Environment « Thurles Information

Suspected First Case Of Bluetongue In Ireland Prompts Livestock Alert.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has declared a 20-kilometre Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) near Bangor, Co. Down, after surveillance indicated a possible case of Bluetongue virus (BTV) in two cows, latter the first suspected detection of the disease on the island of Ireland.

The TCZ came into force at 21:00 on Saturday last, November 29th, 2025. Under the restrictions, movement of susceptible species, including cattle, sheep, goats, deer and camelids, on or off any premises within that zone is prohibited, except when animals are being moved directly to slaughter under licence.

While preliminary results have triggered the alert, DAERA emphasises that full testing and investigations are ongoing. The suspected cases were detected via the Department’s active disease-surveillance programme.

Authorities stress the serious implications if the virus becomes established. Though bluetongue poses no known risk to human health or food safety, it can have devastating effects on animal health and welfare, with possible consequences including illness, death, reduced productivity, and trade restrictions.
If established livestock and farm economies could face significant disruption.

In a joint north-south effort, authorities have called for heightened vigilance and strict compliance with biosecurity and movement controls. Farmers and all livestock keepers have been urged to monitor their animals closely and to report any suspicious signs immediately to their veterinarian or the relevant veterinary office.

Bluetongue (BTV) is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants, including sheep, cattle, goats, deer, as well as llamas and alpacas. The virus is transmitted by small biting midges (species of the Culicoides midge) rather than by direct contact between animals.

There are many different serotypes of Bluetongue virus; some strains cause little or no clinical signs in infected animals, while others, especially in more sensitive species such as sheep, can lead to severe disease.

Clinical signs may include fever; loss of appetite; swelling of the face, lips or tongue; salivation or nasal discharge; lameness; and, in severe cases, ulcers, respiratory distress, reproductive losses (such as abortion), or death.

Importantly, Bluetongue poses no risk to human health or food safety: it cannot infect people, nor can it be transmitted through consumption of meat or milk from affected animals.

Why it Matters, – Risk and Implications.
The insects that transmit Bluetongue, biting midges, are present in Ireland, and are typically most active during the warmer months (historically April to November).

The disease remains present in many parts of continental Europe; virus-carrying midges or the movement of infected animals or biological products (such as germinal material) means there is an ongoing risk of incursion.

If Bluetongue becomes established, the consequences could include serious welfare problems for livestock, loss of production (meat, milk, wool), increased mortality in vulnerable flocks or herds, reduced fertility or loss of offspring in pregnant animals, and the possibility of movement or trade restrictions for live animals or animal products.

Because many infections, particularly in cattle or goats, may show no obvious signs, the disease can spread undetected, making early detection and active surveillance critical to preventing outbreaks.

For Farmers & Livestock Keepers – What To Do.
(1) Remain vigilant for any signs of ill-thrift, swelling, mouth or nose lesions, drooling, nasal discharge, lameness, or unexpected abortions in animals.
(2) Report any suspicion immediately to your veterinary service or the relevant animal-health authority, remembering that Bluetongue is a notifiable exotic.
(3) Minimise risk of midge bites: use good bio-security practices, house animals in midge-proof accommodation where feasible, especially at dawn and dusk when midges are most active.
(4) Be cautious when sourcing livestock, germinal products or breeding material from regions where Bluetongue is known to circulat.

Sign Of A Healthy Economy Should Be A Drinkable River.

“The sign of a healthy economy should be a drinkable river.”

[Quote by Ms Li An Phoa, (founder of the organization ‘Drinkable Rivers’)].

In relation to the pollution of the River Suir in Thurles which we, after 13 years of watching the sheer neglect of same, by Tipperary Co. Council, drew to the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the end of August last, has finally received a reply.

**Effluent continues to flow into the River Suir in Thurles Town centre**.
*Pic: G. Willoughb*y *(Dated October 9th, 2025)*

It is with great personal sadness and utter frustration that I report, first on the reply received from the EPA on Tuesday 25th November, 2025 which reads as follows:

(Ref: COM021813)
Dear Mr Willoughby,
Further to previous correspondence and responding to your concerns, the EPA wrote to Tipperary County Council seeking a written response from them on actions taken or planned on this matter.
Tipperary County Council replied to the EPA on 23/10/2025.
I enclose for your information a copy of a report received from Tipperary County Council in response to the issues raised in your complaint.
The EPA is satisfied that Tipperary County Council is dealing with the issue raised in your complaint and in view of this, the EPA will not be pursuing it further at this time.
The EPA recommends that you report any further issues directly to Tipperary County Council (preferably in writing) as the responsible authority.
Please use the reference number above in any further correspondence with the EPA regarding this matter.
Kind regards,
Nessa Dearle.

While the EPA publicly admit that wastewater discharged from 59% of Ireland’s existing treatment plants fail to consistently meet standards set in EPA licences to prevent pollution and further admit that wastewater discharges continue to harm water quality in rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters, they are not anxious to take on Tipperary Co. Council.

We will be publishing the inadequate awareness of the facts in the reply sent to the EPA by Ms Colette Moloney (Senior Executive Scientist with Tipperary County Council) shortly, as soon as time permits.

Proper River Suir Maintenance Required As New Thurles Loop Walk Funding Announced.

Calls Grow For Proper River Suir Maintenance As New Thurles Looped Walk Funding Announced.

The announcement of €447,300 in funding to advance the long-planned 5km looped walk in Thurles has been met with cautious local optimism, tempered by renewed frustration over the ongoing flooding of existing walkways, attributed to years of inadequate maintenance of the River Suir.

**Unserviceable river walkway from Emmet Street to rear of Thurles Shopping Centre.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

The funding, secured through Thurles Lions Club as part of a wider €16.5 million national outdoor recreation investment, will facilitate the extension of the walking route from Thurles town centre along the N62 to the Lady’s Well stile entrance, before continuing via the Lady’s Well path and linking onto Mill Road. Local residents along Mill Road have already agreed to land access, enabling Tipperary County Council to progress plans for this new 1.8-metre concrete footpath, including boundary works, signage, landscaping and native hedging.

**Unserviceable river walkway at rear of Thurles Shopping Centre and Lidl due to severe flooding.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

The development has been broadly welcomed as a long-overdue safety upgrade on a corridor where pedestrian access has long been compromised by traffic and poor parking provision. Community groups note that, once completed, the upgraded route will deliver a safe, attractive town-to-country walking loop, encouraging recreation and improving local amenity.

However, the news arrives against a backdrop of persistent flooding on existing riverbank walkways in Thurles, flooding that residents argue is entirely avoidable.

Community members say the situation amounts to “putting the cart before the horse”, with recreational works prioritised ahead of essential river management. They warn that unless long-overdue maintenance of the River Suir is carried out, future flooding will continue to undermine the value of new infrastructure and pose an ongoing hazard to walkers.

**Trees permitted to grow in the riverbed catch floating cans, bottles and other debris, making the area unsightly.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

Despite repeated warnings over a 13 year period, the River Suir, passing through Thurles has not received the maintenance required to prevent blockages and overflow. Earlier interventions focused instead on laying new tarmacadam surfaces along the riverbank just to use up funding intended for another failed project, rather than addressing the condition of the river channel itself. Those walkways now remain submerged following recent rainfall, highlighting what locals describe as a pattern of neglect and misplaced priorities, by both Tipperary County Council and Thurles Municipal District.

Residents question whether such future works, if and when eventually carried out, can proceed without damaging the same recently-laid footpaths that hug the river’s edge.

As the looped walk extension moves into detailed design and construction phases, local observers argue that investment in recreational infrastructure cannot continue to run ahead of essential river maintenance. Without addressing long-standing Suir management issues, they contend, further flooding is inevitable, undermining both public safety and the value of this significant new funding.

For now, while the community welcomes progress on the long-awaited 5km loop, many stress that meaningful improvement in local amenity depends on tackling the river itself, not just the paths that run alongside it.

Thurles MD – Water Quality Information Evening – Invite.

Ms Maggie Morrissey Reports:-

The public are warmly invited to attend a public meeting for the Upper Suir Priority Area, taking place on Tuesday, 25th November at 7:00pm in Murphy’s Pub, Main Street, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

The event is seen as a great opportunity to come together, as a community, and talk about the health of our local rivers and streams.

We will be sharing updates on water quality in the Upper Suir catchment, discussing local challenges and opportunities, and exploring how we can work together to protect and enhance our shared water environment.

**Flooding on Emmet Street Thurles yesterday, totally due to the failure by Tipperary Council to remove sediment and weeds from the River Suir over a 15 year period**.
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

Whether you’re a local resident, landowner, angler, farmer, business owner, or simply someone who cares about your local waterways, your input and ideas are very welcome.

This meeting is part of a wider effort to support community-led action for water and ensure that local voices are heard in decision-making.

There’ll be time for questions, discussion, and a chance to meet others who are passionate about the Upper Suir and its future.

Climate Change Advisory Council Calls For Faster Action.

Ireland has failed to achieve the targeted emission reductions during the first Carbon Budget period (2021-2025).

Instead of the maximum emissions of 295 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) set out in the Carbon Budget to 2025, we will overshoot by about 10 Mt CO2eq. Whilst acknowledging progress made, the Council warns that this overshoot will need to be paid back in the next Carbon Budget period (2026-2030) making it increasingly difficult to achieve.

The biggest blockage to Ireland’s progress remains our dependence on expensive, harmful fossil fuels, which were subsidised by €4.7bn of taxpayers’ money in 2024.

Launching the final chapter of its Annual Review the Council once again, called out Transport, where emissions remain stubbornly high. Both the Government and the public can do more collectively and individually to make significant emissions reductions. The Council calls for increased expenditure on public transport ensuring efficient, reliable and timely services, increased grants for less expensive electric vehicles (EVs) and the rapid implementation of a demand management strategy to help drive down emissions in this sector.

In addition, the Council has emphasised the critical role that Local Authorities play in driving climate action at community level, especially with the establishment of flagship “decarbonisation zones” within each local authority area. These zones create momentum and deliver locally tailored solutions for households and businesses.

The Council re-emphasised the significant opportunity that Ireland has to invest in households, communities and businesses, rather than paying extremely punitive compliance costs estimated to be up to €26bn for failing to meet EU targets.

Commenting, Ms Marie Donnelly, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council said, “In our first Carbon Budget period, progress has undoubtedly been made in the built environment with the roll out of retrofits in our homes, the increased uptake of protected urea in agriculture and the growth in the development of renewable energy especially wind and solar, including on our houses. However, we need to redesign how we commute, heat homes, and power the economy. That means real investment in people, infrastructure, and communities, not more delay.”

“We have the opportunity and the resources to transform Ireland, both in terms of reducing emissions and preparing for future climate events. We must act now because if we don’t, we will pay the financial and societal price by losing out on secure and affordable energy, a healthier and more sustainable society, both today, and for future generations.”

Ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union, the Council has urged the Government to fully integrate all climate and energy-related EU directives into Irish law within the legally binding time limit.