Composed By Joan Pollard Carew in memory of my father Jackie Pollard rip.
Originally added from notes written by Joan Pollard Carew.
“I put this set together to remember a landmark and the people in The Commons Thurles in The Sliabharda hills where I grew up. The cross roads was a very sociable place. Men of the area gathered there every Sunday afternoon to spin a few yarns, chat about farming, weather and to play a game of pitch and toss. In days gone by they would listen to hurling and football matches on a transistor radio and many a debate ensued, especially when Tipperary and neighbouring Kilkenny was hurling.
For many years local musician Larry Wall Fitzpatrick was celebrated with a cross roads dance there. There is also a memorial on the crossroads to him. Larry was an outstanding musician, the fiddle being his major instrument and the concert flute a good second. Larry often played the fiddle behind his back and danced at the same time, he also liked to sing a ballad. He was eager to discuss his music with other musicians and impart his tunes to them. Larry Wall, captivated many hearts with his charm, quick wit, and musical ability throughout his short lifespan; he was born and reared in The Commons and died in 1955, aged 62 years. Larry was a close friend of Roundy Paddy Lawlor famous Bodhran player, Roundy died last May 2015. Another mutual friend Fiddle player Neely Cleere died thirty years ago at a young age.
This cross roads also boasts history. The tricolour flag was raised on the Cross of The Commons by The Young Irelanders for the first time in 1848. (The flag still flies there to this day where a monument has been erected to The Young Irelanders). During The Great Famine 1848-1850 the crossroads was the last great gathering place of Young Ireland leaders. On 29th July 1848 William Smyth O’Brien was in The Commons where barricades had been erected to prevent his arrest, he was surrounded by local supporters, miners, tradesmen and small tenant farmers. As the police from Callan approached the crossroads before The Commons down The Ballingarry road they saw the barricades and veered right towards Kilkenny. The Rebels followed them across the fields. Sub inspector Trant of The Royal Irish Constabulary and his forty-six policemen took refuge in the widow McCormack’s house, a large two-story farmhouse taking hostage her five children who lived in the house. The rebels surrounded the house and a stand-off ensued. When it became clear that the police in the house were to be reinforced and rescued the rebels retreated. After the failure of the Rising, O’Brien and his men were captured and tried for high treason. Juries found them guilty but recommended mercy. Nevertheless they were sentenced to death by hanging, drawing and quartering. They refused to appeal. The sentences were, however, commuted by a special act of parliament to penal imprisonment for life in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) in Australia… Twenty-one locals from The Commons, Ballingarry and the surrounding parishes were also arrested and jailed in Ireland at that time
The McCormack family emigrated to USA in 1853.The house was owned by a number of families after that. The house has always been known locally as The Warhouse. The Warhouse was placed on the register of historic monuments in April 1989 in order to give legal recognition to the historical significance of the building. In 2004 the state (OPW) decided on “Famine Warhouse 1848” as the official name of the house, and designated it a national heritage monument.”