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International Miss Macra Secretary Ms Edel Ni Riain reports.
“Clonoulty-Rossmore Macra na Feirme are once again delighted to confirm that this year’s International Miss Macra Festival will take place over the 2017 August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday August 4th to Sunday August 6th, inclusive, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
This will be the Festival’s 46th 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 and abroad, in the hope of following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Miss Sinead Guiney from Avondhu Macra Club, Co. Cork, crowned last year ‘International Miss Macra 2016.
The festival will kick off on Friday night, August 4th, with a charity night in Coffey’s of Stouke, Rossmore, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
On Saturday night August 5th, you can join us for our Cabaret in The Dome, Semple Stadium, Thurles, while on Sunday night, August 6th, our annual Banquet takes place in the Four Star, Anner Hotel, Thurles, followed by the crowning of the winning 2017 International Miss Macra winner.”
“Looking forward to welcoming you all.”
This weekend will see the return of the annual Borrisoleigh Festival with a packed programme of events including live music on the village Square on Saturday night and all day on Sunday.
 The festival will be officially opened by the new village Mayor, Mr Paddy Dolan, followed by All Ireland Scor Sinsear winner Katie Shanahan and friends.
The 80’s Rock band ‘Sleeze n Cheeze’ will then take to the stage and have the whole town rocking to some of the greatest rock anthems known to man. The Tipperary Rose, Ms Sheila Ryan will be interviewed during the interval.
The inaugural International Wheelbarrow Extravaganza takes place on Sunday. This unique event provides a great opportunity for individuals, businesses and community groups to put their creativity on display. Prizes will be awarded in five categories, Best Floral Display, Best Homemade Wheelbarrow, Best Use of Recycled Materials, Best Use of Technology and Best Artistic Creation.
For the more active, local walking group, the Bush and Briar Ramblers, have organised a walk. Registration for this walk is at 9am in the Community Centre beside the Church. Bring boots!
Boots of a different kind will be required for the Line Dancing later on. This will be followed by the popular Platform/Social Dancing with Pat Costello. Live music continues all night with Dufrane, The Mangled Badgers and the always popular Ebony.
There will be a Food Fair and BBQ in the Square from 2pm and the kids will be kept busy with bouncy castles, a pet party and a kiddies disco.
Borrisoleigh Festival 2017 Programme of Events
Saturday July 1st
Official Opening of the Festival by Lord Mayor Paddy Dolan – 8.30pm.
Music with 2017 All Ireland Scór Sinsear Winner Katie Shanahan & Friends – 8.35pm.
Live Music with 80’s band ‘Sleeze n Cheeze’ – 9.30pm.
Interview with Tipperary Rose, Sheila Ryan, Toomevara, followed by Sleeze n Cheese – 10.30pm.
Sunday July 2nd
Walk: Bush and Briar Walk – 9.00am. (Registration at 9.00am in Community Centre (beside the Church). Moderate walk 3-3.5 hours, boots essential.)
International Wheelbarrow Extravaganza – 12.00pm – 6.30pm.
‘Ned Kelly Orchestra’ – 1.00pm -2.00pm.
Line Dancing – 2.00pm-4.00pm.
Platform / Social Dancing with Pat Costello – 4.00pm – 5.30pm.
‘Dufrane‘ – 5.30pm – 6.30pm.
‘Mangled Badgers‘ – 6.30pm – 8.00pm.
‘Ebony‘ – 8.00pm til late.
Sunday Children’s Entertainment
Bouncy Castles etc. – 2.00pm – 6.00pm.
Pet Party – 2.30pm – 4.30pm.
Disco (Primary school kids) – 6pm – 7pm.
BBQ & Food Fair from 2.00pm
This festival weekend will be a magnificent start to this Summer season, so see you there!
The countdown to Ireland’s biggest ever 2017 International Girl Guide Camp has officially begun, following the launch last year of ‘IGGNITE’ at ‘CONNECT’ held in Rockwell College, New Inn, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, on August 21st 2016 last.
The IGGNITE event will be taking place in Rockwell College again this year, from July 30th, 2017 to August 6th. 2017.
Irish Girl Guides are now looking forward to welcoming some eighteen hundred other Girl Guides, aged between 10 years and 16 years old, from many different countries around the world. Indeed visitors, all who will be camping out, are expected from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, the US, Georgia and Zambia, as well as areas closer to home, e.g. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Full details and contact information on this major exciting event can be obtained HERE.
Today April 27th 2016, Thurles Town Park was officially opened by Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, Cathaoirleach (English Trans. – Chairperson) of Tipperary County Council and Councillor Mr John Hogan, latter Cathaoirleach of the local Templemore-Thurles, Municipal District.
Proceedings began, in splendid sunshine, with the officially blessing of the park by His Grace Archdiocese, Kieran O’Reilly, SMA, (Archbishop of Cashel & Emly). Following the official unveiling of a plaque to mark the occasion, those in attendance then retired to the ‘The Source’ exhibition centre, to address all those in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Mr Hanafin praised the ‘tremendous foresight’ of all involved down through the years, in ensuring that this dream for Thurles truly became a reality. In particular he thanked St Patrick’s College, through college custodians His Grace, Archdiocese, Kieran O’Reilly and Fr. Tom Fogarty (St Patrick’s College President), for ensuring that the site was made available. He was also strong in his praise of Templemore/ Thurles Administrator Mr Michael Ryan and former Thurles U.D.C. Manager Mr Tom Barry, who ensured that the necessary funding was kept securely in place to support this overall planning project going forward to completion.
Click HERE for HD Quality Video
Councillor Hanafin pointed out the various modern amenities now being made available to everyone; Play and Sporting areas; Seating areas; Free Exercise facilities; New Bridge offering pedestrian only access to the town centre / Short-cut to the south of the town and not least, an area retained for natural flora/ fauna and other naturally occurring insect & wild life.
Councillor Mr John Hogan spoke of his strong past memories of the old car-park area as a schoolboy; again pointing out the huge benefits that this new amenity now afforded the people of Thurles; not just our youth but also our elderly; our parents with young children; our visitors of all ages, entering into our local community.
In attendance also Mr Joe MacGrath (C.E. Tipperary Co. Council), congratulated his staff on their professional leadership, in bringing to full fruition, this newly completed project. He also hinted that the revitalisation of Liberty Square in the town could begin as soon as the end of this year or very early in 2017, subject to agreement by all relevant stake holders.
Speaking on his Facebook tonight, Mr Michael Lowry TD, who also attended the official opening, concurred with remarks made by Councillor Hanafin, stating; “A huge debt of gratitude is due to all the businesses of Thurles; their support body Thurles Chamber; former and present Town Councillors and their officials, in making this tremendous park amenity a reality.”
 Pictures: (1) Lions Club Poster, (2) Car actually used by Kitty Kiernan & Michael Collins, (3) Lions Club Vintage Car Emblem to be presented to all vintage cars on display. A 1916 Ford Model T, once belonging to Larry Kiernan, brother of Kitty Kiernan and used often by both Kitty and Michael Collins, will be just one of the star viewing attractions at the forthcoming Thurles Lion’s Club Vintage & Classic Car Show on May 8th 2016 next here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
One of the principal founders of our Irish State independence and later Chairman of the Irish Provisional Government, Michael Collins was first introduced to the ‘bubbly and cheerful’ Kiernan sisters and their family, by his cousin Gearóid O’Sullivan. Gearóid was already courting Kitty’s sister Maud. Kitty, latter the fiancée of Michael Collins, planned to marry in Dublin on November 22nd 1922, in a double ceremony, to include her sister Maud and Gearóid O’Sullivan. The death of Collins four months earlier sadly however would result in only one wedding taking place, with Kitty attending same, dressed in black.
As already stated, the 1916 Ford Model T belonged to Kitty’s brother Larry and has just recently been restored. Back in 1916, it was then a new car – just of the assembly line, when it first arrived in Granard, Co. Longford, with Larry having it registered then as a hackney vehicle. Larry, trading as L.D. Kiernan, was a successful businessman in Granard, owning the Greville Arms Hotel, a shop and a licensed premises, latter which he inherited from his parents Bridget and Peter Kiernan, following both their deaths in 1908, within a couple of months of each other.
In 1916, the car drove two volunteers to Dublin including Paul Cusack, a relative of Larry Kiernan’s wife and later often collected Michael Collins from Ballywillan Railway Station, situated on the Dublin to Cavan railway line, when he visited Granard to see Kitty.
Over 35 years ago the vehicle was discovered in a field, in the Mullinlaghata/Cloncivid area of Co. Longford; in very poor condition, however, with the help of a local vintage enthusiast, the wreck was brought back to a garage in Granard and since then has been slowly and carefully restored to its original glory.
Thurles Lion’s Club Vintage, Classic Car Show
This vehicle will be just one of the many items on view at the Thurles Lions Club’s Annual Vintage/Classic Car Show and family day, to be held in Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Sunday May 8th 2016 beginning at 12:00 noon – 5:00pm.
Amongst the other attractions will be; a Dog Show; an Artisan Food Fare; Craft Stalls; a Bouncy Castle; Auto-Jumblers; Face Painting; an Obstacle Course; a Fortune Teller and a 1916 Exhibition of rarely seen artefacts, latter not just relating to that troubled period in our Irish history, but to a broader world history of that particular era, one hundred years ago.
With children under 12 years FREE and admission to adults only costing €5, this well organised event is expected to attract a large crowd of visitors to Thurles on Sunday, May 8th next.
With less than two weeks to go, do mark your calendar and watch this website, especially coming nearer to the date of this event, for further details and more exiting news.
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