The intriguing story of the 1849 barricading of Nenagh Chapel
The intriguing story of the barricading of Nenagh Chapel in 1849 will be retold in a history talk at the New Institute hall next Monday night.
John Flannery, President of the Ormond Historical Society, will describe one of the strangest events that the town of Nenagh has witnessed over its long and chequered history.
The story centres on a bitter dispute between the townspeople and the Bishop of Killaloe, Patrick Kennedy (himself a Nenagh man), over the appointment of an Administrator to the parish in 1849. Such was the depth of feeling against the Bishop’s appointee that the people blockaded the chapel against the clergy, going as far as bricking up the doors and windows of the chapel to prevent entry. The dispute lingered for four months before eventually subsiding. Some people however refused to attend Mass in the town in the aftermath of the dispute, preferring instead to travel to outlying parishes rather than compromise on their feelings.
The history of the dispute and the lives of the principal players will be the subject of an interesting and entertaining illustrated talk to be given in the New Institute on Monday April 18th by Mr Flannery. The venue is particularly appropriate, since it was in the meeting room of this very building that the townspeople met to formulate and plan their opposition to the edicts of the Bishop. The chapel at the centre of the dispute was just across the narrow street, site of the present car park, and it was along Abbey St that the Parish Priest and Curate, armed with sledgehammers, were escorted by a platoon of soldiers and police on their way to force entry to the chapel.
If you are interested in the history and folk memory of Nenagh, do not miss this exploration of an amazing event, which saw Church and people power locked in battle, which saw pishoguery and intimidation used as weapons, and which saw the wheel of fortune go full circle for one unwilling participant.
Hosted by the board of the Nenagh New Institute (NIPARC), the talk will begin at 8.30pm.