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 Ciara and Jonathan The wedding took place recently of the very lovely Miss Ciara Gavin, daughter of Mrs Margaret and Mr Martin Gavin, Templetuohy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, to Mr Jonathan Barrett, son of Mrs Geraldine and Mr Willie Barrett, natives of Co. Cork.
The marriage took place in the historic Church of The Sacred Heart, Templetuohy, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, with the ceremony presided over by local parish priest Rev. Fr. Pat Murphy.
Escorted down the aisle by her father Martin, the bride looked stunningly beautiful in a white, strapless, chiffon and lace, afternoon gown, with full length veil. Equally beautiful were her accompanying bridesmaids, Martina Buggy (Maid of Honour), Denise Gavin, Patrica Gavin, Geraldine Byrne, and Tracey Kelleher, who wore full-length black, laced backed evening gowns, delicately adorned with white waist bands.
The groom, Johnathan, and his five groomsmen, Jeremy Murphy (BestMan), William Barrett, Brian Aherne, Keith Byrne and John Dorney all looked dashing in their black tail-coated evening suits, elegantly highlighted by white wing collared shirts and matching grey silk cravats.
Also adding to the splendour of the occasion were Flower Girls, Nicola Buggy, Emma Buggy and Linda Gavin together with Pageboys, Martin Ryan, Cathal Kelleher and Adam Gavin.
The couple publicly exchanged their vows in front of a large gathering of family and close friends, while music and song for the ceremony was performed by the very talented Templetouhy Church Choir.
Following the ceremony, the new Mr and Mrs Barrett retired to the popular local wedding venue, The Templemore Arms Hotel, Templemore, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, where guests were entertained to a champagne and strawberry reception together with other light refreshments.
Following family photographs in the beautiful manicured gardens of the Templemore Arms, the newly married couple joined their guests in the hotels ‘Belville Suite,’ for dinner, which was followed by dancing to the music of popular Tipperary band ‘Rebel Hearts,’ very late into the evening.
The couple have chosen a short stay in New York followed by a Caribbean tour, as their favoured honeymoon destination.
“Ciara and Jonathan, from all your family and many friends in Co.Tipperary and Co Cork, go all best wishes to you both for a happy, healthy and prosperous life together and thank you both for such a memorable day.”
 Miss Sarah Louise Healy, Cork. The gorgeous Miss Sarah Louise Healy, representing Cork / Muskerry Macra, was crowned International Miss Macra 2011 at Dundrum House, Co Tipperary last night. Sarah, now brings to six the number of times Cork has won this event in 40 years, making them the county to have won this festival the most times.
Runners up in this years competition were Miss Martina Murphy representing Sligo, and Miss Sharon O’Grady representing Wexford.
A specially commissioned, Sterling Silver Tiara, embellished with cubic zirconia, was presented by Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, to celebrate this Festival’s 40th Ruby anniversary.
Sarah Louise Healy was presented with the Perpetual Silver Macra Trophy, together with a specially commissioned Perpetual Tiara, a cash prize of €1000 and a Tipperary Crystal trophy sponsored by Dundrum House Hotel.
First Runner up received a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €500, while the second Runner up received a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €300, sponsored by Tipperary Co-Op.
Due to the very high standard of the girl’s competing this year the festival judges, Joan Pollard-Carew, Declan Ryan and Catherine Gowing, described their task as being the most difficult they had yet undertaken.
 Miss Martina Murphy, Miss Sarah Louise Healy, Miss Sharon O'Grady As we forecast, the 2011 International Miss Macra Festival was a sellout, with many supporters, who had failed to book their tickets in advance, unable to gain access to the special Macra Marquee, purposely erected as part of this truly enjoyable three day event.
Highlight of the weekend for the contestants was a visit to Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Co.Tipperary. Highlighting this visit, Clonoulty / Rossmore Chairperson Miss Mary Lyng paid a special tribute to the staff and management, for their extreme professionalism and kindness, paid to the contestants during their guided tour of of the Coolmore complex.
All eyes will be glued to Nationwide on Wednesday evening next, when highlights of the weekends events are to be televised on RTÉ One at the usual time of 7.00.
Following the Macra Banquet, over 300 guests danced the night away to popular Tipperary Band “Silver Dollar” who provided their own very special brand of popular music.
Stills Photographer for the weekend’s event was George Willoughby, Thurles.
 Take a walk on the 'Wild Side,' in Grange, Tipperary The annual Grange / Crag Loop Walk, here in the Slieveardagh Hills, in County Tipperary takes place on Sunday next the 17th July 2011.
Starting time is at 1.30pm and the meeting point is Hogan’s Pub, in the village of Grange, where light refreshments will be served.
Directions to this worthwhile event will be signposted from the surrounding villages of Glengoole, NewBirmingham, Ballingarry, Urlingford, Gortnahoe, Ballysloe and all approach roads.
Directions to Grange [Map Ref:]
If you are a visitor coming from outside the area, from the town of Urlingford on the N8, take the R690 in the direction of Mullinahone. After 2km stay on the R690 as the road splits – the R689 goes to Killenaule. Continue for almost 5km with the impressive stone wall of Kilcooly Abbey to your left, to a junction where you turn left (Following the natural wall line.) off the main road and after 2km you will enter the village of Grange. The trail-head is located opposite Hogan’s Bar.
Grange is a small village in the Slieveardagh Hills on the Tipperary border with Kilkenny. It lies just east of the magnificent ruin of Kilcooly Abbey founded in 1182. Grange derives its name from it being an out-farm or in Gaelic the ‘Gainseach,’ of Kilcooly. The medieval tower-house castle, situated here, would have protected the area of the abbey estate.
The Grange area is widely acknowledged as extremely scenic and interesting in its historical heritage, and is host to a range of wildlife, including fallow deer, red squirrels and many species of rare native flowers.
There are two interlinked looped walks in Grange. The shorter walk is the Grange Loop [3km] and the longer the Crag Loop [6km]. Close to here, Kilcooly derives its name from the Gaelic, Cill Chuile, “The church of the corner,” or angle. The Abbey and all of the Slieveardagh region does indeed lie in a corner, between the hills to the east and the bog and on its west. It is no mystery therefore that this beautiful scenic area is referred to as ‘Tipperary’s Hidden Corner.’
Enjoy your visit, but remember, as in all walking adventures, do bring stout walking shoes, a camera, suitable rain wear, a snack and fluid!
See ya there and for any queries regarding this event:- Tel: 052 9156165 or Tel: 085 1169650.
 Sweet Daisies - Photo G.Willoughby When it comes to promoting and highlighting all that is great about Tipperary, the Credit Unions in the county have been, over the past number of years, doing the work for which Bord Failte are paid. ( See ‘Places To Go,’) and find Tipperary on their Map.)
This year is no different, while Bord Failte are squandering large sums on promoting already established tourism destinations like Kerry, Waterford, Limerick and that area known as The Pale (Dublin), the Credit Unions of Tipperary in association with Tipperary Libraries have come up with their own novel way of promoting the neglected Premier County.
The Credit Unions of Tipperary and Tipperary Libraries are offering all photographers an opportunity to showcase their work and through this promotion compete for a share of a €1,200 prize fund. The theme of this photographic competition is “Gardens and Parks of Tipperary,” and photographs can include scenes from the small domestic household garden to the large parkland areas, showing Tipperary at its best.
Over the past eight years the Credit Unions of Tipperary have produced an annual calendar which has been proven extremely popular, with many thousands of copies being distributed throughout the county and indeed internationally, through Tipperary natives now forced to work abroad. Similarly, Tipperary Libraries have encouraged photographers to showcase their talents through competitions based on a number of themes highlighting the many and varied attractions of our beautiful unspoiled County Tipperary.
Broadening the scope of the competition is now the aim of these two great organisations. Four major prizes will be awarded this year and at least 36 of the entries entered in this competition will be chosen for publication in the calendar for 2012.
So drop in to your local Credit Union office and look for a copy of the rules.
Remember: The latest date for receipt of entries is close of business August 31st 2011, so get out there snapping.
Note Participating Credit Unions:
Cahir Credit Union, Clonmel Credit Union, Carrick On Suir Credit Union, Cashel Credit Union, Borrisokane Credit Union, Roscrea Credit Union, Nenagh Credit Union, Tipperary Credit Union, Thurles Credit Union, and Templemore Credit Union
 Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Girl Guides in 1937. On the 7th of May 2011, the Dome, here in Thurles Co, Tipperary saw over 6,200 disciplined, spirited, inquisitive and members of the Irish Girl Guides gather to celebrate 100 years of their organisation, and what an organisation.
One of the disappointment felt by me, reflecting on the ceremonies organised for the recent visit by Queen Elizabeth II, was the visual absence of senior officials from the Irish Girl Guides Association. While we appear to have fitted in an invite for every other member of the ‘great and the good,’ there was not a sign of a Girl Guide anywhere in sight, despite celebrating their 100th Irish Birthday this year. The fact that Queen Elisabeth herself and her late sister Margaret were both Girl Guides, with the Queen presently the associations patron, this appears to have been a major oversight on behalf of the organisers.
Yes disappointing, no matter, no doubt this will be corrected when US President Barack Obama comes to Ireland on Monday, especially since his wife Michelle is President of the American Girl Scouts. But enough about this, ‘Dedication and Organisation,’ always has it’s own reward and real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.
Against the background of our hallowed Semple Stadium, this Girl Guide celebration was packed with Avitars, Moving Statues, Circus Performers, TD’s, Government Ministers, Giant Pigs, Helter Skelters, Musicians, Line Dancers and to close off this fun day an Abba Tribute Band.
The day got off to a brisk start with a Gold Award Ceremony, where 78 teenage girls each received the prestigious ‘Gold Award,’ the highest achievement that a Girl Guide can ever attain. These same group a short time later led the Members Parade, themselves kick starting the groups centenary celebrations, which fully demonstrated the total dedication and commitment by not just Girl Guides, but their leades representing the whole of Ireland.
Fine Gael TD, Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs was on hand to officially opened this 100th birthday event. The Minister in addressing the large crowd stated “This is a wonderful, historic, colourful day for you all. It is truly inspiring to see so many young people, and their leaders of all ages, latter still so young in spirit, gathered together to celebrate 100 years of success and true dedication. The organisation has an incredible role to play in supporting the young people of this country; helping them to develop our greatest natural resource to their fullest potential.”
The remainder of the day was spent by the girls becoming involved in their different age group activities. These activities included Circus Skills, Drumming, Dancing, Science Workshops, Animal Roadshows, together with having the time to enjoy a free flow area, which housed a Helter Skelter, many large scale Inflatables, a Carousel and numerous Street Entertainers. The excitement of the day’s events were clearly written and easily read, on the faces of all those in attendance.
Coming near to the close of events, a presentation of ’30 year service pins,’ were presented by IGG’s President Maureen Dillon, Chief Commissioner Emer O’Sullivan and special guest Mary McPhail, Chief Executive of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, to some of the older yet still dedicated leaders.
The girls and their officers ended the day singing and dancing with music and song courtesy of the ABBA tribute band, ABBAesque, and in keeping with the 100th anniversary celebrations, this band lead all in attendance with a wonderful rendition of ‘Happy Birthday.’
A special thanks to Catherine Noone, Carmelia Jordan and PRO Catherine O’Connor for their kindness on the day.
Next huge event will be “Camp 101“, which is the International Girl Guide Camp, taking place in Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Roscommon in July 2012, with Guides from around the world in attendance. Camp 101 for Girl Guides represents the beginning of a new centenary, and the opportunity to further build on a most successful past 100 years of Guiding in Ireland.
Want To Join Irish Girl Guides? Please contact the Irish Girl Guides National Office:- Telephone 01-6683898.
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