Thurles

macjohn · 11-07-2017 4:18pm

Ya, great to seem them booked up and people spending a few bob in the area.
Will help balance out the many quiet nights.
Sat night prob busy anyway with weddings etc - its trying to sell them in small towns the rest of the week!

11-07-2017 7:44pm

lisasimpson wrote: »

Looks like they missed out with ed sherran too.

Difference with Ed though is the demographic. Residents would be more acceptable to the type of crowd Bruce would bring as it is typically an older more sensible crowd and it would sell out.

Joe_ Public · 11-07-2017 7:53pm

Ah the Feile, it was after my time really, but never met anyone who attended who didn't have at least one horror story to relate!

As for Thurles town, always seemed fairly well equipped accommodation wise to me with the Anner, Hayes and the H&J. Nenagh has the Abbey Court and that's about it as far as I'm aware.

20silkcut · 12-07-2017 11:06am

Tyson Fury wrote: »

macjohn wrote: »

The number of rooms is fixed, and suitable for the normal market so ya there might not be huge numbers of rooms but thats not the point. What is there is all booked up - so it has a positive effect.
Struggling to see how you found a negative!

When the stadiums for the rugby world cup were announced the reason Thurles wasn't selected was because lack of accommodation. If hotels in North Tipp are all booked up over a qualifier in the football then this backs up the opinion of the RFU.

Both Limerick and kk have suitable accommodation and as a result have been chosen as host cities. That's the negative. I would have thought it was quite obvious.

Cashel is another example, the rock is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Ireland yet the town doesn't benefit much as 90% of the people visiting the area won't stay overnight in the town due to lack of accommodation.

Really puts into perspective how much of a blow the town the shooting down of the Tipperary venue in two mile borris was. If that had to become a reality then Thurles is a destination.
The only reason Semple stadium is popular is because Thurles is easy to get home out of. We have great motorways and railways to make sure people can get the hell out and home as quickly as possible .

macjohn · 12-07-2017 7:50pm

The two mile borris venture was to be a destination in itself and creating its own market. Flying in big rollers. It is only financially viable with the large casino. But ya there would likely to have been spin offs for Thurles as the venue would have been less than 9km from the town. But the main centre still would not be Thurles. If it went ahead would bring great demand for services and supplies so thus generating a lot for the wider region.

Most provincial towns wouldn't be a destination in and of themselves.

The reason Semple Stadium is popular is because it is the 2nd largest stadium in the country and is an excellent pitch to play on.
It happens to be located in a relatively small town, but is still a great resource for the town.

Yes it location makes it easy to get to and for example Cork fans have traditionally enjoyed travelling to Thurles and in fairness they spend when there.
But for qualifiers games for example regardless of where there are for many people they are just a day trip. As traditional Sunday games would have been - day trip, game, few pints, home for work Monday morning.

Yes obviously people do stay over for some games but I dont think its a matter of getting the hell out its more a matter of provincial towns are not a place you would head to/stay over for a wild night out. They are just too small.

20silkcut wrote: »

We have great motorways and railways to make sure people can get the hell out and home as quickly as possible .

I would suggest the excellent motorway and rail facilities encourage people to travel in the first instance, enjoy their day, spend a few €€ and then its easy to leave.
Its not a matter of "getting the hell out" because to get out they have to travel in in the first instance.

Plus that is the nature of a good portion of the travelling gaa public, regardless if the match is in Cork or Dublin - a good portion head straight to the car and on the road home.

frankz · 12-07-2017 11:45pm

20silkcut wrote: »

Really puts into perspective how much of a blow the town the shooting down of the Tipperary venue in two mile borris was. If that had to become a reality then Thurles is a destination.
The only reason Semple stadium is popular is because Thurles is easy to get home out of. We have great motorways and railways to make sure people can get the hell out and home as quickly as possible .

No. If it had been developed then the Tipperary Venue in Two Mile Borris would have become a destination. Anyone flying in or using the m8 wouldn't be near Thurles.

No. Its popular because the CCCC schedule games there. They do this because its one of the their main stadiums and can hold the numbers.
Core supporters will travel regardless of venue. Others will depend on whether its easy to get into. After a game you normally are under less time pressure.

Yes, after a match, a gig, mass, a revolution, a colonoscopy, work, many people like to get home quickly! (People liking to get home - not the revelation of the century!)

20silkcut · 15-07-2017 7:31am

macjohn wrote: »

The two mile borris venture was to be a destination in itself and creating its own market. Flying in big rollers. It is only financially viable with the large casino. But ya there would likely to have been spin offs for Thurles as the venue would have been less than 9km from the town. But the main centre still would not be Thurles. If it went ahead would bring great demand for services and supplies so thus generating a lot for the wider region.

Most provincial towns wouldn't be a destination in and of themselves.

The reason Semple Stadium is popular is because it is the 2nd largest stadium in the country and is an excellent pitch to play on.
It happens to be located in a relatively small town, but is still a great resource for the town.

Yes it location makes it easy to get to and for example Cork fans have traditionally enjoyed travelling to Thurles and in fairness they spend when there.
But for qualifiers games for example regardless of where there are for many people they are just a day trip. As traditional Sunday games would have been - day trip, game, few pints, home for work Monday morning.

Yes obviously people do stay over for some games but I dont think its a matter of getting the hell out its more a matter of provincial towns are not a place you would head to/stay over for a wild night out. They are just too small.

20silkcut wrote: »

We have great motorways and railways to make sure people can get the hell out and home as quickly as possible .

I would suggest the excellent motorway and rail facilities encourage people to travel in the first instance, enjoy their day, spend a few €€ and then its easy to leave.
Its not a matter of "getting the hell out" because to get out they have to travel in in the first instance.

Plus that is the nature of a good portion of the travelling gaa public, regardless if the match is in Cork or Dublin - a good portion head straight to the car and on the road home.

Just looking back on my post now I was wrong to say that accessibility is the only reason semple stadium is a popular venue.
When you think back 30 years ago when they used to jam 60,000 into semple stadium for Munster finals and with all the other industries you had in the town which have since disappeared things really were that bit better economically. Actually more than a bit better. I remember seeing an episode of the RTÉ series "as the crow flies" filmed in the early 80's as the plane flew over Thurles it described it as a busy prosperous market town fed by a rich hinterland. Not so sure that description could be applied today.

lisasimpson · 15-07-2017 9:07am

The lack of industry/employment in mid tipp is a big problem.who are the main employers in thurles now, Drew Valley? Does templemore even benefit much from garda college apart from graduation days? Considering both are close to motorways on the main train lines, they are towns that should be doing a lot better for themselves

15-07-2017 12:21pm

lisasimpson wrote: »

The lack of industry/employment in mid tipp is a big problem.who are the main employers in thurles now, Drew Valley? Does templemore even benefit much from garda college apart from graduation days? Considering both are close to motorways on the main train lines, they are towns that should be doing a lot better for themselves

Hopefully if our greenway project gets the go ahead it will bring more visitors to Thurles at least.

Sigma Force · 10-08-2017 5:29pm

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Did anybody do Darkness into Light in Thurles this morning?
1650 people turned up.
I know it was the first year being held in Thurles but I felt it was a let down.
Ive done it in Cashel and there was a better buzz. For example there was a choir on the plaza, sausages and tea at the finish point with a DJ to really bouy up the mood.
There was no vibe in Thurles with just tea and biscuits at end. People just disbanded.
I feel for an event that gets massive publicly and is for an excellent cause, local businesses could have been approached for sponsorship to really make a memorable event not just another 5k walk.

I know this was posted a few months ago but it drew me to the subject of mental health facilities in Thurles. There are very few for both adults and teens and it's a disgrace. The HSE is not servicing the area right there's nothing there for people in real distress and if there is the help is minimal. Counselling services are needed for adults and teens on low incomes and should be available for everyone. It's a disgrace how little there is there. It needs to be addressed.

Sigma Force · 10-08-2017 5:34pm

20silkcut wrote: »

Really puts into perspective how much of a blow the town the shooting down of the Tipperary venue in two mile borris was. If that had to become a reality then Thurles is a destination.
The only reason Semple stadium is popular is because Thurles is easy to get home out of. We have great motorways and railways to make sure people can get the hell out and home as quickly as possible .

That whole twomileborris thing i think is a wash out. Thurles needs to do something different to promote itself. The only thing that brings life and business to a tow in tourism and tourists by pass thurles for cashel. All those old watch towers surrounding thurles could be made in to an historical tour, I'm sure if the right people delved into the history of the town they could come up with something. It'll never have much going for it unless it brings in tourists.

the_pen_turner · 10-08-2017 6:14pm

Sigma Force wrote: »

20silkcut wrote: »

Really puts into perspective how much of a blow the town the shooting down of the Tipperary venue in two mile borris was. If that had to become a reality then Thurles is a destination.
The only reason Semple stadium is popular is because Thurles is easy to get home out of. We have great motorways and railways to make sure people can get the hell out and home as quickly as possible .

That whole twomileborris thing i think is a wash out. Thurles needs to do something different to promote itself. The only thing that brings life and business to a tow in tourism and tourists by pass thurles for cashel. All those old watch towers surrounding thurles could be made in to an historical tour, I'm sure if the right people delved into the history of the town they could come up with something. It'll never have much going for it unless it brings in tourists.

Look at the gaa . They should have bought Hayes s hotel and turn d it into a museum. Imagine being able to go in and stand in the room where it all started.
With the kitchen already there is would be ideal for a cafe

lisasimpson · 10-08-2017 6:19pm

Does Thurles get much benefits from having LIT campus in it. Does it bring any business to the town? The Eirn foods site just sitting there is such a shame.
Also agree the mental health facilities in mid tipp. Seriously lacking. A Templemore could do with a nursing home too...there was plans for a retirement style village by the train station in templemore but those plans left with the tiger

PacMan · 10-08-2017 7:23pm

I rather like visiting the shopping centre, pretty good, nice vibes, and the cinema is also good.
Thurles is a dreadful place to drive around, the square is a frightening driving experience, with very bog standard roads.
The source is nice, as is stakelums on the racecourse road.
Thats it really.

lisasimpson · 10-08-2017 8:01pm

Yes the shopping center is nice.can get most things in there and met a friend for coffee and a chat. The only way some of the issues with the square will be resolved is by the town getting a propper ring road
Friar st on the other hand is an embrassment.
Its time people started to kick up a fuss and putting pressure on the powers that be to start doing something about the likes of thurles cashel borris and templemore..As much as I aint a fan of mr kelly nenagh is getting things done,gas pipeline, site secured for the doubling of st conlons, first data (that building is coming along nicely)

shmeee · 10-08-2017 11:15pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Look at the gaa . They should have bought Hayes s hotel and turn d it into a museum. Imagine being able to go in and stand in the room where it all started.
With the kitchen already there is would be ideal for a cafe

Would have been a waste.

They have a museum in the town already in Lar na Pairce and the number of visitors that went there last year was actually embarrassing. Couldn't believe the figure, if I said under 30 paid visitors you'd probably won't believe me but that was it.

Can't see how a museum in Hayes will help in anyway, interest and visitors just ain't there.

Thurles is forgotten about, the majority of people living in Thurles commute on a daily basis to work, great transport networks out of Thurles is the only positive thing; train track and 5 mins from the motorway.

the_pen_turner · 10-08-2017 11:20pm

shmeee wrote: »

Would have been a waste.

They have a museum in the town already in Lar na Pairce and the number of visitors that went there last year was actually embarrassing. Couldn't believe the figure, if I said under 30 paid visitors you'd probably won't believe me but that was it.

Can't see how a museum in Hayes will help in anyway, interest and visitors just ain't there.

Thurles is forgotten about, the majority of people living in Thurles commute on a daily basis to work, great transport networks out of Thurles is the only positive thing; train track and 5 mins from the motorway.

really is it that bad.
I would close the current one and move it.
I'm sure if it was advertised some people might go to it.

nothing left in thurles. completely ignored for generations.

shmeee · 10-08-2017 11:26pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

really is it that bad.
I would close the current one and move it.
I'm sure if it was advertised some people might go to it.

The figure could even have been worse than that on previous years, a loss maker and nothing to drive it.

But needs something added into the mix to stir it up and make it more appealing to visitors, like the Sky Line at Croke Park for the views etc gets people into the stadium. Again it mightn't be an option for the rood of Semple Stadium but things like that attract people and then sell them the GAA aspect of it.

Mantis Toboggan · 10-08-2017 11:32pm

Agree on the ring road for Thurles, badly needed aswell as a second bridge. A few jobs would be nice also.

the_pen_turner · 10-08-2017 11:44pm

biggest problem is most traffic is passing through. all its doing is clogging up all the badly laid out streets.
build a ring road and let them go around.

build proper parking so you could stop if you wanted to.

Mantis Toboggan · 11-08-2017 7:45am

Yeah parking is also a problem however they should get rid of the car park from the square and pave the area. Build a proper multi story building off the square and allow people the first hour or two free parking.

marvin80 · 11-08-2017 8:49am

shmeee wrote: »

The figure could even have been worse than that on previous years, a loss maker and nothing to drive it.

But needs something added into the mix to stir it up and make it more appealing to visitors, like the Sky Line at Croke Park for the views etc gets people into the stadium. Again it mightn't be an option for the rood of Semple Stadium but things like that attract people and then sell them the GAA aspect of it.

Thurles is close to Cashel so they should capitalise on the tourists that visit the rock.
I've never been to that museum (must go in someday) but it doesn't seem to be advertised very well.
It probably needs to be modernised and revamped (going by the trip adviser reviews) and like shmeee said you have to offer something interesting or innovative along with it.

Maybe you go to the museum and learn a bit about hurling and the history and then you're brought upto Semple to give it a go. Croke Park has something similar and tourists seem to enjoy it.

JMLB94 · 11-08-2017 1:05pm

The County Board should house the museum inside or alongside the walls of Semple Stadium. The sky walk idea is excellent, there are tremendous views of Tipperary from that elevation and it would certainly be a good tourist attraction. The museum, a sky walk, a café would all be very doable for relatively small money. Tourist buses could swing by and tourist could get a walking tour of the stadium. Also, when Semple was redeveloped, meeting & conference rooms should have been installed. The Stadium should be run like a business, not like an venue for hosting matches.

The roads around Thurles are shocking, driving on Liberty Sq is terrible as it is too confusing to visitors in the town. Traffic lights are required to control traffic flow better and make it a more stress free driving experience. I've been driving around it over 15 years and I still see people causing havoc daily.

Erin Foods is owned by Richard Quirke as far as I'm aware, the place is full of asbestos so that's not going to be redeveloped any time soon I would imagine. Perfectly safe in it's current state, but would cost hundreds of thousands to remove safely.

Hotels in town are badly needed, The Anner and Hayes have upped their game significantly but the Munster Hotel (across from the Cathedral) is an awful eye sore on the town. It should have been torn down or redeveloped into something more useful. The owners should be made sell it or redevelop it ASAP!! The same guy has purchased another bar/ restaurant beside Lar na Pairce and doesn't plan on doing anything with that either!!

Regarding Tourism, why aren't all our historical sites put on a map around the town with guided walking Tours organised thorugh a small Tourist information office? We have plenty of heritage sites around the town I'm sure that would be of great interest to numerous people.

The people of Thurles have taken a battering with the loss of the Sugar Factory, Erin Foods, The Lisheen Mine and other large companies and nothing has replaced them. A lot of people have lost faith with our local government and TD's who have failed to provide any real sustained employment.

Rant over.

mikep · 11-08-2017 2:55pm

As far as I know planning has been submitted to put a shop in the munster (Supervalu apparently) with a medical centre upstairs.Also I've heard that the new owner makes enough cash from the mobile mast on the roof to cover the cost of borrowing to buy the place..Hopefully they will do something with staelkums/brewery/morriseys/wastermill...
Erin foods has planning for more shops but that planning must be about to lapse.
On another note the new park is becoming overrun with scobies and drinkers at all hours of the day...not a cop to be seen. Needs to be resolved soon or it will become another no go area..

JMLB94 · 15-08-2017 11:24am

I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, just think it's a shame these businesses aren't open and creating employment etc.

macjohn · 15-08-2017 3:10pm

I though the Brewery/Dwans had been bought by the son of a town publican? (who already have a number of pubs)

In terms of tour/museum etc - I think it needs a person with vision and modern thinking at the top. This not against the individual people but find in the Tipp shop/museum it seems to be staffed by people who just had a connection/interest in GAA, which is fine - but they need to be provided with customer service training/marketing training/customer interaction.
A lot seems to be based on relying on youths (or their parents) to just buy the newest gear regardless of style fit etc. To my mind that day is gone. Place needs a professional hand.

There is surely an opening for the museum to do way better and, as mentioned, add a walking tour - towards Hayes*, birthplace etc and other spots.
I wouldn't like to see museum moved to the stadium as it takes the business out of the centre of town were you want visitors to spend a few bob.
Walking tour option could include Catherdal (mass on munster final morning tradition) a fabulous building regardless of ones religious view, the Church behind Mitchell hse etc.

Skywalk great idea but imagine a lot of work to retro fit it to either stand - Stadium tours as an add on to the museum surely be good.
For summer could nearly have option to walk out to stadium - show a video of the throngs on the square and walking up over the bridge and then do the walk.

(*I appreciate Hayes current business is daytime food and drink sales and seems to do well - so obviously they would need to see a return from tours and make sure it wouldn't take from their current business. )

I do always find the driving gas - lots of people obey the rules for a few cars and then decide I am not waiting any longer and just drive on - eg Friar Street to top of Square.

Didn't hear or see anything about Supervalu planning application (in media or local press) but nice if it went ahead.
As are normally locally owned and tailored to market (unlike Tesco/Dunnes) so depending on hours could hit costcutters in town centre.

mikep · 16-08-2017 9:05am

macjohn I just did a quick search on the coco website and the plans for the supermarket in the Munster has been withdrawn, however the planning for the medical centre remains..although i wonder will it go ahead at all..

shmeee · 16-08-2017 12:58pm

mikep wrote: »

macjohn I just did a quick search on the coco website and the plans for the supermarket in the Munster has been withdrawn, however the planning for the medical centre remains..although i wonder will it go ahead at all..

Nothing is going to happen there in the coming few years especially a medical centre, the doctors won't move there and it's impossible to get GP's anyway for Thurles.

Was only bought on the cheap.

jonnybravo · 16-08-2017 2:25pm

shmeee wrote: »

Nothing is going to happen there in the coming few years especially a medical centre, the doctors won't move there and it's impossible to get GP's anyway for Thurles.

Was only bought on the cheap.

I'd imagine the cost to fix all the issues in the Munster would be very prohibitive.

shmeee · 16-08-2017 6:04pm

jonnybravo wrote: »

I'd imagine the cost to fix all the issues in the Munster would be very prohibitive.

It's only 4 walls and a roof at the moment, the whole place was gutted inside.

Water in the basement was a major issue, it was a couple of meters deep. Loads of internal, structural damage.

Seen some photos recently of an army training day inside there and it looked awful, nothing only concrete walls and pillars left.

Thurles

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