MONUMENT PLANS SHELVED
JANUARY 2009
A much-heralded peace monument planned for north Louth is shelved.
Proposals for the project are launched amid a blaze of international publicity less than 12 months ago.
Comparisons are drawn with the iconic Angel of the North in Gateshead, Newcastle and the Christ the Redeemer statue which overlooks Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
However, the Department of Foreign Affairs, spearheading the project, are forced to put plans on hold for the ambitious monument.
‘ The public competition (for a design) has been shelved. There will be a public announcement ahead of any future competition launch,’ a spokesman reveals.
Confirmation the monument becomes the latest victim of government cutbacks is not surprising given the proposed €5 million investment is the largest sum set aside for a public art project in Ireland or the UK.
Plans also include an adjacent car-park and possibly a visitors’ centre to commemorate the conflict in Northern Ireland and its impact on Louth. TWENTY-THREE teams representing 9 schools compete in the first round of the Credit Union National School Quiz.
Taking part in the Lisdoo Arms are Redeemer Boys (4 teams), Redeemer Girls (3), Gaelscoil Dúndealgan (2), Scoil Mhuire na nGael (4), De La Salle (4), Christian Brothers, Castletown Girls (2), St Malachy’s Boys (1) and St Malachy’s Girls (2).
Questions, compiled at national level, are put by quiz master Paddy Kenny, newly-elected chairman of Dundalk Credit Union.
Time-keeper, Martin Kerins; adjudicator, Elizabeth Boland; score-keeper, Bernadette McCabe; attendants, Cora Clarke, Frances Molloy, Elizabeth Donaghy, Margaret McCann, Ronan Ward.
The schools, by and large, acquit themselves with distinction as the questions are difficult.
Section A (U-11) 1st Scoil Mhuire na nGael, Eleanor Haughey, Colm Gaskin, Louise Caraher, Sean Englishby. 2nd De La Salle, Aidan Quigley, Seán Faloon, Seán Myles, Paul Gray.
Section B (U-13) 1st Christian Brothers, Dermot Keelan, Stephen McBride, Niall Parkin, Dean Lawlor. 2nd Scoil Mhuire na nGael, Ciara Farren, Katrina Markey, Roger Smyth, Eoin Daly.
The winners in each section go forward to the next stage of the competition in Shercock next month.