Dundrum, County Tipperary
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Dundrum is a village in County Tipperary 14 km west of Cashel. It is situated at the junction of the R505 and R661 Regional Roads. The main Dublin to Cork railway line passes through the village though the railway station is no longer in use.
The old Main Street (on the R505 road to Cashel) is in the eastern end of village and is the site of some new housing developments. Dundrum House Hotel and Golf Course lie just outside the village boundary on the R505 and are connected to the village by a fine avenue of mature lime trees lining the road on both sides.
The other main housing estate is near the Railway Station at the western end of the village where the R601 to Tipperary Town leaves the R505.
Between the Main Street and Station is an industrial and retail area which includes a sawmill, a steelworks and a variety of other enterprises. Dundrum is unusual for an Irish village of its size that while boasting a Church of Ireland Church, it has no Roman Catholic equivalent, the nearest one being in the neighbouring hamlet of Knockavilla which gives its name to the local Roman Catholic parish of Knockavilla & Donaskeigh. The Church of Ireland church, is a legacy of the once local landlord, (Corwallis Maude - Viscount Hawarden) together with the aforementioned railway station and also the now un-manned police station.
Lady Clemintine Hawarden (1822-1865) was a respected photographer of her time; and it is likely that her early experiments took place on the family estates at Dundrum. [1]
In the 2002 census it is listed as having 191 residents, however that number has certainly increased as of now (2006).
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[edit] Dundrum's Most Famous Native
Dundrum's most famous resident was not a person but a horse, a Connemara gelding called 'Dundrum' ridden by Tommy Wade which was a champion showjumper. Local farmer Jack Ryan of Gurtussa owned the horse when its talent was recognised. He passed through several owners until coming to the stables of Tommy Wade of Goold's Cross and from there it went on to star in places like the RDS. Though small in stature in keeping with its Connemara pedigree, Dundrum excelled in the puissance wall event in Ireland and Britain. Through the first years of the 1960s, Dundrum rivalled Arkle as Ireland's pride and joy, especially when competing at Wembley.
| “ | Dundrum became Supreme Champion at the Wembley Horse of the Year Show when he set a record by clearing a 7’2” puissance wall. In 1961 he was regarded as show jumper of the century when he won five major events at the Dublin Horse Show, the first time in history that so many awards were won by the same rider, and he did it with the same horse! He was International Jumping Champion from 1959 – 1963. - Ref [2] | ” |
Dundrum played a part in putting Ireland on the atlas, as this tribute in the Dail by Deputy Richard Barry shows:
| “ | It must be remembered that it is combinations like Tommy Wade and Dundrum that made this country world famous and that brought delight to our people. Dundrum was produced by a crossing of horses in a farmer's holding. I am glad that the Minister has said that one of the important objectives of the Bill is the development of non-thoroughbred horses. This is the most important reference in the Minister's speech. Those engaged in the thoroughbred industry have the necessary finance and expertise to carry it on but encouragement and incentives must be provided to those producing non-thoroughbreds. Ref [3] | ” |
[edit] Trivia
On August 12th, 1865 a meteorite (the Dundrum Meteorite) was observed falling in Clonoulty, about 5km north of Dundrum Village. The Meteorite is currently stored at the Museum of National History in London. Ref: [4]
