Entertainment « Thurles Information

Late Kilkenny Point Denies Tipperary As League Clash Ends Level.

Tipp rally strongly but Cats have final say in Thurles thriller.

Tipperary and Kilkenny produced a high-quality Allianz Hurling League Division 1A draw at FBD Semple Stadium, tonight, with Jordan Molloy landing a dramatic late equaliser to leave the sides deadlocked at 2-27 (33pts) to 3-24 (33pts) in front of over 10,000 supporters.
Kilkenny’s TJ Reid marked his return with 1-8, while Jake Morris hit 1-5 (8pts) and Jason Forde added 0-8 for Tipperary, including two outstanding sideline cuts.

Kilkenny made an explosive start and struck for goal inside 20 seconds when Liam Moore finished off a sharp move, involving Cian Kenny, Eoin Cody and Tom Phelan. Kilkenny quickly built momentum and opened up an early six-point cushion as Kenny, Reid and Mossy Keoghan found their range.

Tipperary responded impressively and worked their way back into the contest through a blend of sharp finishing and composed free-taking. Morris found the net in the 20th minute after being picked out by Forde, and the home side drew level before edging ahead by half-time, with Michael Breen and Forde helping to nudge them into a 1-14 (17pts) to 1-13 (16 pts) interval lead.

The Premier County carried that momentum into the restart and struck again almost immediately, with Darragh McCarthy batting home after Aidan Tallis had made the initial save. Tipp looked in control when they pushed five clear, but Kilkenny responded with determination. Reid’s 52nd-minute goal reignited the visitors, and Keoghan later showed brilliant control before firing another major to swing the game again.

A tense closing spell followed, with both teams trading scores in a gripping finish. Seán Kenneally looked to have won it for Tipperary, only for an injury delay to allow one final Kilkenny attack. The visitors seized that opportunity, and Molloy’s late point ensured the spoils were shared after a lively and absorbing championship warm-up in Thurles.
Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Brian McGrath, Ronan Maher, Michael Breen; Oisín O’Donoghue, Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly; Conor Martin, Darragh Stakelum; Jake Morris, Alan Tynan, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, Gearóid O’Connor, Jason Forde.

Subs: Seán Kenneally for Gearóid O’Connor, Johnny Ryan for Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath for Darragh Stakelum, Andrew Ormond for Conor Martin, Peter McGarry for Jason Forde, and Joe Caesar for Darragh McCarthy.

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).

A Song For A Sunday.

Far Side Banks Of Jordan.

Lyrics: Amereican songwriter and singer, the late Terry Smith.
Vocals: American country music singer and guitarist Lester James Fortune Snr. (Jimmy Fortune)

Few voices in gospel and country music carry the heart and sincerity of singer Jimmy Fortune, who has continued to bless audiences with songs that speak of faith, family, and the promise of heaven. The beautiful song, ‘Far Side Banks of Jordan,’ has touched so many hearts through its message of hope and reunion beyond this life.

Far Side Banks Of Jordan.

I believe my steps are growing wearier each day,
Still I’ve got a journey on my mind.
Lures of this old world have ceased to make me want to stay,
And my one regret is leaving you behind.
But I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan,
I’ll be sitting drawing pictures in the sand,
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters, reaching for your hand.

If it proves to be his will that I’m the first to cross,
And somehow I’ve a feeling it will be.
When it comes time to travel likewise don’t feel lost,
For I will be the first one that you’ll see.
And I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan,
I’ll be sitting drawing pictures in the sand,
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand.

Through this life we’ve laboured hard to earn our meager fare,
It’s brought us trembling hands and failing eyes.
So I’ll just rest here on this shore and turn my eyes away,
And then you’ll come then we’ll see paradise.
And I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan,
I’ll be sitting drawing pictures in the sand,
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand.
And I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan,
I’ll be sitting drawing pictures in the sand,
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand.
And I’ll be running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand.

END.

Thurles Marked St Patrick’s Day With Strong Community Turnout.

As we already stated on Tuesday last March 17th, Thurles was alive with atmosphere and community pride as the town celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a well-attended parade that brought people together from across the area.

Video: Courtesy G. Willoughby.

Despite cold and cloudy conditions, large crowds gathered along the streets of Thurles, creating a vibrant and welcoming scene throughout the day. Families, friends, neighbours and visitors turned out in great numbers, with a strong sense of occasion evident from beginning to end.

The parade was a fitting reflection of the spirit of Thurles and the wider mid-County Tipperary community. It showcased the town’s warmth, resilience and pride, while also highlighting the importance of St Patrick’s Day as one of the most significant dates in Ireland’s cultural and civic calendar.

People of all ages joined in the celebrations, lining the route in good spirits, applauding participants and embracing the event with enthusiasm. The day offered a strong expression of local identity and community togetherness, as residents and visitors alike came together to celebrate Irish heritage and shared belonging.

Thurles continues to be a thriving and proud town in County Tipperary, and this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade once again demonstrated the strong community values for which it is so well known. The lively crowds and positive atmosphere underlined the town’s reputation as a friendly, welcoming and united place.

The celebration was a reminder of the enduring importance of community events in bringing people together and strengthening local connections. In Thurles, St Patrick’s Day 2026 was marked not only with colour and festivity, but with a genuine sense of pride, unity and shared celebration.

Death Of Irish Folk Singer Dolores Keane.

A great hush has fallen over Irish music with the passing yesterday of Ms Dolores Keane, one of the most cherished and soul-stirring voices this country has ever known.

Dolores Keane died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Caherlistrane, Co Galway, aged 72 years, leaving behind not only a body of music of rare beauty, but a deep sense of gratitude among all who were moved by her singing. Current reporting remembers her as one of the defining voices of Irish folk and traditional music.

**Late Ms Dolores Keane** *(26th September 1953 – 16th March 2026)* **R.I.P.**

For decades, Dolores sang as though she were carrying the memory of a people. In her voice lived the tenderness of home, the ache of longing, the strength of women, and the old unbroken thread of song handed down through family and place. She did not merely perform music; she inhabited it, and in doing so gave something timeless to Irish culture.

Born into the renowned Keane family, Dolores was shaped by a house full of songs, stories and visiting musicians. From those early roots in Galway grew an artist of extraordinary grace, first known for singing with her aunts Rita and Sarah Keane, and later celebrated through her work with De Dannan, her collaborations with John Faulkner, and a solo career that brought her voice far beyond these shores.

There was a haunting honesty in Dolores Keane’s singing that could stop people in their tracks. Whether singing a sean-nós air, a love song, or a modern folk ballad, she seemed to reach beyond performance and touch something more intimate and enduring. Her beloved interpretation of “Caledonia” remains one of the songs most closely associated with her; a recording carried for years in the hearts of listeners who found comfort, beauty and home in her voice.

To speak of Dolores Keane is to speak of more than acclaim, recordings or applause. It is to speak of feeling. Of truth. Of a voice that seemed to rise not just from the singer, but from the soil, the hearth, and the generations who sang before her. She gave the old songs new life, and gave contemporary songs an ancient depth. In every phrase, there was humanity.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Jessie Buckley Wins Oscar, Inspiring Pride In Thurles & Across Ireland.

The Ursuline Secondary School community here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, is celebrating with great pride, following the news that former student Ms Jessie Buckley has won the 2026 Academy Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in the film “Hamnet”.

The Academy’s official results confirm Buckley’s win, while multiple reports noted that she became the first Irish performer to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

Jessie Buckley’s success has been warmly welcomed in Thurles, where she is remembered as a talented and creative former Ursuline secondary student whose journey from the classroom to the world stage continues to inspire immense local pride. Recent local reporting has also identified Buckley as a past pupil of Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles.

Her Oscar-winning role in “Hamnet” has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike, with Buckley earning acclaim throughout the 2026 awards season before securing Hollywood’s highest acting honour. Her performance as Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, has been described as emotionally powerful and deeply memorable, helping to cement her place among the most respected actors of her generation.

For the Ursuline school community, Jessie’s achievement is a moment of enormous joy and celebration. It is a reminder to current and future students that talent, dedication and belief in oneself can lead to extraordinary opportunities. Her story reflects the strength of ambition nurtured at local level and realised on the international stage.

Everyone at Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, extends heartfelt congratulations to Jessie on this remarkable achievement and wishes her continued success in all future projects.