Year in Review: Looking back on the news across Louth in June 2025

June 3rd
As many as 85 ambulances dispatched to non-cardiac life-threatening emergencies in Louth in 2024, took longer than one hour to get to a patient, according to information released to the Dundalk Democrat under the Freedom of Information Act.
The longest wait time for a non-cardiac life-threatening incident in Louth in 2024 was two hours 50 minutes.

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A planning application lodged by the Simon Community to demolish three buildings in Dundalk and construct 21 residential units has been withdrawn.

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Dundalk Town Centre Commercial Manager Martin McElligott said that he and the team behind the SEEK Festival, announced that EPSO Seek – Art – Language – Culture Fest would take place from Saturday 7 June to Sunday 15 June this year in Dundalk.
EPSO will encompass a wider range of artistic disciplines and expressions, and offer the public a rich and immersive experience, reaching a broader and more diverse audience.
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Maynooth University (MU) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) officially launched the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy.
The Regional Graduate Academy (RGA) will offer structured PhD programmes supervised by DkIT staff, with doctoral students jointly registered at both institutions and receiving their degree from Maynooth University.

June 10th

Bad driving, overcharging fares, and abusive and threatening behaviour from drivers were just some of the 41 complaints made against taxi drivers and Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) drivers in Louth between 2020 and 2024,
Figures released to the Democrat by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under FOI show that action was taken against the driver in twelve of these cases. The actions taken varied, ranging from fines and cautions, to advice being given to the driver.

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Two well-known local landmarks are set for a major transformation, with plans submitted to Louth County Council to redevelop the site of McManus' pub in Seatown into housing and retail units and the former Windmill Bar & Restaurant into a residential development.

June 17th

Dundalk has held on to its improved status in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, ranking 25th out of 40 towns and maintaining its ‘Clean to European Norms’ status which it achieved in the last survey released at the beginning of the year.

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The Department of Justice has confirmed that the former St Joseph's Female Orphanage & Industrial School and St Malachy's Convent at Seatown Place in Dundalk will be used to accommodate people fleeing the war in Ukraine but there is no set date to move people to the north Louth location.

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Louth County Councillor, Seán Kelly of Fianna Fail, was elected Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council at the Annual Meeting, held at the County Hall in Dundalk.

June 24th

Tributes have been paid to “caring” and “hugely popular” Blackrock teenager Kofi Owusu who died after getting into difficulty while swimming in County Meath
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Louth County Council spent €20,600 on sending a delegation to New York for St Patrick’s Day this year. The figures were obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

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Serious concerns have been raised about the future of apprenticeships after it was revealed that the budget for them in Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) has been cut.
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Fierce Mild, an independent Dundalk non-alcoholic specialty beer brand has been named as the first ever winner of the ‘Taste of TV’ fund.