The next Museum talk will be held on Wednesday
6th April 2022 at 8p.m.
The new venue is upstairs at Merry’s Gastro
Bar, Lower Main Street, Dungarvan.
The topic will be The Ballyvoile Ambush by
Cian Flaherty.
Admission €5
Next Museum Talk on April 6th
Stories from Old Newspapers
Waterford Standard 20 March 1901
Death of Mr. Ambrose Congreve D.L.
It is with regret we chronicle in our issue of today
the death of the above-named gentleman, which occurred at his residence, Mount
Congreve, on Friday last. Although ailing for some time past, and his death
being thus quite expected, it will, nevertheless, come as a surprise to many of
the leading families in the county. The name of Congreve has been associated
with the annals of Waterford for the past couple of centuries, and we
understand that they were a branch of the family to which the celebrated
dramatist of the same name belonged. The deceased was a great athlete in his
youth, and served as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards, being
considered one of the finest men in his day in the British Army. The Earl of
Listowel was one of his intimate companions, and during his military service he
often played a racquet with the Prince of Wales…He was the possessor of ample
estates both in Waterford and Kilkenny, and the family residence at Mount
Congreve, is, as all our readers are aware, one of the most picturesque spots
on the river Suir. In the early part of the last century the family took an
active interest in the civic and social affairs of the city, spending a
considerable portion of the year in their town house in John Street (now Messrs
Thomas Walsh & Sons, furniture warehouse). During his illness he was
attended by Dr Jackman of this city.
The deceased was born on the 13 March, 1832, was a son
of the late Mr John Congreve, and the Hon. Louisa Congreve, was a daughter of
the then Lord Clonbrock, of Ahascragh, Co Galway. He married in the year 1866,
the Hon. Alice Dillon, who predeceased him. The latter was the daughter of the
late Lord Clonbrock, the father of the present peer. There were six children of
the marriage, of whom, a daughter, died a few years ago. Capt John Congreve,
Eldest son and heir of the late Ambrose Congreve is at present in South Africa
attached to the Border Regiment, the other children are Ambrose, Leopold, and
two daughters, Ellen and Violet. He leaves three sisters, namely – Miss Augusta
Congreve, Miss Louisa Congreve, and the Baroness Von Oesterreicher, who resides
on the Continent. The funeral will leave Mount Congreve today for Kilmeaden,
where the remains will be interred.
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| Entrance Facade Mt. Congreve |
Dunhill History Lectures with Julian Walton - Series 2022
The next
lecture in this series is as follows:
Date:
Thursday 31st March
Time: 7pm
Location: Dunhill
Multi- Educational Centre
Speaker: Mr. William Fraher
Topic: A most magnificent place' - A history of the
garden and demesne of Curraghmore House.”
R I C Trunk Donation
Mrs.
Helen Aplin (UK) donating her grandfathers (Mr. William Stephens) R I C trunk,
to Mr. William Fraher Curator of Waterford County Museum. Mr. William Stephens was an R I C sergeant in
Stradbally until 1908.
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| . |
Stories from Old Newspapers
Waterford News 20
April 1900
‘Second to none’ – Marquis of Waterford visits St
Brigid’s Well Brewery and Lawlor’s Hotel
The marquis of Waterford [John Henry de la Poer
Beresford, 6th marquis] visited St Brigid’s Well Brewery on Tuesday.
It was his lordship’s first visit to Dungarvan, and he seemed to enjoy it. The
Marquis was accompanied by Sir Owen Slack [Sir Owen Randal Slacke (1837-1910]
and Captain Gethin [estate manager at Curraghmore]. The distinguished visitors
were met at the station by W E Cartwright, Esq, manager of St Brigid’s Well
Brewery. The brewery premises were visited and gone through by the party. Mr.
Cartwright explained the working of the several departments.
The chiefs of the clerical staff, Messrs Coghlan and
Flynn, with the men of the staff, received the visitors enthusiastically, and
after a stay of upwards of two hours, during which the Brewery Lodge and the
grounds (residence of Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright) were visited, his lordship and
the party received a hearty parting cheer from the employees of the brewery.
Subsequently the marquis, Sir Owen Slack, Capt.
Gethin, Mr. Cartwright, and Mr. Nugent Humble, lunched at Lawlor’s Hotel, and
his lordship expressed the pleasure which he felt, not only at his cordial
reception, but at the excellent manner in which the hotel staff, under the
direction of Mrs Lawlor, had anticipated every wish of the visitors. His
lordship was delighted with the cheerful and comfortable apartments of the hotel,
and expressed to his friends before leaving the great pleasure it would give
him to inform his friends in London that there was at least one hotel in the
South of Ireland which could be classed as second to none in its management,
comfort, cuisine, and moderate charges, to be found across the Channel. We
congratulate Mr. and Mrs Lawlor on this excellent testimony to their expense
and enterprise…which is so well known and highly appreciated by all visitors to
the Old Borough.
Lawlors Hotel circa 1910
Stories from Old Newspapers
Dungarvan Observer 24 May 1930
Beautiful Gardens Thrown Open
In order to obtain funds for the Jubilee Nurses’
Association some of the best- known and most picturesque of the stately
mansions of the county Waterford have been thrown open, and in our previous
issue we detailed how successful the event was from every point of view. On
Thursday last the beautiful grounds and residence of Lady Musgrave at Tourin
were the venue of a big gathering. The rock garden came in for general
admiration, and visitors were charmed with the delightful view of the
Blackwater, which the demesne affords. The old castle, situated in the estate,
was viewed with much interest. Lady Musgrave received the guests and had a very
able assistant in Captain Jameson, who acted as guide and instructor. His
botanical knowledge was highly appreciated. The new squash racket court which
has been laid out in the grounds was available for those who wished to use it.
The beautiful grounds of Moorehill, Tallow, were also
thrown open to the public by Mr & Mrs Percival Maxwell…The shrubs were much
admired, while the rhododendrons were splendid. A splendid view was obtained of
the rich parklands cut out from the terraces at the north side of the house,
which the picturesque River Bride winding its serpentine course but added
enchantment to the scene. The trees all over the estate are charming.
Whitfield Court, the delightful residence of Lady
Susan Dawnay was also thrown open a few days ago, and the attendance was very
large. The spacious mansion with its elaborate gardens and grounds evoked much
admiration. On Thursday May 22, the stately mansion, gardens, and grounds of
Dromana were open to the public by Mr Ion Villiers-Stuart and the attendance
was very large.
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| Lady Musgrave's's Rock Garden at Tourin |
First Museum Talk for 2022
The Museum held its first talk for 2022, last Wednesday night the 9th of March, in the 'Cunnigar Room’ at Crews Restaurant in Quay Lane. The speaker was Mr. William Fraher, on his recent new book The Bad Times – Revolution and the Big House in Co Waterford.
There was an excellent turn out of people for this first talk and great interest and feedback from the attendees, which set a very positive and productive start to the Museum's talks for 2022.
The late Hal Chavasse
Hal
Chavasse, Cappagh
Waterford County Museum was saddened to hear of the passing of Hal Chavasse of Cappagh a long-standing member of the museum society. Hal was an enthusiastic attendee at our lectures and had visited the museum in January to pay his membership and to purchase a copy of Willie Fraher’s book, The Bad Times which features Cappagh House and the Ussher family. We extend our sympathy to the Chavasse family. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam dilis.
Hal Chavasse and Barbara Grubb 2016
Bad Times Book Launch
Bad
Times Book Launch
Willie
Fraher new book The Bad Times, Waterford Country Houses During the
Revolutionary Period was launched last Saturday in the Garden Room at
Woodhouse Easte courtesy of Jim and Sally Thompson. The garden looked splendid
in the winter sunshine. Amongst the attendees were Joanne Rothwell, Waterford
City & Co Archivist, Bernadette Guest, City & County Heritage Officer,
members of the Centenary Committee, Trustees of Waterford County Museum, Kevin
Hurley, President of the Cork branch of the Irish Georgian Society, and a
number of owners of the houses featured in the book.
The
official opening was performed by Cllr Joe Kelly, Mayor of Waterford City &
County. He praised the author for this work as curator of the county museum and
for this book which gave a different insight into this turbulent period in our
history. The author then spoke and thanked those who gave him access to
documents and photographs. In particular, he thanked well-known historian
Julain Walton, and Stradbally historian Cian Flaherty for their invaluable
assistance.
When
the formal proceedings concluded guests were provided with refreshments organised
by events manager Jennifer Reeve and her staff. Thanks to museum staff, Paulus,
Marie, and Tony, for looking after the book sales.
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| William Fraher (Author) -addressing crowd at the "Bad Times" Book Launch |
Stories from Old Newspapers
Dungarvan Observer April 1918
Captain of Lismore Volunteers Arrested
‘Capt.
J.J. Madden, of the local corps of volunteers, was arrested at 8.30p.m. on
Tuesday morning by Sergt. Hannan and Constable Lyne charged with illegal
drilling and unlawful assembly.
He
was brought before Mr Gerald Griffin, R.M., Waterford, during the day and
remanded to Dungarvan Petty Sessions on Saturday, 6th April. At the
4.25p.m. train by which he was removed to Cork Jail, an unusually large crowd
filled the platform and gave several cheers for the popular captain, besides
singing ‘The Soldier’s Song’ as the train steamed in. Mr John Goulding
travelled to Cork with the prisoner. A force of ten policemen marched to the
station with Mr Madden, three of whom formed an escort. Mr. Madden, who is a
native of Nenagh, was Professor at the Christian Brothers’ College here, and
was most popular with all classes’.
Also
arrested at the time were John Keyes and George Lennon of Dungarvan. Lennon
later wrote that conditions in the jail were terrible: ‘there was no heat of
any kind…beds were mere benches, barred windows were devoid of glass and food
was of an appalling poor standard’.
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| Cork Jail |
Museum Talks
We are delighted to start up our talks again after such a long absence. The first one of 2022 will be:
The Bad Times – Revolution and the Big House in Co Waterford by William Fraher.
The talk is based on his recent book. The talk will be held on Wednesday 9 March at 8p.m.
The new venue is the ‘Cunnigar Room’ at Crews in Quay Lane, Dungarvan.
Admission €5 including refreshments.
The Bad Times – Waterford Country Houses During The Revolutionary Period By William Fraher
New Book
This fascinating book that focuses on the impact of the War of Independence / Civil War on the owners of big houses in County Waterford. Most of these houses were modest in size and some were hunting lodges. This book approaches the subject from the viewpoint of the owners of the Big Houses and how it impacted on their lives and their attitudes to England and the new emerging Ireland. The role of the house and estate staff is also examined. It looks at the efforts of the owners to obtain compensation to rebuild their houses which were burned or damaged. Fortunately, a number of primary sources became available during the research which have now been brought together for the first time. This book also looks at how this period is covered in unpublished local eye-witness accounts written by Anglo-Irish women. These are key primary sources by Emily Ussher of Cappagh House, Mildred Dobbs of Camphire House, the Hon. Mary Olivia de la Poer of Gurteen le Poer, Beatrix, Lady Osborne Beauclerk and Frida Keane of Cappoquin. There are numerous illustrations of the various different houses and related aspects connected to them.
The cost of this book is €20, and is available to purchase at Waterford County Museum, Friary Street Dungarvan. If you purchase this book at the Museum you can get an exclusive signed copy by the author. The Book is also available at David Walsh Office supplies shop Main Street, Dungarvan, Eason’s Dungarvan Shopping Centre and The Book Centre Waterford City. This publication was supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2013 initiatives and Waterford City and County Council Commemorations Committee.
New Museum Committee/Trustees 2022
The following were elected at our recent AGM:
· Chairperson: Christina Flynn
· Vice Chair Person: Tom Broderick
· Secretary: Christine King
· Treasurer: Paula Uí Uallacháin
Trustees
· Eddie Cantwell
· Thomas Phelan
· Irma Costello
· Tony Fitzgerald
· Paulus Van Heesewijk
· Chrissy Knight O'Connor
· Mary Giblin
· Denis Barron