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Archiver > CoTipperary > 2004-09 > 1095348780


From: "Richard Callanan" <>
Subject: Quakers in Tipperary (dual)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:33:03 +0100


From this week's Nenagh Guardian http://www.unison.ie/nenagh_guardian/

Richard Callanan
London, England.

350TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUAKERS IN IRELAND

This year marks the 350th anniversary of the coming of the Society of
Friends or Quakers to Ireland, the first meeting for worship being
formed by William Edmundson at Lurgan in 1654.

This part of North Tipperary has strong links with Quakers, and on
Wednesday, September 22, there will be a historical lecture, in
association with Roscrea Heritage Society, "350 years of Quakers in
Ireland" at The Old Quaker Meeting House in Rosemary Street at 8pm. W.
Ross Chapman, from Newry, will give the lecture, and Charles B. Lamb
will speak on the local history. Chairperson will be Eamon Stafford.

There were two Friends Meeting Houses in the area, Rosemary Street,
built in 1774, and Knock, built in 1767. James Hutchinson, a native of
Kirkby Stephen, in Westmoreland, settled at Knockballymeagher
(Rockforest) in 1653, according to Hutchinson lineage in Burke's Landed
Gentry. From 1668 a regular meeting was held at his home. He died in
1689 and was buried near Rosenallis. His son James was the first of the
family to live at Timoney. The house he built is lower down from the
ruin of Timoney house. The meeting house was built on the Skirk road
outside Knock village in 1767. A lease for a graveyard and meeting house
was formally created in 1774, naming among the original trustees, James
Hutchinson, the younger, of Timoney. The first interment in the
graveyard at Knockballymeagher was Christopher, son of Christopher and
Hannah Williams in March 1700, aged three years.
The Hutchinsons connection with Quakers ceased after William Hutchinson,
of Roscrea meeting, was disowned in 1797 after failing to comply with a
recommendation that all Friends destroy their guns. Meetings at
Knockballymeagher continued through the 19th century, but by 1885 it was
recorded that meetings were seldom held. In 1896 it was reported that
only two meetings had been held in the last three years.

In Roscrea, lease of the plot at Rosemary Street known as Old Tenter was
granted in 1773 at a shilling a year for a Meeting House from John Damer
to Tobias Pim of Fancroft House, John Pim and Joseph Robinson. Meetings
closed there in 1884. It later became the Diocesan School, Ryans Hall,
and W.M. Maher & Son auction rooms. It is now with the OPW. [Office of
Public Works]

There will also be an exhibition at the Old Quaker Meeting House from
September 22-26. The opening times for the exhibition, which includes
the display prepared for the 350th anniversary of Friends in Ireland,
and local Quaker history, are Wednesday:12-3pm, 6-8 pm, Thursday
10am-1pm, Friday: 2-5pm, Saturday 11am-2 pm. Other times by appointment,
phone 087-2416573. On Sunday September 26, there will be an opportunity
to meet Friends and experience Quaker Meeting for Worship. The meeting
for Worship is 3-4pm approximately. This is organised under Limerick
Friends Meeting. These are the first organised Quaker functions to be
held in Roscrea area in over 100 years.

The lecture and exhibition is an opportunity to learn more about a
little known part of our local heritage.

C Nenagh Guardian
& http://www.unison.ie/




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