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St Patrick’s Day Update 2024 – Thurles Co. Tipperary.

Before we update details of our annual St Patrick’s day celebrations; note, today is Sunday March 10th 2024, and tonight the 96th Academy Awards Ceremony takes place at the Dolby Theatre, in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
In addition to reporting on who won what, magazines like ‘Vogue‘ and ‘Harper’s Bazaar‘ will be reporting on what the movie stars were wearing.
Designer gowns by ‘Fendi‘, ‘Valentino‘ and other famous Italian designers will, no doubt, top the best dressed lists. But do our readers realise that Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, has historical links to ‘Vogue’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, ‘Fendi’, ‘Valentino’, and the wider Italian fashion industry? No we will not be just talking about labels on existing garments.
So if you want to know more, tune in tomorrow, to read a fascinating piece of history, to add to Thurles Town’s already existing treasure trove of heritage.

Thurles St Patricks Day Parade Update.

A special thanks to Mr John Kenehan for his parade update.

Following many months of preparation the Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has confirmed that the annual event is shaping up to be a good one, and they are praying for good weather on the day for the viewing public and the participants

We remind the public and visitors that the Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade 2024, will take place on Sunday 17th March 2024, beginning at 2.30pm sharp in Liberty Square, Thurles.

This year’s theme is “Youth: Our hopes for the Future’.
Our special “Guest of honour”, will reflect this theme, with CBS Secondary School pupil and twin category Young Scientist Award winner (2024), Luke Blackwell in attendance.

The continued success of the parade, over past years, is based largely on the generous sponsorship of local businesses, groups and Tipperary County Council.

The quality of entries and effort by clubs and organisations also ensure this annual level of success and we look forward to viewing this year’s presentation.

Note: Entry forms are still available from hello@thurlestouristoffice.ie or direct from the Tourist Office, Slievenamon Road, Thurles.

Live Music in Liberty Square will begin from 1:00pm with face painting and side attractions.

In keeping with the national day of celebration the Parade Committee are asking that all shops and businesses dress up their display windows and business fronts in green and national colours to signify our special day of celebration.
Note: There will be awards for the Best dressed Window and runner-up and best Traditional Window and runner-up.

We look forward to fair weather for this most enjoyable of national holidays, and we look forward to meeting with you at the Parade on Sunday 17th March next

The committee would like to thank the people of Thurles, Upperchurch/Drombane, Holycross/Ballycahill and Moyne for their generous support to our annual fundraising appeal.

We would also like to thank also our local business sponsors for their generous support again this year:

Business Sponsors.

The Anner Hotel, Thurles Lions Club, Hanna Curtains & Blinds Ltd, The Thurles Irish Countrywomans Association, Linnane Carry-Out, Sammons Pharmacy, Vale Oil Company Ltd, Lyons Tyre Services, Denis Kinnane Motors, EuroGiant Thurles, Tipperary County Council, Barry’s SuperValu Thurles, SHE Boutique Thurles, Ronayne’s Hardware, Air Impact Ltd, Premier Surgery, Supermacs’ Thurles, O’Dwyer Transport, The Premier Credit Union, The Mall Curios, Hanafin’s Furniture & Flooring, Tim Looby Accountants, Thomas Murphy & Sons Machinery Ltd, Londis The Square, Thurles info, Butler & Young Tyres, Stakelum’s Home & Hardware, Dinan’s Timber, E. Cleary Motors Ltd, Ryans Cleaning, Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Directors, Centenary Thurles Co-op, Michael’s Jewellers, Noel Ryans Pub, Michael Lowry T.D., Pat Brennan’s Bar Thurles Ltd, Flowers R Us, Jackie Cahill T.D., Jennings Opticians, Bowe Travel, Tipp FM, Kings Mobile, Kennedys County Bar, Hickey’s Pharmacy, Mobile Tek, Kambo Chinese Restaurant, Q Mobile Thurles, The Tipperary Star, Tipperary Live, Thurles Tourist Office and Thurles Chamber of Commerce.

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EPA Announces Funding Of €14.3m For New Research.

  • EPA announces funding of €14.3m for 33 new research projects to address climate and environmental challenges. This represents a 34 per cent increase in investment from the previous call in 2022.
  • EPA funding is building essential research capacity in Ireland with over 40 per cent of lead researcher applicants in 2023 new to the EPA Research Programme.
  • The funding covers research in the areas of climate change, the natural environment, the green & circular economy, and the environment & human health.
  • Reflecting the need for cross-sectoral research, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and Geological Survey Ireland to co-fund some of the research.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new funding for Environmental and climate research in Ireland, with funding of €14.3 million awarded for 33 new research projects. This represents a significant increase over previous years and reflects the EPA’s ongoing commitment to funding environmental and climate research. These innovative projects will support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland, as well as building research capacity in strategically important areas.

This funding will support more than 200 research staff across 13 organisations to conduct projects in innovative areas such as:

  • how blue light can affect human health and biodiversity.
  • societal transformation required to address climate, environmental and social challenges.
  • digital twins for coastal areas.
  • nature-based solutions for water quality and ecology.
  • the circular economy for batteries.
  • sustainable tourism.
  • air pollution in Irish towns.

Announcing the awards, Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General) said: “Scientific research and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in informing how governments and society can respond to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. The projects announced today will address knowledge gaps, both current and future, to provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland.
This EPA funding will also help to build transdisciplinary research capacity and talent in Ireland in key areas relating to sustainability transitions and societal transformations. These specialist skills and expertise are essential to enable Ireland to effectively leverage the full range of environmental, economic and societal opportunities offered by the green transition. I congratulate the successful research teams and look forward to seeing the project outputs making a positive contribution to environmental protection in the years ahead”.

The EPA places a high priority on promoting the uptake of funded research to inform policy and to maximise the impact of research and innovation. Reflecting the need for an integrated, cross-sectoral approach, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and Geological Survey Ireland to co-fund a number of projects.

Of the successful lead research applicants supported through the call, over 40% had not previously applied for funding to the EPA, broadening the base of the researchers and institutions engaging in research relevant to environmental policy.

University College Cork (UCC) received the highest number of successful research awards in 2023. Professor Mr John Cryan, (UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation) said: “I would like to thank the Environmental Protection Agency for continuing to award talented researchers. This allows them, through scientific research and innovation, to tackle critical environmental, climate, health, and sustainability issues. These awards will further strengthen UCC’s position as a recognised global leader in the field of Sustainability. Aligned to UCC Futures – Sustainability, these projects will enable UCC researchers to support environmental policies in Ireland, address key societal challenges caused by climate change, and help deliver a healthier environment for all”.

The list of Awards made under the EPA Research Call 2023 is available on the EPA website HERE.

The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative, funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA Research Call 2024 will open for applications in April 2024. Details will be made available on the EPA website which can be viewed HERE.

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Child Benefit For 18-year-old Students In Full-Time Education.

Child benefit payments will be extended to include 18-year-olds, latter who remain in full-time education, with effect from May 1st next.

Ms Heather Humphreys (Minister for Social Protection) is expected to bring this proposal to Cabinet this morning.

This measure, which will also apply to children with a disability, was previously announced in Budget 2024, but was scheduled to begin from next September.

Ms Humphreys is expected to now inform the Cabinet today that the Department is in a position to implement this measure with effect from May 1st, next.

She will use social welfare legislation; same due before the Seanad this week, to implement this change.

The new policy change was initially designed as a cost-of-living measure.

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Is Munster Car Park In Thurles Due For Imminent Closure?

Redesignated parking on Cathedral Street, Thurles.
Pic: G. Willoughby

In the early part of last month (December 2023) an elected Thurles town councillor, namely Mr Jim Ryan, correctly raised the clear possibility that the town could lose a vital car parking area, located on Cathedral Street.

The area sits adjacent to the now derelict, eyesore once known as the Munster Hotel.

Independent Councillor Mr Jim Ryan, who first raised the issue, stated that some existing 100 car parking spaces could be made unavailable, following a failure to agree on future rent sought by the owner of the Munster Hotel, Mr Martin Healy, and his current tenant, Tipperary County Council, with the facility set to be closed to the public on a date, confirmed by Mr Healy, possibly February 2024.

Cllr Ryan has correctly stated, that a lot of schools, shops, businesses and the religious facility nearby (Cathedral of the Assumption), all who benefit from the use of this car park on a daily basis will suffer huge inconvenience, when going about their normal business in Thurles.

Cllr Ryan has called on the relevant bodies (namely the declared owner of the car park and Tipp. Co. Council), to come together to find a compromise, thus ensuring that the car park in question remains open to the public.

In the meanwhile, Mr Healy, the named owner of the car park facility, has publicly stated that his dispute with Tipperary Co. Council is not about money, but instead, what he is looking for is a proper future lease that would involve better maintenance of the car park site; which of course confirms Cllr. Ryan’ statement that any such compromise will involve money.

In the days prior to Christmas week, 2023, Tipperary Co. Council officials appear to have taken the initiative to ensure that school buses will now move from the Munster Hotel car park area, unto Cathedral Street. This appears to be confirmed by the appearance of new road markings on both sides of the streetscape. (See Image shown left above).

If the car park is closed to the public, what will be the future possible consequences?

  • Keep in mind that presently, school buses arrive into Thurles and park between the hours 8:45am until 4:15pm each day, in this now disputed rented car parking area.
  • From February, the proposed car park closure will see these buses move unto both sides of Cathedral Street, leaving no spaces for would-be consumers, either in the car park itself or on the street outside.
  • Students of all ages attending secondary schools will now be places in decidedly greater danger, while attempting to board school buses in this area of heavy moving traffic.
  • This non availability to park vehicles, now presents existing tennants and their landlords; same running foodpremises, bookmaker establishments, hardware, dentistry, clothing, beauty, dry cleaning, charity and hair salon businesses, latter all currently trading in the immediate area; unable to attract and service regular consumers, in turn resulting in the nonpayment of rates, or at best found to be in serious arrears of same, thus leading to closures.

Attendances at the nearby Cathedral of the Assumption will be greatly reduced at daily Mass times, (which normally take place at 11:00am and 7:00pm on week days), with the elderly, in particular, now possibly forced to move to attend religious ceremonies in the nearby Church of St. Joseph and St. Brigid, in Bothar-na-Naomh, Thurles, where adequate free parking is readily available.
Any such closure could cause greatest upset at funeral times, where people travelling great distances, particularly in winter time, will find no place to park in an already delibertly congested town, when wishing to attend such events in the Cathedral of the Assumption building.

Why does The Source Carpark remain closed.
The recent fire in the carpark underneath the existing “The Source” library area has remained closed to the public for some time, even before two arson attacks; same having had its ceiling regularly attacked by “latch street kids” and others with “idle hands”.
Latter travel around in small groups, while waiting for parents to return home from work. It was therefore no surprise that same area was set on fire, when strips of insulation was left unattended, dangling every-where in easy reach, from the ceiling area; within months of the building opening to a non attended political fanfare, back in 2006.

Where indeed will ticket paying consumers now park intent on attending Thurles Theatre and Thurles Library. Once again greed and poor planning; both have clearly “cut of their nose to spite their face”, a phrase which best expresses a needlessly, self-destructive, overreaction to a Thurles problem.

Time now for local councillors and their officials to inform their local electorate what exactly in going on at local government level. It is no longer acceptable for Councillors, TD’s and their officials, to treat their electorate like mushrooms – kept in the dark, and fed bullshit; while planned futures are being totally demolished.

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Slievenamon Road Upgrade – Final Nail In Thurles Town Centre’s Coffin.

It has become perfectly obvious that urban city planning ideas are now being mandatory enforced on rural, agricultural towns like Thurles, Co. Tipperary with disastrous consequences, forcing trading retail businesses to either close or fold their tents to move elsewhere.

Anyone who visited Dublin City recently will know that only public transport, cyclists and pedestrians can now get into and around its increasingly menacing streets, with any degree of efficiently.

The busy prosperous Liberty Square of the 1960’s.

That is all well and good in Dublin with its network of buses, trams and taxis. Here in rural Thurles such public transport is very limited. There isn’t a Dart tram line to be found running from rural Upperchurch or indeed Two-mile-Borris or Littleton villages every 15 minutes. Indeed there is not one single bus shelter to be found in Thurles, to protect a prospective bus passenger from our inclement weather.

For those who wish to view what exactly will be forced on the residents and businesses of this once prosperous midland town, take a look here: N62-Slievenamon-Road-Phase-2.pdf

NOTE Page 6 of the above pdf: “Some of the key interventions that this strategy will deliver include significant investment in the provision of safe, segregated infrastructure to protect those walking and cycling on our roads, and initiatives to promote modal shift from motor vehicle travel to support environmental, safety and health objectives.”

The picturesque Liberty Square, midday in 2023, asks a Question: Where are the town centre consumers; where are the cyclists; the walker, and the vehicle parking spaces.
Answer: Driven out with the businesses. Gone to support German international discount retailers on the outskirts of Thurles, who offer very little local employment, while selling a considerable amount of German processed produce.

See also what is planned in the Draft Discussion maps for Slievenamon Road, shown here: N62-Slievenamon-Road-Map.pdf.

Question: Where are the Cycle Paths either on a half upgraded Liberty Square, town centre or on this newly designed, still to be revamped, Slievenamon Road plan?
Answer: Non existent.

This October 2022 plan will most certainly drive home that final nail in our town centre’s coffin. However, the local electorate, (now remaining surprisingly silent), can express their anger, during local elections, expected to be held possible next March.

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