Gardaí Launch 20 New Speed Zones In Tipperary

Trains & Boats & Planes Are Passing By Tipperary

“Trains and boats and planes are passing by, They mean a trip to Paris or Rome,
To someone else, but not for me, The trains and boats and planes,

(Lyrics by Hal David 1966.)

The Industrial Development Authority (IDA), smugly and at every possible media opportunity, boasts of its success in achieving strong net job performance, with 11,766 jobs created in client companies, mainly through foreign direct investment.

In first place, with some 54%, or 6,389 jobs created, was Co Dublin, while in second place was Co Cork, achieving some 1,979 similar job replacements during the same twelve month period.

Here in the County of Tipperary, the South of the county saw a mere ten jobs put in place, ( Fifth from bottom of the overall list, ) while in North Tipp (Bottom of this list, ) saw not even one single job created, during this same period.

These figures have not been concocted by me, but were provided courtesy of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton, supplied in a written reply to Donegal Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh.

Continue reading Trains & Boats & Planes Are Passing By Tipperary

Thurles Temporary Roads Closure

Archerstown to Turtulla Road, Thurles, to Close Temporarily

Under Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993-2007, notice has been granted, giving North Tipperary County Council propose to make an order closing the following roads:-

Archerstown to Turtulla Cross, Thurles. (L4111-0 )

Cloghmartin to Turtulla Cross, Thurles. (L8018-0 )

(Click on Map image for higher definition.)

Period of Closure

From May 13th 2013 to June 28th 2013. (Both dates to be inclusive.)

Alternative Routes

Diversion for Archerstown to Turtulla Cross accessed via the N62 and the N75 and vice versa.

Diversion for Cloghmartin to Turtulla Cross accessed via the N62 and vice versa.

The purpose of this road closure is to facilitate the installation of a new water main.

Diversions are expected to be fully in place and clearly signposted, however delays on the N62 can be expected.

Denis Kinane Motors Thurles Celebrate 38 Successful Years

Today, Denis Kinane Motors, situated at Stradavoher, Thurles, here in Co. Tipperary, celebrate their 38th birthday.

It was on this day 38 years ago that Denis Kinane, a certified motor mechanic, decided to rent a small property from the now late Mr Sean McDonnell. Previously Denis Kinane had earned the deserved reputation, as he himself humbly states, “knowing my way around under the hood of just about any make & model of car.”

Cars, in the seventies, largely relied solely on mechanical parts, which then unlike today, had little sophisticated electronic parts and certainly no computer diagnostic systems to find an engine fault. It was this innate ability, by Denis, to not just quickly diagnose an engine problem, but to deliver the repaired vehicle on schedule as promised, that quickly identified him as the number one motor shop for business men and women operating locally.

Over the first 10 years Denis Kinane’s success and popularity as a mechanic would lead him to venture into the used car market and eventually into purchasing his occupied rented property, of some ten years previous. Following this purchase Denis began to upgrade his then existing building structures on site and erect one the first ‘Car Showrooms,’ then in existence in rural Ireland.

His attention to exact detail, cleanliness & the attractiveness to the eye of his property led him to winning the Thurles Tidy Towns Business Award three years in succession from 1996 to 1998 inclusive. It is not therefore surprising that those who attend regular Honda Dealership conferences this year will see images of Denis Kinane Motors (Honda) Thurles appear on large electric projector screens and white boards, encouraging other dealerships respectfully, both here and in Europe, to kindly follow in his footsteps.

So Why A Honda Dealership?

In 1990, Denis Kinane Motors sought and won the right to operate a Honda Dealership in Thurles. “Why Honda,”? I asked. The reply came from Denis quickly and without hesitation. “Best product, most reliable car on the market today, sell one and you will never see it again, until it requires its standard annual service,” he states with utmost conviction.

Secret Of Successful Business

With so many motor dealerships failing during the recession, which has cast a dark cloud over the Ireland of the past few years, I asked Denis what was his secret to running such a successful motor dealership.

Denis stated “The secret to good business dealings have not changed one single iota, since I began trading 38 years ago. Management involved in the motor industry today need more knowledge than their local Doctor. The human body for the most part remains the same, but the automotive industry is constantly moving forward at the same rapid pace as other technology. These changes are forcing mechanics to remain open to constantly updating their level of knowledge. Denis Kinane Motors and its current workforce possess a passionate curiosity within the motor industry, offering full attention to detail and passing this onto our consumers through their friendliness, diplomacy, discretion and good ‘plain to be seen,’ value for money. These remain essentially the required traits of any successful business enterprise.”

Happy Birthday Denis Kinane Motors (Honda) and continued success into the future.

Tipperary Road Safety ‘Close the Gap’

The Government’s fourth Road Safety Strategy was launched today at the Road Transport Safety Conference on Serious Injuries.

The strategy entitled, ‘Closing the Gap‘ will run until 2020 with its targeted aim to make Ireland one of the safest countries in terms of road deaths in the EU. This strategy will also focus on new measures to reduce the numbers and severity of serious injuries which arise annually, due to road accidents here in Tipperary and indeed nationwide.

This new Strategy now sets a specific target up to 2020, aimed to reduce the number of road deaths to 124 a year, from 162 last year and serious injuries to 330 per year, latter from 485 in 2012. This drop is now necessary to ‘close the gap,’ between Ireland and other best performing countries such as the UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Australia. The RSA will be responsible for the overall implementation of this Strategy and will report to Government annually.

Ireland outperformed the EU average in reducing road fatalities by 12% in 2012.

Key Road Safety Measures To Be Introduced

The consideration of rehabilitative/driving awareness courses for repeat offenders.
Extending the safety camera network to offences other than speeding.
Measures to combat car clocking.
Employers will be encouraged to implement a handbrake lock for phone use by professional drivers.
In-vehicle devices which sense tiredness will be encouraged.
Regular audits of road markings, safety black-spots and signage will be recommended.
Fixed charge notices for cyclists will be considered.
The RSA will have more frequent access to PULSE garda data, in order to spot trends.
At least five new Service Areas on motorways will be erected to combat tiredness.

The Government’s Road Safety Strategy is available to view or download from www.rsa.ie

Gardaí Launch 20 New Speed Zones In Tipperary

Thurles area Speed Enforcement Zones as on 14/3/13 shown in Red

Nationally the number of Go-Safe motorist speed detection camera zones are to increase by over 243 and from the end of April there will be a total of 727 locations where the vans will now be deployed.

As stated an additional 243 stretches of road have now been further identified as having a collision history suitable for inclusion as a speed enforcement zone. Some 60% of these roads are regional/local roads while the remaining are national roads. Some 48% of all fatal collisions in the five year period 2006 to 2012 occurred on these 727 sections of roadway.

Twenty new sites have now been identified here in Co Tipperary and monitoring will come into effect, as stated, in April.

The twenty new accident prone areas identified in Tipperary are as follows:- RATHBEG, LONGFORDPASS (R639.), COOLEENY (local.), BORRISBEG (N62.), AGHSMEAR (N62.), CARRICK (R445.), FOXHALL (R503.), KILCORAN, BOHERNARNANE (R639.), CLOONYHEA, KILLAGHY (R690.), LICKFINN, LANESPARK (R689.), LOUGHLOHERY, MOORSTOWN (N24.), BALLYNARAHA, SESKIN (N76.), ANNAGH (R438.), BALLINVILLA, LISGARRIFF (N52.), GARRANMORE, FUSSOUGH (R691.), NEWPARK, BALLYSHEEHANN (R639.), BURGES MANSION, BURGES WEST (R668.), BALLYBEG, PARKSTOWN (R639.), THURLES TOWNPARKS (N62.), WHITEFIELD (N62.) and finally KILBOY (R497.).

From January 2011 to January 2013 road deaths fell to record lows with 186 deaths in 2011 and 162 deaths in 2012.

The primary purpose of these safety cameras is to reduce speed related collisions, lessen injuries and save lives.

Safety cameras only operate on sections of road which have a history of collisions occurring where speed is a contributory factor. The areas where these cameras are operating are available to the public on the Garda website. (Click HERE To View.)

‘GoSafe,’ monitoring commenced operation on a phased basis in November 2010 and reached full operational capacity in March 2011. GoSafe are contracted to provide a minimum of 6000 hours speed enforcement per month as directed by An Garda Síochána. GoSafe are also set key performance indicators, to ensure enforcement is targeted at key days and times, with a particular emphasis on night time and weekends.

From 1st November 2010 to 31st December 2012, more than 408,000 fixed charge notices were issued as a result of detections from both GoSafe and Gardaí operated Robot vans, for non-intercept speeding offences.