Thurles Information

Death Of George Bourke, Formerly Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Wednesday 27th August 2025, of Mr George Bourke, Millmount Avenue, Drumcondra, Co. Dublin and formerly of Knockalough, Upperchurch, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his son Joseph, brother Tim and father George; Mr Bourke passed away peacefully at his place of ordinary residence.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Siobhan of 44 years, daughter Denise, son Robert, son-in-law Michael, granddaughter Tuiren, Mother Carmel, sisters Annette, Geraldine, Theresa, Mary, Laura and Aileen, brothers Patrick and Kevin, nephews, nieces, grandnieces, extended relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Bourke will repose at O’Dwyer’s Funeral Home, Cappanaleigh, Upperchurch, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 FN34) on tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, August 30th, from 5:00pm until 7:30pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Cappanaleigh, Upperchurch, Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Sunday afternoon, August 31st at 12:30pm, to further repose for Requiem Mass, followed by a Service of Cremation in Dardistown Crematorium, Dublin, on Monday afternoon at 2:30pm.

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

The extended Bourke 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.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Investigations Following Tragic Tipperary Death At Emerge Dance Festival.

Investigations continue following two tragic deaths and two hospitalizations linked to the Emerge Dance Music Festival in Belfast, held over the August bank holiday weekend.

Ms Mia Keevan, aged 17 years, from Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, fell ill at the festival and, sadly, died later in hospital.
Mr Trae Keenan, aged 24 years, from Co. Down, sadly, also passed away in city-centre accommodation a few hours after attending the same event.

A woman in her 30s and a teenage boy were also taken to hospital after falling ill at the event; one is in a serious but stable condition, while the other expected to make a full recovery.

Police inquiries remain ongoing to determine the exact causes of these sudden and tragic events.
During the two-day festival, authorities made seven arrests and issued thirteen immediate sanctions, such as fixed penalty notices, cautions, and community resolutions. Charges included disorderly behaviour, assault, drink-driving, and drug possession.

Detectives do not currently believe that the illnesses and deaths are connected. Authorities are conducting drug tests to determine if substances like high-potency MDMA or LSD were involved, though no conclusions have yet been reached and blood tests will be needed to clarify any such connections.

Funeral arrangements: Ms Keevan funeral will be held in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary with mourners being asked to wear light or bright-coloured clothing.
Funeral services for Mr Keenan are scheduled to take place in Newcastle, Co. Down, with requiem Mass followed by interment.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Toons Bridge Dairy Ricotta & Buffalo Ricotta Cheeses Recalled.

Food Safety Authority Of Ireland Recall Toons Bridge Dairy Ricotta and Buffalo Ricotta Cheeses due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary dated Wednesday, August 27th 2025.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2025.46.
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: Please see table below.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Product Name.	Pack sizes.	Use by dates.
Toons Bridge Dairy Ricotta.	200g & 1 kg	28/08/2025, 29/08/2025, 30/08/2025, 31/08/2025, 01/09/2025, 04/09/2025, 05/09/2025
Toons Bridge Dairy Buffalo Ricotta.	200g & 1 kg	28/08/2025, 29/08/2025, 30/08/2025, 01/09/2025, 04/09/2025, 05/09/2025

Message: The below batches of Toons Bridge Dairy Ricotta & Buffalo Ricotta cheeses are being recalled due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Note: 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.

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: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers and Retailers:

Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
Caterers: Same should not use the implicated batches.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

Planning Permission Upheld For McDonald’s Burger Joint In Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

An Coimisiún Pleanála, (The National Planning Body) has upheld planning permission for a new Drive-Thru McDonald’s Burger joint to be erected at Clongour, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
An appeal had been lodged earlier in May 2025; however, this permission gives the go ahead for the development to be located on the south side of Lidl Supermarket, on the Clongour Road, leading out of Thurles town.

**Proposed Site For New Drive-Thru McDonald’s Burger Joint.**

Tipperary County Council had already granted approval for the development last April.

In its ruling published today, An Coimisiún Pleanála confirmed it had considered the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended), as well as the Climate Action Plans 2024 and 2025.

The Board upheld Tipperary Co. Council’s condition restricting trading hours to between 6:00am and 10:00pm, thus further rejecting the initial request by the applicant McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland Ltd for a 24-hour operation. It also ruled that the project would not negatively affect the Lower River Suir’s Special Area of Conservation.

Their decision states that, subject to conditions, the development would (1) Not significantly impact the residential amenities of the area; (2) Not endanger public health; and (3) Would be acceptable in terms of traffic, flood risk, pedestrian safety and visual impact.

Additional conditions will now cover lighting restrictions, noise control, signage, odour management, surface water management and parking limits. A ‘Bat’ surveys will also be required.

Protective measures regarding a line of mature trees were imposed. Although the site itself contains no actual trees, there is little doubt that roots from these 50 year old deciduous trees, most certainly have spread underground some distance into the narrow proposed site.
Concerns raised during the appeal did relate to the possible damage to these trees growing south of the River Walk boundary and also to increased traffic congestion; with a proposed inner relief road and a two lane bridge over the river Suir, not yet having materialized and for which funding is not likely to be advanced by government for several years into the future if ever.

Unless a challenge is lodged within the next eight weeks, the planning permission will now stand.

Youth Diversion Project’s Commissioned For North Tipperary.

Youth Diversion Project’s Commissioned For North Tipperary will be fully operational by end of this year.

New scheme will provide assistance to children who appear before the Courts as defendants.
Some 241 Youth Justice Workers have been trained to date, with 250 out of 300 expected to be trained by end of September.

Today’s event was held in the 4* Absolute Hotel, Limerick. The training was delivered by Victim Support at Court and Solas Youth Diversion Project, who outlined the new system of accompanying young people before the courts as defendants, while providing them with informal support and explanations of ongoing court procedures.

The Department of Justice funds a range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who provide court accompaniment for victims of crime, most notably Victim Support at Court (V-SAC). The role of these NGOs is to explain in layperson’s terms what is happening at the various stages of the proceedings and to be there as a support for the witness.

The role does not include advocacy or representation, as that is the role of the defendant’s legal representative.

Since late 2024, the Department has been progressing work to replicate this service for young defendants via the Youth Diversion Project (YDP) network, through engagement with the Ombudsman for Children, members of the judiciary and the Community Based Organisations responsible for the oversight of various YDPs.

Several YDPs have expressed their interest in being part of the first wave of the scheme’s introduction and are willing to provide this service in various locations throughout the country.

A training package to equip Youth Justice Workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake this work has been jointly developed by V-SAC and the Solas Project and is being offered to interested project staff on a phased basis throughout 2025.

Additionally, both Le Chéile Mentoring (a national volunteer mentoring, restorative justice and family support service) and Oberstown Children Detention Campus representatives have indicated that their staff would benefit from receiving this training and arrangements are now being made for them to participate in future sessions.

Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour.

Considerable progress has been made to extend the YDP network throughout the State. Two new YDPs have been commissioned for North Tipperary and East Clare and will be fully operational by end of year which will achieve full nationwide YDP coverage, ensuring any child who needs access to their service can get it, no matter what part of the country they are in.
YDPs receive referrals from a number of sources, including An Garda Síochána, but also from Tusla, schools and other community-based organisations.

Outside of Dublin, many YDPs cover an entire county, which makes it easy to identify the relevant project in a particular area.

Even where this is not the case, the YDP catchment areas tend to correspond with the boundaries of Garda Operational Areas and, as such, An Garda Síochána via the Juvenile Liaison Officer service will be able to advise and make contact with the relevant YDP in each case.

Discussions are also ongoing with An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service, who have expressed an interest in having Juvenile Liaison Officers and Probation Officers participate in this training.