Tourism « Thurles Information

Help Shape Future Of The River Suir.

Mr Darragh Kelly (Community Water Officer, Tipperary & Waterford) Reports.

I am delighted to share details of the upcoming public consultation on the proposed Suir Rivers Trust.
Please see the poster attached hereunder.

Communities, river users, businesses and landowners are being invited to help shape the future of the proposed Rivers Trust for the Suir.
A River Trust is a community-focused organisation to protect rivers and their surrounding catchment habitats.

Please note the River Suir community meeting dates are as follows;
Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary – May 27th.
Cabragh Wetlands Centre, Holycross, Thurles – Thursday May 28th.

Why Participate?
Share your views on the future of the river Suir.
Highlight local issues, concerns and opportunities.
Help shape how proposed River Trusts could and should be developed.

All information, booking links for meetings and focus groups, and access to the online questionnaires are available by scanning the QR code in the attached poster above or by visiting: www.researchanddig.com/three-sisters-rivers-trusts.

EPA Finds Almost Six Out Of Ten Septic Tanks Fail Inspection.

EPA finds almost six out of ten septic tanks fail inspection, putting drinking water wells and rivers at risk.

► Local authorities completed 1,466 septic tank inspections in 2025 targeting areas of greatest risk from an environmental and health perspective.
► Of these, 59% (863) failed inspection with many posing a risk to nearby rivers and drinking water wells.
► Since 2013, some 7,212 septic tanks failed inspections, with 84% fixed by the end of 2025.
► Improved resolution of faulty septic tanks by homeowners has been aided by increased Government grant support.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2025, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2025.
In 2025, 1,466 septic tanks were inspected, with 59% (863) failing because they were not built or maintained properly. Faulty systems pose a risk to human health from harmful bacteria and viruses through the contamination of drinking water wells, and can pollute rivers and streams through releases of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Sewage Flowing Into The River Suir, Thurles Town Centre Ignored.

When septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. Of the 7,212 septic tanks that failed since inspections began in 2013, 84 percent had been fixed by the end of 2025. The number of failed systems with advisory notices unresolved for longer than two years reduced from 523 in 2024 to 442 in 2025.

Tipperary local authority area Inspection findings.
Sadly Tipperary Water Service Authority shows only a moderate rate of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS commonly known as septic tanks) failures fixed.

Water Service Authority.	Inspections Required 2025 ▲.	Inspections Completed 2025.	Failure Rate 2025.	Systems failing 2013 – 2025.	% Fixed at end 2025.
Tipperary.	40	44	52%	205	78%

▲ Includes minimum number of inspections allocated in the National Inspection Plan (NIP) 2022-2026 and inspection shortfalls carried forward from 2024.

Commenting on the report, Mr Pat Byrne, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring said: “The gradual increase in the number of faulty septic tanks being fixed by homeowners since 2013 in response to failed inspections is welcomed, as these are in the areas of greatest risk to rivers and drinking water wells. This has been aided by increased Government grant aid and greater enforcement activities by proactive local authorities. However, more consistent and sustained enforcement is needed across all local authorities to ensure that faulty septic tanks are fixed as soon as possible and that public health and the environment is protected.”

The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were amended in 2024 and increased from €5,000 to €12,000. There were 460 grants awarded in 2025, totalling nearly €4.77 million, up from 265 grants awarded in 2024.
Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said: “In 2025, some 59% of inspected septic tanks failed. This is a worrying statistic, as many homeowners may be exposing their families to health risks from contaminated private wells, or polluting local rivers, often without realising it. Regular checks and routine maintenance of septic tanks by homeowners can prevent minor issues becoming major problems, helping to protect their family’s health and the environment. Where eligible, homeowners should also make use of grant support of up to €12,000 to remediate faulty systems.”

There was a shortfall in inspections by three local authorities (Donegal, Fingal and Wexford) in 2025 and this shortfall must be made up in 2026, in addition to the planned inspections. The EPA will continue to monitor local authorities that are required to make up these shortfalls in 2026.
Nine local authorities had less than 80 per cent of their issued advisory notices resolved by the end of 2025, which means that too many faulty septic tank systems continued to be a risk.

Local authorities are required to ensure septic tanks that fail inspection are fixed by homeowners in an appropriate timeframe.
The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2025, is available HERE to download on the EPA website.

A Warning To Late Travellers On The Cashel Road.

If the Roads Around Cashel Fall Silent, Best Turn for Home.

If you find yourself out late around the town of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, take a bit of advice from the old people; go home before the road goes quiet.

Tourists especially beware, because according to the folklore of the Galtee country, there are worse things abroad at night than a Garda checkpoint or a missed Fish & Chipper.

Long before horror films discovered the headless horseman, Ireland already had the Dullahan, latter a charming individual who travelled the roads carrying his own head under his arm and announcing death wherever he stopped. No door lock kept him out. No gate latch held him back. The only known deterrent was gold, which feels very Irish altogether. Even supernatural evil respects inflation.

The most entertaining version of the tale comes from an old story called “The Good Woman”, collected by Thomas Crofton Croker in the nineteenth century. The story is set around the Galtee Mountains and Cashel, where a horse dealer named Larry Dodd makes the sort of decision that proves Irish folklore exists mainly to warn men against acting the maggot after dark.

Larry is riding home from Cashel one June evening after buying a horse. He’s feeling pleased with himself, no doubt after “just the one pint” that became several. Along the road he meets a mysterious cloaked woman walking alone at twilight.

Now, any sensible person in rural Ireland knows there are only three explanations for a woman silently appearing on a lonely road after sunset; a banshee, a fairy, trouble.
Larry, unfortunately, ignores centuries of accumulated wisdom and offers her a lift.
She says nothing. Climbs up behind him. Still says nothing, which, to be fair, should have been the first warning sign to any member of the male species.

Eventually the horse stops near the ruins of an old church. The woman slips down soundlessly and glides away across the graveyard. Larry, displaying the sort of judgement that has doomed Irish men since mythology began, chases after her looking for a kiss and catches her, only to discover she has no head.

At this point the story becomes considerably less romantic. Larry faints dead away and wakes among a gathering of Dullahans; headless ladies and gentlemen, soldiers, priests, musicians and skeletons tossing skulls around like hurling balls. Naturally enough, someone offers him a drink. Well this is still Ireland after all.

Things go poorly from there but eventually he escapes with his life, though not with his dignity, and his horse disappears entirely which may be the most authentically Irish ending imaginable. Survive supernatural terror if you like, but someone is still stealing the livestock.

So if you’re around Cashel late at night and happen to see a silent figure on the roadside, perhaps keep driving. Do not offer lifts. Do not flirt. And, absolutely do not follow mysterious women into ruined churches.

The old stories survive for a reason, and mainly because somebody ignored obvious warning signs and succeeded to live just long enough to warn the rest of us.

“Think Before You Tap” – Bank of Ireland Warns Of Card Payment Scam.

Bank of Ireland is warning customers to stay alert after a rise in cases where people are being significantly overcharged when paying by card in shops, cafés, bars, taxis and other busy venues.

The scam works by verbally quoting one price, while entering a much higher amount on the payment terminal; often when customers are distracted, rushed or under pressure.

Ms Nicola Sadlier, (Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland), said fraudsters are taking advantage of busy environments where people may not double-check the screen, before tapping or entering their PIN.

Key advice from Bank of Ireland:
► Always check the amount on the card terminal before paying
► Don’t rush if you feel pressured during a transaction
► Never hand your card to someone else to complete payment
► Turn on transaction alerts to spot suspicious charges quickly
► Review your statements regularly and report anything unusual immediately
►With summer travel season approaching and more people using contactless payments abroad, the bank says taking a few extra seconds to verify the amount could prevent costly fraud.

“Check the total before you tap.”

Tipperary V Clare – May 16th

Traffic advice from An Garda Síochána for those travelling by car To Thurles.

To help ease congestion, please consider using alternative routes when travelling to Thurles:
Suggested Routes:

► M7 → Moneygall → Dunkerrin → Templemore → Thurles
► M7 → Roscrea → Templemore → Thurles
► M8 → Cashel → Holycross → Thurles
► M8 → Exit 6 (Horse and Jockey) → Thurles
► M8 → Exit 5 (Twomileborris) → Thurles

Please avoid the Nenagh → Latteragh (R498) → Borrisoleigh route due to extensive roadworks and Stop/Go traffic management systems. Here significant delays are expected.