Apple Tree TV aims to showcase the best music from Dundalk

A new Facebook site, Apple Tree TV, has sprung up in the area in recent times.

The page aims at capturing live performances of local artists and bands, thus promoting music in Dundalk and its surrounds.

While Apple Tree TV post the videos on Facebook and YouTube, they also have a Soundcloud account where you can download every audio file to listen to on the go.

The above video is of local duo Anton Hande and Stephanie Winters, who perform as Anton and Stephanie, performing the track ‘Fade Into You’ from the TV show Nashville.

To submit your video mail kial22@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.facebook.com/apptreetv

More than half of students in Louth feel they won’t find work in their own county – the highest figure nationally

More than half of secondary school students in Louth feel they won’t find work in their own county, according to a new survey from Studyclix.

Considering the range of multi-national companies in the Wee County, it might come as a surprise that teenagers are the least likely in the whole of Ireland to find work close to home.

More than 4,822 secondary school students took part in the survey on the Studyclix website but students here were the least optimistic about finding work locally when they progress into the workforce.

Overall the survey found that 56% of second-level students were stressed about school, with four out of 10 admitting they feel they will have to emigrate in order to get a job.

More than half of the students surveyed (55%) feel they are ‘addicted’ to their phones. Some 49% admitted to checking their phone in class once the teacher’s back was turned.

While just 3% of students smoke, more than four in 10 said they drink regularly. Some 88% of first-year students say they never drink and 6% claim to drink only on special occasions.

For Leaving Certificate students, 19% said they never drink and 65% drink on special occasions.

A quarter of all students said they have witnessed cyberbullying in the last school year.

The most used social media platform among students is still Facebook, with 81% of those surveyed active on the platform. The second-most popular channel is picture-sharing app Snapchat at 80%. Instagram is third at 68%, while Twitter trails in fourth at 53%.

Some 13% of students surveyed have a profile on the online-dating site Tinder; 6% of students at junior level (12- 15-year-olds) also have a profile on the site.

Ticketmaster mix-up leaves The Darkness fans without tickets for Dundalk show

A copy of the mail to customers who will not now be given tickets to The Darkness’ show in The Spirit Store on March 6th

Tickets to see The Darkness perform in The Spirit Store on Friday March 6^th sold out online within seven minutes yesterday but not everyone who managed to buy them within that period will get to be there on the night.

A mix up with Ticketmaster meant that more tickets were sold than were actually available.

That meant that some people who thought they had secured tickets for the band’s Dundalk show were left disappointed later in the day when Ticketmaster emailed them to say their sale should not have been processed and their order was now cancelled, with a refund set to be processed.

The Spirit Store and Ticketmaster apologised for the inconvenience with the venue encouraging people to keep track of the event page on Facebook for anyone selling spares.

The remaining allocation of tickets at McAteer’s sold out quickly, as did those at The Spirit Store when it opened its doors at 4pm.

Brubakers to make a major announcement this weekend

Local pub Brubakers has hinted at a major announcement, which they are expected to make some time today.

The Park Street venue posted a picture to their Facebook and Twitter pages yesterday with a save the date for this day next week ‘14.11.14’.

The “big announcement” had the hashtags ‘#newbrubakers’ and ‘#bigchanges’ on its Twitter feed. It is, however, less than 12 months since the venue was revamped.

Keep an eye on their Facebook and Twitter for the big announcement over the weekend.

 

Cuchullain Credit Union now on Facebook

Cuchullain Credit Union

Cuchullain Credit Union on the Ramparts Road have recently launched a new Facebook page.

The page will allow members and potential members to stay up to date with what is happening within the credit union. It will also include details of competition and bursaries for primary, secondary and third level education over the coming weeks.

Click here to follow them now.

Local teens create new app that posts across several social networks at once

Cian Martin Bohan and Cormac Kinsella at the launch of their new app, Open Share

Two local CoderDojo pals, Cian Martin Bohan and Cormac Kinsella, 13 and 14 respectively, have created an app that allows a user to share a post across several social networks at the same time.

Their app, Open Share, works across Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Hangouts, WhatsApp, Viber, Gmail, Tumblr and SMS.

Open Share is available in the Google Play store and a version is coming to iOS and Windows Phone before the end of the year.

The two pals were regulars at the CoderDojo coding club since it began in Drogheda three years ago, and they spent more than a year working on their app.

Cian and Cormac collaborated at CoderDojo, stayed over at their homes in Drogheda and Dundalk for all-night coding sessions, and collaborated over a distance using Face Time and Skype to get their app to market.

Drogheda CoderDojo founder and local tech entrepreneur Graham O’Rourke recognised the teens’ achievement and told Silicon Republic: “You both have worked so hard to get to your first commercial launch … remember be proud and if you need to pivot, you will succeed!”

Convicted sex offender operating as a pimp in Dundalk and Carlingford

‘Mucky’ Marty Heaney

A convicted sex offender is reported to have established himself as a pimp in this area, operating between Dundalk and Carlingford.

According to The Sunday World, self-confessed child abuser ‘Mucky’ Marty Heaney – who once used the cover of a ‘Children in Need’ charity to lure two teenage girls into his web of evil – is a Facebook fraudster, who uses the site to spy on unsuspecting innocents.

The paper reports that he uses a number of false Facebook accounts while plotting to procure the services of cash-strapped young women.

According to The Sunday World: “We discovered he likes to trawl the internet searching for suitable females. And once a number of targets are singled out, he sends the girls a personal message asking: “Do you want to make an easy £20 for 5 minutes work?

“Then a few minutes later, he sends a second message stating: “Sorry! Sent that by mistake lol.”

The paper said that Heaney uses the technique – a seemingly innocent message sent in error – to lure young females into starting Facebook correspondence with him.

Once he gains their confidence he then pushes the conversation in the direction of sexual preference.

You can read the full story here.

Water metering protests coming to Dundalk

With water metering set to commence in Dundalk in the next few weeks, a group of locals are trying to organise a protest fighting back against the introduction of water charges.

A new group – Louth water metering lets fight back – has been set up on Facebook and has attracted around 350 followers to date.

They are appealing for people to get involved with helping to stop meters being installed in the area and anyone interested is asked to contact 087-6350177 to get involved.

New boutique to open on Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk next week

Clanbrassil Street is set for a welcome boost as a new styling boutique is set to open its doors on Friday May 2^nd.

The person responsible for the new venture, which will be called Elmay Professional Styling Boutique, is Dundalk woman Laura (Hughes) Corry – the former manager of Sally West, which closed its doors recently.

Laura has over 12 years experience in the fashion industry and she comes from a strong family background steeped in fashion history from designers to manufacturers and wholesalers to retailers.

Laura has furthered her styling knowledge by receiving professional training from top celebrity stylist Nicky Hambleton Jones who is best known for presenting Channel 4’s hit show 10 Years Younger.

Elmay Professional Styling Boutique will combine both styling expertise with clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories to give each customer an individual look.

Elmay Boutique will cater for a wide variety of ladies from mid-20s to mid-70s and above, and with a selection of sizes from 8-24 there will surely be something to satisfy all women’s needs.

The shop will be located at 30 Clanbrassil Street – the former Madame Kay’s – and will have well-known brands from the four corners of the globe as well as celebrating the best of Irish fashion hosting labels such as Endora.ie, most recently seen on Ireland AM, as well as Avalon, Via Veneto, Roisin McCarthy knitwear and Aria – a company which featured in Elle magazine’s top 10 brands of last year.

Elmay Boutique will offer a special opening discount of up to 20% off for each customer from Friday 2nd to Saturday 10th May. For more updates visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ElmayProfessionalStylingBoutique

Dundalk students running for positions on Irish Secondary Schools Union

Craig McHugh’s election poster

Two Dundalk students, Craig McHugh and Shay McArdle, are running for positions on the national executive of the Irish Secondary Schools Union (ISSU).

Craig McHugh is running for the position of president, while Shay McArdle is contesting the position of welfare officer.

The Union, which has been in existence since the 1970s, represents and works on behalf of the views and opinions of secondary students of Ireland with direct links to government and authorities with the power to make change.

17-year-old Craig is a fifth year student from Dundalk Grammar School. Best known for his appearances in theatre on his YouTube channel and work with youth groups, Craig is contesting for the position of president as he feels he could represent the ever growing union in a strong, efficient and effective manner.

Craig is currently the chair of Dundalk Grammar School’s Student Council, and has recently organised and presented the council’s highly successful Talent Show which raised over €760 for Cara Cancer Support Centre. Craig also sits as Vice Chair of Louth Comhairle na nÓg and is an active member of Louth Young Fine Gael, Dundalk Musical Society and MAD Youth Theatre.

Craig’s main goals as president would be to work for a more practical and efficent education system in Ireland, that caters for students that don’t wish “to be slaves to the point system” and showcase the importance of Career Guidance teachers in Ireland.

Shay McArdle, 16 of O Fiaich College is a sixth year student and is running for the position of ISSU Welfare Officer. Shay is an active member of Craobh Rua, is the policy maker of Louth Young Fine Gael and is the Louth representative of the National Comhairle na nÓg and is currently raising money for charity by skydiving and doing a sponsored starvation day.

Shay is campaigning for Mental Health Awareness among second level students and equality for race, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds. Shay wishes to become the Welfare Officer of ISSU because he feels no matter where he goes he strives to make a difference for the good no matter how great or small.

Both candidates will seek election on Wednesday at the ISSU 2014 AGM in Dublin’s Liberty Hall, with voters representing schools across Ireland attending to voice their opinions and decide their future leaders.

You can support the tw0 campaigns via Facebook. Craig’s page can be found here, while Shay’s can be found here.

Shay McArdle’s election poster