Articles in the Headline Category

Fane Valley and Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Societies have confirmed that final agreement has been reached on a deal structure where Lakeland Dairies has acquired the Fane Valley Dairies business based at Banbridge, Co. Down (effective from May 2016). This simplified deal structure is considered to be a better option than the originally proposed strategic joint ventures, announced previously in August 2015, which would have involved both the dairy and agri-business interests of the respective businesses. Michael Hanley, Chief Executive of Lakeland Dairies Co-operative stated: “The agreement we have reached with our neighbouring co-operative, Fane ...

PETER HUGHES Wandering minstrel boys have rarely enjoyed such a homecoming. Outside there was nowhere that the wind’s chill fingers wouldn’t find you with their unpleasantly invasive tickle. Inside, however, there was a radiating heat like that of a turf-stacked hearth, and at its centre glowed a smiling Michael Lawson, newly crowned winner of The Voice of Ireland title, really relaxing, perhaps, for the first time since he had stepped triumphantly off that Helix stage on Sunday evening, now basking in the Aghabog adulation. All the parish, it seemed, had somehow managed to inveigle ...

PETER HUGHES Fianna Fáil member of Monaghan Co Council Robbie Gallagher was yesterday elected to Seanad Éireann. Colr Gallagher claimed the seventh of the available eleven seats on the Labour panel on the seventeenth count. Speaking to The Northern Standard in the immediate aftermath of his election yesterday morning, the North Monaghan local public representative described himself as “delighted” by his success. “When this race began initially, I suppose I would have been regarded as being at the back of the field in horse-racing terms and was probably not generally perceived as having much ...

After a tough battle with brother Sam, Josh Moffett emerged victorious along with co-driver Jason McKenna in last Sunday’s Hillgrove Hotel Stages Rally organised by Co Monaghan Motor Club – and celebrated in time-honoured fashion by breaking open the bubbly! Josh and Jason made it back to back wins in the event, one of the traditional highlights of the Co Monaghan sporting calendar. A full report on the event and more pictures by Rory Geary appear inside on pages 37, 38 and 39.

By Cianna McNally “Living the dream” is how Monaghan’s Voice of Ireland Michael Lawson summed up the experience of winning the RTÉ show last weekend. Speaking to The Northern Standard on Tuesday, 19-year-old Newbliss native Michael told how it was “an absolute shock” to have won the show but it was also amazing and “a dream come true.” He added that while he was not nervous when performing on stage, it was “nervewracking” when it came down to the final four and people were being eliminated one by one. A huge homecoming was organised ...

PETER HUGHES In the manner in which he so often traversed the grounds of the Castle Leslie estate and the streets of the nearby village, in the manner in which he lived out his almost-century of years, Captain Sir John Leslie took his final journey yesterday afternoon with an air of stately and unhurried grace. A glass carriage drawn by two immaculately manicured black horses was the mode of conveyance that brought the coffin of the 4th Baronet of Glaslough and Pettigo, who died on Monday last, from the grounds of the ...

Captain Sir John Leslie, one of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War and one of Co Monaghan’s most celebrated and beloved citizens, died in his 100th year early last Monday morning at the Castle Leslie family seat in Glaslough. “The Leslie family are sad to announce that Captain Sir John Leslie Baronet (age 99) passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning with the dawn chorus surrounded by his family,” read the announcement of the death which appeared on the Castle Leslie Estate Facebook page. Sir Jack, as he ...

French Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Jean-Pierre Thébault paid a visit to the offices of The Northern Standard on Friday last. The Ambassador was in Co Monaghan for a number of engagements, and earlier had met with representatives of the twinning committee in Carrickmacross which has forged links with the French town of Carhaix. Monsieur Thébault was also honoured by a civic reception from the members of the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District before travelling to ‘Blayney to meet with those involved in the Mid-Monaghan town’s twinning arrangement with Marseillan in the Hérault ...

The proposal to extend the Ulster Canal Greenway from Smithboro to Middletown had passed the first stage of its assessment process, the April meeting of Monaghan Co Council was informed. The monthly management report circulated to the members said that promoters of the project had now been invited to submit a full business case. The proposal has been submitted to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) for consideration for funding under the INTERREG VA programme. Councillors were told that three other projects had also been invited to submit to Stage ...

Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, the Right Reverend John McDowell, has been elected as President of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC) for 2016-2018. The election took place at the ICC’s 93rd Annual Meeting at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on Thursday last, April 7. Bishop McDowell will be assisted by the Reverend Brian Anderson as Vice-President. Mr Anderson is currently the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. Bishop McDowell said: “I am very honoured to take up this role at a time of great challenge and opportunity for the Churches in ...