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Thurles St Patrick’s Day Parade 2024 – Part 2

An estimated 2,500 viewers attended at the Thurles St Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday afternoon last, March 17th; encouraged out by the bright spring sunshine and the slight increase in the local temperature.

Possibly the largest crowd ever in the history of such parades; people from the Republic of the Philippines, Ukraine, England, São Paulo in Brazil, China, Poland, Italy and Stockholm in Sweden, joined the large number of local residents, who turned out for this most enjoyable of events.

The huge crowds (See also Video Part 1 HERE) that packed Thurles streets, from Friar Street west, through the town centre and unto Barry’s Bridge, were extremely impressed by the colours of floats; the marching groups representing numerous clubs and societies; the bands and other individuals; all taking part.

A huge “Thank You” to the work undertaken by Mr John Kenehan and his committee, and to the many people ‘in yellow jackets’, who successfully ensured the health and safety of the public in attendance.

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Munster Hotel Car Park Closed To The Public.

Despite the statements and so called interventions by Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill and Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, yesterday’s statement printed in the Thurles Cathedral Mass Booklet correctly states, quote:-

“As you are possibly aware, the Munster Hotel Car-park has now closed for public use. This is a regrettable decision for all who visit and attend ceremonies at our Cathedral. Please be aware of this and plan your parking accordingly when visiting the Cathedral. Please note that the MIC (St. Patrick’s College)is available for weekend parking. However, due to the increased number of students the MIC carpark is not available on weekdays during College term”.

This accounts for the fact that the coin slot on the parking metre in this car park was taped-over on Saturday last, although the tape was removed this afternoon (Monday March 4th).

Thurles Cathedral forecourt with partially completed marked car parking spaces.
Pic: G. Willoughby.

Thurles.Info warned of this problem some weeks ago [January 8th, 2024], regarding parking for those attending Mass, Funerals etc at the Thurles Cathedral, and indeed the impending challenges and dangers caused by no parking for retailers/consumers, latter attempting to transact service in numerous small, nearby business premises.

Look skyward as you pass the former Munster Hotel building, latter Thurles town’s number 1 eyesore, believed to be owned by Mr Martin Healy (Member of Thurles Chamber of Commerce), as metal material is ready to displace itself from the Hotel’s roof.
Pic: G. Willoughby.

Right at this moment, while public car parking still occurs at the carpark in question; vehicle owners should be aware that our ‘eye in the sky’ has identified a large section of what appears to be metal material, that has broken loose from the roof of this Thurles town eyesore (Munster Hotel) and is due to descend into the car-park, therefore likely to strike a school bus, or other parked vehicle, or indeed likely to land in Cathedral Street, same propelled by a sharp south westerly wind blowing outside today.

Meanwhile, Thurles Cathedral (see pic. above) has partially undertaken, this morning, to mark out limited car-park spaces and pedestrian lanes on its tiny forecourt, in the interest of public health and safety.

‘The Source’ Car Park, paid for by Rate Payers, (which cannot accept buses) continues to remain closed today following an arson attack last year.
Pic: G. Willoughby.

The Source Car Park, paid for by Rate Payers, still remains closed, although the streamers, ripped from roof insulation which was left uncovered, appears to have been removed, indicating a possible opening in the near future and will, no doubt, be welcomed by Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Jackie Cahill or Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry.

Bicycle bays remained empty this morning as Thurles Town continues to becomes a “no go area” for motor vehicle parking.
This situation should be etched on the electorates mind, when local elections take place shortly, in our once thriving town.
Local newspapers and local radio stations should now be highlighting and publishing this wanton destruction of a town centre, instead of reposting/publishing, ‘willy-nilly’, the press releases of Local Councillors and resident TD’s.

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Neglect By Tipperary Co. Co. & Thurles Municipal District Officials Continue.

A pedestrian has been seriously injured following an accident here in Thurles last night.

The named male pedestrian, a former member of An Garda Síochána, aged in his 60s and from the Thurles hinterland, was accidentally struck by a motor vehicle in the Archerstown/Mill Road area, south/east of Thurles, at approximately 7:35pm last evening, Friday February 17th 2024.

Thurles Gardaí, Thurles Ambulance Service and Thurles Fire Services, all attended at the scene, before the man was quickly removed to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel for urgent treatment. We understand the unfortunate victim has since been removed to Waterford University Hospital, but his injuries, while serious, are not described as life-threatening. We wish him a quick recovery.

Thurles.Info had previously highlighted the dangers to persons using the Mill Road route, as recent as February 8th, 2024, (VIEW HERE) warning of the possible consequence, if this area continued to be neglected by Tipperary Co. Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). This has been the fourth accident in this immediate area, to occur within a 40 kilometre (¼ ml) in as many months.

Meanwhile, last Friday on Kickham Street, (February 17th 2024), latter which joins this same Mill Road, at the Dublin Road roundabout, the large privately owned street sweeper was busy once again. Same was required to remove last week’s gravel, as the surface of this, the busiest road in Thurles, continues to unravel. It successfully removed the gravel, but failed to remove the craters.

On 19th May 2022, the then Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District Mr Seamus Hanafin stated on local radio, quote:-
“We’ve a significant amount of work going on in Thurles over the next 12 to 18 months to follow up on the work that’s already been done. We have Phase 2 of Slievenamon Road which will have to be done and there’s also work on Kickham Street and the approach road coming into Thurles that way. All of that work and any work being done on Liberty Square, will all need to be done on a phased basis to make sure we minimise the level of disruption in our town”.

It is now mid-February 2024, and almost two years later, and none of these 3 projects have even commenced.

On Friday February 2nd, 2024, Thurles.Info invited Thurles Administrator, Ms Sharon Scully to visit Kickham Street, Thurles. In the invitation forwarded by email [sharon.scully@tipperarycoco.ie] Ms Scully was asked as follows:-

Ms Scully,
I would like for you to visit Kickham Street this morning. I suggest you park at Ely’s Supermarket.
Walk across the road and take a look at the pavement and see at first hand the work of your two man mini road sweeper.

Kickham Street after 2 man mini sweeper swept the pavement, piling up dirt to leave same in the centre.
Pic: G. Willoughby.

Note: Ms Scully’s office, even during periods of heavy traffic is less than a 4 minute drive to Kickham Street.

As is usual with Ms Scully, we received no reply or other communication following my invitation. Obviously, Ms Scully as Town Administrator considers herself superior to those who pay her wages. (That reminds me, time to chat to the Standards In Public Office Commission again (SIPO), latter responsible for promoting transparency and accountability in Irish public life.)

On February 10th 2022 last, (two years ago), following a complaint by me regarding a pothole outside my home; I received the following email from Ms Scully:-

Mr Willoughby.
Further to your email below dated the 9th February, I can confirm that we are continuing to follow up with Irish Water to ensure that work is carried out to rectify reinstatement works carried out recently outside your property on Kickham Street.
As previously stated, Tomas Duffy, District Engineer inspected the location on Kickham Street, outside your property on the 8th February.
[Note Mr Duffy must be a psychic having examined this, my problem, one day before I reported the issue to Ms Scully.]
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 the 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.
Regards
Sharon.

Lower picture above shows: Track cut by Irish Water, under the guidance of Mr Thomas Duffy, to remove water from a large depression, latter the full responsibility of Tipperary Co. Council.
Top picture above shows: The exterior of this house, was freshly painted in August of 2023. It further shows the failure by Tipperary Co. Council, latter led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath and his staff, which leaves my home and front window pelted by stones and filthy water on almost a daily basis, over the past 2 years.
Pics: G. Willoughby.

The picture above, shows the corrective measures undertaken.
Corrective measures, took 5 minutes to complete; involved 2 men; a lorry, and what appeared to be a Stihl TS420 14in Cut-Off Consaw. The workers cut a small track, the width of a 50 pence piece, to enable water to flow from the pot hole, latter the responsibility of Tipperary Co. Council, past the reinstatement works, associated with Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water).
This small track filled with grit and dust 3 days after being cut, resulting in a total failure to solve the problem. The report by Mr Thomas Duffy, sent to Ms Scully, was totally incorrect and both these officials failed to follow up on how the repairs were dealt with.

Meanwhile, directly opposite my front door the pictures, immediately hereunder, show the current state of Kickham Street, Thurles, today, after the gravel was swept up on Friday last.
Possibly, because of my daring to complain, the last visit by Tipperary Co. Council workers, which took place on January 9th, 2024, failed to repair this section of roadway.

Just two sections of road surface, on Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pics: G. Willoughby.

On the same local radio station, used by Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, back in 2022; today reported that local Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill welcomed (through whoever writes his PR), the fact that €35 million had been allocated towards improving and maintaining roads in Tipperary.

The problems being experienced on Kickham Street, a route driven by Mr Jackie Cahill TD, at least twice each week, as he travels to Dail Eireann; gets no mention.

The waste by Tipperary Co. Council and Thurles Municipal District Council officials continues.

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Put Out Your Bratóg Bríde Tonight For A Year of Better Health.

Have you ever heard of the Brat Bríde or Bratóg Bríde (roughly translating from Irish as Brigid’s Rag)?

It’s an old Irish tradition in honour of St Brigid. Long ago it was the custom to tie a small piece of cloth to a bush on January 31st, the eve of St Brigid’s Day, February 1st.

Bratóg Bríde (Brigid’s Rag)

Overnight it was believed that the cloth would be blessed by St Brigid and conferred with healing properties. It was then worn under clothing to protect against sickness, relieve headaches and cure toothaches.

It was particularly important for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, because it was said to help women to produce enough nourishing milk to feed their babies.

This fascinating ancient tradition is currently being highlighted by the “Monasterevin Women’s Collective in Honour of St Brigid” and is among a host of initiatives and activities taking place across Ireland as part of Brigid 1500 celebrations this year, 2024.


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For What Are Thurles, Co. Tipperary Residents Paying Property Tax?

Yesterday, January 22nd 2024, the road sweeper unit made several passes up and down on Kickham Street, east of Thurles Town centre, Co. Tipperary.
Their purpose for the crew’s occupancy, was not to collect litter or debris relating to ‘Storm Isha’, but rather to suck up loose gravel, generated by the cold tarmacadam that had been brought into play, to fill giant craters just 14 days before.

Street sweeper unit gathering gravel on Kickham St. Thurles.
Pic: G. Willoughby. Mid-morning January 22nd 2024.

Thankfully, the cold spell experienced over the past two weeks had held this tarmac together, now that the rainy season has arrived, as we have experienced since Saturday last; unprecedented heavy traffic and heavy rain has, as expected, loosened the cold tarmacadam, resulting in the road surface becoming one long gravel driveway. (See image hereunder).

Gravel on Kickham Street, Thurles, before the Road Sweeper Unit arrived; brought to my attention by stones striking the toughened glass on my front window, latter broken by flying surface gravel, sometime previously.
Pic: G. Willoughby. Early Morning of January 22nd 2024.

Yesterday’s road sweeping exercise resulted in a two man operation. One driving the sweeper unit, while another employee attempted to keep pace, slightly to the fore, using a leaf blower to drive loose gravel from pavements; slung their by the wheels of vehicles and aimed at unsuspecting pedestrians.

Mr Joe MacGrath (Chief Executive Tipperary Co. Council), was busy yesterday, rubbing shoulders and having his picture taken with Fianna Fáil’s Minister Mr Darragh O’Brien and Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill (Thurles); all 3 individuals attempting to boost both their images and personal expenses, while officially opening a children’s playground in Newport, Co. Tipperary, which by the way, cost almost €3 million to deliver.
They were then later joined in their promotional picture by Mr Michael Lowry TD. (Thurles), who climbed in on the act, at Woodview Close, Nenagh, where Mr Darragh O’Brien officially cut the ‘Munster GAA blue ribbon’, suitably chosen, to open 10 social homes.

Meanwhile, back on Kickham Street, in forgotten Thurles, Co. Tipperary, within 4 hours after the sweeper had sucked up much of the loose gravel and departed, the last remnants of the streets cold tarmacked surface broke loose, leaving behind massive crates. (See image hereunder).

Kickham Street, Thurles yesterday afternoon, after the road sweeper unit had returned to base.
Pic: G. Willoughby. Afternoon of January 22nd 2024.

We ask the question again and again, “For what are Thurles residents paying property tax ?”
We get absolutely nothing in return, except silence or arrogance from officialdom, same disposed to exaggerate their own worth or self importance; often dished out in an overbearing manner”.

Time has now come to name the Tipperary Municipal District officials responsible.

Ms Sharon Scully (Thurles District Administrator), together with Mr Joe MacGrath (Chief Executive of Tipperary Co. Council) and Mr Marcus O’ Connor, (latter Director of Services Roads and Transportation, Active Travel, Health and Safety) have all been notified.
[We have been made aware that Mr Joe MacGrath will be away from his office until Friday next, January 26th, with limited access to his emails. To this end a communication has been forwarded to his secretary Ms Evelyn Harty, since this matter now requires urgent attention.]

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