Glen of Aherlow Tipperary

Posted on May 26, 2013 by George

The Glen of Aherlow (Irish: Gleann Eatharlaí,) is a picturesque valley nestling between Slievenamuck and the Galtee Mountains in the western part of South Tipperary in Ireland. The principal village, in this most beautiful of visual landscapes, is Lisvernane.

Other adjacent centres of population are the villages of Galbally (on the western fringe,) Kilross (on the north west front) and Bansha (commanding the eastern approach).

Not surprisingly, this year (2013) judges from The Irish Times Best Place to Holiday in Ireland competition have chosen the Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary, from more than 1,400 entries from every county in Ireland, and placed it on their list as being one of the top five national places to visit and holiday this Summer.

Judges, demonstrating a strong preference for remote, unknown yet strikingly beautiful hidden locations, such as the Glen of Aherlow, reflect preferences which also recognises the wonderful work undertaken by local people in making the best of their natural and unspoilt resources.
(Music and Video comes courtesy of Trudi Lalor, with Lyrics written by Billy Morrissey.)

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Sarsfields GAA To Spearhead The Gathering In Thurles

Posted on May 9, 2013 by George
Thurles Sarsfield's Hurling Festival Chairman, John Enright practises his bowling.

Thurles Sarsfield’s Hurling Festival Chairman, John Enright demonstrates road bowling skills.

IPB Insurance, in association with North Tipp County Council and Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival, will lead the way for “The Gathering 2013,” here in Thurles on July 12th to 14th next.

Welcome Home And Enjoy Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The joint organisers of this year’s International Hurling Festival, under the Chairmanship of John Enright, are inviting home all Thurles people, wherever they may be, for the International Hurling Festival, now in its third successive year.

This year in particular, they are inviting back former Sarsfields Club Members and players who have been associated with this successful club in the past. They are calling on same to “Camán home for the Hurling,” on July 12th and include the Munster Final on Sunday July14th, and guaranteeing to make this a most joyful reunion for all concerned.

This year’s festival will once again be centred on the International Hurling Competitions featuring the Tom Semple Cup and Carew Cup, latter names famously associated with Thurles and the GAA.

The festival will again include road bowling, wheelchair hurling, camogie, Camán Abú and other numerous social events that are currently still being finalised and for which full details will be posted as planning progresses. For now, just put this weekend date into your diary and begin planning your visit, thus making Thurles the centre of International Hurling and a special annual weekend for all who the game.

Latest Gathering News For Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival.

(1) All the way from Salt Lake City, we welcome Fr. Paddy Carley and some 30 friends travelling here, once again, for this festival.
(2) Two filled coaches from Indianapoliis, Illinois, who will spend a week in the area, playing hurling and camogie at the festival.
(3) Mr Tom Bergin from Moyne is arriving with an enhanced group of Kilburn Gaels hoping to make it a ‘three-in-a-row,’ for the Tom Semple Cup.  (Mr John O’Riordan from Ardfurt, the Kilbrun Chairman has been rumoured as stating he is determined to keep the cup.)
(4) Seán Callanan with Dunboyne is back for the third year hoping this time it will be third-time lucky for his group.
(5) Former Sarsfields stalwarts Colm O’Rourke, Jamie Murphy and David Kerins are bringing the All-Irish speaking Setantas back again.
(6) Ger Collins, former Tipp County Minor, is bringing back Naoimh Moninne for the third time. Louth are also sending a road bowling team to compete in the Cusack Cup.
(7) McCormack is a name very much associated with Thurles Sarsfields. The McCormack clan from Keady are coming back a third time expecting this time to win the Tom Semple trophy. They also have strong ambitions with regard to road bowling.
(8) Mayo are coming with a huge contingent, Toureen ( Carew Cup Holders ) and Castlebar for the hurling,  Ballina for Camán Abú and Westport for Road Bowling. David Hughes and Peter Goggin are the current Interprovincial ‘Michael Cusack Cup,’ champions. Mr Adrian Hession, the Mayo development officer, is the driving force here.
(9) We have a second Setanta team from the Gaeltacht in Donegal, giving us our second Irish speaking team.
(10) Ballyduff and Causeway are our two Kerry teams. It’s great to see two traditional clubs from North Kerry joining us.
(11) North Cork are arriving representing the birth place of Dr. Croke, Kilbrin.
(12) Last year Manorhamilton became the first Leitrim team to hurl in Thurles and Mr Steve Feeney is bringing them back this year for more of the same.
(13) Damian O’Doherty and Na Magha from Derry are coming back again and very welcome indeed.
(14) Fulham Irish from London, under Mr Michael Ruby from Kilshannig in North Cork will be the third London club to take part in the Tom Semple Cup.
(15) It is great to see Naas hurling manager Pat English bring his native Carlow club Ballykellin to this year’s festival.
(16) Another new entrant this year is the Rialto club from Dublin under Mr David Broderick.
(17) Bernie O’Dowd and Louise Lanigan, Thurles Sars Camogie, and Deirdre Murphy from the Munster Council are organising a senior seven-aside camogie tournament in St Patrick’s college, the latter I hasten to add is a fantastic addition to this Thurles Festival.

All in all, this year’s festival promises to be the biggest and best to date, so do stay tuned as we continue to keep you up to date with all events planned, as same are confirmed here on Hidden Tipperary and our sister website Thurles.Info.

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Huge Attendance For Pilgrim Trails Book Launch

Posted on March 28, 2013 by George
Pilgrim Paths In Ireland Launch

“Pilgrim Paths In Ireland,” Launch

The latest publication, penned by Tipperary author John G. O’Dwyer, entitled “Pilgrim Paths in Ireland,” was launched last night in the Watermill, Thurles, before an overflow attendance representing hill-walkers, community organization and friends of the author from across County Tipperary and further afield. With standing room only for many of his audience, John G  presented a captivating slide show on his recent pilgrim journey showing real passion and a magnificent depth of understanding for Ireland’s wild and beautiful upland terrains. In vivid detail he described his journey from Slemish Mountain in the northeast of Ireland, where Christianity had its first dawning in Ireland, to Skellig Michael in the Southwest, where the known world was once believed to end.

Later in his keynote address, long time pilgrim walker, Fr Tomas O’Connell, who has competed the entire Camino Pilgrim Trail, spoke of the restless search for spirituality that continues right into the modern age and is now expressing itself, as increasing numbers return to walking the great medieval pilgrim paths. He also spoke of the wonderful descriptive writing that was such a feature of this new publication and stated that it would make readers immediately anxious to walk the trails described.

In launching the book, veteran hillwalker and radio broadcaster, Jim Finn spoke emotionally on the theme of giving and said John G and his wife Carmel had given so much that was valuable to all present and that with this new book the author was extending this giving, to all who loved the Irish countryside.

After the launch there was much favourable comment on how each pilgrim journey described, painted in words an entertaining and compelling narrative in itself. Throughout the book, the author carefully recounts, sometimes in humorous detail, his own personal experiences and feelings, as he completes each individual pilgrim route and the many idiosyncratic characters he encountered along the way.

Certainly it is a  publication that appears destined to  be quickly ‘snapped up,’ by organisations, clubs and  societies, anxious to raise charitable funding for worthwhile projects by organizing sponsored walks along these ancient routes, which through this book are now become accessible to all.

A founding member of Mid-Tipp Hill Walkers, John G. O’Dwyer has spent a quarter century leading, not just large groups through the Irish scenic uplands, but also mountain climbing groups in the UK, Europe and Africa. In 2012, John not only researched, he also   walked every step of the ancient pilgrim trails of Ireland and this experience has enabled him  to produce a comprehensive, readable and thoroughly entertaining guide to Ireland’s mystical trails, suitable for pilgrims, walkers, history lovers or those merely seeking an informative and most entertaining read.

Publication is available from all leading book stores.

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St Mary’s Church Thurles Tipperary – Carols By Candlelight

Posted on December 17, 2012 by George

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

The annual ecumenical service “Carols by Candlelight,” will take place in St Mary’s Church, Thurles, Co Tipperary on Friday next December 21st at 8.00pm.

Music for this seasonal event will be directed by local, well known Thurles organist Mr John O’Gorman and will feature recording artists & former rock Band “Cephas,” (Latter Noreen, Edward & JJ Cullinane), well known recorded ‘Tenor,’ Michael Molumby, Miss Rachel Willoughby, & published Poet Mrs Joan Pollard Carew.

Carols by Candlelight

One of the earliest forms of “Carols by Candlelight,” began in the 19th century, when Cornish Miners working in Moonta, South Australia would gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols, lit with candles stuck to the brims of their safety helmets. This tradition spread through Victoria and Melbourne until it was popularised in 1938 by Norman Banks, a radio announcer, then with a Melbourne radio station. Story goes that whilst walking home from his night-time radio shift on Christmas Eve in 1937, he passed a window and saw inside an elderly woman sitting up in bed, listening to ‘Away in a Manger,’ being played on the radio and singing along, with her face being lit by candlelight. Wondering how many others spent Christmas alone, he had the idea to gather a large group of people to all sing Christmas carols together by candlelight. The first ever such event was held in Alexandra Gardens the following Christmas, 1938, and was attended by around 10,000 people.

Doors to St Mary’s Church will open at 7.15 pm to ensure that elderly people attending will be offered suitable seating for this event, which will also feature performances from Thurles Chamber of Commerce and other Community leaders in Thurles and its environs.

All are welcome to attend this free, no ticket seasonal concert.

A collection will be taken during this special Church Christmas seated concert event, proceeds from which go to the Annual overseas C of I Bishop’s Appeal Fund.

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Best Shop Front Thurles Finalist De Búrca’s Pub

Posted on November 15, 2012 by George

De Búrca’s Pub, Cathedral Street, Thurles, Tipperary.

It comes as no great surprise to many tourists & Thurles residents that De Búrca’s Pub, positioned in Cathedral Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary, has been chosen as one of the finalist, in this years ‘Best Presented Shop Front Award 2012.’

Deirdre Cox, (Environmental Awareness Officer ) of North Tipperary County Council has notified Refresh Thurles, that of the possible 17 Thurles premises nominated for the County Council’s Best Presented Shop Front Award 2012, De Búrca’s Pub has been successfully selected as a finalist.

(Click on Image, left, for larger picture.)

The overall winners of the finalist nominations are expected to be announced at an Environmental Awards Ceremony to be held on November 19th next, and at which the current understandably proud proprietor M/s Marie Bourke is expected to attend.

De Búrca’s licensed hostility opens seven nights a week and is viewed by locals and visitors as the ideal cosy location for that quiet drink, where cosy conversation is assured to materialize uninterrupted. This traditional premises in Thurles is still one of just a few pubs now in the town, which still provide that cosy and welcoming old style open fire, which down through the years has been so welcoming to those travelling.

Remember also, that each Friday, the lovers of traditional Irish music are kept fully entertained, starting from 10.00pm each Friday night.
[mappress mapid=”15″]

Click on P (Pub) Tag on Map for Directions by road, cycling, driving or hiking.
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