News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

The major part of the year was accident-free and three accidents (all single-vehicle incidents) between August and September resulted in four fatalities. However, the reduction in the number of accidents from six in 2010 to four has been welcomed by Meath County Manager Tom Dowling who said that it was a major achievement and those working in road safety in the county would continue to make safety a priority through implementation of the council's Road Safety Plan.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

Gardaí are investigating an armed robbery at a bookmakers on the Main Street in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

Two masked men, one armed with a handgun and the other with a baseball bat, entered the premises at around 7.30pm and demanded cash.

A sum of money was handed over, but the amount taken is not thought to be substantial.
The men are believed to have left the scene in a Northern Ireland-registered blue Nissan car traveling in the direction of the Monaghan Road.

No firearm was discharged during the robbery and no-one was injured.
(Source: RTE News)

Offaly

Amendments will be made to the Traveler Accommodation program 2009 - 2013 which will see a reduction in the number of accommodation units to be provided in Tullamore.

Dermot Mahon, Offaly County Council, outlined a number of proposed amendments to the Traveler Accommodation Program 2009-2013. It is proposed to amend the target date for the completion of a 4 unit group housing scheme from 2011 to 2013 in Birr.

According to the draft mid term review, a number of potential sites for group housing have been identified in the Birr and consultation has commenced with the families on Millbrook Park halting site who wish to move to group housing. However, the site selection process has been difficult to date resulting in target for completion being extended to 2013.

It is proposed to reduce the target of 20 units of traveler specific accommodation in the Tullamore environs to seven units due to a number of factors.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

Days before he starts filming the new TV series ‘Moone Boy’ in his native Boyle, Co Roscommon, Hollywood actor Chris O’Dowd announced his engagement to Dawn Porter via twitter.

The pair got engaged on December 26 at Havelet Bay, Guernsey but made the announcement on twitter on December 29. Chris O’Dowd whose twitter name is BigBoyler stated “I’m so bored of all this happiness and sex. I’m getting married. #engaged” while his fiance Dawn Porter tweeted “I guess he liked it, coz he put a ring on it #engaged.”

Dawn Porter is a 31 year old broadcast and print journalist from the UK. She has made around 13 documentaries, the author of ‘Diaries of an Internet Lover’ and has written for a number of UK newspapers and magazines.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Sligo

A jet skier and a surfer had a lucky escape amidst the waves off the coast of Lislary, in North Sligo, after the jet drive sucked in the surfer's tow rope.

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Nster.com