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A NEW RADIO documentary is set to examine the life of a Fenian man from Tipperary and why his date of death wasn’t engraved into his tombstone until 90 years after his passing.
A short time before he died in 1923, an elderly man, Thomas O’Dea, had a Celtic cross erected in Rosegreen Cemetery inscribed with his name and where he came from.
He then entrusted his neighbours and friends to add his date of death when the time came.
This promise was fulfilled but not until 90 years after his passing in 2013.
The cross now reads: “This cross marks the burial place of Thomas O’Dea, Ballydoyle, died 9th July 1923 aged 83 – Patriot & Fenian.”
Many of the details concerning O’Dea’s life have faded over time, but this documentary explores local knowledge and the records now available to investigate why his tombstone wasn’t engraved, along with various incidents that took place in Co Tipperary which might have shaped his outlook politically.
Light will be shed on his family, friendships and some of the hardships he experienced in his personal life, before revealing possible explanations for the nine-decade delay in carrying out his final request.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for the documentary said there were various possibilities as to why the tombstone wasn’t engraved following his death.
“One possibility is that it could have been down to the Civil War. There was a lot of division at the time politically and maybe the people who promised to do it might have taken an alternative side,” he said.
“Another possibility is that the people he asked to do it might have emigrated and gone to America after the Civil War. Another possibility as well is that he had no one left in the family to put it on.”
The four-part documentary – A Promise Kept – will be aired over four consecutive Mondays just after the 11am news on Tipp Mid West Radio, beginning tomorrow. The programmes will also be streamed live here.
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I lived in Galway for 3 years before moving to Dublin. It rained for most of the 3 years. The difference in weather between the two cities is hard to believe.
I’m here matey. The most miserable place to be in the depths of winter. That’s why everyone drinks so much here.
Spot on Liam, there was only one sunny day in Galway this year, July 1st.`
The Independent will have a piece today saying biblical flooding is on the way, “according to expert sources”.
Who’s going to be out shopping in mantainous regions???….
* mountainous.
Stupid butty finger syndrome. ..
Tom. Most people forget that in the west, we get whats out in the atlantic first. So every storm etc has abated by the time it hits inland and the east. You’d be worse off without the west.
It’s easily been raining in Galway since the start of December, possibly getting worse, cabin fever on the way !
As long as there is no snow and ice I do not care
Spotted a great headline in the local newspaper in an episode of Mrs. Brown’s Boys, it read “More weather on the way”, reading this article I see where that humour came from.
Lousy in Galway at the minute but a brolly is pointless, windier that the aftermath of a bean fest.
It’s something to do with the weather I think
Sunny in Waterford, a lot of people shopping in t-shirts and shorts……
Go to Dublin n shop!
Raining in Dublin too
Last week, they told us to get ready for the coldest snap since the 60s & now this. Meanwhile, accuweather.com is predicting sunny spells & 9º in my area for Xmas Day. I really wish the media would stop trying to give people the shits.
You’ve written an article about the West with a hashtag #miserable. Bit harsh Sinead.
One day last year I went to Galway it pi ssed rain the whole day it was like winter and cold. In Dublin it was warm and sunny. For such a small island the difference in weather. The west certainly does get the worse weather in Ireland.
During the summer, I left Dublin at about 11am one morning to head to Galway and there was an 11 degree (C) difference in temperature by the time I got there. It was far warmer in Galway.
A lot if rubbish comments here I traveled from Galway to Dublin on Wednesday 9deg all the way to the midlands got to Dublin and it was monkeys next day was worse , the Atlantic breeze is warmer than any other in winter, and in Ireland history tells largest cattle owners brought there stock to Clare because it was the warmest in winter this is before is before Vikings or Brits ever landed on the island
Photos doing the rounds of snow in Lucan in the early hours of this morning
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