Community News « Thurles Information

Death Of Sr. Mary Gleeson, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Friday 5th September 2025, of Sr. Mary (Noreen) Gleeson, late of Cork City, Co. Cork; Dublin and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her parents Sean and Kathleen Gleeson, beloved sister Áine (Coffey) and brother Micheál; Sr. Mary passed away peacefully at the Bon Secours Convent, Glasheen, Cork.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving brother Sean, sisters-in-law Tess and Theresa, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended relatives, neighbours, friends, past and present colleagues at Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin, and her Bon Secours Community.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Sr. Mary will repose at the Jerh. O’Connor’s Wilton Funeral Home, Sarsfield Road, Doughcloyne, Cork City, Co. Cork, (Eircode T12 KX08), on tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, September 7th, from 5.00pm until 6.00pm same evening.

Her remains will be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Sunday’s Well, Cork, (Eircode T12 CA34) on Monday morning, September 8th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 12:00 noon, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St James’ Cemetery, Chetwynd, Co. Cork.

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

The extended Gleeson 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Thurles Waiting: Relief Road Moves Forward, Bypass Kicked Down the Road.

Tipperary County Council has confirmed it now owns all the land needed for the long-promised Thurles Inner Relief Road.
But with no funding in place for construction, locals fear it is yet another stalling tactic while the badly needed, long awaited Bypass Ring Road is left on the back-burner until at least 2040.

**The now forgotten ‘Thurles Bypass’ plans**.

The scheme, first floated years ago, would provide a 1.1 km road link from Slievenamon Road at the Clongour Road junction (N62) to Mill Road. It would include five new junctions, a 50-metre arch bridge across the River Suir, and associated lighting. The land, all of it lying within the Suir River floodplain, has been purchased by the Council, though the cost of same remains undisclosed.

Land granted courtesy of other residents along the Mill Road will allow for a long awaited footpath extension to form part of a safe walking route in the area, affectionately known currently as “Fat Arse Boulevard”.

Traffic modelling suggests the additional bridge might, cut congestion in the town centre at best by 15%.

But for many residents, the fanfare around this land acquisition rings hollow. Without construction funding, the Inner Relief Road risks remaining just another paper project for between 3-5 years.

Locals argue this recent announcement is designed to mask the continued failure to deliver a 50 year old Ring Road plan; latter a project seen as essential to tackle an ever increasing gridlock in the town.

Once again, they say, Thurles has been left waiting and badly let down by local politicians latter who have two offices funded by taxpayers within the town centre.

School Secretaries & Caretakers Strike Called Off.

The union has confirmed that a central part of the deal is a Government commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements for all staff.

Fórsa trade union has called off its strike action by school Secretaries and Caretakers, having reaching an agreement with the present Government through the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Fórsa’s Head of Education, Mr Andy Pike, welcomed the breakthrough, describing it as “a major step forward” for their members.
He said the commitment to negotiate pensions represented a “significant advance” and that progress on leave and payroll would provide a fair basis for staff to return to work.

The agreement also provides for discussions on a range of workplace issues, including a new pay framework for caretakers; access to bereavement and sick leave; acute illness protocols and the full implementation of payroll arrangements.

The government has welcomed Fórsa’s decision to suspend strike action and enter discussions. They have praised the resilience of school communities during this dispute, while urging both sides to approach talks in good faith.

Formal discussions under the council of the WRC, will commence on Wednesday, September 10th next.

Undeclared Sulphites In Royal Orient Palm Sugar Batch.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Warns of undeclared sulphites in a batch of Royal Orient Palm Sugar.

Alert Summary dated Friday, September 5th 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A31.
Allergens: Sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
Product Identification: Royal Orient Palm Sugar; pack sizes: 500g and 454g.
Batch Code: Best before date: 21/03/2027.
Country Of Origin: Thailand.

Message: The above batch of Royal Orient Palm Sugar contains sulphites which is not mentioned on the label.
This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of sulphites and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batch.
The affected batch has now been recalled.

Irish Government Announce €1.75 Million Fund For IPAS Family Support.

The Irish Government announces a €1.75 million fund to support children, young people, and families in International Protection Accommodation (IPAS).

Fund will be delivered locally through Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC).
CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people with projects designed to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in IPAS.
This 2025 Funding Framework was designed in collaboration with the CYPSC National Office at Tusla – Child and Family Agency.
Tipperary CYPSC to run a project promoting community integration by linking children staying in IPAS accommodation with local sports clubs.

CYPSC are a key structure identified by Government to plan and co-ordinate services for children and young people in every county in Ireland. Policy and strategic direction for the CYPSC initiative is provided by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. There are 27 CYPSC nationwide and operational leadership is provided by TUSLA – Child and Family Agency through CYPSC National Office.

CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people in each county. CYPSC work to enhance interagency co-operation at both a local and national level with the goal of improving outcomes for children and young people (including those aged 0-24 years).

The CYPSC international protection fund was first established in 2023. The fund has successfully delivered a broad range of initiatives supporting children and young people seeking international protection in Ireland.

The framework for the 2025 fund was designed in collaboration with CYPSC National Office within Tusla – Child and Family Agency. The framework sets out the objectives, scope, and operational details of the fund. Local CYPSC were invited to propose a range of initiatives and projects falling under a range of objectives.

The objectives, which are aligned with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, include:

Community Integration.
Health and wellbeing.
Supports for Parents.
Emergency Accommodation.
Pathways to Independence.

Some examples of the projects selected to receive funding this year and that will be delivered by CYPSC, in collaboration with local partners, include:

Tipperary CYPSC: Same will run a project promoting community integration by linking children staying in IPAS accommodation with local sports clubs.
Kildare CYPSC: Same will provide an educational project for 18-24 year olds looking at career options, horticultural training and experience, language supports, CV and interview preparation supports, job readiness skills, and personal development.
Cork CYPSC: Same will run a project that aims to enable parents in emergency IPAS accommodation to teach their children culturally aligned cooking skills and good eating habits.
Donegal CYPSC: Same will provide a surf camp that will serve as a platform for intercultural exchange by encouraging teamwork, mutual understanding, and friendships for children and young people from diverse backgrounds.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown CYPSC: Same will provide access to a Sensory Attachment Intervention programme useful for children and adults who have suffered trauma.