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Last Sunday (25/04/2021), Thurles.info highlighted a growing litter problem in Thurles Town Park. Stemming from a lack of sufficiently sized rubbish bins, coupled with an apparent failure to empty them regularly, the public’s rubbish began piling up in and around the bins because there wasn’t any room to put rubbish into them.
During a weekend of blue skies and sunshine, the sight of mounting rubbish, was a major disappointment to the many locals hoping to enjoy some outdoor leisure time.
The unacceptable conditions documented in last week’s Thurles.info article were directly communicated to Mr Joe MacGrath (Tipperary Co. Co. Chief Executive) and Ms Sharon Scully, (Thurles District Administrator).
Thurles.info is delighted to report, however, that this story of complacency and complaints has had a positive ending. It appears that someone has listened to some of our pleas for better facilities.
Two New Wheelie Bins
In the week since this story broke, two new bins have been installed, seeing a huge reduction in discarded litter in Thurles Town Park area. It would also appear that a more regular system for emptying the bins has been implemented. The prompt and efficient response to this local problem is sincerely welcomed and Thurles.info wish to thank the individuals involved for the wonderful improvements already evident in Thurles Town Park.
Riverside Walk
Last week’s article also highlighted the need for improved rubbish bin facilities along the Riverside Walk. As noted, it is estimated that four to five similar large bins, as pictured above, are desperately needed along the Riverside Walk.
Bins on wheels, like those now to be seen in the Town Park, could be easily interchanged along the Riverside Walk where there is no possibility of vehicle access. If installed they could have a positive impact on its litter and pollution problems, which in turn would significantly enhance the area.
Let’s hope that the care and commitment to respond swiftly to our community’s needs, as seen this week in response to the Town Park litter problem, will soon transfer to the Riverside Walk, thus aiding the many volunteers from “Refresh Thurles” and others who give of their time picking up litter, in their efforts to keep the area in pristine condition.
Time now to invite “Refresh Thurles” and the other Thurles River Walk volunteers to discuss/debate how the recent grant of €120, 000 by government, allocated for this area, should be best spent.
The Library Service of Tipperary County Council is undertaking an exciting and important project that will see library staff digitise a wealth of historical documents currently held by the service.
These documents include Poor Law Union Minute Books, Rate Books, and Workhouse Registers. Since January 2021, staff have focused on digitising the 90 or so books in its collection that relate to the pre-famine and Great Famine era beginning in1846.
These books provide a fascinating and detailed insight into the harrowing life and workhouse conditions faced by our ancestors across the six Poor Law Unions of Thurles, Borrisokane, Cashel, Clogheen, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea and Tipperary.
Once digitised, the records will be made available to view in full and for free via the Tipperary Studies digital website tippstudiesdigitsl.ie.
The scope and significance of the project, the bulk of which will be undertaken in Thurles Library, deserves much praise and recognition. By digitising these records and making them freely accessible, people across Ireland and the world will be gifted with details and descriptions that will further enrich our understanding of the Great Famine era. The digitised records will also enable individuals, no matter where they are in the world, to research their ancestry. For more information on this welcomed and praiseworthy initiative visit tippstudiesdigital.ie.
Double Ditch, Mass Path, Right of way
Another artifact from the Great Famine era of significant historical importance to the town of Thurles is the Double Ditch Mass path. Built by our starving Thurles ancestors during the Great Famine, this historical walkway now faces destruction as part of a planned development by the same Tipperary County Council.
Thus it would appear that as one branch of Tipperary County Council dedicates its efforts to the preservation of history from the Great Famine era, another branch seems determined to demolish it.
It is difficult to understand this contradiction in practice, between Tipperary County Council departments, led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath. The admirable actions of the Library Service are regrettably inconsistent with the actions of other services. One service sets out to preserve history, as another sets out to destroy it.
Although the future of the Double Ditch remains uncertain for the moment, its fascinating history and related primary sources have been documented on Thurles.info, together with aerial video and photography of the walkway as can be viewed today.
Maybe the digital records shown on Thurles.info will be all that remains of the Double Ditch for future generations, particularly if local TD’s, councillors and council officials get their way?
Let’s hope other historical treasures don’t succumb to the same fate and find that their only record is a digital one.
For more information on the Thurles Double Ditch click HERE and HERE.
Today, April 30th is “Hairdresser Appreciation Day” and in 2021, we have never come to appreciate our hairdressers more. In the absence of their services many of us are going around looking like our cavemen and women ancestors. Many others are sporting the dreaded do-it-yourself ‘Covid Cut’.
Last night, positively, we learned that from May 10th, by appointment only, hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons will reopen. Walk-in services will not be available.
Hereunder a List of Lockdown Changes Coming Our Way.
From May 4th:
Outdoor workers can return to work and all construction can restart.
From May 10th:
Travel: You can travel between counties.
Garden visits: Up to 3 households can visit or 6 people from different households.
Training and Outdoor Events: Maximum 15 people.
Hairdressers, Barbers and Beauty Salons: Can reopen by appointment only. No walk-in services.
Retail: Click and collect by appointment only can restart along with outdoor retail.
Libraries: Can reopen.
Funerals: Maximum 50 mourners at Religious Services.
Weddings: Maximum 50 guests at service and maximum 6 guests at indoor reception or 15 at outdoor reception.
Public Transport: 50 per cent of services will run.
Vaccination Bonus: Click HERE for detailed information on the bonus for vaccinated persons.
From May 17th:
All remaining retail can reopen.
From June 2nd (Depending on the public health situation at the time).
Hotels, B&Bs and Self-Catering Services can reopen but services will be limited to overnight guests and residents.
From June 7th (Depending on the public health situation at the time).
Visitors: You can have visitors from one other household inside your home.
Restaurants and Bars: Outdoor services can resume with groups of up to no more than six people.
Weddings: Maximum number of reception guests increases to 25.
Outdoor Sports Matches: Can resume with no spectators.
Gyms, Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres: Can reopen but only for individual training.
Please continue to protect yourself and others by following public health advice.
If you enjoy solving riddles and brainteasers, try resolving the video content hereunder.
Try to also solve the following questions, without peeking immediately at the answers, latter also supplied herewith.
1. What gets wetter the more it dries?
2. What goes up and never comes down?
3. I am full of keys but I can’t open any door. What am I?
4. When you look for something, why is it always in the last place you look?
5. You find an old coin and declare that the date inscribed on it is 150 B.C. Could this be correct and why?
6. I’m light as a feather, but even the strongest man can’t hold me for more than one minute. What am I?
7. What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in one thousand years?
8. What has three feet but cannot walk?
9. What runs and never walks; murmurs – but never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?
10. If you are running in a race and you pass the person in second place, what place are you in?
Answers: 1. Towel. 2. Your age. 3. A piano. 4. When you locate it, you stop looking. 5. B.C. is counting backwards from the birth of Christ. If Christ hadn’t been born yet, there would be no such dates as B.C.. 6. His Breath. 7. The letter M. 8. A yardstick. 9. A river. 10. Second place.
Poetry Day Ireland 2021 takes place on Thursday, April 29th. Given our nations rich poetic heritage, it is wonderful to see Poetry Ireland actively supporting schools to bring the joy and power of poetry into the lives of our pupils. This year’s Poetry Day Ireland theme is ‘New Directions: Maps and Journeys’ and Poetry Ireland have produced some excellent resources for both primary and secondary school teachers and pupils.
Primary School Resources for Poetry Day Ireland 2021.
Packed with 41 pages of poems and fun activities, this informative and engaging online resource encourages teachers and pupils to read, write, listen to, illustrate, perform, share and above all enjoy poetry. This Poetry Day Ireland resource is available to access HERE.
For pupils and teachers celebrating Poetry Day 2021 through Irish, leighleat.com aims to provide teachers, parents and children with digital resources to support them in the teaching and learning of Irish. You can access their digital resources for poetry by clicking HERE.
Secondary School Resources for Poetry Day Ireland 2021
For secondary school pupils, Poetry Ireland, and Irish Aid Worldwise Global Schools, have a development education creative writing pack. The pack provides a series of lesson plans that aim to enable secondary school pupils to explore numerous global issues. The pack is available to download HERE.
Why not share a favourite poem?
No matter what class your child or pupil is in, why not take some time to share your favourite rhymes and poems using your chosen social media platform, on Poetry Day April 29th?
There are so many great poems to choose from, and here shown above, on Thurles.info, I share the poem, ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’, written and read by that late, great American poet Robert Lee Frost, (1874 – 1963).
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