Thurles Information

Major Angry Opposition To Proposed Thurles Windfarm.

Major opposition, grave concerns and extreme anger has irrupted, due to a planning application for a wind-farm on the outskirts of Thurles town, at townlands of Brittas, Rossestown, Ballygammane and Clobanna.
The planning application provides for 10 to 12 X 185m high turbines, together with an accompanying battery farm, latter to store electricity, same to be generated by this proposed project.

These turbines to be erected, we understand, reach some 170 metres (590 feet) in height, (e.g. five times the height of Thurles Cathedral), and would introduce a massive invasion of towering infrastructure overlooking the town and surrounding countryside.

The proposed wind turbines are expected to generate/export at least 60 million watts, if erected in the nearby townlands of Brittas, Rossestown and Clobanna, all situated less than a 5 to 10 minute drive north of Thurles town. We understand that the plans include an underground cable connection to the national electricity grid.

The now launched Brittas Wind Farm and Ballygammane Battery Farm Action Group have begun an online campaign in their effort to fundraise some €10,000, same required to oppose this planning, now ruled as a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) by An Bord Pleanála.

In May of last year the planning appeals board ruled that the Brittas wind farm project constituted a Strategic Infrastructure Development, requiring Brittas Windfarm Limited, to submit their plans directly to An Bord Pleanála.

The newly formed Brittas and Ballygammane action group held a public protest meeting on Wednesday last, January 15th, at which it was agreed that a target of €10,000 could be reached if 100 individuals donated €100. Within the last 10 days, the action group, has already generated over €5,320 in donations and further donations of even small amounts will be greatly appreciated. Funds collected will be strictly used towards paying consultants to make the town’s case to An Bord Pleanála, thus bringing a halt to this threat of a wind farm development and its associated battery storage farm.

Concerns were expressed at the meeting, regarding the downgrading of local property values, construction disruption, visual impact, noise, flicker impact and the immediate obvious repercussion on this area’s environment.

At the protest meeting there was also a major concern expressed that a battery farm, of some 48 battery storage units, now proposed for the Ballygammane townland, could go on fire; with the impact of this on Thurles and surrounding villages visualised as being immense, while this project financially benefits only a few individuals.

NOTE: Link to gofundme page HERE.

See Brittas Windfarm Plans and Environmental impact assessment report HERE.

Thurles Planning Application.

Development Address: Part of 8 and 9 and all of 10 to 13 Parnell Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Planning application details: Ref: File 257, (Tipperary County Council).

Application Type: Permission for Retention.

Received Date: 22/01/2025.

Decision Due Date: 18/03/2025.

Applicant name: Rossa Drinks Ltd.

Development Description:

(1) Revisions to the internal layout of the public house at the dining area, associated kitchen facilities and toilet facilities.
(2) Shopfront design on the Parnell Street facade fronting the dining area of the public house.
(3) Revised layout of the 1st floor residential unit over the public house including rear balcony with access to enclosed yard space at the rear of 8 and 9 Parnell St, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
(4) Change of use of the enclosed rear yard space (at the rear of 8 and 9 Parnell Street, Thurles) to yard space for storage for both the public house and the 1st floor residential unit and the existing buildings to storage buildings associated with the public house.
(5) A roofed structure providing a sheltered yard space at the rear of the public house.
(6) Change of use of an existing outbuilding adjacent to the sheltered yard space to use as a small service hatch and associated storage rooms.

FSAI Warn Of Recall Of Newcastle Brown Ale.

Food Safety Authority Of Ireland recall batches of Newcastle Brown Ale, due to the presence of glass fragments.

Alert Summary dated Wednesday, 29th January 2025.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2025.05
Product Identification: Newcastle Brown Ale; pack size: 550 ml bottle
Batch Code: L4321, L4322, L4323, L4324, L4325 and L4326.
Best before date: 30/11/2025

Message: Heineken UK is recalling the above batches of Newcastle Brown Ale, due to the presence of glass fragments upon opening the bottles.
Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores.

Action Required: Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Wholesalers/Distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retail customers.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to drink the affected batches.

Victorian Perimeter Wall Ready To Collapse In Thurles.

With the cost of replacing an unsafe 70-metre long perimeter wall around a government office in Dublin, ending up costing nearly a half million Euros; it is now unlikely that the perimeter wall, which daily threatens footpath pedestrians and cars, (some dodging Thurles parking charges), on Ikerrin Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, is unlikely to be repaired within the next century or so.

A **3 metre high wall section due to collapse unto a pedestrian footpath on Ikerrin Road,** **in Thurles.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

The works at the Dublin headquarters of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) were originally expected to cost around €200,000, exclusive of Vodka And Tonic (VAT), but ended up costing over €490,000. Thankfully the Ikerrin wall did not collapse during Storm Éowyn last week, although cars bearing antique number plates clamoured for a suitable position under its 4m height, (12 ft).

A **2 metre high wall section due to collapse unto a pedestrian footpath, on Ikerrin Road, Thurles.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

Just to speed thing up, when future insurance claims need to be made in respect of car damages or serious head injuries or ‘God forbid’, even deaths, note the wall and the graveyard it surrounds is the property of Tipperary Co. Council, whose Thurles Municipal District Council office is situated on Castle Avenue, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Try to lodge your Solicitor’s Letter before closing time at 4:30pm.

**Interesting stone to be found, lodged in the Ikerrin Road Wall, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

One interesting stone appears in this wall, which is not part of the wall of Thurles as some people have been heard to declare. This wall was constructed mostly from left over stones from the demolished old original Protestant Church that once existed pre 1800. The stone which is of interest can be viewed in the picture above.

Is this stone shown above telling us where we can find some antiquity /treasure, or is it just a piece of an old headstone, which possibly stated “Here lies the body“?

Meanwhile, if you are out walking on Ikerrin Road (Previously known as ‘Limekiln Lane’) remember the words of Budd Nielsen, “Keep your head up, keep your eyes facing forward, and keep telling yourself, I’m going to make it.”

Death Of Richard Hickey, Hollyford, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Tuesday 28th January 2025 of Mr Richard Hickey, Toureen, Hollyford, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his loving parents Michael and Eileen, his sister Margaret, his baby brother and his sister-in-law Carmel; Mr Hickey passed away peacefully while in the care of University Hospital Limerick, surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; wife and best friend Mary Margaret, sons Robert, David and Walter, daughters Michelle and Ciara, sister Catherine, brothers Francis and Willie, grandsons Jack and Conor, niece Laura, nephew Mickey, son-in-law Dan, sister-in-law Carrie, brothers-in-law Bernie, Martin and Walter, aunts-in-law Rena and Angela, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Hickey will repose at Whites Funeral Home, Mazin Street, Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary, on Thursday afternoon, January 30th from 5:00pm until 7:30pm, before being received into the Church of St Joseph, Hollyford, Co. Tipperary, same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mr Hickey will be celebated on Friday morning next, January 31st at 11:30am followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Hollyford cemetery, Hollyford, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr Hickey, same can be viewed streamed live online, (link to follow).

The extended Hickey 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 anam dílis.