Abbeyside Heritage Archive, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, Ireland

For the Time thats in it.St.Bridget

2012-02-02T10:13:00.002Z

A few notes on BRIDGET'S DAY: FEB 1
February 1, Imbolc and August 1, Lughnasadh are often referred to as "Celtic fire festivals." Both names are Irish, and are the names by which the festivals were known in the early medieval period & that such fire festivals were celebrated across
the Celtic world. The other two are Samhain and Beltaine, and they all fall midway between a Solstice and an Equinox -- hence their other name, the "cross-quarter days."
Imbolc -- also called Imbolg, and correctly pronounced "i-molk" -- marks the transition between the days of winter and the Spring Equinox. The name is thought to derive from the Old Irish for "in the belly," although a medieval glossary said it
means "ewe's milk." Either way, its association with the new life of spring is clear. Although winter is still with us & it's still cold there are signs of spring beginning to show up here and there: snowdrops, catkins on the hazel, buds on some trees, lambs being born.

Not surprisingly the saints most strongly associated with early February are Bridget and Agatha, Bridget -- often now called by the Irish form of her name, Brigid. She is associated with the 1st of February & Agatha with the 5th of February. Brigid
is associated with Imbolc, though in her older incarnation she was known as the goddess of fire energy, poetry, springtime & midwifery. The Irish Brigid was, of course, transformed into St. Bridget, a sixth-century saint.
She is also revered among modern Pagans, especially Wiccans and Druids. Some Christians still contend that the saint just happened to share the same name as Pagan Ireland's favorite Goddess & that she happened to found her monastery on the site of
Bridget’s cult center in Kildare & happened to be associated with fire, etc.
Similarly, the widespread nature of St. Bridget’s cult in England and Wales is often ascribed to its spread from Ireland, although the form “Bridget” is considered Irish. Her worship in the British Isles extends back to the time of Brigantia when what is now southern England & was then known as the land of Brigantia which was invaded by the Romans under Caesar. So Bridget and the famous Brythonic Goddess Brigantia & are most likely the very same deity. Brihati in India is a distant relation, at least etymologically.

The form Bridget developed from Brigitta, a Latinized form of the Medieval Irish Brigit and Brigid. It derives ultimately from the Common Celtic *brig-/brigant- “high,” or *briga- “might” and “power” combined with the Irish fem. suffix -ait. This
has become Brighid in Modern Irish Gaelic. The variants Bríd and Bríde are also used.
In England and Wales, Bride and Bryde were also commonly used in the Middle Ages, surviving in place names such as Bridewell. Bridie is an anglicized form of Bríde. Although the word "bride" is said to derive from a German word it was most likely
assimilated to the Celtic "Bride". Bridget is found as a given name in England from the fourteenth century. In Ireland it was not widely adopted until the seventeenth since it was considered too sacred for everyday use in previous centuries .
In the nineteenth century, the pet-form Biddy was so common in Ireland that it became a nickname for an Irishwoman (in the same way Paddy was used for an Irishman). It has lost this meaning now, but “old biddy” is still used in Britain as a mild slang term for an old woman.

Sweden St Bridget

Many wonderful traditions surround Imbolc and St Bridget's Day. One of it's other names, Candlemas, comes from the tradition of making and blessing candles on St Bridget's Day, the connection between candles and Brigid's fires is obvious.
In Ireland, the tradition of making a Brigid's Bed has survived until modern times in the highlands & islands. The customs surrounding Brigid were reported by Alexander Carmichael in the late 19th century in his book "Carmina Gaedilica" . Women and girls make a corn dolly, and a bed for her to lie on beside the fire. They then keep a vigil on the the eve of St Bridget's, and the men visit to pay Bridget their respect. In the morning, the dolly is sometimes taken round the village from door-to-door.
Due to the belief that Brigid goes abroad on Imbolc Eve, clothes are sometimes placed outdoors for her to bless as she passes. Candles are often placed in all the windows to welcome her. In Donegal & other west Ireland counties a well known custom
is the making of Brigid's Cross, with it's four spokes, a blending of the traditional cross with the ancient Celtic sun-wheel. Woven from straw or rushes, they are placed in the chimney as a protection against fire. Although the general tradition was that they were renewed each year, with the old burnt on Imbolc fire, old ones are not uncommonly found forgotten up the chimneys of old Irish houses.
May you all have a blessed Imbolc!

2012-01-23T20:21:00.000Z

John Joseph Hogan

This page is dedicated to Tabitha Hall, who was so helpful to me when researching Michael (Shamus O'Brien) hogan from Ballinacourty.

Note, I have added some new photos which were passed on to me by Kieran Hogan, Ballinacourty who was present at the launch of the michael Joseph Hogan AKA Shamus Ó' Brien memorial.

Remember to click on the images for a larger image
The poster that you see on the right is is a bit confusing in that, Shamus O'Brien is on the left, tough his name is on the right. you can click on the image to enlarge.Thanks to William Torphy for this

Hogan was hailed as "Yonkers favourite" and fought under the alias Shamus O’ Brien. He was in fact Michael Joseph Hogan, who was born in 1891 at Ballinacourty, Dungarvan, Co Waterford. He was one of five children born to Michael Hogan and Ellen Meade. The Hogan family lived in a picturesque thatched cottage, which stood close to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It was here that that Michael Joseph Hogan spent the first fifteen years of his life. Today the area is known as "The gold coast" In Hogan’s day it was known as Wyse’s point or simply "The point". Michael was just 15 years old when he emigrated from his homeland in 1906. It was to be the first step along a road that would make him a household name in boxing circles, not only in the City of his adoption, but in the many States where he fought throughout his boxing career. Hogan’s life story could well be scripted for a film; indeed, his career bears quite a remarkable resemblance to some of the more popular boxing films of recent years. You can read this full article at www.watwrfordcountymuseum.org Now, fifty- two years after his death another Hogan, carrying the middle name Joseph is about to prepare for the most sought after Golden Gloves.
John Joseph Hogan is 22 years old and his family are the last of the branch of the Ballinacourty Hogan’s to remain in Yonkers. The picture that you see is on the left is that of a promising up coming amateur welterweight boxer named John Joseph Hogan, John is just 22 years old. The picture was taken after his recent Victory. John will be fighting for the Golden Gloves in January; he comes from a line of four generations of, John Josephs Hogan’s, a line that leads back to Ballinacourty and his great great grandfather; "Yonkers favourite" fighter, Michael Joseph Hogan who fought under the alias Shamus O’ Brien. He emigrated from Ballinacourty in 1891. I wrote about him some time back. John feels that he has inherited the fighting spirit of Shamus. He tells me that his style is that of an aggressive pressure fighter. He has a six month old daughter Valerie Isabella. They are the last of the Ballinacourty Hogan’s living in Yonkers. John carries the Hogan name with great pride and tattooed on his other shoulder is the legend ‘Hogan IV’. All here will be keeping an eye out for him and we wish him the very best from the home of his ancestor and hope that he continues safely and victorious. so, the best of Irish to you John, from all here at Abbeyside and Ballinacourty

Pictured is the boxers sister; Kristina Marie Hogan also lives in Yonkers, and below is John pictured with two younger fighters, Brian O' Shea Jr. (Another great Irish name) and on the right is Victor Vazquez

This is a wonderful picture of John with his Dad, John, at the back left, is a man that trained the great Rocky Marciano.

Here are some wonderful photos of the older generation of Hogans.The elegantly dresses John Hogan, the eldest son of 'Shamus' the lady is Blanche, John's wife and the child is either John (Jackie), Edward or Patricia.

Another great picture Adelaide with two of her sons Edward, left, and Michael (Mitch) right.
The lady Adelaide , wife of Michael Joseph Hogan (Shamus O' Brien) and in her tender care is Denis , father of Amy Hogan and Edwards youngest son. Edward is seen standing on the porch with his wife Marion/ Marian. the woman in the background is unidentified.

Cutting from newspaper recording the passing of Adelaide Hogan

L to R; Marty Torpey of Florida (son of Bill torpey's late brother, Bob, and great grandson of Shamus), Natashah Revels Quinlan (daughter of Beth Torpey Revels), the man in the blue shirt ..?, and far right in the photo is Michael Hogan, son of "Mitch" Hogan and a grandson of Shamus.

On the left in the blue shirt is friend od Bill's Al Adler, who is Senior Vice Commander of Post 3350 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in East Rockway, N.Y., where I serve as adjutant. On the right in the black shirt is Bill's grandson, Brandon Revels, son of my daughter, Beth Torpey Revels.

Pictured ;Brandon Revels (wearing black shirt), next to him is John Hogan , Michelle Hogan (daughter of Mitch Hogan and a granddaughter of Shamus), Michael Hogan (son of Mitch Hogan), Catherine Torpey, William F. Torpey, Beth Torpey Revels, Natashah Revels Quinlan, Kieran Hogan and Martin Hogan.

Michael Hogan (son of Mitch Hogan and grandson of Shamus), Kieran Hogan who travelled from Ballinacourty. man on the right unidentified.

Interview with Paddy Terry (Part 2)

2012-01-03T16:39:00.001Z

An Interview with Paddy Terry (Part two)

Abbeyside 1933 scouts

Our Archive Chairman, Seamus Ó Brien was keen to know if Paddy spoke about his scouting days. Well, the answer is yes. But unfortunately I can't include it all here. Paddy recalled joining the scouts along with his brother Michael, shortly after their establishment in 1930. "It was quite a formal ceremony". He recalls, "The uniform cost 27 shillings and six pence. (27/6, or £1-7-6) plus, I suppose, the wooden stave. At that time there were four patrols, including the Eagle Patrol, of which I subsequently became leader". Paddy's first hike was to the wonderful picturesque Ballyvoile cove. Here, in later years Paddy and Brother Mick camped beside the river close to the Daly house. "Hannah Daly, one of Mrs Daly's three daughters went to England, became a nurse, married a Doctor and was mother of Kate Bush.

Tommy Daly an award winning plough-man

My recollections of that time are mostly of late night set dancing in the kitchen sustained by frequent cups of strong tea, hard cycling against the breeze on weekday mornings". Paddy was troop scribe for a while, succeeding Gusty Shea, and progressed to the rank of second Class scout, which Paddy terms "(an unfortunate choice of title!) this involved passing a number of tests. One was cooking a quarter pound of steak and two potatoes in the open. Others involved obtaining a number of merit badges. I know I got one for liturgy, for which the examiner was the Parish Priest, Father Crotty. Another test was to do a lone hike and, if not map it, then at least to write an account of it. I chose to walk to the Pike and climb a hill nearby.

Bridgie Terry's

I called to Bridgie Terry's pub on the way out. Bridgie Terry was a formidable woman who married a man named Tobin. It was his name that appeared on the shop front but nobody referred to it as anything other than 'Bridgie's' As soon as I entered the Pub (for a lemonade) Bridgie came to me and said 'you're a Terry!' She lived to be a great age". Paddy's recollection of his first camping experience was to Colligan. "A farmer named Cahill had let us have the use of a large barn for sleeping in as well for sheltering from the rain.

I have two recollections of that camp. First, my mother baked a rich fruit cake and sent it to Mick and myself. We construed this very literally and ate it ourselves. My mother was mortified! Second, one day assistant Scoutmaster Liam Lanigan was demonstrating to us the ill effects of smoking, (he himself was a heavy smoker) he inhaled deeply and blew through a white handkerchief, turning it yellow. We were impressed, but not enough to prevent us at a later stage from wanting to emulate Humphrey Bogart, Carey Grant, et al, and getting addicted!" Paddy's father, Augustine Terry began his working career in the shoe repair business in a shop on Charlemont Street, in Dublin.

Old Abbeyside

He eventually went to Boston and opened his own shop there. This was a shoe repair shop with an amazing difference. He had a great love of birds and indulged his passion to the limit. His shop was full of birds, and so the shoe maker from Abbeyside soon had the attention of the media, and in 1901 a full page article in the Boston Daily Globe was given over to the Birdman from Abbeyside.

The banner carried the legend 'Birds in a Cobbler Shop'. Some extracts I give here, 'It is quite another matter and a genuine surprise to the person who enters Terry's place at 468 Blue Hill Ave, for the moment the store door is opened there is a full-throated chorus of bird music heard, and the air seems filled with the quick flight of the songsters. Upon all sides of the room and ranging high above the floor, yet not too close to the ceiling, here long lines of cedar bushes in which these birds nest and care for their young, or from which they flit back and forth to their feeding boxes.'
The article goes on to say that Augustine raises 200 to 300 young singers each year. 'In the store, or front portion of his shop he keeps English larks-three of these have just come from Liverpool. In the rear of the shop, the canaries, goldfinches and linnets fly about from floor to ceiling, frequently alighting on their masters head and pull a hair or two there from to aid in the construction of their little bowel-shaped home among the twigs, or they will pick about in the boxes on the cobblers bench while he is pegging nosily away.'
When Augustine returned to Abbeyside, he married and bought the lessors' interest in his mother's grocery shop, and Flynn's next door at Sexton Street. Paddy records that he had six or seven cages fitted to the walls around the shop! Augustine was born to James Terry and Mary Walsh at Strandside North Abbeyside in 1870. He had three brothers, Willie, John, and Patrick; he had two sisters, Alice and Ellen. Paddy's mother, Margaret Rose, O' Grady was
born in 1876, and lived - as a child - at Mary Street Dungarvan.

Paddy recalls his mother speaking to him about her father. "His body was recovered from the sea at Bonmahon, She said that when the boat he was skippering went down, a candle was lit on one of the rocks there; his body was later washed on to that rock. She was twelve years old, and watched from a window at Mary Street as his body passed. Another story she told me about her father was that he was asked to take one of the Fenians who was on the run, which he did. He was told that his action would not be forgotten (for him) if he ever needed their help. Her grandfather had a ship chandlers shop on the main street, later operated by the Cunniffe sisters. She also told a story about her brother Joseph, who was also a seaman and who died when his ship was torpedoed in the Irish Sea in 1918."

Abbeyside Causway

It would certainly be interesting to know who this Fenian was. Paddy also revealed that while his mother was in the USA, "she had encounters with the two Wright brothers, and John McCormack was a frequent visitor" Speaking about Abbeyside and Dungarvan back then, Paddy recalls; "In primary school Mr McCarthy told us that the old Abbeyside putdown for Dungarvan was 'Dún Garbhán na seana-bhád seolta (Dungarvan of the old sailing boats) which would be capped by the retort Dún na Mainistreach na scailpíní dreoite (Abbeyside of the rotten mackerel). These would be in addition to the (presumably later) English taunts: 'Dungarvan ate a man starving!' and the response 'Abbeyside, ate a man alive!" With these wonderful taunts we leave Paddy's story for now, more later

(c) Paddy Terry, Eddie Cantwell. December 2011

The Tom Tobin Collection by, Christine Knight

2011-12-17T09:28:00.001Z

The Tom Tobin Collection

Mid-1950s, T.J Murphy place, Late Joeen Organ playing music for a group of young neighbours.

Abbeyside Heritage Archive's houses a collection of photographs taken by well-known Photographer/Journalist the late Tom Tobin Born in Dungarvan in 1926.

A Journalist with a number of local and national newspapers he photographed many scenes and faces around the County. Tom lived in Murphy place from 1949 to 1961, when he moved to Limerick to continue his successful Journalistic carer. The photos capture a moment in the lives of some well-known 'Auld stock' of the Village during a time of change and new beginnings. On the 14^th December 1949 T.J Murphy place opened to 78 new tenants including Tom Tobin and his family. The houses came with all modern conveniences including running water and an indoor toilet a basic in today's new estates but not in the late 40's.

The Late Danny and Rita O'Connor.

The Late Captain Dave Foley at shell cottage
Tom Tobin, early 1950's. Tom Tobin, mid 1950s,

Old Slate Lane a row of slate roofed houses and home to many previous generations was demolished to make way for the new Murphy Place. . Some of the first residents included the Cashman's No 1, Daly's No 12, Young's No 47, O'Connor's No 63 and Organs No 66. Many of the same families will be spending this Christmas 62 years later at home in Murphy place. It was the largest development of its day in Dungarvan and has since been a corner stone in village life. In 1957, Abbeyside School relocated from the Pond and opened its doors to a whole new generation of villagers.

Many of Tom Tobin's articles refer to his memories of Abbeyside while living in Murphy place. An article in the Irish Weekly Examiner 'Rambling though Munster with Tom Tobin talks about a meeting with his and friend of many, Tom Brett "The large bottle remains a favourite in Abbeyside and Tom Brett would be prepared to debate with anyone who might care to challenge this fact of life" Tom Tobin.

Tom Brett and John Hayes relaxing with their large bottles in the Brett Family home. (Tom Tobin, 1950s)

The camera has without doubt captured a moment frozen in time, Tom is resting an arm on the wheel used to stoke the fire and no words are needed to explain the expression captured. The expressions and characters caught in these pictures are timeless but just as fascinating are the small details in the background, the old wheel, the old Guinness bottle, the glasses used to drink with and items of clothing.

It is not always the big events of the past we recall but the small insignificant moments that stay fresh and are recalled by a picture. This is what Tom Tobin captured in each of his photos. We are lucky to have such a collection that has recorded a decade of nostalgia and change in the history of Abbeyside and the beginning of Murphy place.

Murphy place is now the oldest development in Abbeyside, new estates have sprung up all around the village but the memories and moments captured in this collection are a timeless reminder of an important decade in the past.

" The pathways though life takes many a strange turns but the dreams of youth rarely fade" Tom Tobin, 1984.

Left to Right, Michael Power, Dermot Wade, John Tobin, Dermot O'Brien, Ester Tobin and Paddy Tobin. (Tom Tobin Mid 1950's)

An article can only look at a small selection of Tom Tobin's photographs and the unforgettable character's of the past. The original collections of photographs are on display in the Abbeyside Heritage Archives, which re-opens in the New Year the 1^st Sunday of March 2012 at 2.30pm.

An Interview with Paddy Terry ( part 1)

2011-11-19T16:52:00.001Z

An Interview with PaddyTerry (Part 1)

Overthe past years I have carried out some extensive research on the Terry family.Much of this is genealogy related and I have amassed quite a few family trees.I am convinced that the Terry’s have origin in Garranbane and migrated toAbbeyside, Ballinacourty, Ring, Ardmore and indeed the rest of the world. I have also been in touch with a number ofTerry’s in various parts of the globe. One of those is Jim Terry who I becamegreat friends with over the years. I have written in this publication about Jim- whose ancestor came from Strandside North - on a few occasions. Jim sadlypassed away last month. I also had the pleasure of a number of meetings withMossie Terry, his wife Chrissy, and his brother Jimmy of Ballinacourty.Again,both of those Ballinacourty characters are no longer with us. Armed to theteeth with several Terry family trees and my digital recorder, I went to keepmy appointment with Patrick (Paddy) Terry at Sexton Street,

Home place of Terry's of Ballinacourty

Abbeyside. Paddy,who was visiting from Dublin, kindly agreed to meet up, and chat with me abouthis early life growing up in the Village. I had been informed before hand thatPaddy was cruising toward his 92^nd birthday. I must admit that I wastaken aback somewhat when faced with a man that looked no more than 70! PaddyTerry is a mild mannered man who weighs his words carefully before speaking.After the proper introductions by Fintan, Paddy was quite happy to speak withme. And the years quickly rolled back to a different time and a different era.Paddy’s story is an intriguing and clinicalrecollectionof his years growing up in Abbeyside and his subsequent move away from home in1937 aged 17. I was also delighted to receive a hard copy of his recollectionswhen he had returned to Dublin.

Paddy was born to Augustine andMary Rose O’ Grady in 1920. WW1 had ended with two years. The Irish Volunteers were renamed the ‘Irish RepublicanArmy’.A number of Sinn Fein MPs wereelected to the British parliament in December 1918. However they refuse to taketheir seats, instead they form their own parliament in Dublin called the DáilÉireann, and Eamon De Valera is elected president of the Dáil. And so began The War of Independence. Thisthen was the political backdrop to the new-born Patrick Terry. Paddy told methat when Fahy’s Hotel was burned by the Black and Tans, there was danger ofthe flames spreading up the street and his mother took him across the road toMrs Ryan’s for safety. Paddy was the youngest of a family of four. Hisbrother Jim born in 1913, sister Pearlie in 1915 and Michael (Mick), in1917. Paddy comes from a long line of interesting Dungarvan people. Among themHis great grandfather, Master Mariner, Michael O’Grady who married MargaretCarberry as well as Captain Thomas O’Grady who was one of the crew involved inthe Moresby rescue. We will write more about all of this later. It’s now timefor Paddy to go to school. And here he takes up the story. “Along Sexton Street, past our next doorneighbour’s house, occupied by the Flynn’s - Willie, a retired seaman, his wifeand children, Liam, Alice and John. Then Mrs Broderick’s, Paddy and Alice O’Connor’s pub,

O'Connors Pub at Sexton street.Terry's just a few doors up.

Statia Greany’s little shop. Mr and Mrs Allan’s house, Fahy’sHotel, Sarah Cullnane’s place, Lar Condon’s pub, and at the corner, MonnyGriffin’s pub. On to Strandside south, there was Higgins’s (with a port hole inthe wall giving on to the harbour), The Custom House and Mrs Martin’s – she wasa great friend of the family.

Terry's is on the right just below the blue painted shop

Then over the railway crossing, were the O’Keefe’sand the school teachers, Mr and Mrs McCarthy, each family in a semi-detachedpart of a large building. Further on, the Shines and Lanigans, the ParishPriest (then Fr. Crotty) and the Nagles, among others.

Strandside South and the wall that Paddy loved walking on

Thenat the corner of the pond there was a shop (Maggie Donnelly’s) and then, MrsBurke’s house just before the building that housed Abbeyside School.” Paddymakes reference to the retaining wall that runs the length of Strandside South.He loved running along the top of the wall and the risk that it involved of astumble and fall on to the rocks below. He was the last of his four siblings tostart school and has a clearrecollection of that period, it was 1923, and he was probably aged three and ahalf years old; “I think my earliest recollection from that time was of runninghome, all the time sobbing hysterically, and of being comforted and reassuredon my mothers lap.

Reassured that there really was a ‘Santy’ Claus. A fellow-pupil had denied this. The western half ofthe school was staffed by Mrs McCarthy (Principal) and by Mrs Christopher, wholooked after the children.” Paddy also recalls that there was a garden at theback of the school which was cultivated by the older boys and which ensured anadequate supply of fresh vegetables for the school principals! Paddy says, “Abad moment in the school garden occurred when I tried and tried to make drillsfor the potatoes. I kept at it but all the time I was making matters worse.Near me there were lads from the country who were proceeding to make perfectdrills and making it look simple! Eventually my friend Gusty Shea took over anddid the job. But I was left with acomplex about potatoes drills and the making thereof – and indeed aboutgardening generally - that lasted for most of my life. One of the chores of thepupils was to make ink to be filled into inkpots in each desk. It was done verysimply by mixing black ink power with water in a demijohn. Our pens had woodenhandles and an N-pen nib.” Paddy goes on to explain about the school systemafter leaving ‘girls school’ Infants;“The system then prevailing was that we were all to start in the boy’s schoolin first class. However, Mrs McCarthy had prevailed on her husband to enrol mein third or fourth class. The books we were to study were of a high standard.One was ‘Gems of Literature’ of which I can remember in particular Mark Anthony’saddress to the mob after the assassination of Julius Caesar. At the break in ‘girl’s school’ we went out to the ‘pond’ - so called because it wasinclined to flood during spring tides –and play the usual games- ‘I’m the king of the castle, get down you dirtyrascal’ and so on. There was another song we used to sing; it went ‘We’ve cometo see Jenny Joe, Jenny Joe, Jenny Joe. We’ve come to see Jenny Joe, where isshe now? Jenny Joe is washing clothes, washing clothes, washing clothes...etc.’ I felt sorry when the school was demolished.” Speaking about playing,Paddy takes up the story; “Along the New Line (so called after the constructionof the railway line parallel to it) there was a culvert containing hollows andshrubs, ideal for playing hide and seek, cowboys and Indians , war games orwhatever. Access to it from the New line was over a railway bridge (sincedemolished), and then over a stile.

Dungarvan Railway station

We loved the sense of risk attached to therailway line, the rattle of the train and the heavy puffing of the locomotiveas it built up speed on the way out from Dungarvan station. We used to puthalfpennies on the rail and let the passing train flatten them completely. Onthe evening of my first confession I was in the culvert gathering and eatingpiseáin – a sort of wild pea. I had forgotten about Confession.

Abbeyside Church

Word came tohome that I hadn’t turned up and eventually my sister Pearlie located me. Shebrought me on the pillion of her bike to Abbeyside Church and placed me amongthe adults. When I got to the Confession box the priest was surprised.’ (Paddy was also late for his first communionand was again transported to the church on Pearlie’s bike!) “Another favouriteplace for games was behind Pax Whelan’s house, which was at the end of theterrace, just four houses from us. At the time there was still a green space onthe opposite side of Sexton Street between the cottages and the crossroadswhere Crotty’s pub is located. There we played hurling and sometimes rounders.

Early view of Abbeyside Church from Dungarva Quay

For Christmas one year I got a small cricket set. I would have been seven oreight. We had it set up and were playing it when Pax Whelan came over and toldus we shouldn’t be playing a British game, and that was the end of it!” At about this time too, Paddy became an altarboy. “It was the accepted thing then, and I entered the world of surplice andsoutane. The soutane was a black gown – rather like a dressing gown, and thesurplice – a sort of white blouse with a lace fringe – went over it.” We willcontinue with Paddy’s adventures in the next issue of the parish news.

(c)Paddy Terry, Eddie Cantwell, Nov 2011

Abbeyside Seaman Seán Cullinane

2011-10-22T13:34:00.000Z

Down to the sea in ships

Continuing with my research into Abbeyside – men who ‘followed the sail’

Seán Cullinane began life at St. Augustine Terrace in the Village of Abbeyside. He is the son of the late Patrick ‘Sonny’ and Maryanne Cullinane. Sonny a well known Republican, his wife was better known in the Village as Mamma Cullinane! Seán was born in 1930; his first breath of fresh air took the salty tang of the sea to his lungs. And like a number of Villagers, the sea was in his blood! Sitting with Seán at his home and airily chatting about his life at sea, his stories were certainly infectious ‘I always wanted to go to sea, it was all I thought about’ he told me as we sat amid books of ships, photos of ships on the walls, and three ship wheels decorating his rooms .

There could be no doubt of his love for the sea. And so, the man who oared as a youngster with men like Willie Carey and Jack Connors - who piloted the cargo vessels to the quayside - had his wish at age 17, and spent 50 years of his life at sea. ‘I had visions of seeing the world’ he told me, ‘It was all I thought about night and day!’ In his fifty year career as Able Seaman, and later Bosun, his wish did come true. In the last issue of Parish news, Chrissy Knight dealt with the women that went to work in the UK. There is parallel with the many Irishmen who followed a trail to ‘the streets paved with Gold!’ Seán was one of those. Leaving the village that his brother Jim would later write about, Seán took the cattle boat along with Gusty McGovern, Dixie young, Joe Duggan, Johnsie Young, Johnny McGregor, and Patsheen Whelan. Seán laughs when he recalls that they all stayed in the one digs!

Seán's hobby is wood turning

At the end of Kilburn High road, in Maidavale. This, of course was not what the potential seafarer had planned and as the days passed he became more disgruntled and unhappy. And one day, in pure desperation asked Gusty McGovern if he would accompany him to Aldgate where it was his intention to ‘Sign On’ Alas when questioned as to his sea going experience, all he could produce was a written recommendation from the village Pilot, Jack Connors. And so, it was back to Maidavale.It was eight months before a positive outcome was reached. A letter from his uncle Jimmy Flynn in Scotland advised him. If you want to go to sea, you had better come up here to me. And so it was, as his companion’s from Abbeyside were heading home for Christmas, the pull of the sea could not be resisted and young Seán Cullinane was on his way to Scotland. The Abbeyside Flynn’s had a long relationship with the sea. There are records of Dungarvan / Abbeyside Flynn’s that were born in the 1840s going to sea. The next morning Jimmy took Seán to Grangemouth and on Christmas he had his book and papers and at last happiness was his. Or was it? Off he went to his first vessel in Bo’Ness in Firth of forth. Here his first taste of the hold was certainly a memorable one! The last cargo discharged had been cement and hundreds broken bags had to be gathered up and placed in a bucket by the Villager, no masks back then, covered from head to toe in cement dust!...lungs full of the stuff and the sweeping up of the hold had still to be done. Not exactly what he had in mind for his introduction to great adventures at sea...Seán recalls, ‘I nearly died, and was sick after it! Catching broken bags and tipping them into the bucket, there was just three of us there, the two above would take the bucket up and dump the contents into the Sea’ But the would-be sailor had set his sights on going to sea and there was no turning back, regardless. And so it was while thoughts of ‘all the lads gone back home for Christmas and me here covered in cement on Christmas Eve, with just a red ten-shilling note to my credit, my choices were limited’ . Things changed once the Anchor was pulled and the voyage commenced, and so began 50 happy years at sea for Seán Cullinane. Seán explained to me that the sea was like a highway with several laneways, vessels continually travelling between the UK, Ireland & Europe. ‘My first laneway took me to Hamburg just after the war, and that was some experience’.

After a time the Abbeyside man was quick to learn the rudiments of sea life and indeed how to make a little profit on the voyages. Coffee, which was very scarce in Germany, was purchased in the England and there was an available cliental in Germany. Seán recalls. ‘Back then in Abbeyside, all we had was a kind of dark bread, it was nearly black!

He remembers going aboard the ‘Lady Belle’ at the black rock and meeting with Martin Power. Martin was son of Patrick and Catherine from Home Rule Street. Many will remember his brother who carried the wonderful nick-name ‘Boots’ and of course the other famous brother, Christy, who adopted a title of ‘King Jippo’ Martin was an old ‘seadog’ born in 1899, and at that time was close to his 50s.Sizing up the young fella he asked, ‘Are you Mary Anne’s Son? Seán responded in the positive. ‘Well then, don’t go ashore now until I give you some white bread’. Martin gave him two white loaves which were like gold dust in Abbeyside. Seán also recalls sailing with Eddie Elsted another neighbour. The two went up to Harwich to join the train ferries. They were given a job chipping with hammer and chisel on the rail lines on the ship. ‘The weather was freezing and the wind would cut you in two.’ Seán told me. ‘Eddie and I got some canvas and hung it from an overhead bridge in an effort to keep the icy winds out, but it was just no good. I said to Eddie, the best thing that we can do now is to get a ship out of here to Australia or somewhere. Eddie was in full agreement and so we went up to London and signed on the ‘Moon Crest’ with the London /Yugoslav /Ivanovich Company. Seán takes up the Story; “It was a case of ‘Out of the Frying pan and into the fire’. We joined and sailed from Rotherham on the 16^th of February 1954, on a Holand/Afrika Charter to the Persian Gulf. On arrival in Dubai we were told that this is a new Port where oil is just discovered. All we could see were sand dunes! We became a depot ship for Holland Africa line. We stayed there until September, no air conditioning these days! Persian Gulf July, August & September...Phew!” Speaking of Eddie Elsted, Seán continues; “The light of heaven on Eddie Elsted, a good seaman, a good shipmate. Eddie went courting Kitty Power and I went to Hamburg to join ‘East Hill’ I left Dungarvan Tuesday night and was at Altona Station Hamburg Thursday Afternoon. Ten shillings travel expenses from shipping federation.

Pictured left is the ‘East Hill’ on one of Sean’s voyages. She is pictured under the Lions Gate Bridge on her way into Vancouver harbour

The ship was in na terrible state, juts back after two years on the China coast carrying Concentrate, black fertilizer clay. It was stuck everywhere. A full crew form Grimsby, except for one Irishman from Dock St, Pool, me! It was decided that we were not going to sail! A delegation of one was appointed (yours truly) to approach the Captain. I will never forget that Captain, 29 years old...Masters ticket in Steam and sail. He apologised for the state the ship was in. Said, the bed linen and mattresses would be replaced next morning. In the meantime go aft and make up a sub – list and, agent would bring money at 6.30. I reported aft and started to make a sub-list. First on the list, I asked for seventy pound. I pointed out that we were only on Eight pound a month. The reply was, He wasn’t sailing anywhere! Everyone asked for between seventy and ninety pounds! I took it back to the Captain, he never blinked an eyelid. An hour later an Annoy announcement came for crew to collect their money, sub list as requested, everyone ashore... Reeperbahn lookout! All crew back about four in the morning and turned in. At seven AM, the call went out ‘Stand By fore and aft!’ shift ship to another birth. Shift to another birth my eye! We sailed for Gyonia (Ladansk) in Poland and loaded 10.000 of beet Sugar for Communist China. Poland was also Communist at that time. 59 days steaming to Whampoa in China. In that time we had cleaned the ship and renewed all the rigging. I got to love that ship and the crew from Grimsby and Dover Court. Poor captain George Fullilove was taken ashore in a stretcher in Shanghai, a lovely man.

I did a year on that ship. Seán’s travels took him all over the world and in 1956 he married rose Gittins in Abbeyside. The couple had three sons, Brian and John born in London and Kieran born in Fishguard Wales, where Seán did twelve years on the cross-Channel Ferries. Rose died in 2003 while on a visit to their son John and family in England. They were 46 years married. Seán continually told Rose,” We will make the 50”, but sadly, it was not to be. There is of course a lot more to Sean’s life but, space again is my enemy. This is just a short profile of another Villager who ‘Went down to the sea in ships!’

Eddie Cantwell, 2011

Women and Emigration

2011-09-11T17:33:00.016Z

During the 1900’s the number of young, single women leaving Ireland uniquely out numbered

Men.

Many of the women in my family’s history were part of this young single female emigration from Ireland to America and England. A notebook handed down through the family by Great- great-great-Grandfather Thomas Whelan records the dates of birth and significant events in his children’s lives.

Left, Ellen & Thomas Whelan Kilgobinet
It lists the dates of immigration of two of his daughters to America. Abbey Whelan in 1898 and Mary Whelan in 1902.

Back in the 1890’s, emigrants left knowing they would not return or see their families again. Unlike today, if we miss home or can’t find work, we book a return flight home. This was not possible for these young women and the leaving was final. It would mean saying goodbye to everyone they loved and everything they knew. Yet they still left without the support of a family, unlike other groups of migrants at the time. I remember My Grandmother Ann Allridge telling me

the story told to her by her Grandmother Bridget Whelan the evening before her sister’s journey to America.

Looking out at the view over Dungarvan from their home alongside Kilgobinet church. Abbey told her sister ‘she would never again see the breathtaking views over Dungarvan leading to the bay and across to Ring’. This scene is still as beautiful today and it is hard to imagine how she felt taking her last glimpse of this beloved view before embarking on the long and lonely journey to America.

Ann Alldrige

These young women were very courageous to leave behind all they know and loved to seek a new life. Bringing only memories that would have to last a lifetime. The occasional

letter would be their only contact with their parents.

A generation later Bridget Whelan’s Daughter, Helen also immigrated to America, while in her early twenties. Bridget’s four remaining daughters in circa 1925 left together from Slate Lane, Abbeyside for Harley Street London. Working as domestic servants with a Doctors family called the Hedley’s. One of these women was Chrissie Burke my Great-Grandmother along with her sisters Abbey, Annie and Alice. Immigration to America had been greatly reduced because of the quota act of 1921-24 and the depression sweeping America.

Employment for women in the 1920s/30s was restricted in Ireland. Single women had no entitlement to unemployment assistance; men were expected to be the main provider. But with a low marriage rate at this time many single women living in Ireland chose to go to England in search of work. During the period of 1926 –36 women outnumbered male emigrants. (*Approximately, 1,298 females emigrating for every 1,000 males). This was very untypical of other European countries where men usually outnumbered women.
*Mary E. Daly, 'Women in the Irish Free State, 1922-39' in Journal of women's history, Winter/Spring 1995, p.111.

They and many women like them were considered 2^nd class citizens as women

(Alice, Chrissie and Abbey Burke Back in Abbeyside 1937 with some of their children Ann, Johnsy, Antoine, Tina and Mary)

and further as immigrants. But this did not stop them from taking the brave step of leaving for a foreign country. It must be remembered in Ireland women received the vote only in 1922. England would not give equal voting rights to women under 30 until 1927.

people arriving at Dungarvan Railway Station

Annie Burke (right) with friend Millie. London 1926

One of the 4 sisters Annie Burke several years later left London to seek work in New York. Annie sadly died of TB in New York before having any children. Three of the sisters Chrissie, Abbey and Alice have many descendents living and working in Abbeyside/Dungarvan today. Irish women have a fascinating story of emigration that is unique to our country but not highlighted in the same way as stories of male emigration

Since the recent recession began in 2008, emigration among young people from Ireland has once again seen a significant rise. But luckily the status of women today has improved. The women leaving our shores today can vote, choose their employment and most likely are well educated. Luckily for families left behind, air travel today is relatively inexpensive and use of the Internet means we can now keep up to date with each other on a daily basis. The Irish women in past generations did not have the same advantages. Pictured left;

(c)Chrissy O’Connor-Knight

Seán Young - An exile remembered

2011-09-10T08:37:00.002Z

I have a nice poem that ye might like for the Parish news’ announced Alice ‘Met’ Egan to me on the ‘landline’, from her home in Caseyville. Continuing, she informed me that she sends the Parish news to Canada and to the USA, each month! ...I was reluctant to tell her that I really had nothing to do with the parish news, but that I write a piece each month for same! The poem that she was in possession of was written by her late brother, Seán Young, and this I would pass on to Fintan. I was however keen to chat with her and this provided me with the perfect opportunity. ‘My door is open to everyone’, she hollered down the line ‘I have people calling to me every day...young and old!’ and you are very welcome. It was blatantly obvious from our conversation that an appointment to chat with the lady in question was not required; I nevertheless made appointment for 6.30. Met Egan may be a well known Dungarvan lady, but she is also well known as Met Young from Abbeyside and she is quick to point out that she is an Abbeyside Woman and proud of it! She is also a no nonsense lady, and keenly interested in the state that our country is in and indeed where the finger of blame is pointed! On my arrival she had been listening to the news and was distressed with the latest dismal revelations and ‘the carry on in the country, and there’s no end to it all in sight’. ‘Sit down...sit down’ she ordered, and so began an hour with a lady with whom I felt totally relaxed. Met shares her home with her son the famed ‘Alfie Egan’ who later joined us.

Born in Lower King Street Abbeyside; she is daughter of John Joe and Mollie. Her siblings were Seán, James, Nula, Breda and Dermot. John Joe young will be remembered as the Village lorry driver. Information was passed on to me by the late Paddy Daly of Ballinacourty, during my many visits with him regarding the difficulty of early crop cultivation, and sale of the produce, stories of loading up drays with cabbage, cauliflowers and potatoes and departing Ballinacourty for Waterford city. An overnight journey which was broken only at Haughton’s on the Waterford road.

Pictured at the entrance to King Street lower: left to Right; Paddy Cashman, John Joe Young, Mrs Cashman and Molly Young. Maise Healy (Murphy) is in the background this is where John Joe chatted with neighbours before moving on to the ‘Poor man’s seat’

Here the ponies were rested and fed, and of course some refreshments for the growers before continuing on the journey. John Joe Young and his lorry brought about an end to this great difficulty by bringing grower and product to the City in his Lorry. Met’s mother, Mollie Sheehan was twin sister to Artie Sheehan who resided at Ballinroad, both born in 1896. Their father John Sheehan had farmed over six acres at Ballynaskeha More early in 1900. The Sheehan’s were late comers to the area, 1905 is probably the year that the family moved there. John Sheehan had returned from working the mines at Butte Montana and occupied a public house /grocery on at Number 4, St. Mary Street Dungarvan named ‘The Hapenny Bar’ prior to moving to Ballynaskeha. He was born at Sleady Castle Ballinamult County Waterford, and married Bridget Connell from Ballinaguilkee Cappoquin in 1867; Denis was the only child born at Ballynaskeha, but all attended Garranbane School. During the occupancy at Ballynaskeha, John returned to work in the mines at Butte. Met recalls her young days at Abbeyside with great fondness ‘no one had much back then ‘ she recalls, ‘but we were happy, we attended Abbeyside school, Mrs Christopher and Chrissie McCarthy were the teachers . ‘Sure we played on the street all day, with the McGregor’s, the Elsted’s etc, in the evenings we would catch crabs and race them on the street.

King Street lower, Home of the Young Family

King Street lower from the railway bank

My father attached pieces of fish heads on to a piece of string, to catch them. We also flogged tops along the street, and played other games to pass the time.’ Mrs Martin lived up by the railway banks; we collected face cream jars and other bits and pieces from her and set up shop in a little shed that the railway workers used’.

Strandside South Abbeyside, White van exists King Street

[ Elizabeth Martin lived at Strandside south with her mother Mary Bain and her sister in law Sarah, they lived at Sexton street prior to moving to Strandside South, I suspect that Met and company approached the back of the Martin house by negotiating their way up the railway banks] Continuing with her story: My mother was a great one for walking, On a Sunday we all walked to Ballinroad Church and back, we went by the Burgery and called on Kate Moore, my mother had tea with Kate, and Kate gave us bread and Jam. Children weren’t allowed into houses then you know. Listening to adults chatting was a definite No! After the tea we went on our way to the church down by Knocknagranagh to the church and we came back by

There are two or three poor men’s seats here...Right to left; Danny O’ Connor, Noel McGovern and Tom Brett. The man nearest the pillar might be John Joe Young

Artie’s and Kilminion graveyard...sure they were great days! [Kate Moore lived in the thatched cottage that is located opposite Mamma Gordon’s Shop] Did you often go to Dungarvan? I asked Met...’Go to Dungarvan!’ she cried...If I mentioned town to my mother or said we are going to town...”Ye have no business in town...stay away from it!” that was our answer! Boys and girls from Abbeyside and Dungarvan met up at Queally’s wall out the Burgery and tis many the match that was made there! We eventually reached the primary reason for my visit which was the Poem. Seán Young was the oldest of the Young family. He worked on the building before he went to the UK, and worked in the construction of the Connelly row houses .Like many men of that period, work became very scarce and Seán took the ‘cattle boat’ again he worked at construction for a period before he joined the Royal Air force and it was while he was stationed in Singapore in the late 40s that he wrote the poem.

Looking to Abbeyside from the bridge(Keohan)

His last place of employment was as a store keeper at Gatwick Airport. Seán died before he reached his 50^th year. Met takes up the story. ‘Seán’s wife was in hospital at Crawley in Sussex, she wasn’t very well. Seán was visiting when he was stopped by the Nurse who was from Lismore, she told him not to go in that the doctor was with his wife, and he should wait a while. Just then the doctor came out and told Seán, ‘I’m very sorry, there was nothing we could do!’ On hearing that his wife had died, Seán just dropped dead! My brother James and I were told by the doctor when we went over that he ‘dropped like a leaf falling from a tree!’ Seán’s poem was discovered by Maureen Smith who found it among her mother (Nula Young’s) personnel effects. It was subsequently published in the June issue Catholic Companion in the UK.

As I sit outside by billet,

In a land across the sea,

Fond memories of my childhood

Keep coming back to me

I see again the Village streets,

The road that leads to town,

Above them all with heads on high’

The Comeragh hills gaze down.

I stand once more upon the ‘Bridge’

And look out towards the sea.

The lighthouse with its blinking eye,

Seem’s beckoning to me.

My mind goes back to Western bay,

As the sun sinks slowly down

To the little boats beside the quay,

In old Dungarvan town.

One day I’ll go back again,

Without a care or frown,

to live my life in peace and quite

Near old Dungarvan Town.

By Seán Young, Abbeyside

2011-07-29T19:24:00.002Z

Custer’s last Stand Colonel George A Custer, 7TH Cavalr

June 25th 2011 marked the 135th anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn. General Custer, Chief Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse are all names associated with American histories most famous battle. Captain Myles Keogh from Carlow is often remembered as the only Irish soldier to die in the battle.
Four of the privates that fought alongside Custers own battalion of the 7th cavalry at the last stand were born in County Waterford. Their remains are buried on the ‘Last Stand Hill’ alongside Colonel George A. Custer.

Owen Boyle was born in County Waterford in 1843 . Growing up during Irelands worst famine (1845- 1852) life for him and his family would have been extremly hard. Along with over one million Irish people of this era he emigarted to America. Once in America he enlisted with the 12th Massachusetts Artillery on the 8th December 1862 aged 19 yrs. Private Boyle served until the end of the American civil war in 1865. Reenlisting in1866 in the 35th US Infantry. Given honourable discharge in 1873 before finally reenlisting in 1874 with the 7th cavalry.

On the morning of 25th June 1876 Lieutenant Colonel George A Custer led Private Boyle and the 7th cavalry into battle against Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne Indians. The Indians were angry at the constant intrusion on to their sacred lands (The Black Hills) and gathered in defiance in Montana.

The Cavalry were divided in three battalions. The first two battalions of approximately 200 men each led by Captain Benteen and Major Reno, were forced to retreat to one side of the river. The third battalion Custer’s own of 210 men, including Private Boyle, planned to attack the Indian camp from the north. Unfortunately for Custer, Chief Sitting Bull and an estimated 1500-2500 warriors were ready to attack. Custer and his men were encircled, out numbered and annihilated in under an hour.

.(Above, Crazy Horse)

Chief of the Sioux Indian Tribe, Sitting Bull)-

There were no survivors of Custer’s coloum to records events of the battle. Indian accounts were undocumented untill much later and these vary greatly. A last stand is likely as dead horses were found at the final battle place stacked as a shield from attacking warriors. This has been confirmed by various Indian accounts.

(Two Moon,Right) Indian warrior at Last Stand ) Sept, 1898,” At last about a hundred men and five horsemen stood on the hill all bunched together. All along the bugler kept blowing his commands. He was very brave too. Then a chief was killed. I hear it was Long Hair (Custer),”

Bodies were scalped mutilated making identification impossible except for that of General Custer, possibly out of respect for his rank. Owen left no wife or children, his Father Andrew Boyle recieved his pension of $8.00 per month following his Sons death . The four Co. Waterford privates are buried on last stand hill alongside Custer. A grave marker was placed where each fell on June 25th 1876. .

The Battle of Little Big Horn has been written about extensively and re-created in Hollywood. Their names although not synonymous with the famous battle are recorded on a monument at the site alongside the famous General Custer. They will forever be part of American history’s legacy of the ‘Great Wild West’.

County Waterford Privates that fell alongside General Custor in the Battle of little big horn.

Edward C. Driscoll, Co Waterford, 1850 –1876, Aged 26 . John D Barry, Co Waterford, 1849 -1876., Aged 27. Owen Boyle, Co Waterforrd, 1843 – 1876, Aged 33.John Brennan, Co Waterford, 1849 –1876, Aged 27.

On the morning of June 25th 1876 this entire area would have been full of Indian warriors encircling and outnumbering Custer’s men. The graves mark where soldiers fell.Bodies were scalped mutilated making identification impossible except for that of General Custer, possibly out of respect for his rank.

Owen left no wife or children, his Father Andrew Boyle recieved his pension of $8.00 per month following his Sons death. The four Co. Waterford privates are buried on last stand hill alongside Custer. A grave marker was placed where each fell on June 25^th 1876. .

Extract of letter that Lieutenant Robert Patterson Hughes sent to his wife from the Little Big Horn

(c) Chrissy Knight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFg0rYAG7UU&feature=fvwrel

Going to the Pictures

2011-07-18T18:43:00.001Z

A)= ‘Are you going to the pictures? (B) “No! I have no money!” (A) ‘There’s a great cowboy film on with Audy Murphy, tis going to be brilliant boy’. Audy Murphy was the Clint Eastwood of our childhood days, (not as tough, mind you,) and there was nothing to compare. After the ‘pictures’ were over, inevitably there was a row over who played the role of Audy in the immediate cowboy and Indians game...if you were the owner of a toy pistol you were in with a good shout providing you did not have to deal with a stronger personality who might take the gun from you and appoint you to be the first bad-man to fall in the shoot-out.

I am presently trawling through, and cataloguing several boxes of memorabilia at the Museum. Among the treasures that I am working on are a number of items connected with Cinema life in Dungarvan dating from the 1930s. Now, while I have no recollection of Cinema life in that particular period, like everybody born in the Dungarvan region, I have great recollections of going to the ‘Pictures’ at the Ormonde Cinema in my younger days, which -not so long ago! For a period of time I lived with my Aunt, Mary Tobin at Shandon Street Dungarvan and attended the CBS. It was always exciting to go to the Cinema. It was a Particular thrill to be taken by my aunt and her husband Paddy, as a surprise. On Sundays, if my cousin Jerry and I could get our hands on the few pence, off we went and joined the long line of pence poor punters at the entrance to ‘the Gods’ Six pence saw you in and if you had another penny you could purchase a penny toffee, if you were lucky enough to have two pence, well then you had the choice of a Macroon bar or better still, a flash bar, this lasted longer. There were a small number of wooden row seats in the ‘Gods’ and if you were in early, a back row seat which was farthest from the screen could be yours.

The above programme is interesting because of the war connection

A few braver lads climbed over the dividing wall and into the shilling place. Brave because if John Hogan or Rita Brennan caught you, you were barred for a number of weeks. So, it was better to be careful. I have known of youngsters crying to their parents ‘please go and see John Hogan and ask him to let me back in!’ The Ormonde had a wonderful distinctive old Cinema smell; it was the first thing that you were aware of when you entered, it was a pleasant smell despite the smoking! This smell permeated the theatre and later when the lights went out great clouds of smoke floated to the high ceiling, illuminated by the light from the projector.

When the doors opened you purchased your ticket from Rita Brennan, this was stripped from the role and handed to you with a warning look, if you had been found guilty of the major offence of resting your feet on the seat in front of you, or of throwing paper missiles, well then, you were the recipient of a cool warning look from Rita!! As you entered the theatre proper, John Hogan halved your ticket and handed back one half. Swapping comics was an interesting practice that took place before the film started. Kids took comics which they had read to the Cinema and swapped with others kids. A big cheer erupted as the lights went off, or indeed when the Calvary arrived just in the nick of time! This habit of cheering on the hero kept John Hogan very busy, he was forever running up and down trying to keep youngsters quite. But, it was a special time. This is just a small reminder of those times. Eddie cantwell, June 2011

The Show Bands

2011-06-19T11:25:00.016Z

This piece is by Christine 'Chrissy' O'Connor Knight.Chrissy is a committee member of the Abbeyside Heritage Archive, she is also Granddaughter of the Late Anne Alldrige, who was a member of the A.H.A for a good many years, and who contributed many articles to this Blog.

With the swinging sixties came a revolution in

music Culture to Ireland ‘The Show Bands’.

The Bands first started in the 1950s and by the mid 1960s were rocking dance halls all around the country. The sixties were a time of social change and this sense of freedom was given expression and momentum through music. Gone were the conservative and traditional music styles of the forties and fifties, which were popular with previous generations. This new and exiting wave of music came in with a bang and audiences were listening to Rock n Roll, Dixieland jazz and Country and Western. The Irish dance hall scene had changed from the big bands and orchestras of the forties. Popular and chart-topping music heard over the airwaves was now brought live to the audience.

The bands usually comprised a 6-8-piece band of well-dressed talented young men and women oozing style and glamour, playing to sell out crowds sometimes for up to five hours each night. Performers Created Infectious momentum by playing while stepping, dipping and bobbing, (a style originating from Bill Hailey and the comets).

Many of you will remember bands including our own local ‘The Royal Ace’s, ‘The Miami show band’ and of course one the most well known s of the show band era Waterford’s ‘Brendan Bowyer and the Royal show band’. The Royal were the first show band to create a record and also reach number one in 1963 with ‘Kiss me quick’ they played Ireland, Britain and USA including Las Vegas.

The Show Bands first introduction to Dungarvan dance halls was as a fundraiser for the Abbeyside Soccer club in the late sixties.

It was the late Danny O’Connor (Murphy Place) who was involved in bringing the bands to our town.

Pictured is Danny with his Wife Rita

Their popularity was instant and more regular performances were organised, the first venues included CSM ballroom Clonea and the Town Hall. Later venues included the Pike, Lawlors Hotel and Minnie. Abbeyside. It was the initiative of local entrepreneurs that made it possible for the music to be experienced by the masses in rural towns all around Ireland. People will recall the great excitement the evening of the shows as the ‘Band wagon rolled in the town’.

Typically the bandwagons were ford transit vans that were reinvented to accommodate the band and their equipment.It is recalled by the many that attended with great nostalgia, as an unforgettable and exiting period. The arrival of the show bands in the sixties saw a dramatic change in popular music culture. Sadly by the late 70s the show bands were becoming less popular and by the early eighties had come to an end replaced in dance halls by disco and pop music. The generation that were part of the Show Band era were part of a unique chapter in Irish music culture.

(c) Chrissy Knight June 2011

Walk abouts down under

2011-05-15T18:45:00.002Z

A self portrait of a convict

I am presently in touch with a number of people ‘Down under’ all of them have roots in this area, indeed two lots have made the journey here and in June another couple will arrive. These two have a connection with ‘the Connery’s’ who I wrote about for the ‘Sliabh gCua Journal’ some years ago. I am presently engaged in tracking down the families of over 40 orphan girls from Dungarvan work house who were shipped out to Australia in 1849. I have to date managed to track down descendants of three of those unfortunates, the search however is ongoing. Sometime back, I wrote about the Fenian hero from the Burgery, Denis Bambrick Cashman.This again is an on - going story, and I am presently reading through his diary and some personnel letters of

Denis’s, along with ‘The wild Goose’ news sheet which he produced on board the transport ship. These have been passed on to me by his family in Boston. More about this later. And so, this brings me to our present little ‘bed – time story’. Nioclás Ó Gríofán has a keen interest in the Cashman Story. He has visited Denis’s last resting place in the Boston and has also been to Fremantle where Denis, along with his friend the also famous J. B. O’Reily resided before escaping to the U.S.A. We now know that the many Irish-men who were sent on ‘walk-abouts’ bound in chains, were sent for trivial offences for example, stealing a chicken, a loaf of bread, perhaps food to feed a family . Of course there were a few hardy – men who were also transported.

One English – man who was transported was named Charles Vout. This man was as tough as they get and his fact sheet would make for a great documentary. Born in Norwich, he was sentenced to seven years and transported to New South Wales. Charles married Catherine O’Brien in Hobart , and being the rebel that he was, he never notified the authorities which was compulsory .The couple raised a family of ten, one of them Mary, married William Graves who was son of Patrick William Graves from Helvick in Ring Dungarvan. Kin to Nioclás Ó Gríofán.Charles Vout arrived in Sidney to continue an ongoing sentence in 1833. In 1843 he was in Hobart Town. His crime was stealing a watch! But life was not so simple for Vout; he spent eight years in Maitland where he was anything but a model prisoner! On the 6th September 1840, he was before the criminal courts for attempting murder and was sentenced to life in a penal settlement. Vout was described as 30 years old, 5’7, dark complexion, brown hair, large visage, freckled forehead, sandy brown eye brows, grey eyes, large nose, and mouth and chin! He had scars to wrist and marks of punishment over a large mole on his back. This will indicate how thorough the authorities were. All convicts were described thus for the records!

His record
14 May 1833, seven days tread wheel – absent without leave. 3rd June 1833, 25 lashes – absent without leave. 20 august 1833, 14 days tread wheel – absconding. 23 September 1833, 50 lashes - absconding. 19 May 1834, 25 lashes – absconding. 11 October 1834, 12 months in irons – absconding. 20 July 1835, 25 lashes – disobedience. 16 November 1835, two months tread wheel – Absent with out leave. 24th January 1837, 12 months in Irons - misdemeanour. 26th September 1837, 100 lashes – malingering. 10 July 1840, six months in irons. His next sitting was for theft and attempt murder on 6th September 1840.

Photo of two convicts in chains

Was he finished? No sir..! 29 march 1845 absent from Port Arthur- one month hard labour in chains! On 4th April 1845, he was removed from Port Arthur to serve two months probation at Bridgewater station. Perhaps he was settling down...NO! Wait...23 January 1846 - he absconded after robbing F.J. Parker and being armed with a gun. And, can you believe it? He was again after, and stole a watch. The crime that got him there in the first instance! They should have allowed him to keep the first watch that he stole in England. Then, perhaps he would have been happy and never committed another crime! 26 June 1846, sentenced to death! This was commuted to transportation station for life....here we go again! 15 July 1846 six months hard labour in chains, misconduct. 15 August 1846, seven days solitary. 30 January 1847, ten days solitary - disobedience. 30 April 1847, one year hard labour for ‘making away with his trousers? (Your guess is as good as mine!) 3rd July 1847, 14 days in chains, insolence.

23 July 1847, seven days hard labour- for having tobacco. 3rd November 1847, admonished for neglect of work. 23 November 1847, three months hard labour in chains for having tea and sugar. 14 December 1847, 36 lashes for misconduct. 28 February 1848, hard labour in chains - 14 days. 2nd may 1848, 14 days hard labour in chains & solitary for having tea in his possession. 23 September 1848, six months hard labour in chains for attempting to bribe a police officer. 4th December 1848, 10 days in chains, disorderly conduct.

Ploughing

9th march 1849, 14 days hard labour in chains, misconduct. 9th July six months hard labour in chains for privately working!. 6th November 1842, six months hard labour in chains for impudence. And ten days solitary for having six pence in his possession. 13 November 1849, 14 days in chains for disobedience. 20 May1850, three days hard labour in chains. 24 February 1852, two months hard labour for misconduct. 1 July 1851, three months hard labour. 21 October 1851, seven days hard labour in chains for disorderly conduct.

On 1st July 1853, things seemed to turn in his favour. ‘A record in this man’s favour for meritorious conduct in the bush fires at N.W. Bay Co.’ His conditional
pardon was approved on 09.06 1857.

The treadwheel

Charles Vout served 24 years for a seven year crime sentence. He and Catherine had 10 children in all. And believe it or not he lived after all that to be 85. Catherine died aged 48.This is just one man’s history. Hundreds of Irishman suffered the same treatment for simple misdemeanours. Vout’s story would certainly make for a good film.

He most likely tried to fight for some form of humanity from a system where human life was considered worthless.

Photos of Charles and Catherine Vout. Charles certainly does not look like the character profiled in my article. And I think that my theory about him 'fighting the system holds water' . Below is the house that was built in 1858 in Hobart.Patricia McDonald, who made contact with me after the article went online is the great grand-daughter of Charles and Catherine. She lives at P.O.Box 254 Casino N.S.W.2470 Australia. she says that 'It is interesting to note that Charles won tenders to repair police buildings.' So obviously Charles was not the bad boy that he was made out to be.My sincere thanks to Patricia, for getting in touch and providing the two photos which adds a wonderful foot note to the piece.

Eddie Cantwell October 2011

The Terry Link

2011-04-26T08:13:00.000Z

Ann Smiddy's Terry web site

http://www.annsmiddy.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Articles/descendants_of_maurice_terry.htm

Dungarvan Hunger Strike

2011-04-08T12:41:00.002Z

Tommy Mooney passed this one on to me. if you have an original of this, it is worth around 900euros

www.ardmorewaterford.blogspot.com

Abbeyside Parish News March

2011-04-05T18:21:00.001Z

2011-04-05T17:48:00.001Z

Jimmy Navin, The Signal – man and the railway

2011-03-29T08:50:00.001Z

It was with great sadness I watched the late Jimmy Navin on TV recently. I had come to know Jimmy quite well over a number of years. He was a wonderful character and enjoyed nothing better than a good chat. I recall sometime back while visiting with Jimmy and Mary, he produced a batch of photos, and one in particular struck me, it was of Jimmy looking like James Dean astride his motorbike. ’God, Jimmy,’ I said ‘you look like James Dean or a young Brando’ He got a great kick out of that and laughed off my serious what people had to say. He was ever inoffensive. He enjoyed life to the full and it was always great to listen to his stories when he and Mary returned from holiday. Jimmy worked as railway signal – man at Dungarvan Station. He loved the railway and again had many stories to tell about the characters that he met and worked with. He never complained about illness but just got on with it. On the occasions that I visited with Jimmy and Mary at his home, the tea was made and the medicinal ‘drop of the ‘crature’ was added to the brew.

Passengers arriving at the station

I recall leaving for England in the 60s, large crowd’s gathered at the Station to see loved ones off. There was hugging and crying, people following the train and waving until it sped out of sight. It was quite common for youngsters to gather at the station when the train was expected from England, - it was never Rosslaire! –They were keen to see who was arriving home and what manner of fashion that they were wearing. Jimmy Navin was keenly interested in everything that went on at the station. Trains were also packed going to G.A.A. games, hauling goods etc. Jimmy was a big part of all that excitement, we often spoke of those great times and the lack of vision that resulted in the closure of the line. Jimmy will be forever linked with the station in both film and photo... and certainly by the host of friends who came to know him over the years.

The train is captured here on its way to Dungarvan at Clonea

The railway has always held some fascination for youngsters. My friends and I grew up close to the gate lodge on the Clonea road and Annie Prendergast was always on duty when the train was due, just to keep an eye on us. We had a habit of climbing up on the gate and Annie was fearful that we would be sucked in. We, of course never saw the danger. It was also here that my friends gathered to wave me off as I sped on my way to England. It was also here in later years, having borrowed my brothers ‘Honda’ that I crashed into those same gates. Annie was again on hand on that night, she and brother Paddy very kindly looked after us. Arriving back from England at Christmas was a great occasion. Once we reached Kilmacthomas we were at the window for the remainder of the journey waiting for the familiar landmarks...Looby’s of Clonea and Morrissey’s of ‘Crooked Bridge’ and next came the gate lodge where we gathered as youngsters. Travelling by train was not always comfortable, and often I sat on my suitcase in the train corridor...But it was always better than the ‘cattle boat’ where you sat on deck freezing...seating was limited within and with many people getting sick, the deck was a better option. The late Anne Aldridge who was with us for many years in the Abbeyside Heritage Archive beautifully scripted a poem under the pseudonym of Alice Burke. The poem perfectly sums up the feelings of the returning emigrant. I will include it here. Anne always loved returning to Dungarvan and the excitement of the journey home never left her.

Jimmy is pictured here with Tom Tobin of Caseyville, they are pictured with a delivery horse.This was used to deliver articles, Parcels etc, that arrived by train to the station, to the local shops in Dungarvan. Tom was the delivery man

The 'Spuds' are set!

2011-03-27T11:40:00.001Z

The early 'spuds' are set under plastic...at Eamon Ryan's...click on the image!

Out with the old

2011-03-27T11:09:00.000Z

This is just to remind us of the weather that was....I took this at Garranbane recently

Sunday Morning Going home from mass at Ballinroad Hall, this will be the scene until the church has been restored since it was set alight

Strong currents at Barnawee as the tide recedes

The late Jimmy 'Tiger' Kiely' Jimmy was a natural sports hero to many youngsters. his untimely passing came as a shock to all in the Parish. A wonderful sportsman, hurling, football, soccer and Squash. he mastered them all. This photo I just recently took of him.

Paud's tree

2011-03-27T11:01:00.002Z

This wonderful tree has been standing here at 'Power's the River' for well over 100 years.Lately it had started to lean towards the road and Paud Ó Donoghue had to have it cut down.....

Rough measurement (I stepped it') 30 meters

The Ruin of 'Power's the River'...there were a few power families in the area, so this particular family were known as 'Power's the River' Some of detail on my files about this family for those interested

Wonderful colors , around 21 feet in diameter

The River was a great place for us as youngsters, we would get out jam jars with string attached and spend hours lying on the river bank, and watching the Jars in the water bed...when the fish arrived close to the opening we would coax it in by hand...and then raise the jar with fish captured...

2011-03-07T11:07:00.001Z

Monasteries and Monastic life from the 13th century was quite interesting. There was a great difference between the Monastic Church and the parochial church. And, I suppose that it would be true to say that the Roman church was happy to see the end of the Monastic Church. The main reason for this of course is because the Monastic churches were quite wealthy while the local church would have very little and, needless to say, the Monastic Church would not give money to Rome. The stronger the parochial church, the more revenue for Rome. All monasteries were affiliated to Clonmacnoise and all were answerable to the

Abbot. Friction between monasteries was not unheard of and in the early days, some of the monasteries went to war against each other. So, effectively, The Bigger the Monastery the greater the influence, and the Abbot of Clonmacnoise was an extremely influential Abbot. The Abbot at Abbeyside would not be as influential, but he certainly was a very important man in the Parish. It was the wealthy of the area that contributed and continued to contribute to the Monastery. Those wealthy people had private masses said on occasions, and when a parishioner died, month’s minds and many other masses were offered up, so it was the wealthy that kept the Monastery going. We should also remember that in medieval times that only a certain number of people were saved, salvation was not available to all, only the chosen. So, it’s understandable why the parochial Church was suffering while the monastery would have been the great

A dividing screen (rood screen) covered the arch , bell tower, or crossing tower where the two parts meet, leading from the chancel (the main area for the altar) to the Nave ,the main part of the church for the congregation. It was probably made of wood and would certainly have had a large crucifix. These screens were generally removed in Catholic Churches by Vatican two when the retention of any visual barrier between the laity and the high altar was seen as been inconsistent with the decrees of the Council of Trent. Rood screens can be seen today in Anglican and Lutheran churches; the walls here were white washed and covered in colourful murals (c) E C

achiever. The monastery was also a great learning languages while the parochial priest would have a crude form of Latin. It must be remembered that the early missioners would first try to convert the chieftains, and once this was done, the clans and Chiefs subjects would follow. So, the rich gravitated towards the Monastery and when they died, they left money to the Friars rather than to the parochial church. So, the richer the Monasteries became, the poorer the parochial church. Also, the richer the Monasteries became the less holy they became and that is why we had three reformations in the 9^th, 12^th and the 16 century, the 16^th being the last. Building structures such as monastery at Abbeyside required vast amounts of money. Stone, Timber, and lime render all had to be paid for. A whole range of tradesmen and experts were employed in the construction, and massive amounts of lime were needed.The construction of the monastery is of lime mixed rubble stone, the

walls both inside and out would have several coats of white wash on them.

The lime plaster in the interior would have been richly over painted with images of saints, depictions of

parables, object lessons and scenes from the Bible.traces of lime can still be seen on the walls of the Clogás . Actually, if you visit Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary, you will see example murals such as was used at Abbeyside still in existence today... this will give readers a picture of what the interior of the Abbey here would have looked like. The paintings were used to illustrate the topic of sermon which was being used at mass. The murals were referred to as Biblia Pauperun’ or ‘the poor mans bible! Ships coming in to Dungarvan bay used the Abbey as a guide line and one can imaging the sun hitting the shining white Abbey on a sunny day....I could go on...but space is the great obstructer!

Eddie Cantwell February 2011

The original Monastery would have been painted with lime – white wash, It was used as a landmark for sailing vessels entering Dungarvan Bay (c) E C

2011-02-13T08:50:00.001Z

A group of us went in search of the location where the RIC, Segregant Hickey was executed after the Burgery Ambush in 1921

Tommy Mooney desperately tries to get his boots on while being instructed by Ivan Lennon

Neil & Joan Hurley with Ivan Lennon

Tommy Mooney Ardmore, Ivan Lennon and Neil. Ivan Lennon's father George Lennon was the Commander of the West Waterford Flying Column http://www.waterfordcountymuseum.org/exhibit/web/Display/article/117/

Below= left to Right, Neil Hurley,Ivan Lennon, Eddie Cantwell & Nioclás Ó' Gríofán (Waterford County Museum)

Pat Keating was taken here to this roadway-up by the pillars- after being shot at the Burgery Ambush...he was then taken by horse and cart to Moonarud by Mike Heafy
http://www.waterfordcountymuseum.org/exhibit/web/Display/article/117/

Real Snow

2011-01-30T17:50:00.001Z

Seán Merrick lives in Ellington, Connecticut, USA, he was kind enough to let me have his picture of his home....well now, why are we complaining about a few snow flakes here!

Ballinroad winter sunshine

2011-01-04T11:19:00.000Z

Back to normal winter weather here. 'A fine summer's day!', the old folk would say!

Ballinroad Church Fire

2011-01-02T09:23:00.003Z

Click on the picture for a more detailed image, the snowy pictures i took before Christmas....

Our local Ballinroad

Church was on fire for a number of hours last night. large crowd's gathered to watch as thick black smoke forced its way through the roof and billowed out of the air vents. most of An Grianán Kilminion, was shrouded in a thick blanket of black smoke. Its uncertain at this point in time how the fire started or indeed what manner of damage is done. What is certain tough is that there will be no mass there this morning or indeed for some time to come.

Jessie meets Joey 'The Lips' Fagan

2010-12-05T14:16:00.000Z

Kilminion-man, Anthony 'Jessie' Landers meets up with actor Johnny Murphy, who played Joey 'The Lips' Fagan in the film 'The Commitments'Jessie met up with the man in Philadelphia of all places!

Small Town, a poem by Ger Moore

2010-10-26T07:51:00.003Z

I like this poem by Ger,written in the new mode of wording!!..I also like the fact that you can read it from the end...and it still works....

Small town

DONT YA JUST LOVE SMALL TOWN MENTALITY
ITS A DIFFERENT REALITY
WUD EXPLAIN THE LACK OF SANITY
THE EGO-TISTICAL VANITY
UR LIFES THEIRS
NO 1 CARES LIKE A MOB CARES
EVEN IF UVE KNOWN EM FOR YEARS
IF U FALL UL HEAR THEIR CHEERS
THEY'L NEVER TIRE
WAITIN ON FUEL FOR THEIR FIRE
WANNA RULE UR EMPIRE
ITS THEIR ONLY DESIRE
ITS ALL THEY HAVE 2 RESORT TO
SAYS MORE ABOUT THEM THAN U
CANT LIVE UR LIFE AND THEIRS TOO
WUD B TOO MUCH FOR EM TO DO
JUST BE THE SAME
MAYBE JOIN THE GAME
EVERY 1 KNOWS UR NAME
USE UR NEW FOUND FAME
MIND HOW U ACT
FICTION CUD B FACT
KEEP UR EMOTIONS IN TACT
TRY NOT TO REACT
THO IT GETS BAD
DONT BE SAD
THERS FUN 2 B HAD
MAKIN THE RITE PPL GLAD
SMALL MINDS ARE AS SUCH
KNOW IT ALL BUT NOT SO MUCH
HEART AND MIND THEYL NEVER TOUCH
THEIR OWN LIFE IS DOUBLE DUTCH
KARMA FINDS US ALL SOME DAY
IN EVERY WAY
THEYL HAVE A PRICE 2 PAY
FOR THE THINGS THEY SAY
THE BEST ADVICE
SMILE BE NICE
ACT ONCE THINK TWICE
LIFES FULL OF SUGAR N SPICE :D

Elsted,Able seamen...Ballinacourty, Dungarvan, Co, Waterford

2010-09-28T09:24:00.007Z

This the famous 'Gold Coast' named after John 'The King' Elsted.It was the home of the Elsted family from the 1870s...It is now no more...The 'Gold Coast Hotel and Golfing complex now stands on the spot. At the left of the picture a row of houses stood.....

My subject matter for this and perhaps another few articles will relate to the many families whose sons and fathers went to sea from the Village. Captains of vessels are well documented and John Young’s Maritime and other seafaring histories of Dungarvan are to be admired. The number of men from Dungarvan and Abbeyside that became able seamen between the 1820s and 1900 is quite remarkable. Records show that fathers, sons, grand children and great grandchildren followed the call of the sea. Many of those that left these shores never returned and I will deal with some of those in future editions.

Home of the Elsted Family. Pictured here are W.J. O’ Connor, John ‘The king’ Elsted w**** Peg Elsted and Maudie Joy/ Williams

This particular profile will deal with the Elsted’s; generations of Elsted’s went to sea. The late Mary Lander’s nee Elsted told me that the first of them, who was a ships carpenter, came from a ship that was wrecked off Waterford, and that he came from Liverpool. Researching this particular project I discovered - through the various censuses for the UK and other references – that Mary may not have been too far out. The surname, to begin with is unusual even in the UK, and most of the Elsted’s were located at seaport towns from between 1861 and 1911, and mainly located at Portsmouth Hampshire. Indeed, William Elsted aged 37 was a listed sailor in 1824. Prior to 1861 the Surname can be found scattered in areas like Leicestershire, Dover Kent, and Somerset. ‘Philpot’ was prominent in the Elsted name even here in Ballinacourty and an interesting headstone in New Rommey Kent bears the following; Here lieth interred the body of Joseph PHILPOT, Gentleman, (son of Joseph Philpot of ye parish of Worth near Sandwich) who departed this life / September ye 11 1768 / aged 67 years / Here also lieth the body of / Edward Elsted / many years Riding Officer of this place / He died the 4^th November 1787 / aged 51 years / and left issue by Affra his wife / 6 children (viz) Sarah, Richard, Edward, / Affra Katherine and Philpot. / Here also lieth the body of / Affra Elsted relict of the above / Edward Elsted who died / 5 September 1812 aged 77 years.

A postcard showing Eddie leaning over the side of his ship

It was Lucretia Elsted that was the founder of the Pub at Ballinacourty in the 1870s; she was married to William Elsted. The couple had lived at the Burgery prior to this. William died in 1849; his wife lived to reach 90. William, of course never lived at Ballinacourty. Lucretia was the daughter of William and Margaret Green and it was interesting to find the following at Portsmouth in the 1911 census. - ELSTED, John aged 40, Mary Lucretia aged 55, William Elsted Green aged nine and William Henry aged 37. Mary Lucretis Elsted died at Abbeyside in 1870; she was aged 10 and a carpenter’s daughter. I think that ‘Lucretis’ was probably incorrectly spelled. I don’t want to dwell too much on this period since the subject of this profile is Eddie Elsted. Eddie was born in the troubled times of 1921.

Ballinacourty Pub land lady Peg Elsted serves, Eddie a pint at his local in Cardiff. Eddie always carried a stick since he was knocked down by a lorry in the 70

He was the son of John (Ballinacourty) and Mary Foley of Ballymarket.His siblings were Mary, John, and Eileen (Cissie). All were raised in that wonderful watering hole in Ballinacourty which was later named the ‘Gold Coast’ by Eddie’s brother John, ‘The King’ Elsted. Like Eddie, John too spent some time at sea as did a number of their Uncles, in fact two of Eddie’s uncles died at sea. As a youngster he is remembered delivering beer by horse and cart for Powers Brewery.

Right;Two Elsted Sailors, Uncle Paddy left with Eddie

But like his ancestors, the call of the sea was too strong to be ignored, it was in his blood and soon the horse and dray was replaced by a vehicle of a very different nature as Eddie signed as able seaman in 1942. And like many from the Village, the sea became his second home for the next 19 years. Eddie’s first home became Cardiff and many visitors from Abbeyside and Ballinacourty that travelled to Cardiff for Rugby matches quenched their thirst at the ‘The Royal Oak’ pub which was Eddie’s local. The visitors were always made welcome by the proprietor Michael Flynn and Eddie was kept abreast of happenings back home. Speaking recently with Tom (Nephew) and Pat Landers who spent their early years in Cardiff, remember that Eddie had a great love for the home place and was always interested in what was happening here. It was while on a visit home that the Able Seaman met and married Kitty Power. Kitty was daughter of John Power from Kilcanavee and her mother was Ellen (nee O'Shea) from Affane, Cappoquin.They married in St. Mary's Parish church Dungarvan and had their wedding reception in The Devonshire Arms Hotel Dungarvan.The best man was brother, John and the bridesmaid Eileen Power, sister to Kitty.

Eddie Elsted

Kitty’s other siblings are Artist Seán De Paor and author Patrick C. Kitty worked in the local labour exchange alongside the famous ‘Miss Roche.’ Eddie quit sailing and went to work at the Steel works in Cardiff. Here, ten children were born to the couple, John, Eamon, Brendan, Donal, Majella, Bernadette, Claire, Helen, Catherine and Maria. The couple worked hard to raise the children and kitty insured that they all had a good education. Eddie Elsted’s log book which was issued in 1942 is crammed with activity. His numerous voyages took him around the world on at least 13 different ships. All his discharge papers carry the words ‘Very Good’ in reference to his character by the Ships Master. On one occasion Eddie sailed with his Uncle Paddy Elsted on the same voyage. Paddy too was a wonderful character and like his nephew loved the sea.On one occasion Eddie sailed with his Uncle Paddy Elsted on the same voyage. Paddy too was a wonderful character and like his nephew loved the sea. When on leave, Paddy stayed at Ballinacourty. He liked walking and was often seen with Mickey English strolling the roads. Eddie never spoke much about his travels; most of them started out at the famous Tiger Bay, when his ship was due in, Kitty was at the wharf to meet him. Not a great man for story telling, there are few to relate and these came indirectly to family members. On one occasion Eddie was on board a vessel bound for Waterford. Coming on deck he noticed some familiar landmarks and realised that the ship was after passing and well outside of Waterford. The able seaman had to report to the master that he had made an error. Another interesting story comes to the family also indirectly. On a return journey from Sierra Leone, Eddie - probably sitting on deck - heard noises coming from hold of the ship. Making his way through the darkness of the hold to investigate, he discovered a young boy huddled and frightened. Eddie approached the youngster who was crying out in his native tongue.

Eddie realised that the stowaway was obviously hungry and naturally enough the crew looked after him. Further investigation revealed that he hadn’t planned to stay in England, he was just curious to see what London looked like. The interesting part of this story is that Eddie loaded him on to a taxi and took him around London to see the sights and then promptly sent him back on the next ship bound for Sierra Leone! Obviously there is more to the story and I am sure that despite the period, the authorities had to be involved. But, it would seem that Eddie must have used some persuasive powers and won the trust of the authorities. However, his stories are now gone with him, he died on 11th July 2004, aged 83, his wife Kitty died 19th December 2005 aged 73. Both are laid to rest in the town of their adoption at Thornhill cemetery, Cardiff

Eddie Elsted died on 11th July 2004, aged 83, his wife Kitty died 19th December 2005 aged 73. Both are laid to rest in the town of their adoption at Thornhill cemetery, Cardiff.

The late ,Eddie & Kitty Elsted

The Elsted family Cardiff Wales; Boys from Left to Right - John, Eamon, Donal, Brendan

Girls Left to Right - Bernadette, Katherine, Majella, Maria, Mother Kitty, Helen, Claire. The father’ Eddie had passed away at this time

Mary Elsted, who married Johnny Landers was sister to Eddie. Johnny and Mary are no longer with us.

1911 c Portsmouth

Household ELSTED, Alice Eva 1905 6 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Anna Elizabeth 1874 37 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Eliza Jane 1835 76 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Eunice 1872 39 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, John 1871 40 M Portsmouth

ELSTED, Mary Lucretia 1856 55 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, William Green 1902 9 M Portsmouth

ELSTED, William Henry 1874 37 M Portsmouth Hampshire

1901

ELSTED, Alice M 1893 8 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Anna E 1873 28 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Beatrice J 1890 11 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Charles 1863 38 M Toxteth Park Lancashire

ELSTED, Edward L 1897 4 M Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Edward W 1861 40 M Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Eleanor F 1888 13 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Eliza J 1834 67 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Eunice 1872 29 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Florence W 1869 32 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Margery P 1892 9 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Mary L 1855 46 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, William H 1873 28 M Portsmouth

1911 census Hamshire

Household ELSTED, Alice Eva 1905 6 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Anna Elizabeth 1874 37 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Eliza Jane 1835 76 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Eunice 1872 39 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Henry 1881 30 M Pontypool

ELSTED, Charles 1863 48 M Toxteth Park

ELSTED, John 1871 40 M Portsmouth

ELSTED, Mary Lucretia 1856 55 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Sarah 1860 51 F Toxteth Park

ELSTED, William Green 1902 9 M Portsmouth

ELSTED, William Henry 1874 37 M Portsmouth Hampshire

1901 Census

ELSTED, Alice M 1893 8 F Portsmouth

ELSTED, Anna E 1873 28 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Beatrice J 1890 11 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Charles 1863 38 M Toxteth Park Lancashire

ELSTED, Edward L 1897 4 M Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Edward W 1861 40 M Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Eleanor F 1888 13 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Eliza J 1834 67 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Eunice 1872 29 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Florence W 1869 32 F Portsmouth Hampshire

Institution ELSTED, Harry 1872 29 M Isle of Wight Hampshire

Institution ELSTED, Henry 1872 29 M Cardiff Glamorganshire

Household ELSTED, John 1871 30 M Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Margery P 1892 9 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Mary L 1855 46 F Portsmouth Hampshire

ELSTED, Sarah 1853 48 F Toxteth Park Lancashire

ELSTED, William H 1873 28 M Portsmouth

1891 census

Household ELSTED, Alice 1868 23 F Wycombe Buckinghamshire

ELSTED, Alice 1890 1 F Wycombe Buckinghamshire ELSTED, Alice E 1870 21 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Alice K 1872 19 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Beatrice J 1890 1 F Wandsworth London

ELSTED, Caroline 1872 19 F Lambeth London ELSTED, Charles 1866 25 M Wycombe Buckinghamshire

ELSTED, Ed W 1861 30 M Wandsworth London

ELSTED, Eliza J 1834 57 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Elizabeth 1834 57 F Kensington London

ELSTED, Ellen F 1888 3 F Wandsworth London

ELSTED, Florence D 1869 22 F Wandsworth London

ELSTED, Frances 1811 80 F Eastry Kent

ELSTED, George 1870 21 M West Ham Essex ELSTED, John E 1872 19 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Mary L 1860 31 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Robert 1823 68 M Wycombe Buckinghamshire

ELSTED, Sarah 1857 34 F Kensington London

ELSTED, William 1824 67 M Portsea Island Hampshire ELSTED, William H 1874 17 M Portsea Island Hampshire

1881 census

ELSTED, Alice E 1869 12 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Edward W 1861 20 M Portsea Island Hampshire ELSTED, Eliza J 1834 47 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Frances 1811 70 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Helen K 1867 14 F Portsea Island Hampshire ELSTED, John J 1871 10 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Lousia R 1863 18 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Mary L 1856 25 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, William G 1826 55 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, William H 1873 8 M Portsea Island Hampshire

1871 census

ELSTED, Adolphus 1849 22 M Tendring Essex

ELSTED, Alice 1869 2 F Portsea Island Hampshire

Vessel ELSTED, Charles 1853 18 M Tendring Essex

ELSTED, Edward W 1861 10 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Elen 1867 4 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Eliza 1834 37 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Eliza F 1859 12 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Elizabeth 1844 27 F Kensington London, Middlesex

ELSTED, Elizabeth 1869 2 F Kensington London, Middlesex

ELSTED, Frances 1811 60 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, George 1866 5 M Petworth Sussex

ELSTED, Henry 1861 10 M Kensington London, Middlesex

ELSTED, John 1863 8 M Kensington London, Middlesex

ELSTED, John J 1871 0 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Joseph 1822 49 M Kensington London, Middlesex

ELSTED, Mary 1855 16 F Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, Mary P 1803 68 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Rebecca E 1863 8 F Portsea Island Hampshire

Vessel ELSTED, William G 1826 45 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, William G 1826 45 M Portsea Island Hampshire

ELSTED, William P 1803 68 M Dover Kent

ELSTED, William P 1865 6 M Portsea Island Hampshire

1861 census

ELSTED, Anna 1826 35 F Williton Somersetshire

ELSTED, Edward 1860 1 M South Stoneham Hampshire

ELSTED, Eliza 1859 2 F South Stoneham Hampshire

ELSTED, Ellen J 1774 87 F South Stoneham Hampshire

ELSTED, Esther A 1857 4 F Williton Somersetshire

ELSTED, Frances 1831 30 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, J Bend 1851 10 F Williton Somersetshire

ELSTED, Mary 1855 6 F South Stoneham Hampshire

ELSTED, Mary P 1803 58 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Patricia 1839 22 F Ashby-De-La-Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Sarah 1817 44 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Thos 1827 34 M Williton Somersetshire

ELSTED, Thos 1856 5 M Williton Somersetshire

ELSTED, William 1860 1 M Williton Somersetshire

ELSTED, William 1802 59 M Dulverton Somersetshire

Vessel ELSTED, William H 1824 37 M British Ships in Home Ports British Ships in home ports ELSTED, William P 1803 58 M Dover Kent

1851 census

ELSTED, Frances 1812 39 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Joseph 1837 14 M Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Mary 1833 18 F Northampton Northamptonshire

ELSTED, Mary 1833 18 F Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Mary P 1803 48 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Percila 1839 12 F Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Stephen 1805 46 M Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, William 1803 48 M Dover Kent

1841 census

ELSTED, Affara 1781 60 F Canterbury Kent

ELSTED, Catherine 1786 55 F Canterbury Kent

ELSTED, Elizabeth 1811 30 F Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Elizabeth 1836 5 F Loughborough Leicestershire

ELSTED, Frances 1776 65 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Frances 1821 20 F Dover Kent

ELSTED, Hannah 1839 2 F Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Joseph 1837 4 M Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Mary 1833 8 F Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, Mary 1781 60 F Canterbury Kent

ELSTED, Stephen 1811 30 M Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire

ELSTED, William 1811 30 M Dover Kent

(c)Eddie Cantwell June 2010

roving on the hillsides

2010-09-05T18:54:00.006Z

Click on the images

www.ardmorewaterford.blogspot.com

Ballinacourty Growers

2010-09-05T14:13:00.001Z

Fresh Cabbage and freshly made drills at Ballyrandle!

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www.ardmorewaterford.blogspot.com

Abbeyside's Able seamen-YOUNGS

2010-08-26T16:10:00.001Z

Able Seamen- The Young’s of Abbeyside
The wreck of the ‘Peri’ off Seaview, where James Young lost his life, the destruction of the Peri clearly visible, life boat still intact(c) John Young
Continuing with our review of Abbeyside’s Able seamen we are beginning at the end of the alphabet and dealing with the Young family. The first of the Young family to set foot in the Village was John Joseph Young who was born in the City of Dublin, some ten years or so after the Famine, in 1859.

John Joseph Young 11

In 1900 he was employed as a Railway porter. Speaking recently with historian John young, he was of the opinion that he came to Dungarvan with bank Manager, Glen Roche, to work as a bank porter. There may be substance in John’s theory and perhaps the money was better working for the Railway! John married Alice Coughlin from Aglish and the couple had the following children, James 1891, Henry 1889, John Joseph 1895, Michael George 1897, Patrick, 1900, Maryanne 1903, Augustine 1905, and Margaret 1909.Three of John’s son’s followed the mast. Of this family, James was the first. Most local’s will be familiar with the wreck of the ‘Peri’ of Dungarvan.On board this ill - fated vessel out of Dungarvan on a cold November, 2nd 1907 was fifteen year – old James. Now, with the passage of time, we don’t know if this was his first Voyage, what we do know is that it was his final voyage. The vessel was driven by powerful winds onto the sheer cliff face at Sea View, Ring, and it was here that the young James lost his life.
Further reading on this can be found in John Young’s Maritime history at the Abbeyside Heritage Archive. The tragic event leading up to the death of James did not discourage his siblings Michael and John from taking to the water and certainly there must have been some misgivings by the parents who had already lost their first born to the sea. Dungarvan was a busy port town and the adventure aspect of seafaring life appealed to many. Work was also scarce and this was a contributing factor. Searching the WWW, records show both brothers at sea by 1919.John was then 24 and Michael was aged 22.
John’s first voyage appears to be 28-01-1919, and 1921 seems to be his last listed voyage. In 1920 he was issued with a war medal ribbon and Mercantile Marine Ribbon and in 1921 he was issued with a British war medal and clasp and a Mercantile Marine medal.

Among the well known vessels that he worked on were the Parton and the Lady Belle. One notable feature of John’s life was working for John Flynn, a carrier. John drove the lorry...as well as hand filling it of course! This was a Godsend to the Market farmers at Ballinacourty. Every weekend vegetables were ferried by horse and cart down the coast road to Waterford. This was a stressful journey and required a very early start. Horses were rested at Haughton’s pub which is still located on the Waterford road....don’t jump to conclusions! The horses had to be rested and this was the ideal place to break the journey. John Joe Young put an end to this particular mode of transport with his Lorry.

John Joseph young with son Dermot at King Street Abbeyside

Michael’s first listed voyage seems to be three months after his brother’s on 17-03-1919. It’s important to note that those official records are not a complete testimony of their life at sea. The better known local vessel like the Lady Belle and indeed many others are not presently listed. Most of John’s listed voyages were with the London (Lombard Shipping co) while Michael’s were with, Bideford, Reardon Smith & Co (Liverpool), Moss, H E & Co, British Gov Union-Castle Mail SS Co (Hong Kong), Watts, Watts & Co (London) Interestingly, John and Michael married sister, John married Mollie Sheehan and Michael married Annie Sheehan. Children of John Joseph Young and Mollie Sheehan were; Dermot, James, Breda, Alice, Seán and Nula. Two of this family went to sea. The quite spoken James, who I had the pleasure of knowing some years prior to his passing. He did not speak about his naval experience, but the fact that he was present on D-day when the largest amphibious war invasion of all time, took place at Normandy beach when over 160,000 troops landed on 6th June 1944, James survived the invasion but was reluctant to speak about the horrors he encountered. James married Madge Houlihan; three children were born to the couple, Marion, Kieran and John.

Dermot Young and wife Pauline nee Carlton

His brother Dermot worked as a 2nd Engineer on coasters. He went to sea in 1962. His Ships included, ‘Seabank’ which was registered to Arklow Shipping and the ‘Peter M’ registered to Metcalfe Motor Coasters He travelled around the Irish and English coasts and also to Amsterdam. Dermot moved to Manchester in 1965 after he married, Pauline Carleton from Dungarvan. They have 3 children and 10 grandchildren. Both are now retired and spend their time at their allotment, travelling and most importunately babysitting duties!!! This brings me, finally to Michael George Young. Michael G was active at sea during both world wars. John Young (historian) was present on one of the greatest days of his life at Dublin Castle when the Government honoured Michel George Young. He was a member of the crew of the ‘Lady Belle’ when that vessel was attacked from the air by German bombers on the 26th march, 1941. The ship was then raked with gunfire

Michael Young Abbeyside

. All the crew survived. John is now the proud owner of three medals which were awarded to Michael George Young, his grandfather. The Children of Michael G. Young are; Michael, Anne, (Babs) Bridget, and Donnacha.None of Michaels children went to sea. As a youngster I remember the Young’s winning the fancy dress parade at the Abbeyside pattern every year! John and George were the visible participants, but father Michael certainly had a role in the event! Michael was married to Nelly McGrath, their children are; George, John, Breda, Geraldine, and Eugene. As usual space prevents a full profile of the ‘Young’ Sea men, this is just a brief profile of their lives.

Abbeyside Heritage Archive, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, Ireland: Bear in the Garden

2010-08-17T15:29:00.000Z

Abbeyside Heritage Archive, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, Ireland: Bear in the Garden

www.ardmorewaterford.blogspot.com

Poem by Ger Moore

2010-08-06T18:53:00.007Z

Subject: I know
Days ago

I know light cos I’ve been thru the darkness
I know good times cos I’ve been thru the harshest
I know highs cos I’ve been the deepest
I know my strengths cos I’ve been at my weakest
I know bravery cos I’ve been scared
I know love cos I’ve been feared
I know wrong cos I’ve been right
I know peace cos I’ve seen the fight
I know time cos I’ve been delayed
I know loyalty cos I’ve been betrayed
I know truth cos I’ve heard the lies
I know mercy cos I’ve heard the cries
I know Innocence cos I’ve been framed
I know humility cos I’ve been shamed
I know fun cos I’ve been bored
I know talk cos I’ve been Ignored
I know genuine cos I’ve seen fake
I know giving cos I’ve had to take
I know calm cos I’ve seen the storm
I know weird cos I’ve been the norm
I know relief cos I’ve had pain
I know content cos I complain
I know joy cos I’ve felt sorrow
I know today cos I see tomorrow
I know rich cos I’m poor
I know less cos I’ve had more
I know people cos I’ve lost
I know price cos I’ve paid the cost

Abbeyside Heritage Archive, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, Ireland: Bear in the Garden

2010-08-02T09:12:00.000Z

Abbeyside Heritage Archive, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, Ireland: Bear in the Garden

Please note, new email address eddie.cantwell@gmail.com

the continuing story of Jim terry and his neighborhood bear!

2010-08-02T09:11:00.001Z

Continuing with the Story of Jim terry and his friendly neighborhood bear...I got the following from Jim today!Last Saturday I was up in my computer room with a tech guy and Pat was downstairs at the dinning room table reading the paper. It was about noon Suddenly I heard a scream from Pat. I flew down the stairs and she was pointing speechless at the front screen door. Mr. Bruin was standing on his hind legs and pounding on the screen door....I let out a yell and he came down on all fours...I kept yelling at him and eventually he went down the five steps to the landing. I open the door and growled at him and raised my arms above me to be as tall as I could....He soon went down to the parking area and stood with his arms and claws on the roof of my neighbor's car.... Eddie this guy's been around since Spring time but trying to enter our home was too much! I called the Fish and Game warden and he's going to get the hounds to scare him up the mountain where blueberrys and other berries are now in bloom...He's an adolescent bear, hungry and scared... no need to trap him."
I'll bet that Jim does not leave his door open!!