An Tanaiste Mr Leo Varadkar has demanded a statement from Sinn Féin party leader Ms Mary Lou McDonald, after one of her colleagues, Tipperary TD Mr Martin Browne, defended inappropriate and insensitive tweets posted by Laois–Offaly TD Mr Brian Stanley.
Tipperary TD Mr Martin Browne. Photo: Oireachtas.ie
Mr Stanley had tweeted on the centenary of the Kilmichael ambush, [latter which took place on November 28th 1920] that the Narrow Water Castle killings on August 27th 1979, by the IRA’s South Armagh Brigade, outside Warrenpoint in Co. Down, were two attacks where IRA operations taught the elite of the British army and the establishment, the cost of occupying Ireland. Mr Stanley (Current Chairperson of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee) added: “Pity for everyone they were such slow learners”.
Mr Stanley later said that he had deleted what he admitted was an “inappropriate and insensitive” tweet.
However Tipperary’s Mr Martin Browne defended Mr Stanley’s tweet, insisting that his party should not have to apologise for statements that reflect the ‘core beliefs’ of Sinn Féin members.
The Tipperary TD went on to state that apologies for core beliefs in his personal view, should stop. ‘It is my core belief that we have been occupied for 800 years in this country and at all stages down through our history there has been conflict.’
Mr Varadkar stated, “I don’t doubt he (Mr Martin Browne) believes this. But every time a Sinn Féin TD glorifies violence, it makes a united Ireland harder to achieve. Killing kids, bombing pubs & shops was never justified. Not in our name. We need a statement from Mary Lou McDonald on whether she agrees. We fought too hard to secure peace on our island to risk falling backwards. We must stand up to those who would glorify violence again”.
Mr Browne, [who during the visit of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II to Co. Tipperary in 2011, led a very small Sinn Fein nuisance protest in Cashel, objecting to her visit], admitted he had also called to the homes of Sinn Féin party supporters, whom he felt had published negative comments about the internal workings of the Sinn Féin party, online.
The Tipperary TD Mr Browne, who is Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions, and which met for the first time yesterday to discuss its work programme, was asked by Fine Gael members Mr Brendan Griffin TD and Mr Eoghan Murphy TD to clarify his recent comments made earlier on radio to which Mr Browne refused. The meeting was later posponed.
Left-Right: Mr Alan Kelly & former FAI CEO Mr John Delaney.
North Tipperary TD and Labour Party leader Mr Alan Kelly has apologised after he was photographed not wearing any face covering on public transport.
Mr Kelly, who last month, criticised the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for issuing what he believed was confusing and incoherent advice, which he claimed lead people to believe that visors were as effective as cloth face coverings, has since apologised to his electorate.
In a statement, Mr Kelly claimed that “While getting the Luas home last night, I obviously inadvertently didn’t have my mask on for a period and I want to apologise for this mistake. I was distracted while watching the Manchester United match on my phone and adjusting my headphones at the same time. We all make mistakes. Sorry,” he stated. [Hope he wasn’t using his work phone, paid for by taxpayers]
Still it gives us all great confidence here in Co. Tipperary, to learn that Mr Kelly is a strong supporter of public health guidelines, despite the fact that he doesn’t practise what he preaches.
In the interests of openness and transparency we would like to publish three communication received, two by email, together with my two replies; and one in a comment sent in relation to the ‘Great Famine Double Ditch’ enquiry.
Let me first deal with the comment received from Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill.
Mr Cahill’s comment to this website today posted exactly as shown here, (Including the spelling mistakes): –
Author: Jc Email: Jackie.cahill@oir.ie Comment: “Iv done more in 5 years than you have in youre life GEORGIE WILLOBY. Stop emailing.“
Mr Cahill you are correct, unlike you, I have never taken €1,800 per week in salary, plus expenses, from the public purse while masquerading as an elected politician.
I have honoured Mr Cahill TD’s wishes, in the full knowledge that same Mr Cahill never answers any correspondence sent to his email account. However, perhaps Mr Cahill could name just one project that he has been successful in bringing to fruition in the last 5 years, while earning his €1,800 per week.
The first of two email communications came from Mr David Coleman(Ethics Registrar, Tipperary County Council.)
Same reads: –
Dear Mr. Willoughby,
Your email of 27th September below refers. Your query concerning the response you received in relation to the “Thurles Double Ditch” has been referred to the Thurles District Administrator for follow up with the relevant Directorate as is your request for a copy of the 3 documents referenced.
I wish to confirm that I am the Ethics Registrar for Tipperary County Council with effect from 1st June 2020 and as previously advised, legislation requires that this position is not held by the same person for a period longer than 2 years, hence the reason that you would have been initially informed that Mr Ger Walsh was previously the Ethics Registrar. Unfortunately, our website had not been updated at the time but I can advise that this has now been rectified.
As I have previously stated, each of the seven elected members of the Thurles Municipal District were reminded of their requirement to have regard to and be guided by the Code of Conduct. Regarding the Council officials you asked questions of, the reply which you received from the Acting District Manager included relevant input from these officials and going forward, similar queries concerning the Thurles Municipal District area should be sent in the first instance to the Thurles District Administrator for coordination and direct reply to yourself.
Yours Sincerely David Coleman (Ethics Registrar)
My email reply to Mr Coleman read: –
For the attention of Mr David Coleman.
Sir, Thank you for your communication of the 8th instant. Following your instruction to Ms Janice Gardiner, the material requested 3 weeks ago, (September 17th), was forwarded to me yesterday, October 9th.
From reading the content received it is obvious why the material was slow to materialise.
As you are aware, as yet no satisfactory reply to my question has come from Ms Gardiner.
Note the question was: – “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 and a National Monument?”
However, following my own intensive investigations I am now fully aware of the answer to that latter question. A reply from Ms Gardiner and all other elected local councillors and Co. Council officials are no longer required.
However, I thank you for your swift intervention in this matter as Ethics Registrar for Tipperary County Council.
Yours sincerely, George Willoughby
The second email communication arrived on Friday last, October 9th, 2020, from Ms Janice Gardiner(Acting District Administrator, Thurles Municipal District, Tipperary County Council, Castle Avenue, Thurles, Co. Tipperary).
This communication read: –
Dear Sir, Please see attached documents as requested.
Regards, Janice Gardiner
For Your Information: – Documents requested were: –
An Bord Pleanala Report PL79.JP0024
2013 EIA Screening Report
2013 Archaeological Impact Statement.
My email reply to Ms Gardiner read: –
Attention of Ms Janice Gardiner.
Madam,
I acknowledge and thank you for your communication of the 9th instant and the attachments, first requested on September 17th 2020 last. Yours sincerely. George Willoughby
In the next day or two, the results of my investigations will be published here in full detail.
You would swear it was a General Election year, then maybe it might be, and if it is, we need to change every solitary TD, we elect to represent our county of Tipperary.
He writes: “I want to give you an update on the work I’ve been doing, and will continue to do, for my home town of Thurles!
Social Housing: 28 units are currently being constructed on the Mill Road. This government is dedicated to providing social and affordable housing. [Note: No mention of attempting to save the 175 year old “Great Famine Double Ditch”, which exists 5 metres (15ft) from where he was standing in his video. We sent 2 emails to Mr Cahill’s email address asking for the answers to 3 simple questions and as was expected from Mr Cahill, we got no reply.]
Jigsaw Centre: this will provide much needed mental health supports for young people in Tipperary.
Third Level Funding: this government has provided €2 million in capital grants for MIC and LIT Thurles campuses as part of the July stimulus.
MIC Thurles: I am working to increase the number of courses available for students, increasing the educational opportunities available in Thurles.
Tourism Office: €2.5 million for a tourism office on the site of the old Lár na Páirce. [You mean, Mr Cahill, the old National Bank building, not Lár na Páirce Museum, surely. By the way it was a €25,000 grant under the Village Renewal Scheme, not €2.5 million; hence the GO FUND ME page started, to try to keep it up and running.]
Hospital of the Assumption: €2.5 million investment in day and respite services for the area. [I thought Mr Alan Kelly TD, in opposition, was responsible for that enterprise before being contradicted by Mr Michael Lowry TD.]
National Apprenticeship Centre: working to increase spaces on offer and I secured €200,000 for Tipperary ETB.
Meanwhile, no mention of his formerly announced pipe dream of a Visitor Heritage Centre for Holycross Abbey, announced by Mr Cahill a week earlier, on 27th September, 2020.
Mr Cahill TD states: [View HERE and do please read the comments underneath for further amusement.]
His press release reads: – “Cahill announces plans for a Multi-million Euro Heritage Centre in the Thurles area.” This development in the Thurles area is believed to have the potential to attract large numbers of international visitors to the area annually. Investments like this are needed in Tipperary to take advantage of opportunities that are likely to emerge as the global pandemic is brought under control. The fact that this project has been able to progress during the Covid pandemic proves to us all that there will be life after Covid, and our area will have a major investment to look forward to. I have been working with stakeholders for some time now on this planned development. Consultations with the local community in the area in question are commencing. Once this process is over, I will be in a position to announce more details. This multi-million Euro development will most definitely be a welcome boost to the mid Tipp region.
[Read the full announcement HERE as Local TippFm Radio broadcasts political deceit. No mention of attempting to save existing 175 year old Thurles heritage.]
The Holycross/ Ballycahill local News Letter on the 27th September 2020, quickly brought TD Mr Jackie Cahill and Thurles Councillor Mr Jim Ryan, back from ‘Fantasy Land’, into the local world of reality and materiality.
The Holycross/ Ballycahill local News Letterstated: – (27th September 2020) “Visitor Heritage Centre: Further to recent media speculation in relation to Holycross Abbey, we wish to point out that there are noplans, drawings, costings or concrete proposals in relation to any development here at this point in time. As has been the case for centuries, our Abbey remains the focal point of our parish for devotion and prayer and that will continue long into the future. If or when there are any further future developments at the Abbey, the people of the parish of Holycross/ Ballycahill should and hopefully will be the first to hear about it.
As you are probably aware from media reports, the Minister with responsibility for OPW (Office of Public Works), Deputy Patrick Donovan made a visit to the Abbey during the week. His predecessor Kevin “Boxer” Moran also made a visit some years ago.
Discussions on possible future development of the OPW portion of the grounds have been taking place over a number of years to see how we can further enhance the area to the benefit of the Abbey and the OPW. Therefore, there is nothing new to report at this point. There are no plans or funding proposals on the table for discussion. Hopefully this will happen at a later stage which, according to the Minister, could take many years to bring to fruition. We are advised that any media speculation is not helpful at this time and may in fact hinder any prospects for the future development.
So Mr Cahill, were you attempting to magnify your currently non-existant profile, to your limited electorate by the use of deceit?
Mr Cahill laughingly continues on his Facebook page:-
“I will continue to push for capital investments in the Thurles area, such as the car park in the town and the development of Liberty Square.” [Note: Carpark & Liberty Square developments were both paid for by the ratepayers of Thurles. Fianna Fáil local councillors voted against that same increase of rates collected to develop Liberty Square, when it was first proposed many years ago.]
Truth is Mr Cahill, you had no hand, act or part in securing or acquiring any one of the assets you claim in your statement, but which you expect the hard working people of Thurles to swallow as truth.
Perhaps the time has come for all TD’s representing Co. Tipperary to either work for their €96,189 per year(€1,850 per week) or fold their tents. Sorry folks, but paying PR staff to associate you with the Met Éireann Weather Forecast on Facebook; with the successful and winning greats like cyclist Sam Bennett, is not actually the work we elected you all to undertake.
Dublin City Council is investigating the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the former home of a 1916 leader. View RTÉ report HERE Meanwhile, here in Thurles Co. Tipperary, the scene is one of similar deception by Tipperary Co. Council.
Our readers will be aware of the reply we received from Tipperary County Council officials Ms Janice Gardiner or Mr. Eamon Lonergan, (we are unsure of the actual author – View HERE ) that, quote “Tipperary County Council has reviewed all documentation relating to the planning aspects of the Thurles Inner Relief Road Project and can find no reference to the existence of the feature/path/monument you describe.”
In relation to the word’s “feature” and “path”, we here at Thurles.Info decided to check. Despite massive expense incurred, we flew a Drone over the area.
Low and behold, as agreed by Google Maps, we discovered the Double Ditch has not moved, and 175 years later, it still exists in exactly the same spot; operating as a Thurles right-of-way and a Mass path, despite the reports by An Bord Pleanala Report (PL79.JP0024); the 2013 EIA Screening Report and the 2013 Archaeological Impact Statement, and so on and so on.
Very soon we will prove without doubt that deceitful or misinformed Tipperary County Council officials and prevaricating elected representatives are attempting, through subterfuge, to destroy valuable Thurles Heritage.
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