News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

A Hugginstown woman is part of a team that has successfully swum the English Channel to raise money for a local cause.Gráinne Burke is a member of the Stiletto Swimmers, along with Clare Morrissey, Kolette Enright, Maeve Moran and Maura Murphy from Dungarvan and Marie Barry from Carrick-on-Suir. They English Channel from Dover to Calais in relay to raise funds for the Helvick Lifeboat.

(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

Surging numbers on the dole in Portarlington have prompted extra signing-on days, after public protests were held to highlight the inadequate arrangements and conditions which the unemployed in the town have to endure at the social welfare office. There are now 3,406 people using the tiny office in Portarlington, which until latest developments was open just one day per week for people to sign on.

(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Ireland's Original Culchie Festival will take place in Mohill, Co Leitrim from October 22 -24. This is a very special year in the history of the festival as we will be celebrating our 21st birthday and we are calling on all culchies to come help us celebrate this unique event which now ranks highly in the calendar of festival events in Ireland.  The festival will also share the platform in Mohill with the well established and highly popular Annual Horse Fair on Sunday 24th.

(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

THE first sod will be turned at Murroe's new playground at the beginning of the Mary of Murroe festival on Friday, August 29. Murroe Community Council has been working on this project for over three years and the sale of the site has now been agreed. The chairman of the community council, Fr Simon Sleeman, said the site in the middle of the village was bought for e165,000.

(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

The ITV cameras will be rolled in Drumlish last weekend as they followed pop sensation Una Healy when she made a guest appearance at the Marquee in Drumlish Festival last Friday night. ITV2 have been filming Una and her bandmates for the past number of months for their new reality TV show 'The Saturdays: 24/7' which is due to be aired next September.
 
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

Louth might be known as the Wee County but when it comes to the number of brothels, it has the third biggest amount in the country.New figures released last week by the Department of Justice show that detectives have raided 115 brothels in the last four years with nine of those in County Louth. The problem appears to be on the increase as well with 28 brothels raided across. Ireland in the first six months of 2010 – compared to just 26 in the whole of last year.

(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

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