Thurles Information

St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Thurles, 2023 – Waste Of Taxpayer’s Money Continues.

Some weeks ago St. Patrick’s cemetery situated at Loughtagalla, Moyne Road, Thurles, received a badly needed tarmac upgrade, which we had highlighted HERE, back in mid-January of this year, 2023.

**St. Patrick’s cemetery as viewed January 14th, 2023 last**

While walkers now welcome the upgrade to the section of the grave yard which we highlighted, sadly once again those responsible for the command to ‘fix’, continued to waste taxpayer’s money, by laying Tarmac without laying the customary kerbing necessary to halt eventual ravelling.

The video above shows the failure to install concrete kerbing, before the Tarmac was laid. The result is that the sub base hardcore and Tarmac topping sits 4 inches above ground level, resulting in the edges already beginning to crack and ravel, as vehicles drive over the edges to park in the vacant spaces within the cemetery.

There was no excuse for this wanton waste, since most of the concrete kerbing was purchased many years ago and today lies unused, covered in grass and rubbish on site; slowly being stolen one or two at a time by individuals to use for other purposes in other places.

Sadly, also the Tarmac waste has been dumped on the grounds of the cemetery itself.
Local farmers would have been happy to take this lose Tarmac away, to use as foundation for gaps or field gateways, latter being churned up by regular heavy tractor traffic.

Possible Bus Shelter For Thurles

Readers will be aware and will forgive my rhetorical figure of speech when I state that “Checkpoint Charlie”, also known as the entrance to the Slievenamon Road Car Park in Thurles, has been eradicated some weeks ago, with the whole “Lock, stock, and broken barriers” now vanished into history.

Who destroyed the 2 year old badly pointed limestone wall close by, [See top middle of Picture 1 below and also the picture inset], remains yet another mystery.

We had forecast the demise of “Checkpoint Charlie”, (Same an effort to save the wage of one Traffic Warden), if you remember, in early October last 2022, [View HERE].
The overall costings involved in the installation of “Checkpoint Charlie” was initially, we understand €95,000 plus. What it cost to remove less than 6 months after its was put into operation, and its current ‘scrap value’, now remains a closely guarded secret; known only to those we elected.

**Picture No.1. “Checkpoint Charlie”, with demolished wall inset.**
*Pic: George Willoughby*.

However, there may be just one overall small saving grace in all of this waste of taxpayer’s money; which is unlikely to save the blushing faces of local councillors, their officials and Tipperary Co. Council.

See picture No.2. hereunder, note that I am referring to the two, now vacant, Plexiglas Perspex Acrylic coated parking ticket shelters.

**Picture No.2. Shown here, one of two Perspex coated ticket shelters now vacant.**
*Pic: George Willoughby*

Here is a chance to create a ‘TFI Local Link’ bus stop between Thurles Shopping Centre and Lidl Supermarket, latter which is now, thanks to the total incompetence of Tipperary Co. Council officials, the newly created centre of Thurles town.
These two vacant Perspex coated ticket shelters would make for an excellent ready-made bus stop shelter for the loading and offloading of bus passengers, were a bus stop area to be carved into the existing grass coated island, southeast of the town.

Here earthen sods would be easily available to ‘turn’ by either Mr M. Lowry TD or Mr J. Cahill TD, enabling them to officially open the bus shelter on its completion; giving the false impression that either or both were helping to bring prosperity to their native town of Thurles.

Death Of Australian Comedian, Actor, Author, Satirist, Barry Humphries.

“I was born with a priceless gift, the ability to laugh at the misfortunes of others.”
“Australia is an outdoor country. People only go inside to use the toilet, and that’s a recent development.”,
Above quotes from the great stand-up and now late comedian, John Barry Humphries (1934-2023).

Television viewers here in Co. Tipperary and indeed far beyond, will be greatly saddened by the news of the death of Australian comedian, actor, author and satirist, Mr John Barry Humphries [Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) & Order of Australia (AO)], who passed away today, aged 89 years.

Mr Humphries was best known for writing and playing his on-stage and television alter egos of Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.

Although best known to his audiences for his delivery of deliberate irrationality and absurdist humour, Mr Humphries was also a film producer; script writer; a star of London’s West End musical theatre; a writer and a landscape painter.

His alter egos of the lilac-rinsed haired Dame Edna Everage evolved over a forty year period, latter to become a satire of stardom; while his portrayal of an inebriated, boorish, loud-mouthed, uncouth and uncultured, ‘cultural attaché to the Far East’, in the character of Sir Les Patterson, over the past 30 years became a regular feature in his solo theatrical appearances, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Having entertained on stage and screen for over 70 years, we understand that Mr Humphries tripped on a rug, while reaching for a book, back in February, latter resulting in him requiring surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. He had been readmitted to hospital just this week, yet despite his accident, he had fully expected to be back and fighting fit within weeks, but sadly he never recovered.

His passing means the loss of one of our all-time great stand-up comedians.

Oíche mhaith, possum – In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Death Of Michael Ryan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Friday 21st April 2023, of Mr Michael Ryan, St. Bridget’s Terrace, Abbey Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and formerly of Ballybeg, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his wife Josie (née McCarthy), his daughter Marion, son David and brother Pat; Mr Ryan passed away peacefully after a short illness, while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving family; daughters Yvonne (Shortt) and Lucy (Moore), sons Michael, T.J. Joseph and Paul, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother Donal, nephews, nieces, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Ryan will repose at the home of his son Paul, No 1 Childers Park, Bawnanattin, Thurles, (via Abbey Road) on Sunday afternoon, April 23rd, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of Our Lady and St. Kevin, Littleton, Thurles, on Monday morning, April 24th, at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed immediately afterwards by interment in the adjoining graveyard.

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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílís.

Death Of John Kelly, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 20th April 2023, of Mr John Kelly, Cassestown, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his wife Kathleen, his sons Liam and Brendan; Mr Kelly passed away peacefully after a short illness, while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving family, daughters Margaret (O’Meara) and Deirdre (Cassidy), sons Sean and Noel, daughter-in-law Bernadette, sons-in-law Martin and Thomas, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, sister Kathleen, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, former colleagues in Thurles Sugar Factory, members of his card playing circle, good neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Kelly will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, on Saturday afternoon, April 22nd, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening, before being received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles at 8:00pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Sunday morning, April 23rd at 11:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Kelly 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 dílís