Education « Thurles Information

Do Local Tipperary Co. Councillors Ever Wash Dirty Dishes?

My dear readers, I ask this question in all seriousness, having read that nine Tipperary County Councillors tabled a motion at their end of July meeting, which called on the local authority to halt their use of glyphosate weed killer.

Ballina, Co. Tipperary resident and Fine Gael Cllr. Ms Phyll Bugler, said that she was disappointed to learn that the product was still approved in the EU, until December 2033. She felt that cancer bearing glyphosate weed killer could be entering our drinking water system.

Councillor Bugler, dear lady for God sake stop worrying, sure we here in Thurles use Fairy Dishwashing Liquid and allow it to run down from our sinks and into our drains, to enter our drinking water system all the time; despite the warning on the label which declares “Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects”.

Come to think of it, now that may account for the lovely white, frothy, foam substance, often found floating down the River Suir in Thurles!

**Read the Procter & Gamble warning on their Fairy Liquid** **bottle**, **underlined in red**.

Anyway, councillors were quickly informed by their betters, that while they were committed to reducing the use of herbicides and pesticides; glyphosate is not banned in Ireland, and remains approved for use in the EU to control invasive plant species. Since glyphosate is not banned in Europe and since the EU now makes all the laws and requlations governing Ireland; this leaves Simon Harris free to jet around the world pretending he is a world leader.

Senior officials from the German manufacturing chemical company Bayer, (who bought Monsanto’s glyphosate recipe for a mere reported $66 billion in cash), who were listening at the keyhole to this Tipperary council debate, heaved a deep sigh of relief on hearing Tipperary officials support their product.

It is now my belief that the nine councillors involved in this attempted insurgency within the council chamber, have never gotten themselves involved in the insignificant, or dare I say ‘frivolous task’ of washing the dirty dishes.

But sure look, as Charles Dickens once stated in his book ‘David Copperfield’, “Least said, soonest mended”.
Let the next generation worry about it, if there is one.

FSAI Update Re. Allergens In Bao Long Soup Seasonings.

Update (2) to undeclared allergens in various Bao Long Soup Seasonings

Alert Summary dated Thursday, August 7th, 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A27 (Update 2)
Allergens: Crustaceans, fish, soybeans, as per table below.
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: All batch codes and all best before dates.
Country Of Origin: Vietnam

Product Name.	Pack Size.	Allergens.
Bao Long Hủ tiếu Nam Vang Soup Seasoning.	75g.	Crustaceans, Fish and Soybeans.
Bao Long Bun bo Hue Soup Seasoning.	75g.	Crustaceans and Fish.
Bao Long Bun Rieu Soup Seasoning.	75g.	Crustaceans and Fish.

Message: Further to FSAI food allergen alert 2025.A27 and 2025.A27 (update 1), as per the table above, all batches of Bao Long Hủ tiếu Nam Vang Soup Seasoning contain crustaceans, fish and soya. All batches of Bao Long Bun bo Hue Soup Seasoning and Bao Long Bun Rieu Soup Seasoning contain crustaceans and fish. These allergens are not declared on the label.
This may make the implicated products unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of crustaceans, fish and/or soya.
Therefore, consumers should not eat the implicated products. The affected products are being recalled.

Recall Of Spinach & Mixed Leaves – Detection Of Listeria monocytogenes.

UPDATE (3) to recall of various branded Spinach and Mixed Leaves products produced by McCormack Family Farms, due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary dated Saturday, 02 August 2025.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2025.35 (Update 3)
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: Please see table below.
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message: Further to Food Alert 2025.35 and 2025.35 (Update 1) and 2025.35 (Update 2), the below additional batches of Spinach are being recalled due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in stores.

NOTE: There is currently no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals that is currently under investigation.
Please see this News Article.

Product Name.	Pack Sizes.	Best Before Dates / Batch Codes.
Egan’s Irish Baby Spinach.	250g.	Best before dates: 30/07/2025, 31/07/2025, 01/08/2025; Batch code: 206.
McCormack Family Farms Lettuce.	200g	Best before dates: 02/08/2025, 03/08//2025, 09/08/2025, 10/08/2025; Batch codes: 205, 212.
McCormack Family Farms Mixed Leaves.	75g.	Best before dates: 26/07/2025, 27/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 31/07/2025, 01/08/2025, 02/08/2025, 03/08/2025; Batch codes: 199, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207
McCormack Family Farms Rocket.	75g.	Best before dates: 31/07/2025, 03/08/2025; Batch codes: 204, 206,
McCormack Family Farms Spinach,	100g, 200g & 250g.	Best before dates: 01/08/2025, 02/08/2025, 03/08/2025, 04/08/2025; Batch codes: 205, 206, 207,
McCormack Family Farms Energise Mix.	100g.	Best before dates: 28/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 30/07/2025, 03/08/2025; Batch codes: 199, 203, 205.
SuperValu Spinach.	250g.	Best before dates: 01/08/2025, 03/08/2025; Batch code: 206.
Tesco Mild Spinach.	350g	Best before date: 02/08/2025; Batch code: 206

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

Pioneer Of Children’s Literature Allan Ahlberg Dead At 87 Years.

Penguin Random House has confirmed that one of the UK’s and indeed the world’s, most acclaimed and successful authors of children’s books, Allan Ahlberg, has sadly passed away, aged 87 years.

His more than 150 much loved children’s books, published over a period spanning more than five decades, are known for their gentle humour and are enjoyed by both children and grown-ups.

Born an illegitimate child, in Croydon, South London in 1938, he was brought up by adoptive parents in the market town of Oldbury, West Midlands, England. He worked as a postman, a plumber and a gravedigger, before training to become a teacher at Sunderland Teacher Training College. It was here that he met his first wife Janet, who later died from breast cancer.

In 1975, Mr Ahlberg and his first wife Janet published their first book together, “The Brick Street Boys”.
Later they collaborated to produce titles such as “Each Peach Pear Plum” and “The Jolly Postman” (Latter published in 1991 and winner of the Kurt Maschler Award, selling over six million copies), for which Janet was also awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustrators in 1978.

Other titles included “The Old Joke Book”, “Burglar Bill”, “Peepo”, “The Vanishment of Thomas Tull”, “The Runaway Dinner”, “The Pencil” and “Woof”, latter which was about a little boy who turns into a dog, and inspired a TV series which ran on former ITV channel, between the years 1989 and 1997.

Mr Ahlberg also wrote prize-winning poetry and fiction from his home in Bath. Their joint publications went on to sell millions of copies around the world.

Back to School.
by Allan Ahlberg

In the last week of the holidays,
I was feeling glum.
I could hardly wait for school to start;
Neither could mum.

Now we’ve been back a week,
I could do with a breather.
I can hardly wait for the holidays;
Teacher can’t either.
END.

Please Mrs Butler.
Poem by Allan Ahlberg

Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew
Keeps copying my work, Miss, what shall I do?
Go and sit in the hall, dear, go and sit in the sink.
Take your books on the roof, my lamb, do whatever you think.

Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew
Keeps taking my rubber, Miss, what shall I do?
Keep it in your hand, dear, hide it up your vest.
Swallow it if you like, my love, do what you think is best.

Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew
Keeps calling me rude names, Miss, what shall I do?
Lock yourself in the cupboard, dear, run away to sea.
Do whatever you can, my flower, but don’t ask me.
END

Mr Ahlberg made news headlines in 2014 when he turned down a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, after discovering that this same award was sponsored by Amazon, which was facing criticism over its then tax arrangements.

Mr Ahlberg is survived by his second wife Vanessa, daughter Jessica and stepdaughters Saskia and Johanna.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Launch Of ‘Ireland Against Racism’ Fund Announced.

Ireland Against Racism Fund now open to applications from non-government and community organisations.
Up to €1 million will support projects that combat racism and promote racial equality.
Fund is key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism.

Applications are open for the 2025 Ireland Against Racism Fund. The fund, which is a key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR), will enable non-government and community organisations to provide projects and local initiatives that combat racism and promote racial equality.

Announcing the fund, Minister of State for Migration, Mr Colm Brophy said: “I am pleased to announce that applications can now be made for the 2025 round of the Ireland Against Racism Fund, with up to €1 million being made available for local and national projects to combat racism in Ireland.
There is no place for racism in our society. Every person who lives in Ireland has a right to live free of racial discrimination. This funding underlines the government’s commitment to tackling racism and making life better for people who may be subjected to racist discrimination.
The National Action Plan on Racism was informed by the experiences of people who have been directly affected by racism and we recognise that solutions to tackling this problem lie across society and not just within Government. That is why we would like to invite applications from local and community organisations who are working hard to develop initiatives to combat racism and make Ireland a better place to live for all.”

There are two streams of funding:

Scheme A will provide grants, ranging from €40,000 to €100,000, to organisations for national and regional projects.
Scheme B will provide grants, ranging from €5,000 to €10,000, to organisations for local projects.

All applications must be submitted electronically.

Applications for funding will remain open until noon on Wednesday 27th August 2025. Groups can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form at the following links:

Scheme A
Scheme B
Guidance_Note_2025_IARF.pdf

In recent years, funding from government departments has supported a wide range of initiatives that have successfully promoted racial equality in Irish society.

Some examples of those initiatives are listed below:

Gorm Media’s Wideshot programme aims to equip young adults from underrepresented and ethnic minority groups with essential tools to amplify their voices through film and creative media. The programme provides pathways into the film and creative industry via workshops, training, and events in digital storytelling and creative media.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Stronger Together programme highlights how everyone, regardless of background, race or religion, deserves a decent job and respect at work.
The Football Versus Discrimination project by Sports Against Racism Ireland sends coaches to schools across Ireland to deliver an interactive workshop addressing issues of discrimination and promoting inclusive practices with students.
In Laois, a programme by Portlaoise Educate Together National School called Being Together created and delivered equality-based and anti-racism events including workshops, seminars, talks and training for the staff, parents, board of management and students of the school.
In Dublin, the Phibsboro For All project set up an English language teaching programme customised to the complex needs of people applying for international protection. As part of the programme, a buddy system was developed to partner newcomers to Ireland with local volunteers to share culture, interests and activities. A series of community awareness events were also held to challenge stereotypes around racism.

The National Action Plan Against Racism represents a national level, State-led, coordinated approach to eliminating racism in all its forms here in Ireland. The plan proposes actions to help Ireland to become a place where the impacts of racism are acknowledged and actively addressed.