Santa Claus is coming to Cootehill on Saturday, November 27, from 3pm at The former Ulster Bank with the annual switching on of The Christmas Lights at 6pm. From left: George Hamilton, Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick, Lisa Pepper and Connie Whelan.

Exciting plans for 2022

Cootehill is to shortly celebrate its 300 year anniversary.

Having evolved hugely since its official inception in 1725, it’s a town that has always punched above its weight; quietly confident in its unique location straddling the Border between Cavan and Monaghan.

The departure of the third and last bank from the town last month has been a blow, but the town’s Chamber of Commerce says it’s “fortunate to have a thriving Credit Union, which was established by a number of far-seeing locals in the mid-1960s”. This local support is showcased in its provision of a new ATM.

There’s great praise too for the work done under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, with Secretary of the Chamber Connie Whelan saying “our town is looking smashing having greatly benefited from the painting initiatives funded”.

Halton’s Amenity Park, which also includes Erica’s Fairy Forest, has proven to be a huge asset to the health and wellbeing of local residents, particularly over the past 20 months and the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people taking advantage of the activities is testament to the foresight of the committee of Cootehill Area Development in providing the facilities. The site plays host to Cootehill park run, open water swimming, happy feet walkers, a mushroom hunt, various outdoor exercise groups, cyclists, walkers, runners, families, picnickers and even a few motorhome enthusiasts, who regularly use the area.

The Chamber says the opening of WalkAbout Community Café by Ben Folkman and Trent Smith has helped to put the place on the map, while Erica’s Fairy Forest continues to flourish and welcomes little visitors from near and far.

Thriving industries

Several local businesses have plans to expand and grow their businesses and this bodes well for the future prosperity of the town. Cavan Enterprise Fund was granted planning permission to build another Enterprise Centre on Station Road, similar to the existing building currently partially leased to local established company EMCA. Another local businessman Paul Quinn of PQE is building a state-of-the-art engineering facility at Cornacarrow Business Park on Cavan Road. His cousin and namesake Paul Quinn of MASTEK Ltd, continues to grow and expand, exporting their patented farming equipment worldwide.

Earlier this year, Abcon Industrial Products Ltd expanded, taking over two warehouses previously occupied by Carleton Cake Co Ltd, which relocated to the former Cootehill Chicken factory on Clones Road. Alpha Storage Ltd currently situated at Clarke’s Quarry outside Drung will be starting to clear its site to relocate the company's warehouse to Cornacarrow Industrial Estate. Applus Ltd is hoping to locate an NCT test centre in Cootehill in the near future. Plans to replace the waste water treatment plant by Abbott Nutrition located at the Dromore River since 1970, have been temporarily suspended following an appeal to the High Court.

Plans by German grocery discounter Aldi Inc to build a green energy efficient premise are currently moving through the planning process and is now expected to be completed by late 2022.

Management, staff and students of the Holy Family School finally returned to their brand-new Special Needs Educational (SEN) build at Monaghan Road, with the Chamber describing it as “wonderful to see them enjoy the kind of facilities they deserve”. Drumlin House expanded into the White Star Complex on Market Street and are very welcome.