Tipperary Studies launch short documentary film in Kilcash

On Thursday, October 24, a large crowd gathered in Kilcash Community Centre for the launch by Tipperary Studies of their short documentary film, ‘I hope all my friends come out safe: Ballypatrick, an Irish rural community in the 1920s’.

The community, together with relatives and friends of John Quinn and the many other families such as the Gibbs and O’Reilly families gathered on the night to enjoy the film and the trip down memory lane. Everybody agreed that the scenes showing Tommy Strang, now in his ninety ninth year were the highlight of the film.

Lively discussions were overheard afterwards as the audience viewed the accompanying photographic exhibition, depicting the daily routines of farming, school, church, and creamery. The community was tight-knit, with landmarks like Kilcash castle and Slievenamon standing watch over the people as they went about their daily routines.
Councillor Declan Burgess, cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, performed the launch. Funding was made available by the Tipperary commemorations programme in conjunction with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The film is a fascinating look at life in this small corner of South Tipperary during a time of incredible change told through the eyes of local photographer, John Quinn. John captured the daily lives of the people in Ballypatrick and the surrounding villages of Kilcash and Kilsheelan in the early twentieth century. His images give a rare glimpse into a world that was rapidly evolving, with the looming spectre of war and revolution always present in the background.

The Dillon family lost two children in tragic circumstances, and four men drowned in the River Suir on Christmas 1922 as a direct result of damage to the Kilsheelan bridge. Both incidents acting as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict that was tearing the country apart.
This film is more than just a story of Ballypatrick/Kilcash; it's a window into the lives of many other rural areas in Ireland during that time. Anybody who wishes to see the film again can do so on the Tipperary Studies youtube channel on the following link…https://youtu.be/-
dGJEGc2Jmg

Tipperary Studies wishes to thank everybody, too numerous to mention who helped out in so many ways to make the evening such an enjoyable occasion.