A limestone cross designed by Cork sculptor Séamus Murphy was erected in the Patrician Year of 1962. The story of how it was taken to the top of Galtymore is, to say the least, an epic. The cross was driven to around 70 feet below the summit in a World War II Bren Gun Carrier called the Katie Daly (named after that famous song Come Down the Mountain, Katie Daly). It was then carried the rest of the way by five men, Tom Mullins, Robert West, John King, Tom McGrath and Jim Blake. It weighed three quarters of a ton. Mitchelstown Creameries sponsored the cross and all related works. The Katie Daly took a route up from King’s farmhouse under Knocknagaltee. It took three days to get the cross up, as the Katie Daly variously got stuck in the bog or her tracks came off en route. She got her name because she loved the mountain so much. (Note of interest: the Katie Daly is now being restored to her former glory). On Whit Sunday, June 10th, 1962, over 1,000 people climbed the mountain for the blessing ceremony. Among those who attended on the day were Richard Hayward, author and historian; Daphne Pochin Mould, author of The Mountains of Ireland; Lieutenant-Colonel PC Blake, who started the annual climb of Galtymore, which continued for many years; and members of St Brendan’s Mountaineering Club, Tralee, who came all the way from Kerry, a nice drive in 1962. One newspaper reported, “The mountain was black with people,” while John Coughlan and Tom Fox from Boston, Massachusetts captured the event on film. The limestone cross was placed at a location known as Dawson’s Table. However, in a little over 13 years it was damaged beyond repair after being felled by winter gales. Ted Kavanagh, of Scallagheen in Tipperary town, was determined that a new cross be placed on the summit as soon as possible, and he designed and built a cross at his home, using 4-inch hollow steel sections. In June 1975, his cross was taken to the summit and assembled with help from members of the Tipperary Adventure Sports Club. It is estimated that over 130 individual climbs were made up the steeper north side of the mountain to get all the material to the top. Pictured this page: The late Joan and Ted Kavanagh painting the cross that still stands on Galtymore today. Photo: Kavanagh family collection MOUNTAIN LOG GALTYMORE CROSSES 45
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