Articles in the Headline Category

By Veronica Corr Five months after the subsidence incident at Magheracloone Mitchells GAA grounds and community centre on September 24th, 2018, this reporter visited Gyproc’s factory site outside Kingscourt. The purpose of last Thursday afternoon’s visit was to conduct a no holds barred interview with the company’s Managing Director Brian Dolan, and Operations Director Pat O’Connor, about recent events, the rumour mill and “the Gyp’s” future in the south Monaghan and its environs. The informal meeting took place following a request from this paper to the company. It lasted an ...

Michael Fisher Farmers’ representatives in Co. Monaghan have generally welcomed the approval given by the statutory authorities for the proposed merger between Monaghan-based Lacpatrick Dairies and Lakeland Dairies from Co. Cavan. Because both co-operatives have extensive operations north of the border, the plan approved by shareholders last October needed to be considered by the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority. The new entity will be called Lakeland Dairies Co-Operative Society Limited. It will be the second largest dairy processor on the island of ...

For thirty years a barren field on the Armagh Road at Knockaconny in Monaghan close to the education campus has been lying empty and earmarked for a new factory. Now this site is to be transformed by the Industrial Development Authority into an advanced technology building, to sit alongside the two successful M-Tek enterprise units. Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, joined IDA representatives in the chamber of Monaghan County Council on Monday morning in the M-Tek1 building to make the announcement. She said the new development ...

By Veronica Corr The signing of contracts for Phase I of the refurbishment of the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen took place on Monday afternoon in the Civic Offices, Carrickmacross. The winning contractors, Monaghan County Council members and officials, members of the Patrick Kavanagh Centre’s committee and a representative of Fáilte Ireland were present. Here is what the stakeholders had to say on the day: David Cullivan, Gaffney and Cullivan Architects told The Northern Standard: “We are the design team leaders for the refurbishment… We’ve now got the job to site. ...

• Michael McDonnell THE LAUNCH OF a new ‘Regional Enterprise Plan’ for the three north-eastern counties of Monaghan, Cavan and Louth this week coincided with a good news story for the venue in which the event was held. Cootehill’s Enterprise and Technology Centre has been largely unused since its construction was completed a number of years ago, but it was confirmed at Monday’s event that the building has secured an anchor tenant — its first tenant — in the form of the already wellestablished innovative local business, EMCA. The icing ...

“Rural Ireland’s not dead!” — say Ministers Ring, Humphreys and Canney By Veronica Corr Minister Michael Ring visited Castleblayney last Thursday evening, to reveal the successful schemes nationwide which would benefit from a €62 million Government giveaway under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, which falls under the umbrella of Project Ireland 2040. One could feel the love in the room for local Minister Heather Humphreys, who not only brought the announcement to her constituency, but funding for Castleblayney, Carrrickmacross, Clones, Ballybay and Cootehill on Valentine’s Day. Minister of State ...

Peter Hughes The members of the Monaghan Municipal District gave approval on Monday to substantial financial contributions in support of the development of the Rossmore Forest Park amenity in Monaghan Town and the bio-economy research centre project to be developed at Knockaconny. The Municipal District will contribute €370,000 to the research and development initiative in which Monaghan Mushrooms is playing a leading role. Members also approved a matching fund commitment of €250,000 in support of major enhancements in train at Rossmore, in which the local authority have taken on a lead development role ...

Michael Fisher Opponents of EirGrid’s plans to put an overhead high voltage electricity line and 300 pylons across Monaghan, Cavan and Meath say a ruling on Tuesday by the Supreme Court confirming the authority of An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the project has changed nothing. The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign which took the case said not one single access route for pylon construction had been submitted to local authorities or to any landowner. The group pointed out that no agreement existed for access at landowner level. EirGrid however ...

– Bishop Larry begins episcopate with humour and humility Peter Hughes “Any word from Inniskeen?” It was a question those in the St Macartan’s Cathedral congregation on Sunday for the ordination of the new Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Clogher were not expecting. But when Bishop Larry Duffy asked it, it brought warm smiles to everyone’s faces. The avid GAA follower (who in his time proudly wore the livery of Magheracloone Mitchells GFC), having remarked that at least some of the many young people present would probably have preferred to ...

Michael Fisher Plans for the North South electricity interconnector which has proved controversial over the past twelve years could be further delayed following the outcome of a court case in Belfast regarding the northern section of the line in County Armagh. It represented a victory for up to 6,000 people who own land or live along the proposed route of the 100 pylons and 400kV high voltage line in the north, the route of which from a new substation at The Moy in Co. Tyrone would cross into Co. Monaghan ...