Tipperary People of Great Note

A project titled 'Tipperary People of Great Note', has recently been undertaken by Tipperary Community Activist, Martin Quinn.

The project is a remarkable look at 60 influential historical figures of great note from Tipperary Town and district (all within a 20km radius of Tipperary Town) dating from as far back as the 1100s through to the 1900s.

Martin got the idea for the task during 'lock down' and what started as a small undertaking soon developed into a very significant catalogue of noteworthy people from the area.

"The record of people in my project include men and women of varied background and stature who have served across country and continent and those also who have campaigned for basic human rights and improved conditions for the poor and the marginalised. I was amazed to find so many people from such a small area who were notable across so many different areas of life and several families had more than one prominent member. What was also notable were the many who were pioneers in their own field."  

What is particularly significant in the project is those that reached international acclaim in their career; (as) Lieutenant Governor of Punjab; Resident Commissioner in Southern Rhodesia; Governor of Sierra Leone, Attorney-General of Western Australia; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Palestine; Superior General Sisters of Charity Australia; Count in the French Nobility.

Martin says that the project has great examples of outstanding women; "Those who led their field in fighting for the introduction of equality for the sexes and in the pioneering areas of veterinary, photography and stained glass. There are also women who reached great acclaim through painting and art, poetry and film, through religious service and through gallantry in the heat of battle."

Of the men featured there are those who served in war and combat; "Generals, captains, colonels and soldiers, republican leaders who fought for freedom and those who tried to capture them, clergy who were chaplains to the dead and dying, and sheriffs and plunderers who flogged and pillaged. There are also men who were acclaimed for their campaigning and reforming work in religious service, in broadcasting and film, in politics and history and in sport and culture."   

"There are several major sporting achievers including a Ladies Wimbledon Singles Champion, a Men's Olympic Bronze Medalist (Hammer-Throw), a first class cricketer, a first All-Ireland referee, an Olympian and an Irish rugby union international."

Other notables from the project include one of the 'Manchester Martyrs'; the founder of the Uruguayan Navy; a police officer who was responsible for the capture of the famous outlaw Ned Kelly; one of the founders of the GAA; a General whose recommendation led to the founding of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and a survivor from the 'Titanic'.  

Martin says that he is now looking for funding to get the project printed and available to the community. "I am hoping to have it launched and made available to anyone who has an interest in learning more about local history and the people who contributed to it. I believe that it would be an important resource for the schools and I would hope to make it available to them also."    

A native of Bansha, Martin has a long history of community involvement and served a term as National President of Muintir na Tíre. As a member of the Tipperary Town CTCHC (Collaborative Town Centre Health Check) Heritage Sub-Group he has submitted the project for consideration for the Heritage Council's National Heritage Awards which celebrate the most engaging projects organised by Heritage Week participants.