Business « Thurles Information

Thurles Planning Alert from Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2660088.
Applicant: Orsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited.
Development Address: In The Townland Of Brittas , Near Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: The further continued use of an existing temporary 80m high meteorological mast and associated instruments in the townland of Brittas, near Thurles Co. Tipperary. The mast was erected on site as exempted development pursuant to Class 20(A), Part 1, Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) which was extended for two years under Planning Ref 2460421. Permission is sought to extend this permission for a further period of two years.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 06/02/2026.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2660088/0.

Application Ref: 2660087.
Applicant: Thomas and Sean Moore.
Development Address: Mitchel Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: The demolition of the existing light industrial buildings on the site, for the construction of 1 no. detached two storey dwelling, 1 no. detached bungalow and 6 no. semi-detached bungalows. Permission is also sought for new entrance, connection to services and all associated site works.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 05/02/2026.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2660087/0.

Thurles Planning Alerts From Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2611
Applicant: Arcona Developments Ltd.
Development Address: Stradavoher Road, Stradavoher, Thurles.
Development Description: (a) construct 36 No. two storey houses consisting of 11 no. two bedroom townhouses, 21 No. three bedroom townhouses, 4 No. three bedroom semi-detached dwellings. (b) demolish 2 no. existing dwellings to allow for the creation of a new site entrance (c) construction of an electrical substation. (d) erect estate name signage and (e) all associated site works.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 28/01/2026.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2611/0.

Application Ref: 2561248
Applicant: Joseph Hawe.
Development Address: The Heath , Thurles , Co. Tipperary
Development Description: an constructed domestic garage and all associated site works
Status: Conditional
Application Received: 03/12/2025
Decision Date: 30/01/2026
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561248/0.

Application Ref: 2561210.
Applicant: Byron Distributors Ltd David Byron.
Development Address: Slievenemon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary
Development Description: Change of use of existing hair salon to be integrated into existing shoe shop retail outlet and associated site works.
Status: Conditional
Application Received: 24/11/2025
Decision Date: 26/01/2026
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561210/0

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Of Ireland To Begin Issuing Licences.

An Order have been signed to commence key aspects of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, to allow the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to begin issuing remote and in-person betting licences.

The signing of the commencement order, which comes into effect tomorrow Thursday, February 5th 2026, enables the Authority to start accepting and processing applications, and issuing licenses for remote and in-person betting operators. It also commences the necessary enforcement and oversight and complaints mechanisms that underpin the new licensing framework. In addition, the order commences those sections of the Act that amend and repeal existing legislation on the statute book. In particular, it will repeal the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931.

The Commencement Order confers robust investigative powers to the GRAI and allows for administrative sanctions of fines of up to €20 million or 10% of a licensee’s turnover, whichever is the greater, to be imposed on licensees, where they are found to be in contravention of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

A number of criminal enforcement powers will be commenced, as will provisions which will allow the GRAI to apply to the Court for an order directing illegal operators to cease operations.

The order also provides for the commencement of several other key measures including:

Prohibiting the use of credit cards as a means of payment for gambling;
Prohibitions on allowing a child to gamble or to be employed by licensees;
Enabling customers to set monetary limits on how much they can gamble on-line or remotely;
Obligations on licensees to notify the Authority of suspicious gambling activity;
Obligations on remote gambling providers to protect children online;
Regulating the operation of online gambling accounts;
Safeguards for account holders such as the ability of the Authority to limit the amount of money that may be lodged with a licensee; and obligations concerning the closure of accounts and refunds of monies.

Site Clearance Begins For Drive-Thru McDonald’s On Slievenamon Road, Thurles.

Site clearance works have begun in recent days to facilitate the construction of a drive-thru McDonald’s restaurant on Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary — a development which has generated strong local reaction, particularly among homeowners living nearby.

According to information published by Tipperary County Council, the proposed works are scheduled to run from February 2nd, 2026 to July 8th, 2026.

The development is described as follows:

Development Type: Assembly and Recreation
Overview: Construction of a 478.8 sq. m. single-storey drive-thru restaurant, including:
Access from the existing access road serving the Lidl and Insomnia units to the north
Drive-thru infrastructure including a height restrictor and customer order points with canopies
Outdoor seating area
Corral area with bins and general storage
Plant and associated infrastructure works
All related site works above and below ground

“Over the moon”… apparently.
While the development has been termed “controversial” by some, a number of local residents, particularly those with mortgages in the immediate vicinity, have been described as “over the moon” about the works, albeit in a tone that suggests the “moon” in question may be made of concrete, brake lights and late-night engine noise.

Speaking informally, several locals said they were “delighted” at the prospect of increased convenience food, traffic movements and, potentially, the sort of atmospheric ambience only a busy drive-thru can provide, especially at peak times.

In what residents stressed was “pure excitement” (and absolutely not weary sarcasm), some even expressed hope that the area could be further “enhanced” over time, with suggestions including an underground techno club, an industrial music venue, or a large-scale rave facility, should anyone (who needs to go to work in the morning), feel the neighbourhood needed more “vibrancy” after midnight.

Election season expectations:
Others said they were eagerly looking forward to the next local and general elections, when they expect to have an opportunity to express, in their own words, their “genuine, sincere and unfeigned gratitude” to whoever they believe most deserves it.

For now, the diggers are in, the clearing has started, and residents say they will be watching the project closely, if only because it may become difficult not to.

Tipperary Tourism Optimism Jars With Eurostat’s National Dip In 2025.

Thurles Tourism Debate: Part III.

A series of upbeat tourism announcements and investment-led press releases in County Tipperary are landing against a stark national backdrop, after Eurostat reported that Ireland was one of only two EU member states to record a fall in tourist accommodation nights in 2025.

Eurostat’s early estimates show EU tourism nights hit a record 3.08 billion in 2025, up 2% year-on-year, while Ireland recorded a -2% decline (with Romania the only other country in negative territory).

Irish coverage of the figures has put the Republic’s total at 41.3 million tourist bed nights in 2025 (-1.8%), describing it as the weakest performance in the EU. The same reports note that the peak summer quarter (Q3 2025) fell 4.1%, with hotel nights down 8.4% and camping nights down 27%, while “holiday and other short-stay accommodation” rose 15.4%.

Of course, local press releases paint a different story: “growth”, “season extension”, “boost tourism”.

Despite the national decline, Tipperary tourism communications over the past year have repeatedly highlighted expansion, regeneration and new visitor offerings:-

Dromineer, Lough Derg (Nenagh MD): Tipperary County Council press material describes a €1.2m watersports facility as a “best-in-class” outdoor tourism hub intended to enhance the visitor experience and support year-round activity.
Roscrea (Grant’s Hotel): A Council press release on a feasibility study lists explicit objectives to “boost tourism activity” and increase footfall and dwell time in the town centre, alongside employment and night-time economy goals.
Carrick-on-Suir: A Council announcement confirms award of a €2.9m Phase 2 contract under the regeneration plan, presented as part of a wider town-centre renewal drive.
Thurles: Sadly the only tourism-tagged local event promotion (Feb 2025), shows a Council/MD posting highlighting for St Patrick’s Day Parade, Thurles (2025), categorised under Tourism, which pushes footfall activity in the town centre (music, attractions, participation).

Thurles it is time to wake up.

Countywide “Roadmap” messaging: The Tipperary Tourism Roadmap 2025–2030 sets out targets around economic growth, season extension and giving visitors reasons to stay longer, and was publicly launched in late November last year.

Fáilte Ireland funding (Midlands / JTF): A national press release announced €5.5m for 17 regenerative tourism projects, bringing the scheme’s announced tourism funding to almost €60m, reinforcing the wider policy message of building new and improved visitor experiences.

The core contradiction: publicity versus performance.
The tension is not that Tipperary’s projects are unwelcome, it is that headline-grabbing announcements about “growth” and “visitor experience” risk sounds hollow when the national data shows Ireland moving against the EU trend.

A key question now is whether local strategies are being matched with measurable outcomes, bed capacity, occupancy, shoulder-season activity, and value-for-money delivery, or whether Tipperary is simply publishing plans, while the wider system continues to lose ground.

We will be speaking about solutions in the coming days, so do stay tuned. Update Thurles Tourism Debate: Part IV.