Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal - the silver jubilee volume is launched

A milestone day for the Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal Society took place recently with the launch of volume twenty-five, the silver jubilee volume.

It was also the first public launch of the journal in three years due to Covid-19. The event took place in the Parish Hall, Boherlahan.

Tom Ryan, Chairperson of the Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal Society welcomed the large attendance. He greeted the guests, Pat Maher, Freighduff and Fr Joe Egan PP of Boherlahan/Dualla. The outstanding work of the editor, Marian Ryan, was applauded as was the work undertaken by the contributors of the fourteen articles in this year’s journal.

Thanks was expressed to Anne Devitt and Seamus King of Tipp Mid-West radio and Tipperary County Council Community Activities Fund for their support. The Chairman offered sympathy to the families of the late Margaret Leahy, Tubberadora, former honorary secretary and the late Paddy O’Dwyer, Thurlesbeg, former co-editor of the journal.

Fr Joe Egan took the podium and reminded us how history remembers ordinary people and ordinary things. He outlined how the journal shows glimpses of patriotism, courage, faith, fidelity and hope, causing us to look upward, outward and back, and in turn giving us pride in our own place. Fr Joe expressed how local history gives us insight into our customs, traditions and our spiritual selves, stating: “we just told our stories” and “we cannot escape history, it just becomes part of us”.

Clare Wallace, a member of the Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal Society introduced Pat Maher, who launched the journal. Pat, from Freighduff, attended Ardmayle National School and Cashel CBS where Paddy O’Dwyer fostered his love of history.

Pat has always contributed to his local community. He was secretary of the Cashel branch of Macra na Feirme, Chairperson of South Tipp Macra na Feirme region in the 1980s, former President of the Old Cashel Society and member of the Cashel Theatre Group. Pat is the present Chairperson of the Ardmayle Heritage Society which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2023.

Pat declared it as one of the honours of his life to launch volume twenty-five of the Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal.
In his address, Pat remembered many friends who had launched the journal before him. He then discussed the fourteen journal articles. He commenced by alluding to Paddy O’Dwyer’s article entitled: Breaches of law and order in Boherlahan/Dualla, pre 1845.

This piece discussed how 1,600 people live in Boherlahan now whereas 7,000 people lived in Boherlahan in the 1840s. This led to a pressure to survive for the peasantry and this difficult time was outlined in Paddy’s article.

Pat acknowledged the outstanding record of Mary Frances Darmody who has contributed to every journal since the beginning. Her article in this year’s Journal on: The Shine family - late of Camas Park House, continues her legacy. Maura O’Brien, another regular contributor, has written about: Interpreting the stained glass windows in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Boherlahan.

Pat Maher himself has written an account of Billy Eakins: Our local postman. John Devane, a member of the Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal Society, remembered E.D. Ryan, a man of distinction in the community. Peter Meskell wrote about: Disappearing Townslands, Tom Ryan recorded: A great hurling match and Jim Meskell related the history of Ballydine Beagle Club.

First-time journal contributor Jane Mielniczek remembered Jozef Mielniczek and his connection to Ardmayle.
Robert O’Keefe recalled an Arms raid at Ardmayle.

Dualla people and buildings and his own memories of growing up were detailed in The Last and the Longest by Michael Sheridan.

Jean Farrelly described A newly identified monument in Garrryard. Mary Taylor included an article The townsland of Camus formerly in St Patrick’s Rock. The last article in the Journal is the second part of Thurlesbeg, 1856-1885: A time of consolidation, prosperity and conflict, written by Fergus O’Dwyer, son of Paddy. Pat expressed his pleasure with the many photos throughout the Journal and remembered fondly those in the photos and his own personal memories of his childhood. He then officially launched the 2022 journal “with joy”.

The Boherlahan/Dualla Historical Journal’s price remains at €10. It is available in all the usual outlets in Cashel: Halls Daybreak, Friar Street, Martin O’Dwyer Butcher, Friar Street, Ely’s Centra on the Green, and Texaco, Dublin Road, Cashel. In Thurles it is available in Bookworm. Your continued support is valued and appreciated. We hope you enjoy reading this year’s volume and thank you for your support.