Thurles Information

Minister O’Callaghan Welcomes Attestation Of 154 Gardaí In Tipperary.

Minister for Justice Mr Jim O’Callaghan welcomes attestation of 154 new Gardaí.

Attestation of new Gardaí are commended for their commitment to public service.
154 Gardaí – 32 women and 122 men – will now be assigned to Garda Divisions across the country.
New class of 201 Garda recruits to enter the Garda College next week.

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Mr Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the attestation of 154 new Gardaí, from 26 different countries, at a ceremony in the Garda College in Templemore, Co. Tipperary today.
Five who were due to graduate today were suspended and are being investigated for alleged bullying after another recruit was attacked and handcuffed in the showers.
The oldest is a 50-year-old League of Ireland referee from Co Tyrone, Mr Michael Connolly, and the youngest is 19-year-old Ms Hannah Egan who did her Leaving Cert just two years ago.

Speaking at the Garda College, Minister O’Callaghan stated: “We are fortunate in this country that every community wants to see more Gardaí visible in their area. It is one of the most effective measures we have for preventing crime and making people feel safer. Attitudes and approaches to policing must continue to adapt to the world we live in. However, what it means to be a Garda remains the same. Our new Gardaí have made a commitment to public service and to keeping people in their communities safe. I want to thank them for making that commitment and wish them the very best as they begin their careers with An Garda Síochána.”

Of the 154 attesting today, 122 are men and 32 are women and of today’s graduation class, 66 gardaí are to be assigned to the south of the country, including 20 to Cork city.

The new probationer Gardaí will now begin their careers in An Garda Síochána and will be assigned to Garda Divisions across the country by the Garda Commissioner Mr Drew Harris.

This will be the largest allocation of probationer Gardaí to Regions outside of Dublin in the past year, with the majority being assigned to communities in the South and Northwest. 45 of the new Gardaí will be deployed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, with 66 going to the Southern Region, including 20 Probationer Gardaí each for stations in Limerick City and Cork City respectively.

Minister O’Callaghan added: “I am also extremely pleased that a new class of 201 Garda recruits will enter the Garda College next week to begin their training. An increased and visible Garda presence is central to the government’s aim to build safe and secure communities. The high number of applications for recent Garda recruitment campaigns is evidence of the strong interest that there is to join and serve in An Garda Síochána.
Ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs is a key priority for me. I look forward to working with the new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly to further strengthen An Garda Síochána so that it is well placed to deal with the challenges ahead, as per our commitment in the Programme for Government. I also want to take this opportunity today on his last attestation before he retires on September 1st, to once again thank outgoing Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for his hard work, commitment and dedication over the past seven years. He has implemented some of the widest ranging reforms of the organisation in its history and leaves a legacy of tangible improvements”.

The strength of An Garda Síochána now stands at 14,408 sworn officers and Commissioner Harris today presided over his last graduation as Garda Commissioner before newly appointed Mr Justin Kelly takes over officially on September 1st next.

Death Of Mick Connolly, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 21st August 2025 of Mr Michael (Mick) Connolly, ‘The Grove’, Cabra, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Kinvara, Co. Galway.

Mr Connolly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles and Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, South Tipperary..

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; devoted and loving wife Mary (née Heffernan), daughters Maria and Joanne, sons Thomas and Tony, grandchildren Chloe, Mary-Kate, Sarah, Julieann, Lily, Emma, Ava, Ted, Lucy and Charlie, son-in-law Emmet, daughters-in-law Eimear and Susan, sisters Mai and Ann, brothers John, Thomas, Bob, Liam and Anthony, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, former colleagues of Thurles Sugar Factory, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Connolly will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, on Saturday afternoon, August 23rd, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles on Sunday morning, August 24th at 10:30am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Holycross Abbey Graveyard, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Connolly, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Connolly and Heffernan families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

€30 Million Road Project Approved for Thurles To Nenagh Road.

€30 Million realignment project has finally received approval for the R498, an area situated between Thurles and Nenagh.

The R498 realignment will take place in the Latteragh area between Thurles and Nenagh.
Funding of €20 million approved for civil works.
€4 million already allocated for design, consultancy, and land compensation.

Tipperary County Council has confirmed that a major road improvement project for the R498 is now set to proceed.

The scheme, with estimated costings of some €30 million, is expected to deliver significant safety upgrades through the realignment of a section of the R498 route close to Latteragh. The Department of Transport has approved €20 million in funding to appoint a civil works contractor, who is expected to undertake a two-year programme necessary to complete the works.

**R498 Thurles to Nenagh Road , Co. Tipperary.**

This funding is in addition to some €4 million which has already been set aside to cover design fees, consultancy services, and compensation payable to landowners, affected by the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process. Compensation offers issued to all landowners, have been accepted by some, with the remainder under negotiation with valuers.

The existing R498 at Latteragh is a single carriageway, 4.3km in length, which follows the contours around the Latteragh hills, adjacent to the meandering Nenagh River. These bends have led to the road having a sub-standard cross-section resulting in numerous vehicle collisions in the past.
The scheme is located approximately 7km south-east of the M7 Nenagh Bypass and as stated, involves the improvement of approximately 4.3km of the existing R498 route.

A shared footway/cycle track is proposed along the length of the scheme, utilising sections of the old road alignment and within the proposed verge along one side of the road, which will have a design speed of 85km/h.
The existing three junctions are being improved as part of the scheme, with the provision of a right/left staggered ghost island junction at each junction.
There are also two single span bridge crossings over the Nenagh River with reinforced soil construction proposed for the wing-walls.

Some advance works have already been undertaken since last year, which included fencing and site clearance, along with archaeological investigations.

This project will be seen to represents a major investment in road safety and regional infrastructure, with the realignment of this section addressing long-standing safety concerns and providing a modern, reliable transport link between Thurles and Nenagh.

Co. Tipperary Court Hears 19-Year-Old Accused Of Murdering Ian Walsh.

A 19-year-old teen has been charged with the murder of Mr Ian Walsh, latter whose body was discovered at his home in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, earlier this month.

Mr Nathan Hanlon, with an address at Castle View, Ballyneale, Carrick-on-Suir, appeared before a special sitting of Clonmel District Court last night.

Sergeant Mr Denis Ryan, of Clonmel Garda Station, informed the court that he arrested and charged Mr Hanlon with the murder of Mr Walsh, at Ravenswood, Cregg Road, Carrick-on-Suir, on August 2nd. The accused is understood to have made no reply when cautioned, Sergeant Ryan stated.

Defence solicitor Mr John M. Joy applied for free legal aid and a psychological assessment for his client.

Ms Justice Miriam Walsh granted both applications and remanded Mr Hanlon in custody to appear again before Clonmel District Court on Tuesday August 26th.

The murdered victim, Mr Walsh, was originally from Co. Waterford and had been employed at Carrick-on-Suir train station.
He had previously worked as a signaller at Kent Station in Cork and held a number of other positions within Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), the national railway network of Ireland.

Government Announces Launch Of Tenders For Family Justice Initiatives.

Children’s Court Advocate Pilot.
Family Law Reporting Project.

As stated above, the initiatives are the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot and the Family Law Reporting Project.

In the Report on Consultations with Children and Young People for the Family Justice Oversight Group in 2022, it was identified that children want more information, to be given a choice in how to have their voice heard and they also want professionals providing the support to show genuine care and interest. This development also follows the Review of the Role of Expert Reports in the Family Law Process published in 2024.

The Children’s Court Advocate pilot seeks to improve how the voice of the child is heard and considered in private family law proceedings. The aim is to ensure children can access child friendly and appropriate information about the legal process and are given meaningful opportunities to express their views in a manner appropriate to their age, development, and individual needs. The pilot reflects the objective of the Family Justice Strategy to make the reformed system more child-centred.

The pilot will initially be established in two District Court locations – Waterford City and Clonmel – and will apply to all applications made for guardianship, custody and/or access.

A review will be carried out no later than 18 months into the project and, subject to the outcome of that review and availability of funding, it is intended that phase two will expand the scope of the pilot to include incoming Circuit Court divorce and judicial separation cases. It is expected the total pilot period will be three years.

The second tender is for a Family Law Reporting Project, a commitment under goal six of the Family Justice Strategy. The overall aim of the Project is to enhance transparency both for the public about family law proceedings and confidence in the judicial determination of family law disputes, while continuing to ensure the privacy of those proceedings for children and families. The systematic reports on aspects of family law cases that the Project will produce and publish will further public understanding and awareness of, and confidence in, the judicial determination of family law disputes.

Information on both tenders has been posted HERE.

The closing date for submissions for both tenders is September 15th 2025.