News from the Archives of The Guardian from a century ago

MAY 16 1925

The Shannon Electric Scheme

It is scarcely yet generally realised how great the magnitude, how serious the undertaking and how far-reaching are the possibilities of the Shannon Electric Scheme. Events are moving rapidly. During the debate on the second Reading of the Bill last week, Mr McGilligan said that if the Bill is law - as apparently he hoped and anticipated - by the time of the summer recess - June 26 - the first German boat load of materials would be in Limerick in July, and the first sod to initiate the vast enterprise would be turned by the President in September.

The scheme and every detail of it have an intimate interest for this part of the country. Great works involving heavy expenditure will have to be undertaken at Killaloe and O’ Brien’s Bridge, and in the country between these places and Limerick. Between Killaloe and O’ Brien’s Bridge very extensive embankments have an intimate interest for the landowners, especially on the Tipperary side.

The course of the Kilmastulla river will be diverted as will be explained later. The effects in regard to the drainage of such areas as those through which the Nenagh River, the Brosna River and others will flow, will need to be considered with care, and we, therefore, think it useful to give our readers a general outline of the scheme, especially in its local aspects, in the simplest way possible.

The Shannon has most advantages for the supply of water power in Ireland. It has the largest catchment area. There are very large lakes for storage. The principal fall of the river is found in the comparatively short space between Killaloe and Limerick, so that by tapping the water on the lower portion the large catchment area is fully utilised. The Shannon is in the centre of the country, which makes it eminently suitable for development to supply the whole country. The Siemens Plan proposes to completely utilise the lower course of the river in a huge hydro-electric power station at the same time as improving the storage capacity of the lakes.  The scheme permits a gradual development of the power to meet the country’s needs.

Nenagh To Shannon

An important meeting was held at Brundley's Hotel, Nenagh, on 26th November, 1838, at which the project of a canal from Nenagh to the Shannon was discussed. Amongst those taking part were Messrs O' Brien, Dillon, Gason, Brereton, Bayly, Bouchier, etc. Mr McKeogh Dwyer urged that the canal should be run to Youghal as he believed the harbour of Dromineer “was quite open to a north-west wind, and therefore a bad terminus to a canal.”

Hermit's Death

On Tuesday last Dr A. D. Courtney, coroner, held an inquest in Bollingbroke, touching on the death of Michael Connolly, commonly known as “Johny of the hills”.

The first witness was John Butler, Foilnamuck, who stated that while he was doing some fencing the previous day, he found the dead body. Johny of the hills was of an eccentric nature, apparently an army man, who had resided in the locality for upwards of 40 years. For over 20 years he lived on the open mountain, and slept out in hail, rain and snow. For 25 years he had no cover whatsoever. He generally picked out a suitable place where he would go to sleep in a sitting position and sometimes he would cover himself with heather. He lived that kind of life until about 10 years ago, when he built a little hut - if you could call it such - in a point where two banks met. The entrance would be by means of a small hole through which he crept. So far as witness knew, he never went near any town and generally got his food wherever he worked. When he would have money he would once in a while go to Kilcommon for boots or clothes. He used not drink much, but he often had a pint. He would be about 65 years of age.

Sergeant Fitzsimons said when they went to the mountain at Foilnamuck they found the deceased lying dead in a hut - a small rough structure covered with heather to which it was impossible to gain access without creeping on the knees. No one seemed to know where the deceased came from. Mr McCormack (juror) said that for the past ten years the deceased had lived a life of comfort in comparison with the manner in which he lived before that.

Another juror said there was no happier man in the parish.

The jury found death was due to natural causes.

MAY 15 1965

Tipp Qualify For Final

Tipperary qualified for the final of the National Hurling League at Croke Park on Sunday when they defeated Waterford by 2-18 to 1-9. Tony Wall was easily the most commanding figure in the winners’ defence, where John Doyle, Kieran Carey, Michael Maher and Len Gaynor also performed with distinction. Mick Roche was the better of the midfielders, the coolness of his hurling often perplexing his opponents, and he was ably assisted by Theo English.

Jimmy Doyle, who scored four points from frees and two from play, was the master tactician, converting many difficult placed balls and spraying out the passes with pinpoint accuracy. It was Nealon, the other highly mobile element in the Tipperary attack, who carried the threat close in, while Devaney was too studied at wing-forward, but later competent at wing-back.

Killaloe Anglers

Local anglers continue to enjoy good pre-dapp trout trolling. Good fishing on the troll also preceded the dap in 1964. Over the weekend the following catches were recorded: Joe Manly and Jack Quigley had four fish averaging 2 lbs each; J. Kelly and P. Moore had four totalling 9 lbs; Tom Haskett and Ignatius Geraghty had five (9 lbs); John O’ Byrne had four averaging 1 lb each; Michael Cleary and Sean Higgins three fish, 1 lb each; and Fred Bosworth had one, 2 lbs. Midweek again proved rewarding with some boats recording catches of eight fish.

Local Garda Is Best

At the Passing Out of 30 new Gardaí at the Training Centre, Templemore, on Thursday, 13th inst, Garda J. E. Butler, was awarded first prize for the best recruit of the class. Garda Butler is youngest son of Edward and Mrs Butler, Dublin Road, Nenagh. He received his education at Nenagh Christian Brothers Schools, having obtained his Leaving Certificate in 1963. His brother, Denis, also a pupil of Nenagh CBS, joined the Gardaí a year ago and is presently stationed in Dun Laoghaire.