Education « Thurles Information

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.

Uisce Éireann Appealing To Tipperary Residents Regarding Water Usage.

Uisce Éireann is appealing to customers across Tipperary to be mindful of their use of water. Every drop counts, especially as we move into what is expected to be a warmer, drier period.

There has been a notable increase in demand for water across Tipperary since the summer arrived. With warmer, drier weather forecast, we are appealing to everyone to conserve water to safeguard the water supply.

While recent weeks have brought cooler and wetter weather, water supplies in Glenary, Poulavanogue, Ardfinnan, Galtee, Coalbrook, Commons, Dualla and Fethard remain under significant pressure. These Water Supply Schemes serve over 45,000 customers across a large area of South Tipperary including Clonmel, Ardfinnan, Goatenbridge, Caher, New Chapel, Grange, Rossaddrehid, Bansha, Aherlow, Lattin, Emly, Limerick Junction, Coalbrook, Commons, Dualla, Ballinard, Mullinahone, Drangan, Moyglass, Killenaule, Ballinure, Gortnahoe.

Mr Pierce Faherty, (Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager in Tipperary), said, “We are appealing to the communities served by these supplies to make every effort to conserve water to maintain the supply. Although we have seen some welcome rainfall, the long-term effects of a dry autumn, winter, and spring are still being felt. This supply is under considerable pressure, with a notable increase in demand since the beginning of June. We’re doing everything we can to protect and maintain supplies throughout the summer, but we’re also asking the public for their help by doing what they can to reduce their use. If everyone takes a few simple steps to reduce the volume of water used around the home, in the garden, at work, or on the farm, we can make our water go further and help maintain normal supplies. In response to these water supplies coming under pressure, we have increased our efforts with a series of measures to safeguard supply, including doubling down on leakage detection, pipe repair, and overall network management.”

It would take several weeks of sustained rainfall to allow affected water sources to recover to normal levels. The latest forecast indicates a continuation of warmer, drier weather, which could further increase demand and place additional strain on already stressed supplies.

Everyone in Tipperary can play their part in protecting the water supplies for their community by taking simple steps to reduce their water use.

These include:

Leave the hose in the shed: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day.
Bucket and sponge for your car: Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer.
Turn off the tap: Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre.
Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads.
Shorter showers: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day!
Fully load your appliances: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.

For those looking to track their progress and learn more about water conservation, Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator, which allows people to track their personal water usage. To access the water conservation calculator or find out more about water conservation tips, VISIT HERE.

Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann 24/7 at TEL: 1800 278 278 or via water.ie

Plan On Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Launched.

Final Implementation Plan For Zero Tolerance Strategy On Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Published.

Priority areas include expanding refuge accommodation, advancing legislative reform, and cross-sectoral training initiatives for frontline professionals.
There are 95 actions in total across the strategy’s four pillars of protection, prevention, prosecution and policy co-ordination.
A robust monitoring and reporting framework establishes performance indicators to track progress and understand impact.

A targeted implementation plan for the final phase of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) has been published.

The implementation plan contains 95 actions across the strategy’s four pillars of Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination, with a strong focus on delivery and collective action to 2026.

The DSGBV Agency Cuan worked in collaboration with officials from the Department of Justice and in close consultation with other Government Departments, state agencies and external stakeholders to develop the plan for 2025-2026.

Priority areas include continuing national leadership and cross government alignment, expanding refuge accommodation, delivering a comprehensive national emergency domestic violence accommodation plan, and advancing legislative reform. That legislative reform includes removing the guardianship rights of a person who has been convicted of killing their intimate partner; developing a mechanism to ensure any person in an intimate relationship can be informed if their partner has a history of domestic violence; and advancing provisions to ensure counselling records are only released where the Court decides that they contain material relevant to legal proceedings.

The plan also includes actions to continue to deliver impactful awareness campaigns on sexual consent and pathways to safety, and a comprehensive set of training actions to upskill front-line professionals across the health and social care sector, DSGBV services, the judiciary, courts and other justice agencies.

The development of the plan was collaborative and evidence informed, involving research and a review of implementation to date, followed by in-depth consultations with Government departments and state agencies. It takes an intersectional approach, ensuring that actions and outcomes are responsive to the diverse and overlapping identities of victims and survivors of DSGBV, supported by the development and establishment of survivor-centred structures to ensure that victim/survivor voice is heard. The work to develop foundational structures, build networks and relationships lays the groundwork for beginning the transition to a Fourth National Strategy on DSGBV.

Also published today is the second 2024 Progress Report, covering the period July to December 2024, which highlights continued progress across government and the sector in implementing the Zero Tolerance strategy.

Notable achievements during the reporting period include:

Expanding emergency accommodation capacity including launch of a state-of-the-art refuge facility in Wexford and strengthening the pipeline for refuge and safe home expansion.
Reform of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Curriculum to empower students to be healthy and resilient young adults who have the skills and confidence to nurture healthy relationships.
Expansion of services for children and young people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, with €17m in funding distributed to 60 services supporting children and young people.
Enactment of the Family Courts Act 2024 providing for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures including a Family High Court, a Family Circuit Court and a Family District Court.
Supporting the Game Changer campaign, a three-year initiative led by Ruhama, in partnership with the GAA and the Men’s Development Network, using sports-based advocacy to raise awareness of gender-based violence.
Convening of a National Consent Forum.
Engagement with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to scope the development of a Domestic Violence survey to commence in 2025.

The 2025–2026 implementation plan and the Second Progress Report (2024) are available at: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Zero_Tolerance_Implementation_Plan_2025-2026.pdf.