Pre-deceased by her beloved husband John and her brother Phillip; Mrs Egan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at Ashford Nursing Home.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving daughters Anna Maria and Movita, sons-in-law Paul and Dermot, grandchildren Darragh, Ronan and Louis, brothers Martin and Gus, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Egan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Egan 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.
Application Ref: 2660479. Applicant: Mary Mockler. Development Address: Grange Brittas, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: development which will consist of the replacement of the current septic tank and soak pit with a new septic tank to meet current regulations and percolation area including all associate site works. Status: N/A. Application Received:21/05/2026. Decision Date: N/A. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2660479/0.
Application Ref: 2660295 Applicant: Mark Cummins. Development Address: Rathcriddogue, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: construction, renovations & extensions to existing house including the provision of a new waste water treatment system with all associated site works. Status: Conditional. Application Received: 02/04/2026. Decision Date: 20/05/2026. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2660295/0.
Application Ref: 2560813. Applicant: Mary Immaculate College. Development Address: St Patrick’s College, Cathedral Street, Thurles. Co. Tipperary. Development Description:(1) a new sports pavilion building with rooftop viewing terrace, (2) new all weather pitch with associated fencing and floodlighting, (3) realignment of existing perimeter path and (4) paths and access road, bicycle shelter together with all associated services and site development works. The works are in the curtilage of a Protected Structure. Status: Conditional. Application Received:20/08/2025. Decision Date: 21/05/2026. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560813/0.
The recent controversy around the Global Sumud Flotilla (Sumud – Arabic for ‘steadfastness’ or ‘resilience’), deserves more closer scrutiny than it has received. It is entirely possible to care deeply about civilians in Gaza, to support genuine humanitarian relief, and still ask serious questions about the people, tactics, and political movements operating under that so called humanitarian banner.
Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of the Irish President Mrs Catherine Connolly, was among the Irish citizens involved in the flotilla mission. That fact alone does not mean she endorsed every participant, knew every individual’s background, or supported violence of any kind. It would be unfair and irresponsible to make that leap without evidence.
However, it is fair to ask why a mission, presented primarily as humanitarian, appears to have attracted such politically charged company. Spanish reporting has identified José Javier Osés, a man previously convicted in France for membership of terrorist group ETA,(Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) being present among those detained following the disorder at Bilbao airport.
Other reports have also referred to former ETA-linked figures being associated with the wider flotilla movement. That should concern anyone who believes public causes must be judged not only by their stated intentions, but also by their associations and methods.
Ireland has already committed real substantial aid to Palestinians, including Gaza – €144 million since January 2023.
Date / Period.
Irish support announced.
Notes.
Since January 2023 to end-2026.
€144 million.
Official Irish Government figure for support to people in Palestine.
2026 allocation.
€42 million.
Announced for Palestine, including humanitarian and development support.
February 2025.
€20 million.
Ireland provided this to UNRWA for humanitarian work in Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestinian refugees across the region.
October 2025.
Additional €6 million.
Announced for people in Gaza as UN and aid agencies prepared to increase supplies after the ceasefire.
October 2023.
Additional €13 million.
Humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, shortly after the war escalated.
The scenes at Bilbao airport only deepen those concerns. Supporters of the flotilla will argue that activists were mistreated and that police conduct should be investigated. Others will point to the confrontational nature of the welcome, the charged atmosphere, and the apparent appetite for spectacle. Both issues can be true at once: police conduct can be questioned, and so can the behaviour and judgement of activists who place themselves at the centre of highly staged political confrontations.
This is the core issue. Humanitarian language carries moral weight. It should not be used as a shield against scrutiny. When activists join missions that mix aid, propaganda, confrontation, celebrity politics, and radical associations, the public is entitled to ask whether the objective is relief for civilians or political self-recognition.
Ireland should as a nation be capable of supporting genuine humanitarian assistance for Gaza if needed, while also being honest about the political baggage attached to some of those claiming to act in its name. Compassion should not require naivety. Nor should criticism of Israel mean ignoring the questionable alliances and tactics of activist movements.
The question is not whether civilians in Gaza deserve help. The question is whether this flotilla was the best and most responsible way to provide it and whether those who joined it exercised sound judgement about the company they kept.
There was once an old wedding tradition that believed it was good luck for a bride and groom to meet a chimney sweep on their wedding day. The story is often linked to a royal legend: a chimney sweep is said to have helped save a king from runaway horses, after which sweeps became known as bringers of good fortune. Whether the tale is fact or folklore, the symbolism is easy to understand. The sweep was connected with the hearth, the fire, and the warmth of the home; all powerful images for a newly married couple beginning life together.
Today, this tradition has become a charming wedding extra. A chimney sweep may appear outside the church, registry office, or wedding venue to greet the couple, shake hands with the groom, kiss the bride on the cheek, pose for photographs, and offer a few words of good luck. It is unusual, memorable, and full of character, exactly the kind of detail many couples now look for when planning a wedding. Wedding venues and professional photographers could also adopt the idea as an added service for couples looking for something traditional, quirky, and memorable.
“Wishing you a lifetime of love, luck, and happiness.”
A venue might offer a “lucky chimney sweep” as part of a heritage or vintage wedding package, while photographers could suggest it as a characterful photo opportunity after the ceremony. Some couples may worry about soot marking the bride’s white dress, but this can be easily avoided. The sweep can arrive in clean ceremonial clothing, use a display brush rather than a working one, avoid close contact with the dress, and pose carefully at the bride’s side. With a little planning, the charm of the tradition can be kept without any risk to the gown.
For modern chimney sweeps, this old custom could also offer a useful additional income stream. The trade is changing. With cleaner heating policies, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and the gradual move toward low-carbon homes, traditional chimney work is not the same as it once was. Gas, oil, coal, wood, and smokeless-fuel use are all under closer environmental scrutiny, and many households are moving toward heat pumps, better insulation, and electric heating. At the same time, sweeps remain important for homes with working fireplaces, wood burners, and multifuel stoves, where regular sweeping is still essential for safety.
That creates a challenge but also an opportunity. A wedding appearance does not replace the practical work of chimney sweeping, but it can sit alongside it. It makes use of the sweep’s traditional clothing, local reputation, storytelling, and historic image. It can be offered as a weekend or seasonal service, especially during the spring and summer wedding months, when demand for chimney maintenance may be lower.
A Chimney Sweep could offer packages such as: ► A lucky sweep appearance after the ceremony. ► Photographs with the bride and groom. ► A short traditional blessing or good-luck greeting. ► A certificate or keepsake for the couple. ► Optional attendance at the reception for photos with guests.
The idea works especially well for historic venues, country weddings, church weddings, vintage-themed ceremonies, and couples who want something different from the usual wedding entertainment. It also gives younger generations a chance to see a trade that was once central to everyday life but is now becoming less visible. In that sense, the wedding chimney sweep is more than a novelty. It is a way of keeping an old craft in public view, preserving folklore, and helping working sweeps adapt as heating habits change.
For chimney sweeps looking to diversify, the message is simple: the soot may be less common, but the story still has value. A clean chimney keeps a home safe; a lucky sweep at a wedding brings a smile, a photograph, and a tradition that couples will remember for years.
“Come on, lads — let’s bring a little imagination to wedding events.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its greenhouse gas emission projections for the period 2025-2055.
Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions could achieve a reduction of up to 25% by 2030, compared to a national target of 51%, with full implementation of a wide range of policies and plans across all sectors.
Ireland will be close to meeting the first carbon budget, but nearly all sectors are on track to exceed their sectoral emissions ceilings for the second carbon budget by 2030.
Ireland is projected to exceed its EU Effort Sharing Regulation target of 42% reduction by 2030. EPA projects a maximum reduction of 23%.
With less than four years left to 2030, there must be a strong focus on implementation of policies and measures to meet climate targets which will deliver wide-ranging benefits from environmental protection, supporting public health and wellbeing and reducing Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels.
EPA analysis shows that Ireland’s planned climate policies and measures could deliver reductions of up to 25% of emissions by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. Assessment of the latest information provided by Governmental bodies and sector representatives indicates that the gap to target is widening in some sectors of the economy, while narrowing in others.
Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be close to meeting the first Carbon Budget (2021-2025) of 295 Mt CO2eq. The second budget is projected to be exceeded by a significant margin of 53 to 82 Mt CO2eq.
Transport, Industry and the Buildings (Commercial and Public) sectors are projected to be the furthest from achieving their sectoral emission ceilings in 2030. Agriculture emissions are projected to reduce by up to 19%.
Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA Director General, said: “The EPA’s projections show that the current rate of delivery of the Climate Action Plan and associated policies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 – only half of the reductions needed. While greenhouse gas emissions are declining, European and national emission reduction targets are projected to be missed. There must be a renewed focus on delivering the actions to meet Ireland’s climate targets which will be a significant challenge given the short timeframe to 2030.”
Dr Cotter added: “Meeting these targets will deliver multiple benefits. These include reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels in electricity, transport and heating and strengthening national energy security and resilience. Achieving these emission reductions will also improve public health, provide green employment and protect our environment. Overall, these trends demonstrate that progress is achievable but accelerating delivery is critical. Renewable energy is now expected to provide nearly 60% of Ireland’s electricity by 2030. It is imperative given the increasing demand for electricity across several sectors, that renewables are delivered at the pace and scale required to meet this demand.”
Agriculture. Depending on the level of implementation of measures outlined in Government policies and plans, total emissions from the Agriculture sector will decrease between 4% and 19% over the period of 2018 to 2030. Changes in nitrogen fertiliser usage, switching to different fertilisers and lower anticipated livestock numbers contribute to projected emissions savings. A direct comparison of the Agriculture sector against its absolute Sectoral Emission Ceiling is no longer possible given recent scientific updates to baseline historical agriculture emissions.
Transport. Emissions from Transport are projected to reduce by up to 28% over the period 2018 to 2030, if the measures set out in plans and policies are implemented. These include at least 751,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030, increased biofuel blend rates and measures to support more sustainable transport.
Residential Emissions. Emissions from fuel combustion for home and hot water heating are projected to decrease by up to 18% by 2030. Lower uptake of home energy improvement measures, including planned heat pump installation in existing dwellings, has lowered predictions for emissions savings by 2030.
Industry. Fuel combustion in manufacturing is the primary source of emissions in this sector; emissions from mineral, chemical and metal industries contribute the next largest portion. Emissions from this sector are projected to reduce by 12% over the period 2018 to 2030.
Energy. Continued rollout of renewable electricity generation to provide 52% – 59% of Ireland’s electricity by 2030 as well as increased importation of electricity from interconnectors, are contributing to reductions in Ireland’s emissions. However, delayed delivery of planned renewable energy projects such as offshore wind have lowered potential emissions savings by 2030.
Land use. Emissions from this sector are projected to increase between 4% to 72% over the period of 2018 to 2030 as Irish forestry reaches harvesting age, and shifts from being a carbon sink to a source of emissions. Planned policies and measures for the sector, such as increased afforestation, water table management on agricultural organic soils and peatland rehabilitation are projected to reduce the extent of the emissions increase.
Commenting, Dr Conor Quinlan, Programme Manager said: “The shortfall to our 2030 targets is narrowing in some sectors, for example emissions in the Transport sector are now projected to reduce by up to 28%. Encouragingly, projections for electric vehicle uptake has improved, reflecting growing confidence in the transition to cleaner transport. In contrast, the gap is widening in others such as the Residential sector which is projected now to reduce by up to 18%. It is imperative that ambition and action is maintained across all sectors if we are to meet our targets and realise the benefits of decarbonisation for our society.”
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