REVIEW OF THE YEAR - SEPTEMBER
Image 1 of 4
The talented Paralympian Britney Arendse getting a big hug and best wishes from her granny, Sybil McKenna, before she set off for the Paris Paralympics.PHOTO: Sean McMahonImage 2 of 4
Celt Sports Editor, Paul Fitzpatrick, is named Sports Journalist of the Year at the Local Ireland Awards. He is pictured with his award and the Celt’s Managing Editor Linda O’Reilly and MC for the event Marty Whelan.Image 3 of 4
Lesley McKeague as a victim of the Famine in a special ‘Famine Echoes’ event held in Bailieborough. Alex Coleman.Image 4 of 4
Billy Bravender on his Mobylette 15, a French motor cycle from 1953, with his mother Agnes Bravender at the Mullagh Fair. Alex Coleman.Britney lifts the county!
The entire county was behind Mullagh’s Britney Arendse as she competed for an Olympic medal for Cavan and Ireland.
The 24-year-old para-powerlifter did not disappoint as she finished fourth in the Paris Paralympics in her class.
Britney did the entire county and country proud as she smashed two lifetime bests on the Paralympic powerlifting stage.
Childcare subsidies
New subsidies announced by the Department of Children had local childcare providers concerned about the future of the sector.
From September 2, the minimum hourly subsidy under the National Childcare Scheme for children U15 years increased from €1.40 to €2.14.
In business for the past 25 years, manager of Playaway Creche Anne Clarke, highlighted how, at the same time, Core Funding for childcare providers meant they could not increase fees despite rising costs and difficulties retaining staff.
“It’s pathetic, it’s because my fees are frozen,” she said.
Turkish firm to acquire Mannok
A Turkish company was poised to acquire an almost 95% stake in Mannok - formerly Quinn Industrial Holdings and once part of the Quinn Group empire owned and lost by former billionaire Sean Quinn Sabanci Building Solutions has reached an agreement to acquire a near 94.7 per cent stake in the building materials and packaging businesses. The deal valued Mannok at €330m, with deductions made to the purchase price for debt.
The existing Mannok management and owners - chief executive Dara O’Reilly and chief operating officer Kevin Lunney – were set to retain a 5.3% share in the business.
Anger as classes cut
Around 130 Further Education and Training (FET) and adult education courses were cancelled or postponed just as the new academic year kicked in, it was revealed at the September meeting of the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). This was due to a €1M budget shortfall in the two counties for 2024 despite strong demand and enrolment at colleges and centres
Bid to bring back the fleadh
Attempts were being made to bring the All-Ireland Fleadh back to Cavan for 2028 and 2029.
Nyah founder Martin Donohoe was behind the latest push. He was suggesting that Cavan homeowners could foot the bill through a 15% adjustment in their Local Property Tax (LPT) over a period of two years. This was the model employed by organisers in Wexford in co-operation with the local authority.
Cavan successfully hosted the Fleadh from 2010 to 2012, the only county to do so for three years in a row.
The outlay to run the Fleadh in today’s money is estimated at around €1.2 million, however Martin points out how Wexford Town attracted over 600,000 visitors in 2024 with around €60 million injected into the local economy in return.
NUMBER OF THE MONTH
45
The number of pubs in County Cavan that had called time and shut their doors since 2005 (almost one in five), according to a report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).
“There is no reason we can’t have the next Hozier coming from Cavan. I know from speaking with people last year the talent is here... - Singer/songwriter Don Mescallon Drumlinia Music Week
GOOD MONTH
* There were celebrations in Mullahoran as the local national school marked 50 years
* Nuálach Automation opened a new 5,500 sq ft facility in Virginia
* Blacklion culinary arts student, Alanna Moffitt, achieved a medallion of excellence at the World Skills competition in France.
* Leanne McMahon and Ellie Flood started ‘The Queer Culchie Book Club’ in Cavan
* Cavan County Council signed contracts for the development of seven new social houses in Ballyhaise
BAD MONTH
* While not responsible for the 2017 blaze that killed 72 people, the final Grenfell report accused Kingspan of “dishonest strategies” in relation to how it marketed its insulation, showing a “complete disregard for fire safety”
* Music lovers were disappointed to learn that popular shop Multisound in Cavan Town, with Noel Tierney at the helm, was set to close its doors after 36 years trading
* Coillte came under pressure from regular users of Killykeen Forest Park who were unhappy with the number of trees felled in the amenity and later began a petition to have the clear-felled area replanted with native species.