ANTRIM

The “woefully outdated” buildings at Antrim Health Centre have become “a health and safety nightmare” and are no longer fit for purpose, a concerned GP has warned.

Dr. Allen McCullough has long campaigned for fresh funding for the town's “Cinderella service,” but while millions are poured into the Area Hospital the Health Centre has to make do with a trickle.

The complex is now 40 years old – and it does not look good for its age – and while remedial repairs are being carried out to the aging flat roofs, medics agree that the Trust is applying a sticking plaster to a gaping wound.

And with mounting concerns about limited disabled access, of water streaming down walls and the inevitable impact on the standard of care, Dr. McCullough has prescribed an urgent injection of cash for a new building.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

The remarkable recovery of young Zoe Fearon from Camlough has taken a further step forward after she was transferred to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, to continue her recuperation.

Last month nine-year-old Zoe fell seriously ill and had been treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Belfast Children’s Hospital since. Her condition had been described as critical and her family maintained a bedside vigil, willing her back to health.

During this time, support and well wishes poured in from across the country and further afield as little Zoe’s plight grabbed the attention and emotion of the public.
[Source: The Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

A Carlow landscape gardener has been awarded a prestigious silver medal at Ireland’s premier gardening festival Bloom 2012.

Deirdre Pender from Russellstown wowed judges and thousands of visitors to the festival alike with her garden in the medium garden category entitled Machnamh/Reflection.

“I am delighted with my silver medal, as the competition has been very strong this year and I hope the public enjoy my garden,” said Deirdre. Inspiration for Deirdre’s garden was drawn on the ancient Celtic connection between hazel trees and water to create a space for both quiet contemplation and relaxing social interaction in the one setting.
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]

CAVAN

The High Court has last Wednesday confirmed the appointment of a provisional liquidator to a Co. Cavan based bath and shower screen manufacturers that employs 52 people.

Flair International, which has debts of $5.7m, sought the appointment of a provisional liquidator in the interest of the company's creditors and with a view to protecting some of those employed with the firm, the court heard.
[Source: Irish Examiner]

CLARE

Since Aer Rianta International (ARI) came under the Dublin Airport Authority’s (DAA) control in 2004, it delivered profits of around $207 million, according to the eight DAA annual reports published since.

This doesn’t include items such as the $397 million raised through the sale of ARI’s shareholding in Birmingham Airport in 2007.

During 2010 and 2011, ARI recorded profits of over $63 million on its overseas operations, a sum that is understood to be around half of Shannon’s overall debt.

ARI was the brainchild of Shannon-based executives and they are angry Shannon is on the cusp of losing all connection with ARI, following last month’s Government decision that Shannon will leave the DAA structure, with ARI set to remain part of the group along with Dublin and Cork airports.
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK

While all Irish eyes will be focused on Poland during Euro 2012, one Corkman will be more concerned with what is going on at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv in the Ukraine. Martin Galvin from Newcestown has been overseeing the development of the pitch at this 40,000 capacity stadium that will be home to Group games for Holland, Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

Since arriving in Kharkiv in March 2011, Martin who works with STRI, a leading consultancy firm, has been responsible for digging out the old pitch and establishing the pitch from seed.

"Basically we dug out the old pitch in April last year and completely replaced it with underground heating system and ventilation because the weather here drops down to -30 degrees on occasions and we even had -27 degrees in February, It's a very demanding climate and it's 32 degrees today."

The Metalist Stadium is the only one of the eight venues being used for Euro 2012 that was developed with seed, as all the others are turfed or sodded.
[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY

MP Mark Durkan has welcomed the news that Niche Drinks is to invest $16m in a new build whiskey distillery in Derry which will create a number of construction and indigenous manufacturing jobs in the city.

He said: “This is a very welcome investment by a local company of proven performance.

“As local MP I have taken prominent visitors to see the company’s operations at their existing site and they, like me, have always been impressed by the quality, volume and value of the business.

“The firm were also sharing with us that they were feeling the constraints and age of the Rossdowney plant.”
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

A Donegal-born businessman has been named as one of the 50 best-paid executives on Wall Street.
Liam McGee is CEO of Hartford Financial Services, one of the biggest insurance and wealth-management firms in the US.

He turned down the chance to run the bailed-out Allied Irish Banks (AIB), where salaries are capped at €500,000 a year.

Before he joined the US firm in 2009 McGee was tipped as the front-runner to manage AIB.However, it would have meant signing up for a maximum €500,000-a-year salary and McGee took the job at Hartford instead where his starting salary was $1.1m in 2009, and has since risen to $1.4m.
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

DOWN

With the news that Kilbroney Forest Park in Rostrevor has been successful in its bid to host the Mountain Bike Downhill and Cross Country events in next year’s World Police and Fire Games, The Examiner caught up with one of the chief organizers of the event to find out what exactly this means for the area.

Newry man Glyn O’Brien is a firefighter stationed in Armagh. A keen biking enthusiast, he tasted success in the World Police and Fire Games held in Canada in 2009, winning two gold medals and a silver in the downhill biking events. As appointed Sports Coordinator for the project, Glyn will play a central role in ensuring the Kilbroney events run smoothly.

“Securing Kilbroney Park for the mountain biking event of the World Police/ Fire games is an excellent opportunity for Newry and Mourne to showcase the world what this area has to offer” says Glyn.
[Source: The Examiner Newspaper]

DUBLIN

Rogue builder Tom McFeely's wife is fighting to stay in their $13m Ballsbridge home for at least a year.
McFeely is set to lose his Ailsbury Road home after defaulting on the mortgage of nearly $13m -- but his wife has appealed for more time to move out.

She wants to be allowed remain in the home until one of the couple's teenage children finishes school next summer.

There was no response from the McFeely home when the Herald called last Thursday.
[Source: Evening Herald]

FERMANAGH

Enniskillen firm Webtech NI has defied the difficult economic conditions to invest $7m as part of a massive refurbishment of their premises at the Killyhevlin Industrial estate.

The company that provides flexible packaging solutions to the food and drinks industry was established in 1987 and has grown to become one of the largest suppliers in the UK and Ireland employing 120 people.

This investment has allowed the addition of 20,000 square feet of factory space, and the installation of a new, state-of-the-art, 10 color Windmoller & Holscher printing press. Alongside this investment in space and machinery, the business has created new modern open plan office space, added numerous new meeting rooms, and upgraded employee facilities throughout.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]

GALWAY

Last ditch efforts to save Galway Airport by sourcing a new airline have failed and it is expected that the operation will shut down permanently next month.

While Galway Chamber of Commerce, the main shareholder in the airport, was trying to retain it as a viable transport hub for the city, it now appears that the gates will finally close on the Carnmore airport.

And it is now understood that the IDA and Enterprise Ireland will be approached over the coming weeks with a view to locating an industry at the 115 acre site.

It is also understood that the airport board are also considering the possibility of using it as a park and ride facility for the city.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

Four young children are left without a father after a car crash claimed the life of Castleisland taxi driver Paudie Fitzmaurice (46) outside the town in the early hours of June 3.

Castleisland and Brosna, his native home, are in shock following the tragic single vehicle accident which occurred at 2:50 a.m. on Sunday, roughly three miles outside Castleisland on the Scartaglin road.

The crash happened just one fortnight before Mr. Fitzmaurice was to begin a new career in addiction counseling.

Mr. Fitzmaurice had just driven a passenger home in his taxi and was on his way back to Castleisland at the time of the crash. Gardai (police) are currently investigating the cause of the accident.
[Source: The Kerryman]

KILDARE

Residents of a Monasterevin housing estate say that it’s only a matter of time before there is a serious accident or fatality in the area.

Brocan Wood estate is located on the Cowpasture Road. It was to have been a house estate, to be built in three phases, with a crèche and a shop included in the development.

At least that was what the eight families who bought their homes at the end of 2009 and early 2010 believed. However it wasn’t to be and a receiver has been appointed leaving the families living in what is virtually a building site.

Some families are living beside nearly finished houses. But these buildings have not been sealed properly so rats, mice and birds can get in and have died inside. Other families have mere foundations as their neighbors. The foundations have metal sticking up out of the ground and are dangerous, particularly to children. The families say they cannot allow their children outside to play, because it is simply too dangerous.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]

KILKENNY

THE sky over Kilkenny City was ablaze with the famous CBS colors last Wednesday, as the primary school children released 250 balloons in unison to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Edmund Rice, who founded the CBS.

Each of the boys was given a maroon or yellow balloon, with “Happy 250th Birthday Edmund Rice” written on it. They tied the balloons to the school’s railings at 11 a.m.

Then at lunchtime, the students untied their balloons. After a short prayer, the group went down to the back pitch, with a few balloons lost along the way.
[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS

Robbie Lyons carried the Olympic torch and joined well-known characters Paul McGrath and Jedward in the six-hour relay through Dublin last week.

Robbie, who turned 18 early last week is a student in Heywood Community School, and received a kidney transplant three years ago. He was nominated by the Irish Kidney Association to be one of the 41 Irish people to carry the torch in last Wednesday’s relay.
 [Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM

Just days after a morale boosting victory over London, Leitrim’s preparations for the Connacht Championship Semi-Final with Mayo have been hit with the news that full-back Ciaran Egan has been dropped from the panel for “disciplinary reasons”.

The Gortletteragh clubman, who started at full-back against London and has been a fixture in the team this year after missing out most of 2011 with injury, will be a major loss to the defense when they come up against reigning Connacht Champions Mayo on Sunday, June 24.

In a statement, a representative of the Leitrim Senior Team management confirmed to the Observer that Egan had been dropped from the panel for “disciplinary reasons” and refused to make any further comment, saying the matter was closed.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

A Newcastle West man who breached an order barring him from a council estate twice in two days has been sentenced to six months in prison, despite him pleading with a judge to let him emigrate.

John Ryan (32) was jailed after he admitted to breaking the order prohibiting him from entering the Sharwood estate twice last week.

Meanwhile another man, 23-year-old Dan McCarthy, has been barred from entering his home estate of Castleview for a period of three years after he was accused of being involved in “extreme acts of violence” and anti-social behavior there.
 [Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

Longford-Westmeath TD James Bannon has offered his support to his constituency and party colleague Nicky McFadden TD, who was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Deputy Bannon said, “Nicky’s strength and courage in making this news public is indicative of her dedication to her constituency and her determination to put her constituents to the fore at all times.”

The Legan TD went on to “offer Nicky and her family every support possible on my behalf and that of Fine Gael in Longford/Westmeath”.

After revealing her diagnosis, Ms McFadden has vowed to adopt a “business as usual” approach to her job. She said she is determined to maintain her heavy workload and represent her constituents as vigorously as ever.

She said that the onset of her illness has been “subtle”, thus far, only affected her speech. It has not extended to muscle weakness in her arms and legs. She completed a 10-mile walk for the Irish Countrywomen’s Association four weeks ago.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

Louth Fine Gael TD and Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd claims that over $280,000 funding has been allocated to childcare facilities in County Louth

The grants have been allocated to 12 private and community childcare facilities to address remedial/maintenance/renovation work and/or equipment for early education and childcare services.

“Our society relies on a vibrant childcare sector, especially in a commuter county such as Louth. This capital program represents Government’s commitment to the ongoing development of childcare in the community,” said Minister O’Dowd.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

Households in many parts of Co. Mayo were shaken from their slumber last Wednesday morning after an earthquake occurred off the county's coast.

The earthquake measuring four on the Richter Scale occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on June 6 with the epicenter located approximately 60km off the Belmullet coast. The tremors were felt all along the Mayo coast, from Blacksod down towards Inis Boffin, with members of the public reporting furniture and dishes shaking for a few seconds.

The British Geological Survey has confirmed that an earthquake with a magnitude of four and a depth of 3km occurred of the west coast of Ireland at 8:58 a.m. According to their Historical Earthquake Database, this is the first earthquake to occur off the Mayo coast in over 40 years, as well as the largest to have occurred off the Irish coast in a number of years.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

US police officer Emily Reilly Lettie, a native of Trim, has been presented with a life-saving award for her part in rescuing a man from a fire last November.

Officer Reilly Lettie grew up in Avondale in Trim and moved to the United States in 2003, where she joined the police force in Detroit. Now based in Louisville, Kentucky, this is the fourth award she has received since joining the force.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

John Kingham has no regrets about turning his back on his native Monaghan in order to bolster Armagh’s hopes of winning the Ulster senior football championship title.

Kingham was introduced to the Orchard County squad by manager Paddy O’Rourke earlier this year and has played at midfield and full-forward.

His crucial goal which helped to underpin a surprise league win over Kerry in Tralee further served to underline Kingham’s value as a target man and now the former Donaghmoyne club player admits he relished the role against the Red Hands last Sunday.
[Source: Belfast Telegraph]

OFFALY

There was good news for Edenderry last week with permission granted for one new school and it’s expected that permission will be granted for a second.

The two schools will provide permanent homes for Scoil Bhride and the Gaelscol.

Two weeks ago the Gaelscoil Eadain Doire received the news that planning permission had been granted for a new eight classroom school.
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON

More than 200 plots of turf have been cut on protected bogs over the last five weeks, a survey by an environmental group has shown.

High temperatures at the end of May saw a large increase in the amount of turf being cut in protected areas, according to a report by environmentalist group Friends of the Irish Environment. The report shows turf being cut on protected bogs in Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath and Kildare.

The State gave a commitment to the European Commission that there would be no more turf-cutting on 53 raised bogs – and if this was breached, Ireland would face a daily fine of $31,500.
[Source: Irish Times]

SLIGO

The top garda (police officer) in the North-West was attacked in his car twice as his wife and daughter looked on in horror.

However, the man who carried out the attack claimed he could not remember it, Sligo District Court heard last Tuesday.

Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny was punched repeatedly on the arms by a drunk and crazed Peter Carty, of Eaglet House, Strandhill, Sligo, as he sat waiting for the lights to change at the junction of Strandhill and Larkhill Rd. on Dec 27, 2011.

Mr. Kenny managed to fend off his assailant on two occasions, the court heard.
[Source: Irish Examiner]

TIPPERARY

A dark chapter in Ireland’s recent history can still be found under the grass growing in Roscrea’s Sean Ross Abbey, used in the 1950s as a “mother baby” home.

In a mass grave lie the remains of dozens of young women and babies, who died in child birth. They lie today in an area called the “Angels Plot,” in unmarked graves, their names forgotten. One survivor of this era has come forward to tell the Tipperary Star she and others will use “all available legal means” to ensure that those graves are preserved and cherished.

“I am an adopted person and I wish to object in the strongest possible manner to the sale of Sean Ross Abbey,” says Collette Chambers. “There are several reasons why this sale should not proceed.

here are an unknown number of infants and children buried on the grounds as well as the grave of Michael Hess/Anthony Lee and as such, it is entirely unsuitable for development. These graves and the Angels Plot which contain the remains of hundreds and hundreds of babies and children, are of national and historic importance. Furthermore, the Angels Plot is of vital importance to all survivors of the Adoption Industry in Ireland.”
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

The owners of a wallaby on the run in Co. Tyrone have appealed for public help in tracking down the errant marsupial.

The two-year-old male has been at large for 14 days after burrowing out of its enclosure at Moy and was last seen in a field at Brantry, near Eglish.
[Source: Belfast Telegraph]

WATERFORD

Smashed glass, doors kicked in and litter strewn all over front gardens of the once pristine but now vacant houses at New Street, in the heart of the city, prompted the City Council to take action in recent days.

Though still in private ownership the City Council moved to board up five of the seven houses in a bid to prevent squatting and anti-social behavior.

Among the properties now boarded up is the house on the site where Edmund Rice opened his very first school.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]

WESTMEATH

At last Tuesday evening's Athlone Town Council meeting Fianna Fáil's Cllr. Aengus O'Rourke called on the council to examine measures to tackle the problem of raw sewage entering the River Shannon in the town, particularly where the raw sewage can be clearly and freely observed by the public.

He raised the issue at the June meeting after witnessing raw sewage floating on top of the river near AIB in Custume Place, just a short distance away from the town council's marina.
[Source: Westmeath Independent]

WEXFORD

On December 2, 2011, Antoinette Baker, daughter of Anthony “Tony” Baker who is believed to have died in Africa in April, received a phone call from a member of Enniscorthy Gardai (police).

She was informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions was prepared to take a case against her father, who had at this stage left the country, for up to seven counts of sexual abuse on her between the age of six and twelve.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

Wicklow footballer James Stafford has disassociated himself from a Twitter parody account.
Last Monday a Twitter account purporting to belong to the midfielder (@RealStafford) tweeted GAA analyst Colm Parkinson for critical remarks he made about Stafford on The Sunday Game.

Stafford has moved to publicly disassociate himself from the account and has admitted that he may call the gardaí (police) to put a stop to it as it's not the first time the account has caused him distress.
[Source: Wicklow People]