Thurles Information

Aldi Recall Wax Pumkin Burners Due To Fire Risk.

Aldi recall 3,235 Halloween Pumpkin Wax Melt Burners.

The Aldi supermarket giant warn that a popular Kirkton House Pumpkin Wax Melt Burner can pose a fire hazard, depending on which candles are used.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have explained that the use of certain lit candles used in the product can lead to flames exiting the front opening of the burner, thus igniting the overheated molten wax.
As stated, approximately 3,235 of these products have been sold in Aldi’s Irish outlets.

Consumers are warned to abstain from using the product and are being asked to return same, for a full refund.

Apologising, Aldi bosses stress the recall on the Kirkton House product is only on the pumpkin variant with barcode 4088600518978.

Customers who purchased the product can contact Aldi’s customer service team on 1800 991 828.

Death Of Gerard Whelton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Friday 21th October 2022, of Mr Gerard Whelton, No.6 Sean Treacy Avenue, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Tim and Josie, his sister Kathleen (Flynn) and his brothers Seamus and Michael; the passing of Mr Whelton is most deeply regretted by his brothers Ted and Noel, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Whelton will repose at Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Dublin Road, Lognafulla, Thurles, on Monday evening, October 24th, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
His funeral cortège will arrive to be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles on Tuesday morning, October 25th at 10:30am to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am.
Following Mass, interment will take place immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles Co. Tipperary.

For those unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Whelton, same can be viewed online HERE.

The extended Whelton 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Death Of Martin Grace, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Thursday 20th October 2022, of Mr Martin Grace, formerly The Commons, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and late of Cherrymount, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Grace sadly passed away while in the care of staff at University Hospital, Co. Limerick.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving daughters and sons, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, brothers, sisters-in-law, grandchildren, niece, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and his many friends.

Requiescat in pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Grace will repose at Fennessy’s Funeral Home, Kickham Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on Sunday afternoon, October 23rd from 4:00pm, with evening prayers at 6:00pm, before being received into St. Mary’s Church, Irishtown, Oldbridge, Clonmel, at 6:30pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning at 10:00am, followed by cremation thereafter in the Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Spike Island, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork.

For those unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Grace, same can be viewed online HERE.

The extended Grace 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

North-South Co-Operation Discussed On criminal Justice Matters.

Ministers Long and McEntee discuss North-South co-operation on matters of criminal justice.

Ministers Mrs Helen McEntee TD and Mrs Naomi Long MLA (Latter Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive) met yesterday to discuss cross border co-operation on criminal justice matters. Both Ministers reviewed the excellent ongoing co-operation across a wide range of criminal justice areas, including forensic science, public protection and victim support.

Minister McEntee said; “It is clear from yesterday’s meeting that there is a high degree of dynamic co-operation between our criminal justice systems. Excellent cross border cooperation is taking place in a range of criminal justice areas via the IGA. This work includes tackling hate crime, supporting victims, the management of high risk offenders, and early intervention strategies to combat youth offending. Under the IGA Work Programme (2021-23) this excellent work will continue to be enhanced.

Minister Long and I had a very productive discussion on the criminal justice challenges we face in both parts of the island. We must address these challenges and continue to co-operate in coming up with positive solutions to our shared problems”.

Minister Long said: “The cross-border co-operation on justice matters in both jurisdictions continues to produce very encouraging outcomes across a range of cross-border issues such as offender mental health, hate crime, youth justice, forensic science and support for victims. The IGA contributes greatly to ensuring we are doing everything we can to promote good practice in these areas. The absence of Ministers in Northern Ireland will not impede this important work, since cooperation will continue at official level and between our law enforcement partners”.

At the meeting both Ministers were also updated on the work of the cross border Joint Agency Task Force. They highlighted the continuing high level of co-operation and operational activity between the law enforcement agencies involved in tackling rural crime, drugs, financial crime, trafficking in human beings including children, excise fraud, and organised immigration crime.

Minister McEntee said; “I must commend the ongoing collaboration that underpins the Joint Agency Task Force. This work continues to highlight the extensive North-South co-operation that is undertaken between the police and other law enforcement agencies. By working together, the Task Force disrupts criminals that would seek to exploit the border and by doing so, enhances the safety of all communities on this island.

I welcome the success of the joint operations already undertaken. It is clear that the Joint Agency Task Force is producing results through cooperation and operational activity – whether it is joint days of action against mobile organised crime gangs, or working together to ensure customs seizures or to identify victims of human trafficking. I would like to express my appreciation to all those involved for their ongoing work”.

Minister Long said; “The ongoing work that continues to be carried out by the Joint Agency Task Force is of a significant value and the results being produced through closer cooperation and joint operational activity highlights the necessity of continued collaboration. The impact of this work in disrupting organised crime gangs and making our communities safer is very impressive and I am very grateful to all those involved both in providing the strategic direction but also the operational cooperation on which that success is based”.

Thurles.Info’s Guide To Locating Blocked Drains.

You can’t trust sewage or drainage pipes….They’re full of crap.

You would think that following the major flooding of our Thurles streets, last Sundays night; which saw 73.2mm to 125mm [3 to 5 ins] of sewage, permeated with surface water, flooding business premises and other dwellings, that those who raised our property taxes by 10% each year for the next two years, would have cleaned out our blocked drains.

No, five days later, total failure, I regret to report; as pictured by our drone this morning within the 50 kilometre [30mph] speed limit area, between O’Carroll’s (Top Oil) Service Station and Thurles Lidl Supermarket, on the N62, Slievenamon Road in the town.

**N62 Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, October 21st 2022.**
[Pic. G. Willoughby]

The N62 road is a national secondary road linking the M6 motorway east of Athlone, Co. Westmeath with the M7 motorway south of Roscrea and junction 6 of the M8 motorway close to the Horse and Jockey in Co. Tipperary.

The N62 is well travelled daily by local councillors; Municipal District senior officials and staff.
Because of heavy traffic, our “eye in the sky” was only able to hover over, and photograph just two of some 5 identified blocked drains, all within a 500 meter stretch of this secondary road.

Clue to locating blocked drains.
Since, hopefully, you are driving within the 50 kilometre [30mph] speed limit laid down in this area, recently prone to flooding, it is easy to locate the blocked drains.

First check for tall Grass; various sprouting Brassicas; (latter genera of plants relatives of the cabbage and mustard family), Dandelines, frost tolerant Common Groundsel and germinating Wheat seed.
Same growth can be located growing, like tiny islands, on tarmacadamed road surfaces, usually located close to kerbs; growing from what appear to be at first potholes.

Here also is yet another clue; Thurles potholes (which we are aware number 3,978, following a more recent count by the Central Statistics Office) are for some unknown reason, usually round, disk shaped, or hoop-shaped on our Tipperary roads. Blocked drains on the other hand, for some strange reason and for the most part are quadrate or rectangular in shape.

Same are used everywhere else in Ireland, except Thurles town, to drain away excess rain and ground water from impervious surfaces, such as paved or tarmacked streets, car parks, parking lots, footpaths, side-walks, and roofs of buildings.
But then Thurles is big into promoting biodiversity, as can be seen by the state of our polluted river Suir, our pavements and our local graveyards.

**Section of current Thurles pavement.**
[Pic. G. Willoughby]

Once identified, one wonders should Thurles Municipal District Council contact Irish Water; or the Office of Public Works; or maybe Iascach Intíre Éireann (Inland Fisheries Ireland)?
Maybe there is some other government department that Thurles Local Councillors can blame befort shifting responsibility.