Fethard (; )
[ (archival records)] is a small town in
County Tipperary
County Tipperary ( ga, Contae Thiobraid Árann) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary, and was established in the early 13th century, shortly after th ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. Dating to the
Norman invasion of Ireland
The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland took place during the late 12th century, when Anglo-Normans gradually conquered and acquired large swathes of land from the Irish, over which the kings of England then claimed sovereignty, all allegedly sanc ...
, the
town's walls were first laid-out in the 13th century, with some sections of these defensive fortifications surviving today.
Fethard is located east of
Cashel on the ''Clashawley River'' where the
R692,
R689 and
R706 regional roads intersect. It is a
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
in the
barony Barony may refer to:
* Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron
* Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron
* Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...
of
Middle Third and in the
ecclesiastical parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christianity, Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest#Christianity, priest, often termed a parish priest ...
of "Fethard and Killusty" in the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
The Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly ( ga, Ard-Deoise Chaisil agus Imligh) is an ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church ( particularly the Roman Catholic or Latin Church) located in mid-western Ireland and the metropolis ...
. , the town's population was 1,545.
[
]
History
Fethard was founded in the early 13th century during the Norman invasion of Ireland
The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland took place during the late 12th century, when Anglo-Normans gradually conquered and acquired large swathes of land from the Irish, over which the kings of England then claimed sovereignty, all allegedly sanc ...
. While the low hill, on which the town stands, may have been the location of a pre-Norman
Norman or Normans may refer to:
Ethnic and cultural identity
* The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries
** People or things connected with the Norm ...
church, the first evidence of significant settlement dates from 1201, when a Norman lord, likely William de Braose, settled here.
Fethard was laid-out with a market area, a church and graveyard, and a regular pattern of streets. Its economy was supported by the area's arable farmland
Arable land (from the la, arabilis, "able to be ploughed") is any land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.''Oxford English Dictionary'', "arable, ''adj''. and ''n.''" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013. Alternatively, for th ...
. Fethard's founding charter gave it the status of a 'borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
In the Middle Ag ...
' and provided it with a constitution. Under this constitution, the town's people ( burgesses) had fixed annual rents, access to a court, and defined fines for certain offences.
The town and lands of Fethard passed out of William de Braose's hands in 1208 following a dispute with King John. In 1215 Fethard was granted to the archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s of Cashel, and it remained part of the archepiscopal estates until the 16th century. At the start of the 14th century, an Augustinian Friary was established outside the town.
Because of some lawlessness in the town's hinterland (marked, for example, when the nearby woods of Thomas de St Aubin were cleared because some travelling merchants had been robbed or killed), defensive walls were built around Fethard and other towns in the area. The first reference to the walling of Fethard dates to 1292 when the king allowed levies to be applied (over seven years) on items sold in the town, with the collected funds allocated to "the inclosing of their vill and the greater security of Ireland". Records of money still being collected (to fund wall building) date to the 14th century, with another grant issued for Fethard in 1375. This grant specified that stone walls were to be built, suggesting that the earlier town walls were made of earth and timber.
The town received a royal charter from Edward VI in 1552-3, allowing it a corporation in perpetuity, composed of one Sovereign, one Provost, Burgesses and inhabitants. The next royal charter was issued in 1608. A figure in the attainment of this second charter was Sir John Everard.[Ball, F. Elrington ''The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921'' John Murray London 1926 pp.227-8] John Everard, a lawyer and member of a local landed family, served the Butler clan and Earl of Ormond. His performances as a justice in the Earl's liberty of Tipperary saw him appointed by Elizabeth I as Second Justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland)
The Court of King's Bench (of Queen's Bench when the sovereign was female, and formerly of Chief Place or Chief Pleas) was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England. The King's Benc ...
in 1602. Although the Everards were Catholic, John Everard (by this time "Sir" John Everard) pledged allegiance to the Crown, and when he surrendered all his property to the Crown in 1607, it was immediately granted back to him. His good favour with the Crown was a factor in Fethard attaining a new charter in 1608.
In the new charter, the town was described as "a place of strength surrounded with a fair strong wall", and under its terms, the town's corporation was renewed and enlarged. The Fethard corporation was directed to build "a Tholsel
Tholsel was a name traditionally used for a local municipal and administrative building used to collect tolls and taxes and to administer trade and other documents in Irish towns and cities. It was at one stage one of the most important secular bu ...
(common Hall) for assemblies", the foundations of which now lie under the main street.
During the 17th century, the town was subject to two significant threats. The first was by the army of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
Murrough MacDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin (September 1614 – 9 September 1673), was an Irish nobleman and soldier, who came from one of the most powerful families in Munster. Known as "''Murchadh na dTóiteán''" ("Murrough the Burner" ...
, and followed his Sacking of Cashel in 1647. When news of the massacre at Cashel reached Fethard, its citizens submitted to Inchiquin. Three years later, in 1650, Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...
marched on Fethard on his way to besiege and take Kilkenny. In a letter, Cromwell described Fethard as "having a very good wall with round and square bulwarks, after the old manner of fortification". Referring to the nearby Augustinian Friary, he wrote that he had stationed troops "in an old abbey in the suburbs". As with Inchiquin, the citizens of Fethard also agreed to terms of surrender with Cromwell.
By the 18th century, some parts of the town were in a state of decay, with the corporation's books for 1718 noting that 56 people had houses with dangerous chimneys. In the same period, the Everard family's involvement with Fethard came to an end when the last Baronet, Sir Redmond Everard, 4th Baronet
Sir Redmond Everard, 4th Baronet (1689 – 13 April 1742) was an Irish Jacobite baronet and politician.
He was the youngest son of Sir John Everard, 3rd Baronet, whose family effectively owned the town of Fethard in County Tipperary. Redmond ...
, who lived in France, sold his family's properties in Fethard in 1725. The new landowner, Mr Barton (a wine merchant from Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
), replaced the old Everard mansion with a new house, which in turn became a military barracks early in the 19th century.
During the 19th century, the remaining medieval fabric of the town was largely demolished, with all but one of the town's gates removed. The west tower of the Augustinian Friary was removed in 1835.
Despite some demolition works, much of the town's defensive walls remain, making it one of the "best example of a medieval walled town in Ireland". In some areas the remaining walls rise to a height of . Many large estates and farms are present around Fethard, including Grove, Kiltinan, Lakefield, Clonacody, Coolmore, Tullamaine and Rocklow. Historically, these estates employed many local people from the town and surrounding hinterlands.
Economy
According to Tipperary County Council
Tipperary County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Thiobraid Árann) is the authority responsible for Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local government in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It came into operation on 3 June ...
's 2017 "Settlement Plan for Fethard", the economy and employment within the town are "linked deeply with the heritage of the Town, the surrounding agricultural hinterlands and the equine industry". Heritage tourism marketing for the area focuses on the town's medieval defensive walls and the area's association with horse-racing and breeding.
Sport
The town is also known in the thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...
horse racing industry as the home of Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland, is headquarters of the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. Through its racing arm, Ballydoyle, Coolmore also has raced many classic winners and champions. The operat ...
and of the stables of Michael "Mouse" Morris. McCarthy's Hotel was the home of Dick McCarthy, a professional jockey of the early 20th century, who finished third in the Grand National
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap ...
at Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, north-east of Liverpool city centre, in North West England.
It i ...
in 1929.
Fethard Rugby Club, based at the community sports fields, fields under-age teams for boys and girls and a senior side.
Fethard GAA Club plays at Fethard GAA Park, formerly known as the Barrack Field. The club holds 21 senior county football titles, more than any other team in the county.
Transport
The Thurles
Thurles (; ''Durlas Éile'') is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the civil parish of the same name in the barony of Eliogarty and in the ecclesiastical parish of Thurles (Roman Catholic parish), Thurles. The cathedral ch ...
-Clonmel
Clonmel () is the county town and largest settlement of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Cromwellian army which sacked the towns of Dro ...
bus route, operated by Bernard Kavanagh & Sons/The Shamrock Bus Company, serves Fethard.
The nearest station is Clonmel railway station
Clonmel railway station serves the town of Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland.
It is on the railway line that links and . It has a weekday passenger service of two trains to Limerick Junction and two to Waterford. There is no Sunday servi ...
, approximately 13 kilometres away.
Fethard is located at the intersections of the R692, R689 and R706 regional roads.
Culture
The Fethard Medieval Festival takes place annually in June. A parade runs through the main street that culminates in Valley Park centred on the River Clashawley, next to the town's medieval walls. Activities in the festival include amusements, workshops, craft demonstrations, archery, live music, and food stalls.
Fethard was used as a location for the 2011 film ''Stella Days
''Stella Days'' is a 2011 film directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan and starring Martin Sheen as a Roman Catholic priest in rural Ireland during the mid-1950s.
The film is based on the book ''Stella Days: The Life and Times of a Rural Irish Cinema'' ...
'', based on a book by Michael Doorley about life in Borrisokane
Borrisokane () is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is situated at the junction of the N52 and N65 national secondary roads. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 942. The Ballyfinboy River flows through the town on its way to Lough ...
during the 1950s.
Notable people
* Thomas Bray
Thomas Bray (1656 or 165815 February 1730) was an English clergyman and abolitionist who helped formally establish the Church of England in Maryland, as well as the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge and Society for the Propagat ...
, Archbishop of Cashel (1792–1820)
* John Butler, 12th Baron Dunboyne
John Butler, 12th Baron Dunboyne (1731 – 7 May 1800) was an Irish clergyman and aristocrat, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross. In order to advance his temporal title and marry he became, , the only authenticated apostate in the Catholic h ...
was buried in the Augustinian Augustinian may refer to:
*Augustinians, members of religious orders following the Rule of St Augustine
*Augustinianism, the teachings of Augustine of Hippo and his intellectual heirs
*Someone who follows Augustine of Hippo
* Canons Regular of Sain ...
friary
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
, Fethard
* John J. Cantwell, Archbishop of Los Angeles, attended the Patrician Brothers
The Patrician Brothers officially named Brothers of Saint Patrick ( la, Congregatio Fratrum a Sancto Patricio), abbreviated F.S.P. is a Catholic lay religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men founded for the religious and literary educa ...
Monastery National School, and the nearby Classical Academy
* John Magnier
John Magnier (born 10 February 1948; also known as "The Boss") is an Irish business magnate. He is Ireland's leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside the horse-breeding industry.
Magnier has also been a Senat ...
, owner of Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland, is headquarters of the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. Through its racing arm, Ballydoyle, Coolmore also has raced many classic winners and champions. The operat ...
, is based in Fethard
* Mouse Morris
Michael "Mouse" Morris, formally the Hon. Michael Morris, (born 4 April 1951) is an Irish racehorse trainer and former amateur and professional jockey. As a trainer, he has won the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and has won the Iri ...
, Irish racehorse trainer, is based in Fethard
* Patrick Mary O'Donnell
Patrick Mary O'Donnell (1897–1980) was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest in Australia. He was Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane in Queensland.
Early life
Patrick O'Donnell was born on 2 February 1897 at Main Street, Fethard, Ireland, t ...
, Archbishop of Brisbane, Australia (1965–73), born in Fethard
* William Tirry
William Tirry OSA (1609 – 12 May 1654) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest of the Order of Saint Augustine. He suffered martyrdom in Clonmel in the context of the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1992.
Life
T ...
(1609-1654), executed during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland or Cromwellian war in Ireland (1649–1653) was the re-conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell invaded Ireland wi ...
and buried in the former Augustinian Priory at Fethard, he was beatified in 1992 as one of the Irish Catholic Martyrs
Irish Catholic Martyrs () were 24 Irish men and women who have been beatified or canonized for dying for their Catholic faith between 1537 and 1681 in Ireland. The canonisation of Oliver Plunkett in 1975 brought an awareness of the others who d ...
See also
* List of towns and villages in County Tipperary
*
* Kiltinan Castle
Kiltinan Castle is a castle near Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland.
History and architecture
Kiltinan is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland, having been built in the thirteenth century.
References
External links
Fethard website
{{Authority control
Parishes of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Civil parishes of Middle Third, County Tipperary
Towns and villages in County Tipperary