Thurles Information

Major Road Repairs Still Required Within The Town Of Thurles.

Temporary repairs which were undertaken this week on the surface of Slievenamon Road, has been successful.

Machine planing of this 200 metre section was undertaken on the night of July 29th last and total resurfacing was completed on the following night, thus greatly improving what was previously the most potholed streetscape of any town in Europe.

**Section of road at the junction incline on Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher *(R659)*.**

Sadly, to quote Mr Bertie Ahern’s old slogan from many past Irish General Elections, quote, “A lot done, but a lot more to do”.

Perhaps local councillors and their officials would like to take a peek at the public thoroughfare at the junction of Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher on the R659, opposite the Honda car dealership of Denis Kinane Motors.

Twice a week over the past number of years this area received a couple of shovels of cold tarmac; often beaten into pools of water. Two mounds of torn up loose gravel now forms two hillock on this steep incline, requiring same to be removed and more permanent repairs undertaken, as soon as possible.

When finished there, the entrance to Westgate might receive further consideration.

Lest, in our daily haste we forget, motor tax revenues generated an estimated €6.5 to €7.0 billion for the Irish Exchequer last year, according to reports.
The Irish State received over €1.6 billion from both the Vehicle Registration Tax on new and imported cars and the VAT on servicing parts and repairs. It also received almost €4.0 billion from fuel taxes and an estimated €1.0 billion from annual motor taxes. Based on the appearances of road surfaces over the past almost 4 years, it appears that Thurles town is entitled only to the odd daily shovel of cold tarmac to fill its craters.

Time now for these areas to be surface planed and resurfaced and stop wasting the precious time and energy of a skilled council worker force.

Incorrectly Declared Milk In Lidl Red Hen Tempura Chicken Steaks.

Incorrectly declared milk in specific batches of Lidl Red Hen Tempura 4 Chicken Steaks.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Alert Summary dated Friday, August 1st, 2025,

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A28.
Allergen: Milk.
Product Identification: Red Hen Tempura 4 Chicken Steaks; pack size: 380g.
Batch Code: Best before dates: 11/12/2026, 16/12/2026, 22/12/2026 and 30/12/2026.
Country Of Origin: Poland.

Message:
Milk is not emphasised in the ingredients list of the above batches of Red Hen Tempura 4 Chicken Steaks. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of milk and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batches.
The affected batches are being recalled from Lidl stores.

Fund To Support Integration And Employment Of Irish Migrants Announced.

Fund to support the integration and employment of people, who have moved here as migrants, announced.

Up to €2.7 million available under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme.
Fund is open to non-government and community organisations providing projects to increase the employability of people who moved here as migrants.
Fund helps people overcome barriers to employment including language difficulties, lack of training or social exclusion.

The Irish government yesterday announced funding of up to €2.7 million for projects that aim to increase the integration and employability of people who have moved here as migrants.
Funding is being made available under the Integration and Employment of Migrants action of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027.

The Programme is jointly funded by the European Union, through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and the Government of Ireland.

Organisations can apply for funding for projects supporting:

EEA Nationals who are resident in Ireland;
Third Country Nationals with permission to enter employment in Ireland, including people who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The funding will support a small number of significant projects and €200,000 is the minimum grant that can be applied for.
All applications must be submitted by email to iem@justice.ie.
Applications for funding will remain open until noon on Thursday September 11th, 2025.

Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Strength of proposal;
Strategic fit and achieving the goals of the Integration and Employment of Migrants activity of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027;
Capacity of applicant organisation to deliver work programme;
Value for money.

Previous successful projects.
In Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Westmeath, Longford and Laois, DORAS’ – “Gateway to Employment for Third Country Nationals” project, works with migrants and employers to overcome some of the most significant barriers to employment faced by migrants in Ireland including language barriers, lack of local work experience and limited social networks.

Further information and the application form are available online at gov.ie

Death Of Paddy Clancy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 31st July 2025, of Mr Paddy Clancy Shanakyle, Ballylusky, Drangan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents James and Mary, his brother John Joe and sister May; Mr Clancy passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. (Medical 2), surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving and heartbroken wife Martina, sons James and Denis, James’s partner Emma, his brothers Lory and Stephen, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Clancy will repose at O’Connell’s Funeral Home Killenaule, Thurles, (Eircode E41 HH66) on tomorrow afternoon Saturday, August 2nd, from 4:00pm until 7:30pm, before being received into the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Drangan, Thurles, (Eircode E41 YD73) at 8:15pm same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mr Clancy will be offered on Sunday morning, August 3rd, at 11:00am, followed by interment in the adjoining graveyard.

The extended Clancy 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: House strictly private. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Bru Columbanus in memory of Mr Paddy Clancy.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

End Of An Era For Ireland’s Only Privately Owned Racecourse At Thurles.

In a press release published on their website this morning (https://thurlesraces.ie/theendofaneraforthurlesracecourse/), Thurles Racecourse is to close with immediate effect.

The first recorded race meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of three generations of the Molony family since the early 1900s..

The Press Release states:

The end of an era for Thurles Racecourse,
Thurles Racecourse, Ireland’s only privately owned racecourse, has closed with immediate effect. Today, (Friday 01 August) Mrs Riona Molony officially announced the family’s decision to retire from racing at the Tipperary track.

“An iconic venue steeped in history and tradition; Thurles Racecourse has long been a cornerstone of National Hunt Racing in Ireland. The first ever recorded race-meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900’s. Riona’s late husband Pierce took over from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, and together with their family they have worked hard at the business for the last 50 years.

As the Molony family prepare to embark on their next chapter, Riona expressed sincere gratitude for the support of their “extended racecourse family”; the staff, sponsors, racing community, local businesses, and the many racegoers who have contributed to the rich legacy of Thurles Racecourse.

Riona commented “It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. Horse-racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.”

She continued, “Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we’ve managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor.”

Although, Thurles Racecourse is fully licenced to race until December 31st and has 11 prominent fixtures in the 2025/26 racing calendar, the Molony Family will not race again. Riona commented, “We’re going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.”

The racecourse hit the headlines earlier this year when, sadly, 24 year old Irish jockey Mr Michael O’Sullivan, died from catastrophic head injuries sustained in a fall during a race meeting at the venue.

So, what now for Thurles Racecourse, will same now be sold as a building site or will Horse Racing Ireland step in to restore harmony and continue with long held relationships?