Grey Abbey Conservation Project

Put a little heart into your home: NEW Book ...Hearth and Home

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:42:51 +0000

Put a little heart in your home
with Cill Dara Historical Society’s new publication

Hearth and Home - a history of social housing in Kildare Town 1889-2009 by James Durney, Mario Corrigan and Joseph Connelly was launched on Saturday 22 December 2012 in Kildare Town Library.

Hearth and Home - a history of social housing in Kildare Town 1889-2009 augments the other books in the series: A bridge, a town, a people. Social housing in Newbridge 1900-1996 and In the shadow of kings. Social housing in Naas 1898-1984, by James Durney and available from Gaul House publishers.

Mattie Duffy, President of Cill Dara Historical Society, Mario Corrigan, James Durney and Joseph Connelly.

In 1900 Kildare was a small market town with a population of over 2,800. However, most of the population lived in substandard houses, poorly built of plaster and slate, comprising one room and a kitchen with no running water or toilet facilities. Some of these houses accommodated up to ten people. While the basic infrastructure of water, sewerage and electricity had been provided, Kildare Co. Council only constructed the first major social housing scheme in 1939.

From single Labourers' Cottages to the more familiar schemes such as Rowanville, Campion, Assumpta, Lourdesville, Maryville and Bishopsland the people of Kildare Town struggled towards ownership and independence. As houses became homes, communities developed that helped shape the very heart of the town and instil a sense of pride and belonging, as strangers became neighbours and friends.

Paddy Flanagan, Joseph Connelly, Mario Corrigan, May Doyle, James Durney, Bella Sullivan and Bernie Costello.

The Local Authorities deserve recognition for their endeavours, as do the many councillors, staff and other unsung heroes who made it possible. This is that story.

There are chapters on all the main housing estates in the town but the book also lists the original recipients of individual cottages stretching back to the 19th century. Indeed the ancillary information at the back of the book will be of enormous benefit to researchers in the future. The book is delightfully illustrated throughout from family albums and archives and is an important contribution to the social history of the town.

Almost fifty people were interviewed or contributed to the researching of this book and it is their memories and knowledge that give Hearth and Home that extra human dimension. We hope the people of Kildare Town and environs will support and appreciate the book and no doubt copies will find there way overseas as presents and treasured memories.

Hearth and Home - a history of social housing in Kildare Town 1889-2009 is available to buy (price 13.99) in Kildare Heritage Centre, Malones newsagents and Southwells, Kildare Town; Farrell and Nephew, Newbridge; and Barker and Jones, Naas.

KILDARE BATTALIONS 1920 BY MICHAEL SMYTH

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:06:25 +0000

Kildare Battalions-1920

Michael Symth

Shortly after the release of the County Kildare Irish Volunteers, who were interned in Frongoch after 1916, the Volunteers in north Kildare were reorganised early in 1917. At a meeting at Prosperous on Ascension Thursday, 1917, a battalion council was formed. It was decided to form it as the North Kildare battalion. The following battalion officers were appointed:-

Commandant-Patrick Colgan-Maynooth company. Vice-Commandant-Thomas Harris Prosperous company. Adjustant-Michael Smyth Athgarvan company. Quartermaster-Art O’Connor Celbridge company.

Officers from the following companies were represented at the meeting:-Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Kill, Naas, Prosperous, Newbridge, Athgarvan and Carbury.

Early in 1920 when Peadar McMahon-afterwards Lieutenant General McMahon-came as organiser to Kildare, the I.R.A. in north Kildare was divided into two battalions, 1^st Kildare battalion and 2^nd Kildare battalion-the latter included some companies in west Wicklow.

Irish Republican Army

Kildare 2^nd Battalion

At a meeting at Naas early in 1920, the 2^nd Kildare battalion was formed. The battalion officers appointed were:-

Commandant-Thomas Harris-Prosperous company, Vice-commandant-Michael Smyth-Athgarvan company, Adjutant-Sean Curry-Naas Company. Quartermaster-Patrick Dunne-Kill company. Intelligence-Sean Kavanagh-Naas company. Training Officer-William Jones-Athgarvan company. The following companies and O.C.s. were in 2^nd Kildare battalion:-

Athgarvan (A) Matthew Cardiff.

Ballymore (B) Art Doran.

Kill (C) John Traynor.

Naas (D) Thomas Patterson.

Prosperous (F) Thomas Dunne.

Robertstown (G) John Herbert.

Two-mile-house (H) Andrew Byrne.

Allen (I) Michael Fitzgerald.

In July, 1920, a training camp was established at Ladytown, Naas under the charge of Peadar McMahon, organiser, and was attended by officers from all companies in the battalion area. An intensive training course was carried out.

As a result of an organising campaign carried out in the battalion area by Peadar McMahon and the commandant and vice-commandant, a number of new companies were formed at Allenwood and Eadestown, County Kildare, and Blessington, Valleymount, Donard, Hollywood and Brittas, County Wicklow. It was noted that numbers who had fallen away after the anti-conscription campaign were now rejoining the various companies.

In August, 1920, Dowdington House, Athgarvan, Two-mile-house-about four miles from Naas-was taken over as Battalion headquarters, and fortnightly meetings of the battalion council were held there. Training sessions held there were under the various Battalion officers. Classes were held on drilling, engineering, rifle and revolver practice, first-aid and signalling. The battalion had a very efficient and experienced training officer in William Jones, who had been a corporal in the Connaught Rangers. He had served in the great war and had been badly wounded in France in 1914. He was invalided home, and was granted a pension and given employment at Curragh Camp. Before being called up on reserve in August 1914, he was appointed drill instructor to the Athgarvan company, and rejoined the company in 1915. As a result of an argument with some fellow workers at Curragh Camp he was dismissed, and prosecuted under the Defence of the Realm Act in October, 1915. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at Lumville court, Curragh, which was afterwards altered to a fine of £5-owing to his military service-but he lost his pension and his employment at Curragh Camp. Dowdington House, battalion headquarters, was not found out by enemy forces until it was raided in May, 1921. There was no one there at the time, as we had received information of the proposed raid, and all arms and ammunition had been removed for sake keeping to the belfry of the adjacent church at Two-mile-house.

An attempt was made to blow up the Limerick bridge, Naas, one of the principal bridges on the Dublin-Curragh Camp road, by volunteers from E company, Naas, and battalion officers, assisted by the engineering officer of the first Kildare battalion.

Volunteers from the various companies of the battalion were engaged keeping order during the farm strike of 1920.

Other battalion officers appointed were medical officer-Doctor Lavin, B. company: signalling-William Merlin, F. company. Members of the battalion were mobilised to assist Carlow brigade in a proposed attack on Castledermot R.I.C. barrack in August, 1920, but the attack was called off.

During the summer of 1920 a number of R.I.C. barracks in the battalion area were evacuated and those were all burned down to safeguard against their being reoccupied. Adjoining courthouses were also burned. The R.I.C. barrack and courthouse at Lumville-less than a mile from the Curragh Camp-were burned down by members of A company. The only R.I.C. barracks which remained occupied in the battalion area were those at Naas, Newbridge and Hollywood. Sallins R.I.C. barrack was burned down in June, 1920.

An ambush was carried out by members of the Kill company, under the commandant of the battalion, Commandant Thomas Harris, in the autumn of 1920. The attack was made on the R.I.C. patrol on the Naas road, Kill, near where the present John Devoy memorial stands. Sergeant O’Reilly and Constable Flaherty were killed and the other R.I.C. were taken prisoners and arms and ammunition were captured. There were no I.R.A. casualties, but enemy forces were very active after the ambush and a number of members of the Kill company were arrested. A business house in Naas was burned by enemy forces also.

During 1920 a supply of revolvers and ammunition was procured from British soldiers in Curragh Camp and Newbridge barrack. Supplies of gelignite and some mills bombs were also procured. A house-to-house raid for rifles and shotguns was carried out in September 1920, and a large number were procured. Those raids were intended to forestall raids by the R.I.C.-of which we got information.

Volunteers in the various companies were also engaged in the collection for the National Loan in 1920. Richard Cottier was appointed by Michael Collins in charge of the collection in County Kildare.

Raids were carried out throughout the area for post office bicycles and other enemy property. British and Belfast goods at the various railway stations were destroyed.

During the local elections in 1920 the members of the battalion were engaged as guards at public meetings, and at polling stations. In County Kildare at the county council elections twenty-nine members were elected, and of those, twenty-eight were Sinn Fein or Labour Republican. Only one Irish Parliamentary Party candidate was elected. At its first meeting it was decided to pledge allegiance to Dail Eireann and to repudiate any claim by the British to legislate in Irish affairs. A number of I.R.A. members were elected including the 2^nd battalion commandant, Thomas Harris; vice-commandant, Michael Smyth. Donal Buckley, a veteran of 1916, was elected chairman, and Eamonn O Modhrain, 6^th battalion, Carlow brigade, vice-chairman. Every effort was made by the British to compel the council to recognise the British Local Government Board-including the issue of writs-of which I have a copy.

Resolutions condemning Easter Week were passed by the Kildare county council in 1916; these were deleted from the minutes by the new council.

A battalion police officer was appointed and Republican courts were set up in the town in the battalion area. Volunteers were engaged in guarding these courts.

Armed raids on the mails were carried out during 1920 and 1921, especially at Sallins and Newbridge stations. An amount of British correspondence was captured. Those raids were carried out under the supervision of Sean Kavanagh, intelligence officer. Sean Kavanagh made many contacts with friendly members of the R.I.C.. (see The Capuchin Annual 1969, p.354).

An ambush was arranged for Newbridge railway station on 1 November, 1920, the day Kevin Barry was executed in Mountjoy. During the summer of 1920 the railway men refused to drive any train on which the British military travelled-a part of military attended Newbridge station almost daily and boarded the 10.30 train. In addition to the battalion officers, Harris, Smyth and Kavanagh, Volunteers attended for the ambushes from the Newbridge, Athgarvan and Ballymore companies, but the party of the military did not turn up, as the British forces had decided not to engage in these operations any longer.

The railwaymen were either members of or strong supporters of the I.R.A. in our area. Sean Kavanagh, intelligence, paid tribute to those men who were engaged in carrying dispatches to and from G.H.Q. and also to the many postal officials who co-operated in connection with the various raids on the mails.

After one raid for the mails at Sallins station, while Sean Kavanagh, Art Doran and myself were in bed in Art Doran’s house at Ballymore Eustace, where we sorted out the mails, a lorry pulled up outside the house. We jumped up thinking it was an enemy raid, but the lorry moved away. We found out next day that it was only an ordinary private lorry.

In November, 1920, Commandant T. Harris was arrested and also the commanding officers of C company, D company and J company. The week after “Bloody Sunday” a number of officers and Volunteers were arrested as a result of an intensive campaign of raids on 23 November from a member of the R.I.C., Sergeant McGowan of Newbridge who was friendly towards the I.R.A. Although members were warned not to sleep in their own houses that night some did so, and their houses were surrounded in the early hours of the morning by military and police and they were arrested.

Two other members of the R.I.C. at Newbridge were also friendly. Another R.I.C. man, Eamonnn Broy, a native of Rathangan-afterwards Colonel Broy-was an important member of Michael Collins’s secret service.

Towards the end of 1920 the battalion adjutant, Sean Curry, and quartermaster Patrick Dunne, were arrested and also the O.C. of F company.

As a result of the arrests the battalion council was reformed as follows:-commandant-Michael Smyth; vice-commandant-Art Doran; adjutant and intelligence officer-Sean Kavanagh; quartermaster-James Harris. New company officers were also appointed in place of those arrested. Enemy activities were intensified over the area.

The following “death sentence” was posted to the battalion commandant:

1/12/1920

FINAL WARNING

Whereas, it has come to our knowledge that the Sinn Fein organisation of which you are a prominent official through the so-called I.R.A. or murder gang has been committing outrages in this hitherto God-fearing and law-abiding country, this reign of terror must be stopped. You are, therefore, most earnestly warned that in the event of the continuance of those heartless and cowardly crimes you will be personally held responsible and punished in such a manner that others will be deterred from criminal course.

By order.

Michael Smyth

Athgarvan, Newbridge

Co. Kildare

An intensive campaign of road blocking by trenching and felling trees, of disrupting communication by cutting telephone wires-especially on all roads leading from the Curragh Camp was carried out on instructions from G.H.Q.

There were three military barracks in the battalion area-Naas, Newbridge and Curragh Camp-all strongholds of the enemy, Curragh camp being headquarters of the British military in Ireland. There was also four strongly fortified R.I.C. barracks-Naas being the headquarters of the Black-and-Tans and Auxiliaries.

Unsuccessful attempts were made on Hollywood R.I.C. barrack and also by 6^th battalion, Carlow brigade on Kilcullen barrack, in which the 2^nd Kildare battalion co-operated by blocking all roads between Kilcullen and Curragh Camp.

At the end of 1920 an active service unit or flying column was formed. The O.C. was Martin O’Neill, O.C. B company, who had had service in the British army. It consisted at first of twelve Volunteers, and operated mostly in County Wicklow-western area.

Shortly after the formation of the unit a couple of the west Wicklow companies decided to transfer to the south Dublin brigade and this caused a split in the active service unit, as the numbers were almost half from Kildare and half from Wicklow. The Volunteers from the Wicklow demanded half of the rifles and ammunition held by the unit. This was refused as it was claimed that all the rifles were the property of the Kildare companies and were mostly those which were purchased from British soldiers at Curragh camp and Newbridge.

Gerald Boland, afterwards Minister for Justice, representing the south Dublin brigade, met me at Ballymore Eustace, by appointment, after a company parade there, and alleged that the Kildare Volunteers had fired on the Wicklow men. He said it was bad enough to be fighting the Black-and-Tans without fighting among ourselves. After a discussion we came to a satisfactory settlement and agreed to have co-operation between the two areas, and also we agreed on a boundary between the two areas. Three of the Wicklow companies remained in the 2^nd battalion area.

Raids were carried out on all excise offices in battalion areas and the documents in them destroyed.

A one-day general strike was ordered by the Labour party in June, 1920, to compel the release of the Republicans who were on hunger strike in Mountjoy and other prisons and the Volunteers were engaged in enforcing obedience to the strike order. The strike resulted in the release of the prisoners.

At a meeting of the battalion council at the end of 1920 the members were perturbed at the number of arrests taking place in the battalion area-especially of battalion and company officers. It was believed that there were informers and spies in the area. Some persons were mentioned as suspects.

As a result of a visit by Volunteers to the house of a man suspected of giving information, he was fired on and mortally wounded but first attacked the party with a slane and struck one of the Volunteers on the head. A number of men were arrested in the area after this incident-but none of them were members of the I.R.A.

While “on the run” in Rathangan area in November 1920, I reorganised a company there, with Joseph Kenny O.C. Owing to a number of arrests in the area the numbers were so small that I amalgamated them with the neighbouring 1^st company at Allen and they were very active members of that company and took part in all engagements including the Allen ambush.

Our intelligence service got important information from a member of the clerical staff in the office of the crown solicitor, Naas, and from Volunteers who were employed at Curragh camp about the numbers of British troops in the area and about troop movements which were an advantage to us in our planning. We also got a supply of .303 ammunition from the workers employed on the military ranges at the Curragh camp.

An attempt late in 1920 to obtain a supply of arms and ammunitions-including a machine gun failed, owing to the transfer of the soldiers concerned from Newbridge barracks.

Cumman na mBan and Fianna

Units of the Fianna Eireann and Cumman na mBan were attached to some of the companies and they did useful work in carrying dispatches, arms and ammunition. They also attended first-aid classes and helped in collecting funds for the I.R.A. and for the purpose of sending food parcels to Volunteers interred or imprisoned and also in helping their families.

A number of the Fianna were afterwards enrolled in the I.R.A. and were useful members as they had been already well trained. There was a strong company of the Fianna in Newbridge under their officer, Patrick Fulham. They usually marched to Bodenstown and camped there on the night previous to the Wolf Tone anniversary. One of their members, the late James Clancy, was promoted to a battalion intelligence officer after the arrest of Sean Kavanagh.

First Battalion, Kildare

Activities by the 1^st battalion were similar to hose of the 2^nd battalion which we have set down. But this battalion was occupied in a special way with getting messages from G.H.Q. to the counties of practically all the midlands and the west, and on this work practically a full-time staff was engaged. Depots for receiving and transmitting the messages were set up at Leixlip, Celbridge, Straffan, Maynooth, Kilcock, Cloncurry, Mainham, Johnstown Bridge. Messages were transmitted safely with the minimum delay. Members of Cumann na mBan were frequently used for carrying messages during the day time and as some of the depots were national schools, the school teachers did their part of this important work.

Attacks on barracks were planned by the various companies as well as attacks on police foot patrols to disarm them. Guards were put on the Maynooth-Kilcock road, Celbridge-Maynooth road, Celbridge-Leixlip road and Maynooh-Leixlip road. Sunday was the usual day the patrols scouted these roads. After being on guard for three Sundays we learned that the patrols had been stopped.

Orders came that the records in rural district council offices were to be destroyed and three members of Leixlip company carried this out with success.

Explosives were manufactured in Celbridge at Cauldwell’s. At Leixlip, mines were constructed in the metal boxes of cartwheels. Large quantities of buck-shot was also made in that area.

The 1^st battalion of north Kildare in 1920 was under the command of:- Frank Powell, O.C., until he was arrested and replaced by C. Mullaney. Alex Mitchell, vice O.C., Donal O Buachalla was quartermaster. In all between two hundred and fifty and three hundred men carried on the actions and kept the British forces on the alert in the locality.

The Carlow brigade took in some areas of south Kildare and Wicklow. A company, Athy, was attached to the 5^th battalion, Carlow brigade. Castledermot, C. company, also belonged to the 5^th battalion, Carlow brigade. Kildare, F. company belonged to the 6^th battalion, Carlow brigade. Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow, A. company belonged to the 6^th battalion, Carlow brigade.

A. Company; Athy, under Captain Paddy Hayden, engaged in similar activities as the Volunteers in the other areas. Mail trains on the Waterford-Dublin branch line were raided on three different occasions to capture letters addressed to and from the British authorities. They raided the custom house in Athy and seized and burned all official records. They enforced the Belfast boycotting by burning the abattoir in which prescribed goods were stored. Disruption of enemy communications by cutting telegraph wires, blocking roads with trenches and felled trees proved constant harassment for the British forces.

During the summer of 1920 several reports of cattle stealing were received by the 5^th battalion. These occurred principally in the Curragh and Ballysax areas. As a result of investigation two men were arrested, Michael Hand and James Mullally (Hand was employed at the British abattoir at Curragh camp) and were kept in the custody of A. company, mostly at the residence of Doctor Kenna, Ballymount, Collinstown.

As a result of further enquiries William Hanly, a farmer, of Ballysax, Curragh, was arrested. He was kept in custody at the Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow, in the area of A. company. Those who arrested Hanly were Laurence O’Toole, captain of A. company, Joseph Deering, first lieutenant, and Volunteer Denis Fay.

William Hanly was kept in custody at Doyle’s of Knockeendarragh, Donard. Once when he complained of being unwell he was attended by Doctor Keena a strong supporter of the I.R.A. in the area.

On 17 July, 1920, the trail of the three men took place at a court at Byrne’s barn, Kilgowan, Kilcullen-a midnight court. John Flanagan, O.C., 6^th battalion, Michael Smyth, vice-commandant, 2^nd Kildare battalion, and Eamonn Moran acted as Republican justices. Seamus O’Connor, solicitor, Dublin, afterwards state solicitor for Dublin, and previously a member of the Irish volunteers executive before 1916, prosecuted. William Hanly was a big farmer and race-horse owner. A large number of witnesses were examined, including some prominent cattle dealers, and gave evidence of their cattle being stolen. All three were found guilty. Hanly was heavily fined and Hand and Mullally were sentenced to be deported. They were deported the following day,

The owners of the stolen cattle were paid compensation from the fine imposed according to the valuation by Messrs. O’Connor, Mylerstown, Naas, cattle dealers.

Castledermot was one of the earliest centres of Volunteer activity in South Kildare. The Volunteers engaged in harassing the enemy by the same means as the Athy men. They received orders early in 1920 to burn down the local police barrack. When they arrived there they found the sergeant’s wife and family still in occupation. Immediately they made arrangements for the lady’s removal with her family and all the furniture and had her transferred to a neighbour’s house and the furniture brought to a safe place locally. In the burning down of the building and explosion caused by lighted match, one Volunteer would almost certainly have lost his life but for the prompt action of the leader, Paddy Cosgrave, who at great risk entered the burning building and brought him to safety. He was so badly burned that the skin peeled off his face and hands. In the hospital in Athy, where he was concealed and treated with the greatest care by the staff, he fully recovered. I am glad to say that fifty years afterwards Paddy Cosgrave is still hale and hearty.

The Dunlavin company, who burned down the vacated R.I.C. barracks at Ballytore, Dunlavin, Donard, Stratford-on-Slaney, attacked the occupied Baltinglass barrack and killed one policeman. They burned down the officers’ quarters around the Glen of Imaal British camp and also the mansion of an anti-Irish family known as Saunder’s Grove after the notorious Colonel Saunders of 1798. They court-martialled and executed a troublesome spy. An outbreak of larceny, including a case of cattle stealing, was brought before the Sinn Fein courts, and those concerned convicted and sentenced. The company guarded the courts and some times risked their lives in this duty.

F. company, Kildare, were also in the 6^th battalion, Carlow brigade. Kildare company was established in 1917. In 192(?) the company captain was Denis O’Neill. The company was very active during 192(?) and carried out an intensive course of training, drilling and rifle practice.

All roads leading to Kildare military barracks were continuously trenched and blocked by fallen trees, and telephone wires were cut.

A quantity of arms and ammunition was procured from soldiers serving in Kildare barracks and Curragh camp. A house-to-house collection was also carried out for shotguns and other arms.

In a raid on income tax office all documents were taken and destroyed.

In the local elections of 1920 Volunteers were on duty at polling booths, and also at public meetings. A Republican court was established in 1920 and members of the company were on duty at the various sessions of the court.

At Kildare railway station was a junction, one line leading to Waterford, and the other to Cork, and it was an important centre for distribution of communications from G.H.Q. The captain and first lieutenants were employed at the station and were in a good position for carrying out this work. Raids were made on trains for the mails of British forces and to implement the Belfast boycott the railway station at Kildare was raided and the Belfast and British goods destroyed.

Members of the company were on duty on the occasion of the one-day strike called by the Labour Party in June, 1920, for the release of the prisoners on hunger-strike in Mountjoy jail and also at the church parade ordered for the day of Terence MacSwiney’s funeral.

A Republican police section was formed to take over the work of civil protection and control in various towns.

There was a strong branch of Cumann-na-mBan in Kildare. Miss Peg Daly was O.C. They were most useful in carrying dispatches and doing other work including first-aid. They helped in collecting funds for the Volunteers and for the purpose of sending food parcels to those interned or imprisoned and helping to provide for their families.

The Daly family had long service in the Republican movement, as a sister, Mrs. Beatty, saw service in Easter Week, 1916. Another sister, Lucy Daly, recently deceased, was also a member and was interned in Kilmainham jail with her sister, Peg.

Kilcullen and Suncroft companies were also attached to the 6^th battalion, Carlow brigade. The area covered by these companies bordered the Curragh camp, and the chief activities during 1920 were blocking of all roads leading to the camp, trenching the roads and felling trees. Cutting telephone wires caused further disruption to enemy communications.

Mullaghmoy bridge and another small bridge on roads between Athy and the Curragh camp were destroyed. A number of men of the Suncroft company were arrested and imprisoned as a result of those activities.

Members of the Suncroft company were responsible for procuring a supply of rifles, revolvers, and ammunition from British soldiers stationed at the Curragh camp. Members of those companies were also engaged on an attack on Kilcullen R.I.C. barracks after all roads leading to Kilcullen were blocked.

Drilling and rifle and revolver practice was held on Sundays; ammunition and explosives were also manufactured on that day.

They raided British controlled excise offices and destroyed records. During 1920 they helped in collecting for the Dail Eireann loan.

A man, named Power of Kilboggan, Suncroft was questioned about robberies in the area, but before he could be arrested he sought refuge on Curragh camp, where he gave information concerning the I.R.A. He was kept under the protection of the British military at Curragh camp. When he left camp to return home on one occasion he was arrested, tried, found guilty and executed. There was considerable enemy activity around Suncroft after the execution, but no arrests were made. Some other spies, including a woman, were under observation, but they, too, took refuge in Curragh camp.

Raids were carried out for British and Belfast goods during the boycott in 1920 and in one raid two Remington typewriters were seized. They were consigned to the divisional commissioner, R.I.C. One was left at Dowling’s house at Carna, Curragh camp, which was afterwards raided, but Mrs. Dowling put her apron over the type writer and the raiding party did not notice it.

James Collins, intelligence officer, Kilcullen company, called with two men to settle a family quarrel at Knockbounce, Kilcullen, but the R.I.C. got information on the matter and were waiting at the gate of the house and fired on them. Two of the Volunteers, Thomas Hazlett and William Martin, were wounded. Five were arrested and brought to Kilcullen barrack. They were afterwards tried and released.

Two members of Kilcullen company were arrested during a Republican court-Frank Corrigan and D. Buckley-and were carried around in a lorry all day before they were released.

Another member of the company, Michael Sammon, a native of Celbridge, and a well-known G.A.A. player, was arrested after reading the Republican Manifesto after Mass, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Shop-keepers in the area were warned not to offer British goods for sale. British newspapers were burned.

Members were on duty on the day of Terence McSwiney’s funeral-keeping order in the church parade and seeing that it was kept as a national holiday.

A number of our Volunteers-and some girls-were always available for carrying dispatches.

Doctor Kane, Kilgowan, was friendly to the I.R.A., and was available at all times to treat the injured.

During the munitions strike, when the railway men refused to drive the trains carrying munitions or enemy forces and were sacked, collections were made for these men, by the Cumann na mBan especially.

Monasterevin, G.company, also attached to the 6^th battalion Carlow brigade, joined in the same activities as the other companies. They insured that the general strike in April was successful in their district. Later when the railway men refused to drive trains carrying munitions or soldiers, they blocked the main Dublin-Cork road and the by-roads around the town. They organised the collecting of funds in the towns around for the patriotic railwaymen.

One very important contribution of the Monasterevan company was the capture of five mail bags of Dublin Castle and British army correspondence in a raid on the train at the local station. The captured bags were deemed so important that members of the brigade intelligence staff came to collect them. These men, the local Volunteers, piloted safely, not without some anxious moments, along roads patrolled by British cavalry.

Other activities of G. company included the blowing up of a bridge over the river Barrow, the removal of labour from a culvert on the main Kildare-Monasterevan road, the trenching and severing of connections on local roads and telephone communications and the destruction of the local excise office and of enemy cargo being transported by canal. They worked in guarding the Sinn Fein courts as police when a sentence of the court was not accepted and the offender had to be taken for a cooling off to “an unknown destination.”.

In one unfortunate mistake nearly all the equipment which was collected with such difficulty was lost and two Volunteers were captured. Captain Hugh McNally, who was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude and Fintan Brennan who got five years’ penal servitude.

The Kildare Volunteers succeeded in making the large number of crown forces stationed in the Curragh very much less effective than they should have been by their constant harassment of them, emplementing the orders of the Volunteers’ G.H.Q. and wrecking the enemy lines of communication in every direction.

B. company, Kilrush, the final company in our account which was attached to the 6^th battalion Carlow brigade, was captained by Sean Flanagan, who was later promoted to battalion commandant. They played their parts with the other companies in acquiring arms, training in their use and in other military duties, in enforcing the Belfast boycott and the orders of the Sinn Fein courts, and looked after the general strike.

They were successful in hampering troop movement by blowing up Kilboggan bridge which partially at least cut off the Curragh camp from the South; the bridge on the by-road from Suncroft to Tippeenam and the bridge at Tippeenam on the main Dublin-Waterford road were also destroyed. The motor-cars of people hostile to the Volunteers were dismantled. They arrested, court-martialled and shot a spy-a salutary warning to others so inclined.

The Kilrush men were successful in helping some of the Volunteers interned in the Curragh camp to escape and showed them safe routes to take in motor-cars they had commandeered for them. Later they supplied an accurate record of any of the property they had commandeered.

AUGUST 1950: GIBBET RATH MEMORIAL COMMITTEE and DEMOLITION OF OLD WHITE ABBEY HALL/CHURCH

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:01:31 +0000

Leinster Leader
12 August 1950

St. Brigid Statue Project

Subscriptions to the Gibbet Rath memorial Fund (erection of statue of St. Brigid) continue to mount although the organisers feel that collections in some areas are not yet properly under way. Those appointed in all areas are urged to complete their collections as soon as possible.
At the last meeting of the Committee the Chairman, Rev. T. Kennedy, C.C., Rathangan, thanked a representative of the Kildareman’s Association in New York for their generous donation of £20.
To arrange to raise funds to go towards the cost of erecting a statue of St. Brigid at the Gibbet Rath, Curragh, a public meeting is being held in the Courthouse, Athy, next Monday evening at 9 o’clock.

Leinster Leader
12 August 1950

Historic Kildare Building Demolished

This week demolition of the old White Abbey Hall at Kildare was completed – a traction engine was used to pull down the gable and side walls. The old building had quite an interesting and historic past and old residents can recall attending mass there.

KILDARE HERITAGE CENTRE - KILDARE NATIONALIST No.1

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:11 +0000

Cill Dara Historical Society: Kildare Town Heritage Series No. 1

KILDARE HERITAGE CENTRE
Mario Corrigan

The Kildare Town Heritage Centre is the ideal point of departure from which to explore the ancient treasures of the town. It is housed in the restored and refurbished nineteenth century Market House. The Heritage Centre was formally opened on the 17th September 2001 by the then Minister for Finance, Mr. Charlie McCreevy.
The building has a long and varied history. According to the Statutes of Henry VI (1458) a market had been held in Kildare ‘from time whereof memory runs not,’ and an official weekly market, to be held on Thursdays, was authorised by Henry VIII in the Charter of Kildare of 1515. Reference to the ‘Market Place’ can be found in the Registry of Deeds Office in 1726 and 1751 and it was designated the ‘Market Square’ in Thomas Sherrard’s Map of Kildare of 1798.
John Rocque’s Map of Kildare (1757) identifies ‘The Markett house,’ in the centre of this Square on the site of the modern Heritage Centre. According to Rocque it consisted of three adjoining buildings with a yard in 1757. By 1798 (Sherrard) it had developed into a singular rectangular building with a section to the western side. This projection had disappeared by 1817 but a small northern (facing Nugent Street/Station Road) projection could be noticed on the 1838 Ordnance Survey Map of the town.
According to Niall Meagher, former Co. Architect, while it may have incorporated an earlier structure, the present building dates from the nineteenth century. In 1838 the Market House was clearly identified as a public building and by the mid-nineteenth century at least it had been re-developed with an upper level. In the mid-1880’s a water tank was placed in the roof of the Market House as a receptacle for water being pumped from St. John’s Well at Tully.
By the mid-twentieth century the Market House had fallen into disrepair and was bought for £300 by Kildare Co. Council. It was carefully reconstructed in the early 1970’s winning an An Taisce Award in 1973 and, a bus shelter, public toilets and small museum were incorporated into the new building. The cast-iron water gauge dated 1885 was retained on the outside of the building as was a plaque celebrating the completion of the Kildare Waterworks in 1886.
A Heritage Project Committee was formed in 1992 to campaign for Heritage Status for the Town of Kildare. The designation of Heritage Town provided an impetus for the reinvigoration of the Market House. The European Development Fund provided £230,000 towards the project with additional funding coming from Kildare County Council (£50,000) and local contributions. Once building began the reconstruction and refurbishment took a little less than 2 years and Kildare Town Heritage Centre was officially unveiled in September 2001.
The Centre, which is now open six days a week, is the Tourist Office for local and county-wide tourist information, a place where tourists can book accommodation or plan their itinerary. It also has a vibrant shop where visitors can purchase books, souvenirs and jewellery and is the hub for Kildare Town Historic Walking Tours – so why not visit Mary, Patricia and Helen to see what is on offer or check out the wonderful website - http://www.kildare.ie/kildareheritage to find out more.

KILDARE BOOK LAUNCH Wed 2nd DEC 2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:45:33 +0000

Cill Dara Historical Society

Kildare Town’s Local History Group

BOOK LAUNCH

Druim Criaig

The Ridge of Clay

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF KILDARE TOWN

KILDARE EDUCATION CENTRE (Old Parochial House)

Wednesday 2^nd December 2009

7 p.m.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Cill Dara Historical Society – Kildare Town’s Local History Group - has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 1989 and the monthly meetings are proving something of a focal point in the town. “The ‘cuppa and chat’ beforehand are probably as enticing as the actual content of the talk or presentation and as well as local subjects, it has expanded its remit to cover national and international topics and ventured into the unknown realms of storytelling and memorabilia,” says President, Mary D’Arcy. “Indeed our ‘Memories and Memorabilia’ night has allowed members and local people, who would not dream of giving a talk, an opportunity to participate and inform, and has become an extremely popular annual event.”

The partnership with Kildare Education Centre and the Society’s access to the wonderful facilities available in the Centre have been paramount in the growth and development of the Society and local history in the town.

A new partnership was forged in 2009 with the Kildare Nationalist when they began a series of weekly articles on Kildare, and the articles have proved so popular that the Society felt they needed to be brought together in a tangible way to preserve them, and also to make them even more widely available. The resulting publication, ‘DRUIM CRIAIG – The Ridge of Clay,’ will be launched on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Kildare Education Centre – All are Welcome.

Contributions from: Stephen Talbot, Mark McLoughlin, Adrian Mullowney, James Durney, Stephen Boland, Joe Connolly, Susan Waters, Mario Corrigan, Rory Hopkins, Brian Murphy, Fr. Adrian Carbery, and includes a complete reproduction of the

An Tóstal Souvenir Booklet of 1953.

The Ideal Christmas Stocking Filler!!

FOURTH ANNUAL BOOK FAIR

Thu, 28 May 2009 12:36:28 +0000

2009 RARE BOOKS FAIR, CLASSIC CARS, and FREE GUIDED WALKING TOUR

KILDARE TOWN

Sunday 31^st May

FOURTH COUNTY KILDARE BOOK FAIR!

The fourth County Kildare Book Fair will take place on Sunday afternoon, the 31^st May in Kildare Town. This will be an opportunity for those interested in history and heritage as well as the general population who are interested in books and reading in general to visit a Rare Books Fair outside of Dublin. It is being organised by the Kildare Collections and Research Services, Kildare County Library and Arts Service in conjunction with Kildare Town Heritage Centre, Kildare Parish Centre, Kildare County Council, the Kildare Classic Car Association and Lyonshill Books. According to Local Studies Librarian, Mario Corrigan, "there is an enormous interest in Dublin and other areas in this sort of event and after the success of the first three County Kildare Book Fairs 2006 - 2008 we in County Kildare are looking forward to the event. It is an ideal opportunity also for anyone who has not yet visited the Kildare Retail Outlet Village to come to the town and see what is on offer."

The main event is free and open to all and will allow people to browse the books on offer in The Kildare Parish Centre. "The idea is to encourage people to walk through Kildare Town, visit Kildare Cathedral and thoroughly enjoy the day," said Mario Corrigan who has published a Sli na Slainte and Heritage Trail of Kildare Town and is anxious that people enjoy the experience that Kildare, the Heritage Town has to offer. This year there will also be the added attraction of a free Walking Tour of Kildare Town at 1 p.m.

Eddie Murphy of Lyonshill Books is delighted to be able to add County Kildare to a growing list of Book Fairs that he and his colleagues have orchestrated. "It is an immensely pleasurable experience, whereby people can browse the stalls and hopefully with this new initiative in Kildare Town take in some of the rich heritage of such an historic setting - maybe pause in the local shops or the local cafes and pubs for a coffee and even visit the Outlet Village for a unique shopping experience. We do hope this year proves to be as successful as last year when we had a great turn out," said Mr. Murphy.

So why not take an afternoon break on Sunday 31^st May and come to Kildare Town to the County's Rare Books Fair - maybe in search of a unique gift or just to amble through the historic streets and enjoy the experience. Why not enjoy the unique shopping experience that is ‘Kildare Retail Outlet Village,’ and Kildare Town Heritage Centre has a host of collectibles and gift ideas to wet your appetite.

The Kildare Classic and Vintage Car Association will be on-hand as Sunday 31^st May is the date for their annual Gordon Bennett Commemorative Rally and the cars will be parked on the Market Square during the afternoon – most of the cars arriving around 3 pm. All in all it is an ideal day out.

THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, RARE, ANTIQUARIAN AND LOTS OF BARGAINS -FREE VALUATIONS !!!

POEM BY PADDY McCORMACK DEDICATED TO ST. BRIGID

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:25:08 +0000

Leinster Leader 2 February 1941

Feast of St. Brigid
February 1st

Oh dear St. Brigid hear our call,
And guard our native isle,
In olden days you spread the light
Of love o’er the soil,
Your mission full of ardent love,
With pleadings did not fall,
And ever shall thy memory live,
As Mary of the Gael.

How oft you prayed with fervent hope
To save our native land,
The fire of Faith you kindled here,
By a heavenly breeze was fanned,
Thy earthly life our guiding star,
A beacon of light to all
Fond patroness of Erin’s Isle,
You heard the plaintive call.

Tho’ years have flown O Glorious Saint,
Since you trod the Emerald Isle,
The hills and pleasant valleys,
Seem acalling all the while.
Come dwell again O Brigid true.
Amidst the scenes so fair,
Where first thy virtues flourished
From thy Convent at Kildare.

The Irish race O faithful Queen,
Shall ever breathe thy name,
With Patrick’s aid Apostle true,
Our land shall rise to fame.
And when all earthly things shall end,
We pray our trials are o’er,
To meet our Glorious Irish Saint,
Yes meet to part no more,

                                                    PATRICK McCORMACK
                                                                         Kildare.

HYMN TO ST. BRIGID

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:55:55 +0000

Hymn to St Brigid
(Traditional)

Far above, enthroned in glory,
Sweetest Saint of Erin's Isle.
See thy children kneel before thee,
Turn on us a mothers smile.

Sancta Mater, hear our pleading,
Faith and hope and holy love.
Sweet Saint Brigid, Spouse of Jesus,
Sent to us from heaven above.

Sweet Saint Brigid, all thy children,
Far and near, o'er land and sea.
'Mid the world and in the cloister
Fondly turn with love to thee.

Sancta Mater, soothe the mourner,
Shield the weary tempted soul,
Sweet Saint Brigid, guide thy children,
To that bright and happy home.

Alternative translations and spellings exist –
e.g. 2nd verse – ‘Send to us from heaven above’ instead of ‘Sent to us from heaven above.’
3rd verse ‘Sweet Saint Brigid, Erin’s children’ instead of ‘Sweet Saint Brigid, all thy children,’
4th verse last line – ‘To the bright and happy goal.’ instead of ‘To that bright and happy home.’

LOCAL NOTES FROM THE LEINSTER LEADER APRIL 1907

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:30:35 +0000

LEINSTER LEADER APRIL 20TH 1907 P. 1.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.
MARRIAGES.

MURPHY AND SOUTHWELL-April 10th 1907 at Carmelite Church, Whitefriars Street, Dublin, by the Rev. E. P. Southwell, O.C.C. (uncle of the bride), assisted by Rt. Rev. Monsignor Murphy, P.P., V.G., D.D., Maryboro; Very Rev. Canon Joseph O’ Keefe, P.P., V.F., Athy; Rev. P. Campion, P.P., Kildare; Rev. W. Duggan, C.C., Athy; Rev. N. A. Staples, O.C.C.; Rev. M. Daly, O.P.P.; Rev. P. Behan, O.P.P.; Rev. J. McDermott, O.P.P, and Rev. T. Bartley, O.P.P., James J. son of Michael Murphy, Athy, to Janie, daughter of the late Patrick Southwell, Kildare.

--------------------------

P. 2.

SHIPPING

CUNARD LINE.
FINEST, FASTEST, AND MOST COM-
FORTABLE OF BRITISH STEAMERS,
Including
The “CARMANIA” (Turbine) and
“CARBONIA,”
the latest and most luxurious Hotels afloat.
FROM LIVERPOOL VIA QUEENSTOWN,
TO NEW YORK.
LUCANTA-Saturday, April 20
CABONIA-Tuesday, April 23
UMBRIA-Saturday, April 27
TO BOSTON.
SAXONIA-Tuesday, April 30
IVERNIA-Tuesday, May 14
SAXONIA-Tuesday, May 28
The “LUSITANIA” AND “MAURETANIA,”
The LARGEST STEAMERS IN
THE WORLD, are now completing.

UNSURPASSED ACCOMMODATION AT LOW RATES. An allowance of 10 per cent. on the homeward fare is made to Saloon and Second Cabin Passengers taking return tickets.
Second and Third-Class passengers, via New York, may travel without extra charge to Boston and Philadelphia, and via Boston to New York and Philadelphia. Third-Class passengers may also travel without extra charge to Baltimore.Passengers booked through to all parts of America and Canada. Apply-The Cunard Steamship Company, Limited, Liverpool; or
To their Agents-
Dennis Donohoe, Naas; T. J. Brenna, Athy; Tobias Bannon, Maryboro; Mrs. J. C. Magrath, Bagnalstown; P. F. Hosey, 142, Tullow Street, Carlow; Patrick and Henry Egan, Tullamore; T.B. Doyle, Baltinglass; S. Hipwell, Mountrath; Edward O’ Connor, Mountmellick; Miss Lily Malone, Kildare’ Price Bros., Portarlington; James Dempsey, Tullow; R. F. Kent and Co., Rathdowney; Michael Madden, Main Street, Roscrea; T. F. O’ Toole, Auctioneer, etc., Edenderry; Patrick Ryan, Abbeyleix; Humphrey Smith and Sons, Mountmellick; Miss Farrell, Newbridge.

.......................................................................................................

P.5.

INTERESTING FUNCTION AT KILDARE.

An influential deputation from Clane and surroundings neighbourhood made a presentation to Dr. Edmund T. Coady at the Railway Hotel Kildare, to congratulate him on his appointment to position of surgeon to the County Kildare Infirmary.

*******************
KILDARE PETTY SESSIONS. P. 5.

A man named Wm. Lowe of Roscrea, was arrested by Constable O’ Brien at Kildare on Friday last charged with stealing a bicycle at Maryborough on the previous day. When the bicycle was missed the Maryborough police followed Lowe on the road to Dublin, and traced him beyond Monasterevan, whey they lost him. Having given particulars to the Kildare police they returned. On the following morning Constable O’ Brien saw Lowe riding a bicycle into Kildare, and arrested him. He was conveyed to Maryborough and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

*******

On leaving Tralee jail on Saturday last John Nolan was arrested by Constables Grady and Sweeney, and charged with the larceny of a gold watch at Kildare in February, 1906, from Mr. John McCarthy, permanent way superintendent, G.S. and W. Railway. Defendant was brought before a special court and remanded to Next Petty Sessions.
-------------------------------------------------------------

NEWSWORTHY? More notes from the Leinster Leader 1907

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:59:42 +0000

Leinster Leader MARCH 30TH 1907

Oats, Hay, Straw, required for Mr. O’ Callaghan’s Contract at Kildare Barracks. Highest prices given.-Apply R. Brazil, Palacefield, Kildare.

LEINSTER LEADER 6TH APRIL 1907, P.5.

Kildare Petty Sessions.

MAN WHO HAS ALWAYS PLENTY OF MONEY
___________
PROSECUTION BY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL
________

The above Petty Sessions were held on Thursday week, before Major Thackeray, R.M. (residing), Mr. J. Moore, and Mr. J. E. Medlicott.
LICENSE TRANSFER.
Mr. J. F. Dowling, solicitor, made application for the transfer of the license lately held by Mr. Charles Heffernan, but which is now in the name of Mr. J. T. Heffernan, to Mr. Wm. Connolly.
D.I. Smyth, in reply to the bench said he had no objection, but he knew nothing about the applicant.
Mr. Dowling said the Lord Chancellor had been satisfied with the applicant.
Wm. Connolly applicant, examined by Mr. Dowling, said he had taken over the house, and he asked for a transfer.
Major Thackeray: Where do you belong to?
Applicant: The Curragh.
To Mr. Dowling: I have been doing business in the hotel way in another county-the County Meath. It was a very bush hotel, especially during the hunting season as it is a hunting county. I was advised to come to this county for twelve months’ rest.
Mr. Medlicott: Yes, you were advised to come to this county where there is no hunting (laughter). Major Thackeray: He may be an archangel for all we know, but we must satisfy ourselves (laughter).
Mr. Medlicott: He looks very much like one, but minus the wings (laughter).
The application was granted.

ALWAYS HAD PLENTY OF MONEY.
Thos. Cahill was charged by the G.S. and W. Railway Company with on two occasions attempting to defraud the Company by travelling without a ticket. Mr. J. F. Dowling, solicitor, appeared for the Company, and an inspector was also present.
Mr. Peter Kenefick, in reply to Mr. Dowling, said he remember the 12th February, and on the arrival of the special train from Amiens Street to Kildare he saw the defendant leave the train. It was a special horse train. Defendant got down outside the goods stores. Witness asked for his ticket, and was told he had only come from Newbridge, and it was not necessary to pay. He afterwards said he would call and pay the stationmaster on the following morning. He did not since pay for “the ticket”
Defendant said he had no time to get a ticket, and when the last witness spoke to him he proffered payment. He always had plenty of money and was never short.
Major Thackeray: You always have plenty of money. You must be a very luck man (laughter).
A second case against defendant was then gone into, when Mr. Kenefick examined by Mr. Dowling, deposed that on the 21st February, on the arrival at Kildare of the train leaving at 5.20 from Dublin, he noticed a door on the up side of the train open. He shouted out to shut the door, and he then saw that a man was at the open door and he asked for his ticket. The man was the defendant, who said he had given it up. He then said he would pay, but did not.
Defendant told the magistrates, that, he had a week’s ticket, and said he had given up the wrong half.
Mr. Richard Maher, stationmaster, was examined, and his evidence showed that the defendant was one of three men who on one evening purchased three single tickets to Sallins. The week’s ticket spoken of by defendant would be the ordinary return ticket, which would last for a week. In this case, however, the wrong portion of the ticket shown bore date of a fortnight previous to date complained of.
Mr. Moore said he was of opinion from the statement of defendant that he was working on the railway, and that he had a weekly ticket to travel.
Major Thackeray and Mr. Medlicott said that the defendant gave them the impression that the Railway Company were in the habit of issuing weekly tickets. Instead of that they now found that the ordinary return ticket was only in question, and even that was out of date.
For each offence defendant was fined 5s and 10s costs.

*****

Naas No. 1 District Council

LIGHTING OF KILDARE.
The L.G.B. sanctioned the payment of a supplemental loan of ₤50 for Kildare electric lighting.
*********
Fair. (P.5)

A great number of the principal buyers attended the Kildare fair and good pigs were in fair demand. Nice baconers made 52s, and 53s, per cwt.; second quality, 48s to50s. A large number of stores sold at fairly good prices. The supply of bonhams was small but sold well.

In the cattle fair the supply of beef was very large, and there were some nice lots of bullocks on offer. First quality beef made about 30s. per cwt., and second quality 28s. and 29s. There was a fair supply of stores and milchers. The sheep fair was small, but a nice lot of wethers made 63s. A small supply of lambs were picked up by local victuallers at good prices.
AUCTION (p.7)

CROSS KEYS, KILDARE.

PRELIMINARY NOTICE.

ROBERT J. GOFF & CO. have been favoured with instructions from Mrs. Flanagan, to
SELL BY AUCTION,
On THURSDAY, 25TH APRIL, 1907,
ON THE PREMISES, CROSS KEYS,
Rubber-tyred Outside Car, Iron-tyred- Cab,
Several Sets of Harness, Stable Utensils, 3
Milch Cows, Hay, &c.
Particulars in posters, to be had from
ROBERT J. GOFF & CO.
AUCTIONEERS,
1 HENRY ST. NEWBRIDGE.
---------------------------

LEINSTER LEADER 13TH APRIL 1907, P.5.

KILDARE QUARTER SESSIONS.
COMMISSION.

Mr. Payne, contractor, Kildare, sued Mr. John T. Heffernan for commission amounting to £6 12s. alleged to be due to him in respect of the letting of the Club House at Kildare.Mr. Dowling appeared for Mr. Payne, and Mr. P. J. McCann for Mr. Heffernan. The tenancy was held, it would appear, for a smaller period that any anticipated in connection with any arrangement with Mr. Payne, and a decree for a sum of £2 3s. was given.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CONCERT KILDARE 1907

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:20:06 +0000

Leinster Leader MARCH 23^rd 1907

CONCERT (p. 5)

In Kildare.

The lovers of the old tongue had reason for congratulation at Kildare and Newbridge on St. Patrick’s night, when the Carmelite Hall in the former and the Town Hall in the latter were for the time being changed into Gaelic concert ones. From the talent displayed in both places it is scarcely remarkable that from a financial point of view a very great success was obtained, and in each instance a very enjoyable evening was spent. Both in Kildare and Newbridge the night was treated as an Irish one, and the halls were thronged. In Newbridge there is a net profit after the concert of ₤16.

“The Deal Little Shamrock” in a chorus by the girls of the Convent School opened the Kildare Gaelic concert, the different voices blending beautifully. The Kildare branch of the League then danced an eight-hand reel, in very good style, after which Mrs. Hennessy sang with much feeling and in her usual fine voice “Kathleen Mavourneen.” It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr. Cathal McGarvey did full justice to the recitation, “Sentenced to Death.” Miss Cissie Conway danced an Irish jig very nicely and in good time. Accompanied by Miss Bridie Hennessy on the violin, Master Thomas in a very pleasing voice sang “Aileen Aroon.” Mr. O’ Toole, of Nurney, touched the boards very lively to good time in a hornpipe.

The singing by Colonel Butler, who possesses a very fine voice, was much appreciated in “I saw from the Beach,” following which the Kildare branch occupied the boards with a four-hand reel. A selection of Irish airs was beautifully rendered on the violin by Miss Bridie Hennessy. Messrs. Twitchen and Dowling immediately afterwards got through a two-hand jig in capital style. Nancy Hennessy, who is quite a child, sang “Oh, I Love You, Dolly, I do,” very pleasingly, and a double jig by the boys of the Christian Brothers was much enjoyed.

In “The Sergeant and the Cart,” Mr. Cathal McGarvey was in his usual good form, and the singing of “The Coulin” by Miss Jones was much appreciated. At hornpipe by Mr. Crosby of Brownstown, followed, and was very well gone through. The chorus by the Christian Brothers’ pupils of “Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded” was in perfect harmony and applauded, but there was not the slightest evidence of sorrow in the house when Miss Quinlivan in very fine voice described the manoeuvres of the impudent “Barney O’ Hea.” If she did not exactly pile on the blarney she must to say the least of it-have put the “comether” on the audience, judging by the extent of the applause.

An eight-hand reel was then gone through by the Kildare branch, after which Mr. M. Heffernan recited in very fine style “The Lament of the Irish Tongue.” This was followed by the dancing of a double jig in perfect time by the Kildare class. “The Wexford Threshing Song,” on of Mr. Cathal McGarvey’s favourites, was sung by him and each applauded, and Master M. Mullally very feelingly rendered, “Mollie Bawn.” An Irish dialogue by Messrs. Heffernan and Dunne was very interesting after which Mrs. Hennessy sang “Maureen,” and was received with much appreciation. In a fine dashing style, and in good voice, Mr. Quinlivan treated the audience to the “Irish Jaunting Car.” Mr. Connery, organiser, danced a very lively hornpipe, and footed the floor in rare fashion.

The final chorus was as appropriate to the occasion and the night as the opening one, where the young girls of the Convent School sang “The Dear Old Tongue.” This brought to a close on of the most pleasant evenings yet held in St. Brigid’s town by the lovers of the old tongue.

The getting through in such a successful manner of a Gaelic concert in Kildare entails a very large amount of work and worry on the few who never complain of any inconvenience but merely look on it as if it were on the day’s agenda in connection with the cause, and as a result-a labour of love. The good Nuns in an especial manner deserve very much thanks for the careful training which must have been bestowed on the children who took part in the concert. Indeed, they have ever since a Gaelic branch was started in Kildare not lost an opportunity of teaching the language and sowing in the minds of their young pupils a love for it.

It is scarcely necessary to say that over Ireland the Christian Brothers are strong in their support of the old tongue, and Brother Adrian, and the other good members of the Community at Kildare are not exceptions. One would pardon a feeling of pride at the manner in which their pupils turned out on Sunday night. In fact, all round it is apparent that in Kildare the young idea is learning to shoot in the way that it should.

Dr. Rowan took a very deep interest in the promotion of the concert, and was indefatigable in looking after the different details and general arrangements. Mr. Connery, organiser, had quite enough on his hands too, while Messrs. Andrew Fitzpatrick and John Hennessy were the reverse of idle. Miss Malone throughout played the accompaniments on the piano in her usual good style.

With the general audience there were:-Very Rev. Fr. Campion, P.P.; Rev. Fr. Cowley, O.C.C.; Rev. Fr. McDermott, O.C.C.; Rev. Brother Adrian, Superior and the members of the Christian Brothers Community. The one matter for regret was the absence of the Very Rev. Fr. Staples, Prior, O.C.C., who owing to a recent attack of illness was unable to attend. We are very pleased to learn however that Fr. Staples is again well on the way to his usual health and strength. It is needles to say that the Gaelic Committee are very grateful for his kindness in placing at their disposal the Carmelite Hall on Sunday evening.

KILDARE SNIPPETS FOR 16 MARCH 1907

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:59:52 +0000

Leinster Leader 16 March 1907

Kildare Petty Sessions (p. 8)

,,,

(From our Reporter)

The usual fortnightly Petty Sessions were held on Thursday last, before Major Thackeray, R.M. (presiding), Messrs. J. Moore, C. Bergin, and E. Conlan.

RIDING ON THE FOOTPATH.

Constable Joseph Stephenson summoned John Quinn for riding a horse on the footpath. Mr. J. F. Dowling, solicitor, appeared for defendant, and explained that through illness Mr. Quinn could not appear, but he was willing the case should go on. After some legal arguments the case was adjourned.

...

**************************

GAELIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (p. 8)

DUBLIN v. KILDARE IN ATHY.

All the arrangements are complete for the above contest, which takes place on the Show Grounds, Athy, on St. Patrick’s Day. A special train leaves Knightsbridge for Athy Athy, at 12 o’ clock. It will at all intermediate stations. The match is at 2.30, and the return train leave Athy at 7 o’ clock. Tickets-Dublin, 2s.; Sallins, 1s. 6d.; Kildare, 1s. At present the keenest rivalry exists between the above teams. When they last met at Jones’s Road a few weeks ago Kildare went under. But now, when our County team is preparing for the home-final, we confidently expect better things from them. For “style” in play the match on Sunday next will be equal to, if not superior the home final. The Kildare County Committee may be congratulated for providing such an admirable treat for Gaels on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Shamrock Football Club gold medals for the junior teams will be exhibited at the Athy match on Sunday. The medal is a beautiful one, with harp on top circling with shamrocks, and centre for initials.

At the annual meeting of the Shamrock Football Club, held in Kildare, the following resolution was proposed by Mr. J. Dunne, seconded by Mr. J. Duncan, and passed unanimously:-“That we tender to Mr. Flood our best thanks for giving us the use of his field for the past year.”

***************

COUNTY INFIRMARY.

MEAT WANTED.

The Joint Committee will, at the their meeting to be held here on FRIDAY, March 22^nd, 1907, at the hour of Two o’ clock, proceed to consider Tenders for the Supply of Beef and Mutton, Irish, and good quality, to be delivered at the Infirmary as required and cut up by Contractor under direction of Matron, from April 1^st, 1907, to March 31^st, 1908. Sealed Tenders, and addressed to the Presiding Chairman, will be received by me up to an not later than 12 o’ clock noon on day of Meeting. Tender Forms to be had from me on application.

R. KINGSTON, Secretary,

Kildare.

*************

SHAMROCK FOOTBALL CLUB, KILDARE.

The above Club intend carrying out a Football Tournament for a Set of Gold Medals-Open to Junior Teams of Kildare and adjoining counties.

Entries will Close on FRIDAY, 29^th MARCH, 1907, with Hon. Sec.,

MR. JOE WATERS, Kildare.

ENTRANCE FEE, 5s.

Draw will take place on the 31^st March.

***********

Comann Na Gaeilge (p. 4)

COME! COME!

A GRAND CONCERT

WILL BE HELD ON

ST. PATRICK’S NIGHT,

17^th MARCH, 1907

AT THE

WHITE ABBEY, KILDARE,

Under the auspices of the Gaelic League,

Who have secured the services of

CATHAL McGARVEY,

The King of Irish Ireland Entertainers.

STEPHEN O’ BRIEN, Nurney, will give

An exhibition in Step Dancing; also

J. CROSBY AND J. O’ TOOLE.

Jigs, reels, hornpipes galore!

Irish Dialogues, Recitations, Songs, Music

&c. will be rendered by the best local talent.

Doors open at 7 o’ clock. Commence 7.30.

Seats-3s., 2s., 1s.

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ST. BRIGID

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:27:35 +0000

Kildare Observer, 23/6/1888.

BRIGID OF KILDARE, SAINT AND ABBESS.

(450 TO 525)

Out of the mists of miracle there looms before us, thirteen centuries ago in Ireland, the figure of a mighty woman – Brigid (or Bridgett) of Kildare. A woman who, without any doubt, impressed her personality upon her time and country, but whose character and actions can only be outlined by the uncertain light of the traditions of miracle and legend which both conceal and reveal her life.

In whatever way the stories strike us that a globe of fire hovered over the place where Brigid was born; or that the frighted mother came home from the fields on day to find her cottage all ablaze, and to the baby lay laughing with rosy cheeks unscathed amidst the flames; or that a pillar of light shone over the head of the maiden when she took her vows; - believe we these things or believe we them not, they mark one unmistakeable truth – they point to a life of no common order.

Through the halo of these and the many other legends which surround her, Brigid appears a type of all that is best in the character of Irishwomen. We see her first as a bright, assiduous child, sharing all she has with the poor; then as an earnest girl, striving to fulfil her filial duties under difficult and complex conditions; finally, as the self-sacrificing, devout woman, who felt that throughout all her life in all things she has the help of an angel of God while she spent her life for others, teaching and healing their quarrels as well as their diseases.

That her father was of noble birth all the accounts agree. The earlier narrative relate that her mother was a bond-woman, a second Hagar. May it not be that the difficulties brought to her earlier years by the unequal conditions of her parents aided to develop in Brigid that universal sympathy for all living creatures which she seems to have possessed-she not only fed the starving dog, but the wild boar from the woods, rushing down on the swine she was watching, at a word from her became tame. The wild fowl at her call came hovering round, and let her fondle them.

Whether a temporary and opportune blindness really came to her aid in the matter or not does not alter the fact that she overcame the plans her father had made for the marriage of his beautiful and attractive daughter, and early devoted herself to a religious life.

The great apostle of his age and country, St Patrick, received her as his daughter, and became to her as a father. What the great council of bishops was which sought her opinion is not apparently clear, nor the occasion of the visit paid by seven bishops to the saint at Kildare, but these references to her opinion show that her judgment was valued, and that she inspired confidence in the best minds of her time.

Her birthplace was at Fochart, in County Louth but her childhood and youth were passed partly in the west, partly in the south. When her fame grew the inhabitants of Leinster besought her to return to them, and she, seeing in their wishes a diving call, fixed her place of abode under an oak which she much loved-the henceforth famous Kildare (Church of the Oak), where in after years a holy fire was kept perpetually burning on her shrine. There, during her life, both a monastery and nunnery grew up under her rule, with on church in common. At Kildare she was buried, and thence about 1185 her remains were translated to the tomb of Saint Patrick and Saint Columba, that the remains of Ireland’s three greatest saints might rest side by side. There are churches to her honour in many lands, and many places have sought to be connected with her. She is said to have dwelt for a time in the Isle of Man. Abernethy in Scotland, Glastonbury in England have claimed to be her place of burial, the fame of lesser Brides being absorbed in the light of this greatest Bride, Brigid, or Bridgett,

Who rode on the waves of the world,

As the sea-bird rides upon the billow,

Strong in affection, ready in pity, clear in judgment, bright in spirit,-long may Brigid be the type of the daughters of Erin. – H. B. in Womens Suffrage Journal.

LAUNCH OF NEW BOOK - LEWIS'S TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF CO. KILDARE IN 1837

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:16:50 +0000

Kildare County Library, Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives Dept. in partnership with Kildare Town Heritage Centre have recently launched 'A Topographical Dictionary of County Kildare in 1837' being the relevant 'Kildare' extracts from Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland published in that year. It has been re-edited since the material was first made available on the internet, corrected and material added and now appears with almost 1300 references in the comprehensive index as well as a glossary and the original parameters for the survey as set out in the Leinster Express of 1834. It was compiled by Mario Corrigan, Niamh McCabe and Michael Kavanagh.

The book is on sale at Farrells of Newbridge, Barker and Jones in Naas, Kildare Town and Athy Heritage Centres, Malones Newsagents in Kildare and Kildare Outlet Shopping (Kildare Retail Village) and is priced at €15.99

ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO KILDARE TOWN HERITAGE CENTRE Below is an extract from the book re. County Kildare

KILDARE (County of), an inland county of the province of Leinster, bounded on the east by the counties of Dublin and Wicklow, on the north by Meath, on the west by the King’s and Queen’s counties, and on the south by Carlow. It comprises an area, according to the Ordnance survey, of 392,435 acres, of which 325,988 are cultivated ground, and 66,447 are unprofitable mountain and bog. The population, in 1821, amounted to 99,065, and in 1831, to 108,424.

This county is partly within the diocese of Dublin but chiefly in that of Kildare. For purposes of civil jurisdiction it is divided into the baronies of Carbery, Clane, Connell, Ikeathy and Oughterany, Kilcullen, Kilkea and Moone, East Narragh and Rheban, West Narragh and Rheban, East Ophaly, West Ophaly, North Naas, South Naas, North Salt, and South Salt.

It contains the incorporated assize and market towns of Naas and Athy; the ancient disfranchised borough and market town of Kildare; the market and post-towns of Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Monastereven,Timoline, Rathangan, Leixlip, Kilcullen-Bridge, and Newbridge; and the post-towns of Castledermot, Clane and Ballytore: the largest villages are Prosperous, Kill, Johnstown-Bridge, and Sallins. Prior to the Union it sent ten members to the Irish parliament. The election, if held between the spring and summer assizes, takes place at Naas; if at any other period of the year, at Athy.

The county is included in the home circuit: the spring assize is held at Naas, and the summer assize at Athy, at each of which are a county court-house and gaol. The general quarter sessions are held at Athy and Maynooth in January, at Kildare and Naas in April, at Maynooth and Athy in July, and at Naas and Kildare in October. The number of persons charged with criminal offences and committed to the two prisons, in 1835, was 101, and of civil bill committals, 22.

The local government is vested in a lieutenant, 12 deputy-lieutenants, and 92 magistrates, with the usual county officers, including two coroners. There are 45 constabulary police stations, having in the whole a force of one stipendiary magistrate, 4 chief and 40 subordinate constables, and 205 men, with 6 horses the expense of whose maintenance is defrayed equally by Grand Jury presentments and by Government. The district lunatic asylum for the county is at Carlow, and the county infirmary at Kildare: there are fever hospitals at Celbridge, Naas, and Kilcullen, and dispensaries at Athy, Ballitore, Castledermot, Celbridge, Clane, Donadea, Johnstown-Bridge, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Maynooth, Monasterevan, Naas, Newbridge, Rathangan, and Robertstown; the infirmary and fever hospitals are supported by Grand Jury presentments, and the dispensaries by equal presentments and voluntary subscriptions. The amount of the Grand Jury presentments for 1835 was £19,554. 18. 9., of which £1221. 7. 10. was for the public roads of the county at large; £6051. 12. 5. for the public roads, being the baronial charge; £5206. 7. 8. for public establishments, officers’ salaries, buildings, &c.; £4713. 15. 10½. for police, and £2304. 14. 11½. in repayment of loans advanced by Government. In the military arrangements it is included in the eastern district, and contains three barrack stations, two for cavalry at Newbridge and Athy, and one for infantry at Naas.

The general surface is rather level. In the barony of West Ophaly are several gently rising hills, and others occur towards the eastern boundary of the county. The greatest elevation of the plain country is around Naas, both which baronies and their vicinity present an appearance of great fertility, which is also exhibited generally throughout the eastern and southern, and a portion of the western parts of the county; but towards the north and north-west are vast tracts of the Bog of Allen, comprising more than 50,000 acres, having a flat, dreary surface, relieved here and there by verdant elevations, here called “islands.” Near the southern extremity of this immense bog are the hills of Grange Allen, Cheelow, Dunmurry, Redhills, and Knocknagylogh, generally fertile, and cultivated to the summit. There are also small hills in the vicinity of Timoline and Moone; others stretching from Killan, by Kilrush, Davidstown, Calverstown, and Thomastown, and terminating in the hills of old Kilcullen and Ballysax; and other small and detached elevations near Arthurstown, Lyons, Longtown, &c. The Bog of Allen and the Curragh of Kildare are two distinguishing features of the county.

Towards the west rises the Hill of Allen, a steep elevation of a conical form, about 300 feet in height. The Curragh is a fine undulating down, six miles long and two broad: it lies in a direction from north-east to south-west, having the town of Kildare near its western extremity, and crossed by the great road from Dublin to Limerick; and is, in fact, an extensive sheepwalk of above 6000 acres, forming a more beautiful lawn than the hand of art ever made. Nothing can exceed the extreme softness and elasticity of the turf, which is of a verdure that charms the eye, and is still further set off by the gentle inequality of the surface: the soil is a fine dry loam on a substratum of limestone. It is depastured by numerous large flocks turned on it by the occupiers of the adjacent farms, who alone have the right of pasture, which greatly enhances the value of these farms. This plain has long been celebrated as the principal race-ground in Ireland, and is equal, if not superior, to that of Newmarket, in all the requisites for this sport.

In general the county is fertile and well cultivated, particularly around Athy, and thence along the banks of the Barrow, extending to the borders of the county of Carlow. The districts around the towns of Kildare, Naas, Kill, and Clane are also fertile, well fenced, and tolerably well cultivated; but in wet seasons much water remains on the surface, showing the want of a good system of drainage, which is much neglected. Agriculture is systematically practised in some parts, particularly by the noblemen and resident gentlemen, and their example is beginning to produce its beneficial effects among the small farmers. Wheat is cultivated generally, and the quality is remarkably good; the barley is also bright and sound; the oats are good, clean and heavy, except in a few low, cold, and clayey situations; potatoes are extensively grown, and in great varieties of sorts, large quantities being sent to Dublin; turnips and mangelwurzel are cultivated by a great number of the wealthy farmers, clover and vetches by nearly all; and rape is grown extensively around Monastereven.

The Scotch plough is general, the old heavy wooden plough being rarely seen; indeed agricultural implements of all kinds are greatly improved, except the spade, which is still a long narrow tool. The heavy wooden wheel car has given place to one of much lighter construction, with low spoke-wheels, iron-bound, the kish, so general in the western counties, is scarcely ever seen here; some of the vehicles are made exactly after the plan of the Scotch cart, some of them with, and some without the high sides. Greater attention is manifested in collecting manure, and large composts are raised in the vicinity of bogs by the mixture of bog mould and stable manure or ashes. The burning of subsoil in kilns was introduced by the late Mr. Rawson, who compiled the statistical survey of Kildare for the Royal Dublin Society, and has now become general, producing the finest crops of potatoes and turnips. A kind of indurated sand found in banks, the adhesive property of which is so great that the bank, when cut perpendicularly, will never yield in any kind of weather, is considered by some agriculturists as a kind of golden mine for the farmer who can avail himself of the benefit of it. The cottagers in the neighbourhood of the Curragh collect the sheep dung, which they mix in tubs with water, stirring it until it forms a thick solution, which they call “mulch;” in this they steep the roots of their cabbage plants for some hours; a quantity of the substance consequently sticks to the roots, and ensures a full crop. In the smaller farms a very disadvantageous custom is prevalent of dividing the land into long narrow enclosures, which occasions an unnecessary and therefore injurious extent of fence in proportion to the land included. The fences generally are tolerably good, but they everywhere occupy too much ground; the usual kind is a bank of earth thrown up from a wide ditch, and covering five or six feet of surface, so that the bank and ditch seldom occupy less than nine feet in width: in the breast of this bank, about halfway up, a single row of quicksets is placed, sometimes accompanied by seedlings of forest timber.

In those parts which have not been subjected to tillage there are very rich fattening grounds; but where the soil has been much exhausted by the plough, the pasture is poor and light. The grasses in the meadows and feeding pastures are of the most valuable kinds; in low bottoms, especially in those subject to floods, Timothy grass is the principal herbage. Dairies of any extent are not frequent, except in the parts convenient to the Dublin market, where they are kept for the purpose of fattening calves. Great improvement has been made in the breed of cattle, the old long-horned Irish cow being now rarely seen; the most esteemed are the short-horned or Dutch breed, crossed with the Durham; some of the gentry and wealthy farmers have introduced the pure Durham breed, which commands large prices; others have the North Devon, which answers remarkably well. The small farmers mostly prefer the old Irish long-horned cow, crossed with the Durham; and in some districts scarce any other is seen: in the northern baronies, bordering on Meath, the large and heavy long-horned cattle are very common and grow to a size equal to those of Meath or Westmeath. Great numbers of cattle are brought from other counties, and fed here for the Dublin market. Great improvement has been made in the breed of sheep, and vast flocks are every year reared on the Curragh: the most prevailing breed is a cross between the New Leicester and the Ayrshire, but many of the principal agriculturists have the pure New Leicester; sometimes they are crossed with the Kerry sheep. The lower class of farmers have brood mares as part of their tillage stock, but they do not pay sufficient attention to the breed of the sires, and are too desirous of crossing with racers. Planting has been carried on for many years extensively and successfully. Many of the demesnes are ornamented with full-grown timber. The timber sallow thrives particularly well in the wet grounds with which the county abounds; beech and larch are also of very quick growth. In the demesne of Moore Abbey is one of the best-planted hills in Ireland; and the woods of Carton and Palmerstown are extensive, and the timber remarkably fine. In draining the bogs remains of ancient forests have been discovered.

The great mountain range of granite of which the county of Wicklow is nearly composed, terminates in this county at Castledermot. Thence by Ballitore, Kilcullen, and to the south-east of Naas, nearly as far as Rathcoole, is clay-slate; the rest of the county belongs to the great field of floetz limestone which covers the greater part of the flat country of Ireland, and which is here interrupted only by the chain of central hills. The low group of hills west of Rathcoole, which includes Windmill Hill, Athgoe, Lyons, and Rusty Hill, is composed of clay-slate, grauwacke, grauwacke-slate, and granite. The grauwacke consists of small and finely rounded and angular grains of quartz, numerous minute scales of mica, small fragments of clay-slate, and sometimes portions of felspar. The rock at Windmill Hill ranges 10^onorth of east and south of west, which is the general direction of these hills, exhibiting also at times an undulating curved slaty formation: the dip is towards the south-west, and generally at an angle of about 45^o. The grauwacke-slate of Windmill Hill is remarkable for containing subordinate beds of granite, the uppermost at the depth of four fathoms; they are 50 or 60 yards apart, separated by the grauwacke-slate, and all dip from 45^o to 50^o to the south-east. Some of these granite beds may be traced westward to the turnpike road opposite to Rusty Hill: they consist of a small and finely grained intermixture of yellowish and greyish white felspar, greyish vitreous transparent quartz, and flakes or scales of mica, white and silvery, with some scattered portions of schorl: the grains are sometimes so minute that the stone appears almost compact. Sometimes also small particles and cubical crystals of iron pyrites are disseminated through the rock, which, when decomposing, communicate an iron-shot spotted appearance to the stone. The red sandstone conglomerate occurs in situ at the northern foot of the Hill of Lyons, where it is exposed for about 10 fathoms in length, in strata four feet thick, ranging east and west, dipping 30^o to the north, and resting on grauwacke-slate; it re-appears in the central range. Red Hill, Dunmurry Hill, and the western foot of Grange Hill, consist of alternating beds of finely grained grauwacke, grauwacke-slate, and clay-slate, ranging 10^o north of east and south of west, and dipping 60^o towards the south-east, but in many places being nearly vertical. At the northern foot of Red Hill is a small patch of red sandstone conglomerate, which was quarried for mill-stone some years since. Enough of the firm rock is visible to show that the strata range east and west, and dip 17^o west. The Chair of Kildare consists of floetz limestone, extending southwards to the northern foot of Dunmurry Hill, and covering the grauwacke and slaty rocks. To the north it rests on the trap of Grange Hill, which also covers the same kind of rock.

The Hill of Allen is separated from Grange Hill by an intervening vale, their summits being about two miles apart: it is composed of one great body of granular and compact greenstone and greenstone porphyry, which appears all round the base, on the sides, and on the summit, in numerous protuberant rocky masses, without any mark of stratification. Some of the greenstone is remarkably crystalline, consisting of large masses of hornblende, with crystals of felspar. Whether this hill be a distinct mass or connected with Grange Hill is not easily ascertained, from the depth of the alluvial soil. About a quarter of a mile from the northern extremity of the Hill of Allen is a slight eminence called the Leap of Allen, composed of red sandstone conglomerate, arranged in beds which vary from 9 to 18 inches and even to 2½ feet thick, and are separated by thin layers of reddish sandy slate-clay. It contains the same components as the conglomerate already noticed, with the addition of fragments of grauwacke-slate, which are, however, comparatively rare: it is quarried for mill-stones. The beds range north-north-east and south-south-west, dipping south-south-east at an angle of from 15^o to 20^o, and therefore they probably underlie and support the trap of the Hill of Allen. Indications of copper having been observed in the Dunmurry hills, miners were employed to explore them in 1786, during whose operations detached masses of sulphuret of copper were found of nearly 40 per cent. purity, accompanied with a strong vitriolic water: the principal bed seemed to lie deep in the hill, and even to dip under the adjoining valley. Near the base of the hill was also found an alkaline argillaceous earth of a light grey colour, possessing many of the qualities of fullers’ earth. In the veins of the rocks, and in the matrix of the ore, were quantities of fine yellow ochre proper for painting. The surface of the Hill of Allen also presents indications of copper. The loose stones and the projecting points of rock appear as if vitrified by fire, and in many places impregnated with carbonate of copper.

KILDARE LOCAL NOTES, COURTS AND FOOTBALL

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:24:11 +0000

Leinster Leader February 9^th 1907. p. 5

In Kildare.

It is with pleasure that we learn that Mr. Maguire, of Curragh View, is improving in health daily. The result of the accident was, of course, serious, and Mr. Maguire was in an unconscious state for the greater portion of a week, but now that the “turn for the better” has arrived, his friends will hope for a sign of his usual good health in a few weeks.

--------------------------------

(P 5.)

In Kildare.

We are pleased to learn that Mr. R. E. M. Bailey, of Doneany, Kildare, is recovering from the very serious illness which attacked him some few weeks ago.

***********

Mr. Kennedy, victualler, Kildare, has opened the premises lately held by Mr. McHugh in The Square, and the place having been thoroughly renovated it is now an up-to-date establishment for the business intended

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Leinster Leader February 16^th 1907. p. 3

COUNTY COURTS.

COUNTY OF KILDARE.

LIST OF THE SITINGS OF THE COURTS OF

GENERALQUARTER SESSIONS OF THE PEACE

AND OF THE COUNTY COURT.

For the year 1907.

EASTER SITTINGS.

KILDARE- Friday, 5^th April, 1907-Civil Bills and Ejectments, at 10.30 o’ clock.

Appeals from Petty Sessions and Licensing Applications, Applications for Compensation for Criminal Injuries, and Lance Cases, at 12 o’ clock.

Saturday, 6^th April, 1907-Civil Jury Cases.

MICHAELMAS SITTINGS.

KILDARE-Monday 30^th September, 1907-Civil Bills and Ejectments, at 10.30 o’ clock. Appeals from Petty Sessions, Annual Licensing Sessions, Applications for Compensation for Criminal Injuries and Land Sessions, at 12 o’ clock.

(P. 5.)

Kildare Petty Sessions.

(From our Reporter)

The above fortnightly Petty Sessions were held on Thursday, before Major Thackeray, R.M. presiding and Mr. E. Conlan.

ADVISING RESISTANCE.

Head Constable Brown charge Simon Dunne with on the 2^nd February being drunk, using obscene language and with advising some soldiers to resist arrest while they were being taken away by the military provost. The Head Constable described the scene in which he alleged the defendant was constantly shouting to the soldiers who were under arrest not to go with the military provost. In consequence of the conduct of defendant a very large crowd assembled, and he and Constable O’ Brien had to keep them back.

Defendant said he had not been with the soldiers on that evening at all.

Acting Sergeant Grennan deposed that he saw defendant with them a short time before.

Constable O’ Brien described the scene and the difficulty met with by the Head Constable and himself as well as the provost in arresting the offenders. Defendant was the cause of all the trouble and when the military police were making the arrest he shouted, “Don’t go with the b---- provost,” and then some of the soldiers shouted not to go. They had to bring the soldiers to the civil barracks, and the crowd having increased he and the head Constable had to come between them and keep off the crowd.

Sergeant Thos. Gill, mounted military police, deposed that on the occasion in question the military provost went to arrest some soldiers who were obstructing the thoroughfare and using obscene language. The defendant told the men not to go with the provost. One of the soldiers then took off his belt and defendant tried to get him away from them. The crowd was so riotous that the Head Constable and Constable O’ Brien had to assist the provost. The military police could have got away the men quite comfortably but for the conduct of the defendant.

Defendant was fined 10s. 6d. and costs, with the alternative of 14 days.

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