2023 in review - Looking back on December in Louth
Uniquely set to create 100 new jobs in Dundalk
5th December 2023
At the beginning of December, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce President, Una McGoey, said that the decision by SalesSense International, now known as Uniquely, to expand in Dundalk “not only reflects the town's attractiveness for business investment but also underscores our community's resilience and potential for growth.”
Ms McGoey made the comments to the Dundalk Democrat, following two notable milestone announcements by the sales and service outsourcing partner when it confirmed, “a significant investment in the North-East region and M1 Corridor – within the next 18 months”, and plans to create over 100 new job opportunities.
It also confirmed that, effective immediately, as part of a strategic rebranding initiative and expansion, the company will operate under its new name, Uniquely.
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Imelda Munster, Sinn Féin TD for Louth and East Meath, announced in December that she will not be seeking re-election to the Dáil in the next general election.
Deputy Munster said: “It has been my honour and privilege to represent the people of my hometown Drogheda and County Louth in the Dáil since 2016, and I look forward to continuing to do so for the remainder of this Dáil term.
“I entered politics because I love Drogheda and I wanted to work for my community. I have always done my best to be a strong Republican voice on behalf of the people of Drogheda.
"I am proud to have been able to represent the town and the wider constituency for the past twenty years.”
There was plenty of excitement in St Helena’s Park as Roche All Stars and Snap Kids Teens from Forkhill were presented with their very own state of the art special needs trikes.
The trikes are suitable for younger children aged 4-8 yrs to use and there was no shortage of young volunteers to help test them out on the day.
The trikes were donated as part of an All Ireland Cycling Disability Partnership run by the children’s charity, Variety Ireland.
12th December 2023
The HSE has apologised to a 93-year-old Dundalk woman who waited for almost four hours for an ambulance to come after she fell and broke her pelvis.
In a response to a representation on the woman's behalf, made by Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) apologised to the woman for the long wait which was raised at the Sinn Féin Ard Fhéis and in Leinster House.
The film Kneecap which filmed scenes in parts of Dundalk and Greenore earlier this year will have its world premiere at the renowned Sundance Film Festival in Utah where it will screen on the opening night on Thursday 18th January.
Based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the band’s Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside Academy Award nominated Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs, 12 Years a Slave), Simone Kirby (Hidden Assets, Jimmy’s Hall) and Josie Walker (Belfast, The Wonder).
Government Ministers, Thomas Byrne and Jack Chambers, were in north Louth in December, the former to meet with sports clubs’ representatives.
Government business brought Transport Minister Chambers to Ballymascanlon Hotel, but he later had a meeting with Senator Erin McGreehan, who briefed him on the situation on the Cooley Peninsula following the flooding.
He also visited the premises of Seán Moriarty Transport.
19th December 2023
In what could be a significant boost to the local economy Oriel Wind Farm announced it is continuing to progress its plans for an offshore wind farm in the North Irish Sea and intends to apply for planning permission for the project to An Bord Pleanála early in 2024.
The proposed wind farm will be located off the Co Louth coast and will have a generating capacity of up to 375 megawatts (MW), which is the equivalent of the energy used to power about 300,000 homes.
It is hoped that if given the go ahead the development and operation of the windfarm project will deliver a range of local economic and community benefits to Louth as well as to the general Northeast region.