Politics - Thurles Information

Open Letter To 11 Local Candidates Seeking Election

Thurles LEA 1 BARRETT Tommy.
Thurles LEA 2 BRACKEN Michael.
Thurles LEA 3 BUTLER Fergal.
Thurles LEA 4 DORAN David.
Thurles LEA 5 FOGARTY Catherine.
Thurles LEA 6 HANAFIN Seamus.
Thurles LEA 7 LOWRY Michéal.
Thurles LEA 8 McCORMACK Ciara.
Thurles LEA 9 RYAN Seán.
Thurles LEA 10 RYAN Peter.
Thurles LEA 11 RYAN Jim.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Note: If you type “Thurles” into your internet browser, most likely you will find Thurles.Info top of page 1. [And why not since it has been visited almost 2.5 million times since its conception. Yes, no political Facebook accounts featuring on page 1]. So, it is here we offer you the opportunity to further your political careers and causes, while further introducing yourself to your adoring public, while promising to publish your correspondence in full.

However, with regards to our internet ranking, let us set our personal satisfaction aside, and point out that we truly are more interested in drawing your attention to the feature, which is being highlighted above us at the top of Google’s page 1, entitled Top things to do in Thurles. (Click HERE or view our clarifying picture hereunder).

**This is the level of pollution this evening, just 50 metres from Thurles Town Park and 60 metres from Liberty Square.**

Top things to do in Thurles
Of the four sites highlighted, you will note that two of the visitor sites recommendation are within the Town of Thurles, while Holycross Abbey is 7.0 km (4.3496mls) outside and Killahara Castle; not a visitor centre, is 10.4 km (6.46226mls), outside the town.

But look on the bright side, we have two visitor site recommendation within our town.
(1) Thurles Cathedral: Currently free to enter, Thurles Cathedral comes highly recommend as a place to visit, by all Tourists entering the town.
(2) Thurles Town Park: Was Thurles town park built as a tourist attraction? In my mind it’s doubtful, but let us for a brief moment fantasize.
With a star rating of just one, “the bookworm hotel”, (latter badly in need of a spell checker) refers to our leading Thurles Town Park attraction as:- “Terrible. I think this place really needs to crack down on the gangs at night. Two people were actacked (attacked) while walking at night. Teens smoke here after school clear as day with no chance of being caught. This a hotspot for bad things . As a park it is frankly too small and needs more stuff to go on as it can be packed after school and kids need things to do . More playground sites are needed and rules more inforced (enforced)” .

Questions:
(A) Who would build a town park for tourists beside the most polluted river area in Co. Tipperary; highlighting it as a tourist attraction? [See picture above today 50 metres from the park, where children today were brought to play.]
(B) What is the substance currently and consistently being poured into our river Suir? Who is investigating and when can a prosecution be taken through the court system?
(C) Having read most of the glossy political brochures which were pushed through my letterbox, as part of your begging / canvassing campaign, I am shocked to note that tourism remains totally absent from all your brochures and therefore your future aspirations. Once again, footfall on Liberty Square, to you is not, after all, a real priority.

It is the opinion of most people to whom I have spoken in recent days, that absolutely nothing has been achieved by those who were elected 5 years ago. The suggestion is now that perhaps we should indicate our choice in favour of new candidates, giving them a chance to undertake badly needed change, which you as elected representatives have failed dismally to implement.

Your comments please.

Yours faithfully,
George Willoughby

PS: All correspondence will be verified with candidates before being published.

Thoughts For All Day Sunday

What do we tell the children?

What do we tell the children? – Lyrics by Ivan Drever

Which way will the branch bend
When there’s no wind left to blow?
Which way will the river run
When there’s no where left to go?

Chorus:
What do we tell the children
When they start to ask us why?
And where are the keepers
Who bled the whole thing dry?

What kind of air are we to breath
When there’s none to take in?
What kind of soil do we turn over
When the fallout’s been?
Chorus:

When do you think they’ll tell us?
Don’t they know that we know too?
When do you think they’ll listen
To the likes of me and you?
Chorus:

And what kind of rain will fall
On the land that’s dead and gone?
And what kind of flowers
Will look up for the sun?
Chorus:

What colour will the leaves be?
A darker shade of brown.
Is this the kind of legacy
To leave to the unborn?
Chorus:

Which way will the branch bend
When there’s no wind left to blow?
Which way will the river run
When there’s no where left to go?
Chorus:

University Hospital, Limerick – Most Overcrowded In Éire.

University Hospital Limerick, serving North Tipperary, remains the most overcrowded medical facility here in Ireland for the third day in a row.

Today, May 1st 2019, 513 people are without a bed nationally; 62 persons of which remain without a bed in University Hospital Limerick, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO)

REMEMBER: You can view accurate daily emergency department figures by clicking HERE. Same figures shown are a count of the number of additional patients on beds, trolleys or chairs, on inpatient units, latter above the stated complement of that unit and which provides a complete picture of our hospital overcrowding.

Surely, with Local Elections this month and possibly a National Election before Christmas, this is the time to eradicate, from County Tipperary, all Fine Gael councillors and any Fine Gael political “pretenders to the Throne”, thus demonstrating our anger and registering our sense of outrage.

The silence and acceptance continues.

Only A Storm In A Teacup

Tipperary County Council hopeful M/s Ciara McCormack, representing the Party of Protest (Sinn Fein) last Saturday, complained bitterly about individuals tearing down election posters. M/s McCormack claimed on TippFM this morning and wrote on her Facebook, quote; “Up to 60 of my election posters were deliberately torn down since we put them up. Somebody must be afraid of my message. Thanks for all the support and information I have received over the past few days, it has been overwhelming. The Gardaí and Tipperary County Council have been informed. If anyone else seen (The word is ‘SAW’ M/s McCormack, “If anyone else saw..” )anyone tampering with my posters please let me know.”

As a website administrator, totally supportive of hard working local Councillors, I immediately called in ‘The Boys’. Pulling down election posters is I believe grossly insouciant; even insensible for someone trying to obtain a five year contract, earning a mere crust of €16.500 (at least, plus travel and subsistance) per annum.

‘The Boys’ moved quickly to report back. It seems that those responsible for erecting M/s McCormack’s posters were somewhat inexperienced and naive in such matters; punching holes too close together, before inserting their sharp little white cable ties.

Look at it this way, as Mikey Ryan said to me today, “It could happen to a Bishop, and I have no doubt M/s McCormack will be as red faced as her new jacket, when she reads this; issuing sincere apologies left, right and centre to her electorate in Thurles and surrounding hamlets”.

Meanwhile, following M/s McCormack’s complaint to Gardaí, same are anxious to interview a lady named Hannah Storm, latter whom they believe is responsible for felling two trees near Barry’s Bridge, here in Thurles. To date no one has been arrested.

No, before you start sending me those emails and Facebook PM’s; M/s Hannah Storm is not the sister of that renowned singing star M/s Rebecca Storm. You know the lady, she sings that song, “The Winner Takes It All”.

Now get on about your business, in the certain knowledge that this sorry episode was itself only a mere “storm in a teacup”.

P.S. One of these posters can be located for inspection at the rear of Spaview Veterinary Office on Ikerrin Road, Thurles.

Richard Bruton Launches Fund For Circular Economy Innovators.

€600,000 available under the EPA’s National Waste Prevention Programme EPA043339

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton T.D. today launched a €600,000 funding opportunity for novel approaches to promote the circular economy, maximise resource efficiency and reduce waste.

It will fund innovators to develop and demonstrate business-ready solutions in the circular economy for consumers and for commercial clients. This funding call is a key part of Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme, which is led by the EPA.

Minister Mr Richard Bruton said; “Transition to a low carbon circular economy will disrupt traditional business models and create new enterprise opportunities. This fund is an excellent opportunity for early movers to seize these opportunities and lead the way. Ireland uses over 100 million tonnes of materials annually, and too much of the waste from this often ends up in landfill or an incinerator after only a short period of use. This funding initiative provides a bridge to commercial, transferable and scalable solutions that will deliver a circular and low carbon economy in Ireland.”

Applications are invited in areas of national importance such as Food Waste Prevention; Construction & Demolition and Plastics. These are key priorities nationally which require innovative thinking and solutions and are also priorities of the EU’s Circular Economy Package.

Ms Laura Burke, Director General of the EPA said; “The EPA’s National Waste Prevention Programme supports behavioural change and sustainable choices through targeted funding programmes and sharing best practices. Inefficient consumption and missed opportunities for reuse & recycling leads to more waste and higher greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA is pleased to support smart management of materials to keep them in use longer which reduces demand for raw materials and protects the environment. This is the win-win opportunity presented by the circular economy.”

The National Waste Prevention Programme offers opportunities for innovation funding, networking and partnering. The EPA is planning new strategic programmes with high visibility and influence and is keen to work with other organisations, public bodies and networks in the areas of industry & enterprise, product design and research & innovation.

Further information on the National Waste Prevention Programme and the funding call – Green Enterprise – Innovation for a Circular Economy is available on the EPA website.