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Death Of Tony Molloy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Saturday 25th April 2026, of Mr Anthony Joseph (Tony) Molloy, Crossogue, Ballycahill, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Predeceased by his parents Frank and Ann, sister Mary and brother Franz; Mr Molloy passed away peacefully at his place of ordinary residence, surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; devoted and loving wife Veronica (née Wilkinson) and family; sons Mark and John, daughters Pippa, Anna-Rose, Kate and Tessa, grandchildren Shelley, Ian, Zak, Humphrey, Sam, Emily, Camilla, Bartolomé, Hannah, Luke, Belén, Carra, Sandy, Alexandria, Harriet and Ruben, great-grandchild Leuan, daughters and son-in-law Nick, Clara and Jennifer, brother Joseph, sister Christelle, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Molloy will repose at his place of residence, (Eircode E41 W6Y8), on Tuesday afternoon, April 28th from 4:00pm until 7:00pm.
His remains will be received into the Church of St Cataldus, Ballycahill, Thurles, on Wednesday morning, April 29th, at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by a private Cremation Service at Shannon Crematorium, Illaunmanagh, Co. Clare, (Eircode V14 PV30).

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

The extended Molloy and Wilkinson 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: Donations if desired to Milford Care Centre, in Memory of Mr Anthony Joseph (Tony) Molloy.

Death Of John Fitzgerald, Formerly Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Thursday 23rd April 2026, of Mr John Fitzgerald, Lucan, Co. Dublin and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his sister Kay; Mr Fitzgerald passed away peacefully, while in the loving care of staff at the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Geraldine, son Graham and daughter Sinéad, grandchildren Finn, Polly, Seán, Donie and Niamh, son-in-law David, daughter-in-law Emily, brothers Frank, Michael, Bill and Gerard, sisters Josephine, Ann and Marie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Fitzgerald will repose at his place of residence on Monday afternoon, April 27th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of St Mary, Lucan Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin on Tuesday morning, April 28th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Esker Lawn Cemetery, Lucan-Newlands Road, Lucan and Pettycanon, Lucan, Co. Dublin, (Eircode K78 E9T7).

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

The extended Fitzgerald 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.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to the Mater Foundation in memory of Mr John Fitzgerald.

A Little Good News.

‘A Little Good News’

Lyrics: American country music songwriter and producer Charlie Black; American country music songwriter and music publisher Rory Bourke, and professional country music songwriter Tommy Rocco.
Vocals: Canadian country-pop artist Anne Murray.

Ms Anne Murray.

Back in 1983, just like today, when the world already feels full of troubling headlines, Ms Anne Murray recorded a song that really struck a chord with ordinary people. It’s about something we can all relate to; that feeling of turning on the news and just wishing, just for once, that there was something positive to hear.
Written by Charlie Black, Rory Bourke, and Tommy Rocco, this song, hereunder, went on to become a number one country hit and win a Grammy. The song reminds us how much we all need a little hope, or even as the title suggests, ‘A Little Good News.’

‘A Little Good News’

‘A Little Good News’.

I rolled out this morning, the kids had the morning news show on.
Bryant Gumbel was talking ’bout the fighting in Lebanon.
Some senator was squawking ’bout the bad economy.
It’s gonna get worse, you see, we need a change in policy.

There’s a local paper rolled up in a rubber band.
One more sad story’s one more than I can stand.
Just once how I’d like to see the headline say,
Not much to print today, can’t find nothing bad to say,

Because,

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town.
Nobody OD’d, nobody burned a single building down.
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain.
We sure could use a little good news today.

I’ll come home this evening, I’ll bet that the news will be the same.
Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane.
How I wanna hear the anchorman talk about a county fair.
And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care.
Whoa, tell me

Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today,
And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play,
And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA.
We sure could use a little good news today.

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town.
Nobody OD’d, nobody burned a single building down.
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain.
We sure could use a little good news today.

End.

Discover Waratah – Now Blooming At O’Driscolls Garden Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Few shrubs in the gardening world command attention quite like ‘Telopea speciosissima‘, the celebrated New South Wales Waratah.

More than just a plant, this stunning evergreen stands as a vibrant symbol of drama, colour, and botanical heritage. Native to Australia, it grows as a robust shrub reaching up to three metres in height, adorned with leathery green foliage that forms the perfect backdrop to its unforgettable large blooms.

Telopea speciosissima – New South Wales (NSW) state emblem.
Photo: G. Willoughby.

For those seeking something truly special, this magnificent shrub is currently available on sale at O’Driscolls Garden Centre. This same Garden Centre is renowned for its exceptional selection of rare and unusual shrubs, earning a reputation among discerning gardeners for sourcing plants that elevate any landscape.

What truly sets the Waratah apart is its extraordinary large flower head. Each dome-shaped bloom is composed of hundreds of tightly packed individual flowers, forming a rich crimson spectacle that can measure up to 15 cm across . These blooms appear in spring, lighting up gardens with a vibrancy that is visible from afar; a quality reflected in its name, derived from Greek meaning “seen from a distance”. It is no surprise that this plant holds pride of place as the floral emblem of New South Wales and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most iconic native species.

Beyond its beauty, Telopea speciosissima offers real horticultural value. It thrives in well-drained soil with ample sunlight and rewards gardeners with long-lasting blooms that are equally prized as cut flowers. Its architectural form and bold colouring make it an outstanding focal point in any garden design.

If you wish to introduce a touch of the extraordinary to your garden, the Waratah is an inspired choice; bold, beautiful, and yes utterly unforgettable.

Why not drop in and take a look for yourself.

Record High In Homeless Accommodation Sparks Urgent Government Response.

Housing Emergency.

The number of individuals accessing emergency homeless accommodation has reached a record high, highlighting ongoing pressures within the housing system despite recent rental reforms.

New figures show that 17,517 people were using emergency accommodation in the final week of March, up from 17,308 the previous month. This total includes 11,946 adults and 5,571 children, both representing the highest levels recorded to date.

Tánaiste Mr Simon Harris acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that homelessness in Ireland “is far too high” and emphasizing that the level of child homelessness “cannot be accepted.” He confirmed that a targeted action plan addressing child and family homelessness is expected to be published shortly.

The latest data reflects a 46% increase in homelessness since the removal of the pandemic-era ban on no-fault evictions in April 2023, when the total stood at 11,988 people. The upward trend has continued steadily in the years and months since.

Officials note that the figures account only for those in emergency accommodation and do not include individuals sleeping rough or those housed in settings such as hospitals, asylum centres, or domestic violence shelters.

This report marks the first assessment since the introduction of new rental regulations in March, including reforms around six-year tenancies. The government maintains that these measures are designed to enhance tenant security and encourage housing supply. However, critics argue the changes could lead to rising rents and increased eviction-related homelessness.

Under the updated rules, landlords with four or more tenancies are prohibited from issuing no-fault evictions for new leases starting from March. Smaller landlords may still terminate tenancies under specific conditions—such as financial hardship or accommodating a family member—but are restricted from resetting rent levels until the six-year tenancy period concludes.

The government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the housing crisis, with further policy measures anticipated in the coming weeks.