Thurles Information

Update -Alcohol Containers Fast Becoming New Litter Menace In Thurles & Tipperary.

When Plastic And Aluminium Become One Recycling Problem.

I want to sincerely thank Minister of State Mr Alan Dillon TD (through his Private Secretary Ms Michaela Sullivan), for taking the time to provide such a detailed and informative response. Unfortunately, many TDs these days fail to reply to constituents’ questions at all, so a meaningful response deserves to be publicly acknowledged.

We recently wrote to Mr Dillon TD regarding the fact that certain containers are fast becoming the new litter menace in Thurles and around the Irish countryside; increasingly found discarded on streets, roadsides and in other public spaces.

Although Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme covers PET* bottles and aluminium or steel cans from 150ml to 3 litres, the Department has confirmed that this container is excluded because it is considered hybrid packaging, owing to its high aluminium-to-PET ratio.

The photograph below shows a 200ml BuzzBallz container made from a combination of plastic and aluminium.

**Ireland’s new litter menace – same rejected by Reverse Vending Machines, since no Re-turn logo**.

* PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a widely used plastic. It is a lightweight, durable plastic commonly used to make drinks bottles and is normally identified by the number 1 recycling symbol.

That creates a serious problem; the container may contaminate the aluminium recycling stream, while its metal content could also damage equipment used to process plastic. In other words, it is designed in a way that makes effective recycling extremely difficult.

The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is intended to address packaging like this. It requires packaging placed on the EU market to be recyclable, with reconcilability requirements beginning in 2030. Hopefully, this will bring an end to poorly designed hybrid containers that fall outside the deposit scheme and are too easily discarded on our streets and in our countryside.

The Minister’s office also explained that Re-turn works with local authorities, the LGMA and the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities to identify and investigate breaches of the Deposit Return Scheme rules. According to the Department, hundreds of inspections have taken place since the transition period ended, and 80% of the non-compliant stakeholders identified are now compliant or working towards compliance. Reports from members of the public remain an important part of that enforcement effort.

However, the wider question remains; why should any drinks container be allowed onto the Irish market, if it cannot be efficiently collected and recycled?

Packaging should be designed for a circular economy from the beginning, not become someone else’s environmental problem at the end.

Memory Café, Cashel Library, Co. Tipperary

Ms Maura Barrett, Reports Today From Cashel Library:

A welcoming space for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers to connect, share experiences, enjoy engaging activities and talks. This memory café offers support and conversation in a relaxed environment.
No need to book just come along, leave us your name and number to be contacted each month when the café is taking place.
This month we welcome guest speaker Joshua Dowling from ALONE.

You can locate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX).

The café takes place from 11:00am-12.30pm

Death Of Donal O’Driscoll, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Sunday 6th September 2026, of Mr Donal O’Driscoll, Lios Phádraig, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre- deceased by his mother Nellie, sister Marie and brother Paudie; Mr O’Driscoll, sadly, passed away, surrounded by his family, while in the care of staff at University Hospital Limerick.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving daughters Danielle and Ava and their mother Caroline, son-in-law Stephen, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr O’Driscoll will repose at Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Castlequarter, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, (Eircode E41 VX81) on Wednesday afternoon, September 9th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, same evening.
His remains will be received into the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart Church, Pallas Street, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, (Eircode E41 HP49), on Thursday morning, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St Brigid’s Cemetery, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr O’Driscoll, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

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

Note Please: House strictly private.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Death Of Margaret O’Donovan, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Sunday 6th September 2026, of Mrs Margaret O’Donovan (née Tobin), Carndonagh, Co. Donegal and formerly of Clone, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny and Ballyphilip, Ballingarry (South Riding), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her husband Seán, her parents Kathleen and Michael and her brothers Tommy and Michael; Mrs O’Donovan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, following a long illness, most bravely borne with courage and dignity, while at her daughter’s residence in Carndonagh, Co. Donegal.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving and heartbroken daughter Terri, son-in-law Paddy, grandchildren Clodagh and Aoibhín, sisters Breda (Fetherston), Mary (Lonergan), Nora (Fanning), Anne (Tilbury), Alice (Lahart) and Catherine (Carroll), her brothers Jimmy and Patrick, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs O’Donovan will repose at Molloy’s Funeral Home, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, (Eircode R95 Y443), on tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday September 8th, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm, same evening, pausing for Rosary and Vigil Prayers at 5:00pm.
Her funeral cortège will be received into the Church of St Eoghan, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny, on Wednesday morning, September 9th, at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St Leonard’s Cemetery, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny.

The extended O’Donovan and Tobin families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Death Of Paddy Bourke, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Sunday 6th September 2026, of Mr Paddy (Patrick) Bourke, Rathcunikeen, Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his grandson Brian, parents Jimmy and Mai, sisters Biddy (Fogarty) and Statia (Leahy), nieces Maura and baby Teresa; Mr Bourke passed away peacefully, following a short illness, while in the care of staff at Fennor Hill Care Facility, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving and heartbroken wife Eileen (née Doyle), daughters Maria (O’Gorman), Brigid (Burke), Catherine (Dwan) and Anne (Maher), sons Jimmy and John, sons-in-law Willie, Bill, Michael and Pat, daughters-in-law Bríd and Elaine, cherished grandchildren Eileen, Mary, Kate, Michelle, Patrick, Jennifer, Paul, Sarah, Ellen, Bill. Paddy and Nell, sisters Maura (Ryan) and Peggy (Fogarty), nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Bourke will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59), on tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, September 8th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, same evening.
His funeral cortège will be received into the Church of St James, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, on Wednesday morning, September 9th, at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in nearby Two-Mile-Borris Cemetery, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Bourke, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

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

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.