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Macra Festival August Bank Holiday Weekend

Once again Clonoulty Rossmore Macra na Feirme are delighted to announce details of this year’s International Miss Macra Festival, which will take place over the coming August Bank Holiday weekend, beginning from Thursday August 2nd to Monday August 6th.

The slide-show hereunder captures just a little of the action and enormous fun, generated over this four day event, which is now celebrating it’s 41st successive year as a rural County Tipperary festival.

After the very successful 40th anniversary of this prominent festival last year, this year sees a new revamp, with many firsts. Once again this year’s festival will see girls travelling from all over the country and beyond, gathering here to Co. Tipperary to compete for the honour of being crowned International Miss Macra 2012, with dreams of succeeding to the title previously held by last year’s very worthy winner Sarah-Louise Healy from Muskerry Macra Club in Cork.

The luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, described as an oasis in the Golden Vale & sets the perfect scene for those who seek relaxation and fun. The hotel which recently was winner of the Certificate of Excellence 2012, has once again been chosen as the prominent venue for this year’s festival.

The committee would like to send an enormous ‘Thank You,’ to all their sponsors, host families and local businesses who continue year after year to generously support the festival. Sponsors in particular to be thanked are Dundrum House Hotel, Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, Tipperary Co-Op and Gleeson Concrete, to name but a few.

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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

Thurles Tipperary Fayre – Were You There?

The annual Tipperary Fayre 2012, took place on June 2nd last at The Source, Cathedral St, here in Thurles Co.Tipperary, organised by Thurles Chamber Of Commerce for the second year running.

Firstly congratulations to P.J. Shanahan (Chamber President) & Clodagh Duggan both of whom, together with Chamber comrades, organised this magnificent event, bringing together, once again, all that is the very best in Tipperary food products & crafts, produced by local growers and native artisans.

Here are just a few of the highlights of this day-long event, spoiled only by a little ‘gentle rain,’ which fell late into the evening.

Amongst the many ‘Business Stands,’ trading at this event, offering “from a needle to an anchor,’ were:- Duggan Timber Design, Joe Saunders (Public Relations & Media Research), The Craft Corner (Children’s Workshops), Mag’s Home Baking, Tulega Foods, Cabragh Wetlands (Wild Life Sanctuary), HomeBake (Gortnahoe), Thurles Co-Op Creamery, Face Painting, Inch House Restaurant, Thurles Fairtrade, The Green Bowl Company (Fruit & Veg), Jewels (Fashion Jewellery), Juanita’s Bath & Body (Soaps), John Dowling (Wood Turning), The Craft Corner (Children’s Workshops), Crack Pots (Pottery Painting Studio), For The Birds (Bird Boxes), Julia Agnes (Clothing & Head-wear Design), Donal Ryan (Wood Turning), Personalised Canvas (Handmade Gifts), Handmade Toys For U, Fruit & Nut Bakes (Breads & Cakes), Tipperary Green Business, The Tipperary Kitchen, Cooleeney Cheese, Irish Piemontese Beef, Liam Campion (Butcher), Tipperary Aloe Vera, & Fogarty Traditional Sweets, just to name a few.

The fountain spouting up from the river Suir was greatly enhanced by a Chocolate Fountain on the Source Boardwalk, ah yes!, there is something special to be enjoyed in a tub of fresh strawberries & marsh mallows covered in delicious chocolate.

Also in attendance were members of Thurles Farmers Market including Lough Bora Organic Farm, latter which can be found every Saturday morning busily trading from the grounds of Thurles Greyhound Car Park. (Whisper! There is a guy up there, from The Horse & Jockey area, selling potted geraniums for just €2.00. Track him down.)

Of course I cannot sign off without mentioning Premier Meats who passed on much knowledge on available meat cuts, not to mention carving and boning skills.

I also noticed a large turn-out of dedicated teachers in attendance for a lecture by Naomi’s Cafe, Friar Street, Thurles, which expounded the virtues of packing a healthy lunch-box. (Note to kids: Chocolate Bars & Packets of Crisps may be about to undergo a reduction in consumption in the school yard in the near future. Parents & Teachers are such spoil sports.)

Of course the big attraction at this year’s event was a cookery demonstration by renowned TV chef, Cookery School proprietor and food writer Catherine Fulvio, who operates out of Ballyknocken Cookery School and Ballyknocken House in Co Wicklow.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable event for all the family and well done to organisers, participants and supporters.

Thurles CBS Annual Awards Night 2012

The Thurles CBS Secondary School’s (Scoil na mBraithre Chriostaí Durlas) annual awards night ceremony took place last Friday evening in the James O’Donoghue Sports Hall. A wide spectrum of achievements were recognised on the night with awards for:- Full Attendance, Academic Excellence, Sport, Music, Construction and Art.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr Theo Lloyd (Senior Year Head.). Students & parents were addressed by the school’s Principal Mr Tiernan O’Donnell, who wished those undertaking examinations and who were leaving the school, the very best in their future chosen careers.

The Guest speaker for the evening was former past pupil and local entrepreneur, Mr. Kevin Cummins, who, in an impressive and inspirational speech, stressed at length the importance of self-belief, hard work and resilience, encouraging each of the students to follow their dreams and ambitions.

Also in attendance was His Grace Archbishop Dermot Clifford Ph.D.,D.D. who presented some of the prizes, together with Mr D.J. Darcy (President of TCU.) and Mr Donal Scannell (CEO TCU.).

Thurles CBS Award Winners

Athletics: Killian O Dwyer was named as overall “Athlete of the Year,” with Rory Purcell, Ronan Heffernan and Jack Corbett also picking up awards.

Basketball: Stephen Lyons was hailed “Player of the Year.”

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Canvassing Intensifies Ahead Of EU Fiscal Treaty

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he is confident of a Yes vote in the referendum, but said voter turnout would be crucial to the result and that complacency would be the enemy of this referenda.

Canvassing in Thurles on Thursday last, Mr Kenny said the Government would continue its level of activity explaining what the treaty was about in the run-up to Thursday’s vote. An Taoiseach said the result would come down to a question of whether people vote based on anger or on well informed sound sense and he hoped very much that the latter would prevail.

The slide show hereunder shows some of over 150 Thurles people from local business, the farming community and voluntary sectors, who attended to hear An Taoiseach Enda Kenny address a business breakfast briefing, on Thursday morning last.

The results of the latest opinion poll, published in all leading Sunday newspapers today, will no doubt be a boost to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny as he prepares to address the nation on the referendum later. The poll shows 39% voting Yes, which is up 9%. The No vote stands at 30%, up 7% and 31% of voters either don’t know or won’t vote, down 16%.

When undecided voters are taken out, the Yes side jumps to 57% while the No side shows 43%. Business leaders here in Thurles & Tipperary, including members of the various farming communities, have called for a Yes vote on Thursday, when voters exercise their democratic right to vote.