Fingal-Independent.ie - News RSS Feed

Unfair to single out Aldi and Lidl

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A PERCEIVED discrimination against the discount stores like Aldi and Lidl is to be removed from the latest draft of the County Development Plan as councillors went against the recommendations of county planners. Cllr Anne Devitt (FG) said that dealing with 'discount stores' as a separate category in terms of planning regulations for retail outlets, 'discriminated' against two particular operators, namely Aldi and Lidl.

Family celebrates special Oscar win

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

ONE home in Balbriggan had a little more stake in this year's Oscars ceremony than anyone else in the town as they waited with bated breath to see if their cousin would be crowned in Oscar glory.

New performance club set to open

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

MUSIC fans are in for a real treat with a new live performance club set to open its doors in Fingal this weekend.

Workers await ballot results

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE future of over 1,000 jobs at Aer Lingus hangs in the balance today as the company and its workers await the delayed result of a ballot of craft workers on the airline's € 97 million costcutting plan. Agreement for the compromise plan has already been secured from pilots, middle-management grads and ground staff but cabin crew have bucked the trend and voted against the cost-cutting proposals.

Vital relief road could take years

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

IT could take years before a badly-needed relief road is provided in the Holywell estate, as the council does not have the finance to purchase a parcel of land needed to complete it.

Stole scarf by 'mistake'

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A MOTHER-OF-ONE, who stole a scarf from a Swords clothing store by 'mistake', has been fined € 150 after failing to make a charitable contribution. Charlene Douaouda, Cherry Avenue, was due before Judge Patrick Brady at Swords District Court last week, but did not appear.

TD welcomes lower blood-alcohol limits

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

REDUCING the blood-alcohol levels from the current limit of 80 mg/ml is one of the most necessary components of a new Road Transport Bill, North Dublin Fianna Fáil Deputy Michael Kennedy told the Dáil. The Bill gives effect to reducing the blood alcohol limit from 80 mg to 50 mg for experienced drivers, and 20 mg for inexperienced and professional drivers.

Residents fearing for their safety

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

RESIDENTS of a Swords estate, which is being choked by traffic on a daily basis, are fearing for their safety and have called on the council to take action.

Swimming pool plan hits stumbling block

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

PLANNING permission for the flagship swimming pool project at Balbriggan Rugby Club has hit a stumbling block after council officials asked for more information regarding the drainage and water supply system on the site.

Probation for ex-graveyard worker (22)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A CLAUSTROPHOBIC former graveyard worker who behaved violently at a Fingal garda station has been awarded the Probation Act after making a charitable contribution.

Head-ing for trouble

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A FINGAL doctor has warned people using so-called 'legal highs' are 'dicing with death' after a new service delivering the products to homes in Swords began trading. In the week the Government announced an impending ban on a number of items on sale in 'head' shops, leaflets were dropped through letterboxes advertising a 'home delivery service'.

Residents of 'choked' estate facing road delay

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

RESIDENTS of a Swords estate, which is being choked by traffic on a daily basis, are fearing for their safety and have called on the council to take action.

Sttep back iin ttiime

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A SPECTACULAR new public arts project is set to light up Balbriggan this week with an internationally renowned artist bringing back a ghost from the town's past.

Recovering alcoholic fined € 500 for theft

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A RECOVERING alcoholic, who stole bedclothes from a Swords department store as she was sleeping on a friend's couch, has been fined € 500. Mary Flood, Mountfield Park, Malahide, appeared before Judge Patrick Brady at Swords District Court last week. Flood, who is 58, pleaded guilty to theft following an incident at Penney's in Swords, on February 21st this year.

Failed to appear

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A BENCH warrant has been issued for a Donabate woman facing public order charges Winnie McDonagh, Turvey Drive, was due before Judge Patrick Brady at Swords District Court last week, but failed to appear.

Strike a pose

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

TWO up-and-coming fashion designers have made it to the final stages of a prestigious competition,

Caught with counterfeit bank notes

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A MALAHIDE man, who allegedly tried to spend counterfeit money and was later charged after being caught with some € 250 in fake notes, has been remanded for a month.

Cup win for Abbie

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

SPORTING Fingal's Powerchair football team were victors in a special match held in honour of one of their much-loved former players. Abbie Byrne was one of the founding members of the team and also the only female member. She sadly passed away in October 2009 and is greatly missed by everyone involved in Powerchair football in Ireland. Last week, the inaugural Abbie Byrne Memorial Cup match took place at Corduff Sports Centre, where Sporting took on St Joseph's from Sallynoggin. And the Fingal side paid their late friend the best possible tribute by bringing the cup, which was presented by Abbie's mother and sister, Niamh and Shannon, back to north County Dublin following a 1-0 win.

Water crisis

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE council's water services department has agreed to take key local mobile numbers to help them communicate better in times of crisis in water supply in the Malahide/Howth electoral area. The commitment comes in response to a request from Cllr Cian O'Callaghan (Lab), at a meeting of the Malahide/Howth Area Committee.

Praise for project

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

FÁILTE Isteach, the community based project which operates in Swords and Balbriggan and sees older volunteers teach conversational English to new migrants, has been lauded by President Mary McAleese. Over 300 people, including volunteer tutors and students from Fingal attended the launch by the President at the Mountview Youth and Community Centre in Blanchardstown. The opening of these three centres brings to 17 the number of Fáilte Isteach projects currently operating throughout the country. Each week, 194 volunteer tutors teach basic conversational English to over 400 migrants from 53 different countries at classes held nationwide.

Sale of work raises hundreds for charity

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE pupils, staff and parents of Gaelscoil Ros Eo in Rush put their shoulders to the fundraising wheel recently to raise money for Haiti and for an orphanage in Russia. A sale of work was chosen as the method of fundraising in the event that was organised by the school's hard working parents' association. There was all manner of goods for sale at the event which was held in the school's grounds and the weather smiled on the occasion, ensuring a big turnout for the fundraiser.

Easons to take over airport units

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has confirmed that Easons is to take over the airport's book stores after the collapse of Hughes & Hughes, saving 120 jobs at Dublin and Cork.

Council outlines crisis procedure

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

IN the light of the water supply crisis that hit the county in recent weeks, the council has outlined the Dublin-wide procedure observed by the region's four councils in the event of water shortages. The procedure was outlined in response to a request from Cllr Joan Maher (FG), who was particularly concerned about water shortages in towns on the east coast of the county.

Céilí dancing

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

O'DWYER'S GAA Club is holding a céilí in the clubhouse, Bremore, Balbriggan on St Patrick's night.

Society meeting

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

BALBRIGGAN and District Historical Society is holding its next meeting on Tuesday, March 30th.

Library grinds

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

FINGAL County Libraries is responding to the needs of local students in a practical and innovative way during the current recession.

New facility for residents at shop site

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE council has outlined its plans to turn what once was Martin's Shop in Rush into a community facility but while work has already started on the project but the local authority cannot yet name a completion date.

Hair we go, hair we go...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A YOUNG Malahide man is within a hair's breath of winning a trip for him and a friend to the World Cup in South Africa later in the year.

Gardaí to check evidence with alleged assault victim

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE victim of an alleged assault in Skerries as well as the ex-partner of the accused are to be consulted to check evidence given in the case by the defendant.

Dance music night for Keith

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

BALBRIGGAN will see a St Patrick's Day celebration tinged with sadness as the friends and family of a local young man who tragically lost his life one year ago is remembered at a special night of dance music.

Changes to height and scale of development

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE council has requested changes to the height and scale of controversial mixed retail and residential development in Skerries. Moriarty Foodmarkets want to build a project with ten retail units and 36 apartments on Church Street but the project has met with a lot of local opposition. Management and parents at St Patrick's National School are particularly concerned about the security issues raised by the apartments in the proposed building overlooking the school yard and the Skerries Community Association (SCA) believes the current planning application from Moriarty's Foodmarkets should be withdrawn.

Process to agree new Plan underway

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

THE new Development Plan for Fingal will be a world away from its predecessor which was formed in the teeth of the Celtic Tiger amid unprecedented growth in Fingal. That was back in 2005 where huge tracts of land were controversially rezoned for residential use.

Four-year driving ban

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A LUSK man has been given 200 hours of community service, fined € 1,500 and been banned from the road for four years for driving without a licence or insurance.

Behind bars for staging tiger raid

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A FORMER security worker who staged a tiger kidnapping which involved his house mates being bound with cable ties and threatened at gunpoint has been given an eight-year sentence with two suspended.

Drunken row

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:56:13 +0000

A DRUNKEN row in Balbriggan has landed one man with a € 500 fine at the local District Court.