Pictures hereunder currently show the present state of just a two meter (6.56ft) stretch of roadscape in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
State of roadscape currently on Friar Street in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, latter a town with two Dail Éireann politicians both currently in residence, who have their constituency offices less than 500 meters from the above. Pic: G. Willoughby.
The craters have developed over a period of 12 weeks, on Friar Street in the town, and can be easily located just east of Supervalu.
Cyclists in particular are warned to take great care to avoid these craters positioned close to the footpath. These craters measuring up to 15cm (6ins) deep are a particular hazard after dark, and presently force cyclists to quickly move out into often fast moving traffic, in an effort to avoid the cratered surface.
The current state of this particular streetscape, together with other areas of the town [e.g. Barry’s bridge, Kickham Street etc, etc], demonstrate a total lack of proper administration by Thurles Municipal District Council officials.
Kickham Street, Thurles, pictured after a light rain shower. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Perhaps, this would be an opportune time for Mr Jackie Cahill TD and Mr Michael Lowry TD to invite Minister for Transport, Mr Eamon Ryan TD to visit a now forgotten Thurles. Emphasize and ensure that he brings his bicycle and pedals around the town. Other benefits would be that the latter TD’s could have their pictures taken, together with local Town Councillors.
The finial (from Latin: finis, meaning end), which originally donned the flag on the 1798 memorial statue when it was first erected on Liberty Square, Thurles in 1901, has now, at last been, replaced.
Pic (1): 1798 Memorial Flag with finical replaced. Pic (2): Old picture showing original finical prior to accident.
Accidently broken, together with the tip of the Arming Sword, during the erection of Christmas lighting some years back; while the Arming Sword tip was replaced, alas the finial was not and same vanished.
Back in the 19th century, this finial shape would have been better known as a “truck”, with its original purpose meant to keep a wooden flag pole from splitting.
At the very top of every flagpole can be found a finial, which is not just a decorative piece that users construct. Most finials today appear in the form of a gold ball and a few are observed as an eagle. Back on September 16th 1898 the flag pole finial on the White House, latter located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. United States, was replaced by a patriotic eagle, same made of aluminium and coated in a gold anodized finish.
A finial ball is truly required for pole maintenance. A number of military flagpoles were at one time topped with gold-coloured eagles, but these proved impractical because flags would become entangled and torn, during high winds; hence the switch to spheres shapes, which eliminated this unnecessary waste and expense.
In the absence of the Stone Mans finical, many local people in Thurles believed the flag pole represented a pike, but of course it never was a pike.
The new finical is made from a left over piece of lime stone slab, which was used to replace a badly cracked piece of limestone previously, in Holycross Abbey, and carved by stonemason and sculptor Mr Philip Quinn.
Affia Hussey, aged 4 years, walks with newly arrived Irish Wolfhounds, Rían and Míde, who today took up permanent residence on the grounds of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Photograph by Eamon Ward
Unlike the town of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, which has allowed its elected representatives to succeed in eradicating most of the town’s history; Bunratty village in Co. Clare, has reinstated a small but attractive piece of their medieval history, for the benifit of its well established tourist trade.
The sight of Irish wolfhounds roaming the paths and laneways of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park has now once again been reinstated.
Among the largest of all breeds of dog, Irish wolfhounds were regular guests at Bunratty Castle from the early days of its medieval banquets in the 1960’s. The dogs would roam the great hall and dining areas as would have been the custom in medieval times at the castle.
12-week-old Rían, (Irish meaning King), and 1-year-old Míde, (latter named after the 5th province of Ireland in Celtic times), today took up permanent residence on the grounds of the famous County Clare visitor attraction. They both replace Meabh and Saoirse, the two previous resident wolfhounds at the castle.
Breeder Mr James Hussey of Cúdáráth Irish Wolfhounds, delivered the dogs to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park today, where they were welcomed by farm manager Mr Niall Moloney.
According to Mr Aodhagan Behan, Operations Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, “Bunratty Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland, and no 15th century Castle is complete without these iconic and noble dogs.” “These noble creatures were regular guests at the Bunratty Castle from the early days of the medieval banquets in the 1960s and therefore it is only fitting that they make a welcome return to this iconic fortress in the same year that the castle world famous medieval banquets celebrate 60 years in operation,” he added.
Mr Niall Moloney, farm manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, explained that Irish wolfhounds are known for being gentle, friendly and very intelligent, and they inhabited Ireland long before the arrival of Christianity and the written word. He stated, “For many visitors, especially children, the sight of wolfhounds wandering throughout the site is the highlight of their visit. We are grateful to Cúdáráth Irish Wolfhounds for their support, and we look forward to hosting Rían and Míde for many years to come”.
Weather-wise, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary today Thursday, July 27th, we saw a mix of light cloud and sunny spells, with just isolated passing showers and moderate west to south-west winds. with Temperatures reached between 18°C and 20°C.
With temperatures reaching 20°C today In Thurles, honey bees took the opportunity to move house. Picture: G. Willoughby (27th July, 2023)
Tonight should see a continuation of mixed clear spells and scattered showers with lowest temperatures of 9°C to 13°C, with light westerly winds changing to become more southerly.
Tomorrow morning, Friday, July 28th, we should awaken again, to sunny spells and scattered showers. However, it will turn cloudier at times during the afternoon and evening, as a band of more frequent and heavier showers moves from the west. We can expect highest temperatures of 16°C to 20°C, with light to moderate south to southwest winds.
On Friday night, rain showers should ease early with clear spells developing, however, more frequent heavy showers will move in from the west later. Lowest temperatures of 10°C to 12°C.
On Saturday, we can expect blustery winds, again with sunny spells and scattered showers, some possibly turning heavy with slightly higher temperatures of 17°C to 20°C. Similar weather is expected across Tipperary on Saturday night, again with lowest temperatures of 10°C to 12°C, and with moderate westerly winds.
On Sunday, again we can expect sunny spells and occasional scattered showers, with highest temperatures of 17°C to 20°C with a more south-westerly breeze.
So if you plan to be out and about in the open air, enjoying the beautiful scenery in Co. Tipperary this weekend, our best advice to you is to pack that lightweight rain jacket and or an umbrella.
Let’s be real here, the Irish postcard era of dry stonewalls; mountain sheep blocking narrow roads against a background of green wide open spaces; bare footed children escorting forlorn overladen donkeys, latter carrying creels of turf; same can no longer be effectuated by our Irish National Tourism Development Authority. We have slid decidedly backwards, as a small island from this once attractive rural tourism marketing ploy, selling relaxation, peace and solitude. This so called relaxed way of life has for many years been consigned to old God Almighties time.
Dublin derives its name from the Irish “dubh linn” – meaning “black-pool”, but recent years and given recent events, it is understandable why some may view Dublin City Centre as more of a “cess-pool” at the moment. Dublin City Centre has lost its charm – and then some. The celebrated central thoroughfares and winding pavements we used to so celebrate in countless spoken verse and lyrics are now more synonymous with anti-social behaviour, faceless boarded shop facades, crime, litter, homelessness, drug use and even violence, generated in many cases by greed.
Same is thanks to a small group of teenage thugs, permitted by their negligent and often absent parents, to roam our capitol’s city streets, exempt from punishment and from the injurious consequences of their purposeful actions.
An area on Stradavoher Street, Thurles, near the scene where a number of homes were destroyed by mysterious fire, over the more recent past. The number shown as 666 is identified as the ‘Number of the Beast’ as mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 13, verse 18) and is explicit in anti-Christian subcultures.
Sadly, in a travel advisory warning this week, the US Embassy in Dublin, refers to what they call “a number of recently reported incidents”, while stating that travellers should immediately safeguard their valuables e.g. credit cards, bank cards, passports etc., while refraining from carrying large amounts of cash.
The Dublin US Embassy also encourages all their American visiting citizens to be aware of their actual surroundings while visiting in Ireland, especially when travelling in unfamiliar places; attending crowded locations and empty streets; and especially if obliged to walk alone, during the hours of darkness.
Sitting opposite Thurles Cathedral, latter building one of the few remaining tourist attractions in Thurles not removed by local councillors, is the privately owned eyesore and blot on the landscape, known as the Munster Hotel.
But it is not just Dublin streets. Here in areas of Thurles also, the broken windows theory has become totally ignored.
For those not familiar with the “Broken Windows Theory”, same states that visible signs of disorder and misbehaviour in an environment will encourage further disorder and misbehaviour, leading to the committal of further both minor and serious crime. This principle amply explains the decay of neighbourhoods.
Thinly layered, lightly printed cloth banners, say ‘Welcome To Thurles‘, I think!
Meanwhile, in an attempt to make tourists feel at home, (same having inadvertently lost their way while travelling to South Tipperary, to find themselves in this jobless conurbation called Thurles); four thinly layered, lightly printed cloth banners, welcoming people to the Liberty Square area of this potholed town, have long since become entangled around their sky hooks, courtesy of our light summer breezes. One wonders how much travelling expenses were generated by the members who met to sanction this cheap tourism fresh approach.
One notes too that our town’s neglect and potholes are a reflection of poor management at County Council and Urban District level. Thurles, despite some ills, is still a town worth visiting for its history, arts, sports and much more. Like so many other urban areas, however, it risks further deterioration and destruction, if we accept ‘broken windows’ and become complacement about the failures and inadequacies of our elected community leaders and County Councils.
The solution to this growing problem of anti-social behaviour is not just placing extra Gardaí on our streets. It includes our justice system ensuring to punish wrong doers as well as local communities co-operating with Gardaí, who for the most part are more than anxious to facilitate change.
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