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Following an application in October last, planning approval has now been granted for a bio-diesel plant near Thurles.
G.R.O. Oil Ltd have been granted approval by North Tipperary Co. Council to construct a bio-diesel production facility at Manselstown, Ballyduff, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Included in the permission is leave to construct twelve bunded storage tanks, a lab, a process building, an administration building and other ancillary buildings. The proposed plant must operate with an integrated pollution control licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2008 Centenary Thurles Co-Op finalised contracts with the Cork company, for the sale of this site near Thurles, which had planning permission for this 40,000 tonne processing plant.
What Are The Advantages of Bio-diesel
Locally grown seed is a strengthening market especially where imported oils such as palm oil are seen as environmentally damaging due to rain forest clearance especially in Asian countries. It was then felt that offering the opportunity to grow alternative crops to farmers here in Tipperary, would greatly enhance the sustainability of the region and provide a substitute crop for many tillage growers following the decline of the sugar beet industry.
G.R.O. Oil Ltd. is a Cork based company, established in 2004, manufacturing bio-diesel from rapeseed, which is ready for use in any diesel engine without any modifications required. Bio-diesel is renewable and it has a closed loop cycle, with only the CO2 absorbed by the growing plant being emitted from the engine during the combustion cycle. It is a clean burning renewable fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fats or recycled cooking oil. It can be used in compression ignition (diesel) engines with no modifications. Bio-diesel is simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic and free from sulphur and aromatics.
In February 2007, Minister Noel Dempsey announced that Ireland would move to a biofuels obligation in 2009, where fuel suppliers would be required to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. In announcing the obligation, the Minister set targets of 5.75% market penetration by 2010 and 10% by 2020.
Goldrop from G.R.O. Oil is manufactured to EN14214 which is the recognized European standard for cleanliness, purity and combustion quality.
John and Nora Egan are the proud owners of one of Ireland’s real hidden treasures, that is Inch House, Nenagh Rd, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, now their home since 1985.
When the family bought the house, together with its surrounding rolling farmland, they really had no idea as to the real treasure that lay around this, then, old neglected Georgian Mansion.
John, a modern and progressive farmer and Nora a fully qualified Nurse, together with their eight children, began the painstaking work of restoration, slowly returning this building to its original and magnificent attractive state.
Their initial dreams and planning for Inch House would eventually came into full fruition four years later, in 1989 when they opened the doors of their dream home to their first paying guests. They have now travelled a long way along that painstaking journey of restoration, however John and Nora make no secret of the fact that they still have lots left to accomplish for the next generation to be getting on with and this house will continue to remains a ‘Labour of Love’ while it remain in the ownership of the Egan family.
Their youngest son, Joseph, has inherited his love of farming from his father John and now works closely along side him on a full-time basis. Nora’s second oldest daughter Mairin is always to be found on duty daily at the front of house, while the other siblings continue to come and go, but are always enthusiastic to assist if and whenever needed.
As stated, Inch House is surrounded by a working 250 acre farm, which as well as producing it’s own organic vegetables and assorted herbs, also grows each year a large quantity of oats, barley and wheat which is harvested in late August and early September. John and his son Joseph work hard right the way through the year to store, dry and roll the grain for re-sale to local farmers throughout the winter and spring of the year.
Inch House Is Truly A Family Affair Gladly Shared With Their Visiting Public.
With the later introduction of a restaurant, which opened its doors in 1994, there has been enormous family team support in building and achieving a solid reputation not just amongst their local customers, but from surrounding counties and from abroad. This reputation for quality has now become a by-word amongst its numerous visiting clientele.
Nora Egan makes no secret of what is the ‘Inch House success story’ to those who ask. She is quick to state:
“In our restaurant we use only locally sourced produce together with only the highest quality ingredients direct from our own farm and the heart land of the Golden Vale, latter the richest producing farmland in Europe. Our restaurant and kitchen have developed menus that can appeal to every palate. Employees in the kitchens work as a team, to build menus to suit each of our customer’s needs and in doing so, ensure and maintain only the highest standards in that task. The restaurant team, work in harmony with the kitchen in serving top quality meals both in a friendly and also in a professional manner.”
If you have eaten her sirloin or fillet steak, her Inch House Traditional Black Pudding, or tasted her secret recipes like her range of chutney dressings and sauces or her special miniature scones, then you know that Nora is a modern day Isabella Mary Beeton, producing something really special and as good food goes is just not obtainable elsewhere.
To book your special evening, please do contact Mairin or Nora at Inch House. They will be only too pleased to work with you to prepare a feast guaranteed to please and to be enjoyed by all, or to coordinate with that special ‘short break’ away from the pressures, the hustle and bustle, that is our daily lives.
Here in this peaceful unique hideaway, that is Inch House, you can quickly regain lost energies, charge batteries and become totally relaxed and refreshed.
 Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority are inviting all members of the farming community to attend an important Cross Compliance event.
Cross Compliance is a key component of the Single Farm Payment (SFP) and the decoupling of subsidies from production. Cross compliance is the principle that farm subsidy payments are linked to compliance with basic standards and if a farmer is applying for SFP, then cross compliance applies to every hectare of farm-able land that the farmer occupies.
 Directions to Gurteen Agri College Farmers must comply with all legislation affecting their businesses. The significance of cross-compliance is that farmers’ receipt of direct aids depends on their doing so. Cross-compliance is not a new concept, but it has been voluntary for Member States until now and applied only to environmental standards.
Cross Compliance is now compulsory. All farmers receiving direct payments, even when they are not yet part of the SPS, will be subject to Cross Compliance and it has been extended beyond compliance with environmental rules, to include new requirements regarding public, animal and plant health, animal welfare, and the maintenance of all agricultural land, in good agricultural and environmental condition.
This important Cross Compliance Event will be held on Tuesday next November 23rd, starting at 10.30 am in Gurteen Agricultural College.
Discussion and Practical Events will provide guidance to the farming community on all aspects of Cross Compliance particularly under the following headings:-
- Preparing Farmers for Cross Compliance On-Farm Inspections.
- Avoiding Unnecessary Penalties.
- Complying with On-Going EU Farm Legislation.
All are welcome to attend this very important event.
Farmers like all business people are concerned about the future, this was demonstrated by the very large attendance of farm families at the Teagasc Seminar entitled ‘Options for Farm Families‘ held in the Anner Hotel, Thurles last week.
The seminar acknowledged that farm families are confronted with considerable challenges just now. To prosper and develop in the coming decade, farm families need to consider all opportunities to include maximising farm efficiency and viability to achieve the highest possible returns and the adoption of new enterprises on the farm to generate extra income.
 Front row: M. Henegan, L. Kenny. - Back row: M. Murray, J. Kenny, Dr C. O'Donoghue, D. Meredith, D. Mullane Teagasc. Bill Condon, Teagasc adviser outlined the position as regards agriculture in Tipperary and gave his first hand experiences of key decisions taken by farmers in the county in recent years. He emphasised the key areas within the farm to concentrate on before considering other options. Donal Mullane Teagasc Area Manager encouraged farmers to avail of the advice, training and technical support for farm families on offer from the Teagasc team of advisers He drew attention to the opportunities as regards funding and advice from the Local Development Companies (LEADER), who presented at the seminar, and the County Enterprise Boards, VEC, FAS and Citizen Information who had information stands at the seminar for the purpose of creating linkage and providing information for farm families.
Dr.Cathal O Donoghue, and Teagasc, Head Rural Economy, Research and Development and Teagasc Economists David Meredith had some good news for farmers and stated that forecasts for farming look positive for 2011, with returns from the three main farm enterprises due to show improvement. The other positive coming from the seminar was that farmers have all the qualities to develop successful businesses; they are familiar with regulation, administration, they plan strategically, have valuable assets, relatively low borrowings and are adaptable. It was emphasised that Training and up-skilling are essential for future progress.
The above was confirmed in the presentation by John Kenny, a Tipperary Farmer. He stated “the importance of exploring all resources, to generate enough income and ensure a future for a successor on their farm, was the basis for their enterprise development.” The Kenny family own Fairymount Farm, near Roscrea, and as well as operating a viable farm they have a number of other very successful enterprises which includes Forestry, Rural Tourism, Equestrian and a Picture Framing business.
Maria Heneghan Options Co-ordinator and Rural Tourism Specialist stated that the Option Programme in Teagasc is about helping farmers to looking at the total farm family unit, the farm and its viability and efficiency, the skills within the family and the opportunities to expand and take on other enterprises. She drew attention to the newly designed Teagasc Farm Household Ready Reckoner, the purpose of which is to give farm families a pin- picture of financial situation in the farm household. This can form the basis for further discussion with the Teagasc advisor leading to an Options Plan if that is what the family require. It is important to have all the figures, to hand, when filling in the figures. If one wants to keep the information, it must be copied to a word document otherwise it disappears.
The Ready Reckoner can be found on the Teagasc web-site by clicking here. Farmers showed a lot of interest in this Ready Reckoner demonstration at this seminar.
Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc attended the seminar and urged farmers to take time out with their families and engage with the supports available to draw up a medium term plan which will best fit their circumstances.
The purpose of this very informative evening was to create awarenees of the supporting agenicies in the county and to create for farmers an opportunity to meet the personnel involved.
Standing Room Only At Fine Gael Convention In Thurles, As Crowd Applaud.
An impressive crowd of more than 400 delegates turned out in force in the Anner Hotel, Thurles, last Friday night to select Deputy Noel Coonan as the sole Fine Gael candidate to contest the next General Election and represent the people of the Tipperary North/South Offaly constituency. The local TD thanked one and all, for their support, their encouragement and confidence conveyed on the night and vowed to continue to do the job entrusted to him, by the people of the constituency.
Party Leader Enda Kenny made a special effort to attend the important convention and reinforce his conviction and faith in the work being done by Deputy Coonan. Earlier on Friday evening, Deputy Kenny officially opened Noel’s new office on Main Street, Roscrea.
Commending the work of Deputy Coonan, Enda Kenny addressing the large gathering stated:
 Standing room only at Fine Gael convention “It has been 28 years since Fine Gael won a general election at the polls but I am here tonight to tell you that we are going to win the next election and it is your responsibility to re-elect Noel Coonan to Dáil Eireann as part of cleaning up the streets. Make him a piece of the jigsaw of the next Government. I am proud of the work that Deputy Coonan is doing and I greatly value his view of Ireland’s position on Common Agricultural Policy reform. There will be major changes in this area post 2013 and Noel will be defending the Fine Gael position at home and in Europe. This election is on and it’s on now. Fianna Fáil are finished; it’s over for them. Labour might be flavour of the month but people look to Fine Gael for real solutions and leadership. We recognise it’s about harnessing the abilities of experts in various fields and we will not turn away from this economic crisis, we have to turn and face it and we are not afraid to do exactly that. We will put an end to cronyism and open up the Government books to the public and show them how this country is being run. People have been asked to bear the brunt of the Fianna Fáils, Greens and Independents in Government. In contrast, Fine Gael’s signpost points to comfort, assistance and security.”
Deputy Coonan was recently appointed Fine Gael’s Deputy Agriculture Spokesperson with special responsibility for CAP Reform.
Deputy Coonan thanked Mae Quinn who proposed him and Gerry O’Connell who seconded the move. The local TD expressed gratitude to all branches who nominated him and gave special recognition to Fine Gael Councillors who unanimously agreed he should be the sole candidate in the best interests of pushing the party forwards. The meeting was chaired by Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Kehoe TD. Also present were Tom Hayes TD, all Fine Gael Councillors from North and South Tipperary County Councils along with Cllr. Percy Clendennen from South Offaly.
The crowd cheered the Tipperary North TD when he took the microphone, stating:
“It took us 10 years to win this seat and we are not going to lie down and give it away now. I look forward to the day when Enda Kenny is the next Taoiseach and the next time there is a convention here, Enda will be Taoiseach and he will say to me, you were right Minister Coonan. My message to this Government is that your time has come. It’s time Fine Gael lifted us out of gloom and Ireland is recognised as a prosperous international destination once again. I am proud to be part of a party that practices old values such as courage, integrity and decency. These traits will always be relevant in politics, but this Government has let us down through strokes and gimmicks and they are still unable to tell the truth regarding the state of our nation. A lot has changed since our last convention here in Thurles five years ago. The economy is collapsing around us. The banks and construction sector have collapsed, and the only thing growing apart from the pastures is the visible queue of unemployed people.“
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