heritage · gaol, newgrange, dublin castle, the rock of cashel and clonmacnoise. this is your...

Issue 4 SUMMER 2016

HeritageIRELAND

Augustinian Priory, Kells. © Government National Monuments Service Photographic Unit

in this issue...1916 COMMEMORATIONS

OFFICIAL CEREMONIES AND EXHIBITIONS HERITAGE WEEK EVENTSMONUMENTS & HERITAGE SITES, EVENTS, VISITOR CENTRES

2 www.heritageireland.ie

Contents

10

54

463 Welcome4 Contributors

NEWS5 Kilmainham Gaol

1916 Commemoration events10 RTE’s ‘Magical Sites’ 12 HRH Prince Charles visits Donegal13 President Higgins visits Ardfert Cathedral

FEATURES15 The Hill of Tara18 Doe Castle22 Tintern Abbey26 Colclough Walled Garden27 The General Post Office, O’Connell Street30 Ferocious O’Flahertys of Aughnanure Castle34 Clara Bog and Boardwalk36 4th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers39 Ilnacullin / Garinish Island42 Kells Priory - A Defended Monastery

inthis

issue...

151916 Exhibition at Cahir Castle

Pocket F irst Aid kit from Collins Barracks 1916 Exhibition

‘Magical Sites’

Hill of Tara Earthworks

47 Heritage

Week

EVENTS44 Farmleigh House46 ‘Proclaiming a Republic’

1916 Exhibition, Collins Barracks 46 Portfolio Preparation Course - Dublin Castle47 National Heritage Week 201649 The Lapis and Gold Exhibition

Story of the Ruzbihan Qur’an50 Mná 1916 – Women of 1916

Exhibition on tour, Jun-Dec54 Cahir Castle 1916

Exhibition‘Remembering the 1916Easter Rising and theWar of Independence’

56 Damer House Gallery events

Top: Poulnabrone Portal Tomb,The Burren, Co. Clare© OPW/National MonumentsService Photographic Unit

Above: Early Purple Orchid,The Burren© Tourism Ireland

to the Summer 2016 issue of Heritage Ireland

Spring was a busy time for many of our sites that hosted a variety of activities andevents as part of the 1916 commemorations including the opening of the Office ofPublic Works new visitor centre at Kilmainham Courthouse. President Michael D.Higgins was the guest of honour at a special event on 30th March to officially open thenew facility, which is one of nine ‘Permanent Reminders’ being delivered as part of theIreland 2016 Centenary Programme. While many of the key commemorative eventshave passed, there are many more taking place this summer (see http://www.ireland.ie/for an event near you), including the National Museum of Ireland’s exhibitionProclaiming a Republic.Before there has been time to catch our breath, the Summer season has already begunand we have plenty of ideas to keep you busy over the next few months. And whatbetter way to enjoy a heritage-filled summer than by availing of the new HolidayHeritage Card. Keep an eye out for this new concept card coming soon. It is amazingvalue, giving you four weeks of unlimited access to approximately 50 fee-paying OPWsites, including such iconic sites as Kilmainham Gaol, Newgrange, Dublin Castle, theRock of Cashel and Clonmacnoise. This is your opportunity to explore not only thesejewels in the crown of Irish tourism but to also discover the hidden gems - PortumnaCastle, Emo Court, Swiss Cottage, Glebe House & Gallery, Mellifont Abbey, Knowthand Parke's Castle - to name a very few. Or for those of you who wish to take your timeexploring our historic sites, the OPW also has a new look annual Heritage Card.And for those of you who enjoy the great outdoors, why not visit our six National Parksthis summer, where there is so much to learn about some of Ireland’s uniquelandscapes, such as the limestone ridges and turloughs of the Burren, or the wildmountain bogs of Ballycroy, Co. Mayo.

Welcome

www.heritageireland.ie 3


ContributorsJENNY YOUNG has a Masters inLandscape Archaeology from NUIGalway and has worked as a guide atAughnanure Castle since 2006. She hasa huge interest in medieval history andis currently researching the medievalO'Flaherty lordship of Iarchonnacht foran upcoming publication.

BREDA LYNCH is the Supervisor Guide ofa number of OPW National Monumentsites in the south-east. A publishedauthor, Breda was awarded a PhD inhistory by Maynooth University in 2008and since then has conductedextensive research and lectured widely on Irishchurch history, with particular emphasison the Cistercian Order.

NIAMH DONNELLAN is National HeritageWeek Project Manager for the HeritageCouncil. With a BA in Ancient Historyand Archaeology from Trinity CollegeDublin and a background in culturalevent marketing, she’s in her elementpromoting Ireland's built, natural andcultural heritage. She has previouslyworked with some of Ireland's largestcultural celebrations including St.Patrick’s Festival and Kilkenny ArtsFestival.

JOAN REVINGTON has worked as anOPW guide on the Hill of Tara since1998.

ALAN RYAN is the Project Manager at Colclough Walled Garden.

REBECCA DOBSON has worked in theheritage sector over the past ten yearsand has worked with the NationalMuseum of Ireland – Country Life and atthe OPW site Clonmacnoise. Since2009 Rebecca has worked withNational Parks and Wildlife Service andis currently the Head Education Officerat Clara Bog Visitor Centre. Rebeccahas a BA in Heritage Studies from GMIT,a BSc in Economics with RuralDevelopment from NUIG and iscurrently studying for a Masters inEducation at NUIG.

SINÉAD McCOOLE is a currently amember of the 2016 project team in theDepartment of Arts, Heritage and theGaeltacht. In the centenary year she has curatedMná 1916/Women 1916 based onmaterial released from the nationalcultural institutions and the MilitaryArchives. She is also a member of theGovernment's Expert Advisory Group onthe Decade of Centenaries. Sinéad is theauthor of many books on the IrishRevolutionary period 1916-1923 including Easter Widows, the untoldstory of the wives of the executed leaders.She has curated exhibitions both in Irelandand the US. A Broadcaster and ScriptWriter her latest work, A Father's Letter,part of the After 16 Irish Film Board shorts,is based on interviews taken over a 10year period with Fr Mallin, the last survivingchild of a 1916 leader.

EVELYN LONG is Manager of CharlesFort National Monument for the Officeof Public Works. Evelyn has a BA inHistory, MPhil in Politics, Diploma in ArtHistory and a Higher Diploma in Health& Safety Management. Her area ofinterest is Modern Irish History and shehas lectured on same in UniversityCollege Cork and abroad with the IrishAmerican Cultural Institute.

KAREN HEALY As Head Guide atCharles Fort National Monument, KarenHealy has a specific interest in militaryhistory and the First World War. Sherecently curated a WW1 exhibitionwhich is currently on view in CharlesFort. She has also contributed to theFortified Places of Cork City & Countylecture series. Karen has previouslyworked with the OPW at Scattery Islandand Ennis Friary. She has a BA in Historyand Media from University Limerick anda MSc in Tourism Management from DIT.

CHRIS O'NEILL joined the OPW HeritageServices team as a Park Superintendentin 2013 and is responsible for theconservation, management andpresentation of Derrynane House &National Historic Park, Ilnacullin/Garinish Island, and Fota Arboretum &Gardens.

Editorial Team: Chris Corlett, Michael Loughran, Brian O'Brien and Noreen Finnegan.

Layout & Design: Sinéad Mallee

MOVING MEVAGH FORWARD is a voluntary, not for profit,community group of local people interested in improvingthe social, economic and cultural life of the parish ofMevagh which covers an area adjacent to Doe Castle.The reopening of OPW’s Doe Castle to the public has beena Moving Mevagh Forward initiative.


NEWSWhat’s happening

Keep an eye on our website www.heritageireland.ie and the Heritage Ireland Facebook for announcement of when the

new Holiday Heritage Card will be launched.

BLIAIN AMHÁIN - ONE YEAR

Leis an gcárta seo, beidh cead isteach gan teorainn ag ansealbhóir chuig gach Láithreán Oidhreachta atá sa bhróisiúrLáithreáin Oidhreachta na hÉireann ar feadh aon bhlianaamháin (seachas Feirmeacha Traidisiúnta Mhucrois).Tá an cárta seo neamh-inaistrithe agus ní fhéadfaidhach an sínitheoir leas a bhaint as.Ní bheidh aon dliteanas ar Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí ná aran Stát as díobháil, gortú nó caillteanas ar bith a tharlaíonndon duine nó do shealúchas daoine a thugann cuairt ar naláithreáin seo, beag beann ar an gcaoi ar tharla sé.

This card gives the holder unlimited admission to all Heritage Sites listed in the brochure Heritage Sites of Ireland for one year (with the exception of Muckross Traditional Farms).This card is non-transferable and may only beused by the signatory.No liability shall attach itself to the Office of PublicWorks or the State for any damage, injury or loss to the person or property of visitors to these siteshowsoever caused.

PHOTO

: COURTESY O

F THE DEPARTMEN

T OF ARTS, HERITAGE AN

D THE GAELTACHT

12345

SEANÓIR - SENIOR CITIZEN

CEITHRE SEACHTAINE - FOUR WEEKS

Leis an gcárta seo, beidh

cead isteach gan teorain

n ag an

sealbhóir chuig gach Lái

threán Oidhreachta atá

sa bhróisiúr

Láithreáin Oidhreachta na hÉireann ar feadh ceithre

seachtaine (seachas Feir

meacha Traidisiúnta Mhucrois).

Tá an cárta seo neamh-inaistrithe agus ní fhéadfaidh

ach an sínitheoir leas a bhaint as.

Ní bheidh aon dliteanas a

r Oifig na nOibreacha Po

iblí ná ar

an Stát as díobháil, gortú

nó caillteanas ar bith a

tharlaíonn

don duine nó do shealú

chas daoine a thugann c

uairt ar na

láithreáin seo, beag bea

nn ar an gcaoi ar tharla s

é.

This card gives the holde

r unlimited admission to

all Heritage Sites listed i

n the brochure Heritage

Sites of Ireland for four weeks (with the

exception

of Muckross Traditional Farm

s).

This card is non-transferable and may only be

used by the signatory.

No liability shall attach it

self to the Office of Publ

ic

Works or the State for any

damage, injury or loss

to the person or propert

y of visitors to these site

s

howsoever caused.

PHOTO

: COURTESY O

F THE DEPARTMEN

T OF ARTS, HERITAGE AN

D THE GAELTACHT

12345

CLANN - FAMILY

ANNUAL Heritage Card prices: Adult €25, Senior €20, Student/Child €10, Family €60

HOLIDAY Heritage Card prices: Adult €12.50, Senior €10, Student/Child €5, Family €30

pÉÉ=ãçêÉ=Ñçê=äÉëë>The Office of Public Works is delighted to announce not only the re-design of itsannual Heritage Card but also the launch of a new four week Holiday Heritage Card.

It's a great year to visit a heritage site as many sites have new and additional developments, events orexhibitions to commemorate 1916. The new Holiday card in particular is amazing value giving unlimitedaccess for a four week period to approx. 50 fee paying OPW sites including such iconic sites as KilmainhamGaol, Newgrange, Dublin Castle, the Rock of Cashel and Clonmacnoise. This is your opportunity to explorenot only these jewels in the crown of Irish tourism but to also discover the hidden gems - Portumna Castle,Emo Court, Swiss Cottage, Glebe House & Gallery, Mellifont Abbey, Knowth, Parke's Castle - to name a

very few. Lose yourself at these gorgeous, lesser known sites and finda new favourite every visit.

How many can you 'do' in four weeks?

KILMAINHAM GAOL 2016


As part of the Ireland 2016 Centenaryprogramme, official ceremonies to

commemorate the executions of the Leadersof the 1916 Rising took place between the 3rdand the 12th of May at Stonebreakers' Yard,Kilmainham Gaol.

There were individual ceremonies to commemorateeach execution on the centenary date of the executionand each ceremony was comprised of a number ofelements including the reading of the trial documentsrelating the charge against the accused man, the pleathat was entered, the verdict of the court and thewitness statements provided. A member of theCapuchin Friars also attended and delivered a readingfrom the memoirs of the individual Friar who attendedeach of the men prior to their execution. This wasfollowed by a wreath laying service with a Militarycolour party, Military Police wreath bearer and aPiper’s lament.

KILMAINHAM GAOL 2016

In the Stonebreakers’ yard at Kilmainham Gaol, President Higginslays a wreath on the spot where the Leaders of the 1916 Risingwere executed in the days after the Rising.

NEWS


KILMAINHAM COURTHOUSEVisitor Centre

Some of the Kilmainham Gaol guides outsidethe Grand Jury entrance to the Courthouse.

Back Row, L-R: Brian Hennessy, Kim Lloyd, Mick Farrelly

Middle Row: Ailbhe Rogers, Shauna Fox, Dermot Tobin,

Roy Barron, Adam Ladd, Pat BurkeFront Row: Anne Nolan, Ciara Murray,

Anne Harte, Dawn Slattery, Rebecca Walsh, Ben Delaney, Damien Maguire.

Visitors are now

able to book and

pay for admission

tickets online in

advance of their

visit, ensuring a

more convenient

and organised trip

to the site. Online Bookings: www.kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie

Left: At the official opening of the new VisitorCentre at Kilmainham Courthouse, 30th March2016, L-R: The Hon. Mrs. Justice SusanDenham, Chief Justice of Ireland; Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh; Sabina Higgins; President Michael D. Higgins; Minister Simon Harris and Chairman Clare McGrath, OPW.

NEWS

Inspiration for the original seriescame from a passion and interest

in history and archaeology sharedby RTÉjr Controller, Sheila deCourcy and Executive Producer ofYoung People’s Programmes,Stephen Plunkett. “We are delightedto bring more of the heritage sites ofIreland to our young audience.Drawing on the success of the firstseries we are excited to again berecreating the past for our youngviewers. The first series gave us achance to explore an idea and thesecond series means we can developthat idea and take it to a differentrealm. It is exciting for us - butmost of all for our viewers!” says deCourcy.

Niamh Guckian is the producer anddirector of the new series: “This year Ireally wanted the audience to engagewith the history of each individual site.While this is not intended as an‘educational’ series, we do want theaudience to come away with some keylearning points from each programme.It may be something very simple suchas understanding that each carving inJerpoint Abbey was done by the handsof skilled stonemasons and that each ofthe carvings tells a story.”

This year, the team filmed at fifteensites all over Ireland ranging fromrelatively unknown monuments such asthe standing stone at Craddockstown

in Co. Kildare to the magnificence ofJerpoint Abbey in Co. Kilkenny. Ashappened during the first series, thisyear’s team faced a whole range of Irishweather during the shoot - shelteringfrom hailstones at Maynooth Castleand, a few days later, trying to avoidsunburn in the garden at Rothe Housein Kilkenny - and then there was thetrek up to Queen Méadhbh’s Cairn atKnocknarea in Co. Sligo and workingwith live birds at the dovecote in ForeAbbey, Co. Westmeath... never a dullmoment as the crew worked its wayaround the country!

RTÉjr was delighted this timearound to be able to work with the

RTÉjr television has justcompleted filming a brand new

series of ‘Magical Sites’.



Centre for Experimental Archaeologyin UCD. Professor Aidan O’Sullivanand the team there provided the serieswith replica artefacts that were used asprops. The costumes were designed tobe historically accurate, employingnatural dyes and materials that wouldhave been appropriate to the period ofthe story and site featured in eachepisode. Factual accuracy is veryimportant to the series’ researcher,Sheila Ahern: “Our very youngaudience deserves the same overallstandard and attention to detail as anyother audience. It was particularlyexciting to see the costumes and theartefacts in action. The children whotook part really loved getting dressed-up in their Iron Age or Medievalcostumes and I had lots of fun, forexample, learning how to play a Vikingboard game!”

Stephen Plunkett points to theimportance for RTÉ’s Young People’sProgrammes department of engagingnon-commercial, educational andcultural partners in projects such as

‘Magical Sites’: “The OPW has been on-board from the very start. Since I firstmentioned the series the staff of theOPW have been totally enthusiasticabout the series. They offered adviceand guidance on the proposed locations- and, vitally, permission to film at thesites - and through both productions,OPW staff have been on-hand to helpout with access and to supplyinvaluable practical and historicaladvice. Also crucial was the support ofthe Broadcasting Authority of Ireland(BAI) via its Sound & Vision schemewhich enables productions to take placewhich, though they offer real culturalvalue, wouldn’t otherwise manage tofind the necessary financial resourcesto get made.”

‘Magical Sites’ was devised to meetthe abilities, needs and interests of

children aged under seven years of ageand everything in the series is age-appropriate and told from a child’spoint of view. The learning pointsprovide a springboard for furtherexploration of the sites with thechildren’s own parents, guardians,friends and older siblings. The series ismade by the multi-award-winning RTÉYoung People’s Programmesproduction unit which makes severalhundred hours of programmes everyyear. Alongside its first broadcast in theAutumn on RTÉjr and RTÉ2, the serieswill also feature on the RTÉjr app,RTÉjr website and the RTÉ Player,meaning it will reach the widestpossible audience.

Images: Glendalough (facing page).Jerpoint Abbey (left); Kells High Cross (top);Athgreany cast (below).

NEWS


HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visit Donegal Castle on May 25th, 2016.

They were welcomed by Seán McLoone and staff of Donegal Castleand enjoyed performances by local dancers and school music group.

They then toured some of the Castle’s restored rooms andbanqueting hall before walking through the town.

Photos courtesy of Donegal Democrat

NEWSRoyal Visit to

Donegal Castle

14

Ardfert Cathedral

Co. KerryThe Office of Public Works was delighted to

welcome President Michael D. Higgins and hiswife Sabina Higgins to Ardfert Cathedral on

21st April, following their attendance at the State Ceremony at Banna Strand to

honour Roger Casement.

Top left: L-R: FionnbarrMoore, Presidentand Mrs Higgins,Donal Stack,OPW Guide.

Top right: Michael Keane,OPW Guide, Mrs Higgins,Adrian Corcoran,Supervisor, Ardfert Cathedral, CommissionerJohn McMahon,OPW

Below left: President Michael D. Higgins and hiswife, Sabina Higgins at Ardfert Cathedral.

Below right: Fionnbarr Mooreof the UnderwaterArchaeology Unit,DAHG gives President Higginsa tour of ArdfertCathedral


The hill itself is a low lying ridgerunning north/south with

monuments extending over 1kmalong it. These monuments on theridge are part of a much wider rituallandscape as there are many more inthe surrounding countryside.

The hill is only 155m above sea levelbut there is a tremendous sense ofheight and elevation. On a clear dayspectacular views can be seen, from theMourne and Cooley mountains in theNorth East, across the central plain ofIreland to the Slieve Bloom Mountainsin the South West and on to the DublinWicklow Mountains in the South.About one fifth of the Island can beseen.

Along the ridge there are 25monuments visible as earthworks.Originally many more monumentsexisted but in many cases these havedisappeared without leaving visibletrace. Evidence for these other

THE HILL OFTARAThe Hill of Tara is a very special place with a long complex story stretching

back thousands of years which still attracts many people to this day.

Tara Earthworks, Co. Meath.

FEATURES

Text by Joan RevingtonMound of the Hostages, Passage Tomb, Tara


monuments comes from non intrusivesurveys carried out by the DiscoveryProgramme such as magneticgradiometry and lidar surveys, buildingon previous aerial photography surveyscarried out by the archaeologist LeoSwan in the 1970s.

Some excavations took place in the1950s under the direction of ProfessorSean P. O’Riordan, later completed byProfessor Ruairí de Valera and in morerecent times by Helen Roche fromUCD in the 1990s. The oldest visiblemonument on the hill is a passage tombdating to the Neolithic, built before3000BC, where human remains weredeposited. There are monuments alsodating from the Bronze Age, Iron Ageand early Medieval period so Tara isvery much a multi-period site. Themajority of the monuments were usedfor burial and ceremonial purposes.

The Hill of Tara is probably bestknown as the seat of the High Kings ofIreland. Claimed to be the ancientcapital it was one of the ‘Royal’ sites,the others being Emhain Macha inUlster, Crúachan in Connaught, Cashelin Munster and Dun Ailinne inLeinster.

The kingship of Tara was special, itwas a sacral kingship. The king wasseen as a mediator between the peopleand their deities; chief among the

deities associated with Tara were thegod Lugh who was the Samildánach ormaster of arts and Maeve the goddessof sovereignty. When the king wasinaugurated it was looked upon as aritual union between the mortal manand the goddess of sovereignty. Theking and the land were united and if heruled well, the land would be fertile,crops would grow, animals wouldthrive and the people would prosper.Central to this was the phrase firflathemon (the justice of a ruler). Theking had to embody justice, peace,truth, fertility, and be without physicalblemish. He was also bound by taboos,the breaking of these prohibitionswould lead to disaster and death. Onthe summit of the hill is a standingstone claimed to be the stone of destiny,the inauguration stone of the kings.Legends say it screeched out whentouched by the true king.

Elements of this pre-christian sacralkingship continued on into Christiantimes. The kingship was muchdisputed between rival dynasties fromLeinster, Ulster and the Midlands.From the 7th century AD onwards theO’Neills succeeded in dominating Tara.Very few kings really held power overthe whole Island. Perhaps one of thefirst kings to control other provinceswas the O’Neill king Máelshechnaill

Mac Mael Ruanaid in the 9th CenturyAD.

Many of the monuments on Tarahave interesting names, for example -the Mound of the Hostages, the RoyalSeat, the Banqueting Hall, Cormac’sHouse, the Rath of the Synods etc. Thenames are taken from texts found inDinnshenchas Érenn, the lore ofnotable places in Ireland, explaining theorigin of placenames. In order topromote and strengthen their claims tothe kingship of Tara the O’Neills andtheir followers created manuscripts anddocuments placing themselves centrestage.

Some of texts written inDinnshenchas Érenn are thought tohave been written by Cúán Ó Lothcáin,Máelsechnaill Mac Domnaill’s chiefpoet and propagandist. This was amedieval survey of Tara that givesinformation about the monuments thatexisted on Tara in the early medievalperiod. Legends were created andwritten down, each monument given aname and these names have remainedever since, however, often the namebears no relation to the originalfunction of the site. For example, theMound of the Hostages is actually apassage tomb containing humanremains dating back 5,000 years to theNeolithic period when it was first built.It was used as a burial ground for aspan of approx 1700 years as the lastburials in the mound took place in theBronze Age. The Banqueting Hall isactually a ceremonial avenue leading onto the hill. Cormac mac Art, an ancestorof the O’Neills and one of the mostfamous kings of Tara is claimed to havebeen responsible for building many ofthe monuments on the Hill. Links tothe O’Neills were created at every turn,reinforcing their associations with Taraand their right to hold the kingship.

The power of the O’Neills wasbroken when Máelsechnaill MacDomnaill died in 1022AD. He wasdescended from Chlann Chólman ofthe southern O’Neill. He came to powerin 980AD and shortly after at the Battleof Tara he defeated forces led by SitricSilkbeard, son of the Viking king Olaf.After the battle he laid siege to Dublinand gained control there. He waschallenged by Brian Boru andeventually submitted to him in1002AD. When Brian was killed in theBattle of Clontarf 1014AD the kingshipreverted to Máelsechnaill and he ruledtill he died in 1022AD. He was the lastof the O’Neills to rule Tara andeventually control over Dublin ratherthan Tara became essential for any kingwho aspired to rule Ireland.

The names of the monuments on

FEATURE THE HILL OF TARA


Tara had been forgotten over the yearsbut were revived by John O’Donovan inthe 1830’s when he was carrying outwork for the ordnance survey. Theantiquarian George Petrie made furtherprogress when he began to translatesome of the old texts.

The iconic and symbolic nature ofTara has been used to good effect overthe years by people with differentcauses or agendas they wanted topursue. Hugh O’Neill is said to haverallied his troops at Tara on his way tothe Battle of Kinsale in 1601. In 1798thousands of rebels gathered at Taraand made a stand against crown forcesduring the United Irishmen’s rebellion.Daniel O’Connell held one of hismonster meetings here in 1843 whenhe was seeking to repeal the Act ofUnion.

People with very different interestsand backgrounds visit Tara today. Oneof the more unusual stories associatedwith Tara is the search for the Ark ofthe Covenant by the British Israelites in1899. They believed it was buried in themonument known as the Rath of theSynods, unfortunately digging it up anddestroying much of the site in theprocess.

For archaeologists the complex isrich in archaeological remains, for thehistorians there is a wealth ofreferences in early Irish literature to theglory days of kingship, gods andgoddesses, druids and warriors of theFianna with Tara being the setting formany of the old stories.

For Christians, this is the placewhere St. Patrick is said to haveconfronted the pagan king Laoighaireand defeated the power of the druidsafter he lit the paschal fire on the Hill ofSlane.

Modern day pagans come to Tarathroughout the year but especially atthe old Celtic festivals of Imbolc,Bealtine, Lughnasa, Samhain and also atthe Equinoxes and the Solstices.

Some people just come to enjoy thefresh air and splendid views in fineweather; families love the open spaces.

Most people love the freedom ofTara as it is always open and accessibleto everyone.

Tara is on the tentative list forinclusion as a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, along with other royalsites Cashel, Cruachan, Uisneach andDún Ailinne.

From Mid-May to Mid Septemberevery year an OPW guide service isavailable on Tara. Based in the 19thcentury St. Patrick’s Church of Irelandchurch an audio-visual presentationand guided tours are available everyday.

www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/hilloftara/

Facing page: ‘Rath of the Synods’

Tara Earthworks

Above: ‘The Banqueting Hall’

Top right: ‘Mount of the Hostages’ Passage Tomb.

Centre right: ‘Rath of the Synods’

All images © Copyright of Photographic Unit,Department of the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government, Ireland.


There have been close linksbetween Donegal and Scotland

for many centuries with some of theearliest being forged by Scottishgallowglasses. One such clan was the McSweeneyswho came in the 13th century to join theO’Donnells, the rulers of Tir Chonaill,an area which included a large portionof present day Donegal. No doubt as areward for gallowglass service, andmarriage ties between the two families,the O’Donnells in 1360 assigned theMcSweeneys three ‘tuaths’ orterritories which had previously beenruled by the O’Boyles. Caisleán nadTuath, or Castledoe in English, wasgiven to them in 1440. Known today asDoe Castle it sits on a secluded spot onthe shore of beautiful Sheephaven Bayjust off the R245 between the villages ofCreeslough and Carrigart in northDonegal (latitude 55.135:longitude -7.864.)

Doe was one of several strongholdsof Mac Suibhne na dTuath - TheMcSweeneys of The Territories. Theothers, on nearby Fanad peninsula andSt. John’s Point in the south of thecounty, are alas in ruins. But Doe,which has witnessed more than fivehundred years of a somewhatchequered history has survived intactand now, thanks to the efforts of theOPW, DLDC, Donegal County Counciland local community group, MovingMevagh Forward, is enjoying arenaissance.

The first historical reference to theMcSweeneys of Doe is 1544 whenEoghan Mór, who may have been the

fifth chief, died while a captive of theO’Malleys of Connaught. The castleholds a grave slab dated 1544. Carvedwith an elaborate cross, and a circle ofspearheads radiating from the centrewith mythical animals on one side andintricate knot patterns on the other,could this perhaps be the grave stone ofEoghan Mór?

After his death there followed afratricidal struggle for the chieftaincyuntil Murchu Mall was elected chief in1554 only to be slain in 1570 by theMcDonnells of Antrim. His brother,Eoghan Óg II, who was chief from 1570until his death in 1596, was judged bythe Four Masters to be “an influentialand generous man, puissant to sustain,brave to attack, with the gift of good senseand counsel in peace and war”. In 1588 hegave refuge at Doe to sailors from theSpanish Armada who wereshipwrecked off Donegal. A fosterfather to the famous Red HughO’Donnell, Eoghan Óg II attended hisinauguration as Lord of the CinelChonail in 1592.

A colourful character, Maolmhuirean Bhata Bhuí, or Myles of the YellowStick, succeeded Eoghan Óg II. Duringthe Nine Years war he switchedallegiance between the Irish andEnglish sides at least five times. Whileshowing loyalty to Queen Elizabeth in1599 he received the yellow stick, theinsignia of the knighthood bestowed onhim for service to the crown. Thisloyalty was short lived however for,two years later, he was to accompanyRed Hugh on the epic winter march toKinsale in 1601. Myles of the YellowStick was the last McSweeney chief ofDoe.

DOECASTLECaislean na dTuath

Sheephaven Bay, near Creeslough, County Donegal

Main image: Doe Castle © Copyright of “Scenes of Donegal”Martin Fleming Photography

Far left: Turlogh McSweeney‘The Donegal Piper’

Left: Canons on the roof of Doe Castle

Following Kinsale, and after a shortinterlude when the castle was held bythe O’Donnells, Sir Arthur Chichester, aleading architect of the Plantation ofUlster and mastermind behind theFlight of the Earls, brought Doe underEnglish control and it was granted to asuccession of English settlers. The castleagain briefly returned to Irish handswhen Cahir O’Doherty took it on hisway to attack Derry in April 1608. It wassaid that, in the subsequent siege toregain it, Doe only yielded after a demi-cannon had fired 100 balls into it. Doewas next granted to the AttorneyGeneral of Ireland, Sir John Days, whoin 1614 sold it to Capt. John Sandford.In 1623 it was recorded that Sandford“hath made in it some additions ofbuildings, and hath covered the house andslated it, and is now building a stone housewithin the bawn”.

The Sandford family lived at Doe untilthe Gaelic uprising of 1641 when theywere expelled by a grandson ofMaolmhuire an Bhata Bhuí with Doeremaining in McSweeney hands until1650. The highpoint of this period wasin 1642 when Owen Roe O’Neill, with100 Irish veterans from the Spanishwars, landed at Doe to be greeted by SirPhelim O’Neill; it was from there thatthe Gaelic leaders, with 1,500 men, setout to lead the Irish troops. During theeventful years of the rebellion Doeprovided an isolated outpost to theUlster Irish forces who were then beingharried by Ulster Scottish regiments –perhaps a somewhat ironical twist giventhe McSweeney’s Scottish origins.

Doe remained garrisoned by Englishsoldiers for the rest of the turbulent1600s apart from a brief period in 1689

when Donnchadh Óg McSweeney, whofought with James II at the Boyne andAughrim leaving for France after theTreaty of Limerick in 1691, took it.

General George Vaughan Hart, whoseinitials are above the doorway to theeast side of the keep, acquired the castlein the late 18th century. Like Sandfordbefore him he too repaired the bawnwall and rebuilt some of the castle totransform Doe into a comfortablecountry house. Hart, who had served inboth India and America, brought anumber of cannon back from the 1799siege of Seringapatam which ended therule of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore.These were displayed along thebattlements on the seaward side; to thisday two of them can be found in thegarden of Arnolds Hotel in nearbyDunfanaghy. The general also brought


Doe Castle ‘Reflections’ © Scenes of Donegal / Martin Fleming Photography


back an Indian servant who slept, fullyarmed, across the doorway to hismaster’s bedroom at Doe. The Harts leftDoe in 1843 and, after a succession ofdifferent occupants, it was taken intopublic ownership in 1932. For manyyears the Moore family, who live nearby,have maintained the grounds andopened the castle each day.

Doe is protected on three sides by thesea and, on the landward side, by a deeprock cut fosse. The entrance to the keephas a carved face set into the stoneworkand is reached by a causeway over thefosse; it is protected by walls withsplayed gun loops and a machicolationabove the inner doorway to allowmissiles to be dropped on attackers.Three of the corners of the bawn wall atDoe are protected by bartizans whichoverhang the walls creating space fordefending soldiers. No wonder

Chichester described Doe as “being ofgreat strength and standing in a dangerousplace where it hath hitherto been a greatannoyance to the quiet settlement of theseparts.”

An underground passageway leads toa side door and also a small, dark,enclosed space under a square tower tothe right of the entrance. Local traditionholds that this was the dungeon. Thethree-quarter corner tower, whichprotects the north corner of the bawnwall, is three storeys high with gunloops at each level looking out overSheephaven Bay. Traditionally known asthe “hanging tower”, the crenellated roofhas stone corbelling. This tower, andanother inner one on the north eastcorner of the keep, may be 16th centuryadditions.

In 1905 Doe’s McSweeney originswere rekindled when three thousand

people marched in procession fromCreeslough to the castle to attend aGaelic Revival Festival. At the head,playing "McSweeney’s March", was thecelebrated Donegal piper TurloughMcSweeney, An Píobaire Mór, who hadwon international acclaim at the World'sFair in Chicago in 1893 where he playedevery day for six months outside areplica of Donegal Castle. PádraigPearse, signatory of the 1916Proclamation, addressed the meeting.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

“Doe Castle – A Visitor’s Guide” Kevin Ward“The Story of Doe Castle” J.C.T. McDonagh;Donegal Annual Vol IIArchaeological Survey of County DonegalArnolds Hotel, DunfanaghyImages of Doe Castle are © Copyright of“Scenes of Donegal”www.scenesofdonegal.com.

FEATURE DOE CASTLE

Above: Minister Simon Harris, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of PublicWorks during his visit to Doe Castle in August 2015 pictured with Junior Minister Joe McHugh,Dinny McGinley TD, Myles Gallagher and Noel McBride from Moving Mevagh Forward, StephenShevlin, DLDC and Alistair Moore who presented the Minister with a book by Kevin Ward on theHistory of Doe Castle.

Below: Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Simon Harris pictured with Junior GaeltachtMinister Joe McHugh and Dinny McGinley TD, members of DLDC and Moving Mevagh Forwardand members of the Moore family during his visit to Doe Castle in August 2015.


qáåíÉêå=^ÄÄÉóSet in a Special Area of

Conservation, Tintern Abbeyevokes evokes the landscape andconnections to a time passed in aunique way. The trip to Tinternis a journey, and the prize at theend of negotiating the roads ofthe Hook Peninsula is the first,teasing glimpse of the abbey thatentices you down the driveway.As you follow the meanderingdrive the natural landscape islaid out below you, while theeighteenth century organisedplanting gives you a peep at themedieval abbey turned into afortified dwelling.

The abbey was founded byWilliam Marshal, known to historyas The Greatest Knight inChristendom, in answer to a vowmade in time of tempest. Marshaland his retinue were comingtowards the end of their journey toIreland when they were caught in aviolent storm. William called to hiscreator asking for safe delivery andvowing that, if he and hiscompanions were saved, he wouldbuild a monastery at the locationwhere they made dry land. Theweary travellers landed at BannowBay and William Marshal fulfilledhis vow through the foundation ofTintern Abbey, known as Tintern deVoto, or Tintern of the Vow. Theabbey was founded in 1200 and wasinitially populated by Cistercianmonks from Tintern Abbey inWales.

The monks of the CistercianOrder, founded in France in 1098,had gained a reputation acrossEurope as austere, hardworking andresourceful. Self sufficiency as far aspossible coupled with a long termview allowed the monks to strivefor perfection in their constructionand their agricultural endeavours.The Cistercians followed the threeyear crop rotation system,introduced new animal breeds andwere arguably the first to introducegothic architecture to Ireland. Themonks regularly diverted rivers toprovide water for use in the abbeyand for sanitation and pushed theknown boundaries of engineering Text by Breda Lynch

FEATURE

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www.heritageireland.ie 23Text by Breda Lynch

practices. The hallmark of Cistercianchurch building is a simplicity that is athing of beauty in its own right.

All Cistercian monasteries werededicated to St Mary and a Lady Chapelwas often incorporated into thebuilding. The Lady Chapel at Tintern isa three-bay structure with somebeautiful features on the ribbed andgroined ceiling. The display on viewincludes video footage of the earliestconservation works undertaken by theState, at a time when health and safetywas not so high on the agenda.

The monastery was suppressed byKing Henry VIII in 1536 and thechurch, cloister and associatedbuildings along with extensive landsultimately passed into the hands of SirAnthony Colclough who turned themonastery into a private dwelling.Anthony was knighted by QueenElizabeth I in 1581 and following hisdeath was interred in the small churchsituated near to the battlementedbridge, just a short stroll from the abbeyand accessible to visitors today.

Anthony had twelve children, one ofwhom was Thomas. Sir Thomascontinued with the improvements atTintern, one of which involved theintroduction of oysters from MilfordHaven to Bannow Bay about the year

1600. Thomas was twice married. Hisfirst wife, Martha Loftus was a memberof the Reformed Church with whomThomas had one son named Adam.Thomas' second wife was EleanorBagenal and they had four childrentogether, all of whom were raised asCatholics.

Adam Colclough inherited theestates in 1624 but the lands becamedivided along religious lines betweenthe Protestant and Catholic branches ofthe family. The Catholic branch heldthe lands in an area known as TheDuffry, situated in the foothills of theBlackstairs mountains, near toEnniscorthy. During the 1641 rebellion200 local Protestant people took refugein Tintern which was garrisoned byforty soldiers from Duncannon Fortsituated nearby. Shortly afterwards theCatholic branch of the family laid siegeto the Protestant branch who were inresidence in Tintern Abbey. DudleyColclough and his two brothers Johnand Anthony took control of the abbeyfollowing a two-week siege. FollowingOliver Cromwell’s arrival in 1649Dudley was banished to Connaught andhe ultimately died in exile in France.The lands were re-united in that sameyear when Caesar Colclough inheritedand he held title until 1684. For almosta century after Caesar's death the abbeyand lands were passed through

Facing page: Tintern Abbey © Tourism Ireland

Left: The Abbey wasoccupied by theColclough familyfrom the 16thcentury until 1960s.


complicated lines of inheritance asowners died without issue.

The eighteenth century story ofTintern is dominated by the legendaryGreat Caesar. Renowned as anoutstanding sportsman and athlete anda magnanimous landlord beloved by hispeople Caesar inherited the Duffrylands at sixteen years of age and theTintern lands followed some yearslater. One action of Caesar stands inlocal folklore above all others when hebrought a hurling team to play achallenge match at the behest of KingGeorge. The Wexford men wore yellowsashes to differentiate the teams andthe story goes that the skill displayed byColclough's team caused the King orQueen to call out 'Come on, the yellowbellies!' a name still applied to nativesof the county.

During the period of religiousoppression under the Penal laws newlyordained priests were givenemployment on the Tintern estateswhere many worked as gardeners andfarm hands and quietly carried outtheir ministry without fear of theirlandlord. In the eighteenth century theColcloughs gave a site and a substantialdonation towards the erection of theCatholic Church in Ballycullane, thefamily also established a non-denominational school in the locality.The period of unity and accord was notdestined to last.

After the death of Great Caesar thelands were again divided alongreligious lines. Ultimately Veseyinherited the Tintern lands, howeverhis tenure heralded a turbulent time.Vesey squandered and mortgaged hisinheritance while attaining fame for hisillicit activities. Vesey's son John tookcontrol after his fathers passing. Johnhad a legal background and tried toturn the fortunes of the estate around.John was involved in the establishmentof a bank in nearby New Ross and helaunched a flour milling enterprise atTintern. The flour mill was accidentallyburned in the late 1800's but the wallsof the mill still survive. In addition toconstructing a limekiln and a brickmanufacturing industry John alsoestablished a village of Tintern. Hometo artisans and craft workers, recordsindicate the village was home to thirty-six looms and that '[l]inen, diaper,check, Jane and woollens, were wovenin it', in addition a yarn market andmarket house were located in thevillage. Tintern was also home toslaters, masons, a butcher, a shoemaker

In addition to the externalimprovements John's impact on the oldabbey is still plain to see. Johntransformed the nave into acommodious residence. The LadyChapel was converted into the familykitchen and the large room above wasused as the family library. A massivegothic window was inserted in the westend of the room and in recent yearsextensive conservation works werecarried out on this window by theNational Monuments team, based inthe Office of Public Works regionaldepot in Kilkenny. The window wasreinstated in 2011 and has become amuch admired feature of the presentabbey. John Colclough did not fare sowell. Killed in a duel in 1806 John wasshot dead by his fiancé's brother;

and smiths. John had a keen interest inlandscaping and gardening and by 1795had established a nursery to growseedlings for the extensive plantationshe envisaged. It is John we must thankfor the tantalising glimpse we get of theabbey from the entrance driveway as hecreated a wide lawn in front of theabbey surrounded by belts ofwoodland. This was a key element ofthe landscaping style of the period.John also levelled ditches andestablished defined walks around thedemesne. In a letter dated to 1801 Johnreferred to a 'fine parcel of young fruittrees ready to be put against the walls',another mention of 'wall trees' wouldseem to indicate that the 2.5 acre stoneand brick lined walled garden had beenconstructed by this time.

FEATURE TINTERN ABBEY


The last of the line, Mary'sgranddaughter Lucie Marie, inheritedTintern in 1912 and continued to livein the old abbey but times had changed,the finances had run dry, and by 1959the vast majority of the land had beensold to the Land Commission. Havinglived in the family residence for 70years the decision was taken to move tonearby Saltmills, the village founded byher ancestor. In 1983 Lucie MarieBiddulph Colclough, known for herquiet compassion, her music and herinterest in her Church, died in ElyHouse, Wexford.

Today the area surrounding TinternAbbey is a haven for wildlife, anamenity for recreation and a space forquiet contemplation. The woodlandsestablished and bequeathed by thefamily are managed on behalf of thepeople of Ireland by Coillte. Therestoration of the walled garden isprogressing under the management andvision of Hook Tourism. The originallayout of the garden has been reinstatedas it was in 1838.

The recent upgrade of facilities,including tea-rooms, has furtherenhanced the visitor experience and theabbey is open seven days per week until02 November from 10.00 to 17.00 withlast admissions at 16.15. A smalladmission fee applies. Visitors holdingan OPW heritage card or an annualpass to the nearby Colclough WalledGardens receive free admission to theabbey. The OPW guides delight inconducting tours of this fascinating siteand are waiting to welcome you!

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/tinternabbey/

William Alcock. John's body waswaked for a week at the familyresidence in Wexford town, situated atthe present entrance to White's Hotel.John was buried at Tintern,presumably in the family vaultfollowing a funeral said to have beenthe largest ever seen in that part ofIreland. His fiancé died some yearslater and her funeral took the form ofa torchlit procession at midnight to theAlcock family mansion. John was oneof four members of the Colcloughfamily to have been killed in a duel.

The estate was inherited by anotherCaesar Colclough. This Caesarreturned from political exile in Franceafter the abdication of Napolean in1814 and became MP for Wexford. In1812 John Bernard Trotter, a visitor tothe estate, wrote that there 'were somesigns of decay in the village',presumably the decay worsened andlooking towards improving the estate,Caesar relocated the old village ofTintern to nearby Saltmills, thusestablishing the village that existstoday. From about 1818 until his deathin 1842 Caesar was an absenteelandlord, spending most of his timebetween England and France. It wasstrongly suspected that Caesars wife,Jane Kirwan, who had come todominate his every move, was alsoresponsible for his death. It wasbelieved by many that Jane hadpoisoned her husband and in doing soended the male line. The GreatLawsuits ensued bringing financialdemands and hardships from whichTintern never recovered. One outcomeof the court proceedings was thedeclaration that, through the male line,the Canadian Mary Colclough was therightful owner of the estate.


The original layout of the Walled Garden has been reinstated asit was in the 1830’s. The main features of this 2.5 acre

stone/brick lined Walled Garden include curved corners, twointra mural structures on the dividing brick wall which splits thegarden into two sections, east (Ornamental) and west (Kitchen),and a river, crossed by 5 bridges, which flows through the lengthof the Walled Garden. Two herbaceous borders which are over 90yards long are packed with flowers and colour throughout theseason and soft fruit such as peaches, pears, figs and apricots arefan trained against the wall. A large vegetable garden which in thepast provided the kitchens at Tintern Abbey with the delicacies ofthe season is planted every year using traditional methods and isfringed by over 100 apple trees.

The garden is situated in averdant vale with beautifulwoods filled with songbirds.Visitors pass through thequondam village of Tinternalong the woodland path wherebluebells and wild garlicabound in springtime. Insummer beech trees cast a dappled shade until the open blue sky of theWalled Garden is reached, where Colclough eagles still fly.

Why not come and visit this beautiful garden on the Hook Peninsulain the sunny south-east. Open all year round, admission charges apply,€3 for adults and €2 for children and regular visitors can avail of anannual garden Pass. For extra value, present your Ticket or Pass atTintern Abbey to avail of reduced admission.

Alan Ryan, Project Manager, Colclough Walled Gardenwww.colcloughwalledgarden.com

Colclough Walled Garden was built by the Colclough family over 200 years ago. Restoration work by volunteers, organised by Hook Tourism, began in July 2010.

––––––––––––––––––––––––Revive your natural senses...visit the Restored Walled

Garden at Tintern Abbey, HookPeninsula, Co. Wexford––––––––––––––––––––––––

Colclough Walled Garden

The General Post Office onDublin’s O’Connell Street has

arguably come to symbolise the 1916Rising more than any other building.The building was selected as theheadquarters of the Rising primarilybecause it was the communicationsheart of the country, a position it heldfrom 1818 when it first opened itsdoors to the public. Despite thedamage to the building in EasterWeek, 1916, the GPO survives as oneof the oldest operating postalheadquarters in the world.

The GPO was designed by theArmagh-born architect FrancisJohnston (1760-1829). Johnston wasregarded as an innovator, equally adeptin the neo-Classical and neo-Gothicstyles of architecture. He wassubsequently appointed as Architect tothe Board of Works in 1805, anappointment that afforded him theopportunity to work on important civicbuildings. His design for the GPO wasintended as a noble centrepiecebringing elegance and grandeur to afashionable boulevard.

Figure (right): A drawing signed(1814) by Francis Johnston (1760-1829)titled ‘Plan for the General Post Office,Dublin. The Ground Floor’ shows theoriginal U-shaped plan centring on aCommon Hall entered via the portico.To the left, or south, are the offices ofthe Penny Post including a room forLetter Carriers and for the SortingOffice. A square Hall gives access on theleft to a Waiting Room outside theoffice of the Secretary and on the rightto the staircase accessing theBoardroom on the first floor. To theright, or north, of the Common Hall arethe octagonal Inland Sorting Office and ahalf-octagonal office set aside for LetterCarriers: both offices access a cornerroom labelled as Alphabet. Thecourtyard, entered by gateways inHenry Street and Prince's Street, isenclosed on the west side by a row of

service buildings with offices and aMail Coach Guard House centring on asquare room labelled as Fire Engine.Courtesy of the Irish Architectural Archive

Johnston’s original design compriseda U-shaped building wrapping arounda coach yard accessible viacarriageways opening off Henry Streetto the north and Prince's Street to thesouth. The front elevation stands threestoreys tall and was constructed ofgranite quarried from Golden Hill, Co.Wicklow. The centrepiece comprised a

projecting Portland stone portico of sixstop-fluted Ionic columns supportingan anthemion-detailed frieze andpediment (fig. 3). Above the Royal Coatof Arms in the tympanum stood thesymbolic figures of Mercury and Fidelityflanking Hibernia.

The foundation stone of the neo-Classical building was laid by LordCharles Whitworth (1752-1825), LordLieutenant of Ireland, on the 12thAugust, 1814. Work on the GPOprogressed steadily for almost three

Colclough Walled Garden

The General Post Office O’Connell Street, Dublin

Above: An engraving by Benjamin Winkles from a drawing by George Petrie RHA (1790-1866) published inDublin Delineated in Twenty-Six Views of the Principal Public Buildings (1831).



and a half years with the finishedbuilding opening for business on the6th of January 1818. The total cost ofconstruction was approximately£50.000.

The functions of the post officecontinued to expand and in order toaccommodate new technological

equipment the internal fabric of thebuilding needed reworking. Repeatedadditions and alterations, all of whichwere ultimately unsuitable, culminatedin a major new design proposalsupervised by John Howard Pentland(1855-1919) of the Board of Works.Work on the new scheme began in1904 with the acquisition of Ball’s Bankin Henry Street, which was adapted foroffice use. A further property wasacquired in Prince’s Street in 1910 anddemolished to make way for theerection of a four-storey wing housingregistry, sorting offices and sufficientaccommodation for postal staff. On the

completion of these two phases in1912, attention was focused on theJohnston building where the mostsignificant alteration saw thereplacement of the central entrancehall.

Visitors to the renewed GPO entereda large new public office. The roomboasted a reinforced segmental vaultedceiling supported at either end bycolumnar screens of coupled Tuscancolumns. A counter of Burmese teakencircled a mosaic floor highly polishedto give the appearance of glass. One canonly surmise that the builders andcraftsmen packed up their tools

A view of the underside of the portico shows the Greek Key fret motif that recurs on the exterior and reconstructed interior of the GPO.

Above: A postcard (1865) showing the neo-Classicalensemble formed by the GPO and the adjacentNelson's Pillar. As symbols of imperialism, both wereultimately targeted by nationalists seeking orcommemorating independence: the GPO wasoccupied on Easter Monday 1916 while the pillar fellon the fiftieth anniversary of the Rising in 1966.

Above: Just as the royal insignia on post boxes would come to be over-painted with green, the Royal Coat of Arms, a featureof post offices across the country, were removed or replaced. A Portland stone insert, slightly brighter than the surroundingstone work, is the only physical evidence of the long-lost coat of arms at the GPO.

Below: A photograph from The Irish Builder (25th March, 1916) showing the new public office designed by John Howard Pentland(1855-1919) of the Board of Works. Fittingly, Johnston’s Greek Key fret motif appeared in the mosaic floor, the frieze and thegeometric ceilings. Courtesy of the Irish Architectural Archive

satisfied that their work would endure,little realising, however, that theinterior would be lost within a matterof weeks.

Despite the intense heat of the fire of1916, the shell of the GPO was found tobe structurally sound, a fact whichcontributed to the decision in 1924 torebuild rather than level the site andstart anew. The reconstruction wascarried out under the supervision ofThomas Joseph Byrne (1876-1939),Chief Architect to the Board of PublicWorks. Nothing survived of Johnston'sinterior following the devastation of1916. While the façade was restored

along historical lines, minus the RoyalCoat of Arms in the pediment, theinterior was rebuilt to an entirely newdesign. The redevelopment made use ofthe commercial potential of thesurrounding plots and led to thecreation of the GPO Arcade, a newsteel-framed building linking HenryStreet and Prince's Street withcolonnaded rows of shops sheltered bya glazed polygonal roof over a ribbedsubstructure.

Today, little of the interior has beenaltered since it was officially re-openedby President Cosgrave in 1929. Theentire reconstruction was completed in1932. The GPO continues itstraditional role as the principal postoffice of Ireland and distances toDublin are still measured from its frontdoor.

For more information on thearchitectural history of the GPO seewww.buildingsofireland.ie

Below right: Although the shell of theGPO remained structurally sound, aview by Thomas J. Westropp takenfrom the viewing platform on Nelson's

Above: Just as the royal insignia on post boxes would come to be over-painted with green, the Royal Coat of Arms, a featureof post offices across the country, were removed or replaced. A Portland stone insert, slightly brighter than the surroundingstone work, is the only physical evidence of the long-lost coat of arms at the GPO.

Below: A photograph from The Irish Builder (25th March, 1916) showing the new public office designed by John Howard Pentland(1855-1919) of the Board of Works. Fittingly, Johnston’s Greek Key fret motif appeared in the mosaic floor, the frieze and thegeometric ceilings. Courtesy of the Irish Architectural Archive


Pillar shows the destruction caused tothe interior caused the by heavyshellfire towards the end of EasterWeek. Thomas Johnson Westropp(1860-1922), was a noted Irishantiquary who documented thedestruction wrought in the city by theRising. His images remain a vividrecord of the violence and destructionof Easter Week. An exhibition entitled‘After Easter: Photographs of Dublin byThomas Johnson Westropp’ is on view atthe Irish Architectural Archive,Merrion Square, until 31st August,2016.

To celebrate the role of theGeneral Post Office during theEaster Rising, the GPO has recentlyopened a new exhibition entitledÂGPO Witness HistoryÊ.www.gpowitnesshistory.ie

FEATURE THE GPO


On the leafy shores of the Drimneen Riverin the wilds of western county Galway

stands a medieval fortress fit for a king. This castle comes complete with all the prerequisites ofmedieval Gaelic lordly living - high stone walls, adrawbridge and even a hall dedicated to banqueting.Indeed, no other building in Connemara demonstratesmore strikingly the authority and power of themedieval Gaelic lordships than Aughnanure Castle.The tower house stands as a testament to what was themost powerful and influential force in late medievalConnemara – the rule of the ferocious O’Flahertys.

The story of this family is deeply entwined with that ofthe castle, the only surviving O’Flaherty stronghold inthe spectacular but impenetrable terrain of medievalConnemara. Its towering stone walls cast a long shadowon the wind-swept landscape, and today on approachingthe castle under a canopy of hazel and hawthorn you can

The Ferocious O’Flahertys ofAughnanure Castle

Text by Jenny Young


almost hear the sounds of swords clashing and banquet-cupsclanging. If these walls could talk they would tell tales ofadventure, of intrigue, and perhaps, even of murder. All themakings of a fascinating family history.

The cream of west Galway’s Gaelic nobility, the O’Flahertys,made Connemara their home for almost four centuries afterbeing expelled by the Anglo-Normans from the rich limestoneplains east of Lough Corrib in the thirteenth century. Therethey had already gained reputation for their seafaringprowess, controlling both Lough’s Corrib and Mask as wellas the trading mecca in Galway Bay. This strongly heldmaritime outlook was one that was to sustain the O’Flahertyswell into the sixteenth century and one that was tocharacterise their often-ferocious nature. A ferociousness bestexemplified by the people of Galway who represented theO'Flahertys as “mountainous and wild people”, by whom “theywere sometimes robbed of their goods, and killed by those unlearnedmen”. Galway had grown into a powerful independent city-state, almost completely detached from the rule of both theDublin and London administrations but feared the“contaminating Irish influence” outside of its stout city walls. Aseries of restrictive bye-laws soon prevented the Gaelic clans

Facing page: Aughnanure Castle,showing the towerhouse, watch towerand banqueting hall

Below:Banquetting HallCarvings

Above:Interior rooms ofthe Castle

from trading through the port of Galway,so severely reducing the O’Flaherty’scapacity to trade that they would alwaysbe at odds with their city-dwellingneighbours. Consequently, they oftentook the opportunity, whether on landor at sea, to engage in thievery, disorderand mayhem, attacking merchant shipsoff the coast, hence the famous pleainscribed over the Great West Bridgeleading into city:“From the Ferocious O’Flaherties

Good Lord Deliver Us”.

Connemara (or Iarchonnacht as it wasknown) on the other hand, was a landstill untouched by English rule andcomprised an area that coveredapproximately a quarter of a millionacres, encompassing mountains to thenorth, the heavily indented Atlanticcoastline to the west and south andLough Corrib to the east. The interiorcomprised the “fastnesses” muchcommented on by English writers - widetracts of bog, woodland, marsh, lakes andrivers, rough mountain grazing andsome fertile land. Here the O’Flahertyworld flourished, a refuge of ancientcustoms and traditions virtually cut offfrom the rest of Ireland by Lough Corriband Killary Harbour. They ruledsupreme as Gaelic warrior lords anddepended on the sea for trade, food andtransport while the green fields andmountain pastures provided grazing fortheir herds. By the sixteenth century theyhad built a network of small castles ortower houses along the Atlantic coastline

and further east towards Lough Corribfrom where they ran their prosperouslittle Gaelic kingdom, far out of the reachof English law. English power wasconfined to the Pale and Ireland wasessentially in a state of disunity andfragmented loyalties with no oneauthority recognised over the entireisland. Warfare, cattle-raiding andbloody power struggles were the orderof the day. The O’Flaherty’s heyday hadbegun.

Built in c.1500, Aughnanaure Castlebecame their main stronghold and thecrowning example of the O’Flaherty’sbuilding legacy. Built on a limestoneoutcrop on the south bank of theDrimneen river the location on water isin keeping with the O’Flaherty traditionof building their tower houses withaccess to lakes, rivers and coastline; avisible statement of the family’s wealthand status on an important route-way tothe Corrib. Here the O’Flaherty familygenerated wealth under a pastoraleconomy and used the castle as a meansof political control, imposing their firmgrip over the local population. Theywere joined with their allies theO’Malleys, another powerful, seafaringfamily from further north in Clew Bay,when Dónal an Chogaidh (of the wars)O’Flaherty married the young GraceO’Malley or Granuaile. Their marriagewas a fitting one as the two hardyfamilies were equally matched in theirtraditions, values, reputations and mostimportantly, their power and influence.Dónal was the elected tánaiste to the

senior chieftaincy of all O’Flaherty septsand eventually would become ruler of allIarchonnacht.

The six-story tower house ofAughnanure soon became the setting forintrigue and double-dealing as a juniormember of the clan rose to anunprecedented position of power in thelate sixteenth century. Murrough nadtuadh “of the Battle-axes”, Dónal Crón“the Valiant” and Dónal an Chogaidh “ofthe Wars” were in the late sixteenthcentury the three most powerfulchieftains to emerge from O'Flahertyclan, their adopted titles and prowess inbattle marking them out as men of waramong both their followers and enemiesalike. But it was Murrough O’Flaherty, aformidable chief with big ambitions,known for mounting frequent raids onthe English territories around Galway,who submitted to the English and wasthusly appointed to the Chieftainship ofall the O'Flaherty’s as long as heundertook to “observe the Queen's peace”.Shockwaves ran through the O’Flahertyclan as one of their own had “joined theQueen of the English”, but moreimportantly, Murrough was but a minorplayer in the O’Flaherty hierarchy andnot the legitimate chief of the clan. Thattitle belonged to Dónal Crón or “theValiant” but it does not appear thatMurrough’s conscience was ever inquestion; he was generally content toside with the Crown in return for titleand aid in extending his possessions,regardless of the consequences for hiskinsmen. But it was Dónal an Chogaidh



who had most to lose, his right to theO’Flaherty title quashed, a faint whisperof the tide of change that was to comecrashing on Connemara in the not sodistant future.

Aughnanure Castle then became theprincipal seat of Murrough from 1572and the majority of the standing remains

today can be attributed to his efforts toexpress his newly elevated position ofChieftain of Iarchonnacht. Theremaining east wall of the banquetinghall in particular, bears witness to thefunction and importance of the building.Its windows are richly and elaboratelycarved with vine leaves and clusteringbunches of grapes, as if to attest to themagnificent hospitality of its formerproprietors. Murrough’s ferociouscharacter was well demonstrated in thebanqueting halls legendary trap-door or“flagstone of treachery”, used to dispose ofany unwelcome guests into the riverflowing beneath the hall.

For nearly four centuries the O’Flahertyscontrolled Connemara and maintainedan intimate connection with the lake and

the sea. They continued with their cattleraids, piracy and petty warfare as anindependent warrior clan, unaware ofthe changes being organised from acrossthe water. But the expansionary andcolonial policies of the English Crownimpacted on Ireland in the late sixteenthcentury and finally brought an end to

Gaelic rule. In order to survive thisturbulent time, the O’Flahertys wereforced to take on many roles - warriors,mariners, pirates, and rebels. Roles thathave earned them much notoriety in thepages of Irish history. Although theyretained their ancient ways, they had losttheir power and having been active in theRebellion of 1641, their lands wereconfiscated, their territories parcelledout and the era of O’Flaherty rule inConnemra came to an abrupt end. Butthe fundamental symbol of oldO’Flaherty power and dominance overConnemra would forever beAughnanure Castle. To lose such amagnificent property would be theultimate defeat, therefore anyopportunity to reacquire their lostproperty was taken with fervour and theensuing seesaw of its ownership thatfollowed through the proceedingcenturies is a testament to theirpersistence. The ebb and flow ofacquisition and loss over the yearsturned once more to the advantage of theO’Flahertys when a young solicitor fromEnniscorthy, Co. Wexford, PeterO’Flaherty, handed the castle over to theState in 1952. A restoration andconservation programme began in the1960s and in 1974 after two hundredyears of lying idle and broken, the doorsto the castle were opened once again. Itsimportance to the area cannot beunderestimated and as the most visiblesurviving physical expression of latemedieval cultural activity in Connemara,it’s one that should be treasured forever.Today, many thousands of visitors cometo the castle annually to discover thesecrets hidden within its walls and walkin the footsteps of the O’Flahertys - afamily that played such a significant partin the shaping of Connemara.

www.heritageireland.ie/en/west/aughnanurecastle/

Facing page: The Drimneen River flows into

Lough Corrib about three and a half

kilometres south-east of Oughterard,

Co. Galway

Top: Suggested reconstruction drawings of

Aughnanure Castle in 16th century

Above: Aughnanure Castle viewed from the

river Drimneen

All images © Copyright OPW

FEATURE AUGHNANURE CASTLE

Here at Clara, County Offaly our award-winning Clara Bog VisitorCentre offers visitors a fascinating insight into the bog. The interactive interpretive area covers themes such as: the development ofpeatlands; biodiversity of raised bogs; the history and archaeology associated withraised bogs; and some unique facts about Clara Bog. The multi-purpose AudioVisual room can accommodate groups of 50 and is available for meetings, talks,workshops and courses to local/environmental groups. The Visitor Centre offerswalks, talks, workshops and other educational activities for adults and children.

Clara Bog Nature Reserve is 464 hectares of raised bog with evident lag and soaksystems. The nature reserve is home to many protected wildlife species. Theinstallation of a 1km-looped timber boardwalk walk with interpretive panels atClara Bog has provided for local recreation and offers further potential to thetourism market. At Clara Bog Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve we endeavour toensure that the tourism sector can play an important role in building awareness andappreciation of Ireland’s natural heritage.

The site is protected under a number of national and international designationsincluding National Nature Reserve, a Special Area of Conservation, Ramsar WetlandSite, Natura 2000 site, and Natural Heritage Area. Clara Bog is a naturally wetenvironment with many concealed dangers such as deep pools and quaking surfaces,

FEATURE

CLARA BOGAND BOARDWALK

Text by Rebecca Dobson



for this reason we recommend that visitors stay to the viewingpoint of the boardwalk.

There are many points of interest for those with a keen eye.Depending on the time of year visitors can see the ‘insect-eating’ round leafed and oblong leafed sundew, and butterwortfrom several points of the Boardwalk. Many visitors have seenIreland’s only native land reptile – the viviparous lizard,sunning itself on the Boardwalk. Newts, dragonflies,damselflies, butterflies, caterpillars, and frogs all make regularappearances. Listen carefully and you will hear the curlew,snipe, stonechat, willow warbler, meadow pipet and skylark.Some of these birds are seen at regular intervals as you walkalong the Boardwalk. The site is also a host to Birds of Preyincluding Kestrel and Merlin.

Peatlands are considered to be one of the most importantecosystems of the world. This is because of their key value forbiodiversity, the role they play in carbon sequestration – thusensuring regulation of our climate, water filtration and supplyand important support for human welfare. Nature as a sourceof well-being is now generating an economic value. Outdoorexperiences in the open landscape are increasingly used andhave provided inspiration throughout history for poets,painters, artists. Biodiversity Guidelines for the tourism sectorwere produced as part of the ‘Notice Nature’ campaign. In past

years, the number of tourists interested in outdooractivities and eco-tourism has increased. As a result ofadditional tourism and recreational use, peatlands arelikely to be viewed as more valuable assets to localcommunities.

Education Officers at Clara Bog Visitor Centre workclosely with the local community, County Council andMid Ireland Tourism to raise public awareness andappreciation of the unique habitat that is Clara Bog NatureReserve.

BIBLIOGRAPHYThe International Ecotouism Society. Factsheet – Global

Ecotourism, www.ecotourism.orgHandbook – Ecotourism for Ireland, www.failteireland.ieActions For Biodiversity 2011-2016. Ireland’s National

Biodiversity Plan. Department of Arts, Heritage and theGaeltacht

National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan. Draft ForConsultation 17th January 2014. Department of Arts, Heritageand the Gaeltacht.

National Peatlands Strategy. Draft. Department of Arts,Heritage and the Gaeltacht.


History of the RegimentThe Royal Munster Fusiliers were formed in 1881when two former Bengal Battalions became the 1st

& 2nd Battalions Royal Munster Fusiliers. The SouthCork Light Infantry Militia became the 4th (ReserveBattalion) Royal Munster Fusiliers. Recruited locally theirscarlet uniforms with blue facings and shamrock lace were aregular sight in Kinsale. (Image A) The recruitment criteriafor the Munster's included: Age limited between 18-25;Height in excess of and including 5 ft 4”; Chest Measurement33”; Weight 115lbs and over.

HeadquartersIn 1870 the length of service in the British Army was

reduced from 21 years to 12. After 6 years a soldier couldtransfer to a reserve battalion for the remaining 6 years. As areservist he would attend summer training exercises annuallyand could be recalled to arms in the event of war. Thisprocess allowed for a greater number of experienced ex-servicemen to be available at short notice. In 1890 CharlesFort became the Headquarters for the 4th Reserve BattalionRoyal Munster Fusiliers. They were recalled to duty for thesecond Boer War and the First World War and foughtextensively throughout, receiving many battle honours.Image B illustrates the reservists on parade outside the walls

4th Battalion ROYAL MUNSTER

FUSILIERSText: Evelyn Long & Karen Healy

© All images. Courtesy of the RMFA (Royal Munster Fusiliers Association)

Image B

Image C

FEATURE Uniform of the RoyalMunster Fusiliers,

illustration byThompson 1987.

Image D


of Charles Fort during their annualtraining exercises.

Commissioned OfficersImage C (far left) depicts some of the

commissioned officers of the battalionphotographed on the parade groundwithin Charles Fort in 1898. Many ofthese men were from well knownfamilies in County Cork, such asBeamish, Warren, Coppinger,Newenham and 'The O'Donovan'.Image D, Officers Mess in Charles Fort,1898, illustrates the life to which manyof the officers were accustomed. Themess was used to entertain dignitariesand invited guests such as theinspection of the battalion by the RightHonourable, The Earl of Bandon (K.P. -Knight of the Order of St. Patrick) in1904. The Earl of Bandon and his wifethe Countess of Bandon (Hon.Georgina Evans-Freke) were stronglyassociated with the regiment. TheCountess presented new colours to theregiment in 1897 having travelled fromher family seat at Castle Bernard,Bandon. Image E (on p.38) depictsofficers of the battalion in dressuniform with their wives in fashionableattire outside the officers quarters inCharles Fort.

Rank & File: Family life inCharles Fort

Both single and married soldierswere accommodated within CharlesFort. The Married Soldiers Quarterswere located opposite the GunpowderMagazine and the Officers Quartersfaced the Main Parade Ground.Though military life was strict and

regimented there are reports offestivities and celebrations such asChristmas 1894. The regiment'sChristmas tree was dressed withpresents for the women and children ofthe fort. Cakes, apples, oranges andsweets were distributed to the childrenwho also enjoyed a raffle. Family lifecontinued in tangent with militarytraining, drills, marches andinspections. Photographed in front oftheir single room in the MarriedSoldier's Quarters in Charles Fort, circa1912 are the Foley family in Image F.The head of the family is English bornThomas William Foley, Rifle RangeWarden, age 40. He is accompanied byhis Kerry born wife Julia and their threechildren Elizabeth, Christopher andbaby Angela Mary. Angela was born inthe military hospital in Charles Fort onthe 5th July 1911. The grandchildrenof Thomas and Julia live in Kinsale tothis day. The 1911 census records 177soldiers and officers, 22 women and 68children residing in Charles Fort.Charles Fort remained in use by the 4thBattalion until the declaration of theFirst World War.

At Charles Fort, on the 8th May2016, the 101st anniversary of the LastAbsolution of the Munsters at Rue deBois, a moving Dedication ceremonywas held to unveil a memorial inmemory of the Munsters who hadserved there. Members of theassociation along with staff of CharlesFort, the OPW, The Great War Society,representatives from the disbandedIrish Regimental Associations andinvited guests were present at theunveiling. The memorial was unveiledby Ollie Griffin, President of theRMFA.

Image F

John Duggan and Martin Foley with the RMFAssociation Colours and the Colours of the RMFOld Comrades Association and the memorial to theRoyal Munster Fusiliers, unveiled at Charles FortKinsale, Cork, May 2016.

Aerial view of Charles Fort, Kinsale. Image © Dept. of the Environment, Heritage and

Local Government, photographic unit


FEATURE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS

Image E

Above: Officers of the battalion in dress uniform with their wives in fashionable attire outside the officers quarters in Charles Fort, Kinsale.

U N V E I L I N G O F T H E M E M O R I A L T O T H E R O Y A L M U N S T E R F U S I L I E R S

Above: Brian Kenny, Eugene Power and Colin Quigley ofthe Great War Society.Centre right: Members of the RMFA & Great War Society.Right: Opening address by Evelyn Coleman GuideSupervisor OPW.

www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-west/charlesfort/

Ilnacullin / Garinish Island

Text: Chris O’Neill

Ilnacullin is known around the world as a uniqueisland garden of rare beauty. The island, nestled intothe sheltered coastal harbour at Glengarriff in BantryBay, has an almost sub-tropical micro-climate with

mild winters and high rainfall and humidity.


These conditions are favourable to thegrowth of exotic plants from many

corners of the world and the island has aninternationally significant collection ofrare southern hemisphere plants. Thegardens were set out in the Arts and Craftsstyle in Edwardian times and they containclassical Italianate gardens andarchitectural features set withinnaturalistic, Robinsonian style,surroundings.

The gardens display a wealth of uniquearchitectural and horticultural gems,including:

• Sunken Italianate garden with formalpond and Medici pavilion, Casita andadjacent lawns;

• Happy Valley with its Grecian Temple,mature shrubberies and rare trees;

• Walled gardens with clock tower andherbaceous borders, fruit, roses and rareclimbers;

• Martello tower and its fine panoramicviews;

• Extensive collections of rare and beautifulplants including mature Magnolias andMichelias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas,Leptospermums and many fine southernhemisphere trees;

• The Bryce House (a short walk from thewalled gardens) a fitting memorial to thevisionary creators and custodians of thisunique place.

Extensive restoration of the gardens wascommenced by the parks team in 2013,starting with the walled garden, and aprogramme of repairs and improvementsis being implemented throughout theisland. Programmed works include therestoration of paths, walls, metalwork andgarden structures; opening up vistas;rejuvenating planting beds; soil testingand root invigoration; and sensitive re-planting schemes. The island's dedicatedand knowledgeable team of staff havebeen instrumental in helping to deliverthe changes on the ground, under thesupervision of Finbarr O'Sullivan(Overseer) and Bernard O'Leary (HeadGardener).

The former home of the island'sowners, the Bryce House, was upgraded in2015 to provide public access. The househas been carefully conserved and restoredto reflect the lives of its former inhabitantsand maintain its historic integrity. Thisbeautiful home is now open to the publicfor the first time, with a full programme ofguided tours by OPW visitor guidesthroughout the season. The worksincluded the installation of a lift and thehouse is accessible to wheelchair users.


Mary Heffernan, OPW HeritageServices, initiated and progressed therestoration of the Bryce House, whichwas designed and managed by an OPWproject team under the direction ofSenior Architect Terri Sweeney. FáilteIreland was the principal funder, withOPW match-funding.

Native wildlife that can be found onand around the island includes theWhite-Tailed Sea Eagle, Otters, Sealsand Brown Long-Eared Bats.

Garinish Island is a discovery pointon Failte Ireland's Wild Atlantic Wayand in 2015 welcomed over 58,000visitors. The island (15 hectares in size)was bequeathed to the Irish people in1953, entrusted to the care of the state,and is cared for by the Office of PublicWorks (OPW).

eáëíçêóGarinish Island has no known

historical associations before 1800 AD.The oldest feature of the island today isthe Martello tower, erected by theBritish War Office in 1805 to guardagainst potential Napoleonic invasion.The tower has been conserved andupgraded for the 2016 season.

The island was a barren, rockylandscape in the early 1900's prior to itstransformation into the exquisitegardens we see today. Thetransformation was achieved throughthe creative partnership of thelandscape architect Harold Peto and thevisionary owner of the islands, AnnanBryce MP and his wife Violet.

In 1910, Garinish Island wasacquired by John Annan Bryce MP(1874-1924), a Belfast-born merchantand Liberal politician who had workedin Burma and Siam, taking particularinterest in exotic plants on hisexpeditions. Bryce and his wife Violethad been regular visitors to Glengarriff.The Bryce's commissioned HaroldAinsworth Peto (1854-1913), anEnglish architect and landscapedesigner, to set out the gardens andItalianate garden structures.

The Bryces knew Peto for manyyears before commissioning him. Theyvisited him at his home and also touredgardens in County Cork, including thefamous gardens at Fota House.

Bryce and his wife Violet (néel'Estrange) commenced thetransformation of Garinish Island toPeto's design in 1911, employingaround one hundred local men. Among

the guests of the Bryce family whilethey lived on Ilnacullin were thewriters George Bernard Shaw and AE(George Russell).

The Bryce House, a gardener'scottage to the north-east of the walledgarden, was constructed in anEdwardian picturesque style. Thecollapse of the Russian market in 1917brought with it the decline of theBryces' financial fortunes and followingthe death of her husband in 1923,Violet Bryce took up permanentresidency in the gardener's cottagewhere her son, Roland, later joined herin 1932. The cottage was extensivelyextended and remodelled into anEdwardian middle class house with 6bedrooms and accommodation for thehouse keeper.

FEATURE GARINISH ISLAND

Above: Happy Valley at Garinish IslandInset: Photo display at Bryce HouseRight: Italian GardenFar right top: The Drawing room at BryceHouse Centre: Visitors to the Walled GardenBottom: Viewpoint Garinish Island

All images © Copyright OPW


KELLSPRIORY– A DEFENDED

MONASTERY

The Office of Public Works isdelighted to announce that

guided tours of Kells Priory will beavailable from 29 June to 28 August,10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sundayinclusive. For further informationor to book a tour contact JerpointAbbey at +353 56 772 4623 or [email protected]

On the banks of the King’s River,15km south of Kilkenny City, stand theremains of Kells Priory, one of the mostsignificant Augustinian foundations inIreland and a remarkable survival fromthe medieval period.

For the visitor, the view on theground is of a substantial enclosingwall punctuated with mural towers setagainst the background of the gentleslopes of the river valley. The muraltowers are similar to the tower-housesthat are found throughout Ireland asisolated defended residences of theupper classes in the fifteenth century.The overall impression is of afortification rather than anecclesiastical foundation.

The ruins stimulate the imaginationto reconstruct the activities and soundsof the everyday life of their formerinhabitants. They tell a story of thepolitical and economic development ofa religious order within the medievalfeudal organisation.

From the air the enclosing wall canbe seen to form a large polygon, dividedinto two distinct sections. The northernsection, known as the MonasticPrecinct, encloses a series ofecclesiastical buildings. The southernsection, known as the Burgess Court,was added at a later date, probably inthe fifteenth century. It encloses agently sloping open area with no visibletrace of structures or buildings.

Kells Priory: a defended monastery inCounty Kilkenny (© Archaeology Irelandmagazine) is available as a HeritageGuide from Archaeology Ireland, Unit 9,78 Furze Road, Sandyford Ind Estate,Dublin 18. Also available from WordwellLtd. www.wordwell.com

MULLIN’S MILLMullin's Mill is a short walk along theriver bank from the Priory.

The Mill was bought in 1997 by theKells Regional Economic and TourismEnterprise and today functions as amilling museum, coffee shop,reception venue, art and craft galleryand the offices of the organisation.

The building has been sensitivelyrestored and together with KingsBridge, offers an attractive approachto Kells Priory.


KELLS PRIORY FEATURE

Mullin’s Mill. © All rights reserved Mark Desmond Photography

Aerial view of Kells Priory, Rathduff, Kells, Co Kilkenny

© Government of Ireland National Monuments Service Photographic Unit

Farmleigh’s Upcoming MAIN Events

s Uparmleigh’FFarmleigh’

Africa Day 29th of MayNational Drawing Day 21st of May

scoming MAIN Events Up


National Drawing Day 21st of May

Nepal Day 4th of SeptemberComedy WPlant Fair 21st India Day 20th

Nepal Day 4th of SeptemberAugusteekend 27/28th Comedy W

AugustPlant Fair 21st AugustIndia Day 20th

August


EVENTSGUIDE What’s on

F

www.farmleigh.ie

https://www.facebook.com/Farmleigh/

FARMLEIGH HOUSECASTLEKNOCK, PHOENIX PARK, DUBLIN 15LEKNOCK, PHOENIX PTASCARMLEIGH HOUSEFFARMLEIGH HOUSE

ARK, DULEKNOCK, PHOENIX PLEKNOCK, PHOENIX PARK, DUARMLEIGH HOUSE

BLIN 15ARK, DUARMLEIGH HOUSE

LEKNOCK, PHOENIX PTASC

ARK, DULEKNOCK, PHOENIX PLEKNOCK, PHOENIX PARK, DU

BLIN 15ARK, DU

the Irish Government in 1999. was purchased from the Guinness family by

armleigh, an estate of 78 acres situated to F

The house has the Irish Government in 1999. was purchased from the Guinness family by

armleigh, an estate of 78 acres situated to

visiting the estate to enjoy the Japanese successful day with over 15,000 people

hosted Japan DayOn Sunday the 17

The house has was purchased from the Guinness family by

armleigh, an estate of 78 acres situated to

visiting the estate to enjoy the Japanese successful day with over 15,000 people

. It was the 6th year of hosted Japan DayApril Farmleigh Estate of thOn Sunday the 17

successful day with over 15,000 people

. It was the 6th year of April Farmleigh Estate

house, gallery & Boathouse restaurant are its use by the general public. The real success of Farmleigh House is

public enjoyment.for high-level Government meetings, and for for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation,

orks as the premier accommodation Public W

house, gallery & Boathouse restaurant are The grounds, its use by the general public.

The real success of Farmleigh House is

public enjoyment.for high-level Government meetings, and for for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation,

orks as the premier accommodation

Access to the house is by guided tour only6pm. Last admission to the grounds is 5pm. Farmleigh Estate is open daily from 10am -

workshops. stage performances, demonstrations and activities were free, and included amazing

visiting the estate to enjoy the Japanese

house, gallery & Boathouse restaurant are The grounds,

The real success of Farmleigh House is

for high-level Government meetings, and for for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation,

orks as the premier accommodation

Access to the house is by guided tour only6pm. Last admission to the grounds is 5pm. Farmleigh Estate is open daily from 10am -

workshops. stage performances, demonstrations and activities were free, and included amazing


. Access to the house is by guided tour only6pm. Last admission to the grounds is 5pm. Farmleigh Estate is open daily from 10am -

stage performances, demonstrations and activities were free, and included amazing


eekend, Farmleigh Plant Fair & the Comedy W, Nepal DayAfrica Day, Day

regular basis. Popular events include Japan

family events are free & are updated on calendar of cultural events.

open to the public all year round. house, gallery & Boathouse restaurant are

eekend, Farmleigh Plant Fair & the , Family , India Day, Nepal Day


family events are free & are updated on All of these calendar of cultural events.

open to the public all year round.

international cultural and artistic bodies. The gallery works closely with national and

Farmleigh Gallery hosts an innovative &

4.15pm. Entrance is free of charge. ours run every hour from 10.15am to TTours run every hour from 10.15am to . day

There are guided tours of the house every

eekend, Farmleigh Plant Fair & the , Family




4.15pm. Entrance is free of charge. ours run every hour from 10.15am to

There are guided tours of the house every Access to the house is by guided tour only



4.15pm. Entrance is free of charge. ours run every hour from 10.15am to

There are guided tours of the house every Access to the house is by guided tour only

website.

. musician Hozierperformances from Duo Chagall & Irish poetry readings. In the past there has been ticketed events from classical concerts, to Farmleigh also hosts a number of seasonal Christmas, Easter & Summer programmes.

eekend, Farmleigh Plant Fair & the Comedy W

These events are free & performances from Duo Chagall & Irish poetry readings. In the past there has been ticketed events from classical concerts, to Farmleigh also hosts a number of seasonal Christmas, Easter & Summer programmes.

eekend, Farmleigh Plant Fair & the

If you would like to learn more about

is open to the public until the 29th of May

Art Collection, which is managed by the OPWincludes eighty-two artworks from the State

These events are free &

poetry readings. In the past there has been ticketed events from classical concerts, to Farmleigh also hosts a number of seasonal Christmas, Easter & Summer programmes.

eekend, Farmleigh Plant Fair & the


is open to the public until the 29th of May

Art Collection, which is managed by the OPWincludes eighty-two artworks from the State


. is open to the public until the 29th of May

. Art Collection, which is managed by the OPWincludes eighty-two artworks from the State

her tenure at Farmleigh.many special ticketed literary events as part of Farmleigh for 2016. Lia will also be organising Lia Mills is the writer in residence appointed to

website.

her tenure at Farmleigh.many special ticketed literary events as part of Farmleigh for 2016. Lia will also be organising Lia Mills is the writer in residence appointed to

https://wwwor follow us on facebook at:events please visit Farmleigh House & the upcoming summer If you would like to learn more about

many special ticketed literary events as part of Farmleigh for 2016. Lia will also be organising Lia Mills is the writer in residence appointed to

.facebook.com/Farmleigh/https://wwwor follow us on facebook at:

.farmleigh.ie wwwevents please visit Farmleigh House & the upcoming summer If you would like to learn more about

.facebook.com/Farmleigh/

.farmleigh.ie Farmleigh House & the upcoming summer If you would like to learn more about

Farmleigh’s Upcoming MAIN Events

s Up


scoming MAIN Events Up


National Drawing Day 21st of May

Nepal Day 4th of SeptemberComedy WPlant Fair 21st India Day 20th

Nepal Day 4th of SeptemberAugusteekend 27/28th Comedy W

AugustPlant Fair 21st AugustIndia Day 20th

August



This new exhibition curated by theNational Museum of Ireland

opened in March, and can be viewed atthe Riding School at Collins Barracksin Dublin.

The exhibition includes manyobjects have never been on publicdisplay before while others, such as theIrish Republic flag which flew over theGPO, have been specially conserved.Also on display are a wide variety ofobjects such as the clothing worn by therebels and the BritishArmy as theymovedthrough the1916battlefield; thewatches used totime the rebeldespatches; thebullets andbayonets thatcaused injury;smelling salts thatrevived the wounded and the first aidkits valiantly deployed to ease theplight of the injured and the dying.Alongside the rebels, the personalstories of the civilians caught in thecrossfire are represented with poignant

and moving artefacts such as a crucifixperforated by a stray bullet.

Scenes of the surrender of the rebelsamidst the destruction of the city centreand the subsequent introduction ofmartial law transport the visitor from thebattlefield to the barracks and gaols inwhich rebels and suspected rebels wereafterwards held. Here, within a sombreand respectful space, the last letters ofthose sentenced to death are displayed.

Written in their ownhandwriting are the lastthoughts, emotions andreflections of the leaders ofEaster Week. Here, visitorscan read these movingwords, and also listen todramatic modern-dayreadings. This exhibitionprovides a rareopportunity to get closerto the reality that was the

1916 Rising.

Admission FREE. Exhibition runsuntil end of 2017.

www.museum.ie/Decorative-Arts-History/Exhibitions/Current-Exhibitions/Proclaiming-a-Republic-The-1916-Rising

EVENTSGUIDE 1916 Exhibition

PROCLAIMING A REPUBLIC: THE 1916 RISINGThe National Museum of Ireland at CollinsBarracks marks the centenary of the 1916Rising with an exciting exhibition.

Left: Irish Republic flag hoisted overDublin’s General Post Office during the1916 Easter rising.

Above: Pocket First Aid kit c.1916

ART PORTFOLIO PREPARATIONCOURSE AT DUBLIN CASTLE 14th to 19th August 2016

This five-day intensive course is designed to assist students inthe initial stages of their portfolio preparation for collegeapplications in advance of the school year. It includes assessmentof existing portfolios, guidance on applications /courses andadvice on documentation / presentation of work. Each day willinvolve specific core workshops on Drawing, Painting,Printmaking and 3D Construction. The use of sketchbooks andvisual diaries will be emphasised throughout. Additionally,contextual references to the OPW collection, including curating,conservation and collections care will be made, with someworkshops taking place in the Castle rooms.

This course is open to senior cycle art students and isfree of charge. Booking is essential, as places arelimited to 20 participants.

For further information and booking enquiries, contact us on: Email:[email protected] Tel: 01-6458813 http://www.dublincastle.ie/HistoryEducation/EducationalResources/

Across the country plans are comingtogether for National Heritage

Week. This annual celebration ofIreland’s built, natural and culturalheritage will take place from 20 to 28August. In 2016, the Heritage Councilis inviting us to explore 100 Years ofHeritage and take a journey backthrough one hundred years of Ireland,discovering the lives of those whocame before us.

In this centenary year, what bettertime to celebrate the last one hundredyears of Ireland's heritage: historical,archaeological, architectural andenvironmental. How did people live,what did they eat, how did they travel,what jobs did they do? What was lifelike for a soldier, a farmer, a nurse or aschoolchild? What was important tothose that lived in Ireland then, arethese things still important to us now?What has been saved and what hasdisappeared?

National Heritage Week is Ireland’smost popular cultural event and thisyear over 400,000 people are expectedto participate in over 1,800 heritageevents. Most of the events are free sothat heritage can be accessed andappreciated by all. For nine actionpacked days, Ireland celebrates notonly heritage but communityinvolvement and a deep connectionbetween people and place.

The week shines a light on theabundance of great work that iscarried out in all communities inIreland to preserve and promote ournatural, built and cultural heritage.Events are organised across thecountry by almost 1,000 heritageenthusiasts from organisations tocommunity groups to individuals. TheOPW is actively involved in HeritageWeek and last year events at OPW sitesranged from treasure hunts aroundTrim Castle to basket-weaving atMuckross House, from beekeeping atAltamount Gardens to children’s craftsat Maynooth Castle.

Two OPW sites were shortlisted forHeritage Week 2015 Awardswhich recognising thefantastic work of all theevent organisers that takepart. The Cool for KidsAward celebrates greatfamily event and was opento event organisers whoencouraged children andfamilies toparticipate inNationalHeritageWeek.

Mellifont Abbey, Co.Louth ran a day ofactivities inspired bymedieval culture. Theydesigned the day'sactivities to appeal to allmembers of the family fromthe youngest to the oldest. Allactivities were inspired by

medieval culture. Ardee Archery Clubgave direction on using bows andarrows. Visitors were encouraged topaint handmade clay tiles, replicas oforiginals found at Mellifont, and bringit home as a souvenir of the day. Theyalso organised a treasure hunt for

children 'Where in the Abbey?' Thisbroad range of events promoted the

site as a place of interest for allages.

Athenry Castle, Co. Galwaycreated an event to engagechildren and families withAthenry castle and its historybased on the popular gameMinecraft. Athenry Castleapproached the local

CoderDojo with the idea. Fivechildren visited the castle,

researching industry, clothes andfood of the time. They then built

their 13th century Athenry Castleblock by block in Minecraft. During

Heritage Week EVENTS GUIDE

CELEBRATING PEOPLE AND PLACE – 100 YEARS OF HERITAGENational Heritage Week 20 - 28 August...

“For nine action packed days, Irelandcelebrates not only heritage butcommunity involvement and a deepconnection between people and place.”


Above: Muckross House, Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Left: Beekeeping at Altamount Gardens, Co. Carlow

Inset: A Medieval Day Out at Old MellifontAbbey, Co. Louth

Text: Niamh Donnellan


EVENTSGUIDE Heritage Week

Heritage Week theyshowed other childrenthe project and allowedthem to download,explore, play and addtheir own parts. Thisbringing together ofgames and heritageencouraged children tolook at local buildingsand ruins in a new wayand to actively thinkabout what they werelike when people livedand worked in them.

The Heritage Councilhas been responsible forcoordinating andpromoting NationalHeritage Week since2005. Their mission isto engage, educate andadvocate, developing awider understanding ofthe vital contributionthat heritage makes toour social,environmental andeconomic well-being.National Heritage Weekis a part of EuropeanHeritage Days, which is celebrated in over 40 countries acrossEurope.

From magnificent buildings to stunning landscapes, some ofIreland’s most incredible places will be open to the public duringNational Heritage Week. It is a chance to get a new perspective on awell-known site or discover a hidden gem. Whether you getinvolved in a costumed tour or a historical re-enactment, learn a newcraft or see an exhibition, let history, folklore, legends and tall talescome to life this National Heritage Week.

National Heritage Week: 20-28 August 2016. For more information visit www.heritageweek.ie

or call 1850 200 878

Images: (Top) Treasure Hunt at Trim Castle. (Centre) A Medieval Day Out at OldMellifont Abbey, Co. Louth 2. Below: Basketweaving at Muckross House, Co. Kerry

CASTLETOWN HOUSE2016 LECTURE SERIES

The popular lecture series returns andwill take place on the last Tuesday of the

month from April to September, at 8pm in theHunting Room at Castletown House.Advanced booking is required as places arelimited.Telephone 01 628 8252 or [email protected] to reserve your place.Admission €5 and includes complimentaryrefreshments from 7.15pmParkling available at the Stable Wing side of thehouse: Exit 6, M4, Celbridge West

• Tuesday 26th July - Dr. CiaránReilly; 1916 and the Big House:A Kildare Perspective.

• Tuesday 30th August - BrianCrowley OPW; 'Patrick Pearse: ARevolutionary Life'.

• Tuesday September - SuzannePegley; 'Castletown and the lost 19thcentury – The Pakenham-Conolly era'.

www.castletown.ie

Tel: + 353 1 628 8252Email: [email protected] House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

Image Castletown House, Kildare © Fáilte Ireland

In the mid-sixteenth century, in the city ofShiraz, in south-western Iran, a large and

magnificent copy of the Qur’an was produced(CBL Is 1558). The manuscript’s renown hastraditionally rested with the name of itscalligrapher - Ruzbihan Muhammad al-Tab‘ial-Shirazi, one of the most renownedcalligraphers in Islamic art. The quality, extentand complexity of its decorative programme,the work of a team of highly skilled artists andcraftsmen, sets it apart from most other 16th-century Persian Qur’ans. Only five of hisKorans signed by him have survived and theone in the Chester Beatty Library collection isgoing on display as part of the Lapis and Gold:The story of the Ruzbihan Qur’an exhibition.

Manuscript Exhibition EVENTS GUIDE

In 2012 the manuscript was disbound to allow forconservation. The close examination of the loose folios thattook place during and after conservation has revealed muchabout the materials used and procedures involved inproducing the manuscript. These intriguing findings formthe focus of the exhibition, before the manuscript is rebound.Thirty-two single folios and double-page openings from theRuzbihan Qur’an are fully displayed in the exhibition, withanother 21 folios partially displayed to facilitate discussion ofthe pigments used. Three other 16th-century Qur’ans and a15th-16th century manual on Qur’an recitation, all from theLibrary’s own collections, are also on display.

Lapis and Gold: The story of the Ruzbihan Qur’an exhibition at the Chester Beatty Library runs until 28th August, 2016, and entry is free.

Images: The Ruzbihan Qur’an, c. 1550, Shiraz, Iran© Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

LAPIS AND GOLD:

THE STORY OF THERUZBIHAN QUR’AN



Mná 1916 - Women of 1916 is a 32 county exhibition, as Ireland was notpartitioned in 1916. It tells the story of women who were politicised

during the era and includes those who were couriers, those arrested, thosewho took part as ‘basket girls’ and dispatch carriers, as well as telling thehuman interest stories of death and loss as a result of the fighting. It is basedon new information from the collections of the Military Archives, theNational Archives, the National Library, the National Museum as well asmaterial from the relatives groups formed in the lead-up to the centenary of1916.

Mná 1916 - Women of 1916The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s ‘Mná

1916/Women of 1916’ exhibition, as part of the Ireland 2016 CentenaryProgramme, sets out to provide an over-view of the events of EasterWeek and highlights some of the 300 participants who took part in the

Rising from an all island basis.

Text: Sinéad McCoole

EVENTSGUIDE Mná 1916 - Women of 1916 Exhibition

(Top) Cumann na mBan group photograph(1916) - 'The Capuchin Annual' (1936) p163.

(Far left) Newspaper clipping of Sinéad &Eamon de Valera’s Wedding 1910.

(Left) Nora Connolly O’Brien and her sisters.

(Below) Eilis Ni Riain Bean Ui Connaill MrsO'Connell.

(Facing page) Countess Markievicz playingthe part of Joan of Arc in 1907.Gaelic League Women Rising poster.


At Easter 1916, under the guise ofroutine manoeuvres, members of theIrish Volunteers, Na Fianna Éireann,Cumann na mBan, the Irish CitizenArmy, the Hibernian Rifles along withClan na nGael girl scouts who attachedthemselves to this group, joined anarmed rebellion. The military councilof seven men who formulated a plan fora Rising were members of the oathbound Irish Republican Brotherhood;so they kept the exact nature of theirplans secret, even from their wives.Meetings took place in the home ofEamonn Ceannt, yet his wife Áine didnot know of the plans for action, shethought warfare would commence onlywith provocation. Sinéad de Valera,whose husband Éamon, was acommandant of an outpost at Bolands,Ballsbridge, thought she must havebeen ‘wanting in understanding’ not tohave anticipated it. But Sinéad was notalone.

Two women were sworn into theIrish Republican Brotherhood despitethe fact that, even by its name, itexcluded women. Kathleen Clarke didnot join husband Tom in the fight, herjob was to organise the welfare supportfor families of the insurgents shouldthere be a prolonged conflict. The othermember was Úna Brennan, (formerlyAnastasia Bolger) who joined herhusband Robert in the EnniscorthyGarrison during Easter Week.

Eoin MacNeill, Chief of Staff of theVolunteers, cancelled all manoeuvresfor Easter Sunday when he became

aware of insurrection plans beingformed by a military council within theVolunteers. As a result women couriers,as James Connolly’s daughter Nora putit, were sent to all parts of Ireland,‘trying to avert disaster, to countermandthe countermand'.

The Foley sisters Breeid (Bríd) andCait were sent to Cork on EasterSunday with a message the Rising wasgoing ahead the following day butmanaged to return to Dublin bymotorcar on Easter Monday in time tojoin up.

Maeve Cavanagh was sent toKilkenny and Waterford, Carlow’scourier was Nancy Wyse Power whowent to Borris. Elizabeth O’Farrellwent to Athenry and Eily O’Hanrahanwent to Enniscorthy.

Mary Perolz was sent to Macroom,Cork, she spent the week trying toreturn to Dublin with the message:‘Cork will do its duty’. Her return washampered as trains were beingcommandeered by the military. NoraDaly managed not only to get to Dublinby train from Limerick on EasterMonday but she also got to Cork bytrain on Easter Tuesday. Claiming shewas a ‘refugee’ who had ‘come toDublin for the bank holiday’ and washeld there due to the Rising. Shecarried a message from the leaders butshe was told Cork would wait to beattacked. Meanwhile Mary Perolzfinally arrived back in Dublin Fridaymorning, ‘so distressed’ to find it in

flames.On Easter Monday 24 April 1916,

participants gathered at Liberty Halland marched from there to the GPO,City Hall and St Stephen’s Green.Women who wanted to be ‘equalcomrades’ joined the Irish CitizenArmy (ICA). The ICA, originallyestablished as a worker’s militia toprotect striking workers, under JamesConnolly, became a force that preparedfor revolution. He had the ICAmembers in a state of readiness formonths. Connolly is said to havedeclared if the men objected he wouldgo out with the women.

ICA Captain Seán Connolly led asmall force to City Hall, which includedDr Kathleen Lynn and Helena Molony.Michael Mallin took over the Greenand appointed Countess de Markieviczhis second-in-command when shearrived. She had been ordered to driveDr Lynn’s car to distribute supplies tothe outposts. Some women arrived atdesignated muster points to find no onethere and members of the FairviewBranch of Cumann na mBan joined theforce which had taken over the Green.

A number of the Clann na nGael girlscouts, which had members ranging inage from eight to sixteen, went to theGreen. They drilled in North FredrickStreet in the headquarters of theHibernian Rifles, (which had women inits ranks) and they attached themselvesto this group during Easter Week. Someof the girls were very young and when

it was discovered the manoeuvres werein fact an armed rebellion, parentscame to St Stephen’s Green to collecttheir daughters.

Cumann na mBan branches wereattached to battalions of the IrishVolunteers, so their involvement in theRising depended on the individualgarrison leaders. At the GPO, JuliaGrenan and Elizabeth O’Farrell decidedthat for the duration of the Rising thatthey would join the Irish Citizen Army‘as the Volunteers did not care if theywere there or not’.

The women whose mobilisationpoint was Emerald Square became partof the South Dublin Union Garrisonunder Éamonn Ceannt. Cumann namBan were all assigned to JamesonDistillery on Marrowbone Lane. In theFour Courts Area, Ned Daly acceptedwomen after he received a directionfrom headquarters. In this area ofintense fighting, women were locatedmainly at the first aid outpost at Fr.

Mathew Hall. In Jacobs Factory, wheresignatory of the proclamation ThomasMacDonagh was located, he had madeno provision for women but Máire NicShuibhlaigh (Mary Walker) persuadedhim to accept a small group to assistwith cooking and first aid.

The only woman injured on activeservice was the Glasgow schoolteacher,Margaret Skinnider. Afterhospitalisation she managed to get toAmerica. Doing my bit for Ireland, herstory, was published there in 1917.

A Red Cross nurse observing thewomen, described them accurately, as across section of Irish society from‘titled ladies to shop assistants’. Sheremarked on ‘the cool and recklesscourage’ of the women couriers, likeMonaghan’s Sorcha MacMahon, wholeft the GPO 30 or 40 times. Despatchcarriers made their way betweenoutposts throughout the fighting. JuliaGrenan and Elizabeth O’Farrellbrought the War News Vol I No 1 to the

printers.Three hundred women took part in

the Rising but the majority escapeddetention. When the GPO garrisonsurrendered, only three womenremained. When it came time toevacuate headquarters, women left theburning building in two differentgroups. PH Pearse addressed themevoking the ‘God of Justice to bless,guard and protect the women ofCumann na mBan to carry on the fightuntil Ireland would be free’.

Confusion reigned and policeintelligence thought the women weremembers of the ‘Sinn Féin ambulanceCorp’. General Maxwell, who hadarrived in Dublin on 28 April asmilitary governor of Ireland tosuppress the Rebellion, disbelieved thisand called them privately ‘silly little


EVENTSGUIDE Mná 1916 - Women of 1916 Exhibition

Below: Irish Citizen Army outside Liberty Hall in 1917

Above left and right; Westmeath Father MathewHall, Church Street c 1900 and 1915.

Captain Sean Connolly and Countess Markievicz


girls’. Now known as the ‘Sinn FéinRebellion’, Maxwell ordered theexecution of leaders. Women were heldin Kilmainham Gaol when the menwere shot there.

The majority of them were releasedthroughout May until only nine womenremained in detention. Participantsfrom Ferns and Enniscorthy werereleased, yet two other Wexford womenwho had not taken part in the fightingwere detained ‘without warrant orcharge’, Nell Ryan and KathleenBrowne (who Nell described as a lady‘of rare refinement and education’). Hercrime it seems was to have flown a tri-colour from the roof of her homeRathronan Castle. Kathleen wasreleased but Nell was deported toEngland.

By October only three womenremained in prison. Helena Molonyand Winnie Carney were moved toAylesbury Jail, Buckinghamshire whereCountess de Markievicz was held, in aseparate wing. Countess de Markieviczwas sentenced to death, however thissentence was later commuted to penalservitude for life because she was awoman. Helena and Winnie werereleased on Christmas Eve 1916. TheCountess returned home to a jubilantwelcome in 1917.

Mná 1916/Women of 1916exhibition will be on tour aroundIreland from June to December2016.

Dates and details available atwww.ireland.ie

Image credits:· Fr Mathew Hall· The poster Gaelic League (on Women Rising panel).· Captain Sean Connolly and Countess Markievicz· Countess as Joan O’Arc and with gun· Nora and her sisters in Celtic dressCredit: courtesy of Helen Litton and the descendants of the Daly family.

The scans from the Military Archives from pension records· Liberty Hall in ruins and group outside 1917· Eilis Ní Riain in Cumann na mBan uniform

Items scanned from Bridget Lyons Thornton’s Scrapbook:· Nora Connolly O’Brien in later life from the Courier panel· Sinéad and Eamon de Valera from same panel

Capuchin image of the women of 1916.


Cahir Castle, one of Ireland's finest medievalcastles is currently home to an exhibition,

“Remembering the 1916 Easter Rising and theIrish War of Independence”.

The display, which is on show in the Great Hall, looks atthese pivotal events in Irish history, as well as examiningthe background leading to them.

The enthusiastic organising committeeput out a call for information andmemorabilia and they were delighted andoverwhelmed with the response. Many ofthese items are on display, along withreplica Volunteer uniforms.

The exhibition also places focus on thelocal involvement in both events. PierceMcCan of Dualla near Cashel, was the leaderof the Volunteers in South Tipperary prior toand during the Rising. McCan wasimprisoned for his prominent involvementand his family have kindly given his personalaccount of his time spent in three prisons inIreland, along with other memorbilia fordisplay. He subsequently died while in prisonin England.

Tipperary and surrounding counties were hotbeds ofactivity, particularly during the War of Independence. The

first shots of the War were fired atSoloheadbeg near Tipperary Town on 21stJanuary 1919 by a group led by Sean Hogan,Sean Treacy, Dan Breen and SeamusRobinson. This event coincided with themeeting of the First Dáil. There arenumerous interesting items on displayrelating to the War of Independenceincluding several guns, one of which wasreportedly used by Dan Breen in Dublin. Anumber of the medals on display were

awarded to relatives of local OPW staff and many ofthe documents have strong local connections.

The exhibition is well worth a visit and it runs dailyfrom Easter to late September 2016.

EVENTSGUIDE Cahir Castle 1916 Exhibition

Remembering the 1916 Easter Risingand the Irish War of Independence

Programme events for JulyHomeland Video Loop: 9thJuly 2016 to 30st July Title: ’A Terrible Beauty is Born’ We were pleasantly surprised at the bigresponse we had for this centenaryexhibition, particularly from theCatalan Artists from Barcelona.

Many of the submissions were from asfar away as Switzerland, Russia and

Japan. We continue our relationshipwith Loop Barcelona.

Damer House Gallery is markingthe Centenary Celebrations withDirector, Therry Rudin, planning adocumentary with the support of co-Director, Patricia Hurl and the Board ofDirectors.

The filming is in 'Pauline’s' our

favourite cafe in Roscrea, featuringregulars, Jim, Paddy Bergin, Ciaran,Mc Nioclais (RIP), Liam Maloney,Kathleen Mc Loughney (Last of theSummer Wine Breakfast Club), todocument stories, both personal andhistoric, of Roscrea, in collaborationwith Barbara Henkes, Film-maker.The documentary is part of thecollaboration with the RoscreaHeritage Society as part of the 1916Centenary programme and issupported by the Tipperary CountyCouncil Arts Office.

The Irish Archive Film is presentingan evening of film ‘Local Films ForLocals’ showing films from 1950 to1970’s in collaboration with theHeritage Society Roscrea.

In July we present our yearly GraduateAward Show ‘Overture’ 2016.Damer House Gallery, for the first time,are announcing a selected award-winning exhibition for graduates fromall of the third level art colleges inIreland including Northern Ireland.

Damer House Gallery is an Artist-led

Centre for Contemporary Art located in Roscrea,

Co. Tipperary.

Artist Patrick Fitzpatrick explainshis artwork Gallery Room 3

Gallery room Graduate Exhibition 2015


This year, because of the CentenaryCelebration of the 1916 Rising, wehave decided to send a call out for workwhich relates to the theme, ‘Aisling’.

August

Exhibition 'the forest thathears and the field that sees'(After Hieronymus Bosch) inAugust 2016.

As part of our remit, we are delightedto show our annual exhibition of artistsfrom the Midlands. Tim Davis, andmember of the Board of Damer HouseGallery, Gerry Davis, from Cahir, CoTipperary and based in Limerick andCon Delaney living and working inCounty Kildare.

September

Exhibition ‘Bád’ is our lastexhibition for this year; the exhibitionwill be curated by the artist FergusMurphy.

Bád (eng: Boat), with BernadetteBurns, Suin Hanrahan, Patricia Hurl,

Patricia McKenna, Therry Rudin andFergus Murphy.

With this we have a group of wellknown experienced artists in DamerHouse Gallery, Suin Hanrahan(Belfast), Patricia McKenna (Dublin),Bernadette Burns and FX Murphy(Sherkin Island, formerly,Templemore, Co. Tipperary), PatriciaHurl and Therry Rudin (Roscrea. Co.Tipperary).

Bád will run from 3rd September2016 to 28th September 2016.

There is interest for the Visual ArtistsIreland (VAI) to join us in the SeminarTell and Show.

As always Culture Night will happenin September, programme to beannounced.

www.facebook.com/DamerHouseGallery

Damer House Gallery EVENTS GUIDE

57

Facing page (below left): AndrewPike the Artists with CatherineMarshall Art-Writer and Curator.

Right, from top to bottom: 1. Barbara Henkes FilmbaseHomeland Seminar Seminar 2015 .

2. Postcard Project Launch withMelanie Scott, Patricia Hurl andGillian Mitchell.

3. Katrina Maquire Video Projection

4. Postcard Project Active RetirmentGroup Roscrea

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