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An Post is urging customers to send Christmas Gifts to USA before Thursday deadline.
An Post is reminding customers to post early this festive season, with the final posting date for parcels to the United States set for Thursday, November 13th, to ensure delivery before Christmas.
With record parcel volumes already being handled and updated US customs rules now in effect, An Post is encouraging senders to prepare carefully so that gifts reach loved ones safely and on time.
Julie Gill, An Post’s Marketing Director, emphasised that all items sent to the United States are subject to regulations enforced by US Customs and the Department of Agriculture, not An Post. “A couple of bars of chocolate, totally fine,” Ms Gill said. “Boxes and boxes? Customs might think it’s for commercial sale.”
To avoid delays or confiscation, customers are advised to:-
- Clearly declare the parcel as a gift and list all contents on the customs form at the Post Office;
- Keep the value under €85 / $100 to prevent the recipient from being charged customs duties;
- Always include a return address on the parcel.
What You Can Send:
Small, commercially sealed treats, such as packaged chocolate or crisps, same are generally acceptable, provided they are simple in flavour (for example, ready salted or salt and vinegar) and clearly intended for personal use.
What Not to Send:
Liquids, cash, credit cards, or anything containing batteries should not be sent. Food items such as teabags, meat-based snacks, or dairy-flavoured crisps (e.g., cheese and onion or smoky bacon) are also prohibited, along with any parcels containing items of uncertain origin.
Businesses exporting food or other goods to the US should note that separate FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements apply.
With post volumes at record highs, An Post is urging customers to send early and prepare carefully to make sure their Christmas parcels reach family and friends in the USA without delay.
For full posting guidelines and international deadlines, please do visit HERE
We recall today, in solemn remembrance, the names of brave officers and men from the Thurles area of Co. Tipperary, whose names we share hereunder:-
Anderson John, Armstrong William Maurice (Capt) M.C., Beirne John, Bermingham Patrick, Bourke James, Brett Timothy, Butler John, Byrne Patrick, Carroll Martin, Carroll Thomas, Carty John, Cassidy John, Cleary Joseph, Cleary Patrick, Cleary Thomas, Coady Edward, Coady Joseph, Coady Richard, Coffey Michael, Cooke Henry F, Cooney David,Cummins John, Conway Denis, Cunningham John V.C., Cunningham Patrick, Cusack Oliver, Dea Patrick, Dwyer Cornelius, Egan Martin, Fitzpatrick Joseph, Gouldsborough Patrick, Griffin Thomas, Hackett Martin, Hanrahan Daniel, Hayes Daniel, Hayes Thomas, Hennessey Thomas, Horan Joseph, Jordan Denis, Kelly James, Kelly William, Kennedy Matthew, Kiely Owen, Knox Hubert Lt Col., Knox William Lt Col., Lawyer Joseph, Maher Frank, Maher James, Maher James Bernard, Maher John, McCormack Francis, McCormack Thomas, McLoughlin James J, Meany James, Mockler Patrick, Moyler George, O’Brien Lawrence, O’Grady Patrick, O’Shea John, Power Michael, Purcell Philip, Quinlan Joseph, Ryan Andrew, Ryan James, Ryan John, Ryan Martin, Ryan Michael, Ryan Patrick, Scally Patrick, Shields Matthew, Stapleton John, Sullivan Patrick, Terry Timothy, Walsh James.
Anthem for Doomed Youth
By Late English poet and soldier, Wilfred Owen, (1893 -1918).
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle,
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells,
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall,
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
END
The Duty of Memory.
These brave men answered a call, that many did not fully understand, from our community, our county, and the land they left behind, before paying the ultimate price. The fact that their names endure on memorials across Tipperary, reminds us of the duty of memory: that each man above was more than a name on a wall, more than a casualty figure, but a husband, father, brother or son from Thurles and its environs who trusted his comrades, and his country.
In the quiet of this hour we reflect on the scale of sacrifice. A county such as Ireland, far from the main theatres of war, yet intimately touched by them, who bore heavy cost.
Each of the men listed above carried hopes and dreams and found themselves amidst the unimaginable defiance of trench warfare, the muddy fields of France and Flanders, or struggling with wounds long after the guns fell silent. Even returning home did not always mean freedom from the consequences of this war.
Today we honour their courage and commit to keeping their memory alive in Thurles and beyond. May we, in our quiet thoughts, renew our respect and our gratitude for their service.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anama dílis.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.
Gardaí in Co Tipperary are investigating two separate fatal road traffic collisions which occurred within the past 24 hours.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, November 9th 2025, an elderly woman in her 80s died following a single-vehicle collision in Toomevara, near Nenagh.
The crash occurred sometime between 12:00 a.m. and 2:20 a.m.
The woman, who was the only occupant of the car, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Later that morning, a man aged in his 40s was killed in a separate collision in Birdhill.
The road, on the Limerick side of Birdhill Village, remains closed to allow for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.
However, local diversions are in place at both sites, and motorists are advised to allow extra time for their planned journeys.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to both incidents.
Anyone who may have travelled in both areas are asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.
Questions Raised Over Motivation and Governance.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has voted overwhelmingly to submit a motion to UEFA calling for the suspension of the Israel Football Association (IFA) from European football competitions.
The motion, passed by 74 votes to 7 with 2 abstentions, was adopted at an extraordinary general meeting of the FAI. It urges UEFA to remove Israel from participation in club and international competitions, citing alleged breaches of football governance and human rights obligations.
Grounds for the Motion:
The proposal contends that the Israel Football Association:
- Operates clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association — said to breach UEFA and FIFA statutes.
- Has failed to uphold UEFA’s anti-racism and equality policies, contrary to Article 7bis of the UEFA Statutes.
- UEFA has already decided that no European competition matches can take place in Israel due to ongoing security concerns. However, the FAI motion goes further, seeking to completely suspend Israel from all UEFA competitions.
Next Steps and Potential Outcomes:
The FAI’s motion will now be transmitted to UEFA, where it may be considered by the organisation’s Executive Committee or Congress.
If acted upon, the suspension could see:
- Israeli clubs removed from the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
- The Israeli national team barred from European Championship and World Cup qualifying campaigns conducted under UEFA.
No formal timetable for discussion or decision has been announced by UEFA.
Potential Consequences
Analysts warn that the move could have wide-ranging implications:
Sporting disruption: Fixtures involving Israeli clubs or national sides could be cancelled or restructured.
Legal risk: The Israel Football Association could challenge any suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that it is politically motivated.
Diplomatic impact: UEFA could face political and commercial pressure from member governments and sponsors.
Precedent: A ban on Israel could prompt demands for similar action in other politically charged situations, raising questions about consistency and governance in sport.
Financial Context: – FAI’s Dependence on State Support.
This debate comes as the FAI continues to rely heavily on Irish Government and UEFA financial assistance.
In January 2020, the State, UEFA and Bank of Ireland agreed a €30 million rescue package to save the FAI from insolvency. This included €20 million in taxpayer funding through Irish government loans and grants.
In October 2025, the Government confirmed a further €3 million allocation in Budget 2026; same to support the development of League of Ireland academies.
This financial dependency has led some observers to ask who exactly initiated or influenced the FAI’s extraordinary meeting and subsequent vote and whether the association consulted adequately with its funding partners before taking a political position of such scale.
Broader Questions: While many within Irish football support calls for greater international accountability, others caution that the FAI, still emerging from years of financial crisis and governance reform, must act with care to avoid drawing itself into complex geopolitical disputes.
As UEFA weighs its response, the move has sparked debate not only about Israel’s role in European football, but also about the role of the Irish football authorities themselves, an organisation dependent on public funds now taking a stand on one of the most divisive issues in world sport.
It was with a great personal sadness that I learned of the death, yesterday Friday 7th November 2025, of
Mr Tom O’Dowd, Graiguenoe, Holycross, Thurles, Tipperary, and formerly of Emmett Square, Williamstown, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Pre-deceased by his parents Josie and Tom, Mr O’Dowd sadly passed away, unexpectedly, following a long illness, while in the care of staff at St James Hospital, Dublin.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; wife Lizzie (née Kinane, Barnane, Templemore), sons Kieran and Eoin, daughter Gráinne (Staklelum), adored grandsons Fionn and Tadgh, Eoin’s partner Michelle and her son James, son-in-law Aidan, sister Valerie and her husband John (Hammond, Drumcondra, Dublin), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended relatives, former colleagues in Revenue, neighbours and many friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr O’Dowd will repose at his place of ordinary residence, (Eircode E41 C967) on Monday afternoon, November 10th, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm, same evening.
His funeral cortège will be received into the former Cistercian Monastery Abbey at Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on Tuesday morning, November 11th, at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr O’Dowd, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended O’Dowd and Kinane 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.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.
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