Tourism « Thurles Information

UN Secretary-General To Accept Tipperary Peace Prize In Person

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to accept the Tipperary International Peace Award in person; visiting Tipperary on Sunday May 24th 2015, to receive his award at the Ballykisteen Hotel in Co. Tipperary.

As previously announced Mr Ban Ki-moon is being honoured for his leadership in mobilising the international community to address a series of grave conflicts and major natural disasters.

“At a moment of division, he has sought to be a bridge-builder; in a period of economic upheaval. He has strived to give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people; and in a world of deepening interconnectedness, he has pursued wide-ranging efforts to adapt the United Nations to face a new generation of challenges and threats,” the Tipperary Peace Convention has stated.

Mr Ban Ki-moon, who is expected to be accompanied to Co. Tipperary by his wife (married Yoo Soon-taek in 1971), has three adult children: two daughters; Seon-yong (born 1972), Hyun-hee (born 1976) and a son; Woo-hyun latter who was born in 1974.

Mr Ban Ki-moon was born on June 13th 1944 and is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations, having succeeded Mr Kofi Annan in 2007. Before becoming Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon was a career diplomat in South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He first entered the diplomatic service in the same year he graduated from university, accepting his first post in New Delhi, India. Here, working in the foreign ministry, he quickly established a reputation for both modesty and competence.

He was the foreign minister of South Korea from January 2004 through until November 2006, before beginning his campaign for the post of Office of Secretary-General. Initially considered as having only an outside chance of achieving this office, he was able to travel to all the countries on the United Nations Security Council, as the foreign minister of South Korea. He was soon recognised for his strong diplomatic skill and acknowledged as the campaign’s most likely victor. Thus on October 13th 2006, he was elected as the eighth Secretary-General by the United Nations General Assembly.

Previous recipients of the Tipperary International Peace Award have included Bob Geldof, former US President Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, late US Senator Edward Kennedy and his sister former Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy-Smith, Dr Sima Samar, Benazir Bhutto, Dr Richard Haass, wounded Pakistani school girl and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, former President Mary McAleese and her husband Senator Martin McAleese.

The Tipperary International Peace Prize, now in its 27th year, recognises the contribution of individuals and organisations that promote peaceful cooperation.

White Tailed Sea Eagle Viewing & Info Point Reopens

The popular ‘White Tailed Sea Eagle Viewing & Information Point’ situated at Mountshannon Pier in Co. Clare has now reopened to the public, following a hugely successful pilot opening period last summer.

More than 10,000 people flocked to the shores of Lough Derg, latter which borders on counties Tipperary, Clare, and Galway, between mid-July and September last to catch a glimpse of the first successful breeding pair of White Tailed Sea Eagles in Ireland in some 110 years.

The Viewing & Information Point is operated by the Mountshannon Eagle Group, in conjunction with the Golden Eagle Trust and Mountshannon Community Council. This new venue features telescopes, together with required information and displays about the White Tailed Sea Eagle, now regarded as Ireland’s largest and most spectacular of bird life.

This new facility generated more than half a million Euro for the local economy in 2014. A visitor survey conducted last year found that 43% of people said the attraction was the primary factor influencing their decision to visit the shores of Lough Derg.

The eagles, a seven-year-old male and six-year-old female, were originally collected as chicks on the island of Frøya off the west coast of Norway by the Golden Eagle Trust. The birds were later released in Killarney National Park before deciding to relocate; taking up residence in Lough Derg in 2011. The pair, named Saoirse and Caimin, both created history back in 2013 when they reared the first chicks to fly from a nest in Ireland in over 110 years. The pair successfully reared another chick in 2014 and the hope is that another successful hatching will take place this summer.

Visitor figures compare well to the Island of Mull in Scotland where White-tailed Sea Eagle watching has been popular for more than 10 years. It should be noted that a higher percentage of visitors came to Mountshannon (43%) specifically to see the Eagle pair than to the Island of Mull (23%), where eagle tourism brings in an estimated 5 million (sterling) annually.

Launch Of Lough Derg Nature Trail

Tipperary’s Lough Derg shore line.

The new Lough Derg (On the river Shannon) Nature Trail will be officially launched at a seminar being held at The Workhouse Centre in Portumna, County Galway, next Thursday, April 30th .

This event, which takes place from 10.30am to 1.15pm, will feature presentations by Dr. Alan Mee on the ‘White Tailed Sea Eagles on Lough Derg’, consultant ecologist and writer Dr. Janice Fuller on ‘Going Wild on the Lough Derg Nature Trail’, and Lorcán O’Toole of the ‘Golden Eagle Trust’, on the effectiveness of existing tourism policies for rural communities.

A detailed guide to accompany the Nature Trail will also be launched on the day. Cllr. Michael Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Tipperary County Council, Cllr. Mary Hoade, Cathaoirleach, Galway County Council & Cllr. John Crowe, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council, will be in attendance.

This seminar is hosted by County Councils representing Tipperary, Clare and Galway, as well as the Heritage Council and Lakelands & Inland Waterways, Ireland.

All Ireland Tractor Challenge Set For May 3rd Thurles

Last Sunday saw the official launch of the “All Ireland Tractor Challenge” in the Anner Hotel Dublin Road here in Thurles.

Amongst the many special guests who turned out to lend their support were rugby star Denis Leamy, Tipperary Rose of Tralee finalist Alison Brolan, Pat Carey (Munster Tug-O-War), Tipp FM radio’s ‘Agreport’ presenter Jim Finn and Conor Breen (Agricultural & Plant Equipment, Cashel.)

Click HERE to view video, hereunder, in High Definition.

All Ireland Tractor Challenge from George Willoughby on Vimeo.

Last year some 1130 tractors gathered for a similar event at Thurles Racecourse, raising a colossal €40,000 for local charity and this year’s challenge, with your help, is all set to surpass all past targets. In particular, two very worthwhile charities will benifit from this event this year, namely ‘Suir Haven‘ and ‘C.A.M.E.O. Care‘.

‘Suir Haven’, as everyone knows, under the umbrella of North Tipperary Hospice is one of two cancer support centres which promotes and supports the development of hospice and palliative care in North Tipperary. The organisation supplies specialised equipment, psychological and social support for patients and their families, often regrettably towards the end stages of life.

‘C.A.M.E.O. Care’ deals with conditions which cause damage to brain function more commonly referred to as Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Much of the care given to people with dementia in the home is provided by the spouse or by adult children. Many of these family ‘Carers’ are often frail and elderly themselves and may not always enjoy good physical health. Older caregivers often become so involved in a caring role that their social connections become reduced to the point that they have very limited contact with the outside world. This service aims to support ‘Carers’ in this arduous and difficult role, by providing a strong prop through, in some cases, a much needed break for those involved as carers.

How Can You Help?

Firstly: Anyone who owns a tractor are being implored to please, please bring same along on Sunday May 3rd 2015 to ‘The Turnpike’ [ Map Ref ], Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Secondly: Regardless of whether you own a tractor or not please bring along yourself and all your family to what will be a truly family fun event, with lots of activities to simply observe or indeed in which to partake.
Thirdly: Be part of this initiative yourself and join the many ‘Business Stalls,’ displaying your Goods and Services. For more information on this contact Frank at Tel: 086-8062770 or Donie at Tel: 087-4146897 or indeed Michael at Tel: 087-2712967 before April 19th next.

A massive amount of work is currently being undertaken behind the scenes for this event; under the leadership of Michael Fahey (Chairman), T.J. Donnelly (Vice Chairman), Chris Verling (Secretary), Frank Nolan (Treasurer) and their truly passionate and dedicated workforce.

Expect more intimate details on this super upcoming event here on Thurles.Info over the coming days and weeks, so do Bookmark us and stay tuned.

National Pilgrim Paths Day Sat April 4th 2015

Thousands of Irish people and overseas visitors are expected to retrace their heritage on National Pilgrim Paths Day April 4th, 2015.

Kilcommon Mass Rock, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Ireland’s National Pilgrim Paths Day, on April 4th next, is aimed at raising awareness of our country’s wide network of pilgrim routes, while also providing a more general appreciation of our medieval Christian heritage.

To this end on Saturday, April 4th, 2015, large numbers of Irish people and overseas visitors are expected to retrace their ancestral heritage this coming Easter Weekend, as they take to this countries ancient pilgrim paths, to celebrate Ireland’s second ‘National Pilgrim Paths Day’.

This new Easter Festival will see a nationwide series of non-denominational, pilgrim walks taking place on Ireland’s medieval penitential trails. Last year, there were over 1,800 participants for Ireland’s inaugural Pilgrim Paths Day and this year it is expected that the numbers will be even higher.

On Pilgrim Paths Day, events will take place on each of Ireland’s 12 Medieval Pilgrim Paths including 3 pilgrim paths in County Tipperary. They are Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop, (Information, 062 78103), St Declan’s Way (Information, 086 354 1700) and Holycross Pilgrim Path (Information, 087 7962177).

Heritage guides from these communities will lead each event while outlining the story of the route and explaining how medieval penitents coped with their arduous journeys.

There will also be a reflection and thanksgiving at the end of each walk.

For full details of all pilgrim walks nationwide take the time to visit; www. pilgrimpath.ie