News from around the 32 Irish counties

LOUTH

An air pistol, a 4" blade and two screwdrivers were all confiscated from young men - one a juvenile - in four separate seizures in Drogheda the weekend before last. The finds were part of routine stops and searches carried out by patrols in various parts of the town from Friday night to Sunday night last. One of the seizures was in broad daylight on the North Quay, whilst two were in the early hours of Saturday morning last in West Street and Trinity Street, with a fourth on the Donore Road. How to deal with the increase in crime is a matter of debate in Drogheda.
(Source: The Irish Times)


MAYO

It’s a bug’s life. Even government ministers have reached that conclusion. Although, despite the buzz, there wasn’t a bee in sight, when, in glorious sunshine, Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey opened Westport’s latest luxury hotel, shortly after 2pm last Friday afternoon.   “I am reliably informed this is one Five Star hotel that is not going to end up in NAMA,” Minister Dempsey said. He beamed broadly as he ceremoniously booked-in the first guest to Ostán Fheithidí an Bhealaigh Ghlais – The Greenway Insect Hotel. Indeed, Minister Dempsey seemed unfazed by the fact it was a wiggly worm that was first to cross the red carpet, and not a glamorous Ladybird, as was the twitter on the bush telegraph. Only minutes earlier, Noel Dempsey, with his carapace – aka helmet – twinkling in the sunlight had landed ahead of an army of multi-colored cyclists at the new hotel located on the Greenway near the Quay.
(Source: Mayo News)

MEATH

Fifty Meath GPs have sent a petition to the Health Service Executive (HSE) chief executive Brendan Drumm calling for the reinstatement of the consultant surgeon, Joe McGrath, who has been suspended from the staff of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. The GPs claim that his suspension is linked to his publicly-stated opposition to HSE cutbacks which he says have led to a "downgrading" of the hospital. Claims that there was no consultant surgeon on duty at the hospital last week as a result of the suspension have been denied by the HSE.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

OFFALY

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen has assured people in Clonmacnoise that public consultation will take place ahead of its chance of inclusion on the World Heritage List. Last week the Government announced Ireland's new Tentative List of potential nominees to the World Heritage List. The new Tentative List which has been submitted to UNESCO includes the Monastic City of Clonmacnoise and its Cultural Landscape.
 (Source: The Offaly Express)

ROSCOMMON

Roscommon County Council has been allocated more than €90 million in government funding to deliver new and improved water and sewerage infrastructure across the county over the next three years. The major funding announcement was made last Monday by local TD and Minister for Housing and Local Services Michael Finneran under the Water Service Investment Program and the Rural Water Program 2010.
(Source: The Roscommon Champion)

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