News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

ANTRIM

An Antrim woman, whose baby tragically died following a long illness, has blasted those behind a controversial and “perverted” Facebook page which posts jokes about dead babies.

Paula Woods lost Billie-Jo at the tender age of only eight months after the brave little girl had battled against all the odds when doctors warned her terrified mother that she had “no chance for survival.”

She encountered more than her fair share of heartbreak, suffering numerous miscarriages before Billie-Jo was born at only 27 weeks and weighing less than a bag of sugar on August 11, 2008.
The mother thinks it’s a disgrace such a bullying page be allowed to exist.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a drive-by shooting in Newry late on August 11 in which a man was injured.

The shooting occurred around 11:15 p.m. in Drumalane Park when the occupants of a house were sitting in the front room of the property. A single shot was fired through the window and one man sustained minor injuries to his neck and upper arm.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

A Tullow family has been “overwhelmed” by the kindness and generosity of people following the heartbreaking discovery that their three-year-old grandson in the United States has developed leukemia.

Little Andrew Dawson, the grandson of Dan and Carmel Dawson from Tullow, was diagnosed with leukemia in mid-July – news which devastated the family, particularly his parents Mark and Tristan. Mark Dawson (42) moved to America 23 years ago and in 2001 married U.S. native Tristan. The couple resides in Palm Beach, Florida, and little Andrew is their only son.

“He’s Mark and Tristan’s only child and it’s precious to have him at all . . . he’s their little piece of gold,” said Carmel. “He’s a very happy, intelligent little boy, who loves his connection with Ireland. He loves getting the parcels in the post with his Ireland jerseys. He has a sliotar and a hurl . . . he just loves everything about Ireland,” she added. “We talk to him every couple of days on Skype.”

Andrew is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment in Florida, where a team of oncologists, pediatricians and nursing staff are ensuring that he is receiving the very best of medical care.
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]

CAVAN

Over 300,000 visitors, some 1,500 volunteers, close to 300 events, an estimated $49m for the local economy and one massive party . . . the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil kicked off in Cavan Town last week. You'd be mad to miss the ceol and the craic!

Apart from the official Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann competitions and Scoil Éigse summer school, there is a huge program of events going on in the Fringe Fleadh, according to County Manager Jack Keyes, not to mention the number of impromptu sessions that will crop up in pubs and on streets all over the town.
 [Source: The Anglo Celt]

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