Thurles Information

Death Of Catherine O’Toole, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Thursday, 12th May, 2022, of Mrs Catherine O’Toole (née Mason), Rosemount, Clongour, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mrs O’Toole passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, while under the wonderful care of staff at Milford Care Centre, Limerick.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her heartbroken family, devoted husband Tom, daughters Deirdre and Siobhan, adored grandchildren Katie, Ellen and Eve, sons-in-law Damian and Pete, brothers George, Kevin and Brendan, nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, aunts, cousins, extended relatives, colleagues, customers, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs O’Toole will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles on Sunday evening, May 15th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
Her body will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles on Monday morning, May 16th, at 10:30am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am.
Interment will take place immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For the many persons who would have liked to have attended Requiem Mass for Mrs O’Toole, but due to distance or ill health are unable to do so, same can be viewed online HERE.

[NB: Due to C-19 virus fears; those attending will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]

The extended O’Toole family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Donations, if desired, to Milford Care Centre.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Tipperary Employee Injured By 100kg Of Falling Glass.

A Tipperary employee, who was injured when he was knocked to the ground by sheets of glass falling from a trolley, has been awarded a total of €113,000 by the High Court.

The award, which has yet to be fully finalised by Mr Justice Garrett Simons, was made in favour of Mr James Molloy, aged 59 years, with an address at Knight’s Crescent, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, who sustained compression injuries and lacerations to his back and to the region of his lower limbs.

Mr Molloy had sued his employer, Tipperary Glass Limited, with an address at Railway Road, Templemore, Co Tipperary, latter whom he alleged had been negligent with regard to an incident which had occurred on March 16th, 2018.

Liability in the case had already been admitted by the company and the action was before the court for assessment of damages.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Garrett Simons stated that Mr Molloy was entitled to a sum of €75,000 in general damages, together with a further sum of €38,000 in damages for his loss of current earnings. He is also to receive a sum equivalent to four years of earnings in respect of the loss of his future earnings.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons said the accident had occurred because another employee had failed to properly secure the glass sheets contained on a trolley, which in turn had impacted on Mr Molloy’s lower limbs.

It was estimated that the trolley had been carrying between 10 to 20 sheets of glass at the time of the accident, with the combined weight of the glass being 100kg (2cwt).

Mr Molloy, following the accident, was confined to bed for over a month, left him with permanent scarring on his legs. The consensus of the medical evidence arising out of his injuries, left Mr Molloy medically unfit for the sort of manual labour he had previously undertaken at his place of employment.

The case will return before the court to finalise outstanding matters later this month.

“Waterfall of Intentions”- Launch In Cashel Library.

You are cordially invited to the “Waterfall of Intentions” poetry collection launch, in Cashel Library, Friar Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, on Tuesday evening next, May 17th, 2022, from 6:00pm till 7:30 pm.

Poetry Readings.
Music by Marie and Jane with Tea & Cake.

I do hope you are free to attend. – Theresa Jones.

Please R.S.V.P. to tbj.46pw@gmail.com

Thurles Welcome – Visitor Information.

I was forced to travel on foot this evening, down through Liberty Square, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Yes, this is the same Liberty Square that received a “circumferential (360°) tummy tuck” at an overall cost of between €9m & €12m, over the past 3 years, which in the process successfully destroyed every business in the town centre, leaving it naked of any real footfall.

The local municipal district council are keeping the actual overall cost of this 50% upgrade, close to their chests, until they get around eventually to finishing the other half.

The first thing that struck me as I strolled along, was the strong smell of hydrogen sulphide in today’s escaping sewer gas. I asked a few people could they smell anything unusual. One of their replies informed me that I was obviously driving through town in the past number of weeks, with my car windows closed.

I asked where it was coming from and one person suggested it was the wind coming south west from the Thurles sewage plant. Another one suggested I ask contractor Messrs Walsh, whom they stated had to rip up some of their upgraded pavements, because of a reported collapsed pipe. Either way this problem will no doubt be dealt with sometime before the next General Election, in possibly February 2025, if not before.

Actually, what really attracted me, positioned, as it is, in the centre of this half upgraded new Liberty Square, was the last remaining antique looking, Victorian, iron signage still standing, situated just 50 metres from the Thurles Tourism Office.
Having left my glasses at home I moved closer to peruse same signage more clearly. Starting at the top in English, I read the printed utterance we use here in Tipperary, as a greeting or acknowledgement of another’s arrival in the town; the word “WELCOME”.

Same was followed by the words “VISITOR INFORMATION”. (I tell you when Sinn Féin get to hear about this, the Russian Kalashnikov’s will come out. (Not one word of Irish to be seen – No “Fáilte”, – No “Eolas do chuairteoirí”)

As a reasonably fluent English speaker, I moved closer. No, nothing, despite the 7.50 centimeter lettering threatening to inform the visitor and despite it being so close to Thurles Tourism Office. As I examined the dreaded British post box faded red paint, I discovered that obviously someone had accidentally leaned against this sign’s thick, translucent, Perspex facade on some frosty night about 3 years ago, thus leaving it in its current demise.

One had hoped to find helpful information contained their-on, for the benefit of any straying tourists — info like “Nothing Left Here – Try Blarney 118km Further On”, or “Nothing Left Here – This Way To Dublin City 151km Further On“; with perhaps a sort of codicil in small print on other necessary helpful information, like “Warning Traveller: Beware of out-of-control youth gangs leaping from car to car in Dublin city centre”, or “Warning Traveller: Beware of Dublin cowardly youths continuing to attack random individuals leaving them suffering serious head injuries”.

[Actually between ourselves, I blame all this on that feckin Covid-19 vaccine, causing this sort of moronic behaviour in our Republic’s Capital City].

Anyway, I’m not worrying, when Fianna Fail TD Mr J. Cahill reads this; out will come the video crew to provide footage for his social media page. Hope in this case he can find the right area, unlike another video venue, which he failed to identify.

Politicians and powerless local councillors in Thurles and Co. Tipperary, for the moment at least, are enjoying the silence of their electorate, but for how long more is anyone’s guess.

78% Of Ireland’s Bathing Sites Have Excellent Water Quality.

The quality of Ireland’s bathing water continued to improve in 2021, with 97% (144 of 148) of sites meeting or exceeding the minimum standard.
Of these, 115 bathing sites (78%) had excellent water quality (which is the most stringent standard). This increased from 111 in 2020.
These improvements are a result of enhanced management of bathing waters over many years, combined with investments in treatment of urban waste water.
The number of beaches with poor bathing water quality reduced to two, compared with four in 2020.
Swimmers are encouraged to ask their local authorities to officially identify additional local bathing sites. This will ensure they are managed to protect bathers’ health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water in Ireland report for 2021, which shows that 78% of bathing sites have excellent water quality, while 97% meet the minimum standard. This is attributed to improved management of bathing waters over many years, combined with investments in treatment of urban waste water.
However, while bathing water quality has continued to improve overall, there are still issues which need to be addressed, to protect and further improve bathing waters. Agriculture, urban waste water and fouling from dogs on beaches still impact the quality of bathing waters. In addition, heavy rainfall can also quickly impact by washing pollution into our bathing waters. Swimmers should always check www.beaches.ie for the latest water quality information for their local bathing site.
Commenting on the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, said: “Bathing water quality in Ireland is high and last year saw further improvements compared with 2020. This is good news as we approach the summer when we can enjoy our local beaches and bathing areas, which are an important natural amenity for health and wellbeing.
The EPA recognises that swimming is increasingly becoming a year-round activity and encourages the provision of information that will help winter swimmers to make informed choices to protect their health. The findings and outcome of the multi-stakeholder National Bathing Water Expert Group, due later this year, will provide important information in this regard and help identify potential options to better protect bathers who swim year-round.”

The EPA report specifically highlights improvements at Lilliput, Lough Ennell in Westmeath, after three years of poor quality. During 2020 and 2021, the bathing water quality improved significantly due to actions taken by farmers in the surrounding area. This was driven by evidence and science generated by Westmeath County Council, the Local Authority Waters Programme and the Agricultural Sustainability, Support and Advisory Programme working together. As a result, the restriction on swimming has been removed.
The EPA encourages swimmers to engage with Local Authorities to officially identify additional local bathing sites which will ensure they are managed to protect bathers’ health.
Further information on bathing water and updates on monitoring results during the bathing water season (1st June to 15th September) are available at www.beaches.ie.