Thurles Information

Thurles Leisure Centre Briefly Closed In Interest Of Safety.

Thurles Leisure Centre, situated here on Cathedral Street in Thurles town, have confirmed that indeed patrons of the swimming pool area were evacuated by members of staff on Monday last, August 11th, following what is being described as a minor incident.

The happening is understood to have been caused due a minor chemical reaction, brought about by cleaning at the popular facilities changing rooms area.

We understand that emergency services involving the local fire brigade and eventually one ambulance arriving later, were summoned to the scene. Same response is required; nay, in the interest of health and safety; same is demanded under strict protocols at the Leisure Centre.

We reliably understand that after the routine cleaning of a toilet, within the aforementioned changing facility area, a mix of cleaning chemical were identified as being responsible for causing a minor chemical reaction, causing coughing.

The public venue, under Tipperary Co. Council guidance, remained closed following the incident, but fully re-opened yesterday afternoon, at 2:00pm.

Both the closure and reopening of this popular Thurles Gym; Physical Fitness Centre and Heated Swimming area was clearly announced on their Facebook page.

FSAI Recall Goat’s Cheese Due To Presence Of Listeria monocytogenes.

Irish Food Safety Authority recall various branded Goat’s Cheese products due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary dated Tuesday, August 12th 2025. (Further Update).

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2025.42.
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: Please see table below.
Country Of Origin: France.

Message: The below batches of goat’s cheese are being recalled due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
There is currently no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals or the recall of spinach and mixed leaves products. Please see this News Article.

Product.	Pack size.	Use by dates.
SuperValu Goat’s Cheese.	110g.	07/08/2025 and 12/08/2025.
Freshly Prepared by Our Cheesemongers Goats Cheese.	Pack sizes vary.	11/08/2025 and 12/08/2025.
SuperValu Chevre Log.	Pack sizes vary.	All use by dates up to and including 12/08/2025.

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: Retailers:
Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

Death Of Michael Scott, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, today Tuesday 12th August 2025, of Mr Michael Scott, Clonagoose, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and late of Ballingarry (South Riding), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his loving father Michael, brother John Mr Scott passed away at his place of ordinary residence, following a short illness most bravely borne, surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Evelyn, daughter Megan, mother Mary, sisters Margaret, Celina, Jennifer, Jacinta, brothers George, Cyril, Val, Walter and Johnny, uncles, aunts, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Scott will repose at his place of residence Clonagoose, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co Tipperary, (Eircode E41 V043) on tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday August 13th, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm same evening.

Requiem Mass will be offered for Mr Scott on Thursday afternoon,August 14th at 12:30pm, in the Church of St Michael, Mullinahone, Thurles, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Ballingarry graveyard, Ballingarry (SR), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Scott family 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.

Note Please: Donations in lieu of flowers to Irish Cancer Society in memory of Mr Michael Scott.

“The family would like to express their sincere thanks to all those who cared for Mr Scott, throughout his recent illness”.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Two Closure Orders Affect Food Outlets In Co. Tipperary.

Note Please: All Enforcement Reports can be found published at the link SHOWN HERE.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that ten Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses during the month of July for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

In total four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
(1) Creed’s Foodstore, Burncourt, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
(2) Lidl, Sallynoggin Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin.
(3) Brandon Hotel (Closed areas: All kitchen areas including dry goods store, wash up areas, staff canteen, restaurant and stills area), Prince’s Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry
(4) Emerald Park (Closed area: The storage unit located to the rear of “coffee dock” in Emerald Park) Kilbrew Ashbourne, Co. Meath.

Six Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
(1) KRS Catering Stall (Closed activity: the service of all foods prepared off-site and transported to the venue. Closure does not apply to the sale/service of beverages and foods prepared on site) Powerstown Park Racecourse, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
(2) Londis Athboy (Closed areas: the deli/food preparation area and ice cream service area) Connaught Street, Athboy, Co. Meath.
(3) Tim Nessa, 2A John’s Street, Co. Limerick. (Note further hereunder).
(4) Hidden Dojo Asian Street food, 47A Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
(5) Wakami Sushi & Asian, 47A Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
(6) Costa Coffee, 1 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
(1) Ballymaguire Foods Unlimited Company, Rathmooney, Lusk, Co. Dublin.

One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
(1) Timothy Onwuegbusi, 2A John’s Street, Limerick and Emeka Ikebudu, 2A John’s Street, Limerick.

The FSAI is aware that this food business, (Tim Nessa, 2A John’s Street, Limerick), continued to trade despite the service by the HSE on July 8th 2025 of a closure order pursuant to S.I. No. 79 of 2020. As a result, and in accordance with the applicable legislation, the FSAI applied to the High Court for various orders including that the continuance of the food business operator be prohibited and that the food business premises should immediately close until the food business is notified in writing that contraventions in the closure order have been remedied or further order of the High Court. An order of the High Court was granted on an ex-parte basis in those terms on 29 July 2025, with the matter back before the High Court on 27 August 2025, with the parties given liberty to apply to the High Court in the interim. FSAI and the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service will continue to monitor the food business to ensure it complies with the High Court’s order, the HSE’s closure order and the relevant food legislation.

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in July include: rat droppings found in a dishwasher room and food store and noted at a main customer entrance; inadequate means to wash hands preventing frequent handwashing in a kitchen; owners and staff not wearing clean protective clothing during food preparation; dead beetles observed in the bottom of a container of packaged food displayed for sale; various foods such as meat and poultry based curries and yoghurt and vegetable based condiments being kept at unsafe temperatures; rat droppings found in a storage unit which was used to store food and food contact materials such as reusable cups, lids and straws; numerous rodent droppings noted on high and low level shelving where food was stored; dead cockroaches in a main kitchen under worksurfaces where food is prepared and under cooking equipment where food is cooked; extensive food debris on the floor of the store room, on the shop floor and on the floor of a bakery.

Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “Recent foodborne incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for food businesses to maintain the highest food safety standards. Consumers are entitled to expect that the food they purchase is safe, and food businesses have a clear legal and moral responsibility to ensure that it is. The Enforcement Orders issued this month reflect serious, preventable breaches of food safety law.
Every food business must take its responsibility to comply with food safety law seriously. The FSAI can provide support and advice to food businesses to help them meet their obligations. However, as demonstrated by the enforcement actions this month, where food businesses do not comply with their obligations, we will take action.”

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.

Bits Of Thurles Co. Tipperary Go Missing.

A head from one of the new lamp standards, first erected on May 17th 2021 on the now half upgraded section of Liberty Square in Thurles has gone missing. We cannot confirm whether it fell or whether it was removed by those responsible for lighting repairs, namely Airtricity.

**Smart / Intelligent street light vanishes from Liberty Square.**
*Pic. G. Willoughby*.

A majority of the ‘luminaires’ situated on Liberty Square still remains lit in broad daytime, since June 2022, despite so called ‘Smart / Intelligent lamp heads’ having been fitted; paid for with EU funding, having being made available back in December 2018. Back in 2022 over 56 lamp standards remained lighting in broad daylight each day, and little has changed since; with nothing having changed, whatsoever, since 2022, in Liberty Square.

**Newly fitted Holycross directional road sign gone missing from Slievenamon Road.**
*Pic. G. Willoughby*.

Another missing item, namely a recently fitted ‘Holycross’ directional road sign, pointing in the direction of Fianna Road, appears to have also vanished from Slievenamon road in Thurles.
We had pointed out, some weeks ago, that this sign had been seriously bent by a passing high-sided vehicle. A new replacement sign had been erected, but now this sign, in total, has gone missing.
A close up investigation appears to suggest that the new sign was again struck, as was fully expected, by yet another high-sided vehicle.

**Butterflies of Ireland**.
*Pic. G. Willoughby*.

Talking of signs, on a more positive note, it is nice to see a new sign appearing behind the Lidl Supermarket on Slievenamon Road, situated on the west bank of the River Suir.
This informative/educational metal sign identifying the butterflies of Ireland, is mounted on a stainless steel frame and is attracting a large audience.