The central location of Upperchurch provides endless variety in your choice of cycling route.  Talk to us today about the many cycling routes in North Tipperary, check out www.northtippcycling.com or ask us about where the best cycling is through our idyllic country lanes

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Friday 13^th May  2011

Happy Heart Walk of the Eamoin an Chnoic  Loop commencing 7.30 pm

Friday 20^th May

Mid Tipp Hill Walkers Friday Walk commencing 7.00 pm

Sunday 5^th June

Motor Neuron sponsored walk of Knockalough commencing 12.30 p m

Sunday  3^rd July

Family Fun Walk commencing at 12.00 noon of Eamoin an Chnoic Loop

Friday August 26^th

Mid Tipp Hill Walkers Friday Walk commencing 7.00 pm

Sunday 2^nd October

National Trails Day Walk commencing 11.00 am Birchill Loop

November 11^th, 12^th & 13^th

Annual Upperchurch Walking Weekend with a variety of walks suitable for all levels of fitness

December 18th

Night Hike of Knockalough

February 12^th 2012

Valentine’s Walk of Eamoin an Chnoic Loop

April 8^th 2012

Easter Sunday sunrise walk (30 minutes before sunrise)



A Two-Mile Borris schoolteacher, Mr. James Hayden, is one of the main movers behind a new charity which aims to help children who have been orphaned because of AIDS in Cape Town, South Africa. Cents2help is a charity which was set up in 2008 by James and two other Dublin based primary schoolteachers. The charity was primarily established in order to help relieve poverty and to provide financial support to orphanages and families who cannot afford to care for their children or send them to school.

James says that as teachers they are extremely fortunate to have two months free every summer which they use to visit the orphanage and do work there. In 2008 they travelled to Cape Town to work in the Holy Cross primary school and from there they made lots of friends and contacts. James’s aunt, Sr. Eithne O’Reilly from Beakstown, Holycross had worked tirelessly there and all over South Africa for many years and he had visited her before her death in 2000.

On their arrival the trio immediately recognised the impact of the donations they had collected prior to their travels and they decided to set up Cents2help in order to do as much as they could to help. They work in close partnership with the Salesian Institute Youth Projects and the Holy Cross Convent School.

An example of the work being carried out is the Thandu Lwethu child development centre in Khayelitsu township. An 18ft by 22 ft shack which catered for 30 children has been replaced by a brand new structure comprising 4 bedrooms, a kitchen and play space which now caters for 60 children. The new building only cost 2,500 euro which shows how valuable even a small donation is. 20 cents a day is enough to provide food for a child and recent donations have provided household items such as cookers, a microwave and blankets. Education of the children is one of the main priorities for the future.

To help with the group’s activities James’s friends in Tipperary are holding a sponsored walk in Upperchurch on Sunday Feb. 13^th starting at 12.30 p.m. All monies collected will go directly to Cents2help. All expenses including refreshments are being sponsored by local businesses for which the organisers are very grateful.

There will be three walks over 6, 10 and 14 kms to suit every level of fitness and all are welcome. Sponsorship cards are available by phoning Joan Quinn at 086 3577340.

Some useful websites are:    www.upperchurch.ie :  www.cents2help.com :  www.salesians.org.za :  www.holycrossbrooklyn.co.za

We regret any inconvenience caused.

There will be pony rides available for children with the money going to the charity.

The money raised from this walk will go directly to the children’s home.  It will be used for food mainly and for clothes.  James Hayden who is a  teacher and his friends give all their spare time to helping these children in one of the largest townships in South Africa.

If you would like more information on the Thando Lwethu children’s home and the work James and his colleagues do, log on to http://www.cents2help.com

Local Acommodation:  If you would like to make a weekend of it in the area Rusheen House B. & B. will donate a percentage of their takings to this charity

www.timotrec.com

Our Annual Night Hike will take place on Sunday 19th December commencing at 7.00 from the village of Upperchurch.  This event is gaining popularity every year.  Hymns, reflections and mulled wine are just some of the attractions on this walk.

Hope you can join us for some of the events

RTE Radio 1 Recording Dec 14th 2010 John Murray Show Upperchurch Hill Walk

Admiring the view on the Birchill Trail

On Sunday morning last at 11.00 am a group of intrepid walkers set out on the Birchill Trail  in brilliant sunshine.  The group was led by Eileen Ryan and supported by Billy Clancy.  A very pleasant walk through farmland and woodland was enjoyed by all with the usual local history lesson.  See gallery for more photos of the day.