Antrim

A man in his 40s has been arrested by detectives investigating recent pipe bomb alerts in the Antrim area. It follows a search of a house in the Randalstown area last Tuesday. Earlier this month, an eight-year-old schoolboy at St Comgall's Primary School in Antrim, was at the centre of an alert when he picked up a pipe bomb in the school playground. A bomb was also left close to a primary school in the nearby village of Crumlin. About 170 pupils were moved to a community centre after the device was found outside an unmanned police station opposite Crumlin Integrated Primary.

(Source: BBC News Northern Ireland)


Armagh

A 51-year-old man has been charged following the recovery of cannabis plants with an estimated value of £25,000 in Portadown, County Armagh. They were discovered by police after the search of a house in Oban Drive last Tuesday. The man has been charged with possession of a Class B drug, cultivation of it and possession with intent to supply of a Class B drug.

(Source: BBC News Northern Ireland)

Carlow

The manager of a Carlow town pub was taken hostage during a shocking tiger raid last weekend. Aileen Julian, the popular manager of The Med Bar on Tullow Street, is understood to have been taken captive by three men after she made her way home from work late last weekend. It was confirmed to The Nationalist that approximately €50,000 was stolen from the pub following the raid. It is under stood that Ms Julian lives in the Chaplestown Gate area of Carlow town, where she was accosted by three men after making her way home.

(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

The drugs menace is beginning to take hold in Cavan and Monaghan with devastating consequences for families and young people - at least 50 full-blown heroin addicts are now availing of Methadone substitute in this area. While the HSE has confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that there are approximately 50 people availing of Methadone treatment in the Cavan/Monaghan region, the paper understands there are dozens more who either do not want to reveal their habit or do not have access to Methadone.

(Source: The Angle Celt)

Clare

Residents of a house in North Clare were last week found to have been living with levels of cancer-causing radon gas equivalent to having 12 chest X-rays per day. The house in Lisdoonvarna was among 600 across the country, including 32 in Clare, found to have elevated levels of radon gas. However, the radon level in the house in Lisdoonvarna was the highest among the nearly 4,300 tests carried out and more than 17 times the acceptable level. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking and is linked to 150 to 200 lung cancer deaths each year in Ireland.

(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

A Cork-based smoker’s rights group has called on the Government to relax legislation so that smokers can ‘light up’ in a warm and comfortable environment. New research claims to show that the main reason for the increasing numbers of pub closures is the implementation of the smoking ban. The research carried out by CR Consulting and using data from the Revenue Commissioners, found that the number of pub closures demonstrates a very close statistical relationship between the introduction of the smoking ban in 2004 and the rapid decline of the Irish pub.

Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

A veteran republican has told the Derry Journal recent claims Fr. James Chesney was a leader of the IRA in Co. Derry and that he was responsible for the Claudy bombing in 1972 are "totally incorrect". In a face-to-face meeting, held at his request, in Donegal last week, the republican stated he was in a senior position at the time in the Provisional IRA and he had what could be described as 'a co-ordinating role' between the IRA units in Derry, County Derry and West Tyrone and the Donegal Brigade.

(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

Three men arrested in connection with the discovery of an alleged cannabis production factory in Carrigans last January have been sent forward to the Circuit Court to stand trial. 30-year-old Neil Stewart Kloss of The Caravan, Milestone, Cummer, Tipperary, 30-year-old Brian Irwin of The Orchard, Croke Gardens, Thurles, Tipperary and Neville Leech, 35, of Pearse Park Drogheda, appeared in Letterkenny District Court on Monday

(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

Bungling thieves plunged a Co Down village into darkness after dropping metal onto a live electricity conductor. Around 1,000 homes in Donaghcloney were left without power for up to three hours when robbers, trying to steal copper tape from a vacant property dropped it onto a live high voltage conductor at about 10pm last Wednesday. An NIE emergency crew had to be called to the scene to make the situation safe restore electricity supplies. Over half of the affected customers had power restored by 11pm.

(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Dublin

Dublin city went back to black with a bang as some of the world's biggest music stars helped kick off the second annual Arthur's Day celebrations last Thursday. Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody led the festivities at the St James's Gate brewery by raising a glass in honor of its founder, Arthur Guinness, at exactly 5.59pm, before joining his band to wow the 2,000 pumped-up revelers with their biggest hits.

(Source: The Evening Hearld)

Fermanagh

A barn on a County Fermanagh farm used for lambing and to store hay isn't the first place you would expect a musician to launch their new album. But the venue made perfect sense to Irish singer and songwriter, Andy Irvine who launched his latest album there. His career has spanned five decades, and as a member of the folk band Planxty he achieved widespread success in the 1970s alongside Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny and Liam O'Flynn

(Source: BBC News Northern Ireland)

Galway

A man at the centre of an emergency air and ground search – after a motorist feared he’d hit him by accident – turned up at the height of the drama in his local pub blissfully unaware of the commotion going on around him. Emergency services, including an air corps helicopter, were deployed to the Headford Road area last Tuesday night when the pedestrian was struck by a passing car . . . but he couldn’t be found. The accident occurred at around 9pm when a motorist travelling from Galway towards Headford came in contact with a pedestrian and immediately reported the matter to the Gardaí.

(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kildare

Taxi drivers from outside the area are causing strife in Newbridge as local drivers claim their livelihood is being illegally taken from them.It is understood that arguments have developed on the Newbridge taxi ranks as a result of drivers from Dublin and elsewhere coming in and picking up passengers at various times. A spokesperson for the Newbridge Taxi Drivers’ Association pointed out that in many instances, passengers are not aware that all taxi drivers are limited to a specific area of operation – a county or particular urban area.

(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

Joyriders who literally decided to go on a golf drive are being sought by local gardai after they caused significant damage to a golf buggy at Callan Golf Club last weekend. The incident happened last weekend when golf buggies were interfered with near the club house. It is believed that the driver of the golf buggy navigated the vehicle through trees before ending up in the lake.

(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

A loan shark appears to be controlling the finances of people in Portlaoise. In an ominous sign of the extent to which the unscrupulous operator is prepared to go to run his business, it's emerged that the shark is holding onto the Credit Union books of some of his clients. The allegation was made at a recent meeting of public representatives who met with senior gardaí in Portlaoise. Community representative, Andy Sutton said he personally witnessed a suspected loan shark with "fourteen credit union books".

(Source: Leinster Express)


Leitrim

Cuts to home help hours are leaving elderly people with few options but to make the heartbreaking decision to leave their homes and enter full time care. Those living in rural areas are especially vulnerable as isolation and fewer family supports mean that, for many, home help is the dividing line between independence and dependence. Leitrim already has the highest proportion of people over 65 in the country.

(Source: Leitrim Observer)

 Limerick

The US Army will continue to use Shannon Airport as a transit route for its soldiers on their way to the Middle East, according to a spokesperson for the airport The spokesperson confirmed that reports of a withdrawal of transit services were without foundation. It was reported last week that a German airport had made a bid for the multi-million euro business which would have seen US military traffic transferred from Shannon to Leipzig.

(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

A drugs house has been discovered in the heart of Longford town, along a route commonly used by national and secondary school students. The house was uncovered by Longford town residents, Michael Keown and Jessie O'Leary. The two men became concerned on Wednesday September 8 when Mr Keown noticed people disappearing around the back of the house. The following day he went to the rear entrance of the house where he discovered the garage door was ajar. When he opened it he was horrified to find large quantities of sterilised packaged injection needles

(Source: Longford Leader)

 Louth

Locally-based Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has admitted exclusively to The Dundalk Democrat that Taoiseach Brian Cowen was wrong to give his controversial with Morning Ireland last week, just hours after going to bed after a drinking session in the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway. In a frank chat with this newspaper, the local TD said it was wrong of the Taoiseach to go ahead with the interview after being up so late.

(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

 Mayo

Knock woman Mairead Egan came within one number of scooping the National Lottery jackpot of 4.5 million last week. Just the number 27 stood between her and the big prize. Mairead, a regular supporter of the lottery game, had palpations as she checked her numbers. “When you know you have a few of them, you get all flustered. I had to check a few times before I knew I had five of them. The only one that let me down was 27. My birthday is on September 11 (9/11) and if I had gone for that one I had won the whole shebang. There would have been some party in Knock and Claremorris!,” she said last week.

(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

The bull sculpture which will be erected in Navan's Market Square as part of the ongoing refurbishment project, will be delivered to the town before Christmas. Cllr Shane Cassells has described the sculpture, currently in sculptor Colin Grehan's workshop in the village of Kilbeacanty in Co Galway, as one of most significant pieces of artwork to be unveiled in Ireland this year. Plans for the sculpture were met with controversy when it was commisioned almost a decade ago, and it will certainly generate plenty of debate when it is finally hoisted onto its plinth in a central position in the renovated Market Square.

(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Offaly

An Edenderry shop has been selected to participate in Fergal Quinn's programme 'Retail Therapy' on RTE One. McGreal's Gift Shop, located on JKL Street in the town, will undergo a major transformation as part of the process. Filming will take place over the coming months as the revamped shop takes shape with the programme due to air early in 2011.

(Source: Offaly Express)

 Roscommon

There are close to 800 people on the waiting list for social housing in County Roscommon, the Roscommon Herald can reveal. Figures furnished to the Herald by Roscommon County Council show that there were 785 approved applicants on the housing list as of last Wednesday, September 15th. In addition to the direct provision of social housing, the council also administers a number of schemes designed to provide short to medium term housing solutions for those in need.

 (Source: The Roscommon Hearld)

 Sligo

The Institute of Technology in Sligo has taken in more first students than ever before, the college confirmed last week, the same week in which it was ranked by the Sunday Times as one of the best in the country. It is a tremendous boost for one of the most progressive third level institutions in Ireland and is being seen as a clear barometer of the huge advances Sligo has made in recent years, despite the recent economic challenges being faced in the North West.

 (Source: Irishdigest.com)

Tipperary

Gardai in Tipperary are to target so called 'boy racers' as the latest statistics on deaths on Irish roads show that young men remain more likely to die in traffic accidents than any other group. The garda initiative, which is also being rolled out in Donegal, comes as a result of a figures which also reveal that more than half of 150 people who died on the roads so far this year were aged between 16 and 30, and three in four of those are males.

(Source: Tipperary Star)

 Tyrone

A County Tyrone development company placed into administration in July owes its banks more than £3.5m, documents filed at the government agency for registering businesses show.APL Developments, which operated from Castlecaufield Road in Donaghmore, had been trading since March 2004. The property crash left all its sites in negative equity.

 (Source: BBC News Northern Ireland)

 Waterford

A clear message was sent out to City Council tenants who engage in illegal activity last week as Waterford District court granted an exclusion order against a convicted drug dealer. Waterford City Council secured the three-year exclusion order against a man convicted earlier this year of possession of drugs with intent to supply. 30-year-old John Paul Smith has been excluded from his former partner’s home at Crystal Court, Kilcohan, Waterford and the entire Crystal Court estate.

 (Source: Waterford News $ Star)

Westmeath

Fears are rising among those living or farming along the Shannon banks that water levels are dangerously high for this early in the year, sparking major concerns that there will be a repeat of last November's devastation if there is any heavy rainfall over the next few months. One frustrated local farmer predicted unless work is completed down the river at Meelick to remove dirt from the Shannon, there will be more flooding in the Athlone area this year because the channel down river is blocked and water cannot get away fast enough.

(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

A noise nuisance case took a bizarre twist last week in Wexford District Court. A case in which a Castlebridge woman brought a noise nuisance case against her neighbors took a bizarre twist at Wexford District Court when a garda told Judge Donnchadh O'Buachalla he served her with an ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) to stop her making unfounded complaints.

(Source: The Wexford People)

Wicklow

Hundreds of locals, bursting with pride, poured into Ballywaltrim Community Centre last Monday night to catch a glimpse of Katie Taylor, their superhero and three-times World Champion. Katie Taylor has ' the heart of a lion,' according to Olympic boxing medalist Kenny Egan who turned out to support her at the airport last week. 'It showed in the semi-final against the American that it is not just talent she has,' he said. 'I'm so proud of her; she's just an amazing athlete'

 (Source: The Wicklow People)