By Michael McDonnell
michael@northern-standard.ie
Up on 200 people from mainly rural and farming homesteads attended a packed meeting on the septic tanks issue at Ballybay’s Wetlands Centre last Thursday, where the keynote speaker was Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív TD.
Fear of the unknown is usually guaranteed to provoke interest, and when the uncertainty is about a possible new drain on people’s money at a time when that commodity is in increasingly scarce supply, it can be taken as read that any public meeting on the issue in question …

Despite some significant recent successes by the Gardai and the Customs and Excise authorities in striking at its means of production, it is clear that the manufacture, distribution and sale of illegally laundered fuel products remains a thriving organised criminal enterprise across the Border region in general, and in Co Monaghan in particular.
While the breadth of its web extends nationwide, the threads of this pernicious illicit activity are largely spun from the region of which the circulation area of this newspaper is part, and the manifold ills of …

WARM tributes were paid at Monday’s sitting of Monaghan District Court to former county registrar, and returning officer for the Cavan/Monaghan constituency, Josephine (Josie) Duffy, of Cavany, Scotshouse, who passed away in Cavan Hospital on Sunday last
Before commencing proceedings on Monday morning, Judge Sean MacBride said he wanted to pay tribute to the late Ms Duffy, who was an absolute lady and had been an outstanding county registrar.
She had qualified as a solicitor as a mature student, going on to work in the offices of Mr Black …

By Veronica Corr
Prompt action by fire crews prevented the spread to other premises of a fire that broke out in Chinese Acupuncture and Care, Dawson Street, Monaghan on Tuesday last.
Dermot Brannigan, Acting Chief Fire Officer, credited the early detection, reporting and fast response of the fire brigade, as reasons why the fire didn’t spread to neighbouring premises.
Two units from Monaghan and one unit from Ballybay responded to the call, and a total of eighteen fire fighters from the retained service were on-site. Multiple breathing apparatus units were used.
There was …

The Co Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee have issued a detailed analysis of the report published last week by the International Expert Commission appointed to study the North-South electricity interconnector project being pursued by EirGrid.
The Committee said that they generally welcome the report and consider it “a fair, unbiased and independent review of the techno-economic aspects of the project.”
However they express their disappointment that the Commission’s brief did not allow them to consider other aspects of the project, such as land devaluation, visual impact and health issues.
…

BY KEVIN CARNEY
So much for the Dr. McKenna Cup being a planet removed from mother Earth.
Football’s bluebloods have all but finished swatting each other in this season’s Ulster’s subsidiary competition and, already, it’s clear that the cream has risen to the top.
By dint of their handsome 2-12 to 1-4 semi-final win last weekend, Tyrone can now prepare for their eighth McKenna Cup final inside the last ten years.
Meanwhile, holders Derry are now just 70 minutes away from back-to-back titles, having overcome Down by 0-11 to 0-9 in their penultimate round …

By Colm Shalvey
Just nine days remain until Monaghan begin their Allianz National Football League Division Two campaign, with a high-profile trip to Navan first up for the Farney men.
Monaghan manager Eamon McEneaney has been forced to field teams missing some of his regular first-choice players in recent weeks with college commitments the main reason for absentees. McEneaney wasn’t happy at being so short of full-strength throughout January, but it did give him the opportunity to try out more new players in the ongoing quest to build a strong panel.
Monaghan won …

With the 2012 Premier Division season 6 weeks away, Roddy Collins sent out a team of old favourites and newcomers to take on Newry City in the first pre-season game at the Showgrounds. The experimental nature and manager’s instructions to not worry about results and to treat the game as a training session was a factor in the 2-1 defeat.
The back four had a familiar feel with Conor McMahon back from his long layoff due to injury and he was joined by Keith Quinn, Aidan Collins and Alan Byrne …

An excellent attendance participated in Monaghan United’s AGM at the clubhouse on Thursday last. The contributions were very positive and everyone involved in United’s promotion to the Premier Division were complemented on the night. Much of the discussion on the night centered on the incoming season which is due to kick off at Gortakeegan on Friday 2nd March against Dundalk. One of the positives from the meeting was the sense to get involved and assist the club and teams by those in attendance at the meeting.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
I would like …

Irish gymnast Kieran Behan, who qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games last week, has strong connections with County Monaghan. Behan, whose mother Bernie (née Gavan) comes from Newbliss, sealed his place at the London games when finishing fourth in the floor final at the Olympic test event. The story of Behan’s journey to become only the second Irish gymnast to reach the Olympics is an inspirational one, as he has overcome serious adversity through the years.
 Aged just ten, Behan had a benign tumour removed from his thigh and the operation …