Thurles Information

Death Of Johnny Ferncombe, Clonoulty, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 16th April 2026, of Mr Johnny Ferncombe, Longfield, Clonoulty, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his beloved son Martin; Mr Ferncombe passed away peacefully at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, South Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Nancy, sons Jimmy, Brendan, John-Paul and David, daughters Annette, Pamela and Una, sons-in-law John and Kevin, daughters-in-law Mary, Deirdre, Sharon and Maggie, grandchildren Cameron, Jordyn, Lee, Kelly, Ryan, Aura, Ruby, Ella, Lana, Sophie, Andrew, Adam, Joshua, Jayden, Jake, Richard, A.J., Cody, Aaron, Jack and Molly, brothers Michael and Billsie, sisters Nora, Nellie and Anne, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Ferncombe will repose at Devitt’s Funeral Home, The Green, Cashel, on Saturday afternoon next, April 18th, from 5:30pm until 7:30pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Nodstown, Boherlahan, Cashel, on Sunday next, April 19th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Ardmayle Cemetery, Ardmayle, Co. Tipperary.

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

The extended Ferncombe 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.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Thurles Sinn Féin Protest Set To Disrupt Town As Questions Grow Over Judgment and Impact.

A fuel and cost-of-living protest is set to take place in Thurles this Saturday, April 18th, with organisers urging a public turnout in the town centre.

The demonstration, organised by Sinn Féin representative Mr Dan Harty, is due to assemble in the Munster Hotel car park before proceeding to Liberty Square at approximately 2:30pm.

However, the decision to stage yet another protest in the heart of Thurles is already being met with growing frustration locally, particularly among business owners and residents who have seen at first-hand the disruption caused by similar demonstrations nationwide in recent days.

Across Ireland, recent fuel protests have led to gridlock, blocked roads, and major disruption to daily life, including key routes and town centres. These events have not only delayed commuters but also interfered with trade, deliveries, and normal business activity.

Against that backdrop, many are now asking why Thurles; an already congested town on a busy weekend, has been chosen as the venue for another large gathering.

Liberty Square is a central commercial hub. Even limited disruption at peak times can have an outsized effect on small businesses, many of which are already under pressure from rising energy and operating costs. For traders trying to keep doors open, any reduction in access or footfall is not a minor inconvenience, it is a direct hit.

Critics argue that while people have every right to protest, repeating tactics that have already caused widespread disruption, risks alienating the very communities such movements claim to represent.

There are also growing questions about whether protests of this nature are achieving anything tangible, or simply creating further pressure on towns and local economies, without delivering any real meaningful outcomes.
The organiser of the event, Sinn Féin representative Mr Dan Harty, previously had a fairly modest result in the 2024 local elections in the Thurles LEA, with only an 8% share of first-preference votes numbering just 742. This left him below the quota and behind all other elected candidates, to be eliminated relatively early, due to his support base being relatively small compared to the other leading candidates.

The heavy cost of fuel, driven mainly by global supply disruptions, and with the protest expected to draw a flag waving crowd, into an already busy town centre; the focus now shifts to the real impact on Thurles town itself, its streets, its businesses, and the people who rely upon both.

As frustration mounts, many will be watching closely to see whether this latest demonstration reflects responsible leadership, or simply a continuation of disruption that local communities can ill afford.

Tipperary’s Ryan O’Meara: A New Generation TD Or Simply A Work in Progress?

Mr Ryan O’Meara’s criticism of his far more experienced Fianna Fáil leader, Mr Micheál Martin, has emerged during the fallout from the recent 2026 fuel protests, when he and other younger Fianna Fáil TDs publicly challenged the government’s response as too slow and disconnected from public anger.
In a notably pointed intervention, they warned that “it should not require protests and deep community frustration to get a Government to listen and to act,”, latter a remark widely interpreted as a direct rebuke of Martin’s leadership style and decision-making approach.
While framed as a call for the party to“do better” rather than a personal attack, the intervention exposed a growing generational divide within Fianna Fáil, where newer TDs like O’Meara are signalling frustration that seasoned leadership figures may be increasingly out of touch with the pressures facing ordinary voters.

When Ryan O’Meara was elected to the Dáil in late 2024, he represented something Fianna Fáil had been searching for: youth, energy, and a fresh connection to voters. At just around 30 years old, his rise from mild local activist, to national politician was observed as rapid, almost unusually so, in Irish political terms. But nearly a year and a half into his tenure as a TD for Tipperary North, a more important question has emerged: “What has that rise actually meant for the people of North Tipperary he represents?”

That Meteoric Rise.
O’Meara’s political journey has been anything but slow. He moved from being a local area representative and councillor in 2024, to securing a Dáil seat within months.
Before entering elected politics, he worked as a parliamentary assistant to a Fianna Fáil TD, giving him limited insider exposure to how the system works.

Limited local profile through community involvement:

Director of Nenagh Credit Union.
Mental health awareness initiatives.
Local heritage and community groups.

This combination, grassroots involvement and political apprenticeship, helped shape his image as a somewhat grounded, yet approachable candidate.

A New Voice in Leinster House.
Since entering the Dáil, O’Meara has taken on the typical responsibilities of a first-term TD:

Serving on committees such as Budgetary Oversight, Defence, and Education.
Raising parliamentary questions on regional development, social welfare, and planning issues.
Acting as a Fianna Fáil spokesperson on education and youth.

He has also positioned himself as part of a younger bloc within Fianna Fáil, willing to challenge leadership tone and direction. This month, April 2026, he joined other young TDs in expressing “real and deep concern” about how the government handled fuel protests, criticising what they saw as a lack of responsiveness to public frustration.

This moment suggested something important:
O’Meara is not just a party loyalist, he is attempting to carve out an independent voice.

Delivering Locally: The Missing Piece.
Despite this activity, the key test of any TD, especially in rural Ireland, is delivery. And here, the picture is more mixed.

O’Meara has:

Opened a constituency office in Thurles, fulfilling a campaign promise and improving local accessibility.
Raised issues around healthcare, education, and regional development.
Maintained a visible presence in local and national discussions.

But there is little clear evidence of major, tangible wins for North Tipperary so far:

No major infrastructure projects directly attributed to him.
No standout funding announcements linked to his efforts.
No defining policy achievement.

The above means his impact is still more potential than proven.

Politics Under Pressure.
O’Meara’s time in office has not been without controversy or challenge. In late 2025, his constituency office was vandalised with graffiti labelling Fianna Fáil as “traitors,” which he described as an attempt to intimidate democratic work.
While possibly unrelated to his policy positions, the incident highlighted the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding present Irish politics, particularly around cost-of-living issues.

More recently, his criticism of government handling of protests reflects a broader reality; younger politicians are feeling pressure from voters who believe the system is not responding quickly enough.

The Bigger Question: What Kind of TD Will He Be?
Ryan O’Meara sits at an interesting crossroads.

Yes he has:

Youth and relatability.
Strong party backing.
Early signs of independence.

But he lacks:

Seniority.
Proven delivery.
A defining political achievement.

In a constituency with experienced operators and high expectations, that gap matters.

Final Thoughts.
Ryan O’Meara’s story so far is not one of failure, but neither is it one of clear success.
It is the story of a politician in formation, representing a generational shift within Fianna Fáil, but for many here in North Tipperary, the real test is still ahead; Can he move from raising personal issues to delivering results?
Until then, his legacy remains unwritten, full of promise, but still waiting for proof.

RTÉ Reaffirms Commitment To Responsible Spending.

While Renewing Essential Transport Services, RTÉ Reaffirms Commitment To Responsible Spending.

Keeping in mind that RTÉ, in the recent past, needed €56 million from taxpayers to survive, same has confirmed the renewal of a controlled, multi-year contract for chauffeur-driven transport services, emphasising that the arrangement is a standard operational requirement and represents a modest, capped cost within a tightly managed budget framework.

The contract, valued at up to €175,000 over five years, relates to the provision of pre-booked chauffeur services for programme contributors, visiting guests, and official engagements. This equates to a maximum of approximately €35,000 per annum, and will operate on an as-needed basis, under a competitive tender process.

RTÉ has stressed that this arrangement is not new spending, but a continuation of an existing framework first established in 2021 and now being renewed following its expiry. The service is separate from general taxi usage and is intended for specific operational scenarios requiring reliability, scheduling precision, and discretion.

Accountability in the Context of Public Funding.The renewal comes in the context of significant public scrutiny following the €56 million State bailout in 2024, alongside broader reforms aimed at restoring trust and ensuring financial sustainability.
RTÉ acknowledges the importance of demonstrating clear value for money to licence fee payers and taxpayers, particularly in light of commitments made as part of its restructuring programme, including cost controls, workforce reductions, and tighter oversight of discretionary expenditure.

A spokesperson stated: “All procurement decisions are subject to rigorous internal governance and public procurement rules. This contract reflects a defined operational need and is structured to ensure cost efficiency, transparency, and accountability.”

Operational Necessity and Cost Controls.
The broadcaster noted that transport services are a core requirement for live broadcasting, where timing, coordination, and reliability are critical. Chauffeur services are used selectively for:

Time-sensitive programme contributors
International or high-profile guests
Situations requiring confidentiality or logistical coordination

The contract will be delivered through a multi-supplier framework (up to three providers), ensuring competitive pricing and flexibility, while preventing over-reliance on any single vendor.
RTÉ also highlighted that the €175,000 figure represents a maximum ceiling rather than guaranteed expenditure, with actual usage expected to vary depending on operational demand.

Ongoing Commitment to Reform
RTÉ reiterated that it remains focused on:

Strengthening financial oversight
Reducing unnecessary expenditure
Delivering public service broadcasting efficiently

The organisation confirmed that all spending decisions will continue to be assessed against the principles of necessity, proportionality, and public accountability.

Three Years of Flooding At Thurles ALDI – Works Finally Begin in 2026.

**Aldi customer parking area pictured in January 2026.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Following serious concerns raised regarding ongoing flooding at the ALDI store car park on Kickham Street, Thurles, with customers continuing to face unsafe and unusable parking conditions more than three years after the issue was first reported, work finally began yesterday.

A photograph taken on the morning of January 26th, 2026, clearly shows extensive surface water flooding across the main entrance and parking bays, forcing customers to navigate large pools of standing water. In some cases, shoppers had been compelled to use spaces designated for disabled parking due to the inaccessibility of standard bays.

Local customers have described the situation as “a recurring winter problem since at least 2023,” with reports and complaints dating back several years.
Despite this long-standing issue, only now, in mid-April 2026, have works finally commenced on site, following repeated delays linked to drainage issues associated with the adjacent public roadway.

**Contractors yesterday move in to sort out long awaited flooding issues in Aldi carpark, Thurles.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

Correspondence from ALDI Customer Services indicates that these delays were due to dependencies on council-managed drainage works. However, questions remain as to why a long-term solution was not implemented earlier, particularly given that public drainage infrastructure at the site sits significantly lower than the store’s car park level; a factor that would typically allow for effective water runoff if properly engineered.
Loyal customers question whether the issue has been adequately escalated within ALDI management, asking whether the Area Manager has visited the site since the problem was first identified and whether repeated reports from store staff have been acted upon.

The ongoing situation raises broader concerns regarding customer safety, accessibility, and the impact on local trade, particularly for a store known for its strong community engagement and loyal customer base.

While the commencement of works is now acknowledged, it comes after three consecutive winters of disruption, and customers will be watching closely to ensure that a permanent and effective solution is finally delivered.