Year in Review: Looking back on the news across Louth in July 2024

July 9th 2024

At the beginning of July councillors criticised Irish Water/Uisce Éireann for inadequate communication and handling of water quality issues, comparing it to dealing with "Del Boy and Rodney” at a Dundalk Municipal District meeting.

Sinn Féin Councillor Kevin Meenan and others highlighted prolonged instances of brown water and delays in repair works, citing the impact on public health and local businesses.

Despite some ongoing upgrades, such as those at the Greenmount and Cavanhill Water Treatment Plants, discolouration issues persisted in recent weeks, with Irish Water/Uisce Éireann blaming seasonal high temperatures.

Irish Water stated in July that they are addressing these issues with ongoing and planned improvements, including a pilot study to remove manganese and extensive network flushing.

July 16th 2024

Cooley farmer and Louth's IFA sheep committee member, Mr Matthew McGreehan, said in July that “there's not a chance in the world, over my dead body, that a greenway or anything else is going through my land”, and that “as far as we're concerned, this greenway is not happening, full stop”, in relation to Louth County Council's plans for a greenway from Dundalk Bay to Carlingford.

Dundalk FC manager says "It’s an honour to manage this great club"

Manager Ciarán Kilduff has confidence that he can guide the Lilywhites to promotion

Farmers, landowners and some members of the local community in Cooley, held a protest at Louth County Council offices on Monday, July 17th, ahead of the local authority's monthly meeting, against plans for the new greenway.

Louth County Council, with the support of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, is developing proposals for the Dundalk Bay to Carlingford Greenway project.

The local authority had begun in July its second non-statutory public consultation (Option Selection) for the project, and stakeholders, members of the public and other interested parties, are being invited to participate.

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Construction begun in July on the first ever 3D printed houses in Ireland at Grange Close in Dundalk.
The pioneering housing project in Dundalk, signalling the beginning of 3D Construction Printed (3DCP) social housing in Ireland, was featured on RTE News.

The Grange Close pilot project involves a unique collaboration between Louth County Council, Louth & Meath Education & Training Board (LMETB), Irish-owned company Harcourt Technologies Ltd (HTL.tech), and Roadstone Ltd, a CRH company, using 3DCP technology with the aim of providing a pathway towards an increased output of more sustainable, affordable, and efficient housing.

The project aims to utilise 3D construction printing technology to provide three three-bedroom terraced units that will have a floor area of c. 110 m² over two floors at Grange Close, Dundalk.

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Members of Kilsaran Credit Union gathered outside the branch's local office in July to protest the news that it would be closing on 30th August.

At the end of June Connect Credit Union announced that both the Kilsaran and Clogherhead branches would close claiming that “the footfall in some of our branches has seen a steadily decline.”

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July 23rd 2024

Hundreds of people gathered at the former St. Joseph's female orphanage and industrial school at Seatown Place in Dundalkas an anti-immigrant protest and counter-demonstration took place over the plans to house Ukrainian refugees in the building.

The anti-immigrant protest was organised to demonstrate against the plans to accommodate 260 displaced Ukrainian refugees in the former orphanage.

The protestors were met by a loud counter-demonstration with people lined up on the street in front of the former industrial school under a large banner saying “Dundalk Stands with Immigrants” chanting “refugees are welcome here”.

On the opposite side of the street, protestors stood in front of banners saying “Dundalk Says No” with many holding Irish flags and one banner reading “Dump woke politicians. Elect patriots. Ireland is full.”

There was a strong garda presence with uniformed officers and members of the Public Order Unit dividing the two groups.
Protests continued weekly for almost two months.

July 30th 2024

Garda killer Aaron Brady and a violent thug who together conspired to pervert the course of justice during Brady's capital murder trial were sentenced in July by the Special Criminal Court to a combined total of five years in prison.

As Brady is already serving a life sentence for murdering Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, the three-year sentence he received will make no difference to the time he serves.

Brady's co-conspirator, Dean Byrne, was due to be released later this year having spent the last ten years in prison for multiple offences, including an aggravated burglary.

Following Byrne's conviction in June for conspiring to persuade a witness in Brady's trial not to give evidence, Mr Justice Paul Burns at the three-judge court imposed a two-year sentence on Byrne that will begin when his previous sentences expire.