Articles in the Headline Category

Club, county and provincial GAA interests were urged at Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council to fast-track the redevelopment of St Tiernach’s Park in Clones in order to safeguard it as the venue for the Ulster football finals. The vital economic contribution the hosting of the provincial showpiece games visits upon Clones, and the commercial spin-off enjoyed by other areas of the county as a result, were emphasised in a debate generated by an Urgent Business motion submitted by the Fianna Fáil members of the Council and moved by Seamus Coyle. The ...

Monaghan MEP Matt Carthy is involved in a European Parliament initiative aimed at reducing the cost to consumers of conducting transactions using their financial cards. It is believed that the fees banks charge retailers to process their shoppers’ financial card payment could soon be capped across the EU following negotiations between the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, the European Council and the EU Commission. The talks produced an agreement that a cap would apply to both cross-border and domestic card-based payments which should result in lower costs for consumers. Midlands North ...

By Cianna McNally “It’s very hard to please everybody. I would have preferred if whoever has the problem with the display had come to me personally.” So said Monaghan town man Frank Coogan who recently received a letter of complaint about a display of Christmas lights and decorations he has put up outside his home at New Terrace on the outskirts of the town for the last 30 years. The letter, which was simply signed ‘your neighbours,’ described the music that plays as part of the display as “far too loud and horrendous.” It also stated ...

Irish Water is to start installing water meters in County Monaghan in the coming weeks. Advance notification of at least 14 days will be issued to each householder before meters are installed with information packs outlining the details of the installation process. There are no upfront costs for meters and water charges are due to be introduced in Q1 2015, with the first bills issuing in April 2015. Already over 540,000 water meters have been installed around the country. This is the most ambitious nationwide metering programme of its type ever undertaken, with ...

By Cianna McNally Outrage has been expressed in Clones following the news this week that the Social Welfare Office in the town will close early next month. A statement from the Department of Social Protection said that a review of services in North Monaghan was carried out by the North East Divisional management after the Clones Branch Office manager signalled his intention to retire on 6th February after 32 years’ service. ‘Following the review it was decided to close the Branch Office in Clones with effect from the 6th February 2015,’ the statement ...

By PATSY McARDLE A WARNING has been issued this week to the owners of all large and small stores throughout the region, including Co. Monaghan, to be on “red alert” for premises being targeted by shoplifting gangs, in the countdown to Christmas!. The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association has warned all retailers to be extra vigilant during the Christmas period as shops throughout the country are being increasingly targeted by shoplifters and organised gangs. The Association outlined that evidence indicates retailers are twice as likely to be victims of shoplifting over ...

DON’T TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED – STAY SAFE ON THE ROADS – this was the message emphasised strongly to the people of Co Monaghan by Garda Traffic Inspector Seamus Boyle this week when he outlined to The Northern Standard details of the Gardai’s road safety campaign being implemented over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The campaign – which commenced at midnight on December 1st and will continue until midnight on January 5th 2015 – will see a determined effort by the Gardai to focus on high risk behaviour such ...

  The people of Clones are prepared to fight to keep the Ulster Bank branch in the town. This was the clear message that went out from a well-attended public meeting that was held in the Creighton Hotel last Wednesday evening. The meeting was organised by Clones Chamber of Commerce following the recent announcement by Ulster Bank that the branches in Clones and Castleblayney were among 24 in the North and the Republic of Ireland that would be closed next year. Twelve branches are to be shut in the Republic and ten in the North. ...

A Monaghan man was invited to the White House last month to meet the First Lady Michelle Obama at her annual Fashion Education Workshop. Rory Duffy, son of Gerard and Mary Duffy of Kiltubrid, Threemilehouse, has been living and working in New York as a Master Savile Row Tailor for a number of years. The Monaghan man was involved with a new initiative by the First Lady that aimed to introduce students from disadvantaged backgrounds to industry professionals, hear of their experiences and realise that success is a by-product of hard work and dedication. This ...

GARDAI are advising ATM users to be on the alert for anything suspicious observed at ATM cash dispensing machines throughout Co. Monaghan in the wake of the reported discovery last week of a “skimming device” at one ATM machine in Monaghan town. The illicit device was found at an ATM unit at a major store in the town. It was not immediately clear yet if any cards had been skimmed but gardai were asking anyone who used the ATM in the vicinity of Dunnes’ Stores to keep an eye on their accounts. ...