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Horse and Jockey Singers support the Hospital of the Assumption Unit In Thurles.
The Horse and Jockey Singers annual variety concert is now a well-established event on the social and entertainment calendar here in Co. Tipperary.
Since its inception about five years ago, it has attracted a loyal band of regular supporters, who wouldn’t miss it for the world and many see it as the beginning of the festivities for the Christmas season.
Others point to the variety of entertainment that is regularly on offer, as audiences over the years continue to be enthralled by top class singers, dancers, choirs, soloists, musicians, not forgetting memorable recitations and sketches.
This variety concert has always supported charitable causes, both local and national, and this year will be no exception as the Comfort Fund at Unit C of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, will benefit from the proceeds.
Master Of Recitations Mr Noel Joyce
This year’s programme is as attractive and varied as ever.
- The Doran family are back again on Saturday night, while the indomitable Jim O’ the Mill and family will entertain on Friday.
- The singing of renowned soprano, Emma English, from Tipperary town will be a highlight of the evening.
- Rathdowney’s Mick Creagh is new to the bill, but not to the stage as his one-man show has played to packed houses already this year.
- Multi All-Ireland winner, Noel Joyce is back by popular acclaim and his recitations will, no doubt, have the audience in stitches.
- The Presentation School dancers, recently returned from the stage at Nashville, the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee, are eagerly anticipated as are the group of Harpers who have delighted us in the past.
- New to the programme this year are Sonas from New Inn, the Ryan Girls, Cashel and the talented Cailínís.
- The ever popular Derrynaflan Male Choir has been busy rehearsing for the show.
The Horse and Jockey Singers are grateful for the wonderful support they have enjoyed in the past and are really looking forward to meeting old and new friends at the concert.
The choir first came into existence in September 2014 and comprises both male and female members. The love of singing permeates the group and the social outlet it provides enhances all their lives. Based at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, this fifty strong group, under the musical direction of Mr Patrick Conlon and accompanied by Ms Ann Marie Dwan, have participated in many concerts and choral festivals.
These popular concerts will take place on Friday November 22nd and Saturday November 23rd, at the Derrynaflan Theatre, in the Horse & Jockey Hotel, with winning author Mr Liam Ó Donnchú once again taking on the role of ‘Master of Ceremonies’.
Starting time is 8.00 p.m. sharp and tickets costing €20.00 are available from the hotel reception or from Connie O’Keeffe Tel: 087-6667988.
Please do come along and support this most deserving of causes.
  
Ms Maura Barrett, [Branch Librarian (Cashel Library), Tipperary Co. Council Library Service], Reports: –
Mr Cónal Creedon, the noted Corkonian playwright, short story writer, novelist and documentary film maker (Yes, the brother of RTE’s John Creedon), will visit Cashel Library situated at Friar Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday November 9th, 2019 at 2:00pm sharp.
Mr Creedon has an enormous capacity to entertain and make you laugh, while all of the while being insightful and observant. He is an established wordsmith, recognised not just in his native county of Cork, but also on national and international stages.
Mr Creedon will read from his latest novel ‘Begotten not made’, which he describes as a 21st Century Fairy Tale. This book weaves a very poignant story of a cleric’s unrequited love for a nun – although they only met once, in 1970, on the night that Dana won the Eurovision.
His prose is frequently hilarious and never, ever dull. “Cónal Creedon’s new novel puts a magic-realist twist on the tale of a cleric’s unrequited love for a nun”, writes one critic.
The author looks forward to taking questions from the audience and signing copies of his book on that afternoon. This is a unique opportunity to meet a truly noted Irish author up close and personal and be assured he promises not to disappoint.
The Perfect Chrismas present.
Make a note of the date and do go along to this event, with the knowledge that you can’t beat owning a book signed by the author – makes for a welcome Chrismas present.
Booking is essential for this FREE event, so do please telephone (062) 63825. You can find further information on Mr Creedon’s work on his website ConalCreedon.com.
Mutual trust, friendship and fun gained from the Colaiste Mhuire Sci-Fi Musical.
Full report courtesy Thurles journalist Tom Ryan.
Impressed patrons were afforded a heartwarming and courteous honour guard by student greeters, in both English and ‘as Gaeilge’, as they wended their way through a spectacularly lighted entrance, at ‘The Dome’, latter beside Colaiste Mhuire, Co-Ed School, Thurles; for the famed academy’s ninth annual musical show, “The Little Shop of Horrors”, which played to packed houses and much applause, for three hugely entertaining nights, just last week.
As a delighted Mr Denis Quinn (Colaiste Mhuire Principal), informed audiences; “This richly entertaining show was the culmination of seven weeks of rehearsals by the 179 dedicated students involved both on and off stage”.
The sparkling production received numerous kudos from appreciative patrons, including hundreds of correctly proud parents, together with other relatives and friends of students, from various parts of the Thurles school catchment area.
Mr Quinn stated, “Each year the school musical provides our students with the opportunity to develop socially, personally and artistically by each year joining the cast of each of the chosen productions. It’s wonderful to see so many students treading the boards this year, many for the very first time”.
He added “This production is a dark sci-fi horror musical, same befitting this time of year, Hallowe’en, and it has plenty of electrifying pop and rock songs. I know you will leave the Dome with many fond memories. Even during rehearsals we had great fun and cameraderie anong ourselves”.
He went on to thank all who had contributed to the wonderful success of the show todate.
The main cast comprised of Mr Caylum Gooney (Seymour); Ms Rose Shanahan (Audrey); Mr John Shaw and Mr Cormac Leahy (Mr Mushnik); Mr Ethan Butler (Voice of Audrey [11] ); Mr Rian Power (Orin, The Dentist); Ms Kayleigh Cronin (Crystal); Ms Annie loughnane (Ronette); Ms Rebecca Elphick (Chiffon); Mr Keelan Fahey (Skip Snip); Ms Ellen Clarke (Puppeteer for Audrey [11]); Mr Denis Slattery (Voice of God Bernstein from NBC); Ms Eve Carroll (The Editor’s Wife) and Mr Ben Nolan (Dentist’s Patient).
Some of these talented young thespians have given previous excellent performances at Colaiste Mhuire during earlier productions and also to the Thurles Community Pantomime Society.
All portends well for the future of local musical societies and drama groups. The overall show was an enchanting two hours of fine acting, great comedy, splendid choreographed sequences and, above all, beautiful and enthusiastic singing from Principals, the Chorus and Pit Singers.
It was indeed just a joyful triumph; worthy of note by the accomplished Musical Director Ms Helen Wallace; Director Ms Shelley Martin, assisted by Ms Aoife Carey; and Choreographed by Ms Danielle Martin. The remainder of this truly experienced and accomplished production team, included, Ms Ann Conroy; TY Students (Backstage Manager and Props); Colaiste Staff (Backstage Supervision, Make-up and Hair); Mr Jack Spillane; Mr Michael Power; Mr James Ryan; Mr Jamie Fanning; Mr Kevin Gleeson (Set Construction); Star Systems and Colaiste students (Lighting and Sound); Set & Puppet Hire (Kilkenny Musical Society with extra puppets from Katie Carr).
How delightful were those spot-on timed puppets, which blended with their human fellow actors, to create such eye catching stage pictures and fun, in a show that will linger long in the hearts of all who were in attendance.
Mr Ethan Butler and Ms Ellen Clarke were our gracious MC’S, latter who welcomed us all to the theatre of enchantment with its imaginative and beautifully dressed and lit set, its lovely groupings and exciting dance routines; colourful props and surprising sound effects.
What a memorable experience of camaraderie all annual school musical offer to our young people. And it was nice to see Mr Quinn recommend “Sister Act”, latter being staged by the Ursuline Convent in tandem.
Others who played parts included Mr Bill O’Dwyer (Musical Secretary); Ms Patricia Hickey (Prompter); Ms Rose Shanahan; Mr John Shaw, Ms Ines Bafaluy (Dance Captains); Mr Dara Fahy and Ms Una Fogarty (Bookings); with Ms Deirdre Ryan and Mr Bill O ‘Dwyer (Programme).
The colourful costumes came courtesy of Mr & Mrs Brendan and Mary Healy, together with Ms Mairead Hayes of Thurles Community Pantomime Society and Stakelums Menswear, Friar Street, Thurles.
The Set Construction team comprised of Mr Ronan Carroll; Mr Eoin Craddock; Mr Darragh Kelly; Mr Stephen Doyle; Mr Killian Hayes; Mr James Gleeson; Mr James Casey; Mr Killian Crosse and Mr Sean Britton.
The Costumes team comprised of Mr Gavin Shanahan; Mr Stephen Maher; Mr Conor Duffe; Mr Adriana Ruiz and Ms Diana Perez.
“Tipperary hammered a fair auld job on Kilkenny yesterday”, said I earlier today to Mikey Ryan. We were above in the Arch Bar in Liberty Square, Thurles, having a pint, while waiting for the Tipperary hurlers to arrive home, carrying the Liam McCarthy cup.
“They sure did”, replied a somewhat down-in-the-mouth Mikey, “a whole 14 points no less, still it’s because of them that I could be joining the Dole queue come Friday night”.
“In the name of God, how could the Tipperary Senior Hurling team be responsible for you being shunted onto a dole queue?”, said I, with raised eyebrows.
“Sure”, said Mikey, “didn’t I tell that feckin Kilkenny boss of mine that my uncle Johnny, had died, the one above in Kildare, and he gave me compassionate leave time last Thursday evening to attend the funeral on Friday”.
“Jasus you never said your Uncle Johnny died; may the Lord have mercy on him and had I known I could have gone up to the funeral” said I, somewhat taken aback, I can tell you, by this unexpected news, after all we were in the same class in the CBS. “And tell me”, I continued somewhat shocked, “was it sudden or had he been complaining?”.
“No, sure Johnny isn’t dead at all”, said Mikey, lowering his voice to a mere whisper, “he’s very much in the land of the living”.
“You see the whole truth is” continued Mikey in low tones, “I managed to obtained two tickets for the Tipp / Kilkenny match; sure all I wanted was to get the Friday off, so that herself and myself could head up to me sister-in-law’s place near Croke Park, staying over till after the match”.
“So why didn’t you take a ‘sicky’ like everyone else”, said I, somewhat relieved by the emerging facts.
“I got in to feckin work on the early shift this morning and there he was, waggling his index finger, beckoning me”, said Mikey.
“Do you”, says he, “believe in life after death?”
“Most certainly not”, says I confidently, “sure when you study that nonsense in detail, you’ll eventually come to the conclusion there’s not a morsel of proof in any such belief.”
“Well, there is now”, said my boss man, “because after you left here on Thursday evening to go to your uncle Johnny’s funeral in Kildare on Friday, didn’t the same uncle Johnny arrive in here looking for you”.
“Sure, you might, when you’re not too busy”, says he, “call into my office tomorrow for a more in-depth discussion on this unusual ghostly phenomenon”.
It’s confirmed, they have vanished into thin air as if by magic. Yes, all five gates guarding the entrance to St. Patrick’s cemetery have disappeared.
Making solid metal objects vanish has never failed to spark a sense of wonder in the hearts of simple rural dwellers.
Where did they go? Were they stolen by Dublin criminals, to be carted back to the nation’s capital, using high speed cars pulling flat trailers; to be sold off by the thief, anxious to fund his next heroin fix? Should local Thurles Gardaí be notified?
St. Patrick’s cemetery was first consecrated on May 11th, 1928, by Most Reverend Dr. J.W. Harty, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel & Emly. (See history link HERE.) Since that date, some 91 years later, the gates to this cemetery have received no more than one coat of paint, adequately reflecting the current overall attitude that exists within Thurles, under the current governance of Templemore / Thurles Municipal District Council and their officials.
Hold on a second; is there a chance here that perhaps Thurles Municipal District Council officials may have demanded their removal; same mortified and red faced, in the knowledge that €90.00 is now required for planning permission to currently erect a headstone on previously purchased graves?
One wonders why recently elected local town councillors haven’t been busy on Facebook in search of credits or did perhaps officials fail to inform them of the removal?
Speaking of Facebook, we did note that one councillor was “calling” for a “Sensory Garden” for the town at their last meeting. Sure wouldn’t St. Patrick’s cemetery make a lovely Sensory Garden, now that the gates are gone hopefully for repair or for scrap and eventual replacement!
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