Irish Phrase Of The Day "Cad atá ar súil agat ?" - What are you doing?
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 US President Barack Obama accepts invitation from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny Its official, US President Barack Obama has accepted an invitation from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, to visit Moneygall, latter situated on the borders of Offaly and Tipperary, here in Ireland, this coming May.
Speaking at the end of a meeting in the Oval Office with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, President Obama said he is looking forward to visiting Ireland. The President stated ‘I want to say today, that I intend to come to Ireland in May, but the date of the visit has yet to be finalised.’
He said he is ‘excited ‘ about visiting all the famous sites, but also to visit the place his great, great, great, great, great, grandfather hails from, in Moneygall. Taoiseach Enda Kenny stated the visit was a vote of confidence in the Irish people, at a time of great fiscal difficulty.
The Taoiseach assured the US President of a rapturous welcome, and said jokingly that if he wanted a round of golf he would be happy to join him.
President Obama joked back, that he had heard Mr Kenny was a good golfer, so he himself would have to practice.
On a more serious front, the US president and the Taoiseach also discussed how Ireland will bounce back from economic turmoil. Mr Obama confirmed the willingness of the United States to continue to co-operate with and give practical assistance wherever and whenever possible. “There is just an incredible bond between our two countries,” the president said from the Oval Office.” And that’s one that we want to reaffirm here today.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in the White House meeting Mr Obama today for the traditional St Patrick’s Day presentation of shamrock.
Last night, Mr Kenny addressed around 1,000 guests at the annual gala dinner of the American Ireland Fund. The American Ireland Fund is aiming to raise $100m for Irish charities by the end of 2013.
Enda Kenny’s also had meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
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 Cllr Ger Fahy, Heads to New York for St Patrick's holiday courtesy the Irish taxpayer. Following a budgetary meeting of North Tipperary County Council yesterday, it was confirmed that an allocation of €708,000 would now be granted for the upgrading of roads in Thurles and surrounding areas.
However, while our new government has cut back severely on foreign trips for St Patrick’s Day, the Limerick Leader newspaper has learnt that the Mid-Western Regional Authority, a tax-payer funded, indirectly elected organisation, based in Abbey Street, in Nenagh, Tipperary, is spending almost €5,000 to jet its chairman, Fine Gael city councillor Ger Fahy and Director Liam Conneally to New York City.
The Mid-Western Regional Authority, (Note: For over stretched taxpayers who are not up to date with current affairs.) is a ‘quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization ‘ or ‘quango‘ involved in co-ordinating the local authority areas of Counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and Limerick City. A quango is the label given to an organisation to which government has devolved power and which the new Fine Gael Government has promised to abolish.
However Councillor Ger Fahy and Director Liam Conneally commenced their trip to New York last night, (“A lot done, More to do,” or was that a Fianna Fail quote.) with the pair not due back until 24 hours after the city’s parade concludes.
During their stay in New York City, Cllr Fahy and Mr Conneally will stay in a “three-star hotel” in Manhattan, with the Fine Gael councillor joining the Limerick Association in New York for its annual parade.
According to the Limerick Leader newspaper, both men defended the trip, pointing out that during their week in the Big Apple, they will meet (Have a few Jar’s) with a variety of tourism and business agencies, including the American branches of the IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland, CIE Tours, Aer Lingus and Enterprise Ireland.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader newspaper, Cllr Fahy said: “I think its very appropriate that we travel. We have so much going for us in this region. We need to promote the Mid-West, and in particular Shannon Airport, and attract inward investment into the region. I have no doubt that it will be a very worthwhile visit.”
The American Nation, I have no doubt, will be greatly honoured by this high level visitation, however my fear is that their presence will overshadow IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland, CIE Tours, Aer Lingus and Enterprise Ireland personnel, already in place, busy handing out the leaflets.
The €5000 spent on this trip could have employed one man for two months filling potholes here in Thurles. This junketing comes as the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said yesterday that it now believed that 14.6pc of the population was unemployed, after revising the February figure of 13.5pc published last week. Unemployment has now jumped to the highest levels since 1994 as young and middle-aged men continue to lose jobs at record rates and long-term unemployment becomes the norm for those without work.
Congratulations to the Irish taxpayers of this green and pleasant land, for giving so unselfishly to the Mid-Western Regional Authority, who sanctioned this week in New York with our sponsorship money. No doubt both men will supply us with a full and detailed report of their achievements, immediately on their return.
It seems “the more things change the more they remain the same.“ God save Ireland.
 Casino Gambling Architect Mr Brian O’Connell told the third day of An Bord Pleanála’s hearing into the Tipperary Casino proposed for Two Mile Borris that the project “is predicated on the licensing regime” and would depend on the present Government’s decision regarding the upgrading of Casino Laws. “There’s a new economic opportunity within the market for providing conference facilities within a casino hotel, the one wouldn’t proceed without the other” he stated.
However, he confirmed this would not affect the rest of the proposed complex, as the horse-racing aspect of the project is supported by Horse Racing Ireland, which invited expressions of interest for the development of an all-weather track in the Munster region some years ago. Existing tracks in Thurles and Tipperary (Limerick Junction) are expected to close, if this Tipperary Venue now is given the green light.
During questioning by sustainable planning expert and barrister James Nix, representing An Taisce, Mr O’Connell stated that the urban locations of venues such as the O2 in Dublin and the Odyssey Arena in Belfast were “inappropriate“, due to the influx of large numbers of people flooding into an urban setting for a short period of time. This situation now offered “strong argument” for the building of such venues outside existing city locations.
North Tipperary County Council granted planning permission for the project last year but the case was appealed to the board by some local residents and An Taisce who expressed concerns, include the level of traffic generated by this venue. Other concerns include noise, carbon emissions, helicopter use, the distance from public transport and the sustainability of such large-scale development.
However, presently across Europe, cash-broke governments have the impression that their way to reduce widening budget defecates are by taking up online gambling, a source of revenue they once viewed with justifiable distrust. Lot of European countries are currently planning to legalize online gambling and these include Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Denmark and France. Europe is the biggest online gambling market in the world and when this business is properly taxed, it will yield billions of euros to State coffers each year.
Presently large numbers of gamblers are being attracted towards Online Casino’s for the playing of Internet Poker and are moving sharply away from the land based Casino’s, as proposed for Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Co.Tipperary. This is since tax liability, in land based Casino’s is high and most of the offshore Online Casino’s remain out of reach of the dreaded tax collector. European governments are trying to bring this now indistinguishable business into the mainstream, by regulating and taxing them and bringing back worsening finances.
The Council of the European Union last December in their ‘Conclusions on the Framework for Gambling and Betting in the EU Member States,’ reminded us that major financial contributions, in particular from State Lotteries or Lotteries licensed by competent state authorities, play an important role in society, via for example the funding of good charitable causes, as presently with our ‘National Lottery’. People have only, even in the best of times, limited funds for gamboling. Their is now a real fear of the destabilizing of our state sponsored lottery, by allowing small monopolies and private gambling operators to hijack this arena, without considering the well being of all our citizens, particularly under the guise of providing imaginary future employment and at any cost.
It is interesting also to note that those now pushing this agenda are amongst those that benefited greatly from exceptional treatment, doled out during the ‘Celtic Tiger’ era, namely those in the Horse breeding industry, e.g. “covering fee,” which the European Commission have now deemed as an illegal form of state aid.
The hearing concluded yesterday, and a decision is expected by the end of this month.
 Lives lost through road accidents this year. Congratulations must go to Thurles Gardaí for highlighting Road Safety Week in Thurles, by the erection of 183 white crosses at Turtulla near Thurles Golf Club.
Each cross represents a life lost on the roads of Ireland and stands as a visual reminder of how we all need to take greater care while driving.
Gardaí locally, also distributed 2000 free visibility safety vests and armbands, to members of the public in Thurles town over the course of the week.
The L.A.D.S. (Let’s All Drive Slower) initiative program has also been launched for local drivers who received free car stickers, as part of their commitment to drive slower on our roads.
Sobering Thought
For those of you who continue to drive drunken, unfocused, carelessly, showing no respect for the personal or public safety of others, is there any chance you might carry an Organ Donor Card. You can apply for same here or you can tick and sign the back of your current driving licences.
Your undamaged spare parts can then be removed /salvaged and come in handy in assisting others, who so greatly value that wonderful gift called ‘life‘.
Remember: Although you placed little value on your own life, after death this action will be of some small consolation to your distraught parents, grieving siblings and friends, for whom your total stupidity will also have life changing consequences.
Just a thought and well done Thurles Gardaí on your initiative.
 Michael and Joan Carew (Michael's Jewellers) present perpetual cup, for best marching band, to the St. Pat's Day Parade Committee. Pictured shows: J. Purcell , J. Pollard-Carew; M. Ryan; M. Carew and P. Durack-O'Dwyer . Thurles will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2011 on Sunday March 20th. Evenings spent planning by the town’s St Patrick’s Day Committee have ensured that the organisation of this event is well advanced and the celebrations promise to be even bigger and better than any celebration heretofore.
Music In The Square.
Music will be provided, on the band-stand in Liberty Square, by ‘The Moynihan Brothers‘, from 2.00pm to 3.00pm, and immediately after the Parade. This group is being sponsored by ‘The Club for Dancing‘. There will be a dance in The Premier Ballroom from 9.00pm to 12.00 midnight to the music of ‘Patrick O’Sullivan‘. Additional entertainment in Liberty Square, from 2.00pm, include stilt walkers, jugglers, face painters, balloon modellers, comedy etc.
The Parade And Fancy Dress.
This year there is a prize fund of up to €3,000 and a grant of up to €300 is available for any group entering a large float in the parade. Prizes include Cash, Cups, Trophies, Plaques, Shields, Crystal trophies, Ladies watch, Sony Walkman,750 Medals and lots of other prizes. Everyone is invited to take part.
 C. Burke (Thurles Shopping Centre) presents perpetual cup, for Best School entry, to St.Pat's Day Parade Committee. Picture shows: J. Kenehan (Mayor), T. Gleeson PRO, A. Broderick (Pres C of Commerce), C. Burke and J. Kennedy(Chairman NTCC). There are some special prizes for individual entries in costume or fancy dress. Schools are especially invited to take part, as there is a brand new perpetual cup this year, which has been sponsored by Thurles Town Shopping Centre. If your school can’t enter, maybe an individual class can, or alternatively a small or large group of individuals to represent the school. Please be involved and please do take part. Contact Tom Gleeson – Tel: 087-9732837.
Parking Restrictions on Sunday 20/03/2011.
Note:- From 1.00pm to 4.30pm:- No parking in Liberty Square from Executive Menswear to Fones4U and no parking from Brennan’s Pub to Hayes Hotel entrance. No parking in the centre of the Square between those areas. No traffic through this section of the Square from 2.15pm to 4.45pm. Diversions will be in operation. The viewing stand will be placed in the area between Scanlon’s and The Post Office and the band stand will be placed in the centre of the Square opposite Brennan’s Pub. Both of these areas must be clear by 10.00am on Sunday morning to facilitate parking of those lorries. No parking on the left hand side of Abbey Road from the Kennedy Park roundabout to the Railway Bridge for the period from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.
50c Bucket Collection.
The St. Patrick’s Day Committee have organised a bucket collection during the Parade on Sunday 20th March. Everyone is asked to give 50c to this collection. The collectors will be easily recognised, wearing yellow vests marked ‘St. Patrick’s Day Parade Thurles’.
The committee wish to thank all those who have helped to sponsor this year’s parade or who have helped out in any way.
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Total Donated This Year: € 100
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