captain action prevented a fire which might have had Thomas, the landlord, gave the house for a serious consequences. time to the Belgian refugees of the 1914 war. They stayed for a period and some even worked In the Summer of 1826 Dr. Doyle left Old with neighbouring farmers. In the 1930's a Derrig for Braganza and there were many Mrs. Bolton lived in Old Derrig. Some years heavy hearts in the neighbourhood on his ago, the present occupants of Old Derrig, the leaving. Captain Fitzmaurice of the Royal Navy McKenzies, moved in. The house has changed who fought under Nelson in the Battle of very little in profile a.nd is to-day a delightful Trafalgar moved into Old Derrig then. The old-world retreat. next occupants of the house were the Fishbournes, a prominent Carlow family. After With this we conclude our brief trip into the Fishbournes came the Haughtons, another the past and return to the progressive world well known family. The Haughtons started the of to-day. Graigue Flour Mills and other mills and tan­ neries. They were at Old Derrig until as late

I I j I J 1 The Dining Room, Dunleckney Manor. ·, (Courtesy of Messrs. J, H. North & Co.) I

TWENTY-SEVEN • Teachers lll Tullow Founding of the Brothers of St. Patrick. REV. PATRICK J. BROPHY, B.D.

JN forty branches of the only teaching Order COMB-MAKING of men named after Ireland's National Apostle, February 1958 was a joyous occasion. Dr. Delaney paid Mr. Edward Gray £30 The Patrician Brothers and their thousands of to teach the Brothers comb-making. When this pupils celebrated 150 years of service in the trade failed they worked in town or country cause of Christian education. threshing the corn, picking the potatoes, quarry­ Their story begins in Tullow. It is a town ing the stones for the new convent or attending with a long tradition. St. Patrick's disciple, on the masons dressing the blocks. They Isserninus, settled at Aghade on the Slaney a followed trades as varied as blacksmith, white­ short few miles away. At one time Tullow was smith, carpenter, gilder and weaver. They named after St. Fortchern who founded a school opened a workshop for the manufacture of here. Among his pupils was Finian of Clonard, farming implements, a venture which showed teacher of the Irish monks. a nice appreciation of the country's needs. As pioneers of technical education this venture The fortunes of Ireland were at a low deserves to be remembered. It also won for them ebb when Daniel Delaney returned to Ireland a lease of a plot of land on which to build a and found himself assisting Bishop James Keeffe home. in Tullow. The new curate had been educated The old chapel was falling to pieces but in France where the Catholic Faith had been the Protestant landlord would grant no lease held in high esteem. In Tullow he found his of a new plot. When Robert Doyne won first parishioners cowed and poverty-stricken. Their prize using a Scotch plough made by the crime was fidelity to the old Faith. Education, Brothers against twenty-one competitors in a opportunity, advancement were denied them. No ploughing contest, he relented. Pastor Doyne wonder faction fights, cock fights and rowdy and the agent; Mr. Eliot, tried in vain to prevent sports were their sole distractions. Doyne's concession. Serenus Kelly had to pay £200 down and a rent of eight pounds annually SUNDAY SCHOOLS for an acre of l;md ! And the exorpitant demand Young Mr. Delaney dared to appear in public dressed so as to be recognisable as a priest! He had the Angelus bell rung to call ST. PATRICK'S SEMINARY, TULLOW people to prayer. He organised processions to II mark religious feasts. He opened Sunday schools, HIS Seminary which is under the superintend- I T ence of Mr. S. P. Kelly, the Superior, and formed a band, taught hymns for community other members of the religious Brethren, affords singing. He recruited teachers to help on these the peculiar advantage of combining a moral parish revivals. Success crowned his labours. with a lit-erary education. Mr. Kelly devotes his Tullow began to live. time exclusively to the religious instruction of his pupils, and employs every possible means to When Bishop Keeffe died it was Daniel impress on their minds the principles of morality Delaney who succeeded him. A new church was and virtue. built in 1805 and at once the Bishop .went about The domestic arrangements, under the inspec­ setting up a permanent teaching group. Under tion of one of the members of the Institution, the patronage of St. Brigid a number of ladies ·are calculated to afford satisfaction and comfort, volunteered to devote themselves to the service while everything conducive to health and hap­ piness is studiously considered. of Christian schools in Tullow. They had a This Establishment is a desirable situation, modest home beside the new church. standing on an eminence in the vicinity of the town, enjoying all the advantages of a country A year later four men were found to residence, and commanding a delightfully ex­ consecrate their lives to the same work. On tensive prospect of a beautiful and diversified February 2, 1808, James McMahon of Limerick, scenery by which it is surrounded. Ambrose Dawson of Carlow, Patrick Woods of The course of education comprises Spelling, Armagh, and Serenus Patrick Kelly of Leitrim Reading, Writing, English Grammar, Elocution, became the first Brothers of St. Patrick. They Arithmetic. Mathematics, Geography, Use of the went to live in the all but ruined chapel in Mill Globe and Maps, etc., Ancient and Modern His­ tory, together with the Latin, Greek, French and Street, vacant since 1805. They were to follow Italian languages. the rule of St. Francis de Sales and earn their -Carlow Post, 1826. keep by their own hard work. The parish was much too poor to support them.

TWENTY-EIGHT was made of men who had no shelter against the the voyage to drown the clangour from the rain, no income and were devoting their lives engine room and the screams of the passengers. to the education of the poor! He found the English very serious but made good friends everywhere, especially among the FIRST PROFESSIONS Quakers. At Ampleforth College he received a subscription of one pound from the son of the There was free schooling for those who Emperor of Mexico. could pay nothing. A building to accommodate 70 boys was erected at the cost of ten pounds Serenus brought twelve boys from England in 1824. Every Sunday the Brothers taught and a few from Dublin back to Tullow. These reading and catechism for four hours in the were lodged in the old chapel hastily made ready church in Tullow. They also read aloud chapters for them in 1825. They were in care of a from spiritual authors. Two of them went to matron, Miss Plunkett. Thus was established Ardattin also on Sundays. There was evening St. Patrick's Monastic Seminary, offering a school, too, for those at work during the day. liberal and varied course of instruction, as the Their manner of life was simple indeed. Every t day poverty sat at their table. They took only two meals, breakfast at nine and dinner at 3.30 p.m. They took no flesh meat during Lent or Advent and no evening meal until 1880 when a DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES if supper collation was introduced. The first seven religious professions were made in the little (From the Carlow Post, Sat., July 19th, 1873). chapel of St. Brigid at the home of Bishop James HE Distribution of Prizes took place on 10th I: Doyle in Old Derrig, near Carlow, on January T July. The previous ten days were devoted 31, 1823. Their good influence was felt through­ exclusively to the examination of the students. out the parish and they attended wakes in order At the upper end of the spacious, lofty and well­ to prevent the disagreeable practices then lighted Study Hall, a carpeted platform was common. They taught 244 boys and 322 adults tastefully erected, hung in front with rich crim­ in the Sunday school in the church. son. The whole Hall was hung with evergreens It was little wonder that Bishop Delaney interwoven with flowers. There were over 80 visitors, including a large number of priests. sent four of them to make a foundation in his "The Harvest Storm," a comedy, was played by native town of Mountrath in 1810. There they the students. and its different parts were sustain­ buiit their own home. Unhappily two of the ed throughout with an ability rarely excelled. Brothers were seriously injured when they fell A Farce. " Persecuted Dutchman " was much from the scaffolding while slating the monastery. applauded. The " Battle of Fontenoy" and Dr. Delaney left the Tullow community an " Brian's Address to his Troops " were recited income of twenty pounds per annum in 1814. with so much spirit and energy as to transport Work on a new house in Tullow commenced in one in thought to the actual scenes. A Latin 1820. Serenus Kelly, having levelled and planted oration was ably delivered by a student, and a piece entitled " The Irish American " was re­ their one-acre estate, went off to collect money cited by another student and elicited much in Galway. Illness laid him low and he was praise. A dialogue in ~French gave much pleas­ back in Carlow for J.K.L.'s consecration in ure to the greater part of the audience. A boy November. One storey was completed and the of ten years appeared in the character of an funds exhausted. Infant Orator, and acquitted himself well and gracefully of the part he had undertaken. A EIGHT KINGS Negro Stump Speech, delivered by a student in a truly inimitable manner won for him the well Patrick Dawson was Superior. He requested merited and unqualified approval of all present. The Prologue and Epilogue of the Play were Bishop Doyle to furnish Serenus with letters of recited by a student with much taste and judge­ recommendation to collect in England. Serenus ment. The intervals of the play were enlivened Kelly was nothing if not versatile. He combined with instrumental and vocal music. piety with an eager spirit of scientific research. After the exhibition by the students, the guests And he had a flair for public relations too. He were entertained at a dinner bv the Brothers. was to write to Peel in 1847 warning that In the evening, the Rev. P. Fitzsimons, Adm., famine would recur. He experimented with the distributed the prizes. He appropriately com­ raising of potato tubers from seeds. He travelled plimented the students on their success at their throughout Ireland, Britain and France collecting recent examinations, and made particular a~lusion to those of them who had taken part m the funds for Carlow Cathedral and the support very successful and highly entertaining exhibi­ of the Brothers. He visited eight kings in their tion, and gave some practical words of advice •I palaces, was friend of bishops, made his mark on the manner in which they ought to spend I : as an educator. their vacation, and on the necessity of taking Only a man of courage would have faced for full advantage of a polite and liberal education England as petitioner for a Catholic cause in necessary to qualify them for those positions in 1823. Serenus travelled to Liverpool on the life which Providence may have destined for Royal George steamer recently put into service. them. He hoped that the seeds of early piety The noise of the throbbing engines terrified sown in their tender minds by the good Brothers passengers unaccustomed to this new mode of would not soon or easily be eradicated. travelling. Thus a band played on board during

TWENTY-NINE ~---

prospectus proudly proclaims. The fees were teenth century. Tullow was growing rapidly. twenty-five pounds per annum for boys over From 4,750 in 1800 the population increased to twelve. There was no vacation at Christmas or 6,000 in 1827. Easter and only a brief break during the summer. There were twenty boys from Dublin The boarding school had 90 beds in 1857. in 1830. As the Patrician Brothers grew in numbers SECOND SCHOOL they were invited to open houses in Galway, Fethard, Mallow, Madras, Maitland, Sydney. In The success of this venture encouraged the 1893 the boarding school became their central Brothers to open a second boarding school in novitiate and was closed to the general public. 1827 in Mountrath. To read the prize day The Mountrath school was transferred to reports in the local newspapers is to be trans­ Ballyfin demesne in 1930 and is among the ported into another world. These young men boarding schools in Leinster today. The sesqui­ declaiming in Latin and French were often the centenary celebrations have a permanent sons of parents who had been denied all educa­ souvenir in the new novitiate opened in 1958 tion. It was indeed a far cry from the Tullow at Ballykealy. This beautiful residence was the of 1775 to that described in Carlow Post of home of the Lecky family who have long July 19, 1873. associations with County Carlow. The school flourished. Its pupils numbered Ft'om small beginnings the seed planted in three Prelates, Bishops Foley, Cullen, Brownrigg. St. Patrick's name in Tullow has grown to a Distinguished priests and laymen gave good robust family spread out over England, America, accounts of themselves throughout the nine- Australia and Asia.

PATRICIAN BROTHERS' MONASTERY, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH, TULLOW Courtesy of Patrician Brothers.

A WORD OF THANKS The Honorary Editors and the Committee of the Old Carlow Society wish to thank all who have contributed in any way to this issue of Carloviana. They are particularly indebted to the support of our advertisers without which it would not be possible to continue the publication of our Journal.

THIRTY

I I CLODAGH MURPHY reminisces By the Banks of the Barrow

SOME forgotten poet loved to wander, Mullins or Tig Molins. A century later, in 824, A.D., to be exact, the Danes in their dragon­ "By the banks of the Barrow, broad, headed boats sailed up the Barrow, with their smiling and fair, red and white eagle banners sweeping the sky, Lightly brushed by the gentle caress to plunder this religious establishment. of the air." In the middle of the seventeenth century, at the time of the Confederation and Cromwel­ Did he ever reflect, I often wonder, on lian wars, Carlow Castle was the scene of many what sights and people those same quiet waters attacks and counter-attacks. Several times it must have seen down through the ages. was besieged and almost subdued, especially in To begin at the myth-shrouded beginning, 1642 when the attackers, however, were hindered there was once a Queen named Beirbe. Her son by an abnormally high and prolonged flood in Metschi had three serpents in his heart. These the river. Eventually the proud Castle sur­ were removed by a Magician, who, having killed rendered on terms to Cromwell's soldiers and and burned them, threw the ashes into the its garrison marched away across the bridge into river. The water boiled and destroyed every Leix in good order. living creature in its depths. Hence the word Dr. Thomas Molyneux, whose brother Barrow (in Irish Bearbo) from beirbim, I boil. William was the author of " A Case For Ireland Stated," describes a tour which he made in 1709. SOME EARLY EVENTS Leaving Dublin, he arrived five hours later in Naas, where he spent the night. The follow­ In 458 A.D., Ath Dara, identified with ing day he crossed the Barrow "at a very deep Maganey, resounded with battle-cries. At this ford at Shroule" and journeyed a further ford on the river, King Laoghaire, the Tara half-mile to " Cousin Best's at Knockbeg." Monarch, waging war on Leinster to collect a tribute, met with a crushing defeat and was HAND IN HAND taken prisoner. At the beginning of the seventh century, Many a lover and his lass wandered along a golden period in Irish history, St. Moling the Barrow track in days gone by just as they must have been a familiar figure on the river still do to-day. Had you frequented the stretch banks, for it was then that he founded the to Clogrennan in the 1840s you would surely famous monastery at Rosbioc, now called St. have met Thomas Edwards and Lucy Marchant

... I 4 i'

THE BARROW NEAR CARLOW , \Photo by P. MacCormalc)

THIRTY-ONE walking hand-in-hand. One of these was flaunting their multi-coloured flags in the genial certainly a disappointing outing for Thomas as breeze, to the great admiration of the crowd. very much to his regret they had company and The main attraction seems to have been the as he tells us-" I asked her to lean on my arm; water-velocipede driven by Mr. G. J. Bourke. she consented but if she did one of the others During the evening the band of the Carlow lent upon hers and thus I could not address any Rifles played some lively selections and later but the most commonplace remarks to her." In the sky was illuminated by a display of his three-hundred-page Journal, Thomas not fireworks. only gives us a full description of this affair but treats of his life as Coach Agent to Joseph In 1856 we find mention of a Regatta Fishbourne. His entries are addressed from the which must surely have been one of the first in "Carlow Coach Office." This was the "Fair Carlow-" The day being remarkably fine, the Traveller" depot at No. 9 Dublin Street. Our banks were crowded with ladies, who seemed only regret is that he stopped keeping the to take a lively interest in the sports of the day. Journal in 1847, a year before he finally married The river itself presented an imposing sight, his Lucy. the brilliant colours in which the contending MILLS parties were dressed sparkling here and there through boats full of ladies who cheered them In 1842, William Makepeace Thackery to greater exertion." There was an accident in travelled along the road from Carlow to Leighlin the Race for the Silver Challenge Cup which Bridge " which," he states, " is exceedingly resulted in a dispute. We are told that "The beautiful, noble purple hills rising on either Foleys kept the lead till they came to the turn side and the broad silver Barrow flowing thro' at the Buoy when the others got inside of them rich meadows of that astonishing verdure which and in going round struck the stern of their is only to be seen in this country. Here and boat which has caused much dispute as to there was a country house or a tall mill by a whether the prize was fairly won." stream but the latter buildings were for the most part empty and the gaunt windows gaping The Carlow Horticultural Society, in 1836, without glass and their great wheels idle." held their Autumn display of " Fruits and Flowers " in the Pembroke Fields. Colour These mills (Shackleton's, Lalor's, Thomp­ mingled with fragrance until the Barrow banks son's, Green's and MacWey's-to mention only were transformed into another Paradise, a few) were built mostly on tributaries and although this time under marquees. from their number one would conclude that milling was certainly a very prosperous and The Cricket Club moved their grounds to profitable occupation some time before the great Clogrennan for a period in the early days and English novelist made his trip. The Barrow from the smooth green pitch the Barrow could Mills, flourishing even then, was the first in be plainly seen. The matches played there were Ireland and the second in the British Isles to graced by the presence of the "Rank, beauty be converted from the old-fashioned stone mill and fashion of this and the adjoining counties." to the roller process. Afterwards dinner was served " in the best style" by Mr. Whitmore. Toasts were proposed THE LIGHTER SIDE and speeches delivered before the company retired, usually about ten o'clock. Whatever people may say about the weather nowadays, few can remember a cold IMPROVEMENTS spell to equal that of February 1855. We read in the Carlow Post-" Though the severe frost A stroll along the riverside has always been of the last week or two has been productive a favourite recreation of Carlovians. Generation of many inconveniences, it has at the same time after generation have ~een the blending shades been attended with amusement and recreation of green reflected in the golden waters and have in various localities, and our river has afforded listened to the melting melody of countless no slight attraction to all classes, during the birds. last week particularly. Large parties have assembled on it daily to indulge in the exhila­ Despite Nature's generosity, Mr. Vigors rating exercise of skating. Numbers took of Erindale, in the Autumn of 1822, spent refreshments on the river, and several gentlemen several thousand pounds in improving the walks skated from Milford and several other places through his demesne. He erected alcoves at in the vicinity to Carlow. The scene was amus­ intervals and added a Chinese Temple for the ing, most exercising, and, whilst its novelty sole purpose of affording pleasure to others. forms no small share of its attractions, as we After all this I find it difficult to forgive certain hear that the Barrow has not been frozen over youthful robbers who were responsible for the for the last forty years." disappearance of books and newspapers from this delightful retreat on the banks of the The Carlow Post of May 1870 describes Barrow. Fortunately the delinquents were the Annual Boat Procession which took place traced. in connection with the Carlow Rowing Club. In 1861 the Town Commissioners, at the Boats of every description passed up the river instigation of " many parties " allocated six

THIRTY-TWO ~ i'

pounds to the purchase of metal seats, six feet the remainder this useful plan was unfortunately long, at thirty shillings each. These were to abandoned. be placed in " that part of the promenade beside the Barrow which is within the borough bounds" The year 1892 brought with it a threatened and no doubt they served a useful purpose for cholera epidemic. This danger decided the Town many years thereafter. Commissioners to proceed with a piped water supply scheme which had been under considera­ MIGHT-HAVE-BEENS tion since 1880. Up to this the provision of water for the public had been left entirely to Leaving aside realities, let us review some nature. This resulted in the rapid spread of of the things that could have happened. In many diseases. ·t 1822, for example, a suggestion was made to ! cut a canal from a port in Wicklow to communi­ The Barrow was suggested as a source of i cate with the Barrow. How this would have supply and it was proposed to erect a pumping affected transportation we can only guess station with a filtration plant and a storage because nothing was done to further the project. reservoir near Bestfield. The people of Carlow, supported by a local doctor, objected on the In 1842 the proposal of Mr. Forth, the grounds of the unfitness of the water for human • County Surveyor, to build a bridge on . the consumption. They held out firmly and success­ Barrow, running near the Club House (now fully against all opposition. On September the St. Brigid's Hospital) and opening opposite the eighth, two years later, the foundation stone Court House was under consideration. Indeed, of the reservoir was laid at Killeshin. the Carlow Sentinel of the August of that year states that "the works will commence immedi­ THE FUTURE ately." A financial problem arose, however, which proved insurmountable. The Carlow May famous people ever walk along, may Grand Jury had agreed to cover one-third of the historic events ever take place and may progress expense (£7,800) and when Leix refused to pay ever continue, "by the Banks of the Barrow!''

THE BARROW AND THE BLACK CASTLE AT LEIGHLIN (Courtesy Bord Failte Elreann)

1------~-======M=U=S=l=C==A=T=.=L=E=l=G=HLIN BRI OGE

The Roman Catholics in some parts of Ireland (which is a new thing) are beginning to pay attention to church :music. At Leig)llinbridge, a few miles south of Carlow, I heard them singing Te Deum, Gloria Patri, and other compositions in Latin iJ: a very correct style. Even ragged boys and girls were thus empkyed ar~un~ the altar, they havin~ been taught by a music-master to sing bass, treble, i. recitative, and their Gloria Patri, etc., turned into English metre. I Rev. James Hall, 1813. I

THIRTY-THREE r r

News Round-up, 1958 By Hugh Clifton

OUGLAS HYDE----ex-Communist Editor of SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES D London's Daily Worker, drew a packed audience into Bishop Foley Memorial Schools, The Chamber of Commerce decorated the Carlow with his talk, "Why Men Become Com­ town at Christmas and New Year. The decora­ munist~." I am sure our New Year's tive lighting had a Fairyland effect. The writer Resolutions benefited by the lesson of his words, nearly lost his way in sober, delightful bewilder­ which was the arousing among all Christians of ment. A pity Walt Disney wasn't in his a positive awareness of the evil of Communism company! Carlow might have been selected as and the progress being made by its zealots. the locale of the latter's next film! Later in the spring the same hall was In spite of entertainment's grip, there is filled to capacity when Rev. Father McGrath, a growing interest in Adult Education. Our missionary captive of Chinese Reds for almost community realises the need to be equipped three years, gave a graphic account of the to grapple with day-to-day questions. In this sufferings and hardships he, and others, had connection, General Costello, speaking at Tul­ endured. low's Adult Education Group, said that every Ceremonies celebrating the 150th anniver­ town in Ireland was anxious to have an industry sary of the coming of the Patrician Brothers but very few factories in Ireland could add as to Tullow were held there. It is noted that the much wealth to a community as one thousand O'Neill family of Ballinstraw have had ~06 acres of well-worked land. There was a growing years' association with the Order, supplymg demand in England and America for fruit juices. members to it since 1852. He suggested we should consider the establish­ His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Keogh blessed ment of jam factories in our towns, also the the site for the new Presentation Convent Girls' processing of milk, and its products, when a School at St. Joseph's Road, Carlow, and turned local industry was mooted. the first sod. Carlow Co. Council decided in January to The Munich Boys' Choir paid a visit to again ask the Minister if they were to continue Carlow on the Feast of the Assumption, and with the planning of the new County Hospital. the choir will long be remembered for the It seems that twenty-three thousand pounds had exquisite bouquet of hymns and canticles of already been spent although not a sod had been praise rendered in Carlow Cathedral. It was turned. to the enraptured congregation an experience The local Fair Green was sold to the unique and memorable. newly-formed Co-Operative Mart Society which Very Rev. P. Gorry, P.P., Monasterevan, is comprised of farmers from Counties Carlow, died 8th September, aged 92, the oldest priest Leix and Kildare. in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. He was Mr. M. O'Sithigh, Department of Education, one-time Rev. Adm. in Carlow, and ca~-ried ~mt Technical Instruction Branch, advised Carlow many improvements to the Cathedral, mcludmg Vocation Committee that the following three present sacristy. books should be in every school library: - " Vocational Education and the Practical Arts There was profound sorrow here among all in the Community Schools"; " The New Basic creeds and classes on the death of His Holiness Science," and " Physics-a Modern Approach." Pope Pius XII. All business was suspended in The Committee decided to get these books. the town for the Solemn Office and Pontifical The Minister of Agriculture's decision to Requiem Mass. His Lordship ~fos~ Rev, _Dr. permit the importation of the Landrace pig was Keogh, Bishop of Kildare and Le1ghlm, presided welcomed by local agriculturalists. at the Office and celebrated the Mass, and the Carlow Sugar Factory became one of the Cathedral was thronged to capacity. most modern refineries in the world when His Alas, as long as we live, we have to worry Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Keogh, Bishop of Kil­ about money, so I was pleased to see that one dare and Leighlin, opened a new £250,000 good man's troubles in this respect had been diffusion plant. greatly lessened by the activities ip. 1957 of the Mr. John Fennell, Sleaty, won the Graigue­ "Bob's Your Uncle Club." On 4th January, cullen Corn and Coal Company's Cup for best 1958 those zealous workers (and their contri­ wheat grown from seed supplied by them. buti~g partners) presented Carlow's Rev. Adm. 109 students of Carlow Technical School Father Coughlan with a cheque for £5,448-13-0. received Department Certificates at a presenta­ His glowing tributes to all workers in this good tion of prizes in February. Headmaster cause were thought-provoking and stimulating. O'Mahony said that 140 had enrolled for the Twenty-one students of Carlow College were Day Classes last session, and another 60 had ordained to the priesthood this year. to be refused through lack of accommodation. Thanks to the generosity of parishioners, An outside room had enabled them to take on seven invalids left for Lourdes in September. 159 pupils, but the waiting list was nearly as

THIRTY-FOUR long as ever. Evening Courses were attended Eighty-three entries (believed a record) by 439 students. Here again, lack of accommo­ were received from Co. Carlow in the National dation, teaching staff and equipment forced Wholemeal Bread-making Competition. What them to refuse students. grand women and girls we have! The Vocational Committee appointed Miss Five drivers of Caltex Depot, Carlow re­ Brigid Maguire to be new Domestic Economy ceived Safety First Association Certificate; for Instructress in Hacketstown Vocational School. five years' accident-free driving. Names were: The lady-already teaching in Glasgow-when (they deserve publicity) P. Curran, J. J. Gil­ asked why she wanted to return, said, " I just martin, J. Jones, J. Maye and J. O'Hanlon. wanted to come home, although pay and condi­ His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Keogh pre­ tions are better in Scotland." sented fifty-three blood donors with silver peli­ The County Rate for 1958 was 30/6d. can badges. They had given at least seven pints (increase of 1/-) whilst Carlow Urban Rate was of blood to National Blood Transfusion Associa­ 42/6d. (reduction of 3d.) tion. There's citizenship! Messrs. T. Thompson and Son, Carlow, The weather during summer and autumn commenced the production of plastic boats and was the one black spot. The after-math-a larger models were envisaged. The boats would catastrophic harvest (they even call it the har­ suit oars or outboard engine. (I'm wondering vest that wasn't). There are tales of lodged if we'll see water skiing on the Barrow soon). crops, ruined corn, inactive machines, blighted The Eagle Light Engineering Company, potatoes; that it was the worst season in living Hacketstown, transferred to Carlow in May. This memory. For example, during two day3 of the firm specialises in the manufacture of office week ending 5th October, 1.4 inches of rain equipment and tubular steel furniture. fell at Fenagh House :Weather Station, and that Good progress (up to the time this news was half as much ram as would normally fall bulletin was written) has been made towards in the whole month of September. That's bad tha erection of a Steel Rolling Mill and Plastic weather! Factory at Graiguecullen. Carlow White Star Laundry opened its new CULTURAL "Starbrite" Dry Cleaning Service, said to be A bronze age Axe Mould was found at the first-ever " On the Spot " Dry Cleaning Mullawngown, Borris. A rectangular, sandstone Service operating in Carlow. block, about one foot long, ten inches wide Here's an interesting flash: -The B.B.C. five inches high, it has been presented to th~ covered Bennekerry Land Club's Protest Rally National Museum. in Carlow in August. (P.S. Our handsome young A coin dated 1640 or 1690 was found on farmers will be ·sought after by pen-friends far the lands of Mr. Jim Crowe, Tullow Road. Much and near, in due course). of the lettering was indecipherable. On the front A lamb was born on 6th October at Ballina­ is a knight on horseback, sword in hand. carrig, Carlow, the first time (in living memory) I won't expatiate on the' activities of the so early for that district. Old Carlow Society. A better pen than mine has, On 27th September we rejoiced with our no doubt, dealt with them elsewhere, but I must good old friend the Carlow Natimialist on its comment on its 1957 membership. Isn't a seventy-fifth birthday and congratulated it on membership roll of one hundred and sixteen its vigour, candour and Christian outlook, and (paid-up) good-going-a-growing? its weekly circulation of seventeen thousand At Carlow Muintir Na Tire's annual meet­ copies. And wasn't that birthday issue worth ing, the Rev. D. Corkery, visitor from National three pounds instead of thru-pence if only to Executive, lauded the feminine touch on the admire the non-stereotyped smiles of those thirty local Guild. It was noted that the latter had members of its happy Carlow staff? I missed acquired a Headquarters in John Street. Activity the face of Tom Little-but then that good and predominated therein during the year. The faithful servant and fine craftsman entered into Youth Section staged a successful variety show, his heavenly reward during the year. and sent representatives to the Folk School Carlow U.D.C. were informed by County Assembly at Red Island. A Table Tennis Club Engineer that a championship standard swim­ has been formed. The Guild held a three-hour ming pool (with chlorination and filtration film show, also a number of Fireside Chats­ plant) would cost from £15,000 to £16,000, so with Question Time competitions-as we!l as an they decided to get the feelings of the towns­ Excursion to Skerries and Mosney. people. The Gaelic League too was active, holding I The local Agricultural Show was held on regular classes in the Muintir Na Tire Hall, 4th September, on one of the rare sunny days. John Street. At time of writing, it intends, I Exhibits increased by five hundred. The newly understand, to compete in the Drama competi­ formed Cage Bird Society had a display. tion at Oireachtas with a play "Na Tri Ath­ The pre-1948 tenants of Carlow Urban cuinge." Council were offered leases of their houses at The revived Troop of Boys' Scouts is prices ranging from £100 to £520, periods of forging ahead also. payment, 10 to 30 years. It is understood that The Little Theatre Society presented T. C. l a number of the tenants have availed of the Murray's one-act "Spring" and O'Casey's two­ scheme. act "Shadow of a Gunman" and the perform­ (Continued on page 38)

THIRTY-FIVE A Note fro In the Secretary fHE Old Carlow Society is still going strong. where the visitors were loud in their praise of Our annual general meeting in April the careful preservation of the Abbey ruins and attracted a fine attendance of keen members, the setting therein. New Mellifont was also eager to extend the work of popularising local visited where an interesting few hours was also history. spent, the day concluded with a tour of Drogheda Town, Mr. Stewart giving a detailed account of Without doubt we need the stabilising the historical significance of all the old buildings influence of contact with the past if we are to and churches and concluding with a visit to St. build a worthy Ireland for to-morrow. The Peter's where the head of Blessed Oliver great weakness of American life is its lack Plunkett is preserved. of roots. Their restlessness and superficial activity lack the anchor of tradition. What is Thursday, July 3, they visited Kildare precious in the Irish way of life is its humanity. Town where Monsignor Miller, P.P., V.F., New­ Local history shows us our land as our bridge, gave a lecture on St. Brigid and the ancestors lived in it. We appreciate that we history of the Cathedral; while Very Rev. P. are heirs to a grand inheritance. Swayne, P.P., in the C.Y.M.S., talked on the life of Very Rev. P. Brennan, P.P., Kildare, Hitherto our activities in the Old Carlow 1820-64, natl also on the deeds of four Carlow Society have been confined largely to Carlow heroes of 1798-Paul Cullen, Jack Brennan, town. One wonders who teaches local history Jack Hughes, Michael Carroll. in our schools and what is taught to the children? Rarely do they come asking for more August 17-they again visited Kildare by working with local societies. Many young where Comdt. K. O'Brien, Kildare, through the people are quite cynical about the uses of medium of a specially printed Brochure for the history. Pride in our own town is a rare virtue. visit, which included maps and diagrams, Civics and local history would go well together. recounted the details of the Battle of Kilrush and conducted the party over the entire battle­ The journal gives a good account of the ground explaining the reasons for the battle winter sessions. Most of the talks given are tactica adopted by the opposing commanders. reproduced here. The local press has continued After a picnic tea at Narraghmore, Mr. T. P. to give full reports of our meetings and thereby Clarke, Newbridge, gave a very interesting to stimulate interest in Carlow's past. account of the historical connections with St. Brigid and St. Patrick of that district. Our committee members and editors have been as generous as ever with time and energy. The concluding outing the season was to Already three meetings have been he1d since Dunmore Caves, Co. Kilkenny, on September 7th September. A handbook for use in schools is where Mr. J. Brennan, Mothel, assisted by T. in active preparation. We have hopes for the Timmins and P. Drohan, Kilkenny, conducted new year ahead. the large party through the myriads of under­ ground passages and caverns, some peculiarly O.C.S. SUMMER OUTINGS 1958 named The Tholsel, Organ Gallery, Cameb Hump, Market Cross, Crystal Hall, etc. The On Sunday, 22nd June, 80 members of the guides explained the different finds of archae­ Society travelled to Drogheda for their Annual ological interest discovered in the past and all Outing which was not however graced with the marvelled at the vastness of the underground. usual sunny weather and as a result visits to some of the historic spots, including Monaster­ All the outings were very well patronised boice, had to .be omitted, however, under the and enjoyed by those taking part, the thanks capable guidance of Mr. D. Stewart, Drogheda, of the Society are due to all those who helped a tour of most of the Boyne Valley was made, in organising them and who provided talks at including King William's Glen and Old Mellifont the different places.

THIRTY-SIX Officers and Members of Old Carlow Society PATRON: Hadden, W. H., Court View, Car­ His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Keogh, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. low; Hadden, Mrs. W. H., Court View, Carlow; Hadden, W. V., HON. LIFE VICE-PRESIDENTS: "Four Winds," Carlow; Hadden, Rt. Rev. Mon~gnor Miller, D.Ph., V .F., P.P., Newbridge; Very Rev. P. Mrs. W. V., "Four Winds," Car­ Swayne, M.A., P.P., Kiildare; Bernard O'Neill, M.Sc., and Mrs. B. O'Neill, low; Hayden, T. P., "Hundred Wilton Gardens, Cork. Acres," Killeshin; Halpin, Mrs. J., Mullawn, Tullow; Halpin. John, CHAIRMAN: Mullawn. Tullow; Hanlon. Mrs. J., Miss Alice Tracey, "Stella Maris," Athy Road. College St., Carlow; Hutton, Frank, Staplestown Road, Carlow; Hughes, VIOE-CHAIRMEN: Patric",. College St., Carlow; Healy, Mr. W. V. Hadden, Mr. L. D. Berg1n, Mr. H. Fennell. Richard, College St., Carlow; Hosey, Joseph, Governey Square, JOINT HON. SECRETARIES: Carlow; Harding, John, Tullow St., Rev. P. J. Brophy, B.D., St. Patrick's College, and Mi,ss Maureen Doyle, Carlow. The Shamrock.. Kelly, Miss M. T .. "The Stream.," HON. TREASURER: Carlow: Kelly. William. St. Pat­ Mr. Alec Burns, College Street. rick's Avenue. Carlow: Kelly. Mrs. M., Burrin St., Carlow; Kealy, HON. EDITORS: Thomas, Mllrvborough St., Graigue­ Mr. W. V. Hadden, ''Four Winds," Carlow; Miss M. T. Kelly, "The Stream," cullen; Kelleher, Miss M., N.T., Carlow. Pembroke, Carlow. COMMITTEE: Lillis, Col. James. "The Bush," 2, Rev. J. G. Gash. Miss I. MaoLeod, B. O'Keeffe, Miss B. OLiver, P. Wynberg Park, BlaclGraiguenamanagh. Co. Kilkenny; ar. Edward, "Larkfield," Carlow; Gash, Rev. J. G., "The Rec­ O'Leary, Rev. Sean, C.C., The Pre's­ Cole, Mrs. James, Ballybar, Carlow. tory," Carlow; Governey, Mrs. bytery, Carlow; O'Donnell, Hugh, Doyle, Miss Mqureen, The Sham.­ Madeleine, "Barrowville," Car­ Dublin St., Carlow: O'Dooley, S., rock, C.'lrlow: Doyle. Miss Dillie, low; Governey, Francis, " Barrow­ Grange, Stradbally, Leix: O'H,mlon, The Shamrock, Carlow; Dovie. ville," Carlow; Grogan, Sean, Athy Mrs. J .. Hanover, Carlow; O'Han­ Mrs. Leigh, Dublin St., Carlow; Rd., Carlow; Gaffney, Capt. William, lon. Miss M., Hanover, Carlow; Delaney, Michael, "The Swan," Killeshin, Carlow; Gaffney, Mrs. O'Carroll. Dr., "The Elms." Athy Athy, Co. Kildare; Delaney, Mrs. W., Killeshin, Carlow. Road, Carlow; O'Neill, Thomas P.,

THIRTY-SEVEN r

List of members-continuej "Gayville," Dublin Road, Carlow; Purcell, Gerard, St. Killian's Newtown, Bagenalstown; Saywell, O'Donovan, Miss A., G.P.O., Car­ Crescent, Carlow; Purcell, Patrick, J. E. H., 18 Montagu St., London, low; O'Neill, Miss D., G.P.O., Car­ Quinagh, Carlow; Poole, Percy, W.I. low; O'Grady, P. J., Rathmore Hanover, Carlow; Power, James, Tracey, Miss Alice, "Stella House, Tullow; O'Grady, Mrs. P. Dublin St., Carlow; Peevers, John, Maris," Athy Road, Carlow. J., Rathmore House, Tullow; Staplestown, Carlow; ·Patterson, Oliver, James, Kilkenny Road, Car­ Mrs., 52 Groomsport Rd., Bangor, Waldron, Austin, C.E.O., Voca­ low; Oliver, Mrs. J., Kilkenny Rd., Co. Down. tional Schools, Carlow; Waldron, Carlow; Oliver. Miss B.. Dublin St., Reddy, James, Lower Staples­ Mrs. A., Frederic',; Avenue, Carlow; Carlow; O'Neill, Denis, 2251 Sedge­ town Road, Carlow. Wilson, Maurice, Montgomery St., wick Ave., Bronx, New York; Carlow; Wilson, Mrs. M., Mont­ O'Neill, Mrs. T., Granby Terrace, Swayne, Very Rev. P., P.P., Kil­ gomery St., Carlow; Weakley, E. Carlow; O'Reilly, Mrs. J .. Fruithill, dare; Sheehan, Miss K., N.T., Bur­ A., Central Fire Station, Oriental Carlow; O'Neill, Miss Mary, Bar­ rin St., Carlow; Smith. Mr. T., Parade, Wellington, New Zealand; rack St., Carlow; O'Neill, Miss Leinster Crescent, Carlow; Smith, Whelan, P. J., 156-8, Riverside Leonie. Barrack St., Carlow; O'Gor­ Mrs. T., Leinster Crescent, Carlow; Drive, New York, 32; Wall, man. Miss, Royal Hotel, Carlow; Spollen, Bernard, Graiguecullen, Michael H., 170 West St., 109 St., O'Neill. Mrs. J., 511 West, 160 St., Carlow; Soollen, Mrs. B., Graigue­ New York: Wil'dn, Mrs. G. A., New York. cullen, Carlow; Smith, Michael, "Belleville," Athy Road, Carlow.

(Continued from page 35)

ances were of the usual high quality. It is hoped A determined effort was made to put Carlow to produce "See How They Run" in December. on the fishing map. A number of Cross-Channel These topping amateurs deserve a heavy booking anglers visited us and one (a newspaper column­ run. ist> told his readers ~ubsequently of the ONE The Gramophone Society was also active that nearly PULLED HIM into the Barrow. and held several recitals, whilst Doctor T. Could it be related to the 17-pounder Mr. M. Walsh (Wexford Festival pioneer) spoke on Hanley pulled out? "Opera in Italy" at a function sponsored by the Young van Carbery (amidst Internationals) I Vocational Committee, Gramophone Society and did the Santry mile in 4 mins. 1,.4 secs. Brian I~ Arts Council. Kehoe made a clean sweep of trophies at Dun­ And Ulick O'Connor (under auspices of more East in a Hill Climb for Car and Motor Ii Little Theatre Society) lectured on the Irish Cycling Clubs, whilst John Devoy, also from Dramatic Renaissance and its relation to Carlow, put up a fine performance. Europe. Carlow a Sleepy Valley? Perish the das­ Students of Carlow Technical School were tardly thought! placed second in Technical Schools' Section of But we must not forget the Carlovians who the Schools' Drama Festival with their presenta­ passed on. Names like Dr. Larry Doyle ( 45 years tion of " An U dhact." beloved Medico); .John Sweeney ( 40 years F'i re There were over one thousand entries at Chief, C.Y.M.S. Vice-President, and one-time ii Carlow Feis, the open dancing being a highlight. Ireland's Junior Handball Champion); lJ.. n 1, The dancing standard drew the highest praise Carbery, Senior (President, Chamber of Com­ I'I from the chief adjudicator. merce and well-known builder); Seumas Lennon, i The local Irish Countrywomens' Associa­ Courtnellan, highlight in national and county tion met regularly and members benefited by affairs, and Miss Sarah Meachair, sterling its technical, social and cultural programmes. Christian, staunch Republican; William Ellis, B.A. (Clerk, Carlow Mental Hospital, over thirty RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES years), outstanding official, model citizen, devot­ All types of football, hurling, camogie, ed husband and parent. hockey, athletics, motor cycling, pedal cycling, Requiescent in pace (which includes those cross-country running and rowing progressed in unmentioned). 1958. The Gliding Club's enthusiasm continues I'm sorry but I've to stop. It's almost unabated. I'd join it but the missus put her November. We've to go to press and Carloviana's foot down severely. Afraid I'd fly to the moon birth cannot be delayed. and not come back. She was adamant, even A parting wish. The world may change; when I explained I wanted to GLIDE Down; not our country; our town may change. Nonetheless, to FLY Up-and Away-. let's remain true to our heritage, spiritual and And Carlow Golf Club won the Leinster temporal, ever striving to be worthy of it, and Provincial Towns' Cup. Still youthfully "green" ever seeking the things that IT - and in spite of its fifty-nine years. CARLOVIANA-stand for.

THIRTY-EIGHT See our Beau~iful Display of Christmas Cakes at our New, Modern Premises Carlow Bakery Co., Ltd. 40 Tullow Street Carlow

Makers of Prizewinning Bread and Confectionery. Wedding Cakes a Speciality. Deliveries Daily. Phone: Carlow 245.

DARCY'S TONY'S Carlow's Leading for Value Ladies' and Gent's Hairdressers FURNITURE & DRAPERY Make your appointment now • for Christmas

P. & M. DARCY TULLOW STREET CARLOW & TULLOW CARLOW Phone Carlow 203 ._~k/ultf?Anne// M. WHITE (<&ut«;} !&r/. M.P.S.I.

Purveyors of Pure Food Supplies Veterinary and Dispensing Chemist Wine Merchants Tea and Coffee Specialists Sick Room Requisites

Service and Courtesy Photographic and Toilet Goods Civility - Value

-/?cf--/ ?.9 ~w ~eeC, 39 TULLOW STREET ~?~w CARLOW Phone: Carlow 16 and 202

Graiguecullen Corn & Coal Co. Ltd. Carlow

Dealers in • Wheat Barley Oats Manures Best Quality Coals

r •••••••••••••••••••• ~-r~~~

Enquiries Invited. Telephone 39. Telegrams: Corn Co., Carlow 1 I I I CARLOVIANS-for all your footwear ! requirements Merne Brothers ' Manufacturers of Household, Office and School Furniture, Shop Fitments, Kitchen Units, Governey's Joinery, c.D.B. Hives, Bar Frames and Bee Appliances. Boot Depot QUOTATIONS ON REQUEST

* * * Give us a trial and be assured of Where you can choose CARLOW­ High-class Workmanship MADE Shoes and Boots from an extensive range * * * OFFICE AND WORKS: Stockist of all the leading Brands: Clarks, Rawson, Joyce, Belvedere, Tullow Road, Carlow Dubarry and Hanover. Phone 214

JOHN HARDING Builder, Contractor and ;~, ~)~!ir~~~{i ~t Joinery Manufacturer 42 TULLOW ST., CARLOW ALL TYPES OF BUILDING AND Advertising REPAIR WORK EXECUTED "The Nationalist and Leinster Times" circulates in seven counti,:,s. It reaches SPECIALISTS IN PLUMBING the buying publ'ic and is kept and re­ and ferred to until the next issue app,ears. It SANITARY INSTALLATIONS is an excell1ent advertising medium. If yoiu have anything to sell, advertise it in "The Nationalist and Leinster Times," Enquiries: Rate Card on application.

48 Tullow Street, Carlow Printing

ESTIMATES FREE Our Works are equipped to deal with all cl,asses of general and commercial, Works: John Street printing. Ask for quotations. f i

,_,9'~,rn J. J. WALL

~~tiw Sf:eeC .. ¢ +

MOTOR GARAGE and SERVICE STATION ......

f!ea 1 Wine,. $pirit mid Gfrovision QJYlercfiant Kilkenny R.. oad Carlow

Gver at lJOU1' 3ervice Phone 197

IT PAYS TO SHOP AT SHAW'S GENERAL DRAPERS OUTFITfERS FANCY STATIONERS BOOT AND SHOE WAREHOUSE

Vhe Jlou.Je 9o"t Value SHAW'S LTD. 11 TULLOW STREET, CARLOW Phone 159 'Grams: SHAW'S, CARLOW I Centenary Year

1959 should be memorable in the history of our town, if only tor the two centenaries we will celebrate. ,a The Summer will find the Rowing Club receiving congratulations for having survived one hundered chequered years.

Later in the year many lifetimes of devoted service to education will be recollected when honour is done to the Irish Christian Brothers.

The link between those two may appear tenuous, but is nevertheless real. Both are dedicated to youth: both instil principles of self,discipline, team,work, honour and good,fellowship.

Both have brought distinction to the town; and owing debts of gratitude to each, we salute them with pride and affection. Murray's, 25 .Dublin St., Carlow

MOORE'S GARAGE BURRIN STREET, CARLOW Willie Hosey Volkswagen and Standard Main Dealers + • 138 Tullow Street Main Dealers fot the famous Allgaier Porsche Air Cooled Diesel Carlow Tractor

All Classes of Tractor Implements Tailoring and Outfitting Supplied Men's Shoes

Repairs carried out to any make of car, ' van, truck or tractor + • HIGH,GRADE CLOTHES Enquires Invited. 'Phone: Carlow 153 FOR MEN AI\I D BOYS Purchasing is an Investment when EWING'S you Buy the Best A GENUINE SCOTCH CROMBIE Restaurant and OVERCOAT COSTS ONLY £18-15-0. Confectionery A SUIT OF MAGEES THORNPROOF TWEEDS COSTS ONLY £ 12-12-0. CARLOW Phone 154 A " CLUBMAN " SHIRT, Ireland's Silver Grill and Snack Counter Super Shirt, Costs Only 27 /6 to 39/6. Fully Qualified Chef at your Service They pay dividends in years of Morning Coffee Lunches satisfactory service and give the wearer pride of ownership. Afternoon Teas Grills Private Parties a Speciality The House For Men Your Satisfaction is our Concern Open Daily, including Sundays, Carlow until 10 p.m. ORDER YOUR CHRISTMAS CAKES NOW FOR REALLY GOOD CLOTHES Proprietress: SHEILA EWING

"ALWAYS ON TOP Hugh Lupus & Co. OF FASHION" You will find a marvellous selection of all Racing Office the latest styles in:-

COATS UNDERCLOTHING COSTUMES * NYLONS FROCKS * GLOVES WATERPROOFS * HANDBAGS For Best Odds SKIRTS * SCARVES SLACKS * UMBRELLAS and Best Service BLOUSES * HAl'

ATHY Telephone 17 CONTRACTORS ~--~-~""' An Old Carlow Industry

CARLO ORANGE CARLO LEMON

LEMONADE MINERAL LEMON FLAVOURED SODA WATERS . s

VRY GINGER STONE BEER ALFJ I

CJ-RAPE FRUIT TONIC WATER Manufactured by

CIDERETTE & CORCORAN co. COLA I Limited

CASTLE ORANGE I CARLOW ORANGE CRUSH

Established 1827 Phone 9.

The Nationali,t & Leinsttr Time,, Carlow.