Antrim

The Real UFF have vowed to escalate their reign of terror on Catholic families in Antrim. The organization has claimed responsibility for the spate of pipe bomb attacks which have terrorized the community in recent weeks. In a phone call to the Antrim Guardian, a man claiming to represent the organization said they had carried out the recent attacks at Brantwood Gardens, Fountain Hill, the Steeple and at Caulside Park. He also issued a warning to all Catholics who 'fraternize with the Republican enemy' - and claimed that there would be further attacks.

(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

A bomb attack in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, last weekend has been likened to the Omagh bombings by a senior officer and is believed to have been designed to harm police officers. The attack took place on August 14, the 12th anniversary of the Real IRA Omagh attack. Police received a telephone warning that a bomb had been left at a primary school, prior to the explosion, but it contained inaccurate information and people were directed towards the bomb as a result. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) area commander Chief Inspector Sam Cordner said he had no doubt that the attack, which had “stark similarities” to the Omagh bombing in 1988, was aimed at police officers who would be putting traffic diversions in place.

(Source:PoliceProfessional.com)

Carlow

Larry Murphy is in no way connected to the disappearance of Jo Jo Dullard, her sister Mary Phelan claims.  Speaking exclusively to The Nationalist last week, the missing Callan woman’s sister stated: “I don’t think he is in any way connected with Jo’s disappearance. When he went to jail, we were told he wasn’t a suspect in Jo’s case and now we are led to believe by reading the papers that he is – but I believe he had nothing to do with it.”

(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

It was just like any other wedding day in St. Mary's Church, Staghall near Belturbet. It was all calm and collected as the daughter of businessman Sean Quinn arrived for her big day last week. Aoife Quinn only kept her husband-to-be, Dubliner Stephen Kelly, waiting for a very respectable 15 minutes. Dressed in a full-length, strapless, white ruffled gown, featuring a bow with diamante detail on the left thigh and a fishtail hemline, Aoife looked every inch the gorgeous bride.The simple elegance was completed with a long veil with satin trim and a bouquet of baby pink roses.

(Source: The Angle Celt)

Clare

Last Wednesday was a day of high emotion for the more than 1,400 people across the county who collected their Leaving Certificate results. As usual, higher-level maths was a talking point as Clare principals speculated that pupils in the county had done as well in the subject this year, as they had in previous years. More than 43% of those who sat higher-level maths nationwide were awarded As or Bs. Anne Tuohy, principal of CBS Ennistymon, said “We had a 600-pointer with extras to spare and that is no mean achievement.

(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

Despite acclaim from the Lonely Planet guide, it seems Irish people will always knock our own. A new website that rates towns features Cork City as the 51st best area in the country to live in – hardly a glowing reference for the Real Capital. Still in its infancy, www.likeplace.ie gives people the opportunity to rate their areas based on law and order, economy, environment, schools, local services, sense of community, cost of living and general opinion. Cork City has the most votes out of any area in County Cork, with a total of 30, but is currently nestled in the middle of the Cork list.

Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

McDonald's Restaurant has refused to serve police officers in Derry, the 'Journal' has learned.Several PSNI officers have been refused meals at the chain's Strand Road outlet in recent weeks. An angry police source told the 'Journal': "This is ridiculous in this day and age in Northern Ireland."It's understood the PSNI has since received an apology from the firm's management over the incidents. In a statement to the 'Journal', McDonald's said it was its policy to "serve all customers".

(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

"Job done", exclaimed Letterkenny athlete, Mark English, last week as he reflected on a fourth place finish in the heats - and the heat! - of the 1,000 metres at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. “It was just good to get into the final,” the 17 year old told the ‘Donegal Democrat’ from his base. “The time didn’t matter - all I wanted to do was make the final and I’ve done that.” That final will take place this weekend - 3.30.a.m. Irish time so an early rise for anyone keen to watch it via the wonders of the internet - given the young Donegal man ample time to recover from his race in the grueling heat at the Bishan Stadium.

(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

Ireland's biggest traditional music festival could be heading north of the border for the first time. Organisers of the Fleadh Cheoil — currently celebrating its 60th anniversary — have revealed that the week-long event may be making its way to Derry to coincide with its stint as UK city of culture in 2013. And with the North West economy set to receive an income boost to the tune of €30m (£24.6m), local officials have given the idea a warm welcome.

(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Dublin

Singer Alexandra Burke splashed the cash in Dublin last week when she jetted into town to perform at the Summer Blowout festival at Dandelion.The Herald can reveal how the 2008 X Factor winner and a group of dancers splurged on a shopping spree at exclusive Clarendon Street store Coco boutique just hours before she was due to take to the stage at the St Stephen's Green club on Wednesday.

(Source: The Evening Hearld)

Fermanagh

Retired RUC officer James McBryde could have been forgiven for giving up on ever having his poems and short stories published in his own book. But ever is a long time and instead, James, who is just weeks short of his 99th birthday, is reciting 60-year-old verses from a shiny new copy of his collection entitled Off the Beaten Track from his residence in Drumragh Nursing Home in Omagh With the help of Omagh Open Door Poetry Group, James is preparing to officially launch his book next week, and clearly relishes the opportunity to recall the many vivid memories of serving in the RUC throughout the rural landscape of Fermanagh.

(Source: Fermanagh Today)

Galway

Galway County Council has given the go ahead to convert 12 acres of land near Gort to use for paintballing. Planners have granted planning permission to convert the Coillte forest at Carrowgarriff for paintballing use, portable cabins, a changing area, and carpark.This is despite concerns from locals in the area about the impact of such a development.

(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kildare

Rose of Tralee Charmaine Kenny felt the tug of the long arm of the law when she paid an official visit to Athy Garda Station last week. In one of her last official duties as her reign draws to a close Charmaine was welcomed on behalf of the gardaí, the civilian staff and the clerical officers, as well as children of those who work at the station by Sergeant James Bergin. Sergeant Bergin told the Kildare Nationalist about the honour it was to have Charamine at the station as a guest.

(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)

Mayo

A Ballina man is in with a chance of winning a staggering €15,000 for GAA in Mayo. Thomas Harrison, from Ballina, has been named one of the final four in Super Value’s ‘Ireland’s Most Dedicated GAA Fan”.The prize includes €15,000 to support GAA in the winner’s local community and Thomas Harrison has pinpointed Ballina Stephenites Club and the Mayo County Development Squad as deserving recipients of some much-needed funding if he is successful. For their trouble the winner will also receive an amazing VIP package including accommodation for the All Ireland Final in September.

(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

With an accent that was as much a part of New York as Central Park, Fifth Avenue or the Brooklyn Bridge, Seanie Monaghan paid a visit to the Navan Boxing Club last week to meet some old acquaintances and make new friends. Monaghan was in town, along with his wife Beverly who is from Puerto Rico. Monaghan was on a short visit to Ireland and a large contingent of his relatives showed up at the CYWS Hall in what turned out to be an extended family gathering. The 28-year-old who has lived all his life in New York only became a professional boxer in April after coming to the sport relatively late.

(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Offaly

Steff at Tesco Birr have produced a calendar with the aim of raising over €30,000 for the Irish Cancer Society, Tesco's chosen 'Charity of the Year'. Inspired by the film 'Calendar Girls', the 'Naughty but Nice' calendar was launched last week by D'Unbelievables Comedian Jon Kenny at a reception at Kinnitty Castle. More than 120 people attended the launch and over €1,000 was raised on the night from calendar sales and a raffle of prizes kindly donated by local businesses and individuals. 

(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

Jacksons Restaurant's resident chef Geraldine Garvin has been nominated in the Best Chef category in this year's FOOD&WINE Magazine PENFOLDS Restaurant of the Year Awards 2010 shortlist. Head Chef Geraldine believes that her passion for food is best reflected in her strict approach to changing the evening menu on a seasonal basis, incorporating fresh locally-sourced ingredients as they naturally come into season. As such, she has an innovative flair for creating a variety of Game, Seafood and Vegetarian dishes from seasonal produce.

(Source: The Roscommon Champion)

Sligo

A woman had a miraculous escape after being knocked to the ground and trampled on by a bull close to a popular beach in Sligo. Mother-of-four Sonya Byrne from Co Fermanagh, and her 11-year-old son Patrick were walking their dogs at the back of Mullaghmore beach in Co Sligo when they were attacked last week. They were walking close to cows and calves on commonage land, which is not fenced off from the beach, when a bull emerged from the herd and began charging towards them.

(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.

(Source: The Wexford People)

Wicklow

Only the levels of complaints and reports of illegal dumping in County Dublin surpasses that of the Garden County. Since the EPA established a dedicated phone line in May of 2006 for members of the public to report incidents of illegal dumping some 5,588 calls have been made nationally.

(Source: The Wicklow People)