[veryangryman]

Originally Posted by munchkin_utd

pumps.ie is a great resource for fuel prices and stations and hidden away there is also a facility for searching for petrol stations by main route !
(much better for long distance drives than the default local search by county on pumps.ie front page)

http://pumps.ie/findStationsByRoute.php

its a pity you cant filter the results by 24 hour station/ seating/ parking leaving only the ones that are a viable pit stop on a cross country journey - but nevertheless it's a great tool to highlight what might be viable.

I would recommend they do an app for an entire route (e.g. Cork-Belfast) maybe borrow from google maps on that. This could then tell you cheapest fuel on that user defined route

[linny]

hopefully this will get the go ahead, badly needed in kilkenny



Permission for development. The development will
consists of A mixed use development comprising the
construction of (1) new access road from existing
round about on the N10 motorway link. (2) a vehicle
service station to include a convenience shop (with
food preparation and dining area, car wash and
covered forecourt area for fuel sales. (3) a discount
convenience retail unit (with provison for ancillary
alcohol sales. (4) a restaurant with drive thru facility
for the sale of hot food for consumption off the
premises. (5) all associated ancillary develoment
works including loading and storage area, staff
facilities, offices, car parking, footpaths, plant, lighting
signage and landscaping. A natura impact statement
has been included with this application as part of the
subject site is located within the river Nore candidate
special area of conservation an architectural heritage
impact assessment re Hebron House (A protected
structure) on adjoining lands has been included with
this application
Blanchfieldsland
Hebron Road
kilkenny

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by Amtmann

The McDonalds/Topaz service area off M8 J8 is doing very well so far. They should have built it bigger though. It's very congested and parking is dire.

Had the "pleasure" of attempting to make a stop here a few weeks back in order to fill the screen wash and grab a coffee.
Abysmal (again). No parking available and signing as confusing as the last time I was there so ended up simply pulling up at the side of the road for a minute before heading on coffee-less.

Is there any sign of them actually building the extra parking that they have supposedly permission for?

[Amtmann]

Originally Posted by munchkin_utd

Had the "pleasure" of attempting to make a stop here a few weeks back in order to fill the screen wash and grab a coffee.
Abysmal (again). No parking available and signing as confusing as the last time I was there so ended up simply pulling up at the side of the road for a minute before heading on coffee-less.

Is there any sign of them actually building the extra parking that they have supposedly permission for?

None at all. Shambolic cheapskaterism from Topaz.

[JupiterKid]

The operator of the Topaz/McDonalds services on the M8 at Cashel should be forced by South Tipp County Council and/or the NRA to build additional parking and improve the circulation layout or face closure on Health & Safety grounds.

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by JupiterKid

The operator of the Topaz/McDonalds services on the M8 at Cashel should be forced by South Tipp County Council and/or the NRA to build additional parking and improve the circulation layout or face closure on Health & Safety grounds.

no chance.

They are actually winning prizes for their crazy dangerous inadequate service station!

Last year from some association for petrol station operators, and this year the forecourt prize from a retail association !

[MYOB]

Just go to Mother Hubbards, next exit, loads of parking.

No fuel though, but you can get that without having to park at Topaz.

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by MYOB

Just go to Mother Hubbards, next exit, loads of parking.
No fuel though, but you can get that without having to park at Topaz.

great tip that. The reviews say it does a great feed altogether. Parking isnt great but it seems more straight forward than the topaz so no fear of getting stuck in the queue for the drive in there!!

Here's where it is on the Cahir Road out of Cashel town (between the town and the motorway so easy access) which is Junction 9 on the M8.
Its exactly 1km according to Google so 2 min off the motorway.
Open 7.00am to 9.00pm, 8.00am to 9.00pm on Sunday so also reasonable enough opening hours for the majority of motorists.
http://www.menupages.ie/tipperary/so...ds_cashel.aspx

Tesco next door have fuel during the daytime (EDIT: from 7am to 11pm!) so if you need to fill up after you get your feed thats an ideal option, but they aparantly don't have toilets so as a relief stop on its own not ideal.
http://www.pumps.ie/viewStation.php?stationID=3620
EDIT: the tesco supermarket next door has public toilets and is open from 8am to 10pm and parking galore!!

[Jayuu]

Originally Posted by munchkin_utd

great tip that. The reviews say it does a great feed altogether. Parking isnt great but it seems more straight forward than the topaz so no fear of getting stuck in the queue for the drive in there!!

Here's where it is on the Cahir Road out of Cashel town (between the town and the motorway so easy access) which is Junction 9 on the M8.
Its exactly 1km according to Google so 2 min off the motorway.
Open 7.00am to 9.00pm, 8.00am to 9.00pm on Sunday so also reasonable enough opening hours for the majority of motorists.
http://www.menupages.ie/tipperary/so...ds_cashel.aspx

Tesco next door have fuel during the daytime (EDIT: from 7am to 11pm!) so if you need to fill up after you get your feed thats an ideal option, but they aparantly don't have toilets so as a relief stop on its own not ideal.
http://www.pumps.ie/viewStation.php?stationID=3620
EDIT: the tesco supermarket next door has public toilets and is open from 8am to 10pm and parking galore!!

Have to head this way in the next while so may consider this option. Had a look at StreetView on Google to get an idea of exactly where it was and couldn't get over the sign outside the Tesco advertising unleaded petrol for €1.095 (and diesel for just over €1). Those were the days!

[MYOB]

Article in the SBP saying that Mayfield is expanding due to being under-capacity for HGVs as it stands.

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by MYOB

Article in the SBP saying that Mayfield is expanding due to being under-capacity for HGVs as it stands.

If its under capacity then what is Cashel? Anyhow, here's an article on the expansion just for the record.

SPAR Texaco Junction 14 – the landmark motorway services site on the M7 – has announced that it is to create 20 new jobs and invest a further €500,000 in expansion of the premises.

The announcement was made at a special one year anniversary celebration of the locally owned Irish business, which was attended by Minister Michael Ring T.D., and Bobby Kerr, Gavin Duffy, Norah Casey and Niall O’Farrell of Dragon’s Den fame.

The site, which also includes Irish brands Supermacs and Insomnia, was opened last June by local businessmen and brothers Donal and Liam Fitzpatrick following an initial €7 million investment. The business has grown from 40 to 100 employees in this time and the owners are to begin recruiting for another 20 positions to be filled over the next six months. They are also due to begin works on site expansion, doubling capacity for Heavy Goods Vehicles - a group critical to Ireland’s import/export supply chain.

Speaking at the event, Donal Fitzpatrick said, “We are very proud and thankful that the first year has been such a great success, testament to the commitment of our staff and our customers who have shown us the utmost loyalty and support.” Liam Fitzpatrick added: “On our part, there is a great desire to keep pushing the boundaries, not only to maintain our footing as the best motorway services experience on Irish roads but to keep building a successful Irish business which provides employment locally.”

http://www.irishtrucker.com/news/fur...tion-14-009212

[MYOB]

Cashel is a perverted joke. Still, the self-pay pumps are handy, means I don't waste valuable Mother Hubbards time queuing...

[hi5]

Originally Posted by linny

hopefully this will get the go ahead, badly needed in kilkenny



Permission for development. The development will
consists of A mixed use development comprising the
construction of (1) new access road from existing
round about on the N10 motorway link. (2) a vehicle
service station to include a convenience shop (with
food preparation and dining area, car wash and
covered forecourt area for fuel sales. (3) a discount
convenience retail unit (with provison for ancillary
alcohol sales. (4) a restaurant with drive thru facility
for the sale of hot food for consumption off the
premises. (5) all associated ancillary develoment
works including loading and storage area, staff
facilities, offices, car parking, footpaths, plant, lighting
signage and landscaping. A natura impact statement
has been included with this application as part of the
subject site is located within the river Nore candidate
special area of conservation an architectural heritage
impact assessment re Hebron House (A protected
structure) on adjoining lands has been included with
this application
Blanchfieldsland
Hebron Road
kilkenny

Thats about 5 Km from the M9 motorway, next to the ring road in Kilkenny, so wouldn't be considered a motorway sevice station.
A motorway service station should service the motorway.
Two possible places would be the Paulstown junction or Danesfort.
Paulstown has already been earmarked.

Still, a development like above should do well for those already exiting at Kilkenny anyway.

McDonalds have applied for a drivethrough at the same junction opposite the Toyota garage aswell.

[Jayuu]

Used the Mayfield/Junction 14 stop a few times over the last week as I was up and down to Thurles.

Have to say that I was very impressed with it. I didn't use it out of hours so I don't know what times the services close down, but the food was decent with a good few options depending on what you wanted and the toilets were clean and looked well kept.

I'll definitely use it again if I'm down that way.

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by Chris_5339762

THe Fermoy one is signed on the bridges, there is a sign on the motorway saying "24hr service station" and it is signed on the roundabout as well. Its then 1.5km to the service station.

Not perfect, but better than nothing.

I visited this one in Fermoy on the way to Cork a couple of weeks back and am well impressed.
Its not too far from the motorway to be a valid option for a stop, and if you are looking to toll dodge then its perfect (and the 1.90 saved can go to a coffee! )

There's truck parking spaces, showers, baby changing, a convenience store, hot food and everything else that you would expect at a larger brand new service station.

It doesnt have the amount of parking available of say Mayfield but being so close to cork city it probably wont be as busy anyhow with folks making a proper pit stop.

heres the entry in pumps.ie for more info and its exact location
http://www.pumps.ie/viewStation.php?stationID=4053