Violet Magan (aged 48), a sister of Shaen Magan, was acting as land agent to Colonel Biddulph of Rathrobin, Mountbolus, Tullamore and had continued to run the estate business of after the burning of Rathrobin House in April 1923. She was born in 1876 and was well known in the midlands as a volunteer worker with the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society ((I.A.O.S.) and went everywhere on her bicycle. Colonel Biddulph departed Ireland in a hurry in June 1921. It was soon after the killing of two RIC men in an ambush at Kinnitty. At the end of June there took place the killing of two brothers at Coolacrease near Cadamstown over land or over obstruction of the IRA or being alleged informers. The jury is out on this, but it can be said that many of the big house burnings were in the interest of securing for distribution the remaining demesne and home farmlands of the once big landlords. The Biddulph brothers of Kinnitty and Mountbolus had up to 2000 acres most of which they farmed themselves. Colonel Biddulph had about 700 acres and gave good employment in the area and was popular with his workers and tenants. His brother Assheton of Kinnitty had died in 1916 and the lands were in course of being sold in 1921-22. Shaen Magan was the husband of Kathleen Biddulph, the favourite niece of Col. Biddulph was was childless.
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16 Tullamore Irish National Foresters: One of the oldest organisations in Tullamore. A photo-essay to mark the 125th anniversary, looking at the first 25 years from 1899 to 1924. No. 16 in the Anniversaries Series by Michael Byrne and Offaly History. Part Two. Blog No 658, 5th October 2024
The new Foresters’ building, erected in 1902–3, worked well for four years but things went badly against the Forsters with a fire in the clubhouse in Harbour Street in July 1907. The Tullamore blaze which was detailed in the last blog article ‘has destroyed what was probably one of the finest Forester Halls in the provinces. And what makes the occurrence all the more lamentable is the fact that it had been built only four years. The only consoling circumstance connected with the affair is that the premises were fully insured. Portion of Mr James O’Brien scenery and a hamper containing (it is said) £20 worth of effects, were converted into ashes; and the dramatic company were unable to continue their week’s engagement. But on Friday night an entertainment was given in the Courthouse, by kind permission of the sub-sheriff, and proved an immense financial success. Mr O’Brien is one of the most famous comedians in Ireland, and it was very regrettable that, considering this was the first town he visited on his enterprising tour he should have been so badly handicapped. There is no other hall in Town where a play, or even a concert could be conveniently held, so that the towns people will be deprived of such amusement for some time.’[1]
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15 Tullamore and Geashill railway stations, 170 years of the Portarlington to Tullamore line, marked this 2 October 2024. By Peter Burke. No 15 in the Anniversaries Series by Offaly History. Blog No 657, 2nd October 2024
The railway line from Portarlington to Tullamore was opened on 2 October 1854. It was a quiet affair, but the commencement of the line was to mean significant growth in the years that followed. This was particularly so from 1857 when the extension to Athlone and Galway was completed.
The act to enable the line to be commenced was passed in 1847, but no action was taken until 1851. The connection to Tullamore was part of the line of the Great Southern and Western Railway (GSWR) while that to the west via Mullingar was backed by the Midland and Great Western Railway (MGWR).
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14 Registration of motor vehicles in Offaly commenced in 1904, or 120 years ago. No. 14 in the Anniversaries Series. By Michael Byrne and Offaly History. Blog No 656, 28th Sept 2024
The registration of motor vehicles began in 1904 and the early registers are now in Offaly Archives. In the period from 1904 to 1923 about 820 motorised vehicles were registered in Offaly. This would include motorised bicycles and some registrations from other counties. In the first year 14 motor cars and 20 motor cycles were registered in Offaly.[1] The Birr-based King’s County Chronicle published the first list in 1909 of 68 registered motor vehicles and commented:
In view of the fact that motoring has come to stay it will be of interest to publish a list of gentry in the King’s County, whose means have enabled them to add this new form of locomotion to their personal luxuries. Through the courtesy of Mr. C.P. Kingston, Secretary of the King’s County Council, we are enabled to place the full list before the readers. C indicates the four-wheel coach, and B the bike petrol machine. The code letters for this County are I.R. …. It should be added that there are several local owners in Birr not in this return whose registration is entered in other counties, for example:- Mr. Dunn-Pattison, I.K. 113; Dr. W.A. Morton, I.K., 357; J.W. Nolans, V.S. 8243; Captain Dalrymple, 10, 187; H. Gairdner, R.I. 853; Dr. D’Alton, R.I. 846; G.A. Lee, I.K. 236; J. Green, I.K. 237; C. Ludgate, R.I., 488; Captain Cowan, R.I., 542.[2]
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13 Tullamore Irish National Foresters: One of the oldest organisations in Tullamore. A photo-essay to mark the 125th anniversary, looking at the first 25 years from 1899 to 1924. No. 13 in the Anniversaries Series by Michael Byrne and Offaly History. Part One. Blog No 655, 25th Sept 2024
In March 2024 we published two articles in this series by Aidan Doyle marking the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Tullamore branch of the Irish National Foresters (I.N.F) and the 100th anniversary of the opening of its new cinema in Market Square. As was noted in a Midland Tribune article forty years ago[1] the Irish National Foresters Benefit Society is an organisation about which most people know very little about although the Tullamore (Conn of the Hundred Battles) branch has been part and parcel of the town since 1899. Even less would know of it now save that some its members appear in the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade. In August 1984 the Tullamore branch received a special award at the I.N.F. National Convention to mark its development since it was founded in Tullamore in 1899. The I.N.F. may be the fourth oldest organisation in Tullamore after the Freemasons (1759), GAA Tullamore (1888) and the Tullamore Golf Club of 1895-6.
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The closure of Tullamore Jail in 1924. No. 12 in the Anniversaries Series. By Michael Byrne and Offaly History. Blog 653, 18th Sept 2024
Just 100 years ago the closure of Tullamore prison was announced effective twelve months later. That was a legal formality as the prison had been severely damaged in the burning of July 1922 and by the extensive looting that followed. The town was without an effective police force since December 1921 and the new Civic Guard was not fully established in the town until May 1923. There had been sightings of them from September 1922 but the proposed new police barracks in the former county infirmary in Church Street was not ready due it being occupied by TB patients who were to be moved to Birr.
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First motor vehicles on the streets of Tullamore and County Offaly, 1904–1923 by Tomás Ó Helion. No. 9 in our 2024 Anniversaries Series. Blog No 649, 4th Sept 2024
120 years has passed since the motor vehicle and driver licences registrations had been introduced in the UK and Ireland. The King’s Co (Offaly) county council was responsible in the collecting and registering drivers’ details and collecting fees. There were motor vehicles on the county roads from the late 1890’s, although there was no administration register for them. With the increase in motor transport on the roads by 1900 the council adopted rules of the roads act.[1] This included a twelve mile per hour speed limit in the country and eight mile per hour in the towns and villages. Bicycle and motor car owners must carry lights between sunset and sunrise, and a driver of a bicycle or motor vehicle dismount if they encounter a horse driven carriage, wagon or any other beast of burden until they were clear of the area to continue driving their motor vehicle. This law was updated 25th May 1901.[2]
The inside cover label of the 1904-23 King’s County vehicle registration ledger. Athlone Printing Works was owned by Thomas Chapman and was a subsidiary of the Westmeath Independent Newspaper (1883-1920). Courtesy Offaly Archives
In November 1903 at a meeting of the county council in Tullamore courthouse the council adopted regulations under the 6th section of the new Motor Car Act, which would come into force on the 1st January 1904.The principal rules were that “The county shall keep a numbered register of cars and motor bicycles; owners of motor register, and pay a fee of 20s, and in the case of motor cycles 5s. On the change of ownership, a re-registration fee of 10s for a car and 2s:6d for motor cycles. Persons driving any motor vehicle must be licenced and pay a fee of 5s per year. The legal age to obtain a licence was seventeen”.
The task of motor vehicle/licence administration was carried out by the council secretary’s office headed by Charles P. Kingston a local Birr native.
In the summer of 1903 Ireland received the letter (I) for its first licence plate letter and each county received a second letter in alphabetical order of counties. Offaly then (King’s Co) receiving the letter (R). Each vehicle was issued with its own alphanumeric number starting with IR.1 as the first vehicle registration. There were two categories for vehicles, private and public convenience, the latter being hired out by its owner to anyone who possessed a driving licence. Registration numbers could be transferred from one type of vehicle to another type and be registered in another county where the owner may have resided. This continued in many counties up to the early 1970’s.
The first people to embrace this new technology were affluent industrial families and large landowners were among the first motor vehicle owners in the county. Clergy and police were also encouraged to use motor transport for their day-to-day activities. The increase in vehicle registrations in the county from 1904 can be describe as slow and steady. From 1st of January 1904 to 23 February 1911, one hundred vehicles were recorded, and from 2nd November 1912 showed 150 vehicles registered. However, the beginning of the first world war, saw a large increase in registrations that included commercial vehicles. From the beginning of the 20th Century to the late 1920’s saw an increase in commercial businesses activity in the county. Road transport became more important for the supply of goods to branch houses throughout the midlands and beyond. Buildings in the county towns were re-developed and enlarged with new facade advertising a wider choice of imported goods. This can be seen more evident in the textile merchant businesses such as the many drapery buildings of the larger towns.
Motor Tour of the west of Ireland in 1906 , James Perry and party aboard IR 1 Wolseley[3]
The first vehicle registered in King’s Co (Offaly) IR.1 was a Wolseley 10 hp black car lined red for private use, James Perry Goodbody, Inchmore Clara.[4] The Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Co, Ltd Adderley Park, Birmingham. This company was acquired in 1901 by Vickers, Sons & Maxim engineering empire with Senior engineer Herbert Austin taking over the design of the car and motor.
This Wolseley power plant was a horizontal flat twin cylinder motor, chain drive to the back wheel, top speed 20 mph designed by Austin, and the first wholly British car to be mass produced from their Birmingham factory in 1902.The price with 36-inch tyres was £380.00. This registration number would stay in use on different vehicles in the Goodbody family well into the mid 1920’s.
D. E. Williams Ltd with their first registered motor lorry IR 164 registered 25th March 1913.Commer lorry 25hp painted red 2 1/2 tons trade[5]. D. E. Williams also registered IR 165. A four-seater Ford model T Car on the same date for trade. These new Ford cars were aimed at the commercial traveller and services that could now attend multiple destinations in one day’s drive and return. They came equipped with electric lights and window wiper, a hod and inflatable tyres that could the repaired quickly. Ford dealerships springing up all over the country in this period.
This new mode of transport had an impact on other professions such as: Agricultural consultants, Bank Managers, Doctors, legal administration and policing, Political, Religious and Sporting assembly’s and events etc.
Another large merchant business in the town with sixteen shops and licenced premises, across the midlands with their main office on Bridge St. was P & H Egan Ltd. Over the years this company built up a transport department and on 16th July 1915 they registered their first motor lorry, a Commer 2 ton for trade registered IR 236.
From 1912 local garages started to appear in the town. Robert H. Poole in Bridge St. was a motor and cycle agent with a large garage, service department and car hire. He was an accomplished competition cyclist and started selling Triumph motorcycles from 1904, also sales of used motor vehicles and in 1915 Ford and Overland cars.
James Arthur Kilroy, started his hardware, Ironmonger and garage supplying Ford model T cars from 1914 and later Maxwell five seat touring cars. James registered IR 162, a 3 HP Premier Motorcycle, 23 February 1913.
The first resident of Tullamore to register a motor vehicle was James Hayes b.1863 lived in Charleville street with his family. He was manager of the Charleville Arms Hotel and was a justice of the peace for many years at local petty sessions. He registered a Ford (Model T) car IR.11 in 1913 for commercial use, transporting guest around the area with a morning run to the town’s railway station. This car was assembled at the Henry Ford & Sons ltd factory Trafford Park, Manchester.
In 1914 Charles Kingston applied to the county accountant John Mahon for an increase in salary for himself and the county surveyor as well as additional staff to cope with the increase in road works across the county.[6]
As other smaller businesses were expanding around the town, Thomas English baker and general merchant William St. Registered a 20hp motor van IR 205, on 23ed April 1915 and held this number until 1923.This was a re-released Ford Model T, new to the market in late 1914 and was targeted at smaller local delivery business. This was a turning point for commercial transport as no longer did business owners need to burden the cost of horse drawn delivery carts and a man to look after them.
John H. Wakefield with his 1926 Ford Model TT delivery van[7] There is also a separate short index for Vehicles with registrations from outside of the county.
For example, John Henry Wakefield was a store assistant and driver for Joseph A. Lumley grocer, William St. On the 6th May 1916 John registered a Ford model T four-seater car RI 2971 (Dublin). In July 1917 he set up his own grocery business (Central Stores) on the corner of Bridge Lane and Bridge Street, now part of the Bank of Ireland building. He then transferred this number to his new Ford delivery van. These new ford vans were capable of carrying up to one ton with its long wheel base and factory-made body. This limited the speed between 15-20 mph.
Registration of motor vehicles during the war period was slow as most of the motor manufactures changed production to supply the WD (War Department) with transport of all types of machines, equipment as well as munitions. By 1919 the motor market became saturated with repurposed military machines, that drove down prices. As well as returning soldiers and mechanics struggled to find employment in garages, this led to low wages and high unemployment in the country.
From January 1920 the first signs of change hung over the country with outbreaks of hostility against the Crown Forces from the Republican Army, and the pursuing War of Independence continued until December 1921, and was followed from June 1922 when the Civil war began.
During these years registration of motor vehicles was slow. From 1922 most vehicles were taken off the roads by their owners, as they were being targeted and used for transporting armouries and republican volunteers to and from ambushes around the county. Other cars were adopted with armoured plate on the sides to protect the drivers and passengers as the country fell into lawlessness. Garages, general merchets were targeted constantly with fuel stores raided along with anything of value, the owners threatened and intimated into selling up or in some cases burning of premises and homes. This was the case with Robert Poole Tullamore and George Lee Castle St Birr, both men and families had sold out and eventually emigrated.
By 1924 motor registrations had bounced back with most large industries purchasing goods vehicles. (3) D. E. Williams Barrick St. (2) P&H Egan, Ltd Bridge St. (1) M.J. & L. Goodbody Clara. James Kilroy High St (Hackney). (1) Joseph A. Lumley William St.
By the mid 1920’s car sales started to increase, this led to another new garage in Tullamore.
O’Conner Square mid 1920’s[8] L-R: Rafters Drapery Store with facade of advertising. George N. Walshe premises, fire engine parked outside his shop. Access to his garage was through the gate to the left of this building. This was an old coach yard and stable building. Building to the right of Walshe was Egan’s brewery house, Daly’s shop and arch entrance to Egan’s brewery and stores houses. The town switched to electric lighting in 1921.
Other families in the area that would go on to set up their own garage and motor works shortly after the first Motor Registration ends. Frank Hurst, O’ Moore St. started his Motor works in 1926, repairing agriculture machinery (Irish made Fordson tractors and small stationery engines) that was now replacing the work horse. Among his many staff was a young George Colton (1899-1931) Gorteen, Killeigh, motor mechanic who worked for G. N. Walshe before joining F Hurst Motor Works.
Unfortunately, the vehicle registration ledger is incomplete and ends in June 1923. There are no motor vehicle registration legers known to exist between 1923 and 1945.
Offaly Archives is the depository for all motor licences ledgers from 1904-1928 however there is also a gap from 1928-45 for licence registration’s (OFCC 10/5/1). The surviving ledgers are a wonderful source of information to anyone with an interest in early motor transport in the county and the early pioneers who embraced this technology.[9]
[1] K.C.C. 12 November 1903 p.1
[2] This was the (Locomotives on Highways Act) that was amended in 1896.
[3] Image Courtesy of Michael Goodbody
[4] Offaly Archives (OFCC10/5/1)
See also: James Perry Goodbody, Offaly’s leading industrialist and county council member for 21 years (1853-1923) By Michael Byrne April 19, 2023 Offaly History Blog.
[5] Image Courtesy of Offaly History
[6] K.C.C. August 1914 p.3
[7] Image Courtesy Offaly History
[8] Image Courtesy of Offaly History
[9] Supplementary index 1924/25 OA
Our thanks to Tomas Ó Helion for all his research for this blog article on a subject that touches most of us. A second article on this subject will be published in the Anniversaries Series in October 2024.
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7 Cormac Street east, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, from 1795. By Michael Byrne and Offaly History. A contribution to the Living in Towns series supported by the Heritage Council. Blog No 647, 28th August 2024
In this article we are looking at the houses from the courthouse to the junction with O’Moore Street. The area was residential but with the two big public buildings – the jail and the courthouse, and across from the courthouse was low-lying land used for farming purposes and in the corner the old town graveyard. For a decade or so from the mid-1830s two of the houses were transformed into a hotel to serve the courthouse and assizes among others. It was in house GV 13 that Benajamin Woodward was born in 1816 and described as ‘the most celebrated and original architect of nineteenth-century Ireland, designing over sixty buildings in the last twelve years of his life.’ We start with no. 14, the three-storey over basement house on the corner with the two faces – one to O’Moore Street and one to Cormac Street. The houses are numbered in Griffith’s printed valuation of 1854 (see image) as being numbers 3 to 14 and were built on the Windmill Hill site that Thomas Acres obtained from Charles William Bury, the town’s landlord, in 1795, supplemented in the late 1830s with land for the two big houses beside the courthouse.
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Shannon Harbour, completed in 1804, and described by Sean Olson in 1979, 45 years ago. Canal events this August weekend, 45 years on, in Pollagh and Tullamore. Article no. 7 in the Offaly History Anniversaries Series. Blog No 645, 23rd August 2024
The Grand Canal was completed to the River Shannon in 1804, 220 years ago. By 1864 passenger traffic was finished and commercial by 1960. Cruise traffic was only in its infancy and when this article was written 45 years ago things were bleak. In looking at the building of the Grand Canal from Tullamore to Shannon Harbour, we need to look at a piece written in the Irish Times by Sean Olson with photographs by Pat Langan, which was published on Thursday, 7 June 1979 in the Irish Times. The newspaper had been a good supporter of keeping the canal open in the 1960s when it was under threat from Dublin Corporation.
Things have improved so much in recent years with the towpaths now the focus of attention to promote walking and cycling. Today 23 August see the launch of an excellent study of the canal system as illustrated. Then on Saturday evening and Sunday there are two events from Waterways Ireland to be held in the Offaly History Centre Exhibition Hall beside the canal at Bury Quay (neighbour to Old Warehouse Bar and Restaurant), as illustrated.
Olson is worth reproducing to remind us that we do not want to go back there and was an excellent record of its time. Also worth mentioning is our over 60 blog articles on the Grand Canal available as blogs at http://www.offalyhistory.com. All free to read and download.
‘If the steps of the ruined canalside hotel at Shannon Harbour, Co. Offaly could talk they would have a tale to tell. It would be a story of bustled Victorian ladies and their potb-bellied merchant husbands, of trade, of business deals finalised in airy rooms overlooking the still waters of the canal.
For once the pulse of commerce beat hard at Shannon Harbour. It was an inland port – a staging post leading to the mighty Shannon river. It was built by the commerce of a different age, a monument to an era when the first hesitant puff of the steam engine sounded the death knell for trade on inland waterways. It was a slow lingering death. When it finally came in 1960, there were few obsequies for Shannon Harbour. Those there were hardly took the place into account at all. It all but died with the departure of the last barge.
Now the once fine hotel, later home of several families who made their living from the barges, stands staring roofed, inside gutted, steps broken and lifted. The warehouses once full of goods and porter, are roofless sentries before the lock gates that lead down to the Shannon.
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