At least 15,000 Tipperary homes and business premises are without electric power this morning, with many reports of fallen trees and strewn branch debris, following the extreme winds courtesy of Storm Éowyn.
Here in Thurles town council workers will have a few extra jobs to undertake today, as our pictures hereunder now demonstrate.
Branches down at the ‘Swinging Gates’, on the junction of Emmet Street and Thomond Road, Thurles, at early light this morning. Picture: G. Willoughby
Large tree blown over on the N62 close to Thurles Golf Club entrance closing the west facing lane. Motorists warned to take care. Picture: G. Willoughby.
Newly planted trees in the vicinity of Lidl Supermarket, will need immediate attention. Picture: G. Willoughby.
Met Eireann has, this morning, downgraded the Red Level severe weather wind alert to Level Orange for all of Co. Tipperary; same valid from 7:00am today Friday January 24th until at least midday. For more information see www.Met.ie
Members of the public can contact Tipperary Co. Council Customer Service Desk on 0818 06 5000/6000 or a dedicated Severe Weather contact Number at 0818 06 5001 during Friday 24th January from 9.00am to 10.00pm and on Saturday 25th January from 9.00am to 1.00pm, after which calls will be transferred to the Council’s Out-of-hours contact number 0818 06 5003. Members of the public can also email customerservices@tipperarycoco.ie to report their concerns.
Members of the public are reminded to register (free) on MapAlerter, a public emergency notification system available on the Council’s Website, where they can receive additional useful information by text and e-mail.
The extremely strong winds are expected to cause fallen trees, power lines, damage to property, flying debris, and road blockages making driving conditions dangerous.
Council road crews will not be in a position to respond to call-outs from midnight tonight, until the end of the Red Warning at 11:00am on Friday. Members of the public using the roads during this period could potentially find themselves very isolated should they get into difficulty. The Fire Services will only be in a position to respond to emergency calls that are deemed to be life critical.
Note: Council Offices and services including libraries, swimming pools and civic amenity sites will be closed to the public on Friday January 24th. Civic Amenity sites will reopen again on Saturday 25th January.
A total of 174 people lost their lives on roads in the Republic of Ireland in 2024, while 68 people died on Northern Ireland’s roads during this same period. This is according to statistics published by the Road Safety Authority and based on statistics from operational data supplied by An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
This figure of road death victims in the Republic of Ireland is down by 7(4% decrease), from the figure of 181 reported in 2023, according to An Garda Síochána supported data. The counties that recorded the highest number of deaths were Dublin(23), Cork(19), Mayo(19) and Donegal(17); same accounting for 45% of all fatalities last year. In 2023, the highest number of road deaths was in Tipperary(16).
In the Irish Republic these deaths were as a direct result of 160 fatal collisions, and include 39 pedestrians; 71 vehicle drivers; 35 passengers; 4 E-Scooters/passengers, and 17 motorcyclists.
Analysis of the figures further reveal a high proportion of male fatalities, with a year on continued increase of young fatalities amongst those aged 25 years old or less, with a high number of same fatal collisions taking place between the hours of 4:00pm and 8:00pm.
In February of 2025, the default speed limit on rural local roads is expected to be reduced, following the recommendation of the 2023 Speed Limit Review.
In a country which is unable to properly maintain road surfaces outside of Dublin city; the Road Safety Authority has announced price increases for a number of its services, including driving licence fees and NCTs.
The price of a driving licence is now set to increase in price by €10.00; from the current price of €55.00 to €65.00, while the price of a learner permit will also increase by €10.00 from €35.00 to €45.00.
A full NCT will now also increase in price by €5.00 from €55 to €60, while a retest currently costing €28.00, will now cost an extra €12.00; increased to €40.00.
A commercial vehicle roadworthiness test will also increase by 15% in the pre-VAT cost.
All price changes are expected to come into effect from January 1st 2025.
The RSA maintain that the increase in prices is due to a planned €18m expenditure on “public interest activities and government priorities”, (whatever they are).
Note: Ireland’s current national car fleet currently stands at some 2.36 million vehicles. Petrol and Diesel model account for 89% (two million vehicles) of this National Fleet, while Electric Vehicles (EV & PHEV) represent some 5%.Ireland’s current population in 2023 was 5.262 million.
Thurles Municipal District Officials; Councillors together with other unsuspecting drivers are being asked to take great care when travelling on Upper Kickham Street, (N75), in Thurles, Co. Tipperary tomorrow. Due to recent frosts, a section of the road surface, which had been dug up, has now totally disintegrated leaving huge craters directly opposite Aldi(on North side) and close to the entrance to Monakeeba housing estate(on South side).
State of road surface on Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Four living craters now currently exist on both sides of this traffic infested roadway, and have done so for the past two weeks. Despite being invisible to travelling motorists, these craters, as expected, have received absolutely no maintenance attention. But then again, it’s cold and Thurles Municipal District Officials don’t get out all that much in this type of weather.
The only reason I mention this tonight is because Thurles Councillors could be travelling into Thurles as expected tomorrow, to rubber stamp the planned Phase 2 upgrade for Liberty Square etc.
Thurles Town centre traders already having lost at least 40% to 60% of former footfall, under the Phase 1 upgrade, are expected to also be in attendance; to protest against these planned illogical and fallacious changes, same formulated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and expected to be supported by aforementioned officials and some recently elected, unqualified councillors.
We will be looking at this matter more fully and in greater detail after tomorrows decisive meeting, which will no doubt be demanding immediate resignations.
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