BREAKING: Tipperary Town Chamber in disarray following resignation of four members

Tipperary Town Chamber of Commerce is in disarray following the resignation of four of its leading members.

Eamonn Ryan, Stephen Ryan (Treasurer), Denis Mulhair and Eilish Fitzgerald all announced their resignations from the Chamber on Friday last.

Both Eamonn and Stephen Ryan are the proprietors of the Porter House, Denis Mulhair is proprietor of Tipperary Jewellers and Eilish Fitzgerald is proprietor of Fitzgerald Opticians.

Neither of the four were willing to make a comment on their resignation but it is believed that they were unhappy with the lack of governance and issues around the calling of an AGM.

It is also believed that there is concern around statements which were issued on behalf of the Chamber, again without consultation with the membership.

In January a statement was issued by Tipperary Town Chamber of Commerce withdrawing its involvement from the four-day music festival event which is happening from May 11 to May 14.

It is understood however that this decision was not discussed by the full committee.

There has been widespread support for the music festival from sponsors and from the general public and there has been great demand for tickets for the respective days events.

Prior to the resignations there were seven members of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce but this has now been reduced to three. The Chair is Joe Hayes, proprietor of the Cleanline Farm Services in Tipperary Town.

There are now calls from Chamber members for the calling of an immediate AGM or EGM.

One member has written to the officers calling for "an immediate EGM for the members to discuss the crisis and elect a new committee and that the current remaining committee members should resign also. Full accounts for the last three years should also be made available immediately" says the member, in correspondence seen by this correspondent.

It seems that relations have completely broken down in the organisation and with only three members remaining on the committee it would seem that action needs to be taken to safeguard the group going forward.

The four resigning members will be a great loss to the Chamber as they were very active members.

Eamonn Ryan took on the Christmas lights project on behalf of the Chamber to ensure that Tipperary Town would not miss out on being lit up for the Festive season and he garnered great support for the initiative.

Eamonn and Eilish Fitzgerald are also part of the Tipperary Enhancement Group and Eamonn and Stephen Ryan are involved on the committee of the Tipperary Festival.