News Review of 2022: Looking back on the main stories from September
September 6th
Gardaí investigated a suspected arson attack on a caravan in the Muirhevnamor area of Dundalk.
The caravan, which was parked in the driveway of the home, was completely destroyed in the fire.
Quick-thinking neighbours alerted the family inside about the blaze and assisted in their evacuation before dousing gas cannisters close to the caravan in water before the arrival of the fire and rescue service.
Thankfully no one was injured.
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It was a historic month for Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire, Ardee as they welcomed both boys and girls to primary school for the first time.
There was great excitement as the boys and girls were welcomed by their teachers to their brand new, state of the art classrooms.
Omeath received €100,000 as part of the Streetscape Initiative to improve shopfronts, carry out artwork and install street furniture and canopies.
Under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative, retailers and property owners were to be provided with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.
September 13th
The controversial World War I memorial at The Crescent in Dundalk was finally completed after the centre image had to be removed as an artist threatened legal action for copyright infringement.
The memorial to commemorate the 310 men from Co Louth who lost their lives in World War I, funded by Louth County Council and SEUPB EU PEACE IV funding, was due to be unveiled at the end of May, but had to have the centre image removed after an American artist threatened legal action for copyright infringement.
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Parents of Dundalk girl Zoe Murphy made a fresh appeal for the public's help to fundraise €35,000 for specialised surgery in America.
The CBS Primary School in Dundalk was designated a DEIS school and started a Free School Meals Programme.
Maria Doyle, who is a Louth County Councillor and also a teacher at the CBS Primary School, said at the time: “Every child in the school is provided with a free meal. At the moment its cold lunches and they use an app to order. They get the fruit for a snack and then a choice of sandwich or roll or whatever at lunchtime.
“And then some time in October, probably the end of October, we're moving to hot food because that's a requirement of the Department that we move to hot food.”
September 20th
Local politicians called for greater supports for Louth businesses hit by spiralling energy costs, with some recording that their bills have trebled.
Speaking in the Dail, Louth Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd said he knew of a food hall in Dundalk which is 38 years in business and whose bill had gone from €3,674 to €9,000 per month, while another local company has seen their electricity bill soar from €10,000 to €25,000 per month.
September 27th
There was an outpouring of tributes for Calvin Curley-Gray who was remembered as having a “funny, cheeky, and bubbly spirit that disarmed so many, with that trademark smile” as family and friends gathered for his funeral.
11 year old Calvin tragically passed away two weeks after suffering serious injuries in a fall at a premises on Clanbrassil Street.
Up to seventeen secondary school students in Anagassan who go to school in Dundalk were stranded at the school bus stop most mornings as buses with empty seats pull away.
Frustrated parents and students protested outside Bus Eireann offices in Dundalk, hitting out at the lack of concessionary bus tickets issued to children in the area for the coming school year.
The issue of antisocial behaviour and drug and alcohol misuse at the Halliday’s Mill complex on Quay Street was raised by a concerned resident at the public meeting of Dundalk Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
The resident said not enough was being done to tackle the problems of drug and alcohol misuse in the complex.
Councillors slam Irish Water for refusing to meet them over discoloured water issues as they claim they don't have the resources to meet councils.
Households in the county are continuously plighted with brown water running from their taps.