Thurles

History

The ancient territory of Éile obtained its name from pre-historic inhabitants called the Eli, about whom little is known beyond what may be gathered from legends and traditions. The extent of Éile varied throughout the centuries with the rise and fall of the tribes in occupation. Before the 5th century A.D. the details of its history which can be gleaned from surviving records and literature are exceedingly meagre, obscure and confusing. During this century however Éile appears to have reached its greatest extent, stretching from Croghan Bri Eli (Croghan Hill in Offaly) to just south of Cashel (in Corca Eathrach Eli). The southern part of this territory embraced the baronies of Eliogarty and Ikerrin, a great part of Middle Third, the territory of Ileagh and a portion of the barony of Kilnamanagh Upper. By the 8th century, the territory of ancient Éile had broken up into a number of petty kingdoms: the O'Carroll occupied the northern portion, the O'Spillanes held Ileagh, the Eóganacht Chaisil had annexed Middle Third while the O'Fogartys held what is now the barony of Eliogarty. The O'Fogarty's gave their name to the town. In Irish, Durlas Éile means "Strong Fort of Éile", or more correctly Durlas Éile Uí Fhogartaigh ("Strong Fort of the O'Fogarty's of Éile"). The clan dominated the regions of Templemore and the Devil's Bit stretching as far as the Tipperary/Kilkenny border. Towards the end of the 12th century the power of the O'Donoghue clan began to wane, and by the early part of the 13th century, the Norman Butler dynasty came to be the most powerful. It is to the Butlers that Thurles owes much of its early development. Their architectural legacy may be seen today with two of the original family fortresses still standing (the Black Castle near the centre and…

Most-observed species

• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  132
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  126
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  125
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  121
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  116
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  109
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  103
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  99