Golden Glaslough! Village Officially Recognised as one of Europe’s Best

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The picture perfect village of Glaslough put Co. Monaghan firmly on the European map on Friday, 15th September, as nineteen delegates from the village, accompanied by staff and Cathaoirligh from Monaghan County Council, descended on the spa resort town of Podčetrtek, Slovenia for the announcement of the results of this year’s prestigious Entente Florale Europe awards, and came home with a Gold Award, the highest accolade in the competition.

Group Award
“A proud moment for Co. Monaghan. The Glaslough delegation pose with the bronze plaque which will be erected in Glaslough village, next to the plaque commemorating the village’s win of the National Tidy Towns Title in 1978. Seated front are (l to r): Gareth Corrigan (Chair Glaslough Tidy Towns), Ann McGhee (Mayor of Glaslough), Cllr Paudge Connolly (Cathaoirleach Monaghan MD), Cllr Cathy Bennett (Cathaoirleach Monaghan County Council, Louise Duffy (Projects Co-Ordinator Glaslough Tidy Towns). Back row (l to r): Irish Jury members Dr Christy Boylan and Eamon de Stafort, Donal McElwain, Monaghan Municipal District Co-Ordinator, Melanie Colleran, Noel Keelan, Patricia Murphy Thom, Dennis Flannery, Monaghan County Council Horticulturalist, Claire Cunningham, Maeve Treanor, Noel Kennedy, Helen Kennedy, Irene Gormley’s hair!, Bridie Comiskey, Siobhan Cheung, Ciaran Teague, Marie Colleran, Susan Shipley, Carol Lambe, competition Co-Ordinator for Monaghan County Council, Liz Morrough, Jamie Duffy. (missing from photo: Packie McGhee, who’d wandered off to get his hair and make-up done)”

The competition is run by the European Association for Flowers and Landscape, which is an international non-profit association, which aims to promote social and cultural development to enhance Horticulture, Tourism and Environment. They do this by encouraging actions that foster a better quality of life for urban dwellers, and their main tool for so doing is the annual Entente Florale Europe competition, which is run in 9 countries. Participating towns and villages are visited by an international Jury during the summer, awarding marks against set criteria.  Depending on the marks awarded, each participating village or town is then awarded either a bronze, silver, or gold merit, and given a rather substantial plaque to display in their town.

“Gareth Corrigan, Chairman of the Glaslough Entente Florale Steering Committee and Chair of Glaslough Tidy Towns, and Louise Duffy, Projects Co-Ordinators for Glaslough Tidy Towns, accept the bronze plaque which accompanies the Gold Award from Chairman of Entente Florale Jury, Rudi Geerardyn. Also in the photo are (l to r): Irene Gormley, Claire Cunningham, Cllr Paudge Connolly, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Municipal District Council and Cllr Cathy Bennett, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council”

Ireland’s entries are nominated by the National Tidy Towns unit in the Dept of Environment each year, with only two towns or villages representing any participating country. Abbeyleix in Co. Laois, Ireland’s other representative, was awarded a Silver merit, and won the President’s Award for Biodiversity for their wonderful bog conservation work.

Click here to read full Press Release >>

Want to see what all the fuss is about?
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Sliabh Beagh Masterplan

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Welcome to the Draft Sliabh Beagh Masterplan public consultation process.
The Masterplan has been jointly commissioned by Monaghan County Council and Fermanagh & Omagh District Council to establish a strategic vision for the future of this important rural area.
The plan is being produced by Landscape Architects, The Paul Hogarth Company, working in close consultation with local people.
These boards summarise the emerging findings, aims, objectives and projects. You are kindly invited to review these draft proposals and to share with us your feedback, so helping improve the plan.

See full Sliabh Beagh Masterplan PDF here >>

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/sliabhbeaghmasterplan

MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL WELCOME PEACE IV FUNDING

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The Monaghan LCDC PEACE IV Programme, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, is a unique initiative of the European Union which has been designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland.

Launch of PEACE IV Monaghan – Paul Clifford Monaghan County Council, Niamh Smyth TD, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, Gina McIntyre SEUPB, Heather Humphreys TD, Cathy Bennett Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County council

The PEACE IV Partnership has been working on the development of programmes since March 2016; beginning with consultation and engagement sessions, public information events, focus groups, project design and development, and finally an extensive application and assessment process with the Special EU Programmes Body.

The content of the Monaghan LCDC PEACE IV Local Action Plan has now been agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government with the overarching priority of supporting peace and reconciliation within three main themes:

  • Children and Young People with a budget of €638,544.89
  • Shared Spaces and Services with a budget of €1,078,906.06
  • Building Positive Relations with a budget of €1,321,117.01

 

To launch the new PEACE IV Programme, a public event was held on Thursday 7th September. Representatives of the Council including the Chief Executive Eamonn O’Sullivan, Cathaerloich Councillor Cathy Bennett, Director of Community Development Paul Clifford, members of the PEACE IV Partnership, and members of the Local Community Development Committee attended the event.

Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, Eamonn O’Sullivan commented, “The Monaghan Peace Plan was adopted after extensive consultation, in partnership with cross – community bodies throughout the county. I would like to thank the Peace Partnership Board, Local Community Development Committee and all who contributed to the plan”

Launch of PEACE IV Monaghan – SEUPB Gina McIntyre, Elected Representatives Cavan/Monaghan Niamh Smyth TD, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, Heather Humphreys TD, Cathy Bennett Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County council and County Councillors Aidan Campbell, Pat Treanor & Senator Robbie Gallagher, Monaghan County Council Eamonn O’Sullivan Chief Executive, Paul Clifford Director Of Services

Representatives from SEUPB were also in attendance and provided an overview from a funding perspective. Speaking at the event Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body said; “The projects that will be supported by this funding will all play their part in opening up ‘mind-borders’ as they will encourage real local cross-community and cross-border working, which is imperative in ensuring that we in this region continue to be more outward looking.”

The launch event marked the official start of the new PEACE IV Programme, bringing together local community groups, sports clubs, church groups, youth clubs, delivery agents and activity providers, to find out how they could get involved in the Programme.

The PEACE IV Programme is an EU funded Programme designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region. It is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Match-funding for this element of the PEACE IV Programme has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland, the Department for Rural & Community Development (Shared Spaces and Services/Building Positive Relations) and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in Ireland (Children and Young People).

A project supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Launch of PEACE IV Monaghan – Monaghan PEACE IV Partnership Board

Launch of Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal Greenway

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Monday 11th September 2017’

In partnership with Waterways Ireland, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and East Border Region Ltd., Monaghan County Council launched Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal Greenway Project on the 11th of September 2017. This cross border project was officially launched by Minster Shane Ross of the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport and Minister Heather Humphreys of the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Link to official Press release here)
This €4.95m INTERREG VA funded project will extend 22km between Smithborough in County Monaghan and Middletown in County Armagh and is due to open in 2020. Click here to find out more

NASA Initiative launched

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Who is the safe socialising committee?
Monaghan Safe Socialising committee is a subgroup of Monaghan Youth Network and comprises of voluntary and statutory agencies who have been working together as an interagency group to safeguard our under 18’s who may be attending under age discos. The group have taken a number of different approaches when trying to promote their message. Their pieces of work have been focussed at parents, young people and other agencies who have a duty of care when dealing with young people.

Parental and Youth Initiatives
Chaired by An Garda Síochána the members have implemented a number of initiatives to date. Last year they produced a very informative information leaflet “Discussing the Disco” which is a parent’s guide to protecting their teenager on a night out. The aim of the leaflet was to provide parents with some practical advice and guidance on how to protect their teenagers on a night out. It also provides some advice on how to delay teenagers from drinking alcohol. This leaflet has been distributed to parents through the schools, libraries and at local discos where parents are dropping off or collecting their teenagers.

In their approach to young people they are encouraging young people to have their medical details and next of kin information accessible on their android or iphone in the case of an emergency. This can be done in two different ways. As part of the Don’t Pour Your Dreams away campaign young people will be informed of the health app which is on all iphones. This app can be used to store your medical details and emergency contact details and can be accessed on your phone without requiring your phone to be unlocked. Should a young person be found in an emergency situation, the relevant authorities will be in a position to notify their parents/ guardians if this information has been completed. You will find this heart shaped icon on all iphones and all young people are encouraged to insert the relevant information. On all android phones the ICE facility is available – In Case of Emergency. A similar facility, it will allow emergency services to contact your selected person in the event you are unable to provide those details.

Launch of NASA – No Alcohol or Substances Allowed
Over the last number of months the group have been working closely with a number of Local Bus Companies and the Four Seasons Hotel on ensuring young people travelling to under 18’s events are doing so in a safe, alcohol free manner. The group were aware of a similar initiative that was piloted in Roscommon and thought that a similar piece of work could be developed for County Monaghan. Those participating bus companies which have signed up to the NASA Voluntary Code of Conduct will mean that their drivers will commit to a zero tolerance policy of alcohol on board while transporting passengers to and from an under 18’s event. Bus Companies will be supplied with stickers which will be displayed on their buses to highlight that they are participating in the initiative. The safe socialising group were delighted to launch the project on Thursday 31st August in the Four Seasons Hotel.

Just in time for the release of Junior Certificate results next week we appeal to you to look out for the NASA sticker on your local bus and support those companies who are working to safeguard young people who are travelling to under 18 events throughout the County. If a bus company would like to find out further information on the initiative you can contact Garda Pat Merrick, Juvenile Liaison Officer, Castleblayney Garda Station on 042 9747900 or any member of the safe socialising committee.

Ulster Canal Greenway Development

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Ministers at the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed proposals in June 2015 to facilitate the development of a Greenway along the route/linear corridor of the Ulster Canal from Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan to Charlemont, Co Armagh. The NSMC also agreed Waterways Ireland should undertake the role of lead partner on this project with the support of the relevant Councils and other stakeholders along the route.

The plan will bring disused sections of the canal towpath back into public use, creating a fantastic amenity for the people of the mid-Ulster region. The vision is that in addition to providing a quality sustainable transportation corridor and leisure facility for local people, the greenway network will attract visitors to this underdeveloped tourist region. This will ensure that tourism plays a bigger role in driving sustainable economic development in the region.

Read full Newsletter here (PDF)

Is your Community’s Defibrillator Cabinet in need of an Upgrade?

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The funding may also be used to supply a cabinet to a new defibrillator group where a community has not had a defibrillator before, if the community undertake to supply the defibrillator.

Sites MUST be located in the CLÁR eligible areas marked blue and yellow on the above map.

If your community wishes to participate in this scheme, contact:

Community Dept.,
Monaghan County Council
The Glen,
Monaghan Town
H18 YT50
047 30500

Carol Lambe: clambe@monaghancoco.ie

Fionnuala Mulligan: fmulligan@monaghancoco.ie

Closing date for receipt of expressions of interest is Friday 11th August

Deadline for carrying out works is end September 2017

 

 

 

 

Monaghan County Council – New Facility Will Greatly Improve Access to Key Information on County

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Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:48:00 BST

Monaghan County Council has procured a software package, the “Economic & Community Monitor (E&C Monitor)”, as an information portal on the county and as a means to supporting the monitoring of the implementation of the Local Economic & Community Plan.

The E&C Monitor contains hundreds of individual indicators under 15 core themes, such as, population, health and wellbeing, housing, education, environment and others. It is primarily based on readily available datasets accessible from a variety of authoritative sources in Ireland but brought together and now accessible through this one portal. It can provide a complete comparative analysis from the County to the town/village level while providing contextual analysis with State and Regional trends.

It is a custom designed software and data solution that consists of relevant and accurate datasets and indicators from the main authoritative sources in Ireland including:

  • The CSO National Census return
  • Pobal
  • HSE
  • Higher Education Authority
  • Department of Education and Skills
  • An Garda Siochana
  • Daft.ie
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Department of Social Protection and others

 

Depending on the data source, the E&C Monitor will be updated on a quarterly basis (Jan, April, July and October) with all datasets being updated where appropriate. Environmental indicators will be updated annually and all Census indicators will be updated with 2016 results in early 2017.

Adding data and indicators to the conversation brings a new perspective to the topic. The E&C Monitor pushes the direction of the conversation from “anecdotal” to “hard data” evidence. It will provide users with the ability to compare and contrast indicators in seconds, at any time and on any platform (laptop, tablet, mobile).

Monaghan Economic and Community Monitor