Thurles Information

€442,000 To Help Plot Long-Term Joint Strategy For TUS & RUN-EU Partners.

The allocation of almost €450,000 to TUS (Technological University of the Shannon – comprising Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT)) as a member of RUN-EU* (European Regional University Network), one of seven European University Alliances, will help plot a course to implement a shared, integrated, and long-term joint strategy for the new technological university and its partner universities.

* RUN –EU is one of 41 successfully funded Alliances from the European Universities Initiative.
Its education partners include Higher Education Institutes from regions other than capital cities: TUS (Ireland), Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal), Polytechnic of Cávado and Ave (Portugal), Széchenyi István University (SZE) (Hungary), Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK (Finland), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), and FH Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (Austria)
TUS is the Deputy Co-ordinator of RUN-EU and also leads the RUN-EU Discovery Programme.

That was the message from TUS Vice President Research, Development & Innovation, Dr Liam Brown, who welcomed the announcement of the €442,000 funding by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Mr Simon Harris on behalf of the HEA (Higher Education Authority).

A flagship initiative of the European Union, the ambition is to build a European Education Area and European Research Area with the assistance of European University alliances – including RUN-EU. These alliances will help create a European inter-university ‘campus’, where students, staff and researchers enjoy seamless mobility (physical, virtual or blended) to study, train, teach, do research, work or share services at cooperating partner institutions.

Dr Brown explained, “The RUN-EU long term vision places innovative teaching, learning, research and engagement at the centre of the alliance activities and plots a course to implement the shared, integrated, and long-term joint strategy of the European Universities, with students at the centre. Today’s funding will help us further along this journey.
The RUN-EU alliance contributes to the European Higher Education Area goals of enhanced mobility opportunities and recognition of qualifications across the EU through the design and delivery of collaborative European degrees, educational opportunities and the promotion of a strong sense of European identity, culture, and citizenship. This will ultimately deliver for all stakeholders and addresses the skills of the future for our employers,” he added.

TUS Head of Research, Dr Patrick Murray, outlined the benefit of RUN-EU not only to TUS, but the region, country and Europe as a whole.
“RUN-EU fosters the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge and innovation bringing together a new generation of creative Europeans, whereby ‘learning, studying and doing research’ enables our staff and students to cooperate across borders, languages, and disciplines, contributing to a more competitive European industry,” he said.

Minister McEntee Attends Informal Meeting Of Home Affairs Ministers Hosted By French Presidency.

Minister Mrs Helen McEntee, TD represented Ireland at the informal meeting of Home Affairs Ministers held in Lille, Hauts-de-France region in northern France. This was the first meeting of Home Affairs Ministers of the French EU Presidency, which began on 1st January 2022.

Attending the meeting, the Minister stated:
“I am delighted to attend the first meeting of Home Affairs Ministers hosted by France since they have taken over the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The opportunity to meet in person is welcome as we emerge from the COVID19 pandemic and the Presidency included a number of key items on the agenda.”

Items for discussion on the agenda included the security of European borders; the future of civil protection in Europe in the face of climate change; the fight against terrorism and radicalisation, and the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’.

While attending the informal meeting, Minister McEntee also had an introductory bilateral meeting with the new German Federal Minister of the Interior, Frau Nancy Faeser.

Speaking on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Minister stated:
“Ireland welcomes the efforts that the French Presidency are making to progress migration and asylum reform. Ireland has always supported EU efforts to deal with this issue in a comprehensive and holistic way and the approach being taken is balanced and pragmatic. The focus on specific aspects of the Pact presents an opportunity to build trust and introduce much needs reforms while also making sure to find the right balance between responsibility and solidarity.”

The informal meeting of Justice Ministers also took place in Lille on 3rd and 4th February.
Items on the agenda included:
* an exchange on the fight against hate.
* systems for alerting the public in the event of child abduction.,
* recognition between Member States of parenthood established within the European Union.

Last Opportunity To Clean Out & Maintain Bird Nesting Box.

Firstly, I should state if you do not have a bird nesting box in your garden, there are some handmade, beautiful designed, boxes with required correct dimensions, currently available at O’Driscolls Garden Centre on the Mill Road here in Thurles, all at very affordable prices.

**Rear opening entrance to Blue Tit nesting box**

For those of you who already possess a nesting box, it’s time again, to clean out and maintained same, to ensure tenants for this coming Spring and Summer.

Old nests should be removed in the autumn or winter, preferably from October onwards, once parents and their brood have moved out of their home.

Birds, particularly Blue Tits, start early in their hunt for social housing. The site appears most often to be chosen by the wife, with the interior and entrance having been measured by the husband, using his wings as a tape measure. Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) love artificial nest-boxes and are probably the most common occupiers of same here in the Irish Republic.

The female of the Blue Tit species will build her nest alone, with her mate following her around to make sure that no other males make contact with her. This stated, it is estimated that over 40% of Blue Tit nests will contain at least one hatched chick that is possibly being reared by a male that is not its father.

Later, the male will feed the female, while she remains nesting and youngsters will leave the nest around three weeks after hatching occurs.

The old nests built by most birds can harbour nasty parasites, so once last year’s nest has been removed from the box, use boiling water to rid same of parasites. Let the box dry out thoroughly, before replacing the lid or back portion.

Remember parasites that remain can infest young birds that hatch the following year, so do scald the box out well and avoid, totally, the use of any form of disinfectant, soap solution, insecticide or parasite powder.

Try to avoid cleaning out your nest box in September, thus ensuring the nest is no longer active, as some species can nest right through until the end of September, each year.

The box shown here possibly because of its positioning; remaining clear of animals or destructive humans, has raised, over a 3 year period, 4 families of blue tits numbering in all 42; from a total of 42 eggs.

Where To Erect A Bird Nesting Box.

Correctly built nesting boxes are best constructed from untreated timber.
Boxes for tits should be fixed at least two metres high (6ft) on a tree or a wall. Remember, if attached to a tree use soft cable ties rather than nails to secure your nesting box.

The success of the box, shown herewith, is the fact that it is partly hidden by overhanging vegetation, thus allowing the bird to vanish into overhanging ivy branches before accessing the box itself.
While experts state that nesting boxes should face between north and east in direction, thus avoiding strong sunlight, driving summer rain and wind; this box faces south protected and shaded by the overhanging ivy, with no complaints from Blue Tit tenants.

17,078 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed Today On Irish Mainland.

Today, 17,078 new Coronavirus cases confirmed on Irish Mainland; down 251 on yesterday’s reported figures.

In the Irish Republic, the Department of Health has confirmed 12,875 new cases of Covid-19, over the past 24 hours.
Of these confirmed cases, 6,061 are PCR-confirmed, while 6,814 are positive antigen tests, same registered via the HSE portal.

There were 610 patients with the virus being treated in hospital as of 8:00am, this morning, representing a reduction of 20 cases on the same time yesterday. As of 11:30am, there remained 63 patients with the virus receiving attention in the Republic’s ICUs, down 2 also on the same time yesterday.

This figure compares with 896 cases reported 14 days ago and 708 infections reported 7 days ago.

Today, due to a Covid-19 outbreak; visiting restrictions have been introduced at two inpatient wards in Nenagh General Hospital, latter situated on the R498 at Tyone, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

The wearing of face masks will remain mandatory in several Irish settings until the end of this month, when the rule on mask-wearing will be then be further reviewed by NPHET, with health officials then advising the government on their future need.

In Northern Ireland a further 4,203 cases of coronavirus have been reported within the past 24 hours today, down from 4,769 reported on yesterday.

Today, there were 354 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospitals same figure down 3 on yesterday; with 11 of these patients, diagnosed with the killer virus, in hospital intensive care units, down a further 2 on yesterday.

Sadly, 3 Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported today, bringing the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, since the start of the pandemic, to 3,123.

Death Of Jackie Tynan, Late Of Clonoulty, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today, February 2nd 2022, of Mr John (Jackie) Tynan, Boherlahan, Cashel, Co. Tipperary and late of Clonoulty, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his son Patrick, wife Nell and his brother Tom Webster, Mr Tynan, passed away, while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving daughter, Josephine, brothers and sisters in the Webster family, son-in-law Oliver, grandchildren Jacqueline, Darren, Leo and Jason, nine great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Tynan will repose at Devitt’s Funeral Home, The Green, Cashel, tomorrow evening Thursday, February 3rd, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
His body will be received into the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Boherlahan, Cashel to further repose for Requiem Mass on Friday morning at 11:30am, followed immediately afterwards by interment in Ardmayle Graveyard, Castlemoyle North, Ardmayle Beg, Co. Tipperary.

For the many persons who would have liked to have attended Requiem Mass for Mr Tynan, but are unable to do so, due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic; same can be viewed online HERE.

[NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending Requiem Mass will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]

The extended Tynan family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.