Gerry Cody

Thomas Moore, after a painting by Thomas Lawrence

With Cois Céim And The Saturday Walkers Group Kilkenny

Robert Emmet, and Thomas Moore became friends having first met in 1794, as Trinity undergraduates

Thomas Moore

Irish writer, poet and lyricist and his Kilkenny connection

Jenkinstown House is situated on the perimeter of Jenkinstown Wood, a large woodland once forming part of the Bryan-Bellew estate

EDITED AND COMPILED BY: GERRY CODY

THOMAS Moore was born at 12 Aungier Street in Dublin on 28th May 1779. His father came from Kerry, while his mother Anastasia Codd came from Wexford. He had two younger sisters. From an early age Moore showed an interest in music and other performing arts. Sometimes he appeared in musical plays and at one point had ambitions to become an actor. He attended many Dublin schools including Whytes English Grammar School in Grafton Street, where he learned the English accent, with which he spoke for the rest of his life. In an effort to fulfil his mother’s dream of him becoming a lawyer, he entered Trinity College and graduated in 1799.

TURMOIL OF REVOLUTION.

Moore was a good student but later put less effort into his studies. His time at Trinity came amidst the ongoing turmoil of the French Revolution and a number of his fellow students such as Robert Emmet were supporters of the United Irishmen movement, although Moore himself was never a member. He explained he was “tied to his mother’s apron strings” and could not get out of the house to attend meetings. Another influence on Moore was fellow student Edward Hudson who played a crucial role introducing Moore to Edward Bunting’s “A General Collection of Ancient Irish Music”, later one of the main sources of Moore’s collection of Irish Melodies.

STUDIED LAW IN LONDON

He travelled to London to study Law in 1799 at Middle Temple, his mother, sending him off with some golden guineas and a scapular sewn inside his trousers. He had difficulties paying the fees and his tailor bills. He was helped in this by his friends in the Irish Community in London. However it was as a poet, translator, balladeer and singer that he found fame. His work soon became popular including “The Harp That Once through Tara’s Halls”. Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms”, ”The Meeting of the Waters” and the poem Moore wrote in memory of Sarah Curran the sweetheart of his friend Robert Emmet, “She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps”.

This was often called Moore’s Melodies, but Moore was more than a balladeer he had major success as a society figure in London, meeting the Prince Regent on several occasions. He also collaborated in staging operas to his Librettos.

APPOINTED REGISTRAR

In 1803 he was appointed registrar to the Admiralty in Bermuda but he found the work very uninspiring. There were several prize courts nearby, but very few captured ships were brought to Bermuda. He only stayed for three months, but was treated as the poet laureate. He travelled across the U.S.A. and Canada in a grand tour. Moore met the President Thomas Jefferson but the meeting had a touch of farce since the President mistook Moore an exceptionally small man for a child. Enjoying his time mostly in Philadelphia where he already had an established reputation. He returned to Britain from Nova Scotia arriving home in 1804.

CRITICISM OF SLAVERY

A repeated theme in Moore’s writings was his criticism of the United States and slavery, which provoked outrage. In Britain a critical review of his work led to Moore challenging the Editor, Jeffery to a duel. They met but the duel was interrupted by the arrival of the authorities and they were both arrested. Reports that Moore’s opponent had been given an empty pistol continued to dog Moore and led to mockery of him. Lord Byron referred to Moore’s” leadless pistol”. Moore angered by this wrote to Byron hinting that unless the remarks were clarified he was prepared to fight. Byron never received the letter and when the two eventually met the dispute was settled and they became very close friends.

KILKENNY CONNECTION

Between 1808 and 1810 Moore appeared each year with the Kilkenny Players in a series of performances in Kilkenny staged by the elite and professional actors in Richard Power’s Theatre. During his time in Kilkenny he stayed with the Bryan family in Jenkinstown where he was inspired to write “Tis the last Rose of Summer”.It is said that Beethoven composed the music for this piece.

MARRIAGE TO BESSY DYKE

Moore married an actress Elizabeth Bessy Dyke in 1811 whom he had met with the Kilkenny Players where she was working with her two sisters. Moore did not tell his parents for some time of his marriage, possibly because she was an English Protestant, but more probably because his marriage to a woman without a dowry would not help his financial prospects. Moore had expensive tastes and despite the large sums he was earning, soon got into debt. A situation not helped by the charge of embezzlement of £6000 by John Goodrich whom he had employed to deputise for him in Bermuda. Moore was liable for the sum of money and lost an Admiralty ruling against this. Exposed to this debt Moore left Britain in 1819 for France and the Continent returning to Britain in 1822. The debt was finally paid off partly with the help of his latest patron Lord Lansdowne and an advance from his publisher. During his travels across Europe he stayed with Byron in Venice. Byron gave Moore his memoirs with instruction to publish them after his death. Moore was criticised later for allowing himself to destroy the memoirs at the behest of Byron’s family.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE

His marriage was judged to be happy although Bess shrank from fashionable society to such an extent that many of her husband’s friends never met her, some jokingly doubted her existence. He finally settled in Sloperton Cottage, Bromham, Wiltshire and became a novelist as well as a successful poet. He was invited to stand for Parliament, considered it, but nothing came of it. In 1830 he sang in front of Queen Victoria in a duet with her mother. Moore was a strong advocate for Catholic Emancipation but he experienced a difficult relationship with Daniel O’Connell, whom Moore regarded as a demagogue, believing “O’Connell and his ragamuffins have brought tarnish upon Irish patriotism”.

TRAGEDY UPON TRAGEDY He received a state pension but his personal life was marked by tragedy including the deaths of all his five children within his lifetime, and a stroke in later life, which disabled him from performances, the activity for which

One of the many beautiful walkways at Jenkinstown

An entrance to Jenkinstown wood

he was most renowned. Moore died being cared for by his wife on 26th February 1852, and was laid to rest in a vault in St Nichols churchyard within view of his cottage home beside his daughter Anastasia.

COMMEMORATED

Moore is often considered Ireland’s national bard and is to Ireland what Robbie Burns is to Scotland. He is commemorated, by a plaque on the house where he was born, by busts at “The Meeting of the Waters” in Avoca, and Central Park, New York and a bronze statue near Trinity College. There is a road in Walkinstown, Dublin named Thomas Moore Road, in a series of roads named after famous composers, locally referred to as the Musical Roads.

Moore’s poem, The Last Rose of Summer, was composed in 1805 while he was visiting Jenkinstown Park in County Kilkenny. It was later set to a traditional tune called “Aislean an Oigfear” or “The Young Man’s Dream”, which had been transcribed by Edward Bunting in 1792 based on a performance by harper Donnchadh Ó hÁmsaigh (Denis Hempson) at the Belfast Harp Festival. The poem and the tune together were published in December 1813 in volume 5 of a collection of Moore’s work called A Section of Irish Melodies.

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

Clara GAA

GAA REGISTRATION Hi All, It’s that time of year again when we collect membership. This year we are using the GAAs new system “Foireann”, also known as “Return to play”. You will all have used it in 2020 to complete the health questionnaire before training & games. This should not be confused with the “GAA App” which we used for 2019/20 registration. Notes -; Use bigger screen than phone if possible. When paying for Family, you must enter each members details. This year again membership fees are a vital lifeline for the running of our Club, with Lotto still suspended & little prospect of fundraisers etc... Please ensure all players are registered quickly in anticipation of returning to train/play soon.

KILMANAGH

PATRICK DALTON Sympathy is expressed to the Dalton family, Goldenfield, Ballycallan on death of Patrick Dalton, Killaree, Threecastles. His requiem mass was celebrated in Tulla Church and burial took place in the adjoining cemetery.

MARGARET (PEGGY) DISNEY Sympathy is expressed to Ray Disney, Ballykeeffe on the death of his mother, Margaret, Malahide, Dublin. Her requiem mass was celebrated in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yellow Walls, Malahide and interment was in Dardistown cemetery. She is survived by her husband Jimmy, daughters Noeleen, Pauline and Hillary, sons Ray and Jimmy, grandchildren and relatives.

KIERAN PURCELL The death has occurred of Kieran Purcell, Jenkinstown and formerly of Ballyfrunk, Ballycallan. Sympathy is expressed to his wife Essie, his children Jimmy, Mary, April and Ciara, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.

MASS ON THE INTERNET Some parishioners found it helpful to watch the Easter ceremonies from the parish via the internet. This took a lot of planning and movement of equipment and people, but the effort was worth it. However, due to the time involved, and the lack of internet connection in our churches, it’s not practical or possible to continue this service. We have recently installed broadband (via the parish house) in Kilmanagh church, and we hope to have a live stream from there soon, but until that happens, we won’t be broadcasting the Mass on our webpage. Apologies in advance for the inconvenience.

EASTER WATER Blessed Easter water has been left in the church if you wish to avail of some. Please use the hand sanitiser provided and bring your own bottle if possible. Some sealed bottles of water are available in the church.

COMING OUT OF LOCKDOWN With infection numbers so high, it’s hard to see any wisdom in easing restrictions at the moment. It’s great that the schools will soon be fully back, but there is no mention of Masses returning, at least not until May. Until that happens, we continue to offer Mass privately. Numbers at funerals (max 10 mourners) remains the same and baptisms are suspended until we are back to public worship. WEDDINGS Currently weddings are permitted but with only 6 people allowed attend. This will increase once we begin re-opening, but don’t expect numbers to rise very far beyond the 50 per church once we do re-open. Realistically, unless the vaccine rollout increases dramatically, numbers will be limited at any event until at least the Autumn.

PLANNING A WEDDING Please check the availability of both the church and priest on the date you desire before you make plans. At least 3 months’ notice is required to church and state, and paperwork needs to be filled out.

CEMETERY MASS This would normally take place in May but will again be cancelled for this year on account of the virus.

VACANCIES – C.E. SCHEME Below is a list of current C.E. Scheme vacancies. The criteria to apply for these vacancies is that you need to be in receipt of a qualifying payment for 52 weeks like Job Seekers, Illness Benefit etc. It’s a one year placement but if someone is in the process of gaining a major QQI award they can get up to three years on the scheme. The community groups really need the support of C.E. participants to operate their day to day services and the person is supported while on the scheme to train and develop to learn new skills and break the cycle of long term unemployment. L’Arche Callan – 1 Kitchen Assistant, 1 Care Assistant/Gardener and 1 Care Assistant/Craft. Mount Carmel Support Home - 2 Care Assistants. Br Rice Estate - 2 Gardener/ Maintenance Ballycallan Community Centre - 1 Caretaker/Maintenance Meitheal CE Office – 1 Admin/Accounts Droichead FRC - 1 Caretaker Graigue Ballycallan GAA Club - 1 Groundsman To apply for any of the above vacancies please contact your local Intreo Office.

RING A LINK Ring a Link is a community not for profit company that provides rural transport. Ring a Link provides a service every Tuesday from 9.00 am covering areas such as Callan (surrounding area), Ballingarry, Kilmanagh, Ballycallan, Tullaroan with the last stop in Dunnes Stores Kilkenny and return approximately at 1pm. All free travel passes are welcome, and, for non-free travel pass holders, fares are €6 return for adults, €4 return for under 16s and under 5’s travel free. For many of our services, pre-registering & pre-booking is required and if the customer is not already registered, they can log on to our website to register: https://www. ringalink.ie/register/. If you need more information on the service, you can log on to https://www.ringalink.ie/busservices/bus-timetable/470/.

CHURCHES OPEN Our churches are open for private prayer. Do drop in from time to time and spend a few quiet minutes with the Lord. The door handles and candelabras are sanitised each day.

PARISH NEWS Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail. com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

JOIN O’LOUGHLIN GAELS ... We are looking for new players. ..starting at u6, boys from all around St. John’s Parish will be welcomed to O’Loughlin Gaels GAA. Fulfill that dream of running on to Nowlan Park with your club, wear the white and green colours and play for your family, neighbours and friends as an O’Loughlin Gaels player. Develop your skill to be the best and maybe represent the club at county level. Make great friends along the way and enjoy the journey. Develop life skills ..you win some, you lose some. You build bonds for life. You overcome the disappointments and relish the successes even more, together as friends, as a club. Learn to be disciplined, respectful and resilient. Be a hurler. Love our Gaelic games. Be O’Loughlin Gaels for life.

Join now... Full details and where to join at link below. Log on now and Join/ renew without delay. Our u6s, u7s, ..all the way up to adult are looking forward to getting back to St. John’s Park, and St. John’s Park is looking forward to welcoming you. Join here: http://www.oloughlingaels.com/ membership.html Membership Rates Non – Player- Adult & Family membership • €40 single • €50 couple • €80 family (2 adults + Juvenile hurler(s) in the Club) Adult Player membership • €30 student • €60 player • €70 player + partner Juvenile membership • €30 ( u6’s -18’sw

COMPETITION TIME With government allowing juveniles return to play in small pods from April 26th we need to get our ducks in a row for a safe return. This includes player registration. This must be completed by all players before being allowed back to train. Please register without delay at the link www.oloughlingaels.com/ membership. Players who register before April 12th and email a screenshot of their registration along with their name and the 12answers from the picture quiz (GAA terms) on our social media will be in with a chance to win one of three prizes of a hurl and ball. ..email answers to oloughlingaelsgaa@gmail.com

CAMOGIE CLUB REGISTRATION REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN: Calling all camogie members new and old!! Please see the information below showing the registration process for 2021: Do not register with Clubforce which is for GAA only. The Camogie Association have selected Foireann as the database for all camogie registration. Those who register with Clubforce cannot be refunded as this is for boys GAA only. Ensure you select O’ Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club within the Foireann database, as we are unable to refund mistakes on this system. If you have registered to play camogie last year, you will already have registered and logged into Foireann when you completed your returntoplay form. Login in the same way to register this year. https://returntoplay.gaa.ie/ Log in and select O’ Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club Click on family. Add family members if more than one person in your family is going to register. Click on membership Register each girl and adult individually, choosing appropriate membership category for each member.

Registration rates: U6 to U18: €40 Family: €100 Adult student player : €50 Adult player: €60 Adult coach, mentor, committee: €25

FRESHFORD

. DEATH The death took place recently of Mrs. Mary O Neill late of Barna Freshford. The deceased who was in her early 90s was predeceased by her husband Mick. Funeral mass took place in St.Lachtains Church Freshford followed by burial in St.Lachtains Cemetery. She is mourned by her sons Donal and Tom, Daughter Brid, son in law, grandchildren great grandchildren and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

FUNDS CLLR Michael McCarthy was delighted recently to welcome the awarding of €100,000 for Freshford under the Active Travel 2021 scheme.. This allocation will provide for pedestrian improvements and bus access and Clllr McCarthy thanked the Area Engineer and Kilkenny County Council for their assistance.

BABY BOY Congratulations to Mark Kavanagh of Barna Freshford and his partner Elaine on the birth recently of their baby son Tommie.

NO EASTER CERMONY Freshford Fianna Fail group have not held their annual Easter commemoration for the second year in a row due to the current pandemic. The flag flew at half mast on the Green in honour of those who lost their lives in the 1916 and also in remembrance of all who died during the pandemic.

SQUASH CHAMPS Congratulations and well done to local squash star Pat Morrissey of Ard Lachtain Freshford. Pat was part of the Irish team who took part in the very first Online Squash nationals. Teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England took part with Ireland coming out winners. They did exercises with Derek Ryan on Zoom weights and ghosting with Squash rackets. 61 Men and women in total from the nations took part in total. It was neck and neck going into the final stages but the last bonus point opportunity pushed Ireland over the finish line first. Congratulations to all involved on a fantastic win. A huge thanks to all Masters Players from Scottish squash Squash Wales, Shoncen Cyymry Irish squash who took part. It was a tough weekend but their stamina and dedication made for a fantastic event.

ONLINE BINGO St.Lachtains GAA club have teamed up with Kilkenny Bingo to bring you Sunday Bingo each Sunday evenings at 8pm. You can buy you book and sheets from Clubforce app. Games can be played through Zoom. Zoom starts at 7.30pm with games starting at 8pm sharp and they hope to see you all there. Both Clubforce and Zoom apps will be needed in order to play. Fantastic prizes and great fun guaranteed. All details will be available on the St.Lachtains GAA page and Kilkenny Bingo page on Facebook. Online Sunday games between now and then will not be in direct link with St. Lachtains GAA Club. For more info please contact Club Secretary Sheila Killeen or Brian Kavanagh.

FITNESS CLASSES Looking for a fitness session “as Gaeilge. Fantastic new online fitness class this coming Wednesday & Thursday via zoom. The Wednesday classes will be held for children while Thursday classes will be focusing on adults. Class will be given as Gaeilge via zoom with link available in St Lachtains Gaa Facebook page . Why not join in & ask a friend to join in. Great way to keep active from the comfort of your own home while also brushing up on your Irish. Suitable for all levels of fitness.

GRANT FOR FRESHFORD DIGITAL HUB Freshford.ie is delighted to announce the success that the Kilkenny Leader Partnership has approved a grant of €25,000 to the organisation to carry out an A & D Study for the provision of a rural digital hub in Freshford. On top of Freshford.ie’s recent acquisition of the €175,500 Town & Village Renewal Grant and another €20,000 Grant secured by the Loop Walk Team, this grant is another major boost in securing Freshford’s long term future. It is envisioned that the new digital hub will provide a range of business and community support services, offering physical spaces with fast, reliable internet access, teleconferencing, virtual business addresses, “hot desks”, serviced office and a range of other services relevant to businesses, community and schools in Freshford and the wider rural area. The precise level of services available will be determined by the study. This project will also fulfil the aims and objectives for broadband and digitisation outlined in the Freshford Action Plan that freshford.ie published in 2019. We are also very pleased with the level of positive cross-community support we have received for this project. Following some basic research carried out during the application phase on other hubs, we have concluded that a hub model similar to Bloom HQ in Mountrath may best suit Freshford. This of course will be developed fully in the course of the study. Location..Location..Location Any Digital Hub would need to be centrally located and the Freshford hub would be no exception. A former fast food outlet at Buncrussia Street - once owned by the late Gerry O’Reilly and now owned by Tom and Kathleen McGrath- has become the venue of choice for the development. Centrally located in the heart of the village, it is a fine spacious building that meets all fire and Health & safety regulations. Tom and Kathleen McGrath will play an active role with the Freshford.ie team on the project. They are also delighted that the building would be used for the betterment of the community of Freshford, a community that Gerry O Reilly was dedicated to throughout all his life. The Benefits: Based on research we carried out on similar hubs in rural communities , a hub plays a key role in the viability and sustainability of the rural economy and can vastly improve the commercial, cultural and community life of the area 1. Broadband connectivity Infrastructure: The improvement in the broadband connectivity infrastructure is an inevitable result of the provision of the hub as it provides a sound commercial basis for the provision of such services in Freshford thus enabling Freshford to rebrand itself (see below). 2. Rebranding: This development will enable Freshford to rebrand itself enabling decision makers to recognise that rural areas and not just urban ones, can also be the centre of entrepreneurship, economic and digital activity. This is a very important factor in the growth and development of Freshford going forward. 3. Business development: The hub offers real potential to attract new businesses to the area, develop and grow existing ones and create new employment opportunities. 4. Village Identity: Improving the image and identity of Freshford will make Freshford an attractive option for families to live and work here. Freshford is already a very attractive village and this project would be the ideal stimulus it needs for future growth and prosperity. 5. Digital Literacy: The project will contribute significantly towards improvements in the digital skills and the capacity of existing local Businesses. It will strengthen the community, encourage partnerships and improve the digital literacy of children locally.

JOBS The hub would create a number of full-time, part-time and ancillary services including a Centre Manager, Secretarial and Sales & Marketing posts with Technical Maintenance and Cleaning posts for the effective and efficient running of the facility. New Opportunities: The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a shift in work practices worldwide. In May 2020, a survey the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway in cooperation with the Western Development commission has shown that 83% of workers want to continue to work remotely after Covid-19 has passed. With many businesses sharing similar views and benefitting from cost savings (i.e. rents, travel etc), the growth in teleworking may be set to expand. Many people living in our community commute to work. With the growth in teleworking this may not be necessary in all cases and can only help to improve our environment and the impact that travel has on Climate Change in some small way. We believe that the project would contribute to a better quality of life for businesses and for the community as a whole. Meet the New Digital Hub A & D Teams Work has already started on the study with the formation of a number of teams to address key aspects of the plan: 1. Business Planning & Development Team: This team, led by Nicola (Nicki) Scott (Clontubrid), will deal with the preparation of the 5 year Business and Marketing Plans and other essential aspects of the project. Nicki is a member of the Acorn Club Committee and both she and her team have a strong background in business. 2. Design & Technical Team: This team headed by Barry Lynch (EDPM Ltd) is responsible for the design of the new hub and all areas related to it. Barry’s team will also focus specifically on addressing environmental factors from within the physical building itself and in its day-to-day operations.

NEW ERA Freshford is entering a new and exciting era in its history. Freshford. ie is not standing still! The famous Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall once said: “Standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards in a rapidly changing world”. We can never be accused of that! Mega thanks to all the hardworking volunteers who are driving these initiative