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“Now the things I’ve come to know seem so confusin’
It’s gettin’ hard to tell what’s wrong from right
I can’t separate the winners from the losers anymore
And I’m thinking of just giving up the fight.“
“Good Christian Soldier,” Lyrics By Kris Kristofferson
An as yet unpublished report that will guide current Government policy on rural Ireland up until 2025, has discovered that the rural areas of Ireland have had twice the business failure rate as their larger urban counterparts, when it comes to a study of our economic downturn.
Despite 3.5 years of continuous cries of ‘Help,’ from rural dwellers, this report leaves sleepy Senior Civil Servants now considering whether perhaps a Government Department and a Minister of State should now be delegated, with responsibility for future Rural Development.
Other initiatives understood to have been identified by this Senior Civil Servants report include the re-energising of rural tourism.
I trust that the recent announcement by Cork County Manager Martin Riordan of three interpretive centres to be opened on Spike Island in lower Cork Harbour by the summer of 2015, at a cost of €40 million, will not be seen as the re-energising of rural tourism. It is also interesting to note that Bord Fáilte have confirmed it is reversing its initial decision not to grant aid for this project and will now release €2.5m for redevelopment of this island. Someone obviously had a word in someone’s “Shell Like,” (Nod, Nod, Wink and Wink.) Do tell us why this decision was reversed Mr Riordan or should we be asking Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, one James “Jimmy” Deenihan, the Irish Fine Gael Teachta Dála for the Kerry North–West Limerick constituency, how this decision came about.
Mr James “Jimmy” Deenihan and Mr Noel Coonan were two of the people who failed to ensure that the Derrynaflan Hoard, latter stolen from Tipperary, was not returned for “The Gathering,” this year thus reducing tourism numbers to Co Tipperary, by some 25%, as my email records and other unanswered communications will attest.
In the past few days the Dáil have passed the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill after 77 TDs voted in favour of these cuts and new changes announced, and with only 46 opposing the most controversial parts of our recent Budget. These changes included the scrapping of the bereavement grant (77 votes to 43), cuts to maternity benefit, and a reduction in dole for new Social Welfare claimants who are aged under 26.
Just as a matter of interest did any of our readers see even one of our North Tipperary Government representatives in the Dáil, contributing to this debate? I ask this question as my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and these people may have taken up a space at the back of the class. Fobs need to be checked on more than Friday’s here Enda.
Scrapping Of The Bereavement Grant
We the elderly do not have to worry really about this, simply just leave our bodies to Medical Science and the State via one of the 5 medical colleges /universities, latter who in gratitude will provide an embellished coffin. They will cover the expense of (1) bringing the remains to Glasnevin Crematorium, (2) your cremation and (3) your ashes will be buried in the medical school’s private plot within two years of your death. So no problem for relatives here, unless of course you object to medical students standing around your stiffened freezing torso with a smile on their faces when they observe your hidden tattoos.
Continue reading Senior Civil Servants Have Discovered Rural Ireland
  
Carraig Donn, latter one of Ireland’s well known and premier retailers of Gift-ware, Knitwear, Ladies fashion, Jewellery etc has plans to establish a new branch store at the Thurles Shopping Centre later next month (November 2013). This move could create up to 15 jobs over the coming Christmas period the company reports.
They Are Hiring
Carraig Donn will now hold a recruitment day seeking new employees for this new Thurles store at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, on Thursday October 31st next, between the hours of 10:00am – 3:00pm, inc. and all prospective new employees are asked to call and bring along their CV and expressions of expertises. Carraig Donn are always searching for talented, passionate people who may have previous retail experience and thrive on working in a fast paced environment for our network of retail stores or their Head Office.
Carraig Donn is a truly unique Irish brand and has prospered since its conception as a craft industry retailer back in1965, growing into one of Ireland’s largest retailing outlets.
Carraig Donn still remain today a family owned and managed business concern and through its knitwear manufacturing plant in Westport, Co Mayo and retail outlets, now employ some 400 people nationwide.
When established this new Thurles branch will increase the Carraig Donn nationwide chain to some 33 premises in total and is seen as suggestive of the company’s strong continued growing strength in the retail market over recent years.
Commenting on the store opening in Thurles, the companies Managing Director Mr Pat Hughes has stated; “We are delighted to announce the opening of our Thurles store, and the creation of 15 jobs in the local area. We are in no doubt that there is a strong affinity and loyalty to our brand in the area, with Tipperary customer’s visiting our stores in Carlow, Kilkenny and beyond. We hope to bring our own unique offering to the shopping scene here in Thurles, through our fashion, jewellery and gift-ware departments.”
 The current construction and development of a 40 megawatt wind farm at Bruckhana in Co Tipperary progressed a step closer today when it was officially launched on behalf of Bord na Móna by Labour Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
Bord na Móna last year had selected several acres of cutaway peat-lands for the construction and development of this new wind farm, located on the borders joining the Counties Kilkenny, Laois and Tipperary and between the villages of Templetuohy, Thurles, Co Tipperary and Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, latter known generally to local residents as Templetuohy bog.
Bord na Móna have been involved in peat production operations at this site since the 1950’s and parts of the bog still remain in active peat production. This new development is named after one of the local townlands namely ‘Bruckhana’ latter which is included in this site where the current construction of these turbines are now being progressed.
When fully operational this wind farm will greatly improve the geographical distribution of wind energy facilities emerging nationally and will contribute to bring a more balanced input of wind energy to the National Grid thus supporting the Government’s 40% required EU target for electricity power generated from renewable energy sources.
“Speaking at the launch the Minister stated; “Ireland has a challenging EU renewable energy target to meet by 2020, which includes meeting 40% of our electricity demand from renewable sources. We are now making progress to meet this target, and with the development of renewable generation of this scale at Bruckhana we will eventually see, when it is complete, how crucial it will become to maintaining the rate of build necessary to achieve these set EU targets.
Ireland is fortunate to have some of the best renewable energy resources in Europe. Not only will the exploitation of this clean, sustainable, indigenous resource allow us to break our dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and reduce our harmful emissions, it also holds the potential for Ireland to become an exporter of renewable energy, with its attendant economic benefits for the country.
Yesterday I launched the first stage of a consultation process on the Renewable Energy Export and Development Framework. The approval of any proposed large scale renewable energy export projects must await the putting in place of this framework. I recognise the significance of the announcement Bord na Móna has made here today, regarding their Clean Energy Hub. I urge them, and all other prospective developers, to now fully engage with this consultation process.”
The Minister also called on developers to communicate fully, the local and national socio-economic benefits flowing from investment in their projects and to examine how best they can deliver on community gain.
 Dole Queue The Dole Queue in North Tipperary is set to lengthen even further with some thirty two jobs set to be axed at Birr, Co Offaly, latter in close proximity to the north Tipperary border.
The job losses were announced this morning by EJ (Iron Foundry), formally known as Cavanagh’s Iron Foundry.
EJ president Fred Malpass said in a statement today that owing to loss-making activities the company propose to reduce their staff from 50 to 18, adding that the company greatly appreciated the exemplary service of their employees at Birr and the proposed closure is no reflection on their performance.
The company confirmed it will continue to employ just 18 staff in Birr, where some steel fabrication will continue, alongside its distribution centre and sales team. A strategic business review by EJ has fully concluded that the manufacturing of iron castings should be now consolidated to its European headquarters in France, which the company say offers economies of scale and greater operating efficiency and will allow the company to be more competitive.
The company, which manufactures a range of manhole covers and drainage grates for the construction industry, said in a statement today that it remains “fully committed to retaining a competitive Irish business with a sustainable future“.
 The Labour Court has recommended that over 100 workers, who were set to lose their jobs at Dawn Fresh Foods Ltd in Fethard, Co Tipperary on October 25th next, will now be paid aggregate lump sums totalling €52,000, as part of an enhanced redundancy deal.
The Parent Company had opted to shut down the food processing plant in late July last. Previously it had produced chilled and frozen ready-made meals for the Irish and UK markets, but claimed that due to increasing costs of raw materials, energy, and unfavourable currency exchange rates etc., their market had declined.
The food giant has been in dispute with SIPTU over redundancy terms for the workers which in turn led to a hearing by the Labour Court.
Now as part of an enhanced redundancy deal for these workers, the Labour Court is also recommending that same be paid an additional one week’s service for each year on top of their statutory redundancy. The €52,000 in ex-gratia payments is made up of €500 to each employee.
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