During the Covid-19 pandemic of the last 20 or so months, many households became first-time ‘paw-parents’, buying puppies or rescuing dogs held in shelters. These new ‘paw-parents’ did so in the knowledge that a pet could be the cure to keeping family members from tearing each other’s hair out, as they cocooned together, with more time to spare, corralled at home.
Now, according to the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), same owners of these pets are extremely worried by the noise soon to be generated by illegal fireworks, the use of which becomes an increasing problem in the weeks before, during and after the Halloween period.
In the past, here in Co. Tipperary, thankfully for a short time only, fireworks were fashionable to entertain guests at weddings. Hotels, newly married couples, Insurance companies and professional licenced fireworks operators soon found themselves in legal wrangles, particularly by members of the farming community, when frightened mares lost their foals and terrorised cattle lost their calves or bursting through wire fences, ended up having to be put down, because of broken limbs.
Fireworks, valued at some €1,000 seized by Clonmel Gardaí.
Recently the Minister for Justice, Ms Heather Humphreys, launched a fireworks awareness campaign at the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre in association with members of An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Brigade and the ISPCA. The Minister warned that people who sell or light fireworks this Halloween face fines of up to €10,000 and or up to five years in prison.
Legislation came into effect in 2006, which make it an offence to possess fireworks with intent to sell or supply without a licence; light unlicensed fireworks, or throw or direct a lit firework at any person or property.
Gardaí attached to Clonmel Garda Station in South Tipperary, carried out a search under warrant in the Oldbridge area of Clonmel on September 27th last. During the course of this search, a large amount of fireworks, valued at some €1,000, were seized.
Gardaí are now reminding the public that such items are illegal and dangerous. Gardaí are continuing to target the sale and supply of fireworks and to address such anti-social behaviour in communities; same part of “Operation Tombola“.
Fireworks include items which burn and explode to produce noise or a visual effect for entertainment. Sparklers, bangers, fountains and rockets are all categorised as fireworks.
Most fireworks here in the Irish Republic can only be bought and used by professional, licenced operators. They require a licence to import them into Ireland and the way they are stored and used is strictly regulated by our laws on explosives.
Let’s all work together to have a safe and fun Halloween this year!
Reliable sources close to Thurles.Info have confirmed that the west side of Liberty Square, Thurles, will not now be completed as part of the current promised upgrade, latter which it was hoped would be completed by early 2022.
Part of the south side (Money Side) of Liberty Square is almost fully completed, with the exception of work for which the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is mainly responsible. This includes the removal of the old, shabby ESB lamp standards etc, on which the ESB are currently working. No further works will be undertaken, travelling west, to the entrance to Slievenamon Road and finishing outside Executive Men’s Wear.
On the north side (Sunny Side) of Liberty Square, work will cease at the corner of the junction with O’Donovan Rossa Street, ( previously Pudding Lane, and Jail Street), beside AIB Bank. No lighting standards, to date, has been introduced on the North Side, with the more recent modern and attractive lamp standards introduced, removed to ‘God knows where’.
The east side of Liberty Square, running perpendicular to Barry’s Bridge and the Butler Castle; like the remainder of the overall town centre area, same over one year on, still awaits final finishes.
We are informed that work on the west side of Liberty Square, including the exit unto Westgate/ Friar Street has yet to go to tender. We also learn that Slievenamon Road is to be further street-scaped and is to be narrowed to vehicle traffic, under plans which have, as far as we are aware, not been revealed to local residents.
Tipperary County Council’s Mission Statement:
Our Vision:“To lead and deliver on sustaining, promoting and improving the social, community, cultural and economic well being of all citizens in the county of Tipperary, through a positive proactive partnership approach to service delivery.”
With parking now greatly reduced on Liberty Square, major questions are being asked by the public; latter who claim that the Liberty Square project to date, includes none of their personal recommendations, which had been requested in a survey carried out and discussed by principal British landscape architects LUC, (landuse.co.uk).
This project, to update Liberty Square, [not including the demolition of J. Griffins newsagent shop; latter which began in February, 2020] and which began in mid-August 2020, has taken to date 13 months, with work continuing non-stop during the Covid-19 pandemic. As viewers can see from the video shown above, confusion still remains (last pictures in the above slide-show taken on Tuesday last September 14th) and will continue to do so for at least another 3 months.
Two junctions; (A) Slievenamon Road / Liberty Square, Thurles and (B) Slievenamon Road / Clongower Road, Thurles. Pic G.Willoughby
Some of the questions being asked by residents and business people are as follows:-
(A) With no designated parking areas for invalided persons in the new south-sided car park, (exited via Checkpoint Charlie)and with invalid parking promised on Liberty Square; what space has been allocated for delivery trucks conveying daily goods for supermarkets, restaurants, public houses and the few other businesses, each with no alternative but to struggle on, in Liberty Square?
(B) Why has this information not been announced by local councillors through local press; through local radio and their social media outlets?
Junction at Slievenamon Road and Liberty Square, Thurles. Pic. G.Willoughby.
(C) With Liberty Square further narrowed for heavy vehicle traffic which prohibits even the opening fully of a vehicle door and the now proposed narrowing of Slievenamon Road, how are Fire Brigade Units, Paramedics and Ambulances expected to go about their most urgent business?
(D) While we are aware that taxpayer funding remains available for to complete the next western phase of the Liberty Square project and the southern Slievenamon Road project, should the few remaining businesses not yet forced out of Liberty Square, be asked to put up with yet further traffic congestion for at least another 6 to 9 months, as engineers seated in back offices, dream-up other ways of how to spend hard earned taxpayers money?
(E) With 4 very mature trees removed from Liberty Square over the past 12 months; where are the new promised trees to be planted? In the initial plans many trees were to be planted. Then in a more recent update we are informed only 6 trees are due to be installed, the variety to be sown was to be “subject to the street soil quality”. However, to date no street spaces appear to be allocated to trees, unless they are destined to replace ESB poles. So where will TDs and Councillors hang their photoshopped posters?
Any plans available for narrowing Slievenamon Road, will be interesting to observe, (See Pictures above) based on past experience, which saw several times a year, large trucks removing existing so called safety railings, not to mention, sadly, one fatal traffic accident in that immediate area, back in January 2014.
Finally, despite local protests, some of which became underhanded, using dirty tricks; we can fully and reasonably understand why An Post; seeing what was coming down the track on Liberty Square, regrettably beat a hasty retreat to the comfort of Thurles Shopping Centre.
An Garda Síochána are advising students and parents in Co. Tipperary and elsewhere, to be aware of rental accommodation scams, especially at this time of year, as students are preparing to return to college. A known €900,000 has been stolen in rental scams over the past 3 years; same transactions which become almost impossible to trace .
Due mainly to Covid-19 restrictions, accommodation frauds have declined over the past 15 months, however Gardaí are once again highlighting such incidents of fraud which could affect not just a new generation of third level students seeking accommodation, but also the lives of those already established within our education system.
Gardaí highlight a total of 503 cases of rental fraud, reported between February 1st, 2019 and May 31st, 2021; of which just 50% occurred in the Dublin city area.
Some 42% of all the injured parties were under the age of 25 years, while some 72% were under the age of 35 years.
Gardaí are asking those in search of rented accommodation to be wary especially if a website or other advertising agency is asking prospective tenants to send money to a random PayPal address, wire same via Western Union, pay in gift cards or in cryptocurrency; since the latter methods are used to avoid detection thus ensuring that such transaction can never be reversed.
It was announced today that eleven Tipperary projects are to be included for funding, announced under the ‘Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme’.
The total funding announced for the county was €200,000, none of which was allocated to Thurles Town.
Just so as non local people fully understand; The Grange Loop, who bears the Thurles postal address, and who were rightly gifted €20,000; refers I believe to the lovely Grange Crag loop walk trailhead, in the Civil Parish of Kilcooly, Co. Tipperary, close to the Kilkenny border, latter a 21 minute drive from Thurles town, 21.5 km / 13.25 mls from Thurles, via the N75 minor road. [Surely, it hardly refers to the townslands of Grange, on the N62, (Brittas Road, Thurles. )]
No effort was made to get funding for the “Double Ditch” Mass Path, latter situated between the Mill Road, Thurles and College Lane in the town. But then our politicians and county councillors didn’t notify us, regarding any available government funding worthy of being sought.
We first raised issues regarding fly-tipping on the Great Famine “Double Ditch” on lands either side of same, owned by Tipperary Co. Council, on October 28th, 2019. ViewHERE.
Every official, local councillor and local politician were advised.
Today, some 15 months later, not one solitary item dumped back then, was ever removed.
See slide show hereunder, compiled from views captured in recent days.
On site today, (19th January 2021) the stolen shopping trolleys have doubled, so also the paper and other plastic litter, the discarded toys, the beer cans, and the bottles, the burnt household items, the cookers and fridges, the gym equipment, etc. etc. etc. All three original sweet crab trees, and some mature Hawthorn trees, have now been either burnt on site or cut down for firewood.
We are reminiscent of a town that refuses to pay Local Property Tax(LPT) and a town devoid of any real quality political or official leadership. The new council housing project being built on a flood plane and running parallel, is using the Double Ditch to drain flood water unto the ditch and through it, unto the land on the other side.
Yet the local people though solidly offended, stay silent, realising, not for the first time, that they are powerless in the face of constant political pretence and official deceipt and hogwash.
_______________________________________________
By the way, we received two communications relating to the Great Famine ‘Double Ditch’ in recent weeks. To refresh your memory, view links to read past such communications HERE.
The first recent communication came from Tipperary Fianna Fáil Councillor, Mr Sean Ryan.
Councillor Ryan confirmed in a Facebook private message in recent weeks, “I did enquire George, but still haven’t a definitive answer. When I do, I’ll let you know.” My question had been, “Is the Thurles inner relief road going to effect the Double Ditch”.
Note: This last question above was first asked originally in May 2020, over 8 months ago.
If Councillor Ryan’s answer is truly the case, it would appear that Tipperary Council officials are also refusing to communicate with all elected representatives; since all elected representatives, contacted by me, remain silent on this issue.
This is despite being instructed to communicate with me by Tipperary Co. Council’s ‘Ethics Registrar‘, namely Mr. David Coleman, (Administrative Officer, Corporate Services), who contacted all Councillors, yet same continue to openly resist and refuse to obey his instructions, thus fully ignoring their required Code of Conduct, demanded under the Local Government Act of 2001.
Note: An email message does not carry Covid-19 virus infection.
—————————————————————-
The second communication arrived from Ms Máire Ní Chonghaile (National Monuments Service) on Christmas Eve last, 24th Dec. 2020, at 10:11am.
Ms Máire Ní Chonghaile wrote: –
Dear Mr Willoughby I refer further to your email below. The Double Ditch is not a Recorded Monument and it is not afforded legal protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014. The concerns raised appear to relate to planning and development, which is a matter for the Local Authority. Wishing you a happy Christmas. Kind regards Máire
Allowing for Christmas leave etc, I replied to Ms Máire Ní Chonghaile on Wednesday night, 13th January 2020 at 20:46, as follows: –
To Ms Máire Ní Chonghaile Madam, I am saddened to note that your office has obviously not read anything that I sent to your department, in the last year. I am fully aware this is not a recorded monument. The reason I wrote to you in the first place was for you to investigate my claim and have it declared such, thus, affording legal protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014.
Perhaps I need to clarify this issue in simpler terms.
On Tue, 12 Nov 2019, 13:40, I contacted Ms Roisin O’Grady (roisin.ogrady@tipperarycoco.ie). Latter is Heritage Officer with Tipperary County Council at Ballingarrane House, Cahir road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, To Ms Roisin O’Grady, In keeping with Tipperary County Councils promise to “promote awareness and appreciation of our rich heritage and to protect and enhance it for future generations” may I request that you take time to view the following link: – http://www.thurles.info/2019/10/28/thurles-double-ditch/.
Remembering that next year (2021) is the 175 year in which we commemorate the ‘Great Famine’; the images in the slide show provided by the link shows clearly that among other improprieties and illegalities, barbed wire has been recently introduced on a public monument, on a public right-of-way which is also formerly a ‘Mass Path’ and was one of the first projects undertaken to assist in feeding the poor of Thurles. The slide show demonstrates clear evidence of neglect, vandalism and a convenient land grab by land owners on either side, latter reducing the width of the pathway to one of single file.
Yours sincerely George Willoughby
I briefly met with the said Ms O’Grady at 2.30pm on the Great Famine Double Ditch in Thurles on 22nd Nov. 2019 and requested that she contact the National Monument section, regarding the need to declare this area, itself, a national monument.
Correspondence from Ms O’Grady came dated Thur, 27th Feb. 2020, at 16:08.
It read: – George A quick line just to say I haven’t forgotten about your query, but there has been a lot of applications due in the last few weeks so I am slower than expected tracking down the necessary information. I will revert in due course once I have some information for you.
Regards Róisín O’Grady
This was the last communication I ever had from Ms O’Grady, despite contacting her office on several occasions.
Note: The great famine double ditch is being totally ignored, despite Tipperary Co. Council owning the land on either side.
I have since discovered, based on documentation obtained from Tipperary Co. Council offices, that Tipperary Co. Council intend to demolish this ‘Double Ditch’ to provide an inner relief road for the town. Ms O’Grady’s silence perhaps is being controlled by someone or something that is much more powerful.
A copy of an Archaeological Survey (See attached) is grossly misleading. Note: The Great Famine Double Ditch is totally and I believe deliberately ignored within this document, despite Tipperary Co. Council owning the land on either side.
Perhaps you could confirm also, if Ms O’Grady ever contacted your office, seeking legal protection for the Great Famine, Double Ditch, under the National Monuments Acts, which was requested by me in November 2019 or do we have a case of the tail(namely Tipperary Co. Council) wagging the dog(Tipperary’s own Co. Council Heritage Office ).
In all, now to-date, 16 persons, including senior Co. Council officials, e.g Mr Joe MacGrath (CE, Tipperary Co. Council);4 Teachtaí Dála; two of which support this present government here in Co. Tipperary, [namely MrMichael Lowry and Mr Jackie Cahill, Minister Malcolm Noonan, (latter Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform), and Minister Darragh O’Brien, (latter Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage), all of whom have failed to answer the simple question; “Will the planned Thurles inner relief road impinge, in a negative way, on the 1846 Thurles ‘Double Ditch’, which has been a “Right of Way” and a “Mass Path” for almost 175 years and which is the property of the people of Thurles Town?”
An Garda Síochána have been made aware of a social media trend circulating online called ‘ghosting’.
This ongoing trend challenges persons to lie on a roadway with a sheet placed over them, in an attempt to stop oncoming traffic. This activity is extremely irresponsible and poses a serious danger to those taking part in the ‘ghosting’ and to unsuspecting motorists.
Gardaí attended an incident in the southern region, in recent days, where a youth received a number of minor injuries while participating in this activity.
Emergency services escorted the youth to hospital where she was treated for injuries sustained to her back, torso and ankle. She remained admitted to hospital for a number of days.
An Garda Síochána are urging people not to engage in this social media trend. Gardaí are particularly appealing to parents to educate their children on the dangers of participating in such activity and to highlight the importance of being visible, while using Irish roads.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments