People

A list of famous persons associated with the county is necessarily selective. 

John Desmond Bernal (1901-71) Nenagh-born scientist and communist activist.

Charles Bianconi (1786-1875) Italian born, transport magnate was based in Clonmel and lived at Boherlahan near Cashel.

Brendan Bracken (1901-58) Templemore-born adventurer, politican and newpaper proprietor.   He was a close friend of W.S. Churchill.  Bracken’s father was one of the founders of the GAA.

Aileen Cust (1868-1937) born at Cordangan near Tipperary town, where her father was a land agent.  She became the first woman to qualify as a veterinary surgeon in the British Isles.

Joseph Damer (1630-1720) born in England, he obtained huge grants of land in Ireland, especially Tipperary, where he settled.   Banking made him richer so that on death, he was reputed to be the richest man in Ireland

Michael Doheny (1805-1863)  born near Fethard, he lived in Cashel and took part in the 1848 rebellion before escaping to the United States.  The Felon’s Track, his account of these adventures is a classic.

John Doyle (1930-2010) native of Holycross and a famous hurler.  Holder of eight All-Ireland medals.

Anna Doyle Wheeler (c.1785-c.1850) lived at Ballywire in the Glen of Aherlow before leaving her husband and in association with William Thompson became a founding figure with respect to the rights of women.

John Hayes (1887-1957)  a native of County Limerick but spent most of  his career as a priest in County Tipperary.  In 1937 he founded the community development organisation Muintir na Tire.

Geoffrey Keating (c.1570-c.1645) priest and scholar, author of a hugely influential history of Ireland

Charles J. Kickham (1828-1882)  born and buried at Mullinahone.  Jailed for his leadership of the Fenian (republican) movement.  Author of Knocknagow or The Homes of Tipperary (1879).

Tom Kiely (1869-1951) born at Ballyneale, near Carrick-on-Suir, a great athlete who won a gold medal at the 1904 Olympics.

Bishop Shanahan

The renowned missionary, Bishop Shanahan, was born in Templederry, Co. Tipperary

Bishop Shanahan

Bishop Shanahan

The renowned missionary, Bishop Shanahan, was born in Templederry, Co. Tipperary

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Thomas MacDonagh (1878-1916), native of Cloughjordan was one of the architects of the Irish Republic.

Theobald Mathew (1790-1856) born at Thomastown near Tipperary town, he became a Capuchin priest and led a hugely successful temperance campaign.

Pat O’Callaghan (1905-91) born in Cork, he had a medical practice in Clonmel and won gold medals in the hammer throw in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics.

John O’Leary (1830-1907) born in Tipperary town to prosperous middle class parents, O’Leary devoted himself to revolutionary politics.  Like his friend Kickham, he was jailed. Remembered today from the lines in his friend Yeat’s poem:  ‘Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone; it’s with O’Leary in the grave.’

Frank Patterson (1938-2000) a native of Clonmel.  Tenor with an international reputation.

Tony Ryan (1936-2007) born in Thurles, founder of Ryanair.

Joseph Shanahan (1871-1943) Roman Catholic bishop and missionary, from Borrisoleigh who founded two missionary orders, the Kiltegan Fathers and the Holy Rosary Sisters (Killeshandra).

Sean Treacy (1895-1920), native of Solohead near Tipperary  town, leader of the 3^rd Tipperary Brigade IRA.