A significant roads funding package for 2026, announced in February 2026, has been outlined for Tipperary, covering both regional/local roads and national roads.
Regional & Local Roads (Tipperary County Council): €49,379,670. The largest share of the allocation is directed toward the day-to-day upkeep and long-term resilience of the county’s regional and local network.
Over last weekend, you’d be forgiven for thinking Thurles, Co. Tipperary, had been abandoned, judging by the state of our streets. Once again we’re driving on loose gravel, while yesterday’s potholes are “repaired” with cold tarmac tipped straight into puddles, as if water were a suitable foundation.
Worse than that, a drain cover was left open since last Thursday, near to the junction at Bowe’s corner; the grate cover having been dislodged in direct line with vehicle wheels. (See picture featured hereunder.)
Pic 1 Left: Grate cover dislodged. Pic 2 Right: On Barry’s Bridge, once again, a sinking surface, as 18 wheelers bounce over a raised pedestrian platform. Pictures: G.Willoughby.
Parnell Street, Thurles beginning to sink and unravel with footpath now at a distinct sloaping angle. Picture: G. Willoughby.
“Protection & Renewal”: €36,234,670. Within the regional and local roads budget, €36,234,670 is assigned to Protection & Renewal. This funding supports a wide range of works and programmes, including:
restoration, improvement, and maintenance works
discretionary schemes
bridges and structures
drainage projects
road safety measures
climate adaptation works
community involvement initiatives (and other related supports)
National Roads (Tipperary): €8,360,343.
In addition, €8,360,343 has been allocated for national roads within Tipperary, supporting key routes that play a major role in commuting, freight, and regional connectivity.
A Combined Local Package of Approximately €57.7m. Taken together, the figures referenced locally bring the overall roads investment package for Tipperary to around €57.7 million for 2026.
National Context: Over €1.5bn for Roads in 2026. For broader context, the Department of Transport has stated that more than €1.5 billion was provided nationally in 2026 for national roads and regional/local roads, placing the Tipperary allocation within a substantial nationwide investment programme.
The No. 171 “Slieve Gullion” Steams into Thurles at 11:57am This Morning, Marking Another Milestone for Irish Main Line Steam.
Great Northern Railway (Ireland) S Class 4-4-0 No. 171 “Slieve Gullion”, arrived into Thurles Railway Station at 11:57am this morning, drawing a warm welcome as the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s (RPSI) flagship steam locomotive continues its return to regular main line operation.
Today’s working forms part of the RPSI’s “An Sáirséal” Steam & Diesel Special operating between Dublin Connolly and Limerick, with No. 171 hauling the train from Dublin Connolly to Thurles, before an 071 Class diesel takes over for the onward run to Limerick.
Built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. in Manchester in 1913, No. 171 is one of the celebrated GNR(I) S Class express passenger locomotives, named after a mountain in the south of County Armagh, Northern Irelandand, is synonymous with the golden age of Irish main line steam.
Following an extensive overhaul and a long period out of traffic, No. 171 returned to steam in July 2024, officially launched back into service at Whitehead in September of that year, and later resumed main line, revenue-earning passenger work in November 2025, its first such duties since 2002.
An RPSI spokesperson said the Thurles arrival is “another proud moment for everyone who contributed to bringing ‘Slieve Gullion’ back; proof that Irish main line steam remains very much alive, and still capable of turning heads wherever it goes.”
Vehicle drivers are being asked to take care, if travelling the R659 roadway, between the junction of Galbertstown Lower and Holycross village this morning.
The area was the scene, last evening, of a single vehicle collision, which saw an English registered Land Rover strike a ditch. Thankfully the driver was uninjured and the vehicle was subsequently removed.
However, early this morning a telephone pole, close to the area collapsed, blocking the roadway. Members of the Thurles Fire Brigade attended at the scene at approximately 7:20am and were joined later by telephone technicians, both of whom currently remain at the scene. Note: Stop and Go signs are currently being manually operated on a very narrow road section close to a dangerous blind bend.
Gardaí and emergency services have confirmed that a man in his 60s has died following a fatal collision with a lorry on a rural road in County Tipperary yesterday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:35pm on Thursday, 19th February, along the L8109 road at Ardloman, Breansha, near the Glen of Aherlow, in the west of the county. Emergency services, including local Gardaí and ambulance crews, responded swiftly after the alarm was raised informing them that a pedestrian had been struck by a heavy goods vehicle.
Despite the rapid response by first responders, the pedestrian, latter a male aged in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardaí have confirmed that no other injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
A technical examination of the collision site has been conducted by Garda forensic personnel to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. Standard procedures have been followed, with both the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Coroner notified as part of the ongoing process. Representatives from the HSA have acknowledged the fatality and indicated that a formal investigation has been launched.
Gardaí say that investigations remain ongoing, and they have not released further details regarding the victim’s identity or specific causes at this time. Gardaí are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who may have relevant dash-cam footage from the L8109 area around the time of the incident, to come forward to assist with inquiries.
No additional information has yet been provided about the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it is not yet clear if road or weather conditions were a contributing factor.
Thurles’ Daily Soaking Service Continues As Blocked Drain Turns Footpath into Splash Zone.
Residents and pedestrians using the Cabragh Road (Thurles town side of the old Sugar Factory site), report that roadside flooding over the past number of days is not a once-off weather emergency linked to Storm Chandra, but an everyday, repeat-performance hazard, caused by a blocked drain.
While Storm Chandra is a real named storm in the current naming cycle, with Met Éireann issuing commentary on its impacts nationally, locals say the Cabragh Road situation is far more reliable: it doesn’t need a storm, a warning, or even a stiff breeze to deliver ankle-deep water and a full-body rinse to anyone on the footpath.
Photo shows standing water across Cabragh Road with surface flooding consistent with inadequate drainage.
According to residents, the scene is depressingly familiar; cars, vans and artic trucks pass, water sheets across the road on both sides and pedestrians get soaked “to say the least”, simply for attempting to walk on a public footpath.
“First we’ve heard of it”, again. Members of the public say they have contacted the local authority repeatedly, only to receive the now-classic response: “Thank you for calling, this is the first we’ve heard of this, and we will get back to you… hopefully a crew will get out there.” Residents report that nobody gets back to anybody, no crew arrives, and the residential community continues to get “drowned”, with no public comment, they say, from local councillors.
A maintenance service, in theory. Tipperary County Council’s own public information states that local authorities maintain drains and gullies on public roads by clearing debris to prevent flooding. Locals say Cabragh Road is an example of what happens when that basic function becomes optional. Other Irish local authorities describe blocked gullies as a straightforward maintenance issue, with clear responsibility for cleaning and response pathways, the kind of normal, boring competence residents say they’d happily settle for on Cabragh Road.
Local reaction A local spokesperson said: “We’d like to thank Thurles Municipal Council for developing this immersive, all-weather pedestrian experience, where the footpath comes with complimentary road-spray, and the customer service line assures you it’s the first they’ve heard of it, every single time.”
Another added: “Storm Chandra may come and go, but Cabragh Road flooding is part of the local heritage at this stage.”
What residents are asking. Residents are calling on Thurles Municipal District / Tipperary County Council to:
Clear the blocked drain immediately and confirm completion publicly.
Inspect and jet/clean the line, not just “have a look”, to prevent repeat blockages.
Introduce a routine gully-clearing schedule for known trouble spots.
Publish a basic response standard for reported drainage hazards on public roads.
Because, as residents point out, a public footpath shouldn’t come with a soaking, and “first we’ve heard of it” shouldn’t be the default setting for an issue that locals say happens continuously; storm or no storm.
So tell me again “Why are we paying rates and property tax?”
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