ANTRIM

London Mayor Boris Johnson has paid a lightning visit to Antrim to show he is “on board” with plans to produce parts in the borough for new London buses.

Chassis for 600 double-decker diesel hybrid vehicles will be manufactured at the new Wrightbus plant in the Newpark Industrial Estate in a three-year contract worth more than $300 million.

The extrovert Tory politician met workers and management at the state-of-the-art E.N.-Drive facility Friday, May 10, to officially open the site where 50 new jobs will be created when production is fully under way.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

Parishioners in Whitecross have been left saddened and stunned by the sudden death of their beloved parish priest, Fr. Michael Rogers.

The gregarious 63-year-old cleric, who was described as “a friend to everyone” by members of the loyal congregation he had served over the last 11 years, is understood to have been found dead in bed at his mother’s home in Banbridge Monday morning, May 6.

According to parishioners, Fr. Rogers devoted all his time to the four churches of Loughgilly parish for which he was solely responsible, often celebrating morning mass in one church and evening mass at another. The extremely active parish priest was also chairman of the Board of Governors at all four schools in in the area and was a part-time caretaker to his elderly mother, Patricia.  Fr. Rogers was also in great demand to carry out weddings and christenings throughout the parish.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

Recent rule changes that have increased the amount of sponsorship and logos that inter-county teams can carry on their jerseys saw Carlow's senior teams sporting an anti-suicide message when they opened their championship campaigns last weekend.

Both the county footballers and hurlers had the slogan – 'Suicide Aware: Living is Winning' – on the back of their shirts.

"Like a lot of counties Carlow has been affected by this issue and, with so many young men involved in the G.A.A., our county chairman felt that the change of rules about logos gave us a great opportunity to send out a positive message to them," football selector Adrian Corcoran explained.
[Source: Irish Independent]

CAVAN

The minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has announced he is inviting patron-bodies to apply for the patronage of eight new post-primary schools nationwide, due to be established from 2015 and 2016, one of which is to be placed in the town of Kingscourt.

It comes almost two years after Minister Quinn announced back in 2011 that a new second-level school in Kingscourt was part of the new School Building Program.

A new $9 million school for Kingscourt was first confirmed for the east Cavan Town by Cavan V.E.C. in April 2009, which said once built it could accommodate some 500 pupils.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

Clare Labour Party T.D. Michael McNamara has called on Bord Iascaigh Mhara (B.I.M.) to withdraw its application for a large-scale salmon farm off the north Clare coast because of “a significant difference of opinion” between B.I.M. and Inland Fisheries Ireland (I.F.I.), both State bodies.

The final decision on the future of the 456-hectare organic fish farm falls to the minister for Agriculture.
The proposed site is just over one mile from Inis Oírr and about four miles from the Clare coast and would accommodate 15,000 tons of salmon each year.

Deputy Michael McNamara is now calling on B.I.M. to withdraw its application for an aquaculture license for the salmon farm. He said, “A significant difference of opinion has emerged between B.I.M. and I.F.I., whose statutory function is the protection, management and conservation of the island’s fisheries resource.”
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK


The inspiration of intoxication is the likely reason one young Corkonian found himself stuck in a McDonald’s baby-chair when indulging on a late night snack Tuesday morning.

Gardaí (police) were called to McDonald’s, Winthrop Street, at 1 a.m. to assist a young man who had gotten stuck in a child’s high-chair.

An ingenious impulse to rediscover his childhood years left this cheeky chap red-faced and awkwardly perched in a sturdy, gray, plastic baby-chair, while two members of the Gardaí surveyed the situation.
[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY


Derry man Sean McCauley is heading to the Homeless World Cup following his selection for the Northern Ireland squad.

The Strand Foyer and Derry Bytes footballer is the only person from the city to be selected for participation in the U.E.F.A.-backed event in the first ever Northern Ireland homeless squad.

Sean was selected after being spotted by scouts while playing for his side in the N.I. Street League for homeless people.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

Gardaí (police) in Letterkenny are treating the death of a foreign national man as suspicious after his body was found at 11 a.m. last Wednesday at the Westside Apartments on Lower Main Street.

The scene was preserved for a technical examination. Detectives arrived at the scene throughout the day.

The arrival of the State pathologist was expected to confirm the cause of death, which would determine whether or not a murder investigation would be launched.
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

DOWN

The iconic corridor of cherry blossom trees that line Newry Canal is under threat from the planned public realm scheme, the Examiner has learned.

The trees are a significant feature of Newry city center and line the canal bank from Albert Basin to Sugar Island. Their spring blossom is admired by both residents and visitors alike and at Christmas – branches decorated with twinkling fairy lights – the trees are a sight to behold.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

DUBLIN

Gardaí (police) are examining if the shooting of Dublin gym owner Sean Enright and the attempted murder of criminal Derek McLoughlin are connected.

Both men were targeted in broad daylight before noon near gyms they use or work in on a regular basis, and the attempted hits happened within 24 hours of each other.

Both Enright and McLoughlin have friends in the Dublin crime scene, with Cabra native Enright known to associate with Alan and Wayne Bradley, who are currently serving time for conspiracy to rob a cash-in-transit van.
[Source: Evening Herald]

FERMANAGH

The local group, who organized an Enniskillen protest march on the June 17, the first day of the G8 Summit, issued a rallying call to local people.

Chairman of “Fermanagh G8 Not Welcome,” Frank Duffy, said that there are “many reasons why protesters and campaigners will join with local people on our G8 march.

“Last year, in pushing the interests of the oil and gas sector, the G8 leaders endorsed fracking.  Indeed, many question whether it was a coincidence that this event has come to our county at this time,” he added.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]

GALWAY

Last Thursday, supporters of the Occupy movement gathered in Eyre Square at lunchtime to mark the one-year anniversary of the camp's eviction.

Occupy Galway had maintained a presence in Eyre Square from October 2011 until their eventual eviction last May.

The commemoration event got underway at noon where a group of 20 people formed a circle and discussed various issues.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

Students in their school uniforms braved hail, wind and driving rain in the seaside village of Blennerville to pay their respects to Donal Walsh, who lay in repose at his home last Tuesday.

Donal (16), who had terminal cancer, had appealed to young people to appreciate life. He died on Sunday, May 12, surrounded by his family.

Among the mourners at his home looking on to Tralee Bay and the Slievemish Mountains were Minister of State Kathleen Lynch and the south Kerry coroner, Terence Casey.
[Source: Irish Times]

KILDARE

Kildare Town is aiming to set a world record for the most people creating St. Brigid’s Crosses in one place at the one time. The attempt, on Saturday, September 21, will be part of the Solas Bhríde St. Brigid of Kildare Gathering Festival

“We are thrilled to be hosting such a significant international event here in Kildare Town” said Sr. Mary Minehan, speaking on receiving the good news from Kimberly Partrick of the Guinness Book of Records head office in London.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]

KILKENNY


There was good and bad news for Kilkenny hurling last week.

Star attacker T.J. Reid returned to action after nearly eight months of inactivity.

However, nine-time All-Ireland medal winner Henry Shefflin injured himself after initially saying he was ready to make a return.

“I am back doing work,” Shefflin told the ’People. “It is early days yet, but I am hoping to stay moving forward.”
[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS


The H.S.E. is denying claims that changes to the roster of the ambulance service will leave only one ambulance on duty in Portlaoise two days every week.

A source close to the ambulance service said that a shift was being removed in Portlaoise, leaving just one ambulance on duty in the base in Portlaoise between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.

“This is to make up hours for Edenderry, they will now have cover seven days of the week. There is always a backlog of calls for the night shift and it is common for the hospital to be left wondering where the ambulance is,” he said.
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM


Last week, the annual conference of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (V.F.I.) began in Meath.

This year’s conference was entitled “Plenty to Shout About,” and Thomas Heraghty, of Heraghty’s Bar, Manorhamilton, has highlighted that Leitrim alone has seen more than 30 pubs shut their doors since 2005. He outlines what he believes needs to be done by both publicans and government to ensure the future of the Irish pub.

“The pub as we know it is in a bad place,” writes Thomas Heraghty, chairman of the Leitrim branch of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, ahead of their A.G.M. in Meath last week.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK


An underage hurling match had to be canceled after a member of the Traveling community threatened players and their coaches with a slash hook.

The Limerick Leader has learned that a representative of St. Patrick’s G.A.A. club has made a complaint to Gardaí (police) that he was struck with a stick and punched after he confronted the young man.

The incident happened over the May Bank Holiday weekend at the St Patrick’s G.A.A. complex in Rhebogue, located next to a halting site.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

Two men and a woman arrested over an armed robbery at a bookmaker in Edgeworthstown two weekends ago have been released without charge.

The trio, all of whom are aged in their early 20s, was questioned by detectives after a man walked into the town’s Connolly Bookmakers establishment brandishing a handgun at around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 12.

In a raid lasting a matter of seconds, staff-members were forced to hand over an undisclosed sum of cash to the masked robber who then set off on foot.

A series of extensive follow-up searches later in the day in Longford and north Dublin led to the arrest of three suspects, two of whom were brought to Longford Garda (Police( Station for questioning while a third individual was transferred to Granard Garda Station.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

Legendary singer/song-writer Christy Moore came to Dundalk and gave a rare public performance in The Fairways Hotel last Friday, along with special guest Declan Sinnott.

Fans were urged to buy tickets quickly as the singer has recently cut back on the number of concerts he plays each year, and tickets were bound to sell-out fast.

Christy is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist and is well-known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO


A 24-year-old Murrisk man has been given a suspended prison sentence on a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of his uncle.

In a case which the judge described as “very tragic,” Noel Gavin of Carrowkeel, Murrisk, Westport, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and drink driving.

Castlebar Circuit Court heard that on the night of January 2, 2012, Noel Gavin was driving a van, with his uncle Michael Joe Gavin in the passenger seat and another man in the back of the van.

In a statement read out in court, Mr. Gavin said he was passing a cigarette to his uncle while taking a corner, and while attempting to retrieve the cigarette after it had fallen between his legs, he drove up on a bank and lost control of the van.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH


Two local schoolboys stole the show two weekends ago on “Britain’s Got Talent” television show as their performance of “Little Talks” earned them a standing ovation from the audience.

Jack Duff (13) and Cormac Connell (14) are both second-year students in St. Patrick’s Classical School in Navan and wowed the audience, and also the judges, with their rendition of the Of Monsters and Men hit at the televised Cardiff auditions.

With four “yes” votes from judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon, the boys make it through to the reveal stage when they will find out if they make it to the semi-finals.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

Monaghan have launched an investigation into allegations that one of their county players was the victim of verbal abuse of a sectarian nature during a league match on Sunday, May 12.

Drew Wylie was sent off early in the second-half of the match while playing for county champions Ballybay Pearse Brothers against Magheracloone in Inniskeen.

After consultation with team management and his playing colleagues, they decided to walk off and refuse to finish the match.
[Source: Irish Independent]

OFFALY

The last two weeks have brought unprecedented success to The Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir.

As winners of last year’s National Choir of the Year, the 21 choral scholars from The Academy of Music - Tullamore were this year under pressure to present an even more prolific and challenging repertoire of choral music to maintain and achieve an even more advanced standard of choral excellence.

And so with the eyes of all choirs in the National Choral scene pinned on The Academy Chamber Choir, they have taken the choral world by storm with an even more innovative and eclectic collection of choral music, specially chosen for their competitive show-stopping nature; including the very complicated and intricate piece “Rytmus” by Slovakian composer Ivan Hrusovsky. This has yielded them even further success with major wins in the Cork International Choral Festival and the Navan Choral Festival.
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON


Over 10,000 people have been advised to boil their domestic water supply in County Roscommon in the latest outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis.

It is the second outbreak of the parasitic disease in under a month.

The source of one of the outbreaks has been identified in the agricultural community.

However, Roscommon County Council has asked the Department of the Environment to help fund an urgent temporary treatment plant as the outbreaks continue to cause widespread problems in two large towns.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]

SLIGO


A 28-year-old mother-of-one has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for killing a woman in a two-car crash in County Sligo.

Aisling Cummins, who has a nine-year-old son, was also given a suspended sentence of two-and-a-half years and banned from driving for 20 years.

Sligo Circuit Court heard Cummins’ license was returned following a drink-driving conviction just a year before the accident in which 56-year-old Karen Mounsey died.
[Source: RTE News]

TIPPERARY

Wheelchair users around Nenagh are facing a health hazard because of the amount of dog dirt on the town’s footpaths, councilors were told at their monthly meeting.

And the council may have to consider banning dogs from certain streets in an effort to tackle the problem.

Clr. Seamus Morris was commenting on a call from Clr. Conor Delaney for a campaign to get dog owners to clean up their pet’s mess from the streets.

Clr. Morris said he had been contacted by one wheelchair user about the issue, saying: “It is one thing to pick up something on your shoe, but another getting it on something you push with your hand.”
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

Police have uncovered a massive drugs haul near the village of Castlecaulfield.

The seizure took place Monday morning in a barn at the rear of property at Reaskmore Road.
The Courier believes the drugs uncovered consisted of a significant quantity of Cannabis and it appeared to be a Cannabis factory.

The area around the property was cordoned off for most of Tuesday as police carried out an investigation. It is believed further searches were being conducted.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD


I.D.A. Ireland should put global bank Citi under pressure to ensure all 50 of its Waterford employees are redeployed to Dublin, Fine Gael T.D. John Deasy has said.

Citi confirmed last Wednesday morning it was closing its hedge fund base at the I.D.A. business in Waterford, which employs 50 staff-members, due to “restructuring.” The 2,200 people employed by Citi in Dublin won’t be affected.

It was being reported locally that half of the 50 bank staff-members currently employed by Citi in Waterford will be offered redeployment to Dublin, but Mr. Deasy called on I.D.A. Ireland to put pressure on the company to extend this option to all the Waterford employees.
[Source: Irish Times]

WESTMEATH

For the last 67 years, Castlepollard’s firefighters have been risking life and limb for the people of north Westmeath, but most locals would probably be surprised to hear that their remit now extends into healthcare.

As well as their renowned 24-hour fire-and-rescue service, the station’s nine firefighters (station officer Steve Owens, substation officer Dave Cooney, Pat Nea, Alfie Devine, Noel Morgan, Derek Cheevers, Anthony Nea, Martin Farrell and John Devine) also provide emergency medical assistance.

Fully-trained as Cardiac First Responders (C.F.R.) and Emergency First Responders (E.F.R.), Castlepollard’s Fire Service works in cooperation with the National Ambulance Service and local G.P.s, such as Dr. Noel Cogan.
[Source: Westmeath Examiner]

WEXFORD


A major addition to this year’s Wexford Opera Festival, which will see an early 1900s carnival coming to Wexford quays, complete with giant Ferris wheel and carousel, is expected to attract 80,000 people into Wexford.

The organizers of the 1900s Carnivàle event, Lantern Events, based in Wexford, have said it will complement the Spiegeltent Festival perfectly. Brian Byrne of Lantern Events said an expanded Spiegeltent program will see a much bigger “Paradiso” Spiegeltent, with a capacity for 12,000 people over three weeks, coming to town. He said there will be a similar program of events to last year, but on a much larger scale.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW


Gardaí (police) are investigating the shooting dead of seven sheep on a hillside near Laragh, County Wicklow.

The sheep were discovered by their owner last Tuesday afternoon on State-owned commonage land in Glenmacnass, around half-a-mile from the Glendalough monastic site.

The animals were killed in an area adjacent to the popular Wicklow Way hillwalking route.

All seven were killed with a high-powered hunting rifle.
[Source: RTE News]