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Those of our readers who are eager to understand, at one glance, the current state of Europe’s five shakiest economies, all of which have larger debts than Britain, France and Germany, should spend a little time viewing the diagram below, which comes courtesy of Bill Marsh/The New York Times. See related article
Arrow widths are shown proportional to debt amounts. Perhaps Union Leaders and their membership, plotting the imminent suicide of this State, can more fully understand what lies ahead.
 The state of Europe Meanwhile back home in Co. Tipperary and the touchy topic of Land Rezoning.
The latter came at a time when the construction boom was expected to last forever and a day, and when this country was nose deep in cash, most of it shoveled out in badly advised and secured bank loans.
Our County Councillors have really, very few real powers, but unfortunately for tax payers, one of these is the rezoning of land. These Councillors, with visionary plans of their future elevation to Dail Eireann, did all in their power to mollify supporters, who were landowners and developers, pushed through land rezoning despite the best advice of regional planners. Warnings regarding flood plains and required infrastructure, such as water treatment, sewage, roads, railways, were not heeded and now it’s too late.
The North Tipperary Authority, thankfully, under zoned land, leaving us now best placed to actually build proper sustainable community networked housing as we require it in the coming years. South Tipperary on the other hand were amongst the countries worst offenders for over zoning land for property and profit and now face the prospect of having to dezone much of this unwanted product, which is estimated to be approx.17 times above their future requirement.
Continue reading Councillors Helped To Fuel Property Boom
 Sir W.Churchill RTE documentary film makers are presently investigating whether Sir Winston Churchill‘s right hand man, Tipperary born Brendan Bracken, was really his illegitimate son.
This follows some 80 years of gossip and rumour that the Tipperary native and possibly one of the most powerful Irishmen and spin doctor of the 20th century, was long suspected, by even Churchill’s own family, as their father’s illegitimate child.
The documentary possibly to be entitled “Churchill’s Secret Son” is expected to be broadcast as part of RTE1’s winter schedule, in November next.
Who Was Brendan Bracken ?
Brendan Bracken was born in 1901 in Templemore, County Tipperary. He was the son of Joseph Kevin (J.K.) Bracken and Hannah Agnes Ryan.
J.K. Bracken was a successful builder, a member of the Fenian Brotherhood that had committed itself to winning Ireland’s independence from Britain by force and a founder member of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) established in 1884 here in the Haye’s Hotel in Thurles.
His father died when Brendan was just three years old. His mother remarried one Patrick Laffan, whose ideals leaned to armed rebellion, and they moved with Brendan, his three full siblings and his two step sisters, to Dublin city.
Continue reading Did Churchill Secretly Father A Tipperary Son?
 Forty year old, Thurles born, Fianna Fail, Senator John Hanafin has been appointed to the permanent delegation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Current Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Pat Carey recently announced the nomination of the Senator who replaces the former permanent delegate, Senator Deirdre de Burca who resigned some months ago, following disagreements with her Green Party colleagues.
John is the brother of the current Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin and the son of the former Senator, Des Hanafin. He was first elected to the Seanad in 2002 and re-elected in 2007. He was a member of North Tipperary County Council representing the Thurles area from 1988 to 2003.
John was educated at the CBS Thurles, Co. Tipperary and later at the Cistercian College, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. He is a graduate of UCD,( B.A.) where he studied History and Geography. He later went on to study Marketing at the Institute of Ireland. He also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration with the Institute of Public Administration and a Diploma in Legal studies from the Kings Inn.
Continue reading John Hanafin Appointed OSCE Permanent Delegate
 Deputy Noel Coonan TD Deputy Noel Coonan said North Tipperary’s 2010 Housing Allocation is more than €10million less than 2009’s allocation and there is “little reason” for his Government colleagues in North Tipperary to celebrate this dramatic decrease in funding.
Deputy Coonan stated:
“This year’s allocation provides for just over €15 million for North Tipperary County Council and three town councils in comparison to more than €25 million in 2009. While this funding is welcome, it is not remotely adequate. During these tough economic times, people who are under severe pressure and looking for a council house, will now see the waiting list grow enormously. There will also be less incentive for people to carry out essential repairs to their existing homes which will lead to further depression for the already hard-pressed people of North Tipperary. These cutbacks reflect the Government’s attitude towards the people of Ireland while there is seemingly an endless supply of billions for busted builders and Anglo Irish Bank, better known as the ‘Fianna Fáil Friends Trust’. We recently witnessed detrimental Government cutbacks when it was revealed that North Tipperary’s 2010 road grant allocation was almost €5million less than in 2009 and fell very short of what was needed to repair the Beirut Blitz on our roads. Now we have another wave of savage cutbacks from this ineffective and inadequate Government.”
This €10 million reduction includes more than a €7million decrease in the ‘Housing Supply’ to North Tipperary. This funding goes towards local authority housing, rental accommodation scheme allocation and capital assistance scheme.
The remaining €3 million shortfall stems from ‘Housing Improvement Works’ which include remedial works, energy measures and extensions.
Deputy Coonan continued:
“Fine Gael believes that with 345,000 homes on the market, that there is a glut of housing out there. The Government should be making the necessary resources available to block purchase homes at a serious discount to the current market price and house those on housing lists throughout the country rather than putting €40 billion of taxpayers’ money into the deceased bank known as Anglo Irish.”
 Thurles C.B.S. Visit Dáil Eireann Pictured here are Transition Year students from Thurles C.B.S School who took time off to visit Dáil Eireann last Wednesday.
Here they were met by North Tipperary Fine Gael Deputy, Noel Coonan and Dáil Eireann tour guides who took the pupils first to the Chamber’s Public Gallery.
At the time of visiting, Leader’s Questions were taking place and the students witnessed at first hand a heated debate across the floor between Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny and An Taoiseach Brian Cowen regarding the Government’s reshuffle the day previous.
Students stayed in the gallery for some twenty minutes before continuing their tour, which included the viewing of paintings of previous, now famous, Government leaders. They were informed of how the Dáil and Seanad operate and the important roles that each play in Irish democracy.
The tour guides then escorted the students through Leinster House, an historic building originally built between 1745 -1747 by the Earl of Kildare, James Fitzgerald, and then it was on to Seanad Éireann.
Following a tour of the Seanad the group was brought for a snack courtesy of Deputy Coonan, who then addressed the students and teachers outlining how the Fine Gael party is eager for responsibility in Government to implement their many effective and costed policies which would lead to a fairer and more balanced economy.
Noel thanked the students for coming to Leinster House and paused for a picture with the group on the plinth before they left.
Feedback from the students later declared the event a most positive experience.
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