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.