Sinn Féin councillors welcome baby daughter into the world

There was an historic moment yesterday when the first child born to two sitting councillors came into the world.

Sinn Féin Cllr Jennifer Green gave birth to a new daughter yesterday with the support of her councilor husband, Alan Cassidy.

The bouncing baby girl has been named Annalyn Eilish Fiona Cassidy-Green.

While little Annalyn has two older brothers, Caelum and Michael, this is the first child born to two sitting councillors in Co Louth, following Alan’s election to Louth County Council last year.

Jennifer also secured her first seat on the county council in 2014 but had previously represented Dundalk Town Council, which she chaired for a time.

Picture courtesy of Watters Brothers Sinn Féin Cumann.

Adams calls for urgent action on Ard Dealgan apartments

The inside of the Ard Dealgan apartments last Friday

Local TD Gerry Adams has urged Louth County Council to “prioritise as a matter of urgency” the future of the Ard Dealgan apartment block in Quay Street, Dundalk.

The Louth TD’s call comes after the third picket organised by local Councillor Jennifer Green at the site last week.

Deputy Adams attended the picket on Friday and said it had become a “blight” on the local community.

He said: “The Ard Dealgan apartment complex stands as a ruined monument to the worst excesses of the housing development corruption that was a key factor in the economic collapse seven years ago.

“The complex was poorly designed and constructed and was vacated in 2009 as a consequence of fire safety concerns. Since then it has become a blight on the local urban landscape, a source of annoyance and concern for the community around it, and a magnet for anti-social behaviour.”

At Friday’s picket, Deputy Adams and Cllr Pearse McGeough had an opportunity to get inside the complex for the first time.

He said the conditions were “appalling” and there was plenty of evidence that it had become a drugs den.

“It reminded me of the Divis and Moyard Flats complexes’ in west Belfast that were built in the 1960s and which were demolished because of the appalling conditions residents were forced to endure.

The inside of the Ard Dealgan apartments

“As well as fires, noise and pollution issues, Councillor Jennifer Green and Councillor Pearse McGeough who accompanied me last Friday saw evidence that the complex is being used by drug addicts. There were needles lying dangerously about.

“Questions over the ownership of Ard Dealgan; disputes over who has responsibility for securing it; and a lack of planning for its future has seen the internal structure of the Ard Dealgun complex seriously deteriorate.

“In June Louth County Council indicated that they would ‘explore a residential option’ for the 73 units contained in Ard Dealgan for local housing needs. This would require a significant investment of public money.

“The Ard Dealgan complex has been lying boarded up and empty for almost 6 years. There is an onus on the Council and on the Department of the Environment to find an urgent resolution to this issue.”

Councillor Jennifer Green thanked the residents from the surrounding area for braving the poor weather and insisted “the people need to stand up and demand an end to this nightmare.”

She added: “It has been going on too long. I am a mother of two adventurous boys who would just love to explore Ard Dealgan and the very thought of it fills me with horror when I see what the inside is like.  We will continue with these monthly pickets until there is some resolution on the issue.”

Some of the drug paraphernalia found in the Ard Dealgan apartments on Friday

Third picket at Ard Dealgan apartments planned for tomorrow

Local councillor Jennifer Green has organised a third picket of the Ard Dealgan apartments in Quay Street for tomorrow afternoon between 4.30pm and 5pm.

In May the Sinn Féin councillor held a first picket there to raise awareness of the social problems the building was causing and followed it up with another event in June.

Vacated in 2009 due to fire safety concerns, the complex has been idle ever since. It remains a nuisance for local residents though with drug dealers reported to be using it, as well as squatters. A number of fires have also taken place there in recent years.

Louth County Council said recently they may look to use the complex for local housing but Cllr Green is encouraging some form of action to be taken and wants people to support the picket to ensure one of the Quay’s biggest problems is rectified sooner rather than later.

Picket at Ard Dealgan apartments this Friday

Local councillor Jennifer Green is inviting interested parties to a second picket outside the Ard Dealgan apartments in Quay Street this Friday from 4.30pm to 5pm.

Last month the Sinn Féin councillor held a first picket there to raise awareness of the social problems the building was causing. Vacated in 2009 due to fire safety concerns, the complex has been idle ever since. It remains a nuisance for local residents though with drug dealers reported to be using it, as well as squatters. A number of fires have also taken place there in recent years.

Louth County Council said recently they may look to use the complex for local housing but Cllr Green is encouraging some form of action to be taken.

Ard Dealgan apartments could be used for housing once more

Cllr Jennifer Green

Sinn Féin Councillor Jennifer Green has welcomed comments by the head of the Housing Department at today’s Louth County Council meeting which suggest the local authority will look to house people in the Ard Dealgan apartments on Quay Street.

The housing officer made his comments in response to a motion from fellow Cllr Mark Dearey that the authority work with housing bodies to redevelop site.

The apartments have been idle since 2009 due to fire safety concerns but Cllr Green, who arranged a picket at the apartments recently, said she would welcome them being used for housing once more.

“I welcome the fact that Louth council are now going to explore a residential option for these flats. There are 73 units there that could have housed 73 families and we have a housing crisis in Louth with 4,652 people on the housing list.”

Councillor Green has worked tirelessly on this issue and intends to “follow these developments very closely” and has called for the council to waste no time in this and to “help bring an end to this nightmare.”

She added: “The residents in the area have had enough. Let’s hope we can find a resolution in this.”

Green urges local companies to tender for council and government contracts

Cllr Jennifer Green

Local councillor Jennifer Green has urged Dundalk companies and tradespersons to tender for council and government contracts.

The Sinn Féin representative said many people did not know the process that was required but insisted it was a relatively easy process.

She said: “I have been approached by tradespeople who are simply unaware of just how to tender for a council or a local government contract. If there is a job to be done in Dundalk or indeed any town in Louth, I would encourage local businesses to tender for it and the process itself is fairly straightforward.

“The steps online are fairly easy to follow and you can find them on the council’s website www.louthcoco.ie or you can go straight to www.etenders.gov.ie

“I would urge you if you are a local business or tradesperson who wishes to tender for a contract, please go to either website and register.”

Cllr Green calls for Ard Dealgan to be demolished to end residents’ nightmare

Some of the protesters at the Ard Dealgan complex in Quay Street on Friday

The wind and rain on Friday afternoon didn’t deter around 50 residents joining Sinn Féin councillor Jennifer Green at a picket at the Ard Dealgan complex on Quay Street.

Ard Dealgan was built by controversial developer Tom McFeely. The complex has remained unoccupied since 2009 due to health and safety concerns and has deteriorated ever since into the dilapidated eyesore it is now.

Commenting at Friday’s picket, Cllr Green said: “This development has become a nightmare for the residents of the area as it is attracting anti-social elements from all over.

“We have had a number of fires in the complex, the place has been stripped and wrecked and residents are afraid to let their children out because it is just dangerous. As a mother of two boys, I know how curious and how adventurous they can be but the complex is not secured in any way to keep anyone out despite Dundalk Town Council putting money into it a few years ago to do just that. I really dread to think what could happen.”

A ‘Derelict Site’ notice was issued last November to developer McFeely and also to the Beltary Property Finance Ltd Company, who currently hold the mortgage. There has been no communication received from either.

Cllr Green explained: “Between development fees, securing the property, fire services and ambulance call-out charges and the derelict site levies, the Council are owed the guts of €1,000,000 so I can’t understand why they are not aggressively seeking to find out who has responsibility for the complex and attempting to recoup this money.

“We want someone to take responsibility for this building. The complex needs to be demolished as it can’t be restored at this point. There were 73 apartments in the complex, that is 73 families which could have been housed. We have a shortage of social housing in this county. Demolish Ard Dealgan and build proper social and affordable homes in its place. The people of the Quay are entitled to live in a safe environment without fear of letting their children out to play or without fear of abuse when they are walking to the shop.

“The picket shows the anger and determination of this community who came out in their numbers in the wind and rain, to show that they are sick of being ignored and being held to ransom by Ard Dealgan. We need this issue resolved as a matter of urgency.”

Picket to be held outside Ard Dealgan complex in Quay Street tomorrow

Cllr Jennifer Green at the Ard Dealgan complex

Louth County Councillor Jennifer Green has organised a picket to take place tomorrow outside the Ard Dealgan apartments in Quay Street between 4pm and 4.30pm.

The 73 units, built by controversial developer Tom McFeely, have been unoccupied since 2009 when 30 tenants were evacuated by the council due to safety concerns.

The development has become an eye sore and nuisance for local residents since then with it becoming known as a local drugs den. A numbers fires have also taken place there with homeless people regularly staying there also.

With McFeely having washed his hands of the development and now out of contact, Louth County Council said earlier this month their only remaining option was to carry out a compulsory purchase order on the site. They are unlikely to do this, however, as more than €700,000 of development levies are owed on it.

Commenting ahead of tomorrow’s picket, Sinn Féin councillor Green said: “We want someone to take responsibility for the Ard Dealgan complex and secure it properly or even demolish it.

“We don’t want the community to be ignored any longer. They have a right to live in a safe environment.”

Louth County Council unable to make contact with Ard Dealgan developer McFeely

Cllr Jennifer Green at the Ard Dealgan complex

Louth County Council have admitted they are unable to contact the owner of a derelict apartment block in Dundalk, which has become a haven for drug addicts.

The Ard Dealgan development on Quay Street contains 73 units but has been unoccupied since 2009 when 30 tenants were evacuated by the council due to safety concerns.

Built by Northern Irish developer, Tom McFeely, who is best known for the construction of the infamous Priory Hall development in Dublin, it has become something of an eye sore and nuisance ever since.

Currently used as a squat by members of the homeless community, it has had numerous fires in it over the years with nearby residents concerned about safety in and around it.

The council revealed this week that they could not contact Mr McFeely as they had no current address for him, with other attempts to contact him having failed.

A notice was placed on the building last November alerting the public that it had been placed on the council’s derelict sites register.

The local authority also wrote to a financial company requesting that they advise it of any interest they might have in the property, but to date, no responses have been received.

Director of Services Frank Pentony said the only remaining option was to carry out a compulsory purchase order on the site but they are unlikely to do this as more than €700,000 is owed to the council in development levies, which they would have to pay to buy the site.

Speaking about the matter to The Irish News today, local Sinn Féin councillor called on the government to find a resolution as it did in the case of Priory Hall.

“Local residents are very worried and frustrated,” she said.

“They see people coming in and out of the building. Parents are afraid to let their teenagers walk alone to the local shop.

“The building needs to be knocked down and rebuilt as social housing, a park or a community centre,” said Cllr Green.

Dundalk v Cork match to be screened live on big screen at Market Square tonight

Cllr Jennifer Green

Sinn Féin Councillor Jennifer Green has delighted Dundalk FC fans who were left disappointed when they failed to get a ticket for tonight’s Dundalk v Cork City title decider match.

Hundreds of supporters had queued outside Oriel Park on Wednesday morning hoping to get tickets but many were left disappointed when they sold out very quickly.

Jennifer said “My husband and I were hoping to take our boys to the match but weren’t lucky enough to secure tickets so I thought, wouldn’t it be great if it could be shown at the Town Square? I imagined there were other families in a similar position to us so I set about trying to make it happen.”

“What we want to do is to recreate the atmosphere at Oriel Park, which will be electric tonight. We want everyone in Dundalk to witness and share in, hopefully the success, of our football team. Come to the Market Square this evening. C’mon the Town!”

Councillor Green continued “This is a big event for Dundalk and we are all part of it. Let’s join together and celebrate. Bring your families and watch Dundalk FC make history tonight.”

Cllr Green concluded by saying: “I want to thank everyone who helped me make this a reality. RTÉ, Airtricity, Dundalk Tourist Board, the Screen Operator and even the people in Norway who operate the stream.”

She laughed as she said: “After all this, Dundalk FC better win tonight.”