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46th Intl. Miss Macra Festival Aug Bank Holiday Thurles

International Miss Macra 2017 from George Willoughby on Vimeo.

International Miss Macra Secretary Ms Edel Ni Riain reports.

“Clonoulty-Rossmore Macra na Feirme are once again delighted to confirm that this year’s International Miss Macra Festival will take place over the 2017 August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday August 4th to Sunday August 6th, inclusive, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

This will be the Festival’s 46th year and is an exceptional representation of what just one farming organisation can achieve through hard work, determination and the full support of its local community.

This year will once again see young ladies travelling from all over Ireland and abroad, in the hope of following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Miss Sinead Guiney from Avondhu Macra Club, Co. Cork, crowned last year ‘International Miss Macra 2016.

The festival will kick off on Friday night, August 4th, with a charity night in Coffey’s of Stouke, Rossmore, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

On Saturday night August 5th, you can join us for our Cabaret in The Dome, Semple Stadium, Thurles, while on Sunday night, August 6th, our annual Banquet takes place in the Four Star, Anner Hotel, Thurles, followed by the crowning of the winning 2017 International Miss Macra winner.”

“Looking forward to welcoming you all.”

Former Fianna Fáil Senator Des Hanafin Laid To Rest

The funeral Mass of former Fianna Fáil Senator Mr Des Hanafin took place at 12.00 noon today, in the Cathedral of The Assumption, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, with chief celebrant Rev Fr Tomas O’Connell.

The ceremony was attended by a large crowd, which included former Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats, M/s Mary Harney and her husband Mr Brian Geoghegan; former Independent politician & Senator M/s Avril Power with her Thurles born husband Mr Fionnan Sheahan (Journalist Independent.ie); former North Tipperary retired TD Mr Michael Smith; the currently serving Galway West TD Mr Éamon Ó Cuív; Tipperary Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry; Dublin Bay North TD Mr Sean Haughey; Meath East TD Mr Thomas Byrne; Leader of the Fianna Fáil party, Mr Micheál Martin, and Tipperary TD Mr Jackie Cahill, latter two who both led the Guard of Honour.

While in his 86th year, the much loved Mr Hanafin passed away on Thursday last, survived by his wife Mona; his daughter, the former Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader and Minister Mary Hanafin, and his son, the former Senator John Hanafin.

To view video hereunder in high definition, please click HERE

Funeral of former Senator Mr Des Hanafin from George Willoughby on Vimeo.

Born on September 9th, 1930, in Thurles, Co Tipperary, Mr Hanafin was first elected to North Tipperary County Council in 1955 and subsequently served as Chairperson.

He was first elected to the Seanad in 1965 and retained that seat until 1993, before regaining same in 1997, before finally retiring from politics in 2002. Mr Hanafin was unsuccessful in two Dáil elections for Tipperary North in 1977 and 1981.

Despite retiring from active politics in 2002, he continued to support efforts to retain the Eighth Amendment and pledged to support that campaign. He also opposed the marriage equality referendum in 2015.

Leading tributes to Mr Hanafin, Leader of Fianna Fáil, Mr Micheál Martin expressed his sadness at Mr Hanafin’s death, describing him as being “a man steeped in politics and community. Seeing both his children achieve high office was a source of great pride to him.”

Mr Hanafin’s remains reposed at Hugh Ryans’ Funeral Home, Slievenamon Rd, Thurles yesterday Saturday, before arriving at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles at 8.30pm yesterday evening.

Mr Hanafin was interred, following his Funeral Mass today, in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

To the family and extended relatives, go our heartfelt sympathy.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.

Saturday June 24th – A Purr…Fect Afternoon Guaranteed

“Join us for a guaranteed purr…fect afternoon of fun, chat, music, and a cuppa,” writes Thurles Rotary Club member Mrs Evelyn Nevin.

Evelyn would like to invite you to come along and support Phoneix Productions at a Cats Tea Party in Bookworm on Saturday June 24th from 2.00pm – 5.00pm. (Do please note your calendar).

“Thurles Rotary club has a long standing friendship with Phoneix Productions and its Founder Member/Producer Mr Gerard O’Brien,” states Evelyn, “And to this end we felt the need to support this very worthy charity, which provides such great opportunities to our local young people, through creative expression both in song, dance and stage craft.”

It is the worst kept secret in Thurles that plans are well under way for Phoneix Production’s next musical extravaganza. Yes, Deo volente (God being willing), ‘Cats’ ; composed by the great Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, and based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, will be staged here in Thurles next August. This of course can not happen without an enormous amount of effort, time, support and, it goes without saying, financial assistance. Theatre lovers will remember, based on past productions, that Phoneix Productions does nothing by half measures, so expect prodigious thespianism.

Evelyn continues, “We at Rotary Thurles recognise the need for patronage of this worthwhile organisation and to this end wish to support our talented local young people by coming up with what we believe is a novel idea, “A Cats Tea Party”.

Mr John Butler proprietor of Bookworm book shop, on the corner of Liberty Square, has kindly allowed us the use of his premises for the afternoon of June 24th from 2.00 – 5.00pm, with all money raised going directly to Phoneix.

So do please join us for a ‘cuppa’, a chat and we will have special guests providing entertain for you during the afternoon. Your support would be greatly appreciated for this worthy cause and donations of buns and cakes would also be welcomed”.

For further info why not contact Evelyn on Mobile 087 9774725 and pledge your support.

Home Of Shane MacGowan On Sale In Tipperary

Fairytale of New York
“They’ve got cars big as bars, they’ve got rivers of gold,
But the wind goes right through you, it’s no place for the old.”
Poetic extract from the song ‘Fairytale of New York‘ by the Pogues.

A house at Garryard East, Silvermines, Nenagh, in Co Tipperary, the oft-time home of Irish-British musician and singer Shane MacGowan and his family, has just been offered for sale.

The sale follows earlier this year the tragic death of Shane’s mother, Mrs Therese MacGowan, in a car accident.

Best known as a song writer and the lead singer of the Celtic punk band the Pogues; Shane together with his father Maurice; his mother Therese, and Siobhan his sister, moved to the Silvermines back in 1988, after living at an address in the UK, near London, for some 30 years, and where Siobhan and Shane were both born and raised.

It was from this Silvermines address in the 1990’s, that Shane started writing most of what would become his second full-length album entitled ‘Crock Of Gold,’ and other songs like ‘Lonesome Highway’.

Shane was also a member of the Nipple Erectors and the Popes, as well as producing his own solo material and working in collaborations with leading artists such as the late English singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl prior to her death in 2000; English musician, singer, actor and songwriter Joe Strummer who died in 2002; Nick Cave (Australian musician, singer-songwriter, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional film actor); Steve Earle (American rock, country and folk singer-songwriter, record producer, author and actor), and Sinéad O’Connor (Irish singer-songwriter).

Asking price for this Silvermines property is €229,500, through selling agents Sherry FitzGerald Talbot, Tel: (067) 31496.

Humanitarian Priest Fr Jack Finucane Passes Away

The humanitarian priest, and valuer of human life, Fr. Jack Finucane, passed away today at the age of 80.

Ordained in 1963; Fr. Jack was a brother to the late Fr. Aengus Finucane, latter a former Chief Executive of Concern Worldwide, and earlier a former teacher at Rockwell College, secondary school close to New Inn, Cashel, here in Co. Tipperary.

The brothers were both natives and ‘Freemen’ of Limerick; being aptly recognised in 2005 for their inspirational and tireless work with the starving of Africa and Asia. Fr. Jack, with his brother Fr. Aengus, tended to some of the poorest people in the world; from Biafra in Nigeria to Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

Fr. Jack would later became an adviser to Sir Bob Geldof and his Live Aid team, and in 1985, escort a young Bono (U2 fame) on his first trip to Ethiopia, greatly influencing latters future thinking.

This staunch belief by both men; based on the view that all human beings deserve respect and dignity and therefore should be treated as such, would lead to the formation of the organisation known as Concern Worldwide in 1968.

Fr. Jack and Fr. Aengus had been sent to Nigeria by the Holy Ghost Fathers and were at the ‘coalface’ in the distribution of aid, flown into Biafra by Concern and other relief organisations. Both Finucane priests had become involved in the distribution of this humanitarian aid, following the Nigerian government’s blocking of food supplies to the breakaway state of Biafra (Biafran War or Nigerian Civil War carried on from July 6th 1967 to January 15th 1970 with the loss of over 1 million lives). This food blockade caused massive starvation and continued despite receiving, back then, worldwide condemnation. The Finucane priests organized food to be sent through makeshift airstrips, including one at Uli, Anambra.

Frederick Forsyth CBE, with Fr. Jack Finucane, latter who passed away today.

The Royal Air Force pilot, novelist (70 million books), political commentator and spy, Mr Frederick Forsyth CBE, (Works include ‘The Day of The Jackal,’ ‘The Odessa File,’ ‘The Dogs of War’, ‘The Fourth Protocol,’ ‘The Biafra Story‘ and ‘Cry of the Innocent,’ latter film made here in Ireland), who was then a journalist covering the Biafran war, knew both Fr. Jack and Fr. Aengus; indeed Mr Forsyth regularly dined with both men close to Umuchima village, Uli, at the airstrip code named ‘Annabel Airport’, during his stay of some 2 years.

Both religious brothers were involved in using old Douglas DC6s and DC7s from the 50’s, together with old worn out Lockheed Constellations planes from a similar era, in their efforts to get sick children out and food provisions in, and while dodging Nigerian MiG-19 jets supplied by East Germany and manned by East German pilots.

Frederick Forsyth, wrote of the children airlifted out of Biafra, stating that these children were a “living, breathing monument” to the work of Fr. Aengus Finucane and his colleagues.

Irish President Mr Michael D. Higgins stated today; “His (Fr. Jack Finucane) commitment to the ethical basis for, as well as the practical application of humanitarian principles was exemplary. Jack Finucane’s lifelong commitment to protecting the dignity of some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people will stand not only as a lasting tribute to all that is good about mankind, but is exemplary in its invitation not to avert our gaze from our current challenges of global hunger and poverty.”

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.