In 1837, Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland described Tinahely like this:
TINAHELY, a market and post-town, in the parish of KILCOMMON, barony of BALLINACOR, county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 20 miles (S. W.) from Wicklow, and 41 (S.) from Dublin, on the road from Rathdrum to Carnew; containing 575 inhabitants. This place formed part of the vast estate of the celebrated and unfortunate Earl of Strafford, who commenced the erection of a splendid mansion at Coolruss, about a quarter of a mile from the town, the ruins of which are vulgarly called "Black Tom's Cellars:" on the attainder of that nobleman the estate was forfeited to the Crown, and subsequently became the property of the ancestor of Earl Fitzwilliam, the present proprietor. ...
During the disturbances of 1798, the town was entirely destroyed, but was soon afterwards rebuilt in an improved style: it is situated in a wild and mountainous district, on the banks of a small stream, over which is a stone bridge of five arches. A market is held every Wednesday; and fairs, chiefly for cattle and pigs, on the first Wednesday after the 1st of Jan., Feb. 7th, the first Wednesday after St. Patrick's day, the second Wednesday in April, May 8th, the 4th day and the last Wednesday in June, the first Wednesday after the 12th of July, Aug. 7th, the second Wednesday in Sept., the first Wednesday after the 29th of Sept., Nov. 7th, and the second Wednesday in Dec. Here is a chief constabulary police station; a manorial court is held in April, and petty sessions on alternate Wednesdays in a room over the market-house, a neat edifice, erected by the late Earl Fitzwilliam. Soap-boiling is carried on, and there are an extensive flour-mill and a tan-yard. In the town are a few good houses, and in the immediate vicinity are Town View, situated on high ground, the residence of Lieut. H. Morton, whence a fine view of the town and surrounding country is obtained; and Ballicionougue, of R. Bates, Esq. The Primitive Wesleyan Methodists hold their meetings in the sessions-room. A school is maintained partly by a grant from Earl Fitzwilliam and partly by the rector; and a dispensary is aided by an annual grant of £50 from Earl Fitzwilliam.—See KILCOMMON.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Tinahely, in and County Wicklow | Map and description, A Vision of Ireland through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofireland.org/place/29101
Date accessed: 14th May 2024
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