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01 Jan 2026

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

GAA legends honoured at civic reception

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

Tommy Durnin, vice-captain of Louth team; David Conway, Chief Executive of LCC; Áine Breen, captain of Louth LGFA team; Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of LCC; and Sean Callaghan, captain of Louth U20s

November 4th

Two Dunleer Gardaí were recognised in November for their quick thinking and bravery after rescuing a man from a swampy field earlier this year.

On March 1st, 2025, Gardaí were alerted to a man in distress in the Droomgoolestown area near Charleville, Dunleer. Upon arrival, Garda Conor Craig located the individual, who had become trapped in a swampy section of a tillage field and was sinking rapidly.

Reacting swiftly, Garda Craig and his colleague, Garda Kevin Memery, leaned over the edge of the swampy area and managed to pull the man to safety before he was fully submerged.

The man, who had been exposed to cold water for an extended period, showed signs of potential hypothermia. Emergency services arrived shortly afterwards, and he was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he made a full recovery.

In recognition of their courageous actions, Gardaí Craig and Memery were honoured with Lifesaving Bravery Awards at the Water Safety Ireland Awards 2025.

November 11th

Over 250 guests packed An Táin Theatre for a civic reception hosted by Louth County Council, where the county’s Senior Men’s, Under-20s Men’s, and Ladies LGFA teams were formally honoured for their outstanding achievements during the 2025 season.

The civic honour, the highest accolade Louth County Council can bestow, recognises individuals and groups whose achievements and contributions have left a lasting impact locally, nationally, or internationally.

The Senior Men’s team was celebrated for their historic Leinster Championship victory, the county’s first provincial title since 1957, while the Under-20s team were lauded for their landmark journey to the All-Ireland final which also saw them win Leinster on the way.

Meanwhile, the Ladies LGFA team returned Louth to national glory with their triumphant campaign in the All-Ireland Junior Championship. Captains Sam Mulroy, Sean Callaghan, and Áine Breen accepted the honours on behalf of their teams.

GAA President Jarlath Burns and sports commentator Marty Morrissey were also in attendance, with Burns paying tribute to the county’s achievements and Morrissey hosting engaging panel discussions with players and managers.

November 18th

Tributes have been paid to five young people who tragically lost their lives in a two-vehicle crash at Gibstown on the Ardee Road in November.

The victims were named as 23-year-old Chloe McGee and 21-year-old Shay Duffy, both from Carrickmacross; Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, Meath; Dylan Commins, 23, from Ardee and 21-year-old Chloe Hipson from Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The group, who had been travelling together in a Volkswagen Golf, were on their way to Dundalk for a night out.
A sixth occupant of the car, a man in his 20s, was treated in hospital for injuries.

The crash, described by gardaí as “shocking and devastating,” occurred shortly after 9pm and involved the Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

A man and woman who were in the second vehicle were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, also with non-life-threatening injuries.

November 25th

Mourners who gathered to bid a final farewell to Dylan Commins were told that though his life was far too short it was “packed with adventure, bravery and joy”.

Ardee came to a standstill in November as the town mourned the loss of 23-year-old Dylan Commins, one of five young people who tragically died in a collision on the Ardee Road in Dundalk.

Dylan's coffin arrived at the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Ardee along with a bright red car on the back of a recovery truck.

Read Next: Louth TD calls for urgent passing of legislation to protect retail staff

Cars in the town bore ‘DYLAN’ number plates and there was a solemn tone as the heartbroken family of Dylan arrived at the church arm-in-arm.
morning.
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Queen’s University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) announced a major new partnership that will establish Dundalk Institute of Technology as a University College of Queen’s University Belfast.

It is hoped the collaboration will help economic and social development within the Dublin-Belfast corridor and enhance higher education, research and innovation provision for the region.

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