The Tipperary Venue was a proposed super casino development on a projected 325 hectares (800 acres) site adjacent to the M8 motorway at Two-Mile Borris, County Tipperary in Ireland. [1] As originally planned, the project proposed the building of an all-weather racecourse and greyhound tracks, equestrian centre, 500 room hotel, eighteen hole golf course, 15,000 capacity "underground entertainment" venue, heliport, a replica of the White House and a "Las Vegas Strip-style" casino. [2] [3] [4]
While, as of 2015, the project's developers were reportedly "continuing to purchase land and properties in order to develop a casino", [5] as of 2017 it was reported that Ireland's gambling legislation did not support the proposed development. [5] The planning permission for the proposed project expired in 2018. [6]
The development, which was projected (as of 2009) to cost €460m and subsequently granted planning permission by North Tipperary County Council, was originally proposed to include a 500 room "five star" hotel, a large casino, and a replica of the White House. [4] The venue's proposed racecourse was planned to include a national hunt track, a 7-furlong sprint track and an all-weather flood-lit track. This would be combined with a greyhound track, a dual stadium incorporating a capacity for 7,000 patrons and a 15,000-seater underground entertainment venue with a retractable roof. [3] There were further plans for an 18-hole golf course, driving range, retail outlets, equestrian centre, timber chapel, and a heliport. [4] The facility's initial plan included approximately 6,000 car spaces. [1]
The project's initial instigator and primary backer was "slot-machine tycoon" Richard Quirke. [7] [8] Other initial supporters of the project reportedly included local independent TD Michael Lowry (described by the Irish Examiner as "closely associated with the project"), [3] racehorse trainer Aidan O'Brien, [3] and concert promoter Denis Desmond. [9] Thurles racecourse, owned by the Molony family, reputedly "agreed to close" upon completion of the proposed project. [10] It was suggested that 1,000 people could be employed during the three years of planned construction. [11]
In June 2011, planning permission was given by An Bord Pleanála for the proposed venue. However, the planning board refused permission for the 15,000-seater "underground" music venue as it was deemed inappropriate considering the rural location. [12] [13] [14] The proposed project reportedly "ran into trouble almost immediately" and was opposed by the conservation body An Taisce and a number of local residents. [5]
The project was also dependent on the Oireachtas agreeing to pass new gaming legislation to actually allow the casino to open. [15] In September 2011, then Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said the casino was "[ruled] out" based on a cabinet decision. [16] Taoiseach Enda Kenny also ruled out any large-scale gaming venues, stating that the government was concerned about the protection of the young and vulnerable. [17] Legislation was then proposed by the Minister of Justice to provide improved regulation of smaller casinos, and the government also agreed to start work on drawing up further laws. [18] [19]
Following submissions by Quirke in 2013, the Irish Independent reported that there was "no sign of the Government altering its ban on supercasinos". [20] As of January 2017, the proposed legislation made "provision for the licensing of modest-sized casinos" only. [5] While the original planning application expired in 2018, the developer applied for (and was granted) an extension until March 2023. [6] [21] [ needs update ]
FBD Semple Stadium is the home of hurling and Gaelic football for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. Located in Thurles, County Tipperary, it is the second largest GAA stadium in Ireland, with a capacity of 45,690 and named after Tom Semple, famed captain of the Thurles "Blues". He won All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals in 1900, 1906 and 1908.
Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a Gaelic games stadium in Cork, Ireland. It is the home of Cork GAA. The venue, often referred to simply as The Park, is located in Ballintemple and is built near to the site of the original Cork Athletic Grounds. The stadium opened in 1976 and underwent a significant two-year redevelopment before reopening in 2017.
Ringaskiddy is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the western side of Cork Harbour, south of Cobh, and is 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Cork city, to which it is connected by the N28 road. The village is a port with passenger ferry, with two bi-weekly sailings to Roscoff in France. A ferry service to Swansea in Wales closed in 2012.
Two-Mile Borris is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the L4202 road at the junction with the Ballyduff Road, close to the N75 and 4.7 mi (7.6 km) from Thurles town centre. It is also situated 1 mile from junction 5 of the M8 motorway. Its population was 572 as of the 2016 census, up from 502 in 2006. It is situated in the townland of Borris which is part of the civil parish of Twomileborris in the ancient barony of Eliogarty.
MetroLink is a proposed metro line for the city of Dublin. It was first recommended in the then Irish Government's 2005 Transport 21 transport plan.
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Tipperary in Ireland.
Brendan Cummins is an Irish hurler and hurling coach who played as a goalkeeper for the Tipperary senior team.
Patrick Stapleton is an Irish hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Tipperary senior team from 2006 until 2016.
Dr. Eamon O'Shea is an Irish former hurler who played as a right wing-forward at senior level for the Tipperary and Dublin county teams.
Brendan Maher is an Irish hurler who plays for club side Borris–Ileigh and previously at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. Regarded as one of the great talents of his generation, Maher enjoyed a 13-season career with the Tipperary senior hurling team, won three All-Stars and was a Hurler of the Year nominee in 2010. He won eight major trophies in his inter-county career, comprising three All-Ireland Championships, captaining the team in 2016, and five Munster Championships. A versatile player who switched between attacking and defensive positions, Maher made a combined 124 league and championship appearances.
Greenpark Racecourse was a horse racing venue in Limerick, Ireland.
David Power is an Irish Gaelic football manager. He has been manager of the Tipperary county team since 2019.
Daniel McCormack is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Borris–Ileigh and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a right wing-forward. McCormack credits Michael J Patterson as crucial to his career development.
The 2019 season was Liam Sheedy's first year in charge since returning as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been previously in charge from 2008 to 2010.
Dillon Quirke was an Irish hurler who played for Tipperary Senior Championship club Clonoulty–Rossmore and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team.
The Tipperary county football team represents Tipperary in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Tipperary GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Munster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.
The 2022 season was Colm Bonnar's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been appointed on 8 September 2021 for three years. Liam Sheedy had stepped down in August 2021 as manager after three years in charge.
The 2022 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship was the 132nd staging of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Tipperary County Board in 1887.
The 2023 season was Liam Cahill's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been appointed on 18 July 2022 on a three year term.
This extension of duration shall expire on 22/03/2023