Liam Gaul - Famous Wexfordians

Liam Gaul

Cover illustrations: front: Sir Robert John Le Mesurier McClure & Eileen Gray in later years, back: Jem Roche, Irish Heavyweight Champion in fighting pose (Courtesy of the Roche family) & Anita Lett, founder of the ICA.

First published 2019

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

Liam Gaul, 2019

The right of Liam Gaul to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 0 7509 9163 6

Typesetting and origination by The History Press

Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd

To all Wexfordians over the centuries who brought notoriety to their native county, whether at home or abroad, in the activities that brought success and satisfaction, whether in pursuits on land, sea, sport or in entrepreneurial endeavours, in an effort to find a better and more rewarding life.

A native of Wexford town, Liam Gaul has a lifelong interest in history and is a regular contributor to various journals and newspapers. His lectures to historical societies, schools and other groups, together with his summer radio series on South East Radio, are an important part of his activities. He is currently researching a further book of historical and musical interest. Liam is president of the Wexford Historical Society, and a member of the Wexford Gramophone Society. He is a graduate of the University of Limerick, the National University of Ireland (Maynooth) and the Open University.

I wish to thank the following: Breda Banville, ICA; Gloria Hurley-Binions; Jane Cantwell; Brian Cleare; Philip Corish, Michael Dempsey and the staff at Local Studies, Wexford Library; Grinne Doran, archivist, Wexford County Archive; Marion Doyle, SIPTU; Danny Forde; James Gaul, Cobh; Jarlath Glynn; Brendan Howlin, T.D.; Ken Hemmingway; Susan Kelly, Library Headquarters; Angela Laffan, district manager, Wexford Borough District; Denise OConnor-Murphy; David McLoughlin, CEO Wexford Festival Opera; Aidan Quirke; Padge Reck; Billy Roche; Nicky Rossiter; Aidan Ryan, Brownswood, Enniscorthy; Eithne Scallan; Seamus Seery; Mary Somers, ICA; Catherine Walsh, SIPTU; David Williams; Dominic Williams; Helen Corish-Wylde, the Friday Historians. To my publisher, The History Press Ireland. Finally, my sincere thanks to my wife and family for their interest, support and patience.

Photographic credits: Denise OConnor-Murphy; Pat Sheridan; Aidan Ryan; Aidan Quirke, Helen Corish-Wylde, National Gallery of Ireland, Matt Wheeler, Irish Agricultural Museum Archive, Johnstown Castle, Paddy Berry, Tesco, Wexford, Enniscorthy Museum, Brian Cleare.

M any of County Wexfords sons and daughters have brought fame and glory on themselves and their native place over the past decades. I have included profiles of some of them in Famous Wexfordians. Three of them, although not born in the county namely our national poet Thomas Moore, through his mother; master musician, composer and organist William Henry Grattan Flood, who lived the greater part of his life in Enniscorthy; and Anita Lett, founder of a national womens organisation we claim as Wexfordians. The United States recognised Commodore John Barry as Father of the American Navy, and the man who discovered the Northwest Passage, Sir Robert McClure, was born on Wexfords Main Street. In the struggle for freedom, Wexfordians took up arms during the Insurrection of 1798, and again during the First World War in answer to John Redmonds call for Irishmen to fight in Belgium and France, all with great loss of life. Known as the Model County for its rich and productive land, a far-seeing James Pierce gained world renown for his manufacture of agricultural machinery. Remnants of an ancient language spoken in the south-east of the county were collected by Jacob Poole, and from the coastal areas Fr Joseph Ranson preserved songs in print of wreck and rescue. It was folklorist Patrick Kennedy who recounted the many legends and stories in his excellent publications. Art and music, both traditional and operatic, came to the fore with the uilleann piping of the Rowsomes, and the internationally proclaimed festival of opera founded by Dr Tom Walsh and the artistic work of the multitalented artist, designer and author, Eileen Gray from Brownswood, Enniscorthy are profiled here. County Wexford was well represented in sporting activities such as hurling and boxing, with such heroes as hurler supreme, Nickey Rackard, and blacksmith pugilist, Jem Roche. In the past, many castles and fine manor houses, occupied by the landed gentry, were dotted across the county, with only one castle occupied today and Johnstown Castle in a stage of refurbishment. Religion and politics are covered with the story of Fr James Roche, builder of the twin churches in the county town, and the Corish family who served the people in local and national politics for eighty-four years. I trust Famous Wexfordians will give an insight into the lives of some of those men and women included in my book. Enjoy.

Liam Gaul

2019

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