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The Fine Gael general election hopeful for Tipperary, Mrs Mary Newman Julian, who with others, has cast serious doubts over the An Post’s agreement with Thurles Shopping Centre, may now wish to “hold her whisht a minute”, regarding this same semi-state body.
The Irish Postmasters Union, speaking ahead of their annual conference in Portlaoise yesterday, warned that between 200 and 300 currently operating post offices could be forced to close over the next 18 months, unless they are granted access to named government services, by our current Fine Gael led government.
The Irish Postmasters Union state that while An Post have introduced a range of new services like credit cards and loans etc., a deal agreed with the present Fine Gael led government last year, to provide for the introduction of services, (e.g. car tax, drivers’ licenses and Leap cards etc); same, though agreed, has not as yet materialised and no progress to date has been made. IPU General Secretary Mr Ned O’Hara now believes this same issue could further lead to hundreds of post offices having to shut up shop.
An Post further has advised that their newly acquired Thurles office in Thurles Shopping Centre, will be in line with the company’s transformation programme, offering a new look retail offering for customers including a move away from the old-style post office counter layout; the inclusion of dedicated customer areas, parcel lockers and self-service options.
While, recently 800 to 1,000 local people and business owners took to the streets of Thurles to protest against this office move by An Post; yesterday’s news from the Irish Postmasters Union does not bode well for the longer-term future of Irish post offices in rural Ireland.
This threatened situation, is further adding to the fact that jobless figures appearing on the Live Register for Tipperary, during April 2019, shows increased unemployment on the previous month’s returns, March 2019, across 7 of the 8 Social Welfare offices. Employees earning salaries in the €25 to €30 thousand range; commuting to work from Tipperary; same unable to afford even basic accommodation in Dublin, are now fed up of paying the demanded 20 Euro toll charges; not to mention the 100 Euro per week in fuel costs; not to mention vehicle costs etc., all necessary to maintain and hold down a job, if you reside in rural Ireland.
It appears that under our present Fine Gael led government; here in rural Ireland, gone are the days when, “A part of everything you earn is yours to keep”.
Business conducted in Liberty Square depends solely on ‘Footfall’ being increased. Increased footfall results in selling that extra bar of chocolate; packet of crisps; pint of beer; that fashionable ladies top; that gentleman’s shirt and that cup of tea or coffee. Most often it is the collection of a number of small attractions that culminates; thus, reaching a climax or point of highest development in desired footfall; yes, and even more importantly, added employment.
On December 7th 2018, at 09:52am I sent an email to the following elected County Councillors:
joe.bourke@tipperarycoco.ie,
david.doran@tipperarycoco.ie,
seano.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie,
eddie.moran@tipperarycoco.ie,
john.hogan@tipperarycoco.ie,
michael.smith@tipperarycoco.ie,
jim.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie,
micheal.lowry@tipperarycoco.ie,
seamus.hanafin@tipperarycoco.ie.
The subject was clearly marked: Entrance New Car Park Thurles
The mailing system used by the sender was the ever reliable ‘Gmail.com.
The email read as follows:-
“Sirs:
Please view link on my website Hidden Tipperary:-http://www.hiddentipperary.com/2018/07/thurles-history-james-leahy-statement-bureau-of-military-history/
Perhaps a small plaque placed in this area would be most appropriate. Regards …”
Just seven (7) minutes later Cllr. Sean Ryan, [seano.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie] Littleton, replied as follows:-
“Will do George and revert to you.
Best wishes, Sean.”
I replied at 10:40am on same date:-
“Hi Cllr. Sean,
I will be happy to further assist in the back ground, should support be requested.
I will also assist in the funding. Regards ….”
Three days later Cllr. Jim Ryan [jim.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie] replied.
“Hi George
I think your proposal should be supported. I have no problem in talking to relevant people in council if you want me to do so. I am a firm believer in highlighting and remembering all those people who have contributed to our history. If you want to meet up I would be delighted to do so. Jim Ryan.”
No other Councillors replied, despite the email being refreshed.
But even more surprisingly, not even one solitary Councillor who received my email, has come back to me since December 2018 last, to inform me of Tipperary County Council’s final decision.
Your advice please as to which candidate I should give my No.1 Vote in the Local Elections on Friday May 24th 2019.
The Thurles.Info website sits comfortably on Page 1 of all search engines for those worldwide, using the search word ‘thurles‘. It will be read by well over 80,000 people at least, come the morning of Friday May 24th 2019. In the meanwhile, here is the perfect opportunity and an open invitation to all Councillors, and pretenders to the throne, to send us full details of their achievements to date, over the past five years, since being successfully elected. We will then check and confirm your claims and report on your worth accordingly.
So, it’s a certainty; An Post is moving to the shopping centre for definite; that’s despite the intervention from the most powerful in our community; namely the politicians, local councillors, those who would like to be local councillors and politicians and a disorientated, dying, Chamber of Commerce, all intent on riding a dead horse.
Together, however, they did have some success; mainly driving home a wedge; dividing Thurles town into two sections, instead of working to improve Liberty Square and Thurles Town as a single unit.
One wonders if the current 127 workers plus business proprietors / owners in the Thurles Shopping Centre, will now be rushing out to an upcoming local election, to vote for party’s like Fianna Fáil or the ‘Party of Protest’ (The Bully Party) and certain Independent representatives, all who attempted to directly affect very limited, local, yet available employment.
The Dead Horse Theory
The efforts undertaken by the “Save Our Square” [S.O.S.] committee had all the hallmarks of the “Dead Horse Theory”, so often attempted by Government TD’s and Local Councillors. Indeed, the tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, which has been passed down from generation to generation, clearly states, “When you discover that you are riding a dead horse the best strategy is to immediately dismount”.
Ignoring the fact that Tipperary County Council, of which many of the S.O.S. committee are card carriers; same are solely responsible for the decline of Thurles town centre and other towns in Co. Tipperary, through the introduction of Parking Charges. Again, ignoring this logical, simple fact the “Save Our Square” committee choose to attempt a new strategy in their dealings with An Post, the now dead horse:-
(1) They bought a stronger whip. (2) Changed Riders. (3) Threatened the dead horse with termination. (4) Appointed a committee to study the horse. (5) Discussed the feasibility of sending councillors to foreign countries to see how other riders rode their dead horses. (6) Provided further additional funding to improve the dead horse’s performance through the introduction of a dodgy “Dead Horse acquisition and refurbishment fund”. Now, with election votes dangerously reduced, this dead horse is most likely to be promoted to a supervisory post, enabling it to hire a replacement horse.
The solution to the Thurles town centre decline, which will correct this imbalance, is simple; call a halt to the payment of parking charges, before yet more businesses are forced out of our town centre.
Tipperary Co. Council built six social houses at Cabragh, Thurles, at a cost of some €370 thousand Euro each. We saw recently the Peter McVerry Trust acquiring 25 social houses for €5million through a generous donation made by the Dublin Capuchin Day Centre. Do your arithmetic folks; €5 million divided by 25 = €2 hundred thousand Euro. These units were purchased in Dublin and Kildare (the most expensive accommodation areas in Ireland). It is my opinion that Tipperary Co. Council are simply burning taxpayer’s money and frankly do not need parking charges to fund local government.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” – St. Mark Chapter 4. Verse 9.
More advice for ailing Local Councillors and Politicians in our next news bulletin.
Tipperary Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry has confirmed that he has had discussions with Minister Richard Bruton yesterday, with regard to the decision by An Post, to re-locate Thurles Post Office.
Deputy Lowry stated, “I was adamant that it was not a sustainable position for the Chairman and Chief Executive of An Post to refuse my previous request for a direct meeting with their two most senior personnel in that company, latter who are directly responsible for the delivery of policy and implementation relating to company decisions.
I have now been advised by the Minister’s Office and An Post that the Chairman and Chief Executive, have both agreed to meet with myself and my four Oireachtas colleagues, next week.”
The Deputy concluded by saying that he welcomed this opportunity to debate fully this grossly unpopular decision, effecting Thurles town centre, introduced by An Post; while also gleaning a detailed explanation as to the reasons why this decision was taken in the first place and if at all possible, to try to find a compromise in this ongoing debacle.
‘Stop the Move – Save our Square’
They began gathering from 10.00am this morning, one hour before the start; the elderly, the retired, local councillors and politicians past and present, the unemployed, business owners and their staff, non-examination year students; all protesting at the decision by An Post, to move its current offices out of Liberty Square to the Thurles Shopping Centre.
They gathered in brilliant, warm, sunshine; most certainly the largest protest group ever to assemble in this rural town in the last 30 year; attracting both local and national media attention, through the attendance of radio, TV and press personnel.
Speaking to many who attended the protest rally, much criticism was being heaped on the present Fine Gael government, with individuals privately and publicly singling out the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr Richard Bruton for his failure to intervene in An Post’s Dublin decision.
But most blame seemed to be directed to the doorstep of Tipperary Co. Council, the latter blamed for initially driving small and medium sized retailers from Liberty Square, by introducing parking charges, while three large global discount supermarkets on the very outskirts of Thurles, remained in a position to offer large scale free parking spaces.
Many were also critical of the removal of the once thriving Liberty Square market, latter removed to new trading areas at the entrance to Parnell Street carpark.
Meanwhile, the organisers of today’s protest rally, confirmed that they will continue the battle to save Liberty Square, and if at all possible, try to keep An Post and their services, within the very heart of Thurles town.
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