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Dundalk Leader 11th March 2026
A clean looking Ramparts River! Five Louth clubs unite to launch WAGR County Close Junior Golf Championship
FIVE of County Louth’s leading golf clubs — Ardee, County Louth, Dundalk, Greenore and Seapoint — have come together to launch the inaugural WAGR Louth County Close Junior Championships. The championship will provide junior golfers across the county with the opportunity to earn World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points in the U19 Boys and U20 Girls divisions through a 54hole stroke play competition. Schedule: U19 Boys: Greenore (17 Aug), Ardee (18 Aug), Baltray final (20 Aug); U20/16 Girls & U15 Boys: Dundalk (10 Aug), Seapoint (19 Aug), Baltray final (20 Aug). Max Handicap Boys U19 28 / Boys U15 36 / Girls 45 A cut will apply after 36 holes, with all divisions concluding with a final round at County Louth Golf Club. Registration now open. €30 per competitor, and players must be a jun-
Conor Mulholland (Seapoint Boys Captain), Roan Norton, (Dundalk Boys Captain), X Gallagher (Ardee Girls Captain), Daniel McKenna (County Louth Boys Captain), Aoibhe Reilly (County Louth Girls Representative), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk GC), X (Ardee Boys Captain), X (Greenore Girls Captain) X (Greenore Boys Captain), Grace Cosgrove (Dundalk Girls Captain). ior member of one of the 5 golf clubs. Entries will close once fields are full. A spokesperson for the organising committee said: “This championship is unique in bringing together five clubs to maximise opportunities for junior golfers across the county. While WAGR points will attract elite players, the event is designed to be inclusive, with significant prizes also available
for nett scores. Keeping the competition local and affordable helps remove barriers and provides a genuine pathway for juniors into championship golf.” County Louth has a proud tradition of producing top amateur talent. Caolan Rafferty, recently completed an historic domestic grand slam, and Gavin Tiernan competed in teh Walker Cup. In recognition of
Rafferty’s achievements, the U15 division of the Louth Boys Close Championship will be named in his honour. Sponsors: Anord Mardix, Greenore Port, Remax Elite, Ping Golf, Links Landscaping, Farrell Furniture, Hanna McDonnell Marketing, Stephen Murphy and professionals Brian Kerley, David Carroll, Leslie Walker, Scott Kirkpatrick & Zac Rouiller.
THANKS to Barbara O’Flaherty who sent us in this unusually clean looking picture of the Ramparts River in Dundalk. The river has been cleaned recently by both Louth County Council and volunteers from Dundalk Tidy Town’s. According to Louth County Council cleaning of the river took place ‘recently during and after the recent floods. ‘During and following the recent flooding, our operations team carried out some emergency cleaning on grills to help alleviate some issues on the river,” stated the local authority. Helen Byrne from Dundalk Tidy Towns said that volunteers from the group helped to clean the river over two recent Saturday mornings. “We have two long reach poles and nets. It’s one job the volunteers love doing,” stated Helen who also said the group had seen ducks Volunteers from Dundalk Tidy Towns have spent the last couple of weekin the river in recent ends helping to clean out the river. Work was also carried out by Louth County Council following recent flooding. weeks.
CAUGHT IN A SCAM? WHAT DUNDALK RESIDENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CYBERCRIME AND STAYING SAFE By Darren Crawley FROM fake delivery texts to online investment schemes, cyber scams are becoming an everyday threat for people across Ireland. Dundalk is no exception. As more services move online and criminals become more sophisticated, local Gardaí and community safety groups are urging residents to stay alert and to know exactly what to do if they fall victim to a scam. In recent years, Ireland has seen a sharp rise in cybercrime, including phishing emails, fake online marketplaces, romance scams, and identity theft. These crimes don’t just affect big cities or businesses; they target ordinary people in towns like Dundalk. Scammers often pretend to be banks, delivery companies, or even Government services. A simple text message claiming “There is a customs charge on your An Post package”, “Your package is delayed” or “Your account has been compromised” can trick people into clicking dangerous links or sharing personal information. Older residents, young people, and small business owners are all vulnerable. Criminals adapt their tactics to suit their targets, using social media, email, and messaging apps to appear convincing and urgent. Common Scams to Watch Out For Some of the most frequently reported scams in the Dundalk area include: Phishing texts and emails pretending to be
from banks, An Post, or Revenue Fake online ads for concert tickets, cars, or rental properties Romance scams where criminals build online relationships to request money Investment scams promising quick profits through crypto or trading platforms Impersonation scams where someone pretends to be a Garda, solicitor, or utility provider The goal is always the same: to pressure victims into acting quickly without thinking. What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed If you believe you’ve been targeted or fallen victim to a scam, acting quickly can limit the damage. 1. Stop all contact immediately—Do not reply to the scammer, click any more links, or send further information. 2. Contact your bank—If you’ve shared financial details or sent money, call your bank straight away. They may be able to freeze transactions or secure your account. 3. Report it to Gardaí—Dundalk Garda Station encourages residents to report cybercrime, even if no money was lost. This helps build intelligence and protect others in the community. You can report: In person at Dundalk Garda Station Through the Garda Confidential Line Or via official online reporting channels 4. Change your passwords—Update passwords on your email, banking, and
social media accounts—especially if the same password is used across multiple platforms. 5. Keep evidence—Save screenshots, messages, emails, and transaction details. These can help investigations. An Garda Síochána has specialist cybercrime units that work at a national level, but local Gardaí in County Louth play a key role in supporting victims and sharing prevention advice. Community Gardaí in Dundalk often work with schools, community groups, and older persons’ organisations to raise awareness about online safety. Talks and information sessions help residents recognise warning signs and avoid common traps. Gardaí stress that no one should feel embarrassed about being scammed. Criminals are highly skilled at manipulation, and victims come from all backgrounds. While no system is perfect, a few simple steps can significantly reduce your risk: Never click suspicious links in texts/emails Check website addresses carefully for small spelling errors
Use strong, unique passwords for each account Enable two-factor authentication where possible Be cautious with personal information on social media Verify requests for money by calling the person or company directly If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Cybersecurity is no longer just a national issue—it’s a local one. Community safety initiatives in Dundalk increasingly include online protection alongside traditional crime prevention. Libraries, youth groups, and local organisations have begun offering digital skills workshops, helping residents understand privacy settings, scam detection, and safe online behaviour. For older residents, in particular, these sessions provide practical guidance in a friendly environment. Learning how to spot a fake message or protect a smartphone can make a real difference. Local schools also play a role by teaching young people about online safety, identity protection, and responsible social media use. Being scammed doesn’t just cause financial loss—it can also affect confidence, trust, and mental wellbeing. Victims often feel embarrassed, angry, or anxious afterward. Support is available through local services, including:
Community Gardaí Citizens Information Centres Financial advice services Mental health supports Talking about the experience can help prevent isolation and reduce the risk of repeat targeting. Small businesses in Dundalk are also targets for cybercrime, especially through fake invoices, email fraud, and ransomware attacks. A single breach can cause serious financial and reputational damage. Local enterprise groups encourage business owners to: Train staff in cyber awareness Back up data regularly Use secure payment systems Verify payment requests carefully Cybersecurity is now as important as physical security for protecting livelihoods. Looking Ahead As technology continues to shape everyday life, cybercrime will remain a challenge for communities like Dundalk. But awareness, education, and strong local support can make a real difference. By working together, residents, Gardaí, schools, and community groups, the town can build a safer digital environment where people feel informed, protected, and confident online. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. A quick check could save you from becoming the next victim.
Ancillary report funded by Coimisiún na Meán’s Courts Reporting Scheme