200th anniversary of a tragic love story that is still remembered in Tipperary

A commemoration service for two young people whose lives ended tragically in 1826 was recently held in Old St Mary’s Church, Clonmel.

This was a story that made headlines at the time not only across Ireland but also in England, featuring in newspapers from London to as far north as Carlisle.

Times were very different then, as were rules of courtship, and so this young couple were forced to meet in secret under the cover of darkness.

Anna Grubb was a member of the Quaker community and was originally from Mountmellick in county Laois. She came to work in Clonmel in her uncle’s millinery shop, which is now Maher’s Chemist in O’Connell Street.

Frederick Close was a lieutenant in the army, originally from Manchester. She was only 19 years old and he was only 22. They came from very different backgrounds, with very different expectations placed upon them.

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On February 26 1826 they took their usual stroll along the River Suir and were never seen again. Their bodies were found some days later and a verdict of ‘Found Drowned’ was recorded at their inquest.

Frederick Close was buried in the grounds of Old St Mary’s Church with full military honours. Anna Grubb was buried in the Quaker Graveyard in O’Neill Street. Her funeral had a large attendance but as was the Quaker tradition she was buried in an unmarked grave.

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The recent commemoration service was organised by the Clonmel Union of Parishes and led by the Very Revd James Mulhall, the Dean of Cashel.

A very poignant rendition of Nimrod by Elgar was played on the organ by James Clooney as the service began and this set the tone for the afternoon.

There were two readings, one by John McCormack about the importance of love from St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, while the Gospel was read by Father John Treacy from Ss Peter and Paul’s Church, Clonmel.

Included in the service was a beautiful reflection written and read by Stephanie Woods and a recording of the song ‘Close Too Far,’ written by Eamon O’Malley for RTE, as well as a very moving and informative sermon by the Dean. A collection was taken, which was divided between the church renovation fund and the suicide awareness charity C-Saw, which provides such a vital service in the town.

Following the service, flowers were placed on Anna Grubb’s grave in the Quaker Graveyard by Clodagh Grubb, her burial place being identified from a map of the graveyard.

Deputy Mayor Siobhan Ambrose placed a wreath of white flowers on Frederick Close’s tomb. Everyone was then treated to a large selection of home baking, which they enjoyed in a spirit of fellowship.

This service attracted a very large congregation consisting of all sections of the local community, parishioners, choir members from the Clonmel Union of Parishes, the Cashel Union of Parishes and Fethard Choral Group. A large representation of the Grubb family, who travelled from all over Ireland to attend, was also present, many of whom could trace their heritage back to Anna’s immediate family.

The service was part of a series of events to remember this young couple, which also featured an exhibition in the library and a lecture by Clodagh Grubb.

The events were organised by four different organisations in the town and were planned by Julia Walsh from the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History; Kay Nagle, Chair of the 18th regiment of Foot and South Irish Horse Association; Shirley Clooney from the Clonmel Union of Parishes and Stephanie Woods from Tipperary County Council’s Library Service.

The aim of the commemoration was not just to remember two young people who lost their lives in tragic circumstances, but also to take a glimpse of the history of the town of Clonmel as it would have been two centuries ago.

“Tragedy does not belong to any one time,” says one of the organisers, Shirley Clooney.

“People still come to Clonmel from different parts of the world to build a life, to work and to fall in love, and this has not changed. This story may have happened in the past but it still speaks to us as we remember the young couple”.