Historical Postcard Collection: Cahir
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: An Chathair
Cahir is one of Co. Tipperary's most valuable historical treasures. Dividing the Irish place name for Cahir, Cathair Dhún Iascaigh, into two parts sheds some light on the formative years of the town. Earliest records refer to the name of the area as Dún Iascaigh ("the fish abounding fort"), and the name assumed the prefix Cathair ("stone fort") after the King of Thomond, Conor na Cathrach O'Brien, reinforced the stronghold in the 12th Century.
Pre-Norman
The town had connections with Munster royalty before the arrival of Christianity in the 5th Century. It was one of the royal seats of residence in the province, and Brian Ború, whose successors held the settlement until the Norman invasion, refortified the fort before his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
Early Norman
By 1192 the county was under Norman administration, and Philip of Worcester was granted land around Cahir by John, Lord of Ireland. Philip established his headquarters at Knockgraffon, 3 ½ miles north of Cahir. In the 13th Century work on Cahir Castle and Abbey, an Augustinian Priory founded by Geoffrey de Camville, began. Remains of both still survive.
Rise of the House of Ormond
1375 saw the granting of the barony of Cahir by Edward III to James, the Third Earl of Ormond, beginning what would prove to be a long relationship between the town and the House of Ormond. Following the dissolution of Cahir Abbey by Henry VIII in 1540 Thomas Butler acquired the lands of the monastic estate, and further honours were bestowed when, in 1543, Henry appointed Thomas as Lord Baron of Cahir. Cahir Castle, stronghold of then rebel Thomas, the 1st Baron of Cahir's grandnephew, was taken in 1599 by Lord Essex after a three-day siege. In the years that followed, despite surrendering the town to Inchiquin and Cromwell, and supporting the Jacobites in the Williamite Wars, the Butlers still maintained proprietorship of Cahir.
Towards a Modern Town
Throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries Cahir assumed its modern form. In the 1770s and '80s James, 9th Lord Cahir, maintained his estates well and built both Cahir House and Market House, while the Quakers established both Suir Mills and Abbey Mills. Development of the town coincided with the Butler's elevation in status and in 1816 Richard, Lord Cahir, was created Earl of Glengall. With the establishment of the Cavalry Barracks in the town local milling and agricultural businesses prospered. Richard, 2nd Earl of Glengall who, in the 1830s, funded the development of the Square and Castle, Lady Charteris' landladyship brought water and sewerage supply to the town, she laid out Cahir Gardens and oversaw the peaceful transfer of property following the Land War. After the death of her son Richard, in 1961, 2,750 acres of his estate were sold, bringing to a close the relationship between Cahir and the Butlers that lasted 600 eventful years.
Sources - Butler, D.J., Cahir - A Guide to Heritage Town & District; Dúchas, The Heritage Service - Cahir Castle, Co. Tipperary; Cahir Heritage Newsletters, 1988
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last updated on: Wednesday, 09-Dec-2009 07:36:58 GMT
Tá an Chathair ar cheann de na seoda is luachmhara i gcoróin Thiobraid Árann. Tugadh Cathair Dhún Iascaigh uirthi tráth, ainm a léiríonn mórán faoin stair sa cheantar. Sna taifid is sine, is é Dún Iascaigh an t-ainm ar an áit, agus ghlac an bhaile an rémhír Cathair nuair a neartaigh Rí Thuamhumhan, Conchobhair na Cathrach Ua Briain an dún ann sa 12ú hAois.
Réamh-Normannach
Bhí baint ag an mbaile le Ríshliocht Mumhan roimh teacht na Críostaíochta sa 5ú hAois. B’áit chónaithe ríoga é sa chúige agus neartaigh Briain Bóramha, a raibh a shliocht sa dún suas go teacht na Normannach, an dún roimh a bhás i gCath Chluain Tarbh i 1014.
Normannach Luath
Faoi 1192, bhí an contae faoi riarachán na Normannach, agus thug an Eoin, Tiarna na hÉireann, talamh timpeall ar an gCathair do Philib Worcester. Bhí Cnoc Raffan, 3½ míle ó thuaidh ón gCathair, mar cheanncheathrú ag Pilib. Sa 13ú hAois, tosaíodh ag obair ar Chaisleán na Cathrach agus ar an bPrióireacht Agaistíneach a bhunaigh Geoffrey de Camville. Tá ársaí den dá fhoirgneamh fós le feiceáil.
Teacht Tí Urmhumhan
Bhronn Éadbhard III barúnacht na Cathrach ar Shéamas, an tríú hIarla Urmhumhan, i 1375, rud a chuir tús le gaol fada idir an baile agus Teach Urmhumhan. I ndiaidh díscaoileadh Mhainistir na Cathrach i 1540, thug Anraí VIII an talamh ar fad ón eastát mainistreach ar Thomás de Buitléir. Bhronn sé níos mó onóir ar Thmás nuair a rinne sé Tiarna Barún na Cathrach de sa bhliain 1543. Ghabh an Tiarna Essex Caisleán na Cathrach ó Thomás an Reibiliúnach, garmhach leis an gCéad Bharún, tar éis ionsaí trí lá. Sna blianta a lean, ce gur ghéill siad le hInchiquin agus le Cromail, agus cé gur thacaigh siad leis na Seacabaítigh i gCogadh an Dá Rí, choimead na Buitléirigh dílseánacht na Cathrach.
I dTreo Chathair Nua
San 18ú agus sa 19ú hAois, fuair an Chathair an fhoirm atá uirthi anois. Sna 1770daí agus ‘80daí, choimead Séamas, 9ú hIarla na Cathrach, cruth maith ar a eastáit agus thóg sé Teach na Cathrach agus Teach an Mhargaidh, agus bhunaigh na Caecair Muileann na Siúire agus Muileann na Mainistreach. D’fhorbair an baile mar aon le hardú stádais na mBuitléireach agus déanadh Iarla Ghleann na nGall de Risteard, Tiarna na Cathrach. Le bunú an Dún Marcra sa bhaile, bhí rath ar ghnóthaí áitiúla, idir mhuilte agus feirmeoireacht. Mhaoinigh Risteard, an Dara hIarla, forbairt na Cearnóige agus an Chaisleáin. Le tiarnacht talún na Bantiarna Charteris, tháinig uisce agus séarachas chun an bhaile. Leag sí amach Gairdíní na Cathrach agus bhí sí i bhfeighil ar an aistriú talún a tharla i ndiaidh Chogadh na Talún. Nuair a cailleadh a mac, Risteard, sa bhliain 1961, díoladh 2,750 acra dá thailte, rud a chuir deireadh le 600 bliain den ghaol idir an Chathair agus na Buitléirigh.
Foinsí - Butler, D.J., Cahir - A Guide to Heritage Town & District; Dúchas, The Heritage Service - Cahir Castle, Co. Tipperary; Cahir Heritage Newsletters, 1988
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Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Wednesday, 09-Dec-2009 07:36:58 GMT