Second train running to FAI Cup final from Dundalk

Dundalk FC have confirmed that a second train will be running to the FAI Cup final against Cork City on Sunday November 8^th after the initial train sold out.

The train, which costs €15 return per person, will leave Clarke Station in Dundalk at 11.50am and will arrive at Lansdowne Road at 1.05pm. Kick-off on the day is at 3.30pm.

The train is scheduled to return from Connolly Station at 6.40pm, or 7.40pm if the match goes to extra-time. The price of the DART from Lansdowne Road to Connolly Station is covered in the cost of the return ticket.

The €15 price applies to everyone and no free travel passes will apply. Tickets are on sale from Oriel Park from today during office hours and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Market and Children’s Fancy Dress competition at Ravensdale Country Market

Ravensdale Country Market will host a Halloween Market and Children’s Fancy Dress competition tomorrow.

The event runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm with other highlights including a guess the weight of the pump competition.

Entries for the children’s fancy dress competition can be scary, funny or creative.

All are welcome to attend.

Cuchulainn Cycling Club now the third biggest in the country

Cuchulainn Cycling Club held its AGM recently in the Crowne Plaza Hotel and a successful year was discussed by the members.

The highlight of the reports by the club’s various directors was that membership has reached a record level of over 400 cyclists, ranging from 6 year old children flying over jumps on their BMXs, to people in their 70s who enjoy the social and physical benefits from riding their bikes. This number confirms Cuchulainn as the third biggest cycling club in the country, a remarkable achievement and one that the club’s various committees should be proud of.

Also with 400 members the club is the biggest sporting club in the county. Given the county’s strong GAA and soccer heritage this is again a remarkable achievement.

The treasurer’s report is always the most eagerly anticipated one, as its outcome can set the mood for the following year. Treasurer Sé Weston was delighted to report that the club is in a good position, with a balance in the clear and this was achieved while the club raised money for a number of charities, for example Barry Rogers ran an event in early September “The Lap of Louth” which raised over €3,500 for SOSAD.

Plans for 2016 were discussed and how best to cater for the broad range of cyclists within the club. The club’s success is very much built upon the variety of disciplines it caters for, BMX, off road, road racing, leisure etc. In fact it is the relatively new leisure section that has contributed much to the club’s growth, however how anyone can describe an event which involves 200km of Wicklow Hills as leisure is still a mystery.

Next on the agenda for the club is the annual awards night, to be held once again in The Spirit Store on Friday December 4th. Prizes will be presented for the various club and county events hosted in 2015, alongside the club awards. All are welcome to attend.

Dundalk man jailed for possession of explosives

A Dundalk man was jailed for five years with the last two suspended yesterday after pleading guilty to possession of explosives at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.

Brian Fitzpatrick (50) of Castle Ross in Dundalk was charged with two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances on December 16^th last at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co Meath.

The court heard he pleaded guilty to one of the charges soon after the incident and has since shown remorse.

Defence counsel Micheal P O’Higgins SC said Mr Fitzpatrick was “is not in the first rank of intellect” and had “no intention of doing anything like this again.”

Presiding Judge Paul Butler said the offence was serious but accepted that in this case he was not dealing with someone who was in possession of a bomb. He also noted that Mr Fitzpatrick was not a member of any criminal organisation or gang.

He imposed a five year sentence with the final two to be suspended on the conditions that he lodge a €500 bond and that he does not associate with any known members of criminal organisations.

The sentence was backdated to August 25 2015 when Mr Fitzpatrick entered into custody.

Source: The Sunday World

Dundalk FC request fans stay off the pitch for trophy presentation

It will be a night of celebration at Oriel Park tonight as Dundalk FC collect the Premier Division title following their match with Bray Wanderers.

While Stephen Kenny’s side retained their crown after drawing with Shamrock Rovers earlier this month, the trophy will only be handed back to them this evening.

The club have issued a notice asking supporters to stay off the pitch for the presentation.

A statement on dundalkfc.com said: “The club is determined that every effort will be made to ensure that all fans can enjoy the presentation celebration on Friday. “We must ensure everybody’s safety. This includes our players who still have another hard week of training ahead of our FAI Cup Final appearance with Cork City!

“The players and management of Dundalk Football Club will complete a lap of honour on the pitch once the presentation is complete.

“As well as potentially causing us to cancel the presentation, the club will face a very large fine if supporters enter the playing area. We have also received a number of fines in recent weeks regarding the use of flares. As it is Halloween weekend we must remind everybody that the club has a strict policy on the use of flares and pyros and we ask that no flares are let off in the ground.

“Please help us make it another night to remember! C’mon The Town!”

Kick-off tonight is at 7.45pm.

Major power fault in Dundalk

A major fault has resulted in a power outage in parts of Dundalk this morning.

The incident at the Ramparts is affecting around 496 customers with street lights out in a number of areas including the Ardee Road, The Crescent, Anne Street and Vincent Avenue.

ESB Networks are dealing with the problem and hope to have full service restored by 10am.

Eno’ to host Fashion for Charity event this Sunday

Eno’ Bar, Grill & Wood Fired Pizza in Roden Place are hosting a Fashion for Charity event this Sunday.

This will be a small bespoke fashion show, featuring clothes by Rapport Ladies Boutique and the new men’s clothes shop Pinstripe Punk in Crowe Street. The show will be preceded by a short make-up demonstration by one of Ireland’s top make-up artists Ken Boylan – as seen on Xposé.

Eno’ will have a live DJ on vinyl decks from local store Classified Records, providing the soundtrack for the evening.

There will be a raffle with some fantastic prizes, goodie bags and a complimentary glass of prosecco on arrival. There will also be a prize for the best dressed on the night, so put on your glad rags and help support an exciting and worthy cause!

The charity of choice is Breakthrough Cancer Research to raise funds for their pioneering research and clinical trials to help treat and cure Melanoma Skin Cancer.

Donations can be made at www.mycharity.ie/event/fashion and tickets can be purchased here. The event is now sold out but there is a waiting list so people can contact Eno directly to request last minute tickets.

The show is kindly supported by the following local and national businesses: Mizu Riverlane, The Digital Bakery, Mise Beauty, Elave Skincare, The Village Garden and Molescan.ie. A promo video can also be viewed below:

Dundalk Lions Club to host monster bingo event this Sunday

Dundalk Lions Club will host a monster bingo session this Sunday in the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

There is over €3,500 worth of prizes on offer on the day, including a €1,500 jackpot.

A single book is available for €15 including a flyer while a double book including a flyer is €25.

The event gets underway at 3pm on the day and all are welcome to attend.

Plans for 16 new homes on Newry Road rejected

The Newry Road in Dundalk

Plans to demolish a house on the Newry Road for 16 new homes have been rejected by Louth County Council.

Last month Bernadette Kavanagh applied for planning permission to demolish Highfield House.

In its place she hoped to construct a sheltered housing development consisting of four 2 bed units and four 1 bed units in a two storey block and eight 1 bed single storey semi-detached units.

As part of the application Ms Kavanagh also hoped to enlarge the existing entrance onto the public road and develop all ancillary site services.

However, the plans were rejected by the council on two counts – that it did not fit in with their development plan and that the demolition of Highfield House would also contravene with their policy of encouraging the appropriate reuse, renovation and rehabilitation of older buildings which are not listed but which have some architectural, historical or heritage merit.

Bristol Rovers confirm interest in Dundalk’s Richie Towell

Richie Towell

Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke has confirmed his interest in Dundalk FC midfielder Richie Towell.

The 24-year-old’s 26 goals this season have caught the eye of the League Two outfit with a link to Bristol made by The Sun today.

Interest was then confirmed by Clarke to the Bristol Post this lunchtime.

He said: “Richie has a good pedigree and is the sort of player who might fit the mould we are looking for.

“We have heard some good things about him, but we want to have a look for ourselves and that is probably the next step in the process.

“Steve (Yates) has been out and about looking at several potential targets since taking up his new role recently and I’d anticipate that he will probably going over to Ireland to cast an eye over Richie at some point in the future.

“That is where we are at with it and anybody who says we are any further ahead in the process or talking about deals or wages at this moment in time would be jumping the gun.”