Berberis (Barberry)(Top Picture Above) The attractive, easy-to-grow, evergreen shrub Berberis (Barberry) loved for its abundant bright orange flowers, which are normally expected in late March to May, was in bloom yesterday, some 5 months early. These evergreens shrubs bear small blue-black shaded berries much loved by our feathered friends, (birds).
Primroses (Irish: Sabhaircín)(Bottom Picture Above) Meanwhile, our dainty and colourful wild primroses (from the Latin word ‘primus’, meaning ‘first’.) which can be found decorating grassy banks, woodlands and roadsides, have not been fooled and appear to be on schedule to bloom in early or mid-December.
Both the flowers and leaves of the Primrose are edible; the flavour ranging between mild lettuce and more bitter salad greens.
More importantly, Primroses are beneficial as an excellent early source of nectar for bees, as well as an attractive flower to brighten up your outdoor spaces.
Also keep in mind that according to Irish folklore, when primroses are positioned near your front doorway, same protects your home from an unwelcome visit by the fairies. In Ireland, fairies were blamed for stealing babies and children, especially boys with blue eyes and fair hair, leaving fairy substitutes in their place; so do take care. You have been warned.
Mark Collins, an award winning photographer and Holycross resident, will hold an exhibition of his photographs entitled; “Attention/ Intention” in Cashel Library during the month of September.
Mark is pleased to invite any interested parties to the opening night of this exhibition starting on Tuesday 13th September at 7:00pm sharp in Cashel Library.
Refreshments served. Please remember to RSVP via Tel: 062 63825 please.
Having spent 20 years working as a cinematographer in the Australian film industry; in August 2019 saw Mark returning home to the land of his birth, Ireland. Upon his seeing what was both his past and now present with fresh eyes, Mark was inspired to photograph his surroundings.
Informed by his love of cinema, he remains driven by a longing to highlight the inherent natural beauty, form and texture, particularly in places overlooked or unnoticed.
Previously behind the lens within film and cinema; Covid-19 lockdown saw Mark return to education, whereupon he studied photography at LCFE, School of Creative Media & Visual Arts, in Co. Limerick. His studies have reignited a passion for both his home and visual storytelling.
In this exhibition of his latest 15 Photographic works entitled; “Attention/ Intention” , he now draws from his aesthetic roots in cinema, inviting viewers to see beyond classical notions of beauty. An active focus on the decontextualising of forms, Mark welcomes audiences to look beyond the categorisations of still life, landscape etc and allow our own imaginations to adventure across the visual terrain of his works.
“The challenge is to see beyond the distraction of the conspicuous”, the observer is invited into a creative dialogue with the pictures and asked what their own impressions of the world within the art is, what kinds of characters, forms and stories inhabit these worlds?
Mark’s careful and meditative approach to the detail and materiality of subject examines a notion to look more closely at the world around us and discover beauty, in unusual or unexpected places and moments.
Opening night on Tuesday September 13th, 2022 at 7:00pm. These photographs are unique editions of 5 per piece, and will be on show at Cashel Library for the month of September.
Note: Images are available for purchase through the front desk or by emailing the artist directly atcontactmarkcollins@gmail.com.
Final batch of pictures uploaded herewith from the highly successful Thurles Musical Festival 2022, which was held in Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, just last weekend, July 9th & 10th.
You can view some 450 pictures of the earlier uploaded frames, all of which can be found HERE – HERE – HERE – HERE – and HERE.
Empty flower beds and empty dirty flower containers, Thurles June 1st, 2022
Today is June 2nd, 2022, and as yet not one flower container or flower bed has been planted this year by Thurles Municipal District Council staff.
Perhaps one of our local councillors might like to communicate to the public on why this has been allowed to happen.
Before the introduction of Property Tax all of our flower containers and hanging baskets were planted. Today, no public hanging basket exists and expensive flower containers remain filthy and empty of plants, except for what seeded itself over last year.
Thurles Railway Bridge, 1st June, 2022.
Yes, we have some large new pink flower containers on Liberty Square filled with “Box Hedging” and lavender-blue flowered “Catmint”, but these containers also are being neglected, with much evidence of “Dock” plants and “Yellow Rocket Cress”, same never ever intended for planting.
Thankfully, Thurles Shopping Centre and Lidl Supermarket have privately set the example, with both premises shaming Thurles Municipal District Council officials and our local elected councillors.
River Suir Thurles yesterday, June 1st, 2022.
Between poor street surfaces, a river that currently looks like an open sewer and street lighting burning 24 hours each day; 4 questions: (1)Why do we need a tourist office? (2) Why do we continue to pay Property Tax? (3)Why do we continue to pay the salaries of failed administrators? (4) Why are Thurles residents accepting poor standards of administration in complete silence?
“If the Government is to restore public confidence in its ability to stop abuse or misuse of power, it needs to accelerate efforts to promote transparency and accountability in public office.”
Approximately, half of the Great Famine Double Ditch, the last morsels of Thurles Towns rich history is now gone for ever, courtesy of “cute hoorism” by local councillors and their attempts at self promotion. Picture shows the base for the new inner relief road being installed.You can see from this picture that this new housing, in no way, impeded on this piece of national heritage. Pic. G. Willoughby.
Before I discuss the current situation regarding the loss of the Great Famine Double Ditch now and over the coming days and weeks, I would like to make the following statement known, to a shocked 5 to 8 thousand daily readers of Thurles.Info. I, George Willoughby, as a former proud member of the hugely respected Thurles Lions Club, wholeheartedly continue to support Thurles Lions club and their magnificent organisation in every possible respect, both in their past charitable efforts and in any future ventures. Thurles Lions Club are an organization comprised of members that give selflessly to Thurles town and its environs. They are collectively motivated simply and solely by a desire to do good and to genuinely help others. They are not currently and never have been, motivated by self promotion like our current local councillors, and millionaire chasing local politicians. They never have and never will use and abuse causes which seek only self promotion.
Tar & Cement – Author Verdelle Smith. “Many years later, tired at last I headed for home to look for my past I looked for the meadows, there wasn’t a trace Six lanes of highway had taken their place Where were the lilacs and all that they meant Nothing but acres of tar and cement. Yet I can see it there so clearly now Where has it gone? Yes I can see it there so clearly now Where has it gone?”.
How Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin [See last paragraph on Mr Hanafin’s Facebook page, dated February 20th 2022], went on to, quote, “acknowledge and thank Thurles Lions Club, who have been to the fore in this project”remains a total mystery to the Lions Club members with whom I spoke.
This evening March 25th, 2022, I wrote/sent the following email to the editor of the Tipperary Star, Mr Noel Dundon.
The text reads as follows:- “To Mr Dundon, It is with regret that I must now insist that no further photographs (being my intellectual property) either taken in the past, or photographs from my current social media pages and websites, are to be used in any of your publications. As you will be aware 99% of pictures taken and published in the Tipp Star in the past 40 years, were given to your publications totally free of charge.
However, recently you promoted Councillor Seamus Hanafin in an article which I find totally untrue. It claimed that Thurles Lions Club was involved in the Thurles River Walk path project, suggesting that the club were involved in the loss of the Great Famine Double Ditch. In publishing this article you used my picture/image of Thurles River Walk, firstly without crediting the author and secondly using details in your text that I regard as untrue.
This picture must now be removed from all on line publications immediately.
From recent talks with Thurles Lions Club members, no funding came from the Lions club organisation, for these projects and as a former Lions Club member and strong supporter of International Lionism, I find that their name is now being used incorrectly in relation to recent lost heritage; lost to the business people of Thurles, its residents and Thurles Tourism.
It is with regret therefore that I can no longer commit to allowing any of my work to be used in your local papers/editorials. Previous permissions granted are now fully rescinded. It is also disappointing to note that at no time over the past 3 years did any of your publications, despite being approached, attempt to support Thurles people in retaining now defunct heritage; instead deciding to churn out the effluvium sent to you by local councillors and politicians. From next week I personally will no longer purchase your weekly publication, in protest.
I remain, Yours Sincerely George Willoughby.
In the next few days Thurles.Info will be discussing my dealings over the past 3 years with our Government Departments; that of Heritage, National Parks & Wildlife Service, latter in their failure in protection, granted by Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, while under the governance of Green Party Minister for State Mr Malcolm Noonan, and finally the National Monument service, and Tipperary Co. Council’s Heritage Office, all of which are no longer fit for purpose in modern Ireland.
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