Nenagh Castle

I have been asked by a reader if I would give an update on the status of the restoration work on Nenagh Castle.

Well Aaron, in answer to your question about whether the castle is presently open to the public, I’m afraid we appear to be a little away from that yet, but the good news is that – according to an article in this week’s Nenagh Guardian – a new timeframe of two years has been given for the opening of Nenagh Castles visitors centre.

New revised plans for the project have been drawn up and a planning application for the Nenagh Castle Project will be lodged with Nenagh Town Council before Christmas and subject to planning approval, work will begin on the site by September 2009.

I’m sure this is welcome news to all the local representatives who has put so much time and effort into the furtherance of the project.

Nenagh Castle shrouded in scaffolding. Picture taken at nightfall tonight

I note from your communication that you are in Ireland at the moment and would like to visit the castle. Well don’t let the fact that it is not yet open to the public deter you from visiting our town. We have lots of beautiful sights and places of interest in Nenagh and its surrounds that I’m sure you would enjoy paying a visit to.

Thank you for your comment and I hope you will enjoy your visit to Ireland and hopefully Nenagh as well.

St Mary's Of The Rosary Church, Nenagh

Nenagh Castle Restoration

After years of hard work and persistence by successive Town Councillors and Nenagh Tourism Committee, it now appears that their diligence and commitment have paid off with work well under way on the restoration of the 13^th Century Nenagh Castle and visitors centre.

I understand that the work which is being carried out by The Office of Public Works (OPW) has made considerable progress. Wooden oak beams which will support the four floors have been installed and the castle now has a roof for the first time in centuries.

Nenagh Castle is recognised as the finest cylindrical keep in Ireland was built in 1200 Theobald Walter, the founder of the great Butler dynasty of Ormond. It formed the north corner of a pentagonal court with a towered gatehouse on the southern side and strong towers on the north-west and south-east angles. This has now vanished, except for fragments of the gatehouse and east tower, but the keep still stands proud to a height of 100 feet. Its topmost quarter was added about 1860 by the Bishop of Killaloe in emulation of Windsor Castle.

Work on the restoration was recently delayed due to an archaeological find claimed to be of "huge historical significance". The find is believed to include a curtain wall of the 13th century castle and the ruins of a medieval manor house.

The castle adorned in scaffolding. The scaffolding was specially designed to allow architects full access to the walls which will enable them to inspect the structure and plan the work needed to be carried out.

(click to enlarge)

Pictures from Nenagh Past...4

Tyone Abbey

The Priory and Hospital of St. John the Baptist was founded in 1200 AD by Theobald Walter, the first Butler. It was erected following a Grant from Butler to the Augustinian Hospitaliers upon certain conditions.

Among those conditions, unique in Ireland, was that the Augustinians should be Englishmen and that they should establish a hospital for the care of thirteen infirm persons and support them with sufficient food and drink from the cellar and a mess from the kitchen.

The Priory was dissolved at the time of the Reformation c.1550 AD.

The Seal of the Monastery/Priory survived until at least 1917 when it was known to be in the possession of a Mr. W.H. Patterson of Belfast. The Seal, which is of 13th Century origin, bears the inscription: S HOSPITALIS-IER NENAGH. Its present whereabouts is now unknown.

The Abbey is now recorded as a National Monument and the surrounding field is protected as a Record of Monuments and Places.

Sources: E.H. Sheehan: D.F. Gleeson, Department of Heritage: Ger Lewis.

Pictures from Nenagh Past...3

The Spout

The Spout is another historical landmark in the history of Nenagh. It is situated in a part of the town, variously known as McDonagh Street, Dublin Road, Spout Road. It is recorded in land deeds of 1737 as Tubberfalliny. The name Spout Road is mentioned in the 1788 Directory.

The waters of the spout, described as “the best and purest in Nenagh” supplied the residents of its neighbourhood with drinking water for at least 200 years and undocumented oral tradition records its existence in Cromwelliam times.

During a famine of 1881, there was widespread failure of crops in the Nenagh area, including potatoes which were the staple diet of the masses. Conditions, i.e., lack of food, unemployment, housing, and clothing for the labouring classes were dire. Relief committees were formed in Nenagh and an application was made for financial support to a voluntary London group called the London Tavern Society. There was a speedy and favourable response to the request and the aid granted allowed the local relief committee to employ men, women and boys which afforded them a meagre wage to buy essentials.

Amongst the work undertaken was the erection of a stone edifice and steps surrounding the spout, or pipe, that disgorged the water. A plaque thanking the benefactors was erected.

The pipe or spout that disgorged the pure water

New plaque that was erected at the time of restoration

The Spout continued to be a public water facility until 1936 when the Public Health Department closed it claiming the water was impure.

The edifice fell into disrepair through neglect, but in 2007 it was reconstructed through the work of a local voluntary committee and the Town Council.

Lest anyone be tempted to blame the youth of today for the graffiti which can be plainly seen on the facade of the edifice, I would like to point out that that inscription is there a long number of years. The youth responsible went on to be a very notable businessman. He, and his brother, ran a very successful printing business in the town until his retirement a few years ago. Perhaps his talents as a printer were coming to the fore when he felt compelled to inscribe his name for posterity so many years ago.

Pictures from Nenagh Past...2

Old Military Barracks, Nenagh

This imposing ruin began its role as a military complex in 1832 and was garrisoned by regiments of the British Army until 1922 when the Irish Free State was formed. The complex was briefly occupied by the Irish Army until 1924.

In the military arrangements of the time, it was one of nine military stations in County Tipperary. There were four for cavalry, at Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Clogheen, and Fethard; four for infantry, at Cashel, Nenagh, Roscrea, and Templemore (now the Garda training depot); and one for cavalry, artillery and infantry at Clonmel. The whole were capable of accommodating 139 officers and 2935 men.

A revolt which occurred here in July 1856 deserves mention as it may well be described as one of the most outstanding events in the history of Nenagh. The townspeople of Nenagh, then and now, are never found wanting when it comes to giving a name to an unusual occurrence or event. True to form, this particular revolt – serious though as it was - went down in history by the whimsical but appropriate name of the “The Battle of the Breeches”

The cause of the revolt was simple and, without going into too much detail, it occurred in a regiment of the North Tipperary Militia who were stationed here for training during the Crimean War. On their enrolment, the Irish recruits were promised a bounty but when peace was declared and the Government had no further use for them, they refused to pay the bounty.

When the order was given for the soldiers to give up their uniforms, one man refused to give up his black trousers whereupon he was immediately arrested and confined to the guard-house. The revolt that followed when his comrades tried to rescue him lasted several days and spilled over into the town. “The shops are all closed, business is suspended and the town appears like a place besieged”. The revolt was eventually quelled by force of arms and mediation and the Authorities agreed to honour its commitments.

No revolt or mutiny is without its consequences and in the ensuing General Court-martials, one ringleader was sentenced to death, five others to transportation for life and three more to 21 years transportation. The death sentence was later commuted to transportation for life and the eight others to ten and four years.

The latter judgement recorded the following against the officers in charge: “Had they not sought to cast off the Irish recruitss, hungry, penniless and naked, the mutiny would have never had an existence”.

I like this view of the old Military Barracks from my bedroom window. Mainly, because it is part of the history of the town.

Pictures from Nenagh Past

In this post I have decided to post some pictures of historical buildings from Nenagh's past and present giving a brief description of their history and how those buildings have shaped the history of the town and surrounding areas

Of course the oldest and most historical building in Nenagh is Nenagh Castle. Following the Norman invasion in 1169, one Theobald Fitzwalter (also known as Butler) began the erection of this fortress in the opening years of the 13th century, in or about 1215. The Butlers lived in this, their chief stronghold, up to the middle of the 14th century until, owing to an uprising of the local O'Kennedy's, they were forced to leave and thereafter resided in Kikenny

The Keep before the crown was added in 1861. Source, Walkabout Nenagh.

The castle underwent a transformation in 1862 when the battlemented ornamental crown was added. At that time, it was intended that this would serve as the belfry for a new cathedral that was planned for the town. For various reasons, the plans for the cathedral fell through and thirty years after, the beautiful church that we now know as St. Mary's of the Rosary was built.

Another impressive ruin is that of the Franciscian Friary which was founded by the O'Kennedy's less than a century after the Norman Theobald Fitzwalter's arrival. The Annals of Nenagh, which recorded local and national events, were compiled here. The entries cover the period 1336 to 1528. The original manuscript is missing, but a copy of it made some centuries after it was written still survives in the British Museum Library, London. This dominant building is the well-preserved bell tower and gateway of a former Church of Ireland church. The tower has the year 1700 inscribed on a slab just below the capstone on the graveyard side. Inside, attached to the tower, is a roofless mortuary chapel with lancet windows. It is all that remains now of the building which was reconstucted in 1809 and dismantled shortly after the completion of the parish's new Church of Ireland church in 1860.

The burial ground is inter-denominational and is the resting place of many well-known Nenagh citizens. The grave stones have many interesting inscriptions which I will feature in a future post.
One which I found interesting is to a young Ensign and Adjutant, named Neil Murray, who was accidently shot on maneuvers in 1811. It reads as follows:

A Random Shot Consigned Thee To This Grave

Murray, Farewell! Companion True and brave

Thy Laurels Won In Egypt Flourish Here.

My thanks to Local historians and authors Donal and Nancy Murphy for their kind permission in allowing me to use material from one of their many publications, Walkabout Nenagh, and to Ger Lewis for his invaluale help in providing me with other material for this blog.

It's a Long Way to Tipperary

What’s the first thing one does when they hear the word Tipperary? Well they start to sing the opening line that everyone knows, of the famous song “It’s a long way to Tipperary”.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not an Irish song but a British Army marching song from WW1. The song was first popularised by the Connaught Rangers as they marched through Boulogne on 13 August 1914. It was then picked up by other soldiers in the British Army. The Connaught Rangers (known as “the Devil's Own") was an Irish Regiment of the British Army raised and garrisoned in Ireland, until it was disbanded in 1922 on the formation of The Irish Free State. Indeed, the song was at one time considered somewhat offensive in Ireland since it was the marching song of the infamous Blacks and Tans, but that was then, this is now.

Situated in the province of Munster, County Tipperary is the largest inland county in the Republic of Ireland. It was one of the first Irish counties to be established in the 13th century. For all government administration purposes the county is divided into North Tipperary (of which the county town is Nenagh) and South Tipperary (county town: Clonmel).

Map of Ireland showing the geographical location of Co. Tipperary (green section)

The purpose of this post is not to delve into historical or too many geographical facts about County Tipperary (mainly because – as previously stated, I am not an expert in this area). It is just to give my readers a slight insight into where I live (Nenagh) and its surrounding neighbourhood.

However, as we visit different places it will be necessary to give you some historical background to try to build a mental picture of what you are seeing. In this respect, take for example the old Nenagh jail. A walk around the town will ultimately lead you to this building.

The jail now is happily reduced to the status of an historic monument. Only one gaol block remains intact. All that remains from that era are the spirits of the many unfortunates who spent their last days there before their appointment with their maker. The complex of buildings now includes the Convent of Mercy School and Nenagh Heritage centre which occupies the old jail proper. It is housed in the octagonal Governor’s house up the driveway. The centre has many interesting artifacts from times past, including a mock up of an old school room with a four-foot mannequin nun, a recreated old post office, bar and telephone exchange. In the basement are the usual agricultural items and a faithfully reproduced forge. Back at the entrance arch, the cells of the jail have their original hefty iron cell doors, and you can also see the former exercise yard.

Teacher's desk from old school room at Nenagh Heritage Centre (notice the cane).

Part of the old school room from bygone days

The mannequin nun

Across the road from the gateway to the gaol is the magnificent St Mary of The Rosary Church This neo-gothic church was built in 1895 to a design by architect Walter G Doolin. It was constructed by John Sisk using local materials, Lahorna stone and Portroe slate, with the Portland stone of the arches being the only imported material.

Just a short distance up the road from the Heritage centre is Nenagh Library. Turn left just past the library and you come face to face with another grim reminder of Ireland and Nenagh’s past.
Seen by some as a visitation from God, the potato blight was a mystery disease which caused the potatoes to rot in the fields and in storage. Spreading from North America in the previous year it had affected crops throughout northern Europe. It was first reported in Britain on the Isle of Wight in Aug. 1845. By Sept. blight was destroying crops there and elsewhere in the south of England. On Sept. 13, 1845, the Gardener’s Chronicle reported; “We stop the press with very great regret to announce that the potato Murrain has unequivocally declared itself in Ireland. The crops about Dublin are suddenly perishing”. What could not be foretold at the time was that unlike bad weather or ‘ordinary’ disease, the main contributing factors to food shortages in the past, this new disease would persist from year to year. To the sector of the population almost totally dependent on the potato, it was to prove an unmitigated disaster. This, of course, was the beginning of the Great Famine of 1845-1850 which devastated every part of Ireland including Nenagh.

One of the measures taken during the famine to try to alleviate some of the starvation was the establishment of soup kitchens throughout the country. This is a picture of a pot from one such soup kitchen in which the soup was made. It stands at the back of Nenagh library. As I said, a grim reminder of the past.

Nenagh

In this series of posts, I will be giving you a little history of Nenagh, the town where I live, and its surrounding district. Not being anything akin to a historian and not being possessed with a great knowledge of the place although I have lived here for over 40 years, I will have to rely heavily on research to accomplish this. So perhaps, during the course of those posts, we will both learn something about the area.

Starting our tour of Nenagh and surrounding neighbourhood. Picture by Judy

As I stated in my profile, I was born near Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Early in the 60’s I moved to Nenagh to take up employment and I have lived there ever since. My adopted home town of Nenagh (An tAonach in Irish) is a town in North Tipperary and the capital town of North Tipperary and unofficially the whole of the county with a population in 2006 of 7,415. It lies on the Nenagh River, which flows into Lough Derg at Dromineer, 9 km to the north-west, a popular centre for sailing and other water sports.

A scenic view of Lough Derg

Silvermines Mountains lie to the south of the town, with the highest peak being Keeper Hill (Sliabh Ciamalta in Irish) at 694m. The Silvermines Mountains have witnessed mining for silver and base metals on and off over seven hundred years. Traces of 19th century mine workings remain.

Nenagh was originally a market town, and its name in Irish, An tAonach means "The Fair", a reference to Aonach Urmhumhan, the Ormond (East Munster) Fair, of which it was the site. Nenagh is today a busy commercial town.

Chief amongst the town's attractions is Nenagh Castle, constructed by the Fitzwalter (also known as Butler) family in the 13th Century, and one of the finest of its kind in Ireland.

13th Century Nenagh Castle pictured by Pat Whelan

One of the many places of interest is the ruined Franciscan abbey, which was built in 1212 in the reign of Henry III and was one of the richest religious houses in Ireland. It was in use for six hundred years, Fr. Patrick Harty, who died in 1817, was its last inhabitant.