Message from my Nephew in 2006
Dear Pat,
We got back from Ireland just a couple of days ago.
We went to Galway first and visited the Burren and Connemara.
Then on to Abbeyleix. We were really only there a couple of days.
We stayed at the Abbeyleix Manor, which is at Knapton. Nice room, indifferent meals.
There is a Heritage Centre in Abbeyleix now run by Mr. Tom Cox. Its in the old North National School on the corner of Golf Course Road. Tom was very helpful and very interested in the Hartfords. We gave him a copy of your Dads writing about the Abbeyleix Desmesne, his apprenticeship there, his fathers career, etc. and I said Id send him the quotations which James Hartford got for lavatories for the estate in 1913.
They have refurbished the old Sextons Cottage near the Church and they opened it specially for us. Very basic accommodation with paraffin lamps but very interesting. A lovely garden. The Galbraiths lived there I bet you knew them. On the dresser is a picture of a primary school class in 1939 and I do believe Muriel is in the picture or its her double.
We went to the Heritage Centre a couple of times and it turned out that the lady who runs the café, Katrina (Catriona?), is the daughter of Mrs Ann Lawlor who lives in Ballytarsna. Ann invited us up for a cup of tea and a scone. They have built an extension, where we sat. We didnt go into the original part but we did take a snap of the outside. Next door is derelict by the way, the windows out and everything. Nice views of Slieve Bloom.
Tuesday afternoon we played golf at Abbeyleix. What a beautiful course!
Wednesday morning we went to the service at the C. of I. Church. Congregation six including us. One of the other four was a lady called Vera Thompson. She said she knew Mu and asked to be remembered and all that. The church was looking lovely and they were all very welcoming. The service was taken by a lady curate called Anne Wallace. The Rector, Canon Patrick Harvey, came in after the service and spoke to us. He was very complimentary about your Dads work. He wants to know more about it and where it all is, etc. I said Id e-mail him when I found out.
The churches are locked up when not in use a sign of the times. Patrick Harvey also arranged for us to see the church at Durrow.
We went to visit Trevor Jacksons sister, Valerie McGurk en route from Galway to Abbeyleix. Valerie gave us a cuppa and some cake. She also gave us a copy of a photo of your dad and my Dad, Ted, on a motorbike in about 1928. Id seen it before but I hadnt got a copy of it.. So that was nice.
The lady who opened up Durrow Church for us was called Vera Cantwell, She said she knew Mu as well. They were in the same class at school.
We tried to find Fordville and took a picture of the wrong place. Unless theyve added two new chimineys! Apparently nobody calls it Fordville now. The Allens still live there.
(Fordville, shown here, was where father grew up with his 9 brothers and sisters, just outside of old Abeyleix. It was sold when the oldest son, Eddie, died. At that point, Uncle Charlie and Fred moved to the UK. Charlie chose to live near his favourite nephew, Ted, whereas Fred lived with Aunty Fanny (ironically, Charlie's twin sister), near London.)
We did find Blackhill and took a snap. We did not call on John Claxton. John has the keys of the church if the Rector isnt about.
You probably know the de Vescis sold Abbeyleix House in 1995 to a Welshman called David Davies for 3.5million ponds. I reckon he got a bargain considering the price of property round the area now. Many people commute to Dublin.
Anyway there is no access for the public to the demesne now and there are also warning signs and CCTV all over the place. Meg and I made a quick incursion up the back road nearly as far as the old church and pulled a u-turn. Meg took a quick photo of Farm Cottage (Miss FitzHerberts house) and the old Church on the move out of the car window and we got the heck out of there - before the men with shotguns got us.
By the way, I told the chap in the Heritage Centre that your granddad, James, made the dolls house which is in Longleat House in England and which is modelled on the aforementioned cottage. I hope this is true.
Theres a picture of Farm Cottage in a book by Kevin OBrien which they sell in the Heritage Centre. Apparently Kevin grew up on the de Vesci estate - I think his father worked on the land. The book is called Abbeyleix Life, Lore and Legend. Its an interesting book and well written but theres not much comment on the big house, nothing about the FitzHerberts or the Hartfords. However, there is a picture of the Local Security Force in 1941 and Im pretty sure that my Dad, Ted, is in the picture, second row, second from right.
Abbeyleix is still very pretty but there is a lot of traffic on the main road and a lot of executive housing already built and more on the way. There are even a couple of supermarkets now and a branch of Costcutter opened on Thursday opposite Pembroke Terrace. There are a couple of takeaway places and a Chinese Restaurant.
We had a drink at Morriseys, which I guess is just the same. Also in Bergins. Fyffes shop, Id guess has changed little too but we didnt go in.
Wednesday teatime we put flowers on the grave of your parents and little Margaret.
There are still Hartfords about Jimmy Hartford, a folk accordionist, was mentioned. The English lady who sells the green fees at the golf club said that her daughter was going out with Ronan Hartford, I assume these are distant cousins.
We enjoyed the trip and off the main road Abbeyleix was fair lovely. Theyre planning a by-pass.
The Header Image: Bob's bar: Durrow, formerly Cashins Pub next door to us.