Thurles Information

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.”

The Thurles Sarsfields Third International Hurling Festival 2013, held this weekend here in Thurles, is over for another year but not before being acclaimed a ‘rip roaring success,’ by the organising committee, under the chairmanship of John Enright. Hotels, B/B’s & other tourist services providers in the area are reporting a massive surge in tourism business over the past number of days.

The organising committee wish to thanks their sponsors, namely IBP Insurance, The Gathering Ireland 2013, Thurles Sarsfields and Thurles Town Council for their generous sponsorship of this ever growing annual Thurles festival event.

The now coveted Semple Cup this year went to the team of ‘Causeway,’ in Co Kerry and was presented by Ann Gunning, latter daughter of the late great Tom Semple.

‘Setanta,’ in Donegal were winners of the Culhane Cup presented by Paddy Kenny, while Dublin won the Carew Cup, latter presented by Michael Maher, Chairman of Thurles Sarsfield.

In the ‘Caman Abu,’ competition action, winners of the Plate were Thurles Post Office; with the Thurles branch of Tesco deserving winners of the Cup. Runners up of ‘Caman Abu,’ were Noal Ryan’s, Parnell Street, Thurles & ‘Larry’s,’ Dempsey Square, Thurles both licensed premises.

All in all this was a most successful and enjoyable sporting weekend for all in attendance and a welcome boost for a Thurles ailing economy.

Imitation; The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

That said, of course I would not like to be an employee of Aer Lingus or ETIHAD Airways respective PR teams going to work tomorrow. It will be disappointing for them to discover that they have been ‘Taken in,’ (as we say in Tipperary,) by the Galway International Hurling Festival, latter which claims to be “the first hurling competition of its kind, ” taking place in September.

As Lady Marguerite Blessington, Countess of Blessington is reported to have once stated: “Borrowed thoughts, like borrowed money, only shows the poverty of the borrower.”

A little comment also for GAA President Liam O’Neill; Pablo Picasso once stated “To copy others is necessary, but to copy oneself is pathetic.”

To the Galway organisers;  Galway Supporters Club, Terry O’Flaherty (Mayor of Galway City,) and Terry Welby (Mayor of Galway County,) we wish you the best of luck with your weekend, but visitors do remember that Thurles is the real home of the GAA and any other hurling festival is just a cheap imitation, plagiarised from Thurles Sarsfields.

Seriously, what intrigues me is how two people over 141km or two hours driving time apart, can come up with almost the same catch phrase; “Camán Home for the Hurling,” & “Camán for the Craic.” Now if that is not proof of extrasensory perception (ESP) at work, tell me what is?

Next year Thurles will be running the first ever Tour de France & later in the year the first ever Glastonbury Festival, so do stay tuned for more details.

” Talking of airlines, be jasus, I’m just wondering would RYANAIR’s CEO, Mr  Michael O’Leary throw Thurles a little sponsorship for The Ryan Gathering in August next?“