Edel appointed new Dundalk BIDS manager

New Dundalk BIDS manager Edel O’Mahony. Picture: Arthur Kinahan

Edel O’Mahony is Dundalk’s new Business Investment District Scheme (BIDS) Manager.

With a wealth of business knowledge from a career in both the private and public sector, Edel will lead the Dundalk BIDS team of Fiona Cunningham and Sinead Roche from the BIDS office at the Market Square.

Edel will be known to many in the business sector for her roles with both the Dundalk Economic Development Group, and more recently, the Louth Economic Forum.

While working with the Dundalk Economic Development Group, Edel had a part in developing plans for the Regeneration of the Dundalk Town Centre, the results of which can be seen with the refurbished Market Square. Her work in this area took her to numerous town centres throughout Ireland, and in doing so gave her great insight into tried and tested town centre initiatives. During this time she was also developing marketing and promotional projects for Dundalk.

Her role on the Louth Economic Forum saw her gain considerable experience in a variety of sectors including Indigenous Industry; Tourism & Heritage; Foreign Direct Investment; Agriculture, food and fisheries; Broadband and Sustainable Energy.

Edel is keen to use her ready-made list of contacts for the betterment of the town. She has forged excellent relationships with organisations including Enterprise Ireland, DkIT, Louth County Council, Local Enterprise Office, IDA and Fáilte Ireland.

In addition, Edel has a proven track record in accessing various funding from local, regional, national, EU and international sources.

Speaking on her new position as Dundalk BIDS Manager, Edel described her enthusiasm for the challenging role.

“I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running. Obviously we are in challenging times but it only makes me more positive that BIDS and the ratepaying community can build successful relationships and work together effectively for the good of the town.

“The ratepayers have voted their support for the independent initiative that is Dundalk BIDS, and so it is vital that I listen to them and take their feedback on board.”

She added that her experience to date is very beneficial to her new post.

“I feel my work in both the private and public sector will be very beneficial to Dundalk BIDS. I’ve already gained a great deal of experience in liaising with various agencies such as all of which is a powerful advantage to my work with Dundalk BIDS.

“I’m a Louth woman and I am no stranger to Dundalk. I went to school here, I’ve worked here, and I live here. I already have an idea of the issues facing the town as well as the many positives that Dundalk has in its favour.”

BIDS Chairperson, Brian O’Neill said of Edel’s appointment: “The BIDS Committee realises Edel’s experience and knowledge on the ongoing development of the town centre can only have an extremely positive effect on Dundalk. We look forward to seeing Dundalk BIDS go from strength to strength, under her management.”

Fís Exhibition to take place in Dundalk IT next month

PercepTune are one of the groups taking part in the Fís exhibition next month

The Creative Media section of Dundalk IT will be hosting the Fís Degree exhibition next month on June 4th and 5th.

The exhibition will give people in the community to see some of the work being carried out by students in the college. Students from the Creative Multimedia and Video & Film Course will be showcasing a range of installations, games, films and many forms of technology.

One of those involved is Heather Spratt of PercepTune, a third year media group that also features Fergal McCabe and Naomi Reid.

She told Talk of the Town: “We are creating a Visual Sound Creator to help aid those who are deaf. The installation allows people to experiment with discs and to create their own music, which will output visuals onto a screen.

“The project is currently in the making and will contribute to our Bachelor Degree,” she said.

Further details will be available closer to the exhibition but for now you can find out more about PercepTune’s project at www.perceptune.com

Promotional video of Dundalk

The Creative Multimedia department in Dundalk IT have uploaded a new video to its Vimeo channel promoting Dundalk.

The promotional video was made in conjunction with Dundalk Tidy Towns, Dundalk Tourism and Dundalk Town Council by Alvaro Cifuentes Costa, a third year student on the BA in Video & Film Production in DKIT as part of an assessment for his Digital Production & Editing module in December 2012.

While the town has changed slightly since the recording, it’s still a good visual experience of all that Dundalk has to offer and is well worth the three minute watch.

See dkit.ie/creative-media for more details on the course.

Dundalk IT inviting tenders for catering services

Businesses are now being offered the opportunity to tender for catering services at Dundalk IT.

Those interested in providing canteen and catering services at the college have until 3pm on Friday May 16^th to submit their application.

The catering contractor will be required to provide a comprehensive catering service during the normal operating hours at DkIT when students and staff are in attendance (e.g. early September to late June) and a reduced facility to include lunches is also required from 10am to 4.30pm during holiday periods.

For further details click here or call Peter McGrath on 042-9370210.

 

 

Dundalk IT students raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland

Some of the students supporting the event yesterday by selling tickets

The final year Business Ethics students at Dundalk Institute of Technology were set the task recently of creating a charity event to raise awareness and funds for a chosen charity. After a class vote, the charity chosen was Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI).

MDI provide information and support to people with neuromuscular conditions and their families through a range of support services and is a voluntary organisation depending solely on donations and state contributions.

From Tuesday to Thursday of this week the class has been running various events to help achieve the goals set out. Tickets are being sold all week for the raffle which takes place this afternoon in the DkIT college bar. There are some great prizes to be won, including 2 Garth Brooks tickets, signed Liverpool and Ireland rugby jerseys, a DVD player, hampers, bottles of wine etc.

Fr Patrick Rushe, the college chaplain, locked up in a temporary jail to raise funds for MDI

The class also organised, a wheelchair basketball tournament on Tuesday, which was great success. Yesterday was the main day of the week, the ‘Jail Break’ and ‘Day in the Life’. DkIT’s chaplain Fr Patrick Rushe (or Fr Paddy as he’s most commonly known) volunteered to be the prisoner in the make shift jail cell, and would remain there until the €500 bail was met by donations both offline (through collecting donations throughout the college) and online (through the MyCharity page set up).

By around 2pm the bail was met and Fr Paddy was released. The event attracted a great vibe around the college and it was brilliant to see how charitable the students were to such as great cause.

Another event which was also run was called ‘A Day In The Life’ where six members of DkIT, including lecturer Colin Cooney, spent the day in a wheelchair. Over €2,700 was raised yesterday alone. The goal is to raise €10,000 by tonight and all of the proceeds will go to MDI.

The class so far have raised close to €9000 as of yesterday so this evening there will be a final push to try and raise the last few donations and to sell the final raffle tickets to reach the goal.

The class along with MDI are very grateful for the support of the students and anyone who was made donations, sponsored the various events, provided raffle prizes etc. There cannot be enough praise given for the kindness and generosity that had being shown. If anyone wishes to make any donations, small or large it would greatly be appreciated and you can do so here.

Action from the wheelchair basketball tournament

Dundalk IT aiming for Lynch Cup glory this weekend

Dundalk IT ladies GAA team travel to Queen’s University in Belfast this weekend for the Lynch Cup finals.

The DkIT team will take on St Patrick’s of Drumcondra in the semi-final on Friday.

The weekend will see the O’Connor, Lynch and Giles Cups competed for. They are the female equivalent of the Sigerson and Trench Cups.

The Dundalk IT ladies booked their place in the last four with victory over University of Limerick’s B team in Ballykelly at the start of the month on a 1-12 to 0-10 scoreline.

Amongst the local players to feature in that game were Roche Emmets’ Jenny McCourt, Dowdallshill’s Emily Norton, Naomh Mairtin’s Louise McKeever and Newtown Blues duo Jessica Dyas and Samantha Newman.

Monaghan All Star Caoimhe Mohan also features in the side along with Dromintee’s Shauna Grey.

Dundalk IT won the Lynch Cup in 2007 when they beat Liverpool Hope University in the final. They were also runners up in 1996 when they were then known as Dundalk RTC.

iOTA programme looking to support local innovators

Do you have an innovative business idea or product you’d like to develop but don’t know where to start? iOTA can help.

Whether you have an established business, or you are in the ‘thinking about’ stage, iOTA can offer local support to help you develop ideas, improve products/services, explore new markets and ultimately help you to profit from innovation.

The iOTA Programme is funded through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme and managed by the SEUPB.

Dr Conor Patterson, Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency stated: “iOTA is open to SMEs and individuals; the support we offer is very much focussed on helping you or your company to be innovative to enable growth and expansion.

“We can help you develop innovative solutions, explore new markets, give you access to training and mentor expertise to support you in the journey to turn great ideas into viable business concepts.

“Whatever your idea, company status or previous background, we can provide a bespoke programme of support to address your needs.

“What’s more, all training and advice is delivered locally through a network of Enterprise Agencies, County Enterprise Boards, SRC, SERC and DKIT spanning counties Armagh, Down, Louth and Monaghan so you can tap into all these resources with ease.”

For further information or to participate on the iOTA Programme, please contact: Jane Magill, Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency on Tel: 0044 (0) 2830267011 or Email: info@iotaprogramme.com

Plans for Dundalk velodrome up in the air after students vote against the proposal

What the velodrome building would look like if given the go ahead

Plans for a velodrome at the JJB facility at Dundalk Retail Park have suffered a massive setback after students at Dundalk IT voted almost unanimously against the proposals yesterday.

The ambitious plans for the velodrome in conjunction with the college were announced last Wednesday by Cuchulainn Cycling Club, with DkIT president Denis Cummins saying he was determined to work with the them and Cycling Ireland to bring the first velodrome in Ireland to the town.

However, the move angered students at the college who claimed they were not consulted on the plans despite the fact that they voted last year to support the college’s takeover of JJB – a decision which will add an additional €125 per year to their fees to help subsidise its purchase.

Class reps met on Monday afternoon to discuss the matter and of the 40 reps present, 39 voted to oppose the proposal, with one abstaining.

That leaves the plans very much up in the air with president Cummins giving a commitment that the velodrome “would not go ahead without student support,” according to DkIT Students’ Union president Brian Fitzpatrick.

In a statement on the Students’ Union website this morning, Mr Fitzpatrick said: “We invited DkIT president Denis Cummins in to talk about the background of the proposal and what it would mean to the college if it was passed. Denis insisted that this was still only a proposal and would not go ahead without the student support. After taking some difficult questions on the matter from some of the reps in attendance, Denis asked us to hold back on taking a vote and to wait until we could make a more informed decision in the near future. He then left us to discuss the matter further before taking our vote. 

“We decided that we would take the vote there and then as we seen no point in delaying since we had gathered sufficient feedback from all students over the past week. Of the 40 class reps present, 39 voted to oppose the proposal, 1 abstained and 0 voted in favour of the proposal.

“The general feeling was that this is our facility, and rather than just jumping at the first funding opportunity that comes available, we should be patient and wait for something that will actually be an addition for us students in DkIT.

I would like to thank all of the DkIT students for their feedback on the issue and all of the class reps for helping us gather it.”

A poll was launched last week within the college by the DkIT Students’ Union to gauge opinion on the velodrome proposals but most felt it was not in the best interests of students. While there are a wide range of clubs and societies on campus, cycling is not one of them.

According to one student, posting on the Dundalk IT Students’ Union Facebook page: “A lot of students are against this. This is not what was agreed.”

One commentator to Talk of the Town, Vikki Conroy said: “It doesn’t really make sense to build a facility purely for use by a cycling club. Why pull out the major facilities that’s already in place and students were promised use of?”

Should the ambitious plans fail then, Cuchulainn Cycling Club could revert to their initial idea of building a cycling park in Muirhevnamor – a project they had already secured land and planning permission for.

Meenan welcomes announcement of velodrome for Dundalk

Cllr Kevin Meenan

Sinn Féin councillor Kevin Meenan has welcomed the news that Cuchulainn Cycling Club plan to build a new international standard cycling velodrome at the JJB facility in conjunction with Dundalk IT.

The news about the new velodrome, which will hopefully be opened by September, was announced yesterday, with Cllr Meenan describing it as a “tremendous boost” for the area.

In December Dundalk Town Council had promised a long term lease for 7.5 acres of land in Muirhevnamor Park for the Cuchulainn Cycling Park but the local cycling club’s decision to proceed with a revised plan in conjunction with the local IT means that the dream of a major centre for cycling in the area will happen sooner rather than later.

Cllr Meenan said: “This will be a tremendous boost to the area and hopefully will come to fruition earlier than originally thought when the velodrome was earmarked for Muirhevnamor

“The great news about this is that it could be completed and be up and running as early as September this year. It will be Olympic standard so the athletes will no longer have to leave the country to train, it will be right here in Dundalk, on our own doorstep.”

With 11 of Ireland’s largest cycling clubs located within 1.5 hours of Dundalk, it makes the town the ideal centre. In addition to the velodrome, the site will also accommodate a full sized BMX track and has the potential to incorporate a closed circuit cycling track around the perimeter.

“This is exciting news for Dundalk and the whole Muirhevnamor / Retail Park area,” said Cllr Meenan.

Dundalk velodrome set for former JJB building

The JJB facility at Dundalk Retail Park, which will house the new velodrome

Cuchulainn Cycling Club have announced plans to build Ireland’s first international standard cycling velodrome in conjunction with Dundalk IT in their newly acquired JJB building at Dundalk Retail Park.

The plans for the indoor velodrome have been presented to Cycling Ireland, who are said to have welcomed the project, which is an updated version of Cuchulainn’s initial plans for a cycling park in nearby Muirhevnamor.

The JJB building was originally constructed to house 12 indoor soccer pitches, a swimming pool, gym, ice-rink and bar/restaurant complete with 500 car parking spaces. Dundalk IT started negotiations to purchase the building in 2013 and finally signed off on the contract last month.

Cuchulainn CC announced their plans to build a velodrome and cycling park in Dundalk as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations in 2010. A velodrome is an arena for cycling, similar in shape to an athletics track, except with steeply banked corners that allow cyclists to reach speeds in excess of 80kph. This style of cycling is very popular around the world with 10 of the 18 cycling events held in London 2012 being held on the track.

Towards the end of 2013 a huge leap forward was made with the securing of planning permission and long term lease from Dundalk Town Council for a 7.5 acre site at Muirhevnamor Park, adjacent to DKIT. However since then an improved possible vision has started to take shape and, in consultation with the builders of London’s Olympic Velodrome and chief engineer, Gary Sheils of Sheils Engineering, the possibility of building the indoor track at the JJB facility was discussed.

Specialists saw huge potential in the building and plans drawn up by Sheils Engineering uncovered an extremely lucky coincidence – that the building is the perfect size to contain an international standard 250m circumference track.

“It was almost as if the original architect had a long term plan to put a track in this building,” said Sheils upon completing his measurements.

Is this what the new velodrome building will look like?

Preliminary discussions with DKIT, owners of the building, took place and further investigations commissioned. The project was presented to Cycling Ireland, who immediately spotted the potential to realistically construct not only Ireland’s first international standard velodrome in an existing modern facility, but were also delighted to hear that a completion date of September 2014 has been set.

An indoor facility further expands the possible use of the facility to include children, women, elite athletes and for people with disabilities as well as general cycling enthusiasts. The safe, enclosed, traffic-free track is a perfect environment to introduce both the sport and in general safe commuting practices to both children and adults alike. Additionally, Ireland’s current elite athletes and para-athletes have to undertake regular international travel to find appropriate training venues in their quest to win world and Olympic medals, thus this facility will cut down on the cost of competing.

The sport is currently on the rise in Ireland with Olympian Martin Irvine winning a World Championship and Caroline Ryan also claiming a silver medal at the 2013 Worlds in the pursuit event.

Current World Scratch Champion Martyn Irvine has welcomed the project saying “not only is it fantastic news for a local club but for cycling in Ireland.”

He went on to say that this development will benefit cyclists of all ages for years to come and enable Ireland to put a sustainable track programme in place. Martyn is currently based in the US as there is no suitable facility for him to train in this country.

The velodrome will also be available to grass roots cycling and will attract cyclists of all ages from across the country and further afield. The venue will facilitate everything from local underage leagues to national championships and international races.

In addition to the velodrome, the site will also accommodate a full sized BMX track and has the potential to incorporate a closed circuit cycling track around the perimeter.

Pat O’Shaughnessy, Cuchulainn Cycling Club Chairman and Board Member of Cycling Ireland, has expressed his delight at the news.

He said: “Our club secretary Karl Dolan originally proposed the idea to the club committee back in 2009 as a project to mark the 75th anniversary of the club. We have been working solidly in the background to realise this dream and it culminated in our announcement last year that Dundalk Town Council had granted us 7.5 acres of land with full planning permission for an outdoor velodrome and BMX track.

“However following a number of meetings with DKIT we knew that this would move the whole thing to an entirely different level and make Dundalk the cycling capital of Ireland and it’s all down to the hard work of the committee and club members.”

 There are also huge benefits for Dundalk IT. Having an international velodrome as part of their sporting campus would be a major coup for them and, in fact, would make them the world’s first educational institution to have such a facility. Its presence will further extend its already excellent sporting pedigree and range of sporting facilities open to attracting students. In conjunction with its sports medicine departments, the Institute could become the premier cycling facility in the world, which would attract many nations and professional cycling teams in their quest for yellow jerseys and gold medals.

Following the model which has been recently launched in conjunction with Dundalk FC in soccer, it is envisaged that scholarships could also be offered to cyclists.

Dundalk  has in the past been described as an ideal venue for such a facility with 11 of Ireland’s 15 biggest cycling clubs located less than 1.5 hours from Dundalk.

The plans for the velodrome