2022 Dundalk news in review - February

February 1st 2022

Families of the 23 people who lost their lives during a Covid outbreak in Dealgan House Nursing Home in Dundalk in April and May 2020, said that they they are ‘not dissuaded’ in their fight to “find out the truth about what happened” to their loved ones.

The families were speaking in February after comments from Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil cast doubt on a commission of inquiry taking place, on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 23 residents from Covid in Dealgan House nursing home in April 2020

Fergus O'Dowd TD told the Dundalk Democrat that “anything less than a full investigation into Dealgan House would be a grave error in my opinion, the family need the full unedited facts that led to the terrible loss of life of 23 residents during the initial wave.”

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News that drones as well as Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology could soon be used to tackle illegal dumping locally as part of new legislation before the Seanad, was welcomed by Cooley Sinn Fein councillor Antóin Watters, who said: “It’s good news that there’s something actually happening.”

He added “I know every year the council can make applications for their anti dumping initiative and because the legislation wasn’t in place, we were restricted with what we could apply for.”

A total of €6,533,361 in Active Travel Investment Grants was allocated for projects in Louth in 2022, by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

A host of projects across Louth, including more than eleven in Dundalk, have been approved for the funding, which is aimed at improving walking and cycling infrastructure in the area.

February 8th 2022

A garda jeep and a patrol car were allegedly rammed during an almost 25 minute pursuit when a car failed to stop for gardai in Dundalk town centre, a contested bail hearing for a 20 year old south Armagh man charged with five counts of dangerous driving, was told on Monday 7 February.

At Drogheda district court sitting in Dundalk, Judge Eirinn McKiernan heard that two gardaí in the patrol car were injured and three passengers in the car allegedly driven by Cormac Murphy of St. Killian’s Park, Whitecross, were also taken to hospital as a precaution following the second collision on Sunday 6 February.

Councillors agreed at the at the Dundalk Municipal District February meeting to establish a working group to to promote Faughart and north Louth as the birth place of St Brigid, with suggestions also being put forward to hold a St Brigid's Day parade in 2023.

February 15th 2022

Louth County Council and its insurers have paid out over €8.5millon in compensation claims for accidents in public places over the past five years, figures revealed in February.

Compensation payouts for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 came to a total of €8,766,223, according to data obtained by the Dundalk Democrat via Freedom Of Information request.

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Dundalk Young Irelands GFC members turned out in huge numbers for the funeral of Barry McDermott on Friday 11 February.

Mr McDermott, who died suddenly at his home in Bellurgan on the previous Sunday 6th February, at the age of 48, was, up until his sudden death, active in running his hugely successful El Passo School of Motoring, and in overseeing Young Irelands activities.

February 22nd 2022

The night of Friday 18 February, saw Dundalk FC team up with Women’s Aid Dundalk to raise awareness about domestic abuse and celebrate the role that women play at Dundalk FC.

As part of the campaign, a bucket collection took place at Oriel Park before Friday’s league opener against Derry City with all proceeds going to Women’s Aid Dundalk.

On the field, Dundalk players wore Women’s Aid Dundalk T-shirts bearing the charity's logo and helpline number as they warmed up.

Louth Volunteer Centre confirmed in February that it was back open to the public from their offices at County Hall, following the pandemic.

Manager Kayleigh Mulligan said that “with over 40 new volunteer opportunities posted on I-VOL, the National Volunteering Database, from Louth organisations recently, it is clear that volunteering is re-opening and organisations are keen to welcome volunteers back”.