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One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790) stated in a letter to Jean  Baptiste Le Roy on the 13 November 1789, “But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”.
Further clarification as to the truth of this statement appears to be now confirmed with the new imposition of VAT on burials in council cemeteries.
The new tax of 13.5% will push up the cost of acquiring a grave in a local authority cemetery from July 1st. and is a consequence of a European Court of Justice ruling, which is forcing local authorities to apply VAT to a range of services, including our waste collections.
The new “Grave Tax” will add as much as €150 to the cost of the one of the cheaper graves currently on offer and up to €2,000 in the case of a larger grave plot, should you wish to be buried in some of the bigger city cemeteries.
One consoling fact however worth noting, consumers, expecting to die in the near future, may be able to avoid this tax by buying their grave in advance, before July1st of this year.
Cremations and graves in private cemeteries are already taxed at 13.5% VAT, so this EU ruling will not affect their current price structure.
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has confirmed that local authority cemeteries will become subject to VAT from July 1st after the passage of the 2010 Finance Bill.
Twelve people were rescued from the River Shannon on the Tipperary Clare border, near Killaloe Bridge late night. Two of these were plucked from the freezing waters having jumped from an overladen vessel on which they were partying and which had begun to take on water.
It is understood that 12 adults, all men in their 20’s, who had been attending a house party near the shoreline, decided to go boating in a 22 foot long speedboat.
 Killaloe Bridge A tragedy was only narrowly averted by the quick response of the emergency services, who managed to reach the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised.
The vessel was almost 3 kms south of the bridge and about 500 metres from the shore, in the darkness, when it began to take on water. Two of the occupants are understood to have jumped into the freezing water to attempt to swim ashore.
Rescuers found an amount of alcohol cans and bottles, in the area around the boat and most of those on board are understood to have been wearing inadequately fitting life jackets, for the intended voyage.
Killaloe Coast Guard spokesman Mr. Michael Quigley said: “So much could have gone wrong on Friday night and there is no doubt twelve lives could so easily have been lost.”
He also warned that when people gets into trouble, they should only ring 999 or 112 and not a member of the public or individual Coast Guard members. This only wastes time and can put lives further at risk.
Killaloe and Ballina is an area much sought out by tourists visiting the Clare and Tipperary region.
 Eoin Kelly returns Third placed Tipperary Hurling Team, through their manager Liam Sheedy, have announced two changes to the side which drew with Waterford last time out and which will play current league leaders Cork in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 on Sunday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, throw-in 2.30pm.
Michael Cahill of Thurles Sarsfields replaces Shane Maher at left half-back, while captain Eoin Kelly, who has recovered from his injury, returns in place of John O’Brien, to captain the side.
The named Tipperary Team is as follows:
B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Maher, P Curran; D Fanning, C O’Mahony, M Cahill; B Maher, S McGrath; N McGrath, L Corbett, G Ryan; E Kelly, T Hammersley, P Kelly.
 It was a lucky day (pardon the pun) for Tipperary native Emer Stafford, who now lives in Killybegs, Co Donegal, who got the deal of a lifetime on Tuesday last when she purchased, at auction, the catamaran “Lucky Day.” Bidding for the catamaran, which was sold with a VAT certificate, began at just €20,000, finally ending with Emer’s offer of €58,000.
The auction handled by Dominic Daly and which was held at the Courtstown Industrial Estate in Little Island, Co Cork, on behalf of the Criminal Assets Bureau ” (CAB), made a total of €100,000 for the Irish Exchequer and attracted a large crowd of bidders.
The Lucky Day
The “Lucky Day” was previously used in the transport and importation of €263 million worth of cocaine, one of the world’s biggest cocaine shipments.
The vessel, in flawless condition and perfectly maintained, has been berthed under armed guard in the northern Spanish port of La Coruna since a drugs seizure off the West Cork coast of Ireland at Dunlough Bay in July 2007.
The fiberglass catamaran (Model Tobago 35) was originally bought for $132,000 (€98,828.43) over the internet by the individuals involved in this 1.5 tonnes cocaine haul. It was built in 1997 by Fountaine Pajot and sailed between Grenada and Martinique (Caribbean). The catamaran is fitted with two Volvo Penta MD 2020 engines and is fueled by 31 gallon diesel tanks. It has eight bert’s including two state rooms and has a 55 gallon fresh water carrying capacity.
Emer a keen sailor intends to use the catamaran, which she will rename ‘Imeera’, (Egyptian for princess), for ocean cruising and already owns a Galway Hooker. She now plans to sail the catamaran back to Killybegs from Spain.
 Heart and Music Rehearsels are well advanced for local theatre group “Phoenix Productions” who are set to return to The Source Theatre, Thurles, Co.Tipperary this April, for their annual fundraising cabaret performance.
This years show, entitled “Heart & Music”, will take to the stage on the 9th and 10th of April next .
The Phoenix Production Cabaret will feature a unique mix of classic musical theatre styling’s, as well as contemporary pop music motifs brought to life through the music of Michael Jackson, Michael Buble, Abba, The Andrews Sisters and through seminal musical offerings of Wicked, Beauty and The Beast and Chicago, to name but just a few.
Tickets are going to be scarce for this popular event, so get in there quickly if you want to be sure of a seat.
Tickets are priced at just €10 and €12 for students and adults respectively.
You can book your tickets by calling the Source Box Office on 0504 90204 or log on at www.thesourceartscentre.ie
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