28-06-2023

That’s my boy!

By Paul Byrne

THE Meenan household in Greenacres was buzzing with excitement yesterday afternoon as friends, family and neighbours gathered to welcome home Olympic hero James Meenan who won gold with the Irish Soccer team. He was part of the victorious team who came from behind against Morocco in the final to win 2-1 at the Special Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Earlier in the tournament James got Ireland off to a great start by scoring the team’s opening goal in the tournament during a 3-0 victory over Uganda. James, who plays with Newry Special Olympics team was instrumental for the boys in green as they navigated their way to gold in Berlin.

It was a second Olympic gold medal for 27-year old James who was one of the stars of the LA Special Olympics in 2015 where he claimed three medals including a gold in the 100 metres, bronze in the 200 metres and a silver in the 4 x 100 metres relay.

Continued on Page 2

eileen Meenan welcomes her son James home to greenacres following his gold medal success in Berlin.

From Page 1

On Monday afternoon he returned to his home in Greenacres behind a Garda Escort where he was greeted by neighbours, friends and family as well as local politicians, Ruairí O Murchú TD, Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr Kevin Meenan (an uncle of James) and Cllr. Pearse McGeough.

His proud mother

Eileen, Dad Liam and two brothers Kevin and Leo watched on proudly as James showed off his glittering gold medal to everybody in attendance. Speaking yesterday morning (Tuesday)

Eileen was almost overcome as she spoke about her son’s achievements.

“The whole family is bursting with pride and we are so pleased that

James received such a great homecoming. I’ve had people from all over Greenacres come up to me to tell me how proud they are of James and what a great boost it is for the street to see so many people down here to welcome him home. He’s a wee star and he just takes everything in his stride. He was up at 3am on Monday morning to catch his flight and then he had all the excitement of the homecoming on Monday

afternoon but he still went to work this morning as usual although he did bring the gold medal with him to show off to his workmates in Vida Living,” laughed Eileen.

“He is such a determined guy. There was a worry with his hamstring going over but the team doctors looked after him very well and it would have taken a brave person to tell him that he couldn’t play. He was so looking forward

to representing Ireland on the big stage and for him and his teammates to come home with a gold medal was just the icing on the cake. His two younger brothers are very proud of him and they spent all weekend putting out bunting and red carpet to greet James on his arrival back home. It’s been a fantastic week for our family and for Greenacres and we are all on cloud nine right now,” beamed Eileen.

James returns to a hero’s welcome An accident waiting to happen

By Tamara O’Connell

CONCERNED residents in Haggardstown are calling for traffic calming measures to be introduced along the busy Dublin Road.

The Haggardstown Tidy Towns Chairman Shane McGuinness told the Dundalk Leader that he wants to highlight the danger of the very busy road.

“The situation as it stands is very dangerous because it’s very hard to cross the road from all of the new estates,” said Shane.

“Cars fly past Sextons and other junctions further up the Dublin Road so we are looking for the council to install traffic lights, speed

bumps and zebra crossings.

“We set up the Haggardstown Tidy Towns committee three years ago and we have a lot of concerns around the

speed limit on the Dublin Road.”

Shane added: “In particular, we are concerned about the speed limit of the road around Blackrock and Haggardstown.

“A lot of people have made contact with us via the Haggardstown Tidy Towns Facebook page to complain about the current speed limit.

“There are four junctions that need to be looked at including Greengates junction, Sexton’s junction, Jackie Murphy’s junction and the SuperValu junction.”

According to Shane there have been “some really close calls” along the Dublin Road and residents are keen to prevent an accident from oc-

curring.

“A lot of children cross the road on their way to and from school but it’s very busy and very dangerous,” he said.

“We are considering holding a public meeting soon about this matter because we need to do something about this.

“We want to highlight our growing concern about the issue. We would like some councillors to get involved. Somebody needs to engage with us.”

If anyone would like to contact Shane about the proposed traffic calming measures, please send a message through the Haggardstown Tidy Towns Facebook page.

Friends and family come out in force to welcoem James home from the Berlin Special Olympics. James has now won four olympic medals, adding another gold to his 2015 three medal haul in Los Angeles.

Esther King (Chairperson Newry Special Olympics), James Meenan and Liam Cunningham (James’ Dad).

James celebrates his gold medal win with his family during his homecoming on Monday afternoon in Greenacres.

James receives a hug from his mother Eileen.

Leo, James and Kevin Meenan.

Shane McGuinness.

Dundalk Tidy Towns responds to poor litter league results

DunDALK has been given the unwanted title of the most littered location in the country in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey. The report deemed Dundalk ‘Seriously littered’ and sees the town prop up the 40 town/city table having been as high as number 27 this time last year.

At the beginning of 2023 Dundalk had fallen to number 34 on the list and that descent has unfortunately continued with this latest report placing Dundalk at the bottom of the table.

According to the IBAL report, just one of the ten sites surveyed around the town received top marks (from junction with n52 to Welcome to Dundalk signage) while two sites were deemed litter blackspots (not just casually littered but sub-

ject to dumping e.g the Clothes Recycle Bank and immediate environs on Castletown Road and the Car Park and adjacent Wasteground). A couple of sites had improved somewhat compared to previous IBAL surveys, but still had a litter presence e.g. the Recycle Facility at Tesco (R132) and the Wasteground at the corner of Maxwell and St. nicholas.

Responding to the disappointing results, the Dundalk Tidy Towns Committee stated they were very disheartened with the results and that they weren’t a reflection

of all the hard work that is being done locally by volunteers.

“It was with great disappointment that we heard this morning that Dundalk has ranked last in the IBAL Anti-Litter League survey.

“Firstly we want to thank all of our wonderful volunteers who give up their time to help keep Dundalk a Tidy Town. The Committee would also like to thank Dundalk Town and the many Residents Associations across Dundalk for their tireless work maintaining their areas.

“The results of the survey are obviously

disheartening and are not a reflection on the great work that happens across the town every week by council staff and contractors, volunteers and communities.

“Dundalk Tidy Towns has already written to Louth County Council this morning seeking a meeting on these results and will provide updates on our social media pages.

“In the meantime, we ask that everyone be mindful of litter in their area. Dundalk Tidy Towns is a small voluntary organisation and we rely on the help and support of the people of Dundalk in keeping the town tidy. Dundalk is a large urban area and we invite everyone to play their part. If you would like to get involved contact us here on our social media pages,” read the statement.

Increase funding to help Dundalk Tidy Towns—McGahon

FiNE Gael Senator John McGahon has said that more funding needs to be allocated towards Dundalk Tidy Towns from Louth County Council and Governmental level.

Senator McGahon was speaking after the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey described Dundalk as the most littered location in the survey and deemed to be “seriously littered”.

Dundalk Tidy Towns are doing incredible work in recent years, and there is not a day goes by that they aren’t out on the streets and roads around town making it a cleaner and tidier place for everyone. They put hundreds of hours in every week. This survey result is not a reflection on them, indeed without their work, we would be in a

far worse situation.

But they are volunteers and can only do so much, their extraordinary efforts

needs to be backed up and reinforced with proper funding.

Clearly the funding that is being provided to keep Dundalk clean is not enough, if it was, we wouldn’t be ranked at the bottom of this survey. They should be commended by all of us for their hard work.

if it’s a case that we need to allocate more financial resources to support Dundalk Tidy Towns than we should. There should be no question about that.

Dundalk is the best town in ireland to live in, we have excellent schools, transport links, housing and job opportunities, so there’s no reason why we can’t be the best when it comes to cleanliness too.

Senator John McGahon.

Home care and home help services reach breaking point

D EP u T y Peter Fitzpatrick and the Regional Group of TDs have published their motion to be debated in the Dáil this Wednesday morning, calling on the Government to take immediate action, devise and implement a comprehensive plan to address the impending challenges posed by the steadily increasing population of individuals aged 65 years and over in the coming years.

“The motion highlights the critical state of home care and home help services”, says Deputy Fitzpatrick. It

reveals that there is a severe shortage of carers, leaving vulnerable individuals without the necessary support.

As a result, many are confined to their beds and unable to access the funded homecare packages they desperately require. The waiting list for home support care at the end of March 2023 reached an alarming 6,432 individuals.

Deputy Fitzpatrick highlights that “Considering our ageing population, home support services are crucial in assisting older people and individuals

with disabilities who wish to continue living at home or require support after hospital stays. However, without swift intervention from the Government, these essential services are at serious risk.

As a direct result of the chronic shortage of home help hours, there is significant delays in discharging patients from hospitals; particularly vulnerable older individuals; which is exacerbating the chaos within some healthcare facilities”.

Census statistics reveal that nearly 300,000 people cur-

rently provide unpaid care, with 86,000 individuals dedicating 43 hours or more per week to caregiving. Regular breaks are essential for carers’ wellbeing, and the absence of respite services denies them the opportunity to prioritise their mental and physical health.

Deputy Fitzpatrick and the Regional Group TDs have issued a series of recommendations to the Government, urging them to:

1—Establish, through legislation, that every family carer

is entitled to a minimum number of days of respite care per year.

2—Enable families to access direct funding for help and care outside regular hours, eliminating restrictions on private providers.

3—Amend the eligibility rules for Jobseeker’s Allowance so that the total amount of paid work in hours is considered rather than days, as the current system disincentivises engagement in parttime employment.

4—Increase the means test limits for

the Carer’s Allowance and establish a high-level group to scope out and develop a roadmap for delivering a non-means tested participation income for family carers.

5—Increase the financial threshold for people on State benefits so that they can work and earn more money working in the homecare sector, and this helps with staff shortages while at the same time helping people gain more and have a better standard of living without being penalised by the State.

6—Ensure that all training for people engaging in the care industry is paid for by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to assist private providers in replacing staff who have moved to jobs within the HSE.

7—Ensure that remuneration for time spent travelling, motor travel expenses and pay when clients are in hospital is standardised for all healthcare employees.

8—Make industry and public sector trav-

el expenses available to home care providers who offer services to older and vulnerable individuals in rural areas, promoting a balanced approach. Deputy Fitzpatrick and his colleagues in the Regional Group of TDs have expressed their disappointment with the Government’s continued failure to address the needs of older people, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers, evidenced by its persistent delays in taking action.

Marie’s helping hand for parents

A MOTHER living in Dundalk has launched a new website aimed at parents of young children in Co Louth.

Originally from France, Marie Courcelle lives in Ath Lethan on the Racecourse Road with her partner Allan White and their twoyear-old son, Oscar.

“I’m French but I’ve been living in Ireland for 12 years. I came up with the idea for the Weekids.ie website when I had my baby,” said Marie.

“It started with the Covid-19 Pandemic. I was at home with a baby and there wasn’t much going on.

“I started working on Weekids.ie about three months ago and we launched the site on the

4th of June.”

Marie added: “It did take a bit of work and time. I’ve a full-time job and a young child at home.

“I work on it when I have some free minutes. My full-time job involves helping people to set up websites to sell or showcase their work.

“Weekids.ie started with a Whatsapp group for mothers and parents in the area. I check to see what suitable events are on locally such as activities or classes for kids”

She concluded: “The organisers of these activities are happy to share their information. We don’t have an app yet, it’s a website but it’s been optimised for

mobile phones.

“I’ve had a lot of positive reaction from people since the launch of Weekids.ie. The day I launched the site had 160 visits. Two weeks after the launch it reached 1,000 visits.

“The purpose is to be useful to parents and to increase attendance at

events for organisers of kids’ activities.

“If any organisers want to publish details of an event on Weekids.ie, they can do it through a chat button on the website. I’m really happy to do this.”

For more information please visit www. weekids.ie.

Ch E qu E p RESEN tAt ION O.N.E Du NDALK

Marie Courcelle with her baby son Oscar.

From left: Pat donnelly, Helena sullivan, Children ella shields & elora Collins, Julie Barrry vice Principal, Patrick o ’ Rourke Principal, lt.Col. Frank Colclough, Jim Mc eneaney, Comdt Mark sullivan, Colm Fergus and Mick Reid. the 27 inf Bn Challenge was in aid of Redeemer girls n/s and one and raised €3700 between both charities. sincere thanks to all involved.

Friary Hop Reunion is sure to stir up fond memories

THE Friary Hop was for many around town, their first introduction to the disco scene around Dundalk. Aimed at young teens the Friary Hop took place in the Friary school and was a place where teenagers danced the night away and where the seeds for blossoming teenage romances were sown.

Fintan Mulholland, originally from Hill St. but now living in Kildare has brought it upon himself to organise a reunion night for those who went to the Hop back in the day and he has invited anybody and everybody who has fond memories of that time to join him in Byrne’s Pub on Hill St. on July 14th at 9pm where old memories will be shared and funny stories retold.

According to Fintan, the Friary Hop was the main teenage disco at the time for him and his contemporaries in the early 70’s and he has many fond memories of those times.

“I can remember

‘ the Friary hop’ took place in the Friary school.

Lessons need to be learned from Carlinn Hall states Minister Ryan

THE heating system at Carlinn Hall in Dundalk was on the Dáil agenda again when Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú asked Minister Eamon Ryan about progress towards a solution to the problem of high energy prices at the Mullaharlin Road estate.

Deputy Ó Murchú has been raising the issue of the district heating system at Carlinn Hall, where residents have seen huge hikes in their energy prices because of spikes in the cost of gas, for the last almost 18 months.

ings where we can implement the solutions’.

In response, Deputy Ó Murchú said: ‘It goes without saying that we need this work done as assiduously as possible, particularly from the point of view of finding a solution that will work. There is a problem with these communal heating systems particularly when they are gas fed. We need to look at legislative change.

clearly the excitement of heading to “The Hop” in the classrooms of the Friary school on a Friday evening. It was a place where maybe you would pluck up the courage to ask somebody you admired out and where many laughs and fun times were had all those years ago. The Friary Hop was probably for kids between 14 and 17 years of age and after paying 10p to get into the Hop you might head down towards the Ramparts after the disco finished and pay another 30p to get into the Afton Club where the likes of Thin Lizzy, Rotgut and

Richmond Hill played.

“They were great times and heading into the Friary Hop you would see the majority in their bellbottomed flares and Afghan shirts. If people still have their old flares in a wardrobe at home they are more than welcome to put them on for the reunion,” laughed Fintan.

“A few years ago my wife organised a night out for my 65th birthday in Byrne’s Pub and I had a fantastic evening seeing old friends that I hadn’t seen in years and that was what got me thinking about organising a reunion of sorts for anybody who was around

at the time of the Friary Hop. Anybody who was a teenager in the early 70’s is more than welcome to come along and enjoy a night of reminiscing and laugher. I think it would be great fun to relive the banter and bungling that we indulged in on those long ago Friday nights,” stated Fintan.

If you are interesting in turning up to such an event then feel free to join Fintan and friends in Byrne’s Pub on Hill St. on the 14th of July at 9pm. Anybody with any questions for Fintan can contact him at 70friaries@gmail.com.

The Dundalk TD asked Environment Minister Eamon Ryan about the results of a government-commissioned geothermal study at the site, which was carried out at the end of last year.

He has raised it with Minister Ryan the week before, and also at the Oireachtas Climate Committee with a further question to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last week.

In the response during oral questions, Minister Ryan said: ‘In fairness to Deputy Ó Murchú he has been very assiduous and diligent on following this issue.

‘In light of the issues faced by such group schemes an independent consultancy was commissioned by the SEAI to complete a report on the viability of retrofitting an existing communal heating system with a shallow geothermal energy source using Carlinn Hall as the case study.

‘The report will be provided in two parts. Recommendations will be made on heat network efficiency, options for a low-carbon heat alternative and the costs of installation and operation. The final draft of this initial element is due for review by the project steering group and is expected to be completed within the next month. The second part will extract the main learning on heat network decarbonisation in Ireland. This part is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

‘In a short number of weeks we will have it and we will publish and share it. I hope we will put it to good use in many build-

‘We need those sorts of solutions. They will most likely be delivered by third parties. We need to make sure we have the grant schemes and everything else in place. I know the Minister does not want to jump the gun but are we looking at this review that is being carried out being relatively positive and maybe having a possible solution?’

Minister Ryan said: ‘I will have to wait for the completion of the report. I do not want to secondguess it. The independent group has to conclude its work. As I said, there is a distinction, which we discussed earlier, between group central heating systems and district heating. We will, in all likelihood, need both’.

Minister Ryan added that ‘lessons need to be learned’ from Carlinn Hall’. Deputy Ó Murchú said the likely solutions to Carlinn Hall will come from the private sector so grant schemes need to be in place to ensure the solutions can be instigated.

Dundalk hairdressers shine at L’Oréal awards

t h E highlight of the Irish hairdressing calendar made its welcome return at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin. the much anticipated 2023 Irish L’Oréal Colour trophy Grand Final boasted a full house with La Creme de La Creme of Ireland’s hairdressing Industry in attendance.

the world’s longest running live hairdressing competition, L’Oréal Colour trophy first launched in Ireland in 1966. the competition continues to grow and spotlight the talent of the industry across the whole breadth of Ireland.

the crème de la crème of the Irish hairdressing industry were out in force to compete against and support their colleagues for the fiercely contested Awards.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú.

hairstylists from Mizu hair salon in Dundalk.

Stylists from Cortex hair Salon in Dundalk.

Martin McElligott and Catherine McElligott from the hair Shop in Dundalk.

L’Oréal Colour trophy presentation.

Stylists from the hair Shop in Dundalk.

SEEK Dundalk Street Art Extravaganza

SEEK urban Art is poised to welcome another star-studded line up of artists from across the globe. The festival will take place from Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th of July; artists will be arriving into town in the coming days, and the public are encouraged to visit the new mural locations and watch as the art unfolds over the course of the week.

This year’s artists and themes have been announced, and excitement is building to see what they will create, and just how they will do it. The line-up is as follows;

Roesia de Verdun by Studio Giftig from the netherlands; Setanta by South African street artist Mister Copy; Joe Biden / An Irish Emigration Story by French artist Creaero; Railway Heritage Blueprint by Irish artist Cormac Dillon and keep an eye out for a bonus mural by returning artist Arthur ‘OnER’.

Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott said “Over the past four years we have all witnessed the transformation of Dundalk Town centre and the pivotal role this creative festival has played. Street artists from

here at home, and around the world, have embraced stories from Dundalk’s rich history and heritage, and they have worked with us and our vision to reawaken these incredible stories.”

On Saturday 1st of July an array of creative activities, including Spray Painting workshops for children and young people, will take place at Market Square from 11am to 4pm. These workshops are free, but booking is essential www.seekdundalk.ie

Free guided walking tours will run throughout the festival too allowing

Bellewstown Racecourse launch summer festival

visitors to experience the vibrant street art culture in Dundalk and explore the themes behind the artworks. Booking is essential www. seekdundalk.ie

Sarah Daly, Executive Director of Creative Spark, a partner in the SEEK Festival added “We are excited to see what the artists will produce for the fifth year of the festival and delighted that it is extending over a longer timeframe.

“We are particularly grateful to Creative Ireland which is a significant supporter of the festival.”

Martin McElligott explained

“It has been incredible to work with our loyal project partners Creative Spark and Louth County Council, and alongside our longstanding sponsors Colourtrend Paints, we have been on this journey together since 2019. This year’s festival is also kindly sponsored by Creative Ireland, The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Fáilte Ireland, Dundalk Tidy Towns, Zoma, Crowne Plaza Dundalk, Hire Direct and McAteers The Good Food House.”

Minister thomas Byrne, Jim Corcoran; Minister Charlie McConalogue, Alan Delany; Stephen Duggan; Séamus Domegan and Kevin Coleman BELLEWSTOWn Racecourse was delighted to welcome Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue and Minister for State Thomas Byrne (at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media) to the hill of Crockfatha on Tuesday evening last 20th June.

During their visit the Minister McConalogue and Byrne were afforded a tour of the historic track allowing them to see at first hand some of the improvements to facilities made in recent years including the addition of a permanent stable yard complex. They also heard about the ambitious plans Bellewstown have in place for future investment to allow it to continue to be at the forefront of delivering a great racing experience for patrons ahead of the track celebrating it’s 300-year anniversary in 2026.

The visit coincided with the launch of Bellewstown’s summer festival which sees racing return to Bellewstown from Thursday 6th July – Saturday 8th July for their annual Summer Festival promising three action-packed evenings of racing.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue stated how impressed he was at seeing the ongoing developments at the track and to hear about the tracks important role in not only facilitating top class racing but also the contribution it makes to the local community including offering significant rural employment during and on the run up to race meetings. He wished the committee well with its future endeavours including the hosting of its forthcoming July summer festival.

Minister for State Thomas Byrne

stated that he was delighted to visit his local racecourse in Bellewstown along with his government colleague Minister Charlie McConalogue. I’m looking forward to the forthcoming summer meeting in July and being back on the hill for a spectacular festival of racing and good fun.

Racing in July gets underway on the Hill of Crockafotha on Thursday evening 6th July with a competitive Flat card, featuring the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Filles Maiden of €25,000 and the €16,000 Indaver Ireland Handicap over five furlongs. Bellewstown is also delighted to welcome back our longest sponsor, Seamus Mulvaney bookmakers to sponsor the Seamus Mulvaney Crocoafotha (Q.R.) race.

Racing and fashion go hand in hand on Friday evening. While the jockeys take up their reins on the track for the second day, the ‘Tankardstown House’ most stylish competition takes centre stage in the enclosure. The winner will receive a two-night VIP stay at Tankardstown House to the value of €2,400 with fantastic runner up prizes from ‘Boyne House Slane’ and the ‘Coach House’.

The final day of the Summer Festival features an all-jumps card sponsored by Bar One Racing. The evening fixture features the €45,000 Bar One Racing ‘Bellewstown’ Handicap Hurdle. Bar One Racing will pay a €25,000 bonus if the winning horse goes on to win the Guinness Galway Hurdle at the forthcoming Galway Festival.

For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.bellewstownraces.ie

Dundalk FC’s “best ever”

By Paul Byrne

HISTORy was made on Friday evening at Weavers Park in Drogheda as Dundalk FC’s Patrick Hoban scored the goal that officially made him the club’s all-time record goalscorer. Having equalled Joey Donnelly’s longstanding club goalscoring record with a hattrick against uCD earlier this month it was only a case of when and not if the Galway man would become the sole owner of the record.

And with the Lilywhites a goal down with thirteen minutes remaining, Hoban’s timing was as usual immaculate as he headed home the equaliser to confirm his place in the Dundalk FC record books.

And to cap a magnificent evening for both himself and the club, Hoban stepped up just three minutes later to slot home the winning goal via the penalty spot after winger Ryan O’Kane was hauled down in the box.

Speaking afterwards to Gavin McLaughlin from Dundalk FC, Hoban admitted that he couldn’t have picked a better place to break the longstanding record.

“yeah, I think so,” he said. “Away from home to Drogheda in the derby? you probably couldn’t get any better really. It’s a great feeling. It’s probably something I’m not going to be able to appreciate probably enough right now because I’m in mid-season but it’s a great

Late night café secure permanent home

DunDALK’S Late night Café committee are delighted to announce that we have secured permanent residency in An Táin Arts Centre. We begin our new journey on Thursday August 3rd 2023 from 7pm-11pm with a €5 admission fee which includes free refreshments, board games and a place to relax and unwind. It is envisaged to hold themed nights, debates and host special guests in the future.

It is hoped to host our nights on the first Thursday of every month with a different theme every month. The Café will be alcohol free and non-judgemental of those who wish to attend. We are here to lend a friendly listening ear.

All are welcome to join us on Thursday, August 3rd 2023, from 7pm in An Táin Arts Centre. We look forward to meeting you. For further information please go to our Facebook page: Late night Café.

honour.

“Like I said before, when I equalled it against uCD, it is a huge honour for myself, for my family, for everyone who supported me in the town, and for the boys that I have been playing with over the years too. It is a great feeling and I just want to say thank you to all of them.

Joey Donnelly is considered one of Dundalk’s finest ever players, making his debut in 1929 at home to Shelbourne. He would go on to play 519 times for Dundalk, scoring 142 goals which was a club record until that total was usurped by Hoban on Friday evening. Hoban took just 276 games over two spells with Dundalk to break the record having

been signed from Mervue by Stephen Kenny back in 2013. After two successful seasons with Dundalk he moved to Oxford for the 2015/16 season before joining Mansfield a season later.

The Loughrea man returned to Oriel in 2018 and picked up where he had left off, scoring goals for fun as he finished the season as the league’s top goalscorer, helping Dundalk win the league and cup double in 2018. At the age of just 31, Hoban will hopefully be around to light up Oriel Park for a few more years to come and if he continues finding the back of the net it will be no time at all until we are lauding his 200th career goal for Dundalk.

Dundalk supporters club announce new savings card

THE 1903 Dundalk Fc Supporters Club are excited to announce the launch of the brand new 1903 Card.

For the yearly price of €24, members can avail of thousands of euro of deals and discounts, from Dundalk’s most popular businesses.

The best news is anyone can join the scheme. Go to the1903.ie and click on the sign up button. Scroll down to enter you details.

your card will be delivered and you are ready to start saving money. Check on our website for the list of businesses where you can currently enjoy savings. Also, keep an eye out in store for our logo for par-

1—What is the name of the main stage at the Glastonbury Music Festival?

2—Croke Park is the biggest stadium in ireland. The Aviva stadium is the second biggest. Can you name the third biggest?

3—The opening 20 minutes of which epic war movie was filmed on Curracloe beach in Wexford?

4—What does a Geiger Counter measure?

5—Which three sauces make up Prawn Cocktail Sauce?

6—What is the capital of

estonia?

7—Which war was fought in South Africa between 1899 and 1902?

8—in the U.S animated comedy show The Simpsons, what is the name of the Simpsons family dog?

9—What were French Fries renamed to in several US Congressional cafeterias after France refused to support the iraq War?

10—What flightless bird is the native symbol of new Zealand?

The Stinker: What colour is found on 75% of the world’s flags? —this week’s answers—

ticpating outlets. new savings are being continuously added.

Watch out for Pop up events coming soon where you can physically purchase your members card. next one is on the 30th of June, outside Oriel before the Shamrock Rovers game.

We hope that people all across Dundalk can engage with this brilliant scheme and help support local businesses.

The list of participants include Crowne Plaza Hotels, Tony’s Grill, McAteers, Colourtrend Paints, Peter Cherrie Football Academy, Bishops Garage, John Laverty Motors, Mini Athletics, The Flower Studio, Sinead

Connolly Beauty, Déja Vu Hair, Sailor Sharkeys, The Works, The Gift and Art Gallery, Premier Chiropractic, Impressions Hair, Michael Smyths, House of Murphy, EKR Cleaning Services, Cycle and Trophy Shop, Goldstar Jewellers, Michael Lynch, Dundalk Plumbing.

Tony McDonnells, Advance Beauty Clinic, Magic of Light, EMC Personal Designs, Energie Fitness, Avenue Cleaners, Issey and Co., Hanratty Shoes, Mankind Clothes, Hestia Interior Design, noels Restaurant, Felda Gym, Taste Smash Graze Boxes, Perform Physio, Blooms Flowers, Elmay Boutique,

Phone Alarms, Dundalk Paint Shop, Louth Sports Injury Clinic, Emerald Tile, AC Electrical, Coffee Time, Emma Rose at The Octagon Studio, Marketplace Cafe, FJ Murphy, BSharp Music, Hollands Hardware and The Dundalk FC Shop. Deals vary across each business. Please mention the 1903 at time of booking any services. Check our website for specific online codes relating to discounts. Any more businesses that wish to join us can email hello@ the1903.ie.

Get ready to start making big savings. The 1903 would like to thank Ruairí O’Murchú for his support.

Fitzpatrick demands more help for parents

PETER Fitzpatrick TD has demanded more help for struggling parents as they get ready for the new school term in August. He recalled his own mother’s struggles when it was time for her to get the children ready to go back to school and pointed to the cost of living crisis which has hit the country in recent months.

“Parents are doing their best to prepare their children for the new academic year and with so much pressure on household budgets due to the rising cost of living, by the time the bills are paid, they have little or nothing left to buy food, meaning that they are struggling to pay for schoolbooks and uniforms, as well as requested parent

contributions,” stated Fitzpatrick.

“The bulk of announcements in last year’s education budget shared one key thing - easing the costs facing families and schools in the teeth of a costof-living crisis. Con-

sidering that Ireland’s free education system is expensive when schoolbooks, uniforms, voluntary contributions and extracurricular activities are factored in, the free schoolbook initiative at primary level was a long-awaited step in the right direction, but it was not enough to compensate for soaring inflation. The increase in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and free school transport helped many families, yet these measures were only temporary and are still a long way off meeting the needs of families struggling with school costs. There is still a journey to go in cutting costs such as voluntary contributions and schoolbooks and-or

iPads at second level.

“If costs at primary and secondary level are high, they are greater still in higher education. The €3,000 student contribution fee means that third level education in Ireland is the most expensive in the Eu, not to mind soaring rents and high fuel costs for commuting students. I welcome that the contribution fee was slashed to €1,000 in the 2022-23 academic year, but this was only a once-off measure. The belief persists that the Department of Education could do more.

“I feel for the middle-income families who see themselves as qualifying for nothing, but paying for everything. One of my con-

stituents is a working mother who does not meet the criteria for the back-to-school allowance. She has not been given enough hours at work and is struggling to pay her bills and feed her children, never mind trying to cover the cost of back-to-school expenses. This has a huge impact on parents’ mental health and wellbeing. They feel like failures because they cannot meet the needs of their growing children. We need to end the practice of voluntary contributions.

“As someone who came from a council estate, I recall my mother struggling hard to get us to school, get schoolbooks, feed us and everything else. I feel for people nowadays. The

cost-of-living situation has hit not only Ireland but every country. The Department is one that a lot of people pick on, but I honestly think everybody should be entitled to a free education, including in the academic area when people go on to become an accountant, a lawyer or something else. It is also great to see the facilities for apprenticeships, especially in the college in Dundalk. years ago, people looked down on apprenticeships, but it is a fantastic job. Once people get an apprenticeship, they can perhaps go on to third level education and get a degree. It is not all doom and gloom.,” concluded the Independent Louth and East Meath TD.

the King! pat hoban celebrates with Dundalk teammates as he becomes the club’s official all-time top goalscorer. pic credit: Gerry Scully.

Orla Crilly, chairperson of the 1903 supporters club, with the new savings card.

Get lean and grow your business

WHO doesn’t want to run their business more profitably? Imagine freeing up extra time every week from your busy schedule and using it to add value to your business, or improve your work life balance.

In case you haven’t already heard of it, Lean for Micro is the way to make that happen.

The team at Louth’s Local Enterprise Office are inviting local businesses to apply for the Lean for Micro programme. Gráinne McKeown explains “Lean for Micro recognises the unique challenges faced by SMEs and offers practical solutions to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance overall business performance.”

Gráinne continues

“When running a small business, it can be hard to develop streamlined systems and processes, and yet doing that unlocks the potential of the business and drives

Gerard and Carmel’s garden fundraiser

is funded by the Local Enterprise Office. Our team of experienced Lean practitioners will guide you through the entire process, helping to identify improvement opportunities, implement changes, and measure the impact on your business.”

Gráinne concludes

“We understand that operational efficiency is crucial for SMEs to remain competitive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

SOMEWHAT earlier than usual, Gerard and Carmel McHugh, ‘Drumcask’, Priorland Road, Dundalk (A91 R6E8) are pleased once again to open their garden in aid of north Louth Hospice, on Saturday 1st July, 2 – 5pm.

The recent fine weather has resulted in a sudden growth spurt, causing the garden to peak 2 -3 weeks earlier than last year.

now in its mature phase, the garden is home to an eclectic mix of plants selected to provide yearround interest.

Louth/stories

Lean is a brilliant tool to help small business owners to achieve that efficiency. So don’t delay, apply today and allow our team to help make your business better.”

The garden wraps around the house with front, side, and rear sections and is laid out to reveal only a little of itself from any position. profitability. It can also really enhance quality of life for small business owners by making things more efficient.”

Discover how local companies, including Project Engineering and Listoke Distillery, have benefited from Lean for Micro by visiting the LEO Louth website www.localenterprise.ie/

She explains “Applying for Lean for Micro is simple. Visit www. localenterprise.ie/lean, complete the simple application form and one of the team from LEO Louth will be in touch.

Business owners are asked to pay a contribution of €150 and the rest of the programme

Free library event will help charity trustees

To learn more about the Lean for Micro programme and access the video case studies, visit the Local Enterprise Office Louth website at www.localenterprise. ie/louth or contact 042 9335457.

iT is a free library event, promoting a talk by Consultant Brian Cavanagh based on his book “Governing with Purpose, How to lead a brilliant board - a guide for charity trustees” in Dundalk Library on Wednesday 28th June at 6:30pm.

Brian is a successful consultant with significant experience of leading and championing change at a national level in Scotland and Ireland. Amongst his many attributes, he helps businesses and leaders to strengthen key leadership

relationships, set challenging but achievable goals and create an inclusive, high performance culture.

All welcome, please contact Dundalk Library at 042-9353190 for further information.

Bronagh Conlon of Listoke Distillery one of the LEO Louth clients who have boosted business efficiency and profitability through the Lean for Micro programme.

Funds raised will go to North Louth hospice.

Gerard and Carmel’s garden in priorland.

€2m for the completion of the tender process for the narrow Water Bridge project—McGreehan

LOCAL Fianna Fáil Senator, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed news that the Government has awarded €56 million from the Shared Island Fund for significant cross-border investments including €2m for the completion of the tender process for the Narrow Water Bridge project.

Senator McGreehan who has championed this project for many years said, “I was delighted to receive confirmation today that funding has been allocated under the Shared Island Fund for the Narrow Water Bridge, a project of huge significance which will link the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula.

“The tender process for the project commenced in April of this year and I understand is due to conclude in October.’’

Senator McGreehan concluded by congratulating Louth County Council as lead coordinator of the project on their work in bringing this to a reality.

Final chance for county Louth students to enter scholarship awards worth €20,000

THIS week is the final reminder to notify students, parents, guardians and schools that the closing date for the applications for the 2023 naughton Foundation Scholarship scheme is closing this week, Friday, June 30th at midnight.

After 16 years awarding third level student scholarships, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship scheme is issuing a final reminder to students from County Louth that the 2023 closing date is fast approaching and giving students a last opportunity to submit their entries. The naughton Scholarships are a scheme of scholarships to promote the study of engineering, science and technology at third level by students in Ireland. Each year from February to May, Leaving Certificate students can apply for a scholarship if they intend on studying science, computer science, mathematics, engineering or technology at third level that year.

Final reminder: The closing date for receipt of application forms for The naughton Foundation Scholarship 2023 is Friday, 30th June 2023 at midnight. There will be one guaranteed scholarship for each of the participating counties, 36 allocated in total.

The naughton Foundation was established by Dr Martin and Carmel naughton in 1994 and its goal is to support worthwhile causes in the arts and education. In 2008 they decided to create the scholarship programme to increase their support for Leaving Certificate students who would like to study engineering, mathematics, science, computer science and technology at third level in Ireland. Originally the scholarship programme only applied to students from counties Louth, Meath and Monaghan however it has since expanded nationwide and students from all Counties in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply.

Students are invited to apply if they are currently attending secondary schools in County Louth, and if they are studying two or more of the following subjects- physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics, and applied mathematics.

Each naughton Scholarship is valued at €20,000 so it is a contribution of €5,000 for each year of the student’s third-level course for a student studying science, engineering, maths or technology in any publicly funded university or third-level institution in Ireland, including northern Ireland. The school of each winner is also awarded €1,000. Applications must be submitted before, or on this date to be considered eligible for the scholarship, this deadline will not be extended.

The 2023 application forms for The naughton Foundation Scholarship Programme are available for download and can be completed online on The naughton Foundation website. www.thenaughtonfoundation.com

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 30th June 2023.

Family Notices

novena to the sacred heart

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted.

(Never known to fail) M.t. novena to the sacred heart

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted.

(Never known to fail) M.f.

novena to the sacred heart

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted.

(Never known to fail) d.B.

novena to the sacred heart

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted.

(Never known to fail) M.s novena to the sacred heart

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted.

(Never known to fail) l.M.

PR o P e R ty/R entals s P e C ial se R vi C es

attention for B.e r certificAtion of properties being offered for sale or rent, contact robert mulholland, Ber assessor. 087 609 1906 www.louthber.ie. Flat to let—Dundalk, good area tel 087 2788573.

attention l andlo R ds—We supply furniture & Beds for any rental properties you have. Beds from €180, Bedroom furniture sets from €249 call us today www. bedstore.ie, coes rd, Dundalk tel 042 932 0927.

t wo M atCH ing 2 seater couches and solid wood coffee table for sale. All excellent condition. 0870967776.

CHiMney & stove Cleaning tel paul mcArdle 042 933 2491 / 087 666 0094. CHiMney CleaneR the clean sweep, clean & tidy, no dust. Brush & vac. Also gutter cleaning. contact cathal 087-225-9799. dog walking—Jessica available for dog walking in Dundalk area. can collect dog from house and leave back. please phone 083 0959127.

window Cleaning—Gutter & facia cleaning carried out by professional, fully trained and insured staff. Affordable rates. Domestic & commercial. call our office for a free quotation. everkleen 042 935 2717 or 086 829 3585. www.everkleenservices.ie <http://www.everkleenservices.ie>.

European success for teenage strongman Scott

SCOTT Holland continues to impress on both the national and international power lifting stages with the Cuchulainn Terrace teenager earning his second cap for Ireland at the AWPC European Cup at the end of May.

The competition was held in Limerick and ran from the 25th of May until the 27th.

This was Scott’s second cap for Ireland in the T1, 67.5 kg under16 category,

Scott won his division with an amazing performance,made all the more impressive given the fact he was one of the youngest in his section. The thirteen year old squatted 125kgs, benched 72.5kgs and dead-lifted 132.5kgs. He also went 9 for 9 lifts on the day and totaled 330 kg which was a new national record and also a new national total record . On the day he

was in top form at the European

out squatted and out benched two 19 year old in the 67.5 category.

He was coached on the day by his brother Jordan who perfectly called all his lifts. 22-year old Jordan is already a wellestablished and highly respected powerlifter on the national and in-

ternational circuit.

Scott’s next comp is not till December now and with a long off-season he is hoping to add again to his total. Jordan and Scott would like to thank Ruairi McCann for all his help during preparations for last month’s Europeans.

Scott’s parents, Kevin and Lauri, would like to thank the following for all their support over the years with Jordan and now Scott.

Barry’s Fitfood butchers, Ma Bradys, Goldstar jewellery , Megapump , Dapperchaps barbers and Felda.

CaRPet & oven Cleaning carpet, upholstery & specialist oven cleaning available. call mvi cleaning Dundalk on 042 94 21300 or visit www.mvicleaning.ie.

Roo F ing Re Pai R s & stoves. stoves supplied and fitted, fully insured, Hetas certified. contact paul englishby 087 6301914 or 041 98 94633 and mark on 087 1302040 for roofing enquiries.

gaRden & House MaintenanCe strimming grass, hedge cutting, weeding, also garden clearance, concreting, patios, painting, power washing, gutter cleaning, window cleaning, fencing. Have all the equipment. contact Brian 086-109-7358.

PRoPeRty MaintenanCe repairs, building, plumbing, painting, roof repairs, tiling, bathroom refurbishments, concreting, plastering, gardening, power washing, pvc facia and soffits, over 20 yrs experience. references available. tel michael on 085-762-3758 .

Fi F i’s a lte R ations longwalk s c

(formerly A-Alterations) tel 083 011 8728. Zips, hems, clothes taken in or let out, also Dry cleaning service. open mon - fri 9.305.30pm & sat 10 - 2pm.

watCH RePaiRs mechanical/Quartz (battery) and vintage. in our own workshop. most brands: cartier, longines, omega, revue, raymond Weil, seiko, citizen & more, also Jewellery repairs. Goldstar Jewellers, Demesne shopping centre Dundalk tel. 042 93 39478.

lo C al Powe R was H ing no job too big or too small. patios, driveways, walls, also grass cutting & gutter cleaning. contact James 089 9705466 for free quotation. Ca RP ent R y repair, maintenance. Woodwork, attic space, fencing, feature walls, floors, kitchen and wardrobe repairs, shops and office suspended ceilings, metal partitions, drylining tel enda 085 1481212. s e M i- R eti R ed Painte R available– internal & external—30 years experience, also power washing services, etc, tel Dermot 087 2993660.

landsCaPing flower beds tided up, outdoor cleaning, patios, footpaths, walls, general property maintenance, exterior painting of fences, gates, walls, etc and decking cleaned. Dundalk & District. tel. Jim 086 3818184.

Healing Clini C available in Dundalk every thursday 11am - 5pm at medical eye & Health centre, Demense, Dundalk. for appointment please phone faith 087 7188450.

e asy-going country lad, mid 50s with GsoH seeks like-minded female companion late 40s/mid 50s with no ties. for walks/ talks and to share the simple things in life. tel—0868220403.

House & aPaRtMent Cleaning service. specializing in re-let & spring cleaning, carpet & upholstery cleaning. fully insured. for a free quotation contact everkleen 042 9352717 / 087 6873188, www.everkleenservices.ie <http://www.everkleenservices.ie>.

tileR availaBle experienced local tiler to carry out all types of tile work - marble, granite, porcelain. indoors and out. call 087-387-8995 for free quote.

gRiMley’s duBlin st. dundalk televisions, tv aerials, satellite, freeview & saorview, new installations, sales, service & repairs. free estimates 042 935 4343.

dundalk gaRden seRviCes tree topping, felling, hedge trimming, grass cutting & strimming. rubbish removals/Garage clearance, House & Garden refuse. permit holder. contact Ben 085-840-7707.

FoRtune telleR—Available for appointment, private or group bookings. tel. Alison 042 933 5102 or 087-67-51229.

Building s e R vi C es extensions, renovations, sunrooms, conservatories and All General maintenance. p v c fascia, soffit and Guttering products supplied and fitted. Bathroom refurbishment, painting, Decorating, Wall & floor tiling. All types of roof repairs & maintenance. for free estimates tel 087 260 2501.

RooF leaks MasteR—We repair all types of roof/tile, slate, bangor blues. repair torch on roofs, scrape & clean, chimneys & chimney pots, chimney bird guards, gutter facia & soffits. All work guaranteed, 25 years experience. tel. 086 8184827.

Ca RP ent R y & Joine R y maintenance and repairs, roofing, 1st & 2nd fix carpentry, sash window repairs. no job too big or small. contact seandon carpentry 087 298 5110.

MoBile HoMe tRansPoRt transported throughout 32 counties. contact— eugene 086-607-1702.

BuildeR & HoMe MaintainenCe Building, Woodwork, painting, plumbing, tiling, Kitchen refurbishments, paving & fencing. no job to big or too small. tel. 087 295 2529.

Podiat R y/C H i R o P ody treatment in the comfort of your own home. ms. Dara mccoy, Bsc. podiatry, coru registered 0871924794.

Powe R was H ing of driveways/paving/ walls/patios. no job too big or small. competitive rates. call Will on 085 860 4048. dds Painting & Decorating services. Dundalk area. internal and external painting and wallpapering. free estimates within 12 hours. 10 years experience. tel David 085 7308777.

w ill’s g a R den s e R vi C es lawn cutting, edges, hedges, strimming, rubbish & recycle removal, garage/house/yard clearances. call Will on 085 860 4048.

Man wit H a van—Hedges, tree topping, painting, facia & soffit, patios, concreting, garage clear-outs, outside taps. call Kevin for a free & honest quote 089-4016728.

Painting & d e Co R ating interior & exterior, spray painting & Hand painted Kitchens, etc. All work carried out by professional trades men. call Brian 087 7558506. gR ass C utting in and around the Dundalk area. experienced and reliable. contact michael on 0871477067.

Mo B ile Ca R was H & Dry from €15, also Hi-reach Window cleaning service, Dundalk & surrounding areas tel oK services 085 1092245.

s el F - d evelo PM ent and one to one life coaching by certified life coach available in Dundalk. contact fiona 087 7188450.

Man in a van—House moves, furniture delivery/removal, yard/garage clearances, recycling & rubbish removal. call Will on 085 860 4048 for a competitive quote.

aa Flat Roo F Re Pai R s—All flat roofing repairs carried out by experienced felt roofer. call 087 2607558.

g et F it the fun way and learn to dance, the Waltz, Quickstep, foxtrot and Jive, now taking place in the lisdoo, Dundalk tuesday’s from 8pm - 10pm, no partner required. first wedding dance lessons and private lessons also available. contact 086 357 3271 for further information.

dRuM lessons inCluding BodHRan for adults & children aged 8 years upwards. one to one lessons. phone 087 414 4228. s ewing C lasses on-going at northlink retail park, mondays, Wednesdays and fridays, to book please call or WhatsApp elizabeth on 0872649221.

Pe R son to wo R k on 20ft boat for 3/4/5 days a week depending on the weather. must be able to work on own initiative and as part of a team. no time wasters. email 53somethingnew@gmail.com.

loutH County CounCil i, patrick clarke, intend to apply for full planning permission for extensions and alterations to existing dwelling house @ 9 mill street, Dundalk, co. louth. full permission to include internal and elevation alterations to existing dwelling, two storey rear extension and all associated site development works. this planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of louth county council during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing within a period of 5 weeks from the date of receipt by the Authority of the application and on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00.

nOVena nOVena

Scott holland

Cup in Limerick.

P lanning noti C es

Creative Spark awarded tender for St Brigid project

LOuTH County Coun-

cil has announced its successful tender for the Brigid1500 Artist In The Community Project.

next year, 2024, will mark the 1500th anniversary of St Brigids death and as part of the Brigid1500 programme for Louth a tender competition was held back in February for an artist group/collective to facilitate a county wide project that would engage the community in the heritage and legacy of St. Brigid through art and creativity.

Following assessment, the tender for the project has been awarded to Creative Spark. Speaking today about the contract award Colette Moss, who is overseeing the Brigid1500 programme in Louth County Council, has said “a key part of our Brigid1500 programme is to engage communities throughout the county to come together and celebrate the life and legacy of St Brigid. This project is a great opportunity for our

communities to do this and we look forward to seeing the finished results at the Brigid1500 commemorations in 2024”

The project, beginning in June, will see four artists work with a number of community groups and schools between now and the end of 2023. The artists taking part will be Susan Farrelly and una Curley who are both textile and mixed media artists. Also joining the project is Claire McAteer, who is a textile and print artist, and Etaoin O’Reilly,

a ceramicist. The artists will conduct a variety of workshops through which they will develop a series of art works centered on the theme of St. Brigid. It is anticipated that about 15 pieces of art ranging in various sizes, will be produced and which will then be on display at a unique exhibition next February as part of the Brigid1500 commemorations.

Sarah Daly, Executive Director of Creative Spark, explasined: “The Creative Spark team is delighted to be part of the Brigid 1500 celebrations.

It will be exciting to see the artworks develop throughout the year. The opportunity to work with a wide range of community groups and schools will be a rewarding and enriching experience for our artists and participants. We are looking for a range of groups to take part in the programme and anyone wishing to be involved can send an email to grainne@creativespark. ie and we will be in touch.”

For more information email: brigid1500@ louthcoco.ie.