|
|
Community groups across Tipperary are being invited to celebrate and showcase their local wetlands, following the appointment of Mr Darragh Kelly as Tipperary’s new Community Water Officer.
Mr Kelly has spent the past number of years working in the Environment Section of Kilkenny County Council and has said he is delighted to take on this new role, supporting communities to protect and enhance local waters and wetlands.
Coming from a farming background, Mr Kelly said he has a strong interest in the outdoors, including fishing and hiking, and is particularly fond of exploring Slievenamon.
World Wetlands Day — 2 February 2026.
This year’s World Wetlands Day will be marked on Monday, 2nd February 2026, the International Day that commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention ♦ on Wetlands.
♦ The Ramsar Convention (or Convention on Wetlands) is an International Treaty for wetland conservation, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, promoting the “wise use” of wetlands for sustainable development, especially for waterfowl habitats.
The 2026 theme is: “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage”, highlighting the links between wetlands, communities, and the knowledge passed down through generations.
Funding now open for World Wetlands Day promotions.
Mr Kelly has confirmed that the Small Grants and Events Scheme 2026 portal opened for applications on Monday, 19th January at 11.00am, specifically for World Wetlands Day promotion.
Groups and organisations are encouraged to make contact if they would like to organise an event to celebrate a local wetland — from guided walks and talks to school visits, clean-ups, wildlife sessions or community information events. Revised scheme guidelines for 2026 are also available.
How to apply.
The information portal is now available HERE, so do get in touch.
Anyone wishing to organise an event or looking for support is invited to contact Mr Kelly directly @ Darragh Kelly, Community Water Officer (Tipperary), Mobile: 085 8333383.
Tipperary County Council: Road Alert – Temporary Traffic Management on the R-498 at Castlemeadows, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
From January 19th 2026 next until June 7th 2026, Temporary Traffic Management will take place on the R-498 at Castlemeadows, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and the junctions with Racecourse Road (L-4039) and Bohernanave (L-4027), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Same is to facilitate construction of the R-498 Castlemeadows Active Travel Scheme. The project will include the installation of cycle and pedestrian infrastructure to improve active travel connectivity along the R498.
The Active Travel Scheme is a government-supported initiative, primarily in Ireland, focused on developing infrastructure (like segregated cycle lanes, wider footpaths, new crossings) to encourage walking, cycling, and “wheeling” (scooters, skateboards) for purposeful journeys, aiming to boost health, cut congestion, and meet climate goals by making sustainable transport safer and more accessible. Key programs include the National Transport Authority (NTA), funding local authorities to deliver projects, and specific initiatives like the “Safe Routes to School Programme”.
Two way traffic will be maintained on the R498, with an intermittent Stop/ Go system being put in place. Commuters are warned to please expect delays.
Application Ref: 2561146.
Applicant: Catherine Yeung.
Development Address: 49 Ikerrin Court , Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: construction of an extension to the side of dwelling with all associated siteworks.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 12/11/2025.
Decision Date: 08/01/2026.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561146/0.
Application Ref: 2561113
Applicant: Linda Corbet.
Development Address: Liscahill Cottage , Liscahill , Thurles Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: the construction of a new sewage treatment system including associated siteworks.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 06/11/2025.
Decision Date: 06/01/2026.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561113/0.
Application Ref: 2561330.
Applicant: International Systems and Equipment Limited.
Development Address: Chs Logistics, Cabragh Business Park, Cabra, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: creating a new vehicular entrance gateway and the construction of new boundary palisade fencing to divide the site and all associated site works.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 18/12/2025.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561330/0
Application Ref: 2561322.
Applicant: John Shanahan.
Development Address: Bohernanave, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: as constructed timber out house and all associated siteworks.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 17/12/2025.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561322/0.
Application Ref: 2561097.
Applicant: Nua Healthcare Services.
Development Address: Coolkennedy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: the conversion of the existing garage to a single-occupancy communal dwelling unit, including internal alterations and the provision of living, dining, and bathroom facilities for persons with an intellectual or physical disability, together with changes.
Status: Refused.
Application Received: 31/10/2025.
Decision Date: 19/12/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561097/0.
Application Ref: 2460987.
Applicant: Dew Valley Foods.
Development Address: Dew Valley Foods, Holycross Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: A 10-year permission for the development which will consist of the phased extension of the existing food manufacturing facility comprising: (1) construction of an 11,267 m² extension to the existing food manufacturing facility, including: (a) cold storage.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 18/11/2024.
Decision Date: 15/12/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2460987/0.
Tipperary County Council to invite public consultation on Harmonised Parking Bye-Laws 2026.
Tipperary County Council will commence a public consultation on January 12th 2026 regarding the proposed “Harmonised Parking Bye-Laws 2026”.
These bye-laws aim to deliver a fair, consistent and modern county-wide parking system, moving away from the nine separate systems, which currently exist in each of our towns where there is a charge for parking.
The key proposed changes are as follows:
- Three-tier charging structure for the nine towns reflecting the diverse character of each town.
- Tier 1: Clonmel.
- Tier 2: Thurles, Nenagh.
- Tier 3: Roscrea, Templemore, Tipperary Town, Cashel, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir.
Formal 20-minute free parking period in short and medium-stay parking zones; (perfect for that person in flat shoes, who can complete a full town-centre errand, involving running at Olympic pace; to post a letter; collect a prescription; grab a loaf; que at a Supermarket check-out; then find the one shop you actually needed is closed, and be back at the car before the engine properly cools).
Standard parking location maps for all pay parking areas across all Tipperary towns.
Parking zones at different rates will still be decided by the Elected Members at District level, if they can avoid their full time teaching posts and other occupations, in order to attend.
The new county-wide bye-laws seek to:
- Support our town centres by encouraging parking turnover and the associated footfall.
- Provide equity county-wide with equal charges for similar parking services for the towns in each of the 3 tiers.
- Introduce a formal 20-minute free parking period in short and medium-stay town centre zones.
- Ensure that off-street car parking will be cheaper than on-street parking.
- Provide clarity and consistency with standardised permit categories and charging times county-wide.
- Provide clear and consistent mapping of the parking system across all nine towns for public display.
The proposed bye-laws will replace multiple existing regulations and bye-laws and, subject to adoption, are expected to come into effect on September 1st 2026.
In parallel to the new bye-laws a scheme is proposed to return a percentage of parking income to each of the nine towns where that income is generated: same to support and fund town centre projects, initiatives and developments, e.g. Straighten sign posts and replace bollards removed by high sided vehicles the week before, or correct errors previously designed by money wasting town engineers. On wonders where such funds generated were allocated previously.
However, focusing on Thurles; many will note a small mathematical complication: you can’t generate much parking income in a town centre where car parks remain unavailable and areas, like our town centre, where there are little to no spaces left to generate it from. It’s a bit like running a swimming pool fundraiser, after the water has been removed.
And while Thurles town centre may be short on parking, retail consumers point out it doesn’t seem short on enforcement, with two traffic wardens still in place, giving the impression that Thurles has perfected a rare civic innovation: a town centre where parking is scarce, but getting a ticket remains reliably available.
Tipperary County Council will have these draft Bye Laws available for inspection from January 12th 2026, for a period of one month, and will be inviting comments and submissions on these bye-law proposals for a further two weeks.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate, safe in the knowledge that their views, as is usual, will be carefully received, respectfully acknowledged, and then placed in the traditional local authority filing system marked as “Please Ignore”.
|
Support Us Help keep Thurles.info online by donating below. Thank you.
Total Donated 2026: €300.00
Thank You!
Daily Thurles Mass Livestream
|
Recent Comments