Articles in the Headline Category

Michael McDonnell MONAGHAN’S Harvest Time Blues produced the goods yet again last weekend with a great selection of national and international acts that got festival goers in the groove, whether the sun was shining or the sky was crying! The three-day fest ended on a high note with home-grown lass Gráinne Duffy producing a stunning finale in the Late Night Marquee, which couldn’t have been too easy following a blinding performance by Texas bluesman Sugaray Rayford. (And speaking of local ladies, maybe the great Clara Rose should be given a ...

By Veronica Corr At Monday’s meeting of Monaghan County Council, Independent Councillor Paudge Connolly brought up the case of a local constituent who travelled from County Monaghan to hospital in Craigavon because it was quicker than going to a hospital in the Republic, after a medical emergency. Cllr. Connolly told the meeting that the patient had received medical advice not to leave the hospital. However, when the person recovered they were faced with a bill for £3,600 for their treatment across the Border, he explained. The Independent representative stated that ...

By MICHAEL McDONNELL michael@northern-standard.ie THE MOVING MEMORIAL concert held in honour of the heroes of the Rescue 116 Coast Guard helicopter who lost their lives off the coast of Mayo last March was the standout highlight in a weeklong series of memorable events that made this year’s return of Cootehill Arts Festival the major crowd-pulling winner it was. Being the home town of senior pilot Captain Dara Fitzpatrick’s family, it was appropriate that Cootehill should host this stunning tribute, and many of the 45-year-old’s locally based family members were in ...

The big marquee in the Lower Courthouse Car-Park in Monaghan Town has been erected and all is in readiness for the 2017 edition of the Harvest Time Blues Festival this weekend. Many big names from the music scene will be on stage at the various evens including Monaghan’s own Gráinne Duffy, the legendary Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Doug Macleod, Sugar Rayford, and many more. See advert on page 16 for full programme.

The High Court has rejected a challenge taken against the An Bord Pleanála decision to grant planning permission to EirGrid to construct their controversial North-South electricity interconnector project through the use of overhead power lines. The project, which has an estimated cost of €280 million, is intended to link the electricity grids of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In his judgment, Mr Justice Max Barrett stated there was no lawful reason why the project should not proceed as planned. The NEPP or North East Pylon Pressure campaign group ...

Senator Robbie Gallagher, Fianna Fail Spokesperson for Education in Seanad Eireann, said this week that rising backto- college costs were forcing a growing number of students to drop out of third-level education. Senator Gallagher told The Northern Standard that the lack of affordable accommodation could have a devastating impact on third-level students who might have to forgo attending college or university because they couldn’t find anywhere to live. He said that although there was a perception that this was really only an issue in Dublin, it was also true of ...

A new course with a focus on science and food production will support the growth and development of the food industry and sector in Monaghan according to John Kearney, Chief Executive with Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). The CMETB Chief Executive was speaking following the announcement that the ETB will be running a Traineeship in Laboratory Techniques at Monaghan Institute starting this September. The one-year long course is science-based with a focus on the…

The looming threat of a new Border puts businesses and their workers in the region in serious jeopardy, the Border Communities Against Brexit campaign group stated in a reaction to last week’s issuing by the British Government in relation to the negotiations over their exit from the European Union. The group in a statement expressed the following opinion of the UK stance: In the autumn of last year Border Communities Against Brexit was formed to lobby and campaign against Brexit. Our objective is simple, to persuade all political parties and ...

By Veronica Corr Carrickmacross Vintage Club Chairperson JohnJoe Cunningham confirmed that the club will have the honour of hosting the Irish Vintage Society’s National Rally 2018. Mr. Cunningham is delighted by the news, which was recently confirmed. He told The Northern Standard: “We have been looking for that national rally for the last five years. This is another first for Carrickmacross. There will be a huge influx of people into the town and it will be a big boost to businesses, including hotels and B&Bs. All things vintage will be ...

This Saturday, August 19 is a significant date in the agricultural calendar of the north-east as it marks the staging of the annual Tydavnet Show. The programme for the 66th annual presentation of the event conforms to the standards of competitiveness and originality that have become the defining watchwords of this now seminal addition to the summer circuit of showcases for all that is good in the Irish agricultural and rural community sector. Breeders and agricultural producers from a wide geographical expanse will gather to vie for supremacy in the ...