Great Dungarvan Characters

John Curran

Jun 1905
A MORE AUDACIOUS MOVE WAS NEVER PERPETRATED

A meeting was summoned the branch of the United Irish League in Dungarvan for the purpose of expelling the Napoleon of the branch John Curran and his aide de camp Michael J. Casey for aiding and abetting the candidature of Matty Walsh for the District Council.

The meeting was summoned for one and about that hour Messrs Curran, Casey and Matthew Scanlan might be seen winding their way with giant strides to the Town Hall. Without even allowing themselves time to recover their breathing powers Mr Scanlan proposed and Mr Casey seconded that John Curran take the chair ! It was no wonder the coolness of the proceeding flabbergasted those present, for a more audacious move was never perpetrated. Mr John Walsh, the square, moved that Michael J. Casey and John Curran be expelled from the branch. John Tobin seconded and they were cast out.

Mar 1913
THE MISSING MONEY

Meeting of the United Irish League. Curran accused of taking money from the Home Rule fund. Curran claimed the Chairman James Hayes had not paid his subscription.

John Curran - You didn't pay a half penny.

James Hayes - I did.

Michael J.Casey - Who did you pay?

John Tobin - This is only raising a storm.

Michael J.Casey - You keep quiet.

John Tobin - We won't run away from you at all. ( To Curran) You kept £3 out of the Home Rule fund.

Michael J.Casey - This is a man of straw who is making charges here.

Earlier Hayes had run towards Curran in a threatening attitude when Curran had said Tomasheen Hackett had put him in a bucket.

Hayes - No he never . Bring him out here. I will meet him.

Hayes was restrained and he returned to his seat.

Mar 1913
YOU WOULD GET A PLASTER ON YOUR HEAD

At a United Irish League meeting Curran had claimed Patrick Ryan had rushed up behind him in the street and threatened him.

Patrick Ryan - I wouldn't hurt you Mr Curran in a thousand years.

John Curran - You would get a plaster on your head if you did.

Mar 1913
MR CURRAN ASSUMED A PUGILISTIC ATTITUDE

Meeting of the Dungarvan Branch of the United Irish League

The meeting room was crowded before the time of the meeting, and the landing outside the room was thronged with people who were evidently waiting to hear the procedings which judging from the previous adjourned meetings, were certain to be of a lively nature. The storm opened in a scuffle between P.Ryan and John Curran as to the door being open or shut. One was trying to shut the door of the room and the other was trying to keep it open.

John Curran - I am not going to stand any of your blackguarding any longer.

P.Ryan - Oh, it is quite evident 'tis a row you want.

Michael J.Casey ( coming to Curran's assistance) - We will have no more of this Ryan. We won't give you your way here.

William Power - You won't have your way either.

Curran - I won't have any of your interference. Mind your own business I tell you.

Power - This is my business. I am able to take care of myself.

Curran - If you are, come on. Here, take my coat. Come on now, you bloody fool, you.

Mr Curran here assumed a pugilistic attitude to the evident delight of the majority of the crowd, several of them cheered "Good man, Curran."

Ryan ( to Power) - Don't mind him, he only wants to cause a row. It suits him.

Curran - Come on, I will take you on now.

There were shouts of encouragement to Mr Curran, Mr Casey's voice being distinctly audible, shouting "Bravo Curran."

Casey (to Ryan) - Mr Curran is a better mark than you and so am I or Mr Stack.

Ryan - Of course, you want to kick up a row tonight, but we won't row with you.

Casey - Oh, the ratepayers ought to be proud of you and your law costs.

Ryan - They should be proud of you and the expenses you put them to.

Casey - I will quieten you, my boy, and others of your class too.

Apr 1915
EVERYONE CAN DO WHAT THEY LIKE

Election to co-opt new members to Dungarvan Urban Council.

William Stokes got only one vote and that was from Michael Byrne.

J.J.O'Shea - I would like to know who proposed Stokes

Patrick Sexton - John Curran and he voted against him (laughter).

John Curran - Everyone can do what they like.

Aug 1916
CURRAN SUED FOR WAGES

Jeremiah Cleary sued John Curran for wages owed to him by Curran.

A.E.Ryan (for Cleary) - Cleary was a labourer employed by Curran for 5 shillings a week and diet. Curran had a large shop on the square and a large farm. He had 10 cows which needed to be milked and a lot of tillage had also to be done. Curran had another man employed by the name of Cluck - not Von Cluck (laughter) - and he and the plantiff and a girl had to attend the farm.

Ryan - This is the fifth labourer I have written to you about this year.

Curran - It is a good job for you that there are so many labourers (laughter).

Curran ordered to pay 8s 4d to Cleary.

Oct 1916
LATE MAILS

Michael Brennock complained a meeting of the Dungarvan Urban Council about the late mails.

Brennock - Some men don't receive their letters until 10.30 in the day, especially professional men -

John Curran - And they can't read them then. Some of them are not out of bed at that time (laughter).

Jan 1917
"FOXY THIS" AND "BLIND THAT"

John Curran accused his valet and servant Daniel Lynch of stealing a 10 shilling note. Lynch had worked for Curran for 9 months and was an old aged pensioner. Curran had left the note on a book in his shop and had then left to go to the courthouse and when he came back the money was gone. He then challenged Lynch to give him the money. When Lynch denied he had taken it Curran locked him in the kitchen and called the police.

A.E.Ryan (defending Lynch) said Lynch had £28 in his Post Office book and when searched by the police he did not have a 10s note on him.

Ryan (to Curran) - Where do you keep your money?

Curran - I am not going to tell you.

Ryan - Surely you are not afraid that I am going to steal any of it.

Curran - How do I know what you'd do? War times, you know. These things are very tempting (laughter).

Ryan - Don't you make your place the rendezvous for fellows who go by the name of "Foxy this" and "Blind that"? How often has Lynch caught people in the act of putting their hand round the counter and trying to steal bottles of stout ? Did you accuse him before of stealing a quarter pound of butter and a quarter of sugar, or something like that, from your shop some time ago, and you would not be satisfied until the man went and pointed these things out to you in your shop ?

Case dismissed.

Mar 1917
WHAT IS CURRAN'S BUSINESS ?

Charles Coghlan complained in court that John Curran promised him 10s if he could sell Curran's pony and Curran had not paid him.

Judge David Fitzgerald - What is Curran's business ?

Dr Williams - A public house; but generally meetings - Boards of Guardians , etc. (laughter)

Case dismissed.

Sep 1917
YOU DON'T KNOW MR CURRAN, MY LORD

Johanna Noonan sued John Curran for money owed to her. She had worked for Curran's deceased sister Mrs Fitzgerald, Ballycreen. Mrs Fitzgerald had promised her £9 a year but she had only received about £3 in the last six years she was there. Curran who had inherited the farm claimed that Noonan had agreed to accept £10 for what she was owed and an agreement was written out.

Judge Fitzgerald - Did she sign it ?

J.F.Williams (for Curran) - Yes, with her mark.

A.E.Ryan - You don't know Mr Curran, my lord (laughter).

Curran said the signing was witnessed by Daniel Lynch.

Ryan - Is this Daniel Lynch the man who served a writ on you some time ago ?

Curran - You ought to know that. You got £2 5s out of it (laughter).

Noonan awarded decree for £18.

Apr 1922
JOHNNY CURRAN WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE

Maurice Griffin ( in court for drinking after hours) - On my way there (Terry's) I met a man who told me Johnny Curran was after dying.

Ryan - And it was grief that drove you to drink ?

Griffin - Johnny Curran was a good friend of mine, but I found afterwards that he wasn't dead at all

Nov 1929
SAD END TO DUNGARVAN'S OLDEST INHABITANT

John Curran, The Square, Dungarvan died on Saturday night in hospital as a result of injuries received after being knocked down by a lorry. When examined by Dr McCarthy he was in a dying condition and was unconscious. He had injuries to his head and had 5 ribs fractured. The driver, Michael O'Conner, Cappagh, was charged with manslaughter.

Nov 1929
INQUEST ON JOHN CURRAN

The manslaughter charge was dropped after evidence from James Butler who witnessed the accident. John Curran walked behind a car on O'Connell St into the path of the lorry. Michael O'Conner, the driver, said Curran saw the lorry and turned to go back but he must have been dazzled by the lorry lights.