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St. Mary's Famine
Church / Military Museum, | ||
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Welcome to St. Mary's Church, Thurles, Co.Tipperary. St.Mary's was originally built in the 12th century by the Normans. The present building is the 3rd Church to be built on this site, having been erected in 1820. This church is still used by the Church of Ireland community to-day as a place of worship. Rector: Rev. T. Sherlock. In 1995 the Thurles Church of Ireland community donated one third of this building to create a famine museum to commemorate those who lost their lives through disease & starvation, both here and abroad, during the Great Famine of 1845-1850. The building is the burial place of Lady Elizabeth Matthew,Viscountess of Thurles & Progenitor of the current Royal family. The building has a beautifully designed stone doorway, top right. | ||
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On your right and left a 16th C tomb to a Norman Knight and Lady. The twelve apostles carved in stone around its base. The six apostles as seen to the left form the background to this Web Page. Take note that the dog lies at their feet showing that they died at home. |
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Left Church Interior. Right Memorial Plaque to Dr.William Bradshaw V.C., Dr. Bradshaw earned the Victoria Cross for courage in combat. |
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Left,
ground floor of the museum which includes;
a. The Minutes of the Thurles / Rahealty Food Committee, these are the only known records of conditions existing outside the workhouses in Ireland. b. A Model 16ft x 4ft. Accurately depicting the town of Thurles as it looked during these disturbing times in our Nation's history. c. The man trap, used by land owners to inhibit the starving Irish peasants from stealing from orchards and fields where food was being grown. d. Clothing, coinage, military hardware and newspaper reports, of this period. e. Visual and audio presentations.
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Update: Soon the Burnell Private Exhibition will be on display and has never been shown to the public before. There has been an exiting find here at St. Mary's within the very recent past, a romanesque doorway was discovered off the mid church steeple landing, restoration work on the doorway is underway. The museum team at St. Mary's are resourseful, resilient, and dynamic. As a result the County Tipperary Web Site, Web Masters have awarded St. Mary's Museum Team a three star award (See Below). Congratulations, and well deserved. Select: Page Two to view examples of the new exhibits from the Military Museum, the restoration on the romanesque doorway, also a view from the new second floor area. Data (Floppy Disks) relating to the Famine Period have been developed, see details below. Hours of Opening: All year round. Bank Holidays: 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm Sundays: 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm Week Days: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Mon to Sat, June to August. Admission: Adults: £2.50, Children: £1.25, Senior
Citizens £1., Family | ||
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This Sile na Gig to the left, embedded in a wall in Thurles, is to be moved to the Famine Church for safe keeping and protection from the elements. The Sile na Gig is an old Celtic symbol of fertility. Celebrating birth and rebirth. These old stone carvings of fertility are quite rare, and seem to hold the same form in face. | |
| Data (Floppy Disks)
relating to the Famine Period have been developed:
Item 1.1 The Minutes of the Famine Committee, which is a daily record kept from 1846 to 1847, and is the only one of its kind in Ireland. A copy of these minutes can be purchased for twenty five Irish Punts IR £25.00 and is on Floppy disk. Item 1.2 A list of
inscriptions from tombstones in St. Mary's graveyard. A copy of this list
can be purchased for twelve and a half Irish Punts IR £12.50 and is on
Floppy Disk. Please Select: Item Order Form. Curators: Loret Cleary & George Willoughby. For appointment phone: (+353) (0)504 - 21133. Donations of Famine Period & First World War
memorabilia | ||
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