'People are sick of it' - councillor slams 'disgraceful' state of River Suir in Thurles

Independent Cllr Jim Ryan used the monthly meeting of the Tipperary County Council on Monday, September 8 to once again raise concerns around the "disgraceful" state of the River Suir as it flows through Thurles town.

It was decided in September 2024 that an action plan was needed to tackle the section of the river in Thurles, particularly at the point between Liberty Square and The Source Arts Centre, where algae and vegetation have become overgrown in recent years.

READ NEXT: Tipperary cleaning company celebrates 40 years in business during Electric Picnic clean-up

Cllr Ryan stressed that this are was once filled with swans, otters, and various types of bird, and have been replaced in recent times with rubbish and algae to the detriment of the town's aesthetic nature.

"Some sections of the river is comepletely covered from riverbank to riverbank with vegetation," Cllr Ryan stressed.

"I was in Cahir last week, and I have to say the River Suir there, the same river, is in a beautiful and magnificent state down there, particularly by the castle.

"You'd be very proud looking at it, plenty of wildlife, no overgrowth, and just full of life. When you compare that to the embarassing and disgraceful river in Thurles right in the heart of the town.

"I know LAWPRO (the local authorities water programme which works with public bodies and communities to protect and restore water quality) are doing surveys and meeting various groups and bodies, but at the very least can the Council not go in and clean out the trolley, clothes and rubbish.

"You should go down there, I don't know if you do go down there, and if you are going there and looking out at it, I don't know how you can go and not take action.

"The people are sick of it, every day of the week people are asking me what is going on with the River Suir and whether I'll go go down and clean it out, cut it back, and put it back to the state it was years ago when it was full of swans, otters, fish, and ducks.

READ NEXT: A book involving a Tipperary author details the fascinating history of Clonmel soldiers

"It's an embarassment, and I can't stretch that word enought, and I don't often use it in relation to the County Council. But that River Suir is a disgrace and has been left to rot away like that for years."

Last September, LAWPRO were seeking to bring together representatives from the OPW, Tipperary County Council, local farming and fishing groups, Inland Fisheries Ireland, and councillors, to hear their submissions on this action plan.

It's understood this process and the resulting action plan are still in development.

In response to Cllr Ryan, the Council said they are "well aware" of the issues in the River Suir, particularly as it flows through Thurles.

They also insisted that good progess is being made when it comes to a catchment action plan, but that the Council themselves are prevented from going into streams and doing certain works.

READ NEXT: Hugely popular band will kick-off their Irish tour at a Tipperary venue