Thurles Information

A Warning To Late Travellers On The Cashel Road.

If the Roads Around Cashel Fall Silent, Best Turn for Home.

If you find yourself out late around the town of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, take a bit of advice from the old people; go home before the road goes quiet.

Tourists especially beware, because according to the folklore of the Galtee country, there are worse things abroad at night than a Garda checkpoint or a missed Fish & Chipper.

Long before horror films discovered the headless horseman, Ireland already had the Dullahan, latter a charming individual who travelled the roads carrying his own head under his arm and announcing death wherever he stopped. No door lock kept him out. No gate latch held him back. The only known deterrent was gold, which feels very Irish altogether. Even supernatural evil respects inflation.

The most entertaining version of the tale comes from an old story called “The Good Woman”, collected by Thomas Crofton Croker in the nineteenth century. The story is set around the Galtee Mountains and Cashel, where a horse dealer named Larry Dodd makes the sort of decision that proves Irish folklore exists mainly to warn men against acting the maggot after dark.

Larry is riding home from Cashel one June evening after buying a horse. He’s feeling pleased with himself, no doubt after “just the one pint” that became several. Along the road he meets a mysterious cloaked woman walking alone at twilight.

Now, any sensible person in rural Ireland knows there are only three explanations for a woman silently appearing on a lonely road after sunset; a banshee, a fairy, trouble.
Larry, unfortunately, ignores centuries of accumulated wisdom and offers her a lift.
She says nothing. Climbs up behind him. Still says nothing, which, to be fair, should have been the first warning sign to any member of the male species.

Eventually the horse stops near the ruins of an old church. The woman slips down soundlessly and glides away across the graveyard. Larry, displaying the sort of judgement that has doomed Irish men since mythology began, chases after her looking for a kiss and catches her, only to discover she has no head.

At this point the story becomes considerably less romantic. Larry faints dead away and wakes among a gathering of Dullahans; headless ladies and gentlemen, soldiers, priests, musicians and skeletons tossing skulls around like hurling balls. Naturally enough, someone offers him a drink. Well this is still Ireland after all.

Things go poorly from there but eventually he escapes with his life, though not with his dignity, and his horse disappears entirely which may be the most authentically Irish ending imaginable. Survive supernatural terror if you like, but someone is still stealing the livestock.

So if you’re around Cashel late at night and happen to see a silent figure on the roadside, perhaps keep driving. Do not offer lifts. Do not flirt. And, absolutely do not follow mysterious women into ruined churches.

The old stories survive for a reason, and mainly because somebody ignored obvious warning signs and succeeded to live just long enough to warn the rest of us.

“Think Before You Tap” – Bank of Ireland Warns Of Card Payment Scam.

Bank of Ireland is warning customers to stay alert after a rise in cases where people are being significantly overcharged when paying by card in shops, cafés, bars, taxis and other busy venues.

The scam works by verbally quoting one price, while entering a much higher amount on the payment terminal; often when customers are distracted, rushed or under pressure.

Ms Nicola Sadlier, (Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland), said fraudsters are taking advantage of busy environments where people may not double-check the screen, before tapping or entering their PIN.

Key advice from Bank of Ireland:
► Always check the amount on the card terminal before paying
► Don’t rush if you feel pressured during a transaction
► Never hand your card to someone else to complete payment
► Turn on transaction alerts to spot suspicious charges quickly
► Review your statements regularly and report anything unusual immediately
►With summer travel season approaching and more people using contactless payments abroad, the bank says taking a few extra seconds to verify the amount could prevent costly fraud.

“Check the total before you tap.”

Concerns Raised Over New Roadside Memorial Ban & Ongoing Road Sign Issues In Thurles.

A new policy approved in Tipperary will ban roadside memorials in areas where speed limits are 60 kilometres per hour and above. The decision follows updated national road safety guidelines aimed at reducing dangers for motorists, pedestrians, and road maintenance crews.

Under the new rules, future memorials will not be allowed along higher-speed roads due to concerns about driver distraction, roadside parking and pedestrian safety. Existing memorials will remain in place, but any damaged memorials requiring replacement must comply with the updated regulations.

While many understand the importance of improving road safety, the decision has sparked debate among communities who see roadside memorials as important tributes to loved ones lost in tragic accidents. The issue is especially sensitive for grieving families and local residents who feel these memorials serve as lasting reminders for drivers to slow down and take greater care on dangerous roads.

At the same time, many people are questioning whether enough attention is being given to other road safety problems across the county. In Thurles, concerns continue to grow about road signage in several busy areas. A number of directional signs have reportedly become loose, damaged, are pointing in the wrong direction, or in some cases have disappeared altogether.

Areas such as Mill Road, Cathedral Street and Liberty Square in Thurles have been highlighted by residents as locations where signage problems are creating confusion for motorists and visitors alike. Many signs are hidden by hedge growth and some locals believe these practical road safety issues should also be prioritised alongside the introduction of any new policies and restrictions.

Road safety campaigners continue to stress that clearer signage, proper maintenance, safer junctions, and responsible driving all play a major role in preventing accidents and protecting lives on local roads.

As discussions continue, many will be watching closely to see how the new memorial policy is implemented and whether wider road safety concerns throughout Tipperary receive the same level of urgency and attention.

Housing Minister Signals Easing of Rural Planning Rules.

Eviction Ban Ruled Out as Housing Minister Signals Easing of Rural Planning Rules.

Ireland’s rural planning rules are set to be relaxed under new housing guidelines due to be published within weeks, according to Housing Minister Mr James Browne TD. The Minister said the updated guidelines aim to make it easier for people to build homes in rural communities, while also creating greater consistency in planning decisions nationwide.

Speaking during a visit to social housing projects in Donegal, Mr Browne said the Government is committed to reducing restrictions on rural housing development across the country. He added that the new framework would provide a more balanced and predictable approach for rural applicants.

The Minister also rejected renewed opposition calls for an eviction ban, following a sharp rise in eviction notices during the opening months of 2026. Recent figures from the Residential Tenancies Board showed more than 7,000 notices of termination were issued in the first quarter of the year; a rise of roughly 50% compared with the same period in 2025.

Mr Browne argued that previous eviction bans damaged rental supply and insisted the Government’s focus must remain on increasing housing availability. He pointed to signs that termination notices began to decline in March, with expectations of a further drop in April.

The minister said reforms introduced earlier this year are intended to strengthen protections for renters while encouraging more long-term participation in the rental market. Updated RTB figures also showed a modest increase in the number of landlords and registered tenancies nationwide.

Ballypadeen Demolition Decision Highlights Planning Failures In Co. Tipperary.

Tipperary County Council’s decision to approve the demolition of the 52 unfinished houses at Ballypadeen near Cashel has reignited debate about planning, dereliction, and the wider housing crisis. While many people understandably see the structures as potential homes, the reality behind the site is far more complicated.

The partially completed houses have stood idle for almost two decades overlooking the Rock of Cashel after construction stopped in 2007. Originally approved during the Celtic Tiger era, the development was never intended to function as a standard residential estate. Planning permission was granted for tourism accommodation linked to a large hotel and leisure complex that was never built.

According to Tipperary County Council, the site sits on unzoned and unserviced land outside the Cashel settlement boundary, placing it in conflict with current planning policy. Independent engineering and technical assessments commissioned as part of the process concluded that the structures contained significant defects and that restoring them for long-term residential use would not be financially viable.

The council has also confirmed that the demolition forms part of a legally binding mediated settlement between the local authority and the landowner following years of legal disputes connected to the development.

Public frustration is understandable given Ireland’s ongoing housing shortage. Critics, including local representatives and members of the public, have argued that demolishing 52 partially completed houses during a housing crisis appears counterproductive. However, the issue is not simply about unfinished houses being left unused. The core problem is that the development was approved under a tourism model tied to infrastructure and zoning conditions that never materialised.

What is also important to note is that despite the national attention the site has received, the houses are not visible when entering or leaving Cashel itself. The development sits outside the town and is largely hidden from the main approach roads, contrary to some impressions created online and in wider media coverage.

The council says the demolition will help address long-term dereliction and protect the visual setting surrounding the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most historically important landmarks.

Ultimately, Ballypadeen has become a symbol of wider failures in Irish planning and development during the boom years. The debate now is not only about whether these buildings should remain standing, but how developments like this were ever allowed to reach such a stage without proper long-term oversight, infrastructure, or viable planning foundations in place.