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Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

Knights
and vagrants - or as some of them

of

the

Road

ByDympnaMurphy
to call themselves, Knights of the Road a common on the roads of Ireland 100 sight years ago. Then, for those who fell upon hard times, there was no unemployment benefit or social securi for whatever reason, took to the roads ty and many, on the way. town to from town begging walking The Poor how, of report Law Reform, if at all, the Vice-Regal 1906' set out could, Commission '.. without on liked - were taken place, had changes years many significant of the country had that the population most notably, and in 1841 halved been -8,175.000 virtually of in 1901 and, as a result, the numbers 4,458,000 destitute had also fallen as well.

Tramps

The 1833 Royal Commission had estimated the


number 'being in great to be about that need of food* The to be 2,385,000 1906 Commission 'shocking levels

while in 1906 the number relying on Poor Relief was


reckoned concluded 30,000. in comparison to the

to ascertain, impairing into the

a reduction some

efficiency, bemade in the expenditurefor the relief of


the poor,* and gives interesting insights at the begin various classes of destitution prevalent ning of the 20th Century. The Report prevailing conditions compares in the 1830's when in 1906 with a previous of

of destitution* which existed before the Famine the 1906 figure was 'proportionately insignificant* for
while almost as a whole had been reduced by the population now amounted destitute the of numbers 50%, because and figure. This was, of a combination emigration to a much the Commission of famine, extent than dis

to 1% of the former those 'Royal concluded, ease, the poorest population

eviction,

all of which greater

affected the

Commission'
poverty

(1833) had reported on the problem of


During that period seventy

classes

in Ireland.

as a whole.

Poor

law unions

in Ulster.

[56]

Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

The Report wanders from obtaining, or meal

a vagrant as, "a person who to Union Union, frequently (Poor Law) a a in bed for the night and a workhouse, describes

nity, were

universally

detested

and often

feared.

Of this latter type the Commissioner states "All the


evidence Witnesses, around we received without is most hostile were to almost exception, tramps. in favour

his journey. These two, before resuming on as are wanderers, foot, generally they journey known as 'tramps* or 'night lodgers.* While in the memories of some of our parents and are remem 'wanderers' characters -

of depriving this class of their liberty to march


the country terrorising women while men are in the fields, and collecting food and money to enable them to shirk work and escape any regular exertion for self-support." a Commission, Like many before and since, mem bers obviously took their work and their seriously no doubt, were report made recommendations which, read with interest and largely ignored. They were and humane. "We would enlightened not, however, the suggest punishment for vagrant for his culpable restraint and but education for his own good conduct, . It is obvious wanderers who need that are homeless vagrants kind, firm, wise treatment." these recommended on the same the setting up of as those appar at the period. If a person lines to of he

of these many grandparents bered as benign, harmless and colourful

often genuinely of the roads poor old men or women were the Commissioners less sympathetic. A para of the Class' states 'Characteristics 'All graph entitled old countries do-wells diate have a considerable their among causes are drunkenness these (most of failures idleness or physical habits, of all) and other vicious or mental to do a satisfactory inability day's work. bad habits a tendency to divert men and own their subsistence earning by honest upon pri they readily become dependent have or upon public rates, robbers or swindlers.* unless indeed they percentage ofne*er inhabitants. The chief imme

These women

from labour, and vate charity turn thieves,

The commissioners Labour Houses'

While tively social

a rela of these tramps stayed within many small area, others travelled widely and public events such as fairs and markets, horse racing, events numbers. and other The attracted gatherings Commissioners noted in towns where them that such at

in Belgium ently current was found by the Courts of Justice, or the police, be a vagrant he would be sent to serve a period from one to three years in a Labour House* where would

sporting in large admissions events these

to Workhouses taking place

were times.

increased

significantly

and acquire the "habits of sobriety, regularity ** soft lest be However, industry. thought they might on to say: "As regards the Labour hearted, they went we should Houses be sorry to see in them anything than can be derived from suggestive of more comfort clean healthy very hard work, enough of simple food, but and surroundings, everything buildings, fittings of the plainest, roughest kind."

to the Commissioners, of the 30,000 According as being in need of, or dependent identified upon as vagrants or Poor Relief, classified 2,000, were of Four-fifths of these were males. tramps. Many them, "...sleep the open when in out-houses, the weather in hay-barns, '* on to is fine. They go in the country districts a night's shelter when to a the or even

similar of 1833 had made The Royal Commission those that also had and recommendations proposed "as free be sent should suitable deemed vagrants labourers to non-penal colonies."

say that the poor householder of Ireland is reluctant to refuse wayfarer appeal There when is made asked

for charity, especially "For the love of God*'.

two very distinct types of obviously one The the country. being gener tramps roaming and unfortunate infirm old and decent, basically ally a defined circuit in and well known clearly respected but and able-bodied or area. The other, often young were lazy ne'er-do-wells, gerous particularly dishonest and to the vulnerable dan potentially commu in the [57]

for peri Houses sending people to Labour for to three years wandering ods of one simply close to was seen as getting the countryside around an infringement of civil liberties. However travelling be exempted should ballad-singers to 'Labour Houses' and that those who were confined children and be, if like hand "... be taken in should, into a capacity for educated leading a use possible, and The Commissioners recommended that

musicians

Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

T J?> JL

ytmaiAmi/ 0*NniiAKD WEST ^J |I EAST

TfNAH

/-^

MAKKltKILL* 1 I

^k

^V

\-y^

NEWTOWN-1MOLLAQHQLASS

UPPER (

OR?Mt

7?)e Relief Committees inCo. Armagh.

ful

independent life. No person has the right to


idle and live upon the public...**

remain

Some towns seemed to suffer periodic 'invasions' of tramps. According to a report in the 'The Frontier Sentinel' of December, 1904, Clones, Co. Monaghan the unwanted title of 'the Capital enjoyed of Irish

the that learn report we a to employ had decided Guardians of Clones Union to prosecute the legions to gather evidence detective of tramps, then infesting the area. We also learn that on bicycles. some tramps actually around travelled Casualdom.' In the was another Enniskillen town to suffer from, what was described in the same paper in 1906, as 'a tramp [58 1

Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

of the Enniskillen Union it was plague.* At a meeting stated that providing for supper, a bed and breakfast a tramp cost the Board of Guardians 2!/4(L At that time there was keep stones break. and the Board for tramps to do to earn their to acquire 10 tons of resolved to Drummee for the tramps Quarry no work

P. 0*Hare - Long or short ones? Mr Toman - A pair of hunting ones. Bravo, Mr. Toman, Torley (laughter) "The Chairman said that he was afraid Mr. could not legally entertain Send round the application. the "hat" and

that

they

from

Mr. Murtagh settle it. Mr. Cardwell

that will

and other local papers regu Reporter* of tramps in the the activities larly reported area of and while the many reports read Poyntzpass 'The Newry amusing, surrounding certainly not funny at the time. There are accounts courts being convened to of special many area in deal with the and the local justices, tramps obviously unattractive with the intention of making the area as as possible tramps to tramps, passed severe sen appeared before them. For beg today may them were seem the events

that a sum handed should


cant."

brought round the "hat" with the result the money of 17s 6p was subscribed, over to the Clerk, with the request that he the required articles for the appli

purchase

Patrick MacGill

the author

of several

books

includ

ing 'Childrenof the Dead End' left his native Donegal


with the annual When Scotland. of potato to migration gatherers he lost his earnings through play to return home penniless ashamed

tences when

ging, two months


was a regular of

in Armagh Jail with hard labour

sentence.

a general of 'tramps' were simply colourful characters heading - or to have considerable at and appeared education as this report from least an impressive vocabulary Some those who would come under 'The Newry Reporter* of January, 1903 shows :

ing cards he was and so took to tramping. He wrote, ".I tramped the country, all men, through hating despised by own A and with everyone angry my plight. few gave me food, some cursed me from their doors and a great number as I passed. "We*re sick o* look who the fat tubs of women, ing at the likes o* you!" our out o* 'Get stood at their cottage doors, said, about you." sight or we*ll tell the policeman mocked In another of his books 'Moleskin Joe,* MacGill me

An Amusing Application
John appeared Torley, better known as "Jack the Hunt** He of a tramp he became friendly with. gives as I've told you was Joe told. "My name's Moleskin or moth seen I mind havin' don't my father already. I'm 40 years of er, and I was bred in a workhouse. details I was or less, and I started work when age, more seven. Vve been in a workhouse, prison reformatory, own to prison I went and church. free will of my a were I bad and couldn *tget when times of mouthful but it was outside, food ** to church. I went to Patrick According always on the 'look-out* any would hen! to help, aid, Something Torley and otherwise sustain my feet weather (laughter). -A pair of boots? and assist, comfort other milk plunder a cow always against my will that

the Board, and in his own style before a He he said, some boots. wanted, applied for pair of to get a pair of "relievers**- (laughter) compensation - to in the pursuit him of his avocations comfort in his representative the ancient among aristocracy capacity, which as they all knew, was associated with

- that the Honourable est sublimity mem -(laughter) bers of the Board in their sagacity, coupled with their one favour, and would do him that great benevolence, to maintain the reputation of that co-habitable insti

theNewry Harriers (laughter). He hoped with great

MacGill,

the

tution (loud laughter).


The Chairman - What do you want?

take apples

for opportunities He come his way. might - or even a in the field, steal eggs or any other crop or fruit the sea which

tramp was for food or

son provided. or during times of very bad weather or commit Joe would Moleskin break a shop window to some other very obvious crime and allow himself In winter be sent to prison for a period until times got better.

in this

amphibious

The Chairman - Please. Torley

[59]

Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

As

Patrick MacGill

discovered,

when

a person

took

old and particularly the old who


places. At Thomas Sessions in one

lived in isolated

to 'tramping' itwas extremely difficult to get 'off the


road' and back into normal society. With no money,

no home and ragged clothes where did he begin? One class of people much inclined to becoming

Poyntzpass

Petty

a such

was ex-soldiers and Kilkenny Union tramps were noted by the Commissioners of 1906 to have more as almost than 20 ex-soldiers permanent lodgers.

Finnegan appeared a brutal attack on an old woman named involving . On the Ann McCourt, of Aughantaraghan night of broke into Ann 1910, Finnegan Sunday 23rd January McCourt's home and on the Old Road left her weak The to vile abuse, "subjected and helpless." At and her the

called tramp serious case

When their pensions were due they discharged them


selves and having That spent their money of their quickly, mostly went of

Court Ann McCourt was described as being "a frail,


crippled woman.** Assizes where Armagh old, nine months circumstances. hard case was was Finnegan labour strangely adjourned sentenced to to

on drink, had to be readmitted on the grounds of


'destitution.' towards affairs their "..that none was upkeep regarded needs alteration" pension as a state

lenient

in all the

cases where there were Occasionally reported, tramps, not satisfied with what they could steal on to them at the the sly or with what alms was given door would force an entrance and attack and rob a

Misses

Minnie

and

Sarah

Savage area

of

Laurelhill,

have happier memories


familiar around with

of the beggars they were


in the years

in the Lissummon

the time of the Great War.

householder. Most at risk of such attacks were the

Z.o(/re/Ay///Ayot/5e.

[60]

Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

"Beggars, but

as we

knew

them

long ago, were so low

decent, could

so

poor,

but mother that it was

nodded innate

for me honesty

to accept and independ

it

old country people who had worked hard all their


they It was hard away for old age. put any money to earn what enough kept body and soul together. came Old age pensions in about 1909 at half-a crown over pension 70 years of age. This was those old people. Indeed later when a week. The was to people granted a tremendous boon to the amount was days never because wages were

knowing

ence which
thought and Mary

prompted the gift.


Kelly was

My

sister Sara
way where

from Whitecross

she had a shack. Father left her home in the horse


trap.

raised to 5/= (25p) per week, one woman told an old uncle of ours that she could live well on the half
crown "mate and she wondered other was crater's out of some remember it right mouth." to take the

"We rounds

old

people

who

came

on

their

had a little cot They probably but no help to sustain somewhere them. They would have travelled quite a long way, to have some sort of circuit, calling on and appeared the same houses about three times a year. They often occasionally. tier house or shack

carried little linen bags into which


wheaten grain spare or oat meal and had wee of tea or sugar. One man would a smell of tea?" of the names the of

they collected
tin boxes ask for a "Could you

"Some were Shoot,' for

'Jack

the beggars we remember 'Red 'Susie The Flute,' Margaret,' and Daniel Murnaghan. The latter was noted 'The Lord's Prayer' as was he travelled old Maggie Anne McGailey. three years old "Nailey Rice was carried solder and lean old man who really a tinker by trade and stilly a soldering iron. He was a very one at time, a house and a had, tin cans and buckets that a small

repeating Another along. women who

wore

lady, Mary Kelly a black cape. "When I was Anne

Minnie one winter's running road." when

remembers

evening Maggie to our kitchen door

came McGailey "Mrs Savage, shouting

come quick! There is a woman


Mother she reached called the woman

lying dead down the

wife, although itwas said she had left him. He had


a service to offer mending These were

to the men

in the yard and she found it was Mary

had developed holes (nothing was thrown away in


those days). afraid kept until Nailey's occasion next visit.

Kelly.

Sam Woods

of Ballinaleck happened to be

from Newry in a horse and cart, so he helped coming our men. off the byre door to use as a They hooked stretcher to carry Mary up to the house and they laid

Nailey had a loud voice and shouted a lot, children


were of him. On one a house where there was came out Nailey was at a feeble-minded old man, said head." "Nailey Nailey don*t gave shout one

her in front of the kitchen stove. " I had hidden myself up the hall as the talk of a
was too much for me. After she had

his daughter so much it annoys

and

father*s

dead woman

leap off the road and hit the tin with the soldering iron and bellowed, "What would he do if there was
the First World War 'Pheasant' During was used. asked for some Brand margarine Nailey was two slices of bread and given thing to eat and thunder?" he said margarine, threw it away. "Mem, that*s old cart grease" and

sipped a little warm milk she was able to sit to the


table and eat a meal. stove Before Mother wanted till morning but she said me she left she presented her to sit by the she 'must push on.' with a penny. I

remember wondering

if I should accept it from one

[61 ]

Poyntzpass

and District Local History Society

a big old woman and a lady called 'TheGreen Shawl


Woman.' Mountnorris. Also 'Praying Biddy,' who was from

for a grain of meal. tramps asking This could have been oaten or yellow maize meal. into the bag. All went our own Sometimes when

"I mentioned

supply of oat meal ran done and Mother added a lit


tle yellow a penny sugar. "'Jack the Flute' was known to run a piece, then meal she would say, "You are getting or

tramp's porridge." When they asked for help maybe


was enough to satisfy them, or bread

stand and look around the countryside talking to himself. Somebody listened to him behind a ditch
and he was saying 'Soncy 'The Lord's Mary' Murnaghan. like Daniel Prayer' in cures dealt (Soncy

means big, plump and comfortable looking) whether


is not known but by charm or natural procedure when animals were ill she was sent for. A friend of

mine once told me the following: An old tramp who did his rounds twice or three
Tommy McGailey. " Mother mother's flax told me home. about a woman had who called at her in a times a year came to a certain pretty thrifty, afraid farmhouse. The mis tress was counted or "near" of herself.

The tramp was given a butter box to sit on in the


gave him a round tered and a mug of tea. On this occasion she had had the night before, and the tramp nearly faint visitors scullery as the mistress the tramp. She always was of fleas coming off of loaf but

This woman

lost both

arms

There wasn't any law of compen beetling mill. in those days. My grandmother sation always had for this old woman, and took her in and washed have

new chemise (vest) made from flower bags, laid by


her eaten and put on the new garment. She would

haws from the hedge as she went along being able to pull them off with her mouth. The only things she
feared were dogs. Other beggars were 'Red Margaret'

ed when he found a leg of chicken on his round of loaf. He waited until she had gone "up the house" " then he called the servant girl over and said / say
Kate, what happened the auld hen?"

C62J

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