Thurles Ursuline past pupil Jessie Buckley lands BAFTA leading actress nod as Hamnet makes history Thurles’ proud arts tradition is firmly in the international spotlight this week as Jessie Buckley, a past pupil of the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, has been nominated for a BAFTA for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in “Hamnet”.
Directed by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet has received 11 BAFTA nominations, setting a new record for the most nominations ever secured by a female-directed film in BAFTA history.
Buckley is nominated in the Best Leading Actress category, while the film is also in contention for Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, among a strong spread of technical and performance categories.
The BAFTA Film Awards take place on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, at London’s Royal Festival Hall, with Alan Cumming confirmed as host.
Buckley’s BAFTA recognition follows a standout awards run for Hamnet, with the actor taking Best Actress (Drama) at the Golden Globes earlier this month, where the film also won Best Motion Picture (Drama). She is also nominated for Best Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards for the same role, further underlining the film’s momentum into the final stretch of awards season.
Locally, the Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles has recently marked Buckley’s ongoing success, reflecting the strong connection between County Tipperary and one of Ireland’s most acclaimed screen performers.
Tipperary County Council have granted planning permission for a new social housing development that will deliver six one-bedroom apartments on Lower Croke Street, (Formerly known as Stradavoher), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The board of directors of Thurles Lions Trust applied to the local authority to build the scheme on a vacant town-centre site. The development will comprise two new buildings providing a total of six one-bed apartments, all intended for social housing.
A number of local residents made submissions during the planning process, raising concerns about storm-water capacity and the potential for overlooking of neighbouring properties. One objection argued that a proposed balcony (on apartment 5), would allow direct overlooking into a private garden and negatively impact on privacy. Another submission warned the project could place added pressure on a storm drainage/sewerage system that, they claimed, is already struggling with surface-water run-off; contributing to flooding risk for older homes on the street.
Despite the objections, the council have approved the development subject to conditions. These include the removal of the proposed balcony for apartment 5, requirements to keep the public road clean and tidy during construction, and that all service cables be routed underground. The developer must also submit a public lighting scheme for council approval, agree details of external finishes in advance, and comply with restricted construction hours: Monday to Friday (8am–6pm) and Saturday (8am–2pm).
Fuel Allowance 2025/26: End Date Confirmed as Weekly Payments Will Run to 3rd April 2026.
The end date for this winter’s Fuel Allowance season has now been confirmed, with the 2025/2026 scheme due to finish in early April.
The Fuel Allowance season for 2025/26 began on Monday, 22 September 2025 and is paid for 28 weeks, bringing the final week of payments to Friday, 3 April 2026.
Rate and key dates:
The Department of Social Protection confirms the current weekly rate is €38, payable from week commencing 29 December 2025 until 3 April 2026.
Budget 2026 provided for a €5 increase in Fuel Allowance (from €33 to €38) from January 2026.
Budget 2026 changes: who benefits. A number of measures affecting Fuel Allowance were announced as part of Budget 2026, including:
A Warm Coal Fire.
Working Family Payment (WFP) now qualifies for Fuel Allowance (subject to the qualifying conditions). Eligible WFP recipients will be paid in March/April 2026, and the payment will be backdated to January 2026 to include arrears.
The Department also confirms WFP customers do not need to apply in order to receive this Fuel Allowance payment, where no one else in the household is already getting it.
From September 2026, people moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension into work will be able to keep Fuel Allowance for five years (subject to the scheme rules).
Who can get Fuel Allowance. Fuel Allowance is designed to help with home-heating costs during the winter months. You may qualify if you:
Are aged 66 or over (you do not need to be on a qualifying payment, but you must pass a means test),
Are under 66 and getting a qualifying long-term social welfare payment, and you also pass a means test,
Are living alone or only with certain people (see below).
Important:Fuel Allowance is not paid where a person’s heating needs are provided for in full as part of their accommodation.
Living arrangements that can still qualify:
You may qualify if you live alone, or only with certain people, including:
A person aged 66 or over
A dependent adult or dependent child
Someone on a qualifying payment (but only one Fuel Allowance is paid per household)
A person getting Carer’s Benefit who is caring for you (or your dependent adult/child)
A person on short-term Jobseeker’s Allowance or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Qualifying payments (examples). The Department’s list of qualifying payments includes, among others:
Certain EU/bilateral social security payments where there is an Irish equivalent.
Payment options and applications. Fuel Allowance is normally paid weekly during the season. Some customers can opt to receive it in two instalments instead (one at the start of the season and a second in January), subject to the scheme rules.
FSAI recall a specific batch of Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk due to presence of cereulide.
Alert Summary Monday, January 26th 2026.
Category 1: For Action. Alert Notification: 2026.03. Product Identification: Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk; pack size: 800g. Batch Code: Expiry date: 31-10-2026.
Message: FSAI state that Danone is recalling the above batch of its Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk due to the presence of cereulide. This batch was indirectly distributed to Ireland from the UK via the Boots.ie website.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
Danone is advising customers to contact its Aptamil careline team on Tel: 1800 22 1234 if they have any queries regarding this recall.
Nature Of Danger: Cereulide toxin is produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus. The toxin may be pre-formed in a food and is extremely heat resistant. Consumption of foods containing cereulide toxin can lead to nausea and severe vomiting. Symptoms can appear within five hours. The duration of illness is usually 6 to 24 hours.
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. Consumers: Parents, guardians and caregivers are advised not to feed the implicated batch to infants or young children.
Mr Foster passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Cratloe, Nursing Home, Co. Clare.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family, friends, John & Kathleen Murphy, all those at Thomas Murphy & Sons Ltd., Thurles, and all staff at Cratloe Nursing Home.
Rest in peace.
Funeral Arrangements.
A private funeral service and burial will take place.
The extended Foster family 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.
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