Review of the Year - May
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Soda Blonde’s Faye O’Rourke captivates her Cavan audience. PHOTO: SARAH HARDYImage 2 of 6
Kit McBride took a break from a charity High Nelly Cycle organised by Munterconnaught Heritage to give this friendly goat in Castlerahan a nibble of grass.Image 3 of 6
Ruan, Fia, Eire and Ceola enjoying all the fun to be had at the Cavan Arts Festival. Photo: Sarah HardyImage 4 of 6
LEFT: Hall of Fame Recipient Stephen King, Community Champion Carole Beattie and Michael Hanly, Cavan Crystal Hotel, at The Anglo-Celt’s inaugural Community & Sports Awards 2024. PHOTO: SHEILA ROONEYImage 5 of 6
Paddy Gilroy is a small farmer and part of the campaign to block Mannok Cement’s plans to develop a new sand and gravel pit in west Cavan.Image 6 of 6
Cian Conachy pictured at Fresh Film Ireland’s Young Film Maker of the Year 2024. PHOTO: Don Moloney Don Moloney‘Red letter day’ for east Cavan
NEWS of funding to the run of almost €19M for regeneration projects in the east of the county has been described as a “red letter day”by Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Philip Brady.
The lion’s share of the funding has been allocated for the Kingscourt Town Centre Regeneration plan, which is set to benefit from almost €10.9M. The announcement came the same weekend as the opening of a new €6M greenway from Kingscourt to Navan.
SEND THEM BACK TO BRITAIN – TD
GARDA checks were being stepped up in Cavan and other border counties amid controversy sparked by the Tory Government’s migration policy.
The political fallout in recent days has seen one local TD call for “routine checks” along the Border and for illegal migrants to be sent back to Britain.
Official figures show that over 6,700 people had applied for asylum in the Republic in the year to date, a significant spike on the same period last year. Of those a reported 80% are entering the state via the border with the North, however the Irish Refugee Council has cast doubt on the figure
Pot increased for Shannon visitor centre
IT MIGHT be worth its weight in gold as a tourist magnet but the total bill for the Shannon Pot Discovery Centre will come in at nearer €10 million, a third more than initially anticipated. First announced in May 2021, as one of four large scale tourism projects, the price tag for the project was put at around €6.4M.
Drug driving on the rise
THE scale of the drug driving problem will soon catch up with drink driving, senior gardaí in the region predicted.
Superintendent John Callanan made the comments as the figures for County Cavan showed there were 19 detections for drug driving in the first three months of 2024; as compared to 12 in the first quarter of 2023. Figures for drink driving show it remains the more common offence for now; 36 detections in the first quarter of 2024.
‘Game changer’ for county
THE chairman of Cavan County GAA board has described the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Cavan GAA, Cavan LGFA and Cavan camogie as “momentous” and “a game-changer for the county” paving the way for the major Polo Grounds development.
The three bodies signed off on the agreement “to establish a clear and transparent working relationship”.
Showtime makes the big time
CIAN Conachy announced his arrival as a filmmaker on the national stage by taking one of the biggest prizes at the Fresh Film Awards.
The Virginia College student won Best Director Award for his brilliant short film ‘Showtime’.
Locals say ‘no’ to Mannok quarrying plan
A COMMUNITY group ramped up its opposition to Mannok Cement’s plans to develop a new sand and gravel pit in west Cavan.
Some locals say, if granted, it would not only threaten an ancient historical site, but also risk the loss of valuable nearby bogs and habitat. Members of ‘Ballyheady - Say NO to Quarry - Save Nature’ held a public meeting to discuss their next steps.
Kilnacrott to be knocked for new €8M faith centre
The Celt revealed that work to demolish the Holy Trinity Abbey at Kilnacrott would begin on July 1. Immediately after the near 175-year-old property is knocked, construction will start on a new faith-formation centre.
NUMBER OF THE MONTH
6.1
The millions of Euro awarded to St Michael’s Hall Restoration Fund by Minister Heather Humphreys
GOOD MONTH
* Swanlinbar eventually got a full-time GP with Dr Cristian Cimpoeru taking up the role
* Rachael Cullivan Elliott won a brace of playwriting awards hosted by Carlow Little Theatre Society for ‘In the Name of the Dog’
* Sean Stack was announced as the new principal of St Patrick’s College, to replace Christopher Rowley who was retiring.
BAD MONTH
* A teenage boy was reportedly detected driving at 141km/hr on the N3 with his mother the front seat passenger
* Clever Clogs Childcare Services reduced its services for 0-3 year olds in August due to staff recruitment and retention issues
* Bailieboro and Scotshouse residents were up in arms over the erection of new 5G masts