Cllr Seamus Hanafin is to formally open an Exhibition of Photographs at 7pm tonight in the Source Arts Centre, Thurles, to mark the centenary of the birth of Donal Sammon. Mr Sammon was born in Thurles on February 14th 1924.
Mr Sammon was a pharmacist who eventually purchased Devlin’s Medical Hall in Thurles to establish his own business in 1962 having worked at PJ Hickey’s and Tobins pharmacies prior to opening his own business. He died in 2010 and his daughter Carmel now operates the busy Pharmacy in Liberty Square.
Throughout his lifetime Donal Sammon had an interest in Photography and the Exhibition is the brainchild of his son Ger, a retired accountant. The Exhibition will run at the Source Arts Gallery for all of February and in addition to the 159 photographs it will also include some artefacts from the Pharmacy including some old cameras and opticians equipment.
The oldest photograph dates from 1965 and the images feature scenes from Thurles including Semple Stadium, Ceremonies in 1966 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Thurles Golf Club, shopfronts, awards ceremonies and people swimming in the River Suir at Ladies Well, a hugely popular and safe location for recreation prior to the development of Thurles Swimming Pool. The collection also includes the transformation of Joe Dan Fitzpatrick’s Pub and Hardware store into the current day Tesco store.
The Exhibition is available to view Mondays to Saturday during Library opening Hours with late opening till 8pm available on Tuesdays.
The Library closes for Lunch on Mondays and Saturdays between 1pm and 2pm. The Library opens at 9.30am Monday to Friday and at 10am on Saturday morning. Closing times are 5.00pm on Friday and Saturday, 5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 8pm closing time on Tuesdays.
