Finance « Thurles Information

Public Rally To Save Existing Footfall On Liberty Square

New premises to which An Post is expected to set up shop.

The ‘Stop the Move – Save our Square’ action committee here in Thurles have announced their intention to hold a public rally; same to take place on Friday morning, March 29th next.

The rally will start at 11.00am on Friday morning; with protesters first assembling in the area of the Parnell Street Car Park. Those attending will then make their way out onto Liberty Square, following a route around the Square, before halting outside the current An Post offices.

An Post has repeatedly proclaimed their now existing work premises in Liberty Square as not being ‘fit for purpose’ and also that it would not be financially cost effective to undertake any necessary renovation.

An Post representatives also informed the ‘Stop the Move – Save our Square’ action committee, on Wednesday last, at what was described by the latter as “a disappointing meeting”, that a lease agreement had already been signed to rent their new premises; same having been already selected 500 metres away in the Thurles shopping centre.

The organisers are encouraging as many people as possible to come out in force for this rally, thus sending a message to An Post officials that remaining businesses wish the An Post office to remain at its present location, attracting continued footfall in the town centre area.

A post of Minister for Posts and Telegraphs initially took on the responsibility for Ireland’s postal and telecommunications services for some 60 years, from 1924 right up until 1984. One of the largest civil service departments in the Irish State at its apex; attempts to reform this sector were began in 1978, with the creation of a Posts and Telegraphs Review Group.

Following the delivery of a report from the latter in 1979, same then led to the creation of An Bord Poist, then chaired by Mr Feargal Quinn, and An Bord Telecom, then chaired by Mr Michael Smurfit. Both entities continued to trade until they were replaced in 1984, as state-sponsored agencies.

Its powers and responsibilities were transferred to the newly created Department of Communications. This was one of the largest reorganisations of the civil service in modern times, the old department having had a workforce of some 30,000 employees prior to its dissolution. With the transfer of personnel to the new agencies, the number of civil service employees were almost halved overnight.

Thus An Post, our Irish postal administration, first came into being in 1984 when, under the terms of the Postal & Telecommunications Services Act of 1983, the Post Office services of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs (P&T) were divided between An Post and Telecom Eireann; with the telecommunications operator today known as Eir.

Thurles Post Office moved once before, previously having existed on the south side or ‘Money Side’ in that building known today (2019) as The County Bar, before moving across the road to the north side; where it is presently located on the ‘Sunny Side’.

The positioning of Thurles Post Office during the latter half of the 1800’s, in the then Main Street of Thurles, now renamed Liberty Square.

It was at its present location that, in 1902, the great, late General Richard (Dick) Mulcahy joined the post office’s engineering department, working first here in Thurles. Elected to the First Dáil in the 1918 General Election for Dublin / Clontarf, Mulcahy was appointed Minister for Defence in the new (alternative) government and later to the post of Assistant Minister for Defence. In March 1919 he became IRA chief of staff, a position he held until January 1922. It was he, who together with Michael Collins, was instrumental in developing IRA military strategy against the British, during the War of Independence.
General Richard Mulcahy of course was buried following his death (16th December 1971) in Ballymoreen Cemetery, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

“Go Fund Me” For Darragh

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews Chapter 13 – Verse 16.

Darragh Stakelum grew up the healthy and energetic son of loving parents Jim and Breda.

A loving partner to his long term girlfriend Orla; Darragh enjoyed life after finishing his education in Thurles CBS and WIT Waterford; starting work first in Stakelums Hardware and later at Aldi Supermarket, Thurles.

A keen sports enthusiast from a young age, winning many county finals with his clubs Durlas OG and Thurles Sarsfields. A grandnephew of Pat Stakelum (1949 Tipperary Captain) and first cousin to Declan Hannon (Captain of Limerick 2018 all Ireland winning team), Darragh also displayed great talent playing golf.

In December of 2015 his vision became blurred and following many tests he was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Atrophy. There was no cure and Darragh unfortunately went blind within a few months. Darragh’s life, at just 26 years old, would now begin a total different journey.

Pushing his darkness aside and accepting future challenges, Darragh got involved with the National Council for the Blind Ireland [NCBI]; playing blind soccer and golf. With sport he found refuge and progressed to representing the Republic of Ireland in blind soccer.

In 2017 following intense training and with the assistance of his caddy Gerry McCormack, he became the first Tipperary person to win the Irish open blind golf tournament. He accomplished his dream to represent Ireland in the world blind golf championship in Rome and was due to travel to Rome in November 2018.

On the 5th August 2018 Darragh was hit with yet another of life`s crushing blows. Following problems with his cognitive functions, his life was shattered once again when it was confirmed that he now had a malignant brain tumour. Darragh is now left with no alternative but to battle cancer. He underwent surgery followed by radium treatment in CUH and continued hard to overcome each of what seems endless obstacle placed in his path.

Hospitalised since Christmas eve 2018 and with a host of complications Darragh is currently not a suitable candidate for further treatment. He is currently been assessed for suitable rehabilitation and will require full-time care and support.

You our readers can help support Darragh at this time to keep fighting on his journey and together we can get the professional care he requires Whatever you can donate will be truly appreciated and his family thank you most sincerely from the bottom of their hearts.

A campaign has now begun to help assist Darragh on his future journey and you can help by clicking HERE.

LED Street Lighting Comes To Bohernanave, Thurles.

We brought you the story first, back in December last, confirming that Tipperary had been chosen as one of four locations granted funding from Europe (EU), for the installation of some 600 new Smart / Intelligent street lights, through our Tipperary local authority.

It would appear that now at least the street area known as Bohernanave; [Same stretching from from the junction at Abbey Road, travelling parallel to Ardán Bhride, right across to the junction with Castlemeadows opposite the Greyhound track] has benefited greatly from these new LED street light fittings, which brighten up the area significantly.

One can’t help wondering where the other 590 odd, Smart / Intelligent street lights will be positioned in Tipperary?

Tipperary Co. Co. Grant Aided Offensive Material

Tipperary County Council have confirmed to The Irish Catholic, last month, that it gave grant aid of €400 for the development of a project entitled ‘Bootleg Jesus’, which depicts the title character of a cartoon video coming to terms with his role as the ‘less successful son of God’.

The first two episodes of a ten-episode production, which depicts dialogue between two foul-mouthed characters and which contains references to scenes from the Bible; including ‘walking on water’, was uploaded by Tipperary-based animator Mr Kenny Noble on his Ntoonz YouTube channel, some two weeks ago.

While a County Council arts officer originally defended the paying of this grant towards this considered offensive material, the Local Authority have quietly retracted support for the video series, after requesting Mr Noble, known as NtoonZ, to drop the Councils name from the video credits, which originally appeared at the end of the first video.

Interesting to note that when Tipperary County Council were asked for minimal grant aiding, (€100) some 5 years ago, for the production of a professional tourism video series; same to extol the beneficial virtues of visiting the Lough Derg area of North Tipperary, same request was firmly but politely refused.

Thurles Town Centre Being Forced Into Obscurity

Let there be no misunderstanding; yes, it is this editors wish that An Post should remain at its current address at Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

NOTE: You can direct your protest and dissatisfaction; as a Thurles and District consumer, directly to An Post, by clicking HERE.

NOTE: The comment hereunder will possibly offend the reigning Thurles Creeps, the Snake-oil Salesmen and the Spoofers, latter who continue as cheerleaders in Thurles town.

While we accept that our Fine Gael Government; latter strongly supported by Fianna Fáil, are doing their very best to eradicate all persons left living in rural Ireland, no real accusations can be actually levelled against same, with regard to the signalled moving of the ‘An Post’ trading post, from Liberty Square in Thurles, to their proposed new site at Thurles Shopping Centre.

Indeed, little condemnation either can be levelled against An Post, itself, being a business currently struggling to survive in a forgotten rural town, where Snowmen, Santa Clauses, Reindeer, Coloured Electric Light Bulbs and electrified Christmas Crib scenes, dangle across the skyline from overhead wires, almost ten weeks after the Xmas festive event has taken place; blocking last week’s Spring sunshine.

For those not familiar with our Thurles tableau; local people are currently being forced to pay €2.20 for their standard postage stamp, instead of An Post’s normal asking price of €1.00. [Yes, it costs €1.20 to park your car in Liberty Square, while you wander off to line up to purchase your bog standard €1.00 stamp, for your under 100g (in weight) letter].

An Post have signalled their intention to reposition their trading post to the Thurles Shopping Centre, just 500 metres away, [0.310686 of a mile], or a mere 6 minute walk, from its current location on the ‘Sunny Side’ of Liberty Square.

Once set up in Thurles Shopping Centre, no longer will the Thurles Traffic Warden have the authority to police hastily parked cars, same found often double-parked, as they deposit their mail in the post box, at the expense of blocking one full lane of traffic.

Here in their new Thurles Shopping Centre premises, for the moment at least, car parking will be totally free, as indeed it will be in Lidl, latter soon to take up residence next door. (See HERE). Here in their new premises, they will be surrounded by a vast variety of retail service providers, instead of the paint flaking empty premises, charity shops, ‘Vapour’ shops, and the ever-growing number of Take-Away providers, latter who now deliver to your home saving our car owners the demanded €1.20 parking fee.

In May of this year, 2019, the local elections are taking place, so it is not surprising that current local councillors and other election seeking hopefuls, are using this distressing scenario to highlight their future financial dream; calling public meetings and displaying their mug-shots on Facebook, signing petitions. We now find ourselves, as a community,‘bolting the barn door after the horse has bolted’ and expect An Post, [latter a state-owned universal postal service, expected to pay wages annually to some 8,000 employees.] to subsidise the few limited remaining shops in our town centre, by remaining in place, unable to progress fruitfully in selling their wares.

The cause of our present plight must land firmly on the doorstep of, firstly, our Tipperary Co. Council; secondly, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII); thirdly, Templemore / Thurles Municipal District Council; and lastly a silent and weak local Chamber of Commerce.

The whole issue first began with the introduction of Parking Charges [ See also HERE, – HERE, – HERE, – HERE, – just a few of the times this website has warned those who would rule over us.], for motorists at the direction of Tipperary Co. Council, latter subject which needs no further debate. Suffice is to state, that motorists were now encouraged to move to the larger Supermarkets, e.g. Lidl, Aldi, Dunnes Stores, and the former Costcutters, all providing free car parking space.

This loss of footfall on the areas of Liberty Square and Friar Street, in the town centre, resulted in small premises closing down, with other more established premises moving out to Thurles Shopping Centre; elsewhere; and to other minor street’s where parking charges currently do not exist. A blind man could see that these actions would now destroy the town centre.

In October 2018, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), aware of the major traffic problems here with our medieval road structure in Thurles, decided to omit, despite numerous avoidable road deaths; the already identified Thurles Bypass, from their agreed forecast of necessary works, to be undertaken nationally.

When shops move, consumers follow, and here under one roof in Thurles Shopping Centre, no umbrellas or hooded jackets, are needed and here, under this same one roof, An Post no longer will require pensioners and those availing of Social Welfare payments to line up outside in the cold and rain. Thurles Chamber of Commerce supposedly representing store owners, remained deathly silent during this reign of terror on local business; seeing the solution to this exodus, in the provision of prepaid Thurles Chamber Gift Cards, purchased for a minimum of between €15 and €500.

Opposition Politicians and Double jobbing Templemore / Thurles Municipal District Councillors have finally woken up and are now calling for a public meeting on next Thursday evening, March 7th, at 7.30pm in Hayes Hotel, claiming they cannot understand the motives of An Post in abandoning our town centre. Their confusion is further confounded, when Tipperary Co. Council; funded by local rate payers, are preparing to spend some €8 million Euro to upgrade their immediate area. An Post have obviously gotten totally fed up waiting for this “Liberty Square Rejuvenation” first ( like the National Children’s Hospital ) billed, in March 2015, as costing €3 million Euro and now, four years later, in March 2019, billed at €8 million Euro.

Time now for people with recognised positive business ability and corporate foresight, to put their names forward for Local Municipal Elections, and come next May, rid us of those currently directing our rural community, into obscurity.

You’ll be wondering who the Creeps, the Snake-oil Salesmen and the Spoofers are? If you bother to attend, you will find them at the top table in Hayes Hotel on Thursday night next, attempting to excuse the inexcusable, which has taken place under their watch, and who will now be demanding that we take similar action as so often requested in the past by the ‘Bully Party’.

As it stands the Liberty Square, An Post premises is expected to close by May of this year with, as already stated, Thurles Shopping Centre to be the new location. Now the spin off’s from this exodus will benefit both the new location and local consumers of An Post products.