Thurles Information

Death Of Sr. Norah Merrick, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 11th January 2024, of Sr. Norah Merrick, Presentation Convent, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Ballynulty, Cullen, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her sister, Sr. Mary of Grace, Presentation Convent, Thurles and New Zealand, her brothers Patrick and Donal, her sister-in-law Maura; Sr. Norah passed away while in the loving care of staff at Padre Pio Nursing Home, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her sister-in-law Marie, nieces Carmel, Majella, Margaret, Brenda, Mary, Noreen and Helen, nephews P.J., John, Christy, Pat and Sammy, her Presentation Community and Congregation, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Sr. Norah will repose in the Presentation Convent Chapel, Cathedral St, Monacocka, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on tomorrow Friday afternoon from 3:30pm, concluding with prayer, at 5:30pm same afternoon.
Requiem Mass for Sr. Norah will be celebrated on Saturday morning at 11:00am, in the Convent Chapel, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Merrick 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.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis i dteannta na Naomh agus na n-aingeal.

Tipperary Woman Banned From Owning Dogs Continues To Race Greyhounds.

A North Co. Tipperary woman, latter banned by Nenagh District Court on May 12th 2022 last, from owning dogs for 10 years, has continued to race greyhounds following a court ruling.

A comprehensive report has now been prepared for the Department of Agriculture in which Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) – [Irish – Rásaíocht Con Éireann, latter formerly the Irish Greyhound Board], have outlined certain concerns regarding a possible breach of this 2022 existing court order, which was issued to Ms Michelle Connolly, Killard, Puckaun, Nenagh, Co Tipperary relating to her future ownership of dogs.

It was at Nenagh District Court that Ms Connolly had pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Same guilty pleas related to three dogs, (two Maltese and a Poodle named Milly, Dolce, and Adam).
Judge Ms Elizabeth McGrath had forfeited the dogs to the care of the ISPCA and fined Ms Connolly a total of €2,000, plus ISPCA costs, and disqualified her from owning, keeping or breeding any dog for 10 years, (other than two Great Danes, she already held in her possession).
It was following a complaint, that the ISPCA had initially visited Ms Connolly’s property, on February 2nd 2019. The findings regarding the 3 animals, latter found located in a small cage behind a trailer at her property, were described by an ISPCA Inspector as being unacceptable. Photographic evidence showed one had red raw skin, another was considered underweight with matted hair and suffering a discharge, and a third dog had no hair on its tail and a portion of its hind quarters.

Greyhound Racing Ireland have now stated that following the court order, which issued back in May 2022; the case is now a matter for the courts in the context of any possible breach of the order previously issued.

Greyhound Racing Ireland have established there were no greyhounds in the immediate care of Ms Connolly, at her home, and that all greyhounds currently registered to her were with licenced trainers. The last registered activity of greyhounds, understood to be owned by Ms Connolly in Ireland, was last March, at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, latter venue located in Bishopstown, West Co. Cork, when her greyhound ‘Paper Moon’ raced for the eighth time since her May 2022 court order.
Ms Connolly is also understood to have trialled ‘Hot Throttle’ at the same track, where the majority of her greyhound activity had taken place.
It was in the United Kingdom that Ms Connolly had entered into a collaboration with British champion greyhound trainer Mr Mark Wallis and her partner Mr Mike Davis in 2021.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is aware of Ms Connolly’s previous court conviction under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, handed out here in the Republic of Ireland and are understood to be involved in their own investigations.

Increase In Numbers Attending Hospitals With Respiratory Illnesses.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) have declared that the rise in respiratory illnesses are substantial, with pressure increasing on hospital beds across the country.

Week one of 2024, encountered 1,628 cases of flu, resulting in 414 patients being hospitalised. It is acknowledged that similar influenza activity will continue in an upward trend in the coming weeks.

Added to these above flu case numbers, there was also 1,200 cases of COVID-19, of which some 459 sufferers have been hospitalised; the highest number of COVID-19 cases identified since August of 2023.

The number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases, (RSV), have further increased to over 465, resulting in 147 patients admitted into our hospitals. This automatically follows greatly increased socialisation over the Christmas season, with the spread encouraged by the return by children at all school levels, and child care facilities.

The HSE is warning people who feel unwell to remain at home for up to 48 hours after their symptoms appear to decline or are over and done with, thus avoiding contact with other people, especially those who are vulnerable to Covid-19.

Those who are aged 65 or older, who are pregnant or have a serious medical condition, are urged to seek medical advice if their condition has not improved after a seven day period.

Death Of James Fogarty, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Tuesday 9th January 2024, of Mr James Fogarty, Lisheenatagart, Loughmore, Templemore, Co. Tipperary and formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary

Pre-deceased by his parents Tim and Margaret, brothers Michael and John, sisters Lill (Perkins), Kathleen (Carroll) and Mary-Jo, infant sister Nora, nephew Michael (Fogarty); Mr Fogarty passed away peacefully in his 96th year, while in the care of the staff of Ardeen Nursing Home, Abbey Road, Thurles.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving family; brothers Tim and Pat, sister Joan (Ryan, Moyne), sister-in-law Barbara (Fogarty), nephews Paul, Jerry, Eamon Jim, Tim, and Lant, nieces Margaret, Lil, Eileen, Catherine, Fiona, Mary, Margaret, Joan and Pauline, first cousin Maura (Crowe), grandnieces, grandnephews, extended relatives, good neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Fogarty will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, on Thursday afternoon, January 11th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His funeral cortège will leave his residence on Friday morning, January 12th, before being received into the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Loughmore, Templemore, 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 Requiem Mass for Mr Fogarty, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Fogarty 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.

Cyclists’ Touring Club – Irish Road Book Part 1 – Tipperary South 1899.

On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his vehicle, latter powered by a gas engine. The patent – number 37435 – may be thus regarded as the birth certificate of the auto-mobile industry.

The first car imported here into Ireland was a Benz Velo, which arrived in 1898. Cars were costly, and in 1904, only 38 motor vehicles were registered with in the Irish State. This figure currently equates to a private fleet of close to some 2.5 million vehicles

Back in 1879, the Irish Cyclist Touring Club was founded which resulted in the publication of the Irish Road Book of 1899. Subscribing Members were charged 3 shillings for this publication, while non-members were charged 10s-6d.

To the Irish peasantry, back then, this very costly publication would not have been readily available, but amongst the gentry of that period, same would have been the then ‘cyclists satellite navigation’, of the late 19th century.

Route 131 A – Killenaule To New Birmingham.

Places on the road.	Intermediate.	Comprehensive.	General description of the road.
Kilenaule.	—–	—–	Proceeding northward out of the village (Killenaule),keep to the left just after passing the R.C. Chapel (St. Mary’s Church Bailey Street, Killenaule, Thurles, Co. Tipperary), on the left and then straightforward on an almost level road, to New Birmingham. Good surface.
The Four Roads.	1.3⁄4 mls	—–	—–
Waterloo Lodge.	3⁄4 ml	—–	—–
Shelbourne Lodge.	3⁄4 ml	—–	—–
New Birmingham.	½ ml	3.3⁄4 mls	—–

Killenaule to New Birmingham (Reverse) – Proceed Southward out of New Birmingham and thence straight forward to Killenaule.

Now a question for our readers. Where was Waterloo Lodge & Shelbourne Lodge, back then, located?
Thurles.Info would love to know. Please contact us HERE