'People can rush to judgement': Councillor weighs in on poor parking photo in Tipperary

After a recent Facebook photo of a car parked in Tipperary Town went viral, a local councillor has come out and spoken about issues related to parking in the town's centre.

The conversation began after a Tipp Town Facebook page shared a photo of a car parked in the town last week.

After posting the photo online, the page then received a letter defending the perceived poor parking job. 

On Monday afternoon, January 12, the page shared an image of a car parked at an angle with its rear facing onto a one-way street. Many commenters felt that the parking undertaken was poor and could obstruct other road users.

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The page then shared a letter sent in by someone who had seen the image and wished to defend the driver of the car.

The writer claimed that the driver of the car was an 89-year-old woman who had pulled up briefly to go into the nearby deli to collect her dinner.

The writer remarked on the courage of the lady, stating that despite the poor weather conditions, she still managed to get out of the house and drive to the deli.

They also stated that the woman was parked in the space for no more than five minutes, and that she did not obstruct passing cars.

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Finally, they closed out their letter by stating that people should direct their attention away from the elderly lady, and direct it towards improperly parked cars along the main street and in disabled parking spots.

Speaking with local Independent County Councillor John O’Heney about his views on this issue, he said: “People can rush to judgement,” he began.

“While I can’t condone the parking, she’s an elderly lady and that was a one way street, with room for cars to pass.”

One factor adding to parking pressure has been changes in local supermarket car parks. For example, Bennet’s SuperValu introduced a policy of clamping vehicles that remain parked for more than two hours in its parking area in 2025, including accessible bays if not properly authorised.

The move was intended to ensure fair access for shoppers but has also contributed to concerns over reduced convenient parking near the town centre.

Cllr O’Heney then said that since Lidl and Aldi introduced clamping in their car parks also, parking in the centre of Tipperary Town has been hard to come by.

There are other car parks and on street parking, but on street parking seems to be full during the day and larger car parks are a bit of a walk away from the centre, which some elderly people may not be able to do.
age-friendly parking

Advocacy groups stress the importance of nearby parking for older people, particularly close to shops, banks and post offices, which are basic amenities many older residents rely on because they cannot walk long distances.

On-street and town centre parking in Tipperary can fill quickly during peak hours, especially near popular shops and services. This can leave older drivers circling for spaces, parking further away, or resulting in parking badly.

The last of parking in the centre of town is a situation made worse by commuters and workers occupying bays for extended periods, which in turn reduces the turnover of convenient spaces.

If the council prioritised short-stay spaces near essential services in the centre of Tipperary Town, this would help ensure quick access for older people.

One potential solution that has been suggested is the introduction of more short-term on-street parking in the town centre, with a portion of these spaces designated exclusively as age-friendly parking.

Such a measure could allow older residents to carry out essential errands without the need to walk long distances, while also improving turnover in high-demand areas.

Supporters argue that clearer time limits and age-friendly bays would help strike a balance between accessibility for elderly drivers and the wider need for available parking in Tipperary Town.