Yesterday, September 20th 2026, marked fifty years since three men sadly lost their lives in a plane crash in the Galtee Mountains. A gathering at the aircraft monument on the Black Road remembered Jimmy Byrne, Tom Gannon and Dick O’Reilly, whose names remain closely connected with this place.
On Monday, September 20th 1976, the three men were returning to Abbeyshrule, County Longford, after visiting an airstrip at Kilbrittain in County Cork. All were founding members of Abbeyshrule Aero Club and shared a love of flying. Mr Tom Gannon, a solicitor aged 40, was piloting the aircraft. With him were Mr Jimmy Byrne, a farmer aged 56, and Mr Dick O’Reilly, a garage proprietor aged 63. Their journey ended tragically on the southern slopes of the Galtees, above Glengarra Wood, Cullenagh, County Tipperary.
A group photo of family and friends of the three men, as well as local people and members of SEMRA at the 40th anniversary of the accident back in 2016. (Pic: Courtesy of Mr Jimmy Barry).
The aircraft was described as a single-engine, French-built Morane which crashed in thick cloud. Mr Jimmy Byrne had converted part of his farmland into an airfield, reflecting the practical commitment behind the men’s enthusiasm for aviation.
When the aircraft failed to reach its destination, an Air Corps helicopter searched the intended route and located the wreckage. There was no dedicated mountain rescue service in Co. Tipperary at the time, and the knowledge of local hill walkers proved vital in recovery.
The men’s bodies were recovered the following morning in an operation involving Gardaí, the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, relatives, members of Tipperary Adventure Sports Club and local volunteers. The tragedy helped prompt the development of formal mountain rescue structures in the South East in 1977, a lasting legacy associated with the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, SEMRA.
In 2006, on the thirtieth anniversary, a memorial made from Longford stone was erected beside the Black Road near Skeheenarinky, a townland in south-west Co. Tipperary. Shaped like an aircraft’s tail, it was unveiled by sons of the three men. Its presence has helped maintain a connection between their families, the Abbeyshrule community and those who came to their aid in the Galtees.
Fifty years later, the monument remains a place to pause and remember three lives, the families who mourned them, and the people who answered the call for help.
Remembering Jimmy Byrne, Tom Gannon and Dick O’Reilly. May they rest in peace.
Pre-deceased by his parents Basil and Rosameund Patricia Crofts Greene; Mr Crofts Greene passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Fennor Care Facility, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by the sorrowing immediate Crofts Greene family, cousins, kind neighbours and a close circle of very good friends.
The extended Crofts Greene 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.
Pre-deceased by his parents Richard and Winifred and his brother Dick (Richard); Mr Larkin passed away peacefully while in the care of staff in Unit B at the Community Hospital Assumption, Thurles.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving cousins Paddy Purcell, Pakie Purcell, Sheila (Barry), Maudie (Ryan), Ann and Pat (Stynes) and the extended Purcell family, extended relatives, neighbours, staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption and many friends.
The extended Larkin 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.
Ireland’s free hot school meals programme is set for changes aimed at improving nutrition, offering more suitable portions and reducing the amount of food left uneaten.
Minister for Social Protection Mr Dara Calleary outlined the proposed reforms after Cabinet discussed two Government-commissioned reviews of the scheme. A cold lunch option, a standardised three-week menu and better provision for children with additional dietary needs are among the measures being considered. Discussions with schools and suppliers will now take place, with changes intended for the 2027/28 cycle.
Attention Turns From Expansion to Food Quality Following its nationwide extension in September 2025, the programme covers approximately 3,200 primary schools and more than 550,000 school children. Mr Calleary defended the scheme’s rapid growth and said it continues to provide valuable support to families. However, he acknowledged that improving the food itself must now become a central priority. The programme is estimated to save a household with two primary school children about €1,152 annually. An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin also recognised the scheme’s benefits while accepting that its quality and waste levels need attention.
Uneaten Meals Raise Difficult Questions The reviews indicate that roughly one in five meals supplied; approximately 100,000 a day, goes uneaten when pupil absences are taken into account, the proportion falls to 11.1%. Mr Calleary said his department takes food waste seriously, while noting that children being absent explains part of the problem. There are also questions about how waste is measured. Food Policy Ireland chief executive Ms Ruth Hegarty cited an estimated 6.3 million kilogrammes of food wasted over a school year, but questioned the basis for the reported uneaten-meal percentage because direct food waste audits had not been conducted in schools. The parent survey suggests that unfinished lunches predate the programme; almost half of respondents said their children previously brought food home uneaten.
Smaller Portions for Younger Pupils, More for Older Children A nutritional assessment examined 360 meals from 15 suppliers and included visits to 54 schools. It identified a problem with serving the same portion size across different age groups. Meals that may be sufficient for younger pupils can provide too few calories for older children. The review also found that children tended to select foods higher in fat, salt and sugar when those choices appeared alongside healthier alternatives. Proposed changes would introduce portions suited to different ages and a standardised menu rotating over three weeks. Menus would also be adapted for special schools, special classes and children with specific dietary requirements.
Parents Want Greater Lunch Flexibility A possible cold lunch option emerged as a strong theme in the feedback, with 84% of parents supporting its availability. The review recommends allowing children to choose a hot or cold meal on a given day, suggesting that greater flexibility could help reduce waste. The Ipsos/Behaviour & Attitudes research gathered responses from 86,637 parents and guardians, 6,884 children, 2,420 teachers and principals, and 47 suppliers, with 747 schools participating. Three-quarters of children said they ate at least some of their meal, while 63% of teachers and principals considered the programme’s overall impact positive. Meal ordering was strongest among younger children. Participation averaged 97% from Junior Infants to First Class, compared with 81% in Fifth and Sixth Class. The overall average was 85%.
The Government remains committed to extending the programme to secondary schools during its term. Mr Calleary has yet to announce a timetable for that expansion.
A Possible Budget Leak – With Questions Still Unanswered.
Reports ahead of Ireland’s Budget 2027 suggest that all 16-year-olds could receive a €100 voucher for arts and cultural activities, with a possible extension to 17-year-olds in Budget 2028. The estimated first-year cost is €7.5 million. This remains a reported proposal, rather than a confirmed entitlement. Whether the announcement has emerged through a deliberate leak has not been established.
Helping young people experience culture most certainly is a worthwhile ambition. But taxpayers are entitled to ask what this particular measure would achieve, and whether another approach would achieve much more.
Cultural Spending on those aged 16 year does not automatically mean education A play, concert or creative workshop can spark an interest that can last a lifetime. Enjoyment and shared experiences have value also. However, redeeming a voucher does not prove that someone has learned something new or discovered an activity they would otherwise have missed.
France’s experience offers a warning. Its national auditors found that the ‘Culture Pass’ mainly reinforced established cultural habits, while its ability to broaden participation remained limited. Ireland should learn from that experience, before assuming a voucher will overcome barriers to culture. The test is whether the Government sets clear objectives, publishes the costs and commissions an independent evaluation. Success should mean reaching young people who currently miss out, not simply announcing how many vouchers were spent.
Could It Free Money For Alcohol or Drug Abuse? If a teenager already planned to buy a concert ticket, a voucher could leave their own money available for something else. But it would be unfair to assume that the money would go towards alcohol or drugs. It might pay for transport, food or savings. There is no evidence presented here establishing that this proposal would increase substance use. Will Ticket Prices Rise And Who Gets the Money? Extra purchasing power could put upward pressure on prices where popular events already sell out. At venues with empty seats, it could instead increase attendance without raising prices. Most popular bands on Tour entering Ireland already cost well over €100 Some spending could benefit wealthy performers, major promoters and ticketing platforms. Other spending could support local theatres, musicians and cultural organisations which command much less cost. The Government should monitor prices and publish where the money goes. Public subsidy deserves scrutiny even when the product being sold is culture.
Could €7.5 Million Expected Spend Achieve More Elsewhere? A comparison might be sustained music tuition, youth clubs, instrument lending, school cultural visits and transport for disadvantaged or rural teenagers. A voucher cannot solve the problem of having no accessible venue or no way to get there. Supporting participation may require people, facilities and transport as well as purchasing power. Poorer children deserve cultural opportunities too. The question is which approach gives them the most meaningful access.
“For Ye Have the Poor Always With You” The moral question remains relevant for Christians; does this prospective spending meaningfully help those excluded, or mainly subsidise those already well able to participate? Matthew 26:11 should be read in context; Jesus defends a woman’s anointing of him, with expensive perfumed oil, which he connects with his burial. We should not interpret it as permission to neglect poverty. Deuteronomy 15:11 (Second Law) acknowledges that poverty persists while calling for generosity towards those in need.
My Own Personal View: Let’s Test this Before Expanding It. I would support a limited, independently evaluated pilot, with extra support for disadvantaged teenagers and opportunities to take part in local creative activities. France’s experience shows why this matters. Its national auditors found weaker participation among young people from less advantaged backgrounds and questioned how far a primarily financial scheme could overcome existing inequalities.
Create Opportunities to Make and Perform To my mind the pilot should offer opportunities to learn an instrument, join a drama group, make a short film, try photography or attend a series of creative workshops. Taking part in an activity over several weeks offers a much better chance to develop skills,friendships and confidence. The pilot should test both approaches, while preserving young people’s choice. Here in Thurles Co. Tipperary, as in many other Irish communities, we already have organisations that could greatly inform this work. Music Generation, for example, supports local access to vocal and instrumental tuition for children and young people. Partnership opportunities should be explored, with funding for any additional places and teaching required.
Measure What Changes Because of the Support. The independent evaluation should ask:
Did teenagers start activities they would otherwise have missed?
Did the scheme reach those with the greatest barriers?
Did participation continue six or twelve months later?
What did participants learn, enjoy or find difficult?
What was the full cost, including administration, transport and additional support?
Did spending support local provision, and were there changes in prices or fees?
Researchers should record participation before any pilot and use a fair comparison, such as a phased rollout, to help distinguish the scheme’s effects from changes that would have happened anyway. They should also speak to teenagers who never used the offer or stopped attending. If the results are strong, expansion would have a credible foundation. If benefits mainly go to teenagers already participating, the scheme should be redesigned. Support would rest on a clear purpose; giving young people a fair chance to discover, enjoy and develop their creativity and showing that public money greatly helped make that possible.
Before expansion, the Government should demonstrate new participation, fair access and reasonable value for money.
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