ANTRIM

An Antrim woman who nearly died after a can of instant spray tan caused her to stop breathing has urged people to take extra care when using fake tanning products.

Keleigh Nicholl had applied the product to her mum's lower legs in preparation for a family wedding before the Twelfth holidays in July.

The 20-year-old returned to her home in Woodlawn, Ballycraigy a short time later after feeling “a bit queasy” and as she made her way through her front door, she collapsed onto the sofa and stopped breathing.

Luckily Keleigh's younger brother was nearby with friends and called at her house to use the bathroom a short time later.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

Silverbridge and the wider south Armagh community is mourning the loss of one of its eldest and most respected citizens.

Pat Murphy, from the townland of Carnally, passed away peacefully in Daisy Hill Hospital on Saturday, July 27, surrounded by his loving family.

Having reached the ripe age of 94, Pat was well-liked and hugely respected throughout the area.  Until recently the sprightly nonagenarian remained very independent, still driving and continuing to work with his sons in the family firm on a regular basis.  Indeed, his agility and exemplary work ethic put many, a fraction of his age, to shame.  As head of the family’s construction company, he was an integral part of its daily enterprise, overseeing projects with his familiar and easy manner.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

Gardaí (police) have arrested the father of two young County Carlow brothers found dead in Co. Mayo earlier last week.

Sanjeev Chada (43) was detained after being discharged from Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar last Wednesday afternoon.

The bodies of five-year-old Ruairi and 10-year-old Eoghan were discovered in the boot of their father's car on Monday, July 29.

He was taken to Westport Garda Station for questioning.
[Source: Irish Examiner]

CAVAN

The leisure center at the Breffni Arms Hotel in Arva was gutted by a fire that broke out at around 1:30 a.m. last Monday morning.

The flames engulfed the roof and caused some structural damage. The alarm was raised when it was observed that there was smoke coming for the Leisure Complex area, which is near to the dance floor area.

Fire crews from Killeshandra, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, Ballyjamesduff and Cavan worked all night to get the blaze under control. They prevented the fire from spreading to the hotel area.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

A suspicious approach to an 11-year-old child by an elderly man driving a van has last week sparked a Garda (police) investigation, with the public being asked to remain vigilant.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29, in the Clarecastle area when a young boy was walking home. He was approached by a man driving a van. The man is described as Irish and in his 70s. He pulled up alongside the child and asked the boy if he wanted sweets, but no attempt was made to abduct the child.
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK


Nine-year-old Aisling, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is appealing to kindhearted Corkonians for donations to fund a new type of therapy that could help her to walk.

Aisling Tanner, from Coppeen, suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She began a new type of therapy called A.B.R. (Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation) in March and since starting the new treatment, her condition has improved considerably.

This therapy focuses on strengthening the parts of the body that are affected by cerebral palsy.

The treatment costs up to $8,000 a year, which is why the Aisling Tanner Fund has been set up in order for people to help little Aisling reach her goal of walking.
[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY


Derry hotels have had yet another record-breaking month.

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau (D.V.C.B.) figures show hotel occupancy in June stood at just under 84 percent – 11 percent higher than recorded for June 2012.

Furthermore, the total number of hotel rooms sold (almost 16,000) increased by 29 percent in comparison to June 2012 and D.V.C.B. are reporting that it has just out performed May 2013, a previous record month in the city.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL


Donegal man accused of murdering four British soldiers in the 1982 I.R.A. bombing in Hyde Park has been granted conditional bail.

John Anthony Downey, who was born in Northern Ireland and lives near Creeslough, is charged with the murders of Household Cavalry officers Roy Bright, Dennis Daly, Simon Tipper and Geoffrey Young.

The 61-year-old Sinn Féin activist, who was arrested at Gatwick Airport in May, is also charged with intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. He appeared at the Old Bailey today, where his trial date was put back to January 14, 2014
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

DOWN


Plans for the much anticipated Narrow Water Bridge are in turmoil after it was revealed two weeks ago that no more money will be made available to cover a multi-million dollar funding shortfall.

The cross-border project, which was set to span Carlingford Lough between Omeath and Narrow Water Castle, was thrown into doubt in recent weeks when Louth County Council revealed that the costing of the bridge had been underestimated by a staggering 13-33 million dollars.

Initially the scheme was estimated to cost around 23 million dollars with the E.U. providing most of the funding, but tenders have now come back ranging from 34-53 million dollars.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

DUBLIN

Pat Kenny has denied his decision to leave R.T.É. for Newstalk was down to money.

"I had two offers on the table. The money was not the over-riding factor at all.

"R.T.É. made me a very generous offer, but I weighed it up. I discussed it with the family," he said in an interview with Newstalk.

"They kind of detected the enthusiasm I had for fundamental change.”
[Source: Evening Herald]

FERMANAGH

A Ballinmallard man has been sentenced to a six-month imprisonment after he went on the rampage at the South West Acute Hospital (S.W.A.H.), punching a television and damaging water supplies among other offenses.

Darren McGill (22), of Main Street in the town, was arraigned on a litany of offenses including three counts of criminal damage and one count of harassment.

The accused admitted to all of the offenses, which were said to have happened in January and May of this year.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]

GALWAY

Over two-thirds of a million dollars has been approved for Galway summer festivals.

Six events throughout the city and county have secured the funding from the Arts Council.

Galway Arts Festival is to receive the largest chunk of funding of $620,000.

This is followed by Clifden Community Arts Week, which has secured $93,000.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

The court gave Patrick Hegarty (69), of Ross Road, Killarney, County Kerry, until Sept 3 to arrange his affairs after it doubled an effective two-year sentence imposed on him in February 2011, and which he has since completed.

The former pest control company employee had been sentenced to seven years with the last five suspended over the repeated rape of his English niece on a number of occasions during a summer holiday she spent in his home in 1991.

Last Wednesday, following an appeal from the D.P.P. over the leniency of that sentence, the Court of Criminal Appeal said the term should be seven years with three suspended.
[Source: Irish Examiner]

KILDARE

A 76-year-old woman died following a car crash in County Kildare last Wednesday.

Gardaí (police) said the serious single vehicle collision occurred on the Derrinturn to Carbury Road near the Offaly/Kildare border at around 3:30 p.m.

The woman was taken to the Midland Regional Hospital at Tullamore where she later died. It’s believed she had an underlying medical condition.
[Source: Irish Independent]

KILKENNY


A local man is going to walk from Goresbridge to Derry to raise funds for the children’s hospital in Crumlin.

John Maher has meticulously planned out his route, which involves nine consecutive days of walking, covering around 23 miles each day.

He will leave Kilkenny on August 9, and head along the River Barrow for the first three days as far as Rathangan in County Kildare. Then, it’s out onto the roads towards Edenderry, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, and Clones in Monaghan, before he crosses the border into Fivemiletown, Tyrone, and Gurteen, before the final trip to Derry.
[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS

Evidence identifying the owner of illegally dumped rubbish near Vicarstown, will be used to take them to court, where they could be fined of $4,000.

Clr. Tom Mulhall has urged homeowners to be careful who they choose to remove waste, as they will be liable if it is dumped illegally.

A load of waste and household rubbish was dumped at the entrance to Rossmore Woods late Monday night, July 22, on the Cappakeel to Vicarstown road.
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM


Two Gardaí (police) remain off work after the squad car they were travelling in was struck by a car they were pursuing in relation to road traffic offenses.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, July 24 at approximately 4:35 a.m.

The Leitrim Observer understands Gardaí were made aware of a car which was thought to be acting suspiciously in the Drumshanbo area during the Joe Mooney Summer School Festival, which was held in the town two weeks ago.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

A student has failed in a bid to overturn his expulsion from U.L. after the Equality Tribunal ruled his claims of racial discrimination were baseless.

College authorities had urged the tribunal not to hear Pierce Parker’s case, which they described as “a diatribe,” “vexatious and frivolous”.

Mr. Parker, an Asian-American postgraduate student, had made several internal complaints of racial discrimination against fellow students and others between 2009 and 2011 – all of which were dismissed.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD


Representatives from Longford’s elderly and disabled population believe sweeping government cutbacks to home adaptation grants will push indebted families deeper into poverty, writes Liam Cosgrove.

It emerged two weeks ago that new applications for house adaptation grants will be sanctioned this year.

North Longford pensioner Mary Ellen Gray was one of courageous few to speak out on the enforced changes. She said the modest incomes senior citizens have to survive on could mean necessary upgrades for some like hand rails, kitchen aids and other appliances might have to be put on the long finger.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH


A former mushroom site on the racecourse road has been turned into a caravan park in recent times, with up to 13 caravans present on the site at any given time.

A concerned resident from Ath Lethan, the housing estate just across the road from the site, spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about the deterioration of the site over the past eight years.

“I first moved into my residence in Ath Lethan in 2005 and back then the site was being used a dumping ground.”
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

When John Kearns found a bunch of balloons in some ferns on his land in Carrowkilleen, Crossmolina in the early afternoon on July 20, he gave them to his nephews and their cousin, thinking no more of them.

That was until his brother-in-law, Patrick Howley, Google-searched the web address printed on the balloons, which suggested that the very same balloons had traveled an astonishing 300 miles in 24 hours from Tavistock in West Devon, England.

“John thought there was someone walking along the hedges but after going over he realized they were balloons so he gave them to my twin sons Joseph and Conor and their cousin Michael,” explained Mr. Howley.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

A Garda (police) operation to raise awareness of driving behavior kicked-off across the county last Thursday and continues throughout the month of August with checkpoints on the county’s main roads and motorways.

Inspector John Gordon, who is in charge of traffic in the Meath Division, explained that Operation Focus is designed to bring to the attention of road users the ongoing enforcement in relation to the main causes of accidents including speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, dangerous driving, the non-use of seatbelts, and the unlawful use of mobile phones.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN


A new cross-community sports complex close to the Irish border will be called the Peace Link.

The project was supported with $10.3 million worth of funding from the European Union's Peace III program.

The 14-acre in Clones, in County Monaghan, in the Irish Republic, will be designed to host major competitions of all sporting traditions.
[Source: BBC News]

OFFALY

Pigs will fly through the streets of Tullamore on Saturday, August 10, on the eve of the town’s annual show.

The streets around Hugh Lynch’s Bar will be thronged when the novelty pig racing event, which is approved by animal cruelty organizations,, will bring traffic to a halt.

Six pigs along with their own miniature knitted jockeys will take part in each of the six races and will gallop down a purpose built 60-meter track complete with small jumps while bookies will be on hand to take spectator bets before each race.
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON

A 51-year-old man, who raped a young girl on several occasions in County Roscommon and who told Gardaí (police) it was "just a compulsion," has been jailed for eight years.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to five charges of oral rape, five charges of anal rape, five charges of vaginal rape and five charges of sexual assault between 2004 and 2008.

The girl (14) was aged between five and eight when the offenses took place.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]

SLIGO

A “recluse” convicted of sexually abusing a young boy in Ballyshannon in the 1960s and 1970s has been jailed for two years. He was also convicted of indecently assaulting the boy’s younger brother.

Sixty-three-year-old Brian McMahon of Temple Street, Sligo, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 35 charges of indecent assault between 1966 and 1974, but was convicted earlier this year.

McMahon was six years older than the victim who was aged 10 when the offenses started. He was also convicted on one charge of indecently assaulting the boy’s then 13-year-old brother, between September 1973 and September 1974, also in Ballyshannon.
[Source: Highland Radio]

TIPPERARY

U.S. woman Elizabeth Darmody Leonard made history two weeks ago when she became the first-ever person to receive Irish citizenship in a private ceremony.

Elizabeth told the Tipperary Star that it was a “fantastic day” at her home in Portroe when John Ryan of the Immigration Section of the Department of Justice in Tipperary Town arrived to present her with her papers.

She said she had fallen in love with Ireland from the time of her first visit here in 1967, when she arrived in Ireland alone at just 19 years of age.

“I fell in love with the country and that love has never lessened,” said Elizabeth, who is undergoing chemotherapy at the moment.
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE


A new supermarket and up to 30 new jobs are on their way to Cookstown.

The Courier has learned that chain giant Iceland is to set up at the northern end of the town over the coming months.

Iceland has confirmed it is planning to open a branch at the Orritor Road Retail Park with up to 30 new jobs being created. The store plans to open in Cookstown in October.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD

Sproai Festival was joining forces with Disney in attempting to break a Guinness world record, which will see a simultaneous launch of paper planes on a worldwide scale.

Ireland’s part of the world record attempt took place at the William Vincent Wallace Plaza in Waterford last Saturday, August 3, at 10:30 a.m. in celebration of the release of Disney’s new animated film, Planes.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]

WESTMEATH


Westmeath has two players on the Irish team taking part in the Australian Football League (A.F.L.) European Championship, which started last weekend in Dublin.

Mark Leavy from The Downs will be representing Ireland for the first time, while Sean Fallon from Castletown Geoghegan makes his third appearance for his country, having first played back in 2005.
Ireland are the reigning European nine-a-side and 16-a-side champions. Sean, who also plays football for St. Malachy’s, is hopeful that the side can retain their title.

“We should do well, but Croatia and Denmark have improved a lot and so have England.”
[Source: Westmeath Examiner]

WEXFORD


The body of 27-year-old father-of-two Gavin Nugent was laid to rest in St. Fintan’s Cemetery in Taghmon on Wednesday, after he was tragically killed in a motorbike accident on Friday night, July 26, while traveling home from a funeral.

Gardaí (police) were alerted to the crash, which happened on the N11 near Ferrycarrig, just before 8:30 p.m., and the road was closed to facilitate a forensic collision examination of the area.

The former Wexford Vocational student was fatally injured when his motorcycle collided with a car. He was brought to Wexford General Hospital where a postmortem examination took place on Saturday, July 27.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

A cash-strapped council has pleaded with a judge not to hit it with a $4 million fine for health and safety violations after the deaths of two firefighters.

Firefighters Brian Murray (46) and Mark O'Shaughnessy (26) died fighting a blaze at a disused ink factory at Adelaide Villas in Bray on September 26, 2007.

Last month, Wicklow County Council pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of health and safety breaches.
[Source: Irish Independent]