From the Kerry News, 21 June 1898, this heartwarming story of a kindness shown by locomotive inspector’s wife Mrs Daniel Leahy, of Clonmel, to two elderly judges who found themselves detained at the town’s station (image above) due to unspecified railway difficulties.

Railway travel had made things considerably easier for judges and barristers attending circuits and assizes. Previously, it had been considered bad practice for judges to travel in the same stagecoach as counsel, so that they had to find independent means of transport – once the railway came along, however, no one objected to judges and barristers travelling on the same train, though they would have been wise, for so many reasons, to keep to different carriages.

But sometimes, as in this case, there were unexpected hitches, making legal travellers dependent on the kindness of strangers – how fortunate it was that Mrs Leahy was on hand to step in with such a delicious spread!

“THE JUDGES AND THEIR TEA
The Irish Railway News says:- A few days ago Mrs. Daniel Leahy, wife of Mr Daniel Leahy, Thurles Locomotive Inspector of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, was the recipient of a very handsome and thoughtful presentation from Justice Murphy and Justice Gibson. During the circuit of the Easter Assizes Justices Murphy and Gibson were on their way to Clonmel, and having some delay at this station asked if they could be provided with refreshments in the shape of tea. There are no refreshment rooms at the station, and as there would not be sufficient time to procure some from the town, Mrs Leahy was appealed to by the station master (Mr Worthington), and in a very short space of time had their lordships provided with an enticing repast, which the judges thoroughly appreciated. They were profuse in their expressions of thanks to Mrs. Leahy. The incident was thought no more about until this morning, when Mrs. Leahy received a magnificent album of embossed Morocco leather, bound with silver, and containing signed portraits of their lordships. The presentation was accompanied by a letter of thanks from Mrs Justice Murphy, in which that lady expressed her sincere thanks on behalf of Justice Murphy and Justice Gibson for Mrs. Leahy’s kind hospitality.”

I wonder if that album is still about? Perhaps a Leahy descendant could tell us?

Image of Clonmel Station via Buildings of Ireland.