His passing is most deeply regretted by his wife Susan (Susie); daughters Anne and Catherine; sons Eddie and Johnny; brother Eamonn; sons-in-law Declan and Neil; daughters in law Gobnait and Claire; grandchildren; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; extended relatives neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Enright will lie in repose at his residence at Lognafulla, Dublin Road, Thurles, on Monday evening, July 1st, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Arriving at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles on Tuesday morning, July 2nd, at 10:15am, for Requiem Mass at 11:00am.
Interment will take place immediately following his funeral Mass, in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Lonergan passed away following a short illness.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his brothers Michael and Larry; sisters Eileen (Barry), Mary (Jones), Alice (Bourke), Margaret (Fitzgerald) and Sr. Catherine; Nieces; Nephews; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Lonergan will lie in repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home Slievenamon Road, Thurles on tomorrow, Monday July 1st from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, to arrive at Holycross Abbey at 7:45pm.
Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday morning, July 2nd, at 11:30am, followed immediately afterwards by interment in the adjoining cemetery.
Mrs Skehan passed away peacefully while in the care of Beaumont Hospital; surrounded by her loving family and following a short illness.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving husband Martin; sons David and Patrick; daughter Diane; daughters-in-law Anne Marie and Maeve; adored grandson Michael; brothers; sisters; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews; nieces; extended relatives; neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mrs Skehan will lie in repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford on Tuesday evening next, 2nd July from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Arriving at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles for Requiem Mass on Wednesday at 11.30am. Interment will follow immediately after Mass in Fennor cemetery.
Mr Bourke passed away following a long illness, while in the care of University Hospital, Limerick.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving niece Kay; cousins; extended relatives; great friends and neighbours.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Bourke will lie in repose at McCormack’s Funeral Home, (E41 A2N1) Kilcommon, Thurles, on tomorrow evening, Wednesday July 3rd, from 6:30pm, with removal at 8:00pm to St. Patrick’s Church, Churchquarter, Kilcommon, Thurles. Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday morning at 11.30pm, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the new cemetery, Kilcommon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Predeceased by his brother Joe: the passing of Mr Reeves is most deeply regretted by his loving wife Finola; son Pat; daughter Maria; son-in-law Mark; Josephine;, grandchildren Aishling, Aoife, Emma and Shane; nephews; nieces; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Reeves will lie in repose at Ronan’s Funeral Home, Ballingarry (SR), (E41 YD96) on today Wednesday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Removal will take place on Thursday morning to the Church of the Assumption, Ballingarry (SR), Thurles, Co. Tipperary, for Funeral Mass at 11.30am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Buolick Cemetery, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Mrs McGrath was secretary of North Tipp Hospice movement and founding member of “Suir Haven”, Cancer Support Centre, Clongour Road, Clongour, Thurles.
Predeceased by her sister Bridget; the passing of Mrs McGrath is most deeply regretted by loving husband Matt; sons Daniel and Matthew; daughter Breda; grandchildren Finn, Emily, Seán and Norah; sister Sheila; brother Donal; son-in-law Micky; daughter-in-law Briege; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nephews; nieces; extended relatives; neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mrs McGrath will lie in repose at her residence in Bouladuff, The Ragg (E41 NH00), Thurles on Friday evening next, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Removal will take place on Saturday morning, to the Church of St. Laurence O’Toole, Munroe, The Ragg, Thurles, to arrive at 11:00am for Requiem Mass at 11.30am. Interment will follow immediately after Mass in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Bouladuff, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Suir Haven, Thurles. House Private on Saturday morning.
It was with sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Thursday 4th July 2019, of Mr John Byrne, Monastery Close, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and formerly of Dromin, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick and Killorglin, Co. Kerry.
A retired Detective Garda; Mr Byrne passed away peacefully, while in the care of the Matron and Staff of Acorn Lodge Nursing Home, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving wife Hazel; son Sean; sisters Maunie, Tilly, Kathleen, Teresa, Sheila, Geraldine and Frances; daughter-in-law Deirdre; grandchildren Jack, Kate, Owen and Adam; extended relatives; former Garda colleagues; neighbours and many friends.
Service of thanksgiving will take place on Saturday morning, July 6th, at 11:00am in Thurles Baptist Church, Graigue, Moycarkey, Thurles, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Thurles residents were informed, back in December 2012, that a new Public Area Surveillance System(a 10 unit Pan, Tilt and Zoom camera CCTV system)would cost in the region of one hundred thousand Euro, with 70% of this cost being funded by Pobal.
Pobal, formerly known as Area Development Management, was first established in 1992 by the Irish Government together with the European Commission, to manage an EU Grant for local development. Same EU grant aid was designed to support local communities and agencies, in achieving social inclusion, reconciliation and equality.
A further 15% of this one hundred thousand Euro costing was to be provided by the former Thurles Town Council, while the final 15% was to be aided by Thurles Chamber of Commerce.
In November 2015 residents of Thurles were informed that the existing Local Authority (Thurles Town Council) was required to assume responsibility for the management and operation of this CCTV system, in compliance with Data Protection legislation, [See pdf link page 3 – Crime Prevention – Installation of CCTV Cameras].
Two years on following its installation, we understand from Town Councillors that this one hundred thousand Euro CCTV system had not properly functioned since early 2017, and while just some of the cameras continue to operate, the actual equipment used to record surveillance footage had ceased to function.
The one question now being asked, by Thurles residents, requires a simple Yes or No answer; “Was any video footage recovered from the camera presently tacked on to the Thurles castle, latter situated on Barry’s Bridge, thus offering possible evidence as to who wilfully decapitated the statue of Archbishop Dr. Patrick Leahy?”
As the video footage hereunder shows, the damage is not confined only to the statues head, but also to the edge of the precisely sculptured short cape, latter known as a ‘mozzetta’, which today is still worn by some ecclesiastics, e.g. His Holiness the Pope and Cardinals.
But what was the legacy granted to the small rural town of Thurles, by Archbishop Dr. Patrick Leahy (1806–1875)?
It has to be of course the priceless tabernacle in our town’s Cathedral of the Assumption. Today it remains one the most beautiful and precious of art objects, to be found openly displayed anywhere here in Ireland.
Archbishop Dr. Patrick Leahy had learned through personal contacts in the city of Rome, (Urbs Aeterna (Latin) The Eternal City), Italy, that a Tabernacle was being disposed of from the high alter of the mother church of the Society of Jesus(The Jesuits) called ‘Gesú’, located in Via degli Astalli. The Gesù had been the home of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, until the suppression of that order in 1773.
Leading Italian sculptors, painters, architects and poets of the High Renaissance period, including Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, (more commonly known by his first name Michelangelo), Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, (architect of the Farnese family, latter who could trace their origins back to around AD 984) and Giacomo della Porta would have received Communion from this same tabernacle, in the then Gesù church.
This tabernacle, a work of the sixteenth century, was purchased for £50.00 and transported to Thurles for a similar financial sum, having been somewhat refitted in the workshop of Signor Filippo Leonardi of Rome.
The Tabernacle doorway is adorned with a Corinthian portico which rests on two beautiful pillars of ‘verde antico’(antique green) marble, two feet ten inches (86.36cm) in high; each pillar with bases and capitals made of bronze.
Jesuit emblem from a former 1586 print
The front door access is made of bronze with a silver host featured in the centre, bearing the letters I.H.S. (ΙΗΣ), (a monogram denoting the first three letters of the Greek name for Jesus), set over three arrows, signifying three nails standing on converging points; same an emblem of the Jesuit community. See Picture left.
Two small bronze statues formerly belonging to this tabernacle, representing St. Peter and St. Paul, occupy niched recesses to be found either side of the front portico.
Initially the tabernacle had rested against the Gesù church wall, so it became necessary to now decorate the back end, since same, positioned out from the wall, could now be viewed from all sides by visiting faithful.
A locking rear door was introduced, made of cream oriental alabaster or onyx marble in which a large cross of blue ‘lapis lazuli’ is inlaid, supposedly by Dr. Leahy own hand. Dr. Leahy after all was the son of a civil engineer and Cork County Surveyor. (Lapis lazuliis a deep blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense colour).
Unable to acquire two blocks of ‘verde antico’ to match the existing front pillars, he was forced to settled for two pillars manufactured from Galway green marble, which to the uneducated eye, appears to match almost perfectly. A frame of pale reddish marble, called ‘Porta Santa’ or ‘Holy Door’ surrounds the onyx back door slab. Latter marble is named after the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which was carved from this stone.
Now began the difficult task of building the main alter and lectern to match this most beautiful and priceless of tabernacles, while matching both in a similar design vein as the now existing installed tabernacle.
Some of the marbles used here and on the floor area were presented by Pope Pius IX at the request of Dr. Leahy; same mined, to a large extent, by Christian slaves sent to work in marble quarries by Roman Emperors. Here in Thurles cathedral today we can view at close range these rare and priceless semi-precious stones like the green porphyry and multicoloured agate (mined in Greece), sienna (mined inItaly), green malachite (mined inEngland), reddish brown rosso, brown giallo antico, black nero antico (Latter all mined in Italy), blue lapis (latter a symbol of royalty, honor, power, spirit, vision and a universal symbol of wisdom and truth), the black, red, beige, white, and grey africano (mined inTurkey), etc.
Other marble was now acquired in Dublin and England and all this marble was cut and inlaid by an Irish workforce under the guidance of Dublin man John Chapman, operating here in Thurles.
It is truly necessary for visitors to examine this tabernacle in closer detail to appreciate fully the sheer perfection and priceless beauty of what is just one small part of the legacy of Dr. Leahy, bestowed on rural Thurles.
One Final Question: The missing head removed from Dr. Leahy’s statue, possibly weighs about 30 – 50 lbs; this being the case has anyone searched around in the immediate vicinity of this statue in the event that the vandals / offender may have thrown it away nearby?
John Maher passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny, and following a short illness most bravely borne.
Predeceased by his loving parents Tod & Josie and his brother Tommy; his passing is most deeply regretted by his loving daughter Julianne; partner Helen; brothers Pat, Joe, Michael and Ger; sisters Maureen, Patricia, Kay, Marian, Geraldine and Anne; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; son-in-law; nieces; nephews; extended relatives; neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Maher will lie in repose at his residence Modeshil, Mullinahone (E41P685), on tomorrow evening Monday, July 8th, from 4:00pm with prayers at 8:00pm. Requiem Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 9th, at 12.00 noon in St. Michael’s Church, Mullinahone, Thurles, followed by interment in the Old Cemetery, Ballingarry, (SR), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Formerly of Cooga, Upperchurch, Thurles and predeceased by her loving husband Jimmy and brother Michael; Mrs Buckley passed away peacefully while in the care of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her sons Noel (Marlfield, Clonmel), James (Templeogue, Dublin) and Eamon, daughter Marian (Grace), (Crosspatrick); daughter-in-law Gaye; son-in-law Nickie; grandchildren Stephen, Gearoid, Maire and Dylan; brother Seamus (Kennedy), Lisheen Nursing Home, Rathcoole; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mrs Buckley will lie in repose at her residence (E41TD37) on Monday evening from 4:30pm to 9:30pm. Removal will take place on Tuesday afternoon to Holycross Abbey, Thurles, to arriving at 1:15pm for Requiem Mass at 2:00pm, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to South Tipperary Hospice.
Predeceased by her loving husband Joe; Mrs Meagher passed away peacefully while in the care of the staff of Strathnore Lodge Nursing Home, Callan, Co. Kilkenny.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving sons Liam, Joseph and Michael; sister-in-law Nelly; daughters-in-law Angela, Mary and Bernie; nieces; nephews; grand-children; great-grand-child; extended relatives; neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Remember Ireland’s National Heritage Week 2019 begins August 17th – August 25th.
To the less well informed, he appears to be carrying a Hurley stick, and this comes as no surprise since his icon is to be found in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, latter the undisputed home of hurling.
He is regularly a point of focus; visited on numerous occasions daily here in the Cathedral of the Assumption Thurles, since he is also the Patron Saint of hope for ‘hopeless cases and lost causes.’
Indeed, for this latter reason we understand many hurling supporters from Co. Laois have made a pilgrimage here to Thurles Cathedral this week, hoping for a better outcome, but in the knowledge that they will be forced to do battle with the mighty Tipperary hurling selection next Sunday.
All jesting aside, the Saint to whom I refer of course is St. Jude (Judas Thaddaeus), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. A farmer by trade; St. Jude according to legend, was the son of Clopas and Mary of Clopas, herself a sister of the Virgin Mary, latter the mother of Jesus.
St. Judas Thaddaeus became known as simply St. Jude after early translators of the New Testament sought to disassociate his similar name totally from that of another apostle named as Judas Iscariot; subsequently abbreviating his forename. The Bible informs us that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ to “a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people”, in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Jerusalem.
The icon of St. Jude (Judas Thaddaeus) can be located over to the right-hand-side, as the visitor faces the Tabernacle in Thurles Cathedral; displayed in one of the many beautiful stained-glass windows, designed and manufactured by Franz Mayer & Co of Munich, Germany. And no, he is not carrying a Hurley stick in his right hand, rather he holds a Hurley shaped club, the symbol or attribute of what was to be his eventual martyrdom.
The window asks for prayers for Anastasia Hayes, Thurles.
After Jesus Christ’s death and following his precise command, (“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”), Saint Jude began preaching the Gospel in Judea, Samaria (Palestine), Idumaea (Jordan), Syria, Mesopotamia (Iraq, Kuwait) and Libya. He was to suffer martyrdom about 65 AD in Beirut, Syria, together with the apostle Simon the Zealot, (the Zealot – to distinguish him from Simon Peter).
Sometime after his death, his body was brought from Beirut to Rome and placed in a crypt in St. Peter’s Basilica. Today, his bones are in the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica under the main altar of St. Joseph in one tomb with the remains of the apostle Simon the Zealot.
It should be noted that almost all Christian Saints were traditionally represented in visible format by a symbol or attribute, usually carried in their hand. These symbols associated with their life, made them easily identifiable in the past to the vast majority of earlier pilgrims, whom then would have been mostly illiterate.
On the Thurles icon, St Jude is depicted holding in his left hand a book, said to be the ‘Epistle of Jude’, latter containing only 25 verses and to be found in the penultimate (second last) book of the New Testament series of writings.
The surname Thaddeus means ‘generous’, ‘courageous’ or ‘kind’. It is not therefore surprising that still today millions of people throughout our world and in today’s often confused and disorderly times, chat to him. Same are most often seeking a safe path away from incurable diseases found to be outside the reach of modern medical science. Their problem may be one of extreme poverty; mental depression; associated family distress or feelings of utter helplessness.
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”. – St Mark Chapter 9: Verse 23.
Predeceased by her husband Frank; Mrs Bourke passed away peacefully at her home while in her 96th year, surrounded by her loving family.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her son Martin; daughters Marian (Daly) and Bernie (Corbett); brothers Tommy and Joe; grandchildren Geraldine, Marie, Elaine, Martin and Michael; great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law Eileen; sons-in-law Billy and Pat; nephews; nieces; sisters-in-law Breda, Ann, Susan and Anne; carers; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mrs Bourke will lie in repose at her residence, No. 31 Bohernanave, Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Wednesday evening next, July 17th, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Arriving at the Church of St. Joseph and St. Brigid, Bothar na Naomh, Thurles, on Thursday morning, July 18th, at 9:30am for Requiem Mass at 10:00am. Following Mass her body will be interred in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Mrs Walsh is predeceased by her husband John; brothers and sisters.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her sons James and Michael; daughters Marion and Shirley; son-in-law; daughters-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; brothers Mathew and Michael; sister Margaret; nephews; nieces; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Ms McEnery passed away peacefully while in the care of the Staff of Greenhills Nursing Home, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving brothers William (Billy) and Michael (Micky); nephews; nieces; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, July 18th, at 12:00 noon, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Insertkieran Cemetery, Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Dr Kieran O’Reilly SMA, has made the following clerical appointments in the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly.
Very Rev. John Egan P.P. Lattin & Cullen to become A.P. Lattin & Cullen, resident in Cullen, Co. Tipperary.
Very Rev. Michael Kennedy, P.P. New Inn & Knockgraffon to be P.P. Lattin & Cullen, Co. Tipperary.
Very Rev. Robert Fletcher, P.P. Ballinahinch & Killoscully, to be P.P. New Inn & Knockgraffon, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Very Rev. James O’Donoghue, P.P. returns to work in the Archdiocese having served as Chaplain in University Hospital, Limerick; to be P.P. of Ballinahinch & Killoscully, Co. Tipperary.
Mr McSherry passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.
Predeceased by his brother Sean; the passing of Mr McSherry is most deeply regretted by his wife Helen; daughters Anne (McEnteggart), Deirdre and Bríd (Walshe); sons-in-law Kevin & Ronan; grandchildren Ewan, Ella, Brígh, Tom, Ben and Ruairí; brothers Timmy, Kevin and Oliver; sisters-in-law; brother-in-law; nieces and nephews; cousins; extended relatives; neighbours and many friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr McSherry will lie in repose at Ryan’s Funeral Home, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary on tomorrow evening, Thursday July 18th, from 5:00pm, with removal at 8:00pm, to arrive at the church of St. Mary of the Rosary, Nenagh, at 8:30pm. Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, July 19th, at 12:00 noon, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Lisboney New Cemetery, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Mrs Fanning passed away peacefully at St. Theresa’s Nursing Home, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving husband Joseph (Joe); daughters Joanne and Sharon; son-in-law Tony; grandchildren; brother Jeff; sister Barbara; extended family relatives; neighbours and friends.
Predeceased by his wife Nellie; Mr Pembroke passed away peacefully at his residence, following a short illness and surrounded by his loving family.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving wife Jean; son Kevin; daughter Mandy; daughter-in-law Norma; son-in-law Gerry; grandchildren Becky, Sophie, Ellie, Grace, Dylan and Dean; brother Patrick; sister Carmel; brother-in-law; nieces; nephews; extended relatives; neighbours and a close circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Pembroke will lie in repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny [E41X038] on tomorrow evening, Saturday from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. Removal on Sunday morning to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe Thurles, to arrive for Requiem Mass at 11.15am. Interment will take place immediately afterwards in the Good Shepherd Cemetery, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Cawley passed away peacefully, following a long illness most bravely borne, and while in the care of the staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his wife Valerie; sons Daniel and Mason; father William; grandfather Bill; brothers PJ, Tyler, Kyle and Logan; sisters Kim, Lucia, Megan and Brianna; nephews; nieces; mother in law Mary; brothers in law; sisters in law; Aunt Sheena; extended relatives; neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements
The earthly remains of Mr Cawley will lie in repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary on tomorrow evening Monday, 22nd July, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, to arrive at St Kevin’s Church, Littleton, Thurles at 8:00pm. Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday morning, July 23rd at 11.30am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
