Thurles Information

Unemployment Continues To Rise In Tipperary

Dole Queue

The towns of Thurles and Roscrea both recorded very slight decreases on the live register in North Tipperary between February and March last. The live register figure have fallen from 3,006 to 2,995 in the case of Thurles and from 1,455 to 1,450 in the case of Roscrea.

However the number of people signing on at Nenagh Social Welfare Office have now passed the 3,000 mark and now stand at 3,021 up from 2,996 at the end of February last .

According to updated figures from the Central Statistics Office, there are now a total of 7,466 names on the live register in North Tipperary, and the March overall totals represents a slight increase from the February figure of 7,457.

There are now 1,475 people under the age of 25 signing on in North Tipperary.

Overall county totals show that 4,648 unemployed are male, while the female figure has now increased to 2,818, with three times as many women as men being added to the live register over the last month.

The National Total at the end of March stands at 442,000, or an increase of 1,100 from February, having fallen in the previous two months.

Ursuline Secondary School Thurles Feis Ceoil Award

ESB Electric Ireland 2011 Feis Ceoil

Congratulations to the Ursuline Secondary School,Thurles, Co Tipperary on achieving 2nd place in the coveted ‘Alice Yoakley Quirk Cup ‘ at the ESB Electric Ireland 2011 Feis Ceoil.

The School was just narrowly pipped to the post by the Belvedere College Choir who took 1st place this year.

Feis Ceoil was set up in 1896, by the chief representatives of music activity in Ireland under the guidance of Dr. Annie Patterson, to counteract the neglect of music development in this country. Feis Ceoil Association strives to promote excellence in the learning and performance of music across all ages, levels and disciplines. They run an annual festival before Easter each year in Dublin, which comprises almost 200 competitions, attracting over 4,000 participants from all over the island of Ireland. They also run non-competitive events and concerts throughout the rest of the year.

Feis Ceoil occupies a unique position in Irish life. It is an essential element in the musical infrastructure of the country and has made an immeasurable contribution to the study and cultivation of music at all levels in Ireland.

The Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, has a long tradition of Music in the School and their Music Department has grown and developed over the years, to meet the individual needs of each student. Students have a wide range of instruments to choose from and because the standard of instrumental music is very high, they have recently invested in a Grand Piano.

Tuition is also available in the following instruments:

Strings:- Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp, Guitar and Double Bass.

Wind:- Oboe, Flute, Bassoon, Saxophone and Clarinet.

Percussion:– Timpani, Cymbals, Wood Block and Triangle.

Brass:– Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn and Tuba

To the students and teaching staff at the Ursuline School, go the towns heartiest congratulations and wishes for continued success.

Thurles Musical Society 60th Anniversary Me & My Girl

Jonathan Gleeson as Bill Snibson & Michelle O'Connell as Sally Smith in 'Me and My Girl,' Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday April 12th - 16th inc. (Photo G.Willoughby)

This morning Thurles Musical Societies PRO and well known Tipperary Star reporter Mr Noel Dundon takes us ‘behind the curtain ‘ to report on the Societies latest production – the hit West End show ‘Me and My Girl.’

This wonderful toe tapping show, in conjunction with the Anner Hotel, runs in the Premier Hall, here in Thurles from Tuesday April 12th – 16th and marks the 60 anniversary of the Society’s first performance back in 1951 – The Yeomen of the Guard.

This is the first time that T.M.S. has embarked upon this musical, with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay.

The Musical ‘Scene ‘ is set in the late 1930’s in the locations of Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth.

The musical had a most successful original run in the West End in 1937 and very successful revivals in both London and New York in the 1980s. The show stopper, “The Lambeth Walk,” was the subject of a news story in The Times of October 1938 with the headline: “While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances — to The Lambeth Walk.”

Indeed, while the Lambeth Walk might well be the main musical number from this light, entertaining show, others are equally as well known and include – Leaning on a Lamppost, The Family Solicitor, The Sun Has Got His Hat On, Once You lose Your Heart and Love Makes the World Go Round, to mention just a few.

Thurles welcomes Tralee native and Rose of Tralee Festival Director, Mr Oliver Hurley as Director of this show – his first venture with T.M.S., although he has a wealth of experience with other musical theatre groups throughout Munster. Oliver is joined in production by pianist Mary Rose McNally as Musical Director, Mary Butler as Assistant to Director, and Trisha McElgunn who takes on the roll as the companies Dance Captain. Tommy Sweeney and Rita Loughnane complete the production team as Stage Manager and Stage Director, while Eidin Sweeney is Costume Mistress. Lighting will be by Gerry Taylor with Star Systems undertaking sound and video production.

The Tale Behind The Musical
It’s 1937 and the Earl of Hareford has died leaving no apparent heir. The family members have gathered, eagerly waiting to hear how the estate will be split. However the family solicitor, Parchester (Geraint Fyler), announces that he has tracked down an heir to both the family fortune and the family seat of Hareford Hall. The unlikely beneficiary is one Bill Snibson (Jonathan Gleeson), a barrow boy from Lambeth.

Maria, Duchess of Dene (Maria McElgunn), decides to turn Bill into a gentleman worthy of the Hareford name, despite the advice of Sir John Tremayne (Brendan Bailey) to simply pay him off. She also tries to get him to marry Lady Jaqueline (Cathy Keane), who is so eager for money and the title, that she breaks off her engagement to the Hon. Gerald Bolingbroke (John Butler). Despite Lady Jaqueline’s advances, Bill is determined to marry his sweetheart from Lambeth, Sally Smith (Michelle O’Connell).

Sally does not want to ruin Bill’s chances and tries to convince Bill that he is too good for her, despite loving him deeply. She even resorts to gatecrashing his party with a group of raucous Lambeth locals. However, everyone joins in and does The Lambeth Walk.

Despite having won over Sir John, Sally decides to leave Hareford and return to Lambeth. After drowning their sorrows, Bill and Sir John hatch separate plans to bring her back. Bill travels to Lambeth to find her but returns empty handed as Sir John has packed her off to a certain speech professor he knows!

The Duchess decides to throw another party but Bill is not in the mood. The Duchess begins to realise how much Sally means to him and, in a reflective mood, accepts Sir John’s proposal of marriage. Jaqueline also recognises her folly and returns to Gerald. With the party in full swing, Sally makes a second uninvited entrance and, displaying her new-found elegance, shows she is a suitable wife for an Earl.

Nothing like a happy ending to lift a little of the woes we are currently going through. Other notable parts are Lord and Lady Battersby ( Pat Hayes and Breda Byrne), Bob Barkin (Finbarr Shelly), Major Domo (Barry Cagney), Constable (Gary Dempsey), Maids (Katie Lawless and Joan Farrell), Charles (Barry Derby) and Lord Jasper (Brian Gleeson).

The opening night of the show is being run as a Charity Night in conjunction with Thurles Lions Club, with the proceeds going towards the Club’s 2011 nominated charity, namely the Order of Malta Building Fund.

Tickets for this special show cost €20 and include a cheese and wine reception along with a number of other surprises.

For the remaining nights, tickets cost just €15 and €12 for adults in the balcony and downstairs; and €10 and €8 concessions for children.

Other concessions are also available by contacting:
Booking Office in Hickey’s Pharmacy in Liberty Square, Thurles, Tel: 0504- 21423. Get in there and book now folks, to be sure of a guaranteed seat and a most enjoyable night out.

Note Your Calender: Show runs Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday April 12th – 16th inc.

Thurles.Info, on behalf of Co Tipperary residents everywhere, would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Thurles Musical Society for not just giving us 60 wonderful years of top quality entertainment, but also for their huge achievements in fostering the love of music and stage craft, down through the years here in the Cathedral Town.

Happy Birthday ‘Thurles Musical Society’ and here’s to 60 more successful and enjoyable years .

National Chamber Choir Comes To Tipperary

National Chamber Choir of Ireland

Hot on the heels of their performances at the White House for last St Patrick’s Day, the National Chamber Choir of Ireland now head for Andrew Lloyd Webber country, to Fethard, Co Tipperary, performing ‘Tristes Tropes ‘ with Artistic Director Paul Hillier at the helm.

‘Tristes Tropes ‘ is a interesting programme of repertoire, beginning from the 15th century, covering right up to the present day, including works by Dufay, Josquin and Senfl alongside the music of Kurt Weill, Andriessen and Gorecki.

In addition, the National Chamber Choir will also perform the European premiere of Credo-Ani-Ma’amin by Israeli-American composer Shulamit Ran as part of this programme.

The Abymill Theatre Seats 150 people, providing a venue not only for plays and musicals but also a film club, folk club, school plays and shows, variety shows, classical musical ensembles, large meetings and lectures.

The Choir looks forward to performing in Fethard for the very first time on Friday April 8th next at 8.00pm here in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, Co Tipperary.

Tickets: Cost just €15/€13 (conc) for this premier event.
Bookings: Contact Tel No’s: 052-6131254 or 087-1604260.
Location: Beside the Augustinian Abbey and previously known as Coffey’s Mill.

Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher Missing Against Wexford

Patrick 'Bonner' Maher

All-Ireland senior hurling champions Tipperary have been dealt a serious blow with the news of a fresh injury.

Star forward Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher has now been ruled out of action for a month with a broken bone in his hand.

Maher, who scored four valuable points against Galway in last Sunday’s Allianz NHL victory, appears to have damaged his right hand in the closing stages of the match.

The severity of this injury has now been confirmed by medical scans yesterday.

The 21 year old star performer, Maher, will now miss Tipperary’s final National Hurling League outing against Wexford at Semple Stadium on Sunday week, April 17.

Maher however is not expected to be missing for Tipperary’s Munster SHC quarter-final against Cork at Semple Stadium on May 29.

Meanwhile, the 2010 Hurler of the Year and two-time All-Ireland SHC medallist, Lar Corbett, has opened his new business venture at Coppinger’s Bar, 4 Parnell Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Lar Corbett’s Bar will be officially opened by former Tipperary senior hurling team manager Liam Sheedy at 8.00pm on Saturday, April 16th next, with Paul Collins of Today FM acting as MC on the night.

Lar Corbett acknowledged that “These are difficult economic times for everybody. I’m not the only player on the Tipperary panel currently out of work. But there is an opportunity here to start a new business with Kevin Coppinger and it means that I can stay at home and continue to hurl for my club Thurles Sarsfields and for Tipperary.”