Finance « Thurles Information

Major Financial Announcement For Tipperary Town Primary Schools

Pictured outside the offices of the Department of Education, Dublin, are **Ms Catriona Farrell** *(Deputy Principal of ‘The Monastery’ CBS, Tipperary)*; **Ms Siobhan Verdon** *(St Michael’s Junior Boys NS, Tipperary)*; Ind. Dáil Deputy **Mr Michael Lowry** *(TD)*; **Ms Ide Mooney** *(St Michael’s Girl’s NS Tipperary)*; **Ms Louise Tobin** *(St. Joseph’s Primary School, Tipperary)* and **Mr Eoghan Breathnach** *(Gaelscoile Thibraid Arann)*.

Yesterday was indeed a significant day in the long running campaign seeking additional resources for five Tipperary primary schools. However, a package of support measures has now been agreed, same to be implemented at the beginning of the upcoming September term.

In a statement today Deputy Michael Lowry stated that he was delighted that his representations over the past number of months, on behalf of the above named schools, has now finally resulted in a most positive outcome.

Deputy Lowry stated, “I wish to complement the management and staff of the schools for their perseverance, tenacity and their commitment to the educational needs of their pupils”.

The newly negotiated support program is an interim package and Mr Lowry is confident that the data supplied by the schools boards, will substantiate the schools inclusion in the next round of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) system.

This revised DEIS programme will be selected and announced during November 2019, for implementation in September 2020.

“I am delighted that these prolonged exchanges and discussions between the schools and the Department of Education have reached a satisfactory outcome”, concluded Mr Lowry, “and I wish to thank in particular the Minister for Education Mr Joe McHugh for his personal interest in facilitating discussions with senior officials in his department”.

Beef Plan Protester Struck By Vehicle At Tipperary Factory.

As the Beef Plan Movement progress their protest plans outside various beef plants around Ireland; yesterday the Tipperary Chairman of the movement, Mr Joe Trehy, was removed to hospital following an incident outside an ABP Food Group factory, at Kilcommon More (North), Cahir, in Co. Tipperary.

Mr Trehy was hospitalized having been hit by a Jeep and trailer, latter trying to enter the meat factory, where a peaceful protest by Beef Plan Movement members and farmers had been taking place, since Monday last. Mr Trehy, who complained of back and neck injuries, is understood today to be recovering satisfactorily.

The Beef Plan Movement and farmers speak of frustration and aggression after, over two weeks on from their Beef Plan’s protest outside parliament buildings at Leinster House in Dublin, the group state that there has been absolutely no correspondence from the Agriculture Minister Mr Michael Creed TD; his assistant Mr Andrew Doyle TD or any Department official.

No 80 Jobs For Thurles Promised By Alan Kelly TD

It was the cold Summer of 2015, that Tipperary TD Mr Alan Kelly, (the man who believes he should be leader of the Irish Labour Party and who unwinds by watching “House of Cards” every night), made the following statement in a PDF news letter, addressed to his rapidly dwindling constituent followers.

Read on and weep:-
“Thurles is set to become a major green energy hub and benefit from 40 new jobs for Tipperary following an announcement I made recently. The new jobs will be created at Premier Green Energy (PGE), which is located on the site of the former Thurles Sugar Factory. It is the brainchild of Tom Comerford from Holycross and is one of the first major enterprises to return to Thurles after the loss of Erin Foods, the Sugar Factory and many others. I have been working very closely supporting Tom and Premier Green Energy for the last three years. This is a very positive announcement for Thurles and even more significant when these jobs are being created by a local company which has a huge commitment to this area. I believe that this has potential to be the beginning of something really significant in terms of jobs for the Thurles area”.

The 2016 Irish general election took place on Friday 26th February and sometime before that dates Mr Kelly, anxious to gain re-election, doubled these same imaginary job numbers for Premier Green Energy to 80 in total. Well, I suppose if I were the director of a Ltd Company about to receive ‘a few bob’, sure wouldn’t I allow my local TD to experience a seemingly real perception of something not actually present, like 80 new jobs. The reality of course, as far as we can ascertain, to date 24/7/2019, not one job was ever created, in fact a number of employees were actually made redundant.

Now we learn from the courts that in recent days, a legal demand has emerged; made by a group of Chinese investors against Mr Kelly’s jobs creators, Premier Green Energy Ltd, latter company which we understand converts waste into energy. These Chinese investors are now seeking the repayment of a €1.5m loan, plus interest.

Quoquing Wu and Jianyu Qi (both based in Dublin), as well as Yuanming Chi, Xueqi Wang, Jingli Li, Qiling Li and Kailin Yao, (latter named all based in China), have taken legal proceedings against the Tipperary company of Premier Green Energy Holdings Ltd, listed as based in the Cabragh Business Park, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Premier Green Energy is a design, fabrication and manufacturing business for the provision of bespoke waste-to-energy conversion technology solutions. We understand that Premier Green Energy currently supply services to the former Verdanta mine site at Lisheen, Moyne, Thurles; however same are not listed as either partners or members of the consortium associated with Irish Bioeconomy Foundation.

The Chinese plaintiffs allege that they advanced a loan in March 2017 to the defendant, Premier Green Energy, of €1.5m for a period of 48 months. We are informed that celebrations by all involved took place in Portroe, North Tipperary, home stamping ground of Mr Kelly, following the contract signing transaction.

In court the plaintiffs also claim that as part of this loan agreement, 18% interest accruing on the principal sum loaned and was payable on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date that the loan was initially advanced.

On March 16th last, it is being claimed that €540,000 was due and owing to the named Chinese plaintiffs. Latter claim the defendants, Premier Green Energy Ltd, failed to make payment of the agreed sum payable, and further claim that the principal amount loaned, as well as the interest, is now due.

It is not known what other European or Irish funding, if any, was made to Premier Green Energy Ltd.

The plaintiffs now seek an order from the court requiring the defendants to pay them €2.17m, which is made up of the principal sum loaned, plus the interest allegedly due. They also seek an order for damages for breach of contract against the defendant firm of Premier Green Energy Ltd.

The matter was admitted, at the consent of both parties, to the fast track commercial court list, by Mr Justice Robert Haughton on Monday last and the case has now been adjourned to a date shortly after the court’s summer recess.

Efforts to contact Mr Kelly yesterday for comment were declined on the grounds that he was currently on holiday.

Alas, not surprisingly, Mr Kelly’s illusion of “effective public representation at local and national level” is not likely to emerge again until the next general election is announced; when his brain activity will be raised to resembles that of being fully awake.

Please Support Jim Corcoran Benefit Fund

All communities within mid Co. Tipperary, especially within the neighbourhoods of Holycross, Thurles and Littleton, are coming together to support a deserving local family with a benefit night, latter which will take place in The Dome, Semple Stadium on Saturday night, August 17th 2019, [8:00pm till late].

Mr Jim Corcoran, Ballyvoneen, Holycross, Thurles; originally from Littleton was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer in mid-May and now his many great friend and relatives have jumped in to support him, together with his wife Angela and their three children, Charlie, Libby and Poppy, by pledging to raise as much funding as possible to assist with Jim’s necessary treatment programme.

The oldest son of Mrs Nell Corcoran and her husband, the late Mr Patrick Corcoran; Mr Jim Corcoran has three brothers P.J., Mickie and Paul, together with two sister’s Trisha and Fiona. His wife, Angela’s family, whose parents are Phillip and Kathleen McNeill together with her brothers and sisters, are also supportive of her husband Jim at this time, with both families offering positive and reassuring support.

Aged 51 years old, Mr Corcoran is a skilled carpenter by trade, who formally worked in a number of locations, including in London; and building many of the scenery props and characters at Euro Disney, in Paris, before returning home to work in Erin Foods. In the past Mr Corcoran has survived testicular cancer in earlier years and has also overcome a heart attack just five years ago.

However, this latest blow came out of the blue, beginning with what appeared at the time to be a toothache. Further investigation however, confirmed that Mr Corcoran had tumours in the form of primary cancer in his lung and secondary cancer in his brain.
Mr Corcoran has been undergoing treatment since last May, under the care of Dr. Nadine in The Whitfield Clinic in Waterford. He is determined to fight and to do whatever has to be done, to beat his current diagnosis. He is a strong determined man, and together with wife Angela; both remain a very effective team, meeting this severe challenge head-on.

Live Performances

The upcoming benefit night on August 17th, at The Dome, in Semple Stadium, will have music by the ‘Jim of the Mill Group’, ‘Seskin Lane’ and friends, and DJ Martin Maher, all of whom will provide top entertainment on the night.

All of those involved in the event, including the venue; performers; ticket and poster production, etc.; are giving their services totally free of charge; a fact that is most deeply appreciated by the families and the specially formed organising committee members.

Committee Officers

The Officers on the committee are Ms Theresa Corbett and Fr. Celsus Tierney (Joint Chairpersons); Ms Teresa Hickey and Ms Dolly Purcell (Joint Secretaries); Ms Jean Ryan and Ms Vanessa O’ Dowd (Joint Treasurers). There are at least twenty other persons involved in the running of the event, ready and eager to assist the Corcoran family during this most difficult of times.

Tickets

Tickets for this worthy event will cost just €20, and are available from Holycross Parish Office (0504 43124), Ely’s Centre, MR Car Valeting, Sammon’s Pharmacy, Premier Meats, Annie Cuties Nail Bar, Mc Cycles, The Beauty Loft, Doyle’s Corner Shop, Boots Pharmacy, Village Takeaway Littleton, Crokes Shop Littleton, Sarsfields Clubhouse and from committee members including Ms Teresa Hickey (087 77433030), Ms Jean Ryan (087 6796764), Ms Samantha Breen (086 8441533).

Doors on August 17th next will open at 8:00pm and there will also be Prizes and an Auction; while people can also Donate Online via a GoFundMe page.

Thurles Credit Union – BIC: THCUIE21 IBAN: IE97THCU99109210805697. Account Number 36484.

Where possible we ask you please to support this very worthwhile cause.

Tipperary Landlord Family Member – Face Of New English £50

“This is only a foretaste of what is to come, and only the shadow of what is going to be.” – Alan Turing.

We first wrote about Alan Turing’s Tipperary connection on January 11th, 2017 last. The code-breaker and visionary mathematician, who was convicted under Victorian homophobic laws, will now be the face of Britain’s new £50 note.

The Stoney family were once prominent landlords, here in North Tipperary. His mother Ethel Sara Stoney (1881–1976) was daughter of Edward Waller Stoney (Borrisokane, North Tipperary) and Sarah Crawford (Cartron Abbey, Co. Longford); Protestant Anglo-Irish gentry.

Educated in Dublin at Alexandra School and College; on October 1st 1907 she married Julius Mathison Turing, latter son of Reverend John Robert Turing and Fanny Boyd, in Dublin. Born on June 23rd 1912, Alan Turing would go on to be regarded as one of the greatest figures of the twentieth century.

A brilliant mathematician and cryptographer Alan was to become the founder of modern-day computer science and artificial intelligence; designing a machine at Bletchley Park to break secret Enigma encrypted messages used by the Nazi German war machine to protect sensitive commercial, diplomatic and military communications during World War 2. Thus, Turing made the single biggest contribution to the Allied victory in the war against Nazi Germany, possibly saving the lives of an estimated 2 million people, through his effort in shortening World War II.

In 2013, almost 60 years later, Turing received a posthumous Royal Pardon from Queen Elizabeth II. Today, the “Turing law” grants an automatic pardon to men who died before the law came into force, making it possible for living convicted gay men to seek pardons for offences now no longer on the statute book.

Alas, Turing accidentally or otherwise lost his life in 1954, having been subjected by a British court to chemical castration, thus avoiding a custodial sentence. He is known to have ended his life at the age of 41 years, by eating an apple laced with cyanide.

The character of Alan Turing was played by actor Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game,“ latter a 2014 highly recommended film.