YH 0111YHJ.YH:> YGNYl8 NNYWnH:> IIY 8Yl181111 AJ.il~OS M0111Y~ a,o IH.L :10 lYNllnor I - -- ROYAL HOTEL, CARLOW A. E. COLEMAN CATERS FOR DINNER DANCES* WEDDINGS* CLUB MOTOR & CYCLE DEALERS FUNCTION, etc. 19 DUBLIN ST., CARLOW CONTACTTHE MANAGER 31421/31156/31605 , PHONE 0503/3f273 BRADBURYS CARLOW SCHOOL OF MOTORING LTD. BAKERY, CONFECTIONERY, SELF-SERVICE RESTAURANT (VAL SLATER)* EXPERT TUITION TULLOW ST., CARLOW & ATHY 39 SYCAMORE ROAD. Phone 31991 DEER PARK SERVICE STATION CORCORAN & CO. LTD. TYRE SERVICE & ACCESSORIES MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURERS FOR 150 YEARS DUBLIN ROAD, CARLOW PHONE 31414 CARLOW THOMAS F. KEHOE DARRERS STORES Specialist Livestock Auctioneer and Valuer, Farm Sales and Lettings, Property and Estate Agent. Agent for The Irish Civil Service Building Society BETIER VALUE IN DRAPERY & GROCERY TODAY & EVERYDAY 57 DUBLIN ST., CARLOW. Telephone 0503/31678, 31963 142 TULLOW ST., CAR LOW. Phone 31 387 -- CARLOW BOOK SHOP DUNNY'S BAKERY & CONFECTIONERY TU-LLOW ST. Phone 31674 CASTLE ST., CAR LOW. Phone 311 51 - COLD ROLLING MILLS DOOLEYS (STEEL PRODUCTS) HIGH-CLASS FRUIT, SWEETS, CIGARETIES & BOOKS KILLESIN RD., CARLOW 62 TULLOW ST., CARLOW CASTLE CRAFTS DARCYS IRISH LINEN, KNITWEAR, RUGS, SUITS, SKIRTS FURNITURE & CARPETS CASTLE ST., CARLOW. Phone 32064 33-35 TULLOW ST., CARLOW EILIS FOLEYS Greeting Cards, Stationery, Chocolates, Whipped Ice Cream & MEDICAL HALL LTD . Fancy Go_ods 66 TULLOW ST., CAR LOW 138 TULLOW STREET ~' GACH RATH AR CARLOVIANA EAMONN FITZPATRICK Na Braithre Crfostai, Ceatharlach VICTUALLER Bunscoil agus Meanscoil STAPLESTOWN RD., CARLOW. Phone 31029 CIGAR DIVAN "FINN EGANS" NEWSAGENT, CONFECTIONER, TOBACCONIST, etc. LOUNGE BAR DUBLIN ST., CARLOW TULLOW ST. & POTATO MARKET, CARLOW J. A. PURCELL Beacon Home Services GERALD HOSEY ALUMINIUM SHOP FRONTS AND WINDOWS RETAIL STORES & WHOLESALE FRUIT MERCHANT QUINAGH, CARLOW. Phone 31632 STAPLESTOWN RD., CARLOW D. & J. CARBERY LTD. HAD DENS (BUILDERS) CAR LOWS LEADING DEPARTMENT STORE Phones: CARLOW 31208. ATHY 21317 TULLOW ST., CARLOW CARPENTER BROS. E. HAUGHNEY & SON ., LUXURY LOUNGE BAR . FUNERAL UNDERTAKERS COAL, TURF, BRIOUETIES BAR RACK ST., CAR LOW POLLERTON RD., CARLOW. Phone 31367 2 Carloviana "" Volume2 No.29 New Series 1981 Journal of Old Carlow Society Editor: Hugh Dolan Printed by 'Nationalist' Carlow The way forward "Some dream a dream, and say why? Recruiting young people will be the Others, dream a dream, and say why most difficult part of the renewal CONTENTS not?" prograrrune. I know that many potential At many times throughout our history young members cannot identify Page many of our people who were not satisfied themselves with the Society as it is now. The District of Leighlin .•••.. 4 with the prevailing conditions have asked One reason is the name, and the other is "why not". that they say that there are no young peo­ Growing up in Carlow •••..•. 7 Tone and Emmet asked this question. ple in the Society. The recruiting of The Rev. Samuel J .K.L. and O'Connell asked it. Davitt members throughout the county will not Haughton .................... 10. and his followers asked it. Larkin, Con­ be too difficult, but the problem will arise nolly, Pearse and McDonagh, each in when those people are admitted to Riches of Clonmore .....••.... 13 tum asked "why not". membership. The corrunittee will have to National Monuments of I "dream a dream" of the Old Carlow plan a prograrrune which will be of in­ Carlow ....................... 14 Society and say "why not". The "why terest to all members whether they come not" is why not restore it to its initial from Poulmounty, Hacketstown, Old Frank O'Meara; Myshall ... 15 vigour. Leighlin or Kildavin. Carlow Material in Since 1946 ahnost every trade and The Society has had successes, most National Museum .....••... 16 profession has had to learn new methods notable being . the County Museum. Carlow Town Bands and techniques. However, in my view, some important In that time the Society, especially the themes and eras have had insufficient at­ 19()()-1950 .................... 18 latter years, has tended to preserve a tention paid to them: the development of St. Colman of "status quo". This has led to ahnost com­ education in the County and the War of Stradbally ................... 20 plete stagnation within the Scoiety and Independence. I know that many items has led . to two of its main weaknesses at' dealing with each of those subjects are Dr. Michael Comerford ...... 22 the present time. These are (1) thel available, if the Society makes a decision Carlow Criminal Court ......23 almost complete concentration of to exhibit them, but until that time, Carlow Electricity members in the immediate vicinity of owners prefer to keep them in private pos­ Undertaking ................ 24 Carlow town and (2) the ahnost complete session. absence of active young members. I may appear to be very dissatisfied County Carlow Museum •.•.. 25 - The~ founding members did Trojan with the Society. This is not so, but I, in Secretary's Report ......•.....26 work, but time has taken its toll. Until common with some members, do realise The Census of Ireland people with the same enthusiasm are that a revitalising prograrrune will have to again induced to becom!) members, the be undertaken irrunediately if we are to 1861 ........................... 27 Society cannot achieve its Conner vigour. · have a Society not only as good as but one Members of Old Carlow I offered myself for election as which will be better than all others in the Society ........................ 29 Chainnan because some members, among' country. them myself, asked why not have a For that reason I invite anyone who is vibrant Society with nwnerous young interested in helping to improve and ex- · members and a membership from the tend the influence of the Society to con­ whole County. tact me. The first hurdle of becoming Chainnan was not very difficult to achieve, but the revital,ising of the Society cannot be Seamus Murphy, achieved, without the co-operation of the Chairman, present members. October, 1980. Old Carlow Society. Cover: Gateway at St. Lai,erian• Cathedral, Old Lei1hlin. Photo by William Elli• (See article on pafe 4). 3 The District of Leighlin Laserians country ~~~~~~~~-M:argaretHayden~~~~~~~~- Ireland has always been famous for its Paire Ban, presumably from the white tury. However, long before the Christian glorious past and possibly it is this con­ habits of that multitude of clerics there on era Leighlin was important as being the sciousness of greatness which has in­ that occasion. St. Laserian died in 639 residence of the kings of Leinster. The fluenced us over the centuries. Leighlin, and over succeeding centuries the Abbots reputed site is at a place close to the vil­ from where I come, is one of these places. contined to be "a flame of Gold over noble lage on the west side of the river and is The whole parish has a rich historical Ireland". called Dinn Righ. It is now just a raised heritage and in Ireland's golden era there During the Danish invasion the ring of land high over the Barrow with no was a monastic school here. At that time monastery was plundered and many peo­ mark or indication of its historical as­ the present parish of Leighlin consisted of ple slain. In the following century Old sociations. seven parishes and the remains of the Leighlin was again looted. In 1060 the For centuries then, we had these two churches in these places may still be seen. place was also burned and Irish warring townships of Old Leighlin and New Leighlin was a city then extending for a chieftains were sometimes involved as Leighlin or Leighlinbridge. Wars and radius of more than four miles and its well as foreigners. After the coming of the persecution took their toll of the monastic centre was at the site of the present Nonnas Old Leighlin as distinct from settlement at Old Leighlin and in the Cathedral at what is now known as Old New Leighlin or Leighlinbridge on the reign of Henry Vill the Church which was Leighlin. Literally the name "Leighlin" Barrow began to diminish. Leighlinbridge all that remained of the monastery passed means "half glen" and Old Leighlin is a became a strategic position as the Barrow into Protestant hands. The cult of St. small village set in a fold of the hills fonn­ fonned the limits of the Pale. Laserian lives on still, strong and undim­ ing the southern tip of the Slieve Margy The monastery was still at Old med. On his feast which is April 18th ridge. Only on one side has the sightseer a Leighlin and in fact a Corporation ad­ there is a Pattern to the Blessed Well look at far horizons, which are fonned by ministered law here until the mid 19th near the Church and public Devotions are the Blackstairs Mountains, dominated by century. The newer part of the city con­ held. Many people have a wonderful belief the highest peak, Mount Leinster. tinued to flourish. The Nonnas set up and in the miraculous power of the water. St. Laserian, the first Abbot of the endowed a Cannelite Monastery in what Ballinabranna is now the out-parish of ·monastery is the patron saint of the is now Main Street. Nearby a castle Leighlin and is north of it on higher ,parish - of the whole diocese in fact. fortress was built by them for protection ground. The area is also historically rich. Prior to his coming, St. Gobhan was in from Irish attacks. Sir Peter Carew Clogrennane Castle is near here and it charge, but he relinquished his post in founded the monastery and lived at the was also a Nonnan stronghold. The favour of St. Laserian. who was advised Castle. Irish chieftains from the Slieve Butlers were the owners of the Castle.