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 Left – Right pictured above: (1) Representing South Tipperary, M/s Josephine O’Dwyer. (2) M/s Ailin Walsh, representing Waterford, ‘meets & greets’ former Epsom Derby & Irish Derby Stakes Winner ‘Galileo’ yesterday, at the world famous Coolmore Stud in Co. Tipperary. (3) Representing South Tipperary, M/s Denise Ryan. Yesterday saw the welcome return of the 45th International Miss Macra Festival, returning to its initial roots; coming back to Thurles, Co. Tipperary for the full duration of this August Bank Holiday weekend. Such was the high calibre of the venues present here in Thurles that the Festival this year is taking place in three separate areas, showcasing the best that Thurles and Co. Tipperary has to offer, e.g. Hayes Hotel (Birthplace of the GAA), last night; The Dome (Semple Stadium), tonight, and the magnificent family-run Anner Hotel (Graded Four-Star by Fáilte Ireland), Dublin Rd, Thurles, for the Annual Macra Banquet tomorrow night.
Yesterday, the festival kicked off, when contestants met the Festival Committee and Host Families in Clonoulty village, before being taken on a personal tour of the world famous Coolmore Stud Farm. This was followed by a late lunch in the Anner Hotel’s ‘Green Room’ restaurant. Last night the participants attended a themed ’90’s Disco’, in Hayes Hotel, dancing into the early hours of this morning.
However today saw the contestants appear ‘bright eyed & bushy tailed’, rising early in preparation for their private personal interviews in front of a three judge panel, namely Joan Pollard Carew, (Representing Main Sponsors Michael Carew Jewellers, West Gate, Thurles); Geraldine Henchion, (Representing Tipp FM, Tipperary’s No 1 Local Radio Station); & Declan Ryan, (President of the Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra Club). This panel have been given the very difficult task of selecting this year’s “International Miss Macra 2016” winner; latter which will be announced following the Banquet on Sunday night in the Anner Hotel.
Tonight (30th July 2016) in The Dome, Semple Stadium, Thurles, will see the ever popular “Cabaret Night”, commence. Here the contestants will be interviewed publicly on stage, by expert interviewer Mr Mike Egan; himself a previous Macra Member and long-term friend of the festival. Live music will be provided by ‘Switch’ to which the contestants, their supporters and the public attending, can later dance the night away.
Guaranteed to be a most enjoyable and memorable evening.
The 45th International Miss Macra Festival this year returns to Thurles, Co. Tipperary
 Pictured L-R: Declan Ryan (Pres. Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra), Simone Loughman (Int. Miss Macra Secretary), Susan Willis (2015 Int. Miss Macra Winner), Anne Marie Lyng (Chairperson), Helen Hayes, (2015 Int. Miss Macra Runner-Up), Jamie Driver (Anner Hotel), Geraldine Henchion (Tipp FM Radio), at the official launch of the 2016, 45th International Miss Macra Festival to be held in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on August Bank Holiday Weekend 2016. Clonoulty-Rossmore Macra na Feirme are delighted to confirm that this year’s International Miss Macra Festival will take place over the 2016 August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday the 29th of July to Monday the 1st August, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. This will be the Festivals 45th year and is an exceptional representation of what just one farming organisation can achieve; through hard work, determination and the full support of its local community.
This year will once again see young ladies travelling from all over Ireland, in the hope of following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Miss Susan Willis (Co. Carlow); in being crowned International Miss Macra 2016. This, as stated, 45th year of the festival, will see many new initiatives and a change of scene, but first a brief history lesson.
International Miss Macra Festival History
The International Miss Macra Festival is a personality competition, a mini Rose of Tralee, if you will, for Macra na Feirme Clubs and their members. The festival was founded by Mr Paddy Heffernan, Mr Tom Horan and Mr Michael Slattery back in 1971. Initially Macra Members were met with little enthusiasm from Macra National Headquarters, but the Clonoulty / Rossmore club did not allow this to deter their ingenuity. As a rural farmers organisation they ploughed on (pardon the pun), regardless, with their plans and year on year since its conception this festival has blossomed with as many as 32 contestants competing annually each year, from Ireland and abroad.
The 90’s saw an interest from rural youth and agricultural organisations abroad, e.g. 4H clubs in America and Scottish Young Farmers, begin to develop. The International Miss Macra Festival is somewhat unique in that it is run by the same local Macra Club every year; rather than a County Executive and their scale of success is a testament to both the dedication of the Clonoulty-Rossmore Macra members and the massive support of the local Tipperary community.
The local Clonoulty / Rossmore community, in particular, play a most important part in this festival, with households taking on the role as ‘Host Families’ for each of the contestants, year after year. This tradition remains very strong; seeing the contestants receive the warmest of welcomes, as they become adopted into the hearts of the local host families. To these ‘Host Families’ go our committee’s gratitude for their never ending support, generosity, overall commitment and loyalty, each year.
International Miss Macra Festival Returns to its Roots
This year, 2016, sees the festival returning to its initial roots; coming back to Thurles, Co. Tipperary for the full duration of the weekend. Such is the high calibre of the venues in Thurles that the Festival this year will take place in three separate areas, as we showcase the best that Thurles and Co. Tipperary has to offer: Hayes Hotel (Birthplace of the GAA), on the Friday night, The Dome on Saturday and the magnificent family-run Anner Hotel (Graded Four-Star by Fáilte Ireland), on Sunday night.
This year, the festival will kick-start on Friday the 31st of July when contestants will meet the festival committee in Clonoulty village. Friday afternoon also offers contestants a chance to take a personal tour of the world famous Coolmore Stud Farm, followed by lunch in the Anner Hotel restaurant. Next the contestants will take part in a Zumba class in Clonoulty Community Hall where contestants, host families and local people will get their chance to ‘meet and greet’; a long-standing tradition of this festival.
International Miss Macra Judges
The judges for the 2016 competition this year are:-
(A) Joan Pollard Carew, representing Michael Carew Jewellers, Friar Street, Thurles. Joan, whose husband is main sponsor of the festival, is herself a published poetess and well known nationally in Irish Art and Irish Dancing circles. Joan and her husband also contribute greatly to the festival in terms of invaluable support, time and advice.
(B) Geraldine Henchion, representing Tipp FM, Tipperary’s No 1 Local Radio Station. Geraldine also well known in Art Circles, joins the panel for the first time this year.
(C) Declan Ryan, who has held every known post of responsibility on the International Miss Macra Festival committee and also currently holds the title of President of the Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra club.
Continue reading International Macra Festival Returns To Thurles
In 2016 we commemorate, rightfully, those who took part in the Irish 1916 Easter Rising. From a Thurles commemorative perspective however, perhaps the name Richard James Mulcahy was somewhat sidelined, due to the 1916 Easter Rising being mostly confined to Dublin city.
This in mind, let us not forget that one action, if not the most successful of all 1916 actions undertaken by Irish Volunteers, took place in Ashbourne, County Meath. It was here on April 28th 1916, under the leadership of Thomas Ashe (A national school teacher from Lusk, who would later die on hunger strike), and his second-in-command, Richard James Mulcahy (A post office engineer from Thurles), together with 45 Fingal Volunteers, attacked a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks.
History credits Richard Mulcahy with the defeat of the RIC at Ashbourne, through his engagement in a flanking movement made on an opposing police column; latter who were rushed to reinforce their already surrendered comrades.
Arrested after the rising, Mulcahy was later interned at Knutsford and at the Frongoch internment camps in Wales, until his release on in 1917.
 Pic (1) Michael Collins (center) with Richard Mulcahy; Pic (2) General Richard Mulcahy TD; Pic (3) Mulcahy with his wife Mary (Affectionately known as ‘Min’) in 1922. Who was Richard James Mulcahy?
Richard (Dick) James Mulcahy [Irish: Risteárd Séamus Ó Maolchatha (1886 -1971)] was originally born in Manor Street, Co. Waterford on May 10th, 1886. He began his educated, first at Mount Sion Christian Brothers School, Waterford and later at Thurles C.B.S, when his father and family transferred to reside in Thurles, County Tipperary. In 1902 he joined the post office Engineering Department, working first in Thurles and later in Bantry, Co Cork, Dublin and Wexford. Shortly after his arrival in Dublin, Mulcahy joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1907 and later in 1913, joined the Irish Volunteers.
Continue reading Lest Thurles Forgets General Richard Mulcahy
In front of a large crowd of supporters, “Strings & Things,” a 5 piece contemporary Irish folk band whose music branches from traditional Irish to folk hits, last night won ‘Tipperary Battle of the Bands’. As overall winners the group walked away with the prize of a 3-day professional recording opportunity at the Temple Lane Recording Studios and a ‘Support Slot’ performance in The Academy, Dublin.
Runner up; ‘The Drive’ and ‘Minus One’ also won prizes which included ‘Instrument Vouchers’.
The MC for the evening was Michelle Doherty (Model, DJ and TV3 Xposé Presenter), while the Judging Panel on the night were Dee Reddy (TXFM Presenter), Paul Boland (Partner/Director of CWB) and Moley Ó Súilleabháin (Singer/Musician and Composer).
 Michael Lowry T.D. with ‘Strings & Things’ – Supporting the Arts In Tipperary.
Down through the years Tipperary stands renowned for producing talented singers, actors and musicians. Most recently Irish Eurovision Singer, Songwriter and Pianist Molly Sterling; Una Healy of The Saturdays; Musician, actor, comedian, writer and overall entertainer Pat Shortt; Thurles born and internationally known arranger, conductor, composer and pianist Frank MacNamara and Shane McGowan of the Pogues. These performers, not just household names locally, are today recognised for their wide range of talents globally.
In the past and regrettably no longer with us, let us not forget the late Clonmel born Tenor, Frank Patterson and the late Carrick-on-Suir Irish singer and musician Bobby Clancy, latter best known for his membership of The Clancy Brothers, both of whose names immediately come to mind when we speak of true Tipperary talent.
Speaking after the event promoter Michael Lowry T.D. stated; “Throughout our county of Tipperary every year, appearing on stage are many award winning dramatic and musical societies, amongst them hundreds of successful and well established performers.
The “Tippperary Battle of the Bands” event which was hosted in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, last night was all about promoting and showcasing the musical talent as yet undiscovered in Tipperary.
The participating chosen finalists which featured “Haven”, “Small Fish”, “Minus One”, ” The Drive” and “Strings & Things” certainly displayed incredible musical talents.”
Expect to hear more on all of these bands, above named, into the future.
Get Christmas 2015 truly started in Tipperary with an incredible night of live music here in Thurles.
Playing live on Monday night, December 21st 2015, five top bands will compete in the ‘Tipperary Battle of the Bands,’ in Hayes Hotel, Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
 Model, DJ and TV3 Xposé Presenter, M/s Michelle Doherty – Chosen as MC for ‘Tipperary Battle of the Bands’. One of the oldest trading Hotels in Ireland; Hayes Hotel in Thurles, will come alive to the beat of top performing Tipperary bands; ‘Haven‘ – (Nenagh & Roscrea), ‘Minus One‘ – (Thurles), ‘Small Fish‘ – (Thurles), ‘Strings and Things‘ – (Thurles) and by no means last ‘The Drive‘ – (Clonmel), all ready and able to battle it out for the honour of winning the much coveted prize of a 3-day professional recording opportunity, together with a ‘Support Slot Performance‘ in The Academy in Dublin.
Master of Ceremonies (MC), (or in this case to be more accurate, ‘Mistress of Ceremonies’) for the evenings music event will be the gorgeous, well known, model, DJ and TV3 Xposé presenter, M/s Michelle Doherty.
The Tipperary Battle of the Bands will be held in the hotels ICON nightclub and the first of the bands will take to the stage at 9:00pm, so don’t be late. There will be drink promotions and music ‘til late’ at this event, but even more importantly those attending this competition will have an opportunity to win a variety of up-and-coming concert tickets; as well as demonstrating support for their favourite band by voting for them on the night. Cost at the door will be €10 – don’t be late.
This is guaranteed to be the ultimate night of live music over the 2015 Christmas Season.
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