Thurles Information

Women’s Christmas Marked In Thurles & A Final Visit To The Cathedral Crib.

Nollaig na mBan: Women’s Christmas marked in Thurles with a final festive visit to the magnificent Cathedral Crib.

The 12th and final day of Christmas, January 6th, is celebrated in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan, (Women’s Christmas), or Little Christmas, traditionally seen as a day of rest and recognition for women folk after the fine work undertaken during the festive season.

To mark this occasion, families and visitors are being encouraged to enjoy one last seasonal highlight in Thurles: the Christmas Crib in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, a display that has once again, drawn quiet admiration throughout the 2025/2026 Christmas season.

**“Love, quietly born with togetherness the gift.”**

A parish spokesperson said Nollaig na mBan provides “a fitting moment to close out Christmas with reflection and gratitude, and to acknowledge the strength and generosity shown in homes and communities right across the season.”

A cherished custom and a little piece of folklore.
Alongside the visit, many will recognise a well-loved tradition associated with the Crib: legend has it that if you take a small piece of straw from a Crib at Christmas time and keep it in your purse or wallet, it will never be found empty in the year ahead. The custom is remembered in different parts of Ireland as a simple token of good fortune for the months to come.

Looking ahead: Supporting the Cathedral roof project.

The parish is well aware that, while the Crib is a seasonal centrepiece, attention is now again turning to a major practical need in the near future: the Cathedral roof is approaching the end of its lifespan and is expected to require full replacement within the coming years as part of the parish’s ongoing “Raise the Roof” efforts.
In that spirit, the parish is encouraging the wider community to continue supporting the Cathedral’s upkeep and future.

Hence, we echo the message of Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

2025 Identified As Ireland’s Second Warmest Year On Record.

Met Éireann’s figures from Gurteen AWS (Automatic Weather Station); latter situated on the grounds of Gurteen Agricultural College, Co. Tipperary, point to 28 very wet days and 33 frost days, in the Thurles area.

Met Éireann’s Annual Climate Statement for 2025 confirms that indeed 2025 was Ireland’s second warmest year on record (since 1900), continuing a clear warming trend, with 2022 to 2025 now the four warmest years in the national series.

Using the Island of Ireland dataset, Met Éireann reports an average annual air temperature of 11.14°C for 2025, 1.59°C above the 1961 to 1990 long-term average and 0.97°C above the 1991 to 2020 average.
Provisional rainfall for 2025 is 1,338.7mm, around 104% of the 1991 to 2020 long-term average, placing 2025 as the 15th wettest year since 1941.

Met Éireann’s Gurteen AWS also notes the year included the warmest and sunniest spring on record, the warmest summer on record, and a very wet autumn (the 4th wettest on record), with major weather impacts including ‘Storm Éowyn‘ which witnessed record winds at Mace Head, Co. Galway.

Thurles area snapshot: (nearest official monthly “weather events” station being Gurteen, Co Tipperary)
While Met Éireann’s Annual Climate Statement is national in scope, its Public Works Contracts “weather events” tables provide month-by-month counts at station level. The closest suitable station for a Thurles-area proxy is Gurteen, Co Tipperary, which recorded the following information in 2025:

Days with rainfall >10mm: 28 days in total.
Monthly counts: Jan 2nd, Feb 2nd, Mar 1st, Apr 4th, May 2nd, Jun 1st, Jul 2nd, Aug 0, Sep 3rd, Oct 6th, Nov 3rd, Dec 2nd.

Frost days (minimum temperature <0°C): 33 days in total.
Monthly counts: Jan 13th, Feb 5th, Mar 5th, Apr 1st, May 1st, Jun 0, Jul 0, Aug 0, Sep 0, Oct 0, Nov 4th, Dec 4th.

Wind threshold days (maximum 10-minute mean wind speed ≥15m/s): 4 days in total
Monthly counts: Jan 1st, Feb 1st, Mar 0, Apr 0, May 0, Jun 0, Jul 0, Aug 0, Sep 0, Oct 1st, Nov 0, Dec 1th.

These month-by-month counts are published as an objective measure of whether weather thresholds are exceeded for public works contract purposes, and provide a useful, locally relevant indicator of very wet days, frost incidence and notable wind events in the wider mid-Tipperary area.

Death Of Niamh Kinnane, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great personal sadness that I learned of the death, yesterday Monday 5th January 2026, of Ms Niamh Kinnane, (Tábhairneoir Kinnanes Pub/Restaurant), Upperchurch Village, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her parents Paddy Kinnane and Kathleen (née Shanahan) and her brother-in-law Jimmy Butler; Ms Kinnane passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Nenagh General Hospital, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving sister Siobhan (Butler), nephew Fergal Butler, niece-in-law Eavan (Fogarty), grandniece and grandnephew Maisie and Andy, extended relatives, neighbours and close and wonderful friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Ms Kinnane will repose at O’Dwyer’s Funeral Home, Cappanaleigh, Upperchurch, Thurles, (Eircode E41 FN34), on Wednesday afternoon, January 7th, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm, same evening.
Her remains will be received into the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart, Upperchurch, Thurles, (Eircode E41V389), to further repose for Requiem Mass on Thursday afternoon, at 1:00pm, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in nearby Upperchurch Cemetery, Upperchurch Village, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Kinnane 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.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Death Of Joan O’Dwyer, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Monday 5th January 2026 of Mrs Joan O’Dwyer (née Kennedy), No.3 St. Brigid’s Villas, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Mt. Kinnane, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her parent’s Pat and Nonie, sister Bridie and infant brother Christopher; Mrs O’Dwyer, sadly, passed away unexpectedly at her place of ordinary residence.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving husband Tommy, daughters Denise (Gould) and Lorraine (Carroll), grandchildren Harry, Jack, Charlie and Clodagh, sons-in-law James and John, sister Mary, brothers John, Pat and Gerard, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs O’Dwyer, will repose at Kennedy’s funeral home, Castlecourt, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, (Eircode E41 VX81), on Wednesday evening, January 7th, from 8:00pm until 9:30pm.
Her remains will be received into the nearby, Church of the Sacred Heart, Pallas Street, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, on Thursday afternoon, January 8th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 2:00pm, followed by interment in St Brigid’s Cemetery, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended O’Dwyer 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 Kathleen Mullahy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Sunday 4th January 2026, of Mrs Kathleen Mullahy (née Nolan), ‘An Cúlan’, Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Blackcastle, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her daughter Niamh, parents Jack and Madge, brother John-Joe and nephew Joseph; Mrs Mullahy passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, following a long illness most bravely borne.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving and devoted husband Chris, son Jarlath and his partner Meghan, grandchildren Jack, Leah and Ryan, sisters Anna (Power), Breda (Fallon, Two Mile Borris), Maureen (Ruth), nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law Joe, Joe, Richard, Michael, Tom and Michael, sisters-in-law Angela, Mary, Bríd, Carmel, Anne, Teresa and Pauline, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Mullahy will repose in Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59), on Thursday afternoon, January 8th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Church of St. James, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, (Eircode E41 EK15), on Friday morning, January 9th at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in nearby Two-Mile-Borris Cemetery, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Mullahy 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.