The Annual General Meeting of Thurles Special Olympics Basketball Club took place in the Anner Hotel on March 19 th 2024.
The Chairman welcomed all present and he complimented all athletes, volunteers, families and carers for their contribution to making last year’s activities a successful one for the Club. He also thanked those who supported the Club in many ways including Meitheal 21 on Abbey Road, the Presentation Convent Sports hall, Tipperary Co. Council, Tipperary Star, Special Olympics Ireland and sponsors who make a valuable contribution to the running costs of the Club.
The Secretary’s report for 2023 was compiled by Ms Mary Ryan Maher and delivered to the meeting by Ms Catherine Reynolds.
The following members were elected to serve on Committee at the AGM for the year ahead: Chairman: Mr Enda Bourke. Secretary: Ms Mary Ryan Maher. Asst. Secretary: Ms Catherine Reynolds. Treasurer: Ms Carmel Sammon. Asst. Treasurer: Ms Cathy Slattery. Medical Officer: Mr Dennis Jordan. Safeguarding Officer: Ms Antionette Ruth. Athlete Representative: Ms Maureen O’Shea. Coach / Sports Officers: Mr Enda Bourke & Ms Marion O’Reagan. Club Membership Officers: Ms Mary Ryan Maher & Ms Carmel Sammon. PRO: Mr Enda Bourke.
A good discussion took place on the Club’s main priorities for the year ahead including, fundraising; to cover the ever increasing costs of running our Club, the 2024 athlete programme, Insurance and affiliation fees and volunteer recruitment.
Additionally, the new membership online system (“Just Go”) for athletes and volunteers is being rolled out to all affiliated Clubs this year, which will streamline what has been a very ‘paper based’ registration process in the past.
We are also anxious to increase our volunteer numbers. The commitment is one evening per week. [Note: We train indoors at the Presentation Sports hall each Wednesday from 7:00pm–8:00pm.]
If you are interested, please contact Enda Bourke on Tel. No. 087 6060772.
Under a clear sunny sky, the Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade began sharply from Abbey Road Thurles at 2.30pm in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, travelling via Friar Street unto Liberty Square as is usual. The parade featured two marching bands; namely the Sean Treacy Pipe Band and the C J Kickham Brass Band.
This year the St Patrick’s Day Parade “Guest of Honour”, in keeping with this year’s theme, “Youth: Our Hopes For the Future’, featured Thurles Christian Brothers Secondary School pupil Master Luke Blackwell, latter a winner in the 2024 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
Prior to the start of the parade live music was performed beginning at 1:00pm, with face painting and other side attractions keeping those attending occupied.
The Arch Bar [a favourite abode of the fictional Mikey Ryan], in Liberty Square, hosted a 12-hour Irish Traditional Music Session on the day, to raise funds for the ‘Ciarán’s Cancer Treatment Fund’, latter a seriously ill 4 year old boy, currently undergoing medical treatment for his present condition.
For the first time, RTE television captured video footage of the event; of which a sample of same footage can be VIEWED HERE(Scroll down the page to headline – ‘Limerick, Ennis, Thurles‘).
A comprehensive report has now been prepared for the Department of Agriculture in which Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) – [Irish – Rásaíocht Con Éireann, latter formerly the Irish Greyhound Board], have outlined certain concerns regarding a possible breach of this 2022 existing court order, which was issued to Ms Michelle Connolly, Killard, Puckaun, Nenagh, Co Tipperary relating to her future ownership of dogs.
It was at Nenagh District Court that Ms Connolly had pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Same guilty pleas related to three dogs, (two Maltese and a Poodle named Milly, Dolce, and Adam). Judge Ms Elizabeth McGrath had forfeited the dogs to the care of the ISPCA and fined Ms Connolly a total of €2,000, plus ISPCA costs, and disqualified her from owning, keeping or breeding any dog for 10 years, (other than two Great Danes, she already held in her possession). It was following a complaint, that the ISPCA had initially visited Ms Connolly’s property, on February 2nd 2019. The findings regarding the 3 animals, latter found located in a small cage behind a trailer at her property, were described by an ISPCA Inspector as being unacceptable. Photographic evidence showed one had red raw skin, another was considered underweight with matted hair and suffering a discharge, and a third dog had no hair on its tail and a portion of its hind quarters.
Greyhound Racing Ireland have now stated that following the court order, which issued back in May 2022; the case is now a matter for the courts in the context of any possible breach of the order previously issued.
Greyhound Racing Ireland have established there were no greyhounds in the immediate care of Ms Connolly, at her home, and that all greyhounds currently registered to her were with licenced trainers. The last registered activity of greyhounds, understood to be owned by Ms Connolly in Ireland, was last March, at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, latter venue located in Bishopstown, West Co. Cork, when her greyhound ‘Paper Moon’ raced for the eighth time since her May 2022 court order. Ms Connolly is also understood to have trialled ‘Hot Throttle’ at the same track, where the majority of her greyhound activity had taken place. It was in the United Kingdom that Ms Connolly had entered into a collaboration with British champion greyhound trainer Mr Mark Wallis and her partner Mr Mike Davis in 2021.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is aware of Ms Connolly’s previous court conviction under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, handed out here in the Republic of Ireland and are understood to be involved in their own investigations.
The Mid-West Region’s (Limerick, Clare & Tipperary) bid to host the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2025, will be presented to officials from the WRC Promoters and Motorsport Ireland at Limerick Racecourse on Thursday next.
The Patrickswell venue has been put forward by the Limerick Motor Club in association with the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, as the base location for the prestigious international event which is returning to Ireland for the first time since 2009.
If successful, Limerick Racecourse would be transformed into a 10,000 square metre service park and international media centre as well as the WRC fan zone for the duration of the competition, which Ireland is expected to host for three years. It also would host more than 1,500 volunteers and hundreds of officials, marshals and service crew members from the world’s largest rallying teams, including M-sport Ford, Toyota Gazoo racing and Hyundai shell mobis.
More than 250,000 spectators are expected to travel from overseas to Ireland for the event and it is hoped that Limerick’s proximity to Shannon Airport and major motorway infrastructure will bolster its bid.
Maurice Meskell of Limerick Motor Club commented “Working in recent months with the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, we feel that we have put together a strong case to bring this prestigious international sporting event to the Mid-West. Limerick Racecourse is an ideal location due to its quality connectivity and established service areas and we feel our bid is further strengthened by the support we have received across the region from Elected Members, Limerick City and County Council, Fáilte Ireland, An Garda Síochána, local Chambers of Commerce, Shannon Airport, Motor Clubs in surrounding counties and the wider business community,” he added.
Karen Ronan, General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau said a successful Limerick bid would deliver significant economic dividends to the wider region. “The experience of other regions suggests that substantial and broad economic benefits are associated with hosting the World Rally Championship” she explained. The Mexican state of Guanajuato this year saw more than 600,000 rallying fans gather for the WRC leading to a €36.5m injection in the local economy along with high hotel occupancy rates and prominent international media coverage. The support received locally for our bid suggests that Limerick is ready and willing to deliver a hugely successful base in Ireland to stage the event for Motorsport Ireland and the WRC.”
Explaining the background to the bid, Kieran Ambrose of Limerick Motor Club stated, “Motorsport Ireland initially requested motor clubs to submit expressions of interest after which Limerick was included in a shortlist of 3 potential locations. We feel that Limerick Racecourse is unrivalled in terms of its accessibility, quality connectivity, existing serviced areas, and track record of successfully managing large-scale and high-profile events. We look forward to an announcement being made by WRC Promoters & Motorsport Ireland in the days following the visit. No matter the outcome we are looking forward to rowing in behind whomever is successful in the bid to ensure Ireland puts on a show when hosting the WRC.”
A decision on the host location will be made by the WRC Promoters & Motorsport Ireland next week. Kerry and Waterford are the other shortlisted locations.
Inaugurated in 1973, it is the second oldest of the FIA’s world championships after Formula One. Each season, which lasts one calendar year, separate championship titles are awarded to drivers, co-drivers and manufacturers.
Event coincides with 100th anniversary of GAA Handball.
University of Limerick (UL) has been announced as the host venue for the 2024 World Wallball Championships from August 18th to 23rd.
World Champion Conor McElduff; Gerald Mitchell, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick; and Rory Grace of UL Wolves at the announcement in UL today that University of Limerick will host the 2024 World Wallball Championships.
Formerly known as “The World Handball Championships”, the tournament will see more than 750 competitors, from across the world, battle it out on 10 newly constructed courts in one of Ireland’s leading indoor venues, at the UL Sport Arena.
Wallball is the fastest-growing version of the sport of handball with a significant presence in mainland Europe, the UK and the United States. The triennial event is traditionally hosted in rotation by Ireland, the United States and Canada, with Australia also hosting the 1988 event. Ireland last hosted the competition in 2012.
Hosted at UL Sport and supported by UL Events, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Limerick City and County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Munster Handball Council, next year’s event also coincides with the centenary of GAA Handball.
Welcoming today’s announcement, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr. Gerald Mitchell said, “This announcement is another huge win for Limerick and the Shannon Region. This six-day event will make a valuable contribution to the local economy. It helps to further enhance Limerick’s reputation as a sport tourism sport destination as we prepare for the hosting of The 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare.”
Mr Conor McDonnell, GAA Handball President commented, “We are delighted that next year’s World Wallball Championships and Irish Nationals will be staged in world class facilitates of the University of Limerick. This promises to be the biggest and most spectacular handball event ever. GAA Handball want to thank all our partners who have helped make this happen. Please support the Championships by volunteering and participating”.
Mr David Britton, Head of GAA Handball stated, “GAA Handball would like to thank the GAA, Munster Handball Council, Munster GAA and the University of Limerick for all their hard work and support in bringing the 2024 World Wallball Championships to the state-of-the-art UL complex. The event promises to be a fantastic platform for our sport to showcase itself on an international stage. Next year GAA Handball celebrates 100 years as a member of the GAA family, and I could not think of a more fitting way to mark such an important milestone.”
Mr David Ward of UL Events added, “We are delighted to have been chosen as the host venue for the World Wallball Championships, which will see the provision of 10 newly constructed courts at the UL Sport Arena. These World Championships will bring a sporting and economic boost to Limerick with an anticipated 6000 bed nights. We look forward to working with all stakeholders in providing the athletes an amazing one stop shop Olympic Village experience and to showcase the sport of GAA Handball at its very best.”
According to Ms Karen Brosnahan, General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, “The Bureau’s goal is to attract business and sports tourism to The Shannon Region to help underpin services at Shannon Airport and deliver an economic impact to the tourism sector in the region. I want to acknowledge the role of ambassadors who are hugely important in sourcing and winning lucrative tourism business for the Shannon Region. Fáilte Ireland’s support for the region in bidding for international business also has been instrumental in securing this and other events.”
The World Handball Championships take place in UL Arena from August 18th to 23rd, 2024, and will be followed by the 4-Wall (40×20) World Championships, later in the year in Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois and Carlow.
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