Former Dundalk and Drumcondra winger Willie Coleman passes away

Willie Coleman RIP

The death has taken place of former Dundalk FC and Drumcondra star Willie Coleman.

A lively winger with electric pace, he joined Drumcondra is the 1954-55 season, scoring twice on his League of Ireland debut against Limerick.

Over the following five seasons he would win every major competition with the north Dublin side, including the FAI Cup in 1957 in which he scored in the final against Shamrock Rovers and the league championship in 1957-58 where he scored the crucial goal three minutes from time against Shelbourne in the title decider. He also won a Leinster Cup medal in 57-58, when he scored in a 5-2 win over Dundalk, and the President’s Cup the following season.

Willie returned home to sign for Dundalk in September 1960 and scored on his debut against Drumcondra., who he would also help the Lilywhites pip to the Leinster Cup a few months later.

After a second season that yielded 14 goals, Willie went to England to work before returning to Ireland in the early ‘Nineties. After a spell in Arklow he returned home to Dundalk.

Formerly from Mulholland Avenue, the 77-year-old had most recently lived in Oaklawns with his wife Theresa.

He is survived by her and children David, Margaret, Mary, Chrstopher, James and Dermot, as well as brothers Sean, Tony, Ollie, Gerry, Maura, Eileen, Peggy and Teresa.

He is resposing at his home in Oaklawns before removal to St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church on Friday morning at 10.45am, arriving for Mass at 11am. Burial will take place afterwards in St Patrick’s Cemetery.

Local properties sold at auction

10 Yorke Street

Three local properties sold at yesterday’s Allsop auction in the RDS in Dublin.

First under the hammer was 10 Yorke Street, a mid-terraced property set up as two one bed apartments, which sold for €51,000, more than double its €25,000 reserve.

An abandoned three bed end of terrace house at 41 Doolargy Avenue in Muirhevnamor also sold for €37,500, again well above its €20,000 reserve.

Finally 0.91 acres of land at Edentubber in Ravensdale sold for €17,000, just over its €15,000 reserve.

Number 61 Oaklawns was also due to be sold on the day but was withdrawn prior to auction.

41 Doolargy Avenue

Gardaí not treating Dundalk death as suspicious

The scene of the death in Oaklawns

Gardaí are not treating the death of a man in Dundalk in the early hours of Saturday morning as suspicious.

Gardaí and the emergency services were called to a house in the Oaklawns estate around 3.45am on Saturday morning with the body of a 29-year-old man being discovered before being pronounced dead at the scene.

The results of a post mortem examination carried out later that afternoon, however, found that he died from natural causes.

A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene and brought to Dundalk Garda Station for questioning.

He was later released and a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai are still investigating an assault on the deceased man but say this did not cause his death.

The deceased man had been renting the house. He was not from Dundalk but had been working in the area and had spent the night socialising in town with the other man.

It is understood they became involved in an argument on the way back to the house where their dispute escalated.

Gardaí were intially treating the death as suspicious but it became clear there was no foul play once the post mortem examination was completed.

The results revealed that the man had an underlying health condition and died from natural causes.

Man found dead in Oaklawns

A young man’s body has been found in Oaklawns. Gardai are investigating the incident after the 29 year old was found in the early hours of the morning. Officers attended a call to a house around 3.45am with the emergency services also attending. The man was later pronounced dead at the scene, which has been preserved for the State Pathologist.

A 27 year old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being held for questioning at Dundalk Garda Station. Neither of the men are said to be from Dundalk but were working in the area and had a house rented.

Charity CD featuring local bag piper still available to purchase

Copies of a charity CD from the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band and Friends, featuring Dundalk bag piper Mark Toner, are still on sale.

The CD, called ‘Monday Nights in Marino, is in aid of Irish charity Suicide or Survive (SOS), with all proceeds going towards raising awareness of mental health issues around the country.

The CD contains 11 tunes by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band, as well as recordings by the Dublin City Council Choir, the Band of An Garda Síochána, Kelly Birmingham, the Tallaght Youth Band and the bell ringers of Christchurch Cathedral.

In addition, RTÉ’s Joe Duffy has donated a narration, which runs over a tribute tune by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band.

Originally launched in 2012, the CD was created the mark the 150th of the Dublin Fire Brigade.

Commenting on the initiative, Mark – who hails from the Quay and now lives in Oaklawns – said: “We are delighted to be able to support Suicide or Survive.

“Mental health issues are more prevalent in Irish society today than ever before and as we approach Christmas, which many people find challenging, we hope the proceeds from our CD will help with the great work being undertaken by SOS.”

The CD is on sale for €10 in store at The Music Outlet, Swords and Tower Records, Dublin and is also available to purchase online at www.themusicoutlet.ie or through the eBay store dfbshop2013. Further details are available at www.dublinfirebrigadepipeband.com

Dundalk further strengthen squad with signings of local duo Griffin and Kelly

Mark Griffin and Simon Kelly at training in Oriel Park tonight after signing deals with Dundalk for the 2014 campaign

Dundalk FC continued to strengthen their squad for the forthcoming season with the signings of local pair Mark Griffin and Simon Kelly this season.

22-year-old Griffin, from Muirhevnamor, first joined Dundalk as a youth team player in 2008 when he was snapped up by current Lilywhites chairman Ciaran Bond. He was one of the club’s leading lights in a disappointing 2012 campaign, when his goal against Drogheda was voted goal of the season.

The Australian-born striker then opted to sign for Derry City last January and spent one year at the Brandywell before returning to his hometown club tonight.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Kelly has had three spells at Dundalk. He made his debut 11 years ago this Sunday against the now defunct Kilkenny City and spent five years at Oriel before departing in 2006 when he joined Ballymena United.

In July 2008 he returned to Oriel and spent a season and a half playing under John Gill before departing following the club’s promotion to the top flight.  He then had a short spell at Longford Town before departing for Australia.

Kelly, who hails from Oaklawns, returned for a third spell at Oriel Park last July and made just one appearance as a substitute against Cork City. He clearly showed manager Stephen Kenny enough in training, however, to justify a contract for 2014 and can look forward to the new season now having initially returned to training with the squad last week despite not having a contract at the time.

Meanwhile, Dundalk will play Barnsley in a friendly this Friday night although that has yet to be confirmed by the FAI.

Local bag piper features on Dublin Fire Brigade charity CD

Mark Toner

Local bag piper Mark Toner features on a charity CD from the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band and Friends called ‘Monday Nights in Marino’.

The CD, which was recorded last year, is in aid of Irish charity Suicide or Survive (SOS), with all proceeds to go towards raising awareness of mental health issues around the country.

The CD contains 11 tunes by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band, as well as recordings by the Dublin City Council Choir, the Band of An Garda Síochána, Kelly Birmingham, the Tallaght Youth Band and the bell ringers of Christchurch Cathedral.

In addition, RTÉ’s Joe Duffy has donated a narration of his 150th Castle, which runs over a tribute tune by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band.

Originally launched last year, the CD was created the mark the 150th of the Dublin Fire Brigade.

Commenting on the initiative, Mark – who hails from the Quay and now lives in Oaklawns – said: “We are delighted to be able to support Suicide or Survive.

“Mental health issues are more prevalent in Irish society today than ever before and as we approach Christmas, which many people find challenging, we hope the proceeds from our CD will help with the great work being undertaken by SOS.”

The CD is on sale for €10 in store at The Music Outlet, Swords and Tower Records, Wicklow Street, Dublin and is also available to purchase online at www.themusicoutlet.ie or through the eBay store dfbshop2013. Further details are available at www.dublinfirebrigadepipeband.com