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Death Of Fr. Larry Wrenn, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Monday 31st August 2026, of Fr. Larry Wrenn formerly of Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, West Virginia, USA, and Monastery Close, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Con and Ellen Wrenn, his brother Fr. John Wrenn and his sister Breda (Corbett); Fr. Wrenn passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; nephew Larry, niece Helen, niece-in-law Elaine, nephew-in-law Joe, grandnephews and grandnieces Faye, Quinn, Nell, Ada, Kate, Mai, JJ and Lawrence, cousins, extended relatives, colleagues in the religious community, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Fr. Wrenn will repose tomorrow evening, Tuesday September 1st, at the home of his nephew Larry, (Eircode E41 D327), from 6:00pm until 7:30pm.

His funeral cortège will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, (Eircode E41 A528), at 1:30pm on Wednesday afternoon to further repose for Funeral Mass at 2:00pm, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Wrenn 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 Unit B, Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Food Allergen Alert

Undeclared milk and egg in a batch of Lemanfen Strawberry Waffle Rolls

Alert Summary dated Monday, 31st August 2026


Allergy Alert Notification: 2026.A25.
Allergens:
Milk and egg.
Product Identification: Lemanfen Strawberry Waffle Rolls; pack size: 52 g.
Batch Code: B26000006696; best-before date: 15/03/2027.
Country Of Origin: China
.

Message:
The above batch of Lemanfen Strawberry Waffle Rolls contains milk and egg which are not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of milk and/or egg and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batch. The affected batch is being recalled.

Sticky Truth – Is “Irish” Honey on Our Shelves Genuine And Is It Safe?

A troubling controversy is developing around honey being sold in Ireland.

Many jars carry Irish-sounding names, familiar imagery or references to long-established Irish businesses. Yet the honey inside may be entirely imported. Until recently, labels could simply state “a blend of EU and non-EU honeys,” without identifying the countries involved or the proportions used.

Even more concerning is the possibility that some imported products are not pure honey at all.

A major European Commission investigation tested 320 consignments of honey entering the EU. It found that 147 or 46% of those tested, were suspected of containing added sugar syrups. Investigators also uncovered fraudulent practices involving additives and colourings, pollen removal and the falsification of information intended to conceal honey’s true origin.

This does not mean that 46% of every jar sold in Ireland is fake. The results concerned imported consignments tested during a particular investigation, and “suspected” adulteration is not automatically proof of fraud. Nevertheless, the findings expose a serious weakness in the honey supply chain.

Is adulterated honey dangerous?

It is important to be accurate about the risk. The European Commission considers the direct health risk from added sugar syrup to be very low, provided the syrup is food-grade and safe for human consumption. Honey is already naturally high in sugar, so adulteration with ordinary syrup does not normally make it acutely poisonous.

However, there are still legitimate concerns:
If undeclared additives, colourings or other substances are used, consumers cannot know exactly what they are eating.
False origin records and removed pollen weaken traceability, making it more difficult to identify suppliers or recall a product if contamination is discovered.
Consumers with diabetes or those controlling their sugar intake may purchase honey believing it to be an authentic natural product when it could contain cheaper added syrups. All honey should, of course, be consumed carefully by anyone managing blood glucose.
Adulterated products may not provide the composition, flavour or other qualities for which consumers deliberately choose genuine honey.
Food fraud shows that someone in the supply chain is deliberately evading controls. Even where the adulterant itself is relatively harmless, that disregard for regulation damages confidence in the safety system.

There is also a separate safety warning applying to all honey, whether Irish or imported: it must never be given to a baby under 12 months old, because it can contain spores associated with infant botulism. Cooking or pasteurising honey does not provide a reliable safeguard for infants.

The danger to Irish beekeepers
Ireland produces only a small proportion of the honey consumed in this country. Genuine Irish beekeepers face the impossible task of competing against extremely cheap imports, particularly when imported honey is packaged in a way that may leave shoppers believing they are supporting an Irish product.
Foreign honey is not inherently unsafe or inferior, and importing it is entirely lawful. The problem is misleading presentation, concealed origins and the possibility of adulterated products being passed off as pure honey.

New EU labelling rules, effective from June 14th 2026, should improve transparency. Labels on newly produced blends must identify the countries of origin and their percentage shares, although older stock may remain on sale until exhausted.

Consumers should look beyond the brand name and imagery. Read the small print and look specifically for “Irish honey” or “100% Irish honey,” along with a clearly identified producer and place of origin. Remember, however, that consumers cannot reliably detect sophisticated adulteration by appearance, taste or whether the honey crystallises. Proper oversight and laboratory testing remain essential.

Irish consumers deserve honesty. Irish beekeepers deserve fair competition. And when a jar is sold as honey, its contents should be exactly that: genuine, traceable honey.

Death Of Tony Ryan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Sunday 30th August 2026, of Mr Tony (John Anthony) Ryan, Bawntameena, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Grange, Co. Limerick and Munster Hill, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

In his 94th year and pre-deceased by his parents Paddy and May, brothers Paddy, Con and Eamonn; Mr Ryan passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at St. Theresa’s Nursing Home, Cashel.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Finola (née Boles, Cahir), sons Des, Kevin and Tony, daughters Caroline and Finola, sisters Tessie (O’Brien) and Breda (Noonan), daughter-in-law Orla, son-in-law Tom, grandchildren Lauren, Aishling, Sophie and their mother Adrienne, Alex, Aaron and their father Luca, Eoin, Fionn, Laura, Amy and Grace, nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law Geraldine, Iris, Maeve and Chris, extended relatives, former colleagues in AIB, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Ryan will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles (Eircode E41 CP59) on tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, September 1st , from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the nearby Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, (Eircode E41 A528), on Wednesday morning, September 2nd at 10:30am to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St Patrick’s cemetery, Moyne Road, Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Ryan and Boles families 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.

River Suir Pollution Complaint: EPA Asked To Inspect Conditions in Thurles.

Mr Derek Cagney,

The recent meeting concerning the River Suir, held at Cahir House Hotel in Cahir, County Tipperary, on Wed 26th last, attracted a packed room of anglers, Tidy Towns personnel and environmentalists all united by their concern for the future of the river Suir. The meeting was chaired by Mr Derek Cagney, (National Secretary of the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and Chairman of the Cashel, Golden and Tipperary Anglers Association). Despite the strong public attendance and the importance of the issues under discussion, no politicians, elected councillors or other local Thurles representatives were seen to be present.

Meanwhile, independently a formal complaint has now been made once again by myself, directed at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the continuing condition of the River Suir in Thurles town centre and the failure to respond by the known responsible body, namely Tipperary County Council.

The complaint, (EPA reference COM021813), concerns the stretch running from Eircode E41 NX94 (Barry’s Bridge) along the full stretch of river running to and including the area Eircode E41 C6K7, (Slievenamon Road River Walk entrance).

Concerns have been raised about this watercourse repeatedly since approximately November 2013.
Recent photographs, vidoes and observations indicate that serious problems remain, including:

  • abnormal, opaque or grey-looking water;
  • foam or surface scum;
  • dark material or sludge in the channel;
  • water suspected of containing domestic wastewater or run-off;
  • extensive rush and vegetation growth, sucking the oxygen from the shallow water;
  • bottles, drinks containers and other litter throughout the riverbed and floating on now stagnant, polluted water.
Polluted water containing sewage or other liquid waste now enters River Suir in two places within metres of each other.

Loss of the River Suir Fountains at Barry’s Bridge
It is deeply regrettable that Tipperary County Council removed the two fountains from the River Suir
These fountains were more than decorative features. They enhanced this prominent riverside area, while helping to circulate and aerate the water. Although fountains cannot themselves remedy pollution or replace proper river management, their operation can improve local water movement and dissolved-oxygen levels.
At a time when residents are reporting stagnant-looking water, excessive vegetation, algae, sludge and litter, their removal represents the loss of both a valued public amenity and a potentially beneficial source of aeration.

Tipperary County Council should now explain why the fountains were removed, what assessment preceded the decision and whether they will be again restored. Their return should form part of a wider, properly funded programme to investigate pollution, clean the channel and restore this neglected stretch of River,

Photographs alone cannot fully establish the composition or exact source of the water or material contained. That requires a professional inspection, laboratory testing and proper source-tracing. However, the visible conditions are sufficiently abnormal to justify an urgent investigation.

In September 2025, the EPA referred the matter to Tipperary County Council as I requested. The Council subsequently outlined immediate and planned actions, including a proposed catchment-management plan and pilot study, details of which I am not privy.
In November 2025, the EPA informed me that it was satisfied, based on the Council’s response, that the Council was taking appropriate steps to fulfil its environmental responsibilities.

Alas however, the continuing conditions during 2026 now raises serious questions about whether those promised measures were ever implemented and whether they produced any measurable environmental improvement.

On 23rd August 2026, the EPA acknowledged my further correspondence. It has again referred the matter to Tipperary County Council and has stated that it will assess what further EPA action may be appropriate after reviewing the Council’s next response. An update has been promised within the next four weeks.

It has been made clear that another referral and exchange of correspondence will not, by themselves, clean this river, identify the source of any discharge or prevent the problem from recurring. The Council’s handling of the matter is itself a central part of this complaint. Independent oversight now requires verification of what is happening on the ground.

Dried-up riverbed in Thurles town centre.

It has been formally requested that a suitably qualified EPA officer conduct an unannounced inspection while the conditions are visible. I am available to meet an officer at the site and identify the affected locations.

The EPA have also been asked to:

  • inspect and photograph the affected watercourse;
  • arrange properly documented upstream and downstream sampling;
  • analyse the water for appropriate chemical, biological and microbiological indicators;
  • trace relevant drains, pipes, culverts and outfalls;
  • establish whether any discharge exists and whether it is authorised;
  • examine Tipperary County Council’s complaint, inspection and enforcement records;
  • obtain evidence that Tipperary County Council’s promised actions were completed;
  • specify deadlines for investigation, cleaning and remediation;
  • consider its statutory supervisory powers if the evidence shows that Tipperary County Council has not performed its environmental duties adequately.

The EPA’s own guidance states that people may complain about a council’s environmental performance where a problem has not been addressed within a reasonable period or properly investigated. It also states that the EPA may issue legal notices or direct a council to take action where its duties have not been performed adequately. Under section 63 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, as amended, the EPA oversees local authorities’ performance of their environmental-protection functions.

The EPA are being asked to prejudge whether an offence has occurred. A rigorous, evidence-based and independent investigation is being sought. If the EPA decides that an inspection is unnecessary, a reasoned written decision has been asked for, explaining what verified evidence supports that conclusion.

After approximately thirteen years of complaints, plans, promises and political assurances are no longer enough. The public is entitled to a clean watercourse, accountable environmental governance and clear answers about what has entered this section of the River Suir.

From today, August 30th, I will make the substantive correspondence and official responses publicly available, subject to the appropriate protection of personal information. Further photographs and updates will follow.

Signed: George Willoughby.