Business « Thurles Information

End Of An Era: PTSB Sale Signals New Chapter For Irish Banking.

In a landmark move for Ireland’s financial sector, Permanent TSB (PTSB) is set to be acquired by Austria’s BAWAG Group in a deal valued at approximately €1.6 billion. The agreement marks a significant milestone; not just for the bank itself, but for the Irish State, which is finally exiting its last remaining stake in the country’s banking system, following the financial crisis.

The Government has agreed to sell its 57.5% shareholding in PTSB for around €931 million, based on an offer price of €2.97 per share. While shares dipped slightly following the announcement, the broader significance of the deal lies in what it represents: the closing chapter of a turbulent period that began with the 2008 banking collapse.

Back then, Irish taxpayers stepped in to rescue the banking system, investing billions to stabilise institutions like PTSB. In total, €3.9 billion was injected into the bank. Over time, through dividends, fees, and share sales, the State has recovered approximately €4 billion, bringing the overall return slightly above break-even when combined with other bank investments.

**PTSB Thurles Branch**.
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

For customers, including those served by PTSB’s branch in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, the message is reassuring: it’s business as usual. The bank has emphasised that day-to-day services, accounts, and customer support will not be disrupted by the transition. Instead, the acquisition is being positioned as an opportunity to enhance services and expand offerings.

BAWAG Group, headquartered in Vienna, operates across several European countries as well as the US and UK, serving around four million customers. Its focus on retail banking and small-to-medium enterprises aligns closely with PTSB’s core business, making the deal a strategic fit. The combined entity is expected to become a stronger challenger to Ireland’s dominant banks, potentially increasing competition and improving customer choice.

PTSB’s leadership has expressed confidence in the new ownership. Chair Julie O’Neill highlighted the “long-term ambition, capability and capital” that BAWAG brings, while CEO Eamonn Crowley noted the potential for growth and innovation. From BAWAG’s perspective, the acquisition represents a key step in building a broader European and US banking platform.

Irish Minister for Finance Mr Simon Harris described the deal as one of the most significant developments in Ireland’s retail banking market in over a decade. He emphasised that the sale not only delivers value back to taxpayers, but also supports the ongoing normalisation of the banking sector.

Importantly, this transaction follows the State’s earlier exits from AIB and Bank of Ireland, completing a long process of unwinding public ownership in Irish banks. It also reflects renewed international confidence in Ireland’s economy and financial system.

As the deal progresses; subject to regulatory approvals, the focus will shift to integration and future growth. For communities across Ireland, including towns like Thurles, the hope is that this new chapter will bring stronger services, increased competition, and continued investment in local banking.

In many ways, this isn’t just a sale, it’s a signal that Ireland’s banking sector has come full circle.

FSAI Serve One Prohibition & One Closure Order On Two Tipperary Retailers.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served twelve Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders on food businesses during the month of March for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

Two Prohibition Orders (one in Tipperary) were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
♦Al-Eman Halal Shop Limited (Butcher Shop/Retailer), 21 Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary .
Pinoy Sari Sari (Retailer), 25-26 Mary Street, Dublin City.

Four Closure Orders (one in Tipperary) were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
♦ Arsh Bazzar (Closed area: Butcher area) (Retailer), 6 Mary Street, Clonmel, Tipperary.
Bruno Gomes (Wholesaler/ Distributor), A food business in operation from a domestic dwelling at Ferndale, Navan, Meath.
Mars Pizza (Take Away), Coolbeg, Kildimo, Limerick.
Meet Brazil (Closed area: the kitchen area upstairs serving the restaurant and take away. The retail area downstairs can remain open.) (Retailer), Castle Hill, Enniscorthy, Wexford.

Eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Kebab House 66 (Service Sector), Moore Street Mall, 58 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Georgian Delight (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 3, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Dailo Nepali Kitchen (Restaurant/ Café), Kitchen 4, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Tiramisu Mania (Manufacturer), Moore Street Mall, 58 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Spicy Bite (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 1, Moore Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1
Glanmore Foods Limited, Grange Community College (Service Sector), Grange Abbey Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
Eskimo Pizza Bandon (Closed area: the potato peeling room at the rear of the premises) (Take Away), 1 St Patrick’s Quay, Bandon, Cork.
Eurospar (Retailer), 25-27 Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3.

Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in March are: active cockroach infestation; dead cockroaches noted inside a fridge; evidence of rodent activity; dead mouse in a cockroach trap; rodent droppings under the sink area; meat being air dried in a bedroom; no suitable hand washing facilities available to food workers; no hot water or soap for hand washing; cleaning materials stored in dirty stagnant water; thick waste discharge covering an entire floor in a kitchen; equipment observed to be heavily soiled and in an unclean condition; insufficient traceability information; no food safety management system or procedures in place for food safety; no commercial documents or other suitable records to establish the traceability of the foods.

Commenting today, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, reminded food businesses of the importance of having proper food safety management systems in place:
“It is disappointing that we continue to see enforcement action being necessary due to fundamental breaches. Inspectors are finding recurring incidents of pest infestations and unhygienic practices in food businesses. These are entirely preventable non-compliances when proper food safety management systems are in place. Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat.”

“If anyone experiences unfit food, poor hygiene standards or notices a breach of food law in a food business, we encourage them to contact us via our online complaint form at www.fsai.ie/makeitbetter. Reporting inappropriate and unsafe food practices provides us with information that we can act upon. We strongly encourage food businesses to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of our free online learning portal, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses,” added Mr Dempsey.

Separately, during the month of March one prosecution was taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to:
Sheela Palace Foodstall (Trading at Kerala House Carnival, Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ratoath, Co Meath) Vela, Liffey Valley Complex, Dublin 22.

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.

Government Announces Extended Fuel Relief Measures.

Government Announces Extended Fuel Relief Measures as Pressure Mounts to End Disruptive Protests.

The Government has confirmed a further extension of fuel cost relief measures, as Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin announced new steps aimed at easing the financial burden on households and businesses amid ongoing nationwide protests.

Under the revised plan, temporary reductions in excise duty on petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil will now remain in place until the end of July, rather than expiring at the end of May.

The updated measures include:

A 10 cent per litre reduction on both petrol and diesel.
A 2.4 cent per litre reduction on marked gas oil (“green diesel”).
A deferral of the planned carbon tax increase, originally due in May, now postponed until the Budget in October.

These steps are intended to provide immediate cost relief in response to sustained increases in fuel prices linked to global supply pressures.

Despite these concessions, significant disruption continues across the country as protest actions, largely organised via informal networks of transport operators, farmers, and drivers, have blocked key transport routes and fuel depots.

The Government has reiterated that it recognises the financial strain facing those in fuel-dependent sectors. However, it has strongly criticised the ongoing blockades, warning that such actions are having serious and disproportionate consequences for the general public.

With schools reopening and workers returning after the weekend, the continuation of these protests risks widespread impact on daily life. Commuters face delays, families are affected in getting children to school, and essential services, including healthcare and emergency response, remain under pressure due to fuel supply concerns and traffic disruption.

The obstruction of critical infrastructure, including fuel depots and major roadways, has also raised concerns about the availability of medicines, agricultural supplies, and other time-sensitive deliveries.
Authorities, including An Garda Síochána, have now moved into an enforcement phase, and the Defence Forces remain on standby to assist in removing vehicles where necessary.

Public Interest and Proportionality.
While the Government’s latest measures demonstrate a willingness to respond to rising costs, the continuation of large-scale disruption raises serious questions about proportionality.

The burden of these protests is not being carried by policymakers alone, it is being felt most acutely by ordinary members of the public. Workers attempting to commute, parents preparing for the school week, and vulnerable individuals relying on timely access to services are all directly affected.

In this context, the persistence of blockades appears increasingly difficult to justify, particularly as concrete measures have now been introduced to address core concerns around fuel pricing.

The Government has urged all participants to disengage from disruptive actions and instead pursue dialogue through established representative bodies, emphasising that meaningful progress can only be achieved without jeopardising public safety and national infrastructure.

Further developments are expected in the coming days as pressure intensifies to restore normality across the country.

Tipperary County Council: World Leaders in Revenue Collection.

Tipperary County Council: World Leaders in Revenue Collection, but still Struggling With… Roads.

Tipperary County Council has proudly confirmed that it extracted a tidy €308,112 in parking fines in 2025, proving once again that when it comes to collecting money, efficiency is not an issue.

Fixing roads, however, remains a bold and experimental concept. See in particular Emmett Street, Westgate junction, Barry’s Bridge etc. etc. here in Thurles,

Across nine towns, thousands of motorists were “caught red-handed”, — “embarrassed even”, according to local press reports, having been photographed by traffic wardens, committing the heinous crime of allowing two wheels to exist slightly outside a faded white line or failing to have their hair permed within the 15 minute permitted free time frame.

Thurles, notably, now continues to excel in two key areas:
(1) Generating revenue.
(2) Avoiding pothole repairs.

Of course, as one would expect, Clonmel led the charge with 2,469 fines, followed by Nenagh with 1,346 fines, Thurles (God help us in a town where most car parks were closed in 2025) 1,258 fines, while Carrick-on-Suir tried and failed to catch-up with a mere 1,052 fines.

A further breakdown reveals a more refined vehicle operator:
Tipperary Town: 914 fines.
Cashel: 548 fines.
Templemore: 267 fines.
Roscrea: 256 fines.
Cahir: took the wooden spoon, with a miserable 142 fines only.
Still all admirable figures, if the goal is to run a highly efficient penalty collection service, rather than maintain public infrastructure.

Motorists are charged €40 – €80 for parking offences, rising by 50% after 28 days, because nothing says “public service” like interest rates that would impress a credit card company.

Other highlights include:
♣ €60 for failing to display a tax disc.
♣ In keeping with Health & Safety, No Charge for failing to display a NCT disk.
♣ €150 for parking in a disabled space.

Meanwhile, in Thurles, the surface of Barry’s Bridge is once again disintegrating, bravely demonstrating the council’s innovative “Natural Erosion Management Strategy.”

Residents are reportedly delighted to see their contributions; over €300,000 worth, being reinvested into… somewhere; possibly sending salaried staff on St Patrick’s weekend junkets; but certainly not road surfaces.

A spokesperson, (latter who does not wish to be named), standing carefully to avoid loose flying gravel, stated: “We take great pride in maintaining strict parking enforcement, while also maintaining a flexible, evolving interpretation of the word ‘roadworthy.”

Local drivers have expressed confusion, noting that while their tyres are expected to meet exact legal standards, the road beneath them appears to be auditioning for a gravel pit.
Experts confirm that if potholes themselves could be fined, Tipperary County Council would likely be running a budget surplus.

Until then, motorists are advised to:
♦ Display their tickets correctly facing upwards.
♦ Pay promptly.
♦ Have a suspension system worthy of Dakar Rally conditions▲ when crossing Barry’s Bridge.
{▲The Dakar Rally is considered the world’s most challenging endurance motorsport event, held annually over two weeks in extreme desert conditions.}

Wonder would Tipperary Sinn Féin TDs meet and move a motion of no confidence in Tipperary Co. Council. Ops, sorry, forgot that the Tipperary electorate failed to elect Sinn Féin TD’s, last election. I wonder why?

Yes, here in Tipperary, the fines are fixed – but the roads are anything but.

Rapid Response Contained Fire At Thurles Recycling Facility.

Renewed Focus on Waste Safety Risks.

Emergency services responded swiftly to a fire at a recycling facility in the Cabragh Business Park, south of Thurles, on the evening of April 8th 2026.

The alarm was raised shortly before 8:00pm, prompting the deployment of fire crews from Thurles and Templemore. The fire is understood to have been located within a shredding machine on site and was brought under control quickly, with no injuries reported.

Incident Overview.
The fire occurred in operational machinery used for processing recyclable materials. Thanks to the rapid intervention of local fire services, the incident was contained before it could escalate or pose a wider risk to nearby businesses or the surrounding community.
Firefighters utilised specialist equipment to isolate and extinguish the blaze, ensuring the site was made safe in a timely manner.

Safety Context and Industry Concerns.
While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, incidents of this nature highlight ongoing safety challenges within the recycling and waste management sector.

Industry data shows that:

Lithium batteries and electronic waste are a leading cause of fires in recycling facilities.
Fires can ignite when such items are damaged or compacted during processing.
Even a single improperly disposed device can trigger a significant incident.

Shredding machinery, where this fire originated, is particularly vulnerable due to the heat, friction, and mixed material inputs involved in the recycling process.

Call for Public Awareness.
This incident underscores the importance of responsible waste disposal practices. Members of the public and businesses are urged to:

Dispose of batteries, vapes, and electronic devices at designated recycling points.
Avoid placing hazardous materials in general waste or recycling bins.
Follow national guidance on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) disposal.

Proper segregation of waste is critical to protecting:

Emergency responders
Waste facility workers
Local infrastructure and the environment

Conclusion.
Although this incident was resolved without injury or major damage, it serves as a timely reminder of the hidden risks within modern waste streams. Continued vigilance, public awareness, and adherence to safe disposal practices are essential to preventing future occurrences.