Thurles Information

Death Of Josie Ryan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It is with the deepest regret that we report the death, today Monday, 12th July 2021, of Mrs Johanna (Josie) Ryan (née Egan), Athnid, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and late of Kilcommon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her husband John; Mrs Ryan passed away peacefully while in the loving care of Unit C, Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles town.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving daughters Kathleen and Jo, son Billy, grandchildren Olivia and Seán, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Ryan will repose for Requiem Mass at 11.30am on Wednesday morning, July 14th in St. Patrick’s Church, Kilcommon, Thurles, followed by cremation afterwards in Shannon Crematorium Illaunmanagh, Shannon, Co. Clare, [V14 PV30].

For the many persons who would have liked to have attended the funeral service for Mrs Ryan, but are unable to do so, due to current coronavirus pandemic restrictions; same can be viewed online HERE.

[NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending (limited to 50 mourners) will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering and the refraining from handshaking.]

The extended Ryan 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.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Nationally, 1,181 New Virus Cases As Cabinet Set To Reopen Indoor Hospitality.

Irish government Ministers are expected to agree, as early as tomorrow afternoon, to sign off on plans to reopen bars and restaurants in the Irish Republic.

The Government is hoping that this legislation will be in place, thus allowing vaccinated people only to eat and drink inside licenced hostelries and restaurants, with same being passed by the Dáil and Seanad Éireann before the end of this week.

It is then expected the Bill will be signed by President Mr Michael D. Higgins during the week beginning Monday, July 19th and before Friday, July 23rd.

We understand that the Government is also preparing for a ‘vaccine pass’ which can be scanned, assisting business owners; same who are worried about policing Covid-19 passes.

Meanwhile, a further 576 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed within the Republic. Here also, there are 58 people currently hospitalised with the disease, up six from yesterday, and of these 16 people remain in intensive care units.
Here in the Republic, some 55% of adults have been fully vaccinated, while 70% of persons have received a first dose as of yesterday.

In Northern Ireland, a further 605 positive cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, up to lunch time today, Sunday.
In Northern Ireland, also, there has been, sadly, one further coronavirus-linked death over the past 24 hours, while to date, 2,122,962 vaccines have been administered to their citizens.

July Wildflowers.

**Pictured yesterday on the Yellow Lough Road** *(R659)* **just outside Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**. *Photo: G. Willoughby*.

Wildflower.

Written by Clinton Arneson

The wildflower… bred by no one, uncultivated;
raised hard, raised rough.
No glass pane to shield you, nor tender hand revealed you,
standing all the sweeter ‘gainst the grass.
There may be some the fairer,
though none so brave to dare her,
wild, wild flower in the wind.
END

Thurles – This Week & Next Week At A Glance

Remembering that men make plans and God laughs.

Two more, very healthy, mature trees on the sunny side, east on Liberty Square, Thurles, alas, have been removed courtesy of an unforgiving chainsaw massacre.

“They took all the trees, and put em in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them
No, no, no
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.”
Extract from song ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ (Lyrics by singer Joni Mitchell).

Same were 7 year old trees initially, when sown by myself and 4 others, all members of a Thurles Tidy Towns committee, back in 1988, giving them an age of just 40 years.

On the day we sowed them some 5 members of Thurles Chamber of Commerce, came along to protest, claiming that their window displays could no longer be observed by the general public.

These trees had been subjected to having gravel and resin replaced at their base late last year, which in turn left people with the hope they would be retained. More money, again wasted, but rate payers have very deep pockets for such dainty projects.

While promising to return trees to the now, new look, upgrading of Liberty Square, one wonders why no unpaved areas are being left to accommodate new replacement trees. Then again, maybe same are to be planted where the old street ESB standards are waiting to be removed. Who knows? As many will attest, there has been only a token public consultation with residents within the town; with local unqualified councillors calling the shots.

Temporary Road Closure on the R-660 Abbey Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Temporary Road Closure on the R-660 Abbey Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary are expected from 07:00am on next Monday July 12th 2021, to 7:00pm on Friday August 20th 2021.
This temporary unexpected closure, [the second this year] will be in place to facilitate road resurfacing and safety improvement works to the Abbey Road Roundabout, opposite Lidl Supermarket E41 N520. Traffic Management will be in place and major delays are to be expected.

Traffic Lights

Meanwhile, the newly erected perplex of traffic lights at the junction of Clongour Road and Slievenamon road, Thurles, will come into operation, (that is according to Tipperary County Council) on the morning of Tuesday July 13th next. (No local politician, armed with a scissors, has as yet volunteered to officially cut any ribbon). One wonders how long 12 wheeler trucks will delay traffic, as they wait to get around the junction leading south unto Clongour Road west, when forced to cross into oncoming lanes to avoid one traffic light column, latter erected unnecessarily too close to the corner on the Clongour Road section. (See left side of picture above).

Lidl Supermarket.
The new Lidl Supermarket retail outlet, (also pictured in the background above), at the junction of Clongour Road and Slievenamon road, Thurles will open on Thursday July 15th next. We wish them well in their future endeavours, as a new town centre for Thurles sadly materialises, reducing the former status of Liberty Square, all courtesy of Tipperary Co. Council’s parking charges, sanctioned by Thurles elected officialdom.

New ‘Lambda’ Virus Variant Reaches At Least 29 Countries.

As Ireland competes in a race against time in its dealings with the Delta coronavirus variant, another variant is on the rise, known as the “Lambda” or “C.37” variant, with the World Health Organization (WHO) listing it as a “variant of interest” on June 15th last, and the UK adding it to their list of variants under investigation, since June 23rd.

According to the WHO, there have been at least 563 infections in the US, detected mainly in southern Nevada sewage water, which suggests it is spreading within the community.
“Lambda” is understood to carry an unusual combination of mutations, with the potential to change its ability to transmit or resist vaccination.

Authorities in Peru reported that 81% of its Covid-19 cases, confirmed since April 2021, were associated with Lambda, while Argentina reported an increasing prevalence of this variant, as early as the third week of February 2021. By June 24th last, the Lambda variant had been detected in 29 other countries, according to Public Health England data.

According to WHO, the Delta variant has three significant mutations in its spike protein, while the new Lambda variant has at least seven, and remains usually associated with higher transmissibility and resistance to antibodies.

Covid-19 Cases In Ireland Today

Meanwhile, as of midnight last night, Friday 9th July, a further 581 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed here in the Irish Republic, while in Northern Ireland, 445 positive cases of the disease were reported, bringing the total on the mainland of Ireland to 1,026.

In Northern Ireland sadly 1 further death has been reported. Daily data on deaths remains unavailable in the Republic of Ireland due to the Russian cyberattack on our current health service.

There are 52 people currently hospitalised, again within our Republic and of these 16 people remain in intensive care units.

However, some good news with the European Union having received enough coronavirus vaccine doses for member states, thus enabling countries within our bloc to fully vaccinate at least 70% of adults.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is urging EU countries to increase vaccinations and said about 500 million doses would be distributed across the union by tomorrow, Sunday.

HSE chief executive Mr Paul Reid has stated that 55% of adults are now fully vaccinated, while 70% have received a first vaccine dose. At least 64% of Ireland’s adult population will be fully vaccinated by the end of July 2021.

Meanwhile, Professor Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has warned that a continued growth of the disease in Ireland reaching 2,000 daily infections, would see some 40 patients admitted to hospital each day. The Delta variant has now moved from accounting for around 5% of cases in Ireland, in early June 2021, to a current 70% in early July and rapidly rising daily.