Celebration of Nenagh

Recognising the contribution made by people and businesses to the town

It was a special night of celebrating all things Nenagh at the town’s beautiful new Tourist Office & Visitor Centre in Banba Square. Entitled ‘A Celebration of Nenagh’ this was a follow on from some previous events organised under the banner of Nenagh 800, which was based on an approximate date of completion of the iconic Nenagh Castle around 1220.

Chairperson of the Nenagh 800 Committee, Rosemary Joyce, welcomed everyone to the event, held on Tuesday of last week, including the award recipients as well as the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, Cllr Ger Darcy, Cllr John ‘Rocky’ McGrath, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, Chief Executive Officer, Joe MacGrath, and other elected representatives.

On the evening there was entertainment and refreshments, but the main item of business was recognising the contribution made by a number of people and businesses to the town. Prior to the medal-presentation ceremony, Gary Scully put in a sparkling performance of his lyrical ode, ‘Nenagh, Mo Stór, and this uplifting homage set a perfect tone for the evening’s proceedings.

The following are the citations for the recent recipients of Nenagh 800 medals:

Joe MacGrath

He has been instrumental in securing and delivering significant investment not just for Nenagh but also for the whole county. A passionate follower of Éire Óg and Tipperary hurling but it is in the field of local government that he has made such an outstanding contribution.

Noreen O’Sullivan

Together with her husband Jim, they were the proprietors of one of Nenagh’s best known establishments for many years – Rocky’s on Kickham St. Noreen was also a key player in the pub trade and in 2014 became the first female president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland

Vinny Savage

Over the years he has helped so many through his work with the Irish Pilgrimage Trust, facilitating annual visits to Lourdes and successfully fund-raising to help the cause. In recent times he undertook a new cause - raising funds for the provision of defibrillators across the town of Nenagh.

Nuala Kennedy

The work of Nenagh Tidy Towns Committee, led by its Chairperson Nuala, ensures that the town looks its best. Tidy Towns Committees play their part in meeting the environmental challenges through promoting sustainability and biodiversity. Nenagh Town was awarded its first bronze medal in the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition in 2015 and has retained it since then.

Peter Ward

The proprietor of Country Choice is one of Nenagh’s greatest ambassadors in relation to food. The Kenyon St store boasts displays of fresh produce and terrific homestyle Irish cooking. A firm supporter of the Irish language, Peter is passionate about food and is a renowned advocate of slow cooking and has featured on many television shows and at countless events.

Mary Shiels

Mary has spent close to half a century training children in athletics and has volunteered to help out at almost every Special Olympics World Games staged over the past 20 years, starting when the games were hosted by Ireland back in 2003.

Michael Cleary

Michael made 26 championship appearances with Tipperary in 10 championship seasons between 1988 and 1997 and finished with a tally of 10-108. He won two All Irelands and was selected on the best hurling championship 15 of the 1990s. The four-time All Star also coached the Tipperary Camogie Team to All-Ireland glory and continues to run the family business JKCs.

Kevin Whelan

The man whose walking tours of the town are both entertaining and educational, who greets visitors to Nenagh Castle and is a fount of knowledge of the history and heritage of the area. Also a long-standing member of Nenagh Players who this year are celebrating their 80th Anniversary.

Brendan Treacy

His books of photographs of the people of Nenagh and various events are a wonderful archival collection and will be forever a legacy to this town. His generosity in sharing his collection has been outstanding and so many of the pictures on the walls of the Tourist Office are from his archives.

Frank McGrath

Nenagh is a town that is blessed with its retail sector. The Nenagh & District Chamber of Commerce continue to represent the interests of the business sector in the town. Frank was a hands-on worker when it came to organising events such as Santa in the Castle, the Taste of Nenagh and many more.

Paudie Grace & Noel Stanley

Nenagh Brass Band are an essential part of any Nenagh celebration. They willingly give of their time to perform at a vast range of events. Whether it be fundraisers, visits to nursing homes, turning on of Christmas lights, St Patrick’s Day Festivities, Nenagh Brass Band will be seen and heard.

Nenagh Guardian

The Guardian is the longest established and best-known local newspaper circulating in North Tipperary. It has recorded many momentous events over the decades, from the Great Famine and mass emigration of the nineteenth century, through two World Wars, the struggle for independence and Civil War in the emergent Irish state, and on to the economic boom. The Guardian have been instrumental in the promotion of Nenagh through their balanced coverage of the various news stories and their willingness to include the positive achievements and good news as well as two recent supplements on Nenagh Castle and Nenagh Gaol.

Shay Spain

Sadly, Shay is no longer with us but his legacy of all things musical lives on and was very evident in the many tributes and the attendance at his funeral. It is appropriate that we give testament to the esteem with which he was held in Nenagh. His sons David and Alan accepted a Nenagh 800 medal in memory of the late great Shay Spain.