Local Notes: Heritage news, soccer, GAA and camogie
Portlaw camogie players who received awards in the St Declan's Community College annual awards.
The year 1838 saw the retirement of David Malcomson from the cotton mill business, and handing over control to his son Joseph who took over the business as managing partner. It was also the year when the Portlaw Tontine Club, formed that March, came into existence. Established to promote temperance and the habits of saving, it reflected the Malcomson's Quaker faith.
Workers were paid in six pence a week and benefited with the capital and interest paid at the end of the year, but savings were forfeit if a member was found under the influence or frequenting alehouses within a set distance of the village.
The factory inspector returns for 1838 show a combined workforce in excess of 1000 personnel, composed of 516 males and 495 females.
While there was not a pattern of unrest in the Portlaw area due to the industrial structure of the village, there were instances of agrarian unrest reported in the surrounding areas. The Leinster Express in May 1838 reported on the burning of four houses at Mount Bolton following the eviction of the tenants.
On a national level, the year also saw the UK Parliament enact the Poor Law (Ireland) Act 1838, which established the workhouses that became so deeply associated with misery and destitution.
The closest surviving example of these workhouses is the one in Kilmacthomas.
Portlaw GAA Club held a night in The Cotton Mill to officially launch the sponsorship of training tops for its Premier Intermediate hurlers and footballers for the 2026 season by The Mad Marquess Whiskey.
CEO Richard, The Earl of Tyrone, spoke about the connection between the brand and Portlaw and the pride in the local collaboration.
Club Chairman Derek Delaney thanked Richard for his generous sponsorship, while team captain DJ Foran thanked the sponsor on behalf of the players.
Premier League Result: Bohemians 0-4 Portlaw. Team Sponsor: The Clodagh Bar.
Portlaw took control early and scored through Peter Woods from close range, a Darryl Walsh penalty, Sam Croke and John Power. Josh Kay and the defence ensured the clean sheet.
The team travels to DLS on Wednesday.
Portlaw Camogie Club will run a Score Square fundraiser for the upcoming Munster Senior Camogie Final. Entry is €10 per square.
Half-Time score wins €100 and full-time score wins €200. Waterford vs Tipperary, May 16 at 4.45pm in Semple Stadium, Thurles. To enter, Revolut Sarah Fitzgerald.
Well done to the Intermediate Camogie Team on a Division 2 League Semi-Final win: Portlaw 1-13 v Abbeyside 1-09.
U16 Championship: Portlaw 3-6 vs Tallow 5-15. Next game away to Ferrybank and U12 Championship (new scoring system): Portlaw scored 1-3 (10) against Butlerstown.
We bid a fond farewell today to Fr Francis on his last Mass here in St. Patrick's Church Portlaw. Fr. Francis has been our Parish priest here in Portlaw and Ballyduff the past four and a half years. He decided due to his health issues to go back home to India.
He will take up his ministry in the church he built. We wish you every blessing and good wish.
Francis, your family will be happy to have you near them. God bless you always.
Keep us in your prayers and we will keep you in ours.
Also we thank the teachers of Portlaw NS for bringing the children back, who received their First Holy Communion from Fr. Francis on Saturday
