Tipperary Rose, Tara Brady, visited Nenagh on Tuesday 18th June and spent an enjoyable day calling to various locations and meeting people. Her visit was arranged and co-ordinated by Victoria Lee from Nenagh Tourist Office.
Tara, who hails from Ballina, was chosen as the Tipperary Rose at a ceremony in the Anner Hotel, Thurles and will go on to represent Tipperary in the Rose of Tralee competition in August. Daughter of Anne and Enda Brady, Tara attended Primary School in Ballina N.S and Secondary School at St. Anne’s Community College in Killaloe. She is one of a family of two, her brother Jack is a teacher in Terenure College. Tara has a major interest in Irish history, culture, heritage, music and dancing.
Tara is part of a lively all-girl trad band, Cailíní Lua. They performed live on the Ray D’Arcy Show on RTE Radio on 21st June. Tara, a student of the Flynn O’ Kane Academy of Dance, Nenagh, danced this year at the World Irish Dance Championship in Glasgow.
Tara visited Nenagh Tourist Office where Information Officer/Tour Guide Victoria Lee gave her a tour, telling the story of Nenagh and its people as portrayed through the various exhibits and images displayed on the walls. Following lunch in Cinnamon Alley, Tara went on to visit the North Tipperary Genealogy & Heritage Centre at the Governor’s House. She was shown around by Nora, Ger, Libby and Amanda seeing the shop, the schoolroom, the forge, the kitchen and hearing the many different stories including that of the Cormack Brothers and the executions at the Gatehouse. From there it was on to meet with Kevin Whelan at Nenagh Castle, the 13th Century keep which was the seat of the Butlers of Ormond. At Nenagh Arts Centre Tara met with artist Jacinta Glasgow and was blown away by her exhibition ’Inner Stillness – Achieving Balance’ which is on display until 30th June. Tara also enjoyed the ‘Irish Tea Party’ exhibition by students of Tipperary ETB in Nenagh Arts Centre - this will continue for June and July. She met with the new Artistic Director of Nenagh Arts Centre, Fionnuala McKenna.
It was then on to a walk around Nenagh accompanied by Rosemary Joyce, District Administrator, where Tara visited a number of shops and received a warm welcome. Following refreshments in Andy’s Gastropub and B&B, Tara went on to launch the Press Photographers Ireland exhibition at the Civic Offices, Nenagh where winner of the prestigious title of AIB Press Photographer of the Year, Alan Betson of the Irish Times, gave a presentation on his work. This exhibition can be seen at the Civic Offices up to 27th June.
Tara was delighted with her visit to Nenagh and said ‘Nenagh is a fabulous place to work and live. Not only that but is a hub of culture, heritage and rich history. I had the most fabulous day touring Nenagh and I would like to encourage visitors from North Tipperary and further afield to come and visit the Nenagh Historic & Cultural Quarter and beyond”.
