Thurles Information

Increased Vigilance By Irish Water & Local Authorities To Protect Public Health.

Drinking water quality is high but increased vigilance is needed by Irish Water and Local Authorities to protect public health, says EPA.

The quality of drinking water from public supplies remains high, with over 99.7% of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits.
Two significant incidents during 2021 at the Gorey and Ballymore Eustace water treatment plants put the health of approximately 885,000 people at risk, highlighting significant failings in oversight and management by Irish Water.
The number of supplies breaching THM standards increased in 2021, reversing all progress seen in recent years.
Progress to remove lead from drinking water networks is too slow, with the need for stronger leadership at national level.
The number of people served by “at-risk” supplies on the EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) has reduced, arising from upgrade works at two large water supplies: Leixlip and Vartry water treatment plants.

**Our Lady’s Well, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**. *Pic: George Willoughby*

List of water supplies currently on a Boil Water Notice or Water Restriction in Co. Tipperary as of 28/09/2022 are: –
Tipperary – Glenary – Population affected 10,564.
Tipperary- Horse & Jockey PWS – Population affected 648.
Tipperary- Clonmel – Poulavanogue – Population affected 96.

The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2021, released today, shows that the quality of drinking water in public supplies remains high, with over 99.7% compliance with bacterial and chemical limits. The continued high levels of water quality being achieved are positive for consumers and indicate that water is safe to drink.

However, there were two significant incidents during 2021 at the Gorey and Ballymore Eustace water treatment plants that put the health of approximately 885,000 people at risk, with community illness and hospitalisations occurring in the Gorey incident. These highlighted significant failings in oversight and management by Irish Water and local authorities.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) instructed Irish Water to implement a number of actions at all supplies, to prevent the reoccurrence of similar issues. As a result of these actions, more drinking water quality issues were detected and reported, with the number of Boil Water Notices increasing significantly in the last quarter of 2021. The total number of people affected by Boil Water Notices in 2021 was approx. 211,000.

Launching the report, Dr Tom Ryan, EPA Director said:
“The serious incidents at Gorey and Ballymore Eustace water treatment plants last year, which resulted in unsafe water being released for consumption, have highlighted Irish Water’s fundamental obligation to ensure our public water supplies are properly operated, and managed, to protect public health. Increased vigilance is needed by Irish Water and Local Authorities in their oversight and management of plant operations to ensure incidents are dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.”

Dr Ryan added: “Boil water notices are affecting an increasing number of consumers and while we recognise the challenges these present to individuals and communities, they are necessary to protect public health. High incidences of boil water notices will remain with us until Irish Water improves the resilience of drinking water plants.”

While water is safe today, the EPA’s Remedial Action List of “at-risk” supplies identifies where long-term improvements are needed in our drinking water infrastructure to protect public health.
Following EPA targeted enforcement, supplies upgraded in 2021 include Vartry (serves approx. 127,000) and Leixlip (serves approx. 590,000) water treatment plants. At the end of 2021, there were 52 “at-risk” supplies serving approx. 375,000 people down from 1,000,000 consumers in 2020.
However, the latest publication of the RAL (Sept 2022) has seen some of this progress eroded, with the population served by “at-risk” supplies increasing to approx. 575,000.
Furthermore, the length of time it takes to implement improvements at supplies is not acceptable to the EPA, as it means these supplies remain vulnerable for longer.
The EPA requires that Irish Water targets investment and resources to both reduce the number of supplies on the RAL, and the time it takes to implement these improvements.
Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said: “It is welcome to see how targeted enforcement has led to significant improvements at large supplies such as Leixlip and Vartry, supporting the security of these critical water supplies into the future. However, in order for supplies to be secure into the future, Irish Water must resolve the “at-risk” supplies on the RAL and ensure that future actions are targeted where they are most needed to protect public health. In particular, the deterioration in compliance with THM standards needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.”

Lead in drinking water causes a cumulative risk to human health. The EPA is highlighting the slow rate of lead replacement by Irish Water, as it will take almost a quarter of a century to address the risks posed to public health from lead in drinking water at the replacement rate observed in 2021. In addition, leadership is required at a national level by relevant Departments to address this issue. A report from these Departments on assessments of lead pipework in public buildings and plans to remove lead from these buildings is overdue.
The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2021 and the complete list of public water supplies currently on the Remedial Action List – including details of the proposed remedial measures and associated timeframes – are available HERE on the EPA website.

Death Of Kathleen Mernagh, Formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Thursday 6th October 2022, of Mrs Kathleen Mernagh (née Dwyer), Freemount Road, Kanturk, Co. Cork and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mrs Mernagh passed away peacefully, surrounded by her heartbroken family and while in the care of staff at Cork University Hospital.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her husband Bill children Charina, Will and Aidan, son-in-law Seany, daughters-in-law Orla and Edel, her adored grandchildren Éanna, Roísín, Seamus, Méabh, Aoife, Bébhinn, Sianna and Clíodhna, sisters Breda and Geraldine, brothers Paddy, Joseph, Eamon, Jim, Martin, Willie and John, aunt Margaret, extended relatives, kind neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Mernagh will repose at O’Callaghan’s Funeral Parlour, Church Street, Kanturk, Co. Cork on tomorrow evening, Saturday, October 8th, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, followed by prayers.
Her body will be received into the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Church Street, Kanturk, Co. Cork on Sunday, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 12:00 noon.
Interment will take place immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Kanturk, Co. Cork.

The extended Mernagh 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: Family flowers only

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

River Suir Song

The Song of the Suir

by L. M. McCraith
(Possibly written and published around 1912)

**River Suir, south of the *‘Swinging Gates’* Thurles Town, Co. Tipperary**.
*Pic: George Willoughby*

The Song of the Suir
If you hear the river sing in youth’s sweet spring,
When primrose gold is all you seek, the primrose gold that fairies fling,
In this Old Land, the Ever Young, hear when the fresh cheek flushes –
The ripple of the river through the rushes.

You can hear it at high noon in sunny June,
While swallows skim, and salmon leap, or underneath the lover’s moon,
When you picture loved one’s blushes, and hear through songs of thrushes –
The ripple of the river through the rushes.

You may hear it in the fall recalling all –
Old scenes, old friends, old ways, old days, old hopes come back at its soft call,
Just an echo! Yet the yearning for it sweets the heart in gushes –
The ripple of the river through the rushes.

You shall hear it through the cold when you are old,
Though storm and stress and winter frost and chill that comes from greed of gold.
Shall hear, who heard it long ago, till death your heaving hushes –
The ripple of the river through the rushes.

END

Death Of Dinny Fahey, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, on Monday 26th September 2022, of Mr Denis (Dinny) Fahey, Oxfordshire, UK and formerly of Greenane, Templederry, Nenagh Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Ned and Ciss, sister Mary and his nephew Eddie: Mr Fahey passed away peacefully.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving family, brothers Donie, Phil and Eamonn, sister Eileen, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Fahey reposed at O’Dwyer’s funeral home, Upperchurch, Thurles this evening Thursday, October 6th at 5:00pm, before being received into the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Templederry at 8:00pm.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated tomorrow afternoon, Friday, October 7th, at 2:00pm, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Upperchurch Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Fahey 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 John Dunphy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, today, Thursday 6th October 2022, of Mr John Dunphy, Castle Park, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Cullohill, Co Laois.

Mr Dunphy passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at Sacred Heart, Nursing Home, Crosspatrick, Co Kilkenny.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his devoted wife Marette (Margaret), sons Aongus, Eoin and Lorcan, daughter Ailish, grandchildren Aoife, Orlaith, Ellen, Jack, Cian, Ruan, Fiadh, Saoirse and Fionn, daughters-in-law Alison, Jane and Michelle, son-in-law Christy, brothers Canon Larry (Urlingford) and Paddy (Cullohill), nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, former colleagues in An Garda Síochána, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Dumphy will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, on Monday next, October 10th, at 10:30am, to repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Graveyard, Durrow, Co. Laois, arriving at approximately 1:00pm.

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

The extended Dunphy 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.