Year in Review: Looking back on the news across Louth in April 2025

April 1st

The potential of Ardee Castle as a medieval banquet experience venue for tourists similar to Bunratty Castle was discussed with Tourism Ireland in New York.

Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, Cllr John Sheridan, attended meetings with Tourism Ireland as part of the Louth County Council delegation to New York for St Patrick’s Day.
Cllr Sheridan told the Dundalk Democrat in April: “We met with Tourism Ireland staff in New York who work on promoting Ireland to the United States and Canadian markets.

“We were impressed that their presentation on Louth included Ardee Castle, the Jumping Church at Kildemock and Sea Louth, the Louth coastline food trail.

“During an extensive discussion on Ardee Castle, we informed Tourism Ireland that reviewing of tenders for the renovation is under way and hopefully construction can start later this year, subject to funding.

“One route discussed was the potential for Ardee Castle’s large hall to host medieval banqueting experience events for tourists.”

April 15th

Tennis Ireland announced in April that it is to establish the country’s first indoor tennis arena at the former Dundalk Ice Dome, with the signing of a 20-year tenancy agreement with owners of the building, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT).

Once the home of the Dundalk Bulls ice hockey team, the Dundalk Ice Dome has stood vacant for over a decade. Now it is being transformed into a state-of-the-art indoor tennis arena, designed to inspire and nurture talent across all levels of the sport.

The Dundalk Democrat had previously reported in October 2024 that DkIT had leased the former Ice Dome to another party, and that a commencement notice had been submitted to the Building Control Management System in June 2024 by Tennis Ireland for works on the site.

DkIT had for some years been trying to secure a lease arrangement for the Ice Dome, including entering negotiations with the Irish Ice Hockey Association (IIHA) in 2018, negotiations which fell through in 2021.

Speaking about the project, President of DKIT, Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan said: “We at DKIT are delighted to support Tennis Ireland in their ambitions to develop Ireland's first ever indoor tennis arena in the vacant ice dome.”

*****

Inspirational Louth sports stars Kate O'Connor and Eve McCrystal were honoured at a civic reception in recognition of their extraordinary achievements.

Louth County Council hosted the event to recognise the amazing accomplishments of two of the county’s most celebrated athletes who have proudly represented Louth and Ireland on the global stage, inspiring countless others with their dedication, talent, and resilience.

The two athletes' family and friends; along with sporting representatives, local councillors, TDs and senators gathered in the County Hall in April as Kate O'Connor and Eve McCrystal were presented with their civic honour scrolls by Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Kevin Callan and Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr Seán Kelly, and signed the roll of honour.

April 22nd

Concerned parents, members of the community and local councillors finally won their campaign for traffic calming measures in Bellurgan after years of protests.

The local community has been campaigning for some years now for works on the road, due to the high speed of traffic and the lack of adequate traffic calming measures on the busy R173 at Bellurgan, the location of a local primary school, as well as a playschool, Bellurgan Football Club, and local shops.

The protests included marches by children and adults from the area along the main road, and a demonstration which took place outside the Dundalk Town Hall ahead of one of the Dundalk Municipal District monthly meetings.

In April they were finally told that work on traffic calming measures, including pedestrian crossings, would shortly begin.

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April 29th

Dundalk-Carlingford's Cllr John Reilly has welcomed the news in April that Louth County Council had submitted an application for funding to begin the initial planning phase of a proposed new road linking the Armagh Road to Red Cow.

According to Cllr Reilly, this proposed road aims to improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and support future development across north Dundalk.

One of the key drivers of the project, he explained, is the current volume of heavy goods.