The long awaited new link road in Thurles, which now joins the Templemore and Nenagh roads, was officially opened at midday today by Mr Alan Kelly TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport & Tourism.
The new link road was named after one of Thurles Town’s proudest sons Jimmy Doyle, possibly the finest Tipperary hurler in the history of the game, and will henceforth will be known as “Jimmy Doyle Road.”
Jimmy was born only a short “puck,” from Semple Stadium, close to the Hospital of The Assumption, and a short distance from the road now bearing his name. Jimmy played hurling for his local club Thurles Sarsfields and at county senior level for almost two decades, winning four county minor hurling titles and ten county senior hurling titles. He is also holder of a football county title with Thurles Crokes in 1960.
This road is an important piece of infrastructure in the Thurles area, which should now assist in alleviating at least some traffic congestion in the town centre for the future.
In 1991, Thurles Town Council first identified the need to provide a link road from the N-62 Templemore Road to join the R-498 Nenagh Road, thus addressing serious road safety issues for both vehicles, cyclists & pedestrian at the junctions of Parnell Street / Cu-Chulainn Road, and Cu-Chulainn Road /O’Donovan Rossa Street.
We will be bringing you more pictures & details on this positive event for Thurles, over the coming days.
It’s nice to call a road after a local.
Totally agree and Jimmy has given us such enjoyment down the years.
Alan Kelly taking all the credit as usual. Political gombeenism at its best. The North Tipperary council should be the ones given the credit for it and Michael Lowry.
You are dead right Chris.