Thurles Information

Death Of Teresa Phelan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Saturday 24th January 2026, of Mrs Teresa Phelan (née Ryan Jilly), Urard, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny and formerly Gurteenamoe, Rossmore, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her husband Thomas, both parents and sisters Jo and Catherine; Mrs Phelan passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Fennor Care Facility, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving daughter Catriona, sons Patrick and Seàn, daughters-in-law Hetty and Stacey, Catriona’s partner Jordan, grandchildren Erin, Emma, Thomas and Patrick, great grandchildren Kasey, Dylan and Tommy, sisters Breda and Maura, brothers Tommy and Philly, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Phelan will repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny, (Eircode E41 XO38), on Wednesday afternoon, January 28th, from 5:30pm until 7:30pm, before being received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, at 8:00pm same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mrs Phelan will be offered on Thursday morning at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Fennor Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Phelan 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.

“The Phelan family would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely nurses, management and staff at Fennor Care Facility, Urlingford, her homecare team, carers and neighbours for the excellent care and attention shown to Mrs Teresa Phelan. They will be forever grateful”.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Gardaí Appeal For Information After Two Dogs Stolen In Tipperary.

Gardaí appeal for information after two dogs were stolen over a week ago on the R639 near Rockwell College on the Cashel to New Inn Road.

Gardaí in Tipperary are appealing to the public for information following the theft of two dogs on Monday, January 19th.

The incident occurred between Rockwell College and Racecourse Cross on the Cashel to New Inn Road (R639) between 2:10pm and 2:25pm.

The two dogs taken answer to the mames ‘Mouse’, latter a four-year-old foxhound, and ‘Rupert’, latter a one-and-a-half-year-old beagle. Gardaí say both dogs are microchipped.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are seeking information about the theft of two dogs on Monday 19th January, between 14:10hrs and 14:25hrs. The incident occurred between Rockwell College and Racecourse Cross on the Cashel to New Inn Road (R639). Picture of both dogs shown above. Both are microchipped. 4 year old foxhound named Mouse, 1 and half year old Beagle named Rupert.”

The dogs’ owner is said to be distraught and appeals are being made for anyone who may have been in the area at the time, or who saw anything suspicious, to come forward. The case has also been shared on social media by animal welfare and rescue groups in a bid to help locate the dogs.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Clonmel Garda Station on Tel: 052 617 7640, Cahir Garda Station on Tel: 052 744 5630, or indeed any Garda station.

Emergency Preparedness Booklet To Be Delivered To Every Irish Household.

Emergency Preparedness Booklet to be Delivered to every Irish household, with new guidance on Community Support Centres.

Every household in Ireland is set to receive an emergency-preparedness publication in the coming weeks, as Irish Government moves to strengthen national readiness for severe weather and other disruptive events.

**Large tree blown over on the N62 close to Thurles Golf Club entrance, during Storm Éowyn**, **last January 2025**.
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

The “household resilience” booklet, prepared by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in the Department of Defence, will provide practical guidance for households on preparing for and coping with emergencies, particularly extreme weather events such as major storms and the potential loss of essential services including electricity, water, heat and communications.

The booklet’s publication follows a recommendation from the review group that examined Ireland’s response to Storm Éowyn, which struck on January 24th, 2025 and triggered nationwide red wind warnings. The Storm Éowyn review notes that 768,000 electricity customers lost power, with peak gusts reaching 184 km/h at Mace Head, and that disruption was particularly severe in remote and rural communities.

**Uprooted tree at junction with Littleton and the N62, on Mill Road, to the rear of Thurles Golf Club**, **during Storm Éowyn**, **last January 2025**.
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

According to reporting, the review group highlighted the importance of households having a clear checklist of actions to remain safe, warm, fed and hydrated during an extended outage, with practical steps aimed at helping families to manage disruption.

Community Support Centres guidance issued to councils.

In parallel, local authorities have been issued with guidelines for establishing Community Support Centres (CSCs) to provide the public with essential services when major outages and disruption occur.

The guidelines indicate CSCs may be set up in a range of premises, including sports halls, community centres, town halls and leisure centres, and list practical requirements such as a large main room, tables and chairs, a kitchen or food-preparation area, toilets, reliable Wi-Fi, and sufficient extension cables. Accessibility requirements and provision for private space for specific needs are also referenced.

Press reports are understood to indicate CSCs are not intended to be used as overnight rest facilities, and that a key operational requirement is that locations should be generator-ready (or capable of being made ready), with local authorities covering electrician costs and supplying generators.

An Oireachtas committee opening statement in late 2025 also referenced that a Guide to Community Support Centres is now in place for use by all local authorities.

Tipperary’s Barry Coffey Signs For Hartford Athletic In USL Championship.

Nenagh / Hartford, Connecticut, Tipperary footballer Barry Coffey has been confirmed as a new signing for Hartford Athletic, who compete in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional men’s soccer in the United States.

The 24-year-old, from Nenagh, in Co. Tipperary, joins the Connecticut-based club after a standout 2025 season with Cobh Ramblers in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.
Coffey finished the campaign as the First Division’s leading scorer, with 26 goals and four assists in 35 league matches, a remarkable return from an advanced midfield role.

His impact was recognised by his peers when he was named PFAI Men’s First Division Player of the Year (2025).

Coffey’s career pathway has included time in the Celtic development system, a spell on loan with Cliftonville, and spells in the League of Ireland with Cork City and Cobh Ramblers, before securing his move stateside.

Charter Flight Removes 33 EU Nationals From Ireland Following Criminal Convictions.

Thirty-three Polish and Lithuanian citizens have been removed from the Irish State on a charter flight departing Dublin Airport this afternoon, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

All of those removed had received custodial sentences in Ireland for a range of criminal offences, the department said. The group comprised 31 men and two women, with ages ranging from the early 20s to the early 60s.

An Garda Síochána said 20 of those removed were currently serving custodial sentences, while 13 others had been arrested and detained at locations across Ireland and were lodged in prison in advance of their removal.

The offences associated with those removed ranged from multiple road traffic offences, including driving without insurance, to sexual assault, drug offences, and alleged involvement in organised crime, according to the department and garda statements.

Legal basis under EU free movement rules.
As citizens of EU member states, Polish and Lithuanian nationals have the right to reside in Ireland under the EU Free Movement Directive. However, the directive allows for the removal and exclusion of an EU citizen, or their family member, where they are considered to represent a danger to public policy, public security or public health.

The Department of Justice said such orders may be made where an individual’s personal conduct is deemed to represent a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society.

In a statement, the Minister for Justice said that freedom of movement is among the most fundamental rights available to EU citizens, but that restrictions can be applied where a person’s behaviour means they should no longer be entitled to avail of that right. The Minister added that enforcement action would be taken where individuals are considered a danger to society, while stressing that the vast majority of Polish and Lithuanian nationals living in Ireland respect the law and contribute positively.

Flight details and cost.
The charter flight departed Dublin Airport at 12:30pm, travelling first to Warsaw before continuing to Vilnius, the Department of Justice said. The department stated that the cost to the State for the provision of the aircraft was €122,000.

The returnees were accompanied by garda personnel, medical staff, two interpreters and a human rights observer, the department said. No separate cost was provided for accompanying personnel.

Recent enforcement figures
The department said 56 people were removed from Ireland under the Free Movement Directive in 2025, up from 18 the previous year. The 2025 total included 23 removed on a charter flight to Romania, with others removed on commercial flights and a number leaving the State voluntarily, according to official figures.