Thurles Information

Support Services & Helplines – You Are Not Alone – Useful Contacts.

Find A Listening Ear & Practical Help.

At this time of year some people may be feeling overwhelmed, perhaps lonely, anxious, or are just simply not coping. Some of us have been in this position before so please don’t try to carry it on your own.

The helplines and services listed hereunder are there to listen and to help, whether you’re looking for emotional support, practical advice, or a first step towards getting the right care.

Reaching out can often feel difficult, but it’s a strong and positive move, and all of these services offer confidential, non-judgemental support for you or for someone you may be worried about.

Alone – 0818 222 024.
Aware – 1800 804 848.
Samaritans – 116 123.
Pieta House – 1800 247 247.
Age Action – 01 475 6989.
Irish Red Cross – 01 642 4600.
Citizens Advice – 0761 07 4000.
Alzheimer’s Society, Information and Emotional Help – 1800 341 341.
Exchange House, Traveller Mental Health Support – 01 872 1094.
Senior Line Friendly Listening Service – 1800 80 45 91.
Amen, Domestic Violence (male victims) – 046 902 3718.
Rape Crisis Centre, Crisis Helpline – 1800 778 888.
Mental Health Ireland, Mental Health Helpline – 01 284 1166.

If you feel that you (or someone else) may be at immediate risk of self harm, contact emergency services on 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Missing Tipperary Town Teens Located Safe As Garda Appeal Stood Down.

Missing Tipperary Town teens located safe as Garda appeal understood to be is stood down.

Two teenage girls who had been missing from Tipperary Town since Thursday, December 18th 2025, have we understand, been found safe, with reports indicating they are in the care of Gardaí.

The pair, Julia Laskowska (aged 15) and Sadie Nally (aged 13), were the subject of a series of Garda missing-person appeals in the days after they were reported missing. In the initial appeal issued on December 18th , Gardaí said the girls were missing from Tipperary Town and asked anyone with information to contact Tipperary Town Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line.

What was known during the search.
As the investigation continued, Gardaí renewed their appeal on December 19th, stating they believed the girls had travelled by train to Heuston Station in Dublin.

A further update issued on December 22nd stated the teenagers were last seen at Heuston Station at about 10:45am on December 18th, and Gardaí believed they may have travelled onwards into the Dublin city centre/Dame Street area.

Later reports, as the appeal circulated nationally, stated the girls were last seen at a retail premises in Bettystown, Co Meath, at approximately 1:00pm on Monday, December 22nd, last.

The case attracted widespread attention, with appeals shared heavily across social media and picked up by national and local outlets, a pattern Gardaí often rely on to generate leads quickly when sightings are reported across counties.

Update: Found Safe.
Updates circulated on social media from media outlets today, Friday, have indicated the missing-person appeal had effectively been stood down, stating the girls were “found safe and well” and thanking the public for sharing the appeals.

Because the teenagers are minors, it’s normal, therefore, that no further details are released publicly once they are located.

Death Of Bob Cantwell, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Wednesday 24th December 2025, of Mr Robert (Bob) Cantwell, formerly of No. 33 Kickham Place, Mullinahone, Tipperary, and Poulacapple Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents William and Alice, brother Billy, sisters Mary, Bridie and sister in law Stella; Mr Cantwell passed away peacefully following a short illness, while in the care of staff at Willowbrook Lodge Nursing Home, Mocklershill, Fethard, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; nephew Liam, nieces Anne, Noelle, Ailish and Michelle, grandnieces Clodagh, Ava, Aly, Ella, grand-nephews Eoin, Patrick, Aidan, the Luttrell family cousins, neighbours and a close circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Cantwell will repose at St Michael’s Church Mortuary, Kickham Street, Mullinahone, Thurles, (Eircode E41 EW94), on Sunday afternoon, December 28th, from 4:00pm until 6:00pm same evening.

Requiem Mass for Mr Cantwell will be offered on Monday morning, December 29th at 11:30am in St Michael’s Church, Mullinahone, Thurles, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St Michael’s Cemetery, Killaghy, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Cantwell 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.

Death Of Cora Fitzpatrick, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Wednesday 24th December 2025, of Mrs Cora Fitzpatrick (née Power) Fennor, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of No. 22 Mitchell Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

Pre-deceased by her parents James and Nora and brother Paddy; Mrs Fitzpatrick passed away peacefully at her place of ordinary residence while in the presence of her family.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving husband Edmond, sons David and John, daughter Emma, daughters-in-law Alison and Miriam, son-in-law John, grandchildren Lily, Michael, James, Simon, Robert, Peter, Ruairí and Èabha, brother Michael, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Fitzpatrick will repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny, (Eircode E41 XO38), on tomorrow afternoon Saturday, December 27th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
Removal will take place from her place of residence on Sunday December 28th, to be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 12:30pm, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Fennor Cemetery, Fennor, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Fitzpatrick and Power 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.

Note Please: House private on Sunday morning. Family flowers only please.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Trifluoroacetic Acid Found Widely In Irish & European Cereal Foods.

* PAN Europe reports Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was detected in 81.8% of 66 cereal-based food samples across 16 European countries, with a peak reported value of 360 μg/kg in Irish-purchased breakfast cereals.
* No brand names are provided in the publicly available PAN Europe press materials with products described by category and country of purchase.

Read Full Report HERE

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA-chemical formula CF3CO2H), a highly persistent “forever chemical” linked to the PFAS family, has been detected in a wide range of cereal-based foods purchased across Europe, according to findings published this month by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe. Read Full Report.

These findings provide compelling evidence that TFA has become deeply embedded in the European diet, demanding urgent regulatory action, with PAN Europe calling for an immediate ban on PFAS pesticides, alongside a protective acceptable daily intake (ADI) that accounts for current toxicological uncertainties and vulnerable populations such as children, according to the precautionary principle. This should be complemented by EU-wide monitoring of TFA in food and the environment, as well as support for farmers to transition towards safer, non-synthetic crop protection methods.

PAN Europe said its investigation analysed 66 conventional cereal products bought in 16 European countries, including breakfast cereals, breads, pasta and flour. It reported TFA was detected in 81.8% (54/66) of samples, with an average concentration of 78.9 μg/kg and peak values up to 360 μg/kg.

Among the highest results cited by PAN Europe was 360 μg/kg in breakfast cereals purchased in Ireland, with other high readings reported in products such as Belgian wholemeal bread and French bakery items.
Important clarification: no product or supermarket brands are named.

While the findings have prompted significant public concern, sadly the published PAN Europe materials coverage fails to identify any specific product names or supermarket brands; only to some wheat-based breakfast cereals bought in Irish supermarkets noting that TFA was not detected in a popular brand of Irish porridge oats, without naming any brand.
PAN Europe’s press release similarly lists results by food type and country of purchase [for example, “breakfast cereals (purchased in Ireland)”] rather than naming retail products.

Regulatory debate and calls for monitoring.
PAN Europe argues the findings highlight the need for routine monitoring of TFA in food and water, the setting of a more protective safety limit, and a move to end sources of contamination including PFAS-related pesticides.

CropLife Europe, representing the pesticide industry, has responded that available assessments indicate no toxicological concern “under realistic conditions of exposure”, and is calling for a risk-based approach while EU assessment processes continue.

Unlike tobacco, whose harms are long-established, TFA is still moving through the EU classification system, a hazard-based step that does not, by itself, determine consumer risk, which depends on exposure.