Thurles Information

Thurles Order Of Malta Cadet Recruitment.

Thomas Burke – Order of Malta Ireland – Cadet Leader – Thurles Cadets – Reports:

In recent months the Cadet Unit of the Order Of Malta here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary have returned to their weekly training. Cadets and their leaders have been working very hard to ensure that their skills and their certificates are up to date.

The Cadets are delighted to be attending duties in the local area once more.

The Thurles Unit are now happy to announce that we are recruiting new Cadet members.

Anyone aged between 10 – 16, interested in meeting new friends and learning new skills, that could save a life, should come join the Order of Malta.

The training course for new cadets begins on Friday the 1st of April 2022 at 18:30 hours (6.30pm) in our training centre in Bohervaroon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. [Eircode – E41 HN28]

Any further queries are welcome and can be directed to Tel: 086 7037867.

Today, March 22nd Is World Water Day.

Here in Thurles Town river walkways are expanded, using tarmac, while the water quality of the River Suir itself remains totally ignored by both Thurles Municipal District and Tipperary Co. Council.

The River Suir here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary like so many waterways, in less than 20 years has gone from being pristine clear water to the imitation of almost an open sewer.

Who is responsible for the management of watercourses?

World Water Day is held on March 22nd every year. It is an annual United Nations Observance, first begun in 1993, and held every year since, which is supposed to celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without access to safe, clean water.

**River Suir passing through Thurles** Town.

Not that many people care, but World Water Day is supposed to highlight the importance of fresh water and the sustainable management of this most precious of God given resources.

This years World Water Day event focused on groundwater quality and highlight a reminder urging the public to engage with the draft River Basin Management Plan public consultation, which closes at the end of this month.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (whose press releases are regularly featured here on Thurles.Info), recent reports have indicated that nitrate concentrations in our groundwater are continuing to increase.

In the words of groundwater expert and 2020 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, Mr John Cherry, groundwater is “the Earth’s life support system”. It regulates the freshwater cycle, acting as a giant sponge that can absorb surplus water and mitigate shortages, making it of vital importance in terms of adaptation to climate variability.

Of significant concern is the fact that Ireland is now experiencing a sustained decline in water quality. From a total number of 4842 water bodies in Ireland, the status of our water in lakes, rivers and coastal waters as “good status” or better lies at between 50 and 53%.

Overall, water quality is in decline due to a number of pressures including agricultural activity, hydro-morphology and urban waste water.

Key measures required to address the decline in water quality include reducing the loss of soil from farmland into water, reducing the physical impacts on waters caused by drainage measures barriers such as weirs and continued investment in urban and rural water services.

A key tool in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the next River Basin Management Plan will contain the programme of measures that will help Ireland protect, improve and sustainably manage our water environment to 2027.

Achieving good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries and seas is essential for protecting Ireland’s drinking water sources, environment and people’s quality of life.

As part of the consultation process, over 1000 people have attended 63 regional meetings held by the Local Authority Water Programme (LAWPRO) throughout the country, to receive information on the draft River Basin Management Plan and have their say on measures to improve water quality over the next five years.

A programme of stakeholder engagement has also taken place through meetings with environmental NGOs, agricultural groups, Local Authorities and other water groups.

Members of the public can submit their views on water quality via the public consultation HERE.

New Covid-19 Cases Reach 26,601 On Irish Mainland Today.

The Department of Health here in the Irish Republic, today, has confirmed 7,729 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, as well as 15,973 positive antigen tests; latter logged through the HSE portal, thus bringing the overall total number of cases to 23,702.

As of 8:00am today, 1,338 Covid-19 patients were in the Republic’s hospitals, which is an increase of 30 on yesterday’s reported figures. Of those, 61 patients were being treated in ICU’s around the country, an increase of 12 on yesterday.

Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin, Mr Luke O’Neill has urged people to get their third Covid vaccination and for those that are vulnerable, to get a fourth jab against the coronavirus. He said the current level of Covid-19 is putting a lot of pressure on our hospitals and that may lead to a curtailment of other medical services.

An Tánaiste Mr Leo Varadkar has stated that the message from Government on masks wearing remains that wearing them is advised in certain settings, while the Irish Nurses & Midwife Organisation (INMO) are calling for the wider use of face masks.

In Northern Ireland a further 2,899 cases of coronavirus were reported today, up from 2,007 cases confirmed yesterday.

There are 519 people with Covid currently in northern hospitals, up from 484 recorded yesterday, with 7 patients confined, with the virus, to northern intensive care units.

Sadly, 8 new Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland today, bringing the total number of deaths linked to the virus, since the start of the pandemic, to 3,282.

Let’s get back to sanitising hands and wearing those masks at least while out shopping and while in attendance at other public crowded gatherings.

37th Co. Tipperary Drama Festival Under Way In Holycross.

Author, Poet and Press Correspondent Mr Tom Ryan Reports.

There was palpable excitement in the air last Friday night, when the celebrated actress of stage screen and television, Adjudicator, Ms. Anna Walker [Association of Drama Adjudicators], officially opened the 37th annual County Tipperary Open Drama Festival, which was last held two years ago in pre-Covid times.

This festival “rooted in the community” of Holycross/Ballycahill, has been a feature of life in the picturesque village, alongside of the 800 years old Cistercian Abbey, for nigh on 40 years and for almost all that time Mr. Donal Duggan has been its very effective Festival Director.

However, there was added an unexpected drama off stage this year, when the Tuesday before the Festival, the Mullingar Drama Group, who were to stage “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, next Thursday (March 24th), had sadly to withdraw from the festival, due to circumstances outside their control, (believed to be Covid related).

But, in best traditions of theatre “the show must go on”, and instead the Abbeysiders; latter the host group of the festival and the All-Ireland Confined Champions of 2019, opted to stage their own production of John B Keane’s popular “Moll”, on next Thursday night (March 24th).

It was gratifying to see so many familiar festival faces, true theatre loyalists, including members of Drama Groups from Thurles and elsewhere. The attendance included David and Kate McElgunn, Jim Ryan and comedian Tim Curran (Thurles); Han Costello, (Inch); her sister Esther Duggan; Denis Carroll, (Clonoulty); Pat McGrath, (Holycross); Fintan and Frances O‘Gorman, (Athnid), and Mike and Breda Hennessy, (Tipp Mid West Radio, Tipperary Town).

The Festival committee, held their traditional raffle [in which this writer won a box of chocolates]. They also had their traditional tearooms open at the interval, as an excellent thriller, “The Beacon”, by Nancy Harris was played on stage by the Ballycogley Players.

Festival life has returning to normal in the St. Michael’s Community Hall, Holycross, Co. Tipperary and it was such a nice feeling after all the trauma of the recent years, experienced locally and nationwide.
As Mr. Donal Duggan stated, “The drama festival brings a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and will help us to move from the dark days of Covid to the healthier, brighter and longer days of Spring“.

The hospitality of Holycross, Co. Tipperary, is well known and it is great to see old friendships being renewed and new ones made, during the interval “over that cuppa”.

Mr. Duggan thanked patrons and sponsors, the local media and particularly Tipp FM.

The hard working committee, who deserve to be congratulated on their trojan efforts, comprised this year of Rev. Celsus Tierney (President), Donal Duggan (Festival Director), Tommy Lanigan (Chairman), Claire Ryan (Secretary), Maudie Bourke and Tommy Lanigan (Joint Treasurers), Geraldine O’Neill (PRO), Marty O’Neill and Ger O’Dwyer (sponsorship), Diana Lacey (Raffle), Marty O’Neill and Paddy Connolly (Technical), and Marie Spillane, Peg Ryan, Elaine O’Dwyer, Andy Slattery (Committee).
The Sub-Committee comprised of Jack Henchion, John Glasheen, Aishling Henchion, Gerry Kennedy and Derek Doherty.

Groups are competing for the “Tipperary Star” Cup in the Confined Section and the “Tipp FM Trophy” in the Open Category.

The Festival continues tonight (Tuesday, March 22nd), with “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”, by Martin McDonagh, played by Brideview Drama group.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 23rd) will be staged “The Quiet Moment” by Mick Finn (Kilworth DG.).
As already stated, on Thursday next (March 24th) the Holycross/Ballycahill Drama Group will stage “Moll”, [Note, which is not competing in this years Festival competition].
On Friday (March 25th), Skibbereen Theatre Society will stage “Brighton” by Jim Nolan
On the final night, Saturday, (March 26th), Camross Drama Group will conclude this festival fare with Jimmy Murphy’s much-loved “The Kings of Kilburn High Road”.

This will be followed by final adjudication and presentation of awards.

Mr Donal Duggan, who welcomed Ms Anna Walker on her first visit to Holycross, Co. Tipperary; on a poignant note said “Covid took a heavy toll on people and drama did not escape, as we lost one of our founding members, Tom Molony and also Joe and Sally O’Rourke, who were all involved with our local group for many years”.
The late Tom Molony was Chairman of the Festival, after it moved to its new home in Holycross, from Thurles in 1983 and he served on the committee for many years. He was one of the early members of the group and played parts in many plays over the years. “He will be remembered for his readily given advice, tempered with his ready wit”, continued Mr. Duggan.

He further added “I wish to thank our hardworking committee for their time and dedication to the festival which we all love”.

In thanking Tipp FM local radio, he also thanked and welcomed back the audience, “whose presence and support for live drama encourages us to keep trying to improve the festival each year“.

Saharan Sand Arrives In Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Many people across Tipperary and indeed Ireland, woke up to dirty looking vehicles, yesterday morning, despite same remaining stationary over last weekend.
All vehicles without a garage or not sheltered, were found covered in a light form of brown dust on the roofs, windows and windscreens of their vehicles.

There is, however, thankfully an explanation for this dust.
Same is being generated by clouds of sand particles coming from the Sahara Desert; same reaching very high altitudes. The particles are being transported worldwide, suspended in the air, covering thousands of miles and causing a decrease in European air quality; sand being visible on our streets and a reddish/orange sky colour in our atmosphere.

A few showers added overnight on Saturday and early on Sunday last and the result was Sahara dust being brought down to ground level, out of our atmosphere, all across Ireland and indeed other European countries including Spain, France and Germany.

Satellite images have shown huge amounts of this dust spreading across Europe, as people share eerie pictures of glowing orange skies.

This phenomenon is not new, often happening several times a year when big dust storms in the Sahara coincide with our southerly wind patterns; latter, this week, bringing our promised increase in temperatures.

The lack of rain over the past few days has meant that we haven’t really seen as much of this Saharan dust being grounded, as we have observed in previous years.