The Anglo-Celt Review of the year – February
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Minister of State Niamh Smyth with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin after she was elevated to the role of Minister of State at th e Department of Enterprise in a cabinet reshuffle.Image 2 of 7
Derek O'Reilly from Belturbet appeared on First Dates Ireland with student nurse Karen.Image 3 of 7
Michael Tormey overcoming the storm using a head lamp and candles to read the Celt.Image 4 of 7
Kevin Carolan and his daughter Klara perform for the judges on TG4's Realta Agus Gaolta.Image 5 of 7
The Cast of Frolics - A Night of a Thousand Stars - were in rehearsals for their show in St Joseph's Hall, Ballyjamesduff, which was due to commence in early March. PHOTO: Sean McMahonImage 6 of 7
A moth infected by the zombie spiders in the cave.Image 7 of 7
Setanta McKiernan gives his dad Gearoid's performance the thumbs up as Cavan defeat Louth. PHOTO: ADRIAN DONOHOEAround the Houses
CAVAN and Monaghan’s representation in the Houses of the Oireachtas took a big jump up in early February as six Senators were returned from this region - a historic four from County Cavan. Overall, it amounted to a tenth of the total number of Senators sitting in the Upper House. Diarmuid Wilson and Robbie Gallagher, both Fianna Fáil, return to the Seanad, alongside Fine Gael’s Joe O’Reilly; while new to the mix were former Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully and dark horse Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly. In what was a red letter week for the county, Deputy Niamh Smyth (FF) was also appointed a Junior Minister. Tasked with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation, her brief was among the most demanding handed out by Taoiseach Michéal Martin last week.
Path to Recovery
THE path was cleared for a multi-million euro extension to the Emergency Department at Cavan General Hospital, as well as a new Endoscopy unit and 58 additional in-patient beds. Cavan County Council granted planning permission to the Health Service Executive for the five-storey extension. The news came a day after nurses reported more than 31 patients on trolleys at the local ED amidst an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug (Norovirus). Figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation also counted 1,842 patients on trolleys at Cavan General over the course of 2024. That amounted to an average of five people a day. The reported figures had quadrupled over the previous decade when 460 patients were reported on trolleys over the course of 2014.
Pylons pushed out to 2031?
THE powers that be were been urged to go back to the drawing board and underground the lines for the North-South Interconnector project. News reports in February suggested that the controversial energy infrastructure project was unlikely to be operational before October 2031. Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly said, in the wake of devastation caused by Storm Éowyn, coupled with the rising cost of the project, not to mention outright opposition locally, that “common sense must prevail”.
He comments came as Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien, was due to meet with representatives of EirGrid and ESB Networks to discuss the revised energisation date for the North-South Interconnector project.
Tragedy strikes
The end of the month brought heartbreak as three men died in separate accidents in the region. Navan man, Jack Powderly McEntee, was recovered from Lough Ramor following an accident.
Dean Wearen (26) from Kells lost his life in a fatal road traffic collision involving a quad bike and a motorcycle in Finea on February 22, at Ballynascarry, not far from the Cavan border.
A house fire in Moynalty claimed the life of Martin O’Malley (60s), lost his life in the blaze. Martin was the location manager on hit Irish film ‘The Commitments’ in which he also had a cameo role.
Garda investigations were ongoing in respect of all three incidents.
Irish Water fined for sewage spill
UISCE Éireann was fined €3,000 and hit with costs of over €6,000 for permitting a sewage spill
in Ballyjamesduff, which polluted the local river and left a smell in the area for days. The utility company was charged with emptying, permitting or causing deleterious matter to fall into waters at Pound Stream, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, on May 9, 2024, in the case brought before Cavan District Court by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Zombie spiders
For some it’s the stuff of nightmares, and to others the makings of a gripping science fiction script along the lines of horror video game ‘The Last of Us’, where a novel fungus takes over and manipulates its host.
For the likes of caving specialist Tim Fogg, however, the discovery of so-called ‘zombie spiders’ in a network of caves in west Cavan, opened up a world of “endless possibilities” in terms of research and further study
Land price survey
The annual land price survey by the Irish Farmers’ Journal reported that the average land price achieved per acre in County Council in 2024 was €9,974.
Contracts signed for €2.5M housing development
CAVAN County Council signed contracts with local firm Sandar Construction for the delivery of 13 new social housing units at Chapel Lane, Munnilly, Cootehill.