In it for the long haul
By Paul Byrne
SCHOOL secretaries and caretakers in Dundalk joined colleagues across the country last Thursday as they began indefinite strike action in a campaign by Fórsa trade union to secure equal treatment and pension inclusion for over 2,600 school staff.
After engagement at the WRC last Wednesday concluded without any outcome the decision was made by Forsa to begin indefinite strike action.
Fórsa’s head of Education, Andy Pike, said: “We went to the WRC in good faith, but yet again our members have been left with no clarity, or pathway to a fair pension”.
The strike marks a major escalation in efforts to end what Fórsa has described as the “deliberate and indefensible exclusion” of school secretaries and caretakers from the public service pension scheme and other basic entitlements.
The decision to strike followed a ballot in which 98% of Fórsa members backed indefinite strike action.
Philomena Hunter, school secretary in St Mary’s College (Marist) for almost thirty years said she was striking not so much for herself but for future generations to ensure they got what they deserved from the government.
Continued on Page 2
Carol McElroy and Philomena Hunter outside St Mary’s College on Monday afternoon.
Strike to continue until demands are met
From Page 1
“This won’t make a lot of difference to me as I’m coming towards the end of my career but I strongly feel that I have to strike to try and get the government to respect our profession. We are employed under the exact same arrangements to teachers and special needs assistants. They are appointed by boards of management, paid through the Department of Education, and their terms are set by the Minister for Education. Despite these ar-
rangements we continue to be denied access to the public service pension scheme, as well as the same occupational sick pay and bereavement leave schemes.
“When I retire I will leave without one cent of a pension. I might get a box of chocolates and flowers and that will be it. We are professional and skilled employees who update our skills regularly. We do a lot more than just answer phones and we work daily with computer programmes, databas-
Dundalk Active Retirement returns after summer break
DUNDALK Active Retirement returns this Monday (September 8th) the meeting will take place in Carroll Meade Community Hall at 2:30pm with Alan holding a Tai Chi class. All welcome. Everybody is looking forward to our day out in Glendalough on the 17th.
SOCIAL DANCING
Every Thursday Night
UPSTAIRS IN THE LISDOO CONFERENCE CENTRE, DUNDALK
es, finances and much more. We are at the frontline for the school and both secretaries and caretakers play a very important role in a functioning school,” stated Philomena.
“We have been out with our signs each morning and afternoon since last Thursday and we are most definitely in this for the long haul. I know that the winter is coming in but that won’t stop us. We are fighting for equality and we won’t back down until we are listened to and treated fairly,” vowed Philomena.
Above: strikers at The Square on Tuesday morning; right: Sarah Duffy, Fionnuala Flynn and Adrienne Caldwell protest outside Coláiste Rís.
in Dublin last week, which included a large number of secretaries and caretakers from schools in Louth.
He said the strike, which continues this week, was ‘entirely avoidable’ if ministers McEntee and Chambers had engaged with the trade union ‘earlier, in a more constructive way’.
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Down the road outside Coláiste Rís, school secretaries Sarah Duffy and Adrienne Caldwell were joined by retired secretary Fionnuala Flynn outside the school to protest for equal treatment. All three echoed Philomena’s thoughts on the issue adding that as well as not getting a pension they were also denied access to decent sick leave and bereavement leave.
Yesterday afternoon secretaries and caretakers from all over Dundalk and surrounding areas came together to meet in front of the
courthouse to highlight their issues to the general public.
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said he and his party ‘are in full support and solidarity’ with the Fórsa trade union
members who started indefinite strike action last week over pension parity and other key entitlement.
The Dundalk deputy joined a large number of Fórsa members at a rally
Concerns raised over potholes in three locations around town
LOCAL resident Tom-
my Kerley has asked Louth County Council to repair the road at three locations around Dundalk including two pedestrian crossings which he says are dangerous for pedestrians especially the elderly and disabled.
Tommy pointed out damaged roads at the pedestrian crossing at Oscars, Park Street, the pedestrian crossing at the Lisdoo junction and also damage on the road at the entrance to Dundalk Retail Park.
According to Tommy poor road surfaces pose a serious hazard to pedestrians and wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
“I have taken pictures of the very poor road surfaces in three locations around town and I am sending them into Louth County Council asking them to repair the damage before somebody gets hurt.
“The damage down at the retail park is
like a trench and that is particularly dangerous for anybody in a wheelchair where the wheels can get stuck. In fact I know of a person that this has happened to and it was a very frightening experience for him. The pedestrian crossings at the Lisdoo junction and
across from Oscars on Park St. are two other spots where the road is in very bad shape and they need to be addressed before somebody gets hurt,” stated Tommy.
When asked about the three locations pointed out by Tommy, Louth County Council
issued the following response.
“Public roads at the three locations - Bothar Na Feirme, Lisdoo Junction, and Park St Junction at Oscarsare on the Road Works Programme for 2025 and will be completed by October 2025,” concluded the statement.
Deputy Ó Murchú said: “Since the start of this strike action, school secretaries and caretakers have mobilised in large numbers to fight for pension parity. This week, we will see the escalation of that action with pickets outside schools and, potentially, widespread disruption that will affect families with children at the schools affected.
“The government has been reckless about how it is has dealt with this issue so far and the Labour Court should intervene and call the parties together.
“School secretaries and caretakers are just standing up for themselves and for what is right. They are essential and integral to the running of our schools and much of the work they do is unseen.
“There is a two-tiered system within schools.
Principals, teachers and SNAs are entitled to sick leave, bereavement leave and other entitlements as well as a pension, but secretaries and caretakers don’t.
“Schools will be put under pressure to cope without the work of their secretaries and caretakers, which is completely unsustainable.
“Minsters Chambers and McEntee can end this entirely avoidable strike, by listening to what our secretaries and caretakers need, and getting these essential staff get back to their schools.”
“I was proud to join school secretaries and caretakers from Louth and across the State in solidarity with their demands.
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Top left: potholes at Lisdoo traffic lights; right: trenches at Dundalk Retail Park; above left: potholes on Park Street.
Louth Local Sports Partnership
‘Sports Club’ Volunteer of the Year Awards 2025 Renewed appeal by Gardaí investigating disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin
LOUTH Local Sports Partnership is delighted to launch the 3rd Annual ‘Sports Club’ Volunteer of Year Awards 2025, to recognise and honour the huge community of volunteers across Co. Louth who give their time to provide sport and physical activity opportunities across the County.
More than 450,000 people across Ireland volunteer in sports clubs on a weekly basis ensuring opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity are provided in every community. Without them there would be no teams coached, no pitches lined, no matches played or races run. They are there to support sporting clubs and communities from early morning to late at night without any expectation of recognition or reward.
Louth Local Sports Partnership is hosting this Awards ceremony to recognise and honour these people. The awards ceremony will take place on Monday November 10th 2025, in the Carrickdale Hotel.
One volunteer from every club in Louth will be honoured at the awards ceremony.
Each sports club in Louth can select their club volunteer of the year from their club who they feel should be recognised and celebrated for their contribution to providing sporting opportunities within their local community. The awards
in 2024 recognised volunteers from 110 clubs across Louth.
Application forms can be requested via email by contacting Louth Local Sports Partnership at Louthlsp@ louthcoco.ie or by visiting the website: www.louthlsp. com. Opening date for applications is Monday, 8th September, 2025. Closing date for nominations is Wednesday, 8th October, 2025, at 5pm. Graham Russell, Head of Sport, Louth County Council; Email: Graham.Russell@ louthcoco.ie; Phone: 042-9324318.
GARDAÍ in Louth investigating the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin (6 years) continue to appeal to the public for information. Kyran would be 9 years old this year.
The last known images of Kyran were taken in June 2022 when Kyran was 6 years old.
Despite extensive and ongoing enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána have been unable to locate Kyran or determine what has happened to Kyran.
To date, there have been in excess of 570 separate investigative actions taken.
Two persons (a woman and a man) have to date been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Three domestic residences and adjoining lands have also been searched which included excavation works as well as a full forensic examination of each scene.
A number of electronic devices have been seized and analysed. In excess of 29,500 hours of
CCTV have been seized and secured from numerous locations.
Examination of same remains ongoing.
Gardaí are continuing to liaise with TUSLA in respect of this investigation.
The investigation team, led by a Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) based in an incident room established at Drogheda Garda
Station continue to appeal to the public for any information in connection the disappearance of Kyran.
An Garda Síochána is aware of the extensive public commentary on this investigation including speculation, rumours and theories on what may have happened to Kyran.
An Garda Síochána continue to appeal to the public, notwithstanding all the information that is in the public domain, to not assume that the investigation team know the information that you may have. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
The Garda investigation team can be contacted at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or through any Garda Station.
The investigation is ongoing.
New family resource centre for Dundalk
FIANNA Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has confirmed the establishment of a new Family Resource Centre in Dundalk. Welcoming the development, Deputy McGreehan stating, “This is a much-needed resource to support families who are struggling or who need extra help across the county.”
The new centre in Dundalk is part of a wider national initiative which will see the establishment of five new Family Resource Centres across the country.
Speaking about the announcement, Deputy McGreehan added, “This is fantastic news for Dundalk and the wider region. Wherever a Family Resource Centre is established, families and children benefit from the wide range of services provided. From education and training programmes, to counselling and support for those at risk or in difficulty.
“The work they do is invaluable, and the addition of this service to Louth will bring untold
benefits to our community.
“These services form the cornerstone of many communities, providing trusted, inclusive support to those who need it most.”
The decision follows a comprehensive national application and assessment process, overseen by Tusla and independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick. As part of this process, Dundalk Counselling Service was selected to operate the new Family Resource Centre.
All applications were assessed against clear and published criteria,
including population need, levels of deprivation, child population data, existing services, and identified service gaps.
“I want to sincerely thank Dundalk Counselling Service for their tireless work and dedication to the community. I wish them every success as they expand into this new role. I have no doubt they will continue to provide quality, trusted services to families and individuals who rely on them.
“The expansion of Family Resource Centres is about targeted, community-led investment that makes a
meaningful difference in people’s lives. This commitment is set out in the Programme for Government, and I look forward to seeing further progress in the years ahead. I also want to acknowledge Tusla and the independent chair for their work in leading this important process.”
Concluding, Deputy McGreehan said, “These centres are vital to families in communities across Ireland. This new service will be a huge boost to families in Louth. I encourage any family who feels they need extra support to avail of the services that will be on offer.”
Kyran Durnin
Erin McGreehan welcomes new family resource centre.
Preparations continue for Louth International Film Festival
THE following is an interview between Alan McCarthy of Louth County Council and Lorcan Dunne, Executive Director of the Louth International Film Festival, ahead of the festival, which takes place from the 5th to the 7th of September.
AMC Was there an idea behind the festival?
Lorcan Dunne: It was founded by Colin Mullen, who’s a local cinematographer and visual artist. He recognised that there was a gap in Louth because Louth has a wealth of music, history, and folklore. It was really a great place to host a fes-
tival, given its location as well - it’s situated between Dublin and Belfast.
Upon joining, we established connections with several industry professionals, including Dearbhla Welsh, cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, and local director John Moore. Notably, John is a Hollywood director who was born in Dundalk.
The first year was the Louth Film Festival. Subsequently, we renamed it the Louth International Film Festival to expand its international reach. We’ve since received many submissions from all around the world.
Therefore, it has grown over the last six years. It’s very well regarded now in the industry.
This is its sixth edition, and we’re honoured to have Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abramson as our special guest. He’ll be interviewing to close the festival, making it a significant highlight to have him involved.
We also have Lucy Lennox, a world-renowned casting director with over 200 credits to her name, working with Netflix, Amazon, and the major studios.
We also have local artists, such as Aisling Clarke, who’s the director
of Freya Walker. Aisling was born in Dundalk.
David Keenan, the musician and composer, has a documentary in the festival. We have several short films featuring local talents, including Connor McGinty’s documentary, To the Moon.
Amc: What would you recommend to some-
body like me?
Lorcan Dunne: Well, the theme this year is resonance, so music is a force for change.
We have several films in the festival that utilise music as a platform for freedom of expression, to effect change, and to communicate when words fail. On Friday, Fiddle Gorm, the blue fiddle. We have Dream Town, which cinematographer Jaro Waldeck shot.
And, on Saturday, we have the documentary about David Keenan. We have Kneecap on Friday. Additionally, we have several short films that feature music as well.
AMC: How is the event organised?
Lorcan Dunne: The event spans over three days and is held across four venues. The main venue is An Táin Arts Centre. We have the IMC Dundalk for Friday. We have Toales Music Venue as our festival pub, and there will also be networking events there for National Talent Academies. There’s also going to be an acting workshop in Toales with Lucy Lennox, the world-renowned casting director. On Saturday evening, we’ll host our festival club at Toales, featuring a DJ and film music, as networking is a key part of the festival and hospitality.
And then on Sunday, Friday and Sunday, Mo’ Chara is our festival club. There, we provide complimentary food. We want people to feel very welcome and be able to
relax. In terms of the events’ actual planning, we have a judging panel that spends approximately four to five months reviewing everything and shortlisting the films for the various categories. And there’s a team there of about 15. There are hundreds of moving parts, including technical aspects, venues, guests, Q&As, and panels. It’s all 100% voluntary. Nobody gets paid.
AMC: So, there’s more variety to it than you get with other film festivals.
Lorcan Dunne: At our film festival, we offer a range of industry panels, Q&A events, and networking opportunities.
Many film festivals at our level typically show films and include a few Q&As. We host several networking industry panels, and a Q&A session follows every feature film. So, the filmmakers get to talk to their audiences, and the audiences get to ask questions. They usually wouldn’t be able to ask. The festivals must be associated with Dundalk Institute of Technology, DQIT. We have students from the film course who are eligible to attend for free. So, they get to meet industry people, network with them, and hopefully make contacts, which is essential for their careers as well.
Local audiences are crucial to us because we aim to engage people from the local community in a unique cultural event in Dundalk. But we also have an international focus.
We get people. We have a director coming from Ukraine, specifically from Kyiv to the festival this year: Caolan Robertson, who has a film titled Hunted in Kherson. So, that’s quite
an arduous journey, as you can imagine, from Kyiv to Dundalk. He’s even paying for his own journey.
We have other filmmakers coming from America to present their films. We have filmmakers coming from Europe. For these filmmakers, it’s a big deal to travel over because they see the calibre of the festival and who they can meet while they’re over here, and, you know, relationships, what relationships they can form.
AMC: So that leads me to my next question. How do you measure success beyond attendance?
Lorcan Dunne: Yeah, the success of the festival, obviously, is having audiences for the features in the short films, especially for premieres. So, if it’s the world premiere of a movie, you want to have a big audience so the filmmakers can see how people are responding to their work.
We also have 12 awards. So, when the filmmakers attend and accept the prize, that’s very meaningful for us because they can receive the award and talk about their work. They’re all world-renowned in their fields.
Derbyshire Welsh, John Moore, and Seamus McGarvey are severe people. So, they wouldn’t attach themselves to a festival unless it was credible and it had a proper ethos.
AMC: Can I ask, is there a long-term vision for the festival’s growth?
Lorcan Dunne: This is our sixth year. It’s a grassroots festival.
It’s 100% voluntary with no official central state funding. We’ve achieved a remarkable amount in that time. However, we obviously want to grow the festival.
In the future, we aim to compete with renowned festivals like the Dublin International Film Festival and the Galway Film Festival. We want to have a world-class event in Dundalk. And that means we will need proper funding.
We have a calibre of festival that will hopefully secure funding, as we’ve demonstrated our ability to deliver it. In the next couple of years, once that funding is forthcoming, you’ll see the festival expand, and you’ll see a lot more events happening around Dundalk, not just in the four venues I mentioned.
What is a movie festival to you?
First and foremost, a film festival is an opportunity to see other people’s work that you wouldn’t usually see in a commercial cinema, especially short films. Short films are rarely shown in commercial cinemas. You only get the opportunity to see them at film festivals or on specific platforms.
Another significant aspect of a festival for me is the networking opportunities, which allow me to meet practitioners and actors that I wouldn’t typically encounter in other contexts. And then, finally, a film festival is about hospitality for me. It’s about having a good time, meeting people, and having fun. That is where we excel.
So, it’s not all serious. There’s a balance to it as well.
AMC: What about 2026?
In 2026, we aim to secure proper funding and expand the festival. This year, our objective is to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible for 2025.
Bridge Street reunion of former residents
DID you live in Bridge St. from the 1950’s to the 1980’s or before? If you did, you may enjoy a reunion of former neighbours on Friday 19th September in the Northend Bar in Bridge St. from 7.30pm. If you have old photos please bring them along with your memories of a time long past.
Calls for Government action as over 950 Louth children remain on Early Years waiting lists
AS many children in Louth return to Early Years and School Age Care settings this week after the summer break, over 950 children remain on waiting lists for a place. Early Childhood Ireland warns that without significant investment in the Early Years workforce in Budget 2026, efforts to expand capacity will fall short.
The latest figures from Pobal, the organisation which administers Early Years programmes, show that up to 997 children under the age of three are currently on crèche waiting lists, highlighting the high demand for places in Louth.
The data reveals that there are 103 children under the age of 1 on waiting lists and no places available; 427 children aged 1 to 2 on waiting lists and 2 places available; and 467 children aged 2 to 3 on waiting lists and 3 places available to them.
Commenting on these figures, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland, Frances Byrne, said, “No child should miss out because of failures to invest properly in this vital workforce, yet that’s exactly
what’s happening to hundreds of children in Louth. Without significant investment in Budget 2026, and a renewed focus on staffing, challenges to recruit and retain educators will continue to block efforts to expand access for families.”
“We need the government to put additional investment into childcare to keep up with the increasing population. We have seen a number of new housing estates being built on the outskirts of Dundalk in recent years and we need to cater for all these additional families. We are asking the government to give us a date as to when they plan to bring pay and conditions for Early Years and School Age Care graduates in line with primary school teachers, who are educated and trained to the same level.
This would begin to reverse the average staff turnover rate, which is over 16% in Louth.
“Waiting lists like these would never be accepted in primary education, yet they remain a daily reality for younger children. As a first step to increasing capacity, Early Childhood
1—What County did last weekend’s Electric Picnic music festival take place?
2—What do the South American countries, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela have in common?
3—How is the novel `Le Tour Du Monde En Quatre-Vingts Jours` better known in English?
4—“The nation holds its breath”. Who said those words and what was he/ she referring to?
5—Fianna Fáil took three of the four seats in Louth in 1977 when the three F’s were elected. Can you name the three F’s?
6—Silva is the most common surname in which European country?
7—How many furlongs are in a mile?
8—How many pawns does each player have in a game of chess?
9—Branches of which tree appear on the UN flag?
10—Which animal is the source of cashmere?
The Stinker—Lord David Sutch was the founder of which UK political party?
—THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS— 1—Laois (Stradbally), 2—They are all
Ireland is calling on the Government to announce, on Budget Day, a date for bringing Early Years and School Age Care graduates within public sector pay and conditions, in line with teachers,” Ms Byrne said.
“Currently, the government is mainly focused on reducing fees, and although we welcome
proposals to increase subsidies for families, this will only create further demand for places. Providers in Louth will not be able to expand their capacity in settings unless they can recruit and retain qualified staff on appropriate terms and conditions. Naming a date to bring graduates into pay parity with teach-
ers is a crucial next step,” she continued.
“Unfortunately our crèches are closing down baby rooms all over the county and this is always got to do with staffing and never demand. We have 83 members all across the county and they are all telling us the same thing. They are having trouble retaining and recruiting qualified educators.
“It’s just not right that early years educators and primary school teachers are in college doing the exact same course and they are being treated completely differently. They borth get the same qualification. The Primary School teacher will start his/her job on 42k a year, a pension to which they can contribute, maternity leave and a job for life. The early years educator will start on 21k a year on average, no pension, no study leave, no payscale and it’s this great disparity that needs to be changed. This is our Donagh O’Malley moment when he made secondary school free in the 1960’s. Now is the time to respect our early learning educators and to put them on a par
Knockbridge gears up for a spectacular Vintage Rally
THE village of Knockbridge, near Dundalk, is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors for its annual Knockbridge Vintage Rally and Working Day on Sunday, 14 September 2025. This much-loved event brings the past to life with a vibrant mix of music, heritage, and family-friendly fun.
This year is extra special, as Knockbridge Vintage Club has been selected to host the Irish Vintage Society All Ireland Vintage Rally, a prestigious honour that will bring even more vintage enthusiasts from across the country.
Live music will fill the air throughout the day with performances by country sensations Gavin Gribben and Johnny Brady. Their energetic sets are sure to get the crowd moving, and the everpopular Jiving Competition offers a chance to show off your moves and win €100.
The Children’s Area will be bigger than ever this year, packed with even more attractions to keep young visitors entertained all day long.
Spectators will be treated to a fascinating look at traditional farming methods in the “live” working field, where vintage tractors and machinery will be in action. Expect to see horse-driven threshing mills, steam engines, vintage combine harvesters, potato planting, horse ploughing, and
vintage ploughing demonstrations.
This year’s rally will also feature special dedicated areas celebrating 75 years of Volkswagen and 80 years of the Fordson E27N. Owners who bring along a vehicle to showcase in these commemorative zones will receive a special plaque to mark the occasion.
Traditional crafts will be showcased throughout the grounds, including basket weaving, blacksmithing, wood turning, and tin craft. Visitors can also explore a traditional cottage and a model vintage farm, offering a glimpse into rural life from decades past.
The Vintage Fashion Show will feature a stunning array of vintage outfits and hats, modelled by familiar faces from the community. It’s a colourful and stylish celebration of fashion through the ages.
Veronica McMahon, well known both locally and nation-
ally, will present a flower arranging demonstration that promises to be both entertaining and inspiring.
Local businesses are invited to take a stand at one of the largest outdoor events in the North East, offering a great opportunity for promotion and engagement with the community.
The renowned Tea Tent will be serving freshly cooked food and homemade treats throughout the day, ensuring no one goes hungry.
Whether you’re a vintage enthusiast or simply looking for a great day out, the Knockbridge Vintage Rally has something for everyone. Gates open at 11am, with ample free parking available. Entry is €15 for adults and children go free. All proceeds from the event will be donated to local charities. For more information, contact +353 (0)87 2204 261 or visit the Knockbridge Vintage Club Facebook page.
with primary teachers.
Despite 76 per cent of adults backing guaranteed access to Early Years and School Age Care, according to Early Childhood Ireland’s 2025 Barometer, this is still far from reality for many Louth children. Local parents are left with no choice but to place the names of their unborn children on waiting lists, hoping to secure a place by the time the child turns two or three. With up to 427 children between the ages of one and two already waiting, many families know there is little chance of finding a place before then.
“It’s incredibly tough for parents trying to find a place for their child. At the same time, we hear from many of our 83 members in Louth about how they want to expand, they’re ready to grow, but they struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators.”
“We can’t expand access for children unless we improve pay and conditions for those who deliver that care and education. You can’t separate the two, and we hope the government sees that.” Ms Byrne concluded.
Dundalk Woman’s Shed
SATURDAY 6th and Sunday 7th September: Join up with the Council of European Grandmothers who are organising two special days for community groups and the public and will lead us in an interesting discussion on how to pass on wisdom to the next generation to help them to lead wiser and more fulfilling lives. These events take place in Dundalk Credit Union 4/5 Clanbrassil St (A91V6W3).
Monday 15th September: Sorcha McGee- Therapist with the Imrama Centre, who specializes in Reiki and eflexology to talk to us about these therapies.
Monday 22nd September: Mary Claire Crowley from An Táin Theatre tells us about the autumn programme and their activities.
Louth Volunteer Centre tells us about its work in Louth and the benefits of volunteering for well being.
Monday 29th September: Maisie McGuinness- A qualified relationship/parent mentor and educator of the Enneagram and Myers Briggs personality types, explains how these tests tell us about ourselves.
All Monday events take place from 10am11:30am in Wellington Hall, St Mary’s Road, Dundalk. email womenssheddundalk@gmail.com or check out Dundalk Womens Shed on facebook. All women over 18 welcome.
Phone 0870009890 for further details.
World Suicide prevention Day
A CANDLELIGHT Vigil to mark World Suicide Prevention Day will take place at Market Square Dundalk on Wednesday 10th September from 7pm-8pm. Organiser Ollie Morgan said: “Join us a community in remembering those who sadly lost their lives to suicide. We will stand as a community and remember them and their families and raise awareness around suicide prevention. All are welcome to attend and please bring a candle with you on the day.”
Knockbridge Vintage Rally takes place on the 14th September.
Frances Byrne, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland.
Spanish speaking countries, 3—Around the World in 80 Days, 4—George Hamilton when David O’Leary was about to take a penalty against Roamnia to win the match at the 1990 World Cup. 5—Padraig Faulkner, Joe Farrell and Eddie Filgate, 6— Portugal, 7—Eight, 8—Eight, 9—Olive, 10—Goat. The Stinker: Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
New Era for Irish Medium Education in Dundalk Dundalk Brass Band looking to recruit new members
THE first Irish-Medium secondary school in Co. Louth, Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan, will officially open on Saturday, 6th September, 2025. Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan is the only Irish-Medium secondary school under the patronage of An Foras Patrúnachta within a 60km range. It is a satellite school of Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggen, Co. Dublin.
An Foras Patrúnachta is the largest provider of Irish Medium Education. The General Secretary warmly welcomed the development saying:
“We are delighted that the community in Louth, and surrounding counties, now have the option of a co-educational, multi-denominational, Irish-medium second-level education.”
There are Irish medium primary schools in the area and students can now continue with their secondary educa-
tion through the medium of Irish. That choice has not been available for some years now.
Since Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan first opened in 2023, it has welcomed students from both Irish medium and English medium primary schools.
The school provides a high standard of education from first through to third year at present.
Transition Year will be available next year, 2026-27 and the Senior
Cycle the following year, 2027-28. There is a wide choice of optional subjects, including Music, Spanish, French, Visual Art, Home Economics, Science, Business Studies and Geography. Renovation works are ongoing, with the addition of a new Home Economics kitchen during the summer and enhancements to the school grounds, including a basketball court.
While Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan is still a
small school community, it is set to grow and flourish with the support of the local community and the wider community.
A Family Fun Day will take place on the school campus, Robin House, The Ramparts, Dundalk A91XC59 between 2.00 – 5.00 pm on Saturday, 6th September, 2025. Speaking ahead of the event, Príomhoide Tánaisteach Caoimhe said: “We want to give
people the chance to experience the spirit of a Gaelcholáiste and to meet our fantastic students and teachers. Families can come together to enjoy a fun day out while also discovering the many benefits of Irish-medium education.”
The Family Fun Day will feature free activities for all ages, including face painting, music, sports, games, and much more. Visitors will also have the opportunity to tour the school and celebrate as the community officially opens the Gaelcholáiste with the help of a special guest. The school wish to thank COGG (An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta) who provided funding for this event.
Open to all!
For further information, please contact eolas@gcdd.ie or visit our social media pages.
THIS time last year Artis was an audience member at our Music In the Park. This year he sits alongside Harry in our euphonium section.
Artis hails from Latvia and moved to Ireland to work. In his homeland, Artis was a brass player in his local brass band and hadn’t played for several years, but on seeing us play last year, he enquired about starting his musical journey again.
Being an accomplished player in his homeland it took him very little time to get up to speed and integrate fully into the band We look forward to having him part of our brass family for many years to come
On that note we are sending a call out to any former or current musicians looking to start there musical journey again
If you have played
brass or woodwind instruments before and are looking to start playing again, or maybe you have just moved to this area and want to continue playing. Dundalk’s only brass band are recruiting! We have positions for trumpet players, saxophone players, clarinet players, trombone players, euphonium players, bass/
tuba players.
We can provide certain instruments and tuition to help integrate you into the band If you know anyone who maybe interested please share this with them
For more information contact us via our Facebook page or email us at dundalkbrassband2017@gmail.com.
Students and teachers of Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan.
Artis joined Dundalk Brass band last year.
Amanda is aiming to enrich lives through libraries and cultural services
A FAMOUS quote by US academic R David Lankes states that “Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.” In Louth we are lucky enough to have five wonderful libraries dotted around the county (Dundalk, Drogheda, Ardee, Dunleer and Carlingford) with all five providing a wonderful resource for their respective communities.
Libraries in Louth are under the umbrella of Louth County Council and earlier this month, having already spent the last three years as Acting County Librarian, Dundalk native Amanda Branigan was appointed as County Librarian and Head of Cultural Services. The former St Vincent’s Secondary school student has always had a deep love for books and libraries and has worked in the Louth Library Service for over 25 years having completed her undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma in Library and Information Studies.
According to Amanda it was a summer job in the 1990s when she did summer work experience in Dundalk library that ignited her passion for libraries and shaped her future career.
“I was lucky enough to get work experience years ago in the 90’s when you were able to get summer work experience as a student in the council and libraries. I got a job in Dundalk library and I just loved it and I just said to myself, this is for me. I know it sounds cliched but I just loved reading from when I was very young. I was a lifelong member of the library. I can remember as a child going to Chapel St. to the old library and I just thought it was a magical place and that always stayed with me.
“I was aware that UCD was the only college at the time where you could do post graduate either degree or diploma in library and information studies which you needed to become a professional librarian. At that time you had to have a year’s graduate traineeship in a library before you could do the course so I worked for a year in the Kings Inn in the Law Library in Dub-
lin and then I went on and did the higher diploma in library and information studies. After that I worked in various libraries in Dublin including the library in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, I worked in the Kings Inn, I worked in the Guinness Libraries and Information section in St James Gate which is now Diageo and that took me up to 2000 when I got permanent professional library grade in Louth Library Service and I’ve been here ever since!,” laughs Amanda.
Speaking about her life working in Louth Library services, Amanda says she loves what she does as she gets to meet so many people and no two days are ever the same in her job.
“Every day is different in the library and we would always say that. I am based down here in County Hall now and I have to say I do miss the day to day, on the desk, frontline meeting the customers. We really are such a frontline service and such a community service. We are open for everyone and particularly for new people coming to the town, the county and the country, we are their first point of contact. I always say I see libraries as a signpost and an information provider so they mightn’t be coming initially to use one of our services but they’re coming to find out something so you know we are such a frontline service. We meet so many people with different stories and we see people from every generation coming through our doors which is fantastic. Because our services have grown and grown and grown we have something for every age group now so you might see grandparents coming in to the parents and toddlers group on a Thursday morning and they would have brought their kids to the library a few years previously so you know it’s just such a fulfilling place to work and to be in,” states Amanda. Libraries have evolved over the years and the old image of them being big quiet buildings full of dusty books on shelves is long gone. Nowadays local libraries offer so much more than just lending books as Amanda explains.
“We are so much more than mere book lending now and it’s trying to get that information out there that is our challenge. For people who are not interested in reading we have to get the word out that we have so many more strings to our bow and so many different services to offer and we need to make ourselves attractive for those who see us as just a place to borrow books. In the past we waited for people to come in to us while now we are more and more going out and being a lot more proactive by going out into the communities to I suppose sell our wares, tell people about what we have and then to encourage them to come into our libraries.
We go into schools, markets, fairs, tourism days, whatever it might be, we will go with our information stand and talk to people and let them know what we do.
“I suppose the biggest change over the last few years in our libraries is the removal of barriers to access so there are no fines anymore, there is no registration fee and everything is free. We are a safe inclusive space where anybody can come to be creative, be inspired, to find out about cultural events, to be educated, to relax. I suppose
one of my proudest achievements in terms of the service since I took over has been the Library of Sanctuary award and we were the first library authority in the country to be awarded that so that’s recognising all we do for new people coming to the town or county, whether they be refugees, disadvantaged people and it’s all about recognising the contribution we make to providing safe and inclusive spaces and services to help these people.
“Libraries have changed, of that there is no doubt. If you come into any library in Louth there’s not this quiet, kind of conservative feeling. It’s now a vibrant lively event space. In saying that there are still quiet spaces and obviously April, May and June are a crazy time in terms of students and we’re very cognisant of that but at the end of the day we are a public library so it can sometimes be hard to get that quiet time. We’ve reading spaces and we’ve invested a lot in our sensory offerings to provide inclusive and accessible services for people with any kind of neurodivergent conditions so we have a cubby which is a sensory room where people with autism or any neurodivergent issue can go in
just to have a calming place to sit.
“We have our memory cafes every month for people with dementia and alzheimers where we have speakers come in or some music. Literacy and literacy development and reader development is the heart and soul of what we do because there are still huge levels of literacy deprivation in the country. We’re a support to the likes of ETBs and schools. Reader development from the youngest age is so important so I would constantly say to parents guardians to get your children reading at the earliest age.
Given the huge changes in our libraries over the past twenty five years the question is often asked if indeed libraries will actually stock physical books in the future given the rise of technology and reading devices such as the Kindle. Amanda however is hopeful that books still have a role to play in libraries across the country.
“That’s what people always ask me. Is there always going to be books? I absolutely think there will be books. I certainly would hope that there will be books. I can’t forsee a time you know when we will be a bookless library. In saying all that, one of the greatest successes if you want to call it that of the last few years has been the use of our eservices or online services. The usage of those services particularly during Covid has seen a huge increase over the last few years.
When you become a member of the library you can come in to any library and borrow a hard copy book, but with your membership card you also have access then to all our electronic services via our website so that includes audiobooks you can listen to, ebooks that you can download, electronic magazines, access to all the newspaper archives, you can do a course, learn a language all electronically.
“We are stats mad and we have to report all our statistics in terms of our issue numbers, our visitors, our membership etc. Nationally the numbers using e resources are increasing. Now they are not at a stage where
they are meeting hard copy usage but they are increasing so obviously we have to meet that demand which is a challenge for libraries in terms of budgets because the e-services licenses are really expensive. It’s much more expensive to buy an ebook for us than it is to buy a hard copy.
“It’s so fulfilling being part of Louth Library service and one thing I really want to say is that we are nothing without the staff. We have over 40 staff across the library service in Louth who go above and beyond and I think anybody who uses the library regularly will say the same. They are a testament to the service. They really go above and beyond to help anybody who comes into our libraries. We work six day openings with the four late nights so it can be a challenge but I have to say they are brilliant and the service wouldn’t be what it is without them.
“And from a bigger picture the investment and support I get from Louth County Council is crucial and appreciated by me. Library and cultural services are just one very small part of the huge organisation that is Louth County Council so I have to fight for the funding and we thankfully we’ve had great support from the Director and senior management team and David Conway the new Chief Executive has also been so supportive and enthusiastic about our plans for the future.
As well as being in charge of Library Services, Amanda is also leading the Cultural Services section which consists of the County Archive Service, the County Arts Service and the County Museum service. According to Amanda they play an important part in supporting the local arts scene.
“We have our County Arts Officer, Moya Hodgers, County Archivist, Lorraine McCann and the museum curator is Brian Walsh. They report to me and I have overall responsibility for them. Again I’m lucky that they are wonderful staff members and collectively across all cultural services we want to showcase the county in terms of creativi-
ty, in terms of heritage, culture, literacy. Each of the different services promote those in their own way and my job is to tie them altogether and more and more we are working collaboratively on projects and programmes like Culture Night and Heritage Week. Obviously the arts section provide programming and support and structure to the artistic community in Co. Louth. They provide grants to various artistic groups and community groups and the Arts Office manages all of the governments Creative Ireland programme which again is supporting creative expression throughout the County.
“The Archives and the museum are all about legacy and embracing our past. The museum is such a great resource with a huge amount of local artefacts. Brian Walsh works closely with the rest of us in Cultural services in terms of events and exhibitions. Lorraine McCann manages and identifies the public and private archives in the County. People can donate to the Archive collection. The archivist manages all the Louth County Council archives dating back to the 1600’s. Lorraine is digitising more and more of her archives to make them more accessible and that is fantastic because it’s all about recognising the achievements of previous generations in Co. Louth and how what they did impacts on our lives today.
“To sum up what we all do collectively I suppose our mission statement of Louth Library and Cultural Services is leaders in the community providing services to support people to be informed, literate, to go out and avail of free cultural services across their county. To be connected and be skilled for life. Through all the services that I have responsibility for that is what we are striving to do. We aim to enrich lives and be inclusive and if we can do that and make peoples lives a little bit easier, a little bit happier and if they can come to any of our different places and get something out of it then I know that we’ve done a good job,” concluded Amanda.
Amanda Branigan, County Librarian and Head of Cultural Services.
An Táin’s Paul Hayes has helped to awaken arts scene in Dundalk
AN Táin Arts Centre is an independent arts space in Dundalk which consists of a venue with two theatres, a gallery, artist studios, a production house, a meeting point for creatives, a supporter of artists and a home for the arts in our town.
Today it is the beating heart of Dundalk’s arts scene much in thanks to the hard work and dedication of Director Paul Hayes who arrived in Dundalk 11 years ago to try and awaken the sleeping giant that was the then named Town Hall (And still is known today by many much to Paul’s chagrain “No matter how much money I put into branding it An Táin Arts Centre, a lot of Dundalk people will still call it the Town Hall in the same way that Tatas is not actually called Tatas”, he laughs).
Paul arrived in Dundalk eleven years ago when there was only one space in operation in the whole building. The year before Paul took over the Town Hall held twenty events in twelve months. Last year there was 200. According to Paul it had become nothing much more than a local hall and his brief when he took over was to awaken the sleeping giant and expand the building to not only put on shows but also to give space to local artists.
“I came here eleven years ago with a plan to stay for five years because up to then I had generally done an arts job for five years and then move on. Eleven years later I am still here so that says something I suppose,” states Paul.
“Today there are multiple spaces in the theatre and that is what we have been doing over the past decade. It’s a fantastic building and we wanted to utilize all the space in it and open it up to the public. We have the main theatre which a lot of your readers will know as the Town Hall stage. People of a certain age might remember that it was a 700 seater venue a long time before I came here. It got
changed in 2004 to what it is now which is a 350 seater. And to tell you the truth that is more than enough for a regional theatre. The days of 700 seater auditoriums are long gone in the regions because people don’t go out as much to live performance as they did. And that’s basically because they have so many entertainment options at home now.
“Under the main theatre we have the studio theatre and this is a crucial space to what an Arts Centre does because a lot of shows that come here, particularly from further afield don’t need a 350 seater auditorium. They need forty to fifty people in a smaller space to do their show. I would say a lot of the more interesting work that I bring to Dundalk happens in the Studio theatre. This is also where our film club is. We have two films a month every month shown here. Another space we have is the Basement Gallery which holds about nine exhibitions a year. It is probably one of the most interesting galleries in the country given the fact that it was a jail so it’s a very unique space. It’s programmed two years in advance so it’s a hard space to get into.
“The main theatre is booked a year in advance and I would still often get people coming into me asking ‘Can I book the stage for next month?’ and
I have to tell them that it will be at least a year until it’s free.
“There’s also a working space down stairs which in a previous life was a bar but it just didn’t work as you can’t have a bar that far away from a theatre. So one of the first things we did was to convert one of the foyer offices into a bar and it has become one of the busiest arts centre bars in the country,” explains Paul.
“I don’t know what that says about the people of Dundalk,” laughs Paul, “but I’m just saying it does very well. The bar is actually a huge part of our revenue stream and if we don’t have that we don’t have a main theatre. Behind that you have four dressing rooms, a green room and three offices so we’ve really made use of the entire building. We also now have a second space outside of this building and that is Bo Studios down the road across from the museum so that houses full time ten professional visual artists in ten different studios with a little shop in the front.
“We celebrated our tenth anniversary last September with an incredible evening and we were celebrating the fact that it has become, and I hate saying this as Irish people don’t like blowing their own trumpet, but it has become the busiest and, successful is probably the wrong word in Arts because I
think success is often tied to money, but it has become the fastest growing Arts Centres in the country.
Paul says that when he came here first he saw massive potential in the building and when he was offered the role of Director he was excited for the opportunity to create something special.
“I had come here many times as theatre producer because I used to produce plays around the country. And you’d come to Dundalk around that time in 2010/2011 and it was just a weird vibe. It is strange to be in a building that is also civic offices 9-5, Monday to Friday. You had this beautiful foyer back then but nothing else apart from the main theatre. What happened was Brian Hartsen, the then Arts Officer went to the then CEO Joan Martin to tell her that something had to be done with the Town Hall building. He told her we had this wonderful asset that is putting on just twenty shows a year by local people. That’s the kind of stuff that a church hall does so he told her something needed to change.
“So hey went off and appointed a voluntary arts board who set up a CLG charity and they then put an ad out saying they were looking for the first CEO position and I went for it. I had been running the Barbican theatre in Drogheda again from its inception
and that was a community centre with an arts ethos and I kind of was at the point where I needed a new challenge so I came up here and had a walk around and just though immediately that the place had incredible potential.
“In that first month it was just me running the building while today we have five full time staff, ten part time staff and about sixty volunteers and a number of people on schemes to make it all work. We have a programme with the Louth Volunteer Centre which we are very proud of. Everytime we run a show we need four volunteers to make the show happen,” he adds.
The hardest part of Paul’s job is finding the right balance between using the building as an arts space and a civic space.
“I could go to Dublin or Belfast tomorrow and see a show which I think is amazing but I might know that there wouldn’t be an audience for it in Dundalk or for any other regional centres. An urban audience is very different to a regional audience. At the same time I could programme just tribute acts and commercial comedy acts but that’s not an Arts Centre. So if you do that you don’t get your funding from the Arts Council. The balancing act for me is to try and put on shows that bring in money versus stuff that is more artistic and
doesn’t bring in money. Now with that being said sometimes you strike gold by putting on a highly artistic show that also brings in a huge crowd.
“The days of professional theatre touring the country are all but gone. Invariably it’s a one person show with a very small set, if any with a one hour run time. And there’s only so many of them you can put on that people actually want to see. So with that in mind we commissioned the Irish Premiere of a show called Belfast Girls by a local writer called Jaki McCarrick, which had up to that point had fifteen productions around the world but never one in Ireland.
“I’d been trying to get numerous companies to do it for years unsuccessfully and eventually we decided to just do it ourselves. We put together a big production which ran for fourteen nights between here and three other partner venues and it ended up having an 85% capacity audience which is completely unheard of for a straight play. People really wanted to see a full play in their locality rather than having to have to go down to Dublin.
So much so the Arts Council have now funded a national tour of that which calls in for rehearsal in three weeks time which will do 24 shows over ten days. We thankfully have a
great relationship with the Arts Council and their funding is crucial to us. We are not for profit and we have to not make any money by the end of the year and believe me that is the easiest part of my job,” laughs Paul.
“People don’t get into the arts to make a great deal of money and you very much do it for the love of it. Louth County Council are still our core funder and that funding goes towards a chunk of our core costs. We are now in negotiations with them and instead of a previous three year rolling agreement we are about to sign a twenty year license agreement which essentially means we’re not going anywhere and they don’t want us to go anywhere. That will run from 2026-2046 and we would hope to grow with one of our strategic objectives is a second building.
“What Dundalk is crying out for and what people are asking us for all the time is workshop and rehearsal space for all these performances. We’ve got eighteen or nineteen local groups who put on shows and we can only give them the day before here to rehearse. They realistically need to rehearse that show for months and months before that but we don’t have that facility to offer them unfortunately. We are looking to buy a town centre derelict property and turning it into a community rehearsal space.
“I know when I’m dead and gone there will still be a large amount of people who just see the town hall as a place that puts on musicals and pantos and that is a huge part of what we do. But that can kind of happen regardless of who opens the doors. It’s all of the other stuff, the legacy stuff, that needs an entire team of artists behind it,” explains Paul.
As the interview came to a close Paul raced off for a meeting with the Czech Ambassador to talk about the logistics of putting a touring Czech show on stage in Dundalk. Just another day in the life of an
An Táin Arts Centre board members at last year’s 10th anniversary celebrations.
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 three days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). S.L.C.
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 three days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). M.C.
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 three days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). J.L.
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 three days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). P.M.
Dog Rescue Pop-Up Shop
A POP-UP Shop in aid of Dundalk Dog Rescue will take place on Friday and Saturday, 19th and 20th September, from 9am to 6pm. The venue is Seatown Athletic Club, Dundalk. Items to purchase include clothing and shoes to home goods and much more so there’s something for everyone. Please come along and support this worthy charity.
Olatunde edges closer to sub 10 second 100 meters
DUNDALK athlete Israel Olatunde stormed to a new Irish national 100m record on Saturday afternoon at the Be Fast Today Track Academy meeting in Lee Valley, London. Ireland’s fastest man in Ireland clocked a time of 10.08 (+2.0m/s) to finish second in a race won by Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Great Britain) in 9.87. This betters his previous record of 10.12, which he also set in London twelve months ago. The former Marist student grew up in Castle Ross in Dundalk and his athletic talents were honed locally in Dún Dealgan AC where he was coached by Gerry McArdle. His parents are from Nigeria and they moved to Ireland over 20 years ago in search of a better life and to give their children more opportunities.
Since then, 23-year old Olatunde has moved to Clermont, Florida where he is coached by Lance Brauman. He now becomes the first Irishman to break the 10.1 barrier for the event. The magical sub 10 second 100 metres is now firmly in his sights. It’s been a productive few months for Olatunde who also was part of the men’s 4x100m relay team who clocked 38.92 seconds in Geneva in June, thus breaking a 25-year old national record. Later on that month the quarted
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LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—I, Sally Cox, intend to apply for permission to construct a new pedestrian & vehicle entrance on Mount Avenue, Dundalk, Co. Louth. 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 from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. 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. LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—We, Austin & Johanna Dawe, intend to apply for Retention permission and completion of alterations to a previously granted now commenced planning permission reference number 2460639 (alterations and extensions to existing two storey dwelling including construction of two storey extensions to the sides & rear of the dwelling, elevational & internal arrangement changes, alterations to a single storey outbuilding, revised vehicular entrance arrangement, new effluent treatment system/percolation area, new soakaways and all site development works); The works to include: Retention of part demolition of the existing dwelling; Reconstruction of sections of the original dwelling; Minor elevational changes to the front porch and all site development works at Old Road, Bellurgan, Dundalk, County Louth. 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 and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee 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 Bernard Dowdall - MRIAI - Architect - Carrickedmond, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel. (042) 9429558; (087) 6657148; E-mailbernard@dowdallarchitects.ie.
LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—We, Arthur & Brian McKevitt, intend to apply for Retention Permission for development at Newry Road Service Station, Newry Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 Y68X. The development will consist of: Retention of: A. Store no. 1 (Floor area = 70m2) & signage (Area = 2.8m2) B. Store no. 2 (Floor area = 37m2) C. Store no. 3 (Floor area = 100m2) D. Car Workshop (Floor area = 106m2) E. A canteen & wc unit (Floor area = 17m2) with signage (Area = 2.4m2 x 2no.) F. A switch room (Floor area = 5m2) G. New external cladding to the existing retail units. H. And 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, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, from 9. 30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee €20.00 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. Signed: AMC Loss Assessors & Surveyors, Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel. 0879529699. E-mail aidan@ amcla.ie.
GET FIT 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. LINE DANCING Beginners classes on every Tuesday night at 7pm starting 9th September in Dowdallshill GAA Hall, Newry Rd. Phone 087 2618773. ENHANCE your communication parenting and relationship skills with courses beginning late September. For details phone Maisie 087 2100620. ARE YOU AN INTROVERT or Extrovert, Thinker, Feeler, Leader, Helper, Achiever, Peacemaker? Discover your personality type through courses beginning late September. For details phone Maisie 087 2100620.
EASY-GOING country lad, mid 50s with GSOH seeks light-hearted female companion late 40s/mid 50s with no ties. For walks/talks and to share the simple things in life. Tel—0868220403.
PERSON LOOKING for a Cleaner, 4 hours every Friday, Avenue Rd location. Phone 086 2163033.
PART-TIME MEASURER WANTED— Local company requires a friendly, reliable person to visit customers’ homes and take room measurement. Flexible hours. Training provided. Own car required. Ideal for a retired person seeking extra income. If interested, please call Tom on 042 9320040.
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Last night of the Summer Series of darts
WITH the Paddy Dixon Cup available to the winner, expectations were high for a lot of the last 16 Finalists to win it.
Conor Taaffe made the draw on behalf of the Dixon family.
With it being a seeded draw, there was always going to be some big names exiting the competition in the earlier rounds.
The 1st saw Marty Dixon grind out a hard fought win against Graham Unwin.
Stephen Shields came from 1 down to beat Paddy Gibney 4-1.
John Rafferty came from 2 down to beat Conor Dunn 4-2.
Michael Gillick beat David Gonnelly while there were wins for Martin Carvill over Daniel Dunn, Conor McArdle over
Conor Carroll, Alan Dullaghan beat Ray Harte & Simon Wykes beat Ciaran Treanor to complete the 1st round games.
The last 8 saw wins for Alan Dullaghan over Martin Carvill, Stephen Sheilds beat John Rafferty, Conor McArdle beat Simon Wykes & Michael Gillick beat Marty Dixon.
The Semi finals saw a great battle between Conor McArdle and Alan Dullaghan, Alan went through to the Final with a 5-4 win.
In the other semi-final, Stephen Shields had a 5-0 over Michael Gillick. The Final was a classic match, best of 11 and it sure didn’t lack quality.
The board was battered with countless 100+ score and also the odd 180 for good measure. Both players traded wins in the first few games, neither player was going to be given a chance to build up too much of an advantage. A great crowd gathered around to watch the final and Stephen Shields would eventually hit Double 5 to secure a 6-4 win amid wild celebrations from those supporting him in the Final.
The Paddy Dixon Cup, sponsored by Paddy’s great friend Dermot Ralph, was presented by Mary and Sean Dixon.
A big thanks to all our sponsors who have made the Summer Series Of Darts possible.
Darts trials showcase rising talent
SATURDAY marked the first Louth Youth Darts Trial, hosted at the home of Mid-Louth Youth Darts Academy – and what a day it was! Players travelled from associated academies in Dundalk and Drogheda, and also from Ardee, showing a real countywide passion for the sport.
With a fantastic turnout of 20 young players, the standard of darts was incredible. The group stages were packed with close matches, high scoring, and nailbiting finishes, proving that the future of darts in Louth is in safe hands.
The quarter-finals brought even more excitement:
Ross Neasy got the better of Adrian Chromy in a tough battle; Jake Fox edged past Oisín Cooney in a cracking match; Brendan Cowley came through against Aodhan Kellet in another close game; Liam Pickens overcame a strong challenge from Finn Coyle.
The semi-finals didn’t disappoint:
Ross jumped on missed doubles to beat Jake in a tense game; Brendan edged out Liam in another thriller.
That set up a brilliant final between Ross and Brendan. Both players from the Mid-Louth darts academy played their hearts out in a high-quality, close encounter, but it was Brendan Cowley who held his nerve to take the very first Louth Youth Darts Trial title!
A huge thank you to all the kids who came along, played with such passion, and made the day so special. And of course, a massive thanks to the parents and supporters who made the effort to travel and cheer them on.
Darts in Louth is growing stronger every week, and with talent like this on display, the future is most definitely in safe hands.
For details on future trials, contact Owen on (087) 279 6844. The next trial will take place in St. Nicholas GFC, Rathmullen Road, Drogheda, on Saturday, 6th September, at 3pm.
Sean Dixon, Stephen Shields & Marty Dixon.
Left: runner-up Ross Neasy and winner Brendan Cowley.
