Transport « Thurles Information

Thurles Town Centre – Realigned Without Planning Permission.

At first, we thought it was caused by storm Éowyn, but then we heard that it was possible that proposed notion (or was it motion, whatever), put forward last December, by Fine Gael Tipperary Cllr. Ms Peggy Ryan; latter seeking more short term parking in the centre of Thurles, that had suddenly materialised.
But not so, on making enquiries, (facts not yet fully confirmed) it appears that one of the many heavy goods vehicles, laden with some 3500 kg (3.5 Metric tons) of produce; all of which are forced to pass daily through Liberty Square town centre, simply ran out of narrow road, while attempting to progress unto Slievenanon Road.

**Railings removed for the second time, on entering Slievenamon Road from Liberty Square.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

Thankfully, no Latte Coffee drinking pedestrians, normally seated in this general area, were killed or injured and the rate-paying businesses will happily have no problem in paying for the damaged railings. Engineers who came up with the farcical and ill-conceived planning of this area will not be found financially liable. Sadly however our one remaining local Thurles TD (we learned today) will no longer have speaking rights in Dáil Éireann, to ask for an update on funding for the 50 year old awaited ‘Ring Road’, latter the answer to this ongoing demolition problem.

**Railings removed last August for the 4th time and not yet repaired**.
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

However, look on the bright side; one additional benefit has come out of this latest piece of demolition work. Both sides of this junction, entering and exiting unto Liberty Square, are now almost a perfect match, thus greatly enhancing the Thurles town centre.

Victorian Perimeter Wall Ready To Collapse In Thurles.

With the cost of replacing an unsafe 70-metre long perimeter wall around a government office in Dublin, ending up costing nearly a half million Euros; it is now unlikely that the perimeter wall, which daily threatens footpath pedestrians and cars, (some dodging Thurles parking charges), on Ikerrin Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, is unlikely to be repaired within the next century or so.

A **3 metre high wall section due to collapse unto a pedestrian footpath on Ikerrin Road,** **in Thurles.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

The works at the Dublin headquarters of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) were originally expected to cost around €200,000, exclusive of Vodka And Tonic (VAT), but ended up costing over €490,000. Thankfully the Ikerrin wall did not collapse during Storm Éowyn last week, although cars bearing antique number plates clamoured for a suitable position under its 4m height, (12 ft).

A **2 metre high wall section due to collapse unto a pedestrian footpath, on Ikerrin Road, Thurles.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

Just to speed thing up, when future insurance claims need to be made in respect of car damages or serious head injuries or ‘God forbid’, even deaths, note the wall and the graveyard it surrounds is the property of Tipperary Co. Council, whose Thurles Municipal District Council office is situated on Castle Avenue, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Try to lodge your Solicitor’s Letter before closing time at 4:30pm.

**Interesting stone to be found, lodged in the Ikerrin Road Wall, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

One interesting stone appears in this wall, which is not part of the wall of Thurles as some people have been heard to declare. This wall was constructed mostly from left over stones from the demolished old original Protestant Church that once existed pre 1800. The stone which is of interest can be viewed in the picture above.

Is this stone shown above telling us where we can find some antiquity /treasure, or is it just a piece of an old headstone, which possibly stated “Here lies the body“?

Meanwhile, if you are out walking on Ikerrin Road (Previously known as ‘Limekiln Lane’) remember the words of Budd Nielsen, “Keep your head up, keep your eyes facing forward, and keep telling yourself, I’m going to make it.”

More Changes To Thurles Skyline Following Storm Éowyn.

Persons attempting to reach the village of Littleton and/or the N62 exiting southward out of Thurles, Co. Tipperary; travelling via Mill Road towards Archerstown from Thurles town, are being warned to avoid the area. Council workers presently are attempting to remove a large tree blown over in recent hours by Storm Éowyn.

**Large tree blocking roadway at junction with Littleton village and the N62 route on Mill Road, to the rear of Thurles Golf Club.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

Traffic on this route are being asked to turn around and find an alternative route, as no signs are in place warning of this road closure.

Local telephone lines and ESB lines have been broken, brought down by this fallen tree.

Changes To Thurles Skyline Following Storm Éowyn.

At least 15,000 Tipperary homes and business premises are without electric power this morning, with many reports of fallen trees and strewn branch debris, following the extreme winds courtesy of Storm Éowyn.

Here in Thurles town council workers will have a few extra jobs to undertake today, as our pictures hereunder now demonstrate.

**Branches down at the *‘Swinging Gates’*, on the junction of Emmet Street and Thomond Road, Thurles, at early light this morning.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*

**Large tree blown over on the N62 close to Thurles Golf Club entrance closing the west facing lane. Motorists warned to take care.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

**Newly planted trees in the vicinity of Lidl Supermarket, will need immediate attention.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

Met Eireann has, this morning, downgraded the Red Level severe weather wind alert to Level Orange for all of Co. Tipperary; same valid from 7:00am today Friday January 24th until at least midday.
For more information see www.Met.ie

Tipperary Co. Council Announce Extra TeL. No. For Tonight’s Weather Event.

Members of the public can contact Tipperary Co. Council Customer Service Desk on 0818 06 5000/6000 or a dedicated Severe Weather contact Number at 0818 06 5001 during Friday 24th January from 9.00am to 10.00pm and on Saturday 25th January from 9.00am to 1.00pm, after which calls will be transferred to the Council’s Out-of-hours contact number 0818 06 5003. Members of the public can also email customerservices@tipperarycoco.ie to report their concerns.

Members of the public are reminded to register (free) on MapAlerter, a public emergency notification system available on the Council’s Website, where they can receive additional useful information by text and e-mail.

The extremely strong winds are expected to cause fallen trees, power lines, damage to property, flying debris, and road blockages making driving conditions dangerous.

Council road crews will not be in a position to respond to call-outs from midnight tonight, until the end of the Red Warning at 11:00am on Friday. Members of the public using the roads during this period could potentially find themselves very isolated should they get into difficulty. The Fire Services will only be in a position to respond to emergency calls that are deemed to be life critical.

Note: Council Offices and services including libraries, swimming pools and civic amenity sites will be closed to the public on Friday January 24th. Civic Amenity sites will reopen again on Saturday 25th January.