Mr Byrne sadly passed away peacefully following a long illness, while in the care of staff at St Michael’s Nursing Home, Caherconlish, Co Limerick.
Pre-deceased by his parents Kitty and Michael, brothers Patrick and Michael, sister Mary; the passing of Mr Byrne is most deeply regretted by his loving family, sisters Bernadette, Catherine, Anna, Theresa and Carmel, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law Gerry (Gavin), Michael (Power) and Andrew (Beatty), cousins, carers, neighbours and friends.
For those unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Byrne, same can be viewed, streamed online HERE.
The extended Byrne family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
* Tipperary Country Recording Artist Molly O’Connell announced as contestant on Glór Tíre 2023. * Molly rounds off a most successful 2022 with a new Christmas single entitled “Jingle Rock A Melody“.
Country Recording Artist Molly O’Connell chosen as contestant on Glór Tíre 2023.
Top Country Music recording artist Molly O’ Connell will round off a great year, in style, with the announcements that she will be a contestant on Glór Tíre 2023. Sharing her Glór Tíre news on her social media platforms, Molly said, “Over the moon to tell you all that I am a contestant on Glór Tíre 2023. I hope ye can tune in along the way and I would be so appreciative of your continued support.”
The Tipperary woman shot to fame on the country scene in 2022, thanks to a string of original releases that have helped win her a multitude of loyal fans across the country, wherever she has performed. As 2022 comes to a close, Molly clearly has no signs of slowing down when it comes to capturing hearts, with her Christmas single looking like it’s going to be that tune you can’t help but hum through the holiday season.
From the pen of Maurice Ferris, “Jingle Rock A Melody” actually originated as a poem, some forty years ago, before eventually taking shape as a song with a production influenced by the style of the recently deceased country icon Loretta Lynn.
Molly, a native of Kilcommon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, was approached by Maurice after the songwriter had been following her rapid rise to prominence, during the course of 2022. As with music lovers the country over, Molly’s smooth, honeyed, bird-sweet tones quickly made an impression on Maurice, and he knew hers was the voice through whom he wanted to share some of his songs with the world.
Among a selection of songs he sent to Molly was “Jingle Rock A Melody”. “It’s funny, because I had actually been looking for a Christmas song for a while”, revealed the ‘Crazy, Crazy Baby’ singer. “I love that frosty time of the year, so I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to record my own Christmas single, sometime soon.
During 2022, Molly first announced her arrival on the Country Music scene starting in May with a trio of fan and radio favourites; “Crazy, Crazy Baby” – “Waltz A Lifetime With You”, which followed in August, and “Don’t Judge The Book By Its Cover”, recorded in early October. All three records came from the songbook of well-known country musician Stephen Hamilton, latter a collaborator that Molly hopes to work with again in the future, having described meeting him as being “a blessing”. Molly now looks ahead to yet another milestone moment in her music career, with her first Christmas single.
Molly who hails from a family of talented musicians, has fondest memories of songs, echoing through the hills of Kilcommon, during past Christmases. “With all the family home for Christmas, my late dad Denis would be first out with his button-accordion, followed by my sister Siobhan, following suit soon after. From there, it would only be a matter of time before my other two sisters – Breda Jr. and Deirdre, my brother Denis Jr, my Mam Breda, also joining in.” Molly explained. These sing-song sessions were always a family affair in our house and any relatives who came by on Christmas night, would contribute their own favourite party-piece for the occasion as well. We’d never needed to worry about what was on the television, because we’d have such great entertainment going on around us. You’d hear everything from Christmas carols, to country songs, to trad tunes, and needless to say there’d be dancing around the kitchen as well. You couldn’t but dance with all that music.” continued Molly laughing.
“And of course, in more recent times”, recalls Molly, “all the grandchildren would be called by my mum and dad to play their tin-whistles and sing a few songs by the fire too. So many great memories of so many great times
If my new Christmas single can become a part of peoples’ happy memories of this time of the year”, says Molly, “something that can make everyone happy now and give them a reason to look back on days gone by with smiles on their faces in the years to come, well, I don’t think I could make a more lovely Christmas wish than that.” Note: “Jingle Rock A Melody“, this brand new Christmas single from Molly O’Connell, will be available on all digital platforms and to request from radio, later this month.
For more information, do follow Molly’s official music page on Facebook, Molly O’Connell Music.
Pre-deceased by his mother Kitty and brother Jim (Dingle); Mr Kelly sadly passed away suddenly.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving wife Anne (nee Dunne, The Islands, Mullinahone), sons Liam, Anthony, John and Noel, daughter Sharon, grandchildren Grace, Aaron, Megan, Lorna, Eva and Reuben, great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law, in-laws, extended relatives, neighbours and good friends.
For those unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Kelly, same can be viewed, streamed online HERE.
The extended Kelly family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: House strictly private on Friday morning.
The Government has today approved the publication of the Gambling Regulation Bill.
Led by Minister of State for Law Reform, Mr James Browne TD, this Bill sets out the framework for a modern, robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling sector. The legislation paves the way for the establishment of a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being covering gambling online and in person, with the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps.
The Bill gives legislative underpinning for the new Gambling Regulatory Authority, which will be essential to its success.
Welcoming today’s Government decision, Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin said: “This approval by Cabinet is significant and the publication of the Bill is unquestionably a major milestone. It is an important and necessary piece of legislation, designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland. This long awaited and much needed Bill takes a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction. This Bill provides a clearer framework for operators and for consumers.”
Speaking at the launch of the Bill today, Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee said: “At the heart of the Bill is the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, an independent body equipped to enforce regulation of the gambling sector. The Bill will ensure that the Gambling Regulatory Authority can appropriately, meaningfully and swiftly respond to ongoing and future developments in the gambling sector. The focus on preventing harm is of vital importance. As a former Minister of Mental Health and as a local representative, I have seen the damaging impact gambling addiction can have on people and families, particularly on their mental health.”
The Bill provides for a modern and streamlined approach to gambling licensing activities which will replace the currently fragmented regime. Three types of licences for both in-person and online or remote betting will be introduced: * Business to Consumer Gaming, Betting and Lottery Licences; * Business to Business Licences; * Gambling licences for Charitable/Philanthropic Causes.
Welcoming the Government’s decision today, Minister Mr James Browne TD said: “Reforming gambling legislation and regulation in Ireland is a key commitment in our Programme for Government and Justice Plan, and has been one of my key priorities as Minister. I am pleased to have gotten the draft legislation to this point, and look forward now to it being published and brought through the Houses to enactment. This legislation will establish a Gambling Regulator which will be robust with a focus on prevention of harm to people vulnerable to problem gambling and particularly protecting children, and also a focus on enforcement of a strong, modern regulatory framework for the gambling industry. Operators who provide gambling activities without a gambling licence issued by the Authority, or who do not operate in accordance with the provisions of their licence could, if convicted, face to up to 8 years imprisonment and/or a fine at the discretion of the courts. Strict regulation of gambling advertising will be a priority area for the Authority. Under the legislation, advertising intended to appeal to children will be prohibited, as will advertising that promotes excessive or compulsive gambling. A watershed prohibiting gambling advertising at certain times of day (between 5:30am and 9:00pm) will be introduced. In this digital age, to address the particular proliferation of gambling advertising on social media, such advertising shall be prohibited by default. The Bill also puts forward certain measures to minimise the ill-effects of gambling. The Bill will establish of a National Gambling Exclusion Register. The Bill prohibits the use of credit credits as a form of payment. The Bill will allow the Authority to prohibit the offer of inducements and promotions. A Social Impact Fund will be created and managed by the Authority while being funded from the industry. It will be used to finance initiatives to reduce problem gambling and support awareness–raising and educational measures.”
There is a pathway mapped for the legislation progressing which will facilitate the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland being established and operational in 2023.
Noting the Government’s decision today, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Mr Roderic O’Gorman said:
“As Minister with the responsibility for Children and Youth I welcome Government’s approval to publish this new legislation which places a particular focus on prevention of harm to people vulnerable to problem gambling, children and young people. The ever-changing but technologically advanced nature of the gambling industry means that children and teenagers are more exposed than ever to both overt and subtle gambling advertising. It is important that this is properly regulated to ensure that where gambling is advertised, it is done in a way that minimises harmful influences to young people.”
Local authorities play a vital role in protecting the environment and carried out over 205,000 inspections in 2021. The majority (70%) of these inspections relate to waste management.
Local authorities need to deploy and target resources more effectively in order to improve the quality of our air and water.
Local authorities need to increase the level of farm inspection and enforcement activity to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on water quality
There is a need for increased enforcement efforts by local authorities on the segregation of domestic and commercial waste and the management of construction & demolition waste, which is the largest waste stream in Ireland with over eight million tonnes produced annually.
In order to help protect human health from harmful air pollutants, local authorities should prioritise inspections of fuel sellers to ensure only approved fuels are sold nationwide.
Polluted River Suir at ‘The Source’ building, central Thurles, Co Tipperary.
The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has today published its report on the environmental performance of local authorities in 2021. The report shows that the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities is significant. In 2021, over 500 local authority staff handled almost 81,000 complaints and carried out over 205,000 environmental inspections.
Local authorities play a vital role in the protection of our environment and are responsible for enforcing much of our environmental protection legislation. The EPA’s Local Authority Performance Framework is crucial to ensuring a consistent national approach to the enforcement of environmental standards.
This is the first year of the revised Local Authority Performance Framework, which assesses the effectiveness of inspection activities in targeting key environmental issues. The assessment is based on 20 priorities, and measures how local authority actions deliver environmental outcomes – such as better segregation of household and commercial waste, cleaner air through controls on solid fuel sales and minimising risks to water quality from farming activities. Most importantly, there is an emphasis on assessing the follow-up and closure of issues detected so that real environmental improvements are achieved.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “Local authorities have a fundamental role to play in protecting the environment within their counties, and their performance in that role needs to improve. The EPA’s report shows that less than half of the 620 performance assessments undertaken across 20 national environmental enforcement priorities achieved the required standard in 2021. The local environmental challenges are great. The water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters is in decline and there are concerning localised issues that are impacting negatively on the air we breathe. The segregation of waste streams, which is so critical to supporting materials reuse in the development of a circular economy, is not as good as it needs to be.”
He further added: “Local authorities need to have a more strategic approach to addressing these issues within their counties so as to protect people’s right to the enjoyment of a healthy environment. While local authorities are engaged in a great deal of enforcement activity, they need to have a better focus on priority environmental issues and increase or escalate enforcement action where required.”
Our water quality is in decline with just over half of surface waters (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) in satisfactory condition. Agriculture is one of the sectors that is impacting on our water quality. The science has identified areas where agricultural measures are required to prevent nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus from leaking into our waterways. Local authorities must target farm inspections in these areas. The proper use of fertilisers and the correct management of slurry will benefit both the farmer and the environment.
Mr David Pollard, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “Local authorities continue to carry out extensive water quality monitoring, however, there is scope to make better use of this monitoring to target enforcement action aimed at improving water quality.”
Air and noise enforcement continues to have the lowest level of dedicated resources within local authorities. Better targeting and coordination of resources in this area is necessary to protect public health. It is crucial that local authorities tackle air pollution issues by making sure that only approved solid fuels are sold.
The scale of waste and litter enforcement carried out by local authorities is significant. However, the range of the waste priorities to be addressed is broad and few local authorities managed to cover the full scope in 2021. In particular, there is a need for increased enforcement efforts to improve segregation of domestic, commercial, construction and demolition waste in order to improve reuse and recycling of materials.
The Focus on Local Authority Environmental Enforcement – Performance Report 2021 report is available HERE.
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