Employment « Thurles Information

Former Shannon Region Bureau Chief Appointed President Of Network Ireland.

[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.

Visit networkireland.ie for more.

Thurles & Tipperary Tourism Cannot Grow On County Council Speeches Alone.

Thurles & Tipperary tourism cannot grow on County Councillors speeches alone, accommodation crisis and missed opportunities must now be owned.

Thurles Tourism Debate: Part II.

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 obvious without 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 2026 list, (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 not answer 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.
See Thurles Tourism Debate: Part III.

Workplace Fatalities Rose Sharply In 2025, HSA Provisional Figures Show.

Agriculture accounts for 40% of deaths; three work-related fatalities recorded in Co. Tipperary.

Provisional figures published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) show 58 people died in work-related incidents during 2025, a 61% increase on the 36 deaths recorded in 2024.
The HSA said the work-related fatality rate rose to 2.1 per 100,000 workers in 2025, up from 1.3 in 2024, while noting the long-term trend remains downward.

**61% increase in work-related incidents during 2025**.

Sector breakdown.
The agriculture sector recorded 23 fatalities, accounting for 40% of all work-related deaths in 2025, from a sector employing approximately 4% of the workforce. Construction recorded 10 fatalities (up from five in 2024), while manufacturing recorded 5 fatalities (up from none in 2024).

Leading causes.
The leading causes of workplace fatalities in 2025, included incidents involving heavy loads/falling objects, machinery or vehicles, and falls from heights.

Older and self-employed workers disproportionately affected.
Of the 58 deaths recorded, 19 victims (33%) were aged 65 or over, with the oldest aged 88.
Self-employed workers accounted for 23 deaths (40%), underlining the heightened risks faced by people working alone or without wider organisational supports.

County figures – Ref: Co. Tipperary.
The HSA’s provisional county breakdown shows three work-related fatalities in Co Tipperary during 2025.

Commenting on the figures, HSA Chief Executive Mr Mark Cullen said the increase is “deeply concerning” and urged employers and workers to remain vigilant and avoid complacency regarding safety.

Alleged Tipperary School Bus Tender Collusion Case.

Alleged School Bus Tender Collusion Case Hears Claims of ‘Loaded Dice’ in Tipperary and Surrounding Counties.

The Central Criminal Court has heard allegations that five school bus operators attempted to “load the dice” in their favour by distorting competition in the tender process for school transport services across five counties.

Five Tipperary men are being prosecuted by the Competition Authority in connection with the provision of school transport services. All five deny the charges.

The accused are:
Mr Andrew Walsh aged 62, Derrymore, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Raymond Heney aged 54, Camas, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Noel Browne aged 77, Bansha, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Larry Hickey aged 73, Ardmayle, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Anthony Flynn aged 51, Golden Road, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

Each man faces a single charge under the Competition Act 2002. It is alleged that, between 1st November 2014 and 31st December 2016, they engaged in a concerted practice which had as its object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition in trade in the provision of school transport services.

The trial has heard that all of the accused were involved in bidding for tenders to provide school bus routes during the period in question. It is alleged that, rather than competing independently, the men colluded in how they would bid.

The jury was told that one of the accused arranged meetings with other bus operators, ostensibly to assist with administrative processes. At these meetings, it is alleged that operators discussed the allocation and pricing of school bus routes and agreed to bid for tenders in a coordinated manner.

Counsel for the prosecution, Dominic McGinn SC, said that parties in a tender process cannot lawfully discuss who is bidding for what, or at what price. He told the jury that there was a “degree of coordination” between the parties so that tender prices would end up higher than they would be in a genuinely competitive process.

Mr McGinn explained that competition law exists to protect consumers and taxpayers by ensuring value for money and preventing manipulation of markets.
He told the jury that:
“Agreements or understandings not to charge below a certain amount, amounted to price fixing and provided no benefit to consumers.
Market sharing”, where competitors agree among themselves to allocate specific areas or routes so that there is effectively only one provider, is also prohibited.
Any manipulation of that or distortion of that is unfair to us,” he said, noting that, as this case concerns public contracts, the people ultimately affected are taxpayers.

Mr McGinn said the alleged conduct did not require a formal written agreement, but involved collusion, an exchange of information and coordination that led to “the disappearance of competition” in the relevant tenders.

He told the jury that the case was not about the importance of school transport for children in Tipperary, nor about the fact that the accused men are approaching retirement and are alleged to have committed the offences late in their careers. Rather, he said, the case concerns whether the five men, and possibly others, attempted to “load the dice” to distort competition in the school transport market.

All five accused have pleaded not guilty.
The trial continues today, Thursday, before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of seven men and four women.

Irish Government Announces 37 projects Under Ireland Against Racism Fund 2025.

€1.5m will be made available to 37 NGOs and community organisations to progress projects to combat racism and promote racial equality and community cohesion.
Successful organisations will receive grants of up to €100,000 and will fund a range of projects from promoting employability, to educational supports and training needs as well as a range of community based initiatives.
The fund is key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism.

The Irish Government, today, announced €1.5m will be made available to 37 NGOs and community organisations to progress projects to combat racism and promote racial equality and community cohesion.

Successful organisations will receive grants of up to €100,000 and will fund a range of projects from promoting employability, to educational supports and training needs as well as a range of community based initiatives.

The 2025 Ireland Against Racism Fund for proposals ran from 16^th July 2025 – 27^th August 2025. €1,539,234 has been made available in 2025 to support anti-racism projects through grant funding of €40,000 – €100,000 per successful Scheme A project and €5,000 – €10,000 per successful Scheme B project.

Tipperary features in the Successful Scheme B projects:

Organisation Name:	Project Name:	Amount Awarded:	Geographical Scope:
Waterford Integration Services (WIS)	A Future Without Bias: Youth Convention on Combating Racism Through AI & VR applications	€10,000	Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford & Wexford

The fund is key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism today announced the 37 projects set to receive over €1.5m in funding under the Ireland Against Racism Fund 2025.

The Fund enables non-government and community organisations to provide national and regional projects and local initiatives that combat racism and promote racial equality.

A number of successful organisations will use the funding to deliver promotional campaigns in the community, including in schools and youth groups, about how to tackle racism and discrimination. Organisations will also use the funding to provide training to staff and initiatives focusing on increasing the skills and employability of migrants.

The Fund is a key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) which was informed by the experiences of people who have been directly affected by racism.