Great Dungarvan Characters

Matthew Walsh

Mar 1886
GOOD HEALTH, GENTLEMEN

Dungarvan Board of Guardians

Matthew Walsh stood behind R.J.Ussher, Chairman of the Board of Guardians, as he was writing a note. Walsh was peeping over his shoulder trying to see what he was writing.

Ussher asked Walsh to stand where he could see him.

Walsh - I am here being your back. The nearer I am to you the better you will hear me.

Walsh took a glass of milk and cried out "Good health, gentlemen." He then began to make a noise resembling vigorous dancing with his feet.

Aug 1886
HE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER

Matthew Walsh, who was not a Town Commissioner, attempted to attend a meeting of the Town Commissioners.

Maurice Flynn (Chairman) - I cannot allow this, Mr Walsh. I must ask you your business here.

Walsh - Is there a resolution passed that a ratepayer can attend ?

Flynn - You are not a ratepayer.

Walsh - I am a ratepayer.

Flynn here sent one of the officials for the police to remove Walsh.

Walsh - Then send for the police, and they won't remove me. Who made you Chairman? It is a disgrace to have you Chairman of the Town Commissioners.

John Cullinane - We won't have our Chairman attacked. It is scandalous. Mr Walsh was seized hold of by a couple of persons and put outside the door.

Town Clerk - He is an extraordinary character.

Flynn - Those who tolerate him are more extraordinary.

Here Walsh was heard outside shouting that the Chairman could not push him out. He was heard outside the door arguing with the police and shouting insults at the Chairman. 

Sep 1889
Thomas Queally arrested for "shadowing" Matty Walsh

Mr Matthew Walsh deposed he was a farmer; he had possession of the farm from which Thomas Queally was evicted.Queally was stopping Walsh selling cattle at the fair. He was telling buyers the cattle were from a boycotted farm. Walsh admitted that he had been fined several times for drunkenness.

"On your oath, Sir, were you not dismissed from the position of relieving officer for pocketing the money of the poor?"

Walsh - "I was dismissed but not for that"

Captain Richard Curran shouted it was for assaulting the porter. The Chairman of the magistrates had Curran removed from court. Queally refused to pay the fine of £20 and was sent to prison for one month.

Mr Queally was escorted to the train by a large number of friends and sympathisers, amongst them at the station being several Catholic clergymen.

Feb 1892
It was like throwing water on a drowned rat

Matty Walsh condemned by Rev F.C.Prendergast, Chairman of the Dungarvan Federation. Walsh has just grabbed the land of Thomas Scanlan.

Rev Prendergast - It was like throwing water on a drowned rat to invite public opinion on Matty Walsh's conduct but the resolution might do some good if it only put a little remorse into his heart.

Mar 1893
I had to stop the door to prevent you running mad through the country.

At a previous meeting of the Dungarvan Board of Guardians Patrick and Matthew Walsh had looked the door preventing members coming into the room.

John Greene - At the last meeting I called your attention to the fact that the door was locked.

Patrick Walsh - You were so bad that I had to lock the door to prevent you from going mad. I had to lock the door to prevent you from running mad through the country.

Greene - I was nice work to lock the door to prevent the Guardians to come in here.

Patrick Walsh - Sure you were nearly breaking the windows.

Jan 1898
YOU TRAITOR

Sale of 74 acres at Shannakill, near Dungarvan, of which Patrick Walsh was tenant. Those at the sale included Mr Denroche, Provincial Bank, N.P.O'Shea, Gardenmorris, late landlord of these premises, Mat Walsh, brother of tenant, Matthias Walsh, Carrick on Suir.

Patrick Walsh - I protest against this sale. I think it is a hardship, a great hardship on me, as I have paid 9 installments and I was evicted because I owed 1 years rent.

Some bidders asked to have the sale proceeded with.

Patrick Walsh - I think it is robbery to treat me so. I never wronged anyone in my life and yet I have not a friend in the world - not even my brother Mat.

The first bid was for £50 by Mat Walsh. A bid of £55 followed form Mr Denroche. The farm went for £250 to Mat Walsh.

Patrick Walsh (excitedly) - You bought it over my head. You did, you traitor. I won't give you possession or anyone else. I could not be treated worse than I am. You broke your word not once but twice, and you have treated me badly. What am I going to say. "Non ego", yes, and "Non Peccavi." I have not sinned, but you have betrayed me twice, and you are worse than Judas.

Mar 1905
CLAIMS HE IS A MEMBER OF THE DUNGARVAN URBAN COUNCIL

Matthew Walsh invaded the meeting of DUC claiming he was a member although he was not elected. He was allowed to sit in on the meeting as long as he did not speak. He got up to speak several times but was silenced. He said his solicitor said he was a member and they could not put him out. If they tried he would go to Dublin Castle and the House of Lords.

Oct 1906
CLASH AT BOARD BETWEEN MICHAEL BYRNE AND MATTY WALSH

Byrne - I Could give you the biggest fleecing you ever had in your life.

Walsh - You give me a fleecing ! I have forgotten more than all belonging to you have ever learned.

May 1908
SHOT HIMSELF BY ACCIDENT

Michael Walsh, brother of Matthew Walsh, found dead by sister with whom he lived on the Youghal Rd. He shot himself by accident. He often shot cats.

Aug 1908
ALL MY FARMS WERE GRABBED

At the meeting of the Dungarvan Board of Guardians said the Board's stones should be sold to John Curran. William Stack thought they should be tendered for. This led to a clash between Walsh and Stack.

Walsh - I am the second highest ratepayer in West Waterford.

Stack - I am not a grabber.

Walsh - Well, I'll tell you what you are Stack. You are a cadger, Stack - a public cadger...All my farms were grabbed. All three.

Oct 1908
CLASH AT BOARD BETWEEN TOM O'CONNER AND MATTY WALSH

JV O'BRIEN JP - Order gentlemen. Old men like you should be looking forward to a brighter life in the next world.

Mar 1917
DEATH OF MATTHEW WALSH, BALLYDUFF, DUNGARVAN.

A very well known public man has passed away in the person of Matthew Walsh, who died on Tuesday last. He was for many years a member of the local Board of Guardians and during the days of the National League he opposed the wishes of the National party. With the result that there were many attempts made to have him boycotted. He defied the League and got mixed up in many incidents of the stormy times of the period. He was well known in the south. He was brother to Father Walsh, England and Mr P.Walsh, Mount Odell.

Mar 1917
A FEMALE HERCULES

Michael Quealy, butcher, Mary St summoned Johanna Walsh, Ballyduff. He claimed Matty Walsh's widow had attacked him with a sprong. She was described as a female Hercules of 16 stone.