Tourism - Thurles Information

Community Tourism Diaspora Initiative Grants

tipp Those involved in event planning in Co. Tipperary are urged to apply for Community Tourism Grants. The application process for 2016 funding remains opens for community tourism initiatives for the diaspora.

Applications for funding are being sought under the Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora. The initiative first launched in 2014, builds on the community involvement legacy of ‘The Gathering 2013’ and remains a joint partnership between Tipperary County Council, IPB Insurance and Fáilte Ireland.

Now in its third year, the scheme provides a national fund of €1m to support local community-based events and festivals each year. Last year, some 23 local events were supported in Tipperary, attracting up to 1120 visitors from overseas.

Administered locally by Tipperary County Council, the application process for 2016 currently remains open, but will close on the 11th of March 2016. Interested parties are therefore advised to contact M/s Áine Mc Carthy by emailing tourism@tipperarycoco.ie to apply. The application form is available to download HERE

Local authorities throughout the country are now accepting applications in order to determine those local events with the best potential to have the impact and long-term potential to make a difference. The initiative is being administered at local level with the grant applications and awards being decided in accordance with agreed national criteria.

Ireland’s Pilgrim Paths Lecture In Ardmayle Church

pilgrim At the invitation of Ardmayle Heritage Society, Mr John G. O’Dwyer, Chairman of Pilgrim Paths Ireland will give a lecture and slide-show on his exploration of ancient pilgrim trails, entitled “Walking Through History.” The event will take place in Ardmayle Church, Cashel on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016, at 8:00pm sharp.

Mr O’Dwyer, the author of the first guidebook to Ireland’s Pilgrim Paths, will also talk about the more recent developments on the pilgrim paths of Ireland and the upcoming ‘Pilgrim Paths Week’, which takes place from March 22nd to March 29th. Tipperary will be offering two fully guided pilgrim walks during this week long event, same taking place on ‘St Declan’s Way’ with a crossing of the Knockmealdown Mountains and on the ‘Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop’.

His talk on March 2nd next will also cover details of Ireland’s new Pilgrim Passport, which is similar to the Spanish Camino passport; offering an opportunity for Irish people and overseas visitors to get out and explore 120 kilometres of Ireland’s most unforgettable penitential paths, while reconnecting with the pilgrims past.

Those who have all Five Panels stamped on Passports, latter certifying full completion, automatically become eligible for a Teastas Oilithreachta (Irish Pilgrim Walk Certificate) from Ballintubber Abbey.

So, if you would like to walk some of Ireland’s pilgrim paths in the future or find out more about them, this upcoming lecture is certainly the event for you.

Admission to the lecture is free and all are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact M/s Marion Ryan at Tel: 087-6110338 or visit www.pilgrimpath.ie

Aherlow House Hotel Has New Owner

Aherlow It has been confirmed today that the Aherlow House Hotel, Aherlow, Co. Tipperary, which closed rather abruptly on February 9th 2016, will soon reopen to guests and their patrons on the 3rd March 2016, after the property was sold to a Dublin based hotel operator.

This news now means jobs have been secured as a result of this sale and also ensures the availability of this excellent venue to future wedding couples and other events, which had previously booked ahead into 2016, 2017 and 2018.

It is understood that up to 40 couples had secured their future wedding bookings at this venue and were being forced, following the closure, to seek alternative hotel arrangements, without any guarantee regarding large deposits previously paid in advance while securing upcoming events.

It is understood that Mr Adrian Shanagher, an experienced hotel operator, based in Dublin, has now purchased the popular venue and is anxious to honour all future weddings that were booked with the previous tenant company. He has confirmed that he will offer couples full credit against their future wedding costs in Aherlow House Hotel.

The new purchaser is also expected to begin immediately to refurbishment and upgrade this newly acquired property, with a view to reopening for business on the 3rd March 2016.

Nathan Carter To Headline ‘Cut Loose Country Festival’ 2016

“So rock me momma like a wagon wheel, Rock me momma any way you feel, Hey, momma rock me.
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain, Rock me momma like a south bound train, Hey, momma rock me.” – Lyrics Darius Rucker

Its official; Nathan Carter is ready and set to headline the annual ‘Cut Loose Country Festival’ in Tipperary once again this Summer. Holycross will, for the fifth year in succession, play host to one of Ireland’s biggest country music festivals’ taking place on Sunday 24th July 2016.

We also understand that others performing at this premier event will be Michael English, Declan Nerney, Robert Mizzell and our own Tipperary ‘Queen of Country,’ leading lady Louise Morrissey; all adding to the fantastic line-up for this country festival highlight of 2016.

This festival annually attracts country music fans, not just from all over the island of Ireland, but numerous other visitors travelling from America and the UK, especially for this event.

Michael Lowry T.D. and organiser of this annual festival said; “This is our fifth year running the Cut Loose Country music festival which has attracted thousands of country music fans to Holycross every year. Our objective is to ensure we provide a spectacular day of entertainment with a stellar line-up of top artists. We have continued to add new offerings each year and 2016 will be no different. This event would not be possible without the support of the local community, our many willing volunteers and an active Garda presence. The commitment and dedication of these people is what makes the ‘Cut Loose Country Festival’ stand out from so many others.”

The Nathan Carter Management Team have stated; “The Cut Loose Country Festival is a fantastic country music event and the overall set up and organisation by the local organisation is truly exceptional. We didn’t hesitate when we were invited to return and are thrilled to be headlining the event once again in 2016.

Gates open at 12:00 noon for this outdoor event and non-stop entertainment will be provided throughout the day from 1:00pm until 7:00pm. A large dance-floor will facilitate those that wish to dance at each performance and ample seating wil also be available to those who wish to attend, listen and enjoy. Concert-goers will enjoy easy access to and from the festival venue with ample parking on-site, in addition to a host of hospitality facilities that include a full alcohol licence and fast food services.

Tickets, priced at a mere €20.00 each are now available from local county Tipperary outlets e.g. Thurles – Lar na Pairc; Cashel -Martin O’Dwyer Butchers; Clonmel – The Book Store,O’Connell Street; Roscrea – Redmond’s of Roscrea; Templemore -Templemore Jewellery’s; Nenagh – Sportsman Dream; and in Tipperary Town – Danny Ryan’s Music Shop.

So do mark this date in your diary or better still get your tickets early, but do come along to see some of Ireland’s premier Country Music acts and “yes why not cut loose” on Sunday July 24th 2016.

Aherlow House Hotel Tipperary Closed With Job Loses

Aherlow Auburn Hotels (Aherlow) Limited, Aherlow, Co. Tipperary has announced, with great regret, that it has been obliged to cease trading as Aherlow House Hotel, with effect from the 9th February 2016.

The scenic hotel has surrendered possession of the hotel premises to the Receiver of Aherlow House Hotel Ltd, Mr Costelloe of Messrs Grant Thornton’s, Limerick office, with immediate effect.

Auburn Hotels (Aherlow) Limited had been in negotiations with the receiver of the hotel over an extended period with regard to the future of the property and in the expectation that it could remain operating the premises, having envisaged that bookings could be taken for functions for dates into the future.

It is now understood that the receiver intends to place the hotel for sale on the open market and that the present lease granted will not be renewed or extended; leaving the company with no option but to cease trading with immediate effect.

Some 25 employment contracts held by the hotels staff have been now terminated and the hotel will not itself be in a position to carry through bookings already confirmed. The hotel is understood to have in excess of 40 weddings and other functions confirmed for the year ahead, but say it will not be in a position to meet future commitments. However the Receiver has requested full particulars of all bookings for weddings and functions to be furnished to them, together with full particulars of all staff currently employed. Same information will be passed on to all / any interested future purchasers.
Dundrum Hse Functions booked to take place in the immediate future at Aherlow House Hotel have now been accommodated at other venues including Kilcoran Lodge Hotel, Cahir and at the Clonmel Park Hotel, some 25km to 43km distance from the Aherlow venue.

Dundrum House Hotel

Fears are also growing for the immediate future of the wonderful Dundrum House Hotel, in Dundrum Co. Tipperary, situated some 28km from Aherlow House, where 110 employees have been given notice that their place of employment may also close within a month unless a new buyer can be located.

The loss of both superb Tipperary hotel venues are seen as a massive economic blow to the over all future of tourism in Co. Tipperary, particularly through attendance at numerous visitor centres, museums and the wider county’s rural economy.

Such job losses are not expected to feature on any Irish TV channels, unlike the loss of 140 jobs in Cleary’s department store in O’Connell Street, Dublin. Tipperary after all is only a jobless region somewhere in a long forgotten ‘Rural Ireland’.