MacDonagh Museum celebrates 10 years

A joyous occasion was celebrated in Cloughjordan last Friday week with the tenth anniversary of the Thomas MacDonagh Museum.

Almost 15,000 visitors have been recorded at the museum since the then Minister for the Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs Jimmy Deenihan officially opened it in May 2013. While exact numbers for the early years are not available, a total of 14,493 visitors were recorded up to the end of 2022. 2016 was the peak year, and while the museum had to close its doors with the arrival of the pandemic, recovery since then has been even stronger than expected. There are now 15 local, regional and national groups using the premises on a regular basis.

Last Friday's event was an opportunity to celebrate this progress and reflect on the efforts of those who founded the museum 10 years ago. It was also a chance to celebrate the newly revamped library - which will be reopening in the coming weeks and offering a Friday and Saturday service - and the return to the centre of Cloughjordan Cineclub.

Among the guest speakers was Seamus Costello, Vice Chair of Cloughjordan Community Development Association, who played a key role in the design and construction of the Thomas MacDonagh Musuem. He remarked at how hard it was to believe that 10 years have passed since that night of heavy rain when Minister Deenihan came to Cloughjordan and opened the museum on the anniversary of MacDonagh's death.

Originally established in 1996, the Cloughjordan association (formerly company) set about making a number of important additions to the village with the help of Tipperary Co Council and Leader. The provision of a museum honouring MacDonagh was a key priority.

Mr Costello revealed that the association's next project would be to develop a community centre in the former youth club premises. He took the opportunity to welcome new Chairman Oliver Ryan-Purcell with an “unbridled enthusiasm for good things for Cloughjordan”.

Mr Costello thanked all that supported the association in its endeavours, including Rosemary Joyce of Tipperary Co Council, and he praised Jim and May Casey for their work in driving the MacDonagh project forward during their time on the development group.

County Librarian Damien Dullaghan spoke of the synergy between museums and libraries, and he looked forward to a new beginning for the local library with its new stock of books. Marie Brady had given 35 years to the library service in Cloughjordan and she would be missed, but Mr Dullaghan said her legacy would now be carried on by Noreen Duggan of Borrisokane Library.

Also among the speakers was Cllr Ger Darcy, representing the donors to the MacDonagh Museum. He spoke of how the museum has become a “permanent landmark” in Cloughjordan.

Cllr Darcy praised the community effort that has gone into the museum, and said his 30 years of experience on the council has shown him that help would always be found for such effort. Cloughjordan has a heritage and history that other parts of the country do not, and Cllr Darcy looked forward to attracting even greater visitor numbers to the village in the years to come.

The powerful community spirit could in many ways be linked with the flag that Cllr Darcy donated to the museum. It belonged to the Ardcroney branch of the National Land League and had been in Cllr Darcy's late father's possession for years.

It was last used during the eviction of Sarah Hogan in 1902. She was left homeless, but the local community got together and provided a home for her. “Sarah's House” is sadly no more, but the story still lives on.

Also invoking the past, Tori McMorran, Chair of the museum's board of directors, asked those present to remember Una Darcy and Roche Williams, both of whom were involved in the development of the museum and are now sadly no longer with us. Looking ahead, Ms McMorran spoke of the exciting programme of events billed at the centre throughout 2023. Near future plans also include the provision of a lift, which is to be developed next year.

Last to speak was Peter Gerard, who suggested that the occasion should also give cause for reflection on the sad times of a hundred years ago. In particular, he asked the gathering to remember Thomas' brother Joseph MacDonagh, whose death centenary occurred on Christmas Day last.