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 St. Mary's Famine Museum, Thurles. Tipperary. The British market is by far the most important source market for visitors to the island of Ireland, accounting for over 3.5 million or over half of all International visitors to Ireland. The market profile of British visitors to the Shannon Region, shows that the ‘Over 50’s,’ market is one of the most important segments of visitor trading.
As part of the Shannon Region’s overseas marketing strategy this year, Shannon Development is actively targeting this market segment in Great Britain. Shannon Development will take a stand at the ‘Over 50’s Show,’ taking place at the Olympia London, 15th and 16th July next. They will have a stand over the course of the two days at this show, which attracts over 10,000 visitors. They will also be targeting visitors to the show with a Seniors supplement and also with a bespoke brochure, featuring heavily discounted offers from participating trade partners.
They would like to invite you to attend this show on their stand, the cost for your attendance is €150. Note: There are a limited number of spaces available, so positions will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
If you are interested in attending the show, please contact Shannon Development by close of business on Thursday, 16th June next.
The €150 cost only covers participation at the event and a feature in the bespoke brochure to be distributed at the event. You can attend on one day or both if you wish for this single cost. Each participant must cover the costs for their own hotel, food, flights and transport while in London.
Contact Details:- Tel: 353 (0)61-710268. Mail To: leydonma@shannondevelopment.ie
By the way; If you do not pay €150 you are not included on the “bespoke brochure / flier.”
This is as good as ‘Shannon Development,’ gets as far as Tipperary, east of the Shannon is concerned, perhaps this development group should be renamed, maybe ‘Shannon Self Development.’
A message now for my critics, please consider the following CASE STUDY:
Tralee Co. Kerry, fully developed as a tourist attraction, can easily afford to send a trade partner for €150 and easily cover that trade partners costs for hotel, food, flights and transport while in London. Millions of Euros in tourist promotion has been correctly spent here.
Thurles, Co. Tipperary, never developed as a tourist attraction, cannot easily afford to send a trade partner for €150 and cannot easily cover that trade partners costs for hotel, food, flights and transport while in London. By comparison, no Euros spent east of the Shannon River in tourist promotions, what a shame, what deceit. Perhaps Shannon Tourism would like to comment and disclose funding spent east of the Shannon, by comparison of course with the west bank.
Recently an application for funding of €4,000, to provide an up-to date website (Click Here.) for Co. Tipperary, was refused by Shannon Development. While they saw much merit in the proposed project, funding was refused on the grounds of (You guessed.) ” No Funding.” The aim of the website was to provide state of the art High Definition Video (Latter with ‘free to use,‘ embedding code, which would be of huge advantage to other communities in Tipperary) together with appropriate text, and aimed at identifying, for the first time, our numerous, little-known attractions in the whole county of Tipperary. Behind this project was a group of top IT, Photographic, Media and Script professionals, all working free of charge and together, for the common good of tourism in the county. (All thanks to a small dedicated, patriotic group, with no hidden agenda, I may add.)
I am happy to announce (I sound like a TD.) that despite no financial assistance being received from any “Development Organisation,” this website is now up and running. While currently in it’s infancy, and as yet not properly structured, over the coming weeks, this site will deliver large amounts of new and exciting information to the ‘world and his mother,’ and hopefully attract at least a small amount of tourism to this beautiful, historic, welcoming, yet unknown county.
Perhaps the tourism guide book titled “Ireland : A Rough Guide,” when ‘travelling the internet,’ will find something worthy of writing about and now stop writing drivel like:- “Thurles is of very little interest in itself.” “Having seen the Rock of Cashel, most people head out of Tipperary for the west, and frankly this isn’t a bad idea – the north of the county (Tipperary) has little to distract you.” “Templemore is even less interesting than Thurles.”
Meanwhile Dublin Museums, at the gateway to Ireland, will continue to reinforce their local economies at rural Irelands’ and, in particular, Tipperary’s expense.
I ask all my recent critics the following question; “When a visitor calls to your home, do you ask them to wait at your gate or do you invite them into your home ?” Those given responsible for Irish Tourism in Ireland, are now asking our visitors to ‘wait at the gate.’
Remember our Thurles Motto “Fleadh agus Failte.” (Translated from Irish:- “Banquet (or Party) and Welcome.”)
Anyone out there with a little spare funding and unfilled bedrooms, anxious to assist or support the cause? You will get a return on your investment – we promise, so talk to us.
Here in Thurles we have adopted a Chinese Proverb approach, normally associated with the Third World, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
 Sunyoung Lee, Film Coordinator and Ji-Dong Joo who visited Thurles recently. Representatives of Munhwa Broadcasting Corp (MBC) visited Thurles recently with a view to making a two part film documentary for South Korean broadcasting, based on the Irish Potato.
The representatives, led by Miss Sunyoung Lee, Film Crew Coordinator, were met by a member of the new Tipperary tourism group ‘Hidden Tipperary,’ headed by George Willoughby and taken to lunch, courtesy of Mr Frank Mulcahy at the Anner Hotel, Thurles, before being shown points of interest within the Thurles area, including St. Mary’s Famine museum.
MBC’s Wonju City film crew have now confirmed that they will be filming in Thurles, on the afternoon of Thursday June 16th next.
The populous Wonju City, which is 140 km (90 Miles) east of Seoul is in the province of Kangwon-do (6,522.81 Sq Meters) and also known worldwide as being historically one of the most sophisticated and finest food and cuisine areas in Korea. Wonju city is home to three major universities which attract many students from Seoul and elsewhere.
The city is home to two U.S. Army bases, Camps ‘Long,’ and ‘Eagle.’ An active foreign population of English teachers currently live in Wonju and frequent the many wonderful restaurants and bars within the city. Wonju is also within 20 km of two ski resorts, Hyundai Sungwoo and Oak Valley, which attract many foreign visitors throughout the ski season and provide a range of runs for beginners and for the more experienced skier and snowboarders, who frequent the area. The city is also home to one of Korea’s top basketball teams.
Recently Wonju City was appointed as a ‘Seed Potato Provider,’ for Eastern countries in Asia, and MBC, as the Regional Broadcasting Media are charged with delivering in-depth documentary feature films on the stories behind national branded potato and cuisines in other countries, with Ireland and Germany targeted as being the coverage destinations.
Two areas in Thurles have been identified to be featured in the upcoming documentary. These are Inch House, who grow most of their own organic vegetables to supply their own legendary restaurant and St. Mary’s Famine Museum, who tell the tale of a less enjoyable side to the history of our beloved Irish potato.
Photo Courtesy: George Willoughby
 Faddan More Psalter Yet another piece of Tipperary treasure went on show yesterday, to the benefit of Dublin City’s local economy.
I refer of course to the historical Faddan More Psalter, a book of psalms possibly as old as the Book of Kells, dated around 800AD and found by turf cutters in 2006 in a Tipperary bog.
Conservationists have spent the past five years painstakingly preserving this vellum paged, leather covered psalter, which now sits centre stage at a new exhibition in the National Museum, not in Tipperary, but in Dublin.
The new Dublin exhibition, which includes previously exhibited major pieces of church heritage, such as the St Patrick’s Bell and its Shrine, the Cross of Cong, the Broighter gold boat, the Corleck Head, and the unique ivory crozier from Aghaboe, Co. Kerry now on loan from the Statens Historiska Museum in Stockholm, certainly demonstrates an ecclesiastical feel, housed in towering glass boxes, beautifully illuminated and set out in a style resembling a monastic cloister.
This latest piece of Tipperary’s heritage now on display, joins five other liturgical vessels found in 1980 as part of the Derrynaflan Hoard, near Killenaule, Thurles, Co.Tipperary. Note all these pieces of priceless Tipperary treasure are greatly benefiting Dublin’s economy, at the expense of Co.Tipperary.
Speaking of Tourism, when will Fáilte Ireland, trading as Discover Ireland.ie, update Thurles on their website ? Click HERE to see that of which I speak. Next click on – Show all Festivals & Events in Thurles. Stay on the page and check what is happening in Co. Tipperary. Of the 38 attractions featured can you see any mention of the Thurles GAA Museum, St.Mary’s Famine Museum, HQ Nightclub, The Source Theatre, Traditional Music at the Monk Gorman’s, Thurles Golf Club etc, etc, etc ? Answer “NO Sir,” but plenty of adverts for Racing and Comhaltas Summer Seisiún’s.
On the same page hit the down arrow beside Towns and Cities and click on Thurles. Go to Whats on Tab and click on the down arrow alongside. Next click on Historical Houses and Castles – see my point, click on Music and Theatre, – see my point, click on Nightclubs, – see my point.
Without boring my readers much further, see Museums and Attractions – Thurles Famine Museum. Click on ‘More details,’and note: no website address shown, no complete postal address and see Map Pin on the accompanying map location showing the museum’s position, at Hillview drive, Thurles, Co. North Tipperary.
In January 2011, Dublin Tourism launched a new three year regional tourism plan, which sets a target to increase overseas visitor numbers by one million a year. Nearly two thirds of visitors to Ireland already visit Dublin. The city is currently lying at number seven on the list of the most visited cities in Europe. Now you now see why taxpayers money is needed to tunnel underground to keep transport moving.
It appears rural midland Ireland must continue to support the manufacturing of wealth for Dublin business, while those responsible for marketing county Tipperary continue to fund projects west of the Shannon river. I think it is time to drag those, given tourism responsibility, around a table for a serious chat.
Note the visitor figures given for fee paying attractions in Dublin last year, confirmed by Bord Failte, click HERE e.g. 469,674 people went to see the Book of Kells. Based on these latter figures, the Faddan More Psalter, at a charge €1 per visitor would be worth €500,000 to the Tipperary economy, plus spin offs in food, accommodation and other sales.
Whatever happened to the idea of a ‘Decentralisation Programme,’ anyway, or was that just another Fianna Fail vote catching idea. It seems Dublin has now become rural Ireland’s modern day plundering “Viking Raider,” and Tipperary has not one Brian Boru to protect us.
 "Walter of the Rosaries (Beads) " Chalice. No disrespect to the beautiful town of Cashel here in Co. Tipperary or indeed to our recent special guest, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, a word to those whom we elected to promote Irish tourism and our historic town of Thurles in Co. Tipperary, – be ashamed, be red faced, consider resignations.
Yes I am of course referring to those over paid individuals who hold public office at local, county and national level, the unseen faces behind Shannon Development, Discover Ireland, North Tipperary County Council, Thurles Town Council and in particular Shannon Region Tourism group.
By stating “in particular Shannon Region Tourism group,” I am of course referring to the fact that in 2011, yet again, Thurles has been treated as the ‘Poor Relation.’ Click Here, and note, just for starters, Thurles and Roscrea are not even worthy of a mention on their Shannon Region map included on their web-page, or in their rail travel listings and barely gets a mention in their recently launched School Tours promotion.
But enough on that, as I will be discussing Shannon Region Tourism’s transgressions, in depth at a later date, in an effort to raise discussion on what share of the Irish Government’s allocation of more than €155 million for tourism last year, actually materialised in ‘dear old North Tipperary,’ compared with what was spent west of the river Shannon.
Instead I am going to introduce, for the first time to many of our readers, the historically important “Walter of the Rosaries Chalice,“made by Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormonde. Such a shame latter was not shown to Queen Elizabeth II on her recent visit to Tipperary.
(Do click the picture on right, to see full resolution photograph of this priceless piece of our local heritage.) Photo: Courtesy George Willoughby.
As I have explained in previous posts on this site, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is a native of Thurles, with direct ancestors going back to the early/mid 17th century and to Thomas Butler’s marriage to Elizabeth Poyntz. So to put this Chalice in context Walter Butler was father of the latter Thomas Butler, known as Viscount Thurles, latter who died in 1619.
Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormonde and 4th Earl of Ossory (1569 – 1633), was an Irish peer, the son of John Butler of Kilcash and of Lady Katherine MacCarthy, latter the daughter of Cormac na Haoine MacCarthy Reagh, 10th Prince of Carbery. He inherited the title of this Earldom because his uncle Thomas (Black Tom or Thomas Dubh) had died without producing a legitimate male heir.
Walter served as a Member of Parliament for Tipperary and being a very devout Roman Catholic, he was known as “Walter of the Rosaries ” or Beads. His claim to the family estates was thwarted by James I of England. The Ormond Butlers had owned most of counties Kilkenny and Tipperary, including Thurles. King James had sought to engineer the marriage of Black Tom’s daughter and heiress, Elizabeth Butler, with one of his own Scottish favourites, Richard Preston. He made Richard Preston Earl of Desmond and awarded Elizabeth, instead of Walter, most of the Ormond estates in Tipperary.
Following much litigation by Walter Butler in fighting this decision, King James made an award to which Earl Walter refused to accept and in in 1617, King James had him committed to the Fleet Prison, where he remained for six years in poverty.
The Butler chalice was made in 1620 for Walter Butler, the rightful 11th Earl of Ormond and his wife Ellane, while still in prison. In 1620 the family was in deep trouble. The previous year their son, Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles, who lived in the Castle at the top of Liberty Square, had been drowned off Skerries while going to England to answer charges of treason, regarding the garrisoning of Kilkenny City.
Walter got out of jail in 1625 when he got the title and part of the estates back from the next English king, Charles I. The rest of the estates were only returned in 1629 and 1630 when Walter’s grandson, James Butler (later the Duke of Ormond) effectively purchased the 14-year-old Preston heiress from her guardians and married her.
Walter Butler died in Carrick-on-Suir, Co.Tipperary and was buried in St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on 18th of June 1633.
Such a pity Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II did not get an invitation to her native town, if only to view this wonderful piece of her historical past.
My thanks to Monsignor Dr Maurice Dooley, Loughmore for his assistance in compiling the above historical facts.
 Dads Charity Cycle - Destination Thurles The newly formed Thurles Tourism group “Hidden Tipperary,” report that the Kells Dad’s Cycle charity event have chosen Thurles as their destination for their sixth annual staged cycle event.
Officially titled ‘Kells Windows Restoration Systems‘ this Dad’s Cycle for Charity Tour, in previous years have raised over €70,000 for worthy causes such as St Vincent de Paul, Meals-on-Wheels, Children of Chernobyl and Crossakiel Young At Heart.
The “Dad’s Cycle Charity,” was initially started by a group of ex-Drumbaragh GFC footballers who decided five years ago, to give back something to their local community, latter who continue to strongly supported all local GAA clubs in the Kells area.
The 12 man group of cyclists will depart from Kells for Thurles on Friday 17th June and the cyclists will stay at the historical Hayes’s Hotel, Liberty Square in Thurles, latter the birth place of the GAA, first founded in 1884.
On Saturday June 18th, the group are expected to cycle to the Rock of Cashel, following in the footsteps of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who recently visited this area.
The group have been invited by the “Hidden Tipperary ” Committee, to visit St Mary’s Famine Museum as guests of Thurles, during their short stay, before returning to Kells on Sunday 19th June next.
So if you spot a group of “Tough looking Meath footballers,” hanging about, do say hello and give them a true Thurles welcome. Remember our Motto “Fleadh agus Failte.” (Translated from Irish:- “Banquet (or Party) and Welcome.”)
Picture Source: The Meath Chronicle
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