News from around the 32 Irish counties

LAOIS
The Army bomb squad were called into action in Portarlington last Monday after a suspicious electrical device was discovered on the roof, thought to have been left there during a break-in the previous night. The item was discovered when the Supervalu owner, Marcus McLoughlin, went to check upstairs to make sure everything was in order after the break-in and it was then that he noticed the "suspicious object". He contacted gardaí and was told to evacuate the premises until police and members of the army bomb disposal unit arrived. The area was sealed off with a number of gardaí on duty at various locations to ensure no members of the public had access to the supermarket at the Arlington Centre in the town.
(Source: The Leinster Express)

LEITRIM
Leitrim County Councilors are calling for the Government to address the large number of empty, unfinished and derelict housing stock now evident throughout the county, with demolition being one of the options proposed. With estimates suggesting that at least one third of all houses in the county are unoccupied, councilors have called for moves both at local and national level to address the situation.
(Source: The Leitrim Observer)

LIMERICK
The University of Limerick is coming under intense criticism from a number of political parties for building a "lavish" and "extravagant" residence for its president during a time of economic crisis. The UL president, Prof Don Barry, is due to move into his new home next month, which was built at a cost €1.1 million and funded by philanthropic donations.
(Source: The Limerick Leader)

LONGFORD
Former Longford GAA greats of yesteryear have been paying tribute to Leinster winning championship manager and one of life's "perfect gentleman", Mick Higgins who passed away last week at the age of 87. Captain of the last Cavan team to lift the coveted Sam Maguire in 1952, the softly spoken but multi talented centre forward also cemented his name as a manager of outstanding repute during his brief but auspicious spell with Longford during the late 60s.
(Source: The Longford Leader)
 

LOUTH
Plans are in the offing to replace the Obelisk at the Battle of the Boyne site which was destroyed in 1923. The Boyne Foundation, founded in 2008 by a group of Orangemen, has lodged planning permission with Louth County Council (LCC) to rebuild the monument, which commemorates the Battle of the Boyne. In their application, The Boyne Foundation said they have agreed to purchase the site involved, which is located close to the existing visitor centre, from the legal owners Shaderoe Ltd, c/o Amatino Partners, Cavan. Built in 1736 by Lionel Sackville, at the time the Obelisk was the highest man-made structure on the island.
(Source: The Drogheda Independent)
 

MAYO
A ‘renaissance’ in fine food is under way in Mayo with the new Bridgestone Irish Food Guide praising the county’s restaurants and food producers and describing Mayo as the most improved county. The latest edition Bridgestone Irish Food Guide was launched during the week and it made good reading for Mayo with the number of entries rising from 28 in 2007 to 45 in the new edition. The entries range from hotels, restaurants and guest houses to deli’, butchers and cafes with a number of new businesses included for the first time. John McKenna, the co-author of the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide told The Mayo News that there was a ‘stratospheric increase’ in the number of Mayo entries and that was the real success story of the new guide. He explained that Mayo had always sold itself on its landscape and beauty but its cuisine was way ahead of other counties in the region.
(Source: Mayo News)

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