Two talks about Shinrone's fascinating heritage

SHINRONE'S fascinating heritage is the subject of two special talks being hosted by the village's Heritage Group this week.
As part of Heritage Week, on Tuesday August 15th, Nigel Barnes, a fifth generation clock-maker, explored the history and development of timekeeping in Ireland. Nigel told the audience in Shinrone Community Centre that Shinrone has Offaly’s oldest working turret clock. Dating from 1820, it was made by the famous Dublin horologist Christopher Sharp for the newly built St. Mary's Church of Ireland. For some two hundred years, it has overlooked the Village, regulating the social, economic and religious lives of generations of “Shinroners”.
“The clock movement,” said Ger Murphy of Shinrone Heritage Group, “is a great big hulk of wrought iron and brass, all made by hand. It is a real warren of cogs, teeth, springs and moving parts working together to keep time”. Ger said you can't but admire the engineering skills of clock-makers two centuries ago, using hand tools and craft skills to create these huge mechanical wonders. Time had taken its toll on St. Mary’s Clock and it has just undergone a detailed restoration thanks to Nigel, who like his ancestors completed the works by hand. Therefore, the Tick-Tock has been put back in the community Clock!
On Wednesday 16th, noted GAA historian Prof. Paul Rouse will be taking attendees on ‘A Photographic History of Hurling’. This wonderful talk will also include the Shinrone Hurl, one of Offaly’s oldest examples. Made in the 1880s by Martin Fennell for club player Billy Barry it had suffered considerable insect damage many years ago. In recent years it's been in the Shinrone National School Museum and it recently underwent sensitive conservation by Sven Habermann, one of Ireland's foremost wood conservators based in Letterfrack, Galway. Prof. Rouses talk is also at 7.30pm in Shinrone Community Centre. Further information from Ger Murphy on clareenhouse@hotmail.com / 087 101 5991.