Articles in the General News Category

They say that Charles Dickens invented much of the traditions and practices that still attach to the modern Christmas. If true, there are others who would say that he has a lot to answer for. But we cannot hold the great novelist responsible for everything that people sometimes describe complainingly as the cloying sentimentality or excessive commercialism of a time whose essence, even going back to the pre- Christian era, is entwined with the ethereal and spiritual. Indeed it is perhaps more Dickens’ interpreters than the writer himself – who possessed ...

Townspeople “fight back” to stop ATM attackers spoiling Christmas! By MICHAEL McDONNELL BALLYBAY will this week have the unique distinction of being the only town in Ireland, north or south, to have in-shop banking services open to the public throughout Saturday and Sunday! That’s because local community activists and business people have moved quickly to show that they’re not going to take the loss of the town’s single on-street ATM lying down, following Sunday morning’s audacious criminal attack on the Bank of Ireland facility — and are determined to ensure that ...

Heather Humphreys, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan, has urged local businesses to accelerate their preparations for Brexit. Speaking on the matter, Minister Humphreys said: “According to a recent survey by Enterprise Ireland, 85% of their most impacted clients are taking steps to plan for Brexit, which is up from 38% at the same time last year. “These figures are very encouraging, and I warmly welcome this high rate of Brexitrelated activity. “However, notwithstanding the uncertainty that comes with Brexit, I want to see ...

By Veronica Corr Peadar Tóibín, TD, stopped off in the Hillgrove Hotel on Wednesday night last as a part of his nationwide tour, the purpose of which is to start a new political party which has no official name yet, but the working title ‘People’s Movement.’ In response to a question from this reporter, Deputy Tóibín stated that they would have a name by Christmas/New Year, which would be Irish but easy for everyone to pronounce. He is passionate about the Irish language and its promotion. His presentation was totally ...

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 ...

ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS Senior Footballer: Rory Beggan, (Scotstown) Intermediate Footballer: Jason McElroy, (Doohamlet) Junior Footballer: Daniel McMahon, (Emyvale) Young Footballer: Niall Kearns, (Seán McDermotts) Senior Hurler: Fergal Rafter, (Castleblayney H.C.) Young Hurler: Conor Flynn, (Monaghan Harps) Senior Club Official: Eamon McKernan, (Emyvale) Juvenile Club Official: Mark Duffy, (Scotstown) Senior Handballer of the Year: Gavin Coyle, (Bawn Handball Club) Young Handballer of the Year: Eoghan McGinnity, (Monaghan Harps) Camogie Award: Marie Greenan, (Clontibret) Ladies Footballer: Sharon Courtney, (Donaghmoyne) Youth Achievement Award, Football: Tyholland Youth Achievement Award, Hurling: Castleblayney H.C. Senior Referee: Anthony Marron, (Corduff) Intermediate Referee: David Hurson, (Drumhowan) Junior referee: Fintan Finnegan, (Castleblayney) Minor referees: Colin Murphy, (Seán ...

Michael Fisher As the Brexit debate reached a crucial stage in the United Kingdom, former British Prime Minister Sir John Major was in Ireland this week to remember his collaboration 25 years ago with the late Albert Reynolds in the Downing Street declaration that paved the way for the peace process. He criticised what he said was the “breathtaking ignorance” unionist leaders and Eurosceptics had shown over the Irish border during the Brexit debate. Sir John called for calm but warned that the imposition of a hard border was a ...

By Veronica Corr The Northern Standard was afforded the opportunity to conduct a brief interview with Bishop-Elect Larry Duffy, after the announcement of his promotion in St. Joseph’s Church, Carrickmacross on Saturday morning last. Famed for his modesty, he was his approachable self. When asked how he felt on the morning, just after the announcement was made, after accepting congratulations, Monsignor Duffy said: “I’m feeling calm, relieved and grateful to be this far on.” He explained that the Papal Nuncio had given him as much time as he needed to ...

Peter Hughes The recent passing of Professor Brendan O’Grady, the academic whose work charted the connections between the Canadian maritime province of Prince Edward Island and the many parts of Ireland, including Co Monaghan, to which its population claimed ancestral links, evoked warm tributes at last week’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council. Professor O’Grady, who was aged 93, was the author of Exiles and Islanders, described as “the definitive account of the Irish settlers on Prince Edward Island”. His funeral service took place at the Church of the Most Holy ...

It is very difficult to comment with value on the evershifting morass that the handling of the Brexit process by the political institutions of Britain has become. Events change with such frequency that analysis and assessment become redundant almost as soon as they are uttered, and the changes are often so bewildering and chaotic in nature that scorn and sarcasm too easily take the place of sober commentary. Ireland finds itself in the uncomfortable position akin to a householder listening to an ever rowdier Christmas party going on next door. We ...