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LONGFORD

The death of a 58-year-old Longford man on New Year’s Eve 2009 was caused by the enlargement of his heart after he suffered a heart attack brought on by an unprovoked assault, the Coroner’s Court in Longford has heard.

Mr. Noel Keegan of 31 Farnagh, County Longford died shortly after he was attacked by Martin McDonagh of 55 Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford at Park Road, Co. Longford on December 31, 2009. Mr. McDonagh was subsequently sentenced to five-year imprisonment.

Mr. Keegan, who was accompanied by his wife Marie on the evening of his death, was on his way to PVs on Ballymahon Street to meet with friends. The couple were followed by Mr. McDonagh and a female friend and the inquest heard that the Keegans tried to “lose” Mr. McDonagh and the woman by heading in a different direction.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

Ardee Baroque, Ireland’s only festival of orchestral baroque music, will take place over the weekend of November 16-18 in Ardee.

“It’s going to be a fabulous three days of Handel, Bach and other composers,” said Ardee Baroque chairman John Rountree.

“We will have concerts by the Irish Baroque Orchestra, soprano Deirdre Moynihan, baroque guitarist Eamon Sweeney, as well as other events. The sheer quality of the music will be exceptional.”

Ardee Baroque is now in its ninth year and has established a reputation for exceptional music in atmospheric venues.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

Fifteen men who are accused of various charges relating to violent scenes at a Confirmation mass in St. Mary’s Church in Ballinrobe last February have indicated that they will be pleading not guilty.

Sixteen men appeared before Castlebar District Court on Friday, October 26 in relation to incidents in Ballinrobe on December 25, 2011 and February 18, 2012.

Four men were charged with affray on December 25, 2011, while fifteen men were charged with incidents at St. Mary’s Church in Ballinrobe on February 28, 2012. Four of them were charged on two counts – that of possession of an article and of threatening and abusive behaviour – while eleven other men are charged with violent disorder at the same location.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

Thirteen students, three teachers and two parents from Eureka Secondary School in Kells, who were stranded in New York because of “Superstorm Sandy,” have made it home to Ireland.

The Eureka students had travelled to New York to take part in the world finals of the Empire Mock Courtroom Trials competition along with their teachers Principal Caroline O'Reilly, Gabrielle Moran and Ronan Fahy, and parents Eileen Cunniffe and Lorraine Parry.

The group was due to depart from Newark Airport on October 29, but the arrival of Superstorm Sandy saw their flight cancelled.

At that stage, they were told that they would not be able to get another flight until November 9, and this was then revised to November 6. After spending many hours on the phone making frantic calls to seek alternative flights, Ms. O'Reilly got the good news that they were booked on a flight last Wednesday evening with their original airline and they arrived back in Dublin early on Thursday morning.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

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Nster.com