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 A new publication reveals Tipp’s anguish during hurling ‘Famine’ years.
Three times Tipperary All-Star Tadhg O’Connor, who captained Tipperary to win the 1971 All-Ireland, (the last before the ‘eighteen year famine’) has revealed, in a new book, that had the ‘back-door system’ been in place back then, Tipperary would have won more All-Ireland titles.
In a new book entitled ‘Captains of the Premier Ship,’ which was penned by local journalist Noel Dundon of The Tipperary Star and which is to be launched on Saturday November 15th in St Patrick’s College here in Thurles by Nicky English, the Roscrea man states that while Tipperary were just outside the standard in the straight knock-out system, a back-door would have given them vital extra games and, crucially, a chance to make amends.
Tipperary, having beaten Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Final of 1971; a game made famous by the appearance of Michael ‘Babs’ Keating in his bare feet, surrendered their Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1972. The team bounced back in 1973 to reach the Munster final again. Limerick were the opponents for the second time in three years, but on this occasion Tadhg ended up once more on the losing side.
“We were just outside the standard and losing those games meant that your season was over. We were beaten by the eventual Munster winners and they went on to at least contest the All-Ireland final. We were not too far off at all and I suppose if the current back-door system was in place back then, we would have been in the shake-up a lot more often. But it wasn’t and, when you lost in the championship, that was it for another year. The back-door came about forty years too late for us,” he said.
Tadgh played in three National Hurling League Finals, but won only one medal, when Tipperary beat Galway in 1979. However, he cited the importance of the league and said that players always made themselves available to play for Tipperary whenever they could, because, having been knocked out so early in the championship, it was the only show in town for regular games in the ‘blue and gold’ jersey.
Also contained in the book, which is a 320 page history of the twenty one All-Ireland winning senior hurling captains from the county and a record of the twenty six All-Ireland titles captured, the legendary Jimmy Doyle tells of how he cried the day1964 captain Michael Murphy was told he would have to retire from the game due to a recurring knee injury. Doyle, captain in 1962 and 1965 described his Thurles Sarsfields clubmate as ‘stylish and classy’ and added that he had a magnificent All-Ireland Final on the great Eddie Keher in 1964.
“I went to school with him and lived near him. He was always in and out of our house at home in Bohernanave, Thurles. When he was forced to retire I was so disappointed for him because he lived for hurling and loved it. I cried actually when he got the news,” Jimmy said. He added, “We nearly reared him and he was a brilliant sticks-man. He was as good a half back as there was and he was badly missed when he departed the scene. It was very hard on him. It was cartilage trouble – a problem which would be mended now in a few weeks – but it was the finishing of a hurler back then. I had a scare myself training for the club when one of the lads came down on my knee during football training. I was out for a good while and I realised how quickly it could all come to an end – as it did for Michael. I was lucky, I managed to get back but the knee was never the same.
“I was always very fond of Michael – himself and Sean McLoughlin are great club men and great Tipperary men. McLoughlin was so unlucky not to captain Tipperary to an All-Ireland title in 1963 – we spoke about it recently and I told him that along with Michael’s injury, one of my regrets would be that we didn’t win the All-Ireland when McLoughlin was captain,” Jimmy says.
The book ‘Captains of the Premier Ship,’ which will be available in local bookshops after the launch, is a real collectors item as well as being a very interesting insight into those unique ‘band of brothers’ – Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning senior hurling captains.
All profits from this most excellent publication will be donated to the mental health charity AWARE.
 Thurles Halloween Festival 2014 Tipperary Councillor Jim Ryan, Chairperson of the Thurles Halloween Arts Festival 2014 reports.
The 7th annual Thurles week-long Halloween Arts Festival begins in 7 days time from October 24th to October 31st 2014 inclusive.
Once again this year there is a wonderful festival line up, with some of the best national and international acts (All now fully confirmed) performing in our midst this year.
A continued policy of Thurles community participation is very much evident once again and with so many different forms of ‘The Arts’ taking place here in Thurles this year, both local and an anticipated large turnout of visiting public will most definitely find something for each and everyone, in this year’s diverse programme of major events.
Daily Programme of Events for Thurles Halloween Arts Festival 2014
Friday 24th October
ART – “Art Exhibition.” VENUE: Cabragh Wetlands. TIME: Each Day of the Festival period – 10.00am to 5.00pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
Exhibition by Artist Michael Fogarty whose work is mainly inspired by the Irish countryside. Artist will be in residence each afternoon during the festival.
BOOK LAUNCH – “Rights of Succession.” VENUE: Cabragh Wetlands. TIME: 7.00pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
The book, a tale of early 19th century family intrigue by author Michael Fogarty will see the author on hand to sign copies of his new book.
DRAMA – “In Acting Shakespeare” – Written by and starring James DeVita. VENUE: Source Arts Centre. TIME: 8.00pm. ADMISSION: €18/€16 (concession).
“In Acting Shakespeare” expect a funny, touching and uplifting story of one man’s discovery of Shakespeare, acting and language. This is a show for anyone interested in Shakespeare or theatre. The show is followed by Q&A session with James DeVita.
Music – “Whistle This,” VENUE: Bowes Pub. TIME: 9.30pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
A night of culture and music with some of the Premier County’s finest singer song writers, poets and musicians in an intimate atmosphere.
MUSIC – “CLEM O’ BRIEN BLUEGRASS BAND.” VENUE: Bowes Pub. TIME: 10.00pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
Truly one of Ireland’s finest Bluegrass musicians, Clem O’Brien; brings his unique band to Thurles for a special performance not to be missed.
Saturday 25th October
MUSIC, FOOD & CRAFT – “SCARE IN THE SQUARE.” VENUE: Liberty Square. TIME: 12.00 noon to 4.00pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
Come join us for live music, food & craft stalls, Street Entertainment, Funfair Rides and much more, as we transform Liberty square into a Halloween “Scare in the Square,” occasion. Note: This year we will be having a Halloween Scarecrow Trail around Thurles town. With the help of ‘Thurles Mens Shed’; over 25 Scarecrows will be put on display around the streets of Thurles during the duration of this years festival. We hope to grow this into a major event going forward and we hope you enjoy the creative skills of the volunteers who created these pieces of scary art.
LITERATURE – “Poetry in the Making.” VENUE: Source Arts Centre. TIME: 3.00pm to 5.00pm. ADMISSION: €20.00.
This poetry workshop, run by poet Enda Wyley, is suitable for emerging poets. It aims to celebrate the power of poetry and the making of it. Participants will be encouraged to create new work of their own and to enjoy poetry by established poets, including the work of Thurles poet Dennis O’Driscoll. (Limited capacity – early booking advised. Please book directly through the Box Office on 0504/90204.)
LITERATURE – “A Public Interview with John Kelly.” VENUE: Source Arts Centre. TIME: 7.00pm. ADMISSION: €10.00.
In memory of Thurles poet Dennis O’Driscoll. For many years John Kelly has been at the forefront of music and arts broadcasting in Ireland. Having presented ‘The View’ on RTÉ television for 12 seasons, and assorted programmes for BBC NI before that, John now heads up RTÉ Television’s brand new arts show ‘The Works.’ Known for his wide-ranging knowledge of music he has also presented some of the best-loved and most critically acclaimed music programmes on the Irish airwaves. From his shows on the BBC to the legendary ‘Eclectic Ballroom’ on Today FM and the award-winning ‘Mystery Train’ on RTÉ1, he has always put the music first. He currently broadcasts the ‘John Kelly Ensemble’ on RTÉ Lyric FM and ‘Radio Clash’ on RTÉ Digital Radio 2XM.
WORKSHOP – “Halloween Art and Craft Workshop.” VENUE: Bookworm, Parnell Street, Thurles. TIME: 11.00am – 5.00pm. ADMISSION: €5.00 per person.
Get in the Halloween spirit, come and get creative; experience the make construction of some Halloween arts and crafts. Each workshops begin on the hour and last for 50 minutes. Note: Please book in advance – Tel: 0504/22257.
COMEDY – “TOM O’ MAHONY & GUESTS.” VENUE: County Bar, Liberty Square. TIME: 10.00pm sharp. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
Dubbed by the critics as a ‘Bad-ass of Irish comedy’ Tom starred alongside the legendary and late, great Rik Mayall on RTE’s hit comedy Damo & Ivor in 2013 and made his return in Season 2 (alongside Snatch’s Alan Ford) reprising his role as the intolerable toff ‘Tarquin.’ A finalist in RTE’s 2013 New Comedy Awards, this lad has starred in several TV adverts, (typically playing someone you wouldn’t like). In 2014 Tom played support to Nina Conti at the Cork Opera House and also Police Academy’s Michael Winslow on a nationwide tour. Playing the country’s biggest festivals, Tom supported the brilliant Stewart Francis at this year’s Vodafone Comedy Festival in Dublin. This year saw another sell-out solo show of Tom’s, “Bring on The Apocalypse” in theatres nationwide and at the Edinburgh Fringe. Tom has a weekly radio slot on Spin103.8 entitled “Mantime,” where he discusses the failings of modern blokes and how they can redeem themselves (There are a lot of stanley-knives and hammers).
Sunday 26th October
TOURS & TALKS – “Cabragh Wetlands Trust Open Day.” VENUE: Cabragh Wetlands. TIME: 11.00am to 4.00pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge.
Cabragh Wetlands invite the public of Thurles and Tipperary to an all day open event. There will be a ‘Walk and Talk’ at 11.30am which will be repeated at 2.30pm, led by volunteers and environmental experts. Find out about their work in conservation and education, and their plans for the future. Take this opportunity to view their exciting new building, have a guided walk around the wetlands or wander around at your own pace, see what they do and join them for a cup of tea. All are welcome.
MUSIC – “Flamenco Guitarist John Walsh.” VENUE: Anner Hotel. TIME: 4.00pm. ADMISSION: €5.00.
John Walsh is Ireland’s leading Flamenco Guitarist and an accomplished musician and composer, performing solo since 2006. Along with performing concerts throughout Ireland together with venues in Spain and the UK, he has performed in one of the most historically important flamenco venue’s ‘El Candela’ in Madrid, as well as being the invited International Artist for the 2014 Flamenco Festival “Flamenco de Consuegra”.
MUSIC – “THE TIPPERARY JUNIOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.” VENUE: St Mary’s Church, Thurles. TIME: 8.00pm. ADMISSION: €10.00.
PARTY– “FANCY DRESS PARTY.” VENUE: Thurles Rugby Club. TIME: 10.00pm till Late. ADMISSION: €15.00.
Thurles Rugby Club presents its annual Halloween Fancy Dress Party with live music and disco. This event is one of the highlights of the year in Thurles and we would encourage those attending to purchase your ticket as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Tickets available from Hickey’s Pub or any Rugby Club Member.
Monday 27th October
FAMILY SHOW – “Halloween Trick or Treat Party.” VENUE: Anner Hotel. TIME: 2.30pm to 4.30pm. ADMISSION: €5.00 per child & €2.00 per adult.
This annual children’s party returns with all the usual favourites. Dress up in your favourite Halloween costume and let your child enjoy a wonderful and safe spooky party. Event includes: Party food and drink, Party music & games, Barney, Bob the Builder, Peppa Pig and Friends show, Magic show, Balloon Modelling and Face painting.
Tuesday 28th October
WRITERS – “A Writers Covert.” VENUE: Anner Hotel. TIME: 8.00pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge
Writers from across Tipperary’s many regular writing groups will get together to read their own compositions and well-known writers works. This event is open to the general public, so do feel free to bring along your own work and join in. Note: Refreshments will be served.
WORKSHOP – “Pumpkin Carving and Painting.” VENUE: Bookworm, Parnell Street, Thurles. TIME: 2.00pm to 3.00pm. ADMISSION: €5 per person. Note: Pumpkins will be provided. Please book in advance – Tel: 0504/22257.
WW1 COMMEMORATION – “Ecumenical Thurles WW1 Memorial Service of Remembrance.” VENUE: St Mary’s Church, Thurles. TIME: 7.30pm. ADMISSION: Free of Charge, however a collection will be made during the Service with proceeds going to the St Mary’s War Museum. (Latter presently under re-construction and due to be reopened as a local tourist attraction on May 1st 2015 next.)
The Great War of 1914-1918 was so terrible and inflicted such large numbers of casualties on all sides that when it was over it was believed by many to be “The War to end all Wars”. Alas, by the end of four years of fighting from August 1914 to November 1918 many thousands of families around the world including some 72 households from Thurles were affected by this tragedy, through the wounding or loss of life of at least one of their family members.
The ceremony will begin with the naming of all 72 known Thurles WW1 soldiers who lost their lives.
Church music for this event is being provided by renowned local pianist M/s Mary Rose McNally, with special guests; music composer and much-loved Folk Singer M/s Nora Fogarty and Retd and former Aide de camp to H.E. the President of Ireland and Co Galway native, Commandant Michael Walsh, latter who will also give the commemorative address.
The remembrance service will be conducted in St Mary’s Church by the Rector Rev. Ian Coulter and will be followed by a rare display of local primary source artefacts pertinent to Tipperary participants in this Great War of 1914-1918 .
Continue reading Week Long Thurles Halloween Arts Festival
 In conjunction with the Tipperary Reads Festival, Tipperary Libraries are running, once again, their annual short story competition, under the heading “Premier Short Stories.”
The competition is open to adults and senior cycle secondary school students with all entries submitted to be between 2,000 to 3,000 words maximum and of course the original work of the author.
There will be one prize of €200 for the best story, with the winner to be announced during Sophie Hannah’s visit to Tipperary Libraries on November next.
Stories may be submitted by email to thurles@tipperarylibraries.ie or as hard copy to your local library.
Closing date for all submissions is 01/11/2014 and for further details contact your local library.
Celebrating Ireland’s International Best Selling Historical Crime Mystery Series.
The 5th three-day gathering of international enthusiasts of the best-selling historical crime series “The Sister Fidelma Mysteries,” by Peter Tremayne will be held in The Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Co Tipperary from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September 2014.
The series, which has been published in some 18 languages to date, is set in 7th century Ireland, whose sleuthing heroine is Fidelma, sister of King Colgú of Munster. With her companion, a Saxon, Brother Eadulf, she is an advocate of the Brehon Laws of old Ireland. There are now 25 books in this series.
The event will be extra special as it will coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the first ever Sister Fidelma novel entitled “Absolution by Murder” published in 1994.
Online registration is now open. You may pay in Euro or dollars. Full registration is €160 or US$225. This fee covers the opening reception on Friday evening, a registration pack, three days of talks, an outing to Coolmore Stud Farm to accompany a talk on the horse breeds in Fidelma’s day, tea/coffee breaks and of course the Saturday evening gala dinner with Peter Tremayne and guests.
Day registration is also available, which will include the three lectures and tea/coffee break at €30 per day and €40 if a visit to Coolmore Stud Farm is also to be included.
Please Note: There is limited availability to Coolmore Stud Farm for day registration.
Féile Fidelma 2014 Community Programme of Events
Friday, September 12th 2014
From 18.00-19.00: Registration at The Cashel Palace Hotel.
19.00: Reception by the Mayor of Cashel.
19.30 Official Opening of Féile Fidelma Weekend 2014.
20.00 An Evening with Peter Tremayne.
This will be followed by an informal session in the Cellar Bar.
Saturday, September 13th 2014
09.30: The Sister Fidelma Novels: Professor Edward Rielly, Maine, U.S.A..
10.30: Coffee Break.
11.00: What was in Sr. Fidelma’s Liber Hymnorum?: Dr. Ann Buckley, T.C.D..
12.00: Horses in Fidelma’s Day: Mr. Noel Mullins, equestrian expert.
14.30: Visit Coolmore Stud Farm, the centre of bloodstock breeding in Ireland.
19.30: Gala Dinner in The Cashel Palace Hotel featuring Caroline Lennon (The Voice of Fidelma) who will read passages from the Sr. Fidelma Series.
Click here to download the Gala Dinner Menu
Sunday, September 14th 2014
09.30: Food in Fidelma’s time: Regina Sexton, U.C.C..
10.30: Coffee Break.
11.00: The Eóghanacht: Professor Pádraig Ó Riain, U.C.C..
12.00: David Robert Wooten, founder of the International Society.
13.00: Conclusion of Féile Fidelma Weekend 2014.
Distinguished Speakers
Professor Edward Rielly from Maine, USA, who was co-editor, with David Robert Wooten, of the academic study “The Sister Fidelma Mysteries”: The Historical Novels of Peter Tremayne (2012). Rielly is Professor of English at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in the U.S.A.
Professor Pádraig Ó Riain is Ireland’s leading scholastic expert of the Fidelma’s period. Ó Riain is an Irish Celticist and prominent hagiologist focusing on Irish hagiography, martyrdom, mythology, onomastics and codicology. He has spent much of his academic life at the University College Cork, where he became a lecturer in 1964 and was professor of Old and Middle Irish. He has been a member of the Royal Irish Academy since 1989, president of the Irish Texts Society since 1992, Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge, since 2002 and more recently, a member of the ‘Place Names Commission of Ireland,’ (Irish: An Coimisiún Logainmneacha).
Dr Ann Buckley is a leading expert on liturgical music in Fidelma’s time. Buckley holds a B.Mus., M.A. (National University of Ireland), doctoral (University of Amsterdam) and a Ph.D. (University of Cambridge) and is a research associate at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Trinity College, Dublin.
Regina Sexton from University College Cork, who is a food historian, food writer, broadcaster and cook. Sexton has been researching and publishing in the area of Irish food and culinary history since 1993. Her research interests include food and identity, food and tradition and food in the Irish country house. She has published widely at academic and popular levels and is a leading expert on food in Fidelma’s time.
Noel Mullins is an equestrian expert. Mullins has not only authored two books about the origin of horses in Ireland, countless articles in equestrian journals, but he is also an expert advising and appearing in many films and television shows on the subject. In 2005, for example, he played a huntsman in the remake of ‘Lassie’ with Peter O’Toole.
David Robert Wooten is the founder of The International Sister Fidelma Society, its director and editor of its thrice yearly journal The Brehon. Wooten will be introducing and chairing the first evening with the author, Peter Tremayne. He will also be winding up the event on Sunday with his usual look at the state of Fidelma’s World. He will be reflecting on the Society’s thirteen years of existence (it was founded in 2001 and The Brehon was launched in February, 2002). And, of course, he will be examining the Féile Fidelma past and present and future.
Caroline Lennon is the actress acclaimed as the ever popular ‘Voice of Fidelma,’ and who reads the Sister Fidelma Audio Books published by Soundings, Isis Publishing Ltd.
So please do note your calendar to experience this truly most enjoyable of annual events.
Book Your Tickets: http://www.cashelartsfest.com/content/Buy-Tickets.html
Date: Friday 12th until Sunday 14th September
Venue: Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Cost: €160.00
“To all of the fallen in their silence we offer our own silence, without judgement, and with respect for their ideals, as they knew them,
and for the humanity they expressed towards each other.”
(Extract from the speech by Irish President Michael D Higgins during the dedication of the Cross of Sacrifice at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin this week.)
Dublin born author, Mr Tom Burnell, now resident here in Holycross, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, has penned yet another remarkable factual history book; launched just yesterday entitled “Irishmen In The Great War.” Many of our regular readers will be familiar with Tom’s other publications including “The Wicklow War Dead,” and “Tipperary Casualties of the Great War,” and of course his valued assistance through this website in tracing military family members lost in two great wars.
Tom has taken over twenty-seven Irish newspapers for the period covering the Great War (1914-1918) and has trawled through each and every publication to deliver the most amazing stories of those years, which as we now realise changed our world for ever.
While the book is not necessarily just about Co Tipperary it nevertheless does have many Tipperary people mentioned in it, most of whom survived World War1. Names like:- Miss M. J. Fitzgibbon, Corporal Michael O’Mara (Carrick-on-Suir), Sapper James O’Donnell (Carrick-on-Suir), Private W. Roberts (Clonmel), Corporal A.S. Dowling (Tipperary), Corporal Edward Jackson, (Roscrea), Private Robert Walsh (Carrick-on-Suir), Miss Mary F. Doheny, (Carrick-on-Suir), Sergeant Major Drought Jackson (Roscrea), Captain W. Gibson (Brittas Cashel), Cyril Triscott, Dr Wetterell (Tipperary) and Lance Corporal George White (Knockanvar, Cappawhite).
Contained between these hard covers are the fascinating accounts of the day-to-day lives of men in the front lines; of torpedoed ships; drunken wives, final farewell letters and requests direct from the trenches. There are also many eye-witness accounts of the slaughter as it was happening; battle reports from officers serving in Irish regiments; quirky snippets; chaplains’ sympathetic letters; P.O.W reports of conditions and war poetry.
Here are the tales of the Leinster’s, Munster’s, Connaught’s and Dublin Fusiliers serving in the Ulster Division, 10th and 16th Irish Divisions. We read of medical breakthroughs, paranormal occurrences and miraculous escapes from death.
After the Irish Rebellion of April, 1916, these type of newspaper articles and lists of casualty slowly began to dwindle as here at home Irish hearts would became politically divided.
A cracking great read compiled for the very first time into one single publication and offering a memorable primary source for true lovers of Irish History.
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