On Monday evening last, at 14:21 hours, I was contacted (PM on Facebook) by Mr Jim Ryan, (Elected Local Councillor). He informed me that his associates had held a meeting ‘with a few experts‘, with regards to the state of the river Suir at Barry’s bridge in the town centre.
There was I thinking that I was going to be reprimanded, by my betters, for contacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which I certainly did, in an attempt to get some action in my efforts to save the decline of the River Suir and to lower, at least somewhat, the filthy stench currently being emitted from its murky waters.
No, thank God, the EPA hadn’t informed Mr Ryan directly, about my daring activities. Instead he was anxious to obtain images of sewage flowing into the river, which he had been fighting to correct for over the past 11 years; with his colleagues failing to support him and he without a camera of his own and no sense of smell.
In the course of our brief communication, I must apologise to Mr Ryan for misleading him. I had stated that I thought that the emissions from the area at the Emmett street “swinging gates” side of the river walk had been fixed. However, I also had stated that because of nettles retained by our local ‘nettle hugging’ biodiversity individuals, same could not be fully confirmed.
I am now happy to confirm, using the Thurles.Info satellite; that fixing this problem, requested on June 30th, 2022(view Here); on October 14th, 2022(view Here); on June 28th, 2023(view Here); and again on October 26th 2023(view Here), was simply too much of a challenge for our elected double jobbers; what with the war in Ukraine; the war in Gaza, not to mention Covid.19 and the onset of space tourism.
I now feel embarrassed, as I report that the emissions reported two years are still happily flowing, leaching into the water; only in larger amounts than was reported previously back in 2022. Again the nettles forbid me from seeing the actual pipe and my only pair of wellington boots have sprung a leak.
Archival picture of sewage entering the river Suir taken in 2022. Pic: G.Willoughby.
Same sewage photographed two years later on Saturday last. September 21st 2024. Pic: G.Willoughby.
Meanwhile, the person who sent men into the river, without supervision, on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, should consider their position and resign.
>
We had expected this workforce to return to complete their cleaning work on Thursday, and Friday last, but alas, no show; hope they didn’t pick up anything, forcing them to take sick leave. The reeds were cut, using strimmers, and left to float on the water’s surface, blocking the two fish runs, and forcing the main water stream to flow directly over the low weir. Branches were removed from under the bridges arches and left partially in the water and on the river bank. As our video shows, despite no rain over the past 7 days, water is still flowing from a drain under Thurles Swimming Pool, directly into the river, as is a stream of water from pipes under Barry’s Bridge, which we reported last January, (view Here).
Anyone Missing A Sock? No effort has been made to collect the numerous years of litter, piled and hidden in the receding undergrowth, found in the river itself and on its banks, in the form of plastic bags, tins, bottles, clothing, etc. One thing I did discover; while Red Bull liquid may give you ‘Wiings’, their empty containers remain fully grounded, when caught floating in existing Blanket Weed (filamentous algae).
Yes, the public are totally responsible for this littering, but what are we getting in return for vehicle parking charges and for local property tax, the latter which has increased in Thurles every year, since it was introduced in 2013 except during local election years.
Members of Thurles Tidy Towns, Thurles Gun Club and myself had worked for absolutely no recompense to make this same area visually beautifully, which Thurles Municipal District Councillors and their officials have now turned it into a cesspit, having removing all its assets.
It may now be necessary to put together a working volunteer group to save this wonderful asset, for according to Mr Ryan (Cllr.), despite being set up in 2016, the outfit known as the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), have no immediate action plan in place and will require 4 months to make such plans, before urgent funding can even be applied for.
Mr Cleere passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny.
Pre-deceased by his parents Tady and Nancy, his passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; Joan, Michael, Ann, Marion, Timmy, Martina and Lizzy, his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
The extended Cleere 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 her 96th year and predeceased by her husband Jackie, son Michael Joseph, sisters Mary, Peg and Bridie, brothers John, Bill, Paddy, Mick and Davey, Mrs Corbett passed away peacefully in her place of residence.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; sons John and Timmy, daughters Margaret and Bridget, sister Sarah (Sadie), grandchildren John, Karen, Michelle, Jack, Dylan, Michael, David and Conor, daughters-in-law Jacqueline and Geraldine, son-in-law Pius, brother-in-law Danny, sister-in-law Margaret, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Corbett, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Corbett and Hennelly families 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.
Motorists travelling into Thurles from the west side of town tomorrow morning, e.g. parents dropping students into the various educational facilities in the Town, please take note.
On Friday last, September 20th 2024, per the Tipperary County Council website, an announcement was posted stating that there will be Temporary Traffic Management on Abbey Road Thurles, Co.Tipperary (R-660).
Annual Blocked Drain on Kickham Street, Thurles. Pic: G.Willoughby.
The road hazard type is described as “Road Works”.
Interesting that, since this road was only upgraded just 3 years ago, (August 19th, 2021 viewHere) with funding of €75,000 allocated to erect a basic road roundabout, which is constantly struck by heavy traffic, resulting in motorway signs being replaced, (Following month September 29th, 2021, view Here).
Do you think one of that workforces employees might oblige by dropping up to Kickham Street, armed with a shovel, to unblock a drain?
Pre-deceased by her husband John, sisters Breda (Ryan), Ann (Harrington) and Mary (Corbett), brothers Paddy, Jimmy and Sonny, son-in-law Kieran; Mrs Gormley passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles and Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, South Co. Tipperary.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; sons Pat, Denis and John, daughter Caroline (Connors), grandchildren Laura, Fiona, David, Megan, Conor, Liam, Paul, Emma and Michael, great-grandchildren Arlo and Oscar, daughters-in-law Mary, Siobhan and Mary, sisters Teresa (Rohan) and Christina (O’Meara), nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law Martin and Fr Kevin, sisters-in-law Greta, Nora, Breda and Chris, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Gormley, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Gormley and O’Connell families 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.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments