Rathcannon, County Tipperary
| Rathcannon | |
|---|---|
| Townland | |
 Rathcannon
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| Coordinates: 52°37′45″N 7°55′26″W / 52.6291037°N 7.9239319°WCoordinates: 52°37′45″N 7°55′26″W / 52.6291037°N 7.9239319°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Tipperary |
Rathcannon is a townland in County Tipperary. It is located in the civil parish of Holycross .
Rathcannon Bridge carries the R661 road over the River Clodagh a tributary of the River Suir.
On 30 June 1827, a murder was committed at Rathcannon, which led to another murder, an attempted murder, the execution of six men and the transportation of six others for life.
Richard Chadwick (1800–1827) of Reddans Walk, just north of Tipperary town, was a local magistrate as well as land agent for his uncle, William Sadlier of Sadleirswells House (later known as Kingswell House), north of Tipperary town, a landlord who owned considerable properties in County Tipperary and was an active supporter and promoter of the Orange Order in Tipperary town. Having trouble with some of his uncle's tenants, Chadwick, in May 1827, had permission to erect a police barracks at Rathcannon, in order to curb and monitor the activities of secret societies operating in the area. The first sod was turned at noon on 30 June 1827. Shortly afterwards, Chadwick was murdered as, accompanied by Philip Mara, he led his horse along the road (which is now known as the R661) between Rathcannon and Bohernacrusha. He was shot at the point where a bridge was later erected, around 1847, to carry the road over the tracks of the Cork-Dublin railway. The man who fired the shot was Paddy Grace, a native of Ballytarsna. He had an armed accomplice, Lawrence Barry from a nearby place called The Hough.
Grace was tried at Clonmel Assize in July 1827 and, convicted on 17 August on the evidence of Philip Mara, was hanged at the scene of the murder in Rathcannon on 20 August 1827; he admitted his guilt on the gallows and urged his brothers, and others present, to desist from unlawful practises. Barry was tried but was acquitted because Philip Mara could not identify him with confidence. Before Paddy Grace was executed, Philip Mara, fearing revenge from Grace's brothers and friends, gave possession of his farm to his brothers and fled to England.
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