The following information was taken from the village Publication ‘Kilanerin’
Did You Know?
Mr. John O’Connor, a Kilanerin man, has made a name for himself as far away as California. John much acclaimed locally for his exceptional talent and craftsmanship with the use of wood. He now has three creations on display in the California Carver’s Guild Museum. The three pieces are ‘A Spinning Wheel’, ‘A Wheelbarrow’ and ‘A Harp’. He is now a life member of the Guild.
Mrs. Alice Boland (Forde), Pallas, got 2nd place in Ireland in 1964, for National Poultry judging at the spring show.
Mr. Bob and Mrs. Whitmore, Ballyfad, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 years) in 1985 at a special Mass and function, organised by their 13 children. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Paddy Cullen, Croghan, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in August 1986, at a special mass and function organised by their 12 children.
The house occupied by the Bardon family, at Limbrick, was once a barracks of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Many of the scripts on the headstones in Kilninor Cemetery were the work of Denis Cullen, a noted sculptor in Wicklow/Wexford, from 1775 to 1785.
Aidan Jones, Bannview, won the Slaney Plate, Tuskar Plate and the Summerhill Cup on the same horse, at the same races, on the same day, at the Wexford Park Races, on June 12th 1894. The mare’s name was ‘Caustic’.
The late Ned Jones, Sleighduff, and formerly of Bannview, was Ireland’s first champion ploughman, when in 1930 he won the contest in Dublin. Ned also represented Wexford in the final of the National Ploughing Championships in Athenry, 1934, Mallow 1935, Tullamore 1936, Greystones 1937 and Carlow 1938. He was Senior Champion Ploughman on 1931, 1933 and 1937. Those who remembered Ned speak of him as a true craftman, who travelled the length and breath of Ireland, bringing honour and glory to his native Parish of Kilanerin. The poet, J.J. Bergin, wrote the following on the great ploughman, Ned Jones:
“Turn up the brown, O man who ploughs
The waken’d earth to warming sun
And give all men their daily bread
Your work is Gods for he has said
He’ll bless your work, your plough team too,
Reward is small for what you do
Then O Hurrah, Sons of the soil
God speed The Plough
God bless your Toil”
Eileen Kavanagh, renowned in song and story as Eileen Aroon, is buried in Kilninor graveyard and on her headstone is the following legend:
‘Here lyeth the body of Ellen Kavanagh who departed this life on the 2nd day of January 1757 aged 45’
There are also other claimants for her remains.
