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 A satisfactory roads network is essential for the efficient operation of any successful economy, particularly in rural Ireland. Our roads are also an essential communication link in supporting community development and facilitating, in particular, movement in rural areas, thus fostering social inclusion.
To this end, news that funding of over €10 million has just been announced for the upgrading, repair and development of some roads here in North Tipperary, is welcomed, but not before time.
An estimated €425,000 is expected to go towards the patching up of sections of the R503 which runs east-west from Thurles, County Tipperary to the N7 west of Limerick City. These long overdue repairs are said to take place targeting, in particular, surfaces around the villages of Rearcross and Newport. Another much needed €250,000 is targeted to provide resurfacing on the Portroe/Ballina road.
Work is also expected to be carried out on the Bridge at Templeree (€85,000) on the Templemore to Templetouhy road, while Rossestown Cross, Fogarty’s Junction in Clonmore and the Ragg Road, Templemore, are also targeted for repairs and upgrade.
Nenagh and Thurles Town Councils will each receive approximately €195,000 while Templemore Town Council will get €139,000 in funding for pre-approved schemes.
North Tipperary County Council will also receive €1.507,000 for use in funding other discretionary grant aid.
Expect the “Welcoming,” public relations, press releases from North Tipperary Politicians, claiming responsibility and credit, to begin appearing, just as soon as they find out.
 The Thurles to Holycross Road has now reopened following a serious collision at about 6.40pm yesterday evening.
A technical examination of the scene on the R661 Thurles road at Beakstown was completed by police this morning
Two people are understood to remain in intensive care following last night’s three car collision.
In total five people were taken to South Tipp General Hospital, with two elderly people reported as having life-threatening injuries.
Gardai in Thurles would like to hear from anyone who was in this area at around the time of the crash.
Gardaí can be contacted at Telephone 0504 25100.
 The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar has announced €100 million worth of funding for new road safety and upgrading projects at locations across Co Tipperary in 2012.
Several North Tipperary road safety projects and upgrades are to benefit under the National Road Authority’s programme of works for 2012.
The Congar/Ballylusky realignment project is included on the NRA’s programme of works. This is a 2.2 kilometre stretch of road between Ardcroney and Borrisokane and has been a major bottleneck on the N52 and the scene of numerous crashes over the years. There is no mention of the 11 year old promised Thurles Bypass, however €500,000 has been allocated to Clare County Council to allow the Shannon Crossing Project to go to An Bord Pleanála stage.
However this latest programme of works does, at last, include the long promised repair of Turtulla Bridge, Killough Bridge, Drish River Bridge and the River Suir Bridge (Barry’s Bridge).
Engineers threatened weight restrictions recently on Barry’s Bridge, in Thurles, while Turtulla Bridge was threatened with single lane and weight restrictions, way back in 2009.
Local Authorities will be advised by the NRA, during the course of the coming days, as to the exact allocation of funding for each individual project. Work is not expected to begin until at least this Summer.
 There are fears tonight for the future of 30 jobs in Thurles, following plans to close the former Liam Carroll Transport Depot.
MasterLink Logistics, with established warehousing in Dublin, Cork & Galway, who took over some of the work of the failed Liam Carroll Transport Depot in 2010, are understood to have informed their staff this week that the Cabra, plant in Thurles, Co Tipperary, will close with effect from January 29th next.
Former owners of the Liam Carroll Transport Group, which ceased trading over night, due to bad debts and the economic downturn, were immediately taken over by Masterlink Logistics, who stepped into the breach, confirming that it would be recruiting possibly 70 of the then 119 employees, then left jobless as a direct result of Liam Carroll Transports closure.
Reason for the closure of this Masterlink Depot, however is uncertain, but expensive diesel levies, carbon taxes and the lack of any real industry in Thurles, together with a lack of any political will regarding real job creation in the town, a policy carried over from the previous government, are identified as the most likely cause.
Following the Governments Budget announcements of the 6th of December, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) had expressed extreme disappointed with the failure, to acknowledge the licensed road haulage industry and the contribution the sector made to the overall economy. The Association’s pre-budget submissions were understood to be very practical and had same been implemented, would have resulted in an overall net gain for the Irish exchequer.
Our three local elected politicians to-date, have remained silent over this now expected closure.
The purpose of the community website Thurles.Info, since its conception just over 3 years ago, was to highlight issues which effect our wonderful town of Thurles, its people, its businesses and environs. To record and highlight our magnificent history, our successes and our failures, but most of all to give a voice to our residents on issues which effect their everyday lives. Our success has gone beyond our wildest dreams, with close to half a million readers, world wide, having visited our site over the past 30 months.
Our aim in 2012 is to continue to pursue these aspirations, following in a similar vein and yes your voice does count, so do please comment on issues raised and let your views be aired publicly. Debate will contribute to real and positive change, for the betterment of all, here in Co Tipperary. In the words of Google today, “Geniuses are not always A grade students. We welcome all mavericks.”
What is our “Rant” today? Well most of us have had an opportunity to read our local weekly newspaper the “Tipperary Star,” and in particular, the article by journalist Sinéad Goldsboro, headed “Angry Visitor Lashes Thurles Signage.”
Well in the words of Frederick R. Barnard “One look is worth a thousand words.” These pictures were taken just yesterday and highlight / confirm that local government is just not working.
This signage has been in this totally unacceptable state, since November of last year. Each week our salaried, expenses guzzling Politicians, our Local and County Councillors drive out the Dublin road and around our town, but it would appear not one of them has any influence over the National Roads Authority (NRA).
(1) Sign to our only tourist attraction, St Mary’s Famine Museum, was destroyed by County Council workers, during work on the Cathedral Street Roundabout two years ago, and re-erected as if nothing happened, please replace.
(2) Thurles Shopping Centre is not on the Nenagh Road as is currently directed.
(3) Many signs face blank walls.
(4) Traffic lights are being removed by large vehicles or are bent. Truth is that 80% of all signs are no longer standing perpendicular due to disgraceful planning.
What you have viewed here is just a fraction of our towns neglect.
Message to our Politicians, our Local and County Councillors, Sirs, we have paid our taxes, please now provide the promised services.
 Iarnród Éireann is expected, shortly, to seek formal permission to close their services on the Limerick to Ballybrophy Rail line, well that is according to supporters of this transport route.
Rumours abound today, that Iarnród Éireann has informed the Department of Transport that it it considering the closure of this rail line, which also serves as a commuter service between Nenagh Co Tipperary and County Limerick. The closure is expected to be sought, due to unsustainable low passenger numbers.
Thurles.Info is aware that the National Transport Authority Board were informed, towards the middle of last year, that Iarnród Éireann had informed the Minister for Transport of their intention to seek closure of some of their less used rail lines. A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann refused to either confirm or deny that they have any proposals to suspend this services, stating that the profitability of all transport routes are regularly under review.
Nenagh Rail Partnership Group yesterday said it was concerned about the railway lines long term future. Currently people from Nenagh are driving to Thurles, daily, to catch trains to Dublin, and Iarnród Éireann claim that operating a service to Nenagh is often a waste of fuel, admitting that their scheduled services between Limerick and Nenagh are often cancelled, with the train returning to Colbert Station in Limerick, due to being empty of all passengers, having reached stations at Castleconnell and Birdhill. Official figures show that a total of only 14,000 people travelled on this line between January and August 2011, a daily average of just 55 passengers
The Government has also confirmed that very necessary austerity measures are likely to result in high reductions to public transport services over the coming years, and the Iarnród Éireann group is to have its annual subvention cut by €21m next year, from €263m to €242m, with further cuts expected in 2013 and 2014.
Nenagh Rail Partnership Group are justifiable worried about the continuation of this rail services between Limerick and Ballybrophy and admit that the opening the the new M7 motorway had presented very strong competition for all rail commuters, however the latter now claim that the line’s future is hugely important to developing much needed tourism in this area and should continue to be financed from the public purse.
North Tipp Labour TD Mr Allen Kelly, according to The Irish Independent Newspaper dated September 26th 2011, put “considerable pressure” on Iarnrod Eireann for a train to bring more than 150 north Tipperary fans from here, his constituency, to Dublin for the All-Ireland senior hurling final on September 4th, which Kilkenny won 2-17 to 1-16 over Tipperary. The junior Minister with responsibility for Public Transport, Tourism & Sport, then refused to respond to the report.
Rumours, if confirmed, will be seen as yet another attack on residents of rural Ireland.
Last year the National Transport Authority approved Iarnród Éireann’s decision to cease services on the Waterford-Rosslare route on similar grounds.
 The parking problems for people shopping in Liberty Square, Thurles may soon be over as plans are being put forward for a new multi-storey car park for the town centre.
Local businesses of Liberty Square have proposed that a new car park is vital to sustain their businesses as the Shopping Centre is increasingly drawing their customers away from the town centre. The fact that the shopping centre is also offering free parking at their multi-storey car park is also hurting the traditional town centre businesses.
The existing car park beside the Ulster Bank is being looked into as a possible site for the new multi-storey car park.
 It has been officially confirmed, Thurles is between nowhere and nowhere in Ireland’s grand scheme of things, all thanks to the time wasting of those we elected to represent our interests, both presently and in the past.
I refer of course to the slow decision making process in the choosing of the preferred route for the N62 by-pass for Thurles which has now, at last, been decided. The proposed 8-kilometre by-pass was chosen by the Mid West Design team over two other options and will consist of a 100 metre-wide corridor to the east of the town stretching from Brittas to Turtulla.
This proposed single carriageway by-pass will run from Brittas through to Turtulla via Loughtagalla, the Moyne Road and the Dublin Road and will require four roundabouts and three river crossings without the demolition of any present existing structure.
This final decision will now also allow other corridors under review and situated west of the town, halted from immediate development, to revert to their previous zoning status.
Details of this plan can be viewed by the public from Tuesday next through to November 10th at Town Council offices on Slievenamon Road Thurles, the Council Civic Offices in Nenagh and at Thurles Library in the Source, Cathedral St.
We are unlikely, however, to see the usual gombeen type press releases from politicians, each claiming to have delivered on this 10 year promise. So, before local residents begin jumping for joy, believing they will no longer have to witness the daily chaos caused by HGVs maneuvering around Liberty Square from the town’s very narrow, tight side streets, there is a catch. Well a €48 million catch to be precise, so there is no immediate prospect of this by-pass ever being built in North Tipperary’s present political and financial climate.
Our only ray of sunlight, perhaps is the freeing up of hundreds of acres of land which has been effectively sterilised due to the planning process.
Ah, sure as me granny used to say “If it wasn’t for venetian blinds sure it would be curtains for us all.”
God knows, if it were raining soup, our hard pressed local Town Councillors would be out there standing, holding knives and forks. Only just back from the seaside and with local footpaths still not repaired since the tremors of our last earthquake, sure you would think they had enough problems for the weeks ahead.
But as the poet, Billy Shakespeare, once said to me “When trouble comes they come not in single spies, but in battalions,” and true to form, now our strategic escape route, Thurles road bridge, is falling down.
The bridge’s problems are visible on the north west side facing Pheasant Island, where two dressed limestone triangular cutwater supports, protecting arch supports are now about to collapse.
I do not want to panic any of our residents, but I worry that the large numbers of unemployed workers, heading out of this forgotten town to experience adventure on the emigrant trail, could find themselves marooned, until after the rainy season.
(Click on image for larger photo.)
Barry’s Bridge, in Thurles, to give it it’s true title, has provided passage over the river Suir, since it was originally built circa 1650. It remained unchanged until circa 1820, when its upper, side protection walls were partially reconstructed, removing two semi circle areas, which had provided safety to pedestrians from splashes from high speeding coaches and galloping horses. In the twentieth century both of these walls were removed and replaced by steel railings and the bridge road surface also was widened with a pedestrian footpath added on the south side.
This original 17 century bridge was constructed using a combination of rubble and dressed limestone materials, and has provided textural variation and interest, which gave scenic value to the amenity areas to the south and north. (Well it did until certain individuals placed assorted pipes and wires across its seven beautiful arches.)
Only one Thurles Councillor, so far, has asked Co Council engineers to inspect the bridge, but he states “there is no cause for panic,” however to use the famous riposte spoken by Mandy Rice-Davies, a Welsh former model and showgirl, best known for her role in the Profumo affair, “Well, he would, wouldn’t he?”
 Speed Camera Vans Judge Mary Devins dismissed two cases taken against motorists over in Castlebar, Co Mayo last week. The accused had been supposedly detected breaking speed limits by Ireland’s new speed camera van system.
The two defendants informed the court that they had never received fixed penalty notices in the post, informing them that they had been detected speeding and therefore did not pay the imposed fine.
Mr Padraic Sammon of Go Safe Ireland, latter which operates these speed camera vans, giving evidence to the court, explained that always at the end of his daily shift, he submits all the information to his headquarters, which in turn forwards this on to the Garda department located in Thurles, Co Tipperary, which then communicates a ‘Fixed Charge Penalty Notice,’ to offenders where applicable.
Judge Devins having heard the defendants excuses, informed the court: “I have no evidence that these fixed charge notices are issued, it’s putting a huge presumption on me that they are. This is a huge issue, I’m not in a position to just rubber stamp that they are.”
Gardaí are understood to have then withdrawn a third prosecution against another accused motorist, because of the judge’s ruling in the two previous cases, thus saving valuable court time.
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