The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” [Isaiah Chapter 29 – Verse13.]
Hypocrisy – The practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is really the case.
Readers will remember that in early July 2019, Ireland’s High Court granted Tipperary Co. Council an injunction, compelling members of the Travelling Community to vacate an area where their halting site was regarded as “constituting a public danger” to themselves and others. Another more serious, yet similar Health & Safety issue has once again reoccurred in our Cathedral Town.
I refer, of course, to the ever moving pedestrian crossing / traffic lights, outside of Thurles Cathedral. Here again, same busy crossing is “constituting a public danger” to over 600 school children, as they attempt to cross twice daily, getting to and from rural school buses, not to mention the several hundred church pilgrims and local shoppers; all pedestrians, going about their daily business here in Thurles, each day.
Pedestrian Crossing, on Cathedral Street Thurles, once again struck by a high-sided vehicle. [Picture taken on November 15th 2019, G. Willoughby]
We here at Thurles.Info have highlighted the issue of the constantly moving pedestrian crossing traffic lights, outside of Thurles Cathedral, at least five times in all, first on February 1st, 2018. [Almost one year and ten months ago.]
The problems associated did not need the benefit /advice of a qualified County Council Engineer. It was obvious to the dogs currently permitted to fowl our streets, that when two high sided trucks attempt to pass in a narrow space, then such manoeuvres are bound to result in something being adjusted. On this present occasion even the steel pole supporting these traffic lights has now become somewhat curved from its original and previous straight condition.
This issue, we highlighted once again, on July 16th, 2018; and yes, readers will recall that we highlighted this same problem for the third time on January 22nd, 2019.
On April 2nd, 2019, we highlighted this topic yet again, rightly accusing Tipperary Co. Council of wasting rate payers money.
On September 10th 2019, we did not highlight this problem, in the real fear that our readers would think that we were suffering from paranoia.
Today however, November 16th, 2019, in view of recent High Court actions relating to several Health & Safety issues, each constituting a public danger, here in Thurles, we feel we should draw attention to this serious concern one more time, before someone has to be scraped off our Cathedral Street pedestrian crossing.
We are well aware by now that our Templemore /Thurles Municipal district councillors are totally powerless, but in the case where same Councillors have now been made aware, once again, of this issue; keep in mind that the above photo and web post will enable compensation costs to be more easily collected from Tipperary Co. Council. After all, they were and are fully aware of this ever present danger.
Time now, after almost two years of continuous repairs, to finally move these offending traffic lights to a safer distance, apart from each other and to pursue the need for that long awaited Thurles Ring Road, thus removing 21st century, 18-wheeler, freight-carrying-trucks from our 12th century, narrow streets.
Having been completely failed by our current Fine Gael minority government and their supporters, with regard to the promised Thurles Ring Road, one wonders why we are presently bothering to up-grade Liberty Square next year or whenever.
Iarnród Éireann are advising customers to check their journey details prior to travelling this weekend.
Note: A full list of available services can be viewed on line, on Irish Rail’s web application, Journey Planner, or by Telephoning (0504) 21733 or (01) 836 6222.
Over this weekend, Dublin Cork and Limerick rail line services, affecting Thurles, are set to be disrupted with service cancellations and bus replacement transfers, latter which will impact several Munster and Leinster counties.
For commuters travelling to Dublin, Irish Rail confirm that Dart services are also expected to be somewhat restricted.
On tomorrow, Saturday, November 9th, 2019, Irish Rail confirm that the following changes will apply.
21:00 hrs: Dublin Heuston to Cork will operate using a bus transfer from Heuston serving Portlaoise and Thurles, when commuters will then continue their journey by train from Thurles to Cork.
20:25 hrs: Cork to Dublin Heuston reverse run will operate again back to Thurles only, with bus transfers in operation beginning from Thurles; serving Portlaoise, Portarlington, Monasterevin, Kildare, Newbridge and Heuston.
On Sunday, November 10th the 08:30hrs Heuston to Tralee service is deferred to the later time of 09:00hrs.
Iarnród Éireann, apologising for this disruption to services, state that this investment of some €10 million in overall line improvements, will lead to greater service reliability; smoother running of trains and will further deliver a consistent 160kph speeds (100 mph), which in turn will deliver shorter journey times for its consumers.
Can you, our readers, spot the stupidity in the picture hereunder, by 12:00 noon tomorrow, Monday October 28th. Thurles people only, with the correct answer will have their names placed into a raffle, with the final winner taking home one cash prize of €50.00. Note: The name of the winner will be published on this website.
Oh, and by the way, Councillor Mr Jim Ryan, the new signs are not replacing the “old outdated signs”; same old signs still remain in place to this very day, to the embarrassment of Thurles town dwellers. One such embassassment indeed exists within metres from your own front gate on Manor Mill Road, which you, as an elected councillor, from 2008 to current date, has driven past several times daily, for the last 11 years.
Readers please note: The Erin Foods factory that had been in operation in Thurles, Co Tipperary, for 46 years, closed in June 2008, with the loss of 95 jobs, never to be replaced.
While it may take, as in this case, over 15 months to be acted on; note, of course we do not mind Co. Councillors making “gratuitous acclaim” on their social media pages for that which we have highlighted on numerous occasions, e.g. [July 10th 2018] – [March 21st, 2019], same brought about by “the unyoked humour of said councillor’s continued idleness”. Yes, we intend to continue to highlight such issues into the future, in our attempt to highlight that which requires immediate action, within our local community.
Thurles.Info are delighted to observe that at last local Thurles Municipal District councillors are reading our website and taking the information, gleaned from same, to Tipperary Co. Council meetings.
Perhaps Councillor Mr Jim Ryan might like to make contact again with Tipperary Co. Council engineers, tomorrow morning; as their appointed workforce would appear to have been working in the dark on the Templemore Road in the last few days.
Do check in with us in the coming days, when we again hope to bring “a rush of blood” to the faces of our local elected representatives.
Liberty Square, Thurles.(Top of picture facing in an easterly direction. New car parking area outlined on right hand side.) Picture G. Willoughby
The contract for the long-awaited refurbishment of Liberty Square in Thurles was signed yesterday October 24th. Plans had initially been finalised and announced first in February 2017.
The Company of Mr David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd has been successful in winning the Tipperary Co. Council tender.
We understand that work is expected to commence towards the end of November 2019, beginning first with the new carpark provision, same located on the southside of the town. Work here is expected to be completed in approximately four months, (March 2020).
Work to refurbish Liberty Square itself is then expected to begin in March 2020.
A male motorcyclist, aged in his 30’s, has lost his life following a fatal road crash in North Co. Tipperary.
The motorcycle is understood to have accidentally struck another parked vehicle, at approximately 7.40pm last evening, on the Ballinderry road, close to the village of Puckane.
Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was taken to University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem is expected be carried out later today.
Gardaí are appealing for any information and have requested witnesses with knowledge of the incident to contact them at Nenagh Garda Station Tel: 067 50450; the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111 or indeed any garda station.
Yesterday’s tragic road death brings to 118 the number of persons killed on Irish roads so far this year, 2019; 7 more than for the same period in 2018. So far this year 21 pedestrians; 62 drivers; 14 passengers; 14 motorcyclists and 7 pedal cyclists have lost their lives.
A total of 149 people lost their lives on Ireland’s roads during the whole of 2018, as a result of 142 fatal road collisions.
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