Thurles Information

Evidence Is Clear: Climate Change Is Happening.

The evidence is clear: Climate change is happening. Immediate and sustained actions are likely to have widespread benefits.

Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment is the first comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the state of knowledge of climate change in Ireland.
We are living in and experiencing a changing climate. In line with global trends, 16 of the 20 warmest years in Ireland have occurred since 1990.
More action is needed to meet Ireland’s legally binding emissions targets including large-scale and immediate emissions reductions across the energy system, which is currently heavily dependent (86%) on fossil fuels.
Ireland needs to be resilient to ongoing and future climate change impacts. Implementation of climate adaptation measures is currently too slow and fragmented.
Immediate and sustained transformative mitigation and adaptation actions are likely to yield substantial benefits for health, wellbeing and biodiversity in Ireland, while reducing vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published Ireland’s first Climate Change Assessment Report (ICCA). This major scientific assessment serves to complement and localise the global assessments undertaken by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Its findings build upon these assessments and add important local and national context.

Undertaken by leading researchers, this assessment is based on scientific research and observations in Ireland, linked to EU and global analyses. It was led by the Environmental Protection Agency, funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, with additional funding by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, and the Department of Transport.

Welcoming the report Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General), said: “Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment represents a major contribution to our understanding of the impacts and challenges experienced and posed by climate change in Ireland. The Assessment provides a picture of where Ireland is, in its response the climate emergency. It provides insights as to the scale of the challenge for Ireland to become climate neutral and climate resilient. It reinforces the need for Ireland to pick up the pace of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to our changed and future climate”.

Ms Burke further added: “If we can reach net zero global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, then many of the key components of the climate system, such as temperature and precipitation, would stabilise within the lifetime of many of today’s younger citizens and to the benefit of all of society”.

Key findings:

Human activity has resulted in widespread and rapid changes in climate which are already impacting us all today.
The future climate is in our collective hands. Halting warming globally and in Ireland, requires rapidly reaching at least net-zero carbon dioxide emissions and substantially cutting other greenhouse gas emissions. Every action matters: with every additional increment of warming, impacts for Ireland will increase substantially.
Having peaked in 2001, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have reduced in all sectors except agriculture. However, Ireland currently emits more greenhouse gases per person than the EU average. A legal basis for deep, rapid and sustained national emissions cuts now exists, although current policy and action remain insufficient to meet these aims. The pathway forward is clearer for energy, transport and the built environment than for agriculture and land use. For all sectors there are many challenges to overcome.
Ireland needs to be resilient to ongoing and future climate change impacts. This requires increased focus upon and investment in adaptation that can protect us from future climatic impacts. Current implementation of adaptation is too slow and fragmented. Doing better requires financing, working with people and nature, monitoring and evaluating outcomes, and increasing public and private sector involvement.
Effective and just transformative actions will have mitigation and adaptation benefits and bring broader benefits for health, wellbeing, nature and sustainable economic development. The state has a central role to play in enabling the necessary transformations, supported through action across society. Decisions taken this decade will reverberate for generations to come.

Commenting on the assessment, Ms Mary Frances Rochford, (Programme Manager) said: “Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment is a major resource for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, research funders and the public. It points to how and where the science can be improved through further investments in innovation, in research and in systematic observations. The EPA, with partners, will continue to focus on addressing these knowledge gaps to inform and support effective climate action”.

Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment Report is available on the EPA website, VIEW HERE.

Singer-Songwriter Melanie Safka-Schekeryk Passes Away Aged 76.

American folk musician and much loved Melanie Safka passed away peacefully on Tuesday last (January 23rd 2024), her family have announced.

The song featured hereunder is more than just a catchy tune. The lyrics express a powerful reflection on the challenges and injustices people face in the political world around us.
“They’re only putting in a nickel and they want a dollar song”, and “We’re only putting in a little to get rid of a lot that’s wrong”; these words remind us that voices should never remain silent.
To this end in 1970, Melanie, (featured to perform on day 1) ,was the only artist to ignore the court injunction banning the infamous Powder Ridge Rock Festival, of Middlefield, Connecticut, U.S., same scheduled to be held on July 31st, August 1st and 2nd of that same year.

Nickel Song.

Vocals: American Singer-Songwriter Melanie Safka.
Lyrics: Melanie Safka

Nickel Song.

Well, you know that I’m not a gambler,
But I’m being gambled on.
They put in a nickel and I sing a little song,
Da, da, da, da, da.
They put in a nickel and I sing a little song.
Well, I don’t mind that they’re lucky,
But it seems that they always win,
And gamblin’ is illegal in the state of mind I’m in.
And if I had a nickel for each time that I’ve been put on,
I would be the nickel man and I’d sing a nickel song.
They’re only putting in a nickel and they want a dollar song,
Oh, Lord, they’re only putting in a little and they want a dollar song.
Well, you know, I don’t know so many things,
But I know what’s been goin’ on,
We’re only putting in a little to get rid of a lot that’s wrong,
And if we had a nickel for each time that we’ve been put on,
We’d all be the nickel man and we’d sing a nickel song.
You know, they’re only putting in a nickel,
And they want a dollar song.
Oh, Lord, they’re only putting in a nickel,
And they want a dollar song.
Well, you know that I’m not a gambler,
But I’m being gambled on,
They put in a nickel and I sing a little song.
Da, da, da, da, da.

END

Known to her fans by the performing name of Melanie; Melanie Safka was born on February 3rd, 1947, in the Astoria neighbourhood of Queens, New York City. Bothered by being classed as a “beatnik” by her classmates while attending Long Branch High School, she ran away to California and following her return to New Jersey, was transferred to Red Bank Regional High School. She graduated in 1964, though she was blocked from attending her commencement exercise, due to an overdue library book.

Melanie later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, landing gigs at coffee houses and folk clubs in Greenwich Village, during New York’s then booming folk scene of the 1960’s. Same era saw the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem [from Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, famed for their Aran jumpers and widely credited with popularising Irish traditional music], rise to become the eleventh best-selling folk musicians in the United States.

She met her future manager, producer and husband, Peter Schekeryk in 1967. They married in 1968 and when Columbia Records, who produced her first two singles, refused to allow her to record an album, she

Pre-deceased by her husband Peter in 2010; sadly, the much loved American folk musician passed away peacefully on Tuesday last (January 23rd 2024). Her children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred announced the news on Facebook yesterday, Wednesday. To date the cause of her death has not been fully confirmed, however her representatives mentioned in passing that she was suffering from an illness.

Melanie Safka was understood to be recently working on her 32nd album featuring cover songs; titled ‘Second Hand Smoke’.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Tipperary Gardaí Seize Guns & Munitions In Rearcross, Soccer Shooting.

A number of licensed firearms, including at least one rifle, together with ammunition, has been seized by gardaí as part of their ongoing investigations into the shooting of a soccer player, who sustained a gunshot wound on the field of play, during a match held in Rearcross, Co Tipperary on January 6th 2024.

The injured male victim had been playing for ‘Rearcross FC’ against ‘Ballymackey FC’, in a Junior B match in Division 2 of the Tipperary and District League, latter being held under floodlights; when the shooting incident happened. Paramedics had treated the man at the scene, before he was later removed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick, (UHL) to have the projectile removed.

Gardaí have confirmed that an informant had spoken to Nenagh, Gardaí in Co. Tipperary, thus helping them with their investigations into this regrettable incident.

The firearms and ammunition seized will now be sent to the Garda Ballistics Section located in Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, for further testing; thus ascertaining if the weapon and ammunition used match the bullet retrieved from the injured player’s arm.

Investigating Gardaí in Nenagh District had suspected that the matter was the result of a freak accident and that the man was hit by a stray bullet from a hunter’s rifle. For this reason, to date, no arrests have been made, but Gardaí now feel that they are following a definite line of enquiry.

SuperValu Chicken & Ham Pie Recalled.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland have announced the recall of a batch of SuperValu Chicken & Ham Pie (275g), due to the possible presence of Soya.

Recalled Tuesday, 23rd January 2024.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2023.A32.
Allergen: Soya.
Product Identification: SuperValu Chicken and Ham Pie, 275g, Use by 26.01.2024.
Batch Code: 26.01.2024.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Message:
The above identified batch of SuperValu Chicken and Ham Pie is being recalled as some packs may contain Steak and Onion Pie.
This product contains Soya, which is not declared on the label. This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of Soya.

For What Are Thurles, Co. Tipperary Residents Paying Property Tax?

Yesterday, January 22nd 2024, the road sweeper unit made several passes up and down on Kickham Street, east of Thurles Town centre, Co. Tipperary.
Their purpose for the crew’s occupancy, was not to collect litter or debris relating to ‘Storm Isha’, but rather to suck up loose gravel, generated by the cold tarmacadam that had been brought into play, to fill giant craters just 14 days before.

**Street sweeper unit gathering gravel on Kickham St. Thurles.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby. Mid-morning January 22nd 2024.*

Thankfully, the cold spell experienced over the past two weeks had held this tarmac together, now that the rainy season has arrived, as we have experienced since Saturday last; unprecedented heavy traffic and heavy rain has, as expected, loosened the cold tarmacadam, resulting in the road surface becoming one long gravel driveway. (See image hereunder).

**Gravel on Kickham Street, Thurles, before the Road Sweeper Unit arrived; brought to my attention by stones striking the toughened glass on my front window**, **latter broken by flying surface gravel, sometime previously.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby. Early Morning of January 22nd 2024.*

Yesterday’s road sweeping exercise resulted in a two man operation. One driving the sweeper unit, while another employee attempted to keep pace, slightly to the fore, using a leaf blower to drive loose gravel from pavements; slung their by the wheels of vehicles and aimed at unsuspecting pedestrians.

Mr Joe MacGrath (Chief Executive Tipperary Co. Council), was busy yesterday, rubbing shoulders and having his picture taken with Fianna Fáil’s Minister Mr Darragh O’Brien and Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill (Thurles); all 3 individuals attempting to boost both their images and personal expenses, while officially opening a children’s playground in Newport, Co. Tipperary, which by the way, cost almost €3 million to deliver.
They were then later joined in their promotional picture by Mr Michael Lowry TD. (Thurles), who climbed in on the act, at Woodview Close, Nenagh, where Mr Darragh O’Brien officially cut the ‘Munster GAA blue ribbon’, suitably chosen, to open 10 social homes.

Meanwhile, back on Kickham Street, in forgotten Thurles, Co. Tipperary, within 4 hours after the sweeper had sucked up much of the loose gravel and departed, the last remnants of the streets cold tarmacked surface broke loose, leaving behind massive crates. (See image hereunder).

**Kickham Street, Thurles yesterday afternoon, after the road sweeper unit had returned to base.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby. Afternoon of January 22nd 2024.*

We ask the question again and again, “For what are Thurles residents paying property tax ?”
We get absolutely nothing in return, except silence or arrogance from officialdom, same disposed to exaggerate their own worth or self importance; often dished out in an overbearing manner”.

Time has now come to name the Tipperary Municipal District officials responsible.

Ms Sharon Scully (Thurles District Administrator), together with Mr Joe MacGrath (Chief Executive of Tipperary Co. Council) and Mr Marcus O’ Connor, (latter Director of Services Roads and Transportation, Active Travel, Health and Safety) have all been notified.
[We have been made aware that Mr Joe MacGrath will be away from his office until Friday next, January 26th, with limited access to his emails. To this end a communication has been forwarded to his secretary Ms Evelyn Harty, since this matter now requires urgent attention.]