The great Leitrim native Seamus O’Rourke, writer, director, actor, poet and independent producer (Big Guerilla Productions) takes us back to 1922.
The year 1922 in Ireland marked the beginning of the final phase in Ireland’s revolution. It saw the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty; the establishment of the Irish Free State; the outbreak of the civil war; and the consolidation of partition as Northern Ireland opted out of the Free State settlement.
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) will mark its 140th birthday in Thurles today, Friday, 1st November, 2024.
The GAA was founded on November 1st 1884 at a meeting in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, by a group of spirited Irishmen, latter who had the foresight to realise the importance of establishing a national organisation to make athletics more accessible to the masses and to revive and nurture traditional, indigenous sports and pastimes.
Michael Cusack 1847- 1906.[GAA’s first President elect.]
Irish teacher and founder Michael Cusack, latter born in 1847, (during the Great Irish Famine 1846-1849), a native of the parish of Carron on the eastern fringe of the Burren, in Co. Clare, would become its first President.
To mark today’s birthday, the GAA’s History Committee will attend at Hayes’ Hotel for a meeting at 12:00 noon, to make a presentation to the hotel. They are expected to be joined by Munster GAA President and GAA Vice President Mr Ger Ryan(Tipperary), as well as other Tipp GAA officials including Mr Patrick McKay, great grandson of John McKay, the former who was elected first secretary in 1884. To mark the event a meeting will be held in the same room where the Association was initially founded.
All are welcome to attend this event in Hayes Hotel.
Halloween Lecture – Relics & Reliquaries – Thursday evening, October 31st Next at 7:00pm.
Librarian Ms Maura Barrett will continue her tradition of presenting a Halloween Lecture in Cashel Library.
This year Ms Barrett will looks at relics and their reliquaries in the Irish context, and discusses the enduring belief in their miraculous powers.
You canlocate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX)
Please do remember: Booking is essential by return email or to Tel: 062 63825. In booking, also keep in mind that the Library closes at 5:00pm this evening (Friday October 25th), and will not reopen again until Tuesdaymorning, October 29th at 9:30pm sharp.
“Oíche Shamhna faoi mhaise”. (Irish – Happy Halloween).
Readers will remember we spoke, some weeks ago, of the remarkable restoration work being undertaken in the old section of Two-Mile-Borris Cemetery, by the T.M.B. Old Cemetery Committee. Their work last year led to the identification of the burial place of the parents of a former Bishop of Limerick, Right Reverend John Ryan D.D. (1828-1864), enabling a memorial plaque to be unveiled at the grave site, on Tuesday October 1st, 2024 last. [View HERE].
Visitors visiting this memorial plaque within the old cemetery may have their attention drawn to a most unusual upright and indeed rare, head-slab located a short distance away also within the old Two-Mile-Borris cemetery section, south of the burial ground’s main central crucifix. The head-slab can be immediately and easily identified because of its pointed top.
Mr Gerry Bowe (Chairperson of the Two-Mile-Borris Old Cemetery Committee), pictured here explaining the little known folklore, behind the long forgotten, pointed top, head-slab, latter located within Two-Mile-Borris Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
While the back of the west facing side of this limestone, flagstone (headstone) remains blank and undecorated; a most elegant, ornate Floriated Cross* cross and human head can be found; both hand-hewn in relief, on the front east facing side.
*A Floriated Cross is a cross with arms terminating in representations of flower petals.Same represent faith, wisdom and chivalry when used in heraldry, and the Trinity when used as a Christian symbol.
This tombstone follows in the classic head-slab style of such existing grave slabs, erected during the period between the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The number of medieval slabs which feature a pointed top is very limited here in Ireland, with only 3 identified as having survived. A second example can be located at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny, while we learn that a third instance exists in the Cathedral at Newtown, Trim, Co. Meath. In the United Kingdom, yet another example can be located on the site of St. Peter’s churchyard in Lewes, East Sussex, UK.
The pointed top of the Two-Mile-Borris slab is a unique feature amongst the body of Irish head-slabs, however, it does occur on other medieval sepulchral (stone room) monuments, though again not extensively.
While little information is known about the history of this head-slab’s initial raising in this thirteenth and fourteenth century period; local folklore related by Mr Bowe, suggests that this pointed top, thirteenth/fourteenth century slab, identifies the last resting place of an unknown Bishop, who it is said died, having fallen from a frightened horse, upon entering Two-Mile-Borris village, as he travelled westward towards Thurles Town, in Co. Tipperary.
One fact, however, which may contradict this folklore is that the face of this slab looks eastward. The practise of burying the dead so that their faces would reflect the rising sun, originally began with the Greeks and ancient Egyptians, latter who worshipped a sun god. Their dead would therefore face the sun each morning, permitting them to greet each new day.
The practice of east-facing tombstones within Christian communities is of course traced back to the Bible. New Testament scripture which records the second coming of Christ, states; “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (St Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 24 : V. 27). However, a notable and usual exception to this east facing rule, is that Church clergy, are buried facing west, (as indeed are often also senior army officers); based on the belief that, in the case of clergy at least, they too will rise, to face their congregation, and thus are positioned ready to lead same, yet again.
On the other hand, as Mr Bowe points out, local folklore may indeed be correct, as from antiquity Floriated Crosses has been identified as a symbol of purity by the Church. The design at the ends of the arms of Fleury Crosses often represent lily bloom; lilies representing the Blessed Virgin Mary and/or the Resurrection.
‘Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem’, from all over counties Tipperary, Clare and Limerick’s Mid-West Region will gather, before descending on Bunratty Castle & Folk Park this October Bank Holiday Weekend (October 26th-28th), as the County Clare visitor attraction becomes transformed into a haunted Halloween village.
The traditions and superstitions of ‘Samhain’ will be on display during the October Bank Holiday weekend with Halloween games, ghostly characters, witchcraft, a Bed of Nails, tarot reading, street entertainment, and Haunted Train rides past ghosts, grim reapers, and zombies that will appear from the shadows throughout the 26-acre folk park.
Ms Marie Brennan, (Events Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park), commented, “Our Halloween event is hugely popular with people from across the Mid-West Region and beyond. We are very excited about welcoming everyone back to Bunratty, where history meets the haunted.” “It is an eerie time of year, and we have pulled out all the stops to create an unforgettable experience full of fun, frights and festivity for the whole family,” added Ms. Brennan.
Age-old Halloween traditions will be re-enacted at the Golden Vale Farmhouse where the Bean an Tí will speak about the types of food that typically would have been eaten in Samhain and recall the peculiar superstitions of the time. The Farmhouse also will host Halloween-themed fun with traditional games such as Bobbing for Apples, Blind-Man’s-Buff and Snap Apple.
Adult visitors will be invited to step back in time at a Victorian-era parlour séance, where the secrets of the past will be unveiled as the spirits of the departed are summoned. The Wicked Wake will be hosted in The Shannon Farmhouse where the resident MacNamara family will mourn the loss of their beloved Mickey, whose ghostly presence suggests he has unfinished business in the land of the living.
Visitors can experience a re-enactment of a Witch Trial each day at 11.00am, 12.00 noon, 2.15pm, and 3.30pm, by following an angry mob from the village street to Ardcroney Church. Meanwhile, a bewitching duo will take up residence in the kitchen of the Loop Head Farmhouse, where mysterious concoctions will be brewing.
At Corry’s Pub on the Village Street, Bunratty’s resident seanchaí Mickey Joe will recount fables of Samhain and hair-raising tall tales passed down through the generations. Other performances include Halloween puppetry with Konor Halpin each day at 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm, and 4.00pm in the Village Street Alleyway; Escapologist Monsieur Gusto will showcase his juggling, escapology, and acrobatic skills on October 28th, and fun and frightening frolics with Dracula King of Vampires, The Minister of Death, Escaped Convicts, and Mad Musicians.
The Red Devil and the King of the Vampires will lurk in the shadows ready to pounce at a moment’s notice, The Talking Head guarantees to entertain and frighten guests at the Mountain Farmhouse, Dr. Jekyll’s surgery will open its doors for anyone who is brave enough to enter, a shrinking illusion will be on display in the Castle’s basement, and the Bed of Nails returns this year in the Castle’s Torture Chamber.
Visitors to Bunratty Castle also will get to see the deadly dungeon and monstrous murder hole and meet Maleficent’s Wicked Sister.
‘Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem’ takes place from 10.30am to 1.30pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pmeach day from Saturday October 26th to Monday October 28th.
Recent Comments