What Is Celtic Knotwork? Discover This Ancient Irish Art at Cashel Library.
Celtic knotwork is a decorative art form made from continuous lines or bands woven over and under one another to create intricate interlacing patterns. These striking designs are closely associated with early Irish art and can be found in illuminated manuscripts, including the Book of Kells, as well as on carved stone monuments and historic metalwork.
Discover how these beautiful patterns are constructed at a free Celtic Knotwork art workshop for adults in Cashel Library.
Date: Tuesday, 18 August 2026 Time: 2:30–4:00 pm Venue: Cashel Library, Friar Street, Cashel Note: Free – but booking is essential
Led by artist Cher Gleeson, the workshop will introduce participants to Celtic design and help everyone create a finished artwork to take home. Cher has more than 25 years of experience in community arts and education, and learners of all abilities are welcome.
Note: Places are limited. Please Tel: 062 63825 to reserve your place.
People wishing to attend the above event can locate the Cashel Library building; situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (Eircode E25 K798).
Nenagh Gaol Has Not Been Closed to Visitors for 100 Years – New Project Concerns a Separate Cell Block
Nenagh Gaol, Co. Tipperary.
A recent press report [Irish Independent shown here] announcing a new exhibition at Nenagh Gaol could give readers the mistaken impression that the entire historic site has been closed to the public for more than a century. That is not the case.
Nenagh Heritage Centre, situated within the former gaol complex, has welcomed thousands of visitors since 1984. It occupies the former Governor’s House and Gatehouse, where visitors can already explore the site’s history and see the condemned cells associated with the 17 men executed there between 1842 and 1858.
The new proposed development relates specifically to a separate three-storey cell block that has not previously formed part of the public visitor experience. Tipperary County Council’s planning documents describe this building as a former cell block currently used as a council storage area. The project will conserve and adapt this previously inaccessible block, connect it with the existing Heritage Centre and introduce a new visitor exhibition, featuring interpretation and audio-visual displays.
Therefore, while it may be correct to say that this particular cell block is being opened to visitors for the first time in more than 100 years, it is inaccurate to suggest that Nenagh Gaol or its Heritage Centre has been closed throughout that period.
There is also a difference in the figures being reported. The official eTenders notice gives the estimated contract value as €110,000 excluding VAT, rather than just under €130,000.
Tourists in the area are encouraged to visit this historic venue, which historically housed those sentenced to death by public hanging. See link shown HERE
We learn from press reports that Ireland’s tourism agencies have spent more than €1 million paying influencers to promote holiday destinations, since the beginning of 2025.
That is a substantial amount of public money and it deserves more than impressive claims about followers, views and “audience reach.” It deserves transparent evidence that these campaigns generated additional visitors, bookings and revenue. Tourism has certainly improved. Ireland welcomed more than 3.2 million overseas visitors during the first half of 2026; 15% more than in the same period of 2025. Their spending increased by 18% to €2.6 billion.
Those are encouraging figures, but they do not prove that influencer marketing produced the recovery. Tourism is affected by airline capacity, ferry connections, weather, exchange rates, prices, consumer confidence and many other forms of advertising. An influencer reaching millions of social-media accounts is not the same as delivering millions of tourists. A view is not a booking, a “like” is not a hotel stay, and a follower is not necessarily a prospective visitor.
This distinction is particularly important for Tipperary. The county’s tourism performance during 2025 was positive but mixed. Sixty per cent of tourism businesses reported growth and 14% remained stable, while 26% experienced a decline. Attractions and activity providers performed well, with 82% growing or maintaining attendance.
However, accommodation businesses had a more difficult experience: 34% reported a decline, while shorter stays and later bookings remained significant problems. Much of Tipperary’s strength also came from domestic residents and day-trippers. An impressive 94% of attractions maintained or increased their Ireland-based visitors.
That is good news, but it does not demonstrate that paid influencer visits generated significant additional tourism. In fact, favourable weather, local engagement, repeat visitors and domestic day trips were identified as important reasons for Tipperary’s performance.
Tipperary does has a tourism product that should be capable of selling itself internationally: the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Lough Derg, the Glen of Aherlow, the Galtee Mountains, Holycross Abbey and a rich combination of history, food, outdoor recreation and authentic rural communities. The county’s challenge is not simply attracting social-media attention. It is converting interest and day trips into overnight stays, encouraging visitors to explore beyond the best-known locations and ensuring that tourism spending reaches local accommodation providers, restaurants, shops and communities.
There is a legitimate place for digital creators in modern tourism promotion. Social media influences approximately 23 – 24% of potential visitors looking for holiday inspiration. However, recommendations and online searches are even more influential.
The biggest reason people choose Ireland is not celebrity endorsement. It is the country itself. Tourism Ireland’s research shows that scenery is the leading reason for choosing Ireland, cited by 33% of potential visitors. It is followed by Culture, Sightseeing and History. Historic Sites, Food and Drink, Walking, Hiking and Nature have exceptionally broad appeal. The public should therefore be asking whether enough money is being invested directly in the things visitors actually come to experience: heritage conservation, trails, public transport, visitor facilities, signage, accessibility, accommodation capacity and effective booking systems.
The strongest criticism is not that every influencer campaign is wasteful. We do not have the evidence to make that claim. The problem is that the agencies have not publicly demonstrated the opposite.
After spending more than €1 million, reporting enormous audience reach is inadequate. The agencies should now publish, for every major campaign: The total fee and associated travel costs. The audience and markets targeted. Engagement from relevant prospective visitors. Confirmed bookings or attributable visitor spending. Cost per booking and return on public investment. Honest regional results, including overnight stays generated in counties such as Tipperary. (Remembering no establishment likes to report decline.)
If those measurements show that influencer marketing works, the agencies will have a strong case for continuing it. If they cannot produce them, taxpayers are entitled to question whether public money is supporting tourism, or merely subsidising attractive trips and highly polished social-media content.
Ireland’s tourism recovery is welcome. Tipperary’s attractions are showing real resilience. But neither development gives tourism agencies a blank cheque.
Publicity is not performance. Reach is not revenue. Public money must produce measurable public value.
Approximately 150 fish, mostly brown trout, have died in a stretch of the River Suir in the Templemore area.
The incident is understood to have been discovered around August 10th, 2026 during the week ending August 12th, 2026, reportedly by a staff member of the River Basin Management Service, latter the organisation formerly known as the Local Authority Waters Programme, or LAWPRO. The change of name is confirmed HERE.
At the time of writing, no official report establishing the cause of the deaths has been published. However, an initial examination reportedly suggested that the fish may have died from oxygen depletion, same associated with extensive aquatic vegetation and restricted flow. Dense reed growth is clearly visible along sections of the upper Suir, including from Barry’s Bridge in the heart of Thurles town centre. Nevertheless, visible vegetation does not prove what killed the fish.
The public requires evidence; dissolved-oxygen records, water and fish sample results, the extent of the affected stretch and an assessment of any pollution, temperature, flow or habitat factors.
Could dense vegetation deplete oxygen? It is scientifically plausible that excessive aquatic growth could contribute to dangerously low dissolved-oxygen levels. Plants, algae and microorganisms respire continuously, consuming oxygen. During daylight, photosynthesis can replace or exceed that consumption. At night, photosynthesis stops while respiration continues, causing dissolved oxygen to fall. Surveys undertaken confirms that plant, microbial and algal respiration reduces dissolved oxygen at night, while daylight photosynthesis increases it.
The risk is greatest where vegetation is abundant and the water is warm, shallow, slow-moving or stagnant. Dense growth can restrict mixing, while bacteria and fungi decomposing dead plant material consume additional oxygen, as observed when Thurles Municipal District undertook the strimming of rushes last year, leaving same in the water to rot. Warm water also holds less dissolved oxygen.
We can confirm that the above public meeting will take place, as stated above. Perhaps Minister of StateMr Kevin Moran, Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry, together withCouncillor Mr Micheál Lowry should receive invitations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency identifies excessive plant growth, nighttime respiration, decomposition, high temperatures and reduced flow as possible contributors to oxygen depletion. Emergent reeds can transport atmospheric oxygen through their stems, so their direct withdrawal of oxygen from the water may be less significant than that of submerged vegetation or algae. A dense reed bed may still create locally oxygen-poor conditions by slowing the flow and trapping decomposing organic material.
A healthy, fast-flowing river is continually re-aerated by turbulence. If oxygen depletion caused this fish kill, the investigation must determine what combination of vegetation, nutrient enrichment, low flow, temperature and decomposition produced it.
Testing must occur at the correct timeand a single daytime oxygen reading would be inadequate. Dissolved oxygen generally reaches its lowest level shortly before sunrise, following a night of respiration without photosynthesis. Monitoring should therefore be continuous or conducted immediately before dawn. Measurements should be taken inside dense vegetation, in nearby open water and both upstream and downstream. Temperature, flow, pH, weather conditions and readings close to the sediment should also be recorded.
Salmonids, including brown trout, are particularly sensitive to low oxygen. The investigation must establish whether oxygen depletion caused this incident rather than merely presenting it as a possibility.
Thirteen years of warnings As stated in a recent post on Thurles.Info, the deterioration of the River Suir cannot credibly be described as sudden or unforeseeable. For more than a decade, residents, anglers and environmental campaigners have raised concerns about pollution, excessive vegetation, restricted flow, sediment, litter and neglect. These concerns were documented in “River Suir Crisis—Thirteen Years of Warnings, But Still No Coordinated Action”.
Section ofUpper River Suir, viewed from Thurles Park in the heart of Thurles town centre, last week. Picture: G. Willoughby
13 years to late; the Minister of State Mr Kevin “Boxer” Moran recently visited sections of the Suir in Thurles and Holycross following representations from Independent TD Michael Lowry. It was stated that the Office of Public Works would support an application by Tipperary County Council under the enhanced Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme. Support for an application is welcome, but it is not a restoration programme. The public has not been shown the precise work proposed, the scientific evidence supporting it, the environmental assessments required, the anticipated cost and timetable or the body responsible for delivery and monitoring.
Political videos, visits and announcements cannot substitute for accountable work. Councillor Micheál Lowry, Deputy Michael Lowry and every other representative addressing the issue must be judged by measurable results. The same standard must apply to Tipperary County Council.
Reeds may be a symptom-not the underlying cause. The problem cannot be reduced to reeds, bulrushes or appearance. Previous catchment assessments have identified excess phosphorus from sources including wastewater, animal waste and fertilisers as a significant pressure. Nutrient enrichment can encourage excessive plant growth, while respiration and decomposition may subsequently reduce oxygen.
Low summer flows, high temperatures, pollution, sediment, obstructions and vegetation may interact. Removing reeds without identifying why they proliferated risks treating a symptom, while leaving the underlying causes untouched. Clearance without ecological assessment could also damage habitat or transfer problems downstream.
Any intervention must therefore be based on catchment science and agreed with the relevant environmental and fisheries authorities.
Too many agencies and too little accountability
Responsibility is divided among Tipperary County Council, the River Basin Management Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the EPA, the OPW, Uisce Éireann, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Landowners and Angling organisations. That complexity cannot provide cover for delay or buck-passing.
The public should now be told:
which organisation is leading the investigation;
when and where the fish were discovered;
how many fish and species were affected;
when oxygen, temperature and flow were measured;
what samples were collected;
whether pollution sources were investigated;
when laboratory results will be available;
and which agency will publish the findings.
Community initiatives, including proposals to remove bulrushes or establish a River Suir trust, may make a valuable contribution. However, volunteers and anglers cannot be expected to replace statutory responsibility.
Publish the findings This fish kill must mark a turning point. The responsible agencies should provide a published scientific assessment, laboratory and monitoring results, continuous oxygen and temperature monitoring at vulnerable locations, investigation of pollution and nutrient sources, an environmentally assessed vegetation-management programme and a costed river restoration plan.
Responsibilities, deadlines and progress reports must be made public. The cause of this fish kill should not be prejudged; but uncertainty cannot become an excuse for inaction. After thirteen years of warnings, the questions are who will take responsibility, what the evidence shows and how quickly a credible recovery programme will begin.
The deteriorating condition of the River Suir cannot be treated as a new discovery.
For years, residents, anglers and environmental campaigners have raised concerns about pollution, excessive vegetation, restricted flows and the general neglect of the river through Thurles and surrounding areas. Yet meaningful, coordinated action by elected representatives, Tipperary County Council and the responsible State agencies has been painfully slow. VIEW HERE and note date, November 7th 2013.
Note the dates of the following links published over the past 13 years
Recent statements and a carefully produced publicity videos may create the impression of decisive political intervention. But inspections, promises and political photo opportunities are not substitutes for an agreed restoration programme, clear accountability and work on the ground.
Ministerial Visit Raises More Questions Than It Does Answers. Minister of State Mr Kevin Moran recently visited sections of the Suir in Thurles and Holycross following representations from Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry. Not for the first time Deputy Lowry says the Office of Public Works will support an application from Tipperary County Council, under the enhanced Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme. The expanded scheme reportedly allows councils to seek 95% funding for eligible works costing up to €2 million.
Pictures of the River Suir bed not shown in “Team Lowry’s” promotional video. The litter remains almost six weeks after the Liberty Music Festival, with no proper clean-up and no bin near “Wino’s Corner” despite repeated requests to Tipperary County Council.
All such commitments is welcome, but it remains only a commitment to support an application. The public has not yet been given a detailed proposal identifying:- The exact works to be undertaken. The evidence that those works will improve the river. The environmental assessments required. The project’s anticipated cost and timetable. The agencies responsible for delivering and monitoring it.
After years of warnings, the people of Tipperary are entitled to something more substantial than another announcement.
Where Have Our Representatives and Council Officials Been? The present condition of the Suir did not develop overnight. Local representatives and council officials have had ample opportunity to inspect the river, consult anglers and environmental groups, engage the relevant agencies and develop a long-term plan. Instead, the response has too often appeared fragmented and reactive.
Councillor Micheál Lowry and his father, Deputy Michael Lowry TD, are now drawing attention to conditions that local campaigners say have been evident for more than a decade. Their intervention must therefore be judged by what it delivers, not by the number of statements, videos or the ministerial visits it generates.
Other pictures of the River Suir bed not shown in “Team Lowry’s” promotional video. The litter remains in the river, together with 6 Supermarket trollies, almost six weeks after the Liberty Music Festival, with no proper clean-up and no bin near “Wino’s Corner” despite repeated requests to Tipperary County Council.
It should be noted:Thurles Town Park bye-laws were formally made by Tipperary County Council acting through the Templemore–Thurles Municipal District, and they came into operation on March 1st 2016. Available evidence indicates that those bye-laws then regulated alcohol consumption in the park, but this bye-law today remains totally ignored by all and sundry.
The same standard must be applied to Tipperary County Council. If the Council intends to seek OPW funding, it should publish its proposal and explain how any vegetation removal, blockage clearance or flood-related work will be reconciled with water quality, fisheries and habitat protection.
This Is More Than a Question of Appearance The problem cannot be reduced to reeds, bulrushes or an untidy riverbank. The Suir catchment covers approximately 3,500 square kilometres. Catchments.ie has previously identified excess phosphorus from sources including wastewater, animal waste and fertilisers as a major water-quality pressure. Excess nutrients can drive eutrophication, damaging aquatic habitats and reducing ecological quality. Catchments.ie’s Suir assessment also shows why pollution sources vary across the catchment and require targeted measures rather than a single cosmetic response.
Low summer flows, pollution, heavy plant growth, sediment and physical obstructions may interact, but they are not necessarily the same problem. Removing vegetation without identifying the underlying causes will not, by itself, restore the river. Any intervention must be scientifically informed and developed with the relevant environmental and fisheries authorities.
Too Many Agencies—and Too Little Accountability Responsibility for the Suir is spread across numerous organisations, including: Tipperary County Council. The River Basin Management Service, (formerly LAWPRO). The Environmental Protection Agency. Inland Fisheries Ireland. The Office of Public Works. Uisce Éireann. The National Parks and Wildlife Service. Local landowners, anglers and recreational organisations.
This above complicated structure cannot continue to provide cover for delay and buck-passing. The public needs to know which body is leading the response, what each agency is responsible for and when measurable improvements will be delivered. The failure to prominently involve or even acknowledge the River Basin Management Service in recent Lowry political presentations is particularly difficult to understand.
Community Initiatives Must Be Supported; but Properly Coordinated. The Cashel, Golden and Tipperary Anglers Association is reportedly considering seeking assistance to hire specialist equipment to remove bulrushes from parts of the riverbed. Separately, NoreVision is reported to be progressing proposals for River Suir and River Barrow trusts. Such trusts could help communities undertake practical restoration, education and awareness projects, provided they have appropriate scientific guidance, sustainable funding and constructive relationships with public agencies. Community organisations can make an enormous contribution, but volunteers should not be expected to compensate indefinitely for failures of statutory responsibility.
Public “Save Our Suir” Meeting in Cahir. A public information meeting is scheduled following a recent committee meeting of the Cashel, Golden and Tipperary Anglers Association. Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. Time: 7:30pm. Venue: Cahir House Hotel. Tel.: 052 7443000. Admission: Open to all. Note: I could not independently locate an official online notice confirming the above event, thus intending attendees should check the organiser’s latest announcement before travelling.
The “Save Our Suir” proposed meeting offers residents, anglers, landowners, recreational users and environmental campaigners an opportunity to hear what is being proposed and to demand answers from those responsible.
The Suir Needs a Plan; NOT Another Vote Catching Publicity Exercise. The River Suir is an ecological, recreational and economic asset belonging to the entire community. Its future cannot be protected through disconnected funding announcements, short-term clearance projects or political sound-bites.
Those attending any Cahir meeting should demand: A published, science-based assessment of the river’s condition. Identification and investigation of pollution sources. A costed restoration and maintenance programme. A clear division of responsibility among the Council and State agencies. Meaningful consultation with anglers, environmental specialists, landowners and residents. Public reporting against firm delivery dates.
After years of warnings, elected representatives and council officials must be held accountable for the absence of effective action. The question is no longer whether the River Suir is under pressure. The question is who will take responsibility and how soon tangible work will begin.
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