Night of the big wind in north tipp

A recent RTÉ documentary and series of stormy nights have prompted many to talk of 'The Night of Big Wind' in 1839.
The most damaging Irish storm in 300 years reached hurricane force and caused major destruction around the country, killing at least 300 people.
Last week's 'Storm Rachel' saw wind speeds of almost 150km/h in counties where a Status Red weather warning was in effect. On the 'Night of the Big Wind' on January 6th 1839, gusts reached over 185km/h (115mi) in a truly terrifying event that was spoken about for generations afterwards.

Under the title 'Dreadful Hurricane in Nenagh', The Nenagh Guardian of the time referred to the night as 'one of the most terrific storms in the memory of the oldest inhabitants of Nenagh'. Fortunately, no deaths were recorded in Nenagh. But the carnage was widespread.
'About the hour of 11 o'clock the wind commenced, and at one o'clock was raging with most alarming fury, and continued with unabated violence to an early hour on Monday morning,' the Guardian reported.
'Almost every family in the town was up the greater part of the night, it being impossible to repose from the fearful howlings of the tempest.'

 

Continued in this week's Guardian