Thurles Information

Garda Appeal For Assistance In Tracing Missing Tipperary Man.

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 30-year-old Mr Niall Brennan, who has been reported as missing from Mullinahone, Co Tipperary, since Monday, October 13th last, 2025.

Mr Brennan is described as being 6ft tall, of medium build, with brown hair and blue eyes. It is not known what he was wearing when last seen.

Both Gardaí and Mr Brennan’s family confirm that they are extremely concerned for his well-being.

Anyone with information on Mr Brennan’s present whereabouts is asked to contact Clonmel Garda Station, TEL: 052 617 7640, the Garda Confidential Line, TEL: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda Station.

Cowardly Vandalism At Thurles TD’s Office Is To Be Condemned.

The office of Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’Meara, situated in Thurles, have been vandalised sometime within the past 24 hours. The incident took place at his rented premises on the junction of Parnell Street and Cuchulain Road, latter a busy local landmark, better known as Hanafin’s Corner.

**Office of Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’Meara vandalised in Thurles**.

This was not protest, nor was it political expression, it was pure vandalism. Whoever carried it out has shown nothing but disrespect for the local community and also for the democratic process.

Disagreeing with a public representative is one thing; attempting to intimidate or deface their workplace is quite another. Acts like this achieve nothing but division and damage the very tone of public life.

In a democracy, there are proper channels to voice frustration; through open debate, the ballot box, and community engagement. Resorting to mindless destruction is a coward’s substitute for reasoned argument.

No doubt local people will express shock and disappointment at the incident, and it is expected Gardaí will investigate. Those responsible should be ashamed of their actions, they have let down not only themselves but the town of Thurles as a whole.

Historical Chalices Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

**“Walter of the Rosaries Chalice”.** *(Walter na bPaidríní)*.
*Pic: G. Willoughby* ©

If you ask Thurles [Map Ref.] people what is the oldest manufactured object in daily use in this area, they might not immediately think of the chalices located in their local Church. This may well be so, and the story behind each chalice may be interesting in itself, to lovers of local and Irish history.

Our special thanks to historian and researcher Very Rev. Monsignor Dr Maurice Dooley, AP, Parish of Loughmore, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, and former lecturer on Canon Law at St Patrick’s College, Cathedral, Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Death Of Patricia O’Dwyer, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 23rd October 2025, of Mrs Patricia O’Dwyer (née Cunniffe), The Willows, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Horseleap, Tuam, Co. Galway.

Pre-deceased by her father Jack; Mrs O’Dwyer passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Milford Care Centre, surrounded by her family.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving husband John, son Ronan, mother Bridie, brother Tom, sisters Mary and Fionnuala (Mason), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended relatives, great neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs O’Dwyer will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59) on Saturday afternoon, October 25th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, same evening.
Her remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles (Eircode E41 A528) on Sunday morning, October 26th, at 10:30am to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Killinan Cemetery, Killinan, Nenagh Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs O’Dwyer, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended O’Dwyer and Cunniffe families 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.

Note Please: Family flowers only, donations if desired to Suir Haven Care Centre or Milford Care Centre, Limerick, in memory of Mrs Patricia O’Dwyer (née Cunniffe)

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

EPA Report – Tipperary County Council Required To Focus On Performance.

The EPA has a supervisory role over local authorities and assesses their environmental inspection and enforcement performance under the EPA’s Local Authority Performance Framework.
There are 19 National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs) which focus on delivering positive environmental outcomes for air quality, water quality, waste management and environmental noise.

Local Authorities’ environmental performance is improving but continued commitment needed to deliver on National Enforcement Priorities.

Tipperary County Council is commended for achieving an Excellent result in the
Solid Fuel and Air Quality Monitoring & Data Use NEPs, however greater focus is
required in the areas where Moderate results were attained

Local authorities improved their environmental enforcement performance by 20% over the past three years, with 79% of the National Enforcement Priority (NEP) assessments meeting the required standard in 2024.

In 2024, 630 staff across 31 local authorities:

Conducted 227,400 environmental inspections,
Regulated 10,700 licences, permits and certificates,
Responded to 76,500 complaints,
Carried out 18,050 enforcement actions.
Initiated 414 prosecutions.
Six local authorities achieved high performance scores in 2024 namely Meath, Dublin City, South Dublin, Kildare, Fingal and Cork City Councils. The five lowest performing local authorities were Leitrim, Galway City, Sligo, Clare and Donegal.
Local authorities must prioritise and allocate appropriate resources to deliver the National Enforcement Priorities, which aim to improve air and water quality, promote increased recycling and re-use of waste and reduce people’s exposure to transport noise.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2024. The report shows that the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities in 2024 was extensive.

Across the 31 local authorities, 630 staff:

conducted 227,400 environmental inspections,
regulated 10,700 licences, permits and certificates,
responded to 76,500 complaints,
carried out 18,050 enforcement actions and
initiated 414 prosecutions.

The report found that local authorities have made strong progress in enforcing environmental regulations over the past three years. The report highlights improvements in areas such as tackling illegal waste activities and the enforcement of construction and demolition waste. However, it also points to the need for increased focus on water, air and noise enforcement to fully deliver on the National Enforcement Priorities. The findings underscore both the achievements to date and the ongoing challenges in delivering consistent and effective enforcement action across the country.

The EPA’s performance review found that:

Six local authorities achieved high performance scores in 2024. These were Meath, Dublin City, South Dublin, Kildare, Fingal and Cork City Councils.
Three further local authorities consistently achieved good performance scores over the past three years: Monaghan, Carlow and Cork County Councils.
The five lowest performing local authorities were Leitrim, Galway City, Sligo, Clare and Donegal.

Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “Strong enforcement of environmental laws is essential to detect pollution and ensure that those who break the rules are held responsible. Local authorities play a vital role in safeguarding our environment — especially when enforcement is prioritised and supported with the right resources. This report shows that most local authorities are responding to the challenge, but some such as Leitrim, Galway City, Sligo, Clare and Donegal are lagging behind and need to do better. Keeping up momentum is crucial to fully deliver on the National Enforcement Priorities and to protect our environment.”
Dr. Mick Henry, Senior Inspector in the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “Local authorities are making solid progress in waste enforcement, especially in tackling illegal activities and managing construction and demolition waste. However, enforcement in water, air and noise is showing slower progress. Agricultural run-off, trade effluent, solid fuel burning and traffic noise continue to harm the environment and public health. We are urging local authorities to strengthen their efforts in these areas to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for all.”

Agriculture continues to have a significant impact on water quality, resulting in excess levels of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and sediment entering our waterways. Local authorities must carry out more farm inspections and follow-up enforcement to reach the National Agricultural Inspection Programme annual target of 4,500 farms, to drive compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice regulations and reduce the impact on water quality.
Local authorities must also prioritise the inspection and enforcement of Section 4 Discharge Licences (trade effluent), particularly those that are a significant pressure on receiving water quality.

The Local Authority Environmental Enforcement Performance Report 2024 is available on the EPA website.