Barney Dunne

He stands in the doorway of his public house in Duke Street, his experienced eye noting the passing traffic. A cheery word greets everyone passing. A fresh complexion belies his eight decades and a few odd years. Probably best known nowadays for his continuing involvement in greyhound racing, Barney Dunne, publican and quintessential bachelor, holds a unique position in the annals of Gaelic football in Athy.

In a way it is strange that Barney should hold that unique and unlikely to be beaten distinction for a football Club in the short grass County. For Barney is a Cavan man who won four Senior Football Championship medals with Athy between 1933 and 1942. This is a record he shares with the late Paul Matthews.

Barney who worked all his life in the bar trade first came to Athy in 1931 to work for Louis O'Meara's mother in the family pub in Leinster Street. The pub which in later years Louis O'Meara sold to Jim Nelson is now known as the "Anglers Rest". In 1935 Barney moved down the street when he worked for Michael Kelly in the present Oasis pub. Spending three or four years there he was to retrace his steps back to O'Mearas where he spent a few more years before departing for Dublin in early 1941.

As a schoolboy in Cavan Barney played football for the local school but had not been involved in club football. Following his arrival in Athy his potential as a footballer was recognised and he was asked in 1932 to tog out with the local G.A.A. team. A tall, strong man Barney was soon a regular team member and in 1933 he played as left-half back in his first Senior County Championship final.

The opponents were Rathangan, an experienced team, which had contested the 1928 final. Athy on the other hand were young and inexperienced but youth was to triumph over experience on the score 2-6 to 1-4. In the following year Barney Dunne played in his second Senior Football Final for Athy, this time in the full forward position. Their opponents, Raheens, led by 0-6 to 0-0 at half time and it required a goal by Paul Matthews almost on the stroke of full-time to earn Athy a draw. The South Kildare team made no mistake in the replay and incidentally won on the same score line as the previous year. Barney scored a goal for Athy at a crucial stage in the first half to put his team on the road to victory. As Barney says himself the aftermatch celebrations were very low key. Arriving back in Athy in hackney cars the players stood around Emily Square talking about the match, went home and got up the next day for work. No fuss or celebration, just young men satisfied that they had done their best and came out on top.

In the 1937 Championship Athy were eliminated early on when Raheens were awarded a walk-over. A subsequent appeal was successful and the reinstated Athy team went on to beat Raheens. The 1937 final was eventually played at Naas on the 17th of July, 1938 when Barney played at centre half-forward. He contributed one goal and one point to the winning score of 3-6 to Sarsfields 1-5.

Athy unsuccessfully contested the County Final in 1941 but without Barney who had earlier left for Dublin where he played with Clan na nGael. Within a few months Barney returned to his adopted town and when Athy reached the 1942 County Final he togged out at left corner-forward. The first match ended in a draw but Athy won the replay 1-6 to 0-6 giving Barney Dunne, the Cavan man, his fourth County Kildare Senior Championship medal.

Barney who played for County Kildare between 1935 and 1937 hung up his boots soon after the 1942 final. He purchased a pub in Duke Street in 1945 from Ned Carroll where he continues to carry on business today. As he looks back on his life in Athy over the last 62 years Barney recalls some of the great players with whom he played. Paul Matthews, Tommy Mulhall, Mick Mannion and George Comerford were for him some of the best. Barney is the only survivor of the 1933 County Championship winning team.

Barney's unique position in the annals of Athy football is assured. His tally of four Championship medals is never again likely to be achieved especially when it is realised that it took Athy forty five years to win it's next Senior Championship.

Moonbeam Entertainments

A bundle of old programmes and play bills recently acquired from an Auctioneer in an adjoining town has proved to be a treasure trove of times past in Athy. The theatrical ephemera related to a local group calling themselves Moonbeam Entertainment which trod the boards in Athy in the early 1920's.

The oldest poster was for an entertainment in the Town Hall, Athy on Thursday, the 5th of May, 1921. The group which was then named the Moonbeams were to change it’s name later to Moonbeam Entertainment. The 1921 show had the unusual starting time of 6.00 p.m. with the doors opening at 5.30 p.m. Frieda Browne was the Musical Director and the admission prices were 2/4 reserved seats and 1/3 unreserved. Tickets were available from H. K. Toomey of 21 Emily Square who was one of the local Solicitors.

The earliest programme was for the show put on by Moonbeam Entertainment in the Town Hall on Friday, the 24th of February, 1922. Starting with a sketch titled "The Bathroom Door" the players included Mr. & Mrs. Painting, Ms. Hosie, Ms. McElwee, Ms. Cecil and Ms. Toomey. Herbert Painting was the Vice-Principal of the local Technical School and was one of the tenants appointed by the local Council to its first housing scheme at St. Michael's. He is often mistakenly credited with designing the badge for the newly established Garda Siochana but in fact his involvement related to the making of a mould for the casting of the badge at Duthie Larges.

Returning to the Moonbeam's it would appear from the names with which I am familiar that they were a local Church of Ireland group. The programmes of entertainment for which I have copies up to the 8th of May, 1924 always follow a somewhat familiar pattern. The opening sketch followed by a chorus, a duet and what was described as a "vocal fox trot". Songs were an important part of the show occasionally interspersed with cello solos or a Musical Monologue.

New members of the Moonbeams for a show on the 15th of December, 1922 in the Town Hall were Mr. Youell, Captain Hosie and R. H. Fry. Mr. Youell was involved in the provision of a private electricity supply in parts of Athy during the early 1920's. He operated a turbine in Garter Lane which was eventually subsumed into the E.S.B. system. Captain Hosey was to establish the I.V.I. Foundry in the 1930's which Foundry was to be the mainstay of Industrial Employment in the town for upwards of 50 years.

An interesting programme for Wednesday, 4th April, 1923 indicates that the show was put on by the Moonbeams in the Technical School. The school first established in 1901 was located in Stanhope Place in the premises adjoining the Catholic Young Men's Society's building. Both buildings were demolished in 1964 to make way for the new St. Michael's Parish Church.

The last two programmes to hand were for shows in the Comrades Hall on the 6th of December, 1923 and the 8th of May, 1924. Captain's Strudwicke and Mr. Telford had joined the group in 1923 as had Ms. May Molyneux. The Comrades Hall located in St. John's Hall on the site of the present Scouts Hall den had been built by the British Legion for soldiers who returned from the first World War.

The bundle of programmes and posters are all that remain of Moonbeam Entertainment. Perhaps there is someone out there who remembers those players of seventy years ago and their light hearted theatrical contributions on the stages of the Town Hall, the Technical School and the Comrades Hall.

John Wesley and the Methodists

I was in London last week and while there I visited the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley's house in City Road, It may have seemed a strange pilgrimage for me to make but in a sense I was renewing a link with Athy's Past.

After all had not John Wesley in one of his many trips to Ireland passed through Athy on his way to Roseanna near Ashford, County Wicklow home of Mrs. Sarah Tighe. It was while in Roseanna that Romney had painted Wesley's portrait on the 5th January, 1789. Mrs. Tighe's daughter, Elizabeth who undoubtedly met Wesley while he was there was to marry Reverend Thomas Kelly of Ballintubbert in 1794. Kelly will be remembered as the founder of the Kellyites that small religious group which existed outside the established Church up to 1855.

As for John Wesley's house and the Museum of Methodism both can be highly recommended as somewhere to visit while in London. The Museum itself is located in the basement of the Wesley Chapel which is regarded as the Mother Church of World Methodism. The neat Chapel building enriched with Victorian stained glass and monuments to Methodist worthies, clerical and lay, is a peaceful and inspiring place even for a non-Methodist. The Museum tells the story of Methodism with material and exhibits showing the various stages of the development of that movement.


It is perhaps John Wesley's house itself in the grounds of the Methodist Chapel which evoked most memories of his time spent in Ireland. Here one could see his furniture and personal effects together with a number of his manuscript letters. His travelling robe, three cornered had and shoes were on display with the chair he used when presiding over the first Methodist Conference in 1744.

John Wesley had overseen the appointment of the first Methodist Minister in Athy before he died in 1791. John Miller was that Minister and in the early years the religious worship of the Methodist was closely associated with that of the Church of England. Methodists attended morning service in the Parish Church in Emily Square every Sunday and attended their own preaching service in the evening.

Itinerant preachers were to pay particular attention to Athy during the early part of the 19th Century in the absence of a full-time locally based Minister. Adam Averall, Gideon Ouseley and Charles Graham were frequent visitors to the town where they reported "Multitudes of Catholics as well as others attended our Ministry in the streets and markets".

The first Methodist Chapel in Athy was established in the former Quaker Meeting House in Meeting Lane sometime between 1820 and 1837. The building continued to be used for this purpose until 1874. On the 12th June that year the new Methodist Church was opened in Woodstock Street. Largely responsible for the building was Alexander Duncan of Tonlegee House in whose memory a memorial tablet was placed in the Church following his death in September 1887.

Incidently when the Church was first opened it was referred to as the Wesylian Church and the congregation is today referred to as Wesylian Methodist. However the correctness of this term it does show that the local church group was and always remained followers of John Wesley.

Following Wesley's death in 1791, there were several secessions, and break away groups including the Methodist New Connexion, the Primitive Methodists and Protestant Methodists sprang up. A number of unions were attempted, first in 1857 and finally in 1932 resulting in the coming together of most of the separate Methodist groups.

Methodism in Athy has suffered a sharp decline in numbers in recent years. The Church in Woodstock Street is still in use for Sunday Service and quite recently hosted a local Ecumenical Service. The legacy of John Wesley lives on in Athy even though it took 204 years to return his visit.
Frank Taaffe.
I returned from holidays at the weekend to be told that 'Mickey' Moore was dead and buried. Known to everybody in business as Michael to Offaly Street Resident's he was always 'Mickey'. Small of stature but ever pleasant he and my brother Seamus were of the same age.

Being some years younger than the rest of the lads in the street, they are only allowed occasionally to join with the big fellows such a Teddy Kelly, Willy Moore, Andrew White, Tom Webster and myself. At least we thought we were the big lads in those heady days of the 1950's.

Whatever Mickey lacked in stature he compensated for with a innate charm which made him friends with everyone he met. It was a quality he used to good effect even when he was a young lad in short trousers in Offaly Street for despite ourselves the so called big lads would inevitably end up with the two young ones tagging along.

But he was good fun. Always was and never known to involve himself in rancour. I can recall I as a young fellow playing with Mickey in what for us was the strange territory of St. John's when Mickey pushing a go cart fell and somehow my boot (which we all wore and hated in those pre-dockmartin days) hit Mickey in the face. He ended up with a cut lip and even in adulthood he retained the mark of that accident of long ago.

As I remember those days it saddens me to think of yet another member of the Offaly Street 'gang' gone to join Seamus, Andrew, Leopold, Mylie and Danny. Time is a cruel reaper. May he rest in peace.

Blacksmith

As a young schoolboy attending the local Christian Brothers School in St. John’s Lane I passed every day what was the last working forge in Athy. Ted Vernal was the blacksmith who in the 1950’s carried on a family tradition which was to end with him.

The forge, located behind the houses which faced the courtyard opposite Herterich’s shop, was itself opposite a row of two storied houses on the laneway leading to the school. Shaws store now extends back into the ground once occupied by these houses while Vernals forge and the laneway have disappeared to become part of the public car park.

Every town and village once had it’s forge and indeed several of them where the blacksmith carried on his craft of shoeing horses. In addition to being a farrier he was also a blacksmith who worked in iron. No doubt we have all seen at some time or another the nineteenth century print showing the village blacksmith performing his other role as village dentist and extracting teeth with a pliers.

The Vernal forge, which I remember so well, had a raised hearth built of bricks with a canopy over it in the north wall to the left of the main door. The big bellows, which created the draught needed to keep the fire going, was pumped by means of a long handle extending outwards from the hearth. A water trough with cold water was positioned nearby for use in cooling tools and sometimes the iron being worked on. Coal was burnt in the fire and the heat generated made the forge an extremely hot and uncomfortable place in which to work.

In the centre of the floor stood the anvil each part of which had a specific purpose. The flat upper part or face of the anvil was most in use and was made of hardened steel. Between the anvil face and the conical shaped projection called the bick was a narrow strip of softer mild steel which was used when cutting metal with a cold chisel. The bick of the anvil was itself used to shape metal and in particular horse shoes.

At the opposite end to the bick and towards the end of the anvil table were two holes. One rounded and called a punch hole was where hot metal was placed when holes such as nail holes in horse shoes were being punched. The square hole, called a tool hole, was used as a receptacle for various tools used in finishing off metal work. The anvil sat on a block of timber and was the blacksmith’s work bench.

Around the forge, hanging on hooks set into the wall, were the tools of trade of the farrier cum blacksmith. He had for instance a variety of hammers of different sizes and shapes, all designed for a specific purpose. Tongs for holding the hot metal being worked were also of different sizes and shapes and they, like the hammers, hung from hooks on the walls.

The blacksmith always wore a leather apron as he worked in the dark dusty confines of the forge, heating, hammering and shaping metal to his requirements. During the early years of this century, before the combustion engine ousted horse power, the blacksmith’s principal function was to make horse shoes and shoe horses. The farmer and indeed the townsman who kept a horse or two for his carriage brought their horses to the local forge for shoeing. The old shoes were removed from the horse with large pincers and the horse’s hooves were cleaned and pared using a paring knife and a rasp. The replacement shoes were put up to the hoof and altered as required. The constant heating of the shoe in the forge fire and the shaping of the shoe on the anvil showed the blacksmith at his skilful best. The rhythmical ring of the anvil as the blacksmith hit the anvil plate and the horse shoe with each alternate stroke of his hammer were the signature tune of the one of the oldest crafts known to man.

The sound of the anvil is no more. The forge in St. John’s Lane has disappeared and those of us who remember it must sometimes wonder why progress must always result in the demise of the old traditional crafts.

Bread Making

Long before the potato became the stable diet of the Irish country folk milled grain was used to make bread which is still so characteristic of the Irish country kitchen. Wheat, oats and barley were ground in the saddle querns of a long lost age and the resulting crushed grain was used to make porridge or bread.

Oaten bread was at one time the most common type of bread. Wheaten bread was regarded somewhat of a luxury while barley bread was regarded as suitable only for monks and clerics who wished to mortify themselves.

The grinding of corn was by law carried out at the mill of the manor Lord. In the manors of Woodstock and Rheban the fees for grinding the corn were paid to the Fitzgerald family. It is interesting to observe in leases of land in Athy, even up to the eighteenth century a stipulation that corn was to be ground at the manorial mill with payment of the appropriate fee.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries mills were located at both sides of the Barrow Bridge. The present Castle Inn occupies the site of one such mill while on the opposite bank a mill existed up to the 1960’s. Hannon’s mill, as it was called, was operational up to 1924, closing two or three years before the Barrow Drainage Scheme commenced. At the same time Hannon’s mill, located at Ardreigh, closed. It too was demolished some time in the 1940’s and little or no trace of the vast Ardreigh buildings remain today. A photograph of the mills as they were in 1910 is on display in the Museum Room in the Town Hall.

The Irish favoured the baking of bread using either a griddle or a pot oven. The griddle was a circular flat iron hung over the open fire or alternatively placed on an iron trivet over the burning sods of turf. The pot oven was a cast iron pot with a flat bottom and a tight fitting lid and like the griddle it was hung over the fire or rested on a trivet.

Built-in baking ovens which were popular in Britain after the seventeenth century were not to be found in many Irish houses. In the larger urban areas and cities the half cylindrical shaped masonry projection with a sloped roof typical of baking ovens was to be found in private houses where the family favoured the use of the baking oven rather than the open fire. In the urban areas also there developed a cottage bakery industry where the locals could buy fresh bread daily.

In Pigots Directory of 1824 the following bakers are listed as working in Athy:- Mary Bryan, Michael Byrne, Catherine Fogarty, Catherine Purcell and James Sourke. Their numbers had increased substantially by 1881 when Slaters Directory listed the town bakers as Gregory Bradley, Emily Square; James Bradley, William Street; Bridget Brewster, Leinster Street; James Conlan, Barrack Street; Margaret Fogarty, Leinster Street; Joseph Nugent, Duke Street; John Roberts, Leinster Street; James Tierney, William Street; Joseph Whelan, Duke Street and Miles Whelan of Duke Street and Offaly Street.

In addition to the bakeries Athy would have had a number of baking ovens where the local women could bring their bread and cake mix for baking. Such an oven, until recently, was to be seen in an outhouse attached to Websters sweet shop in Offaly Street. The availability of such an oven was a tremendous help for the poor people of the town whose circumstances and primitive living conditions did not permit the baking of bread in their own homes.

Today there is only one bakery operating in Athy. The townspeoples’ needs are largely met by bread deliveries brought into the town from Dublin and further afield every morning. The days of the master bakers are no more. Mechanisation and computer controlled systems have lead to bread production methods which do not require the skills and crafts of the bakers of old. Bread is now made in plants employing only one or two machinists where up to six thousand pans an hour can be produced without the intervention of human hand.

This advancement has been sadly achieved at the expense of workers and craftsmen and our local economy is all the poorer as a result.

Sean Maher

Amongst my books I treasure a small red covered volume published by the Talbot Press in 1972. Titled "The Road to God Knows Where" it records the story of Sean Maher, traveller, balladeer, busker and above all gentleman.

Born on the 15th of January, 1932 in the County Home, Tullamore, Sean who learnt to read and write with considerable skill and talent in an industrial school in Cork, was the son of a travelling family. The winter months were spent by the Maher family in various County Homes throughout Ireland where the sometimes harsh regimes of the 1930's and 1940's were endured because they offered respite from the cold and rain. The male and female members of the family were always kept apart while in the County Homes and Sean's father could not see his wife at any time during their sojourns in what was referred to as "the Spike". The summer months were spent out in the open air "tenting" under the stars and travelling from town to town dealing in delph, rosary beads, needles and anything saleable. Supplies were obtained from the "Monster House" in Kilkenny, where travellers traditionally bought their stock of goods for re-sale while on the road.

An early move into a house in Co. Kildare proved unsuccessful. The family found themselves alienated from their neighbours who believed they had little in common with the travellers who kept in their front garden their cart, rigging poles, wattles and cover, all essentials for camping out in the summer. Within a short while the young family were again on the road and Sean remembers with sadness his mother's tears as she left the first house she had ever lived in.

Sean made his First Communion in Thurles where he was prepared for the great day by the Ursuline nuns. The part played by the religious orders of nuns in Ireland in helping travellers to live out their lives with dignity can never be underestimated. They have always offered kindness and a helping hand when it was required by a group treated as an underclass by the settled community. Sean's memories of the Ursuline nuns in Thurles reinforced his belief in the essential goodness of the settled community and was later to enable him to cross the divide which separated the two communities.

In 1943 he ran away and spent a couple of months on the road living by begging, selling and what he refers to in travellers language as "chanting" (singing). As a streetwise 11 year old he survived on his own for a few months until found by the Gardai sleeping on Tramore beach. Undernourished and suffering from pneumonia he spent two weeks in hospital before being admitted to St. Joseph's School in Cork where he was to stay until he was 16 years of age. It was while there that Sean learned to read and write and as he admitted “school was a God send”. He enjoyed every day of his schooling years. However, his travelling instincts could not be suppressed for as he says himself "to the tober (road) born - to the tober I must return."

He did return to the nomadic way of life some time after leaving St. Joseph's School but not before he had stayed for a short while with his family in their new Council house in Athy. The call of the road was too strong as Sean eventually left Athy to roam the Irish countryside. As he travelled from town to town Sean developed his musical skills and learned to play the tin whistle, the mouth organ and the accordion. Sporting a long beard and calling himself "Rambling John" he became a familiar sight at all the important football matches and fairs in provincial Ireland.

About 20 years ago John decided to settle in Dublin for the winter months and more recently he is to be occasionally seen busking in Grafton Street. As one of the last of the travelling buskers Sean attracts large crowds wherever he plays. With his distinctive appearance he is one of the most easily recognised buskers whose memories are beautifully captured in the skilfully crafted autobiography "The Road to God Knows Where".

I first met Sean in 1984 when outside St. Michael's Cemetery in Athy I saw his van bearing on it’s side in bold letters "The Man From God Knows Where." He was in the cemetery searching for the graves of his mother and father who had settled and died in Athy amongst neighbours who welcomed them into the community. When he signed a copy of his book for me it was with words which Sean could apply with equal measure to many he had met during his life "With many thanks and especially fond memories of your father Sergeant Taaffe".

Sean Maher ended his book with the following words "Life is like this, we all waddle through life, the short span it is. In reality each and every one of us are on the road and one day please God we shall all meet at the final mollying (camping) ground, then the road shall end and for some it will be a very happy molly. There too we will, by the Grace of God, meet the Saviour who travelled and mollied in his humble earthly life. With such thoughts life has meaning and with meaning I can journey with the rest of humanity on the road that leads to God knows where."

Local History Summer School 1993

Last week I talked to a group attending the South Kildare Local History Summer School which was based in the Crookstown Heritage Centre, Ballitore. Locating a Local History School in a mill was an excellent idea. Jim Maher, it's owner, has managed to refurbish a derelict mill of a bygone age and while retaining it as a mill has intelligently used it as a backdrop for the interesting artefacts which he has accumulated over the years.

It was in this setting that the twenty or so persons interested in the history of South Kildare came to hear a number of speakers talk on various aspects of local history.

Most of the participants were primary school teachers and their involvement is an indication of the increasing interest by the general public in the history of place and people.

We have all come to recognise that history is not restricted to the wars and battles of long ago or to the lives of Kings and Queens of other eras. The history of the ordinary people whose life styles were far removed from those of the leaders of the day provide far more interesting and relevant material for study than the regal lives of foreign potentates whose schemes and achievements scarcely touched the lives of ordinary folk.

The vast amount of local history material now being produced is a reflection of the general public's interest. It is also the result of the extensive and sometimes intensive research over long hours by individuals and groups who have blazed a pioneering trail through the archival material stored for the most part in the various public repositories in Dublin.

How nice then to see that here in South Kildare in the week that saw the 90th anniversary re-run of the Gordon Bennett Race over the Athy circuit that the Local History Summer School was taking place. While it was not the first such school it was certainly an early incursion into a field which will inevitably spawn many imitators in other Counties in the future.

Perhaps the idea can be used to reactivate the local history talks which Athy Museum Society put on in the Council Chamber some years ago. I can recall with some disappointment the sometimes excellent topics and excellent speakers where the audiences were so small as to raise doubts as to the publics interest in local history.

The resurgence of interest owes much to the personal interest in the subject of teachers who in turn pass on their enthusiasm to their pupils. I still remember after the passage of more years than I care to acknowledge the history lessons of the late Bill Ryan in the Christian Brothers School in Athy. Unfortunately local history was then unrecognised and unchartered but even in relation to national or international history Bill Ryan's infectious enthusiasm for his subject sparked a response in his listeners which in at least one young student has survived the passing years.

I often regret that a lack of information on local aspects of history in those days meant that so many of us were never able to grasp the significant part which our place and our townspeople played in important historical events. It is sometimes only when one realises what happened in Athy during a particular period of Irish history that there can be an understanding of the significance of what happened nationally.

History is all around us. In the stones of the buildings we pass unnoticed every day. In the experiences of old people and in the visible remains of buildings crumbling and neglected. They all have a story to tell and in it's telling the past comes alive and relives experiences long forgotten. We should study the past because we are the heirs to the wisdom of the past.

Kilmoroney House

As you pass on the road to Carlow cast your eyes across the Barrow Valley on the right hand side and see in the distance the crumbling remains of Kilmoroney House. It is a broken, roofless, derelict shell standing outlined against the Laois skyline. It's story is part of our heritage.

Kilmoroney House was built in 1780 by Stewart Weldon, son of Walter and Mary Weldon of Rahinderry, Co. Laois. Stewart was an only son and he married in 1777 Helen, sister of Henry, the 2nd Marquis of Coneygham. The house as originally constructed was a two storey, five bay Georgian house of grand proportions with a balustraded roof parapet. It was in time to have a lower two storey wing added.

Stewart Weldon died on the 2nd of January, 1829 and Kilmoroney House passed to his first cousin Anthony Weldon, son of Rev. Anthony Weldon of Athy who at 14 years of age had entered the East Indian Service. Inexplicably Anthony Weldon was not heard of for many years and believing him to be dead Kilmoroney was left to Rev. F.S. Trench and his wife Helena on condition that if Anthony Weldon ever returned the property should revert to him on Rev. Trench's death. Frederick Trench, Rector of Athy, and last Sovereign of Athy Borough Council was son of Rev. Thomas Trench, Dean of Kildare and his wife Helena was daughter of Lord Arden. The Trenches who had lived for 12 years at Bert moved to Kilmoroney House in 1832.

Mrs. Helena Trench was niece of The Honourable Spencer Percival, the British Prime Minister who was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons on the 11th of May, 1812. She had four daughters, the eldest of whom Helena later married Rev. Jeffrey Lefroy, third son of Thomas Lefroy, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. Even with this marriage the Athy connection was maintained as Thomas Lefroy, the Lord Chief Justice, as a young boy from County Longford attended Mr. Ash's classical school in Athy as a boarder with his brother Ben Lefroy in 1791.

Helena Lefroy, nee Trench, was 12 years old when the Trench family moved to Kilmoroney. The house, as remembered by her, was situated on a bend of the River Barrow and travelling from Athy the river had to be crossed one quarter of a mile from the house. There was no bridge across the river in the 1830's and a large float was used to carry carriages and horses across. From the river the ground in front of the house rose gently, the drive first passing a wooded area on the left.

The Trench family continued to live in Kilmoroney House until the unfortunate death of Rev. Trench following an accident in Offaly Street when his horse and gig collided with Preston's Gate, the last remains of the old medieval wall of Athy. Trench died on the 23rd of November, 1860 and the Gate was subsequently removed by the Town Commissioners of Athy. In his Will Rev. Trench left a bequest in favour of the poor of Athy and ever since a sum of money is paid each year to the Parish Priest of the town under the terms of his Will. A beautiful carved marble pulpit in memory of Rev. F.S. Trench is to be found in St. Michael's Church of Ireland Church on the Carlow Road.

The long missing Anthony Weldon who at 14 years of age had gone overseas returned after 30 years absence. On the death of Rev. Trench Kilmoroney House reverted to the Weldon family and in particular to Sir Anthony Cresdill Weldon, 5th Baronet Rahinderry, son of the West Indian adventurer who had died in 1858 having earlier succeeded to the Baronetcy of his cousin Sir William Bundett in 1840.

Kilmoroney House and the land on which it stood was to remain in the possession of the Weldon family until 1934 when the then Lady Weldon moved to Dublin following the death of her husband Sir Anthony Weldon in 1931. A public auction of the contents of Kilmoroney House was held that year and many of the valuable artifacts accumulated by generations of the Weldons were dispersed.

The property was then let on a ten year Lease to a Mountrath man but during the second World War Sir Thomas Weldon, the 8th Baronet who by then was living in England, found himself unable to take up residence again in Kilmoroney House. The Irish Land Commission took over the land and the magnificent Georgian House was allowed to fall into ruin.

The remains of Kilmoroney House are a visible and stark reminder of the social changes brought about in the Republic of Ireland in the years immediately following the Treaty.

Gordon Bennett Race

The first Gordon Bennett Motor Race took place in France in 1900. For this and the next two years the starting point was Paris finishing in Bordeaux in 1901 and Vienna in 1902. James Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the New York Herald, had offered a Cup for a motor race in 1899 and thereafter the race organised by the Automobile Club de France bore his name.

When the British driver S.F. Edge won the 1902 Race the following year's Race had to be held in the British Isles. A speed limit of 12 m.p.h. applied in Britain and there was much opposition to cars which were seen as "slaughtering stinking engines of iniquity" driving men, women, children and animals off the road. The British Automobile Club looked to Ireland as a possible venue for the race and a number of members came across in 1902 to check out the roads. A second group led by S.F. Edge then followed and a course centred on Athy was finally chosen.

The total distance to be covered was 327.5 miles with four laps of a circuit taking in Ballyshannon, Kilcullen, Kildare, Monasterevan, Stradbally and Athy alternating with three laps of a smaller circuit taking in Kilcullen, Carlow and Athy.

The Race organisers immediately set about reassuring the public about road safety and highlighted the benefits of holding the Race in Ireland. Every Council and public figure in the country was canvassed for support and religious scruples were recognised by arranging to hold the Race on a weekday. It was necessary to change the law to permit the Race cars to exceed the 12 m.p.h. speed limit and to allow the Race organisers to carry out road repairs on the Athy circuit which would otherwise be the responsibility of the County Councils of Kildare, Carlow and Laois.

A number of sharp bends were improved, road gullies were removed, hedges cut and parts of the course were dust proofed at a cost of £1,200. All of this work was carried out under the guidance of the Automobile Club and many locals were gainfully employed for weeks before the Race getting the Athy Circuit ready for the big day.

The Race was to take place on Thursday, the 2nd of July, 1903 with twelve competitors representing Germany, France, England and U.S.A. The circuits were closed for the duration of the Race and upwards of 7,000 policemen were brought into the area to patrol the roads. The local hotels and many enterprising farmers who provided land for tents and viewing purposes were to benefit financially from the huge crowds which descended on South Kildare. The excitement generated by the international motor race can be imagined when it is realised that less than 12 months previously there were only two cars in Athy owned by Mr. Hurley, Engineer and Sir. Anthony Weldon.

The starting point was at Ballyshannon where a grandstand was provided to accommodate 1,000 spectators. Special trains were provided to bring thousands of spectators to Athy and other towns on the circuit but subsequent criticism of the railway company would seem to indicate dissatisfaction with it’s arrangements. A large campsite was located at Ardscull. There were race controls at seven locations on the circuit including Athy in which town the drivers were obliged to stop for 15 minutes or so. This was to ensure greater safety on that part of the course between Athy and Kilcullen which formed part of the two circuits.

The car drivers who were the 1903 equivalent of modern day pop stars were provided with accommodation in the Athy area. The British team of S.F. Edge, Charles Jarrott and J. W. Stocks stayed with the Large family in Rheban, supposedly because the Larges had the only bathroom with an indoor flush toilet in the area. The real reason was probably Harry Large's involvement in cycle racing in Ireland and England which had brought him in contact with Edge, the British car driver. The American team stayed in Timolin Rectory. The Leinster Arms Hotel played host to the German team of Jenatzy, De Caters and Keene who were to drive Mercedes cars. The French team were accommodated on a ship in Dublin Harbour.

Prior to the Race start each car was weighed in Naas to ensure compliance with the maximum weight conditions of the Automobile Club. Several of the competitors were required to strip non essential equipment from their cars to met the Race organisers requirements.

On Thursday, the 2nd of July the first car driven by Edge left the starting line at Ballyshannon at 7.00a.m. The other cars left at 7 minute intervals to ensure maximum safety on the course and to reduce the possibility of cars meeting up with each other on the narrow Irish roads.

When passing through towns and villages regarded as neutralised zones for safety reasons the cars were required to keep within the 12 m.p.h. speed limit while they were preceded by cyclists acting as pilots. In Athy, where each car passed through twice on each full circuit, cars were required to stop for up to 15 minutes on arrival.

Edge, the winner of the 1902 Race, had particular reason to remember Athy. During the Race he changed his car tyres on seven occasions and in Athy buckets of water were thrown over his tyres to cool them and help keep them on the wheel rims. He was later to be disqualified on account of this assistance.

Jarrott, driving a Napier car for Britain, crashed between Stradbally and Athy and rumours of his death and that of his mechanic soon reached Athy. The bystanders and race organisers were relieved to be later advised that neither party was seriously injured although they took no further part in the Race. Indeed, the only casualty was a young boy in Kildare town who was fatally injured by a car not involved in the Race.

Of the twelve cars which started the Race only five completed the course with the German Jenatzy driving a Mercedes the winner in a time of 6 hours 39 minutes and an average speed of 49.2. m.p.h. French drivers filled the next three places with Britains S.F. Edge in fifth place but later disqualified.

Even after 90 years reference is still made to the Gordon Bennett Race as if it was an occasion enjoyed within living memory. Next weekend sees the 90th anniversary celebration of Ireland's and Athy's greatest ever sporting event. Gordon Bennett is a name now synonymous in Irish minds with the Athy circuit and the 1903 Race. The proprietor of the New York Herald could hardly have envisaged how his motor racing Cup presented in 1899 would ensure Athy's place in the history of International motor racing.

Athy Golf Club

Next Sunday sees the official opening of Athy Golf Club's new 18 Hole Course. The magnificent course which has been planned and constructed under the watchful eye of Denis O'Donovan and his colleagues is the culmination of 94 years work which first started on the 18th of October, 1899. On that date a number of men met in the Country Club House, Carlow, at the invitation of Dr. F. Brannan, Kilkea Lodge and P. Lynch, The Abbey, Athy, to consider the formation of a Golf Club for Athy and Carlow.

The meeting, chaired by Captain Stewart Duckett agreed to form "The Royal Leinster Golf Club" with a Golf Course at Gotham, mid-way between Maganey and Carlow. The annual subscription was fixed at one guinea for gentlemen and 10/6 for ladies. The meeting guaranteed a sum of £40.0.0. to meet the initial costs of laying out the course at Gotham. Lord Walter Fitzgerald of Kilkea was elected President with Dr. Brannan as Secretary and R. J. Nicholson, National Bank Carlow, as Hon. Treasurer. The first Committee of the combined Carlow/Athy Golf Club comprised Ms. P.A. Browne, P.D. Shackleton, E.F. Maffet, John Hammond M.P., M. Governey, Rev. J. Duggan Athy, H.K. Toomey Athy and P. Lynch of Athy.

The prime movers in establishing the Club were very experienced golfers. Dr. Brannan had previously played at Greystones where he had been Hon. Secretary of the local Golf Club. Mr. Lynch, who was residing at The Abbey, Athy, had previously been Hon. Secretary of the Bundoran Golf Club. On the 25th of July, 1899 the Irish Times reported the official opening of the nine hole Gotham course which had been laid out by Mr. Larkin, the Bray based golf professional. It was noted that a young professional named Browne was retained by the Royal Leinster Club as greenkeeper and golf coach. Some time before 1903 the Club changed it's name to Carlow Golf Club and this may have prompted the Athy members to consider the possibility of starting up a Club in Athy.

On Tuesday, 27th January, 1906 a meeting was held in the offices of the Urban District Council in the Town Hall, Athy, to consider such a project. The meeting was called by P.J. Corcoran of Athy who was later to be the Club's first Secretary. Those in attendance at the first meeting were Rev. Canon O'Keeffe P.P., Rev. W. Duggan C.C., Rev. E.H. Waller, Ms. H.F. Lesmond, P.J. Corcoran, M.J. Minch, John A. Duncan - Chairman of Athy Urban Council, R. Anderson, Dr. Kilbride, D. Carbery, John A. Corcoran, P.J. Murphy, T.G. Lumley, W. G. Murphy, J.F. White and Charles Collins. The Chairman of the Urban Council, John Duncan, chaired the meeting.

On the proposal of Rev. W. Duggan, seconded by Mr. Murphy it was agreed to establish a Golf Club in Athy. A sub-committee was appointed to report on suitable grounds in the locality and a further meeting was convened for the following Monday night. At that meeting it was decided to build a course at Geraldine on property owned by Mrs. O'Neill to be rented for £15.00 a year. As for the earlier Carlow/Athy Club in Gotham the annual subscription was fixed at one guinea for gentlemen and 10/6 for ladies, and the course was laid out by Mr. Larkin, the Bray golf professional.

The first Golf competition on the new course at Geraldine was held on Friday, the 8th of June, 1906 when the monthly medal competition was won by Mr. T. Bodley. The Leinster Leader noted the names of the other competitors in that very first competition. They were Rev. William Duggan, Rev. J. Nolan, Ms. Downey, Carbery, J. Whelan, W. Murphy, H.F. Lesmond, W. Taylor, D. Telford, B. Wright, S.M. Telford, T. Roche and J.M. White. In October 1906 the Club's first Captain H.F. Lesmond, Manager of the local Hibernian Bank in Athy, set the amateur course record for the Course.

On the 23rd of February, 1907 the competition for the Captain's prize was held for the first time in Athy Golf Club. The winner was Joseph P. Whelan whose prize was a silver ink stand of elaborate design presented by H.F. Lesmond.

On the 2nd of March, 1907 the first A.G.M. of the Club was held with Rev. Canon O'Keeffe presiding. Major Sir Anthony Weldon was re-elected President, H.F. Lesmond Captain and J.F. White was elected Secretary. Mr. Joseph Whelan, U.D.C. was elected Treasurer and A. Reeves and J. W. Coote were appointed Committee members.

Within weeks of the first A.G.M. the members of the Athy Golf Club were stunned to read of the arrest of their Club Captain H.F. Lesmond. A warrant for his arrest issued on the 21st of March, 1907 alleging embezzlement and falsification of accounts at the local Bank of which he was Manager. On the 23rd of March he was taken into custody in Dublin by Det. Love of the G Division and on the following day conveyed to Athy by train accompanied by Constables Tesky and Love. Detained overnight at Athy Barracks he was charged on the following Monday morning before Thomas Anderson J.P. on a number of counts.

As a consequence of these unhappy events an extraordinary A.G.M. of Athy Golf Club was held on Friday the 17th of May when Dr. O'Neill was elected Captain in place of Mr. Lesmond. For some reason, now unknown, the Club Secretary resigned and he was replaced by Paul Manning of the luckless Hibernian Bank. The Bank was quite obviously anxious to retain a presence on the Golf Club Committee despite the unfortunate events surrounding Mr.Lesmond.

In this review of the early years of Athy Golf Club it is perhaps heartening to note the part played by the Urban District Council in the foundation of the Club. The initial meeting was held in the Urban District Council Chamber and the very first meeting was chaired by the local Council Chairman John Duncan.

Sad then to reflect on the recent refusal of the present Urban District Council to mark the occasion of the official opening of the new Course by presenting a suitable trophy to the Club in the name of the Council and the townspeople to acknowledge the Club's achievement.

Paddy Keenan

A long association with pedal power was not broken when Paddy Keenan retired in 1985 as a rural postman. He had spent 45 years in the saddle delivering letters and parcels on his country rounds when the time came to retire. Paddy is still a familiar sight on his bicycle but now he confines his travels to the town where he has lived since 1948. In that year Paddy, a Stradbally man, was transferred from his home town Post Office where he had already spent nine years as a postman.

When he joined the postal services Paddy was following a Keenan family tradition as his brother and sister had done when they joined Stradbally Post Office where their father had worked in the early 1900's. Mr. Keenan Snr. was the driver of the mail car which travelled between Stradbally and Portlaoise.

As a young man in his native Stradbally Paddy was very involved in Gaelic football and music. He played for the local Club and was a substitute on the Stradbally team which won the Senior County Championship in 1941. It was as a musician however that Paddy was to excel and his first of many musical engagements was as a young man of 18 years when he joined the Stradbally All Stars Band. Music always was an important part of Keenan family life as Paddy's father was a violinist, his brother David an accordionist while his other brother Joe played both the violin and the ukulele.

In the 1940's Paddy started up his own Quartet and with him at different times he had musicians of the calibre of Mick Hennessy of Carlow, Gabby O'Brien and Joe Hayden. Gabby was to marry Paddy's sister Chrissie and Joe is remembered by Paddy as "the longest banjo player in Ireland". Paddy and his group played at all night dances all over the midlands until Paddy was transferred to Athy in 1948. It was not long before Paddy joined Joe O'Neill's 'Stardust' band which was possibly the most famous musical combination ever to come out of Athy.

He spent 12 years with “Stardust” travelling to every Marquee, Town Hall and Parochial Hall in the country. Purpose built dance halls were seldom encountered outside the major seaside resorts and dances were usually organised for parish and other fundraising purposes.

Travel in the early 1950's was apparently less hazardous than it is today, even if the cars available were less reliable. This was the heyday of Mick Delahunty and his orchestra and Paddy recalls the occasion when the car bringing the 'Stardust' players broke down in Youghal on the way to a dance in West Cork. Mick Delahunty who was playing the Show Boat in Youghal put his own transport and driver at the disposal of the Stardust for the journey to West Cork. Mick, the most famous musician in Ireland was to be found patiently waiting with his Band on the footpath in Youghal at 4.30 a.m. for the van loaded with the Stardust's equipment and musicians to return.

Music played in those days, says Paddy, was strictly of the Ballroom variety with the musicians wearing dress suits and remaining seated. The show band era was still years away as the Stardust and the Mick Dels crisscrossed the country playing to dance fans eager to put the emergency years behind them.

Paddy recalls the hectic activity of the weekends when the Stardust players set off from Athy on journeys which might not see them back in their home town until the following Monday morning. All this time Paddy was working full time as a postman. One such trip, typical of the time, involved the band departing on Saturday afternoon for Ballina, Co. Mayo for a Saturday night dance and travelling from there to Blarney in Co. Cork for a Sunday night dance. The return journey to Athy did not permit much opportunity for sleep as Paddy and his companions reached home in time for Paddy to change into his postman's uniform and report for work at 7.00 a.m. Colleagues in the Stardust included Joe O'Neill, band leader who played organ and accordion, George Robinson on drums, Brendan Doran on drums, John Luttrell, Paddy Kelly and Jimmy McDonnell on saxophone, and Teddy Fleming on trumpet. Paddy played accordion and organ and was also one of the male vocalists. The female vocalists included at different times in the 40's and 50's Maisie Conneran, Patty Carey, Mary Dargan, Chrissie Ford, May Fleming and Maureen Ryan.

Paddy spent 12 years with the Stardust and later played with Paddy Murphy's Sorrento Dance Band. This was largely made up of members of the Murphy family of Offaly Street and as a young fellow I can remember the excitement on hearing the Sorrento Dance Band broadcast a programme from Radio Eireann in the 1950's.

The well known Casey Dempsey was another of Paddy's colleagues in the Sorrento Dance Band. Both Casey Dempsey and Paddy Keenan were to have separate and popular careers on the cabaret scene throughout the 1980's. Paddy with his old Stardust colleague John Robinson played every week for almost ten years in Pedigree Corner and as he says himself he played at more wedding receptions in the area than he cares to remember.

Paddy's musical talents have been displayed the length and breadth of Ireland, and his musicianship spans the big band era of the 1940's and 1950's through the showband age of the 1960's and 1970's to the pop scene of the 1980's and 1990's. Truly a magnificent record if one pardons the pun.

Street Names of Athy

The earliest maps of Athy were those prepared by the French cartographer Rocques for the Duke of Leinster in 1755 and 1756. The Woodstock area was mapped in 1755 and Athy East of the Barrow was mapped in the following year. The Lordship of St. John's, that is Athy West of the Barrow, was mapped by Scale in 1768. From these maps and subsequent maps prepared of the town we can study the changes in street names over the years.

In the early 18th century Rocques maps the present Duke Street was known as St. John's Street, a name derived from the Trinitarian Monastery established on the West bank of the River Barrow close to Woodstock Castle in the 13th century. St. John's has survived as the name of the laneway which runs in a loop from both ends of the present Duke Street. The street bearing the name of the old Monastery was re-named Duke Street in 1796.

At the same time High Street, which ran from the present traffic lights to the junction of Meeting Lane and Leinster Street and Boher Bui, which extended from that junction out the Dublin Road were re-named Leinster Street.

The occasion for the re-naming of the principal streets of the town was the opening of the newly erected Barrow Bridge on the 23rd of May 1796 by William Robert Fitzgerald the 2nd Duke of Leinster. William Street which once formed part of Beggars Inn was renamed at the same time and so it is that we have the principal streets of the town William Street, Duke Street and Leinster Street, named after William Duke of Leinster. William, born in 1749, was a brother of Lord Edward Fitzgerald and he succeeded his father the 1st Duke of Leinster on the 19th of April 1773. He died on the 20th October 1804.

Market Street, which for centuries was the centre of market activity in the town, was re-named Emily Square after Emily, Duchess of Leinster, wife of the first Duke of Leinster and mother of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Following the death of her husband she married William Ogilvy by whom she had two daughters having already had nine sons and ten daughters by her first husband. Emily died in 1814 and she has been the subject of a biography written by Brian Fitzgerald and published in 1949 under the title "Emily Duchess of Leinster". Three volumes of her correspondence edited by the same author was published by the Stationery Office in Dublin between 1947 and 1954. She was undoubtedly a more interesting individual than her husband James the 1st Duke of Leinster who so far as I am aware has yet to be the subject of a biographical study.

It is interesting to note that in the 1827 map of Athy produced for the then Duke of Leinster by Clarges Green of Dublin the town square was still known as Market Street. The Ordnance Survey map for 1837 gave the name as Emily Square so it is apparent that Athy Borough Council made the name change long after Emily's death in 1814.

I have always understood that all the principal streets in Athy with the exception of Barrack Street and Woodstock Street were named after members of the Fitzgerald Family. Stanhope Street, formerly known as Cotter's Lane and subsequently Kildare Road, was renamed after Francis Charles Stanhope following the street's re-widening in the early 1830's. Stanhope had been elected a free burgess of the Borough of Athy on the 11th December 1822 in compliance with the wishes of the Duke of Leinster. His relationship to the Fitzgerald family is something I have not as yet unravelled.

Offaly Street, previously known as Ophaly Street and earlier still as Prestons Gate, was presumably named after one of the innumerable members of the Fitzgerald family who held in addition to the premier Dukedom of Ireland, the Earldom of Kildare, the title of Marquess of Kildare and Earl and Baron of Offaly.

The Fitzgerald family are remembered not only in the names of our principal streets but also in the name of the Bridge built in 1791 over the newly constructed Grand Canal branch to Athy. Augustus Frederick Fitzgerald, the eldest son of William Robert 2nd Duke of Leinster, was born on the 21st of August 1791 and his birth was commemorated by naming the new structure Augustus Bridge. The original bridge was built to accommodate Canal traffic with little regard for vehicular traffic on the roadway which passed over it. In time there were many repeated demands to lower the bridge but this was not done until 1897 when the re-modelled bridge was opened by Thomas Plewman, Chairman of Athy Town Commissioners. It is now known simply as the Canal Bridge, it's original name of Augustus Bridge having long passed from memory.

Barrack Street, so named following the opening of the military barracks in the 1730's, originally extended from St. John's Street or Duke Street to it's junction with Barrow Lane which led directly to the Barracks located in the area of the present Greenhills housing estate.

On the 3rd of November 1884 the Town Commissioners renamed the southern part of Barrack Street as Woodstock Street. By then the military barracks had been vacant for upwards of twenty years and it is believed that some of the local residents were less than happy with the bad name which the area known as Barrack Street had gained and consequently sought to change the name.

At a later date I will take a look at the laneways and courtyards, many now disappeared, which once housed people struggling to live amongst the squalor and deprivation of 18th and 19th century Athy.

Cuddy Chanders

Patrick Chanders, son of a gravedigger, spent his working life as a malt house man in Minch Nortons Maltings. He died in 1980 aged 72 years. Few would recognise in those bald statement of fact a man known to legions as a quite unassuming man who in September 1935 was the focus of national attention as the "Cuddy" Chanders affair unfolded. For it was as "Cuddy" that he was known throughout his life and it was as the County Kildare goalkeeper deprived of a possible All Ireland medal in 1935 that followers of Gaelic Football will recall his name.

Cuddy was born in Athy in 1908 and his sporting involvement began with Barrow Rovers, a local soccer team with whom he played in the late 1920's. Playing colleagues included Ned Ward, Johnny Kelly, Johnny Doyle, Chevit Doyle, Toss Carr, Jim Eaton and Paddy Looney. With the break up of Barrow Rovers, Cuddy began an association with Athy Gaelic Football Club which soon brought him to the notice of the County selectors.

He played in goal for the Athy Club when winning Senior Championship Medals in 1933 and 1934. Chosen for the County Senior team in 1934 he played his first inter-County game in Portlaoise on the 26th of November when he foiled the best efforts of the Laois forwards. Throughout the National League campaign he occupied the goalkeeping position on the Kildare team on six occasions playing in his home town of Athy on the 17th of February, 1935 when Kildare defeated Mayo.

The first match of the All Ireland series of 1935 for County Kildare was played in Tullamore on the 7th of July when Kildare defeated Laois 1-9 to 0-3 in the Leinster semi-final. The Leinster final played in Croke Park on the 28th of July saw Kildare defeat Louth on the score 0-8 to 0-6. In the All Ireland semi-final against Mayo on the 25th of August Kildare were again victorious winning 2-4 to 0-7.

No goals had been scored against Cuddy Chanders in the three Championship matches leading up to the All Ireland final which was scheduled for the 22nd of September. Cuddy was one of three Athy players expected to be on the County team for the All Ireland final, the others being Paul Matthews and Tommy Mulhall.

The 1935 All Ireland Championship saw the introduction of collective training, a concept which was then foreign to the purists of Gaelic football. The Kildare players trained for weeks prior to the semi final and final in Oakley Park, Celbridge at an expense which was to plunge the Kildare County Board into debt for many years afterwards. The sporting world and particularly the supporters of the Lily Whites were astonished by the news released a few days before the All Ireland final that Chanders was dropped for the match. He was to be replaced by James Maguire who had never previously played in the goal keeping position.

Athy Gaelic Football Club met in emergency session and sent a telegram of protest to the County Board. The local Club justifiably felt that there was no logical reason for Chanders to be dropped and the suspicion grew that certain members of the County Board, over confident of Kildare winning the All Ireland, were anxious for Maguire to have the honour rather than Chanders.

It is not known what effect the controversy surrounding the Chanders affair had on team morale and performance on the match day. However, Cavan who had been beaten by Kildare earlier in the season were to deprive the Kildare men of their expected victory and ran out easy winners 3-6 to 2-5. This was to be County Kildare's last appearance in an All Ireland Final and Cuddy who was sub on that day had local Club members Jim Fox and Barney Dunne on the substitute's bench with him.

The bitterness felt over the dropping of Chanders was reinforced by the unexpected defeat of the Kildare men and local newspapers for weeks afterwards carried letters from disgruntled followers which sought to lay the blame for the County's loss on the dropping of Cuddy Chanders.

Maguire was himself dropped after another three matches when the goal tally against him showed twelve goals in four games. Cuddy returned to the County colours on the 24th of November, 1935 in a League game against the All Ireland Champions Cavan. He continued to play for Kildare until the following year when he appears to have temporarily given up Gaelic football. He was to be replaced on Athy's senior team by Johnny McEvoy who was himself to be the County Kildare goalkeeper between 1937 and 1939.

Cuddy was to have one final involvement with Gaelic games when in the first round of the 1942 Senior Championship he played in goal for Athy due to the temporary indisposition of the regular goalkeeper. The Club went on to win the 1942 Senior Championship and a special medal was presented to Cuddy for his part in the Club's success.

He was later actively involved in establishing Athy A.F.C. in 1948 and in 1978 during the inaugural Athy Festival Cuddy Chanders was honoured by being appointed the first Lord Mayor of Athy.

He was a gentle and likeable man who despite being cruelly deprived of the great honour of playing for his County in an All Ireland Final in Croke Park never expressed any bitterness over the events of 1935.

Cockfighting

At a time when we are witnessing a movement away from the pursuit of blood sports it is perhaps opportune to look back at one of the most popular sports of another era. Cock fighting conjures up images of brutalised rustics indulging their sadistic tendencies in encouraging cocks to fight to the death. Maybe the image is not fair to those who nowadays surreptitiously follow their chosen sport but certainly it is not an accurate representation of cock fighting and its followers of times past.

A sport recorded in the 16th century as having originated in India it soon secured a strong foothold in England and Ireland. Cock fighting was a spectator sport which afforded the opportunity for side bets and it had the advantage of being both an indoor and an outdoor activity. It's popularity during the 17th and 18th centuries led to the construction of cockpits in most of the villages and towns of Ireland. Indeed it is quite surprising to find that the Quaker village of Ballytore had a cockpit in 1827.

In the town of Athy a cockpit was located just off the main street in premises now occupied by Griffin Hawe, hardware merchants. The 18th century octagonal shaped building was in a state of dereliction when it first came to the notice of the Local Authority but happily it's owners agreed to restore the building.

The cockpit as constructed was 26 ft. wide and 12 ft. high to the wall plate with a further 12 ft. to the apex of the roof. A door above ground level confirms the probability of a gallery around the walls of the octagonal building to accommodate spectators. It is likely that the spectators were also accommodated at ground level as the average fighting area provided for the cocks was some 13 ft. in diameter. No doubt the working man stood in the pit while the gentry watched from the relative comfort and safety of the gallery above.

The fighting cocks were fitted with artificial metal spurs and set to battle with each other to the death. The only persons allowed inside the fighting pit were the two men in charge of the cocks called "setters" and the teller who in modern parlance would be regarded as the umpire. The “setters” were required occasionally to disengage the cocks if their spurs became entangled or to place the cocks face to face in the event of either showing any reluctance to fight. In every fight to the death the winner emerged only with the killing of the other cock. Truly it was and remains a cruel sport even if it's primary purpose was to afford an opportunity for wagers to be laid.

No record of the activity in the Athy cockpit remains, probably because of the laws attempts in the first half of the 19th century to put an end to organised cock fighting. The indoor venues fell into disuse after the passing of the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1849 and the sport moved outdoors. The popularity of the sport did not diminish over the years as evidenced by a report in the Leinster Leader of the 30th of September, 1916. The newspaper reported that
"among the fifty odd Defendants who will figure at Kilcullen Petty Sessions on today (Friday 29th) for alleged participation in a cock fight at Kilrush on July 11th are three members of the Athy Board of Guardians, two Solicitors and two Doctors."

In the subsequent trial Police Constable Healy gave evidence of being on patrol on the night of July 11th when he was passed by several motors which turned down a side road to Chapel Farm near Ballyshannon. Other motors continued to arrive until there were 64 of them present and over 1,000 spectators. The hampers containing the cocks were taken into the kitchen of the farmhouse and the spurs screwed on. A ring was then formed of piers of green boughs broken off a tree stuck down in the ground outside of which the crowd stood to witness the cock fighting. The Constable indicated that there were 11 main fights and that the last fight ended at 10.00 a.m.

The local M.P., Denis Kilbride of Luggacurran eviction fame, later raised the Kilrush Cock Fighting Case in the House of Commons in London and in the course of a reply the British Attorney General indicated that occasions such as these were controlled by a central organisation for betting purposes.

Cock fighting is no longer one of the field sports of Doctors, Lawyers or public representatives, although I am not so sure that the Dail Chamber, aye and even the Council Chamber have not at times taken on a striking resemblance to a modern day cockpit.

Naas and Athy connections

A very interesting walk through historic Naas last week under the guidance of Liam Kenny of the local history group prompted me to reflect on the links between Naas and Athy. Both are towns of ancient lineage and owe their development as urban settlements to the Normans. However, Naas in all probability was a settlement long before Athy as it's Irish name Nas na Riogh implies. Translated as the place of the assembly or Kings it's nomenclature clearly derives meaning from the important North and South motes which were a pre-Norman significance. Athy on the other hand was an ancient and important river crossing with nothing to indicate a settlement prior to the coming of the Normans.

It is with the Normans of the late 12th century that Athy and Naas became established as settlements of importance. Both had Dominican Monasteries, Athy founded in 1253 and Naas in 1355. Athy's proud boast is that the Dominicans are still with us after 740 years. The Reformation of 1540 put an end to their involvement in Naas.

Another link stretching back into the medieval past was the existence in both towns of a Whites Castle. Athy's Whites Castle is still prominently located on the Bank of the River Barrow overlooking the Barrow Bridge. Indeed it was built in 1417 to protect the pass over the bridge and ensure the safety of those living within the Pale. Athy was situated on the Marches of Kildare, and while not within the Pale was regarded as an important Fortress in the first line of the defence for the people living within the Pale. Naas of course, situated within the Pale, was one of the many beneficiaries of the military policy which sought to restrict the wild Irish west of the River Barrow at Athy. The Whites Castle of Naas was located in the area of the present Town Hall and was demolished in 1786. Apart from the similar names there appears to have been no link between the Castles, it being common in medieval times to have White and Black Castles throughout the land.

Both towns were chartered as Town Boroughs with Sovereigns and Burgesses - Athy in 1515 and Naas in 1568. The earlier incorporation of Athy points to its greater importance during the early years of the County Kildare towns. Given Naas' central location in the County it was inevitable that Naas would eventually outstrip it's southern neighbour and relegate it to a minor role in County affairs.

In the 1860's the Quarter Sessions which alternated between Naas and Athy were transferred to Naas on a permanent basis and within two years the jail in Athy which had been built in 1830 to replace an older jail was closed and all prisoners transferred to the equally new Naas jail. The emergence of Naas as the County town was now predicable as was the subsequent decline in Athy. The respective populations of Naas and Athy in 1831 were 3806 and 4494, a fair reflection of the advantage which Athy from early time had held over Naas. The trend however was by then changing and their positions were reversed with finality with the setting up of Kildare County Council with administrative headquarters in Naas in 1899. Thereafter Naas was to continue to prosper as it was chosen for no other reason than it’s central location within the County as the administrative headquarters of further state agencies.

The linkage first forged between the ancient seats of the Kings and the Ford of Ae were strengthened when the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy opened schools in both towns during the 19th century. It was almost as if neither town was prepared to give way to the other in matters of social or educational advancement.

The ultimate link between the two towns apart from the ancient roadway from Dublin was the Grand Canal which was extended to Naas in 1789 and to Athy in 1791. The Ford of Ae, anciently a river settlement was now linked with the riverless town of Naas by the waters of a manmade waterway. This linkage between the present County town and the once larger and busier market town of Athy was in a way the coming together of two estranged brothers who had grown apart from each other. Modern communications have sidelined the Grand Canal but in their histories the towns of Athy and Naas share a common heritage and a common aspiration to give their own people in their own place a future full of promise and hope.

Plewman family / Thomas Plewman

On the 11th of February 1911 the Irish Times under the heading "Forty Five Years in Public Life" referred to the record of uninterrupted public life service of Thomas Plewman of Athy. Described as having entered his 70th year yet looking as vigorous and as active as a man of 50 he was carrying on the family tradition of involvement in the public life of County Kildare.
"His popularity may be judged from the fact that he invariably heads the poll at the local elections. This will be all the more appreciated after it is remembered that Mr. Plewman, although a prominent member of the Church of Ireland, numbers his friends among every section of the Catholic community in which he resides. He has given his services and his resources generously for the benefit of the public."

Thomas Plewman was born in 1842 in Kilcoo House to where his father, also named Thomas Plewman, had moved on his second marriage to Elizabeth Rothwell of Ballagh, Isle of Man. His first wife Anne Guest, daughter of Edward Guest of Athy, had died in 1837. Thomas Plewman Senior had been elected a Church Warden of St. Michael's, Athy, that same year and was elected a member of the first Town Commissioners appointed in Athy in February 1842. He was re-elected in the 1847 election with 100 votes when interestingly enough the local Parish Priest, Rev. John Lawler, was also elected with 105 votes. Thomas Plewman Senior was still a member of the Town Commissioners in November 1855 when a petition was submitted by the Athy Town Commissioners to the Lord Lieutenant seeking an extension of the towns boundaries.

His son Thomas, the subject of the Irish Times article in 1911 was elected a Towns Commissioners in 1866 replacing his father. His popularity in Athy was reflected in his topping the pole in the elections of 1874. The Chairman of the Town Commissioners following these elections was Edward Lord, Solicitor, whose name has passed down to us in the place name "Lords Island". Thomas Plewman was himself Chairman of the Town Commissioners in 1887 and again for a five year period between 1894 and 1898.

Appointed a Justice of the Peace in the 1890's he remained a Towns Commissioner and later an Urban Councillor until 3rd May, 1920. On that day he resigned after 54 years of public service apparently because of the Council's decision to change the meeting times to 7.00 p.m.

On his marriage to his first cousin, Ellen Taylor of Dublin, Thomas Plewman had acquired Woodstock House, Athy, which remained the family home of the Plewmans up to the 1960's. The house is now part of the Minch Norton complex.

His brother Edward Plewman married Martha Booth of Dublin in 1876. They lived in Kilcoo House where they brought up a large family. The burial records of St. John's Cemetery show that in a two week period in the summer of 1885 Edward and Martha lost three of their young children. Robert aged three and a half years died on the 23rd May, Charles aged two years died on the 4th of June to be followed within three days by his young brother Edward aged five years. What tragedy befell the family we cannot say but even with the lapse of 105 years one cannot but be saddened by the enormity of the family's loss.

Thomas's step-sister, Hannah, born in 1830 had a romantic attachment with local man Myles Whelan which resulted in the young couple eloping. Family tradition relates that Hannah left Kilcoo House with the assistance of one of her brothers by descending a rope from her bedroom window. Hannah and Myles were to have nine children. Their grand-daughter Margaret was to marry local vet M.T. Byrne who lived at Millview House, now gone and replaced by the Allied Irish Bank building.

A grandson of Thomas Plewman, also named Thomas, was married to Eliane Sophie Brown Bartroli a member of the French Resistance who was captured by the Germans in March 1944 and executed. She had earlier been awarded the French Croix de Guerre for her involvement with the Resistance movement.

The family of Plewmans or Plowman as the name was originally spelled hold a unique record of public service in Athy. Between father and son, both named Thomas Plewman, they served 78 continuous years as public representative in the town. Theirs is a unique and proud record which is unlikely ever to be equalled.

Barrowhouse Ambush

Early in the afternoon of 16th May, 1921 eight young men from the Barrowhouse area left their homes and walked to a pre-arranged meeting place in the graveyard adjoining Barrowhouse Church. Their mission was death. Their intention was to ambush Black and Tans stationed in Ballylinan who regularly travelled on the road between Maganey and Ballylinan. The local men were all members of B Company Carlow Brigade, Irish Republican Army based in the Barrowhouse area.

On the previous night arms and ammunition had been brought from Castledermot and delivered to Joe Maher of Cullinagh who was leader of the Barrowhouse men. The I.R.A. had an extensive network of informers in all the Police barracks in the area and Ballylinan and Athy were no exception in this regard. A contingent of Black and Tans were expected to pass through Barrowhouse that afternoon on their way from the Ballylinan Police Barracks to Maganey.

Seven of the local men armed for the most part with shotguns laid in wait while one man acted as a lookout. As the Black and Tans approached on bicycles the doors of the nearby school opened and the local children tumbled out into the bright sunlight of that May afternoon. The Black and Tans dismounted from their bicycles and walked past the waiting I.R.A. men surrounded on both sides by the young boys and girls on their way home.

The I.R.A. men realising that their carefully planned ambush was not now possible because of the proximity of the school children immediately changed their positions. Moving across the fields they sought to cut off the Black and Tans further up the road but as they did they lost the element of surprise. Their cover was also lost and contact between the members of the unit could not be maintained in the ever changing circumstances.

The attack when it started was disastrous for the Barrowhouse men. The shotguns were very inaccurate and it is suspected that their ammunition was damp and ineffective. The Black and Tans reacted quickly and replied with deadly accurate fire from their Enfield rifles. Two of the I.R.A. Volunteers, William O'Connor, and Jim Lacey both from Barrowhouse were killed. Their companions were helpless in the face of the superior firepower of the Black and Tans and withdrew from the scene. The survivors of the unsuccessful ambush party were Joe Maher, Cullinagh, Mick Maher, Barrowhouse, Joe Lacey, Barrowhouse, Jack O'Brien, Barrowhouse, Joe Ryan, Kilmoroney and Paddy Dooley, Killabbin, Maganey.

The bodies of O'Connor and Lacy were brought to the R.I.C. Barracks in Ballylinan and were released on the following Tuesday when they were conveyed to St. Mary's Church, Barrowhouse. On Thursday morning at 11.00 o'clock Requiem Office for the dead was chanted and Solemn High Mass celebrated with Rev. J. Nolan C.C., Athy, as celebrant. After the Mass the two coffins were carried on the shoulders of local men to the nearby graveyard. As the two coffins were lowered into the double grave a lone trumpeter sounded the Last Post.

On the night of the ambush, the home of John Lynch, Barrowhouse, one time Captain of the local I.R.A. Coy was burnt by the Black and Tans. Joe Maher of Cullinagh who had led the ambush at Barrowhouse later enlisted in the Irish Free State Army where he became a Military Policeman. He resigned in 1924 when a number of ex British soldiers were given appointments as N.C.O.'s in the new Army. The last survivor of the Barrowhouse ambush was Jack O'Brien, born on the day of the Gordon Bennett Race in Athy and thereafter known locally as "Gordon Bennett". He joined the Garda Siochana and died 2 years ago in Kilkenny where he had lived for many years.

The lonely spot where O'Connor and Lacy died is today marked by a simple memorial at the side of the roadway.

Asbestos Factory / Tegral

Tegral recently launched a new product manufactured at it's Athy factory continuing a tradition of excellence going back 57 years. For it was in 1936 at the height of the economic war between Ireland and England that the first sod was turned in Mullery's field on the site of the new asbestos factory. The factory was very welcome at that time of heavy unemployment, particularly to the Athy men who still remembered with bitterness the loss of the sugar factory to Carlow in 1926. Their bitterness stemmed from the acute disappointment felt when the delegation from Athy sent to Brussels in July of 1925 to press the claim of the town for the factory were outfoxed by the Carlow delegates. A member of the Athy delegation was Sydney Minch and the Minch family were again to the fore with the planning for the asbestos factory.

The Minchs were the owners of Minch Norton Maltings in Athy and elsewhere and M.P. Minch opened discussions with H.A. Osterberg, a Danish Industrialist who was interested in opening a cement factory in Ireland following the passing of the 1933 Cement Act. This Act imposed a duty of five shillings per tonne on imported cement making it an economic proposition to produce cement in Ireland.

The Thompson family of Carlow lent support to Minch's efforts to locate the cement factory in Athy and in time agreement was reached on Athy as the site. Asbestos Cement Limited was incorporated in April 1936 and that same month a small group of men gathered at the canal bridge watched as four men marked out the site of the new factory in Mullery's field.

The factory was opened in 1937 and at that time it had only one machine producing corrugated asbestos sheeting. The new product proved very popular and in the following year a second machine was installed. The workers were drawn from Athy and surrounding district.

Transport of the raw material in the early years of the factory, especially during the Second World Ward, was by canal boat on the adjoining Grand Canal. In the late 1940's a spur line was built off the Wolfhill railway line which itself had been opened on the 24th of September 1918 as a result of the severe coal shortage of the war years. The colliery line had closed on the 1st of January 1929 but the line as far as Ballylinan had been retained to facilitate the transport of sugar beet to the Carlow Sugar Factory. Carlow now seemed to come to Athy's assistance with the building of the spur line to the asbestos factory off the line which remained open to Ballylinan but which would undoubtedly have been closed in 1929 but for the existence of the sugar beet factory. As a result the raw material could be brought into the factory directly by rail and this operation continues to this day.

Technological advances in the 1950's and 1960's ensured that the factory prospered and continued to give employment in Athy even if the number of workers employed decreased over the years. In 1976 the asbestos factory became known as Tegral Building Products and today it possesses one of the most advanced slate making units in the world.

As a young lad I recall laying claim to one of the several sheds facing onto the Grand Canal each of which bore in large red letters initials, the significance of which remains even to this day a mystery to me. However I had no doubt that the initials FT meant that I had a proprietary interest in Athy's largest industry. Some of my school pals were not so lucky!!

The town of Athy and South Kildare owe a great debt of gratitude to M.P. Minch and the ordinary working men whose skill and industry over the years have ensured the continued viability of one of the longest surviving industries in Athy.

Dominicans in Athy

Last Sunday I attended Mass in the Dominican Church, Athy. An unusual occurrence for me as I normally attend what we all refer to as "the Parish". As I glanced around George Campbell's multi-coloured stained glass windows and focused on the crucifix by Brid ni Rinn my thoughts were of times long past when other generations of Athy men and women long dead worshipped in their local Dominican Church. For I realised I was participating with everyone else in St. Dominic's that Sunday in a celebration with echoes going back centuries into the history of Athy.

The Dominican Order first came to Athy in 1253 when the then developing village was but 60 or 70 years old. Invited to set up a monastery on the east bank of the River Barrow by the Boswell and Wogan families the Dominicans were to have the second Monastery in the area. The Crouched Friars or Trinitarians were already established on the west bank of the River in the shadow of Woodstock Castle.

We know little of the Dominicans in the early years of their life in Athy. We all know the oft repeated reference to the dispute between the two monasteries when the Crouched Friars were convicted of stealing eels from the eel weir belonging to the Dominicans. Less well known is the reference in the Plea Rolls for 1374 which lists the Dominicans in Athy as Henry Mody, Prior, William Durant, Thomas Scryueyn and William Roche. Not an Irish name amongst them but this is not surprising given that the early Dominicans were French speaking Anglo-Normans.

Times changed and by the end of the 15th century the Friars were English speaking and catering for the needs of the English settlers and the native Irish who had begun to populate the growing village of Athy. The Reformation of 1540 put a temporary halt to the Dominican presence in Athy but by 1630 or thereabouts they had returned to the town. Meantime the Trinitarians who had already abandoned their Monastery in St. John's were never to return.

During the Confederate Wars of 1640 the Dominican Prior was Fr. Thomas Bermingham who was captured by Cromwell's troops and later went to Spain. Two Athy Dominicans were martyred during the civil unrest of the 17th century. Fr. Richard Overton, sub-Prior was captured and killed when Drogheda was taken by Cromwellian soldiers in 1649. Fr. Raymond Moore, Prior of Athy in 1651 and 1652 was exiled to the continent towards the end of the latter year. He returned following the accession of Charles II to the throne and was again Prior in Athy in 1661 and 1662. He was later arrested and imprisoned in Dublin where he died in 1665.

Prior from 1691 to 1698 was Fr. Richard Cuddy when the Monastery was closed due to the Penal Laws. It was not until 1730 or thereabouts that the Dominicans felt free to return to Athy. When they did return they chose a laneway off the Dublin Road, now called Kirwan's Lane, as the location of their Monastery and Church. In 1846 the Dominicans moved to Riversdale House located on the west bank of the River Barrow directly opposite their original Monastery site.

The Dominicans are our most cherished link with the medieval past of Athy. Unusual then to find that this ancient association is represented by a Church described in 1965 as of a "revolutionary style" and "unique in Ireland". However, the Dominican Church because of it's ultra modern appearance is a fitting symbolic representation of a proud tradition and association between the Dominican Order and Athy going back 740 years. Theirs is a unique record of dedication to the people of Athy and district which all of us must cherish and honour with each passing day.

The Mace of Athy

On the 12th May, 1888 the Nationalist and Leinster Times carried a report that the Duke of Leinster had forwarded to Mr. Edward Johnson of Grafton Street, Dublin, "a magnificent piece of old silver for exhibition in his antique collection for Olympia". The piece of old silver was in fact the Mace of the old Corporation of Athy which the report indicated had been purchased by the Duke of Leinster when the Corporation was abolished. The Duke, continued the report, presented the Mace to John Butler Esq. described as the last Sovereign of Athy in November 1841. His son, Thomas Butler, later sold the same Mace to the Duke of Leinster in 1876.

That newspaper report was the first public confirmation that the Mace of Athy had passed out of the possession of the Athy Town Commissioners who were the successors to the Borough Council of Athy. The Borough Council first incorporated by Charter granted by Henry VIII in 1515 was abolished by the Municipal Corporation Act 1840 as it was deemed to be undemocratic and unrepresentative. The members of the Borough Council were appointed on the nomination of the Duke of Leinster and those appointed were generally non residents of Athy and always of a particular religious persuasion.

Interestingly enough, the newspaper report of 1888 refers to the Duke purchasing the Mace, presenting it to John Butler "the last Sovereign of Athy" and later repurchasing it from his son. John Butler who resided at St. John's, Athy, was not the last Sovereign, a distinction which fell to Rev. F.S. Trench of Kilmoroney. Equally strange is the absence of any reference in the Minute Books of the Borough Council or its successor Athy Town Commissioners to the sale of the Town Mace. The suspicion is that the Mace was not purchased but rather passed into the possession of the Duke of Leinster at a time when public accountability was of little importance. Perhaps it was fair enough that it did return to the Duke as his predecessor had presented it to the Borough of Athy on September 29th, 1746.

Ceremonial Civic Maces first appeared in the 13th century and by tradition these highly ornamental objects were carried by specially appointed Sergeants at Mace. The Sergeant carried the Mace in procession before the Mayor or Sovereign of the town. It was also carried into the Borough Chambers before the announcement of meetings, similar to the ceremony surrounding the Mace currently used in the English House of Commons.

The Great Mace of Athy was last to come before the public when it was offered for sale by auction at Sotheby's, London, on 18th March, 1982. Described as a George II large ceremonial Mace 46¼ inches high it had been made by John Williamson of Dublin in 1746. The exquisitely crafted Mace, one of a small number of such Maces still in existence was for sale with an estimate in the region of £9,000.00 sterling. Athy Urban District Council decided to purchase the Mace but in so doing the Council representative at the Auction, the late Seamus O'Conchubhair, County Librarian, was authorised to bid up to £9,000.00. The Mace was purchased by a London dealer for £15,000.00.

The present whereabouts of the Great Mace of Athy is unknown. It is a reasonable assumption that another chance to purchase a priceless element of our past history may never again present itself.

April 1798 in Athy

The month of April 1798 was an eventful one in the history of Athy and South Kildare. Early that month Colonel Campbell who was in charge of the Cavalry Barracks in the town issued a directive requiring passengers on the Grand Canal to and from Athy to have a pass signed by a magistrate. Similar passes were later required by all residents of the town who wanted to go outside the town limits.

Campbell had earlier failed to recover arms stolen in a raid on a boat docked at the Canal Harbour in Athy the previous December. He was satisfied that the raid had been planned and executed by locals with the active co-operation of boatmen on the Canal. Without any proof of complicity on the part of the locals he was nevertheless determined to make matters unpleasant for the disloyal subjects of Athy and South Kildare.

On 3 April 1798 Dublin Castle issued an order requiring all weapons to be handed in within 10 days. An insufficient response to this demand would result in the troops being sent to live at free quarters amongst the local population. Col. Campbell had notices distributed throughout Athy and South Kildare informing all and sundry of the military ultimatum. The threat of having soldiers living in local houses at the expenses of the local residents did not have the desired effect as little or no arms were turned over to the authorities.

On 20 April the soldiers were let loose to live at free quarters in South Kildare. At the same time Col. Campbell had all liquor in the town seized and destroyed. A number of thatched cottages adjourning the Cavalry Barracks in Barrack Lane were stripped of their thatch "less upon any attack that might be made thereafter inconvenience should arise from the setting fire thereto." The hardship caused to publicans and townspeople alike was but the beginning of months of terror and torture for the people of South Kildare.

Campbell sent a troop of the 9th Dragoons and a Company of the Cork Militia totalling 200 men and 80 horses to Kilkea Castle where Thomas Reynolds later identified as a traitor to the cause of the United Irishmen was living. Commanded by Captain Erskine, the soldiers arrived on 20 April where they remained for 8 days. Reynolds son later recorded that "the friends and acquaintances of the officers their wives and children and those of the soldiers came daily from Athy to see the Castle and feast" at his father's expense.

Erskine and his troops left Kilkea Castle on 28th April and moved to the Geraldine residence of Thomas Fitzgerald where they remained for the next 30 days. Fitzgerald, although Captain of the Athy Loyal Cavalry Corps was suspected of rebel sympathies. Everything of value was removed from his house while his stock was depleted in feeding the soldiers during their 30 day stay.

Others to be visited by the troops were Thomas Dunne of Leinster Lodge and Patrick Dunne of Dollardstown as well as Dan Caulfied of Levitstown. Both Thomas Fitzgerald and Dan Caulfield were arrested and brought to Dublin where they were imprisoned in a house in Smithfield used as a temporary prison. Fitzgerald was released after 91 days.

April 1798 witnessed the start of a vicious and prolonged campaign against those perceived as disloyal to the Crown. History records only the names of the well known and the leaders who suffered in this way. The ordinary people of Athy and South Kildare, although used to daily hardship and suffering, were once again to bear the brunt of the military excesses. Their story remains to be told.

Athy Lions Club

Lions Clubs exist throughout the world and constitute the largest charitable organisation in existence. The origin of Athy Lions Club goes back to the early months of 1971. Kilkenny City had an active Lions Club and one of it's members was Paddy Reynolds, a relation of Athy Chemist Des McHugh. Paddy contacted Des about the possibility of extending Lionism to Athy. The idea was mentioned on a number of occasions and Des discussed the matter with a number of locals who indicated sufficient interest to encourage the Kilkenny Lions Club to call a meeting for the Leinster Arms Hotel, Athy.

That meeting held in May 1971 was in fact the monthly meeting of the Kilkenny Lions Club. Des McHugh and a small number of Athy men attended. Afterwards the visiting Lions withdrew and allowed the locals to discuss among themselves the feasibility of starting a Lions Club in the south Kildare town. It is recalled that a visiting priest from the U.S.A. stayed behind and addressed those in attendance on the ideals and objectives of Lionism. His words more than anything else satisfied those who heard him that Athy should establish it's own Lions Club.

A number of further meetings were called and potential members were invited to attend until a minimum of sixteen were available to form the nucleus of the new Club. The Athy Lions Club was officially chartered on the 29th of June, 1971 sponsored by the Kilkenny Lions Club. The first President was Des McHugh who held that position for two years. Ken Turner was the first Secretary. The Charter members were:
T. Curry Michael Walsh
Des Perry Ger Moriarty
Michael Prendergast John Perry
John King Jerry Carbery
Jim Lochrin Richard Norris
Des McHugh Liam Porter
Ken Turner Michael Cunningham
Michael Dwyer Gerry Cleary
R. Barrett Johnny Watchorn
K. O'Grady Michael Wall
Barry Donnelly William Cade
Trevor Shaw Liam Owens

Athy Lions Club sponsored in 1971 by Kilkenny Club has in turn sponsored new Lions Clubs in Newbridge/Kildare, Carlow, Monasterevan and shared in the sponsorship of the Naas Club.

The local Lions Club has made a substantial contribution to many charities and causes over the years but perhaps it's most memorable achievements include the purchase of the former Dreamland Ballroom in conjunction with Athy Parish as a social and sports centre for the area. The provision of ten sheltered housing units with a community room in the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital was another unique project initiated by the Lions Club in 1989. Costing in excess of £250,000.00 the project was successfully completed with the active co-operation and support of other Lions Clubs in the County. Other projects assisted include Sr. Consillo's Cuan Mhuire, St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, and the Knights of Malta who received two Ambulances from the Lions Club. It is estimated that charitable projects have received financial assistance of almost one million pounds from Athy’s Lions Club in the 22 years of it's existence.

The work of the Athy members receives little or no publicity but the legacy of their good work in South Kildare is a fitting reward for those men who have worked quietly but effectively since 1971.

Master Tailors of Athy

In the early years of the 19th century the average man wore a shirt, breeches, stockings, a hat or a cap, a waistcoat and a great coat or frock coat. The breeches were fastened below the knee with buttons or a tape. Fashion trends long dormant were about to change largely influenced by the British Royal Family and when in 1807 the Prince of Wales wore a pair of sailors long trousers, breeches were destined soon to be a thing of the past. By the middle of the last century breeches were worn only by old men who shunned the fashionable long trousers.

The advent of the new middle class in the 19th century and the availability of imported material created a demand for fashionable clothes during the latter half of that century. The long frock coat of the earlier years was replaced by a shorter jacket coat. In the market towns such as Athy the dictates of the London fashion scene were followed no less assidiously than elsewhere. Master tailors and dressmakers were two occupations much in demand in the days before factory production became prevalent.

The principal tailoring business in Athy was carried on by Thomas G. Lumley at Duke Street. On the 2nd of August, 1884 in an advertisement in The Nationalist and Leinster Times Lumley announced that he had received "a very beautiful assortment of English, Irish and Scottish goods for the present season well worth attention." The advertisements quoted "tweed suits from 50 shillings, tweed trousers from 12/6, all made to order with Liveries made on the shortest notice." Lumleys gave employment to many Athy men and women over the years, some of whom were eventually to set up their own businesses.

Tom Moran of St. Patrick's Avenue and his father Thomas, Mick Egan of Leinster Street and Paddy Bracken of Barrack Street were some of those skilful craftsmen who worked for Lumleys in their Duke Street premises. Master tailors tended to hand on the skill and expertise of their craft to their family members and the Morans were one of the many families where the tradition was handed on. Thomas Moran and his son Tom were master tailors while Tom's sister, Catherine, was a seamstress in Lumleys.

Dressmaking was another branch of the trade which of necessity utilised skills of the womenfolk. Miss Johnson, dressmaker, is remembered as occupying one of the small houses in Convent Lane with the sign over her front door “E. Johnson Dressmaker”.

The work of master tailors in provincial towns was under threat even as early as 1886 as evidenced by a letter to the Kildare Observer by an Athy correspondent on the 17th of November of that year. The writer enquired as to what had happened the movement to promote Irish manufacture when
"you may see in most of the draper shops in Athy made up suits of English shoddy ...... while tailors have not enough to do ....... no wonder indeed that this and other towns should be decaying swiftly while artisans and labourers are just ignored". He alerted the readers to another problem caused by "grocers and others beginning to patronise the houses in Dublin for their clothing".

The problem was again highlighted in a letter to the Leinster Leader from Cootes, Market Square, Athy, on the 5th of April, 1902. Mr. Coote, who operated a "fitting establishment" bemoaned the destruction of the tailoring trade by
"greedy drapers who supply suits to measure made in London or in Dublin ...... when a customer goes into a house that supplies the suits to buy a piece of material which he wants to bring to one of the tailors in Athy he is persuaded by the drapers assistant that ..... he would get a better fit if he gets them made in Dublin or London according to the measurement taken by the draper's assistant ...... there are tailors in Athy who can compete with any first class house in the Kingdom at making stylish, perfect fitting suits."

The letter writer no doubt expressed the fears and views of the Master tailors of Athy and elsewhere for whom the future was one of uncertainty. Tailoring establishments such as Lumleys and Cootes continued on for several more years but in time the tailoring skills passed on from generation to generation were no longer of use in a small provincial town. Individual tailors working on their own account continued in business until the 1950's and John Connell of Prusselstown, Tom Moran of St. Patrick's Avenue and Mick Egan of Leinster Street were the last of a long line of tailors who worked in Athy. The days of the large master tailoring firms are now long gone. Progress had sidelined yet another craft and added to the long list of defunct crafts which once flourished in the town.