Thurles Sarsfields 2014 International Hurling Festival

Posted on June 7, 2014 by George

Michael Dundon, former editor of the Tipperary Star newspaper and PRO of the Thurles Sarsfields 2014 International Hurling Festival reports.

Over eighty teams will be taking part in this year’s 2014 forth Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival, which takes place this coming July, is a week-long event to tie in with the Munster hurling final.

The video slide show hereunder gives just a small taste of the preparation and the taking part by some of last year’s talented participants. (Click HERE for full HD)

Arrangements are at an advanced stage for this prestigious event which for the first time will include ladies football and juvenile hurling tournaments in addition to the usual, thirteen-a-side hurling, camogie, road bowling, and Caman Abu competitions, which have been so successful over the last three years. The Target Ball bowling competition for the handicapped, such a big hit last year, will again be part of this year’s festival.

Former Sarsfields chairman, John Enright, the driving force behind the festival, says that the Semple, Carew, and Culhane Cups will again be the main feature of the hurling festival but this year teams will be taking part from some of the more traditional counties with the aim of upgrading competition. Sixteen teams will participate in these, with eight teams in both the camogie and ladies football tournaments.

Last year a Caman Abu inter-pubs/societies recreational hurling competition was introduced and was a massive hit. This year it is planned to have thirty two teams involved and the event will be run over three nights in the week leading up to the Munster final.

The festival will commence on July 5th with the ladies football, target ball and road bowling events. The Semple, Carew, and Culhane cups hurling and the Camogie competition for the Helen O’Mara cup take place on Saturday July 12th.
John Enright stated that the cultural side of the festival is not being forgotten and this year a Ceili House will be staged at the Sarsfields Social Centre on Saturday July 12th, following the competitions and presentation of prizes.

John Enright stated “The festival is evolving each year and we are continually seeking ways to improve it; to make it more attractive for both participants and spectators. We have additional teams this year and supplementary events which we hope will make it an even better spectacle than before.
The festival has grown steadily over the last three years thanks to the great support of our sponsors and the hard work of our committee and club members. Our aim is to promote Thurles as a sports tourism centre for the benefit of the town and to achieve this we would welcome all the support we can get from the Thurles public.”

The Hidden Tipperary Tourism Group, chaired by Mr Seamus King, gave their full commitment earlier this month to assisting where possible in attracting as many visitors to Thurles as possible for this major sporting event. Visitor attractions in Thurles will halve their entrance fees or offer free admission during this week-long festival period, beginning July 5th through to July 12th 2014.

Sounds like Thurles will be the place to visit in early July 2014.

Posted in County News, Festivals, Sport, Tourism | Leave a comment

Third Series Of Irish History Lectures In Borrisoleigh

Posted on May 27, 2014 by George

borrisoleighMr. Paddy Gleeson, acting tour guide with Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, will present a lecture entitled “Glasnevin Cemetery, Ireland’s Necropolis,” in the Community Centre, behind the Church in Borrisoleigh, tomorrow night (Wednesday 28th May) at 8.00 pm sharp.

Expect an informative historic lecture based in particular on famous political funerals from Daniel O’Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847) often referred to as ‘The Liberator’ or ‘The Emancipator,’ to the great Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins (16 October 1890 – 22 August 1922), latter Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA and member of the Irish delegation sent to England to parley during Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations.

This event promises to be extremely informative and all are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

Note: Borrisoleigh Historical Society in conjunction with Sr. Aine Historical Society will travel to Glasnevin Cemetery on June 14th and note a few seats are still available on the bus for those who would like to take advantage of what promises to be a marvellous and informative history outing.

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Thurles Chamber Launch Hidden Tipperary Brochure

Posted on May 18, 2014 by George

Hidden Tipperary Tourism Group launched their new Tourism Brochure for the 2014 season on Thursday night last. This new brochure is the first group tourism venture to be published, in an attempt to attract visitor to the areas of Thurles, Holycross and Upperchurch, in recent years.

Hidden-Tipp
Pictured above L-R : Mr B.Clancy, Mrs M.Cullen, Mr J.O’Shaughnessy (President Thurles Chamber), Mr C.Cullen, Ms. Kathleen Bourke and Mr S.King, representing Hidden Tipperary Tourism Group and Thurles Chamber.

Launching the new Hidden Tipperary brochure at the Thurles Chamber Enterprise Centre, Nenagh Rd, the Thurles Chamber President Mr John O’Shaughnessy congratulated the tourism group on the layout of the brochure and the attractive content published therein.

A printable PDF file (Portable Document Format) of this brochure is available for download now;

Hidden Tipperary Brochure 2014

Hidden Tipperary Brochure 2014 (PDF)

To download the brochure, right click on the picture above and select ‘Save Link As’ or ‘Save Target As’. This will allow visitors from both at home and abroad the opportunity to read and also to print off a copy prior to visiting the area.

Mr O’Shaughnessy stated “I believe that in the future other tourist visitor attractions in this area will join with the Hidden Tipperary Tourism Group, to also jointly market their particular attraction. Same attractions properly networked would demonstrate that Thurles and its environs is “no one stop shop,” but rather the perfect place to visit in any season, to spend a few days quietly relaxing, while visiting just some of these various and numerous wonderful venues, now shown to be on offer in this new publication, right here in our rural Hidden Tipperary.”

This first venture into such brochure networking, features the attractions; Cormackstown Heritage Centre, Holycross Abbey, Farney Castle, St Mary’s Famine and War Museum, Cabragh Wetlands, Upperchurch and Lár na Páirce GAA Museum.

All of attractions also offer a wide variety of interesting entertainment headings including; Sport, History, Culture, Scenic Countryside, Heritage, Family Fun, Walking, Climbing etc in Upperchurch, Holycross and Thurles town.

Posted in County News, Tourism, Value Holidays, Visitor Attractions | 1 Comment

Thomas MacDonagh To Be Honoured In Cloughjordan Tipperary

Posted on April 27, 2014 by George

Lament for Thomas MacDonagh – by Poet Francis Ledwidge

“He shall not hear the bittern cry in the wild sky, where he is lain,
Nor voices of the sweeter birds above the wailing of the rain.
Nor shall he know when loud March blows thro’ slanting snows her fanfare shrill,
Blowing to flame the golden cup of many an upset daffodil.
But when the Dark Cow leaves the moor and pastures poor with greedy weeds,
Perhaps he’ll hear her low at morn, lifting her horn in pleasant meads.”

This coming May Bank Holiday Weekend (2nd – 5th May 2014) the town of Cloughjordan [Map Ref .] here in Co Tipperary invite you to the home of the late great Poet, Writer, Gaelgóir, Dramatist, Patriot and Signatory of the Irish Proclamation, Thomas MacDonagh, (Irish: Tomás Mac Donnchadha; 1st Feb 1878 – 3rd May 1916).

macdonagh

Weekend Programme of Events

(Please do ‘Right Click’ on picture here [Left] to ‘View Image’ of Weekend Programme of events in greater magnification.)

Thomas MacDonagh was born here in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, one of eight children born to parents Joseph MacDonagh, latter a schoolteacher and Mary-Louise neé Parker. It was in this environment that he developed a love of music, poetry and education together with a passion for both English and Irish culture. He went on to attend Rockwell College near Cashel at the age of fourteen, where he initially aspired to become a priest or brother, spending several years studying, before realising that this life was no longer for him personally. Soon after, while residing in Co Kilkenny, saw the publication of his first book of poems; “Through the Ivory Gate,” (1902), followed one year later by “April and May,” (1903) and “The Golden Joy,” (1904).

MacDonagh’s lament by Francis Ledwidge, shown above, is a metaphor where “the wailing of the rain” represents the obvious grief associated with MacDonagh’s death. The words “when loud March blows thro’ slanting snows represents the poets hope that perhaps out of this historic grief might come something better thus conjuring up vivid images of weather, wild daffodils, both the appearance and sensation that today remains the Cloughjordan countryside, which visitors this weekend will experience themselves. In Ledwidge’s mind “the Dark Cow leaves the moor,” is a metaphor for Ireland as a nation, in the expectation that things will improve eventually for his beloved country and perhaps MacDonagh’s own execution will become acknowledged as not being totally in vain.

This subject I feel sure will be discussed in even greater debate here in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, this May weekend, so teachers do encourage you students to attend.

Cloughjordan May Weekend Programme

The weekend long programme features talks on various aspects of the historic events that shaped our nation. Events extend out into the surrounding countryside, which was a source of inspiration for many of MacDonagh’s poems; a guided walk through Knocknacree Wood, a field trip to sites of heritage interest (Modreeny Medieval Settlement) and numerous exhibitions. Come along and enjoy music and song agus beidh fáilte roimh cách ag an Oíche Ghaelach. ( Latter translation from Irish: “and everyone is welcome at the Irish Night.” )

The talks, a painting workshop, exhibitions and evenings of song and story will take place in the Thomas MacDonagh Heritage Centre, Lower Main Street, Cloughjordan and other venues in the town. In this year of commemorations Thomas MacDonagh, World War I and Cumann na mBan (Women’s Association) receive special attention. The programme invites people of all ages to reflect on our past, which is manifest in the rich heritage of this area.

Volume VIII in the Cloughjordan Heritage series will be launched on Friday at 8;00 pm. The Thomas MacDonagh Summer School begins at 11.00 am on Saturday. On Sunday Prof. Peadar Kirby presents a talk on MacDonagh and later Dr. Mary McCauliffe will speak on Cumann na mBan. Enjoy a family friendly afternoon with Heritage Games and the MacDonagh Pipe Band from Templemore. The programme concludes on Monday with a guided walk in Knocknacree Wood, a CineClub presentation of “War Horse” (based on WWI) agus Oíche Ghaelach le ceol agus caidreamh. (Latter translation from Irish: “and Irish Night music and relationships.” )

This area in North Tipperary, “in calm of middle country” (T. MacDonagh’s own words) is rich in heritage and natural environment. Cloughjordan is now home to the International Award Winning Sustainable Community and visitors are welcome to come on a guided tour of the Eco Village on Sunday at 3.00 pm. Stay in the Eco Hostel and in local B&B accommodation. Enjoy the evenings in a friendly festival atmosphere.

Bí linn ag comóradh Tomás Mhac Donnachadha ina bhaile dhúchais. ( Latter translation from Irish: “Join us in commemorating Thomas MacDonagh in his home town.” )

Further information on “Cloughjordan Honours Thomas MacDonagh,” can be found by clicking Here and Here.

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Derrynaflan Trail Tipperary To Get Initial Launch

Posted on April 19, 2014 by George

Untitled-1The new ‘Derrynaflan Trail’ tourism project is all set to be launched; hosted in the Horse & Jockey Hotel, Thurles, at 10:00am on Friday April 25th next. Launch is by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Mr Jimmy Deenihan and note all are welcome to attend.

This project is being spearheaded by three Tipperary community organisations, namely; Littleton Development Association, Holycross Community Network and Slieveardagh Rural Development. The project has the support and guidence of South Tipperary Development Company under the Rural Development Programme and these groups jointly have now completed the first phase in this exciting trail development.

A one hour audio guide together with a thirty six page booklet has now been produced, together with a brochure highlighting the rich ecclesiastical heritage of this previously hidden part of middle Tipperary. These three community groups are continuing to develop guided tours of the sites with Holycross Community Network already providing tours of Holycross Abbey and it is now planned to put regular tours of other sites in place. Interpretive signage at each site is now their longer term objective. The overall aim of this project is to now provide a much needed economic boost to rural Tipperary, through increasing overall visitor numbers from both home and abroad.

The ‘Derrynaflan Trail’ will connect ancient ecclesiastical sites from the Slieveardagh Hills, across through Littleton Bog, to the banks of the River Suir. Holycross Abbey, Kilcooley’s Cistercian Abbey, Liathmore’s twin churches and ruined round tower and of course Derrynaflan Island itself, are numbered amongst the places of significance along this most ancient of early Christian routes. This trail will span fifteen centuries of Irish history since early Christian times. Along the way travellers will encounter the rich local folklore concerning rebel priests, saintly miracles, a Viking battle, Cromwellian invaders and indeed much, much more.

All these wonderful sites are free of charge, though donations are appreciated when visiting at Holycross Abbey, latter which provide excellent professional tour guides.

Posted in County News, Tourism | 1 Comment