Thurles Railway station - Thurles Information

Death Of Patsy Ryan (Bishop), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the death today, Thursday 14th January 2021, of Mr Patrick (Patsy) Ryan (Bishop), St. Columba Terrace, Bohernanave, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Ryan passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at the Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Crosspatrick, Co. Kilkenny.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his devoted wife Peggy, sons Thomas, Patrick and Richard, daughter Ann, grandchildren, daughters-in-law Maureen, Claire and Fiona, son-in-law Eugene, brother P.J., sisters Teresa and Biddie, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The funeral cortége, bearing the earthly remains of Mr Ryan, will leave his residence on Sunday, January 17th, at 10:15am, travelling via Railway Station Bridge, to be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles at 10:30am, to repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am.
Interment will take place immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

For the many persons who would have liked to have attended Requiem Mass for Mr Ryan, but are unable to do so, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, same funeral service can be viewed online HERE.

[NB: Due to National Public Health Guidelines, regarding Covid-19 virus restrictions; those attending within the Cathedral Church building, (limited to 10 family members), will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing and face covering.]

The extended Ryan family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: House Strictly Private.

Lest Thurles Forgets Cpl. John Cunningham VC

Spare a moment today to remember Corporal John Cunningham VC, who died 103 years ago today, April 16th 1917.

Corporal John Cunningham (8916), was born in Hall Street, Thurles Co. Tipperary, on the 22nd October 1890; one of two sons of Johanna (Smith) and Joseph Cunningham. He joined the 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment during the First World War. Please visit HERE for further information.

Corporal Cunningham was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, latter the highest and most prestigious award granted for gallantry in the face of the enemy, that can be awarded to any member of British and Commonwealth forces. He died on this date which fell on a Monday, April 16th 1917, aged in his 27th year.

The Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment was nicknamed, ‘The Royal Canadians’, owing to the amalgamation of the 100th Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales’s Royal Canadian) and the 109th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Infantry), which formed its home depot 55 km from Thurles, in Crinkill Barracks, Birr, Co. Offaly.

For the record, some 6,000 Irish recruits would enlist at Crinkill Barracks, Birr, during the First World War. Indeed, an airfield was later built there in 1917.
It was here that Flight-Lt. William Edgerton Taylor (Pilot) and Sergeant Thomas William Allan (Passenger) were both killed, when the leading edge of the tail wing on their biplane, clipped a tree, forcing it to crash through the roof of Crinkill House, Birr on March 28th 1919.
The pilot, we understand, was giving an exhibition of aircraft “nose-diving”.

**Picture Left**: Corporal John Cunningham *(8916)* photographically superimposed onto his headstone, same situated in Barlin Cemetery France.
**Picture Right**: Crashed biplane in roof of Crinkill House, Birr, Co. Offaly.

Corporal Cunningham was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously, following his actions on April 12th 1917, at Bois-en-Hache, near Barlin, France. He died as a result of his injuries four days later, April 16th 1917, and is buried in Barlin cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, 103 years beside 1116 other casualties, in Plot 1, Row A, Grave 39.
Perhaps this outstanding bravery carried out by Corporal Cunningham on that same fateful Thursday in April 1917, may have been influenced by the loss of his brother Corporal Patrick Cunningham, also a member of the Leinster Regiment, who tragically lost his life some 22 months earlier, on Friday June 4th 1915, at the tender age of just 20 years.

Barlin is a village about 11 Kms south-west of Bethune on the D188, between the Bethune-Arras and Bethune-St. Pol roads, about 6.5 Kms south-east of Bruay. The Communal Cemetery and Extension lie to the north of the village on the D171 road to Houchin.

On June 8th 1917, The London Gazette, latter the oldest surviving English newspaper and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the UK, reported the following article regarding the reported actions of Corporal John Cunningham: –

Corporal John Cunningham (8916) – Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in command of a Lewis Gun section on the most exposed flank of the attack. His section came under heavy enfilade fire and suffered severely. Although wounded he succeeded almost alone in reaching his objective with his gun, which he got into action in spite of much opposition. When counter-attacked by a party of twenty of the enemy he exhausted his ammunition against them, then, standing in full view, he commenced throwing bombs. He was wounded again, and fell, but picked himself up and continued to fight single-handed with the enemy, until his bombs were exhausted. He then made his way back to our lines with a fractured arm and other wounds.
There is little doubt that the superb courage of this N.C.O (non-commissioned officer) cleared up a most critical situation on the left flank of the attack. Corporal Cunningham died in hospital from the effects of his wounds.

The London Gazette, 8th June 1917

His Victoria Cross was presented personally to his mother, Johanna, on July 21st 1917, by King George V, at Buckingham Palace, London, England.

Johanna Cunningham’s Story

To close neighbours, Mrs Johanna Cunningham later confided the story of her return to Thurles after her meeting with King George V, at Buckingham Palace.
She had kept her initial invitation to Buckingham Palace, for the most part, secret. Now on her return journey; not familiar with travelling far from her native home, she was anxious not to miss the platform at Thurles Railway station, as she travelled on the mail train from Dublin. As she entered each railway station on the route, she could clearly identify the station names on the large cast iron signs.
On reaching Thurles station as the steam train reduced speed, she checked through the window to confirm her whereabouts. She took note of a red carpet being rolled out on the platform and above the sound of the engine a small brass band was beginning to play music.

She was angry with those who may have broken her confidence regarding her meeting with King George V. and the presentation of the VC medal. She was aware from other instances, that relatives of fighting men known to be attached to the British Army, were being shunned, beaten and otherwise ostracised by an IRA / Sinn Féin membership.

In a panic she dropped down between the railway seats, believing that both the red carpet and band were there to welcome her home. After delivering its other passengers the train moved on to the next station; with a frightened and angry Johanna Cunningham on board. Having alighted at Gouldscross station platform, she took another train back to a now less busy Thurles railway station platform.

As it later emerged, the feared red carpet and brass band were there to welcome a travelling politician. Her secret trip to London and her rubbing of shoulders with royalty, would remain safe from the Thurles community for a while longer.

The Victoria Cross

The bronze metal from which all Victoria Crosses are made, is cut from cannons captured from the Russians at the seige of Sebastopol, during the Crimean War and is supplied by the Central Ordnance Depot in Donnington, Berkshire, England.

Corporal John Cunningham’s medal today exists, on loan by his relatives at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, Kennington, London, England.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”

[Extract from poem “For the Fallen”, by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943).]

Irish Rail Passengers Investigating Lack Of Thurles Pre-booked Seats

For regular Irish Rail commuters travelling to and from Thurles station, the following scenario, involving the constant lack of seating on Irish Rail, will be viewed as a familiar Friday evening encounter.

On Saturday last, November 23rd, some 45 scouts and their 6 Leaders from the Cahir area of Co. Tipperary, together with other regular commuters, were obliged to sit on the well-trodden, floor aisles of their train, due to pre-organised seating facilities failing to materialise.

When they went in search of their pre-booked, paid in advance seating, it became obvious that the carriages they were to occupy were non-existent. With parents waiting to pick them up at an agreed time and collection point; the Cub & Scout Troop; the majority of whom were aged between eight and eleven years old, were forced to sit out for their 1 hour return journey, on the damp floor, as they travelled from Heuston Station to Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on the 5.05pm scheduled commute.

The Cahir Cub & Scouts Troop had paid €1,180 initially in advance, to pre-book their necessary seating for an annual Christmas treat, but now when their Scout leaders went in search of their indicated carriages F & G, on which the seats had been pre-booked, same could not be located and in fact did not exist.

Their Irish Rail problem had begun earlier however; at the start of their journey to Dublin, when initially they had accessed the rail locomotive in Thurles railway station. The train had already picking up its required speed, when their pre-booked seats were found to be already fully occupied. Adult commuters now occupying their seats had to be moved to stand and in some cases members of the Troop had to doubled-up, in order to respect the needs of elderly passengers.

But that wasn’t to be the end of their harrowing experience. It was on the return journey; having spent a very enjoyable and edifying day in Dublin visiting museums etc, that this group of 45 Scouts and their six Leaders, would suffer at the hands of further unmitigated incompetency.

That evening the Cub and Scout Troop found themselves piled on top of one another; seated on dirty, littered, half washed floors or on table tops, in the knowledge that their emergency exits were blocked; and with each child, dog-tired after their busy and active day’s outing.
Usually available food and drink trolleys were suspended in the interest of health & safety, because the aisles were so packed with people either sitting down or standing holding unto bars and backs of seats.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson from Irish Rail issued a rather dubious apology to the Scouts. stating; “Irish Rail would like to sincerely apologise to each member of the Cahir Cub and Scout Group. The service they received was not acceptable and for that we are truly sorry. Our Head of Customer Experience made contact this afternoon with the leader of the Group and a full refund is being processed today. Saturday 23rd was a planned Line Improvement Works weekend and as a result there was reduced capacity on all services into & out of Heuston. We had extremely high volumes of customers travelling with us on Saturday and the train was full on arrival at Thurles. The online allocation was sold out on this service and the remainder of the seats were taken by turn-up and go customers.
On the return journey on a normal Saturday, this service would have been an 8-carriage train, but this was changed to a 5-carriage train due to the line improvement works and the group had originally booked onto the 8-carriage train. The booking was not transferred correctly onto the new train set so that is why their reservation did not appear we are currently investigating why this happened. We have taken a number of lessons from this unfortunate incident and will work to ensure that we will have better systems in place in the future to ensure that no other customers have the experience that the Cahir Cub and Scout Group had,” concluded the statement.

One wonders how two extra carriages added to a locomotive, subsidised by Irish taxpayers, could have affected line improvement works? But what do we know?

In another complaint forwarded to us some weeks ago, we are aware that two elderly ‘free travel’ passengers, travelling to Limerick Hospital and due to change at Limerick Junction, travelling from Thurles; unable to find a seat, unknowingly sat in an empty 1st class carriage. They were quickly approached by what they identified as a tall, aggressive balding, elderly Ticket Inspector, wearing thin framed glasses. Latter, indeed as was his right, he demanded that tickets be shown, before sternly informing both commuters that “free travel” was not available to persons accessing first class compartments. He now requested that they pay for first class tickets, if they were to remain in the empty carriage.

Since there are no other train stops between Thurles & Limerick Junction, (just a trip of 18 minutes from Thurles), no one else was going to ascend the locomotive, to use this carriage. Refusing to pay the fee then requested; both elderly persons were requested to return to the 2nd Class quarters, where they remained without seating and were forced to stand by the carriage exit doors. Both passengers stated that they felt like they had been reprimanded by ‘the commandant of a WW II concentration camp’.

Next year guys, consider hiring a private bus, because, as the Irish Rails advert claims, “Rail travel is so good nobody wants to get off”, no doubt the cause of last Saturday’s problem of seating.

New Bus Route Connecting Thurles With Limerick

A new daily Local Link bus service route, (391) in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, will connect Thurles (Departing Thurles Railway Station) with Limerick, beginning its service on Monday next, September 23rd.

**Thurles – Limerick New Local Link Bus Timetable**

This route will include stops in Ballycahill; Upperchurch; Kilcommon; Rearcross; Newport; Knockbrack; University College Limerick (UL), haulting at Authors Quay.

Same is expected to bring about a permanent enhancement and a long-term transport solution to meet the needs of 3rd level students, city and town shoppers and other visiting commuters, living in these rural areas.

The first daily service will depart from Thurles at 7:00am, while the last daily service will depart at 4:00pm.

The first return bus service (Departing Author’s Quay) from Limerick will leave at 8.50am, with the last service departing this same return Limerick – Thurles route at 5.50pm.

Note: All services will be in operation seven days a week, including Bank Holiday Mondays.

Policeman Murdered On Liberty Square, Thurles.

It happened 100 years ago on Monday evening June 23rd, 1919.
Remember Ireland’s National Heritage Week 2019 begins August 17th – August 25th.

A centenary commemorative service will be held at 2.30pm on Saturday next, June 22nd 2019, in Passlands Cemetery, Monasterevin, Co Kildare. The service will be held at the graveside of District Inspector Michael Hunt, Royal Irish Constabulary, (55727 D.I., R.I.C.), killed while on duty in Thurles, Co. Tipperary one hundred years ago on Monday evening, June 23rd, 1919.

The Royal Irish Constabulary remained at the front line of the British government’s war against the IRA especially between 1919 and 1921. Policemen were targeted by the IRA while alone or sometimes when off duty. They were by far the highest number of crown force casualties, with more than 400 killed, almost double the number of army fatalities during the same period. The number of R.I.C. officers killed in Tipperary numbered 46 during the War of Independence; with the vast majority of them being Irishmen.

Some of those R.I.C. Officers killed in Tipperary included:-
Toomevara: Constable James Rocke aged 26 and Constable Charles Healy aged 25.
Rearcross / Newport: Constable William Finn aged 22 and Constable Daniel McCarthy aged 27.
Gooldscross / Clonoulty: Sergeant Patrick McDonnell
Tipperary: RIC Constable Michael Horan, Constable Joseph Daly aged 20, Constable Thomas Gallivan aged 20, Head Constable Christopher Davis aged 41, and Constable William Cummings aged 25.
Templemore: District Inspector William Harding Wilson.
Mullinahone: Constable William Campbell.
Ballylooby: District Inspector Gilbert Norman Potter aged 42.
Cloughjordan: Constable John Cantlon and Constable William Walsh, Constable Martin Feeney and Constable James Briggs.
Carrick-on-Suir: Constable Dennis Patrick O’Leary.
Soloheadbeg: Constable James McDonnell aged 50 years and Constable Patrick O’Connell.
Lorrha: Sergeant, Philip Brady
Thurles: Constable Luke Finnegan and District Inspector Michael Hunt.
Inch (The Ragg); Constable John Heany.

The then British Prime Minister David Lloyd George had emphasised that this same Irish conflict was for police to handle, supported by military personnel and not vice versa. It was logical therefore that members of the IRA should target armed police, in order to acquire necessary weapons.

This commemorative event on Saturday afternoon next will be followed by light refreshments; same to be served appropriately in a former R.I.C. Barracks, which today serves as the Monasterevin Local Community Centre.

District Inspector Michael Hunt

Born the son of a Co. Sligo father, Mr Martin Hunt, on September 3rd, 1873, Michael Hunt joined the Royal Irish Constabulary on January 2nd, 1893, serving in Co. Longford, Co. Kerry and later in Co. Tipperary.

He was married on May 16th, 1900, to Ms Kathleen Mary Bell, the daughter of Mr John Bell, Co. Kildare. They parented six children; with their eldest son, Michael John Hunt, going on to receive a commission in the Royal Irish Regiment; quickly to be promoted to the rank of Captain, before later joining the R.I.C. in his own right.

His younger sister Eva Hunt, aged 15 years, had passed away just seven months prior to her father’s murder. Buried in Thurles; her later erected small white marble headstone reads:- “In loving memory of Eva Hunt, daughter of the late Michael Hunt, (55727 D.I., R.I.C.) Thurles, died 27th Nov 1918, aged 15 years.”

It was on Monday June 23rd, 1919, one hundred years ago this coming week, that District Inspector (DI) Michael Hunt was murdered, as he carried out police duties during a Thurles Race meeting and while in the company of at least two other RIC officers.

Uniformed and walking near the top of Main Street, Thurles (Today renamed Liberty Square), at approximately 5.30pm in the evening, he was shot from the rear at very close range, the ammunition used – large calibre, blunt nosed revolver bullets.

Colleagues R.I.C officers Sergeant Joseph Grove and Constable Patrick Murphy, were both walking some yards ahead and on hearing the gun retorts, they rushed back to find Hunt’s prostrate form face down in the street, before lifting him to the safety of the footpath. Race goers and others, on witnessing the action, now in fear scattered in all directions, thus aiding his murderers to escape with ease into their midst.

Thurles doctor, Thomas Barry attended to District Inspector Hunt, however he was declared dead at the scene. His lifeless body was taken to the nearby home of a Mrs Scully. Further investigation showed that three shots had been fired, two of which achieved accuracy, with one shot severing two of the largest blood vessels in his body, directly causing him to bleed to death; while a third shot fired wounded a nearby child, named as Danny Maher, in the left kneecap. According to a local doctor’s statement to police, the injured 12-year-old boy was spotted soon after the initial mayhem had subsided. He was taken to the doctor’s house for treatment, before being allowed to go on his way.

At Monasterevin Railway Station, Hunt’s coffin was met by a party of constabulary colleagues together with his son, the aforementioned Captain Michael John Hunt (Royal Irish Regiment), latter who had journeyed from London to be in attendance.

Grave of
William Harding Wilson in Templemore.

The gun used in the murder had been brought to Thurles town from the area of Loughmore village; transported in a pony and trap and hidden under the clothing being worn by a baby. Some 20 soldiers with fixed bayonets were on duty at the race meeting and persons were being searched entering the town. At least two of the three shots were fired at close range, with the gun being fired through the pocket of an overcoat, possibly touching the District Inspector’s vertebrae.

Two days later at an inquest in Thurles, held on Wednesday, June 25th, 1919, it was revealed by witness Sergeant Joseph Grove, that a crowd had began to again collect around the dead man on the pavement. District Inspector William Harding Wilson asked if they offered assistance, to which the witness replied in the negative, further confirming that some of those who gathered were observed to be laughing and jeering.

The then Foreman of the Jury, after brief consultation with Jury members, stated that their majority verdict, was that Mr Hunt met his death in accordance with the reasons stated in the medical evidence put forward and that the bullet wounds were inflicted by a person or persons unknown.

District Inspector Wilson then enquired if the Jury did not confirm that it was “Wilful Murder”. The Foreman confirmed that the Jury were not unanimous. Inspector Wilson then declared that he couldn’t understand their hesitation regarding this case. In his opinion it was very clear that Mr Hunt had been shot twice in the back, in a position where he could not view his assailant. This to him was a case of wilful murder and he remained at a loss as to what other interpretation could be honestly construed.

Note: District Inspector William Harding Wilson would have a narrow escape himself in June 1920, when his head was grazed by bullets fired at an R.I.C. patrol, as they passed through the village of Templetouhy. On August 16th 1920 an IRA party was dispatched to Templemore to kill Wilson. At 6.45pm as Wilson was about to enter Templemore post office, he was shot once in the head from an adjoining lane way.
The epitaph on his headstone reads “In loving memory of my dear husband William Harding Wilson, District Inspector Royal Irish Constabulary. Died 16th August 1920 aged 56 years. His life for his country, his soul to God”

District Inspector Hunt was buried with full military honours, with his coffin covered in the Union Jack, in Passlands Cemetery, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare on June 26th, 1919. He was interred in the family burial plot of his wife, (nee Bell). Shots were fired over his grave.

On September 9th, of the same year, Hunt was posthumously awarded £5 for excellent police duty in connection with the successful suppression of a Sinn Fein meeting on Sunday May 25th, 1919 in Co Tipperary, latter which resulted in the arrest of the Sinn Fein MP for North Monaghan, Ernest Blythe.

Blythe was found to be in possession of an incriminating document, latter which contained instructions on how to intimidate police through terrorizing their known associates and next of kin. Blythe was convicted by a court-martial in Dublin and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

A Tipperary Court awarded £5,800 to the widow of Hunt, latter who had initiated a compensation claim amounting to £12,000. She successfully appealed against the sum awarded and at the Four Courts, Dublin, in March 1920 his widow and their full siblings were awarded £7,800 in final compensation.

Two first cousins Jim and Tommy Stapleton from Finnahy, Upperchurch and Jim Murphy (Latter known as “The Jennett”), from Curreeney, Kilcommon, would later be named as responsible for the killing of R.I.C. District Inspector Michael Hunt; named in a statement made by James Leahy, Commandant No.2 Irish Republican Army (I.R.A.) (Mid) Tipp-Brigade.

Jim Stapleton was also named for the aforementioned killing of District Inspector William Harding Wilson outside Templemore post office.

Unlike other military or civilian cataclysms, to date here in Ireland no single memorial now exists to remember all R.I.C. officers, latter killed in the line of what they saw as their duty. Perhaps Tipperary could now rectify this situation, thus allowing those, mostly young Irishmen who lost their lives, to be remembered by their relatives and indeed the public in general.