Thurles Information

Listeria monocytogenes Found In McCormack Family Farms Leaf Products.

The Food Safety Authority Of Ireland have once again recalled various branded Spinach and Mixed Leaves products, produced by McCormack Family Farms, due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

McCormack Family Farms has recently returned to full business operations following a temporary halt due to a Listeria recall affecting their products in late July 2025. The company confirmed they have resumed full production after implementing corrective actions, including enhanced cleaning and daily lab testing of product samples, to ensure food safety and overcome this issue.

Alert Summary dated Saturday, 30th August 2025.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2025.47.
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: Please see table below.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Product name.	Pack sizes.	Batch codes.
McCormack Family Farms Baby Leaves Mixed Leaves.	500g.	JD233, JD234, JD235, JD237, JD238, JD239, JD240.
McCormack Family Farms Baby Leaves Spinach.	500g.	JD237, JD238, JD239, JD240.
McCormack Family Farms Baby Leaves Energise Mix.	500g.	JD233, JD237.
McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves.	100g, 200g & 250g.	JD 238, JD239, JD240.
McCormack Family Farms Mixed leaves.	75g & 100g.	JD234, JD238, JD239.
McCormack Family Farms Energise Super Mix.	100g & 200g.	JD233, JD239, JD240.
McCormack Family Farms Oriental Mix.	1kg.	JD234, JD235, JD239.
McCormack Family Farms Red Chard.	100g & 1kg.	JD238.
McCormack Family Farms Family Pack.	200g.	JD239, JD240.
Egan’s Irish baby Spinach.	250g.	JD 239, JD240.

Message: The above branded Spinach and Mixed Leaves products are being recalled by McCormack Family Farms due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in stores.
There is currently no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals that is currently under investigation. Please see News Article HERE.

Nature Of Danger: Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required From Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers & Retailers:

Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.

Caterers: Same should not use the implicated products.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated products.

More Than 5,000 Children Now Officially Declared Homeless.

For the first time in Ireland’s modern history, more than 5,000 children are now officially declared homeless.

By being homeless we mean (A) not having a home, which can range from living without shelter (sleeping rough) (B) living in insecure, inadequate, or temporary housing, or (C) being in institutional care due to a lack of other options.

Figures released by the Department of Housing confirm that over 5,014 children are today living in Ireland without a permanent home, relying on emergency State provided accommodation. This number must be viewed as thousands of young children growing up without stability, security, or the comfort of a place to call their own.

The overall homeless population has reached a shocking over 16,058 people, an increase of over 15,915 in June last. Child homelessness alone rose over 56 in just one single month, up from the 4,958 officially declared in June.

In just four years, the number of people experiencing homelessness has nearly doubled; from 8,132 in July of 2021 to 16,058 in July of 2025. These are not simply statistics, but families torn apart, futures put on hold and children suffering, through no fault of their own.

Homelessness is a wound that cuts through every layer of Irish society, but its deepest scars are borne by our affected children. It is a national disgrace that in a non-war torn, wealthy country like Ireland, thousands of our youngest citizens are being forced to grow up without a safe place to sleep.

Yet while this crisis deepens here at home, Irish political leaders like Irish Fine Gael politician, Tánaiste Mr Simon Harris, Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Taoiseach Mr Michael Martin; our outgoing Irish President and sociologist, Mr MD Higgins, all continue on the world stage, to claim to be global examples of social progress and humanitarian concern. Sorry, but to me their continuous posturing rings hollow when they ignore the electorate who entrusted them with Irish leadership.
Empty rhetoric spewed out abroad on a regular basis cannot disguise the shame of failing the most vulnerable of their people here at home.

This catastrophe now demands urgent action from all political parties. We cannot allow another generation of children to be left behind. Our elected political parties, our communities, and all of us as citizens must refuse to accept homelessness as being normal. We must act boldly and immediately to ensure every child has the most basic of human rights; that of a safe and secure home.

Free Shuttle Bus To Dualla Show, Co. Tipperary From Thurles.

Mr Dermot O’Halloran, Public Relations Officer with Dualla Show, Cashel, Co. Tipperary Reports:

Free Shuttle Bus direct to Dualla Show 2025 from Thurles Town Centre.

A FREE shuttle bus will run from Thurles town centre to the Dualla Show, Cashel Co. Tipperary, on Sunday next, August 31st 2025.

First Bus: 10.30am from outside the Arch Bar, No 66 Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 RH29).
Service: Every hour throughout the day.
Destination: Direct to the Dualla Showgrounds.
Fare: Completely FREE

Do come along, leave your car at home, and enjoy a stress-free trip to one of Tipperary’s biggest family events.

NOTE: Hereunder see complete Bus times running from Thurles to Dualla Show:
10:30am – 11:30am – 12:30pm – 1:30pm – 2:30pm.

Thurles, Co. Tipperary’s Racecourse To Reopen for October Fixtures.

Thurles, Co. Tipperary’s Racecourse To Reopen for October Fixtures After Reprieve

Thurles Racecourse will reopen on Thursday, October 9th, after receiving a last-minute reprieve that will see it host all 11 of its scheduled fixtures through to March 2026.

The Co Tipperary track, regarded as one of Ireland’s most historic National Hunt venues, had shocked the racing community on August 1st when its owners, the Molony family, announced it was closing with immediate effect.

Following urgent talks, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has now agreed to take over the running of the racecourse until the end of the current fixture list. The arrangement is intended to give all parties time to draw up a longer-term plan for the future of the venue.

In a joint statement, HRI and Thurles Race Company said: “Following a positive meeting yesterday afternoon between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony family, Thurles Race Company will facilitate the continuation of horse racing at Thurles Racecourse until March 2026, with operational responsibility passing to Horse Racing Ireland.”

The statement added that the agreement was made possible with the support of the Association of Irish Racecourses, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, and the wider industry.

The October reopening will be welcomed by racing fans, with Thurles long regarded as a favourite testing ground for Ireland’s top jump trainers and a regular stepping stone for horses destined for Cheltenham and beyond.

EPA – Ireland’s Infrastructure For Hazardous Waste Needs Investment.

The mid-term evaluation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 by the EPA shows mixed results in terms of implementation.
Ireland remains reliant on facilities in European countries to export hazardous wastes, posing a risk around management of complex waste materials in a sustainable way.
There has been some progress in establishing national infrastructure for the collection of household hazardous wastes (e.g. surplus paint) and farm hazardous waste (e.g. Pesticides or chemicals). However, sustained investment is needed.
A national take back scheme for the collection of unused and expired medicines is needed.
Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the mid-term evaluation and implementation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027. The Plan sets out measures to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste such as:
(1) Farm hazardous waste including spent sheep dip;
(2) Unused and expired medicines;
(3) Household hazardous waste including surplus paint;
(4) Assessment of national infrastructure and capacity.

Progress on the plan’s priority areas has been variable with notable improvements and progress in some areas, with limited advancement in others.

Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils.

Commenting on the report, Mr David Flynn, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said: “Our report, published today, highlights a strong case for investment in Ireland’s hazardous waste treatment infrastructure. This is needed to ensure highly polluting hazardous wastes are properly and safely managed. Ireland exports half of its hazardous waste for treatment. We cannot continue to rely on other countries to treat significant quantities of hazardous wastes generated in Ireland.”

This mid-term evaluation presents updates on the implementation of all the recommendations and actions identified in the Plan with seventeen recommendations completed or on-track to date.

Mr Warren Phelan, Programme Manager for the Circular Economy, added: “The report shows some progress in establishing systems for the collection of household hazardous and farm hazardous wastes. However, the setting up of a national take back scheme for unused and expired medicines has been slow. Sustained investment to ensure the durability and resilience of these systems is needed. Producers whose products result in hazardous wastes, such as paints, oils and farm chemicals, need to take greater responsibility, including funding for their safe management.”

The report Mid-term evaluation of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 – Incorporating the 2024 Annual Report is now available on the EPA website, HERE.