News

PRESS RELEASE 05/11/2012

2012 IPB Pride of Place Award Winners Announced

Carrickmacross honoured at the All-Island Pride of Place Competition

At a gala awards ceremony in Thomond Park, Limerick on Saturday last, 3 November, Carrickmacross took one of the top prizes in the ‘All-Island IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland’.

More than 900 representatives from practically every county in Ireland attended the event where the winners of the 10th consecutive annual competition revealed. They were announced by Will Leahy, 2FM presenter.

Local Fine Gael TD, Heather Humphreys, has welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, that €82,000 in funding is to be provided for the establishment of a Youth Café in Carrickmacross.

Deputy Humphreys said the funding was forthcoming following a long process and she praised the efforts of Mary Lynch, Youth Work Ireland, who she had been liaising closely with to ensure that the application for funding would be successful.

“I am absolutely delighted to receive confirmation from the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD today that over €82,000 in funding is to be provided for the development of a Youth Café at the premises of the old Presbyterian Church in Carrickmacross.

“This is a project that I have been working closely on together with Mary Lynch, Regional Director of Youth Work Ireland. When Minister Fitzgerald visited the constituency last February, I arranged for her to visit the excellent Youth Café facility that is in place in Castleblayney. While she was there, the Minister met members of Carrickmacross Youth Club who impressed upon her the importance of a Youth Café to the area.

“Since then, I have been raising the Carrickmacross project with the Minister on an on-going basis and I am delighted with the news today.

“I want to pay tribute to the huge work that Mary Lynch has put into making this project a success. This project is a major boost to the Carrickmacross community and it will provide young people with a safe, alcohol free environment in which to socialise with their friends,” said Deputy Humphreys.

Christina Marks McMahon will be back in the ring this Saturday night in the National Basketball Arena, fighting for the inaugural Celtic Warrior title.

Carrickmacross Boxing Club will be running a bus to and from the Event for more information contact Lee Martin or Paddy Kwan or the Phoenix Leisure Centre. For tickets contact Frick (087) 2550505 or see Facebook

Good luck Christina!

Feile Samhain 2012 takes place again.

Emmet Centre, Carrickmacross

31^st October

Gates Open @ 6:30pm

Fire Works – Fancy Dress Prizes

Music by Hush

Presented by Carrickmacross Town Council in association with An Garda Siochana.

We currently have a childcare assistant places available through FAS on the CE Scheme. Contact Eugene on 0429793940.

The following are some of the events happening in St Michael Little Scholars

• St Michael little scholars are having a Christmas fair on Friday 23rd of November 2012 from 8pm - 10pm in aid of our childcare service.
• We currently have football skills on a Tues from 4pm-5p.
• Next kids cooking is Friday 16th November from 3:30pm - 5pm.
• Kickboxing starting Monday 5th Nov from 4pm -5pm.

The Irish Internet Association ‘Digitise the Nation’ Roadshow will be visiting Carrickmacross on Friday 26th October from 10am till 12:30. The bright orange vehicle will be parked on Main Street and people of all ages, who may not be familiar with computers, are encouraged to visit and find out how simple and easy it is to get started online, send an e-mail, purchase goods online, browse the internet or talk to and see relatives and friends in other countries.

The vehicle is fitted out with a suite of computers and the attendant experts will be only too pleased to answer your questions and give their help and advice.

As an added attraction, the RTE outside broadcast unit will be present to record the event for the Nationwide TV programme.

‘Digitise the Nation’ is based on the belief that the internet is for everyone, that there is no ‘digital economy’ but rather that there is society of which we are all part and that internet technology is about community, inclusivity, communication and access. 

The visit has been organised by the Monaghan IT Forum in conjunction with Carrickmacross Chamber of Commerce.

The Roadshow will move on to Ballybay in the afternoon.

Carrickmacross has ranked 6th in Ireland's Top 25 towns. The survey carried out by Retail Excellence Ireland is the largest every town and city survey undertaken. Over 16,000 surveys were undertaken in 100 towns. The results of the survey were published in a Sunday Independent supplement and rank towns/cities by a number of criteria based on shopping or visiting the town.

The key questions asked:

Is there an abundant number of car parking spaces available?

Is car parking competitively prices?

Has the town/city a unique and attractive streetscape?

Is the town/city well presented and maintained?

He this town/city a large number of quality retail stores to choose from?

Has this town/city a large number of quality restaurants and pubs to choose from?

If there a lot to do and see in this town/city

Do you fee safe and secure when you visit this town/city?

Is this town/city family friendly?

Is this town/city my first choice destination for shopping?

Is this town/city my first choice destination for dining & entertainment?

Are there many events and promotions being run in this town/city?

Does this town/city have a unique and positive image?

The organisers of Carrickmacross’ annual Halloween Fireworks display and party have confirmed that the event will be taking place at the Carrick Emmets GAA grounds again this year and that they expect it to be bigger and better than ever.  The ‘Féile Samhain’ event was first organised by Carrickmacross Town Co

nd CarrickmacrossTown Council staff. uncil, on the proposal of Cllr. Matt Carthy, in 2005 after there was particularly bad experiences with anti-social behaviour at the previous

year’s Halloween.  A small committee co-ordinates the annual event with great assistance from An Gardaí Siochána, the Civil Defence, the Carrickmacross Festival Committee, Carrickmacross Youth Club and the Carrick Emmet’s GAA club along with other groups and individuals.  The event has been going from strength to strength in its short life thanks to financial assistance from the Town Council.

Speaking this week Sinn Féin Councillor Matt Carthy made an appeal to parents and young people with regard to fireworks and anti-social behaviour in the run-up to Halloween.  Cllr. Carthy said that Fireworks are a recurring problem year after year and there is a great danger of someone’s home being set on fire or an oil tank going on fire putting lives at risk.  The problem is compounded by the fact that many fireworks which are sold illegally fail to meet even the most basic of safety standards.

Cllr. Carthy said that young people are entitled to enjoy themselves but not by putting lives at risk.  He said that in Carrickmacross there was an alternative to the use of illegal fireworks with the successful ‘Féile Samhain’ Fireworks display and Halloween party.  “Most towns throughout the country are envious that we have an event like this in South Monaghan and I urge families and people of all ages to attend the event on Halloween evening and ensure it is a success once again” Cllr. Carthy said.

He continued:  “A massive state-of-the-art Fireworks display will take place at the Emmet centre on Halloween evening.  This, in my view, is a great alternative for parents and young people who may have otherwise considered purchasing dangerous illegal fireworks”.

The organising committee have reminded everyone to attend the event in Fancy Dress if they have a costume as prizes will be presented to the best dressed children and adults on the night.

The Chamber Of Commerce are inviting all retailers and business people in the Carrickmacross area to a meeting with the Gardai to discuss shop-lifting, break-ins, security and other concerns people may have. Meeting takes place in The Fiddlers on Tuesday October 16th at 7.30pm sharp. Everyone welcome.

The Courthouse Restaurant in Carrickmacross has received an award (a Bib Gourmand) from Michelin in their 2013 guide. This is a Prestigious award for the local restaurant. Congratulations to everyone involved. Pictured are Conor Mee and Charlotte Carr.