South Tipperary Heritage Plan 2012-2016 “Heritage is not so much a thing of the past but of the present and the future.” — Michael Starrett Chief Executive, the Heritage Council South Tipperary Heritage Plan 2012-2016 TEXT COMPILED AND EDITED BY JANE-ANNE CLEARY, LABHAOISE MCKENNA, MIEKE MUYLLAERT AND BARRY O’REILLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SOUTH TIPPERARY HERITAGE FORUM PRODUCED BY LABHAOISE MCKENNA, HERITAGE OFFICER, SOUTH TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL © 2012 South Tipperary County Council This publication is available from: The Heritage Officer South Tipperary County Council County Hall, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary Phone: 052 6134650 Email: [email protected] Web: www.southtippheritage.ie All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission in writing of the publisher. Graphic Design by Connie Scanlon and print production by James Fraher, Bogfire www.bogfire.com This paper has been manufactured using special recycled fibres; the virgin fibres have come from sustainably managed forests; air emissions of sulphur, CO2 and water pollution have been limited during production. CAPTIONS INSIDE FRONT COVER AND SMALL TITLE PAGE: Medieval celebrations along Clonmel Town Wall during Festival Cluain Meala. Photograph by John Crowley FRONTISPIECE: Marlfield Church. Photograph by Danny Scully TITLE PAGE: Cashel horse taken on Holy Cross Road. Photograph by Brendan Fennessey INSIDE BACK COVER: Hot Horse shoeing at Channon’s Forge, Clonmel. Photograph by John D Kelly. BACK COVER: Medieval celebrations along Clonmel’s Town Wall as part of Festival Cluain Meala. Photograph by Joe Kenny Round bails around a ruin in Cashel. Photograph by Ruth Maher Sheep on Slievenamon. Photograph by Clare Lee Children enjoying pumpkin soup at the Aimsir Bia community Garden in Cashel. Photograph by Annie Dalton CONTENTS ADDRESS FROM COUNTY MANAGER 6 ADDRESS FROM CATHAOIRLEACH 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7 OUR HERITAGE 8 Why have a Heritage Plan? 8 Community is key 8 Creating the plan 9 Aim of the plan 9 Heritage Forum 9 Setting the scene 9 ARCHAEOLOGY 12 BUILT HERITAGE 17 CULTURE 24 NATURE 30 THE RIVER SUIR 34 ACTIONS 36 WHO IS ALREADY TAKING ACTION FOR OUR HERITAGE 40 PLAN FOR SUCCESS 42 SOUTH TIPPERARY HERITAGE FORUM MEMBERS 44 COMMUNITY FEEDBACK 45 ADDRESS FROM THE CatHAOIRLEACH, CLLR MICHAEL FITZGERALD South Tipperary is renowned for its rich heritage. We have everything from iconic sites such as the Rock of Cashel and Ormonde Castle to hidden gems such as Athassal Abbey and Fethard Walled Town. Our landscape is shaped by the River Suir, Golden Vale and extensive mountain ranges – Galtees, Knockmealdowns and Comeraghs. Slievenamon stands alone and has become a symbol for our county with many stories, legends and folklore attached to it. South Tipperary County Council is very proud of our heritage here in South Tipperary. We have many local festivals and events throughout the year to celebrate what we have on our doorstep. There are events such as Festival Cluain Meala and Fethard Medieval Festival celebrating our Walled Towns. We have the Clonmel Agricultural Show and the Glen of Aherlow Walking Festival celebrating our natural heritage. There is no end to celebratory events over the summer months to remind us of what a wonderful place we live in. The South Tipperary County Museum is one of our many cultural assets where we have seen enormous growth in its community inclusive programming. The award winning Heritage in Schools Project has seen huge advancements year on year. We also have a purpose built archive facility in Carraigeen where people can access their local archives. Our heritage is our ‘sense of place’ – what makes us unique in South Tipperary. We are known nationally through our sporting endeavours and internationally through song ‘Its a Long Way to Tipperary’. We hope to bring more people to Tipperary to appreciate what we have here – our heritage, our county, our home. I hope you will work alongside the local authority to deliver this worthwhile plan to protect, conserve and celebrate our heritage for the years to come. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Heritage Forum and in particular to Labhaoise McKenna and Jane Anne Cleary for all their help and support in preparing this plan and in the delivery of all of our heritage projects. I also want to thank the Cultural Team who work tirelessly to enhance our awareness of heritage. ADDRESS FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER, BILLY MCEVOY It is a pleasure to join with the Cathaoirleach of South Tipperary County Council in welcoming our second County Heritage Plan. The formulation of this plan has come at a time where there is a need for some positivity in the local community. Heritage projects provide an opportunity for people to come together and work together for the sake of community. We have a very strong heritage in the community in South Tipperary and I hope this plan will act as a guide and manual to point groups and individuals in the right direction for further information or in how to get involved in local projects. The plan will be realised through community partnership working alongside the local authority and other government agencies. This plan has come about through an extensive community participation process over the past few years. I would like to thank all those who took part in public meetings, seminars and workshops in particular the Elected Members, Heritage Forum and members of the public. I would also like to congratulate all those involved in the production of this Heritage Plan as it is a feast for the eyes and showcases the rich built, cultural and natural heritage of this county. The manual approach is a very useful way to engage people and to provide the guidance and support required to deliver heritage projects. I am very pleased that South Tipperary County Council has approved this plan and I would like to extend the support of the local authority for its implementation. I wish every success to those who help to deliver this plan at a government, agency and local level. In particular I would like to pay tribute to our Heritage Officer, Labhaoise McKenna and other members of the Cultural Team for their excellent work and significant contribution they have made to this plan and the ongoing appreciation of heritage in South Tipperary. 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS South Tipperary County Council wishes to thank all those who made contributions to this plan, through participating in workshops or sending in submissions, comments and pho- tographs. We would particularly like to thank Jane-Anne Cleary who compiled the initial draft document and who has worked continually on bringing the plan to fruition. Thanks are also due to the South Tipperary Heritage Forum who have helped make this plan – in particular Barry O’ Reilly, Mieke Muyllaert and Mary Guinan-Darmody who have written sections or edited versions of the plan. All the Heritage Forum members have participated in the creation and delivery of the plan and we are very grateful for their continued support. All the images for this plan have been donated free of charge and thanks are due to all those who have contributed images, in particular, Marie McMahon of the County Museum, local authority staff and the NIAH. Thanks also to Michael Coady who has given permission to publish his poem ‘Friars’ Rock’. Thanks are also due to our Heritage Officer, Labhaoise McKenna who undertook the public participation workshops, facilitated the Heritage Forum action workshops and oversaw the delivery and production of the plan. South Tipperary County Council would like to thank the Heritage Council for their support and funding of County Heritage Plan projects to date in the county. For further information on the South Tipperary Heritage Plan and heritage projects in the county please contact the Heritage Officer at South Tipperary County Council, County Hall, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Email: [email protected]; Tel 0526134650; www.southtippheritage.ie Lady Blessingtons Bath, Kitty Collins, South Tipperary County Museum Collection ‘Our heritage is our “sense of place” – what makes us unique in South Tipperary’. ‘Heritage projects provide an opportunity for people to come together and work together for the sake of community’. 7 OUR HERITAGE From the majesty of the Galtee mountains, to the medieval remains of the walled towns; from the surge of the Suir to the sounds of ‘Slievenamon’ at the hurling match on Sunday, our heritage surrounds us, it gives us a sense of place and a sense of pride unique to any other. The word ‘Heritage’ embraces our history, our inheritance, our landscape both natural and built, and our culture. It defines us as a community and gives us our individual identity. Our heritage is not a fixed thing; we need to protect and conserve while welcoming responsible change and development to ensure the heritage of future generations. WHY HAVE A HERITAGE PLAN? The National Heritage plan sets out the necessity for each locality to have an individual heritage plan that outlines heritage important to them, actions they intend to implement and guidelines on how progress will be monitored. The Heritage Plan is not a policy document but it does draw and build on information provided in the County Development Plan. The plan fulfils local, national and international obligations and outlines actions to benefit and promote our heritage over a specific timeframe. The Heritage Plan is first and foremost for everybody and can be used in a number of ways. The Plan showcases the exclusive and unique heritage that South Tipperary has to offer, fascinating ruins to be visited, grand designs to be appreciated, breath-taking landscapes to be witnessed, folklore and festivals to be enjoyed and stories to be uncovered.