News briefs

Cootehill road safety initiatives Cootehill town councillors are hopeful that a coming together of Cavan Co. Council and their Monaghan counterparts will result in a safer road for pedestrians and motorists adjacent to the Clementstown estate. Cllr. Aidan Boyle said residents were anxious to see an extension of the speed limit at the entrance of the estate across the Monaghan border at Halton's bridge. Supporting, Cllr. Paddy Halton said there was a need for people to slow down on the Monaghan road as it was an area where children played, particularly at the bridge, where there are picnic and canoeing facilities. Engineer Kenneth Lennon told the councillors at their February meeting that he would liaise with his counterparts at Monaghan Co. Council and with the gardaí but, in a reply to a query from Cllr. Harry, said the basic issue of speed monitoring on the public roads was one for the gardaí. Council chairman Michael McCarey said it would be helpful if the speed limits on both sides of the bridge were the same. Mr. Lennon said regular meetings were held with the gardaí on matters of common concern and he would highlight councillors' concerns at their next one. Cootehill's entrepreneurial spirit Cavan county manager Jack Keyes singled out Cootehill's "entrepreneurial spirit" as being key to the town's development in recent years. He told town councillors at their last monthly meeting that Cootehill continues to boast a "tradition of progression and positivity and those qualities have been key to the way the town has developed. Cootehill has stood out for me as a place boasting a great entrepreneurial spirit," he said. Mr. Keyes commended Cootehill's public representatives for "the leadership, effort and commitment they have shown to the town". Cavan Co. Council showed a lot of faith in the town by purchasing land for a new planned enterprise centre on Station Road "and that will give a major boost to the town if construction goes ahead as planned". He added that the town's infrastructure has undergone significant improvements over the last four or five years and congratulated the council's staff in Cootehill for their efforts in that regard. Cllr. Michael McCarey said Mr. Keyes' visit to the council was important, especially in the light of recent news coverage which questioned the usefulness of the town council. Cavan beekeepers meet There is a meeting of the beekeepers of Co. Cavan on Thursday, March 18 at 8pm in Teagasc Agricultural College, Ballyhaise. Over the past few years there has been a great loss of honeybees worldwide and Irish beekeepers are now experiencing losses on an unprecedented scale. In order to address the issues and to create an awareness of the problems and how they might be dealt with, a strong association for members to gleam information is vital, said a spokesman. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is blamed for most of the honeybee demise, but what is it and is it the reason for losses in Ireland? Members of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations will attend to deal with questions. Historians believe Ireland had one of the most advanced cultures in Europe: the Iron Age culture supported bards, historians and judges and the Brehon Laws (from the fifth or sixth centuries) governed all aspects of life - and regulated the ownership of honeybees found in woods. Beekeeping in Ireland has a long history but has entered a new phase, in which the native black honeybee is in serious decline. Parasites, weather, insecticides and chemicals and the destruction of countryside have all played a part in the demise of bees, but the beekeepers are fighting back to protect one of the greatest pollinators, necessary for the survival of us all. For more information or if you're interested in becoming a beekeeper, come along to Ballyhaise on Thursday, March 18 at 8pm.