Clonmel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clonmel Cluain Meala
Town
The Quays, Clonmel.
Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Fidelis in Æternum  (Latin) "Faithful Forever"
Clonmel Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Tipperary
Area
• Total	10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	18,369
• Density	1,749/km2 (4,531/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (IST)
Eircode	E91
Telephone area code	052
Irish Grid Reference	S199229

Clonmel (Irish: Cluain Meala, meaning honey meadow) is the main town and largest place in County Tipperary, Ireland. The town is famous in Irish history for standing strong against the Cromwellian army. This army had previously attacked and taken over towns like Drogheda and Wexford. Most of Clonmel is located in the area called "St Mary's," which is part of the old barony of Iffa and Offa East.

Population

In 2022, the latest official count showed that Clonmel had a population of 18,369 people. This makes it the 27th largest urban area in Ireland. Back in 1985, the population was around 12,400.

Etymology

Mural in Clonmel with the Irish name of the town; note the bee and honey.

The name Clonmel comes from the Irish words Cluain Meala. This means "honey meadow" or "honey valley." People think it got this name because the land around it is very fertile and rich.

History

Old Saint Mary's Church

Town Walls

West Gate of the town walls

Clonmel grew a lot during the medieval period, which was a long time ago. You can still see parts of this history in the town today. A small piece of the old town walls is still standing near Old St. Mary's Church. This church is one of the most important old buildings in Clonmel. It was first built in the 1300s or even earlier, but it has been rebuilt and fixed up many times.

The church was made strong like a fort early on. This was because Clonmel was an important place for powerful families, first the Earls of Ormonde, and then the Earl of Kildare. Some of the fortified parts of the church were damaged when Oliver Cromwell's army took over in the mid-1600s.

One of the old entrances to the town is now the West Gate. This gate was rebuilt in the 1800s, but it was originally a much older structure. The walled town used to have three main gates: North, East, and West. The south side was naturally protected by the River Suir and the Comeragh Mountains. Today, the West Gate is an open archway that leads onto O'Connell Street, which is the main street in Clonmel.

Elizabethan Era Events

In 1583, a priest named Fr. Muiris Mac Ionrachtaigh was captured and brought to Clonmel. He continued to serve his community while in prison. In 1585, a local man named Victor White helped the priest to hold a special Mass in his house. However, the authorities found out, and soldiers raided the house. Fr. Mac Ionrachtaigh managed to escape at first, but he later gave himself up to protect Victor White. He was recognized by the Church as one of the Irish Catholic Martyrs in 1992.

Town's Symbols

In 1608, Clonmel was given a special permission by King James I of England to become a "Free Borough." This meant the town could elect its own Mayor and officers. They were also allowed to have a Swordbearer and Sergeants-at-Mace. The sword and two silver maces that are used today date back to the time of Oliver Cromwell. The sword was given to the town in 1656 and shows Clonmel's coat of arms and motto.

Cromwellian Period

One of the remaining towers of Clonmel's defensive wall

Young Irelanders stand trial before Justice Blackburne at Clonmel, 1848

Map of 17th-century Clonmel. Note "Irishtown" in the west.

In May 1650, Oliver Cromwell's army attacked Clonmel. The town's walls were eventually broken through. However, Hugh Dubh O'Neill, who was in charge of Clonmel's defenders, caused a lot of damage to Cromwell's army when they tried to enter. That night, O'Neill and his soldiers secretly left the town because they were running out of supplies. The next morning, on May 18, 1650, the mayor of Clonmel was able to surrender the town on good terms. This was because Cromwell didn't know that the soldiers had already left. Even though Cromwell felt tricked, he did not harm the people of Clonmel, which was different from what happened in other towns.

Another important event during this time involved an Augustinian Friar named William Tirry. In 1654, he was arrested in Fethard for being a priest, which was against the law at the time. He was brought to Clonmel for trial. Friar Tirry explained that he had to follow the Pope's orders to stay in Ireland, even if it meant breaking the local laws. He was found guilty and was executed in Clonmel on May 2, 1654. He was later recognized by the Church as one of the Irish Catholic Martyrs in 1993.

18th Century

In the late 1700s, a famous Irish song called Príosún Chluain Meala (The Gaol of Clonmel) was written inside Clonmel Gaol. It was composed by a member of the Whiteboys group. An English translation of the song, which became very popular, was made by the poet Jeremiah Joseph Callanan.

19th Century

A permanent army base, Kickham Barracks, was built in Clonmel in 1805. In 1848, after a failed rebellion near Ballingarry, the leaders of the Young Irelanders were brought to Clonmel for trial. This event attracted a lot of attention from around the world. Among those on trial were Thomas Francis Meagher, Terence MacManus, and Patrick O'Donoghue. Their sentences were later changed to being sent away for life to Van Diemen's Land.

20th Century

The Labour Party was started in Clonmel in 1912. It was founded by important figures like James Connolly, James Larkin, and William O'Brien. This party became the political part of the Irish Trades Union Congress.

21st Century

In November 2015, Clonmel was the location of Ireland's first marriage between two men.

Geography

Clonmel is built in the valley of the River Suir. The river flows through the town, which is mostly on the north side. To the south, the town is surrounded by the Comeragh Mountains. Slievenamon mountain is to the northeast. To the north, east, and west, you'll find some of Ireland's best farmland, known as the Golden Vale. The town covers an area of about 11.59 square kilometers.

Climate

Flood Defences

The River Suir can flood the area around Clonmel after very heavy rain. To protect the town, the Office of Public Works (OPW) built a Flood Forecasting System in 2007. This system helps predict floods. Clonmel also has flood defences made of barriers, walls, and earth banks. These were built in phases and completed by 2012. They are designed to protect the town from large floods.

Economy

Retail

Clonmel has many shops, especially on Gladstone Street and O'Connell Street. Here you can find popular stores like Elverys Sports, Penneys, River Island, Easons, and Lifestyle Sports. Smaller local shops are also found on the streets branching off these main ones.

The Showgrounds Shopping Centre is about 1 kilometer from the town centre. It has larger stores such as M&S, TKMaxx, Argos, and Golden Discs. The Poppyfield Retail Park is on the edge of town. It includes stores like DID Electrical, Supervalu, Woodie's, and World of Wonder. You can also find places to eat like KFC and Costa Coffee there, along with a hotel.

Industry

Bulmers cider factory

Clonmel is home to several big international companies, especially in the medical field. Two of the largest medical companies are Abbott and Boston Scientific. Both of these companies make medical devices that can be placed inside the body. Other pharmaceutical companies like Merck & Co. and Pinewood Healthcare are also nearby.

The town is also known for making drinks. Bulmers cider, which is called Magners outside Ireland, was started in Clonmel. It is still made in a large factory just east of the town. The original brewery in town is planned to become a new place for visitors to explore. Glenpatrick Spring Water bottles water from the rocks under Slievenamon for many big supermarkets in Ireland and the UK.

Clonmel is also home to international engineering and construction companies like Kentz and Sepam. These companies were both founded in Clonmel. Sepam has helped build huge projects around the world, such as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and parts of Heathrow Airport.

Media

Radio

Tipp FM is a local radio station for County Tipperary. Its main office is in Clonmel. In 2019, Tipp FM had over 69,000 listeners each week. You can listen to it on FM at 95.3, 97.1, 103.3, and 103.9. The Clonmel transmitter broadcasts on 97.1 MHz.

Print

Clonmel has three newspapers. The Nationalist, started in 1890, is a weekly newspaper that covers news for Clonmel and South Tipperary. It is now run by Johnston Press.

South Tipp Today is a free newspaper that started in 1995. It is delivered to homes and available in local shops across South Tipperary. It covers news, entertainment, and local notes.

The Sporting Press is printed in Clonmel and covers news about greyhound racing in Ireland.

Culture

Museums and Galleries

The Main Guard

The Tipperary Museum of Hidden History tells the story of County Tipperary from the Stone Age to today. It also hosts special exhibitions every year. This was the first museum in Ireland built specifically for a county's history.

The Main Guard was an important town building until 1810. During its restoration, it was found that some of its stone columns came from the old Cistercian Inislounaght Abbey. In the past, it was used to collect taxes, for town meetings, and as a court. Now, it has an exhibition that shows how Clonmel developed over time, including a model of the town from the 13th century.

The South Tipperary Arts Centre opened in 1996. It holds about 12 art exhibitions each year and offers art classes for both adults and children. Besides art shows, the centre also hosts music, performances, poetry readings, and dance events.

Theatre and Cinema

The White Memorial Theatre building used to be a church. It was bought in 1975 by St. Mary's Choral Society and named after their founder, Professor James A White. The society puts on about two shows a year there. The building also hosts shows by the Stage Craft Youth Theatre group and other special events.

Clonmel has a lively youth arts scene. Stagecraft Youth Theatre started in 1998 and trains young actors in all parts of theatre. It is one of Ireland's largest youth theatres. In 2011, The Hub, a small 45-seat theatre, was founded and is now home to Stagecraft.

The IMC cinema, with five screens, is the only cinema left in Clonmel. In the past, there were several other cinemas, including the Ritz and the Regal Theatre. The Regal Theatre was where the famous singer Frank Patterson first performed on stage.

Festivals

Street Performance at Clonmel Junction Festival 2004

Mitchell Street, during the Busking Festival in 2014

Every July, Clonmel hosts the annual Clonmel Junction Festival for nine days. This festival features street theatre, rock music, traditional music, and world music. Many international acts visit, and young local bands also get to perform. Children from local schools and groups are encouraged to take part.

Finding a Voice is a festival held around International Women's Day (March 8th). It showcases music created by female composers.

Clonmel also hosts the International Film Festival Ireland, which focuses on independent films. It started in September 2009 and is now an annual event. The 2010 festival also included a Youth Film Festival, showing short films made locally.

The Clonmel Busking festival takes place for four days every August. It offers free music events during the day in the town centre. At night, concerts are held in different venues around the town.

Music

Banna Chluain Meala (which means 'Clonmel band') was started in 1971. It began as a brass band but later included reed instruments. The band performs concerts, marches, and field shows. They have traveled to many countries, including the UK, Netherlands, France, Italy, and the USA. They even represented Ireland at a festival in the Czech Republic in 2004.

Banna Chluain Meala is one of Ireland's most awarded bands. They have won national and international titles for their concert performances. As a marching band, they have won the IMBA Irish champions title many times.

Clonmel has hosted the traditional Irish music festival, the Fleadh Cheoil, five times (in 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, and 2004).

A well-known song about Clonmel is "The Gaol of Cluain Meala." It's a translation of an old Irish song. The famous singer Luke Kelly helped make it popular again in the 1960s. The song "Galtee Mountain Boy" also mentions Clonmel.

Clonmel in Literature

Vertue rewarded, or The Irish princess (1693) is one of the earliest romance novels written in English. It tells a story about a character from Clonmel.

Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel The Big Sleep features a character described as "A big curly-headed Irishman from Clonmel."

John Flanagan's 2009 novel The Kings of Clonmel uses Clonmel as a fictional kingdom in his Ranger's Apprentice series.

Sport

Association Football

Clonmel is home to several football clubs that play in the TSDL League. These include Clonmel Celtic, Old Bridge, Wilderness Rovers, Redmondstown, and Clonmel Town.

Athletics

Clonmel has its own athletics club, Clonmel Athletic Club.

Rugby

Clonmel Rugby Club plays in the All Ireland League. The club was founded in 1892. In 2014, Clonmel won the Munster Junior Cup for the first time in its 122-year history. They followed this up by winning the Munster Junior League and the Munster Junior Challenge Cup in 2015.

Cricket

Clonmel's cricket club plays in the Munster Cricket Union leagues. The club has one adult team and two youth teams. They play their home games at the Presentation Convent Field.

Horse Racing and Coursing

Clonmel is well-known in the greyhound world for hosting the annual National Hare Coursing meeting in early February. This event also includes the Ladies' International Open Meeting and the coursing derby. During this time, many sports fans from Ireland and other countries visit Clonmel.

Rowing and Boat Building

Clonmel has two clubs for activities on the River Suir, both located in Irishtown.

Clonmel Rowing Club (CRC)

Clonmel Rowing Club (CRC) was founded in 1869, making it one of the oldest sports clubs in town. It is located on Moor's Island, on the Suir river. The club's colours are Royal Blue and White. In winter, they train on a 4-mile stretch of the river.

Workmen's Boat Club

The Workmen's Boat Club was started in 1883. One of their big projects recently was restoring an old racing boat called Cruiskeen. This boat was built in the 1840s by Maurice Davin, who helped start the GAA. The restored boat is now on display at the County Museum in Clonmel.

GAA Clubs

Clonmel has several Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs. Clonmel Óg is a newer club, started in 1984. Moyle Rovers GAA club is just outside town and has been very strong in recent years.

The Gaelic football club Clonmel Commercials is based in town. They won the Munster Football Club championship in 2016. Their sister hurling club is St. Mary's.

Education

Primary Schools

St. Mary's Parochial School

• Gaelscoil Chluain Meala has about 200 students and teaches through Irish.
• St Mary's Parochial School, Clonmel, also known as the Model School, has roots going back to 1832.
• St Oliver's national school was founded in 1982.
• St.Mary's CBS
• St.Peter and Paul's CBS
• Sisters of Charity Girls School
• Presentation Primary School

Secondary Schools

• Presentation Convent, for girls.
• Loreto Convent, for girls.
• CBS High School, for boys.
• Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn, a co-educational school that teaches through Irish.
• Coláiste Chluain Meala, a co-educational school with history back to 1842.
• CTI Senior College, a co-educational college offering PLC courses.

Third Level

Clonmel has one third-level college, which is part of LIT. This campus offers courses in Business, Creative Multimedia, Digital Animation Production, and Marketing with Languages. The LIT Clonmel campus is currently located on the Clonmel Inner Relief Road.

Training

Clonmel Youth Training Entreprises Limited was started in 1984. It helps young people in Clonmel with training and finding jobs.

Transport

Roads

Clonmel is on the N24, a main road that connects Limerick and Waterford cities. Going west on the N24, you can reach the M8 motorway to Cork and Dublin. Going east, it connects Clonmel to Kilkenny.

Bus

Charles Bianconi, who was once the mayor of Clonmel, started an early public transport system using horse-drawn carriages from Clonmel. Today, Clonmel has three local bus routes operated by TFI Local Link.

Rail

Clonmel railway station opened in 1852. Today, there are two trains daily to Waterford and two to Limerick Junction. From Limerick Junction, you can connect to main lines for Dublin. There is no train service on Sundays.

Waterways

The River Suir was made easy to travel on by boats from 1760. By the 1800s, larger boats could reach Clonmel's quays.

Notable people

• Anne Anderson (born 1952), Ireland's first female Ambassador to the United States.
• Charles Bianconi (1786–1875), a former mayor of Clonmel, who started early public transport.
• George Borrow (1803–1881), a writer who lived in Clonmel in 1815.
• Thomas Chamney, an Irish athlete who ran in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Dave Foley, a professional rugby player.
• Vincent Hanley (1954–1987), a famous Irish radio and TV presenter.
• Pat O'Callaghan, an Irish athlete and 1928 Olympic gold medalist.
• Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin (1950–2018), an Irish musician and professor.
• Frank Patterson (1938–2000), one of Ireland's most famous singers.
• Rozanna Purcell, a model and Miss Universe Ireland 2010.
• Adi Roche, who helped start Chernobyl Children's Project International.
• Andrea Roche, a well-known Irish model.
• Laurence Sterne (1713–68), author of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, was born in Clonmel.
• Anthony Trollope (1815–1852), a famous author who worked in Clonmel.

Sister Towns

Clonmel is connected with several other towns around the world:

See also

In Spanish: Clonmel para niños