News

Monaghan County Council is looking for your input and ideas on the redevelopment of McMahon’s ‘Red Boys’, Main Street, Emyvale as a Multi-use Community Hub.

Community Consultation Meeting in Emyvale Community Centre at 7.30pm on Thursday, 28^th November.

 

 

Have your say on the County Outdoor Recreation Plan for Monaghan

Public Consultation Events

 

Wednesday 27th November

The Market House, Monaghan – Drop in from 6pm to 8pm

 

Thursday 28th November

Ulster Canal Stores, Clones – Drop in from 2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 28th November

The Gate Lodge, Castleblayney – Drop in from 6pm to 8pm

 

Monaghan County Council would like to invite members of the public to attend public consultation events in relation to the development of a County Outdoor Recreation Plan for Monaghan.

The National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, calls out the need for every county to develop a County Outdoor Recreation Plan. The plan will ensure that the needs of the county are prioritised and aligned with the National Strategy which aims to lead, guide and facilitate the sustainable development and management of outdoor recreation and increased participation, in order to realise social, health and economic benefits.

Monaghan County Council has commissioned Outscape to develop a County Outdoor Recreation Plan for Monaghan which will identify strategic priorities and a prioritised action plan. This 5-year action plan will ensure a planned and coordinated approach between stakeholders to develop and deliver future outdoor recreation projects as funding becomes available.

If you have any queries on the above, please email Aoife Duffy, Tourism Unit, Monaghan County Council on Aoife.duffy@monaghancoco.ie

Monaghan Social Inclusion Week takes place from Monday 18^th November to Sunday 24^th November.

Monaghan Social Inclusion Week is a wonderful opportunity for local groups to highlight the diversity, strength and unity within our communities. It aims to promote inclusivity, celebrate cultural diversity, and highlight the positive impact of community engagement.

Monaghan Social Inclusion Week 2024 is being organised by the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) Equality Subgroup which is made up of representatives of the local key service providers.

The theme of this year’s Social Inclusion Week is “Respect & Connect.” Respecting and tolerating the beliefs of others is a key part of living in any democratic society. Ireland’s population is the youngest in Europe and is becoming increasingly diverse as more people from around the world choose to live, work and study here. Connection is a key part of including people in our society and helps with our wellbeing and sense of belonging.

A key aim of Social Inclusion Week is to highlight the positive work that Monaghan County Council and other service providers, as well as community groups, undertake in seeking to reduce social exclusion and poverty. It will raise awareness of the barriers experienced by citizens of Monaghan that lead to social inclusion. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of people in County Monaghan.

Speaking about Monaghan Social Inclusion Week 2024, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Cathy Bennett said “Monaghan Social Inclusion Week 2024 is an initiative which aims to promote inclusion and integration. Social Inclusion Week is an opportunity for all those involved in the voluntary and community sectors to highlight the work they do on an ongoing basis which promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. I would like to acknowledge the work of all the groups who take part and wish them well.”

Speaking at the launch Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, said “Social Inclusion helps build united communities and ensures that the marginalised have a voice, along with greater participation in Monaghan life. Social inclusion must be a priority in our communities in Monaghan and a responsibility for all.

Monaghan County Council is delighted to coordinate the schedule of events on behalf of the Monaghan LCDC Equality Subgroup. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the great work from all involved in Monaghan Social Inclusion Week 2024”.

For a full programme of events which will take place during Monaghan Social Inclusion Week 2024 please see Monaghan County Council’s social media accounts and at their website www.monaghan.ie

Clink here for Monaghan Social Inclusion Week Schedule 

Cavan Monaghan Science Festival 2024: A Celebration of Innovation and Discovery

The eagerly anticipated Cavan Monaghan Science Festival is set to launch on November 9th, running through to November 17th, with a diverse array of events taking place across both counties. This year’s festival promises to be an exciting celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), offering something for everyone.

The festival will feature a wide range of activities designed to engage and inspire participants of all ages.

The festival will culminate in the highly anticipated Big Family STEM Day at Monaghan Institute on Saturday, November 16th, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This grand finale will feature a plethora of interactive exhibits and activities ranging from Dinosaurs to Robots and lots in between!

“We are thrilled to bring the Cavan Monaghan Science Festival to our communities once again,” said Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council.  “Our goal is to ignite curiosity and foster a love for science and technology in people of all ages. With such a diverse lineup of events, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy.  This festival is not just about showcasing scientific achievements, but about creating a space where everyone can engage, experiment, and be inspired. We believe that by nurturing engagement in STEM, we can build a brighter, more informed future for our community.”

The Cavan Monaghan Science Festival is a collaborative effort supported by Monaghan County Council, Cavan County Council, CMETB and Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland).   It aims to promote STEM education and inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.

For more information about the festival schedule and event details, please visit www.cavanmonaghansciencefestival.ie  find us on Social Media  @ CMSciFest or contact sciencefestival@monaghancoco.ie

Media Contact: Karen Mc Cague kmccague@monaghancoco.ie 047 74702

Have your say!

Monaghan County Council and The Paul Hogarth Company are looking at how Creevy Lough, to the north of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, can be improved as a resource for the local community. To help inform this process please complete the survey by clicking on this link:

https://consult.monaghancoco.ie/en/content/creevy-lough-recreational-masterplan-survey

 

If you would like to discuss Creevy Lough in person, please come meet our team on

Monday 11th of November 4pm – 6pm at the Fisheries building at Creevy Lough.

 

A series of Women’s Safety Audits took place in Monaghan during October which aimed to highlight specific safety concerns faced by women when walking in the centres of our large towns.

Findings from the audits will be shared in November as part of the United Nation’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The campaign, which kicks off on 25^th November which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, runs until the 10^th of December which is Human Rights Day.

Every year the Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.” This year’s campaign calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention. For more details, please see www.unwomen.org

The Women’s Safety Audits were a joint initiative between the Monaghan’s Women’s Assembly and the Equality Subgroup. The key objective is to provide safer spaces for women of all ages to walk in our towns. This will increase the opportunity for exercise and improve the health and well-being of women in the county.

The audits took place on the following dates:

• Clones – Wednesday 9^th October
• Ballybay – Wednesday 16^th October
• Blayney – Monday 21^st October
• Carrickmacross – Wednesday 23^rd October
• Monaghan – Wednesday 30^th October

A feature of the initiative was the partnership approach taken whereby a local group came on board to provide local knowledge including walking routes, and personnel for each audit. The groups included Clones Family Resource Centre, the Peace Link, Ballybay Pearse Brothers, WCI Blayney Blades, Carrickmacross Workhouse and Dochas for Women (WCI Monaghan).

Refreshments and a safety briefing were provided at each of the events. Items such as high viz vests, safety alarms and LED lighted hats were presented to each of the participants. Members of the Monaghan’s Women’s Assembly and the Equality Subgroup were also in attendance at each event.

The groups were given a safety audit sheet and were asked to consider a number of areas including lighting, signage, visibility and safety, accessibility and parking. For example, a number of faulty public lights were reported, and possible trip hazards were identified.

The Audit Findings will be presented to the Municipal District Engineers in each of the three areas’: Ballybay Clones MD, Carrickmacross/Castleblayney MD and Monaghan MD, for their consideration, and so that issues identified can be addressed.

Ursula McKenna, Chair of the LCDC Equality Subgroup, believes that the audits were a great success. She said “The feedback from the local partners involved in the audits has been very positive. The audits are a practicable way to look at safer walking spaces in our towns. They are also a great way to highlight women’s safety issues in the media and in our communities. We acknowledge the support of Monaghan County Council, whom we are working with to ensure that the management of our public spaces will provide safe walking environments for women in the county”.

Cllr. Cathy Bennett, Chair of the Women’s Safety Audit, praised the local groups who took part. She said “It was great to see so many women of all ages getting involved and taking responsibility for addressing safety in their communities. Ultimately the audits will play a major part in providing safer spaces for women of all ages to walk in our towns in Monaghan. We will publish our findings from each of the five towns in November as part of the United Nation’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which we are proud that Monaghan is taking part in. Finally, I would like to thank each member of our partner groups in our five towns who took part.”

Monaghan’s first ever Comic Con touches down at the Peace Campus on 26^th October from 11am-4pm.

Brought to you by Monaghan Libraries, Cavan Monaghan LCYP and Mini-Con Ireland, it is a free entry event boasting very familiar attractions for seasoned convention-goers, and a superb introduction for anyone who has never been to a comic con before.

Everyone will be welcome at this very exciting all-inclusive event which will include amazing workshops covering creature sculpting and comic art, along with lots of artists and traders selling everything from collectibles to Lego, comics and Pokemon trading cards.

Special guests will include Toby Philpott, most known for Puppeteering Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi, along with puppet work on Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors, The Dark Crystal and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Hugh Spight, another Star Wars performer, will be joining Toby for a chat about their time working together on Return of the Jedi and The Dark Crystal, along with his own experiences on DR Who operating a Dalek, The Great Muppet Caper and also his cameo appearance in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Miltos Yerolemou, best known for his role as Syrio Forel in Game of Thrones will be hosting a sword fighting workshop, mimicking his character’s training of Arya Stark on the show. An unmissable experience for fans of the series.

PJ Holden, a well known Northern Irish comic artist, will be holding a sketch workshop for anyone who is interested in a career in comic art. PJ is most well known for artwork on Judge Dredd, 2000ad and Warhammer Monthly.

Marvel/DC accredited artist Stephen Mooney will also be appearing to answer your questions about his illustrious career on titles such as Half Past Danger, The Web of Black Widow, The World According to Wolverine, The Rocketeer and many more.

Expect high quality costumes from the movies and anime for the cosplay competition and attendees are encouraged to throw on their own costumes to add to the exhilarating atmosphere.

Connect with Monaghan Comic Con on Facebook for updates and workshop sign-ups and make sure you don’t miss Monaghan’s 1^st ever comic con.

We want to alert you to a recent scam involving individuals falsely claiming to represent NBI. These scammers are contacting people, pretending to work with NBI, and asking them to install software on their computer or phone. This software is designed to access your device without permission and could be used for harmful purposes.   Here’s what you should know: 1. NBI will never ask you to install any software on your device to manage your fibre broadband or for any other reason. 2. If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from NBI, do not share any personal information with them. 3. If they ask you to install software, end the call immediately and do not follow their instructions.   What to do if you receive such a call: 1. Do not engage with the caller. Report the incident to your broadband service provider. 2. Run security checks on your devices to ensure they are safe. It’s also a good idea to update your antivirus and security software. 3. Always be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages asking for personal details or access to your devices. Your security and trust are our top priorities. If you have any concerns or need help, please contact your broadband service provider for support.