Articles in the General News Category

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTED BY PUBLIC PROTEST AT ST DAVNET’S ON FRIDAY • Michael McDonnell CAMPAIGNERS for the restoration of disability respite services at a centre in Cootehill — which caters for families in a wide Monaghan and Cavan catchment area — mounted a three-hour protest at the gates to St Davnet’s between 10am and 1pm last Friday morning. The Northern Standard was told this week by Jennie Farrelly, one of the protest’s organisers and spokesperson for the Parents Action Group for Respite Services (Cavan-Monaghan), that everyone involved was delighted that up on ...

The results of the ISME Quarterly Business Trends Survey for Q3’18 have been released today with 9 out of 12 confidence indicators showing declines, compared to 7 out of 12 in the previous quarter. While employment trends are as expected, Business Confidence continues to decline, dropping by a further 20% in this quarter. Confidence for SMEs has not been this low since 2011, as Brexit remains the biggest concern for SMEs followed by Economic Uncertainty. The Trends report also captures data on employee pay, broadband services and business and motor ...

With only three months to go until Brexit, hauliers should take immediate action to advance their preparations or risk increased delays, red tape and costs in doing future business, according to FTA Ireland (FTAI), the leading organisation representing the country’s logistics industry. The advice comes as FTAI launches its guide, Brexit preparedness for the haulage sector today (3 January 2019). The guide provides clear and practical steps hauliers can take to mitigate any risks Brexit may present to their businesses. Aidan Flynn, General Manager of FTAI, commented: “Whatever the outcome ...

COLM SHALVEY The presentation of the county minor footballers’ 2018 Ulster MFC and MFL medals brought a big crowd and a celebratory atmosphere to the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town last Friday night. Outgoing Monaghan minor manager Séamus McEnaney was enthused by the event: “The night itself was fantastic, the couple-of-hundred people here were very special to the players: their families, club-people etc. This is a phenomenal group of players; very special in my mind for as long as I live because they delivered a minor double.” ‘Banty’ spoke about the ...

PATRICK SMYTH Monaghan football boss Malachy O’Rourke (CIRCLED) has described his side’s Dr. McKenna Cup display last Sunday against St. Mary’s College as an “eyeopener” and a definite concern ahead of far stiffer tests to come. The Monaghan boss was rosy-cheeked after his side’s handsome opening round win over Antrim but the gunslingers from the Ranch left him with a greyish pallor in Clones. The Fermanagh native made a raft of changes from the team that beat the Saffrons by 1-20 to 1-12 first time out but things didn’t go to ...

Government makes contingency plans in event of ‘no deal’ scenario Michael Fisher The government is meeting today (Thursday) to prioritise legislation in the increasingly likely event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. This full Cabinet meeting was announced just before Christmas when details of a contingency action plan were published in preparation for a ‘no deal’ scenario. The Sinn Féin Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the prospect of a British ‘crash-out’ from the EU was looming closer and warned of the consequences for the business, tourism and agriculture sectors in particular. With ...

Sr Chanel Harte cutting the cake at her 100th birthday celebrations at St Joseph’s Nursing Home, Ballybay on Sunday, December 30 last. Sr Chanel is pictured with Sr Mairead, Provincialate of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. © Rory Geary/The Northern Standard

Monaghan Co Council will receive a national roads grant allocation of €10,613,313 for 2019, it was announced this week. Welcoming the allocation, local Fine Gael TD and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys said it would allow a number of important projects in the county to proceed. “Examples include €1 million for the N2 from Ardee to south of the Castleblayney by-pass, and €1 million for the N2 from Clontibret to the Northern Ireland Border,” Minister Humphreys pointed out. “The Government committed to these projects in Project Ireland ...

By Veronica Corr Another sinkhole was discovered close to the L4900 Drumgossatt Road, Magheracloone by Gyproc on December 19th, which necessitated the closure of the road by Monaghan County Council the next day. Gyproc claims that the latest subsidence incident has nothing to do with the initial collapse of an unused part of Drumgossatt mine in September. Cathaoirleach of Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal District Colm Carthy broke the news of this latest sinkhole on social media one day after we went to press. The Sinn Féin representative later issued a statement on ...

Michael Fisher Ryan Tubridy was just finishing the last RTÉ Late Late Show before Christmas on television (Friday 21st December around 11.45pm) when my wife drew my attention to a strange noise outside the house in Tydavnet. I stood up to investigate and heard what I thought was the sound or an aeroplane with propellors, a very unusual occurrence at that time of night for a flight to be passing what seemed to be overhead. A check on the flightradar24 app confirmed that this was indeed a plane that had ...