Over €66,000 collected in Tipperary Poor Box donations last year
€10,000 was donated to Owning National School, and another €10,000 to Cuan Saor Women's Refuge
€63,137 was collected through the ‘Poor Box’ from the Clonmel Court Office in 2025, while the comparatively little amount of €3,400 was collected from the Nenagh and Thurles Court Office in the same year.
The “poor box” is a long-standing practice in the Irish courts whereby a judge may, in appropriate cases, decide not to record a conviction against a person, provided they make a voluntary donation to a charitable cause.
This typically arises in minor offences and at the discretion of the court. The donation is not a fine and does not go to the State; instead, it is directed to a charity chosen by the judge.
In the case of Clonmel, the two biggest beneficiaries of the Poor Box were Cuan Saor Women’s Refuge, and St John of God Owning National School, both of whom received €10,000 in 2025.
Templeorum National School received €5,000, St Vincent de Paul €4,555, and Owning ICA (Irish Countrywoman’s Association) €3,500.
In Nenagh and Thurles, the amount donated to the Poor Box was substantially less, but among the beneficiaries of the largest amounts were the Little Blue Heroes Foundation (€550), the North Tipperary Hospice Movement (€500), and Cashel New Inn Hockey Club (€350).