Carloviana 1954

CARLOW)S LEADING DRAPERS

Cl ( >THll ';, l Dll S' and M~ ' ' OUTI l f n K~ a d HOU f. HIR ISHE R~, BOO f AND SHOl VAREHO l~r

ladies' and Gentlemen's High-Cla..,, Tailoring on the premi..,e~ by expc:'rt Cutter dnd Tailor -- -- You (an get )our Odearest Mattre., hen.'

MICHAEL MOLLOY, TULLOW STREET, CARLOW

-

\1 \\ \ Carlow's Leading Bakers and Confectioners Willie Hosey \ 138 Tullow Street

I I\ Carlow I Chr1strr ~ C · es Spec alt y 11 I Purest I g n s only used \\ I\ Sur)pO.. ~ I hs .. I\ \ il DUNNY'S I HIGH GRADl Cl() nn s CAST l E s r R E r 11 \I \I I-OR Mr. A D BOYS CA{LGW \I Prc-ne 151 \\ \\=~ .. ------I I I I 42 TULLOW STREET - CARLOW

Advertising " The Nationalist and Leinster Times " circulates in seven counties. It reaches the buying public and is kept and referred photography I to until the next issue appears. It is an excellent advertising medium. If you have anything to sell, advertise it in " The Nationalist and Leinster Times." Rate Card on application.

Printing Our Works are equipped to deal with GODFREY all Classes of General and Commercial CARLOW Printing. Ask for quotations.

·------·------

1------1 i I [ JAMES W. GA VIN I I M.P.S.I. I M. WHITE, I ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR VETERINARY & DISPENSING I CHEMIST Consult us for better Electrical Work and Efficient Repairs I SICK ROOM REQUISITES I Stockists of all your Electrical Requirements PHOTOGRAPHIC and Estimates with Pleasure I TOILET GOODS Established over 20 years I - 39 Tullow Street, Granby Row, Carlow CARLOW I I L ______- ·------'------

I j Builders

CARLOW Tele hone \_;�\)· p 78

���

�� '• c� ATHY Q.1. ) Tele hone p 17

\)· � Contractors

HOSIERY SPECIALISTS A. E. COLEMAN GENERAL DRAPERS Motor and Cycle Dealers 19 Dublin Street TULLY'S Carlow of Tullow Street Agent for Carlow RALEIGH CYCLES AND ATHY Repairs a Speciality

Accumulators Chargt'd Travel Agents for Leading Trans­ ,Atlantic Shipping Lines Oils, Greases and Spares in Stock Graiguecullen Corn &. Coal Co. Ltd. Carlow =---- Dealers in

Wheat Barley Oats Manures Best Quality Coals

·----. ------· --�.----·-

ENQUIRIES INVITED Telephone 39. Telegrams : Corn Co.

MOORE'S GARAGE RATHCROGUE BURRIN STREET. CARLOW GUEST HOUSE (3} miles from Carlow on Newtownbarry Road) Main Dealers for New Standard " 8 " Also Main Dealers for Volkswagen 14 BEDROOMS /I Hot and Cold Water in Each Cars, Vans and Trucks ii * * * Any other make of Car Supplied 11 [1 EXCELLENT CUISINE II Ii Ov:n Farm Produc� Main Dealers for the famous ALLGAIER * * * PORSCHE AIR-COOLED DIESEL TRACTORS Ii Also Dealers for DAVID BROWN TRACTORS VVEDDING PARTIES and DINNER II A!I Classes of Tractor Implements Supplied II PARTIES Specially Catered For I' 11 * * * !1 Repairs of every description carried out to Cars, FULLY LICENSED Vans, Trucks, Tractors or Farm Machi 1ery * * Inquiries Invited Phone: Carlow 153 TELEPHONE: CARLOW 185 1903 OVER 50 YEARS SHOE MAKING 19s4 " A GOVERNEY SHOE " and GOVERNEY AGRICULTURAL BOOTS are widely known

OUR REPUTATION is backed by over 50 years experience. GOVERNEY'S FOOTWEAR. made by crafts, men, is a Household "Word."

Sold in all l�eading Shops in Towns and ViUages

MANUFACTURED BY Michael Governey Ltd., Carlow TELEPHONE 110

"We will meet at EWING'S and Electrical Installations dine at THE SILVER GRILL" Radio and Cycle Repairs o Agent f r Phillips, Pilot and MORNING COFFEE Mullard Radios LUNCHES Sunbeam, Hercules, Silver Cross Cycles AFTERNOON TEAS GRILLS Cookers, Fires, Irons and all Electrical Appliances Open daily including Sundays until 10 p.m. us quote you for wiring your house

PATRICK KINSELLA Lounge Bar: HAYMARKET ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Restaurant : DUBLIN ST. 15 Dublin Street, Carlow CARLOW Children's Specialists

LAWLERS

Gent's Outfitters 102 Tullow St., Carlow Tel. 260.

Telegrams: "Dempsey, Carlow." Telephone: 44

Not enough attention has been paid by our Social Historians to the influence of sweet Shops on the store of memories we carry over from childhood. James Dempsey Part of their charm lay in their individual character: there was a distinctive atmosphere aboUt each of them, whereas to-day every shop tends to look the same. IRONMONGER No shop nowadays boasts a vast picture of the little Drummer Boy saying farewell to his war-widc.wei mother-yet It was an unending delight on the wall of Kitty Kane's. Was Miss Deegan's the fairy cake-shop In cream and gold that our memory pictures it? Did Dandy Button's owe lts appeal solely to the unique personality of the :proprietor? HOUSE FARM Reidy's vanished many years ago, and now M1s3 FURNISHING IMPLEMENTS Dillon's has changed hands. We used to be awed by BUILDERS' SEEDS the inscription " Temperance Hotel.' 1 and impressed by the crowds of country folk on Saturdays. HARDWARE GARDEN T"i'1e saturday Market is no more, and cars whisk TIMBER REQUISITES shoppers home to their meals; The talk nowadays 1, of " passing trade ": rarely of the trade· that ls past. WALLPAPER LEATHER Pernaps the children of to-day get their own par­ CHINA AND GLASS FIREARMS ticular pleasure from the chromium and cellophane which is the dominant note of the age. This is a terrifying thought, but didn't a little girl write an essay a few years ago expressing the j cy It was to buy her �weets at Murrayts? Agent for Hover Electric Washfn.2' Maicbines, Sweepers, Cleaners, Etc.

87-88 TULLOW STREET, CARLOW

rl 1. J·! A winner all the way J. WALL SHEVLIN'S Motor Garage BREAD and Service Station International Exhibition 1953 Highly Recommended

* * * Kilkenny Road SHEVLIN'S Carlow 83..-4 Tullow Street Phone: 197 Carlow

Upholstery Repairs, For Best Drinks and Recovers, etc. Groceries Visit

We can now undertake all upholstery work, Chester­ field suites, chairs. etc., The Crystal Bar recovered and resprung. Proprietor: JOHN MCEVOY * * * * * Large Stocks of Rexines, Comfortable accommodation Veleum, Tapestries, Mo­ quette. Large range of and High-Class Catering new and secc·ndhand, fur­ ii niture, Lino and Carpets Lunches, Dinners and Teas in stock. Parties catered for on short * * notice ·F. ROBINSON & SONS * * * I , HOl1se Furnishers Burrin Street - Carlow Tullow Street, Carlow t e�------Journal of the Old Carlow Society Vol. I. No. 3, New Series, Dec. 1954

L D. BERGIN and A. MURRAY, Joir.t Editors A Message for Young People

HE much maligned T6stal has done one important ln This Issue thing: it has helped to arouse some pride of place * T and interest in local history. Publication of useful brochures dealing with the stories of towns and villages, like Kildare, Abbeyleix. and Castledermot, has put informa­ A MESSAGE TO YOUNG tion into print and provided useful sources of reference PEOPLE for the people. for the people. Very little is being done nowadays to preserve a sense IN DUBLIN STREET of values. Love of family and of parish grow feebler. Local historical societies can do a little to arrest the THE FAMILY OF THE decay. Men without nests and deep attachments are lesser MAcMURROUGH men. The strength of our country in the recent past was KAVANAGHS the ardent local patriotism that burned in the hearts of our people. It is fast disappearing-save from the football CHRISTMAS IN CARLOW pitch. If we cannot save the Irish tongue, let us at least TRADERS AND TRADESMEN ensure that the young people are taught to love and esteem national traditions. IN THE 18TH CENTURY Are our schools seriously occupied about the teaching of local history? An enthusiastic master fires his pupils BEFORE THE PICTURES with enthusiasm. One finds little enthusiasm among youth CAME for what is Irish and local in literature and history. Let us avoid the excesses of exaggerated nationalism. IF CARLOW CATHEDRAL But remember that love of country that is not based upon COULD SPEAK esteem for one's own parish or townland is little more than an airy abstraction. ADVERTISING IN THE I Few young people interest themselves in the doings 1850's. I of our local history group. It may be only a straw in the wind, but one asks what are their ideals, what their serious AN EXILE RETURNED l interests? A sense of continuity springing from knowledge of the LoOKING BACK ON 1954 past gives balance and brings maturity to the mind. The Old Carlow Society offers its members an opportunity of learning about the growth and the development of to-day's f community. Narrow parochialism has been avoided by including in our annual programme lectures on topics of t national interest. 7 Dublin. The route was Mary Tere�a K�lly tells a tale of former days through Castledermot, Kil­ cullen and Naas. It returned by the same route and arrived in Carlow at 2.30 IN JjuBLIN STREET a.m. The Coach Road ran through the Bruen Estate. UBLIN STREET is one of found guilty and sentenced In 1849 the contract for to death. His friends made making part of a new road the two principal streets from the corner of Oak Park Din Carlow, and no doubt re­ great efforts to obtain a re­ prieve. When the condemned road to Gurteen Cross was tains its original name, and given to Charles Nowlan. follows its original direction. man learned that there was no hope of a reprieve being There · was no road from The route of the stage Carlow to Castledermot as coach from Dublin to Kil­ granted, he tried to cheat the hangman by taking a we know it to-day before kenny was through Dublin that date. Through the Street. In the following large dose of laudanum which he managed to obtain. gateway beside Restrick's pages I will try to trace the shop there is a right-of-way former occupants of the He was brought from the Old Jail in a sedan-chair to to Mr. Good's yard. In those houses on both sides of the days this lane continued out street. the place of execution which then stood in Barrack Street. into Tullow Street at Mr. I start with Nolan's Good's premises. (Chemist) and O'Neill's It overlooked some property (Fishmonger). These pre­ which Wallace owned in Little Barrack Street. This The blank wall beside the mises were owned by Mr. Royal Hotel (Nos. 10 and 11) Frederick Spong, Seed Mer­ latter street was known as was the site of two shops chant and Florist. The " Gallipot Row." owned by Mr. Stanley John­ nursery was in Pembroke Hooper's, No. 5, was a son who conducted a large Road, now owned by Messrs. victualling business owned bakery business. Mr. John­ Drummond. Mr. Spong's by Mr. Michael Keating. He son's father was one of the private residence was " Rose­ was known to the " bright original members of the first ville," Kilkenny Road. boys " as Mickey Old Shirt, Town Commission formed in a name he resented very Carlow in 1853. Stanley McGrath's Meru.cal Hall, much. Michael Keating had Johnson's son, Charles was No. 2, was a drapery bus­ a brother John in Burren Dr. Salter's apprentic� and iness owned by Mr. Daniel Street who was a tallow suceeded him in the apothe­ McGrath. In the days of chandler. cary business in Burrin the stage coach this premises Hanley's, No. 6, was T. F. Street. Bakers in those days was known as the " Red Cow Markey's drapers and gents' Inn." Daniel McGrath's son outfitters, who was succeeded did not use yeast to the was the late Mr. Joseph by Connor, Jeweller. extent it is used to-day. McGrath. Cleere's, No. 7, was a They made their own leaven­ tailoring business owned by ing which was called harm No. 3, Brennan's (Vic­ This barm was made from � John Hayden. I tualler), was occupied by mixture of boiled potatoes, Miss Dowling, who was a WEEKLY NEWS malt and hops. Nos: 10 and Dressmaker. Brennan's Pork Shop was 11 were afterwards an hotel a newsagency and stationery owned by Mr. Maurice Reidy. The house No. 4 is famous owned by Mrs. Edwards. She The premises were de­ in the history of Dublin was the widow of Thomas molished some years ago. Street. It was here that Edwards who was Coach . The Royal Hotel (No. 12) Arthur Wallace, the felon Agent for Mr. Joseph Fish­ 1s the only inn which has Postmaster lived. He had bourne. Here also was an apothecary business as survived in Dublin Street as printed the Garlow Weekly an hotel. It was known well as the post office. He News, as a record of a pay­ then as the " King's Arms " was ch�rged with the theft ment granted by the Grand owned by James Cullen. of money from postal Jury to Thomas Edwards for packets. His trial opened on advertisement shows. Miss B. Oliver's, No. 13, Tuesday, August 5th 1800 Restrick's premises were now partly incorporated in in the Friends' Meeting the Coach Offices and Yards the hotel, was the private House in Tullow Street owned by Mr. Joseph Fish­ residence of Mr. Wm. Byrne (premises now occupied by bourne. The "Fair Traveller" Solicitor. His father owned McKechnie's, Atkinson's and coa�h left. this office daily at the licensed and provision Y.M.C.A. Hall). He was 9 o clock m the morning for business in Tullow Street 8 A study of the quieter end of' Dublin Street bathed in the rare November sunshine of 1954 • . -Photo, Dona! Godfrey. now in the possession of Mr. a stone plaque on the gable side. When the fruit was Shevlin. end of No. 15, dated 1776, ripe he would bring a num­ we come to Miss McElwee's ber of youths on .drays from Oliver's was P. Bourke and and Mr. J. Cunningham's. the town to pull the apples. Son, victuallers, hide, skin These houses, 16 and 17, John would seat himself on and wool exporters, with were formerly one house and a box and give the signal: offices and stores in Centaur were known as the " Globe "Now, boys, start whist­ Street. About 1908 the Inn." In old deeds it was ling." His idea was that if business was sold to Mr. Jim styled " A Stone House " to the boys were whistling they Oliver's father. Mr. Bourke distinguish it from the could not be eating apples.· went to Perth, Australia. A thatched houses. It was re­ few of his letters written to moddled in 1699. A stone Mr. Samuel Hunt, harness­ my late uncle, describing his tablet on the front of the maker and saddler, occupied travels in that vast con­ house bears in relief " W.I.R. these premises afterwards. tinent, are very interesting. 1699," the date is that of Mr. Cunningham's was occu­ No. 15 (P. Kinsella, Radio the renovation of the house, pied by Mrs. Kennedy, Dealer) premises were known the letters are the initials of sweets, etc. Mrs. Kennedy's as Matt Flanagan's Bakery. the then occupants of the daughter was married to Mr. Mr. Flanagan also owned house: Jonathan and Ruth John Clowry, Tullow St., now property in Castle Street. Watson. There is a tradition Behan's: Mrs. Kennedy was No. 15 was also for a time that King William lodged also the owner of the land the office and printing works here and wrote one of his on which the houses on St. of the Carlow Vindicator, a dispatches after the Battle Joseph's Road are built. weekly paper, price one of the Boyne. penny. It was later the Dillon's, No. 18, now Commercial Club, originally About 1870 Miss McElwee's being used by Sloan's, was in Brown Street. was occupied by John Core; occupied by Robert Power, he was known as " The apothecary. After her hus­ Crossing Brown Street, Apple Man " and " Whistling band's death, Mrs. Power which was formerly Hunt John." He bought orchards gave up the business and Street, as may be seen from of apples around the country- started in religious goods.

9 Hotel and Livery Stables. DISAPPEARED IN 1798 Hunt Balls were held here, also other functions by the · Coleman's, No. 19, is still for the · Oarlow Sentinel, a gentry of Co. Carlow and occupied by the same family. weekly, published on Satur­ surrounding districts. The At the time I refer to, they day (price 4d.). . The offices Carlow gate stood nearby carried on the business of and printing works were at here. painting and glaziers. The No. 1 Athy Street, now Co. bicycle was only in its in­ Council offices. Mrs. Sarah Mrs. Walshe's house was fancy, and the motor car Carroll was the proprietor. originally the site of the was unheard of. An ancestor Mr. Langran later became house in which lived Miss of Mr. Coleman disappeared the owner and resided at Sally Curran, who was prob­ in 1798. It was supposed he Athy Street. The Sentinel ably the only confectioner in was murdered by the Rebels. ceased after the first World Carlow at that time. This His body was thrown into a War. was acquired by a building quarry at the site of the McDonald's, No. 28. This contractor named Mitchell. Courthouse garden. Thirty­ On this site he built the two years afterwards the house was the residence of Mr. James Hade, C.E. He present house and resided skeleton was recovered from there. the quarry. It was recog­ was father of Arthur and nised by a steel plate in one William Hade. Arthur Hade was Board of Works Inspec­ Tucker's, 36, house was of the legs, the result of an originally a confectionery accident. There is a tomb­ tor for Cos. Carlow, Wick­ stone over the . grave in low and parts of Dublin Rutland churchyard. Kildare and Wexford. Wm'. Hade was Engineer to the Dr. McHugh's house, No. Board of Poor Law Guard­ Looking up Dublin 20, was at one time the ians. Street from the Market residence of Edward L. Jameson, Under Sheriff to Mr. H. O'Donnell's house, Cross on a typical week­ Carlow Grand Jury. It was No. 29, was at one time the day scene during the later the residence of Mr. site of the Post Office, prob­ Samuel Coleman. His son, ably before it moved to not-too-busy hours. Mr. Percy Coleman, was Burrin Street. In what is -Photo, Dona! Godfrey. connected with Shackleton's now Mr. O'Donnell's garden Flour Mills. there was a wooden shed. No. 21 ( Quillinan's) was Here Peter Nolan, . cabinet­ the private residence of Mr. maker, had his workshop. business owned by Miss James R. Lawler, Accountant These premises were reached Margaret Kane who, with to Corcoran and Co. by a laneway beside Nelson's. her sister Kitty, carried on dressmaking business before Burtol's, No. 22, premises No. 30 (County Library starting the confectionery. were the tailoring business Offices) were the offices of of John Woodhouse. His Carlow Masonic Lodge and Dr. Doyle's, 37, was the sister was Mrs. Rainsford. reading rooms. Mr. John residence of Dr. Thomas Her husband had a coach­ Glover, Asst. Clerk to Carlow O'Meara, father of Dr. W. building premises in Cox's Union, Kilkenny Road, had O'Meara and grandfather of Lane. Another sister was apartments here. The corner Miss O'Meara, Burrin Street. married to Mr. Samuel Hunt ' entrance at Court Place to saddler and harness-maker. the Co. Library lending Premises occupied by Mr. Lewis's, No. 24, were rooms was to ·a gents' hair­ Donohue and Mrs. Jackson occupied by a man named dresser's owned by J. Wills. "Sheaf of Wheat," 38 and Donohue who carried on a 39, were owned by Henry small grocery dairy. Crossing to the opposite O'Shea who carried on an ex­ side of the street we reach tensive wine, spirit, grocery . Murray's, No. 25 was St. B!igid's Hospital. These and provision business. Mr. occupied by Condeli, car­ premises were known as Ml. O'Reilly later acquired penter and contractor. " Whitmore Hotel " and these premises. Mr. O'Reilly No. 26 was owned by Mr Posting Establishment. It was grandfather of the tailor. Present owner, Mrs: was later called the "Barrow Misses Carbery, St. Patrick's Godfrey. Hotel." The owner was Flats. Bourke's, No. 27, was the Arthur Barrow. Afterwards private residence of Mr. Geo. the premises became known The Technical School was Langran. He was reporter as the County Club House the old Assembly Rooms, on

10 which we had a paper by Mr, we come to the Post Office. who carried on an auctioneer­ B. O'Neill in 1947. At the time I refer to, the ing business:. Post Office was situated in Crossing Cox's Lane, which Burren Street in the first O'Rourke's, No. 51, was was formerly called North big house next to Hanover Donaldson and Co., jewellers. Cott Lane, we come to the House. -The present Post Mrs. Donaldson was a sister City Tailors, No. 42. These Office was formerly the of Mr. Joseph Deighton. large premises and private private residence of Dr. No. 52, Bergin's Grocery, house were owned by Mr. Charles McDowell before he was owned by Mr. William John McQuaide, provision removed to Otter Holt, Kil­ Maher, and was known as dealer, stationery and fancy kenny Road. Mr. Morris, " The Dublin Bakery." The warehouse. National Bank father of Miss Ruth Morris, business got the name from same; Mr. Palmer, Manager. Court View, acquired the the tradesmen Mr. Maher brought from Dublin to build the ovens, when he decided to open a bakery. No. 53, Bergin's, was Clancy's licensed premises. Insurance Office, No. 54. These premises were a tailor­ ing business owned by Mr. Laurence Mccaul, Senr. In the days of the stage coach it was known as " The Bear Inn." It was here that James Carter put up when he was sent by Waddy, Solicitor to the Post Office, to spy on Arthur Wallace, the felon Postmaster. Robinson's, 55, was _ the office and printing works of the Carlow Post. ,The owner was Thomas Price. Leverette and Frye, 56, was occupied by C. Edwards, who carried on a fancy ware­ house. The premises of the Pro~ vincial Bank, No. 57, were owned by Mrs. Morton, who conducted a hardware and fancy drug store. It was into this house that some of the timbers from Carlow Corless's, 44, was William house after Dr. McDowell. Castle roof were built. In the Douglas, housefurnisher and Miss Morris was born in this re-building for the present upholsterer. He was brother house. Provincial Bank, part of the of Mr. Marlborough Douglas house next door, Leverett and uncle of the late Mr. Ewing's, 49, was known as the Leinster Woollen Hall, and Frye, was taken in, and George Douglas, jeweller, portion of the Town Wall Tullow Street. and was owned by Miss Armstrong. Later Miss was found in the old walls. "The Garden," No. 45, Armstrong married Henry There was a famous market was a licensed premises Walker and went to live at held here in a laneway owned by Robert Booth and Ballylennon, Pauatine. No. known as "Fish Alley;" known as "Booth's House." 49 was afterwards owned by which extended from the Crossing Centaur Street, Mr. Nicholas Roche. Provincial Bank to Church which over a century ago Street, Haymarket. was a cul-de-sac and known Cigar Divan, 50, was occu­ Duggan's Stationery, 58. as "Labour in Vain Lane," pied by Mr. Robt. Humphrey In the days of the stage

11 coach these premises were Here boots and shoes were ing Works in North King the site of an inn known as made entirely by hand. Street, Dublin, still carried '! The Blackmoor Inn." At on by his family. No. 64 the time I refer to, it was P. Duggan's, 64, brings us was afterwards. acquired by a newsagency and stationery. to the last house and back M. and T. Richards, hard­ Later it was the office to the Market Cross. The ware merchants. and printing works of The Castle· Gate stood at the Nationalist and Leinster corner of Dublin Street and I hope that this stroll Times. The Nationalist was Castle Street. No. 64 was which I have taken with you established in September, occupied by Mrs. O'Neill. along the Dublin Street of 1883, by Mr. Patrick J. Her son, Mr. John O'Neill, former years has been both Conlan. owned the Motor Engineer- enjoyable and informative. Duggan's Grocery, 59, was also an inn known as " The Crown and Sceptre." These premises were later owned by Mr. Anthony Coffey, who was famous for his blends of tea. Mr. Coffey's father was The Secretary on the Society's an extensive trader in Burren Street. Anthony and Activities his three brothers were day pupils of Carlow College. A sister of Anthony Coffey HE OLD CARLOW SOCIETY references in such narrations help married Robert Farrell, T has now weathered eight the local historia_n considerably. Centaur Street, who had a winter seasons and is already Mr. G. Kellett showed lantern brewery and maltings there, getting through a varied pro­ slides of photographs taken in the gramme of indoor functions for locality. Mr. John Ellis, a valued now owned by Mr. McWey. 1954-1955. During the period pre­ foundation member whose knowl­ Mr. Coffey was also one of ceding the annual general meeting edge of the town is unrivalled, the original members of the held in the Foresters' Hall in May, regaled his audience with memo­ 1954, two· R.D.S. lectures were ries of the theatre of other days. Carlow Town Commission of sponsored in association with the The annual social held in Janu­ 1853. He also supported Carlow Arts Council. This gave ary was a most enjoyable function John Sadler, elected M.P. for our members an opportunity of The lighter side of life was seen in Cariow in 1852. The Coffeys hearing Dr. H. Leask on Irish the film " The Man Who, Came to Cistercian Abbeys and Professor Dinner." Once again the ladies' are buried in the Old Graves O Riordain on the art of the Book committee provided an excellent near Bishop Keefe's tomb. of Kells. Dr. Leask's lecture was supper. Four framed photographs A great grandnephew, Mr.-T. somewhat disappointing and con­ of historic buildings were pre­ centrated attention too exclusivelv sented to Fr. Swayne on this McWey, lives at Grange, on the technical aspects of mon­ occasion, as an expression of ap­ Mageney, Leix. astic buildings. we-had hoped for preciation of his work for the a general historical survey which Society. W. Mulhall's, 60, was the would give point to· the celebration At the request of the Carlow of the eight centenary of the death Arts Council our members under­ tailoring business owned by of St. Bernard in 1153. Local took to or<>"anise a. loan exhibition Mr. H. Begley. abbeys were scarcely touched on. of paintings from private collec­ Members of the Society last tions during An Tcstal. A most Mulrooney's, 61, premises year read papers on the recent generous response from owners of history of the town: Miss Teresa paintings enabled us to present a were owned by the Oliver Kelly spoke of Dublin Street: Miss cross section of European artistic family. Mr. Oliver's father Alice Tracey dealt with most cf development with special emphasis sold it when he bought the the buildings on Athy Road: Fr. on modern trends in Ireland and present premises. The Oliver Brophy outlined the story of Britain. This must be regarded College Street. A further contri­ as an exceptional activity but its family have been in the bution was made this year by Miss success, especially in bringing victualling business in Dublin A. Tracey and H. Fennell on the works of art to the attention of Street for over a century. Templecroney and Castle area. the schoolchildren, more than This brings us nearer to nublica­ justified the work of preparation. tion of the projected guide.'.book to A word of thanks is due to our No. 62 (now taken in by Carlow. hosts, the Irish National Foresters. Bramley's) was Mrs. Hay­ Mr. L. D. Bergin, the then Their comfortable hall in College den's, green grocer. Her chairman, broke new ground with Street is the venue for our winter husband was caretaker for a talk on travellers' accounts of meetings. the Carlow area in the eighteenth Carlow Rowing Club. and nineteenth centuries. Chance REV. P. J. BROPHY, B.D .. Joint-Secretary. No. 63 (Bramley's). This house was . owned by Mr. Luke Wynne, who carried on a boot and shoe business.

12 The Family of the MacMurrough By IONA MacLEOD Kavanaghs County Librarian, Carlow

INGS, chiefs and states­ attendant guardian .saint. Lionel, and died in prison in K men are numbered St. Maodhog was the pro­ 1361. among the clan of Mac­ tector of the MacMurrough Murrough Kavanagh since Kavanaghs. OTHER NOTABLE the 5th century. This ancient At the time that Dermot FIGURES family gave to the world left Ireland to seek foreign men who distinguished them­ aid, Hy Kinsella was divided Cahir MacArt Kavanagh, selves in diplomacy, litera­ between his brother-called Lord of St. Molyns, Baron ture and politics. Dermot na nGaedal-and of Ballyan, was eldest son another chief, Donnchad, of Art Kavanagh of St. Perhaps the figure of Molyns and chief of his sept. especial historic note in the King of Ossory, and sub­ sequently by his son Donal, He took part in the rebellion family is Dermot na nGall, of the Leinster Geraldines, so called because he brought "the handsome," who is said to have contributed but submitted to Lord the Normans to Ireland in Leonard Grey in 1538. This 1167. He is said to have the second family name Kavanagh. Donal, who submission he renewed to been tall, handsome and im­ Sir Anthony St. Leger in pulsive a.nd full of capricious served Strongbow as Sene­ schal of his Irish of Leinster, 1540 and asked to be allowed cruelty. His abduction of to hold his land in feudal Devorgilla and the :,,,§lacking was killed in an encounter with O'Nolan in 1175. His tenure. Although not a of the sacred Abbey town of baron of parliament, he· was Kildare are too well known descendants held land under Strongbow's heirs until the allowed to sit in the parlia­ to be included here. Yet, ment held by .. St. Leger in I for his faults against God end of the 13th century and Dublin in 1541. and country, there remains were kinsmen of the Bigods, to his credit the foundation Lords of Carlow, and rela­ In 1543 he obtained a of the Abbey of St. Mary's, tives of St. Laurence grant of the Lordship of St. Ferns; the Cistercian Abbey O'Toole. Molyns for himself and his of De Valle Salutis which During this period of his­ heirs on condition that Im I tory occurs the first instance r: he built at Baltinglass in Poulmounty on the borders 11 of the introduction of what of Carlow and Wexford, and H 1151, and a Convent called f, St. Mary de Hogges of became known as a " black maintain the friars there and Dublin erected on the site rent." Mortagh Kavanagh, keep a vigilant watch over the present College Green. Donal's powerful descendant, the pass. In 1553 he was he convent named le exacted a tribute of 80 marks created Baron of Ballymann 1ogge, for the mounds or a year from the English for life. He thus became the hillocks on which it was built settlement as an insurance founder of the estate that is (Hogges) in 1146, was against his attacking them. still possessed by his lineal governed by Dermot, then Art More of the senior descendants. He married King of Leinster; Malachy, line, king after Donal, was Elizabeth, daughter of the Primate of Armagh, and captured, fighting with his fearless Wicklow rebel, Fiach Gregory, Archbishop of Dub­ son · against the Duke of MacHugh O'Byrne. lin. The cells of Kilclehin on the Kilkenny side of the Suir at Waterford and that ART OGE WAS A COLOURFUL of Aghade near Carlow were made subordinate to Le FIGURE Hogge. In 1166 Dermot also Art Oge, who revived the Ferns. Eoghain MacCraith, founded All Hallows priory, kingship to its former glory, a chief poet, wrote a bardic Dublin, on the site of Trinity was a very colourful figure. poem which signifies the College. Son of Art More, he out­ revival of literature, sadly Dermot died in 1171 and witted the English by his neglected in the province was buried at Fearna Mor courage and strategy. since the Norman invasion. Maodhog (Ferns), where he He was inaugurated in Insistent war against the had a house. Every Irish 1375 on the traditional site Leinster colonies enabled tribe of nobles had an of Cnoc - na - Bogha, near Art Oge .to recover most of

13 the ancient demesne on the out reservation. instrumental in wrecking level, fertile plains of Car­ When the king heard this England for a hundred years. low. Black rents had by he paled with humiliation Art is said to have died then become a tradition, and and offered a hundred marks either in his fortress in MacMurrough's levy was for Art, dead or alive. The Garryhill or Ferns, after quite a charge on the ex­ king then hearing of the heading his clan for forty­ chequer. strife in England returned two years, and gaining fame MacMurrough in the course there to his deposition and as one of the greatest chiefs of his wars made a lasting death. By defiance, Art was who fought for Ireland. acquisition of the splendid feudal Lordship of !drone in Co. Carlow; DONAL THE SPANIARD Yet another descendant of was killed at the battle of Stretching fiftee1. miles Art Oge who fought to de­ Ballinvegga in 1642, and the along the Barow anJ six fend his country is Donal clan leadership passed to the miles east of it, this barony "Spainagh," or the Spaniard, descendants of Art Oge's had once belonged to Ray­ so called because of his youngest son, Dermot Lav­ mond le Gro~ Carew. When association with the notor­ derg. Carew died in 1380 without ious Thomas Stukley, known a male heir, Art seized it. as the " Duke of Ireland," Morgan Kavanagh was He also claimed by his mar­ who went to Philip II of M.P. for Carlow 1613-1615. riage with Elizabeth de Spain to get aid for Ireland. His son succeeded him as Veel, heiress of the fief, the Morgan MacBrian Kavanagh legitimate chief of the clan barony of Norragh in Co. of Poulmounty and Brian and retained his estates Kildare. MacDonagh, also descend­ during the Cromwellian wars. Art repulsed Richard II, ants, fought the plumed His great-grandson, having who landed in Waterford in forces of Essex and defeated served in the Austrian army, 1394. Surprised and dis­ them at the well-known Pass became, in 1775, Governor appointed, the king fled to of the Plumes. of Prague. Thomas Mac­ Dublin, sought terms from Sir Murrough MacMur­ Murrough Kavanagh of Art, and returned to England rough Kavanagh emerges as Borris sat for Kilkenny in leaving Roger Mortimer his the last Irish Parliament, viceroy. Mortimer tried to the last leader of the senior retrieve the king's honour branch of Art Oge's line. A and held his seat after the by attacking Art, but he great confederate leader, he Union until he died in 1836. was killed in battle near Kellistown, Carlow, in 1398. ARTHUR KAVANAGJ-I HE REFUSED TO SUBMIT Of all the members of Kildare, to be near medical Landing once again at the MacMurrough-Kavanagh care. While there he used Waterford in 1399, the king family there are few who to play with his cousins, who tried to avenge his viceroy's approached the distinctions lived nearby, and proved defeat. His forces suffered of Arthur. The third son of himself the merriest, bravest terribly in the trackless hill Thomas Kavanagh, he in­ and most sporting. country on the borders of herited the family estates in As he grew to manhood he Carlow and Wexford. Art 1853 after his two elder devised means of attending refused to be drawn into brothers had· died. to himself. He was strong battle. The king then sent He was born in 1831 with and broadshouldered. He the Earl of Gloucester to the physical disability of wore a kilt and a frieze confer with Art, but the having no limbs whatsoever. shooting jacket, and by the latter refused to come to His story is · unique.· It aid of a steel hook attached terms or submit maintaining shows the triumph of the to his shoulder and pro­ that he was the rightful spirit over serious physical truding somewhat from his King of Ireland. imperfection. . .. cuff he could fish, hunt, sail Facing Gloucester's mail­ As an infant and a youth and shoot. He wrote beauti- clad knights, he is pictured he showed spirit and intel­ fully. · in Curtis's medieval history ligence and he was beloved He rode with the Kilkenny of Ireland with . a high by all. Indoors he used a and Carlow foxhounds and conical cap covering the nape basket chair and outside he amazed the whole field taking of the neck, particoloured was mounted on a basket in· his-stride usually formid­ cloak, long coat and under­ saddle on his pony's back. able obstacles. coat, all of gay yellow, While still very young he He was often seen driving crimson and blue. :went to Mr. Greer, the through Carlow in an im­ He demanded peace with- Rector of Celbridge, Co. provised tandem or driving 14 plans drawn up by himself, which wo11 him a Royal Dublin Society's Medal. He subsidised and managed the railway line from Bagenals­ town to Borris until it was taken over by the railway company. Chairman of the Board of Guardians of New Ross poorhouse, he had a Catholic chapel provided for the inmates. He became High Sheriff of Kilkenny and Lord Lieutenant of Carlow, Mem­ ber of Parliament for Wex­ ford, and in 1868, one of the two members for Carlow. His maiden speech decided the fall of the Poor Law (Ireland) Amendment Bill of 1869. In 1886 he was sworn a member of the Irish Privy Council. Unlike many landlords, he recognised that discontent among tenants was due to unjust treatment and that the Penal Laws "designed to reduce the Catholics of Ireland to a miserable popul­ ation without property, with­ out estimation and without education," to quote Burke, was wrong and unjust. Sir Charles Russell in his famous speech before the HE DID NOT EQUAL ANY MAN, Parnell Commission desig­ BUT FEW MEN EQUALLED HIM. nated him a "landlord of landlords," and Mr. Glad­ his nieces with a four-in­ brother Tom and his tutor, stone praised him publicly. hand of ponies. Mr. Wood, to Finland, In 1853 he married Frances His religious disposition Russia, Persia. and India. Ford Leathby, the daughter and his great fortitude are His travels are told in his of Rev. Joseph Ford Leathby, best expressed by an entry very interesting diary which the Rectory, Termonfeckin, found in his diary and indicates that the party had Co. Louth. They lived in written when he was four­ no shortage of adventures Borris where they brought teen . . . " Though dark my and experiences. In Persia up a family of seven children. path and sad my lot, let where he got a fever, he An account of his daily me be still, and murmur was cared for by a local life may be of interest. He not . . . " The lines were prince. arose at 6.30 each morning followed by a short prayer In 1854, while he was and rode over the demesne to to the Holy Spirit. working as a dispatch carrier inspect the work. Later in He travelled extensively in India, his brother Charles the day accompanied by his abroad with his mother, died, which left him heir. dogs he would go to the brother and sister. His He returned to Borris and courtyard where under a father died when he was took over the estates. He great oak tree he sat on a very young. He was quick gave up hunting and devoted stone seat and gave counsel to acquire languages and himself to the business and advice to any of his make friends. In 1848 he affairs of his estate and to tenants who wished to speak returned to Borris and in work on public bodies. He to. him. Some came with the following year went rebuilt e great part of Borris papers to be signed, others travelling again with his village and Ballyragget on with wills to be drawn up,

15 many with requests for R.Y.S. Eva. It was pub­ 1894. work, to all their family lished with preface, frontis­ Walter MacMurrough Kav­ problems he gave a sympa­ piece and sixteen tinted anagh was one of the thetic hearing. In the after­ illustrations by Hodges strongest supporters of the noon he would mount his Smith, Dublin, in 1865. Wyndham Act which was mare, " Miss Nolan," and set In his fifty-fifth year his designed to give to the out on other duties in health began to decline ser­ people of Ireland the owner­ Carlow. iously, aF on Christmas ship of their own lands. HE DIED IN LONDON Day, 18,,, he died of Perhaps, the recollection of He had a small schooner pneumonia at his town his father, Arthur, sitting or yacht called the "Eva." house, No. 19 Tedworth under the great oak tree In it he made many sea Square, Chelsea, London. at Borris counselling his voyages. " The sea washes With his passing went one tenants and listening to down all man's annoy " was of the finest characters of their grievances inspired one of his favourite quota­ his time. He was buried at Walter to befriend the tions from Euripides. Borris in a little ruined people's cause. In 1908 he A few years prior to 1865 churchj)l~ on Ballycoppigan entered Parliament as a he went on a sea voyage in among the hills. member of' John Redmond's his yacht, the "Eva," to the Arthur was succeeded by party and for two years he coast of Albania. There on his elder son Walter, who represented Carlow until fail­ the island of Corfu he led already had been appointed ing health compelled him to a sporting expedition, and High Sheriff for Co. Carlow. retire. He died in 1922 afterwards wrote an account In 1895 he held the same surviving to see his country of his adventure in a book post for County Wexford, achieve an independence long called The Cruise of the and for County Kilkenny in sought.

SOME KAVANAGH HEIRLOOMS

There are several heir­ silver. In the centre of the are very similar to those in looms in Borris House of lid is set a large crystal, a the Book of Kells, a century great historical interest. small crystal, and settings later in date. The painting They are the Cumhdach for others are in the corners. is done in water colours (Koodack) or shrine of the There are also small enamels. where soft blues, greens and book of St. Moling, the The Shrine originally con­ browns still retain much of Charter Horn, and the tained the " Book of St. their freshness and beauty. " Figeen." Moling," who was himself of Unfortunately, the Book There is a tradition, but the MacMurrough Kavanagh has suffered through the without supporting evidence, family. He was Bishop of ages, so that when it was that a· Crown, now lost, was Ferns in the 7th century. lent to Trinity College many also one of their inherited About sixty years ago Dr. years ago it was found possessions. Abbot of Trinity College necessary to re-mount the The Charter Horn, Gospel deciphered under the great worn loosened vellum pages. and Shrine were lent to crystal in the Shrine the Trinity College about 1790. inscription, "Arthurus Rex, CHARTER HORN The Horn and Shrine came Dominus Lageniae," Arthur, Most treasured heirloom of back, but the Gospel re­ King of Leinster. It bears the Kavanagh family is the mained, under what circum­ the date 1402. It probably Charter Horn, whose origin stances or conditions the belonged to the great Art is uncertain. family do not know, no Oge MacMurrough. It _is said to have been member of the family has The Book of St. Moling given to Donal Kavanagh ever made any claim for it. itself, a copy of the four when he submitted to Henry The Cumhdach, that is the gospels, can be dated to the II in 1175 and was permitted Shrine or Book cover, re­ late 7th century and is con­ to hold his lands in fief from stored in the 15th century, sidered the earliest of all the Crown. is a small box, 7-f' x 6", Irish illuminated manu­ Dr. Mahr, an eminent made of bronze overlaid with scripts. In style the figures authority and formerly

16 Keeper of Antiquities at the National Museum, Dublin, held that it was a 13th cen­ tury drinking horn. Twenty­ • two inches along the convex m edge and 4! inches across the mouth, the horn is fluted By "BROADINCH." and stands on a pair of brass legs fastioned in bird's webbed feet. It is inscribed, How small the town on a decorated plate, TIGER­ -Just an atom of the big city's complexity­ NANS O'LAVAN ME llow slow the pace FECIT, DEO GRATIAS. ii Some horns were used to -Unlike the wild, mad scamper of city life. ! denote chieftainship and Yet, though young, blood boil with unborn vigour, tenure of land. Drinking My heart says: "Here is home." i ! horns are supposed to have .i! been used to test the man­ hood of the head of the clan, who was expected to Why should it be that youth, so free, drink their full in one So fast and full with life draught. Other horns were -As yet unsoured by' disillusionment- supposed to reveal if there So one with city's speed and its anonymity, was poison in the wine. Should prefer this town, so chasm-separated from the other. There are several others similar to the Kavanagh horn. 'Tis not the town itself, surely; FIGEEN Its stones don't equal the city's artifices -But yet, they tug and say: "We watched you grow and play"­ The third treasure pre­ served at Borris House is 'Tis not its laziness, the Figeen. The word comes For youth's idealism rushes more­ from the Irish, Figin, a But yet it somehow slows the feet twig or point. And says: "To this place were you born." This is a very large circular brooch. It is made of silver and tin and has Perhaps it is the solidarity three large thistle-head ter­ Or the depth of friendship, minals. Its use was to hold a cloak or plaid in position: The "everyone know each other," and was prJbably wor.n on The character§ or the personalities, the shoulder. · ,c,,: .. The honesty. or_ rural simpleness This type of brooch with Of a philosophy that has the depth of soil thistle-head decoration, is And not of book and bottle. Scandinavian in origin, from which country it was intro­ Yes, maybe these. duced into Ireland. The indigenous Irish Ring Pin , brooch like the Tara Brooch Yet, no. For that can't be complete. had triangclar terminals, not Why hesitate? You're home. Speak free. the thistle shaped one. These latter are found in many parts of Europe. Ah, yes! 'twas in this town I saw my spirit to unfold itself and spread The Kavanagh brooch was And in this place my father lives and makes his living and his life: found in the demesne while some men were digging a For as the body in repose curls into womb shape as before, ditch. It may have be­ The mind in peace longs for its native habitat; longed to one of the early And as the homing dove does ever to its wonted loft return, chieftains and could date to The whole man longs for its guiding mentor's presence once apain. the 10th century.

17 AESAR or Cicero-Or, JOHN MONAHAN eavesdrops on Phil Kennedy's C maybe, it was Horace; at any rate it was one of the mail and takes us back again to classical gents - complained about the Times and the Customs. We are going to discuss the Times and the Trades and Tradesmen Materials. The materials available in any age decide what type of tradesmen will in the 18th Century practise in that age. Stone is no longer the use­ account of Nevill's dated in charged £2 5s. 6d. . J:or ful material it was in Phil December, 1790. For "going " drawing and embelhshmg Kennedy's day, when he was to the county of Carlow to the map he charged another building and draining and survey the lands of Castle­ £2 5s. 6d. For expenses on improving at Castletown for town containing 294 acres, the road to and from Castle­ Sam Faulkner. Nowadays, and dividing the same into town he charged Sam £1 2s. we no longer employ the 30 divisions at 6d. per acre,'' 9d. The bill is receipted in stone cleavers, such as those he charged £7 7s. Od. For Nevill's neat handwriting, that he hired to cleave the "altering several divisions "Rec'd in full this 30 of field stones to make the box into new divisions and Novmr.1790. Arthur Richard shore drains he was putting drawing a map thereof " he Nevill." in the Lime Tree Field and So much for tradesmen. other parts of Castletown. The word presumably also Perhaps the lack of stone­ includes "traders," and there cleavers in this effete age is are many bills and accounts what deprives rural life of Slater and Smith from Carlow traders sent to such fun as the Pattern of the Faulkners at the end of Myshall, reported by Bob Other tradesmen worked the 18th century and on into Cornwall in a letter of 17th for Sam Faulkner during the the 19th century. One who September, 1792: building operations at Castle­ was both trader-a seller of " We had a very bad day town. Jemmy Smith, slater, goods - and tradesman - a for the fair, tho' it was a was in constant demand for maker of goods, was the brisk one, had there been roofs. He went to Bunclody saddler Andrew Fitzgerald. 10,000 pigs and as many to advise Kennedy on the Thomas (Buck) Whaley had (unreadable) of butter, purchase of slate for the roof saddler's work done by Fit'l­ they would have been of the castle-farm house. gerald and the bill is re­ bought up by the Water­ William Delaney put in a ceipted " received the conts ford buyers at a very high bill for glazing, and one in full by the hands of price. Fat cattle also sold Kearney sent in an account Jeremiah Byrne this 27th pretty well. The night did for painting. day of August, 1790-for not as usual close without Matthew Purser was a Andrew Fitzgerald-William a few broken heads. I was blacksmith who was tenant Farrell." This is the same obliged to resort to the of the forge at Castletown Farrell whose manuscript of riot act, and one of the cross-roads, erected by Sam his experiences was published I most turbulent and ill­ Faulkner. He did all the as Carlow in '98. He tells behaved persons I had to usual shoeing jobs and made us that he was employed by deal with, was a fellow or sharpened many of the Fitzgerald, who was related who say'd he belonged to tradesmen's tools. On 16th to him by marriaga. you and was your stone­ February, 1794, he billed Thomas Proctor, " next cleaver. I was obliged to Sam for £1 9s. 6td. For a door to the Market House, l lend him a little of the set of " 4 shoes for the black Tullow Street, Carlow," dealt, Bastinado." filly" he charged one shil­ according to his billhead, in A man like Sam Faulkner, ling. He made seven pins just about every article and who was a land-owner's for the "Big Stone," now co:rrmodity known to com~ agent as well as land-owner known as the " Long Stone." merce. He lists a · weird and improving farmer in his lt is presumably these. pins collection of cloths, such own right, needed maps and which still hold this stone as " Perisians, Florentines, surveys· made, and he needed vertical at spot height 361 Lenos," and more familiar levels taken for drainage and on the ordnance survey. materials such as "muslins, so on. For this job he This spot height is known gauzes." After ah extremely employed Arthur Richard locally as the Long Stone tedious list the billhead adds Nevill. We have found an Hill. " and a variety of other ]8 articles too tedious to mention." At one time he sold wines, spirits and bottled porter, but the billhead we Stone Cleavers and Cutters have has these useful com­ modities carefully crossed Higher up the scale of mason work in your garden out. stone-workers than a mere wall, lined with bricks, at George Sikes heads his bill cleaver was the stone-cutter, 1/- per perch-£49 5s. 6d." "Watch and Clockmaker, such as Patt Rooney. Patt Another item in the same Tullow Street, Carlow," but furnished a· bill on the 16th bill was £5 13s. 9d. for build­ confuses things by listing January, 1790, for £9 7s. 5d. ing the garden gateway. side-lines such as "powder, for " stone cutters work in All the measurements on shot and flints " for the the castle for Saml. Faulkner, these bills were checked by sporting or murderous sec­ Esq." An item in this Henry Hayden. He seems to tion of the community. He account is for a "dial post." have been a - building also was prepared to supply From other correspondence contractor, carpenter and " bolts, latches, handles and it is possible to conclude quantity surveyor all rolled rappers for doors." Al­ that this is for the sun dial into one. Hayden· got in­ together he dealt in thirty­ in the garden at Castletown. volved in at least one row two different classes of with Faulkner and Kennedy There is " A measurement over timber. At one stage goods. His bill was printed of cut-stone ih farm houses by Mary Kinnier. Kennedy accused Hayden of. at Castletown for Samuel changing marks on timber Tim Nowlan, Tullow St., Faulkner, Esq., by Daniel Carlow, issued a handbill arriving from Monasterevan Comerford." So we know from " SF " to " HH." Hay­ boasting that he was cutting that at least two stone­ out Dublin middlemen by im­ den answered this charge in cutters were on the job. a letter to Sam Faulkner, porting garden seeds direct Comerford's work covered from England. He also dated 25th June, 1790. He jobs at " McDarby's House " explained that the Faulkner handled " Stationery and -we believe this refers to paper " of every kind, and boards and some intended the Green House-and Pur­ for Hayden arrived by boat " paper hangings "-which I ser's house and forge. assume meant wallpaper. from .Monasterevan together. This advertisement was Having got stones cleaved He paid the freight on· both printed by William Moore, and blasted by the Brennan and " saw all put in to Mr. Tullow Street, Carlow. brothers, and cut to shape Dowling's stores as usual." A few years later-in 1833 and size by Rooney and When Mr. Kennedy sent men -George Faircloth "painter, Comerford, it was necessary to .collect Faulkner's boards glazer, paper-hanger and to have masons to actually they mixed up the two · lots gilder," was in business in build the walls and so on. of timber, and took some of Tullow Street. His billhead The men who buiit the Faulkner's and some of Hay­ does not show who prifited it. garden wall were James den's out to Castletown. Samuel Corrigan, Brazer and Mullen and James Kelly. On Hayden had to go out to Brass Founder, at the sign 26th May, 1790, they ren­ Castletown to see Kennedy dered a bill for £60 2s. 9d. and straighten up the con- of the Tea-Kettle, Tullow St., fusion. · rendered a bill in 1806. This " to building 985 perches of was also printed by William Moore. In 1830 William · Byrne sent a bill to Castletown for With a few mild apologies later Thomas Hughes · of what he called "capering for stepping out of my Dublin Street boasted on his work." This included making favourite 18th century, I will billhead that he was " deter­ r wooden stable buckets. Gal­ go on with the Carlow mined to dispose of on I vanized iron or aluminium tradesmen in the immediate reasonable terms " a vast list was unknown at that time. post-Sam Faulkner period. of articles. · His lines · in­ He also made butter firkins. In 1805 two saddlers cluded cloths, hats and In those days butter was rendered bills to Henry hosiery, whi'ch he printed in churned with a horse gear. Faulkner, son of Hugh small type. He also handled The cows were on summer Faulkner, who had succeeded tea. Yet his heart seems to grass, and the butter was his father and his uncle Sam have been in another part of stored until winter in firkins in Castletown. One was a his business, for in glaring and sold when it was scarce. man named " Jones," thE> black type he boasts of No one knew how to produce other was Jasper Costello. his REAL OLD MALT winter milk in those days. A quarter of a century WHISKEY.

19 In this Article John Ellis tells us of the more spacious days of simple entertainment BEFORE THE PICTURES CAME

N compiling this paper on On the evening of May Rooms on 22nd and 23rd I the theatre and entertain­ 14th, at · the Assembly April. ment in Carlow, I went over Rooms, Carlow, which ·will He appears to have got on some of the files of the be fitted out as a Parisian so well that the following Carlow Post to see what Drawingroom, Valentine week he advertised a third entertainment was like in the Vox, the transformanic performance on Monday, · ':tQwn 100 years ago, but I ventriloquist, mimic and 27th April, and headed this could not find that the dialogist, will appear in an advertisement: legitimate stage found any entirely new and ingenious " Parting is such sweet place in the entertainment wardrobe and appoint­ sorrow, provided then, for there is ments in an original enter­ I could say fare-thee-well no record of any plays being tainment. entitled " Vox in till to-morrow." produced either of local Many Shapes" by means According to the Post he groups or visiting artistes. of rapid and instantaneous was accorded a great recep­ One-man shows seemed to changes of costume. He tion by fashionable and be the only form. of stage will impersonate 25 char­ enthusiastic audiences. sl;J.ow then provided, and acters illustrative of the In May of the same year some Concerts by Metro­ life and age we live in. a Mr. Rowley was billed to politan and English artistes. First-class seats could be give a Shakespearean read­ It would appear that neither had for 2/-; second-class 1/­ ing of Hamlet, "the most of the halls then in use and third-class 6d. sublime of all tragedies." for public gatherings had a In October of the same He states that " to the intel­ stage of any dimensions, the year we read that the in­ lectual this must be a treat, old Assembly Rooms in habitants of Carlow and as it will afford an oppor­ Dublin Street (now the district were treated to an tunity to hear interpreted Technical School) had a hall entertainment of a very rare these sentiments of grandeur capable of holding about 200 character in the performance and beauty which cannot but people, but the stage was of '' a child who, though have delighted all who are only a platform at the west­ small of stature, is of great acquainted with the writings end of the room, and the intellect." Martin Bundy of the immortal Shake­ Corn Exchange (now the (the child in question), said speare." Deighton Hall . in Burrin the advertisement, is not Street) was of somewhat more than 29 inches high MUSIC HO! similar proportions or maybe and about seven years old. Early in the following year, slightly larger. His talents were most extra­ 1858, we find an announce­ ordinary. (Unfortunately, we ment: the Monsieur Julieus' ; STROLLING PLAYERS are not told in what direc­ celebrated Orchestra will While we find advertise­ tion his talents lay). But we give a grand concert in the i ments at that time offering note that Mr. Millar added Corn Exchange. The leader tuition in music· and singing, greatly to the gaiety of the of the orchestra was a Miss we have not been able to evening by his sleight-of­ Louisa Ve~ning, and the solo r discover that the pupils of hand tricks. violinist was a Monsieur these self-styled Professors In the following year, Reminyi, solo violinist to ever gave any public dis­ April 1857, we had another Her Majesty the Queen (no plays of th'e fruits of their one-man performance billed less) and who appeared by studies or labours. So, Car­ as follows: gracious permission of Her low had apparently in· those Mr. Gallagher, the cele­ Majesty. The programme days to rely on the infrequent brated solo - ventriloquist, included selections from the visits of strolling artistes to will present: " Domestic following works: Beethoven's provide entertainment on the Perplexities,"· and will also overture to Leonora, Haydn's stage. introduce his new creation: Surprise Symphony, Mendel­ In May, 1856, we find this " Paddy Fegan the Irish shon's Italian Symphony, as advertisement: Waiter," in the Assembly well as excerpts from Verdi's 20 known as W. L. Dobel's Dramatic Company, which visited Carlow up to 1917 or 1918. The Maggie Morton Players produced a drama entitled The Midnight Express in the Racquet Court in the late '70's and their play ran for a whole week, so great was the desire of the people to see drama. In 1875 we find Mr. Charles Sullivan and his Irish Combination .Company presenting Arrah na Pogue, The Shaughrawn and Charley O'MaUey, with the farces The Irish Tutor and Handy Andy. In the year 1885 the Racquet Court was acquired by the C.Y.M.S. from the Trustees, who were the Com­ mittee of the old County Club House, the present St. Brigid's Hospital. Mr. Henry Bruen, Oak Park, was the Chairman of the County Club Committee, and he signed the deed conveying the premises to the Com­ mittee of the C.Y.M.S. for the sum of £600. The transfer of the pre­ mises took place in April, 1885, and in the following month we find the Carlow Amateur Dramatic Club pre­ senting " the splendid drama The Old Assembly Rooms, now Carlow Technical Schools, which George in four acts," Don Caesar De Bernard Shaw gave to the Vocational Education Comm~ttee as a gift. Bazan (which appears to have been a dramatization of La Traviata and ll Trovatore. of barrels in the asphalt the opera, Maritana) "with The prices of admission floor, at the front and back vocal and instrumental music were: Stalls, 5/- (family walls of the court, were incidental to the piece." ticket for 5, 21/-); un­ plainly to be seen. Those at reserved, 3/3; promenade, the front wall supported the The Nationalist of the fol­ 1/6. (Note promenade, that stage and. at the back an lowing week had a lot to say was evidently an elegant way elevated platform, which was in praise of the perforrp.ance. of describing standing room). used for standing room. The Quoting the paper: To say if This type of entertainment upstairs gallery served as the that the dramatic and I prevailed until about the balcony seats as we know musical entertainments last 1870's when the Trustees of them in the cinemas of week were completely s·uc­ the Racquet Court, who were to-day. ccssful but very faintly the Committee in charge of These premises provided recognises the merits both in the County Club, began to space for travelling repertory a dramatic and musical point give the use of the premises companies to put on full of view. We venture to say for dramatic entertainments. stage shows, and probably that the manner in. which Up to about thirty years the first of these companies the gentlemen engaged in ago, when a new concrete to play there was a well­ the perfomance acquitted floor was put into this build­ known one, M1ggie Morton's themselves must be a source ing, the marks of the ends Players, which was later of pride to Carlow folk,

21 for dramatic ability, high the late Mr. Wm. Hade (who treat." The other operas musical culture and vocal appeared with the Carlow presented were " Maritana " gifts were conspicuously ex­ Choral Society in 1916-17) and "The Waterman." hibited on both occasiom. brought down the house with On the following Sunday We may mention that the a :comic song: "The Club the baritone (Mr. Albert gentleman responsible for Had A Meeting To-night, My McGuckin) and the soprano the management of the Love." (Miss F. Hayward) of the drama displayed such a In August, 1885, there ap­ Opera Company assisted knowledge of Thespian pears an advertisement: the Cathedral choir at last science that the piece went " From the Royal Poly­ Mass. Miss Hayward sang off from beginning to end technic Institute, London, Gounod's " Ave Maria." without a single hitch. Professor Peppers Ghost In the same month (June, Gompetren's Spectrascope. 1888) the following note ap­ DRAMATIS PERSONJE The entertainment is most peared in The Nationalist: Those taking part were: popular and is accompanied "Valentine Vousden's enter­ King of Spain, Mr. M. Tynan; by a really first-class Spec­ tainment in the Town Hall Don Caesar, Mr. J. F. Fen­ tral Opera Co. The enter­ on Monday and Tuesday lon; Don Jose, Mr. D. Quinn; tainment is designed to evenings was an apt illustra.­ The Marquis, Mr. M. O'Con­ refine, instruct and amuse, tion of ' how are the mbthty nor; Lazarvill, Mr. J. and aims at not merely be­ fallen.' In spite of years McDonald; Loper, Mr. B. guiling an idle hour, but and infirmities the old man Furney; Captain, Mr. C. affording foodfor intellectual struggled bravely through Edwards; Judge, Mr. J. culture. The illusions liter­ the long . and tiring series of O'Reilly; Pedro, Mr. P. ally transcend anything , yet characters in which he won Donohoe; Pacola, Mr. W. attempted in this direction." fame years ago, but to those MacNevin; Maritana, Mr. M. The performance, which took who had seen him in his Meaney; · Countess, Mr. J. place in the Hall, Burrin St. palmy days the contrast Murphy. (the present Deighton Hall) gave rise to sad and regret­ All the parts were taken appears to have been a ful memories." tremendous success. The Valentine Vousden by gentlemen. In those days above referred to was, in it was not considered proper TOWN HALL the middle of the last cen­ for young ladies to take part tury, a most celebrated in dramatic performances, ln 188'3we find the Maggie character-actor and per­ and this idea prevailed right Morton Players again in formed all over England and into the early years of the Carlow with a great new Ireland. It was from him present century, as can be American play, The Un­ that the well-known Carlow seen from old programmes known, " which had played actor, the late Mr. William of dramatic performances by over 1900 times in the MacNevin, took the stage­ different amateur groups in States." Also the original name Val. Vousden. Carlow. translation by Miss Dulcie The Stewards at the per· Douglas of Von Mozer's Der formance of Don Caesar were Bibliotiekar, which is better " PINAFORE " Messrs. M. O'Reilly, P. A. known as The Private Secre­ Brown, Solicitor; Joseph tary, a play which has. con­ The next production of O'Brien, James Ryan and tinued to. run down to the any note was· Pinafore, the Dr. W. H. O'Meara. present time, and some years Gilbert and Sullivan light ago was produced as a film. opera, put on by the Irish In January, 1886, another This was one of the first National Foresters in 1896, group, the Carlow Amateur entertainments . given in the and proved most successful. Christy Minstrels, gave a Town Hall, which from then At the beginning of the performance in the Racquet on was the venue for such 20th century two dramatic Court. Commenting on the performances. groups were formed in the performances the Nationalist In June, 1888, we read town, the Workman's Club says: "The entertainment that Carol's Opera Company Dramatic Amateurs and the certainly proved that musical opened their engagement in Carlow - Craigue Amateur talent and dramatic skill the Town Hall with "The Dramatic Club. In 1902, '03 abound in Carlow, and that Bohemian Girl." The Nation­ and '04 the Workman's Cfab on their own merits, without aHst says: " It is not often put on Ireland As It Was, extraneous aid, the ' dusky we have such a work pre­ Eily O'Connor and Pike troupe ' were able to afford sented in a provincial town O'Callaghan. The Craigue their friends a treat at once and we are glad to see that Players played O'Neal The artistic and amusing." We the music-loving people· of Great and The Peep O' Day note that in the performance Carlow duly appreciated the Boys. The entire cast in

22 ------:------.. --. -.-1 tana The Bohemian Girl, Il Tro~atore Faust, Rigoletto, The Lily ~f Killarney.. Their McCormack was cancelled bills always announced do?rs open at 7.30, commencmg What might have been a did Carlow's the late Miss sharp at 8. Carria~es. 10.3~. very famous concert had to Julia Kelly. To those concerts The · prices of adm1ss10n m be cancelled owing to the the late Joseph ahd Fred those ·years were 3/-, 2/-, very small attendance, 11:nd Williams were regular con­ 1/- and 6d. standing. I well that was the occasion tributors, as well as Miss remember one of their visits. when the late John . Count Colgan and Miss McCaul of McCormack visited Carlow in Dublin Street. The Rugby A friend and myself always 1903 to sing in the Town Football Club also held an tried to manage to get to­ Hall after his initial suc­ annual concert to which gether 1/6 for three visits cess~s at the Feis Ceoil in some . very celebrated metro­ to the opera. That year (I Dublin. politan singers· were always think it was 1911) th~ bills invited. Unfortunately, the night announced that on Friday fixed for this concert was the The annual St. Patrick's night the opera would be eve of the Gordon-Bennett Night concert, sponsored by The Rose of Castille (recently Motor Race, and as the town the Gaelic League, was revived at the Wexford Fes­ could think or talk of nothing always a wonderful .attrac­ tival) ~.nd owing to the cQst but the race, John McCor­ tion. In the· years 1910 to of production there would be mack and his concert were 1913 two famous musical no 6d. admission. That .was completely forgotten. I won­ combinations found great a poser for my friend and I. der did the late Count think support in Carlow: M~dame We had either. to forego of that night when, on his Levant's Ladies' Orchestra hearing two of our favourites farewell tour in 1938, he and the Welsh Ladies' Choir. and hear this, to us, .. new packed the Ritz Cinema, and The former always divided opera, or plump for The hundreds had to be refused their programme into two Bohemian Girl and The Livy admission. sections, the first high-class of Killarney, and let the new music and the second the one go. We did not hear In the early years of the more popular music and well The Rose of Castille, nor century concerts were regul­ known operatic selections, have I ever had an oppor­ arly produced in the Town while the Choir, as well as tunity of hearing it since.. Hall. The late Dr. Malone singing Welsh songs, gave a held a concert every year, as In those days less preten­ popular recital. · tiou!, shows favoured Carlow ------with visits, one of which was Purcell's Theatre, which in the years before the first World War took its stand in these plays was all gentle­ comedies as Charley's Aunt, Potato Market. Housed in a men; ladies were still barred The Private Secretary and wooden-walled, canvas-roofed from appearing on the Paddy The Next Best Thing, structure, this' "Theatre" amateur dramatic stage. and made a really great seated its 1/- patrons on show of that fine comedy­ planks, with a mat covering, Several well-known travel­ drama, T.he Ghost Train. ling Dramatic and Operatic the 6d. patrons on planks Companies paid regul~r Another famous pair were without the covering, and the visits to the Town Hall m Jimmy O'Brien and· Harry 3d. patrons stood on a slop­ those years. Ireland, who always treated ing platform, with. battens their audiences to rousing nailed across into which that The Dobell Dramatic Com­ Irish dramas such as Lord portion of the audience dug pany were regular visitors Edward, The Boys of Wex­ its heels and tried not to lean and always had packed ford and The Bailiff of on the person in front. houses. Their repertory in­ Ballyfoyle. cluded such plays as East Here, plays of the type of Lynne, Alone in London, A Opera companies were also The Corsican Brothers and Girl's Crossroads, etc. All regular visitors, the most the ·Murder of Maria Martin good, meaty drama, co~pl~te famous of which was the were staged, preceded by a with the moustache-tw1rlmg Elster-Grime Opera Com­ Variety Concert. villain who was most heartily pany, which came here every hissed by the audience. year up to about 1917 or '18. (Continued overleaf) They also gave such fine Their list included Mari-

23

) I HE Old Carlow Society Sylvesters brought T opened its 1954 outdoor SUMMER season with a visit to Kilkenny the Living Pictures in which Mass was still being City on -Sunday, May 16. The celebrated after seven hundred motorcade which pulled away Also in those years the years. from the Town Hall brought Father Gaffney told how the Sylvester Bros. (who later about 45 members, who were Dominicans, when they settled on gave Carlow its first cinema joined in Kilkenny by con­ the site, were allowed to draw water in the present Technical from a nearby supply " provided tingents from the Waterford they used a pipe no wider in School) came here with a and Olonmel Archaeological diameter than the Bishop's ring " : similar theatre. They in­ Societies. how they fished by lowering the cluded " living pictures " in The party was welcomed at Kil­ sluice in the river, which flows their programme. Further, kenny Castle by Rev. T. J. Clohosey almost under the Church, and how they generated their own who formed an excellent word· this practice gave rise to the sly electric light with a large picture of the Castle as it appeared joke : Straight from the water into almost three hundred years ago, and the pan, and out of the pan into the steam engine, and were the gave details of its re-construction in Friar. first of those travelling the early part of the 19th century. After Henry VIII broke with the booths to be independent of Father Clohosey traced the Church, the Black Abbey was activities of the better-known tenants desecrated ; windows, bells, vest­ the paraffin lamps that up ments, vessels and everything ' of the Castle. He also described the to then provided illumination architecture and lay-out of the movable were confiscated and the for these set-ups. building, through which the partv community was scattered. The ' On one occasion the engine was later shown. Afternoon tea Tribunal of the British Judges was broke down and the auditor­ and· biscuits wel'! · served- in what .. set up .where... tbe. High. Altar now was once the gilded picture gallery. stands. and scores of Irishmen were ium was plunged into dark­ condemned within the building. ness. One of the Brothers SHEE'S ALMS HOUSE The . .Dominicans returned in 1790, Sylvester appeared on __ j;he At the quaintly named Rose· Inn but. the. _place. was then in desola­ Street Mrs: C: J. · Kcnea:lv -pointed tion. It was 1,>radually restored by stage holding a lighted out the crumbling ruins of what was hard work. candle, and appealed to the once Shee's Alms House. The Shee THE ROTHE HOUSE audience to remain calm till family was one of the Ten Tribes At Rothe's House, the former the lights came on again. or Civic Families of Kilkenny, town mansion of the Rothe family, most of whom were descendants of Miss May Sparkes dealt with its However, the only lights that the Y..nights who came over during architecture and gave an account of came on were the rest of the the Anglo-Norman invasion. The the day-to-day life followed there cast holding more lighted Shees, however. were of Irish stock. several hundred years ago. At the candles. Then it was an­ The Alms House was opened time of the Confederation of Kil­ in 1582 to accommodate about kenny Eoin Roe O'Neill is said to nounced that patrons would twelve old people, and con­ have stayed in the house. During receive tickets to admit them tinued, with varying fortune up the re-construction of portion of the to the show the following to the end of the nineteenth house for use as a Gaelic League night. Some of the 3d. century. to disp.ense charity. centre, workmen discovered a flag At the Black Abbey Church of of the Confederation period, which patrons tried to improve the the Dominicans, Rev. Fr. Gaffney, is now in the National Museum. " darkened hour " l:!y scaling O.P., recalled that four years after Many years later another Irish the paling dividing them the death of St. Dominic, in 1221. patriot taught Irish there, from the 6d. seats, thus the foundation of the Kilkenny Thomas MacDonagh, who was obtaining 6d. _tickets. Seeing Abbey had begun. uecuted for his part in the 1916 It gave Kilkenny the dis· Rising this, the younger Sylv~ster tirnction of being the only Irish Afterwards the group was taken exclaimed: "Now, gentle­ cify which possessed a church to St. Canice's where Mr. J. S. men, if you are gentlemen, be gentlemen." 1 The 1914-18 war forced most of those travelling great pity as I can well NOWADAYS companies off the road, and remember the eagerness with 1 by the time the war was which entertainments of all I remember one day some over the cinema had come. kinds were anticipated in the years ago remarking to a The cinema in Burrin Street years immediately preceding Cinema Manager on the was opened in 1915, and 1914, and the animated dis­ number of mediocre films before that Sylvester Bros. cussions that took place on that were being shown, and had been running the old one the merits and demerits of his reply was: "You must in the Assembly Rooms .Jor the shows and ar.tistes. I remember that while some a couple of years. This suppose people have now got people come to see a picture, mechanisation of entertain­ so used to entertainment pro­ the majority come to the ment, I fear, blu:Qted the vided by the silver screen pictures." · public taste for the legitimate that they are not so dis­ That about sums-up the stage and opera. criminating as were those of present-day attitude to enter- This, to my mind, was a the early 1900's. tainment. ·

24 the Normans to Ireland. Despite many counter attractions, a goodly TRIPS WITH THE SOCIETY number made the trip, and af Dun­ brody Abbey were welcomed by Dr_ Gibb explained that the site of the Go. Kilke.nny Archaeological Soci­ P. J: Sinnott, Dr. Hadden, Mr. G. Church was the centre of old Kil­ ety in· an ·excursion to Glendalough. Donovan and Mr. E. O'Brien on kenny, long before the Norman On a 'bus drive there short stop!! behalf of the Wexford Arche,e·olog­ Invasion. St. Canice's, built on were made at Haroldsto!Wil t'O in· ical Society, Dr. H. Aughney. ground which previously. supptlrted spect the pe,frect Dolmen and at C.M.0., filHng the role of member two earlier churches, was finished Avoca whe•re the, members· we!re of both Societies. about 1285 and became the Epis­ glad to see the old :Copper Mmes Dr. Sinnott gave an lntere•sting copal seat of the Diocese of Ossory, were a.gain w-orking, but dis­ talk on the history of the magni­ which was formerly at· Aghaboe. appointed that they were not lucky ficent Abbey of Dunbrody, still so Cromwell is said to have stabled enough t>o find any ,of the fabled striking in even its ruined splend­ his horses in the Cathedral, and Wicklow gold, After lunch in the our. Given ,in his O!Wil inimitable his soldiers defaced many of the Vale View Hotel there the party style, and illustrated by old prints statues. It was re-roofed in the proceeded to Glendalough and were· and documents, Dr. Sinnott's talk seventeenth century and has since welcomed by Dr. Phelan, President made the past of the Abbey live remained open for worship. of the Co. Kilkenny Society. Th•e again. combined parties made a most in­ DUNCANNON-Later, he showed GRATITUDE structive tour of the Seven the party over the nearby Dun­ In Kilkenny Technical School Churches with Dr. Leask, perhaps cannon fort which has been, in its that evening the visitors were enter-. the great-est living authority on time, in .the hands of the Danes, tained to tea i,y the ladies' com­ these famous buildings·, as guide the English and now sleeps peace­ mittee of Kilkenny Archaeological and most lucid and irtteresting fully in th_e hands of a caretaker. Society. lecturer. Our sincere thanks were Mr. B. O'Neiill, President, thanked Mr. B. O'Neill, President, con­ voted to Dr. Leask who came at Dr. Sinnott and tlie Co. Wexford veyed the sincere thanks of the Old consid-e•rable inconvenieqce to -make party for having mad·e the day so Carlow Society to members of the the past of Glendalough so clearly instructive and pleasant fpr the Old Kilkenny Archaeological Society for known to us. The return journey Carlow. Society and . re~retted they their invitation to see places of was made through historic Wick­ were unable to hear Mr. G. Dono~ archaeological interest in that city. low Gap, which now boasts an ex­ van's talk on storkid New Ross, to· He also -thanked the lecturers. cellent tourist r.oad to Baltinglass, which he and his fellow-members Mr. O'Neill said this was the where our 123rty enjoyed an ex­ would look forward i'n their first third occasion on which the cellent tea in the. West Wicklow outing next Summer. Carlow Society !..ad been invited Hotel after which we were shown to · Kilkenny, and the number over the ruins of the Cistercian THANKS who availed of it-practically Abbey (later referred ·to by Dr. P. the full membership of the J. Sinnott ·in our D.unbrody ex­ '11he Society's three outings in Society-was evidence of how cursion), and •enjoyed a lecture on th-~ past summer, all well patron-, much his fellow-members were them-unfortunately short because ised, were most enjoyable and in impressed with the l:'riendliness of invading darkness-by Mr. Bar­ structive. For their success we' and generosity shown them on ron, Principal Teacher, Baltinglass. are greatly indebted to our good previous visits. It was a very full and very pleas­ friends of the Co. Kilken·ny and He narticularlv thanked the ladies ant day, indeed. Co. Wexford . Archaeological Soci-. committee, and he hoped the O.C.S. eties who welcomed us into their would soon have an opportunity of DUNBRODY ABBEY AND territories and provided the lec­ acting as hosts to their Kilkenny DUNCANNON turers for the Kilkennv and Dun­ friends. brody visits. In additfon, the Co. Miss O'DonneJI, on behalf of the Sunday, July 18th. Kilkenny Society kindly allowed Co. Waterford Archaeological us to join them in the excursion Society, thanked the Kilkenny group. The Society broke new ground which thev had arranged' to ·stori-ed' on its third Summer outirtg of Glendalough. We hope during the GLENDALOUGH this season by invading the Dun­ coming summer to make .an ad­ brody and Duncannon district of equate return to the members of. On Sunday, 27th June, about 40 Co. V\Texford, historic places · so both Soci•eties by inviting them to members of our Soci,e,ty joined the closely linked with the coming of Co. Carlow. t THE COST OF EDUCATION I An advertisement appear­ and mathematics, French " That a competent assist­ ed in the Carlow Post in and German. There were ant should be immediately early January of 1854 for preparatory classes for chil­ engaged to superintend the the. Collegiate and Com­ dren of under 10 years. . English and ScieI).ce depart~ mercial School, Montgomery "The school-room,· erected ments of the Acadamy, and Street, Carlow, under the by Rt. Rev. Dr. Haley, 'is that · the scale of terms patronage of the Catholic most pleasantly and con­ should be as follows; . .. ' Bishop, Dr. Haley, and resi­ veniently situated at about dent clergy, conducted by three minutes' w~lk from the " Classical Course, £:J_ 10s. J-0hn Douglas Piercey, A.M. town." per quarter; English Course (with competent assistant). At a meeting held OJ). Sun­ for pupils above 13, £1 per Students designed for the day, 8th, at which Dr. Haley, quarter; English Course for professions would be care­ the Bishop, presided, it was pupils not exceeling 13~ los; fully prepared in the classics unanimously resolved: per quarter." · 25

··------__.) Officers and Members of Old Carlow Society SEASON 1954, 55 PATRON.: Mccaul, Mrs. A., Dublin St., Carlow Murray, Aidan, Dublin St., His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. T. Keogh, Bishop of Kildare and Le'.gillin. ; Carlow; Murray, Mrs. A'.dan, Dub­ lin Street, Car-low; Murphy, Miss HON. LIFE VICE-PRESIDENTS : Annie, O:>.stle St., Carlow; Moore, Rt. Rev. Monsignor Millar, D.Ph., V.F., P.P., Newbridge; Very ·Rev. Mrs. W., "St. Anne's," Aithy Road; P. Swayne, M.A., P.P., Kildare. . · Moore, William, Mental Hospital, Carlow; Mahon, Mrs. James, "K•2.J­ CHAIRMAN: vin Grove," Carlow; Milli!i.r, Rt. Mr. Bernard O'Neill, M.Sc., C.E.O. Vocaticnal Schools, Carlow. Rev. Msgr., P.P., V.F., Newbridge, Co. Kildare; Monahan, John, Gastle­ VICE-CHAIRMEN town, Carlow; Monahan, Mrs. J., Mr. Liam D. Bergin; Mr. Afdan Murra.y; Mr. Harry Fennell.· Castletown, Carlow; MacLeod, Miss JOINT HON. SECRETARIES : Iona, Co. Librarian, Carlow; M,::1.c­ Cormaic, Mr. P., Town Clerk, Car­ Rev. P. J. Brophy, B.D., St. Patrick's College; Miss Maureen Doyle, low. The Shamrock. HON. TREASURER: Noude, Miss Eileen, Tullow St., Carlow; Noude, Miss Rita, N.T., Mr. Alec Burns, College St. Tullow St., Carlow; Nolan, Mr. HON. EDITORS : Thomas, "Molloy's," Tullow St., Mr. Liam Bergin, Editor " Nationalist & Leinstcr Times," Tullow St., Carlow. Carlow; Mr. Aidan Murray, N.T., Dublin St. O'Neill, Bernard, M.Sc., "Innis­ free," Carlow; O'Neill, Mrs. B., Dr. · Honoria, County Fleming, Miss Peg, Lower Stap­ Aughney, lestown Road, Carlow; Fitzroy, "Innisfree," CarI ow; O'Neil), M.O.H., Wexford. Miss Alice, Montgomery St., Car­ Thomas P., "G.ayville," Carlow; low; Fitzroy, Miss Maur,aen, Dublin O'Neill, Mrs. Thom13.s, Granby Ter­ Brophy Rev. P. J., St. Patrick's Road, Carlow; Fitzmaurice, Major, race, Carlow; O'Neill, Miss Dollie, College,, Carlow; .Br.ophy, Michael, "Laurel Lodge," Ca!.'low; Fenlon, Sleaty, Gra.igu-ecullen; O'Reilly, M C.C. Ardattin, Tullow, Co. Car­ William L., Mon.tgomery St., Car­ Mrs. John, "Fruit Hill," Carlow; lo�; Burns; Alec, College �treet, low· Fenlon, Mrs. W. L., Montgom­ O'Reilly, Miss Breda, " Fruit Hill," Carlow; Breen, Miss G., Dublm St., ery 'St.; Friedl, Miss Trudy, "'St. Carlow; O'Keeffe, Bernard, St. Kil­ Carlow; Bergin, Lia.m D., .TuHow . Gemrude's," Rathnapish, Carlow; llan 's Crescent, Carlow; O'Donnell, Street, Carlow; Breen, Miss P., Fennell, Mr. H., Everton, Graigu•3· Hugh, So.Jidtor, Dublin St., Carlow; "-Heatherlee," Larkfteld, Carlow; cullen, Carlow; Fennell, Mrs. H., O'Leary, Sean, Graignamanagh, Co. Broughan, Edward, Coal Market, Everton, Graiguecullen, earJow. Kilkenny; Oliv-e,r, James J., Dublin Carlow; Broughan, · Mrs. E., Coal St., Carlow; Oliver, Mrli!. J. J., Dub­ Market, Carlow; Boland; J., Secre­ Governey, Francis, "Barrowvllle," lin St., Carlow; Oliver, Miss Beat-· ita.ry County Council, Carlow; Carlow; Gidoy, Mrs. Eric, Athy rice, Dublin St., Carlow; O'DriscoJl, ( Blake, ·Miss · C., Montgomery St., Road, Carlow; Ginnane, Patrick, Miss A., Vocational Schools, Car­ i Carlow. College St., Carlow. low; ::. St., O'Donovan, Miss Anna (P.O. Staff) Preston, Lanes., England; Corr, Carlow; Harding, John, Tullow St., Pembroke, Carlow. .Ald. M. J., 70 Victoria St., London, Carlow; Hutton, Francis, Staples­ S.W.1.; Corr, Ja.s. J., 9 Bay Ridge, town Rd., Carlow; Healy, Richard, Poole, Percy, Hanoyer, Carlow; Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y.,· U.S,A:; College Street, Carlow; Hughes, Peevers, Joihn, Staples.town, Carlow; Clarke, . R,ev, Ml., 15 Dalymount, Patrick, Barrack Street, Carlow; Purcell, Patrick, Qulnag,h, Carlow; Dublin. Hyland, Matthew, B.Agr.Sc., · Com­ Purcell, Gerald, St. Killian's Cres­ mittee of AgricultUNl•, Thurles, cent, Carlow; Pow,er, James, "The Doyle, Miss Maureen, The Sham­ Tipperary; Hosey, Jo&eph, Gover­ Garden," Dublin St. rock, Carlow; Doyle, Miss Dillie, ney Sr.mare, Carlow. The Sha.mrock, Carlow; Doyle, Mrs. Reddy, Jam,�s, Lr. Staplestown Lei.gh, Dublin· St., Carlow; Doyle, Kelly, John, St. Ki!lian's Cres­ Rd., Carlow. .Jas. J., Granby Row, Carlow; Dug, cent, Carlow; Kelly, Mrs. John, St. gan, William L., Solic�tor, " Erin­ Killian's Cresoent, Carlow; Kellett, Swayne, Very Rev. P., P.P., Kil­ dale," Carlow; Duggan, Mrs. W. L., George, "'Greystones," Graigue­ dare; Smith, Mr. T., Leinster Cres­ "Erindak,," Carlow; Darcy, Ml., cullen; Kellett, Mrs. G., " Grey­ cent, Carlow; Smith, Mrs. T., Lein­ Castle Hill, Carlow; Doyle Miss D.; stones," Gralguecullen; Ke.Jly, Miss ster Cresc,ent, Carlow. Doorleys Hofo,J, Bagenalstown. T., "The Stream," Dublin Road, Carlow; Kellehe1•, Miss N., N.T., Trn.cey, Miss Alice, " Stella Dublin St., Carlow; K-eegan, Miss Marls,'' Athy Road, Carlow. Ellis, John, Burrin Street, Ca!'­ E., Vocational Schools, Carlow; low; Eustace, E. A. R., Newstown, Kealy, Thomas, Maryborough St., Wooa·s, Patrick, St. Killian's Cres­ TuUow, Co. Carlow. Graiguecullen. cent, Carlow. 26 This was a monument to faith and to fatherland raised by a great bishop and his people at the end of three centuries of persecution. If Carlow Cathedral could speak Written specially for Carloviana _by Fr. FRANCIS HICKEY

, E cannot consider the W Cathedral at Carlow without remembering the Penal Days, when b_is~ops and priests had to m1mster from places of refuge. The ~ history of this building takes us back to the end, after I three centuries, of the Penal Laws against the Catholic I Church. It was in 1829 that I these severe laws were abrogated by the concession of Catholic Emancipation. On March 18th, 1828, Bishop Doyle, the great J.K.L., laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral, the last year of the Penal Laws. In 1833, the fifth year of Catholic Emancipation, the building-apart from the present Vestry-was com­ pleted. Dr. James O'Keeffe, parish priest of Tullow, was con­ secrated Bishop in 1751. He was the first bishop since the Reformation who had a residence and parochial church. Built in 1730, part of that church exists to-day in Chapel Lane, Tullow. After his consecration in Wexford (March, 1752) he lived at Aghade, and made Tullow the episcopal town of the Diocese. Gardener's Relief Bill, 1782, allowed Catholics to turned to Carlow. pletion in September, 1787, open classical schools and Having taken up residence when Bishop O'Keeffe died. acquire leasehold property. in Browne Street, Carlow, he He was the first Bishop of Dr. O'Keeffe set about to obtained a 999 year lease of Kildare and Leighlin to live avail of it and build a a four-acre field from Wm. and die in Carlow. Two arch­ Cathedral in Tullow and a Fishbourne. The lease was bishops and seven bishops Diocesan College to educate signed in 1786 by Wm. Fish­ attended the obsequies in priests for several Irish bourne and James O'Keeffe. the old chapel between the dioceses. When he failed to He began building the College and Dublin Road, of -procure a site in Tullow he College, which neared com- t.hi~ " soul and guide of the

27

...... ______./ Irish Prelacy and laity," as J .K.L. described him; Dr. O'Keeffe is buried in the Old Graves near the They Kept the Faith Barrow in Carlow. Of Car­ The mouldering rem.a,ins of two dioceses were reduced to low College, his lasting 240 clmrches in the dioceses extreme poverty by the con­ monument, Archbishop Healy of Leighlin and Kildare testi­ fiscation of Church property, fy to the pe!rsecutions of Dr. Oliver Plunkett, Primate wrote in 1895, in the cen­ priest,s and people during the of all Ireland, pe,titioned the tenary history of Maynooth Penal Days. Sixty-three re­ Holy See in 1678 to give ad­ College, that " such an Hgioius h'ouses, including the ministration of Kildare, and achievement is worthy of four great Cistercian Abbeys Leighlin diocese to t'he Bishop being held in eternal remem­ of Abbeyleix, Baltinglass, of Kildare Dr. Mark Forstall. Graiguenamanagh and Mon­ He became t'.he first bishop of brance. asterevan flourished. Two of the united diocese. About £1~ Dr. Delaney, former assist­ eight round towers still exist a yeff.r was the Epis,copaJ. re­ ant priest in Tullow and at Timahoe, Laoigh:s, and venue o1 each diocese. Ac­ Kildare town. cording to Dr. Plunkett's Parish Priest of Ardattin, to was appointed Co-adjutor to In the :reign of Henry VIII, letter Propaganda in Lelghlin Cathedral and its re­ Rome, there were fifteen Dr. O'Keeffe in April, 1783, venues were appropriated and priests in each diocese. and consecrated on the 31st given over to " the Church by Between 1678 and 1751, l a w established." Kildare sevPn bishops ruled the August following. Succeed­ united diocese. History does ing Dr. O'Keeffe, he lived Cathedral revenues were ap­ propriated in the reign of not record that thev had a at a rented house called Elizabeth. The bishons O'f Cathedral or episcopal resid­ Bishop's House near the the two separate diocese, as ence, neither does it record they then were, deprived of their place of death or burial. junction of Dublin and If they communicated by let­ Hacketstown roads, Tullow, permanent residence, Cathed. r.al and temporalities, went ter with their clergy or and used the old parochial liJve with and minister to people, it concluded with the to pathetic words: Datum est re­ church as his Pro-Cathedral. their impoverished people. In spite of dire calamities the fugii nostri-" Given froon our This church was re-modelled place of concealment." We and enlarged in 1941-1943. episcopal succession of each diocese continued, know that they kept " the old Dr. Delaney founded the faith flashing " and died in Brothers of St. Patrick, con­ After 150 years, because the the peace of God. verting part of the old parochial school into a mon­ astery and leaving the rest as a school where they taught. The Great Bishop J.K.L~ On the 8th August, 1819, the nineteenth century. the Rev. Father James Doyle, After his consecration, Dr. O.S.A., a Professor in Carlow Doyle lived in the College College, was elected Bishop until June, 1822, when he of Kildare and Leighlin by removed to Old Derrig House Propaganda in succession to two miles west of Carlow Dr. Corcoran. On the 14th Town, and near to Killeshin. of November, the Feast of He loved the quiet and the Patronage of the Blessed seclusion of this beautiful Virgin, 1819, he received district and house which he Episcopal Consecration in the used call his Hermitage. In Parish Church of Carlow. The passing, it is of interest to officiating Bishops were the relate that it was in Old Most Rev. Dr. Troy, Arch­ Derrig House the first mem­ bishop of Dublin, his Co­ bers of the Brothers of St. adjutor, Dr. Murray, and Dr. Patrick made their religious Marum, Bishop of Ossory. profession in presence of Dr. With the advent of Dr. Doyle Doyle on January 31st, 1823. a new epoch opened not only In March, 1825, Dr. Doyle for Kildare and Leighlin, but was summoned to London to for all Ireland. The life and give evidetnce before a Com­ work and writings of this mittee of the Lords and remarkable Prelate form a Comons on the State of Ire­ great part of the ecclesi­ land. He made such a pro­ astical and civil history of found impression on the Ireland in the first half of Committee by his "self-

28 possession, clearness of m1ss10n of the Holy See, he College and Convent ground judgment, and dignity of fixed the parochial bound­ at each side to extend the character " that even the aries of Carlow and made it Transepts. He then employed most intolerant of them were a: mensal parish. Mr. Thomas Cobden, an impressed. Gladstone in his eminent Carlow architect pamphlet, Vatican Decrees, who designed and directed refers to Dr. Doyle as " the Plans for Cathedral all the works. Under Mr. Prelate who, more than any Cobden's direction the water was pumped from the found­ other, represented his Church In 1827 he put into effect and influenced the mind of ations and the inlets from his long-cherished idea of the quarries were built up. England in favour of con­ building a Cathedral to re­ cession at the time of Eman­ place the old parish church cipation." When he returned of Carlow. He commissioned Secure Foundations to Ireland, in May 1825, Mr. Joseph Lynch of Carlow Under Mr. Cobden's direction there were meetings held in to draw the plans of the large oak piles were driven various places to congratu­ Cathedral. Dr. Doyle at first deep into the bed of the late him. The Clergy of his tried to procure the site now foundations and were tied Diocese congratulated him occupied by the Court House together with iron bolts. and decided to procure for at the iunction of the Athy Upon these secure founda­ him a residence that would and Dublin roads. The site tions the Cathedral was "fix the attention of pos­ was then a disused stone built. The Cathedral was terity on the period and on quarry, but the opposition of built around the Parochial the Prelate." In accordance the day prevailed against Church, which continued to with their Resolution they him. He then turned to be used for Divine worship. purchased Braganza House, the site of his -Parochial When the Cathedral was Carlow, as a residence for Church and decided to build completed and · roofed, the Dr. Doyle and his successors. the Cathedral there. In his old church was razed. A In 1826 he left Old Derrig "Diocesan Book," writing part of the transept walls of House and came to live in under date December 14th, the old church is incor­ Carlow. Since that year 1831, he says: " The Cathe­ porated in the end Wall of Braganza has been the resi­ dral Church of the Assump­ each transept of the Cathe­ dence of the Bishops of tion of the Blessed Virgin dral. This is seen from the Kildare and Leighlin. Mary was commenced and College grounds. In the end the first stone of the build­ wall of the north transept ing laid on the 18th March, we see the " spawled rubble " Preparing the Way 1828. At the commencement masonry of uncut stones of our means were very limited. irregular size and shape of Dr. Doyle at the beginning We had already established the old church transept wall, of his episcopate had in mind a weekly collection through whereas the Cathedral walls the building of a Cathedral the town, and purchased are built in uniform courses, for his Diocese, but the several hundred cart loads and its Walls are about a building of schools' and. of stone which, with about foot thicker. The same -is churches, and the establish­ sixty pounds sterling in cash, visible in the end wall of the ing of the Christian Doctrine composed our - entire fund." south transept. The round Society, Temperance Socie­ He tells us that their efforts arch in the end wall of each ties, and Chapel Libraries in were greatly delayed and em­ transept is to lessen the every parish, claimed the barrassed by the water from weight of the thicker and first seven years of his the quarries gushing in with heavier walls· of the Cathe:. Episcopate. great violence upon the dral upon the walls of the In 1814 the Very Rev. newly-opened foundations so former church. William Fitzgerald, V.F., as to cause them to deliberate The retention of the walls succeeded Dean Staunton as about relinquishing the of · the former in the Parish Priest of Carlow. attempt. He tells us that ~thedral walls - was for Father Fitzgerald died in they persevered and suc­ ecenomy - sake, because Dr; 1823, and was buried beside ceeded through God's help. Doyle's - funds were very Dean Staunton at the Paro­ They laid aside Mr. Lynch's limited and he could not go chial Church, Carlow. When plan upon which they pro­ beyond the means of a the Cathedral was built their ceeded the first year because generous but impoverished i:-em?jns were exhumed and it appeared to be too con­ pe~ple. It is a happy co­ interred in the College ceme­ tracted. It was an oblong mc1dence that the old and tery. Dr. Doyle did not church consisting of nave the new are blended into one, appoint a successor to Fr. and chancel only. Dr. Doyle and. it will remind future Fitzgerald, but, with the per- obtained a part of the generations of the great

29

·r------'/ Bishop who. raised such a so pleasingly with the blocks· of its fluted columns. noble monument through the grayish-blue stone was got The oak of the great framed faith and charity of a faith­ from Colonel Bruen's quarry roof of the Cathedral was ful people just emerging at Graiguenaspidogue in the got from Oak Park. Friendly from the Penal Code. parish of Tinryland. The relations existed between Dr. The grayish-blue · stone of Colonel had a very expert Doyle and Colonel Bruen, and the Cathedral was got from stone cleaver at this quarry. as the latter was a lover and the now disused quarry about He was a Scotchman named promoter of architecture, he a mile from Carlow near the Eddy. It was this man who was generous and helpful to Carlow-Tullow road. The cleaved the granite for the Dr. Doyle in supplying the white granite which blenqs Cathedral and the massive material for the Cathedral.

The poor gave their money and labour

When Dr. Doyle appealed subscriptions at different lantern and tapering finials for funds for the building of times and a weekly collection is a work of great architec­ the Cathedral he met with a from the poor which in 1831 tural beauty. It is said to generous response consider­ realised £316. The poor gave be modelled on the belfry ing the conditions that then not only generously of their of Bruges, but there is a prevailed. To his appeal the scanty means, but they gave striking resemblance also be­ parishes of the Diocese con­ moreover the service of will­ tween it and the tower of tributed £1,477, and the ing hands by carrying stones St. Botolph's Church, Boston, Clergy £701; in addition and mortar and other Lincolnshire. there were legacies and dona­ material to the builders. The Before writing of the dedi­ tions · from friends, one of people of Carlow helped the cation of the Cathedral it £200 · from Mr. P. Maher, local farmers in carting all will be of interest to say Kilrush, Co. Kildare. The the stone and sand and other something of the furnishing Protestants of the district material gratis. Such was of the Cathedral when it was helped on the work. There the spirit of a faithful opened for Divine worship is a record in Dr. Doyle's people uniting with their by Dr. Doyle in 1833. handwriting of " thirteen beloved Bishop in building Protestant gentlemen in Tul­ Ireland's new Cathedral-a low who subscribed one link between the Penal and pound each " ; there were Emancipation days. They Furnishing larger donations from Pro­ remind us of the Jews on testant members of the com­ their return from exile in munity in other parts of the Babylon uniting with their All the windows of the country. Brother Serenus great leader Zorobabel in Cathedral were timber mull­ Kelly of Tullow Monastery restoring the ruined Temple ioned and were glazed with was sent by Dr. Doyle to and gathering together the plain glass. Some of the appeal for help to the public scattered stones of the mullioned windows remain in England, and there was a sanctuary. to-day-four in the side generous .:response to the The Cathedral was com­ walls of the Sanctuary, four appeal. The Bishop himself pleted in the autumn of 1833. in the nave, and two at the devoted all his income to It is described by Lewis in back of the organ gallery. the building fund. In his his Topographical Dictionary The floor of the Sanctuary "Diocesan Book" Dr. Doyle as " an elegant cruciform was boarded with pine wood. w:r:ites in December, 1831: structure, in the later The wooden High Altar of " Our funds consisted of the English style, with a lofty the old church was erected weekly and annual contribu­ tower at the western end in the same place that it tions of the Parishioners of the nave, surmounted by occupied in the old church, and a general contributio~ a lan_ter~ of beautiful design, because its sanctuary is a by_ the people ·of the two termmating at a height of part of the Cathedral sanc­ Dioceses, especially by those 151 feet from the base· · it tuary. The table of the of. the Diocese of Leighlin." occupies the site of the 'old altar was supported by four The greatest contributors chapel, and is a rich orna­ richly carved wooden legs. were the people of Carlow, ment to the town.'' The The three panels of the who gave all they had, by tower with its octagonal altar were filled with coloured 30 glass. There was no reredos. CONSECRATION OF CATHEDRAL AND The altar was approached by three steps, and the predella DEA TH OF DR. DOYLE was spacious. The Episcopal throne was mahogany with On the first Sunday of solemn function at which a richly moulded square Advent, December 1st, 1833, Dr. Doyle presided in the canopy in keeping with the Dr. Doyle blessed the Cathe­ Cathedral. When he penned architectural design of the dral and gave it over to God the above lines he was in Cathedral. The sides of the to be " His House for ever____,. the grip of a disease w.p.ich canopy were filled with a House of Prayer, and a within six months would painted glass. The slender House of Sacrifice, the bring him to an early grave. side panels of the throne Throne of His Grace and The next solemn, but sad, were filled with painted glass. the Fountain of His Mercy." function would be his own The Episcopal chair was Most fittingly, too, did he obsequies when his remains panelled oak got from Oak dedicate it to God under the would rest in the coffin on Park. The chair is now pre­ invocation of Our Lady of the catafalque before the served in the Cathedral the Assumption. High Altar. After a linger­ Sacristy. The wooden Com­ Writing to a friend on ing illness he died at munion rail was arc-formed December 10th, 1833, Dr. Braganza House, Carlow, on and was richly moulded in Doyle says: " We had a Sunday, June 15th, 1834, in diamond pattern. It was solemn Mass in our new the forty-eighth year of his connected with the sanctuary chlrch on the first Sunday of age and the fifteenth of his walls by gates of the same Advent. I was ( thank God) Episcopacy. On Thursday, pattern. The floor of the enabled to assist thereat and June 19th, the obsequies took nave was boarded. There participate largely in the place in the Cathedral. His were three rows of benches satisfaction felt by all who remains were interred in the in the nave, the central row were present After six Cathedral in front of the and one at each side. The years of care and toil we High Altar where they await, passages between the central saw our task accomplished we hope and pray, a glorious row and the side ones were and all our anticipations resurrection. The Cathedral paved with granite slabs. realised." is his monument, and it will The first twelve benches of When he had blessed and keep his name in remem­ each row had backs. The dedicateq ' the Cathedral he brance throughout all time. remaining seating in each presided at the first High row was forms which be­ Mass celebrated in.. it. The You've left us ?i,ere a monu­ longed to the old church. rich vestments used by the ment in stone, The organ gallery had three celebrant, deacon and sub­ That shall resist the stress rows of benches. In each deacon were made by the of years to be,· transept there were two Sisters of the Presentation 'Twill serve to keep the rows of benches. Some of Convent and are still pre­ glorious triumph known these were family benches served· there. It · was the That you achieved in days and belonged to the families first and, alas! the last of slavery. who subscribed to the build­ ing of the parochial church. The same rights continued ·They continued the good work with them in the Cathedral. The balustrades between the nave and transepts were The Rev. Edward Nolan, from 1837 to 1855. During richly panelled wood in the Vice-President and· Professor Dr. Haly's Episcopate the same style as the balustrade in Carlow College, -was Gothic panelling and choir • of the organ gallery to-day. elected Bishop of Kildare stalls were erected in the The wooden side altars of and Leighlin on July 21st, Sanctuary of the Cathedral. the old church were re­ 1834, in succession· to Dr. This . furnishing of the Sanc­ erected in the Cathedral Doyle. Dr. Nolan's Episco­ tuary necessitated the build­ transepts. Dr. Doyle in pate, 1834-1837, was brief. ing up of the doorways in using all the furnishing of During his brief Episcopacy the end of the Sanctuary at the old church did so for there. was no improvement the College side. The triple economy sake, because his or furnishing made to the lancet window of the Sanc­ funds were limited. He Cathedral. He is buried in tuary was filled · with knew that his successors the Cathedral beside Dr. tuary was filled with stained'­ and their faithful people Doyle. g-lass representing the Cruci­ would complete and beautify Dr. Nolan was succeeded fixion and Our Lady and St the work he had begun. by.Dr. Haly, who was Bishop John. The mullions of the

3l

·r------1 side windows of the Sanc­ memorial window depicts the glass window of the north tuary were retained and the Assumption of Our Lady; In transept in memory of her windows were filled with the sanie year the organ was grand-uncle, Bishop O'Keeffe. stained - glass representing transferred from the south Dr. Walshe, who died on two Angels in each window. transept and erected on the March 5th, 1888, is buried in These · windows are very organ gallery. the same grave as his kins­ appropriate as they represent In 1864 the Cathedral was man, Dr. Doyle, in the the Angels guarding the painted, and the sanctuary, Cathedral. He was succeeded Holy of Holies. There is a painted in Dr. Haly's epis­ by his coadjutor, Dr. Lynch, small shield on each Angel, copate, was renewed. Sanc­ who did not move to each of which shows some tuary, nave and transepts Braganza because he was too scene in .the Passion and also were lighted with gas. Two old, but died in Tullow, the instruments of the Caen stone altars were where he had lived, on 19th Passion, such as the scourges erected-one in each transept December, 1896. He is buried and the pillar, the crown of -in 1873, donated by Miss on the Gospel side of Tullow thorns, the seamless robe of O'Keeffe of Carlow, a grand­ Church. Christ with the dice. The niece of Bishop O'Keeffe. Very Rev. Michael Comer­ end wall of the Sanctuary­ They replaced two wooden ford, P.P., V.F., Monaster­ each side of the window­ altars which were placed on evan, was made co-adjutor was covered with lead on the Gospel and Epistle side to Dr. Lynch in the Autumn which was painted at the of the sanctuary at the end of 1888. He was consecrated Gospel side the Ascension of wall. In 1878 Miss O'Keeffe in Carlow Cathedral in 1889 Our Lord. At the Epistle erected the central stained- by Most Rev. Dr. Walshe, side was painted the Assump­ Archbishop of Dublin, assis­ tion of Our Lady. The ceil­ ted by Bishop Browne of ing and the walls of the Ferns and Bishop Power of Sanctuary were painted in a Waterford. Because Dr. style in unison with the 1..;.·qD r. Comerford Lynch had remained in beautiful stained-glass win­ Tullow, Dr. Comerford went dows. R. Comerforrd wrote the to live at Braganza in 1890. In; 1855 a powerful organ D famous h'.,s,tory of the Dr. Comerford's advent diocese, publislhed between of exquisite mellow tone was 1883 and 1886. Consecrated brought many improvements erected in the south transept coadjutor to Dr. Lynch on at the Cathedral. He had it at the triple lancet window. January Ist 1889. re-furnished and artistically He died on 19th August, 1895. embellished and beautified by This organ was bought at By his refinement of mind the Paris Exhibition in 1855. and manner, his tact and his valuable gifts and dona­ In 18·40 the statue of Dr. judgmen~without sacrifice tions. Doyle, Hogan's masterpiece, of principle-but above all by The High Altar of Sicilian his unobtrus,ive charity, he was erected in the Cathedral was esteemed and loved by marble was erected in April, at the junction of the nave all. 1890 as a memorial to Dr. and south transept walls. Rt. Hon. Henry Bruen, Oak Walshe, donated by the These are the furnishings Park, visited him in his last clergy, religious and faithful illness and came ta Braganza and improvements done to to offer symp1dihy on hrs of the diocese. It was made the Cathedral during Dr. death. Lord Walter Fitzger­ by Samuel Daly and Sons, Haly's Episcopate. He died ald and Sir· Henry Bruen Cook Street, Cork. Eighteen on August 19th, 1855, and is walked in the Bi~op's funer­ feet high, with a 27 ft. spire, al procession to the Cathed­ buried beside Dr: Doyle in ral. it occupies the place of the the Epistle side of the nave. A vast concourse of Carlow wooden altar. Dr. Comer­ The Very Rev. James people followed the last :re­ ford consecrated the new Walshe, President of Carlow mains o!f their fellow-towns- altar on Sunday, 25th May, man who had done sro muclt College, was elected Bishop for their Cathedral. 1890, and presided at the of Kildare and Leighlin on For Dr. Comerford was High Mass celebrated by the January 28th, 1856. He was ·1 baptized, received his first Rev. P. Gorry, C.C. The a second cousin of Dr. Doyle. Holy Commm1ion and was sermon was preached by ' confirmed there. He was the During his Episcopate (1856- first priest ordained by Dr. Rev. Fr. Bannon, S.J. 1888) many internal improve­ Walshe w h ,en he becante The two wooden side altars ments were effected in the bishop in 1856. In 1889 he :re­ in the sanctuary were then Cathedral. In 1862 a mem­ ceived the fullness · of the removed, one to the College · priesthood from Archbishop orial stained-glass window to WaJshe. It is now his last Chapel and the other to the the Rev. James Butler, Adm., resting place. Presbytery. (Nationalist and who died in April, 1860, was He is buried in the nave Leinster Times, May, 1890). erected in the left window of · alongside Dr. Nolan. Dr, Comerford gave and the south transept. The consecrated the great bell of THE CATHEDRAL AS IT WAS BEFORE 1890. -By courtesy of Monsignor Miller, D.Ph., P.P., V.F. the Cathedral. (See box). design of Mr. Hague. There Two new stained-glass win­ In 1894 Dr. Comerford was no central passage in dows by Mayer and Co., began to paint and re-furnish the nave in the original plan. Munich, were made in style the Cathedral and fill the Now the nave has four rows with the central window windows with stained glass. of benches. given by Miss O'Keeffe. The The people responded to his Mayer and Co. of Munich, window. of St. Brigid over appeal for funds, and in 1894 Germany, made the stained­ the north transept door, a Grand Bazaar in the Town glass for the great sanctuary erected at the same time, Hall surpassed his expecta­ window representing the was also made by the Munich tions. A Mr. Mannix directed Sorrowful Mysteries of the firm. The mullioned win­ the artistic work in the Rosary. A gift from Dr. dows of the end wall of the l sanctuary ceiling and painted Comerford, it was erected in organ gallery were made in the two large pictures, The 1895. Fr. Butler's memorial Youghal. Musgraves of Bel­ Holy Family and The Death window was taken down and fast installed the central of St. Joseph. From a photo­ re-erected in the nave window heating and the oak-framed graph he painted a picture where it is now. Stained­ Stations of the Cross erected of Dr. Comerford, now in the glass in the south transept in 1896 were given by College. window, depicting the Life of various Carlow families. Mr. Robinson, contractor, Our Lord, was the gift of In the midst of these made the furniture for nave Miss Brigid Byrne, Newtown, renovations and improve­ transepts and organ gallery and was made at Youghal. ments Dr. Comerford was in his Haymarket workshop. St. Lazerian's window over s.eized . with a fatal illness, The central tiled passage of the south transept was · also and died on 19th August, the nave is new and from a made at Youghal. 1895.

33 r-'~---...... ------/ Dr. Foley becomes Bishop accident while out shooting. Holy Family . . Towards the end of Dr. High - Mass, and Rev. Dr. In 1902 Hogan's Holy Lynch's episcopate, on 31st Keane, O.P., preached. Family group was presented May, 1896, Dr. Patrick Foley, The month before, Dr. to the Cathedral by Mrs. President of St. Patrick's Foley had had the statue of O'Brien, Tullow Street, in College, was consecrated Dr. Doyle removed from its memory of her husband, who Co-adjutor Bishop by Arch­ original position on the died 1889. In the same year, bishop Walshe of Dublin, Epistle side of the Cathedral through the munificent bene­ Bishop Brownrigg, Ossory, and re-erected in the second faction of the late Mrs. and and Bishop Browne, Ferns. bay of the north transept by Michael Governey, Carlow, He succeeded to the See in Mr. Cleere of Kilkenny. The Dr. Foley had the sanctuary 1896 when Dr. Lynch died, solid limestone plinth, on floor laid in mosaic and the and lived until 1926. It was which the brick pedestal is marble Communion Rails, br. Foley who had the built, is new. The pedestal which stretch the width of beautiful Flemish pulpit is encased in marble. The the Cathedral (98 ft.) erected made and erected in 1899. panels are in relief. The in 1903. Both were designed It was planned and designed moulded marble capital of by Mr. Ashlin, Dublin. The by M:r. C. J. Buckley, of the pedestal and the plinth floor of the transepts was re­ Youghal, in accordance with were made by Hughes, made in breeze covered with the ·architectural features of Monumental Works, Carlow, pine· boards. the Cathedral, · which are and the inscription on the Dr. Foley decided to re­ those of the 15th century, front, which is new, reads move the Caen stone altars, usually called the Tudor "+ J.K.L. 1819-1834." The as he considered they would period. ( For details see statue is a foot higher than not be in keeping with the special description page 36). iri its former position. marble rails. He appealed to On Sunday, _15th October, In 1902 the Caen stone the people to donate two 1899, the pulpit was blessed baptismal font was replaced marble altars. Miss Mary by Most Rev. Dr. Foley, by the present marble one, Agnes Kinsella of the Royal assisted by Monsignori a memorial from the people Hotel gave the Sacred Heart ~urphy, Tynan and Burke. of Carlow to Rev. John altar in the south transept. Fr. P. Gorry, C.C., celebrated Corbett, C.C., who died on It is in memory of her 4th Oct., 1901, following an brother, Edward P. ,Kinsella, and was erected in 1903. The Lady altar in the north - . transept is the gift of the THE GREAT BELL late Michael and Mrs. Molloy, Carlow. It was erected in 1904. HE great bell of the Cathedral, one of the many gifts of Bishop The Caen stone Lady altar T. _ Comerford was consecrated by him on the first Sunday in Advent, November 29th, 1891. He presided at High Mass cele­ is now the High Altar in I brated by Rev. Fr; Gorry, C.C. Tinryland Church, Carlow. Th~ 30 cwt. bell cast by John Warren and Sons,, London, The Caen stone Sacred Heart has a diameter of 4 ft. 4 inches at the mouth. It is 3 ft. 6 inches altar is now the High Altar · high. The clapper where it strikes is 3!ith inches, and the clapper weighs 34lbs. in Paulstown Parochial The note, E. flat, forms the octave of one of. the two bells Church, Co. Kilkenny. in the tower with which it has been arranged to harmonise and In 1905 the timber balus­ chime. trades between the nave and Named after Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, the bell bears the inscription : transepts were taken down MARIA, REGINA S.S. ROSARII, ORA PRO NOBIS, A.D. and replaced by the present 18.91. handsome wrought iron Preaching the occasional sermon, Rev. John Foley, Professor balustrades. In 1906 the Carlow College said he hoped the bell would peal for Christmas and if not for the new year. Ringing out the old year, he hoped oak Episcopal Throne was it would also ring out the last trace of dissention, feud and erected. It was made by discord, and that with the new year it would bring a holier and medieval sculptors in their more peaceful feeling amongst them all than had obtained for well-known studio at Bruges. some time past. Continuing he said : " May the faithful bell in the tower NEW SACRISTY continue to call the people of this town, to assemble in this In the Summer of 1913 the cathedral, and the clergy to celebrate the mysteries of the New building of the new Sacristy Law until its tongue of iron is worn away by the rust of time. May Divine Providence grant that future congregations in the was begun, and was com­ town of Carlow may be as faithful to the call of the new bell, pleted in 1914, after the as their forefathers have been to the calls of the old bells. designs of Mr. Anthony 34 This ts an impression of the magnificent scene during the Solemn Ordination Ceremonies held at the Cathedral. of the Assumption tn June, I 954

Scott, Dublin. The structure, central panel are the Arms Diocese of Leighlin from St. like that of the Cathedral, is of the United Dioceses of Lazerian down to the year in hammered stone. The roof Kildare and Leighlin. Under 1678. is surmounted by a battle­ this are the names and the mented parapet like that of years of Episcopacy of the ELECTRIC LIGHTING the main building. The Bishops who ruled the The Sacristy was the com­ Sacristy ceiling is beautifully Dioceses from 1678 to pletion of the Cathedral. The groined. Furniture is of the present day. On the entire cost was met by Most polished ·Austrian oak. marble panel on the left are Rev. Dr. Foley. He com­ DOWN THE AGES the names and years of their pleted the work which was On the left wall ·of the Episcopacy of the Bishops so well begun by Dr. Comer­ Sacristy corridor leading to who ruled Kildare from St. ford and, like him, was most the Sanctuary is a marble Conleth down to the year generous in his benefactions. arcade of seven arches, the 1678. On the marble panel When the Sacristy was com­ panels of which are of on the right is a list .of the pleted, the Cathedral was Sicilian white marble. In the Bishops who ruled the wired for electric light. The Pulpit was made at Bruges ROM the base to the sounding­ F board the magnificent carved pulpit at Carlow Cathedral measures 20 feet. It is designed in rose-cushioned oak of the finest colour and all the panels depict preaching scenes. The first panel, next the balustrade, depicts St. Patrick preaching at Tara to King Laoghaire and his chiefs on Easter Sunday, 4,33. The Sermon on the Mount is the subject of the second panel showing the Saviour, a figure treated with great dignity and majesty, and showing the at­ tentive and awed congregation. St. Paul at the Areopagus, Athens, in the third panel, is inspired by the famous Raphael painting in the Vatican. It is a carving full of energy and force, showing the saint with uplifted hands speaking to many figures surprisingly compressed into a very small space. St. Lazerian is ,~hown in the fourth panel addressing the Synod of Leighlin in 630. At the base stand figures of St. Lazerian, St. Patrick's Angel Victor, · and St. Conleth. St. Lazerian is at the stairs side with his arm uplifted, drawing attention to the words uttered from the pulpit. St. Patrick's Angel Victor is in the centre with a scroll in his hands on which are the words "Vox Hibernorum," that is, the voice of the Irish appealing to St. Patrick to return and preach the Gospel amongst them. St. Con­ leth, clad in ample vestments of BASE OF THE PULPIT the Middle Ages, is depicted gwmg his Episcopal blessing. -Photo : P. MacCormaic. Each of the angles of the pulpit, which is hexagonal in shape, is with much skill and delicacy. words of the Psalmist: "Their occupied by statuettes resting on The reredos or back panel sound hath gone forth into all the figures of cherubim, and sur­ which supports the surrounding earth: and their words unto the mounted by richly arcaded cano­ board is richly arcaded and bears end of the world." pies. an exquisitely carved crucifix The work was executed by · Tne first statuette at the stairs taken from Vandyk's painting in medieval artists under Mr. side represents St. Brigid, the the Church of Our Lady at Buckley's direction in their studio Patroness of the Diocese. The Bruges. Only by a close . inspec­ at Bruges, the well-known artistic figure of a cow lies at her feet, tion can the delicacy of this piece city of West Flanders. The pulpit symbolical of the fact that during be fully apprec1atea. The right is a worthy memorial to Dr. her life she was the guardian of hand of the Crucified Saviour is Comerford, who did so much to the flocks and herds of the shown as blessing the penitent beautify the Cathedral, from the Curragh. The other statuettes thief, and the left hand is clenched people of Carlow. No Cathedral represent the Evangelists writing in the direction of the impenitent or Church in Ireland possesses the Gospels, and at their feet lie sinner. such an exquisitive work of art. their winged symbols of the The statues of the Angel Victor On the front of the pupit is a Angel, the eagle, the lion, and the and St. Lazerian and St. Conleth brass tablet with the Latin in­ bull. rest on the many-angled base of scription which rendered in EngHsh One of the most notable featur­ the pulpit which rests on a block is:- es of the pulpit is the winding of dark Belgian marble. The Pray for the soul of the Most Rev. stairs from the south transept. many-angled pedestal_ is an admir­ Michael Comerford, Co-adjutor The balustrade is a fine specimen able example of the finest joinery Bishop Kildare and Leighlin, who of the carver's art. It represents work. The figures of angels on died on the 19th day of August, the oak tree of Kildare. The two sides of the sounding-board 1895, in the seventh year of his leaves and acorns of the branches represented in the. act of blowing episcopacy and the sixty-fifth vear of are carved out of thick solid oak trumpets are an allusion to the his age. May he rest in peace.

36 THE CONSECRATION tion of the Blessed Virgin of Carlow, done much to Mary into Heaven. beautify the Cathedral and Thus each successor of has shown his love for " the In 1922 the Cathedral was Dr. Doyle has, through the beauty of God's House and painted, but in a different generous benefactions and the place where His glory style from that of 1894. The 1.,0i1tdbutions tne people dwells." present mural paintings on oi canvas were then put in. In 1933 the Cathedral was CATHEDRAL ADMINISTRATORS painted in preparation for its Consecration on November 30th, 1933, by Most Rev. Dr. Cullen, the Bishop. Dr. Cullen's intention was to have the Cathedral con­ secrated to commemorate in a most · solemn manner the centenary of its opening by Dr. Doyle on the first Sunday of Advent, 1833. On the first Sunday of Advent, 3rd December, 1933, Solemn High Mass, at which Dr. Cullen presided, was celebrated in the Cathedral, thus com­ memorating in a very solemn VERY REV. P GORRY, P.P. (Adm., 1906-15) VERY REV. J. J. DUNNY, P.P. way the Centenary of its (Adn .. 1930-40) opening. An eloquent sermon was preached by Rev. James Foynes, Bursar, St. Patrick's College. In 1944 the great new organ was erected in the Cathedral to replace the one which was erected in 1855. A considerable portion of the original organ was used in the structure of the new instrument by the contrac­ tors, Evans and Barr of Dublin. The new organ is electronically operated, and there is a second manual at the rere of the High Altar LATE V. REV. A. LYNAM, RT. REV. MsGR. W. MILLER, which operates the new in­ P.P., V.F. (Adm., 1915-22) P.P., V.F. (Adm., 1940-47) strument. In 1949 the Cathedral was painted. The life-size marble statue of St. Patrick next the Sacred Heart altar is a memorial to the Most Rev. Dr. Foley, Bishop of the Diocese from 189·6-1926. It is the gift of the priests of the Diocese. In 1936 a beautiful stained-glass win­ dow of St. Anne was erected in the nave opposite to Fr. Butler's memorial window. In 1952 a marble statue of Our Lady was erected over the main doorway of the Cathedral to commemorate VERY REV. J. KILLIAN, P.P. VERY REV. D. B. KENNEDY the Definition of the Assump- (Adm., 1922-30) (Present Administrator) 37 low included in their stocks twe� · and friezes, flannels ADVERTISING IN and vestings, French beaver, silk and jerry hats of newest shapes ond texture. THE 1850's DANCING, TOO Mr. Magrath, in the same By L. D. BERGIN Exhibition for its mathe­ month, had the honour to matical precision, elegance intimate that to meet the LD advertisements give a and accuracy, studiously ad­ views of many whom his certain sidelight on social apted for family use by the engagements prevented from conditions.O A hundred years rejection of all ribald songs attending privately, he would ago there was no shortage and libidinous prints. open a select public dancing of them, set no doubt with * * * class on his next visit to less display and illustration, Carlow on Monday, 12th Dec. TO BE PRESUMED An advertisement for a yet for all that, sti_i.nding�out by virtue of their serious NEW WEIGHING MACH­ Musical education was ad­ INE, BUTTER CRANE, claims to attention. vertised in November, 1853, There is no music-shop in CARLOW, was published by George Louis d'Aubertin that same December. Carlow to-day. The last one (organist to Carlow Cathe­ I remember was Mr.. J. John Byrne, Proprietor, dral and College). d'Aube:tin begged leave respectfully to Craig's in· Gale's premises, gave piano, organ and smg­ now Godfrey's, in Dublin apprise farmers and others ing instruction, and taug�t that he had fitted an ouncil Street. This time one .hun­ composition in Carlow, Kil­ dred years ago Thomas of the newest construction kenny Bagenalstown, Tullow . . . to ensure the utmost Price, proprietor of the and Athy. "From his having Carlow Post, was advertis­ confidence between buyer and been early and long . an ap­ seller. Terms of weighing: ing in detail in his own prentice Assistant and lec­ newspaper a great variety of a horse load, 2d.; an ass turer td Messrs. Logier and load, ld. sheet music. He lists half a Kalkbrenner, it is to be pre­ column of this in closely-set sumed that his experience BAKERS INDICTED type, including. songs by must be extensive, and liis At the end of 1853 a con­ Leigh Hunt, Henry Bussell system well-founde?." troversy arose in the Carlow and Eliza Cook. . Daudson's In the same ·· issue W. Post about the price 'of bread cheap music instruction Graham, Burren Street, had and the bakers of Carlow books include, I notice, "TWO SPLENDID CHAN­ issued a statement, a mani­ Czerney's 101 exercises (of DELIERS for. sale, WITH festo, according to the Post, painful memory), various BRANCHES FOR SIXTEEN which was couched in very tutors and Catechisms of CANDLES, which would be uncivil terms. The bakers Music. Also stocked was a useful ornaments for any claimed that the highest shilling book with "all the place of worship or public price for a 4 lb. loaf '' in the leading pieces from The building where gas cannot season " was eight pence. Barber of Seville, Norma, be supplied." What interests more, how­ Der Freishutz; Don Giovanni, ever, is that there were Lucia di Lammermuir, and FASHIONS no less than 18 bakers' many others. Ladies, according to an­ names appended. For your Vocal duets from Mozart's other announcement, were information: Stanley John­ Magic Flute were three. wearing Autumnal novelties son, L.uke Abbott, Patrick for three pence. For the " embracing an· the latest Lowry (junr.), Jas. Warren, same price you could have emanations of Parisian de­ Michael Dowling, Thomas solo songs which included signs, Paris bonnets, ribbons Doyle, Pat Power, P. Bolger, Live and be Happy, by Doni­ and embroideries, Robes de Patrick Mulloy, Patk. O'Far­ zette, Never Go Dreaming I' Imperatrice, Eugenie. rell, Barbara O'Farrell, John Aloud, a comic scene for Paisley and Edinburgh Crowe, Thos. Crotty, Thos. domestic parties. shawls, with a stock of McGrath, Philip Nolan, W. NEW AND CHEAP MUSIC is mourning garb replete in all Brennan, Henry Vaux, Patk the introductory line of an useful as well as fashionable l,owry (senr.). advertisement which an­ appendages." · nounces Daudson's Musical Italian kid. gloves were A notice appeared on 21st Dictionary, printed by the then selling at 1/- a pair; January, 1854, announcing patent process which won a On 3r.d De.9ember, Byrne the letting to Grocers and large medal · at· ·the Great and Co., Castle Street, Car- Provision Dealers of "that

38 comcodious house and pre­ manner and without delay or lion and cause him to mises Tullow St. (corner disappointment." crouch like a tender · Iamb Staplestown Road) as lately While the owner of the and fondle his keeper (for­ occupied by Mr. Michael Post advertised Crabb's getful of his savage nature). O'Meara in which he carried pencils made for use. and not Also listed as attractions: on an extensive grocery for ornament. " . . . In use The Alpaca from Chile and trade." since 1818," said the adver­ the Iceland Foxes from the Tenders were invited the tisement, " they may be chilly North. Laughing, same week by the Town had from all respectable striped and untameable Commission for the erection stationers. - Sold by T. hyenas from Abysinia. of 20 lamp-posts with lamps Price." An entire caravan is fitted and fittings and for lighting On the first of April-no up for the gambols of the seventeen with gas and the joke we hope-a notice ap­ monkeys, headed by Great other three with oil. In peared announcing the Zoo­ Pongo - " the Ethiopian curious juxtaposition is an logical assemblage of WILD Savage." See the horned advertisement offering five BEASTS, birds, reptiles and horse of India, formerly the shares in the Carlow Gas monsters of the deep, the property of the late Earl of Company for sale. property of Wm. Manders. Derby. Mr. William Chambers, Lately added a hippopo­ A topical note is provided Saddler and Harness-maker, tamus ( the only living in the market prices in within two doors of the specimen in Europe). December, 1853. "As usual," Market Cross, in an an­ Mr. M. has engaged, at says the Dublin market re­ nouncement on March llth, immense cost, that enter­ port, "at Christmas a small 1854, took leave " to inform prising and daring individual advance is noted in the price the public that he is pre­ Maccuino Ceur de Leon, who, of eggs, 7 /6d. wholesale and pared to execute any orders fearless of danger, will enter 8 / 4d. retail per 124." entrusted to him in the best the den of the noble African

AN EXILE RETURNED Michael Corr, an Alderman in Kent, England, came back last summer to see his old haunts m Carlow

ELLE GROVE, Kent, is what memories it evoked. form and gaz� up into the B a good step fromCarlow, The years were rolled back face of John Redmond. What but the memory of the and I was once again a child " ructions " there were in native town will never be in Carlow at the latter end the town later. But let us erased from the mind of of the last century. leave politics and drift back Michael Corr. Although I was born in the to the days of long ago. An Alderman and Mayor Co. Tyrone, my family moved My first twelve years in of the Borough of Bexley, to Carlow when I was about Carlow were spent in " Jail " Kent, he lived as a boy in two years old. How vivid -yes, it is true, and they the Governor's house of and clear are the recollec­ were the happiest years Carlow Jail. Son of John tions of childhood and now imaginable. We lived in Corr, the caretaker of the vague we are about what" what· was the late Governor's Jail-now Messrs. Thomas happened only a few years house in the old jail which Thompson and Sons, Ltd., ago! subsequently became the Hanover--our friend from One of my earliest mem­ property of Fred Thompson Kent wrote to congratulate ories was of a big political and his Foundry. As I have us about Carloviana, which meeting in Potato Market said, those were happy days, he has enjoyed. when feeling was running we made all our own fun and Some time ago, he wrote high between Redmondites amusements; there was even to us last February, a copy and Parnellites. I remember a Dramatic Society which of Carloviana's first issue worming n'ly way through produced a play called reached me in a roundabout the dense crowd until I got " Pepper Pot's Little. Pets." way from a good friend, and almost underneath the plat- What names spring to my

39 mind: the Gartlands, Hop­ matter of speed from those At that time there was a kins, - Nevins, Brophy, Quinn, days. · I well remember the small farm up there occu­ Furrs, Buchanans, Kellys, sensation when Mr. Fred pied by a man called Frank Bruens, O'Rourkes, Cullens, Thompson rode the first Murphy and his wife, and and, alas, many more that I free-wheel bike, and Abie known by the name of have forgotten. There were Connor the first motor-cycle "Yallow Cod." We young no cinemas, telephones, wire­ -an old B.A.T. with a scamps often plastered our less; radio, motor cars nor wicker side-car. bodies with the soft clay bombs--,..atomic or. otherwise. I see you credit Mr. Lowry from the bank until we All our fun was self-made­ (Rate Collector) with teach­ looked like niggers, and then dances, social gatherings, ing a lot of youngsters to raced across the fields until games, etc. I was a member swim. It must have been we got a safe distance away of the old Valetta Dance before my time, because from the house, when we Club that used to meet in the one-par excell,;mce--of yelled, "Old. Yallow Cod." the old Assembly Rooms swimming teachers was a The lady herself eventually owned by Jimmy Moore in very saintly little man called emerged armed with a pitch­ Dublin Street. Luke Daly, or, as he was fork and chased us back to affectionately known, "Lukee the river. Our clothes were Daly." This good soul already safely parked on the Football Games regularly in the summer far side and she was too months took a troop of us economical to throw the And those famous football youngsters up to the River fork at us, but she made matches when Closh played Burrin to swim. We all up for this by the flow of the Quarries, or Bridewell entered the water puris her abuse. Needless to say, Lane challenged Coal Market. naturalibus, but Luke, as a dear little Luke took no We usually invaded some Christian gentleman, always part in these unpardonable field, and every lad in each wore a small V �piece as a escapades. street turned out to make up tribute to the conventions. a side, often some 40 or 50 of us racing after the ball­ no one would ever accept the role of goal-keeper; in fact, -·------�------··------we rarely had such impedi­ ments. Frequently there would be a shout, " Here comes old So-and-so," and He was sent to Grai ue whole field disappeared as if g by magic as the indignant owner rushed on to the scene. My first school was St. I never enter one of our A favourite rendezvous was Joseph's up near the Railway modern schools here in a field at the end of Mont­ Station. Here the nuns of Bexley without contrasting gomery Street belonging to a the Mercy Convent took us it with Graigue. Here we gentleman known as " Melt " at the tender age of three have palatial buildings, grand Byrne. years, and kept us until we and spacious, with every were five. The next step in modern equipment and cost­ the educational ladder was ing about £85,000 to build. First Freewheel the Christian Brothers in Still I often doubt if the tax­ Chapel Lane, now College payer gets as good value for Another early recollection Street. In my case, for his money as the supporters was the first motor race for some reason unknown to me, of Graigue with all its the Gordon-Bennet Trophy. I was sent to Graigue School austerity. It is amusing to look back and there we acquired know­ Although the cane was and see the competitors ledge from those two famous never spared in those days racing in from the A thy teachers, Dan and Jim we never harboured any ill­ Road doing at least 35 miles Fenlon. What we did not feeling towards our teachers per hour and their engines a�sorb freely was injected -quite the contrary. The smoking hot. Carlow was with the cane or a stout two Fenlons will always check point where they filled stick. occupy a revered place in up with petrol from cans The technique by modern my memory. God rest their whilst attendants poured standards was rough, but we souls. water over the wheels to did acquire some ·knowledge. cool the axles, etc. How we have progressed in the

40. Then he came back and this is what

Talking of graves, we Another thing that struck he wrote spent a very interesting me very forcibly everywhere afternoon in the Cemetery we went was the abnormal where I was able to find number of Chemists' shops many old friends. I should in every town and small We have replied to Mr. like to pay a tribute to the village, and they all seemed Corr, who subsequently way the place is kept; it is to be doing very well. The visited Carlow last August. a credit to those responsible. only explanation I got was He called to see us, but we Even in this solemn place I from a friend in Dublin. He · were away and unfortunately dutifully knelt at the graves said it was entirely due to missed him. We hope he of Dan and Jim Fenlon and the sale of cosmetics for the comes again. said a humble prayer for ladies. In the case of the He wrote to us in Septem­ both these grand souls. Irish girls I think this is a ber and his letter is a sort The one thing that sad­ case of "painting the lily." of pig postscript to his con­ dened me was the state of Before I wind up, may I tact with Oarwviana and the Rivers Barrow and thank you for your great later his return to Carlow. Burrin. How neglected and kindness in sending me The This is what he wrote: choked with undergrowth Nationalist and Leinster After a stretch of some they loked. Even when I Times. Like everything else, fifty years I found great was a small boy there was it has changed profoundly changes in the place. It is everlasting agitation about frorri the days of long ago. obvious that the town has the " Barrow Drainage It is much better printed and expanded and developed Scheme," whatever has hap­ the news presented in an greatly, all the grand new pened to it. In those days agreeable way. I like your houses bear testimony to the John Bull used to be saddled " Leaders " and views on good work your local Council with the blame for this. Who international affairs. Alas, has put in the years gone wears the saddle now? The here in England it is very by. They deserve great present state of affairs re­ difficult to get a newspaper credit, although I must con­ flects badly on the riparian with an unbiased point of fess that I had feelings of authorities concerned. view. regret when I saw only the foundations of poor old Mary Carey's house at the corner of Bridewell Lane. Mv mind ------went back to the days when Mary and old Dick raised a large family in that delect­ able spot. · I took my . wife and daughter to see what was left of the Old Jail and the house we lived in. The latter This is an appropriate co,rner to say thanks, to all who helped· in is about the only part left the big job of editing "Carloviana." The Society is greatly indebted of the original buildings. to Father Francis Hickey for his monumental article which he agreed The young man who showed to write for me on tl-ua Cathedral, and to Jo·hn Mo,nahan fo·r his l us around was, I am afraid, contribution. Donald Godfrey and Pat McCormaic have given great rather shocked when I help with the photographs and need I add the name, of our esteemed pointed ·out to him that his member John Ellis who has fathered this issu,e through the press. present quarters were once We are printing 1,000 co,pies of this issue.-Liam D. Bergin. the " condemned cell " where the unfortunates spent their OUR COVER PICTURE last night before execution. An elderly gentleman who The picture on the co,ver is an unusual view of the spire of came along was also sur­ St Mary's Church take.n through an ol_d a_rchway of the Canal prised when I told him that Company's disused premises. on _the Graiguecullen bank of the Barrow. his factory covered the The photo is by P. MacCormaic. graves of eight persons executed in those far off days.

41 Highlights of Last Year By P. J. GINNANE E had more or . less gone to Arts Council arranged with the illustrate this J c•urnal. W press last November when Music Association of Ireland to Every year Carlow Arts Council Carlow gave Francis Cardinal bring to Carlow the brilliant New awards prizes for Irish dancing and Spellman of Ne\\ York a liturgical London Quartet. This concert ranks singing, poetry, drawing, painting reception at the Cathedral. The red without peer in the musical history and photography, musical composi­ carpet was really down. of Carlow. The instruments used tion and play-writing. The Council The Cardinal's visit was beamed were a Stradivari violin dating from has now got the co-operation of the on Ballon and Kildavin, the homes 1684; a violin by Joseph Guar­ Department of Education in arrang­ of his ancestral grandparents, and nerious, made in 1732 ; a violin by ing concerts for school-children. he was obviously moved as he stood J. B. Guadagnini (1757), and a bareheaded at the family grave in Violincello by Dominicus Montagna MORE HOUSES Kildavin. (1733). Several hundred school­ In the afternoon the Cardinal-a children gave the Quartet a great In the recent past there have colleague of the Pope and his firm reception. been notable building developments. friend-spoke at the Liturgical St. Cecilia's Choir came before The East has th1own its head on to reception in Carlow Cathedral, the public with several choral the broad plain at Pollerton, where where he was it:troduced by Bishop works, including Bach's St. Luke's 200 houses have been built. t Keogh. Passion, with Michael Ledwith, Another 200 are to be built in Another notable visitor during tenor, the guest soloist ; and early what is described as a model village August to St. Leo's Convent was this year the Cathedral Choir, at Graiguecullen, where the site is a grand-niece ol the Pope, Princess directed by Dr. Seeldrayers, pro­ already developed and where it is Ursula Pacelli. moted a concert. planned to avoid ribbon building by In summer, too, came Cardinal breaking up the estate into small Macintyre, Archbishop of the rapidly AN TOSTAL self-contained units with plenty of growing diocese of Los Angeles. The most notable single con­ green spaces for grass banks, flowers Visiting Irish seminaries on what tribution of An Tosta) 1954, which and shrubs. he called a tour of thanksgiving had a sunny opening on the Court­ Already many of the old artisan for the missionary priests they had house steps, was a loan exhibition dwellings, some of them built with sent him, he m(,ved on to Kilkenny. of 150 paintings. These were thatch roofs 150 or 200 years ago, The most impresive and spec­ generously given by private col­ have been condemned and cleared tacular event of the religious year lectors and arranged by the Old and most of them will have be­ was the great procession held in Carlow Society at the Deighton come uninhabited after another May through the streets in honour Hall. The President of the National few years. of the Marian Year. Arts Council, Mr. P. J. Little, opened The entrance to the town has Two presentations were made to the Exhibition. been improved with the construc­ the Cathedral to mark the Year of tion of a broad highway, equipped Our Lady now closing. A magnificent fflE PLAYERS with carpet surface macadam, chalice was rresented by the County Carlow· Little Theatre Society is · which extends to the Kildare Council staff in memory of the late now an adult and domesticated boundary. Nor is this the and well-loved Secretary, Mr. P. A. group comfortably settled in its only road improvement contem­ Lawler. own home in Brown Street. The plated. In October we had a Again in August, Father Francis interior of the old house which the four day inquiry into a County Hickey of St. Patrick's, Kiltegan, Society bought a few years ago is Council plan to buy land and now the last of his family, pre­ well on the way to complete renova­ buildings along Bridewell Lane in sented a beautiful replica of the tion, and has now become a well­ the very centre of the town, de Burgo Chalice to the Cathedral furnished club from which all the across which the Local Authority in memory of his parents. Society's influences emanate. This wants to run a main East-West Another event of religious signi­ summer the exterior was attractively highway to take the traffic stress ficance was the departure of those pebble-dashed and a stonecut of the off Tullow Street. Carlovians who helped to make up Society's crest was set into the front On the Bridefell Lane thorough­ the 250 strong diocesan pilgrimage wall. Plays put on included fare, if it materialises, the County to Lourdes in July, led by His Arsenic And Old Lace and Myles Council visualise~ a block of ad­ Lordship Dr. Keogh. na gGopaleen's Faustus Kelly. The ministrative buildings, a library and For the first time in years the one-act play, The Marriage Plan, a Fire Station. annual ceremony of Carlow College written by Brian Drumm, a bank The Bridewell Lane proposal ordinations was restored to its full official, had the distinction of being was, of course, strongly resisted by liturgical splendour with a mass the first original work of a member business interests and house- I~ o;dination of thirty-four students at produced by the Society. holders who would be affected. the Cathedral. Anew McMaster played at the Most of them declined to negotiate new Town Hall auditorium in the on the terms offered by the County CULTURAL PURSUITS fall of 1953 and stirred our emotions Council. Interest in music, art and the with Shakespearean drama like A growing school-going popula­ theatre has been well sustained in Othello and Hamlet. tion raised its own problem. Lafo Carlow in 1954. -The most frequent In the fall of 1953 a Branch of last year the Vocational Com­ visitor was Dr. Brian Boydell, who the Irish Film Society was formed. mittee paid £400 for the Bank Field gave five talks on music. He also Other Societies are thriving, and I at the back of the Technical School arranged two visits of the Dublin believe the " Old Carlow " member­ in Dublin Street, so that the Orchestral Players-an ensemble of ship has now topped the hundred school can be eventually extended. fifty amateur players-founded in mark. The Gramophone Society is Last September the Ad- 1939. also pushing forward, while the ministrator, Very Rev. D. B. Early in November, 1954, the Photographic Society helps to Kennedy, called a public meeting

42

. ' "

I I to launch an appeail for the £33,000 needed to build new sc:hloo,Js for 300 boys and- 200 girls. Work ori the boys' school .is to begin in the spring on a site adjoining' St. Joseph's School at Railway Road, given When in Carlow by St. Patrick"s College, but so far there has been no word about the site for the girls' building, which will replace the Presentation Con v1>nt Schools·, Drink m comfort in condemned .in the nineteen thirties. Since our last issue the paroch.ie.l clergy have our up-to-date Lounge. moved into their ne,w Presbytery built in Greenbank field a.nd facing Dublin Road. The old Parochial Only best drinks stocked House has been sold to the Co. Oouncil and is now used as offices. The Rowing Ciub',s great June Regatta, with 21 * * * crewu, was the most notable event of the, sporting year. Owing to ploughed fields:, KeUistown point­ to-point ra<.'es were aband

Oontrary to general opinion Oak Park estate was not acquired by force but by purchase by th2 McDermott's 11 Bruen family. Col. Bruen tried to buy Knockbeg to extend his estates but Dr. O'Keeffe, then President I of C6-rlow Colle:ge, got a Protestant solicitor from DulJlin to bid against Bruen. The Colonel had h'oped Tullow St., Carlow to build a bridge across the Barrow toi Knockbeg. I I

I ------i I I I I I !Brian Cunningham I I CARLOW I PHOTOGRAPHER I I BAKERY 17 GJ)ublin Street I I CO. LTD. I I I Carlow I i I I HIGH-CLASS I I * * * I BAKERS AND Wedding and Birthday Parties I CONFECTIONERS catered for. I I I I I I * * * I ! Deliveries Daily Portraiture -a Speciality I I I I I * * * I Montgomery Street Attends all Dances on Request I I CARLOW * * * I Phone Carlow. I Phone 24s • ------CARLOVIANS-for all your footwear requirements Governey's Boot Depot

------Where you can choose CARLOW-MADE I , Shoes and Boots from an extensive range I

11 Stockists of all the leading Brands: Clarks, Rawson, Joyce, Belvedere, Dubarry -and Hanover

II '/{e trusted to advise badger shaving brushes, shaving bowls, you honestly on the quality c.f the articles I: wallets, hair brushes. he offers for sale, because he knows that the This is just a cross-section c.f our I satisfied customer is his best recommenda­ i wonderful range. Be wise and see for tion. II yourself, II I B1/.aHd.e'I 'd, ii A. Corless, M.P.S.I., Ph.C. f The Jewellers of Quality II McAnally Pharmacy 6.2-63 ~ul,.liH. St'l.eei, ea11Low . CARLOW - PHONE: 34 I I IL

Ii I II I II I 11~ PAYS TO SHOP AT SHAW'S Ii j II ii GENERAL DRAPERS .. OUTFITTERS II

11 II FANCY STATIONERS II II 11 II II II BOOT AND SHOE WAREHOUSE II II II II II II ,II 11 ~he, ol/

We thank all our Customers for I- ~-~ 1 1

their patronage in the past years 1 1 and invite them to se.e our range Gavin s Fishing -Tackle - 11 of TOYS including SLEEPING Gran by Row, Carlow Ii I DOLLS, GAMES, TOY GUNS, ii II AL-l TYPES RODS, REELS [1 MECHANICAL TOYS, Etc. . LINES, BAITS IN STOCK 1/ Big variety of-:CHRISTMAS CARDS II I: Over a hundred patterns of II and CALf_NDARS II Trout Flies.~ Rod· Repairs ' -, .' [_'~ ii Good Stock Salmon Flies Special Value in BGX CHOCOLATE Agent. for and other SWEETS, from all the I: Walker Bampton leading manufacturers Allcock * * *- ._Millward Ogden Smith Ii You are welcome at .Rudge Haynes· Jennings & Co. Day! Mil bro Castle Street, Carlow -----======-'' ~ ,I If I 11 I For all your Electrical Services and Supplies I II I II II II I CONSULT 11 11 I II I I MAHON BROS. II II II II II Electrical Engineers II I Potato Market Carlow II ' See our Showrooms for the latest in Everything Electrical

Quotations on request

------~------·------

II I I II KE HOE'S FOR RADIOS I To the Visitor II I I II I When in Carlow visit I II1, II I The Sportsman's Bar II II Sole Carlow Agents for MURPHY AND PYE RADIO I II I I II Philips, Pilot, Marconi Models To Old Car/avians I also Stocked II II 11 I Reminisce in comfort and II congenial surroundings Ii Ii II Efficient After Sales Service II , and Kepairs to all Makes II Up-to-date Lounge. Best Drinks. Excel lent Service II II II l1 II II 1, r GERALD KEHOE II The Sportman's Bar II }-- Radio and Electrical Service I I rnprietor : Patrick Keary II 136 Tullow Street, Carlow I 40 Tullow Street, Carlo,v II I II

I! I ------·· - ---=------=II NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN

OLD CARLO VIA NS : THAT W. & G. Hadden, Ltd., have carried on the family I 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. Luttrell, II II in partnership with Mr. Burgess of Athlone, and Mr. ,II Luttrell's predecessor was Mr. Henry Banks (a grand II uncle of Mr. W. H. Hadden and at one time \1 1! Chairman of the Carlow Urban District Council) who I owned the main part of the present business in the middle of the 19th century HAD DENS W. & G. HADDEN LTD. CARLOW

I JOHN HARDING I Builder, Contractor and Joinery Manufacturer

Purveyors of Pure Food Supplies I * * * ALL TYPES OF BUILDING AND I ------·- II REPAIR WORK EXECUTED Wine Merchants Tea and Coffee Specialists * * * SPECIALISTS IN PLUMBING and Service and Courtesy SANITARY INSTALLATIONS Civility -- Value * * * Enquiries : /?cf-/?!} ~w flee/ 48 Tullow Street, Carlow

your

·------Main For

Best After Sale Service

Phone 6) CARLOW

,-.------,I II 11 I II II I YOUR CHEMIST Ii I [[ Michael Doyle I II I i I I II II II I II II E. J. Nolan I I I M.P.S.I., F.B.O.A. I II I! I I II I II Grocery and Provisions II I ·:· I II II II Gerieral ·. Hardwctre I I II I Pharmaceutical Chemist I ii Ii II I II Agent for ESSE CJokers I! 1! II and II I Ii II I Ii II ,· Ii 'I I! ------Ii I, Ophthalmic Optician II 11 11 II 11 •!• II j; THE SHAMROCK I Ii 1i I II II I I I Street II I Dublin II 7r Tullow Street, Carlow II I II I Carlow I\ I T dephone Carlow 7 II I II II II Phone So .I I! II II I[ !I II Ii _11 CARLOVIANS 1 Bon Bon _ the rcpL t lion ot bl;i l t~ c c, J e~s1;.J peop _ 11 Ire! ind 1 ( HKI f~l \-, Pl{l E T~ in Onl} th. le,t oL , theri. C I ~\\ El f '>. fl lRlllf

1 I I l n le t' e1 ~rous C rlovia 1s 1 \ll ORI G ( )ur (. af c

I 1J \nad, lll

\ ( t: R cc >tion cllld id• 1. 1ttred tor The House for Men E l"'cDo nr ell Proprietor DUBLIN STREET - CARLOW TULLOW ST., CARLOW 11 P '-'P 1eto M ~I e H 1 Phone : No. 125

First-Class Proficiency Diploma, Academy of Gent's Hairdressing, Londor>, 1932

FURNITURE & DRAPERY BURNS College Street P. & M. DARCY Carlow CARLOW & TULLOW Prize win ne r Mallon Cup, Hairdressing Competition, Dublin 1952

======- ~ Carlow Industry •

C'ARL< J ORA.'\ UJ,7 UARLO LEMON

LI~MUN ADh LMMON fi'LAVOl.J RED WATERS SODA

DRY 0/N(JJ,JR ALE STONE BEER

rJRAPE /f'Rlll'I TONIC WATbJR Manufactured by

C/DlfRbY/'TF. rJOLA Corcoran & Co.

C'ASTLJ,J LIMITED ORAN ObJ ORANGE CRUSH Carlow ltJ8labli8hcd 1 'i7, Phone; !).

The Nationalist & I.einster Tim~s. Printing ,vorks, Carlow.