News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

The sun is a powerful form of energy. All forms of renewable energy are derived indirectly from the sun. Solar Water Thermal systems are becoming increasingly popular to heat water in our homes in particular since grants are now available under the Greener Homes scheme which is now in its 3rd phase. Currently over 750 systems have been installed in County Tipperary since the commencement of the Scheme with an additional 200 applications approved. The price for installing solar water heating systems is now reducing significantly so now is a good time to consider investing.

(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

A County Tyrone man killed in a shooting in Afghanistan earlier this month was finally laid to rest last weekend. Father-of-four Ken McGonigle (51) had been working as a police mentor for a security company in Helmand Province when he was shot nearly two weeks ago by an escaped |prisoner being held by colleagues. His body was repatriated to Northern Ireland at Aldergrove last week before a private funeral service.

(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Waterford

The city was awash with the colours of the rainbow as a weekend of Gay Pride events took place. As many as 600 people turned out for the highlight of the weekend, the Gay Pride Parade, which trailed down the Mall last weekend with encouragement from locals who gathered to witness the event. A huge 15 metre long rainbow striped flag, the symbol for gay pride, was proudly waved, as ChillOUT members played drums, followed by a number of floats and characters from the Wizard of Oz.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

Athlone's Chamber of Commerce has appealed to Irish Rail to change train fares which make it cheaper for shoppers and tourists to leave Athlone and go to Dublin than to travel from the capital to Athlone.  An analysis of train fares carried out by the Westmeath Independent found that, at most times of the week, the fare from Dublin to Athlone is significantly higher than the cost of taking the reverse journey. At certain times, day return fares from Dublin to the midlands can cost up to €25.50 more than the equivalent fare from Athlone.

(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

A boarded-up holiday chalet in Curracloe has been sold for more than €165,000 – in a sign that there's still some money about despite the recession. And incredibly, two other similar properties have also sold for roughly the same prices, making a total of almost €500,000. 'It wasn't their beauty, it was the location', admitted auctioneer John Radford of Sherry Fitzgerald Radford. The chalets, on sites of less than half an acre at The Raven, attracted phenomenal nationwide interest when they were advertised at the beginning of the summer.

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Nster.com