Archives

Congratulations Leaving Certificate Students 2022.

This year’s Leaving Certificate results were issued on Friday last, September 2nd, 2022. Congratulations to all the pupils in Tipperary and nationwide who received their results. Sitting the Leaving Certificate exams, particularly at this time, is an enormous achievement in and of itself.

We at Thurles.info wish you every success for the future.

As is customary, pupils have been deservedly celebrating this milestone ahead of taking a new path; be it to work, an apprenticeship or college. Pubs and nightclubs have been busy all weekend playing the classic graduation songs in honour of our wonderful Leaving Certificate pupils.

Every graduation year has its own special song, but here at Thurles.info, to wish you all well for the weeks and years ahead, we’ve chosen the lesser known hit “My Wish for You” from the American Country music band Rascal Flatts.

My Wish
Composers Steve Robson & Jeffrey Steele.

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin’ ’till you find the window
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too
Yeah, this, is my wish
I hope you never look back, but ya never forget
All the ones who love you, in the place you left
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you find God’s grace, in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah, more than anything
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too
Yeah, this, is my wish. Yeah
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish (My wish for you)
This is my wish (My wish for you)
Hope you know somebody loves you (My wish for you)
May all your dreams come true (My wish for you)


END.

Top Fifteen Graduation Songs for Leaving Cert Class of 2022

In honour of the Leaving Certificate Class of 2022, we’ve pulled together a Top Fifteen of Graduation songs, together with their links.
Enjoys these wise words and wishes!

From Wicked the Musical: For Good. [A big ‘Thank You‘ to our Teachers]
American Authors: Best Day of My Life.
Bill Withers: Lean on me.
Green Day: Time of Your Life.
Rascal Flatts: My Wish for You.
Tyrone Wells: Time of Our Lives.
Bruno Mars: Count on Me.
Phil Collins: I’m on My Way.
Lee Ann Womack: I Hope You Dance.
Take That: Greatest Day.
Joan Baez: Forever Young.
The Beatles: In My Life.
Joe Cocker: With a Little Help from My Friends.
Dusty Springfield: Goin’ Back.
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers: You Can’t Make Old Friends.

“The Good Old Way” Or “Down To The River To Pray”

This song hereunder, beautifully sung by Alison Krauss, was often sung by victims of slavery and contained coded messages with regards their attempts to escape.

When the enslaved people escaped, they would walk in the “river” because the water covered their scent from bounty-hunters’ dogs and slave catchers.

Similarly, the words “starry crown” possibly refers to those attempting to escape, to remember to navigate by using the stars.

The words “Good Lord, show me the way” is most likely a prayer for God’s guidance in their efforts to find an escape route, commonly known as the “Underground Railroad.”

The “Underground Railroad” referred too above, was an established network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the 19th century and used by enslaved African Americans to enable their escape into northern free states or Canada.
Regarded as the Father of the “Underground Railroad “; William Still helped hundreds of slaves to escape often hiding them in his home in Philadelphia.
Others unaware of this network of escape routes, would escape independently of the “Underground Railroad”, to take up residence in the swamplands of Virginia and North Carolina, having escaped their cruel enslavement.

A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp.
By Author Harriet Beecher Stowe.

“Away to the Dismal Swamp he speeds,
His path was rugged and sore,
Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds,
Through many a fen, where the serpent feeds, and man never trod before.
And, when on the earth he sunk to sleep,
If slumber his eyelids knew,
He lay where the deadly vine doth weep
Its venomous tears, that nightly steep
The flesh with blistering dew.”

The International Labour Organization estimates that, by their definitions, over 40 million people are in some form of slavery tonight.

“The Good Old Way” or “Down To The River To Pray”.

As I went down in the river to pray,
Studying about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way,
O sisters, let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down,
O sisters, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studying about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the robe and crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O brothers, let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down,
Come on, brothers, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studying about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O fathers, let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down,
O fathers, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studying about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the robe and crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O mothers, let’s go down,
Come on down, don’t you wanna go down?
Come on, mothers, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studying about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O sinners, let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O sinners, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studying about that good ol’ way,
And who shall wear the robe and crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.

END

Wonder Child

Wonder Child

Written by Jimmy MacCarthy (Released in 1994).

This child he means the world to me.
There is no more enchanted.
A child can take this place of ruin,
And magically enhance it.
I see him in a golden room,
With the book of life before him.
Strange instruments upon his charts,
And the crystal glow inside him.

He’s your Wonder Child,
And my dreams come true.
You’ve searched all of your life.
I see him now flying over the universe.

This child will build a violin.
One will follow the traveller’s love.
Another will the bow apply,
To reach the one above.
I see her in a golden room,
With the moon and stars above her.
Her simple smile is Heaven’s gate,
With the Queen of all beside her.

She’s your Wonder Child,
And my dreams come true.
You’ve searched all of your life.
I see her now flying over the universe.

Your Wonder Child,
And my dreams come true.
You’ve searched all of your life.
I see them now flying over the universe.

END

Ballad Of A Bard

Ballad Of A Bard

Poem Courtesy of Thurles Author & Poet, Tom Ryan ©

To ramble is to wonder at the majesty of life.
All its rich diversity, serenity and strife.
For many a year I rambled, aye, I met times good and bad,
Some had tea pots for the rambler, and others a dog gone mad.
Oh, it’s weary, on the long road and how my feet get sore,
But what learning is a load, I think I’ll ramble more.
For life’s to me is seeking, till there’s nothing more to see.
You know, now that I think its like eternity.
Often on the darkest road, not even a star for light,
I think of a fixed abode, where never falls the night.
The long and lonely bitter night and the whistling wind and rain
When oft my heart gives way to fright, and my body’s tore with pain.
‘Tis then I ponder journey’s end, cold and old and sad,
‘Tis then I wonder where I’d go, aye, wonder till I’m mad.
But then always dawns the sun, the miracle of the morn.
Broken, broke and bewildered, with the sun I’m newly born.
And Nature, like a Spanish wine, engulfs my soul with joy,
And I go on the road again, but still keep asking why?
Ah, but the weary wherefores, that dull the heart of living,
That tear at the finest thoughts in manner unforgiving.
Ifs and buts and constantly, the never ceasing quest
Sweet birds’ sweetest harmony, is reasonless the best.
Yet, nigh always in my roving, I see strange sights it’s true,
The lonely wonder of the moon, the awesome sea of blue,
Queer things that bother reason and ways beyond the mind,
Aye, and queerest of them all, the goodness of mankind.
I met a widow woman three biscuits were her store
A cup of tea into my hand and then she had no more.
Yet did I see a wonder there that no one could imagine,
The wonder of a heart of care and, aye, it baffles reason.
I think it’s all this giving that nothing can defy
That makes life worth the living and living worth a try.
Just a friendly cup of tea and brown bread, sometimes bacon,
Oft drowns all rationality and reason’s overtaken.
Many a like yarn I’d relate, many a one tomorrow,
‘Tis love transforms the heart of hate, empties the cup of sorrow.
Lowlands, highlands, dale and glen, for many a lifelong season
I have trod time and again and ‘tis love gives me a reason.
Then my pen no longer traces each possibility;
Thank God for the friendly faces, for they are life to me.
For all such is a mirror of that which will not die
All troubles, tears and terror, depart with all the why.
For love was never reason, all reasons of the earth,
My God, my bones were freezing, but joy was in my heart.
Dear God, to whom we wander with every struggling mile.
Scorn not the hearts that ponder, they only sleep awhile.
And one day we will waken with all this rambling o’er,
Never again to reason or wherefore anymore.

END

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

Not All Of Us Have Jewels To Give.

Not All Of Us Have Jewels To Give.

Poem Courtesy of Thurles Author & Poet, Tom Ryan ©

Not all of us have jewels to give,
Or fine expensive wear,
To one we love beyond all else
With whom our life we share.

Not all of us can dine at night
In elegant hotels,
Or laugh or giggle in delight
At super money deals.

Not all of us can fly abroad
For holidays in the sun,
Nor see the world as one small place
And chat with everyone.

Nature bejewels my lover’s skin,
And elegance her wear,
And when we dine together
Our home has not a peer.

And though we do not fly abroad
For a sojourn in the sun,
We’re just as happy up the road
And bless our days each one.

For we have sunshine all the time,
As joy bejewels the heart.
We drink our health in rich red wine
And never are apart.

There is no more on this good earth,
A laugh a loving kiss,
And sweetest merriment and mirth,
What more can count for bliss?

End

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