Transport « Thurles Information

Water Leak & Road Works Slows Traffic In Thurles.

A water leak, possibly coming from a water metre, is slowing down traffic at the Westgate Thurles, location.

Three units of Tipperary County Council’s Water Services are presently at the scene.

Westgate is situated at the junction of Friar Street and Liberty Square, and the area should possibly be avoided, especially by traffic coming from the west.

However road works are also taking place on two sections of the Slievenamon Road, south of the town, and together with the continuing upgrade to Liberty Square and the closure of the car park on the north side, to the rear of the Ulster Bank building; people are asked to please be patient and above all, do take care.

Motorway Speed Safety An Issue On Tipperary’s M7.

Motorway speed safety cameras have been installed on the M7 in Co. Tipperary since Monday last.

The decision to execute this plan was jointly decided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the Roads Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána.

This safety camera system was installed between Junction 26 – Nenagh (West) and Junction 27 – Birdhill, covering traffic flow in both directions. Same will be Ireland’s first mainline motorway-based system since an identical system became operational with great success in the Dublin City Tunnel back in mid-2017.

The location identified for the installation on the M7 in Co. Tipperary, has been in the past the subject of frequent micro-climate events, with mostly large ice particles falling in the form of hail, thus resulting in an increased collision frequency in this particular area of the county.

We understand that the objective of this installation is to secure compliance, not prosecutions. However, with current speeds on the M7 regarded as totally unacceptable, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) state that such speeding is typical of driver behaviour on low traffic volume sections of our Irish motorway network, throughout Ireland.

Motorcyclist Killed In Single-Vehicle Tipperary Collision.

A male, aged in his 40’s has sadly died, in what has been identified as a single-vehicle collision, following a motorcycle accident in west Co. Tipperary.

The alarm was raised at around 2.00pm yesterday and when Gardaí attended the scene they found a motorcycle located in a ditch on the R497 at Reiska, Kilcommon, between Foilnacanna and Banquet Hill.

The body of a man was also found fatally injured close-by, and was taken to a mortuary in Templemore for a postmortem. The victim, as yet, has not been named publicly.

The road remained closed yesterday with local diversions in place, as a technical examination was undertaken by a forensic collision investigation team.

Gardaí at Thurles are appealing for any witnesses or for anyone with information, who travelled on the R497 yesterday, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Thurles Garda Station Tel: 0504 25100, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any garda station.

Second Extension For Expiring Driving Licences

Due to the the latest COVID 19 crisis and its ongoing associated lockdown restrictions, an extension is to be granted for expired and expiring driver licences.

The extension will apply to most drivers and licence categories. In addition, licence holders who were already granted an extension may be eligible for a second extension.

Please note however that there is no further extension to learner permits at this point.

You do not need to do anything to avail of the extension of the expiry date as your driver record will be automatically updated and you will not be subject to penalty. Neither will you be issued with a new licence.

You can check the expiry date and earliest renewal date of your current licence on the expiry date calculator HERE.
Drivers who are not eligible for an extension to their licence must renew it by appointment at an NDLS centre, see HERE.

For more information visit HERE.

Thurles 175 Year Old Great Famine Double Ditch Demolition Scandal

Survey Sent To All Thurles Elected Representatives Including Teachtaí Dála Mr Jackie Cahill and Mr Michael Lowry.

A simple definition of the word “Hypocrisy“, is the practice of claiming to have higher standards, virtues, principles and beliefs that one in fact does not have and in most cases are unlikely to attain.

For examples of real “Hypocrisy” one does not have to go outside of County Tipperary or past page 4 of the “Tipperary Heritage Plan 2017 -2021” to find 2 major examples. View same by simply clicking HERE

First example of “Hypocrisy” comes from Cllr. Siobhán Ambrose, (Back between the years 2017 – 2021 Ms Ambrose was for a term Cathaoirleach, of Tipperary County Council.)

Quote: “The aim of the plan is to connect the citizens of Tipperary to their heritage and to make it an integral part of everyday life at the core of our communities. ……The aim of the plan is to connect the citizens of Tipperary to their heritage and to make it an integral part of everyday life at the core of our communities. Tipperary is a county with a rich heritage of which the Council and the citizens of Tipperary are very proud. Heritage projects provide a great opportunity for communities to come together and across the county local groups are working together to promote their localities. I have attended numerous events in the last months where people are celebrating their heritage, be it Built Heritage, Biodiversity and Wildlife, Culture, Music or Folklore. This strengthens our communities and contributes to our sense of place and puts heritage at the heart of our communities. I would like to acknowledge the work of these groups and individuals and hope that through the actions of this plan that we can work in partnership to look after this valuable asset and protect it for generations to come”.

The second example comes from the current reigning Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council, Mr Joe MacGrath.

Quote: “Our heritage is about our past, our present and our future and contributes greatly to the quality of life in our urban and rural communities. It is shared by all and is fully inclusive. Interaction with our heritage not only provides physical and mental health benefits, but contributes to overall well-being, while biodiversity is an essential component in the functioning of our environment.”

While we can’t be sure who wrote the above two introductory paragraphs to this ‘Tipperary Heritage Plan‘ document; we do know that both the Tipperary Co. Council officials named above, signed them; while receiving hefty salaries from Tipperary taxpayers.

Elected Representatives Questionnaire/Survey

The above survey is being sent to the following persons.

Elected Co. Councillors, Templemore / Thurles Municipal District.

Mr Peter Ryan. peter.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Eddie Moran. eddie.moran@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Jim Ryan. jim.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie
Note: Latter Mr Ryan will also reply to our survey issued yesterday.
Mr Shane Lee. shane.lee@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Noel J. Coonan. noel.coonan@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Michael Smith. michael.smith@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Micheál Lowry. micheal.lowry@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Seamus Hanafin. seamus.hanafin@tipperarycoco.ie
Mr Sean Ryan. seano.ryan@tipperarycoco.ie

Local Politicians

Mr Michael Lowry. michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie
Mr Jackie Cahill. jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie

Of the 6 questions forwarded to all elected representatives; the first 3 questions require only a simple YES or NO answer.

(1) Do you support the continued destruction of Thurles history and its historical sites, as in the past?

(2) Do you support the recently confirmed plans by Tipperary County Council to destroy the Great Famine Double Ditch historical site?

(3) As part of the Tipperary County Council development plans, in relation to this proposed inner relief road; has any alternative to the destruction of the Double Ditch been explored at Municipal district level or County level, Chaired by Tipperary Co, Council Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath?

(4) If you agree that the Great Famine Double Ditch should be taken from the people of Thurles and destroyed as part of Tipperary Co. Councils development plans, please now outline why you believe this to be so justified?

(5) If you disagree and believe the Double Ditch should be protected and marketed to the world; what action do you propose should now be undertaken to prevent its destruction?

(6) Will you be inviting ÆGIS and their Archaeological Impact Statement report author, namely Mr F. Coyne BA MIAI to return and acknowledge that the Great Famine Double Ditch actually exists?
The qualified professional author Mr Coyne, should also explain how and why he excluded the phrases: “Double Ditch”, “Public Right-of-Way”, “Mass Path” and “Great Famine” from his Archaeological Impact Statement and declare that he was not requested to do so by any engineer or other official within Tipperary Co. Council. (See page 5 & 6 of link shown HERE.)

NB: The Questionnaire/Survey must be returned by Sunday 14th March 2021 and in the interests of openness & transparency, all details will be published in full, on this website for our readers.