Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are investigating the sudden death of a 64 year old man, whose body was discovered on a farm near Ardfinnan in South Tipperary on Tuesday morning last, 29th April 2025.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 11:30am, where the man locally named as Mathew ‘Mattie’ O’Brien, was pronounced dead.
Mr O’Brien was originally from Curanna, Golden in Co Tipperary, but he had been living with his partner Catherine at The Cross, Ardfinnan, South Co. Tipperary for a number of years.
His remains have since been removed to University Hospital Waterford to undergo a post-mortem examination, which will determine the direction of any further ongoing Garda investigations.
According to Gardaí, initial findings suggest no signs of foul play and one line of their inquiry suggests that Mr O’Brien may have fallen off a roof he was repairing.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) were notified and they have begun an inquiry into the incident. The local coroner has also been informed, and a report is expected to be compiled for the Coroner’s Court.
Mr O’Brien is survived by his partner Catherine, brothers William, John, Dermot and Tom, sister Mary, Catherine’s three children; Catriona, James and Joseph.
The remains of Mr O’Brien will repose at Costigan’s Funeral Home, Cahir, Co. Tipperary on Friday evening next, May 2nd, from 6:00pm until 7:30pm. Requiem Mass for Mr O’Brien will be celebrated on Saturday May 3rd, at 2:00pm in St. Mary’s Church, Cahir, followed by interment in the adjoining graveyard.
Application Ref: 2560357. Applicant: Coolross Homes Ltd. Development Address: Thurles Townparks Bohernamona And Bowling Green, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: for the following works: a) alterations to previously approved planning permission register reference 21/279 in respect of the Blocks No. 1-8 inclusive only; b) the alterations relate to the general redesign and alteration to the floor area & elevations. Status: n/a. Application Received: 24/04/2025. Decision Date: n/a. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560357/0.
Application Ref: 2560354. Applicant: Rory O’Regan. Development Address: Knockroe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: Construction of a new milk truck access road and for construction of a milking parlour, dairy and ancillary rooms, drafting and handling facilities, waiting yard, meal bin, water storage tank and underground slatted soiled water storage tank. Status: n/a. Application Received: 24/04/2025. Decision Date: n/a. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560354/0.
Application Ref: 2560150. Applicant: Tipperary Education and Training Board. Development Address: Colaiste Mhuire Co Ed Castlemeadows , Thurles , Co. Tipperary. Development Description: 6 relocated car-parking spaces, extension to internal access road with all ancillary site works necessary to facilitate the proposed development. Status: Conditional. Application Received: 28/02/2025. Decision Date: 15/04/2025. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560150/0.
Application Ref: 2460906. Applicant: Charlie Hartnett. Development Address: Clongower , Thurles , Co Tipperary. Development Description: 4 no sites for 4 single storey houses, 4 domestic garages, 4 number treatment tanks percolation areas and entrances. Status: Conditional. Application Received: 22/10/2024. Decision Date: 17/04/2025. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2460906/0.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A16. Allergen: Cereals containing gluten. Product Identification: Matt Reilly Cakes Iced Jam Bakes, pack size: 320g. Batch Code: All batches and all best before dates that have “flour” in the ingredients listed without emphasising the allergen. Country Of Origin: Ireland.
Message: Wheat (cereals containing gluten) is not declared on the ingredients list of Matt Reilly Cakes Iced Jam Bakes. This may make the product unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of cereals containing gluten (wheat), and, therefore, theseconsumers should not eat the product. The affected batches are being recalled.
Spotted here in Thurles on Monday last, the first Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) of the season. Native to Ireland and indeed Europe, Cinnabar moths are daytime-flying moths, with distinctive pinkish-red and black wings.
Cinnabar moths measure about 20mm (0.79in) in length with a wingspan of some 32–42mm (1.3–1.7in) and acquires its named from the red mineral Cinnabar, because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings.
Interesting to note that this moth has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control Ragwort (latter poisonous to horses and other livestock), on which its larvae feed. This Ragwort diet, eaten by their pale yellow and black striped larvae, leaves them unpalatable to their would-be predators. Females can lay up to 300 eggs, in batches of 30 to 60 on the underside of Ragwort leaves and their caterpillars being voracious eaters; a large population can strip entire patches of ragwort clean, within a very short period of time.
Though not considered very rare in Ireland, the Cinnabar moth remains, annually, in grave danger due to the Noxious Weeds Act of 1936, which makes it an offence for the owner or occupier of lands not to prevent the growth and spread of Ragwort. In 2020, some 52 “notices to destroy” were issued to land owners, by the Department of Agriculture, for the presence of Ragwort being on their property and in 2021, some 22 such notices were also issued. Many caterpillars will starve if their food runs out before they are fully grown, so as competition intensifies the caterpillars become more aggressive and may even turn to cannibalism in their quest for calories.
Cabinet approval secured to progress legislation that will lead to the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the Irish State, in line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
This Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
As part of this, the General Scheme of the International Protection Bill 2025 is intended to replace the International Protection Act 2015.
This approval by Cabinet will allow for the publication of the General Scheme and referral of the General Scheme to the relevant Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny and for the drafting of the new Bill.
The current international protection system is not working effectively, with decisions taking far too long. This Pact now offers an opportunity both here in Ireland and across the EU to reset the system and is an important next step in one of the most significant reforms of Irish asylum law in decades.
It is the governments belief that implementing a firmer migration system is now a key element in protecting the integrity of our immigration framework, while supporting those in need of international protection. This new legislation will facilitate the new changes that will be introduced.
These important changes are expected to include streamlining the decisions process; streamlining the returns process; a new ‘Border procedure’ with a three-month time limit for decisions, and a new institutional arrangements for international protection decisions and appeals. It is also proposed that oral hearings of appeals will be significantly more limited than at present under the International Protection Act 2015. Fewer oral hearings at appeal stage will allow decisions to be made without the need for applicants, legal representatives and translators all to be present.
Appeal officers will make decisions based on the information on file, from the initial decision, and any additional written information submitted in the appeal process. This will drive efficiency and time savings. These reforms will continue to ensure the rights of applicants, under EU and Irish law, to be heard in the application process and to have an effective remedy in the appeal process.
These changes are ultimately about giving those who are entitled to international protection the opportunity to rebuild their lives here quickly and, at the same time, ensure faster removals in respect of those who do not meet the necessary criteria.
The proposed legislation delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to “Implement the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact through a new International Protection Act.”
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