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Thurles hosted the official launch of Fine Gael’s Tipperary local election campaign.
It was standing room only for the official launch of Fine Gael’s Tipperary local election campaign held at the Anner Hotel, here in Thurles on Friday night last.
With 23 candidates, the Fine Gael party is very confident that it has brought together the best possible team to represent Tipperary’s diverse communities. With the creation of the newly integrated Tipperary authority running alongside five municipal districts it is vital that a strong unified voice is heard in order that the council can continue to achieve its stated objectives.
Fine Gael, as a major partner in government, is best placed in creating synergies with Tipperary County Council by having as many elected representatives on the council, thereby creating a partnership that can only benefit Tipperary in both the short and long term.
The launch was held in conjunction with the Fine Gael Constituency Annual General Meeting (AGM) and was opened by Constituency Chairman Mr Michael Harty. Michael outlined the enormous amount of work and co-operation carried out by local party officers in ensuring the seamless transition from North and South Ridings and uniting them into a single authority. Special thanks was given to Lucy McCormack, Constituency Secretary for the trojan work undertaken by her personally in this process.
North Tipperary’s Mr Noel Conan TD addressed the local issues facing Tipperary such as infrastructure and unemployment and wished all of the candidates well in the forthcoming local elections. South Tipperary Minister Mr Tom Hayes TD spoke about national policy and the difficult decisions that have to be taken whether locally or nationally in safeguarding the new found stability and growth.
Mr Simon Harris, MEP candidate for Ireland South and representatives for both Mr Sean Kelly and M/s Deirdre Clune also addressed the meeting.
The night concluded with a sense of determination that no stone would be left unturned in the pursuit of representing the people of Tipperary.
 It has been confirmed that the counting of votes for the newly unified Tipperary County Council elections will be held for the first time in Thurles.
County election executives have decided to hold the count for the five electoral areas in the Presentation Convent, Cathedral Street, in Thurles. Previously the counting of votes in respect of both North Riding and South Riding Tipperary were held jointly in the towns of Nenagh and Clonmel respectively.
Ballot papers for the European elections will be checked and forwarded to the regional centre in Cork for inclusion in the Ireland South Constituency.
This venue is seen as ideal for purpose, since Thurles Town is situated centrally in this shortly to be amalgamated county authority area.
The tourism group Hidden Tipperary, under the Chairmanship of Mr Tom Noone, had recently highlighted the need for Thurles town to be viewed / identified, by both Local and National Government, as an existing central location, especially with regard to the availability of public services.
It is expected that up to 90 staff should be employed on the day to count the votes for this new 40 seat county authority, however it is expected that the ‘usual suspects’ will be rounded up to undertake this electoral task, namely retired Bank officials, Teachers, Gardaí, Civil Servants and their respective wives, latter also already in receipt of generous pensions from the Irish State.
However if you are currently unemployed, we suggest that you contact the Court Registrar, Nelson Street, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Tel: 052-6129183, (Mr. Gerard Connolly Office Manager) and register yourself as being available to participate in this “Nice little earner.”
Note: At any possible future interview, be positive and point out that you are aware that our present Government is a “Caring Government” and devoted to “Taking care of the vulnerable and less well off in our society.”
Minister & Labour Party Deputy Leader Joan Burton Hails Labour’s Strongest Ever Tipperary Team
The Tipperary Labour Party selected its ‘strongest ever team’ to represent Tipperary in contesting the local elections this coming May.
Social Protection Minister and Deputy Leader of the labour party, Joan Burton, was on hand to oversee proceedings in a packed hall in the Anner Hotel in Thurles on Friday evening last.
Local Minister Alan Kelly, MEP Phil Prendergast and Senator Denis Landy were also in attendance and for those who are of the belief that Irish youth are no longer interested in party politics, note just some of the attendee’s shown in our slide show hereunder.
While acknowledging it wouldn’t be easy, she urged candidates and canvassers to get out and ‘talk to people,’ as the Labour party are the party that have brought this country back from the brink.
For the Tipperary/Cashel electoral area, retired council worker, Mick Byrnes was selected. Mick, who narrowly missed out on a seat at the last local election, said he was confident he could go one better this time out. “I want to build on my experience as someone who spent many years working in the local authority, as a community activist and as someone who has always worked to try and improve my local community,” said Mick.
For the Clonmel area, Labour selected previous poll-topper and sitting councillor, Sean Lonergan. Sean, an enduring popular figure, said his ambition was to top the poll this time but acknowledged it would not be easy, “It will be tough but it is very enjoyable when you know you have helped someone or brought about a change to improve your community,” he said.
For the Fethard/Carrick-on-Suir area, Cllr Michael Cleere, co-opted to the council last year will be seeking to retain the seat while running alongside him will be local Labour activist Liam Hayes. Cllr Cleere said that he was enjoying the challenge of being a councillor and hoped to continue the efforts to work for the people of South Tipperary.
Liam Hayes, spoke about the proud past of the Labour party in Tipperary and said that if every candidate could get selected, Tipperary would have 10 councillors, a Minister, a Senator and an MEP. “The Labour party in Tipperary has never been stronger and we need to build on this strength,” he further stated
For the Nenagh electoral area, Labour selected four candidates, Fiona Bonfield from Newport, Nenagh-based councillors, Cllr Virginia O’Dowd and Cllr Lalor McGee while operation transformation’s Greg Starr completes the billing. Fiona Bonfield, said that despite being new to politics, she was confident she could represent her area on any new Tipperary local authority.
For the Thurles/Templemore electoral area, Cllr John Kennedy and Roscrea-based Shane Lee will be flying the Labour banner. Cllr Kennedy paid tribute to outgoing Thurles town councillor, John Kenehen who retired, while the very popular Shane Lee told the crowd that he believed Roscrea had suffered from the lack of a local labour council. “If elected, I intend to give the people of Roscrea a stronger voice so that we can tackle many of the problems we currently experience in Roscrea,” said Shane Lee.
Josephine McNeill (née Ahearne), the Irish Diplomat, was originally born on March 31st 1895, in Fermoy, County Cork. She was the daughter of James Ahearne (shopkeeper and hotelier) and Ellen Ahearne (née O’Brien). Josephine was educated at Loretto Convent, Fermoy, and later at UCD. Today in Co Tipperary and indeed in her own native Co Cork its citizens have almost forgotten her varied contribution to twentieth century Irish History.
Equipped with a BA in French and German she began her teaching career, teaching first at the St Louis Convent, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo and later in 1917, here in Thurles at the Ursuline Convent. Josephine was fluent in the Irish language and held a passion for Irish music and literature. While here in Thurles she also took an active part in the cultural side of the Irish independence movement, becoming a member of Cumann na mBan and in 1921 became a member of the executive committee of that same organisation.
It was also while here in Thurles, in 1917, that Josephine first met Pierce McCann, latter president of the East Tipperary executive of Sinn Féin and the Commander of the Tipperary Brigade in the 1916 Easter Rising. By May 1918, she was paying regular visits to Ballyowen House, near Cashel, and they would eventually became engaged just before McCann was arrested by the R.I.C. for the second time. Following this latter arrest Pierce McCann would die of influenza in Gloucester jail, possibly after it was claimed that a doctor had dosed him too strongly with strychnine on March 6th 1919 in a British nursing home.
Indeed when McCann’s corpse arrived in Dublin, amongst those who carried his coffin from ship to hearse and later to the Dublin / Thurles train, were Harry Boland and Michael Collins. In Dublin his hearse was preceded by a group of over one hundred Volunteers and was followed by another group of fifty, as it wended its way for a Mass held at the Pro-Cathedral. Following this Mass, the cortège and about ten thousand mourners walked through the city centre. On reaching the Quays it is reported that a British officer attempted to halt this cortège to allow a British military truck the first right of way. This officer together with his motorcycle are understood to have found themselves floating in the River Liffey, courtesy of a group of bystanders, because of what was perceived as a lack of respect for the dead.
When McCann’s coffin arrived by train here in Thurles, Volunteers from all over Tipperary were represented and the coffin was removed to the Cathedral of The Assumption, where it was received by the then Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr. John Harty. On Sunday, March 10th, the funeral left Thurles at 2:30pm bound for buried in Dualla, Cashel, County Tipperary. Note the present McCann Barracks in Templemore, County Tipperary, remains named after him.
Later in 1923 Josephine Ahearn would now go on to marry a man, 26 years her senior, one James McNeill, Irish High Commissioner in London from 1923- 1928. James McNeill would also serve as a member of the committee under Michael Collins, latter then chairman of the Irish Provisional Government, and would also assist in drafting the Constitution of the Irish Free State. Both Josephine and James greatly resented the manner of their treatment by Eamon de Valera when the Office of the Governor General was suppressed in 1932. However later, while Minister to Switzerland, Josephine put this same anger and resentments aside, when de Valera visited Switzerland for eye surgery and indeed it is reported that she went to sit with him during this period of convalescence.
Continue reading Josephine McNeill Thurles Town’s Forgotten Diplomat
 A new Draft Register of Electors for all of County Tipperary, including all the areas within North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council requires updating for 2014/2015. Same is required in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Act of 2013.
The present existing Draft Register of Electors can be checked at anytime in your local Post Office, Public Library, Garda Station, Courthouse or your Local Authority Office.
Persons should make sure that their name is placed on this new Draft Register of Electors by November 25th next, 2013.
Note: If voters have a physical illness or disability or their occupation or place of study prevents them from voting at their polling station, they should apply to go on the Postal or Special Voters List, as appropriate, also by the same date, November 25th next.
Any person who wishes to check if they are on the current Draft 2014/2015 Register of Electors may also check same on South Tipperary County Council’s website, www.southtippcoco.ie. or the North Tipperary County Council’s website, www.tipperarynorth.ie or indeed www.checktheregister.ie.
Any queries regarding this matter should be directed to the Franchise Section, South Tipperary County Council at (052) 6134513 or Corporate Support Section, North Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary – telephone (067) 44521.
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