Recreation « Thurles Information

Stellar Guests Lined Up For “The Outing”.

The Shannon Region (which consists of counties North Tipperary, Clare and Limerick) seeks to host EuroPride 2028.
Clare festival blends traditional matchmaking with modern pride.

The organisers of “The Outing 2025“ have announced that the world’s only LGTBQ+ matchmaking festival will return to the Shannon Region, this Valentine’s Weekend (14th-16th February).

**Eddie McGuinness, Festival Director and Matchmaker of “The Outing” pictured with Elle Uminati at The Inn, Dromoland in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare.**

Ireland’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) community will descend on The Inn at Dromoland in Newmarket-on-Fergus for a fusion of music, comedy, ceilí bands, queer arts, and the best of Irish and international performers, drag artists and DJs.

Special guests at this year’s 12th annual festival include Charra Tea, a fan-favourite from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, and Actavia, the breakout star of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16. Irish queer artist Shobsy and English boxing manager and promoter Kellie Moloney, who managed Lennox Lewis to become the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world, also will be participating.

Organised in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, Blacknight, Visit Clare, Goudie Talent, The George, Limerick Pride and Quare Clare, the award-winning festival is being hosted by “The Queen of Matchmaking” Eddie McGuinness, alongside Paul Ryder and Victoria Secret.

**Staff at The Inn, Dromoland in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare pictured ahead of The Outing this Valentine’s Weekend.**

The Outing organisers have also confirmed that their joint letter of intent with Quare Clare, Limerick Pride and Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, to bring EuroPride to Limerick, Clare and the Mid-West Region in 2028 has been officially accepted for Wild Atlantic EuroPride 2028. Attracting over 100,000 people from all over the world annually, EuroPride is hosted by a different European city each year.

Speaking ahead of “The Outing”, Eddie McGuinness commented, “After what has been a tough January for everybody, we are excited to bring The Outing back for its 12th year. The Outing offers attendees a blend of traditional matchmaking with modern pride and with more than a hundred relationships and two marriages borne out of the festival to date, I am looking forward to playing my part in forging new relationships this year.”

“From ceilí bands to drag performances, we’re creating a uniquely Irish LGBTQ+ celebration that draws people from around the world to County Clare,” added Mr. McGuinness. “Having international stars like Kellie Moloney, Charra Tea and Actavia joining our lineup of incredible Irish talent shows just how much this event has blossomed over the years. We are extending everyone, whether you’re single or taken gay, lesbian, trans, straight or bi, to come along and join us this Valentine’s Weekend.”

Mr. McGuinness said the acceptance of the Region’s letter of intent to host EuroPride in 2028 has provided a significant boost for the Irish LGBTQ+ community.

“The potential to host EuroPride 2028 could be transformative for tourism in the Mid-West, showcasing our vibrant culture to an international audience. Should our bid be successful, our goal will be to paint the Wild Atlantic Way pink during 2028,” he concluded.

Karen Ronan is General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, which has worked to attract business and sports tourism to the Shannon Region over the past two decades. She said “The Outing has helped put Ireland’s Mid-West Region on the global LGBTQ+ map.”

“This unique event not only strengthens Ireland’s reputation as a welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ visitors but also brings significant economic benefits to the region. We are delighted to once again support Eddie and his team in hosting The Outing 2025 and in their bid to host EuroPride in the Mid-West Region in three years’ time,” added Ms. Ronan.

The Outing 2025 takes place at The Inn, Dromoland, Newmarket-On-Fergus, County Clare, on Valentine’s Weekend from Friday, 14th February to Sunday, 16th February.

Visit www.theouting.ie for ticket and event details.

Poem “The Drawer” by Seamus O’Rourke.

A poem “The Drawer” by that great extoller of ‘words with rich rural feeling’, Seamus O’Rourke.

Based in rural Ireland, Seamus has become widely known for his simple storytelling, which captures rural Irish life in a way that both amuses and affects the reader and listener.

In September 2024, Seamus released his much anticipated sequel to his popular first memoir, Standing in Gaps.
Leaning on Gates is published by Gill Books and is available nationwide in bookshops.

Invitation To Tipperary Residents From Cashel Library.

Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) Reports;

“You the public are invited to a lovely, creative and colourful exhibition by Ukrainian artist Karyna Vechorkina, same which takes place this afternoon, January 18th, 2025, from 2:00pm until 5:00pm.
Hope to see you all there.”
Signed: Maura Barrett.

You can locate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX).

Independence Day.

The Independence Day song tells the sad story of a mother and daughter living with an abusive husband, told through the eyes of a young girl.
On July 4th, [Independence Day (United States)] the child walks down to the fairgrounds and while she is out, her mother burns down their house, with herself and her husband inside, thus achieving her own “Independence Day.”

Lyrics: Retired American singer and songwriter Gretchen Peters.
Vocals: Powerful voice of American country/pop singer and songwriter Martina Mariea McBride.

Independence Day.

Well, she seemed all right by dawn’s early light,
Though she looked a little worried and weak.
She tried to pretend he wasn’t drinkin’ again,
But daddy left the proof on her cheek,
I was only eight years old that summer,
And I always seemed to be in the way,
So I took myself down to the fair in town,
On Independence Day.

Well, word gets around in a small, small town,
They said he was a dangerous man,
But mama was proud and she stood her ground,
She knew she was on the losin’ end.
Some folks whispered, some folks talked,
But everybody looked the other way,
And when time ran out there was no one about,
On Independence Day.

Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing,
Let the whole world know that today,
Is a day of reckoning.
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong,
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay,
It’s Independence Day.

Well, she lit up the sky that fourth of July,
By the time that the firemen come.
They just put out the flames,
And took down some names,
And send me to the county home.
Now I ain’t sayin’ it’s right or it’s wrong,
But maybe it’s the only way.
Talk about your revolution,
It’s Independence Day.

Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing,
Let the whole world know that today,
Day of reckoning.
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong,
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay,
It’s Independence Day.
Roll the stone away,
It’s Independence Day.

END.

New Art Exhibition Goes On Display At Cashel Library, Co. Tipperary.

New art works by artist Robert Gosnell, went on display yesterday, (Saturday December 7th,2024) at 2:30pm, in Cashel Library, Co. Tipperary.
The exhibition entitled “The New Life” is all about taking something old and giving it a new perspective. The majority of the frames used in the exhibition were sourced from charity shops, while the images, the artist explains, “is a voyage through history, acknowledging the past, but in a new light”.