Senator Mary Moran visited the showcase on Tuesday

Ten business owners from Co Louth were amongst the exhibitors at the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s showcase in the RDS earlier this week.

Each of the exhibitors displayed their designs and products at the event and they included: Branigan Weavers Drogheda; Charles Gallen Irish Linen Termonfeckin; Corona Silver Readypenny; Garrett Mallon Jewellery Carlingford; Green Gorgeous Muirhevnamor, Dundalk; Marie Fay Inspiration Ravensdale; Martina Scott Carlingford; Orla Barry Art Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk; Sarah McKenna Ceramic Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk; and Tinnakeenly Leathers Ltd Carlingford.

Senator Mary Moran visited the local designers on Tuesday and was full of praise for them.

“’I was truly impressed with the quality and unique craftsmanship of the Louth exhibitions at this year’s showcase. We were well represented this year with ten Louth exhibitions from all corners of the county.  Almost 500 exhibitors unveiled their latest collections with products ranging from jewellery, linen, ceramics, homewares and fashion.

“’I was delighted to meet with each of the exhibitors and see first hand the exciting crafts and designs being produced right here in our county.  I would like to congratulate and commend each person on their hard work, dedication and truly excellent products,” she said.

The directors of a local haulage company have had judgements made against them for a combined total of almost €3.5 million.

The case against the directors of Arthur Mullen Truck Importers Limited was taken by Danske Bank, with the judgement made in the High Court on January 5^th.

Adrian Mullen from Plaster, Mountpleasant, Dundalk, Co Louth and Arthur Mullen Jnr, from Ballymakellett, Ravensdale, each had judgements against them totaling €1,742,745.

Details of the judgement were published in The Stubbs Gazette.

An inquest into the death of William Manning from Proleek in Ravensdale heard yesterday how the 99-year-old died after suffering fatal burns when he was scalded after falling into a bath.

Mr Manning died on October 21^st 2013 at St James’s Hospital, three-and-a-half weeks after he fell while preparing to get into the bath, hitting and opening the hot water tap and severely scalding his back.

The father of six had been looking forward to his 100^th birthday prior to his passing and had already booked the hotel for his birthday celebrations.

According to The Irish Times his family told Dublin Coroner’s Court he was in excellent health at the time of his death with a very good quality of life and “not ready to die”.

The inquest heard Mr Manning’s accident was discovered when his son Liam and daughter-in-law went to check on him after missing him at his usual Mass on Sunday October 6th. Mr Manning said his father was “very independent”, living on his own with family nearby and still driving having changed cars the previous year.

When they went to the house, his father answered the door in a “somewhat distressed state”, Mr Manning told the court. He was dressed but “dishevelled” which would be unusual, he said. He told them he had had an accident in the bath. When they saw how red the injury was, they called for an ambulance immediately.

Mr Manning told the court his father did not explain all the details of the accident but the family believe he fell into the bath and hit the hot water tap as he did so, opening it up. The position he landed in meant he was unable to turn the tap off quickly enough to stop himself from being scalded. He had a bandage covering a wound on his leg and was trying to keep it out of the water when he was getting into the bath.

When doctors at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, examined Mr Manning they found he had suffered 20 per cent burns on his back, shoulders and buttocks. The wounds were partial and full thickness. Coroner Dr Brian Farrell told the family they were “quite severe”. Mr Manning was transferred to the burns unit in St James’s Hospital but his condition deteriorated over the following weeks until his death from multi-organ failure.

Dr Farrell said that the pathologist who carried out the postmortem reported the wounds might be survivable in a younger person but advanced age is a significant risk factor for death as a result of burns.

He returned a verdict of accidental death.

William Manning was survived by children Jimmy, Liam, Maureen, Briege, Eileen and Rita, as well as sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, sister-in-law Ena, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Lucy.

National broadcaster RTÉ have been refused permission by Louth County Council to retain a 30m high operational support tower with associated equipment attached at Clermont Carn in Ravensdale.

The council refused RTÉ permission to retain the structure on three counts. They said that it was located on an exposed mountain top site within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which they wanted to preserve and protect.

They also said the structure was “inappropriately designed” with regard to its location’s sensitive landscape. Finally, they said it would interview would the view of the area.

RTÉ have lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala following Louth County Council’s decision last month to deny them permission to retain a 30m high operational support tower with associated equipment attached at Clermont Carn in Ravensdale.

The council refused RTÉ permission to retain the structure on three counts. They said that it was located on an exposed mountain top site within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which they wanted to preserve and protect.

They also said the structure was “inappropriately designed” with regard to its location’s sensitive landscape. Finally, they said it would interview would the view of the area.

Williamson’s Mall in Dundalk will be sold at auction later this month for a reserve price of between €670,000 and €730,000.

The retail units, which front onto Francis Street and the Ramparts, will go under the hammer at the Allsop auction in the RDS on April 21^st and will also include the sale of 23 and 8 Francis Street.

The property is arranged across two land holdings, the first main holding is Williamson’s Mall, which comprises a series of retail buildings arranged over ground and part first floors together with a surface car park

The initial retail frontage leads on to a series of warehouse units surrounding the perimeter of the car park. The units have been configured to provide retail accommodation. Incorporated within the built area is 8 Francis Street which provides 10 derelict flats.

The overall site benefits from approximately 27m of frontage to Francis Street together with a further approximate 73m of frontage to Ramparts Lane.

Williamson’s Mall

The second holding comprises a retail building (23 Francis Street) arranged over ground and first floors, situated to the northern side of the road directly opposite to Williamson’s Mall. The total site area is approximately 0.66 hectares (1.64 acres) with the selling agents reporting that the Mall is currently generating €152,000 a year from 20 of its 24 retail units.

Conditional planning permission is also in place until December 2019 for the construction of a mixed use development on the site, known as Cathedral Walk. This was to comprise of two buildings, ranging in height from two to six storeys with a new pedestrian link and civic plaza connecting from the Ramparts Road via the pedestrian link to Francis Street.

Cathedral Walk was envisaged by Mall owners Ampezzano Ltd (now in receivership) as having retail, office and residential accommodation. They also proposed to reopen the Ramparts River over the length of the Ramparts Road fronting the development, with pedestrian and vehicular bridges across the river.

The development was to include a multi storey car park, valet area, service yard, retail units, cafe/bars, hot food take away, off license, amusement arcade, taxi/hackney office, bookmakers, offices, financial / professional services, restaurants and 43 apartments.

Meanwhile the Francis Street portion of the development was to be a five storey retail and office building with c.3,500 sq ft of retail space at ground and first floor level, with c.10,000sq ft of office space above.

The original plan was seen as important in linking the Marshes Shopping Centre with the rest of the town but a lack of funding meant that the project never proceeded beyond the planning stages.

Other local properties set to under the hammer at this month’s Allsop auction include a three bed terraced house in Doolargy Avenue (reserve €20,000), a two bed terraced house in Yorke Street (reserve €30,000) and land at Edentubber, Ravensdale (reserve €15,000). Two four bed homes at Riverview Crescent, Castlebellingham, will also be sold for reserves of between €125,000 and €130,000.

An artist’s impression of Cathedral Walk

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

Part of the site at Toomes

Land outside Dundalk which had been earmarked for a new 450MW natural gas fire electricity generating station has gone on the market with Dublin-based estate agents DTZ Sherry FitzGerald for €600,000.

The land at Toomes, 2.5km north west of Louth Village, is just 800 metres away from the 220kV Monavallet substation.

Planning permission was granted in 2008 to construct and operate a new power station on the site.

It had been planned by businessman Sean Quinn, who had been planning to invest €300m in the power station, which was to supply enough electricity for 230,000 homes – equivalent to 8% of national peak demand.

Planning permission was extended for the development in May 2012 but the project never came about due to opposite from local residents and the financial problems of Quinn, who planned on calling the facility ‘Quinn Energy Ballykelly’.

There remains fears in the area that the site might be sold to another company who could push ahead with the power station.

Local man Gerard Pepper told The Argus in December 2011 there were continued fears regarding the site.

“There is still a lot of concern in this area that even if the Quinn Group don’t go ahead with the power plant, the site might be sold to another company.

“It was never the proper site for this type of development, and it still isn’t. There isn’t even the demand for power that there was during the boom years, so we can’t see this going ahead now,” he said.

DTZ Sherry FitzGerald are promoting the lands as being available for a multitude of uses though, saying: “Given the strategic location of the lands and close proximity to the existing power station the lands offer a range of development opportunities subject to planning permission. The development plans highlights the possible uses as one off housing, recreation and tourism, commercial and industrial developments along with public utility infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, 7.72 acres of development land at Roddy’s Sandpit in Lordship is close to being sold by local agents Sherry FitzGerald Carroll.

The agents also have a further 8.96 acres of farm land on the market at Doolargy, Ravensdale, with an asking price of €150,000.

Tara Erraught

Local woman Tara Erraught was the subject of a special feature on RTÉ’s Nationwide programme last night.

The Ravensdale mezzo-soprano was joined in Dundalk by Mary Kennedy as she discussed her opera career to date and her upcoming Opera Gala performance in the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Friday June 5^th.

For those you missed the show, you can check it out on the RTÉ Player here.

Fibre broadband will be available in Louth Village later this month.

Eircom have revealed that the first Live Fibre Services are estimated to be available from Wednesday June 24^th.

The updage of the exchange in the village will enable people to achieve speeds of up to 100Mb/s.

Fibre broadband will also be made available in Inniskeen, Togher, Clogherhead and Collon throughout the summer months.

Fibre services are also planned for Hackballscross, Ravensdale, Omeath, Carlingford, Riverstown and the Racecourse Road for early/mid 2016.

A deal to sell The Sportsman’s bar and restaurant in Ravensdale is close to being completed.

The well known licensed premises has gone sale agreed in recent weeks with the bar closing to the public as it prepares to be taken over.

The Sportsman’s, which also briefly traded under the name of The Rosewood in bygone years, went on the market last August for a sum of €350,000 through local agents REA Gunne Property, although the selling price is unknown.

The Sportsman’s had been run by local businessman Paul Keane, who passed away in September 2013.

Eric Beggs

The Cooley Mountain trek takes place this Sunday in aid of Fighting Blindness.

Organised by Dundalk man Eric Beggs, this is the third year of the popular walk which is set over 12km and 6km distances.

The 12km walk begins at 11am and the 6km walk at 12 noon.

Buses will be available to transport people from the car park of the Lisdoo to the starting point at The Lumpers in Ravensdale from 10.30am on the day for the long walk and from 11.30am for the short walk.

Refreshments and entertainment will also be provided afterwards.

The entry fee, payable on the day, is €20 for adults and €5 for children.

Larry Goodman

A local businessman has brought legal proceedings claiming he is entitled to a 7.5 per cent share of the former Bank of Ireland site at Baggot Street in Dublin.

Andrew Griffith has sued for specific performance of an alleged agreement with companies in Larry Goodman’s Parma Developments group, which reject his claims as “opportunistic” and without “substance or merit”. His claim was brought after media reports about proposals for refurbishment of the Baggot Street property and the rise in property values in Dublin city centre, it is alleged.

Rossa Fanning, for the Parma side, said Mr Griffith began from 2013 to make claims sporadically relating to agreements of 2006 and 2008. Mr Griffith was looking for a 7.5 per cent interest in the Bank of Ireland site on which his side has spent €100 million, counsel said.

There was “no basis” for Mr Griffith’s claim and the Parma side wanted the case fast-tracked in the Commercial Court list, counsel said. The case concerned construction of an option agreement and, while an employment law issue was raised by Mr Griffith, this was ancillary to the main issue, he also argued.

Stephen Moran, for Mr Griffith, opposed transfer on grounds the matter included an employment law aspect which was not an appropriate matter to be addressed in commercial proceedings.

The disputed site on Baggot Street, former HQ of Bank of Ireland

Refusing transfer, Mr Justice Brian McGovern said the Commercial Court was intended for urgent matters and this case related to agreements dating back to 2006 and 2008. The refusal means the case will now proceed in the ordinary High Court list.

Mr Griffith, with an address at Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, has brought the proceedings against four companies: Parma Investments BV, based in the Netherlands; Parma Developments, Milestown, Castlebellingham, Co Louth; Parma Developments (Jersey) Ltd and Remley.

He claims he had agreements in 2006 and 2008 involving Parma companies and wants orders for specific performance of those. He claims the agreements incorporate the acquisition, through Remley, of the former Bank of Ireland headquarters. Alternatively, he is seeking damages in addition to, or in lieu of, specific performance.

Mr Griffith alleges he entered into an option agreement in December 2006 with Parma Investments BV and Parma Developments. He also claims he entered into an employment agreement at that time with Parma Management Services Ltd (now Parma Management Services) to advise and assist various Parma companies on various matters, including in developing its property portfolio and identifying lands with potential for development with a view to selling them on at a profit.

The agreement provided he was to subscribe for 7.5 per cent of each new property development site acquired by the group, including the Bank of Ireland site, he claims.

The defendants deny his claims. They also plead some companies which are not part of the Parma Developments Group hold a portfolio of investment properties which is “entirely separate” to the development portfolio, for the purpose of long term rental and/or capital appreciation. The defendants’ case is the former Bank of Ireland property falls within this investment portfolio and not within the development portfolio and, as a result, Mr Griffith’s claim is misconceived.

Source: The Irish Times

An Bord Pleanála have overturned Louth County Council’s decision to refuse national broadcaster RTÉ permission to retain a 30m high operational support tower with associated equipment attached at Clermont Carn in Ravensdale.

The council refused RTÉ permission to retain the structure on three counts back in March. They said that it was located on an exposed mountain top site within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which they wanted to preserve and protect.

They also said the structure was “inappropriately designed” with regard to its location’s sensitive landscape. Finally, they said it would interfere with the view of the area.

RTÉ appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, who granted them retention permission subject to a series of conditions.

One of those conditions is that the permission is only for a period of five years and then the tower, telecommunications antennae and related ancillary structures shall be removed. An Bord Pleanála said this was to enable an alternative proposal to be developed in the interim period.

They also have to lodge a cash deposit or bond with the local authority to secure the satisfactory reinstatement of the site afterwards.

Anaverna House

Quintessence Theatre will host Alice in Wonderland at Anaverna House in Ravensdale from Thursday August 20^th to Sunday August 23^rd.

There will be shows at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm, with tickets priced €15/€8 for concessions available from here.

Gardaí working in the immigration department are planning a number of special operations along the border after around 50 people were detained during two days of checkpoints last month.

Dozens of Gardaí were involved in manning checkpoints targeting illegal immigration close to the border near Dundalk on July 20^th and 28^th.

The operation was set up by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and backed up by local Gardaí after a large increase in asylum seekers from Pakistan and Bangladesh was noticed coming into the country.

On the first day of the operation 28 people were detained, with a further 19 detained on the second day.

These people were not arrested They were detained and brought for processing in relation to their immigration status.

In some cases people without the correct paperwork were sent back to the UK by ferry or simply turned around at the border with the North.

It has emerged that because of a clampdown in the UK immigrants there whose visas have almost run out or have expired are entering Ireland in increasing numbers.

It emerged that some of those detained had been authorised to work in the State.

During the two days of last month’s operation, Gardaí diverted traffic on the southbound lanes of the M1 motorway for seven hours on each day, with large checkpoints in place.

Gardaí picked up a number of different routes for their checkpoints, including train and bus stations and approximately 15 officers were involved in the operation in the Ravensdale area of Dundalk.

It is estimated that around 700 illegal immigrants each month enter the Republic from the North, with the majority of these people being men.

Sources told The Herald that more people are entering here from the North than ever before.

One of Ravensdale’s best known pubs has reopened its doors in recent days as the Rosewood Country Club.

Formerly the Sportsman’s, the pub on the old Dundalk to Newry Road changed hands earlier this summer after being sold by the Keane family.

The new owners have opted to return the venue to one of its former names, the Rosewood, and are advertising it as a music lounge and steak house.

They have also invested in the premises with the installation of a new smoking area, while there will be live music each weekend.

Be sure to check it out if you’re passing. You can give them a call at 042 9371457.

Donnelly’s Bar in Seatown will host a Trek in the ‘Coolies’ this Saturday in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

Those taking part are asked to assemble at the bar from 10am, with courtesy buses leaving to be at Ballymakellett in Ravensdale for 11am.

There will then be a 10k walk across the Cooley Mountains into Carlingford, where buses will be on hand to take people back to Donnelly’s.

The pub will then provide a free BBQ and live music.

Registration for the event costs €25. For sponsorship cards and more details contact Eamonn on 086 3401151 or Daniel on 042 9337354.

Inside Ravensdale quarry

Local residents are expected to lodge a planning appeal after permission was granted recently for the reopening of the stone quarry at Ballymakellett in Ravensdale, which has been idle for around half a century.

Louth County Council yesterday gave Burncorp Group Limited conditional planning permission to reopen the quarry for the production of road making and aggregate materials. Under the terms of the application, the quarry would reopen for a period of five years.

As part of the application, Burncorp – who are based in Stapleton Place in Dundalk – have also been given permission to set up a temporary office, welfare facilities, weighbridge and wheel wash.

They had initially applied for planning permission for the development in August 2014 with multiple objections from local residents being lodged in the last year.

They expressed concerns over air and land pollution from quarry dust and the possible health hazard this would create for residents. They also outlined their concerns in relation to traffic and the damage that could be caused to residences by the movement of rocks in 20 to 40 tonne trucks.

They further feel that the value of their houses would fall due to its proximity to an in-use quarry and expressed concerns over pollution to the local water supply and its impact on local wildlife.

As well as objections from the residents, Inland Fisheries Ireland also objected vehemently to the move.

Residents previously objected to the reopening of the quarry in 2006 and they claim their case is now “more compelling”, given the scenic aspect of the area and its increase in popularity in recent years. They pointed out that the quarry is in full view of the “much used” Táin trail.

Nine years ago the council granted planning permission to Eco Quarrie to open the quarry with residents appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála, a process the residents are now like to take once more. They will be hoping for better luck though as it was allowed to open for 16 months after approval was granted from the planning authority. Residents who took a case at the time included Rosaleen Mullan, Kenneth Rice, Gerry Scannell, Jerry Jackson, Maura and Walter Rainey and Gerry Malone.

A previous application was also given the go ahead to reopen the quarry in 1992 but once again An Bord Pleanála overturned the council’s decision.

As well as Ballymakellett, areas which would be affected by the move include Dawestown, Jenkinstown, Rockmarshall and along the main Carlingford to Dundalk Road.

Residents are due to meet in the Ravensdale Community Centre tonight at 8pm to discuss the matter.

Turas Counselling Services Ltd will host a fundraising walk this Sunday from the car park of the Lumpers in Ravensdale.

The event will be led by local businessman, Jock McArdle of Outdoor Exchange, and get underway at 11am.

Beginners and experienced walkers are welcome while a children’s walk will also take place, led by John Lambe from the Lumpers.

Entry is €20 per person or €25 donation per family. This includes a tasty burger and salad in the Lumpers afterwards.

For further details contact Turas on 042 9338221 or email info@turascounselling.ie