Thurles Skateboard Park Closure Sparks Controversy at Municipal Council Meeting

Well, well, well, here we are discussing a thrilling piece of local government news—the dramatic saga of the skateboard park in Thurles! Now, if that doesn’t give you a rush like a cheap rollercoaster, I don’t know what will.

First off, we have Cllr Jim Ryan bringing the heat, suggesting we write to the Minister for Finance, asking for a slice of that juicy Apple tax money. Yes, folks, you heard that right! Apparently, we can just pick up the phone and ask for cash like we’re phoning grandma for our allowance! “Hey, Minister Jack, can I get a few quid for a skateboard park?” If only it were that easy. I mean, I can barely get my mate to borrow me a tenner for a pint!

The skateboard park has been closed for over 12 months due to a “lack of funding for repairs.” Well, I’ve got a solution: Why not set up a “GoFundMe” with some creative levels of rewards? 🎉 For just a fiver, you can receive a personalized thank-you on a piece of plywood! And for a hundred, you can design your own half-pipe! Come on, think outside the box here, or should I say, outside the skatepark!

And then it gets even juicier. Cllr Michael Smith chimes in, saying they’re not writing to the Minister about a “skateboard park.” I mean, with a response like that, you’d think they were asking for contributions to a burial fund for Captain America’s shield! “Dear Minister, I would like to make an application for a historic site. You see, in Thurles, we have this skateboard park. It was magnificent, it was glorious! It was…well, it was closed, but still!”

Now, the pièce de résistance is when Cllr Ryan finally loses it—calls it an “absolute disgrace” that his proposal would be ridiculed. I mean, if you can’t get passionate about skateboards, what can you get passionate about? Fish and chips? Alright, I’m listening!

And of course, our District Administrator Sharon Scully, with all the enthusiasm of a damp sponge, says they’re waiting for a quote from the contractor. Nothing like good old bureaucratic delay! “Yes, folks, we just need to find out how much it will cost to fix the skateboard park. Once we know, we’ll consider scratching our heads a bit more before we figure out how to beg for funds.” Classic move!

But she does sprinkle a bit of hope back into the discussion by saying there’s plenty of funding to go around. It’s like finding out there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, but you don’t know where the restaurant is or how to book a table.

All in all, it’s a wild mix of politics, skating culture, and the universal struggle for funding. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Thurles’ youth can get back on their skateboards soon—because nothing brings us together quite like dodging potholes, and the local council’s endless paperwork!

So here’s hoping they can keep their ‘wheels’ turning. After all, we don’t want to see the district go from a place of shredding gnar to a sad display of a rusting skateboard park!

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            <h2 class="sottotitolo_articolo sottotitolo">The Thurles District Administrator said they need to get a quote for repairs before they apply for funding</h2>

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                                <p class="data_articolo data">30 Oct 2024 9:00 PM</p>
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                            <p>A heated discussion took place during last week's meeting of the Thurles-Templemore Municipal District Council regarding the prolonged closure of the skateboard park.</p>
                            <p>Cllr Jim Ryan emphasized that the skateboard park in Thurles has remained shut for over 12 months due to insufficient funds allocated for repairs.</p>
                            <p>In a bid to address the issue, he proposed contacting the Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, with a request to allocate some portion of the Apple tax revenues towards the renovation and reopening of the skateboard park.</p>
                            <p>Cllr Ryan expressed frustration, stating, "It is very unfair to the young people of Thurles." He also criticized the Minister for failing to meet with local councillors during his recent visit.</p>
                            <p>In response, several councillors, including Cllr Michael Smith, rejected Cllr Ryan's suggestion, insisting they would not be asking the Minister for funds for a skateboard park.</p>
                            <p>The tension escalated as Cllr Ryan labeled the dismissal of his proposal as “an absolute disgrace.” He stated that writing to the Minister was reasonable given the financial struggles to restore the amenity.</p>
                            <p>Cllr Kay Cahill-Skehan urged everyone to unite in their efforts to find a solution.</p>
                            <p>The Cathaoirleach, Cllr Smith, called for civility as voices were raised in disagreement.</p>
                            <p>District Administrator Sharon Scully acknowledged that it is unfortunate the skateboard park has been closed for so long. However, she stated that they would soon be meeting with the contractor to get a precise estimate for the repairs, after which they could apply for funding.</p>
                            <p>Ms. Scully affirmed, "You are right, there is lots of funding available, and we will find a stream eventually." Additionally, she reported that they have now received a quote for repairing the Source Arts Centre carpark, which has also been closed for a year due to fire damage.</p>
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