Thurles.Info’s‘eye in the sky’ sent back some rather disturbing images this morning. The first issue was the wanton destruction, by some ‘uncouth barbarians’, of public bench-seating, situated in the Cabragh-Ballycurrane area, close to the now redundant old Sugar Factory and closer still to the Thurles Top Oil Depot, on Route 659, south west of Thurles town.
Over this St Patrick’s weekend, vandals struck, severely damaging community seating, which had a wheelchair accessible plinth (rectangular block base).
Public bench-seating in Thurles destroyed in an act of vandalism.
As locals are probably aware, this facility, over the years, was been widely used by both young, old and infirmed, e.g. those attending the Thurles Rehab Care Resource Centre, and in more recent times the Ukrainian Refugees, based at the old Sugar Factory, on Cabra Road.
This bench-seating plinth, was put in place, and paid for, some years ago by the local residents association in conjunction with Thurles Lions Club. This weekend was the first time that it was vandalised and sprayed with paint.
Hopefully our local authority will see the benefit in rushing out, to undertake necessary repairs to this community seating.
Another Bent Post.
Our second image demonstrates a failure brought about, once again, by Tipperary Co. Council’s failure to employ qualified engineers. The picture, immediately above, shows yet another bent signpost, adding to the very large number of other bent and misleading signposts, stretched right across the town, being ignored for years.
Sadly, this act carried out at 10:45 Greenwich Mean Time, this morning, will, I greatly fear, put an end to any hope of our 5 awards, as promised.
Yet Another Three Day, Single, Crater Filling, Exercise.
As you can see from the image above, our ‘Eye in the Sky’ caught a glimps of a JCB attempting, for the second time in just 6 days, to fill the same single pothole on Kickham Street, Dublin Road, Thurles. Thankfully, none of the other 48 craters were filled in, so I suppose we should be grateful to the town’s Administrator, her local Engineer and the Chief Executive of the County Council.
One nearby neighbour, in an effort to remove my frustration and my down cast fizzog, said that the new crater filling, put in place this morning, should be gone again, over the next two days, and hopefully long before the adjudicators reach their expected final decisions. (So least said in case judges are out and about). Luckily the JCB operator left the filling to exiting traffic, to put pressure on the craters filling, in the knowledge that he would be back again on Friday or Monday, at the latest.
It’s a funny country, our little Ireland; we give out about the cost of medical health issues and funds spent by the HSE, yet we ignore, completely, the sheer waste of taxpayer money spent at Local Government and Municipal District Council level.
An estimated 2,500 viewers attended at the Thurles St Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday afternoon last, March 17th; encouraged out by the bright spring sunshine and the slight increase in the local temperature.
Possibly the largest crowd ever in the history of such parades; people from the Republic of the Philippines, Ukraine, England, São Paulo in Brazil, China, Poland, Italy and Stockholm in Sweden, joined the large number of local residents, who turned out for this most enjoyable of events.
The huge crowds (See also Video Part 1 HERE) that packed Thurles streets, from Friar Street west, through the town centre and unto Barry’s Bridge, were extremely impressed by the colours of floats; the marching groups representing numerous clubs and societies; the bands and other individuals; all taking part.
A huge “Thank You” to the work undertaken by Mr John Kenehan and his committee, and to the many people ‘in yellow jackets’, who successfully ensured the health and safety of the public in attendance.
Mná Month continues in Cashel Library, but do remember booking is essential for all those attending, so do please telephone Cashel Library at 062 63825, to avoid disappointment.
Current Photographic Display:
(Note: Display continues only until March 17th2024). Cashel library celebrates the incredible talent of local photographer Ger Long. From the captivating scenes of nature to the heart-warming moments of childhood, every photograph in this exhibition titled “Liminal”, (between past and present), tells a unique and inspiring story.
Wednesday 13th March @ 7pm: Visit by AuthorEimear Ryan.
A chance to meet and greet acclaimed author Eimear Ryan, who will discuss her book “The Grass Ceiling: On Being a Woman in Sport”; she burrows deep into the confluence of gender and sport.
Friday 15th March @11am: St Patrick & the Patriarchy; lecture by Branch Librarian Ms Maura Barrett.
St Patrick is synonymous with Christianity’s arrival in Ireland, heralding a new religious ideology, patriarchal and monotheistic, replacing the older order of the divine feminine.
NOTE: All events are provided FREE of charge at Cashel Library. Again, Booking Essential please to Tel. No.: 062 63825. [ You canlocate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX) ].
We learned today that an agreement has been reached, allowing the public to continue to use the Munster Hotel car park, latter situated eastward, on the junction of Cathedral Street and Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Metal Cladding remains adrift on Munster Hotel roof, today in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Pic. G. Willoughby.
A request sent to Ms Sharon Scully (Thurles MD Administrator), with regards to the details of the new financial package, paid by taxpayers, and now agreed between Tipperary Co. Council and the owner Mr Martin Healy, for the next 12 months, has not as yet been disclosed.
The possible non availability of the parking spaces into the future had been first highlighted by Cllr. Jim Ryan, after negotiations had apparently broken down, thus promising even greater reduction in not just town centre footfall, but major issue with regards to Church services and School student transport. This massive reduction in footfall follows the half upgrading of Liberty Square, which according to the few remaining businesses trading in the area, has been reduced by at least 65% over the past 4 years.
Regrettably, changes to parking bays on Cathedral Street; same regulations changed in favour of the parking of School buses, which previously sat within the car park, will now have to be reversed again, to ensure that small businesses in the immediate area, continue to attract consumers.
Meanwhile, the large sheet of metal cladding, adrift on the Munster Hotel roof, continues to threaten any vehicles parked in the immediate area. One wonders whose insurance company is involved and have they been made aware of the need to correct this dangerous issue?
The waste of taxpayers money continues.
By the way, talking about Cathedral Street, Thurles; one Pedestrian Crossing light bulb (Green) has not been working for some weeks, since it was struck by a high sided vehicle, same exiting MIC(St. Patricks College Thurles).
Despite the statements and so called interventions by Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jackie Cahill and Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, yesterday’s statement printed in the Thurles Cathedral Mass Booklet correctly states, quote:-
“As you are possibly aware, the Munster Hotel Car-park has now closed for public use. This is a regrettable decision for all who visit and attend ceremonies at our Cathedral. Please be aware of this and plan your parking accordingly when visiting the Cathedral. Please note that the MIC (St. Patrick’s College)is available for weekend parking. However, due to the increased number of students the MIC carpark is not available on weekdays during College term”.
This accounts for the fact that the coin slot on the parking metre in this car park was taped-over on Saturday last, although the tape was removed this afternoon (Monday March 4th).
Thurles Cathedral forecourt with partially completed marked car parking spaces. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Thurles.Info warned of this problem some weeks ago [January 8th, 2024], regarding parking for those attending Mass, Funerals etc at the Thurles Cathedral, and indeed the impending challenges and dangers caused by no parking for retailers/consumers, latter attempting to transact service in numerous small, nearby business premises.
Look skyward as you pass the former Munster Hotel building, latter Thurles town’s number 1 eyesore, believed to be owned by Mr Martin Healy (Member of Thurles Chamber of Commerce), as metal material is ready to displace itself from the Hotel’s roof. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Right at this moment, while public car parking still occurs at the carpark in question; vehicle owners should be aware that our ‘eye in the sky’ has identified a large section of what appears to be metal material, that has broken loose from the roof of this Thurles town eyesore (Munster Hotel) and is due to descend into the car-park, therefore likely to strike a school bus, or other parked vehicle, or indeed likely to land in Cathedral Street, same propelled by a sharp south westerly wind blowing outside today.
Meanwhile, Thurles Cathedral (see pic. above) has partially undertaken, this morning, to mark out limited car-park spaces and pedestrian lanes on its tiny forecourt, in the interest of public health and safety.
‘TheSource’ Car Park, paid for by Rate Payers, (which cannot accept buses) continues to remain closed today following an arson attack last year. Pic: G. Willoughby.
The Source Car Park, paid for by Rate Payers, still remains closed, although the streamers, ripped from roof insulation which was left uncovered, appears to have been removed, indicating a possible opening in the near future and will, no doubt, be welcomed by Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Jackie Cahill or Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry.
Bicycle bays remained empty this morning as Thurles Town continues to becomes a “no go area” for motor vehicle parking. This situation should be etched on the electorates mind, when local elections take place shortly, in our once thriving town. Local newspapers and local radio stations should now be highlighting and publishing this wanton destruction of a town centre, instead of reposting/publishing, ‘willy-nilly’, the press releases of Local Councillors and resident TD’s.
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