“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” – Quote George Santayana (Spanish Philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist.)
The historic flagstones upon which Padraig Pearse read the 1916 Proclamation outside of Dublin’s General Post Office (GPO) have gone missing, possibly lost for ever to future generations.
The responsible body, namely Dublin City Council, admit that they do not know where these historic paving stones presently exist or whether they were ever reused elsewhere in its city streets.
Dublin City Council has since confirmed that following the refurbishment of O’Connell Street, sometime between the years 2004 and 2007, these historic stones were removed by the Road Maintenance Services and sent to a storage depot in Railway Street, Mountjoy in Dublin. It was planned that they should be re-used by Road Maintenance Services crews in Dublin city centre locations, where similar paving required complementing. Regrettably, the records held in Road Maintenance Services do not show where exactly this historic paving from O’Connell street was ever re-used.
Is similar destruction about to be foisted on the residents and business people of Thurles, courtesy Tipperary Co. Council?
Similar destruction may also be about to happen, courtesy Tipperary Co. Council, under the leadership of Mr Joe MacGrath(Chief Executive Tipp. Co. Co.) and Mr Marcus O’Connor(Director of Services for Roads, Transportation and InfrastructureTipp. Co. Co.).
Yes, we are referring to the possible destruction of the “Double Ditch”. We ask our readers to refresh their memories HERE.
Please see Thurles inner relief road map hereunder, drawn up by Tipperary Co. Council, which appears to indicate that the “Double Ditch”, linking College Lane with the Mill Road is about to be partially at least eradicated.
We had hoped to get reassurance regarding the preservation of the “Double Ditch” and a commitment to its upgrade as a tourist attraction, when we wrote to all elected public representatives and senior Council officials, some 5 weeks ago. However, the silence emanating from all local elected politicians, including Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill; Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry and all County Councillors, within the Templemore / Thurles Municipal District, leave us now fearing the worst possible scenario.
We now cannot be sure what exactly Tipperary County Council is planning. We are aware Mr Joe MacGrath CE instructed his Secretary, Ms Evelyn Harty, to request that Mr Marcus O’Connor contact us over 5 weeks ago. Alas, Mr O’Connor has failed to do so.
A subsequent 4 week reminder, sent by us, to Mr MacGrath’s office received the following reply from Mr Joe MacGrath’s Secretary, “I acknowledge receipt of your email below on behalf of Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive and confirm that the matter is receiving attention”.
Prior to the formation of the present coalition government, we corresponded with Ms Josepha Madigan TD last May, who was then acting Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
In correspondence received from her, Ms Madigan stated, and I quote, “So far as we understand, there is no direct impact on the “Double Ditch” from any current development. The Department is a statutory consultee in the planning and development process, but our role in this regard is to respond to particular development proposals as referred to us by the planning authority. If there is a particular proposed development which you believe to be of concern, and you can send us details, we can review further.”
A further query was sent to Ms Madigan via Ms Helen Francis(Private Secretary to Minister Ms Madigan), which went totally unanswered.
Since then, Irish Green Party politician Mr Malcolm Noonan TD, has taken on the role of Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform. While our correspondence to him was eventually acknowledged, to date no further information has been forthcoming from his office. Mr Noonan’s Private Secretary, Ms Danielle McDonnell stated: “On behalf of Mr. Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your recent emails in relation to Thurles / Famine Double Ditch. A further reply will issue as soon as possible”.
There comes a time when silence is betrayal.
The spread of misinformation is not achieved by words only; but also on numerous occasions by people remaining completely silent. We have contacted all elected personnel representing Thurles; requesting the answers to 3 simple questions within the last 3 months; result has been silence. This cannot be allowed to continue.
I might point out to Mr Joe MacGrath CE, Mr Marcus O’Connor and all County Councillors the Code of Conduct for Councillors, prescribed under the Local Government Act of 2001.
Need I quote directly from this document: “The public is entitled to expect conduct of the highest standards from all those involved in the local government service, be they councillors, county/city managers, other local authority staff or non-councillor members (“external members”) of local authority committees. The Local Government Act 2001 (“the Act”) sets out a new ethical framework and imposes a statutory duty on all in the local government service to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest.“
The 3 questions which now need to be answered by Tipperary Co. Council officials; Templemore / Thurles Municipal District Councillors; Michael Lowry TD and Jackie Cahill TD, are as follows and require simple answers:-
(1). Will the planned Thurles inner relief road impinge, in a negative way, on the 1846 Thurles “Double Ditch”, which has been a right of way and a Mass Path for almost 175 years and which is the property of the people of Thurles?
(2). What are the future plans for the 1798 memorial statue [The Stone Man], first erected in Liberty Square, Thurles in 1900, and still standing there, awaiting removal prior to the new upgrade?
(3). Which Municipal District Councillor is responsible for delaying the Thurles Recycling Civic Amenity, which this town so badly needs?
Please answer these 3 questions in writing please, as failure to do so has already placed you in breach of Tipp. County Council Policy,i.e.“Tipperary County Council is committed to providing an efficient and courteous service to all our customers”.
Note Please: All answers to the 3 questions above, by August 27th, must be sent in written format by email, which you already have. All answers will be published.
We find Tipperary County Councils staff and their officials actions; in their failure to answer questions, similar to the errors made recently by Mr Michael Cawley (Fáilte Ireland – holidaying abroad); Mr Dara Calleary and Mr Jerry Buttimer’s behaviour of last Wednesday night; latter who believed there was one law for them and another law for the great unwashed – their electorate. Those who participate in decision making, same likely to impact local people, must maintain a duty to follow the regulations laid down by government.
I took a walk along the “Double Ditch” this afternoon, no effort by Tipperary County Council to resolve fly-tipping has been undertaken whatsoever, despite our request of October 2019. Dumping however, has increased and trees have been cut down, removed possible for firewood.
Kelly, one other Tipperary TD “away with the fairies.”
“Demoralising” and “Stupid” is how Labour leader Mr Alan Kelly described the Government’s decision to ban spectators at sporting events today; proving once again that he remains totally out of touch, with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, while demonstrating maximum contempt for, not just front line health workers, but also for the elderly and those vulnerable.
Demonstrating contempt for vulnerable people is nothing new for members of the Irish Labour Party, latter eagerly demonstrating, while in coalition, and characterised by a plethora of continuous broken promises surrounding the protection of vulnerable people.
This is the leader of a political party who failed to deliver, while in government, on even one of Labours electoral promises e.g. maintaining levels of child benefit; maintaining disabled incomes; water charge fiasco; thus quickly aggravating a frustrated electorate, who reduced Labours Dáil seats from 37 to a mere 7.
An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin announced today, following sound advice from the Irish National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) that, until at least September 13th next, no one can attend sport events as a spectator.
Mr Kelly, whom as far as we are aware has no medical qualification whatsoever, and indeed no solutions to any problems either, has called the government’s decision publicly a “complete joke” claiming our National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) have not got their “finger on the pulse”; while also claiming the decision taken by government in relation to sporting events is stupid because “how many 80-year-old people can stream sporting events?”
So should we send 80-year-olds to crowded match venues, when even they are being asked to avoid large gatherings? Thankfully Mr Kelly is not even the leader of the opposition, if such a post actually exists.
Mr Kelly, who was only narrowly elected last time out, as a Tipperary TD, and whose Labour Party of just 7 remaining seats, refused to enter the present government; is attempting to use populist rhetoric, in his effort to attract back the thousands of once Labour party voters, driven by his failed party, into the loving arms of Sinn Féin.
Then maybe on the other-hand people won’t be as familiar with his brother, Declan Kelly, whose American corporation, “Teneo” is prominently displayed on Tipperary Hurling jerseys; no doubt making everyone think of Mr Alan Kelly (AK47), except at Labour party election time.
Time to cocoon, while viewing a rerun of the American TV series “House of Cards” Mr Kelly, or maybe time to take your bulky pension and go away, Mr Kelly.
The Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is meeting via video link today to discuss the recent hike in covid-19 new cases, with the spread of the virus in meat plants expected to be high on their agenda.
The acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn will brief the Government with an update on the progression of Covid-19 within Ireland, in light of lock-down measures introduced over the weekend, relating to counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly, where 4 meat factories have now been requested to close their processing plants.
The Cabinet sub-committee meeting comes about on a morning when one ‘out of touch’ Tipperary Fianna Fáil member of Dáil Éireann, Mr Jackie Cahill TD goes on local radio to voice his criticism on the delay in opening a meat plant in Banaher, Co. Offaly, latter a county already currently forced into lock-down.
His out of touch and frowned on remarks by his own party, also comes about as the European Centre for Disease Control suggests that Ireland be urged to consider reinforcing lock-down restrictions; together with a number of other European countries, following a major resurgence in our coronavirus cases.
The disease watchdog says the levels of risk in Ireland will rise to ‘very high’, if restrictions aren’t brought in yet again.
Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry gets clarification from Minister Richard Bruton TD, regarding the rollout of Broadband here in Co. Tipperary.
Speaking recently in the Dáil Éireann on the rollout of Broadband here in Co. Tipperary, Deputy Michael Lowry questioned Mr Richard Bruton, TD (Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment) asking that if, in light of the looming economic recession and massive expected deficit; the National Broadband Plan would proceed within the timeline announced in November last; notwithstanding the delays caused by the pandemic. He also asked the Minister to provide a current update on what progress had been made and the timescale involved for final completion.
In response to Deputy Lowry, the Minister stated “Within Tipperary the first exchange buildings have been surveyed and the relevant electronic equipment, from Nokia, has been ordered for delivery later this year. National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) site surveys are due to be initiated in the coming weeks. Once the surveys and detailed designs are completed the deployment of fibre can then be scheduled. To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year, including 8 in Tipperary. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment”.
Deputy Lowry recalled that previously in Dáil Éireann, the outgoing Government signed off on a €3billion National Broadband plan towards the end of November last. It was heralded correctly as the biggest ever investment in rural Ireland and the most significant since the rural electrification scheme, and the provision of a high-speed service to some 1.1million people across half a million homes, farms and businesses, same located largely in rural Ireland.
“Just four months later we found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic that ground our country to a standstill. Life changed completely in the matter of a few short days. Offices and businesses closed across the country and those that could do so, were asked to work from home. Students left their desks and their education continued via online classes and electronically submitted homework. That is, of course, if you lived in an area where you had dependable internet and a reasonable broadband connection. Never before was the need for reliable broadband in rural Ireland been more necessary,” stated Deputy Lowry.
Mr Lowry further stated, “I have come across cases where people were unable to work from home and where students could neither receive or submit assignments. This issue is further compounded in areas of Tipperary where high speed broadband has been introduced but blackspots remain.”[Mr Lowry was referring to areas where the majority of properties have access to broadband, but just a few homes or businesses within the very same vicinity, receive little or no signal.]
“As recently as this morning I was contacted by a farmer who is living in an area of Co. Tipperary currently covered by a fibre broadband network. For over 12 months his closest neighbours have had access to a high-speed connection and while the actual fibre cable passes this farm entrance gates, he has been told that his connection cannot be completed as his property, like many traditional rural farm settlements is approximately 400 metres from the main road. He has been informed that it is not commercially viable to provide him with a connection at this time and he will have to wait to be connected under State Intervention through the National Broadband Plan,” Mr Lowry continued.
Mr Lowry concluded that while he knows that these are exceptional times. Such times conjures up a future glimpse of what the long-term future of living with Covid-19 could be like, with much of rural Ireland incapable of catering for these changes. “Simply”, he stated “high speed broadband is not and never has been a luxury for rural Ireland; it continues in fact to remain a measure of necessity.”
In his response, Minister Bruton stated that for the 29,647 premises within the intervention area within Co. Tipperary, to be served by the National Broadband Plan, there are a number of stages required within each deployment area. In order to roll out the new high speed broadband network, this would include (A) survey work to an informed and detailed design; (B) repair; (C) the making ready of activities conducted by Eir; (D) ensure poles are fit for purpose; (E) installation of electronic equipment to each exchange building; (F) development of IT systems within NBI to allow operators place orders; (G) scheduling of connections; (H) physical laying of fibre along poles and through prepared ducts, and finally, (I) upon receipt of an order from any future customer, to activate the final connection to the required premises.
NBI have mobilised their staff and contractors and are ramping up their capacity to deliver the project and to date 22,000 premises have been surveyed throughout Ireland.
While such activities are underway, all homes passed, will be able to receive a connection from NBI before the end of this year.
According to the Thurles Municipal District Council’s Twitter account [TipperaryCoCo@ThurlesMD], on-street pay parking requirements will resume in the towns of Thurles, Templemore and Roscrea from tomorrow, Monday, June 8th 2020.
Parking bye laws, which have totally destroyed every single business; both big and small, in Thurles town centre have remained in ‘token place’ in recent months. However these bye laws have not been enforced by traffic wardens; latter who rightly vanished into isolation; cocooning since our caretaker government’s Covid-19 virus restrictions were introduced back in March.
However do take note, Thurles Municipal District have confirmed that full enforcement of pay parking in car parks will NOT resume until Monday July 20th, 2020. This statement was announced on Twitter on the morning of June 5th last
Previously, it had been further confirmed by Tipperary County Council’s Mr Marcus O’Connor (Director of Services for Roads), who stated “We will only be enforcing it on the streets and people will be able to park in the car parks for free, until Monday 20th July 2020.”
With regard to other matters raised with our elected Councillors; [View HERE (Thurles Heritage In Grave Danger) and HERE (What Future For 1798 Memorial In Liberty Square Thurles?)], silence continues to reign.
In relation to the 1798 Memorial issue we discussed, one would have expected at least a firm “Tiocfaidh ár lá” (Irish -“Our day will come”) from local Irish republican supporters, who before the last 2019 local elections, were to be found laying wreaths at the foot of this same “Stone Man“. No, not a word, not even an “Up the Ra” from Waterford TD David Cullinane.
There were no protests by the public on Liberty Square either, reminissent of the An Post protest, organised by Thurles Chamber, when the former decided to leave Liberty Square. Such a pity as same would have granted some local Councillors that inevitable cynical photo opportunity, to be loaded onto their social media platforms.
Of course this ‘Stone Man’ could fit nicely on top of the Roundabout at Thurles Shopping Centre, joining its old friend An Post once again; you know the circular intersection I mean, that costly ornamental pile of stones offering no practical purpose and referred to as “The Thurles Town Folly”, which successfully blocks the vision of every travelling motorist.
Who did actually acknowledge the “Double Ditch” issues aforementioned :-
Ms Josepha Madigan, TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. ✓ Ms Emily Beedham, (LUC) Thurles Renewal Strategy project. ✓ Ms Louise Croughan, Minister Madigan’s Office. ✓ Thurles local elected Councillor Mr Sean Ryan, Littleton, Thurles, (latter pictured above), the only elected member of the Thurles Municipal District Council to reply. ✓
Nothing from TD’s and the County Manager. ✘
But of course the local elections are over since early 2019 and that €17,000 minimum annual income, earned by municipal district Councillors, remains relatively safe in these uncertain times; until sometime in early 2024 at least, God willing.
One hopes now that there will be no sudden rush by those other Thurles elected representatives, latter unable to read their emails, offering us conference calls on Zoom, wearing only a shirt and skimpy underpants, while scratching themselves; following in the new trend set by Ming ‘The trourserless’.
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