REVIEW OF THE YEAR - AUGUST
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Cavan players celebrate after the LGFA All-Ireland U16 A Championship final replay match between Cork and Cavan at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. It was Cavan’s first A U16 title since 1977. Back (from left) Einin Lawton, Kate McSeain, Molly Smith, Kristiana Grigorenko, Cadhla Moffitt, Fainche Higgins, Ruby Gilmartin, Kyra Comiskey and Kate Fegan; front, Mia Lynch, Caitlin Crowe, Holly McPhillips, Katie Mai Reilly, Ella Sheridan, Muireann Donohoe and Sarah Devine.8PHOTO: SPORTSFILE Michael P Ryan / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 6
LEFT: Best friends and Largy College students, Kiea McCann (17) and Dlava Mohamed (16) lost their lives in a crash on the way to the debs.Image 3 of 6
Bob Geldof paid a heart-felt tribute to his friend, the late Sinead O’Connor, on stage at the Cavan Calling festival. Adrian Donohoe Photography. 086 3716199Image 4 of 6
The young ones cutting a dash in the Breffni Challenge in Arva.Image 5 of 6
Corey and Bianca Cross on a day out at the Muff Fair. Alex Coleman.Image 6 of 6
Alex Gwizdz and Victoria Kocis at the Coláiste Dún an Rí debs. Alex Coleman.Dream debs turns to tragedy
What should have been one of the best nights of their young lives turned to tragedy when two young girls died and three others were injured when the car, which was bringing them to their debs.
Kiea McCann (17) and Dlava Mohamed (16) were travelling to celebrate the Largy College Debs when the car they were travelling in left the road and hit a tree.
The popular students, described as a “soul friend” to each other, died side by side, hand in hand as Kiea’s father tried to resuscitate them on the N54 just outside Clones.
In a statement Largy College remembered Dlava as an “amazing young woman” with “incredible potential” who always had a “warm smile”.
Kiea was described as “friendly”, “kind”, “hardworking” and “simply a lovely student to teach”.
The girls were laid to rest last week in Clones and Dublin respectively. The tragedy shook communities across Ireland.
Nigerian Irish woman aspires to Dáil seat
Ireland needs to step up when it comes to migrant representation in Irish politics.
Passionate advocate and leader in migrant rights in Cavan is Maryam Temile.
Originally from Nigeria, Maryam came to Ireland in 2004 and told the Celt she aspires to be elected to the Dáil.
A lawyer by profession called to the Nigerian Bar, Maryam came to Ireland to further her studies in Trinity College and graduated with a Master of Laws in 2011.
Migrants make up over 12% of the population in Ireland, with only 10 holding council seats out of 119 and currently no TDs or senators.
“It’s time we have our voice to be heard, it’s time we need to be at the political table, at the policy making decision table, it’s high time,” said Maryam.
Meeting on childcare crisis
A meeting took place in the Hotel Kilmore to find solutions to challenges faced in the childcare sector and demand more core funding from government.
Facilities were struggling with rising costs, staff retention and recruitment and strict standards.
As a result of the low staff to child ratios for babies, some childcare facilities were closing their baby rooms, turning away parents, as it is just not profitable.
Paula Donohoe of Clever Clogs childcare facility in Ballyconnell told the Celt she had reluctantly taken the “financial” decision to close her service to babies under one as of March 2024. “It is heartbreaking,” she said.
Paula highlighted how creches were hit with a fee freeze but costs have gone up and core funding has remained the same since 2022.
She claimed, for example, her electricity bill in January 2023 was €1,100 compared to €400 in January 2021.
“Childcare is the cornerstone of a functioning economy. If childcare doesn’t function, it has a serious detrimental knock-on effect on the economy in general.”
Tributes paid to Bishop Liam McDaid
Tributes were paid to the Bishop-Emeritus of Clogher Liam MacDaid who died suddenly while on holiday in France.
Bishop MacDaid, aged 78, was Bishop of Clogher from 2010 until his retirement due to ill-health in October 2016.
The Bishop of Clogher, Bishop Larry Duffy, led the tributes. He described Bishop MacDaid as a "compassionate pastor who brought the love of Christ to all the people he ministered to".
Calling ‘time’ on rural pubs
The future for the rural Irish pub scene appeared uncertain following the publication a report, with calls for government to properly investigate the true extent of closures on the ground and also look at reducing levies. The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) released a report claiming that 38 pubs had closed their doors across County Cavan since 2005, a decline of 17.2%, with 11 of these closures occurring since the pandemic hit. However, local industry sources said the figures in Cavan were “totally skewed” and estimated the situation was actually “three to four times” worse than reported.
Fergus Murphy, proprietor of Murph’s Gastro Pub at Butlerbridge’s Dargawarra Inn, is the head of the Cavan branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI).
He said the reported DIGI figures failed to take account of the number of pubs closed where licences still exist. He also points out how many premises had severely curtailed their opening hours, some only opening on evenings or weekends.
Mr Murphy estimated that, if a publican allowed their license to lapse, it would cost at least €10,000 to get the doors back open and bring the building “back up to spec”.
Independent Cavan councillor and owner of Belturbet’s Widow’s Bar, Brendan Fay agreed with Mr Murphy.
“You only have to look at the likes of Belturbet. It has five pubs but 12 licences. As far as the Government is concerned, they’re getting money for licences, the number is there on paper, but none of these places are open. Swanlinbar had eight pubs. It only has one today. How could their numbers be right?,” asked Cllr Fay.
Stunning success by Mullagh athlete
A MULLAGH teenager secured two gold and one bronze medal at the 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships. Casey Fitzgerald took the competition by storm.