The presentation was to mark the occasion of the 25th anniversary of ‘Two-Mile-Borris Friends’, travelling to the West Clare Region.
This event was initially started by the late Mr Michael (Mick) Galvin, “The Shambles”, Two Mile Borris, Thurles, who was originally a native of Moyasta, Co. Clare. Included in the photo above, on the left is Mr Gerry Bowe, chief organiser of the annual event down through the years.
Tomorrow morning, September 8th, a few Thurles Municipal District councillors will gather for their monthly meeting, latter a time-honoured event where the real challenge isn’t making decisions, but finding a topic colourful enough to secure a quote or a photograph in the paper, or even a 10 minute clip on local radio.
This month, however, two burning issues (one quite literally) await them:
Issue (1)Liberty Square’s “Shock Feature”.
Motorists exiting the shiny new, half finished, Liberty Square area, into the new car park, may notice an ESB junction box/cabinet, carefully positioned where nobody can see it until it’s too late. Local observers have described it as “Thurles town’s first drive-thru toaster,” raising concerns that a poorly placed cabinet and a passing bumper could one day combine to produce Thurles’ first-ever flame-grilled shopper. One lady has suggested that the engineer responsible should be castigated. (I hope I have spelt that word correctly). While some might view this as a design flaw, others see potential: “It could be an electrifying tourist experience,” said one local. “Where else can you risk being fried without paying an admission fee?” But look on the dark side; for the first time in 3 years, the lights in the pavement no longer work during daylight hours. I wonder where that white piece on the side went? (See image above).
Issue (2) Parnell Street’s Garment Pod Avalanche.
Meanwhile, the town’s clothing recycling pods are reportedly following a “fill once, empty never” maintenance schedule/policy, as I observed today. Overflowing bags and the odd suitcase now cascade gracefully onto tarmac, creating what locals have dubbed “The Thurles Textile Centre.” Some residents are calling for official walking tours of the mounds of garments, while others suggest the pods be reclassified as public art. “At least it adds colour,” remarked one passerby, “though the smell in Summer could be as bad as the Suir-side walkway.” Speaking of the Suir-side walkway; other observers suggested that those responsible for this littering should have thrown their ‘unwanted couture‘ behind the bushes at the swinging gates on Emmett Street, like other considerate idiosyncrasies.
Local Councillors New Dilemma. Faced with these pressing concerns, councillors must now decide; will tomorrow’s headlines read “Councillors Prevent Electrocution” or “Overflowing Pods Finally Emptied”? Or, more likely, with Xmas on the way, will they spend 45 minutes debating the colours of fairy lights, before returning to their other places of employment.
But keep in mind the writings of St Matthew 6:24 on double jobbers councillors, quote; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other”
The single largest category was for elected councillor’s basic salaries, which amounted €1,178,607.91 for the year 2024. The Annual allowance, made up €264,162.49 of the annual total, followed by a Local Representative Allowance (LRA), totalling €105,519.26, latter a vouched allowance for expenses incurred while carrying out the duty of being a local representative. The highest Tipperary earner for 2024 was Fine Gael’s Declan Burgess, who took home €59,114.09 for that year. His basic salary was set at €29,755.58, then there was the annual allowance of €5,720.16, and his LRA amounting to €2,557.58.
On Monday last, August 18th, the Cork Examiner Newspaper highlighted a story which concerned a Fianna Fáil junior minister. He, Mr Christopher O’Sullivan [Now Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage since January 2025 and a Teachta Dála for the Cork South-West constituency since the 2020 general election], claimed he had broken no rules by accepting €30,000 in payments from Cork County Council. His payment came during a year in which he admits to spending six months travelling in South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Mr Christopher O’Sullivan TD, who was appointed a Minister of State in January, was, in 2008, serving as a Cork County Councillor, when he went on his travels, same undertaken the year after he was co-opted onto the council to replace his father.
Mr O’Sullivan said all payments he received; including his allowances and expenses, were in full compliance with the law. He stated that any allowances or payments during 2008 were in full compliance with the laws and regulations then in force, including the Local Government Act 2001 and his absence, while travelling, were taken in a continuous period of six consecutive months, same provided for under Section 18(4)(a) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
Section 18(4)(a) of the Irish Local Government Act 2001 states“A person shall be deemed to have resigned from membership of a local authority where the person is absent from attendance at any meeting of the authority for a continuous period of 6 consecutive months (“the relevant period”) from the date (“the relevant date”) of his or her last attendance at a meeting of the authority.” Section 18(4)(b) states “paragraph (a) does not apply where the absence was (i) due to illness, or (ii) in good faith for another reason, and which, in either case, is accepted by the local authority and approved by resolution under this paragraph, before the end of the relevant period, in which case the period shall stand extended to 12 months from the relevant date.”
According to the Cork Examiner, Cork Co. Council records show Mr O’Sullivan TD had the lowest attendance rate of all councillors in 2008, attending only 26 out of 70 meetings and despite this, he claimed travel expenses of €4,083; monthly allowances of €8,985, and a Representational payment of €17,179. While his attendance stood at just 37%, Mr O’Sullivan TD also claimed more in 2008 than four other fellow councillors who all had higher attendance records.
It appears that the Irish electorate has lost all control of taxpayer funding.
Temporary repairs which were undertaken this week on the surface of Slievenamon Road, has been successful.
Machine planing of this 200 metre section was undertaken on the night of July 29th last and total resurfacing was completed on the following night, thus greatly improving what was previously the most potholed streetscape of any town in Europe.
Section of road at the junction incline on Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher (R659).
Sadly, to quote Mr Bertie Ahern’s old slogan from many past Irish General Elections, quote, “A lot done, but a lot more to do”.
Perhaps local councillors and their officials would like to take a peek at the public thoroughfare at the junction of Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher on the R659, opposite the Honda car dealership of Denis Kinane Motors.
Twice a week over the past number of years this area received a couple of shovels of cold tarmac; often beaten into pools of water. Two mounds of torn up loose gravel now forms two hillock on this steep incline, requiring same to be removed and more permanent repairs undertaken, as soon as possible.
When finished there, the entrance to Westgate might receive further consideration.
Lest, in our daily haste we forget, motor tax revenues generated an estimated €6.5 to €7.0 billion for the Irish Exchequer last year, according to reports. The Irish State received over €1.6 billion from both the Vehicle Registration Tax on new and imported cars and the VAT on servicing parts and repairs. It also received almost €4.0 billion from fuel taxes and an estimated €1.0 billion from annual motor taxes. Based on the appearances of road surfaces over the past almost 4 years, it appears that Thurles town is entitled only to the odd daily shovel of cold tarmac to fill its craters.
Time now for these areas to be surface planed and resurfaced and stop wasting the precious time and energy of a skilled council worker force.
Pedestrians and motorists travelling on Kickham Street, in the area of Kyle Terrace need to be aware that the head of a street light has broken loose from its lamp standard moorings.
The head portion of the street light is held solely by its electric cable and could break loose, causing injuries to both pedestrians and to motorists travelling underneath.
Caution should be exercised, until repairs are undertaken.
Tipperary Co. Council have been notified on (0818) 065 000 and the matter has been passed to the relevent repair unit.
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