Remembering Niamh Kinnane - the heart and soul of Upperchurch’s local pub and community

She was predeceased by her parents Paddy Kinnane and Kathleen (née Shanahan), and her brother-in-law Jimmy Butler. She is deeply loved and sadly missed by her sister Siobhán Butler, her nephew Fergal Butler, niece-in-law Eavan Fogarty, her grandniece and grandnephew Maisie and Andy, along with her many close and wonderful friends, relatives and neighbours.

Niamh was the tábhairneoir of Kinnane’s Pub and Restaurant in the village of Upperchurch. The pub was opened by her father Paddy Kinnane in 1927, who died when Niamh was just three years old.

Kinnane’s Pub is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and her sister Siobhán’s  cooking. Niamh and Siobhán were honoured earlier last year at a council civic reception for services to Tipperary.

Niamh Kinnane was a person of many talents and had a wide variety of interests. One of her keen passions was her love of the Irish language, being a Gaeilgeoir — an interest that may well have been inspired by her father, Paddy Kinnane’s past.

Paddy was involved in the GAA and Gaelic League; he had also been active during the War of Independence from 1919-21. Later, he carried this dedication to Ireland into public service. He was elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election in 1947 as Teachta Dála for Tipperary, and again at the general election of 1948, representing Clann na Poblachta.

Niamh, was deeply woven into the social fabric and community life of Upperchurch. John Gerard O’Dwyer, renowned Tipperary author and journalist, delivered a captivating eulogy in which he spoke of Niamh’s “profound love of life”.

“I first got to know her when she was secretary of County Tipperary Macra na Feirme, which was absolutely huge at the time,” he recalled. “She was a hugely efficient secretary—no matter what came up on the floor, she had the answers, and there was much respect for her. She had massive leadership abilities and like all great leaders, she was able to take people where they wanted to go.”

“Now Niamh did not have the benefit of a third level education but she always said she had really because she was Macra trained. That was her university,” he said. 

John Gerard O’Dwyer added: “She was part of the great drive forward of Macra na Feirme in the 1970s in Ireland, where they brought education, training and outlets to young people across rural Ireland that all our forefathers could never even have dreamed of.”

O’Dwyer stated: “She is what I would call a force of nature, and if you rang Niamh, things would move.” John also highlighted Niamh’s key role in Upperchurch’s development projects down through the years, saying she had a huge community group of people behind her—the people of Upperchurch—who together left a lasting legacy of local projects including the village’s musical heritage through the famed Ned of the Hill festival, which once brought acts such as Shane MacGowan who headlined the festival.

Among the projects Niamh was also involved in were: sheltered housing for older people in the area, a climbing wall, a creche, the bog walk, three lovely looped walks in the hills, and later, the Ned of the Hill festival, was eventually replaced by a walking festival. “Upperchurch became a template for how community development should be done,” he added.

In an interview with Tipp FM a few years ago, Niamh Kinnane explained the spirit of the hills.“Hill people have always had to rely on each other. Because we’re proud to be hill people and we’ve supported each other. In our development, our motto has been, ‘Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’. Under the shadow of people we live.”

John also spoke about Niamh’s love of history, genealogy and her acute ability in  tracing family roots. When American tourists visited Kinnane’s Pub, Niamh would always be able to find a connection to their ancestry, and they would leave delighted with the hospitality she extended them.

Paddy Butler, speaking on behalf of the family, thanked the parish, neighbours, friends, the wider Upperchurch community, and the medical staff who cared for Niamh. He also wished Upperchurch GAA the best of luck in the All-Ireland Intermediate final, and spoke of how Niamh had been so looking forward to the homecoming and the bonfires blazing.

Following the Funeral Mass, Niamh was laid to rest in the local cemetery.

The Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, Upperchurch, where chief celebrant Fr James Purcell was joined by Fr Tony Ryan, Fr Dick Browne, Fr Tom Breen and Fr Pat O’Gorman.

Niamh Kinnane’s passing has left a deep sense of loss in Upperchurch, but her legacy endures in the village she helped to shape. Through her leadership, warmth, and tireless commitment to community, she left Upperchurch stronger, richer in culture, and more connected.

She will be remembered as a woman of vision and generosity, whose influence lives on in the people, projects, and place she cared for so deeply. 

Go lonraí solas síoraí uirthi.