Review of the Year - February

EirGrid power ahead with pylon plans

A SPRING standoff between Eirgrid and some landowners is looming if agreements on erecting pylons on lands to carry high-voltage power lines cannot be reached. Eirgrid has said it will seek to use statutory powers to access lands to deliver the North South Interconnector project if landowners have not entered into a voluntary agreement by March 1.

The semi-state body has signalled it will request the ESB to make the required applications for ‘wayleave’ notices as per the statutory process in the absence of such agreements.

The plan was set out in a letter received by some 400 affected landowners recently.

Pregnant woman examined in ‘storeroom’ at hospital

A pregnant woman who miscarried could not be scanned over the weekend because there were “no sonographers” available; while another presenting with a bleed was examined in what was described as a “storeroom”.

The shocking accounts were detailed in the Dáil earlier this month by Sinn Féin TD, Pauline Tully, when pushing for additional expenditure at Cavan General for new developments.

Pro-life campaigners hold hospital gate protest

MEMBERS of the Choose Life Cavan & South Cavan branches gathered together in peaceful protest over the planned introduction of termination services at Cavan General Hospital this year.

The event’s aim was to highlight to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, local politicians and HSE management that the group “vehemently objects” to the abortion plans.

Deposit return

scheme begins

IRELAND’S deposit return scheme went live on February 1 with the expectation it will have nearly universal buy-in from consumers.

Co Board pays out to excluded ladies clubs

CAVAN County GAA Board has been forced to reassess how it distributes a €1M gift from the J.P. McManus Charitable Foundation after half a dozen ladies teams were left out of the pot and a follow-up letter issued from the foundation clarifying the terms of its donation.

LGFA teams Drumalee, Ballinagh, Kildallan and Cootehill Celtic, and camogie clubs in Shercock and Bailieborough missed out when the Limerick billionaire’s donation was being divvied out.

HOW’S THIS FOR STARTERS?

Less than a year after taking up his first head chef’s role, Stefan McEnteer is already the toast of the Irish culinary world. The Bishop’s Buttery became one of just 22 Irish restaurants to receive a Michelin Star, catapulting Stefan to the very pinnacle of his profession.

“When you are in a room with people you have looked up to and followed, and you are from a small town in Cavan - it’s very surreal,” Stefan said of the awards bash.

Major bed boost for local hospital

THE number of additional beds, planned as part of a major extension at Cavan General Hospital, is set to be tripled to 58. Confirmation that a “revised proposal” is currently being assessed by HSE Estates was received by Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith.

Mullagh boy appears on TV

SIX-YEAR-OLD Eddie Foley (left) from Mullagh made his television debut when he appeared on Ireland AM with his parents to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD). The boy’s appearance came a day after he celebrated his sixth birthday. Eddie, the son of Darren and Emma, was diagnosed with the illness at 17 months and has been receiving treatment at Crumlin Children’s Hospital since.

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

9

Where Cavan ranked in terms of counties rehousing Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants per capita