Borrisokane

Borrisokane Buiríos Uí Chéin
—  Town/Pikieland  —
Borrisokane Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°59′46″N 8°07′40″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	North Tipperary
Elevation	61 m (200 ft)
Population (2006)
• Urban	1,145
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	R914939
Website	www.borrisokane.com

Borrisokane (Irish: Buiríos Uí Chéin, meaning "the Burgage of the Cianacht" ) is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.

History

During the Norman invasion of Ireland, the area now known as Borrisokane was the property of the O'Carrolls of Ely who claimed to be descendants of the 'Clan or Cian or the Cianacht. The O’Kennedys were another significant ruling family, owning tower houses in surrounding townlands.

During the Cromwellian Plantation, Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, the Earl of Cork and the Earl of Arran were among those granted lands at Borrisokane. Arran hill, a townland of Borrisokane, is thought likely to be named after the latter.

Local population changes throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have underlined the great social and economic challenges that Ireland as a nation itself faced during these times. The population of the parish in 1831 was 2, 634 and in 1841, it had risen to 3, 175. Due to reasons of famine and emigration, this number has fallen steadily to 1, 145 today.

During the War of Independence, and the Civil War which followed, Borrisokane was witness to local hostilities. On the 26 June 1920: About 200 IRA volunteers attacked an RIC barracks at Borrisokane, currently the town's Garda Station. The attack was unsuccessful, but the building was so badly damaged that it was evacuated the next day. One Volunteer was killed in the action, and a plaque commemorates him today as Micheál Ó Cinnéide, Uncle of the former Government Minister Michael O'Kennedy.

The Modreeny Ambush took place on the 3 June 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. The ambush was an attack on an RIC and Black and Tan patrol en route to the local Petty Sessions in Borrisokane Courthouse. It was committed by a Flying Column led by Sean Gaynor at Kallegbeg Cross, between Borrisokane and Cloughjordan and resulted in the deaths of four RIC/ Black and Tan members. Later that same day, a branch of the "Munster and Leinster" bank was robbed of £2,000. Borrisokane Courthouse and its jail were also burned.

Local industry

Situated as it is in the Great Plain of Lower Ormond, much of the land around Borrisokane is well suited to farm production. As such, the area has a strong agricultural history which continues to this day.

During the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, Borrisokane was an important centre for wheat production. There was an active mill in the town, which was operational from 1810 until about 1940. There seems to have been a brewery at this site also, due to a lane running alongside the now derelict mill named 'Brewers Lane'. This mill was demolished in April, 2010, an event which caused some local anger.

Popular culture

In his poem, The Faerie Queene, Edmund Spenser is said to have referred to the local hill of Knockshegowna. Knockshegowna (Irish: Cnoc Sí Úna) translated literally means 'The Hill of Fairy Una'. In Spenser's poem, Úna, the personification of the "True Church" travels with the Redcrosse Knight (who represents England), whom she has recruited to save her parents' castle from a dragon.

Knockshegowna Hill and its supposed fairies is also the subject of R.D. Williams' poem The Fairies of Knockshegowna and The Legend of Knockshegowna by Crofton Croker

In 1930, the David Clarke Memorial Hall was opened in Borrisokane, dedicated to the memory of the town's then most prominent Landlord, David Clarke. The Hall is still used today for the staging of musical and theatrical productions.

2009 saw the opening of Tess Burkes. It has since established itself as a popular live music venue attracting up and coming bands from all over the country.

Sport

GAA Borrisokane GAA club is based at Páirc Gairnéir and their colours are Green & White . In 2010 they won the Tipperary County Intermediate Hurling Championship and were unlucky to lose out in the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship. In 2009, Borrisokaqne won the inaugural North Tipperary Junior C Hurling Championship. This was due in no small part to the leadership provided by team captain Pat Carroll in the mid-field position.

Borrisokane Athletic Club caters for athletes from age 8 to senior and are one of the most successful sports clubs in Ireland. Athletes from this small town club have travelled the world representing their country and can boast over 100 National titles throughout its 30 years. Most recently the clubs success has came from the senior ladies who were crowned National League Champions in 2008.

Horse Racing associated with The Ormond Hunt pack were first held at Borrisokane on the farm of John Reddan at Kylenagoona, near Borrisokane in the year 1863. Meetings were held annually in June, July and August, with most competition being for The Borrisokane Plate. Racing continued here up until the early 1900s when it moved closer to the town. A song, 'The Kylenagoona Races' was composed in reference to Borrisokane's local horse racing.

The town and district are today home to a number of well known equestrian personalities including former Irish champion jockey turned Racehorse Trainer Charlie Swan who lives in nearby Cloughjordan.

Buildings of note

Whilst there are other buildings of architectural interest in and around Borrisokane, the following are featured in 'An Introduction To The Architectural Heritage Of North Tipperary' and on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage website

• Semi-detached houses with integral arch, Main St. (c1800) Pair of semi-detached three storey houses with integral carriage arch.
• Water Mill, Mill St. (c1810) Two four storey blocks. (Demolished Friday 30th April 2010 20:00pm)
• Church of Ireland church, Main St. (1812) Single-cell Board of First Fruits church.
• Former miller’s house. Mill St. (c1815) Three bay two-storey house attached to mill.
• The Terrace, Nenagh Rd. (c1815) Two pairs of semi-detached houses and a detached house, two storey over basement.
• Old Church Centre, Mill St. (1839) Cruciform plan gable fronted former church.
• Borrisokane Courthouse and College. (c1850) Former Workhouse and courtyards.
• Methodist Chapel, Main St. (1868) Gable fronted single cell church.
• David Clarke Hall, Mill St. (c1930) Gable-fronted memorial hall.

Notable residents, past and present

• Eugene Esmonde, recipient of the Victoria Cross for his efforts during World War II (lived at Drominagh)
• Sir William Bernard Hickie, British Major General and Irish Nationalist Politician (lived at Slevoir)
• Capt. Sir Alan Hillgarth, British born novelist and intelligence agent (lived at Gortnalougha)
• Rex Ingram, film director, lived at The Old Rectory
• Mary Anne Estévez, née Phelan, mother of Martin Sheen
• Dominic West, English actor who starred in The Wire
• John Francis Waller, composer of The Spinning Wheel
• Charlie Swan, Racehorse trainer and former Champion Jockey (born and still lives at Modreeney)
• Owen McKenna and Ger McKenna, greyhound trainers
• Séamus Gardiner, former President of the GAA
• Sir Henry Givens Burgess, Irish Railway Executive and Politician (lived at Finnoe House)
• Frank Corcoran, Irish composer, born and lived at Kilfadda House
• Frederick Trench, 1st Baron Ashtown (lived at Sopwell hall)
• Áine Minogue, harpist born in Borrisokane, now living in the U.S.A.
• Ian O'Brien, originally from Carrickbeg.

See also

• List of civil parishes of North Tipperary
• List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland

External links

• Borrisokane website