Ballyporeen
Encyclopedia
Ballyporeen is a village in South Tipperary
, Ireland
. The latest census of 2006 recorded the population of Ballyporeen at 304 with an additional 573 in its rural hinterland.
to the north and the Knockmealdowns
to the south. The River Duag
which is a tributary of the Suir runs through the village. It is located on the R665
regional road
. The nearest large towns are Mitchelstown
and Cahir
, which are 12 kilometers and 21 kilometers respectively.
The village is approximately 11 kilometers from Junction 12 of the M8 Motorway
.
translation is the "Ford
Mouth of the Round Stones". Those stones may have been river deposits or dye stones left there by inhabitants from a cloth dyeing
process.
Another theory is the original name got corrupted and ambiguated over time; a 1618 document referred to "Bealanporan", this and possible previous forms would alter its meaning. One respected historian believed 'Powers-town' was the correct translation of its origins. An Anglo-Norman family called Power did have connections with the area.
Ballyporeen's subsequent growth may put down to a number of factors. In the 1700s the village was on the main coach road between Cork
and Dublin, this would have led to passing trade and the opportunity for providing boarding houses and inns for travellers. There was also a mill at lower Main Street, this was known as Kingston's Mills and would have provided employment opportunities, it was operational up until at least 1811.
The biggest single factor for the development and expansion of the village, was the involvement of the Earls of Kingston
, the main landlord
in the area, they owned the market rights on the estate and by 1810 (at the latest), large open air markets were held in the village three times a year. The fact the mill also bore their name indicates they were also probably influential in its creation.
Robert the 2nd Earl is most likely responsible for the village's planned street design, he initiated a massive building programme across the estate in the late 1700s.
Rents were kept low in the village to attract shopkeepers and tradespeople. The first edition Ordnance Survey
maps (circa 1840) show the basic layout of the village as it is today encompassing the wide straight main street.
Lewis' survey of 1837 notes the village as being located in the barony of Iffa and Offa West
and reported that there were 113 houses and 513 inhabitants.
Ballyporeen is best-known for being the ancestral home of United States President
Ronald Reagan
. His great-grandfather, Michael Regan (who changed later the spelling of his name ), was baptised in the village in 1829 and lived there until his emigration to London
not later than 1851 and ultimately the United States
in 1857. President Reagan visited the village on the 3rd of June, 1984 and delivered a speech to its residents, during which he discussed his ancestry and what he called the "Irish-American
tradition".
There was some opposition to Reagan's visit to Ireland. Authorities kept approximately 600 protesters behind barriers on the outskirts of the village on that day, they were not permitted inside until the presidential party had departed. The main focus of the protesters was toward the Reagan administration's foreign policy, in particular its support of the Contras
in Nicaragua
.
Ballyporeen was previously home to The Ronald Reagan Pub
. While the building still stands, the pub closed in 2004 and the following year its fittings and external signage were transferred to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
in Simi Valley, California
.
Pat O'Brien
, an American
actor who gained Hollywood fame in the 1930's also had ancestral connections to the area.
Ballyporeen is home to the singer/songwriter Gemma Hayes
whose hits include Hanging Around from her debut album Night on my Side
which was released to critical acclaim and was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Music Prize.
, hurling
, racquetball
and handball
are all represented by clubs in the area.
Skeheenarinky
is a small neighbouring community of Ballyporeen. Both communities co-operate in areas including the Gaelic Athletic Association
. The G.A.A. club represents and gets its members from both localities. The football team plays under the name Ballyporeen GAA
and currently play at intermediate level while the hurling team play under the name "Skeheenarinky" and currently play at junior level. Their common home grounds are in Ballyporeen where they have access to modern dressing rooms and flood lighting facilities.
Ballyporeen football club took part in the fourth series of the reality television show; Celebrity Bainisteoir which was broadcast in Autumn 2011. Model Gillian Quinn is the club's celebrity mentor. After losing the Swim off against Killeshin. Killeshin got home advantage and went on to beat Ballyporeen.
Historically the club has played under various names including Templetenny Rangers and Western Rangers plus also as the Brian Borus; a team made up of members from Ballyporeen and Clogheen
.
Ballyporeen's first Handball court was built in 1908 and the club was formed the following year, in its history producing 21 All-Ireland Champions and numerous County and Provincial Champions. Eddie Corbett from Ballyporeen has won the United Sports Panel Award for Handball in 1987, 1993 and 1994 and shared it with John O'Donoghue in 1990 and 1991. Today Ballyporeen Handball & Racquetball Club has one glass backwalled 40 X 20 court and one 60 X 30 court.
Ballyporeen Football Titles.
Skeheenarinky Hurling Titles.
parish
es were historically known as Templetenny.
The Catholic church and clergy based in Ballyporeen service both communities of Ballyporeen and Skeheenarinky
which are in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
.
The church is called 'The Church of the Assumption' and was opened in 1828.
The local Church of Ireland
parish has been amalgamated into the wider Clonmel Union of Parishes. St Matthews; a 50 seater church which stood at the top of Main Street was dismantled c.1911.
There is a ruin of an ancient church at Templetenny approximately 4 km east of the present village of Ballyporeen.The site itself has Christian monastic origins and dates to at least 750 AD when St. Finnchadh was recorded as being abbot.
song Washington Square
off their album Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
.
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The latest census of 2006 recorded the population of Ballyporeen at 304 with an additional 573 in its rural hinterland.
Location
It lies in the Galtee-Vee Valley with the Galtee MountainsGaltee Mountains
The Galtee Mountains or Galty Mountains are a mountain range in Munster, located in Ireland's Golden Vale across parts of counties Limerick, South Tipperary and Cork. The name "Galtee" is thought to be a corruption of the Irish "Sléibhte na gCoillte" - "Mountains of the Forests" in English,...
to the north and the Knockmealdowns
Knockmealdown Mountains
The Knockmealdown Mountains are a mountain range located on the border of counties South Tipperary and Waterford in Ireland, running east and west between the two counties. The highest peak of the range is Knockmealdown, situated in County Waterford...
to the south. The River Duag
River Duag
The River Duag is a river in South Tipperary, Ireland. It flows into the River Tar between Clogheen and Ballyporeen. The Tar in turn is a tributary of the River Suir.- References :...
which is a tributary of the Suir runs through the village. It is located on the R665
R665 road
The R665 road is a regional road in Ireland. The route runs from Mitchelstown to Clonmel via Ballyporeen, Clogheen and Ardfinnan, passing through parts of counties Cork and Tipperary. The R665 was once a key part of the historic route from Dublin to Cork, and was mapped as such as late as 1778...
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
. The nearest large towns are Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 3300. Mitchelstown is situated in the valley to the south of the Galtee Mountains close to the Mitchelstown Caves and is 28 km from Cahir, 50 km from Cork and 59 km from Limerick...
and Cahir
Cahir
Cahir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. The town is best known for its castle and the Swiss Cottage. It is in the barony of Iffa and Offa West.-Location and access:...
, which are 12 kilometers and 21 kilometers respectively.
The village is approximately 11 kilometers from Junction 12 of the M8 Motorway
M8 motorway (Ireland)
The M8 motorway is an inter-urban motorway in Ireland, which forms part of the road from the capital - Dublin - to Cork city. The 149 km motorway commences in the townland of Aghaboe, County Laois and runs through the counties of Kilkenny, North Tipperary, South Tipperary and Limerick,...
.
Name
The origins of the name are not definitive; the most accepted IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
translation is the "Ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
Mouth of the Round Stones". Those stones may have been river deposits or dye stones left there by inhabitants from a cloth dyeing
Dyeing
Dyeing is the process of adding color to textile products like fibers, yarns, and fabrics. Dyeing is normally done in a special solution containing dyes and particular chemical material. After dyeing, dye molecules have uncut Chemical bond with fiber molecules. The temperature and time controlling...
process.
Another theory is the original name got corrupted and ambiguated over time; a 1618 document referred to "Bealanporan", this and possible previous forms would alter its meaning. One respected historian believed 'Powers-town' was the correct translation of its origins. An Anglo-Norman family called Power did have connections with the area.
History
The birth of Ballyporeen as a nucleated settlement is unknown, up until the 18th Century, Carrigvisteal (approx 1.5 km north of the village) was the main settlement node in the area.Ballyporeen's subsequent growth may put down to a number of factors. In the 1700s the village was on the main coach road between Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and Dublin, this would have led to passing trade and the opportunity for providing boarding houses and inns for travellers. There was also a mill at lower Main Street, this was known as Kingston's Mills and would have provided employment opportunities, it was operational up until at least 1811.
The biggest single factor for the development and expansion of the village, was the involvement of the Earls of Kingston
Earl of Kingston
Earl of Kingston is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1768 for Edward King, 1st Viscount Kingston. He had already succeeded his father as fifth Baronet of Boyle Abbey and been created Baron Kingston, of Rockingham in the County of Roscommon in 1764 and Viscount Kingston in 1766,...
, the main landlord
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
in the area, they owned the market rights on the estate and by 1810 (at the latest), large open air markets were held in the village three times a year. The fact the mill also bore their name indicates they were also probably influential in its creation.
Robert the 2nd Earl is most likely responsible for the village's planned street design, he initiated a massive building programme across the estate in the late 1700s.
Rents were kept low in the village to attract shopkeepers and tradespeople. The first edition Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey Ireland
Ordnance Survey Ireland is the national mapping agency of the Republic of Ireland and, together with the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland , succeeded, after 1922, the Irish operations of the United Kingdom Ordnance Survey. It is part of the Public service of the Republic of Ireland...
maps (circa 1840) show the basic layout of the village as it is today encompassing the wide straight main street.
Lewis' survey of 1837 notes the village as being located in the barony of Iffa and Offa West
Iffa and Offa West
Iffa and Offa West is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Cahir...
and reported that there were 113 houses and 513 inhabitants.
People
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. His great-grandfather, Michael Regan (who changed later the spelling of his name ), was baptised in the village in 1829 and lived there until his emigration to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
not later than 1851 and ultimately the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1857. President Reagan visited the village on the 3rd of June, 1984 and delivered a speech to its residents, during which he discussed his ancestry and what he called the "Irish-American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
tradition".
There was some opposition to Reagan's visit to Ireland. Authorities kept approximately 600 protesters behind barriers on the outskirts of the village on that day, they were not permitted inside until the presidential party had departed. The main focus of the protesters was toward the Reagan administration's foreign policy, in particular its support of the Contras
Contras
The contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua's FSLN Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle's dictatorship...
in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Ballyporeen was previously home to The Ronald Reagan Pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. While the building still stands, the pub closed in 2004 and the following year its fittings and external signage were transferred to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs is the presidential library and final resting place of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. Designed by Hugh Stubbins and Associates, the library is located in Simi Valley, California, about northwest of...
in Simi Valley, California
Simi Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Simi Valley had a population of 124,237. The population density was 2,940.8 people per square mile...
.
Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (actor)
Pat O’Brien was an American film actor with more than one hundred screen credits.-Early life:O’Brien was born William Joseph Patrick O’Brien to an Irish-American Catholic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an altar boy at Gesu Church while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor who gained Hollywood fame in the 1930's also had ancestral connections to the area.
Ballyporeen is home to the singer/songwriter Gemma Hayes
Gemma Hayes
Gemma Claire Hayes is an Irish singer-songwriter and member of The Cake Sale.-Early life:...
whose hits include Hanging Around from her debut album Night on my Side
Night on My Side
Night on my Side is the debut album by Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes, released in 2002 with success in the Republic of Ireland, France and the UK.The album was nominated for that year's Mercury Music Prize but lost out to Ms...
which was released to critical acclaim and was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Music Prize.
Sport
Soccer, Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
and handball
Gaelic handball
Gaelic handball is a sport similar to Basque pelota, racquetball, squash and American handball . It is one of the four Gaelic games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association...
are all represented by clubs in the area.
Skeheenarinky
Skeheenarinky
Skeheenarinky is a townland in south-west County Tipperary, Ireland.It is a dispersed settlement with a focal point at Skeheenarinky Crosswhere a school, shop and pub are located.-Location:...
is a small neighbouring community of Ballyporeen. Both communities co-operate in areas including the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
. The G.A.A. club represents and gets its members from both localities. The football team plays under the name Ballyporeen GAA
Ballyporeen GAA
Ballyporeen GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club located in Ballyporeen in South Tipperary in Ireland. The club is part of the South division of Tipperary GAA.-Honours:*County Intermediate Champions 1992....
and currently play at intermediate level while the hurling team play under the name "Skeheenarinky" and currently play at junior level. Their common home grounds are in Ballyporeen where they have access to modern dressing rooms and flood lighting facilities.
Ballyporeen football club took part in the fourth series of the reality television show; Celebrity Bainisteoir which was broadcast in Autumn 2011. Model Gillian Quinn is the club's celebrity mentor. After losing the Swim off against Killeshin. Killeshin got home advantage and went on to beat Ballyporeen.
Historically the club has played under various names including Templetenny Rangers and Western Rangers plus also as the Brian Borus; a team made up of members from Ballyporeen and Clogheen
Clogheen, County Tipperary
Clogheen is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. The latest census of 2006 recorded the population of Clogheen at 509.-Location:It lies in the Galtee-Vee Valley with the Galtee Mountains to the north and the Knockmealdowns in close proximity to the south. The River Tar which is a tributary of...
.
Ballyporeen's first Handball court was built in 1908 and the club was formed the following year, in its history producing 21 All-Ireland Champions and numerous County and Provincial Champions. Eddie Corbett from Ballyporeen has won the United Sports Panel Award for Handball in 1987, 1993 and 1994 and shared it with John O'Donoghue in 1990 and 1991. Today Ballyporeen Handball & Racquetball Club has one glass backwalled 40 X 20 court and one 60 X 30 court.
Ballyporeen Football Titles.
- County Intermediate Champions 1992.
- South Intermediate Champions 1988, 1992, 2007.
- County Junior Football A Champions 1987.
- South Junior Football A Champions 1928, 1969, 1970, 1985, 1987.
- South Junior Football B Champions 1991, 1994, 2002, 2004.
- County U21 Football B Champions 1990.
- South U21 Football B Champions 1990, 1997, 2004, 2011.
- County U21 Football C Champions 2001.
- South U21 Football C Champions 2001.
- South Minor Football A Champions 1966.
- County Minor Football B Champions 2011.
- County Minor Football C Champions 2006.
- South Minor Football C Champions 2005, 2006.
- County Minor Football B Champions 1986 (as Brian Borus)
Skeheenarinky Hurling Titles.
- South Junior Hurling A Champions 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000.
- South U21 Hurling C Champions 2004.
- County Minor Hurling C Champions 2004.
- South Minor Hurling C Champions 2004, 2008.
Parish
The Catholic and AnglicanAnglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es were historically known as Templetenny.
The Catholic church and clergy based in Ballyporeen service both communities of Ballyporeen and Skeheenarinky
Skeheenarinky
Skeheenarinky is a townland in south-west County Tipperary, Ireland.It is a dispersed settlement with a focal point at Skeheenarinky Crosswhere a school, shop and pub are located.-Location:...
which are in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore is a Roman Catholic diocese in southern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
.
The church is called 'The Church of the Assumption' and was opened in 1828.
The local Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
parish has been amalgamated into the wider Clonmel Union of Parishes. St Matthews; a 50 seater church which stood at the top of Main Street was dismantled c.1911.
There is a ruin of an ancient church at Templetenny approximately 4 km east of the present village of Ballyporeen.The site itself has Christian monastic origins and dates to at least 750 AD when St. Finnchadh was recorded as being abbot.
Cultural references
Ballyporeen is mentioned in the Counting CrowsCounting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
song Washington Square
Washington Square (Counting Crows song)
"Washington Square" is the seventh track on Counting Crows' 2008 album Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, and the track that opens the Sunday Mornings half of the album.-Song Meaning:...
off their album Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is the fifth studio album by Counting Crows, released in the United States on March 25, 2008. It is thematically divided into two sides: the rock music of Saturday Nights and the more country-influenced Sunday Mornings. Vocalist and lyricist Adam Duritz states that...
.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
- Remarks to the Citizens of Ballyporeen, Ireland - text of Reagan's speech in 1984
- Ballyporeenvillage.com - Local information and pictures
- Skeheenarinky.com -Community Website
- Ballyporeen Football Website
- Skeheenarinky Hurling Website
- Tipperary Gaa Archives
- A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) by Samuel Lewis
- Washington Square by The Counting Crows (VEVO) - Reference at 1:40 sec.