Tomas Gleeson reports on forthcoming St. Patrick’s Day activities in Thurles.
This years St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Thurles will be held on Sunday the 21st of March
The Parade leaves from Abbey Road at 2.45pm and all participants in this years Parade should be in Abbey Road by 2.15pm. John Kenehan and Martin Taylor, with the help of some stewards, will be in charge of starting the Parade.
St Patrick's Day Parade - 21st March in Thurles
The Parade, with ten bands which promises to be one of our biggest parades ever, will head down Friar Street and on to Liberty Square where the reviewing-stand will be in position.
At the same time as the Parade is starting in Abbey Road, a blessing of the Parade and its participants will take place in Liberty Square and this will be followed by the band playing our National Anthem.
A full afternoon’s entertainment has been organised for that day and it promises to be an enjoyable afternoon for all the family. There is music and dance in Liberty Square from 2.15pm to the music of ‘The Moynihan Brothers’. There are also face painters, a balloon modeller, stilt walkers, magic, comedy etc. to entertain both adults and children. This entertainment will continue after the Parade, until approximately 5.00pm.
Prize Fund
A prize fund of up to €3,000 will see over 20 prizes and 700 medals been given out on the day. The prizes will be presented at a ceremony in Hayes Hotel at 4.45pm approximately. Prizes will also be awarded for the best dressed window and for the best Irish window. All shops are asked to decorate their premises appropriate for the occasion.
Well done to the business community in Thurles, who have contributed so generously to the funding of this Parade. Sponsorship continues to be accepted and all such sponsorship will be acknowledged. Stewards are required for the period from 2.15pm to 5.00pm to help out on the day of the Parade. Please report to Jimmy Purcell (Chief Steward) at the reviewing stand at 2.15pm if you are willing to help out. Show your support and bring along your Irish flags or hats and add a bit of colour to the day. Many of the prizes will be on display in McMahon’s window in Liberty Square until Saturday 20th March. All spectators are asked to donate 50c towards the running of the Parade and a bucket collection for this purpose will be taken up during the Parade. For further information, entries or sponsorship please contact Tom Gleeson (Telephone 087-9732837) or visit the web site www.stpatricksdayparadethurles.com
Parking and Traffic Restrictions
From 11am to 4.45pm:- No parking in Liberty Square from Executive Menswear to Fones4U. 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 outside The First Active and the band stand will be placed in the centre of the Square opposite Brennan’s Pub. Both of these spaces should be clear by 10am on Sunday morning. No parking on the left hand side of Abbey Road from the Kennedy Park round-about to the Railway Bridge
for the period from 2pm to 4pm.
See you all in Liberty Square, on Sunday the 21st of March.
We broke the news first last week regarding Olly Murs intended visit and live performance at HQ Nightclub.
Tonight about 30 minutes ago, the HQ Nightclub web site ( www.nightclubhq.com ) officially confirmed that Olly Murswill be performing live at their venue here in Thurles on May 4th, 2010, with support from Diane Sullivan and Pat Fitz.
Olly Murs
Tickets for this event will go on sale from this Thursday, March 4th, from 3.00 pm at the Arch Bar, Liberty Square, Thurles.
It’s true folks, we have it on very good authority, that the X Factor star Olly Murs has signed a contract to appear in Nightclub HQ in Thurles within the coming weeks.
When contacted separately today HQ Nightclub promoters, Pat Hayes and John Quinn were keeping silent, both refusing to either confirm or deny that Olly is booked to appear.
However sources close to Thurles.Info and within the music business have confirmed that the X Factor star will make an appearance within the coming weeks.
This news comes when just yesterday Olly received the ultimate compliment to his talents, when X-Factor guru and music industry mogul Simon Cowell, signed Olly up for two exclusive record deals with his record company Syco Music and Epic Records.
Sonny Takhar, managing director of Simon’s label, told BBC Newsbeat: “We are thrilled to be involved with Olly. As an artist he ticks every box.”
Despite finishing a close second to Joe McElldery in last year’s X-Factor final, Essex boy Olly Murs has more than convinced both UK and Irish audiences alike of his tangible star quality, helped considerably by his instinctively savvy stage performances, his naturally cool growling rock/pop vocal and his cheeky chappy mischievous grin.
This boys got talent, there’s no doubt about it. Girls want him and guys want to be him.
Olly’s currently hitting arenas and venues in the UK and Ireland as part of the X-Factor live tour but it looks like he’s being coaxed away from his busy schedule to make this appearance in Thurles’ own premier nightspot, HQ Nighclub.
Should these rumours be true, and our money says it is, it represents a major coup for HQ Nighclub and Thurles town and will be a night out not to missed.
I for one will be keeping an eye on www.nightclubhq.com and thanking the Man above that my membership is up to date.
Forget the X-Factor Olly, you’ve now got the Nightclub HQ Factor.
Hereunder, is a brief sneak preview of shows planned for February 2010, at the Source Arts Centre here in Thurles.
Yes indeed, February promises to be an exiting month for all who enjoy their night out to the Theatre.
February 3rd.
The Twitters
The Twitters’ live performance presents children with classic songs like Nelly the Elephant, Puff the Magic Dragon, There’s a Big Ship Sailing on the Ille Alle O and many more, agus tá cupla amhraníocht as Gaeilge
Time: 10am and 12noon: Ticket Price – €10.
February 4th to 25th inc.
Saints and Scholars Revisited
The Source Arts Centre
A unique virtual heritage experience, presented by Thurles Library
Time: 10am – 5pm daily
February 10th.
A Serious Man
Imaginatively exploring questions of faith, familial responsibility, delinquent behaviour, dental phenomena, academia, mortality and Judaism – and intersections thereof- this is a pitch perfect black comedy of despair.
Time: 8pm. Ticket Price – €8/€6 concession €5 Film Club Members.
February 11th.
Eduardo Niebla
Hailed as one of the world’s great guitarists, Eduardo Niebla appears with his internationally acclaimed guitar duo (Ricardo Garcia) to present an evening of flamenco gypsy jazz.
Time: 8pm. Ticket Price – €18/€16 concession
February 12th.
David O’Doherty: David O’Doh-Party.
Award winner returns to The Source Arts Centre with a tiny keyboard and a brand new show. Uplifting! Hilarious! Surprising!
Time: 8pm. Ticket Price - €18/€16 concession
February 13th.
Nun the Wiser
Sister Triona recounts the bittersweet, comic story of a modern, emancipated woman answering ‘The Call’ and reveals what really goes on beneath the habit.
Time: 8pm. Ticket Price - €18/€16 concession
February 22nd to 27th inc .
Thurles Drama Group Present “The Aristocrats” By Brian Friel
Three sisters and their ‘peculiar’ brother are home for a family wedding. An unexpected tragedy disturbs arrangements. Exploration of family and other relationships highlight the impact of unreal expectation in a home where they were ‘different’ from the villagers.
Stung by the disappointment of last years All Ireland Hurling Final against Kilkenny in Croke Park, local Holycross and GAA fanatic Michelle Skehan, is hoping to lift the hearts of her fellow Tipperary fans by flying the ‘Blue and Gold’ flag in yet another All Ireland Final.
The competition this time, RTE 1’s All Ireland Talent Show. Michelle’s bid to bring home the title begins on Sunday 24th January at 6.30pm when she will represent the South of Ireland under the mentoring of Cork man John Creedon.
Well known locally, past pupil of Holycross NS and Presentation Convent Secondary School, Thurles, 25 year old Michelle, a teacher at Scoil Angela Ursuline primary school and Moyne NS, has been involved with many local community and sports groups such as Holycross Folk Group, Thurles Gospel Singers, Holycross/Ballycahill Camogie and Thurles Sarsfields Ladies Football Team.
From performing regularly at the Ship Bar, Cormackstown, singer/songwriter Michelle has gone on to perform on the big stage alongside many of the great names in the music business including Brendan Bowyer, Mary Black and Frances Black. “Performing my own songs on stage with greats like Brendan Bowyer was a dream come true, I have thought about this day for so long.”
Determined to make a name for herself in the music industry, Michelle decided to take a career break from teaching this year to focus entirely on her song writing and music with a view to recording her own material. To date, she has successfully reached the final of Tipp FM’s Premier Factor competition and has been a regular guest on Tipp FM, performing her own compositions live on Radio.
The top prize is a whopping €50,000 and Michelle is certain that the money would send her well on her way towards achieving her musical dreams. “Winning this competition would be the ultimate boost I need. My supreme goal is to create my own studio at home with recording equipment and software. If I had anything left over then I could put new strings on my guitars, banjo, and mandolin, and get my piano tuned.” stated Michelle
Michelle is hoping to impress the judges and the public with her own version of a well-known folk song. She will need as many public votes as possible to keep her in the competition. “I will do my very best, for my parish, town, county, the south and all music lovers across the country and hopefully I will make it through. I don’t want to leave the studio feeling as I did leaving Croker in September. Our Tipp heroes played their hearts out on the day and were winners in all our eyes.”
This time the people of Tipp can choose their own destiny so please tune in and vote for Michelle on the All Ireland Talent Show, Sunday 24th January, @ 6.30pm on RTE1.
Following the long running success of Killinaskully, Irelands No 1 comedian and Thurles native Pat Shortt returns to light up our television screens this Christmas in a pilot for a brand new TV series, “MATTIE”.
Pat Shortt as Mattie
The ever-popular comedian and award-winning actor plays Mattie Dwyer, a country detective, transferred to a city station, whose recurring ability to get into comic misadventures soon surfaces.
Teamed up with a feisty female detective Sharon Kelly,the latter played by Lesley Conroy, Mattie struggles desperately to adapt to the rough and tumble of city policing.
Mattie is ridiculed at the hands of smug fellow detectives, Tom and Felix (played by Alvaro Lucchesi and Sean McDonagh) under the watchful eye of Superintendent O’Meara (played by Joe Taylor).
Further comic complications in the form of Mattie’s demanding bed-ridden mother, her friend Sr Philemena, a rogues gallery of criminals and an under-cover cop, who can’t get a proper pair of high heels, add the final ingredients in this recipe for what promises to be a hilarious new comedy drama.
Filmed in Limerick in July, “MATTIE” is written by Pat Shortt and Mike Finn, with script edited by David Cummings of The Fast Show, “Harry Enfield & Chums” fame.
Direction is by Killinaskully’s Eugene O’Connor and production is by Pat Shortt and Brian Kelly.
An Taisce has raised objections to what it calls a “Las Vegas-style” Casino, plans for which were recently announced for the village of Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co Tipperary at the Horse and Jockey Hotel.
Model of planned Two-Mile-Borris Casino
An Taisce, through it’s heritage officer, Mr Ian Lumley, suggests that the plan is based on a “Failed International Development model” and who has written to North Tipperary County Council objecting to the plan .
The developer, Mr Richard Quirke, who is a former garda and who presently runs the ‘Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium’ a gaming hall on O’Connell Street, in Dublin, has sought planning permission for this €460 million project calling it ‘The Tipperary Venue’.
Mr Quirke is understood to have the support of Coolmore Stud, Co Tipperary and Tipperary’s leading horse trainer Aidan O’Brien.
An Taisce has taken issue with Mr Aidan O’Brien’s belief that this project would greatly benefit the Irish exchequer and the general economy as a whole, by attracting high-rolling people who fly from country to country.
An Taisce believe that tourism based on long-haul air trips and short stays in Ireland is doomed to failure and claims that the the 26 existing racecourses in Ireland represent the highest, per capita, ratio of racecourses in the world, adding that if there is an argument for providing another indoor racing track, then this should be created at an existing venue.
The sustainability of such a proposal, states An Taisce, is undermined by the proposed provision of 8,000 car-parking spaces now planned and the greater use of helicopters, which would lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
North Tipperary County Council is due to issue a decision in the coming weeks, however, a delay is possible, if a request for further planning information is sought.
Hereunder, is a brief sneak preview of shows planned for January 2010, at the Source Arts Centre here in Thurles.
Yes indeed, January promises to be an exiting month for all who enjoy their night out to the Theatre.
JANUARY 6th 2010.
The First Day of the Rest of Your Life.
This is the first of a new film programme. A funny and moving portrait of a close but chaotic French family. Tickets: € 8 / €6 concession / €5 Film Club Members. Time 8.00 pm.
JANUARY 9th 2010.
The Source, Thurles,Tipperary's No1 Theatre Venue.
The Zeroes.
Come and support Thurles’ very own rock band, celebrating the release of their new single! Tickets: € 5. Time 8.00 pm
JANUARY 13th 2010.
Fish Tank.
The long awaited second feature film from Andrea Arnold - director of the internationally praised Red Road. Tickets: € 8/ €6 concession / €5 Film Club Members. Time: 8.00 pm
JANUARY 14th 2010.
Music Network Present - The Homecoming (Ireland).
Forget all the hype about the Irish Brand –these guys are the real deal. All four left Ireland to ply their musical trade in the United States in the 1980s and 90s. They went, they played and they conquered. Tickets: € 18 / €16 concession. Time: 8.00 pm
JANUARY 15th and 16th 2010.
Pranked.
Thurles’ Fracture Youth Theatre – with their own live band! Tickets: € 7. Time: 7.00 pm
JANUARY 20th 2010.
Goodbye, Lenin.
Schools’ Film Club screening of this funny look at life before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tickets: € 4. Time: 10.00 am
JANUARY 23rd 2010.
Brian Kennedy.
The moment Brian Kennedy springs onto stage and the first notes ring out, you know the magic is about to happen! Tickets: € 28 / €26 concession. Time: 8.00 pm
JANUARY 28th 2010.
CoisCeim Dance Theatre’s Double Bill.
A dynamic double bill from one of Ireland’s greatest dance companies who put theatre into dance! Tickets: € 18 / €16 concession / €12 for groups of 10 plus. Time: 8.00 pm
JANUARY 30th 2010.
Love Letters.
Starring Bryan Murray and Una Crawford O’Brien from Fair City.
Love Letters chronicles the relationship between Andy and Melissa through their hilarious and moving correspondence.
Their poignantly funny friendship and ill-fated romance takes them from second grade through adolescence, maturity and into middle age. A compelling story. Tickets: €20/€18 concession. Time: 8.00 pm
JANUARY 31st 2010.
Ardal O’Hanlon.
A highly acclaimed stand up comedy, with extensive TV credits including Father Ted, My Hero and most recent Val Falvey TD. Tickets: €25. Time: 8.00 pm
Knowing what to get your loved ones for Christmas is hard enough, but potentially buying your loved one the wrong game for their XBox, Playstation or Wii can be deadly.
TheGamingLiberty.com, Ireland’s number 1 Gaming Site (Nurtured in Thurles, Revered internationally) has earmarked their picks of the consoles and games that should be sitting under everyone’s tree this Christmas.
For Santa or indeed parents not familiar with the current gaming trends the information supplied hereunder will be more than helpful.
Playstation 3
Sony’s black juggernaut, the Playstation 3 had a stellar 2009. If their competitors can be accused of faltering slightly in the last year, the PS3 can only be applauded for its dedication to revitalizing and strengthening its brand and consumer likability. After a price cut and a sleek redesign, the PS3 is probably the cheapest and most accessible multifunctional multimedia devise available out there this Christmas. Apart from games and free online play, the PS3 comes with a Blu-Ray drive as standard for the best film watching quality, a web browser, compatibility with PSP and enough hard-drive space (125 GB or 250 GB) to save a plethora of photos, games, music and movies. The PS3 does everything. Here all TGL’s three PS3 picks for Christmas;
1: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
Uncharted 2 is the jewel in the PS3’s crown. Arguably the most graphically complete and stunningly rendered game ever made, Uncharted 2 puts you in the shoes of Nathan Drake, a descendant of Sir Francis Drake and a would be Indiana Jones treasure hunter. Uncharted 2 is an exciting and explosive title which sees you traverse the globe in search of the ancient Cintanami Stone of Shambhala. It should be a compulsory purchase for any PS3 owner. Continue reading Console Yourself With The Right Video Games This Christmas
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