Revolutionary Women of Tipperary 1914-1924’ wins Book of the Year Award
The presentation of the Tipperariana Book of the Year Award took place on Thursday, 17th March 27, 2025 in the ICA Hall, Fethard. This year’s recipient was Dr. Noreen Higgins McHugh for her wonderful book ‘Revolutionary Women of Tipperary 1914-1924’, a comprehensive history of the women of Cumann na mBan in Tipperary and East Limerick during that period.
On arrival, people were greeted by the melodious harp music of Fiana Ní Chonaill, who herself hails from Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Just as Michael Mallon, Chairman, Fethard Historical Society, began his speech of welcome proceedings were rudely interrupted by much clamour from the adjacent room.
The precipitous entrance of a uniformed figure, slouch hat rakishly askew, revealed Thomas J. Clarke (aka Colm McGrath) who proceeded to declaim the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
Equilibrium restored, Michael resumed his opening address: “Ladies and gentlemen, you are very, very welcome here to our gathering to recognise and honour the Tipperariana Book of the Year Award 2024recipient Dr. Noreen Higgins McHugh.
Her dedication, determination and driven love of history earned for her this award for her wonderful work ‘Revolutionary Women of Tipperary 1914-1924’ which also features an index to the Cumann na mBan Pension and Service Medal applicants.
This evening we also wish to remember the late John ‘Ger’ Long on this the first anniversary of his death. We welcome in particular Ger’s sister Patricia Wilson, her family and friends. Ger Long, as you all know was a good friend and valued member of the Fethard Historical Society, and what a book man he was! He was also a close friend of Noreen Higgins McHugh, our recipient of the Tipperariana Book of the Year Award 2024.”
Michael then handed over to M.C. for the evening, Mary Hanrahan, P.R.O. Fethard Historical Society. Mary reiterated Michael’s welcome extending a Céad Míle Fáilte to all present before going through the running order for the evening. She next introduced Terry Cunningham, Vice Chairperson, to ‘speak to the book’.
Dr. Higgins McHugh is to be commended also for giving a succinct précis of the social and political context of the period. Undoubtedly, this book is a timely and valuable addition to the local, county and national archives.
Catherine O’Flynn, Eleanor Walsh and Mary Healy then each read an extract from the book relating the stories of three local Cumann na mBan women: Mary Davin née Moloney, Rathsallagh, Johanna Mary (Dolly) Smith née Burke, Garangulle, and Eileen Morrissey née Davin, Rathsallagh.
Mary Hanrahan then explained that the actual Tipperariana Book of the Year Award has a different configuration each year.
“Once the committee has made its selection, we hand over to local ceramicist Doirín Saurus, trusting to her artistic inspiration to create a one-off piece that encapsulates the essence of the book in question. In effect, each award is truly unique.”
Dóirín Saurus then presented the Tipperariana Book of the Year Award to Dr. Noreen Higgins McHugh, a fabulously curvaceous vase featuring the book cover and emblazoned with the portraits of the women depicted thereon.
The author herself then took centre stage to explain how she came to write the book, the challenges inherent in such an undertaking and her satisfaction with the final outcome.
“In the last twenty years a lot of information about Cumann na mBan emerged” Noreen explained, “but what really helped enormously was the decision by the Irish Military Archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin to digitalise all the service pension applications. Suddenly, I had access to all the applications numbering 82,000 in total, of which five and a half to six thousand relate to women.”
Noreen was at pains to point out that not all Cumann na mBan participants are included in the archives as several women, for political or other reasons, declined to apply for service pensions from the state.
“I was waiting for someone else to write the book,” she commented “ but when that didn’t happen I decided to do it myself…My great friend John Long was encouraging me to do this and I do wish that he had seen the book…I feel sure he is with us in spirit tonight. In conclusion, I must thank the Fethard Historical Society for giving me this award.”
Following a brief question and answer session with the author the audience was treated to a harp recital by the very talented Fiana Ní Chonaill. She began with the original traditional version of ‘Slievenamon’ as she felt this was an appropriate choice for an event in Fethard, followed by Peadar Kearney’s ‘Down by the Glenside’.
“When I was selecting music for tonight,” Fiana said, “I tried to find music from the Cumann na mBan period that referenced women and it wasn’t an easy task, so I had to improvise a little.” She then played Seán O Riada’s very evocative ‘Mise Éire” followed by the much loved ‘Grace’. The musical interlude concluded with the Cumann na mBan anthem with its rousing chorus depicting their members as women who “march with their brothers to freedom/ the soldiers of Cumann na mBan.”
The final coda of the evening was a presentation by Patricia Looby, on behalf of the Fethard Historical Society, of a commemorative picture of John ‘Ger’ Long to his sister Patricia Wilson.
The evening concluded with refreshments, a chance for everyone to mingle and to congratulate author Dr. Noreen Higgins McHugh on winning the Tipperariana Book of the Year Award 2024.