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Dundalk Leader 8th April 2026
The Cross Cooley Challenge is inviting the local community to come together for the official launch of its 2026 event, taking place on Thursday 16 April at 7pm in the Condil Suite at McGeough’s Bar, Roden Place, Dundalk. All are welcome to attend. Now entering its 14th year, the Cross Cooley Challenge has become one of County Louth’s most established and well-supported fundraising events, raising vital funds for North Louth Hospice and the Maria Goretti Foundation. Since it was founded in 2013, the event has raised over €487,000, with last year alone bringing in €56,000 thanks to the support of nearly 500 participants. The 2026 challenge will take place on Saturday 23 May and will see participants take on a 15.4km hike from Ravensdale to Carlingford, crossing the Cooley Mountains and taking in some of the most scenic views in the region. The event is open to eve-
from Dundalk to the starting point near the Lumpers Bar in Ravensdale, with return transport from Carlingford back to Dundalk after the walk. Registration will be available on the day, while sponsorship cards can be collected in advance from the Greenore Railway Saloon, the organising team, and on the night of the launch. Donations can also be made online via iDonate. The Cross Cooley Challenge has gone from strength to strength, with growing support each year from individuals, families and local businesses. It’s a great day out, bringing people together in support of two important local charities. All are welcome to attend the launch night, and all are encouraged to take part in this year’s challenge. For more information, visit the Cross Cooley Challenge Facebook or Instagram pages
Cross Cooley Challenge Launch Inaugural Meeting of the Louth County Council Tenants’ Forum Night Ahead of 2026 Hike
The Cross Cooley Challenge launch takes place on Thursday 16th April. ryone and is designed to be completed at your own pace, making it suitable for individuals, groups of friends, families, and corporate teams. The launch night on Thursday 16 April offers an opportunity for anyone interested in taking part to learn more about the event, meet the organisers and the charities involved, and pick up sponsorship cards ahead of the challenge. It is also a chance to hear more about the impact the event contin-
ues to have locally, with every euro raised going directly to two organisations providing essential support within the community. North Louth Hospice provides care and support to cancer patients and their families, while the Maria Goretti Foundation supports children with disabilities through its purpose-built respite centre in Lordship, Co. Louth. On the day of the challenge, transport will be provided to and from the route. Buses will run
Louth County Council held the first meeting of its new Tenants’ Forum on Friday, 27 March 2026 at the Monasterboice Inn, Drogheda. The Tenants’ Forum brings together local authority tenants from across Louth, along with representatives from community organisations, Healthy Ireland, Louth Local Development, the HSE and other partner groups. The Forum provides a clear way for tenants and the Council to communicate with each other. It ensures that the experiences, concerns, and ideas of tenants help shape social housing policies, estate management, and services across the county. The Forum has been set up at the same time that Louth County Council is developing a new Tenant Engagement and AntiSocial Behaviour Strategy. The Forum will play an important role in shaping this strategy by identifying local priorities, highlighting challenges, and supporting how the
The inaugral meeting of the Louth County Council Tenants Forum. strategy is put into practice. Commenting on the newly established forum, Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: “The Tenants’ Forum is an important step in making sure the voices of our citizens and communities are central to the work we do. It gives us real opportunities to work together, spot issues earlier, develop better solutions, and deliver services that meet people’s needs. I want to thank everyone who has taken part so far and encourage more tenants to get involved.”
Speaking about the importance of the Forum, Ger Murphy, Director of Service, Louth County Council, said: “The Tenants’ Forum shows our commitment to open, responsive, and tenant focused services. By bringing tenants, community partners, and Council staff together, we can tackle challenges more effectively, improve quality of life and strengthen communities. I want to thank all participants for their positive engagement so far, and I look forward to working with the Forum.” As part of developing
the new strategy, Louth County Council will host a series of consultation events to hear views from the wider community. These sessions will take place from 9:30am to 1:00pm on the following dates: Tuesday, 14 April – Imperial Hotel, Dundalk; Wed, 22 April – Marcy Hotel, Drogheda; Tues, 28 April – Muldoon’s, Ardee. Anyone wishing to attend must register in advance. To register for a consultation session or to find out more about the Tenants’ Forum, please email estatemanagement@louthcoco.ie.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DIALLING 999? By Darren Crawley AN emergency call from Dundalk begins in a quiet room hundreds of kilometres away, long before a Garda car, ambulance, or fire engine ever reaches the scene. When someone in the town dials 999, they enter a system designed to respond within seconds, coordinate multiple agencies, and make lifeordeath decisions based on the information given. Understanding how that system works is part of understanding how local democracy, public services, and community safety function in a town like Dundalk. All emergency calls in Ireland—whether made from Dundalk or anywhere else, are routed to the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS). Operators are trained to answer quickly, with national targets aiming for 80% of calls to be picked up within seven seconds. Their first task is simple but crucial: identify which service you need. The options are Gardaí, ambulance, fire brigade, or coast guard. Both 999 and 112 connect to the same system, and both are free to call.
Once the operator knows which service you require, the call is transferred immediately. If you ask for Gardaí, you will be connected to a Garda calltaker; if you ask for an ambulance, you will reach the National Ambulance Service dispatcher. The operator will also confirm your number in case the call drops, and they will ask for your exact location. This is especially important in Dundalk, where calls may come from rural areas, industrial estates, the M1 corridor, or the busy town centre. When a Garda emergency call is passed on, the dispatcher assesses the urgency and deploys the nearest available unit. Gardaí prioritise lifethreatening incidents and aim to reach urban emergencies within 15 minutes. Dundalk Garda Station, one of the busiest in the region, covers a large population and a wide geographic area, so response times depend on where units are located when the call comes in. Ambulance calls follow a different pathway. Once connected to the ambulance service, callers are asked structured questions about the patient’s condition, whether they are
breathing, conscious, injured, or in immediate danger. This information determines whether the call is categorised as lifethreatening, urgent, or nonurgent. The National Ambulance Service then dispatches the nearest available crew, which may come from Dundalk, Ardee, Drogheda, or even across the border if crossjurisdictional cooperation is required. Fire service calls in Dundalk are handled by Louth County Fire & Rescue Service. Firefighters respond not only to fires but also to road collisions, chemical incidents, and rescues. The control centre alerts the Dundalk station, and crews
are mobilised within minutes. Calltakers rely on clear, calm information. They will ask for: the phone number you are calling from the exact address or location what has happened whether anyone is injured or in danger For medical emergencies, callers may be asked to describe symptoms, provide the patient’s age, and follow instructions such as CPR guidance. These steps help dispatchers prioritise the call and prepare responders for what they will face on arrival. For people with hearing or speech impairments, Ireland operates an emergency SMS
service that routes messages to ECAS, ensuring accessibility for all residents. Emergency calls often play a role in court cases in Dundalk District Court. Gardaí rely on 999 recordings to establish timelines, verify witness accounts, and demonstrate the urgency of an incident. Call logs can show how quickly Gardaí responded, what information was given, and how events unfolded. In cases involving assaults, burglaries, domestic incidents, or dangerous driving, the 999 call may be one of the first pieces of evidence presented. False or malicious 999 calls are also a recurring issue. These calls waste resources and can delay responses to genuine emergencies. They are taken seriously and can lead to prosecution, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment depending on the severity and impact. Dundalk’s location, close to the border, with a large commuter population, major transport routes, and a busy town centre, means emergency services must coordinate across agencies and sometimes across jurisdictions. Know-
ing how the 999 system works helps residents understand what to expect, how to communicate effectively in a crisis, and how local services operate under pressure. It also highlights the democratic importance of emergency services. Response times, staffing levels, and resource allocation are all matters of public accountability. When residents understand how the system functions, they are better equipped to scrutinise it, support it, and advocate for improvements. Dialling 999 is something most people hope they never have to do, but in Dundalk, as in every community,it remains one of the most important public services. Behind every call is a chain of trained professionals, from ECAS operators to Gardaí, paramedics, and firefighters, all working to protect the town and its people. Understanding what happens when you make that call is not just practical knowledge; it is part of understanding how local democracy and public safety function in everyday life.
Ancillary report funded by Coimisiún na Meán’s Courts Reporting Scheme