Thurles Information

Death Of Stephen Lee, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Monday 16th December 2024, of Mr Stephen Lee, No. 11 McDonagh Terrace, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his wife Mary, daughter Sinead, grand daughter Jessica, brothers and sisters; Mr Lee tragically passed away following a fire at his home, together with his caring son Mr John Lee.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; daughter Karen (Fitzpatrick), son Christopher, son-in-law Paudie, daughters-in-law, Michelle and Mary, grandchildren Aoife, Stephen, Amy, Edward, Eoin, Katie, Kayleigh, Tara, Shane, Ella and Tessa, sisters Kitty, Tess and Pauline, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, wonderful neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Lee will repose at Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Upper Kickham Street, Dublin Road, Thurles (E41 XY47) on tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday December 18th, from 4:30pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His funeral cortège will be received into the Church of Our Lady and St. Kevin, Littleton, Thurles, on Thursday morning, December 19th, at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in the adjoining graveyard.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr Lee, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Lee 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.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Tipperary Natural Christmas Tree Recycling Arrangements 2024/2025.

Free Christmas Tree Recycling

From Thursday 2nd January 2nd until – Saturday January 11th, 2025 Natural Christmas Trees, may be dropped off at the following locations in Co. Tipperary, free of charge.

Town Park, Car Park, Thurles (See opposite Farm Building).

[Take Note Here: Residents of Thurles Town and the surrounding areas, please note that the Christmas tree drop-off area for Thurles, per the Tipperary Co. Council website, is no longer Parnell Street Car Park, as it was in previous years, but this new site could be subject to change due to the current construction works taking place on the same Farm Building, beside ‘The Source’ on Cathedral Street.]

Clonmel Recycling Centre, Carrigeen, Clonmel.
County Council Depot Cahir Business Park, Cahir.
Waller’s-Lot Recycling Centre, Cashel.
Recycling Centre, Donohill, Tipperary.
Fair Green Car Park, Carrick-on-Suir.
Nenagh Recycling Centre, Nenagh.
Roscrea Recycling Centre, Roscrea.
Templemore Town Park, Templemore.

Thurles Special Olympics Basketball Club

Wishing all athletes and their families a very Happy Christmas and a healthy 2025.

Basketball training has been moving forward satisfactorily this season so far, with our new athlete members settling in very nicely.
Thanks to all the volunteers and Mr Martin Hehir, at the Presentation Sports Hall, for their support.

We held our annual Christmas party in Meitheal on Wednesday, December 11th, and a great night was had by all present.

A big thank you to the Meitheal Staff; together with Mr Paul Scully from Photo Station, who looked after the photographs; Ms Rosalie Butler for the music and dance and all the athletes who sang on the night.

Training resumes on Wed 8th January and in the meantime, everyone associated with Thurles Special Olympics Basketball Club, do have a Very Happy Christmas.

Two Men Loose Their Lives In Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary House Fire.

Sadly, we report that two men have lost their lives in a house fire in Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Both men; one aged in his 80s and one aged in his 50s, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

**House where, sadly, two men lost their lives early this morning**.
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

The men are identified locally as a father and son, members of the Lee family.

The blaze, which is now extinguished, is understood to have occurred at about 2:30am and Emergency Services and Gardaí remain at the scene, as investigation get underway.

It is understood that both men died from smoke inhalatation.

Ireland’s Recycling Rate Has Not Improved In A Decade.

Ireland’s recycling rate has not improved in a decade: it is time to move away from a wasteful linear economy.

In 2022, Ireland generated 15.7 million tonnes of waste, equivalent to 8kg per person every day.
Ireland’s annual waste generation has grown by over 20% in the last decade.
Ireland is now almost certain to miss EU municipal and packaging recycling targets for 2025.
Ireland’s municipal recycling rate remains stagnant at 41% with no significant change in 10 years.
Many construction activities are highly waste intensive, accounting for half of all waste generated.
Ireland has a waste infrastructure gap with over 1.2 million tonnes of municipal waste exported to other countries in 2022.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2022. This report identifies that Ireland generated 15.7 million tonnes of waste in 2022, which although a decrease on 2021 figures, still shows a growth of over 20% in the last decade.

Commenting on the report, Mr David Flynn, Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability, EPA said: “Today’s report from the EPA shows that Ireland’s progress towards a circular economy is stalling. Current measures to prevent waste, to promote reuse and to encourage recycling are not enough to meet mandatory municipal waste and plastic packaging targets. The challenge for Ireland is to reverse these trends and significantly reduce waste production and increase reuse and recycling. Strong implementation of existing policies and the introduction of new measures that support investment in new circular economy infrastructure will help move us away from a wasteful linear economy.”

Summary of data from the key sectors.

Construction and demolition waste:

Half of all waste generated in Ireland is construction and demolition waste. Most of this (85%) is soil and stone waste. Construction and demolition waste decreased by 8% to 8.3 million tonnes, driven primarily by reductions in soil and stone waste.

Municipal waste:

The total amount of municipal waste is relatively static at 3.2 million tonnes. This is a 1% increase from 3.17 million tonnes in 2021 and the same level as recorded in 2020.
Some 15% of municipal waste was disposed to landfill in 2021. Some 43% of municipal waste was treated by energy recovery through incineration.
Some 66% of Irish households had access to a brown bin for food and organic waste in 2022. This is a decrease of 3% from 2021. Regulatory changes in 2023 mean that waste collectors are now obliged to provide all households with a brown bin.

Packaging (including plastic packaging)

Total packaging waste remained unchanged at 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Some 32% of plastic packaging generated in Ireland in 2022 was recycled, up from 28% in 2021.

Single-use Plastics

Some 30,680 tonnes of single-use plastic bottles were placed on the market in 2022. A collection rate of 49% was achieved prior to the introduction of the new Deposit Return Scheme.

The report shows that over the last 10 years Ireland’s recycling rate has stagnated and mandatory targets for municipal and plastic packaging are at a high risk of not being met. Currently Ireland’s municipal waste recycling rate is unchanged at 41%, with a requirement to be at 55% by 2025. In addition, whilst recycling of packaging waste is 60%, this must reach 65% by 2025. In 2022 the plastic packaging recycling was 32%, up from 28% in 2021, however the recycling target for plastic packaging is 50 per cent by 2025.
Positively, regarding construction and demolition (C&D) waste, 82% is recovered, the majority being used or recovered in back filling for land restoration. This is in excess of the 70% recovery rate required.

The report also highlights that Ireland’s capacity to collect and treat waste is vulnerable and underperforming, with an over-reliance on other countries to treat our recycling materials and general municipal waste. In 2022, 38% (1.2 million tonnes) of all municipal waste was exported for treatment. This included 369,000 tonnes of residual waste exported for energy recovery through incineration.

Commenting on the report findings Mr Warren Phelan, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme said: “Ireland’s economy is characterised by a high consumption of raw materials. However deeper change is needed right across the economy to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy. Effective regulation, incentives and enforcement are required to influence businesses and consumers to adopt best practices in production, supply, purchasing, use and reuse of goods, products and services.”
The EPA’s national waste statistics are published HERE on the EPA website.
The Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlights Report 2022 is available HERE on the EPA website.