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HRI Adopt Wait And See Attitude To Two-Mile-Borris Racecourse Project

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) intend to adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude towards plans for building a new racecourse at Two-Mile-Borris, as part of a €460 million Casino project, known as the Tipperary Venue. North Tipperary County Council last week approved plans for this controversial project, which would include a 6,000-square metre casino and a 500 bedroom hotel.

Included in these plans also is a new racecourse near the North Tipperary village and project spokesman, Richard Quirke, said that getting the green light to proceed with a new race track would result in the closing of the present Thurles racecourse.

But the HRI admitted last week that the idea does raise some issues for horse racing’s current ruling body. HRI chief’s including executive Brian Kavanagh have met representatives of this new business venture last year and there are tentative plans to meet again to further discuss this project.

Brian Kavanagh said recently that he was supportive of the plan’s ambitions. “They are not looking for funding and viewing the project overall, you would have to be supportive, when someone comes to you, in such circumstances, wanting to build a racecourse as is now proposed. “We will sit down with them again, but the venture does raise quite a lot of issues. We have to be supportive of such ambition but we will see what will happen,” added Mr Kavanagh.

It will all be hard for 3 greyhound tracks within a 35 mile radius of this proposed new venture to survive in the present climate in Tipperary. Thurles dog track has been upgraded and Clonmel dog track has architect drawings on display for their new track. There is a also a new dog track in Limerick and logic would indicate that at least two of these tracks would have to bow out to this new project.

Horse Racing Ireland has been under serious pressure in the past couple of years, due mainly to the present financial crisis and it’s prize money levels have been slashed with racing fixtures also cut. Matters such as the design of any future new track could also be a subject of concern for the racing body. However several high-profile racing figures appear publicly to support the new project, including trainers Edward O’Grady, Aidan O’Brien and Magnier’s Coolmore Stud.

An Taisce, the heritage body, objected to the casino proposal and could yet appeal against North Tipperary County Council’s sanctioned approval, to An Bord Pleanála.

A major change to the present gaming laws would also be required for the proposed new casino to become licenced and the results of a government review on those laws is expected soon, which if positive would possibly ensure local Independent party support for the government’s forthcoming budget.

General Michael Collins The Tipperary Connection

To say the least it was vulgar and for TV viewers who already pay a television licence fee, it was speculative to the very point of extortion. It demonstrated truly the depth to which our TV hierarchy will condescend to acquire profit, which will go to feed the salaries of very mediocre celebrity presenters and their researchers, former who publicly admit that they should qualify for pay equal to that currently enjoyed by professional footballers.

I am referring of course to the recent cheaply produced documentaries which attempted to ascertain Ireland’s greatest person. Viewers, invited to vote for their favourite candidate, were duped into being charged nine times the standard telephone rate to have their choice recorded. These cheap productions were then repeated for licence paying viewers, at least twice over the past number of weeks, again with viewers of these shows expected to pay 60c to vote by text or by calling a premium number, to register their choice for the ‘Greatest Irish Person’ in history. The rate charged was nine times the cost of texting Liveline, the radio show hosted by Joe Duffy.

Research for this programming was bad, with Biographical facts omitted in some cases. In the case of James Connolly, the foundation of the Labour Party was demeaned and in the case of the Irish revolutionary leader, Michael Collins, many important facts were suitably forgotten.

It was how they dealt with the greatest Irish man of them all, General Michael Collins, that vexed me mostly.

We here in Co.Tipperary are well versed with events at Béal na mBláth, (English Translation: Mouth of the Flowers) Co.Cork on that sad evening of August 22nd, 1922, so allow me to bring our TV hierarchy up to date.

Firstly, let me proclaim that Tipperary, as a county, has contributed more to our nations development and has more history per square mile to offer visitors, than any other county in Ireland. Regrettably, and despite no shortage of funding to those charged with marketing, we do not promote our historical assets to best tourism advantage.

When next you wend your way from Nenagh back towards Thurles, a small graveyard, which contains the fragmented ivy covered ruin of a small Norman Abbey, catches your eye, to the left and directly opposite Tyone Mill.
To most passersby, this graveyard holds little significance in today’s world of celebrities, greedy power hungry politicians, bankers and spin doctors. Yet in this small graveyard lies the body of a man who once lived in our midst, keeping a guilty secret for some 28 years and indeed, if we believe those who knew him well, regretting his actions, right up until his death in 1950.

Denis ‘Sonny’ O’Neill

The man of whom I speak is Denis ‘Sonny’ O’Neill, the man responsible for the assassination of General Michael Collins on August 22nd, 1922, during the course of that fifteen to twenty minute gun battle at Béal na mBláth.

Continue reading General Michael Collins The Tipperary Connection

X Factor’s Mary Byrne Ireland’s Answer To Shirley Bassey

Music promoter Louis Walsh has claimed an Irish contestant could win ‘The X Factor’ reality show this year. Indeed the most talented star of the show on Saturday’s programme was, without question, fifty year old Tesco worker Mary Byrne. Byrne who had wowed Simon Cowell and company at her try out in Dublin’s new Conference Centre last June by singing Welsh born Dame Shirley Bassey‘s classic ‘I Who Have Nothing ‘, convinced the world she had indeed everything, the confidence, the talent and most of all the ability to really entertain an audience.

Of course avarice again raises its ugly head with producers of the X Factor being criticised for giving too much prominence to Tesco, which has employed Mary Byrne at their Ballyfermot store for the past 11 years. She remains a Tesco employee but is currently on leave while the show is being broadcast.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, rival retailers have raised concerns over the number of references given to Tesco during segments featuring the talented singer.

Tesco have admitted sending emails to 300,000 staff reminding them of Byrne’s appearances on the show. The row comes after Tesco this year secured an exclusive deal to sell the new X Factor magazine at 2,400 UK stores.

The Tesco till operator has impressed her audience enough for bookmaker Paddy Power to make her their 6/1 favourite to win and staff here at Tesco in Thurles admit to all being very excited and fully behind her.

Our advice to all those rival retailers “Concentrate on your own businesses and get a life,” and to Mary demonstrate to all the true meaning of “Talented Celebrity”, God knows we have enough of the other sort currently parading themselves on our television screens presently.
Looks like Tesco will be short one till operator for same time.

Tipperary V Kilkenny – Five In A Row?

On Sunday, Tipperary have a chance to write themselves into history as they face Kilkenny in the final of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship at Croke Park.

So who do you think will win this years GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final?

One dedicated Tipperary female fan has absolutely no doubts as to Tipperary’s intent, as can be seen hereunder.

We at www.thurles.info wish the Tipperary Hurlers and their Management Team the very best in their endeavours against their old rivals Kilkenny.
Win or loose, thank you for a fantastic season.
We will be screaming out our support on the day and looking forward to your victorious homecoming.

Premier Rap Song Rocks Tipperary

The song Premier Rap by Johnny B and the Boogie Men is rocking the whole of Tipperary county today! The surprise hit song is all about the Tipperary hurling team and the upcoming All Ireland Hurling Final, 2010. You can check out the song below.

The band recently penned the song and have been over-whelmed with positive response to it. 2FM, TippFM are all giving the Premier Rap some great air-play. The Premier Rap song is on sale now and all profits from it are going to charity. To download the song check out Johnnyb.ie.

Great stuff lads, this song rocks!!

About The Band

The band was formed when Johnny B, a singer/songwriter, joined with a talented bunch of rockers from Cahir, Co Tipperary, “Johnny B & The Boogie Men” a hit band was formed! Johnny B was a finalist in the Clonmel National Song Contest with the song “The Arms of Achilles”. The song was released as a single in late 2007 and was received well. The Debute album “Wrestle with the Devil” , with all profits going to the Chernobyl Children’s project and the Hospice was released in January 2009 with a great launch night in Cahir House Hotel.

You can catch Johnny B and The Boogie Men on the road, in a venue near you. To find out more about the band and when they are playing next, check out their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/johnnybmakesmusic

For more information about the band and to download the song check out johnnyb.ie.

COME ON TIPP!!!

Update: Lyrics available Here