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Rowing on the River Shannon near St. Thomas's Island, Corbally, July 1966 - Friends: Teresa Clancy, Ann Lysaght and Anne Matson.
ST. THOMAS'S ISLAND.
J.B. Trotter on a visit to the Island in 1812 had this to say "The Shannon looked extremely beautiful yesterday and we saw it to great advantage by visiting a charming small island which is in it, about 2 miles from Limerick island. On this Tuthill, who has contended for the honour of representing Limerick in the Imperial Parliament occasionally resides, in a most commodious and elegant villa, placed in the midst of a garden, washed by the Shannon's lovely waves. This gentleman had the kindness to favour us with a view of his delightful residence. His unaffected politeness made us enjoy our little excursion very much. The view upwards, on the enchanting Shannon cannot be excelled. His verdant banks, covered with cattle, adorned by charming villas at intervals. (Whilst William's ruined the castle in the distance crowned the bewitching scene) filled us with admiration. Mr. T's gardens and greenhouses are very elegant, genuine taste prevades them and the house.
To complete the beauty of the Shannon here, a tree has grown about half a mile from Mr. Tuthill's Island, in its centre, on a rocky or hard spot and has a singular and easing effect.
Remains of old house on St. Thomas's Island 1952
Tuthill's house on St. Thomas's Island. Some families associated were: Tuthill, McAdams, Rogers, Place, O'Halloran.
Entrance to Tuthill house and gardens. My brother Pat, welcomes me in.
Once inside, every so often, I allow myself a few minutes to drift back in time.
Lovely old red brick arch, all signs show that it had 2 gates, probably leading into a paddock, for safely keeping horses or cattle.
Two inter connecting arches. One entrance leads into a red brick high walled garden, perhaps at one time a kitchen garden or an apple orchard.
Stepping inside, gazeing at the magnificent red brick walls, it is sad to see them overgrown with a mass of tangled briars and ivy.
The place is oozing with mystery. Here under our feet, an entrance to the unknown.
We ease ourselves down and see a glimmer of light coming from the opposite wall.
Stepping inside, it's pitch dark, we turn on our phones, and see what looks like a window with a huge boulder inside it.
The floor is covered with bricks and rocks, yet, the barrel or tunnel arch vault ceiling is in good condition.
It is not a tunnel, as both ends are blocked up, maybe in ancient times it was a wine cellar.
Time to say goodbye to the bats and darkness and head back into daylight through the lovely underground arched red bricked entrance. We leave the Island, home now only to birds, bats, badgers, foxes and rabbits.
ST. THOMAS'S ISLAND By
Arthur Lysaght (A reverie of monks and fishermen and a former time at Corbally.) White-robed monks are walking and praying on the isle of lush grass where the shallow
river runs fast downstream weaving ornate shapes from stones and swirl into deeps where salmon rest. The sun is west and cackling moorhens cut reed
shimmered shadows at the muddy shore. Bird flocks to roosting scrawl the greying sky and drop into the quiet shades of trees. Faint comes the slap of water against wood as
black bows hover over darkened pools and peak-capped men ply cobwebs out of boats. An arc of silver breaks the water surface; a monk is silhouetted on the weir.
On the Shannon River, Corbally, September 1939. From left sitting: Seamus Fennell, Noel Malone, Paddy Flanagan, Standing: William (Nay) Lysaght, Sean Reals.
ST. THOMAS'S ISLAND 1939
Back left: Noel Malone, Dick Brown, Middle Row: Mary Burke (Hogan), Rosaleen O'Brien (Lysaght), Kathleen Bourke (Hanley), Front: Phyllis Connell first cousin of Mary and Kathleen Bourke.
ST. THOMAS'S ISLAND, April 1939. From left back: Babe O'Brien Kelly, Paddy Flanagan, Philly Casey, William Lysaght, Rosaleen O'Brien Lysaght, Front: Josie Quane and Sean Reals.
Best Boating Buddies, June 1962 - From left: Fintan Harold, Nay Lysaght and Kevin O'Reilly.
Brothers Dan and Tony Gallagher 1958, on a leisurely trip around St. Thomas's Island in their angling cot. (Photo courtesy of Dan Gallagher)
Picnicking on St. Thomas's Island 3rd June 1963. Back left: Mae Clancy, Justin Devane, Dermot Clancy, Pat Lysaght, Front left: Nuala Clancy, Elsie Gilligan, Aileen Gilligan, Anna Gilligan, Mary Mullins, Maureen Clancy, Mary O'Connor, Finola O'Sullivan, Gertrude Begg and Marie Gilligan.
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