Review of the Year - June

Council election sees FF and FG tied

AFTER two long days of counting in County Cavan, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil tied for six seats each; Sinn Féin returned three candidates, one in each LEA; while Aontú, Independent Ireland and a strong non-party candidate each took a place in the council chamber.

FF and FG councillors lay claim to chain

ARBITRATION, consultation, intercession, and deliberation. It began in the quietest corner of the local election count centre, long before even the last of the names to fill the 18 seats on Cavan County Council were declared.

Once Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were confident that together they’d reach the required benchmark of 10, the parlay between the pair picked up pace, aimed at thrashing out who gets what and when the plum positions over the lifetime of this local government would be occupied.

TP O’Reilly of FG got the nod for the Cathaoirleach’s chain of office first with the FF/FG names already decided for the following four terms.

A second communion for dress

A YOUNG Cavan school girl turned heads when she made her First Holy Communion looking stunning in her mother’s 40-year-old dress.

Aileen McCaul (9) from Kingscourt also wore the same earrings and Kenyan-made necklace that her mother Helen donned while taking the Sacrament in 1984. Aileen made her First Holy Communion with her classmates from Laragh 2, Muff School, late last month.

‘Tainted’ Kilnacrott heads in new Direction

THE impending demolition of the former Holy Trinity Priory at Kilnacrott marks the “end of an era” for a community that has lived in its shadow, for good or for ill.

Generations recall fond memories of community gatherings, communions, and the pageantry of Holy Days, and mourn the loss of a landmark that, despite its flaws, provided comfort and a sense of identity to the local area. Yet others still can’t look beyond the fact it was once used to harbour Brendan Smyth, one of the most prolific child abusers the Church and State has ever seen.

Canal Restoration ‘a dream come true’

THE completion of Phase two of the Ulster Canal restoration in Clones is described by more than one as a “dream come true” for a border town that has lived through so much.

Discussed in hypothetical terms for nigh on 30 years, the official opening of the €20 million cross-border landmark project on June 19 was hailed for its importance for “peace and reconciliation”.

Journeying to the priesthood

THERE was a celebratory mood in the Diocese of Kilmore at the weekend when Fr Jordan MacGabhann from Ballyconnell was ordained to the priesthood.

Fr MacGabhann - who studied for six years in Maynooth - was the fourth priest to be ordained locally over the past 20 years.

Bash the booze

It was a sobering affair at Cavan District Court when a 62 year old “nonsensical” law and the dissolution of Dáil Eireann for Covid brought about the worrying possibility that bars at the Breffni Bash might have to stop serving alcohol by 10pm.

However, an 11th hour application before Judge Raymond Finnegan on June 20 resulted in the local judiciary accepting the marquee being used for the three-day Irish country festival at Kingspan Breffni ( June 28-30) and that it does meet the requirements of an occasional licence

Taoiseach says his aspiration is for a united Ireland

“It is the legitimate aspiration of any nationalist or any republican to want a united Ireland. That is my political aspiration, as well,” said Taoiseach Simon Harris at the opening of phase two of the Ulster Canal Restoration, however he added this moment in time required “practical ways of working together”.

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

5

The number of females elected out of 18 councillors in the local election, one more than in 2019. No women were elected in the Ballyjamesduff MD