Historical Postcard Collection: Nenagh
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: An tAonach
"Aonach", the Irish word from which the town derives its name, means "fair", and refers to the circumstances around which the town was founded. It was in and around this area that an ancient fair, known as aonach urmhumhan (Ormond) would have taken place. Nenagh is the administrative capital of North Tipperary, and straddles the border of Lower and Upper Ormond baronies.
Danish Origins?
The remains of Danish fortifications are numerous in North Tipperary, and it is very likely that the town owes its origins in some measure to an early Danish community. The Annals of the Four Masters state that the settlement was burned in 994 by Maolsechlainn, and again in 1056, by Diarmaid. Nenagh first became established as a walled, Norman town in the 13th Century, when Theobald FitzWalter, the founder of the Butler dynasty in Ireland, built a castle in the Nenagh area. The Butlers made the town their principle seat in their palatinate, but it was later moved, in the 14th Century, to Kilkenny. Theobald established the Augustinian priory at Tyone, while the Franciscan friary in the town also dates from that period. In 1548 Nenagh, along with its friary, was destroyed by fire by O'Carroll, the chief of one of the principle Irish clans of the area.
Confederate and Jacobite Wars
Most of the large towns in the county played a part in the Confederate War of the 1640s, and Nenagh was as involved as any other. In 1648 Owen Roe O'Neill, on his march south, took Nenagh Castle. Lord Inchiquin re-took it that same year and when Cromwell arrived in Ireland Nenagh was being held by Sir George Hamilton. In October 1650 Cromwell's son, Ireton, arrived at and demanded the surrender of the town. Hamilton initially refused, but when field artillery was put in place in front of the town's walls he wisely yielded. During the Jacobite War, 40 years later, Nenagh sustained three separate attacks. In August 1691, Williamite General Ginkel, on his way to the final confrontation of the War at Limerick, stayed at Nenagh for four days "for want of bread and other necessities". He then carried on to Limerick, via Silvermines and Newport, where the Treaty was later signed.
"The Battle of the Breeches"
In July 1856 the town witnessed an extraordinary mutiny that was to become known locally as "The Battle of the Breeches". Following the end of the Crimean War the North Tipperary Militia (which was based in Nenagh) was disbanded without receiving payment of a bounty promised to them. To further inflame matters the soldiers were also ordered to give up their uniforms, an order one man flatly refused to obey. He was deposited in the guardhouse, where his colleagues later tried to free him, along with the other prisoners in the gaol. The resulting revolt saw 2,000 soldiers posted to the town, and two of the militia, one a pensioner, were killed. Nine men were subsequently deported for their involvement in the mutiny.
Sources - Bassett, "County Tipperary"; Murphy, "Walkabout Nenagh"; Sheehan, "Nenagh and its Neighbourhood"; Murphy, "Nenagh Castle"
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last updated on: Wednesday, 09-Dec-2009 07:37:39 GMT
Tagann ainm an Aonaigh ó na cúinsí ar tógadh an baile. Ba thart ar an gceantar seo a mbíodh Aonach Urmhumhan, margadh ársa, ar siúl. Is é an tAonach príomhbhaile riaracháin Thiobraid Árann Thuaidh, agus suíonn sé ar theorainn an dá bharúntachta, Urmhumhan Íochtar agus Uachtar.
Bunús Danmhargach?
Is iomaí ársaí Danmhargacha atá le fail i dTiobraid Árann Thuaidh agus tá sé dóchúil go leor go raibh bunús ag an mbaile i lonnaíocht luath Danmhargach. Deir Annálach na Ceithre Máistrí gur dhó Maolseachalainn an lonnaíocht sa bhliain 994, agus go rinne Diarmaid mar an gcéanna i 1056. Bunaíodh an tAonach don chéad uair mar bhaile múrtha Normannach sa 13ú hAois nuair a thóg Theobald FitzWalter, a bhunaigh ríshliocht na mBuitléarachthe, caisleán sa cheantar. Bhí an baile mar phríomhbhaile pailitíneach na mBuitléarach suas go dtí an 14ú hAois, nuair a bhog an clann a suíochán go Chill Chainnigh. Bhunaigh Theobald an phrióireacht Agaistíneach, agus tagann an mainistir Proinsiasach ón tréimhse chéanna. Sa bhliain 1548 scriosadh an tAonach, an mainistir san áireamh nuair a chuir Ó Cearúil, taoiseach Gaelach, trí thine é.
Cogadh na Comhdhála agus an Cogadh Seacabaíteach
Bhí páirt mhór ag formhór na mbailte sa chontae i gCogadh na Comhdhála sna 1640daí, agus ní haon eisceacht ab ea an tAonach. Sa bhliain 1648, agus Eoghan Rua Ó Néill ar a mhairseáil ó dheas, ghabh sé Caisleán an Aonaigh. D’athghabh an Tiarna Inchiquin an bhliain chéanna é agus bhí sé i seilbh Sheoirse Hamilton nuair a tháinig Cromail go hÉirinn. I nDeireadh Fómhair na bliana 1650, tháinig cliabhain Chromail, Henry Ireton, go dtí an Aonach agus d’éiligh sé géileeadh an bhaile. Dhiúltaigh Hamilton ar dtús, ach nuair a cuireadh airtléire mhachaire ós comhair an bhaile, ghéill sé. Sa Chogadh Seachabaíteach, 40 bliain níos déanaí, déanadh trí ionsaí éagsúla ar an Aonach. I mí Lúnasa 1691, d’fhan an Ginearál Uilliamaíteach Ginkel san Aonach ar feadh ceithre lá le haghaidh ‘arán agus riachtanaisí eile’, ar a bhealach chun na catha deireanaigh den Chogadh i Luimneach. Lean sé leis trí Bhéal Átha Gabhann agus tríd an bPort Nua go dtí Luimneach, áit ar síníodh an Conradh.
"Cath na mBearnaí"
I mí Iúil na bliana 1856, bhí ceannairc neamhghnách sa bhaile, ar a dtugtaí go háitiúil “Cath na mBearnaí”. Ag deireadh an Chogaidh Críméigh scoireadh Milíste Thiobraid Árann Thuaidh (a bhí lonnaithe san Aonach) gan fordheontas a bhí geallta dóibh a íocaint. Chun cursaí a dhéanamh níos measa, ordaíodh do na saighdiúirí a n-éidí cogaidh a thabhairt suas, ordú a dhiultaigh fear amháin go huile agus go hiomlán. Cuireadh sa sonnach é, áit ar déanadh iarracht é a scaoileadh saor, maille leis na príosúnaigh eile. Cuireadh 2,000 saighdiúir sa bhaile toisc an éirí amach a lean agus maraíodh beirt de chuid an mhilíste, duine acu a bhí ar phinsin. Cuireadh naonúr fear chun na cóilíneachtaí toisc a rannpháirtíochta sa cheannairc.
Foinsí - Bassett, "County Tipperary"; Murphy, "Walkabout Nenagh"; Sheehan, "Nenagh and its Neighbourhood"; Murphy, "Nenagh Castle"
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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 07:37:39 GMT