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It looks like the necessary surface work required to upgrade Barry’s Bridge, crossing the River Suir here in Thurles town, is at last about to start.
Health and Safety barriers were erected on the bridge this morning beginning at 9.00am, together with led digital signage, requesting drivers of vehicles, where possible, to use alternative routes out of the town centre.
Barry’s Bridge in Thurles, Co Tipperary, has provided passage over the river Suir, since around 1650, and was partially widened again circa 1820.
Bridge Castle, overlooking this seasonally shallow river crossing, has dominated the Thurles skyline since as early as 1453, built possibly by the Norman invader McRickard Butler of whom history records that he erected, in 1453, two castles at Thurles and one at Buaidlic (Boulick).
While footpaths for pedestrians remain unrestricted presently, we understand that vehicles will be curtailed to one single lane of traffic crossing the bridge, for the duration of the period deemed necessary to carry out the resurfacing work.
So, where possible do try to use the alternative entrance and exit routes indicated, in order to keep traffic flowing.
St. Valentine – The Patron Saint of Lovers
Only a foolish lover will forget that in two day’s time (Wednesday February 14th), the love of your life will expect at lest a card inscribed with red hearts; or a bouquet of red roses; or a box of chocolate; or expensive lingerie; or a romantic dinner for two, combined with promises of undying love; to make an appearance sometime on St. Valentine’s day. But who was this saint whom we associate annually with human love and sexuality, (not to mention the extra expense imposed on us males so soon after Christmas) ?
St. Valentine
St. Valentine was a Christian Priest in Rome during the short reign of emperor Claudius II (Marcus Aurelius Flavius Claudius Gothicus – 268 AD to 270 AD), latter who persecuted the Christian church during his reign.
 Human remains of St Valentine are to be found at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, No.56 Aungier St, Dublin 2. Emperor Claudius Gothicus II declared an edict that prohibited the marriage of young men in the army. Claudius in the past had gained both position and respect from soldiers for being physically strong and especially cruel, with legend telling of him having knocked the teeth out of a horse with one single punch. This edict now came into being based on his theory that soldiers, if unmarried, fought harder than those that were married, after all would not married soldiers live in constant fear of what would become of existing wives and children after their own death in battle.
The result of this edict saw a rise in overall permissiveness with polygamy (the custom of men mating with more than one mistress at any one time, whom they did not commit to marrying), being the popular order of the day. Now with some men attracted to the Christian faith; the church was teaching that marriage was sacred between one man and one woman and for life.
St. Valentine now began to secretly marry these followers of Jesus Christ, thus contravening the emperor’s edict. He was eventually caught and imprisoned for his actions and for helping other persecuted Christians.
Under house arrest with a judge called Asterius, whose daughter was blind; the magistrate interrogated St. Valentine on issues concerning his faith, religion and that Jewish preacher, known as Jesus of Nazareth. He asked St. Valentine to put his great faith to the test, by healing his daughter’s blindness. Valentine placed his hands over her eyes and she was miraculously healed. Humbled now by this action, Asterius immediately destroyed all the graven images in his home and became baptised, together with his family and some reported 44 members of his personal household, before freeing all held Christian prisoners.
However, this action did nothing to protect St. Valentine from his reigning emperor and in the year 269 AD he was sentenced to a three-part execution, which consisted of a beating, a stoning, and finally decapitation, because of his stance with regard to Christian marriage.
It is said that the last words written by him were in a note to the now healed blind daughter of Asterius, the signature on which today continues to inspire the commonly used, romantic communiqué, “from your Valentine”.
From an Irish perspective, in the sixteenth century, the human remains of St. Valentine were gifted to an Irish Carmelite priest, Father Spratt here in Ireland by Pope Gregory. This gifted relic is in the form of a sealed casket and was sent, accompanied by a letter of certification. The letter states that the casket, which today is located at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, No.56 Aungier St, Dublin 2, contains the remains of St. Valentine of Rome.
To this day the casket has never been opened.
On Monday morning last (February 5th), we first broke the exciting news that the former ‘Black Castle’, west of Liberty Square, overlooking the Parnell car-park, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary; once home of Lord Viscount Thomas Butler & his wife, Lady Viscountess Elizabeth Butler (alias Poyntz), has been sold.
The vendor of this hugely historical building; namely the Kenny family; latter relatives of the late Mr Billy Maher; was sold through the professional offices of Mr Sean Spain Auctioneers & Valuers, No. 21 Fianna Rd, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The purchasers; Sir Timothy Maher (Knight of Innisfallen & Chairman & Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of Timothy Maher Finance) & his lady wife American born Dr. Phyllis Maher (Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Timothy Maher Finance), have since employed the successful firm of DHRyan Architects, No.1 Liberty Square, Thurles, to undertake a feasibility study of the site and its associated buildings, and to prepare a development brief for the new purchasers. Solicitor Mr James J. Meagher (Thomas F. Griffin Parnell St, Thurles), has been retained to deal with all aspects of the site transfer.
However, this welcome news has now raised a massive inquisitiveness from those living both at home and overseas who have emailed us here at Thurles. Info, seeking further information on Lady Elizabeth and her interaction with Oliver Cromwell, who even in our modern Ireland, still evokes extremely strong emotions, some 360 years after his death in 1658.
In Ireland, though he only spent nine months of his reign here (August 1649 to May 1650), Cromwell stands accused of war crimes, religious persecution and the ethnic cleansing of Irish people on an unparalleled scale. The phrase ‘the curse of Cromwell on you and your house’, just 50 years ago, to elderly people, still evoke fear.
The Cromwellian administration was to find that Lady Viscountess Elizabeth Butler (Lady Thurles), was an extremely tough and feisty lady to deal with, and unlike many, she was never known to kowtow to Cromwell or his “Adventurers”, latter those who had financed his cause here in Ireland and Co. Tipperary, for their personal financial gain.
On 15th August 1649 Oliver Cromwell had landed at Ringsend, Dublin, and with him had come his Parliamentarian cavalry; an army of some 3,000 battle-hardened “Ironsides”, (Title “Old Ironsides”, was one of Cromwell’s nicknames). The civil war in England had ended, and King Charles I had been executed some seven months earlier.
 Lady Viscountess Elizabeth Butler (Lady Thurles) and later Lady Elizabeth Mathew, (following her second marriage). Here in Ireland, however, Roman Catholics had been in revolt since 1641 and were in possession and control of much of the country. Many had seen in England’s recent turmoil, an opportunity to restore Irish independence.
Cromwell a fanatical Protestant, would offer no quarter to papist rebels who had massacred English and Scottish settlers. Now in Ireland, he could also use confiscated rebel land to pay off the debts his loyal troops and the “Adventurers” who had financed his cause.
According to a Cromwellian edict, no Catholic who lived in the “Irish Quarters” before 1649, could be exempted from confiscation of property and transplantation; hence
“To hell or Connaught” was the quote and the choice, that Cromwell now offered the Irish. They would either be killed or go to Connaught, which meant their eventual death, because they all could not possibly have survived in a small ruggedly inhospitable province, not fully conducive to agriculture.
An Inquisition found that Lady Thurles held a life interest, in the right of her jointure, (an estate settled on a wife for the period during which she survives her husband), in lien (the right to keep possession of property) of a dower in the Castle, town and lands of :- Thurles, Leugh, Killinan, Athlummon, Clobanna, Lahardan, Derryfadda, Longfordpass, and Garranroe, in the Barony of Eliogarty; and Kilshane, Cleghile, and Lagganstown in the Barony of Clanwilliam.
Lady Thurles also owned 80 head of cattle, and 800 sheep and lambs; all of which ought to have been forfeited to Oliver Cromwell the then declared ‘Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England’.
The Cromwellian financiers of his cause known as the “Adventurers” (as distinct from his soldiers) had, among the lands allotted to them, the Baronies of Eliogarty and Clanwilliam, and therefore now clamoured for the eviction of Lady Elizabeth, out of Thurles Castle and lands. Two thousand acres, calculated to return her an income of £200 a year, were set out for her in Connaught, but by various stratagems the astute Lady Thurles managed to delay her immediate removal.
She succeeded in winning over to her side to plead her cause, among others, such deep-dyed Puritans as the regicides or “King killers”, Sir Hardress Waller (latter condemned to death for his part in the regicide of Charles I. However his life was spared owing to the efforts of his friends and instead he was condemned to life imprisonment) and Colonel Robert Phaire (Governor of Cork, who avoided a similar fate through having married the daughter of Sir Thomas Herbert); also Colonel Hierome Sankey, (latter who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1659. He also served in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War and later served in Ireland as Governor of the Tipperary Precinct of Clonmel), a man whose reputation for savagery in dealing with the Irish was scarcely less than that of Cromwell himself.
Petitions By Lady Thurles Sympathisers
In July 1656 the Cromwellian Council transmitted the petitions of these men on behalf of Lady Thurles to the Commissioners adjudicating on the Irish, in Co. Cork, for their report on it. Their report, on 13th August, shows that they were also under the spell of Lady Thurles.
- It stated that the good lady had several times in 1641 harboured, entertained, and preserved from murder and famine, divers English families whom the Irish had plundered, robbed, and attempted to murder. In total, 60 persons, and in particular Mr. Bullock and family, Joane Harris and family and Mr. Price, a protestant minister and his family.
- The report also stated, that after the fall of Archerstown Castle, Lady Thurles received the wounded Major Peisley, and others of his company, into her home, entertained them for several weeks until they were recovered, and then gave them money and other necessaries, before they betook themselves to the English garrison at Doneraile, Co. Cork.
- When Sir Charles Vavasour, who had raised a regiment of 500 men for service in Ireland from Cheshire, England, lay wounded and a prisoner of the Irish rebels at Clonmel, she had on several occassions sent him money, and later when he was very ill and weak, she had procured with great difficulty his liberty to come to her house where he was nursed to health, and was furnished with money on his departure.
- That in the years 1643-46, she gave considerable sums of money for the relief of the English, £500, £300, and divers other sums.
- That Lord Inchiquin, when he marched into Co. Tipperary, regarded Lady Thurles as English and of English interest and affection, and ordered that she and her tenants were not to be molested.
- That the Irish looked on her as an enemy, and several times pillaged and plundered her — in all, of 1500 sheep, 60 cows, and a great number of horses and colts; they broke down her weirs, and threatened to burn down her house if she did not hand over the poor English to their fury, but she refused to do so.
- That Owen Roe O’Neill, marching by her house, looked on her as an enemy and commanded her to furnish him with 200 beeves. She refused to pass them over, and notified Lord Inchiquin, who came to her relief and repulsed O’Neill.
- She was also instrumental in the rendition of Cahir Castle to Cromwell by her son, George Mathew.
- She also refused admission to Thurles Lieut. Colonel Brian O’Neill, and sent a messenger to Cromwell at Fethard, Co Tipperary to request him to send a garrison to Thurles, which he immediately did, under the command of Major Bolton, and for which, Cromwell promised her gratification, and this was seconded by the certificates of Colonel Sankey, Major Greene [later who settled at Killoghy, Mullinahone] and Colonel William Moore.
The Commission found her to be a very deserving person, but owing to legal and other difficulties, they now decided to submit her case for the decision of the Lord Deputy.
Continue reading Lady Thurles & Oliver Cromwell – “To Hell Or Connaught”
 Grenade An Explosive Army Ordnance Disposal unit carried out a controlled explosion on a device found in a shed wall near the Slievnamon / Turtulla Road (N62) in Thurles, at around 4.30pm yesterday afternoon.
A member of the public had contacted Thurles Garda station, informing them that they had discovered the device in the Rosemount area of the town.
Thurles Gardaí having responded quickly to the call; observed what appeared to be a grenade at the location. The area was then quickly cordoned off and a number of houses in the vicinity were evacuated, as a matter of standard safety protocol.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were dispatched to the incident arriving, at approximately 6.30pm. Traffic was halted and rerouted temporarily, while the device was made safe using a controlled explosion.
It is understood that the device may have gone undiscovered at the location for many years.
The 16th Century Norman ‘Black Castle’ In Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Is To Be Restored.
The former ‘Black Castle’, west of Liberty Square, close to the Charles Stewart Parnell carpark, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary; once home of Lord Viscount Thomas Butler & his wife, Lady Viscountess Elizabeth Butler (alias Poyntz), has been sold.
 Dr. Phyllis Maher, [Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Timothy Maher Finance]; Independent Dáil Éireann Deputy Mr Michael Lowry, TD & Sir Timothy Maher, [Chairman & Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Timothy Maher Finance] The privately-owned building had been offered for sale in May of last year by the Kenny family; relatives of the late Mr Billy Maher (Victualler), through the offices of Mr Sean Spain Auctioneers & Valuers, No 21 Fianna Rd, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The hugely historical building, in vacant possession, has now been purchased by Sir Timothy Maher (Knight of Innisfallen & Chairman & Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of Timothy Maher Finance) & his Lady wife American born Dr. Phyllis Maher (Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Timothy Maher Finance). The couple are also well respected in antiquities and fine art circles.
Sir Timothy Maher, well remembered for his hurling prowess as a student in Cashel CBS, is originally a native of Boherlahan, Cashel, Co. Tipperary; son to the late Mr Michael Maher & Mrs Dina Maher, Castle Farm, Thurlesbeg, Co. Tipperary. His grandfather was Mr William Maher, Knocka, Drom, Co. Tipperary; a former Chairperson of North Tipperary Co. Council, whose son Fr. Thomas F. Maher, in turn was ordained a priest in St Patrick’s College, Thurles, now Mary Immaculate College, Thurles.
His wife, Dr. Phyllis Maher, who is a retired Medical Practitioner and who in the past specialised in serious trauma cases; is the only daughter of Mr Woodrow (Sean) O’Shields & Mrs Mildred O’Shields (nee O’Sullivan), natives of Oughterard, Co. Galway. Dr. Maher was conceived in Ireland and born a shortly time later, following the arrival of her parents in America.
Of course, the surname of ‘Butler’ is no stranger to the new purchasers, as Mr David Butler, former business proprietor in Liberty Square, Thurles and his sister M/s Jean Butler, a former Principal at the Presentation Convent here in Thurles for some 18 years; we discover, are Sir Timothy Maher’s in-laws.
The purchasers were first introduced to the property by Independent TD Deputy Mr Michael Lowry, who became aware that the couple were searching for a substantial property here in Ireland and suggested that they contact Mr Sean Spain, with a view to purchasing a building with a rich historical heritage. Following Mr Lowry’s invitation and a viewing of the property led by Mr Spain; Sir Timothy and Dr. Phyllis Maher; themselves lovers of Irish history, fell in love with the building and made their decision to purchase.
The successful firm of DHRyan Architects, No.1 Liberty Square, Thurles, have now been employed to undertake a feasibility study of the site and its associated buildings, and to prepare a development brief for the new purchasers. Solicitor Mr James J. Meagher (Thomas F. Griffin Parnell St, Thurles) have been retained to deal with all aspects of the site transfer.
Speaking afterwards to individuals with a major interest in promoting tourism within Thurles and the greater Co. Tipperary area, Michael Lowry TD stated; “I forecast exciting times ahead over the next 16 months for the town of Thurles; where a historical and iconic building, which was falling into dereliction, will rise once more to enhance our westerly horizon.”
“It should be noted” stated Lowry, “that the building may have become known as the Black castle in the past; due to it appearing as a black silhouette against the setting sun, however I remain confident that the new developers, through their love of history and antiquities, will give Thurles a sense of even greater pride in the months ahead, as necessary work is completed.”
So, who was Lord and Lady Thurles
Lady Thurles, (Elizabeth Poyntz) was formerly a native of Gloucestershire, England, and history records that her parents, who resided in Acton Court, Gloucestershire, once hosted King Henry VIII and the second and the most famous of his six wives, Miss Anne Boleyn, both who visited and stayed with the Poyntz household on Saturday August 21st, 1535, thus emphasising the social standing of the then Poyntz family. (Anne Boleyn was subsequently executed by King Henry, being beheaded, less than one year later, on the 19th May 1536.)
Thomas Butler (Lord Thurles) was son of Walter Butler “Walter of the Rosaries,” latter probably the first of the Butler family to take up residence in the Black Castle. [Note: The “Walter of the Rosaries,” Chalice still exists in Thurles to this very day. Thomas married Miss Elizabeth Poyntz in 1608, against her father’s wishes; Sir John Poyntz was then seriously in debt, and would die penniless in 1633.
Lord Viscount Thurles was summoned from Tipperary by King James 1st, (1603–1625) to England in 1619 to answer charges of treason, but the ship, conveying him, was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Wales, in an area known as ‘The Skerries‘ and he was drowned 10 days before Christmas, on 15th December 1619.
His wife Lady Elizabeth Butler (Poyntz), the celebrated ‘Lady Thurles’ now found herself a widow and a lone parent of three sons and four daughters.
After the death of Lord Viscount Thurles, Lady Thurles, married again, less than one year later in 1620, Captain George Mathew of Radyr and Llandaff in Glamorganshire, Wales, by whom Lady Thurles had a further two sons and one daughter.
Captain George Mathew died at Tenby in Wales in 1636. A period portrait, oil on canvas, of Lady Viscountess Thurles is in the possession of the Tipperary County Library, situated in The Source building, in Cathedral Street, Thurles.
Elizabeth and Thomas Butler, through their first son James FitzThomas Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond, is a direct progenitor (ancestor) to Charles Prince of Wales, whom readers will know as the eldest son and heir apparent to the British throne, set to follow the present Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.
The late Princess Diana is also connected to the history of the castle through one of the daughters of the said Lord Thomas and Lady Elizabeth of Thurles, (namely Mary Butler). She married into the Hamilton family, and her later descendants would eventually marry into the Spencer family, leaving the late Princess Diana a 12th cousin, twice removed, of Charles, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay since 1952.
Despite a visit from Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarian army during the period 1658 to 1660, Lady Thurles and her children resided in the castle for a great deal of her life from her marriage until her death in 1673.
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