Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one https://www.tipperarylive.ie/section/1235/advertise-with-us Keep up to date with the latest news in Tipperary as it happens with TipperaryLive.ie The latest Tipperary news,sport and business from TipperaryLive.ie National - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news What's on - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news sport and business from Tipperary with the team from TipperaryLive.ie sport and motoring as it happens from TipperaryLive.ie Tipperary Live Met Eireann Weather Forecast Deaths - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Ryan O’Meara TD has today welcomed his appointment by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin as the new Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education Deputy O’Meara said he is honoured to take on the role and is committed to advancing a fair and high-quality education system that supports every learner from early years through to third level and lifelong learning “I am honoured to be appointed as the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education,” Deputy O’Meara said “Education is the foundation of opportunity and I look forward to working closely with students and all stakeholders to ensure we continue to invest in and strengthen our education system.” Deputy O’Meara also expressed his deeply held belief that education is the great equalizer in society “I believe fundamentally that education is the great equalizer It is what allows a child born into any set of circumstances the chance to rise Every child in our country deserves that chance—no matter who they are or where they come from That’s what drives my commitment to this role.” READ NEXT: BRILLIANT! How a Tipperary dairy farmer went from unknown to Mr Personality! Deputy O’Meara has also been appointed to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth the Committee on Defence and National Security He said these roles provide further opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national policy “I am pleased to join the Oireachtas Committees on Education and Youth and a strong commitment to serving the people.” Deputy O’Meara concluded by thanking An Taoiseach Micheál Martin for the appointments and the confidence placed in him “I want to thank An Taoiseach Micheál Martin for his support and for placing his trust in me with these important responsibilities I look forward to working as part of the Fianna Fáil team to deliver real progress and meaningful change.” " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news People in Tipperary Town have been advised to keep their doors locked 5 March at the Halla Na Féile in Cashel In Pictures: Meet the cast of hit play 'The Ferryman' including a 'very well behaved baby' Night of nostalgia at Tipperary Museum with 125 year Clonmel High School reunion Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie One of the key additions to the Nenagh Ormond coaching group three years ago was getting Colm Skehan on board as Strength & Conditioning coach The Moycarkey native had previously played AIL rugby with Young Munster and initially signed on in 2022 he got the boots on again and played a key role as a prop in their growth over the last three seasons despite being unable to play last Saturday through injury “There is good buy-in to the S&C side of things You can be as skilful as you want but if you put in the work (physically) you will reap the rewards they do whatever is asked of them at training even the lads that aren’t involved at weekends are always going bits and pieces “We put a good emphasis on their fitness and that is backed by the rest of the coaches too.” Skehan admitted it was tough to watch on after failing a pre-match fitness test on a foot injury sustained in the semi-final win over Blackrock College paying tribute to the strength of the squad as no player was irreplaceable in the team “Watching on the sideline was heart in mouth stuff,” he admitted “I knew for a fact that the lads were always going to stay playing to the end We could have been thirty or forty points down and the lads wouldn’t have batted an eye-lid He added: “One of the biggest things we said coming into 1B this year was having a squad and they bought into our culture of one-club “Regardless of whether I was able to play or not I knew whoever was going to step in was going to do just as good a job but it is great to be going up and I know the lads will do great again next season.” Nenagh Ormond will become the first Tipperary team to play in the top division pitting themselves against the best clubs in the country but Skehan feels they have more than enough talent to be more than just competitive Dylan Murphy and a few more that are 1A standard and can play higher as well,” Skehan feels “Willie Coffey is fighting off lads left right and centre and would go through a wall if he had to “We knew when we put the coaching team together that we had the players some people would have said ye hardly want to go up again (after winning 2A) but it was always about taking it one game at a time “Even when we knew Old Belvedere were going to go as champions we focused on getting a home semi-final and hopefully a home final on top of it the fitness is there so it is about putting it together for every Saturday next year Nenagh will have to add to the squad for next season with Ben Pope and Angus Blackmore returning to their native New Zealand and Australia respectively after making immense contributions “Every lad that came in at the start of the year bought in,” Skehan revealed “Credit goes to the committee and those behind the scenes too you can see it with the underage and minis It’s not just about the senior team either the 20’s are doing well and if we can add a few young lads and get in one or two players in key positions “It is there and in place I don’t see why Nenagh can’t go and compete in 1A next season.” To a certain extent last Sunday’s game in Cork defies analysis The early sending off skewed an already difficult fixture beyond any reasonable expectation of winning a storm of unprecedented threat was gathering In an era when scores are coming thick and fast this could have turned really nasty Tipp’s trip to Cork in 2010 – another difficult experience – does not seem like an age ago yet in many ways it’s a foreign country That game ended 3-15 to 0-14 which is not an unlikely half-time score these days Last Sunday it was 3-13 to 0-12 at the break What constitutes a big beating has changed significantly since even 2010 In the circumstances Tipp came out of it with heads held high This could have been beyond demoralising but even Micheal Duignan remarked on the commentary that “Tipp can take a lot out of this” The margin was just three points down on last year but this year’s circumstances provide significant caveats Without some of the inaccuracy and even maybe better choices when there were goal chances They have an unprecedented number of fan-boys in the media so getting a reasonable assessment of where they are at is quite a dilemma Suffice to say that they will stare down the barrel in a tough tight game at some stage before the year is out and old truths will be tested for their staying power An even bigger dilemma is figuring out quite what the plan is with the schemozzles before the start of the games Ever since Darragh McCarthy was a juvenile hurler one of the basic tenets of any advice would have been to take no nonsense from a corner-back For what happened last Sunday he essentially will miss two matches – the immediate one in Cork and the coming up one in Ennis In an era when players are clearly being instructed to dive at the most innocuous invitation and officials seem to be increasingly literal in their interpretation of rules There was time when soccer players were maligned for being divers and frankly a little bit soft it seems as if hurlers have caught up with this trend – assuming it was ever a genuine observation of course Probably like their soccer counterparts it is simply reflecting the nature of refereeing and taking advantage of the pressure on referees It is an odd counterfoil to all the tiresome swooning about the how amazing all the scores and skills are – and an addition the sport could do without with refereeing likely to get more inclined to make the sport entirely non-contact it seems unlikely that the genie will ever be back in this particular bottle The closest we might get to a solution is perhaps like it was in the old days with Brian Gavin when the All-Ireland Final was adjudicated quite differently to the rest of the championship But when you have a sport being refereed with such inconsistency that Conor Cooney’s tackle on Mike Casey in the League is a yellow card Whatever the merits of these debates the Munster Championship heading relentlessly towards decision-time Tipp might well have to consider the possibility that they are going to play well in all four games and win none with this team’s best days probably a few years down the line winning in Ennis and beating Waterford in Thurles was probably regarded by most people as the most plausible route out of Munter Tipp were unlucky in that the draw decreed that these would be the last two games In that context the point against Limerick was a bonus the essential challenge remains ahead of us To this mind at least the team has done nothing to suggest that getting four points from the last two games is not possible But there may be a few unforeseen twists and turns yet Limerick face a very hazardous trip to Walsh Park next weekend A defeat there could leave them in grave danger Cork and Clare have been their most difficult opposition in recent years – to play them in successive weeks needing to beat both is not a scenario they will consider with any enthusiasm For what it’s worth at least Tipp’s task is now clear and unambiguous Nenagh Ormond’s rise to the top tier of Irish club rugby has been nothing if not meteoric When they defeated Rainey Old Boys in 2005 to make the leap from junior to senior rugby even the most optimistic club members and supporters would have felt getting the whole way to the top division was beyond them Staying senior would have been seen as an achievement in itself Fast forward twenty years and next September Nenagh Ormond will be taking to the pitch in the top tier of club rugby and Old Belvedere in the top tier of the All-Ireland League The recent successes of Nenagh Ormond have been three years in the making May 8th next is the third anniversary of the passing of club stalwart Keith Hayes it left a void in the club that has inspired its resurgence over the past three years the initials ‘KH’ have been woven onto the shirt sleeves of the jerseys and its hard not to think that Keith pulled a few strings from another world for Nenagh Ormond to rise like a Phoenix to score two tries in less than four minutes to beat UCC in Saturday’s dramatic promotion playoff final on Saturday Hayes’ passing came just over a week after the end of a campaign in 2022 where Nenagh only avoided relegation to the fourth tier by edging a two-legged playoff with Rainey Old Boys The scare of that season and Hayes’ passing was the galvanising force behind the club making big changes to their coaching team with the aim of consolidating their position in Division 2A of the All Ireland League The continuity came in the form of Director of Rugby John Long and team manager Eoin O’Callaghan key among them was getting long serving player and Nenagh man Derek Corcoran back from Young Munster as head coach saw him able to recruit the best in terms of position coaches in Dan Fogarty (backs) James Hickey (forwards) and Colm Skehan (strength & conditioning) Dan Fogarty is a familiar face to all in Nenagh Ormond having played for many seasons at senior level after coming through their underage system before making a successful move to coaching where he had considerable success as Under 20 coach with Shannon James Hickey brought a wealth of experience built up over many seasons of coaching with Shannon as well as Glenstal Abbey at schools level Thurles native Colm Skehan brought considerable playing experience at senior level with Young Munster as a top quality scrummager but it was his day job as highly skilled Strength & Conditioning coach was what Nenagh wanted and his work came to fruition in the closing stages of Saturday’s game when Ormond outstayed UCC in terms of fitness who were out on their feet with ten minutes to go there is no guarantee of them coming to fruition but they have in Nenagh Ormond and who is to say they haven’t finished yet It’s that time of the year again to get your four-legged friend spruced up for the Newtown Dog Show and Family Fun Day Funds raised will be split equally between two local groups Burgess/Duharra Camogie Club and Arra Rovers Football Club both of whom have such a positive impact upon the lives of the local community Competition will take place in a comprehensive range of show classes this year: Best Large Breed Best Small Dog/Bitch; Best Gundog/Bitch; Best Rescue Dog/Bitch; Best Puppy under nine months; Best Veteran Dog/Bitch over six years; Best Dog; Best Bitch; Best Child Handler (for owners 12 years and younger) Beautiful crystal trophies will be presented to the Overall Show Champion and Reserve Champion with the Martin McCarthy Memorial Cup also being presented to the Show Champion will be presented to the winner of the Best Gundog class was one of the founders and officer members of the Dog Show which has been a major social occasion for the community for well over a decade Rosettes will be awarded to 1st to 4th places in each class Entry costs €6 per class and the entry fee for three classes is €15 There was a record number of entries across the various classes last year and two show rings will be available again this year to ensure that the event runs smoothly on the day the show committee has decided that registration for entries will commence at 11.30am A draw for a full tractor trailer of logs and a car trailer of logs will take place on the day so watch out for the cards being sold locally there will be many other great prizes on offer have again been generous in their support of the event as well as refreshments both on-site and in the village in both Barry's Coffee Dock and the Skyfarmers Bar/Restaurant All the usual favourites will be at the show again with a special emphasis on children's entertainment Among the attractions will be vintage farm machinery and Nenagh Brass Band will be performing - it’s an event that encompasses literally “all the fun for the fair” entry to Barry's Field for the show will be free and it is hoped that the bucket collection at the gate will again be generously supported for the benefit of the two very deserving causes Burgess/Duharra Camogie Club caters for over 100 girls from U6 to adult senior level With all the club's success comes major financial commitments the funding raised from the dog show greatly helps to alleviate some of the ever-increasing costs of registrations sliotars and other necessary playing equipment Arra Rovers FC is also a thriving local club that has been in existence for over three decades The club began in 1986 with a single senior team In 2002 the juvenile part of the club was started with initially only one team (U10) and today it has teams covering all ages build and develop the club's future for generations to come the show committee is happy to hear from anyone who would like to discuss booking the limited remaining space for their stalls Please telephone committee member Paul Henry of the camogie club (087-2034561) or Dermot O' Halloran of the soccer club (086-6012390) to ensure you don't miss out on the great fun day for the whole family at North 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of late of Ballintoher and formerly of Grallagh in the wonderful care of the staff of Nenagh Hospital Beloved husband of Mary (nee Morgan) and loving father of Brian He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving family Colm and John and his sisters Mary and Margaret Reposing on Thursday May 1st at Ryan's Funeral Home, Nenagh (E45 KN93), from 5pm until 7pm. Funeral arriving on Friday to St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh (E45 YH29), for Funeral Mass at 1pm, followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium (V14 PV30) at 4pm. The Funeral Mass can be viewed on www.nenaghparish.ie The service in Shannon Crematorium can be viewed on www.shannoncrematorium.com and follow the link to live streaming, enter the password BM2 (use capital letters). The link will go live at 3.55pm. Family flowers only, donations if desired to Friends of Nenagh Hospital. House private Please. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Cremation / BurialDate Published: Tipperary County Council has announced a grants scheme to help property owners to improve the streetscape and public realm of towns and villages in Nenagh Municipal District by supporting them to improve and enhance the appearance of their properties and public areas Council Painting & Enhancement grants of up to 50% of the costs of refurbishment project to a maximum of €500 are available Applications are currently being accepted and terms & conditions apply As the budget for the scheme is limited priority will be given to: Closing Date for applications is Friday All work must be completed by October 10 2025 and receipts submitted by October 24 Application forms are available on www.tipperarycoco.ie or email customerservices@tipperarycoco.ie for further information or telephone 0818 06 5000 READ NEXT: New play inspired by Carrick-on-Suir pirate radio station to premiere in Brewery Lane " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g, ' To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism! Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles. To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in. Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news! Join the EirGrid Energy Citizens Roadshow, Wednesday, 5 March at the Halla Na Féile in Cashel Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles. Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm. This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. Along with earning back-to-back promotions, Nenagh Ormond this year won the Munster Senior Challenge Cup for the first time. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady Twenty years after graduating from the junior ranks to senior status Nenagh have completed back-to-back promotions to reach the height of Irish club rugby’s pyramid capping a stellar season which also saw them lift the Munster Senior Challenge Cup for the first time and their seconds lift Tipperary’s Mansergh Cup Promotion to the top flight was achieved in dramatic fashion on home soil Nenagh had finished second in the league table behind champions Old Belvedere and then beaten third-placed Blackrock College RFC in the play-off semi-finals That set up an all-Munster promotion play-off final with UCC and College were three minutes from victory and return to 1A when the hosts turned the tables after receiving an IRFU Service To Rugby award as one of 100 club volunteers invited to Aviva Stadium on Energia AIL finals day Nenagh Ormond committee member and two-time former president Fergal Healy described the history-making moments for his club as they came from 33-24 down to complete a famous 36-33 victory Nenagh get a penalty try under the posts,” Healy said “So now we're back to it within four points and the rest is history two committed tackles and we score under the posts I gave two terms and on both occasions we should have been relegated from 2B a few of us got together and we just saw what we had and we went from there and here we are today "I remember when we went from Junior up to Senior (in 1985) won the Senior Cup for the first time ever also this year and our seconds have won the Mansergh Cup Beaten in Senior Cup (final) three years ago by Young Munster but won the semi against them this year and beat Crescent in the final was openside flanker in the team that secured promotion at the weekend A younger son is former Munster and now Edinburgh and Scotland fly-half Ben Healy The former president paid tribute to John and others for staying true to their roots and continuing to represent Nenagh in their 2A days when they could have been playing 1A I’ve hurling all around me and yet most of that Nenagh team started playing their rugby around Nenagh and No.8 John) all those lads could have played senior 1A when we were back down in 2B and they decided they were playing their rugby in Nenagh and that has paid off yesterday's achievement for me means most of all “You’d have to attribute a lot of (the club’s success) to our coaching staff we are picking up fellas from Newcastle West or wherever but when I wanted to play senior rugby I had to go to Limerick Now they're coming out to Nenagh and we're doing a very good job We could be in Nenagh on a Sunday morning and have 130 kids From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here. © Examiner Echo Group Limited, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 523712. Nenagh native Colin Clifford has just published the fourth and final novel in a fantasy series centering on his homeland. ‘Assault on Castle Aonach’ is the latest story from Colin (82), who took up writing in recent years after being encouraged by friends to put pen to paper. Settling in Wales after working in several countries, all of Colin's books focus on Nenagh and its hinterland. The new one brings to an end the insterstellar journey of the O'Hogs, who have fled from their doomed planet in search of a new world to call home. That turns out to be Foilnamuck, “a verdant valley, cradled between the mist-wreathed peaks of the Silvermine Mountains and indomitable slopes of Keeper Hill. Its emerald pastures shimmered like enchanted velvet under the glow of a large moon, promising a fresh start for the weary travellers.” But all is not well in their new home, as the O'Hogs must contend with the evil witch Morga, who resides in dank caves atop Keeper Hill, plotting to seize control of Nenagh Castle and enslave the population of Aonach Urmhumhan. Thankfully, they have the aid of Kevin Whelan - “the castle’s keeper and guardian of its long-forgotten lore” - who features prominently in the book. Colin, who grew up in St Patrick's Terrace, was long inspired to write about the town and surrounds he came from, even if he never thought any of his work would be published. He was always fixated with Foilnamuck, Dolla, recounting that when he and his sister Patricia (Ahern) were children, their mother would say to them: “Not now, I'm in Foilnamuck,” whenever she did not want to be disturbed. He also wanted to bring Nenagh Castle into his story, likening the iconic keep to an “ancient sentinel” protecting the town and its people. For Colin, who speaks of the vast changes he sees every time he returns home, the “illustrious Castle Aonach” represents a connection with the past and a symbol of light for all in Nenagh. Writing under his Gaelic name, Cóilín Ó Clúmháin, Colin created the artwork for his books by himself. All four books in his series - ‘The Magic Village of Foilnamuck’, ‘The Wizards of Foilnamuck’, ‘The Abduction of Hoggle O'Hog’ and now ‘Assault on Castle Aonach’ are available online from Amazon.com. FINAL: It’s 20 years since Nenagh Ormond became the first Tipperary side to take the leap into the All-Ireland League. Now, they are 80 minutes away from becoming the first Tipp team to reach Irish club rugby’s highest rung. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady they are 80 minutes away from becoming the first Tipp team to reach Irish club rugby’s highest rung It’s been quite the journey to get within eyeshot of Ireland’s top-10 clubs Ormond looked more likely to be heading for the fourth tier than the first They were in a relegation scrap when Covid cancelled the 2020 season finale they had to survive a relegation play-off in 2022 In the three seasons leading up to that moment and will face UCC in the Division 1A/1B promotion play-off final at New Ormond Park on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off) Ormond have contested two of the past three Munster Senior Cup finals etching their name onto that famous trophy for the first time last month “There's no magic wand,” says backs coach Dan Fogarty of their transformation “It's been a whirlwind and it’s a majority of the same players They've done everything they've been asked to do it took us nine years to get promoted into 2A and then another nine years to get promoted up to 1B winning a Munster Senior Cup final and getting to a play-off final against UCC To be even mentioned in the same breath as UCC in a play-off final he is still seeing out games as their replacement out-half when they went unbeaten to secure the Division 2B title who was already doubling up as coach back then as well as current players Kevin O’Flaherty “I’ve played with Nenagh all my life,” says Fogarty “I was playing when we got promoted from 2B up into 2A he asked me to come back and be part of the group but the Students called on a quartet of Munster Academy players to relegate City of Armagh last weekend in Ben O’Connor Tipperary rugby could even gain a double promotion as Cashel travel to College Park to meet Dublin University in the 1B/2A promotion play-off final DERBY: Peter O’Mahony is looking forward to a “spicy” derby when he returns from injury for Munster’s must-win URC derby with Ulster at Thomond Park on Friday. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here Tipperary County Council is proud to announce the launch of its Corporate Plan 2024-2029 titled ‘Reshaping Tipperary’s Future Together’ The plan outlines the council’s vision for the county detailing key priorities and the benefits these objectives will bring to its communities over the next five years This comprehensive strategic framework was developed through inclusive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders Cathaoirleach Councillor Declan Burgess said: “The Corporate Plan is the central component of the council’s business architecture It acts as the driver for economic development social inclusiveness and environmental sustainability The plan also affirms our commitment to addressing equality and human rights issues established as part of our implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty.” Chief Executive Sinéad Carr added: “Underpinned by our core values the Corporate Plan sets out five strategic themes that will deliver our vision and drive the enhancement of council services and infrastructure: Communities and Culture Environment & Climate and Economic & Enterprise The council has also identified key indicators to measure and track performance which will also be reviewed annually through the Annual Service Delivery Plans (ASDPs) “Tipperary County Council will continue to adapt and respond to the challenges presented both externally and internally ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and maintaining public trust in a dynamic and evolving environment.” For more information about the Corporate Plan 2024-2029 ‘Reshaping Tipperary’s Future Together’ please visit the Tipperary County Council website Reposing at Ryans Funeral Home, Nenagh (E45 KN93) this Friday from 5 o'c to 7 o'c. His remains will arrive at St.Marys of the Rosary Church Nenagh on Saturday for Requiem Mass at 11 o'c. Livestream of this mass can be viewed on nenaghparish.ie or on radio 106.2 FM. Followed by burial afterwards in Lisboney New Cemetery. Donations if desired to a charity of your choice. Thurles Municipal District is delighted to announce its participation in the 100 Million Trees project The project is a national not-for-profit initiative being run by Richard which aims to plant 100 million native Irish trees across the island of Ireland over the next decade The aim of the project is to increase the native Irish tree population to add to the biodiversity throughout the country and to help mitigate carbon dioxide output in Ireland The site chosen for the project in Thurles is a 2,300 square metres publicly-owned site on the Mill Road The initiative saw elected representatives Thurles Tidy Towns and businesses come together on March 21 to plant 5,500 trees on the site using ‘the Miyawaki method’ who developed the technique in the 1970s to restore degraded land the Miyawaki Method of overplanting trees has been used in over 3,000 mini forests worldwide Planting excess trees together creates more rapid growth enhancing biodiversity significantly and importantly The following is a list of the 5,500 trees planted at this site: Wild Cherry states: “I am delighted to see a publicly-owned site in Thurles being used for the 100 Million Trees initiative I am particularly pleased to see so many schools and young people involved in the project who gave up their time this morning to be involved in the project David and Tina Mulcahy for bringing their initiative to Thurles “I hope that other groups and organisations will follow Thurles Municipal District's example and become involved in the 100 Million Trees initiative.” stated: “Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns were delighted to be involved with the planting of over 5,000 trees recently as part of the 100 Million Trees project “This small urban forest is located on the Mill Road It was a fantastic project for our Tidy Towns group to be involved with and it was great to see so many Transition Year students from our local schools getting involved with the tree planting “We look forward to seeing the trees flourish over the coming years.” Beloved husband of Joan and loving father of Síobhan Pat will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving family Predeceased by his parents John and Bridget brothers Sean and Oliver and sisters Kitty and Breda Reposing on Tuesday April 22nd at Ryan's Funeral Home, Nenagh (E45 KN93), from 5pm until 7pm. Funeral arriving on Wednesday to St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh (E45 X522), for Funeral Mass at 11am, followed by burial in Tyone Cemetery. Pat's Funeral Mass can be viewed on www.nenaghparish.ie Nenagh Ormond captain Kevin O’Flaherty lauded his sides “unwavering belief” following their astonishing victory over a shell-shocked UCC in the AIL Division 1A Promotion Playoff final nothing else,” he said of the two late tries which saw Nenagh come from behind “We have backed ourselves and our bench from day one and we knew they would make such a big impact and today again they were just outstanding They transitioned straight in seamlessly and they just continued on.” Agreeing that the nature of the victory following Josh Rowland’s last gasp winning try deep in time added was akin to something out of a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ story the Nenagh captain heaped praise upon the resolve and determination within the team “In the first half they lived off our mistakes and we knew that if we could curtail our mistakes in the second half we would be well in with a shout,” O’Flaherty added our supporters have been sensational all year and the support was phenomenal We knew we had the faith and belief in ourselves and our mentality has been just second to none “Take Davy Gleeson for example who received a fair bit of stick from their fans in the first half and then came back on late in the game to provide the pass to send Josh Rowland in for the winning try That just shows the mentality within the team He added: “We have so much faith and belief in the squad and we knew that if we got the opportunity We still had to go and find the winning try and thankfully it all came together for us.” Kevin agreed that a number of borderline decisions did go against the home side “It was swings and roundabouts really and it came back around really in the closing stages,” added the Nenagh captain who paid tribute to the pack particularly the scrum was steady throughout “We knew they had a really strong scrum and we worked on that this week,” he revealed “We knew that if we could get over the gain-line on the set that we would be able to match them We wanted to exert ourselves on what wouldn’t be an experienced pack as ours and we wanted to make our experience count “When you look at the likes of Matty Burke who is 22 and didn’t play for the first half of the year and he worked and worked week in and week out and he has come into the club and bought into every single thing we do “When you bring players into the club all you want them to do is embrace the club culture and that’s what they do the Nenagh captain said the honour of leading his side on to the pitch and seeing the huge crowd in attendance is a sight he will never forget “Walking out and seeing the crowd and hearing the crowd is something that I will never forget We spoke about it under the posts after their try which put them eleven points clear and said we just can’t disappoint this crowd and thankfully we didn’t,” he concluded A MOVE by Uisce Éireann to upgrade the existing malfunctioning waste water treatment plant in the village of Ballycommon is being opposed by local councillor Séamie Morris who is insisting the facility be replaced by a new plant He has told the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) that the current plant has contributed to the deterioration in water quality in the nearby Nenagh River He says raw sewage from the facility is threatening native wild brown trout and Atlantic salmon who migrate from the ocean to spawn in the upper reaches of the river Cllr Morris stated: “I would like to strongly object to the granting of a waste water certificate of authorisation for the Ballycommon Plant sought by Uisce Éireann has been polluting illegally without authorisation from the discharge pipe of the Nenagh River since the plant started “The Nenagh River is the largest tributary of Lough Derg and is a major trout fishery and salmonid river a large number of salmon spawn in the upper reaches of the river and at a time when salmon are a threatened and protected species the salmon in this river are vitally important.” Cllr Morris said the wild salmon that return to their native river from their Atlantic feeding grounds after surviving the hazards of the ocean are entitled to good water quality rather than be threatened by water that is polluted with raw sewage The Independent councillor pointed out that the Nenagh River has already been downgraded to “bad condition” by the EPA “The waterway doesn't need any more pollutants being dumped into it from an unfit waste water treatment plant.” Cllr Morris continued: “Uisce Éireann has unsuccessfully tried everything to fix the plant including downgrading the capacity to 350 persons from 550 persons and several interventions by Uisce Éireann have failed - so much so that the plant is being cleaned out by tanker a few times a day every day of the week for two years now “The plant in Ballycommon should not be called a ‘treatment plant’ because it offers no treatment for the effluent “It is merely a large receptacle into which the effluent is fed and despite what tinkering is done with the tank “It must be noted also that the dilly-dallying by Uisce Éireann by not replacing the plant is holding up badly needed ready-to-go housing schemes as the plant will need to be replaced anyway due to it being unfit for purpose.” Cllr Morris concluded: “This plant cannot be fixed I object strongly to this application for a discharge pipe for the current plant.” Nenagh Ormond capped off the most successful year in the club’s illustrious 141-year history with the most memorable of victories over a stacked UCC side to propel them into the realms of rugby’s elite on Saturday player/head coach Derek Corcoran cut an elated figure following a win which sees Nenagh Ormond become the first ever side from Tipperary to play in the top tier of rugby in the country next season Under Corcoran and a top-class coaching staff they have achieved the unthinkable in just two short years After climbing out of Division 2A last season they have taken the league’s second tier by storm in their debut year and now find themselves preparing for the visit of high calibre sides such as Cork Constitution Young Munster and Clontarf to New Ormond Park for the 2025/26 season a feat that will no doubt rank highly the annals of AIL history Corcoran lauded his side’s belief and determination to fashion the victory despite staring squarely into the jaws of defeat “When we took the quick tap and then they scored after we kind of felt it was dead but we just spoke about it under the posts about getting a competitive kick-off and trying to get the ball back and get a score and just push it the whole way to the final whistle Derek paid tribute to his winger Davy Gleeson and full back Josh Rowland for the way they fashioned it “In the 80th minute plus of a game when you are tired that’s a tough pass to make under pressure It was a great pass and Josh had the legs to finish it,” he said Corcoran also felt that UCC were waning in the closing stages adding that the call was to keep the tempo up “The plan when I came on was to keep moving the ball and just keep stretching them and try and make passes stick,” Corcoran revealed “We did kick away too much ball in the first half but we wanted to represent ourselves correctly in the second half and take the game to them back our fitness and see where that would take us “We stuck to the process out there and fitness is the bedrock of our game We work so hard at it outside of Tuesdays and Thursdays and the lads have been relentless and it tells when you can play your best rugby in the last six or seven minutes of a game that’s all you can ask for from the boys.” Describing the step up to Division 1A rugby as a dream come through for the club Corcoran said this season has been one which will live long in the memory of all associated with Nenagh Ormond adding that it’s a dream come true for everyone to win the Munster Senior Cup and secure promotion to the top tier in the same year “It's phenomenal to be welcoming Division 1A rugby here next season,” Corcoran added “It’s a dream come true for everyone here at Nenagh Ormond “I coach the Under 9’s as well and seeing them all here today in their jerseys and showing them what we can do as a club is just fantastic The place was full here today of kids in Nenagh jerseys and they are all in our underage system We are just the tip of the arrow for the club and they are all behind us and long may it continue.” the new photography exhibition from Nenagh Street Collective was formally launched at Nenagh Arts Centre last Thursday evening The event involved an in-person exhibition launch followed by an introductory talk by the collective's Kevin Lim and a speech by special guest James Crombie three-time PPAI Irish Press Photographer of the Year ‘A Sense of Place’ was curated by the Nenagh Street Collective a group of mainly local photographers and other visual artists who have come together to share their interest and learn from each other The exhibition features a total of 23 photographs that explore the theme The collective delved into the profound connection between place and self producing evocative photography that transforms familiar spaces into vessels of memory and emotion Each photograph acts as a doorway into the emotional life of places that often echo with comfort and belonging that make spaces more than just locations Charlotte Strachan and Kevin Lim guided the collective through the process of connecting self-identities with visual imagery demonstrating what a sense of place at the individual level truly means author of ‘Murmurations’ and the globally-renowned starling image He described it as “an amazing group of people artistic and evidently learning from each other “Photography has the power in one moment to encapsulate someone and leave them as a legacy,” James said “There’s a great responsibility to capture for the present and the future; you’re capturing moments that will live forever.” Nenagh Street Collective is a community of creatives they channel their experiences into intentional and meaningful art capturing the essence of life and human connection “Our intention is to enrich North Tipperary’s cultural landscape while fostering emotional and social well-being We consider photography personally and collectively We believe in the power of shared vision and social engagement by exhibiting our art.” The group meets at Nenagh Arts Centre on the first Tuesday of every month at 6.30pm what truly matters is your perspective and your passion The exhibition at Nenagh Arts Centre will remain on display until the end of April “You never give up hope,” was how Nenagh Ormond Director of Rugby John Long described the dramatic finish to Saturday’s AIL Division 1A Promotion Playoff final “Everyone on the sideline was asking what’s left (time) but we always knew the boys had it in them,” he said of the eleven point deficit with the referee indicating there were four minutes to play “It wasn’t that we were expecting to win or assuming we’d win but you always know there is something left in them Long has doubled up as Club President this season and paid tribute to the players for their commitment but over the last three years since turning the page on what was needed to be competitive week in the boys just never stopped working and believing,” Long added “Most of the players have been on this squad for the last three I am just delighted for them and proud of them.” Nenagh played 25 games over the course of the season in various competitions a massive amount of rugby and they still had reserves in the tank to outlive a young and powerful UCC side on Saturday five games in the Munster Senior Cup and now two playoff games,” he said of the matches played over the last eight months “It is some about of ball and some mileage racked up this year but they are a group that look like they could go out and play again next week “Our driving force for the last three years We can see other teams failing which nearly gives us another gear.” Through the successful Munster Senior Cup campaign Nenagh Ormond defeated 1A sides Young Munster and Cork Constitution the latter losing the 1A final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday by just one point to Clontarf all those sides will be making the trip to New Ormond Park next season “We’ll soak it in and we’ll be ready for it like we were for 1B,” concluded the Nenagh Director of Rugby Nicky Irwin has been one of the players that has experienced the lows of relegation battles for Nenagh Ormond so he can fully appreciate what the team has achieved in recent years culminating in Saturday’s promotion to the top tier of Irish rugby “It was only three or four years ago we were in a playoff to go down to 2B and what a turnaround for the club to be going into 1A for the first time ever and being the first Munster club outside of Cork and Limerick to do so is unbelievable and I can’t wait for the challenge next year,” said the scrum half and with Nenagh falling foul of the refereeing decisions gave the vocal visiting support plenty to cheer about but the home side had the last laugh “It’s always going to be a bit hostile when the other team gets a foothold in the game it makes it harder to come back but it makes it all the sweeter when you do we could have forty lads training some nights and each of them could be on that field easily We’ll celebrate and think about next year later in the week.” The latest Nenagh Municipal District housing report revealed that 70 homes under construction in the Nenagh MD are currently being held up by Uisce Éireann The status of the 70 new homes is written as “On Hold - Uisce Éireann” in the report with the next stage listed for each as “UE Connection Confirmation” READ NEXT: Do you feel unsafe in Tipperary? Locals take to social media to share their thoughts A further 21 homes in the village of Puckane are listed as currently needing a utility connection viability review which will also presumably go through Uisce Eireann. At the March meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District, several councillors called out Uisce Éireann for these hold ups with Cllr Seamus Morris asking what sanctions do councillors have against Irish Water in an effort to try and find a way to get through to the water body and find a solution to the issue. Cllr Joe Hannigan shared his sentiment saying: “I want an Uisce Éireann rep to come down and talk to us about what the hold up is. “Cllr Morris is dead right, I have heard of a situation where over 30 houses are good to go but Uisce Éireann is holding it all up.” Cllr Morris picked back up on his point saying: “I thought we had a bit of a backbone when it comes to Irish Water. They are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. “We should make an official complaint to them and stand up for the people that can’t get a roof over their heads.” In an email written directly to Irish Water following this meeting, Cllr Morris says: “I Cllr Séamie Morris of Tipperary county council wish to make a formal complaint to Uisce Eireann for breaking the commitment made to Tipperary County Council on January 27 2022 to have a planning application for the upgrade of the WWTP in Nenagh in by Q1 20023 with contract awarded by Q2023 and completion by 2026. “The fact that this has not happened is seriously holding back the development of Nenagh. And maybe a breach of contract. I would like an explanation as to why the commitment was broken.” He has since added an amendment to his initial email that Cllrs JP O’Meara and Phyll Bugler have co-signed this complaint. In a Facebook post following this Cllr Morris wrote: “Uisce Eireann should be sued for breach of contract over the delay in upgrading the Nenagh WWTP which was supposed to be started 2024. This has seen over 90 social houses in Nenagh stopped due to the ineptitude of Uisce Eireann and county councils have pussyfooted around them for too long.” Multiple reports by media outlets in recent months have illustrated the stalemate the country is at when it comes to the Government’s ambitious housing targets. In recent months, Uisce Eireann said they needed €120 billion to fix the country’s water infrastructure. It was also reported last year that with the funding they currently have, they are only able to supply 35,000 new homes per year over the next five years. This is distinctly contradictory to Ireland’s housing targets of 300,000 new homes by 2030 or an average of 60,000 homes per year for the next five years. It’s clear that the issues in Irish Water need to be addressed for the growing housing crisis to get close to being solved. The Nenagh district is far from the only one suffering but it’s councillors are doing a good job of using the area to illustrate the problems that are ongoing between Irish Water and the Government’s housing efforts. There has rarely been a more dramatic day in the Energia All-Ireland League playoffs than on Saturday, as was typified by Nenagh Ormond becoming the first Tipperary club to win promotion to Division 1A status and Trinity retaining their 1B status with dramatic, last-ditch two score comebacks. Nenagh Ormond were trailing 33-22 to a talented UCC side, from whom Seán Odogbo was among the try scorers, entering the last five minute when a penalty off a collapsed lineout drive gave them a lineout. Off the restart, a break by backrower John Healy, brother of ex-Munster outhalf Ben and who had scored one of the home side’s earlier tries, led to a match-winning try by fullback Josh Rowland, his second try of the match. It was a case of devastation for another Tipperary side as Cashel, where the rock had been lit up in red the night before, lost out to Trinity at College Park in their Division 1B/2A promotion/relegation playoff. Listen | 18:13Trinity were looking doomed to a second successive relegation when they trailed 16-8 inside the last 10 minutes. The students’ fullback Matty Lynch, who had shifted to outhalf, then took control of the game, first by scoring his own try, converting it and making the break that led to the last penalty which he landed from a difficult angle 40 metres out. “Club rugby at its best,” was the verdict of long-serving Trinity director of rugby Tony Smeeth. “And I would have said that had we lost. It was like a Colours match, only with venom. To be honest, I thought we were gone.” Meanwhile, Dungannon, Skerries and Thomond, ending their six-year absence from the AIL, also earned hard-fought playoff final wins. Division 1A: Nenagh Ormond 36 UCC 33; Division 1B: Dublin University 18 Cashel RFC 16; Division 2A: Navan 23 Dungannon 28; Division 2B: Skerries 32 Midleton 26; Division 2C: Omagh Academicals 15 Thomond 23. Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC On Sunday last an anniversary celebration of all the men of Tipperary No who fell in the struggle for Irish Independence since Easter Week At 3 o’ clock a large gathering assembled on the Courthouse Square marched through the principal streets of the town Mr Bergin said he was asked  before the oration was delivered to recite a decade of the Rosary for the repose of the souls of the men who died in Ireland’s cause said he regretted to have to announce that Mr Sean Lemass was unable to be present with them that day a large number of people marched through the principal streets of the town to the monument on the bridge erected to the memory of Messrs Ml four Scariff young men who were killed there by Crown forces in 1920 a mass meeting was held at the foot of the monument because of the loss to the nation of those heroic sons whom they came that day to honour and mourn yet glorious on reflection that at all periods in Irish history Irish men were found willing to die for the freedom of Ireland and the emancipation of the Gael The monument which they are about to unveil would be an inspiration to them all and to future generations to follow the true national path ‘til her four green fields would be in the entire possession of Caithlin Ni Uallachin without any interference by any foreign king A VERY large crowd was present at the Show Grounds on Sunday last when Tipperary and Offaly met in an inter-county hurling match Large crowds travelled by special train from Birr and Roscrea districts and great numbers of motors also brought contingents from Birr and several other Offaly centres but the playing pitch following the rains of the previous days was on the heavy side The field arrangements were good and the gate receipts - nearly £80 - exceeded anything obtained at a similar fixture in Nenagh for some time the fierce struggle for supremacy that always mark Ireland’s national game at its best though playing against the wind and fall of ground held the lead at half time and in the concluding half added still further to their score Offaly were weak in mid-field and in the back division while their scoring line lacked cohesion and that knack of swooping down and holding the ball in their opponents’ territory which is characteristic of the great hurling struggles Mick Darcy played an outstanding game for the home county The three outgoing candidates for North Tipperary were again returned to Dáil Éireann as a result of the poll in the North Tipperary Constituency – J While the Fianna Fáil vote went down by 50 votes Fine Gael increased their poll by 2,428 over the figure for 1961 When the first preferences were announced there was only 55 votes between Michael O’ Kennedy and the Labour candidate After the elimination of Donie Nealon and his papers were distributed and the transfer of his surplus votes elected Patrick Tierney John Fanning filled the third seat without reaching the quota It is with regret that the death is announced of Mr Michael McCabe which occurred at Tullamore Hospital on Monday Deceased was a member of the old Nenagh Dramatic Class and was on stage with the Newport class many years ago His funeral took place in Castleconnell after Requiem Mass at Moneygall on Wednesday To his brothers and siters sympathy is extended Townspeople whose fire brigade could not go the four miles to an outbreak of a fire are now rallying to the aid of the family that was left homeless Mr and Mrs William Fitzpatirck and their four young children lost all their possessions when fire destroyed their home on the night of March 8 When the fire was detected in the thatched farmhouse Templemore fire brigade was alerted but because they have no mobile fire unit the Templemore brigade was unable to respond to the alarm and called in the fire brigade from Thurles By the time crews got to the scene there was nothing that could be done to save the house A fundraising campaign was launched on the Fitzpatrick’s behalf at a meeting in the Town Hall Work will soon be completed on the seven room national school at Limerick Road The new school will allow the present building to be used solely for secondary education At the moment the Convent buildings have become overcrowded catering for primary and secondary education The school at Birdhill is also nearing completion but it will be some time before Lackamore school will be opened There is serious concern amongst local people in the parish of Portroe regarding traffic management and a current planning application by a developer in the village has submitted a planning application recently regarding retention of storm water infrastructure and changes to footpaths Deputy Kelly has called for both a comprehensive plan for managing traffic and an assurance that there will be an adherence to the original planning conditions issued in relation to the development The local Labour Party TD stated: “This estate It was partially constructed and then left derelict for nearly two decades “The housing units were vandalised and left open to all types of weather Over the last two years there has been sporadic sightings of workers on the site Deputy Kelly pointing out that Tipperary County Council refused permission to extend the permission for this development in 2009 I am surprised that a full comprehensive new application has not been submitted by the developer and I presume the council will insist on same in order to ensure building regulations and fire regulations are brought up to modern standards to leave these houses be completed under standards that are from a different era; an era that has cost the State hugely as we have learnt to our detriment.” Deputy Kelly said the original planning permission had a number of planning conditions “And now there is a fear locally that they are just going to be ignored This is causing serious concerns locally as the site is located on the very busy R494 beside Portroe National School and on the brow of a hill where sightlines are very limited I understand there is a right of way through the site for agricultural machinery so heavy traffic will be present as well,” said the TD who actually lives in the parish in Portroe and has been listening to the concerns people have about developments at the controversial site He said: “The original planning stated that ‘prior to the occupation of any unit a comprehensive traffic calming scheme on the R494 regional route shall be provide at the developers expense’ and according to the latest planning application “This is unacceptable to me and to local people What’s currently planned by the developer would be highly dangerous and there is no way I could envisage that any council could allow it based on traffic safety alone “It would entail traffic coming out from a site on a hill beside a school where their traffic entrance is very close It would also see agricultural traffic pulling in and out of the site while parents and buses bring children to and from school the parish church is just below the site on the opposite side and during services the parking situation can be chaotic There already is a huge parking issue in Portroe and the church car park is being used as a default parish car park Deputy Kelly said “the simple truth is that Portroe has changed substantially over the last 25 years since this development occurred “A new social housing estate has been built and occupied on the street; the school has increased in numbers; there has been new developments and residents coming to live on the street of Portroe There has been a large increase in agricultural traffic and the route is now a busy bus route for Bus Eireann's 323 route from Nenagh to Limerick “Many local residents have complained to me about - not just parking on the street - but also the speed at which traffic travels through the village.” Deputy Kelly said the developer needed to engage with the management of school Residents were concerned that the contractor on the site was going to remove nearly all the adjacent parking in his plans He said account needed to be taken of the legitimate concerns of residents in regard to illegal parking and congestion as a direct result of a development “that currently provides no real parking for 22 new units” “When this development occurred there was a commitment to provide badly-needed car parking and access to the school This seems to be qualified in the new application which states that there will be ‘possible vehicular access to the school’,” said Deputy Kelly He added: “Bottom line is that these houses are a result of the property crash of over 20 years ago There are real concerns in relation to building standards and fire certs for these buildings and there are many other issues as well the people of Portroe are adamant that a proper comprehensive traffic management and safety plan is delivered for the village and the time to ensure that this happens is now as part of this development put local people's lives at risk and that is totally unacceptable.” Local resident Nessa O’Driscoll said: “As a local resident on the Main Street the situation with traffic and parking is becoming so dangerous If this development is to go ahead - as per this application without a full traffic management scheme that deals with managing school traffic and slows down traffic coming into the village - then I have no doubt that there will be serious accidents and incidents in the future.” said: “We have had no consultation whatsoever on this application by the developer The situation in Portroe with regards to traffic is so dangerous It’s time it was sorted out once and for all “We need a comprehensive traffic and parking plan that deals with all the issues in the village It’s crazy to have another estate entrance coming out onto the Main Street without a full plan of works in place.” Local resident Mary McLoughlin stated: “We also have a health clinic across from the school which needs unrestricted access in an emergency and to be able to meet the requirements of people with disabilities and mobility issues We are concerned as to whether there has been any consultation with the health authorities on this.” A plan to create three apartments on a Nenagh street has been submitted to Tipperary Co Council Bridget Duggan is seeking permission for a change of use from commercial to residential use at 2 & 3 Sarsfield St The plan involves amalgamating the properties into a single unit with the creation of three apartments Elevational changes including an extension to the front at second floor level and extension of the existing properties to the rear are included in the plan The council is to make a decision on the application by April 15 TFI Local Link Tipperary will enhance bus services between Roscrea and Nenagh This enhanced route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network Route 854 will now operate eight daily return services between Monday and Saturday with two services extending to Ballybrophy Rail Station and six services extending to Silvermines the route will operate four daily return services with two service extending to Ballybrophy Train Station and four services extending to Silvermines The enhanced route will provide peak-time and evening services and will offer improved connectivity to Ballybrophy Rail Station Nenagh Rail Station and regional bus services The route will also provide enhanced connectivity for the towns and villages of Silvermines Speaking ahead of the launch TFI Local Link Tipperary General Manager Anthony Moroney said “We are delighted to see the 100% increase in services (four return trips to eight return trips) added to the timetable and the addition of Silvermines and Ballybrophy with this enhancement.  This enhanced service will provide greater opportunities and flexibilty for passengers from the towns and villages that it serves for access to work For route and timetable information, visit www.locallinktipperary.ie Learn more about the five year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan This year marks the 25th anniversary since Tipperary won the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2000 and this Sunday evening in the Lakeside Hotel members of the team will gather together for a reunion Tipperary defeated Galway 2-17 to 1-10 in the final played in St Brendan’s Park a year after Galway had gotten the better of Tipp in the decider but the rules of the competition meant none of the players involved in the 1999 success could be part of the 2000 panel that Tipperary used no subs in the final was down to manager Brendan Bonnar (Cashel King Cormacs) and selectors Gerry McKeogh (Ballina) and Richie Looby (Moyle Rovers) opting not make more players ineligible for the 2001 campaign points from Declan Browne (free) and captain Declan Corcoran got Tipp moving and in the ninth minute a move begun by Browne and continued by Corcoran and Pat Maguire ended with Knockshegowna’s Ray Killeen goaling as they went 1-4 to 1-2 in front after the first quarter It was tit for tat coming up to the interval with a strong wind to favour them did require to be reasonably well ahead to entertain hopes of holding off the expected Tipp second half rally but when Darren O’Connor set up Declan Browne the Moyle Rovers star took on the defence and blasted the ball in the Galway net A point from a Browne free left the advantage firmly in Tipp’s favour Pat Maguire had a goal at his mercy three minutes into the half having been put through by Ray Killeen Then came a great point from Declan Corcoran Darren O’Connor began to come more into it and sent over some fine points A team that in the opening round had found itself 2-6 to 0-0 in arrears against Waterford but recovered to win 4-17 to 3-9 with Declan Browne scoring a phenomenal 4-12 It was the Meath game that caused the greatest problems and subs Tommy Hogan & Sean O’Meara who were part of previously defeated sides making the break-through was very welcome There was added glory for Colm Bonnar who completed the full set of All Ireland medals at senior Tipperary: Seamus Butler (Sean Treacys); Brendan Hogan (Gortnahoe/Glengoole) Dermot Gleeson (Ballinahinch); Sean Maher (Ballybacon/Grange) Sean O’Meara & Tommy Hogan (Shannon Rovers) Nenagh Ormond RFC 32 – 20 Old Crescent RFC A new name was etched onto the Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup as Nenagh Ormond RFC were crowned champions Old Crescent were first to strike in the 14th minute as Dan Hurley crashed over Old Crescent got scores on the board again as McKenna went for the three in the 29th minute Nenagh Ormond earned their first points from a penalty in the 32nd minute that winger Conor McMahon slotted right between the uprights The Tipp side crashed over in the 38th minute to bring the game level just before the clock hit the red The second-half kicked off in a flurry as Old Crescent were reduced to 14 just five minutes in as flanker Oisin Toland was sent to the bin Nenagh made the most of the opportunity as Angus Blackmore crashed over for a second time in the 47th minute Conor McMahon added the extras putting them in front for the first time this game Further ill discipline saw Old Crescent reduced once again as Dan Hurley was sent to the bin for a high hit in the 51st minute Nenagh were reduced to 14 in the 59th minute as hooker Dylan Murphy was sent to the bin Nenagh were in again in the 64th minute as a long pass from Charlie O’Doherty found out half Ben Pope in space sending him over in the corner With just over 15 minutes left on the clock Nenagh now lead 22-10 Old Crescent got their first scores on the board for the second half in the 67th minute as Rory McKenna sliced right through the uprights But the Tipp side struck twice more as full back Josh Rowland and out half Ben Pope crashed over in the 71st and 75th minute to bring the side to 32-10 with minutes left on the clock Old Crescent weren’t finished when with the clock in the red Aaron Cosgrave crashed over with McKenna adding the extra two Nenagh Ormond are the new Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup champions and are the first ever Tipperary champions in the cup’s 139-year history Teams & Programme | Munster Senior Cup Final Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Sunday's Guinness Women's Six Nations clash against Italy in Parma.. All are welcome to Diving Ireland Expo 2025 Ireland's biggest diving and watersports show which is coming to the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh on the weekend of March 29 and 30 Hosted this year by Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club the weekend event is a trade show that coincides with the annual convention of Diving Ireland - the national governing body for recreational underwater sports in Ireland A key feature of the weekend event is the series of talks on topics that will be of interest to a wide audience They range from stories of deep dives in exploration of famous shipwrecks to even a talk about living on Fastnet Lighthouse Speakers confirmed for this year's event include Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group recently in the news over the appearance of a humpback whale in the Shannon Estuary Also sure to capture interest is Michael Loftus key player in the much-publicised sinking of the MV Shingle off Mayo last year leading to the creation of Ireland's first artificial reef for divers to explore A further talk will be given by popular Kilkee man Manuel Di Lucia who last year - at the age of 83 - published a book on his life as pioneering diver restaurant operator and Marine Rescue Centre founder Local man Páraic Slattery will be there to give a talk about his role as a helicopter pilot with the Irish Coast Guard while Andrew Ryan of Revenue Customs will have an engaging presentation about drug smuggling in the maritime domain Diving Ireland Expo '25 will also feature a series of talks dedicated to technical diving - dives to incredible depths of well below 100 metres in search of the world's most iconic shipwrecks One of these will be delivered by deep sea explorer Barry McGill who will be sharing his images of many previously unphotographed shipwrecks A number of the talks will focus on women in diving One that has already garnered interest from around the country is ‘An Insight into Military Diving’ with Irish Navy Lieutenant Tahlia Britton the first and only female to qualify since the birth of the Navy diving unit in the 1960s Watch out too for the underwater photography exhibition at this year's event The 2024 exhibition was recently on display at Nenagh Library and the Civic Offices; a new one will be presented at the Abbey Court for the expo where you can marvel at more images captured throughout Ireland and abroad by the Diving Ireland Underwater Photography Group members of which will also be giving talks the trade show is the best place in the country for people interested in scuba-diving snorkelling and similar watersports to avail of great deals on gear Some of the biggest names in the business will be there and you can find out about the latest products on the market as well as offerings from dive holiday providers A quirky addition to proceedings will be the assortment of art & craft stands - most of which will have an aquatic theme - involving several well-known local artisans Everyone who attends Diving Ireland Expo in Nenagh will be entered into a prize draw for a Red Sea holiday in Egypt while there is also a raffle with some truly fantastic prizes to be won Note that raffle tickets will also be on sale outside Applegreen It's all happening at the Abbey Court Hotel on Saturday and Sunday For further details, visit the website divingirelandexpo.ie and check out @diveirelandexpo on Facebook to celebrate its milestone 20th edition and organisers have launched an Open Call for event proposals and organisations are all invited to propose activities for this year’s programme to their local authority arts office Those interested in being part of the Culture Night programme should head to the Culture Night website www.culturenight.ie/get-involved/ to complete an expression of interest form and be put in contact with their local authority arts office annual island-wide celebration of the arts showcasing Ireland’s rich diversity through thousands of free events or through broadcast and online from 4pm to late into the night explore and enjoy the vibrancy of cultural life of Ireland available to us year round Culture Night is brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations across Ireland visit www.culturenight.ie or contact the Culture Night coordination team at info@culturenight.ie Students from Nenagh college visited the FET open day in Limerick They toured the FET Campuses at Mulgrave Street and Central College Limerick Thanks to the staff and students at both colleges for facilitating the visit A special thanks to Margaret Meehan from LCFE and Olive Ryan in CCL for their warm welcome and for showing us around and taking the time to go through the various courses on offer and how to apply We had the pleasure of meeting former students Rhain Bray and Charlie Williams who are both completing QQI level 5 courses Nenagh Schools Public Speaking Competition The Nenagh Schools Public Speaking Competition organised by Nenagh Lions Club took place in the Main Council Chamber in Tipperary County Council Civic Offices yesterday 'Lough Derg - local amenity or natural resource?' with powerful Thanks to Nenagh Lions Club for organising and Tipperary County Council for hosting this event Nenagh College invited students from local primary schools to take part in a special poster competition Each student was given a blank stage template and encouraged to design their own musical scene - and the creativity was incredible The winning students from St Mary's Primary School St Mary’s National School and the Gaelscoil were thrilled to receive an Eason voucher and have their photos taken with our talented Transition Year students who performed in the musical Home Economics students had a blast cooking pancakes engaging in various competitions to determine the ultimate champion with first-year students Bella and Saoirse excelling in pancake shapes Rayassa in TY showcasing the best decorations and Liadh in Second Year standing out as the most enthusiastic flipper of pancakes Well done to the Student Council who organised a fundraiser for Jigsaw recently Denis Ryan from Jigsaw kindly visited the school to accept the donation of €280 from Killian A big thank you to all who supported this organisation Congratulations to Boris Vitar on his fantastic achievement winning the ‘One to Watch’ award and coming second overall in the LEO County Enterprise Competition in TUS Thurles His innovative computer application was highly commended and his entrepreneurial spirit noted Grace and Kyla for representing the school so well with their fantastic entries Nenagh College brought the St Patrick’s Day spirit alive with a Céilí in the Canteen The room was buzzing with traditional Irish music and even a few brave dancers taking to the floor Parade Committee and Spain AV are delighted to announce plans for this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations As part of the Tipperary County Council’s ongoing endeavour to make Nenagh a go-to family destination this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations will be centred around the town's historical district with multiple performance stages live music and St Patrick’s Day Walking Parade This family filled event is a worthy celebration of Nenagh’s culture Monday (March 17) the Nenagh celebrations will feature a large outdoor concert and festival market situated in the Nenagh Courthouse carpark The courthouse market will open at 11.30am while the 2025 festivities will begin with a walking parade starting at 1pm The main stage music and live performances will begin at 2pm this year’s special guests will include Europe’s No 1 Taylor Swift tribute ‘Taylor NI’ performing live Jacko the Clown and the team from Giggles Entertainment will be singing and dancing live onstage along with JP’s Video Disco Nenagh Brass Band and many more musical guests You can also dance at the crossroads and celebrate St Patricks Day in style at Banba Square’s traditional music stage complete with outdoor dance floor You will also have the chance to meet the Easter Bunny live in the Nenagh Tourist Office while the St Patrick’s Day Express will begin its travels at 2.30pm taking young and old on a fun-filled journey throughout the streets of Nenagh says: “Each year Nenagh Town and its people never cease to amaze me with their good humour work ethic and constant support for local community events “The excitement and anticipation of putting together an event such as this is a labour of love and one that we thoroughly enjoy “We are delighted to celebrate the talents of Nenagh’s musicians dancers and performers with a special emphasis on local culture The support we have received from local business Nenagh Chamber of Commerce and Tipperary County Council has once again been overwhelmingly positive!.” For those unable to attend the festivities tune into St Mary of the Rosary Radio on 106.2fm from 1pm for complete coverage of the day’s events special guests and event listings go to www.facebook.com/nenaghlive Local councillor Louise Morgan Walsh has proposed extended shop opening hours for one evening a week in Nenagh Speaking during a discussion about supports for local business at last month's meeting of Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Morgan Walsh said a lot of people cannot get to the shops by the standard closing time of 6pm She suggested that shops should remain open until 8pm once per week and hoped there would be good uptake of the idea Cllr Morgan Walsh hoped to see new business coming to Nenagh She spoke of how existing businesses have managed to diversify and of the help offered by Tipperary Co Council and Nenagh & District Chamber of Commerce Photo: Pádraig Ó Flannabhra / Photoart Nenagh Brass Band (Photo: Pádraig Ó Flannabhra / Photoart) The Nenagh St Patrick's Day parade made a triumphant return this afternoon as thousands flocked to the north Tipperary town to see the fantastic display of arts and talent on show The parade kicked off at 1pm at the train station where community clubs and organisations proudly gathered excited to showcase their members to the huge crowd that ran from Kenyon Street all the way up through the town to the courthouse.  Over 30 clubs and organisations took part in the day including several sports clubs Banba Square and the courthouse became home to a number of delightful market stalls unique crafts and fun toys as well as a stage which has hosted several of the towns best musical acts as well as some fantastic talent from outside the county for the day.  READ NEXT: Bumper crowd enjoys Carrick-on-Suir's St Patrick's Day celebrations on glorious spring day The main stage music and live performances were hosted by Trudi Lalor and this year’s special guests included Europe’s No 1 Taylor Swift tribute ‘Taylor NI’ performing live The Easter Bunny even made its way down to Nenagh Tourist Office for the day and the St Patrick's Day express took passengers on a tour of the town throughout the day Well done to Tipperary County Council Parade Committee and Spain AV who have put on a day that would rival any St Patrick's Day parades across the country.  Nenagh's St Patrick’s Day Parade will make a welcome return this year with plans in train to hold a parade in conjunction with the annual music and crafts festival on March 17 The town has not had a national day parade since the plans had to be abandoned in 2020 with the arrival of the covid pandemic But the St Patrick’s Day Committee has written to local clubs inviting them to take part in a parade this year The parade is to start at 1pm and will follow a different route from previous years setting out from Nenagh Railway Station and proceeding up Kenyon St Pearse St and Kickham St to finish at Banba Square “This fantastic event promises to be a memorable occasion for all ages and creativity,” the committee wrote in its letter to clubs “Let’s come together to make this St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival a day to remember!” Nenagh as well as other towns and villages all over North Tipperary are in festive mode as streets all over the locality take on a green hue in the run-up to Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations There will be street parades and other entertainment in towns like Roscrea Ballina and Nenagh in the coming days to mark the feast day of the nation’s patron saint Nenagh will host its first street parade since 2019 on this coming Saint Patrick’s Day on Monday On top of that there will be a feast of musical entertainment fun for all the family and celebration of the best of local artisan produce in the grounds of Nenagh Courthouse The gates to the site will open at 12 noon and there will be live music from 1.15pm The site will host several artisan market stalls and a range of entertainment for children Music fans will be treated to acts such as the Taylor Swift Tribute Band a frequent visitor to Nenagh at this time of the year The entertainment at the courthouse will include a vintage tractor display and a ‘gigantic’ video disco Jacko the Clown & Friends will be there to provide plenty of laughs while other local performers will include Gary Scully The great thing is that entry to the site is free Included in all the fun and interest will be a display by Portroe Vintage Group and Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service Special guests will include Lucky the Leprechaun Fireman Sam as well as Mickey and Minnie Mouse The fun will spill from the courthouse to Banba Square where there will be a ‘Trad at the Square’ event and an outdoor dance floor Among those performing will be the Calahan Family Clodagh Kennedy and The Fitzgerald Brothers the live trad’ music in the square starts at 2pm The parade in town will set out from the railway station at 1pm and follow a new route up Kenyon Street It will then turn right into Pearse Street and continue to Kickham Street for a finish at Banba Square then there will be an opportunity to tune in on the Saint Mary of the Rosary Church Radio on 106.2fm from 1pm for complete coverage of the day’s entertainment The street parade has been re-introduced to Nenagh by a committee involving local councillor Louise Morgan Walsh and Nenagh & District Chamber of Commerce Cllr Morgan Walsh praised Nenagh Municipal District for taking the lead in organising the event Local Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’ Meara said a massive amount of work has gone into organising both the parade and the live entertainment over the last number of months “I have to commend everyone who has made this happen making this year’s celebrations our biggest and best in years,” he said Newport hosts its annual parade this Saturday March 15,while Ballina-Killaloe and Roscrea  will host parades on Saint Patrick’s Day The parade in Ballina-Killaloe starts at 2.30pm at Ballina GAA carpark Some floats will continue to Lakes Nursing Home in Killaloe The organising committee would like if all businesses and homes along the route would decorate their windows to add some colour to the streets A special prize will be presented to the Best Dressed Window All floats/entries should be registered by this Friday and registration forms are available on the website or you may email info@feilebrianboru.com The theme for this year is ‘Community Heroes’ with many of the local community groups and organisations taking part with colourful floats Street entertainers will also be present to add to the enjoyment of the hundreds expected to line the parade route from Limerick Road through Main Street Assembly takes place from shortly after 11am at Centra Supermarket and on the approach to the town from Limerick Road It is expected to take up to an hour and half for the parade to pass the grandstand at Main Street Preparations are underway for Nenagh's first St Patrick's Day parade since before the Covid-19 pandemic meaning no vehicles of any kind will be involved The parade will set out from Nenagh Railway Station at 1pm and follow a new route up Kenyon St turning right at Pearse St and continuing onto Kickham St to finish at Banba Square clubs and organisations have been invited to participate a music festival and display of vintage tractors will take place along with other festivities in the area around Banba Square Nenagh Tourist Office and Nenagh Arts Centre The parade has been re-introduced to Nenagh by a committee involving local councillor Louise Morgan Walsh and Nenagh & District Chamber of Commerce Cllr Morgan Walsh was praised at last week's meeting of Nenagh Municipal District for taking the lead in organising the event Cllr JP O'Meara said people are really looking forward to having the parade back He hoped the weather would be good for an event that would greatly add to the celebration of St Patrick's Day in Nenagh Cllr Morgan Walsh said the first year of running the parade again would be the most difficult She explained that the traffic management system would confine the parade to a walking one; Silver St and Mitchel St are to be kept open to vehicular traffic leaving a narrow junction for vehicles turning from Kenyon onto Pearse St Cllr Morgan Walsh said the committee is still looking for volunteers to help with running the parade while new entries are being accepted up to this Friday Cllr Pamela Quirke O'Meara mentioned that Newport's St Patrick's Day parade is being held two days before on Saturday She praised the work of the committee involved and was sure it would be well- attended TIPP TOP: Nenagh Ormond's Mikey Doran leads the celebration Nenagh Ormond are Munster Senior Cup champions for the first time after a 32-20 win over Old Crescent in the final at Thomond Park The Tipperary club lost to Young Munster in their first ever appearance in the decider two years ago but a stunning second half performance saw them to a historic victory They outscored their Limerick opponents by 22 points to 10 after the break with Angus Blackmore scoring a try in either half while Josh Rowland also got in on the act for Nenagh it was Crescent that made all the early running in the opening half hour making little of the difference between the two sides in the All-Ireland League A blindside move off a scrum five metres from the Nenagh line accounted for the first try Gary Fitzgerald slipped a pass to Dan Hurley who powered through two tackles to just get over the line for a score that was converted by Ronan McKenna Micheal Gleeson and Sean Lyon present the Bank of Ireland Player of the match award to Angus Blackmore of Nenagh Ormond RFC Pic ©INPHO/Ben BradyThe Crescent full back added a second successful kick on 31 minutes to put his side into a surprise 10-0 advantage That lead could have been greater if it wasn’t for a superb Nenagh defensive effort inside their own ’22 Nenagh eventually settled into the game with a Conor McMahon penalty It would be all square at the short whistle after Blackmore got in for their opening try following excellent work from John Lyons McMahon added the extras to see the score all square at 10-10 It was one-way traffic in the second half with Nenagh excelling The donkey work was done by the forward pack but it was the backs that did the damage Rowland was instrumental in putting Nenagh in front for the first time after his sumptuous offload saw Blackmore in for the easiest of finishes McMahon stretched the lead to seven with the successful conversion Crescent held off a number of Nenagh attacks but gaps began to appear in the third quarter and it was Pope that was the beneficiary McKenna did manage to reverse the Nenagh dominance with a penalty but it was a brief respite Derek Corcoran then came off the bench to clinch the game for Nenagh with two cross-field kicks resulting in tries for Rowland and a second for Pope Crescent did get a consolation try in the final stages through Aaron Cosgrave but it was Nenagh that came away from Thomond Park with a historic victory A Women's Shed has just been set up in Nenagh Mná agus Cairde an t-Aonaigh (Women and Friends of Nenagh) was established in February and has registered with the Public Participation Network (PPN) It was formed after a group of women got together at the end of last year with the view of setting up a Women's Shed They now have 22 members and are continuing to grow A committee is in place with Chairperson Michelle White Treasurers Valerie Darcy and Carmel Corcoran Secretary Tandy Jarrett and Committee Assistants Una Hennessy and Peggy Dillon Based at Friar's Court (the old Nenagh Jobs Club) the group meets on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9.30pm They have several activities up and running The mantra of Mná agus Cairde is inclusivity and the provision of a safe environment for women of all ages Find them on Facebook to learn more information https://www.limerickleader.ie/section/1195/advertise-with-us weather & more in Limerick and County Limerick All the latest breaking local news from Limerick and County Limerick Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland Find whats happening in and around Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Limerick and County Limerick Catch up on all the latest business news in Limerick and County Limerick Read about the latest properties available in Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Limerick and County Limerick Limerick and County Limerick Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Limerick and County Limerick Young Munster's Hubert Gilvarry makes a break in their Munster Senior Cup semi-final with Nenagh Ormond at Clifford Park on Friday night YOUNG Munster’s hopes of earning a fourth Munster Senior Cup in five years ended at the semi-final stage following a 32-31 loss in a thrilling semi-final at Tom Clifford Park The home side led by two points heading into the final minute but a Conor McMahon penalty saw Nenagh to a surprise victory and secure a final meeting with Old Crescent.  The game was a repeat of the dramatic 2023 Munster Senior Cup final when Munsters’ completed an historic three-in-a-row of Munster Senior Cup wins in the most dramatic fashion as Conor Hayes' penalty goal with the last kick of the game earned a 27-24 victory over the Tipperary side at Thomond Park it was Nenagh Ormond who secured the spoils on this occasion to book another final appearance.  Friday night's semi-final proved a cracking contest from the first whistle with AIL Division 1B high flyers Nenagh hitting the front with the first try after just six minutes A knock-on in their own ’22 by Munsters' opened the door for David Gleeson to score in the left corner McMahon added the extras to give Nenagh an encouraging start.                                                                                  Julian Lesczynski replied from the kicking tee for Young Munster but Nenagh were soon in for another try courtesy of a powerful Robert Buckley carry McMahon’s conversion saw the score at 14-3 to the visitors with 15 minutes on the clock Lesczynski added a second penalty before the Greenfields side got in for their opening try Aaron Roulston was the scorer after a devastating lineout move Lesczynski added the extras to cut Nenagh’s advantage to one point Nenagh extended their lead with their third try in the opening 20 minutes A Ben Pope crossfield kick was fielded by Josh Rowland and he raced away down the left wing who in turn found Conor O’Shaughnessy and he touched down in the corner to leave six points between the teams AIL Division 1A side Munsters went in at the break in front with a converted Bailey Faloon score and Oisin Pepper’s try seeing them 23-19 up at the end of a breathless first half The second half was unsurprisingly played at a slower pace with 21 minutes elapsing before another point was scored It was Nenagh that broke the deadlock after another Pope kick wide was taken in by Gleeson and Rowland was on the finishing end to put the Tipperary side back in front McMahon did the necessary from the conversion to put Nenagh three clear Ihechi Oji replied with a try from the kick-off for Munsters' to turn the game once more in their favour but a McMahon penalty saw Nenagh take the lead heading into the final five minutes Lesczynski nailed what looked to be the game-winning penalty for Munsters only for McMahon’s strike at the death putting Nenagh into the final where they will play Old Crescent Young Munster: Hubert Gilvarry; Ihechi Oji Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland; David Gleeson The former Desmond Arms complex in Catherine Street is being marketed as The Printworks reflecting a time when this newspaper was printed in the area | PICTURE: Adrian Butler Join Slimming World Ireland and donate your clothes to charity when you lose the weight Young Nenagh filmmaker Jake Mitchell is working on a new production which Jake has been working on with local man Seanpaul Fitzpatrick since last September a former robber whose quiet life unravels when his ex-partner Tony comes for revenge,” Jake explained of the film “It’s a gritty tale of a man forced to face his past drawn to a remote mountain where old secrets lie buried The story digs into the weight of guilt and the demons he can’t leave behind.” Jake himself stars as the protagonist with one of the best masks on the market crafted for his character The self-funded production features Keeper Hill the producer keen to highlight Tipperary's fantastic scenery “The results have been simply outstanding,” he said of working on Marco so far we expect this will gain national and international praise.” ‘Marco’ is the latest element in the industrious career of Jake whose last film - ‘Keeper Hill's Surrounding Area’ - was shortlisted for the 2023 film of the year award at the Fresh International Film Festival He and Seanpaul have also been working on their own digital marketing company “We're currently working on our biggest promo yet highlighting Nenagh Credit Union's services,” Jake said “We have recently completed yet another major promo taking over six months for completion Clonmel Credit Union have simply been outstanding partners We expect significant results once the promo is released in the coming weeks Jake said more details about the cast of ‘Marco’ will be released in a trailer coming this summer “I'd like to express my gratitude to those we've worked with; we couldn't have done it without you,” he said “There will be big updates over the next few months has urged that the new Shannon Crossing between Ballina and Killaloe be opened without further delay emphasising the importance of having the route operational in advance of the busy Easter weekend there is no clear reason why this crucial piece of infrastructure should not be open to the public,” Deputy O’Meara said “Any remaining snag list items should be addressed as a matter of urgency over the coming days.” Deputy O’Meara acknowledged the significant effort and investment that has gone into delivering the Shannon Crossing noting the patience shown by the people of Ballina throughout years of construction People have lived with the disruption because they believed in the long-term benefit—and rightly so with construction largely complete and all major safety checks signed off the priority must be to deliver access as soon as possible,” he said He added that the Shannon Crossing will play a key role in easing congestion and improving connectivity in the region “The opening of this new bridge will transform local travel and bring lasting benefits to the twin towns and beyond It’s important we don’t allow small outstanding tasks to stand in the way of that progress particularly ahead of what will be a busy Easter weekend for local residents and visitors alike.” Deputy O’Meara concluded by calling on the relevant authorities to act promptly “There is a strong public expectation that the Shannon Crossing will open imminently I believe that expectation is entirely reasonable and I’m urging all those involved to ensure it happens without further delay.” A petition has been organised over the proposed lowering of the speed limit on the R445 Nenagh-Limerick road back down to 80kmph Reclassified as a regional road following the opening of the M7 motorway the speed limit on the old N7 dropped from 100 to 80kmph It was brought back up to 100kmph in the 2017 Tipperary County Council Road Traffic Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws but is now to be reduced to 80kmph again as part of the current national speed limit review Speaking at last week's meeting of the council's Nenagh Municipal District Cllr John Carroll said residents of Ballywilliam and surrounding areas had gathered more than 200 signatures on a petition opposing the lower speed limit Cllr Carroll pointed out that the R445 is a wide straight route with a good safety record in recent years Local residents believe it is “very safe” and don't want the limit changed asking the executive to make their position known to the Department of Transport who raised the subject of lowered speed limits on a number of local routes which he said could see more accidents as a result of “driver frustration” There has to be “common sense” in the application of speed limits asking if there is anything the council can do about the situation Cllr JP O'Meara said there was an issue with speed vans catching motorists speeding on the R445 when the 80kmph limit was in force straight part of the road and it was generally considered “unfair” for the speed vans to set up there Executive Engineer Paul Keane made the point that an 80kmph limit is in effect on the Limerick side of the R445 The second phase of the national review is underway - the first saw L or local-class speed limits reduced from 80 to 60kmph - and the Ballywilliam petition would be submitted and taken into consideration Senior Engineer Kieran Malone referenced the debate that led to the council changing the R445 speed limit from its default 80kmph to 100kmph The council would not be able to make the decision in this new review Enforcement of the limit would be a matter for the gardaí Cllr Fiona Bonfield called for greater engagement between the council and gardaí where speeding is concerned She spoke of a road in Newport where speeding is a problem yet no deterrent measures have been seen for several years Cllr Michael O'Meara inquired about the results of a speed survey the council was to have carried out at Ballygraigue Mr Keane said the council is still assessing the situation and has a number of proposals for Ballygraigue A report on the matter would be made to the district’s March meeting Two gardaí in Nenagh Garda Station are encouraging other men and women to consider joining the force Inspector Aiden Lonergan has served in the force for almost 20 years and trainee Cormack Boyle joined up last September “What I find about working in the force is that no two days are ever the same,” said Aiden “You build up a great sense of community and camaraderie with you colleagues and also in the community you work in because you can see how you can making a difference in solving local crime or tackling anti-social behaviour and other problems in the community.” Aiden said there are many different specialist career paths available within the force but then over time opportunities open up to specialise into different areas depending on previous training that you have had or interests you have developed as a result of being in the job.” Areas within the force to specialise in include investigating scenes of crime “There is also the opportunity to travel overseas with the United Nations,” says Aiden who is a familiar figure in the Nenagh District Court where he prosecutes cases on behalf of the State He adds: “I really enjoyed the opportunities the job has given me for additional training I have availed of third level courses sponsored by the force and I got to travel to Bruges in Belgium where I trained in tackling cybercrime.” Skills learned along the way for those joining the force include areas such as First Aid and driver training The knowledge gained in these areas have come in handy in his personal life joined the force in September last year as a trainee in the Garda College in Templemore he previously spent 10 years driving around the country spending long days in a van working in servicing and maintenance in the coffee industry He was looking for a change and was tempted by the positive stories of some of his friends who had already joined the force Cormac is currently on release from the training college and undertaking a ten week placement in Nenagh Garda Station where he is learning the skills of being a fulltime member “I get to shadow and experienced garda in his daily duties This is giving me the opportunity to see all the different aspects of the work of a fulltime garda who has been in the force for 18 years” There are so many different aspects to being a garda and many opportunities available.” joining An Garda Síochána will change your life Garda Headquarters say being a Garda is a tough job “Your personal impact on people and the community will give you a sense of achievement like nothing else,” they say The 2025 Garda trainee recruitment competition opened in early February and the deadline for making applications is this Thursday If you are interested in being a Garda you can apply now on www.publicjobs.ie/en/garda-trainee Nenagh saw a local end of an era at the close of 2024 when the last supermarket owned by the O'Connor family was sold The Kenyon St Market is now trading as O'Riordan's Supervalu after being acquired by Noel O'Riordan of Watergrasshill who has been running the supermarket since December 4 All the staff - both full-time and part-time - will carry on working in the store with their normal hours in their normal areas of work The sale came after owner and manager Donal O'Connor decided to retire at 71 years of age is delighted as she found him spending very long hours in the store are busy at third level education and see a different future for themselves Donal had this to say: "While my whole life has centered on running the store I am not getting any younger and I feel that it is time for me to take it a bit handier This has been a great store to work in for the last 32 years The staff are brilliant and we have the most genuine and loyal customers I have to thank both staff and customers for their friendship and loyalty." The first O'Connor store was a small sweet shop at 69/70 Kenyon St The store was actually the front hallway of Murphys' house a couple who encouraged the O'Connor brothers to go into business Martin moved to 64 Kenyon St to run a newsagency and Joe expanded into the business next door he opened the first self-service store in Nenagh in 1963 a larger store where Tipperary Friends of Animals now operate Joe branched out even further to establish a supermarket in Thurles a massive 40,000 square foot store at Martyrs Road Adjoining the centre was a pub that had a lively day trade and a dance hall called 'The Friary Castle' which opened in 1984 and was managed by his son Joseph Coleman O'Connor the 'Mini Market' convenience store was a busy O'Connors Nenagh Shopping Centre closed in 2011 after 36 years of trading; Lidl now runs a new supermarket in its place It is difficult to put a number on the amount of people who worked in the O'Connor stores from when Joe and Martin established their first shop 77 years ago A great many Nenagh families had someone who gained employment with the family among them countless young people who got summer jobs and part-time work in the O'Connor stores O'Connor's Nenagh Shopping Centre employed around 100 people full-time another 25 at the Hyperstore and five at the Mini Market around the same time The longest-serving employee was Sadie Clahane who retired in recent years after spending 50 years working at the O'Connor supermarkets Another long-serving employee to recently retire was Lizzie Ryan There was a time - between the 1970s and '90s - when the meat counter at the Nenagh Shopping Centre took in seven cattle per week and 50 lambs straight from the meat factory "My family and I are very proud of my father's achievements in the retail history of Nenagh," Donal said "He gave great employment to locals and also gave great advice and help as a member of Nenagh Urban District Council and North Tipperary County Council "He also gave great employment to his sons effectively a lifetime of employment to each." Having left the last O'Connor supermarket in the capable hands of his now former staff under the stewardship of Mr O'Riordan - an experienced supermarket manager in his native Cork - Donal looked forward to new beginnings for the store which is to undergo an internal enhancement project in the next year or so He took the opportunity to thank all the loyal customers and staff who worked with the O'Connors over the decades saving particular mention for his late mother "My mother Nora managed the Kenyon St Market with me Between raising the family and running the store Joe and Danny wish Noel O'Riordan and Supervalu a bright future in the store." Donal concluded by saying that he and his family would like to publicly thank everyone who wished him well in his retirement - members of the public