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 Pézenas, France – Photo Gerard Connaughton Pézenas, a town in the south of France, was once the seat of local Government for the Languedoc region of France, during the 16th-17th Centuries, and remains to this day, one of the prettiest towns to visit in this French region.
Nestling between the Mediterranean sea and the Haut Languedoc, Pézenas is a town, much like Thurles, which is rich with the sort of good living for which both the French Languedoc region and county Tipperary, are individually in their own right, renowned.
Just like Tipperary speciality foods are numerous. In Pézenas it’s “Les Petits Pates” (a sort of warm mince pie) and “Berlingots” (a unique type of boiled sweet,) an almost inexhaustible range of olives, honey and of course wine. In Tipperary it’s the freshness of our local produce emanating from the Golden Vale, Cashel Blue, Cooleeney Farmhouse, Dunbarra & Gortnamona Cheeses, not forgetting of course Inch House black pudding.
Like Thurles, Pézenas enjoys sumptuous food emanating from the many restaurants dotted throughout the town, which is home to a population of some 8.500 people. Like Thurles also, Pézenas enjoys the arts and an ancient architecture and heritage.
Thurles native Mr Gerard Connaughton, a regular reader of Thurles.Info, is currently enjoying part of his well earned holiday in the Languedoc region. Writing to us from Pézenas he states he is “struck by the similarities and saddened by the differences in economic fortunes,” between his native town Thurles & his chosen holiday destination.
While there are a lot of tourists about, the local market draw French people in huge numbers from all over the Hérault, latter a department in the south of France named after the Hérault River.
Gerard writes, “I visited the Saturday market in the centre of town this morning. I was astonished by the buzz and business activity I witnessed. Pézenas has a population of about 8,500 – similar to Thurles. I believe we made a big mistake moving the market out of Liberty Square!”
Gerard was kind enough to send us a picture of his morning visit to the market area in question.
Do you think our now lifeless Liberty Square here in Thurles could benefit with the return of a morning market? Personally I believe, like Gerard, we need to generate a bit of “buzz and business activity,” in the centre of our town which has presently (I regret to state,) all the appearance of a waiting room in a morgue, or as tourism brochures presently label us “Liberty Square, Thurles, is just one giant car park.”
Perphaps it is now time to launch an attack on our town & reclaim it from the greedy hands of central government officialdom. Your comments please.
If you are a lover of history and on the lookout for a Bargain Priced Weekend Away, then Thurles Co.Tipperary has to be your destination.
A new Tourism group “Hidden Tipperary,” in association with the Anner Hotel, Thurles, Thurles Library and the GAA are offering visitors a chance to relax, while experiencing at first hand, Ireland’s real hidden history, some of which has never been previously revealed.
The week-end break begins at 12.00 noon on Friday August 26th next and runs until 12.00 noon on Sunday 28th inclusive. But Note this year the event is strictly limited to just 100 visiting couples.
Total cost of this weekend is just €60 inclusive and will include 2 nights Bed and Breakfast at the beautiful modern Anner Hotel, Thurles, free guided tours to the Thurles GAA museum, the Thurles Famine Museum, a Thurles Ecclesiastical history lecture and a lecture on how to begin tracing your family roots.
Time will also be given to visitors to shop locally and to experience the friendly atmosphere of a midland town, which has singularly contributed more to Ireland’s past history than any other town in Ireland.
Over this 2 day event, lectures will be undertaken by GAA historian Seamus King, Church historian Monsignor Dr Maurice Dooley, Chief history researcher and archivist from Thurles Library and Curator of Thurles Famine Museum George Willoughby, who will also act as the weekend events co-ordinator.
Those wishing to be part of this bargain weekend event are requested to immediately email george.willo@gmail.com for bookings or for to obtain any further information.
Bookings and Information can also be exchanged by Telephoning 0504-21133 or by Mobile Phone Contact to 086-8785859.
Local people are invited to notify their friends at home and abroad regarding this August event here in Thurles.
 Mullinahone Aircrash News is just breaking that a blue two-seater UK-registered aircraft has crashed, shortly before 11.30 today, in the area of Ballyduggan close to Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary’s on the border with neighbouring County Kilkenny.
The aircraft believed to be a two-seater Pegasus Quantum flexwing microlight, is understood to have taken off from Kilkenny earlier this morning on a training flight.
Reports state that one male, aged in his middle forties, has been removed from the scene, by Coast Guard rescue helicopter, and taken to Waterford Regional Hospital, where he is reported to be in a serious condition.
The light planes pilot, understood to be aged also in his forties, was removed by ground ambulance to hospital, having sustained minor lower body and leg injuries.
Gardai have sealed off the crash site for examination and a Department of Transport air accident investigation team has now been notified to attend, and to investigate the cause of this crash.
Thurles.Info are pleased to report that two Thurles natives, currently visiting in Oslo, are safe and well. Both men who were luckily out of their hotel when the explosion occurred, report tonight that they are without their baggage, passports and other belongings, but have been successfully in touch with the Irish Embassy in Oslo who have promised them every assistance.
The Thurles natives, both male, were staying at the Comfort Hotel Xpress, when the explosion occurred.
All residents have been evacuated from the badly damaged building and some are now resident at the Clarion Hotel Royal Christiania, formerly the Hotel Viking. Both report that the bomb blast tore through central Oslo, shattering windows and leaving at least seven civilian people dead and many injured.
The Thurles visitors report that large sections of the center of Oslo have now been evacuated. “There was a huge explosion, the windows just blew out. Glass everywhere covers the streets. There is much debris, people are injured. It was like a grenade explosion.” the couple report.
Using their iPhones they have been able to send us exclusive pictures of the devastation in the streets, prior to police urging people to stay away from the center of the city and to limit their use of mobile phones.
The attack is understood to be the deadliest in Europe since bomb blasts at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport in January last left at least 37 people dead.
Police state that they don’t expect further blasts, but the question now being asked is who is likely to be behind it. An earlier report this year, by Norwegian intelligence, claimed that there was an increased risk of a Jihadi terrorist attack, with Norwegian citizens reportedly receiving training in Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan.
Oslo is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. It is an important centre for maritime industries and maritime trade in Europe.
 Take a walk on the 'Wild Side,' in Grange, Tipperary The annual Grange / Crag Loop Walk, here in the Slieveardagh Hills, in County Tipperary takes place on Sunday next the 17th July 2011.
Starting time is at 1.30pm and the meeting point is Hogan’s Pub, in the village of Grange, where light refreshments will be served.
Directions to this worthwhile event will be signposted from the surrounding villages of Glengoole, NewBirmingham, Ballingarry, Urlingford, Gortnahoe, Ballysloe and all approach roads.
Directions to Grange [Map Ref:]
If you are a visitor coming from outside the area, from the town of Urlingford on the N8, take the R690 in the direction of Mullinahone. After 2km stay on the R690 as the road splits – the R689 goes to Killenaule. Continue for almost 5km with the impressive stone wall of Kilcooly Abbey to your left, to a junction where you turn left (Following the natural wall line.) off the main road and after 2km you will enter the village of Grange. The trail-head is located opposite Hogan’s Bar.
Grange is a small village in the Slieveardagh Hills on the Tipperary border with Kilkenny. It lies just east of the magnificent ruin of Kilcooly Abbey founded in 1182. Grange derives its name from it being an out-farm or in Gaelic the ‘Gainseach,’ of Kilcooly. The medieval tower-house castle, situated here, would have protected the area of the abbey estate.
The Grange area is widely acknowledged as extremely scenic and interesting in its historical heritage, and is host to a range of wildlife, including fallow deer, red squirrels and many species of rare native flowers.
There are two interlinked looped walks in Grange. The shorter walk is the Grange Loop [3km] and the longer the Crag Loop [6km]. Close to here, Kilcooly derives its name from the Gaelic, Cill Chuile, “The church of the corner,” or angle. The Abbey and all of the Slieveardagh region does indeed lie in a corner, between the hills to the east and the bog and on its west. It is no mystery therefore that this beautiful scenic area is referred to as ‘Tipperary’s Hidden Corner.’
Enjoy your visit, but remember, as in all walking adventures, do bring stout walking shoes, a camera, suitable rain wear, a snack and fluid!
See ya there and for any queries regarding this event:- Tel: 052 9156165 or Tel: 085 1169650.
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