A Ramble about Tallaght

  Only a Pilgrim, Passing Through- The Memoirs of Oliver Noonan- The Dominican’s gardener.   Oliver Noonan In 1991 Tallaght Historical Society invited the RTE Broadcaster  Donncha Ó Dúlaing  out to Tallaght to address the society on his life and times. While in Tallaght  Donncha  got somewhat diverted from the purpose of his visit,  when he met ‘a most interesting man’- Mr. Oliver Noonan- the gardener for over forty four years in the Dominican College in Tallaght.  Oliver, while being interviewed, took the time to give  Donncha Ó Dúlaing  a guided tour of the college environs, the ancient grounds he had tended for over 44 years.  In the process, Oliver Noonan left not just a record of gardening practices and happenings beyond the priory walls.  He also left an endearing record of his own life and times in Tallaght.     Glenasmole I went to school in Glenasmole (1930s) where Mr. O’ Reardon was the teacher- a Kerryman.   We used to bring sticks to school to keep the fire goin

  THE PIPER OF AIRTON LODGE WHO PLAYED FOR HITLER Sean Dempsey, one time resident of Airton Lodge, Greenhills, Tallaght, grew up literally a stone’s throw from Tallaght Aerodrome.   An ex-pupil of Tallaght National School, he was in the 1930s, one of the only licenced civilian pilots in Tallaght. With qualifications in engineering, he went on to become a flight engineer and in later years the first maintenance manager in Shannon. He was also generally, and more famously, considered to be one the finest Uilleann Pipers the country had ever seen. A pupil of the well-known virtuoso and teacher, Leo Rowsome, he collected scores of trophies from around the country.   His playing was broadcast by the B.B.C and Radio Eireann. The ‘Champion Piper of All Ireland’ in 1931, he went on to appear in several movies.   By the time he was 24 years old he was one of the most prominent musicians in Ireland and one of Tallaght’s most notable citizens, regularly travelling to Europe to play in the R