Articles in the General News Category

• Michael McDonnell A SENSE of total frustration and exasperation was palpable at a public meeting held in Cootehill on Monday morning in relation to the continuing suspension of respite services for the families of adults and children with disabilities — and in relation to was perceived to be a total failure, to date, on the part of the HSE to take whatever actions are needed to restore what is regarded as a vital “lifeline” service to the people who need it. The meeting was attended by a number of ...

By Veronica Corr “Let the message go out here today, with the property marking that is in operation around the county and this new all county community alert scheme — Monaghan is fighting back against the scourge of thieves who bring misery to our communities,” Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council (MCC), David Maxwell, commented at the outset of the Monaghan Community Alerts launch last Thursday evening. This Joint Policing Committee (JPC) initiative saw MCC, the Gardaí and the 26 Community Alert groups in the county come together to deliver an ...

By Veronica Corr At the outset of Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal District, Councillor Aidan Campbell asked for an update on the Market House, Castleblayney. Director of Services with Monaghan County Council, Mr. Paul Clifford confirmed that tenders had been received and that the Local Authority were about to award a contract with regard to the building. That is all he was willing to say publicly, but told Councillor Campbell that he would speak to him on the issue after the meeting. The Fine Gael representative wanted more to ...

Sinn Féin Dáil Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin spoke in the pre-Easter Dáil debate on a proposal to enshrine Ireland’s traditional neutrality position in our Constitution describing it as the “right thing to do”. Deputy Ó Caoláin has held throughout his years of political activism to a strong pro-neutrality stand believing it in Ireland’s best interests and in the interest of global stability arguing that the more countries who reject involvement in military alliances the better chance of the world avoiding further destructive conflict. In the course of his contribution Deputy ...

NOTE FROM LORNA CARSON I, myself Lorna Carson was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in March 2018 at the age of 44. My life and my families lives has changed so much. With the help of MNDA I am getting some changes done to my home, which will enable me to get about via my electric wheelchair. After a discussion with my family, we agreed to do a fundraiser. My brother in Geroge Dunn volunteered to get his hair and beard shaved, my sister Lucinda Dunn said she would orgainse ...

There was a great turnout of interested groups at Ballybay Wetlands Centre to find out about funding for the protection and sustainable use of water resources projects in County Monaghan. Monaghan Integrated Development (MIDL) launched the opening of their Water resources funding call. There is €200,000 funding available for water quality projects in County Monaghan. Gabriel O’Connell welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that a time limited call for water projects meant that groups needed to get a short expression of interest, an outline of the proposed…

By Veronica Corr Councillor PJ O’Hanlon made a proposal at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal District, aimed at easing the burden on the county’s ratepayers, which received unanimous support. The proposal read as follows: “Rates and rates valuation is causing severe problems for business owners at a time of uncertainty due to Brexit. Rates levied on business premises is not an appropriate way to raise revenue for Local Government in a changing world where business is done over the internet. It’s not a sustainable model long-term and needs to ...

Michael Fisher The two major power stations in the North at Ballylumford and Kilroot near Carrickfergus in Co. Antrim are to be sold to a Czech company by their American owners, AES. The plants were at the centre of argument during planning hearings about the need for security of electricity supply and keeping the lights on, and the supposed need for a second North South interconnector that would go through five counties including Monaghan. The deal will see the two plants sold to Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH) as part ...

COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY With just over two weeks to go until the Ulster SFC derby clash with Cavan and the Monaghan players turning their full attention to the county scene after last night’s club games, the countdown is on to the latest instalment of this storied rivalry. Monaghan county football management requested following last weekend’s club fixtures that round five be postponed due to a “reported growing injury list”. The county board’s fixtures committee gave clubs the option to defer these ‘five-point’ games until August, but at the time of writing ...

COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY Monaghan advanced to a rematch with Tyrone in the winners’ group of the Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship after surviving a major scare at a wet and windy Corrigan Park last Saturday. With six straight wins in the provincial series since losing to Derry after extra-time in the first round just over 12 months ago and having inflicted a heavy defeat on Antrim on their way to last month’s Ulster MFL Final, Monaghan travelled to Belfast as strong favourites, but they had to dig deep to edge ...