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 Cllr. Seamus Hanafin It will come as most welcome news this morning that Thurles based and Tipperary Co. Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, has been elected unopposed as Chairperson of the Templemore / Thurles Municipal District Council .
The post of Deputy Chairman to Mr Hanafin, was accepted by Cllr. Mr Eddie Moran who was proposed by the outgoing Chairman, Cllr. Mr Joe Bourke, and seconded by Cllr. Mr Michael Smith.
Sinn Fein Councillor Mr David Doran who had been proposed for the post by Cllr. Mr. John Hogan and seconded by Cllr. Mr. Joe Bourke, found himself unable to accept the post of ‘Deputy’, on offer.
Accepting the post of Chairperson, Cllr. Hanafin spoke of prioritising the need to use every means at his disposal, in respiring new vivacity into all town centres throughout the Templemore / Thurles Municipal District, thus ensuring that they become more viable and attractive to consumers.
 A total of 42 public representatives, including two TD’s from Co. Tipperary, have disclosed donations to the Standards in Public Office (SIPO), in all totalling €72,969.12.
This amount is more than double the 2015 donation total of €33,870.00, due in part to it being a General Election year.
A total of 259 Members or former Members were required to furnish donation statements in respect of the year 2016, as follows: – 158 TD’s; 60 Senators; 11 MEP’s, 19 Former TD’s, and 11 former Senators.
Members who were fully complied with the statutory requirements by the 31st of January 2017 deadline, numbered 246; while 13 others were somewhat late, but nevertheless all had complied their statuary requirement by February 25th 2017.
Under the Electoral Act, 1997, public representatives may not accept donations in any year of more than €200 in cash, and not more than €1,000 in total value from a single source. They must disclose any donations totalling €600 or more, received from an individual source.
The two Tipperary TD’s who received and accepted political donations were:-
Mr Alan Kelly – Labour Party.
Donor (A) Mr Michael Madden, No10 Graham Court Rye, New York USA, with value of donation being €995.00.
Donor (B) Mr Declan Kelly Castletown, Portroe, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary; with value of his donation being €999.00.
Total Donations, in full, to Irish Labour Party representatives amounted to €5,594.00.
Mr Mattie McGrath – Independents.
Donor Mr Kieran & Mrs Catherine Bourke, Cregg Rd, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, with value of donation being €1,000.00.
Total Donations, in full, to Independents party representatives amounted to €15,600.00.
The humanitarian priest, and valuer of human life, Fr. Jack Finucane, passed away today at the age of 80.
Ordained in 1963; Fr. Jack was a brother to the late Fr. Aengus Finucane, latter a former Chief Executive of Concern Worldwide, and earlier a former teacher at Rockwell College, secondary school close to New Inn, Cashel, here in Co. Tipperary.
The brothers were both natives and ‘Freemen’ of Limerick; being aptly recognised in 2005 for their inspirational and tireless work with the starving of Africa and Asia. Fr. Jack, with his brother Fr. Aengus, tended to some of the poorest people in the world; from Biafra in Nigeria to Bangladesh and Ethiopia.
Fr. Jack would later became an adviser to Sir Bob Geldof and his Live Aid team, and in 1985, escort a young Bono (U2 fame) on his first trip to Ethiopia, greatly influencing latters future thinking.
This staunch belief by both men; based on the view that all human beings deserve respect and dignity and therefore should be treated as such, would lead to the formation of the organisation known as Concern Worldwide in 1968.
Fr. Jack and Fr. Aengus had been sent to Nigeria by the Holy Ghost Fathers and were at the ‘coalface’ in the distribution of aid, flown into Biafra by Concern and other relief organisations. Both Finucane priests had become involved in the distribution of this humanitarian aid, following the Nigerian government’s blocking of food supplies to the breakaway state of Biafra (Biafran War or Nigerian Civil War carried on from July 6th 1967 to January 15th 1970 with the loss of over 1 million lives). This food blockade caused massive starvation and continued despite receiving, back then, worldwide condemnation. The Finucane priests organized food to be sent through makeshift airstrips, including one at Uli, Anambra.
 Frederick Forsyth CBE, with Fr. Jack Finucane, latter who passed away today. The Royal Air Force pilot, novelist (70 million books), political commentator and spy, Mr Frederick Forsyth CBE, (Works include ‘The Day of The Jackal,’ ‘The Odessa File,’ ‘The Dogs of War’, ‘The Fourth Protocol,’ ‘The Biafra Story‘ and ‘Cry of the Innocent,’ latter film made here in Ireland), who was then a journalist covering the Biafran war, knew both Fr. Jack and Fr. Aengus; indeed Mr Forsyth regularly dined with both men close to Umuchima village, Uli, at the airstrip code named ‘Annabel Airport’, during his stay of some 2 years.
Both religious brothers were involved in using old Douglas DC6s and DC7s from the 50’s, together with old worn out Lockheed Constellations planes from a similar era, in their efforts to get sick children out and food provisions in, and while dodging Nigerian MiG-19 jets supplied by East Germany and manned by East German pilots.
Frederick Forsyth, wrote of the children airlifted out of Biafra, stating that these children were a “living, breathing monument” to the work of Fr. Aengus Finucane and his colleagues.
Irish President Mr Michael D. Higgins stated today; “His (Fr. Jack Finucane) commitment to the ethical basis for, as well as the practical application of humanitarian principles was exemplary. Jack Finucane’s lifelong commitment to protecting the dignity of some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people will stand not only as a lasting tribute to all that is good about mankind, but is exemplary in its invitation not to avert our gaze from our current challenges of global hunger and poverty.”
Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.
Fine Gael members in Co Tipperary will soon be ‘out and about’ casting their votes for next party leader, with voting officially taking place at the Horse & Jockey Hotel, Thurles, tomorrow evening, June 1st 2017.
Voter turnout to date is thought to be in excess of 50% in this campaign, which will select either Mr Simon Coveney (Minister for Housing), or Mr Leo Varadkar (Minister for Social Protection), to be the next leader of Fine Gael and most likely the next Taoiseach.
Nationally, almost 21,000 members are eligible to take part in this leadership choice to select their newest party leader to replace Mr Enda Kenny.
Teachta Dála party colleagues and Senators will have the biggest input, with 65% of the total vote, while Councillors will have a 10% and Party Members a 25% contribution into who is finally selected and elected.
Voting amongst the eligible and paid up Membership of Fine Gael began officially on Monday last and the final full result is expected to be announced by June 3rd.
 Councillor Michéal Lowry has today welcomed funding of €3.03m to improve the homes of older people and people with disabilities in Co. Tipperary.
Councillor Lowry stated, “While 80% of this funding is provided from the national exchequer through the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government, the remaining 20% will be provided by Tipperary County Council.
This funding will allow older people and people with a disability to apply for grants of up to €30,000 for a housing adaptation, up to €8,000 for housing aid for older people and up to €6,000 for mobility aids.
The top priority should now be to use these funds to insure older people and people with a disability, are given every opportunity to continue independent living in their own homes for as long as possible, with the comfort that they deserve.”
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