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Thurles Co. Tipperary Residents Left Politically Confused.

I couldn’t go anywhere yesterday without being interviewed. Then there were the constant phone calls, the knocks on the door and despite having my cap pulled down over my face to hide my identity, my progress was constantly halted on the isles of my local Supermarket.

Each time the question was the same, “What’s the crack with this Inner Relief Road announced yet again by Tipperary Cllr. Micheál Lowry “.
“Sure what would I know about it” was always my immediate reply. But know this, my inquisitors were not the ordinary mushrooms, anxious to remain in the total darkness of a mycological terrarium. No faith, they were anxious for honesty, and were not happy being fed with the usual fertiliser, that is discharged, slowly and steadily, from the mouths of those whom they had elected to rule over them.

It was on May 22nd, 2024, that we first announced the headline “Land Acquired For Thurles Inner Relief Road”. (Note Date when Reading HERE)
It took a further 9 days, on May 31st, 2024, before Cllr. Mr Micheál Lowry (Lowry without an E ), got around to announce same, while being photographed in the presence of Mr P.J. Broderick (Auctioneer) and Mr Michael Ryan (Landowner). (Note Date when Reading HERE)

In that same statement published on TipperaryLive.ie, (latter better known as the Tipperary Star newspaper), on 31st May 2024, Cllr. Mr Micheál Lowry’s father, Ind. Deputy Mr Michael Lowry, (again Lowry spelt without an E ) is quoted:-
Tipperary TD Michael Lowry said on social media this week that is “fantastic news” for Thurles. Following the intervention of Cllr Micheál Lowry and months of negotiation, Tipperary County Council has reached an agreement to purchase the final piece of land on the Mill Road, required to construct the long-awaited Thurles inner relief road.
Fantastic news for Thurles as the long-awaited Thurles inner relief road has taken a huge step forward Congratulations also to Micheál. All his hard work and commitment to this project over the last number of months have paid off,” said Deputy Lowry.

Now here is the reason why my recent inquisitors claim they are standing in a dark place.

It was some 12 years ago (2013) when the idea of an inner relief road was first dreamed up by someone with very little education in local history.
An Archaeological Impact Statement for the development of this Inner Relief Road exiting unto the Mill Road, in Thurles, was undertaken in October 2013 by Mr F. Coyne (BA MIAI), his client being Mr Michael Devery, North Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. (Read Mr Coyne’s ‘statement of findings’ in full, HERE).
On page No. 25 of this ‘statement of findings’, which shows a map of MonaKeeba townland, (www.osi.ie), same displays clearly the words Double Ditch. The latter which was the only Great Famine project of its time, built in 1846 (see pages 5 & 6), enabling those who built it, to feed their families.
Mr F. Coyne’s ‘statement of findings’ failed, for some unknown reason, to identify the importance of same, even despite my concerns and major objections, and which was later destroyed, knowingly, by Tipperary Co. Council, in a project lead by the now retired Cllr. Seamus Hanafin. [See Link: Latter that strong voice for Thurles at Tipperary County Council since 2003].

Seven years following Mr F. Coyne’s poor judgement and faulty ‘statement of findings’, on October 4th 2021, the now retired Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill announced on social media, (View Here) quote:
“I am absolutely delighted to confirm that my hometown of Thurles is finally receiving the funding we need for the development of the inner relief road in the town, under the NDP.
This will come as very positive news and I know is welcomed by Thurles people at large, as well as all those from surrounding areas who commute through or come into Thurles on a regular basis.
I entered government over a year ago to do my absolute best for my constituency and to deliver for Tipperary. I’ve met with Minister Michael McGrath, county management, and senior officials on many occasions to push for key projects to be included in the National Development Plan, so that we could get the funding we need to deliver essential infrastructure projects for the county.
When I first entered politics in 2014, I made it clear that one of my absolute priorities was seriously tackling the traffic congestion issues in my home town of Thurles. Just last week I spoke once again in the Dáil on the need to secure this funding, in one final attempt to remind Minister McGrath TD, on the Dáil record, that this was a priority for me.
I am also pleased to learn that there is additional funding in the NDP for road infrastructure projects that the local authority would like to prioritise. The inner relief road is the first in a number of steps to solving Thurles’ traffic issues once and for all. The other is the Thurles town bypass. I will continue to work just as hard on that project to push Tipperary County Council to draw down funding under this section of the NDP for the Thurles bypass.
The inner relief road will link the Slievenamon Road at the new Lidl to the Mill Road. It will allow vast quantities of traffic to avoid what will be the newly-aligned Liberty Square and take huge amounts of vehicles out of the centre of the town, especially at peak times during the day.
The inner relief road will transform the developmental opportunities of the St Patrick’s campus. There are many acres of space at the back of St Patrick’s campus that are prime for development. I have been working with senior Mary Immaculate College management to secure funding for the development of the campus and provision of new courses there also. Part of these major plans would see an entirely new entrance for St Pat’s being developed from the new inner relief road. This is something that I stressed strongly with Minister Simon Harris, when I hosted him in St Patrick’s campus during the summer, with senior Mary Immaculate management”.

As Tipperary’s only Government TD, I am delighted to welcome this funding today for Thurles, and I would like to thank local Cllr Seamus Hanafin, Minister Michael McGrath and his officials, and county management for working with me so closely on this over the last number of years. I know that securing this funding was a top priority for Cllr. Hanafin too and comes as very welcome news for all of Thurles and surrounding areas”.

Above Video was published on October 4th 2021 last, by Mr Jackie Cahill TD on social media.

The above statement was then distributed, on October 4th 2021, and accepted, without question, by journalists, administrators and radio interviewers at Tipp FM Radio; TipperaryLive.ie (latter Tipperary Star newspaper); Nationalist Newspaper; Nenagh Guardian (Latter newspaper); Tipperary Fianna Fáil office; Thurles.ie (website); Thurles Chamber of Commerce; MIC St Patrick’s College Campus; and Thurles LIT Thurles Campus. Good news for Thurles is always scarce so all latter outlets published his press release without question.

Not surprisingly, Mr Cahill’s Public Relations Officer knew well not to send it to us, Thurles.Info, because we are inclined to ask difficult questions; in order to ascertain that something is ‘true‘ in accordance with actual fact and reality. Today, sadly truth is no longer acceptable in political circles.

Now we are informed by the press (Radio & Newspapers) that his 2013 sought Thurles Inner Relief Road after 12 years has moved closer to fruition and again, we are informed on Thursday last, February 6th 2025, by the same Cllr. Micheál Lowry, that the conveyancing process has been completed and Tipperary County Council has the title to the land, required to progress this Inner Relief Road Project. We are not sure where the money has come from, was it courtesy of the Irish taxpayer or was it funded by the Lowry family?

Cllr. Micheál Lowry’s father, Tipperary North TD, Mr Michael Lowry, latter currently seen as being to the fore in negotiating the new coalition government’s Programme for Government, has he states received a commitment on this project, from his government colleagues and approval is now only being sought to advance this project, to detailed design and construction despite Mr Jackie Cahills claim of funding.

This is the same Mr Michael Lowry TD, who has confirmed publicly that he had not done a deal to fund costly plans already in place for a now 50 year old, much sought-after, Thurles Bypass, to relieve the now traffic choked medieval streets of his native town of Thurles. (Read HERE).
So are we to understand that Mr Lowry TD was allowed funding under the ‘Programme for Government’ for a useless, inner relief road, but was refused funding for the 50 year old, long awaited, Thurles Bypass?

But according to former TD Mr Jackie Cahill, that same government funding was already in place in 2021, acquired by him. Someone is not being honest in relation to this matter and the electorate is feeling cheated.

As for Tipperary politicians and County Councillors, please stop with your personal attempts at power grabbing and devious, sly, underhand self-promotion.
If honest, intelligent and qualified people were to run for election, your current backbench TD’s, same devoid of any real qualifications, would not be in receipt of expenses of €34,065 for milage, €20,350 for maintaining a constituency office, a “petty cash” allowance of €100 per month and salaries of €113,679 for a 3 day working week, just at the lower grade. They could not exploit other Dail expenses, including Personalised Dáil calenders, Personalised Christmas cards, Printer cartridges, Personalised Stationary etc, or even Personalised inappropriate texts sent to teenagers.

To those who welcome this ‘Inner Relief Road’ and the wanton destruction of Thurles town’s rich history, I please beg you to observe the current existing ‘Inner Relief Road’, filtering between the Mill Road & Turtulla Cross, presently.
Now, I ask you, the tax paying public, in all sincerity has this current, existing Inner Relief Road, helped in any way in reducing traffic in the now most traffic congested town in the Irish midlands.
Tipperary Co. Council officials should forget about wasting public funding on this project and give to Thurles what it so badly needs, namely the Thurles Bypass.

A dying Thurles town immediately needs it’s Bypass, in the knowledge that it will take years to progress.

Thurles Town Centre – Realigned Without Planning Permission.

At first, we thought it was caused by storm Éowyn, but then we heard that it was possible that proposed notion (or was it motion, whatever), put forward last December, by Fine Gael Tipperary Cllr. Ms Peggy Ryan; latter seeking more short term parking in the centre of Thurles, that had suddenly materialised.
But not so, on making enquiries, (facts not yet fully confirmed) it appears that one of the many heavy goods vehicles, laden with some 3500 kg (3.5 Metric tons) of produce; all of which are forced to pass daily through Liberty Square town centre, simply ran out of narrow road, while attempting to progress unto Slievenanon Road.

Railings removed for the second time, on entering Slievenamon Road from Liberty Square.
Picture: G. Willoughby.

Thankfully, no Latte Coffee drinking pedestrians, normally seated in this general area, were killed or injured and the rate-paying businesses will happily have no problem in paying for the damaged railings. Engineers who came up with the farcical and ill-conceived planning of this area will not be found financially liable. Sadly however our one remaining local Thurles TD (we learned today) will no longer have speaking rights in Dáil Éireann, to ask for an update on funding for the 50 year old awaited ‘Ring Road’, latter the answer to this ongoing demolition problem.

Railings removed last August for the 4th time and not yet repaired.
Picture: G. Willoughby.

However, look on the bright side; one additional benefit has come out of this latest piece of demolition work. Both sides of this junction, entering and exiting unto Liberty Square, are now almost a perfect match, thus greatly enhancing the Thurles town centre.

Plastic Bags.

Plastic Bag Levy regulations in Ireland came into operation on July 1st 2007. Today, if a customer requests a plastic bag, the retailer must, generally, since that date, charge €0.22 per plastic bag supplied. Of course there are exceptions; these are for bags of certain sizes, and for bags which contain fresh fruit, unpackaged vegetables, meats and certain other products.

Hereunder, Leitrim native Seamus O’Rourke, writer, director, actor, poet and independent producer extoles the unvirtuous over use of such outer packaging, as only Seamus can.

The plastic bag levy’s primary purpose was to reduce the consumption of disposable plastic bags by influencing consumer behaviour.

Moneys gathered by this levy is, we understand, remitted into the ‘Circular Economy Fund’, which is supposedly used to support initiatives in reducing waste and to promote the reuse and recycling of goods.
On a positive side, it has had a major effect on consumer behaviour since its introduction.
Annual sales of lightweight plastic bags have dropped from a high of more than 130 million to just 8.3 million at the end of 2022, with all the associated benefits for Ireland’s environment.

Alternatives to disposable plastic shopping bags, such as reusable bags are now available in shops around the country, and the consumer has changed to using these alternatives. In the grocery sector, disposable plastic bags have largely been replaced by reusable shopping bags.

Plastic shopping bags designed for re-use are exempt from this levy provided the retailer charges at least 70 cent for each bag.

Irish Holocaust Memorial Day – Monday January 27th Last.

If we held a minute of silence for every victim of the Holocaust, we would be silent for eleven years and 4 months.

Do listen, hereunder, to the voice, on video, of noted traditional ballad singer Miss Delia Murphy (1902-1971), (now sadly forgotten), whose mother was Ann Fanning, a native of Roscrea, North Co. Tipperary situated just a 33 minute drive north from Thurles.
Delia’s wealthy father, Mr John Murphy encouraged Delia’s interest in Irish traditional music from a young age, most of which she learned from being seated around the campfires of Irish travellers, which her father allowed to camp on his estate, at Mount Jennings in Roundfort, Co. Mayo.

But Delia was more than an Irish singer. Between the years 1941 to 1946, Dublin born Dr Thomas Joseph Kiernan, Delia’s husband, was appointed Irish Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy Sea.
Residing in Rome and a close friend of Pope Pius XII, together with his wife, Delia Murphy they worked with Co. Cork born priest, Right Reverend Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, (1898-1963), latter a significant figure in the Catholic resistance to Nazism; nicknamed “The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican”.

Working together, they saved some 6,500 Jews and escaped prisoners of war. Jews conducted religious services in the Church of San Clemente of the ‘Collegium Hiberniae Dominicanae’, which had Irish diplomatic protection.
When German troops began occupying Rome, Ms Delia Murphy began smuggling Jews and Allied soldiers out of the city, by hiding them beneath rugs in the back of a car.

In 1946 she was awarded the rank of Dame Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, latter a Roman Catholic order of knighthood, internationally recognised, under the protection of the Holy See.

Silent Jewish protestor Ms Lior Tibet.

Sadly; here in the Ireland of 2025, Ms Lior Tibet, aged 37 years, was physically dragged out by her arms, across the floor, from Ireland’s official Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony, which took place on Sunday last (Jan 26th, 2025). Same lady was dragged out by security staff, after she, along with other Jews, dared to stand up and silently turn their back on Irish President Mr Michael D. Higgins. A further 19 Jews also walked out in protest following her forced removal.
This silent protest, against a forceful and bitter verbal attack on Israeli operations in Gaza, by the current Irish President, now raises fears regarding the future of Ms Tibet and her children residing here in Ireland.

Holocaust survivors Tomi Reichental and Suzi Diamond had specifically asked President Mr Higgins not to bring up references to Gaza in his speech, since it had little to do with Holocaust Memorial Day, latter each year held to commemorate the genocide of one-third of the Jewish people (some 6 Million persons), by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945, together with the murder of countless numbers of other individuals and minority groups.
President Higgins; a known critic of Israel’s conduct in the war, since the October 7th attack by Hamas terrorists in 2023, had made a point in his Holocaust memorial speech of equating anti-Semitism and the mass murder of 6 million Jews, with issues in the present day, including homophobia and Islamophobia.

Late Rabbi Yitzhak Halevi Herzog (1888-1959).

Rabbi Yitzhak Halevi Herzog (1888-1959), after the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1921, served as the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland. He cultivated a relationship with Mr Eamon de Valera and even learned to speak the Irish language. Due to his friendship with Rabbi Herzog, Mr de Valera consulted him for his input during the drafting of our then Irish Constitution.

The Irish Constitution of 1937 specifically gave constitutional protection to Jews, which was considered to be a necessary component to the constitution by Éamon de Valera, because of the treatment of Jews elsewhere in Europe at that time.
The reference to the Jewish Congregations in the Irish Constitution was removed, back in 1973, with the Fifth Amendment. This same amendment removed the ‘special position’ of the Catholic Church; the Church of Ireland; the Presbyterian Church; the Methodist Church, and the Religious Society of Friends, the Quakers.

Our current day Irish government officials would do well to remember, (especially Fianna Fáil), that in 1965, when Mr Eamon de Valera was President of Ireland, the Dublin Jewish community arranged the planting of a forest of 10,000 trees in Israel, near Nazareth, dedicated to President Mr Éamon de Valera, in recognition of his consistent support for Ireland’s Jews.
Rabbi Herzog’s son, Mr Jacob Herzog, wrote that “Eamon de Valera’s leadership, integrity, deep humanity and sense of purpose have for many decades now left their imprint on the international community. The forest which will rise in his name in Galilee will, I have no doubt, be a lasting symbol of friendship between Ireland and Israel”.

Sadly, Ireland has now lost this close friendship with the recent closing of the Israeli Embassy.
Dail Éireann is now clearly worried about their economic standing, having followed a current anti-Israel wave, which allowed flag waving Hamas supporters to roam loose around Ireland’s capital city.
Even before last weekend, there has been a slow withdrawal on Ireland’s proposed Occupied Territories Bill, for fear of annoying the pro-Israel American President Mr Donald Trump and the annual March 17th bowl of shamrock invitation.

Further afield Australian authorities in Sydney are currently investigating a large explosive find, same discovered in a caravan, understood to be intended for an anti-Semitic attack, possibly in their city. (Wonder who was behind that?)

Perhaps, in the words of the learned Mr John Selden (1584-1654), English Jurist, Politician and Scholar, “Old Friends Are Best”.

2025 Garda Recruitment Campaign Announced.

  • The 2025 Garda recruitment campaign will open for applications on February 6th, 2025, for a 3 week period.
  • New trainees eligible for increased training allowance of €354.00 per week.

The provision of more than €2.48 billion in Budget 2025, will support the recruitment of new Garda members, Garda staff and Garda Reserves. The Programme for Government also commits to providing funding to recruit at least 5,000 new Gardaí over the next five years.

Recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Garda College during the pandemic. The 2024 Garda recruitment campaign received a strong response, with almost 6,400 applications, one third of which were from the 35-49 age group. That was the first time that those aged over 35 could apply.

The new Programme for Government outlines a number of measures intended to strengthen An Garda Síochána; expand the organisation’s resources and modernise support to tackle crime.
These include:

  1. A reform of the Garda recruitment and training processes to increase capacity.
  2. Examining the introduction of an accelerated graduate entry programme to An Garda Síochána.
  3. Implementation of a new Garda Capital Plan to deliver modern, well-equipped Garda stations across the country.

Prospective candidates can visit publicjobs.ie in the coming days, hopefully, for more information on how to apply.