Cloughjordan to honour local heritage

On Friday April 20th an exhibition on significant people in the heritage of Cloughjordan Parish will be launched at 8pm in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum, Lower Main Street, Cloughjordan.


The African proverb, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child’, reminds us of the effects of the values held within the community in influencing those reared within our local area. All those featured in the exhibition spent their formative years in the parish of Cloughjordan; coming from Kilruane and Kyle and from Moanfin and the town of Cloughjordan, and deserve a place of honour in local history.


Through the profiles of these six people from the parish we are given an insight into the history spanning over 150 years, 1822 to 1986. Their lives were touched by emigration, several wars, a gold rush, land agitation, commerce, our emerging nation and developing industry, and the varied events of their time.


While each one is remembered individually, there is a common thread running through their profiles. It is that of leadership and courage, responding with personal responsibility to the cause which presented itself to them during their lifetime.


Through a series of banners, the exhibition recalls William Hodgins and his son (1822 to 1912), banker and Land League supporter prominent in Irish American affairs; William J Spain (1865 -1936), GAA celebrity and millionaire businessman; Constable Michael Gleeson (1888-1956), member of Dublin Military Police and An Garda Síochána; Sgt James Somers (1894-1918), WWI Victoria Cross awardee; Captain Tom Walsh (1897-1922), active in the War of Independence and member of the Free State Army; Michael J Costello (1904-1986), co-founder of the Irish Army, businessman and advocate of the co-operative movement.


All are welcome to come, and join with family members of those honoured for the opening of this exhibition, which has been supported by Tipperary County Council. Members of the Cloughjordan Heritage Group carried out the research for the project and the graphic design was prepared by Mella O’Brolchain.


The programme for the tenth annual Thomas MacDonagh Weekend will be launched at the event.


‘Down Your Way’, the popular programme on Tipp FM, presented by Eamon O’Dwyer, was recently recorded in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum. It will be broadcast this Saturday, April 14th, at 10am.

 

Pictured is Tom Walsh, who was born  in Kyle,Cloughjordan in 1897. Tom and hisolder brother Jack joined B Company (Kilruane/Ardcroney) of the IRA. Tom became captain of the 1st Battalion, Tipperary No 1 Brigade, IRA, and he was a member of the Flying Column during the War of Independence. He was involved in the attack on Ballymackey and on Borrisokane RIC Barracks and ambushes of the RIC in Dromineer and Lisboney. After the Treaty was signed, Tom was given the honour of leading the local IRA into Nenagh Military Barracks on February 14th 1922, following the evacuation of the British Forces. Tom was appointed Captain in the new Free State Army.