OHS  - Ormond Historical Society

NEWS

Posted April 30th at 22.20 P.M.

Thomas McDonagh Weekend - Cloughjordan

The fourth annual Thomas MacDonagh Weekend takes place in Cloughjordan from 4th to 7th May. Once again Cloughjordan honours the patriot, poet, writer, scholar and gaelgóir in an extensive programme of events. Although there is diversity in the events, all reflect the legacy of Thomas MacDonagh. He found solace in turbulent times recalling the beauty of nature and the changing seasons around the woods at home and this is celebrated in a Heritage Flower Display which is coordinated by professional florist, Maura Lovelock, in the Methodist Church. Lily de Silva will be the guide through Knocknacree Wood and more of MacDonagh’s poems, erected along the pathways, will be unveiled. Guided tours of Cloughjordan’s Eco Project will also take place.
Thomas MacDonagh’s interest in painting led him to spend a year in Paris where he studied Art. He did not pursue that career however, unlike the many professional and amateur artists who will exhibit at a Charity Art Exhibition and Sale in the MacDonagh Schoolhouse. The pupils in the senior classes of the four Primary Schools in Cloughjordan Parish have been invited to present their impressions of the poem: I Heard a Music Sweet Today, which will also be on display.
Children will be welcome at the Family Fun Day at Django’s Hostel where all ages can enjoy entertainment with barbecue, Book Fair and the Circus Group and MacDonagh Pipe Band. The Rambling House has a welcome to all to share song, music and story and a there will be a special contribution from the Cloughjordan Drama Group. Bi linn agus fáilte chuig an Oíche Ghaelach.
Last year Leo Cullen, poet and regular contributor to RTE Radio’s Sunday Miscellany, came and so enjoyed the Weekend that he was eager to return. He will present a Poetry Hour and also with his good humour and lively wit read from his own writings at the Writers Group event. The Sunday Talk will focus on a social history of the years leading up to Easter 1916 and the following years, including the Suffragette Movement, the Great Lockout, Recruiting for WW1 etc.
History and Heritage will be the focus on the opening night of the Weekend. The Heritage Group will launch Volume VII of the Cloughjordan Heritage series, continuing the work begun by Canon E. White and Danny Grace. This is the biggest volume to date and brings together contributions from the parish and surrounding areas. It presents new research, reports, profiles, memories of people and places with poems and photos and a special record the families of Kyle. There are many surprises within the pages, lots to jog the memory and bring a smile.
Programme of Events

Posted April 6th at 14:30 P.M.

April Lecture by Mr Jack Powell

Ormond Historical Society will host a talk by 99 year old Veterinary Surgeon, Mr Jack Powell in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh on Monday 16th April at 8.00 p.m. Mr Powell was born in 1913, educated first in Toomevara N.S., attended veterinary college in Dublin, graduating in 1936. He practised first in England, where he joined the Canadian Air Force, serving as a flying instructor during WWII. He returned to Nenagh in 1947 and established a veterinary practise from which he just recently retired. This is definitely a lecture not to be missed, from an amazing individual whose lifespan encompasses two world wars, the war of Independence, civil war and the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1923. A man with great vitality and powers of recollection, Mr Powell is sure to entertain and enlighten all with his reminiscence on life in North Tipperary & in wartime Britain

Posted March 30th at 11:15 A.M.

New Feature Page article by Danny Grace

Check out the new Feature article on "Stopping Up a Mass Path" by OHS member Danny Grace.

Posted March 6th at 11:15 A.M.

Large audience for Brendan Treacy illustrated lecture

A large and appreciative audience attended Brendan Treacy's lecture on the changing face of Nenagh which took place last night in the Abbey Court Hotel. The photos which Brendan used to illustrate his talk certainly took many people down memory lane. Street views from the end of the 19th century, views of the busy cattle fairs held on the town's streets on the first Monday of every month, up until the opening of the livestock mart in the early sixties. Shops like Bridgy Clancy's on Dublin Rd. & Andy Ryan's in Kenyon St. where we bought sweets. The Ormond Garage in Pearse St, which used to screen Ford Rally sport films in the '60's, depicting the exploits of legendary names like Roger Clark, Timo Makinen & Paddy Hopkirk. Many of the photos used in the talk depicted some of the great characters who added to the rich taprestry of life in Nenagh down the years.
Pearse St Nenagh c.1960 Fans of Brendan's work in reproducing the Nenagh of bygone days are in for a treat with the news of an impending new book of photos later in the year.Reminder; Next month's lecture will be on Mon. April 16th (on account of Easter) and will commence at earlier time of 08:00 PM.

Posted March 5th at 20:10 P.M.

Minister commits to opening date for Nenagh Castle

In the course of his visit to to Nenagh Castle today, Minister Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works gave a commitment that the castle would be ready for opening on the 6th June next. The Minister met with members of the OHS committee & members of Nenagh Tourism Marketing & Development Commitee. Both organizations have been working for many years to achieve the restoration of the Keep along with the preservation & stabilization of the remainder of the castle. Whilst on site the Minister agreed to the June opening date and instructed the OPW staff and local authority to work towards this date.The Minister was accompanied by members of his staff & by Mr Noel Coonan T.D. for North Tipperary, who was instrumental in arranging the visit.


Posted March 4th at 11:48 P.M.

Minister visits Nenagh Castle to inspect restoration work

Brian Hayes T.D. Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works will visit Nenagh castle on Monday 5th March to view the ongoing restoration works taking place at the castle. During his visit the minister will meet with members of the OHS & Nenagh Tourism Development committee, both of whom have been pressing for the restoration of the castle over several decades. The visit has been aranged with the assistance of Mr Noel Coonan T.D. who has been a strong advocate of the committees efforts in relation to the restoration of this important historic gem.



Posted March 1st at 11:08 P.M.

The Changing Face of Nenagh

March Lecture - Monday night next, 5th. Abbey Court Hotel 8.30pm ‘The Changing face of Nenagh’. Speaker:Mr. Brendan Treacy. Nenagh native, Brendan has previously addressed our society. He has published five collections of photographs in book form, drawn from his archive of over 40000 images to chronicle all aspects of Nenagh life over the decades. This illustrated talk will focus on the changes to the physical face of Nenagh.

Posted Feb.10th at 10:08 P.M.

Faddan More Lecture

Last Monday's night's lecture on the Faddan More Psalter, by John Gillis, drew the largest attendance of this seasons talks. John Gillis gave an excellent, informative and entertaining presentation on one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever found in this region. The enigma of the psalter cover gave rise to many questions and much surmising by the very appreciative audience. It is amazing that any of the folios survived at all after a thousand years in a bog and is testament to the work of John & the other members of the team who worked so assiduously in pioneering the techniques which enabled the Psalter to be preserved. We were delighted that Kevin Leonard, one of the owners of Faddan More Bog where the Psalter was discovered, was able to attend.

Posted Feb.04th at 10:35 P.M.

New photographs posted in web gallery

Check out the latest additions to the new look web gallery Also, it is now possible to enter comments on the photographs and on the albums, & we will be delighted to hear your views.
Matt McGrath participating in 1912 Olympics


Posted Jan.22nd at 18:05 P.M.

John Gillis, Senior Conservator of Manuscripts, Trinity College Dublin, to lecture on The Faddan More Psalter, Co. Tipperary.

In July 2006 one of the most significant Irish archaeological discoveries was uncovered in a peat bog at Faddan More near Lorrha in North Tipperary - an early medieval manuscript on vellum containing a copy of the Psalms in a contemporary leather cover. This was the first ever discovery of its kind in Ireland and indeed anywhere in the world and is of international importance. The lecture offers a glimpse into the recovery, assessment and the complex and groundbreaking conservation process that followed and how the unique circumstances of this discovery will add to our understanding of early monastic life in Ireland.
Title: An Exciting Local Discovery: The Faddan More Psalter, Co. Tipperary
Place and Time: Monday 6th February 2012, 8.30 pm, Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh
Admission : Members; Free.  Non-Members; €5.
Fadden More Psalter as originally found


Posted Jan.14th at 23:15 P.M.

New album of old postcards in Gallery and link to Cartography lecture now active

There is an album of old postcards now in the Gallery and the link to the cartography lecture, which had a problem, is now working. If you would like to review this lecture try clicking on the link. Apologies to anyone who was trying to access this before now. Also, if anyone has old postcards of the region or images of same which they are willing to share, we'd be delighted to hear from you

 

Posted Jan.10th at 22:10 P.M.

OHS Website unveiled to members

Following last night's lecture the OHS website was unveiled to members by OHS Hon. Secretary, John Flannery, who developed the site. A brief tour of the site and its content was given. Members were encouraged to forward photographs and links for inclusion in the site. Already this appeal has resulted in several new links being added to the Links page - thanks to Paul Hayes who forwarded 13 new links. Reaction to the website has been very good and ideas for some exciting additions were floated. Keep checking back here for news on new developments or check out our Facebook page

Posted Dec.31st at 16:10 P.M.

Freida Kelly speaks on the life of Thomas Addis Emmet

The next lecture of the society will be held on Monday, 9th. January in the Abbey Court Hotel @ 8.30 p.m. Title of Lecture:" Introducing Thomas Addis Emmet."
Speaker: Ms. Freida Kelly. The talk will examine the life of Thomas Addis Emmet, who's family story began in Tipperary Town.
Freida is a mature history graduate of NUI Maynooth with a special interest in 18th. and 19th. Century Ireland and is currently involved in writing a biography of Thomas Addis Emmet (1764-1827). She spent 20 years as a guide in Kilmainham Gaol where Thomas Addis Emmet was imprisoned before he was banished into exile in France, she is also the author of the first history of Kilmainham Gaol.
Ms. Kelly has recently returned frpm a successful tour of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and new York where she spoke on the life of Thomas Addis Emmet. She actually stayed with the Emmet family in new York where she made some further progress in researching Emmet’s life in America. This is a work in progress.
Freida Kelly recently finished a screenplay on Thomas’ life and this, at present, is in treatment ,ready for submission to the Film Board.
Admission : Members; Free.  Non-Members; €5.
Thomas Addis Emmet

Posted Nov.28th at 22:30 P.M.

Bernadette Whelan, Head of Department of History at UL to speak at December meeting.

December lecture will  take place in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh on Monday Dec. 5th at 8.30 p.m. The speaker is Bernadette Whelan, B.A. (N.U.I.), M.A. (N.U.I.), PH.D. (N.U.I.),, Head of the Deptartment of History at University of Limerick. The topic is: "Women, Emigration and the American Experience 1900-1960"
Admission : Members; Free.  Non-Members; €5.

Posted Nov.19th at 20:30 P.M.

OHS on Facebook

OHS now have a Facebook page where members can post items of interest to fellow members. You need to have a facebook account to post on the site. Click the Facebook link on the right to access the page.

If you wish to contact the committee you can email toormondhistory@gmail.com

The next lecture of the season will take place in the Abbey Court Hotel  on Mon 5th Dec. at 08.30 pm. The speaker will be Dr Bernadette Whelan from  University of Limerick. 

Last months lecture by Dr Rose Cleary on the excavation of the Neolithic site at Tullaheady was well attended  & proved to be very interesting, particularly the fact that Lough Derg extended right to Tullaheady during this period. For anyone who missed this lecture or members who might like to revisit the topic  Dr Cleary's slides are now available on our Archive page.

All in all it has been a busy time for the OHS recently, with the AGM taking place in October & also the launch by OHS Member Tim  Boland  of his book on the life of Fr John Kenyon. The book was launched on Oct 7th last in the Parish centre , Templederry, a parish />which was home to Fr Kenyon  from 1842 until his death in 1869. The book " Father John Kenyon  The Rebel Priest"  is available from local bookshops priced €22.