Entertainment - Thurles Information

Sudden Death Of Comedian Paul O’Grady MBE DL.

Sadly, we wake up to news of the death, yesterday, of the well-known and much loved comedian, television and radio presenter, actor, drag queen and writer Mr Paul O’Grady, MBE DL. [Order British Empire – Deputy Lieutenant].
Mr O’Grady achieved notability in the London gay scene in the 1980s and 1990s, with his drag queen persona “Lily Savage”.

Mr O’Grady dropped the latter character in the 2000s, to become the presenter of various television and radio shows, including the much loved ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’.

Born to a working-class Irish migrant family, [Father Paddy Grady Co. Roscommon & mother Molly Savage latter with strong Co. Louth connections], in Tranmere, Cheshire, Mr O’Grady moved to London in the late 1970s, initially working as a travelling care officer for Camden Council.
He developed his drag act in the late 1970s, basing his character “Lily Savage” upon traits found amongst female relatives.

Touring England, Mr O’Grady became a popular stand-up comedian in the early 1980s and for the next eight years performed at a South London gay pub, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT), where he gained a popular following among London’s gay community, and used his character to speak out for gay rights.

Having being nominated for a ‘Perrier Award’ (now known as Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards), in 1992, Mr O’Grady attracted mainstream attention, making numerous television, radio, and theatrical appearances.

Later as “Lily Savage”, he presented the television shows The Big Breakfast (1995–1996), Blankety Blank (1997–2002), and Lily Live! (2000–2001), earning various awards and becoming a well-known public figure.

Additional television shows included Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans and Paul O’Grady’s Great British Escape (2020). He published several books, including a four-volume memoir.

Mr O’Grady was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 – Birthday Honours list for his services to entertainment.
In 2020, he became president of the British Music Hall Society.

Sadly yesterday, March 28th, 2023, Mr O’Grady passed away “unexpectedly but peacefully” aged 67 years. His death was confirmed by his husband, Mr André Portasio.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Thurles Tops 40th Tipp Drama Festival in Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Tom Ryan Reports:

The 50 years old Thurles Drama Group were accorded a very enthusiastic standing ovation at the conclusion of Conor McPhearson’s “The Seafarer”, in a packed St. Michael’s Community Centre Holycross, last week.

It was a truly sterling and hugely entertaining production that last Sunday night saw them scoop the awards for Best Production (The Tipp FM Trophy) presented by Geraldine O’Neill to Johnny Fogarty; Best Tipperary Play (Dr. Morris Cup), Most Entertaining Play (Hannifin Trophy) and Best Producer (Frank Gleeson Award) to Margaret McCormack Purcell.

**Picture Courtesy Thurles Drama Group**

The Tipperary Star cup for Best Play in the Confined Category went to Harvest Moon (“God of Carnage”) and Stephen Gleeson of the Tipperary Star was present.

Thurles, who have appeared in eight All-Irelands at Athlone had qualified for this year’s All-Ireland also in Athlone, with four festival wins achieved before Holycross. And this may not be the end of the Thurles success story. The national finals will be held in late April or early May.

The nine top groups who competed were from as far away as Lifford in Donegal and Rossmore in West Cork and a number of top thespians with professional experience were present in the audience including a member of RTE’s “The Offenders” from Cobh.

So also were many faithful festival fans from all over Tipperary and further afield. Festival Director for the last 40 years, Mr Donal Duggan, paid tribute to these great amateur theatre folk for their dedication; people he said who all have jobs to go to in the mornings after the show and after along journey for many miles through the nights and mornings for months from October onwards.

The Festival committee in Holycross also had dedicated much time and effort into organizing this wonderful festival the only one of its kind in County Tipperary. The Adjudicator, whose insightful remarks were appreciated by discerning and theatre loving audiences, was Mr Peter O’Driscoll. He was an actor, designer, and director with Strand Players and many other companies.

The hard working committee, who deserve to be congratulated on their trojan efforts, comprised of Very Rev. Celsus Tierney (President), Donal Duggan (Festival Director), Tommy Lanigan (Chairman), Claire Ryan (Secretary), Maudie Bourke and Tommy Lanigan (Joint Treasurers), Geraldine O Neill (PRO), Marty O’Neill and Ger O’Dwyer (sponsorship), Diana Lacey (Raffle), Marty O’Neill and Paddy Connolly (Technical), and Marie Spillane, Peg Ryan Elaine O’Dwyer, Andy Slattery (Committee).

The Sub Committee comprised of Jack Henchion, John Glasheen, Aishling Henchion, Gerry Kennedy, Derek Doherty and Jim Fin.

The popular festival continues to attract many loyal fans and also new faces including Presentation Thurles secondary school teacher Deborah Harty.

What Splendid entertainment we had in the picturesque village from Ireland’s top theatre groups performing top plays from tragedy to comedy.

It is also a great social occasion when friendships are formed or renewed. It is one of the most convivial occasions of the year and, of course, the tea breaks and Diana Lacey’s raffles for splendid prizes are all an integral part of the occasion always.

The large attendances included Archbishop (Emeritus) Dermot Clifford, a faithful festival fan, Denis Carroll Clonoulty, Tom Purcell Littleton, Josephine O’ Gorman Thurles, Mary Moore Thurles, Pat Maher Freighduff Cashel, Nora Maher Thurles, Martin Fitzgerald Holycross, Michael and Mary Blake Thurles, John Quinlan and friends Moyne, Comedian Tim Curran Thurles, top actresses Patricia Lowry and Jacqui Lacey Thurles and Cashel.

Other Awards.
GALLAGHER AWARD – for most promising actor/actress – Siobhain Corcoran Helen (“The Cripple
of Inishmaan”).
BEST SET OVERALL- Josie Slattery Award – (“Blithe Spirit”): Kilmeen D.G.
BEST LIGHTING: – Declan McCarthy – (“The Father”): Brideview D.G.
BEST SOUND: – Zara Holmes – (“When Elephants Collide”): Lifford Players.
1st ADJUDICATOR AWARD: – For Live Music – (“Playboy of the Western World”): Hinterland.
2nd ADJUDICATOR AWARD : – Allison Murphy as the Maid – (”Blithe Spirit”): Kilmeen.

Hold My Hand.

Lyrics: M. Coleman
Singer: Liverpool native; English comedian; music hall entertainer; singer, and actor, the late, great Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd. OBE. (1927 – 2018)

Hold My Hand.

Hello world of yesterday,
We’re looking out to find a way,
For the children.
With a happy song and a happy face,
We can make this world a better place,
For the children.
If all the nations join and sing,
The bells around the world will ring,
For the children.
And what we have we’d like to share,
And show you all that the children care,
For the children.
And when beaming out around the world,
To every other boy and girl
We’re holding hands and reaching out for all of you.
Hold my hand, hold it tight,
Hold my hand if you’re yellow, black or white,
Children of the world unite,
Keep the candle burning bright,
Hold my hand if your yellow, black or white.
Over the oceans nationwide,
You can always reach to the other side,
For the children.
We can send our love, we can send some smiles,
Send love and peace a thousand miles,
For the children.
We shall leave a guiding light,
And sing along into the night,
For the children.
What a wonderful place this world would stay,
If we all held hands each and every day,
Like the children.
And when singing out around the world,
To every other boy and girl,
We’re holding hands and reaching out for all of you.
Hold my hand, hold it tight,
Hold my hand if you’re yellow, black or white,
Children of the world unite,
See the candle burning bright,
Hold my hand if your yellow, black or white.
Hold my hand, hold it tight,
Hold my hand if you’re yellow, black or white,
Children of the world unite,
See your candle burning bright,
Hold my hand if your yellow, black or white.
Hold my hand if your yellow, black or white.

END.

A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.

Lyrics: American musician and Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan, originally written as a poem, in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 22nd – November 20th, 1962, which saw confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. This confrontation quickly escalated into an international crisis, when American deployments of missiles in Italy and Turkey were matched by Soviet deployments of similar ballistic missiles in Cuba.
The song is characterized by symbolist imagery, which communicates suffering, pollution, and warfare, latter once again being threatened within our time living on this earth.

Vocals: American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist Joan Chandos Baez.

A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.

Oh, where have you been, my blue eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains.
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways.
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests.
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans.
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it’s hard, and it’s hard, it’s hard, and it’s hard,
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it.
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it.
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’.
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a bleedin’.
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken.
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it’s hard, and it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s hard,
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.
And what did you hear, my blue eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, is it roared out a warnin’.
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world.
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a blazin’.
I heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’.
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’.
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter.
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it’s hard, and it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s hard,
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.
And who did you meet, my blue eyed son?
Oh, who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony.
I met a white man who walked a black dog.
I met a young woman whose body was burning.
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow.
I met one man who was wounded in love.
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s hard,
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.
Oh, what’ll you do now, my blue eyed son?
Oh, what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
Well, I’m a goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts a fallin’.
Well, I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty.
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters.
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison.
Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden.
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten.
Where black is the color, and none is the number.
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it,
And I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’.
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’,
And it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s hard,
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

END

Thurles, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17th 2023.

Possibly, the largest turnout ever of spectators who came to view this year’s Thurles St. Patrick’s Days Parade; latter held yesterday, March 17th, 2023.

Ireland is renowned for its enduring tradition, its culture and heritage, which traverses across all borders, inviting those across the world to come together annually on Friday, March 17th and collectively share, participate, celebrate, laugh and where possible perform.