Where Are Our Taxes Going?

Do please take the time to watch this short video hereunder and weep. This is real democracy, at least appearing to exist, in a country containing some 310,000,000 residents, while here on our island, home to 4,400,000 souls and rapidly decreasing, we have no voice as to how our future is to be directed.  The last General Election has taught us that the Irish electorate are, in desperation, close to accepting the Government of this nation by nihilists – Sinn Feiners, Mings, and Micks who fuel protest, without offering any fair solutions to our current difficulties.

I do hope our readers have kept a copy of yesterday’s (January 21st 2012) ‘Sun,’ newspaper, where we are entertained with the headline, on page two, “Minister (Phil Hogan) Admits New Tax Is Unjust.” My Dictionary defines ‘Unjust,’ as “inequitable, partial, unfair, prejudiced, biased, undeserved, unmerited, unjustifiable, not just; lacking in justice or fairness.” With most homes in this country in joint ownership, the keeping of this paper could be used as justified defence evidence, when wives and husbands stand before “Your Honour” to explain why they refuse to pay Minister Phil Hogan’s admitted ‘inequitable,’ €100 Household Charge, which came into effect this month.

Here in Tipperary we ask a series of questions:- What are our taxes used for? Why do we continue to pay bankers annual salaries of €500,000 for work more perceptively undertaken by Credit Union managers, latter earning less than €120,000? Why are we being asked to pay for water carrying lime and other impurities, which rots our copper piping and in most cases from day to day, is undrinkable ? Why is rural Ireland continuously being robbed, to support a Dublin economy, while senior Cabinet Ministers continue to squirrel away any available funding to their own constituencies, bolstering their outcome in future elections? How long will Unions continue to dictate how our Civil Service is run?

Our Libraries, Schools and Courthouses are being threatened with closure, our waste collections systems have been privatised, our streets, pavements and roads are a national disgrace. Local justice, law and order are sliding down the slippery slope, while rape, stabbings and murder are now daily acceptable happenings.

Here in Tipperary, due mainly to a sort of ‘resigned acceptance,’ we continue to elect and support public representatives, with no power at the Cabinet Table and even less ability to protect and reform that which was gifted to us via Bertie, Builders, Bankers and the Galway Tent.

How long can we afford this resigned acceptance?

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Rosie and the Marquess of Headfort

Highlights of the May 2012 “Irish Art Sale,” by Sotheby’s Auction House in London, will go on view in Dublin at No 16 Molesworth Street, on April 24th and 25th and will include two portraits by Dublin born, Sir William Orphen, Ireland’s if not the world’s greatest portrait painter.

Interestingly both of these portraits in this auction have strong Thurles associations to this very day. The portraits are of the glamorous music-hall star Rosie Boote and a Co Meath aristocrat, Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort DL, JP, FZS (1878 – 1943) both of whom were to enthrall and scandalised Edwardian society in 1901.

Rose Boote, (1878-1958) or ‘Miss Rosie Boote,’ latter her later stage name, was the only daughter of Charles Boote, a comedian and while little is known of her mother, it was believed she was a straw hat sewer.

Rose however was sent to the Ursuline Convent School in Thurles in the 1890′s to be educated. The Ursuline Convent then, as now, had a high reputation in educational circles, renowned for their proficiency in turning girls into young, well educated ladies, who could take their place even in the highest society.

Having left the Ursuline Convent School in Thurles, Rose, possibly through connections of her father, was introduced to George Joseph Edwardes, (1855–1915)  an English theatre manager, born ‘George Edwards,’ a native of Co Wexford, Ireland. George had introduced a new era into musical theatre on the British stage.

George now introduced Rose to the stage as one of his ‘Gaiety Girls,’ where she achieved great acclaim. Gaiety Girls were the chorus girls of Edwardian musical comedies, which had its beginning earlier in the 1890s, at the Gaiety Theatre, on the Strand, London. The sudden popularity of this genre of musical theatre depended, mainly on these beautiful dancing troupes of “Gaiety Girls” appearing onstage in bathing attire and in the latest fashions from London and Paris.

Gaiety girls were considered polite, educated, well-behaved young women, unlike those corseted actresses from London’s earlier musical burlesque shows. They became a popular attraction and a symbol of ideal womanhood, soon attracting the attention of aristocratic young men, known as “Stage Door Johnnies.”  These young men would often wait outside the rear stage door in the hope of escorting one of these young ladies to dinner. Rose’s mentor, Edwardes had arranged with Romano’s Restaurant, on the Strand, for his girls to dine there at half-price. It was good exposure for his girls and made Romano’s Restaurant the embodiment of London’s night-life.

It was possibly Rosie’s performance in a hit musical ‘The Messenger Boy,’ in 1900, when she danced and sang ‘Maisie,’ that apparently charmed the eligible handsome young Irish aristocrat, the 4th Marquis of Headfort, Geoffrey Thomas Taylour (1878-1943). She would soon quit the theatre and they would be married on the 11th of April, 1901, but not without the resistance of high society and family members.

Huge efforts were now made to prevent the intended marriage, by all of Lord Headfort’s relatives and friends, even King Edward was called upon to use his influence in this matter.  Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, after all, was a first lieutenant in the First Life Guards, a crack British regiments, and he was soon informed that if he married this music hall actress his resignation would be expected.

King Edward became greatly interested in this whole affair and infored Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, who was Colonel of the First Life Guards, to undertake whatever was necessary to prevent the marriage.  Prince Edward, in turn, wrote to the offending Lord Headfort, explaining that his career would be ruined if he were to marry Miss Boote, as he could never be received by the regiment.  Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, Lord Headfort, replied, forwarding his resignation papers to Lord Roberts. His Commander in Chief now refused to accept Lord Headfort’s resignation, instead ordered the Marquis to hold himself in readiness to go to South Africa, on active service.

Lord Headfort insisted on resigning and married Miss Boote. English society were shocked, after all Rosie did not belong to the upper classes, she was a devout Roman Catholic, marrying an Irish Protestant Freemason, (Having been initiated in the Lodge of Assistance No 2773  at Golden Square, London, in February 1901, aged 22 years.) the head of an ancient house and the possessor of considerable wealth, owning estates of some 22,000 acres in Cavan and Meath.

However English Society were unaware that Rosie was a quiet, refined, well educated Ursuline Convent girl, and the then confidently predicted marriage separation, between this young couple, would never materialize. The couple lived between their home at Headfort House, Kells, Co Meath and a London townhouse and they would have three children, Lady Millicent Olivia Mary Taylour, Terence Geoffrey Thomas Taylour and Lord William Desmond Taylour.

I understand that Rosie visited the Ursuline Convent, Thurles, on a few occasions during her marriage, on one occasion to officially open a new building extension, and indeed gifted the convent with a veil, for a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This veil is still one of the Ursuline Convents treasured possessions.

The chorus-girl Marchioness and her husband were eventually received back into London Society, when they were invited to one of the most important balls of the season. Princess Christian and other members of the royal family were there, and none of the most exclusively disposed members of the aristocracy, who had been invited, stayed away. The entrance of Lord Headfort and his chorus-girl wife was of course the sensation of the evening. Lady Headfort is reported as “bearing herself in a manner which every one declared to be perfect.”  Her gown was reported as one of the most beautiful costumes observed at the ball and her appearance and her manners were better than those of the grandees dames, who crowded around, eying her inquisitively.

Rosie’s husband who had succeeded to the title 4th Marquis of Headfort on the death of his father in 1894 continued to move in the highest echelons of then British society. He remained a lieutenant in the 1st Life Guards and later fought in the first World War. He also served as a senator in the Irish Free State between 1922-1928.

Rose died in 1958 at the age of 80, 15 years after her husbands death. She was one of the very few people who ever attended three Coronations in Westminster Abbey, Edward VII, George V and George VI. Her grandson Lord Bective and employees of the estate carried her coffin to an island in the grounds of Headfort House, where she was buried alongside her husband.

In her portrait by Orphen, now on sale, Rosie is depicted in her cocktail dress, fur and diamond earrings which is estimated to sell at auction for between £300,000-£500,000. The diamond earrings shown in her portrait, were sold by Sotheby’s in Geneva last year for €35,000.
Headfort House of course was sold off in 1981, but the title is still extant.

Related posts:

1. Thurles Musical Society 60th Anniversary Me & My Girl
2. Thurles Musical Society To Stage Jekyll and Hyde
3. 6000 Irish Girl Guides To Descend on Thurles

Our aim in 2012 is to continue to pursue these aspirations, following in a similar vein and yes your voice does count, so do please comment on issues raised and let your views be aired publicly. Debate will contribute to real and positive change, for the betterment of all, here in Co Tipperary. In the words of Google today, “Geniuses are not always A grade students. We welcome all mavericks.”

What is our “Rant” today?  Well most of us have had an opportunity to read our local weekly newspaper the “Tipperary Star,” and in particular, the article by journalist Sinéad Goldsboro, headed “Angry Visitor Lashes Thurles Signage.”

Well in the words of Frederick R. Barnard “One look is worth a thousand words.” These pictures were taken just yesterday and highlight / confirm that local government is just not working.

This signage has been in this totally unacceptable state, since November of last year. Each week our salaried, expenses guzzling Politicians, our Local and County Councillors drive out the Dublin road and around our town, but it would appear not one of them has any influence over the National Roads Authority (NRA).

(1) Sign to our only tourist attraction, St Mary’s Famine Museum, was destroyed by County Council workers, during work on the Cathedral Street Roundabout two years ago, and re-erected as if nothing happened, please replace.
(2) Thurles Shopping Centre is not on the Nenagh Road as is currently directed.
(3) Many signs face blank walls.
(4) Traffic lights are being removed by large vehicles or are bent. Truth is that 80% of all signs are no longer standing perpendicular due to disgraceful planning.

What you have viewed here is just a fraction of our towns neglect.
Message to our Politicians, our Local and County Councillors, Sirs, we have paid our taxes, please now provide the promised services.

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Younger people, aged 18 to 34 years, are more likely to go out to a public place this New Years Eve, while older people will probably spend New Year’s Eve at home or at a friend or family member’s home. So whatever you get up to, please do stay safe and do remember that New Years Eve is the worst holiday night of the year for those who insist on driving after drinking.

So parents do have a chat with your children before they head off this evening. Despite their protest, warn them about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs and fatigue, as well as how to be both a good driver and yes, also a good passenger.

Remember teenagers are less likely to drive drunk, when parents lay down some concrete safety ground rules, so do insist and even offer your services to transport those family members anxious to celebrate in the party mood.

From Brian and myself here at Thurles.Info, may we wish you and yours, far and wide, a happy and prosperous New Year in 2012.

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I’m sure if we all stop and think, we would discover that have a lot we can be thankful for this Christmas. The Tipperary saying ‘Health is Wealth’ has never been more true, indeed it was Mahatma Gandhi who originally coined the phase when he said “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”.

I have come across a couple of great videos that celebrate the joy of the Christmas season and I would like to share them with you.

The first video is a terrific idea for people to do over the holidays, especially if you have friends or family abroad, why not send them a Video Card! This would be great fun to do over the Christmas with your family, maybe get a few of them together and record them singing a song. These days this could even be done using a mobile phone! The video can be uploaded to a video site like Vimeo.com for free, and then shared with all your family and friends by sending them the link to the video. It’s also very easy to share it on Facebook so all your friends can see!

This next video is an inspiring tale, it is the true story behind the Christmas carol ‘Silent Night’

Have a great Christmas everyone!

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To this end “Vocalize,” will perform their new original show “Christmas By Candlelight,” at St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Thurles, on Saturday 17th December next. The performing group “Vocalize,” are no strangers to Thurles theatre lovers and consist of some of the towns most harmonious and talented voices.

“Vocalize,” Videographer and Sound Technician, Garry Butler has been to rehearsals and sends us just a small clip of what music lovers can expect on the night.

Do come listen to the golden voices of Katie & Claire Lawless, Maria Griffin, Stacey Taylor, Peter Donnelly and Damian Sweeney, together with David McElgunn, and others under the wonderful musical direction of Geraldine Delaney.  All will be performing by candlelight and you’ll feel like you’ve just taken a step back in time, when you join them for this most enchanting and emotional of local event.

Expect Christmas songs with a difference and of a new world, songs like; ‘I Need A Silent Night,’ ‘Hope Is Born Again,’ ‘A baby changes everything,’ and my own favourite ‘Christmas is.’

Of course one of the earliest stagings of Christmas music by candlelight began in the 19th century, when Cornish Miners in Moonta, South Australia (As this sites Irish /Australian able ambassador Katie O’Connell Nott will attest. “Happy Christmas from all in Tipperary & Thurles to all of you Katie.”) would gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols lit with candles, stuck to the brims of their safety hats.  Today the tradition has spread around the world and is happening here in Thurles this year for the first time in St. Mary’s Church.

Tickets for this event will cost you €10 and are available from Bookworm, in Liberty Square, Thurles, with total proceeds going to a most worthy cause, the Suir Haven, Thurles Cancer support centre.

So come along to St. Mary’s and for a while, enjoy an 18th-century style Christmas by candlelit, and why not take a look around the famine museum while you chat and enjoy a cup of tea after the show.

A word to the wise: Tickets are very limited so do book early, to ensure your space.

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It is a place frequented by walkers, photographers, lovers, artists, and sometimes those with heavy hearts.  It is an amazing area for inquisitive children in search of knowledge, where Mother Nature hands to teachers a clean blank blackboard, with which to educate future generations.

I speak of course of Cabragh Wetlands.

However if either North Tipperary Planning (Ref: 10510413) or An Board Pleanala (Ref: PL22.238800) and their elected officials kowtow to business and personal political interests, and as we have seen recently in the case of Two Mile Borris, they go against the advice of their own planning inspectorate, then this rare environmental treasure, will slowly become a disease infected wasteland.

In an article published on this site in April of this year, we highlighted that a proposed Thurles Recycling Centre, was to be located at the old Thurles Sugar Factory site, in Cabragh and had been given the ‘green light,’ after planning permission was granted for the facility by North Tipperary County Council. This decision was subsequently and justifiably appealed by local angry residents, to an Bord Pleanala.

After much delay O’Dwyer Skip Hire Ltd, (T/A Envirobin) have replied to An Board Pleanala’s request of August last, for further planning information. I am reliably informed that An Board Pleanala has not been so generous regarding time constraints, to those objecting to this project, allowing them only 10 days for to prepare any future defence.

Drug dealers, murderers and other major criminals, in this country, can apply successfully for free legal aid / funding, to defend in many cases the indefensible. However persons attempting to protect their local environment against outside events, in this case Cabragh/Ballycurrane Residents Association, must fund their own defence against events totally foisted on them.

While I totally support the theory of Waste Management and the building of Waste Transfer Stations, the erection of such a facility in a rural town, in the centre of a populated residential area, within metres of the River Suir, latter which crosses county Tipperary from north to south, and close to a National Heritage Site, defies all logical reasoning.

Both those funding this venture and those elected representatives responsible for directing North Tipperary’s Planning also display total disregard for all persons living in this area. With the drop in house prices all residents have already lost 5o%, at least on the values of their homes as at the date of purchase. If this venture succeeds, residential housing in the immediate area will remain unsellable in the future.

Politicians of all political persuasions have failed in their duty of care to Thurles, a duty they need reminding, which was bestowed on them by a local trusting electorate.

Residents of Thurles, your support is now needed to defend us against those with greedy private interests, who are intent on introducing ‘Dirty Industry,’ into our town, in the name of ‘Job Creation.’

Silence is no longer an option for all Thurles residents, so do please express your views by commenting either on this site or by contacting the following elected representatives:-

Michael Lowry T.D. Abbey Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Telephone: 0504 – 22022 – Email:  michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie

Noel Coonan T.D. Bank Street, Templemore, Co Tipperary. Telephone: 0504 – 32544 – Email: noel.coonan@oir.ie

Alan Kelly T. D. No 1 Summerhill, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary: Telephone: 067 – 34190 – Email: office@alankelly.ie

Mayor Councillor Micheal Lowry, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Tipperary: Telephone: 067 – 44500 – Email: secretary@northtippcoco.ie

Do of course request them to clarify, in writing, if or not, they continue to hold any financial or other interest in O’Dwyer Skip Hire Ltd, (T/A Envirobin) or subsidiaries of this company. Remind all County Councillors, you may bump into, of their own Mission Statement “We commit ourselves, in partnership with all stakeholders, to improve the quality of the economic, social and cultural life of our communities.”

We need no reminder and have learned, through expensive past lessons, one cannot ever again be sure of loyalties expressed by our public representatives, especially where finances are concerned.

It is pointless writing to Local Councillors, firstly you will not get a reply and secondly, as local representatives they have little or no power to influence such proceedings.

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George Mordaunt’s family car business in Clonmel was one of the huge success stories during the boom years, but alas came crashing down in spectacular fashion, when this current recession hit.

George has now put his story in print, in a remarkable book called “Shepherd’s Pie: Family Business, Recession & Recovery – The Real Story”

This book is a brutally honest and brave account of what happened and of how he has managed to survive and start all over again. Ireland is insolvent because of mismanagement, corruption and greed. We have been bombarded with and infuriated by reports of self-serving bankers, developers and government ministers.

To date, the general public has not had an account of the devastating effect of this crisis on Irish-owned business, as it tries to pick up the pieces. Irish businesses are trying to cope with insolvency, arrears, liquidation – the rate of suicide among the self-employed in Ireland has trebled in the last 3 years. George Mordaunt believes that many Irish businesses are now dysfunctional, not because of the recession, but because of the reaction of business owners to this recession – and specifically their reaction to their banks.

With raw honesty he outlines the effect this reaction has had on himself, his young family, his marriage and his business. He shares his most private moments of despair and fear, while demonstrating how business owners can salvage their businesses and that we now have a core responsibility to get back to basics in all levels of Irish life.

His talk will be of interest to many struggling to survive in business today and this talk therefore is an event not to be missed on Tuesday next.

The talk is presented by Network North Tipperary and anyone interested in attending can email president@networknorthtipp.ie for further details.

George Mordaunt’s book “Shepherd’s Pie: Family Business, Recession & Recovery – The Real Story” is a ‘Must Read.’

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As part of the preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Dublin in June 2012, the Eucharistic Congress Bell is being brought on pilgrimage throughout all the dioceses of Ireland.  Many of you may even have encountered the bell at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy recently.
The 50th International Eucharistic Congress Theme Song, which was composed by Bernard Sexton, is shown hereunder.

The Eucharistic Congress Bell is a key symbol of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.   From its origins in the Dominican Convent of Portstewart, Co. Derry the Bell was more recently used to ring in the Jubilee Year 2000 in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.

For centuries bells have been used by many religious denominations as a call to prayer, a call to gather. The tolling of the church bell alerted people to pray, to come together as a community with a common purpose in mind.

Eucharistic Congress Bell

The bell is currently in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly and will be arriving in Thurles this weekend.  It will reflect the invitation to faith, to prayer, to reconciliation and to mission which has always been important in our Christian tradition and is no less so today.

The bell’s itinerary during its visit to Thurles is as follows:

Saturday 5th November:
6.30pm -  Mass in Bóthar Na Naomh.  7.30pm – Mass in the Cathedral.

Sunday 6th November:
9.00am -  Mass in Bóthar Na Naomh.  11.00am – Folk Mass in the Cathedral.  12.15pm – Mass in the Cathedral.  2.00pm – St Patrick’s Cemetery
3.00pm – St Mary’s Cemetery.  4.00pm – Killinan Cemetery.  5.00pm – Community Hospital of the Assumption.  7.00pm – Evening Prayer Bóthar Na Naomh Church.

Monday 7th November 2011: – The Bell visits all Secondary Schools in Thurles.
9.00am – Presentation Secondary School.  10.00am – Ursuline Secondary School.  11.00am – CBS Secondary School.  12.00 noon – Coláiste Mhuire Co Ed.

The Eucharistic Congress Bell will depart for the diocese of Limerick at 1.30pm on Monday 7th November.
Our thanks to Fr. Tomás O’Connell and Fr. Martin Hayes who provided us with this notification.

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What a week folks. Accusations of “attempted assassination,” – the unveiling of a possible political FF “Bag Man,” - a terrorist just barely in from the cold – a few overpaid self styled celebrities promising “all kinds of everything,” -  a government politician who refuses to understand something when his salary depends upon him not understanding it -  a highly regarded honest, generous, gutsy elderly gentleman, and all competing for the last remaining well paid job left in Ireland today.

Following weeks of interviews, the successful applicant was eventually decided today by his employer, the Irish people, voting by a record 1,007,104 votes.  Now the last remaining job in Eire, thank God, has deservedly gone to the honest, generous, gutsy elderly gentleman, Mr Michael D Higgins. My congratulations you will do us proud.

To those whose curriculum vitae’s did not come up to scratch, take heart in the lyrics of “Love On The Rocks” composed by the great singer, songwriter, Neil Diamond:-

“First, they say they want you, How they really need you.
Suddenly you find you’re out there, Walking in a storm.
When they know they have you, Then they really have you.
Nothing you can do or say, You’ve got to leave, just get away.
We all know the song.”

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