Thurles Information

Pharma MSD Open Ireland’s Largest Solar Generation Project In Tipperary.

Pharma giant MSD (the international name for US-based pharma and healthcare giant Merck & Co., Inc.) has officially opened Ireland’s largest self-generation solar project, at its Ballydine site, here in south Co. Tipperary.

Working in partnership with the state owned electricity company ESB (Electricity Supply Board), latter Ireland’s foremost energy company; MSD have built the 7.3MW ground-mounted solar PV array, to support the Ballydine factory facility in significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Same is in line with MSD’s announcement just last year to achieve carbon neutrality, across its whole manufacturing operation by the year 2025.

MSD estimate that the system could generate approximately 7.9GWh of clean, renewable electricity thus producing some 20% of its energy requirements from renewable energy sources.

MSD employs more than 2,800 staff across six sites in Ireland, with bases in Tipperary, Carlow, Cork, Meath and Dublin and to date MSD have invested more than $4bn into its Irish operations, which manufacture around half of its top 20 products.

An Age Of Innocence.

The four year old boy announced at the dinner table, “Dad, I’ve decided to get married”.

A surprised father replied, “Wonderful son and do you have a particular girl in mind?”

“Yes” replied his young son, “Grandma”. He further continued in his efforts to justify the reason for his intentions; “She said she loves me, I love her, too, and she’s the best cook and story teller in the whole world”.

His father replied, “That’s very nice son, but we do have a small problem here”.

“What’s the problem?”, queried the young boy.

His father replied, “Well son, not trying to disappoint you, but she happens to be my mother. How can you possibly marry my mother”.

The young boy quickly retorted “Why not? Didn’t you marry mine”.

EPA Calls For Urgent Measures To Tackle Packaging Waste.

Ireland generated over one million tonnes of packaging waste in 2020, for the fourth year in a row.
Ireland is continuing to achieve high levels of recycling for glass (84%), paper/cardboard (78%) and metal packaging (71%).
Plastics present a serious challenge. Only 29% of plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2020, a long way off the 2025 EU target of 50%. The majority of Ireland’s plastic packaging waste is being incinerated.
Targeted financial and regulatory measures are urgently needed to drive a step change improvement in plastic recycling.

The EPA has today published its latest figures on packaging waste in Ireland.

Ireland is meeting current EU recycling targets and achieving high recycling rates for some streams such as glass, paper/cardboard and metals. However, recycling rates remain low for plastic at 29%, and the share of plastic packaging treated by incineration was 71% in 2020.

The EPA data shows that Ireland will face significant challenges in meeting the 2025 and 2030 recycling targets for plastic of 50% and 55%.
The majority of Ireland’s recycling is done abroad, with just 18% of packaging waste (204,000 tonnes) recycled in Ireland in 2020, mainly glass and wood.

Most plastic packaging waste was sent for incineration, with less than one third recycled. Diversion to energy recovery is happening due to poor segregation at businesses and homes and challenges finding financially viable markets for lightweight and low-quality plastics. If the current practices continue, Ireland will struggle to meet plastic recycling targets and the climate emissions associated from managing plastic waste will continue to grow.

Commenting on the figures, Ms Sharon Finegan, (Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability) said:
“While Ireland is meeting current recycling targets, future targets will be more challenging, especially for plastic. Achieving the step change improvement needed in plastic recycling requires fiscal and regulatory measures to be introduced without delay. This could include enhanced recycling subsidies, a levy on incineration, introducing performance targets on waste operators, and the implementation of incentivised pricing to encourage Irish businesses and households to properly segregate their waste for recycling”.

Along with improving recycling rates, measures are needed to prevent packaging waste. Ireland’s generation of 1.1 million tonnes of packaging waste per year, represents a poor use of materials and energy and is a growing source of emissions. Packaging waste can be avoided and reduced through better product design and by substituting single use for reusable packaging.

Mr Warren Phelan, (Programme Manager of the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme) noted:
“With Ireland’s packaging waste exceeding 1.1 million tonnes per year, we need to intensify efforts to reduce packaging waste. Examples of reusable packaging already in use in Ireland include wooden pallets, kegs, and various plastic bulk containers, trays, boxes and buckets. While just 1 per cent of the packaging placed on the Irish market in 2020 was reusable (approximately 8,000 tonnes), this avoided about 72,000 tonnes of single use packaging”.

The report Packaging Waste in Ireland in 2020, is now available on the EPA website HERE.
Contact: Ms Emily Williamson, (EPA Media Relations Office), Tel: 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie.

Death Of Sr. Miriam O’Byrne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Sunday 11th September 2022, of Sr. Miriam O’Byrne, Presentation Convent, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Pre-deceased by her sisters Marie and Addie and her brothers Ted, John, Aidan and Rory; Sr. Miriam sadly passed away while in the care of staff at the Palliative Care Unit, University Hospital, Waterford.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her sisters; Sr. Ann, (Sisters of Charity of St. Paul the Apostle, Scotland) and Pauline Clark, Ontario, Canada, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended relatives, loving Presentation Community and Congregation, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Sr. Miriam will repose in the Presentation Convent Chapel, Cathedral Street Thurles, this afternoon, Monday, September 12th, from 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 13th, at 12:00 noon in the Convent Chapel, followed by interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

[NB: Due to continuing C-19 virus fears; those attending will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]

The extended O’Byrne 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.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Fine Gael Politician Simon Harris Announces Funding For Tipperary Education & Training Board.

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland (FHERIS) Minister Mr Simon Harris, announced on Friday last that Tipperary Education and Training Board (Tipp ETB), has been included in the first tranche of 13 capital projects, latter to be funded under a new capital programme for Further Education and Training sector.

Tipperary ETB is to be included as one of the projects funded in a first tranche of capital investment, under the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund.

Minister Harris, is expected to visit Tipperary over the coming weeks, when he is expected to announce the full details of the project to be funded, within the county, with Tipperary ETB actively working in partnership with SOLAS nationally, Tipperary County Council and TUS; to develop clear progressive pathways for students.