Meet James

James Tallon is the fourth generation of Tallon men to run Martry Mill. James has worked in the mill since he was a teenager, learning the ropes from his father, the late Thomas Tallon. Over the years he has been dedicated to ensuring that Martry Mill will continue to stand the test of time.

In 1978, Sally and David Shaw-Smith documented Martry Mill as part of their ‘Hands’ RTÉ series. During their time filming, the Blackwater Draining Scheme was kicking off. James protested this, as it would have a detrimental effect on the running of Martry Mill. This included a one man protest, as recorded in Hands, and a publicity campaign supported by An Taisce and Navan Chamber of Commerce.

In August 2012, James took on a project which brought Martry Mill back to life. With the help of contacts in the Mills & Millers of Ireland and Meath Partnership, James restored the waterwheel to its previous glory.