Famous Clonmel People
CHARLES BIANCONI
Carlo (Charles) Bianconi was born in Tregolo, in the Lombard Highlands, near Como, Italy on September 24th. 1786. A wild youth and showing no real talent at school, his father paid for him to be sent on an eighteen month apprenticeship to art dealer Andrea Faroni. Faroni with Bianconi and three other apprentice boys in tow, Giuseppe Castelli, Girolamo Camagni and his friend Giuseppe Ribaldi crossed the French Alps and France on foot in 1801, eventually arriving in Dublin in 1802. They set up shop near Essex Street Bridge in the now Temple Bar area of Dublin and the young Bianconi continued to serve his apprenticeship as a street picture-seller equipped with just one word of the English language, the word “buy“. The price of his wares he demonstrated by holding up his fingers to prospective clients, one finger represented one penny. Later the same year he was sent, weekly, with four pence to cover his expenses, down into rural Ireland. Leaving Dublin on a Monday morning with his pictures he travelled on foot through Munster and Leinster selling his wares and organising his route, thus ensuring to be back in Dublin, to his employer, by late Saturday night. From actual records, we know he was arrested in Passage East, Co Waterford and held in jail, over night, for selling pictures of, the then British number one enemy, Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1804, on the termination of his eighteen month apprenticeship, he decided not to return home but took to the road selling pictures and frames for himself, carrying his wares in a large box, strapped to his shoulders. The box according to Bianconi himself weighed approximately thirty pounds in weight. He set up his own shop two years later in Carrick in 1806, but later transferred this business to Waterford and later still to Clonmel Co. Tipperary, where in 1809 he opened at No.1 Gladstone Street as a first class “Carver and Guilder”. He was a frequent visitor to the Ursuline Convent in Thurles where he admits to being well fed by Reverend Mother Tobin.It was during his travels he met the first love of his life and with the permission of her father sent her to be educated in the Ursuline Convent, Thurles. This love however was never to fully blossom, as his student fell in love with another and Bianconi sadly was forced to give up all pretensions to ever making her his wife. It is said that ‘necessity is the mother of invention‘ and surely Bianconi is evidence of this fact. Travelling on foot around Ireland, carrying his heavy materials, and often walking twenty to thirty miles each day in the course of this work, quickly demonstrated to Bianconi the great need for a cheap and reliable integrated transport system. It therefore came as no surprise that in July 6th 1815 the first Bianconi two-wheel horse drawn cart, carrying three or four passengers went into commission from Clonmel to Cahir, thus introducing the beginnings of the first ever integrated transport system, into Ireland. Travel on one of these “Bians” as they were to become known, cost one-penny farthing a mile. Such demand was there for his transport that over the next 30 years a huge network of communications were established, with Clonmel, Co Tipperary as its hub. Huge employment was also now created from this growing transport business. The year 1833 saw the “long car” go into production from his coach building premises in Clonmel which enabled him to carry up to twenty passengers, plus cargo and mail deliveries for both British and Irish Post Offices. Here in Thurles, his depot was situated in O`Shea`s Hotel which today trades as McLoughneys, a ladies clothing boutique. The stables where he fed and changed his horses between journeys still exists, relatively unchanged, to this very day and are situated at the rear of Ryan’s Jewellers shop, Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. In 1832 Charles Bianconi married Eliza Hayes the daughter of a wealthy Dublin stockbroker. They begot one son, Charles and two daughters Kate and Mary Anne. Kate died in 1854 and her brother Charles ten years later in 1864. The other surviving daughter Mary married Morgan John O’Connell. In 1864 Morgan O’Connell, nephew of Daniel O’Connell (The Liberator), had succeeded to his mother’s property in Clare known as the McMahon Estate. On February 21st. 1865 he married Mary Anne Bianconi, then aged twenty five (died 1908). Mary Anne, in her own right, was the authoress and compiler of several books including the life story of her father (Charles Bianconi, A Biography). Her new husband Morgan was a regular companion of William M.Thackeray, both, indeed, were members of the “Old Fielding’s Club” as was Charles Dickens. The advent of railway in 1834 brought home to Bianconi the realisation that his coaching business had now only a limited future. He immediately began to buy shares in the different rail lines as they were being built. He began to sell his coaches and long carts to his employees who had worked for him. He, himself, became a director in Daniel O’Connell’s newly founded National Bank and between 1843 and 1846 he became a Councillor and was twice elected Mayor of Clonmel, co. Tipperary. It was at this time, also, he purchased the one thousand acre property known then and now as Longfield House, in the parish of Boherlahan, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, where he resided for twenty nine years and died in 1875 aged 89, a millionaire. He is buried in the family mortuary chapel in Boherlahan, Cashel, which he designed and partially constructed himself. Legend states that as he breathed his last breath a phantom coach and horses were heard coming up the drive of his much loved Longfield House
FRANK PATTERSON
Frank Patterson achieved international recognition and fame as one of the outstanding tenors of his generation. With a career spanning more than three decades, he was Ireland’s Golden Tenor. Frank attained the pinnacle of his profession and was acclaimed for his artistry in oratorio and in classical song as well as for his Irish and international repertoire. Frank’s musical career began as a boy soprano in his hometown of Clonmel, County Tipperary. In 1962, the aspiring artist went to Dublin to begin formal vocal studies with Dr. Hans Waldemar Rosen, pursuing at the same time a course of acting at the National Academy of Theater and Allied Arts. After only two years of study, the young performer won all the major awards at Ireland’s national music festival, the Feis Ceoil. The Judge, Roy Hickman, said of the talented tenor: ” It was seldom a voice of such splendid musical integrity was heard. The singer has such poise that his mind and heart were in very close contact with his singing.” Following Frank’s successes in the Feis Ceoil, he was in demand for classical recitals around Ireland, but he was particularly noted for his performances in oratorio. Early in 1966, Frank toured as soloist with Feis Eireann, a group of other young Irish singers and dancers, on an extensive tour of America. The pianist and musical director was Eily O’Grady, an accomplished member of the well-known Dublin musical family. Tenor and pianist fell in love on that tour, which would serve as prelude to a harmonious union and professional partnership. After a three-day honeymoon, the newlyweds left on another four-month tour of the U.S. and Canada. On their return from that tour, Frank and Eily left for London so Frank could continue his vocal studies. In 1968, Frank was extended an opportunity to study with the famous French soprano Janine Micheau. Seizing that chance, the young couple moved to Paris. The four years in France would have daunted a less committed team but not Frank and Eily, for both believed fervently in his talent. To help finance Frank’s studies during that period, Frank and Eily gave frequent concerts and radio performances. A broadcast of Purcell’s songs on BBC radio brought Frank to the attention of the Phillips Record Company. Recognizing his talent, Phillips quickly placed the gifted tenor under contract, recording six albums within three years; thus began Frank Patterson’s distinguished and celebrated recording career. From that favorable beginning, Frank recorded more than 40 albums in six languages, including opera, oratorio, and songs by Purcell, Handel, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Berlioz. A later Phillips classic compilation featured Frank Patterson singing Handel arias and Hugo Wolf songs with Kiri Te Kanawa, José Carreras, Elly Ameling, and Herman Prey. His worldwide popularity expanded, in part because of the success of his crossover albums featuring Irish ballads, Broadway hits, inspirational songs, and modern international favorites. His numerous sales won him platinum, gold, and silver discs, and two of his American releases reached million-dollar status. As Frank’s reputation grew, so too did the demand for his talent in concert recitals, radio and television broadcasts, and oratorio performances throughout Europe. His performance as the evangelist in the Bach Passions won particular praise. He performed at many of the great musical festivals of Europe, including the Aix-en-Provence where he sang Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis under the baton of Karl Richter. Additionally, he sang at the famous Promenade Concerts in the Royal Albert Hall in London and appeared as soloist with many of the leading European orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Liverpool Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, RAI Symphony, Rome, Basle Kammerorchestrer, Switzerland, and the Irish National Symphony. In America, he performed with the National Symphony in Washington, DC, as well as with the Colorado, St. Louis, Hartford, Syracuse, Rochester, Utah, and Seattle symphonies. In sold-out performances, Frank sang in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall, among others. He was the first Irish artist to have his own show in New York’s famous Radio City Music Hall, selling out its 6,000 seats for six consecutive years. His audiences continued to grow in number and dedication. His greatest outdoor American performance was at the steps of the Capitol in Washington, DC, when he performed with the National Symphony before an audience of 60,000 enthusiastic listeners. During the centennial celebration of the inauguration of the Statue of Liberty, Frank joined American opera stars Anna Moffo, Simon Estes,and Robert Merrill in a televised performance from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The quartet ended the program with a moving rendition of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. This song was to become Frank’s favorite for expressing his great love and appreciation for this country and its people. As the world took note of Frank Patterson’s remarkable talent, Academy-Award-winning director John Huston invited Frank to play a featured role as the fictional tenor, Bartell D’Arcy, in Huston’s last film The Dead, starring Anjelica Huston and Donal McCann. The New Yorker wrote of Frank’s performance: “The whole world seems still while he sings, and for a few seconds after.” Following that pivotal role, Frank was invited to sing Danny Boy in Joel and Ethan Coen’s Miller’s Crossing and to play an Irish tenor in the Neil Jordan movie Michael Collins, starring Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts, Aidan Quinn, and Stephen Rea. In addition to his big-screen performances, Frank was a veteran television performer. He hosted his own top-rated TV series, Frank Patterson, For Your Pleasure, on RTE (Irish Television) from 1974 to 1984. When Fox Television asked him to perform with Tracy Ullman on an episode of the Tracy Ullman Show, Frank readily agreed because it not only provided him an opportunity to sing and act, but also it allowed him to showcase his comedic skills. This episode, Real Lace, was nominated for an Emmy Award. Frank’s success in commercial television foreshadowed his achievements on public television stations (PBS). Frank became a PBS phenomenon with his three highly successful specials: Ireland’s Golden Tenor-Ireland in Song; Frank Patterson-Songs of Inspiration; and God Bless America, his final filmed salute to this country. In 1982, President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan invited Frank and Eily to perform at the White House for them and their distinguished guests. As an Irish-American, President Reagan was proud of Frank’s accomplishments, and as an ex-actor, he appreciated Frank’s talent. On a personal level, President Reagan was pleased that his family also hailed from County Tipperary, only ten miles from Clonmel, Frank’s birthplace. In 1995, Frank and Eily were invited for a return performance to the White House, this time for President and Mrs. Clinton. Eanan, Frank and Eily’s gifted son, joined his parents at their second White House performance, accompanying his father on the violin. Eanan later graduated from the pre-college Juilliard School of Music and Fordham University. While Frank was honored to perform at the White House, the highlight of his career came in 1979, when he sang at the Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, before a congregation of 1.3 million people and an estimated television audience of 1000 million during Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Ireland. Frank was privileged to sing for His Holiness a second time when he was chosen as soloist for the Pope’s 1996 visit to New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. On that occasion Frank sang Schubert’s Ave Maria, a performance that was again broadcast on national television. Of the many awards Frank received, he was proudest of the honor bestowed upon him by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. In 1984, the Holy Father conferred on Frank the Knighthood of Saint Gregory, the highest honor the Vatican can confer on a layman. Frank was also a Knight of Malta and a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, two organizations devoted to helping others for more than nine centuries. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island in 1990 as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Manhattan College of New York in 1996. In 1998, Frank and Eily were awarded the prestigious gold medal of the Eire Society of Boston, joining a distinguished group of past recipients such as John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and John Huston. To be given this award as a couple exemplified the unique partnership that Frank and Eily enjoyed in their professional and personal lives. The honors continued as Frank was awarded The 2000 Norman Vincent Peale Award for Positive Thinking in the Arts. Presented by the Blanton-Peale Institute, this award is given to people “whose lives clearly and inspirationally exemplify the power of thinking positively, with faith, deep caring for people and dedicated commitment to improving our world.” Although Frank Patterson sang for the Pope and Presidents, performed in the great concert halls throughout the world, and entertained movie and television audiences here and abroad, he found his greatest joy in sharing his gift of song in hundreds of small churches and intimate venues throughout Ireland and America. These charitable events provided both spiritual and financial enrichment to causes that continue to sustain life and promote peace and unity among men. And while Frank’s life on this earth ended on June 10, 2000, he lives on through his music and through the many lives he touched with his gentle and generous ways.
Laurence Sterne
The famous Novelist and humorist was born in Mary Street Clonmel on November 24th 1713,son of Roger Sterne an Englishman on an ensign with an Infantry Regiment in Clonmel and Agnes Herbet a local lady of partly French decent, whose family lived on Suir Island in Clonmel he was the Great Grandson of Richard Sterne Arch Bishop of York.Laurence Idolised his father and it was from him he took his ideas for the famous “Tristram Shandy” character “Uncle Toby”because the first ten years of his life was spent in army barracks he gained all the impressions of army life he needed for the material for his book. He learned to read and write mostly in Irish Barracks up till 1723 when his family moved back to England. His father died in 1731 leaving him penniless until he met up with a wealthy cousin Richard Sterne who took an intrest in him .Richard partly funded Laurence time in college in Cambridge at Jesus College where his great grandfather was once Master, he took both A B and A M degrees as well as Holy Orders. He graduate in 1737 and was Ordinaded and appointed Curate to the Anglican Church at St.Ives then became Vicar of Sutton-in-the-Forest a village near York.In 1739 he met Elizabeth Lumley an orphan with a small independent fortune. It was in a letter to her that the word “sentimental” was used for the first time in the English language. They married in 1741 Laurence Sterne died in 1768 at the age of 54 from a severe bout of flu.
George Burrows
George Burrows was born in East Durham on July 5th 1803, son of Thomas Burrows a Chaplin in the North West Regiment, and Anne Preferment a Norfolk girl of some beauty who had been an actress.Burrows spent his first 13 years travelling mainly in Scotland and Ireland with the Regiment. It was in these years he made his aguaintance with the Gypsies that were to become almost an obsession with him.In 1815 The Regiment left Cork and moved to Clonmel, where the family took up residence in O’Connell Street. George was sent to a local Grammar school in Irishtown to learn Greek. It was here he met Muntagh a tall wild lad who spoke to George in Irish. When they first met George said “hello” in exchange Muntagh replied “seoirse dear”.From that moment George insisted on learning “Erse” (Irish) as he called it. Murtagh agreed to teach him in an exchange for a deck of cards. Murtagh was later to figure in Burrows books “Romany Rye” and “Lavergro”.In 1816 after a year in Ireland, the Burrows family moved to Norwich. It was there George attended The Royal Grammar School and began to pick up a superficial knowledge of many languages. In 1891 at the age of 17 he could understand 12 languages and translate no fewer than 35. At this stage George decided to make literature his profession and joined the London Firm of Richard Phillips and Associates. Here he assisted in the compilation of The Newgate Calendar. George found Phillips a harsh master and left after a short while.In In1823 George’s health failed and he had a severe attack of nerves which he referred to as “The Fear” or “The Horrors”. He wandered off on a pilgrimage through the hills and fields of rural England either alone or with gypsies. These adventures provided him with the material for his books “Lavergro” and “Romany Rye”.In 1833 George was introduced to the Rev. Francis Cunningham and was made editor translator for the British and Foreign Bible Society. He had to travel to London for the interview, he is said to have walked the 112 miles in 27 hours. He was in many other counties on the Society behalf and did some excellent work. Unfortunately a man of Georges temperament could not be employed for long in 1840 the liaison was severed.The same year 1840 George married Mary Clarke a widow of a naval office. He settled down to a literacy career and encouraged the gypsies to campon his lands, as he held a strong fascination for them.On December the 10th 1842 George published the “Bible in Spain” a brilliantly picturesque, highly informative travel book and it was an overwhelming success. George became famous overnight and was idolised by London Society. Alas in the next few years before his second book his popularity waned, his rude manners, strong mood swings, and sharp tongue made him many enemies and few friends.In 1859 George’s mother died and with her passing he moved to London. He published his second book “Wild Wales” in which he mentioned Clonmel “The best salmon in the world is caught in the Suir river, a river that flows past the beautiful town of Clonmel in Ireland. After this George wrote less and less. His wife died in 1869 and he spent the last years of his life in Oulten Broad rather hermit like. He died alone on July 26th 1881.Physically George was a giant man yet sensitive to criticism, he lived his life without one true friend and had affection for only his mother.
Countess of Blessington
Marguerite Power Farmer Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1 September 1789 – 4 June 1849) was a Novelist from Clonmel. She was a daughter of Edmund Power, a small landowner. Her childhood was made unhappy by her father’s character and poverty, and her early womanhood wretched by her compulsory marriage at the age of fifteen to a Captain Maurice St. Leger Farmer, an English officer whose drunken habits finally brought him as a debtor to the Kings bench prison, where he died in October 1817.Marguerite had left him some time before, moving to Hampshire, where she met the Irish earl Charles Gardnier, 1st Duke of Blessington., a widower with four children (two legitimate), seven years her senior. They married at St Mary’s Marlebone 16 February 1818 (only four months after her first husband’s death). Of rare beauty, charm and wit, she was no less distinguished for her generosity and for the extravagant tastes she shared with her husband, which resulted in encumbering his estates with a load of debt. On 25 August 1822 they set out for a continental tour with Marguerite’s youngest sister, the 21-year-old Mary Anne, and servants. They met Count D’Orsay (who had first become an intimate of Lady Blessington in London in 1821) in Avignon on 20 November 1822, before settling at Genoa for four months from 31 March 1823. There they met Byron on several occasions, giving Lady Blessington material for her Conversations with Lord Byron. After that they settled for the most part near Naples, where she met the Irish writer Richard Robert Madden, who was to become her biographer. They also spent time in Florence with their friend Walter Savage Landor, author of Imaginary Conversations which she greatly admired. It was in Italy, on 1 December 1827, that Count D’Orsay married Harriet Gardiner, Lord Blessington’s only daughter by his former wife. However, Harriet and d’Orsay soon separated. The Blessingtons and the newlywed couple moved to Paris towards the end of 1828, taking up residence in the Hôtel Maréchal Ney, where the Earl suddenly died at 46 of an apoplectic stroke in 1829. D’Orsay, who had recently separated from his wife, then accompanied Lady Blessington to England and lived with her until her death. Their home, first at Seamore Place, and afterwards Gore House, Kensington, now the site of The Albert Hall, became a centre of attraction for all that was distinguished in literature, learning, art, science and fashion. Benjamin Disraeli wrote Venita whilst staying there. After her husband’s death she supplemented her diminished income by contributing to various periodicals as well as by writing novels. She was for some years editor of The Book of Beauty and The Keepsake, popular annuals of the day. In 1834 she published her Conversations with Lord Byron. Her Idler in Italy (1839-1840), and Idler in France (1841) were popular for their personal gossip and anecdote, descriptions of nature and sentiment. Early in 1849, Count D’Orsay left Gore House to escape his creditors; subsequently the furniture and decorations were sold in a public sale successfully discharging Lady Blessington’s debts. Lady Blessington joined the count in Paris, where she died on 4 June 1849 of a burst heart. On examination it was found that her heart was three times normal size. Her Literary Life and Correspondence (3 vols.), edited by Richard Robert Madden, appeared in 1855. Her portrait was painted in 1808 by Sir Thomas Lawrence and can be seen in The Wallace Collection, London.
Quotes by Lady Blessington: “Genius is the gold in the mine; talent is the miner who works and brings it out.”
“We never respect those who amuse us, however we may smile at their comic powers.”
“Love matches are made by people who are content, for a month of honey, to condemn themselves to a life of vinegar.”
“There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.”
“Superstition is only the fear of belief, while religion is the confidence.”
“The chief prerequisite for a escort is to have a flexible conscience and an inflexible politeness.“