Following the Establishment of the Liam Lynch Memorial Committee in Feb 1934, whose goal it was to build a fitting memorial to their former leader General Liam Lynch, the Committee immediately set about their task and on March 1st letters appeared in the press stating that the Committee had been formed and was seeking subscriptions for the erection of the 60 foot tower on the slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains above Newcastle. The appeal for funding received subscriptions from far and wide and the building works commenced in March 1934.
By December of that year, the round tower had been erected, thanks to the generous subscriptions of Republicans across the Country and beyond. However additional funds were required to complete the project.
In a letter dated December 1934, Committee Treasurerโs James McGrath, Newcastle who was also Clerk of Works and Maurice OโGorman, Ardfinnan wrote that:
โThe work has been almost accomplished. A Round Tower, sixty feet high, now stands on the mountainside over-looking the plains of Gallant Tipperary. A Marble slab and four bronze wolfhounds have yet to be placed in position.โ
The letter which was sent to The Friends of the Irish Republic in America appealed for further support.
The letter continued that โIt will be readily understood that the erection of such a monument, in a place so difficult of access, involves the expenditure of a considerable sum of money. The Memorial Committeeโs original appeal for funds evoked a very generous response, but not quite sufficient to cover all expenses.โ
A committee was formed in the United States to support the fund.
The letter appeared in a New York Paper in March 1935 and the article went on to list the donations of all those who had subscribed in America.
A copy of the article was subsequently sent back to Jamsie McGrath, Treasurer and remains with the Committee ever since. This article together with many other pieces of important memorabilia from the time will be on public display across our weekend.
