Photography - Thurles Information

Lá Fhéile Pádraig – St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Thurles 2023.

Saint Patrick’s Day, for the few who are as yet unaware, is a religious and cultural holiday held annually on March 17th, the traditional death date of St. Patrick, latter Ireland’s foremost patron saint.

Using the theme “The Past, Present and Future”, the Thurles and District St. Patricks Day Parade, 2023, took place today, March 17th, in warm Spring sunshine [14° C].
The Thurles St. Patrick’s Day festival links with the many other villages, towns and cities around Ireland, in assisting to highlight our global culture; same a culture that unites us through our distinctive music, traditions, storytelling, sport and nature.

Today’s event saw, possibly, the largest turnout of spectators, many of whom were from foreign countries, and many togged out displaying festive green and gold.

**Picture: One patriotic young lady, just returned from the hairdressers; about to get dressed up for today’s St. Patrick’s Day parade**.

The parade began sharp at 2.15pm, with Liberty Square closed off from traffic at the Slievenamon Road junction from 2:00pm, and with diversions in place preventing no entry unto the eastern side of Liberty Square.

The ‘Reviewing Stand’, this year for the first time was positioned outside McMahon’s Shoe Emporium and Heyday Coffee House on Liberty Square’s north side (Sunny Side).

A huge ‘Thank You‘ to Mr Johnny Kenehan (Chairperson St. Patrick’s Day Committee) and his organising committee members.

A big ‘Thank You’, also, to the many parade sponsors, which included: The People of Upperchurch/Drombane; Borrisoleigh; Moyne and Thurles, Grace Fashions, O’Dwyer Transport, Anner Hotel, Vale Oil Co., Sklep Polski Jelonek, Flynns Childrenswear, Tim Looby Accountants, Q Mobile, Golden Nails, Inga Mikelsone, Jennings Opticians, The Tipperary Star, Thomas Murphy & Sons Machinery Ltd, Kam Bo Chinese Restaurant, Thurles Information (Website), Thurles Golf Club, Margaret Skehan, Martin Shanahan Tyres, William F. Gleeson Solicitor, Stakelums Hardware, Dinans Timber, The Thurles Order of Malta, Moran’s Menswear, Ryans Cleaning, Seamus Hanafin Furniture, Michael’s Jewellers, Supermacs, Thurles Shopping Centre and BC IT, to name but a few.

A video of today’s event will be published tomorrow, here on Thurles.Info, so do tune in.

Former Thurles Ursuline Convent Students Walk Green Carpet At Oscar Wilde Awards.

*L-R: Ms Kerry Condon and Ms Jessie Buckley*

Two top actresses, currently both in huge demand, and both previously educated at the Ursuline Convent Secondary School here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, were among those who walked the Green Carpet at the Oscar Wilde Awards last night; latter organised by the US-Ireland Alliance.

Seeing both actresses, namely Ms Kerry Condon and Ms Jessie Buckley, ushered in a huge sense of pride for the people of Thurles and Tipperary, through their many achievements to date, within the entertainment industry.

The US-Ireland Alliance is a proactive, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to consolidating existing relations between the United States and the island of Ireland and building that relationship for the future. The Oscar Wilde Awards event is an annual event of the US-Ireland Alliance.

Green Party Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Minister, Ms Catherine Martin, travelled to Los Angeles, with the aim of developing stronger links with the entertainment industry.
While many eyes are currently focused on Ireland’s 14 nominations, here was an ideal time to attempt to attract film companies, granting them opportunities to build stronger relationships with Ireland’s scenic locations and its supberb acting talent.

We understand Ms Martin has already met with Sony, Disney, and with representatives from Marvel.

We wish all those nominated for Academy Awards, (latter awards to be announced on March 13th, 2023), the very best of luck.

Thurles Pedestrians & Motorists – Take Great Care.

**Road crater at Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**.
*Pic: G.Willoughb*y.

The many persons driving, travelling from the west side of Thurles, and having visited St. Patrick’s cemetery on Moyne Road east of Thurles, same on the return journey are being advised to take great care. A large deep crater exists outside the Mace Supermarket at No. 10 Mitchel St, Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. A partially submerged plastic bollard may currently mark the spot. [See picture immediately above.]

**Road crater at Dublin Road, Wrensborough, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**.
*Pic: G.Willoughby*.

Meanwhile; on the Dublin Road, travelling west, at Wrensborough, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, east of Ronayne’s Homevalue Store; an even larger crater currently exists. Pedestrians using the footpaths at both of these locations are being asked to take care to avoid flying stones and airborne mucky water.
Stupid attempts to fill these identified water-filled craters, using cold tarmac, are obvious, as shown in the attached pictures. [See pictures immediately above.]

**Failure to provide proper public lighting in the area of Thurles Shopping Centre.**
*Pic: G.Willoughby*.

Take care also, both motorists and pedestrians; in the area of the raised roundabout, outside Thurles Shopping, Centre, situated on Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (N62) on the south side of the town, the public lighting in this area has not worked for many months.
While much of the Thurles public lighting system has remained burning 24 hours each day over many previous months, the failure to ensure that a public lighting exists on this N62 section, which boasts 2 marked, but unlit and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, now demonstrates a total lack of care by officials and Councillors, employed at the Thurles Municipal District Offices.
Christmas Eve saw dangerous interaction taking place between blinded motorists and large numbers of rushing pedestrians, in this new Thurles town centre area, at Slievenamon Road. [See picture with burned out light fixture, inset, immediately above.]

Happy Christmas From Thurles, Co. Tipperary

From all at Thurles.info, may we wish our many readers, a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Please Make Every Effort To Stay Safe Over This Holiday Season.

Mother Nature Confused In Thurles.

Mother Nature continues to remain somewhat confused here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Berberis (Barberry) (Top Picture Above)
The attractive, easy-to-grow, evergreen shrub Berberis (Barberry) loved for its abundant bright orange flowers, which are normally expected in late March to May, was in bloom yesterday, some 5 months early.
These evergreens shrubs bear small blue-black shaded berries much loved by our feathered friends, (birds).

Primroses (Irish: Sabhaircín) (Bottom Picture Above)
Meanwhile, our dainty and colourful wild primroses (from the Latin word ‘primus’, meaning ‘first’.) which can be found decorating grassy banks, woodlands and roadsides, have not been fooled and appear to be on schedule to bloom in early or mid-December.

Both the flowers and leaves of the Primrose are edible; the flavour ranging between mild lettuce and more bitter salad greens.

More importantly, Primroses are beneficial as an excellent early source of nectar for bees, as well as an attractive flower to brighten up your outdoor spaces.

Also keep in mind that according to Irish folklore, when primroses are positioned near your front doorway, same protects your home from an unwelcome visit by the fairies. In Ireland, fairies were blamed for stealing babies and children, especially boys with blue eyes and fair hair, leaving fairy substitutes in their place; so do take care. You have been warned.