4,000 Competitors to deliver €2.8 million boost to Mid-West Economy.
Limerick has today been announced as the host city for the 2026 Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Championships, just two years before the sport is set to make its official debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO), the global governing body for OCR, confirmed that the event will take place from August 7th to 9th, 2026, at Limerick Racecourse, with the University of Limerick serving as the official Athlete Village.
More than 4,000 athletes from over 60 countries are expected to compete, making it one of the largest international sporting events ever staged in the Mid-West region; latter which consists of counties Tipperary Clare and Limerick.
Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) confirm Mid-West Region as venue for 2026 Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Championships, ahead of LA28 Olympics.
Organisers say the economic impact will be significant, with the event is projected to generate over €2.8 million for the wider Mid-West economy.
Obstacle Course Racing is one of the fastest-growing sports globally and has now been elevated to Olympic status for LA28. The sport blends speed, strength, and strategy, challenging athletes to overcome a range of natural and man-made obstacles — including walls, rigs, rope climbs, carries, and crawls — across courses of varying distance and difficulty.
The World Championships to be held in Limerick will feature a range of formats, from short and explosive 100m and 400m sprints to 2–3km technical courses, a 15km endurance race, and high-energy team relays. The competition is open to professionals, age group athletes, Para-OCR competitors, and dedicated amateurs, making it a diverse and inclusive global event.
The successful bid to host the event in the Mid-West was prepared and submitted by the Obstacle Course Racing Association of Ireland (OCRA Ireland), Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Aimwell Events, the University of Limerick and Limerick Racecourse.
Mr Sergej Dikun, (President of OCRA Ireland), described the announcement as a landmark moment for Irish sport, “Hosting the World Championships just two years before the sport’s Olympic debut is a huge moment for Ireland. We’re honoured to bring the global OCR community to Limerick — and to showcase the passion, people, and places that make the Mid-West Region so special.”
Mr Adam Taylor (Aimwell Events), who travelled with Mr. Dikun to Portugal to present the bid, commented, “Bringing the OCR World Championships to Limerick is a landmark moment not only for the sport but for the entire Mid-West region. We’re proud to be part of the team delivering a world-class event that will attract thousands of athletes and fans from around the globe for this showcase event.”
Ms Danielle Devaney(Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau) said the benefits of hosting the World Championships would be far-reaching. She explained, “This event will leave a lasting legacy for the Mid-West. It’s a chance to welcome the world, be part of an Olympic story, and generate real economic impact for our communities across the region.”
Mr Michael Lynch, (CEO of Limerick Racecourse), stated, “We are delighted to be working with the event stakeholders towards delivery of this prestigious event. This is a proud moment for us. Limerick Racecourse offers a potentially spectacular setting for OCR, and we can’t wait to see it transformed into a world championship arena.”
This week’s event announcement coincides with Limerick playing host to the first-ever European 400m OCR Championships, which will take place at the University of Limerick from July 18th to 20th. That event will bring 300 elite athletes from across Europe to Ireland, marking the country’s first major international OCR competition.
Mr David Ward (Sports Business Development Manager at the University of Limerick), added, “With OCR going to the Olympics, this is a sport on the rise. UL is proud to help grow its global footprint by hosting the athlete village and supporting both this and the European Championships. It shows the scale of what this region can deliver.”
Organisers says the event will require hundreds of volunteers that will be vital to the smooth running of the championships, from obstacle marshals and hydration stations, to medal ceremonies, race kit distribution, and media support.
Visit www.ocrwc2025.com for information on this year’s OCR World Championships, taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden, in September.
While out shopping for a present for my granddaughter today, I visited Home Savers, (formerly Johnston’s Supermarket/McKevitt’s Costcutter), situated at No 21 Liberty Square Thurles, before taking a few steps to Tesco Supermarket, situated 12 doors further east at No 33 Liberty Square, Thurles.
Note: See both price tags on bottom left hand side of similar toys, circled in red.
Both shops can have great value deals on toys. However, while visiting both retail outlets, I spotted two similar sized“Barbie Doll” toys. Incredibly, there was almost a €40.00 difference in price for both toys.
At Home Savers the Barbie Bakery Set, with two dolls and multiple kitchen accessories was €22.50. In Tesco the similar sized Barbie Doll Doctor Set, with just one doll and again multiple doctor accessories was a whopping €60.00.
Proof, if proof was ever required, that it truly does pay to shop around, and that great bargains can be located by savvy shoppers.
Have you, the consumer, spotted any other great bargains to be found locally in Thurles? Perhaps shoppers would like to share their experiences HERE, with our other readers?
Despite street lighting being left switched on day and night in Thurles town, no person saw the graffiti “tagger” vandalising the wall of the historic Bridge Castle in our town centre.
Sadly, over the past 6 days, it would also appear that our Thurles Municipal District Councillors and officials remain totally unaffected by this errant and infantile behaviour, which now has become systemic, right across our town.
View the work of a delinquent, which now for 6 days remains on show in a town that craves foreign tourism.
Known historic background to Bridge Castle in Thurles Bridge Castle Thurles overlooks Barry’s Bridge in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, latter which provides the main vehicle and pedestrian passage across the river Suir. The latter was originally constructed circa 1650 and was partially reconstructed again circa 1820.
This medieval Bridge Castle or tower house; the now focus of our attention is quite similar to many other such buildings erected across Ireland during the middle of the 15th century. Same was an attempt to control; collect tolls or taxes and if/when necessary to defend river crossings from marauding attacks by rival clans or invaders, using the small garrisons of armed soldiers, kept housed in such buildings.
Wash drawing of Bridge Castle, Thurles, 1779-1793.
This wash drawing, shown above, faces westward, (Circa 1779-1793, attributed to English artist J.J. Barralet 1747-1815.) shows the town of Thurles, with Barry’s Bridge and Bridge Castle in the foreground leading into the town centre, with a castle on the left, (Today the entrance to Friar Street.) and a Market House, centre in the town square. (Latter, partially ruined by fire, and eventually demolished in 1901 following the erection of the 1798 monument or Stone Man.) The castle building today still remains in excellent structural condition.
Plan of Bridge Castle,Thurles. The Bridge Castle itself has dominated the Thurles skyline since 1453, built possibly by the Norman invader McRickard Butler of whom history records that he erected, that same year, two castles at Thurles and one at Buaidlic (Boulick). It is a small three storey tower with a vault over the first floor. The original doorway may have been set in the west wall and connects to a spiral stairway which rises in the north west corner, giving full access to all the upper floors. A small fragment of the once original east facing arched gateway of this once walled town protrudes today; attached to the north facing wall of this building. The existing small pointed, arch doorway, a ‘Yett’, also on the north wall was possibly constructed to grant immediate access from the tower, for those charged with guarding this town entrance at this river crossing.
A ‘yett’ and the small fragment of the original east/west arched gateway which still exists on Thurles Castle/Tower House, Co. Tipperary.
Unlike a portcullis, which is raised and lowered vertically using mechanical means, yetts are hinged in the manner of a traditional gate or door and are secured either by bolts attached to the yett or by long bars drawn out from the wall or gateway. Little history actually exists regarding Thurles Bridge Castle, however records do exist showing that on the 17th June 1617, the castle was leased: “Thomas, Lord Viscount Thurles, by deed grants to Richard Power, Donat O’Haly and Rd. Wale, all that castle called Bridge Castle with its appurtenances, parcel of the Manor and Lands of Thurles, for 21 years at £5 per annum and one swine (pig), one sheep and three capons.” *
* Note: A capon is a rooster that has been castrated to improve the quality of its flesh, for eating purposes.
The Down Survey (1655-1656), also known as the Civil Survey, (A mapping of Ireland undertaken by Sir William Petty, English Economist, Scientist and Philosopher), lists James Butler, Earl of Ormond (1610-1688) and Lady Elizabeth Butler (alias Preston) Viscountess Dowager of Thurles, (1615-1685) as the proprietors. Both the latter named are direct progenitors to the present heirs to the British Throne.
History also records that there were great celebrations in Thurles in 1768 when Francis Mathew, 1st Baron Landaff, later 1st Viscount Landaff and again later 1st Earl of Landaff (1738-1806), was elected Tipperary Member of Parliament, a position he held from 1768 to 1783. History informs us that bonfires burned, with the castle,bridge and market house illuminated. Plenty of free drink was available, with soldiers joining the local populace in the ensuing celebrations.
Hopefully, this repair work will be cheaper than the cleaning of Dublin’s Millennium Spire (also known as the Stiletto in the Ghetto; the Pin in the Bin, the Stiffy by the Liffey, the Spire in the Mire, or simply The Spike), which cost taxpayers €420.000 in 2020.
By the way, whoever goes down to clean this unsightly eyesore, same should be charged to remove the long plastic ribbons, found fluttering in the south-westerly breeze from the bridge’s street lights. Local street wardens with their smart phones being used to photograph car reg numbers, should turn their attention to this blatant ribbon littering and prosecute the responsible “flag waving” individual. Someone will end up with an eye cornea damaged by these same razor sharp, plastic, ribbon edges, same being caught by the wind, and blown across the faces of unsuspecting, local pedestrians.
A new bridge over the River Shannon, which will form part of the 6.2km Killaloe Bypass road project, connecting Killaloe, Co. Clare with Ballina Co. Tipperary, has been officially opened today. The new structure has been named the ‘Brian Ború Bridge’, latter the name of a 73 year old ancient Munster High King of Ireland (941-1014). Ború was killed at the Battle of Clontarf, by a fleeing defeated Viking, named ‘Brodar’, who supposedly came upon the old king while he was in his tent praying during the battle.
One of ten pedestrian river viewing points staged along the Brian Ború Bridge.
Taking two and a half years to complete at a cost of some €88 million; the construction of the bridge was carried out by John Sisk and Son Ltd, who were awarded the contract by Clare and Tipperary County Councils.
The need for this bridge/bypass had been evident for many years and will, from today, remove congested traffic, including heavy goods vehicles, out of the two tourist town centres, positioned either side of the River Shannon, thus providing a needed boost to the tourism sector in that area.
EPA Highlights Significant Increase In Government Green Procurement, But ICT Sector Lags Behind.
Of €1.24 billion spend by government departments on contracts in 2023, 82 per cent included green criteria, up from 34 per cent in 2022. There are, however, inconsistencies across sectors.
ICT Products & Services contracts included green criteria in only 29 per cent of cases, indicating the need for wider adoption.
In contrast, all reported procurement of Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment, included green criteria, with a total value of €583,447.
Eight government departments lacked a formal system for tracking Green Public Procurement (GPP) implementation.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its fourth report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) adoption by government departments. GPP allows public authorities to source goods, services or works that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle while also achieving value for money.
A total spend of €1.24 billion across 18 government departments was reported. Of this, 82 per cent of contracts, valued at €1.02 billion, included green criteria (compared to 34 per cent in 2022).
GPP implementation varied widely across government departments, with the number of contracts incorporating GPP ranging from zero to 100%. There was an inconsistency in application of green criteria across product & services sectors, with high adoption reported for Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment (100%), but low adoption in contracts for ICT Products & Services (29%).
Launching the report Ms Laura Burke, Director General, said: “This report shows a welcome increase in the use of green public procurement by central government. Full adoption across all government departments is a powerful lever to achieve better economic and environmental value as well as showing leadership in a transition to a greener, more circular economy. The EPA has developed practical guidance to support Government Departments and other public bodies to accelerate green purchasing.”
Tracking of GPP remains an issue to be addressed with eight of the 18 Government Departments lacking a formal system for tracking GPP implementation.
Mr David Flynn, Director, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability added: “Government, local authorities and other public sector organisations collectively procure over €18 billion worth of goods, services and works. Whilst it is important that GPP is used by government departments, a broader adoption across the entire public sector will ensure that public funds are used effectively and responsibly while reducing the environmental impact of our public services.”
The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2023 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website HERE.
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