General « Thurles Information

Teen Refused Bail Charged With Murder Of Tipperary Man Met On Grindr.

A 19-year-old teenager has been charged with the murder of Tipperary resident Mr Ian Walsh, latter found dead in his Carrick-on-Suir home, in Co. Tipperary, on August 4th last.

Mr Nathan Hanlon, allegedly, is understood to have met the 49-year-old victim on the dating application ‘Grindr’, before Mr Walsh picked him up in the early hours of August 2nd last.

Mr Walsh’s body, sadly, was later discovered with multiple stab wounds in his bathroom. Gardaí have also not established, as yet, a motive for the crime, which reportedly showed no signs of being premeditated.

The High Court heard evidence linking Mr Hanlon to the scene, including fingerprints, DNA on clothing, and CCTV showing him leaving the estate with bags that Gardaí believe were later discarded in the River Suir in Tipperary.
Items located following a search at his family home also contained traces of blood, though the suspected murder weapon has not, as yet, been recovered.

Gardaí opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and strength of the gathered evidence.
Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford refused Mr Hanlon’s bail application, adjourning the case until later this month.

Second Single Vehicle Fatal Collision In Co. Tipperary Within Three Days.

Cahir Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a single vehicle collision on the N24 at Kilmoyler, Cahir, Co. Tipperary, today Saturday, August 9th, 2025.
Gardaí and emergency services responded to a collision at 10:40am this morning, however, sadly the driver and sole occupant of the car, a male aged in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

This latest fatality comes following the death of a male on Wednesday night, after being found unresponsive in his vehicle, following yet another single-vehicle collision, on the Dublin Road outside Nenagh, in the north of the county.

Today’s fatality in the south of the county was removed to Tipperary University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Garda Forensic Collision Investigators have completed an examination of the scene, and are now appealing for any witnesses/road users who may have been travelling in the area, between the hours 10:00am and 11:00am, and who may have camera or dash-cam footage, to make same available to investigating officers.

Persons with relevant information are asked to contact Cahir Garda Station Tel: (052) 7445630, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda Station.

A Song For A Sunday.

The Chain Of Love.

Lyrics: The late American musician Jonnie Barnett (1945 – 2002) and American country music singer and songwriter Rory Lee Feek.

Vocals: American country music artist Clayton Walker.

The Chain Of Love.

He was driving home one evening, in his beat-up Pontiac,
When an old lady flagged him down, her Mercedes had a flat.
He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the snow,
‘Til he said “I’m here to help you, ma’m, by the way, my name’s Joe“.
She said “I’m from St. Louis and I’m only passing through,
I must’ve seen a hundred cars go by, this is awful nice of you”.
When he changed the tyre and closed her trunk and was about to drive away,
She said “How much do I owe you?”, here’s what he had to say.
“You don’t owe me a thing, I’ve been there too,
And someone once helped me out, just the way I’m helping you.
If you really wanna pay me back, here’s what you do,
Don’t let the chain of love end with you.”
Well, a few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe.
She went in to grab a bite to eat and then be on her way.
But she couldn’t help but notice how the waitress smiled so sweet.
How she must have been eight months along and dead on her feet.
No, she didn’t know her story and she probably never will.
When the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill,
The lady slipped right out the door and on a nakpin left a note.
There were tears in the waitress’ eyes when she read what she’d wrote.
“You don’t owe me a thing, I’ve been there too.
Someone once helped me out, just the way I’m helping you,
If you really wanna pay me back, here’s what you do,
Don’t let the chain of love end with you”.
That night when she got home from work, the waitress climbed into bed.
She was thinking about the money and what the lady’s note had said.
As her husband lay there sleeping she whispered soft and low.
“Everything’s gonna be alright, I love you Joe“.

END

Death Of Joan O’Connell, Late Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Friday 18th July 2025, of Mrs Joan O’Connell (née Fitzgerald), Woodlands, Greystones, Co. Wicklow; (former Proprietor of Annabeg Nursing Home, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin) and late of Glengoole, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

In her 94th year, and pre-deceased by her husband William; Mrs O’Connell passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at Annabeg Nursing Home, Dublin.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving sons William, Padraig, Barry and Brendan, daughter Miriam, sister Marian, daughters-in-law Bríd and Martina, son-in-law Barry Maye, her adored grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and large circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs O’Connell will be received into the Church of St Kilian, Chapel Rd, Kindlestown Lower, Blacklion, Greystones, Co. Wicklow (Eircode A63 AW93) on Monday evening, July 21st, at 6:00pm, to repose for evening prayer.
Her funeral cortège will arrive, to be received into the Church of St Patrick and St Oliver, Glengoole, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 TOH6), on Tuesday morning, July 22nd, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 12:00 noon, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in the adjoining graveyard.

The extended O’Connell and Fitzgerald families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, in memory of Mrs O’Connell, to St. Vincent de Paul, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, c/o St. Kilian’s family centre, Greystones, Co. Wicklow.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Community Recognition Scheme Provides €50,000 For Thurles Playground.

We learned this week, that some 6 weeks ago, that Tipperary County Council received €50,000 in funding from the Government’s Community Recognition Funding Scheme, to repair, yet again, the local skateboard park positioned in the playground in Thurles Town Park.
The skateboard park has remained closed for the second time for over the past 12 months, thus depriving some 10 skateboard owners of weekend fun.

Hopefully, a sign will now be erected informing other individuals that abandoned supermarket trollies are no longer permitted within this skatepark park area.

This Community Recognition Fund was first introduced back in 2023 and is a government initiative here in Ireland that provides funding to local communities to support the development of infrastructure and facilities in recognition of their efforts in welcoming and supporting people arriving from Ukraine and other countries.
The fund, which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development, is allocated to local authorities, in this case Tipperary Co. Council, based on the number of new arrivals in each area. Projects include the development of community swimming pools, sports facilities, playgrounds, and community halls.

Regrettably, the filling of potholes is not included in this same Community Recognition Funding Scheme, which means that the Thurles streetscape must continue to remain looking like the much cratered, far side, of the moon’s surface. So our major pothole problem must remain in abeyance. Interestingly the word “Abeyance” comes from the Old French word “Abeance” meaning “gaping”; which aptly describes our Thurles pothole increasing epidemic.

The long promised, 40 year old, continuously sought “Thurles Ring Road” is not included in this funding scheme either. This is despite a 2024 report which confirms that traffic movement through Thurles, (depending on the day), averages between 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles, required to pass daily through our medieval streets, before entering unto Liberty Square; latter being our much restricted Thurles town center.

Rural Tipperary, it appears, must continue to eat the crumbs that fall from this government’s table. [My apology to St Matthew Ch15:V27].

One piece of good news however; the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has confirmed that the OPW will hand over the development of modular homes erected at Heywood Road, Clonmel, to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration shortly, thus providing much needed accommodation to those seeking temporary protection as a result of the war in Ukraine.

A spokesperson has stated that, from next week colleagues with the Ukraine team at the Department will work with the International Organisation for Migration, to place families in this new accommodation.