Education « Thurles Information

County Tipperary 1917-1921 – A History In 80 Documents

*(Front L-R)*: Brigid Malone *(Bride)* & Dan Breen *(Groom)*. *(Back L-R)*: Sean Hogan *(Best Man)* & Aine Malone *(Bridesmaid)*.

Mary Guinan Darmody (Tipperary Studies) at Tipperary County Council Library Service, Thurles, reports:-

In 2016, the Tipperary County Council Library Service published ‘County Tipperary in 1916 – a history in 40 documents’.

Now the second part of a projected three-part series, ‘Tipperary 1917-1921 – a history in 80 documents’, again from the ‘Finding Tipperary‘ series of publications, will be launched by Councillor Seamus Hanafin, in ‘The Source’ building, Cathedral Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday August 24th next at 3:00pm.

Open Invitation.
An open invitation is extended to anybody with an interest in the history of Tipperary during that dramatic period.

Tipperary 1917-1921

The publication edited by Denis G. Marnane and Mary Guinan Darmody of Tipperary Studies, ‘Tipperary 1917-1921’, looks at events and personalities in the county during the War of Independence and the years leading up to Soloheadbeg. Through a series of documents including witness statements, letters, diary entries and newspaper reports, readers can view these events through the eyes of those present at the time.

The publication has received funding under the Tipperary Commemorations programme. Copies will be available free of charge from branch libraries and Tipperary Studies, to all those with an interest in this period.

A series of accompanying banners will tell the story in a temporary exhibition which will travel round the county in the coming months.

Note: For those of you residing abroad this free publication can be obtained on advance receipt of the cost of postage.

All are welcome to the official launch and for further information, contact Tel: 076 1066123 or Email studies@tipperarycoco.ie

Recognisable Thurles Face Appears In A Window

**Pic. Left**: Window dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas. **Pic. Top Right**: Summa Theologiae. **Pic. Bottom Right**: Archbp. Dr. Thomas Croke.

Ireland’s National Heritage Week 2019 begins August 17th.

Forgetting briefly the everyday religious benefits obtained by Thurles and Tipperary people; not to mention the same religious spiritual advantages enjoyed by hundreds of visiting day-trippers down through the centuries; it remains necessary to continue to reveal the history, relating to the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, latter a truly magnificent edifice, built to the glory of God.

Slightly to the right hand side and to the rear as you face the Cathedral’s interior Tabernacle, can be viewed a stained-glass window, dedicated to Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274), probably born in the castle of Roccasecca in the Province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region of Italy, and who became a Dominican priest and Scriptural Theologian.

The dedicated window portrays the Saint, the son of Landulf of Aquino and his wife Theodora, holding a scroll containing the text of his Summa Theologiae, latter written between 1265 & 1274 and also known as the Summa Theologica or simply the Summa.

Summa Theologiae, Summa Theologica or Summa

The Summa Theologiae is the best-known work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Although never completed, same remains one of the most influential works within Western literature and a compendium of all of the main theological teachings held by the Catholic Church.

Same was intended as an instructional guide, not just for the few literate laity of that period, but also for theology students, including seminarians; to whom are extolled the five arguments required to prove the existence of God, which are known as the “five ways” or “five proofs” (In Latin: quinque viae).

The stained-glass window is the work of the renowned German stained-glass designer and manufacturing company of Franz Mayer, Munich. It is interesting to note that on closer inspection of this stained-glass window, the facial features of the late Archbishop Dr. Thomas William Croke appear; thus, replacing the unknown facial characteristics of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Text on the base of the window asks for prayers for Dr. Thomas Croke (D.Div.), [1824 – 1902], latter former Archbishop of Cashel and Emly and first patron of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Currently the largest Irish GAA stadium, “Croke Park“, situated at Jones’ Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3, in which Tipperary will meet and hopefully defeat old rivals Kilkenny, in the 2019 Senior All Ireland hurling challenge, continues to be named in his honour.

Good News For Scoil Chormaic, Cashel

Michael Lowry TD – Funding of €162,000 secured for structural work at Scoil Chormaic, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

Independent TD Deputy Michael Lowry has confirmed today that following successful representations, he has secured significant funding to undertake essential building work required at Scoil Chormaic, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

This special education School in Cashel has 222 pupils currently enrolled.

Following representations Mr Lowry has now succeeded in securing €162,000 through the Department of Education School Building Unit to replace a defective roof on a classroom building, within the educational facility.

For the past few years the roof in question has continuously leaked, causing disruption and inconvenience to both teachers and pupils attending.

A contractor has now been appointed and work is expected to commence on the structure in the coming weeks, with the project expected to be fully completed by the end of September 2019.

Major Financial Announcement For Tipperary Town Primary Schools

Pictured outside the offices of the Department of Education, Dublin, are **Ms Catriona Farrell** *(Deputy Principal of ‘The Monastery’ CBS, Tipperary)*; **Ms Siobhan Verdon** *(St Michael’s Junior Boys NS, Tipperary)*; Ind. Dáil Deputy **Mr Michael Lowry** *(TD)*; **Ms Ide Mooney** *(St Michael’s Girl’s NS Tipperary)*; **Ms Louise Tobin** *(St. Joseph’s Primary School, Tipperary)* and **Mr Eoghan Breathnach** *(Gaelscoile Thibraid Arann)*.

Yesterday was indeed a significant day in the long running campaign seeking additional resources for five Tipperary primary schools. However, a package of support measures has now been agreed, same to be implemented at the beginning of the upcoming September term.

In a statement today Deputy Michael Lowry stated that he was delighted that his representations over the past number of months, on behalf of the above named schools, has now finally resulted in a most positive outcome.

Deputy Lowry stated, “I wish to complement the management and staff of the schools for their perseverance, tenacity and their commitment to the educational needs of their pupils”.

The newly negotiated support program is an interim package and Mr Lowry is confident that the data supplied by the schools boards, will substantiate the schools inclusion in the next round of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) system.

This revised DEIS programme will be selected and announced during November 2019, for implementation in September 2020.

“I am delighted that these prolonged exchanges and discussions between the schools and the Department of Education have reached a satisfactory outcome”, concluded Mr Lowry, “and I wish to thank in particular the Minister for Education Mr Joe McHugh for his personal interest in facilitating discussions with senior officials in his department”.

Children’s Book Of The Month

“Swanky Spider Meets Professor Pendulum”

Newly published authoress, Kay O’Connell, will launch her children’s book, ‘Swanky Spider Meets Professor Pendulum’, here in Thurles on Friday, July 19th next, at 7.00pm in Bookworm, Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Acknowledged already as an accomplished writer of both poetry and prose, this will be Kay’s first children’s work to be published in paperback / hardback format.

Kay O’Connell currently resides here in Co. Tipperary, in the scenic, yet quiet, rural hinterland of Loughmore; together with her husband Tom and their daughter, Zara.

Kay initially developed her love of reading and her very unique style of writing, from both her parents, latter Michael and May O’Sullivan; while residing as a child herself in her family home in Rathdowney, just across the border in Co. Laois.

It was from here that she was eagerly encouraged, from an early age, to pursue a clearly developing creative side. Indeed, with the nearest bookshop some twenty kilometres away; Kay well remembers pretending to read from books, using her then wild and vivid imagination to create fanciful, make-believe adventures, thus entertaining younger siblings before the arrival of sleep.

It was following the birth of her daughter Zara, that Kay’s passion for stories and writing was again rekindled, and she began creating imaginary characters, using same in her now newly published book, which targets children aged from 5 to 12 years old.

Kay is adamant that true happiness can only be brought about by having an opportunity to create and therefore lauds both parents and teachers who actively encourage book reading.
Parents and children please note: Kay will also be reading an excerpt from her book and will be signing copies of same on Friday July 19th next.

‘Swanky Spider Meets Professor Pendulum‘ comes highly recommended by Thurles.Info and same would make that perfect gift for lovers of a bedtime story to be read aloud thus beginning a child on that adventure of a lifetime.