A planning application by Tipperary County Council to install a footpath on the outskirts of Thurles, at Mill Road (formerly Manor Mill Road) was published last week.
Map of Proposed Footpath For Mill Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The footpath, according to these overdue published plans, will stretch over a distance of some 950 meters in length (3117.0 ft or 0.6 of a mile) with a width throughout of 1.8 meters (almost 6ft), linking from the end of the existing broken path, almost to the stone bridge crossing the Drish River close to Lady’s Well.
The planning application notes that the Mill Road is a narrow, winding, local road connecting both the N75 (If travelling northwards) and the N62 (If travelling southwards) and has more recently come into huge use particularly by heavy goods vehicle (HGV’s), in their attempt to speed-up their access to other national routes, thus avoiding the bottleneck that has totally destroyed the business centre of Thurles Town .
The planning application now published, for this narrow stretch of the Mill Road, (affectionately known to locals as ‘Fat Arse Boulevard’), is necessary so as to provide a safe walking area for pedestrians and those intent on partaking of physical exercise.
The plans for this footpath project are indeed to be welcomed and are now on display until August 23rd next at the Council offices at Mathew Avenue, Thurles, and indeed also available online HERE.
Nota Bene: When you do go online HERE, to examine these plans, scroll down to “Report of Particulars of Proposed Development.pdf” and click on download.
NextSee Site Description:“The Mill road connects the N75 to the north and the N62 via Archerstown to the south. While this is a local road it also serves as a ‘rat run’ for vehicles avoiding Thurles town, seeking to access the national routes and also access the N62 north of Thurles …….”.
Using their words above; here, in this above statement, is full acknowledged admission by Council officials; (namely Mr Thomas Duffy [Checker] and Ms Sharon Scully [Approver]), that Thurles town centre has been destroyed, from the point of view of the operation of local businesses, with major traffic now avoiding the Liberty Square area.
Then, before you, our readers, let out a high pitched maniacal cry; comes sadly, an even greater admission. Quote, “There are a number of housing estates located on the N75 side of the L-4001 Mill Road, which are served by a roadside pedestrian footpath (500m) and also a paved, pedestrian, walking route along ahistorical walking path (‘double ditch’), located some 500m off the N75. Extension of the existing footpath from the‘Double Ditch’access, extending to the Drish Bridge for approx. 950m.“
As our readers will be aware, this historical walking path (‘double ditch’), now menctioned twice in this application, according to local councillors and their officials, did not formerly exist previously and was conveniently never included in the Archaeological Impact Statement by F. Coyne BA MIAI, which was commissioned and paid for by Tipperary Co. Council, courtesy of Tipperary rate payer funding.
No, it is not a paved pedestrian walking route, it is now a route which was completely levelled and received only a temporary coating of tarmacadam. Sadly, today an area critical in the attraction of Tourism to Thurles, no longer exists, courtesy mainly of former FF councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin and his other council colleagues, following the decision to build a useless ‘Inner Relief Road‘ through this historic area, when, if ever, eventual funding can be found. Of course there is no reference to this ‘Inner Relief Road’, mentioned in this planning application.
It should also be noted: The council, in principal only, recently agree a price for the purchase of land west of this Mill Road, with which to deliver the aforementioned ‘Inner Relief Road’, and the late delivery of plans for this new footpath, is understood to have been now an agreed component of this same land deal where space for the footpath had been earlier refused, and which contrary to commitments given by TD Mr Jackie Cahill in a press release, (dated back in October 4th 2021), the project has not yet received government funding.
Meanwhile: Submissions to the proposed development can be made free of charge until 4:30pm on Friday August 6th.
To quote the words contained in Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem, Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field :- “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”
More than 300,000 television viewers across Australia will be introduced to part of the Mid-West region which covers counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, this autumn.
Roger Price (Cinematographer), Erin Malone (Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park), Gareth Bowser, Rebekah Moore (Bunratty Castle & Folk Park) and David Whitehill (Presenter, Proud Nomads) pictured on the village street at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Pic: Courtesy Clare County Council.
An independent TV production team last week visited the popular County Clare visitor attraction known as Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, where they filmed throughout this world-famous medieval castle and its attached 26-acre folk park.
Bunratty will feature in an episode of a new show called ‘Journey to Europe’, fronted by travel journalist and presenter Mr David Whitehill.
The programme will air on The Nine Network, one of five main free-to-air television networks in Australia, and also its streaming service 9Now, come next October. The episode also will feature, for six months, on the Singapore Airlines in-flight entertainment system.
“We were delighted to facilitate the production team as they embarked on a filming trip across the Wild Atlantic Way to highlight the West of Ireland’s rich history and culture, fantastic culinary experiences and stunning landscapes,” explained Ms Erin Malone, Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park.
She further added; “This show will attract a significant audience for Bunratty in an important market for the Irish tourism sector. The timing of the programme’s airing could not be better as people across Australia plan their overseas holiday for 2025.”
The setting up of a Viking village in Ireland’s mid-west region (Tipperary Limerick and Clare) this August Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August) is expected to attract large crowds from surrounding counties and from abroad. Craggaunowen Castle latter situated, in Co. Clare, (V95 AD7E), will become transformed into a Viking village with medieval games, battle creations and a celebration of Norse arts, crafts and trades.
Vikings To Invade Mid-West Region.
‘The Viking Age at Craggaunowen’ will provide visitors with an insight into how the pagan warriors lived in Ireland during the 9th and 10th centuries.
The highlight of the weekend will be the battle recreations on the Castle Green at 12:00pm, 2:00pm and 4:00pm daily, when warring warriors demonstrate their fierce fighting and defensive skills.
Visitors will be able to don the suits of chain-mail and hold a Viking Helmet, shield and other armoury once used for protection, during the intense battles that raged across Ireland over 1,000 years ago.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to see and experience what life was like during the Viking Age at a recreated village, where historically accurate workshop tents will host crafters demonstrating their trading, leather working, and wicket basket and jewellery making skills.
Kids of all ages will also be able to participate in Viking-themed activities from the “throwing logs” game of Knubb to ‘Hnefatafl’, a game akin to modern-day chess.
Ms Pauline Lenihan, (Site Manager at Craggaunowen) said, “The Vikings have invaded Craggaunowen many times down through the years, but they always visit in peace and with an eagerness to share insights into their culture and rich heritage with the wider public.” “Our open-air museum at Craggaunowen will bring the Viking story to life and we hope that people of all ages will come along to learn more about their day-to-day lives and the real people behind the legend of the ‘men from the north’. It promises to be an educational and entertaining weekend for all the family,” added Ms. Lenihan.
The Clare County Council managed visitor attraction at Craggaunowen, which this year celebraters the 50th anniversary of its foundation by John Hunt of The Hunt Collection, recreates what life would have been like for the Bronze Age inhabitants of Ireland. The attraction features a 16th-century castle and a reconstructed “crannog” showing how Celts lived, worked, and defended themselves. The Brendan Boat, built in 1976 by explorer Tim Severin who successfully completed a 4,500-mile transatlantic crossing, also is on permanent display at Craggaunowen.
Tickets for ‘The Viking Age at Craggaunowen’ are available online at www.craggaunowen.ie(normal admission rates apply).
“Can Honour’s voice provoke the silent dust…” Extract from poem ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’, by Thomas Gray.
The earthly remains of an innocent man, executed by hanging in Mountjoy jail; same body having been located within the prison grounds, were handed over to his family last week. Yesterday, Sunday July 7th, 2024 same remains were re-interred, with his parents in the family plot, following Requiem Mass in Holycross Abbey, Thurles, attended by hundreds of people, some who travelled from other countries, to be in attendance.
In November, 1940, the executed Mr Gleeson had found the body of this single mother of seven children in a field owned by his uncle Mr John Caesar, while the former was out tending sheep. The victim had been shot twice in the head and rather than being thanked for alerting local authorities to his gruesome discovery of Ms McCarthy’s body, Mr Gleeson soon found himself charged with her murder. Following his trial and eventual conviction, the manner of execution was proscribed by the then sentencing Judge, Mr Justice Martin Maguire, that he be ‘hanged by the neck until he be dead.’ Alas, Mr Gleeson’s pardon came 83 years after his execution; granted by the current President of Ireland, Mr Michael D. Higgins, on the initial recommendation of former Minister for Justice, Mr Alan Shatter.
Having studied the original trial transcripts and noting that back in 1941 the judge, Mr Martin Maguire, had asked for a gun register to be shown during the trial. Same register although available, had never been produced by the prosecution.
Yet another issue was the temperature of Ms McCarthy’s body, when it had been first located. The post-mortem report from 1940 indicated that Moll had been murdered at a time when Mr Gleeson actually had an alibi.
Ten years ago in 2014, a retired nurse Ms Ann Martin Walsh, who had cared for Ms Moll McCarthy’s eldest daughter, Ms Mary McCarthy, as the latter was nearing her death, confirmed that her patient had clearly declared that ‘I saw my own mother shot on the kitchen floor and an innocent man died’.
Mr Harry Gleeson denied ever being one of Ms Moll McCarthy’s many known lovers or of fathering one of her seven children, which, it was stated could have jeopardised an inheritance of land, due from an uncle John Caesar.
Today, the murdered body of Ms Moll McCarthy lies in an unmarked grave in a now disused cemetery in New-Inn, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
In 2015, following a full review of the trial and the evidence provided, members of the Gleeson family attended a special ceremony at the Department of Justice, where a certificate of official pardon was finally presented.
Having languished for eighty-three years in an unmarked grave in Mountjoy Prison, most wrongly convicted, and having been executed for a murder in which he had neither hand act or part; Mr Gleeson’s remains may soon finally rest in peace, having been declared a totally innocent man. Betrayed by the very system of law, which should have protected him, it has since fallen to others to restore his good name and bring him back home to finally rest.
Requiescat in Pace.
Re-interment Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr Gleeson will be received into the former Cistercian Monastery Abbey at Holycross, Thurles at 1:30pm, to repose for Requiem Mass at 2:00pm on Sunday afternoon next, July 7th, followed by re-interment immediately afterwards in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
For those persons who are unable to attend the re-interment service for Mr Gleeson, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Gleeson 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.
May his innocent soul now enjoy the happiness of Heaven knowing that truth and justice has finally prevailed.
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