Articles in the Clones News Category

PETER HUGHES Fine Gael were afforded a smooth transition in the position of Cathaoirleach of the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District on Monday when its longest serving local public representative in Co Monaghan, Hugh McElvaney, took over the position from the man who had been the party’s youngest local councillor, Eugene Bannigan. Colr McElvaney’s succession, necessitated by the former Colr Bannigan’s resignation from local authority duties to pursue a career opportunity in America, was unanimously approved at the municipal body’s monthly meeting in Ballybay. As an initial declaration of intent, Hughie cited the “I’m the ...

Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament has supported a European Parliament resolution that would see special Irish products, including Cavan Crystal, Carrickmacross and Clones Lace, receive EU protection status. “The European Parliament is calling on the European Commission to extend EU-wide protection of geographical indications (GI) to include regionally and locally manufactured goods and handcrafted items such as the famous Carrickmacross and Clones Lace and Cavan Crystal,” Ms McGuinness explained this week. The Fine Gael MEP, whose East constituency includes Co Monaghan, said giving a regional product “geographical indication” ...

PETER HUGHES “There could be some move afoot to scupper the proposal,” stated Sinn Féin’s Pat Treanor at Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council in relation to the restoration of the Ulster Canal. Colr Treanor sounded alarm bells in relation to the Government’s commitment to funding the project – long regarded as a potential flagship tourism development with particular benefits for the Clones area – after correspondence from the Department of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys TD was circulated to the elected members. The letter spoke of “a complete ...

By Cianna McNally A sculpture that was commissioned to represent the ethos of the Clones Erne East Sports Partnership was officially unveiled this week. The art piece, entitled ‘High Five,’ stands at the entrance to the iconic Peace Link sports complex in Clones and it was made by Smithboro artist Joanne Behan. A group of students from Largy College were also involved in the creation of the sculpture, which was unveiled on Tuesday. The Peace Link opened its doors to the public in October last year and provides the community with a range of sporting ...

It was standing room only when ‘Clones Cyclone’ Barry McGuigan paid a visit to Connons Community Centre on Tuesday evening to officially relaunch Wattlebridge Boxing Club. Barry has strong links to the club as it was the first one he attended when he commenced his amateur career. It was re-established in March after lying dormant for a number of years and its membership now includes children from both sides of the Border. The feel-good factor was high throughout the evening and cheers and applause rang out as the local hero and Honorary President of Wattlebridge ...

By Cianna McNally A capacity crowd turned out on Saturday last to celebrate the reopening of the newly refurbished Ulster Canal Stores in Clones. The event was largely blessed with good weather although maybe there was a certain irony displayed when the heavens chose the exact moment the ribbon was being cut to open! Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys and Northern Irish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle O’Neill jointly officiated at the reopening of the building. This facility is part of the Clones Erne East Blackwater Rural Regeneration ...

A FOOD company operating in the Clones area is one of 12 businesses upon which enforcement orders were served by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) during the month of August. In a statement released yesterday (Wednesday 9th), the FSAI confirmed that a Prohibition Order has been served on Kamaceuticals Ltd, which is described as a fruit and vegetable processor and based at Burdautien, Clones. A second Prohibition Order was served on a takeaway in Cabra, Dublin, while ten Closure Orders were served on other food enterprises around the country. A Closure ...

EirGrid has issued a statement to The Northern Standard this week dissociating themselves from behaviour that was described as “suspicious” at last week’s meeting of the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District. The statement, from EirGrid communications specialist David Martin, is as follows: “In your article “Call for EirGrid to be more upfront”, published last week, you reported a claim made by councillor Eugene Bannigan that an unnamed EirGrid representative had been “sneaking around” the Lough Egish area in a “suspicious vehicle”. “I can confirm that there were no EirGrid staff in or near Lough Egish ...

A large crowd attended a tree planting and plaque unveiling ceremony in Clones on Thursday evening last in honour of All Ireland winning handball legend, the late Seamus McCabe. Pictured at the event are L-R Seamus’ sisters Moira Heaton and Veronica McCabe who planted the tree along with Cathaoirleach of Ballybay-Clones Municipal District Eugene Bannigan. The memorial plaque was unveiled by Monaghan footballer and grand-nephew of Seamus McCabe, Karl O’Connell.