FROM THE ARCHIVES

25 years ago

2000

Major jobs announcement

AN Tánaiste Mary Harney was in Cavan to announce the arrival of the Teradyne project to Cavan with the prosect of 740 new jobs in the next five years.

The company was said to be targeting the 1,500 to 2,000 Cavan people who commute to work in Dublin every day and those who have emigrated from this area in search of employment.

While the company was initially due to set up in the IDA advance factory on the Dublin Road, they had also purchased a 94-acre farm on the Ballyhaise road where they planned to invest £50m in a new plant.

Sadly, the project never came to fruition...

Road maintenance

THE pace of road restoration must be maintained and accelerated, Cavan County Manager Brian Johnstone told the Estimates meeting of Cavan County Council when proposing a rate of £38.89 in the pound for 2001, an increase of six per cent on the current rate of £36.69. The Budget included record expenditure on roadworks, including £1,868,000 from Council funds, an increase of nine percent on that year’s expenditure from the County Council’s own resources...

Monaghan maternity unit

THE proposed closure of the maternity unit in Monaghan Hospital sent shock waves throughout the county.

The news emanated from an ‘in-camera meeting’ of the North-Eastern Health Board in Ardee to consider the Condon Report.

Following this meeting Monaghan Councillors held an emergency session to discuss the crisis. The four Monaghan representatives on the Health Board, Deputy Caoimhghin O’Caolain, Hughie McEvaney, Brendan Hughes and Willie McKenna, reported back to their colleagues and called a meeting.

In a show of solidarity against the proposed closure of the of the Maternity Unit, councillors protested at the monthly meeting of the Health Board in Kells the following week.

50 years ago

1975

Fish kill

THE HARD hit tourist industry in south Monaghan received another body blow when pollution killed more than 3,000 fish in Lough Na Glack near Carrickmacross. Most of the fish killed were bream, a lot of which were specimens of 8lbs in weight, but the loss also included pike, perch and rudd. Inland Fisheries Trust officers discovered the surface of the lake blanketed with dead fish on a Friday morning, and on the following day, Saturday, another thousand fish were found dead, while thousands more died subsequently...

A mystery solved

A REMARKABLE sequence of events led to the restoration of an interesting link with the life of the then recently canonised St Oliver Plunkett and 78-year-old Owen Leonard. Who operates a blacksmith forge and engineering works in Ballybay.

More than a quarter of a century ago, Mr Leonard bought a very large lock measuring 8 x 6 x 1 inches, which aroused his curiosity because of its antiquity and solid workmanship, from a junk shop in Drogheda.

Shortly before St Oliver’s canonisation, Mr Leonard was in Drogheda and visited St Oliver’s shrine. He was attracted by the heavy metal door at the shrine, which was minus one of its three original locks. The door is one of the relics associated with Saint Oliver and came originally from Newgate Prison...

General Franco dies

AFTER an illness lasting 34 days, during which he was treated by a team of 32 medical specialist, General Francisco Franco, the Spanish leader died on Thursday morning, November 20.

Shortly after the announcement of the death, the Spanish Prime Minister read a last message from General Franco to the Spanish people in which he appealed for unity and support for his successor, Prince Juan Carlos. He also asked for forgiveness from “his enemies”...

Ulster Canal ownership

THE vexed question of the ownership of the Ulster Canal property in Co Monaghan was the subject of legal argument at Monaghan Circuit Court 50 years ago this week.

Judge McWilliam supported the right of a tenant portion of the canal at Carney’s Island, Clones, who, in the absence of a Receiver, had continued to pay rent to Monaghan County Council, which had a judgement mortgage in respect of rates against the original owners, the Ulster Navigation Co.

Cllr Paul Callan said that, while the matter had been resolved in Northern Ireland, legislation had been pending south of the obrder since 1936, but hadn’t yet come before the Dáil.

100 years ago

1925

Drumlane hold up

AFTER a dance in aid of Republican finds, held on the border of the Drumlane and Kildallon parishes, midway between the towns of Ballyconnell, Belturbet and Killeshandra, the money collected at the door amounting to about £4 was handed to Mr John P. McGovern, Ballyhugh, who, when proceeding homewards, was held up within a hundred yards of his own house by five masked men, one carrying a shotgun and the others sticks. They maltreated him and took the money.

At Mass in Kildallen the following Sunday the incident was condemned.

Rifles in Kilmore Cathedral

AT Cavan District Court, Rev Askins, Kilmore, Cavan, was charged by the State, Superintendent Collins prosecuting, with having in his possession three Martini Henry rofles in contravention of the Firearms Act 1925.

Supt Collins said he went to the townland of Kilmore Upper, accompanied by Lieutentant Fitzsimons of the National Army, Sergeant-Major Walsh of Cavan and Guard Moroney.

At the Protestant Cathedral, Kilmore, he produced a search warrant and went to the vestry where they found in a press three rifles and a bayonet.

At around 4pm, Rev Askins came on the scene; he said he was very sorry for all the trouble all through forgetfulness on his part – that the rifles were placed there some time before 1916 by some young fellows in anticipation of a suffragette raid.

Flax mill accident

An accident at a flax mill in Monaghan was reported in the Celtthis week 100 years ago.

While Mrs Rose Johnaton, Tullycorbett, Ballybay, was engaged attending the flax rollers in Rockcorry flax mill, one of her fingers was drawn into the revolving machinery. The digit was so badly bruised that it was subsequently amputated at the first joint. She suffered greatly from pain and from shock.