[ Note added in 2010 by Michael Purcell. Under the Defence of the Realm Acts (DORA) power was given to the military to hold trials by court martial in the event of a "special Military emergency" such as the issuing of seditious literature ( the 1916 leaders were executed under DORA). In the case outlined below, Michael Farrell of the Hardware shop in Tullow Street ( present-day Dempsey's Hardware ) is charged by Court Martial. Carlow born Michael was the author of the autobiographical novel "Thy Tears Might Cease", unpublished during his lifetime, it was edited and published, following Michael's death, by his friend and neighbour, Monk Gibbon. In 1983 Carlow Heritage Society erected a Plaque in memory of Michael Farrell, I invited Monk Gibbon to Carlow to unveil it. During the course of the evening Monk told me that he had "edited out" 100,000 words from the novel to make it readable !. Monk Gibbon was an officer in the British Army on leave in Dublin during Easter Week 1916, he told me that he resigned his army commission in protest at the killing of Sheehy Skeffington during the 1916 Rising, however I can find no record of his resignation !. ] Nationalist., March 1919. MEDICAL STUDENT COURT-MARTIALED. A CARLOW DISPATCH RIDER. In the course of a Court Martial in Dublin on Thursday, on a charge against a medical student, named Michael Farrell, of having in his possession copies of documents of anti-conscription. Capt. McWilliams who prosecuted, quoted from the first volume of the official organ of the Irish Volunteers , which, inter alia, contained the following. :--- A Volunteer dispatch rider in Carlow, while carrying dispatches recently, noticed two policemen cycling after him. Realising the danger of their attempting to seize him and capture his dispatches, he decided to take the offensive himself, and on reaching a lonely spot he "held them up " with his revolver, compelling them to dismount, took the valves out of their bicycles, and rode away in Triumph. This fine example of Volunteer efficiency should not be lost upon his fellow soldiers. [ end of report ! ]

"To John & Benj. Hopkins, and John Halpin, jun. To repair 73 perches (about 400 yards) from Tinnahaly to Carlow, between the widow Hopkins's haggard and a thorn bush on Lau. Fallon's ditch on Stratnakelly, £14/12/-." Anyone know where this may have been or who these people were? Was it in Carlow or Wicklow County? I think it was in the Half Barony of Shillelagh but not sure where that was. From reading the pages surrounding, I get the impression that, for smaller contracts like this, payments were made to locals to repair/build the road near their own property. [Source: Accounts, Presented to the House of Commons Presentments Passed by Grand Juries of Ireland. County of Wicklow. Spring Assizes 1807 p.443] Bill

I think it might be near a marvelous old style pub called The Dying Cow in Co. Wicklow, a popular spot for those walking the Wicklow Way to pause for refreshments. Will investigate further. On 23 Mar 2010, at 22:46, Bill Webster wrote: > "To John & Benj. Hopkins, and John Halpin, jun. To repair 73 > perches (about > 400 yards) from Tinnahaly to Carlow, between the widow Hopkins's > haggard and > a thorn bush on Lau. Fallon's ditch on Stratnakelly, £14/12/-." > > > Anyone know where this may have been or who these people were? Was > it in > Carlow or Wicklow County? I think it was in the Half Barony of > Shillelagh > but not sure where that was. From reading the pages surrounding, I > get the > impression that, for smaller contracts like this, payments were made > to > locals to repair/build the road near their own property. > > [Source: Accounts, Presented to the House of Commons > Presentments Passed by Grand Juries of Ireland. County of Wicklow. > Spring > Assizes 1807 p.443] > > Bill > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must > subscribe to the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com > with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. > No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message >