Christmas in NEW ROSS New Ross – a town to sing about at Christmas
THE early history of New Ross consists mostly of passing references in ancient early Christian documents and narratives. Ptolemy in 2nd century AD referred to the Brigantes tribe that lived along the Birgus river, now known as the Barrow and is shown on the earliest maps.
The earliest settlement in this area dates back to the 6th century when St. Abban founded a monastery in what is now Irishtown. The New Ross monastery flourished and afterwards became a famous scholastic establishment.
Viking attacks on the Wexford coast began about 820AD with Begerin and very shortly afterwards the first considerable force of them sailed up to St Mullins and plundered it. Ros Mhic Threoin was not rich in reliquaries, crosses, bookcases, covers and sacred vessels as St Mullins but anything of value which it possessed must have been taken.
The real written history starts with the arrival of the Normans and is illustrated wonderfully in the fantastic Ros Tapestries.
In the early 1190s William Marshal sent Geoffrey fitz Robert to Leinster as his seneschal. Geoffrey began the establishment of the port of New Ross under Marshal’s orders.
New Ross became the major port of Ireland under the skilled development of Marshal. With New Ross’ position on the Nore and the Barrow Rivers, it was a deep water port which could allow ships from England and Wales to go deep into the centre of Leinster. Marshal had the church of St Mary’s built and over the following centuries the town grew in stature as a focal point for surrounding communities.
CHRISTMAS EVE 1840 IN NEW ROSS - a sailor’s story
It was Christmas Eve 1840, when I left my hospitable lodging in Rosbercon and wandered down to the quayside of that historic village. A full moon shone like a golden orb, of the richest hues, among the twinkling stars in a cloudless sky, casting its pale light down on the river Barrow. The winter tide was full in and not a ripple appeared on the surface; the calm of the night was a joy to behold.
Instead of the savage river that so often had claimed innocent victims, including the much lamented James Freyne of Ballyreddy, it is now one big placid bowl. The harbour was full of ships from many nations, some bringing in cargo and others bringing away the local produce to far off lands.
All sizes of boats lay at anchor in what can only be described as a sylvan scene, something that the artist could do justice to with his brush and canvas. My attention was drawn to a sailing ship anchored near the Rosbercon shore. She was well lit up, with many lanterns casting a cheerful glow onto the still waters of the lake-like river. Suddenly from up on deck, the silence of the night was broken by the sound of a powerful tenor voice.
The words were hard to grasp, but the tune was easily recognisable; it was a song for the season that was in it - ‘O Silent Night’. The young Italian, he from a land so famous for its music and singers, gave a virtuoso performance that night, by the harbour wall.
The rendition would have done credit to him on the stages of the music halls of Milan or Naples. Soon, all the crews of other ships joined in the singing; and although the languages were different, the joy and meaning of the carol remained intact.
O Solo Mio, you proud son of Italy, you made the Christmas Eve of 1840 something to be remembered and savoured by all who were privileged to hear you. Author: Unknown
Source: A Historical Century, New Ross Historical Society..