Tipperary Christmas Entertainment Begins With Molumby Concert

Posted on November 28, 2013 by George
Tenor Michael Molumby

Tenor Michael Molumby

Many of us as parents, somewhere along the line to date, have experienced the stress and upheaval brought about by having had a sick child in hospital and for those of us lucky enough not to have experienced this ordeal, let’s give thanks to our God, whoever we conceive Him to be.

Keeping this thought to the fore, do take note that a fabulous repertoire of songs have been put together for a special concert in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital, which will be hosted by local well known and loved tenor Mr Michael Molumby on Saturday evening next, November 30th in that wonderful welcoming venue, the Horse and Jockey, near Thurles.

Michael, together with a few very professional and talented guest performers, namely; Susan Corcoran, Cathy Keane and Valerie O’Hanlon, have all been working very hard behind the scenes in the last number of weeks, under the musical direction of Mary Rose McNally, to provide a varied and expansive selection of vocal entertainment for you, in what is expected to be a packed venue on the evening.

All proceeds from this event will go to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children as part of their “Fix Crumlin,” appeal.

Michael, ably assisted by his wife Maria are both hoping to make this event a bumper evening, with top class entertainment being provided. There will be a ‘vocal something,’ to suit everyone’s taste, with selections from popular Irish ballads, medleys, solos, a section from the musicals, some up-tempo popular numbers and of course to round the evening off, that essential festive sing-a-long of Christmas medleys.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be George Willoughby. (Latter, I hasten to add, has sworn, under Oath , not to sing, so the large expected turnout should not be seriously affected.)

This gala event will kick off at 8:00pm and anyone wishing to purchase tickets may do so through the Horse and Jockey Hotel at Tel: 0504 44192 or through the organisers.

Tickets cost just €15, so do get along to this event for a guaranteed great night out and in doing so you will put your shoulder behind a truly worthy cause.

Be warned: Remaining tickets, for what promises to be a truly memorable event, are getting as scarce as ‘Hen’s Teeth,’ so take my advice and ensure that you have secured seating for this once-off incredible celebration of music & song.

Remember Venue & Date:- Saturday evening next, November 30th 2013 in the Horse and Jockey.

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Take A Moonlight Walk In Upperchurch Thurles

Posted on November 19, 2013 by George

“Slowly, silently, now the moon walks the night in her silver shoon,
This way, and that, she peers, and sees, silver fruit upon silver trees.”
(Poem by Walter de la Mare )

Moon-300x214

Photo G.Willoughby

The 15th annual Autumn Challenge organised, last October and organised by John G O’Dwyer and Michael Sutton, (Thurles), in aid of a respite home for special needs children, was an outstanding success. Over 120 walkers, mostly from Mid-Tipperary, gathered in Clifden for this event and all experienced great walking conditions with good weather, a brilliant sing-song and immeasurable camaraderie.

Jimmy Duggan (Thurles) led the nature and heritage trek in the Connemara National Park, an event which is a most popular feature of all challenge weekends.

Ray Creaney led a 20km walk along the Maumeen Pilgrim Path, while Josephine Tobin, John G O’Dwyer and Dan Condren led the mountain walks on Saturday, which included an ascent of Diamond Hill on Sunday.

As a result a great evening is now promised in Upperchurch with €3,200, raised in Clifden, being presented to deserving charities in Kinanne’s Pub at the Autumn Charity Challenge re-union, on Friday next, November 22nd. Full details of the 2014 Kerry Charity Challenge to be held in Dingle Co Kerry is expected to be announced in Kinanne’s, followed by the customary complimentary tea, coffee and one of Siobáin’s excellent tasty bites.

The Friday evening will begin with a moonlight walk on Knockalough starting from the Upperchurch Community Centre at 7.15pm, led by Carmel Needham. Latter moonlight walk is open to all comers – bring a torch.

Further information is available from Carmel at Tel: 086-2602133.

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Tracing Corporal Ryan With Borrisoleigh Historical Society

Posted on November 15, 2013 by George

“Now every April I sit on my porch and I watch the parade pass before me.
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, renewing their dreams of past glories.
I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn, those weary old heroes of a forgotten war.
And the young people ask “What are they marching for?” and I ask myself the same question.
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda and the old men still answer the call
But year after year, their numbers get fewer, someday, no one will march there at all.”  (Lyrics Eric Bogle.)

On Wednesday November 20th, the newly formed Borrisoleigh Historical Society will hold a lecture in the local Community Centre, beside the Church, in Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary. Borrisoleigh Historical Society was formed, for the first time, back in May of this year and already boasts a local membership of over 20 lovers of Irish history. The Annual Membership fee to join this society is just €10 and the Society extend a “Céad Mile Fáilte” to everyone or anyone interested in history and researching not just local history, of which there is an enormous legacy, but Irish history in general.

Corporal-Lewis-Ryan

Corporal Lewis Ryan – Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the Argonne Forest region of France.

The Societies next meeting, on November 20th and commencing at 8.30pm sharp, promises to be interesting, and will take a close look at the life and times of Corporal Lewis Ryan, who was born in Coarsepark, Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary in 1890, under the heading; ” Corporal Lewis Ryan, US Army – Forgotten Soldier of WWI.”

This lecture will attempt to trace Corporal Ryan’s family links and his early life in Borrisoleigh, prior to emigrating to America in 1912, and also his life as an emigrant serving with the 77th Division of the American Army. Corporal Ryan lost his life in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the Argonne forest, latter a long strip of rocky mountain and wild woodland in north-eastern France, whilst leading a reconnaissance against German machine gun posts, on the 7th Oct 1918. Corporal Ryan’s body today lies buried in the Meuse-Argonne US Military Cemetery, France.

The lecture will be delivered by Mr John Flannery, latter President of Ormond Historical Society, Nenagh. Entry to this lecture is just €5 and so if you are free on the night the Society, under the Chairmanship of Michael Delaney, would love if you could attend.

Note: In another very important lecture, planned for December 10th, it is hoped to feature Mr Sean Hogan, author of the recently published “The Black and Tans in North Tipperary.” Further details of this latter event are expected to be announced later.

So make those long winter night’s shorter in the company of Borrisoleigh Historical Society, beginning on Wednesday November 20th.

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Tipperary – Upperchurch Walking Weekend Programme

Posted on November 6, 2013 by George

Upperchurch Walking Weekend Begins On Friday Next

Upperchurch
Friday Nov 8th:
Moher-Gortkelly road walk 7 km. Glown-Garnakilka road walk 10 km. Both walks start 7.30 p.m in Upperchurch and will be followed by the reception and official opening in Upperchurch hall. Traditional music in Kinnane’s afterwards.

Saturday Nov 9th:
10.00 a.m. Hills of Upperchurch walk 18 km.
12.15 p.m. Knockalough-Red Hugh walk 6, 10 or 12 km.
12.30 p.m. Eamon an Chnoic Loop 8 km.

All walks on Saturday start from Upperchurch village. There will be set dancing lessons in Ryans at 4.00 p.m. and traditional music at Jim O’ the Mills at 10.00 p.m..

Sunday Nov 10th:
11.00 a.m. Ragg to Upperchurch walk 15 km (or 8 km loop option) starting from the Ragg Lounge 5 miles from Thurles on the Nenagh Road.
11.30 a.m. Kilcommon Pilgrim Trail 10 km, including option of Mauherslieve summit, starting from Kilcommon, 5 miles west of Upperchurch.
12.00 noon. Three cycles over 25, 50 or 75 km starting Upperchurch.
12.15 p.m. Knockalough-Red Hugh walk 6, 10 or 12 km starting Upperchurch.
12.30 p.m. Eamon an Chnoic Loop 8 km starting Upperchurch.
12.30 p.m. Birchill Nature Trail 8 km Starting from P.J.Ryan’s, Rosmult, 7 miles from Thurles on the Thurles-Upperchurch road.

There will be demonstrations on the New Climbing Wall after all walks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a Bush Craft display on Sunday from 2.00pm till 5.00 p.m. The newly developed 1km walk around the local bog is now ready for use also.

For further information visit www.upperchurch.ie or phone 0504 54443 weekdays 10.00am to 2.00pm or 086 0518934 at other times.

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Thurles To Welcome Ambassador Hae-Yun Park

Posted on October 27, 2013 by George

ParkOn November 10th next, it is expected that His Excellency the Korean Ambassador Mr Hae-Yun Park, will visit Thurles, making a public appearance at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Steet, Thurles at 11:30am.

Amongst those to officially welcome the Ambassador will be His Grace Dr. Dermot Clifford Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, the Mayor of North Tipperary Co Council Councillor Mr Gerard Darcy, the Mayor of Thurles Councillor Mr Michael Grogan, the recently appointed Thurles Garda Superintendent Mr Gerard Delmar and Mr Martin Quinn latter the Tipperary Person of the Year 2013 and a member of the Tipperary International Peace Convention.

His Excellency the Korean Ambassador presented his Letter of Credence to Irish President Michael D.Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in late June of this year (Thursday 28th June).

A Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by the 1st Mechanised Infantry Company, Defence Forces Training Centre, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, under the command of Lieutenant Stephen Cunningham. The Ambassador were escorted to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Lieutenant Fergal Reilly.

There have been a number of high-level visits by Irish Government officials made to Korea in the last ten years; notable among them were the current Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 1996, the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2000 and former President Mary McAleese in 2005.

Representatives of the Munhwa Broadcasting Corp (MBC) visited Thurles in June 2011 to making a two part film documentary for Korean broadcasting, based on the Irish Potato. The representatives, led by Miss Sunyoung Lee, Film Crew Coordinator, were met by George Willoughby latter a member of the Tipperary tourism group ‘Hidden Tipperary,’ before being shown points of interest within the Thurles area, including St. Mary’s Famine museum. The recorded programme was later broadcast on Korean T.V.

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