Latest news with #DeclanBurgess
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Funding boost for Tipperary's ‘walkers paradise'
The Glen of Aherlow is set to benefit from a funding package of €27,000 from the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which will see signage replaced and upgraded on the eight loop walks in the Glen of Aherlow. The news was welcomed by Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess who said that trails across Tipperary like the Glen of Aherlow, need more support so they can flourish. "A sincere thank you to South Tipperary Development Company CLG for applying for this much needed funding, and to John Egan for his dedication and hard work on walking routes across south Tipperary,' Cllr Burgess said. "The Glen is a stunning outdoor amenity, full of potential. Continued investment is essential to preserve and enhance these walking and hiking routes for locals and visitors alike,' he added. The Glen of Aherlow sits in the valley between the Galtee Mountains and Slievenamuck, with around 9,900 acres of mature forest and wooded areas for people to enjoy, known as a walkers paradise due to the variety of walking trails on offer. Five of the eight looped walks start from the Christ the King trailhead, while the final three start from the trailhead in the village of Lisvernane. The walks include the Rock at Thorabh loop walk, Millennium Stone loop walk, the Woodland loop walk, the Bianconi loop walk, and the Ballinacourty loop walk, as well as Carroll's loop walk, Padraig's loop walk and the Dolmen loop walk. "I have been a strong advocate for increased investment in the Glen, and I'm delighted that this Government funding will improve signage and support better route management,' Cllr Burgess added.
Irish Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Youngest ever chair of Tipperary council on his tenure – ‘We need to do more for rural towns'
Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess wrapped up his term as chair of the county council this past week with the election of Cllr John Carroll at Tipperary County Council's Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held in Halla na Féile in Cashel. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Cllr Burgess said that there had been many highlights over the last year, while also paying tribute to his colleagues in the council who offered him their support during his term. 'I gave it everything, it was one of the deepest honours of my life to be Cathaoirleach of this local authority, I've really enjoyed it, I was the youngest chair ever, so it was nice to make history, but I got great support from my colleagues around the chamber,' Cllr Burgess said. 'Without that, I wouldn't have been able to take on a position like this, I also got on really well with the staff and developed and built up relationships there, and I'm looking forward now to coming back to the back benches and continuing my work as a local representative in the Cashel area'. Having recently celebrated his 30th birthday, the Cashel councillor was just 29 years old when he was elected to lead Tipperary County Council, the youngest person ever to be Cathaoirleach of the local authority. Some of Cllr Burgess' highlights of the year included the turning of the sod on the new Cashel Town Park, progressing work on Dan Breen House in Tipperary town, the plans for the new library and car park in Cahir, as well as the opening of the Brian Boru Bridge which links the twin towns of Ballina and Killaloe. However, the outgoing council chair said that Tipperary County Council needed to improve on the basics, while also calling for more affordable housing in the county. 'I believe the local authority needs to improve on the basics, and this is something that I tried to focus in on a lot, an additional €1million towards street cleaning this year in the budget, that was something that I directly ensured to happen. We need to see more of that, we have nearly been a victim of our own success in delivering more and more outdoor amenities, but we need to keep up with the pace in maintaining those because communities, areas, they expect the maintenance, they expect the high standards, and so do we as elected members,' he explained. 'That's going to be a continuous battle in terms of the basics, the footpaths, the roads, we're going to have very difficult budgetary conversations around that going forward, and it's something we need to do better on'. 'As a local authority, we have an accellerated social homes programme, we're seeing social homes being delivered right across Tipperary, but we're not seeing affordability coming into the county, and for the likes of myself – 30 years of age – and all my friends and the people around me, my peers, we're struggling to buy our own homes, it's the affordability element, young people on good wages, modest wages, and are contributing to society and to the economy, but are struggling to purchase their own homes and dealing with high rents,' Cllr Burgess said. Calling on more affordable housing schemes to be expanded across county Tipperary, the Cashel councillor said that more than just the major towns needed to be considered. 'As a county, we need to get a grasp on affordability, we need to deliver affordable schemes, right now they're progressing in Clonmel, and potentially Nenagh and afterwards Thurles, they're our three large urban centres, but we need to do more for our more rural regional towns as well, the likes of Fethard, Tipperary town, Cahir, Cashel, Templemore and so, they need to have affordable homes as well for the young people to keep them in their own communities who actually want to live in their own communities,' he said. 'This county is a great county, we have a lot to be proud of, but we do need to acknowledge that there is things that we need to do better,' Cllr Burgess added.
Irish Independent
27-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Rural champion' elected to lead Tipperary County Council for coming year
At the Annual General Meeting of Tipperary County Council, Fianna Fáil councillor John Carroll was elected Cathaoirleach of the county council for the coming year, taking over from Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess. Proposed by councillor Michael Smith and seconded by councillor Sean Ryan, Mr Carroll was described as a champion of rural Ireland. In proposing Cllr Carroll, Michael Smith said that the incoming council chair has plenty of experience which will serve him well in leading the county for the next year. "He has proven to be a rural champion in relation to his involvement in the LCDC (Local Community Development Committee), in the North Tipperary LEADER programme, and while there was so many challenges throughout that time, he was there to the fore as chairperson and he led from the front,' Cllr Smith said. "I have no doubt that with those great leadership skills that he showed in that forum, that he would make an excellent chairperson,' Cllr Smith added. First elected in 1999, Cllr Carroll previously served as Cathaoirleach of North Tipperary County Council in 2006 before north and south Tipperary County Councils were amalgamated in 2014. Speaking to the Irish Independent after his election, Cllr Carroll said that his priorities for the year will be agribusiness, roads funding and the delivery of homes for young people across the county. "The content of council business and meetings has changed considerably [since 2006], there are key challenges today and there's a lot of benefits,' he said. "I was focusing in on the agricultural economy in terms of the climate, the Government can't say one thing and not fund it, we were talking about the ACRES scheme – that's the environmental scheme to improve biodiversity – and they're over a year behind in payments to farmers, that's not a way to win co-operation, and the farmers are really up for it,' Cllr Carroll said. Also among the incoming Cathaoirleach's priorities for the coming year is encouraging Uisce Éireann to develop more water infrastructure across the county to support home building. ADVERTISEMENT "Uisce Éireann providing waste water treatment plants for the towns and villages to sustain a young population that they have housing, so that they don't have to emigrate. We're a large county, when you have a good agricultural and vibrant economy that impacts positively and the same as sustainability of the towns and villages,' he added. Carrick-on-Suir councillor Mark Fitzgerald was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach for the coming year, having been proposed by Fine Gael colleague Marie Murphy and seconded by outgoing Cathaoirleach Declan Burgess.
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Plans to close two Co Tipperary courthouses labelled ‘short-sighted'
District Judge Brian O'Shea, assigned to District 21 covering east Cork, south Tipperary and west Waterford, wrote to the head of Circuit and District Court operations in March indicating that he is transferring District Court sittings from Youghal to Dungarvan and from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel. The directions for the transfer were issued pursuant to Section 27 (3) of the Courts of Justice Act and Order 2, Rule 1 (2) of the District Court Rules with effect from November 1 next. Additionally, with effect from June 1 there will be an extra sitting in District 21 on the second Friday of each month where cases from Youghal will be heard in Dungarvan. It is planned that this additional sitting will be for Child and Family Agency matters. Details of these changes among others, which are set out in Statutory Instrument Number 77 of 2025, can be found on the Courts Service website. 'The Courts Service has now commenced engaging with the various stakeholders such as legal practitioners, gardaí, state solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, unions representing court staff and others, to explore any possible impacts and unintended consequences of the proposed transfers,' said a courts spokesperson. 'Upon completion of this work the Courts Service will report on its findings to the relevant District Judge and make operational plans accordingly. The Courts Service has no record of having received communications about this matter from Cork County Council, but of course will engage with them, as with others with an interest in this matter.' Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Declan Burgess said he is 'deeply shocked' and 'disappointed' by recent reports indicating the planned closure of Cashel Courthouse this autumn. 'I am firmly opposed to the removal of services from this facility and their relocation to Clonmel,' he said. "This decision is a serious mistake. It represents a short-sighted move to centralise services without considering the negative impact on Cashel and its surrounding communities. "I have urgently contacted the Court Services and have also made formal representations to the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan. Rather than closing the courthouse, a small investment – such as upgrading the public toilet facilities – would be far more constructive and cost-effective. 'I totally oppose this approach and will do my best to ensure we keep our historic courthouse open and operational for the people it serves,' added Cllr Burgess. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more It's understood Judge O'Shea has taken the decision after four years of consideration of the condition of the court buildings. In his submission he said that Carrick-on-Suir courthouse lacks a public toilet, is cold and damp, attracting mould and vermin, while a stairway is rotting due to a leak. Cashel Courthouse's toilets were described 'disgustingly unhygienic' in Judge O'Shea's submission, while the building is small and cramped, meaning people have to wait outside on family law days. Youghal Courthouse is also cold and not fit for purpose, resulting in solicitors having to wear jackets and coats indoors. Judge O'Shea has said he believes that any inconvenience is compensated for by the benefits of attending a court in warm conditions with proper facilities, with improved security.
BreakingNews.ie
25-04-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Tributes paid to teenager (18) who died in Tipperary collision
Tributes are being paid to a Leaving Cert student who died after the car she was driving hit a wall and entered a river in Co Tipperary on Thursday night. The incident happened sometime between 10 pm and midnight at Kilaldry Bridge in the townland of Kilmoyler, Co Tipperary. Advertisement The victim has been named locally as 18-year-old Bronagh English. Gardaí along with a sub-aqua team and Tipperary Fire and Rescue, were alerted after the student failed to return to her home in Clonmel. It is understood the car hit a low wall and was flipped into the Aherlow river. The Ford Fiesta was discovered in the river in the early hours of the morning. A Garda sub aqua team located the 18-year-old, and her body was recovered from the river at about 5 am. Advertisement She was pronounced dead at the scene, and her body was taken to Tipperary University Hospital (TUH) where a postmortem will be carried out. Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess said the fatal crash was 'incredibly sad news'. 'The locality is stunned at the news. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the girl's family as she passed away so tragically. The emergency services have also to be thanked for their help.' Clonmel-based Fine Gael councillor John Fitzgerald added that he knows the student's family 'well' and that the young girl was a 'beautiful and highly respected person' from the area. Ireland Woman (50s) dies after two-vehicle collision in Co... Read More While non-party councillor John Heney, who is from the Cahir area offered his deepest sympathies to the teenager's family and said: 'The shocking news has very much affected the entire community as she was so young and had her whole life ahead of her.' The L3101 from the Lady Gregory Pub on the N24 Cahir – Bansha Road to Kilmoyler was closed for several hours to allow for a technical examination by gardaí. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses close to the area to contact them at Cahir Garda station on 052-7445630.
