• Michael McDonnell
Gardai are still appealing for information following last Friday’s audacious raid on a bank in Kingscourt which resulted in a number of vehicles on the street catching fire.
An armed and masked gang rammed the door of the Bank of Ireland at Main Street, Kingscourt with a white-coloured Citroen van a short time before 5pm.
Two of the men then confronted staff — who had just closed to the public for the day — while armed with handguns.
A substantial sum of cash is reported …

FIRE units from three Co. Monaghan towns were called yesterday (Wed) to deal with a major fire which swept through an industrial store on the outskirts of Carrickmacross.
 The premises, which formerly used by Barford Meats Limited, was discovered ablaze shortly after lunch-time.
 A huge pall of smoke engulfed a wide area around the town as the fire raged between 2 and 3 p.m.
Fire units from Carrickmacross, Castleblayney and Ballybay were called to the scene and helped to prevent the hazard of the fire spreading …

Main Street, Carrickmacross was once again filled with thousands of people eager to enjoy the Carrickmacross St Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday last.
The day was crisp and dry and over 50 colourful groups and organisations took part in the parade this year.
The Carrickmacross Branch of the Comhaltas Ceoltoirí warmed the crowd up prior to the parade by playing a selection of traditional tunes which are always guaranteed to entertain.
True to tradition, the parade was lead by the 3rd Monaghan C.B.S.I. who marched in impressive formation through the town.
The beaver section …

By Veronica Corr
“It’s just a pile of ashes,” is how John Scully, Chairman of Carrick Emmets GAA Club described a gutted makeshift dressing room which went on fire in the early hours of Monday morning.
The blaze at the club’s site on the Donaghmoyne Road was visible from the N2 bypass, the Northern Standard has been told.
The container-type two-compartment portacabin, which belonged to the Emmets’ hurling club, was brought to the new Donaghmoyne Road development late last year.
The alarm was raised at 3am on Monday …

By Veronica Corr
“I don’t believe in miracles anymore.” These were the poignant words of Damian Ryczan, after he found out that his daughter Amelia, who suffers from Battens Disease, would not be able to receive a life-prolonging operation in the United States.
The Polish family now living in Foxfield, Carrickmacross, were devasted by the news that the procedure their four year-old daughter was due to undergo, which involved the drilling of holes into her skull, was no longer an option.
Amelia, her mother Tamara and a family friend, flew to America …

By Veronica Corr
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, signalled the end of an era, as Peadar Mohan, long-standing principal of Shercock National School retired.
It was clear that a lot of work went into organising his send-off, which was a well-attended yet intimate affair, as the community came out in force to bid farewell to this local hero.
With a career spanning forty years and having taught an estimated 1,200 pupils, chances are that much of the audience in St. Patrick’s Hall, Shercock, were taught by Master Mohan, as he was affectionately known.
There was …

By PATSY McARDLE
FUEL racketeers along the Mid-Monaghan Border with South Armagh caused some pre-Christmas traffic chaos when they dumped huge consignments of sludge from laundered diesel on a number of routes in South Monaghan, including the N2 Dublin-Derry Road near Carrickmacross prior to Christmas Eve.
Fire services from Carrickmacross and Castleblayney were called out to deal with the emergency posed by the dumping at a number of locations and prevent oil slicks developing which it was feared would pose serious hazards for traffic.
Gardai were forced …

By PATSY McARDLE
JUDGEMENT in a landmark Supreme Court Constitutional challenge taken by JES Holdings Limited, which represent the Shirley Estate in South Monaghan, against the State and a number of leading Carrickmacross businessmen, represented by Mr. Gus O’Gorman, of the town’s leading Market Square Super Valu Shopping Centre, was expected to be announced today (Wed) but maybe deferred until the new year.
Well known Carrickmacross lawyer, Mr. Martin Crilly—who has spearheaded the huge legal action on behalf of a major section of the Carrickmacross …

By Veronica Corr
Voluntary Caretaker Eddie Byrne was delighted to report to The Northern Standard that the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto on Castle Street, at the foot of Convent Hill adjoining the Ardee Road, has been restored to its former glory.
In fact, it has been enhanced, as in addition to the original Our Lady of Lourdes statue being replaced, a statue of St. Brigid kneeling before Her has been installed, complimented by a marble and gold plaque acknowledging the benevolence of townspeople and Carrickmacross Town Council.
Security at the grotto …

By Veronica Corr
The Mayor of Carrickmacross Town Council Noel Keelan has welcomed the news that the vacated construction site on the town’s Ardee Road, the only NAMA site in County Monaghan, has been sold.
The new Boston-based owners of the site are Eddie Byrne, originally from Killanny, and Tom McElroy, originally from Cork, trading under the name North East Construction Limited.
ERA Tobin Estate Agents, O’Neill St., Carrickmacross, were the vendors charged with selling commercial site.
John Tobin said that ERA Tobin, were appointed as estate agents representing the property at the beginning …