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

October 7th

Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and Garda Tony Golden, members of An Garda Síochána who lost their lives in the line of duty, were remembered at a special ceremony in October at the official opening of a Garden of Reflection in their honour at Dundalk Garda Station.

The event was hosted by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, and was attended by family members of Detective Garda Donohoe and Garda Golden, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan TD.

Minister O'Callaghan was formally met at the event by Garda Commissioner Kelly and a formal Guard of Honour.

Speaking at the opening of the memorial, Minister O'Callaghan said: “Today, we dedicate this space to the enduring memory of two men who served their communities, and the State, with distinction and honour. May it be a place to reflect, to remember, and to revere the lives of two remarkable men.

“May it be a place where the memories of both Adrian and Tony are cherished, and where their example will continue to inspire all who visit, now and for generations to come.”

October 14th

Commuters using Clarke Station in Dundalk were told they would face even more pressure for car parking spaces after Irish Rail revealed it would be restricting parking at an access road at the train station due to safety issues in relation to access for emergency services vehicles and for buses at the access road.

Issues arose at the service road located on the Ardee Road behind Dundalk Garda Station where commuters park, when a bus, needed for transfers because of Storm Amy, was unable to get past the parked cars to Clarke Station.

Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said he was contacted by station customers when they returned to their cars at the Ardee Road to find a note telling them that they would no longer be able to park there and would be clamped if they did so.

The Sinn Féin TD wrote to Irish Rail and on Sunday received a response which confirmed the closure of the access road to parking, where Deputy Ó Murchú says dozens of cars park every day.

October 21st

The mother of 21-year-old Paul Quinn, who was murdered 18 years ago, made an appeal to the public to pass on any information they have on the death of her son to An Garda Síochána.

Paul's mother, Breege Quinn, speaking on the 18th anniversary of his murder appealed to the public saying: “The Gardaí are still investigating the murder. Please go and give us justice. It's no easier today than it was that evening that he died.”

Paul was murdered in the Tullyvanus area, Co Monaghan on Saturday 20 October, 2007, after being lured to a shed by a number of men and the investigation into his murder is ongoing.

During the course of this investigation, An Garda Síochána said that 23 people have been arrested. This includes 14 people who were arrested in this jurisdiction by An Garda Síochána and nine people who were arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

October 28th

Dromiskin was crowned the tidiest town in Louth in October at the Tidy Town awards ceremony held in Croke Park. It also scooped €2,500 as part of a special active travel award.

Dromiskin pipped Blackrock to the Louth title by just one point while Dundalk was third.
Other Louth towns also had success with Dundalk, Blackrock, Drogheda and Ardee winning gold medals. Both Tallanstown and Carlingford were awarded silver medals while Knockbridge was awarded bronze. Additionally Omeath was honoured with a special endeavour award.

600 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin with the event livestreamed to many more online.
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Catherine Connolly swept to a decisive victory in the Louth constituency in the presidential election, taking more than two-thirds of the valid first preference votes.

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Connolly, an Independent candidate, received 28,006 votes (68.65%), far outpacing her rival, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who secured 10,711 votes (26.26%). Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin finished third with 2,078 votes (5.09%).

Out of a total electorate of 103,143, just 48,577 people cast their ballots, marking a turnout of 47.1%.

There were 7,782 invalid or spoiled ballots, leaving a valid poll of 40,795 in line with the national trend that saw a tenfold increase in spoilt votes (213,738) in the last presidential election.