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Search engine Google are at pains to assure people their privacy is being fully protected when the search engine launched its new Irish Street View facility on Thursday last.
This Street View facility allows Internet or smart phone users to view streets, roads, houses and buildings throughout the State. The images showing were gathered by cameras on Google’s specially adapted vehicles which have travelled 82,000km (51,000 miles) around the country since March 2009.
The service, which originally began with five US cities in 2007 and now includes 25 countries, allows users to switch to a panoramic street level view, moving up and down streets with the double click of a mouse. It is an without doubt an exhilarating slice of real science fiction and the initial impact on individuals when it went live on Thursday last was to check what their house looked like. Here in Thurles the images show details of real everyday urban life and footage were obviously captured about the time of the last Urban District and County Council elections. This facility is likely to encourage business and private property owners alike, to ensure that building facades are in future kept clean, inviting and attractive.
Ireland is the 25th country to launch Street View and no doubt this facility will be of particularly interest to tourists checking out an area in advance, before booking their accommodation and also for prospective house buyers looking at an area’s amenities if not the proposed house to be purchased.
The “Street View Ireland” facility in general is currently available on maps.google.com. You can view Thurles hereunder and do click on View Larger Map under the image for best quality image clarity.
However, concerns have been expressed that it could also breach people’s privacy. For example there are fears that criminals could use it to target houses for burglary. Other countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Greece have been critical of the overall project. However Goggle’s exactness in blurring faces and car number plates, should eliminate most peoples privacy concerns.
Launching the new service,Thurles born Minister for Tourism, Mary Hanafin said that ‘Street View’ had “huge potential” for Irish tourism, and also for business and education. However Thurles people might not agree fully with this statement since (Google Please take note) St.Mary’s Lane between Kickham Street and Mitchel Street which incorporates St.Mary’s Famine and War Museum has once again been overlooked. Still Fáilte Ireland doesn’t acknowledge we exist so why should Google.
The initiative is fully supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council, and various property websites. Fáilte Ireland plans to have it available on touch screens in all its tourist offices and regard it as the best form of free advertising that any country can enjoy.
The programme contains imagery that for the most part is already visible from public roads and it displays footage that is taken at a particular point in time and does not display live images. Over all Thurles, which represents a true, hidden, unspoiled Ireland, will welcome this new initiative.
 Recently, the wedding took place of Miss Emma Lyons, daughter of Mrs Eleanor and Mr Pat Lyons, Rathmanna, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, to Mr John Hayes, son of Mrs Ena and Mr Toss Hayes, Mitchel Street, Thurles, Co.Tipperary.
The wedding ceremony took place in the quaint historic 19th century church of St John’s, Killenard, Co Laois. The ceremony was presided over by Rev. Fr. Abe Kennedy, P.P. Portumna, a friend of both the Lyons and Hayes families.
Escorted down the aisle by her father Pat, the bride looked stunning in a brushed silk, ivory gown, adorned with a timeless mixture of elegant pearls and lace. Equally beautiful were the bridesmaids, who wore black and ivory full-length corset tie back gowns.
The couple exchanged their vows in front of a large gathering of family and close friends, while music and songs for the ceremony were performed by celebrated and talented singers and musicians from Thurles.
Following the ceremony, the new Mr and Mrs Hayes retired to the The Heritage Five Star Golf and Spa Resort, where guests were entertained to music and light refreshments followed by a champagne reception.
Following family photographs, the newly married couple joined their guests in the palatial ballroom of The Heritage for a lavish banquet, which was followed by live music and dancing late into the evening.
The couple have chosen Malaysia as their favoured honeymoon destination.
A video recording of the days events were undertaken by top videographer Pat Corbett
From all their family and many friends in Co.Tipperary go best wishes to them both for a happy, healthy and prosperous life together.
Our local water ways, namely the river Suir, which flows through the town of Thurles and the Cabragh Wetlands on the outskirts of the town, are particularly attractive at this time of year.
The native White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba) and the invasive Yellow flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) are in full bloom in Cabragh Wetlands, while on the river Suir our year round resident Mute Swans (Dan and Doris) have finally introduced their surviving three cygnets, hatched in mid May, to the local residents.
The male (called a Cob), and the female (called a Pen) birds, usually attempt to mate for life, although it is not true to say that if one of the birds were to die, that the other would necessarily pine away. It is very possible for an adult bird to find an alternative mate.
Their nest is a huge mound of mixed material, normally assorted vegetation, consisting of sticks dried grasses and rushes, are constructed at the water’s edge. The nest is built by the female, while the male supplies the materials.
The female lays up to seven eggs between late April and early May. Both sexes incubate the eggs, which hatch within 35-41 days. The young birds (called cygnets) sometimes ride playfully on their parents’ backs as seen in this video clip.
The youngsters remain with the adult birds for four or five months before being driven from the breeding ground in mid Autumn.
Swans normally find enough food in the wild without supplementary feeding. It is only in freezing weather that extra food can be helpful. Many people like feeding bread to swans and while this is unlikely to do them any real harm in the long term, it is no substitute for the proper diet that the birds themselves will seek out. Grain, such as wheat, and vegetable matter, especially lettuce and potatoes, can be fed to swans.
Food should be thrown into the water to avoid encouraging the young birds onto the bank, thus putting their lives in danger.
A visit to Cabragh Wetlands is such a peaceful experience and for those who enjoy a closeness with nature, it is well worth a visit, particularly in the evening time.
Music used in the video clip is by Johannes Brahms, entitled “The Cradle Song”.
The historic Abbey at Holycross, Thurles, Co.Tipperary was the scene for the wedding, yesterday, of one of Tipperary’s most popular couples.
 "Good Health and Happiness" The very lovely Miss Margaret Long, daughter of Mrs Christine and the late Mr Thomas Long, Holycross, Thurles, and Mr Evan Long son of Mrs Jacinta and Mr Matthew Long, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, both publicly proclaimed their love for each other in front of a very large gathering of friends and family.
The ceremonies chief celebrants were local parish priest Rev. Fr. Tomas Breen assisted by Rev. Monsignor James Commins.
This beautiful and ancient venue of Holycross Abbey has become the favourite hitching centre for marrying celebrates over past years and in recent times was the chosen venue of Dolores O’Riordan of the ‘The Cranberries’ fame and TV3’s news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick.
Following the ceremony Margaret and Evan entertained their guests in the wonderful gardens of the Anner Hotel ,Thurles, Co Tipperary, where over 200 guests enjoyed a champagne reception, combined with the first of this seasons fresh strawberries. This was followed later in the evening by a lavish six course banquet.
Music and dancing continued well into the early hours, and over the next few days the happy couple will depart on honeymoon to tour Thailand.
Friends and neighbours in Tipperary send their best wishes to you both for a happy, healthy and prosperous life together and thank you both, most sincerely, for such a wonderful day.
  Yesterday’s prevailing wind, snow and rain went totally unnoticed as the very lovely Miss Breda Kirwan, daughter of Mrs Kathleen and Mr Joe Kirwan, Horse and Jockey, Thurles, Co Tipperary, married Mr P. J. Maher, latter son of Mrs Breda and Mr James Maher, Dunkerrin, Birr, Co. Offaly.
A stunning bride was escorted down the aisle by her father Joe and the ceremony was performed by Rev Fr.George Bourke PP ably assisted by Rev Fr.Pat Mulcahy, in the quaint and historic church of St Peter, in Moycarkey, Thurles, in the diocese of Cashel and Emly.
Here, the couple publicly proclaimed their love for each other in front of a large gathering of family and friends before joining close family members for photographs.
Following the event the new Mr and Mrs Maher retired to the popular local wedding venue, the Anner Hotel, latter situated on the outskirts of Thurles town.
Here guests were entertained, on arrival, to light refreshments before joining the newly married couple at a lavish banquet, which was followed by music and dancing late into the evening.
The couple have chosen to tour America as their favoured honeymoon destination and from all their many friends and admirers in Co.Tipperary, go best wishes to them both for a happy and very prosperous life together.
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