CLONMEL
THE WESTGATE (1831) STRADDLES
CLONMEL'S O'CONNELL STREET.
The
county town of Clonmel (Cluain Meala) is situated on the wooded
banks of the River Suir and is certainly one of the county's most attractive
with many old Merchant Houses on the north bank.
Portions of the old town walls still survive from the 15th century and
these can be appreciated near St Mary's Church (1204). One of
the town’s significant ancient buildings and which features an
84ft high octagonal Bell Tower, a more recent addition built-on around
1805.
The town is dominated on the north bank by St. Luke's Hospital with
its elegant tower and next door the much larger St. Joseph's Hospital
overlooking the river.
O'Connell Street (the main street) features at one end the West
Gate (1831) and straddling the street while at the other is the
Main Gard — a fascinating classical building originally
built around 1675 by James Butler as the county courthouse and presently
under restoration but soon to house the County Museum now located
in Parnell Street.
A fascinating feature of the town is the unusually named Dr. Croke
Place with its fine colourful Georgian Doors.
The Tourist Office and Chamber of Commerce are in Sarsfield Street
next to the Main Gard. Close by is the Munster Pub of the Year Sean
Tierney’s where a quiet drink can help you reflect on the business
of the day. Here also is Annerley Jewellers who specialise in
gold handmade jewellery and figurines in bronze.
Clonmel has in its early days enjoyed the benefits of several notable
personalities. It was the birthplace of Laurence Sterne (1713)
who grew to fame as a philosopher and literary giant of the day whose
writings reflected the comic side of life in the area. Another personality
was Charles Bianconi, a native of Northern Italy who developed
a public transport system from horse and carts to more sophisticated
coaches that rapidly grew to provide a country-wide service. His original
headquarters is now Hearns Hotel in Parnell Street and in early July
there is a festival to commemmorate his achievements.
Sport is not forgotten here and in particular field sports. Greyhound
racing is especially popular and about 20 miles to the south, near Dungarvan,
is the memorial to Master McGrath the ‘Mohamad Ali’ of greyhound
racing in the late 1800’s.
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