Dundalk Leader 11th March 2020
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Dundalk Tidy Towns ask local community to ‘adopt a patch’ Dundalk Tidy Towns have called on the people of Dundalk to do their bit to keep their area tidy ahead of voting for ‘Ireland’s Best Kept’ competition which takes place this May. Last month it was announced that Dundalk were one of fourteen towns nominated for the competition which is open to towns and villages from both the Republic of Ireland and the North. Dundalk have made great strides in Tidy Towns competitions in recent years and last year they received their 12th consecutive gold medal in the competi-
tion whilst again increasing their overalls score. The ‘Best Kept Competition’ is an extra challenge for the committee this year and according to Dundalk Tidy Towns member Stephen Clarke a large part in how Dundalk fare will be down to the people of the town. “Judging for the competition will take place in May and marks are awarded for tidiness, green spaces as well as residential areas and commercial premises among others. We are asking all businesses, schools and community organisations to ‘adopt a patch’ which means
picking an area beside where they live or work and ensure that it is tidy. Rubbish bags are available from Louth County Council and it would be great if people can get involved by organising a litter pick or ensue that the green areas around them are weed free and rubbish free. “This is our first time being nominated for this competition and we are proud that Dundalk have been chosen but now that we are in it we want to do as well as we possibly can in the competition and I believe we can do well with the help of the local community,” stated
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Stephen. “We will be holding litter picks every Monday and Tuesday after St Patrick’s Day to prepare for the competition so keep an eye out on our facebook page if you want to get involved. It’s very exciting for us to be nominated and we ask the community to play their part in making Dundalk look as well as it possibly can,” he added. If anybody would like to get involved in helping to keep Dundalk tidy they can contact the Dundalk Tidy Towns Facebook Page or dundalktidytowns@ De La Salle students who took part in the Enterprise Awards gmail.com.
Niall produces superb score at Dundalk Golf Club Niall Sloane produced a superb score of 45pts to win the first 18 hole competition of the year at Dundalk Golf Club on Sunday. Playing off 31, he put together a round he will remember for a long time as he scored on every
hole with 11 three-point holes, five two-pointers and two onepointers. He finished three clear of his nearest rival Pearse Murphy (18) who had 43pts after being deducted for previous winter success and had to settle for tak-
ing the Category 3 prize ahead of John Farrell who found himself in the prizes for the second successive week. A countback was needed to decide Category 1 with Seamus Bailey (12) just edging out Brendan Keane (11) after both
had come home in 41pts. Conor McCleneghan (14) showed he is getting to grips with his new handicap after seeing it tumble last year and he took Category 2 with 41pts just edging out John Casey McKeever (14). Connor McCaughey
(5) recorded the day’s best gross score with 34pts. Congratulations to Caolan Rafferty on his selection on the International team for the Arnold Palmer Cup which will take place at Lahinch Golf Club from July 3 to 5.
Sign up for Patsy Kelly 5K
Patsy Kelly 5km Road Race and Walk on April 4 will see Clan na Gael GFC and North East Runners AC come together for the ninth time to hold the event in honour of a man who was a member of both club. Patsy was a player and later groundsman with the Clans while also a member of the North East Runners and previously Mountpleasant AC in Dundalk. The event sees over 800 competitors each year in Dundalk’s biggest 5km event. A notable feature this year is that the total
number of finishers since the event started in 2012 will pass the 6000 mark. The event starts at Ard Easmuinn and run towards the Clans where the road becomes a sea of runners before running through O’Hanlon and Pearse Park, then returning to finish at the Clans where all competitors receive their finishers medals. Start time is 6.30pm and the first 800 registered will receive the PK2020 T-shirt. FLOGAS have once again come on board a main event sponsor for the fourth time.
Substantial prizes are available in all age categories with the course record of 14.34 for the men and 16.38 for ladies attracting a €100 bonus. The Patsy Kelly Cup is awarded to the first in Patsy’s age group where the course for the over 60 being the toughest record to break in a time of 17.15mins. Registration is primarily on line at https://register.primoevents.com/ps/event/pk5k2020. However there is registration available in the Clans Bar on Saturday March 14 from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Pop-Up Shop For RCNE Rape Crisis North East is inviting you to come and visit their Pop-up Shop on Tuesday March 31 to Saturday April 4 in the Long Walk Centre, Dundalk. This is a great opportunity to dispose of some of your used equipment and bits and pieces and perhaps purchase some other much needed items. Buy a gift for someone special, or just treat yourself, and support your local charity. It will be much appreciated. All proceeds will go directly to Rape Crisis North East Clg. to provide a much needed counselling and support service to the increased number of Women, Men and Young People attending the service. Should you require any further information please don’t hesitate to contact 042 9339491, email info@ rcne.ie or you can check the website www.rcne.ie
Oiche Gaeilge At O’Mahonys Last Monday evening, Paddy Kettle hosted the inaugural Sean O’Mathuna Oiche Gaeilge in the new Sean O’Mahonys Community Room on the Point Road. This first informal gathering was a great success with an enthusiastic group, with all levels of fluency as Gaeilge, and some with hardly any Gaeilge at all. Ideas on Irish or local history and culture will also be welcome, it continues next Monday at 7.30pm.
Bric-A-Brac For Birches A bric-a-brac pop up shop is currently open in the Longwalk Shopping Centre. The shop opened on Monday March 9 and will remain open until this Saturday March 14. All proceeds raised will go towards the Birches Alzheimer Day Centre.
St Joseph’s GFC Lotto
Martina O Callaghan Dundalk Credit Union presenting Cash cheques to winners in the Dundalk Credit Union Cash draw from left John Toal €1000 Joanne Shevlin €3000 and Patrick Fallon €1000.
There was no winner of the St Josephs GFC lotto jackpot of €10,900. The numbers drawn were 4, 8, 21, 31. Prizewinners were 1. Louth County Board Ticket for Houses: Fionn McGauley c/o Cluskeys 2. €50 Liz O’Donoghue c/o David O’Donoghue 3. €50 Volcheck & Jim c/o Jim Hoey.