ᗅᗺᗷᗅ Tribute Night – Premier Hall, Thurles

Posted on June 9, 2016 by George

ᗅᗺᗷᗅ Tribute Night in aid of Suir Haven – Mr Tommy Barrett Reports

“Moyne Road Residents Committee are delighted to announce details of their upcoming fund-raising event in aid of that wonderful Cancer Support Centre, better known as the Suir Haven Centre, situated here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

On Saturday 18th June an ᗅᗺᗷᗅ tribute band with special guest “Tina Turner Tribute“, will perform in The Premier Hall, in Thurles.

Abba Event

Pictured Above: A section of the group who attended the recent launch of this Abba event on Tipp FM Radio; recorded in the new Order of Malta Centre in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For the first time ever band “Waterloo“ bring their fabulous show to Thurles. Tickets for the night are a mere €10 and are available right now from Tony’s Shop, Ryan’s Daughter Restaurant and the Tipperary GAA Shop, latter all situated in Thurles Town. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting the box office on (089)4487657 / (0504) 22983.

To avoid disappointment, the organisers are urging people to purchase their tickets before the actual night; to be in with a chance of winning a ‘two night break away’ for two people (Bed & Breakfast) in the magnificent, 5 star Victorian Park Hotel overlooking Kenmare Bay in Kenmare, owned by the Brennan Brothers.

Note: Please ensure you give your name and number to the ticket seller; to be in with a chance to win this amazing prize, with the draw taking place on the night. Members of the organising committee will have the Box Office in the Premier Hall open each day from Monday (13th June) to Friday (17th June) from 10.00am-12 noon to facilitate ticket sales, so please do drop-in and support this worthy charity. All monies raised from the upcoming event will stay in our local Community to aid the ongoing wonderful work being undertaken by the Suir Haven Cancer Support Centre.

Truly a great night of fun and entertainment is promised. This event will allow for patrons to perform on the dance floor, while seating will be arranged for those patrons who want only to come to listen and enjoy the music.

So without delay purchase your tickets today and join us on Saturday 18th June and dance the night away to all your ᗅᗺᗷᗅ favourites.

And finally to ᗅᗺᗷᗅ (pardon the pun), “Thank You For The Music.”

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Tipperary – The Sheehy Skeffington Connection

Posted on May 12, 2016 by George

Hannah Sheehy Skeffington – Loughmore Mill, Loughmore, Templemore, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

A State commemoration ceremony for Francis Sheehy Skeffington and journalists Thomas Dickson and Patrick McIntyre, all who were executed together in Portobello Barracks (today known as Cathal Brugha Barracks), in Rathmines, Dublin, was held recently on the 26th April of this year.

It is however possibly less well known that Hanna Sheehy (1877-1946 & wife of Francis Sheehy Skeffington) lived and received her early education at Loughmore, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, at the end of the 19th century. This historic occurrence, today, closely connects the now presently inactive Loughmore Corn and Wool Tucking Mill, with this same unfortunate April 26th 1916 event.

Loughmore

Pictured L-R: (A) (L-R) Msgr. Dr. Maurice Dooley, with mill proprietors Tom, Geraldine & Tomás Larkin. (B) Existing partial interior of Sheehy’s original Mill, soon to be restored. (C) Hanna Sheehy’s original residence, as seen today.

About 1878 David Sheehy (Hanna Sheehy’s father), his wife Bessie (née McCoy), and their eldest child Hanna, came to live; renting the Mill in Loughmore. David was born in County Limerick and attended the Irish College, studying for the priesthood, in Paris with his older brother, Eugene,[*1] latter known as the ‘Land League Priest‘ and also one of Éamon de Valera’s teachers. However he (David), was sent home from Paris during an outbreak of cholera, there in 1866. On his return home he became implicated in the ill-fated Rising of 1867, after which he fled the country going to sea. After a few years he returned home and ran a mill at Kilmallock and later at Kanturk, before renting the mill at Loughmore around 1878. It was while in Kanturk that he married Bessie McCoy,[*2] who was from the region of Ballyhahill, in Co. Limerick.

[*1] In 1886 Fr Eugene Sheehy was C.C. of Kilmallock, Co. Limerick and later P.P. of Bruff. He resigned in 1909 because he had gotten into trouble with his bishop, Dr Edward Thomas O’Dwyer. He went to live with the Sheehy’s who were then living in Dublin. He was jailed in Kilmainham with Charles Stewart Parnell. He died in 1917 and is buried in Glasnevin cemetery.

[*2] Bessie’s sister Kate was Mrs Kate Barry of Barry’s Hotel, Dublin.

David and Bessie went on to have seven children, six of whom were born in the village of Loughmore, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Before the end of the century the whole family had moved to No 2. Belvedere Place, Dublin. David became Secretary to the Irish Parliamentary Party and an M.P. for Meath and later for South Galway; a post he held until the Sinn Féin landslide of 1913. James Joyce, a student at the nearby Belvedere College was a regular visitor to No 2. Belvedere Place, in 1896-1897 and he nursed a secret love for Hanna’s sister Mary, who was later married to Irish economist, journalist, barrister, writer, poet, soldier and Home Rule politician Tom Michael Kettle. Bessie died in 1917 and David around 1932/33, at the age of 86.

Before moving to Loughmore, his eldest daughter Hanna Sheehy had been born 3 years earlier in Kanturk, North Co. Cork, on the 24th May 1877.
The text hereunder is reproduced from an old newspaper clipping from the year 1938.

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Thurles Lions Club’s Annual Vintage/Classic Car Show 2016

Posted on April 26, 2016 by George

Lions2 Pictures: (1) Lions Club Poster, (2) Car actually used by Kitty Kiernan & Michael Collins, (3) Lions Club Vintage Car Emblem to be presented to all vintage cars on display.

A 1916 Ford Model T, once belonging to Larry Kiernan, brother of Kitty Kiernan and used often by both Kitty and Michael Collins, will be just one of the star viewing attractions at the forthcoming Thurles Lion’s Club Vintage & Classic Car Show on May 8th 2016 next here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

One of the principal founders of our Irish State independence and later Chairman of the Irish Provisional Government, Michael Collins was first introduced to the ‘bubbly and cheerful’ Kiernan sisters and their family, by his cousin Gearóid O’Sullivan. Gearóid was already courting Kitty’s sister Maud. Kitty, latter the fiancée of Michael Collins, planned to marry in Dublin on November 22nd 1922, in a double ceremony, to include her sister Maud and Gearóid O’Sullivan. The death of Collins four months earlier sadly however would result in only one wedding taking place, with Kitty attending same, dressed in black.

As already stated, the 1916 Ford Model T belonged to Kitty’s brother Larry and has just recently been restored. Back in 1916, it was then a new car – just of the assembly line, when it first arrived in Granard, Co. Longford, with Larry having it registered then as a hackney vehicle. Larry, trading as L.D. Kiernan, was a successful businessman in Granard, owning the Greville Arms Hotel, a shop and a licensed premises, latter which he inherited from his parents Bridget and Peter Kiernan, following both their deaths in 1908, within a couple of months of each other.

In 1916, the car drove two volunteers to Dublin including Paul Cusack, a relative of Larry Kiernan’s wife and later often collected Michael Collins from Ballywillan Railway Station, situated on the Dublin to Cavan railway line, when he visited Granard to see Kitty.

Over 35 years ago the vehicle was discovered in a field, in the Mullinlaghata/Cloncivid area of Co. Longford; in very poor condition, however, with the help of a local vintage enthusiast, the wreck was brought back to a garage in Granard and since then has been slowly and carefully restored to its original glory.

Thurles Lion’s Club Vintage, Classic Car Show
This vehicle will be just one of the many items on view at the Thurles Lions Club’s Annual Vintage/Classic Car Show and family day, to be held in Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Sunday May 8th 2016 beginning at 12:00 noon – 5:00pm.

Amongst the other attractions will be; a Dog Show; an Artisan Food Fare; Craft Stalls; a Bouncy Castle; Auto-Jumblers; Face Painting; an Obstacle Course; a Fortune Teller and a 1916 Exhibition of rarely seen artefacts, latter not just relating to that troubled period in our Irish history, but to a broader world history of that particular era, one hundred years ago.

With children under 12 years FREE and admission to adults only costing €5, this well organised event is expected to attract a large crowd of visitors to Thurles on Sunday, May 8th next.

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It’s National Pilgrim Paths Week In Co. Tipperary

Posted on March 22, 2016 by George

National Pilgrim Paths Week – March 22nd to March 29th, 2016.

Over the coming Easter 2016 period, thousands of Irish residents and foreign visitors are expected to retrace ancestral heritage as they take to Ireland’s ancient pilgrim paths to celebrate the inaugural National Pilgrim Paths Week. This Easter Festival will see a nationwide series of pilgrim walks taking place on Ireland’s medieval penitential trails. Knowledgeable local guides will lead each event, outline the story of the route and explain how medieval penitents coped with their arduous and often dangerous journeys.

Pilgrim-launch Pictured above, taken at the launch of Pilgrim Paths Week, shows (L – R): John G O’Dwyer (Thurles), Chairman of Pilgrim Paths Ireland; Diarmaid Conden, Knockmealdown Active; Isabel Cambie, Manager South Tipperary Development Company; Mark Rylands, Knockmealdown Active; Beatrice Kelly, Heritage Council and John Egan ( Drom & Inch), Secretary of Pilgrim Paths Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of the new festival, Chairman of Pilgrim Paths Ireland, Mr John G O’Dwyer stated; “National Pilgrim Paths Week was created to raise awareness and use of Ireland’s historic pilgrim routes. The event is targeted, not only at those who enjoy exploring Ireland’s ancient tracks, but also the growing number of people seeking to escape from the daily grind of life and take some time out to reflect and enjoy the outdoors.

The medieval pilgrimage was originally a journey combining prayer and sacrifice – with an element of physical discomfort – by which the pilgrim could become closer to God. In recent times, there has been a renewed interest in following the footsteps of pilgrims past and over the last number of years we in Pilgrim Paths Ireland have worked to develop these routes for the enjoyment of walkers and pilgrims alike.”

Upcoming Events In Tipperary
St. Declan’s Way: In Co Tipperary two pilgrim walks are planned for Holy Saturday, March 26th. Knockmealdown Active will retrace the footsteps of St. Declan over the scenic Knockmealdown Mountains on the border of Tipperary and Waterford. St. Declan’s Way is an ancient pilgrimage route linking the 5th century monastery of St. Declan in Ardmore, County Waterford with Cashel in County Tipperary. This event commences from Mount Melleray Abbey at 11:00am. For further information contact Kevin O’Donnell on Mobile (086) 354 1700.

Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop: On Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop the event will commence at 12:30 pm from Kilcommon Community Hall, with registration and a ‘Welcome Lecture’ by Fr. Dan Woods, P.P., (Kilcommon Parish), on the spiritual heritage of the walking route and the surrounding landscape. Further details available here by telephoning (062) 78103.

To find out more about these two events and the other nationwide series of walks for National Pilgrim Paths Week, go to website www.pilgrimpath.ie

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New Play By ‘Upland Players’, Upperchurch, Tipperary

Posted on March 12, 2016 by George

A new comedy stage play, “When Are You Going Back”, will get it’s first public showing in Upperchurch next weekend, with performances on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th at 8.00 pm each night. The play was written by American Gerry Britt, whose ancestors came from Drombane, and will be performed by the local ‘Upland Players’.

Upperchurch

Cast and crew of the comedy “When Are You Going Back” which will be staged next weekend in Upperchurch. Back Row: (L. to R.) Jim Ryan, Willie Shanahan, Joanne Ryan, Paddy Bourke, Eileen Ryan, Joe O’Dwyer, Paraic Fahey. Middle Row: Teresa Corbett, Jodie Kennedy, Sinead O’Dwyer. Front Row: Billy Clancy, Mary Harrington.

The story describes the adventures of a naive American tourist who arrives in Upperchurch to trace his roots. The main local centre of activity, Fogarty’s pub, is run by two sisters. The husband of one of them is somewhat under pressure running the business and things get very difficult following visits from the ‘Tax Man’ and a ‘Smoking Inspector’ who are both trying to close the pub. The American is unwittingly caught up in the crisis. An array of local characters and customers with locally familiar traits contribute to the whole confusion.

While the play is primarily a comedy it is interesting to see the whole local pub culture and aspects of rural life through the eyes of a visitor. The problems facing country pubs at present are also adequately demonstrated.

Production Crew
Directors – Mary Harrington and Kae Ryan (The Mill); Producer – Mairead Clancy; Set Design – Joe Clancy and P.J. Harrington; Lights – Jack Looby and Thomas Fogarty.

Cast
Bobby Ryan (the American tourist) – Jim Ryan (Glown); Brian Maher (the local man) – Billy Clancy; Paul Shanahan (horse trainer) – Ged Kelleher; Nora (his girlfriend) – Jodie Kennedy; Seanie Fogarty (the publican) – Willie Shanahan; Maureen (his wife) – Joanne Ryan; Kathleen Shanahan (her sister) – Teresa Hyland Corbett; Eamon Kenny (Revenue Sheriff ) – Joe O’Dwyer; Joan Clancy (the smoking inspector) – Eileen Ryan, (Glown); Paudie Dooley (local genealogist) – Richard Ryan, (Ballyboy); Peg (his wife) – Nonie Clancy; Second American tourist – Gerry Britt; Pub customers – Pakie Purcell, Brian Harty, Nora Ryan, Sinead O’Dwyer, Paddy Bourke, together with local musicians.

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