Project first proposed in 2009 seen as key to easing Thurles congestion and boosting local economy.
The long-awaited Thurles bypass is expected to feature in the forthcoming revision of the National Development Plan (NDP), which is due to be formally announced on Tuesday, November 25th.
First proposed in 2009, the project was shelved following the economic crash, but has remained a long-term priority for the business community. The long awaited bypass is viewed as being critical to easing chronic traffic congestion in the town and hopefully unlocking the towns wider economic potential.
Damage caused on a regular basis by heavy goods vehicles. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Traffic volumes in Thurles, particularly heavy goods vehicles passing through Liberty Square, have long been a source of frustration for residents and businesses, as two national secondary routes currently converge in the town centre.
Damage caused on a regular basis by heavy goods vehicles. Pic: G. Willoughby
Detailed design work on associated relief roads has also been completed, with supporting documentation now under review as part of the statutory approval process.
This news indicating that the bypass will proceed, will be greatly welcomed by both business and community leaders in Thurles same seen as essential to ensuring Thurles can thrive as a safe and accessible regional hub.
If fully confirmed in the updated NDP, the Thurles bypass would represent one of the most significant infrastructure commitments for mid-Tipperary in recent decades. Construction is expected to follow later in the plan’s timeline, subject to final funding and planning approvals.
The revised National Development Plan will be formally announced on Tuesday, November 25th, and it will then fall to our local representatives to help drive forward a project they have in the past been slow to champion.
Five operators of bus and taxi services In Tipperary appeared today in a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission led prosecution at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, where they pleaded not guilty to alleged anti-competitive conduct in the school transport sector.
Defendants Mr Andrew Walsh of Derrymore, Roscrea; Mr Raymond Heney of Camas, Cashel; Mr Noel Browne of Bansha; Mr Larry Hickey of Ardmayle, Cashel, and Mr Anthony Flynn of Golden Road, Cashel, all resident in Co Tipperary, face a single charge under the Competition Act 2002, alleging that each engaged in a concerted practice between November 1st 2014 and December 31st 2016, aimed at preventing, restricting or distorting competition in the provision of school-transport services in counties Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, South Galway and Waterford.
Presiding Judge Mr David Keane empanelled a jury of seven men and five women to hear the case, which is expected to last up to six weeks.
The prosecution arises under Section 4(1) of the Competition Act 2002, which prohibits any agreement, decision or concerted practice, whose object or effect is to prevent, restrict or distort competition in trade.
The defendants’ pleas of not guilty mean the matter will now proceed to full trial, where the court will examine evidence including tenders, contracts, communications between operators and the structure of the school transport market.
Private operators bid for contracts to provide specific routes as part of the scheme. When operators agree or coordinate how to bid (or not bid) for these contracts, the effect can be to reduce competition: fewer bidders means less pressure on prices and potentially lower quality of service.
The national competition regulator, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is empowered, under the Competition Act 2002, to prosecute concerted practices or agreements between competitors which have the object or effect of restricting competition.
The school-transport scheme involves significant public expenditure. For example, in a recent review the cost was estimated at about €509 million for the 2024 year. If competition is distorted in the contracting of these services, the State and ultimately families and taxpayers may face higher costs or receive less efficient service. Coordinated bidding or allocation of routes undermines the competitive tendering process.
By pursuing criminal cases in this domain, the Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is signalling that collusion in public-service contracts (including school transport) is taken seriously.
2025 marks the highest number of deportations from the Irish State in over 20 years.
The Government today confirms the successful completion of a deportation operation from Ireland to Georgia. A charter flight departed from Dublin at approximately 9:30pm on Monday November 3rd carrying 52 individuals subject to removal orders to Tbilisi, arriving at 2:30am Irish time this morning.
Of the 52 passengers, 45 were adults and 7 were minors, with the minors all travelling as part of family units. This marks the sixth charter-flight removal operation carried out out of the State so far this year.
Charter operations, despite their significant cost, have meaningfully enhanced the capacity of An Garda Síochána to enforce a higher number of deportation orders, forming part of the broader suite of measures to strengthen immigration enforcement and removal pathways.
With yesterday’s operation, the total number of people removed by charter flights this year now stands at 205, with a further 146 individuals removed on commercial flights. This year is shaping up to be the highest number of removals by charter and commercial flights from the State in over 20 years, underscoring the Government’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the Irish immigration system.
A voluntary return programme remains available for persons who have no lawful status in the Irish State or whose applications for international protection have been withdrawn or refused.
The returnees on yesterday’s flight were accompanied throughout by Garda officers, medical staff, an interpreter and a human-rights observer, thus ensuring that all necessary supports and safeguards were in place.
The Irish Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for immigration policy, international protection, enforcement of removal orders and the maintenance of an immigration system that is fair, efficient and respectful of human rights.
€447,300 awarded to extend walking route via Mill Road, in Thurles.
It is with great pleasure that the community of Thurles welcomes a landmark advancement in local amenities: a generous fund of €447,300 has now been secured by Thurles Lions Club to realise the long-awaited 5 km looped walk extension, starting from the heart of Thurles town-centre before meandering along the N62 national route to the “Lady’s Well” path stile entrance, positioned some 100 metres north of Thurles Golf Club. By following Lady’s Well main path, the rambler will then join the route at Mill Road (formerly Manor Mill Road, latter the ‘rat run’ or current inner relief road, for vehicles avoiding Thurles town) and the road locally known, affectionately, as “Fat Arse Boulevard”.
This funding is part of a number of Tipperary projects that have been allocated more than €900,000 between them to improve outdoor recreation facilities, is a minor part of a national fund of €16.5 million for 63 projects.
Footpath plans advance for Mill Road in Thurles.
Following the first publication of the planning application by Tipperary County Council, on 24th July 2024, same seeking the installation of a footpath on the Mill Road corridor, the project has now progressed significantly. Land access has been graciously granted by local residents along Mill Road, with, we understand Tipperary Council bearing the cost of acquisition. This co-operation paves the way for the looped walk to become a safe, well-designed pedestrian route for the community.
When complete, the new path will link the town centre securely with the outskirts of the town, via an attractive, town-to-country route, promoting greater recreational walking, better access for all ages, and contributing to the well-being and amenity of the Thurles area. Observers have welcomed the scheme as a vital safety upgrade, especially along Mill Road, where pedestrian access had long been compromised by traffic speeds and inadequate parking provision.
When the local TDs catch wind of this scheme, their press releases will no doubt exclaim with great gusto how utterly thrilled they are to have “secured” this funding, for a project they only discovered existed yesterday via their inbox.
This awarding of funding marks a significant milestone, after one year and three months since the application’s initial publication, and confirms a concrete step towards long-envisioned connectivity for the region. Next steps will include detailed design, boundary works, signage, landscaping (including new native hedging) and final construction of the concrete 1.8-metre wide footpath along the route from the existing built-up path towards the bridge at Lady’s Well.
Residents, walkers, cyclists and families in Thurles now have cause to look forward with genuine excitement, the promise of “Fat Arse Boulevard” becoming a cherished walking loop is now indeed on its way to realisation.
Work on a major multi-million euro roads project, in north Tipperary, is set to get underway in the coming weeks, following the appointment of a contractor to carry out the works.
Tipperary County Council has confirmed that Wills Bros Ltd has been appointed as the main contractor for the Latteragh Bends Road Realignment Project, which will see a dangerous stretch of road between Thurles and Nenagh finally upgraded.
The €30 million scheme will involve the realignment and improvement of a 4.3km section of the R498 regional road, between Nenagh and Thurles, at Latteragh, situated around 7km south-east of the M7 Nenagh Bypass.
According to the council, the contractor is now mobilising and setting up the site compound. Hedge cutting is due to begin next week, with traffic management measures to follow as full construction ramps up.
More than 30 local landowners were involved in compulsory purchase agreements to allow the scheme to proceed.
Funding for the project has been provided by the Department of Transport, which has allocated €20 million towards the works. A further €4 million has been set aside to cover design fees, consultancy, and landowner compensation.
The project aims to improve safety and traffic flow on one of the county’s key regional routes, long identified as a collision-prone stretch.
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