News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Antrim

A security alert caused major disruption to residents in Rathenraw last Monday after a suspicious object was found on the windowsill of a property in Norfolk Square.The homeowner discovered the object when she opened her curtains at around 9am - her children, pupils at Sperrin Integrated College in Magherafelt, had walked past it on their way to school sometime earlier. The device, which was made from a coffee jar filled with sugar, petrol, batteries and a coat hanger, was declared an elaborate hoax after examination by Army Technical Officers.
 (Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

Customs officials seized nearly 12,000 litres of illicit diesel at sites at Hannahtown in west Belfast and in County Armagh last Friday morning. HM Revenue & Customs said the raids were part of a major cross border operation against suspected fuel fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. Searches were also carried in counties Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon and Galway. Two vehicles and cash were seized during the raids in Northern Ireland.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Carlow

Carlow towns and villages narrowly missed out on the national title in this year’s Tidy Towns competition. Clonegal and Leighlinbridge were only points away from the overall winner, while every Carlow entrant improved their position from last year. Clonegal walked away as the overall county winner, with a grand total of 303 marks, while Leighlinbridge was also among Carlow’s three gold medallists. Carlow town also secured a gold medal in the annual awards, announced last Monday at a ceremony in the Helix Theatre in Dublin.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

It was great news for the county as the official word came through... Cavan town will host the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in August 2011. It was not unexpected but still sparked major celebrations as the business community breathed a sigh of relief that the major international event, worth up to €30m to the local economy, was coming back again.
Now the hard work begins afresh, but the Fleadh Executive Committee (FEC) under the leadership of County Manager, Jack Keyes, have the advantage this year of the experience of organising what was one of the best All-Ireland fleadhs in history - the Cavan Fleadh 2010.
(Source: The Angle Celt)

Clare

A young Ennis woman was recently named one of the top 10 ‘Outstanding Young Persons of the World’. Junior Chamber International, a worldwide membership-based non-profit organisation, selected Melanie Hennessy from Cloughleigh as one of their 2010 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (JCI TOYP).“It is really amazing. It seems a bit ridiculous because it is only me. When you tell people Outstanding Young Person of the World it sounds unbelievable so I don’t tell people because it is too crazy,” the medical student said.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

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