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Clonmel, Co. Tipperary first win remembered as jockey Mr Paul Kavanagh is to be laid to rest on Saturday next
Jockey Paul Kavanagh, who recorded his first winner for Enda Bolger at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, is to be laid to rest this weekend following his tragic death in a road traffic collision on Christmas Eve last.
The 20-year-old, of College Green, Tuam; Athlacca, Co. Limerick and formerly of Ballybrone, Corofin, Co. Galway, died after a collision involving a car and a lorry on the N20 in the Bruree area, between 1:40am and 2:15am on Wednesday, December 24th 2025.
In a notice, his family have said their “treasured” son will be “forever loved and missed” by his parents Kevin and Alison, sister Grace and brother Ryan, as well as his wider family, friends, colleagues at Enda Bolger’s yard and the wider racing community.
Funeral arrangements.
Mr Kavanagh will be reposing at Grogan’s Funeral Home, Barrack Street, Tuam, on Friday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, followed by removal to his home. Requiem Mass will take place at 11:30am on Saturday in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuam, with burial afterwards in Tuam Cemetery.
The family has requested house private, family flowers only, with donations in lieu, if desired, to the Injured Jockeys Fund.
As stated, Mr Kavanagh had been riding out with Mr Bolger in Co. Limerick for the past two years and notched his first winner for the trainer at Clonmel last June, partnering ‘Gimme A Buzz’.
Gardaí confirm that the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene, while the lorry driver, a man in his 20s was taken to University Hospital Limerick with non-life-threatening injuries.
Anyone who travelled on the N20 in the Bruree area between 1:40am and 2:15am is asked to contact investigating gardaí. Road users with camera footage, including dash-cam, are also asked to make it available. Gardaí can be contacted at Newcastle West Garda Station TEL: 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line TEL: 1800 666 111, or indeed any garda station.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Tuesday 30th December 2025, of Mrs Noreen Dooley (née Lawlor) No.7 St. Anne’s Terrace, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre-deceased by her beloved husband Mick, daughter Anne-Marie, parents Tom and Katie and brother Philip; Mrs Dooley passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at Fennor Hill, Care Facility, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving sons Murty, Aidan, Philip, Mikey, daughters Cathy, Caroline, Sinéad and Maria, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchild Max, brothers Neddy, Paddy and Thomas, sister Annie, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Dooley will repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny, (Eircode E41 XO38), on Wednesday afternoon, December 31st, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
Her remains will be removed from her place of ordinary residence on Thursday morning, January 1st. before being received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in the Good Shepherd Cemetery, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Dooley, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, at a link to follow.
The extended Dooley and Lawlor 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.
Two-speed tourism: national dip masks resilient domestic season in Tipperary, but are local results overstated?
Ireland’s tourism industry is finishing 2025 in two very different gears.
Nationally, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) estimates overseas visitor numbers of 6.16 million, down 6% on 2024, with international visitor spend down 13% to about €5.27bn (excluding fares).
ITIC’s year-end review says North America stayed strong, with US visitor numbers up 4% and Canada up 8%, but performance weakened elsewhere, including Britain (-4%), France (-13%) and Germany (-8%).
See Irish Tourism Review.
The confederation points to persistent “value for money” pressures, citing Eurostat data that ranks Ireland among the highest-cost countries in the EU.
See ‘Comparative price levels of consumer goods and services’.
It also warns the sector is becoming increasingly exposed by its growing reliance on the North American market.
Yet in the regions, the picture can look more resilient, and Tipperary is certainly a case in point.
A Tipperary County Council “State of the Season” survey, covering months January to September 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, found 74% of participating businesses reported growth or stable performance, with 26% recording a decline.
Accommodation providers were mixed but largely steady, with 66% reporting increased or stable performance, while domestic tourism remained the strongest driver: 72% matched or exceeded domestic occupancy levels from 2024.
Attractions and activity providers reported even stronger results, with 82% up or stable on visitor numbers, underpinned by very strong Irish engagement, with 94% reporting domestic growth or stability.
The same report notes a clear behavioural shift: shorter stays and later booking patterns are now entrenched, putting greater emphasis on flexibility, sharp pricing and value-led packages.
So, the question remains, are the Tipperary reports being exaggerated?
It’s a reasonable question, but the most accurate way to frame it is that the Tipperary findings are a pulse survey, not a full census.
The report is based on feedback from 67 tourism businesses, meaning outcomes can be influenced by who participated, the mix of respondents (accommodation versus attractions, large versus small operators), and what “growth” means, (revenue, occupancy, footfall or simply sentiment).
It’s also notable that ITIC itself flags a broader measurement tension at national level, saying there can be a gap between CSO survey readings and “industry intelligence”, with some business indicators suggesting a flatter year than headline declines imply.
In other words, both things can be true at once: national inbound and spend can be down, while a county with strong domestic engagement, particularly in attractions and activities, can still report a broadly positive season among surveyed operators.
Personally, as a former worker within the industry and a full time resident within Tipperary, I would be slightly worried by the accuracy of some figures provided in relation to the ‘Tipperary Report’ findings.
Five Garda trainees have been removed from training programme after alleged “shower prank” at Templemore Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.
Five trainee gardaí are no longer participating in the Garda training programme following an alleged incident at the Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, involving the misuse of handcuffs.
The incident, which was reported earlier this year, is alleged to have involved another trainee being handcuffed and left under a running shower. It has also been claimed that the trainee’s mattress had been placed on top of a wardrobe beforehand.
Last June, it was reported that five trainees had been suspended and that an internal investigation had been launched. A Garda spokesperson at the time said An Garda Síochána did not comment on ongoing internal investigations.
In a later update, press reported that the inquiry into the incident was ongoing and that those involved had not completed their training.
In a statement issued in response to further queries this month, a Garda spokesperson said: “A small number of Garda trainees are no longer involved in the training programme. An Garda Síochána has no further comment”.
Tipperary’s senior hurlers will launch their 2026 Allianz Hurling League campaign with a high-profile opening-night clash at home to Galway on Saturday, January 24th, with a 7:00pm throw-in at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
The Round 1 fixture provides an early benchmark against one of Division 1A’s established contenders.
The Premier County will have three home league outings in Thurles, with Limerick and Kilkenny also due to visit Semple Stadium during the spring. Away trips to Offaly, Cork and Waterford complete a balanced schedule of home and travel assignments.
In football, Tipperary’s senior side begin their Allianz Football League Division 4 programme on the road, travelling to McGovern Park, Ruislip, to face London on Sunday, January 25th (throw-in 2:00pm). The division schedule includes three further away ties, against Longford and Wicklow, alongside the opening trip to London, while four home fixtures at FBD Semple Stadium see Antrim, Carlow, Leitrim and Waterford all set to visit Thurles.
Tipperary — Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Fixtures (2026).
Sat, Jan 24: Tipperary v Galway – 7.00pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Sun, Feb 1: Offaly v Tipperary – 2.00pm, Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
Sat, Feb 7: Cork v Tipperary – 7.30pm, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork.
Sat, Feb 21: Tipperary v Limerick – 5.30pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Sun, Mar 8: Waterford v Tipperary – 3.15pm, Azzurri Walsh Park, Waterford.
Sat, Mar 21: Tipperary v Kilkenny – 7.00pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Tipperary — Allianz Football League Division 4 Fixtures (2026).
Sun, Jan 25: London v Tipperary — 2.00pm, McGovern Park, Ruislip. UK.
Sun, Feb 1: Tipperary v Antrim — 2.00pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Sun, Feb 15: Tipperary v Carlow — 2.00pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Sun, Feb 22: Longford v Tipperary — 2.00pm, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford.
Sun, Mar 1: Tipperary v Leitrim — 2.00pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Sun, Mar 15: Wicklow v Tipperary — 2.00pm, Echelon Park, Aughrim, Wicklow.
Sun, Mar 22: Tipperary v Waterford — 1.00pm, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
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