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

September 2nd

With the presidential election campaign gathering momentum in September, then candidate Catherine Connolly came to Dundalk ahead of her public meeting at An Táin Arts Centre.

No stranger to the town, Connolly recalled her time volunteering with the Simon Community here as an experience that shaped her outlook.

In a wide-ranging conversation, she spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about neutrality and the Triple Lock, the role of the presidency, her vision for using the office for the common good and her hopes for a united Ireland.
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“Until I see a wastewater treatment plant that's fit for purpose, I will not be zoning any land south of Dundalk”, Cllr Shane McGuinness told the Dundalk Democrat, in response to a call from Minister for Housing James Browne to local authorities to zone more land for housing, and the Dundalk South councillor has called out Louth TDs and Senators based in the county for not doing more to resolve the wastewater treatment issue in Blackrock.

It followed a protest in Blackrock in September organised by concerned parents, who believe untreated sewage is appearing on the beach and that the water in the sea at Blackrock is polluted.

According to Cllr McGuinness, around 500 people attended the protest, on what was a very wet day.
Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, Cllr McGuinness said that “I've been very outspoken over the last number of years about why we got to that point.”

September 9th

The first Irish-medium secondary school in Louth, Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan officially opened on Saturday.
Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan is the only Irish-medium secondary school under the patronage of An Foras Patrúnachta within a 60km range.

It is a satellite school of Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggen, Co. Dublin. An Foras Patrúnachta is the largest provider of Irish medium education.

An Foras Patrúnachta's Cormac McCashin welcomed the development saying: “We are delighted that the community in Louth, and surrounding counties, now have the option of a co-educational, multi-denominational, Irish-medium second-level education.”

There are Irish-medium primary schools in the area and students can now continue with their secondary education through the medium of Irish. That choice has not been available for some years now.

September 16th

In September, Louth County Council, in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and East Border Region, announced the completion of the Carlingford Lough Greenway, a cross-border active travel route connecting Newry in County Down to Carlingford in County Louth.

The Carlingford Lough Greenway is a project supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The newly completed 11.4km section, was officially celebrated in September and forms part of a wider 20km greenway stretching from Newry City to Carlingford, offering a world-class facility for commuters, recreational users, and tourists alike.

September 23rd
Kate O’Connor produced the performance of a lifetime over the weekend when she won a stunning silver medal for Ireland at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The Dundalk native smashed five personal bests out of seven disciplines in the hurdles, high jump, 200m, javelin, and 800m to finish with a national record score of 6,714 points and become the first Irish multi-event athlete to win a world outdoor medal.

September 30th

“Work hard, dream big and enjoy it” Kate O'Connor advised her young fans as she received a hero's welcome in Dundalk at the end of September.

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A large crowd gathered at the World Heptathlon silver medallist's old school, St Vincent's Secondary School, to give the local sporting legend a rapturous welcome home.

As the 24-year-old arrived into the school hall to the sound of the Dundalk Brass Band, the crowd erupted into a loud cheer.
Excited children from athletics clubs, including Kate's club St Gerard's, and pupils, excitedly waved Irish flags and high-fived their hero as she made her way to the stage.

Kate's proud mother Valerie and grandmother Madeline were among the gathered well-wishers.