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River Suir Heritage SurveyIntroduction: At 184km (114 miles), the Suir is the third longest river in Ireland after the Shannon and Barrow. Rising on the eastern flanks of Benduff, north‐west of Templemore, it flows via Thurles, Cahir, Clonmel and Waterford to the sea. The River Suir has been an artery of communication between inland areas and the coast since prehistoric times. It is only since the development of our modern road and railway network (1850s) that its significance as a conduit of travel and trade has declined. Shallow‐draft vessels plied between Waterford, Carrick and Clonmel for many centuries, well before these towns become centres of industry and commerce in the 18th and 19th centuries. A 20km towpath was laid along the north bank of the River Suir between Carrick and Clonmel in the 1750s which survives today. A built, cultural and natural heritage audit has been undertaken along a 33km stretch of the River Suir by Fred Hamond and Dr Helen Sheridan, for the Heritage Office, South Tipperary County Council with funding from The Heritage Council. The objective of this project was to identify sites of heritage interest along a 500m corridor of the Tipperary side of the River Suir from its borders with counties Kilkenny and Waterford up to Knocklofty Bridge. This section of the river includes the 20km long towpath of the former Suir Navigation between Carrick‐on‐Suir and Clonmel. The information gathered highlights the Suir’s rich and varied built and natural heritage, but also feeds into the preparation of policies for its appreciation by the public, conservation and sustainable development. Please see below for the summaries of the various reports: River Suir Heritage Survey – Executive Summary The survey report has been divided into various sections to make it easier to download. For a summary of the entire report For the Natural Heritage section of the report undertaken by Dr Helen Sheridan, Dr John Feehan and Bláthnaid Keogh of UCD For the Built Heritage section of the report undertaken by industrial archaeologist Fred Hamond ( Suir Island Industrial Heritage Report A survey of the waterworks associated with Grubbs Mills, Willow Island, Clonmel was undertaken by Fred Hamond. It examines the feasibility of restoring the waterworks associated with two former 18th Century flour mills on Willow Island, at the south end of Suir Island on the River Suir. The first chapter outlines the site’s historical development from the 18th century to the present day. This is followed by a description of the surviving buildings and a detailed examination of the various structures associated with the waterworks which powered the mills. The reinstatement of the waterworks is then discussed, followed by a review of the various issues which need to be resolved prior to the commencement of any work. Please download report here: ( | ||||
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