The Newspaper with the
BIGGEST circulation in the North County
Your Quality Local Newspaper We Deliver We deliver A registered newspaper at the G.P.O.
19th May 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 17 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Skerries couple Owen McGonagle and Sinead Gibbons were married at a ceremony in Smock Alley Theatre in Temple Bar with a reception afterwards at Eden Bar and Grill in the city on Friday last. Pictured after the ceremony are Sinead’s parents; Sean and Eileen Gibbons, the happy couple; Owen and Sinead Mc Gonagle and Owen’s parents; Amanda and Raymond Mc Gonagle.
O’Brien And Farrell In Furious Exchange Fianna Fail senator, Darragh O’Brien has slammed local Fine Gael TD, Alan Farrell for his ‘outrageous dishonesty’ regarding the construction of the National Forensic Hospital in Portrane. This has resulted in deputy Farrell issuing a stinging rebuke to his fellow Malahide man.
By Patrick Finnegan O’Brien has accused Farrell of talking out of both sides of his mouth, after he suddenly claimed to share the concerns of the community, despite failing to make a single submission to An Bord Pleanála about the controversial plans. O’Brien said, “Alan Farrell and his Fine Gael colleagues in the North County have spent months completely ignoring the mounting community concerns about the chaos that will be caused during the construction of this facility. An Bord Pleanála invited submissions to allow local residents, groups or public representatives to submit alternative proposals on the controversial development. Not a single submission was made by Alan Farrell or anyone in Fine Gael. “In contrast, Fianna Fáil made several submissions, which included concrete proposals that would remove the safety risks associated with the project and dramatically reduce the traffic chaos during the construction phase. Along with councillors Adrian Henchy, Senator Brian Dennehy and Darragh Butler, I Darragh O’Brien wrote to An Bord Pleanála outlining the
enormous impact that the construction plans will have on residents, schools, local clubs and local facilities. We sent detailed proposals for a separate haul road to the site that would minimise the disruption. “It is extremely insincere of Alan Farrell to now stand on the sidelines and suddenly feign concern for the community, having done absolutely nothing to influence these controversial plans. If Deputy Farrell thinks that raising this issue once, and promising that his colleague, the Minister for Health will ‘take it on board’ is enough, he is mistaken. It is time that Deputy Farrell started sincerely standing up for the community that elected him. Residents who will be directly affected by the chaos and risks caused during this development need more than empty platitudes. They need real solutions that will address their real concerns. “Now that Deputy Farrell has suddenly realised the importance of this issue, I am calling on him to back Fianna Fáil proposals for a separate haul road that would cater for the heavy machinery to and from the construction site and leave the existing access route clear for community traffic,” concluded O’Brien. In response, a furious Farrell blasted O’Brien when he said, “The Senator’s response is both predictable and disingenuous. Neither he nor the Fianna Fail party have a monopoly on representation of the people of Donabate or Portrane.” Continued on page 6 Alan Farrell TD
The Star pub, Swords
100 Year Old Swords Pub Up For Sale One of the most readily identifiable businesses in Swords has been put up for sale. M.R. Taylors, better known as ‘The Star’ on Swords Main Street is up for sale on the instructions of the Taylor family, who have traded successfully from the premises for over 100 years. This is one of the longest establishes licensed premises in Swords, which also includes a night club. People from Swords and afar will have fond memories of times spent socialising with friends and family in this iconic pub. The building is a two storey over basement property extending to 1,196 sq.metres occupying a very prominent location in the town.
INDIAN SPIRIT IN THE HEART OF SWORDS
Lusk Girl Dreams Of Writing Career An exceptionally talented young Lusk girl has her sights firmly set on a career as a writer and is determined to achieve her dream. Sadhbh Cushen is an eight year old girl, who attends Lusk National School and has always been into books, her mother, Audrey told the County Leader. “It all started when she was about three years old, when she took a keen interest in books and storytelling, and she loved hearing stories.” Sadhbh was a really creative little girl and loved making up her own stories, and was really interested in the old days when I was a young girl,” said Audrey. It was then that
her age category (7-9 we got her into a creative years). She wrote a story writing course in called “Can a Bear Get a Skerries, which is run by Passport’. Audrey Megan Wynne. Sadhbh explained that Sadhbh has been attending these was obsessed with bears classes for a while now since she was about four and last year the class year of age and was wrote a book called always fearful of them. ‘What’s the Story’ for The story is a dialogue Focus Ireland charity and about the conversations Sadhbh wrote an 800 we had about bears,” word story for that,” said she said. Audrey. “We are travelling to It was then that her Sadhbh Cushen Listowel at the end of writing teacher suggested that Sadhbh should this month for a presentation, enter the famed Listowel Writers where Sadhbh will speak to pupils Week, where she came second in at a local school there, so she’s
very excited about that.” Sadhbh has won other competitions and has received many awards in her short career. She told the County Leader that she intends to pursue a career as a writer. “I would love to be a writer and an architect where I can design houses, as I love both English and Maths. I read about two novels a week, but they are running out,” she said. I’m a member of Skerries library, but I’ve read most of the books already, so I hope to get a kindle from my Holy Communion money,” said a charming Sadhbh, who cites Enid Blyton as her favourite author.
WIN DINNER FOR TWO Simply like and share our facebook page to be in with a chance of winning a free dinner for two
Feel The Heat Burgandy House, Forster Way, Swords
Tel: 807 7999 or 807 7998