Thurles Information

Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, Wins SDG Junk-Kouture World Final Award.

Congratulations to the winner of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Award entitled ‘Vision Zero’, represented by Christina Whelan, Tara Johnson and Caitlin Cussen pupils of the Ursuline Secondary School, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Ten teams represented Ireland at the Junk Kouture World Final held in Dublin last evening, together with 50 other finalists from the UK, US, Italy, France and the UAE.

Inspired by the Road Safety Authorities (RSA) Vision Zero campaign and a personal bike accident, ‘Vision Zero’ raises awareness of road safety.

**Pictured Above: Teachers Mr Michael English & Ms Erica Flanagan with Award Winners Ms Christina Whelan, Ms Tara Johnson & Ms Caitlin Cussen.**

Junk Kouture was founded in Ireland in 2010 by entrepreneur Troy Armour from County Donegal, with a simple yet powerful mission – to enrich and empower the lives of young people through creativity and sustainability.
Since the beginning, students have been challenged to create wearable designs from recycled materials, celebrating creative and innovative talent, while driving behavioural change toward sustainability, creating the change makers of tomorrow, and ensuring inclusivity and diversity which is at the cornerstone of everything undertaken.

Coffee Morning Saturday March 8th, In Support Of Women’s Aid.

Cashel Garda Station are to host a Coffee Morning, on Saturday March 8th next, 2025 in conjunction with Women’s aid National day.

Women’s Aid is a national feminist organisation working to prevent and address the prevalence of domestic abuse within Irish society; how it impacts especially women during pregnancy and how employers can lead in addressing domestic abuse within the workplace.

The coffee morning will run from 11:00am until 1:00pm and the public are invited to pop in for something nice, to help support a worthy cause or even for a bit of advice or information.

Planning Refused For Thurles Housing Plans.

Plans for some 86 houses and a crèche at Hayfield Manor, latter situated on the west side of the Bohernamona road, on the northern outskirts of Thurles has been refused due to it being zoned as “strategic reserve“, under the current local area plan for Thurles Town.

**Proposed Thurles Site At Hayfield Manor**.

Planners with Tipperary County Council had earlier ruled that there were no exceptional circumstances that would justify allowing development of these lands within the lifetime of the current local area plan for Thurles.

Following an appeal by the Architect on behalf of the developer; An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision of Tipperary County Council, thus refusing planning permission for this proposed project.

An Bord Pleanála have explained that the objective of zoning this 3.45-hectare (8.5 acre) site as “strategic reserve”, was to deliver housing on the lands in the subsequent local area plan, which would take effect from 2031.

Under the Thurles Local Area Plan 2024-2030, residential development is not normally permitted on sites designated as “strategic reserve”.
An Bord Pleanála also claimed there was a lack of clarity in the Natura Impact Assessment, initially submitted by the developer. The board concluded that it could not be clearly ascertained that the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of the Lower River Suir Special Area of Conservation.

The Tipperart local authority had received just one third-party objection regarding this proposed new housing estate.

I Have a Dream.

Lyrics: Swedish musicians, songwriters, composers and producers, both best known as members of the pop group ABBA, namely Benny Goran Bror Andersson and Bjoern K. Ulvaeus.
Vocals: Irish pop group Westlife.

I Have a Dream.

I have a dream,
A song to sing,
To help me cope,
With anything.
If you see the wonder, (wonder)
Of a fairy tale,
You can take the future,
Even if you fail.
I believe in angels,
Something good in everything I see.
I believe in angels,
When I know the time is right for me.
I’ll cross the stream,
I have a dream, oh yeah.
I have a dream, (have a dream)
A fantasy, (fantasy)
To help me through, (help me through)
Reality, (reality)
And my destination, (destination)
Makes it worth the while,
Pushing through the darkness, (through the darkness, baby)
Still another mile.
I believe in angels,
Something good in everything I see,
I believe in angels,
When I know the time is right for me,
I’ll cross the stream, (cross the stream)
I have a dream.
I have a dream, (oh yeah)
A song to sing, (a song to sing)
To help me cope,
With anything.
If you see the wonder, (if you see the wonder )
Of a fairy tale, (of a fairy tale)
You can take the future,
Even if you fail. (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I believe in angels,
Something good in everything I see. (everything)
I believe in angels, (angels)
When I know the time is right for me, (right for me)
I’ll cross the stream, (cross the stream)
I have a dream. (have a dream)
I’ll cross the stream, (cross the stream)
I have a dream.
Oh, oh.

END

New Licencing & Regulatory Framework For Gambling Set To Commence.

Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland established effective from 5 March 2025.
Seven members to be appointed to independent authority, including chairperson Mr Paul Quinn.

An order for parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, enabling the Authority to become operational to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis, will now commence.

Seven members of this new, independent Authority, will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, March 5th, 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which will be responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which will have wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.

Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are named as follows:-
Ms. Celine Craig.
Ms. Marion Kelly.
Ms. Rita Purcell.
Mr. David Hickson.
Mr. Michael McGrath.
Dr. Colin O’Driscoll, (Ordinary Member).