Live Register figures rise for a fourth straight month in Dundalk

Live Register figures for Dundalk grew for the fourth straight month in July.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that there were 6,341 people signed on in Dundalk last month, up 7.8% from March and by 2.14% on the 6,208 who were claiming dole payments in June.

On a county level there were 14,781 people signing on last month. This was also the fourth straight month of rises, with the figure up 2.03% on June. There were also increases recorded in both Ardee (-2.94%) and Drogheda (-1.69%).

These figures bucked the national trend with 2,100 people less signing on in June.

Woman’s body discovered in Hackballscross

A woman’s body has been discovered in a house in Hackballscross, just north of Dundalk.

The woman had suffered serious head injuries before being discovered by a family member at her home in the Rathmore area this afternoon.

The house has been sealed off by Gardaí with investigations underway as to the cause of her death.

Gardaí are said to be investigating the circumstances leading up to the woman’s death and whether it is connected to a fatal crash on the M1 outside Ardee earlier this afternoon.

A man in his 60s died when his car collided with a lorry and a car. The car was registered to the house in which the woman was found prompting speculation that it could be a murder-suicide case.

It is understood the deceased was driving the wrong way up the northbound lane of the motorway when the collision occurred between J14 Ardee and J15 Castlebellingham.

Three other people were brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with non-life threatening injuries and the motorway is expected to remain closed between J14 Ardee and J16 Dundalk South for much of tonight.

Clarke to undergo CT scan following kick to the head

Darren Clarke

Former Louth footballer Darren Clarke will undergo a CT scan this morning after being kicked in the head late on in a club championship match last night.

The forward was playing for Ardee St Mary’s in their 1-15 to 1-11 defeat to the Dreadnots in Dunleer when he received the blow from David O’Brien – who was sent-off for the challenge. A tussle broke out between both sides in the aftermath of the incident, which LMFM reporter Colm Corrigan described as “horrendous”.

Clarke lay on the ground for several minutes after the full-time whistle with the Order of Malta ambulance having to drive onto the pitch to attend to him. He was eventually brought to his feet and helped to hospital.

He will undergo a scan this morning but it is hopeful he will make a full recovery.

The Ardee man had only come off the bench in the game and had scored four points. Despite the defeat his side still advanced to the quarter-finals of the Senior Championship.

UPDATE: Clarke has a bad concussion but his tests came back all clear.

Appeal lodged against council’s decision to grant Maxol go ahead for Ardee filling station

The old McCabe’s garage in Ardee which Maxol will move into

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against Louth County Council’s decision to grant Maxol planning permission for a new filling station and convenience store on the outskirts of Ardee.

Last month the fuel retailer was granted conditional planning permission by Louth County Council to redevelop the former McCabe’s Toyota Garage at the junction of the N2 and R171 Tallanstown Road at The Glebe in Ardee.

However, local businessman John Malone, c/o Stephen Ward Town Planning and Dev Consultants Ltd in Dundalk, has objected to that decision – pointing out there was already a filling station and oil depot close by.

In his appeal, Mr Malone argued the planning history establish “a very clear precedent that a development of this nature and scaled would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

He said there would be an adverse impact to the lifespan and carrying capacity of the national road network, an endangerment of public safety due to increased pedestrian activity. He also argued it could be prejudicial to public health because of capacity constraints on the Ardee Wastewater Treatment Plant.

He also felt it had the potential to significantly undermine the vitality and viability of Ardee Town Centre.

Previously Aldi were unsuccessful in their attempts to open up a supermarket in this area.

Maxol are also set to open a new filling station in Dundalk on the Dublin Road, opposite Dundalk IT.

Paddy Power refused planning to open Ardee office

Paddy Power have been refused planning permission to set up a new bookmakers in Ardee.

The company applied to Louth County Council for planning permission to convert a former bar under Wau Asian Cuisine at the junction of Market Square and Irish Street into a betting office (102sqm) at ground level.

They had hoped to fit four satellite dishes on the flat roof at the rear and have three condenser units in the yard at the rear.

The application included permission for their signage and the internal modification of the building.

The move would have pitted them in direct competition with the nearby Boylesports unit. At least one objection came in, however, saying their site notice was misleading as the premises was not presently a bar and was being used as a hardware shop.

It remains to be seen whether the company will appeal the decision or look at alternative sites in the town.

Former credit union in Ardee could be converted into community resource centre

Plans have been drawn up to convert the former credit union building in Market Street in Ardee into a community resource centre.

The application was made recently by Ardee & District Community Trust, who have also sought permission for new signage at the front elevation of the building.

Louth County Council are due to decide on the matter by August 3^rd.

277 personnel in Louth Garda Division

There are currently 277 personnel in the Louth Garda Division.

That’s according to figures from the Garda Commissioner, as of April 30^th 2015.

There are also 45 Garda Reserves and 22 civilians attached to the division.

There are also 16 Community Gardaí in the Louth Division, with six in Dundalk, five in Drogheda, three in Dunleer and one apiece in Clogherhead and Ardee.

The figures were requested by local TD Gerry Adams who has also requested the current budget for Gardaí in Dundalk and north Louth and how it compares each year since 2010.

Cllr Minogue accuses Peter Fitzpatrick of “shafting” Mid-Louth

Cllr Dolores Minogue

Fine Gael councillor Dolores Minogue has hit out at local TD Peter Fitzpatrick, claiming he has “shafted” Mid-Louth.

Last week Deputy Fitzpatrick did a U-turn on his decision not to seek the Fine Gael nomination at next month’s selection convention on July 9^th after reportedly receiving an assurance from Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the party would run just two candidates in the Louth/East Meath constituency.

Cllr Minogue, from Ardee, was heavily linked as a possible third Fine Gael candidate on the ticket, along with the likes of Cllr Colm Markey from Togher.

However, that no longer looks to be the case, with Cllr Minogue telling Michael Reade of LMFM this morning that she felt the party would now run just two candidates, Deputy Fitzpatrick in Dundalk and fellow sitting TD Fergus O’Dowd in Drogheda.

She told the station: “Of course I have ambition for Mid-Louth. I had a small chance on the 11th of June to get to convention but now I haven’t. The goalposts have moved since Peter done a u-turn. Reading the papers and listening to people he has got a cast-iron (promise) that it’s only going to be two candidates in Dundalk and Drogheda.”

She said it was disappointing that Deputy Fitzpatrick hadn’t come onto the likes of LMFM to explain himself and called on him to do so.

“ It’s disappointing that Peter is not coming to speak to the people he represents locally to explain his situation. He knows the party’s strategy now more than anybody and I would call for him to come on and explain it to the people he represents,” she said.

Maxol given the go ahead for new filling station outside Ardee

The old McCabe’s garage in Ardee which Maxol will move into

Maxol have been given the go ahead to open a new filling station at the former McCabe’s Toyota garage outside Ardee.

The fuel retailer has been granted conditional planning permission by Louth County Council to redevelop the existing commercial site at the junction of the N2 and R171 Tallanstown Road at The Glebe in Ardee.

They are proposing to alter the existing car showroom and offices including reducing the floor area. As well as incorporating a gym in the basement they hope to modify and reduce the floor area of the Vehicle Test Centre to accommodate alterations for a proposed filling station.

The petrol station would include a shop, café/restaurant and offices and meeting rooms.

As well as the forecourt area, the site would also feature a drive thru car wash, parking, play areas and more.

The company has been given permission to install underground storage tanks, bunkering facilities and a chemical/eslan disposal point as well as altering the access point to the site.

Previously Aldi were unsuccessful in their attempts to open up a supermarket in this area.

Maxol are also set to open a new filling station in Dundalk on the Dublin Road, opposite Dundalk IT.

McGahon tipped to replace Fitzpatrick on Fine Gael election ticket

Cllr John McGahon

Local councillor John McGahon is reportedly being lined up to replace Peter Fitzpatrick on the local Fine Gael ticket for the next General Election.

Fitzpatrick announced yesterday that he would not be seeking a nomination from the party to run in the next election when their selection convention takes place on July 9^th.

That leaves a vacancy in the north of the county with today’s Irish Independent reporting that Cllr McGahon, a representative in Dundalk-Carlingford, could be set to fill the void.

The 24-year-old, from Seatown, received 7.77% of the first preference votes in his constituency in last year’s local elections, eventually taking the fourth of six seats behind Sinn Féin pair Edel Corrigan and Jim Loughran and newly appointed county council chairman, Peter Savage of Fianna Fáil.

A nephew of former Louth TD Brendan McGahon, who represented the county in the Dáíl from 1982 until 2002, John is vying for one of two possible positions.

Sitting TD Fergus O’Dowd has confirmed he will run for election once again while there is said to be disagreement in the party whether they should run two candidates or three, with Ardee-based councillor Dolores Minogue tipped to be in the running to satisfy gender quotas.