Thurles Information

A number of residents from Two-Mile-Borris and Thurles district, including Mr Gerry Bowe and Mr Enda Bourke (Chairperson and Secretary, resp., Two-Mile-Borris, Old Cemetery Committee), visited St. John’s Cathedral, Cathedral Place, Irishtown, Co. Limerick (V94 H521) on Wednesday afternoon, November 29th 2023 last.
The purpose of this visit was to view this magnificent Cathedral edifice, one of Limerick city’s major tourist attractions, erected on the instruction of Bishop John Ryan, Bishop of Limerick, in 1856, less than a decade after the Great Famine, (1845-1849).

As people were recently made aware, Bishop John Ryan, was originally a native of Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles Co. Tipperary and remained Bishop of Limerick for 36 years, before passing away in 1864.

People will be also be aware that tomorrow, Tuesday October 1st, a memorial plaque, dedicated to Bishop John Ryan’s memory, will be unveiled at the site of his parents’ grave, latter situated in the old section of Two-Mile-Borris cemetery, same located south of the large crucifix which divides the newer section of the cemetery from the old. The ceremony will begin at 2:00pm sharp and all those attending are asked to gather first at the Church of St James, in Two-Mile-Borris village centre.

Those in attendance in November last were granted a very informative tour of Limerick Cathedral by Rev. Canon Frank O’Connor. Canon O’Connor, who would have been present for the Two-Mile-Borris ceremony tomorrow; sadly passed away on Thursday August 1st last, following a short illness.
Canon O’Connor will be remembered with great gratitude at Bishop Ryan’s ceremony tomorrow.

It was following research undertaken on the history of the Ryan family, by Mrs Julie Thomas (nee Bourke, formerly Rathcunikeen, Two-Mile-Borris, a 3rd generation relative of Fr John Ryan) and her husband Mr Tony Thomas, latter now both residing in New Zealand, that the burial place of Bishop Ryan’s parents had been linked to Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, before the tombstone itself was discovered, raised and finally identified by Mr Gerry Bowe, who remains grateful to Ms Margaret Cormack (Templetuohy, Thurles) for her assistance.

St John’s Cathedral Building.

The building’s design (See slide -show above) is of ‘Gothic revival style’, latter an architectural movement which first kicked off in England during the 1740s. This Cathedral has been carefully maintained over the years; with restoration undertaken every 25 years, since its initial construction was completed.

Bell Tower.

The bell tower of St. John’s Cathedral, today, currently remains the fourth tallest spire in Ireland, towering over the Limerick city skyline. It was designed in 1878 and is 81 metres (266 feet) in height. It is characterised by a base of 2.2 square metres (24 feet square) in area with walls of approximately 1 metre (4 feet) in width. The material used to construct this tower is mainly limestone, same quarried at Rosbrien, latter a townland in Limerick South Rural.

The Cathedral Interior.

Inside the building, as the visitor proceeds down the central part of the church building, one locates the Cathedral’s wonderful altar. The main table is made of Limerick marble, while its substructure consists of alabaster and coloured marble, with the centre decorated with a representation of the sacrifice of Abraham (Abram), latter father of the special relationship between man and God in Christianity; same entirely carved in pure white alabaster.

The Bishop’s Throne and the Cathedral Chapter Stalls were crafted in Munich, Germany in 1984. The magnificent windows of the Cathedral are fitted with stained glass, possibly erected by Joseph Gabriel Mayer & Co, the foremost supplier of stained glass to Irish churches; also from Munich, in Germany.

Within the building, looking westward, the visitor can view the massive, yet resplendent, wooden organ, a gift from Edwin Richard Wyndham-Quin (1812–1871), the 3rd Earl Dunraven, styled Viscount Adare of Adare, Co. Limerick, (from 1824 to 1850); an archaeologist and Irish Peer, (Member of Parliament) whose alma mater was Trinity College Dublin. A Conservative MP for Glamorganshire from the 1837; it was while in the House of Commons, that the 3rd Earl had become a Roman Catholic; his political activity largely aimed at safeguarding religious education here in Ireland.

This imposing musical instrument dates back to 1864 and was built by the prestigious William Hill & Son, (born Lincolnshire 1879), one of the main organ builders in England during the 19th century. In 1917 it was converted to pneumatic action by Norman and Beard Hill, latter founded in 1916, in a merger of Norman and Beard and William Hill & Son of London, latter who were originally based in Norfolk, England.

St John’s Cathedral was consecrated on Thursday June 21st 1894 by Lattin, Co. Tipperary born Bishop Edward O’Dwyer, Bishop of Limerick, in the presence of Donegal born Cardinal Michael Logue, latter an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1887 until his death in 1924.

Tomorrows Unveiling Ceremony.

All are invited to attend tomorrow afternoon’s ceremony, when Fr Tom Fogarty PP, will take charge of Church introductions and proceedings and the now retired Bishop of Killala, Right Revd. John Fleming, will unveil a plaque to the late Bishop Ryan, latter constructed by Mr James Slattery, (Master Stone Mason), Fianna Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It is now hoped that visitors to St. John’s Cathedral, Cathedral Place, Irishtown, Co. Limerick, will also travel to Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, to visit his parents grave site.