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2nd December 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 44 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
STAY LOCAL It’s The Only Way To Shop This Christmas It’s Christmas time once again, and here in the North County, local businesses are gearing up to prepare for what they hope will be their busiest time of year. This last quarter of the year is a crucial time for our local businesses and retailers, who have come to need a real boost in trade over the coming weeks, so it is vital that customers around the locality give them all the support they can.
retailers, all of whom emphasised the real importance of shopping local at this festive time of year. They were all unanimous in saying how local shopping would be of great benefit to both the business and customer. Speaking about that all imporBy Jennifer McShane tant personal shopping experiThere is no better way to start your Christmas shopping than in is the personalised shopping ence, Richie McNamara, owner your home town. Our North experience that you will receive of Richie’s Bikes Store in County towns have an array of in your local store. You are most Swords, which has been in the town for the shops and shopping arcades. likely to be served by the actual past 19 years, Within these you will find an store owner, and someone you said he feels Aladdin’s Cave of delights, know very well. This is also that the perfect for those one-of-a-kind where you can negotiate a personal service bargain, and should you need to Christmas gifts. is really the Also around our local towns, exchange a purchase, or if you there are many fantastic local run into any issues, you will be Richie McNamara standout service that the smaller stores, restaurants and hotels received by a friendly shopwhich have been situated in the keeper, who will be only too retailers have to offer their North County for many years, willing to make sure that your customers today. “I think it’s this that really keeps the smaller and hence offer the customer a every need is swiftly met. range of unique services and On foot of this, the County businesses alive,” he explained. products that you just won’t find Leader got in touch with a “We depend on our local in the City Centre. Another plus, number of local businesses and customers, so we would try and ensure that we always offer them that little bit extra so that they get the best of both - a great price and that extra service.” Laura McIntyre, from McCartan’s Pharmacy in in g parkin for pay to t emen requir Balbriggan was The Council have confirmed the December of day Satur each ed remov be eager to say certain local towns will was made in how much the ent uncem anno The . tmas Chris in the run up to J.P. Browne (FG), on staff appreciillor, Counc local from query a to response held recently. ated and the subject at the Council meeting ous two years, the Council looked forward Following the success of the previ ide, Malah , iggan Balbr in e schem to seeing local have decided to continue the three Saturdays in December people in their Laura McIntyre Rush, Skerries and Swords over the store this Christmas: “Support 20th. - 6th, 13th and enterprise and hopes that from the local community is obvi“The County Council supports local st busie the at towns ess in he ously really important to us at this initiative will assist local busin il said. this time of year.” shopping time of the year,” the Counc Continued on page 20
Free Christmas Parking In North County Towns
Little Molly Making Great Strides There is some very good news to report about that she can now go forward for a bone little Molly McNally, the six year old Balbriggan marrow transplant. We are delighted to be girl, who suffers from Stage 4 back on course. It would not have been Neuroblastoma, a rare children’s cancer. possible with six hot spots, so this is Molly’s father, Gerry explained to the great news,” said Gerry. The bone County Leader that Molly has successfully marrow transplant is set to take place at come through a full week of chemotherapy Crumlin Hospital, at the end of January. at Crumlin Hospital. The result is that she After this, Molly will be in isolation for a now has only one-and-a-half cancer hot period 100 days, to safeguard her from spots on her skull, as opposed to six, which Molly McNally infection at this crucial stage. she had. “This is great news, as it means Continued on page 20
North County Panto Kids will be appearing in Cinderella at the Helix Theatre from November 28 to January 11. Pictured here with Wicked Stepmother, Mary Murray, also known as Love/Hate's Janet and Ugly Sisters, Aidan Mannion and Eoin Cannon are Ella O'Callaghan and Poppy Harley 11) from Donabate; Sean Brady from Malahide and Maria Doyle (11) from Donabate, with Clodagh Finnegan (12) from Rush, Alanna France (12) and Aisling Patterson (10) from Donabate - See story on page 3
Broadband Speeds Affecting Business In Swords With the economy beginning to return to a more robust state, it is surprising to learn that many businesses in Swords do not have a proper broadband service, to conduct business effectively.
By Patrick Finnegan This comes hot on the heels of news that a new scheme to bring state-subsidised broadband of at least 30 megabytes per second to 700,000 rural homes and businesses, is being rolled out Communication Minister, Alex White said that 600,000 rural homes and 100,000 rural businesses would be included in the new statefunded fibre broadband network, which is “Whilst we depend on water for drinking expected to cost the taxpayer between €355m
and €512m and will be completed by 2020. purposes, businesses need internet in This will comes as cold comfort to some Swords the same way” - Gerry McInerney business people, many of whom are attempting to conduct business with unreliable and slow Accordingly as technology is moving on, it’s more internet access. It seems that Fibre Broadband does demanding of computer systems. Equally, as our not appear to be available on one side of the Main business processes change and the way we interact Street, with certain exceptions. Given the proximity to with Government agencies, and more and more docuthe city centre and Dublin Airport, one might expect, ments need to be uploaded, we have more need to in a highly developed enterprise region, that the have access to the internet, for a number of different county capital, with civic offices employing several applications.” hundreds of people, would be on a priority for fibre “So, broadband is becoming more and more crucial. roll out, in an area that seeks to attract more and Recently, we experienced severe difficulties, where more foreign direct investment. we lost service, with no incoming emails and McInerney Saunders, which is a prominent Chartered then, ultimately, when we had service restored, Accountancy company on Main Street, Swords is one our speeds were down to levels that made it such company. Managing Director, Gerry McInerney practically impossible to work efficiently and effecspoke to the County Leader about the difficulties his tively for our clients.” company faces. Continued on page 20 He said, “It only became noticeable in recent times.