News

The Government has announced a new €250m Restart Grant, which will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures.

• Direct grant aid of between €2,000 minimum and €10,000 based on commercial rates bill from 2019.
• Scheme applies to small businesses with a turnover of under €5m and employing 50 people or less.
• Scheme opens for applications on Friday 22 May through the Local Authorities.

Click here to read full article >>

As a result of the COVID 19 Virus many businesses in Carrickmacross have closed or have a working behind closed doors policy. This has caused great inconvenience to our customers, and many people living alone may not be able to get the supplies they need. Therefore the Chamber of Commerce have compiled a list of businesses who have indicated they will deliver to people who need this service in the local area. This list may not be all inclusive as some businesses may not have responded.

Click on the PDF to download the list.

Home Deliveries List >>

A printed copy will be available in the Post Office, Keegans, Birdies and the Chemists.

It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the sudden and untimely passing of our friend and colleague, Paul Mulligan, Ganger in the Castleblayney /Carrickmacross Municipal District.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Paul’s parents John and Teresa, his siblings and extended family at this extremely difficult time.

I also wish to extend our condolences and support to all his friends and colleagues in the Municipal District and wider Monaghan County Council organisation.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Eamonn O’Sullivan,

Chief Executive,

Monaghan County Council,

County Offices,

The Glen,

Monaghan.

Consultations took place on the 10th of March 2020 in the Carrickmacross Civic Office (a copy of the presentation made on the day can be found at www.carrickmacross.ie) and should anyone feel that they missed the opportunity to participate and would like to have their views heard that they can still make a submission by 31st of March at 16.00hrs by contacting AECOM via:-

Laura McCoy AECOM Consultant– Transport Planning on Telephone:- 028-9595-6328 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Carrickmacross Consultation Pack PDF >> 

 St Patrick's Day Parade 2020

Due to the unique nature and scale of the St Patrick’s Day festivities, in terms of size, the mass gathering of local and international travellers, and the continued progression of community transmission in some European countries, along with the emergence of a small number of cases of local transmission in Irleand the Government has decided that all St Patrick’s Day parades will not proceed.

This is based on the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Ceantar Bardasach Carraig Mhachaire Rois – Baile Na Lorgan
Comhairle Contae Mhuineachain

The Municipal District of Carrickmacross – Castleblayney
Monaghan County Council

Monaghan Co. Council is proposing to introduce measures to restrict the movement of HGV’s (Heavy Goods Vehicles) through Main Street, Carrickmacross between the hours of 8am to 5am Monday to Sunday. These restrictions will apply only to vehicles of 3-axle or greater. Under these measures Monaghan Co. Council can issue permits for exemption to the restrictions under section 35 of the Road Traffic Act, 1994 as amended by Section 26 of the Roads Traffic Act, 2004 (44 of 2004).

A map outlining the restricted area will be on public display at the Civic Offices, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan for one month from the 12th of March, 2020 or can be obtained in digital format by request from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Carrickmacross HGV Restrictions map (pdf)

Anyone wishing to make an observation regarding this matter may do so in writing to:
Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD
Civic Offices,
Riverside Road,
Carrickmacross,
Co. Monaghan
Or

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gareth McMahon,
Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD Co-Ordinator
Riverside Road,
Carrickmacross,
Co. Monaghan.

Car Parking Strategy Public Consultation

Monaghan County Council has appointed AECOM as consultants to develop a Car Parking Strategy and Action Plan for Carrickmacross.

An important strand of this study is to ensure the appropriate provision and location of car parking in the town. The Car Park Strategy will cover the town centre with a particular focus on the use and management of the Council managed parking spaces.

We are currently at the second stage of the study, and are holding a public consultation day to meet with members of the general public to discuss key issues related to parking in Carrickmacross.

This will be open to the public between 4-6pm on Tuesday 10^th March 2020 in Carrickmacross Civic Centre.

https://www.facebook.com/carrickmacrosschamberofcommerce/

http://carrickmacrosschamber.com/

What do we need for the wellbeing of the community of County Monaghan? That is the question Monaghan PPN will put to the public and to groups/organisations across the County. Developing a Vision for Community Wellbeing means thinking about what we have and what we need to help our County be as great as it can be for now and for the future. To start this important conversation, Monaghan PPN has organised three workshops (one in each Municipal District) as follows:

Tuesday 3rd March Westenra Arms Hotel Registration at 6.30pm Light Refreshments served

Wednesday 4th March The Old Post Office Clones Registration at 6.30pm Light Refreshments served

Thursday 5th March Iontas Centre Castleblayney Registration at 6.30pm Light refreshments served

Topics such as Health, Transport, Childcare, Climate Change will be high on the agenda for discussion. The information gathered will be used to guide our PPN representatives in influencing policy to inform how the PPN work on behalf of the community and to influence key organisations in the County and at national level to ensure their services and programmes to reflect the identified priorities of the community.

It is really important that we begin to talk about what we can do to make County Monaghan the best it can be. To register to attend one of the three sessions please contact Leona Keenan at 047 73750 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Huge Appetite and Effort in the North East to Recycle Plastic Bottles

People have travelled from all over the North East to recycle their plastic bottles. In an on the spot survey at the Plastic bottle Reverse Vending machine , users stated they were travelling from Drogheda, Cavan, Clones & Monaghan to recycle. Users of the Reverse Vending Machine are making a very conscious effort to collect up bottles, wash them and then travel to Carrickmacross to recycle them.

Brian Finnegan of Shabra Plastics commenting on the machine, stated ‘because of the effort of people, the quality and cleanliness of the bottles being recycled Shabra can recycle 100% of the bottles from the Reverse Vending Machine’. Whereas, he stated, ‘normal green bin plastic recycling is around 65%’

Andrew Spare, whose idea it was to put in the Plastic bottle Reverse Vending machine, is delighted that not only are individual households making such an effort but that local schools are now getting involved. Inver College 2nd year students are in the regional final of the SEAI ‘One Good Idea’ competition with their submission highlighting the need for this type of machine in towns and villages throughout Ireland. Whilst Patrician High School Transition Year students have launched an in-school plastic bottle collection which has contributed considerably to the project. Their fundraising efforts will also help finance the new Linear Park project

‘In Ireland there is an estimated 220,000 plastic bottles used and disposed of every day’, stated Gerry Hand from Carrickmacross Town Towns. ‘So, as an organisation we recognise this is only a dip in the ocean of plastic. However, if the facilities are made available and people are encouraged, we can all make a difference.’

Carrickmacross Tidy Towns will be holding an information seminar on the process of getting the Plastic bottle Reverse Vending machine in place, costs and recommendations in March 2020. Check out our Facebook page for more information : www.facebook.com/carrickmacrosstidytowns

Picture by Pat Byrne.