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Willam J. Waldron (d. 1925) .......................his public house in 1998 ..........................his daughter Rose (d. 1964)
William J. Waldron's daughter Rose married in 1909 and the public house ceased to be a family residence shortly thereafter. Rose's husband died in 1956 and his nephew inherited the property; the public house was closed in 1961. By 1998 it appeared most dilapidated after thirty seven years of hibernation.
Myths and Legends
[Printed in Glór Achadh Mór 1998: Updated 1/8/99]
by
Paul W. D. Rogers, Chairman, Kenny/Naughton Autumn School.
What Aghamore man, woman or child has not heard of the renowned writers
P. D. Kenny and Bill Naughton? Erna, Bill's widow is also mentioned
frequently because we are a nation of exuberant talkers! The Kenny/Naughton
Autumn School with its newly acquired base in William Waldron's old
public house will soon be promoted on the internet; more people will
get to know about out activities and competitions and very many questions
will be asked. In their efforts to satisfy the inquisitive, those adept
at story telling will seize the opportunity to enlarge on fact with
glittering, poetic, harsh or even blasphemous words as they deem appropriate.
Allow me to tell you a tale which will help identify the quintessence
of all related tales.
In the year 1909, my grand uncle T.J. Rogers came to Aghamore when he married Rose Waldron. Her father, William Waldron was a publican, as was her first cousin and neighbour, John A. Waldron. Glaveys had the third building in Aghamore, in a premises which pre-dates the present one.
Mrs Rose Rogers was temporary postmistress but if she lived to be a hundred she would never secure the position without a building free from the influence of drink. A man called John Egan had such a building and was ready to take the job. He had installed the post box and was waiting for confirmation of his appointment when he had the misfortune to cross swords with P. D. Kenny. Kenny was forty-eight years of age at the time, a proud man who was home in Lismagansion after a career in journalism across the Irish Sea. On 13th March 1910, John Egan assisted in the eviction of P. D. Kenny from Aghamore church, following an altercation with Fr Molloy P.P. The incident made the papers where it was stated that the "libeller of the church" would have been taught some manners but the presence of the police who were in Aghamore because a political meeting was to take place that day; the trouble in the church was related to politics. In fact Rose Rogers took P. D. into the public house, thus removing him from the threat posed by an angry mob. When P. D. composed himself he wasted no time in contacting London and, in due course, Rose was awarded the Post Office on condition that a new premises would be built. The condition was satisfied and the Post Office is still in that premises - the house in which I live with my parents.
Bill Naughton was born in Ballyhaunis in 1910 in Ballyhaunis but the family moved to Bolton in 1914. His mother was Maria Fleming from Tubber, Aghamore. By 1915 P. D. Kenny had written his best work "My Little Farm", dedicating it in the process to the "friend who once saved the author's life".
My father was born in 1918 to farming stock. He was named after his uncle T. J. Rogers and was destined to follow his uncle into business. His uncle had trained in Kilkelly at Pat Higgins & Sons - Pat Higgins was his uncle - where he rose to General Manager before establishing his own business interests in Aghamore. T.J. and Rose Rogers had no children so in 1933 when my father left Doogarry National School to embark on a three-year apprenticeship with Larry Higgins (Pat's son) in Kilkelly, he knew that ultimately his future lay in Aghamore.
My father enjoyed his time in Kilkelly. He left reluctantly in 1936, on foot as he had arrived. He received £12 from Larry Higgins, a gift after three years of unpaid service. Life in Aghamore was not so easy as he had to work hard in an expanding business employing five people. P. D. Kenny, who never married was a customer until his death in 1944. Bill Naughton drank in the village when he visited Tubber in 1945, leaving his children in "safe and tender care". He had separated from his first wife at the time - Mrs Erna Naughton is Bill's second wife. Bill's aunt (nee Fleming) had a small shop in Tubber. Her account and P. D. Kenny's are to be seen in the substantial records which survive from that period. Business was brisk but money was scarce. Unlike today, credit was the norm and without it the large rural population would have experienced even greater hardship.
My father never had an interest in drink or bar work. A Kildare man called Tom Fitzsimmons was bar manager for years and he resided on the premises. Later, Michael Nyland from Island held the post. My father's uncle died in 1956 and when Michael Nyland departed some years later for America, the opportunity presented itself to close the public house. The year was 1961. Malachy McCourt (Frank's brother) tells us in his book "A Monk Swimming" that he quit the bar business in New York at the same time. Ironically, Malachy was a notorious boozer and my father a livelong pioneer - so reconcile that one if you can! My father married in 1963 and I am one of five children.
By the mid-sixties Bill Naughton was a very successful and prolific writer. His screen play "Alfie" in 1966 copperfastened his success and added substantially to his wealth. He lived the last quarter of his life on the Isle of Man.
The Kenny/Naughton School was established in 1993 following the death of Bill Naughton, thanks primarily to the enthusiasm of Joe Byrne. Joe, who traveled to the funeral on the Isle of Man with Bill's cousins Paddy Joe Tight (Arderry) and Billy Kirrane (Knock), acted as committee chairman for five years until I assumed the role last year. I am fortunate to have the continued support of the following hard working committee: Michael Waldron, Simon and Bernadette Downes, Pat Lyons, Maureen Hunt, Paddy Joe Tighe, Noel Lyons, Grace Mulqueen and Majella Cunniffe.
In September of last year we opened the old public house for the first time in 37 years as part of a range of fund raising activities in a aid of Aghamore Voluntary Housing Association. Amazingly my father's only concern seemed to be for the whereabouts of the two coffins which had rested comfortably on the mahogany topped counter! They had been removed to join others but in October this location became inappropriate when additional space was needed for the Kenny/Naughton School.
Last year's school was a great success. Its theme was "Myths and Legends". We hope to expand our many competitions for this year and to utilize the obvious advantage of having a centre in Aghamore. Our patron, Mrs Erna Naughton, will rightly ensure that Bill's memory is safeguarded. Her generous support is greatly appreciated and in the absence of a vested interest in the Kenny camp we must act diplomatically to ensure a harmonious and balanced development.