sub-series 3 - William Rochfort

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P43/1/1/5/1/3

Title

William Rochfort

Date(s)

  • 1890-1928 (Creation)

Level of description

sub-series

Extent and medium

132 files and 44 items

Context area

Name of creator

(1914-1990)

Biographical history

Timothy Looney, a native of Cahir, county Tipperary, was born in 1914. A well-known local historian, he could regularly be found exploring local castles, churches, graveyards and sites of archaeological interest. He was known to challenge established beliefs and traditions and to use the evidence of cross-disciplinary elements such as documents and landscapes to offer alternative interpretations. His house on Pearse Street, a treasure trove of maps, books, documents and photographs, was a popular port of call for genealogists tracing their ancestors and for scholars researching historical topics. Looney’s collecting activities culminated in a remarkable salvage operation to recover papers from Shanbally Castle, county Tipperary prior to its destruction by a controlled explosion in March 1960.

In addition to his historical pursuits, Looney was an active member of his local community. He had a lifelong interest in the GAA, and was influential in the development of Gaelic games in Cahir. He was a tireless charity worker and fundraiser. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he organised volunteers to travel around the country to collect money for the Central Remedial Clinic, known as the Little Willie Fund, to aid the plight of polio victims. A supporter of the trade union movement, he was also active in the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. He had a great fondness for Cahir, and campaigned prominently to save its historical railway station. Timothy Looney died in his native town in 1990.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This sub-series contains estate correspondence to and from William Rochfort, land agent to the Shanbally Castle estate in county Tipperary in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The material is arranged chronologically by date.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to all items.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • Béarla

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Paper documents in good or reasonable condition.

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

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    Name access points

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

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      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area