Thurles Information

Death Of Samanta Kimene, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, on Sunday 13th July 2025 of Ms Samanta (Sammy) Kimene, Slí na Siuire, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Latvia.

Aged 25 years, Ms Kimene sadly passed away expectedly following a short illness while in Tenerife, Spain.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving mother Inese, brother Kevin, uncles Arturs, Andrins and Dzintars, aunts Mija and Ieva, cousins Elvis, Sophia, Joshua and Emily, work colleagues, extended relatives, neighbours, great friends both in Ireland and Spain, former pupils and staff at Presentation Convent, Secondary School, Thurles.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Ms Kimene will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59), on Monday afternoon, July 21st, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm.
Her remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, (Eircode E41 E084), on Tuesday morning, July 22nd, at 10:30am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Kimene 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Death Of American Singer Connie Francis.

American pop singer, actress and one of the top-charting female vocalists of the late 1950s and early 1960s, Ms Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, known professionally as Connie Francis, sadly passed away on Wednesday last, in Pompano Beach, Florida on July 16th 2025, at the age of 87 years.

During her career she was estimated to have sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Ms Francis had recently been treated for pelvic pain, caused by a fracture and had been confined to a wheelchair.

The performer, whose hits included ‘Stupid Cupid‘ and ‘Who’s Sorry Now‘, had recently enjoyed a resurgence of her 1962 song ‘Pretty Little Baby‘ .

Somewhere My Love.

Vocals: American singer the late Ms Connie Francis (1937 – 2025). (Sung to the melody of “Lara’s Theme” from the film Doctor Zhivago.)
Lyrics: American lyricist and three time Academy Award winner the late Paul Francis Webster (1907 – 1984).

Somewhere My Love.

Somewhere, my Love, there will be songs to sing,
Although the snow covers the hope of spring.
Somewhere a hill blossoms to green and grow,
And there are dreams all that your heart can hold.
Someday we’ll meet again, my love,
Someday whenever the spring breaks through.
You’ll come to me out of the long ago,
Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow.
Till then, my sweet, think of me now and then,
God speed my love till you are mine,
Till you are mine again.
END

Ms Francis grew up in a working-class Italian American family in Brooklyn, New York. She started playing the accordion at the age of three, encouraged by her father. By the time she was a teenager, she had changed her name from Concetta Franconero, to Connie Francis.

During her early career she was turned down by almost every record label; only securing a contract with MGM Records, because her demo song, ‘Freddy‘, happened to be the name of the then president’s son. She would go on to sell millions of records in multiple dialects, including teen hits like ‘Lipstick On Your Collar‘ and ‘Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool‘.

Following being beaten and raped at knife point in 1974 at her motel, at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, she became a recluse, spending several spells in psychiatric hospitals. At her lowest point, she attempted suicide using sleeping pills. She later won $1.5 million lawsuit against the Howard Johnson’s motel chain, for failing to provide safe locks on the glass door through which her attacker entered.

Ms Francis had just begun her return to the stage in 1981, when her younger brother George Franconero, who had testified against the Mafia, was shot to death in front of his house. This event plunged her deeper into depression, leaving her to spend much of the next decade receiving treatment, during which time she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

She would go on to become an outspoken voice within victim advocacy groups, including Women Against Rape, and the Victims’ Assistance Legal Organisation, and became a spokesperson for Mental Health America.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Launch Of ‘Ireland Against Racism’ Fund Announced.

Ireland Against Racism Fund now open to applications from non-government and community organisations.
Up to €1 million will support projects that combat racism and promote racial equality.
Fund is key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism.

Applications are open for the 2025 Ireland Against Racism Fund. The fund, which is a key part of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR), will enable non-government and community organisations to provide projects and local initiatives that combat racism and promote racial equality.

Announcing the fund, Minister of State for Migration, Mr Colm Brophy said: “I am pleased to announce that applications can now be made for the 2025 round of the Ireland Against Racism Fund, with up to €1 million being made available for local and national projects to combat racism in Ireland.
There is no place for racism in our society. Every person who lives in Ireland has a right to live free of racial discrimination. This funding underlines the government’s commitment to tackling racism and making life better for people who may be subjected to racist discrimination.
The National Action Plan on Racism was informed by the experiences of people who have been directly affected by racism and we recognise that solutions to tackling this problem lie across society and not just within Government. That is why we would like to invite applications from local and community organisations who are working hard to develop initiatives to combat racism and make Ireland a better place to live for all.”

There are two streams of funding:

Scheme A will provide grants, ranging from €40,000 to €100,000, to organisations for national and regional projects.
Scheme B will provide grants, ranging from €5,000 to €10,000, to organisations for local projects.

All applications must be submitted electronically.

Applications for funding will remain open until noon on Wednesday 27th August 2025. Groups can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form at the following links:

Scheme A
Scheme B
Guidance_Note_2025_IARF.pdf

In recent years, funding from government departments has supported a wide range of initiatives that have successfully promoted racial equality in Irish society.

Some examples of those initiatives are listed below:

Gorm Media’s Wideshot programme aims to equip young adults from underrepresented and ethnic minority groups with essential tools to amplify their voices through film and creative media. The programme provides pathways into the film and creative industry via workshops, training, and events in digital storytelling and creative media.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Stronger Together programme highlights how everyone, regardless of background, race or religion, deserves a decent job and respect at work.
The Football Versus Discrimination project by Sports Against Racism Ireland sends coaches to schools across Ireland to deliver an interactive workshop addressing issues of discrimination and promoting inclusive practices with students.
In Laois, a programme by Portlaoise Educate Together National School called Being Together created and delivered equality-based and anti-racism events including workshops, seminars, talks and training for the staff, parents, board of management and students of the school.
In Dublin, the Phibsboro For All project set up an English language teaching programme customised to the complex needs of people applying for international protection. As part of the programme, a buddy system was developed to partner newcomers to Ireland with local volunteers to share culture, interests and activities. A series of community awareness events were also held to challenge stereotypes around racism.

The National Action Plan Against Racism represents a national level, State-led, coordinated approach to eliminating racism in all its forms here in Ireland. The plan proposes actions to help Ireland to become a place where the impacts of racism are acknowledged and actively addressed.

Community Recognition Scheme Provides €50,000 For Thurles Playground.

We learned this week, that some 6 weeks ago, that Tipperary County Council received €50,000 in funding from the Government’s Community Recognition Funding Scheme, to repair, yet again, the local skateboard park positioned in the playground in Thurles Town Park.
The skateboard park has remained closed for the second time for over the past 12 months, thus depriving some 10 skateboard owners of weekend fun.

Hopefully, a sign will now be erected informing other individuals that abandoned supermarket trollies are no longer permitted within this skatepark park area.

This Community Recognition Fund was first introduced back in 2023 and is a government initiative here in Ireland that provides funding to local communities to support the development of infrastructure and facilities in recognition of their efforts in welcoming and supporting people arriving from Ukraine and other countries.
The fund, which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development, is allocated to local authorities, in this case Tipperary Co. Council, based on the number of new arrivals in each area. Projects include the development of community swimming pools, sports facilities, playgrounds, and community halls.

Regrettably, the filling of potholes is not included in this same Community Recognition Funding Scheme, which means that the Thurles streetscape must continue to remain looking like the much cratered, far side, of the moon’s surface. So our major pothole problem must remain in abeyance. Interestingly the word “Abeyance” comes from the Old French word “Abeance” meaning “gaping”; which aptly describes our Thurles pothole increasing epidemic.

The long promised, 40 year old, continuously sought “Thurles Ring Road” is not included in this funding scheme either. This is despite a 2024 report which confirms that traffic movement through Thurles, (depending on the day), averages between 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles, required to pass daily through our medieval streets, before entering unto Liberty Square; latter being our much restricted Thurles town center.

Rural Tipperary, it appears, must continue to eat the crumbs that fall from this government’s table. [My apology to St Matthew Ch15:V27].

One piece of good news however; the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has confirmed that the OPW will hand over the development of modular homes erected at Heywood Road, Clonmel, to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration shortly, thus providing much needed accommodation to those seeking temporary protection as a result of the war in Ukraine.

A spokesperson has stated that, from next week colleagues with the Ukraine team at the Department will work with the International Organisation for Migration, to place families in this new accommodation.

Thurles Planning Updates.

Thurles Planning Alerts from Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2560668.
Applicant: Laura Purcell.
Development Address: 1 Dallcassian Terrace, Kickham Street, Thurles.
Development Description: the removal of steel railings and low support wall to facilitate off street parking for two cars and to install matching paving brickwork in place of wall.
Status: N/a.
Application Received: 09/07/2025 and 11/07/2025.
Decision Date: N/a.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560668/0.

Application Ref: 2560661.
Applicant: O’Ceallaigh Westfield Ltd.
Development Address: Brittas Road , Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: the development will consist of the construction of 52 X No. residential dwelling units, comprising of 3 X No. house-type G (4 bed 7person two-storey semi-detached house), 15 X No. house-type H (3 bed 5person two-storey semi-detached house), 18 X No. house-type K (3 bed).
Status: N/a.
Application Received: 10/07/2025.
Decision Date: N/a.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560661/0.

Application Ref: 2560656.
Applicant: Coffitz Limited.
Development Address: Thomond Road , Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: change of use of existing ground floor area from retail/commercial use to veterinary clinic with all associated siteworks.
Status: N/a.
Application Received: 09/07/2025.
Decision Date: N/a.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560656/0.

Application Ref: 257.
Applicant: Rossa Drinks Ltd.
Development Address: Part Of 8 and 9 and all of 10 To 13 Parnell Street , Thurles , Co. Tipperary
Development Description: 1) revisions to the internal layout of the public house at the dining area, associated kitchen facilities and toilet facilities, 2) shopfront design on the Parnell Street facade fronting the dining area of the public house, 3) revised layout of the 1st floor.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 22/01/2025.
Decision Date: 01/07/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/257/0.

Application Ref: 2460955.
Applicant: Harry Langley.
Development Address: Archerstown , Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: a) the construction of a new dwelling house and access road; b) the use of an existing entrance; c) the construction of a secondary treatment system and soil polishing filter with all associated site works. This proposed development is within the curtilage.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 07/11/2024.
Decision Date: 01/07/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2460955/0.