VINEGAR HILL 150th anniversary

x

"THE FIELD" Presented by The Davidstown/Courtnacuddy drama group in Courtnacuddy hall, on 20th. March 2000.

act 1 . Act 2. Act 3

BATTLE OF VINEGARHILL

TUG-OF-WAR IN CLONROCHE A FEW YEARS AGO. (Maybe 10 yrs. ago ?)

SOME VIEWS OF CASTLEBORO

OLD CASTLE IN RYAN'S YARD

THE FOLKS AT HOME Part 1

A video made by Cloughbawn people to send to local emigrants to Australia about 25 years ago.

THE FOLKS AT HOME Part 2

PILGRIMAGE

Fleadh sketches

MARKET SQUARE,ENNISCORTHY -- A FEW YEARS AGO.

Notice "The Grand central Cinema" in pic.2.

ZOOKMAN

CLONROCHE DRAMA SOCIETY 1960

MATCH PROGRAMME

RED CHARLEY KAVANAGH or CAHIR RUADH as he was known

	The legend of Red Charlie Kavanagh
	Cahir Ruadh Caomhánach, known in English as Red Charley Kavanagh, of theline of the Garyhill Kavanaghs, became a legend in his own lifetime. Red Charlie was from Ballaghmore, in present day Co. Carlow, and is recorded as being alive in 1590. He was the son of Donal of Kilmoglise and Garryhill and great-grandson of Murrough Ballagh Caomhánach, founder of the Garyhill and Ballyloughan septs of the Clan. Red Charlie has been described as an Irish Robin Hood. his good and brave deeds have become part of the folklore of the Wexford side of the Blackstairs mountain range where he was forced to hide from the English. He spent his life harassing the forces of the crown and most particularly the English settlers and their strongholds. His favourite pastime was to attack these settlements when defenders were few, and on his return to his hideout he would share his spoils with his fellow Irish he met along his way. This ensured their help in eluding his pursuers, and endeared him to those he helped. His misdeeds, save the one which was to cause his downfall, are not recorded, but this one caused his undoing and probably his death. His problem was his fondness for the ladies, one lady in particular, whose heart was beating, not for Cahir Ruadh, but for her childhood sweetheart. Cahir Ruadh with Brian MacCahir Caomhánach, Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne and others were in revolt against the English in 1572. After considerable fighting all the leaders submitted except Cahir Ruadh. He chose the life of a raparee or freebooter and made his home in the wilds of the Blackstairs on the Wexford side away from his home on the Carlow side. His den was just bellow Scollagh Gap, an extremely inaccessible place in those days. Before his freebooting days his home was at Ballaghmore in Fortha, Co. Carlow. His son seems to have submitted to the crown and was given tenure of the lands which were finally confiscated in 1641 fromhis grandson Owen MacDomhnall Kavanagh for his efforts in the 1641 rebellion. The lands were never again restored to a Kavanagh. Many legends of the freebooters (most of whom were those clansmen dispossessed of their lands because of opposition to the English) are known to us through Irish folklore and preserved through the oral traditions of the period. The story of Red Charlie was preserved for us through the books of Patrick Kennedy (1801 - 1873) Ireland's foremost folklorist who was born in Kilmyshal, the burial place of the Clomullen Sept of the Kavanaghs. As a point of interest Kennedy is regarded as the most accurate recorder of folklore most especially for the area he was born and lived in, Kavanagh Country. The legend of Red Charley if faithfully recounted as told to Kennedy by his grandmother who would have heard it during her childhood in the 1750's. The legend of Red Charley may be read in Kennedy's book "The Banks of the Boro" first published in 1867 with a recent reprint in 1989 due to the efforts of the Patrick Kennedy Appreciation Society who encouraged the reprint by Duffry Press Enniscorthy.

THE MURDER OF MICHAEL FITZHENRY

Murder of Michael Fitzhenry

---

Michael Fitzhenry became Principal of Rathgarogue Male School on January 1st, 1857. Mary Roche was appointed to the girls' school at the same time. They married in 1858 and lived in the teachers' residence. By May, 1863, they had three children and were expecting a fourth.

Joseph Kelly, Mary's first cousin, lived in Poulpeasty with his wife, Catherine, and his father, John. They rented a farm of about 30 acres from Lord Carew of Castleboro. Because of debts and because Joseph wanted to go to America, they made over the farm to Michael Fitzhenry. The deal was that Fitzhenry would pay £75 (€95.25) - £30 (€38.10) to be paid in cash and the rest to pay off the debts. John Kelly would continue to live in the farmhouse.

The Fitzhenry's took over the farm in March, 1863 and had crops sown. They still lived in Rathgarogue but sent two of their children to live with the Kelly's and three servants in Poulpeasty. Joseph Kelly asked Michael to give his father the fare to go to America but Fitzhenry refused.

(The teachers' residence beside the church entrance in Rathgarogue)

On Friday evening, May 15th, the Fitzhenry's went to Poulpeasty to visit their children. John Kelly asked for the £6 (€7.62) fare to go with his son to America but was again refused. Joseph Kelly asked for 8 shillings (€0.50) owed to him by Michael and Fitzhenry said he would pay him next day in New Ross.

The Fitzhenry's returned home and at nine o'clock next morning Michael left for New Ross with an ass and cart to buy coal and other provisions. Shortly afterwards, Joseph Kelly called to the house and argued with Mary Fitzhenry about the fare for his father. He said his father was very upset because he would be left alone and he used threatening language towards the Fitzhenry's. Mary asked a neighbour who was going to town to tell her husband to pay for the disputed fare.

Later in the day, Michael Fitzhenry, Joseph Kelly and his wife, Catherine, called to a shipping agent, William Forristal, in New Ross. Michael changed a £1 note and gave the 8 shillings to Kelly. They asked about shipping papers for the Kelly's. Joseph said he had no money but Michael asked if the agent would take his security and Forristal agreed. When he heard that John Kelly was 70 years old, William Forristal said he would have to find out if he could take him at that age.

Kelly and Fitzhenry bought some iron bars in Ryan's and Fitzhenry bought the coal in Keough's. They were seen together on the Mountgarrett Road out of town later that evening. Kelly was carrying the iron bars. They called to Lawless's public house at Mount Elliott (now Mannion's) and left together with another man, Patrick Kelly, at 10 o'clock (closing time). Fitzhenry was staggering at this stage.

The three went together to Ballywilliam. Fitzhenry was very drunk and kept staggering into the ditches. Patrick Kelly noticed that Joseph Kelly appeared to be trying to hide something that sounded like iron bars under his jacket. They arrived in Ballywilliam at midnight. Micheal Fitzhenry's father, Patrick, met them there and was angry with his son for being out so late. Michael and Joseph left on the road to Rathgarogue. Apart from Joseph Kelly, Patrick Fitzhenry was the last person to see his son alive.

Philip Murray from Ballycoheir was on his way to Mass in Rathgarogue Church at about 7.30 a.m. the following morning when he found the body of Michael Fitzhenry lying in Moran's Lane, a short distance from the Church. He was dead and had been dragged about 10 yards from the main road. The priest, Fr. Alex Kinsella, was called and he arranged to notify the police in New Ross. Soon afterwards, police from New Ross, Ballywilliam, Carnagh and Ballinaboola arrived and started the murder investigation. Later on Sunday, some of the police went to Poulpeasty and arrested Joseph Kelly and his wife, Catherine. She was later released.

On Monday morning an inquest was held in Rathgarogue School. The Coroner, 5 magistrates, 3 senior police officers and 3 doctors attended. A large number of people had gathered from the surrounding areas. A 16-man jury was selected. The jury went to see the body and witnessed the post mortem examination. They also went to the murder scene. After this witnesses were called and the inquest was adjourned at 8 o'clock. It resumed on Tuesday at 1 o'clock. Dr. Howlett told the jury that death was caused by a series of blows to the head and left side of the body by a heavy blunt instrument such as an iron bar. The inquest continued into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The jury found that Michael Fitzhenry had died from severe wounds to the skull and body and that these wounds had been caused by Joseph Kelly. They returned a verdict of wilful murder against Kelly.

The murder trial of Joseph Kelly started in Wexford on Thursday, July 9th, 1863. He pleaded not guilty. The witnesses gave evidence at the inquest repeated their stories without change. On Saturday morning the trial finished. Even though nobody had seen the murder, the evidence against Joseph Kelly was so strong it took the jury only 11 minutes to agree a verdict of "Guilty". Kelly was sentenced to be hanged on Monday, 11th of August. He continued to protest his innocence and had to be removed from the dock. It was later noticed that the 11th of August was on Tuesday and Kelly had to return to the dock at 5 o'clock to be sentenced again.

Joseph Kelly was hanged in public outside Wexford jail. The evening before his execution he wrote a confession. He said he only meant to give Michael Fitzhenry a beating. He left him alive on the roadway and started walking home. He then panicked and returned to kill Fitzhenry so he would not report him to the police.

Joseph Kelly was the last person to be executed in public in Ireland.