Transport « Thurles Information

No. 171 “Slieve Gullion” Steams into Thurles Town.

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 In The Area Of HolyCross Village Take Care.

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.

Pedestrian In His 60s Dies – Struck By Lorry On L8109 In Co. Tipperary.

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.

Not Storm Chandra – Just Cabragh Road, Thurles As Usual.

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?”

A Stronger Tourism Experience For Thurles & Tipperary.

As Promised: Time to Construct Plans and Attempt to Find a “Bookable Visitor Experience,” for Thurles.

Thurles Tourism Debate: Part IV.
Concerns over Tipperary’s ability to sustain and grow tourism have intensified following a recent council presentation on our tourism performance and marketing activity; but then in the words of T.C. Haliburton and later P.T. Barnum, “Talk is Cheap” and the words of councillors and officials come easier than their actions.

Thurles ‘A Sellable Product’.

“Thurles: Cathedral, Liberty Square & Local Stories, Lár na Páirce.” (90–120 mins)

The promise: (what the visitor gets.)
A guided, easy walking loop that explains Thurles through three stops foreigners can understand instantly:

Cathedral of the Assumption:
Big visuals + a clear “why it matters” story: architecture, stained glass, music/choir tradition, and key moments that root the town in Irish life.

Liberty Square heritage loop:
2–3 short, memorable stories (old shopfronts, civic points, photo stops); stories, the kind people repeat afterwards. e.g. See links Bridget Fitzpatrick, – District Inspector Michael Hunt. – Vogue Magazine. – King Charles III, Association. – the stories are endless the work is already highlighted.

Lár na Páirce:
Framed as “Irish life & identity through games”, sell as a cultural stop, not a sports lecture.

Why it’s easy to sell:

Walkable and simple (no specialist knowledge needed).
Weather-proof-ish if you plan “pause points” under cover (shopfront canopies / a proper bus shelter if installed is a cheap win).
Perfect as an add-on stop between other major routes.

Why Irish Rail is a big advantage for Thurles.
Thurles has a very strong practical selling point; it’s a rail town with visitor basics already in place.
From Irish Rail’s station information, Thurles station is 0.5 miles to the town centre, has toilets, passenger shelters, an enclosed waiting room, and strong accessibility (lifts to platforms, accessible toilet, ramps). It’s also on key intercity routes including Dublin Heuston – Cork (directs and intermediate), plus services connecting towards Limerick/Ennis and Tralee.

That means we can pitch Thurles as:
“Arrive by train, walk the town, back on the train.”
Ideal for weekend/day-trip groups who dislike motorway fatigue, parking stress, or long coach days.

In Part V, of our Thurles Tourism Debate, in the coming days we will assist in where to contact/sell and will provide a short, copy/paste social media advert.

Note: Since two paid tour guides with proper temperament, will be required to undertake this work, (yes we already have two knowledgable individuals, trained by myself), thus creating two jobs, which is more than our Tipperary public reps. have created in the past 20 years.

Time to increase failed footfall and reverse the deliberate destruction of our town centre, (Liberty Square), as a centre for business.