Family

Sign in Irish outside Silver Spring House in Clonmel

Sign in Irish outside Silver Spring House in Clonmel; 'Teach An Fhionn Uisce'

© Waterford City Library

Sign in Irish outside Silver Spring House in Clonmel
© Waterford City Library

Sign in Irish outside Silver Spring House in Clonmel

Sign in Irish outside Silver Spring House in Clonmel; 'Teach An Fhionn Uisce'

© Waterford City Library

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In 1826, Bianconi moved from the corner shop, to the house in Dublin Street. He was now almost 40 years old. His life long friendship with Julia Bourke never progressed to marriage. They remained friends however to the time of his death.

On the docks in Waterford, one day he met Paolo, a childhood friend from Italy, who told him that his mother died shortly after he left Italy and that Vanna had married a Duke. In 1833, on hearing of the death of his father, he travelled to Italy for the first time since he had left many years before. He visited his family and also met his childhood friend Vanna.

Charles Bianconi married Eliza Hayes on the 14th February 1827 on Saint Valentine's Day and decided to live in Clonmel. Eliza was twenty years younger than Bianconi. He had known her family for many years. They had three children, two boys and a girl. They lived for six years in the house over his stables in Clonmel.

Silver Spring House in Clonmel

Silver Spring House in Clonmel, the home of Bianconi and his family for many years.

© Waterford City Library

Silver Spring House in Clonmel
© Waterford City Library

Silver Spring House in Clonmel

Silver Spring House in Clonmel, the home of Bianconi and his family for many years.

© Waterford City Library

Enlarge image

They then moved into an old school with a farm attached and called it Silver Spring. He gave the house in Dublin Street to Dan Hearn and his wife, who converted the house into Hearns Hotel, which is to this day a well known hotel in Clonmel.

Charles Bianconi became an Irish citizen in August 1831. In December 1844, Charles Bianconi was unanimously elected Mayor of Clonmel and was re-elected the following year. Daniel O Connell wrote to him before he took office, with the following advice 'act upon your own sound common sense and do not look into any law book'. He was a friend of Father Mathew and supported his views on temperance. Anthony Trollope, the Post Office Inspector and future writer was another regular visitor to Bianconi's home.