Roads « Thurles Information

Ireland’s Tourism Paradox – Rising Visitor Numbers But Pressure On Tipperary And Regional Businesses.

Two reports present contrasting pictures of Irish tourism in 2026.

Fáilte Ireland’s business sentiment survey reveals falling turnover and widespread concern among operators, while official Central Statistics Office figures show growth in foreign visitors and expenditure.
The reports are not necessarily contradictory. They measure different aspects of tourism and suggest that national growth is not reaching every business, sector or region equally.

First report: Tourism operators report declining turnover
Fáilte Ireland surveyed 643 tourism businesses about trading conditions in the year to May. Only 24% reported increased revenue compared with 2025, while 25 per cent recorded no change and 51 per cent experienced a decrease.
B&Bs, activity providers, pubs and bars were among the weakest-performing sectors. Businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way also reported particularly difficult conditions.

Dublin performed more strongly. In the capital, 38% of businesses reported increased revenue and the same proportion recorded a decline. Nationally, however, 43% expected revenue to fall during the remainder of 2026, compared with 29% anticipating growth.
Approximately three-quarters of operators said the Middle East conflict had affected their businesses. Among those reporting an impact, 74% cited higher energy costs, 55% experienced other cost increases and 53% were affected by disruption associated with April’s fuel protests.
Half reported increased cancellations, while 45% said bookings had declined. Hotels also observed that longer leisure stays were becoming less common.

Businesses are responding cautiously. Some 55% were seeking cost reductions, one-third planned to absorb increased expenses and another third intended to target domestic holidaymakers. That strategy may prove challenging because many operators believe Irish consumers have less disposable income.
Fáilte Ireland stressed that the findings represent operators’ opinions rather than verified financial results. Sentiment may have been influenced by strong expectations following 2025, persistent cost pressures and a succession of negative international developments.

Hidden Heartlands and the Tipperary position.
Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands broadly reflected the national difficulties. In that region, 20% of respondents reported increased revenue, 30 per cent recorded no change and 50 % experienced a decline.
Looking ahead, 28% of Hidden Heartlands businesses expected revenue to increase during the remainder of 2026, while 26% anticipated no change and 46% expected a decrease.
This result was slightly better than the Wild Atlantic Way, where 56% reported falling revenue to date and 48% expected a decline during the remainder of the year. Nevertheless, the Hidden Heartlands figures indicate considerable pressure on inland and rural tourism businesses.

These regional findings cannot be treated as figures for Tipperary or Thurles. Parts of Tipperary, particularly around Lough Derg, are promoted through Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, but other parts belong to Ireland’s Ancient East. Fáilte Ireland’s consumer tourism site identifies Thurles specifically as part of Ireland’s Ancient East. Neither region’s results provide a reliable stand-alone measurement of tourism performance in the town.

The survey contains no county or town-level breakdown. It therefore shows the wider environment in which Tipperary businesses are operating, rather than proving that local turnover followed the regional pattern.

Second report: Foreign visitors and expenditure increase

The CSO recorded 676,300 completed foreign-resident visits in July 2026. This was 5% above July 2025 and 3% higher than in July 2024.
Approximately 3.9 million foreign visits were completed between January and July; 13% more than during the equivalent period of 2025, although only 0.4 per cent above 2024.
Visitors spent 5.2 million nights in Ireland during July, an annual increase of 2%. Average stays nevertheless declined from 7.9 to 7.6 nights. This shortening of visits may help explain why some accommodation, hospitality and activity businesses did not experience growth matching the increase in arrivals.

Great Britain and Continental Europe each supplied 32% of visitors, while North America accounted for 30%. Half travelled for holidays and leisure, 29% visited friends or relatives and 11% came for business.
Foreign visitors spent an estimated €681 million, excluding fares, 9% more than in July 2025. North Americans contributed €300 million, or 44% of the total, demonstrating the market’s disproportionate economic importance.

All CSO figures are national and do not identify how many visitors travelled to Tipperary or Thurles, or how much they spent there.

Growth is real but uneven.
Higher visitor numbers and national expenditure do not guarantee increased revenue for every operator. Spending may be concentrated in Dublin, hotels and major attractions, while smaller rural businesses receive a limited share. Some 33% of July visitors stayed with family or in their own property, further restricting benefits for commercial accommodation.
Shorter stays and rising energy, fuel, payroll and supply costs can also weaken margins despite increasing visitor expenditure.

The combined evidence therefore points to uneven growth; Ireland is attracting more foreign visitors, but regional operators remain under pressure. For Tipperary and Thurles, the national and regional findings provide important context, but more detailed local data would be required to establish their actual tourism performance.
However, Thurles Tourist Office’s promotion of local nail bars, coffee shops and clothing stores as a means of attracting international visitors must be regarded as out of touch with the realities of attracting foreign tourism.

23 Children Killed Or Seriously Injured On Tipperary Roads In Last Five Years

Twenty-three children under the age of 16 were killed or seriously injured on roads in County Tipperary between 2021 and 2025, according to newly released Road Safety Authority figures.

Tipperary accounted for approximately 3% of the 658 child casualties recorded across Ireland during same five-year period. The county-level data provide a combined figure and do not specify separately how many of the 23 children died and how many suffered serious injuries.

Nationally, 38 children aged from birth to 15 were killed and another 620 were seriously injured. Children represented 5% of all road deaths and 8% of serious injuries recorded during that period.

The RSA Child Casualties Report 2021–2025 found that almost half of the children killed or seriously injured were pedestrians. Passengers accounted for 26% of casualties, cyclists for 17% and e-scooter users for 5%.
The research also highlighted the risks children face on roads with lower speed limits. Almost three-quarters of child casualties occurred on roads with limits of 60km/h or less, while 72% were injured between noon and 8:00pm.

Boys accounted for 61% of the children killed or seriously injured, compared with 39% for girls. Friday was the most dangerous day of the week, accounting for one in five child casualties.
One in eight casualties was travelling to or from school when the collision occurred.

The RSA released the figures as pupils across Tipperary and the rest of the country prepared to return to school. It is urging motorists to slow down, eliminate distractions and allow children sufficient time and space when walking or cycling.
Parents are also being asked to ensure children use appropriate restraints when travelling by car and to avoid parking on footpaths during school drop-off and collection times.

Government Weighs Early Dáil Recall As Fuel-Tax Deadline Approaches

Government leaders are considering whether to recall the Dáil ahead of schedule as renewed instability in the Middle East raises concerns about fuel prices.

Temporary excise reductions introduced in April are due to be withdrawn gradually from September. The relief amounts to 32 cent per litre of diesel and 27 cent per litre of petrol and formed part of a €750 million package of business supports and cost-of-living measures.

Enterprise Minister Mr Peter Burke indicated that the timetable is being actively reassessed. The international outlook has worsened since the withdrawal schedule was agreed, with developments around the Strait of Hormuz contributing to uncertainty in global energy markets.

The Dáil is currently scheduled to return on September 16th next,. however, an earlier sitting may be required if the Government decides that legislation is needed to postpone the planned excise increases.
Rising costs are already placing additional pressure on agriculture and the wider economy. The net price of marked gas oil, commonly known as green diesel, has increased from about 94 cent to €1.24 per litre, a rise of approximately 30%.
Any extension of the fuel-tax relief would also have budgetary implications. The Government is preparing an overall Budget 2027 package worth more than €8 billion, including €1.5 billion for income-tax measures and an anticipated spending increase of around 6%.

Ministers are also examining ways to lower grocery prices by reducing transport, production and distribution costs. Because fuel expenses affect farming, manufacturing and the movement of goods, further increases could feed through to prices paid by consumers.

No final decision has been made on either the excise timetable or an early Dáil recall. Both options remain under consideration as the Government monitors international developments and prices at Irish fuel pumps.

Road Alert – Temporary Traffic Controls On The R659 In Thurles

Motorists are advised that temporary traffic management measures will operate on the R659 through Stradavoher and Ballycarrane, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, from tomorrow, Thursday, 13th August, until Friday, 14th August 2026.

A Stop/Go traffic-control system will be in place for the duration of the works. Delays are expected, and road users should allow additional travel time when passing through the area.

Drivers are asked to approach with caution, follow all traffic-management signage and cooperate with personnel on site.

The Bike You Didn’t See – Drivers Urged to Look Again at Junctions

A brief pause at a junction could prevent a death on Ireland’s roads.

Above is the message behind a new Road Safety Authority campaign asking motorists to check twice for motorcycles before entering a road, particularly when pulling out from a T-junction.

Sixteen motorcyclists have already died on Irish roads this year, adding urgency to the campaign.
The danger often develops in an instant. A driver reaches a junction, checks both directions and begins to move. An approaching motorcycle, however, may have blended into the background or appeared farther away than it really was.

Unlike a car or van, a motorcycle occupies very little of a driver’s field of vision. This can make both its presence and its approaching speed difficult to judge during a quick check.
The RSA wants motorists to break that routine by pausing and looking once more before proceeding.

Evidence gathered between 2021 and 2025 shows why that extra check matters. During those five years, 954 motorcyclists suffered serious injuries, while 117 lost their lives. Around two-thirds of the riders seriously injured were involved in crashes with another vehicle.
Road Safety Authority confirm that failure to observe was the action most frequently identified in those multi-vehicle incidents. Junctions were also the scene of 38% of serious motorcyclist injuries.

The campaign arrives during a period when greater numbers of motorcycles are likely to be on the road. Drivers are being asked to approach junctions slowly, remove distractions and allow themselves enough time to make a proper assessment.
Motorcyclists may be smaller and less visible than other vehicles, but they have the same right to be seen and protected.

Before pulling out, pause and check again. The bike missed on the first look could be visible on the second.