McGeough welcomes work been done in Castlebellingham to address derelict buildings

SINN Féin Councillor Pearse McGeough has welcomed the work being done in Castlebellingham addressing the growing number of derelict buildings.

Apple street, September eve. Inwardly observing between my chips’n’burger children and some forgotten orchard where fallen fruit pickers are, in a twilight, profiled.

Dublin of decaying dreams and tired revolutions, there stand your famine sons in petal coloured gutters while my stylish companion sugars a surplus coffee.

Threading through Dickensians who shuffle silently, unaware of timetables, Pied-piping towards the train in prosperous formation I stare at my reflection.

—Seán Brannigan.

Cllr McGeough said “over the past number of years there has been an increasing number of buildings in Castlebellingham falling into dereliction and it is having a detrimental effect on the area. I am pleased that the Council is engaging with the owners of some of these buildings and hopefully that endeavour will bear fruit.

“In 2021 I had a motion passed at the Council asking for a ‘Village Health Check’ to be carried out in the Castlebellingham/Kilsaran area. What this means is that a complete audit of assets, needs, strengths and weaknesses in the area are identified. Relevant stakeholders including building owners, businesses, community groups and residents of the area all come together and work out a plan of what is needed to make the area a thriving hub once again and that it reached its full potential.”

Cllr McGeough said “at the time I was told that no sources of fund- ing were available but the ‘Health Check’ would be considered when those circumstances changed. I believe that now would be an ideal time for that ‘Health Check’ to take place to work alongside the audit of derelict buildings and any improvements taking place.

“We cannot allow the area to deteriorate any further”.

1—Australian comedian Barry Humphries died last Saturday. What was the name of his very popular alter ego?

2—Five counties in Ireland contain the letter

F. Can you name them?

3—Which record breaking American musical announced a nine-week run in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in 2024 this week?

4—Who played Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses?

5—The Punters Bar on Park St. was formerly called what name?

6—In the game of snooker how many balls are on the table at the start of each frame?

7—Which actor uttered the famous lines “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.” in a 1950’s Hollywood movie?

8—What is the smallest planet in our solar system?

9—1973 saw the trial of 7 men accused of breaking into the Democratic Party Headquarters. What did this become known as? 10—Astana is the capital city of which Eastern European country? The Stinker: Which insect lives in a Formicary?

—this week’s answers—

1—Dame Edna Everage, 2—Longford, Offaly, Wexford and Waterford, 3—Hamilton, 4—Nicholas Lyndhurst, 5—Gormleys, 6—22 (15 reds, 6 colours and the cueball), 7—Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront, 8—Mercury, 9—The Watergate Scandal, 10—Kazakhstan. The Stinker: Ant.