“While I intend to explore all possible options that may assist in the advancement of this project, it must also be recognised that the Government is engaged at present in a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, under which all spending is being examined rigorously,” Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan has told Monaghan Co Council in a response to their representations on funding for the redevelopment of the Ulster Canal.
In a letter circulated at the October meeting of the Council, the Minister, after expressing congratulations on …

A proposal to assign an ‘Areas Under Strong Urban Influence’ designation to the immediate rural hinterland of the town of Clones in the new Co Development Plan has the potential to halt the town’s population decline and have a beneficial impact on the Clones economy, Senior Planner Adrian Hughes told Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council.
Concerns that this proposal might constitute an impediment to future development in the Clones area were voiced by councillors Pat Treanor and Hugh McElvaney during discussion of a Core Strategy document in relation …

The members of Monaghan Co Council on Monday looked forward in anticipation to this Saturday’s National Famine Commemoration events in Clones.
Pat Treanor complimented all those involved in the preparations for the event, predicting “it will put Clones and Co Monaghan on the map for years to come.”
Co Mayor Seamus Coyle praised the range of events that had been taking place in Clones and other locations in the lead-up to Saturday’s commemoration.
Mayor Coyle said these events had been a great education to him regarding a …

By Veronica Corr
MONAGHAN MAN Stephen Brannigan has every reason to be a proud father, as he found himself in the unusual position of having to deliver his own son — with a little help from his wife Niamh and a paramedic at the end of the phone!
Baby Parker, weighing seven pounds and nine ounces, was born at 1.18am on Friday last, August 5th. The delivery took place in the front seat of his parents’ car, as there were two child seats in the back!
Conscientious dad Stephen had one child …

A shattering fourth-round knockout defeat at the gloves of Polish powerhouse Mariusz Wach has left Kevin McBride pondering his future in the heavyweight boxing ranks.
The Clones Colossus was toppled by a stunning over-hand right that send him crashing to the canvass in the Mohegan Sun Arena at Uncasville, Connecticut on Friday night, where he remained prone for some time before being taken away on a stretcher.
Ironically the abrupt end to proceedings came when Kevin, who weighed in at a career high of 296 lbs, was trying …

Recent Census figures indicated that the population decline in the Clones area was not as severe as had been previously indicated, Senior Planner Adrian Hughes told Monaghan Co Council on Monday during a discussion of the preparation process for the new Co Development Plan.
Pat Treanor, referring to the public meeting in relation to the Development Plan held in Clones, said that they had learned of a decline in population trends in the area of close to 40% over the last twenty years. He thought there needed to …

Comments in relation to the future funding of the Ulster Canal project made by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan in Clones recently sparked concerns at Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council.
The Council agreed on the proposal of Pat Treanor, Co Mayor Seamus Coyle seconding, to write to Minister Deenihan requesting that he recommit to the necessary funding for the development and to the timescale previously agreed for the project’s delivery.
When in Clones the Minister stated that he had been “warned not to …

By Cianna McNally
THE announcement by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan that the 2011 Ulster National Famine Commemoration will be held in Clones has been warmly welcomed.
Minister Deenihan made his announcement in the Canal Stores, Clones on Thursday last, 23rd June when he visited the county.
He felt that the town was a particularly suitable location for the commemoration as the Great Famine “impacted starkly” on the area.
A date has yet to be announced for the event but Minister Deenihan said that this would be happening shortly.
…

A strong appeal was made by Fine Gael councillor Hugh McElvaney at Monday’s Annual Meeting of Monaghan Co Council for the newly elected Co Mayor Seamus Coyle to lead an initiative in the course of his term of office that would revive the economic fortunes of the town of Clones and its hinterland.
Expressing concern at statistics that had come to light indicating a significant population decline in Clones over recent years, Colr McElvaney called for the Co Council’s Director of Services to visit the town to see its …

Clones Town Reserves 9
Cavan Celtic 0
Clones Town Reserves played Cavan Celtic last week knowing 3points would seal there very first League title, after slipping up to Blayney Academy the weekend before by drawing 2 -2 Clones were not going to let it slip away again,
Clones Town Reserves scored with there first attack after Dean McElroy put Carl Woods through one on one, and there was only one winner there 1 – 0 after 20seconds, a shell shocked Cavan Celtic kicked off hoping to get back into the match …