Travel - Thurles Information

Cashel Palace Voted No. 3 Irish Hotel in Condé Nast Traveler 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.

It will come as no surprise to patrons that Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, has been voted No. 3 in Ireland in the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards!

The Readers’ Choice Awards are regarded as one of the travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious accolades, while remaining the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of major excellence within the sector.

These awards represent the most beloved and cherished experiences in the travel industry, as voted by their readers and previous guests. This year, an astounding 526,518 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the US and UK enthusiastically shared their recent travel knowledge of the top hotels, cruises, countries, cities, resorts, trains, airlines, airports, spas, islands, luggage, villas, and tour operators.

**Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Co. Tipperary**.

The Cashel Palace Team, led by General Manager Mr Adriaan Bartels, are truly delighted to be in such prestigious company, in such a short time, both here at home in Ireland and around the world.
Most importantly, they are honoured to be recognised by their previous guests as being worthy of this most prestigious accolade.

An Garda Síochána Tipperary Publish Shocking Statistics.

Within the past 30 days, 26 people have been killed on Irish roads.
This is indeed an alarming number of lives lost in such a short period of time.

So far this year, in the past 8 months there have been 114 fatal road traffic collisions here in the Republic of Ireland.

Same road traffic collisions have resulted in the deaths of 124 people, same categorised as follows :-

* 44 motorists ✓
* 30 passengers ✓
* 27 pedestrians ✓
* 17 motorcyclists ✓
* 3 cyclists ✓
* 3 e-scooters ✓

These people are young and old, from different places and backgrounds, but all have lost their lives far too soon.

We must all take better care of ourselves and one another, on our roads.

Persons New To Thurles – Ignore Signposting.

So why, for the past 9 weeks, is the signpost offering directions to the town of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, pointing in the opposite direction; now today continuing to remain angled, pointing down towards Wolfe Tone Place, latter situated at the junction of Westgate and Liberty Square.

Yesterday, in a survey, we asked a few of the locals for their views on this nine week old phenomenon and were offered the following explanations:-

(1) It is an political effort by Fianna Fáil to highlight the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration, due to take place on the Sunday nearest June 20th 2024, next year in Bodenstown graveyard, Co. Kildare; latter date in June the birthdate of Wolfe Tone, known as the Father of Republicanism.

(2) It’s an effort to avoid the multitude of potholes on every road driving into and driving out of Thurles.

(3) A concerted effort by those who consistently fail to attract tourism to Thurles, to delay visitors, by sending them up a short road that is blocked off at one end; better known by the French word ‘cul-de-sac’ or translated into English ‘bottom of the bag’.

(4) A deliberate attempt by public representatives, including TDs to increase their motor milage, when asked to attend meetings in Nenagh Co. Council offices and Dáil Éireann.

What do I think, you ask?
Well now that you do ask, and having viewed all the other signposts pointing in the wrong direction in Thurles, [e.g. to name but one, the Thurles carpark sign supposedly directing motorists to the new carpark off Liberty Square, ]; other issues, such as the weeds now growing actively up through our pavements; the state of our river Suir, and the overall dowdy appearance of what was once a hive of industry; I would put it down to simply just poor town administration.

Explain for what are we paying Property Tax annually?

Thurles Pedestrian Crossing Lights, North Of Lidl Supermarket Struck By High Sided Vehicle.

Pedestrians beware. Over two weeks ago the Thurles pedestrian crossing lights on the North side of Lidl Supermarket were adjusted by a high sided motor vehicle. The issue continues to be unattended too, with the lights now facing south instead of due west.

**Thurles pedestrian crossing lights, north of Lidl Supermarket on Slievenamon Road (N62), latest lighting safety system to take a hit, over two weeks ago**.

Once again, as can be seen in picture two, as a result of poor engineering skills, the standards holding the lighting system, have been positioned too close to the edge of the road, same carrying fast moving traffic as drivers attempt to beat the traffic light system.

This brings to five the number of currently damaged pedestrian traffic light systems partially repaired, having been damaged by high sided vehicles.

The waste of taxpayers’ money, by Tipperary Co. Council engineers, continues unabated.

‘Tail Continues To Wag Dog’ – Where Tipperary Co. Council Are Concerned.

On April 13th, 2023, (Read HERE), we wrote about our concerns in relation to the state of roads within the immediate precincts of Thurles town. A copy of same was forwarded to Mr Joe MacGrath (Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council).

**State of Barry’s Bridge *(Thurles Suir Bridge)*, Thurles (N75) today, August 5th, 2023.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

In a surprising reply, received from Mr Joe MacGrath, through his Secretary Ms Evelyn Harty; Mr MacGrath broke a 3 year silence to discuss road craters on Thurles streets. [His rare reply has now been framed ].

In his reply Mr MacGrath regretted the fact that we should have published such damning text on social media, in advance of not giving Tipperary County Council an opportunity to respond; same which he found disappointing.
Then again Mr MacGrath, in this same reply of Tuesday April 18th, 2023 forgot that previous efforts to get him to respond to issues raised over a previous 3 year period, had resulted in not even one reply, which I personally found disappointing.

On Tuesday April 18th, 2023 Mr Joe MacGrath informed us that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) would be along to fix the N75 bridge crossing in Thurles. Quote from Mr MacGrath: “The second photo is on the N75 bridge crossing in Thurles. TII has programmed works for this section of road, which we expect will be undertaken by the end of May”.
It is now August 5th 2023 and 10 weeks later no sign of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, hence we suspect when it comes to statements made by Mr Joe MacGrath as Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council “The tail appears to continue to wag the dog”

Currently every Monday morning, in two of the craters on Thurles Bridge (Barry’s Bridge), cold tarmac is tapped down with the back of a shovel. Within a 24 hour period it has been transformed into a gravel patch, causing further damage to the area and allowing collected surface water to seep through into the bridge’s main arch structure.

The end of this month, starting August 30th, primary and secondary school children will begin travelling back to our excellent educational facilities. If repairs are not undertaken and completed before the end of this month (August 2023), school traffic in combination with roadworks will ‘drive’ everyone to despair. Local residents can then stand and further watch the destruction and ruination of businesses within an now neglected Thurles Town centre.

A copy of this blog has been sent to Mr Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive at Tipperary Co. Council.