Tipp want music gig at Semple
And Nugent indicated that county board top brass could record a financial profit for 2013, having recorded losses totalling more than €650,000 in the previous four years.
Premier County officials have been working hard to increase income and cut expenditure in recent months. And they hope to raise up to €35,000 from ‘Tipptoberfest’, a series of events which will take place at the Clonmel Park Hotel over the course of the October Bank Holiday.
A Tipp Fight Night on Friday, October 25, will see county and club players face off in the boxing ring. And Nugent revealed how concert promoters will be keeping a close eye on the musical entertainment at Tipptoberfest, with country music star Nathan Carter the headline act on the Saturday evening.
If the county board can draw big crowds to the music gigs over the weekend, Nugent is confident a money-spinning concert will go ahead at Semple Stadium next year. A major gig at the Thurles venue would revive memories of the spectacular Féile concerts in the early 1990s. And Nugent explained: “I think there’s a strong possibility if we run this (Tipptoberfest) successfully, some of the promoters involved are very interested in running a major concert in the Stadium.
“But they’re looking at us now, to see can we do this one, can we support this one.
“If we can, I think we will get that concert. We’re aiming for next summer. I can’t say who might be in it yet but next summer is our target.
“The Stadium wants it, the county board want it and it would be another important fundraiser. It would be good for the commercial life of the Thurles area as well.”
A big concert in Thurles would naturally serve to alleviate the pressure on Tipperary GAA coffers, which have taken a battering in recent years. But Nugent is pleased to report this year’s figures are looking far healthier.
He confirmed: “We’re looking better. We had quite a number of fundraising events during the year. The other thing that has been a help to us is that the numbers attending our games have increased. There are probably a number of reasons for that – good weather was one and the fact that we were out of intercounty competition was another.”
