A look back at what happened in March in Louth

5 March 2024

The impact of frequent road works over the past couple of years at Quay Street in Dundalk, is leaving one business owner counting the cost to his business, and making a plea for more joined up thinking and better communication.

Andrew Brodigan, owner of the Londis at Quay Street, told the Dundalk Democrat that his shop, and the attached post office, has lost a huge amount of footfall and business over the past couple of years due to the works and associated road closures.

****

A report published by the Joint Committee on Justice has recommended that the Operating Policing Model and that the ‘3 County Division’ of Louth, Cavan, Monaghan should be re-examined, with a view towards designating Louth as a separate district.

The decision to merge the three districts went live on 3 December last year despite strong opposition from local councillors and Joint Policing Committees with letters written to the garda commissioner expressing concern with the move and the breadth of the geographical area it would cover.

Tuesday 27 February saw hundreds of secondary school students and teachers arrive at The Fairways Hotel, Dundalk for the Louth Student Enterprise Awards 2024.

12 March 2024

There was great sadness in Dundalk as the funeral took place of former soccer and GAA star, Sonia Hoey, who passed away following a long illness.

Sonia was a talented sports star, having scored the winning goal for Dundalk in the 2005 Women’s FAI Cup final against Peamount United at Lansdowne Road, captaining the Dundalk IT football team, alongside playing GAA with Dowdallshill before she went on to play with the Louth Senior GAA team.

Following a long struggle with cancer, having been first diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer in February 2019, she passed away peacefully at the Louth County Hospital, surrounded by her family.

€17,789,045 was allocated to the Louth County Council Road Works Programme for 2024. Included in the budget, was €2,108,300 for Grant Specific Works in the Dundalk Municipal District. 16 roads in that were affected by the severe weather last Halloween were also allocated funding for repairs.

Louth County Council prepared to celebrate St Patrick's Day 2024 at home and abroad, supporting a series of events honouring Ireland's patron saint.

Representatives from Louth County Council accepted an invitation from the County Louth Society of New York to attend celebrations in the ‘Big Apple’ including the world famous NY St. Patrick’s Day parade.

19 March 2024

“Every little bit helps,” is the message from Dundalk man and cancer survivor Joseph Woods who will be among the many people supporting the Irish Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Day appeal this Friday.

“Daffodil Day helps the Irish Cancer Society to support everyone affected, as I know from my time with c a n c e r”, he said.

Cllr Seán Kelly has said that a better traffic management plan at Castletown Cross is “essential now” and has called on Louth County Council to install traffic lights as well as other safety measures.

Louth saw a huge increase last year in the number of homes granted planning permission, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office. Planning permission was granted for 1,706 homes in 2023, up from 991 in 2022 , representing a 72% increase.

26 March 2024

Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said that reports that most secondary schools in Dundalk are oversubscribed, is “very worrying for Dundalk parents”, and that parents with children with special educational needs are facing “an even tougher battle”.

Louth based Senator John McGahon, was one of Minister Harris’s early endorsers as Fine Gael TD’s and Senators announced their support for a new leader of the Fine Gael party.

The flows were turned on in Omeath’s new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.

In partnership with Louth County Council, Uisce Éireann recently completed a significant upgrade of Omeath’s wastewater infrastructure.