Thurles Information

Mikey Ryan-A Serious Case Of Divided Chestnuts.

“How is she cuttin Mary” says I.
“Not bad at all, tell me now, you that’s well educated, where would I get a few chestnuts. The young lad needs them for the upcoming Conker Championships”, said Mary.
“Try St. Mary’s graveyard” said I “If you search around, the wind last week should have shifted a few unto the ground”.

Of course I did not convey the story that Mikey Ryan had related to me last evening up in the Arch Bar in Liberty Square, and as true as God, this incident happened this very Autumn.

You see, on the outskirts of Thurles town, there is a big, tall, Chestnut tree, growing just inside the graveyard wall. One day, unknown to Mikey Ryan, two young lads climbed over the wall at dusk and successfully filled up a bucketful of Chestnuts. Then they sat down behind a headstone, out of sight, before beginning to divide up the nuts into two plastic shopping bags.
“One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me,” said the ringleader as he set about sharing. During this transaction several of the nuts dropped and rolled down toward the narrow back iron gateway.

Then who but Mikey Ryan should come riding along Ikerrin road, on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the graveyard. He slowed down and went back to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, “One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me”.

Alarmed, he was convinced he knew what these voices were. He jumped back on his bike and rode on. Just around the bend on Kickham Street, he met ‘Monopod Ted’; sure you know the fellow with the wooden leg, who just happened to be hobbling along; supported by his underarm crutch. [Actually, I must confess, I stole his wooden leg once in Thurles swimming pool. He was hopping mad!]

Anyway, Mikey braked, bringing his bike to a sudden halt.
“Come here quick,” Mikey called in a low voice, “you won’t believe what I heard. It looks like Satan and God are over in the graveyard dividing, up souls!”

A not very impressed and grumpy ‘Monopod Ted’ suggested that Mikey should “Beat it”, (or words to that effect), adding “you idiot, can’t you see it’s very hard for me to walk”. But when Mikey insisted, “Monopod Ted’ hobbled slowly over the short distance, to nearby St. Mary’s graveyard gate.

Standing by the back gate they heard the voice, “One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me”.

‘Monopod Ted’ was now fully convinced and whispered, “Mikey, looks like you’ve been tellin’ me the truth boy. Let’s see if we can see the Lord!”
Now both, each shaking with fear; peered through the bars of the gate, but failed to see anything. ‘Monopod Ted‘ and Mikey gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter, as they attempted, on tippytoes, to get a glimpse of Our Lord.

At last, they heard, “One for you, one for me. That’s all. Now let’s go get those nuts by the gate and we’ll be finished”.

Mikey swore that ‘Monopod Ted’ took the lead for a good half-mile, down the Mill Road, before Mikey himself managed to eventually pass him on his bike.

Limerick University To Host World Wallball Championships 2024.

Event coincides with 100th anniversary of GAA Handball.

University of Limerick (UL) has been announced as the host venue for the 2024 World Wallball Championships from August 18th to 23rd.

World Champion Conor McElduff; Gerald Mitchell, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick; and Rory Grace of UL Wolves at the announcement in UL today that University of Limerick will host the 2024 World Wallball Championships.

Formerly known as “The World Handball Championships”, the tournament will see more than 750 competitors, from across the world, battle it out on 10 newly constructed courts in one of Ireland’s leading indoor venues, at the UL Sport Arena.

Wallball is the fastest-growing version of the sport of handball with a significant presence in mainland Europe, the UK and the United States. The triennial event is traditionally hosted in rotation by Ireland, the United States and Canada, with Australia also hosting the 1988 event. Ireland last hosted the competition in 2012.

Hosted at UL Sport and supported by UL Events, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Limerick City and County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Munster Handball Council, next year’s event also coincides with the centenary of GAA Handball.

Welcoming today’s announcement, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr. Gerald Mitchell said, “This announcement is another huge win for Limerick and the Shannon Region. This six-day event will make a valuable contribution to the local economy. It helps to further enhance Limerick’s reputation as a sport tourism sport destination as we prepare for the hosting of The 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare.”

Mr Conor McDonnell, GAA Handball President commented, “We are delighted that next year’s World Wallball Championships and Irish Nationals will be staged in world class facilitates of the University of Limerick. This promises to be the biggest and most spectacular handball event ever. GAA Handball want to thank all our partners who have helped make this happen. Please support the Championships by volunteering and participating”.

Mr David Britton, Head of GAA Handball stated, “GAA Handball would like to thank the GAA, Munster Handball Council, Munster GAA and the University of Limerick for all their hard work and support in bringing the 2024 World Wallball Championships to the state-of-the-art UL complex. The event promises to be a fantastic platform for our sport to showcase itself on an international stage. Next year GAA Handball celebrates 100 years as a member of the GAA family, and I could not think of a more fitting way to mark such an important milestone.”

Mr David Ward of UL Events added, “We are delighted to have been chosen as the host venue for the World Wallball Championships, which will see the provision of 10 newly constructed courts at the UL Sport Arena. These World Championships will bring a sporting and economic boost to Limerick with an anticipated 6000 bed nights. We look forward to working with all stakeholders in providing the athletes an amazing one stop shop Olympic Village experience and to showcase the sport of GAA Handball at its very best.”

According to Ms Karen Brosnahan, General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, “The Bureau’s goal is to attract business and sports tourism to The Shannon Region to help underpin services at Shannon Airport and deliver an economic impact to the tourism sector in the region. I want to acknowledge the role of ambassadors who are hugely important in sourcing and winning lucrative tourism business for the Shannon Region. Fáilte Ireland’s support for the region in bidding for international business also has been instrumental in securing this and other events.”

The World Handball Championships take place in UL Arena from August 18th to 23rd, 2024, and will be followed by the 4-Wall (40×20) World Championships, later in the year in Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois and Carlow.

Death Of Bridget Wall, Formerly, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Monday 20th November 2023 of Mrs Bridget Wall (née Egan), Kilbane, Castletroy, Co. Limerick and formerly of Moyne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her brother Fr. John and sisters Lena (O’Connor) and Nano (Quinlan); Mrs Wall passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, while in the care of staff at Milford Care Centre.

Her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her loving husband Pat, cherished children Alan and Suzanne, adored grandchildren Oisín, Éile, Rosa, Beth & Nancy, daughter-in-law Helen, son-in-law Alan, brothers Tom and Pat, sisters Mary (Earley), Anna (Bulfin) and Margaret (O’Brien), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Wall will repose at Griffin’s Funeral Home, John’s Gate, Pennywell, Limerick, on Wednesday afternoon, November 22nd, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Milford Rd, Newcastle, Co. Limerick on Thursday morning, November 23rd to further repose for Requiem Mass at 12:00 noon, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Kilmurry Cemetery, Castletroy, Co. Limerick.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Wall, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Wall 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: House strictly private. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Milford Care Centre or the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Councillors To Consider Traffic Calming On Kickham Street, Thurles, On Monday.

Locally elected councillors will consider ‘Traffic Calming Measures’ for Kickham Street, latter situated on Route N75, east of Thurles town in Co. Tipperary, at tomorrow’s [Monday November 20th, 2023] Municipal District Council monthly meeting,

NOTE: None of the Municipal District Councillors or Municipal District Officials have issued an invitation to any of Kickham Street residents, to attend said meeting, however, we learn from the grapevine that the already proposed changes, are now open for debate, through public consultation, until Monday December 18th next, which will allow for the general public to make submissions, in writing, up until 4:30pm on January 8th 2024.

The proposals for Kickham Street, according to PLANS TO BE FOUND HERE, include improvements to currently almost non-existent drainage; road resurfacing, and the installation of an uncontrolled pedestrian crossings close to Centra. Other improvements appear to include various raised pedestrian crossings at public exit/entrance points. A narrowing of the roadway to create a 3.25 metres wide area, together with a minor design change to the existing roundabout layout, also appears to be planned for Mill Road roundabout/crossroads.
The road, which links to the M8 motorway has a daily traffic movement average of over 5,600 assorted vehicles, with particulate matter and air pollutants impacting on the health of local residents.

‘**End to end’ traffic continuously at a stand-still, while attempting to enter Liberty Square, Thurles**.

The traffic set-up shown in the picture above captures the traffic situation experienced currently between 8:30am and 10:00am, on 6 mornings each week; between 3:00pm and 6:15pm on 6 afternoons each week; and between 7:00pm and 9:30pm, every Friday evening, as parents arrive to drop-off teenage sons & daughters in Liberty Square to attend the local disco venue; forcing vehicles to come to a halt on a single lane framework; on a street where previous adequate parking spaces for vehicles was readily accessible and today now sadly eradicated, to the detriment of the few only remaining, operating businesses.

Eight and ten wheeler *“semi style”* diesel trucks attempting to pass each other, between two rows of terraced houses, on Kickham Street, situated on route N75 and showing the left-hand-side of a vehicle forced to mount the footpath, rather than adjust driver side mirrors.

Surely, almost static traffic movement requires no further ‘Traffic Calming Measures’.
Changes to this section of the N75 route have already been agreed, without any public consultation, and based on previous public discussions regarding areas of the town e.g. Bowe’s Corner, Liberty Square, Slievenamon Road etc, no public concerns expressed, have ever been accepted or adopted.

Tipperary County Council in their Corporate plan 2020-2024 claim, as one of their corporate objectives, to quote “Support the growth in retail activity thereby, increasing the vitality and vibrancy of our town centres”.

Alas, their day dream has long since melted away, with yet another business gone just this month alone, and an indication from another leading business that they will cease to trade after Christmas. And all due, they rightly claim, to what was an avoidable massive decrease in footfall; with ill-advised changes voted as totally acceptable by locally elected councillors; same speeded up by the removal of car-parking spaces and the greedy introduction of hourly vehicle parking charges. (Oh and let’s not forget the public’s total silence on the matter.)

Death Of Joyce Ryan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Saturday 18th November 2023, of Mrs Joyce Ryan, (née Gleeson), No.3 “Riverview”, Cappanilly, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her brother Larry and her sister Patricia (Monks); Mrs Ryan passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Nenagh Hospital, Tyone, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, surrounded by her loving family.

Her passing is deeply regretted and sadly missed by her loving husband Tommy, sons John and Damian, daughters-in-law Anne Marie (Butler) and Franceles, her adored grandchildren Thomas, Jack, Michael and Rachel, her sisters Rena (Hayes), Maud (O’Driscoll) and Mary (Atkinson), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Ryan will repose at Stapleton’s funeral home, Borrisland South, (Thurles Road), Borrisoleigh, Thurles, [E41 YT20] tomorrow evening, Monday, November 20th, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.
The earthly remains of Mrs Ryan will be received into the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart Borrisoleigh, Thurles, on Tuesday morning, November 21st, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Templederry New Cemetery, Cloghinch, Templederry, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Ryan, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Ryan 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.