Thurles Information

Intention To Close N75 Thurles Bridge For Delayed Repairs.

According to a notice posted on the Tipperary County Council website; the bridge crossing the river Suir joining Cathedral Street with Liberty Square, [known locally as ‘Barry’s Bridge’ situated on route N75 east of Thurles,] will close next month.

The period of closure is understood to take place nightly from 7:00pm to 5:00am, for an estimated 9 day period beginning Monday, June 17th until Tuesday, June 25th.

During this period, traffic travelling eastwards on the N75, towards Two-Mile-Borris, will be diverted in the town centre, (Liberty Square) to turn right onto Slievenamon Road, (N62) travelling to Horse and Jockey, before turning left onto the R639 as far as Littleton, and turning left in the village onto the L-4157, remaining on this road until the roundabout on the N75.

We are informed that traffic travelling westward on the N75 route into Thurles will be diverted east at the Mill Road Roundabout onto the L-4157 as far as Littleton village, turning right onto the R639 to Horse and Jockey, turning right onto the L4150 and continuing on the N62 to Liberty Square.

REASON FOR CLOSURE: To facilitate resurfacing works already one year late which had initially been scheduled for May of 2023, according to Tipperary Co. Councils Chief Executive, Mr Joe MacGrath.

Why traffic is required to travel to Littleton and Horse & Jockey before returning to Thurles via the N62; latter a distance of 21.7k (some 13.5 extra miles), instead of using the Archerstown route and onto the N62 close to the rear of Thurles Golf Club, (in relation to both diversions) has not been explained. But then Co. Council engineers may not be familiar with the area.

It would now appear that Tipperary County Council’s promised Traffic Calming Measures on the N75 from Mill Road roundabout to Barry’s Bridge, is no longer on the June 2024 agenda, as reported by local Councillor Mr Sean Ryan scheduled for this June, 2024. Also, the necessary pedestrian crossing and pavement improvement schemes for this area, are no longer viewed as an emergency. Read HERE and Read HERE.

Do we actually need to elect local councillors on Friday, June 7th, 2024 next or should we have a referendum to decide whether or not they are required at all? Think of the savings that could be made nationally!

Plan Lodged With Tipperary Co. Council To Erect Telecommunication Mast in Thurles Town Centre.

A planning application site notice has been taped to the pier of the Thurles Cathedral Street car park entrance; close to the derelict and unsightly eyesore Munster Hotel latter owned by Mr Martin Healy. According to the sign shown above, (erected by Mr Healy at 5:20pm on Tuesday evening last) same seeks planning permission from Tipperary Co. Council in the name of APW UK WIP Limited t/a icon Tower, to erect a 21 metre high telecommunication monopole (See Image hereunder) with antennas, dishes and associated equipment, including an equipment cabinet at ground level; all enclosed by security fencing.

**Telecommunication monopole and Site Notice.**

The development address is No 2 Kickham Street parking lot, Kickham Street, Thurles Townparks, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The council has until July 15th next to make a decision as to the proposed erection.

We understand that this proposed structure is expected to replace existing telecommunications equipment which are already affixed to the roof of this existing and neglected town eyesore. It is believed also that the current affixments are not structurally capable of providing the necessary height for equipment now needed to maintain 2G and 3G coverage and to provide modern enhanced 4G and 5G services in the area, but this has not been fully confirmed on the Site Notice posted.

Several masts are already located in the surrounding area and local residents, latter living proximate, are already expressing concerns; as same is seen as being inappropriately located, causing significant adverse visual impact on the Thurles town landscape.

Such erections can generate between €20,000 and €30,000 euros annually to site owners.

Tipperary Gardaí Investigate Suspected Criminal Damage At Clonmel Site.

Gardaí in Clonmel, South Co. Tipperary are currently investigating an incident of suspected criminal damage which occurred at the HSE Modular Homes Site, Heywood Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary between midnight and 1:00am, in the early hours of yesterday, Tuesday, May 21st 2024.

A mobile lighting system was damaged by fire in this last incident. However, this is now the second such incident to take place at this construction site, latter which occurred less than one week ago, on Thursday last; during which a privately contracted security guard, was hospitalised and vehicles extensively damaged.

Gardaí are now investigating whether this second attack on this refugee accommodation centre in Co. Tipperary may be connected to previous attacks which occured on sites in Wicklow, Dublin, Cork and Galway.

The scene has been technically examined, and investigating Gardaí are understood to be currently following a number of lines of enquiry.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have observed this incident occurring, or who may have noticed suspicious behaviour in or around this HSE Modular Site, at Upper Heywood, Clonmel, between the hours of 8:30pm on Monday night May 20th and 1:30am on Tuesday morning May 21st, 2024.

Gardaí also are appealing for assistance to any motorists holding recorded “Dash-Camera” footage, who were in the Upper Heywood Road area, Clonmel between these times, to make same available.
Anyone with any other information is asked to contact Clonmel Garda Station Tel: 052-6177640; or email CT.TipperarySouth.CE@garda.ie; OR alternatively to phone the Garda Confidential Line Free-phone 1800 666 111.

FSAI Recall Batches Of Chocolate Flavoured Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Recall Batches of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Chocolate Flavour, due to potential choking hazard or injury.

Alert summary dated Wednesday, May 22nd 2024.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2024.20.
Product Identification: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Chocolate Flavour; pack size: 450g.
Batch Code: Best before 06/12/24 to 28/04/25.
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom.

Message: Kellanova is recalling the above batches of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Chocolate Flavour due to a potential presence of hard lumps that may pose a choking hazard and / or dental damage.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Action Required: Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers: Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale, while displaying recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

Land Acquired For Thurles Inner Relief Road.

We understand that a small parcel of land, (approximately 2 acres), has now been purchased by Tipperary Co. Council, from the Ryan Family, to construct the long awaited inner relief road for Thurles town, same planned to join the N62 at Slievenamon Road, Thurles, exiting northwards, unto the Mill Road.

**Proposed** **Thurles Inner Relief Road**.

An Bord Pleanala granted permission for the development of this Thurles inner relief road 10 years ago, in July 2014. Same was granted resulting in the annulation and total destruction of the historic Great Famine Double Ditch, which we here at Thurles.Info fought so hard to retain, while local Thurles press and Thurles local radio remained totally silent on the issue.

Late last year the acquisition 4.5 acres of land had been sought in ongoing discussions, however up until recently, no land purchase to provide for such a relief road had been agreed despite the destruction of Thurles history undertaken by Tipperary Co. Council, aided by Thurles local councillors.

In Tipperary Co. Councils Management report of February 2023 (See last item on bottom of page 9), Tipperary Council Council state that the Thurles Inner Relief Road scheme would take approximately 3 years to complete. A consultant was expected to have the tender documentation prepared by Q4 2023, so that a works contractor could be appointed by Q1 2024, with the next stage being to “Secure funding to deliver the Inner Relief Road project and finalise land acquisition.”

So far as the public are aware to date, only €75,000 had been allocated to this project, under the Regional and Local Roads Programme.
However, (SEE HERE), Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill stated, (video of October 2021 last), quote “I am delighted to have secured funding for this inner relief road”.

A contract for the purchase is expected to be officially signed on Friday next. Same will also now allow for the construction of a footpath on the Mill Road, previously put on hold by the failure to acquire the same stated property.