Roads « Thurles Information

Roadworks to Take Place At Locations On N62 – Thurles to Roscrea Rd.

Tipperary County Council wishes to advise vehicle users that necessary road resurfacing will be taking place on the N62 at various locations here within Co. Tipperary.

These resurfacing works will commence tomorrow morning, Monday 15th October, at the following locations: Pouldine, Ballybrista, Loughmore, Tinvoher Loughmore, Dublin Road Roundabout, Roscrea and Templemore Road Roundabout, Roscrea.

These works will continue and be on-going until at least Friday 26th October 2018.

Motorists using these areas are advised to begin their journeys a little earlier as “Stop and Go” systems are likely to be in operation and therefore delays can be expected.

Tipperary County Council sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused during this necessary road resurfacing.

Erin Foods, Thurles Set For Multi-Million Redevelopment

Former Erin Foods Site, Thurles, Set For Redevelopment With Multi-Million Investment.

Deputy Michael Lowry TD.,has confirmed that Lidl Ireland have agreed contracts with the owner of the former Erin foods site for the purchase of a 2.5 acre section of this prime property.

Lidl group architects Clarman have completed extensive pre planning consultations with Tipperary County council and are currently in the process of lodging a formal planning application.

The proposed planning application will include the demolition and removal of all existing buildings along with clearance of the entire 8.5 acre site. Lidl intend constructing a modern new store of approx. 22,000 sq. ft with associated car parking to be serviced by means of a new entrance.

Deputy Michael Lowry TD.

The project will take 2 years to complete and Lidl have committed where possible to use local material and trades suppliers.

The project will comprise 3 phases with:
Phase 1 of the project being the demolition of the existing buildings and full site clearance. This in itself is a very substantial contract requiring specialist contractors. It involves the removal of huge quantities of asbestos. This is a hazardous waste. There are stringent regulations governing its removal and disposal. I have been assured by Lidl that this sensitive material will be handled in full compliance with International standards.

Phase 2 will involve the construction of a new site entrance.
The site will be accessed by means of a proposed new roadway which will form the initial phase of the inner relief road for Thurles linking Slievenamon Road to the Mill Road. Also to be included as part of the development works are significant improvements to the River walkway at the rear of the site.

Phase 3 is the construction of the new state of the art retail store.
The Lidl decision to locate a new store on the Erin Foods site enables the entire site to be redeveloped. The very substantial investment by Lidl in their new store including infrastructure such as roadways, car parking, water, waste water, power supply and high end IT capability makes the remainder of the site extremely attractive to other potential investors. It creates an exciting opportunity to revitalise a prime site which has been dormant for years.

Deputy Lowry has stated that he has already been in contact with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to highlight the enormous potential and attractiveness of the remaining 6 acres to companies in need of a fully serviced site.

When the Lidl contract is complete it is the intention of the owner of the remainder of this landmark site to make it publicly available and marketed as an ideal location for office accommodation / research and development facility or manufacturing base. This site will once again be a centre of economic activity and in due course create significant job opportunities.

Thurles Garda Van Overturned By Storm Ali

Gardaí shared a photograph of one of their vehicles; same having been knocked on its side by the sheer force of Storm Ali, close to their Garda Station, outside Thurles Shopping Centre, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The van was made upright and remained parked outside the Shopping centre earlier this morning.

Thankfully no officers were injured in the incident. Gardaí shared the post with the good humoured title ‘Round 1 To Ali‘, (Muhammad Ali we presume) while at the same time demonstrating to other motorists the real dangers of high winds, the heavy rain, flying debris, fallen trees, power cuts, flooding and overall travel disruption.

Storm Ali Leaves Thurles ESB Customers Without Power

An Status Yellow wind warning will remain in place, here in Co. Tipperary, until at least 5.00pm this evening at the earliest, as strong winds from Storm Ali, leave more than 20,000 homes and businesses without power nationwide. A Status Orange wind warning also remains in effect until 1.00pm for more than half the country due to this storm.

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) claim that over 20,000 customers currently remain without power, with the areas worst affected being Thurles, Tralee, Killarney, Galway, Sligo and Cork.

Nationally airline passengers are being advised to check with their particular operator, before travelling to their place of departure.

Weather experts warn of further heavy rain, flying debris, fallen trees, power cuts, flooding and travel disruption which continues to remain a danger in the worst-hit areas of the north west of the country.

The opening of the second day of the 87th annual National Ploughing Championships, at Screggan, Co. Offaly, Europe’s biggest outdoor event and the highlight of the Irish agricultural calendar, has been put back by two hours today, as a safety precaution. ‘Wellies’ are expected to be a necessity for visitors, with over 8mm of rain recorded as having fallen in the bordering host county of Offaly, overnight.

Need For Thurles Ring-Road Debated

“I’d say we’ll get that Thurles Ring-Road before the next General Election”, said I to Mikey Ryan last night. We were above in the Arch Bar, Liberty Square, supping a couple of pints, when, during a sudden lull I overheard criticism being attributed to the engineer who had designed the new junction, joining the Slievenamon Road with the Clongour Road.

“A bit like Gardaí, they’re leaving engineering school much too early”, said some vehement unknown agitator sitting at the next table. “Sure, them long lorries, heading for Thurles mart, can’t even get around the feckin corners any more without mounting the kerbing, in their attempts to avoid causing a two-way traffic jam”.

“More bloody grass for no one to cut”, said I, “Then again, sure you don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes in that bloody Tipperary Council.”

“It reminds me of back many years ago when the elected Labour Party Mayor of Thurles, Mr Pajoe Aloysius Ryan, was officially selected by the then local Thurles Town Council to present his credentials to his counterpart, the Labour Party’s Mayor of Clonmel, Mr Archibald Cummins”, said Mikey, latter still retaining the use of his eyes to lip-read the ongoing remarks made by this same drink fuelled individual.

“Oh yeah I remember him”, said I, “One of the Ryan ‘Rawballs’, if I am not mistaken.

“The very man”, Mikey continued, “On arrival in Clonmel the Thurles Mayor couldn’t get over the palatial mansion afforded to his Labour Party colleague, especially when he compared it to his own rather humble thatched abode. Bejasus, didn’t Archibald ask the Clonmel Mayor how in the name of all things good and holy, could he afford his fabulous dwelling house.

“Well, sure, strictly between you and I, Pajoe, said he, do you see that bridge over there, pointing in the direction of the river Suir”, continued Mikey. “Sure, the EU gave us a grant to build a four-lane bridge, but taking advantage of the situation, what with flood plain problems etc, didn’t I built a single lane bridge with simple traffic lights at either end and used the extra bit of funding to build meself this fine house, the Clonmel Mayer explained in lowish tones”.

“You’re joking me surely”, said I.

“Not a bit of it”, said Mikey, “But sure that is only the half of it. It must have been one year later, possibly on St. Patrick’s Day, when the Mayor of Clonmel, Mr Archibald Cummins, paid a return visit to Thurles; to be awestruck by Mayor Pajoe Aloysius Ryan’s brand new house. It was at least twice the size of his own previously admired Clonmel abode, displaying electric gates front and rear; wall to wall marble floors; together with gold taps and heated toilet seats in the six on-suite bathrooms”.

According to Mikey, Clonmel’s Mayor now quizzed his opposite number on how a small Thurles town Mayor, like himself, could afford such modern splendour.

“Do you see a six-lane, 250-foot-long bridge that was funded by the EU over there?” said Mayor Pajoe Aloysius, grinning, pointing east towards the river Suir.

“The puzzled Mayor of Clonmel scanned the horizon several times before replying, “No.”, said Mikey, with his usual all knowing nod.

“I don’t believe it; still”, said I, “Do you know that Garret Ahern individual, who had the honour of being selected as Fine Gael’s latest political candidate for the next General Election?”

“I do well”, said Mikey, “Played marbles with him in primary school. Sure, in his recent Thurles election brochure wasn’t he pictured with his hands in prayerful mode; inviting Thurles locals; using the words recorded in St. Matthew’s Gospel , inviting us to “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. “Begob”, Mikey reflected, “you don’t think he was trying to attract Labour Party voters do you; sure, all of them must surely have joined Sinn Féin by now.”

“The same again Pat, two more pints when you get a chance”, said I.

“In the words of Worf, latter a well known Star Trek, Klingon warrior”, said Mikey, “jang vIDa je due luq, ach ghotvam’e’ QI’yaH devolve qaS”, which when translated means, “The minister will reply in due course. However, this is a non-devolved matter.”