History of Glenbower


The Barony of Iffa and Offa East alludes to land divisions originating in the times of the ancient kings of Ireland. Indeed, on the very summit of the mountain Slievenamon, which is the geographic as well as cultural center of this realm, stands a limestone throne which is said to have been used as an observation post by none other than the famous Irish mythological hero, chief of the Fiann Eireann, Finn McCool.

Slievenamon and its surounding hills from a high plateau known from Gaelic times as Slewdale. Glenbower is one of seven gaps which allow access to the plateau. The original Gealic name was Gleann Bodhar Gap (Glen Road Gap).

Although ancient travellers had undoubtedly used this gap through the millenia, it was't until the 1790's that Glenbower earned its name in the historical record. For it was in that time that a pike road (toll road) was built traversing the Slewdale plateau from Nine Mile House on the north-eastern slopes accross (for nine Irish miles) to Glenbower on the southern slopes.

The construction of that pike road spawned the development of the Glenbower community (and conversely reduced the status of Kilcash then bypassed. In fact the Butler family castle at Kilcash fell into ruin shortly thereafter, its ancient oak rafters sold for salvage). The present-day Route 76 connecting Kilkenny and Clonmel still follows the path of the pike road.

Present-day Route 696 from Carrick-on-Suir forms a 'T' junction with the pike road at the beginning of a steep ascent up the Glenbower gap. It was at this intersection that a staging post with stables for relief horses was built just before 1800. The little Old Forge Cottage still stands near the junction. These facilities also later served the famous Bianconni stage coach line.

Through the steep length of Glenbower flows the Glen River. Besides providing the inhabitants with fresh trout, the Glen River was more important historically as a source of power. For shortly after the building of the pike road, construction began on a corn mill. A weir was built in the river near the 'T' junction diverting much of its flow along a 200 meter race to the large stone mill building completed in 1812, and still standing today. The river itself was straightened below the junction and lined with huge hewn stones thus reclaiming the boggy flatland sufficiently to allow further development.

In the 1830's a barricks for the newly formed Irish Constabulary was added to the staging post site. Only one building from this site still remains today and serves as a private residence.

In the later 1800's, just across the Glen River from the corn mill, facing the Carrick-on-Suir road, a Public House and a creamery (owned by the Condensed Milk Co. of Limerick) were built. Glenbower was in its heyday.

Glenbower House built in the 1930's stands on the site of the former creamery. The creamery is still evidenced by the large entry and exit gates to the property and an iron waterwheel used to harness the power of the Glen. An old Royal Post box, now painted Irish green still functions next to one of gates. (Geraldine Kennedy, a renowned author, journalist, and politician was born and raised in Glenbower House.)

The Irish War of Independence saw the begining of a reversal of the progression of Glenbower towards an increasingly more industrialised community, retiring instead to a tranquility remeniscent of earlier times. The hated Constabulary barricks were abolished. The automobile eliminated the need for fresh horses. Larger cooperative mills and creameries put the Glenbower mill and creamery out of business. And the dwindling local population finally forced the pub to sell its license in the 1940's.

In the early 1950's the steep slopes of both sides of Glenbower were extensively reforested. As a result, flora and fauna, lost since the last vestages of the vast oak forests that once covered this land were burned for charcoal to support Britian in the Napoleonic wars, have now returned. Beautiful.

Editor, Glenbower Herald