Rubberbandits Attend Thurles Games Fleadh

Posted on February 18, 2012 by admin

RubberBandits: The Revenge of Stephen Forward

Get those plastic supermarket bags at the ready folks, comedic duo the RubberBandits are coming to Thurles in March next, but not in the way one might expect.

The Bandits are about to launch their very first video game and attendees at Thurles’ Annual Games Fleadh this coming March will be given the opportunity to sample this game for the very first time.

RubberBandits: The Revenge of Stephen Forward is an iOS and Android game, the brainchild of the Bandits themselves, aided and abetted by Limerick based development studio “Open Emotion Studios.”

The game will feature scenarios specially written by the crazy mad Bandits themselves, including a cameo from “Willie O’DJ,” who must be freed from prison for “assaulting,” a dole queue.

The game will debut first at Games Fleadh 2012, Ireland’s largest Computer and Console Games Programming Festival, this March 14th and 15th in LIT Tipperary Institute in Thurles. Punters will be able to sample a demo of the game and get their first taste of classic Bandit humour on iOS and Android platforms.

Gamers coming to Thurles for this Console Games Programming Festival do please take note, the two hotels in Thurles, both which are within 15 minutes and 6 minutes walking distance of this two day event, are offering a very special overnight accommodation rates to all visitors.

Hayes Hotel  Accommodation Rates are as follows:-
Single Room plus breakfast €40.00 inc, Twin Room plus breakfast €70.00 inc, Triple Room plus breakfast €90.00 plus breakfast inc.

Anner Hotel  Accommodation Rates are as follows:-
Single Room plus breakfast €45.00 inc, Twin Room plus breakfast €80.00 inc, Triple Room plus breakfast €100.00 plus breakfast inc.

Accommodation during this Annual Gaming Festival will be at a premium, so all you mad gaming enthusiasts do please be warned, book your space as soon as possible, and enjoy this major annual Irish gaming event.

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Thurles Irish European Town of Sport 2012

Posted on December 14, 2011 by George

The picture hereunder, taken at the European Capital of Sport Association Awards Ceremony in Brussels shows:
Front Row: (left to right) Sean Kelly MEP, Phil Prendergast MEP and Cllr John Kennedy, Mayor of Thurles.
Back Row: (left to right) Michael Ryan Thurles Town Clerk, Brian Keating Regional Development Manager Shannon Development and Kevin O’Connor New Business Development Manager at Shannon Development.

European Capital of Sport Association Awards Ceremony in Brussels.

Speaking about the significance of the award for Thurles, Mr Brian Keating, Shannon Development’s Regional Manager for Tipperary and Offaly stated: “We are delighted to be the first town in Ireland to be awarded the title of European Town of Sport for 2012, following a successful submission from Shannon Development, North Tipperary County Council, LIT Tipperary and North Tipperary Sports Partnership. This award comes at a time when Limerick’s reign as a European City of Sport 2011 draws to a close.”

A county steering group will now be put in place to construct a programme of events for the coming year to celebrate this European recognition. It is estimated that properly promoted, sports events in the Shannon Region could generate an estimated €70m in revenue this year.

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Thurles Co Tipperary Is European Town Of Sport For 2012

Posted on November 13, 2011 by George

Thurles, Co Tipperary has been awarded European Town of Sport for 2012. The news was conveyed to Thurles Mayor, Mr John Kennedy, in a communication received by him yesterday, from ACES: European Capital of Sport Association.

The communication reads as follows:-

My Dear Mayor Kennedy,
Firstly we would like to thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality that we received during our visit to Thurles.

The inspection team were delighted to witness the huge range of sports offered to the people of Thurles, there truly is something for everyone to engage in

Thurles Mayor Mr J.Kennedy NT CC.

and get active. We also noted the important role played by volunteers in the delivery of sport for the community and it is fair to say that the people of Thurles should be delighted that they have such active citizens delivering for them.
We also noted the excellent local sports partnership working, and the role it plays in promoting sport and participation by those who are unrepresented or marginalised and the promotion of the sport and physical activity at schools.

The facilities that we, the inspection team, saw were also very impressive, particularly for a small town and many a city would be proud to boast of such a portfolio.

The history and links with the Gaelic Athletic Association, in Thurles is tremendous and the fact that a 50,000 capacity stadium is here is testament to a long heritage of sporting tradition. To borrow an old sporting quote,” Thurles does indeed punch above its weight.”

To conclude, it therefore gives us great pleasure to award Thurles the European Town of Sport for 2012.

Signed: Blane Dodds (President ACES UK). John Swanson (Vice President ACES EUROPE). Jim Logue (Hon. President ACES UK).

Mayor Kennedy will now travel to an award ceremony in the European Parliament in Brussels on November 30th next, to receive the award on behalf of the people of Thurles.

Hidden Tipperary would like to congratulate and thank Mayor Kennedy for his tremendous work in supporting this achievement.

The Objective of the European Capital of Sports Award is an ethical commitment, conscious of the social function that sport has as linking factor between the physical well being of individuals, the general improvement in their quality of life and the harmonious integration of society.

The European Town of Sports Award is an incentive for local administrations and their sport departments to fulfil a fundamental and decisive role in the making of the fabric that contributes to improving the general level of health of the inhabitants in a country, through the culture of healthy and physical exercise.

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Sixth Annual Winter Walking Weekend At Upperchurch

Posted on November 12, 2011 by George

Upperchurch - Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The scenic upland village of Upperchurch, near Thurles, Co Tipperary will celebrate their sixth successful annual ‘Walking Weekend,’ this Saturday and Sunday, with a variety of walks to suit all levels of physical fitness, and for the first time this event will feature a leisurely family cycle over 25 km.

Other social event will take place over the weekend also, including traditional music sessions and set dancing lessons, not to mention good old sing alongs and a chance to meet old friends and make new ones.

A reception tonight (Friday) will feature interesting and entertaining speakers, covering a variety of topics. Gearóid Fitzgibbon will give an account of his humanitarian work in Palestine working for the U.N., while Thurles man, Tom Carey, will discuss and demonstrate essential cycle maintenance. Other speakers will discuss and show photographic slides related to their varied mountain walking experiences on Kilimanjaro, Ben Nevis, the Atlas Mountains and Mont Blanc.

Many successful entries from the primary and post primary school’s poster competition will also be on display over this weekend with winners being announced tonight.

This year the longest and most difficult walk will be the 18km “Hills of Upperchurch Route,” taking place on Saturday morning, beginning at 10.00 am sharp. This walk is only suitable for very fit experienced walkers and features several steep climbs and a rope assisted descent. But of course there are also eight other less difficult walks which can also be enjoyed, by the less “fleet of foot,”as part of this most enjoyable of upland weekends.

If you like good company, chat, an event which can be shared by all the family, easy exercise, great entertainment and a personal challenge, then Upperchurch is the place to be this weekend.

Weekend Events Program in Upperchurch

Friday Nov. 11th. 8.30 pm: Reception and official opening in Upperchurch Hall. Guest Speakers. Poster competition entries winners announced.

Sat. Nov. 12th. 10.00 am: Hills of Upperchurch Walk. (18 km -Time approx 6 hrs.) 12.00 noon. Red Hugh and Knockalough Walks – 6 km and 10 km – Time approx 2hrs and 3 hrs. 12.30 pm. Eamon an Chnoic Loop. (8 km – Time approx 2 ½ hrs.) Entertainment: 5.00 pm. Set dancing lessons. 9.30 pm. Traditional music session.

Sun. Nov 13th. 11.00 am: Lowland Mystery Tour. Starting Rosmult on the Thurles-Upperchurch road. (14 km – Time Approx 4½ hrs.)
12.00 noon: Red Hugh and Knockalough Walks. 12.30 pm: Eamon an Chnoic Loop. 12.30 pm: Birchill Nature Trail. Start Rosmult.
1.00 pm: Begins the 25 km Leisurely Family Cycle. Starting in Upperchurch. Note: Cycling Helmets compulsory and all children must be accompanied by adult.

Registration Fees: All walks and the Family Cycle are:- Adults €10, Children €5 euro. Costs include complimentary refreshments at all events.

Enjoy your visit, but remember, as in all walking adventures, do bring stout walking shoes, a camera, suitable rain wear, a snack and fluid.

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Eucharistic Congress Bell to visit Tipperary

Posted on November 3, 2011 by George

Eucharistic Congress Bell

The theme of the next International Eucharistic Congress is “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.” This Congress will be held in Dublin from 10th June – 17th June 2012.

As part of the preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress, the Eucharistic Congress Bell is being brought on pilgrimage throughout all the dioceses of Ireland. Many of you may even have encountered the bell at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy recently.

The Eucharistic Congress Bell is a key symbol of this 50th International Eucharistic Congress. From its origins in the Dominican Convent of Portstewart, Co. Derry, the Bell was more recently used to ring in the Jubilee Year 2000, in Glendalough, in Co. Wicklow.

For centuries bells have been used by all religious denominations as a call to prayer, and as a call to gather. The tolling of the church bell alerted people to pray, to come together as a community with a common purpose in mind.

This bell is currently in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly and will be arriving in Thurles this coming weekend. It will reflect the invitation to faith, to prayer, to reconciliation and to mission which has always been important in our Christian tradition and is no less so today.

The bell’s itinerary during its visit to Thurles is as follows:

Saturday 5th November:
6.30pm – Mass in Bóthar Na Naomh. 7.30pm – Mass in the Cathedral.

Sunday 6th November:
9.00am – Mass in Bóthar Na Naomh. 11.00am – Folk Mass in the Cathedral.
12.15pm – Mass in the Cathedral. 2.00pm – St Patrick’s Cemetery
3.00pm – St Mary’s Cemetery. 4.00pm – Killinan Cemetery.
5.00pm – Community Hospital of the Assumption.
7.00pm – Evening Prayer Bóthar Na Naomh Church.

Monday 7th November 2011: – The Bell visits all Secondary Schools in Thurles.
9.00am – Presentation Secondary School. 10.00am – Ursuline Secondary School. 11.00am – CBS Secondary School. 12.00 noon – Coláiste Mhuire Co Ed.

The Eucharistic Congress Bell will depart for the diocese of Limerick at 1.30pm on Monday 7th November.

For more information on the passage of this bell throughout Co. Tipperary why not visit the International Eucharistic Congress website

Our thanks to Fr. Tomás O’Connell and Fr. Martin Hayes who provided us with the above information.

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