Carrick-on-Suir is a town in County Tipperary. It lies on both banks of the River Suir. The part on the north bank of the Suir lies in the civil parish of “Carrick”, in the historical barony of Iffa and Offa East. The part on the south bank lies in the civil parish of Kilmolerin in the barony of Upperthird, County Waterford.

Features and amenities

There are two theatres in Carrick-on-Suir, the Brewery Lane Theatre and the Operatic Society. While the Operatic society tends to focus on musicals, operas and pantomimes, Brewery Lane usually does dramas which can be serious, or often black comedy. Many of these are Irish.The Old Bridge, built in 1447.

River Suir

Carrick-on-Suir is the tidal limit of the River Suir. Carrick has a 1-in-50-year flood defence system with quay walls ranging in height from 1.2m to 1.5m. Currently, the walls give protection from flooding caused by high tides. Flooding still occurs along the Glen/Mill River and Markievicz Tce.Town Hall, built in 1840.

Landmarks

In 1447, a stone bridge was built, now known as the “Old Bridge”. A new, more modern bridge (later named after John Dillon) was built in the early 20th century. The central part of the Old Bridge (and likewise the Dillon bridge) was destroyed by retreating IRA forces in 1922 in an attempt to slow the advance of the Free State army, but both were rebuilt by 1927.^[

The West Gate on the street of the same name is the last remaining gates of the town wall.

Several, at times very narrow lanes (Oven Lane, Cook Lane, Rowe’s Lane etc) leading off Main Street are testament to the Medieval layout of the town.

Carrick’s town clock was erected in 1784. A public park was created in the fair green in the 1860s. The town fair continues to this day, having been moved from the fair green in the 1920s to a new site just west of the fair green.

Churches

There are three Catholic churches. The largest church in Carrick Mór is St Nicholas’ church which was built in 1879, replacing an earlier church of the same name built in 1804. In Carrick Beg are the small St Molleran’s parish church (parts of which date back to the 13th century) and the larger Franciscan friary. The Franciscan order’s presence in Carrick dates back to 1336 with the granting of land for a friary by the 1st Earl of Ormond. However, the suppression of monasteries by Henry VIII led to the closure of the friary. Just prior to the invasion of Ireland by Cromwell, the friars had returned for an 11-year period, before being shut down again and the friars having to go underground to avoid persecution. It was not until 1820 and the onset of Catholic Emancipation that the friars were able to fully return and a new chapel was built. The friars served the local community until the lack of vocations to the order led to the order finally leaving Carrick-Beg in 2006.

The Church of Ireland community was relatively substantial until independence community’s church on Main Street was abandoned until the late 1980s when the church building and grounds were renovated and now serve as a heritage centre.

Sport

GAA is represented in the area by Carrick Davins (named after the first GAA president Maurice Davin), Carrick Swans and St. Molleran’s GAA clubs. The former two play in the Tipperary GAA area, and the latter in the Waterford GAA area. The 1904 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final was played in Carrick-on-Suir. The match was held on Maurice Davin’s land on 24 June 1906 between Cork and Kilkenny. Kilkenny won by a single point, 1-9 to 1-8.

Carrick United AFC is a junior (non-league, amateur) soccer team that plays in the Waterford & District League. The club plays at Tom Drohan park, and has had some success in the Waterford & District League, Munster Senior and Junior Cups and also in the FAI Junior Cup.

An amateur rugby team, Carrick-on-Suir RFC, plays in the Munster Junior League Division II. The club grounds are located east of the town in Tybroughney, County Kilkenny.

There is an 18-hole golf club, golf driving range, and swimming pool in the area. Castleview Lawn Tennis Club has four artificial grass courts, and Carrick-on Suir Handball and Racquetball Club is at Davin Park Indoor courts, Clonmel Road.

In cycling, Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett are both from the town, both of whom have won the points classification in the Tour de France, among other considerable achievements. The town is home to the Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers and Carrick Wheelers Road Clubs.

There are also two boxing clubs (Carrick-on-Suir Boxing Club and St. Nicholas Boxing Club) and a triathlon club.

1986 English Greyhound Derby champion Tico was born in the town.

Clubs and societies

The Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society (formed in 1943) is an award-winning musical and amateur operatic society. The Musical Society bought and refurbished the Strand Theatre on Main Street in 2003 for use by the Society.  The Brewery Lane Drama Society (formed in 1955) performs several productions a year at their 75-person capacity theatre, which was formerly a malt house owned by Smithwicks.

The Irish Traction Group is based in Carrick-on-Suir, where restoration work is carried out on vintage diesel locomotives.

Carrick-on-Suir also has a Republican Flute Band which plays at many Irish Republican and Sinn Féin events.

Carrick Swim Club (Carrick Dippers) use the Sean Kelly Sports Centre as their base.