Stories from
Old Newspapers
Waterford Mail 16 May 1835
Fires and Weddings
In the parish of Modeligo, a place called Grague, in
the county of Waterford, the house of a farmer named Donovan, was maliciously
set on fire and entirely consumed on Monday night. Donovan’s brother’s house,
near Clashmore, was also burned a few nights before, the reason assigned is
that the latter has lately taken ground over the former tenants. A curious
circumstance took place at Knockmeal, near Ballinamult: A farmer’s daughter
named Corbet, was married o a person named Dealy on Sunday night, when the
Chief Constable Anderson of Ballinamult and a party of his police, entered the
house and commanded the wedding folk to disperse – the people stood upon their
right – remonstrated with the police, and refused to leave the wedding unless
compelled by force. The Chief very fortunately did not resort to this extremity
but demanded from some respectable farmers present their guarantee that the
peace would be preserved and then departed. The novel interference of the
police is much talked of. It is but justice to add that Chief Constable
Anderson has been very active in the preservation of the peace, but a resident
magistrate in this wild and extensive part of the county, is absolutely
necessary. If the Stipendiary from Dungarvan, held, occasionally with such a
magistrate, Petty Sessions at Rathcormac, Kilrossenty, etc., a great
improvement in the people would soon be visible.
