A South Wicklow Miscellany (1)

© Kevin Lee
Cover Photo: Betty Whelan    

Full title: The Liars’ Bench: history, heritage and lockdown lore from South Wicklow

Creator / Author: Kevin Lee

Item Type / Page count: Book / 328pp

When Published: 2021

Publisher / Place of Publication: Coollattin Canadian Connection / Co. Wicklow

About: In March 2020, when COVID-19 pushed the country into lockdown, local historian, Kevin Lee, had the idea of starting a series of postings on the Facebook platform. These postings would cover aspects of the history of places like Carnew, Shillelagh, Aughrim, Tinahely and their hinterlands. There was a tremendous response to this initiative which has garnered over 3,000 followers. This book is a compendium of the 99 postings (and responses) which appeared between 14/03/2020 and 20/06/2020. It is the first of two collections now published in book form. A glance at the contents listing below gives an idea of the range of topics covered.

ID number(s): 9781399901055

Contents: Dedication — Acknowledgements — Photo Credits — Introduction — Foreword — 1. Snowfalls, Gales and COVID-19 — 2. The Way We (They!) Were — 3. Can You Identify This Young Man? — 4. A St. Patrick’s Day Greeting — 5. Old Photos–New Images — 6. Carnew Emmets, Kingpins of Underage Hurling — 7. Carnew Emmets, Under-14 Champions, 1976 — 8. Senior Football Final 1951 — 9. A Title Won on the Pitch but Lost in the Boardroom — 10. Who was the ‘Gunner’ Behan? — 11. Junior Hurling Champions, 1959 — 12. The Glory Years — 13. The Foundations of a Great Team — 14. A Real Piece of Nostalgia — 15. The 52-year History of Quinn’s Livestock Mart — 16. ‘Old Paddy’ Austin — 17. Is this Unique? — 18. The Water Pump on the Woolgreen — 19. The Fitzwilliam School in Carnew — 20. All Saints School — 21. All Saints Church — 22. The Relics of a Bitter Dispute — 23. Perforated Tombstones in the Churchyard — 24. Going, Going, Gone — 25. Carnew Castle-a False Dawn for Carnew — 26. Carnew Castle-the Woodhouse Era — 27. A Courthouse, a Bank, a Drapery Shop, a Restaurant — 28. McGirr’s Pharmacy-a Tailors, a Coopers, a Saddlery and finally a Pharmacy — 29. The Liars’ Bench — 30. The Liar Lives on — 31. The Last of the Benchmen — 32. Golden Jubilee Celebration 1888 — 33. Bank of Ireland — 34. Carnew Castle-the Spicer Era — 35. Carnew Castle-Doctor Zbrigniev Dabszewski — 36. A Divided Society — 37. The PTAA Hall (Pioner Total Abstinence Association) — 38. Macra na Feirme — 39. The Power of Social Media — 40. Tom Fleming, Shillelagh’s Proudest Son — 41. Carnew Stud — 42. A Methodist Meeting Room, a Tailor’s and the Workshop of a Master Craftsman — 43. Wesleyan Methodist Church (now Altura Credit Union) — 44. Appeal to Cocooning Ladies — 45. History of the ‘Tech’, aka Carnew Vocational School, aka Coláiste Bhríde-the Early Years — 46. Carnew ‘Tech’-the 1986 Extension — 47. Carnew ‘Tech’-a Tribute to a Great Servant — 48. Carnew ‘Tech’-the 1950’s — 49. Carnew ‘Tech’-the Schools Founding Father, J.J. McCrea — 50. Carnew ‘Tech’-the Advent of Free Education — 51. Carnew ‘Tech’-First Ministerial Visit — 52. Snapshots in Time — 53. An End to Cocooning — 54. Kilcavan Slate Quarry — 55. Coollattin-Heaven on our Doorstep — 56. A Memorable Day in Croke Park — 57. The Coach Building Factory of David Beddy at the Corner House — 58. The Church of the Most Holy Rosary — 59. Fundraising for The Church of the Most Holy Rosary — 60. Darlington’s, a Great Superstore — 61. Murphys of Ballingate — 62. Corrells-150 Years of Service to the Community — 63. The Liars’ Hole at the Brook — 64. School Height aka Brunswick Row aka Pavey’s Height — 65. Commemorating the Manchester Martyrs — 66. Tour of Coollattin Estate-The Story of Coollattin House — 67. The Story of Coollattin-The Pursuit of Reynard — 68. The Story of Coollattin-the Pecking Order — 69. The Woodenbridge-Shillelagh Railway Line — 70. The Playing of Cricket at Coollattin — 71. Shillelagh Courthouse-Appearing ‘Under the Fox’ — 72. Shillelagh Workhouse — 73. Lords and Ladies-Coollattin Style — 74. The Famous Chauffeur-Driven Simplex Car at Coollattin — 75. Marriage of Lord Peter to Olive Plunket, April 1933 — 76. Fatal Attraction-the Story of Peter Fitzwilliam and Kathleen Kennedy — 77. Somerset Struben de Chair-Lady Juliet’s Second Husband — 78. A Fitzwilliam Bids Farewell to Coollattin — 79. Carnew Community Care-an Appeal — 80. Bradshaws of Shillelagh — 81. Shillelagh’s Hydro-Electric Station — 82. The Building Yard at Coollattin — 83. Pat Darcy-the Village Blacksmith — 84. The Last Cook at Coollattin — 85. The Workforce in the Building Yard — 86. The Bradshaw Family Remembered — 87. A Shillelagh Miscellany — 88. ‘Patcho’ the Poet — 89. The King and I — 90. The Model Farm — 91. The Forestry Industry — 92. Ardeen Cheshire Home, 1960-2020 — 93. John Wilkinson-a Truly Remarkable Man — 94. St. Aidan’s Hall — 95. St. Aidan’s Hall-More from the Memories of John Wilkinson — 96. Ormonde Cinema…aka Arus Naomh Brigid…aka St. Brigid’s Hall, 1946-2020 — 97. Umrigar Races — 98. Carnew Sports and Cricket Ground — 99. The Liars’ Hole-Revisited.

Extra #1: Each of the 99 postings includes at least one photo or illustration.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Link to the Author’s website https://www.coollattincanadianconnection.com/

The Centenary Finals – Hurling

© Wicklow GAA

Full title: Cluichí Ceannais Iomána an Chéid 30th Mean Fomháir 1984

Creator / Author: Coiste Condae Chill Mhantáin

Item Type / Page count: Booklet / 21p

When Published: 1984

Publisher / Place of Publication: Coiste Condae Chill Mhantáin / Aughrim(?), Co. Wicklow,

About: The official programme for the Wicklow County Hurling finals that were held in 1984, the centenary year of the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association. It contains some material of West Wicklow GAA interest.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Hurling Officer’s Address / Tomás Ó Colmáin — Focal ón gCathaoirleach — Remember the teams — Carnew Panel — The Town of Carnew [poem] — Special Trophy — The Senior Finals of ‘54 — Rooting the Ash / Fr. Liam Dunne C.C. — Kiltegan Panel — Did You Know? — The Chapel at Kilamoate [poem] — County Hurling Championship Final 50 Years Ago — Senior Hurling Champs Down the Years.

WW Connection #1: The Senior Hurling final featured two West Wicklow teams, Carnew Emmets and Kiltegan.

WW Connection #2: A special centenary football match that afternoon was also contested by two West Wicklow teams, Blessington and Baltinglass.

WW Connection #3: The foreword to the programme was written by Peter Keogh, the Kiltegan native who was the Chairman of the Wicklow GAA County Board.

WW Connection #4: Includes a poem relating to the district of each of the senior finalists, Carnew and Kiltegan.

Extra #1: includes many photographs of GAA interest.

A Century of GAA in Donard

© Donard GAA

Full title: Donard G.A.A. – a history 1884-1984

Creator / Author: Roisín Breathnach, Eibhlín Breathnach and Bernadín Breathnach

Item Type / Page count: Book / 91p

When Published: c.1984

Publisher / Place of Publication: [Donard G.A.A Centenary Committee] / Donard, Co. Wicklow

About: This is the story of Donard G.A.A. from the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association to its centenary year in 1984. It fuses historic newspaper reports and local remembrances to paint a picture of a community for whom Gaelic Games activities was an important element of social life.

ID number(s): None

Chapters: Introduction / Roisín, Eibhlín and Bernadín Breathnach – Address from the Club Chairman / Antoin Breathnach – Address from the County Chairman / Peadar Mac Eocaidh — Address from Aodh Ó Broin / Aodh Ó Broin — The G.A.A.– its beginning and development — G.A.A. in Wicklow — Donard — 1930’s — 1940’s — 1950’s — 1960’s — 1970’s – 1980’s — Camogie — Hurling — Vocational Schools Football — Juvenile — Handball — Grand Little Town of Donard [poem] / Ned Dunne

Extra #1: includes numerous & black/white photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

A Century of Gaelic Games

© The Publisher

Full title: The leathers echo: a story of hurling, football, handball and camogie in Co. Wicklow from 1884 to 1984

Creator / Author: Jim Brophy / photography by Johnny Kelly

Item Type / Page count: Book / 638p

When Published: November 1984 in honour of the Centenary year.

Publisher / Place of Publication: Wicklow Co. Board G.A.A / [Aughrim, County Wicklow]

About: To commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association each county in Ireland produced a book on the history of the GAA in that county. This is Wicklow’s contribution and what a contribution it is. A massive 638-page volume details 100 years of Gaelic Games activities in the county. It includes club histories, significant results and teamsheets all set against the context of 100 years of local and national history.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Author’s Note – Focal ón gCathaoirleach – Thanks – Dialann Seachtaine i gClub i     1984 – The First Convention – The Power and the Politics – How it all began – The Years of Struggle 1887-1929 – [Club Histories Section] – Annacurra – Arklow Rock Parnells – Arklow Geraldines – Ashford – Avoca – Avondale – Aughrim – Ballinacor – Ballinastoe – Ballymanus – Ballymoney – Baltinglass – Barndarrig – Blessington – Bray Emmets – Carnew Emmets – Coolboy – Coolkenno – Donard – Dunlavin – Enniskerry – Forestry College – Bray – Glenealy – Greystones – Hollywood – Kilbride – Kilcoole – Killiskey – Kilmacanogue – Kiltegan – Knockananna – Lacken – Laragh – Newcastle – Newtown – Rathdangan – Roundwood – Rathnew – Shillelagh – Stratford – St. Kevin’s, Bray – St. Patrick’s – St. Fergal’s – The Glen of Imaal – Tinahely – Tuckmill – Valleymount — The Men of the West / Peter Keogh – In the deep South / Seamus O’Duinn – Along the East Coast – Report from the North / Tommy Coleman – [Some Other Clubs Section] – Ballinglen – Grangecon – Ballykillageer – Crossbridge – Ballinatona – Whitestown – Glenmalure – Ballyteskin – Glassnarget – Moneystown – Delgany – Redcross – Brittas – Hacketstown – Ballycoogue – Eire Óg/Greystones – The Greatest Wicklow Team – A leader from Killiskey – One of Wicklow’s Biggest days – Six Wicklow Teams Played in Wexford – The Year Wicklow Reached the Leinster Senior Final – A Trip to Clonskeagh in 1889 – How I Became a Referee / Eamonn Moules – The Perils of Refereeing! / Jimmy Hatton – The day of the ‘Long Count’ – From Kilcoole to San Francisco / Jimmy Hatton – Cumann Luth-Chleas Gael na nGairm Scol / Hugh O’Brien – When Wicklow Played Senior Hurling – Wicklow’s First Hurling Win – Champions of Leinster 1954 [ballad] / Jimmy Smullen – The Rise of Wicklow Hurling / Jackie Napier – The Year Sixty-Seven an All Ireland Success [poem] / Jimmy Smullen – The Hurling Resurgence – In Luton Town / N. J. Lawlor – Three Finals 1971 [ballad] / Jimmy Smullen – The Day Wicklow Won Their First All-Ireland – The Men of Thirty-six [ballad] / Jimmy Smullen – Leinster Champions in 1949 – A Great Leinster Junior Football Final – Dunlavin’s Finest Hour / Johnny Kelly – A Report from the Wee North / Pat McEntaggart – Happy Days in Barndarrig / Patrick Furlong – The Great 1969 Junior Team – The Match I Refereed Without a Watch / Eamonn Moules – Some of Wicklow’s Football Greats – The “Blues” had the Touch of Class – The Day Blessington Won the Big One! — A Wicklow Final Played in Carlow – Lest we Forget / George Nichols – A Flashback to 1952 –“C. M.” was the G.A.A – The ‘Exiles’ Played a Major Role – The day that Ashford Broke the Barrier / Tom McHugh – The Man Who Made it to the Top – A Record Breaker from Avoca – Hugh McCarthy “The Man from Ballinaclash” / Jimmy Dunne – The Centenary Year – A Laois Man Looks at Wicklow – The Men at the Helm – The Railway Cup Men – A Note from the Early Days – County Officers for Centenary Year – Getting the Scores – Battles in the Boardroom – The Day Ashford Rocked Rathnew – Bord na nÓg / Seamus O’Duinn – The Good Samaritans – The Day that Wicklow Shocked Wexford – The Day of the Shambles in Aughrim – Newtown’s First Senior Championship Win / Michael Crinnion – Kilbride’s Big Day in 1962 / Charlie Roe – SCÓR – The Wintertime Winner / Tomas Breathnach – A Place to Play – Memories from the West / Joe Deering – Santa Came Early to Glenealy! / Tommy Glynn – The Role of the Rúnai / Liam O Cathain – The Crystal Ball! – O’Byrne Cup and National League Wins – Arklow Showed the Way – History Makers – The Ban – The Dublin Connection – The Under-Age Scene – A Great Woman – A World Champion from Wicklow Town – Two Famous Wicklow Men – Special Trophies for County Championship Winners 1984 – Feach MacHugh O’Byrne’s Last Words [poem] – The Battle of Dernamuck [ballad] – Random Reflections – The Blackbird of Sweet Avondale [ballad] – Camogie Flowed Like the Tide / Mary Moran – A Thought for the New Century – [Camogie Section] — The Wicklow Camogie Story – Camogie Down the Years – Great Wicklow Camogie Teams – When Wicklow Were Expelled – The Year Wexford Nearly Got Us – All-Ireland Stars – The Day the Man Wore a Skirt – Arklow – the Cradle of Wicklow Camogie / Nancy Lynch-Quinn – Glenealy were in a Class Apart – When St. Martin’s won County Titles – Along by the Dargle – Hollywood in the Rare Ould Times / Brid Ni Bishman – Great Days in Ballyrichard – Activity in Kilmacanogue – Donard Michael Dwyers – Aughrim Camogie Club – Avoca – the Current Champions – Champions from Stratford – Shillelagh – a Camogie Stronghold – Camogie on Wicklow Town / Angela Cullen (nee Quinn) – Hollywood Won Three Titles – Kiltegan Won Five Senior Camogie Titles – Game is Flourishing in Knockananna – Annacurra’s Headquarters was “Sweeney’s Island” – Some of the Other Camogie Clubs – Senior Camogie Winners – Far Away in France and Flanders [poem] / W.J. Duffy – The Wicklow Vales [ballad] / Fr. Butler – [Handball Section] — Handball in Wicklow – The Handball Story / Dick Arnold – [Record Section] – The Eight Red Letter Days – Centenary Year Results – County Teams Centenary Year – Champions in the Centenary Year – The First Thirty Years – Roll of Honour – Final Score for Sixty Years – Football Champions – Hurling Champions – Inter-County Senior and Minor Football Teams 1937-1983 – The Junior Footballers – Senior “B” Hurling Championship – Intermediate Hurling Championship – The Junior Hurlers – Vocational Schools Roll of Honour – Wicklow Handball Wins – The Lady Handballers – Handball Champions – Wicklow Handball Championships – The Last Word.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Includes dozens of black and white photographs of teams and individuals.

The Clash of the Ash Over the Centuries

© JSTOR

Full title: Warriors, Legends & Heroes: The Archaeology of Hurling

Creator / Author: Aidan O’Sullivan

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 3p

Journal Information: Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 32-34

When Published: Autumn 1998

Publisher / Place of Publication: Wordwell Ltd. / Unit 9, 78 Furze Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

About: A short article about the archaeological evidence that can be produced to illuminate the origins of our warrior sport. (Unfortunately, Wicklow seems to have been disinherited).

ID number(s): 0790-892X

WW Connection #1: Author Aidan O’Sullivan is a native of Valleymount in West Wicklow.

Extra #1: includes colour photographs and illustrations.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Read this article online via JSTOR. [Personal registration / conditions apply]. Alternatively, your local public library may provide free online access to this article.

Extra #4: Link to the author’s online presence on Academia.edu

Gathering up Kiltegan History

© The Publisher

Full title: Kiltegan : the Gathering 2013

Creator / Author: Kiltegan ‘Gathering’ Committee

Item Type / Page count: Booklet / 56p

When Published: 2012

Publisher / Place of Publication: Kiltegan ‘Gathering’ Committee / Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow

About: A handsomely-produced booklet that uses ‘The Gathering Ireland 2013’ nationwide event as the focus for looking back at Kiltegan and aspects of its history. The booklet mainly contains short articles of 1-2 pages mostly written by Mary Hickson although several other people have contributed pieces as well.

ID number(s): None

WW Connection #1: Apart from the subject matter, the booklet was printed in Baltinglass.

Chapters: Kiltegan – your own place — Kiltegan Village  — Early Kiltegan — The Hume connection with Kiltegan — Kilranelagh – Talbotstown — Michael Dwyer — Bicentenary of Saint Peter’s Church, Kiltegan (1806-2006) — Church of the Assumption, Tynock — St. Brigid’s Church, Talbotstown — Naomh Treasa National School, Tynock — Scoil Naomh Bríd, Talbotstown — St. Peter’s National School, Kiltegan — Memories of walking home from Tynock School in the 1960’s — St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, High Park — Slí an Chroí — The Kiltegan Village People (listing those living 70-80 years ago, 50 years ago and 25 years ago) — Kiltegan Village Crossroads — Kiltegan GAA Club — Kiltegan Camogie Club — Two Great Gaels — Kiltegan ICA — St. Tegan’s Hall — Kiltegan Drama — Set Dancing — St. Peter’s Parish Centre — Hill walking in the Kiltegan area — Emigration from Kiltegan — The human face of the recession — ‘Gathering’ Calendar of events 2013 — Bibliography.

Extra #1: includes numerous full colour & black/white photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

The Sporting Life of Kiltegan Neighbourhood

© Kiltegan GAA

Full title: Gateway to Glory: a GAA Story. Rathdangan / Kiltegan 1886-1996

Creator / Author: Peter Keogh

Item Type / Page count: Book / 404p

When Published: 1997

Publisher / Place of Publication: Cumann Naomh Teagáin / Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow

About: This is the story of over 110 years of Gaelic Games and other sporting activities in the greater Rathdangan / Kiltegan area of West Wicklow.

ID number(s): None

WW Connection #1: The author is a native of Kiltegan.

Chapters: Foreword / Peadar MacEochaidh — Failte ón Cathaoirleach / Sean O’tuathail — Foreword to an as yet un-named master piece / Sean Boothman — Prologue — The beginning — Kiltegan at the turn of the century — Rathdangan [1886-1929] / Jim O’Toole — The faction fight — The big breakthrough [1930-1935] — The invincibles [1936-1948] — Time gentlemen! — The decline [1949-1961] – The chapel at Killamoate [poem / Tom Kelly] — Kiltegan at last [1929-1932] — Days of despair [1933-1943] — Rathdangan / Kiltegan united — The split — Kiltegan ’49 — Nicknames — Lean times in the 50’s — Barren years — Sowing the seeds — In lighter vein — Hurling hopefuls — Going places — Rebirth [1965-969] — Crowley capers — The seventies — A medal at last 1972 — Doogue days 1973 — Matt Finn intervenes — Juvenile interlude ’71 to ’84 — Harvey at the helm [1975-1979] — Decade of glory — 1984 Centenary year — 1986-The fabulous first — Hurling heroes — Joseph Keegan — The Nineties — The glory years [1993-1996] — Kiltegan [poem] / Jimmy Smullen — West awake — Michael Dwyers — Tynock — Ballybrack — The Shamrocks — Paying the piper — Kiltegan’s big day [poem] — Camogie in Kiltegan / Mary Kelly — The breakthrough — 1978: Wicklow reach All-Ireland semi-final — Wicklow county camogie victory (1978) — Kiltegan – first Leinster club champions — The eighties-the end of a glorious era — Those were the days — A new beginning — Ladies football — May McGuinness — Handball — Football for fun — The field — Team of the century – Personality parade — Hello to Rathdangan [poem]  — Referees — In far away fields — Other sports — Sean O’ Nolán 1871-1947 — Scór — High achievers — Club chairmen — Macra — Roll of honour — Sideline cuts — Records section — Advertising — Acknowledgement — Thanks / Sponsors — Epilogue / Micheál O’Foghlú.

Extra #1: includes numerous full colour & black/white photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.