Pre-deceased by her parents Tom and Kitty, brothers Ollie and Tommy; Mrs Morley passed away peacefully at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin surrounded by her loving family.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving husband Pat, daughter Emma and her partner Eoin, grandchildren Ben and Lucy, sister Josephine, brother Gerard, in-laws, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Morley will repose for Requiem Mass on Thursday morning, January 22nd at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saggart, Dublin(Eircode D24 E867) at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Saggart Cemetery, Castle Road, Saggart, Co. Dublin.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Morley, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Morley 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.
Note Please: House strictly private. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, to Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, in memory of Mrs Mary Morley.
Pre-deceased by her husband Joe, three infant babies, sister Margaret, and brothers Mike and John; Mrs Moriarty passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Drakelands House Nursing Home, Co. Kilkenny.of Rushmere, Cabra Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary .
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving daughters Orla (Murphy), Nessa (Canny), Ann and son Conor, sons-in-law Pat and Tony, daughter-in-law Jude (Cross), grandchildren Stephen and partner Aisling,, Aoife and husband David, Eoin, Niamh, John, Joe (Canny), Joe (Moriarty) and Kate, great-grand-daughter Ada, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Moriarty, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Moriarty 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.
A series of upbeat tourism announcements and investment-led press releases in County Tipperary are landing against a stark national backdrop, after Eurostat reported that Ireland was one of only two EU member states to record a fall in tourist accommodation nights in 2025.
Eurostat’s early estimates show EU tourism nights hit a record 3.08 billion in 2025, up 2% year-on-year, while Ireland recorded a -2% decline (with Romania the only other country in negative territory).
Irish coverage of the figures has put the Republic’s total at 41.3 million tourist bed nights in 2025 (-1.8%), describing it as the weakest performance in the EU. The same reports note that the peak summer quarter (Q3 2025) fell 4.1%, with hotel nights down 8.4% and camping nights down 27%, while “holiday and other short-stay accommodation” rose 15.4%.
Of course, local press releases paint a different story: “growth”, “season extension”, “boost tourism”.
Despite the national decline, Tipperary tourism communications over the past year have repeatedly highlighted expansion, regeneration and new visitor offerings:-
Dromineer, Lough Derg (Nenagh MD): Tipperary County Council press material describes a €1.2m watersports facility as a “best-in-class” outdoor tourism hub intended to enhance the visitor experience and support year-round activity. Roscrea (Grant’s Hotel): A Council press release on a feasibility study lists explicit objectives to “boost tourism activity” and increase footfall and dwell time in the town centre, alongside employment and night-time economy goals. Carrick-on-Suir: A Council announcement confirms award of a €2.9m Phase 2 contract under the regeneration plan, presented as part of a wider town-centre renewal drive. Thurles: Sadly the only tourism-tagged local event promotion (Feb 2025), shows a Council/MD posting highlighting for St Patrick’s Day Parade, Thurles (2025), categorised under Tourism, which pushes footfall activity in the town centre (music, attractions, participation).
Thurles it is time to wake up.
Countywide “Roadmap” messaging: The Tipperary Tourism Roadmap 2025–2030 sets out targets around economic growth, season extension and giving visitors reasons to stay longer, and was publicly launched in late November last year.
Fáilte Ireland funding (Midlands / JTF): A national press release announced €5.5m for 17 regenerative tourism projects, bringing the scheme’s announced tourism funding to almost €60m, reinforcing the wider policy message of building new and improved visitor experiences.
The core contradiction: publicity versus performance. The tension is not that Tipperary’s projects are unwelcome, it is that headline-grabbing announcements about “growth” and “visitor experience” risk sounds hollow when the national data shows Ireland moving against the EU trend.
A key question now is whether local strategies are being matched with measurable outcomes, bed capacity, occupancy, shoulder-season activity, and value-for-money delivery, or whether Tipperary is simply publishing plans, while the wider system continues to lose ground.
We will be speaking about solutions in the coming days, so do stay tuned. Update Thurles Tourism Debate: Part IV.
[Note: Shannon Region centres around the River Shannon and includes North Tipperary, Counties Clare, Limerick, parts of North Kerry and South Offaly.]
Network Ireland, the country’s largest business networking organisation for women, has appointed Ms Karen Ronan as its National President for 2026.
Ms Karen Ronan appointed National President of Network Ireland, for 2026.
The organisation, first established in 1983, supports more than 1,400 female entrepreneurs, SME owners and senior professionals across sectors ranging from multinational business to non-profits, the arts and the public sector.
Ms Ronan, who succeeds Ms Amy O’Sullivan of AOS Consulting as National President, has more than three decades’ experience in business and tourism in Ireland and overseas. She previously led the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau for 22 years, during which time the agency generated an estimated €160million in economic impact for Tipperary, Offaly, Clare and Limerick by attracting international conferences and sporting events. She was appointed Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce in 2025.
A graduate of the Kemmy School of Business at the University of Limerick, she said her priorities as President will include strengthening commercial links between Network Ireland’s 17 branches and expanding opportunities for women-led enterprises.
Ms. Ronan said she plans to drive more than 3,000 business leads and introductions between members during 2026, a target she believes could unlock millions of euro in new commercial activity.
“It is a great honour to take on the role of President of Network Ireland for the coming year,” she explained. “My theme for the year, ‘Building Bridges’, reflects the need to connect people, ideas, sectors and regions. While progress has been made, equality for women in business cannot be taken for granted.”
Ms. Ronan added that a key part of her agenda will be encouraging members to “shop their own network” by sourcing suppliers and partners from within the organisation.
She continued, “We must continue to build equity by addressing structural barriers, amplifying diverse voices and ensuring women are supported to lead, influence and succeed. Network Ireland has a powerful role in bringing people together to drive meaningful change,” she said.
“I look forward to working closely with the advisory council, national executive, regional branches, and members to deliver a year that combines advocacy, connection and tangible business outcomes, reinforcing Network Ireland’s role as a powerful platform for women in business across Ireland,” concluded Ms. Ronan.
Geraldine Casey, MD Retail Banking, AIB said, “AIB is proud to continue as an official partner of Network Ireland for a thirteenth year. Our shared goal is simple: to remove barriers, build confidence and accelerate opportunity for women in business through practical supports such as mentoring, financial guidance and meaningful connections. These supports help amplify the success and impact of women who are helping power local economies. These women also inspiring the next generation to build resilient businesses and brighter financial futures. We wish Karen every success as she assumes the National Presidency for 2026.”
Ms Karen Ronan’s presidency formally commenced following the Network Ireland Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dublin today.
Ms Joan Walsh of Partnership International, a Cork-based work, study and travel organisation, was confirmed as Vice President for 2026.
Concerns over Tipperary’s ability to sustain and grow tourism have intensified following a recent council presentation on tourism performance and marketing activity, a meeting where councillors again highlighted the county’s deepening shortage of visitor accommodation.
While elected members warned that a lack of “bed nights” is now actively preventing the county from hosting events, retaining tour groups and converting day-trippers into overnight stays, local stakeholders say the discussion risks becoming yet another exercise in acknowledging the obviouswithout confronting who is accountable for years of drift and under-delivery.
Thurles social media continuously sells “local life” as if it were a tourism product and that is completely failing us. Thurles tourism messaging is too often confused about its real job.
A visitor does not fly to Ireland for a post from Thurles Tourist Office wishing them a “Happy Christmas”; “Happy New Year”; Inviting Nail Bar Appointments; Selling Clothing; Local Book Launches and other generic services that exist to be found in every backward town and village in Ireland. Yes, local businesses matter, but when social tourism channels read like a community noticeboard, it dillutes the towns strongest selling points and waste the fleeting attention created by international coverage.
Right now, too much content promotes what exists here locally, rather than what a visitor would travel from North America, France & UK for. That is why tour coaches stop and then quickly go or totally avoid Thurles altogether. That is why day-trippers don’t become overnight stays and that is why international attention risks becoming little more than a headline.
What Thurles Must & Should Do Immediately.
Use the Lonely Planet moment, and immediately deliver Thurles Lions Club Signposting so Thurles stops being overlooked.
Tipperary has a rare opportunity in the fact that the county has been recognised in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2026list, (a global “top 25” selection). Tourism Ireland says Tipperary is described as “best for hiking, history and fine food”, exactly the kind of international positioning counties spend years trying to win. But that attention must now be converted into overnight stays, and that requires practical, on-the-ground delivery, particularly for towns like Thurles. So here is the uncomfortable truth; ‘Likes’ on Facebook are not bed nights. If our digital content does notanswer the visitor’s basic questions, they stay on the motorway.
Thurles Lions Club have shown our town of Thurles the lead by securing €29,600 in LEADER funding for a Thurles Heritage Trail, including signage at strategic points around the town with QR codes linking visitors to digital storytelling. Thurles has been crying out for this kind of hands-on, visitor-ready infrastructure for years. It should be treated as an emergency priority, not reduced to a cosy talking-point trotted out once a month for newspaper coverage, with scarcely a single progressive tourism voice in the room.
If Tipperary County Council is serious, this is precisely what it should be funding, promoting and delivering, with councillors and officials finally partnering with those who actually understand the tourism industry.
Currently if visitors attempt to visit the Thurles Tourism Site – Oops! That page can’t be found.
We will be speaking more about failures and solutions in the coming days, so do stay tuned. SeeThurles Tourism Debate: Part III.
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