a thriving arts scene in our cultural town
We are lucky to live in a vibrant town of cultural diversity, in which all ages are dedicated to the arts in all its forms.
The children of Thurles are immersed in the arts scene from an early age, and are involved in school musicals, plays, recitals, and dance. The town is lucky to be home to various music academies, our musical society, youth theatre and drama group, dance groups varying from classical ballet to theatrical dance and traditional dance, and much more. We have a vibrant exhibition space and library, and encourage many craft forms throughout the year in various festivals celebrating music, dance, comedy, film, visual art, and more. Keep up to date with our social media platforms to see what’s going on in the arts in our town, you are sure to find something of interest.





Festivals in Thurles
We have a reputation of celebrating in festival in Thurles - from the early days of celebrating the Fleadh Ceoil held in Thurles in 1965, right up to the present day Games Fleadh, Ireland's Digital Programming Festival for third level students which takes place at Limerick Institute of Technology's Thurles campus.
We celebrate our festivals annually from early in the year when the Tipperary Drama Festival kicks off in Holycross, hosting the cream of drama groups competing in confined and open sections with their plays for the coveted all Ireland Drama Champions. March sees the aforementioned Games Fleadh in LIT attracting Students from all over Ireland with ambitions in the gaming industry, who get a unique insight into the 138.5 billion dollar industry and access to some of the world’s most successful gaming companies and representative bodies.
June saw all new Thurles SuirFest, Our River, Our Story, in collaboration with Thurles Scouts. The event took place along the River Suir in Thurles on the Source Arts Centre Boardwalk and in the new Town Park. A celebration of our river and local environment, Visitors enjoyed traditional music performances, teas/coffees and treats, stands and exhibitors, Nature walks, a display of the River Suir Audit and a regatta of Thurles’ homemade boats, and much more.
SuirFest has been planned to compliment the Tipperary Library Cruinniu na nOg programme of arts and creativity workshops for kids.
Féile Beag an annual ‘mini Feile’. This features all local bands and acts, highlighting the musical talents Thurles has to offer, whilst raising funds for CameoCare.
The summer of 2018 saw the return of the Féile to Thurles, with thousands descending on the town to experience Feile Classical, which shone a new light on the classic Irish Songbook with Irish rock anthems performed by the original bands from the Trip to Tipp of the Eighties, but with a new twist behind them in the shape of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. This year with some of the most iconic Irish bands ever already announced, now curator Tom Dunne and his team have added more classic acts, the new Jerry Fish Stage, and two iconic performances as the next release of ”Feile for Grown Ups ” – Tipp Classical.
October sees the Trip to Tipp Weekend of Cycling which is an event suitable to anyone who is looking to get active while supporting a local event in aid of the NCBI (Working with people with Sight Loss). Fans of all thing spooktacular in the form of events and workshops, halloween face painting and special effects make-up, arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, music, and much more look forward to our Thurles Halloween Arts Festival yearly
For those that love the great outdoors, the Upperchurch Walking Weekend takes place in November where there is a wide range of walks available to suit every level of fitness from the tentative beginner to the experienced climber.
The festival year ends in December with the ever popular Thurles Skyfest which has a range of events that entertain everyone including Christmas markets, fireworks displays, Carol singing, funfair rides, Santa’s Grotto, Polar Express Train rides, and festive food.

the source arts centre
The Source Arts Centre opened its doors on 2nd October 2006 and has firmly established itself as one of the best live venues in the heart of the country. The venue comprises of a 250 seat theatre, visual art gallery, community studio space and bar. Set in the heart of Thurles town and on the banks of the River Suir, the arts centre has a year-round programme of cultural events including theatre, live music, comedy, dance, cinema, children’s theatre, youth arts, workshops and dance.
Address: Cathedral St, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, E41 A4E8
Box Office Phone: (0504) 90204
thesourceartscentre.ie
Twitter : @sourcearts
Facebook : @thesourceartscentre
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find it on map
places of interest

thurles cathedral
The Cathedral of the Assumption is the mother church of the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. It is not in its original site of the Rock of Cashel. This is due to the assumption of certain ecclesiastical properties by the established Church of Ireland at the time of the English Reformation. Instead, following the relaxation of the Penal Laws, the Roman Catholic Archbishop chose to locate his cathedra and residence in nearby Thurles. The present Cathedral of the Assumption stands on the site of earlier chapels in the centre of the town.
Work on the cathedral, with its Romanesque architectural style and its facade modelled on that of Pisa, commenced in 1865. It was consecrated by Archbishop Thomas Croke on 21/06/1879. The architect was J.J. McCarthy while Barry McMullen was the main builder. Mr. J.C Ashlin was responsible for the enclosing walls, railing and much of the finished work. The cathedral’s main features include a rose window, a free-standing baptistery and a magnificent altar. Particularly noteworthy is the tabernacle, the work of Giacomo della Porta, who was a pupil of Michelangelo. The cathedral was extensively renovated and the sanctuary sympathetically remodeled on the occasion of its centenary in 1979.

st. marys church

the source arts center

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Cultural, Arts and Recreation Organisations in Thurles
- Thurles and District Vintage Club
- Cathedral Choir
- Bothar na Naomh Choir
- Folk Goup
- Youth Choir
- Chomhaltas
- Thurles Camera Club
- St Angelas Music School
- O’Donnells School of Music
- Dance Academy Dwans
- Thurles Silver Band
- Thurles Lions Club
- Thurles Drama Society
- Thurles Musical Society
- Thurles Scouts
- Thurles Girl Guides
- Phoenix Productions
- ICA
- Toastmasters
- Thurles Writers Group
- Cabragh Writers Group
- Cabragh Wetlands Trust
- Community Panto Society
- Polish Community
- Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns Group
- Ceile & Set Dancing Club
- Club for Dancing
- Eco Spirituality Group
- Thurles Fairtrade Group
- Thurles Flower & Gardening Club
- Foran an Gaeilge
- St Patricks Day Parade Group
- Durlas Eile Eliogarty Memorial Group
- Thurles Active Retired Group
- Thurles Mens Shed
- Rahealty Community Hall
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