ANTRIM

The heartbroken fiancée of a young boxing star has told of the tragic moments when her husband-to-be died as he lay beside her. Rising boxing star Gary Craig (25) died suddenly as he watched a DVD with Deborah Herdman (24) at their home in west Belfast on Wednesday night last. The exact cause of his death is not yet known. The talented athlete had recently returned to the world of boxing with the Oliver Plunkett club after a five-year break and in his first fight two weeks ago had already defeated Ulster champion Adam Magee. The plasterer and father-of-two had been due to marry his long- term girlfriend Ms. Herdman on July 12, 2010.

(Source: The Belfast Telegraph)           

CARLOW

The great and the good of County Carlow were honored at the 2009 Rehab Care Carlow Person of the Year Awards the weekend before last. Mgr Caoimhín Ó Néill, the recipient of the Arts and Culture Award, was also crowned Carlow Person of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the county’s arts scene. During a spectacular celebration of community, a total of ten people were honored for their remarkable contribution to life in Carlow.

Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

CAVAN

The visit of the Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, to Cavan last Friday and the investment in a new state-of-the-art administrative headquarters for the Co. Cavan Vocational Education Committee (VEC), suggests that Cavan VEC is well-placed to take a leading role in any new amalgamation of VECs in the region. Not alone that but it appears that Cavan Institute could in the future be upgraded to institute of technology status.

 (Source: The Anglo Celt)

CLARE

Plans have been lodged for what was described as “Ireland’s largest road and rail museum” at Moyasta, west Clare. The museum is to form part of the restored West Clare Railway attraction where visitors have trebled since the return of the 117- year-old Slieve Callan steam engine last August. Announcing the plans last Thursday, Jackie Whelan of the West Clare Railway said: “The museum will be the largest road and rail museum in the country.” Already, he said, he had taken delivery of five rail engines to be placed in the museum. With the plans lodged with Clare County Council, Mr. Whelan said he hoped construction of the museum will begin early in 2010. Mr. Whelan also announced plans to extend the restored West Clare Railway a further 2.5 miles next year.

(Source: The Irish Times)

CORK

A new soccer tournament sponsored by The Corkman is set to see some of north Cork's top amateur soccer players pit their skills against each other in order to give local charities a welcome pre-Christmas boost.  The competition is the brainchild for Fermoy based community garda Andrew Geary, who last week presided over the official launch of the competition at the Grand Hotel in Fermoy. Pride of place at the event was taken by an impressive looking replica of the Champions League trophy, which will be presented to the winning team on the day.

(Source: The Corkman)

DERRY

The inquest into the death of a doorman who was gunned down in his Waterside home by the INLA over two years ago, is scheduled to take place this week. Bryan McGlynn, who was originally from Strabane, was shot dead in front of his girlfriend in his Fountain Hill home on June 6, 2007.  A masked gunman entered the former nightclub doorman's bedroom and took just 36 seconds to shoot 28-year-old Mr. McGlynn.

(Source: The Derry Journal)

DONEGAL

In a report published by the National Cancer Registry last Tuesday, regions of high incidence in non-melanoma skin cancer were observed along the west coast of Donegal. Lung, prostate and stomach cancer were found to be the most common forms of the disease in the North West over a ten year period. The National Cancer Registry published the first 'atlas of cancer' in Ireland which gives detailed geographical information on the distribution of all common cancers in Ireland between 1994 to 2003. The findings are not suggesting that the level of incidence for cancer is down to a particular location but instead are likely to reflect socio-economic differences in population, exposure to risk factors such as tobacco, and uptake of cancer screening

(Source: Donegal Democrat)

DOWN

Newry’s landscape could be on the cusp of major change if a series of planning applications get the green light. The latest application comes from beef baron Larry Goodman who wants to transform part of the Greenbank Industrial Estate on the Warrenpoint Road into a social and economic hub. Under the company name Parma Investments, Mr. Goodman, who owns Anglo Beef Processors, proposes to clear the site of existing buildings and replace them with a retail-led, mixed use regeneration scheme. A supermarket, non-retail units, a covered shopping mall, cafes and restaurants, 50 apartments for social/affordable housing, 1,146 parking spaces, a leisure centre and public and riverside walkways are contained in the proposal. A spokesman for Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) confirmed that the company has applied for planning permission for the Greenbank development.

(Source: The Down Democrat)

DUBLIN

A wheelchair-bound dad and his son claim to have been forced out of home to escape a litany of violent attacks by an anti-social gang. They have now brought a High Court action seeking to be re housed by Dublin City Council. John Paul Hyland (29), also known as John Paul Barbour, said he was so terrified that he had to leave his rented council home at Hazelcroft Road, Finglas, Dublin, earlier this year. Instead, he was forced to rent private accommodation in Meath.

 (Source: The Evening Herald)

FERMANAGH

Local unionist MLA Tom Elliott has reacted angrily to comments made by the new chief constable Matt Baggott in a media interview describing the border as artificial in terms of policing and that he 'has no problems with dissident republicans'. "Perhaps the most offensive comments in Matt Baggott's interview were the words, 'I have no problems with dissident republicans. I have no problem with people having a view that is contrary to mine. What I do have a problem with is their use of violence, which is just meant to intimidate and take people back to a day when the streets were full of the army," Mr. Elliott hit out.

(Source: The Fermanagh Herald)

GALWAY

Plans to develop a mosque and Muslim cultural center to the rear of a semi-detached house in Ballybrit, have met with local opposition. Dr. Mamoon Rashid and Dr Anwar Malik of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Ireland in Wellpark Grove have sought permission to develop the mosque and cultural center to the rear of the house at The Cottages in Ballybrit. The development will comprise a single storey mosque building with a dome and minaret (two-storey height) to accommodate a prayer hall, circulation areas, toilets and two office rooms.

(Source: Galway News)

KERRY

A major cannabis growing operation, believed to have been supplying the illicit drug throughout Munster, was shut down in a gardaí raid in which an estimated €220,00-worth of cannabis plants were seized in Causeway. Gardaí from Listowel and Tralee carried out the raid shortly after 5pm last Thursday and uncovered the cannabis growing operation in a specially-built room in the upstairs of a house in Dromnacurra, Causeway. Gardaí discovered 550 plants, most of them ready for harvest, under special lighting, irrigation and within a room that had been insulated for the purposes of growing the cannabis.

(Source: The Kerryman)

KILDARE

Kildare Co Council found itself facing questions as residents throughout the county blamed poor drainage and planning for flooding incidents.

 More than 100 people were forced to abandon their homes in the Waterways apartment complex in Sallins after some four feet of water flowed into the apartments last week. Families are still unable to re-enter their homes and have had to seek alternative accommodation. Industrial pumps had to be brought into the estate on Monday night last to remove the water. Residents have been questioning why the complex, which was built on a former pitch and putt course, was subjected to so much flooding in just two days.

 The council has announced that it will dredge the river near the estate and check valves in the drains.

 (Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

 

KILKENNY

Kilkenny student Karen Reidy is one of four students to make it to the final of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) 'Crisis Correspondent – Reporting from Uganda' competition. The competition was open to over 135,000 third level students in Ireland and Karen, who is completing an MA in Development Studies at Dublin City University, has received enough votes from the public to secure a place in the final.

(Source: The Kilkenny People)

LAOIS

A 19-year-old Castletown man, Peter Fleming, with an address at Silveracre, Castletown, was remanded in custody for one week when he appeared at Portlaoise District Court Thursday two weeks ago.

 He was in court facing charges of assault, indecency and robbery at Tesco car park, Portlaoise, on Saturday 21 November.

 He had appeared at a special sitting of the court the previous Sunday and had been remanded in custody until last Thursday.

 When the case was heard on Thursday, Inspector Martin Cashen said he was opposing bail in the case and asked that the defendant be remanded in custody.
He said: “The incident happened last weekend. It was an assault on a female. The charges are serious incidents and on that basis I am looking for a remand in custody for one week.”

(Source: The Laois Nationalist)

LEITRIM

He's renowned as a champion of the arts, a proud Co Leitrim man and is an enthusiastic supporter of the Irish language and Irish history, and now, retired teacher, publisher, director and historian, Prin Duignan, has been honored as the 2010 Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year. The north Leitrim native was presented with this prestigious award at a special ceremony to launch the latest issue of the Leitrim Guardian in Drumshanbo's Lough Allen Ramada Hotel and Suites.

(Source: The Leitrim Observer)

LIMERICK

Limerick County Council, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, has removed a drinking water alert that was affecting 2,000 customers of the South West Regional Water Supply and Feahanagh/Castlemahon Group Water Scheme. The notice was put in place last Friday after the Council's Water Services section detected a deterioration in water quality in the South West Regional Water Supply. Extensive testing by the Local Authority's Environmental Laboratory staff has shown that the water being supplied continues to meet the drinking water standards.

 (Source: The Limerick Leader)

LONGFORD

As millions of households up and down the country settled down to watch the Late Late Toy Show Friday evening before last, hundreds more across Co Longford were left in the dark and staring at blank television screens. A major power outage in a number of districts throughout the county meant that the only light flickering in many living rooms was candlelight and not the TV.  Communities in the north Longford area were the worst to be affected by the untimely power outage which left children upset and parents equally red faced.

(Source: The Longford Leader)

LOUTH

Former Beatle Paul McCartney took on MEP Mairead McGuinness in a debate about the environmental impact of meat production. The meat-eating Ardee woman went head to head with the famous vegetarian musician at an EU parliament hearing last Thursday. McCartney used the hearing titled 'Global Warming and Food Policy: Less Meat = Less Heat' to promote an agenda of eating less meat, while McGuinness represented the EU parliament.

 (Source: The Dundalk  Democrat)

MAYO

Over one million euro (€1.15m) is the asking price for a popular Westport pub now on the market. In a surprising development, the well-established and highly popular Moran’s Bar, on Mill Street, has been put on the market by its proprietor, Shane Moran. The bar was previously owned, for around four decades, by Jim and Maura McGuire, the late parents of Fine Gael Cllr Tereasa McGuire. According to the selling agents Sherry Fitzgerald Crowley, the pub, which is situated near the town’s landmark Clock, has been trading successfully and up-to-date accounts are available to interested parties.      

(Source: Mayo News)

MEATH

The American Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney, paid a visit to County Meath last Wednesday. His first stop was a visit to Alltech's European headquarters in Dunboyne, which is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. Alltech, a firm that plays a leadership role in the animal health and nutrition industry, opened its European Bioscience Centre in Dunboyne in 1999. The facility supports 42 countries and 26 different languages, and houses all support functions for the European market, including research, marketing, customer service, quality control, administration, IT, training and financial services to Alltech's largest sales region.

 (Source: The Meath Chronicle)

MONAGHAN

A campaigner for universal cervical cancer vaccinations in Co Monaghan was among three philanthropists recognized at an awards ceremony last Thursday. The Philanthropist of the Year Awards, whose previous winners include JP McManus, were announced in Dublin. International property developer Cathal McCarthy from Ballybay, Co Monaghan, received the local philanthropist of the year award for establishing Ireland’s first county fund for community projects three years ago. He plans to work with local doctors to roll out a scheme to vaccinate 500 young girls in his county against cervical cancer in the new year. “The Government is silly not to be doing it,” he said. “The only chance this country has is our youth.” Chantal McCabe was awarded national philanthropist of the year for her work with three social-innovation organizations which she co-founded and funded. These include the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Young Social Innovators and Social Innovations Ireland, which Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy helped to set up.

(Source: The Monaghan Post)

OFFALY

An Bord Pleanála has refused permission for a new football pitch in Treascon near Portarlington deeming it unsuitable for a rural location. The applicants, Peter Turley and David Mooney, received permission from Offaly County Council earlier this year to construct an all-weather playing pitch and to provide car parking, a storage shed, a new site entrance, floodlighting and associated site works. It would have been located on an existing field, 3.5km east of Portarlington in the townland of Treascon. The Board decided to uphold the inspector's recommendation to refuse planning permission on three counts and therefore reversing the decision made by the council on July 31.

(Source: The Offaly Independent)

ROSCOMMON

Over €10,000 worth of damage was caused to the Lir Café in Ballaghaderreen the weekend before last when someone broke into the premises and “went berserk”. A nineteen-year-old man has been arrested in relation to criminal damage act. “A person entered through the back door of this late night bar and just went berserk smashing tables, doors and causing €10,500 worth of damage to the premises,” said Sergeant Tom O’Connor of Castlerea Garda Station.

(Source: The Roscommon Herald)

SLIGO

The tables were turned on one of Sligo's longest serving public officials on Wednesday night last. During a career as Town Clerk spanning 26 years, John MacNabola had presided over many important civic occasions, including organizing a number of Freedom of the Borough ceremonies, but this time the honor was all his as he received the town's highest civic accolade. Regarded as having played a pivotal role in the development of the urban area over the past three decades, Mr. MacNabola was granted the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his dedicated public service in a 30 year career.

(Source: The Sligo Champion)

TIPPERARY

Publicans in Thurles town are being forced to polish down the cisterns and wash hand basins in their premises with olive oil to prevent drug dealing and taking, according to a member of North Tipperary County Council who has questioned what exactly is being done by An Garda Siochana to deal with the situation. Fianna Fail Councilor John Hogan made the comments at the inaugural North Tipperary Joint Policing Committee meeting in the Council chamber in Nenagh last week during the course of a lengthy discussion with Chief Superintendent Dave Sheahan, Superintendent Bob Noonan (Nenagh) and other committee members, including public representatives.

(Source: The Tipperary Star)

TYRONE

A third of MLAs in Tyrone are using taxpayers' money to employ their relatives, a new register of members' interests has revealed. Six of the 18 Assembly members employ relatives while one - DUP politician Ian McCrea - has two family members on his payroll.

The news comes amid claims that MLAs could be in line for a pay hike of up to £7,000, which could take their salaries through the £50,000 ceiling. Although the practice of MLAs employing relatives is allowed under Assembly rules, a leading UK pressure group has said it is "shrouded in mistrust" and must end.

(Source: The Tyrone Times)

WATERFORD

Six women in their late teens and early twenties were released without charge following questioning by Gardaí into an alleged prostitution ring in Waterford city last week. The women, who ranged in age from 18 to 24 years, were all found in an apartment searched by Gardaí in the Ozier Park area of the city. A 49-year-old man was also questioned and released without charge. Officers took the seven, who are Romanian, into custody following surveillance of the dwelling and a planned search on Thursday at 10pm. The arrests were made following an ongoing investigation into prostitution in Water-ford city and county, and the broader South East area.

(Source: Waterford Today)

WESTMEATH

County councilors in Westmeath have rounded on Minister John Gormley over proposed new planning regulations being prepared in the Oireachtas, accusing him of trying to set up a "dictatorship", and being "opposed to the development of local government". The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was the subject of fierce criticism, as Westmeath councilors studied the proposed 2009 Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill at their monthly meeting on Monday last.

(Source: The Westmeath Examiner)

 WEXFORD

A formal inquest verdict of accidental death by electrocution was returned two weeks ago in the case of a Polish worker employed by a Clonroche firm. The case of Darius Jasinski, with an address at 47 Bridge Meadows, Shingán, Enniscorthy, was dealt with at the hearing in Gorey's Ashdown Park hotel. The accident at the Murray Waste facility in Ferns occurred back in April of 2007 and has since been the subject of court proceedings.

(Source: The Wexford People)

WICKLOW

Arklow came to a standstill on Monday last for the funeral of shopkeeper John Deasy who was brutally stabbed to death two weeks ago. As the community gathered, still struggling to come to terms with the death of the dad of two, chief celebrant Fr. Jim Fegan captured the sense of disbelief when he said: 'We have come here to make sense out of what is utterly senseless,' Fr. Jim Fegan told the hundreds of mourners who came to pay their final respects to John Deasy. At the start of the Requiem Mass, John's friends and family brought a number of gifts to the altar to represent his life including, a rugby jersey signed by the Irish team, a newspaper, golf balls, a travel book and a swimming cap and goggles.

(Source: The Wicklow People)