News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

Under the terms of the contract, they will have as much input into their future direction as the company, which was essential in persuading them to sign, according to bassist Pete.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

Clare County Council is finding it increasingly difficult to reduce its annual expenditure of $133.1 million without reducing frontline services, county manager, Tom Coughlan has warned.

In his address to county councilors as part of the Draft 2013 Budget, Mr. Coughlan had admitted the preparation of this budget was particularly difficult due to the fact the scope to achieve operational savings is progressively reducing.

Commercial rates are expected to remain the same for the second successive year pending the eventual outcome of councilors’ deliberations of the annual budget estimates, which are scheduled to start this Tuesday.
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK

An Irish Australian group is appealing for help for a young Cork mother and her children who are facing eviction from their home in Queensland for unpaid rent. The woman, who moved from Cork in 2009, will be evicted from her home on December 20 if the debt of $5,275 is not paid. An urgent appeal has been issued by the Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland (I.A.S.A.Q.) for the family who are living on the Gold Coast.

The Cork woman, who has not been named, earns $420 a week in her job but has rent costs of $380 per week. She has been struggling to get by since her New Zealand-born husband left the family and stopped contributing to the rent in November of last year.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, I.A.S.A.Q. President Peter Long says that the situation is extremely urgent.

"What makes this so difficult and the need for cash so urgent is that the family has no entitlement to any social security benefits of any type in Australia due to the nature of the visa that the family has.”
[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY

Around 300 loyalists held a flag protest on Derry’s Peace Bridge on Sunday, December 9.

Police say the protest – sparked by Belfast City Council’s decision taken two weeks ago to fly the Union Flag only on designated days – passed without incident.

But they say a file will be sent to the Public Prosecution service about the actions of some protestors.

“Between 250- 300 people gathered on the Peace Bridge for a short time after walking there from the Fountain Estate and Bond Street areas,” a P.S.N.I. spokeswoman says.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

People across Donegal are in shock with the news of the sudden, tragic death of Shannon Gallagher, the sister of Erin, the 13-year-old from Ballybofey who took her own life in October.

Shannon Gallagher (15) was found dead last night at Stranamuck, near Castlefin.

There was a huge outpouring of grief following the death of Erin, and concern at claims that she had been bullied.
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

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Nster.com