Thurles Information

Visa Requirements Applied To Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago to be added to list of visa required countries.
Brings Irish visa requirements in line with the United Kingdom.

Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, and Minister of State for Migration, Mr Colm Brophy TD, have today (Friday 9 May 2025) announced that nationals of Trinidad and Tobago will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. These requirements will apply from May 12th 2025. A transit visa will also be required, if the person intending to transit through Ireland, if enroute to another destination.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister O’Callaghan said:
“Visa requirements are an effective screening measure to determine who can travel to Ireland. They bolster the security of our borders while permitting travel to Ireland for legitimate purposes.
To minimise disruption, my officials will have transitional measures for those with existing travel arrangements in the next few weeks.”

Irish visa requirements are kept under ongoing review, having regard to the need to ensure that effective immigration controls are in place whilst also facilitating those who wish to travel to Ireland for the purposes of a visit, to work, to study or to join family members.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister Colm Brophy added:
“This is a carefully considered decision which will bring Ireland into closer alignment with the United Kingdom. While Ireland will continue to operate an independent visa regime, keeping in step with the requirements of the United Kingdom protects our Common Travel Area and dissuades irregular movements.”

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who made travel plans prior to May 12th 2025 and who can provide evidence of a valid booking and payment for the trip, may be accommodated for emergency travel in the following situations where the scheduled travel is on or before May 31st 2025:-

A critical medical case involving a family member being seriously ill or undergoing medical treatment. Evidence from the relevant medical institution must be provided.
Visiting for a significant family event – a birth, wedding, or funeral. Suitable evidence must be provided.
Taking up a place obtained in a third-level institution on an undergraduate or post-graduate degree course. Evidence must be provided from the relevant institution.
Taking up employment and holding an Employment Permit for Ireland. Evidence of the permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment must be provided.
Travelling for business. Confirmation of the arrangements for the visit from the business in question must be provided.

Persons falling within the above categories are asked to email becoming_visarequired@justice.ie with the subject line “Visa Required – Emergency Travel Requested”.

His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV – Connecting With Tipperary.

**Pictured L-R**: **Schoolboard in Cascia Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma** and **His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, then Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine**.

Former Fianna Road, Co. Tipperary native Mr Sean Ryan informs us this morning, that yesterdays newly elected Pope, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, once served on the board at Cascia Catholic school, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Music lovers will well remember Mr Ryan as the former drummer with the popular Tipperary Celtic Rock band “Tweed”, (lead singer Mr Brendan Ryder). Mr Ryan currently resides in Tulsa, having later became a professional soccer referee in Sand Springs, Tulsa, Oklahoma. His son Kevin, a former White House press corps journalist and correspondent, now works with Blazemedia.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine (2001-2013), visited south Tipperary some 20 years ago (2005), to attend Mass, celebrating 700 years of the Augustinian Abbey Church, in Fethard town.

Tipperary Man Declan Kelly Joins David Beckham & Gary Neville In Salford FC Purchase.

North Tipperary Businessman Declan Kelly Joins David Beckham and Gary Neville to purchase Salford City FC.

As part of the acquisition deal, Mr Kelly, (founder of advisory business,‘Consello’ which has offices in Ireland), will co-chair the northern English club with leading UK financier Baron Mervyn Davies (former banker and Labour government Minister until May 2010). Both the latter, together with Mr Beckham and Mr Neville, are understood to have assembled several leading investors, before acquiring the club, following negotiations over a number of months.

The ‘Consello’ company is an Advisory and Investing Platform. The company claims to provides counsel to the most senior business leaders in the world on a wide range of corporate issues that impact their businesses. Their Investment business, Consello Capital, identifies high-potential mid-market companies and invests capital and expertise to transform their growth.

Mr Neville and Mr Beckham had previously owned the club in partnership with others, with the club receiving, four promotions in just five years and narrowly missing out on this year’s League 2 play-off’s, last weekend.

The acquisition has been uniquely structured, through a members club made up of nine shareholders including Dream Sports Group (India’s leading sports technology company), Colin Ryan (Founder, Clipper Street Capital), Frank Ryan (Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO, and Americas Chair, DLA Piper), Nick Woodhouse (Executive Vice Chairman, Authentic Brands Group), and Shravin Mittal (Founder of ‘Unbound’).

Commenting on the overall acquisition, Mr Kelly has stated that this new ownership structure will bring the right mix to take Salford FC, to the next level, with the group comprising some of the best in the world at what they do; thus hopefully driving the club forward.

Mr Kelly, we understand will also be responsible for building out the club’s commercial operations within the UK and around the world, while drawing on the expertise of the broader investor group, made up of individuals with backgrounds in sports, entertainment, banking, law and technology.

Sky Football pundit; former Manchester United Captain and Salford City Co-Owner, Mr Gary Neville, is also Chairperson of ‘Consello Sports’ in the UK and a business partner of Mr Kelly.

Mr David Beckham, who celebrated his 50th birthday on May 2nd last, was a onetime native of Salford City, Greater Manchester, England.

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it is believed that the collective group have raised over $15m to boost Salford’s sporting and infrastructural ambitions, with each member expected to hold between a 5% to10% stake, in all totalling 80%, while the remaining 20% remains earmarked for other possible additional partners.

The new ownership group will take responsibility for the operations of the Club’s activities with immediate effect.

Abbiamo Un Papa – We Have A Pope.

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, this afternoon at 5:10pm, confirming election of new Pope.

The next spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholic faithful, worldwide, has been named as Robert Francis Prevost; having taken the name Pope Leo XIV and now becomes the first elected American pontiff.

Robert Francis Prevost OSA was born in Chicago on September 14th, 1955. Regarded as a moderate, he served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023.
He previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 until 2023, and was Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013.

In 2015 the then Cardinal Prevost became a naturalized citizen of Peru as confirmed by Peru’s National Civil Registry. Today May 8th, 2025, he has been elected Pope and head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State.

Cardinal electors, numbering 133, natives of 70 countries across five continents participated in todays historical event, which is the largest and most international yet in the history of previous conclaves.

Death Of Margaret Giltinane, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Wednesday 7th May 2025, of Mrs Margaret Giltinane (née Duggan), Milltown House, Croagh, Co. Limerick, and formerly of Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her dear husband Jack, son James, sister Rita and brother Percy (Pierce); Mrs Giltinane passed away peacefully at University Hospital, Limerick, (UHL), surrounded by her heartbroken family.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving daughters Elma, Maeve, Trisha and Elaine, sons John, Joseph (Joe), cherished grandchildren James, Bill, Eoghan and Aisling, brothers Dr Tom, Fr. John, sister Carmel, daughter-in-law Louise, sons-in-law Noel and Martin, brothers-in-law Liam, Con and Jack, sisters-in-law Mary, Lil, Joan, nieces, nephews, godchildren, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Giltinane will repose at her place of ordinary residence, (Eircode V94 ET28), on Friday afternoon, May 9th, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Church of St. John the Baptist Ballycannon, Croagh, Co. Limerick, (Eircode V94 A6D7), on Saturday afternoon, May 10th, at 1:00pm, to further repose for Requiem Mass, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.

For those persons who wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Giltinane, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online. (Link to Follow).

The extended Giltinane and Duggan families 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.