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Yesterday temperatures here in Thurles rose to just about 11°C, with a cold sharp breeze blowing down Liberty Square, here in the town. Despite these temperatures, almost one thousand people wrapped up well, turning out to view this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade here in the town centre.
Fabulous traditional Irish Music for the event was provided by the ‘Jim O’The Mills’ Band and if you haven’t already visited Jim O’The Mills licensed hostility here in Upperchurch, Co Tipperary – well let’s face it you haven’t really been to Ireland.
Possibly the highlight of the staged events for most children (all aged from nought to ninety, I might add) was the “Reptile Village,” Ireland’s only Reptile Zoo, on a one day trip, visiting from Demesne Road, Gowran, Co Kilkenny latter just across the border from Tipperary. While St Patrick is supposed to have gotten rid of all the snakes here in Ireland, we now know that he missed one, in this case a 20 ft Boa constrictor, shown in our quick picture video hereunder.
The 2014 Thurles Parade was opened, as is customary, by His Grace Archbishop Dermot Clifford, who this year must be congratulated, as he celebrates the 50th year of his priestly mission. Master of Ceremonies for the overall event was former Ursuline Teacher and Town Councillor Mrs Mai Quinn who introduced each of the Floats, as they passed the reviewing stand. Councillor Evelyn Nevin led this years ‘Judging Panel’ from the Reviewing Stand.
Singer Imelda May, Giovanni Trapattoni and several well know pirates were amongst some of the celebrities quietly in evidence, together with numerous schools and business establishments from within the town and from villages on the outer perimeters – to name but a few.
As our video shows Gardaí did arrest two Boru Stoves for loitering, otherwise the afternoon, crime-wise, was uneventful.
Thurles Camera Club members as usual were also out in force capturing images of this truly enjoyable and very colourful of local event.
All in all, despite the low temperatures, again a fantastic display this year and congrats must go to the organising committee and the weeks of hard work by all those who took part.
The Thurles 2014 St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on Sunday next March 16th, beginning at 2.45pm from Abbey Road, here in Thurles.
One of this year’s special attractions will be a Reptilian Zoo which will set up shop in Liberty Square, offering a great opportunity for both adults and children to view just some of Mother Nature’s mini monsters and cold blooded creatures.
This year’s parade promises six marching bands, together with many talented local traditional music bands. Expect the usual colourful variety of floats of all sizes; all depicting themes of a political, comical, and historical nature. Lovingly restored Vintage Vehicles of all descriptions will once again go on display, bringing that sense of lost nostalgia to the more elderly in our midst.
Free face painting will also be available for younger spectators, while the ever favourite Bob the Builder, in person I might add, together with other friends will be on hand to entertain the usual large crowds, as they begin to assemble in the centre of Liberty Square.
Note: All parking in Liberty Square will be restricted from 11.00am to 5.00pm leaving Liberty Square closed to all vehicle parking from 2.00pm to approximately 6.00pm.
Warning: In the interest of Health and Safety, Gardaí and Stewards will be on hand to regulate traffic and crowd control, but do remember if you are a spectator and particularly those of you in charge of children, please try to remain behind the safety barriers provided, at all times during this most enjoyable of Tipperary events.
See latest Update HERE
The Cormackstown Heritage Centre, Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary is without doubt one of the largest single private collections of rural memorabilia to be found anywhere in today’s Ireland. Spanning some three centuries, these rare and now almost forgotten “tools of our once rural trade,” used to develop rural Ireland down the years, will go on display officially from Wednesday next, just a five minute drive on the outskirts of Thurles town.
“A Passage Through Time.”
So if you are out and about this coming weekend, why not spend an hour or two at the Cormackstown Heritage Centre and see for yourself this extensive array of historical artefacts, just a few of which are depicted in our video hereunder.
In the Cormackstown Heritage Centre expect to find:-
- A unique large dairy collection including an old style Creamery Laboratory.
- Experience at first hand the history of the Traveller and the tools of the Tinsmith.
- Experience the old retail shop and meet Margaret the Shop Keeper.
- Visit the old Pub complete with Barmaid.
- Take a trip back in time to view the tools of the Carpenter, the Cobbler, the Wheelwright and of course the Blacksmith’s Forge.
- Call into the Old School Room complete with its Teacher and her School Text Books from the past.
- Enter that old style, warm and welcoming Farmhouse Kitchen of the last century.
 All of this and much, much more will make your visit to the Cormackstown Heritage Centre both enjoyable and educational and to the elderly visitor, will bring back fond and emotional memories of the good and bad experiences of times past.
(Click on directional Map Image left to enlarge picture.)
Note: The centre is available to all individuals / groups; including Educational, Pensioner and Retired persons and all are welcome.
This welcoming Venue will remain open, both for Daytime and Evening visits, with a Guide on hand to talk visitors through the myriad of artefacts currently on display.
Group Tours are advised to contact the Cormackstown Heritage Centre, Tel: 085 7131584 to book their visit in advance.
You can follow ‘Cormackstown Heritage Centre’ on Facebook simply by clicking HERE.
The Exhibition is highly recommended by the Tipperary tourism group Hidden Tipperary, latter who will visit the centre on Tuesday next March 4th, for their monthly meeting, beginning at 11.00am sharp.
 Anner Hotel Thurles (Photo G.Willoughby) We understand that the Anner Hotel, situated on the Dublin Road here in Thurles, has been rescued from its recent receivership status.
Mr Kieran Wallace and Mr Padraic Monaghan of KPMG had been appointed Joint Receivers to the hotel here in Co Tipperary with effect from May 2013 last.
Pillo Hotels Limited had immediately taken over the management of the hotel, which was and remains a wonderful, family friendly run Three Star venue, first begun some 50 years ago and greatly extended and operated by the Mulcahy family for the latter 25 of these years.
The hotel is now understood to have been purchased by three brothers, namely Michael, Patrick and Seamus Maher, operating from the nearby village of Two-Mile-Borris.
It is understood that the new purchasers are also current owners of a Property Development business and the contract to purchase the property, which had continued to trade without interruption to date, was signed yesterday.
Details of the actual purchase price are not publicly known, however an asking price tag of €1.1m had been initially put forward by receivers KPMG who in turn appointed agents, Savills Commercial, of No. 11 South Mall, Cork to offload the hotel.
This venue presently trades as a three star hotel, offering its large clientele 96 bedrooms, a lounge bar, a restaurant, private dining room, air-conditioned conference and banqueting facilities and a leisure centre with an 18m swimming pool, Jacuzzi and Sauna. The hotel, situated on a manicured two acre site fronts the main Dublin Road, on the eastern edge of Thurles town centre, also boasts seven varying sized conference rooms and a main function room with comfortable seating capacity for some 250 guests.
We wish the new owners every success in this their latest successful enterprise.
 Brian Boru, King of Munster. Historical sites in County Clare relating to the life and times of Brian Ború are promoted in a newly developed guide marking the 1000th anniversary of the death of the Last High King of Ireland.
In the 10th century Brian Ború, one of the most influential and colourful characters in Irish history, was born in Killaloe, close to the Tipperary border, in Co. Clare. A member of a powerful Dalcassian tribe he went on to become High King of Ireland and ruled from his palace at Kincora in Killaloe. He died in 1014 after an emphatic victory over the Vikings in the Battle of Clontarf. His descendants became the mighty O’Brien clan – one of the greatest Gaelic clans and whose influence extends to this very day.
The newly launched Brian Ború Trail features information on the important sites and buildings associated with Ború and the O’Briens, including Kincora, Bunratty Castle, Clare Abbey, Lough Derg and Dromoland Castle.
Other sites of interest include Magh Adhair, the place of inauguration of the O’Briens as Kings of Thomond; Scattery Island where Brian Ború attacked and killed the Viking King Ivar of Limerick in 975, Lemenagh Castle, the ancestral home of the O’Briens; Inis Cealtra (Holy Island), one of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites; and Doonbeg Castle, the site of a famous battle in 1595 between the Earl of Thomond and the McMahon Clan.
Speaking at the launch the 18th Baron Inchiquin, Conor O’Brien who is a direct descendent of Ború stated: “Brian Ború’s influence on Ireland’s political landscape is well known but his legacy is also evident throughout the physical landscape of County Clare with dozens of buildings linked to his fascinating story and that of his ancestors,” explained Lord O’Brien.
He added: “I am delighted with the production of this new guide which is the first of its kind produced for visitors in relation to an individual who is an indelible part of Clare /Tipperary and the island of Ireland’s history.”
The launch of the Brian Ború Trail coincides with a nationwide programme of commemorative festivals and events taking place during 2014. The programme features a series of commemorations in the four main locations with connections to the life and High Kingship of Ireland’s best known historical figure; namely Cashel, Co Tipperary, where Brian was crowned High King of Ireland, Killaloe/Ballina which was the seat of Brian’s High Kingship of Ireland (1001-1014 AD), Clontarf where Brian was killed following his victory over the Viking rulers of Dublin at the Battle of Clontarf, and the City of Armagh where Brian is buried.
Welcoming the new tourist guide, Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins stated: “From a Clare County Council perspective, significant effort has been undertaken to ensure that the Brian Ború millennial anniversary is established as an important cultural and tourism activity which lays the platform for further cultural and tourism development in future years. This Guide will serve as a useful tool for promoting Brian Ború’s close links with County Clare, and in doing so help to promote other sites of interest in Clontarf, Armagh and Cashel, latter in Tipperary.”
Produced by the Brian Ború 2014 Steering Group, the Brian Ború Trail guide is available at tourist offices, as well as at the County’s libraries and Council area offices. Thousands of copies of the new guide are also being distributed to visitor attractions and accommodation providers throughout Clare.
For more information visit www.killaloeballina.ie.
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