There was dancing into the small hours at the Nolan family-owned Butlerstown Castle in April 1911, as reported in The Munster Express.

The jockey P. McGuire, mentioned as the gracious and capable M.C., was Pierce of Oliver’s Hill, Killoteran. He and Pat Barron, Knockeen, were instrumental in the United Irish Men’s League locally during that fraught period; as was my great-grandfather John, Kilronan (later Lisnakill), along with the Butlerstown Parish Priest.

A young Pierce McGuire of Woodstown, Oliver’s Hill, Killotteran, pictured on his horse ‘Firefly’ at Waterford Courthouse in 1895, and a newspaper cutting (courtesy of Pakie O’Brien) from June 1927 reporting his death.

Grandfather of the late Gussie Walsh, Pierce, or “Pierie” as he was known, was a noted sportsman and farmer. He was an exceptional Gaelic footballer in his youth and also played cricket.

But it was as a horseman that he really came into his own, being successful in point-to-point races in Butlerstown and elsewhere, and also at showjumping events. He spent four years riding for wealthy owners in Italy around the turn of the century and won several races at Tramore. He was a mainstay of the Waterford Hounds too, rarely missing an outing.

His parents, William and Margaret (née Reidy), died within a week of one another in 1914. That year Pierce was involved with John Redmond’s National Volunteers movement, and was secretary of the newly reorganised local branch of the United Irish League around the same time, holding their meetings in Butlerstown Castle.

Only 49 when he died after a couple of years’ ill-health, Pierce’s widow Bridget (née Nugent), with whom he had sons and daughters, passed away in early 1954.

Originally founded in the late 18th century, U.I. League branches raised support and funding for the campaign to gain equality in the British Parliament and then for an independent Republic of Ireland. The men mentioned were all later leading members of the Waterford Farmers’ Association.

Main image: Photo of Mr. McGuire on horse Firefly taken in front of Waterford Courthouse on January 20th, 1895; original colourised using DeOldify [National Library of Ireland]