Thurles Information

Thurles Remembers Known Thurles Area Officers & Men Who Died Following WW1.

We recall today, in solemn remembrance, the names of brave officers and men from the Thurles area of Co. Tipperary, whose names we share hereunder:-

Anderson John, Armstrong William Maurice (Capt) M.C., Beirne John, Bermingham Patrick, Bourke James, Brett Timothy, Butler John, Byrne Patrick, Carroll Martin, Carroll Thomas, Carty John, Cassidy John, Cleary Joseph, Cleary Patrick, Cleary Thomas, Coady Edward, Coady Joseph, Coady Richard, Coffey Michael, Cooke Henry F, Cooney David,Cummins John, Conway Denis, Cunningham John V.C., Cunningham Patrick, Cusack Oliver, Dea Patrick, Dwyer Cornelius, Egan Martin, Fitzpatrick Joseph, Gouldsborough Patrick, Griffin Thomas, Hackett Martin, Hanrahan Daniel, Hayes Daniel, Hayes Thomas, Hennessey Thomas, Horan Joseph, Jordan Denis, Kelly James, Kelly William, Kennedy Matthew, Kiely Owen, Knox Hubert Lt Col., Knox William Lt Col., Lawyer Joseph, Maher Frank, Maher James, Maher James Bernard, Maher John, McCormack Francis, McCormack Thomas, McLoughlin James J, Meany James, Mockler Patrick, Moyler George, O’Brien Lawrence, O’Grady Patrick, O’Shea John, Power Michael, Purcell Philip, Quinlan Joseph, Ryan Andrew, Ryan James, Ryan John, Ryan Martin, Ryan Michael, Ryan Patrick, Scally Patrick, Shields Matthew, Stapleton John, Sullivan Patrick, Terry Timothy, Walsh James.

Anthem for Doomed Youth
By Late English poet and soldier, Wilfred Owen, (1893 -1918).

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle,
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells,
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall,
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
END

The Duty of Memory.
These brave men answered a call, that many did not fully understand, from our community, our county, and the land they left behind, before paying the ultimate price. The fact that their names endure on memorials across Tipperary, reminds us of the duty of memory: that each man above was more than a name on a wall, more than a casualty figure, but a husband, father, brother or son from Thurles and its environs who trusted his comrades, and his country.

In the quiet of this hour we reflect on the scale of sacrifice. A county such as Ireland, far from the main theatres of war, yet intimately touched by them, who bore heavy cost.

Each of the men listed above carried hopes and dreams and found themselves amidst the unimaginable defiance of trench warfare, the muddy fields of France and Flanders, or struggling with wounds long after the guns fell silent. Even returning home did not always mean freedom from the consequences of this war.

Today we honour their courage and commit to keeping their memory alive in Thurles and beyond. May we, in our quiet thoughts, renew our respect and our gratitude for their service.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anama dílis.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Two Fatal Road Collisions in Tipperary Within 24 Hours.

Gardaí in Co Tipperary are investigating two separate fatal road traffic collisions which occurred within the past 24 hours.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, November 9th 2025, an elderly woman in her 80s died following a single-vehicle collision in Toomevara, near Nenagh.
The crash occurred sometime between 12:00 a.m. and 2:20 a.m.
The woman, who was the only occupant of the car, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Later that morning, a man aged in his 40s was killed in a separate collision in Birdhill.
The road, on the Limerick side of Birdhill Village, remains closed to allow for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

However, local diversions are in place at both sites, and motorists are advised to allow extra time for their planned journeys.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to both incidents.
Anyone who may have travelled in both areas are asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.

A Song For A Sunday.

The Night Watch.

Lyrics: American songwriter, country music singer, and dancer the late Cindy Walker, (1917 – 2006).
Vocals: American singer, songwriter, and musician the late Jim Reeves, (August – 1964).

**American singer, songwriter, and musician the late Jim Reeves**.

The Night Watch.

(God is keeping the night watch for you and for me).

Bright stars are watching the world as it sleeps,
Shepherds watch over the little white sheep,
The lighthouse is shining for ships far at sea,
As God keeps the night watch for you and for me.

So sleep, sleep in peace and rest,
Don’t be afraid of the darkness,
All’s well for over the land and the sea,
God’s keeping the night watch for you and for me.

(God is keeping the night watch for you and for me).

So sleep, sleep in peace and rest,
Don’t be afraid of the darkness,
All’s well for over the land and the sea,
God’s keeping the night watch for you and for me.

END.

Four Strong Winds.

**American country music singer and songwriter Robert Joseph Bare**.

Lyrics: The late Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Dawson Tyson C.M. A.O.E., (1933-2022).
Vocals: American country music singer and songwriter Robert Joseph Bare Sr. known as Bobby Bare.

Four Strong Winds.

Four strong winds that blow lonely,
Seven seas that run high,
All these things that won’t change come what may,
But my good times are all gone,
And I’m bound for moving on.
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way,
I may go out to Alberta,
Weather’s good there in the fall,
Got some friends that I could go to workin’ for,
Still I wish you’d change your mind.
If I asked you one more time,
But we’ve been through that a hundred times or more.
If I get there before the snow flies,
And things are going good,
You could join me if I send you down the fare,
But if you’ll wait until it’s winter,
It would do no good,
For the wind sure can blow cold way out there.
Four strong winds that blow lonely,
(Four strong winds that blow lonely),
Seven seas that run high (that run high),
All these things that won’t change come what may,
(Change come what may)
But my good times are all gone,
And I’m bound for moving on.
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way.

END

FAI Moves To Seek UEFA Ban On Israel.

Questions Raised Over Motivation and Governance.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has voted overwhelmingly to submit a motion to UEFA calling for the suspension of the Israel Football Association (IFA) from European football competitions.

The motion, passed by 74 votes to 7 with 2 abstentions, was adopted at an extraordinary general meeting of the FAI. It urges UEFA to remove Israel from participation in club and international competitions, citing alleged breaches of football governance and human rights obligations.

Grounds for the Motion:
The proposal contends that the Israel Football Association:

Operates clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association — said to breach UEFA and FIFA statutes.
Has failed to uphold UEFA’s anti-racism and equality policies, contrary to Article 7bis of the UEFA Statutes.
UEFA has already decided that no European competition matches can take place in Israel due to ongoing security concerns. However, the FAI motion goes further, seeking to completely suspend Israel from all UEFA competitions.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes:
The FAI’s motion will now be transmitted to UEFA, where it may be considered by the organisation’s Executive Committee or Congress.

If acted upon, the suspension could see:

Israeli clubs removed from the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
The Israeli national team barred from European Championship and World Cup qualifying campaigns conducted under UEFA.

No formal timetable for discussion or decision has been announced by UEFA.

Potential Consequences
Analysts warn that the move could have wide-ranging implications:
Sporting disruption: Fixtures involving Israeli clubs or national sides could be cancelled or restructured.
Legal risk: The Israel Football Association could challenge any suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that it is politically motivated.
Diplomatic impact: UEFA could face political and commercial pressure from member governments and sponsors.
Precedent: A ban on Israel could prompt demands for similar action in other politically charged situations, raising questions about consistency and governance in sport.
Financial Context: – FAI’s Dependence on State Support.

This debate comes as the FAI continues to rely heavily on Irish Government and UEFA financial assistance.

In January 2020, the State, UEFA and Bank of Ireland agreed a €30 million rescue package to save the FAI from insolvency. This included €20 million in taxpayer funding through Irish government loans and grants.

In October 2025, the Government confirmed a further €3 million allocation in Budget 2026; same to support the development of League of Ireland academies.

This financial dependency has led some observers to ask who exactly initiated or influenced the FAI’s extraordinary meeting and subsequent vote and whether the association consulted adequately with its funding partners before taking a political position of such scale.

Broader Questions: While many within Irish football support calls for greater international accountability, others caution that the FAI, still emerging from years of financial crisis and governance reform, must act with care to avoid drawing itself into complex geopolitical disputes.

As UEFA weighs its response, the move has sparked debate not only about Israel’s role in European football, but also about the role of the Irish football authorities themselves, an organisation dependent on public funds now taking a stand on one of the most divisive issues in world sport.