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The Gathering 2013 Community Meeting

Steering Committee Hold Community Meeting For “The Gathering”

North Tipperary will host a community meeting in advance of “The Gathering Ireland 2013.” The Gathering is Ireland’s national tourism initiative, launched earlier this year by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

To get things rolling, a special Community Meeting will take place in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on Thursday 26th July at 7.00pm. All are welcome to attend this meeting, which will offer an opportunity for local people to learn more about ‘The Gathering’ and how they can become involved. Anyone with ideas for a ‘Gathering’ can pledge them online after the meeting. They will also be able to access tools and supports online to help them to organise their Gatherings.

Jim Miley, Project Director of The Gathering Ireland 2013, has urged North Tipperary locals to attend the meeting on Thursday 26th July, stating; “The Gathering Ireland 2013 is a people’s project. It’s all about you, your family, your neighbours, your sports club, your college, your place of work – in fact, whatever community or group you belong to – planning special events in 2013 that will highlight what is great about your town and county. I know people here in North Tipp have a great spirit and some wonderful suggestions for Gatherings. We’re looking forward to hearing all of your ideas.

Thursday’s meeting is organised by the North Tipperary Gathering Steering Committee, led by local Gathering Co-ordinator, Attracta Lyons, Community & Enterprise Development Officer with North Tipperary County Council. Announcing plans for the meeting, Ms.Lyons stated: “By calling this meeting, we are asking everyone in North Tipperary to get involved in the Gathering in 2013. This is an exciting opportunity for each and every one of us to play our part in showing what is best about the County and our people. We have some great networks and ideas here as to how we can reach out to our friends and loved ones overseas and invite them home next year. 2013 is going to be an incredible year in Ireland and we want North Tipperary to be part of it.

Gathering Community Meetings will be held throughout Ireland in the coming year ahead. Local Gathering organisations are being set up in every county, comprising a range of organisations. These include sporting bodies, cultural and musical groups, local authorities, local development companies and other bodies.

Community projects already underway throughout Ireland include Clan Gatherings, Genealogical Projects, School Reunions, Twin-Town visits and an Outreach Initiative where local communities will contact people who have left the country.

The Gathering 2013 continues to gain momentum with leading Irish personalities such as Pierce Brosan, Liam Neeson, Maeve Binchy and Paul O’Connell already pledging their support to this exciting initiative. A large number of companies and organisations have already got involved including Google and Facebook, while KPMG and PwC have confirmed they will hold their International Alumni events in Ireland, bringing 1,000 International visitors.

For further information contact Community & Enterprise Department, North Tipperary County Council on Tel. 067 44858 or 067 44522 or  Email Attracta.Lyons@northtippcoco.ie

Destination Cashel – Things To See & Do In Tipperary

Attention all those involved in the Tipperary Tourism Industry.  At long last a new, intelligent, modern, Tourism Guide has hit the book shelves here in Co Tipperary.

To be more accurate this Guide, is more akin to a rich colourful coffee table publication, allowing guests / readers to sit and be entertained, thus inspiring conversation and alleviating boredom. The pages contained, consist of high quality photographs and illustrations, accompanied by captions and small blocks of explanatory text, shown directly opposite each picture.

New Tourist Guide "Destination Cashel."

This book, which contains some 180 pages of valuable information about Tipperary, is now a compulsory purchase for all Tourist Accommodation Providers in Tipperary. If any tourists out there are reading this blog, here is the ultimate tourist guide to purchase, not just to find areas of interest while you are amongst us, but to keep and cherish as a memory & to show to friends, as you relate what we hope will be a memorable tale and a wonderful experiences of your travels in Tipperary.

This Guide, which I hasten to add is the brainchild of Catherine Stapleton, published & superbly produced by Lion Print, Cashel, is now on sale here in Thurles at Bookworm, for a value for money price of just €5.00.

Having read this Guide, and followed, with interest the “8 planned Day Trips,” laid out in it’s content, using Cashel as the centre point, I sent this publication to three groups all with a genuine interest in promoting tourism in Thurles.

Read Their Reviews

Mr P.J. Shanahan (Thurles Chamber of Commerce) “I was delighted having read the book “Destination Cashel,” which provides, for the first time, a simple plan for tourist on what to see, not only in Cashel, but the whole county of Tipperary, including our own historic town of Thurles.
The book contains eight planned routes with a  brief history of different places along the way and a list of events that take place here in the premier county. It is a fantastic guide to visitors, with pictures that sell County Tipperary as the beautiful county it really is, personally I love the picture of Ardfinnan, but I of course St Mary’s Church and St Patrick’s College are hidden treasure in Thurles.
Aimed at anyone who might pick the book up for a light read,will give vital help to tourists who visit our stunning county, but I also feel it will also give locals inhabitants an amazing in-site into what exists on their own doorstep. Destination Cashel is a must buy for anybody visiting or living in Tipperary this year.

Councillor Mr Gerard Fogarty (Thurles Town Council) “The ‘Destination Cashel‘ tourist guide is a fantastic example of how individuals and local businesses can work together with enthusiasm to produce a fine document selling their local community and the cream of what it has to offer. We have a proud historical and cultural tradition here in Tipperary and it’s important to showcase and promote our historical sites and commemorative events & carry them on into the future, while at the same time benefit our local economy, stimulating our labour market. This publication’s content sends a message to the rest of the country and indeed to the world that Tipperary is open for business. It will also encourage our neighbours residing in other counties to come & enjoy all the many wonders Co Tipperary has to offer.
It would be fantastic progress for Thurles if we could drive a similar exciting project for our own area and I would be delighted to give any assistance I can to do that. I look forward to working with state agencies and local business and community enthusiasts, to develop and fund such an initiative.

Mr Stewart Willoughby (St Mary’s Famine Museum Thurles) “Excellent publication and already under the arms of a few tourists visiting the Famine Museum. Tourists report that the book, together with it’s excellent high definition pictures and short informative script, is a huge advantage when planning their day trips. The Guide’s Author has climbed inside the heads of Irish & foreign tourists and provided them with information long sought after. Highly recommended.”

Has your Pub, B & B, Hostel, Farm Guest House, Hotel, etc. got a copy ?

Trust me you do need this publication in your establishment & your guests will thank you all the more for providing them with the information contained.

Tipperary Carriage Driving Trials 2012 Festival

Tipperary Carriage Driving Trials Festival Cahir

The County Tipperary Carriage Driving Trials Festival takes place in Cahir, at the end of this month, with a major expansion of last years successful programme of events.

Organised in association with Horse Sport Ireland’s Carriage Driving Section, this now three day event takes place, beginning on June 29th next, with a Carriage Charity Drive on the Friday, set against a scenic backdrop which includes, Cahir Castle, The Swiss Cottage, magnificent scenic views of the Galteee Mountain range and of course the Kedrah Equestrian Centre.

Advice To All Visitors: Forgetting you love of equestrian sport for a moment, do allow yourself time to visit the other many varied visitor attractions, which this area of Tipperary has to offer.

For full visual details of all the equestrian activities taking place, simply click HERE

For advertising or sponsorship information please Tel: +353 (0) 87 2268126 or E-mail  bpdavis@eircom.net

Free Admission To Heritage Sites

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has announced that there will be free admission to all the heritage sites operated by the OPW in Ireland on the first Wednesday of every month during 2012. The OPW operated this scheme last year and it was so successful that it has decided it will be operated again this year.

The following is a list of the heritage sites that will be free in the Tipperary area during the offer;

  • Rock of Cashel
  • Cahir Castle
  • Roscrea Heritage and the Blackmills
  • Swiss Cottage

Full details on all the available heritage sites around Ireland can be found on www.heritageireland.ie website.

A PDF file with complete info and details on the free access to heritage sites for 2012 is available here;

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/media/Free%20Wednesdays.pdf

Where Is Thurles Co Tipperary Marketed

I refer to my previous rant of March 21st last. Please also see Here and view Here. I also draw your attention to Here and to the correct comment made by one of our readers, Rona, just yesterday. Indeed to fully understand that of which I rant,  it is essential that you the business person, you the unemployed and you the student, latter possibly depending on Summer casual work to afford next year’s school fees, read all three links.

Next Visit Here, North Tipperary Arts Website, another site financially supported by North Tipp Co.Co.

Let us pick just two categories.
Go to Theatre & Performance on this site. Is The Source Theatre in Thurles advertised?
Go to Galleries & Museums on this site. Is the GAA Museum or Thurles Famine Museum in Thurles represented? Is Thurles LIT a museum? How much use and what is the cost of funding this useless website?

I believe it is fair to say that Thurles town, situated in North Tipperary, is hardly recognised on this site, yet Minister Phil Hogan wants us to fund North Tipperary Co Council & Thurles Town Council, who sit idle as the Nenagh area hogs the limelight.

Why Is Thurles Not Marketed?

Do not ask me; ask your local elected representatives. In relation to St Mary’s Famine Museum, all information was forwarded for inclusion on this site, both Text & Pictures.

However a clue to this marketing failure may possibly be found here, in the Thurles and Environs Development Plan 2009-2015 drawn up by North Tipp County Council and I quote:

The potential of the tourism industry in Thurles Town and environs is largely undeveloped. There does, however, exist:

  1. Poor understanding of the towns inherent historic characterises;
  2. Inadequate protection of the historic environment;
  3. Lack of development of commercial activities associated with the heritage industry, such as hotels, leisure activities, organised trails, etc;
  4. Environment problems such as traffic congestion, pollution and poor quality building stock.

An attractive town centre goes hand in hand with a strong tourism base.

It would appear our Local, County and Government elected representatives of all political party’s haven’t read this yet.
Continue reading Where Is Thurles Co Tipperary Marketed