The final result saw Árdscoil Rís bring Limerick’s 17-year search for the Dr. Harty Cup title to an end when they saw off  the defending Munster and All-Ireland [...]]]> Yesterday the much anticipated second replay of the Dr Harty Cup final, between champions Thurles CBS and  Ardscoil Ris,  took place in McDonagh Park, Nenagh, at 2.30pm.

The final result saw Árdscoil Rís bring Limerick’s 17-year search for the Dr. Harty Cup title to an end when they saw off  the defending Munster and All-Ireland champions, with a massive ten points to spare.

Ardscoil Ris now have become the first Limerick team, since the Sexton Street CBS in 1993, to win the trophy and Thurles must  quickly regroup for next Monday’s All-Ireland quarter-final showdown with Kilkenny CBS.

After two previous epic encounters finished level, yet another big crowd arrived in Nenagh for part three of this saga, with an official attendance of almost 2,000 and with  U-16s  admitted free of charge.

Ardscoil Ris got off to a flying start when Niall Kennedy’s  long-range shot found its way into the net in just the third minute of play.
Goals from Kevin Downes and Brendan O’Connor helped Árdscoil Rís into a 2-7 to 0-8 interval lead before Mark Ryan’s second half three-pointer sent the Limerick school well on its way to victory.
CBS came roaring back with a succession of four unanswered points before half-time to cut the  lead to 0-8 to 2-7, however with the wind advantage yet to play it was not to be their day this year.

Pat Ralph slotted over three points from midfield for the Thurles camp, but while they had scoring contributions from six other players, no fewer than nine Ardscoil Ris players found their intended targets.

Final result – Ardscoil Rís 3-15 – Thurles CBS 0-14.

Pictures courtesy J.O’Loughlin.

Meanwhile, Tipperary Senior’s have named their team to play Galway in Sunday’s Allianz GAA Hurling National League Division 1 clash in Thurles.

Tipperary have made four changes from the side which defeated Kilkenny last weekend.

Paddy Stapleton, Michael Cahill, Seamus Hennessy and Jody Brennan come in to replace Paul Curran, Thomas Stapleton, Benny Dunne and Micheál Webster.

The fifteen Tipperary squad to play Galway on Sunday in Thurles is as follows

Brendan Cummins, Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher, Brendan Maher, Declan Fanning, Conor O’Mahony, Shane Maher, Michael Cahill, Shane McGrath, Seamus Hennessy, Jody Brennan, John O’Brien, Eoin Kelly(captain) Lar Corbett, Noel McGrath.

Throw-in is set for 2.30pm.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, Deputy Noel Coonan described as ‘really maddening’ Minister Eamon Ryan’s comments that he anticipates an increase in the demand for high speed broadband into the future. Deputy Coonan asked about progress in creating a ‘one-stop shop’ to which the Minister for Communications said the context for [...]]]>

Mid West - Unplugged

Speaking in the Dáil recently, Deputy Noel Coonan described as ‘really maddening’ Minister Eamon Ryan’s comments that he anticipates an increase in the demand for high speed broadband into the future.
Deputy Coonan asked about progress in creating a ‘one-stop shop’ to which the Minister for Communications said the context for the proposal is ‘the anticipated increase in demand for high speed broadband into the future.’
In response, the North Tipperary Fine Gael TD said:

“In the three years since I have been a Member of the House, I have heard the Minister pontificate about what he is doing in terms of broadband and set targets which he has consistently failed to meet.  To hear him say he anticipates a demand for high speed broadband is really maddening, especially if one comes from my region of the mid-west which has a higher than average rate of unemployment. Shannon Development has stated clearly that the most significant barrier to job creation in the mid-west is the lack of a high speed broadband system.  It is simply not there.  Metropolitan Area Networks have been in the ground and waiting connection for years and it is frustrating for broadband providers and the general public. I would like a time-frame and for the Minister to state when this will happen.  He could have given this answer last September.  I do not want to listen to the same story from the Minister next September,” said Deputy Coonan.

Ireland is still behind the EU average broadband penetration rate and there is less broadband penetration in rural areas than in urban areas. Ireland’s ranking in the EU’s Broadband Performance Index is 23rd out of 29 countries.

Ireland, is grouped in the fifth and lowest cluster group with Latvia, Hungary, and Estonia. The socio-economic context is more favourable in Ireland than in the other countries, but high prices and low speeds, limit its performance, as a result of weak competition. High prices, low speeds and limited rural coverage, hold back performance for the whole group.

In one of the most exciting hurling encounter this year,  over 3,000 spectators saw Thurles CBS and Ard Scoil Ris play out a cracking draw after extra time in the Dr. Harty Cup hurling final replay at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary on Saturday afternoon last.

Thurles CBS captain Denis Maher’s goal [...]]]>

"CBS reach for the sky"

In one of the most exciting hurling encounter this year,  over 3,000 spectators saw Thurles CBS and Ard Scoil Ris play out a cracking draw after extra time in the Dr. Harty Cup hurling final replay at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary on Saturday afternoon last.

Thurles CBS captain Denis Maher’s goal in the first minute did not deter the sharpness of Ard Scoil Ris who dominated the first 20 minutes and raced to a 1-8 to 1-2 lead. Thurles CBS however were soon to respond with four unanswered points coming up to the interval which saw Ard Scoil Ris lead by 1-9 to 1-6.

"A clash with the ash"

In the second half, substitute Kevin Slattery of Thurles CBS drew the sides level with a goal after 33 minutes. Thurles took the lead in the 53rd minute with a long range free taken by Pat Ralph which ended up in the net.  Despite 14 men, with Cathal McInerney sent off, Ard Scoil Ris managed to equalise.
Final score after normal time saw Thurles CBS 3-10 – Ard Scoil Ris 1-16.

Dramatic extra time was now to follow and back up to 15 men, Ard Scoil Ris took the lead again with a goal from Declan Hannon. Denis Maher’s penalty however also found the net, leaving Ard Scoil Ris leading by two points, 2-20 to CBS Thurles 4-12, at the half-time mark in extra time.
Thurles CBS scored the first three points in the second half of extra time, but a long range point from Ard Scoil Ris’s Declan Hannon ensured no winner on the day.

Final Score: Thurles CBS 4-15  – Ard Scoil Ris 2-21.

Pictures courtesy John O’Loughlin.

Niamh successfully topped Friday night’s public vote and [...]]]> If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Now after years of misfires, misfits and a mischievous turkey, Ireland has spoken and placed their 2010 Eurovision hopes and dreams in the hands of a real talent who has already tasted that sweet success that is Eurovision glory, Niamh Kavanagh.

Niamh successfully topped Friday night’s public vote and regional judging on the Late Late Show to earn her place in Oslo for what surely promises to be Ireland’s most realistic hope for Euro glory in over a decade.

The winning song ‘It’s For You’ fought off some stiff competition, but in the end, scoring maximum points, this song correctly came out the clear winner.

Eurovision purists will know Niamh from her past heroics, way back in 1993, where in a unforgettable night in Millstreet, she won over the Union with her rapturous rendition of ‘In Your Eyes’, the second of Ireland’s ‘3 in a row’ Euro successes on the 1990’s.

The Dubliner, who now lives in County Antrim, surely has what it takes to drag Ireland out of the Eurovision doldrums and back to the glory days that defined the nation’s songbook in the 90’s.

Ireland holds the record for the most number of wins in the contest, having won a total of seven times, including three times in a row in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

We’re behind you all the way Niamh.

Paidraig Maher Tipperary reaches high against Kilkenny

This long awaited game took place under pleasant Spring sunshine on the third time of asking. Two previous attempts having being [...]]]> Reigning All Ireland champions Kilkenny failed to show previous form against old rivals Tipperary, in this afternoon’s re-fixed Allianz NHL Division 1 hurling clash in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Paidraig Maher Tipperary reaches high against Kilkenny

This long awaited game took place under pleasant Spring sunshine on the third time of asking. Two previous attempts having being cancelled because of heavy snowy conditions forcing last minute postponement.

This afternoon a 20,000 plus following were admitted free of charge to the mecca of Tipperary Hurling, which saw both teams meet for the first time since Kilkenny retained the All-Ireland title back last September.

Tipperary captain Eoin Kelly and Padraic Maher were in top form with the latter immersed in a most entertaining battle with Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin for most of the match.

Noel McGrath’s pass to Eoin Kelly, found the Kilkenny goal before half time to put Tipp in the lead 1-06 to Kilkenny’s 0-06.

Despite  finding their rhythm early in the second half , Kilkenny were not as accurate as one would expect and ran up a series of consecutive wides.

John Mulhall managed to close the gap to two points for Kilkenny, but  Jody Brennan and McGrath put the icing on the cake for Tipperary with late points to secure Tipp’s four-point win.

However it was the accuracy of  Tipperary Capt Eoin Kelly, who continued throughout the game, to enhance the score board for Tipperary, with a final personal tally of 1-7.

Final Score: Tipperary 1-14 – Kilkenny 0-13

Picture courtesy J.O’Loughlin

We are told that these Government Ministers are using St Patrick’s Day as an opportunity [...]]]> Although some senior Government Ministers are staying at home, this coming St. Patrick’s Day, 23 key Government figures are flying to locations around the world to meet with key business and political figures to sell our wares.

We are told that these Government Ministers are using St Patrick’s Day as an opportunity to promote Ireland to locations around the world.

We understand that the Minister for Transport Mr Noel Dempsey will be in Toronto, Canada this St Patrick’s Day, to attend the Ireland Fund’s St Patrick’s day lunch with 1,000 business and political decision makers, meeting clients and their customers at an Enterprise Ireland business breakfast.  It would appear, however, that Mr Dempsey’s “Ministerial Mercedes”, not to mention the vehicles of local TD’s, Local and County Councillors have not driven on the road from Templetuohy to Johnstown in the past three years.

The video hereunder demonstrates the current state of the road presently tolerated and shared by residents and those trying to transact their everyday business in and around Thurles, Templetuohy and the Moyne areas of Co.Tipperary.

We now ask a simple question “Minister, with the greatest respect, how do you promote a country with a secondary road structure familiar, only, to a fourth world State”

While in daylight this road surface is visible, some night soon some unfamiliar stranger to this area is going to loose their life.

This years St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Thurles will be held on Sunday the 21st of March The Parade leaves from Abbey Road at 2.45pm and all participants in this years Parade should be in Abbey Road by 2.15pm.  John Kenehan and Martin Taylor, with [...]]]> Tomas Gleeson reports on forthcoming St. Patrick’s Day activities in Thurles.

This years St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Thurles will be held on Sunday the 21st of March
The Parade leaves from Abbey Road at 2.45pm and all participants in this years Parade should be in Abbey Road by 2.15pm.  John Kenehan and Martin Taylor, with the help of some stewards, will be in charge of starting the Parade.

St Patrick's Day Parade - 21st March in Thurles

The Parade, with ten bands which promises to be one of our biggest parades ever, will head down Friar Street and on to Liberty Square where the reviewing-stand will be in position.
At the same time as the Parade is starting in Abbey Road, a blessing of the Parade and its participants will take place in Liberty Square and this will be followed by the band playing our National Anthem.

A full afternoon’s entertainment has been organised for that day and it promises to be an enjoyable afternoon for all the family. There is music and dance in Liberty Square from 2.15pm to the music of ‘The Moynihan Brothers’.   There are also face painters, a balloon modeller, stilt walkers, magic, comedy etc. to entertain both adults and children.    This entertainment will continue after the Parade, until approximately 5.00pm.

Prize Fund

A prize fund of up to €3,000 will see over 20 prizes and 700 medals been given out on the day.  The prizes will be presented at a ceremony in Hayes Hotel at 4.45pm approximately.   Prizes will also be awarded for the best dressed window and for the best Irish window. All shops are asked to decorate their premises appropriate for the occasion.

Well done to the business community in Thurles, who have contributed so generously to the funding of this Parade. Sponsorship continues to be accepted and all such sponsorship will be acknowledged.    Stewards are required for the period from 2.15pm to 5.00pm to help out on the day of the Parade.   Please report to Jimmy Purcell (Chief Steward) at the reviewing stand at 2.15pm if you are willing to help out.   Show your support and bring along your Irish flags or hats and add a bit of colour to the day.  Many of the prizes will be on display in McMahon’s window in Liberty Square until Saturday 20th March.    All spectators are asked to donate 50c towards the running of the Parade and a bucket collection for this purpose will be taken up during the Parade.  For further information, entries or sponsorship please contact Tom Gleeson (Telephone 087-9732837) or visit the web site www.stpatricksdayparadethurles.com

Parking and Traffic Restrictions

From 11am to 4.45pm:-
No parking in Liberty Square from Executive Menswear to Fones4U.
No parking from Brennan’s Pub to Hayes Hotel entrance.
No parking in the centre of the Square between those areas.
No traffic through this section of the Square from 2.15pm to 4.45pm.  Diversions will be in operation.
The viewing stand will be placed outside The First Active and the band stand will be placed in the centre of the Square opposite Brennan’s Pub.  Both of these spaces should be clear by 10am on Sunday morning.
No parking on the left hand side of Abbey Road from the Kennedy Park round-about to the Railway Bridge
for the period from 2pm to 4pm.

See you all in Liberty Square, on Sunday the 21st of March.

Required in Thurles – Logistics/Transport Administrator, to join their team.

The Role: Organise deliveries to end customers. Administer dispatch dockets and loading sheets. Liaising and coordinating the transport staff. Booking of finished products and delivery of the same.

The Person: Minimum [...]]]> Company:      La Creme
Address:     4th Floor, Wallace House, Maritana Gate, Canada Street, Co. Waterford, Ireland
Tel:     051 309651
Website:     www.lacreme.ie

Required in Thurles – Logistics/Transport Administrator, to join their team.

The Role:
Organise deliveries to end customers.
Administer dispatch dockets and loading sheets.
Liaising and coordinating the transport staff.
Booking of finished products and delivery of the same.

The Person:
Minimum of 1-2 years experience in similar role.
Good organisation skills and attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Good PC skills, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook.
Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate confidently with employees and clients at all levels.

Location:   Tipperary.
Payment : €24000 – €27000 per annum.
Category: Secretarial / Admin / PA.
Terms: Permanent, Full-time.

Contact: Stephen Rose – E Mail:  srose@lacreme.ie

Click Here for details.

As we have now officially entered into Spring, it’s time to start thinking again about  growing our own vegetables. With St Patrick ’s Day approaching fast, don’t forget to [...]]]> Next meeting of GIY (Grow It Yourself) Thurles will be held on Thursday next, March 11th, at 7.00pm in the Thurles  Library building, The Source, Cathedral  Street, Thurles.

As we have now officially entered into Spring, it’s time to start thinking again about  growing our own vegetables.
With St Patrick ’s Day approaching fast, don’t forget to set your early potatoes.

Tipperary Organic Food

The GIY networks team aim to take the ’self’ out of ’self-sufficiency’ by getting garden growers together on a regular basis to chat and learn the tips of the trade from one another.

Note: The meetings are free and open to people interested in food production at all levels, e.g. from growing a few herbs on the balcony to complete self-sufficiency for beginners as well as old hands.

For more information on the GIY Network visit www.giyireland.com

And talking about healthy food, congratulations to “Omega Beef Direct“ in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who won an environmental award for its sustainable farming and production methods.

Joe and Eileen Condon’s organic farm is close to the Knockmealdown mountains here in Co Tipperary and they scooped their top prize in this years annual food awards presented by the Irish Food Writers Guild, Dublin.
This is the 16th year of the awards, which seek to promote the highest quality of produce, and craftsmanship.