Dundalk Tennis Club to host international competition this August

Dundalk Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club will host an international tennis competition at the start of August.

The International Tennis Federation has announced the Ramparts venue as a host of one of its prestigious world ranking junior tennis competitions, which will take place from August 1^st to 7^th.

Some of the world’s leading junior tennis players will travel to the nine court facility for the competition and spectators will be welcome with many current stars of the game having started out in ITF events.

Further details of the event can be obtained from the club on 042-9335327.

Meanwhile, it has also been revealed that award winning landscape designer Paul Martin will assist the club in the redesign of the garden area to the rear of the club.

A new garden and viewing area will be created to the rear of the courts by early summer, with the courts also set to be refurbished and the club house insulated, painted and decorated with the €120,000 grant received from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

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.”