Thurles, The Cathedral Town

This weeks local newspaper, the “Tipperary Star,” here in Tipperary, bears to the reader the catchy headline, “Lonely Thurles Not On The Planet.” Their article indirectly, yet correctly highlights the total neglect of tourism in North Tipperary.

This article highlights the failure of travel guide Lonely Planet to recommend Thurles as a tourist destination. The latter publication of course hallucinates more with each publication, while imagining and marketing themselves as the “Backpackers Bible,” giving the impression that their representatives have visited and surveyed quality holiday destinations, thus attempting to control where tourists will visit and travel in countries around the world.

In Lonely Planet, published 1999 / 2000 edition, Thurles was ‘tarred,’ with the following brush; Quote: “Thurles ( Durlas) is a large market town 22km north of Cashel which was founded by the Butlers in the 13th. century. Little of note has been built there since & the town square is little more than an ugly car park.”

This was despite a new 3rd Level College, a new Theatre, two new Museums, a state of the art Research Library and Exhibition Centre, latter staffed by quality helpful trained staff, etc, etc. This was despite the fact that Thurles is the ancestral home of the present heirs to the British Throne, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, etc, etc, the list is long.

The publication “Ireland : A Rough Guide,” had similar misinformation to offer tourists; ” Thurles is of very little interest in itself.” “Having seen the Rock of Cashel, most people head out of Tipperary for the west, and frankly this isn’t a bad idea – the north of the county has little to distract you.”  “Templemore is even less interesting than Thurles.”

Truth is both of these so called “Tourism Guide Publications,” continuously display their total ignorance and lack of research, choosing instead to operate like protection racketeers, coercing reticent potential Hotels, Restaurants etc, into buying into their publications.

Unlike the protection racketeering of the Kray Twins, of the 1950′s in the UK, these publications do not set about doing physically damage to their victims’ property during the night. Far worse, they ignore and fail to truthfully recommend top quality licenced hostelry’s, hotels and eating houses, who refuse to respond to this type of racketeer marketing.

This in turn means that these publications point tourists to the most expensive areas of Ireland, which, I regret to report, latter do not always grant best real value to the visitor. To prove a point I recently sent an email to Lonely Planet under the guise of a being a tourist, intending to visit Thurles.

See email and reply hereunder. (True copies of this communication and it’s reply may be viewed on request.)

Hi,
I wish to visit Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Are there any Hotels / good accommodation closer than Cashel? Are there any Castles, Museums, Heritage Centres etc, in this area.
Best regards, etc.

Reply Received by return from Lonely Planet
Dear Sir,
Please select the below link to find lots of information on Ireland:
Sadly we do not offer any accommodation in your selected area through the Lonely Planet Hotels and Hostels website yet. I hope you have a fantastic time travelling and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any more queries.

As you can see we could have repaired, far more easily, any damage undertaken by the likes of the Kray Twins.

North Tipperary on your knees and ‘Thank God,’ that Lonely Planet have failed to give us a mention this year.

I will be discussing, on this site, the failure to properly market Tourism in Thurles and ‘that area,’ just east of the Shannon, in more infinate detail, in the coming days. After all ‘blame is the name of the game,’ in today’s Ireland and we must therefore ‘name and shame,‘ those responsible for our neglect, before we begin to change the way we do business in the future.

In the meanwhile, any Tourists coming to Tipperary this year, stop wasting money on glossy brochures, use the Internet.(e.g. The new Hidden Tipperary.com site.) Here in Tipperary we do not sell a pig in a poke, rather we like to display our wares and guarantee our products to our customers.

Related posts:

1. Unemployment Continues To Rise In Tipperary
2. Tipperary Tourism Receives €10m Investment
3. Tipperary Tourism Stand At Olympia London

The first meeting to organise this years parade in the town, will take place in the Thurles Town Council Office at Slievenamon Road, on Wednesday next, January 11th, beginning at 7.30pm sharp.

Future meetings will take place each Wednesday from then on, up to and including the actual week of the parade.

All are invited to attend and contribute their specific organising talents, to this years event and remember “Many hands make light work.”

Of course if there are any American or European Marching Band, which might be over here in Ireland, taking part in some of the larger city parades and are passing through or near Thurles on March 8th, do please stop off and join with us in our celebrations.

The Thurles Parade has grown rapidly over the past ten years and is now one of the largest small town parades in Ireland.

Contact Tom Gleeson (Telephone 087-9732837) if you feel you can in any way assist this years committee.

Related posts:

1. Thurles St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday 21st March
2. St Patricks Day Live from Thurles Co Tipperary
3. St Patrick’s Day Parade Thurles 2011

Top violinist Edmund Dwan of  Autonomous i has been in touch, confirming they will be in attendance at 3.00pm “come rain or shine.”

Organiser Nikki Veasey was in touch to inform me that Phoenix Productions also have agreed to be part of the afternoon’s most marvelous free entertainment. She was also singing the praises of the present Transition Year Students at the Ursuline Convent, who had been extremely helpful to her and Thurles Chamber in organising this major event. She informed me that Thurles Chamber of Commerce have received sponsorship from Shannon Development and Thurles Town Council for this massive undertaking.

Right in the middle of all this a shower of soot falls from my chimney onto the wife’s best carpet, followed by a fellow in a red suit calling himself Santa Clause. He confirmed that he would be arriving in Liberty Square, Thurles, sharp at 1.45pm and wanted all the children to be informed. So please do tell all the children. Before I could even reply, he was up the chimney again like a rocket, leaving me to clean up the soot.

While the Christmas Market ends at 6.00pm, another annual event will begin in St.Marys Church here in Thurles, beginning sharp at 7.30pm and also on Sunday 11th December.

Yes I speak of “Carols by Candlelight.” Now do be careful here. Note: Please do not confuse this event with tickets (Red coloured) you may hold for “Christmas By Candlelight,” which you will be attending on Saturday 17th December next. Not surprisingly (And we did warn you,) tickets for this latter event, which is in aid of the Suir Haven, Thurles Cancer support centre, are possibly all sold out.

But back to “Carols by Candlelight.”on Sunday next, and here again, only about 20 tickets remain unsold for this event, which will feature Ireland’s No 1 Christian band “Cephas,” together with the wonderful local voices of Katie Lawless, Claire Lawless, Rachael Willoughby, Frank Tuohy and Garry Butler, under the music and coral direction of local music supremo, Miss Geraldine Delaney.

Readings for this annual ecumenical “Nine Lessons and Carols” event, will be read by Commandant Michael Walsh, aide de camp to H.E.the President of Ireland, Mayor of Thurles, Councillor John Kennedy, Thurles community leader and published poet Mrs Joan Pollard Carew, Miss Claire Lawless (Cuisle Young Poet of 2010), Miss Rachel Willoughby, Mr Nigel Foxton, Mr Larry Burke, (latter all St Mary’s Restoration Committee Members) to name but a few and all in a wonderful atmosphere of Christmas candlelight.

Proceeds from this latter event will be used for to support the re-opening of St. Mary’s War Museum, closed due to vandalism last year, and all in time for the new tourist season, beginning on May 1st 2012.  (Do call 0504-21133 to check ticket availability.)

All in all there is something to suit the mood of everyone, and Thurles is most definitely the place to be this weekend.

Related posts:

1. Upperchurch Walking Festival Takes Place This Weekend
2. Christmas Is Helping One Another Sing Vocalize
3. Bargain Weekend Away History Break At Thurles

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.

Related posts:

1. Upperchurch Walking Festival Takes Place This Weekend
2. Upperchurch And Toomevara Join Forces
3. Weekend Rail Service Disruption

As one member of a newly formed tourism group, Hidden Tipperary, (None of the members of which, I should point out, stand to benefit one red cent from Tourism. ) I decided to run a “Bargain Weekend Away History Break” in Thurles.

Thanks to the management of the Anner Hotel, St.Mary’s Famine Museum, Thurles Library and the Thurles GAA Museum, a bargain package was put together to compliment our National Heritage Week. Our package was priced at a give away €60 inclusive, encompassing two nights B&B plus one evening meal, one free Cabaret, with free admission to all museums and four free history lectures from, dare I claim, the best in the business. Unlike recent promoted events in Thurles, our aim was to keep spending revenues within the town, so our product, in every respect, was fully home grown.

Advertising the event first began on the Internet, targeting Irish lovers of history. I then turned to Tourism Ireland’s UK office of Fáilte Ireland where details of our proposed events were sent, with the hope that the British people would be informed that a cheap weekend away was available in Thurles, which after all it is the ancestral home of the British Royal family, something which Shannon Tourism and Fáilte Ireland continue to not recognise and refuse to market. My next target was Fáilte (Failter) Ireland here at home, and finally Active Retirement Groups.  Very quickly I learned that Tipperary is not the focus of Irish tourism sales. Please read on.

A request to Tourism Ireland’s UK office for marketing assistance received what appeared to be an automated email reply which read as follows:-

Dear Sir Willoughby,
Thank you for contacting Tourism Ireland. Regarding your question about promoting your Event. Can you please get in touch with our office in Dublin. info@failterireland.com . (Note spelling of Email address.)
If you have any further queries then please do not hesitate to contact us by visiting our website www.discoverireland.com and simply clicking the Contact Us button.  Thank you for your enquiry.

No I wasn’t Knighted during the Queen’s recent visit, but readers will note the Email address spelling in the automated mail received “FAILTER IRELAND.” Now as you read on perhaps you will find this spelling is very appropriate.

My reply was sent back within minutes and read as follows:-
Please note for your information – the link sent with this mail is not correct – info@failterireland.com
Possibly should read info@failteireland.ie

A reply came back by return as follows:-
Hello, Thanks for getting in touch with us. We have received your message, and a Tourism Ireland team member will respond to your enquiry within 1 working day. Your message has been allocated tracking number 23794.
Other ways of getting in touch: Website: www.discoverireland.com is packed full of information to help you plan your trip. Phone Line: Call 0800 039 7000 for free, friendly advice. We’re open from 08.00 – 23.00 from Monday to Friday, and 10.00 – 20.00 on Saturday, closed Sunday.
Visit us: London – Nations House, 103 Wigmore St, London W1U 1QS. Opening hours : 09.15 – 17.00, Mon – Fri.
Glasgow – 7th Floor, James Millar House, 98 West George St, Glasgow G2 1PJ. Opening hours : 09.15 – 17.00, Mon – Fri.
Thanks again for your enquiry.

To date, 33 days later I still wait, in quiet anticipation, to receive this promised one day working response.

At this stage you must all be smiling. Smile not my friends, remember that former tourism minister, Thurles born Mary Hanifin spent €2 million of the national tourism budget last year, advertising Dublin City. This was an attempt to attract English Tourists to our Capital, which according to IBAL, is now the dirtiest City in Ireland. I prophesise that soon Dublin will is about to get a face lift, courtesy of national taxpayers. Remember also that Dublin’s economy already benefits hugely from Tipperary, through heritage attractions e.g. the Book of  Dimma, Faddan More Psalter, The Derrynaflan Hoard and a more recent find, Ireland’s best kept secret, the Two Mile Borris Viking Hoard, which included, 57 silver Viking coins, and other objects, found close to where our Casino and All Weather Racetrack, is destined to materialise in the coming years.

Realising that no assistance was likely to be forthcoming, I contacted the Irish office, emailing info@failteireland.ie as advised in the reply to my original advertising request. I emailed them and waited six days for a reply.

Not being a person known to shrink away, when confronted by complete and total incompetence, I picked up the telephone. Well actually I picked up the phone six times, before I could get minor satisfaction. First two calls to first number dialed, informed me that no one was available to answer my queries. Next two calls to a second number, got a receptionist, who passed me on to some office, which also informed me that no one was available to answer. Fifth call to a third number informed me to leave a message. This message was answered some hours later, but I was not at home. On my return however I rang them back, and was informed that I was being transferred to the office which earlier was unattended. I raised my voice and was then transferred to a real non mechanical living human.

Following a 35 minute conversation, I received a verbal but somewhat doubting apology. However, in my conversation I promised to forward copies of original previous email communications, sent by me, and received the following reply on the 17 August 2011 15:46 which reads as follows:-

Subject RE: Event promotion (KMM86289I19660L0KM):-
Dear George,
I am getting your emails (copies promised) and I am going to ensure I send them to the right people to address the issues, I understand you require a response as soon as possible and I will follow this up.
I can see from the email track that your email went to Tourism Ireland’s UK office and the respondent advised you to send the email to info@failteireland.ie  I see they spelt that wrong and that is regrettable.
I am going to investigate where the email was received as that is a valid address you sent it to and why you have to date had no response and will let you know the outcome.  Regards etc.

That was 32 days ago, the right people have to date, not yet replied or offered any explanation for their complete incompetence. I took the decision to cancel the weekend event and notified the hotel to cancel our booking for 100 bedrooms plus ballroom.

When reading this, keep in mind that Irish tourism experienced its toughest season in over a decade in 2010 with overseas visitor numbers falling back to 1998 levels. This stark fact was underlined in the key message, at Fáilte Ireland’s End of Season Review and Outlook for 2011, that while tourism should recover somewhat in 2011, the performance of our biggest overseas market, namely Britain, would be central to the timing and scale of any recovery, yet Fáilte Ireland’s British office does not answer it’s Emails.

Total overseas visitor numbers fell by 15% in 2010 to 5.6m and foreign exchange earnings declined by 14% to €3.3bn.  Domestic tourism trips declined by 4% (to 8m) in the same period and domestic revenue fell by 10% (to almost €1.3bn).

Are we now to rely on Fáilte Ireland to take Tipperary out of the “Doldrums.”?  Are we to continue to depend on loss making Leader funded Halloween festivals and Arts Week festivals, which funnel revenue out of the county, to be our only source of development?  Look at the funding doled out politically to the gateways to Ireland:- Waterford Tall Ships get €1.5 million, Dublin gets €2 million for British Tourism advertising, Killarney gets €7,000 for Killarney House Restoration, etc, etc, etc, County Tipperary gets €0, as is usual, except for paltry sums for booklets and the odd brochure. With the World Wide Web, the days of communicating using tourism booklets and brochures are long dead.

Speaking recently to several coach tour operators, I am informed that Bord Failte has not the slightest interest in promoting Tipperary, except for the Rock of Cashel.

Meanwhile, two communications sent by me to Leo Varadkar’s office,dated 12 May 2011 and 21st August 2011, resp.remain unacknowledged. My communications, it would appear, went to spam.

Meanwhile, on September 13th I communicated with ezine.gb@tourismireland.com and yes an automated message was returned.
Hello,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We have received your message, and a Tourism Ireland team member will respond to your enquiry within 1 working day. Your message has been allocated tracking number 27066, etc. Thanks again for your enquiry.

I am still waiting for the one day promised reply.

Still one ray of hope now exists, emanating like a beacon from North Tipperary Co. Council office. The new tipperary.com website, the worlds most marketable host name, formally hijacked for one year by a Chinese Porn trading company, is to be unveiled to the world, in front of a few selected dignitaries, possibly at 5.00pm on Monday next,  (If my “mole” in the camp is correct ).

Mayor Michéal Lowry has posted out the invites to this little Soiree, the tawny brown Vinho do Porto wine from the Douro Valley has been decanted, the Liebfraumilch (Latter literally translated “Virgin Mary’s milk.) is on ice, the Oak Smoked Boyne salmon has been thinly sliced and a non consulted Tipperary unwashed await the white smoke, with heads bowed facing north, their caps in hand.

Related posts:

1. Tipperary Tourism Receives €10m Investment
2. Tipperary Tourism Stand At Olympia London
3. Mary Hanafin Welcomed As New Head Of Tourism

Shannon Oaks Hotel

There are no reports of any injuries or the cause of a fire which has extensively damaged the Shannon Oaks Hotel in Portumna, close to the Tipperary border in Co Galway.

The well known Hotel and County Club, situated on St Joseph’s Road and which overlooks the 1,500 acre Earl of Clanricarde estate, alerted the emergency services shortly after 1.00pm this afternoon.

Six units of the fire service from Galway and Tipperary arrived to the scene and some 60 employees and some 20 guests were evacuated.

A management spokesman said the hotel would be forced to remain closed for sometime, but that there was no immediate threat to the jobs of the present workforce.

It is believed that the fire was mainly confined to the kitchen area, where the blaze may have broken out, and the action of fire fighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the wings either side of this main blaze.

The emergency services obtained additional water supplies from the hotel swimming pool and the local Marina.

An investigation is now underway into the cause of this fire. The hotel is a particularly well know local wedding venue, servicing the counties of Galway, Tipperary and Limerick.

Related posts:

1. Fire Destroys Top Thurles Restaurant
2. Fire Causes Damage To Blakes Bar In Friar Street Thurles
3. Ballina House Fire Claims One Life

The league table of just 53 areas across the country showed two thirds of towns and cities to be clean to European norms, among them the cities of Waterford, Galway and for the first time, Cork. Also for the first time since the League began, Killarney Co Kerry took the coveted accolade of cleanest town, with the An Taisce examiners calling it “A superb result for our No.1 tourist town.”

The cleanliness rating for the country as whole was the highest since IBAL began its surveys ten years ago, with over 20 towns deemed to be cleaner than their European equivalents.

Results for Tipperary, however, demonstrate mixed fortunes, in this IBAL Anti Litter League’s 1st Round Results for 2011, with the towns of Tipperary and Clonmel branded as “Littered.”

Congratulations however to the town of Nenagh, branded as “Littered,” in 2009, it has now greatly risen in the ranks and is now listed as “Clean to European Norms.”

Thurles Town did not come under the scrutiny of IBAL in their latest findings, however it was found “Clean to European Norms,” both in 2009 and 2010.

Source Of Irish Litter

Surprisingly Sweet wrappers were found to be the most prevalent source of national litter at 61%, not surprisingly Fast Food wrappers at 51%, Cigarette butts 45%, Plastic Bottles 36%, Chewing gum 34%, Plastic Bags 29%, Cans 26%, Glass Bottles 18%, Coffee Cups 14%, Dog fouling 11%, ATM dockets 10%, Bus / Train tickets 8%, Promotional flyer’s 8%.

Graffiti does not get a mention, however, IBAL has warned that the rise in vacant and derelict properties is contributing greatly to increases in litter and unsightliness in certain areas of the country.

Related posts:

1. IBAL And An Taisce Say Nenagh Litter Blackspot
2. Thurles – Clean To European Norms
3. Thurles Remains One Of The Cleanest Towns In Ireland

A beautiful Rose represents the Premier County.

She was born in Clonoulty, Thurles, Co Tipperary and began her early education at Ballagh N.S, Clonoulty. She received her secondary education at the Ursuline Convent Secondary School, Thurles, Co Tipperary, achieving maximum honours in her Leaving Certificate examination results.

During this period, in 2002, she also received a Bronze An Gaisce Presidents award and successfully completed eighth grade piano tuition with the Royal Irish Music Academy.

She has represented her county in Camogie at all under ages levels and Junior level, and in 2010, went on to Captain the Junior A County Tipperary Camogie Team, latter champions that same year.

She also holds various Munster School Hockey medals, an Honorary School Sports Award for her contribution to sport and has represented Munster Hockey at U16 level. She also represent the Tipperary Intermediate Camogie Team for 2011.

In 2005, she began her third level education at the National University of Ireland, Galway, attaining a BSc. (HON) in Occupational Therapy. Since then she has practised and studied at St. John’s Hospital, Co Sligo, at University Hospital, Co. Galway, Tullamore Hospital, Co. Offaly and at Community Paediatrics, Letterkenny, Co.Donegal.

She is widely travelled and admits to enjoying the cultures of other countries. She is also an accomplished horse woman and extremely knowledgeable in most aspects of horsemanship.

Her other endless achievements include, winner of the solo singing competition at the County Tipperary and Munster Scór Sinsear in 2010. She has been selected to represent Tipperary in the Macra na Feirme Queen of the Land festival. She has been an organising member of the successful Clonoulty / Rossmore International Miss Macra committee for many years. She currently holds a full driving licence and enjoys cinema and reading.

OK your time is up. So who am I talking about?  One last clue – She was instantly selected this year, to represent Tipperary in the 2011 International Rose of Tralee festival.

Yes you have guessed correctly, the lady with that rare combination of beauty and brains of whom I speak, is the very lovely Noirin Ryan. (Yes Noirin, Thurles Information knows more about you than you think.)

Norin has been out and about this week promoting the International Rose of Tralee Festival, (Lead Sponsor is Newbridge Silverware.) beginning with a massive ‘Tipperary Rose Send Off,’ party at Kennedy’s Bar, Gooldscross, Clonoulty last Friday, where she insisted we must all travel to Kerry.

The 2011 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from Friday 19th to Tuesday 23rd August, with many of Noirin’s supporters will be travelling down for the event. Dáithí Ó Sé will once again host the Rose selection nights on RTÉ 1 TV, and all Tipperary eyes will be watching with great pride and fingers crossed.

If you are reading this, note Tipperary are fully behind you Noirin and from the people of Thurles and Co.Tipperary, go our every good wish for your success and enjoyment of this years event.

(Warning: Noirin between you and me, watch that Ó Sé fellow. During an interview with the RTÉ Guide, our Dáithí described his ideal woman as “someone that’s very easy going, who’s good fun, makes me laugh, is kind and loyal.” I think you fit his criteria, but don’t tell him I warned you.)

Watch our lovely Noirin’s progress on Rose TV by Clicking Here

Photo: Courtesy George Willoughby .

Related posts:

1. Thurles Girl Roisin Norton is Rose Of Newcastle
2. International Miss Macra Festival Celebrates 40 Years
3. International Miss Macra Festival 2010 In Tipperary

Here is a list of the heritage sites that are free in Tipperary this wednesday;

• Cahir Castle
• Rock of Cashel – There will be free parking in Cashel this Wednesday and on the first Wednesday of every month from the Cashel Town Council.
• Roscrea Heritage (Castle and Damer House) and the Blackmills
• Swiss Cottage

Other nearby attractions outside of Tipperary include Dunmore Cave, Jerpoint Abbey & Kilkenny Castle (Kilkenny), Adare Castle (Limerick), Clonmacnoise (Offaly), Emo Court (Laois) and Reginald’s Tower (Waterford).

According to the HeritageIreland.ie website visitors may experience delays at some of the busier sites. Access to some sites may be by guided tour only and therefore tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This will hopefully provide a good boost to our local economy and increase awareness of some of our historic heritage sites.

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Joan Pollard Carew

“I am both proud and honoured to state that I have been involved with International Miss Macra almost since its inception, forty years ago. In 1987, I was invited to join the adjudicating panel and was thrilled to accept. I am delighted to be one of the longest standing adjudicators and sponsors of this successful festival.

Over the years I was privileged to sit on the ‘Judging Panel,’ with Patsy Lawlor (Farmers Journal) Martin Ryan (Limerick Leader) Deputy Teresa Ahern (RIP) Jim Dockery, Matt O’Keefe, Eileen Leamy, Alma Heffernan, Deirdre Crowe and Declan Ryan to name just a few.
I have met and interviewed hundreds of contestants from every county in Ireland. Since the festival became International, we have had contestants from Germany, Holland, Russia, Poland, Scotland and New York. I am proud of all the decisions made by me and my fellow adjudicators over the years.
Our task is difficult, but very enjoyable, as we meet, chat and share time with a wonderful group of young ladies all eager to carry the title home.

I have been privileged to work with numerous Macra Committee Members, all who put their own stamp on the International Miss Macra festival.  In the earlier years Paddy Heffernan, Michael Slattery and Tom Horan were among the founder members of the event, Paddy is still very involved today. I worked with Simon Loughman, John Ryan, Eamon and Geraldine Coleman, Jim Dockery, Eileen Leamy, Pat Fogarty, Declan Ryan, Claire Ryan, and the present Chairperson Mary Lyng.

I have fond memories of the earlier years of the festival and the field evenings (Held to raise funding.) up in the cattle mart, at Cabra Road, Thurles.  My husband Michael and I were approached for sponsorship by Tim Curran from Clonoulty. That year we sponsored trophies for the field evening. This was our introduction to this wonderful festival as sponsors.

Thurles was the host town of the festival in the earlier years. Clonoulty Rossmore Macra Na Feirme brought a tremendous festival to the town over the August bank holiday weekend, for over thirty years. This added greatly to the economy of the town.

The festival usually started on the last Friday evening in July. Contestants arrived in the car park in Cathedral Street, Thurles, on floats and then were paraded up Liberty Square, to a specially erected platform, usually Dwan’s lorry, decked out in beautiful flower arrangements. The competing young ladies were escorted on to the stage and introduced to the huge assembled crowd. The job of introducing the contestants was very ably conducted over the years by numerous personalities including Jackie Griffin, (RIP) Philip Ryan, PJ Broderick, Eamon Coleman and Mike Egan.

Saturday morning Hayes Hotel in the Square was buzzing as the girls arrived for interviews. Saturday night saw The Premier Hall hosting the Cabaret, then it was dancing time and fun as contestant’s locals and visitors danced chatted and strangers became friends.

The sports day followed Sunday mass in Rossmore. Contestants, host family’s, locals and visitors travelled the short distance to the hurling field in Clonoulty. This was followed by a BBQ, prepared and cooked by the local ICA ladies.

Sunday night was Banquet Night and over the years this was held in Hayes Hotel or The Anner Hotel. Contestants were then coached to The Premier Hall to dance to The Paddies and the announcement and crowning of the winning girl.

International Miss Macra Festival has become the highlight in our calendar of events here in Co Tipperary. The festival has brought thousands of visitors from all over Ireland and parts of Europe to Co Tipperary for this August bank holiday period over the years. The festival is instrumental in helping us showcase Co Tipperary as a destination for holidaymakers who enjoy historical buildings, good fishing, equine activities, forest walks, traditional music / dancing and superb high street shopping.

We are the Premier County in the heart of the Golden Vale and extend a hand of friendship to all who visit us, small wonder that we have holidaymakers returning every year to our beautiful county.

International Miss Macra festivals has gone from strength to strength thanks to the foresight and hardworking committees over the years.”

The festival is now hosted in Dundrum House Hotel and Golf Resort. The ambiance of this great house and resort is a perfect location for this truly prestigious festival.

This festival begins Thursday 28th July and runs until Sunday July 31st, 2011 inclusive.

Related posts:

1. International Miss Macra Festival Celebrates 40 Years
2. International Miss Macra 2009 Weekend Schedule
3. International Miss Macra 2010 – Miss Wicklow Crowned