The new Thurles pedestrian foot bridge which now spans the river Suir from the east bank of St Patrick’s college to the west bank, joining Emmet Street (The Watery Mall) and Thomond Road, close to the “Swinging Gates”, became a reality last Friday.
Background
In March 2013 the former Thurles Town Council (Comhairle Baile Ceanntar Dhurlas) had announced the welcome news that it had at last negotiated the purchase of eight acres of land from St Patrick’s College for the provision of a new Thurles Town Park and foot bridge.
With this land purchased; which partially bounds the east bank of the river Suir, backing onto the more recently constructed Thurles Civic & Leisure Centre, Thurles Town Councils administrators produced a preliminary design via some excellent planning work undertaken by Malachy Walsh & Partners, latter whose proposals were later placed on public display. Following the usual tendering procedures, a large multi-disciplined group SIAC Construction were chosen for overseeing the construction of this new park and now connecting new foot bridge.
To view sideshow video hereunder in ‘High Definition’ please CLICK HERE
Some fifty to sixty interested locals delayed their lunch breaks to watch ‘east join west’ across the river Suir on Friday and for those with environmental worries, most of our local wildlife also turned up for a ‘gawk’, before moving on, unperturbed by all activities as our video above demonstrates.
The debate as to what now to call our new park and bridge continues. Those of you who take the time to read ‘Recent Comments,’ here on Thurles Information will note the many suggestions already put forward; e.g. ‘Fr James Meehan Park,’ Wilbert Houben Park,’ ‘Lady Thurles Park,’ ‘Harry Gleeson Park,’ ‘Queen Elizabeth 11 Park,’ and ‘Thurles Town Park.’
Some politically minded individuals, latter who continue to tow a lot of undiscovered and disappeared corpses behind them, believe both Park and Bridge should be named after signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. Others however believe Dublin already have stolen enough from Co Tipperary, to enhance its already burgeoning local economy.
Have you, our valued readers, any further suggestions as to possible names for this amenity and who would you like to officially open this very welcome and exciting new Thurles amenity, paid for by a 25% hike in local Commercial Rates?
Remember President Michael D. Higgins has already, so far, refused at least two invitations to visit Thurles, so he won’t be interested. With a General Elections on the way, local Tipperary Government politicians, e.g. Alan Kelly (A.K.47), Noel Coonan (ISIS defender) and Tom Hayes (The Farmers Friend), certainly won’t want this job, due to their embarrassment in failing to even create one single job in Co. Tipperary in the last four years.
With this ‘Official Opening,’ due to possibly take place this autumn, (2015), we need to have some plan of action formulated.
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