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Death Of Thomas Cooke, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Saturday 21st February 2026, of Mr Thomas Anthony Cooke, Bawntameena, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Predeceased by his parents John and Bridie, sister Marie, brothers Michael and Billy; Mr Cooke (affectionately known as “Choc” to family and friends), passed away while in the care of staff at the Intensive Care Unit, of Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Noreen, daughters Sharon (Kiely), Stephanie (O’Regan) and Noreen óg (Yeung), sons AJ and Aidan, sisters Vourneen (Barry) and Stephanie (Ruddock), brother Sean, sons-in-law Martin, Paul and Eric, daughters-in-law Caitrín and Katie, grandchildren Jack, Cormac, Alexa, Cora, Marty, Jaidon, Joe, Aoiléann, Caragh and baby Isla, aunt Kathleen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives and many many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Cooke will repose at his place of ordinary residence, (Eircode E41 TY22), on Wednesday afternoon, February 25th, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm same evening. [Note: Parking in Molony’s field, Racecourse Road, entrance in Seskin Lane.]
His remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, on Thursday morning, February 26th, 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 Cooke, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Cooke 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.

Thurles, Co. Tipp’s Former Pupil Jessie Buckley Wins BAFTA.

Thurles, Co. Tipperary’s Former Pupil Ms Jessie Buckley Wins BAFTA Leading Actress Award.

Ms Jessie Buckley has won Leading Actress at the BAFTA Film Awards in London for her performance in Hamnet. A former pupil of Ursuline Convent Thurles, Ms Buckley becomes the first Irish actress to take the top honour in the category at the main BAFTA Film Awards.

Ms Buckley received the award from fellow Irish actor Mr Cillian Murphy on stage at Royal Festival Hall.

Accepting her award, Buckley said: “As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film.” Reflecting on her early days as an actress, she added: “I had nuclear bad fake tan on, white hoop earrings, a polka-dot red skirt, and had the audacity to say one day I wanted to be like Judi Dench.”

Buckley continued: “This is nuts, this really does belong to the women past, present, and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.”
Addressing her fellow nominees, she said: “You are all just radical and you are doing it for the naughty girls, and I’m in awe of all your incredible performances.”

She added: “I love films and I believe in storytelling. I believe in women’s voices to tell those stories.”
Sharing the moment with her daughter, she said: “It’s the best role of my life being your mum and I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world in all your complete wildness as a young woman. I am very grateful for this.”

Hamnet was also named Outstanding British Film and had been nominated in 11 categories.

Winners on the night

Best Film: “One Battle After Another“.
Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley, – “Hamnet”.
Leading Actor: Robert Aramayo, – “I Swear”.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, – “One Battle After Another”.
BAFTA Fellowship Award: Donna Langley.
EE Rising Star Award (public vote): Robert Aramayo.
Outstanding British Film: “Hamnet”.
Film Not in the English Language: “Sentimental Value“.
Adapted Screenplay: “One Battle After Another”, – Paul Thomas Anderson
Original Score: “Sinners“, – Ludwig Göransson
Cinematography: “One Battle After Another”, – Michael Bauman
Animated Film: “Zootropolis 2”, – Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino
Casting: “I Swear”, – Lauren Evans
Editing: “One Battle After Another”, – Andy Jurgensen
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Clare Binns
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: My Father’s Shadow, Akinola Davies Jr, Wale Davies
British Short Animation: “Two Black Boys in Paradise”, – Baz Sells, Dean Atta, Ben Jackson
Original Screenplay: “Sinners”, – Ryan Coogler
British Short Film: “This Is Endometriosis”, – Georgie Wileman, Matt Houghton, Harriette Wright
Documentary: “Mr Nobody Against Putin”, – David Borenstein, Helle Faber, Radovan Síbrt, Alzbeta Karaskova
Costume Design: “Frankenstein”, – Kate Hawley.
Production Design: “Frankenstein”, – Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau
Sound: F1, Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta.
Children’s & Family Film: “Boong” – Lakshmipriya Devi, Ritesh Sidhwani
Make Up & Hair: “Frankenstein”, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many
Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, – “One Battle After Another”.
Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, – “Sinners”.
Special Visual Effects: “Avatar” Fire and Ash – Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon.

Loreto Kilkenny Retain Corn Sceilge Crown As Ursuline Thurles Fall Short.

Ursuline Thurles.

Ursuline Thurles had to settle for runners-up honours after being beaten by Loreto Kilkenny in the Allianz Corn Sceilge All-Ireland Senior A Schools Camogie Final, played at Gortnahoe on Saturday last, February 21st.

A scoring burst at the start of both halves proved decisive, with Lucy Boyd striking 2-4 and earning Player of the Match, as Loreto powered to a 4-13 (25pts) to 0-9pts victory.

Loreto led 2-7pts to 0-6pts at half-time, with Ursuline captain Caoimhe Stakelum keeping her side in touch by scoring all six of their first-half points. But Loreto’s early second-half pressure told; Boyd goaled again on 34 minutes, and Leah O’Donovan added a fourth major on 42 minutes to put daylight between the teams.

In all, different Loreto players found the net; Boyd (2), Emma Hogan and O’Donovan, while Ona Kennedy chipped in with three frees and Shauna Mahoney contributed from play, as Loreto retained the title and continued their strong run at senior level.

Despite the result, Ursuline had positives, with Stakelum finishing on 0-8pts, six from frees and Alice Butler, adding their other point, but Loreto’s defensive structure limited the Thurles side’s opportunities for goals.

Scorers

Loreto Kilkenny: Boyd 2-4 (10pts); Hogan 1-0 (3pts); O’Donovan 1-0 (3pts); Kennedy 0-3pts (frees); Mahoney 0-2pts; others 0-1pt each.

Ursuline Thurles: Stakelum 0-8pts (6 from frees); Butler 0-1pt.

Death Of Mr PJ Kennedy, Formerly Of Thurles Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Saturday 21st February 2026 of Mr PJ Kennedy, Treacy Meadows, Newbridge, Co. Kildare and formerly of Thurles Co. Tipperary.

Mr Kennedy passed away peacefully, at his place of ordinary residence, surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Angela, sons Conor, Gavin and Ken, daughters-in-law Paula and Caroline, grandchildren David, Conor, Anna, Matthew, Katie, Padraic and Hugh, brothers Phil and Denis, sisters Mairead and Maírín, sisters-in-law, Netta, Margaret and Una. Nephews and Nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Rest In Peace.

Funeral Arrangements.

Funeral arrangements will be published later as soon as final details are confirmed.

The extended Kennedy 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.

“Mini-Tornado” Wind Gust Sweeps Northward Through Thurles.

A “mini-tornado” gust sweeps through Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Last Friday, a sudden burst of wind and rain cut across Thurles in County Tipperary; the kind of sharp, swirling gust locals working outdoors describe as a “mini-tornado”.

These incidents feel unusual when they arrive without warning, but Met Éireann estimates that Ireland experiences roughly ten tornado-type occurrences each year on average. The “mini-tornado” label is commonly used to distinguish the smaller Irish variety from the much larger tornadoes associated with the United States. Many Irish events are weak “landspouts” that can develop quickly along squall lines or briefly energetic cumulus clouds, and dissipate within minutes. Irish meteorologists also note these phenomena are more common than most people assume.

That’s how Friday’s gust behaved. One moment it was simply blustery; the next, wind and rain were swirling through open spaces, rattling cars, and sending loose debris skittering across the car park.
(For context, “gale” conditions imply very strong winds on the Beaufort scale and feature in official warning thresholds.)

The same pulse of weather was also felt further north in the village of Loughmore, a reminder that these brief events can hopscotch across a small area.

In Thurles, the most striking damage is captured in the photo above. A newly erected directional sign for Thurles Shopping Centre was left battered and half-shrouded. A marker meant to guide shoppers now wears torn material wrapped around its frame like a storm-tugged flag.
This major short lived gale gusts funnelled itself between tall trees and buildings, striking the tall sign frame at an awkward angle, before turning its advertising data into a temporary ships sail.