Transport - Thurles Information

Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018 To Include Motor Cyclists With Unaccompanied Learner Drivers.

As and from May 1st, 2022, as part of the Clancy amendment (Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018), Gardaí will seek to penalise motor cyclists who knowingly allow their vehicles to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver.

The law allows the owners of these motor cycles to be fined and grants Gardaí the power to seize their vehicles, if being driven by unaccompanied drivers.

Garda authorities will issue Fixed Charge Notices in relation to any such offences of Learner Drivers and this new act, which passed through the Dáil last Saturday, also makes it illegal for the owner of a motorcycle to knowingly allow an unaccompanied learner or an unlicensed person to drive it, with effect from May 1st next.

The Clancy Amendment came into effect first for motor vehicles in December 2018 and was announced by then Minister for Transport Mr Shane Ross.

The new law will also include Ride-On lawn mowers, and Quad bikes found being driven on public roads and country lanes.

A learner motor cyclist now faces disqualification and a six-month driving ban together with seventeen penalty points, if they are found to offend. Other penalties could include a fine of up to €2,000 or six months in prison or both, if prosecuted.

Commenting on the introduction of the new Act, the Minister for Justice has stated that: “I am very pleased that this new law is coming into effect at last”.

Under this same extension of the existing Clancy Amendment, an Garda Síochána have seized similar 4 wheel motor vehicles, on over 5,000 occasions in the past two years, newly released figures just published today, have shown.

“Time For Thurles”

Picture shows part of the base for the new inner relief road, wiping out Thurles heritage, and already christened by locals residents as *“Hanafin’s Folly”*.
**Double Ditch is now fully demolished**.
*Pic. G. Willoughby* *(28/3/2022)*

During a recent meeting of Templemore-Thurles Municipal District Council; councillors and those in attendance were informed that there was to be a move from the current County promotion which had been predominantly about heritage, to a more “heritage plus outdoors focus” which is currently now taking place. Who thought up this fool notion remains a mystery.

This is possibly because, in the case of Thurles town at least, most of our heritage has been removed by those positioned to promote the area.

The phrase ‘Time for Tipperary’ will now be the new buzz word. It appears the five year old failed slogan “Tipperary, the Place, The Time”, used to attempt to attract multinationals and tourists has gone out the window.

Still “Time for Tipperary”; a bit like “Trip to Tipp”, is much shorter than “Tipperary, the Place, The Time”; when “tripped off the tongue” by stuttering politicians.

Like the launch of “Tipperary, the Place, The Time”, here is a great opportunity also for Tipperary Co. Councillors; officials and politicians to banquet at Kilshane House, Bansha, you know the place where Dita von Teese & Marilyn Manson, Una Healy & Ben Foden were all married.

But the leading questions remains; will Covid-19 infected tourists continue to journey past the M50, at Junction 9 on the Red Cow roundabout?

Should we now hijack this proposed new logo and promote “Time for Thurles”, but sure what have we left to use as an attraction?

Help Tipperary Search & Rescue With Ukrainian Humanitarian Collection.

That wonderful organisation, Tipperary Search & Rescue, are operating a Humanitarian Collection on behalf of war victims fleeing war torn Ukraine.

Mr Brian Keady reports:-
Next Sunday morning, March 6th, 2022, Tipperary Search & Rescue will operate two humanitarian collection points, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Collection Points are as follows: –
* Kenyon Street Carpark, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
* The Source Carpark, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

If you would like to assist us in our endeavours, please contact us via our Social Media page, found HERE.

What we are looking for: –

* Medical Supplies, first aid kits, bandages.
* Toiletries of all kinds, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo.
* Blankets, sheets, sleeping bags and towels.
* Flashlights and batteries.

Already our membership has come together and purchased items to send to help those fleeing the situation in Ukraine.
We are now asking the people of Co. Tipperary, if at all possible, to further assist in this Humanitarian effort.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are we doing for others’?

Thurles Supporting Ukrainian People.

**Elwira Patan, Aneta Hughes** *(Proprietor Polish Shop, Thurles)*, **Monica Kowalska, Janus Dobrowolski and Krzysztof Hryc wrapping clothing and medical supplies bound for war torn Ukraine**.

Today, on the border with Belarus, a Ukrainian delegation continues to hold talks with hostile Russian officials. French President Mr Monsieur Emmanuel Macron has been speaking by phone with President Mr Vladimir Putin, urging him to halt his oppressive offensive against Ukraine.

Here in Thurles Co. Tipperary, the ‘Polish Shop’, (Sklep Polski Jelonek) with an address at Stradavoher, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, today deal with a continuous flow of Tipperary people, all anxious in particular to help refugees crossing over the polish border.

Speaking to the proprietor of the ‘Polish Shop’ in Stradavoher, Mrs Aneta Hughes, this afternoon, confirmed that volunteers continue to work in shifts packing the many donations of food and clothing being brought to her retail premises.

**Medical supplies bound for Poland & Ukraine**

Indeed, as we talked a courier arrived (see poster in top image above) to transport yet another donated cargo, picked up free of charge for delivery to Poland’s northern border.
Donated items to-date have included clothing, ground sheets and tinned or dried food goods.
Proprietor, Mrs Hughes has pointed out that she is no longer seeking clothing items, but is continuing to accept medical goods, ground sheets and tinned or dried food goods.
She is also seeking help from hauliers who can transport, free of charge, medical and food supplies into North Eastern Europe. [Tel: Contact (0504) 36081]

Meanwhile, Western placed sanctions on Saturday last, triggered by this wanton Russian invasion, have sent Russian currency (The ruble lost about 25%) plummeting, forcing ordinary Russian inhabitants to line up at banks and ATMs.

Liberty Square Car Park, Closed Until Friday Feb.25th.

**Liberty Square** **(Ulster Bank)** **Carpark, Thurles Closes**.

Tipperary County Council have announced that planned works to the Liberty Square (Ulster Bank) carpark in Thurles, will commence on tomorrow Monday 21st February 2022.

The carpark will remain closed from tomorrow, Monday February 21st until Saturday 26th February.
According to Mr Thomas Duffy, (Executive District Engineer), once the work is completed, there will be approximately 54 parking spaces available in the car park, including spaces for ‘Age Friendly’ parking and ‘Autism Friendly’ spaces.

Thurles Municipal District officials wishes to acknowledge the disruption these works will cause to businesses in the town. However, in order to minimise disruption, commencement of this work was chosen to coincide with what is a nearby school’s mid-term break.

This represents a substantial investment by tax payers, towards local infrastructure, thus allowing Tipperary Co. Council to glean even more money to waste.

**Kickham Street, Thurles this afternoon Feb 20th 2022 @ 3.00pm**

Note above, the car parked in 10 centimetres of stagnant water, with the surrounding images, further evidence of Thurles Municipal District Council’s inability to administrate the clearing of drains, identified and reported to the afore mentioned Mr Thomas Duffy, (Executive District Engineer) on July 26th 2021.

But then car parks generate more Council revenue, than pedestrians, businesses and private homes.

In a communication from Ms Sharan Scully District Administrator stating that, quote : – “Mr Tomas Duffy, District Engineer inspected the location on Kickham Street, outside your property on the 8th February.
Mr Duffy reported that the water ponding is directly due to reinstatement works associated with water main works, carried out by Irish Water recently.
The complaint was referred to Irish Water in order to rectify this matter. Mr Duffy then followed up the report directly with the Water Services in Tipperary County Council and impressed on them the urgency to have this work rectified”.

Regrettably, no one in Irish Water paid any attention to Mr Duffy and repairs have failed to materialise, with water flowing from Willowmere Drive, west into Kickham Street, using the road surface as a drain.

See picture section, featured above at centre bottom, shows Irish Water’s handiwork on Kickham Street, with one of their manholes loose and sinking into the road surface.