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Clonmel (Irish: Cluain Meala) is a medium-sized town situated in south County Tipperary, Ireland. It lies in a valley, surrounded by several mountains and hills. The Comeragh Mountains are to the south, while east of the town is Slievenamon. The River Suir flows through the town.
Clonmel was built up significantly in Medieval times, and many remainders of this past can be found in the town itself. The town was once completely walled, although only a small section remains. One of the former entry points into the town is now the site of the 'West gate', a 19th century construction. Oliver Cromwell, who is infamous in Ireland but respected in Britain, laid siege to the town in 1650. The walls were eventually breached, but not without heavy losses on Cromwell's side.
The town has always been a thriving business town. The inland waterway of the Siur allows Clonmel to have its own quays, which saw substantial trade and commerce in the past. Charles Bianconi was once mayor of Clonmel, and also ran his horse-drawn carriages as a public transportation system from the town. Clonmel would later be connected to the Waterford and Limerick Railway. In recent times Clonmel has been home to many large multi-national companies, particularly in the pharmaceutical area. Bulmers cider is brewed in the town.
Old St. Mary's church is one of the main architectural features of the town. Like many churches in Ireland, it was originally constructed hundreds of years ago (possibly the 13th century or earlier), and reconstructed or renovated numerous times. The church was fortified early in its history, the town being strategically important for first the Earls of Ormonde, and later the Earl of Kildare. Some fortified parts of the church were destroyed or damaged during the Cromwellian occupation.
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