The latest reports to emerge from the findings of Census 2011 have shown that Castleblayney is the fastest growing town in Co Monaghan.
‘Blayney experienced a 44.5% population growth between 2006 and 2011, according to the census findings.
The news vindicates the stance taken by Mid-Monaghan members of Monaghan Co Council who successfully lobbied at the February meeting of the authority to have Castleblayney categorized as a Tier Two rather than a Tier Three town in the Core Strategy document which will inform the production …

CASTLEBLAYNEY 1-13
CURRIN 2-07
COLM SHALVEY reports from St Victors Park
Castleblayney are joint-leaders in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League after they held off a spirited challenge from Currin in Toome last Sunday.
Despite starting without Ciarán Hanratty and suspended backs Cormac Brady and Paddy Mallon, Blayney were much quicker out of the starting blocks and although Currin rallied strongly, they were never able to catch up.
Blayney won more than two-thirds of the kick-outs (24/35), but senior newcomers Currin stayed in contention until the final whistle.
All six Blayney forwards got …

By PATSY McARDLE
CASTLEBLAYNEY’S lake jewel in the crown of Co. Monaghan tourism is poised to host one of the biggest coarse angling events in Europe later this year with the European Coarse Angling Championships which are scheduled for Lough Muckno from 5th to 6th October 2012
Confirming details of the international angling event, the President of Castleblayney Chamber of Commerce Mr. Patrick McFadden of the Glencarn Hotel, said yesterday they were delighted to host some of the competition team leaders last weekend from the nine …

A programme of development works being undertaken to enhance the angling resources of Lough Muckno in Castleblayney had the potential to put the Mid-Monaghan town on the world stage as a venue for major fishing events, Fianna Fáil’s John O’Brien told Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council.
At the meeting, members formally approved proposals that came before them under Part VIII of the Local Government Planning and Development Regulations for developments at Concra Wood, Black Island and White Island in the Muckno area.
The proposals related to the …

By PATSY McARDLE
CASTLEBLAYNEY is facing a huge economic blow with the loss of over seventy jobs at the Cargill Ireland Limited meat processing plant in the Mid-Monaghan town.
Since 2002, Cargill Ireland Ltd., has leased the plant from Castleblayney Community Enterprise, which erected the premises in 1999 to help create jobs and boost the town’s then flagging economy.
However, the English-based meat processing company has cited the loss of substantial markets, and orders, as their reasons for now …

By PATSY McARDLE
THIEVES have stolen around €35 million worth of property, including cash, from homesteads and rural premises on both sides of the Border in the last two years.
This has emerged according to figures collated by the gardai, the PSNI, and farming organizations in the Republic and the North, since 2010.
The disclosure was made at a well attended information meeting, on Thursday night last, at the Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney, at which a …

GARDAI launched a huge hunt yesterday (Wed) for a three-man gang which carried out a daring mid-day snatch of valuables at a jewellery store in the centre Castleblayney.
The raiders used a pepper-spray to help them make their getaway after they smashed a display case and snatched rings and other items worth several thousand euro from inside the premises of popular local businessman Mr. Donal McGuigan at Main Street in the town.
The store is located close to the York Street junction which links to the …

By PATSY McARDLE
CROSS-BORDER fuel racketeers made a further environmental strike near the South Armagh Border in Mid-Monaghan early on Tuesday when they dumped more than 1,000 litres of diesel sludge in two containers on roads at Annyalla and Creighanroe, a few miles from Castleblaynery.
Gardai sealed off both routes while Monaghan county council emergency services moved in to clear the area and prevent the toxic sludge from seeping into waterways or adjacent roadside farmlands.
It was the third major sludge dumping in the Border area within the past three weeks.
Gardai believe …

By PATSY McARDLE
MANAGER’S Orders circulated to members of Castleblayney Town Council at Tuesday night’s meeting named ten local businessmen who face prosecutions being initiated for arrears of municipal rates—some dating back to 2009.
The orders related to the owners of different premises, all of whom were publicly named in the Managers’ Orders.
At the outset, Cllr. Brendan Hughes said he was opposed to such a drastic step being taken by the Council . He said it was because of the financial difficulties facing so many people in the town’s …