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Men Take Exceptional Care Tomorrow

What could be worse than Storm Jorge or catching the Coronavirus, tomorrow. In years gone by, tomorrow, February‌ 29th‌ ‌was‌ ‌one‌ ‌day when men could find themselves in very great danger, spending their remaining days on this earth in that realm where slavery truly exists‌. ‌

Here in‌ ‌Ireland‌, ‌we‌ ‌have‌ ‌a ‌long held ‌tradition‌ on ‌February‌ 29th‌, better known as Leap‌ ‌Day‌; for it is on‌ this ‌one and only day; that ‌women‌ ‌become elevated and hold the right to ‌propose‌ marriage ‌to‌ ‌a man.

So‌ ‌when ‌did‌ ‌this‌ ‌most dangerous of Irish tradition‌s ‌materialise?‌ ‌

Here in Ireland, legend‌ ‌has‌ ‌it‌ ‌that‌ ‌St‌. ‌Brigid‌ ‌bitterly complained‌ ‌to‌ ‌St.‌ ‌Patrick‌ ‌that‌ ‌Irish ‌women‌ had‌ ‌to‌ ‌hang around‌ ‌far‌ ‌too‌ ‌long‌ ‌for‌ ‌their‌ male ‌partners‌ ‌to‌ ‌propose marriage.‌ ‌Following long and careful consideration ‌St. Patrick‌ finally agreed, thus yielding to her complaint and agreeing that ‌women‌ ‌could‌ ‌have‌ ‌one‌ ‌day‌ ‌every‌ ‌four‌ ‌year‌s ‌to‌ ‌’pop‌ ‌the‌ ‌question‌’.‌ ‌

However,‌ ‌as we know when you allow women, particularly the high maintenance variety, such high level normally male authority, nothing can be regarded as ‘simple plain‌ ‌sailing’, especially‌ ‌for‌ ‌any ‌man‌ ‌who‌ ‌would dare to politely refuse ‌the request of their ‌lady‌ friend.‌ ‌

Tradition‌ ‌has‌ ‌it‌ ‌that‌ ‌if‌ ‌a‌ ‌man‌ ‌refused ‌the‌ ‌proposal‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌ ‌female lover‌ ‌on‌ ‌a‌ ‌Leap‌ ‌Day‌ ‌then‌ ‌he‌ ‌has to ‌buy‌ ‌her‌ ‌either‌ ‌a‌ silk ‌dress‌ ‌or‌ ‌a‌ ‌pair‌ ‌of‌ ‌silk gloves‌.‌ [‌Now you know why Thurles retailers of female clothing remove “Sale on Here” signs from their shop windows, during the first fortnight in March. And, with the prices charged for a dress, sure maybe agreeing to marriage could end up cheaper than any refusal].

Of course there may be a‌ ‌more‌ ‌practical‌ ‌explanation ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌origins‌ ‌of‌ ‌female‌ Leap‌ ‌Day‌ ‌proposals.‌ Marriages‌ ‌were‌ ‌not allowed ‌to‌ ‌take‌ ‌place‌ ‌during‌ ‌the solemn religious observance of Lent,‌ ‌(Latter beginning Wednesday, 26th February – ending on Thursday, 9th April this year, 2020) and‌ ‌since‌ ‌the‌ ‌start‌ ‌of‌ ‌Lent‌ ‌comes‌ ‌around ‌on the‌ ‌end‌ ‌of‌ ‌February,‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌one ‌way‌ ‌to‌ ‌guarantee‌ ‌that‌ ‌woman ‌would‌ ‌not‌ ‌be‌ ‌‘left‌ completely on the shelf‌’ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌further‌ ‌40‌ ‌days‌ ‌and‌ ‌nights.‌
[I am aware that Lent is a time for doing penance, and what greater act of self-abasement, mortification or devotion, I ask you, is than for a man to accept a proposal from a woman on Leap Day!]

You single men need to be careful out there tomorrow; don’t say you were not warned in advance. ‌
‌ ‌

Forming Political Landscape Following Yesterday’s General Election

While 100% of ballot boxes have now been tallied and keeping in mind that the above count is a rough tally and NOT the official count; hereunder appears to be the political layout for the lifetime of the next Dáil with regards to Co. Tipperary.


Michael Lowry 17%
Martin Brown 12%
Mattie McGrath 10%
Jackie Cahill 9%
Alan Kelly 9%



Seamus Healy 6%
Garret Ahearn 6%
Joe Hannigan 5%
Mary Newman Julian 5%
Imelda Goldsboro 4%
Rob O’Donnell 3%
Sandra Farrell 3%
Dolores Cahill 1%



As expected, once again Fine Gael candidates have been shunned, while the overall majority of votes cast, went to Non-Party candidates.

Save Money & Save Energy Information Night

A public energy information evening will be held in Holycross Community Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Tuesday Feb. 18th 2020, at 8:00pm.

This event is being organised in association with Domhan Glas Environmental Group.

Householders attending will learn much more about how to save money on energy costs and home heating; more details of grants available for energy upgrades; finance options available through the Credit Union, and community owned renewable energy projects.

The event is being organised in association in association with Domhan Glas Environmental Group.

Speakers on the night will include representatives from Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative; Drombane Upperchurch Energy Team; Thurles Credit Union and Community Power, Ireland’s first community owned electricity supplier.

Death Of Ms Marese Skehan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Monday 3rd February 2020, of Ms Marese Skehan, Cabra Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Ms Skehan, “Bride of Christ” was a Home Help Coordinator with Thurles Community Social Services, Mid-Western Health Board and HSE since 1982.

Predeceased by her parents Liam and Mai; her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving family; brothers Jim, Gerard and Fr. William; sisters Hilary, Kay and Michelle; nephews; nieces; grand-nephew; sisters in law Margaret and Betty; brothers in law Sean and Liam; aunt Phillis; cousins; extended relatives; neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements

The earthly remains of Ms Skehan will lie in repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles on tomorrow evening, Wednesday February 5th, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
Funeral Service on Thursday morning, February 6th, in Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home at 10:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired to Thurles Meals on Wheels.

Death Of Betty Devitt, formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with sadness that we learned of the death today, Tuesday 28th January 2020 of Mrs Betty Devitt (née Callanan), John Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Parkstown, Horse & Jockey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Beloved wife of the late Tom; Mrs Devitt passed away peacefully at South Tipperary General Hospital.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving family; daughters Maura and Joan; sons John, Liam and James; sons-in-law Sean and Padraig; daughters-in-law Josephine, Alice and Siobhán; grandchildren Conor, Niall, Clodagh, Aisling, Adam, Sean, Aidan, Áine, Brian and Ronan; nephews; nieces; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements

The earthly remains of Mrs Devitt will lie in repose at Devitt’s Funeral Parlour, The Green, Cashel on Thursday evening next, January 30th, 2020, from 5:30pm, with removal at 7:30pm to St. John the Baptist Church, Friar Street, Cashel.
Requiem Mass will take place on Friday at 12:00 noon, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery, John Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.