16-05-2012

18,000 COPIES WEEKLY Green award for Bush students

Human cost of hospital crisis

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Dundalk’s young social innovators Page 8

Sean flies from USA for steam train trip Wednesday, 16th May, 2012. Vol. 5, Issue 20 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com

Carnival atmosphere for annual road races

By Paul Byrne

They travelled far and wide to see the old steam engine roll into Dundalk last Thursday morning. But none travelled quite so far as Sean McGuinness who came all the way from North Carolina to see the 143-year-old steam train rumble into Clarke station.

The 75-year old was born and reared in Dundalk living in Fairgreen until the age of 21. Like countless others in the 1950s and 60s Sean left Ireland and headed west to America.

“I left Dundalk in 1958 and ended up in New York before eventually settling down in North Carolina. As a child living in Dundalk, I used to love the sound of the old steam engines coming into the station and I became very interested in them.

“I remember going to

Sean McGuinness gets ready for his dream trip on steam train

Tempests which was a toy store in Dundalk and buying a model steam train when I was a kid.

“We would travel up to the football matches in Dublin on the train and I can remember clearly getting the train up to

Dublin in 1957 when Louth won the All Ireland. I believe the train was a 171 engine called the’ Slieve Gullion”, Sean recalled.

“So the steam train has always been close to my heart, I suppose. My sister who

lives in Dundalk rang me at home in North Carolina last week and told me that there was a steam train travelling from Belfast to Dublin and stopping in Dundalk for a few minutes.

Continued on Page 10

They came, they saw, they conquered. Walkers, runners and joggers took on the roads of Dundalk on Wednesday evening as they took part and completed the third annual 10k and half marathon.

Over 1000 hardy souls registered for the event with thankfully each and every one of them managing to complete the course.

Dunleer’s Martin Quinn recaptured his 10K and Gary O’Hanlon won the Half Marathon, while Donna Evans and Aoife Parella scooped the Womens titles.

See Pages, 8, 10, 14 & 21

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Future of RTE studio is unclear Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

By Niamh Kirk

Katherine and Ciara McGinnity at the Dundalk 10k

Concern is growing over the future of RTE’s studio in the Ramparts Dundalk. The public service broadcaster is facing a cost reduction of up to €25 million according to director General Noel Curran. However Com-

munications Minister Pat Rabitte said during a parliamentary debate that the figure could be closer to €50 million once redundancy payments were accounted for.

In a message last week the Mr Curran laid out some of the proposed cost cutting measures the

station is implementing which included savings in their regional operating costs. Speculation became rife that Dundalk’s office would be subject to cuts or closure but the station stated that no decision has yet been made.

The offices that will face cuts or worse will

be finalised over the next quarter and the will be communicated to the staff in the relevant offices.

They say they “will not be reducing the hours of output and service delivery in regional programming.

It will however seek to bring about reductions in fixed costs such as leases,

rents and to reduce duplication of effort ad cost across regional activities and operations.”

RTE’s Dundalk studio is situated in the same building as the Vodafone call centre on the Ramparts which, if plans to migrate the jobs to Newry go ahead, would leave a

Hospital crisis hits home for local man

By Niamh Kirk

There has been increasing criticism of the HSE management of the trolley situation in the Lady of Lourdes hospital Drogheda.

At the start of the week the hospital was the third worst in the country for people waiting on trolleys with 35 people waiting to be admitted to a ward.

Gerry Adams expressed serious concerns for the failure of the HSE and Special Delivery Unit to tackle the problem and reduce the numbers.

Despite the development of full capacity protocols and provisions that were supposed to help matters, the situation in the Drogheda hospital has failed to improve sufficiently.

Last week there were as many as 46 people waiting on a trolley for a bed in the hospital.

One local man, Luke Martin, was forced to wait for four days on a trolley in the hospital’s corridors.

As advised, he attended the Louth County Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit first but was told that he could not be treated there and would have to travel to Drogheda.

“The hospital is just not built for the capacity of people it is taking in, this needs to be addressed. The amount of people they were squeezing in, there were trolleys everywhere.

“If you treated an animal like that you’d be taken to court and prosecuted,” he noted after recounting some of his experiences over the four days in the hospitals corridors.

During the four day ordeal Mr Martin was on a hospital trolley in the corridor near the hospital’s A&E area.

Such was the demand on the hospitals resources that Mr Martin was without a pillow for three of the four days he was there and managed to get one after another patient was discharged.

He also noted that there was a noticeable lack of warm blankets available to patients.

“There were no showers in the area, the only one I could see was in a toilet and it had an ‘out of order’ sign on it. I managed to get a wash and shave over a sink. “ The amount of people using the facilities in the unit made for an unpleasant situation when it came to using the bathroom facilities.

“It is ok for Minister James Reilly, he can afford the best of health care, but when I fall sick it’s a different story. The staff there are brilliant, all the pressure they are under, and they just don’t have the resources.

“The corridors were packed with people; the staff were trying their best. ” Recently the Sinn Fein TD for Co Louth, Gerry Adams, commented. “It is clear that not enough is being done by the HSE to address the ongoing crisis

Luke Martin

of facilities in Our Lady of Lourdes.

“I have submitted PQs to the Minister on this important matter and have asked the Minister

members of the Faughart community who took part in the recent Spring Clean of the area.

There was a

large turn

out of parents, school pupils and community members who helped clean up, Faughart, Whitemill, Monascreibe,

Plaster,

Mountpleasant, Feede and Old Newry Rd.

Failed to provide breath sample of 3, Mullaharlin Park was very drunk.

She was summonsed in respect of driving licence and insurance which were in order.

Judge Coughlan banned her from driving for four years. He also fined her €75.

News

in Brief

MAN FOUND WITH DRUGS Patrick McDonagh (23) of 26, Cooley Park who faces two charges relating to having €1,000 worth of cannabis, had his case put back to September 19 at the local court.

He is charged with possession of the drugs, and having them for sale or supply at Rock Road, Blackrock on July 12 last.

Inspector Martin Beggy said the case is to proceed in the district court.

SHOUTED ABUSE AT GARDA

Pictured are some of the

A motorist who was arrested for suspected drink driving, failed to provide a breath sample when taken to Dundalk Garda Station.

Garda Inspector Martin Beggy said that Collette McCabe, a part-time care worker

largely vacant building.

Among other measures being considered in the effort to reduce costs and to change work practices to gain some financial stability are cuts of up to 25% in Sports budget, a 30% cut to top presenter fees and RTE’s London office is to close.

Inspector Beggy said that the defendant was driving a car on October 3 last at 2am.

She was arrested and conveyed to the Garda Station where she was duly processed and taken to the intoxilyser room.

to instruct the Special Delivery Unit to take Our Lady of Lourdes as a priority and to redouble their efforts to tackle this continuing problem.”

A 63-year-old man who shouted abuse at a Garda was prosecuted and fined €90 for being intoxicated on the occasion.

Dundalk Court heard that Garda Brian Morrissey was dealing with a road traffic incident at Main Street, Castlebellingham on January 25.

Thomas Reenan from, 7, Gort Nua, Station Road in the village was walking on the opposite side of the road and shouted at him.

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

News

in Brief SEPARATED PARENTS

Local protestors give Minister a hot reception Protestors gather to meet Minister Phil Hogan

Local anti-household charge protesters turned up the heat on Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government as he attended the Chief Fire Officers annual conference.

The Minister was given a hot reception by the

protestors who assembled outside the entrance to Ballymascanlon Hotel on Wednesday morning as they held aloft placards in opposition to the controversial tax.

Although the Minister didn’t stop to engage with the group, one of the organisers, Eddie Conroy, expressed his satisfaction with the way the protest

is going.

“We were happy for the Minister to see us and to let him know that we are not going away. We are working hard to promote the campaign and we believe that people should continue to oppose what we see as an unjust charge.

“Only 34 per cent in Louth have paid and we

are encouraging people to stay with the 66 per cent as we look to ensure that a fairer system is introduced”, added Eddie.

The Public Campaign Against Household Charges group meet every Wednesday night between 7pm and 8pm in Oriel Park, Dundalk.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

A 23 year-old Dundalk man who admitted an attempted robbery at a local garage had his case further adjourned to September 19.

Dundalk District Court heard that Thomas

Duffy 11, Road 2, Muirhevnamor produced a broken bottle but didn’t intimidate a staff member who was serving at the Topaz Station on November 5 last.

Gardai subsequently

arrested him, and Duffy made a full admission when interviewed.

His solicitor Conor McGuill said on March 14 last that Duffy was in a rehabilitation centre where he was taking part

in a year long programme in respect of a heroin addiction.

Judge William Hamill put back his decision to last Wednesday and sought a probation report.

By Eunan Whyte

Attempted robbery at garage

The next Tuesday meeting of Parents Separated Support Group take place on May 29.

Those wishing on attending the meetings should confirm their intentions with Val on 085 7303609. Cost €5 From 7.30pm to 9pm at Social Services Building, 15a Clanbrassil St.

SHAPE UP FOR SUMMER

The Nestling Project is extending to Omeath and is organising ‘Shape Up For Summer 2012’. This keep fit in the Dolmen Centre every Thursday from 2pm to 3pm is open to all ages. Cost is €2 per session for eight weeks.

To confirm your place please contact Ann Marron at 937 0360

CHARITY EVENT

Night in The Fane Bar, Park Street will be held on Thursday May 24.

Music by ‘The Last Orders’.

Raffle on the night. This is a charity event for DP Developments. €3 entrance fee.

News

in Brief

Bereavement Support One to one bereavement support with confidentiality assured is available in the Armagh Diocesan Pastoral Centre, The Magnet, The Demesne, Dundalk, on Thursday mornings fmrom 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Enquiries to 042-9336393 (10am – 2pm).

Waterski beginners day

Impressive treble for Rebecca

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

A local kickboxer has a lot to celebrate with three successive wins over three weekends as Rebecca Gorman who fights for North East Mugendo took gold in all three bouts.

In the first, the Ulster Regional Championship, Rebecca took gold in both the light contact and hard style weapons fights.

One week later in the Mugendo Senior Championship, she took another gold and then again one week after that, she took gold again in the hard weapons fight at the Irish National Championships.

Rebecca is considered one of the best in the country with a bow staff and her gold now places her on the Ireland Team for Weapons and Light contact and makes her Irish National Champion.

In the hard weapons she lost out on gold over two fights to take the silver in the final. This is unlikely to be the last Rebecca sees of gold as she is still only 15 years old.

Waterski beginners day Saturday May 19 will see , Lough Muckno Waterski + Wakeboard Club plays Host to ‘Young Beginners Fun Day on the Water’ open day featuring an introduction to waterskiing and wakeboarding at Lough Muckno, Castleblaynet. This event is open to all children up to 18 years of age at a special rate of €10.The event starts at noon.

Louth Local Sports Partnership

Sports grants available

Castletown ICA

Castletown ICA meet every Wednesday night in O’Hanlon Park hall at 8pm. New members are welcome. Contact 087 1303355.

currently has two grant schemes available for 2012: A Sports Club Grant Scheme for Increasing and Sustaining Participation in Physical Activity and a Grant Scheme for increasing participation opportunities in Sport and Physical Activity by PwD (People with a Disability)

Applications are welcome from Sports and Physical Activity Clubs based in the Louth area.

Clubs must be affiliated to their National Governing Body of Sport where such an NGB exists and be run on a not for profit basis.

Clubs should have a youth structure in place or plans to put a youth structure in place and joint

applications from sports clubs will be favourably considered.

Applications is 4pm on Friday 15 June 2012.

Application forms and scheme criteria are available to download from www.louthlsp.ie or by contacting 042-9324318 or e-mail louthlsp@louthcoco.ie

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Launch of inaugural D’Arcy Man struck Garda McGee summer school after demanding a lift

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Loyola Hearn, Ambassador of Canada to Ireland was in Carlingford on May 8th to launch the inaugural Thomas D’Arcy McGee International Summer School in August.

The International Summer School will take place from August 20 to 22 with the theme ‘Thomas D’Arcy McGee – From Young Irelander to Canadian Loyalist’.

The International Summer School is being organised by Carlingford Lough Heritage Trust and Dundalk Institute of Technology.

The stories of D’Arcy McGee and the Young Irelanders will be presented in words, images and music, and the relevance of these stories to modern Irish politics will be discussed.

Those attending the summer school will have the opportunity to explore the local landscape, especially those sites associated with

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

A 22-year-old local unemployed man who hit a Garda in a struggle that ensued when he went to the local Garda Station demanding a lift home, was fined a total of €1,200 at Dundalk Court.

Seamus Lambe of 50 Cluan Enda had these and public order counts in respect of a different date and also separate driving offences put back to be assessed for community

Local students at the launch of the Darcy McGee Summer School in his hometown of Carlingford

the Young Irelanders.

D’Arcy McGee is not only an important local historical figure but also a very significant national figure in Canada. He was born in Carlingford on April 13 1825 and at seventeen he emigrated to the United States.

He returned to Ireland as a successful nationalist journalist and enthusiasti-

cally supported the 1848 Young Ireland rebellion.

He escaped to Philadelphia as ‘a traitor to the British Government’. Over the following years McGee moved to Canada and to the right of the political spectrum. He became one of the founding fathers of the Canadian Confederation, but was assassinated on April 7, 1868.

The Ambassador explained that Darcy McGee created his place in history. This contribution is fittingly recognised in the establishment of the D’Arcy McGee Summer School in the hometown of his birth”.

Guest speaker will be Dr David Wilson, Professor of Celtic Studies and History, University of Toronto.

service when the facts were heard at Dundalk Court on March 28 last.

The Court heard the Garda had to use his baton to restrain the defendant.

Garda Inspector Martin Beggy said on Wednesday a new charge for the assault was before the court as it hadn’t been preferred due to an oversight.

The case was in for decision, the defendant having pleaded guilty.

The Inspector explained that the assault was in the nature of a ruffle at the Garda Station. The Garda wasn’t injured. The defendant swung around and there was contact with the Garda.

At the request of solicitor Roger McGinley, the driving matters were adjourned back to this Wednesday for Judge William Hamill who heard the facts.

Mr McGinley told on

the previous date all the offences were committed

by Lambe when he was intoxicated. He was off drink for some months and doing his best to get his act together.

Mr McGinley said what happened at the Garda Station was a friend he was drinking with earlier had been arrested. Lambe unwisely went to the station in the quest of his friend.

Hospital tops for absentee rate

By Paul Byrne

Louth County hospital has once again hit the headlines for the wrong reasons with a new ‘Healthstat’ report indicating that they have the worst absenteeism rate in the country.

The HSE internal reporting system has found that on average one in five of the staff in Louth County

called in sick on any given day during February.

The survey found at the same hospital that 10 per cent of the 70 nurses were off sick on any day in the same month, with the overall absenteeism rates running at under 8 per cent.

These figures were way above the HSE’s recommended absenteeism targets which are set at 3.5%.

In the Healthstat’s red, amber and green marking system, the hospital scored a red under absenteeism.

A total of 32 hospitals were evaluated for the survey with Cavan hospital and Portlaoise hospital completing the bottom three.

The report comes just weeks after comments from Dr Ruairi Hanley who urged Minister of Health James O’Reilly to tackle the problem.

Call for young people to take part in once-off Futsal blitz tournament Once–off Futsal ‘blitz’ tournaments currently being organised are aimed at young people (male & female) aged between 10 and

16 years.

The project is to be hosted in Oriel Park and will incorporate three evenings starting with 10 to 12 year

olds on Monday May 21, followed by 13 to 14 year olds on Monday May 28 and finishing with 15 to 16 year olds on Wednesday

May 30.

All blitz events will run from 7pm to 9pm. The organisers are appealing to all community and youth

groups to enter a team, supported by an adult manager.

Those interested in further information or get-

ting a registration form can contact Ian Walker, at Co. Louth VEC at 042 9364632.

Entry to the event is free

and any teams wishing to participate should complete a registration form and return it by 5pm, Wednesday May 16.

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Eco award for Bush students Second year students from bush post primary school entered by their teacher Yvonne Wynne for the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award 2012 with the challenge being to build the school crest out of recycled goods.

The crest is displayed on the

front lawn of the school and is made with recycled tyres, recyled safety glass, wood sand and shrubs surrounding the edges of the box.

For the competition the students were interviewed by a panel of eco-dragons and were asked different questions relating to the

environment.

The class got through to the final after being shortlisted from 200 other competitors and they won overall Eco-Art and Design Category.

The class are grateful to sponsors who supported their efforts.

Cian Connolly, Conor C Duffy, Conor Lynch, Kevin Murphy, Emma Woods, Caroline Lawlor (SNA), Yvonne Wynne (Teacher). Missing is Amy Barry

Bealtaine events in Dundalk library May belongs to the Bealtaine Festival, which celebrates creativity as we age. Over 120,000 people across the country now take part in Bealtaine.

This year’s Bealtaine Festival theme is ‘What kind of old do you want to be?’ It recognises that older people are not one homogeneous group; we are individuals with widely

differing talents, interests and needs.

The following events are still to come in Dundalk Library Among the events coming to Dundalk Libriary is a Radio Documentary Workshop with Dundalk FM on Wednesday May 16 at 11am. This workshop will illustrate how to capture stories of the

old days. Listen to radio documentary-makers talk about their experiences of making radio programmes about Dundalk. There are free sample documentaries for everyone who attends.

On Thursday May 24 at 2.30pm the Bealtaine Table Quiz will be held in conjunction with Dundalk Europe Direct Centre.

One of the most popular

events in the library calendar. Admission is free, tables of four, bring a friend.

All welcome, spot prizes and refreshments.

Contact Louth County Library for further details, Roden Place, Dundalk, Co. Louth Te l : 0 4 2 - 9 3 2 4 3 2 1 ; Email: libraryhelpdesk@ louthcoco.ie; www.louthcoco.ie.

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

News

in Brief

LOUTH BEEKEEPERS LECTURE

Louth beekeepers On Thursday May 24 there will be a lecture on Beekeeping by Eoghan Mac Giolla Coda. The subject is - “European Foul Brood (EFB) and American Foul Brood (AFB)”.

The event will take place in the Teagasc Centre, Dublin Road, Dundalk, Young Social Innovators from O Fiaich College at the awards in Dublin Co. Louth from 8pm to 10pm.

Admission is free and bring a friend.

O Fiaich students at awards ceremony

RUN FOR CHARITY

A charity 10k run/walk is being held in Carlingford on May 26 in memory of the late David Mc Shane.

Proceeds are going to P.I.PS (Public Intervention of Suicide and Self-harm) and SOSAD (Save Our Sons And Daughter).

This event is open to all, registration can be completed on www. runireland.com (Adults €15 Child €5) or on the day between 1pm and 2:30pm (Adults €20 Children €5). Run will start at 3pm.

O Fiaich College Dundalk also took part in the annual Showcase of Young Social Innovators with their project “2 Kool 4 Skool” which was designed to help students develop good study habits.

The local students were among 5,000 young people who presented creative solutions to the problems currently affecting communities throughout Ireland.

Throughout the month of

March, Young Social Innovators (YSI) hosted regional ‘Speak Out’ events, where the O Fiaich students won their way through to the overall finals.

Although the Dundalk school didn’t pick up any of the national awards, they did their school very proud at the awards ceremony on May 9 in Dublin.

Co-founder of Young Social Innovators, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy

said that all who took part in this year’s programme deserved congratulations for their efforts.

“Young people deserve our immense respect for their ability to creatively deal with the problems presented to them by modern Irish society.

On hand to present the awards were Ministers Phil Hogan, Frances Fitzgerald and Ciaran Cannon.

MS coffee morning and market fundraiser The Louth Branch of MS Ireland will host an All-Day Coffee Morning and Indoor Market to raise awareness of Multiple Scleroisis in Ireland.

The event will take place on Sat-

urday May 26 in St Peters’s Hall, Peter St, Drogheda, from 11am to 5pm Funds raised will go to providing support to people with Multiple Sclerosis in the Louth area.

To make donations for the market or for more information contact the MS North East Region office at 042 9754304 or Ronny Jackson on 087 2243868.

Festival will help pupils learn more aboutTain legend The Tain Summer Festival will be used as an opportunity to make school children in the area more aware of the epic tale.

The arrival of the Táin March into Dundalk on Saturday June 9 will herald the start of the town’s celebrations.

The March leaves Ardee on Friday June 8th making its way to Knockbridge before starting off on Saturday morning and making its way to Dundalk en route to Carlingford.

Táin March events in Dundalk includes an Iron Age Encampment, a Cuchulainn competition and a Táin drama re-enactment, followed by a FREE open air concert featuring Kila.

Everyone is encouraged to dress up in Táin period costume to join in on the march or to welcome it to town.

A brochure aimed at explaining the epic that is The Táin, aimed at children has been circulated amongst local primary schools, according to Tim Mullins, Chairman of the Tain Walk Committee.

“We want to give everyone the opportunity to take part in the Táin March be it for a few metres or a few miles.

“The additional activities in Dundalk will add so much to the atmosphere of the March and we are all really looking forward to arriving into the Market

Square”, he said.

Momentum is building up steadily for the festival, which offers something for everyone, be it the Táin March, Jedward live at the Market Square, entertainment by local musicians or Euro 2012 matches live on the big screen at the Market Square.

Tickets for Jedward are selling fast since they went on general release on Friday last with queues forming outside Dundalk Town Hall. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, Dundalk, Carrolls Bookshop, Park Street and Dundalk Town Hall.

Ireland’s Euro 2012 matches will be broadcast live and for safety reasons admission to the screening area will be on a ticket basis. Free tickets for these matches will be issued in the weeks running up to matches.

Dundalk Town Centre Commercial Manager, Andrew Mawhinney, said he has been impressed by the way the programme has come together.

“We are delighted to be offering so many free events during the Táin Summer Festival, such as the Táin March.

We hope that the Euro 2012 matches live and FREE on the big screen will create new memories such as those many of us still have from Italia ’90”, he said.

Pictures from Dundalk 10k Races

r McArdle and Joey Dickie Newell, Michael Hoey, Pete

Cooney Ciaran Hartigan, John McKevitt and Audrey McArdle

Dessie Duffy, Ciaran Cosgrave and Damien McConnell

ot Winters, Eamonn Murphy, Moya Joe Hughes, David Geary, Derm

Winters Athletes going strong in the 10k

Patrick McQuillan

Freda Cumiskey 3rd in half marathon

er of half Brian Parrella, Aoife Parella (winn Frank Carney

marathon), Theresa Carney and Donna Evans winner of 10k

Half marathon winner, Gary O’Hanlon, with his dad, Stephen

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Conference hears of a reduction in fire-related fatalities The introduction of fire and road safety awareness initiatives across Ireland in recent years has contributed to a dramatic reduction in the number of recorded fire-related deaths and emergency call-outs during the last five years, according to Eamonn Woulfe, Chief Fire Officer at Louth

County Council.

Figures released by the Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) at its annual conference in Dundalk, Co Louth last week showed that on average the number of firerelated call outs dropped by 14% while the number of road traffic accidents attended by Fire Services

Children go back in time with steam train visit

throughout Ireland decreased by 24% between 2007 and 2011.

The CFOA also reported today that the number of fire fatalities recorded nationally during the first four months of 2012 is significantly lower than the corresponding period during the previous five years. 7 fire-related deaths

have been recorded so far this year compared to 17 during the same period in 2011 (38 in total), 18 in 2010 (38 in total), 14 in 2009 (42 in total), 20 in 2008 (35 in total), and 24 in 2007 (41 in total).

The CFOA said that a considerable amount of work is being carried by Fire and Rescue Service

units in Ireland’s 34 local authority areas to further enhance fire and road safety awareness, and that the effectiveness of the schemes were reflected in the relevant figures for the five-year period.

The CFOA added, however, that its survey of over 20 County and Fire Rescue Service units

By Paul Byrne

Dundalk’s future had a glimpse into Dundalk’s past last Thursday afternoon as children from Bay Estate’s primary school eagerly awaited the arrival of a 133 year old steam train which stopped in Dundalk on its journey from Belfast to Dublin.

The 5th class students were given a history of the steam train by a Dundalk railway official before watching on in excitement as the plumes of smoke signalled the arrival of the grand old train.

Bay Estate school principal Martina Rafferty said the children had enjoyed the afternoon at Dundalk’s Clarke station.

“The children have had a great time here today

Pupils from Scoil Mhuire na nGael at Clarke Station

and as well as being enjoyable it has been very educational as it is part of a cross border project we’re involved in with a school from Lisburn which is being organised by the Dundalk Railway Heritage Society.” she explained.

The 1879 steam train arrived at the station at 12.45 with members of the Dundalk Railway Heritage Society stepping on board for their

excursion to Dublin.

Amongst those travelling were Hugh Rafferty from Cooley who was a fireman on the last ever train which travelled the old Greenore to Dundalk line in 1951.

Speaking after the train arrived in Dublin, Brendan McQuaid of the Dundalk Railway Heritage Society said the journey had been very atmospheric and a lovely day out.

indicated that the number of malicious false alarm call-outs remained “unacceptably high”, accounting for 3% of the estimated 50,000 call

outs around the country during 2011.

In County Louth, general call outs have fallen since 2007 with figures falling from 1950 to 1535. Chief

Fire Officer in Co. Louth Eamonn Woulfe puts this reduction down to greater awareness in schools and increased fire awareness programmes.

Threat to cut hospital’s MIU hours

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By Niamh Kirk

In a bid to save more money the Management of the Louth County Hospital have submitted proposals to the HSE that includes a cut the hours of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).

If enacted the plan would see the open times of the MIU cut by approximately 38 hours per week.

Instead of a seven day a week service it would be reduced to a five day service and opening only from 9 to 5 or 6pm. It is currently open until 8pm seven days a week.

The Louth Action Hospital Group met with the managers of the Louth Meath Hospitals. During the meeting the group was advised of the proposal to cut the MIU hours. If given approval by the HSE body corporate it is expected that there would

be a six week lead in period before the final cut.

The Louth Meath Hospital have a €24 million funding shortfall that must be addressed by the end of the year however the campaign group say they were told that it is not possible to come under budget without impacting on services. However the group estimate that the cut to the MIU will save only €268k.

The Louth County Hospital’s MIU recently received good reviews by the HIQA for having an efficient 45min turnaround time Louth Action Group Chairman Tomas Sharkey commented, “In a nutshell, the cuts to services that are being proposed have nothing to do with clinical practice, patient safety or Teamwork’s programmes as we were

told about so many cuts in recent years. This new cut is to do with saving money. We believe that now money will be saved because the Lourdes will be under too much pressure, families will call on ambulances as they will have no local service and the risks of too many patients in the Lourdes are huge.”

“We are mindful that many staff in Louth County Hospital have not been consulted on this matter and will be hearing of the plans in the media.

Their morale is being hit by more cuts. We want to spend the next few weeks constructing a case against the cuts. I believe that the risks to patients and to the overall hospital services in Dundalk and Drogheda have not been properly assessed.”

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Funds for Louth pools

Sean flies in from USA for special train trip From page 1 “I went on the internet straight away and looked up flights and my finger was hovering over the “Purchase” button for a couple of minutes before I said to myself ‘Feck it, why not?’ laughs Sean.

“I have to say it’s been great to see the old steam engine coming into the station here today and it’s brought back a lot of very fond memories for me.”

The steam train at Clarke Station

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has made more than €200k available for swimming pools in the County.

Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick said “As part of the third round of grant applications under the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport’s Disabled Access and Energy Upgrade Schemes, Dundalk Town Council is in line to receive an allocation of €207,900 for local swimming pools.”

“Ensuring that our swimming pools are in full working order, that they are fully accessible to those with disabilities and that they are being run as energy efficiently as possible is essential. Public pools are a vital resource in the community and offer people of all ages the chance to get fit, keep fit and to have fun.”

The local authorities missed out on the second round of funding after missing the deadline.

Pictures from Dundalk 10k Races

e Crosby and Stephen Masters Stephen Lynch, Anne Reilly, Duan Tommy Carroll, Alan O’Connell and Gerry Stewart Gerry Lennon, Leigh Murtagh and Liam Carroll

Eunan Whyte and Declan Roe Athletes going strong in the 10k

Christian Farrelly

Martin Quinn winner of the 10k

uinness and Carmel McElroy Rosarie O’Donoghue, Pauline McG

Lorna McAleer and Catriona McCarthy

Niamh Madden and Sinead Watters

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

News

Back To The Eighties „Simul Polonia” z łaciny oznacza „Razem Polska”. Określenie to bardzo trafnie oddaje istotę organizacji. My, członkowie Zespołu Pieśni i Tańca „Młody Toruń”, mieliśmy okazję przekonać się o tym osobiście.

Po przyjeździe do Dundalk zostaliśmy odebrani przez naszych „rodziców” i rozwiezieni do domów, gdzie na każdego z nas czekał smaczny posiłek. W każdej rodzinie panowała ciepła, przyjazna atmosfera, dzięki czemu czuliśmy się bardzo swobodnie. Traktowano nas z wielką troską. Dbano, by żadnemu z nas niczego nie brakowało. Mieliśmy zapewnioną doskonałą opiekę , dzięki czemu czuliśmy się wyjątkowo i bezpiecznie.

To niebywałe, ale już po paru dniach, odnosiliśmy wrażenie, że znamy się od dawna. Członkowie „Simul Polonia” starannie przygotowali cały program pobytu, w którym ważnymi punktami były koncerty i występy – szczególnie udział w paradzie w dniu Św. Patryka, na której grupa wygrała nagrodę w kategorii międzynarodowej.

Wszyscy bardzo się z tego wyróżnienia cieszyliśmy. W pamięci naszej zapisał się także wieczór integracyjny w Ośrodku Kultury Oriel w Dundalku, mieszczącym się w dawnym areszcie. Z grupą muzykującej i tańczącej irlandzkiej młodzieży graliśmy polskie i irlandzkie melodie i piosenki i uczyliśmy się nawzajem naszych tańców ludowych.

Dzięki naszym rodzinom, mieliśmy okazję

zasmakować zarówno kuchni polskiej, jak i typowo irlandzkiej. Jedna z koleżanek, podczas rozmowy telefonicznej ze swoją mamą stwierdziła, że jest karmiona lepiej niż we własnym domu. Prawdziwej mamie mogło zrobić się przykro, ale za to „mama irlandzka” nie mogła ukryć radości.

Członkowie „Simul Polonia” odnosili się do nas bardzo serdecznie, nasza komunikacja była bardzo sprawna, co zaowocowało znakomitą współpracą.

Czas minął niezwykle szybko i przyjemnie.

Specjalnie dla nas zorganizowano masę atrakcji i wycieczek. Członkowie organizacji mieli bardzo dobrze przyswojoną wiedzę na temat miejsc, do których nas zabierali, dzięki czemu mogliśmy dowiedzieć się wielu interesujących rzeczy. W bardzo przystępny sposób zostały nam przedstawione informacje dotyczące kultury, polityki i historii Irlandii, co umożliwiło nam bliższe poznanie regionu.

Pobyt w Irlandii wspominamy z głębokim wzruszeniem. Rozstanie z naszymi rodzinami było niezmiernie trudne, z żalem opuszczaliśmy Dundalk. Choć nie był to długi okres, zdążyliśmy się zaprzyjaźnić i na pewno pozostaniemy w stałym kontakcie z naszymi rodzinami. W naszych sercach pozostaną niezapomniane wrażenia.

Jesteśmy wdzięczni „Simul Polonia” za gościnność, życzliwość i otwartość.

in Brief

St.Vincent’s Transition year students are busy preparing for their upcoming musical ‘Back To The 80s’ which will be held in the school Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20.

Produced and performed entirely by TY students the romantic comedy features such classic hits as Walking On Sunshine and Material Girl and is guaranteed to have it’s audience dancing in the aisles. Tickets to this unmissable show are available from the school office. Pictured are Annie McBride and Kathryn O’Hara.

BRAINWAVE MEETING

Caused hysteria with needles A 22-year-old man caused hysteria when he showed needles to young teenagers at a local sports ground.

Shane McDonald of 57, Market Street was “in the clutches of a severe addiction” his solicitor told

Dundalk Court.

He was summonsed with being drunk and threatening and abusive behaviour at Hoey’s Lane on April 19. He was convicted and fined a total of €590.

The court heard that he was at the sports ground

at Muirhevnamor at 7.45 on the date. He was approached by staff and asked what he was doing.

He said he was looking for a bicycle. He was requested to leave. He showed he had needles on him which he showed to

13 and 14-year-olds and this caused some hysteria in the area. The defendant was stated to have 15 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters and drug and public order offences.

Brainwave The Irish Epilepsy Association as part of National Epilepsy Week are holding a meeting for Mothers with Epilepsy on May 17 in the Dundalk office Unit 1 Partnership Court, Park Street at 6.30pm. Sinead Murphy Community Epilepsy Specialist Nurse will facilitate the meeting.

Topics will include health and safety and how you communicate epilepsy issues with your children.

Contact Noreen O’Donnell on 0429337585.

CAR BOOT SALE

Irish Foundation Car Boot sale on Sunday May 20, in St Pat’s GFC Lordship.

From 10.30am to 3pm all welcome. Great bargains in nursey goods, plants, tools. Call 087- 647 9715 or 087-2559405.

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Pete Treanor’s Local photographer in line for top award News

Weekly Quiz

Literature In the play by Shakespeare, Hamlet is Prince of what country?

Business Which street is centre of London’s tailoring trade?

History In what country was Russian revolutionary, Leon Trotsky, murdered?

Pop and Rock Jarvis Cocker is the on/ off lead singer with what Sheffield group?

Nature Bartletts and Conference are types of what fruit?

Motors In what city was the Alfa Romeo car company formed?

Movies Kevin and the Six Dwarves appear in what Terry Gillam fantasy film?

Folk Music In what Irish American folk song is the title character sent to Charlestown Jail?

Local Who wrote ‘A History of Dundalk FC: The First Hundred Years”?

Fictional Heroes Whose family motto is “The world is not enough”?

Stinker In the original Star Trek television series, what is Captain James Kirk’s middle name?

—this week’s answers—

in Brief

Dundalk photographer, Tommy McArdle, has been shortlisted for the final of the HTC One Hot Press Photojournalism competition. To win the competition Tommy will attend and shoot Royseven at a secret gig somewhere in Dublin city.

Such was the quality of the submissions twelve finalists were selected instead of the original ten all of whom won a HTC One smartphone but all have their eyes on the top prize.

The competition had no age limit, allowing young photographer pitch themselves against the more established and experienced what the Hot Press teams learned from this was that the future of photo journalism is in good hands.

“For everyone who was involved in the judging process, this is one of the toughest competitions we’ve ever run, The standard of the entries was extraordinarily high and there was also a great diversity, in terms of style and subject matter. There was a lot of agonising and much debate before the final list was agreed – and so it is important to say that there are really good photographers who have not been shortlisted. But that is in the nature of these things”, said Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press.

One of Tommy McArdle’s entries

OPERA IN DROMISKIN

Come and hear all your favourite hits from the musicals and the world of opera in what promises to be a terrific night in St Josephs GFC clubrooms at 8.30pm on Saturday May 26.

CEO highlights need for new school

The CEO of Co Louth VEC, Dr Pádraig Kirk, has called on the Department of Education and Skills to speed up the process of providing Co. Louth with its two new post-primary schools.

He said that the population trends revealed in the figures of Census 2011 was a clear indicator of a need for greater capacity of educational provision for the county. The census revealed that the population of Louth had risen by 10.5% from 111,267 in 2006 to 122,897 in 2011.

“We don’t want a crisis of school places in Co. Louth like

what happened in Balbriggan in Co. Dublin not so long ago; the sure way of avoiding this situation is to act now”, said Mr Kirk.

The Department of Education and Skills announced in July 2011 that it was planning to open two new 1,000 place post-primary schools in Co Louth by 2014, one each in Dundalk and Drogheda.

The Department invited applications from potential patrons for these schools and Co. Louth VEC submitted applications in the case of both schools in February.

The Census 2011 figures highlight that the number of 5 to 9 year

olds residing in County Louth has increased by 1,166 to 9,507 since the 2006 Census. Similarly, there has been an increase of 1,347 of 10–14 year olds residing in the county, up to 8,744 since 2006 The CEO said that all VEC schools across the county have experienced an increase in their enrolments over the past number of years, and all have had to acquire additional accommodation to meet this growing demand.

“There is an optimum operating size for any school and what we don’t want is for our existing schools to expand beyond that

optimal level. The new 1,000 place schools, if delivered in a timely manner, will help prevent that from happening”.

A site for the new Drogheda school has already been identified, while the location of the Dundalk school remains an unknown at present.

Dr. Kirk stated, “I expect that the location for the Dundalk school will be made public shortly, it may well coincide with the announcement regarding the awarding of patronage which I would expect in a matter of weeks”.

The show will be performed by Tenor Eugene Ginty and Soprano SallyAnn Shepherdson who will fly in from London and will feature scenes from Phantom of the Opera, in costume, as well as hits from My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music and much much more. Show starts at 8.30pm sharp.

Tickets are limited as it will be a fully seated show.

All prceeds go to Temple Street Childrens University Hospital For tickets please call 086-3401151.

CAR BOOT SALE

The Marist Parents Council are holding a Car Boot Sale in the school car park on Sunday May 27 from 1pm to 5pm. Contact 0871312358.

1. Denmark 2. Saville Row 3. Mexico, 4. Pulp 5. Pears 6. Milan 7. Time Bandits 8. The Boston Strangler 9. Jim Murphy 10. James Bond. Stinker – Tiberius.

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Great atmosphere for Dundalk 10k and Half Marathon

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Thomas McBride, Patrick O’Reilly and Michael Delaney waiting for the race to start

They came, they saw, they conquered. Walkers, runners and joggers took on the roads of Dundalk last Wednesday evening as they took part and completed the third annual Dundalk half marathon and 10K. Over 1000 hardy souls registered for the event with thankfully each and every one of them managing to complete the course.

Dunleer’s Martin Quinn recaptured his 10K title which he won back in 2010 finishing an impressive three minutes ahead of the second place runner in a time of 31:38. The women’s event was one again by evergreen Donna Evans who won for the third year in a row with a time of 38:35.

Kilkerley speed merchant Gary O’Hanlon proved yet again that he

has no equal around these parts with a comprehensive four minute victory in the half marathon with a time of 1:09:54.

In the ladies event knockbridge native, Aoife Parella led the way having just returned to Ireland last week having spent the last few years living in Boston.

There was a buzz about the town prior to race time as entrants and spectators limbered up with some athletes taking things slightly more seriously than others.

The competitors began their race at the square before heading out the old Newry road towards the Ballymac roundabout and eventually arriving back in town where they crossed the finishing line in Earl St. Crossing the finishing line together, brothers Jim and Pat Kirk raised their arms aloft delighted to have

completed the course.

“We all really enjoyed that and we didn’t too too bad for a pair of auld fella’s laughed Jim.We‘ll definitely be back next year” Race organisers Brian Cafferty and Bryan McCrystal declared themselves delighted with the turnout and thanked everybody who had helped make the event such a great success.

“We had about 1200 here today which is slightly down on last year’s figure of 1400 but I suppose that was to be expected with so many races on recently and so many people emigrating” said Brian.

“We’ll sit down now and have a talk about what went right and what went wrong and we’ll hopefully be back again next year. Once again, thanks to everybody who took part and made it a success this year” he concluded.

There was good news for local jobseekers when Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD announced 1,000 extra places for JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme.

The initiative will give local people the chance to develop their skills through a work placement, while also gaining an increase in social welfare payments.

Commenting on the successes of the scheme to-date, the Min-

ister said that JobBridge had exceeded their expectations since it went live on July 1 last year.

“Such has been the level of demand for the scheme, I am delighted to be announcing proposals to increase the number of places available in JobBridge and to widen the eligibility criteria.”said Minister Burton “The number of available places will be increased to 6,000 with immediate effect.

The eligibility criteria will also be extended to include those in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Disability Allowance.

These changes will take effect from 28th May 2012.”

Of the 6840 internships nationally there have been 157 internships in Louth to-date with a further 47 positions currently being advertised.

By Paul Byrne

Good news for local jobseekers

Sarah Daly, Deirbhile O’Doherty, Keely O’Connor, Ciara Daly who represented Mountpleasant AC in the Girls U12 Relay in the Louth Track & Field Championship in the Bush.

The club had a total of 15 athletes competing.

Training continues in The Lumpers Field in Ravensdale on Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm.

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Over to You:

Kitty O’Donoghue

Question: The sandwich is 250 years old this week. What is your favourite sandwich?

Jason Farrell

I love a ham salad sandwich My favourite sandwich would be with no butter on brown bread. the classic ham and cheese with Homemade brown bread would be butter on white bread. my preference.

Tom Curley

Ciara Duffy

Jade Keown

Every now and again I treat myself I’m a big fan of toasties. You can’t I like to keep it simple. Just a bit of beat a ham and cheese toastie ham and a bit of cheese on brown to a bacon, sausage and mayonnaise sandwich. All on white bread. with loads of butter on white bread. bread and I’m happy.

It’s delicious.

The Spirit Store to host Duke Special Following the resounding success of the Spirit Store’s collaboration with the Crowne Plaza in bringing Mick Flannery to the Dundalk audience, the renowned music venue have announced that Duke Special will follow suit and is set to bring his tour to Dundalk this June 8.

This dynamic artist manages to straddle savage emotive forces and melodic and stylish music,making for powerful and evocative performances. He once described himself as ‘“inhabiting in his own alluring genre of beautifully bruised romanticism.”

Forest’ which includes hits like ‘FreeBest known for the work from his platinum selling album ‘Songs from the Deep wheel’ and ‘Sweet Sweet Kisses’ many

would be surprised by the breadth of his work. Duke Special’s immense creative talents have seen him involved in projects as diverse as writing the theme tune for Sesame Tree (the Northern Ireland edition of Sesame Street) to writing the music for, and appearing in, Deborah production of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children at London’s National Theatre. He has also been commissioned by Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to write original songs based on the work of photographers Stieglitz, Steichen, and Strand.

But recently he has been focused on his new album, his first commercial

album, “Oh Pioneer”. A banned Iranian children’s book about a fish, a pirate who wants to retire, a bar man who hears people’s stories whether he likes it or not, the human condition and late night conversations with friends about your dreams are just a few of the ingredients to go into “Oh Pioneer” which will be released June 18.

He takes the album on a tour with a set of intimate shows in the UK in May before returning to Ireland where he will play in the Crowne Plaza in association with the Spirit Store. His single ‘Punch a Friend’ is available for download for free from his website www.dukespecial.com

Spirit Stock The summer fun schedule is filling up fast with the Spirit Store announcing the return of Spirit Stock for this June 2.

The all day mini festival will be a similar set up as last year’s event, with 15 local DJ’s playing over three stages inside and out. This year the DJs are planning on having themed sets ranging from Elvis to EMF. Full details of the line-up and running order Veronica and Charlie Murphy after the race will be announced closer to the date.

After the overwhelming success of last year’s event, an extra bar will be set up as well as a BBQ. There will be small cover charge of €2 on entering however all proceeds from the day are going to be donated to the Louth/Meath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

Creative Spark The Creative Spark has ignited and is gaining momentum as calls for expressions of interest in from creative practitioners have begun.

Louth’s creative community hub is now seeking to establish a panel of practitioners who are interested in working to develop a programme of creative events, classes courses and interventions across all creative media – including all those who work in the design-led and expressive and digital arena.

The Creative Spark is to be the areas creative hub where community groups of adults and children as well as special interest groups will be able to practice in a vibrant and inspiring environment.

Stephen O’Connor, Declan O’Shaughnessy, Padraig Murphy and Kevin Carthy after the races on Wednesday

Got a Story?

We want to hear from you Phone: 0429320888 Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Dundalk Musical Society back with Sound of Music Dundalk Musical Society are preparing to get back in the habit, fresh from the success of their recent show “Broadway and Beyond” preparations will begin in earnest for their next production “The Sound of Music”.

Auditions will take place on Sunday May 20 in Dundalk Tennis Club, as the society goes in search of Dundalk’s answer to the Von Trapp family.

Boys aged 10-16 years and Girls aged 5-16 are invited to audition for the children’s roles at 1.30pm. The children will be taught a song from the show, along with a dance routine and asked to read a piece of dialogue from the script.

While adult auditions for those aged 16 and upwards will take place at 5.30pm Sister Act - from the socieon the same day.

Adults will be expected to have pre- ty’s recent show Broadway and Beyond pared a song from the show and to read from the script. Audition pieces are available from The Arts Office and further information can be found on the society’s facebook page or by emailing dundalkmusicalsociety@gmail.com.

The show will take place from October 16 to 21 in Dundalk Town Hall, music rehearsals run for the month of June with a break for the summer and rehearsals will resume at the end of August.

Live Metal nights in Harrisons This Friday night, May 18, will see the kick-off of a series of Metal nights live in Harrison’s of Blackrock.

There will be four live bands each night.

The first gig will be headlined by Belfast rockers The Rupture Dogs.

Local bands also confirmed for the night include Words That Burn and Blood-

letting. The fourth act of the night is a 4 piece from Ballymena, Jackalfeud.

The action kicks off at 9pm. The cover charge will be a recession busting €5

and all pints are €3.50.

This is a serious line up of unsigned acts, for anyone with an interest in Metal this must rank as gig of the month.

Mary Coughlan at Spirit Store Adding to the lengthening list of high profile musicians that are set to appear in the Spirit Store over the Summer months is Irish folk songstress Mary Coughlan.

A performer fuelled with visceral rage as well as tender regrets and a singer with her smoky, bluesy voice has never abated over her 25 year long career. There are few artisits as honest as Mary as she harnesses the essence of every song and truly makes it her

own.

Her newest album “The While Affair” is a best of compilation with a second disc containing some of her finest performances from Sydney to Galway. It is out on June 1 .

The performance on Friday June 22 is a rare opportunity to see her in an intimate environment where the raw energy of a performer is enclosed and enhanced as it filters into the darkest corners of the venue.

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Appliances

Boiler Services

Blinds

Builder

Conservatories/Windows/Sunrooms

Electrical

Couriers Gardening

Boiler Services

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Gravel

Sliding Wardrobes

TV / Satelite

Gardening

Skips

Windows

Patios & Paving

Skips

Top Soil

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Family Notices

The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan accompanied by Eamon Woulfe (left) the Chief fire officer for Co. Louth, speaking to Mike Madsen of Emergency One from Scotland at the Chief Fire Officers’ Association Annual Conference which the Minister opened in Dundalk yesterday.

In Memoriam Announcements , Anniversaries, Birthday Remembrances, Thanksgivings & Acknowledgements.

Anniversary In loving memory of our dear Dad, Gerard Hutchinson whose 3rd anniversary occurs on 15th May.

Blackrock Raft Race Blackrock Tidy Towns have announced further details of their Raft Race and Family Fun Day which takes place on Sunday June 24.

In a fun-filled afternoon of events, Harry Lee will act as MC, linking all the activities together and introducing some special guests on stage. Kate Smyth will be the commentator for the raft race itself as usual, and other guest commentators are being lined up.

The fun will kick off at 2pm with a Family Treasure Hunt on the promenade

and beach. This will be followed by the raft race at 3pm, with all teams manning identical rafts. There may be qualifying heats if the number of entries warrants it.

The Coastguard helicopter will put on its usual display, and Dundalk Concert Band will give a recital at the Sundial. There will be a children’s Fancy Dress and the ever-popular Sandcastle Competition at 4pm.

A novel “Beginners Guide to Cricket” takes place on the beach at 5pm, with a demonstration and

PREMISES TO RENT/FOR SALE ATTENTION: BER’s now required for Better Energy Home Grants. For BER certification at affordable prices contact Robert Mulholland 087 6091906.www.louthber. ie Advertise your House/ Premises for rent or sale to 60,000 readers a week from €€5 Telephone Dundalk Leader 042 9320888 Three bedroom house to rent.

Muirhevnamor area. All mod cons. Rent allowance accepted. Contact 087-2613397 To Let: 1st floor 2k Square Foot Approx. Retail/Storage Longwalk, Dundalk. 0871324624 STORAGE SPACE For your property.

Any size. Any space. Plus Office Space.

Loughrans Stores Ltd. Clermont Business Park. 042-9322041. Email sales@loughranstores.com 2 Bedroom House to rent in Cluan Enda, newly refurbished garden. All mod cons. 086-0453587 Accomodation Sharing Town Centre. Self Contained Kitchen/Living room.

Large dobule bedroom with en suite.

Close to Dundalk Shopping Centre. Must be seen. 0867904194 ARTICLES / ITEMS FOR SALE BEDS & FURNITURE DIRECT. Beds, mattresses, wardrobes, chests, lockers, pine beds etc., also furniture removals call 086 8704908 anytime.

Bed & Mattress Sale, beds from €99, mattress from €69. Massive range on show (free delivery) The Bed & Sofa Store, Northlink Retail Park, Dundalk 042 9320927 COLLON FURNITURE – Probably the most interesting shop in the North East.

Arriving regularly: container loads of quality Dutch furniture. A wonderland of household furniture including leather & fabric suites, dressing tables, kitchen tables and chairs, pictures, mirrors, bedroom furniture. Open 364 days a year- you’ll pick up a bargain at Main Street, Collon. Tel 041-98 26484. The only Dutch furniture shop in the North East.

Sell it through a classified, only €5 for one week up to 20 words, Phone Dundalk Leader 042 9320888 Beds for Sale. Totally heavy solid pine beds. Brand new, super strong, rock solid bases, lifetime guarantee. Good deep super memory foam mattresses included.

Everything brand new. Can deliver. €89.

086-820-8303

commentary by Dundalk Cricket Club. This is your chance to learn and understand all the intricacies of the game at first hand.

The evening will conclude with a gala Schools Talent Competition on stage on the beach. This is being organised by Patricia Reynolds of the Reynolds Academy of Performing Arts, and will feature acts from all three local schools competing for the overall trophy.

While all this is going on there will be face-painting, cartoon characters, amuse-

Dealgan Furniture Longwalk, Dundalk (inside The Paint Store), for a wide range of New & Used Bedroom, Dining room and Kitchen furniture, great deals on Beds & Mattresses. Water proof mattresses in stock. Suite reupholstery and furniture fixing service available Tel 042-9329111 Half Price Usborne Childrents books May starter pack €27 for business in a box!

Samantha McGahon 086-2577564 ABLE PLUS STAIRLIFTS: New Stairlifts €1499.99. Curved lifts from €4000.00.

Great aftercare. Free quotes. Fully Insured.

Ph: 01-8245763 Web: www.ableplus.ie.

Email: info@ableplus.ie BOSCH DISHWASHER in perfect working order. €150. Reason for sale: New kitchen installed. 0872108494 Jack Russell Pups for sale. 0876751075 3 Piece Suite (3,1,1) Beige/Brown. Fabric suite. Good as new. €250. Phone 0868209320 CLASSES, COURSES & LESSONS CELTIC SCHOOL OF MOTORING. ADI approved driving instructor, dual controlled car, test routes covered, nervous pupils welcome. Motorcycle lessons also available. Contact Frank 089 425 8215 or 042 93 26148. www.celticschoolofmotoring. com Beginner Guitar Lessons. Adults and Children catered for. Dunleer / Togher area. Reasonable rates. Weeknights and weekend lessons. Contact Neil on 0863818196 Beginner guitar lessons only €8 per lesson. Weekdays/Evenings and weekends. Can provide guitar if needed. Call Roy 086-2052108 Crafty Kids, Art Summer School at Bridge Street Studios July 9th - 13th, 16th - 20th & 23rd - 27th 9:30 to 2:30 each day. €110. For children 6-12years to develop skills, explore art techniques and have fun! Drawing, painting, printing, ceramics, textiles and theatre. For further information contact info@sarahmckenna.com or 0863499195.

PSYCHIC & MEDIUMSHIP DEVELOPMENT classes Tuesday nights 7.309.30pm. The Outcomers. Rear of 8 Roden Place, Dundalk. Tel 0877099744 Move to Wellness A series of 6 workshops will commence at 14 Rathmount, Blackrock Tues 22nd May - Tuesday 26th June 8pm-9.30pm. Workshops will guide participants skills to cope with the stresss-

ments in the car park, a bumper raffle and lots of other activities to create a carnival atmosphere for what promises to be a great family fun day at the seaside. All proceeds will go towards Blackrock Tidy Towns’ work programme for the village.

Brendan Watters Insurances once again sponsor the main raft race prizes.

If you want to enter a team for the raft race, contact Brendan on 042 9321098 or email blaclrocktt@gmail.com.

es of daily living. Techniques include Tai-chi, Finger holds and relaxations. For further info call Mary 087-2570661 or Geraldine 087-2107739 SPECIAL SERVICES HUGHIE MCELROY BUILDER All types of building work carried out. *House Maintenance & Renovations*Painting & Decorating*All PVC products supplied & fitted – we have a complete range of PVC Windows and Doors in various colours*Wall & Floor Tiling* Power washing of driveways & houses*Large & Small jobs*Free estimates.TEL:087 2602501.

GERRY’S UPHOLSTERY SERVICE Suites/ Antique furniture repaired and re-covered.

Better than new. 0860800788 Dundalk Bureau de Change – Best rates guaranteed – No commission – We buy and sell all major currencies – Electronic Bank Transfers – sterling and euro cheques – 8 Park St. (open 7 days 8am11pm) & 4 Linenhall St (open Mon-Sat) – call 042 9339922/9370101 –www.dundalkbureaudechange.com – accepting all major Credit and Debit cards.

Dundalk Bureau de Change – Western Union money transfer – pay over 140 different bills – payzone/postpoint – stamps – pre-paid credit cards – phone top-ups – best rates guaranteed – no commission - 8 Park St. (open 7 days 8am11pm) & 4 Linenhall St. (open Mon-Sat) – call 042 9339922/9370101 –www.dundalkbureaudechange.com – accepting all major credit & debit cards PERFECT FIT ALTERATIONS - For all your sewing needs. For your convenience NOW OPEN on Avenue Road. 10% off for Slimming World members. Castletown Road: Tel: 042 9327837. Avenue Road: Tel: 042 9352348 HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE CLAIMS. All types of household insurance claims, fire damage, flood damage, water damage, shower leaks, break-ins, call our Insurance Helpline today for a free consultation, Locall 1890 247 911 or mobile 087 6487466 Chimney Cleaning, Inspection & Repair. Tel: Paul McArdle 042-933-2491or 087-666-0094. Email tribalky@yahoo.com Telephone Problems, Wires everywhere? Ring John (ex-Eircom) for all your needs, no job too small Tel 085 1234003 anytime.

Looking for a unique gift? Create a personalised newspaper page to celebrate a special occasion - birthday, anniversary,

If we could have a lifetime wish And one dream that could come true We would pray to God with all our hearts Just to see and speak to you A thousand words won’t bring you back We know because we’ve tried And neither will a thousand tears We know because we’ve cried.

You’ve left behind our broken hearts And precious memories too But we never wanted memories We only wanted you.

Love and miss you so much Dad. From Jamie, Emma and Kian xoxox.

birth, sporting success etc. Contact 086 3238328 www.frontpagenews.ie A VAN AND DRIVER available for furniture removal, also single items, 3 piece suites, cookers, fridges, washing machines.

Day & night Tel 086 8704908 Computer callout service. Day, evening & weekend hours. Experienced and professional. Dundalk & Blackrock and surrounding areas. Call Oisín now on 086-8778361.

Fully Qualified Mechanic available for MOT, servicing & Mechanical repairs. Renault specialist Tel Declan 0044 7749488859 HOUSE MAINTENANCE All types. Renovations/Extensions/Facia/Soffet Guttering Garden Fencing and Patios. Estimates free Tel Tom 0863961206 Advertise your service to over 60,000 readers for only €5 per week up to 20 words Phone Dundalk Leader 042 9320888 We can distribute your leaflets from €65 + vat per thousand Phone Dundalk Leader 042 9320888 Aerial, Satellite – TV, Freeview Freesat Digital H.D., Sales, service, repairs.

Eamonn Cooney TV. 7 Distillery Lane.087267-1809 / 0429331348 Weddings 2012 Special at Peter Hughes Photography, Professional Wedding Photography, full coverage of wedding and 26 page picture story book album total price €750 phone 042 9333732 mob 087 2561161 CARPENTER AVAILABLE 25 years experience. All interior, exterior, including kitchens, decking, doors, floors, flat-packs etc.

No job too small. Keenest prices. Quality finish assured. Call Des for free quotation 087-6180150 CHIMNEY CLEANING SERVICE Dust Free Brush and Vac Reasonable rates. Phone Tommy 0871869164 Window Cleaning, gutter & facia cleaning carried out by professional, fully trained and insured staff. Affordable rates.

Call our office for a free quoatation. EVERKLEEN 0429352717 or 0868293585.

CLEANEST & KEENEST Have your windows, carpet or suite of furniture cleaned at keenest prices . Also guttering, fascia boards, power hosing. Call Damien 0868469559 or 0879319243 G & M Print. A3 poster prints €1 each.

100 A3 posters €85. 100 full colour business cards €30. 5000 A5 B/W flyers €99

We are now taking Family Notices.

Our weekly Deadline is 4pm Fridays prior to Wednesday publication, contact Niamh or Noeleen for further information.

Tel 042 9320888

Docket books, envelopes, stickers, memoriam cards, invitations. Contact 086 3006102/0416852821 www.gmprint.ie All prices subject to vat Tiler Available. No job too big or small. Attention to detail guaranteed. Call 0876563705 for free quote.

Michael’s property maintenance - Repairs, building, plastering, plumbing, painting, tiling, concreting, patios, gardening & PVC facia & soffits. Over 20 years experience. Refrerences available.

086-7350357 Damp proofing, leak detection, solar ventilation, chemical damp-proofing, all types of leaks. Specialist equipment.

Wall mounted solar panels heat and dry your home. Aqua-solve. 087-2664224 A1 CHIMNEY CLEANING service. Very clean professional work guaranteed. Have your chimney cleaned twice a year! 0871839952 DUNDALK COMPUTER REPAIR CENTRE We fix p.c.s, laptops, tablets, ipads, iphones and smartphones. No fix, no fee!

9am to 10pm. 7 days a week! Call Gerard 04293-28301 and 085-1286436 PLASTERER AVAILABLE Save yourself money. Get the right tradesman. First class plastering at affordable prices. No job too small. Safe pass Reg. Special rates for OAPs. Free quotes. 087-3525652.

HANDYMAN SERVICES For all your domestic jobs. Painting/Decorating/Flooring/Building/Plastering etc. Phone Brian 0872952529 AGradeflooring.com All types of wood flooring. Fitted, sanded, stained and refinished. Free estimates. Call Paul 0868049625 MEDIUM & REIKI MASTER One to one spiritual readings or Reiki Healing. Call James on 087-7517062 Reliable Experienced Cleaners to clean rented accomodation for viewers, offices and private houses. Reasonable rates. Contact Peter 086-1005335 Man with own equipment to do average size lawns, hedges, trees. Louth/ Monaghan Tel 087 9705724 REFLEXOLOGY Enjoy the benefits of having reflexology therapy in the comfort of your own home by therapst with 20 years experience. Tel 0877099744 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Household & office removals. Light haulage. No job too small. 087-9525557 Irish Lady available for cleaning in

the mornings. €10 per hour. 0871943620 Heating Services Fireplace fire backs replaced. Chimneys cleaned. Solid fuel cookers and stoves rebricked. Plumbing work carried out to radiators, pumps and pipework etc. Free quotations. 0873637530 CHILDRENS ENTERTAINMENT Magician and Balloon Modeller available for all parties. Contact Odenni.

042-9372455 or 087-2473342.

SITUATIONS VACANT STAFF REQUIRED Barber/Hairdresser. Full time/Part time. Barber shop: The Grafton Barber, Marshes Shopping Centre, Marshes Avenue, Rampart Road, Dundalk. Leave your C.V. at reception desk or call 0429355568. Contact Maja immediately between10am & 7pm.

Monday - Sat and Sun 12-6pm.

Representatives required for Natural Health Company. Flexible Hours. Full time or part time. Contact Regina on 085-7053834 SPECIAL NOTICES Registered Childminder. Has vacancies for babies and older children. Every facility available. Phone 087-9536395.

Carrick Road Area.

Dundalk Town Council I, Niall Laverty, intend to apply for full planning permission for Alterations to my existing dwelling to include for a two storey extension to the rear and alterations to an Existing Dormer Window to Front Elevation with all associated site works at 21 Mill Street, Dundalk.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

C/o B. Dowdall - Architect – Designarc, 04 Shorts Court, 71 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

Pictures from Dundalk 10k Races

John Clarke and Liam Fergus Simone Uwe and Liebrich Uwe Cathy Arrowsmith, Linda Lennon and Melanie Hearty

n Gerry Devlin and Frances Wilso Jim Kirk, Pat Kirk and Pat Ferguson

Gavin Ward and Niall Collins

re The 10k starts at The Market Squa

Pat Dawe, Niall Laverty and Eoin Dawe

Athletes taking part in the 10k Niall Watkins and Suzanne Shevlin Charlene Carberry and Sean Kinahan

Kim and Ursula Shevlin Mary Connor and Donna O’Connor

Athletes set off on the 10k

nd Johnny Holland and Siobhan Holla

Jason Hill and Brenda Hill

Helen McHugh and Bernie Hoey

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

CHEVROLET TRAX

The new Chevrolet Trax is a compact SUV designed to take on the likes of Nissan’s Juke. It will be previewed at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012 and arrive at Chevrolet dealers in spring of next year.

It is based on Chevrolet’s Aveo platform and is a very close relative of Vauxhall’s recently announced Mokka, which we saw at the recent Geneva show.

Chevrolet tells us that the “Trax exhibits its SUV toughness and capability in a small package through a muscular exterior design and wide athletic stance” – we shall wait and see what it brings later in the year.

The Trax will feature an engine line-up based on the Opel Mokka’s 1.4 petrol and 1.7 diesel units.

Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012

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Dundalk Leader 16th May 2012