Milford Historical Society Vol. 1 Issue 1

Welcome to the first Historical Bulletin about Milford in times past.
We hope you enjoy the articles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MILFORD IN 1837

1. In Lewis' Topography of Ireland 1837 the village of Milford and surrounding area was referred to as the parish of Kilbolane in the barony of Orrery and Kilmore 6.5 miles from Charleville on the road to Rathkeale containing 4,014 inhabitants. The parish contained 10,207 & 1/2 acres valued at 7,505 pounds per annum. According to the report "The land is good quality and is mostly in pasture, the portion in tillage yields excellent crops of grain and potatoes." The village of Milford contained 25 houses and 181 inhabitants. There was a patent for four fairs. Two schools operated in the parish, one public school had been established at Milford village circa 1830 and another at Prohurst, partly supported by an allowance of 7 pounds from R. Gibbings of Gibbinsgrove. The parish contained a Roman Catholic and a Church of Ireland community. The Roman Catholic chapel at Milford was described as 'a commodious modern building.' The Church of Ireland was built in 1832. It had a square tower and was built at the expense of Reverend J. Bruce. Another chapel was also in use in Kilbolane. The main seats of the parish were Gibbingsgrove, the residence of R. Gibbings, Esq, Kilbolane House of the Barry family, Curryglass house of P. Gould, Esq., Prohurst house of J. Bruce, Esq and Hardingville of C. Harding, Esq.

2. The Historical Committee of Milford Community Council are gathering information regarding life in Milford exactly one hundred years ago 1905. In our modern society today, it is good to take time to look back and reflect on the life of our ancestors and their contribution to life in Milford. We will look at the following list of shopkeepers and trades in Milford one hundred years ago. Philip Browne, grocer and vintner; John Bruce, watchmaker; Michael Connell, vintner and grocer; William Coughlan, carpenter; Andrew Creagh, vintner; James Dillon, carpenter; John Dillon, Carpenter John Fitzgerald, shoemaker; William Fitzmaurice, vintner; P. Fox, blacksmith; J. Kelly, blacksmith; Eugene Lynch, shopkeeper; Michael Lynch, James McCarthy cooper; M.J. Murphy, grocer and general merchant; Patrick Nunan, Carpenter: Michael O' Connell, vintner and grocer; Daniel Reidy, shopkeeper; Patrick Walsh, Shoemaker: John Watson, grocer and vintner; Mrs. Julia Watson, grocer and vintner. All the above clearly illustrate the dynamic range of trades, professions and activity in Milford in 1905. It certainly must have been a very busy progressive village at this time. The medical officer at the time was Dr. J. Mc Carthy. The RIC constabulary had a station in Milford under the care of Sergeant John Power and the teachers in Kilbolane National School were Thomas Buckley and Nora Stokes.
Milford was a busy village in 1905. It was a very progressive village with an amazing variety of trades. The Post, Money Order and Telegraph Office at the time was in charge of Mr. Matthew J. Murphy. The Diary Factory Co. Ltd. was a busy co-op under Chairman Charles O' Flynn and Secretary and Manager M.J. Murphy. The assistant Land Commissioner for the area was John Rice of Prohurst House. The Parish Priest in 1905 was Rev. William Coghlan. The Church of the Assumption dates from 1903.

 

 

 

 

 

A Famous Scribe in Milford

3. Every generation likes to lay claim to a famous scribe and Milford is no exception to this rule. William Hayes, who died in 1836 is probably buried in Deliga Old Graveyard. It is said that William had a hedge school at Seeds Cross. The area around the Cross is fascinating historically as it was the site of the village of Cooticormack in the townlands of Trienieragh and Seeds. In the year 1852 there were 19 houses in Seeds and 57 in Trienieragh which is remarkable for us to read nowadays. The 1826 Education records relating to Kilbolane (Milford) show schools at Gibbingsgrove, Castleishon, Carraghbawn, Milford and at Cooticormak/Barrack. Local
tradition had it that the scribe William Hayes was a Muinteoir Scairte, hedge school master. Some of his manuscripts are located in the National Library, Dublin. The following is written about Hayes in a book on the scribes of Cork: 'Willy Hayes who taught a hedge-school near Deliga graveyard between Freemount and Milford, and whose remains are laid to rest in the same Church/Burial ground. A scribe of good ability.'

THE CREAMERY

 

 

 

 

 

4. Some interesting historical details about our local creamery are worth noting. Milford Co-Operative Creamery was first established in 1887 and is said to have been one of Ireland's first Co-Operative's. Dromcollogher was the first to have been founded and was officially opened by Horace Plunkett, the famous historical figure who first came up with the idea of such co-operative all over Ireland. Mr. Matt Murphy was the first manager appointed. He was assisted by a committee of local farmers under the Chairmanship of Batt Donegan of Gortnagoul, the grand father of the late Batt Donegan T.D. M.C.C. Interestingly in 1918 just after the ending of World War 1 the management installed an electric generator in the creamery and supplied electric light to any house in the village which wanted to have it. This progressive move was ten years before the Shannon Scheme and over thirty years before rural electrification in Ireland. We can safely say that the people of Milford were one of the first in Ireland to have electric light in their homes. Milford has always had people with great initiative and leadership and long may this continue among our present generation. The importance of a community working together to improve its quality of life is very important for everybody.

 

HISTORIC TIMES

5. The war of independence 1919-1921 was an interesting time in the Milford area. In 1920 the Black and Tans made two attempts to burn the Milford Creamery and Stores. The first time they arrived at about 10:30 pm, broke in through the windows and set fire to lubricating oils and a paraffin cask. On the other side of the road they set fire to the store in which was held a lot of wheat and maize. Fortunately, P. Sheehan, the engine driver at the creamery, heard the disturbance, got suspicious and hurried up to the creamery which he saw on fire. He rounded up whatever help was at hand, the chapel bell was tolled and in a short time hundreds were at the scene. With the help of River Deel, whose waters were in flood, the fires were quickly put out. The Black and Tans returned a week later, around midnight; two of the group marched to the church gate to stop any alarm being given, and while some were engaged setting the flour mill on fire others were looting though 30 boxes of butter. Flames were then bursting through the creamery roof and the slates started to crack. The creamery Co-op was awarded 10,000 in a compensation payment. Stories of the War of Independence are indeed fascinating historical pieces of interest and Milford's was no exception to this rule.

 

ATHLETICS MEETING

6. You will be interested to know that a very important Amateur Athletics Sports meeting was held in June 26th 1887. We have the programme of events of that day. The president of the association was W.P. O' Leary M.D., the vice president was R. Fitzgibbon, Honurary Treasurer Jeremiah O' Regan and Honorary Secretary E Walsh. Some important events on the programme were a 100 yards handicap, one mile handicap, high jump, hop, step and jump competition, pole jump, jennets race. Seemingly hundreds of competitors took part in the various events. Some Milford names among the prizewinners were D. O' Donnell, Pat Nash, J. Reidy , J. Fox. Competitors came from all areas in North Cork, and West Limerick. Some interesting prizes were a gong, a fruit dish, a clock and cruet, a tea pot, a flower stand, a suit of Irish tweed, a hat, a butter cooler, a writing desk, a marmalade pot, a sugar basin, one sovereign and an ink stand. Reading the programme of the day's activities is extremely interesting.

 

HISTORICAL STORIES

7. It may be of interest to people to learn that a special occasion took place in Milford on Saturday April 26th 1952 when the Government minister of Agriculture Mr. Thomas Walsh T.D. came on a special visit to Milford to open the new Creamery Premises. A large crowd attended the official opening which was followed by a luncheon in the Imperial Hotel, Charleville. The very succulent tasty meal consisted of a hors d'oeuvre, mock turtle soup, fillet of plaice or roast Turkey and Ham, a selection of deserts and burgundy or sauterne wines. Minister Walsh was the special guest at the reception. Recently the county section of the Irish Examiner visited Milford. In 1977 an American reporter Colleen Stamm wrote an article on Milford for the Freeman's journal. The article is fascinating reading and for our younger people it gives an insight into the buzz of activity in Milford almost thirty years ago. A very interesting event at the time was a two week August Festival with its election of the Earl of Kilbolane. Candidates campaigned by gathering donations for the Charleville District Mentally Handicapped Association. The Earl was awarded the title for a year, a cloak and a cash prize. During the festival the bachelor of the year was crowned, a Bonnie baby show, a Monster Fancy Dress Parade and a dog show were held. In the athletic area a beer barrel race was held and a juvenile hurling Blitz. For those interested in music there was a concert, a band and a pub singing competition. Certainly village life in rural areas has changed dramatically since that time.

 

EDUCATION

8. An important part of the history of any village is the development of the education system through the years. Schools for boys and girls were built in Milford under the Commissioners of National Education. Mr. Vere Foster a learned philanthropist from Belfast gave a portion of his wealth to the improvement of the Primary Schools in Ireland. As a result of this the mud floors of the two schools in Milford were boarded over and some furniture, maps and wall charts were put in. Canon Caughlan, with the aid of grant from the commissioners of National Education, built two classrooms for the infants enabling further improvements in the schools. Significantly, although still under British Rule, the above local involvement and developments in education clearly show a decentralised regional involvement in education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KILBOLANE CASTLE

9. Kilbolane Castle is a historical building synonymous with Milford and is still a great source of interest among historians. The Castle was built shortly after the arrival of Strongbow and the Anglo Normans. It was the stronghold of the De Cogans and later of the the Fitzgibbon branch of the Fitzgeralds. Records inform us that 1587 the castle was granted to Hugo Cuffe who was unable to exert real power in the area and in 1590 it reverted indirectly to the Fitzgibbons when it was granted to Sir William Power, husband of Helena Fitzgibbon. The Castle was destroyed by Cromwell's army in 1642 leaving only two of its towers in livable condition. Interestingly the east tower was acquired by captain John Nicholls who built a single- story house against the bawn wall and passed the property on to his eldest grandson, John Bowen. The south tower was inhabited by a family called Weekes. John Bowen began to build Kilbolane House at the end of the Castle garden shortly after 1695. The Weekes family sold their house to George Evans, M.P. for Charleville. The above details give a flavour of this fascinating historical jewel whose remains still stand at the top of Kilbolane Hill.

TRAIN SERVICE

Many people will be interested to learn that a train service linked Charleville with Newcastle West in 1907 but it ran on the road and not on railway tracks. This train was operated by the Renard Road Rail Corporation of London. The train travelled from Charleville to Newtown, Milford, Dromcollogher and Newcastle West creating in the process plenty of excitement not to mention the menace to the horse drawn traffic of the time. However breakdowns seemingly occured very often, there were occasions when the train failed to negotiate the steep incline at Kilbolane hill on the return journey to Charleville which caused a lot of inconvenience to passengers. The train was not a viable economic proposition and in 1908 the Renard Road train was withdrawn from service. An interesting observation printed at the time said 'No more did the local's, excited, curious and in speculative mood, lean over the roadside fences to observe the passengers coming and going. The countryside was peaceful once more concluded the article.

 

 

 

 

 

BALLINAKILL CEMETERY

Ballinakill Cemetery contains the ruins of a Protestant Church. This Church was built by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1829 on the site of an old Abbey. When workmen were digging for the foundations they came upon a small stone slab one side of which bore the inscription: "This is the burial place of the Synans", with the coat of arms of the family and the date 1442. The slab was inserted into the outside masonry of the western wall of the Church where it still remains. Beneath the tablet outside the footpath which runs around the churchyard is a tombstone with a dragon crest and two lions with the motto in Latin: Confido in Domino et non moriemur, (Trust in the Lord and thou shalt not die). Underneath is a list of the Synan family buried there from 1720 to 1775. The Protestant Church of 1829 held a very ornate chalice and paten, which is in the custody of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland in Dublin. This is again evidence of the rich history of the Milford area.