Thurles Information

Man Who Hid Cannabis At Thurles Railway Station Jailed.

Mr Keith Lonergan, aged 46, who hailed originally from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and who more recently resided at St. Lawrence’s Park, Garryowen, Co. Limerick, has been jailed by Judge John Martin at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court.

Mr Justice Martin sentenced Mr Lonergan to four years in jail, with the final 18 months suspended.
A provision laid down in the sentencing was that Mr Lonergan must enter a bond of €100 to keep the peace; must co-operate with the prison services while in jail; on his release, to attend any meeting organised by the prison services, and to provide urine samples whenever asked while in incarcerated and on his release.

Mr Lonergan had been observed by Gardaí attempting to hide a bag containing cannabis behind a bin at Thurles Railway Station in North Co. Tipperary on March 24th, 2021, while in the company of another man.

The other male ran, attempting to make his escaped along the railway tracks, while Mr Lonergan was detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act. We understand the drugs located had an estimated retail value of almost €10,000.

A follow up search of Mr Lonergan’s home in Limerick uncovered further drugs valued at almost €2,500. Mr Lonergan having being interviewed by Gardaí on four different occasions, admitted possession of the drugs, on the date in question, and was subsequently charged with possession of the drugs same intended for sale or supply.

Mr Lonergan claimed that he had gone to Thurles to collect, carry and hold the cannabis; the agreement being part of a deal to repay a drug debt and that the other male actually owned the drugs.

Judge Martin said that he did not accept that Mr Lonergan was a mere pawn, but was an essential cog in the wheel serving a business that was causing havoc within Irish society.

Death Of Pauline Owens, Formerly Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Friday 19th May 2023, of retired teacher, (Castledermot) Mrs Pauline Owens (née Caplis) late of ‘The Orchard’, Athy, Co. Kildare and formerly of Hollyford, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deacesed by her husband William and her sisters Maureen and Celia; Mrs Owens passed away while in the care of staff of St. Anthony’s Nursing Home, Pallasgreen. Co. Limerick.

Her passing is most regretted by her brothers Ailbe, TJ and Gerard and her sister Joan (Ryan), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, nieces-in-law, nephews-in-law, extended relatives, kind neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Owens will repose at White’s Funeral Home, Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary on tomorrow evening, Sunday, May 21st, from 6:00pm until 7:30pm.
Her remains will be received into the Church of St. Michael, Athy, Co. Kildare on Monday afternoon, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 2:00pm, followed by interment immediately afterwards in nearby St. Michael’s Cemetery, Dublin Road, Clonmullen, Athy, Co. Kildare.

The extended Owens 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.

Death Of Billy Gleeson, Formerly Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 18th May 2023, of Mr Billy Gleeson, late of Adamswood Avenue, Croagh, Co. Limerick and formerly of Castleiney, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Gleeson passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at University Hospital, Limerick City, Co. Limerick.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving wife Beda (Magner), brothers Sean and Tom, nephews Tom, Patrick, John and Martin, sisters-in-law Biddy and Eileen, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Gleeson will repose at Magner’s Funeral Home, Old Road, Rathkeale, on Sunday evening, May 21st, from 6:00pm until 7:30pm, followed by removal to St. John the Baptist Church, Ballycannon, Croagh, Co. Limerick.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning, May 22nd, at 11:30am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St. Mary’s cemetery, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.

The extended Gleeson 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Death Of Willie Norton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 18th May 2023, of Mr William (Willie) Norton, Kilcooley, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Jack and Angela, sister Mary and brothers Michael and John; Mr Norton passed away unexpectedly, while in the care of staff at University Hospital Clonmel, surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Eileen, his adoring family Louise, Eric, John and William, son-in-law Sajjad, daughters-in-law Noelle and Jacqui, grandchildren Lee, Adam, Jack, Mathew, Liam, Hannah, Eva, Saoirse and Aifric, sisters Margaret and Sheila, 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 Mr Norton will repose at his place of residence on Saturday afternoon, May 20th, from 4:00pm until 7:30pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, on Sunday morning, May 21st, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, followed immediately afterwards by interment in Fennor Cemetery, Fennor, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Norton 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 private today, Friday May 19th. Family flowers only.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Creatures Great & Small Land At Feet Of Jesus Christ Statue.

The bee swarm came in a huge wave, dancing majestically from the north side of Thurles town, moving down the town centre, before settling at the feet of Jesus Christ, whose statue is positioned outside the Ursuline Primary school building, on Liberty Square.

Four thoughts quickly came to my mind.
Firstly the Jesus Christ statue, shown in the picture below, stands on a plinth outside the school; its outstretched arms possibly referring to the writings contained in the gospel according to St. Matthew, Chapter 19: Verse 14, “Let the little children (bees in this case) come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

My second thought was for the schools late, incredibly caring, hard-working and dedicated teacher and principal Sister Xavier O’Dwyer. How said lady would have loved their arrival and the associated symbolism.

My two remaining thoughts came in the form of two hymns the words of which were learned in my youth; firstly an extract from “All things bright and beautiful” by the Dublin born hymn writer and poet Mrs Cecil Francis Alexander, (1818 – 1895), wife of the one-time Anglican Bishop of Derry, William Alexander, latter who later went on to become Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

‘All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small.
All things wise and wonderful, ’twas God that made them all.
He gave us eyes to see them and lips that we might tell,
How great is the Almighty, who has made all things well.’

That thought was quickly followed by lines from that blind American mission worker, poet, lyricist and composer Francis J. Crosby (1820 -1915), possibly better known as Fanny J. Crosby, the Queen of Gospel song writers.
Following the death of her baby daughter, named Frances van Alstyness, Fanny had written; ‘Safe in the Arms of Jesus‘.

‘Safe in the Arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest’.

And rest these bees did, until removed, to be sent to other more suitable living quarters; in the interest of the health and safety of pupils attending classes within the school.

Of course when bees are swarming, they remain the tamest they will ever be. These bees are weighted down with honey, so they are aware they cannot fly fast. They have two goals only in mind; to protect their Queen while locating a new place to live. Everything else remains secondary to those two goals, leaving them to surround and protect their queen, while they wait for scouts to inform them where to set up their new camp.