Ballylooby

Ballylooby (Irish Béal Átha Lúbaigh trans. Mouth or Pass of Looby’s Ford ), is a village and parish located in South Tipperary, Ireland.

Location

Ballylooby is on the R668 regional road between Cahir and Clogheen, approximately half way between both towns. The village links two townlands, Knockannapisha (NE) and Knockane (Puttoge) (SW), the boundary between them being the Thonnoge River.

Parish

Catholic Parish of Ballylooby and Tubrid

According to Power's history of the Dioces, this modern parish includes the ancient parishes of Whitechurch, Tubrid, and Tullaghorton (Castlegrace) with a section that was once the western portion of Rochestown It extends from the summit of the Galtees [2] in the north, to the summit of the Knockmealdown range[3] in the south.The parish has two churches, at Ballylooby village and Duhill respectively. The Catholic church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St. Kieran. Mass is also celebrated at the recently renovated church at Duhill

The Village

Church

The first church built in the village of Ballylooby ran East- West, on the site of the present structure. Its orientation was at right angles to the current building. The building which replaced it was constructed in 1813 by Rev. John Burke. The site of the old church was too small , and so an extra twenty-six perches were bought from Patrick Burke at a cost of £60 per acre. The land deal did not go smoothly and Power records that Burke erected a wall within the church. This was to cut away the portion of the building standing on the (disputed) land purchased from him. The heated disagreement, which lasted for several years, was eventually settled by arbitration and the wall removed in due course.

St. Kieran's was remodelled (all but rebuilt), in 1929 by the parish priest M. Walsh. It was funded by local subscription, and many of the pews and stained glass windows bear the names of local families that sponsored them.

Schools
The present Parish Hall, adjacent to the church and bridge was once the village school, or more correctly schools. Both the boys and girls classes, though operating under one roof, were administered separately.

R.I.C Barracks
The Royal Irish Constabulary operated a barracks in the village for many years. It was sold to the local school-master, Michael Keating, by District Inspector Gilbert Potter in 1919 and so avoided damage by the Third Tipperary Brigade, during the Irish War of Independence., In December 1920, the barracks fleetingly became the focus of international attention when Daniel Francis Crowley and John Tangney, both ex-R.I.C Constables formerly stationed there, testified before the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland. They dramatically gave their reasons for quitting the force as the "brutality and lawlessness" of the contemporary administration, particularly the Black and Tans, as witnessed by them on their transfer from Ballylooby to Clogheen Barracks.

Places of local interest

Duhill Church

Duhill church, the building of which was commenced in 1829 and completed in 1830, is dedicated to St. John the Baptist (Decollation). It was renovated at a cost of £1 000 in 1929. The Parochial Registers begin with the year 1828.

Duhill Church features two excellent examples of Harry Clarke's artistic achievements with stained glass.They are located in the Sanctuary, to the left and right of the alter, and depict Salome 'presenting' the head of John the Baptist to Herod and the Lourdes apparition. From Clogheen, take the Clonmel road as far as Castlegrace cross. Turn left and you will meet the church on your left after less than a mile .

The Mortuary Chapel at Tubrid is the burial place of Seathrún Céitinn (Geoffrey Keating), a 17th century Counter-Reformation priest of the parish and Gaelic historian of national repute. It is located just over 5 kilometres from Ballylooby. Take the road towards Cahir for about 1.5 kilometres. At the cross-roads, take the road to the right and continue for 2.5k until just before the bridge. Paddy 'Button Eyes' Cahill the famous country and western singer owns many propertys in the area.

Sport

Ballylooby is of local notability primarily for the Ballylooby-Castlegrace Gaelic Athletic Association Club.[4]
Thomas Ryan, a native of the area, represented County Tipperary at the ill-fated match against Dublin on Bloody Sunday (1920).
In the centre of the village, there is a memorial to Ned Tobin, who achieved national fame as a track and field athlete, particularly in throwing the 56 pound weight "without follow". It is one of several protected structures in Ballylooby.[5]

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland