New radio show Live Wire launches on Dundalk FM today

A new radio show will launch on Dundalk FM this afternoon.

LiveWire will be presented by Ciaran Callan and will feature music, chat, entertainment and much more.

The show gets underway at 4pm and you can tune in at 100 FM or online at www.dundalkfm.com

Ciaran urges town’s businesses to get behind Dundalk FC

Ciaran Callan

Ahead of this Thursday night’s massive Europa League second round tie against Hadjuk Split, Dundalk fan Ciaran Callan is calling on the town’s businesses and fans to get behind the players and staff of Dundalk FC and wish them all every inch of support.

“I think as a town and community when Dundalk is doing well like it has done over the past two seasons there has been a great buzz around the town and surrounding areas. Everyone has been talking about Dundalk FC,” said Ciaran

“With Hadjuk Split coming to Dundalk I would love to see as many homes, businesses and fans showing off their colours, flying the flags and banners ahead of the game. I think personally it will add to the already great sense of occasion and we saw how well Dundalk looked when the Giro D’Italia came through so why can’t we get behind our club and show off our colours?”

Ciaran, who has been supporting the club for over 10 years through thick and thin, has seen the good and bad times at the club.

“We had a very low period since the FAI Cup win in 2002 for many years and now it looks as if the great times this club has enjoyed in the past are coming back so when we do have good times I think it’s vitally important that we embrace them and celebrate how far we really have come as a club/”

Ciaran is hoping his “rally the troops” message might encourage Dundalk and its community to come out and support Dundalk FC.

“This is our club and our team and I encourage everyone to send messages of support and encouragement ahead of Thursday night.”

Louth Young Fine Gael launch Fair Fares campaign

Louth Young Fine Gael chairman Ciaran Callan at the launch of the Fair Fares campaign with local students at Clarke Station in Dundalk

As part of a nationwide campaign Louth Young Fine Gael is looking for the introduction of fairer prices for second level students aged between 16-18 on national transport networks both nationally and those that use public transport networks in County Louth.

Fair Fares is the first initiative of the current Young Fine Gael National Executive and the first awareness campaign to be launched by Louth Young Fine Gael.

Last Friday Chairman of LYFG Ciaran Callan, Vice Chairman Andreu D’Arcy, Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick TD, Cllr Martin Murnaghan and members of second level schools St Vincent’s, O Fiaich College and the Dundalk Grammar School demonstrated the Fair Fares campaign at the local bus and rail network stations in Dundalk.

The reception from speaking to members of the public was reported to be very good and it was well received by many second level students who spoke to members of LYFG at the launch.

Speaking on the issue LYFG Chairman Ciaran Callan stated that all schools in County Louth had received information in relation to the campaign and any school that wishes to speak to him on the matter could contact him.

He also mentioned that Oireachtas members and MEP Mairead McGuinness and MEP Jim Higgins have also been made aware of the issue and asked for their support in relation to this matter. He wanted to thank Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick for taking his time to speak to members of the public and aiding the campaign in Dundalk by attending the event. He also wanted to thank fellow LYFG and current local election candidate Martin Murnaghan for attending the event also.

Ciaran said: “The Fair Fares campaign will continue to be made aware of in County Louth and hopefully this will see in the future a wholesale change in the manner pricing structures are managed on national transport networks.”

Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick TD, Louth Young Fine Gael chairman Ciaran Callan and Cllr Martin Murnaghan with local students at the launch of the Fair Fares campaign at Dundalk Bus Station

Louth Young Fine Gael makes their mark at the party’s 77th Ard Fheis

Members of Louth Young Fine Gael at the party’s Ard Fheis at the weekend with Louth County Councillor Linus English and Senator Jim D’Arcy

Louth Young Fine Gael attended the 77^th Fine Gael Ard Fheis last weekend, which took place at the RDS in Dublin.

This was the branch’s first Ard Fheis since being established and over the course of the two-day event they attended and spoke on various issues and motions that were up for debate at the conference.

During the event members of Louth Young Fine Gael met and spoke with various members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and MEP’s. All members that met the branch, including Government ministers, met them with great enthusiasm and wished them well in its assistance to the candidates standing in the forthcoming local and European election campaign.

In a live televised event on Saturday morning local election candidate and Louth Young Fine Gael member John McGahon proposed a motion, which related to the high level of youth unemployment and called on the government to focus on getting the youth of this country back to work.  The motion received strong support from the government led panel and all commented on the passion and great speech made by the Dundalk native.

In a seminar based on Youth Pressures in Ireland, Chairman of Louth Young Fine Gael Ciaran Callan discussed at the panel led seminar organised by Young Fine Gael on the development of a new educational programme for schools on the dangers of substance abuse and better training for teachers in dealing with these issues. This proposal led to a great discussion amongst the Young Fine Gael panel, which included Kenneth Egan former Olympian who is running for Fine Gael in the local elections and Meath TD Helen McEntee.

On Saturday Louth Young Fine Gael were involved in the televised public address by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Members of the branch led out local election candidates from different parts of the country. This led to a very colourful and visual presence at the address and it was very well received by all present at the event.

Also on Saturday, the branch attended seminars which dealt with various national issues including same sex marriage, the legalisation of cannabis, joining NATO and political reform. Along with other members of the Fine Gael party they voted as delegates on these issues. The branch also supported Senator Jim D’Arcy and MEP Mairead McGuinness who both were part of panels that discussed political reform on Friday and Saturday.

Louth Young Fine Gael found the experience of attending the Ard Fheis very worthwhile and enjoyable. The introduction and discussion to various government ministers and the Taoiseach himself has boosted the profile of the branch within the organisation and they hope to attend many more Ard Fheis events for years to come.

Members of Louth Young Fine Gael with local MEP Mairead McGuinness

Busy year ahead for Louth Young Fine Gael as local elections loom

Members of Louth Young Fine Gael with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and local TD Peter Fitzpatrick

Louth Young Fine Gael is putting the final touches to their election campaign for the candidates standing in the local and European elections next May. The branch, which was established in 2012, had a busy end to 2013 with the election of new chairman Ciarán Callan and attending the Young Fine Gael national conference that took place in Waterford. However 2014 brings a fresh new challenge as they prepare to aid candidates who begin their canvass campaigns ahead of the electoral vote, which takes place at the end of May.

The branch are hoping to be the visual youth presence and voice of Louth at these local campaigns and will be individually and as a group taking part in leaflet drops, canvass runs and social media campaigns for the local candidates. It is hoped that this type of campaign will ensure that Fine Gael has a youth voice in county Louth.

Louth Young Fine Gael is looking forward to aiding all candidates in their respective campaigns and they hope to ensure that Fine Gael and indeed Young Fine Gael, who have two members running in the next local elections in Cllr Martin Murnaghan and former LYFG Chairman John McGahon, will have a strong presence in the next Louth County Council.

Post election plans have already been put in place for the coming year as the branch hope to begin its social issue campaigns, local policy for the youth of Louth and local and national charity fundraising as part of its already very busy but exciting 2014.

If you are interested in joining the branch, Chairman Ciaran Callan invites all those interested to email louthyfg@gmail.com