News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

A look at news from around Ireland

[Source: Fermanagh Herald]

GALWAY
The Departments of Finance and Transport and the National Roads Authority (NRA) will re-enter negotiations with the preferred bidder for the Gort to Tuam motorway, with a view to building work commencing on the project early next year – it is estimated up to 3,000 jobs will be created over the three and a half year construction period.

Work on the 35-mile stretch of the M17/M18 motorway was supposed to start in late 2010 but was stalled due to the country’s financial crisis.

[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY
Kerry farmers are among the most active buyers of farmland in the nearby counties of Limerick, Cork and Tipperary.

It will be interesting to watch the level of Kingdom interest that is generated by the sale of a 204ac residential dairy farm located near Dingle that comes with 159ac of commonage, a newly-built house and a fully-equipped farmyard. The private treaty sale is being guided by Eddie McQuinn of McQuinn Consulting at $12,250/ac, with the house being guided at $390,000 giving a price tag on the entire of $2.8m.

[Source: Irish Independent]

KILDARE
A Castledermot man has defied all the odds to make world swimming history last week.
Steve Redmond (47), originally from Castledermot and now living in Ballydehob, west Cork, has become the first person to complete the world’s seven most grueling ocean swims, following an epic crossing of the Tsugaru Strait off Japan.

Steve completed the 12-mile Tsugaru Strait in a time of 14 hours and 24 minutes on Saturday. Following the historic swim, Steve said: “The water had a mind of its own. At times, swimming against the current was like walking on an airport-moving-walkway.”

[Source: Kildare Nationalist]

KILKENNY
A Callan man is looking for a suitable home for a collection of World War II memorabilia.
Edward Heron, who inherited the photographs from his uncle-in-law, has told national media that his intention is to donate them to an institution in Ireland or abroad where they can be properly displayed.

His memorabilia includes photographs of the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald that were brought to an antiques valuation day hosted recently by Sheppards auctioneers in Durrow.

Mr. Heron has explained that he was given the 10 photographs by his relative, who had received them from a US soldier after the war’s end.

[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS
The Special Criminal Court trial of four men accused of having equipment for printing counterfeit currency has collapsed following revelations that information on a fifth suspect was deliberately kept from the defense.

The prosecution this morning entered a “Nolle Prosequi,” meaning it will not pursue the charges against Kevin Flanagan (43), of Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois, Liam Delaney (42), with addresses at Mountrath and Borris-in-Ossory, Anthony Sloan (57), a native of Belfast with an address at Ard na Mara, Dundalk, Co. Louth and Andrew Poole (43), of Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

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Nster.com