In the days of the Stage Coach, Watergrasshill was a rather important village, being on the Dublin-Cork road. Some names still survive: "The Pike" - the southern end of the village, and "The Hotel" at the northern end, now occupied by Civic Guards. About a hundred years ago there were, according to Mrs. Riordan, who heard the account from her parents and other old residents, at least fifteen "houses of refreshment for man and beast" besides stables and coach houses. Of these, the only public house which still stands in its original site, is the one in which Mrs Riordan lives.
"The Hotel" was run by a family named Foley - who were of considerable standing in the locality - The family are buried in a vault in Ballinaltig graveyard - two & a half miles from the village. The Foley brothers were renowned for their strength. A story is told of one of them: