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I first fell in love with Easter when I heard Judy Garland sing “I could write a sonnet about your Easter Bonnet With all the frills upon it in the Easter Parade”. Then and for many years later, within the environs of Thurles, was held an ‘Easter Bonnet Parade’. Sadly no more.
In pre-television days as a child it was a treat for me to go out in the early morning, on Easter Sunday, and search under the newly planted cabbage plant leaves to see if the Easter Bunny or Good Fairy of Easter, had brought me a surprise in the dark of night; a reward for being a good boy who had not broken any windows; taking 21 yard frees, playing hurling on the road or had not annoyed the poor unfortunate neighbours with harmless blaggarding.
The movie, “Easter Parade”, with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, might be showing in the local cinema, to which we went in the afternoon, funded by our Easter egg money, with comics to swap for little chocolate Easter eggs or what remained of a large sized Easter Egg; had we been really lucky enough earlier that morning.
At Easter Sunday Mass it was essential that we brought home bottles of Easter Water, with the stern warning to be sure to not spill it along the way home.
Easter was always one of the most joyful times of the year for us children despite being asked to write essays (compositions, or aisti we called them) on Eiri na Casca and An Chaisc, at the local Christian Brothers School. Easter Sunday was such an uplifting experience after all the solemnity and serious ceremonies of Good Friday, when shops had to be closed before the Stations of the Cross on that day, and when Thurles Cathedral would be packed with genuinely religious folks.
The tradition of the closing of shop shutters on Good Friday, again is longer observed.
As kids we always wore our very best clothes for Mass on Easter Sunday, which was followed by the Easter Commemorations; featuring male members of the Old IRA and Cumann na mBan (“The Women’s Council”) both of whom who had fought in the Irish War of Independence from 1919 to 1921, between the Irish Republican Army and British forces.
Some of those gathered wore Easter Lily badges in their lapels. Here on this day in Liberty Square, Thurles, the Irish Proclamation of Independence would be read aloud and the Irish National Anthem played, as townsfolk stood, like Kevin Barry, who according to the song ‘Kevin Barry’ “proudly held his head on high”, in honour of all who had died during that same War of Independence, begun over 100 years ago, in Soloheadbeg in County Tipperary, on the day the first Dáil Eireann met on January 21st, 1919. As the years have rolled by, the number of those old soldiers who marched in the Easter Sunday Commemorations Parade, sadly are no longer with us.
At the cuardaiocht evenings, on Easter Sunday night, in Thurles in earlier days, it was mandatory to sing “Tipperary So Far Away” a song about legendary Sean Treacy of the Third Tipperary Brigade Old IRA, who was held in the highest esteem in the homesteads of Tipperary. The exploits of Treacy and those of the Third Tipperary Brigade of the Old IRA were related in almost reverential tones by older folks.
The late Mrs Kathleen Allis Cleary, a first cousin once removed of Sean Treacy, lived here in Thurles and possessed the violin which Sean Treacy played at other Cuardaiocht evenings, long ago in possibly more convivial and reverential times in Co. Tipperary.
Easter is still, for me, an uplifting time, offering sparkling hope for the future and not a little nostalgia for a more innocent past.
Happy Easter to all and well wear on your bonnets, ladies! Hats the way!
Tom Ryan, ”Iona” Rahealty, Thurles, County Tipperary.
Ireland’s power generation and industrial emissions decreased by four percent in 2022
- In 2022, greenhouse gas emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies, covered by the EU Emissions Trading System, decreased by 4 %.
- Emissions decreased by 2 % from the electricity generation sector.
- The decrease in industrial emissions is over 7 %, with the cement industry emissions decreasing by almost 9%.
- In contrast, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased dramatically by approximately 94 % compared to 2021, which reflects continued growth in this sector after the impact of Covid-19.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the Competent Authority in Ireland for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), today released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, from the ETS sector.
Emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies decreased by 4 % (more than 600.000 tonnes) in 2022. This compares with a decrease of approximately 1.2 % across Europe, according to preliminary analysis by carbon analysts of the data released today by the EU Commission.
Ireland’s ETS sector delivered a decrease in emissions in 2022 due to a combination of factors, including increased use of renewable electricity and renewable fuels as well as a decrease in cement production.
In the electricity sector there was less use of coal and peat fired generation compared to the previous year, as conventional gas generation was available along with renewable energy. Fossil fired power stations continued to play a strong role in meeting a high electricity demand.
Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General said: “While the decrease we are seeing for 2022 from the emissions trading sector is welcome, 2022 emissions are in fact slightly above the pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Much more needs to be done if the sectoral targets under the 2023 Climate Action Plan are to be reached.
The challenges faced in the power generation sector are in sharp focus at the moment. Decisions taken now must recognise the urgency of the climate change challenge and support the delivery of reductions in emissions through the development and roll out of a range of low carbon and renewable solutions.”
Aside from power generation, the decrease in industrial emissions is seven per cent.
- Cement industries recorded a 9 % decrease overall, due to a drop in production and a small increase in the use of biofuels.
- Emissions from pharmachem industries decreased by almost 3 %.
Aviation emissions from flights within the European Economic Area reported to Ireland by 31st March increased by 94 %, compared to 2021, to over 10 million tonnes. This is still lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 12.8 million tonnes. While some restructuring of routes has taken place – and some operators previously reporting to UK are reporting to Ireland – nevertheless the emissions data reflect that there was a strong recovery of the sector in 2022.
Dr Ms Maria Martin, EPA Senior Manager, said: “The increase in aviation emissions highlights the need to reduce the carbon intensity of air travel, including through the use of sustainable aviation fuels. In addition to other EU initiatives, the revised ETS Directive, shortly to be published, will incentivise the use of such fuels.”
In Ireland, 107 major industrial and institutional sites were required to report their emissions for 2022 by 31st March 2023 in the EU Emissions Trading System. These include sites operating in the power generation, cement, lime, and oil refining sectors. Also included are large companies in sectors such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.
Details of the verified emissions of greenhouse gases in 2022 are available on the EU’s website HERE. The data are not complete for all Member states. Analysis of the EU data can be found in Carbon Pulse, HERE.
Further details about Emissions Trading are available on the EPA website HERE.
Further information about Ireland’s overall greenhouse gas emissions is also available HERE and the EPA has developed useful infographics and published the detailed greenhouse gas inventory HERE.
A Place In My Heart.
Lyrics: By Canadian singer-songwriter, author, and poet Jean-pierre Ferland.
Vocals: Greek singer, the great Nana Mouskouri.
Find a quiet spot; make yourself comfortable; close your eyes and listen to the wonderful lyrics, vocals and music!
A Place In My Heart
I got your letter yesterday,
From some small town I never knew.
It told me you were on your way,
But not where you were going to.
You said you’re following the sun,
But do you really know for sure.
For after all is said and done,
Just what it is you’re looking for.
There’s a place in my heart,
I wish that your eyes could see.
And there’s no one on earth,
Who loves you as much as me.
If you just travel on and on,
Till I don’t know where.
There’s a place in my heart,
You may never find again.
And so you travel with the wind,
You’ ll find some road to fly along.
And though your letter says the word,
Your heart may soon forget the song.
Then you may someday write the poem,
That tells your life in words of fire,
But you will never have a home,
Or find the love that you desire.
There’s a place in my heart,
I wish that your eyes could see.
And there’s no one on earth,
Who loves you as much as me.
If you just travel on and on,
Till I don’t know where,
There’s a place in my heart,
You may never find again.
And so you are heading for the sea,
Now that the flowers are in bloom,
Just when the wild Mimosa tree,
Is like the colour of our room.
If you just travel on and on,
Till I don’t know where.
There’s a place in my heart,
You may never find again.
END
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Sunday 2nd April, 2023, of Mrs Mary Tierney (née Doolan), Clareen, Ballycahill, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre-deceased by her husband Paddy; the passing of Mrs Tierney is most deeply regretted by her family, Larry, Gerry, Joan (O’Mahony), Patrica (Purcell), and Patrick, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons-in-law Jody and Dick, daughters-in-law Sadie and Elenor, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Tierney will repose at her place of residence on Tuesday afternoon, April 4th, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Church of St. Cataldus, Ballycahill, Thurles, on Wednesday morning, April 5th, to further repose for Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Holycross Cemetery, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Tierney, same can be viewed, streamed live online HERE
The extended Tierney 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.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Ms Glynis Hughes, Lismolin Castle, Lismolin, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and formerly Uffington, Oxfordshire, England.
Ms Hughes, sadly, passed away unexpectedly.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving daughter Natalie, her grandson William, sisters Mary and Janet, brothers John and David, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The remains of Ms Hughes will repose at St. Michael’s Church Mortuary, St Michael’s Church, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Tuesday evening, April 4th, from 6:00pm until 7:00pm.
The remains of Ms Hughes will be removed on Wednesday morning, April 5th, at 11:00am, to be received into the Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Spike Island, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, for cremation at 2:00pm.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.
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