Thurles Information

Off-Licence And Yet Another Takeaway Proposed for Thurles Service Station

Rasbee Limited has applied to Tipperary County Council for permission to introduce an off-licence and pizza takeaway at the existing Inver service station on Mathew Avenue in Thurles.

The proposed development would occupy a 96-square-metre corner unit within the service station shop. Plans include a designated area for the sale of beer and spirits for consumption off the premises, along with an in-store pizza takeaway facility and associated site works.

Ten car-parking spaces are identified as serving the property, and the council recorded the application as received and validated on July 28th 2026 under Article 28 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Its validity remains dependent on the site notice meeting the relevant regulatory requirements.
A site inspection is due to take place during the statutory assessment period. Submissions or observations received up to and including August 31st will be considered, with a decision scheduled for September 21st.

**Planning Application Location Outlined In Blue.**

Application records can be checked through the Tipperary County Council HERE (File Number: 2660735)

Any new takeaway would enter a crowded Thurles food market.
If approved, the proposed pizza facility would join an already substantial food-service sector in Thurles. Current online directories identify Thurles already has a sizeable selection of restaurants, cafés, hotels and Takeaway businesses. Online directories list several dozen food-serving establishments across the town itself and surrounding area, with at least eight businesses specifically listed as Takeaways.

While our figures are approximate, and some businesses appear in both categories. Nevertheless, they indicate that the proposed outlet would enter a competitive local market in which customers already have a broad range of dine-in, collection and delivery options.
Whether the development would contribute to the closure of an existing business cannot be established from the planning application. Competition alone does not mean closures are inevitable, and the proposed facility may attract passing trade associated with the service station, rather than relying entirely on town-centre customers.

However, the possibility of further closures cannot be dismissed. The Restaurants Association of Ireland reported that 150 restaurants closed nationally during the first quarter of 2025, attributing the losses to rising operating costs. The association has identified labour, food, energy, insurance and taxation as significant pressures on food-led businesses. The Government subsequently restored the 9% VAT rate for food-led hospitality from July 2026, offering some relief to the sector.

Against that background, an additional takeaway could place further pressure on some established operators, particularly where businesses compete for the same evening pizza and fast-food trade. It would nevertheless be speculative and potentially unfair to suggest that any named Thurles restaurant or takeaway is likely to close without evidence from the businesses concerned.

Death Of Christy Gilmartin, Templederry, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 13th August 2026, of Mr Christopher Gilmartin, Loughane Lower, Templederry, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Catherine & Denis, brothers Jack and Martin, sister Nan (Reid) and his sister-in-law Nan (Gilmartin); Mr Gilmartin passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, while in the care of staff at Nenagh Manor Nursing Home and University Hospital Limerick.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Gilmartin will repose in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Cloghonan, Templederry, tomorrow afternoon, Saturday August 15th from 4:00pm until 6:00pm, same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mr Gilmartin will be offered on Sunday afternoon August 16th at 2:00pm, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Templederry New Cemetery, Cloghinch, Templederry, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Gilmartin 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.

“The Gilmartin family would like to thank the management and staff of Nenagh Manor Nursing home for the care and kindness shown to Mr Gilmartin”.

Solas na bhflaitheas agus leaba i measc na n-aingeal dó.

Hospital Waiting Lists Climb Towards One Million As Children’s Spinal Surgery Queue Falls

Ireland’s national hospital waiting lists rose again last month (July 2026), with more than 990,870 patients recorded as waiting for an appointment or treatment.

The total increased by more than 9,500 patients compared with June 2026, according to figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

Outpatient appointments continued to account for the largest share. More than 683,540 patients were waiting to attend an outpatient department for the first time at the end of July, up from approximately 673,750 one month earlier.
Almost 36,000 additional patients were classified as suspended. These patients are temporarily unable or medically unfit to attend, or are receiving treatment through insourcing or outsourcing initiatives. They are not included in the principal waiting-list total.

This national increase came as separate figures showed progress in children’s spinal care.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) reported that the number of children and young people waiting for spinal surgery had fallen to 199, compared with 231 at the end of July 2025.
Since January, 229 procedures have been added to the surgical waiting list, while 279 spinal operations have been completed. Seven patients have waited between 12 and 15 months, two between 18 and 24 months, and one between 24 and 36 months.
CHI’s spinal outpatient waiting list also declined to 431 patients, down 22.6% from 557 a year earlier. The average wait for a first outpatient appointment fell from 7.4 months to 3.9 months, with 99.5% of patients waiting less than a year.

CHI chief executive Ms Lucy Nugent said the figures demonstrated continued progress in reducing waiting times and helping children receive the care they need. The organisation is aiming to complete 540 spinal procedures by the end of 2026.

Survey Finds 57% Of Discarded Cigarette Packs Had No Irish Duty Paid

More than half of the cigarette packs examined in a new industry-commissioned survey did not carry evidence that Irish excise duty had been paid.

The 2026 Empty Pack Survey, conducted on behalf of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Ireland, examined 5,000 discarded cigarette packs collected from streets and public bins in 22 of Ireland’s largest towns and cities. The packs were gathered between February 16th and April 3rd last.

According to the then findings, 57% were classified as non-Irish duty paid, mNo Duty Paid on image suppliedeaning Irish taxes had not been paid on them. However, this category includes both illegal tobacco and cigarettes legally purchased abroad and subsequently brought into Ireland.
Fourteen per cent of all packs examined were identified as counterfeit. Counterfeit cigarettes are manufactured without the brand owner’s permission and are generally produced to imitate legitimate products, deceive consumers and evade taxation.

Significant geographical differences were reported. Galway recorded the country’s highest proportion of non-Irish duty-paid packs, at 75%. Swords followed at 66%, according to the published results. Wexford had the highest reported counterfeit rate, with counterfeit products accounting for 25% of packs collected there. Ennis recorded a rate of 20%, followed by Waterford at 19%.
The survey covered 22 towns and cities, but the accessible reports do not indicate that Clonmel, Nenagh, Thurles or another Tipperary location was included.

Researchers assessed the discarded packs to establish their likely origin, examine their tax markings and determine whether they were authentic.
The findings should be interpreted with some caution. Because the research was commissioned by a tobacco company and relied on discarded packs, it does not necessarily represent the proportion of all cigarettes consumed or sold in Ireland. Empty-pack studies also cannot establish whether every non-Irish duty-paid pack entered the country illegally.

The latest official comparison currently available is Revenue and the HSE’s independently conducted 2024 survey of packs held by smokers. It classified 26% as illegal and another 11% as legal but non-Irish duty paid. Counterfeits represented less than 1% of the illegal packs in that study.

Death Of Vincent Duggan, Formerly Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Wednesday 12th August 2026, of Mr Vincent Duggan, Dublin and formerly of Piercetown House, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his wife Lita, parents Pat and Josephine; Mr Duggan, sadly, passed away suddenly, while in the care of staff at the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving daughters Laura and Katie, grandchildren, brothers Pat, Liam and Theo, sisters Anna (Harrington), Margaret (Quinlan) and Mary (Hackett), nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Duggan will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E44 CP59), on Saturday afternoon next, August 15th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, before being received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, (Eircode E41 A528), at 8:00pm same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mr Duggan will be offered on Sunday morning, August 16th, at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Duggan 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.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.