CARLOVIANA THE JOURNAL OF THE OLD CARLOW SOCIETY. ·--------------·------,---- ---------· Vol. 1. No. 2. January, 'i948. ------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS The Old Carlow Society so Progress (L. D. Bergin) ... 51 The Old Carlow Bridge (Illustration) 52 .. The Old Assembly Rooms (B. O'Neill) ... 53 Water Supplies in Carlow (J. Ellis) 62 Stapiestown (Thomas Walsh) 66 Graigue Ormond Club ... 10 Aerial View of Carlow (lllustration) 72-73 Socic:l Life in Carlow, 1800-1840 (Rev. P. Brophy) 74 Kellistown (Rev. P. Brophy) 81 Carlow Castle and St. Mary's (Illustration) 84 Why A Local Museum? (Helen M. Rowe) 85 Letters From America (T. Kelly) 86 Carlow, 1788 , . ._, 811 Carlow, 1842 91 50 The Old Carlow Society pr; Bl The job of an Editor is to Officers and Committee his book to press in good order. us hope that Father Brophy an PATRON: self have fulfilled this task. I admit that the burden of the The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Most Rev. Dr. Keogh. filment went to him and not b but we feel justifiably proud o V1cE-P'RES1DENTS: second volume of the doings , Old Carlow Society. Very Rev. The Rector, Knockbeg College, An t-Athair P. MacSuibhne, M.A.; Not only are we proud, b1 Venerable Archdeacon Ridgeway, M.A.; Bernard O'Neill, M.Sc. occasions amazed, at the amo11 " copy " which has yet to be pr CHAIRMAN: Very Rev. W. Miller, D.Ph., P.P., V.F. For there is anything but a tl of material. We have decided 1 HON. SECRETARY: L. D. Bergin, Esq. HoN. EDITOR: Rev. P. Bn,pliy. fore to enlarge this number HON. TREASURER: J. F. Dillon, Esq. illustrate it more than tlie pre: one. We felt justified in this, be COMMITTEE: of our vast success with the Journal. It was completely Miss M. Doyle, Miss I.· MacLeod, Messrs. J. Ellis, T. P. Walsh, P. 8. 'TJ,mu.. out. So great was the delllall fact, that a copy can be n begged, borrowed nor stolen 1 days. The Objects of the Society are to foster and promote an interat ia llill LAST YEAR. History of Carlow and District, and, in particular, to preserve a permaaml .... Last year's progress needs of life in Carlow in the past. recounting. We held various mer excursions to Browne's B 'fhe following Rules were adopted:- .. Kellistown and Old ~ they were so successful thatJIII 1.-The Society be called the Old Carlow Society. to have more next sw'' - garding past successes 2.-The purpose of the Society is to ·;-courage and develop an intaat ~"­ must not lose sight of ... History of Carlow and District. is well to restate what • 3.-The Annual Subscription for Membership is 51-., payable on lhe bil; flf the first issue of the lad' April each year. · ;.!'· 1· " that the Society was -,- we might be constrained 4.---<Membership shall be open to al] interested in the Objects of lhe ....... and study the great ours, the social hist, 5.-lntending Members should apply to the Hon. Secretary, who shal. ..._ trict, and everything - names to the Committee for election. On election and payment of SE• .. We should know the they shall be· deemed Members. own people, their Ii · and all the things 6.-The Society shall be governed and controlled by an Executiw: CO:ci•lliill• humanity than the consisting of a President, three Vice-Presidents, Hon. Secretary, Hoa. T • of ancient stones." . Hon. Editor, and five other Members. The Officers and Committee shllll • dlll:led Our members must:;' at Annual General Meeting. If more than five Members are · C • lat die interest in the aims of, remaining places on the Committee, a ballot shall be taken. We have to be always.- ...,.....,..,., to consolidate the WOii: ·.,..­ . 7.-,Meetings of the Members shall be held at least monthly £nm Ol:lalN:r to done. We achieve this~ March for the purpose of hearing Papers and discussions thereon. f through the Journal Wi 11 l:~ also consider the new worb 'II 8.-At the Annual General Meeting, to be held in April, the Hoa. Tiamrer do. ' shall furnish a Balance Sheet. ·• 9.-Members shall be at liberty to introduce V1S1tors at the Meclimss of the Society, with the previous consent of the presiding Chairman. "' 51 Society Progress w I BY LIAM BERGIN ; The job of an Editor is to send MUSEUM. nmittee his book to press in good order. Let I would like if we could press on I us hope that Father Brophy and my­ further in the direction of forming t self have fulfilled this task. I must our own museum, however modest, admit that the burden of the ful­ and I suggest that we might all 1111111: llff. lk. ~eogh. filment went to him and not to me, throw our weight into this project, but we feel justifiably proud of this seeking help at every available l!r.. ,. second volume of the doings of the source and pushing forward· the ~i· Old Carlow Society. project with a united effort. Again ...._ P. MttS lbw II.A.; I Not only are we proud, but on we must set to work to secure a .... O'Nlill. II.Sc. occasions amazed, at the amount of comprehensive pictorial record of "copy" which has yet to be printed. Carlow and district, relating to the ' D.ft. ...... 'V.F. For there is anything but a dearth past and present. This could be of material. We have decided there­ done in the year ahead. I would fore to enlarge this number and further suggest to the Society that illustrate it more than ·me previous a short history of the town and its one. surroundings should be made avail­ We felt justified in this, because able, so that people might get of our vast success with the first generally acquainted with the things Journal. It was completely sold of historical interest in the locality. out. So great was the demand, in Many other works will occur to fact, that a copy can be neither members, and the Committee.appeals begged, borrowed nor stolen nowa­ to all to contribute to the success of days. our aims in the future. We live or die by the interest of every member ,J LAST YEAR. and the vivacity of the Society depends utterly on the earnest Last year's progress needs little endeavours of our members. recounting. We held various sum­ f-~ mer excursions to Browne's Hill, to EDWIN BOAKE. Kellistown and Old Leighlin, and they were so successful that we hope I close on a sad note. We have i to have more next summer. In re­ lost Edwin Boake. I'm sure he en­ garding past successes however, we joys a just reward. He was a great must not lose sight of our aims. It Carlovian. His youthful spirit and is well to restate what I wrote in his vivid interest in the Society were I_ the first issue of the Journal : an inspiration. But the few of us t- " that the Society was formed tltat who knew him more closely feel that L.;J we might be constrained to discover we have lost, by his death. a very and study the great heritage that is sincere friend and an indefatigable ours, the social history of our dis· worker in the cause of the Society. trict, and everything pertaining to it. Another member who passed on We should know the history of our during the year was Mrs. Ridgeway, own people, their lives and labours who was at all our gatherings and and all the things more relevant to had an abiding interest in our work. humanity than the mute testimony With our Committee member, the of ancient stones." Archdeacon. I express our sympathy. Our members must take an active interest in the aims of the Society. In sending this issue of the We have to be always on the move Journal " to bed " I thank all who to consolidate the work we have have helped us, and confidently look done. We achieve this consolidation forward to the future when we can through the Journal. We should be busy about many things. Let us also consider the new works we can work during this year towards a do. greater Old Carlow Society. •,,,/,, .. ' ,-;,: ..-IL .,..... ~ ,.,,..~"'·' ....,,~"·· ·, 52 CARLO VIANA The Old, ., M.Sc. I Mr. Bernard O'Neill, the fo11owing pa9er on 4th Fe t 1947. 1 1 I 111 . j I ... ~ ~l'', . \\i\lJ h1i1l' tiil!U~\,!'l'\l~;J -~-~-;¥~. • -:c:-t;"-:.-·,,. -- ;,.,, lffi~l\\ill I NEW ASSEMBLiY ROOMS. if tT1 ;:;< 0 tn· r ::r' tJ z ;:::-.I>) (j> 0 id P. r cno 0 ~ (') i;;· t,:I ,:- id >'""'0 tJ ... 0 ,g-· tTlI !:; 'Tl I>) ...0 -·o a I>) 0 ('l) Q.. 0 _... 0 °"I>) Q.. :::. ::: 0 ~°"... ?:'"'~r 0~· ~ I>) ' ~ o:1<1o .. -. "'. ,·· + "('•'V",.,.;'"-"'~.. , ~ ., ~ i ,:;£~~ _~.. ~ « 2' ,--~-~ ,. "'1' : \;:.1-::.·:""'1 flf ..• ~ 1 1 . e ~ ~ • ~--.~-:~·. ,jJ , ~ t~r ~:/~· ~~~ ·~~ i,., ':.:- ~.' ,, " I f I ;- annum lI I ~ ,-1',,> \'l>-, ~ ~,~··:c:,s. --4: .•. k.;........ 53 ~ The Old Assembly Rooms By B. O'NEILL, M.Sc. Mr. Bernard O'Neill, M.Sc., read formerly called South Cot Lane lying the following pa!)er on 4th February, and being in the county of Carlow at 1947. £16 sterling yearly." This figure, by the way, lured me from this script into NEW ASSEMBLY ROOMS. a little calculation resulting in the in­ T~s paper on the Old Assembly teresting fact that land-not buildings Rooms should rightly begin in the far­ as well-in the centre of Carlow town off days of the end of the 18th cen­ in 1794 had a rental value of almost l tury when it was a very new Assembly £200 per acre per year and a £1 was Rooms, with full information as to worth something in those pre-inflation the Architect, the builder, the people days.