News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Kerry

A factory which has been in Co Kerry for 36 years is to close with the loss of all 28 jobs, it was announced last week. Heimbach has announced it will close its plant in Tralee. Operations there will be transferred to the German company's other factories in Europe. Heimbach makes web screens which are used in the manufacture of paper.  The company has not made an official public statement, but SIPTU, which represents staff, has confirmed that the plant will close at the end of April.
(Source: Irish Examiner)

Kildare

Students and staff at a Kildare school were evacuated recently (Wednesday 26 January) when a potentially explosive substance was found in the building. Gardaí were called to Coláiste Lorcain in Castledermot that morning when picric acid, commonly used in science labs in schools and colleges, was found to have crystallised. An army bomb disposal team was called in shortly after midday and personnel removed the substance and made it safe at the other location.The substance is normally safe to handle, although it was used as a lethal explosive in the Boer War and World War One.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)
Kilkenny
A Kilkenny publican has been completely exonerated after a prosecution for selling diluted vodka on his premises was dramatically overturned without a fight at Kilkenny Circuit Court last week and his innocence confirmed. It follows the revelations that two of three samples taken from a bottle of vodka in his pub were perfectly legal following independent tests. Under fire watchdog, the National Consumer Agency (NCA) which took the botched case and is now left reeling and embarrased from the result of the appeal.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

Gardai (police) are appealing for information on a criminal gang who last week committed a string of armed robberies across Portarlington, and in one terrifying incident disturbed a woman as she slept in her bed. The crime wave began last Wednesday (January 19), when a man wearing a balaclava entered a filling station in the town armed with a sawn-off shotgun and proceeded to rob a quantity of cash from the premises.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

The Road Safety Authority had six reports of rogue driving instructors in Leitrim in the past nine months. 15 instructors from Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim were reported to the RSA since the introduction of mandatory accreditation in April last year. At least six driving instructors in Leitrim are offering lessons to members of the public without mandatory accreditation. According to the RSA website there are 31 licensed driving instructor companies covering Co Leitrim.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

It has been confirmed that the first new housing development under the Limerick Regeneration programme will begin in Moyross in April. In what Brendan Kenny, CEO of Regeneration described as a "milestone moment" for the project, a request for tenders for the building programme will go out this week. Regeneration have advertised publicly for tenders for this new housing development at Cliona Park, Moyross, which will be the first building project to commence under the remit of the Agencies since they were established in late 2007.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

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