The BARONY OF GAULTIER HISTORICAL SOCIETY is a group of individuals based in East Waterford, Co Waterford - incorporating the coastal villages of Cheekpoint, Passage East and Dunmore East and the townlands of the barony area. Waterford is in the South East of Ireland and has a rich heritage in history, historical sites and culture. We organise a range of events and new members are always welcome.
The BGHS 2021 calendar is available now in the following outlets: Centra, Dunmore East; Harbour Stores, Dunmore East; Glanbia, Gaultier; Suir Garages, Passage Cross; Delany's Pharmacy, Johnstown; Dowling's Pharmacy, Ardkeen; Londis, Ballinakill; Ardkeen Stores, Ardkeen; Burke's, Criooke.
Michael Farrell
Back Row L-R: R. Quann, I. Power (RIP), P. Power, J. c. Flood, B. Power, P. O’Toole, D. Flynn.
Middle Row L-R: P. O’Sullivan, N. Collins, G.Flood, J. Quilty, R. Murphy, P. Power (RIP), M. Flynn.
Front Row L-R: E.Power, C. Power, P. Collins,K. Flynn.
Stephen Whittle is one of the stalwarts in the story of the RNLI service operating out of Dunmore East. Seafarers all along the south-east coast are thankful that Stephen was such a dedicated and skillful skipper of the different lifeboats based in Dunmore East. Numerous honours and awards have come his way to acknowledge the many lives saved by his seamanship and that of his crews. Some of these were presented to him personally at ceremonies in Britain.
Stephen was born in Portally near Dunmore East. After school in Killea he took to the sea and within a few years along with his brother, Mick purchased the 50’ Portavogie-built Agnes Palmer. Their success at different kinds of fishing was widely acknowledged. At the same time he began his service with the Lifeboat Service moving up through the ranks to the position of coxswain in 1966 and becoming coxswain/mechanic 9 years later, a position he held until 1984.
What stories Stephen can tell of his days and rescues with the lifeboat! One in particular came to mind when I asked him what used to be in his mind when setting out on a bad night. The rescue of the crew of the “Glenmalure” which had grounded on the treacherous ledge of rocks reaching out from Hook Head during a violent SSE gale remained vividly in his mind. Stephen recalling his feelings when setting out on a rescue mission on such nights told me that he would pray to make the right decisions to keep his crew safe and do what he could to save lives. For his courage and outstanding seamanship and that of his crew that November night in 1970 Stephen was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. His crew that night, John Power, Brendan Horgan, Sean Kearns, Joseph Murphy and John Whitty were each awarded a Medal Service Certificate.
Meanwhile in his spare time he started building model boats and ships, which I hope one day will be put on public display. Stephen also drew a map of the coastal place names between Creadan Head and Saleens, an important and valuable work to which this writer is greatly in debt. Let us celebrate a heroic life.
Photo supplied Dunmore East RNLI
Article by Ray McGrath
Book Launch of ‘Dauntless Courage’: Celebrating the History of Dunmore East RNLI
Radio presenter Damien Tiernan will lead an online panel discussion (Wednesday 25 November at 8 pm) with ‘Dauntless Courage’ author David Carroll and Dunmore East RNLI volunteer crew members.
WLR FM radio presenter, former South East correspondent for RTE and author of ‘Souls of the Sea’ Damien Tiernan will lead the panel discussion with the author of ‘Dauntless Courage’ David Carroll who will also be joined by Dunmore East RNLI volunteer crew members Brendan Dunne and Neville Murphy. The launch is coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Glenmalure Tragedy which is featured in the book.
‘Dauntless Courage’: Celebrating the History of the Dunmore East RNLI, their crews and the Maritime Heritage of the Local Community. All proceeds from the book will be going to the local Dunmore East Lifeboat Fundraising Branch to support the saving of lives on our seas.
After several years researching and writing of the book, the public unveiling will take place online with an in-depth panel discussion of the research involved in writing the book, the characters behind the lifejackets, the many acts of courage that took place far from shore, and a look at the local community that was so often the backbone of every crew that took to sea to save those whose lives were in peril.
The online event will take place on Wednesday 25 November at 8 pm for approximately forty minutes, with a live Q&A session for attendees afterwards. Registration for the event can be made here - http://www.
David Carroll, author of Dauntless Courage said: ‘What has really struck me about writing this book has been the amazing goodwill and generosity of so many people who have helped to make this book possible, especially all the interesting and historic photographs and paintings that we have been given access to for inclusion in the book’.
Damian Tiernan, WLR FM radio presenter said: ‘I am honoured and delighted to be hosting this discussion, I have a long association with members of the RNLI in Dunmore and I worked closely with them over the years. The publication is a wonderful record of all that has happened complete with superb pen portraits and descriptions of events and superbly written and produced’.
Purchase of the book can also be made at http://www.
This is the crew of the Naomi Deuglán, a forty five footer, that fished out of Dunmore East in the late 1940’s. Jack Whittle is fondly remembered for having brought me, as an insistent nine year old, on his back down the chain to the deck of this lovely little trawler which was the forerunner of the Scottish ringers that came to Dunmore in the 1950’s. John Glody who around this time became a Dunmore East pilot is a well remembered figure making his way to the Pilots’ Spy glass always available on a gate-pier on the Circular Road. Tommy McGrath, the boat owner and skipper, was a well known generous and much loved Dunmore fisherman who later would introduce the herring ringer to the Dunmore fleet. His cousin Mossie McGrath who lived in the lower village was, as I remember him a soft spoken man, hard worker and skilled Gaelic footballer-?who was on the 1929 Gaultier team that won the County Championship.
The coiled rope suggests that the Naomi Deuglán was engaged in seining at the time although she is generally associated with herring drifting.
Our Townland today is Ballytruckle
Ballytruckle has an area of:
1.1166 km²
0.43 square miles
275 acres
Borders
Ballytruckle borders the following other townlands:
Ballycourdra to the north
Grange Lower to the east
Kilbarry to the west
Kilcohan to the south
Kingsmeadow to the west
Manor to the north
Priorsknock to the north
Williamstown to the east
Ballytruckle is the 52nd largest townland in the Barony of Gaultier.
In the 1901 census there were 266 inhabitants
Anthony Foy, aged 37 was an Act Sergeant in the RIC and was a member of a household of 3 people.
Stephen Lynch, aged 40 was a general labourer. He was a member of a household of 6 people, which included 3 of his children who were born outside Ireland. One child aged 11 was born in India and also 2 children were born in America, aged 8 and 5.
Johanna Coffey, aged 59 was a dealer in milk and was a member of a household of 3 people.
In the 1911 census there were 541 inhabitants and the reason for the difference to the 1901 census is that the Ursuline Convent and School were not recorded in 1901.
William Richardson aged 38, a retired Bacon Merchant lived with his wife Laura Emily aged 33 and their son Lionel aged 10 in Prospect House. Both William and Laura Emily were born in Antrim while Lionel was born in Waterford. Cian Manning, author of the book “Waterford City - A History” tells us that Lionel was born on the 4th December, 1890 in Westcliffe, Tramore. Prospect House contrary to popular belief is not in the townland of Kilcohan but in the townland of Ballytruckle. Likewise Kilcohan Greyhound Stadium is in Ballytruckle townland and not in Kilcohan townland. The housing estate, Kilcohan is situated mainly in the townland of Ballytruckle.
Imelda Sullivan was aged 21 and was a sewing maid in the convent and she had been born in Australia.
Matthew Butler in his the “History of Gaultier” (1913) tells us that the Danish invaders of Ireland were called various different names such as – Danes, Northmen or Ostmen but none of their leaders had such a reputation for courage, ability and ferocity as Thorgil, or as he is also called Turgesius. From 830 to 845 he ravaged nearly all Ireland, but in the latter year he was defeated and put to death by Malachy, King of Meath. His name and fame were celebrated in various ways by his countrymen in Ireland, and so when the Danes were expelled from Waterford City by the Normans in 1171 they founded a village on the outskirts of the city and named it after Thorgil – Thorgil’s town. Later on these Danes became more Irish than English and adopting the Irish system of monenclature, called their village Ballythorgil, Ballythorkil. With the lapse of years the name became Ballythorkill or Ballyturkill and later on Ballytruckle as we know it today.
Michael Farrell
Ballygunner National School under 11 Hurling Team 1984
The Under 11 Schools Hurling Final 1984. Ballygunner 3-1, Mount Sion 1-5.
L-R Back row: David O’Sullivan, Paul Maddock, Gary O’Keeffe, Brendan English, Darragh O’Sullivan, Kenny Doyle, Par Haran, Declan Power, Alan O’Sullivan, Ollie Power and Jevon Alcock.
L-R Front row: Aidan Lyons, Damian Purcell , Sean Ormonde, Paul Flynn, Brian Power, Paul Forrest, Tony Carroll and Darragh Lapthorne.
Photo courtesy of The News and Star
The October photo from our 2020 Calendar.
Our 2021 Calendar will soon be in the usual outlets.
Harvesting Sugar Beet
In this photo some of the farmers are holding “Bill Hooks” and others are holding “Cleavers”. Either one of these tools were used for the “topping” of the Sugar beet as the beet was pulled from the ground.
L – R: Eddie Lynch, Knockroe; Tom Aspel, Co. Wexford; Dick Walsh, Crooke; Eddie Delahunty , Kilcullen; Wille Gough, Carricksaggart; Seamus Barry, Newtown and Crooke; Martin Kent, Kilcullen Upper; Larry Farrell, Kill St Nicholas; Willie Gough, Kilmacomb; and Tom Burke, Drumrusk; kneeling in front.
Presentation of RNLI Medal Service Badge Medals
Dr. Michael Woods, Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources in the Haven Hotel, Dunmore East for the Presentation of Medal Service Badges on Friday 4th December 1998.
Introduction
In 1997 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution decided that crew members who received a Medal Service Certificate as a result of participating in a Medal Service call should now receive a Medal Service Badge. These Certificates have been awarded since 1955.
The Director of the RNLI, Lt, Cdr Brian Miles OBE said in his letter of the 19th of September 1997: -
The Medal Service Certificate and Medal Service Badge are not awards in their own right, but are a form of recognition that a man or woman took part in a medal service which by its very nature was particularly arduous, requiring fine seamanship, teamwork and dedication. It will be worn with pride by those to whom it is given.
Back Row L-R: Joefy Murphy, Jack Colfer, Brendan Horgan, Brendan Glody, and Sean Kearns, Mrs McCabe widow of Dr. McCabe, John Whitty, Paddy Kavanagh, Minister Dr. Michael Woods, John Walsh, Liam Murphy, David Carroll, and Geoff Power.
Front Row L-R: Stan Power Jr, Stanley Power, Unknown, Ena Power, John Rocky Power, Ned Power, Kieran Dwyer and Louis Dwyer.
The following article was not in our 2020 calendar due to space constraints. We stated in the calendar that we hope to give more information on this presentation in our Facebook Page and now we are giving that information.
RNLI Badge Medals
On the 11th March 1964 a Bronze Medal fourth clasp was awarded Coxswain Patrick Power for rescuing six men from the Dutch motor vessel Jans Brons 2 in gale force winds.
Medal Service Certificates were presented to : - Mechanic Richard Murphy R.I.P.
Bowman Stanley Power
Crew member Captain C.H.Hazzell R.I.P.
Crew member William Wescott-Pitt
Crew member Sir Brian Warren
Crew member Dr. Michael McCabe R.I.P.
Crew member Arthur Westcott-Pitt R.I.P.
These 7 men are now entitled to receive a bronze MSB.
On the 4th October 1961 a Bronze medal third clasp was awarded to Coxswain Patrick Power for rescuing a man from a disabled barge and saving a second barge in a gale force wind.
Medal Service Certificates were presented to: - Acting Second Coxswain Maurice Power R.I.P.
Acting Mechanic John Power
Acting Assistant Mechanic Arthur Westcott-Pitt R.I.P.
Crew member Geoff Power
Crew member Edward Power
Crew member Captain C.H.Hazzell R.I.P.
Crew member William Westcott- Pitt
Crew member Desmond Carroll R.I.P.
These 8 men are now entitled to receive a bronze MSB
This article is transcribed directly from a brochure for the RNLI Medal Badge Presentation held on the 4th December 1998, that is featured on the August page in this our 2020 Calendar.
Our next post is also RNLI related and we would ask you to read it also. As a maritime Barony we owe a great deal of gratitude to the brave men and women of this wonderful voluntary organization.
