Community News - Thurles Information

Irish Rail To Restore Onboard Catering On Thurles Rail Line.

Irish Rail has confirmed their intension to restore its onboard catering service, with effect from the end of March 2023.

This reinstatement of the service will begin on a phased basis, same commencing on the Dublin-Cork line, latter servicing stations Portlaoise, Portarlington, Thurles, Limerick Junction and Mallow.

The sale of refreshments was halted on Irish trains three years ago, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and when restrictions were lifted in February last, the company which supplied the service, were forced to withdraw, claiming staffing issues and their failure to get an agreement with regards to sought after increased costs.

The closure of shops at train stations, and the discontinuation by Irish Rail of onboard catering services during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulted with commuters only being able purchase tea, coffee or sandwiches if there was a shop within the railway station.

Same resulted in Irish Rail considering the installation of vending machines, thus enabling passengers to buy food and drink. However, Irish Rail have now confirmed, today, that a new supplier had been secured and a “well-known brand” of service would be in place at each station over the coming weeks.

Irish Rail have failed to confirm details regarding the new vendor, and have refused to be drawn further on the matter.

Death Of Annie Cahill, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Wednesday February 15th. 2023, of Mrs Annie Cahill (née Cormack), Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her husband Mick, brothers Jimmy and Eddie, sisters Josie, Peg and Maureen; Mrs Cahill passed away peacefully at her place of residence, surrounded by her family.

Her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her loving family Walter, Eamonn, Gerard, Michael, Mary, P.J., Kevin and Patrica, daughters-in-law, grandchildren Caoimhe, Iona, Ross, Jack, Orla and Michael, sisters Bridget, Sr. Theresa and Kitty, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Cahill will repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny, on Thursday afternoon, February 16th from 5:00pm until 7:30pm same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, on Friday morning, February 17th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am.
Interment will take place immediately afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.

The extended Cahill family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to South Tipperary Hospice.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Death Of Madeline Delahunty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Monday 13th February 2023, of Mrs Madeline Delahunty (née Shanahan), Dromboe, Horse and Jockey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her husband Mike, brothers Billy and Michael; her passing is most deeply regretted by her daughter Shelly, sons Adrian and his wife Bridget, Brian and his partner Sarah, her granddaughter Méabh, grandsons Michéal and Feidhlin, great-grandson Logan, sister Claire Ryan (Coolquill), brother Ned Shanahan (Athlone), sisters-in-law Marguerite and Helen, brother-in-law Tom, her nieces, nephews, cousin Michael Shanahan, extended relatives, friends and neighbours.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Delahunty will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles on Thursday afternoon next, February 16th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening, before being received into the Church of St. Peter, Moycarkey, Thurles at 7:45pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Friday morning, February 17th, at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in nearby St. Peter’s cemetery, Moycarkey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Delahunty family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Closure Announced Of Immigrant Investor Programme.

Programme to close to all new applications.
Existing applications will continue to be processed in the normal way.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris TD has today obtained approval from Government to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from close of business tomorrow, February 15th 2023.

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was a pathway for non-EEA nationals to secure an immigration permission in Ireland on the basis of long-term investment in a range of options approved by Government under the Programme.
The IIP was introduced by the Irish Government in 2012 to encourage inward investment for the creation of business and employment opportunities in the State.
The programme was designed to encourage investors and business professionals from outside the European Economic Area to avail of opportunities of investing and locating their business interests in Ireland and acquire a secure residency status in Ireland.
Applicants to the IIP were required to be high net worth individuals with a personal wealth of at least €2 million. The IIP required applicants to invest a minimum of €1 million for a minimum of three years or €500,000 as part of an Endowment (or €400,000 as part of joint endowment). The funds used for an investment had to be from the applicant’s own resources and not financed through a loan or other such facility.

Announcing the closure of the Programme, Minister Harris stated: “The Immigrant Investor Programme was established over a decade ago during a time of unprecedented economic difficulty to stimulate investment in Ireland that would be of strategic and public benefit to the State.
Since its inception, the Programme has brought significant investment to Ireland and has been operated by my Department to the highest professional standards.
However, it is important that we keep all programmes under review including any implications for wider public policy, such as the continuing appropriateness and suitability of this programme for cultural, social and economic use.
We have also taken on board a number of reports and findings from international bodies such as the EU Commission, Council of Europe and OECD on similar investment programmes.
Taking all of this into account, and informed by both internal and external reviews, I have recommended that it is now timely to close this Programme to new applications, and have received Government agreement to close it for further applications from close of business tomorrow, February 15th 2023.”

Since its inception, the Programme has approved investment of almost €1.252bn that has benefited many enterprises, both economic and social, including community and sporting organisations.

Applications will no longer be accepted from close of business tomorrow, February 15th 2023. The closure of the Programme will not affect existing projects or individuals already approved under the programme. The Department of Justice will continue to monitor existing approved projects in relation to the delivery and for compliance with the terms of the Programme. Current applications on hand at the time of closure will continue to be considered.

The Government also operates the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP), which was established in 2012, as a way for entrepreneurs with an innovative idea to apply for a residence permission in Ireland, and this will continue.

Contractor Fined €1,000 For Harvesting Turf In Protected Bog On Tipperary Border.

A case before Nenagh District Court, Co Tipperary on February 9th 2023 last, heard that turf was being extracted from a Natural Heritage Area containing a raised bog, without ministerial consent, contrary to Section 19 of the Wildlife Amendment Act 2000. The bog, situated at Monaincha & Ballaghmore, 6 km east of Roscrea, North Tipperary, spans the border of counties Tipperary and Laois.

The site is regarded as being of considerable conservation significance, and a rare habitat within the European Union. Same sites are becoming increasingly scarce and under threat here in Ireland.

The accused, named as Mr Pat McEvoy, aged 51, with an address at Blackbull, Birr, Co Offaly, had pleaded guilty to the offence and Judge Elizabeth McGrath imposed a fine of €1,000.

Evidence was provided before to the court by a National Parks and Wildlife Service Divisional Manager, latter who confirmed that the site had been designated as a Natural Heritage Area back in 2005, due to its unique raised bog microhabitat and large soak system.

He further confirmed that turf could only be harvested in the Natural Heritage Area with Ministerial consent and no such consent had been issued or requested.

On May 11th, 2020, as part of a surveillance operation in the afore mentioned area; together with a Wildlife Service colleague, the Divisional Manager had entered the bog at 7:30am and witnessed the extraction and spreading of peat on the protected site. When the machines began to leave the site, the accused involved, was approached. Mr McEvoy refused initially to identify himself, but subsequently did so, to a member of An Garda Síochána, who arrived shortly afterwards

Ignorantia juris non excusat. – Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Judge Elizabeth McGrath, imposing a €1,000 fine, stated that she did not accept the defence that Mr McEvoy was unaware that the site was protected, adding that as a turf contractor involved in the turf trade for some years, it was his business to know the whereabouts of legally protected raised bog sites.