Thurles Information

Holycross Open Drama Festival Launched.

The 41st prestigious Co. Tipperary Open Drama Festival will take place in the St. Michael’s Community Centre Theatre, in Holycross, Thurles from Friday, March 15th until Saturday March 23rd, commencing at 8:30pm nightly, except for the final night, when prizes will be awarded and starting time will commence at 8:00pm.

The adjudicator for this year’s event will be Mr Michael Poynor [Association of Drama Adjudicators (ADA)] with the inimitable Mr Donal Duggan as Festival Director and Master of Ceremonies, (as he has been for four decades, latter a feat surely deserving of a special award at this year’s festival).

Nine of Ireland’s top drama groups will be on stage for the festival’s duration and they will be bidding for the “Tipperary Star Cup” in the Confined section and the “Tipp FM Trophy” in the open category.
Three Co. Tipperary groups will bid for The “Tipperary Star Cup”, namely Holycross Ballycahill DG; Moyne DG, and Rearcross DG.

Holycross Upcoming Festival Programme

Friday, March 15th, (Open) “Dancing at Lughnasa” by Brian Friel. (Holycross/Ballycahill DG).

Saturday March 16th, (Confined) “Stolen Child” by Bairbre Caoimh and Yvonne Quinn. (Moyne Drama Group).

Sunday March 17th, (Confined) ”On Raftery’s Hill” by Marina Carr. (Wayside Players).

Monday March 18th, (Open) ”The Ferryman” by Jez Butterworth. (Ballyduff DG).

Tuesday March 19th, (Open) ”Antigone” by Sophocles and adapted by Don Taylor. (Bride-view DG).

Wednesday March 20th, (Confined) ”Same Old Moon“ by Geraldine Aron. (Slieve Aughty DG).

Thursday March 21st, (Confined) ”Drama at Inish“ by Lennox Robinson. (Rearcross DG).

Friday March 22nd, (Open) “The Lonesome West” by Martin McDonagh. (Kilmeen DG)

Saturday March 23rd, (Confined) “Now and Then” by Sean Graham and adapted by John Corless (Harvest Moon DG).

(The Festival is held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland ADCI).

Season tickets are €70 and concessions are €12.
For further information you may contact Mobile Tel. No. 0862575159

Meet The Adjudicator.

This year’s adjudicator, Mr Michael Poynor, (pictured above) hails from Derry, and holds an impressive curriculum vitae.
Born in the Falkland Islands and educated in Argentina and England, he trained for theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (L.A.M.D.A.), London.

He has been Artistic Director for the Lyric Theatre, Belfast; Harrogate Theatre, Yorkshire; Stage ’80 Theatre company, Belfast; Ulster Youth Theatre; The National Youth Theatre Of Wales; and currently Artistic Director at the Ulster Theatre Company. He was Chief Executive of the Millenium Forum, Derry, and Head of Culture and Arts at Queens University, in Belfast.

Mr Poynor is an award winning Director and Lighting Designer having directed over 150 productions, Designed Sets for 120 and Lighting for over 250, as well as Fight Directing for some 100 productions.

He has written a string of burlesque pantomimes including ‘Scrooge’s Christmas‘; ‘Alice!’ (latter a musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s most famous books); a new version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best known operetta: ‘Rockin’ Mikado‘ which was nominated ‘Best Visiting Production’ in the 1998 Manchester Theatre Awards; ‘Comedy of Errors: The Musical’ (2013) and ‘Jonathan Harker and Dracula’ (2014).

Amongst the many productions he has directed are: The UK provincial premiere of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’; ‘‘Grease’‘; ‘Hello Dolly’, and ‘Once a Catholic’ (at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast); ‘Interview’, and ‘The Bald Prima Donna’ (at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon); ‘Indians’, ‘Schweyk in the Second World War’; ‘What the Butler Saw’, and ‘Noises Off’ (at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast); ‘The Glass Menagerie’; ‘Relatively Speaking’, and ‘The Happiest of the Three’, (at the Overground Theatre, Kingston-upon-Thames), ‘Alphabetical Order’; ‘Equus’, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, and ‘Candida’, (at Harrogate Theatre); ‘The Snoopy Show’; ‘Hello and Goodbye’; ‘Ashes’; ‘Kelly’s Book’, and ‘Crack-Up’ (for Stage ’80), ‘How the Other Half Loves’; ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’, and ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’, (for Theatre Ulster); ‘Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!’; ‘The Mating Season’; ‘The Boyfriend’, and ‘Leave Him to Heaven’, (for the Arts Theatre, Belfast), ‘Oh, What A Lovely War’ and ‘The War of the Worlds’ (for the Ulster Youth Theatre), ‘La Belle Helene’, (for Castle Ward Opera Co.) and ‘West Side Story’, (with the Ulster Orchestra at the Klondike in Belfast for Opera Northern Ireland).

For the Ulster Theatre Company, he directed ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ (1998), (latter a sell-out production for Belfast Festival at Queen’s at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast); ‘West Side Story’; ‘A Chorus Line’; ‘Oklahoma’, and the RSC’s version of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, (all of which toured the UK and Ireland).
In 2019 he directed and designed the world premiere of Hennessy Award winner, Sam Burnside’s ‘The Long Now’, (for the Seamus Heaney Home Place Theatre).

Launch Of Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade 2024.

Mr Johnny Kenehan, Chairperson of Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade committee, 2024, reports.

“I am delighted to announce that the Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade 2024 will take place on Sunday 17th March 2024 at 2:30pm in the town’s Liberty Square area.

This year’s theme is “Youth: Our hopes for the Future”. Our special guest will reflect this theme, same to be announced at a later stage.

**Picture shows: (L-R)**: Michael Cleary, Pat Carey, Johnny Kenehan, Helen Carew (Sponsor Michael’s Jewellers) Rosalie Butler, Jane Ryan, Tommy Mockler, Cllr. Seán Ryan (Cathaoirleach Thurles/Templemore MDC), Garda Chris Verling, Kieran Sheehan, Sharon Scully (District Administrator Thurles/Templemore & Sponsor Tipperary Co. Co.) and Ciarán Callanan, together with this year’s display of trophies and prizes, covering some 12 categories of entry.

The continued success of the parade over the years is based largely on the generous sponsorship of local businesses, groups and Tipperary County Council.
The quality of entries and effort by clubs and organisations also ensure this level of success and we look forward to viewing their presentations next month”.

Mr Kenehan continued; “All clubs, organisations, groups, individuals and businesses are invited to enter, and entry forms can be sourced from the Thurles Tourist Office on Slievenamon Road, in the town or simply email hello@thurlestouristoffice.ie.

We look forward to a variety of entries and a display of local talent and artistic endeavour in their efforts to showcase their own ideas and achievements, while reflecting their interpretation of our youth and our hope for the future”.

FSAI Recall Additional Batches Of Sheridans Cheesemongers Wicklow Ban Cheese.

Recall of additional batches of Sheridans Cheesemongers Wicklow Ban Cheese due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary Dated today Monday, February 19th, 2024. See also HERE
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2024.06 (Update 1)
Product Identification: Sheridans Cheesemongers Wicklow Ban Cheese; pack size: 150g
Batch Code: All use-by dates from 16/02/2024 to 25/02/2024 inclusive, as well as use-by dates of 05/03/2024 & 09/03/2024.
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message: Further to FSAI food alert 2024.06, additional batches of Sheridans Cheesemongers Wicklow Ban Cheese are being recalled due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
The batches were sold from Sheridan’s Cheese counters in Dunne Stores shops. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger: Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers and Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches immediately from sale, before displaying recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

Death Of Therese Ely, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Sunday 18th February 2024 of Mrs Therese Ely (née O’Donovan), Garranroe, Moyne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Church Street, Toomevara, Co Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her parents Jack and Maura; Mrs Ely passed away peacefully at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, surrounded by her loving family.

Her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her loving husband Gerard, devoted daughter Ancuta and her beloved grand-daughter Mia, sisters Mary and Eileen, brothers Michael and John, aunts Peggy (Connolly) and Bríd (Meaney), niece Ruth, nephews John and Rory, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Ely will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles [E41 CP59] on Tuesday afternoon, February 20th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles on Wednesday morning February 21st, at 10:30am to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St Mary’s Cemetery, Moyne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who are unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Ely, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Ely family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

What Benefits Received For Paying Local Property Tax?

I took a walk along the area beside the River Suir, commonly known as the Thurles River Walk this afternoon.
Sad to see a Swan forced to swim amongst the floating, filthy, dirty litter of a once pristine clear waterway. [See photograph immediately hereunder.]

**Swan forced to swim amongst floating, filthy dirty litter, in river Suir, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Further up as I moved northwards along Emmett Street; here underneath Barry’s Bridge, (latter the main thoroughfare in and out of Thurles town), two views meet my eye.

One was the fact that now two streams of fresh water, instead of one, continues to flow from what appears to be a burst pipe. We had notified Ms Sharon Scully of this fact, exactly 4 weeks ago to the very date; January 18th, 2024. No repairs appear to have taken place.
No doubt the problem was imposed, foisted off on Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), who take the blame for every pothole in town. [See photograph immediately hereunder].

**It didn’t rain today, February 18th, 2024, so it looks like two leaks now coming from water pipe(s) under Barry’s Bridge Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Speaking of Barry’s Bridge, Thurles and our previous criticism of those taxed with attracting tourism to Thurles; do take a look at this view from Emmett Street, travelling northwards. [See photograph immediately hereunder.]

**Scenic view for visiting tourists, daring to walk northwards from the Thurles River walk, travelling along Emmett Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Note, Do take care while walking along sections of the tarmac laid last year on the River Walk. Same has already begun to ravel at the edges. One major dangerous hole exists close to the “Swinging Gates”, near to, and south of, the large cherry tree; latter’s beauty which may distract you, while out rambling.

So tell me again; “What Benefits do Thurles residents receive having paid Local Property Tax?”