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Plans for a 32-house estate in Thomastown have been refused planning permission by Kilkenny County Council because there are already unfinished estates in the town and because the site is zoned for the town’s second phase of development.

Twenty-eight submissions regarding the planning application were made by residents of the neighbouring Dangan Terrace, Thomastown, maintaining that there is no demand or need for further houses in Thomastown at present, that an increase in traffic would add to the dangerous conditions on the R700 and R703, and that there are already unfinished estates in the town, which is experiencing a high level of emigration, among other concerns.
[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS

Local communities have been left stranded with the loss of two bus services this month, as Bus Eireann and Aircoach both cut their services to Laois.

Bus Eireann is cutting out Durrow, Abbeyleix and Johnstown and taking the motorway directly from Portlaoise to Urlingford, effective from Sunday, June 24, in efforts to speed up their new Cork to Dublin airport service.

Aircoach cancelled their inter-town service June 8, blaming a decline in passenger numbers. They will now operate an express service only from Cork to Dublin airport. It took in Portlaoise Abbeyleix and Durrow.
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM

Mohill’s Phil Kearney-Byrne is the winner of the RTÉ Radio 1 2012 Short Story Competition in Memory of Francis Mac Manus.

Phil Kearney-Byrne’s entry, entitled It’s All a Cod was the overall winner and Phil will be awarded $3,750 along with having her winning entry read by actor Pat Laffan and broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Monday 18 June at 11.10 p.m.

Ms. Kearney Byrne’s winning entry introduces two divergent portraits of a stubborn widower and plays with the clichés of what it is to be elderly. Dublin-born Kearney Byrne studied science at UCD and trained in London as a psychotherapist. She lives and runs her professional practice in Mohill. She was short-listed for the Fish Flash Fiction and Short Story Competitions in 2010. It’s All a Cod is her first piece of fiction to be published.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

A barman who was sacked after customers complained he had been drunk on the job and messing up orders has been awarded $3,782 after taking a case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Gerard Clery, of Cappalaheen, Kilkishen, County Clare, denied drinking while on duty at the Mall Bar, Sandmall, on the night of Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010.

Bar owner Pat Cowhey gave evidence of having dismissed Mr. Clery arising from complaints. Mr. Cowhey said he had had reason “on numerous occasions” to warn Mr. Clery to cut down on his drinking. He had seen evidence of this himself and had also received complaints from customers.

Mr. Cowhey’s niece was working on Easter Sunday and called her uncle to tell her Mr. Clery was drunk on duty. He received calls from customers making the same claim.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

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Nster.com