Chris Mooney wrote on an earlier incarnation of this site:
Signs are that the final resting place of Ireland’s most famous Keating, the 17th century historian and author of FORAS FEASA AR ÉIRINN [the history of Ireland] Dr Geoffrey Keating, has been all but forgotten by officialdom and by the local inhabitants of the area.
On a recent trip to Ireland I visited the old churchyard in the parish of Tubbrid, Co Tipperary where he is known to have been buried only to find the place overgrown and neglected, apart from a somewhat weather-beaten metal plaque. True the place is off the regular tourist beat on a back road with few visitors, and one local resident I talked to did mention a plan to ‘do something about it’, but it was altogether a disappointing sojourn for me.
Incidentally, Tubbrid which is not very far from Ballyporeen, ancestral place of the late US President Ronald Reagan, is located towards the centre of a triangle between the three little South Tipperary towns of Ardfinnan, Cahir and Clougheen. It is not shown on a recent ‘Culture Map’ of Ireland which I obtained.
Chris Mooney
Chris, a monument was erected to Geoffrey Keating in 1990, funded by the local community. It can be found in Burgess which was his place of birth. I remember the occassion well. In attandance were many local people and dignitaries. The renouned Keating scholar, Dr.Pádraig Ó Fiannachta spoke very eloquently in both Irish and English and the Keating Clan Chieftain Patrick Keating pressed home the need to remember one of our greatest writers and historians.
It is modest memorial but fitting to commemorate such a great figure.
The church in Tubrid badly needs reperation, agreed. Attempts have been made in the past to keep the structure intact but funds are hard to come by as in all projects of this nature. There are an abundance of small national monuments that have fallen into disrepair and obviously local and central government (as well as ecclesiastical influences) prefer to focus on more “important” monument which are not lacking in the area. There are a number of Keating strongholds closeby which are also in ruins unfortunately. Coming from the area originally, it is great to return but sad to see our local and ancestral heritage in decay. The small local population have devoted what they can in terms of dedication and funding. It took a number of years to raise the money for the provision of the afore mentioned monument, but to raise a roof and reinforce the existing (delicate)structure of the Morturary Chapel in Tubrid exceeds existing expectations, although it is a great local aspiration.
I would have to disagree with you however when you state that it has been forgotten about, especially among the locals. There is great awareness and pride, especially in Ballylooby, Burgess and Tubrid (to name but a few of the local townlands that would love nothing more but to see their heritage renewed). If you come back again, you should make it your priority to meet those who are more knowlegable about local history as there are far Keating related sights to see in the area. In disrepair they may be, but they still hold a very special place in our hearts.
Seamus Keating