Poor Law Union Records

  

In 2020 the findmypast website uploaded the Board of Guardians minute books for the Waterford Poor Law Union, which comprised of 163,000 records.  If your ancestor was an inmate, a supplier of goods, etc you may find them listed here. The original records are held by Waterford City and County Archives.

The book Desperate Haven, originally published in 1996, is the definitive study to date of the Great Famine (or Irish Potato Famine) and its effects in the towns and villages of West Waterford, Ireland.

This long out of print and much sought after volume was the product of more than 5 years of research by Dungarvan Museum Society (now Waterford County Museum). It provides a fascinating insight into the lives of the poor in mid 19th century Ireland, the response of the authorities to the unfolding tragedy and the conditions which saw many Irish people create new lives for themselves in America, England, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. It is available for the Museum, local bookshops and Amazon.  Dungarvan Workhouse Board of Guardians 1890 (EK140) image was recently donated to Waterford County Museum image Archive.

Irish Museums Association

Waterford County Museum recently submitted a report to the Irish Museum Association “survey of Irish Museums 2021”.  Representatives of the Irish Museum Association met recently with the joint committee for Tourism, Culture, Arts and media to discuss the long term impact of Covid-19 on the museum sector and National Cultural Institutions.  According to the associations website: “Among the topics raised were concerns over the lack of a joined-up national strategy for museum development and the absence of museum’s being specifically addressed in the national cultural  policies, further exacerbated  by their now falling within the oversight of different government departments and agencies”. 

The committee heard from the museum representatives that more than two-thirds (68%) of museums in the republic are not directly funded by the government and are independently run, usually on a non-for-profit basis.  These museums rely not only on entry fees but also on generated income through their commercial spaces.

Gina O’ Kelly of the IMA, noted that “Museums have a pivotal role to play in social and economic recovery and resilience of the nation.  Support of their activities is in need of review and re-energising”. [IMA] representatives also spoke to the active role of museums in leading dialogue around decolonisation and commemoration.

 

 

 

Online Talks “The Irish Civil War”

Tipperary Museum of Hidden History, Clonmel.

These talks will be available as a monthly podcast from 9^th October 2021 to April 2022. Speakers include: Brian Hanley, David McCullagh, Dr. Gemma Clarke, 

Seán Hogan, Brenda Malone, Gabriel Doherty and Pat McCarthy.

 

 

 For further details contact Julia at 0761 065254

 

Email: juliawalsh@tipperarycoco.ie

 

Dunhill History Lectures Series XV, 2021

There will be three autumn lectures by Julian Walton. The lectures will be given on alternate Thursdays, commencing on 7th October.

 Starting at 8 p.m. The programme is as follows:

7 October: “Me today, you tomorrow:” the monuments of James Rice in Waterford and John McCragh in Lismore.

21 October: “What I did in the summer of 1833:” The journal of Henry, third Marquis of Waterford.

4 November: “I shall be Glad to get out of this Dungeon as soon as possible:” The schooling of Master Clifton 1751-1760.

If you know anyone interested in attending these lectures or live streaming from home, please contact Dunhill to be added to their mailing list.

Admission charge of €5 per lecture (can be paid over the phone or by cash in the centre.

For further details contact Dunhill Multi- Education Centre

Tel: 051-396934

Email: enquires@dunhilleducation.com

 

Stories from Old Newspapers

Waterford News 16^th November 1923

 Serious Illness of Mgr.Count Bickerstaffe-Drew.

 “We deeply regret to learn that the celebrated writer who signs himself      “John Ayscough” is lying seriously ill at a hotel in St. Malo.  “John Ayscough”, is Monsignor Bickerstaffe-Drew, the son of the Rev. Henry Lloyd Bickerstaffe, an Anglican clergyman, [He] was a most distinguished scholar of Oxford University, and joined the Catholic church while he was an undergraduate at the ancient seat of learning.  Monsignor Bickerstaffe-Drew’s illness must have been a sudden seizure, for the Editor of this paper has a letter from him dated St. Malo 5^th November, in which he stated he was hard at work writing a story for Green and Gold [a literary magazine printed by Waterford News] - a story which, he said, “I shall be much disappointed if you do not care for it”.  In a letter from Versailles, dated 12^th October in sending the Editor of “Green and Gold” a contribution for his magazine- a story which will appear in the Christmas number… mentioned that- in the year 1886 he was for six months on a visit at the island, with some dear friends, Geraldine and Claude de Lacy; and it was there I received my appointment [as army Chaplin], which I held for 33 years.  I have a lot of Power forbears, who are all County Waterford people.  One queer ancestor of mine (through the Powers) was Valentine Greatrakes, “The Stroker”, whose home was at Affane. 

 

The mother of Mons. Count Bickerstaffe-Drew was before her marriage, Miss Mona Brougham Drew, of Heathfield Towers, Youghal.  Her distinguished son (who is now in his 65^th year) was private chamberlain of his late Holiness Pope Leo XIII, and subsequently of Pope Pius X.  He was created domestic prelate of his Holiness in 1904.  He is a Knight of the Sacred Military Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Count.  His other distinctions are numerous and world-wide.”

 

The Count was born in 1858 and died in 1928.  He converted to Catholicism in 1878.  He was ordained in 1844 and served as a chaplin in the British army for more than 30 years.

 

 

 

 

New Gallowshill Exhibition

We are delighted that our new Gallowshill exhibition has now been completed, with the arrival of a new display case.  This now houses the archaeological artefacts from Gallowshill e.g. pottery pieces, human anatomy, mineral sample, weapons and ammunition etc. This compliments our new information panels explaining the history of Gallowshill, Dungarvan Caves, Vikings and Medieval Dungarvan.

This project has been supported by the Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant 2021.

 

Rita Clancy- Dungarvan's First Librarian

Margaret (Rita) Clancy (1900-1979) was a member of a very old native Dungarvan family.  She was a primary School teacher at Carriglea National School a few miles outside Dungarvan.  Waterford County Council instituted a Public Library service, with headquarters at Lismore with Mr. Fergus Murphy (Father of Dervla Murphy) the first appointed County Librarian.  The next task was to establish the first branch library in the county, the choice was Dungarvan.  They had the books and the Council would provide a room, but they did not have the funds to pay a librarian.  Rita was approached and asked to accept the post of Honorary Librarian, and open the library in the evenings, which she graciously did.  

She opened the first library branch to be established in the county on February 18th 1931.  It was located in the only available room on the top storey of the Dungarvan Town Hall.  Unstintingly she worked long and arduous hours in the service and interest of her fellow-townspeople.  Increased numbers of borrowers and lack of space necessitated a "temporary" move to a premise at the top of Friary Street.  Unfortunately the economic state of the country at the time meant the new Dungarvan Branch Library building was still a long way off. 

In her lifetime Rita Clancy became a legend for her courtesy and helpfulness, even in the most trying circumstances.  The needs of each borrower meticulously attended to and at all times devoid of favour. 

On Monday, 1st March 1976 after 45 years service Rita retired from the library service and may well have looked back with nostalgia and pride on a most exacting task, more than adequately accomplished.  Rita had many outstanding characteristics especially her gentle and unassuming nature and her great Christian charity by word and deed.  She was always patriotic and had been a member of Cumann na mBan.  In 1969 the now retired N.T. began helping in the establishment of St. John's Special School Dungarvan.  A few years later she was asked to return to St. John's to cover for those who were taking courses.  She is remembered for her ability to keep control of her classes, some of which had challenging pupils. 

While crossing the road Rita was hit by a drunk driver and died from her injuries on 8th October 1979. Her funeral was one of the largest and most representative ever seen in Dungarvan. A testimony to her great popularity and the high esteem in which she was held by the people of Dungarvan.

Many thanks to Hillary Keane, for providing this information about Rita Clancy.