BREAKING: Vital Tipperary town centre car park set to reopen

Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry has confirmed that the Munster Hotel car park has re-opened to the public as of 7am on the morning of Wednesday, December 3.

Deputy Lowry has confirmed that following discussions held with both Martin Healy, owner of the site, and the Tipperary County Council, an agreement has been reached to extend the lease up until June 2026.

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The car park caused great contention earlier this week following its closure, leaving many in the town of Thurles in disrepute, causing confusion among motorists in the area.

“The closure of this park caused immense disruption and inconvenience,” said Deputy Lowry.

“It’s hugely important, and I’m working on a solution. We have come to an agreement in principle, for a long-term solution. We have also agreed that a long term solution is needed to this problem so that we don’t have a recurrence. And to that end, I am working on a possible solution between the Council and Government.”

“When it gets to negotiations, people have to be realistic. I have to say, Martin Healy was very fair. He understands the level of anxiety and anger that’s out there because of the huge delays incurred due to the car park being closed.

“But, in fairness to Martin Healy, this has been dragged on, and dragged, for many years now. It needs to be brought to a conclusion, and the only conclusion that will be satisfactory to everybody is that site, which is an important site, it’s a central site, in a very important area. MIC is hugely important to Thurles. MIC is one of the gems in our town. It’s a huge centre of educational excellence. Not alone does it contribute to the educational life of the town, but it’s also contributing in a very big way to the economic life of the area. So, I’ll be working on a permanent solution between now and the end of June. I’ll be working with the Council and department officials on a permanent solution between now and the end of June.

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Speaking prior to the reopening, Cllr Jim Ryan spoke of the importance of the car park to the town of Thurles, saying: ““These car parking spaces, as I said, over 100 car parking spaces, that are so close to the town centre of Thurles, it’s so important to have it reopened. It’s only when it’s closed that you realise how important it is, it caused complete chaos this morning, say, with people going in, dropping children off at school, the bus operators trying to drop off kids going to school, people going to work were caught up in traffic jams.

“A lot of businesses depend on it for their customers to get in there, parking, a lot of students use it, and obviously for Masses, weddings, funerals, it’s vitally important as well. It’s a very strategically important car park for Thurles, it’s a town centre car park, it’s one of the biggest that we have.”

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