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DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Uisce Éireann’s €12m upgrade for local water treatment plant

Oran and Gareth’s cycle fund-raiser over The Alps

Dundalk couple raise almost €10k for Irish Kidney Association

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Wednesday, 12th August, 2026. Vol. 19, Issue 32 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com

Chloe ready to bloom in the Rose of Tralee By Paul Byrne LOUTH Rose Chloe Moran has thanked the people of Louth for their unwavering support since she was chosen to represent Louth at the prestigious Rose of Tralee Festival which begins tomorrow. The Festival takes place all weekend before the Selection nights take place on Monday and Tuesday where the Rose of Tralee will be announced. According to Chloe, she is immensely proud to be a native of Louth and she has promised to represent her County and showcase all the wonderful places and people that inhabit it. The DkIT nursing student from Belfry Avenue in Dundalk is determined to showcase not only her hometown but also the

community that has helped shape her ambitions. A past pupil of St Vincent’s Secondary School, the 23-yearold is excited to showcase her home town and County. “It’s not often I’m stuck for words, but trying to explain the last few weeks? It’s very hard. Never mind myself, but to see the amount of joy, craic, excitement, love and support that has been shared by my family, friends, neighbours, communities, the town and the whole county has been absolutely unreal. “If I could bottle up the feeling that has been in the air around Louth these last few weeks, I’d be a very wealthy woman, however, it’s just something that never could be sold. Louth Rose Chloe Moran says she is heading to Tralee with a very full heart and absolutely bursting with pride to come from County Louth. Continued on Page 2

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Chloe ready to bloom in the Rose of Tralee

Continued From Page 1 “I am SO proud of our places, but more importantly, our people who make this county what it is. I have had a backing like no other since day dot, and I think that says everything about the size of the hearts in Louth. “To every business, community group, school, Day Service, Radio Station, Nurs-

ing Home and so many other places that welcomed me through your doors — thank you. Thank you for taking the time to invite me in, for showing me your world, for telling me your stories, and for getting to know me along the way. “I genuinely enjoyed every single second of it. Every visit, every chat, every laugh, every story.

I’ve been completely myself through all of this- and I have been met with nothing but kindness, love and support. I’ll never be able to properly put into words what that means to me. “I am ready to showcase every single person and place in our county over the next few weeks, but especially the 14 other fabulous ladies who I shared my Louth Rose selection with. So, I am heading off to Tralee with a very full heart, absolutely bursting with pride to come from County Louth. Here’s to new forever friends and memories that will last a lifetime. The bags are packed, the hair is pinned,” concluded Chloe. Focusing on her future career motivates Chloe through exam and placement pressure. “It will all be worth it when I’m qualified and I’m in a job I really love.” Even on the toughest days, she says a smile from a patient or chat with another nurse usually helps. As she moves in to her final year in Sep-

tember, balancing studies and placement with the role of Louth Rose will no doubt be a busy time, but it is a challenge Chloe is confident that she can handle. “I think I can take a lot of my nursing qualities in to being a Rose. I just love being with people so I don’t think managing both will stress me out at all!” As her time to join the other Roses in Tralee fast approaches, Chloe is embracing every moment of the experience. She commends her neighbours in Belfry Avenue for encouraging her to put herself forward for the experience, knowing she would be a great fit and they would all be supporting her every step of the way. “Our street is the way streets used to be years ago, everybody helps each other out, it’s really, really lovely, “according to Chloe. Her Rose experience to date has been something she will always remember. Chloe has been involved with groups including the Louth Disability Cycling

Club, visited the Birches and Tredagh Lodge Dementia Day Centres, and been supported by many local businesses. She also held a Charity Night in the Lisdoo in aid of the Tie Wrap Gang, a group of dedicated Dundalk FC supporters, supporting charities in the Louth Area, raising almost €2,500. “The main thing that has stood out to me is how much of a Positive impact my Rose Journey has had on the people around me. I feel as if I am sharing my experience and that’s a huge part of the Rose of Tralee, embracing the places and people that have shaped who you are.” Whether she’s caring for patients on placement, studying in DkIT, or preparing to take to the Rose of Tralee stage, Chloe remains proudly rooted in Dundalk. As she heads to Tralee this August, she looks forward to representing the community spirit of both Louth and DkIT on a national Chloe says she is looking forward to representing Louth in Tralee. stage.

Uisce Éireann announce €12m upgrade to Cavan Hill Water Treatment Plant UISCE Éireann has broken ground on a €12 million upgrade to Cavan Hill Water Treatment Plant which supplies drinking water to over 45,000 people across Co Louth. This project follows the success of a 2024 pilot study, which proved highly effective in removing naturally occurring manganese from the water supply. As part of this major upgrade, the new filtration technology will now be installed on a permanent basis. The investment forms part of Uisce Éireann’s ongoing commitment to improving water infrastructure across County Louth. Once complete, the upgrade will enhance drinking water quality, support continued compliance with drinking water regulations, and provide a more resilient and reliable water

supply for homes and businesses throughout the region. Uisce Éireann prioritised the upgrade following seasonal instances of water discolouration in recent years. Uisce Éireann’s Programme Manager, Ian Walsh recognises the importance of this news, saying; “We are delighted to see work begin on this important project for Dundalk and the wider Louth area. Building on the success of the pilot study, this investment will deliver lasting benefits for customers by improving water quality and strengthening the resilience of the local water supply.” “This €12 million investment demonstrates Uisce Éireann’s continued commitment to upgrading critical infrastructure and supporting

the communities we serve.” This project is being carried out by Veolia Water Ireland on behalf of Uisce Éireann and works are due to complete in early 2028. Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more, visit the Uisce Éireann website. Uisce Éireann has launched a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number on the text alerts Uisce Éireann’s Programme Manager, Ian Walsh page.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

MILLIONS of people will have their gaze fixed firmly skyward this evening as a rare solar eclipse sweeps across Europe. More than 90% of the sun will be obscured across Ireland between 6pm and 8pm this evening in what can genuinely be described as a once in a lifetime experience given that this will be the largest solar eclipse visible from the island until September 2090. While it won’t be a total solar eclipse in Ireland, up to 98 per cent of the Sun will be covered during the event from certain areas in Ireland. Around Dundalk this percentage will be approximately 94%. In parts of Greenland, Iceland and Northern Spain a total eclipse will be visible. The last time an eclipse of this magnitude was seen in Ireland was back in August 1999. A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Moon and Sun align. As the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, the Sun’s light is blocked, casting a shadow on parts of the Earth. Dundalk native, Dr Niamh Shaw, who is originally from Dundalk, is an Irish engineer, scientist, writer and performer who was recently voted one of Ireland’s leading science communicators. She is hosting an Eclipse Watch Party in town on Wednesday which has completely sold out. “I’m very excited about this upcoming Eclipse Watch,” enthused Niamh. “It sold out very quickly which delighted me as sometimes

Moon is expected to have cleared the Sun by around 8pm. “We had a livestream back up of northern Spain planed if the weather wasn’t cooperative here in Dundalk but it’s looking like we won’t be needing that and it’s very exciting that we will get to see an eclipse like this which hasn’t been seen in Ireland since August of 1999. “I saw a total eclipse in Texas two years ago and it was amazing. It’s actually quite eerie as it gets noticeably colder when the sun is covered and all the birds stop tweeting, as they think it is night time. Greenland, Iceland and Northern Spain will see a total eclipse but we are not fair behind and we will see a partial eclipse of between 93 and 97% which is almost a full eclipse. Cork and Kerry will get the best of it but here in Dundalk our view won’t be far behind. It is very important that nobody look directly at the sun without eclipse glasses. “Looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not provide adequate protection. Neither do binoculars. This won’t happen again in Ireland until 2090 so for many including myself this will be the last chance to check out an eclipse of this magnitude,” stated Dr Shaw. Go to www.esero.ie for more information on the eclipse and family activities taking place locally and across the country.

Chance to watch rare solar eclipse Parents warned of dangerous behaviour in local playgrounds

Dr Niamh Shaw. you don’t know if the general public are going to be as excited about these things as I am. I am a nerd for this kind of stuff and it’s great to see such enthusiasm around the event. I gave out a load of eclipse glasses to the Credit Union and the Library and I got a call this morning (Monday morning) to say they were all snapped up very quickly. “Looking at the forecast it is looking like the sky is going to be pretty clear so that is fantastic news. The event will become visible just after 6pm with maximum coverage of the Sun occurring shortly after 7pm. The

FINE Gael Councillor for Dundalk South, Cllr Robert Nash, is urging parents to be vigilant following reports of a dangerous new craze in local playgrounds that has already resulted in one child being admitted to hospital with serious head injuries. Cllr Nash said he has received reports of children using the wheel of an e-scooter to spin playground roundabouts and other rotating equipment at extremely high speeds in parks, including Muirhevnamor Park. In some cases, the equipment is believed to have reached speeds of 30 40km/h “Only last week, I was made aware of an incident in which a child was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital with serious head injuries after being thrown from a playground ride. The ride was travelling at such a speed that the child was simply unable to hold on.

“Make no bones about it – a child being thrown from playground equipment travelling at 30 or 40km/h is no different to being involved in a serious road traffic collision. The consequences can be devastating, and in some cases the injuries could be life-changing.” Cllr Nash said he has also received reports of groups of youths gathering in a number of parks around Dundalk and encouraging younger children to take part in this dangerous activity. He warned that many of these children may not fully appreciate the speeds being reached or the serious risks involved. “I am also aware that videos of some of these incidents have been circulated online, which only serves to encourage others to imitate this reckless behaviour.” Cllr Nash is appealing to parents to speak with their children about the dangers involved, particularly those whose older children may

visit playgrounds without adult supervision. “I welcome the decision to temporarily lock one of the playground rides in Muirhevnamor until a solution can be found to prevent this dangerous misuse. “Our playgrounds should be safe places where children can play, have fun and enjoy themselves. No parent should have to worry about their child’s safety because of reckless and irresponsible behaviour by others. “I would urge anyone who witnesses this type of dangerous activity to report it to An Garda Síochána immediately so that action can be taken before another child is seriously injured. “Finally, I want to extend my very best wishes to the child who was seriously injured in last week’s incident. I wish them a full and speedy recovery and hope they are back on their feet as soon as possible.”

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

The Dundalk Library Poetry Readers.

THE Craol / Community Radio Ireland Awards Ceremony were held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone on July 16th. Over 20 community radio stations from throughout Ireland attended. The event celebrated the exceptional work of Ireland’s community radio stations and volunteers, staff and board members who sustain them. The Annual Awards are funded by Coimisiún na Meán through the Sponsorship Fund and highlight the role of community radio in amplifying lo-

Exceptional work of Dundalk community radio rewarded cal voices, promoting inclusion and fostering civic participation nationwide. Putting Irish language on the map during Seachtain na Gaelige on the Dundalk Airwaves and winning a Craol Achievement Award for their efforts were the Dundalk Library Poetry Reading Group. The group was founded in 2023 by Pat McKenna with just four members, who shared a love of poetry. Since then, the group has grown steadily to 14 regular members, becoming an important part of Dundalk’s literary and cultural life. Members meet to read and discuss the work of Irish and international poets, in a welcoming and supportive environment. The group has participated in community events, including heritage celebrations and broadcasts on Dundalk FM, helping to bring poetry to a wider audience. In 2024 they recorded 2 shows, 3 in 2005 and 2 so far in 2026. The group have recorded approximately 75 poems and are starting to include their own pieces. For the Seachtain na Gaeilge show, they read poems in Irish. The show production

involved the readers timing their poems and song choices and Pat sent Running Order to Alan Byrne, the producer. Several members of the Group attended the Community Radio Achievement Awards in Athlone recently, reflecting the group’s close links with Dundalk FM and its contribution to community broadcasting through poetry readings and cultural programming. The group netted two awards. A gold in their section and a gold overall award, for their one hour radio programme for Seachtain na Gaeilge. The members of the group are; Deirdre McDermot, Edna Light, Irene Maloney, Jervis Byrne, Michael Farrell, Loreto Byrne, Noel Sharkey, Patrick Bermingham, Pauline Holland, Sally Lambe, Yvonne Bagnal and Brendan Rooney. The Craol judges siad ‘Maith sibh, iontráil den scoth. Léirigh sibh rannpháirtíocht iontach ón bpobal, le líon mór oibrithe deonacha páirteach. Chuaigh sibh i teagmháil le bhur bpobal agus d’fhreagair siad go líonmhar, rud a léiríonn go bhfuil deis den scoth á cur ar fáil agaibh do mhuintir

Joanne Lavelle and Alan Byrne.

Dhún Dealgan’ ‘Well done, an excellent entry. You demonstrated great community participation, with a large number of volunteers involved. You reached out to your community and they responded in large numbers, which shows that you are providing an excellent opportunity for the people of Dundalk.’ Joanne Lavelle won a Gold award in the Irish Culture Showcase category. Joanne is a 2nd generation business owner on Dundalk’s high street and vice president of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. Joanne joined as a presenter in 2025 and her entry was a six-part series entitled ‘Families of Dundalk’ which she recorded and edited herself. Joanne felt that the series would promote the importance of local business in Dundalk and the ways in which they contribute. The interviews were recorded at the businesses (giving a sense of the tone of the premises). In awarding a Craol Achievement Certificate the judges said that Joanne ‘visited local businesses to tell stories that go beyond commerce, exploring the history of family businesses and how the

Joe and Ann Duffy.

town has evolved over the years. An important programme that captures the essence of community radio. Well done.’ Joe Duffy is a stalwart of community radio in Dundalk, has loyal listeners and has developed his programme over many years. He covers the Showband era and other interviews with the local community, demonstrating social benefits’. Those were the comments of the judges as they selected Joe Duffy to be the recipient of an award in the Social Benefits Music category. Along with playing requests on the weekday Afternoon Show, Joe presents the Sunday lunchtime Showband Street programme. Joe is a radio documentary maker with a series of shows about the Legend of Cúchulainn and an extened series recalling the History of the Great Northern Railway. Alan Byrne, Manager praised the award winners saying that while enhancing their media skills, they have contributed to an enhanced sense of cohesiveness and belonging, one of the founding values of the community radio service.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Dundalk Couple raise €9,532 for the Irish Kidney Association AUGUSTINE and Catherine Goss from Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth recently visited the Irish Kidney Association’s National Kidney Support Centre at Beaumont Hospital to present a cheque for €9,532. The funds were raised for the charity’s Support Centre through a successful Gift of Life Golf Classic which the couple had organised and was held at Greenore Golf Club, Co. Louth on 15th May, on the eve of Organ Donor Awareness Week. The Golf Classic marked a particularly special year for Augustine (Gus) and Catherine as they celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary and five years since Catherine donated a kidney to Gus. After undergoing home dialysis seven nights a week for seven months, Gus received his life-changing kidney transplant in 2021. The National Kidney Support Centre which has undergone major renovation provides free accommodation and day facilities for kidney patients and their families travelling from across Ireland for treatment in Dublin. While thanking all those individuals and organisations who supported the Golf

Catherine and Augustine Glass raised a total of €9.532 for the Irish Kidney Association thanks to a successful Golf Classic organised by the couple. Classic through par- community spirit, ciation (IKA), from ticipation, sponsor- highlighting the life- Dundalk, herself a ship and donations, changing impact of kidney transplant reGus also expressed transplantation while cipient, together with his gratitude for his raising much-needed Gwen O’Donoghue, renewed health and funds for the IKA’s Senior Media Officer, the support the Irish services. IKA, presented Gus Kidney Association This was the cou- and Catherine with a provides to his and ple’s second Golf Clas- limited-edition print other kidney patients’ sic in aid of the Irish of an illustration by families, he said, “Or- Kidney Association, talented amateur artganising the golf event following the hugely ist and former IKA was our way of giving successful inaugural National Chairman, something back and event in 2022, which Colin Mackenzie, of raising awareness so raised almost €18,000. that more families can Together, the two fun- the National Kidney have the same second draisers have gener- Support Centre. For more inforated almost €28,000 chance we’ve had.” The Golf Clas- to support kidney pa- mation on the Irish sic brought together tients and their fami- Kidney Association or how to get a do40 teams of golfers, lies across Ireland. In recognition of nor card including transplant recipients, living donors, sup- their outstanding sup- the digital donor card porters and friends port, Sarah Buchanan, which can be stored in a celebration of Projects Manager, in your phone wallet organ donation and Irish Kidney Asso- visit www.ika.ie

Heritage Week at Louth County Council Library Service GOT A STORY?

We want to hear from you Phone: 042 932 0888

Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com

JOIN Rosana Cooney in Dundalk Library on Saturday 15th of August at 3pm. Rosanna is the author of “Sweathouse: The New and Ancient Irish Sauna Tradition” and discover the fascinating history behind Irish saunas. This is a free event, suitable for adults but places are limited. To book your place email libraryhelpdesk@louthcoco.ie or call 042 9353190.

Saving our Seeds: Saving Our Heritage, this information session taking place in Dundalk Library on Tuesday 18th of August at 11am, will give attendees the skills to save seeds from their garden, store them safely and use them to create new plants each year. Giving food security and control over where your seeds come from. This is a free event, suitable for adults but places

are limited. To book your place email libraryhelpdesk@louthcoco.ie or call 042 9353190. Traditional Music Performance with acclaimed tradition musician and cultural advocate Brendan McCreanor takes place in Carlingford Library on Saturday 22nd of August from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Oran and Gareth FAMILY NOTICES to cycle 1000kms for Down Syndrome Ireland IN MEMORIAM

TWO years ago, Louth Village man Oran Colgan set off on a journey of a lifetime as he cycled almost 2000 miles to Athens, Greece to help raise money for the Irish Red Cross and help their efforts to provide support and relief to those impacted by the war in Gaza. Now, 24 years old Oran is getting back on the saddle for charity but this time he will have company as childhood friend Gareth Quinn joins him with the pair taking on the mammoth challenge of cycling 1000kms from Frankfurt, Germany to Verona, Italy. Oran and Gareth’s trek will see them cross the Alps mountains with the aim of completing the journey in ten days. All money raised from their expedition will go to Down Syndrome Ireland, a charity close to the pairs heart. “Gareth and I have both have strong roots at the Fairways hotel, I have been working here for the past 6 years and Gareth spent 3 years working with us before

Gareth Quinn and Oran Colgan will begin their fundraiser this Friday. moving on to start his career as an engineer. The hotel has always been proudly partnered with DSI during that time. “Working at the hotel has given me the chance to work alongside Jamie and build a great friendship with Elsie. They bring so much energy to the team and we are so lucky to work with them. “Every donation, big or small, goes directly toward supporting DSI’s incredible work. We will be updating our progress on my Instagram page so people can see

how we are getting on. “I cycled to Greece on my own a couple of years ago and the hardest part was climbing the Alps and that will be the case again this time. I’ve known Gareth since I was in school and over the last year he has been on to me saying he wanted to do a challenge and cycle a long distance on the bike. After months of planning we finally nailed down a route that would take 10 days and would add up to 100kms. Obviously some days we will do more than a 100kms and then when we have our

tougher days like when we climb the Alps we’ll do a bit less. “We fly into Frankfurt on Friday morning and from there it’s straight on to the bike and the journey begins. We will have tents with us as we want to keep the costs down. We are paying for everything ourselves and every single Euro that we raise will go directly to Down Syndrome Ireland,” stated Oran. You can donate to the fundraiser at https://www.justgiving. com/page/dsigo?utm_ medium=FR&utm_ source=CL.

African Arts Exhibition

Dundalk Meals on Wheels

AN African Arts Exhibition will take place in the County museum, Jocelyn St. Dundalk between the 15th and 29th August. The exhibition will take place each day during the normal museum opening hours. The event is organised by the African Cultural Centre and support by Louth County Council.

DUNDALK Meals on Wheels relies on volunteer drivers to deliver hot meals to elderly and vulnerable individuals, primarily operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays on a rotating basis. Ideally 4-6 drivers would cover the two separate

routes. Drivers would be required to do every second week. The service often seeks volunteers for 2-hour slots per month; contact Theresa Loughman at 042 9332848 or 087 3163545 to volunteer or avail of the service.

??? QUIZ ??? its title the French word for she? The Stinker—Which famous three-word cartoon phrase is inscribed on cartoon voice over actor Mel Blanc’s gravestone?

—ANSWERS— 1—Gianni Infantino, 2—A fish, 3— Orange, 4—Tipperary, 5—Anne St (at the Park St end), 6—30 seconds, 7—New York, 8—Fr Ted Crilly and Fr Dougal McGuire, 9—Armageddon, 10—Elle. The Stinker: That’s All Folks.

1—Can you name the under- 6—How many seconds do you get to work out your answers fire FIFA President who is currently fighting to remain in on the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown? his job? 7—Spiderman protects the 2—What type of animal is a people of which American Bombay Duck? city? 3—What colour is the Black Box in a commercial airplane? 8—Can you give me the surnames of Fr Ted and Fr 4—In which Irish county Dougal from the classic sitcom would you find the railway Fr Ted? station called Limerick 9—According to the Book of Junction? 5—What street in Dundalk was Revelation, which battle will be the end of the World? the Garda barracks located 10—What magazine uses as between 1852 until 1946

IN MEMORIAM

NOVENA

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the son of God, Immaculate Virgin assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea help me and show me you are my mother, O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech CAMPBELL CURLEY you from the bottom of my heart, to Jacqueline Pierce succour me in my necessity, (make re1st ANNIVERSARY 10th ANNIVERSARY quest). There are none that can withIn loving memory of Jacqueline In memory of Pierce Curley who’s stand your power. O Mary conceived Campbell late of Bishops Court, tenth anniversary occurs on 14th without sin, pray for us who has reDundalk whose first anniversary August. course to thee (say three times). Holy occurs at this time. We think of you in silence, Mary I place this prayer in your hands Do not stand at my grave and weep, We often speak your name, (say 3 times). Amen. Say this prayer for I am not there, I do not sleep, But all we have are memories, three consecutive days Publish it and I am a thousand winds that blow, And your picture in a frame. it will be granted to you. L.S. I am the softly falling snow. Your resting place we visit, NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART I am the gentle showers of rain, And put flowers there with care, Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked I am the fields of ripening grain, But no one knows the heartache, you for many favours. This time, I ask for I am the morning hush, As we turn and leave you there. this special favour (mention it). Take it, I am the graceful rush. —Always loved and remembered by dear Heart of Jesus and place it within Of beautiful birds in circling flight, your wife Rose. your own broken heart, where your FaI am the sunshine of the night, CURLEY ther sees it. Then in His merciful eyes, I am the flowers that bloom, Dad it will become your favour, not mine. I am in a quiet room. A Beautiful memory, Amen. Say this prayer for three days. I am the birds that sing, Dearer than gold, Promise publication and favours will I am in each loving thing, Of a father whose worth, be granted. (Never known to fail). L.M. Do not stand at my grave and cry, Can never be told. NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART I am not there I do not die. There is a place in my heart, Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked —Sadly missed by her husband Kevin; that can never be filled, you for many favours. This time, I ask sons Martin and Gerard; sisters Ol- I miss you Dad, for this special favour (mention it). ivia and Sonya; daughter-in-law And always will. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it Emma, grandchildren and extend- —Always loved and remembered within your own broken heart, where ed family. by your loving daughter Michelle; your Father sees it. Then in His merciAnniversary Mass will be held on son-in-law John and grandsons ful eyes, it will become your favour, Sunday, 16th August, at 11am, in St Adam and Sean. not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for Joseph’s Redemptorist Church. CURLEY three days. Promise publication and Dad favours will be granted. (Never known NOVENA In Our Hearts to fail). J.F. We thought of you with love today, NOVENA TO OUR LADY But that is nothing new, OF MOUNT CARMEL O most beautiful flower of Mount Car- We thought about you yesterday, LEGAL NOTICES mel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, And days before that, too. Blessed Mother of the son of God, We think of you in silence, AN CHUIRT DUICHE Immaculate Virgin assist me in my We often speak your name, THE DISTRICT COURT Now all we have are memorie, necessity. O Star of the Sea help me District Court Area of Dundalk District No. 6 and show me you are my mother, O And your picture in a frame. Public Dance Halls Act 1935, Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Your memory is our keepsake, Section 2 Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech With which we’ll never part, Notice of Application for a Public Dancing you from the bottom of my heart, to God has you in His keeping, Licence succour me in my necessity, (make We have you in our heart. Seamus Lambe, Chairman, request) There are none that can with- —From your son Pierce, Madeline, Kilkerley Community Development Group Limited stand your power. O Mary conceived Rachel and Aaron. (Applicant) without sin, pray for us who has reTAKE NOTICE that I, Seamus Lambe of course to thee (say 3 times) Holy Mary Newtownbalreagan, Kilkerley, Dundalk, County I place this prayer in your hands (say Louth, Chairman of the above mentioned three times). Amen. Say this prayer for Kilkerley Community Development Group three consecutive days Publish it and Limited intends to apply to the District Court it will be granted to you. M.S. sitting at the Courthouse, Drogheda, County THE MIRACLE PRAYER Louth on Tuesday, 22nd September, 2026, at Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I have 10.00am, for the grant of a Licence to use a asked many favours This time, I ask particular place to with Kilkerley Community you this special one (mention it). Take GORDON Development Group Limited premises situate it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it Sheila at Plaster, Kilkerley, Dundalk in the County of within your heart, where your Father Louth in Court Area and District aforesaid for 8th ANNIVERSARY sees it. Then in His merciful eyes, it will In loving memory of Sheila Gordon, Public Dancing. become your own favour, not mine. late of Seafield Lawns, who died on Dated this 12th day of August, 2026. Amen. Say this prayer three times for Signed: Hamill Wallace & Hardy LLP 17th August 2018. three days and your favour will be —Loved and remembered always by (Solicitors for the Applicant) granted. Never been known to fail. your loving husband Sean, your 2 Demesne, Dundalk, Promise publication of prayer. A.C. son Kevin and daughters Niamh, County Louth. NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART To: The District Court Clerk, Roisin, Annette, Grace and Clare. Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I asked Anniversary Mass, Saturday, 15th Au- The Courthouse, Dundalk, you for many favours. This time, I ask gust, at 7pm in the Holy Family County Louth. for this special favour (mention it). And To: The Superintendent of the Garda Church. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it Siochana, Dundalk Garda Station, The Crescent, Dundalk, County Louth. within your own broken heart, where And To: The Secretary, Louth County Council, your Father sees it. Then in His merciMillennium Buildings, St. Alphonsus Road, ful eyes, it will become your favour, Dundalk, County Louth, Being the Fire not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for Authority for the purpose of the Fire Services three days. Promise publication and Act, 1981, and being the Local Authority for the favours will be granted. (Never known purposes of The Public Dance Halls Act 1935. to fail). J.F.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

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NICE DININGROOM Table & 5 chairs (2 Carvers) for sale, open to offers Tel 087 2788573.

TREE SERVICES—Tree surgery, stump grinding, wood chipping & pruning. Conifer hedge reduction and ash die back removal. Fully Insured & Certified. Contact Chambers on 087 2750825 Email rchambers2008@ yahoo.ie. QUALIFIED CARPENTER — Looking to transform your home? I specialise in Architraves, Panelling, Doors, Flooring and all carpentry aspects. Contact Mark. R 083 4162364. MAN WITH A VAN—Hedges, tree topping, painting, facia & Soffit, patios, concreting, garage clear-outs, outside taps. Call Kevin for a free & honest quote 089-4016728. PAINTING SERVICES AVAILABLE— Interior and exterior plus Wallpapering, also sprayed and hand painted kitchens, all work carried out by professional trades men. Tel Brian 087 7558506. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE—Repairs, building, plumbing, painting, roof repairs, tiling, bathroom refurbishments, plastering, gardening, power washing, PVC facia and soffits, Over 20 yrs experience. References available. Whatsapp or Tel 085762-3758 for quotation. HEDGE CUTTING—Tree pruning, general garden maintenance & clearance, power washing & gutter cleaning. Lawns cut large and small in Darver and surrounding areas. Contact 087 2296441. ALL-IN-ONE property maintenance, painting & decorating, general building maintenance carried out, domestic or commercial, gutter cleaning, dust free sanding, no job too big or too small, quality but affordable, contact Ian 0874158238. CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING—Trusted for over 30 years. Expert care, sparkling results. Call Patrick on 0872492325 or visit www. carpetcleaningservices.ie. DMC GARDEN Maintenance services. Hedges, shrub trimming, shaping or removal. Large lawns mowed ride on mower, strimming, weeding beds, moss removal, demolition and removal of old sheds, fencing etc and more. All works to a very high standard at keen rates. For free quote please call 087 7019178. PLUMBER AVAILABLE—Bathroom renovations, Oil Boiler fitting and servicing, Attic Tanks and cylinder replacements. Can also install inside and outside taps etc etc. No Job too small. Contact Paul on 086 8897989. ALL-SEASONS Gardening Services. Gardens cleaned and cleared, tree felling, hedge cutting, stone, gravel, chippings. Steam cleaning roofs & driveways. Roof repairs. Local, professional, fully insured Tel Sean 087 349 5477. GRAVE CARE—We provide a reliable and caring service throughout Dundalk and surrounding areas. Grave Tending, Headstone Cleaning, Lettering Repainting, Flower and Wreath Placement and Regular Care visits available. - Caring for your loved ones’ final resting place - For enquiries please call 0892521646 or email grainne@ cherishgraves.com Follow us on Instagram cherish—graves— or check out our website www.cherishgraves.com. PLASTERING DONE to high standard. Small, internal jobs only. Contact Matt 086 8188277.

REFACE YOUR KITCHEN/wardrobes. Transform your old kitchen units with a respray. 40 years + experience. Tel Shanlis Kitchens 087 9839695.

FOUR WHEELS and tyres for sale 195/65R15 (tyres like new) would suit Jeep or Trailer Tel 087 2788573.

PROPERTY/RENTALS ATTENTION LANDLORDS—We supply furniture & Beds for any rental properties you have. Beds from €180, Bedroom Furniture Sets from €249 Call us today www.bedstore.ie, Coes Rd, Dundalk Tel 042 932 0927. BEDROOMS available to rent – 2 Double rooms in house on Dublin Road, Dundalk Tel 087 6536053.

SPECIAL SERVICES CHIMNEY & STOVE CLEANING—Tel Paul McArdle 087 6660094 / 042 9332491 Email: 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. 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. ROOF LEAKS MASTER—We repair all types of roof/tile, slate, bangor blues. Repair torch on roofs, scrape & clean, clean Solar panels, chimneys & chimney pots, chimney bird guards, gutter facia & soffits. All work guaranteed, 25 years experience. Tel. 086 8184827. CARPENTRY & JOINERY—Maintenance and repairs, roofing, 1st & 2nd fix carpentry, sash window repairs. No job too big or small. Contact Seandon Carpentry 087 298 5110. M O B I L E H O M E T R A N S P O R T— Transported throughout 32 Counties. Contact Eugene 086-607-1702. CARPET & OVEN CLEANING—Carpet, upholstery & specialist oven cleaning available. Call MVI Cleaning Dundalk on 042 94 21300 or visit www.mvicleaning.ie. TAKE THE HASSLE OUT of your garden. I do it all. Grass cutting, Hedge Cutting, Weeding, Strimming, Power washing, Gutter Cleaning, Fence Painting, General DIY, Flat Pack Assembly, Removals. Contact Catriona 087 3172109. ROOFING & BUILDING contractor available. Repairs and new builds. Fully insured. Contact Mark Carney on 087 1302040 for enquiries. KEVIN McMAHON ELECTRICAL Dundalk, small household jobs, safe electrical approved Tel 087 2548221 after 5pm.

PLANNING NOTICES

LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—I, John Sands, intend to apply for Outline Permission for development at Haynestown, Dundalk, Co. Louth. The SIDE GATES supplied and fitted. Made to development will consist of: Outline Order. Fence panels supplied and fitted. Call permission for a dwelling house, domestic garage & home office outbuilding, new Jessie 087 6429223 or Joe 087 2317666. vehicular entrance, waste water treatment HERITAGE PAINTING & Decorating. system and associated site development Residential & Commercial. Reputation built works. This planning application may on recommendations. Internal & External, be inspected or purchased at a fee not dustless sanding system, wallpapering exceeding the reasonable cost of making a & Murals. Call Colin 087 7874173 Email copy, at the offices of Louth County Council, colin@heritagepainting.ie. Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, from GRAVE AND GARDEN maintenance. Grass 9. 30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. A maintained on graves available at a yearly submission or observation in relation to rate. Graves topped up, concrete repaired, the application may be made in writing to stones supplied and fitted. Graves sodded the planning authority on payment of the or reseeded. Gardens maintained, hedges prescribed fee €20.00 within the period of and bushes trimmed, grass cut, strimmed, 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt edged, etc. Call or Whatsapp on 087 by the authority of the application, and 1881101 or find us on facebook. such submissions or observations will be CRUSHED STONE supplied and delivered. considered by the Planning Authority in Small, medium and large loads. 6” down, making a decision on the application. The 804, Quarry face, shale rock. Tel 087 planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may 6276423 or 048 30888194. ROBERTSON’S GARDENING—Garden refuse to grant permission. Signed: P. Herr maintenance, Lawn care, Hedge trimming, & Associates, Block 4, Third Floor, Quayside Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co. Pruning, Garden Tidy Ups, Clearances,. Louth. A91 KA9R. Tel. 042-9330019. E-mail Dubin and Louth areas. Free quotes info@pherr.ie. available. Contact 089 6057631 or LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—I, Fiachra robertsons.ie. Malone, intend to apply for Permission for CHARA COUNSELLING—20 years’ development at Lugbriscan, Riverstown, experience, currently taking appointments. Co. Louth. The development will consist Supporting you with emotional of: Permission for Change of houseintelligence for relationship issues, your type previously granted permission mental health, grief, all addictions & past under planning reference no. 2460679 & traumas. For a strictly private consultation 2560447 and associated site development call Martin today on 083 3402766. works. This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not CLASSES & COURSES exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of Louth County Council, GET FIT the fun way and learn to dance, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, from the Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Jive, 9. 30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. A now taking place in the Lisdoo, Dundalk submission or observation in relation to Tuesday’s from 8pm - 10pm, no partner the application may be made in writing to required. First wedding dance lessons and the planning authority on payment of the private lessons also available. Contact 086 prescribed fee €20.00 within the period of 357 3271 for further information. 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt D R U M L E S S O N S I N C LU D I N G by the authority of the application, and BODHRAN—For adults & children aged 8 such submissions or observations will be years upwards. One to one lessons. Phone considered by the Planning Authority in 087 414 4228. making a decision on the application. The KIDS SEWING CAMP 5 Days from 17th to planning authority may grant permission 21st August at Bó Studios, Jocelyn Street, subject to or without conditions, or may Dundalk. For bookings contact Bláthnaid refuse to grant permission. Signed: P. Herr & Associates, Block 4, Third Floor, Quayside on 086 0312003. Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co. PERSONAL Louth. A91 KA9R. Tel. 042-9330019. E-mail info@pherr.ie. GENT—Early 60s, wishes to hear from LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—I, Lorcan other males for friendship. Various McGeeney, intend to apply for planning interests, age unimportant, Louth area. permission for development to comprise Genuine advert. Text 087 3802671. new dwellinghouse, detached domestic SINGLE MOTHER in her 40s wishes to hear garage, septic tank and percolation from handyman with a view to friendship/ area and all associated siteworks at socialising. Louth area Text 086 3606338. Castlebellingham Road, Dromiskin, 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.

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PLANNING NOTICES

LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—FURTHER INFORMATION. I, Aishling Dullaghan, have submitted to the planning authority significant Further Information in relation to planning application Ref:2612. The development applied for consisted of Outline Planning Permission for development to comprise new dwellinghouse, septic tank and percolation area and all associated site works at Seecrin, Riverstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth. The significant further information comprises amendments to site layout and boundary treatments, creation of new vehicular entrance and all associated site works. The significant further information in relation to the application has been furnished to the planning authority, and is available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the authority during its public opening hours, and a submission or observation in relation to the further information may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, not later than two weeks after receipt of this newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority.

LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL—I, Oksana Cholach, intend to apply for permission for development consisting of the construction of family accommodation unit (Granny Flat) to the side of an existing dwelling house, construction of new porch to main dwelling house and all associated site development works at 45 Castleross, Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co. 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. 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.

LOUTH COUNT Y COUNCIL—I, Ronan Matthews, intend to apply for Retention Permission and Completion of Renovation Works to Protected Structure Reference number D103 at 71 Chapel Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Retention permission is sought for incomplete internal refurbishment works and the replacement of windows and Full permission is sought for the completion of internal refurbishment 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 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—I, Angela Reilly, intend to apply for Full Planning Permission for Extensions and Alterations to existing dwelling house at 6 Plaster, Mountpleasant, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 EV20. Full permission is sought for a two storey extension to the side (south gable) and a two storey extension to the front (east elevation) along with a single storey extension to the rear (west) elevation. Permission also includes for the alterations to the interior of the existing dwelling, replacement of existing windows, new plaster finish to exterior and all 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 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—FURTHER INFORMATION. We, Mary and Michael Woods, have submitted to the planning authority significant Further Information in relation to planning application Ref: 25151. The development applied for consisted of Outline planning permission for two dwellinghouses and all associated siteworks at Greenore Road, Carlingford, Co. Louth. The significant further information comprises a revised site layout including revised site boundaries and all associated site works. The significant further information in relation to the application has been furnished to the planning authority, and is available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the authority during its public opening hours, and a submission or observation in relation to the further information may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, not later than two weeks after receipt of this newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority.

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Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Rachel Finegan- Healthy Louth Co-ordinator By Paul Byrne THE Healthy Cities & Counties Programme is a Department of Health funded initiative located within local government with a focus on life-long wellbeing, prevention of illness; enabling wellbeing environments and the reduction of health inequities. More specifically, the programme highlights the important role and responsibility that local government has in enhancing community wellbeing outcomes. The programme has a formal governance arrangement within the LCDC structure which gives it a strong platform from which to build collaborative effort and support high level goal efforts within Local Economic and Community Plans. The Healthy Ireland Coordinator is responsible for the delivery of the programme. A Healthy Ireland Fund secured from the Department of Health is provided to each Local Authority to help leverage activity in specific outcome areas. The fund is used to lever support for projects in specific outcome areas and its management and administration forms part of the overall work programme of the Coordinator. The primary work of the Healthy Ireland Coordinator is a collaborative and networking role to encourage implementation of key wellbeing determinant objectives within local government, explore resource and partnership opportunity locally, regionally and nationally to influence resource allocation flows to the Local Authority for wellbeing outcome focused projects, and seek out opportunity from a European perspective considering the WHO European Healthy Cities Network approach and relevant EU programme activity. Locally, the Healthy Louth Coordinator is Ardee native Rachel Finegan and recently the Dundalk Leader sat down for a chat to find out a bit more about what her role entails. I’m in the council since 2017 and I was here up

Rachel Finegan. until 2024 in various sections. I was predominantly in housing and I worked in capital delivery, infrastructure, procurement and lots of different sections. I then moved to Meath County Council for a little while as their Economic Development Officer and then I came back in February to Louth County Council when I started this role as Healthy Louth Coordinator. I’m from Ardee originally so it was nice to come back to work in Co. Louth. I actually didn’t realise how much motivation wise, how nice it is to work in your own County. I’d actually taken it for granted when I worked here before. And then when I moved away I was like ‘Oh God it’s nice when you are delivering projects that they are benefitting your own neighbourhoods’ HOW LONG HAS LOUTH HAD A HEALTHY LOUTH CO-ORDINATOR? “It’s on the go since 2016 when the Healthy Ireland Fund came into effect. Nationally there’s a spend of about €30m to date on Healthy Ireland. We are in Round 4 at the moment. We have a National Network which consists one Health Coordinator for every local authority. So there are 31 Local Authorities across the country. And then there is also Sláintecare

local development officers. Louth this year got two of those as well so there had been 19 Sláintecare areas in Ireland and now it’s increased to 24 so it’s brilliant for us that we have two of those, one for Dundalk and one for Drogheda. “Previously a lot of the Healthy Ireland Projects and funds would have been taking up by Dundalk and Drogheda because there’s such large areas of deprivation and the focus is promoting mental health and physical activity across the county. Now that we’ve got both a Healthy Louth Co-ordinator and two Sláintecare Development Officers I’m hoping we can spread our wings a bit and start focusing on rural areas as well as our two major towns. So the three of us will be working together and we each have a budget of €75,000 so it’s fantastic for the county that we now have three pots to dip into and the plan is for us all to collaborate on different projects and work together. WHEN DID THE GOVERNMENT START FOCUSSING ON TRYING TO KEEP THE COUNTRY HEALTHY? “It’s definitely a focus area now more than ever. To be fair there has been work done in previous years but it probably didn’t get the publicity it deserved. When I was

working in Louth years ago in the council I suppose Healthy Ireland wouldn’t have really been on my agenda in terms of my day to day work. Now, that the role is permanent and is more strategic I will be linking in with public realms such as our housing teams, operations teams and we will be hoping to actually collaborate across all the directorates and put it on the agenda for all of our planning items. EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMMES DELIVERED. “We would have a bit of crossover already with different sections of Louth County Council including Louth Local Sports Partnership. Boxing Clever for example was rolled out between 2023 and 2025 in the Red Door. That was a fantastic programme that ran for 20 weeks and was an integrated educational, fitness, and substance use recovery initiative run at The Red Door Project in Drogheda. It was supported by Louth County Council and Healthy Louth via the Healthy Ireland Fund, it combined physical boxing training with QQI-accredited education and was a huge success. “We also funded ‘Sailing Into Wellness’ which was delivered by Turas counselling here in the town. That was a four week programme for people with addictions who went into the ocean on a boat and they are learning how to sail, how to built teamwork and peer leadership. And the way it worked was that they would return the next year as a leader and they’d be helping the following year’s people in the programme. “We also do a programme that is rolled out by Dundalk Youth Centre but it is targeted at youths across the whole county. So, I don’t know, maybe 50 0r 60 of them will get on a bus and they would go away off to Warrenpoint for a week for teambuilding and leadership. It’s physical activity, mental health programmes and that has been build-

ing each year and it is really beneficial. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION “We have a tool that we use which is called the Place Standard Tool and that is a framework used to evaluate and improve the physical and social quality of a place. That is where you bring the community in for a structural conversation about the place where they live. Basically you do a walkaround of the community/ area in question with a mix of residents, council staff and decision makers. You do a walkaround and there are 14 different themes such as community safety, public lighting, cracks on the road, green spaces, transport into town etc. “Everyone comes back and they can mark their local area on a personal level and then we do a workshop where we break into groups and we have a discussion about what was just seen on the walkabout. It’s all supposed to promote that community informed decision making for policy in the council. And then we know that we’ve actually done our week in consulting with the community before rolling out different services or just not presuming that we know what is needed in those areas and that the community get to meet with the council and have an input,” explains Rachel. PROMOTING HEALTH TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN LOUTH Recently we reached out to the ETB and potentially with the schools we will be looking to roll out a campaign to teach the pupils healthy habits. It’s a bit tricky as I don’t have a team so I do find that a wee bit challenging as you are just one person and it’s hard to commit to something like that. But definitely the young demographic is a of huge importance. We need to target kids at a young age and kind of nurtured and guided. We do fund initiatives but in my five months in here so far there’s been no direct correspondence with youth groups.

HELPING ELDERLY IN LOUTH “I would be working closely with Sinead McVerry from the Age Friendly department here in Louth County Council and we would be going to a lot of the same events and I would be promoting stuff like healthy eating and we would have documentation and leaflets on bereavement and chronic illness and end of life and all the health events that we would go to they compliment each other very nicely. It’s good that we can crossover and share the workload a little bit. The Intergenerational piece is something that we are both interested in progressing because it’s just such a lovely dynamic to have the young people and the old people and that sense of it takes a village to create a community so we are bursting with ideas. HOPES FOR EXPANSION OF ROLE “For all of the things that we are looking to do I suppose the €75,000 pot doesn’t go far enough and we have to look for external funding to help us. Health and wellbeing is such a massive remit and we are making a case at a national level for more staff. I do find it a little bit limiting in terms of what you can deliver. You are relying on partners which we are grateful for as they are phenomenal but if we can help secure any additional funding which helps the objectives of Healthy Louth it’s brilliant. ENTHUSIASM FOR ROLE “I’m loving the job and I didn’t really know what to expect coming in. I knew the Round 4 funding had got a one year extension and I was thinking we just have to see out those projects a couple of which I moved over to SláinteCare to free up funds and ease pressure. There is a great wee team here and we have a good wide scope of different people. It has been amazing so far and I can’t give Louth County Council enough credit for how supportive they have been.

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“I’m getting invited into meetings already. I’m only a couple of months in and somethings it can take a bit longer to kind of find your feet and I thought I’d have to be knocking on the door and just rocking up to the meetings inviting myself,” laughs Rachel. “It’s been great and everybody has been supportive and got on board with the whole health and wellbeing message. It does kind of feel that all the decision making is all local authority apart from the hospitals so I do think we play an important role in how our community functions. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING “When we talk about mental health we talk about your mood, stress and anxieties and there are so many things that can feed into that. Like there is a huge link with housing for us. The Council are the biggest landlord in the County so there’s a huge piece there. “There is a new tenants forum so Healthy Louth and Sláintecare will definitely be committing to helping the housing section with that in any way that we can. We need to hear the feedback from the tenants and how we can improve things. It’s a great chance for us to access the opinions of over 5000 people both rural and urban around the county. All the positions that the local authorities are responsible for can affect people’s health and wellbeing so it’s just good that we are conscious of that and we have it on the agenda. “There is a group called Sanctuary Runners and we went along with them to the Parkrun in Dundalk. It was their first time. It kicked off and it was very successful and it was just brilliant. A lovely community atmosphere and it was such a good vibe. It focuses on migrants and integration and it’s very refreshing to see the reception they got because sometimes it doesn’t feel like that when you’re reading the news. So we will be keeping in touch with them to see how we can keep the momentum going for them.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

CommUnity Connect-Together for Hope event COMMUNITY Connect Together for Hope is a free suicide prevention and mental health awareness event hosted by Healthy Louth. It takes place on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Monasterboice Inn (Donegan’s) in County Louth to mark Suicide Prevention Awareness Day. According to Healthy Louth Coordinator Rachel Finegan the event is designed to bring together local supports and services to promote awareness, support and hope. “We have a fantastic event coming up next month for Suicide Prevention Awareness Day. It is being held in the Monasterboice Inn on Thursday September 10th between 11am and 1:30pm,”

explained Rachel. “We are proud to host CommUnity Connect - Together for Hope to mark Suicide Prevention Awareness Day. This event brings together local supports and services, and individuals with lived experience to promote awareness, support and hope. We have 43 service providers who will be there on the day with information stands including SOSAD, Pieta, Suicide Prevention Office, Samaritans, Red Door Project, MABS< Turas, Women’s Aid. All of these services that come together and help people in different ways with their mental health. A lot of the time they don’t know a lot about each other sometimes so it’s a really good

chance for them to meet and make contacts. “This event aims to: Raise awareness of suicide prevention and mental health supports; Connect individuals with local services and resources; Encourage open conversation around mental health and wellbeing. “The event will feature approximately 40 stalls of local supports and services, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with a wide range of organisations. “Alongside the stalls we have a diverse line up of guest speakers, sharing their powerful personal stories and professional insights. These speakers will include Kenneth

Egan (Silver medal for boxing in 2008 Olympic Games), Patrice Matthews (SAFE Castlebellingham), Derek Pepper (Team Leader for Shine’s Recovery Services in the North East) and Joanne O’Dwyer (an addiction counsellor and co-author of the book ‘Start Over’). The event is open to members of the public, community groups and service providers,” concluded Rachel. “It’s a huge event and the hardest part was trying to include everybody and not to leave anybody out. I am looking forward to that and it should be a really good positive piece and that’s as part of this CommUnity Connects project.

Minister’s Visit in Red Door, Drogheda.

Social Prescribing Steering Committee with Louth Local Development.

Louth County Council’s new Tenant Forum Workshop.

Launch of Sanctuary Runners at Dundalk Park Run.

Place Standard Tool Event, Muirhevnamor.

DkIT Healthy Campus Committee.

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Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Dundalk Leader Local Democracy Reports By LAUREN ROSS l lauren@dundalkleader.com

Call for emergency well grants as N33 barrier proposal could end water cuts hit north Louth farms overtaking between M1 and Ardee A FARMER with 200 cattle was among those struggling to find enough water during repeated supply problems in rural north Louth, councillors were told. Cllr Robert Nash (FG) said outages and low pressure around Hackballscross, Rassan, Annavacky and Kilkerley were causing serious problems for farmers whenever difficulties arose with the supply from Dunbin. “When the Dunbin reservoir goes empty, there’s no pressure to pump the water to those areas,” he said, adding the alternative water made available during outages might meet basic household needs, but was not enough for farms with large numbers of livestock. “There was one farmer on to me and he has 200 cattle,” Cllr Nash said. “Although they do put alternative water supplies out for people for tap water, for drinking and washing, it’s no good to farmers.” The wider area has experienced several recent disruptions. On 26 May, an operational problem at Hilltop Pumping Station affected Dunbin, Kilkerley, Sheelagh, Philipstown and surrounding areas, according to Uisce Éireann, while another operational issue at Dunbin Water Treatment Plant on 12 June left customers in Hackballscross, Rassan, Sheelagh, Kilkerley and nearby townlands with no water or reduced pressure. As previously reported, residents in Sheelagh were also said to have experienced seven outages from the middle of June. Cllr Nash asked officials whether emergency funding could be made available to help those repeatedly affected sink their own wells, considering the current State well grant can cover 85% of approved costs for a new well, up to a maximum of €5,000. Senior Engineer Mark Johnson said no special emergency funding was available adding, “If there’s a water main in the vicinity of the roadside, then unfortunately you can’t get a well grant.” Cllr Nash also called for the reinstatement of a cross-border connection which, he said, previously allowed water from the Crossmaglen side to feed

Cllr. Robert Nash. parts of Annavacky and Hackballscross when there were problems at Dunbin. “There’s a simple solution there for a cross-border connection that was there years ago and needs to be put back in,” he said. “We’re all on about crossborder collaboration. Maybe it’s something the East Border Region can look at, and we need to get a connection.” Separately, water concerns were also raised at the meeting by Cllr John Sheridan (FF) who said low water pressure was also affecting homes in Collon. He told the meeting seasonal demand and further housing development appeared to be adding pressure to the network and asked whether the council could examine the issue with Uisce Éireann. Referring to Collon, Mr Johnson said the problem had been raised with Uisce Éireann the previous week. “Level-wise, it’s practically level with the reservoirs, so pressure is the main problem,” he said, adding that Uisce Éireann had “a couple of ideas” for boosting the pressure for houses in the area. On the proposed cross-border link, Mr Johnson said the source of the public water supply was a matter for Uisce Éireann. He added, “They probably won’t allow anything crossborder anymore, and I know it’s the same in Monaghan,” he

said. “It’s probably a difficult one to crack, unfortunately.” Commenting, Uisce Eireann said the recent interruptions to water supply across the Dunbin Supply Scheme were caused by a series of unrelated operational incidents rather than a single underlying fault with the water supply scheme. “Uisce Éireann responded to each incident as a priority, deploying crews to carry out repairs and restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible. The immediate repair works associated with the recent incidents have been completed and the supply scheme has been returned to normal operation. At present there are no major repair works outstanding in relation to these incidents. “Where interruptions occur, Uisce Éireann implements its response procedures, including network adjustments, repair works, the provision of alternative water supplies where required, and regular customer updates. Recent events have highlighted opportunities to further strengthen the resilience of the Dunbin network. Uisce Éireann is currently assessing and progressing a range of improvements, including enhanced monitoring and sensor technology, upgraded alarm and response systems, increased network and pumping capacity, and longer-term water storage solutions to improve reliability for customers. “Separately, Uisce Éireann is upgrading the water infrastructure at Dunbin to support future growth and development in the area. The works involve the upgrade of more than 1.1kms of water mains to cater for the future growth and development of the wider Dundalk area. These works are being carried out as part of Uisce Éireann’s Growth and Development Programme. This €750,000 investment will enable the potential development of over 120 new homes in the community. It will improve the supply capacity of the existing water network in the area, improving performance and reducing demands on the current network. The upgrade is due for completion in 2026.”

OVERTAKING could be prevented along the N33 between the M1 and Ardee under a proposal for a central barrier on the route. The same scheme would make the Sean O’Carroll Street link from Ardee Business Park left-turn only. Drivers travelling east would have to turn left, continue to the roundabout and double back. Louth County Council’s Senior Engineer Mark Johnson told the July meeting that the local authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had begun work on the initial drawings, though he cautioned the project wouldn’t go ahead this year. He was responding to Cllr Rachel Kerley (FG), who said the right turn from the Ardee business park link onto the N33 was “extremely difficult” and asked what had come of earlier discussions with TII about making it left-turn only. Mr Johnson said TII was now looking at a larger intervention, with a separation barrier proposed along the N33 from Junction 14 of the M1 to Ardee, adding that because of the small number of turn-offs along the N33, the

Cllr. Rachel Kerley. proposal would be “relatively easy to do.” “The TII, because of all the fatalities and to improve safety, want to put total segregation on the N33,” he told the meeting. “The plan is to put a separation barrier to make it a completely safer road so you won’t be able to overtake on it anymore. “With that barrier in place, you’ll no longer be able to turn right,” he explained. “You will have to turn left and go to the roundabout and back to head east.” “That won’t happen this

year, but at least it’s on the drawing board,” he said. “It would make that junction a little bit safer.” Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Michelle Hall (Lab) asked for an update on the council’s roadworks programme and said road-safety projects should be treated as a priority because of the number of road fatalities in Louth, to which Mr Johnson agreed, describing the number of fatalities in the county as “a big problem.” By late July, eight road deaths had been reported in County Louth according to the Road Safety Authority, one less for the whole of 2025 in An Garda Síochána’s annual report. An Garda Siochána confirmed the current figure for the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan division stands at 14. “It’s a bad sign with people dying on our roads,” Mr Johnson added. “The road-safety interventions all help, and the speedlimit review will help as well, dropping speeds down to 30 in town centres. “We are working with the TII to make the roads safer.”

Dromiskin households still waiting for brown-bin service, Councillor McCann claims SOME households in Dromiskin have still not been provided with a brown-bin service by their waste collection companies, Sinn Féin Cllr Sionnan McCann has claimed. At the July meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr McCann said she was aware of residents who had neither received a brown bin nor been offered the service. The concerns come after brownbin collections were extended nationwide from 1st January 2024. Government regulations require household waste collectors to provide customers with a separate food-waste collection service, while MyWaste states that households with a kerbside collection are entitled to a brown bin for food and garden waste. “I know particularly around

Dromiskin this hasn’t happened, where the bin companies still haven’t given people brown bins,” Cllr McCann told the meeting. She also raised concerns about people living in apartment developments not being provided with brown bins, where waste collection may be organised through a management company and paid for through residents’ management fees. “I was under the impression it was a requirement to provide people with a brown bin, and it doesn’t seem to be happening,” she said. Council official Mark Johnson said private waste companies were supplying the bins to their customers but he would follow up with the council’s waste section and return with further Cllr. Sionnan McCann. information.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Dundalk Leader Local Democracy Reports By LAUREN ROSS l lauren@dundalkleader.com

‘Work progressing well’ ‘People are entitled on Hill Street Bridge to enjoy their homes’ LOUTH County Council say that work on Hil Street Bridge is on course to be completed by August 28th. Work at Hill Street Bridge began on Monday July 20th and so far there has been significant amount of work done including installing new traffic lights, new kerbing and footpath upgrades. “Maintenance and improvement work is progressing well on Hill Street Bridge (R132), Dundalk, with the project scheduled for completion before the return of local schools at the end of August. “Significant work has already taken place on the bridge, including the installation of new traffic lights, new kerbing and footpath upgrades, an accessible pedestrian crossing with drop kerbs and tactile paving, and traffic calming measures. Full resurfacing is scheduled to take place later this week. “To ensure the safety of workers and the public, and to facilitate the timely completion of the project, the remaining works will continue to be carried out in stages, with sections of the R132 closed on a phased basis throughout the project. STAGE 1—Due to the volume of work to be carried out on the bridge, Stage 1 is expected to conclude on the evening of Monday, 10 August. Hill Street Bridge is closed to the public, with diversions in place on the R132 (Dublin Road) and at the junction with Stapleton Place. STAGE 2—Works are scheduled to get underway on Tuesday, 11 August and run until Wednesday, 19 August. During this period, the R172 (Avenue Road) will be closed from the junction with Tom Bellew Avenue to the traffic

lights on Hill Street Bridge. STAGE 3—Works are expected to commence on Thursday, 20 August, following the completion of Stage 2. This stage will involve the closure of the R132 (Dublin Road) from the former Crossan’s Garage site to the traffic lights on Hill Street Bridge. The stage is scheduled for completion by Friday, 28 August. “Advance signage and public notifications are in place to minimise disruption, and arrangements have been made to ensure access for emergency services,

residents and businesses within the works area. “Members of the public are also advised that roadworks are due to take place on Anne Street, Dundalk, from Monday, 10 August, to Monday, 17 August, with access restricted to local residents and businesses during this period. “Louth County Council appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation while these important works are being carried out. Every effort will be made to complete the project as quickly as possible,” concluded the statement.

Council turns to tougher chains as playground equipment goes missing LOUTH County Council is being forced to use tougher fittings on playground swings after officials said equipment had been targeted and was going missing from public playgrounds. Senior Engineer Mark Johnson told the July meeting of Louth County Council that people had recently tried to cut through the chains on swings at

Tullyallen playground and remove them. “Unfortunately, we got some vandalism,” he said. “People were trying to steal swings in the last week or so. We had people trying to cut through the chains. “We’re now having to use stainless-steel chains that are a lot harder and tougher to stop people stealing swings.”

Although the incident happened at Tullyallen, Mr Johnson referred to a wider problem with items disappearing from playgrounds maintained by the local authority. “That’s the kind of thing we have to resort to, unfortunately, because things are going missing in the playgrounds,” he said.

“PEOPLE are entitled to live their lives and enjoy their homes,” Cllr Seán Kelly (FF) told Louth County Council at the July meeting, as members called for a quicker and stronger response to anti-social behaviour linked to council tenancies. The council’s housing service had received 121 anti-social behaviour cases by 23 June, according to its latest Chief Executive’s report. Twenty were received between 22 May and 23 June, while 14 remained ongoing at the end of that period, with 11 of them in Dundalk. The council counts each separate incident as a case, rather than each complaint form received. Cllr Kelly said calls about the behaviour of some council tenants had become a regular occurrence. “We really do need to strengthen our response,” he said. “We should not be allowing a scenario where people in Louth County Council houses, tenants of ours, are allowed to basically disrupt everyday life for residents and neighbours.” He added the council’s new anti-social behaviour strategy needed to be robust enough to deal with serious cases quickly. Cllr Sionainn McCann (SF), who had raised concerns at Dundalk Municipal District earlier in the month about poor communication with tenants who reported anti-social behaviour, said the council’s handling of the issue was damaging public confidence.

Cllr Sean Kelly. “I think our inability to deal with anti-social behaviour is really ruining our reputation with the general public,” she said. “I think it’s making them lose faith in us as a local authority and making people feel like we just don’t listen, to be quite honest.” She added it would be difficult to find a private, social or mixed estate in Dundalk without some form of problem, whether involving a council tenant, a private renter or teenagers gathering in an estate. The council official said 121 cases was a “significant number” for the council’s estate management team to deal with, adding it took a multi-agency approach, working with An Garda Síochána and other agencies and issued tenancy warnings where necessary. “We have to follow a procedure and a process and give people an opportunity to improve their behaviour,” he said. “There is a strong team there to deal with these issues, but it is an ongoing issue.” By 23 June, the council had is-

sued 17 verbal warnings, five written tenancy notifications and three formal tenancy warnings under the Housing Act 2014. Cllr Kevin Meenan (SF) said anti-social behaviour was generally worse during the summertime, when more people were outdoors and drinking outside. As chair of Louth County Council’s Social Development Strategic Policy Committee, the committee overseeing the development of the new anti-social behaviour strategy, Cllr Meenan also told the meeting a working group was nearing the end of a substantial piece of work on the new anti-social behaviour strategy. The draft is due to be brought before members in early September and is expected to be finalised later in this year. Cllr Robert Nash (FG) also questioned whether background checks should cover every member of a household, rather than only the person applying for a council property. He said he had encountered cases where parents felt like “prisoners in their own home” because their children were allegedly dealing drugs from the property and they felt unable to do anything about it. “I’m just wondering if we can do background checks for every individual in a house,” he said. The council official confirmed that vetting was carried out on the housing applicant, but not on every other person living in the household.

Council plans to buy additional dog waste bins LOUTH County Council plans to purchase additional dog waste bins after concerns were raised about the lack of bins along a number of walking routes in Dundalk. Cllr Maeve Yore (Ind) raised the issue at the July Louth County Council meeting, naming Mill Road, Mount Avenue, Avenue Road and the bypass among the areas where she said bins were needed. She said “dozens and dozens” of people had contacted her about the issue.

“People have said to me, ‘Please just put in dog poo bins,’” she told the meeting. She also asked council officials to explain why dedicated dog waste bins had not been provided in the areas. Senior Engineer Mark Johnson said a grant was currently available and that the council expected to receive approximately €10,000 and with that he said, “We will be buying some extra dog poo bins.” The €250,000 Cleaner Communities Fund, announced by

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

the Government earlier this month, is intended to help local authorities provide additional dog-waste bins, bag dispensers and related facilities. Mr Johnson added the council already had a few possible locations in mind and would look at other ideas for where the bins could be placed. Cllr Yore welcomed the response, describing the announcement as “brilliant”.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

Petrol and diesel prices Julia Clarke: the girl who rising sharply with more was “banned for a kiss” increases to come By Anthony O’Hagan

PETROL and diesel prices rose sharply in August and are expected to continue rising in the coming months, according to AA Ireland’s fuel price analysis. Diesel prices have risen to an average of €1.92 per litre in August, up 19 cents from July. Petrol prices rose to an average of €1.84 per litre, up 9 cents from July. The AA say that a motorist filling 50 litres, they now have to pay €9.50 more for a tank of diesel and €4.50 more for petrol. For a motorist filling 50 litres, that is €9.50 more for a tank of diesel and €4.50 more for petrol, or €38.00 and €18.00 respectively across four fills in the month Key changes from July to August: Diesel: €1.92 per litre on average in August, up 19 cents from €1.73 in July Petrol: €1.84 per litre on average in August, up 9 cents from €1.75 in July Excise duty: unchanged during August. The temporary reductions of 27 cents per litre on petrol and 32 cents on diesel, which include the reduced NORA levy, were extended in full to 31 August From 1 September: excise begins a phased restoration, adding 9 cents to petrol and 10 cents to diesel An AA Ireland spokesperson said: “This is a significant month-on-month increase,

and motorists should understand where it has come from. Excise duty did not change during August, so what drivers are seeing at the pumps reflects global market conditions rather than any change in tax. Diesel has borne the brunt of it this month.” “The concern is what comes next. From 1 September, excise begins to be restored in stages, starting with 9 cents on petrol and 10 cents on diesel. If wholesale prices hold where they are, motorists should plan for further increases through the autumn rather than expect this month to be the peak.” AA Ireland notes that fuel

Excise duty reductions on petrol and diesel are being restored in four stages.

Old Dundalk Society National Heritage Week The Old Dundalk Society is pleased to announce its official contribution to National Heritage Week 2026, embracing this year’s national theme, ‘Heritage at Risk.’ As part of our programme, we will host a special guided visit to St. Nicholas Church (Green Church), Church Street, Dundalk, on Wednesday, 19 August, assembling at 6.30pm sharp. The evening will feature a presentation by Trevor Patterson, member of the Select Vestry, who will explore the Heritage Week theme and highlight the challenges faced by this historic building in our community. The planned renovation works for St Nicholas’s Church are ex-

prices continue to be influenced by international oil supply, geopolitical uncertainty and currency movements, and that volatility remains a feature of global energy markets. Vehicle Maintenance Plays an Important Role AA Ireland is reminding motorists that regular vehicle maintenance can improve fuel efficiency and reduce running costs. “Simple checks such as maintaining the correct tyre pressure, servicing your vehicle regularly and replacing worn air filters can all help improve efficiency,” the spokesperson said.

pected to be underway later in the year. Attendees will also have an opportunity to visit the Wellington Hall and the Infant School located on St. Mary’s Road Dundalk. (A91XH21) The Wellington Hall and Infant School were identified some years ago as requiring major conservation efforts to safeguard their historic fabric. This event will allow visitors to appreciate the results of the preservation work that were undertaken and, to see first-hand the standards now achieved in preserving these important historic buildings. The event will conclude at approximately 8.30pm in the Wellington Hall.

NEWS

in Brief

Dundalk Lions Golf Classic

The Dundalk Lions Golf Classic 2026 is on this Friday August 14th at Greenore Golf Club. First Tee off 11am. Evening Prize Giving. Dundalk Lions Club has been supporting local causes since 1977.

An evening at Páirc an Chuinnigh

St Brides GFC and Knockbridge Hurling Clubs are hosting an evening at Páirc an Chuinnigh this coming Thursday@ 7:30pm. The primary reason for the event is to launch their major fundraising initiative which is centred around the Ryder Cup in 2027. Along with this, Colm Corrigan will host a fire side chat with Kieran McArdle and Tommy Smyth. On the evening, those in attendance can expect to hear about the latest updates on the club’s exciting new development as well as seeing the club’s newly refurbished clubrooms. Details of the club’s brand new fundraiser where people have the chance to win Ryder Cup tickets will also be unveiled. Refreshments will be available on the night. It all kicks off at 7:30pm tomorrow evening, 13th August at Páirc an Chuinnigh, Knockbridge.

IN the autumn of 1937, one of the local newspapers carried a sly, knowing paragraph about the unusual crowds gathering at the local courthouse. “The Circuit Court has been a centre of attraction for leisured folk for the past week or two… We gather from some who have been there the attraction is the Judge’s candid expression of his personal and judicial viewpoints.” The paper was being tongueincheek. They knew perfectly well what the “special attraction” was. The town was gripped by the sensational prosecution of a young Scottish woman whose holiday romance had collided headon with the moral laws of Éamon de Valera’s Ireland. Her name was Julia Clarke, from Springfield Road, Parkhead, Glasgow. She had been on holiday in Blackrock, the seaside village just outside Dundalk, when a moment of affection changed her life. Nothing about her visit had attracted attention— until Sunday August 1st -`1937 when she and a local boy were spotted embracing on the grounds of the Blessed Oliver Plunkett Chapel. In any other place, it might have been a harmless moment of affection. But in 1937 Ireland, the location mattered. The witnesses mattered. And the law—new, moralistic, and zealously enforced— mattered most of all The newspapers recorded the incident with almost theatrical detail. One report stated: “Thomas Murphy, of Blackrock, said that while walking with his wife he saw the pair embracing, and went to tell a priest.” Two other men, Thomas Byrne and James Smith, also followed the couple and summoned a Civic Guard, “keeping the pair in view till he arrived.” The guard in question was Guard McManus, who later told the court he found the pair “on the grass kissing one another.” When he approached, Julia protested with a flash of spirit: “Our business seems to be everybody’s business this evening.” The couple were charged under a twoyearold statute aimed at protecting public morality—nicknamed by some papers as “Dev’s law.” It made it an offence to: “Act in such a way as to offend modesty, decency, or injure the morals of the community.” They were charged under a twoyearold statute aimed at protecting public morality—dubbed by some papers “Dev’s law”. It made it an offence to “act in such a way as to offend modesty, decency, or injure the morals of the community.” The young man—never named in any newspaper—was dealt with first. The statute allowed a maximum penalty of a £2 fine or one month’s imprisonment. He received the full £2, ordered to pay it to the St Vincent de Paul Society, along with £1 17s 6d in court costs, bringing the total to £3 17s 6d. The Irish Times reported the total, and contemporary wage and price data show how heavy it was. £3 17s 6d amounted to roughly two weeks of a labourer’s wages, nearly three weeks’ pay for a shop assistant, or a fortnight’s earnings for a junior clerk. It would buy close to two hundred loaves of bread, a readymade men’s suit, around half the cost of a bicycle, or several weeks’ rent for a small cottage. This was no token penalty—it was a genuine financial blow. The Dundalk Democrat reported the incident, but published no names at all. However, national papers did publish names, including The Irish Times, which identified Julia Clarke, District Justice Goff, and Guard McManus. The young man remained unnamed everywhere. Once her name appeared in the Dublin press, the story travelled quickly. And because she was a young woman, Julia became the centre of attention.

Her identity sold more papers than the anonymous local boy ever could. A lad paying a fine was not news; a Scottish girl “banned for a kiss” was. The international interest soon took on a life of its own. In Glasgow, Julia posed for a staged photograph, kissing a reporter full on the lips—an image created specifically for an American newspaper eager to dramatise the story. The photograph was cheeky, playful, and deliberately provocative, a contrast to the solemn tone of the Irish court. Once published in the United States, it was quickly reprinted in other newspapers, adding fuel to the growing media circus and further embarrassing the Irish authorities who had tried to treat the matter as a serious moral offence. Julia Clarke recreates “the kiss that got her 30 days” for a Central Press photographer in Glasgow. The staged picture,with that caption, which was made for an American newspaper, was later reprinted internationally. The case provoked a furious reaction from District Justice Goff, who believed the foreign press had mocked both the Civic Guards and the State itself. Speaking weeks later, he launched a blistering attack on sensationalist newspapers ,or as he called them,the th“Yellow Press” “Turning our seaside resorts and the confines of our cities and towns into Hampstead Heaths.” He claimed the campaign had a second purpose: “As was evidenced by a picture from some vile Scottish paper… now in the hands of the Minister for Justice.” The cartoon, he said, lampooned the Guards and threatened Ireland’s tourist reputation. He ended with a threat that startled many: “If this thing happened again I would ask the AttorneyGeneral to put a couple of the offending editors… in the dock.” By the time her summons was issued, Julia had already returned to Glasgow. She did not attend the hearing. But District Justice Goff made his views unmistakably clear: “The girl’s offence was aggravated by having been committed on Church property.” He sentenced her to one month’s imprisonment, enforceable only if she ever returned to Ireland. It was, effectively, a banishment. There is no record that Julia ever returned. Blackrock moved on. The Vigilance Committee faded from the headlines. But the story of Julia Clarke endured—preserved in clippings, archives, and Pathé News footage. It remains a vivid reminder of a time when a kiss could become a crime, and when a young woman from Glasgow found herself at the centre of a moral storm she never intended to create.

Dundalk Leader 12th August 2026

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AT the time of his death 26 years ago, Tommy was regarded as the finest left-handed dart thrower in the country at the time of his sudden passing and his family and his darts family lost a gentleman and one of the finest throwers of his generation. On Saturday last, 64 of some of the finest local throwers competed to win the Cup named after him. Hosted by The Northend Bar & The Bodhran Bar, 32 players competed in groups @ 2pm & 32 more competed @ 5pm. There were a few hard luck

Louth Disability Cycling Club Launches New Inclusive Hub LOUTH Disability Cycling Club officially launched its new Inclusive Cycling Hub and Mobile Cycling Unit at Dundalk Sports Centre, Muirhevnamór, on Thursday, 30 July. This landmark initiative is the result of a unique partnership between Louth Disability Cycling Club, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland, the HSE, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Children, Disability & Equality. The project has been supported by Louth County Council, which prepared the site and facilitated the installation of a dedicated storage unit to securely house the specialist bicycles. Operating from Dundalk Sports Complex, the new Inclusive Cycling Hub will provide access to a comprehensive fleet of specially adapted bicycles suitable for people with a wide range of mobility needs and will enable Louth Disability Cycling Club to bring inclusive cycling directly to communities, schools and organisations across the northeast and Midlands, ensuring that many more people can experience the freedom and enjoyment of cycling regardless of their ability. The mobile service forms part of Variety Ireland’s national Inclusive Cycling Mobile Units programme, which delivers safe, professionally supported cycling events throughout Ireland using specially adapted mobility bicycles. The initiative removes barriers to participation and creates opportunities for people with disabilities and mobility challenges to enjoy cycling in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.

James Callan, Marion Dunn (wife of the late Tommy), Dylan Quinn and Sheila Meehan. stories to be told in the group stages with a good few groups going to the wire to decide who progressed to the knockout stages. Group winners eliminated @ the last 16 were Jack Mc Kenna, Aidan Conroy, Brian Keenan, Ciaran Markey, Greg Rozada, Peter Grennan, Gerry Rice & Conor Dunn (narrowly lost 3-2 to Dylan Quinn). Players eliminated in the quarter finals were Michael Maxi Mc Alester, Paul Monahan, Lee Smyth & Simon Wykes. Unlucky to lose in the semifi-

nals were Conor Mc Ardle and Evan Tuite (narrowly lost 5-4 in the semifinal to Damien Grimes). So, onto the Final and Dylan Quinn is now the back-to-back Tommy Dunn Cup winner. Damien Grimes unfortunate to come up against Dylan in the Final, but Damo threw super darts all day. Standard @ times was scary. There are some cracking young throwers about not afraid to compete against some of the best throwers in this part of the country. Lee Smyth , Callum McCrave,

Colin Taaffe & Thomas O’Shaughnessy all represented Dundalk Youth Darts today and all gave a good account of themselves and Evan Tuite showed that he’s an up-and-coming powerhouse in youth darts in Ireland, unlucky to be beaten in the semi-final in the deciding game. Big thanks to the Northend Bar & The Bodhrán for hosting today’s competition... Next up is Event 8 of the Summer Series Of darts is the Mickey Martin Cup on Thursday 13th August with games due to start @ 9pm.

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