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March 28, 2007
Opening of St. Brigid's Park - Advert from 1936
Leinster Leader 9/5/1936
OFFICIAL OPENING
ST. BRIGID’S PARK, KILDARE,
SUNDAY, MAY 10TH, 1936
Blessing of Park, 2 o’clock (S.T.), fol-
lowed by Grand Opening Ceremony,
Choruses, Dancing, Musical Items, Selec-
tions by St. Mary’s Brass Band, May-
nooth etc. Side-Shows in plenty
Minor Football Championship-
LEIX V. KILDARE
3 o’clock (S.T.).
Senior Football Challenge-
LEIX V. KILDARE
4-30 (S.T.).
ADMISSION, 1s.; SIDE LINE 1s Extra
Each player of winning team in senior
Challenge shall receive a guaranteed wrist-
let watch, presented by Park Committee.
GRAND CONCERT THAT NIGHT
8 o’clock (S.T.).
Special trains leave Dublin 11 o’clock
(2s 6d return). Leave Portlaoighise Ten
past One (2s 6d return), calling at inter-
mediate stations.
TEA TENT ON FIELD.
743z2m9 NO VENDORS ALLOWED.
An advert from the Leinster Leader of 1936 announcing the forthcoming opening of St. Brigid's Park and the attractions on offer.
[compiled and edited by Mario Corrigan]
Posted by mariocorrigan at 09:10 PM
March 20, 2007
Kildare man killed in action in WWII
Leinster Leader 20 December 1941, p. 3.
YOUNG KILDARE MAN
KILLED IN ACTION
Mr. Frank Nixon, Windmill House, Curragh Road, Kildare, has been officially notified that his son Frederick H. Nixon, who was serving in the Royal Navy, has been killed in action. The sad news was heard with deep regret in Kildare Town and surrounding district where the deceased young man (he was 26 years of age) was well known and very popular with all. The sympathy expressed with the bereaved father and other members of the family is very widespread and sincere.
***
Some more personal details are available on the
In Memory of
Able Seaman FREDERICK HENRY NIXON
P/JX. 153271, H.M.S. Puckeridge, Royal Navy
who died age 26
on 13 December 1941
Son of Francis Sidney and Annie Nixon, of Kildare, Irish Republic.
Remembered with honour
PEMBROKE DOCK (LLANION) CEMETERY
The gravestone is front left of picture
***
According to information on the Internet such as uboat.net the H.M.S. Puckeridge was sunk in 1943 by a German U-Boat...
Around 2015 hours on 6 September 1943 HMS Puckeridge (Lt. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN) was hit by two of four torpedoes fired by the German submarine U-617 and sank about 40 nautical miles east of Gibraltar in position 36º06'N, 04º44'W. HMS Puckeridge was en route alone taking important messages to
Oran . 129 men were rescued and 62 men were lost with the ship.
Difficult to find infromation relative to the 13 december 1941 action but a post on the British Medal Forum provides some answers...
PUCKERIDGE
13 December 1941
One direct hit 250 kgm direct actiuon fuzed bomb
(Time out of Action) 7 months
PUCKERIDGE, while proceeding from Portsmouth to Liverpool, was attacked by enemy aircraft and sustained a direct hit on the upper deck just forward of ‘Y’ gun, to starboard of middle line, the bomb detonating on contact or just below the deck. The side plating, upper and lower decks and the internal structure from keel to upper deck, between the after gun mountings, was severely damaged. The superstructure aft of ‘X’ gun was wrecked. All compartments abaft the gearing roan, except the steering compartment were flooded, including the after magazines and after group of oil fuel tanks.
The ship settled by the stern with a heavy list to starboard and the quarter deck awash. The fire main aft was destroyed and a serious fire on the after mess deck was eventually brought under control by steaming astern and washing down aft. The main machinery was undamaged, but all electrical equipment in the damaged area was destroyed. ‘Y’ mounting and No.2 magazine were wrecked and the 4 inch R.U. ammunition on the upper deck was exploded by the fire.
Fighting Efficiency - Seriously impaired.
‘Y’ gun was destroyed ‘X’ gun in local control and all the after ammunition was lost. The steering gear jammed at 20° to port, but vessel was steered by main engines and could steam at reduced speed.
It seems the ship was towed back to Pembroke Dock (Wales) and the men killed in action were buried there.
Posted by mariocorrigan at 06:50 PM
March 13, 2007
The famous annual fair at French Furze
Leinster Leader 30/7/1898, p. 5.
FRENCH FURZE FAIR.
-----------
On Tuesday last the annual fair of French Furze took place on the Curragh edge. There was a good demand for hunters and for heavy draught horses. There was a big attendance of buyers both from England and the Continent as well as from Ireland. The brisk demand for animals of good quality, and the handsome prices paid show that the practice of cycling has not interfered in any way with the great industry of horse breeding. Mr Dermot Hurley, Ballyadams, Queen’s County, sold a hunter, by Master Ned, to Mr T J Roark, Carlow, at ₤120. Mr W S Heather, Sligo, bought five hunters at prices ranging from ₤50 to ₤90. Mr C Read, Waterford, bought three promising colts varying in prices from ₤40 to ₤65. Mr. Hopkins bought two handsome colts at ₤60 each. Captain Jones gave ₤70 for a colt likely to make a weight carrier. Mr Gerald Hurley, J P, Old Connell, Newbridge, gave ₤65 for a good-looking youngster. Captain M’Kenzie, R E, bought a very handsome longtail at ₤65. Mr O G Slocock, V S, Carlow, bought three hunters at prices ranging from ₤45 to ₤70. Messrs Widger, Waterford, bought about 14 first class hunters, and in many instances paid over ₤100. Mr Maher, Wexford, also purchased extensively in the hunter class. Mr J S Sandle, Harristown, invested in some good colts. Mr W K Young, Newbridge and Mr J Atkinson, Maynooth, also bought hunters. Mr Fraser, Ballykilcavan, got ₤90 for a four year old by St Jacob. Mr. Maher, Carlow, gave ₤35 for a three year old colt. Mr W. Mooney, Birdtown, gave ₤80 for a grand weight carrier by Studley Royal. Mr Bodeley, Athy, gave ₤35 for a useful cob. Mr M Whelan, Athy, sold a useful horse to Mr Johnson, Belfast, at ₤40. Mr Low, Dublin, gave ₤60 for a draught horse. Mr Daly, Dublin, bought troopers at from ₤25 to ₤40 each. Mr R Gannon, J P, Newbridge, sold a hunter at a good figure. Messrs Doyle, Dublin, bought a lot of draught horses at from ₤18 to ₤30 each. Mr Smallman, Portarlington, got ₤70 for a hunter. Mr M Healy, County Meath, refused ₤120 for a four year old by Sailor King. Mr Kearney, Boherard, got ₤80 for a hunter. Mr Teague, Athy, sold a hunter, by Early Bird, to Mr Meleady, Dublin, at ₤125. Mr Meredith, Athy, got ₤37 10s for a colt by Earl Soroone.
A note from July 1898 on the annual fair held at French Furze at the edge of the town.
Posted by mariocorrigan at 11:41 PM
March 07, 2007
Fortnight-long Carnival to add to An Tostal Celebrations 1954
Leinster Leader 8/5/1954, p. 2.
ADVERT
KILDARE TOWN
CARNIVAL
MAY 2nd – MAY 16th
OPENING ON SUNDAY WITH ALL
MCCORMACK’S AMUSEMENTS
DODGEMS, CHAIROPLANES, SHOOTING RANGE,
DELPH STALL, ETC., ETC.
MADAME MITIZIE, LADY PALMIST.
EVERY NIGHT A GALA NIGHT, WITH FOOTBALL MATCHES,
BASKET BALL, BOG BARROW RACE, CLOCK GOLF, FREE
KICK, FANCY STALL, THROWING THE SHEAF, PILLOW
FIGHTING, CHILDREN’S FANCY DRESS.
Dancing Every Night
_____________________________
SID-BEN-ALI – Prince of Darkness
With his Array of EASTERN MAGIC and featuring the
FLOATING LADY – MUST BE SEEN.
DANCING EVERY NIGHT
IN THE LARGEST MARQUEE EVER IN THE TOWN
TO-NIGHT (FRIDAY)-By popular request-Jimmy Dunny
and his Famous Band. 9 – 2. Admission: 5/-. Admission: 5/-.
SATURDAY, 8th-Further Heats of Walls of Limerick Competition,
with Gallowglass Band. 8 – 12. Admission 2/6.
SUNDAY, 9th-CHILDREN’S FANCY DRESS-See separate advt.
WHIST DRIVE, 7 o’clock. ₤25 in prizes. Score Cards, 5/-.
Dancing with Val Ward’s Specially Augmented Band. 9 – 3.
5/-.
MONDAY, 10th-SENIOR FOOTBALL MATCH. Dancing-Joe
O’Neill and his Stardust Band. 8 – 12. Admission: 2/6.
TUESDAY, 11th-Ceili and Old-Time. Gallowglass Ceili Band.
9 – 3. Admission: 4/-.Schools Match-Athy v. Kildare, 8
o’clock; Co. Kildare Schools Championship.
WEDNESDAY, 12th, 8 o’clock-FOOTBALL CHALLENGE-Wall-
papers Ltd. v. The Grocers. Dancing 8 – 12. Bobby Rogers
and his Band. 2/6.
THURSDAY, 13th-Dancing-Val Ward and his Band. 8 – 12. 2/6.
FOOTBALL FINAL.
FRIDAY, 14th-FINAL SCHOOL’S MATCH. Dancing to Alan
Beale and his Orchestra. 9 – 3. 5/-.
SATURDAY, 15th-Ceili and Old-Time. Gallowglass Band. 8 – 12.
2/6.
SUNDAY, 16th-DANCING EXHIBITION IN MARQUEE. GALA
CLOSING NIGHT. Bert Flynn and his Band. 9 – 3. Admis-
sion: 5/-.
1405zl
An advert listing all the attractions to the Carnival in Kildare in May 1954, obviously organised to coincide with the An Tostal celebrations. It gives us a snapshot into the entertainments available at that time.
Posted by mariocorrigan at 12:13 PM
