Thurles Information

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.

Visit HERE for ticket details and more information on UCH’s Spring Series of Concerts.

Death Of Paddy Callanan, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Wednesday 14th February 2024, of Mr Patrick (Paddy) Callanan, Lucan, Co. Dublin and formerly of Ardbawn, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Callanan passed away peacefully, at his place of residence.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving family; wife Margaret children Martin, Caitriona and John, grandchildren Emma, Lea, Max, Charlie and Ben, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Callanan will repose at Cunningham’s Funeral Home, Lucan, Co. Dublin on Sunday afternoon February 18th from 2:00pm until 4:00pm.
His remains will be received into the Church of St. Mary, Lucan Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin, on Monday morning, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Esker Lawn Cemetery, Lucan, Co. Dublin.

For those persons who are unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Callanan , same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Callanan 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.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Soulmates – Poem By Tom Ryan.

Anyone who has recently lost a parent; a close friend; a romantic partner; a child or a sibling, may feel a painful renewal of their past grief, as expressed in the poem “Soulmates” hereunder, especially on this most heart-oriented day of the year, St Valentine’s day.

Soulmates

In a quiet moment,
Thinking of nothing,
In a quiet place,
Where I hear my heart beat.
My soul aches,
For one who is absent,
And I,
Oh, I,
Am so lonely for you.

END

Tom Ryan, “Iona”, Rahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

EPA Announces Funding Of €14.3m For New Research.

EPA announces funding of €14.3m for 33 new research projects to address climate and environmental challenges. This represents a 34 per cent increase in investment from the previous call in 2022.
EPA funding is building essential research capacity in Ireland with over 40 per cent of lead researcher applicants in 2023 new to the EPA Research Programme.
The funding covers research in the areas of climate change, the natural environment, the green & circular economy, and the environment & human health.
Reflecting the need for cross-sectoral research, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and Geological Survey Ireland to co-fund some of the research.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new funding for Environmental and climate research in Ireland, with funding of €14.3 million awarded for 33 new research projects. This represents a significant increase over previous years and reflects the EPA’s ongoing commitment to funding environmental and climate research. These innovative projects will support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland, as well as building research capacity in strategically important areas.

This funding will support more than 200 research staff across 13 organisations to conduct projects in innovative areas such as:

how blue light can affect human health and biodiversity.
societal transformation required to address climate, environmental and social challenges.
digital twins for coastal areas.
nature-based solutions for water quality and ecology.
the circular economy for batteries.
sustainable tourism.
air pollution in Irish towns.

Announcing the awards, Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General) said: “Scientific research and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in informing how governments and society can respond to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. The projects announced today will address knowledge gaps, both current and future, to provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland.
This EPA funding will also help to build transdisciplinary research capacity and talent in Ireland in key areas relating to sustainability transitions and societal transformations. These specialist skills and expertise are essential to enable Ireland to effectively leverage the full range of environmental, economic and societal opportunities offered by the green transition. I congratulate the successful research teams and look forward to seeing the project outputs making a positive contribution to environmental protection in the years ahead”.

The EPA places a high priority on promoting the uptake of funded research to inform policy and to maximise the impact of research and innovation. Reflecting the need for an integrated, cross-sectoral approach, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and Geological Survey Ireland to co-fund a number of projects.

Of the successful lead research applicants supported through the call, over 40% had not previously applied for funding to the EPA, broadening the base of the researchers and institutions engaging in research relevant to environmental policy.

University College Cork (UCC) received the highest number of successful research awards in 2023. Professor Mr John Cryan, (UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation) said: “I would like to thank the Environmental Protection Agency for continuing to award talented researchers. This allows them, through scientific research and innovation, to tackle critical environmental, climate, health, and sustainability issues. These awards will further strengthen UCC’s position as a recognised global leader in the field of Sustainability. Aligned to UCC Futures – Sustainability, these projects will enable UCC researchers to support environmental policies in Ireland, address key societal challenges caused by climate change, and help deliver a healthier environment for all”.

The list of Awards made under the EPA Research Call 2023 is available on the EPA website HERE.

The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative, funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA Research Call 2024 will open for applications in April 2024. Details will be made available on the EPA website which can be viewed HERE.