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 Thurles Fresh Milk Counsellor and Well-being Coach, Fiona Hoban, will be at The Dome, Semple Stadium in Thurles on Thursday February 2nd next. Fiona will be discussing “A Positive Approach to Well-being,” as part of a health evening organised by the National Dairy Council and Thurles Fresh Milk.
A native of Castlebar, Fiona Hoban runs a private counselling practice in Westport and is a part-time lecturer with the National Counselling Institute of Ireland. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin (MA Philosophy & Sociology), Fiona delivers Communications and Life Skills training to both public and private sector clients.
As well as getting great tips about your health, well-being and diet, those who attend will also benifit from a cookery demonstration by Ailish Maher Hennessy, from from Fiacri Country House Restaurant and Cookery School in Knock, Roscrea. Ailish, who has received numerous accolades ranging from Féile Bia to Georgina Campbell, strongly believes in using the best quality, locally produced food and ingredients, to “ensure traceability and to support much needed local employment and revenue“.
Another specialist speaking at this event is Paula Mee, one of Ireland’s leading independent dietitians. Paula was a presenter of RTÉ TV’s Health Squad programme which ran for five years until 2006 and she makes regular appearances on TV and radio programmes advising on nutrition and health issues.
Fran Curry from Tipp FM will be master of ceremonies for the evening at The Semple Stadium Dome, which it is hoped will also raise much needed funds for Friends of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles.
Tickets, costing €10, are available from Thurles Fresh Milk by phoning 0504-91900; The Hospital of the Assumption Thurles on 0504 21055 or from any Centenary Thurles Co-op branch.
Tickets will also be available on the night, with doors opening at 7.00pm and presentations begining at 7.30pm sharp.
 Rib World Clonmel Jobs continues to be under threat here in Co Tipperary. This statement is borne out with the news that the Clonmel, Co Tipperary company, STGN Ltd, trading as Rib World, which specialises in the processing of vacuum-packed cooked pork ribs, has now gone into receivership.
The Bank of Scotland have now appointed Mr Liam Dowdall of Smith & Williamson Freany as receiver and manager to the company, which will continue to operate at full capacity, retaining its 65 employees, until same is sold as a going concern. Mr Dowdall met with employees at the company, following his appointment, stating he was confident that a buyer would be found quickly.
Rib World, established in 2004 and situated at Fethard Road, Carrigeen Industrial Estate, Clonmel, is one of Europe’s largest producers of pre-cooked pork ribs. It currently operates an ultra modern processing operation and has a strong core market in both Ireland and abroad.
Founder and Managing Director of Rib World, Scandinavian born Mr Bo Nielsen, had worked in the food industry for over 20 years, prior to starting this enterprise with partners, together with financial and other assistance from the Irish Government agency Enterprise Ireland.
 Christmas Lights - Thurles Town Centre It is now confirmed, Christmas fun and cheer is coming to Liberty Square, Thurles this year, with the first major Thurles Christmas Market, which is being organised by the Thurles Chamber in association with Tipperary animal charity “Cottage Rescue.”
Following the successful Cottage Rescue Christmas Market last year and the Tipperary Food Fayre last August, latter organised by Thurles Chamber, the two organisations have now decided to join forces to host the 2011 Thurles Christmas Market on Sunday 11th December in Liberty Square, Thurles, beginning at 1.00pm to 6.00pm.
There will be an abundance of local crafts people at this market, e.g. Steve Martin’s Handmade Toys and wood turning from Donal Ryan and Johnny McCarthy.
Children can have their faces painted in a festive style by Masquerade Face Painting, while dad can check out a variety of hand-made jewellery on offer from a number of stalls and perhaps choose a gift for his wife or partner.
Among the other local businesses that have confirmed stalls on the day are Angelic Ambiance, Dwan’s Hardware, Fior Skin Care, Anne Hogan Christmas Decorations and Martina Heffernan with her Aloe Vera products.
If it is food for your Christmas dinner you are after, you will not be disappointed, with the best of Tipperary food produce on display to help you plan that special Christmas family menu. You can pick up or order a locally produced turkey from Premier Meats or if its other poultry you are after then Mick Connors will be on hand at his stall to advise. Quality sausages will be available from Peter Small and Two-Mile-Borris beef from John Commins straight from his Piemontese herd. Inch House Artisan Foods will have Nora Egan’s renowned black pudding on offer on the day, along with homemade cakes which will also be available from the Liberty Market stall.
Why not treat yourself to some delicious locally produced cheeses from Triskel Cheese and Cooleney Cheese.
For those with a sweet tooth there will be stalls from Api’s Chocolates and Ginger Bread from Angeli McLoughlin. Friend of Cottage Rescue, local photographer Sinead Ni Riain, also plans to have a stall at the market, so again a perfect opportunity to pick up that Christmas gift for somebody.
It goes without saying that a majority of the shops in Thurles, e.g. Liberty Square, Friar Street, West Gate, Croke Street, Baker Street, Parnell Street, The Mall, Slievenamon Rd, Kickham Street and Mitchell Street, will also have their doors thrown wide open on the day, many offering very special discounts on the day.
Organiser Nikki Veasey of Cottage Rescue hopes this Christmas Market will help bring people together, while showcasing the quality produce presently being manufactured at local level. “Nobody need ever travel to Dublin to experience a Christmas market, we will be hosting the best Christmas Market in the county, while showcasing Tipperary’s finest foods and hand made crafts.” confirms Nikki.
Some of the stall holders are planning on dressing up in period costume, which will bring an old fashioned yet traditional feeling to this market, thus reminding people of a bygone age in this market town. Tom Noone will be “controlling the microphone,” keeping visitors informed of all activities on the day.
As well as the stalls, there will be street entertainment, featuring music by the fast rising local band sensation, Autonomous i. Others entertainment will include pony and cart rides, vintage cars and of course a confirmed visit by Father Christmas. HQ Nightclub Thurles have organised a Children’s Disco for 4-10 year olds, with Santa Claus confirmed as making an appearance on the dance floor.
Thurles Chamber and Thurles Town Council will be turning on the town’s Christmas lights so it is going to be a fantastic occasion for families, friends and the community as a whole, to get together and celebrate all that is good about Thurles and County Tipperary.
It is hoped that local charities like Cottage Rescue, Cabragh Wetlands and Friends of the Children of Chernobyl will raise much needed funds on the day.
If you are interested in participating in this 2011 Thurles Christmas Market, there is still time to contact Nikki at Cottage Rescue on Tel: 087 6310140 or email veasey@eircom.net to book your exhibition space.
Remember shopping locally protects local employment, so demonstrate your loyalty to Thurles Town this Christmas.
Photo courtesy G.Willoughby.
 North Tipperary County Council have today issued a precautionary “Boil Water Notice,” for the following areas in Thurles. The notice, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, wishes to advise consumers in the following areas only on the Thurles Public Water Supply Scheme, that in the interest of public health, it is recommended that all users boil water before use.
The areas affected are Leugh road, Racecourse road to the Hospital of the Assumption, Killinan to Ballycahill, Ballycahill to Knockalough.
This notice confirms that Water must be boiled before any consumption e.g. Drinking, Drinks made with water, Food preparation, Brushing of teeth, Making of ice and the Preparation of baby feeds (cooled boiled water may be used)
Consumers are asked to exercise caution when using boiled water and water from hot taps is not considered safe to drink, even where domestic water filters are installed. Consumers are asked to discard all ice cubes/filtered water from fridges/freezers and to renew ice stocks using freshly cooled boiled water.
Unboiled water can be used for personal hygiene (except brushing teeth), bathing and flushing toilets. Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure they do not ingest bath water.
Every effort has been made to bring this notice to the attention of those consuming water in the affected area. If you know of consumers who are unaware of this notice, please bring it to their attention or else advise North Tipperary County Council.
This procedure will continue until further notice and further information can be had by contacting Tel: 067-44867 or Mobile Tel 087-2789541 from 9.00am to 5.00pm Mon-Fri inclusive.
The Council has been forced to issue this “Boil Water Notice,” following tests on this water supply, which showed contaminants in the system. Details regarding which contaminants were found, are as yet not revealed.
 Tipperary Fayre The Tipperary Fayre is taking place in Thurles on Sunday, August 21st, 2011, with the event spilling out over Friar Street, Old Baker Street and the Parnell Street Car Park areas of the town.
The area will be filled with a variety of Food, Craft and Horticultural Stalls, offering the best of what Tipperary has to offer.
Thurles Chamber organisers Clodagh Duggan and Anne Fitzpatrick promise there will be Free Cooking Demonstrations and Masterclasses from a variety of high quality Food Producers in the county, plus a bit of soap-making and other craft work thrown in for good measure.
The young people are not being forgotten either, with live music and other kids entertainment woven into this gala free event.
A fun Dog Show is being run by “Cottage Rescue,” and all your four legged friends are welcome to attend!
This will be a fantastic Free Family Day out, so for more information click here
 Organic Beef Good Herdsmen Ltd, the Cahir Co.Tipperary based organic meat producer, has just agreed a major contract with a German company to supply organic beef to be used in the manufacture of baby food. All beef to be supplied under this contract will be under 30 months old and will undergo rigorous testing for quality and safety standards.
Good Herdsmen Ltd which was founded in 1989 by Josef Finke and John Purcell, to co-ordinate the supply, processing and marketing of organic meat in Ireland, today represents the production of over 200 certified organic farmers and has grown to become the largest dedicated organic meat processor in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Approximately 50% of the companies production remains in Ireland and can be obtained in most Irish multiples and many independently owned quality food stores and restaurants. Outside of Ireland ‘Good Herdsmen,’ continues to service upmarket retailer centres in London and regularly dispatch supplys to manufacturing markets on the continent.
Good Herdsmen Ltd will now require a minimum additional 700 organic beef cattle each year, to supply beef to this German company, of which most will be processed into casseroles, beef stews, and other dishes.
Taking into account that annual organic cattle slaughter in Ireland is about 5,000 animals presently, this new contract will now amount to almost 14% of Ireland’s total national kill.
Director of Good Herdsmen Ltd, Thurles native, Mr John Purcell, stated that the first supplies of organic beef will be delivered to Germany later this month following a week-long inspection of their processing plant at Cahir, here in Co Tipperary.
Other Tipperary Farming Related News
Tipperary Co-Op Creamery Ltd, Station Rd. Tipperary have increased profits, with a reported a 17% jump in sales for 2010, to €146m from a recorded €125m in 2009, with profit before tax doubled to €784,000.
Tipperary Co-Op’s cheese division has also performed strongly during 2010 with total cheese sales, inclusive of its French subsidiary Tippagral, latter a key element of the companies cheese strategy, amounting to almost 15,000 tonnes.
This Co-Op also manufactures specialised products for the Irish Dairy Board’s Kerrygold Brand range and has continued to grow and strengthen its position as one of the key suppliers to the Kerrygold lactic butter market in Germany.
 Sunyoung Lee, Film Coordinator and Ji-Dong Joo who visited Thurles recently. Representatives of Munhwa Broadcasting Corp (MBC) visited Thurles recently with a view to making a two part film documentary for South Korean broadcasting, based on the Irish Potato.
The representatives, led by Miss Sunyoung Lee, Film Crew Coordinator, were met by a member of the new Tipperary tourism group ‘Hidden Tipperary,’ headed by George Willoughby and taken to lunch, courtesy of Mr Frank Mulcahy at the Anner Hotel, Thurles, before being shown points of interest within the Thurles area, including St. Mary’s Famine museum.
MBC’s Wonju City film crew have now confirmed that they will be filming in Thurles, on the afternoon of Thursday June 16th next.
The populous Wonju City, which is 140 km (90 Miles) east of Seoul is in the province of Kangwon-do (6,522.81 Sq Meters) and also known worldwide as being historically one of the most sophisticated and finest food and cuisine areas in Korea. Wonju city is home to three major universities which attract many students from Seoul and elsewhere.
The city is home to two U.S. Army bases, Camps ‘Long,’ and ‘Eagle.’ An active foreign population of English teachers currently live in Wonju and frequent the many wonderful restaurants and bars within the city. Wonju is also within 20 km of two ski resorts, Hyundai Sungwoo and Oak Valley, which attract many foreign visitors throughout the ski season and provide a range of runs for beginners and for the more experienced skier and snowboarders, who frequent the area. The city is also home to one of Korea’s top basketball teams.
Recently Wonju City was appointed as a ‘Seed Potato Provider,’ for Eastern countries in Asia, and MBC, as the Regional Broadcasting Media are charged with delivering in-depth documentary feature films on the stories behind national branded potato and cuisines in other countries, with Ireland and Germany targeted as being the coverage destinations.
Two areas in Thurles have been identified to be featured in the upcoming documentary. These are Inch House, who grow most of their own organic vegetables to supply their own legendary restaurant and St. Mary’s Famine Museum, who tell the tale of a less enjoyable side to the history of our beloved Irish potato.
Photo Courtesy: George Willoughby
Congratulations to Siobhain O’Doherty from Nenagh, County Tipperary, who ran in yesterdays 10km Dublin Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, coming second in a time of 35 minutes and 31 seconds, just three seconds behind the overall winner Caitríona Jennings from county Donegal.
 Well done also to the 40,057 other women who took part in this annual event, many raising much needed money for their various local charities.
This year Cantwell Quality Water Services Ltd. (QWS) from Urlingford, Tipperary supplied quality Tipperary sourced water to over 26 separate ‘Drinking Stations,’ along the chosen marathon route.
Each of these drinking stations was equipped with QWS’s new Easifold 1000 litre Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC ), for the fast supply of drinking water to all 40,057 participants. Over the full day’s event QWS supplied in excess of 33,000 litres of potable pure Tipperary drinking water.
The Tipperary company of Cantwell Quality Water Services Ltd, one of the leading companies presently supplying Irish County Councils and Festival Event Management with fresh drinking water, was awarded the contract for this event, based on it’s considerable ability in providing a fast efficient service, while using the latest and most up-to-date hygienic water monitoring equipment.
 Kobe Beef Irish consumers will soon be able to buy a Tipperary home grown version of highly-prized and pricey Japanese Kobe beef.
Well that is according to award-winning butcher Pat Whelan, owner of James Whelan Butchers, here in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who is supporting this initiative. Kobe beef (Named after sixth-largest city in Japan.) is the particular product of cattle known as the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu (Translated: Japanese cow.) that produce this highly-prized meat.
Wagyu cattle were introduced into Japan in the second century as as beasts of burden, used mostly in rice cultivation. However as beef consumption became more prominent in society, farmers began hiring workers to massage the animals’ backsides to improve their meat quality. The mountainous topography of the islands of Japan have resulted in small regions of isolated breeding of these animals, yielding herds that developed and maintained qualities in their meat which differ significantly from all other breeds of cattle.
Some of the biggest Wagyū herds outside of Japan are now farmed in New Zealand while in the United States, Japanese Wagyū cattle have been bred with “Aberdeen Angus cattle” to create a crossbred animal that are better able to survive the native climate and U.S. ranching methods.
Herd isolation and distinctive feeding techniques, which resulted from limited grazing land availability, have led to distinguishing features that make the meat both superior in marbling texture, in the ratios of unsaturated versus saturated fats and a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
The animals, which are being reared in Tipperary, will be treated with the same level of attention and care, as this well known Japanese breed of Wagyu
Described as the ‘foie gras of beef,’ producing a tender, naturally enhanced flavour, Kobe meat usually retails at up to €35 per 150 grams of filet steak sold retail, but Mr Whelan claims that his operation are aiming to produce this meat for a fraction of that price, for their discerning customers.
The first Irish born and bred Kobe style beef should be on the meat shelf by August of next year.
Whelan Butchers, currently based in Clonmel, Tipperary, now have their sights set on expanding into the Dublin meat market initially and ultimately into the export market, to cope with the huge international demand for this expensive, but prized meat.
Contributor Proinsias Barrett comments here on our recent post “70 Jobs Lost As O’Connors Nenagh Supermarket Closes.”
Proinsias writes:
“In the words of Joni Mitchell in her song ‘Big Yellow Taxi,’ – ‘You don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone.‘
We already know the situation milk and other foodstuff producers are facing here in Ireland, with the bulk buying retail chains. If, as a producer, you don’t play ball with the multi-national grocery retailers you go out of business. Spotlight or Panorama recently aired a very good documentary on the difficulties faced by small/medium producers in getting their products out to customers. Usually the only way is through the ‘Big 5‘ multi-national chains. If you complain about the prices they are willing to pay, or go public about bulk deals etc, you usually end up with your product being subject to ‘quality issues and removed from display.’
 Yet each year the profit margins of the these mega retailers increase further, into the Super Normal Profit category, while food and clothing prices are on the increase because, we are told of high oil prices, and increased demand globally for meat and dairy (China and India and emerging demand in parts of Africa).
Again, we the consumer, are being led by the nose. The processing of ‘food ‘ has evolved considerably in the last two decades, allowing what was once waste meat products being ‘processed ‘ into products for human consumption. Jamie Oliver, that crusader for natural wholesome un-processed home cooked food, refers to this product as ‘pink slime.‘ Technology has developed a machine which can literally suck the ‘meat ‘ out of bone and offal and using chemicals such as ammonia, various derivatives of sodium and mono-sodium glutamate, this slime now ends up being passed for human consumption in various forms such as Deli meats and canned meats. In fact he went so far as to say if you want real un-tampered with mince meat you have to physically watch your butcher mince some traceable beef or steak before your eyes.
People don’t know enough about the products they eat every day and buy every day from the Big 5. Look at the packaging in some of the mega retailers, labels like ‘product of several countries ‘ or ‘produced in the EU ‘ or simply ‘packed in the Republic of Ireland by such and such, for such and such.’ Nothing, no information what-so-ever. The meat could be hormone pumped intensively farmed pink slime, from countries where certain chemicals and food additives are allowed, which aren’t necessarily allowed over here. Simply by importing raw-materials and re-packing them here you can loophole many food regulation laws.
Haven’t Galtee and Denny admitted to importing ‘ham products ‘ from everywhere and anywhere, re-packing them and selling the meat as ‘a taste of Ireland ‘ and so on, citing issues with regular supply here in Ireland as the reason, claiming they didn’t want to ‘let down ‘ their customers with irregular availability and supply patterns. We have to get back to buying locally produced food, and it is happening slowly, but the mega retailers will fight it tooth and nail.
You have to question your environment and the laws governing your health and your children’s health. Because a product is available for sale doesn’t mean its ok. Who says it’s OK? Someone who may regularly receive ‘gifts ‘ from a company trying to get around quality and traceability issues. Even the advertising standards commission are literally backlogged with cases of false advertising or advertisers making false claims. Skin products, health products, toilet products, kitchen products, we are led to believe every day that these things are essential to our daily lives. The advert on telly suggests that everyone else is using them so we should too. Now with summer well and truly around the corner the mega retailers are stocking up on weed killer, ant killer, insect killer, various sprays and potions and my favourite: jeyes fluid (who incidentally recently removed the warning from their ‘fluid ‘ which used to state ‘harmful to skin and all aquatic organisms ‘) … lovely… I’ll have two please.
Maybe I have strayed a little from the initial point I wanted to make, which is that while we all have free choice we should exercise it with caution. When all the small producers are gone we will be totally reliant on these mega retailers who have profit at the centre of their operations. Not the joy of producing something of quality, or supporting local produce, or contributing to the local economy. The amount of low paid jobs offered by these Big 5, as opposed to the destruction of local business/producers, doesn’t equate. We are (will be) the real losers. Twenty years ago, almost 100% of chicken consumed in Ireland was produced here, now this has fallen to 50% at best. It cannot be fresh if it has to travel half way around the world to the shelves of our mega retailers.
It has been proven that a market in a town or village causes a knock on effect of bringing in more business to already established shops in the vicinity. I suggest that the Saturday market which used to be a feature of Thurles be re-vamped and re-established on Liberty Square, and traffic restricted to essential only. The market, before it was banished over to Parnell Street car park, had admittedly become more of a brick-a-brack affair than a market proper, but with some insight and a will to change, a Saturday market in Thurles featuring a size-able amount of locally produced goods will eventually break the stranglehold the big retailers are imposing on us and on our friends and neighbours who are struggling to find a market for their produce.”
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