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DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Learn signs of stroke urges Katie Page 2

Ardee by-pass gets green light Page 4

Dean gets on his bike for charity Page 8

Wednesday, 3rd November, 2021. Vol. 14, Issue 44 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Fans urge owners to sell locally

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

By Paul Byrne

Friday evening’s much needed victory over Waterford may have eased Dundalk FC’s relegation worries but for many supporters the main topic of conversation over the last couple of weeks has been talk of a potential takeover with current US owners Peak 6 reported to be actively looking for an exit strategy. It has been reported that there are two groups interested in taking over the club with a northern Irish consortium with links to Glentoran FC owner Ali Pour fighting it out with former owner Andy Connolly who has teamed up with STATSports to try and buy the club from Peak 6. If there were an election amongst

Dundalk supporters to choose who they would like to take over the club it would be a landslide in favour of the local bid with the majority of fans eager to see a local person back running the club after what has been a turbulent year under the ownership of Peak 6. Former Dundalk FC player and club legend John Murphy has no doubts that the Andy Connolly/ STATSports bid is the better fit for the club right now. “I know Peak 6 are a business and the bottom line for them is to try and get as much money as they can when selling but for the good of Dundalk FC I would urge them to sell to the local bidders. Andy Connolly was here before and he along with Paul Continued on Page 2

Out for a bite with the kids!

Conor Waters and Deirdre from Doylesfort Grove getting into the spirit of Halloween with children Theo (left) and Jonah.

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

Dundalk FC fans urge owners to sell locally

From page 1 Brown did a brilliant job. Andy has a passion for the club and he is visible around town and will talk to anybody

about the club. Unfortunately, the current owner is far from visible and there is a huge disconnect between the owners and supporters,” urged John.

Longtime Lilywhite supporter Nicky McCourt echoed those sentiments saying he hopes that Peak 6 will do the right thing and sell to the local consortium. “The link between the team and the community has sadly been broken and all the work done by Stephen Kenny has been destroyed. I am not saying they are bad people as I know they continued to pay the players wages through the pandemic but they are not football people and they have made terrible decisions which have harmed the club. I am not casting any dispersions on the other

consortium from Northern Ireland as I know nothing about them but I think right now the club needs to be put back in local hands to build back the link between club and fans. We don’t expect Dundalk to win leagues every year but we do think we should be at least competing for honours. Sadly we are a long way from doing that right now,” stated Nicky. Jane McDermott, supporter liaison officer and disability access officer for Dundalk FC, said she doesn’t know enough about either consortium to choose one over the other and

Jane McDermott. urged whoever does take control to ensure they put the interests of the club and community at the top of their to do list. “We don’t know who is taking over the club right now and we are obviously hearing all these

rumours but it seems that there are two consortiums fighting it out to take over from Peak 6. I don’t know enough about either to choose one over the other but I would say that whoever comes in has to have the interests of our club and our supporters at heart. My view is that supporters are ready for a change as it just hasn’t worked with Peak 6. They have been absent for most of their tenure and that has undoubtedly caused a disconnect between the club and its supporters. We have undoubtedly the best supporters in the league and some fantas-

tic people following the club and the divide that exists between us and the club makes me sad. We are also very conscious that this is a very worrying time for staff and players in the club and we hop that this can be sorted out one way or another to give the great people working in the club some peace of mind,” stated Jane. Lifelong supporter Gerry Curtis would also like a speedy resolution to the takeover talks and like most Lilywhite supporters he too is in the Andy Connolly/STATSports camp. “I would definitely prefer to see the local

consortium take the club over. Unfortunately, the Americans didn’t get how important the supporters. When they came in a few years ago they came into the best club in the country. There was €2.8m in the account and they had a fantastic squad of players. Fast forward three years and we are struggling badly in the league and there are only three players signed up for next year including two youngsters. It’s frightening how low things have got and the sooner a deal can be made to sell the club to preferably local buyers the better,” stated Gerry.

Luckily, Joseph responded well to chemo and he got the all-clear in August 2020.” She concluded: “Dayna was born in October 2020 so she’s just turned one. We just celebrated her first birthday. “It makes you realise how precious life is. Our world came crashing down around us when

we were diagnosed with a stroke and cancer. “It was really scary but we are taking one day at a time. You never know when it could all be robbed from you. “It’s so important to get checked out if you notice anything at all, especially men. You’re better off safe than sorry.”

Katie urges others to learn signs of stroke

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A YOUNG Dundalk woman is urging members of the public to contact their doctor if they have any concerning symptoms after she suffered a stroke and her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Katie Bailey, aged 28, was just 26-years-old when she suffered from a stroke, a month after she had got married. Originally from Chapel Street, the mother-ofone currently lives with her husband, Joseph, and their daughter, Dayna. “We had just got married in July and we were home from our honeymoon. I had my stroke on the 19th August. My husband had just gone to work so I was alone in our house,” said Katie. “I’d no symptoms leading up to it. I’d always been fit and healthy. I didn’t drink much and I didn’t smoke. There were no contributing factors that people associate with strokes. “I tried to put my hair in a towel and was trying and trying. I didn’t real-

ise my right arm wasn’t working. When I finally realised something was very wrong, I freaked out.” Katie added: “I fell a couple of times and my vision was starting to go. I lost my vision in my right eye. “I’d had a stroke on the left side of my brain so I was affected on the right side of my body. I phoned my husband but he just thought there was a bad line as I couldn’t speak very well. “So, I phoned my mother and she knew

right away something was wrong. She came over to my house and took me to the emergency department in Drogheda.” Katie continued: “I had an MRI and all hell broke loose. I was put into a wheelchair straight away and they took me to a little room. “My husband was with us at this stage, and we were told the news and that I’d be moved to the stroke unit. “I was in the Lourdes for two weeks. They did a lot of tests on me

to try and find the cause but they still don’t know what caused it.” Doctors discovered that Katie had a hole in her heart and they performed a surgery on it to close it up. “They don’t know if the hole in my heart caused it but it might have been a contributing factor,” said Katie. She was on the road to recovery when Katie was dealt another blow. Her husband, Joseph was diagnosed with cancer when he was just 30-years-old. “He was big into the GAA and played soccer and was very fit and healthy. He had to go to the doctor a few times as they weren’t sure what was causing his night sweats and pain,” she said. “Eventually he had an MRI and they broke the news. I started bawling crying straight away. He had to have surgery and chemotherapy. “Shortly afterwards I found out I was expecting so it was a rollercoaster of emotions.

The HSE are opening a pop-up walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Cooley Kickhams GAA Clubhouse, Carlingford, Co. Louth which will operate on Saturday 6th of November from 10am to 4:30pm for people who have not

yet had their COVID-19 vaccine. The pop-up walk-in vaccination clinic at the Cooley Kickhams GAA Clubhouse will provide first or second doses only. There are no booster doses at walk-in clinics. You can get your

vaccine without an appointment at the walkin clinic. If attending for your first vaccine and you have not already registered for your vaccine online, you will need to bring the following with you: Personal Public Service (PPS) No., if

you have one, mobile phone number; and Photo ID with your date of birth. The walk-in vaccination clinic is open for people aged 12 and older, children aged 12 to 15 must attend with their parent or guardian.

Joseph, Danya and Katie.

Pop-up vaccination clinic opening at Cooley Kickhams clubhouse

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

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Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

An Bord Pleanala issues green light on Ardee By-pass—O’Dowd Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd and his colleague Cllr Dolores Minogue have warmly welcomed the publication of An Bord Pleanala’s Order which has signalled a green light for the Ardee Bypass. Deputy O’Dowd said “Cllr Dolores Minogue and I have been waiting anxiously for a final decision to be made by the independent board, any direction to carry out further assessments would have pushed the project even further away from commencement. “Ardee Town is currently choked with congestion and the people of Ardee have demanded that this issue be resolved, the fact that this vital project will now satisfy the public spending code requirements from an environmental standpoint is very positive news. “The town has suffered greatly as a direct result of significant traffic congestion over the last number of years.

Ardee’s main street.

This has had a major impact on its economic and social development and the pollution resulting from traffic has also had significant impact on air quality and the health of the citizens of Ardee. “An Bord Pleanala are independent specialists who determine whether a project meets environmental standards and thresholds, we are delighted that they have confirmed that this project will not significantly impact any of the local conservation and protection areas. Cllr Minogue stated “This is really terrific

news for the residents and businesses of Ardee, since normal traffic volumes have resumed we have seen the town at an absolute standstill with it taking upwards of an hour for some residents to get from one side to the other. Local Taxi men have informed me that they no longer operate at peak traffic times due to the delays in journey times, this is an example of how extreme the situation has become. “This decision gives us real hope and we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Deputy O’Dowd and Cllr Minogue added that they will now be pressing all the relevant stakeholders to get this project shovel ready as quickly as is possible and give hope back to the people of Ardee. An environmental group called ‘Friends of Ardee Bog’ had pleaded with the government to bin plans to build the road right through the middle of Ardee bog claiming the project would result in catastrophic environmental issues. The group pointed to the huge amount of wildlife including the curlew bird who depend on the wetlands for survival. They also claimed that the bog acts as a natural sponge and helps prevent flooding and pointed to an increase in flooding around Ardee should the bypass be built through the bog. With this weeks decision by An Bord Pleanála it seems that the Friends of Ardee Bog fight has been lost.

DkIT Students union issues warning over danger of drink spiking DUNDALK Institute of Technology (DkIT) Students’ Union have shared information on drink spiking on social media in a bid to tackle related public health issues. DkIT Students’ Union President Christopher (Chacho) O’Neill said: “I haven’t heard any reports in regards to students from DkIT. “I hope I never hear a report but there was a case of a UCD student being spiked over the long weekend. “When we heard the story about the drink being tampered with, we sat down with the

SU President, Christopher (Chacho) O’Neill, SU Vice President for Student Engagement, Caitlin Connor, and SU Vice President for Welfare & Equality, Katie Ryan. team and were chatting about it. “We decided to take a proactive approach

and share the information we have across our social media channels.”

Christopher added: “It’s obviously an issue in the capital and we don’t want it coming back to Dundalk. “It’s scandalous that it’s happening to young students and women across the world. Women should be able to go out for a night out without having to worry about their drink being spiked. “We’ll be taking a very proactive approach to educating students about the dangers of drink spiking.” Advice on drink spiking and related public health issues can be found on hse.ie

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

Dundalk Credit Union Sponsors Adult and Paediatric Defibrillator I

n association with Dundalk Lions Club, Dundalk Credit Union is delighted to sponsor three new Adult & Paediatric Defibrillators in Dundalk. The defibrillators will be located on the Avenue Road at the Maxol Garage, at Applegreen on the Carrick Road and at Brodigan’s Londis on the Point Road. Pat Byrne, President, Dundalk Lions Club said “with the generous sponsorship from Dundalk Credit Union, all three defibrillators will now service a wider area within our community; offering a rapid response to both adult and child cardiac emergencies.”

Stephen Fealy, CFO, Dundalk Credit Union said “the team at Dundalk Credit Union is extremely proud to fund this potentially

lifesaving initiative for our community. In addition, defibrillator training will also be provided to a number of volunteers across our

community, including some of our secondary school students, to ensure that when needed, a trained responder is available. We are delighted

to partner with the volunteers at Dundalk Lions Club.” Dundalk Credit Union and Dundalk Lions Club would also like to thank the business

owners who have very kindly offered their premises as defibrillator locations. Together, let’s build a better tomorrow.

L to R - Stephen Fealy, Dundalk Credit Union with Pat Byrne, Dundalk Lions L to R - Megan Hughes, Pat McGee, Stephen Fealy, Pat Byrne & Tadhg Club. O’Sullivan.

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

Spate of burglaries and arson attack in Muirhevnamor ‘very positive engagement’ with Superintendent Armstrong. The Dundalk TD also highlighted the fire on Sunday night at a house at Crescent 2, Muirhevnamor, which resulted in the property being gutted. Both Sinn Féin representatives have been in touch with Gardaí already about the incident and scenes of crime investigators were on site on Monday morning. It is believed the fire was started maliciously. Deputy Ó Murchú said: ‘This was a very serious incident which resulted in huge damage to the house. It could have been a lot worse, and this could have spread to other houses. ‘I would ask anyone with information about the fire or the burglaries to contact Dundalk Gardaí or the Confidential Line at 1800 666 111’.

Badly damaged house in Muirhevnamor after suspected arson attack. Pic: Bryan Crowe.

Poker Classic in aid of North Louth Hospice

One of the biggest and most popular fundraisers in town returns this year after not taking place in 2020 due to Covid. The annual Five Card Draw Poker Classic organised by Gerry Curtis will take place in the Lisdoo on Sunday 14th November. The event has been raising money for local charities for ten years and this year once more all proceeds will go to the North Louth Hospice. Tickets for this year’s event are priced at €50 with €5 buy ins and a €10 top up. Refreshments will be served on the night also. Tickets are available to purchase in Coffee Time on Park Street, Goldstar Jewellers at the Demesne, Ma Brady’s on Church Street and Sloanes Shop on the Avenue Road. Gerry is hoping that the event will be well supported as always and he looks forward to handing over a cheque to the North Louth Hospice following the event. Gerry knows from first hand experience the great work done by the North Louth Hospice having volunteered for them in the past. The evening begins at 6pm on the 14th of November and all are welcome.

1—What is the common name beginning with ‘J’ for a young Kangaroo? 2—In which European city will the Olympic Summer Games of 2024 take place? 3—In medicine, how is the ‘Carpal’ region of the body more commonly known? 4—In which European country would you find Chopin Airport? 5—Which road in Dundalk town centre was known as Neville’s Road until 1888? 6—Peter Sutcliffe aka The Yorkshire Ripper was arrested. An assassination attempt was made on President Ronald Reagan. Name the year. 7—Thing. T. Thing was a character from The Addams Family TV series. What was

the only part of the character ever seen? 8—”The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist” is a line from which 90’s movie? 9—What does the dish Chilli con carne mean in english? 10—In music, which ‘O’ is the interval between two notes? The Stinker—Joan Doyle was a character in which popular sitcom?

—this week’s answers— 1—Joey, 2—Paris, 3—Wrist, 4—Poland, 5—Fairgreen Road, 6—1981, 7—The Hand, 8—The Usual Suspects, 9—Chilli with meat, 10—Octave The Stinker: Fr Ted. (Mrs Doyle).

A spate of burglaries in Muirhevnamor, some of which targeted houses where older people are living, was raised by Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú and his Sinn Féin colleague Cllr. Kevin Meenan during a meeting with Gardaí in Dundalk last week. The public representatives met newly-appointed Superintendent Charles Armstrong at Dundalk station on Friday and discussed a number of issues, including a raft of house break-ins in Muirhevnamor over the last couple of weeks. Some of the burglaries, Deputy Ó Murchú said, targeted older people’s homes which were ‘particularly despicable’. Cllr. Meenan urged people to be vigilant and cautious about their house security and to ensure that older people in the community are looked after. Deputy Ó Murchú said there was

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

Clann building links between old and young Clann residents in Lis na Dara, Dundalk met with Redeemer Creche and Playgroup staff to celebrate Halloween on Friday, October 29. According to Clann Scheme Manager Mandy Stevenson, Clann is a dedicated age-friendly housing service committed to providing quality housing and services that enable people to create homes and thriving communities. “We are trying to get people back mixing in a safe way through a programme called Together Old & Young,” said Mandy. “We’re trying to build a link between residents and the Redeemer Creche and Playgroup. We try to do it across all

Clann manager Mandy Stevenson (right) with Clann residents and Redeemer Creche staff.

of Clann to try and link with the wider community. “We work with a lot of people to try and create communities. We don’t want to have a communal room and not use it.” Mandy added: “We

run different themed events for the residents over the course of the year for example we do Breast Awareness Month, Positive Ageing Week and Halloween. “We try to engage as much as we can with the wider community. We

do a big event at Christmas also. “We applied for funding and got it to do a mural. It was tenant-led. Whatever interests the tenants have, we follow.” Mandy continued: “We also work with LMETB to run different classes such as crafting. We run a walking group too.” “We really do try to do as much as we can. All of our residents are aged 55 and over. We take residents directly from the local authority housing stock. “It’s not just about bricks and mortar. We want to create a home. It’s independent living with additional supports for outside if required.”

SONG back on stage this November

Members of SONG who are back on stage this Friday evening after absence of 18 months. ‘Feels like Home’ will take place in An Táin Arts Centre. By Ben Tumulty

SONG Dundalk is a theatrical production company specialising in workshops and drama events for young and old people in Dundalk. After being forced to close in-person workshops due to the pandemic nineteen months ago, the company will be proud to present their latest project in An Táin Arts Centre this month. ‘Feels Like Home’ will have an American theme and will cel-

ebrate the best singers and songwriters in the States, featuring a cast of over thirty singers and dancers who will take to the stage on the 5th and 6th of November for a show like no other. SONG made the most of a bad situation when stuck at home thanks to the pandemic. ‘We had to do a lot of auditions online, on Zoom,’ says group director Terese Dunne. ‘We’ve added a lot to our YouTube channel too over the past eighteen months.’ ‘Over lockdown we’ve partici-

pated in a lot of online activities as a way to keep in touch with one another,’ Terese added. ‘The musical will feature two halves of one hour each, and our American theme will include musicals from West Side Story to Dear Evan Hansen, and we’ll be paying tributes to big Stateside singers including Lady Gaga.’ ‘Feels Like Home’ will premiere on Friday, November 5th. Tickets are available online or can be purchased in An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk.

“A Star called Henry” an evening with Roddy Doyle “A Star called Henry”, An Evening with Roddy Doyle, 3rd November 2021, 7pm. Louth Library Service will host an audience event with award-winning author Roddy Doyle this evening as part of the Louth Decade of Centenaries programme 2021. Louth Library Service in conjunction with Libraries Northern Ireland has facilitated a cross border reading group initiative. Reading groups on both sides of the border have been reading Roddy Doyle’s ‘A

Star Called Henry’. The reading initiative focuses on the power of fiction to challenge set narratives and explores themes in the novel, his portrait of a Dublin during the period of the Irish Revolution of 19161921. The initiative will culminate with an interactive Q&A online session with Roddy on November 3rd which is free and open to all. There are still some copies of ‘A Star Called Henry’, available to borrow in library branches.

Audiences can register for free on the crowdcast platform www. crowdcast.io/e/roddydoyle The Louth Decade of Centenaries programme has been funded by the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. For further information please telephone Dundalk Library – 042-9353190; email: libraryhelpdesk@louthcoco.ie or follow us on social media, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Dean gets on his bike for charity By Ben Tumulty

Local Dean Litchfield is preparing to get on his bike this winter to raise funds for ‘The SCOOP Foundation’. By undertaking the mammoth task of cycling from Dundalk to Killarney, County Kerry - during the depths of winter - Dean is hoping to raise €1,000 at the very least for the Dublin charity, which aims to provide education and training opportunities for displaced children and young adults abroad and in Ireland, including refugees based in Direct Provision Centres in Ireland. The nineteen-yearold, from Mount Avenue, was first inspired to raise funds for the foundation after attending a student volunteer meeting in Dublin City University (DCU) where he was enlightened to hear of the similar charity work carried out by the

Dean Litchfield. group’s chairperson. ‘I wanted to find something to do, really, after all the lockdowns and what we experienced during COVID’, Dean told the Leader. ‘This seemed like the perfect task as The SCOOP Foundation is a great organisation’. When asked why he picked Killarney as his destination of choice, Dean added: ‘Many

Local priest to referee county football final

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

people in Dundalk consider Killarney to be the opposite side of the country, and I relish a challenge’. Kilkarney is a popular destination for staycationers during the summer and is well known for its colourful and historic buildings, beautiful national park and shopping facilities. Cycling from Dundalk to Kerry’s second largest town is over 350km (217 miles) in length - a whopping 18 hours. Dean is undertaking training at home in preparation for his cycle, which he hopes will take place in early January of next year when the SCOOP Foundation concludes its annual Generation Change fundraising programme. To support Dean’s fundraising efforts, you can donate online at www.scoopfoundation. org/donate where all proceeds will go to the SCOOP Foundation.

By Ben Tumulty

Dundalk-based priest Father Derek Ryan will throw the ball in at the senior county football final this Sunday, November 7, having previously taken charge of the senior county hurling finals. Fr Ryan, has a wide-ranging career spanning from refereeing St Fechin’s and Knockbridge, to saying mass in St Joseph’s Redemptorists in Dundalk. On Sunday he will referee the Louth county football final between Naomh Mairtin and St Mochta’s in what has been described as ‘a footballing first’. A spokesperson for Fr Ryan said: ‘Derek is very excited about Sunday’s game. Refereeing a major county football final is a first for him. ‘Derek’s an excellent referee and fans can be confident that he will see the game from both sides. ’ In the past, Fr Ryan has refereed both hurling and gaelic, ìncluding in his home county of Meath, where he has earned great respect amongst both fans and players. On Sunday morning Fr Ryan will take the service for all deceased members of Louth GAA, before the match begins later that day. Fr Ryan told the Leader that he was looking forward to the match, but to ensure the game would be adjudicated without bias, could not comment further. Derek Ryan Ref

St Dominics Presentation Night

D i p t t

St Dominic's U-6 Academy Team

Sophie Byrne, Eve Lennon, Jessie enjoying the presentation night.

Diaa, Hend, Moataz, Jana and Malik Bellah.

Niall Daly and Conal Daly (U10 club

man of the year)

O’Hanlon, Roise Browne, Aoife Byrn

e, Molly Crowe.

Niall Daly and Harry Badmington (U10 player of the year)

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

Family Notices in memoriam

McEneaney 17th and 4th anniversaries In loving memory of our parents, Peadar, 17th anniversary and Terry (Teresa), 4th anniversary, whose anniversaries occur around this time. Never more than a thought away, Loved and remembered every day. —Loved and missed always by Patricia, Noeleen, Peter, John, Paul and their extended families.

novena NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). K.M. NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). R.P. NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked you for many favours This time, I ask for this special favour (mention it). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes, it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication and favours will be granted. (Never known to fail). N.B.

special services

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CHIMNEY CLEANER—Brush and vacuum. The original clean sweep. Contact Billy on 087 644 8230. J. King Plumbing—Heating & Property Maintenance Tel 086 6086327 or 042 9377775. GARDENING, LANDSCAPING—Hedge trimming & new hedges sowed, flower beds tided up and new bulbs planted, general property maintenance and decking cleaned. Dundalk & District. Tel. 086 3818184. WEDDING CAKES—Cakes for all occasions: Christmas, Anniversaries, Christenings, Birthdays, Confirmations/Communions, etc. All made by Chef, reasonable prices Tel 087 3228790. GARDENING SERVICES—Grass & hedge cutting, trees cut & topped, power washing & gutter cleaning. Tel. Colin 085 172 6520.

articles for sale

Family Notices Contact Noeleen

Telephone 042 9320888

Ryan’s moving for Movember

DUNDALK man Ryan Duffy is calling on members of the public to support Movember, the leading charity changing the face of men’s health. The 28-year-old from Manydown Close is a former Dundalk Institute of Technology Communications and Creative Media student. “An old friend of mine who I went to college with is involved in Movember. She thought I would make a good ambassador so she asked me to sign up,” said Ryan. “I’ve a big circle of friends and I thought I’d be able to get the lads involved too so ten have signed up so far.” It’s Ryan’s first year as a Movember ambassador for Dundalk. He has a beard already so he won’t be growing a moustache. “There are three options – you can grow a moustache,

PROPERTY/RENTALS

do a move challenge or host fundraising events. I decided to do the move challenge,” he said. “The goal is to cover 60km in the whole of the month of November but we are fit young lads so we decided to make it more of a challenge. “In the last week of November, we are going to walk 60km in 24 hours or as fast as possible. It should be a bit of fun.” He added: “We are hoping to walk it but if it gets close to the deadline we will put on our running shoes. “If anyone is interested in joining the team, please drop me a message on Instagram via BlahBlahStudio_ or check out my Facebook page. “The 60km is a representation of the 60 men lost to suicide every hour of every Ryan Duffy. day.”

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special services CHIMNEY & STOVE CLEANING—Tel Paul McArdle 042 933 2491 / 087 666 0094 Email tribalky@yahoo.com <mailto:tribalky@ yahoo.com>. CHIMNEY CLEANER—The Clean sweep, clean & tidy, no dust. Brush & Vac. Also gutter cleaning. Contact - Cathal 087-2259799. ADVERTISE YOUR SERVICE to over 60,000 readers for only €5 per week up to 20 words Phone Dundalk Leader 042 932 0888. WE CAN DISTRIBUTE your leaflets from €75 + vat per thousand Phone Dundalk Leader 042 932 0888. WINDOW CLEANING—Gutter & facia cleaning carried out by professional, fully trained and insured staff. Affordable rates. Domestic & Commercial. Call our office for a free quotation. Everkleen 042 935 2717 or 086 829 3585. www.everkleenservices.ie <http://www.everkleenservices.ie>. HOUSE & APARTMENT CLEANING Service. Specializing in Re-Let & Spring Cleaning, Carpet & Upholstery cleaning. Fully insured. For a free quotation contact Everkleen 042 9352717 / 087 6873188, www.everkleenservices.ie <http://www.everkleenservices.ie>. TILER AVAILABLE—Experienced local tiler to carry out all types of tile work - marble, granite, porcelain. Indoors and out. Call 087-387-8995 for free quote. GRIMLEY’S DUBLIN ST. DUNDALK— Televisions, TV aerials, satellite, Freeview & Saorview, new installations, sales, service & repairs. Free estimates 042 935 4343. DUNDALK GARDEN SERVICES—Tree topping, felling, hedge trimming, grass cutting & strimming. Rubbish Removals/Garage clearance, House & Garden refuse. Permit holder. Contact Ben 085-840-7707. FORTUNE TELLER—Available for appointment, private or group bookings. Tel. Alison 042 933 5102 or 087-67-51229. Building Services—Extensions, Renovations, Sunrooms, Conservatories and All General Maintenance. P.V.C. Fascia, Soffit and Guttering products supplied and fitted. Bathroom Refurbishment, Painting, Decorating, Wall & Floor Tiling. All types of Roof Repairs & Maintenance. For free estimates Tel 087 260 2501. BUILDER & HOME MAINTAINENCE— Building, Woodwork, Painting, Plumbing, Tiling, Kitchen Refurbishments, Paving & Fencing. No job to big or too small. Tel. 087 295 2529. CARPET & OVEN CLEANING—Carpet, upholstery & specialist oven cleaning available. Call MVI Cleaning Dundalk on 042 94 21300 or visit www.mvicleaning.ie.

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LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—I, Eugene Devlin, intend to apply for permission for development at this site on the Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co.Louth. The development will consist of the construction of 3 storey apartment block consisting of 5no. 2-bedroom ground floor apartments and 5 no. 3 bedroom duplex apartments above and then a separate 4nr ground floor apartment blocks with 2nr first floor apartment blocks above and all associated site development works to include for 24nr car parking spaces, Bin Storage and public open space which are to service the proposed developments with private amenity spaces to service individual apartments. 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.

DNG Dundalk's Keith Duffy with colleague Michael Boland from DNG Mayo. The two were among a number of brave souls who abseiled 190 ft down Smithfield Tower last Friday in aid of Ronald McDonald House Charities. At the time of going to press over €20000 had been raised for RMHC by DNG Duffy.

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

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Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

letters to the editor Metals

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Leaf Blowers: What’s the point? Dear Editor, While out for a pleasant morning walk the other day, I passed by a man in a Hi-Viz jacket. In his hands he held ...a leaf blower. I watched as he deftly manoeuvered the errant leaves off the footpath onto the grass verge into neat piles. It was a calm, breeze-free morning and he was doing a good job. As I continued on my walk, I began to wonder about the whole “Leaf Blower” phenomenon. I know that they are very popular, especially with some men (and women!!) who love gadgets. They range in price from a modest 45 euro up to 94 euro

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for a deluxe model. However, in a world where Climate Change constantly features in our lives, would it not be more environmentally friendly to use a device that does not require recharging? The humble, much over-looked Yard Brush, for example. You can buy one for less than 20 euro and sweeping up leaves is an excellent way to burn calories. I was out for another walk this morning, along the same section of road and guess what?....those pesky leaves were back!! Ah nature, don’t you just love it? Yours sincerely, Valerie Roger.

Taking place from November 8 – 20, Louth Science Festival is organised by Louth Library Service, and funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) as part of Science Week Ireland. The aim of the festival is to inspire a love of STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) among our community, while reaching out to those who don’t regularly get the opportunity to enjoy such activities. There is quite literally something for everyone in this year’s festival programme. Every school in the county will get an opportunity to avail of special events, facilities and recordings for the occasion, while public events, including a workshop on nutrition for families on a budget and a talk for parents on coping when your child receives a neurodiverse diagnosis. Our local Youthreach groups are also getting involved, trying their hand at kite-making. For the first time, the Louth Science Festival has designed a programme specifically for Nursing Home residents, who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 lockdown measures. Through workshops including kite-making, bubble-making and CSI investigations, and a talk about Elephant Conservation, it’s hoped the festival will bring some science fun to the staff and residents of Nursing Homes around County Louth. Booking for events is now available through our website www. louthcoco. To keep up to date with Louth Science Festival events, follow us on Facebook (Louth Library Service), Instagram (@LouthLibraryService) and Twitter (@louthcoco). Email libraryhelpdesk@louthcoco.ie, or phone 042 9353190.

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The St Kevin’s Under-15 hurling team which took part in celebratory events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John West Féile at Croke Park over the Halloween Bank Holiday weekend. Pic: Fintan Clarke.

Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021

Guide to driving in foggy conditions It’s important to adapt your driving to whatever weather conditions are at play. Fog can greatly reduce visibility while driving and pose many dangers as a result. In this guide, we’ve laid out the changes you can make to your driving to protect yourself and other road-users when visibility is reduced. Light up As well as limiting how far ahead you can see, fog also reflects the light from your car’s headlights back at you, causing a glare. For that reason, it’s important to remember not to use your full-beam headlights in fog, as they can actually make it harder to see in front of you. When driving in foggy conditions, use dipped headlights and fog lights. Front fog lights are mounted lower down on your vehicle and point downwards. They reflect light onto the road to avoid it shining directly into fog clouds. Standard headlights aren’t angled downwards, hence the glare. Don’t forget to switch off your fog lights when full visibility has returned though, so that you don’t dazzle other road-users. If your vehicle doesn’t have fog lights, use your dipped headlights instead. Slow down Slowing down is one of

the best things you can do to make your journey safer in adverse weather conditions. Reduce your speed when driving through fog, and leave extra time for your journey. Even if you’re in a rush, don’t be tempted to speed up or avoid precautions. Safety first! Before you slow down, make sure to check your mirrors to see if there is another vehicle behind you. If there is, remember that it’s much harder to judge the distance between vehicles in foggy conditions. It’s a good idea to tap your foot brake lightly as you slow down, so that your brake lights can alert the driver behind you. When fog improves during your journey, don’t speed up straight away. In patchy fog you might find

yourself in poor conditions again very suddenly. Increase your stopping distance When visibility is reduced, you should also leave more space between you and other road users. As mentioned, fog can make tail-lights seem further away than they actually are, so keeping a safe distance from whoever’s in front is very important. The Rules of the Road handbook suggests that on a dry road with good visibility, two seconds should elapse between the vehicle in front passing a landmark and you passing that same landmark. This is the time it takes you to say the phrase, ‘only a fool breaks the two second rule’. In foggy conditions you should repeat this phrase 4 or

5 times in order to gauge how far back you should be from whoever’s in front. Listen In very dense fog, it can be a good idea to open your window so that you can listen for other traffic. This can be especially helpful at crossroads and junctions. Be extra mindful of vulnerable road users Don’t forget that drivers have a duty of care towards other road-users, including those more vulnerable, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. If fog is affecting your visibility while driving, look out for pedestrians and cyclists on roadsides and be extra vigilant as you approach pedestrian crossings. By Kieran Hanley, AA Ireland.

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Dundalk Leader 3rd November 2021