Thurles Information

Irish Government Announce Approval To Progress Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is an early intervention strategy which aims to provide immediate support for children impacted by domestic violence.
It involves An Garda Síochána notifying the school where the child attends that there was a domestic violence incident in the home, so that a teacher can provide care and support.
Measures on information sharing included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025.

Government announce approval for the drafting of legislation which will allow for information sharing between An Garda Síochána and schools in order to strengthen protection for children impacted by violence in the home.

The General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025 includes measures to allow Gardai to inform a designated person in a school that a domestic violence incident has occurred in a pupil’s home, similar to the Operation Encompass early intervention strategy already in place in Northern Ireland.

It has been established to ensure a child’s school will be informed at the appropriate time that a domestic violence incident has occurred in the home of the child. The school is made aware so that the child can receive additional support in their care and learning following the incident.

Teachers are not expected to take any action, other than being sensitive to the fact that the child may have witnessed a distressing incident of domestic abuse. The discreet support will be based on the needs and wishes of the child. An Garda Síochána will only be allowed to share with the school that a domestic violence incident occurred in the household. No other details will be provided.

Under Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, there is an action to scope and develop an operational framework to introduce a scheme along the lines of Operation Encompass in the Irish system in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.

Government officials are working closely with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to draw on experiences and learnings to inform the operationalist of Operation Encompass here.

Ongoing scoping work around implementation of the scheme will include a cross-border learning event to draw on insights and experiences from the implementation of Operation Encompass in Northern Ireland, which commenced via a pilot programme in September 2021, informing a broader roll out to covering all schools in the North. Key stakeholders from both sides of the border will be invited to attend and engage in this event.

Thursday Next Deadline To Send Christmas Gifts To USA.

An Post is urging customers to send Christmas Gifts to USA before Thursday deadline.

An Post is reminding customers to post early this festive season, with the final posting date for parcels to the United States set for Thursday, November 13th, to ensure delivery before Christmas.

With record parcel volumes already being handled and updated US customs rules now in effect, An Post is encouraging senders to prepare carefully so that gifts reach loved ones safely and on time.

Julie Gill, An Post’s Marketing Director, emphasised that all items sent to the United States are subject to regulations enforced by US Customs and the Department of Agriculture, not An Post. “A couple of bars of chocolate, totally fine,” Ms Gill said. “Boxes and boxes? Customs might think it’s for commercial sale.”

To avoid delays or confiscation, customers are advised to:-

Clearly declare the parcel as a gift and list all contents on the customs form at the Post Office;
Keep the value under €85 / $100 to prevent the recipient from being charged customs duties;
Always include a return address on the parcel.

What You Can Send:
Small, commercially sealed treats, such as packaged chocolate or crisps, same are generally acceptable, provided they are simple in flavour (for example, ready salted or salt and vinegar) and clearly intended for personal use.

What ~~Not~~ to Send:
Liquids, cash, credit cards, or anything containing batteries should not be sent. Food items such as teabags, meat-based snacks, or dairy-flavoured crisps (e.g., cheese and onion or smoky bacon) are also prohibited, along with any parcels containing items of uncertain origin.

Businesses exporting food or other goods to the US should note that separate FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements apply.

With post volumes at record highs, An Post is urging customers to send early and prepare carefully to make sure their Christmas parcels reach family and friends in the USA without delay.

For full posting guidelines and international deadlines, please do visit HERE

Thurles Remembers Known Thurles Area Officers & Men Who Died Following WW1.

We recall today, in solemn remembrance, the names of brave officers and men from the Thurles area of Co. Tipperary, whose names we share hereunder:-

Anderson John, Armstrong William Maurice (Capt) M.C., Beirne John, Bermingham Patrick, Bourke James, Brett Timothy, Butler John, Byrne Patrick, Carroll Martin, Carroll Thomas, Carty John, Cassidy John, Cleary Joseph, Cleary Patrick, Cleary Thomas, Coady Edward, Coady Joseph, Coady Richard, Coffey Michael, Cooke Henry F, Cooney David,Cummins John, Conway Denis, Cunningham John V.C., Cunningham Patrick, Cusack Oliver, Dea Patrick, Dwyer Cornelius, Egan Martin, Fitzpatrick Joseph, Gouldsborough Patrick, Griffin Thomas, Hackett Martin, Hanrahan Daniel, Hayes Daniel, Hayes Thomas, Hennessey Thomas, Horan Joseph, Jordan Denis, Kelly James, Kelly William, Kennedy Matthew, Kiely Owen, Knox Hubert Lt Col., Knox William Lt Col., Lawyer Joseph, Maher Frank, Maher James, Maher James Bernard, Maher John, McCormack Francis, McCormack Thomas, McLoughlin James J, Meany James, Mockler Patrick, Moyler George, O’Brien Lawrence, O’Grady Patrick, O’Shea John, Power Michael, Purcell Philip, Quinlan Joseph, Ryan Andrew, Ryan James, Ryan John, Ryan Martin, Ryan Michael, Ryan Patrick, Scally Patrick, Shields Matthew, Stapleton John, Sullivan Patrick, Terry Timothy, Walsh James.

Anthem for Doomed Youth
By Late English poet and soldier, Wilfred Owen, (1893 -1918).

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle,
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells,
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall,
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
END

The Duty of Memory.
These brave men answered a call, that many did not fully understand, from our community, our county, and the land they left behind, before paying the ultimate price. The fact that their names endure on memorials across Tipperary, reminds us of the duty of memory: that each man above was more than a name on a wall, more than a casualty figure, but a husband, father, brother or son from Thurles and its environs who trusted his comrades, and his country.

In the quiet of this hour we reflect on the scale of sacrifice. A county such as Ireland, far from the main theatres of war, yet intimately touched by them, who bore heavy cost.

Each of the men listed above carried hopes and dreams and found themselves amidst the unimaginable defiance of trench warfare, the muddy fields of France and Flanders, or struggling with wounds long after the guns fell silent. Even returning home did not always mean freedom from the consequences of this war.

Today we honour their courage and commit to keeping their memory alive in Thurles and beyond. May we, in our quiet thoughts, renew our respect and our gratitude for their service.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anama dílis.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Two Fatal Road Collisions in Tipperary Within 24 Hours.

Gardaí in Co Tipperary are investigating two separate fatal road traffic collisions which occurred within the past 24 hours.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, November 9th 2025, an elderly woman in her 80s died following a single-vehicle collision in Toomevara, near Nenagh.
The crash occurred sometime between 12:00 a.m. and 2:20 a.m.
The woman, who was the only occupant of the car, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Later that morning, a man aged in his 40s was killed in a separate collision in Birdhill.
The road, on the Limerick side of Birdhill Village, remains closed to allow for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

However, local diversions are in place at both sites, and motorists are advised to allow extra time for their planned journeys.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to both incidents.
Anyone who may have travelled in both areas are asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.

A Song For A Sunday.

The Night Watch.

Lyrics: American songwriter, country music singer, and dancer the late Cindy Walker, (1917 – 2006).
Vocals: American singer, songwriter, and musician the late Jim Reeves, (August – 1964).

**American singer, songwriter, and musician the late Jim Reeves**.

The Night Watch.

(God is keeping the night watch for you and for me).

Bright stars are watching the world as it sleeps,
Shepherds watch over the little white sheep,
The lighthouse is shining for ships far at sea,
As God keeps the night watch for you and for me.

So sleep, sleep in peace and rest,
Don’t be afraid of the darkness,
All’s well for over the land and the sea,
God’s keeping the night watch for you and for me.

(God is keeping the night watch for you and for me).

So sleep, sleep in peace and rest,
Don’t be afraid of the darkness,
All’s well for over the land and the sea,
God’s keeping the night watch for you and for me.

END.