News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Whats going on around Ireland

ANTRIM

After years of delays and broken promises, Parkhall Integrated College in Antrim may finally be on course for its much-needed $14.6 million rebuild.

A whole generation of students has passed through the school since detailed proposals to replace the crumbling campuses were first tabled, but supporters allowed themselves to believe its time had finally come in June when Education Minister John O'Dowd unveiled his spending plans.

Their jubilation was short-lived, however, when it emerged that Antrim's last remaining controlled secondary school was not one of the lucky 18 sharing the $280m pot.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

A man was left with life-threatening injuries on September 16 after he was stabbed during an altercation in the early hours of Sunday morning. The horrific assault took place in the Thomas Street area of Bessbrook.

Newry Detectives launched an appeal for information after being called to the scene around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday following reports of a man having been stabbed during an altercation in the street.

The seriously injured man was rushed to hospital in Belfast following the incident.

A 34-year-old man was arrested a short time later and has since been charged with attempted murder.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

The county manager laid bare the true extent of cuts to the local authorities’ coffers two weeks ago as a result, he said, of the shortfall in the collection of the household charge.

Tom Barry stressed that the almost $1.3 million in cuts are “directly linked” to the collection of the controversial charge.

Services such as housing grants, maintenance, roads, waste water treatment, street cleaning, fire services, maintenance of burial grounds, library services and many more are being targeted in an effort to balance the books.

To date, 25 percent has been deducted from the overstretched budget.
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]

CAVAN

A Cavan County Council official has reiterated their policy that “less is more” when it comes to fitting out the county's towns and villages with litter bins.

Last week one of the authority's most senior officers pointed to the results of this year's national Tidy Towns awards as proof that litter bins may not be all that they're made out to be.

Peter Gallagher, Cavan County Council's delegated officer for Cootehill, told town councilors that the success achieved by the people of Abbeyshrule in Co. Longford in winning the premier national Tidy Towns award was notable in more than one aspect.

Mr. Gallagher pointed out that Abbeyshrule's Tidy Towns committee made the decision to remove all the litter bins in their town. "I will say no more," the council official stated at the September monthly meeting of Cootehill Town Council.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

With Clare hurling enjoying unprecedented success with a second All-Ireland U-21 title in four years, County GAA Board chairman Michael O’Neill has appealed to the business community to help prevent a player drain.

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Nster.com