News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on in news around Ireland

Sligo Rovers Chairman Dermot Kelly believes that the awarding of a $390,000 Sports Capital Grant to the League of Ireland champions is a "potential game changer in the history of the club."

The Bit O'Red will use the money to refurbish the all-weather facility at the Showgrounds, install a new grass training pitch and carry out work on their playing surface.

"The work will be completed within months and when it is done, the Showgrounds will have infrastructure and facilities, including the new [$330,000] Railway End stand, to allow Sligo Rovers function and develop as a model community-based club for many years," said Kelly.
[Source: Irish Independent]

TIPPERARY

A major fire at the Bord na Mona briquette factory in Littleton in the early hours of Sunday morning, December 23, caused extensive damage to the well-known plant that was saved from being burned to the ground by the magnificent efforts of fire-fighters from Thurles, Cashel, Clonmel and Templemore.

It took 31 fire-fighters to bring the blaze under control and they worked from 6:30 a.m. until midday in a bid to ensure that the fire would not spread to the major storage units which contained tons of peat and briquettes. Had those units taken off, the situation would have been much more serious according to emergency personnel.
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

A well-known Cookstown footballer has died following a blaze at a house in Cookstown.

David Major, who played for Championship Two side Killymoon Rangers, died in a blaze at his home in Cooke Crescent on Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Major (59) and was unemployed.

The fire, at the house in the Gortalowry end of the town, was reported to police shortly before 1:50 p.m. on Saturday. Fire and ambulance crews also attended the scene.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD

A postmortem is due to be carried out on the body of man found on the banks of the River Suir in Waterford City Sunday morning, December 23.

The remains of the man, believed to be in his 20s, were recovered by emergency services below the Tower Hotel.

His body was then taken to Waterford Regional Hospital where a postmortem took place last Monday.
[Source: Irish Examiner]

WESTMEATH

Police in the U.K. have reiterated their appeal for information following the disappearance of a retired horse trainer from Ireland.

Owen Brennan (77), who originally hails from Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath, has been living in the U.K. for more than 30 years and has trained over 300 race-winning horses. He retired in 2009.

He went missing from his home in Derby on December 17.

A spokesperson for the Derby Police Department said he still had not been found and they were anxious to speak to anyone who may have seen him.
[Source: Irish Independent]

WEXFORD

The sad and lonely death of Alan Moore at his Wexford home during the Christmas period last year was a stark reminder of the need to check on our neighbors.

​
Nster.com