TOWN SIGN UP DUNNING
September 1977
THE big football news is the signing by Dundalk of Paddy Dunning, the former Shelbourne defender.
Dundalk’s interest in the player has been apparent since he made it clear he would never play for Shels again.
Jim McLaughlin, who travels to Dublin to negotiate the move, is particularly anxious to get Dunning, but Shelbourne has in mind a transfer fee of £3,500, which is exceptionally high for an Irish-based player.
Several clubs are nonetheless interested, especially Athlone, who are prepared to match Dundalk’s offer, but Dunning prefers to head to Oriel Park
The amount of the fee actually paid is not disclosed, but is thought to be around £2,500, and a record for Dundalk.
‘We paid a lot more than we can afford, certainly more than we have ever put out for any player, but we were determined to get him,’ says club secretary, Enda McGuill. A proposal to build a Narrow Water Bridge, linking Omeath and Warrenpoint, is again turned down for assistance by the International Fund.
This is indicated to members of the East Border Region Committee at a meeting in Newry, and is the second time a request for grant aid from the fund is refused.
However, Cllr. Terry Brennan feels the matter should not be allowed to rest there, as he has been assured the fund will assist the major project.
The problem appears to be that the bridge is not being put forward as a priority by the Departments of the Environment on either side of the border, which is also jeopardising its chances of being supported by the EEC.
Carlingford traders throw their weight behind the proposal, which is viewed as a great way of opening up to tourists not only the Cooley Peninsula, but the Boyne Valley region.
‘We are told that the International Fund wants to build bridges between the two communities, and this would be a practical sign of that,’ remarks Cllr. Brennan.
The councils of Louth, Down and Newry & Mourne are anxious the bridge should be built. all