Sharkey calls for Leaving Cert results to be issued earlier next year

Cllr Tomás Sharkey believes everyone would be best served by the Leaving Cert results being issued sooner

Sinn Féin County Councillor Tomás Sharkey is calling for the 2015 Leaving Certificate results to be released earlier than the traditional mid-August date.

His remarks came on the eve of around 1,600 students in the county receiving their results earlier today.

He said: “Students will know how many points they got and college places will be awarded in the coming weeks. This leaves very little time for students and families to make arrangements for the start of the first semester.

“Every year students appeal some results and their exams are rechecked. This year, the appealed results will not be available until mid-october. If a result is upgraded, the student may qualify for a place in a higher preference course but far too late into the semester. I believe that this timeline is not good enough. There is no reason why results can’t be issued to students at the start of August and appealed results made available by the end of September.

“Earlier Leaving Cert results will give students more time to find accommodation and to sort grant applications. Earlier appeals results will mean that students can join their higher preference college courses before it is too late.

“The State Examinations Commission is an efficient organisation and I believe that if the Minister for Education requested this new timeframe, it would be achieved,” said Cllr Sharkey.

Meanwhile, a number of local politicians have been in contact to wish local students well with Labour Senator Mary Moran encouraging them to “celebrate wisely and keep safe in the coming days.”

Woman sues Dundalk company over fall at Slane gig

Victoria Clayton leaving court yesterday

A nurse from Co Armagh is suing a Dundalk-based company and concert promoters MCD after she missed the Rolling Stones’ concert in Slane in August 2007 after allegedly slipping on mud and being carried from the venue on a stretcher.

Victoria Clayton told the High Court yesterday she was in immense pain after the fall, which occurred just before the Rolling Stones came out on stage.

Ms Clayton, with an address in Portadown, Co Armagh, has sued MCD Productions Ltd, Park Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, and Corporate Solutions Group, Coes Road, Dundalk, Co Louth, over the accident on August 18th, 2007.

She claims the defendants were negligent in the management and operation of the site and its upkeep and maintenance during a live musical event. A sloping grassy bank was permitted to become excessively wet and slippery and there was an alleged failure to provide some system whereby patrons could safely and securely negotiate that bank, she claims.

The defendants plead they had placed straw and mulch around the venue and there were gravel paths to walk on.

Ms Clayton claims she suffered fractures to the calf and shin bone of her right leg. In her work, when she had to stand during long operations in theatre, she had discomfort in her leg, she said in evidence. There was also an area of numbness around her knee and the scar was still visible.

Earlier, she said she had been to several concerts and attending Slane Castle was an annual pilgrimage. She had gone with a group of friends on a bus to the Rolling Stones concert and drank a can of cider while travelling. She had a glass of wine in the village pub before walking to Slane Castle.

It was wet and she was wearing wellingtons, she said. They had brought bin bags to sit on because the ground was wet and she had beer once she got on to the site. She slipped and fell as she attempted to get to the toilets. She could not get up and had to be taken to an ambulance on a stretcher.

The case continues.

29 jobs to go at Heinz in Dundalk

The Heinz factory in Dundalk

29 jobs are set to go at the HJ Heinz plant in Dundalk as the company moves ahead with plans to cut 10% of its global workforce.

Heinz announced in August that they were developing a new “streamlined structure”, which could result in lay offs.

They are now proceeding with these plans, with 29 of its 200-plus staff in Dundalk being made redundant. The company are seeking 23 voluntary redundancies from its operations staff and six compulsory redundancies from management staff.

A statement from Heinz said they were reducing the workforce “to meet reduced production demands.”

A 30 day consultation process is now underway with the company planning “enhanced severance benefits” for all those affected.

Heinz first came to Dundalk in 1993 and are based at the Finnabair Industrial Estate. They have picked up numerous awards over the years, with the local factory dedicated to making frozen meals as opposed to other products the company are famed for such as their baked beans and range of sauces.

Site of Ginnity’s Bar in Dromiskin close to being sold

A prominent site in Dromiskin, which measures 0.26 acres, is close to being sold.

The site, which formerly housed Ginnity’s Bar, has gone sale agreed in recent days with estate agents Sherry FitzGerald Carroll.

The development site has ‘village centre’ zoning, which allows it to be used as a shop, crèche, surgery, restaurant and licensed premises or as a residential unit.

It also has a prime corner site with frontage to the Common’s Road and Church Road.

While no price for the site has been provided, it had gone on the market for €45,000 in August.

Ginnity’s Bar was gutted by a fire six years ago with units from Dundalk, Dunleer and Drogheda Fire Stations attending the blaze.

Mark to shave his beard after 10 years in aid of cancer research

Local man Mark Duffy is set to shave his beard off for the first time in 10 years in aid of cancer research on Friday November 1^st.

Mark, from Belfry Gardens, first grew his beard in 2003 and has been letting it grow untrimmed since the start of August ahead of the big shave in a few weeks’ time.

Not only has Mark pledged to shave his beard, but he has also promised to remain clean shaven for the entire month of November.

Commenting on his fundraising site, Mark said: “I originally wanted to do it for prostate cancer, but as my mam was diagnosed with breast cancer this year, I wanted to do something for it also. So I have chosen to support NUI Galway, as their research will not only benefit breast cancer but also prostate cancer. It would mean alot if you could support this and help in cancer research.”

To date Mark has raised €450 of his target but you can donate or read more about his journey at 10yearshave.me

Missing weather probe turns up on the other side of the Irish Sea

A weather probe that went missing over Dundalk Bay has resurfaced on the other side of the Irish Sea.

The device, which was released by Armagh students a month ago, included a basic computer, video apparatus and data recording equipment and was carried by a helium filled balloon.

The students issued an appeal in August for its return when it got lost over Dundalk Bay on its descent having floated 120,000 feet to the edge of space.

Dundalk Search and Rescue and local fishermen were involved in the search for the instrument but it has finally been found – washed up among rocks on a beach in Anglesey, north Wales.

A teacher from the school in question said it took about three weeks to float across the sea.

The good news is that while some of the equipment is damaged, the data should be intact.

New Dundalk bingo hall to open in August

The grand opening of new local bingo hall Let’s Bingo has been scheduled for Tuesday August 6^th at 5.30pm.

The new bingo hall, which will be located at the former Sportsbowl bowling alley on the Racecourse Road, has been dubbed “the most luxurious, modern and technically advanced bingo anywhere in Ireland.”

Amongst the features of the venue, will be a full bar and restaurant.

Staff are currently undergoing training ahead of the opening.

Previously: New bingo hall to open in Dundalk