History « Thurles Information

Daniel O’Connell Stamps Unveiled To Celebrate His 250th Birthday.

Thurles supporters of Daniel O’Connell used their bare hands to grab food at subscription dinner.

On March 25th, 1925, the Scottish inventor John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of televised silhouette images, shown in motion at Selfridges department store in London.

But now a new stamp launched by An Post yesterday, July 30th, appears to deny that above statement. The background of this new stamp appears to show a television aerial on the chimney of a Dublin house, behind the nationalist leader Daniel O’Connell; latter known as “The Liberator”, (1775-1847). Daniel O’Connell, is correctly acknowledged as the political leader of Ireland’s Roman Catholic majority, during the first half of the 19th century.

One stamp, of two launched yesterday, costing €1.65 each, shows O’Connell travelling through our capital city, seated on a rather elaborate golden chariot/sled, possibly depicting his release from Richmond Prison in 1844. He had been released following a three months jail sentence, having proposed a monster meeting in Clontarf, Dublin, latter which had been declared illegal. The proposed meeting, due on the 8th of October, was declared illegal by the then government and banned. O’Connell was afraid there would be violence, if the meeting went ahead so he cancelled it. This disappointed many of his following resulting in a decline in O’Connell’s popularity.

The background to the left-hand-side of one of these two new stamps, directly behind O’Connell, shows the front of the General Post Office, (O’Connell Street, Dublin), while the background on the right-hand-side (See image framed in red hereunder) depicts a building with a chimney which displays an old style television aerial.

**One of the newly launched Daniel O’Connell commemorative** **stamps.**

Television was not imported into Ireland until 1949, some 104 years after the image and times depicted on the stamp.

We understand that the stamps were developed by the Irish designer/artist Mr David Rooney, without the use of AI during the stamps design.

Some 12 years previous, in 2013, the Central Bank of Ireland issued a silver €10.00 commemorative coin in honour of James Joyce, latter which misquoted a famous line from “Ulysses”, despite being warned on two occasions by the Department of Finance over difficulties with design.

Ireland’s Central Bank later stated, after 10,000 coins were minted and launched, that the error was “an artistic representation of the author and text and not intended as a literal representation”.
The author himself had written: “Signatures of all things I am here to read.”. The Central Bank included a “that” in its final sentence, with their coin design reading: “Signatures of all things that I am here to read”, possibly if the truth was know to avoid copyright.

But down here in Tipperary, “The Liberator” was well known and much loved, both prior to and after his death on May 15th 1847 in Genoa, Italy.

He first came to Thurles as a guest of Mr Nicholas V. Maher M.P. in 1829, attending at Maher’s home (Today Thurles Golf Club), for a banquet given in his honour.
He also attended at Stephen Smee’s Corn-store, on lower Kickham Street, (In front of the present Pallottine College) to attend a subscription dinner. The large attendance of both agricultural labourers and small landowning farmers, who came to show support, was afterwards seen as an embarrassment by O’Connell, as those Thurles people in attendance were seen to behave in somewhat of a voracious and ravenous fashion, used their bare hands to grab food from the available containers.

A Memorial plaque (pictured above) in the Pallottine College grounds records this latter event.

It reads: “This stone marks the location of Stephen Smee’s Corn-store in which, according to legend, a subscription dinner was given to Daniel O’Connell during the Repeal Movement. The Old Pallottine College, known as “Jerusalem” (later) stood here from April 1911 to July 1984.”

The Repeal Movement/Association was a mass Irish political movement set up by the same Daniel O’Connell in 1830, to campaign for a repeal of the Acts of Union of 1800, between Great Britain and Ireland. This Association’s aim was to revert Ireland to the fully devolved government which had briefly been achieved by Henry Grattan and his patriots, in the 1780s.

Perhaps local councillors and their officials, who have successfully destroyed most of the rich history of Thurles, might contact The Pallottine College Phone: 0504 21202, E mail: pallottinefathers@gmail.com and arrange to have this plaque professionally cleaned, to honour the 250th year of O’Connell’s birth.

July 13th, 2025 Marks 40th Anniversary Of Live Aid.

Today, Sunday July 13th, marks the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, a two-venue benefit concert and music-based fundraising initiative held on Saturday July 13th 1985. It was a day when the world rocked united in a common goal.

One year earlier, 41 years ago, on November 25th 1984, “Boy George” (George Alan O’Dowd, whose parents, Jerry and Dinah O’Dowd, are Thurles, Co. Tipperary natives), had participated in the successful Band Aid single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”.

Latter Band Aid had been founded by Bob Geldof and James “Midge” Ure. The song raised £8 million in its first year alone, for famine relief in Ethiopia.

The 1985, Live Aid event was also organised by Dún Laoghaire native, Irish singer, songwriter and political activist Bob Geldof; again in association with Scottish singer, songwriter and record producer James “Midge” Ure, to raise further funds for the 1983–1985 famine relief fund in Ethiopia.
Others involved in organising Live Aid were Harvey Goldsmith, who was responsible for the Wembley Stadium concert, and Michael C. Mitchell, who put together the American side.

More than 75 acts played at Wembley Stadium in London, UK and at John F. Kennedy Stadium, (later demolished in 1992) in Philadelphia USA on that day, with 1.9 billion people, or 40% of the then world’s population, in 150 nations, watching the live broadcast from their home.

However, it was the 21-minute rock session by 1970’s British rock band “Queen”, [Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals)], that stole the show that day 40 years ago; who today is still recognised as one of the greatest live rock performances of all time.

Ireland donated to Live Aid in 1985, was £7 million, same donations per capita more than any other country in the world.

Irish National Day of Commemoration Ceremonies.

A National Day of Commemoration saw ceremonies being held at several locations across Ireland this morning. This morning’s events were organised to honoured all Irish men and Irish women who died in all wars including those who lost their lives while on service with the United Nations and other international organisations, in the service of peace.

A commemoration ceremony held at Dublin’s Royal Hospital, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, was attended by Irish President Mr Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Mr Simon Harris. Others attending included members of the Government; the Council of State; the Diplomatic Corps; Defence Forces; veteran’s organisations, the judiciary and representatives from Northern Ireland.
They were joined by relatives of those who sadly died in past wars or on UN peace keeping service, together with relatives of 1916 rising leaders.

Today’s Dublin’s Royal Hospital ceremony included a wreath-laying by President Higgins on behalf of the people of Ireland, before ending with a fly-past by the Irish Air Corps.

Other ceremonies which took place at locations around Ireland, including Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork city; Galway University, Co. Galway; Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City; Limerick City; City Hall Sligo Town, Co. Sligo and at the John Condon Memorial, situated in Waterford City.

Uncultured Vandal Smears Historic Thurles Bridge Castle With Graffiti.

Despite street lighting being left switched on day and night in Thurles town, no person saw the graffiti “tagger” vandalising the wall of the historic Bridge Castle in our town centre.

Sadly, over the past 6 days, it would also appear that our Thurles Municipal District Councillors and officials remain totally unaffected by this errant and infantile behaviour, which now has become systemic, right across our town.

**View the work of a delinquent, which now for 6 days remains on show in a town that craves foreign tourism**.

Known historic background to Bridge Castle in Thurles
Bridge Castle Thurles overlooks Barry’s Bridge in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, latter which provides the main vehicle and pedestrian passage across the river Suir. The latter was originally constructed circa 1650 and was partially reconstructed again circa 1820.

This medieval Bridge Castle or tower house; the now focus of our attention is quite similar to many other such buildings erected across Ireland during the middle of the 15th century. Same was an attempt to control; collect tolls or taxes and if/when necessary to defend river crossings from marauding attacks by rival clans or invaders, using the small garrisons of armed soldiers, kept housed in such buildings.

**Wash drawing of Bridge Castle, Thurles, 1779-1793**.

This wash drawing, shown above, faces westward, (Circa 1779-1793, attributed to English artist J.J. Barralet 1747-1815.) shows the town of Thurles, with Barry’s Bridge and Bridge Castle in the foreground leading into the town centre, with a castle on the left, (Today the entrance to Friar Street.) and a Market House, centre in the town square. (Latter, partially ruined by fire, and eventually demolished in 1901 following the erection of the 1798 monument or Stone Man.) The castle building today still remains in excellent structural condition.

Plan of Bridge Castle,Thurles.
The Bridge Castle itself has dominated the Thurles skyline since 1453, built possibly by the Norman invader McRickard Butler of whom history records that he erected, that same year, two castles at Thurles and one at Buaidlic (Boulick).
It is a small three storey tower with a vault over the first floor. The original doorway may have been set in the west wall and connects to a spiral stairway which rises in the north west corner, giving full access to all the upper floors.
A small fragment of the once original east facing arched gateway of this once walled town protrudes today; attached to the north facing wall of this building.
The existing small pointed, arch doorway, a ‘Yett’, also on the north wall was possibly constructed to grant immediate access from the tower, for those charged with guarding this town entrance at this river crossing.

***A ‘yett’ and the small fragment of the original east/west arched gateway which still exists on Thurles Castle/Tower House, Co. Tipperary.***

Unlike a portcullis, which is raised and lowered vertically using mechanical means, yetts are hinged in the manner of a traditional gate or door and are secured either by bolts attached to the yett or by long bars drawn out from the wall or gateway.
Little history actually exists regarding Thurles Bridge Castle, however records do exist showing that on the 17th June 1617, the castle was leased: “Thomas, Lord Viscount Thurles, by deed grants to Richard Power, Donat O’Haly and Rd. Wale, all that castle called Bridge Castle with its appurtenances, parcel of the Manor and Lands of Thurles, for 21 years at £5 per annum and one swine (pig), one sheep and three capons.” *

* Note: A capon is a rooster that has been castrated to improve the quality of its flesh, for eating purposes.

The Down Survey (1655-1656), also known as the Civil Survey, (A mapping of Ireland undertaken by Sir William Petty, English Economist, Scientist and Philosopher), lists James Butler, Earl of Ormond (1610-1688) and Lady Elizabeth Butler (alias Preston) Viscountess Dowager of Thurles, (1615-1685) as the proprietors. Both the latter named are direct progenitors to the present heirs to the British Throne.

History also records that there were great celebrations in Thurles in 1768 when Francis Mathew, 1st Baron Landaff, later 1st Viscount Landaff and again later 1st Earl of Landaff (1738-1806), was elected Tipperary Member of Parliament, a position he held from 1768 to 1783. History informs us that bonfires burned, with the castle, bridge and market house illuminated. Plenty of free drink was available, with soldiers joining the local populace in the ensuing celebrations.

Hopefully, this repair work will be cheaper than the cleaning of Dublin’s Millennium Spire (also known as the Stiletto in the Ghetto; the Pin in the Bin, the Stiffy by the Liffey, the Spire in the Mire, or simply The Spike), which cost taxpayers €420.000 in 2020.

By the way, whoever goes down to clean this unsightly eyesore, same should be charged to remove the long plastic ribbons, found fluttering in the south-westerly breeze from the bridge’s street lights.
Local street wardens with their smart phones being used to photograph car reg numbers, should turn their attention to this blatant ribbon littering and prosecute the responsible “flag waving” individual. Someone will end up with an eye cornea damaged by these same razor sharp, plastic, ribbon edges, same being caught by the wind, and blown across the faces of unsuspecting, local pedestrians.

Plus Ca Change, Plus C’est La Même Chose.

“Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose” or “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, is a proverb usually attributed to the French critic, journalist, and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, (1808-1890) who used it in 1849.

Then perhaps Karr had come to this conclusion, having read Ecclesiastes (Ch. 1-Verses. 9-10-11), latter literature contained in the Christian Old Testament.

(9) “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”.
(10) Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time“.
(11) “No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them”.

So what brought all this on I hear you ask?

**L-R**: **(1) Small, one handed**, **Gardener’s lawn** **‘Daisy Grubber**‘.
**(2)** **Head only of a large 17th century, two handed, farm labourer’s *‘Grubber’*.**

I was looking at some gardening equipment on line; in search of something to remove unwanted growth from my small grass lawn area, when I spotted a small hand held ‘Gardener’s Daisy Grubber’.

This small ‘Daisy Grubber’ reminded me of a blacksmith made, spade size, Grubber, used back in the 17th/18th/19th century, also used to remove stubborn, deep-rooted, Thistle and Dock roots from corn fields, prior to harvesting. The immediate removal, back then, ensured that the seeds of both weeds would not end up amongst oat and barley seed, being trashed and due for sowing the following spring.

This spade size, ancient Grubber would take on an alternative use during the middle of the 19th century; becoming useful to those employed by Irish landlords and their agents, to assist in evicting tenants.

**A forced Irish eviction using a battering ram, taking place in the mid-19th century, being strongly defended by the tenants residing within.**

Those tenants either failing to pay or unable to pay their rent were evicted, often by force, from their homes. This same agricultural Grubber, whose teeth resemble a modern day claw hammer, was used to remove nails/spikes from roof timbers. Once the nails/spikes were removed/drawn, the thatched roof on such dwellings could be easily collapsed; ensuring that the evicted tenants could not return to seek shelter over future nights.