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The town of Thurles enjoys quick and easy accessibility by both train and road and as Thurles Railway Station is on the Inter-City line, there is an excellent train service with hourly trains to and from Dublin and excellent services also to Cork, Limerick and Killarney. Express buses, presently operated by Bus Éireann, also call daily to the railway station trafficking passengers to the outer areas of the county.
For me long train and bus journeys can be boring so I always unsure to accompany myself with some light reading material.
Talking of bus and train journeys and reading material, reminds me of the new splendid publication ‘It Happens Between Stops‘ which is a collection of short-stories, articles, essays, poems and a play written by current and former employees of the CIE group of companies. There is something for everyone in this collection and here is just a brief sample;
“The Eclipse on the Cheap” By John Bolton.
The morning news told of a full load of Concorde passengers who had paid some €2,000 for a figure of eight over Tenerife to see the eclipse. This way you got to see it from both sides of the plane twice.
For me, I loaded up my single decker to go to Dalkey. I got to Booterstown when I got this eerie feeling. I noticed the light change, but before I pulled back into the traffic, I noticed the start of the eclipse in the dark glass sun visor. The time was spot on between 11.18am and 11.22 am.
While watching this, an elderly lady asked if I was OK.
I replied, “It’s the eclipse, do you want to see it?”
She and all the rest queued up the centre aisle to see this from the drivers’ seat. I got a great round of applause at 11.25am, when it was all over.
I would be barking up the wrong tree to stick them for £2,000 each.
 It Happens Between Stops “Autumn Day” By Cathy Hickey
I am walking in the woods,
The Autumn wind takes the leaves from the trees,
They fall around me
And crunch beneath my feet.
I watch them dancing on the wind
And think of You.
You would wonder at this,
The sound of the river rushing by,
Breathing the sweet crisp air.
Absorbing the warmth of colour,
Enjoying the sight of a young squirrel
Busily preparing for Winter,
At the base of the magnificent old tree,
Simplistic, yet so complex,
This cycle of Life…….Nature…..
It saddens me to think, yet again,
You are missing this moment.
Then it occurs to me that you are not,
Because you are here, walking with me.
Sharing this joy !
I am not the only person to enjoy this fine witty publication, containing well observed and sometimes moving material.
It is, in the words of Lee Dunne, “As an entertaining well written, ‘dip in for a shot’ kind of book, this publication does not disappoint. So many tastes and flavours, none of them likely to give anybody indigestion.”
Irish Times journalist and RTE commentator Fintan O ‘Toole had this to say, “Witty and gritty, It Happens Between Stops is something rare in Irish fiction, a view of working life from the inside. It combines the freshness, vigour, humour and hard edge of everyday speech with the determination to transform the mundane with the power of imagination.”
‘It Happens Between Stops‘ is published by Original Writing. You can get further information on the Original Writings website or by emailing ciewriters@gmail.com
An open day will take place on Sunday next, July 25th at Matt Fogarty’s tree farm and nursery near Ballinderry, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Matt’s Tree Nursery holds a wide range of both native and exotic species and he has visited woods and arboretums around the world, the evidence of which can be seen growing here in Ballinderry.
 The nursery is situated between Terryglass and Ballinderry close to beautiful Lough Derg. There are over 12 hectares of hardwood trees, hundreds of species, in varying sizes. The Deer and Pheasant run freely here and there are also an abundance of wild fowl living in and around the on-site pond area.
Matt won Farm Forester of the year in 1995 and Amenity Forester of the year in 2000. Warning however, Matt and Mary Fogarty’s passion for Mother Nature is very highly contagious, as seen when they guide groups, families or individuals through the tranquillity of their tree heaven.
As stated, there are over 12 hectares of different species to be admired and studied: e.g. Walnut, Oak, Copper Beech, and Spanish Chestnut, to Maple, Hornbeam, and the magnificent California Redwood, plus many others in different stages of maturity.
Imagine, If You Can, A World Without Trees
The American Soldier, Journalist and Poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer probably best described our love of this perennial woody plant in this simple poem.
“Trees” by Poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918)
I think that I shall never see – A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest – Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day – And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear – A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain; – Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, – But only God can make a tree.
Another American poet Frederic Ogden Nash (1902–1971) well known for his light humorous verse, slightly changed the wording of this poem, lamenting the unnecessary destruction of our forests and the erection of massive wooden highway billboards, both adding to the destruction of our scenic environment.
“Trees” By Poet Frederic Ogden Nash (1902–1971)
I think that I shall never see, – A billboard lovely as a tree.
Indeed, unless the billboards fall, – I’ll never see a tree at all.
So if you are out and about this Sunday, you fancy a tree to enhance your dwelling place, don’t miss this opportunity to learn, at first hand, how you can grow a wide range of wonderful trees, many of which you will not be familiar, but which are very well suited to our Irish climate.
Question: What leading Irish Television Production Company produced the following programmes?
- The Award winning programme Ear To The Ground now on its 16th Year, for RTE One,
- Northern Star for BBC Northern Ireland, latter shortlisted in 2008 for the prestigious Grierson British Documentary Award, in the Best Science Documentary category.
- Heist, a crime series for RTE ONE.
- The Ultimate Guide To Everything on RTE Two.
- What Am I Worth?, a factual entertainment series for RTE One.
- The Pressure Cooker aired on RTE One.
- Behind Closed Doors aired on BBC.
Answer: Independent Pictures, part of the Agtel Group with offices at 22 Fitzwilliam Street Upper, Dublin 2.
 Their other credits include Show Me The Money, and I’M an Adult Get Me Out of Here plus the very popular and controversial Rip Off Republic presented by Eddie Hobbs, achieving a massive 54% share and an audience of over 838.000 viewers on its very last episode.
Independent Pictures continue to provide the TG4 schedule with a diverse range of programming. The travel series Thar Sáile, the consumer series Luach Ár Linne, the food & travel series Cósta uí Chatháin and the much loved history series Ar Bóthar Na Smaointe have all aired in the early 2009 TG4 schedule.
Ar Bóthar Na Smaointe, however will draw most attention from TV viewers in Thurles Co.Tipperary when a programme featuring Thurles Famine Museum takes to our screens possibly in September of this year.
This picture shows Irish poet and writer Teo Dorgan (Programme Presenter), Brid Bhreathnac (Film Producer / Director), Seamus O’hAoda (Lighting Camera Man), Stewart Willoughby (Assistant Museum Curator), Michael Edge, (Sound ), Marilyn de Burca (Crew Assistant) and Monsignor Maurice Dooley DD, parish priest of Loughmore, Co.Tipperary, at work filming this week, in the Thurles Famine museum.
Monsignor Dooley is no stranger to Thurles, having been born and reared in the town, indeed, he is no stranger to RTE Radio and Television either, as listeners /viewers will confirm. Educated at Thurles CBS, he was later ordained to the priesthood in Maynooth in 1959. Following post-graduate studies, he went on to teach in St Patrick’s College, Kiltegan, for two years, and then back to his home town and to St Patrick’s College, Thurles, where he taught continuously for 28 years, holding the post of professor of Canon Law. For over 20 years he has also acted as a representative for the Holy See at Council of Europe committee meetings in Strasbourg dealing with health and bioethics. He became PP of Loughmore in 1992. Monsignor Dooley is also a noted historian and it is therefore no surprise that Independent Pictures sought him out as a spokesperson on Thurles history, in the making of this their new programme series. Monsignor Dooley was also an advisor to the committee responsible for the setting up of St. Mary’s Famine Museum, in 1995, where this filming was undertaken.
The Presenter of this programme, Cork born Theo Dorgan is a poet, prose writer, editor, scriptwriter, translator and sailor. His books include the long poem Sappho’s Daughter, a prose account of a transatlantic voyage under sail, Sailing for Home, praised by Doris Lessing as “a book for everyone”, and A Book of Uncommon Prayer, which he compiled and edited. He is the editor of Irish Poetry Since Kavanagh, and co-editor of Leabhar Mór na hÉireann / The Great Book of Ireland, An Leabhar Mór / The Great Book of Gaelic, the anthology Watching the River Flow and the acclaimed collection of historical essays Revising the Rising. His translations of the Slovenian poet Barbara Korun (in collaboration with the poet and Ana Jelnikar), were published as Songs of Earth and Light. Theo translates from the Irish and from the French and his own work has appeared in Italian and Spanish editions. He is a member of Aosdána.
Watch this site for further details of when this new series of Ar Bóthar Na Smaointe will be televised.
Some facts about New Year Celebrations:
- The celebration of New Year is the oldest of all public holidays.
- It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago and was believed to be an eleven days celebration. The early Babylonian’s most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
- The early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as pure paganism.
- January 1st.has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years.
- The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC.
- Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle.
- Dutch people believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune.
- The song, “Auld Lang Syne,” is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to celebrate the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce our modern rendition.
- “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long ago,”
- Here in Thurles, New Year is a time for congregating with family and close friends before midnight and seeing the new year arrive in a spirit of togetherness, thus demonstrating strength for the year ahead and what it may bring to each and everyone of us.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here’s a hand, my trusty friend
And gie’s a hand o’ thine
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne
From all at Thurles.Info, may we take this opportunity to wish you all , where ever you may be, a peaceful, happy, healthy and a prosperous New Year.
 The Late Wilbert Houben For me, he left our world here in Tipperary, as he had first entered it, rather suddenly.
I can not remember exactly where or when I first met Wilbert Houben, whom readers will also identify with great affection, as “The Dutch Man”.
Passionate about ecology and all things environmental, Wilbert’s quiet confident character magnetically drew people, especially those people anxious for real and positive community change. The membership list of voluntary community groups, in which he held official status was endless, Thurles Tidy Towns, Thurles Lions Club, Thurles Gun Club, Cabragh Wet Lands project, Thurles John Player Tops and St. Mary’s Restoration Committee, but to name a few.
His great gift, apart from his personality, generosity, and his endless knowledge, was of course his hands. Those hands could design and manufacture anything using simple plain lengths of metal or wood, as local farmers and factories in Tipperary will attest.
During his short time spent with us, he left, as his memorial, a strong and permanent visual memory of his having passed amongst us. Every day as I move about my daily business, I still enjoy his fountain and his ducks in the river Suir, his Pheasant Island Project, his many trees in our streets, his Victorian lamp standard in my garden, his carved cigarette ash tray, that I still use every day.
Thurles gives thanks for having known you Wilbert.
Thurles poet Gerry Cullen best sums up our feelings, at this time, in this wonderful poem which he penned following Wilberts unexpected and sudden departure.
Tranen Voor Wilbert. (Tears for Wilbert.)
There’s terror on the Wetlands, the mighty guardian’s gone.
The Mink will get the edge again, and nature’s war is on.
The shadows chase the Moor-hen, and Magpies wait and see,
No form along the walkways, no Eco-referee.
Now Winter’s at its darkest, and spirits weighted low,
And minds are left in why-land, where answers never go.
But Spring will come in ripples with light all fresh and new,
Then clouds above the wildness will rain the tears for you.
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