Clonmel: The Main Guard

Cluain Meala: Daingean an Phríomgharda

As its name suggests, it was here that the main guard of the town troops for Clonmel were once stationed. During the siege of Clonmel in 1650 the old Manor Court was destroyed, and after the restoration of the Duke of Ormond's palatinate rights in 1662 he ordered the building of a new courthouse. It was completed in 1674. The rumour abounds that Christopher Wren designed the Main Guard, but no evidence exists to support this claim.

A Versatile and Much-Altered Building

The building's most striking features are its five semi-circular arches and a handsome clock and bell tower. On the west wall can be seen two coats of arms: those of the Borough of Clonmel and those of the Ormond family, both bearing the date 1675. For a number of years the arches were hidden, as Lewis, writing in 1837, recorded: "The ground floor has some years since been converted to shops". Also in the courthouse were private apartments, a dining room and a drawing room. These were used to entertain James II in Clonmel in 1689. The building was also used as a "tholsel", that is, a building where tolls, duties or customs were gathered.

Courthouse and Barracks

After the Ormond palatinate became redundant in 1715 the Clonmel Assize Court was held in the building, and it was there that Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, the anti-Penal agitator, was tried in 1766. When the new courthouse was built in 1810 all trials were moved from the Main Guard and the building became a barracks. In 1820 Pigot's Commercial Dictionary stated that the building "is devoted to the use of the soldiery, possesses a good clock, is known by the name of the Main Guard and stands at the entrance into Main Street." (now O'Connell Street).

In recent years the Main Guard has undergone substantial renovation by the Office of Public Works, who have brought the building back to its original 17th Century design. The Main Guard is open to visitors from March to late October.

Sources - CBC, "Official Guide to Clonmel"; Shee & Watson, "Clonmel: An Architectural Guide"

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last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:11 GMT

Tugann an t-ainm le fios go mbíodh príomhgharda na dtrúpaí sa bhaile lonnaithe anseo tráth. Le linn Ionsaí Chluain Meala i 1650, scriosadh Seanchúirt an Mhainéir, agus tar éis do chearta palaitíneacha Diúca Urmhumhan a bheith tugtha ar ais dó, d’ordaigh sé tógáil teach cúirte nua. Críochnaíodh i 1674 é. Tá ráflaí ann gur dhear Christopher Wren an Daingean, ach níl fianaise ar bith chun seo a thacú.

Foirgneamh Ilúsáide agus Athraithe go Minic

Is iad an cúig áirse leathchiorclach agus cloigtheach mór na gnéithe is suntasaí den Daingean. Ar an mballa thiar tá dhá chóta armais: Buirg Chluain Meala agus Clann Urmhumhan, leis an dáta 1675 ar an dá cheann acu. Ar feadh roinnt blianta, bhí na háirsí i bhfolach, mar a scríobh Lewis in 1837, bhí an bunúrlár in úsáid mar siopaí. Sa teach cúite chomh maith bhí árasáin phríobháideacha, seomra bia agus seomra suí. Úsáideadh na seomraí seo nuair a tháinig Séamas II ar cuairt chun Chluain Meala sa bhliain 1689. Bhíodh an foirgneamh in úsáid chomh maith mar “halla baile”, áit ar bailíodh dolaí, dleachtanna nó custam.

Teach Cúirte agus Dún

Tar éis don phailitíneacht Urmhumhan éirí iomarcach sa bhliain 1715, bhíodh Cúirt Seisiúin Chluain Meala ar siúl san fhoirgneamh, agus ba ansin a cuireadh ar triail an tAth. Nicholas Sheehy, an gríosóir frithphéindlitheach sa bhliain 1766. Nuair a tógadh an teach cúirte nua in 1810, bogadh na trialacha ar fad ón Daingean agus déanadh dún den fhoirgneamh. Luaigh Pigot's Commercial Dictionary in 1820 é seo a leanas faoin bhfoirgneamh: " devoted to the use of the soldiery, possesses a good clock, is known by the name of the Main Guard and stands at the entrance into Main Street." (Sr. Uí Chonaill anois).
Le déanaí tá mórathchóiriú déanta ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí ar Dhaingean an Phríomhgharda, atá anois ar ais chuig an dearadh a bhí air sa 17ú hAois. Tá Daingean an Phríomhgharda ar oscailt do chuairteoirí ó Mhárta go Deireadh Fómhair.
Foinsí - CBC, "Official Guide to Clonmel"; Shee & Watson, "Clonmel: An Architectural Guide"

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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: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:11 GMT

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