A look back at what happened in December in Louth

3rd December
It was not until around 10.30 on Sunday night 1st December when the first TD was elected in Louth in General Election 2024, when Sinn Féin's Ruairí Ó Murchú was deemed elected after the 16th count, at the count centre in Coláiste Chú Chulainn in Dundalk.
An hour later his Sinn Féin colleague, Joanna Byrne took the second seat in Louth, but it was not until Monday that the final three seats in the Louth constituency were elected.
It was not until around 4.30 on Monday evening that the final three TDs were elected in Louth.
After count 20 in Louth, which saw the distribution of Kevin Callan's votes after he was eliminated in the previous count, the final three seats were filled.
Ged Nash for Labour made the quota and was elected, and Paula Butterly for Fine Gael and Erin McGreehan for Fianna Fáil, were both elected without making the quota, and Alison Comyn for Fianna Fáil was eliminated.

10th December
After almost nine years of work, led by Jim Kerley, which included searching through sources including birth records, marriage records, census forms, photographs, and gravedigger daily diaries, a massive project finally came to fruition with the official launch at the County Hall in Dundalk of a free, searchable database of burials for St Patrick’s Cemetery in Dowdallshill, Dundalk.

****
The Carolan family of Kilkerley brought holiday magic back to their home this year with an even brighter display of festive lights.
After a break in 2023, Roisin and Robert Carolan said they were thrilled to illuminate their house once more, all for two worthy causes: Dundalk Simon Community and Kilkerley National School’s Garden Sensory Room.
Over the years, the Carolans have raised more than €18,500 for various charities, bringing joy to the community while making a difference in the lives of those in need.
Their previous fundraising efforts include €4,303 for Dundalk Simon Community in 2020, €8,321.38 for The Rotunda Foundation and the NICU at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in 2021, and €5,927.50 in 2022 for St. James’s Hospital, in memory of their beloved friend Isabelle.

17th December
The case of missing eight-year-old Kyran Durnin took a series of significant developments in mid December, bringing renewed focus to a tragedy that has captivated and devastated the local community.
Gardaí escalated their investigation, making arrests, conducting searches, and continuing to appeal for public assistance in unraveling the mystery of the young boy’s disappearance and presumed murder.
Gardaí made two arrests in connection with Kyran’s disappearance. A woman was detained on suspicion of murder but released without charge the following day.
The investigation progressed further with the arrest of a man, also on suspicion of murder. Searches of two properties in Drogheda were launched the same day, focusing on uncovering any evidence related to Kyran’s whereabouts or fate.
Both of these searches involved forensic specialists, technical examiners, and a cadaver dog. Gardaí have not disclosed findings from these searches for operational reasons. The man arrested was released without charge but was found dead at a property in Drogheda days later in what Gardai describe as personal tragedy.

****

Dundalk Grammar School will play Gaelic football from 2025 onwards, it has been announced. This decision follows a series of productive meetings between school staff and the Board of Governors. In recent months students had engaged in protests over the school’s refusal to allow Gaelic football.

In May, students walked out of class and staged a match on the school’s astroturf pitch. Despite calls from students, parents, and teachers, the school’s Board of Governors had at that time remained firm in its decision.
Gaelic football will be played by both boys and girls in the senior cycle only, providing students with the opportunity to participate in the sport.

In a statement, a student representative said: “We have been told that we will play a friendly this academic year and can enter the Lennon Cup next year. Girls will have the opportunity to compete from the 2025/26 academic year also.
“We are delighted with the Board’s decision to include Gaelic football as part of the school’s sports programme. It’s a sport that is so integral to our national identity, and we are excited that future generations of Dundalk Grammar students will have the chance to play it.”