Carrick-on-Suir
Encyclopedia
Carrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary
in Ireland
. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir
. The CSO 2006 Census of the town gives the population as 5,906 (including suburbs or environs) and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002. It is in the historical barony
of Iffa and Offa East
.
, 13 miles east of Clonmel
, and 17 miles northwest of Waterford
. The town lies over three county lines, namely Tipperary
, Waterford
and Kilkenny
. which marks the Tipperary-Waterford border. The main portion of Carrick-on-Suir north of the river and lying in Tipperary
is known locally as Carrick Mór (Big Rock), though this is rarely used.
The town is connected to Limerick
and Waterford
by the N24 road and a rail link
. Carrick on Suir railway station
opened on 15 April 1853. Since 2004, three trains a day and numerous buses run to Waterford
. There is a recently refurbished riverside walk to Clonmel
along a former canal tow-path.
Carrick-on-Suir lies on the south-eastern edge of the Tipperary South constituency
of Dáil Éireann
.
, when a charter of 3 fairs per year was awarded to Matthew Fitzgriffin, Lord of the manor of Carrick, and a member of the Hiberno-Norman
nobility.
By the early 14th century, Carrick Mac Griffin had become home to a prosperous Hiberno-Norman
family - the Butlers. The first significant leader of the Butler clan, Edmond Butler
(a.k.a. Edmund le Bottilier) was created Earl of Carrick
in 1315
. However, his son James did not inherit the title. Instead, 7 years after the death of his father, he was created Earl of Ormond in his own right. In 1447, Edmund MacRichard Butler
founded the first bridge over the estuary at Carrick-on-Suir.
Other notable members of the Butler clan were Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond (a.k.a. Black Tom) who built the Tudor Manor House extension to Ormonde Castle
and James
the 12th Earl and 1st Duke of Ormond, who founded the town's woollen industry in 1670.
Edmond le Bottiler erected two large, heavily garrisoned castle keeps named the Plantagenet Castle on the north bank of the Suir, just east of what is now Main St. In the 15th century, a four towered castle was erected on the same site, two of which are now incorporated into the Elizabethan Manor House built by Black Tom Butler, c. 1560. The Manor House still stands today, having been extensively refurbished by the State in the 1990s and is open to the public. The town was also the inspiration for the sixteenth-century song, Cailín ó chois na Siúire mé, which is attested to in 1595 and mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry V AS Caleno custure me
.
In 1649
, the town was taken by English Parliamentarians during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
. They captured Carrick by stealth after discovering an undefended gate as part of operations during the Siege of Waterford
. Irish troops from Ulster
under a Major Geoghegan tried to re-take Carrick but were eventually beaten off with the loss of over 500 killed.
In 1670
the Butlers set up a woollen industry in the town. By 1799
, the town enjoyed some prosperity from the woollen industry, fishing, basketweaving and other river related businesses - the population reached around 11,000 by this point. Over the next 120 years however, the town suffered from high taxes and levies imposed by the British on the woollen industry, leading to high unemployment, poverty and emigration. The Great Famine also contributed greatly to the depopulation of the town.
and the Civil War
, Carrick was initially occupied by the Anti-Treaty IRA
until the town fell to the Free State army
in 1922
. By this stage, industrialisation had reached Carrick with the establishment of cotton factories and a local creamery. Most significant however for the economic development of the town was the arrival of the tanning industry in the 1930s, providing regular, dependable employment in the town for the first time. The local town council also embarked on building social housing projects in an effort to deal with appalling living conditions in the town for those economically disadvantaged. Despite these developments, economic opportunities were limited and poverty widespread - the town saw widespread emigration to Dublin, Britain
and further afield especially during the long recessions of the 40s and 50s.
The closure of the Pollack & Plunder tannery in 1985
caused immense hardship in the town, as a significant proportion of the population (Carrick's population was roughly 4,000 by this point) were employed there or were dependent on someone who was. Carrick suffered a prolonged recession throughout the 80s and early 90s, again leading the population to drop due to emigration - a fate
suffered by other small, rural Irish towns during the period. By the late-90s, the economy of the town was on the upswing - unemployment had dropped, the SRAM
bicycle component factory had opened as had numerous small businesses, and the population began to increase again for the first time in two centuries.
Carrick's local infrastructure (in particular health and transport) still remains relatively undeveloped, due to its location on the border of 3 counties (and subsequent lack of political muscle both at county and national level), and the nearby larger towns of Clonmel
and Waterford
. As of 2006, no large manufacturing operation remains in the town - the SRAM
plant closed in 2006, but Carrick continues to prosper economically. The population continues to increase, and the town expands with ongoing significant house building projects. The future of Carrick is likely to be that of a commuter town, servicing those working in Waterford
and Clonmel
- a role it has been performing for decades.
in the future. Flooding still occurs along the Glen/Mill River and Markievicz Tce.
) was built in the early 20th century. The central part of the Old Bridge (and likewise the Dillon bridge) was destroyed by retreating IRA
forces in 1922
in an attempt to slow the advance of the Free State army
, but both were rebuilt by 1927
.
Carrick's Town Clock was erected in 1784
. A public park was created in the Fair Green in the 1860s. The town fair continues to this day, having been moved from the Fair Green in the 1920s to a new site just west of the Fair Green.
, replacing an earlier church of the same name built in 1804
. In Carrick Beg are the small St Molleran's parish church (parts of which date back to the 13th century) and the larger Franciscan
friary. The Franciscan
order's presence in Carrick dates back to 1336
with the granting of land for a friary by the 1st Earl of Ormond. However, the suppression of monasteries by Henry VIII
led to the closure of the friary. Just prior to the invasion of Ireland
by Cromwell
, the friars had returned for an 11-year period, before being shut down again and the friars having to go underground to avoid persecution. It was not until 1820
and the onset of Catholic Emancipation
that the friars were able to fully return and a new chapel was built. The friars served the local community until the lack of vocations to the order led to the order finally leaving Carrick-Beg in 2006.
The local Church of Ireland
community was relatively substantial until independence from the UK, when the majority left for Britain
and Northern Ireland
. The local Church of Ireland church on Main Street was abandoned until the late 1980s, when the church building and grounds were renovated and now serve as a heritage centre.
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir
River Suir
The River Suir is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Waterford after a distance of .Popular with anglers, it holds plentiful reserves of brown trout...
. The CSO 2006 Census of the town gives the population as 5,906 (including suburbs or environs) and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002. It is in the historical barony
Barony (Ireland)
In Ireland, a barony is a historical subdivision of a county. They were created, like the counties, in the centuries after the Norman invasion, and were analogous to the hundreds into which the counties of England were divided. In early use they were also called cantreds...
of Iffa and Offa East
Iffa and Offa East
Iffa and Offa East is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Clonmel...
.
Location
Carrick-on-Suir is situated in the south-eastern corner of County TipperaryCounty Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, 13 miles east of Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, and 17 miles northwest of Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
. The town lies over three county lines, namely Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
and Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
. which marks the Tipperary-Waterford border. The main portion of Carrick-on-Suir north of the river and lying in Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
is known locally as Carrick Mór (Big Rock), though this is rarely used.
The town is connected to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
by the N24 road and a rail link
Rail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
. Carrick on Suir railway station
Carrick on Suir railway station
Carrick on Suir railway station serves the town of Carrick-on-Suir, South Tipperary in Ireland. The station opened on 15 April 1853. The station consists of two platforms, one of which is served by a passing loop. There is also a siding, used by the Irish Traction Group to store preserved diesel...
opened on 15 April 1853. Since 2004, three trains a day and numerous buses run to Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
. There is a recently refurbished riverside walk to Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
along a former canal tow-path.
Carrick-on-Suir lies on the south-eastern edge of the Tipperary South constituency
Tipperary South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Tipperary South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
of Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
.
Influence of the Butler family
Carrick-on-Suir (originally called Carrig Mac Griffin) was formed on an island settlement upstream of Waterford. (The town remained as an island until the 18th century, when small rivers were diverted to form dry land north and west of the town).The earliest known records of a settlement are dated to 12471247 in Ireland
-Events:*The earliest known records of a settlement at Carrick-on-Suir are dated to 1247, when a charter of three fairs per year was awarded to Matthew Fitzgriffin, Anglo-Norman Lord of the Manor of Carrick....
, when a charter of 3 fairs per year was awarded to Matthew Fitzgriffin, Lord of the manor of Carrick, and a member of the Hiberno-Norman
Hiberno-Norman
The Hiberno-Normans are those Norman lords who settled in Ireland who admitted little if any real fealty to the Anglo-Norman settlers in England, and who soon began to interact and intermarry with the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. The term embraces both their origins as a distinct community with...
nobility.
By the early 14th century, Carrick Mac Griffin had become home to a prosperous Hiberno-Norman
Hiberno-Norman
The Hiberno-Normans are those Norman lords who settled in Ireland who admitted little if any real fealty to the Anglo-Norman settlers in England, and who soon began to interact and intermarry with the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. The term embraces both their origins as a distinct community with...
family - the Butlers. The first significant leader of the Butler clan, Edmond Butler
Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick
Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick and 6th Chief Butler of Ireland was a noble in the Peerage of Ireland. He was the second son of Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland.-Career:...
(a.k.a. Edmund le Bottilier) was created Earl of Carrick
Earl of Carrick (Ireland)
Earl of Carrick, in the barony of Iffa and Offa East, South Tipperary, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland.-First creation:The title was first created in 1315 for Sir Edmund Butler, Justiciar of Ireland, by King Edward II. The title is linked to the manor of Karryk Mac Gryffin in the barony of...
in 1315
1315 in Ireland
-Events:*Invasion of Ireland by Edward Bruce. He is proclaimed by Irish allies as King of Ireland .*The first significant leader of the Butler clan, Edmond le Bottiler, became Earl of Carrig...
. However, his son James did not inherit the title. Instead, 7 years after the death of his father, he was created Earl of Ormond in his own right. In 1447, Edmund MacRichard Butler
Edmund MacRichard Butler
Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler of Polestown was the eldest son of Sir Richard Butler of Polestown and adopted the Gaelic title of The MacRichard of Ossory.-Career:...
founded the first bridge over the estuary at Carrick-on-Suir.
Other notable members of the Butler clan were Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond (a.k.a. Black Tom) who built the Tudor Manor House extension to Ormonde Castle
Ormonde Castle
Ormond Castle is a castle on the River Suir on the east side of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland. The oldest part of the existing castle is a mid-15th century walled bawn, cornered on the northeast and northwest by towers....
and James
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
the 12th Earl and 1st Duke of Ormond, who founded the town's woollen industry in 1670.
Edmond le Bottiler erected two large, heavily garrisoned castle keeps named the Plantagenet Castle on the north bank of the Suir, just east of what is now Main St. In the 15th century, a four towered castle was erected on the same site, two of which are now incorporated into the Elizabethan Manor House built by Black Tom Butler, c. 1560. The Manor House still stands today, having been extensively refurbished by the State in the 1990s and is open to the public. The town was also the inspiration for the sixteenth-century song, Cailín ó chois na Siúire mé, which is attested to in 1595 and mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry V AS Caleno custure me
Caleno custure me
Caleno custure me is the title of a song mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry V . The context is on a Hundred years war battlefield, where an English soldier cannot understand his French captive and intending to answer in similar gibberish pronounces the title of the song.Caleno custure me Caleno...
.
In 1649
1649 in Ireland
-Events:* January 30** King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded in London.** Prince Charles Stuart declares himself King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, the town was taken by English Parliamentarians during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
. They captured Carrick by stealth after discovering an undefended gate as part of operations during the Siege of Waterford
Siege of Waterford
The city of Waterford in south eastern Ireland was besieged from 1649–50 during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. The town was held by Irish Confederate Catholic and English Royalist troops under general Thomas Preston...
. Irish troops from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
under a Major Geoghegan tried to re-take Carrick but were eventually beaten off with the loss of over 500 killed.
In 1670
1670 in Ireland
-Births:*30 November - John Toland, philosopher .*Turlough O'Carolan, blind, itinerant, harpist, sometimes styled "The Last of the Bards" ....
the Butlers set up a woollen industry in the town. By 1799
1799 in Ireland
-Births:*1799 Joseph M. Hawkins, Alamo Defender .*28 February - William Dargan, engineer and railway builder .*9 August - Henry Maxwell, 7th Baron Farnham, politician and peer .*12 August - Patrick MacDowell, sculptor .-Deaths:...
, the town enjoyed some prosperity from the woollen industry, fishing, basketweaving and other river related businesses - the population reached around 11,000 by this point. Over the next 120 years however, the town suffered from high taxes and levies imposed by the British on the woollen industry, leading to high unemployment, poverty and emigration. The Great Famine also contributed greatly to the depopulation of the town.
20th century
With the coming of IndependenceAnglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
and the Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, Carrick was initially occupied by the Anti-Treaty IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
until the town fell to the Free State army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
in 1922
1922 in Ireland
-Events:*January 2 - The first edition of the newspaper Poblacht na hÉireann is published. It is established by republican opponents to the Anglo-Irish Treaty who declare their fealty to the Irish Republic....
. By this stage, industrialisation had reached Carrick with the establishment of cotton factories and a local creamery. Most significant however for the economic development of the town was the arrival of the tanning industry in the 1930s, providing regular, dependable employment in the town for the first time. The local town council also embarked on building social housing projects in an effort to deal with appalling living conditions in the town for those economically disadvantaged. Despite these developments, economic opportunities were limited and poverty widespread - the town saw widespread emigration to Dublin, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and further afield especially during the long recessions of the 40s and 50s.
The closure of the Pollack & Plunder tannery in 1985
1985 in Ireland
-Events:*January 1 - Cork City celebrates 800 years as a chartered city.*February 26 - Former minister Desmond O'Malley is expelled from the Fianna Fáil Party.*February 28 - The IRA kills nine Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in a mortar attack at Newry station....
caused immense hardship in the town, as a significant proportion of the population (Carrick's population was roughly 4,000 by this point) were employed there or were dependent on someone who was. Carrick suffered a prolonged recession throughout the 80s and early 90s, again leading the population to drop due to emigration - a fate
suffered by other small, rural Irish towns during the period. By the late-90s, the economy of the town was on the upswing - unemployment had dropped, the SRAM
SRAM (bicycles)
SRAM Corporation is a privately held bicycle component manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1987. SRAM is an acronym comprising the names of its founders, Scott, Ray, and Sam, .In 2008, the company received a strategic investment from Trilantic Capital Partners, formerly known as...
bicycle component factory had opened as had numerous small businesses, and the population began to increase again for the first time in two centuries.
Carrick's local infrastructure (in particular health and transport) still remains relatively undeveloped, due to its location on the border of 3 counties (and subsequent lack of political muscle both at county and national level), and the nearby larger towns of Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
and Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
. As of 2006, no large manufacturing operation remains in the town - the SRAM
SRAM (bicycles)
SRAM Corporation is a privately held bicycle component manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1987. SRAM is an acronym comprising the names of its founders, Scott, Ray, and Sam, .In 2008, the company received a strategic investment from Trilantic Capital Partners, formerly known as...
plant closed in 2006, but Carrick continues to prosper economically. The population continues to increase, and the town expands with ongoing significant house building projects. The future of Carrick is likely to be that of a commuter town, servicing those working in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
- a role it has been performing for decades.
Features and amenities
There are two theatres in Carrick-on-Suir, the Brewery Lane theatre and the Operatic Society. While the Operatic society tends to focus on musicals, operas and pantomimes, Brewery Lane usually does dramas which can be serious, or often black comedy. Many of these are Irish.River Suir
The river is tidal through the town and the tide turns above Glanbia upstream of Carrick-on-Suir. Flood waters spill on to the land above Glanbia on the County Waterford side of the river. Carrick has a 1-in-50 year flood defence system with quay walls ranging in height from 1.2m to 1.5m. Currently the walls give protection from flooding caused by high tides. Carrick is less than 10 m above sea level and could be affected by global warmingGlobal warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
in the future. Flooding still occurs along the Glen/Mill River and Markievicz Tce.
Landmarks
In 1447 a stone bridge was built, now known as the "Old Bridge". A new, more modern bridge (later named after John DillonJohn Dillon
John Dillon was an Irish land reform agitator from Dublin, an Irish Home Rule activist, a nationalist politician, a Member of Parliament for over 35 years, and the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party....
) was built in the early 20th century. The central part of the Old Bridge (and likewise the Dillon bridge) was destroyed by retreating IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
forces in 1922
1922 in Ireland
-Events:*January 2 - The first edition of the newspaper Poblacht na hÉireann is published. It is established by republican opponents to the Anglo-Irish Treaty who declare their fealty to the Irish Republic....
in an attempt to slow the advance of the Free State army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
, but both were rebuilt by 1927
1927 in Ireland
-Events:*April 6 - Dan Breen proposes a Bill in the Dáil that Article 17 of the Irish Free State Constitution be removed. President W. T. Cosgrave opposes the removal of the Oath of Allegiance....
.
Carrick's Town Clock was erected in 1784
1784 in Ireland
-Events:*The Old Bushmills Distillery became an officially registered company*The post of Postmasters General of Ireland established-Births:*12 May - James Sheridan Knowles, dramatist and actor ....
. A public park was created in the Fair Green in the 1860s. The town fair continues to this day, having been moved from the Fair Green in the 1920s to a new site just west of the Fair Green.
Churches
There are three Catholic churches. In Carrick Mór lies St Nicholas' church and it is the largest church in the town. This church was built in 18791879 in Ireland
-Events:*20 April - First of many "monster meetings" of tenant farmers held in Irishtown near Claremorris, County Mayo.*8 June - Charles Stewart Parnell at Westport, County Mayo meeting.*16 August - Land League of Mayo founded at Castlebar....
, replacing an earlier church of the same name built in 1804
1804 in Ireland
-Births:*7 April - James Emerson Tennent, politician and traveller .*25 December - Frederic Trench, 2nd Baron Ashtown, peer .*26 December - Sir Joseph Napier, 1st Baronet, Conservative Party MP and Lord Chancellor of Ireland ....
. In Carrick Beg are the small St Molleran's parish church (parts of which date back to the 13th century) and the larger Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friary. The Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order's presence in Carrick dates back to 1336
1336 in Ireland
-Events:* Castlemore Costello in destroyed by King Toirdhealbhach of Connacht* May 3 Ordinances for reform of Irish administration* after May 26 Conchobhar mac Tomaltach Mac Diarmada succeeds his father as lord of Moylurg...
with the granting of land for a friary by the 1st Earl of Ormond. However, the suppression of monasteries by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
led to the closure of the friary. Just prior to the invasion of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
by Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, the friars had returned for an 11-year period, before being shut down again and the friars having to go underground to avoid persecution. It was not until 1820
1820 in Ireland
-Births:*31 May - Timothy Burns, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1851 to 1853 .*3 June - Thomas William Moffett, scholar, educationalist and President of Queen's College Galway ....
and the onset of Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
that the friars were able to fully return and a new chapel was built. The friars served the local community until the lack of vocations to the order led to the order finally leaving Carrick-Beg in 2006.
The local Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
community was relatively substantial until independence from the UK, when the majority left for Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The local Church of Ireland church on Main Street was abandoned until the late 1980s, when the church building and grounds were renovated and now serve as a heritage centre.
Sport
- There are three Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
clubs. - Carrick DavinsCarrick Davins GAACarrick Davins GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the town of Carrick-on-Suir in south County Tipperary in Ireland. It is one of three GAA clubs in the town, one of which, St. Molleran's, is in County Waterford in the southern suburb of Carrickbeg across the River Suir. The...
(named after the first GAA president Maurice DavinMaurice DavinMaurice Davin was an Irish farmer who became co-founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He was also the first President of the GAA and the only man ever to serve two terms as president.He was born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary...
) who play in the Tipperary GAATipperary GAAThe Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
area - Carrick Swans Carrick Swans GAACarrick Swans GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club, located in the town of Carrick-on-Suir in south County Tipperary in Ireland. It is one of three GAA clubs in the town, one of which, St. Molleran's, is in County Waterford in the southern suburb of Carrickbeg across the River Suir...
who play in the Tipperary GAATipperary GAAThe Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
area - St. Molleran'sSaint Mollerans GAASaint Mollerans GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Carrick-Beg, County Waterford, Ireland. The club enters teams in both GAA codes each year, which includes two adult hurling teams and two adult Gaelic football team in the Waterford County Championships.-External links:*...
who play in the Waterford GAAWaterford GAAThe Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
area.
- Soccer
- Carrick United AFC, is a junior (non-league, amateur) soccer team that plays in the Waterford & District League. The club has enjoyed considerable success in the Waterford & District League, Munster Senior and Junior Cups and also in the FAIFootball Association of IrelandThe Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
Junior Cup. - Rock Rovers local amateur soccer team, plays in the Tipperary Southern & District League.
- Rugby
- The amateur rugby team, Carrick-on-Suir RFC, plays in the Munster Junior League. The club grounds are located in Tybroughney, on the Tipperary side of the Suir.
- Golf - 18-hole Golf Club
- Sean Kelly swimming pool and fitness centre.
- Tennis
- Castleview Lawn Tennis Club, with four artificial grass courts.
- Boxing
- Carrick-on-Suir Boxing Club
- St.Nicholas Boxing Club
Clubs and Societies
- The Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society (formed in 1943) is a well known and national award winning musical and amateur operatic society. The Musical Society recently bought and refurbished the Strand Theatre on Main Street for use by the Society. The Brewery Lane Drama Society (formed in 1955) performs several major productions a year at their 75 person capacity theatre, which was formerly a malt house owned by Smithwicks.
- The Irish Traction GroupIrish Traction GroupThe Irish Traction Group is a railway preservation society dedicated to preserving diesel locomotives from Irish Railways. It was formed in 1989, with the intention of attempting to preserve at least one example of every type of diesel locomotive to have operated on Irish Rail.They currently own 13...
is based in Carrick-on-Suir, where restoration work is carried out on vintage diesel locomotives. - Carrick-on-Suir also has a Republican Flute Band which plays at many Irish Republican and Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
events.
People
Notable people from the town include:- Dorothea HerbertDorothea HerbertDorothea Herbert Dorothea Herbert Dorothea Herbert (c.1767-1829 was a noted Irish diarist and the eldest daughter of Rev. Nicholas Herbert, rector of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland...
Writer 1770-1829 - Clancy Brothers folk music group
- Maurice DavinMaurice DavinMaurice Davin was an Irish farmer who became co-founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He was also the first President of the GAA and the only man ever to serve two terms as president.He was born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary...
- first president of the Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
, 1884–1887 - Michael Anthony FlemingMichael Anthony FlemingMichael Anthony Fleming was Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland. He was principally responsible for changing a small mission with several priests in four parishes into a large diocese with over 40,000 congregants and was the single most influential Irish immigrant to come to Newfoundland...
- Roman Catholic bishop of St John's, Newfoundland, Canada - Sean KellySeán Kelly (cyclist)John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...
- world class road cyclist. - Tom KielyTom KielyThomas "Tom" Francis Kiely was an Irish athlete who competed mainly in the all-round championship, the forerunner of the modern decathlon.He competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics held in St...
- Olympic decathlon gold medalist at the 1904 Summer Olympics1904 Summer OlympicsThe 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
, from Ballyneal, just outside the town. - Mick RocheMick RocheMick Roche is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Tipperary inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s.-Club:...
- former TipperaryTipperary GAAThe Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
hurlerHurlingHurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Tipperary)
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Carrick-on-Suir official website
- A history of Carrick-on-Suir from DiscoverIreland.ie
- An Caislean Bed and Breakfast - includes extensive detail about the locality and its history
- Carrick-on-Suir on Mapquest
- The Carraig Hotel 3***
- Carrick Swans
- Carrick Davins
- Carrick Camera Club
- Carrick-on-Suir RFC
- Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society
- Carrick-on-Suir Golf Club, official website of the picturesque course
- Historic sketch of Carrick from the river bank from The Illustrated magazine of art, Volume 1, Alexander Montgomery, 1853.