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June 18, 2008

LOCAL PLACENAMES COURTESY OF STEPHEN TALBOT

When I had almost completed a little booklet outlining a heritage trail around Kildare Town, Tully and the Nurney Road I showed it to Stephen Talbot to give it the once over before I had it printed and he simply said in terms of the area covered - oh you mean The Hundred Acres - it became the title of the booklet and is now popularly referred to as such by locals who enjoy the route as an exercise route. Stephen has been in constant contact re.  placenames and other matters re. the history and heritage of the Town. I can't think of a better way to write it than simply copying his email straight to the site. Apologies to Stephen for the delay - he sent it to me on 7 March 2008.

E-MAIL FROM STEPHEN TALBOT

Hi Mario
 
I mentioned to you that I had a brother visiting recently and in the course of a number of tours around the area he mentioned one or two items of historical interest.
 
We were travelling from Monasterevin to Kildare on one such trip and I happened to mention the "Buggawns" (I'm sure there is an Irish spelling for this somewhere and a literal meaning.) The Buggawns would roughly be the area from say the bottom of the hill past Brian Hasset's residence as far as Mayfield. There would likely be a connection between this word and bog or flat marshy ground as that it what the land is either side of the road.
Anyway, my brother had never heard of this name but had heard that from Hasset's, back towards Kildare for possibly a few hundred yards, was known locally as the Marlo(w) Banks. He recalls our father commenting on this one day whilst they were out cycling, sometime back in the late 1940's early 50's.
 
My father mentioned the fact that the banks of light coulored clay or whatever, was as good as "Vim" and could easily be used as a detergent. If you can recall Vim- it was one of the first white powdery detergents used in the 1950's together with Rinso and Lux. If you look up Marl you will see that it is a calcareous clay often used as fertilizer which was found in Marl-pits - a type of limestone. Perhaps there were pits along that road or perhaps it was merely stockpiled there - who knows and certainly worth researching.
 
The other item that came up on the day was the "Turnpike".
If you go out the Monasterevin Road past Eoin McDonald's and stop about a hundred yards just before the realigned road and the turn off for Mooretown, you will note that before the bypass was constructed only 5 years ago, the old turn to the left towards Mooretown is still visible, though inaccessible. This turn-off was known locally for years by everybody, as the Turnpike. Turnpike's, as we know were toll-roads in themselves, introduced in England in 1706 and were no longer in use as Turnpikes from 1800 onwards.
 
We travelled on the Rathangan Road past St Conleths cemetery and the cross roads beyond that is rightly known as Gallaghers Cross. The reason for this being that there is a cottage at the junction on the right had side where the Gallaghers lived since god knows when. Mattie Gallagher had a shop on Station Road opposite Alice and Son Johnsons where the Bargain store now is. Syl Gallagher, his brother was a Council employee all his life and was the keeper of the only Council transport in town in the 1940/50's - a horse and cart. This was used for carrying all manner of goods but in summertime was primarily used for transporting gravel and tar and plodded along the highways and byways filling potholes. It's primary function in severe winter weather was to transport sand and salt for gritting the roads. There were other Gallaghers in the family that I personally didn't recall on the day but Miss Kavanagh, who had a shop on Claregate street for years (up until about the early 1980's) had a sister married to Mattie Gallagher.
 
One further recollection was that of The Glais river (I'm not sure of the correct spelling but this is how we had it and pronounced Glosh). If you pass Alan Duke house in Tully West and continue past the old Heffernan Tyres depot you will arrive at a junction which was always known as The Blue Pump - so named because there was a County Council water pump on the green area at the centre of the junction which was blue in colour. The pump has since been removed. Turn right at that junction and after about 200 yards turn left down a narrow roadway. Travel a mile to a T junction - left will take you to Grangebeg, Mooretown, Doneany etc. and right takes you back up to Cherryville crossroads. However, if you walk into the field staright across from the T Junction and cross that field, you will come to the Glais river a small tributary of the Barrow. We did all our swimming there as youngsters, circa 1954/5 and also caught pinkeens and tadpoles and stuffed both our guts and jacket with crab apples.
 
All of this is just mere recollection of place-names which should, if possible, be retained as we have lost many names over the years through lack of awareness of their historical significance and with no structured historical bodies in place. The latter one or two may have little relevance but the Marlo Banks and the Turnpike would certainly be of interest to some.
 
If any or all of this is of any interest to you please let me know and I will pass on more if you wish.
 
best regards..
 
Stephen

Further note on The Hundred Acres - once the title was decided upon I did a little checking and came up with an interesting connection with the Knights Hospitallers at Tully - I included this note in the booklet.

The title ‘The Hundred Acres,’ came out of a conversation with Stephen Talbot who said that the route now enjoyed by walkers was always known locally as ‘the hundred acres.’ I did a bit of checking and it is a local name for most of Tully West townland, i.e. mostly the land between Nurney Road / Grey Abbey Road and Tully Road which forms a natural triangle between St. Brigid’s Square, Newtown Cross Roads and Tully junction. In researching an article on the Black Abbey (the ruins of the church can still be seen near the National Stud) I found mention in inquisitions taken at the dissolution of the monasteries that the immediate land attached to the Knights Hospitallers Preceptory, the villa of Tully,  amounted to some 160 acres of arable land – 60 acres of demesne land beside the Preceptory and another 100 acres of land which probably represented large portions of what came to be known as Tully West and Tully East. Could this term, ‘the hundred acres,’ have survived in popular memory from the thirteenth century since most of these lands were granted to the Hospitallers prior to 1212 A.D.?]

See the complete text of the HUNDRED ACRES booklet on this site

 

Some interesting local names which survive in the locality as recounted by Stephen Talbot

Posted by mariocorrigan at 10:56 PM

DEATH OF WOGAN BROWNE FROM THE LONDON TIMES

The Times Feb. 10 1922
Article supplied by MARK MCLOUGHLIN
 
 
ARMY OFFICER SHOT DEAD
MOTOR-CAR BANDITS’ CRIME
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
 
 
A report reached Dublin to-night that Lieutenant Wogan Brown, R.F.A., attached to the Kildare Barracks, was shot dead at 11.30 this morning by a number of armed men.
Lieutenant Brown was a well-known Rugby football player, and within recent weeks had played as wing three-quarter for the British Army. He was to have played to-morrow in Dublin for Lansdowne, which has now abandoned its matches for the day.
Inquiries show that Lieutenant Brown was coming from the National Bank with £300. On arrival at the corner of Infirmary-road, which is almost opposite the artillery barracks, he was held up by two men, who stepped out of a motor-car.
Lieutenant Brown, it is said, resisted the attempted robbery. He was immediately shot through the forehead and fell dead on the footpath. The men took the money and, jumping into the motor-car, ordered the driver to get up speed. They had the car stopped at a place called the yellowbog, about 1½ miles from Kilcullen. Here they left the car and, threatening the driver, told him to drive on towards Kilcullen. Constabulary and volunteer police are scouring the country, and arrests are expected.
 
WoganBrowne_shot_Dead.png
Site_of_shootingsmall col point.jpg
Aerial View of Kildare Town c.1918 courtesy of Mark McLoughlin
coloured square shows site of shooting - left of this is the County Infirmary (now The Derby House Hotel) and mid/bottom right is the Artillery Barracks 
Having viewed the recent material re. the death of Wogan Browne on the Grey Abbey site, Mark McLoughlin sent in an article from the London Times and an aerial photo of Kildare Town just a few years prior to the shooting. Our thanks to Mark

Posted by mariocorrigan at 10:30 PM

1907: COURT APPEARANCES, GAELIC FOOTBALL AND THE ISSUE OF THE MEDICAL SALARY

Leinster Leader February 5th 1907
 
Kildare Petty Sessions.
 
THREE MONTHS FOR A SMOKE.
(From our Reporter)
The usual fortnightly Petty Sessions were held in Kildare on Thursday, before major Thackeray, R.M. (presiding), Mr. Bergin and Mr. Conlan.
DRUNKENNESS.
Thos. Corcoran was charged by Constable Grady with being drunk on the 17th inst., and was fined 2s. 6d. and costs.
Charged by Constable Sweeney with being drunk, Thom. McDonald was fined 10s. 6d. and costs. It happened to be a fourth offence within twelve months.
NOT IN CHARGE
Constable Stephenson summoned John Nolan for having on the 22nd ult. left a horse and car on the street without any person in charge. A fine of 2s. and costs was imposed.
The same complainant charged Peter McDonald with being drunk while in charge of an ass and car on the fair day, 22nd ult. According to the evidence of the Constable, McDonald was very drunk and was nearly falling in front of the car. He was fined 5s. and costs.
Joseph Connor was charged by Constable Stephenson with having his horse and car on the street without any person attending it. The defendant during that time was in a public house. A fine of 5s. and costs was imposed.
Eugene Dowdall charged by the same complainant, was fined 2s. and costs for allowing a horse and cart on the public street without anyone in charge.
“A LITTLE SUP”
Constable O’ Brien summoned Patk. Farrington for being drunk on the 24th ult. The defendant said he had not taken a drink for some three months previously, but on that occasion he took “a little sup”. He produced a pledge, and the case was adjourned.
ADJOURNED.
Mr. Thos. K. Hinds, Railways Road, applied for a license for the sale of petrol. The application was adjourned for the purpose of enabling the local inspector to investigate the state of the premises where the storage was suggested to be.
THREE MONTHS FOR A SMOKE.
Acting Sergeant Brennan charged John Doyle with being on the premises of Mrs. Butler with fraudulent intent on the night of the 3rd ult. When passing it appeared that Acting Sergeant Brennan heard the striking of a match in a shed which was off the road, but very near the chapel. He immediately went into the place, where he found there was a quantity of hay and some mattresses.-The defendant said he wanted to go in to light his pipe.
Previous convictions were proved against the defendant including one for cattle stealing in Naas. He was now sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
-------------------------------------------------------
 (P.8 from an article on the G.A.A. by 'Thigeen Roe.')
...
I am going to add to my long list of celestial well-wishers three more, namely, Father Ramsbottom, Jack Fitzgerald, and William Gogarty. The Kildare-Monasterevan match was fixed for Last Sunday at Monasterevan and duly advertised. At the County Committee meeting it was arranged that either Father Ramsbottom or Jack Fitzgerald should referee the match. This precaution was deemed necessary, owing to the fact that the game was being played on the grounds of one of the competing teams. On Sunday both teams turned out punctually to time, and there was no referee. Neither of the gentlemen turned up. Father Ramsbottom was advertised on the posters as the referee. Why did he not turn up? A large crowd had assembled to witness the game and they were disappointed. Such disappointments are too frequent in Gaelic circles, and to them is due the general public apathy towards the Gaelic games.
                                                        --------------------
 (P. 8)
KILDARE CUMANN NAOMH PADRAIG.
 
The boys of Cumann Naomh Padraig wish through your columns to thank the people of Kildare for their generous contribution to their new football club. The following is a list of the subscriptions-Rev. Father Campion, P.P., 6s; Christian Brothers, 5s; Dr. Rowan, 7s; Mr. C. Bergin, Co. C., 5s; Mr. J. Nolan, 2s; Mr. H. Buxton, 2s; Mr. Gavin, 2s; Mr. A. Wilberforce, 2s; Mr. J. Cosgrove, 2s; Mr. M. J. Kennedy, 2s; 1s. each- Mr. R. Kingston, Miss Mahon, Mr. G. McNabb, Mr. James Conway, and Mr. E. Heffernan; Mrs. Southwell, Mr. P. Hodgins, Mr. T. Harte, Mr. M. Fox, Miss Lawlor, Mr. J. Hennessy, Miss Bergin, Miss O’ Connor, Mr. T. Ryan, Miss Heffernan, a. Gael, A Friend, A Gael, Mr. P. Burke, Mr. c. Burke, Mr. Dennehy, Mrs. Bratron, Mrs. Fitxpatrick, Mr. J. Moore, junr.; Mr. C. McCann, Mr. W. Keaning, Constable O’ Brien, 6d; Constable Horgan, 6d; Rev. Father Campion, P.P., has honoured the club by accepting the presidency thereof, and it is not less honoured in having as vice-president Dr. Rowan, who is known to all said lover of boys and their sports. Master James Cosgrove acts as secretary to the club, and Master Laurence Ryan as captain of the team with Master Joseph Ryan as vice-captain. The following are members-Laurence Ryan, Joseph Ryan, James Cosgrove, Patrick Hodgins, Thomas O’ Grady, Patrick Noone, James Kelly, James Maher, Ernest Thomas, Thomas Mullally, Frank Mullally, Martin Hyland, Christy Kinsella, Patrick Kelly, Matthew Dooney, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Patrick Ryan. The rules to be followed are those of the G.A.A. The jersey adopted is a uniform green. On the breast is a white shamrock, bearing the initials C.N.P. The whole outfit is of Irish manufacture supplied by an eminent Dublin firm. Further subscriptions to the club will be gratefully acknowledged by Master J. Cosgrove, Market Square, Kildare.
------------------------------------
 

p. 8. ? of same issue

LETTER FROM DR. COADY.
The following letter was read:-Titusville, Naas, 29th January, 1907. Gentlemen,-With reference to your resolution of last Wednesday giving the well-deserved increase of £25 per year each to all the medical officers of your staff except myself I beg to lay before you a few facts which should show you the gross injustice of your exclusion. First, the amount of work to be done in this hospital has almost doubled since my appointment. Compare the numbers for they 1896 and 1907. 1896-In fever hospital, 82; infirmary, 570; total, 652. 1906-In fever hospital, 175; infirmary, 1,016; total, 1,191. Total increase, 539. Second, I have been nearly 23 years in the service of the Board. Third the number of important and serious surgical operations now performed in this hospital and the number of lives saved thereby. All these surgical operations entail an amount of trouble, anxiety, and responsibility on me which, I am sure, if the Board only understood, they would be slow to endorse the statement made by a member last week that the medical officer of the workhouse had not the same responsibility as a dispensary doctor. According to the circular of Dr. Smyth, when he was a candidate for this position, it is ‘the most important and responsible medical appointment in the patronage of the Board.’ No one rejoices more than I do at you recognition of the claims of the other medical officers for their work is hard and their responsibility great, but so is mine, and, as I said before, I have been working for nearly 23 years in your service.-               Yours, etc.,
DANIEL P. COADY.
 
The Chairman remarked that the number of cases in Dr. Murphy’s district was 1,263, in Dr. Coady’s 1,191, while the next largest, that of Dr. Roantree, was only 725. The serious cases occurring in the other districts, too, were shifted in Dr. Coady’s, and any surgical operations to be performed had to be done by him.
Mr. Foynes said Dr. Coady could save as much as the difference to Union in three or six months.
The Clerk said he thought what was intended to be conveyed by the statement that Dr. Coady had not the same responsibility as the others was that he did not incur the same travelling expenses.
The Chairman said the initial salary in the case of Dr. Coady was £130, and the Guardians had arranged to give him £5 extra from the 1st April next. The initial salaries of the other doctors, except Dr. Ewing, were £125, and the Board arranged to give those doctors and increase of £25 bringing them up to £150, and leaving the medical officer of the workhouse £15 less than any other dispensary doctor except Dr. Ewing, whose salary was a separate and special on. There was at present a dispensary vacant, and they would fill the position next week. The gentleman who would be appointed then would begin at £125, and in a couple of months he would jump to £150, leaving behind after what they might call a few days service, a man who had been 23 years in the service of the Union.
Mr. Foynes: Its’ absurd.
The Chairman said he did not press that view in face of the fact that the Board had unanimously decided by the adoption of a resolution that day week that they would take into consideration any retrospective scheme, but that the doctors should start level from the 1st.

 Some interesting articles from the pages of the Leinster Leader for 5 Feb. 1907

[compiled,  typed and edited by Cill Dara Historical Society]

Posted by mariocorrigan at 10:19 PM