Thurles Information

Neglect By Tipperary Co. Co. & Thurles Municipal District Officials Continue.

A pedestrian has been seriously injured following an accident here in Thurles last night.

The named male pedestrian, a former member of An Garda Síochána, aged in his 60s and from the Thurles hinterland, was accidentally struck by a motor vehicle in the Archerstown/Mill Road area, south/east of Thurles, at approximately 7:35pm last evening, Friday February 17th 2024.

Thurles Gardaí, Thurles Ambulance Service and Thurles Fire Services, all attended at the scene, before the man was quickly removed to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel for urgent treatment. We understand the unfortunate victim has since been removed to Waterford University Hospital, but his injuries, while serious, are not described as life-threatening. We wish him a quick recovery.

Thurles.Info had previously highlighted the dangers to persons using the Mill Road route, as recent as February 8th, 2024, (VIEW HERE) warning of the possible consequence, if this area continued to be neglected by Tipperary Co. Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). This has been the fourth accident in this immediate area, to occur within a 40 kilometre (¼ ml) in as many months.

Meanwhile, last Friday on Kickham Street, (February 17th 2024), latter which joins this same Mill Road, at the Dublin Road roundabout, the large privately owned street sweeper was busy once again. Same was required to remove last week’s gravel, as the surface of this, the busiest road in Thurles, continues to unravel. It successfully removed the gravel, but failed to remove the craters.

On 19th May 2022, the then Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District Mr Seamus Hanafin stated on local radio, quote:-
“We’ve a significant amount of work going on in Thurles over the next 12 to 18 months to follow up on the work that’s already been done. We have Phase 2 of Slievenamon Road which will have to be done and there’s also work on Kickham Street and the approach road coming into Thurles that way. All of that work and any work being done on Liberty Square, will all need to be done on a phased basis to make sure we minimise the level of disruption in our town”.

It is now mid-February 2024, and almost two years later, and none of these 3 projects have even commenced.

On Friday February 2nd, 2024, Thurles.Info invited Thurles Administrator, Ms Sharon Scully to visit Kickham Street, Thurles. In the invitation forwarded by email [sharon.scully@tipperarycoco.ie] Ms Scully was asked as follows:-

Ms Scully,
I would like for you to visit Kickham Street this morning. I suggest you park at Ely’s Supermarket.
Walk across the road and take a look at the pavement and see at first hand the work of your two man mini road sweeper.

**Kickham Street after 2 man mini sweeper swept the pavement, piling up dirt to leave same in the centre.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Note: Ms Scully’s office, even during periods of heavy traffic is less than a 4 minute drive to Kickham Street.

As is usual with Ms Scully, we received no reply or other communication following my invitation. Obviously, Ms Scully as Town Administrator considers herself superior to those who pay her wages. (That reminds me, time to chat to the Standards In Public Office Commission again (SIPO), latter responsible for promoting transparency and accountability in Irish public life.)

On February 10th 2022 last, (two years ago), following a complaint by me regarding a pothole outside my home; I received the following email from Ms Scully:-

Mr Willoughby.
Further to your email below dated the 9th February, I can confirm that we are continuing to follow up with Irish Water to ensure that work is carried out to rectify reinstatement works carried out recently outside your property on Kickham Street.
As previously stated, Tomas Duffy, District Engineer inspected the location on Kickham Street, outside your property on the 8th February. [Note Mr Duffy must be a psychic having examined this, my problem, one day before I reported the issue to Ms Scully.]
Mr Duffy reported that the water ponding is directly due to reinstatement works associated with water main works, carried out by Irish Water recently.
The complaint was referred to Irish Water in order to rectify the matter.
Mr Duffy then followed up the report directly with the Water Services in Tipperary County Council and impressed on them the urgency to have this work rectified.
Regards
Sharon.

**Lower picture above shows: Track cut by Irish Water, under the guidance of Mr Thomas Duffy, to remove water from a large depression, latter the full responsibility of Tipperary Co. Council.**
**Top picture above shows: The exterior of this house, was freshly painted in August of 2023.** It further shows the failure by Tipperary Co. Council, latter led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath and his staff, which leaves my home and front window pelted by stones and filthy water on almost a daily basis, over the past 2 years.
*Pics: G. Willoughby*.

The picture above, shows the corrective measures undertaken.
Corrective measures, took 5 minutes to complete; involved 2 men; a lorry, and what appeared to be a Stihl TS420 14in Cut-Off Consaw. The workers cut a small track, the width of a 50 pence piece, to enable water to flow from the pot hole, latter the responsibility of Tipperary Co. Council, past the reinstatement works, associated with Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water).
This small track filled with grit and dust 3 days after being cut, resulting in a total failure to solve the problem. The report by Mr Thomas Duffy, sent to Ms Scully, was totally incorrect and both these officials failed to follow up on how the repairs were dealt with.

Meanwhile, directly opposite my front door the pictures, immediately hereunder, show the current state of Kickham Street, Thurles, today, after the gravel was swept up on Friday last.
Possibly, because of my daring to complain, the last visit by Tipperary Co. Council workers, which took place on January 9th, 2024, failed to repair this section of roadway.

**Just two sections of road surface, on Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*Pics: G. Willoughby.*

On the same local radio station, used by Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, back in 2022; today reported that local Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill welcomed (through whoever writes his PR), the fact that €35 million had been allocated towards improving and maintaining roads in Tipperary.

The problems being experienced on Kickham Street, a route driven by Mr Jackie Cahill TD, at least twice each week, as he travels to Dail Eireann; gets no mention.

The waste by Tipperary Co. Council and Thurles Municipal District Council officials continues.

FSAI Recall Batches Of Choc Chip Cookies Due To Possible Presence Of Metal Pieces.

Alert Summary: Today Friday, 16th February 2024.
Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2024.04.
Product Identification: Tower Gate Choc Chip Cookies, pack size: 150g.
Batch Code: 2334902; best before date: 14/12/2024.
Country Of Origin: Netherlands.

Message: The above batch of Tower Gate Choc Chip Cookies is being recalled due to the possible presence of metal pieces. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale inLidl stores.
Action Required: Caterers and retailers are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Meanwhile, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) are also recalling a batch of Spar Triple Choc Chip Cookies, due to the possible presence of metal pieces.

Alert Summary: Today Friday, 16 February 2024.
Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2024.05.
Product Identification: SPAR Triple Choc Chip Cookies, pack size: 180g.
Batch Code: Best before date: 05/12/2024.
Country Of Origin: Netherlands.

Message: The above batch of SPAR Triple Choc Chip Cookies is being recalled due also to the possible presence of metal pieces. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in Spar and Eurospar shops.

Action Required: Caterers and Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers: Consumers are again advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Yellow Witch Hazel Brings Colour To A Late Winter Garden.

The spidery flowers of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) appear in shades of yellow, orange and red, and brings colour to any late winter garden.

Although slow growing, the shrub will eventually become larger, ranging from 2.5-5m (8-16ft) in height and spread. Potted in a large tub, and under-planted with yellow crocuses, or snowdrops, the Witch Hazel shrub is particularly attractive to the eye, while we await the full unset of Spring.

The leaves and bark of witch-hazel, for centuries has been used in folk medicine, herbalism, and skincare decoctions* by Native American tribes.

Inside witch hazel’s leaves, its bark and twigs are medicinal chemicals called tannins. If you rub these chemicals on your skin, they may reduce swelling and fight bacteria. Extracts of witch-hazel have been claimed effective in the control of psoriasis and eczema; to prevent dehydration of skin; to cure insect bites and razor burn, although more research is needed in relation to these claims.

People have used witch hazel for centuries to soothe chapped, scraped and irritated skin. However, in 2017, please note, that one manufacturer of a skin care product which contained witch-hazel, was warned by the American Food and Drug Administration, having made unsubstantiated health claims, while not providing evidence that their products were safe.

The freshly cut stems from the plant continue to be used by those persons involved in water divining.

Here in Thurles, Witch Hazel shrubs are available at O’Driscolls Garden Centre, situated on the Mill Road east of the town.

*Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material to dissolve the chemicals of the material.

Girl Aged 15 Killed Following Two Vehicle Collision In North Co. Tipperary.

A 15-year-old girl has lost her life; pronounced dead at the scene, and four other people have been hospitalised, following a two vehicle collision in North Co. Tipperary yesterday evening.

Nenagh Gardaí are today appealing for witnesses to this fatal collision, which occurred at approximately 6:45pm, on the R503 route near the village of Rearcross, Co Tipperary.

Three friends, occupants of the car; latter a man aged in his 20s, a woman in aged in her 20s, and a girl in her mid-teens, together with the female driver of the second car, were transported by ambulance to Limerick University Hospital (UHL) for further assessment. Their injuries thankfully are understood to be not life-threatening.

The deceased, sadly, is now the 25th person to lose their life in traffic accidents on Irish roads in just the first seven weeks of this year.

The body of the deceased 15-year-old girl was transferred to the mortuary at Limerick University Hospital, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out later today.

This section of the roadway currently remains closed, to facilitate examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, with local traffic diversions in place at present.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward particularly those with dashcam or phone camera footage who may have been in the vicinity at the time.

Persons with information are asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station Tel. No. 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line Tel. No. 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda Station.

University Concert Hall Limerick Announces Exciting Spring Concert Series.

University Concert Hall (UCH) Limerick has announced a series of four springtime Sunday concerts that will fill the Mid-West venue with the sounds of opera arias and the works of some of the world’s greatest composers.

The Limerick Classical Concert Series will commence on Sunday March 3rd with an afternoon concert of operatic delights in association with The Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition. Accompanied by Dearbhla Collins and Mairead Hurley and presented by Lyric FM’s Liz Nolan, the varied programme brings together Limerick singers, Mairead Buicke (soprano) and Owen Gilhooly-Miles (baritone), alongside 2022 VDISC winners, Aebh Kelly (mezzo-soprano) and Aaron Godfrey – Mayes (tenor).

The Mid-West’s premier live entertainment and cultural venue will then welcome acclaimed string quintet The Vanbrugh & Friends on Sunday 21st April. Keith Pascoe and Marja Gaynor (violin), Simon Aspell and Ed Creedon (viola) and Christopher Marwood (cello) to perform the works of Boccherini (String Quintet in E major G.402), Beethoven (String Quintet in C minor Op.104) and Dvorak (String Quintet in E flat major Op.97).

University Concert Hall’s classical programme continues with the annual Rising Stars concert showcasing gifted up and coming classical performers on Sunday, April 14th. These will include Alice Abreu (violin), Aimee Banks (Soprano), Declan Murphy (Piano), Megan O’Neill (Soprano) and Mickey Thomas (Piano).

This Spring Concert Series is complemented by a special, family-fun performance on Sunday April 7th. Soo-Jung Ann and Fiachra Garvey on two pianos alongside members of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and UCH Panto star Richie Hayes narrating, will bring Saint-Saens much loved ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ to life. A humorous musical suite of fourteen movements including ‘The Swan’, Tortoise and wild donkeys, there will be something for music and animal lovers of all ages.

UCH Director Ms Sinead Hope commented, “We are really excited to present this series of Spring and Sunday afternoon concerts and we look forward to welcoming people from across the Mid-West and beyond in the coming weeks. The Irish classical music scene is thriving, and we are proud to provide a platform for new and established musicians and singers and to continue to promote University Concert Hall’s longstanding artistic ethos”.

2024 marks the 30th anniversary year of UCH which became the first purpose-built concert hall in Ireland when it was opened on the University of Limerick campus. The 1,038-seat auditorium has since attracted performances from some of the biggest names in entertainment including the late Johnny Cash, June Carter, James Taylor, Billy Connolly, Leslie Garrett, Van Morrison, The King’s Singers, Jimmy Carr, Sir James Galway, Christy Moore and the late Sinead O’Connor.