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International Miss Macra 2013 Festival Next Weekend

Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive into Co Tipperary, ending up in the luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, Dundrum, over next weekend, for the annual International Miss Macra Festival, beginning Friday 2nd of August to Monday 5th of August 2013.

This prominent festival which has been running consecutively for the past 42 years, will see girls travelling from all over Ireland and beyond to Co Tipperary to compete for the honour of being crowned International Miss Macra 2013.

So what are this year’s three Judges, (Joan Pollard Carew, Deirdre Crowe and Declan Ryan,) looking for in this year’s competition, for the right to hold the title International Miss Macra 2013? All three judges confirm that this competition is about more than just beauty alone.

Yes appearance, fashion and each girls overall demeanour is very important, but they will be digging just a little deeper below the skin’s surface as it were, to find out contestants achievement, their overall personalities, their passions, intelligence, business acumen and very importantly their ability to communicate, and all carried out in the very relaxed atmosphere of this three day inclusive festival event. As Joan Pollard Carew pointed out to me last year, while the initial interview may go well for some competitors, this rarely decides the overall winner of the competition, since all girls competing, are evaluated over a full three day period.

Some twenty two girls are competing for this year’s title.

Sponsors
The Miss Macra organising Festival committee, led by chairman Mr Donnacha Ryan, would like to send an enormous ‘Thank You‘ to all their sponsors, host families and local businesses who continue year after year to be generous supporters of the festival. In particular Dundrum House Hotel, Michael’s Jewellers Thurles, Tipperary Co-Op and Gleeson Concrete.

Friday Night will see a themed “Beach Party,” taking place in ‘The Venue,’ in Dundrum with disco dancing late into the night with prizes of course for best dressed on the night in question.

Saturday Night, once the stage interviews are finished in the Marquee the contestants and their supporters can dance the night away in ‘The Venue,’ to live music from top band “Lebowski,” and DJ afterwards.

Sunday, the morning commences with the contestants attending Mass celebrated by Rev Fr. Egan in Clonoulty Parish Church. Directly after Mass, the contestants will then take part in a ‘Blast from the Past Sports Day,’ in Clonoulty Rossmore G.A.A Grounds.

Sunday Night is the highlight of the festival as it draws to a close with the International Miss Macra Gala Banquet, in Dundrum House Hotel, followed with music by the popular band ‘Memphis,’ until midnight when International Miss Macra 2013 will be crowned with her Tiara.

As always this annual Festival guarantees a truly unforgettable weekend here in the heart of Co Tipperary.

Thurles Native Undergoes Cancer Treatment.

Thurles native Majella O’Donnell (née McLennan) country singer, reality television star and the wife of much loved and well known entertainer Daniel O’Donnell, has confirmed she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Majella, aged 53, broke the news to both their families last week.

On his website yesterday Daniel publicly stated;
“I’m sorry to inform you that Majella was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She is undergoing treatment at present and as it was found in the early stages, we are very hopeful of a full recovery.
I know that many of you would like to send your good wishes to Majella but at this time we cannot deal with a lot of mail so we would ask you not to send cards or letters, all we need are your prayers to help us through this difficult time and we know we can rely on that. God Bless Daniel.“

To Majella, Daniel & family, from all your many friends and fans here in Thurles and Tipperary, go our thoughts and prayers for a very speedy and full recovery during this difficult time.

Ballingarry (South) Tipperary Host Cultural & Historical Festival

The people of Ballingarry (South), Thurles, Co Tipperary, latter situated at the foot of Slievenamon Mountain, are hosting the Ballingarry Gathering Cultural & Historical Festival, which begins this coming weekend, the 27th and 28th of July 2013 inclusive.

Saturday the 27th July will have a line up of varied events beginning at 12.30pm in The Commons, where a Mining exhibition will be held in ‘The Old School, showing Photographs and Artefacts. There will also be a re-enactment of the pre-rising meeting of the Young Ireland leaders.

The annual commemorative ‘Famine Warhouse Walk,’ led this year by Dr. Martin Mansergh, will commence as is customary at the National Flag monument in the village and proceed to the Widow McCormack’s 1848 Warhouse, a distance of 1.5 miles, which in 1848 was the scene of the only rebellion which took place during the ‘Great Famine,’ period 1845-1849.

On Sunday 28th July, Noreen Maher from ‘Hibernia Roots,’ will host a genealogy lecture in The Old School, The Commons, and entitled ‘How to Start Researching Your Family,’ which will commence at 1.00pm. Following this a free display of traditional music played by individual musicians and groups will take place, again at The Commons, commencing at 2.00pm.

The signatures of Thomas Francis Meagher & Patrick O’Donoghue, both present at the Ballingarry uprising of 1848. The signatures are written on the inside cover of a book found in Richmond prison, Tasmania. The book is entitled “Wreath of Friendship,” & dated 26th February 1849. Same can be viewed currently at St Mary’s Famine Museum, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Burial place of Maurice Richard Leyne.

To give you all a taste for the history of this period, the following is an extract from the little known journal written by Patrick O’Donoghue, while on his way into exile in Tasmania, on board her Majesty’s sloop of war “Swift,” sections of which were published in The Nation newspaper. The Nation newspaper of course was co-edited by Maurice Richard Leyne, along with Charles Gavan Duffy, both following on from its re-launch in 1849.

Leyne was born in 1820 the grand-nephew of Daniel O’Connell and the only member of the family to align himself with the Young Ireland movement. He was an Irish nationalist, repeal agitator and like T.F. Meagher, William Smith O’Brien, P O’Donoghue & Terence MacManus was a member of Young Ireland and present with the latter in Ballingarry for the uprising. Leyne left ‘The Nation’ newspaper and moved to Thurles to become editor of the Tipperary Leader newspaper, where he died in 1854 days before its first publication in that same year and is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, (Famine Museum) Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Leyne’s small limestone tombstone reads:- (Click on image left for greater for resolution.)
“He whose virtues deserve a temple can now scarcely find a stone.” “In this grave are deposited the remains of Maurice Richard Leyne Esq who died 29th June 1854. This stone has been placed over him by a few humble admirers of his great virtues and talents to preserve his memory until a competent hand shall write his epitaph and a more grateful and generous people regard his merits. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.”

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Are The Scottish Highland Games Coming To Thurles In 2013?

Question; “What does a Scotsman wear under his Kilt ?” Honest Answer; “I truly do not know.” However this age old question, which those of you who know the answer have never apparently informed those of us who have failed to find out, may be closer to being uncovered (no pun intended), if rumours, rife and currently circulating here in Thurles this morning, are found to be correct.

This rumour, currently gaining momentum, would appear to indicate that a Scottish Highland Games troupe of up to 60 individuals are all set to descend on our quiet hamlet, on a date as yet to be confirmed, and whose purpose is to hold a Scottish Highland Games style festival.

Trusted sources close to Thurles.Info have confirmed that such an upcoming event is most likely to be announced shortly.

This unconfirmed rumour also states that this intended weekend of festivities will be hosted by the Cabragh Wetland Trust, who by the way are holding an ‘Open Day,’ on Sunday August 11th. This latter ‘Open Day,’ will offer first rate entertainment for all families and their children. Children’s Events are from 2.00pm – 4.00pm, with farm animals to see, water creepy-crawlies to observe, talks and guided walks by our local experts and a pottery wheel demonstration. There will be a Children’s Fancy Dress Show, so start to plan your outfit now. The theme will be “Nature,” so we anticipate a great turn out of birds and animals, with perhaps a few creative minds producing flowers, fish or insects, so do let your imagination run wild. Surely someone can arrive as a convincing stinging nettle, a rabbit or a frog? Games & Races will include the old traditional Egg & Spoon Race, the Sack Race and a 3-legged Race for those of you with three legs… and plenty more for all of the family.

But getting back to the topic of Scottish Highland Games, we contacted Mr Tom Grace of the Cabragh Wetland Trust, Mr P.J. Shanahan President of Thurles Chamber and his Chamber associate Mr Tim Looby, however all three individuals strangely refused to be drawn on this issue, but were also not prepared to either confirm or deny the existence of such an event. Yes, very strange.

What Are Highland Games?

The Highland Games, which are a huge crowd gathering event, are held annually across the Irish sea in the beautiful, wild, picturesque Scottish Highlands and indeed in many other countries world wide, where boast a strong Celtic/Scottish Community. These games are a way of celebrating Scottish/Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands.

Certain aspects of such games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland. Bagpipes, the Kilt, and the heavy strenuous gaming events of; Sheaf Tossing, the Stone Put, Scottish Hammer Throwing and in particular the well known act of ‘Tossing of the Caber,’ are all synonymous with such events.

While also very much centred on competitions in Piping, Drumming, Dancing, and Scottish Athletics, these games, as already stated, draw a multitude of spectators and never take place without massive entertainment events and exhibitions all relating to other aspects of Gaelic culture.

Highland games are largely a Victorian invention, developed after the Highland Clearances of the late 1700 and 1800’s. Same, like our Irish Famine, resulted in starvation and death, with families either immigrating from the Scottish Highlands voluntarily or being forcibly evicted, thus ending up with these Highland folk moving to overcrowded coastal areas or emigrating like Irish men and women, to the Americas, in ever increasing numbers.

Please Keep Us Informed
This now said, if there are to be big cuddly, handsome, muscular, Scottish guys, with great hairy knees, soon to be found swaggering around this town, we need to be informed. After all it is only proper that our women folk are given the opportunity to leave town or go into hiding, for the duration of any such upcoming event.

Yes folks, something “Fishy,” is going on here, but we plan to get to the bottom of it. So if any of you, our readers, get wind of anything, please do keep us informed and up to date. Someone somewhere must surely know something!

After all as we say here “Thurles Info is our Name and Thurles Information is our Game.”

Thurles Comedian Pat Shortt – Life’s A Breeze

A very pleasant comedy drama, entitled “Life’s a Breeze,” centring on a squabbling family on the hunt for their mother’s lost savings of nearly €1,000,000, arrives into Irish cinemas today, July 19th.
Starring, Fionnula Flanagan, Kelly Thornton & Thurles born comedian Pat Shortt, “Life’s a Breeze,” is directed by Lance Daly, offering its audience a viewing duration of some 87 minutes of laughter.

While not scheduled to view in IMC Thurles just yet, this well told story highlights true family relationships when matters of finance and inheritance eventually are forced to take centre stage.

Kelly Thornton plays the role of the 13-year-old schoolgirl Emma, bribed by her lazy easygoing uncle Colm (Pat Shortt) to take her Nan (Fionnula Flanagan) out for the day, so he and other siblings can give her somewhat cluttered Georgian abode a badly needed tidying.

Nan, as you can imagine, finds their interference somewhat unwelcome, and soon informs them that her mattress which had contained her life savings of close to a million Euro has been dumped. The family’s initial disbelief turns quickly to panic, as they devise ways to track down this lost future family fortune.

Uncle Colm makes matters worse by announcing on a radio show that the cash has gone missing and very soon an army of money loving unscrupulous & unprincipled individuals are soon greedily knee-high in recycling waste, searching for Nan’s little nest egg and leaving her family’s chances of recovery even more difficult. Yes and it doesn’t just stop there.

This film is hilariously funny, believable and superbly carried out by three powerful performances from Ireland’s No1 rural character comedian Pat Shortt, acting legend Fionnula Flanagan and newcomer Kelly Thornton, latter who makes her début after being spotted on the street by the film’s casting director.