|
|
Over 90% representation of the various individual tourism providers in the Thurles & District area turned out on December 5th last, to St Mary’s Famine Museum in Thurles, answering the recent invitation by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Mr Alan Kelly TD, to attend a meeting to discuss the future of tourism in the Thurles area.
The Minister had been anxious to hear from those in attendance, new constructive ideas which could lead to job growth and greater tourism traffic in the Thurles and greater surrounding areas.
 Just a few of the many Tourism Service providers and operators who attended a meeting called in the Thurles & District region by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Alan Kelly TD, & held in St.Mary’s Famine Museum Thurles, on Dec. 5th last. As a direct result of what Minister Kelly later described as a “more than a positive and constructive meeting,” it was agreed that an umbrella group, formally non-existent in the area, will now be formed using the brand / marketing name “Hidden Tipperary,” to coincide with the recently established website of the same name. It was also agreed that this newly formed group would work closely together, spreading slowly outwards across the county of Tipperary in an effort to attract a larger visitor-ship from both home and abroad, to what all in attendance agreed was the most unknown, unspoiled and tourism friendly region in Ireland.
Amongst those who spoke, contributing from the floor of the meeting were Mr Tom Gallagher (Holycross Tour Guides), Local Thurles Town Councillor Mrs Evelyn Nevin, Mr Liam O’Donoghue & Mr Seamus King (Lár na Páirce), Una Ryan (Marketing Eye), Stewart Willoughby (St Mary’s Famine Museum), together with representatives from Upperchurch, Loughmore and Cabragh Wetlands Development Associations and speakers from the vast array of local top class restaurants.
Mr Tom Noone who had kindly agreed to conduct this convened gathering called by the Minister, has now been unanimously selected as the groups first incoming Chairperson. In accepting the post Tom spoke passionately of his lifelong love for Tipperary, its people, its beauty and its strong historical tradition.
The next meeting of the now newly formed Hidden Tipperary Group will take place on Monday January 13th next (2014) at 7:00pm in Lár na Páirce, Slievenamon Road,Thurles at the invitation of Mr Seamus King (Lár na Páirce Chairperson). By this time Minister Kelly is expected to report back on initiatives which he is presently attempting to construct and which he briefly outlined while speaking at this December meeting.
To borrow a phrase from one enthusiastic attendee at this meeting, Mr Tom Gallagher; “If this group gets off the ground, Mid Tipperary begins a new dawn.”
In the words of the great Partry, Co Mayo born & now Late Monsignor James Horan, parish priest of Knock: “Build it and they will come.”
Following a meeting last month with a representative from the Thurles Tourism Group ‘Hidden Tipperary,’ and called by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Mr Alan Kelly TD, an open meeting of Tourism Service Providers are now invited to meet directly with the Minister, in St.Mary’s Famine Museum at 5.30pm on Thursday, December 5th, 2013 next.
Those providing Tourism Service, e.g. Restaurant owners, Fast Food providers, Publicans, Travel Agents, Accommodation providers (Both B&B and Hotel) and those providing /managing local visitor attractions, are all invited to be in attendance.
Those expected to be in attendance will include representation from Lar na Pairce GAA Museum, St.Mary’s Famine Museum, Slattery Museum, Upperchurch Development Association, Hayes Hotel, Cabragh Wetlands Development Group, Holycross Tourism Group, Una Ryan of Marketing Eye, Thurles Chamber of Commerce and Tipperary Tourism Board, to name but a few.
Thurles Town Must Continue To Progress – A Lot Done, More To Do In The Coming Year
The Minister is anxious to hear from those in attendance, new constructive ideas which could lead to job growth and greater tourism traffic in the Thurles and greater surrounding areas.
The venue, St.Mary’s Famine Museum was decided as an appropriate meeting place to enable unfamiliar Tourism Service providers to observe at first hand an attractions readily available to their visitors and situated on their front door. Similar future meetings are expected be organised with Lar na Pairce, Upperchurch, Holycross and Cabragh Wetlands etc.
The Minister is hoping that by this meeting an umbrella group, formally non existent, can now be formed which will work closely together to improve the tourism sector in Thurles and surrounding areas and has committed himself to adding his shoulder to the wheel where possible, in an effort to progress local tourism needs.
The Hidden Tipperary Tourism group state that they strongly support and welcome Minister Kelly’s initiative and look forward to working closely with his department.
It is now hoped that as many Tourism Service Providers as possible will turn out to meet with the Minister.
Directions To Thurles Famine Museum.
(Click on Icon on Map hereunder for Directions & type present position in Box A provided underneath Map.)
[mappress mapid=”32″]
“Slowly, silently, now the moon walks the night in her silver shoon,
This way, and that, she peers, and sees, silver fruit upon silver trees.”
(Poem by Walter de la Mare )
 Photo G.Willoughby The 15th annual Autumn Challenge organised, last October and organised by John G O’Dwyer and Michael Sutton, (Thurles), in aid of a respite home for special needs children, was an outstanding success. Over 120 walkers, mostly from Mid-Tipperary, gathered in Clifden for this event and all experienced great walking conditions with good weather, a brilliant sing-song and immeasurable camaraderie.
Jimmy Duggan (Thurles) led the nature and heritage trek in the Connemara National Park, an event which is a most popular feature of all challenge weekends.
Ray Creaney led a 20km walk along the Maumeen Pilgrim Path, while Josephine Tobin, John G O’Dwyer and Dan Condren led the mountain walks on Saturday, which included an ascent of Diamond Hill on Sunday.
As a result a great evening is now promised in Upperchurch with €3,200, raised in Clifden, being presented to deserving charities in Kinanne’s Pub at the Autumn Charity Challenge re-union, on Friday next, November 22nd. Full details of the 2014 Kerry Charity Challenge to be held in Dingle Co Kerry is expected to be announced in Kinanne’s, followed by the customary complimentary tea, coffee and one of Siobáin’s excellent tasty bites.
The Friday evening will begin with a moonlight walk on Knockalough starting from the Upperchurch Community Centre at 7.15pm, led by Carmel Needham. Latter moonlight walk is open to all comers – bring a torch.
Further information is available from Carmel at Tel: 086-2602133.
Upperchurch Walking Weekend Programme of Events
Friday Nov 8th:
Moher-Gortkelly road walk 7 km. Glown-Garnakilka road walk 10 km. Both walks start 7.30 p.m in Upperchurch and will be followed by the reception and official opening in Upperchurch hall. Traditional music in Kinnane’s afterwards.
Saturday Nov 9th:
10.00 a.m. Hills of Upperchurch walk 18 km.
12.15 p.m. Knockalough-Red Hugh walk 6, 10 or 12 km.
12.30 p.m. Eamon an Chnoic Loop 8 km.
All walks on Saturday start from Upperchurch village. There will be set dancing lessons in Ryans at 4.00 p.m. and traditional music at Jim O’ the Mills at 10.00 p.m..
Sunday Nov 10th:
11.00 a.m. Ragg to Upperchurch walk 15 km (or 8 km loop option) starting from the Ragg Lounge 5 miles from Thurles on the Nenagh Road.
11.30 a.m. Kilcommon Pilgrim Trail 10 km, including option of Mauherslieve summit, starting from Kilcommon, 5 miles west of Upperchurch.
12.00 noon. Three cycles over 25, 50 or 75 km starting Upperchurch.
12.15 p.m. Knockalough-Red Hugh walk 6, 10 or 12 km starting Upperchurch.
12.30 p.m. Eamon an Chnoic Loop 8 km starting Upperchurch.
12.30 p.m. Birchill Nature Trail 8 km Starting from P.J.Ryan’s, Rosmult, 7 miles from Thurles on the Thurles-Upperchurch road.
There will be demonstrations on the New Climbing Wall after all walks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a Bush Craft display on Sunday from 2.00pm till 5.00 p.m. The newly developed 1km walk around the local bog is now ready for use also.
For further information visit www.upperchurch.ie or phone 0504 54443 weekdays 10.00am to 2.00pm or 086 0518934 at other times.
New Climbing Wall To Be Finally Revealed In Upperchurch
Work on the secretive installation of a new Climbing Wall, currently being erected in Upperchurch village near Thurles here in Co Tipperary, is almost finally complete after a number of extremely busy months.
Unlike Angela Merkel’s telephone and despite the best efforts by the US National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor this same Upperchurch activity, this latest attraction here in Co Tipperary has managed to remain a closely guarded secret.
Thurles.Info’s Undercover Agent paid a brief visit to this project, under the cover of darkness last night, managing to sneak past the numerous armed guards and several snarling, lunging, foreboding Rottweiler and Doberman Pinscher guard dogs, to take us back exclusive pictures of this truly ‘state of the art,’ secret visitor attraction, now featured hereunder for the very first time.
 Upperchurch, Thurles, Tipperary – New Climbing Wall Revealed – Have You Got Nerves Of Steel? We can also report that this brand new facility will be unveiled to the public during the Upperchurch Walking Festival, latter most enjoyable of events taking place next week (Beginning 8th, 9th & 10th November) and all are invited to come, observe and experience at first hand, as climbers from mid Tipperary Hill Walkers demonstrate what can be achieved in safety on this wall, which our undercover agent reports is akin to “The North Face of the Eiger.” (Well after all the area is not called UPPER church for no reason.)
Upperchurch Walking Weekend
Of course the 8th annual Upperchurch Walking Weekend also takes place on the 8th, 9th and 10th of November this year, with a choice of over a dozen different walks all ranging from 7kms to 18kms.
In addition to both these walking and climbing experiences, outdoor enthusiasts can observe a Bush-Craft display which will demonstrate and explain wilderness survival skills such as shelter erection, fire creation, water filtration, cooking wild food, wood carving and rope making from natural materials.
The local cycling club are also running three organised cycles over 25kms, 50kms and 75kms starting at noon on Sunday.
Looks like Upperchurch village, Thurles, Co Tipperary will be the only place to be for all those who like to “live a little on the wild side,” in early November this year. So do head for the Upperchurch Hills the weekend after next, not only for the walking, but also for the healthy atmosphere, the beauty and the freedom that abounds. Also experience the warmth and friendliness of the local people you will meet should you stop off in the village for any type of food or beverage.
Check out their website by clicking www.upperchurch.ie for all the action over the 8th, 9th and 10th of November 2013 or Tel: 0504-54284 or 086-0518934 for further information.
|
Support Us Help keep Thurles.info online by donating below. Thank you.
Total Donated 2026: €290.00
Thank You!
Daily Thurles Mass Livestream
|
Recent Comments