CAPTION: Picture taken by Brian Redmond on Thursday, January 11. Present L/R Jerry Cahir, Barry Liffey (Liffey Mills), Denis Sharpe (Mount Dudley), Ivan Hastings (Abbey Mills), Denis Ryan (Chairman, Roscrea Tidy Towns) and Dick Conroy (Roscrea Tidy Towns). Jerry explained this installation to those present. The millwheel was donated by Barry Liffey of Liffey Mills. Since its foundation in the early 1980s, Roscrea Tidy Towns has striven to enhance Roscrea’s footprint in the national perspective through their performance in the national competition. While having great success in the past ten years, we acknowledge the Trojan work done by earlier members – ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine – an old Irish saying that translated states: “Under the shelter of each other, people survive” or “We are nothing without community”. This is especially true for Tidy Towns, as the improvements of past committees’ endeavours contribute to the overall enrichment of Roscrea as we see it today. In recent times, we have been greatly aided by generous donations by Jerry Cahir. Jerry sold his artwork and donated the proceeds to both Roscrea Tidy Towns and Roscrea Hospice. He also created a great number of rustic art sculptures based on mythology and history, which he donated to Roscrea Tidy Towns. The most prominent of these is on The Mall and commemorates The Battle of Roscrea – shown on the top of the composite image on the left. A simple plaque (sample below) has been erected at each sculpture to give some explanation for each one. This year, the last of Jerry’s sculptures has been installed on the Monastery Road. These two sculptures commemorate the contribution to society of the various mills throughout the locality, but especially the Monastery Mill. They were enabled by the generous donations of a millwheel and augers by local millers whose mills have survived through the ages. The importance of the flour milling industry in the fabric of Roscrea cannot be overlooked. Kathleen Moloughney, in
New sculpture installation in Tipperary to commemorate historic events and inspire discussion
CAPTION: L/R Ivan Hastings (donor of the augers) Barry Liffey, Denis Ryan & Dick Conroy (Roscrea Tidy Towns) Denis Sharpe (Mount Dudley) & Jerry Cahir. Photo Brian Redmond
