News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Monaghan

A number of county councils confirmed that top staff were entitled to an average annual leave well in excess of those enjoyed by managing directors in the private sector. It was revealed some county managers were entitled to take up to two months of holidays a year, with Longford county manager Tim Caffrey entitled to 42 days.
(Source: Irish Times)

Offaly

It was a regular Monday in Moneygall, when it suddenly became extraordinary. While residents were busy getting the village ready for President Barack Obama’s impending visit next month, a bus containing 30 US officials and security staff pulled in. The group who conversed little with the locals visited both public houses in the village, took aerial photographs and identified a location for the President’s helicopter. And then they were gone.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon
The new Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn, is likely to face one of his toughest political battles as his department moves to shut down tiny rural schools. Local communities will fight a rearguard action to retain small village schools, which are under threat of closure from recommendations in Colm McCarthy's An Bord Snip report. Mantua National School near Elphin in Co Roscommon is believed to be one of the smallest in the country, with just six pupils.
(Source: Irish Independent)

Sligo

A Co Sligo farmer is facing a prison sentence after pleading guilty to cruelty to donkeys and a horse. Sligo District Court heard that the animals were so hungry they ate the fence posts in the field.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

A former Roscrea vet was fined E30,000, and ordered to pay E1,500 in costs, at a special sitting of Nenagh Court for having illegal animal remedies, having animal remedies without a proper prescription and with altering or removing the labels or packaging of animal remedies. Laurence Greene, 72, of Ivy Nook, Roscrea, pleaded guilty to six charges taken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A further 19 charges were withdrawn by the State.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

Police hunting the killers of PC Ronan Kerr have arrested a suspect after discovering a 'significant' haul of arms, including rocket launcher components and detonators. Officers detained a 26-year-old man in Renton, west Scotland, after the cache, also including four Kalashnikov rifles and possible Semtex explosive, was found in Northern Ireland last week. The details emerged after Northern Irish nationalist leaders joined police and relatives in a show of unity at PC Kerr’s funeral in the village of Beragh, Co Tyrone.
(Source: Metro.co.uk)

Waterford

An unreserved apology has been publicly given to a Waterford family left traumatized by a TG4 program screened on January 13 last, which showed their late mother being embalmed at a Dungarvan Undertakers. The family was traumatized after switching over to the TV station to witness their deceased mother’s entire embalming process being secretly filmed. They took legal action and received an out-of-court settlement from producers.
(Source: Waterford News $ Star)

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