Articles in the General News Category

TWO COMMUNITY CONNECTION POINTS LAUNCHED UNDER NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN ROLLOUT Michael Fisher Two centres in Co. Monaghan are among over fifty sites throughout the country that have been connected to the world wide web this month under the new “connected communities” initiative. Altogether, 275 sites (some of them schools) will be on stream by the end of the year, according to the government. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD and Eamon Ryan T.D, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, announced the first group of broadband connection points, ...

The landmark Budget 2021 announced on Tuesday will either bring jobs and prosperity to Co Monaghan and the wider Border region or severely disadvantage local farming families and rural dwellers and lead to an increase in smuggling and other forms of cross- Border crime. These contrasting prognoses were offered by political and sectoral opinion as the contents of a Budget governed by the health, economic and social ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic were being digested. Much of the record-breaking spending provision is geared towards resistance to the Coronavirus’ deleterious effects ...

Michael Fisher With a further increase in the level of coronavirus in Co. Monaghan in the past week, the Cabinet was meeting yesterday evening to discuss the possibility of increasing Covid-19 restrictions around the border. Government sources indicated it was “possible” some border counties such as Monaghan would shortly move to Level 4 of the State’s ‘Living with Covid’ framework. There has been discussion about the possibility of Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal where the incidence is the highest in the Republic (see table) going up to Level 4 as early ...

“Support for our towns and villages are more important than ever,” stated Cavan/Monaghan TD and Government Minister Heather Humphreys when announcing funding of €130,000 to assist some of Co Monaghan’s smaller population settlements to adapt further to the Covid-19 pandemic. The money comes from the third tranche of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to be devoted to helping locations meet the demands of living with Coronavirus restrictions. North Monaghan’s National Tidy Towns title winner Glaslough gets €40,000 to enhance the village’s market and fairs capacity. Adaptations to the Threemilehouse ...

A North Monaghan retail and wholesale musical instrument company has reported a 300% increase in sales since the onset of the Covid- 19 pandemic. The Monaghan Music and Piano Centre at Tullaghan, Ballinode is owned by Niall Mc- Clean in premises that once housed a well-known furniture store operated by his father Richard McClean. Niall bought the premises from his father and started up his own business selling pianos. Today, the business consists of 20,000 sq foot of warehouses, workshops, showrooms and retail premises. In November 2017, Monaghan Music & ...

Michael Fisher A public health expert has expressed his concern at the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Co. Monaghan since the start of the month (see separate story). Dr Ian Quintyne is a specialist in Public Health Medicine for the HSE North East area including Monaghan and Cavan. He spoke recently to Northern Sound about the growth in positive cases since the start of the month. He also revealed that almost two out of ten people who had been given appointments for Covid-19 tests in Co. Monaghan ...

‘Shine a Light Night’ is a truly touching event where people come together for one night to raise vital funds and to stand in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness in Ireland today. Castle Leslie Estate’s owner Sammy Leslie is taking part this year in Focus Ireland’s ‘Shine a Light Night’ on Friday 16th October. She is joining other Irish Companies to raise muchneeded funds to support the vital work of Focus Ireland and their aim to end homelessness in Ireland. Sammy will be leaving the comfort of her home and ...

Thirty-two hotels and guesthouses in Monaghan and Cavan have issued a plea to the constituency’s TDs to take action to save the jobs they supply. Ross Mealiff, Chair of the Cavan/Monaghan branch of the Irish Hotels Association, has written to the constituency’s Dáil Deputies asking them to seek urgent Government supports, and specific measures in this week’s Budget, in order to safeguard 3,500 local tourism jobs while the hotels sector fear are currently at risk. Mr Mealiff in his correspondence states: Dear Deputy, On behalf of hotels and guesthouses in ...

The ‘Future of Media Commission’ which was recently set up must ensure that the future of all newspapers and radio stations in County Monaghan is vibrant and bright, a local Fine Gael Councillor has urged . Cllr Aidan Campbell of Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal District said the Government recently agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Commission following a commitment in the Programme for Government, which also states it will report within nine months on the necessary measures to underwrite the future of media in the country. Councillor Campbell said: ...

Communnity Centres could facilitate remote working Michael Fisher Two centres in the Ballybay and Clones areas are among over fifty sites throughout the country that have been connected to the world wide web this month under a National Broadband Plan initiative designed to connect local communities. As reported elsewehere, the two centres now providing public access to the world wide web are at the Wetlands building in Ballybay and at the hall at Connons, in the Drummully salient a few kilomteres from Clones. In a presentation to the September meeting of Ballybay ...