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Roundabout vs Traffic Lights For Clongower Junction, Thurles, Tipperary.

According to qualified engineers which
one is the ‘Better’ and ‘Safer’?

Roundabouts vs traffic lights has always been an argumentative topic, however it has long been agreed, based on extensive studies that in the majority of cases, the ‘Roundabout’ is far better and safer than a ‘Traffic Light’ controlled junction.

Drivers need to slow down and think at roundabouts, as opposed to trying to beat a red light. Overall, studies undertaken worldwide declare that the existence of a ‘Roundabout’, will achieve a 37% reduction in collisions as opposed to traffic lights.

Roundabouts also improve traffic flow. Cars do not have to wait for a green light and as such roundabouts promote continuous traffic flow in low flow or uncongested traffic; as is the case in a rural town like Thurles.
With a Roundabout at this junction, Gardaí can go about their real business, instead of directing traffic volumes where same is not necessary.

Roundabouts also cost less to implement. Over the long term, roundabouts are considerably cheaper to operate each year, as there are no electrical costs involved.

To sum up; qualified engineers declare that ‘Roundabouts’ are the clear winners of choice. They are safer, improve traffic flow, are cheaper than traffic lights and can be installed for use in most situations.

The introduction of ‘Roundabouts’ will also put a stop to elected local Councillors and TD’s having to embarrass themselves, by continuously going on radio to justify why engineers are constantly wasting large sums of taxpayers money.

Looking abroad; after a century of resistance, cities in the USA, which have to endure larger volumes of traffic, are finally learning to love the ‘Roundabout’ – the Bronx in New York has got its first – believing it to be safer and far better for traffic flow.

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Conker Championship At Holycross Market “Pumpkin Fest”.

The much anticipated Tipperary “Conker Championships” will take place at the “Holycross Market Pumpkin Fest” here in Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday October 30th from 1:00pm4:00pm; reviving a tradition first mentioned as a sport by Poet Laureate Robert Southey in his memoirs published in 1821.

But first, those of you who have never competed previously will need to get some practise under your belt, for this event.
So to understand and learn more about preparing and winning this “Conker Championship”, please watch the video hereunder.

We understand from the Holycross Market Committee that a beautiful trophy, hand crafted locally, awaits the winner, with first place also earning a purse to the value of €50 in cash, and with the runner-up earning €25. “A nice little earner”, what with Christmas looming on the horizon.

So with tomorrow being Sunday; designated “a day of rest”, insist that Mum & Dad take you to the nearest Horse Chestnut tree, then choose a few conkers and start practising.
Remember the championship is just a week away.

Warning: Having watched the video; Kids do ask Dad to drill the hole in your Conker, so that you do not skewer your hand or fingers, injuring yourself before the event.

Next & Very Important: To enter for this event you need to text Sean @ 086 173 0621, to register.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Remember – Holycross Market – Saturday October 30th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

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ISD Condemn Facebook For Inaction On Dolores Cahill’s Social Media Account.

An operating Facebook social media account belonging to a group that continues to spread Covid-19 misinformation and idiotic conspiracy theories, has more than doubled their number of interactions it got in the first six months of 2021. This is despite a promise by Facebook to tackle all false virus pandemic claims.

A report published today by the United Kingdom founded Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) condemns Facebook’s efforts in tackling false information related to COVID-19 and vaccines on its platform. In particular they have failed by analysing the presence of a group called the World Doctors Alliance, whose members have spread various false and conspiratorial claims about the Covid pandemic, over the past 16 months.
Viewed more than 21.1 million times; the World Doctors Alliance (WDA), co-founded by former UCD Professor Dolores Cahill, now have more than half a million followers on their Facebook pages; a 13,000% increase since the start of this Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, Facebook is failing in its commitment to prohibit and remove false claims about COVID-19. The report also exposes major gaps in the efficacy of Facebook’s fact-checking program in languages outside of English and demonstrates that the platform is seriously failing to use the knowledge of these fact-checking organisations to take meaningful action against the grossly misinformed group.

Dolores Cahill, a former member of the minor right-wing, hard Eurosceptic political party in Ireland, which call, themselves (God help us),‘The Irish Freedom Party’; was one of 11 candidates to contest the 2020 Irish General Election, held on Saturday February 8th, 2020, with none of their candidates being successfully elected. Dolores Cahill, claiming to represent Tipperary came second-last in the Tipperary constituency, with a miserable 521 first preference votes. Following this election failure her agents ceased to function, in the removal of her election posters, for almost one year.

Note: Any posters in place before or after the stipulated election time-frame is deemed to be in breach of the legislation and are subject to an on-the-spot litter fine of €150 per week. Which begs the question did Tipperary Municipal District Council or Tipperary County Council exact their legally entitled dues?

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Oct. 30th -“Pumpkin Fest” Arrives To Holycross Market.

Halloween is coming to Holycross with an extra special “Holycross Pumpkin Fest” taking place on October 30th.

A host of spooky and spectacular events promise to entertain young and old and guarantee the very best in family fun.

For strong and skilled conker fighters, participants are sought for a “Conker Championship” with a trophy and prizes for the winners.

Ruadhán Gormally, the incredibly talented Galway born puppet maker, who was recently featured on the Ryan Tubridy Show, will be there on the day, to entertain and delight with a collection of his best puppets.

Not to be missed kids.

On October 30th, there will be an extended opening time from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, with lots of extra music, tricks, treats and other shenanigans for children and adults, in honour of this truly Irish tradition.
Yes, that’s right! Halloween, is an Irish tradition, owing its origins to the Celts and first celebrated over 2000 years ago.

The Celts celebrated the end of Harvest on the last day of October as part of a holiday called Samhain. They believed that on this day, spirits came and killed their crops.
To keep the spirits happy and at bay, the Celts left out food to treat the spirits and danced and dressed up wearing masks and costumes to keep the spirits entertained.

When Christianity arrived in Ireland, this tradition evolved. ‘All Souls’ Day‘ begun to be celebrated on November 2nd to honour the dead. November 1st became a day to honour the Saints or All Saints Day, also known as, All Hallow’s Day. October 31st became All Hallow’s Eve, which eventually morphed into the word Halloween.

Hundreds of years later, Halloween is celebrated all around the world, with children and adults alike, still dressing up, enjoying treats and telling ghost stories, and they owe it all to the Irish.

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Technological University Of Shannon (TUS) To Head EU Project To Boost Climate Action Leadership.

“Remarkable” project officially launched in Thurles, Co Tipperary.

A €1.7m “Remarkable” project has been proposed by the development unit at Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) and is to be funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.

Ireland’s newest technological university is leading a collaborative project that will aim to address the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as set out in the EU’s Green Deal.

Partners from a mix of universities, government and energy agencies involving Austria, Croatia, France, Sweden, Slovenia and Spain travelled to Tipperary recently to officially launch the project here in Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Mr Seamus Hoyne, (Dean of flexible learning and work-based learning) at TUS, stated that the project is particularly timely with the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, which is being held in Glasgow within the next three weeks; thus placing the climate crisis “to the very forefront of everyone’s agenda”.

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