Thurles Information

Warning To Thurles Pedestrians Travelling On Kickham Street.

Pedestrians and motorists travelling on Kickham Street, in the area of Kyle Terrace need to be aware that the head of a street light has broken loose from its lamp standard moorings.

The head portion of the street light is held solely by its electric cable and could break loose, causing injuries to both pedestrians and to motorists travelling underneath.

Caution should be exercised, until repairs are undertaken.

Tipperary Co. Council have been notified on (0818) 065 000 and the matter has been passed to the relevent repair unit.

Temporary Road Works Have Begun Tonight On Slievenamon Road, Thurles.

Rathcabbin Tarmacadam staff have moved unto Slievenamon Road, Thurles, this evening, moving necessary machinery to begin the tarmac surface planing of some 200 metres of roadway.

The strip in question is the badly potholed area, existing between Liberty Square and the junction of Thomond Road East and Fianna Road West under the expert supervision of Rathcabbin Tarmacadam foreman Mr T.J. Slevin.
The surface planing being undertaken tonight creates a more level and better finish when a surface layer is laid. When Grading off a surface all the excavated asphalt is loaded straight onto the back of a lorry and removed from site. The material can then be recycled.

This work is expected to be completed in two nights; with aurface planing tonight and the laying of tarmac tomorrow night.

Rathcabbin Tarmacadam’s skilled staff are also responsible for the successful work, (also supervised by Mr Slevin,) currently being carried out on the busy Kickham Street area, east of Thurles town.

Local area residents have been most complementary with regards this companies traffic plans and with their personal dealings, which involves mutual assistance, while working towards a common goal, during the most difficult of operations.

Slievenamon Road.

Meanwhile, with regards to the Slievenamon Road (N62) area, we understand from Thurles Council officials, that the road repair currently being undertaken, are purely temporary and the initial planning upgrade, which Thurles.Info first published in early October of 2022, is now delayed, possibly for yet another year or more, as planning is now awaited for the upgrading of underground pipes.

To assist, traffic is being asked to avoid the Slievenamon road area, where possible.

New Irish Garda Commissioner announced.

The Irish government today (Tuesday 29th July 2005) has announced the appointment of Mr Justin Kelly to the post of Garda Commissioner for a term of five years with effect from September 1st next.

The recruitment process for the new Garda Commissioner was the first undertaken under section 26 of the new Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 which commenced in April. A three-week recruitment campaign was held by publicjobs.ie (formerly the Public Appointments Service) in May last, including an international search for suitable candidates, which resulted in 14 candidates. The selection process included two interviews and a presentation by candidates as well as a detailed psychometric assessment.

**Newly appointed Garda Commissioner, Mr Justin Kelly**

Deputy Commissioner Mr Justin Kelly was selected as the preferred candidate and recommended for appointment and he was today appointed by the Government as Commissioner with effect from September 1st next.

Outgoing Commissioner Mr Drew Harris will continue to lead An Garda Síochána until the September date, at which time he will retire after 41 years of service to policing on the island of Ireland, including a total of seven years as Garda Commissioner.

A native of Dublin, Deputy Commissioner Kelly has more than 30 years policing experience and was appointed to his current role as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance in October 2024 last. He has a strong background, both academically and in operational policing, particularly in relation to combatting organised crime groups and safeguarding the security of the State.

In his previous role, as Assistant Commissioner/Serious and Organised Crime, he was responsible for leading the national policing response in areas of drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. He was the strategic lead for the development of capacity and organisational policy in areas connected with serious crime investigation.

From 2020 to 2022 he was Detective Chief Superintendent, leading the Operational Counter-Terrorism Unit, the Special Detective Unit. He was previously Detective Superintendent, Garda National Protective Services Bureau, as well as a Detective Inspector, Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and a front-line Inspector in the Blanchardstown and Clondalkin areas of Dublin.

Career History.
1992 – 2017:- Garda, Sergeant and Inspector ranks.
Aug 2017 – Oct 2020:- Detective Superintendent, Garda National Protective Services Bureau.
Oct 2020 – May 2022:- Detective Chief Superintendent, Special Detective Unit.
May 2022 – Oct 2024:- Assistant Commissioner, Organized and Serious Crime.
Oct 2024 to current date:- Deputy Commissioner, Security, Strategy and Governance.

Education.
2006 – BCL (2:1), UCD.
2010 – MA Criminal Justice (First Class Hons), John Jay College, New York City (recipient of the 2009 McCabe Fellowship).
2019 – MBA (2:1), Dublin City University.
2019 – Professional Certificate in Governance (First Class Hons), Institute of Public Administration.
2019 – MA Serious Crime Investigation (First Class Hons), University of Limerick
2020 – Strategic Command Course – four-month senior police leadership programme, College of Policing, UK.

The salary for the Garda Commissioner role is currently €314,512, reflecting both the size and unique complexity of leading An Garda Síochána, which is a very large policing service with over 18,000 employees, and includes lead responsibility for the security of the State.

Death Of Jackie Looby, Formerly Boherlahan, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness we learned of the death, yesterday Monday 28th July 2025, of Mr Jack (Jackie) Looby, formerly Ballinree, Boherlahan, Co. Tipperary and late of Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.

Pre-deceased by his parents Michael and Eillen and his brother Neddie, Mr Looby, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Co. Dublin.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; heartbroken wife Ann, son Michael, grandson Jack, daughter-in-law Joanne, brother Michael, sisters Hannah, Eileen Og, Mary, Kathleen, Bernadette and Winnie, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephew, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Looby will repose at Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, (Eircode W91 CD0K) on Thursday afternoon, July 31st, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening, with recital of Rosary Prayers beginning from 6:30pm.
His remains will be received into the Church of the Holy Family, Main Street, Rathcoole, on Friday morning August 1st, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 12:00 noon, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Newcastle Cemetery, Greenoge, Co. Dublin.

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

The extended Looby 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: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Accelerated Processing For International Protection Applications Announced.

Applications for International Protection, from Pakistan, will be accelerated and prioritised with effect from today, Tuesday July 29th.

The Irish government has today announced that Pakistan will be added to the list of countries subject to accelerated processing for international protection applications.

Under an accelerated decision-making process, introduced in November 2022, international protection applicants that fall under this procedure are receiving first decisions in around four months and this is expected to reduce in the coming months.

Applications from Pakistan have grown considerably in recent years and in each of the last two quarters, Pakistan nationals have ranked as the second highest nationality for applications for international protection.

Section 73 (1) of the International Protection Act 2015 allows for the Minister to accord priority to any application, or to request the Chairperson of IPAT to accord priority to any appeal, having regard to criteria set down in Sec. 73 (2). Section 73A, allows for accelerated processing of cases having regard to the criteria set down in Sec.73 (2).

Accelerated processing for certain IP applications was introduced in November 2022. From today, Tuesday, July 26th 2025 it applies to:
Applicants from 15 safe countries of origin, namely Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Malawi & Morocco, Macedonia (latter former Yugoslav Republic), Montenegro, Serbia, South Africa, Nigeria and Pakistan.

The table hereunder shows the number of international protection applications from Pakistan from 2021 to July 24th, 2025.