Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 20 March 1912 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
6 pp.
Context area
Name of creator
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
Lease between Sarah Hyde at present residing at 6 corso d’Italia in the city of Rome and Kingdom of Italy, widow; and Isabella Florence MacCarty and Geraldine de Courcy MacCarty of Cahirdrinny, Sutherland Avenue, Bexhill-on-Sea in the county of Sussex, spinsters, of the first part; Richard Studdert Reeves of 51 Merrion Square in the city of Dublin and John Talbot Cooke Collis of Res Pralies, Duillier-sur-Nyon, in the Republic of Switzerland, Esquires, of the second part; and Winthropp Benjamin Browning of Raheen, Thurles in the county of Tipperary, late a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Indian Medical Service of the third part.
Property: The dwelling house known as Creg House and the offices, gardens and gate lodge belonging thereto and the cottage lately occupied by the head gardener and the two small fields known as the Castle Paddock and the Castle Inch situate in the barony of Fermoy and County of Cork together with the furniture and effects in or about the said house and premises and free liberty to shoot and fish over the Creg Demesne.
Term: Seven years from 1 May 1912.
Conditions: Yearly rent of £100 by equal half yearly payments on 1 November and 1 May.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English