Business « Thurles Information

Thurles N62 Road Closure Notice For May 2026.

Tipperary County Council has announced a series of temporary road closures in Thurles to allow for painting maintenance works in the town centre.
The N62 on O’Donovan Rossa Street in the town will be closed at AIB Bank corner on three consecutive Sundays; 17th, 24th, and 31st May 2026, between 6:00am and 8:00pm each day.

Same closure is necessary to facilitate painting works to the exterior of the A.I.B. bank building.
While these works are relatively short-term, some disruption to traffic in the area is expected during the specified hours.

Motorists travelling through Thurles town will be diverted via Cúchulainn Road and onto Parnell Street, while heavy goods vehicles will be rerouted along Jimmy Doyle Road.
As with similar roadworks across the county, clearly signposted diversion routes will be in place to help minimise disruption and keep traffic moving safely.

Drivers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and follow all local signage, while the works are underway.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals Launch First U.S. Inhalation Products Manufactured in Tipperary.

First U.S. Inhalation Products Manufactured in Tipperary, Marks Major Milestone for Cashel Facility.

Cashel, Co. Tipperary / Bridgewater, New Jersey – Amneal Pharmaceuticals, located on Cahir Road in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, has officially launched two respiratory inhalation products in the United States, following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2025, confirming the accuracy of recent reports and underscoring a significant milestone for both the company and its Irish manufacturing base.

**Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Cahir Road, Cashel, Co. Tipperary**.

The newly launched products; Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol and Beclomethasone Dipropionate HFA Inhalation Aerosol, represent Amneal’s first metered-dose inhalation (MDI) products introduced to the U.S. market, marking the company’s strategic entry into the complex inhalation therapeutics category.

Both medicines are widely prescribed respiratory treatments. Albuterol is used for the treatment and prevention of bronchospasm and exercise-induced bronchospasm in patients aged four years and older, while beclomethasone is a corticosteroid indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged five and above.

Strong Validation of Cashel Manufacturing Operations.
The products are manufactured at Amneal’s dedicated inhalation facility in Cashel, Co. Tipperary; a site that employs approximately 150 people and plays a central role in the company’s global operations. The facility, acquired from Johnson & Johnson in 2015, is specifically designed for complex inhalation product development and production.

The transition to commercial U.S. sales represents a meaningful boost for the local economy, reinforcing the strategic importance of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in Ireland.

Addressing Patient Needs and Market Gaps.
Both inhalers utilise a hand-breath actuator device, requiring the patient to depress the canister before inhaling; a format previously discontinued for QVAR®, creating a renewed option for patients and healthcare providers.
According to Amneal, these products address gaps in patient access while increasing competition in a U.S. respiratory market, latter valued at approximately $1.8 billion annually (based on combined category sales data).

Leadership Commentary.
Dr. Srinivas Kone, (Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer – Affordable Medicines), stated: “The launch of these inhalation products marks a significant milestone and reflects our ability to develop and scale complex formulations that address meaningful gaps in patient access. With additional inhalation products in development, we are building a durable presence in this important category.”

Strategic Growth in Complex Medicines.
Headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Amneal continues to expand its portfolio of complex generics and specialty medicines. The successful U.S. launch of these inhalers highlights the company’s growing capabilities in advanced drug delivery systems and positions it for continued growth in respiratory therapeutics.

Thurles Sinn Féin Protest Set To Disrupt Town As Questions Grow Over Judgment and Impact.

A fuel and cost-of-living protest is set to take place in Thurles this Saturday, April 18th, with organisers urging a public turnout in the town centre.

The demonstration, organised by Sinn Féin representative Mr Dan Harty, is due to assemble in the Munster Hotel car park before proceeding to Liberty Square at approximately 2:30pm.

However, the decision to stage yet another protest in the heart of Thurles is already being met with growing frustration locally, particularly among business owners and residents who have seen at first-hand the disruption caused by similar demonstrations nationwide in recent days.

Across Ireland, recent fuel protests have led to gridlock, blocked roads, and major disruption to daily life, including key routes and town centres. These events have not only delayed commuters but also interfered with trade, deliveries, and normal business activity.

Against that backdrop, many are now asking why Thurles; an already congested town on a busy weekend, has been chosen as the venue for another large gathering.

Liberty Square is a central commercial hub. Even limited disruption at peak times can have an outsized effect on small businesses, many of which are already under pressure from rising energy and operating costs. For traders trying to keep doors open, any reduction in access or footfall is not a minor inconvenience, it is a direct hit.

Critics argue that while people have every right to protest, repeating tactics that have already caused widespread disruption, risks alienating the very communities such movements claim to represent.

There are also growing questions about whether protests of this nature are achieving anything tangible, or simply creating further pressure on towns and local economies, without delivering any real meaningful outcomes.
The organiser of the event, Sinn Féin representative Mr Dan Harty, previously had a fairly modest result in the 2024 local elections in the Thurles LEA, with only an 8% share of first-preference votes numbering just 742. This left him below the quota and behind all other elected candidates, to be eliminated relatively early, due to his support base being relatively small compared to the other leading candidates.

The heavy cost of fuel, driven mainly by global supply disruptions, and with the protest expected to draw a flag waving crowd, into an already busy town centre; the focus now shifts to the real impact on Thurles town itself, its streets, its businesses, and the people who rely upon both.

As frustration mounts, many will be watching closely to see whether this latest demonstration reflects responsible leadership, or simply a continuation of disruption that local communities can ill afford.

RTÉ Reaffirms Commitment To Responsible Spending.

While Renewing Essential Transport Services, RTÉ Reaffirms Commitment To Responsible Spending.

Keeping in mind that RTÉ, in the recent past, needed €56 million from taxpayers to survive, same has confirmed the renewal of a controlled, multi-year contract for chauffeur-driven transport services, emphasising that the arrangement is a standard operational requirement and represents a modest, capped cost within a tightly managed budget framework.

The contract, valued at up to €175,000 over five years, relates to the provision of pre-booked chauffeur services for programme contributors, visiting guests, and official engagements. This equates to a maximum of approximately €35,000 per annum, and will operate on an as-needed basis, under a competitive tender process.

RTÉ has stressed that this arrangement is not new spending, but a continuation of an existing framework first established in 2021 and now being renewed following its expiry. The service is separate from general taxi usage and is intended for specific operational scenarios requiring reliability, scheduling precision, and discretion.

Accountability in the Context of Public Funding.The renewal comes in the context of significant public scrutiny following the €56 million State bailout in 2024, alongside broader reforms aimed at restoring trust and ensuring financial sustainability.
RTÉ acknowledges the importance of demonstrating clear value for money to licence fee payers and taxpayers, particularly in light of commitments made as part of its restructuring programme, including cost controls, workforce reductions, and tighter oversight of discretionary expenditure.

A spokesperson stated: “All procurement decisions are subject to rigorous internal governance and public procurement rules. This contract reflects a defined operational need and is structured to ensure cost efficiency, transparency, and accountability.”

Operational Necessity and Cost Controls.
The broadcaster noted that transport services are a core requirement for live broadcasting, where timing, coordination, and reliability are critical. Chauffeur services are used selectively for:

Time-sensitive programme contributors
International or high-profile guests
Situations requiring confidentiality or logistical coordination

The contract will be delivered through a multi-supplier framework (up to three providers), ensuring competitive pricing and flexibility, while preventing over-reliance on any single vendor.
RTÉ also highlighted that the €175,000 figure represents a maximum ceiling rather than guaranteed expenditure, with actual usage expected to vary depending on operational demand.

Ongoing Commitment to Reform
RTÉ reiterated that it remains focused on:

Strengthening financial oversight
Reducing unnecessary expenditure
Delivering public service broadcasting efficiently

The organisation confirmed that all spending decisions will continue to be assessed against the principles of necessity, proportionality, and public accountability.

Three Years of Flooding At Thurles ALDI – Works Finally Begin in 2026.

**Aldi customer parking area pictured in January 2026.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Following serious concerns raised regarding ongoing flooding at the ALDI store car park on Kickham Street, Thurles, with customers continuing to face unsafe and unusable parking conditions more than three years after the issue was first reported, work finally began yesterday.

A photograph taken on the morning of January 26th, 2026, clearly shows extensive surface water flooding across the main entrance and parking bays, forcing customers to navigate large pools of standing water. In some cases, shoppers had been compelled to use spaces designated for disabled parking due to the inaccessibility of standard bays.

Local customers have described the situation as “a recurring winter problem since at least 2023,” with reports and complaints dating back several years.
Despite this long-standing issue, only now, in mid-April 2026, have works finally commenced on site, following repeated delays linked to drainage issues associated with the adjacent public roadway.

**Contractors yesterday move in to sort out long awaited flooding issues in Aldi carpark, Thurles.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Correspondence from ALDI Customer Services indicates that these delays were due to dependencies on council-managed drainage works. However, questions remain as to why a long-term solution was not implemented earlier, particularly given that public drainage infrastructure at the site sits significantly lower than the store’s car park level; a factor that would typically allow for effective water runoff if properly engineered.
Loyal customers question whether the issue has been adequately escalated within ALDI management, asking whether the Area Manager has visited the site since the problem was first identified and whether repeated reports from store staff have been acted upon.

The ongoing situation raises broader concerns regarding customer safety, accessibility, and the impact on local trade, particularly for a store known for its strong community engagement and loyal customer base.

While the commencement of works is now acknowledged, it comes after three consecutive winters of disruption, and customers will be watching closely to ensure that a permanent and effective solution is finally delivered.