Thurles Information » Recreation

Upperchurch Sixth Annual Walking Weekend

George — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:43:58 +0000

Take a walk on the 'Wild Side,' in Upperchurch this weekend.

The scenic upland village of Upperchurch will celebrate their sixth successful annual ‘Walking Weekend,’ on this Saturday and Sunday, with a variety of walks to suit all levels of fitness.

For the first time the event will feature a leisurely family cycle over 25 km. Other social event will take place over the weekend also, including traditional music sessions and set dancing lessons, not to mention good old sing alongs and a chance to meet old friends and make new ones.

A reception tonight (Friday) will feature interesting and entertaining speakers, covering a variety of topics. Gearóid Fitzgibbon will give an account of his humanitarian work in Palestine working for the U.N., while Thurles man, Tom Carey, will discuss and demonstrate essential cycle maintenance. Other speakers will discuss and show photographic slides related to their varied mountain walking experiences on Kilimanjaro, Ben Nevis, the Atlas Mountains and Mont Blanc.

Many successful entries from the primary and post primary school’s poster competition will also be on display over this weekend with winners being announced tonight.

This year the longest and most difficult walk will be the 18km “Hills of Upperchurch Route,” taking place on Saturday morning, beginning at 10.00 am sharp. This walk is only suitable for very fit experienced walkers and features several steep climbs and a rope assisted descent. But of course there are also eight other less difficult walks which can also be enjoyed, by the less “fleet of foot,”as part of this most enjoyable of upland weekends.

If you like good company, chat, an event which can be shared by all the family, easy exercise, great entertainment and a personal challenge, then Upperchurch is the place to be this weekend.

Events Program in Upperchurch this weekend

Friday Nov. 11th. 8.30 pm: Reception and official opening in Upperchurch Hall. Guest Speakers. Poster competition entries winners announced.

Sat. Nov. 12th. 10.00 am: Hills of Upperchurch Walk. (18 km -Time approx 6 hrs.) 12.00 noon. Red Hugh and Knockalough Walks - 6 km and 10 km – Time approx 2hrs and 3 hrs. 12.30 pm. Eamon an Chnoic Loop. (8 km – Time approx 2 ½ hrs.) Entertainment: 5.00 pm. Set dancing lessons. 9.30 pm. Traditional music session.

Sun. Nov 13th. 11.00 am: Lowland Mystery Tour. Starting Rosmult on the Thurles-Upperchurch road. (14 km – Time Approx 4½ hrs.)
12.00 noon: Red Hugh and Knockalough Walks. 12.30 pm: Eamon an Chnoic Loop. 12.30 pm: Birchill Nature Trail. Start Rosmult.
1.00 pm: Begins the 25 km Leisurely Family Cycle. Starting in Upperchurch. Note: Cycling Helmets compulsory and all children must be accompanied by adult.

Registration Fees: All walks and the Family Cycle are:- Adults €10, Children €5 euro. Costs include complimentary refreshments at all events.

Enjoy your visit, but remember, as in all walking adventures, do bring stout walking shoes, a camera, suitable rain wear, a snack and fluid.

Two-Mile Borris Super Casino Plan Axed

brianc — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:06:01 +0000

The Justice minister Alan Shatter has announced today that the proposed super-casino for Two-Mile Borris, near Thurles, will not now go ahead. The minister said that it was a Cabinet level decision and that they have decided that there is no need for a resort-style casino in Ireland at the moment. The minister went on to say that the Cabinet also agreed that “there is no social benefit in a resort of this scale” and that the proposed super-casino plan for Two-Mile Borris was far too big.

However, the Justice minister Alan Shatter did also mention that “new legislation will provide for more modest-sized establishments” to be established under new and up-coming gambling legislation. This would seem to suggest that a casino could still go ahead at the proposed Two-Mile Borris site, but with strict limits on the number of tables and square footage allowed.

As recently as June this year An Bord Pleanála had given the go-ahead for a casino, a 500 bedroom hotel and a racetrack/golf facility at the Two-Mile Borris site, but with today’s announcement it would seem that the future of the super-casino, part of this project, will be in serious doubt now.

Path To Better Health Is Walking

George — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:42:06 +0000

Slí na Sláinte translated from the Irish reads ‘Path to Health ‘ has been developed by the Irish Heart Foundation – the national heart and stroke charity – it’s the outgoing way to make walking far more enjoyable.

Already, it’s capturing the attention of young and old, not only in Ireland but in Europe and other parts of the world also. So it should, because it’s a fun, healthy way for the average adult to accumulate the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity each days of the week.

You’ll find Slí na Sláinte walking routes all over Ireland. They are marked by bright, colourful signposts which are not numbered and are situated at 1 km intervals apart. Simply follow the Km signs, set your pace to suit your enjoyment and you’ll quickly feel better and gently get fitter.

Slí na Sláinte Walk Ways In Thurles

The Green Route – Racecourse Road Slí na Sláinte is 2.0 km long or 4km return and starts at St Josephs and St Bridgets Church, Bohernanave. The route continues along Bohernanave Road, past Semple Stadium and then turns left at the junction to Castlemeadows. Continue to the Roundabout at Tipperary Institute and take left onto Racecourse Road. Continue straight out Killinan to the end of the footpath (see Racecourse on right). At mapboard return along the same route back to St. Josephs and St. Bridgets Church.

The Red Route – Slievenamon Road Sli na Sláinte is also a 2.0 km long or 4km return journey and starts at Slievenamon Road Car Park. The route continues along Slievenamon Road and then goes straight through the roundabout at Dunnes Stores Shopping Centre onto Clongour. Continue straight out past Thurles Golf Club to the top of the hill (Turtulla Cross). At the mapboard then return along the same route back to Slievenamon Road Car Park.

Walkers Take Note

(1) If you’re not in the habit of taking regular exercise, do start slowly, enjoy being out and about while gradually building up to your recommended 30 minutes walking each day.

(2) Drink a glass of water before and after your walk and, don’t forget, wear suitable comfortable shoes. Gradually warm up at the beginning and cool down towards the end. Remember, loose clothing is more comfortable and in winter, choose layers rather than thick, chunky clothes.

(3) Why not try to incorporate walking into your daily activities. Walk to work, to meetings or the shops. If you have a history of heart trouble or other significant medical illness, talk to your doctor before you start.

(4) Important: Stop if you experience unusual symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness or breathlessness, and do consult your doctor ASAP.

(5) Why not invite a good friends, family member or work colleagues to join you in your walk, for chat and a bit of banter.

One final observation, “If you think nobody cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.”

An Taisce State ‘Tipperary Venue’ Warrants Refusal

George — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:31:28 +0000

An Taisce representatives have told an oral planning appeals hearing, that the proposed €460m ‘Tipperary Venue‘ is ” ill-conceived and warrants comprehensive refusal.”

Model of proposed Two-Mile-Borris Casino

An oral hearing, is presently taking both written and oral submissions in support of and against, a decision by Tipperary County Council to grant such planning permission.

The Tipperary Venue will include a racecourse, a 500-room hotel, a golf course, a greyhound track, a casino, a 15,000-seater entertainment venue, and parking for 6,000 cars. Other features include a sprint track, an all-weather floodlit track, an equestrian centre, retail outlets, helicopter facilities and a church. Thurles, it would appear is about to move to Two-Mile- Morris.

Developers estimated the proposed project will create immediately 1,000 construction jobs, while it is being built, and another 2,000 jobs are predicted, when the venture is fully complete.

An Taisce, however, told the hearing, which opened in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Co Tipperary, today, that it had concerns about what it depicted as ‘this overwhelming‘ development. The An Taisce spokesperson estimated that the development would cost up to €30m in increased fuel costs and resulting carbon emissions, because of its remote location. It also warned that this venture would mean the redirection of over 750million litres of river waters from nearby, to facilitate the construction, and that this would have ecological implications for indigenous wild life habitats. An Taisce stated, it would also have implications for the viable futures of both Thurles, Limerick and Tipperary racecourses and the newly established and refurbished greyhound tracks in both Limerick and Thurles.

Some local residents and businesses fear that this venture will destroy the town’s already established developed services and that while some extra short term employment will be gained, in the long term more jobs will be lost or will just transfer from local hotels and businesses forced to close by this new venture. Some also express the view that wealth is being transferred into the hands, once again, of just a few Irish developers and speculators, who will leave the taxpayer to foot the bill yet again.

The oral hearing is expected to continue for a number of days and is due to hear, tomorrow, from a number of parties involved in the horse racing industry, who appear to be backing and therefore in favour of this major development.

Top racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien and concert promoter Denis Desmond, we are told, are amongst those who have backed the venture, dreamt up by slot-machine tycoon Richard Quirke.

North Tipp VEC Students to Exhibit at the Source

George — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:36:17 +0000

New exhibition coming to Thurles Library

A new exhibition, ‘Le Chéile’, (English:-Together) will open on Thursday 3rd February at 7 p.m. in the Source Gallery, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The Exhibition, presented by Europe Direct in Thurles Library, is a group exhibition of visual art by students in North Tipperary VEC’s education centres.

Held as part of this year’s Adult Learners’ Festival, Ann Marie Brophy, from Europe Direct, stated:

“This annual festival is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the work being done by adult learners and their tutors in our community. The EU is a supporter of life long education and we at Europe Direct, in Thurles Library, are very proud to be associated with this forthcoming exhibition.”

Elaine Hurley, Artist, and Art Tutor in Thurles Education Centre, has expressed the importance of creating a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent. Elaine stated:

“I would like to thank Europe Direct for giving our students this unique opportunity to exhibit in such a space. It is a great opportunity for them to share their creative talents within the wider community and for students from each centre, young and old, to share a common link.”

For this exhibition, students of all ages and backgrounds have come together to showcase their wide range of technical skills, concepts and imaginative expressions. The exhibition will include; paintings, collage, drawings, photography and craft.

The exhibition, which has received funding from the European Commission, will run until the 24th February and is an event not to be missed.

Thurles Dancing Club Celebrate Forty Years

George — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:10:55 +0000

Thurles Club for Dancing

Our congratulations to the Club for Dancing here in Thurles who will celebrate their 40th Anniversary on Saturday February 12th next. The Club will mark the occasion with an event in their usual stomping ground, The Premier Ballroom in Thurles.

All current and former members of the Club are automatically invited to attend this celebratory event and if you are a non member and feel you would like to join in their celebrations “there is a welcome on the mat“.

Two bands will be installed on the night and celebrations begin with dancing to ‘Checkers‘, starting at 8.30pm sharp and continuing until 10.30pm.

Following a short break, dancing will continue from 10.40pm to 12.30 to the music of ‘Tony Stevens and The Rusty Roosters‘.

Admission price: €10.

Note: The club has also just launched their new website with details of their dance calender for the year. You can view this website by clicking here.

The club have been running dance classes for beginners, in social dancing, since 1994. The six-week’s course, from 8.30pm to 10pm each Tuesday night, costs a total of just €20 and teaches the basic steps of the foxtrot, old time waltz and quickstep. They hold one set of classes in the Springtime and one set again in the Autumn. These have proved to be a great success and are normally attended by approximately 70/100 helpers, teachers and beginners. Great for the fitness and an ideal opportunity for young couples getting married this year to prepare for that first solo dance on their wedding day.

Why not join them for their next set of dance classes, beginning on 1st February 2011 and commencing at 8.30pm sharp.

Thurles Shopping Centre Acquire Boots Eason’s And An Ice Rink

George — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:42:10 +0000

Boots pharmacist and Eason‘s bookstores are the latest retailers to acquire units at Thurles Shopping Centre.
Boots are to take a new 5,940sq ft unit with Eason’s opening a new 3,300 sq ft unit at the Thurles Shopping Centre complex, which is anchored by a newly refurbished 5,574sqm Dunnes Stores.

Other recent retail signings include Quigley’s Bakery Café, Holland and Barrett and Euro 2. Three only further remaining units in this 32 unit development are being quoted at €40 per sq ft.

Back in Thurles Shopping Centre for the second time, is a 250 sq. m popular and real ice rink. Here later you can meet Santa Claus this Christmas and skate the night away on real ice. Santa’s grotto is back and its bigger and better than ever. Even if you don’t want to skate yourself be sure to come along and enjoy some seasonal refreshments in their viewing area while you watch your friends and family glide around the ice.

The ice rink opens tomorrow Thursday 25th November and will be open until the 9th of January next. Soon you will be able to book tickets online and for more information call their dedicated “Ice Line” on 0504-24242.

Ice Rink Opening Hours

Thurles Ice Rink Returns

Opening hours from 25th November to 19th December.
Mon/Tues/Wed:     4pm – 9pm    Child €7.50 Adult €12.00 Family €30.00
Thursday: 4pm – 9pm    Child €10.00 Adult €14.00 Family €40.00
Friday:     3pm – 9pm    Child €10.00 Adult €14.00 Family €40.00
Sat/Sun: 11am – 9pm    Child €10.00 Adult €14.00 Family €40.00

Note: Church Holidays etc. will operate on a weekend timetable.

Thurles Shopping Centre’s Full Complex Normal Opening Hours:

Mon -Tue 9am – 7pm, Wed 9am -8pm, Thurs – Fri 9am – 10pm.

Dancing Classes – Thurles Club For Dancing

George — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:41:31 +0000

You are retired, the kids are gone and you want to re-kindle lost youth or maybe you are getting married shortly, you possess two left feet and live in dread of that first dance in front of all your guests, – well have we got good news for you.

Thurles Club For Dancing

The Club for Dancing here in Thurles are holding their next set of dance classes, for beginners, starting on Tuesday 31st of August in the Premier Ballroom.
Before you say “I can’t afford dance classes” the charge is just €20 for a six week course, which starts each Tuesday at 8.30pm sharp and concludes at 10.00pm. This €20 charge is just to covers the clubs cost of advertising, hire of the hall, etc.

Dance has always been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since the birth of human civilizations. Movement of the body through dance, to music, has been long regarded as a form of communication between humans, creating social interaction.
The aim of these very enjoyable classes is to teach people the basic steps of the Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep.

Young people may not be aware, but when ‘Rock and Roll‘ first emerged in the early 1950s, record companies were uncertain as to what style of dance would be most applicable to this music. Famously, Decca Records initially labelled its Rock and Roll releases as “Foxtrots”, most notably “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets. Since that recording, which by some estimates, went on to sell more than 25 million copies, “Rock Around the Clock” is technically the biggest-selling “Foxtrot” of all time.

In California the waltz was banned by Mission Fathers until after 1834 because of the “close” dancing position.

The close contact with one’s partners body back then, contrasted sharply with the stately dances of the aristocracy, who danced the minuets, polonaises, and quadrilles, and one was sure one kept one’s distance.

A first-hand account of a village dance in the latter part of the eighteenth century read:
“The men dancers held up the dresses of their partners very high so that they should not trail and be stepped on, wrapped themselves both tightly in the covering, bringing their bodies as closely together as possible, and thus whirling about went on in the most indecent positions. As they waltzed around on the darker side of the room, the kissing and the hugging became still bolder.”

Naturally, the scandalized upper classes could not endure to have the lower classes having all the fun, and so, in time, the waltz finally achieved a degree of legitimacy, yet not losing any of its basic dance appeal.

Henry Louis Menken an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of American life and culture once wrote:

“The waltz never quite goes out of fashion; it is always just around the corner; every now and then it returns with a bang. There is something about a waltz that is irresistible. It is sneaking, insidious, disarming, lovely. Try it on the fattest and sedatest or even on the thinnest and most acidulous of women, and she will be ready, in ten minutes, for a stealthy smack behind the door, nay, she will forthwith impart the embarrassing news that her husband misunderstands her and drinks too much and is going to Cleveland, Ohio, on a business trip tomorrow.”

Now here in Thurles, we will have none of that carry on in the Premier Hall, if you please, but we assure you that after six weeks even the shyest individual will be observed leaping around the dance floor.

So mark your diary folks:

Date: Tuesday 31st August. Time: 8.30pm Sharp to 10.00pm. Age Group: Suitable for over 16s. Venue: Premier Hall, Thurles.

Contact: Tom Gleeson, Tel No: 087-9732837 for all further information.

Science Summer Camp Starting In Tipp Institute Thurles

George — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:20:46 +0000

Tipperary Institute Thurles

Once again, Anyone 4 Science, the fun, hands-on science education organisation, are running their Summer Camp for 7 – 12 year olds in the Tipperary Institute here in Thurles this Summer – from July 5th – 8th inc.

At this camp the children will learn about Botany, Ploymers, Plastics and Recycling, Balance, Levers and Pulleys and Food Science.

They will grow their own seeds, synthesise their own plastic, make a model draw bridge and find our if there really is a difference between Coca-Cola and other brand cola drinks and lots, lots more.

This is fun learning at its best and an organised break for the working Mum.

If you want more information about this popular educational event contact Christine Campbell, Tel: 0404-40563, Mobile 087-6749608, Email christine@anyone4science.com or click here to visit the Anyone 4 Science website.

Responsibility Of Bar Staff Difficult In Our Modern Society

George — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:50:02 +0000

Breaking a long distance car journey recently, I called in to one of my favourite licenced hostelries. I was in search of a mug of coffee and a packet of cigarettes. Coffee and tea served in so called ‘Super Stores’ and ‘Self Service Petrol Stations’, in those waxed paper cups, are rather like the slop served on Irish train journeys, so I have learned to avoid both with equal enthusiasm.

Alone and sitting in the corner of the warm bar, gave me the perfect opportunity to eavesdrop and study life around me without distraction.

A group of, what appeared to be, office girls were discussing new dresses acquired for a forthcoming twenty first birthday party. An elderly couple were silently munching salads, briefly exchanging whispered sentences, between mouthfuls of potato salad and coleslaw. A sad looking elderly gentleman, in a well worn dark top coat and matching wellingtons, cap on knee and holding a stick in one hand, a pint in the other, was staring blankly towards the ground. A black and white sheep dog, obviously the mans property, was lying obediently under his masters chair with eyes closed, awaiting his next command.

Suddenly the quiet calm was broken by the inward rush of five gentlemen, ages somewhere between twenty five and thirty five. One could not but smile at their get-up. Wearing garb, which I can only describe as some sort of ladies skimpy gym wear, it soon became apparent they were celebrating a well planned stag party and had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, prior to entering this establishment.

Having listened to their good humored, yet loud loutish banter for some twenty minutes, and the wasted efforts attempted by the unfortunate lone barman to control their volume voices, my thoughts strayed to the present situation of two Tipperary barmen and the problems they find themselves facing later this year.

These hotel bar staff recently appeared in the Circuit Court in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, charged with the manslaughter of an English guest, following a night’s socialising at the hotel, their place of work. We are given to understand that the guest, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, tragically choked to death on his own vomit, as a result of acute alcohol intoxication. The bar manager and his colleague were later charged with an unlawful killing, following a lengthy investigation into his tragic death by police.

This case will be the first in Ireland involving so-called “liquor liability” and is being closely watched by the Licensing Trade and Union representatives of over 2,000 bar staff across the whole of the twenty six counties. Concerns about the possible future implications of this case and its outcome are certain to provoke much public debate regarding the responsibilities of bar staff, bar managers and the owners of licensed premises, when dealing with their day to day clientele.

In this age we live in, too many young people are arriving at their local pub, already under the influence of drink or indeed drugs and this makes the job and responsibility of owners and bar staff, particularly difficult.

While my thoughts and sympathies lie with the family and friends of all those involved in this tragedy, I believe now is the time to put in place stricter policies and safer procedures to further educate and safe guard both party’s in situations like this one.

While I am not aware of the full facts in this case, I believe that consumers must also be responsible in such situations, and these responsibilities should not be just pushed onto someone else, in the ordinary performance of their daily work.