“The Town Centre First policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community”. Quote Tipperary County Council.
The poem hereunder could easily have been written, following a visit by the poetess to Thurles, Co. Tipperary over the past number of years. The now abandoned, half upgraded, Thurles town centre; known as Liberty Square, once a busy hive of industry, is no more. Tipperary County Council officials, together with out-of-town consultants, civil engineers, local town councillors and not one, but two government politicians, have successfully rid this town centre of most of its thriving businesses, together with their associated consumers. Yes, the lights continue to burn 24 hours each day on Liberty Square, but few walked the street area, on what should have been one of the busiest days of the 2023 calendar.
Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Pic: G. Willoughby. [Easter Saturday, 3:15pm. 2023]
“Progress”
Poem borrowed courtesy of the authoress Ms Julie Axford.
I don’t go down the High Street now, there’s nothing for me there. It’s full of shops that do your nails, or cut and colour hair. I don’t go down the High Street now and neither does my wife. What used to be a thriving hub, is now devoid of life. They’re building shops way out of town, there’s nowhere else to go. The High Street, I’m afraid to say, has hit an all-time low. The High Street used to sing and dance, at least it did to me, But now it’s sadly out of step and painfully off-key. But way back in the heyday when the High Street was the King, Oh you could spend all day down there and buy just anything! But now the King has lost his Crown, no longer does he reign. He’s been dethroned by hyper stores and supermarket chains. Just like a vampire in the night, they swooped down from the sky. They forced the people out of town and sucked the High Streets dry. We used to have so many shops for all that we might need, For furniture, for shoes and clothes and cakes or books to read. Butchers, bakers, fishmongers, sold fresh and wholesome stuff, And though our families were not rich, we all ate well enough. But now they’ve gone, it’s progress see, yes all have been replaced, By takeaways and coffee shops with all their plastic waste! With automatic checkout tills appearing everywhere. No conversation, pleasantries or anecdotes to share. I heard it said that money talks, at first I had my doubts, And I was right, it doesn’t talk, money bloody shouts! It’s always been the same of course, it’s human nature, see. We have to travel with the times, that’s how it has to be. The kids today they say I’m old and I of course agree. They say the future is for them and not the likes of me. My answer flutters on the breeze, a flag that’s flown half-mast. “I wouldn’t want your future kids…I much prefer my past.”
It was just before the last Irish general election, [same which took place on Saturday February 8th 2020], that we learned on September 10th, 2019, of a new exciting project for the town of Thurles.
The news of a new ‘Business and Innovation Centre’, was broken by then Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry, who prophesised that this new project, quote; “Heralded a bright and progressive future for the town, (Thurles)”. He further added in his press release, “This investment and ‘state-of-the-art development’, will generate jobs, wealth and create a massive boost to the local economy,”
Mr Lowry went on to further add in his written Press Release,
“The Erin Foods site project will also facilitate the future development of the town providing the first phase of the long-awaited Thurles Inner Relief road, which will link Slievenamon Road to the Mill Road. This link road will afford the opportunity to access lands for commercial and residential development while also facilitating the proposed future expansion of Mary Immaculate College. (Note: latter formally St. Patricks College, Thurles).
Tipperary County Council have reached agreement, exchanged contracts and are about to close on the purchase of land in excess of 20 acres at Clongour, Thurles for a Business Development Campus.
These lands will be then be serviced with sewerage, water, telecommunications and road infrastructure. The lands will be developed by Tipperary County Council, as serviced sites and available for marketing by the Council, Enterprise Ireland and I.D.A.
Thurles had lost out on inward investment because it did not have accommodation and facilities to attract business and Industry.
The combination of these projects should now have a formative impact on the economy of Thurles. It will create opportunities to attract business / enterprise and during the process deliver much needed jobs and economic regeneration within the town.
After a period of stagnation these developments should now herald a new bright beginning and positive future for Thurles.
We can now look forward with optimism and with greater confidence in the future of Thurles“.
Some weeks back, we watched the erection of a “FOR SALE” sign (shown above) for this same ‘Business and Innovation Centre‘ site containing circa 2.2 acre.
We waited for an explanation from our Elected Teachtaí Dála; Thurles Chamber; local Co. Councillors; Municipal District Officials, and Tipperary Co. Council. As always, all have remained totally silent.
I find it hard to believe that no discussion has taken place regarding this issue, all be it in private; but certainly I have not heard or indeed read publicly, anything regarding this broken promise to the Thurles electorate.
1,000 new Garda recruits to enter Templemore in 2023.
The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris TD, has today announced that a new recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána will open for applications on this Friday, March 24th 2023, for three weeks.
This new recruitment campaign will assist in the recruitment of 1,000 new Gardaí this year, as provided for in Budget 2023, and will secure a strong pipeline of recruits into the Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, into the future.
Speaking today, the Minister for Justice stated: “A career in An Garda Síochána is a challenging but rewarding one. It will change your life and the lives of others – having a personal impact on the community you serve will give you a sense of achievement like nothing else. Being a Garda is a tough job, but is a job worth doing.
Few institutions in Irish life are as respected as An Garda Síochána. The close connection between Gardaí and the communities they serve is the envy of police services around the world.
Recruiting 1,000 Gardaí in 2023 is central to the Government’s commitment to build stronger, safer communities, and I know there will be people listening today who will hear this and think that they too can work with us to deliver on that mission.
Policing is not a career for the faint of heart – it is a career for those with strong initiative and perseverance, tolerance, composure, a strong moral compass and most importantly respect and compassion for the communities that they serve. To protect and to serve in An Garda Síochána is a worthwhile and valued career, and I would like to encourage anyone who feels up to the job to consider applying.”
Both the Government and Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities see themselves reflected in our police service. The Garda Commissioner has put a welcome focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, as An Garda Síochána seek to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the purpose of policing in Ireland.
This has included changes to Garda uniform policy, the establishment of the Garda National Diversity Forum, representation from diverse and minority communities in An Garda Síochána, the establishment of a Garda internship programme focused on attracting candidates belonging to a group at greater risk of inequality or social exclusion in Irish society. An Garda Síochána are working to finalise an updated Equality, Diversity and Integration Strategy.
Minister Harris said: “It is incredibly important that a modern police service reflects the communities that it serves. If An Garda Síochána better reflects the rich diversity of Irish society, they will be better able to understand the different needs and concerns of the communities they serve and in turn make those communities stronger and safer.
An Garda Síochána is an inclusive organisation to work for, not only regardless of but embracing of your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic background”.
There are currently over 200 trainees in the Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, derived from the most recent recruitment campaign launched in 2022 by Minster Mrs Helen McEntee.
The Garda Commissioner has outlined to the Minister his intention that four further tranches of around 225 recruits will enter Templemore throughout the rest of 2023, provided for by candidates from the previous campaign and later supplemented by the new recruitment campaign being launched by Minister Harris.
Aldi Thurles driving customers away, due to flooded car parking spaces.
Regular shoppers to ALDI, the German multinational family-owned discount supermarket situated at Kickham Street, Lognafulla, Thurles, Co, Tipperary, are being forced to venture off to shop elsewhere, due to customers being asked to exit their vehicles, to walk in up to 7.62cm of water (3in) every time it rains.
It would appear that the parking areas at Aldi Thurles, latter possible one of the best shopping experiences in Thurles, has sunk due to constant heavy traffic and is now badly in need of immediate maintenance.
Sadly, only 10% of parking spaces are free of water within the area provided, forcing people to chance using invalid vehicle appointed spaces or go shop elsewhere. Why this has been allowed to happen all during this winter period, Aldi, when contacted this morning were unable to answer, but promised to immediately examine the problem.
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