Bianconi's cars

The West Gate, Clonmel

The West Gate, Clonmel

© Waterford City Library.

The West Gate, Clonmel
© Waterford City Library.

The West Gate, Clonmel

The West Gate, Clonmel

© Waterford City Library.

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Bianconi over the years had noticed that public transport was not available to the ordinary people. The roads in Ireland were as the roads in England. He had done his research and had a good idea of what type of transport system was required.

After the abdication of Napoleon, the market for horses and grain fell sharply. On the 5th July 1815 Bianconi started running an ordinary jaunting-car between Clonmel and Cahir, which could carry up to six people. For a while people were not interested in paying the small charge and failure was predicted by many. Bianconi in total secrecy set up a second jaunting-car under a false name in opposition to his own.

Fierce rivalry resulted in daily races to Cahir and back to Clonmel. Passenger lists grew as a result of the public interest. The second car was withdrawn and not even his employees knew its true owners. Later that year, he started cars to Limerick, Cashel and Thurles. The ordinary people had problems pronouncing the name Bianconi and started to refer to the cars as 'Bians'. Post was also carried on the Bians.

In 1816, he started a car between Waterford and Clonmel . Bianconi's cars were punctual, cheap and comfortable. He set up a workshop in Clonmel to repair and manufacture bigger cars. Eventually, Bianconi built cars drawn by four horses and carrying up to twenty passengers. Carriage making continued in Clonmel up to the 1940s.