Community News « Thurles Information

Recall Of Green Box Limited Enoki Mushroom – Listeria monocytogenes.

FSAI warn of recall of an additional batch of Green Box Limited Enoki Mushroom, due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (Update 1)

Alert Summary dated Tuesday, 19th May 2026.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2026.19 (Update 1)
Product Identification: Green Box Limited Enoki Mushroom (Cendawan Enoki); Pack Size: 100g
Batch Code: G22014
Country Of Origin: China

Message: Further to FSAI Food Alert 2026.19,the above additional batch of Green Box Limited Enoki Mushroom is being recalled due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger: Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors & Retailers:
Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers / Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batch and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
Caterers: Same should not use the implicated batch.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

The Day Tipperary Co. Co. Replaced Speed Signs With “Slow Down, Potholes Ahead”

The whole thing kicked off in the Arch Bar in Thurles, Co. Tipperary last Friday night, when Mikey Ryan burst through the door looking like a man who’d just witnessed either a miracle or a tractor on fire.

“Lads,” he says, gasping for breath, “Tipperary County Council have given up.”
Now that got attention. Even Pat Hayes behind the bar stopped drying glasses.
“What d’ye mean given up?” says Pat.
“Gone altogether,” says Mikey. “No more speed limits.”
The pub fell silent. Jimmy Bourke slowly lowered his pint. “No…” says he in his usual languid manner of speaking turning his single syllables into multiple sounds.
“Oh yes,” says Mikey. “They’re replacing every speed sign in the county with signs saying: ‘SLOW DOWN – POTHOLES AHEAD.”

A woman at the corner table crossed herself.
Pat blinked twice. “Sure isn’t that just every road in Tipperary?”

“EXACTLY,” says Mikey, lowdly slapping the counter so hard that a bowl of peanuts nearly declared independence.

Apparently the Council realised there was no point changing from 80 km/h to 60 km/h when the average human spine couldn’t physically survive 40 km/h anyway.
Mikey claimed he saw three council workers outside Littleton removing a brand-new speed sign only four hours after initially installing it.

“One lad looked exhausted,” says Mikey. “Poor devil, a native of Co. Cork says; ‘What’s the point, bai? The road itself is enforcing the speed limit.”

And according to Mikey, the council has gone fully committed now. Outside Thurles there’s allegedly; a pothole deep enough to baptise a child; another has been classified by NASA as a “seasonal crater,” and one near Templetuohy village that is supposed to have swallowed a Nissan Micra and returned it as a Ford Focus.

“Jaysus,” says Jimmy.
“That’s nothing,” says Mikey. “A fella hit one outside Roscrea last week and it activated his airbags, windscreen wipers and Eircode and all at the same time.”

The Council, according to recent rumour, have now stopped measuring potholes in inches. They’re measuring them in sizes; “small dog,” – “washing machine,” and “possible entrance to the underworld.”
Meanwhile crews are driving around replacing all official speed signs. 80 km/h sign?Gone. 60 km/h sign? Gone. Now every road in Tipperary just has giant yellow signs reading: “SLOW DOWN – POTHOLES AHEAD”

Mikey says one poor tourist from Ukraine thought it was the county slogan, while another from Gaza asked if “Potholes Ahead” was a village near Cashel.
But the best story came from near The Ragg. Council workers arrived with cones, flashing lights, diggers, rollers and enough machinery to invade a small European nation.
Locals thought: “Grand. They’re finally fixing the road.” No, they installed six massive warning signs around a pothole before announcing that it was now “part of local Tipperary heritage.”
Another engineer apparently referred to it as, “Traffic calming infrastructure.”

At this point the pub was in ribbons laughing. Even the old lad asleep beside the fire woke up laughing and he hadn’t previously been conscious since the 2022 All-Ireland Final.

Mikey took a deep dramatic gulp of Guinness. “But wait till ye hear the newest plan.”
“Oh sweet suffering Jaysus,” muttered Pat.
“They’re thinking of renaming roads altogether,” announced Mikey
“What?” said Pat.
“Yeah. Instead of the N62 or the R498…”; He leaned in over the counter. “…they’ll just call them according to the size of the potholes.” Examples include: ‘The Shaky Mile’; ‘Axlebreaker Avenue’; ‘Suspension Lane’ and one outside Nenagh simply called, ‘Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.”
“And what about the speed vans?” an unknown someone asked.
“Cancelled,” says Mikey.
“Why so?”
“No car in Tipperary can physically reach speeding pace anymore,” said Mikey.

At this stage the entire pub was gone completely feral with laughter. Mikey drained the last of the pint, straightened himself proudly and delivered the final line, like a prophet descending from Slievenamon mountain itself; “Mark my words lads… within five years every road sign in Tipperary will simply say: ‘Best of Luck.”

Death Of Alma Ryan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, today Tuesday 19th May 2026, of Mrs Alma Ryan, (née Phelan) Mountview, Ballycahill, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Tankardstown, Bansha, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her beloved son Paul, parents Tom and Catherine, sisters Margaret, Eleanor and Mary, brothers Tom, Ned, John and Jim; Mrs Ryan passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital and the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving and devoted husband Vincent, daughter Mairead, son Jim, grandchildren Sean, Rob, Laura, Kate, Megan, Eimear, Niamh, Grainne, James, Jim and Ellen, son-in-law Eamon, daughters-in-law Joan and Geraldine, nieces, nephews, sister-in-law Una, extended relatives, neighbours, friends and former colleagues and past pupils at Ballycahill National School.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Ryan will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59), on Thursday afternoon May 21st from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, before her remains are received into the Church of St Cataldus, Ballycahill, Thurles, at 8:00pm, same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mrs Ryan will be offered on Friday morning, May 22nd, at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in nearby Ballycahill Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Ryan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Ryan and Phelan 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Death Of Jim Whitty, Formerly Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, on Sunday 17th May 2026, of Mr Jim Whitty, Cloghereen Lower, Muckross, Killarney, Co. Kerry, and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his sister Alice and brothers John and Denis; the passing of Mr Whitty is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; Loving wife Mary (Fitzpatrick) sons Jon, Seamus and Ian, daughters-in-law Nui and Mary, much loved grandchildren Adam, Cian, Bláithín and Aoife, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Whitty will repose at his family place of ordinary residence, (Eircode V93 T6W8), on Thursday afternoon May 21st, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of the Holy Spirit, 20 Church Close, Gortahoonig, Muckross, Co. Kerry on Friday morning, May 22nd, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards.

The extended Whitty and Fitzpatrick 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

EPA Finds Almost Six Out Of Ten Septic Tanks Fail Inspection.

EPA finds almost six out of ten septic tanks fail inspection, putting drinking water wells and rivers at risk.

► Local authorities completed 1,466 septic tank inspections in 2025 targeting areas of greatest risk from an environmental and health perspective.
► Of these, 59% (863) failed inspection with many posing a risk to nearby rivers and drinking water wells.
► Since 2013, some 7,212 septic tanks failed inspections, with 84% fixed by the end of 2025.
► Improved resolution of faulty septic tanks by homeowners has been aided by increased Government grant support.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2025, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2025.
In 2025, 1,466 septic tanks were inspected, with 59% (863) failing because they were not built or maintained properly. Faulty systems pose a risk to human health from harmful bacteria and viruses through the contamination of drinking water wells, and can pollute rivers and streams through releases of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Sewage Flowing Into The River Suir, Thurles Town Centre Ignored.

When septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. Of the 7,212 septic tanks that failed since inspections began in 2013, 84 percent had been fixed by the end of 2025. The number of failed systems with advisory notices unresolved for longer than two years reduced from 523 in 2024 to 442 in 2025.

Tipperary local authority area Inspection findings.
Sadly Tipperary Water Service Authority shows only a moderate rate of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS commonly known as septic tanks) failures fixed.

Water Service Authority.	Inspections Required 2025 ▲.	Inspections Completed 2025.	Failure Rate 2025.	Systems failing 2013 – 2025.	% Fixed at end 2025.
Tipperary.	40	44	52%	205	78%

▲ Includes minimum number of inspections allocated in the National Inspection Plan (NIP) 2022-2026 and inspection shortfalls carried forward from 2024.

Commenting on the report, Mr Pat Byrne, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring said: “The gradual increase in the number of faulty septic tanks being fixed by homeowners since 2013 in response to failed inspections is welcomed, as these are in the areas of greatest risk to rivers and drinking water wells. This has been aided by increased Government grant aid and greater enforcement activities by proactive local authorities. However, more consistent and sustained enforcement is needed across all local authorities to ensure that faulty septic tanks are fixed as soon as possible and that public health and the environment is protected.”

The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were amended in 2024 and increased from €5,000 to €12,000. There were 460 grants awarded in 2025, totalling nearly €4.77 million, up from 265 grants awarded in 2024.
Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said: “In 2025, some 59% of inspected septic tanks failed. This is a worrying statistic, as many homeowners may be exposing their families to health risks from contaminated private wells, or polluting local rivers, often without realising it. Regular checks and routine maintenance of septic tanks by homeowners can prevent minor issues becoming major problems, helping to protect their family’s health and the environment. Where eligible, homeowners should also make use of grant support of up to €12,000 to remediate faulty systems.”

There was a shortfall in inspections by three local authorities (Donegal, Fingal and Wexford) in 2025 and this shortfall must be made up in 2026, in addition to the planned inspections. The EPA will continue to monitor local authorities that are required to make up these shortfalls in 2026.
Nine local authorities had less than 80 per cent of their issued advisory notices resolved by the end of 2025, which means that too many faulty septic tank systems continued to be a risk.

Local authorities are required to ensure septic tanks that fail inspection are fixed by homeowners in an appropriate timeframe.
The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2025, is available HERE to download on the EPA website.