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For many decades now ‘The Premier Ballroom’ here in Thurles has provided Thurles and Tipperary people with the very best in dancing entertainment. It comes therefore as no surprise that last Sunday the “Thurles Club for dancing”‘ should take an opportunity to celebrate the hall’s 50th anniversary this year.
Maybe it was nostalgia, that chance to slip back in time and remember loves lost or won or maybe it was a chance to meet up again with old friends and renew acquaintances, which drew the crowds. Whatever each individual’s reason, past patrons flocked in their hundreds to the Premier Ballroom, to relive once again the era of the big band dancing scene, latter which has long since declined, being replaced by the cheaper musical sound influences of the discothèque.
On Sunday night last top vocalist and accordion player Finbarr Dennehy got all dancers well warmed up during the first two hours of this event and he was quickly followed by the 2014 winner of the Sunday World’s ”Entertainer of the Year Award,” namely Country singer Mike Denver and His Band.
Of course the Thurles Club for Dancing, which hosted this major event, was first founded itself back in 1971, and still today hold regular dances in the Premier Ballroom, which boasts of having one of the finest dancing surfaces in Ireland. Dancing is held here every second Sunday night from 9.00 p.m. to 12.00 midnight with an average attendance any evening of 160 persons. Admission is a mere €8.00 per person.
Mind you, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see an increase in patron numbers, on future Sunday events, so successful was last Sunday’s celebratory dance experience.
Lessons in Social Dancing also take place in this large Ballroom twice a year (one session in Feb./March and again in Sept./Oct.) These two six-week courses costs a total of just €20 for each six-week course. This is the 20th year of such lessons. (For further information on these contact Tom Gleeson at 087-9732837.)
It is with great sadness we report the death of Mrs Julia O’Donnell, mother of Daniel O’Donnell and mother-in-law of Thurles native Majella O’Donnell, latter both country singers and reality television stars.
Mr Julia O’Donnell passed away at 3.50am this morning at the ripe old age of 94. Country singers Daniel and his wife Majella announced the news on Daniel’s official website this morning.
Mrs O’Donnell died at Dungloe Community Hospital in Co Donegal, surrounded by her family. The Co Donegal native Daniel, aged 52, had rushed home from Scotland, where he had been performing on Monday night last, to be at his mother’s bedside.
Here in Thurles on Friday last, Daniel briefly sung at a Mass in the Cathedral of The Assumption, for his wife Majella’s father Mr Thomas Roache, latter who also regrettably passed from our midst, before rushing back to Donegal by helicopter to be at his mother’s side.
Mrs Julia O’Donnell had been predeceased by her husband Francie more than 40 years ago and had raised her five children, John, Margaret, Kathleen, James and Daniel single-handed. In more recent times, she had moved residence to live with her daughter Kathleen in Kincasslagh and had, as was her very gentle nature, spent a lot of her time knitting, producing gloves for both Queen Elizabeth II and woollen socks for His Holiness the Pope.
From the people of Thurles to Daniel and Majella, and their grieving families, go our sincere sympathies on both these very sad occasions.
Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.
 Due to unprecedented demand, based on last year’s very successful “Ageing Thurles Tea Dance,“ this event will see a welcome return once again to the Anner Hotel here in Thurles, Co Tipperary in May 2014. So do come along and celebrate the Bealtaine Festival with us on Wednesday, May 7th, from 2.00p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
(Click on Poster Image left for greater magnification.)
Yes there will be singing, dancing and storytelling; indeed an afternoon of fine entertainment is promised and we welcome the return of musical maestros Mr Dan Taylor and Mr Liam Fanning.
The event is presented by “Successful Ageing Thurles” and is entirely free. Refreshments will be provided and transport can be arranged. To find out more why not contact Ann Marie Brophy at Thurles Library Tel: 0504-29720.
“Successful Ageing Thurles” is committed to promoting the positive aspects of ageing and fully support the Bealtaine Festival, which celebrates creativity as we age. They also organise a week-long programme of events for Positive Ageing Week.
The “Successful Ageing Thurles” committee consists of Garda Chris Verling, Cllr Evelyn Nevin, Mr Michael Wright (Home Instead Senior Care), Ann Marie Brophy (Thurles Library), Catherine Hayes (Golden Years Care Centre), Bob Maher (Society of St Vincent de Paul), Nancy Tynan (Active Retirement) and Rev Fr Pat Coffey.
Thurles Musical Society will stage the Republic of Ireland’s première of ‘Sister Act’ The Musical, here in The Premier Hall, Thurles beginning to-night (Tuesday March 25th) and ending Saturday 29th and all in association with the Anner Hotel.
As we forecast very limited tickets still remain available (Three nights already fully booked out) for this truly fantastically up-beat show, with its all-singing, all-dancing repertoire, widely expected to wow packed audiences and the toughest of critics this week.
The show, as most people are aware, follows the same story line as the hit film which featured Whoopi Goldberg.
The cast and chorus have been working hard to ensure that they have everything shipshape for tonight’s performance, with the proceeds from tonight’s show going to Thurles Rotary Club’s “Thurles Care Group” charity.
Just a very limited few tickets for the show are still available at Hickey’s Pharmacy, Liberty Square, Thurles or at the door on the night, so do not say you were not warned. The Booking Office Tel No is 0504- 21423.
Well done and “Break A Leg” tonight guys and gals.
 Thomas Gleeson Reports on The Premier Hall, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Over the past 50 years ‘The Premier Ballroom‘ in Thurles has provided Tipperary people with the very best of entertainment in the form of dancing (in particular the show band era), variety shows, musicals, drama, comedy and of course on every Wednesday night there’s Bingo. For a number of years the Miss Macra finals took place in ‘The Premier’ and drew large crowds to the town for the Miss Macra parade and dance.
(Click on Image left for larger magnification.)
The Premier Ballroom will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its opening on Sunday the 18th of May, with an anniversary dance in the ballroom. The dance will be from 8.30pm to 1.00am with music by ‘Finbarr Dennehy’ (8.30pm to 10.30pm) and ‘Mike Denver’ (10.45pm to 1.00am). Tickets at €15 each are currently on sale and can be purchased at The Premier Box Office from 11.00am to 12.00noon on any Wednesday or Friday over the next couple of weeks. The booking contact number is (Mobile) 087-9732837 or e-mail dancingforpleasure@eircom.net.
The balcony, with seating for 170, will be open for anyone who wishes to relax, just listen to the music and watch the dancing. There will also be seating downstairs for over 300. A large crowd is expected and you are advised to come early. The doors will open at 7.45pm and there will be no admission after 12.00mdt.
History of The Premier Ballroom Thurles, Co Tipperary.
The building of The Premier Ballroom was completed in May 1964 at a cost of £40,000. The handball alley, which was on the site at that time, had to be knocked down to make room for the building and part of the old dance hall (The Confraternity Hall latter once Thurles Jail) was incorporated into the new building e.g. the ladies toilets and the mineral bar. The main contractor was the late Mr Christy Foyle (Formally of Slievenamon Road, Thurles,). The plumbing was completed by the late Mr Tom Mason (Formally of Friar Street, Thurles,) and the electrical work was completed by the late Mr Joe O’Brien (formally of Cathedral Street, Thurles,).
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