News Review of 2022: Looking back on the main stories from October

October 4th 2022

The annual St Gerard's Novena returned in person this month after several years of it being virtual due to Covid restrictions.

Thousands of people flocked to the Redemptorist Novena to St Gerard Majella which took place in St. Joseph’s Monastery between the 8th and 16th October 2022.

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In October the Dundalk Democrat reported that the contractor tendered to complete the controversial WW1 memorial in Dundalk, suggested adding an engraving stating the artist responsible for the now removed artwork received “inspiration” from a sculpture due to be installed in Washington DC in 2024; upon hearing copyright issues had been raised with the council.

Louth County Council communications obtained by this newspaper under a Freedom of Information request revealed a timeline of events from the Council first being notified of the infringement to the removal of the image.

October 11th
Louth County Council announced in October that, in association with Swim Ireland, a Pop Up Pool will be provided in Ardee from next January for three months.

This is part of a programme by Swim Ireland, who are providing and moving two 12m by 3.4m steel structures around various locations in Ireland.

Ash Walk, Ardee is the location chosen for the Pop up Pool site.

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Hundreds of people took part in the Cross Cooley Challenge as it celebrated its tenth anniversary.
More than 330 walkers gathered on Saturday, October 1st to trek across the 15 kilometre route to raise money for two local charities; the Maria Goretti Foundation, which has a childrens respite centre in Lordship, and the North Louth Hospice and Homecare Foundation.

October 18th

It was announced in October that the Frostival Winter Festival was returning after a three year absence due to Covid and it would be bigger and better this festive season.

Dundalk BIDS, in partnership with Dundalk Credit Union, and supported by Louth County Council, said they were delighted to announce the return of the very popular Frostival Winter Festival and Carnival of Light Parade.

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As many as 15 community centres across Louth were awarded a total of €345,810.25 for their upgrade and development under the new Community Centre Investment Fund.

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At a time when rural post offices are closing, there was great news for Omeath with the reopening of the local post office.

There was much fanfare in the north Louth village of Omeath on October 17th with the post office doors being opened.

The new postmaster is local man PJ McGivern, who is a very well-known and respected member of the community.

Omeath Post Office is located at Dolmen House, Station Road, Omeath.

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The plight of residents in Dundalk’s Carlinn Hall who are facing increased fuel bills again this winter was highlighted during questions to An Taoiseach.

Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú asked for the government to consider a business energy support scheme for Frontline, the energy provider at the Dundalk estate.

October 25th

The plight of an 82 year old Louth woman who has no heating in her home, and was unable to get any assistance from the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability as the funding had dried up for this year, was described as “dreadful” by Cllr Pearse McGeough.

Cllr McGeough, who raised the issue at the Louth County Council October meeting, told the Dundalk Democrat at the time that the woman faces “a very cold winter, not because of the rising energy costs, but because she has no working heating system in her home and little prospect of getting the grant for it despite having applied in March of this year.”

Cllr McGeough said: “When this lady’s antiquated oil heating system broke down she was faced with the possibility of having to pay several thousand euro to upgrade or replace it, money she just didn’t have.”

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It was announced at the end of October that Dundalk, Ardee and Drogheda are all to see an increase in services under the new Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.

It was said there would be a trebling and doubling of service frequencies and new regional connections.