Thurles & Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon 2012

Posted on October 2, 2012 by George

Last Sunday’s Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon here in Thurles (European Town of Sport for 2012) was without doubt a resounding success.
The forecast of heavy rain & wind, accurately predicted by Met Eireann, arrived as expected somewhat spoiling the race warm up which began under the expert guidance of Thurles Leisure Centre fitness instructors Maria and Serena, in the grounds of LIT Tipperary. However this in no way dampened the spirits of the 1,246 women who gathered to enter the 2012 Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon organised by North and South Tipperary Sports here in Thurles. As the Moycarkey Pipe Band led the participants up to the ‘Start Arch,’ positioned on the Jimmy Doyle road, the rain cleared away and thankfully continued in that mode for the remaining part of the day.

Catherina McKiernan addressed the crowd just before the start, saying how delighted she was to be back in Tipperary for her second Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon, and wished everybody the best of luck. Mayor of Thurles local Cllr Michael Cleary then welcomed everyone to Thurles while the Mayor of South Tipperary County Council, Cllr John Crosse also welcomed the runners and wished all participants the best of luck. North Tipperary Councillor, John Hogan, then blew the starting whistle to commence the 2012 Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon.

Some thirty five minutes later the first runners were back and entering the grounds of LIT Tipperary. In first place was Nenagh’s Siobhan Doherty, in a chip time of 35.51 followed very quickly by Catherina McKiernan in a chip time of 36.14. Third place went to Clonmel AC’s Angela McCann in 37.58, while fourth position went to Claire Annan in a time of 39.47. In fifth position was Aine Roche in a time of 41.00 and in sixth place was Marie Fitzgibbon in just 41.06.

All commented that the route was very fair and much less hilly than the 2010 route used previously in Thurles.

All the participants taking part, between runners, joggers and walkers were back in a time of less than 2 hours and 5 mins, which is faster than previous years and perhaps an indication of the continued success of the ‘Meet and Train,’ groups around Co Tipperary.

The 2012 Tipperary Mini Marathon was supported by a groundswell of local businesses and civic organisations. There was huge praise for the superb organisation and months of careful preparation from the hard working committee who were led by Elaine Cullinan and Valerie Connolly of NTSP and STSP. The organising committee included representatives from both Sport’s Partnerships, Thurles Town Council, LIT Tipperary, Thurles Gardaí, Tipperary County Athletics, Thurles Crokes AC, Tipp FM Radio and North Tipperary Civil Defence.

If you are interested in taking part next year get started now, with helpful advice to be found HERE.

For further details on these groups in North and South Tipperary, do check out www.ntsp.ie and www.stsp.ie
Photographs courtesy G.Willoughby, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

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Downton Abbey From A Tipperary Perspective

Posted on September 19, 2012 by George

A major new & rare exhibition entitled “Downton Abbey, A Tipperary Perspective.” comes to Thurles. The TV series Downton Abbey is set on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, home to the Earl and Countess of Grantham which follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of King George V.

On Friday next St. Mary’s Famine Museum, Thurles will feature this new previously unseen exhibition, which will open to the public for just two weeks beginning Friday September 21st, & continuing until Friday October 5th, inclusive. The event is being kindly sponsored by Thurles Centenary Co-Op & Thurles Fresh Milk.

The exhibition can be viewed during Thurles Famine Museum’s normal opening hours which are 10.00am – 5.00pm. The Museum will feature a special lecture tour of the exhibition starting sharp at 8.00pm on Saturday night next, September 22nd. Total cost of admission to this unique Tipperary exhibition is a mere €2 which also incorporates a chance to examine the Famine Museum, latter which boasts the largest amount of original memorabilia, pertaining to the Great Famine (1845 – 1849), anywhere in the world.

This current new exhibition is also a must for Primary, Secondary & Third Level history students, who will find this ‘primary resource,’ of huge interest & in keeping with the current education curriculum which encourages students to become involved in all such source activity.
The exhibits on display will include household goods, clothing & shoe fashion, including Flapper dresses of the early 20th century period, which had their origins in the period of Liberalism, social and political turbulence and an increased transatlantic cultural exchange, which followed the end of World War I.

Also on show are Military costumes, some dating back before 1900 from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in Surrey, together with rare memorabilia from the Gallipoli Campaign (1915 -1916). Hand guns, Military medals, including two rare military crosses, never before viewed by the public, will also be part of this unique exhibition. Each of the over 100 exhibits displayed all contain a strong Tipperary connection. If sufficient interest is shown in this exhibition by the public and all Tipperary people at large, same will become a permanent exhibition here in Thurles next year, thus adding greatly to the prospects of future tourism in our town.

Downton Abbey & Tipperary – The Similarities

The first series of the TV Downton Abbey drama spanned the two years before the Great War, (WW1) beginning with news of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, which set the story in motion. The second series covered the years 1916 to 1919, and the 2011 Christmas Special covered the 1919 Christmas period, ending in early 1920. The third series has just now returned to our screens, beginning last Sunday on ITV and will begin tonight on TV3.
Created by Julian Fellowes and set in the early 20th century, “Downton Abbey,” boasts an all-star cast, including Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham), Jim Carter (Mr. Carson), Brendan Coyle (Mr Bates), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley), Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) and my own favourite Oscar, Tony, BAFTA and Emmy award winning actress the great Dame Maggie Smith, DBE, together with Oscar and Golden Globe winning actress Shirley Maclaine.
Since its premier in September 2010, “Downton Abbey,”” has been met with critical acclaim and has been awarded some of TV’s most prestigious awards including two BAFTAs, six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe and Best Drama in the National Television Awards. “Downton Abbey,” also holds the record for the most nominated non-American show in Prime-time Emmy history, with 16 nominations since 2011.

Some critics claim that historically the series is not truly accurate, especially with regard to the close interaction between servants & the owners of the “Big House.” However, to prove the critics somewhat incorrect in this claims & their current understanding, please see a report from a correspondent of the Tipperary Star, who wrote on September 10th 1910, as follows:-

PLEASANT NIGHT AT MOYALIFF
“On Saturday night the working men on the Moyaliff estate presented Mr Wm. M. Armstrong, only son of Captain Marks B. Armstrong of Moyaliff, Thurles, with a valuable silver cup and illuminated address on the occasion of his coming of age. Mr. Matthew Kennedy presided and spoke at length on the interest the Armstrong family always took in the welfare of their workmen and servants, and the friendly relations that always existed between Mr. Armstrong, his tenants, and neighbours, and he had great pleasure in making the following presentation, which was numerously signed:-
To Wm. M. Armstrong, Esq., 10th Hussars: “We, the workmen on the Moyaliff estate, offer you our most hearty congratulations on the occasion of your coming of age, and we beg you to accept the accompanying silver cup as a small token of the affection we entertain for you. We hope and pray that you may have a long and happy life, and that success will crown your career in the noble profession to which you belong. Assuring you of our constant devotion and interest in your welfare.”
Mr. Armstrong entertained the workmen and neighbours to dinner at 6.30, and at 7.30 threw open a spacious hall, beautifully decorated, where over two hundred people spent a very pleasant night dancing and singing. Mr. and Misses Armstrong remained for a portion of the night and took part in and enjoyed the performance. The principal contributors of songs were:- Miss M. Ryan, Miss C. Long, Messrs J. McGlen, J.Boyle, J. Mahony, and D. Hayes. Mr. Hayes was inimitably funny with his comic songs, while Miss B. McCarthy’s exhibition of step dancing was a rare treat in itself. Misses M. Kennedy, J. Gleeson, C. Hayes, and J. Hayes were busily engaged distributing refreshments and catering for the ladies. Dancing continued until 5.30 on Sunday morning, and many toasts were proposed and honoured to Captain Armstrong and family.”

Do enjoy the magnificent Downton Abbey series beginning on TV3 tonight and if you get the opportunity call to St.Mary’s Famine Museum on Saturday night next at 8.00pm sharp or over the next fortnight, to view the Tipperary version.
The museum would like to thank Paul Scully, (Thurles Photo Station) Friar Street, Thurles & Paddy Stakelum (Stakelums Men’s Wear) also in Friar Street, Thurles for their particular expertise in assisting with the setting up of the exhibition.

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Holycross Novena 2012

Posted on September 7, 2012 by George

Matthew 11:V28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Such continues to be the welcome invitation, extended to all who attend the annual Holycross Novena, which begins tomorrow (September 8th) and will continue until Sunday September 16th, at the historic Holycross Abbey, Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The event will see clergy / preachers arrive from all over Ireland, together with some 65,000 pilgrims from both home and abroad, who will attend this event, many seeking guidance or assistance through prayer, through reflection and relaxation. Many pilgrims will be seeking answers to problems being experienced in their troubled lives during these difficult times, not just in Ireland but worldwide. Many more will return to give their thanks, but all will enjoy a social side, meeting up a year later to chat and interact through past friendships.

Devotions and Mass will take place at:- 7:00am, 10:30am, 4:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm each weekday, with devotions on Sunday 9th taking place at 7:00am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm. There will be no 12:30pm devotions on Sunday 16th, while an Anointing of the Sick ceremony will take place on Saturday September 15th at 2:00pm and a Special Mass for Youth will take place on Saturday 15th at 7:30pm.

Note: A Blessing of Infants will be held on Sunday 16th at 2:30pm, and of course confessions will be heard before, during and after each session of this Novena, with the exception of Sunday.

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Hidden Tipperary Photography Competition

Posted on August 15, 2012 by George

Picture shows: John O'Gorman (Tiperary Libraries), Thomas Noone (Thurles Credit Union), Mary Guinan-Darmody (Tipperary Libraries) and Michael Fogarty (Templemore CU).

The Credit Unions of Tipperary and Tipperary Libraries are once again offering all photographers an opportunity to showcase their work, promote Tipperary and put themselves in line for a share of a €1,200 prize fund. The theme of the competition this year is “Hidden Tipperary,” and photographs should be of areas or scenes which give a taste of the many facets of our county, but which are not well-known to the general public. The important thing is that they show Tipperary at its best.

The Credit Unions of Tipperary have produced an annual calendar for a number of years, a project that has proven extremely popular, with many thousands being distributed free throughout the county and further afield. Similarly, Tipperary Libraries have always encouraged photographers to showcase their talents through competitions based on a number of themes highlighting the many attractions of County Tipperary. They have mounted a number of significant exhibitions in recent years and aim to continue this promotion of the arts into the future.

Last year, both organisations joined forces to broaden the scope of the competition and the outcome was a calendar featuring the “Gardens and Parks of Tipperary,” which was widely regarded as the best of its kind to date.

Entries are now invited from all who have an interest in photography and in the hidden beauty of their home place. The hidden beauty in this case will be in the eye and camera lens of the beholder. It can take many forms, a quiet glen, a colourful river valley, a gathering place for family enjoyment or a scenic view from a hilltop, may include animals or people but should not contain any easily identifiable landmark.

Four major prizes, to the value of €1,200, will be awarded and at least 36 of the entries will be chosen for publication in the calendar for 2013. In addition, as many of the photos as possible will be on display in branch libraries around the county and on a specially commissioned website set up to promote Tipperary.

The competition is open to anyone with an interest in County Tipperary. Entry details and competition rules are available from participating credit unions and from branches of Tipperary Libraries throughout the county.

Pictures may be submitted electronically in a format which will give a high-resolution end-product to mytipperary@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can submit your picture or pictures in hard copy or on disc to your local credit union or Branch Library in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Photography Competition 2012.”

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International Miss Macra Festival 2012

Posted on July 23, 2012 by George

It’s that time of year again when Clonoulty Rossmore Macra na Feirme are delighted to announce details of this year’s International Miss Macra Festival, which will take place over the coming August Bank Holiday weekend, beginning from Thursday August 2nd to Monday August 6th.

The slide-show hereunder captures just a little of the action and enormous fun, generated over this four day event, which is now celebrating it’s 41st successive year as a rural County Tipperary festival.

After the very successful 40th anniversary of this prominent festival last year, this year sees a new revamp, with many firsts. Once again this year’s festival will see girls travelling from all over the country and beyond, gathering here to Co. Tipperary to compete for the honour of being crowned International Miss Macra 2012, with dreams of succeeding to the title previously held by last year’s very worthy winner Sarah-Louise Healy from Muskerry Macra Club in Cork.

The luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, described as an oasis in the Golden Vale & sets the perfect scene for those who seek relaxation and fun. The hotel which recently was winner of the Certificate of Excellence 2012, has once again been chosen as the prominent venue for this year’s festival.

The committee would like to send an enormous ‘Thank You,’ to all their sponsors, host families and local businesses who continue year after year to generously support the festival. Sponsors in particular to be thanked are Dundrum House Hotel, Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, Tipperary Co-Op and Gleeson Concrete, to name but a few.

Continue reading →

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