Articles in the General News Category

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher has been appointed his party’s Whip in Seanad Éireann. Senator Gallagher, who is also FF Seanad Spokesperson on Justice and Equality, will take up the role immediately. He told the Northern Standard this week that he was honoured to assume the responsibility. “The first eleven weeks of the Government has seen much vital legislation move through both Houses of the Oireachtas,” Senator Gallagher stated. “Supporting businesses and communities through the unprecedented crisis that is Covid-19 is our number one priority and this is reflected ...

Monaghan Town’s Model School boasted a unique gathering when the new school term commenced. Heading out on the start of their education adventure together were three sets of twins: Hope and Jake, Izabelly and Gabriella, and Logan and Sophia, pictured here by Northern Standard photographer Rory Geary.

Everyone living and working in Co Monaghan can defeat Covid-19 by working together and following public health advice, Cavan/Monaghan Fine Gael TD and Government Minister Heather Humphreys said on Tuesday as the next phase of the national strategy to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic was outlined. The Government described its Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 as the guidebook for the national response to the pandemic over the next seven months. The plan defined five levels of severity for Covid-19 incidence into which each county in the ...

Scotstown native Áine McGurk has been awarded a Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year accolade for her Dainty Bear babywear business. Áine, née Sherry and a former student of Beech Hill College in Monaghan Town, won the Highly Commended Award in the Emerging New Business category of the national competition, the ceremony for which was held virtually this year owing to the prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Áine, who was also nominated in the Power Within category, said she was surprised to be shortlisted but extremely proud of the award presented to ...

SONI and EirGrid hail decision but anti-pylon campaigners condemn lack of consent The Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure Nicola Mallon MLA announced on Monday that she was granting full planning permission for the construction of the 400kV overhead electricity line that forms the Northern element of the controversial North- South electricity interconnector project. Minister Mallon said the project would “support the future growth of renewable energy generation” and would invigorate the North’s recovery from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. SONI, the electricity system operator for Northern Ireland, welcomed Minister ...

Retailers in Co Monaghan and the Border area had grave concerns that the current Brexit uncertainty would visit a negative impact on the vital end-of-year trading period, it was claimed this week as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson showed no signs of relenting on his determination to push legislation through Parliament which has been widely criticised as undermining the Northern Ireland protocol element of the agreement reached on the UK’s exiting of the European Union. Mr Johnson’s controversial bid to override key elements of the Brexit deal he previously reached ...

Storytelling is alive and well in Co. Monaghan, as evident by a recent entry to a national story writing competition called Stories from the Waterside. A short story written by Fearghal Duffy from Ballybay was selected from almost 500 entries as a winner and has also been published in the Stories from the Waterside anthology launched during National Heritage Week, a unique collection of personal stories connected with Ireland’s rivers, lakes, wetlands and coastal areas. The competition ran in April and May during the Covid-19 lockdown. It focused on collecting ...

By Veronica Corr Last Friday, Athlone native Maeve Kelly made a presentation to the man who saved her life four years ago, an advanced paramedic by the name of Brendan Clerkin, originally from Scotstown. Maeve felt moved to convey her thanks to Brendan, to whom she says she literally owes her life. The presentation, of a signed Scotstown senior team jersey was made at Athlone Ambulance Station. Brendan and his family live in Clara, Co. Offaly. In 2016, Maeve was involved in a life-changing road traffic collision outside Roscommon Town, ...

Villages throughout Co Monaghan stand to benefit from improved broadband connection, and additions to public seating and outdoor event infrastructure thanks to new Government funding announced this week. The town of Ballybay will also benefit from an allocation of €155,000 which has been made to the county under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. €40,000 of the allocation will be spent on equipping broadband connection points at community centre locations in Aghabog, Ballybay, Connons, Corcaghan, Corduff, Drumhowan, Latton, Mullyash and Tullycorbett. €40,000 is also being granted to villages located within ...

To celebrate Culture Night, Clones Film Festival will host a socially-distanced ‘Drive-in Movie Night’ at the Credit Union car park in Clones this Friday night, 18 September, at 9.30pm. Limited tickets are still available for this screening of Roddy Doyle’s ‘The Van’, starring Colm Meany. Relive the glory days of Jackie’s Army and Italia ’90 from the comfort and safety of your car. To book, please visit www.clonesfilmfestival.com. Only one ticket per car is required but all tickets must be booked in advance. Parking on site will be available from ...