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Leaving Cert – You Will All Be Just Fine

Tomorrow is D Day for thousands of students the length and breadth of this country as they prepare to sit English Paper 1 in both the Junior and Leaving Certificate.

It’s a very stressful “make or break” time for every student involved and on behalf of everyone here at Thurles.info, we want to wish each and every one of you out there, the very best of luck in your examinations.

We all know that participation in exams can be pretty depressing for all involved, so hopefully this video hereunder of 2FM DJ Jim – Jim’s ‘I Got Me Leaving’ will help you crack a smile.

It’s the tune of the Black Eyed Peas Super hit ‘I Got a Feeling’ set to new Leaving Cert Lyrics, to which I think we can all relate.

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Best of luck to the Junior and Leaving Certs of 2010. I got a feeling your all going to be just fine.

Remember, if things do not work out, you can always take up a career in politics. It is still one of the few jobs where educational qualifications and C.V’s. are not necessarily required.

Planning On Affecting The Lives Of Others This Weekend?

Another week gone bye, another unacceptable number of road death, another number of family and close friends in shock and mourning loved ones, another local community speechless and brought to tears.

This coming bank holiday there is every chance you will possibly be responsible for all of the above, because you have refused to embrace life and all it has to offer, because you wanted to impress friends, because you believe your vehicle is a Ferrari and you are Fernando Alonso taking part in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The video hereunder is one of the most moving commercials I have ever seen, yet not a word is spoken and it says just about everything needed to be said, to those out motoring this coming weekend.

This video does not attempt to scare, there is no blood or mashed metal, but hopefully it will make you think and be inspired with regard to your motoring behaviour.

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A total of 28 people have died, 50 have been seriously injured and an average of 1500 close relatives and friend’s lives have been ruined, in bank holiday crashes since 2005.

Heed the speed- Arrive Alive.”

Weekend Of Laughter In The Source Thurles

Economic Recession, Water Charges, Mortgage Rate Rises, and with all that depression about, what we all need is a good laugh. This ‘sure cure remedy’ is ready and available this weekend here at The Source Theatre, in Thurles.

God’s Official

To some people, football is a matter of life and death, to others it is even far more important than that great love of the sport itself.

Two football fans have just seen their side relegated after a referee disallowed a perfectly good goal and allowed the opposition to go down to the other end and score. This can be just one step to many, however the referee’s decision is final…or is it?

Two lads, Degsy and Cliff, decide to take matters into their own hands and kidnap the referee to force him to change his mind on this all important goal, with hilarious and the most unexpected consequences. This is a madcap comedy starring legendary Irish actor, Mick Lally, George McMahon of Mondo and Fair City fame and rising star Edwin Mullane.

Kidnapping a referee (and a Christian referee at that, hence the title) may seem a corny plot for a play. After all, we have all wanted to do something similar after a certain clash with a recent French team, but this script is a tremendous piece of writing, and superbly acted. Ostensibly about football, God’s Official is a powerful play about passion and commitment, a welcome relief in these dark and cynical times.

The play was a massive hit at the Edinburgh Festival winning the Spirit of the Fringe Award.  Now, with Irish men taking up the roles, it’s on a nationwide tour set to amuse and delight soccer fans up and down the country.

So for all you football fanatics and soccer widows, why not make a night of it together, with a show that promises to entertain everybody.

God’s Official will appear at The Source Arts Centre for one night only on Fri next the 23rd April. Time 8.00pm.

Kevin McAleer

On Saturday night the 24th of April, complete your therapy with a dose of the veteran County Tyrone stand up comedian Kevin McAleer who will be in attendance at the The Source Arts Centre also at 8.00pm.

Is it possible for a comedian to be too Irish I ask?  No, not when Kevin McAleer oozes that whimsical spirit of Flann O’Brien with almost every deadpan utterance. “Sure you couldn’t have a famine in Ireland now, people would just go and eat out.”

It’s nearly twenty years since Kevin lit up our hearts and the screens of our television sets with his psychedelic folk tales of Kojak, Dana, Gary Glitter, the Woman and the Washing Powder, Closedown, and dozens of other cultural icons too numerous to mention.

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McAleer has been hugely influential in comedy circles for a whole generation of comedians, not just in here in Ireland, but in the UK as well. Our own David O’Doherty, for example, tells how he decided to become a comedian after seeing the original Nighthawks show in the Olympia back in the middle of the Nineties.

His owlish storytelling occasionally rambles down a funny side, not often identified by the average man, and then finds it way back in a similar vein, leading you always into continuous bouts of uncontrollable laughter.  His grossly understated absurdism’s will have you in stitches and most certainly he deserves to demonstrate his unique and talented wares to packed audiences.

This show is a must for economic depression sufferers.

To book for one or both shows call 0504-90204 or visit the Source website www.thesourceartscentre.ie

Tickets to both shows on both nights will cost you less than a trip to your doctor and no trip to the chemist for that medication needed later.

Irish Girl Guides – Irelands Future Is Safe

Attending the gathering of four hundred Irish, American and Australian Girl Guides, which included their Leaders, here in ‘The Dome’, Semple Stadium, on Saturday last, set me to thinking.

My thoughts, (a very dangerous practice many would forecast) were focused on the major event in progress.

Four hundred young people were all lodged in less than three acre of activity space and despite an abundance of Fruit Drinks in plastic containers, Twix Bars, Mars Bars, Lolly Pops, Chewing Gum, Sweets and Treats of all make, manner and description, not one solitary paper wrapper or plastic bottle could be found carelessly dumped on the ground during the afternoon events. No one shouted or verbally argued, pushed, shoved or were disrespectful to those leaders who from time to time issued commands. Questions were asked and fully answered in a pleasant civil manner, silence was fully observed when necessary, without any request from authority, when leaders and guests spoke publicly.  Contentment, enjoyment, fun, a thirst for knowledge, civility and wisdom was everywhere in abundance, yet these Girl Guides were not hand picked and came from all denominations and varying social backgrounds, to attend this event.

What was the secret to achieving this harmonious setting I pondered?

Irish Girl Guides Launch New Logo & Uniforms from George Willoughby.

Afraid to ask the question, I watched in the full expectation that all would be self revealing. Later, leaving the event, close to the close of business, the answer was clear as crystal.

To my mind, it was a successful combination of what most of us have now sacrificed on the alter of that most powerful and insatiable deity, the god of greed, during that short period, known as the ‘Celtic Tiger Era’.  Their secret was a mixed bag of goodies they collected and now carried with them, each item clearly wrapped and labeled. The labels bore the words ‘share’, ‘team work’, ‘practical education’, ‘self discipline’ and ‘respect for fellow beings’.

Having watched these bright inquisitive young people, I left with the feeling that despite the current absence of honest leadership in this county and country, the future of Tipperary and Ireland was in safe hands, thanks to the mighty work and effort, much of it unpaid, by this worthy organisation, who gave so unselfishly of their time and vast experience. Well done.

Video Credits: B.Corbett, G.Willoughby

St Patricks Day Live from Thurles Co Tipperary

Weather conditions for the annual St.Patrick’s Day Parade 2010 in Thurles were excellent this year and this led to a great atmosphere here in Liberty Square.

This was the biggest and best parade, in living memory, to be held in Thurles, with a record 60 entries, each filled with great imagination, colour and a wide variety of topic.  Over €3,000 in cash, prizes and medals were handed out on the day.
The parade was viewed from the reviewing stand by local representatives from the Army, Police, all Religious and Political sectors and the Mayor of Thurles Mrs Evelyn Nevin.
The Parade was officially started by His Grace Dr. Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and the commentary for this event was provided by Thomas Gleeson, Committee Chairman.

Over 100 business people, clubs, schools, organisations and individuals were involved in the overall celebrations and the organising committee extended a big thank you to all who assisted in any way.

Entertainment commenced in Liberty Square at 2.30pm with excellent music supplied by “The Moynihan Brothers“. Colourful street stilt-walkers from Cork Circus, who appeared representing the four elements, “Air, Fire, Earth and Water”,  entertaining both young and old assembled.  Other entertainers included Jack Flash (Juggler), Aussie the Emu, Hoppy and Presto, and Face Painters and a Balloon Modellers were also very much evidence, adding greatly to the parade’s overall huge success and enjoyment for the huge crowd assembled.

Here is a small piece of live video footage to give our readers just a small taste of the day’s enjoyment.

The Rosegreen Players won the prize for the best float with their entry “Balls at the Dail” with  Trevor Sergeant and Willie O’Dea as the ugly sisters while Mary Harney played the part of Cinderella, and all having a ball. (Who said Mary was in New Zealand?)

The parade included a total of 9 bands, a record for a St. Paddy’s Parade in Thurles.

St Patrick’s Day 2010 Parade Winners in Thurles

Overall Winner: Darmody’s Bar Littleton (Potholes in Ireland)
Best School Entry: Upperchurch National School
Best Traditional Irish Entry: Clonoulty and Rossmore Vintage Club
Best Float: Rosegreen Players (Balls in the Dail)
Best Float Runner Up: Tipperary Institute (Pacman & The Mario Bros)
Best Old Time and Vintage: Thurles & District Vintage Club
Best Local Club: Stakelums Hardware Social Club  (Snow White)
Best Marching Band: Blarney Brass and Reed Band
Best Float Display Cabra Wetlands
Best Walking Group: The Special Olympics
Best Dressed windows 1st: Sammons Chemist Shop, 2nd: Virgo Liberty Square, 3rd: The Pike Take-away
Other Prize Winners were:-
Paddy Oz Style: Catch your own Leprechaun: World Taekwondo: Two to Avoid Potholes:The Order of Malta:Holycross Beavers: Thurles Gaels: Durlas Og: Thurles Brownies: Save the Animals:1932 Road Roller.
The youngest prize winner was Jordon Cullen, aged eight, with his creative theme “Save and Protect Wild Life.”

The committee would like to thank the following businesses for their sponsorship:-
Bookworm, Dew Valley Foods, Thurles Sarsfields, Dunnes Stores, Top Oil, Cleary’s Toys and Nursery, Pat Hayes (The Arch Bar and HQ Nightclub), and Thurles and Tipperary Institute.

Video Credits: B.Corbett, G.Willoughby