Thurles Information

Extract From ‘Irish Roadside Trifles’ Published In 1929 By T. O’Gorman.

The Angelus.

When about halfway on the high road between Dublin and Cork, I decided to have tea in the Cathedral town of Thurles and I said, “When thus refreshed, I shall think nothing of the 73 mile journey from there to the southern capital”.

These thoughts were in my mind, when a young girl on a bicycle came in the opposite direction and after looking at me, blessed herself as she was passing. “Now that’s queer” I said. “I wonder why she blessed herself; have I frightened her in any way? Would the devil by any chance have momentarily thrown his shadow over me and caused her to shelter behind the armour of that protecting sign”.
Certainly he has been busy in these parts; yonder is the mountain called by his name, (referring to the Devil’s Bit) and which so unmistakably bears his mark.
I felt anxious, and no wonder: but then I taught again on my journey, and looking at my watch I saw that the minute hand was just past the stroke of six, and I at once saw the explanation: it was the Angelus.
My hearing is not so good, and I did not hear the bell; but I have no doubt when she was passing there came floating through the air from the spire in Templemore, the sound of the evening bell, which she promptly answered by her act of homage. I was glad that the incident turned out to be so edifying, and that Satan was not playing any of his tricks.

In no place is this beautiful custom of saying the Angelus prayer more observant than in County Tipperary, and particularly in the town of Thurles, to which I was then traveling. There the great bell has a persuasive power that will not be denied. A tuneful time announces the solemn toll; and then work ceases, and heads our bared, and men’s minds are turned to the opening act in the great scheme of the redemption: when an angel visiting a house in Galilee saluted the occupant “Hail Mary”. Men at street corners drop their conversation on the scarcity of occupation and on the price of stout and tobacco, and turn their minds to the object of this heavenly visitor.
When doing business with the shopkeeper you will find that he suddenly ceases talking and when looking up to see why your question is unanswered, you will find him with bowed head saying the Angelus prayer.

Jean-François Millet’s painting of *‘The Angelus’*, completed during the summer of 1857 just after the ending of the Great Irish Great Famine *(1845-52)*. The painting’s initial title was *‘Prayer for the Potato Crop’*.

The custom is poetical and appealing; and perhaps no picture has more copies than Millet’s famous “Angelus,” (Jean-François Millet 1814–1875), where he portrays two field workers with bowed heads and clasped hands, engaged in prayer.
A copy of this picture was the subject of my contemplation when on one occasion I was waiting in a room in the palace at Thurles, and I thought it a very suitable picture for that place.
I also saw on the same occasion, outside in the back lawn, two large bells hanging on a low suspension rack over a platform of cement. It looked as if this place of honour was their reward after long service. And so it was, for only eight miles away, but hundreds of years ago, they proclaimed the Angelus hour for the peace abiding monks, who on the other side of the Suir Valley, ere the steep sides of Slieveardagh hills are reached; built their Abbey church; and there for many years those bells controlled their working and their praying hours. But disruptive days set in, and the Iconoclasts* of that time cast the bells from the belfry tower, and as things of evil, made some earth cavern or river bed their ignoble burial place. But in time their good angel brought them to the light of the day and now at Thurles, in quiet seclusion in the Cathedral shade, they faintly vibrate in sympathy with the great bells overhead.

*Iconoclasts meaning a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration and who attacks settled beliefs or institutions.

In this Cathedral the Waterford born operatic composer William Vincent Wallace spent a time as organist. And falling under the influence of the Angelus, he introduced into his opera Maritana, the beautiful Angelus scene, where the chorus, as Spanish peasants sing, so appealingly, the words: “See us kneel and hear us pray”. The Spanish are as faithful to the Angelus call as we Irish, and this is but natural; for where we not the same people as one time? Was it not from the sunny lands of Spain that the proud Milesians set sail in their good ships to this, their Isle of Destiny, to use a new combination of Moore’s well-known words. And though the more northern climate may have changed us somewhat, yes in fundamentals we are like our Spanish cousins and particularly in our loyalty to the Angelus bell.

While the bells of Thurles have this compelling power, the Cathedral has a mysterious influence; for as one enters one beholds emerging out of the gloom, pierced by stained glass rays a magic structure. Gently the gloomy veil rolls off and then come into view pillars and many arches; the far distant double-sided altar circled by the spacious Ambulator; the side altars with their splendid statues; and last, the vaulted covering overhead. The Cathedral, as it were, unveils itself for each visitor, comes forth to meet one, inviting you to stay and pray. This is the result of the peculiar light in the place; just that mixture of daylight and gloom which gives a vagueness that is associated with the idea of mystery and beauty.

The builders of the Thurles Cathedral, understanding the value of this, and seeing its effect in a church in Italy, wisely decided to reproduce it in Thurles by copying the Italian Church. And crowning their work, they hung in the lofty campanile the splendid bells, whose brass tongues persistently and untiringly compel men’s minds to ponder on the Joyful Mystery of the Annunciation.

Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel.

Lyrics and Vocals: American singer-songwriter, the late John Townes Van Zandt, (1944-1997).

The lyrics of a song can be sometimes difficult to interpret, and never more so than the lyrics of the song “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel”.
Personally, I believe “Miss Carousal” represents uncontrolled substance abuse and the author, Townes Van Zandt, is personifying his relationship with her. During much of Van Zandt’s own personal life he suffered from drug addiction and alcoholism. His singing tours saw him performing at various recognised disreputable public houses; while residing in cheap motel rooms, or, as in the 1970’s living in a simple shack, devoid of electricity or a telephone.
The lyrics indicate that he possibly wants to quit his addiction, but he keeps being pulled back, making it seem like same addiction needs him. He possibly hopes for the day, sometime in the future, when he can fully control his addiction and not be totally at its mercy. Lines in his lyrics, appears to indicate this “You own his legs but his mind is free. Only you can tell, Miss Carousel, How long will he be crawling?”

Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel.

Well the drunken clown’s still hanging round,
But it’s plain the laughter’s all died down.
The tears you tried so hard to hide are flowin’.
A blind man with his knife in hand,
Has convinced himself that he understands,
I wish him well, Miss Carousel,
But I gotta be a-goin’.

Chorus.
Won’t you come and get me when,
You’re sure that you don’t need me then.
I stand outside your window,
And proudly call your name.

Well the ladies been told that all the gold,
Is worth so much it can’t be sold,
No time to weep she’ll need her sleep tomorrow.
When she carries her face to the market place,
And bets it on the opening race,
She can ring her bells, Miss Carousel,
But her singing brings me sorrow.

Repeat Chorus.

Well it’s always done every mother’s son,
Is shown that grown men never run,
And so they fight with all the might inside them.
When the battle’s been fought and they all been taught,
That the trick is just not being caught,
Will you give them hell, Miss Carousel,
When they’re begging you to hide them.

Repeat Chorus.

When the need arose your eyes fell closed,
You clamped your fingers round your nose,
Would you say that’s any way to judge him.
Well you haven’t got the authority,
To kill him in the first degree,
But would you feel compelled, Miss Carousel,
If you have something to begrudge him.

On a velvet beach far beneath the reach,
Of those that come to pry and preach,
The natural man who tries to stand is fallin.
How long will it be before he sees,
You own his legs but his mind is free.
Only you can tell, Miss Carousel,
How long will he be crawling?

Repeat Chorus.

The castle walls has grown so tall,
Seem there ain’t no hope at all,
To reach the top even though you stop for breathin’.
But I ain’t gonna try to make you cry,
The tear drops couldn’t find your eye,
It’s all been swell, Miss Carousel,
But the time has come for leavin’.

Repeat Chorus.

END.

Can A “Blow- In” Be Ever One Of Us?

A story from the pen Of Author & Poet Tom Ryan, who calls for the immediate setting up of a Government Department for ‘Blow-ins’.
Tom ironically points out, tongue in cheek, that we have a Department for Foreign Affairs for Foreigners; some sort of Department of Internal Affairs for those residing here at home, but divil a Department for those unfortunate craythurs, better known in communities as ‘blow-ins’.

We invite you to read on.

One of the most pathetic of rural institutions is that enigmatic personage known euphemistically as a ‘blow-in’.
I have spent the greater portion of my life attempting to define and rationalise the character of both the ‘blow-in’ and the people with whom he associates, the ‘Ould Stock’.

Firstly, the ‘blow-in’ is a citizen of no mean city and, presumably, of no good one either. Indeed, in retrospect, he is perhaps a tale of two cities, the one in which he was born and the other in which he is now a dark stranger, coming to live among natives.
He is an eternal wanderer, a socially-acceptable rambler, and his heart is restless. For he will never receive acceptance in his adopted abode, as in the manner of the native. After a certain period away from home, he will become a ‘blow-in’, within the confines of his own parish. Which or whether, he is a sorry loser.

Now, why the ‘blow-in’ should be such a slighted dignitary I do not know. But slighted he is. And I have known a wretch to devote some forty years of his time and talents to a parish, only to hear at his graveside: “Arrah, he was a ‘blow-in’, the craythur, but sure we will not hold that against the poor divil now.”
By the same token, I have heard a convicted blaggard righteously defended on the grounds that he was surely led astray by the ‘blow-ins’ of the parish, who should never have been allowed to set foot on native soil in the first place.
I have since learned that all goodness and virtue and graciousness is in the natives, and that every evil is inherent in the heart of a ‘blow-in’.

There is no middle course, and he, who would attempt to establish such a compromise is in dire danger of being found hanged in the haggard or worse still, of being sent to Coventry, like the very “blow-in” himself.

It is indeed, a serious matter, and little, if anything, is being done to remedy the situation. We have a Department for Foreign Affairs for Foreigners, some sort of Department of Internal Affairs for the ones at home, but divil a Department for the unfortunate craythurs referred to as “blow-ins”.

A great discrimination defies human rights, and we acquiesce in apathy and aloofness. We would sooner face a mad bull in a field than face up to this problem!

Rural society has many ways of sticking the ‘blow -in’s’ head into the muck, mud and manure. He could come into his new parish to teach, farm or just to inhabit a humble cottage and, if he is a teacher,he might be selected Secretary of the Parish Hall Renovation Committee or P.R.O of the Dramatic Society. Usually, he thinks he has made it in society if he progresses thus far to such an appointment. But, he is a right gomalog of a fool if he believes this. For he is only being used, and even a public ‘thank you’ for his efforts is tempered with the follow-through: “And he not even one of us.” No, the “blow-in” can never hope to win. He may as well try to sow barley on cement.

The ‘blow-in’ will seldom, if ever, play hurling for the parish. The parish would never have it said that they could not win by the sole efforts of the ash-wielders from the parish alone. No, faith, they would sooner be beaten into the ground by the neighbouring parish and be able to hold up their heads to declare: “We (natives and ould stock) did it OUR way“. Then they proceed to kick the head off the goalie for letting in 18 goals, in front of the ‘blow-in’ who, once upon a time, played inter-county for another county.

Alas, but in the country we set too much store on and attach too much importance to the vague notion of “knowing your place”. I think it may simply be an over-reaction, and a delayed over-reaction at that, to Diarmuid Mac Murrough going over to England and bringing back a brigade of “blow-ins,” who are still with us. Indeed, any of us could be a descendant of that brigade. But only the mighty-minded will believe the latter idea.
Yet, not all ‘blow-ins’ were treated with dishonour and disregard. Indeed, you might say that the greatest ‘blow-in’ of all, for whom the Gaels have the greatest reverence, was the rustic Welshman who is our National Saint – St Patrick. It is a matter of history that not a few of our most honoured and hallowed citizens in high places were born very far indeed from Dingle Bay and Malin Head.
In this controversial matter, the discussion of which is detrimental to people with blood pressure problems; blood is thicker than water. There are long horns on the cattle overseas, but what about the ones from the parish next door?
The world is a cantankerously peculiar place. But we have to live in it, somewhere. All the world is a stage but the ‘blow-in’ is never the hero. Always he is the anti-hero, who must invariably come to no good end. He is the perennial fall guy in the comedy of country manners and mindlessness.

The partner of mine who is a ‘blow-in’ (‘runner-in’, they say up there) in our parish from Dalkey , says sagely: “Honour and fame are no respecters of blow-inism; rather it is the person who matters”
Fair enough. But what happens when the ‘blow-in’ starts to run the parish and starts acting as if he owned the place, acting like a lord of the manor?
Dearie me – the disease is contagious. A native is an unnatural thing!
END

Tom Ryan, ”Iona”, Rahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Competition Launched To Appoint A Police Ombudsman.

GSOC to be reconstituted as Fiosrú headed by a Police Ombudsman and supported by a Deputy Police Ombudsman and CEO.
Fiosrú ‘s revised processes and procedures to increase efficiencies in resolution of complaints about An Garda Síochána.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD has today launched a recruitment competition to appoint a Police Ombudsman, in accordance with the Policing, Security and the Community Safety Act 2024.
The competition will be conducted by the Public Appointments Service and the link to the competition can be found HERE.
As provided for in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) will be reconstituted as ‘Fiosrú’ (Name translated from Irish to English ‘Inquiry’), to on commencement of the Act, later this year. The current three Commissioner model will be replaced by a single head of the organisation, the Police Ombudsman, supported by a Deputy Police Ombudsman and a Chief Executive Officer.
GSOC has approximately 160 employees, at present, and has been provided with a budget of €19.6million for 2024, which is a 17% increase on the 2023 budget.

Speaking about the new role, Minister McEntee said,
“The position of Police Ombudsman in Fiosrú is critical to maintaining public confidence in An Garda Síochána into the future. It is a very important role which will require both dynamic leadership and the ability to manage change. The successful candidate will be required to guide a reorganised corporate body through a significant change in structure and expansion in remit, leading the organisation to achieve the very highest standards of service delivery, respectful of the rights of complainants and members of An Garda Síochána.”

Referring to the fact that the Act also provides for comprehensive reform of the current GSOC system, the Minister continued:
“The establishment of Fiosrú will build on the vital work carried out by GSOC since its establishment in 2007. Its development has been informed by the Commission on the Future of Policing’s recommendations on how an enhanced service can be provided. This is a pivotal time for policing reform in Ireland, with a suite of significant reform measures being implemented which will deliver longstanding benefits for the delivery of policing in Ireland.”

Under the Act, the independence, organisation, and governance of GSOC is addressed, with the new body, Fiosrú, expanding its remit and overhauling its processes and procedures.
The changes will ensure that all complaints, other than an agreed list of service level complaints, will be investigated by Fiosrú. This will result in more independent assessment of allegations of Garda wrong-doing, including those that are identified other than by way of complaints from members of the public.
Overall, the changes will greatly strengthen the existing mechanisms for Garda accountability, enhance transparency and improve efficiency of the complaints process. As was the case with GSOC, the Police Ombudsman, subject to the provisions of the Act, will be independent in the performance of his or her functions.

Note: The closing date for applications is 3:00pm, on Thursday, February 29th, 2024.

Research Shows High Trust In Food Safety In Ireland.

New research shows that consumers believe that food safety in Ireland has improved in the past five years, with some 9 in 10 people considering food in Ireland safe.
Comprehensive industry and consumer research undertaken by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) revealed today that overall food safety concerns by the food industry have also reduced due to what the industry perceives as robust regulations combined with their increased knowledge of food safety procedures and robust controls by food inspectors.

The FSAI national attitudinal research shows that the increased costs of doing business are cited by more than 3 in 4 (76%) of food businesses as the top issue affecting the industry and this is followed by concerns over the availability of staff (46%).
The research also highlights that despite increased confidence in Irish food being safe to eat, numerous food safety issues remain for food businesses.
Food allergens, food hygiene and handling, as well as food poisoning rank as the greatest food safety concerns for Irish food businesses, with over a third of food businesses listing these in their top three concerns.

The research was launched today by Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State with Responsibility for Public Health, Well-being & the National Drugs Strategy at the Department of Health who said: “It is a matter of pride that Ireland continues to be a leader in food safety matters. Our science and evidence-based approach to food safety maintains the integrity of, and trust in, our food chain. It is reassuring that this new research shows that consumers believe that food safety in Ireland has improved in the past five years. I applaud the FSAI for being proactive in undertaking this research – gauging industry and consumer priorities, and ensuring that our food safety systems are geared to meet our future needs.”

The FSAI undertook two comprehensive research surveys with both industry and consumers to seek attitudes on food safety, sustainable food, and food safety regulation. Overall, there is strong confidence in food safety measures among industry and consumers, with the industry also acknowledging the importance of food safety regulations in Ireland.

Dr Pamela Byrne, (CEO, FSAI) stated the research indicates that there is a strong trust in food safety amongst both industry and consumers. She also acknowledged there is some debate about sustainable foodstuffs and a divergence in consumers believing in the need for more food sustainability, but this is not making an impact on their purchasing decisions.

“Our research shows that confidence is high in the safety of our food in Ireland, something which is felt both by consumers and businesses, and is a reflection of the high standards in place by all those in the wider food industry. We also note that 3 in 4 businesses see the FSAI as having a role to play in supporting food businesses with food sustainability and in raising awareness of the need to move to more sustainable food production without compromising food safety. There is clear agreement too from consumers that the FSAI has a responsibility, with 7 in 10 (69%) citing that the FSAI should assist them in making more sustainable food choices (69%) and raise awareness of the need to move to more sustainability produced food without compromising food safety (77%).”

“The research findings also show that whilst sustainable packaging and recycling are areas where food businesses are making significant efforts, there are barriers to more widespread adaption of sustainability in food businesses. The barriers include cost and the fact the food industry perceives that sustainability is a low priority for consumers. This perception is then affirmed by our consumer research findings that even though over three-quarters of consumers cite the importance of food produced sustainably, just two in five consumers actually make decisions about food choices based on how sustainable a food product is,” says Dr Byrne.

The research reveals that some 3 in 5 food businesses claim that their company currently seeks to produce, source, or supply food more sustainably. Whilst 1 in 5 (21%) businesses expressed that sustainability initiatives make it harder to adhere to food safety regulations, almost 8 in 10 (79%) believe that supplying food more sustainably will have no impact on adhering to food safety regulations. From a sustainability perspective, most consumers, 3 in 4 (76%) say it is important that food is produced in a sustainable way. Whilst 3 in 4 (74%) consumers would like strict deadlines imposed on manufacturers to improve the use of plastic, there was a strong understanding of the importance of packaging in terms of food safety and authenticity (67%) and preserving shelf-life (63%).

Other key findings from the food businesses research reveal that overall, there are high levels of confidence in food safety measures for both the Irish food industry and those working in their specific sector, with nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) feeling confident in food safety standards. The industry cited carcinogenic or cancer-causing chemicals as a worry, with 1 in 3 (36%) citing them as a concern, with pesticides and antibiotic residues following close behind.

In terms of consumer trends, the research also found that some 4 in 10 (45%) people prepare meals at home from scratch using fresh ingredients daily and this rises to 7 in 10 (81%) doing so twice or three times per week. Some 3 in 10 (35%) order take away food at least weekly. Whilst almost 3 in 5 (56%) people check and adhere to use-by dates, a further 2 in 5 (40%) say that whilst they check them, they don’t always follow the product’s expiry dates.

“The FSAI is one of Europe’s first food safety regulatory agencies and over 9 out of 10 consumers in Ireland are aware of our role in protecting them in relation to food safety and that is to be warmly welcomed. Food businesses understand our role too and we will continue to be responsive to their concerns and available to them to advise them on compliance. The FSAI continues to work in partnership with Environmental Health Officers, veterinary inspectors and sea-fisheries inspection officers to ensure that food safety regulations are complied with, and that food produced in Ireland continues to maintain its reputation as being amongst the safest in the world,” concluded Dr Byrne.