Travel « Thurles Information

Irish Deportation – Charter Flight Removes 35 People To Nigeria.

Today (Thursday June 5th) the Department of Justice announced the completion of a forced deportation operation, to Nigeria, latter officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria and most populous country in West Africa.

Deportation orders were enforced against 35 people (30 adults and 5 children) who have been removed from Ireland by charter flight. The children removed were all part of family units.

This is the third operation conducted since the recommencement of charter flights for deportations in February of this year. Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Síochána to enforce deportation orders and step up immigration enforcement.

Charter flights are used in addition to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances where a group of people are being removed to the same destination. These operations are conducted under a contract, signed by the State in November 2024, for the provision of charter aircraft.

Two charter flights already conducted this year have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders. This operation brings the number of people removed by charter flight to 106. Additionally, 54 deportation orders have been enforced on commercial flights and 23 people subject to deportation orders are confirmed to have left Ireland unescorted so far in 2025.

The latest people concerned were Nigerian nationals and the flight left Dublin Airport on Wednesday night, before landing in Lagos this Thursday morning.

New Bridge Over River Shannon Opened Today.

A new bridge over the River Shannon, which will form part of the 6.2km Killaloe Bypass road project, connecting Killaloe, Co. Clare with Ballina Co. Tipperary, has been officially opened today.
The new structure has been named the ‘Brian Ború Bridge’, latter the name of a 73 year old ancient Munster High King of Ireland (941-1014). Ború was killed at the Battle of Clontarf, by a fleeing defeated Viking, named ‘Brodar’, who supposedly came upon the old king while he was in his tent praying during the battle.

**One of ten pedestrian river viewing points staged along the Brian Ború Bridge.**

Taking two and a half years to complete at a cost of some €88 million; the construction of the bridge was carried out by John Sisk and Son Ltd, who were awarded the contract by Clare and Tipperary County Councils.

The need for this bridge/bypass had been evident for many years and will, from today, remove congested traffic, including heavy goods vehicles, out of the two tourist town centres, positioned either side of the River Shannon, thus providing a needed boost to the tourism sector in that area.

Visa Requirements Applied To Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago to be added to list of visa required countries.
Brings Irish visa requirements in line with the United Kingdom.

Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, and Minister of State for Migration, Mr Colm Brophy TD, have today (Friday 9 May 2025) announced that nationals of Trinidad and Tobago will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. These requirements will apply from May 12th 2025. A transit visa will also be required, if the person intending to transit through Ireland, if enroute to another destination.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister O’Callaghan said:
“Visa requirements are an effective screening measure to determine who can travel to Ireland. They bolster the security of our borders while permitting travel to Ireland for legitimate purposes.
To minimise disruption, my officials will have transitional measures for those with existing travel arrangements in the next few weeks.”

Irish visa requirements are kept under ongoing review, having regard to the need to ensure that effective immigration controls are in place whilst also facilitating those who wish to travel to Ireland for the purposes of a visit, to work, to study or to join family members.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister Colm Brophy added:
“This is a carefully considered decision which will bring Ireland into closer alignment with the United Kingdom. While Ireland will continue to operate an independent visa regime, keeping in step with the requirements of the United Kingdom protects our Common Travel Area and dissuades irregular movements.”

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who made travel plans prior to May 12th 2025 and who can provide evidence of a valid booking and payment for the trip, may be accommodated for emergency travel in the following situations where the scheduled travel is on or before May 31st 2025:-

A critical medical case involving a family member being seriously ill or undergoing medical treatment. Evidence from the relevant medical institution must be provided.
Visiting for a significant family event – a birth, wedding, or funeral. Suitable evidence must be provided.
Taking up a place obtained in a third-level institution on an undergraduate or post-graduate degree course. Evidence must be provided from the relevant institution.
Taking up employment and holding an Employment Permit for Ireland. Evidence of the permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment must be provided.
Travelling for business. Confirmation of the arrangements for the visit from the business in question must be provided.

Persons falling within the above categories are asked to email becoming_visarequired@justice.ie with the subject line “Visa Required – Emergency Travel Requested”.

Intention To Temporarily Close M8 Motorway, At Horse & Jockey, Thurles.

Intention to close the M8 Motorway, at Junction 6 northbound, Horse And Jockey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Vehicle drivers are asked to take notice that Tipperary County Council propose to Temporarily close Junction 6 Northbound, on the M8 Motorway, Horse and Jockey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, also known as the Horse and Jockey/Thurles junction.

This period of closure will be Nightly from 6:00pm until 5.00am on Thursday next, April 10th, 2025 and again on the following Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 through until Friday, April 18th, 2025.

Suggested Alternative Routes:
Exit the M8 at Junction 6, Horse and Jockey, turn left, in Horse and Jockey, onto the R639. Follow the R639 through Littleton, Ballyshane and Urlingford, before turning left onto the R693 after Urlingford, to re-join the M8 at junction 4.

Reason for Closure: To facilitate road works.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans In Mid-West Region On St. Patrick’s Weekend.

Ireland’s Patron Saint, (St Patrick) and Ireland’s national holiday will be celebrated in style in Ireland’s Mid-West strategic planning region latter consisting of the counties of Tipperary, Clare and Limerick.

On Sunday, March 16th, County Clare’s Bunratty Castle & Folk Park visitor attraction will kickstart its 2025 tourist season with a comprehensive programme of St Patrick’s weekend entertainment featuring Irish music and dancing, storytelling, demonstrations of traditional Irish crafts and skills, and many other family fun activities.

**Darby O’Gill pictured at the launch of Bunratty Castle & Folk Park’s St Patrick’s weekend programme of events.**

The world-famous 15th century castle also will join other famous landmarks across Ireland in being lit up in green for the weekend.

“We are inviting the public to join us in celebrating our national feast day with the perfect blend of Irish tradition, culture, and family fun to kick off our 2025 tourist season,” said Marie Brennan, (Events Manager at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park).

“From world-class Irish dancing performances and traditional music sessions to encounters with St. Patrick himself and our merry band of dancing leprechauns, we have created a programme of events to entertain visitors of all ages,” she added. “Whether you are learning a ‘cúpla focal’ at our schoolhouse, watching traditional baking demonstrations, or witnessing vintage machinery at work, Bunratty offers a unique taste of Ireland’s rich heritage this St. Patrick’s weekend.”

Family fun activities include the Bunratty Express Train, Bouncy Castles in the Red Barn behind Macs Pub, and an opportunity to meet St Patrick, as he parades through the village street. There will be curious characters located throughout the Folk Park including Konor the Clown and his merry band of Dancing Leprechauns, and Finegas the Druid who will be recounting Irish fables and legends.

Irish dancing will take centre stage in the Corn Barn with performances by the Linda Ball Hoban School of Irish Dance, which has enjoyed extensive success at the World Irish Dance Championships and whose members have gone on to perform all over the world with Riverdance. Performers will be dancing between the jigs and the reels at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. There will also be live traditional Irish music seisiúns throughout the day with the public invited to bring their own instruments and join in with Bunratty’s resident musicians

For younger visitors there will be a fun and interactive Clue Trail that will lead participants to all four corners of the Folk Park through woodland trails and paddocks, with their vast array of indigenous Irish animal species from Kerry Bog Ponies to Irish Red Deer and Bunratty’s resident Irish Wolfhounds Rian and Mide.

At the schoolhouse, Bunratty’s resident Schoolmaster will be on hand to teach visitors a ‘Cúpla Focal’ and entertain with tales and traditions from school days of old, including the story of the four leafed clover and how St Patrick really drove the snakes out of Ireland.

The Bean an Tí will host a demonstration of Traditional Baking and Butter Making at 2:00pm in the Golden Vale Farmhouse where Irish superstitions will also be explained, including why it is considered bad luck to spill salt, why seeing a solo magpie can strike fear into the heart of a passerby, and why an itchy nose signifies a fight is coming in your near future.

Members of the Clare Vintage and Engine Tractor Club will be present on the day to demonstrate an array of vintage agricultural machinery at work, including corn grinders, water pumps and mini threshing machinery. Ireland’s largest collection of vintage farm machinery also will be on display around the park. The Talbot Collection have been bequeathed to the tourist attraction for permanently display throughout the 26-acre folk park and features more than 50 items of machinery, including ploughs, hay rakes, and Turnip and Mangel Seeders.

Visit www.bunrattycastle.ie for more. Standard admission rates apply.