Tipperary Studies
Tipperary Studies is the local studies branch of Tipperary County Council Library Service, and is dedicated to documenting and preserving the rich cultural, social, economic and sporting histories of the county
- Proof that Irish weather hasn’t changed in the last 100 years — we just upgraded the cameras.
- Our January lecture is now live on our YouTube channel. Dr Angela Byrne discusses Tipperary people in Imperial Russia—a story that is more complex than you probably think. Most people don’t realize how some Irish people were intertwined with Russia’s imperial world
- Tuesday 9 May 1848 One small event - that was the first day on which the railway line from Limerick to Waterford carried fare-paying passengers. see 'The Coming of the Railway to County Tipperary' by D G Marnane in THJ (1998) tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi...
- Great news! The Holycross Show trophy — missing since 1991 — has finally made its way back home. Read about the history of the show and the specially comissioned Waterford Crystal trophy here: tipperarystudies.ie/holycross-sh... A beautiful piece of local heritage returned to the community.
- During the Truce after the War of Independence both sides were meant to behave themselves, but in Tipperary Town the IRA could,nt resist raiding the Hutments at Scalaheen for arms. See Sean Sharkey’s account in THJ (1998) tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi...
- Thanks to everyone who joined us on a wet January night for Dr. Angela Byrne’s excellent talk on Tipperary people in Russia in the 18th & 19th centuries. The lecture will be online in the coming weeks for anyone who couldn’t make it—well worth a watch.
- A late-19th-century family portrait: Mrs Inigo Jones (née Charteris) with her children photographed outdoors, likely at the now-demolished Cahir Park Co. Tipperary From an album by Blanche Rochfort from 1892–93 now available on our digital archive www.tippstudiesdigital.ie/collections/...
- We forget how dark towns were at night in the past. In #Fethard Co. Tipperary for example in the 1880s there were around 25 street oil lamps. A man was employed to light and extinguish these lamps each day. For more see Michael O’Donnell’s article in tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi...
- In honour of Morocco's win in the #AFCON semifinal last night here's a photo from a collection we're working on. A photograph taken by Blanche Rochford while travelling in #Morocco with her husband William a Tipperary land agent who managed many Irish estates from his offices in #Cahir.
- Our January lecture has us visiting imperial Russia as Dr Angela Byrne explores the experiences of Tipperary tourists, diplomats and doctors in nineteenth-century Imperial Russia At the Source Library, Thurles Tuesday 20th March. Join us for a tea/coffee from 6.30pm. Lecture at 7pm
- I didn't think tithes were still being collected in 1908..everyday is a school day in archives
- We stumbled upon this letter sent from Washington, D.C. to County Tipperary in 1906… Ice cream companys side hustle, post-mortem portraits to Ireland for 75¢! #IrishDiaspora #VintageLetters
- Our December lecture is now available on our YouTube youtu.be/TxPLcq3ujow and soundcloud.com/tipperary-li... channels. Enjoy a trip back in time where David Fleming takes us on a journey through the 18th century Irish calendar exploring customs such as Chalk Sunday, Straw Boys, and more.
- In Paris the Hotel des Invalides was a home for injured soldiers and in its 18th C. records is Guillaume Tracy a native of County d’Obredary (Tipperary). He served 12 years before having his right arm disabled by a musket ball in Italy. Read more in THJ (1998) tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi...
- Nollaig Shona do chách from Tipperary Studies We will close from Wednesday 24th to Monday 29th December inclusive. Wed 24th to Mon 29th Dec: CLOSED Tues 30th Dec: Flat day Wed 31st Dec: Flat day Thurs 1st Jan: CLOSED Fri 2nd and Sat 3rd: Normal opening hours
- We got an exciting update from the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (VRTI) to let us know that the Carrick- on- Suir 1799 census is now online along with much more Tipperary related material. This is a free resource, for more information read more tipperarystudies.ie/carrick-on-s...
- Our final lecture of 2025 was a fascinating look at customs and traditions of the 18th century calendar, including 'Skellig weddings'. Thanks to Professor David Fleming of University of Limerick for a wonderful evening. Thank to everyone who attended, we will be publishing the lecture in January
- The Rossmore Oral Heritage archive is now LIVE! Hear locals tell their stories + explore digitised documents 🔹https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA8lcaDiVdJ1uSLEIVViFIGsHh083TzSG 🔹https://www.tippstudiesdigital.ie/collections/show/172 Thanks to everyone in Rossmore for sharing
- Getting set up for tonight's lecture on everyday life in the 1700s with Professor David Fleming Come along early and have a mince pie with us. Lecture starts 7pm in the Source Gallery, Thurles
- Do you know where St Mary’s of the Rock is? A clue is ‘Rock’ and it is the more correct name for Hore Abbey in Cashel. For more read the article by Tracy Collins in THJ (1998) tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi...
- New video! Archaeologist Joanne Hughes dives into the evidence for 17th-century buildings in Cashel, Co. Tipperary — using both archaeological insight and archival records to uncover buildings . Watch here: youtu.be/GPP8cgMAFuU #Archaeology #Cashel #Tipperary #Heritage
- Recording now available: a talk by John Coman on Mary (Molly) Fleming of Cappawhite, George Medal recipient for bravery in the London Blitz. Video: youtu.be/UHQoDtU4pnY Also, a programme on Molly will air on Tipp Mid West radio Tuesday evening.
- 'The ordinary and the everyday in the eighteenth-century' Our December lecture by Dr. David Fleming explores life in eighteenth-century Ireland, the agricultural year and the seasons that shaped it, and how people interacted in their localities. Dec 16th The Source, Thurles @ 7pm All welcome
- In the 18th century, gravestones were often carved with symbols like buckets, hammers, pincers, and dice boxes—each linked to the Passion of Christ. Read more in Diarmuid O’Keeffe’s 1998 THJ article: tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi... #IrishHistory #TipperaryHistory #GravestoneArt #Symbolism
- New in our digital archives: Tankerstown N.S. records. The original school opened in 1847 during the Famine! twice rebuilding over the years but there is still a Tankerstown school Thanks to Tankerstown NS for loaning the records for digitisation. tippstudiesdigital.ie/collections/...
- Thanks to everyone who came along to our November lecture last night. And especially our speaker Joanne Hughes who introduced us to the remains of 17th century Cashel, a fascinating talk. We also have permission to publish the recording so watch out for that on our YouTube channel soon
- Delighted! Someone contacted us today who may have identified their great aunt Kathleen Carey & her husband Timothy Mullane in our Photographic Images of Munster collection. Love when our archives help reconnect families with their history 📸❤️https://tippstudiesdigital.ie/collections/show/50
- Fr Edmond Kelly’s Military Cross on display in Thurles — From surviving Ypres to shaping Tipperary’s schools and heritage, his story deserves to be told. Read Yann Blake's article here: : tipperarystudies.ie/canon-edmund...
- To commemorate Armistice Day '25 we have the Military Cross medal awarded to Fr Edmond Kelly, native of New Inn, for ‘ conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty ‘ on 16 August 1917 , East of Ypres. A new wikipedia page about Fr. Kelly has just been published en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_...
- Our second lecture takes places on Tuesday November 18th at 7pm. Joanne Hughes will present Hidden in Plain Sight: Seventeenth-Century Cashel, Co. Tipperary This talk features the results of Joanne’s research on the urban morphology of Cashel, Co. Tipperary. All are welcome.
- Kilbarron Terryglass Historical Soc. will have a talk by archaeologist Caimin O'Brien on the Rock of Dunamase castle When: Thursday 13th November - 8pm Where: Terryglass Hall Admission €5 #Lecture #Archaeology #Tipperary
- We’re thrilled to announce that a brand new historical collection is now LIVE on our archive! Thanks to the wonderful Healy family from Cahir we can now explore documents about some of the most well‑known Quaker families in Tipperary. 🔗https://www.tippstudiesdigital.ie/collections/show/170
- He was a successful Clonmel businessman. He led Tipperary in an armed insurrection against the Crown. In Australia he did something similar. Want to know who he is? Read Ruan O’Donnell’s article in THJ (1998) tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi...
- Our October lecture is now available on our YouTube channel at youtu.be/0h3YuznzU1g David Broderick explores the life and work of artist Thomas Butler Stoney from Portland Park, Lorrha, Co. Tipperary #Tipperary #GreatWar #ButlerStoney #ArtHistory
- Stumbled on reports of a tornado in Nenagh in 1852 (Kilkenny Moderator) and suddenly feeling very grateful we're not in the Caribbean right now. Ireland's weather can be wild, but it's usually not that wild! #Ireland #Weather #History #Nenagh #KilkennyModerator #Storms
- Borrisoleigh Historical Society are hosting a lecture on 'The evolution of modern Irish agriculture; from 1950s to present day', by Professor Gerry Boyle. Venue: Borrisoleigh Community Centre When: Friday 31 October at 8pm All proceeds to 'Ramble with Ronan' #Tipperary #History #Farming
- Back in the 1870s, Tipperary was churning out around 160,000 firkins of butter a year? A firkin was a small wooden barrel that held about 80–100 pounds of heavily salted butter — and it shipped all over the world! Read more in William Jenkins article tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi... #Tipperary
- A lecture on the Art and Architecture of Holycross Abbey by Roger Stalley on Thursday 23rd October at 7.30pm in Holycross Abbey All welcome
- Thank you to everyone who came along last night and to David Broderick for a fascinating look at the father and son Butler Stoney artists from Portland House near Lorrha in our first lecture of this season. He even brought along some of his own collection of Butler Stoney work for everyone to see.
- Ardmayle History Society are holding a talk by Noreen Higgins on 'Political funerals, jail breaks and hunger strikes, 1912 - 1923' 23rd October at 7.30pm in Ardmayle Church All welcome
- ARRA HISTORICAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Are holding a Halloween talk by Karol Mullaney-Dignam “OÍCHE SHAMHNA/HALLOWE'EN: IRISH ORIGINS AND CUSTOMS” Thursday 23 October 2025 Venue – Reidy’s bar, NewtownTime: 8 pm
- Quick Reminder! Join us TONIGHT at 7PM in The Source for the kickoff of our lecture series! David Broderick dives into the fascinating story of the two Butler Stoney artists of Portland Park, Lorrha. All welcome – see you there!
- John Coman is giving a talk on Mary Fleming G.M. from Clonganhue, Co. Tipperary who was awarded a George Medal in WW2 Talk in Ayle School, E34 FF90 on 19th November at 8pm Free event, all welcome
- In the summer of 1967 Dan Breen was interviewed when he was in a nursing home in Co Wicklow and it was a fascinating record of events, people and places from his early life. Read the article by Jim Maher in THJ (1998) tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-hi... Sharkey collection, Dan Breen 2nd from right
- Oaklands House, located close to St. Patrick's Well #Clonmel had passed through many owners in it's lifetime. Paddy O'Keeffe has written an account of his time as a young apprentice gardener alongside a mystery on the location of an ancient monastery. tipperarystudies.ie/oaklands-hou...
- Members of the Maxwell family who recently donated a large collection of mainly GAA related publications to Tipperary Studies. We are delighted to give a home to the family library, gathered over many years. L to r: Kay Morgan, Breda Corcoran, John Maxwell, Anne Marie Maxwell and P.J. Maxwell
- Thanks to Tom French in Meath Local Studies for sharing this fascinating snippet with us. Maggie Roche, hired from the Presentation Sisters in Cashel in 1925 , most probably St. Francis's industrial school, by the Smith family in Navan for £20 a year.
