Thurles Information

Neglect & Waste In Thurles A Sign Of Our Times.

Pleasing everyone is just impossible, but pissing everyone off, I find, is a piece of cake, and so I go diligently to work.

Motorists will agree that, with increased traffic on our roads and streets, there are hazards everywhere, specifically in towns and other built up areas.
To this end warning road signs are normally put in place to avoid and reduce driving risks to an acceptable level, thus circumventing serious accidents. Well that is accepted normally; except in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

As in places of employment; were there to be a Health and Safety Authority investigation undertaken presently, on the town of Thurles, our whole unit would be immediately shutdown for weeks.

The video hereunder, valued readers, is not in any way fabricated, so if you are out walking this sunny eve, “eyes to the fore please” and observe for yourself the facts, while contemplating the question, “Why should I be forced to Pay Property Tax?”

Questions:
(1) Have the local Garda Authority or the Thurles Garda Roads Policing Unit, raised the issue of the Council failing to provide adequate signage at their monthly meetings, attended by elected councillors?
(2) Have Driving Instructors reported this issue to local Council officials on behalf of their students?
(3) What do Driving Instructors say to their pupils, when explaining why necessary warning ‘STOP’ signs, for over 6 months, are facing in the wrong direction – or totally absent – or indeed never erected at all, e.g. both ends of the Ikerrin Road in Thurles?
(4) Then there are the Driving Test Inspectors; have they contacted the Thurles Municipal District Council Office regarding this utter neglect of signage, noticed when testing learner drivers?
(5) We live in a town, possibly one of the few towns in Ireland, where there exist two elected, powerless and resident TD’s; namely Mr Jackie Cahill and Mr Michael Lowry. Both TD’s appear to coexist with five elected Councillors, namely, Mr Séamus Hanafin, Mr Micheál Lowry, Ms Peggy Ryan, Mr Jim Ryan and Mr Seán Ryan. To the latter named, “What do you intend to do to protect passing motorists not familiar with our Thurles medieval streetscape, promoted by council engineers?”.

All aforementioned appear to have no shame when it comes to denying truth, defending lies, and demonstrating only a modicum of principle.

Shame is nothing more than denial of the truth and I now ask why are you all failing to protect Thurles, the area you all promised to serve, prior to you being elected.

Note, all the aforementioned elected officials reside within the postal district of Thurles. All preside over a rural town seriously neglected and decaying at warp speed; all for the want of someone skilled in the use of a sweeping brush and a spanner.

This attached video link has been forwarded by email to Mr Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive, Tipperary Co. Council, (macgrath@tipperarycoco.ie), and to Ms Sharon Scully, Thurles District Administrator, (sharon.scully@tipperarycoco.ie).
We have asked both individuals to explain this wanton neglect and permitted destruction of Thurles, “A Town that I Love so Well”.

As readers are already aware, local TD’s and locally elected councillors do not read or reply to correspondence, only when threatened by the Standards In Public Office Commission. We have therefore decided to not disturb their daily idleness.

Elected representatives and local officials, please make an effort to earn your generous salaries, paid for by the taxpayer.

Death Of Oliver Adlum, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Friday 14th January 2022, of Mr Oliver Adlum, Loughmore, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

The passing of Mr Adlum is most deeply regretted by his heartbroken parents Sinéad and Thomas, his adoring sisters Abigail, Isabelle and his brother Harry, both his grandparents John & Frances (Delaney), Ollie & Esther Adlum, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends (especially Emma and Josh).

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

Cremation will take place at Shannon Crematorium, Illaunmanagh, Shannon, Co. Clare, [V14 PV30] on Monday afternoon, January 17th, at 4:30pm.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Death Of Phil Bourke, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Friday 14th January 2022, of Mr Phil Bourke, Upperchurch Village, Upperchurch, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

While in his 96th year and pre-deceased by his loving wife Melly; the passing of Mr Bourke is most deeply regretted by his daughters Mary and Breeda, sons John, Jim and Philip, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Bourke reposed at O’Dwyer’s Funeral Home, Upperchurch, Thurles, today Saturday January 15th, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
His body will be received into the Sacred Heart Church, Upperchurch, Thurles on tomorrow, Sunday, January 16th, at 1:00pm, to further repose for Requiem Mass, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the nearby local cemetery.

For the many persons who would have liked to have attended Requiem Mass for Mr Bourke, but are unable to do so due to the Covid-19 pandemic; same can be viewed online HERE.

[NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending Requiem Mass will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]

The extended Bourke family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: House private

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Killer Covid-19 Cases Today Reach 22,629 On Irish Mainland.

The Department of Health has confirmed a further 14,555 new PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 5,406 positive antigen tests logged through the HSE portal; thus confirming a total of 19,961 new cases within the Irish Republic in the last 24 hours.

The number of people currently hospitalised with the virus today stands at 940; a reduction of 80 on yesterday’s tally and of those being treated in hospital, 89 continue to remain in intensive care; up 6 on yesterday’s reported figures.

There have been 2,537,237 booster vaccines doses delivered here in the Irish Republic to date.

Th Republic’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has urged people to note that as people get familiar with the new advice on isolation periods, the importance of other protective measures should not in any measure be disregarded. He now recommended that medical grade or FFP2 masks (Currently available here in Thurles at Liberty Pharmacy, Liberty Square Thurles) are used by any confirmed case, or close contact or symptomatic person over the age of 13, as well as over 60s or vulnerable people in crowded settings.

Dr Holohan states that face masks play a key role in reducing transmission of Covid-19 if manufactured correctly, are well fitted and worn properly; in other words that they cover the nose, mouth and chin.

Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has reported a further 2,668 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, down from the 2,954 cases reported yesterday.

To date, a total of 3,615,907 vaccines have been administered in Northern Ireland as of today. Of that total, 1,409,340 are first doses, 1,303,859 are second doses and the remaining are single doses. There have only been 883,372 booster vaccines delivered in Northern Ireland to date.

Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has reported 0 further Covid-19-related deaths also today.

Continue the downward virus trend by getting your booster dose as soon as applicable.

Life Of Two-Mile-Borris, Co. Tipperary Centenarian To Be Celebrated In Australia.

Local Tipperary Correspondent Mr Gerry Bowe Reports:-

‘Let our lives be good, and the times will be good.’

Huge preparations are currently underway in the Mercy Community Residential Age Care Nursing Home, Nudgee, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in prepration for the 100th birthday celebration for Sr. Mary Britton, due to take place on January 20th next.

Same preparations are expected to include numerous video conferencing calls, numerous emails, a Mass celebration and party; all for Sr. Mary celebrating her amazing life which was dedicated to teaching.

Sr. Mary was born on the 20th January 1922, during the Irish civil war; the eldest of the Britton family, from Cloncleigh, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, the daughter of the late Edward and Johanna Britton and sister to brothers Paddy, Sean, Billy and Pierce, and the late Eddie, Christy, Johanna and Bridget (R.I.P).
Baptised in St. James Church, Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles; Sr. Mary received her early education in the local national school. She received her First Holy Communion also in St. James Church in the village and later received her Confirmation in the nearby Church of St. Peter in Chains, Moycarkey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

In 1938, at the age of 17 years, Sr. Mary entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, in Timolegue, Co. Cork.

Due to the outbreak of World War II, (1939 -1945), travel was greatly curtailed and Sr. Mary spent the next eight years in Timolegue, Co Cork. It was while residing there that she qualified as a music and elocution teacher, having studied at the College of Music in Cork City and while travelling by train each day to Cork City. Same studies saw her receive the highest grades from Trinity College, London. Sr. Mary has always remained very musical, with a most beautiful singing voice.

In 1947 preparations were made for Sr. Mary and 18 other nuns, to sail to Australia and to take their religion and new teaching qualifications to the new Roman Catholic schools then being built.
In November 1947, they departed from Glenmire railway station, Co Cork; travelling to Sean Heuston station in Dublin, before staying overnight in a convent in Dun Laoghaire.

The following day, together with 13 priests, they set sail from Dun Laoghaire harbour in Dublin, sailing to Holyhead in Wales.

On arrival in Wales they continued by train to the port of South Hampton, England, where they boarded the then refitted troop ship SS Otranto, a passenger liner, then sailing regularly between England and Australia. The overall journey took some 5 weeks before arriving in Perth Harbour.

Sr. Mary well remembers the journey to Australia as being very pleasant. They were all treated very well, with the food, presented on board, being of the highest standard. They arrived in Perth Harbour on St. Stephen day, 1947, to sunshine, heat and clear blue skies, before taking another boat to Sydney harbour.

**His Eminence Sir Norman Thomas Gilroy**, **KBE**.

Here they were very well received, with the Archbishop of Sydney, later His Eminence Cardinal Sir Norman Thomas Gilroy, KBE, [Latter of Irish descent; the first Australian-born Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, knighted in 1969], coming in person to welcome them and providing a celebratory feast for all the religious Irish weary travellers to enjoy.

Sr. Mary would then continue travelling on to Melbourne, before ending her journey in Brisbane, Queensland.

Sr. Mary’s first teaching post was in All Hallows’ Convent boarding school for girls, latter the first Catholic boarding school built in Brisbane. Here she spent some 37 happy years, teaching music, piano and violin together with other instruments. She also taught English and gave elocution classes to the girls. She taught singing, organised the choirs for the church in the school and the musicals for the boarding school stage.

Through her love of music and her friendly personality, Sr. Mary made many friends in the community around All Hallows’ Convent with many of her pupils remaining close friends long afterwards.

In 1984, Sr. Mary was invited to transfer to St. Bridget Convent School in Rosewood, Queensland. Rosewood is a small coal mining town about 38 miles from Brisbane. It has a population of approx. 3,000 people. Here Sr. Mary thrived, due to her good nature, her pleasant and cheerful personality and of course her great talent as a musician/singer.

Once again Sr. Mary made lifetime friends through her music and her involvement in the local community and church. She spent some 16 happy years in Rosewood, before the nuns transferred the school over to the local community.

On retirement, Sr. Mary returned to the Mater Hospital in Brisbane and again she became involved with the church and contributed greatly to parish work. Only last year did Mary, at the age of 99 years, go into a nursing home belonging to the Mercy Congregation, where she continues to attend Mass each day and participate in many other activities.

Sr. Mary returned to Ireland many times over the years and always enjoyed spending time with her family and friends from Two-Mile-Borris and the wider community here in Co. Tipperary. She holds many dear memories of her now deceased brothers and sisters (Eddie, Christy, Johanna Mc Donnell and Bridget Ryan, R.I.P.).

Sr. Mary remains in frequent contact with her brothers Paddy, Sean, Billy and Pierce, still residing in the village of Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles as well as her nieces and nephews; taking a special interest in their everyday lives.

It is with great joy we celebrate this upcoming occasion as Sr. Mary reaches her 100th birthday on Thursday January 20th, 2022.

A very happy birthday wish goes to Sr. Mary from all her friends and family here in Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles and Co. Tipperary.

Lá breithe shona duit.