Thurles Information

Visiting Restrictions Introduced At Nenagh Hospital, Due To Resurgence Of Covid-19.

Visiting restrictions have once more been introduced at Nenagh Hospital, Nenagh, North Co. Tipperary, following a new outbreak of Covid-19.

The UL Hospitals Group latter made up of 6 hospital sites in the Midwest; have stated that they regret the inconvenience which this restriction will cause to inpatients and visiting loved ones, but same restrictions are indeed necessary to protect the health and safety of both patients and staff while keeping essential healthcare services open for patients.

Exceptions to the restrictions will be made on certain compassionate grounds i.e. patients critically ill or at end-of-life, and patients with dementia.

All appropriate infection control precautions, we are informed, are being followed to control the further spreading COVID-19 infection amongst the immediate and wider Nenagh community.

News of an increase of Covid cases in Thurles has also been confirmed, per local Knowledge.

Back in China, some three months past, same country experienced an unprecedented surge in cases that fuelling global concern over a newer Covid variant.

Leaked details from an internal NHC medical network meeting suggested that as many as 250 million people in China had been infected in early December, including 37 million persons in just a single day.
Same news saw the response of countries, latter who clamped down restricting entry from Chinese travellers.
Professor Daniel Lucey at the US Dartmouth Geisel Medical School of Medicine, has warned that the medical community should be on the lookout for what could become Pi, Rho or Sigma — a variant that’s potentially more immune-evasive and more virulent than current Covid strains.

Note: All Supermarket outlets, and Thurles Shopping centre, with the exception of Lidl Thurles, daily maintain the presence of hand sanitiser, despite some complaints made to Lidl’s head office’s Customer Care Service at Tel. No. 01 9203010; latter which failed to fully rectify the situation.

Best to hold on to those face masks, well for the time being at least.

Death Of Nancy O’Connor, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Wednesday 20th July 2022, of Mrs Anne Ruth (Nancy) O’Connor (née Barlow), Clarecastle, Co. Clare; Concord Travel, Ennis, Co. Clare; Maryland, USA, and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her parents, brother-in-law Hugh, ex-husband Bill, brothers Sean and Con, sisters Dympna and Carrie (Acheson, former Senator & Fianna Fáil TD, Tipperary South); Mrs O’Connor passed away peacefully, while in her 85th year.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving daughter Caroline (McDermott), son-in-law Kieran, grand-children Caragh and Derry, grandson-in-law Tyler, sisters Trass (Honan-former Irish Fianna Fáil politician) and Clare (Fogarty), brother Aidan, nephews, nieces, extended relatives neighbours and friends both here in Ireland and the USA.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly ashes of Mrs O’Connor, will be received into the Church of St. Patrick, Kilfeacle, Co. Tipperary at 11.00am, to repose for Requiem Mass on Saturday morning next, April 22nd, followed immediately afterwards by the interment of her ashes in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Cashel Road, Brodeen, Tipperary Town.

The extended O’Connor 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.

Trespassers & Their Pony’s Refusing To Vacate Historic House, Near Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

The Irish High Court has been requested to grant orders, directing unnamed persons; latter occupying four caravans, to immediately vacate the grounds of the historic Knocklofty House, latter situated outside Clonmel in Co. Tipperary.

The main block of Knocklofty House was first erected for the 1st Earl of Donoughmore, (circa 1790), before receiving additions to the original structure in the 19th and 20th centuries; yet retaining its Georgian style appearance.

Sadly, back in 1974, the house became the focus of world attention when Lord and Lady Donoughmore were both kidnapped by an IRA gang, as part of a contrived ransom plan. Both the persons kidnapped were subsequently released in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, having being held captive for some five days.

It is believed that because of this kidnapping, the house ceased to remain in family’s ownership, after 1980.

The historic building is situated approximately 6.5 kilometres from Clonmel town; best viewed while travelling route R665.
In 2021, it was reported that copper fittings and lead roofing materials had been stripped from the building, by persons unknown, leading to severe water damage to the interior.
In more recent years, the building had operated as a hotel, but currently, the house remains vacant and sadly is viewed today in a derelict condition, despite €10,000 being granted by the Irish taxpayer under the ‘Built Heritage Investment Scheme’, to undertake minor repairs, back in March of 2022.

Mr Justice Brian O’Moore at the High Court, was informed yesterday, Tuesday, that currently an unknown number of unwelcome visitors, residing in caravans, have been illegally occupying same property having set up a makeshift camp on the property and are presently grazing up to 20 ponies on the lands surrounding the main house. The Court was further informed that those found trespassing had no permission to be there and were now causing a nuisance, while refusing to vacate the property when requested to do so.

The orders yesterday, were being sought by chartered accountant Mr Ken Fennell, latter appointed by the New York firm of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., [Latter in 2015 appointed receiver to Knocklofty House and surrounding lands, of businessman owner Mr Denis English, of Marlfield House, Clonmel].

Incident Room Set Up At Thurles Garda Station To Investigate Recent Credit Card Fraud.

An incident room has been established in Thurles Garda Station, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and a senior investigating officer has been appointed, following a number of reports from retailers of people buying building and agricultural materials in stores around Ireland, using fraudulent credit cards.

Reports from store retailers claim that once transactions are authorised, using the fraudulent credit cards, consumers leave the premises with their purchased goods, before the retailer discovers later that the card details provided are fraudulent.

The incidents of customers using fraudulent credit cards are understood to be happening not just in Co. Tipperary, but also in the neighbouring counties of Clare, Limerick, Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Cork, Waterford, Clare and Limerick, and also in counties Leitrim, Westmeath, Monaghan, Kerry, Meath and Wexford.

In recent days (April 17th last) we reported that a father and son team, operating a vehicle with false number plates, had been arrested. See report HERE.

Gardaí in Tipperary are now asking any potential victims, at any other locations, who have not yet contacted An Garda Síochána in relation to such issues, to please contact Thurles Garda Station – Tel: 0504 25100, the Garda Confidential Line – Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda Station, so that such matters can be fully investigated.

Warning: Thurles Road Hazards.

Motorists and the drivers of long high sided vehicles are being asked to drive with extreme caution coming up to the Nenagh Road Roundabout.
During the course of last night or early this morning, someone or rather something collided with a motorway, directional, road signs on the R498 roundabout, leading onto the Jimmy Doyle Road or back into Thurles Town.

one section of the sign, for the past 10 hours at least has remained swinging over the inner lane of the roundabout, and persons failing to operate proper diligence could lose their wind-scream and/or severely damage vehicle bodywork.

Road Craters

Meanwhile, vehicles travelling south on the N62 Section of Brittas Road, Thurles, and the junction of Brittas Road and Cuchulain Road, (travelling both westward and sothward); please note expect to encounter giant road craters.

**Centre of the junction between Brittas Road and Cuchulain Road**.

**Brittas Road, outside Veterinary Clinic.**

Someone joked with me the other day that to get a pothole filled in Thurles town, local councillors are insisting that local residents apply for planning permission to Tipperary Co. Council; hence the long delays.