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The three main towns in Co Tipperary experienced contrasting fortunes in the IBAL Anti Litter League Final Results for 2009, when the annual survey of 60 towns and cities in Ireland was published yesterday. Thurles town is ranked 34th of the 60 towns and cities in the IBAL League, with Clonmel ranking 4th and Nenagh still deemed ‘littered’ and in 53rd position.
Clonmel has moved up the ranks this year from “Moderately Littered” to “Clean to European Norms”, while Thurles dropped four places in the rankings, but still remains “Clean to European Norms” nationally.
The number of “Clean to European Norms” areas nationwide hit a record high of 41 last year, however this list was reduced to 39 in the 2009 survey just published.
Speaking to local authority representatives at a ceremony in Dublin this morning, Dr Tomas Cavanagh of Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) stated:
“Cutbacks in budgets should not mean a reversal of the progress made on litter. New cleaning technologies and effective enforcement could yield tremendous benefit at minimum cost. In particular we need to rid ourselves of the idea that ‘enforcement’ is about fining an individual for dropping a sweet wrapper. It’s more about taking local businesses and other organisations to task for not keeping the areas outside their premises free of litter – areas such as car parks and pavements. If local authorities aren’t comfortable with this, maybe privatisation should be considered.”
 Liberty Square Thurles He congratulated the local authorities for helping transform our environment in the space of just seven short years.
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) was set up in 1996 as an alliance of companies who believe that litter has a significant impact on our economic well-being. The main sources of our prosperity – tourism, Foreign Direct Investment and our food industries – all depend on an image of Ireland as a clean and green island. We are now a high-cost destination for visitors, who deserve first-class standards of cleanliness.
Sites are graded by An Taisce according to international standards.
Thurles Councillor, Solicitor Gerard O’Brien said he was very pleased with the ‘ Litter Free Status” afforded Thurles in this survey, blaming the very necessary upgrading of roads and footpaths throughout the town, during the past year, for the slight drop in the Thurles rankings. He further stated that Thurles Council were fully committed to keeping Thurles a ‘Litter Free Zone’ and congratulated all the staff responsible, for their tremendous support, working as they did, under extremely difficult conditions, during this period of upheaval within the town.
His remarks were echoed by Thurles Mayor Mrs Evelyn Nevin who again congratulated all those concerned, stating “Our tourist and food sectors in particular owe a debt of gratitude to those involved in making our town ‘litter-free”.
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 Free Energy Survey HALO, has been developed by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) to support Ireland’s 20% energy reduction target by 2020 as identified in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. This is a no-obligation service which will help you to make your home more energy efficient, reduce your carbon emissions and, more importantly, reduce your home monthly energy bills.
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The initial energy efficiency survey is free and simply makes recommendations on the areas in your home where you could improve your energy efficiency. The survey will assess the energy efficiency of all of your current insulation, heating and lighting systems inside and outside of your home. The average wait time is around 20 days, in some areas it may vary slightly, but in general a surveyor should arrange an appointment for your Survey within 21 days. Yes, believe you me, it is totally free
Note: Unfortunately apartments are not eligible for a HALO Survey.
Afterward, the surveyor will supply you with a comprehensive report with specific recommendations on making your home more energy-efficient along with relevant cost estimates.
If you would like to advantage of this free service and apply on line, click here or phone their Customer Care team at 1850 372 333.
Note: ESB Energy Services are not selling any products or services; they’re simply providing free independent advice that will assist you in taking the necessary steps towards making your home more energy efficient.
 Waste Recycling Station New proposed plans for the erection of a Waste Recycling Station and a Waste Transfer Station for Mill Road, Thurles were announced recently.
Boomerang Recycling Limited have applied to Thurles Town Council for permission to construct a recycling and material recovery and transfer facility at Moonakeeba, Mill Road, Thurles, Co.Tipperary.
A Waste Facility Permit application is also expected to be submitted to the Environment Section of North Tipperary County Council.
The collection of waste on a commercial basis requires a waste collection permit from a relevant local authority in accordance with section 34(1) of the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended).
Part IV V of the 1996 Act (as amended) provides for a stringent system of integrated waste licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in respect of all significant waste recovery and disposal activities. This system is intended to ensure that high environmental standards apply in relation to the establishment, management, operation, closure and aftercare of licensable waste facilities.
Michael Ryan Thurles and Sinead Maher Kiltillane Templemore, joined forces in 2005 to create the existing Company Boomerang Skips and Recycling.
This new planned development, which is expected to be opposed by local housing estates nearby, would entail the demolition of an existing building on the site to facilitate plans.
An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, was in Clonmel, Co.Tipperary yesterday surveying the severe damage caused by flooding over recent days, where at least 30 homes have been damaged by flooding with a large number of families being displaced.
 An Taoiseach Mr Brian Cowen Mr Cowen, when asked what funding would be available to those who cannot get insurance, stated that the issue would be discussed within Government today.
South Tipperary’s Junior Minister for the Office of Public Works, Martin Mansergh is confident that funding for flood relief schemes will not be cut in the Budget. He said he had met with the Finance Minister last week and he is very confident that major works underway presently in Clonmel, will still continue, despite substantial cuts to OPW funding.
Meanwhile as homeowners and businesses in North Tipperary wade through the damage caused by a week of torrential rain, Fine Gael will this week use its Private Members’ Time to put forward a Motion to ensure a new national flood alert system is established.
Deputy Noel Coonan extended his deep sympathy to families, property and business owners throughout the constituency who have been devastated by floods. The Deputy commended the work done and dedication shown by the Defence Forces, Garda Síochána, Civil Defence, Local Authorities and communities and the Red Cross in battling the worst flooding in living memory.
As the clean-up begins, Fine Gael believes we must tackle the issue of flooding in the future to maintain public safety and avoid the severe social and economic hardship caused by serious flooding this time round.
Yesterday, the N65 Portumna/Borrisokane Road was impassable at Carrigahorig. Property owners and landowners from south of Killaloe/Ballina to Limerick City are on high alert as low lying areas of the River Shannon were at serious risk of flooding and the Borrisokane to Athlone Road was closed at Rathcabbin.
The Blackcastle Road out of Templemore is badly flooded yet again. This road has been prone to flooding for years but there seems to be no urgency in addressing these flooding black spots. Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer. Blackcastle Road has been under consideration for a long time for remedial flooding works and Deputy Noel Coonan will be seeking assurances from the Government that funding is provided to implement OPW projects that have been planned locally.
Continue reading Taoiseach Visits Flood Ravaged Tipperary
 St Ailbe's Church The 51st Tidy Towns Awards was announced recently at a ceremony in Dublin and yes it’s official, Emly, in West Co. Tipperary has deservedly been named the tidiest town in Ireland and for the first time.
Emly was the overall national and regional winner with a winning score of 305 points.
Two other Tipperary towns have also won gold awards in this year’s competition, previous winner Birdhill was close behind Emly on 302 points and Clonmel won its category with 290 points.
In North Tipperary Roscrea fared the best of the bigger towns on 270 points, followed by our own Thurles on 258 (Up 7 points on 2008) and Nenagh on 239.
In South Tipperary, Cahir was 30 points behind Clonmel on 260 and followed by Cashel 255 while Carrick-on-Suir scored 254 points.
National Tidy Towns Winner Is Emly Co Tipperary
The winning town of Emly is centered around it’s very beautiful local parish church, dedicated to its patron saint, St. Ailbe. Emly is one of the oldest centres of Christianity in Ireland and up until the early middle ages was the seat of the premier diocese in the south of Ireland remaining a Cathedral city until the 16th century. The full name of Emly in the Irish language is ‘Imleach Iubhair’ which literally means ‘The Border of the Lake of the Yew Trees’. The wood of the English Yew was used for bows by Celtic and Teutonic warriors, a practice which eventually led to the demise of the great Yew forests of Western Europe
St. Ailbe was Bishop of Emly in Munster and died about 528 AD and it is very difficult to sift the truth from the myths and legends which have gathered round the life of this Irish saint. Beyond the fact, which is itself disputed, that he was a disciple of St. Patrick and was probably ordained priest by him, we know really nothing of the history of St. Ailbe. Legend says that in his infancy he was left in the forest to be devoured by the wolves, but that a she-wolf took compassion upon him and suckled him. Many years afterwards, when Ailbe was bishop, a wolf, pursued by a hunting party, fled to the Bishop and laid her head upon his lap. Ailbe recognised and protected this wolf, and every day thereafter she and her cubs came back to be fed by him. It is also believed St. Ailbe loved hospitality and taught his parishioners the importance of same in respect of those who travelled through the area.
Archbishop Thomas Croke, of GAA fame, laid the foundation stone of the present church in Emly on the 30th May 1880. The work was completed in 1882 and officially opened on 6th January 1883. This church replaced an earlier one built in 1810 and which is now used as the towns parish hall. The nearby graveyard contains the towns most famous items of antiquity, St. Ailbe’s Cross and St. Ailbe’s Well, which from ancient times to current date are held in veneration by the the towns inhabitants who still assemble here, on the 12th of September each year, to celebrate the anniversary of St. Ailbe’s death.
Emly also rightfully lays claim to two other notable historical figures, Dermot O’Hurley and Terence Albert O’Brien both of whom were beatified by Pope John Paul II on 27th September 1992.
Dermot O’Hurley (c. 1530 – 1584) was a the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the diocese of Cashel during the reign of Queen Elisabeth 1 and was put to death for treason. Despite severe torture, which included having his legs roasted over a roaring fire, the Archbishop refused to embrace protestantism.
Terence Albert O’Brien (c.1600 – 1651) was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Emly. During the Irish confederate wars O’Brien opposed a peace treaty that did not guarantee Catholic interests in Ireland and following the 1651 siege of Limerick by Ormondists and Parliamentarians, he with others, following their surrender, was executed by General Henry Ireton.
In past years a very ancient canoe, resembling those used by south sea islanders, was dug up in the adjacent bogs near the village, together with gold armlets, ancient coins, and some brass swords.
Tourists, visiting Tipperary, should halt awhile in this area and experience the country-style hospitality which still exists long after St. Ailbe.
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