News Review - October 2022

Eggs-traordinary protest

SUPERMARKET shelves remained empty of fresh produce as the farmers’ protests at discount retailers Lidl and Aldi continued.

Frustrated their repeated calls for an increase in price for their eggs had not been heeded, IFA members parked their tractors and trailers at loading bays to block deliveries to the retailers.

The protestors singled out the Cavan stores, as Cavan and Monaghan farmers account for the vast majority of Irish egg production.

Aldi expressed their frustrations, describing the disruption by “a small number of farmers” as “reckless”.

The farmers were looking for an extra 2c per egg but negotiations were tricky given farmers sell their produce to packing companies, which in turn have the contracts with the retailers.

After six and a half days of protesting at the Cavan Town stores, IFA members finally agreed to settle for an increase of approximately 1.2c per egg with a promise of a review in the New Year.

Cold case team assigned to Belturbet Bomb investigation

A cold case team was appointed to renew the Belturbet Bombing investigation ahead of the 50th anniversary of the atrocity.

Teenagers Geraldine O’Reilly and Patrick Stanley lost their lives in the blast on December 28, 1972.

Gardaí confirmed that an incident room had been set up at Ballyconnell Garda Station, resources assigned with an appeal set to go out on Crimecall later in the year.

Anthony O’Reilly, Geraldine’s brother, said his family had “never given up” hope her murderers would be brought to justice.

€400K boost for cross border projects

It was announced Cavan was to receive €400,000 for two major cross border projects, as part of the Shared Island Fund. €250,000 will go towards works at Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan and Castle Caldwell, Co Fermanagh. Work to advance a series of interlinked capital works at the two iconic sites will take place. Another €150,000 will be spent to create a masterplan for the Cuilcagh Mountain area and “to build on the views and traditions of all communities”.

Site sought for homeless shelter

Cavan County Council was assisting in the search for a site for a new homeless shelter for Cavan and Monaghan. Currently, people presenting as homeless in Cavan and Monaghan rely on temporary stays in local hotels or B&Bs, often full-to-capacity, or at a shelter in Dundalk, Co Louth. Figures for the three counties showed that 108 people presented as homeless to councils in the month of August alone - a rise of more than a quarter.

The new regional centre would provide temporary accommodation and seek to deal with a range of “complex” needs often associated with homelessness, 365 days of the year.

Work begins on modular homes for refugees

CONSTRUCTION on a housing estate for up to 100 Ukrainian refugees in Cavan Town got underway.

Thirty high-quality modular houses are being built beside Drumnavanagh on the Farnham Road on a greenfield site owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The project is being led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), which has been tasked with housing those fleeing the Russian invasion.

COVID-19 testing centres move

THE COVID-19 testing centres moved to two new temporary locations in Cavan and Monaghan. Cavan CTC relocated to Cavan General Hospital. It was previously located at Castlesaunderson International Scout Centre. The Monaghan test centre moved to a temporary base at the NEDOC site in Castleblayney.

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

3,479

The number of additional patients who presented to the Emergency Department at Cavan General in the first eight months of the year

GOOD MONTH

• Gowna won the county final and the Oliver Plunkett Cup for the first time in 20 years

• The Taoiseach Micheál Martin, during a visit to the county, said he was confident of progress on the long-awaited Virginia bypass project

• The Slieve Russell in Ballyconnell hosted a major international rural affairs conference – the OECD Rural Development Conference

• The Celt took two top gongs at the Local Ireland Awards. The team won News Story of the Year for ‘Eden’s Legacy’; while Paul Fitzpatrick was named Columnist of the Year for his popular Cavanman’s Diary series

 BAD MONTH

• A book of condolence was opened at Cavan Courthouse for the families of the victims of the Creeslough tragedy. Ten people were killed in the explosion at a filling station in the Donegal village on October 7.

• The requirement for county councils to “match” funding allocated by Government departments for major projects was placing “a real strain” on resources, according to Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley.

• A man, charged in connection with the stabbing of his uncle in Cavan Town in July, was once again refused bail. Terence McDonagh (33) told Judge Raymond Finnegan to stick his bail refusal “where the sun don’t shine”.