Elders chosen for their significant contribution to Clonmel life

Clonmel Town Hall was thronged recently for the launch of Elders of Clonmel Part II, a follow-up on last year’s highly successful Elders of Clonmel which painted a vivid picture of the Clonmel of years ago.

This year, the subjects, or so-called ‘Elders’ - in recognition of their status and acquired wisdom - were chosen for their significant contribution to Clonmel life.

At the invitation of Mayor Michael Murphy, the Elders, writers, their friends and families, along with photographer John D Kelly, editor Rebecca Lenehan, curator Theresia Guschlbauer and Clonmel Applefest committee all gathered to celebrate the launch of the much-anticipated Part II.

With an emphasis on volunteering for this year’s project, Rebecca invited readers to delve into the stories in Elders of Clonmel Part II: “Follow Martin Fennessey into the ring, spread your wings with Christine Downey, brace yourself for sea swimming with Kieran Cleary, attend a rehearsal with Danny Carroll, or see Clonmel through an architect’s eye with Margaret Quinlan.” Adrian Logue, Eamonn Lonergan, Vera Hewitt, Ellen O’Reilly and Carrie Acheson complete the fascinating group of this year’s Elders of Clonmel.

Writer Elio Bonelli, who interviewed twice mayor of Clonmel Vera Hewitt, said: “I think the project was important for young writers like me because it helps to bridge the gap between my generation and that of the Elders.

“These books provide hugely significant insights into Ireland past and I’m delighted to have been part of permanently preserving the stories and memories of older people in our community.”

A night of stories followed with four of the 10 writers reading extracts from their articles and speaking about the experience of interviewing their Elder.
“People volunteer, but I never met anyone who volunteers several nights a week for 30 years,” said writer Marie Walsh, “that is until I met Martin Fennessey of Clonmel Boxing Club.

“In his interview he described what really makes a great boxer - humility, listening skills and resilience and it was only a few days after his interview that I realised Martin embodies all of these. It was an honour to meet him and hear his story.”
Eileen Heneghan read from her piece on Ellen O’Reilly: “Philosophical, reflective and very kind, her heart has opened further as a result of all the sadness and adversity. She says of her tragic experiences: ‘It would kind of put more nature into you.’”

Kieran Cleary, one of the Elders, entertained the crowd with a tale from Tipperary’s first consent divorce which took a surprising turn – the full story is recounted in the article about him by Emily Linehan, a writer new to the project this year.
Writers new to this year are Vince Kiely who interviewed Danny Carroll, who has brought the magic of music to Clonmel for over 50 years and Breda Lonergan Ryan, who wrote on Eamonn Lonergan’s considerable contribution and dedication to Mental Health and Care of the Elderly services.

New members welcome to Tipperary famliy carers choir

Clonmel branch of Family Carers Ireland

Each story in the Elders of Clonmel Part II is told in each writer’s distinctive style; many are seasoned contributors and returning writers from previous years including Karl Clancy, Paul Harrison, Eileen Heneghan, Eileen Acheson, Marie Walsh, Elio Bonelli and Brian Clancy.

Reflecting on the project in the introduction, curator Theresia Guschlbauer said: “It is the story of our town, the things that stay and the things that pass, but it is also the story of places we frequent: the Main Guard, the Courthouse, the Band Hall, the Boxing Club, the Town Hall, the Clonmel Show, St Luke’s Hospital and the traces they leave.”
The book includes a piece on Carrie Acheson, “which needed to be included, as someone who had dedicated much of her life to public service,” said Theresia.

Eileen Acheson, who wrote the retrospective piece on Carrie, spoke of what she meant to her personally and to the wider community: “I availed of career advice from Carrie when I was 18. It was so impactful to have such a bright, brilliant, encouraging and stylish female available in Clonmel in 1977 to engage with”.

“When I chatted to Theresia and Cliona Maher, individually, a number of years back about my wish to see Elders interviewed, both Carrie and Peg Rossiter were the first names on my lips. My personal knowledge of her within her years at the centre of The Clonmel Show, together with the tributes that poured in at the time of her death, encouraged me to believe part of her vibrant legacy story could be told posthumously.”

With some of last year’s Elders present at the launch dubbing themselves the ‘Elder Elders’ – it was certainly a night to celebrate those who have made such significant contributions to Clonmel and to our community.
Elders of Clonmel Part II, complemented with photographs by the talented John D Kelly, is available at Chou’s Cottage, Hickey’s Bakery, and the Narrow Space (where it is also available online) at a price of €12.