Community News

 

It was good to hear the good news recently, that of the four Tollhouse 'dummy' cottages having been purchased. It is planned, we are given to understand that this space, vacant for decades now, is planned to become a most attractive Café-Bar overlooking the river. And, what a most wonderful idea that iwill be! We certainly look forward to its eventual progress.

 

 

Our local Men's Shed is situated on Nicholas Street close to the Treaty Brewery. Of late, its members have been very much involved in brightening up of that street and also Verdant Crescent by making delightful colourful window boxes and hanging baskets filled with greenery and flowers. This group of men do a whole lot more also and would welcome visitors passing by and perhaps are even open to new members. Well done to all concerned!

 

 

In last week's Notes I mentioned how good it was to learn that the one-time residence of our finest poet, Michael Hogan, the celebrated Bard of Thomond, is to be saved from 'the chop'. It had been known to all as Whelan's Pub for many years prior to closing its doors many years ago. The following is but a brief snatch of the poet's own account of building up the embankment behind the pub by his own hard labour. 'During those seasons I was hard at work constructing the last and most difficult part of my garden pier. It extended out to the extremest low watermark in summer-time .In winter the depth of the tide at this part was eighteen feet. The downturn was strong and rapid, so that my embankment must be of the most endurable strength and solidity to resist it.'

 

 

'So intently and anxiously was all the power of my will and energy set on this enterprise that I was rarely seen in my house except at meal times. From sunrise to sunset the pick-axe, the shovel and wheel-barrow never left my hands, only while I was changing them. So excessive was the labour and and so incessant was my sweat that my shirt became reddened on my back. And this desperate toil went on for years until I finally conquered the mighty Shannon and planted my summer-bowers in the midst of the rushing tides.'

(From the Autobiographical sketches of the Bard himself, penned about ten years before his death in 1899 and I deem it a vital part of history, at the present time, in that patch of New Road, Thomondgate).

 

 

Michael Hogan, our renowned 19th century poet, resided in rooms opposite the Exchange following his marriage to Annie Lynch at St. Mary's Church in the year 1858.