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 Cloughjordan Eco Village Two North Tipperary tourism projects are set to attract more than €10m investment following their approval under the Government’s Mid Shannon Tourism Investment Scheme (MSTIS).
The scheme will be administered by Shannon Development and Failte Ireland.
The MSTIS is a special initiative aimed at stimulating and encouraging sustainable investment along the River Shannon Corridor. The MSTIS which is aimed predominantly at the micro, small and medium tourism sector, is a tax measure aimed at stimulating tourism investment by providing accelerated capital allowances The central objective is the sustainable development of new tourism infrastructure, or the refurbishment of existing tourism infrastructure, with a view to increasing the inflow of tourist visitors to the area. The Government have set out a tourism investment corridor along the mid Shannon area an area where investment will be eligible.
The Oldcourt Tourist Resort in Terryglass, Co Tipperary, will accommodate 42 self catering bedrooms, interactive education facilities, water sports, resort spa, together with outdoor activity centre, health cuisine and an upgrading of a private marina.
Project number two is The Cloughjordan Village Eco Hostel and Learning Centre, which will offer a wide range of programmes based on environmental issues, sustainable living and self-development, based in an existing Eco-village environment.
 Visitors to Co.Tipperary whose lives encompass a love of nature, scenic walking, true peace and tranquility should not leave the county without at least one visit to the Clare Glens.
 Nature Walk This beautiful area forms a natural boundary dividing the county of Tipperary from County Limerick.
It can be found on your maps situated very close to the village of Newport, in Co Tipperary.
The Glens are a natural gorge through which the Clare River flows, and provides an excellent walking area with scenic views from all sides.
A nature trail, which is well signposted, has been mapped in a looped or course – like format, which opens up all areas of the Glens to the walker, incorporating natural rock pools, rapids and waterfalls.
This forest park is situated in a small hilly area and there is a profusion of natural flora and an abundance of indigenous birds and other wildlife.
Keep an eye out for the rare red squirrel which frequents this area and should you visit during late May or early June, expect the river valley to be literally choked with blossoming rhododendrons.
This is indeed an extremely picturesque location and a landscape photographers delight.
 St Ailbe's Church The 51st Tidy Towns Awards was announced recently at a ceremony in Dublin and yes it’s official, Emly, in West Co. Tipperary has deservedly been named the tidiest town in Ireland and for the first time.
Emly was the overall national and regional winner with a winning score of 305 points.
Two other Tipperary towns have also won gold awards in this year’s competition, previous winner Birdhill was close behind Emly on 302 points and Clonmel won its category with 290 points.
In North Tipperary Roscrea fared the best of the bigger towns on 270 points, followed by our own Thurles on 258 (Up 7 points on 2008) and Nenagh on 239.
In South Tipperary, Cahir was 30 points behind Clonmel on 260 and followed by Cashel 255 while Carrick-on-Suir scored 254 points.
National Tidy Towns Winner Is Emly Co Tipperary
The winning town of Emly is centered around it’s very beautiful local parish church, dedicated to its patron saint, St. Ailbe. Emly is one of the oldest centres of Christianity in Ireland and up until the early middle ages was the seat of the premier diocese in the south of Ireland remaining a Cathedral city until the 16th century. The full name of Emly in the Irish language is ‘Imleach Iubhair’ which literally means ‘The Border of the Lake of the Yew Trees’. The wood of the English Yew was used for bows by Celtic and Teutonic warriors, a practice which eventually led to the demise of the great Yew forests of Western Europe
St. Ailbe was Bishop of Emly in Munster and died about 528 AD and it is very difficult to sift the truth from the myths and legends which have gathered round the life of this Irish saint. Beyond the fact, which is itself disputed, that he was a disciple of St. Patrick and was probably ordained priest by him, we know really nothing of the history of St. Ailbe. Legend says that in his infancy he was left in the forest to be devoured by the wolves, but that a she-wolf took compassion upon him and suckled him. Many years afterwards, when Ailbe was bishop, a wolf, pursued by a hunting party, fled to the Bishop and laid her head upon his lap. Ailbe recognised and protected this wolf, and every day thereafter she and her cubs came back to be fed by him. It is also believed St. Ailbe loved hospitality and taught his parishioners the importance of same in respect of those who travelled through the area.
Archbishop Thomas Croke, of GAA fame, laid the foundation stone of the present church in Emly on the 30th May 1880. The work was completed in 1882 and officially opened on 6th January 1883. This church replaced an earlier one built in 1810 and which is now used as the towns parish hall. The nearby graveyard contains the towns most famous items of antiquity, St. Ailbe’s Cross and St. Ailbe’s Well, which from ancient times to current date are held in veneration by the the towns inhabitants who still assemble here, on the 12th of September each year, to celebrate the anniversary of St. Ailbe’s death.
Emly also rightfully lays claim to two other notable historical figures, Dermot O’Hurley and Terence Albert O’Brien both of whom were beatified by Pope John Paul II on 27th September 1992.
Dermot O’Hurley (c. 1530 – 1584) was a the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the diocese of Cashel during the reign of Queen Elisabeth 1 and was put to death for treason. Despite severe torture, which included having his legs roasted over a roaring fire, the Archbishop refused to embrace protestantism.
Terence Albert O’Brien (c.1600 – 1651) was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Emly. During the Irish confederate wars O’Brien opposed a peace treaty that did not guarantee Catholic interests in Ireland and following the 1651 siege of Limerick by Ormondists and Parliamentarians, he with others, following their surrender, was executed by General Henry Ireton.
In past years a very ancient canoe, resembling those used by south sea islanders, was dug up in the adjacent bogs near the village, together with gold armlets, ancient coins, and some brass swords.
Tourists, visiting Tipperary, should halt awhile in this area and experience the country-style hospitality which still exists long after St. Ailbe.
July 10th-12th 2009 will see the GAA, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, celebrate its 125th Anniversary here in Thurles, Co.Tipperary in conjunction with the holding of the Munster Senior Hurling Final.
Events are planned as follows:
Events: Friday July 10th.
7.00pm: Civic Reception: For Comhairle na Mumhan at Tipperary Institute Thurles.
8.30pm: Historical Presentation :at the Tipperary Institute. (All members of the public are welcome to attend.)
Events: Saturday July 11th.
11.00 am: Under 12 Hurling Blitz: in Dr.Morris Park with teams from all Munster Counties.
11.00 am: Munster Long Puck Final: in Thurles Racecourse.
7.30 pm: Special GAA mass in Thurles Cathedral
8.30 pm: Munster final ‘Night at the Dogs’: in Thurles Greyhound Stadium (Note: Half price admission to patrons wearing their county GAA jersey.)
8.30 pm: Open air entertainment in Liberty Square: This event will including the official launch of the new Tipperary GAA 12 Track CD featuring the winning GAA Supporter’s Song ‘The Mighty Blue and Gold’.
9.00 pm: Arrival of torch in Liberty Square, carried in symbolic relay.
Details of this relay are as follows:
12.00 noon: Leaving Cusacks GAA, Carron, and carried through clubs in Co.Clare.
3.00 pm: Hand over at Na Piarsaigh and carried through Limerick City by Limerick GAA Clubs.
6.00 pm: Hand over to Tipperary at Finnegan’s and carried by Tipperary clubs to Thurles town.
Events: Sunday July 12th.
10.00 am: Guinness Gig-Rig: in Liberty Square.
12.30 pm: Entertainment by Artane Boys Band: in Liberty Square.
While in Semple Stadium:
2.00 pm: Munster Minor Hurling Final
2.30 pm: (Half Time): Cumann Na mBunscoil Primary Games.
3.15 pm: Arrival of Torch from Michael Cusack’s GAA Club in Co. Clare. Torch will be carried by Tipperary hurling legend Jimmy Doyle into the Stadium and presented to the Chairman of Munster Council, Jimmy O’Gorman, who in turn will light torches carried by the chairman of each Munster County.
4.00 pm: Munster Senior Hurling Final
4.40 pm: (Half Time): Presentation of Munster Senior Hurling final captains.
5.30 pm: Presentation of cup to Munster Senior Hurling Champions.
So come along folks and celebrate this very historical Munster Final week-end in Thurles Town where it all started 125 years ago, this year.
 Thurles Town improves its standing in the IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) league.
Just one of the three County Tipperary towns taking part in the Irish Business Against Litter League has achieved “litter free” status.
Thurles is ranked 30th of the 60 towns and cities in the IBAL League and has improved from its “moderately littered” ranking at the end of 2008.
The first round report from IBAL for this year rates Clonmel as “moderately littered” while Nenagh has fallen to “littered” status. Latter towns both lost their ‘litter free’ status from last year, finishing in 43rd and 49th respectively.
Litter levels throughout the country have improved once again with over 68% of Irish towns and cities now classed as “litter free” according to the latest litter survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL). However, the group is warning that many areas are likely to suffer this summer with the large-scale reduction of weekend cleaning due to budget cuts. A further concern is that cities’ are not doing as well as the towns as the peak tourist season begins.
The survey of 60 towns and cities, conducted by An Taisce on behalf of IBAL, revealed Wexford to be Ireland’s cleanest town, ahead of Ennis. The number of “Litter Free” areas nationwide hit a record high of 41. Athlone and Mallow were the country’s sole litter black spots, with Arklow ‘seriously littered’.
Wexford is Ireland’s cleanest town with Athlone and Mallow the only ‘Litter Blackspots’ in the league.
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) was set up in 1996 as an alliance of companies who believe that litter has a significant impact on our economic well-being. The main sources of our prosperity – tourism, Foreign Direct Investment and our food industries – all depend on an image of Ireland as a clean and green island. We are now a high-cost destination for visitors, who deserve first-class standards of cleanliness.
IBAL believes that it is the job of Local Government to solve our litter problem. It is through enforcement of litter laws – not public information campaigns – that we will rid our country of this scourge.
Latest results show 36 out of 55 towns are Clean to European Norms compared to only 2 when the survey began in 2002.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Thurles is organised by a sub committee of the Thurles Town Council.
The committee is made up of members of the Thurles Town Council and other interested persons who have been co-opted onto the committee. The committee is known as the Thurles Town Council St. Patricks Day Celebration Committee. The Thurles parade takes place on the nearest Sunday to St. Patricks Day and is seen as both a local and a national celebration of our heritage and culture. The Parade is sponsored by the Thurles Town Council, local business people, clubs, organisations and individuals.
Over the past number of years the parade in Thurles has developed into one of the largest such parades in the country. Over 1,000 people participated in the 2008 parade. This included 10 marching bands, local school groups, floats, industrial entries, costumed groups and individuals and numerous walking groups. An estimated 6,000 enjoyed the parade and it was widely agreed that it was one of our best parades to date. Numerous prizes were awarded over a broad range of categories and over 700 medals were handed out to the young people who took part in the parade.The 2009 parade will take place on Sunday 15th March and leaves from Abbey Road at 3pm sharp. The parade route, of one mile, continues down Friar Street entering Liberty Square where the entries pass in front of the reviewing stand. The parade exits down Slievenamon Road and finishes at approximately 4.30pm. Entertainment will be provided in Liberty Square from 2.30pm with a wide variety of music, dancing and fun for the entire family.
Please Note: If you or your band are passing close to Thurles, (possibly you are destined to take part in celebrations elsewhere on March 17th) this town would love to meet you and we extend an open invitation to you all, to come join us in our celebrations on March 15th next.
Contact : Tom Gleeson.
Email: dancingforpleasure@eircom.net
 This year, 2009, will see the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) celebrate its 125th anniversary. The man most credited with the original impetus behind this formation was a west of Ireland man, Michael Cusack, a native of County Clare. Cusack’s original dream was to resurrect the ancient Tailteann Games and establish an independent organisation to promote young athletes, however hurling and Gaelic football would over the following years eventually predominated.
Michael Cusack, a native Gaelic speaker, was born in Carron, County Clare in 1847. Regarded by many as having a rather complex personality, he had developed a passion for Gaelic games which was matched only by his love of his native local environment the wild and beautiful limestone landscape of the Burren, where he had been born and raised. Cusack pursued an academic carreer, eventually becoming a teacher at Blackrock College, in Dublin. In 1877 he set up his own school, known as the Civil Service Academy. The aim of the latter was to prepare students for examinations, necessary to gain them admission into the British Civil Service. This school which was better known as “Cusack’s Academy,” was extremely successful. The many pupils then attending this establishment, were encouraged to get involved in all and any forms of physical exercise. Cusack greatly disappointed by the apparent decline in Irish native games established a hurling clubs at his Academy and thus began his dream to re-establish hurling as the national pastime.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Carrick-on-Suir, Maurice Davin, an outstanding athlete who won international fame in the 1870’s had been actively campaigning for a body to control Irish athletics, so at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday,1st November 1884 at the Haye’s Hotel, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, a meeting of likeminded individuals took place.
This day was chosen for its mythological significance, for according to Irish legends, November 1st was the day when the power of the Fianna died and Cusack’s choice of day was meant to symbolise the rebirth of these mythological Irish heroes,whose aims were. Glaine ár gcroí (Pureness of heart), Neart ár ngéag (Strength of limb) and Beart de réir ár mbriathar (Deeds to match words).
Following this meeting, a committee called The Gaelic Athletic Association for the Cultivation and Preservation of National Pastimes was established. Those elected to form this committee were John Wyse Power, John McKay, J. K. Bracken, Joseph O’Ryan, Maurice Davin, Michael Cusack and Thomas St. George McCarthy. This name was eventually shortened to “The Gaelic Athletic Association“. Others believed to be in attendance at this inaugural meeting included Frank Moloney, Nenagh, William Foley,Carraig-on-Suir, William Delehunty, Thurles, John Butler ,Thurles, and William Cantwell, Thurles. Maurice Davin who had presided at this meeting was elected the GAA’s first president and historically the only president ever to serve two terms in office.
The aims now set by this committee were as follows:
• To foster and promote native Irish pastimes
• To open athletics to all social classes
• To aid in the establishment of hurling and football clubs which would organise matches between counties
Within a few weeks of the organisation’s foundation, the then Archbishop of Cashel, Thomas Croke gave this organisation his approval and became its first patron. Its other patrons included both Michael Davitt and Charles Stewart Parnell.
Archbishop Croke would later introduced a new rule to the organisation which forbade members of the GAA from playing foreign games such as tennis, cricket, polo, and croquet. Given later controversies which concerned the playing of ‘foreign games’ and the banning of members of the British armed forces and police from joining, it is notable that one founder member, Thomas St. George McCarthy a native of Bansha, Co.Tipperary was a capped international rugby player, having played for Ireland against Wales in 1883 and was also a District Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Also, founder J.K. Bracken, latter the father of Brendan Bracken,who was to become Winston Churchill’s closest friend and Minister for Information in Churchill’s wartime government and then later became a member of the British Cabinet during World War II.
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