Thurles Information

J Block At Garda Headquarters Restored & Re-Opened.

J Block at Garda Headquarters, in Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, (Eircode D08 HN3X), has now been fully restored and re-opened. This project involved the full refurbishment of some 1,770 sq.m, of the two-storey, historic and protected structure; same to be now used as offices to accommodate a highly specialist unit within An Garda Síochána.

The Phoenix Park was chosen as the location for the constabulary originally in 1836, and the current buildings, which include the J Block, have been in use since 1923

The origins of the J Block building, itself, dates back to 1842, when it was a barracks and training building for recruits up until 1964, when the Garda Training College at Templemore, Co. Tipperary then took over.
As already stated, the J Block building was first used as a barracks and training building, later evolving to house administrative personnel and in more recent times, to serve as a base of operations for An Garda Síochána’s Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) department.
Now, following this significant refurbishment project, J Block has been modernised and will become home to the Roads Policing Bureau, the Community Engagement Bureau and Youth Diversion Bureau. The office of the Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Roads Policing and Community Engagement will also be based there.

This project involved some complex refurbishment works in a live, operational policing environment, requiring careful phasing and constant coordination to ensure the safety of Garda staff, subcontractors, and the buildings occupants.

Key elements of the refurbishment included:

Replacement and restoration of approximately 80 historic sash windows.
Repair and restoration of original external masonry.
Complete replacement of the roof finish and flashings and the strengthening of the roof structure.
Repair of eight original chimneys, including lead and copper flashings.
Sensitive internal reorganisation to provide modern office spaces while respecting historic features.
Removal of poor-quality rear extensions and prefabricated units, significantly improving both the building’s external presentation and staff amenity area.
The additional of sustainable heating systems including an electrically powered heat pump.
The upgrade of the building fabric where possible including increased insulation where possible.

All interventions were carried out with the utmost care for the character and physical fabric of this protected structure. The design and execution have ensured that the building remains in beneficial use for the long term, while also safeguarding its heritage value.
The overall cost of the refurbishment to the taxpayer has not been published as yet.

HSE Report XFG Variant Covid-19 Cases Skyrocketing.

Covid-19 cases have been sharply increasing nationwide this week, with some 477 new infections identified within the last seven (7) days .

This worrying figure marks a stark rise from the previous 302 cases identified the previous week. Professional medical staff attribute the rising number of cases is possibly due in part to a new variant, known as Stratus or XFG.

Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) indicate that the proportion of Covid cases currently associated with this new XFG variant has begun to skyrocket, with figures soaring from 16.3% to 40.9% over the past 14 days.
While the symptoms are understood to be milder than what has been previously experienced, the World Health Organisation is reportedly categorising this new strain as a “variant under monitoring” and advise that same may spread more rapidly.

Once again, the HSE advice that if you exhibit any symptoms of Covid, you should stay at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have completely subsided. The HSE also advise individuals to avoid contact with other persons, particularly those who are more vulnerable to Covid. i.e. elderly or immuno-compromised persons.

The HSE are also reminding the public of the extensive list of Covid symptoms to be aware of. These include: Fever (high temperature). Chills – Dry cough – Fatigue (tiredness) – Shortness of breath (or breathing difficulties)– Loss of smell or taste – Nasal congestion – Conjunctivitis (red eye or pink eyes) – Sore throat – Headache – Muscle or joint pain – Skin rash – Vomiting/Diarrhoea – Chills or dizziness – Loss of appetite – Confusion and finally Pain or Pressure on the chest.

Recall Of Ballymaguire Foods Turkey & Ham Dinners.

Recall of various branded Turkey and Ham Dinners, produced by Ballymaguire Foods, due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary dated Friday, July 18th 2025.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2025.33
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: All pack sizes, all batch codes and all use by dates.
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message: The below Turkey & Ham Dinners are being recalled due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Product name.	Approval Number.
Centra Turkey & Ham Dinner.	4008
Supervalu Turkey & Ham Dinner.	4008.
Good Food Turkey & Ham Dinner 4008.	4008.

Nature Of Danger: Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers and Retailers:

Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated Turkey & Ham Dinners from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated Turkey and Ham Dinners and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
Caterers: should not use the implicated Turkey & Ham Dinners.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated Turkey and Ham Dinners.

Death Of Samanta Kimene, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, on Sunday 13th July 2025 of Ms Samanta (Sammy) Kimene, Slí na Siuire, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Latvia.

Aged 25 years, Ms Kimene sadly passed away expectedly following a short illness while in Tenerife, Spain.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving mother Inese, brother Kevin, uncles Arturs, Andrins and Dzintars, aunts Mija and Ieva, cousins Elvis, Sophia, Joshua and Emily, work colleagues, extended relatives, neighbours, great friends both in Ireland and Spain, former pupils and staff at Presentation Convent, Secondary School, Thurles.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Ms Kimene will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59), on Monday afternoon, July 21st, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm.
Her remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, (Eircode E41 E084), on Tuesday morning, July 22nd, at 10:30am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Kimene 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Death Of American Singer Connie Francis.

American pop singer, actress and one of the top-charting female vocalists of the late 1950s and early 1960s, Ms Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, known professionally as Connie Francis, sadly passed away on Wednesday last, in Pompano Beach, Florida on July 16th 2025, at the age of 87 years.

During her career she was estimated to have sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Ms Francis had recently been treated for pelvic pain, caused by a fracture and had been confined to a wheelchair.

The performer, whose hits included ‘Stupid Cupid‘ and ‘Who’s Sorry Now‘, had recently enjoyed a resurgence of her 1962 song ‘Pretty Little Baby‘ .

Somewhere My Love.

Vocals: American singer the late Ms Connie Francis (1937 – 2025). (Sung to the melody of “Lara’s Theme” from the film Doctor Zhivago.)
Lyrics: American lyricist and three time Academy Award winner the late Paul Francis Webster (1907 – 1984).

Somewhere My Love.

Somewhere, my Love, there will be songs to sing,
Although the snow covers the hope of spring.
Somewhere a hill blossoms to green and grow,
And there are dreams all that your heart can hold.
Someday we’ll meet again, my love,
Someday whenever the spring breaks through.
You’ll come to me out of the long ago,
Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow.
Till then, my sweet, think of me now and then,
God speed my love till you are mine,
Till you are mine again.
END

Ms Francis grew up in a working-class Italian American family in Brooklyn, New York. She started playing the accordion at the age of three, encouraged by her father. By the time she was a teenager, she had changed her name from Concetta Franconero, to Connie Francis.

During her early career she was turned down by almost every record label; only securing a contract with MGM Records, because her demo song, ‘Freddy‘, happened to be the name of the then president’s son. She would go on to sell millions of records in multiple dialects, including teen hits like ‘Lipstick On Your Collar‘ and ‘Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool‘.

Following being beaten and raped at knife point in 1974 at her motel, at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, she became a recluse, spending several spells in psychiatric hospitals. At her lowest point, she attempted suicide using sleeping pills. She later won $1.5 million lawsuit against the Howard Johnson’s motel chain, for failing to provide safe locks on the glass door through which her attacker entered.

Ms Francis had just begun her return to the stage in 1981, when her younger brother George Franconero, who had testified against the Mafia, was shot to death in front of his house. This event plunged her deeper into depression, leaving her to spend much of the next decade receiving treatment, during which time she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

She would go on to become an outspoken voice within victim advocacy groups, including Women Against Rape, and the Victims’ Assistance Legal Organisation, and became a spokesperson for Mental Health America.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.