Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) will mark its 140th birthday in Thurles today, Friday, 1st November, 2024.
The GAA was founded on November 1st 1884 at a meeting in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, by a group of spirited Irishmen, latter who had the foresight to realise the importance of establishing a national organisation to make athletics more accessible to the masses and to revive and nurture traditional, indigenous sports and pastimes.
Michael Cusack 1847- 1906.[GAA’s first President elect.]
Irish teacher and founder Michael Cusack, latter born in 1847, (during the Great Irish Famine 1846-1849), a native of the parish of Carron on the eastern fringe of the Burren, in Co. Clare, would become its first President.
To mark today’s birthday, the GAA’s History Committee will attend at Hayes’ Hotel for a meeting at 12:00 noon, to make a presentation to the hotel. They are expected to be joined by Munster GAA President and GAA Vice President Mr Ger Ryan(Tipperary), as well as other Tipp GAA officials including Mr Patrick McKay, great grandson of John McKay, the former who was elected first secretary in 1884. To mark the event a meeting will be held in the same room where the Association was initially founded.
All are welcome to attend this event in Hayes Hotel.
Candidates today are being urged to come forward to fill the roles of Chairperson and the six Ordinary Members positions, at the newly established Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann [the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI)].
The GRAI is a new statutory body that will be responsible for the licensing and regulation of gambling in Ireland. Once established, it will focus on public safety and well-being – covering gambling online and in-person – and will have the power to regulate advertising, gambling websites and other applications (apps).
Historic legislation setting out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of the GRAI passed both Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this month and has already been signed into law by President M.D.Higgins.
Closing date for applications is 3:00pm on Friday November 15th, 2024. Applications for the roles can be found here at Public Jobs.ie.
The under twelve camogie girls, Little and lithe and lovely, Under warrior helmets, visors and all, Screamed at the winter sky, In the field where leather meets ash. Pull and crack, What craic! Little Josie, hurley high, screams to heaven, At Thurles Sarsfields’ Bill, Who had showed them how to bend and strike, And first time pull for goal. Like Bill himself in glorious days, On summer sun-soaked hurling fields, Times distant and delightful to recall, “Bill, Bill,” she shouts, time and time once more, “Oh,Bill I want to play with her”. A plea to waiting mums familiar, When all those mums were girls, When Bill and I were boys.
Legislation will Establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
Introduce a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.
Establish a National Gambling Exclusion Register.
Introduce tight restrictions on gambling advertising.
Introduce a Social Impact Fund to support educational measures and problem gambling treatment activities.
CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has been progressing important preparatory work.
The Gambling Regulation Bill, 2022, has passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas. The legislation sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body, Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, (the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland) and for a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.
Painting by Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), “The Cardsharps.” (painted c.1594).
The Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register and introduces tight restrictions on the advertisement of gambling activities. It also provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities.
With regard to black market operators, the Bill contains a suite of measures to address illegal or criminal gambling activity and includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices, some of which could result in significant custodial sentences.
Once the Bill is enacted, the GRAI will be established with a seven-person authority. A Programme Board has been established in the Department of Justice to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel, allowing the Authority to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible, after enactment and appointment of the Authority members. Ms Anne Marie Caulfield has been appointed to the role of CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and has been progressing important preparatory work.
As part of Budget 2025 announced on October 1st last, the GRAI will receive €9.1m in 2025, including €4m of ICT capital investment.
Thurles Golf Club commenced work on Friday August 9th, to fell their commercial forestry at the Mill Road entrance to “Our Ladies Well” walk-way. Walkers will be aware that the “Our Ladies Well” walk-way remained closed from both entrances (both from the Mill Road and N62 Turtulla entrances), on Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th and Friday 16th last (August 2024), but has since opened again to the public.
“Our Ladies Well Walk-Way”, Thurles. Pic. G. Willoughby.
Perhaps the seat on the walk-way, kindly sponsored by Dew Valley Meats, in Thurles, could now be moved slightly westward, into shelter. In the coming months for those who may choose to“Dwell Awhile”, at where it resides presently, no shelter remains available and that line taken from an Irish blessing, “Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl” (English translation- May the wind be always at your back.), I have no doubt was written for those walking and not for those seated.
Meanwhile; back on Barry’s Bridge, in the Thurles town centre, a mystery has unfolded.
Where Are The Missing Chrome Bollards Gone? Pic. G. Willoughby.
Where are the 4 Chrome impact protection bollards/posts, each costing possibly €137.00 [ inc VAT. (Total €548.00)plus labour costs ] and once situated on the left-hand-side, as you crawl westward, slowly behind numerous HGV’s? Were they stolen? Were they struck by a heavy goods vehicle, (HGV)?
The bolts end, which once retained these missing chrome bollards to the pavement, suggest that an angle grinder had at least a small part to play in their sudden disappearance.
The waste of ratepayers money, by Tipperary Co. Council, continues.
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