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Losing the Grand Slam to Ireland was not bad enough, now England must suffer the blushes brought about by a leaked YouTube video, not to mention the thousands of unwanted commemorative T-shirts, (I said don’t mention the T-shirts) following Saturday’s 24-8 defeat at Aviva Stadium Lansdowne Road.
England’s official kit suppliers Nike produced a special video under the title ‘Grand Slam Champions 2011,‘ which features a montage of Benjamin Foden, (Thurles born Una Healy of The Saturday’s Girl Band fame must be laughing) Toby Flood and Chris Ashton, together with other players, all living the dream in expectation of completing their first Six Nations clean sweep since 2003.
Much to the delight of Tipperary and Munster staunch rugby supporters, it also emerged that Nike had printed 5,000 special limited edition T-shirts, which were due to go on sale after the final whistle at Waterloo, Kings Cross, Euston and Charing Cross train stations.
Still one of these T-shirts could become a collectors item in the future.
Despite their Grand Slam failure, England still claimed the Six Nations championship but find themselves behind Ireland in the world rankings.
“Never count the chickens until they are hatched” I believe is the appropriate quote.
The second and final report of the Moriarty Tribunal has been finally published.
This inquiry was initially established in 1997, to examine the financial affairs of former Taoiseach Charles James ‘Charlie’ Haughey and former Fine Gael Communications Minister and newly elected Tipperary North Constituency Independent TD, Michael Lowry.
 Deputy M. Lowry This newly published final report (For Report click Here) details the investigation into possible links between businessman Denis O’Brien and Michael Lowry.
Ireland’s second mobile phone licence was awarded to Denis O’Brien’s company Digifone in 1995. Mr Lowry was then Communications Minister when the controversial mobile phone licence was granted.
The report states that it is ‘beyond doubt ‘ that Michael Lowry imparted substantive information to Denis O’Brien which was ‘of significant value and assistance to him (Denis O’Brien) in securing the licence.‘
The report refers to Mr Lowry’s ‘cynical and venal abuse of office,‘ his ‘brazen refusal ‘ to acknowledge the ‘impropriety ‘ of his financial arrangements with Mr O’Brien and Mr Ben Dunne, and his ‘contemptuous disregard ‘ for his taxation obligations.
The report is also damning of evidence given by the North Tipp Deputy to the Tribunal, stating that his evidence was ‘formulaic, and entirely inconsistent and at variance with evidence.‘
Deputy Michael Lowry stated in a response, that he totally rejects the tenure of the Moriarty report. “His report is factually wrong and deliberately misleading. Moriarty has outrageously abused the Tribunal’s ability to form opinions which are not substantiated by evidence or fact.”
In a statement following this latest publication Mr Denis O’Brien said, “I wish to state in the most categoric terms, once again, that I never made any payment to Michael Lowry in his capacity as a government minister, as a public representative or as a private citizen. I believe it is unprecedented in the history of this country that a High Court judge would make such fundamental errors which went to the heart of the credibility and integrity of a Tribunal process.”
Fine Gael Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stated, “This is a report that deserves serious analysis and it will get that from this Government.” He said, “This is a matter of grave importance with major implications for the State and for the taxpayer.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil a short time ago that members of of his Party would be available to answer questions in the Dáil, regarding any part they played in the awarding of the mobile phone licence to Esat Digiphone, in 1995.
This reports findings now raises profound questions, regarding Mr Michael Lowry’s suitability to remain in public Office.
 Casino Gambling It was only a matter of time I suppose, but today, ‘The Irish Times‘ newspaper brings us news of a proposal for yet another €300 million Super-Casino, this time on the banks of the river Liffey.
Treasury Holdings, whose loans are presently in Nama have submitted a proposal to the Department of Justice, in conjunction with an international casino operator.
Treasury Holdings founding shareholder, Johnny Ronan, dubbed The Buccaneer, went into business in his twenties with his father, who started out as a pig-trader in Tipperary and went on to work in property. Ronan then studied accounting in Waterford Institute of Technology and Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Treasury Holdings state that its Spencer Dock site near Dublin Port is an “ideal location” for the construction of a large-scale Casino as part of a regeneration of this area.
Rather like the Tipperary Venue, it also claims the development could attract three million visitors a year and create 2,200 new jobs in the Dublin region. The venture could boost spending in the local economy by up to €75 million a year and generate more than €40 million per year in gaming taxes.
According to the submission, a large-scale casino, including hotel, convention and spa facilities, along with restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and a bowling alley, (No Racecourse) would be 50,000-75,000 sq metres in size and would cost between €250 million and €300 million to develop.
The proposal states, that for a large scale Casino to be financially viable, there must be sufficient demand. “This generally means locating the Casino Resort in or near population centres, where it is easily accessible by local customers and tourists.”
The submission also claims the development would employ 1,750 people as well as creating 450 jobs in tourism. About 2,000 jobs in construction would be created over a 2½-year period.
The name of this company has been withheld on the documents released on grounds of commercial sensitivity.
It rejects the contention that problem gambling will rise, with the introduction of such large-scale casinos.
Meanwhile a planning decision on the Tipperary Venue is expected very shortly.
Deputy Noel Coonan has warmly greeted the news that US President Barack Obama will visit Moneygall in May and highly complimented the efforts of Rev Canon Stephen Neill and the residents of Moneygall, in helping to secure this visit.
The local Fine Gael TD spoke with Taoiseach Enda Kenny prior to his St. Patrick’s Day trip to the US last week and hand delivered documents, from Canon Neill, to the Taoiseach which were then taken to America.
 School & Templeharry Church, where US President Barack Obama's ancestors attended. These same documents outlined the President’s strong ancestral history in Moneygall ( Village name means ‘shrubbery of the foreigners.’) and Deputy Coonan said he is pleased that his efforts have further assisted this historical visit to come to fruition.
Deputy Coonan stated: “I look forward with great excitement to President Obama’s visit, which will also be a huge tourism boost to this area. The people of Moneygall have shown great patience, good will and dedication to ensure that this visit materialises and those same traits will be fully recognised when President Obama comes to our constituency in May next. It will be indeed a momentous and uplifting occasion for our constituency.”
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The picturesque village of Clonoulty,Thurles, in Tipperary, is situated in the Golden Vale, latter the richest farm land in Europe. To the casual passing tourist it is just another Irish rural village, displaying very great civic pride, through its well kept appearance.
The village gains “National Prominence” each year when it, together with it’s sister village Rossmore, becomes host to the International Miss Macra Festival, latter which this year celebrates it’s 40th birthday. However tourists take note; there is more to the village of Clonoulty than meets the eye, as my tale will tell.
From a sporting perspective, this area has always been a hive of GAA activity and possibly therefore few are aware of its associations with past Rugby glory, its contribution to World leadership or even it’s British Royal Family connection.
Now with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II due to make her first State visit to Ireland, Thurles, her ancestral home and Clonoulty are both being focused on by Urban District Councillors and County Councillors, anxious to make a good impression and hoping to take full advantage of the much needed tourism that will be generated by Her Majesties visit. While we are aware of her Thurles connections, many may not be aware of the ‘Clonoulty Connection’.
The Clonoulty Connection
Detailed in the Census of 1911 the residents of Srahavarrella, now the home of Thomas Heffernan, in Clonoulty West, Tipperary are as follows:-
Pike William, (Church of Ireland Clergyman.) age 48, Husband and head of the family and a native of Co Mayo.
Harriett Florence Pike (Maiden Name, Surridge.) aged 34, Wife and a native of Dublin City.
Margaret Walker Pike, aged 8, a daughter, born in Co Kilkenny.
Andrew Hamilton Pike, aged 7, a son born in Co Kilkenny.
Theodore Ouseley Pike, aged 6, a son born in Co Tipperary.
Robert Bonsall Pike, aged 5, a Son, born in Co Tipperary.
Victor Joseph Pike, aged 3, a Son, born in Co Tipperary.
Charlotte Florence Pike, aged 2, a Daughter, born in Co Tipperary.
John Surridge Pike, aged 1, a Son, born in Co Tipperary.
From this information we can glean the villages Irish Rugby Football connection, a world leader and even a British Royal Family connection.
Victor Joseph Pike
Victor Joseph Pike, born July 1, 1907, Clonoulty, Thurles and died February 25, 1986, in Salisbury aged 78 years and 239 days.
Played Rugby for Ireland between 1931-1934, including in the Five Nations at Twickenham, where he made his Ireland Test debuts on the 14th February 1931, in the position of Hooker.
The Irish Team that day were as follows: – SH-Mark Sugden (Capt), FB – Major Egan, W- Edward Lightfoot, C– Eugene Davy, C – Laurence McMahon,W- Joxer Arigho, FH-Paul Murray, H-Victor Pike, N8-Hal Withers, L– Jimmy Farrell, N8– Jack Siggins, L– Jack Russell, F- Noel Murphy, N8– George Beamish, F- James Clinch. Match attendance on the day was 60,000
Victor Joseph Pike CBE CB, went on to become the Anglican Bishop of Sherborne,in the third quarter of the 20th century. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and ordained in 1930. His ministry began with a curacy at Dundrum, Dublin, after which he began a long spell as a Chaplain to the Forces, rising eventually to become Chaplain-General.
His Military précis reads:- The Reverend Canon Victor Joseph PIKE,C.B.E., Q.H.C., Chaplain-General to the Forces (53409), Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS: Ven. Archdeacon V. J. PIKE, C.B., C.B.E., D.D. (53409) Chapln. to the Forces 1st Cl. Having attained the age limit ceases to belong to the Res.of Offrs., 1st Jul. 1967, retaining the rank of Chapln. to the Forces 1st Cl.
After his death a trust was set up to assist in the education of sons and daughters of Protestant clergy.
Continue reading Clonoulty Tipperary: Rugby, Queen Elisabeth II & Miss Macra Festival
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