Templemore

Templemore (Irish: An Teampall Mór, meaning 'The Big Church') is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. Its population was 2,255 at the 2006 census. It is in the barony of Eliogarty, and also in the Roman Catholic parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea.

Location and access

The main artery of the town is the N62 National route which originates in the centre of Ireland at Athlone and terminates at the main Dublin-Cork motorway (the M8). In between it connects the town with Roscrea to the north and with Thurles to the south. To the east, the R433 connects the town to the M8 / N8 at a more northerly point via the villages of Clonmore & Errill and the town of Rathdowney. Also the R502 connects the town to the M8 / N8 via the village of Templetouhy. To the west, the R501 goes to Borrisoleigh with fine views of the Devil's Bit mountain on the right hand side near Drom and Barnane.

Townlands in the civil parish

See note 3 below.

Name in Irish	Name in English
Baile Ádaim	Adamstown
Baile Uí Chathail	Ballycahill
Béal Átha Hín	Ballyheen
Bearna Leathscátha	Barnalascaw
Belleville	Belleville
An Bhuiríos Bheag	Borrisbeg
Cill Chléirín	Kilclareen
Cill tSiolláin	Kiltillane
Cill Tuilithe	Kiltilliha
Cnocán na Gainimhe	Sandymount
An Cnocán Rua	Knockanroe
Coill an Bhardaigh	Killawardy
An Choill Bheag	Kylebeg
An Choill Ghlas	Greenwood
An Choill Thoir	Eastwood
An Choillíneach	Culleenagh
Diméin an Teampaill Mhóir	Templemore Demesne
Diméin na Prióireachta	Priory Demesne
Fearann Ó gCathail	Farranacahill
Fearann Doire	Farranaderry
Gort Ruáin	Lloydsborough
Halla an Eidhneáin	Ivyhall
Halla an Mharcaigh	Jockeyhall
Lios na bhFeadóg Theas	Lisnaviddoge South
Lios na bhFeadóg Thuaidh	Lisnaviddoge North
Lóiste an Bhuitléaraigh	Butlerslodge
Mana Theas	Manna South
Mana Thuaidh	Manna North
Ros na mBanbh Íochtarach	Rossnamanniff Lower
Ros na mBanbh Uachtarach	Rossnamanniff Upper
An Seanbhaile	Oldtown
An Seisceann	Forest
Woodville	Woodville

Transport

Templemore railway station opened on 3 July 1848. Templemore is on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Limerick railway lines operated by Iarnród Éireann.

History

Ancient history

The ancient territory of Éile obtained its name from pre-historic inhabitants called the Eli, about whom little is known beyond what may be gathered from legends and traditions. The extent of Éile varied throughout the centuries with the rise and fall of the tribes in occupation. Before the 5th century A.D. the details of its history which can be gleaned from surviving records and literature are exceedingly meagre, obscure and confusing. During this century however Éile appears to have reached its greatest extent, stretching from Croghan Bri Eli (Croghan Hill in Offaly) to just south of Cashel (in Corca Eathrach Eli). The southern part of this territory embraced the baronies of Eliogarty and Ikerrin, a great part of the modern barony of Middlethird, the territory of Ileagh, and portion of the present barony of Kilnamanagh Upper.

By the 8th century, the territory of Ancient Éile had broken up into a number of petty kingdoms: the O’Carroll occupied the northern portion, the O’Spillanes held Ileagh, the Eoghanacht of Cashel had annexed Middlethird.

The ancient name of the district on which the town now stands was 'Tuatha Corca Teine.' Teine was supposed to have been the son of the King of Connacht, arriving in the district shortly after St. Patrick. Monastic settlements were located at the site of Teine's fort, Land of the Monks (Irish: Farran na Manna). A holy man named Silean is reputed to have accompanied St. Patrick and to have established a monastery in the area. There is no townland called Templemore. The townland on which the town is built is Kiltillane (Irish: Cill tSilean), meaning Saint Sheelan's Church.

Feudal period

With the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, a powerful Norman family - the Butlers - became the new overlords. Early in the 14th century, they were raised to the Earldom of Ormond. As the holders of the County Palatine of Tipperary, they were entitled to appoint sheriffs, judges and to certain classes of revenue that would normally have been due to the Crown. This privilege was withdrawn in 1715. The family donated a small piece of land to the Abbey of St Thomas in Dublin, and about 1200 a large Abbey was built with a moated graveyard, the remains of which are still to be seen in Templemore Demesne, commonly known as the "Town Park". The Blackcastle, as it is locally known, was built in the Town Park in 1450 by James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond. This building and its manor lands were occupied by the Butlers and were later leased to the families of Purcell of Loughmore (Loughmoe) and Morris of Knocka.

The O’Fogarty clan held what is now the barony of Eliogarty, while to the north of them, at least some time later, were O’Meaghers of Ikerrin. The River Nore, at its position between Roscrea and Templemore, although just a small stream at this point, is usually taken as the southern limit of Ely O'Carroll territory.

Carden family

Black Castle Town Park 2007

Around 1695 the Butlers sold extensive lands to an English family called Carden from Cheshire, who settled in the area and also located at Barnane and Fishmoyne. This family over the next 200 years were to play a very significant part in the history of Templemore and district.

Following the burning of the Blackcastle, Carden built a new estate. He built a mansion known as the Priory on the edge of the town. The architecture of the Priory was in the style of the Elizabethan era. The Priory was surrounded by a demesne which had a formal garden with paved paths around an artificial lake. Quoting froma contemporary newspaper commentary of 1861, when the Priory was still under construction:

The noble Gothic pile of finely chiselled limestone, with its battlements, turrets, buttresses and extensive façade, and spacious arched doorway; the architraves of grouped columns, retreating to the depth of several feet, convey to the mind an idea of architectural grandeur seldom associated with the country residences of our gentry.

There were extensive gardens and a lot of money was spent on it:

The house itself consists of sixty rooms, and the sum of, we understand £20,000 in round numbers, has been expended so far upon the building, - Upon entering the grand hall, through the massive oaken doorway, replete with medieval decorations, the visitor finds that ‘The Priory’ has been erected in a style of magnificence not very generally met with – it is floored en mosaique, in walnut and oak; the peculiar grotesque spirit of the Gothic style is not permitted to run riot through the rich oak carving, while that more beautiful element, tracery enters largely into the interior ornamentation – the oak painted ceiling richly stuccoed and the polished armour shields an banners that hang around with the erect figures in full suits of armour; the wide staircase in massive oak – the great doorways leading to the drawing –room at one side and to the library at the other – the rich and mellow light that comes through the beautiful stained glass window that forms the upper portion of the Gothic entrance, and through the lancet shaped sashes – all this bespeak a profuse liberality and taste of order.

The Cardens also kept the ruins of the old church and graveyard, but merely as conversational pieces, which was typical of that time. At the entrance on the Borrisoleigh Road is the gate keeper's lodge. After 1860, the Priory was re-named the Abbey.

Lewis' directory of 1837 lists the principal landowners in the locality at the time: " Lloydsborough is the seat of J. Lloyd, Esq.; part of the demesne is in Killea, though the mansion is in the parish of Templemore; it is a handsome residence in a well-planted demesne. The other principal seats are Woodville Lodge, the residence of D. J. Webb, Esq.; Belleville, of the Hon. C. J. K. Monck; and Eastwood, of T. Bennett, Esq.".

McCan Barracks

Originally call "Richmond barracks". Sir John Carden (second baronet, Templemore) donated a 17-acre (69,000 m²) site and also supplied the adjoining 40 acres (160,000 m²) for training and recreation. The barracks consisted of 2 squares, surrounded by company lines, stores, married quarters, officer's mess, military prison, church and hospital. Completely surrounded by a high wall, with protective/defensive posts at each corner, it had accommodation for 25 officers, married quarters for 48 other ranks, and 767 unmarried personnel. A total of 36 hospital beds and 15 guardroom cells were located within the complex as well as stabling for 27 officers horses. The surrounding area was quickly developed, with names such as Talevara Place, Vinemara Mall, and Regent Bridge, reminding all and sundry of the ongoing wars with which the barracks had become associated.

Since February 1964, the barracks has been the site of the Garda Síochána College, the centre for training Ireland's police force.

War of Independence

In August 1920, buildings in Templemore were burned down by Crown Forces or Black and Tans in reprisal for the killing of District Inspector Wilson of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The reprisals were brought to a sudden end by the occurrence of the so-called Templemore miracles: a number of holy statues in the locality purportedly began to bleed spontaneously. This caused Templemore to become a pilgrim town for a short time. Dan Breen - a famous Tipperary IRA freedom fighter, and later a Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary - said he always knew these 'miracles' to have been a nonsense but they did attract many sincere pilgrims at the time. Another IRA ambush nearby the following month caused the pilgrims to make a hasty exit and normal (war-time) conditions prevailed in Templemore once more.

Templemore today

Amenities and features

The most notable landmark in the district is the Devil's Bit mountain range. It is a popular excursion for people to visit the Rock and cross at the summit.

On the Roscrea road there is a cluster of buildings associated with the Church of Ireland community. The most significant of these is St. Mary's Church which is the principal church serving the Church of Ireland community in Templemore, Thurles and Kilfithmone. The church originally stood in front of one of the entrances to the Abbey's parkland. When the estates locally known as The Park were built in the late 1950s, the entrance gates and avenue were removed by the town council. The church, along with St Mary’s School, the Rectory, adjacent cottage and lodge, were built in 1789 on land donated by Sir John Craven Carden. It was solemnly consecrated by the Archbishop of Cashel His Grace, Charles Agar in 1794. The clock tower is now beautifully restored and is floodlit as part of a millennium project.

At the nearby village of Loughmore is the historic Loughmoe Castle. The local area is quite scenic and there are expansive views from the Devil's Bit mountain close by.

Town Hall, Main Street

Mary Street
April 2010

The market square with its Town Hall in the centre of the town is reputed locally to be the widest in either Ireland or Britain. It backs on to an extensive wooded Town Park and lake. The Georgian architecture (dating from 19th century) with its three storey houses on the main street, was directed by Sir John Carden (2nd Baronet, Templemore).

There is a large cattle mart on Bank Street which opens on Thursdays. In addition the town has a number of small industries.

Town Council

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2001, the former Urban District Council was renamed the Town Council. The members of the Town Council as at 2010 are:

• Joe Bourke, (Non-Party)
• Maura Byrne, (Fine Gael)
• Mick Connell, (Fianna Fáil)
• Martin Fogarty, (Non-Party)
• Lily O'Brien, (Fine Gael)
• Jim O'Shea, (Fianna Fáil)
• Michael Ryan, (Fine Gael)
• Marcus Wilson, (Fianna Fáil)
• Valerie Young, (Non-Party)

Education

• St. Colmcille's Primary School for boys, under the ethos of the Catholic Church. Formerly run by the Christian Brothers.
• St. Joseph's Primary School for girls, under the ethos of the Catholic Church. Run by the Sisters of Mercy.
• St. Mary's National School, under the ethos of the Church of Ireland.
• Our Lady's Secondary School (co-educational), under the ethos of the Catholic Church. It was formed when the Sisters of Mercy Convent (a day and boarding school) merged with the Christian Brothers secondary school in 1986.
• St Sheelan's College, which has a more vocational focus. In 2003, it ceased second level teaching and is now a FETAC and HETAC college of further education offering over 30 different courses.
• Garda Siochana College, the education and training college of the Garda Síochána (Irish police). It is located at McCan Barracks.

Sport

Gaelic games

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, J.K. Brackens GAA, formed in 1991 when clubs from Clonmore, Killea and Templemore merged. It is named after Joseph Kevin Bracken, one of the founders of the GAA, who came from Templemore. His son, Brendan Bracken, a member of Winston Churchill's government in the United Kingdom during World War II, was born in Templemore. The other WWII connection is that of William Joyce (a.k.a. Lord Haw-Haw). According to local lore, he lived off the Main Street during the War of Independence and was run out of the town by the old IRA for informing on their activities to crown forces.

Soccer

The local soccer/association football club is Blackcastle United FC. The club is named after the Black Castle which is located in Templemore Town Park.

Golf

There is a golf course located at close to the Garda Síochána College just off the Thurles road, which is a nine hole course. Lakeside Pitch-and-Putt club is located beside the lake in the Town Park. It is affiliated to the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland.

Angling

Coarse fishing is available in the lake in the town park. Tenders have been submitted for the "Templemore Lake Restoration and Management Study" (30/10/2009) due to concerns about the rising levels of phosphates in the lake's sediments.

International relations

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland

Templemore is twinned with the village of Prémilhat in France and Potenza Picena in Italy.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• List of Market Houses in Ireland
• Charles Monck, 4th Viscount Monck born in the town. A street in the town was formerly named after the family.

External links

• Tipperary Mountain Trekking Centre
• Templemore Town Council website
• Placenames Database of Ireland
• Local website of Templemore Town

Notes

1. Putting the barony in its historico-geographical context.
   Barony - an old administrative division. Eliogarty - one of 14 baronies in the old county, between Ikerrin to the north (whose chief town is Roscrea), Kilnamanagh Upper to the west (whose chief town is Borrisoleigh) and Middle Third to the south (whose chief town is Cashel).
2. Explanation for the use of "North Tipperary" instead of "County Tipperary".
   Following the abolition of the former county - Tipperary - as an administrative division in 1898, the county of North Tipperary was created. This is still the legal status of the county. See also County Tipperary for further history on the topic.
3. Townlands.
   Despite being listed as townlands in the civil parish of Templemore by the Placenames Database of Ireland, the following townlands are all in the neighbouring barony of Ikerrin. This can be readily verified from the O.S.I.'s historical map of the barony.

• Clontaaffe, Curraduff, Craiguedarg, Graiguebeg, Killough.