Articles in the Headline Category

By PATSY McARDLE THE expenditure of close on €500,000 on the improvement of tourist-angling facilities at Lough Muckno near Castleblayney, as part of a shared cross-border allocation of €1.3 million under the EU Interreg Programme for the upgrade of amenities on both sides of the Monaghan-Armagh Border was warmly praised by the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources, Mr. Fergus O’Dowd T.D., when he officially launched the development at a civic ceremony at Concra Wood Golf Club, Castleblayney, on Monday last. The ...

By PATSY McARDLE SHOPKEEPERS in Castleblayney have set a huge headline this Christmas to boost business in the Mid-Monaghan town in the countdown to the Festive Season by embarking on a number of avenues to attract hundreds of extra shoppers from the North, as well from all the surrounding areas. THE latest drive was initiated following a largely attended and enthusiastic public meeting of Blayney town traders on Wednesday night last at the Scout Hall in York Street, which was convened to explore current trade trends ...

BY MICHAEL MCDONNELL michael@northern-standard.ie History was made in Cootehill on Sunday afternoon last when poppies were worn with pride and dignity by many of those in attendance as a large crowd gathered to witness the opening of a new Peace Garden to pay a permanent tribute to soldiers from both sides of the Border who lost their lives in the First World War, other wars and in the service of peace for the United Nations. The well-organised event, which was organised by the Tanagh branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen ...

“January 28 will be the day school starts for the people out there – it will effectively be opening from that date,” Chief Executive Officer Martin G. O’Brien told Monday’s meeting of Co Monaghan Vocational Education Committee in relation to the new Monaghan Education Campus development at Knockaconny. The CEO said the handover date of the buildings would commence on Friday next with the primary school development, with the gymnasium/sports hall facility handed over on November 23, Colaiste Oiraill on December 14, the new Garage Theatre on January 11 ...

Monaghan Co Council are seeking a meeting with the Chief Executive of Bus Éireann amid fears that bus services between the county and Dublin are to be drastically curtailed. The fears were aired at Monday’s meeting of the Council when members agreed to adopt a motion from the Sinn Féin councillors and moved by Sean Conlon requesting that assurances be sought from Bus Éireann CEO Martin Nolan “that the existing 177 Monaghan-Dublin service retains its current route and frequency of provision.” Council members also met with local bus ...

The retail element of the Co Monaghan economy, in common with national trends, appears to be experiencing a small but distinct upturn, according to figures released last week by the Central Statistics Office. But business representatives are anxiously awaiting the forthcoming Budget following the findings of a survey that shows sector confidence in a fragile state because of difficulties in key trading markets and anxiety over what Minister for Finance Michael Noonan might unveil in December. A boost in the sale of televisions and related equipment in the ...

By Michael McDonnell michael@northern-standard.ie A stand-off has developed at Co-operative Poultry Products Ltd, Cootehill, where workers are staging a sit-in to pursue their demands for up-front payments of money they say they are due, including outstanding pay, notice pay, annual leave and minimum statutory redundancy entitlements. Mr Simon Coyle of the accountancy firm Mazars was appointed receiver by the company’s bank on Monday evening, signalling the loss of up on 90 jobs (including upwards of 70 production staff, with the remainder working in management and administration). The livelihoods of a ...

Monaghan Town, Castleblayney, Clones, Carrickmacross and Ballybay Town Councils will be abolished in 2014. Radical local government reforms announced by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan on Tuesday mean that the five town authorities will cease operation at the time of the next local government elections. Their responsibilities will effectively pass to Monaghan Co Council, with new integrated areas known as Municipal Districts to be established, with members elected at local level also representing their district at county level. “Under a totally new model of governance within ...

The members of Monaghan Co Council were told on Monday that the €340,000 reduction in their Local Government Fund grant imposed as a result of the poor initial payment rate of the household charge in the county won’t be made good by the Dept of the Environment, despite the collection rate for the charge having risen to close to 65%. Responding to question’s from Aidan Murray at the monthly meeting of the Council, Head of Finance John Murray said the Council had been informed by the Dept that if ...