Famine and War Museum
Welcome to the website for St. Mary’s Church which is located in Thurles, Co.Tipperary, Ireland.
This building also contains the Thurles Famine and War Museums
History of this building.
The Protestant Church of St. Mary’s in Thurles is the site of the official Pre-Reformation Church of Thurles. The original structure was built by the Normans, in the 12th century, to provide them with a separate and more exclusive place of worship.
Some time after the erection of St. Mary’s church, it, together with the native church and those of Rahealty, Shyan and Athnid were given into the custody of the Abbot of Abbington, head of the Cistercian monastery which had been founded by Theobald Butler. The Abbot became the Rector of these churches. He also received the associated glebelands and tithe revenues. As was the practice, the Abbot paid a vicar or vicars, appointed by the Archbishop of Cashel, to perform the spiritual duties of these local churches.
The newly built St. Mary’s church must have been modestly impressive, at least to the locals. The church had the usual tower feature in Cistercian/Norman religious buildings. Ownership passed back and forth during and after the Reformation, between Protestant and Catholic custodians. It was not securely in Protestant hands until after the Williamite Campaign – in fact, in 1690, the only place for Protestant worship in the town was an old waste house. Because of wars, the building was a ruin as early as 1615, according to the record of a visitation of such buildings requested by King James1st. of England.
St. Mary’s and its chapel of Our Lady were used for burials. Among those early burials we find that of the Rev. Dan Maher, C.C. Thurles, who made his will in 1666, directing that he be buried in some corner of the Blessed Virgin’s Chapel, near the parish church of Thurles, if that church had not been consecrated. If it had, then he desired to be buried where Father Donogh Houlihan was buried. This whole question of the Lady’s Chapel is confusing. It’s difficult to say whether it was a constituent part of, or simply near, St. Mary’s parish church. The reference here is that the church of St. Mary’s would have been ‘desecrated’ by Protestant service and would need reconsecration or rededication to the Catholic requirements. Such a ceremony took place in nearby Cashel during the Rebellion of 1641 before the Catholics returned to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the Rock of Cashel. Father Maher’s will seems to imply, therefore, that Father Houlihan was buried somewhere inside the St. Mary’s of that period (Fr. Houlihan was the last Prior of the Carmelites). Following the Restoration of the monarchy the Protestant church became the state church of Ireland in January 1661. Prior to the middle of the eighteenth century the Protestant community must have re-roofed St. Mary’s. Their vestry books of 1746 state that the tower was in bad repair – in danger of falling in; some of it had earlier fallen on the roof of the adjoining church structure. A surviving etching shows the church to have been originally double-gabled.
Pococke, when he visited the town in 1752, mentions a Protestant church built on to the tower of an old church, the east part of which was an arch under that tower. He refers to a chapel east of the tower containing the Archer monument, a tomb still to be seen today. The site has been built on or reconstructed several times. The present modest structre was built in 1812.
The oldest visible monument in the graveyard is the Archer tomb which was erected to the memory of Edmund Archer, ‘Burgess of Thurles’ and Lord of Rathfernagh, Galboola, Corbally and Kyllienane. There is a tradition that Archer was killed at Raheenrue near Drish bridge by the forces of Elizabeth. The tomb is alter-shaped with the following carvings; the figures of the Apostles, the Archer and Butler (or de la Poer) crests, a representation of the Crucifixion and on the upper slab, the figures of a Norman knight and his lady – representing Archer and his wife – not, as is locally believed, Adam and Eve.
The Grace monument north of the church is a block of masonry twelve feet high, attached to which is an alter-tomb surmounted by a plain slab with incised lettering and bearing the Grace and Purcell crests. This monument was erected in 1683 by John Grace in memory of his wife (nee Purcell) and a year later received his own remains. Among the more recent headstones we find the names: John Carroll, Drish, died 1701 and his grandson, Pat Carroll of Moycarkey Castle who died in 1801 at the age of 98 years; John Nicholson, Turtulla, died 1784; Ignatius Brown, Ballycurrane, died 1783; Pat Nagle, Clongower, died 1789; John Harty, Thurles, died 1795; Denis O’Brien, Thurles, died 1786 (he was the ancestor of the O’Meara family of Ardfert and land-agent to the Mathews’ of Thurles & Thomastown); Val. Maher, Turtulla, died 1843; John Maher of Tullamaine Castle, died 1850. In a vault nearby are the remains of Dr. W. Maher of Thurles who died 1836, and his brother, Nicholas Maher, M.P., Turtulla, died 1871; Charles O’Keeffe murdered 1839; Tom Ryan, Thurles, died 1818, who was known as the Distiller of Thurles & Rathmanna; Tom Ryan, Rathmanna, died 1835 and John Ryan, Corbally who died in 1895.
There is a plain sandstone slab near the centre of the graveyard to the memory of Rev. Michael Fihan – 35 years P.P. of Thurles who died 176-, aged 71 years. Rev. Chas Greene, Doctor of the Sorbonne P.P. Thurles, died 1774, Nicholas Morris, P.P., Loughmore, died 1795 (horizontal slab to right of the church). Father Morris was a native of Thurles and was baptised in 1735 by the Rev. Michael Fihan. The most famous old bones buried in the Lady’s Chapel are those of the mother of the Duke of Ormond, Lady Elizabeth, Viscountess Thurles.
(A recent list of all identified grave markers is available but a review of the ‘Memorials of the Dead’ (published by The Association for the Preservation of Memorials for the Dead, Ireland, published during the years 1888 to 1934) might shed more light on grave-markers no longer legible.
The church is still used by the Church of Ireland community today as a place of worship.
Rector: Rev Peter Massey Cole-Baker B.Sc B.Th. Telephone: (0504) 31175
The Famine Museum
In 1995 the Thurles Church of Ireland community kindly donated one third of this building to create a Famine Museum to commemorate the many people who lost their lives through disease and starvation during the Great Famine in Ireland of 1845-1850.
The War Museum
In 1997 work began to restore a gallery which previously had existed in the building prior to 1812. On completion in 1999 this new space was allocated to exibiting our collection of war memorabelia which includes the famous and rare Armstrong Collection presently on loan to this building.
It is possible to visit the famine museum on January?
Hi Sergio,
When in Thurles phone me and I will be happy to open & show you around. Phone Number 0504-21133.
My father’s family (Edward Ryan and his wife, James Ryan, Annie Ryan) are buried in the cemetary..Your web sites indicates that there is a list of the graves availsble. Where can it be viewed.?
Thank you
Hi Tara,
I can confirm that your fathers family are buried in St Mary’s.
Headstone Reads:
Ryan
“To the memory of Bridget Ryan (nee Culhane) who died 6th July 1917 aged 53 years Edward Ryan died 15th feb 1919 aged 64 years His son James Ryan died Jan 31st 1937 aged 42 years. And his wife Annie Ryan died Feb 5th 1937 aged 39 years May the Sacred Heart of Jesus grant their souls eternal rest”.
Grave number is 79 on right hand side as you face the church front door.
Trusting this is the info you require.
Hi,
Could you tell me if the Thurles Sheela na Gig is located here now or is it still on the wall in Thurles?
Also if it is here, is it possible to see it?
Thanks for your time,
Amy
Hi Amy,
It is still on the wall in Thurles. If you have difficulty in finding it call me and I will be happy to show it to you.
Regards George
Hello – Looking for information on my Mahers from Thurles (townland MAY be Garryvicleheen).
John Maher married Anne Gorman in 1836 in a Catholic Church in Thurles. They had several children: William, Edmund, Catherine, Anne (my GGgrandmother), Michael*, Thomas, James, Michael & John.
*Michael was born July 1845. He had apparently died sometime in 1851 or 1852 (prior to his namesake being born in July of 1852). Am wondering if he would be buried in St. Mary’s cemetery.
John Maher Sr., Anne, the surviving Michael and John all emigrated to Passaic, NJ circa 1870. I think Anne Maher (nee Gorman) may have died in Thurles…so perhaps she is buried with her son Michael. Any information is much appreciated.
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for contacting us.
Could you please confirm the occupation of John Maher, husband to Anne Gorman, if known to you.
Hello – Thanks so much for your reply. I actually do not know his occupation. By the time he came to the US, he was retired from whatever profession he had. I do know that he had epilepsy (which may have contributed to his retirement), but that his problems with it were “occasional”. He died in Passaic, NJ in 1884 while helping out a friend – he was tending to his friend’s tavern while the friend attended a funeral. John Maher died of complications of a seizure. Don’t know if he was helping out his friend because he had prior experience running a tavern, or it was just chance.
Thank you again -
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
Garryvicleheen Street is known today as “Friar Street”.
From my records I can confirm that a John Maher resided on the Southside of this street and carried on the occupation of butcher from there in 1846. However, on the opposite side of the street lived an Anne Maher. Only two Maher families resided on the street which contained about 120 dwellings.
I can confirm however that no headstone exists, recording the deaths of any family members in St Mary’s cemetery. It is possible that they were buried in another cemetery near bye and I will attempt to ascertain this info. in due time.
Regards George
I am looking for any information on Nicholas and Catherine Healy. Their children Thomas b. 1830, Catherine b 1828 and James b. 1833 were in the care of the Tipperary Home for Orphans in 1836, parents listed as deceased.
Hi Mary,
There are only two standing gravestones in St Mary’s graveyard in Thurles which refer to Healy and based on the limited info. and timeline you sent to me, it is doubtful if either could refer to your query.
Gravestones read as follows
Cahill:
Erected by Catherine Cahill in memory of her mother Margaret Healy who depd Mar 25th 1818 aged 70 yrs Also her son John Cahill who died Dec 10 1826 aged 40 years [Stone number 78]
Could Catherine have married again ?
Healy:
Erected by Thos Healy of Thurles in memory of his mother Judy dep Jan 1st 1814 aged 68 years [Stone number 9]
Note: not every person buried in this graveyard enjoyed the luxury of having a marker placed over their burial place mainly due to poverty of this time.
Do you have any address for place of residence of parents?
Have you seen this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_made_from_human_corpses
It casts new light on that piece of soap that you have in your museum.
Hi Jonathan,
Thank you for the link.
Yes I have seen this brief synopses.
However historical research should be based on known facts and with that in mind, see the details given at the Nuremberg trials by eye witnesses.
After the war the soap story was given important legitimacy at the main Nuremberg trial. L. N. Smirnov, Chief Counsellor of Justice for the USSR, declared to the Tribunal:
“The same base, rationalized SS technical minds which created gas chambers and murder vans, began devising such methods of complete annihilation of human bodies, which would not only conceal the traces of their crimes, but also to serve in the manufacturing of certain products. In the Danzig Anatomical Institute, semi-industrial experiments in the production of soap from human bodies and the tanning of human skin for industrial purposes were carried out.
Smirnov quoted at length from an affidavit by Sigmund Mazur, an Institute employee, which was accepted as Nuremberg exhibit USSR-197. It alleged that Dr. Rudolf Spanner, the head of the Danzig Institute, had ordered the production of soap from corpses in 1943. According to Mazur’s affidavit, Dr. Spanner’s operation was of interest to high- ranking German officials. Education Minister Bernhard Rust and Health Leader Dr. Leonardo Conti, as well as professors from other medical institutes, came to witness Spanner’s efforts. Mazur also claimed to have used the “human soap” to wash himself and his laundry.
A human soap “recipe,” allegedly prepared by Dr. Spanner (Nuremberg document USSR-196), was also presented. Finally, a sample of what was supposed to be a piece of “human soap” was submitted to the Nuremberg Tribunal as exhibit USSR-393.
In his closing address to the Tribunal, chief British prosecutor Sir Hartley Shawcross echoed his Soviet colleague: “On occasion, even the bodies of their (the Germans) victims were used to make good the wartime shortage of soap.” And in their final judgment, the Nuremberg Tribunal judges found that “attempts were made to utilize the fat from the bodies of the victims in the commercial manufacture of soap.”
It is worth emphasizing here that the “evidence” presented at the Nuremberg Tribunal for the bogus soap story was no less substantial than the “evidence” presented for the claims of mass extermination in “gas chambers.” At least in the former case, an actual sample of soap supposedly made from corpses was submitted in evidence.
We will never know the true facts of the case since it depends on verbal accounts and the invading Russian soldiers would most likely have had little respect for evidence, due to understandable hate, but thank you for pointing out this link.
George: I was once again totally amazed at your support and assistance during our Thurles ancestry trip in February. Then I was really saddened by the report of vandalism in the Tipperary Star. Worse was the report of personal attack against you. Is there anything that we supporters of you and your museum can do from afar to assist you? A letter campaign perhaps?
Hi Patrick.
Thank you for your nice comments, but I fear matters are beyond my control.
Regards to you and your family.
George
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for the mention on http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=35721.0
Hey, Im from South America, and I just would like to know if it is possible to visit the famine museum on May and The Protestant Church of St. Mary’s?
Tks.
Adriel,
The future of the Famine Museum is unsure at present I am sorry to relate.
However if you phone me @ 0504- 21133 when next in Thurles, I or one of my family will be happy to give you a private tour.
Never before seen letters from the Irish famine will be auctioned off this week in Dublin.
The company is hoping for bids from America, where so many emigrants ended up.
“A few years ago we probably would have said the best bet would be to sell it to the state. But the state can’t be seen, let alone afford, to buy things like this,” O’Halloran added.
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Letters-from-the-Irish-famine-to-be-auctioned-off–92615944.html?page=1
The state should not let an archive like this get broken up and sold off outside the country. These archives are important to the people of Ireland and a collection like this holds unknown importance to the country. Surely the sentence above should be “the state can’t be seen not to buy things like this”
Kate I totally agree with you and believe that a law should be introduced which requires a seller of such valuable historical information to notify the State before selling. Possibly the government is not aware that such a sale is in progress.
Thank you for highlighting this article.
I think these letters should be dontated to the State. Making a profit from letters which tell a tale of death and starvation is unacceptable. I hope the seller has a conscious and will reconsider and at least donate the letters to state.
Thank you for checking on Nicholas and Catherine Healy. I have very little information, other than they died at the same time and left the children orphaned. James b.1833/1827 came to the US at about the age of 16. His records vary but I believe he lied about his age to get on the ship. Catherine is listed on a manifest to Australia as a famine orphan. I don’t know what happened to Thomas. James settled in Connecticut and worked at a series of factories. He married Bridget Brennan and had six children. I appreciate all of your time in helping with my search.
Mary
Hi:
My great great grandfather was William Purcell, born in Thurles on Oct. 12, 1840. His parents were John Purcell and Johanna (nee Kenny), married @ 1839, both born @1800. William had two younger brothers, John Henry and Matthew, both born in Ireland. The entire family migrated to Albany New York, durnig the potato famine. Would there be any information on any of them?
Thank you.
Maria
I believe my grandmother Delia Keenan and her sister Mary came from Thurles and possibly left for Australia (alone) at the time of the famine. Should anyone have access to records or any information on that Keenan family I would appreciate any information.
Hi George,
I hope this finds you well. I am writing to find out if there is any Buckley headstones in St Marys. There were a few Buckley familes in Quarry St and many of them would have been buried there. There was Richard Mary John and Margaret. I have been told Richard was buried in 1938 At the Back of the Church to the left of the Monument but there is no headstone.
Kind Regards
Larry
Hi Larry
Only reference to on Headstone at St. Mary’s reads as follows:-
Dwyer
Here lies the body of Patt Dwyer of Thurles Merchant who died Nov the 14th 1803 aged 44 years Also his mother Mary Dwyer als Buckley who died March the 18th 1801 aged 80 years [Ref 168]
Note there may be other Buckleys buried here but, alas, in unmarked graves.
Can anyone help Mary Birell with her query regarding her grandmother Delia?
Contact us here and we will pass on Mary’s contact details
Hi Maria,
The following are the inscriptions on headstones in St Mary’s Churchyard Thurles.
Purcell
Erected by Catherine Purcell of America in memory of her father Laurence Purcell of Stradavoher who died 20th May 1850 And her mother Ellen who died 1st March 1865 Also her sister Anne Fitzgerald alias Purcell died 15th July 1873 and seven children Also her niece Ellie Fitzgerald who died 23rd July 1887 aged 18 years May they rest in peace [111]
Purcell
Here lies the body of Hanora Purcell als Sollivan who died August the 15 1792 aged 21 May she rest in peace Amen Erected by Elizabeth McDonel [328]
Purcell
Erected by Mary Purcell of the Big Tree in memory of her husband William Purcell who died 4th May 1861 aged 55 years Also her beloved grandchild Ellen Purcell who died Dec 1st 1880 aged 5 years [290]
Only records available to me presently
Purcell
Here lieth the body of Mathew Purcell who departed this life March 1st 1779 aged 65 years [331]
I am researching my family tree and I know of Timothy Kane who was born in Templemore in 1801 and his son Thomas who was born in 1832, do you have any knowledge of them? Many Thanks.
Hi George, Many thanks for that information.
Much appreciated
Larry
I am researching my family tree with the last name of Ardagh. I know that they came from Tipperary before they moved to Offaly. There seem to have been some Ardagh names in the Thurles area. Thanks for any help. Lorelle
Hi Lorelle,
The following grave inscription appears in St. Mary’s Graveyard Thurles, Co.Tipperary
Stone is barely readable.
“Here lieth the body of Mrs Rebecca Ardagh wife of Mr Arthur Ardagh of Thurles
who departed this life March the 1st 1774 aged …. 39 [59?] Also the body
of Arthur Ardagh who departed this life the 18th Feb 17?5 in the 76th year
of his age. Also the body of Arthure Ardagh son of Edward Ardagh who died May
the 22nd 1834 aged ?3 yrs (appears to be 33 or 53)”
Trusting this is of some help to you. Would need more info to trace further.
Hi Lorelle,
Further info which may also help- Read carefully.
Protestant Marriages Thurles Registrar District – 1845-1863
Note:
Line one is Date. Place. Whether married by banns or license.
Line two is groom, occupation, residence, father of groom. His occupation.
Line three is bride, occupation, residence, father of bride, his occupation.
The x after the name means that they signed their name with an x and were presumably illiterate.
Year 1849
8. Feb. 15th Thurles – Licence.
John Jackson 23 – x – Servant — Templemore – John Jackson Bricklayer
Maria Ardagh 23 Thurles — Edward Ardagh Shoemaker
10. Feb. Thurles – Licence.
Charles Mitchell – Burris – Clerk – Two-mile-Borris – James Burris Farmer
Anne Ardagh Thurles – Andrew Ardagh – Brick layer
Contact me with any further info
Hi Lorelle,
See link below
http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.britisles.ireland.arm.general/162.679/mb.ashx
I am researching my family history, but am unable to trace my great grandfather who was born in Ireland but died in England. I believe he was buried back in Thurles.
Francis Michael Morrissey born 14 December 1889 died in 1973 married to Hanoria (Nora) Morrissey nee Cunningham.
Any help will be much appreciated, thank you
Hi Lisa,
Suggest you contact Thurles Urban District Council, as burials in Thurles in 1973 took place at St Patricks Cemetary which they control.
Contact Address:
Offices of Thurles Urban District Council,
Slievenamon Road,
Thurles,
Co.Tipperary
email: michaelr@thurlesudc.ie