Dundrum, County Tipperary

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Main Street Dundrum

Dundrum (Dún Droma in Irish, fort of the ridge), is a village in County Tipperary 14 km (9 mi) west of Cashel. It is situated at the junction of the R505 and R661 regional roads. 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. In the 2006 census it is listed as having 191 residents, exactly the same number as it had in 2002.

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 former landlord, (Cornwallis Maude - Viscount Hawarden) together with the aforementioned railway station and also the now abandoned Royal Irish Constabulary station.

1 People
2 Transport
3 Dundrum's Most Famous Native
4 The Dundrum Meteorite
5 Sport
6 See also
7 External links
8 References

[edit] People

Lady Clementina Hawarden (1822-1865) was a respected photographer of her time; and some of her early work took place on the family estate at Dundrum and is now part of the collections of the Victoria and Albert museum in London. [2]

[edit] Transport

The main Dublin to Cork railway line passes through the village though the railway station is no longer in use. The station opened on 3 April 1848, but finally closed on 6 September 1976.^[1]

[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.

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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 world stage, as this tribute in the Dáil by Deputy Richard Barry shows:

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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] The Dundrum Meteorite

On August 12, 1865 a meteorite (the Dundrum Meteorite) was observed falling in Clonoulty, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Dundrum Village. The Meteorite is currently stored at the Natural History Museum in London. Ref: ^[4]