A man in his 20s has been arrested following the seizure of drugs worth over €150,000 and a stolen high powered motor cycle in Ratoath Gardaí attached to the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) investigating the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Dublin Region conducted a search operation in Ratoath on the afternoon of Tuesday During the search of a commercial premises in Ratoath Gardaí recovered cannabis herb valued €140,000 (subject to analysis) and a stolen high powered motor cycle A residential premises in Navan was also searched resulting in the recovery of cannabis herb cocaine and ecstasy with a combined value of €12,000 (subject to analysis) and is being detained under Section 2 Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Meath Garda Station "This search operation in County Meath targeted a drug supply network into the Dublin Region "Dismantling and disrupting drug supply networks into the Dublin Region is a top priority My teams are working in collaboration with colleagues in adjoining Garda Regions to ensure these supply networks are identified Meath Chronicle is part of Celtic Media Group which includes: The Anglo Celt Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent| © 2021 Meath Chronicle and Celtic Media Group In Loving Memory of Sean Doran-Peel. Late of 44 Fairyhouse Lodge, Ratoath, Co. Meath. Sean passed away peacefully on Saturday, 19th April 2025. Sean will repose at his home from 5pm until 8pm on Friday 25th April. House private at all other times. Funeral Mass on Saturday at 11am in the Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath followed by burial in Ratoath Cemetery. Those unable to attend can follow Sean's Funeral Mass on the link below. Family flowers only please. Donations in Lieu to Diabetes Ireland on link below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: If you would like to make a donation to the chosen charity please click on the button below. Rip.ie, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG A full 61 years since they were last crowned kings of the Royal County Ratoath are finally Meath senior hurling champions again And typical enough of a club that has endured more than its fair share of heartbreak since 1963 this was a breakthrough win that came the hard way Leading by two points in Navan with the three allotted minutes of stoppage time already up who'd beaten Ratoath in the 2020 and 2022 finals were thrown a lifeline as a free was awarded by referee Conor Ferguson following consultation with his match officials Placed ball expert James Murray still had the opportunity to hit a match winning goal for Trim but his shot was blocked and the follow up strike flew wide It was the last action of the game and Ratoath finally celebrated a win that has been decades in the making They had four McGowan brothers in their lineup and three of them County man and free-taker Padraig O'Hanrahan hit 0-8 though endured a couple of nervous moments in the closing stages as two of his efforts flew wide including former football All-Star nominee Conor McGill have now won senior football and hurling medals All of those in blue and yellow will be back in action on November 16 for a Leinster club IHC quarter-final clash with John Henderson's Bray Emmets with the highly regarded Donal Franks in their corner as coach will hope for a brighter start on that occasion as they trailed by two points after the opening quarter here Trim led 0-5 to 0-3 at that stage and with former Meath footballer Alan Douglas a late addition to the lineup wearing number 21 they were creating more of the opportunities But nine first-half wides undermined Trim's bid to match Kilmessan as the most successful senior club in Meath with 29 titles And when Ratoath eventually grabbed a foothold in the game they were more economical with O'Hanrahan tying the game up at 0-6 apiece following his fourth point of the game in the 21st minute Jack McGowan struck Ratoath's only goal a minute later capitalising on good work down the left by sibling Daithi and slotting home from the opposite side of goal Man of the Match Gavin McGowan then tapped over a point on the left before getting out in front of his man for another score shortly after It was all Ratoath and they deserved their 1-10 to 0-7 half-time lead having outscored Trim by an impressive eight points in that second quarter of the game who had two nephews in the Trim starting lineup surged seven clear at the end of the third quarter when Sean Corbett pointed Douglas sniped a 49th minute goal for Trim though and the David McGuinness managed side refused to relent getting the margin down to two points late on before that late goalmouth drama Scorers for Ratoath: Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-8 (4fs Ratoath: Colm O'Riordan; Domhnall Rogers Subs: Gearoid Crowley for O'Riordan 17 Laois and Dublin through to oneills.com Leinster U20 hurling semi-finals11 hours ago Munster SHC: Limerick assert themselves against Waterford 2 days ago Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship2 days ago Cork and Waterford to contest Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Final3 days ago Official Sponsors of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Official Sponsors of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Championship Dublin City Council plans to provide 4.1km of improved walking and cycling facilities along Ratoath Road and Cappagh Road This scheme is currently at the Preliminary Design phase The Ratoath Road Active Travel Scheme will deliver 4.3km of protected cycle paths and improved pedestrian facilities linking the Navan Road to New Cross College on Cappagh Road via Ratoath Road There will also be also a shared cycleway along Kilshane Road and Kilshane Drive connecting back to Ratoath Road This scheme is part of Dublin City Council's Active Travel Network. To see where this scheme fits into the citywide network, view our interactive map The scheme follows a linear route from Cabra Cross junction (Navan Road and Ratoath Road) to the junction of Heathfield Drive and Cappagh Road (Fingal County Council)​ Feb 23, 2025 | , , , , Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Dylan McLoughlin (27) who is reported missing from his home in Ratoath Dylan was last seen in Ratoath at approximately 10.30pm on Friday Dylan is described as being approximately six foot in height navy padded jacket and light grey tracksuit bottoms He may have been carrying a small hold-all bag Gardaí and Dylan’s family are concerned for his well-being Anyone with information on Dylan’s whereabouts is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on (01) 8010600 the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 © Meath Live | All Rights Reserved | Powered by GO2WEB.IE We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below. The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website, store your preferences, and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you. These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent. You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience. Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data. Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns. New Ratoath boss Paul Galvin. Pic: Tom Maher Former footballer of the year Galvin takes up the top job from former boss Lar Norton with ex-Donegal footballer Nathan Gavigan remaining in the role of coach at the three-time Meath SFC champions Finuge native Galvin's most recent coaching role was alongside Meath boss Robbie Brennan at Kilmacud Crokes The duo oversaw Crokes' run to another Dublin SFC final only for All-Ireland semi-finalists Cuala to oust them at Parnell Park.  the four-time All-Ireland winner was part of Glenn Ryan's Kildare backroom team and briefly held the role of Wexford senior football boss in 2020 Ratoath - who bowed out at the Meath SFC quarter-final in 2024 -  won the county championship for the first time in their history in 2019 The club followed that up with wins in 2020 and 2022 From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here. © Examiner Echo Group Limited, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 523712. A site with planning permission for the development of 57 apartments and three retail units has come to the market in Ratoath, Co Meath, at a guide price of €1.5 million. The development site, brought to market by Knight Frank, is in the town centre and extends to about 1.04 hectares (2.57 acres). It is located at the junction of Meadowbank Hill and Fairyhouse Road, 200m from the main street and within walking distance of several primary and secondary schools. In September 2021 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the development of 57 apartments, three retail units, a restaurant and a healthcare centre on the site. The proposed development consists of two blocks separated by a central plaza. The first block comprises the commercial accommodation, while the second, E-shaped, block comprises the residential accommodation. Vehicular access is from Fairyhouse Road and car parking is provided for in a partial basement, undercroft, and at surface level. The site falls under the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027. Under the plan, most of the site is zoned B1 commercial town or village centre, the balance F1 open space. M3 Parkway Park and Ride facility is within 9km, providing regular commuter train services to Dublin city centre. In addition, both the M2 and M3 motorways are easily accessible, and Meath remains a popular location with first time buyers and traders-up alike. Fiona Reddan is a writer specialising in personal finance and is the Home & Design Editor of The Irish Times Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC The need for Meath County Council to redouble its efforts to secure land for the construction of social houses in the Ratoath area was raised by Cllr Nick Killian at the March meeting of Meath County Council "There is no land left to build social housing or provide affordable homes in Ratoath I know the council tried to buy land but we have to try harder," said Cllr Killian He went on to say there were 1,700 applicants for housing in Meath in 2024 and even if half of these go through "That is adding to our list year on year on year and as things stand we in Meath we will not within the next ten years solve the housing crisis despite all the money that the government is talking about "Thankfully 73 houses are coming on stream in Ashbourne and people in my area put Ashbourne down in order to get somewhere But we are now in a situation where we are asking people who have families in their areas to move further up the county They want to live and grow and have their children and grow and educate them in the areas they are from Cllr Maria Murphy agreed with Cllr Killian's comments and said they needed more affordable homes commenting that the "pressures in south Meath are off the chart" and she had huge concerns for young people trying to buy houses There was a time where Ashbourne was a bit behind that with Ratoath somewhere in the middle but now I see three-bed houses being advertised in Ashbourne at €550k She said while there are homes being built on a number of big sites that have opened up in the area people from Dunboyne would not be able to afford them Cllr Helen Meyer also suggested that they should look at holding clinics to help advise people on whether they are likely to qualify for social housing supports or not She pointed out that of the 116 applications received in January Director of Services Fiona Fallon outlined that a large number of applications fail because of income and they are looking at trying to put an income calculator mechanism on the website where you can put in your income to save people the time where they are putting in applications that were never going to be approved Over the past year between 1st January 2024 and 31st January 2025 55 households has their social housing needs met- this included 33 direct Meath County Council allocations three transfers and 19 via the approved housing bodies Cllr Brian Fitzgerald proposed that they seek approval from the Minister who has the powers to bring back into play the zoned land they had to dezone and land they had to put out to post 2027 to allow it to comply with the core strategy which he said had turned out to be a "total disaster" Padraig Martin responded they had previously written to the Minister about this and could write about but what the Minister would say is that the National Planning Framework (NPF) review is happening He said it is as "frustrating for the planning department" as it is for councillors that they had not yet seen the final published document and that they need guidance and figures as it has to translate down to their own documents He said that in terms of implementing the updated figures when they get them this would be through the review of the county development plan which is a ten year plan Cllr Alan Tobin suggested that they invite the Minister for Housing to come and visit Meath to have a "frank and honest" conversation around housing in Meath and put forward some proposals on actions they could take 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of 2025 (peacefully) surrounded by his loving family and in the tender care of the staff at St Beloved husband of Laura and cherished father of Seán and Ciara; Dave will be sadly missed by his loving wife Dunboyne on Thursday evening (April 24th) between 4 pm and 6 pm Removal on Friday morning (April 25th) to The Church of the Holy Trinity Ratoath arriving for Funeral Mass at 11 am followed by cremation in Glasnevin Crematorium Dave’s funeral Mass may be viewed online (live only) by following this LINK Family flowers only, please. Donations if desired to St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one Apr 23, 2025 | , , The Garda Dublin Crime Response Team investigation of drug trafficking in the Dublin region have made seizures in Ratoath and Navan A search was made at a commercial premises in Ratoath Cannabis her estimated to be valued at €140k and a high powered stolen motorcycle were seized A residential property in Navan was searched and quantities of cannabis herb A man in his 20s was arrested and is being held at a county Meath Garda Station We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Ratoath or Kilmessan to join Trim in the decider Club, General News / Nuacht Ginearálta Ratoath have been the nearly men in recent seasons in the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear reaching multiple deciders and last four encounters before coming up marginally short They are once more back in the final four and today they take on the kingpins of Meath Hurling Kilmessan who have 29 Senior titles to their name They themselves though have been going through something of a fallow period having not brought the Jubilee Cup back to the club since 2013 Ratoath have all the necessary tools to be champions of the county and if it all clicks for them then they are more than capable of going all the way and making history Darragh Kelly and Ben McGowan is physically imposing and Stephen Clynch in the Kilmessan goals will have to be laser like with his long puckouts if he is to avoid these three Cormac Butler is as solid a full back as you will come across and behind him Colin O’Riordan is a dependable figure between the uprights Liam Kelly has moved around the side this year but he brings a youthful energy to midfield and in the half forward line Cian Rogers and Padraig O’Hanrahan possess a big scoring threat with O’Hanrahan punishing every defensive indiscretion Gavin McGowan returns from injury in the full forward line at top of the left as he forms one third of a dangerous line alongside brother Daithí and Sean Corbett The rise of Kilmessan this year appears to have been sparked by their success as the underdog against Trim in the U-21 Hurling Championship at the back end of 2023 taking Trim down in Round 4 and only missing out on direct passage to the last four on score difference The afore mentioned Stephen Clynch has been superb in goals bringing all of his experience to bear and in front of him Shane Brennan is as solid and dependable as ever Harry Cahill brings a raw edge at corner back and he is rarely if ever beaten to the ball Kyle Donnelly has returned to the side after a spell abroad and again he brings a power and aggression to the centre back role Kris Gorman didn’t start last week for Dunsany as rumours swirled around that he was carrying an injury but a second half appearance as a substitute suggests that those rumours were either unfounded or greatly exaggerated and after a man of the match performance two weeks ago Darragh and Mark) take a lot of watching as does Sean Doyle in the corner while the outcome of an appeal into the suspension of Eoin Harkin was unknown at the time of typing Drumree and Donaghmore/Ashbourne meet for the second time in a month Drumree brought much more to the party than the ‘Moors as they defeated them comfortably but something suggests that the real Donaghmore/Ashbourne weren’t seen that day We can expect fire and brimstone from them in this encounter after a week spent in the committee rooms debating the eligibility of one of their players in the quarter final Michael O’Sullivan will carry much of their scoring threat but he was kept quiet a month ago and Drumree will be looking to replicate this once more it’s difficult to see where a match winning tally will be built from David Reilly leads the Drumree attack from centre forward and his experience on the big day will be crucial while Keith Rooney at full back and Aidan Fraher at wing back will be other key men Help Centre | Privacy Policy | Cookies | Terms of Use A NEW sensory garden which was created by staff and transition year students of Ratoath College was officially opened last week the school's Special Class for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Ionad Arkle is based in a state of the art facility in the school's new building The garden was devised by teachers and transition year students working together and is designed to meet the needs of the students also strives to tackle the issue of climate change and environmental sustainability as well as awareness "It is a terrific space outside the classrooms If a student is overwhelmed they can go outside and enjoy the calm," said Cllr Nick Killian chairman of Louth Meath Education and Training Board The official opening of the garden was performed by Rory O'Connor of Rory's Stories who said that massive credit must go to those involved in the project for the part they have played in allowing future generations to be themselves "I have a young son on the autism spectrum and he is doing really well The people who make changes in this world are people who think outside the box "These people may struggle with normal things like getting dressed but the reason the universe is going in the right direction is because of the people who think outside the box," he said Reposing at her Parents Residence, Hurdlestown, Kells, A82 X6H0 from 4pm until 8pm this Wednesday evening and from 4pm until 8pm on Thursday evening. Requiem Mass at 11am, Friday morning, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Ratoath. Cremation afterwards at 1:30pm in Dardistown crematorium. Those unable to attend can follow Emma's Funeral Mass and cremation on the links attached. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Cremation / BurialDate Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday The former Kerry star will also have Nathan Gavigan as part of his backroom team Four-time All Ireland SFC winner with Kerry Paul Galvin will be at the helm of the three-time Meath SFC champions Ratoath in 2025 It was believed that former Donegal player Nathan Gavigan would be taking the reigns but the Sigerson Cup winner with DCU will now resume his coaching role with Ratoath a position that he held last year under Galvin's predecessor Lar Norton Galvin picked up numerous honours including four SFC All-Irelands seven SFC Munster titles and three All-Stars Galvin has previously managed the Wexford footballers and most recently he was a coach with Kilmacud Crokes under the current Meath manager After a disappointing quarter-final exit in 2024 Ratoath will be looking to bounce back to the levels that they were at in previous years having picked up three Meath senior titles in 2019 The granting of planning permission for a large residential development on the Ballybin Road in Ratoath has been appealed to an Bord Pleanála by local residents Meath County Council gave the green light to Marshall Yards Development Company Limited to build 130 new homes on a 13.5 acres site adjacent to Fox Lodge Manor The Glenveagh company had initially sought permission for 141 homes but in response to further information amended the proposal reducing the number of units to 130 Over 100 submissions were made on the plans raising a number of issues including concerns over changes to the open space in Fox Lodge Manor the design of the houses and the lack of passive surveillance The major issues for residents in the immediate vicinity and the wider general area was the impact the proposal would have on traffic with many fearing that the proposals would make the traffic situation even worse than it already is Part of the proposal would see the existing roundabout replaced with a four-arm signalised junction An appeal against the granting of planning permission has now been lodged with An Bord Pleanála on behalf of a number of Ballybin Road residents It outlines that their main concerns relate to traffic safety traffic congestion and sustainable transportation It also raised concerns about the lack of an environmental impact assessment in the context of significant road works and the proximity of the Ballybin LRD to a floodplain It states that any planning proposal should provide a partial or comprehensive solution to the traffic problems on the Ballybin Road as part of good planning practice but this proposal would “make the traffic problems worse” An appeal has also been lodged by Gillian Toole who was elected as a TD in Meath East in November She claims that the concerns of 133 residents including traffic congestion boundary wall removal and merger of open space She said there were no external transport consultations with the NTA or Bus Eireann on the road realignment which she says will exacerbate traffic delays She also asked that Bord Pleanála take account of the fact that the Ballybin Road serves all of South Meath and not just adjudicate in the context of Ratoath alone local councillor Nick Killian says locals are very concerned that the proposal will create further traffic delays for commuters and there are concerns about where the new bus stop will be located He said: “It is about the traffic and where the new bus stop will be placed There is a general widespread belief within the village that the new proposed road will result in the bus stop being placed somewhere that could cause traffic delays They are the concerns that many residents have been expressing to me it's more about the infrastructure out on the road We are very much aware that we have a very busy bus stop at present where the site is and that bus stop must be put in a safe place number one but also must be put in a place that doesn't delay or impede traffic particularly in the morning time when commuters are travelling to work in Dublin I am seeking a clarification from Glenveagh on this.” He said traffic in Ratoath is extremely busy and that last week commuters experienced delays of around 20 mins between the busiest hours 7.30 and 8.30am in the mornings “If a bus stop was put in the incorrect place That is the clarification I'm being asked about I'm more concerned about traffic movements through Ratoath village on the Ballybin road and out onto the Ashbourne Road Glenveagh have said they would do all in their power to assist in putting it in the appropriate place but it is not coming across clear in the planning application to me.” He feels Bord Pleanála has to be concerned about traffic movements and the impact the proposal could have on traffic in the area and the delays it could cause for commuters Meath County Council has granted planning permission for a residential development on the Ballybin Road in Ratoath on a site adjacent to Fox Lodge Manor Marshall Yards Development Company Limited lodged a planning application for 141 new home on the 13.5 acres site in July and more than 130 submissions were received by the council on the plans Residents of Fox Lodge Manor were opposed to plans to take down their boundary wall and amalgamate the open space in their estate with the open space in the proposed development Locals also feared traffic chaos if the existing roundabout which is relatively free-flowing is replaced with a signalised junction as proposed Other concerns raised in the submissions included the removal of mature trees and hedgerows the design of the houses and the lack of passive surveillance in some open space areas in the development Further information was requested on the plans on 28th August which was submitted on 17th October and as part of revised plans the number of units was reduced from 141 to 130 Addressing issues raised in further information the applicant omitted the two two-storey maisonette blocks in the north of the site six single-storey terraced dwellings were proposed The applicant also proposed to change the relationship between the northern and western boundaries of the scheme and existing dwellings in Fox Lodge Woods and Fox Lodge Manor Reasons were given in the further information regarding the proposed amalgamation of the public open space to the north with the existing residential development and the planner's report notes that support for same is in various policy documents A detailed planting regime was proposed and a pathway was proposed to delineate between the developments Planning permission has now been granted for 130 residential units subject to 35 conditions Among the conditions is that the development should be phased and that the childcare facility be constructed as part of the first phase It must be completed prior to the ccommencement of the 75th residential unit on the site Kevin Daly's Ratoath prevailed over Navan O'Mahonys at Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA Ratoath claimed their fourth Div 1 Minor title on Friday evening in Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA as they came out on top of Navan O’Mahonys Ratoath did look the stronger of the two sides for large parts of the contest but O’Mahonys battled hard and they were boosted by two goals one in either half which kept them within touching distance of the eventual victors Adam Ducie delivered two of the last three scores to see the men in blue and yellow over the line The early exchanges were nip and tuck with the two sides trading the first four scores Bobby Gaffney secured the pick of their early points with a long-range effort to leave the sides deadlocked at two points apiece after 13 minutes Ratoath did somewhat take control of the contest Adam Ducie who finished up with a fine tally of 0-9 contributed five of Ratoath’s first nine scores as they led 0-9 to 0-3 nearing the end of the opening 30 minutes Rian Porter and Navan O’Mahonys produced a sucker blow late on in the half with a goal which left only three points between the sides at the break Navan O’Mahonys did have some bright moments in that first half but on reflection eight wides in the opening 30 minutes was a key factor in their eventual demise Cian Hendricks got the scoring underway in the second-half before Cormac Nugent responded for the men in blue and white It was quite a while before Navan O’Mahonys registered another score as Ratoath upped their intensity and work rate The eventual winners rattled off the next five points to give them a healthy advantage heading into the final quarter Evan Dunne accounted for two points as did man of the match Ducie and Eoin Feldman also added to Ratoath's lead Navan O’Mahonys found themselves with an eight-point deficit to try and make up and they did make a fair stab at it Nugent rattled off three frees in succession to leave the scores sitting at 0-15 to 1-7 in favour of Ratoath A poor kickout gave Adam McEvoy the opportunity to burst through the Ratoath defence and he produced a wonderful finish to the back of the Ratoath net to only leave two points between the sides Porter would secure a free a few moments later to leave the minimum gap between the sides Ratoath responded well and their main man Ducie kicked the next two scores before Michael Cooper kicked an insurance point to seal the deal The referee’s final whistle came shortly after and Ratoath were confirmed as Div 1 minor champions for 2024 A PERSON often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it" is a saying that could not be more true for an actor from Ratoath who packed her bags and headed to Australia only to be cast in a major TV drama just weeks after arriving Down Under Maria Branagan says her earliest memories are of performing in her primary school play It was these experiences along with a stint in Ratoath Musical Society and the short-lived Meath Youth Musical Society that cemented her passion for the arts that would see her go on to perform alongside Paul Mescal and iconic US actor Jane Seymour in the TV series ‘Harry Wild’ and you consider the amount of lines she has to know and she sits there and she's just bashing out line after line after line with no issue at all And then as soon as post (production) was called she's straight down to the table that we all kind of gathered around and she was teaching us all to paint because she is an amazing artist We were all handed these white blank canvases and she had a load of watercolors in the middle of the table and she was teaching us how to paint I begged one of the guys who had two paintings if I could claim one as my own!" Maria also played the supporting role of Martha in Jack Armstrong’s feature which received three awards at the Cannes World Film Festival Despite some fantastic opportunities it was in late 2023 and after ten years of trying to crack the industry that Maria felt she wasn't in the place she had hoped to be and throwing caution to the wind decided to embark on her other calling - travelling However after "making peace" with putting acting to the side and flying Down Under the Ratoath actor got the call of her dreams confirming that she had been cast in a major TV crime drama "My earliest memories of performing was when I was six years old in Ratoath National School and I was cast as the witch in a Christmas play," remembers Maria "Now I don't know where a witch belongs in a Christmas play but she had a very kind of demonic haunting song that she sang to put people to sleep!" "And then as the years went on my mam put me in every stage school that was going I was in the Ratoath Musical Society and I was in the Meath Youth Musical Society set up by Gareth Mahoney My best years were in that society and I acted alongside Paul Mescal We were cast in Les Miserables together along with Tom Moran in the Solstice Arts Centre I actually owe so much to Gareth Mahoney because only for him you never would have got all the talents that we have now in the one place he really sought out the teenagers because we didn't really have a place to perform." After completing a BA in Theatre and Drama Studies and a full-time three month acting for screen course in Bow Street Academy along with securing some small gigs here and there we were writing scripts and skits and I was getting cast in the odd thing here and there "I wasn't really getting my foot in the door and then I got Harry Wild and I was so grateful but it wasn't the real gritty stuff that I wanted "So I literally woke up and I made peace with putting acting on the back burner and the other was to travel and see the world has always wanted to travel and he was so patient he was always rooting for me and then one day I woke up and I remember calling him and saying that I had booked flights to Australia and we are going in January and that was in the September and he was lost for words!" just weeks before Maria was due to fly to Australia talent agent and friend Cathy Ievers asked to put her on her books worked out the logistics," remembers the Ratoath actor geography was not on our side but because everything's gone online in this day and age you don't need to be in the room until maybe a couple of recalls after the first tape," she added "So we land in Sydney and we buy a van and we're trying to do the deal on a van and arrange an Australian kind of road trip thing and we hit the road and we're two hours into our journey a small town in New South Wales and got jobs on a solar farm "Cathy called me and said I've got a good tape for an Australia TV series Maria found out that she got the recall for Scrublands and they wanted her in Sydney the following Tuesday "I made it to Sydney where I met Kirsty MacGregor There was such a palpable sense of them rooting for you like they really wanted me to book the job." The Ratoath actor made it in one piece to Augusta - a seaside town in Western Australia where she spent two months filming "I actually remember rocking up to set the first day and I was doing my biggest most emotional scene and meeting everyone for the first time and my character's screaming and she's kicking up and I remember thinking this is so intimidating' but everyone was so welcoming I just got to hang out with cast and crew for dinner and travel around we did the wineries and whale watching and it really was amazing "And then we wrapped and I came straight back to the solar farm and then the next day you're thrust back into reality Scrublands is due to air later this month in Australia Goal blitzes in the opening and closing quarters proved decisive as hugely impressive Dunshaughlin stormed into the SFC semi-finals with a rousing 4-9 to 0-15 victory over Ratoath in Pairc Tailteann this evening Ratoath troubled the scoreboard operator on more occasions than their opponents but a brace of goals from the electric Luke Mitchell and superb finishes from Mathew Costello and Conor Duke ensured Dunshaughlin were victorious After suffering the heartbreak of losing out to Ratoath with a last second goal in last year's quarter-final Dunshaughlin were determined not to suffer the same fate this time around They started like a whirlwind and while Ratoath were far from their fluid best Dunshaughlin took full advantage and were probably more comfortable than the six-point winning margin suggests who scored eight goals in their final group game against Rathkenny would stretch Dunshaughlin's rearguard proved unfounded as Tim O'Sullivan didn't really have a save to make behind his well-organised and manful defence That defensive resolve was a 15-man effort with everyone putting their shoulder to the wheel to limit Ratoath and force them into some very wayward shooting from distance With a staunch defence to build on Dunshaughlin had the platform to cut loose in attack and while only two of them scored more than once it was the devastating return of 3-8 between Luke Mitchell and Mathew Costello that proved crucial Dunshaughlin pinpointed a number of areas to attack Ratoath and the long ball into the heart of their defence was priority number one - and it worked a treat It took less than a minute for Dunshaughlin to unlock Ratoath's rearguard with Costello's long probing ball drifting in behind Conor McGill and falling into the hands of Mitchell who finished brilliantly Points from Mitchell and Costello (free) sandwiched a reply from Ratoath's best player Jack Flynn but in the 13th minute Dunshaughlin benefitted from a stroke of luck when referee David Coldrick missed two hops by Aaron Murphy before he set up Mitchell for his and Dunshaughlin's second goal With a seven-point cushion Dunshaughlin managed the rest of the half superbly with Costello (free) and Murphy trading scores with McMahon and Daithi McGowan (two Frees from Costello and Mitchell stretched Dunshaughlin's lead within four minutes of the restart McMahon responded for Ratoath but Dunshaughlin continued to threaten goals as Conor Duke hit the post Ratoath gave themselves hope with four of the next five points from Eamon Wallace Flynn and Cian Rogers in response to a Costello free to close the gap to 0-9 to 2-7 early in the final quarter Costello and Rogers exchanged points before Dunshaughlin then put the game to bed when Costello rounded Cian O'Farrell for his side's third goal and then two minutes later Duke palmed to the net to make it 4-8 to 0-10 but the clearcut chances never arose and even though O'Reilly (free) Joey Wallace and Rogers added points it was wasn't enough as Mitchell and Joey Wallace exchanged the closing points before Dunshaughlin celebrated their sweet revenge and immediately turned their focus to a semi-final Dunshaughlin - Tim O'Sullivan; Niall Byrne Eamon Wallace (0-1); Jack Flynn (0-3 one '45') Joey Wallace (0-2) for Rooney both half-time Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels) A new €19m reservoir and upgraded water network to enhance security and resilience of water supply in Co Meath has been completed by Uisce Éireann The works involved construction of a new elevated treated water storage reservoir on site at Windmill Hill along with the installation of 7km of new water mains from the reservoir site to Ratoath This key infrastructure for the area has significantly increased capacity providing up to 24-hour storage; improving water supply security and resilience for existing homes and businesses in Ratoath Kilbride and Ashbourne; as well as improving water pressure It also provides for the future with sufficient capacity for forecasted population growth and future housing and economic developments in the area Uisce Éireann’s Infrastructure Delivery Director joined Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council along with local councillors at an event at Windmill Reservoir Also in attendance were representatives from Meath County Council who delivered the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann Infrastructure Delivery Director with Uisce Éireann said: “I’m delighted to celebrate the completion of this milestone project for the East Meath area Delivery of this project was essential to enhance the security and resilience of the water supply to local communities as well as provide the necessary capacity to support future growth and development “It is just one of a number of strategically important investments Uisce Éireann are making in Co Meath ensuring we deliver critical infrastructure that will enable communities to thrive now and into the future.” “On behalf of Uisce Éireann I would like to thank everybody involved for their hard work and collaboration in delivering this project Works on this scale are disruptive for the community and I want to thank people for their patience and co-operation while we completed this vital project.” Meath County Council Cathaoirelach Sharon Tolan added: “The importance of providing a secure water supply for a thriving community cannot be underestimated This project not only supports current development but also lays a strong foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity in East Meath into the future “A water network that is fit for purpose is essential to support future growth and development and the successful completion of this project will do just that and is a testament to the collaboration and dedication to everyone involved in this project." commented that the new works have been operational since August 2024 “Uisce Éireann and Meath County Council are extremely pleased with the immediate water supply improvements that the new reservoir and pipeline have brought to the Ratoath and Ashbourne areas I would like to take the opportunity to complement the entire project team the contractor and the community for their co-operation in the delivery of this critical infrastructure.” The three time Meath SFC champions are about to appoint their fifth manager in six years is set to take over as Ratoath's senior football manager for 2025 It is believed that a few formalities still need to be settled but that Gavigan will soon be appointed as the new manager of the side that has won three of the last six Meath senior championships The 28 year old is the son of Martin 'Rambo' Gavigan who won an All Ireland with Donegal in 1992 Nathan Gavigan won a Sigerson Cup with DCU and repersented Donegal at underage level Gavigan's promising career was cut short due to numerous injuries he played his last year of football with Offaly side Doon Gavigan was part of the backroom team for DCU when they won their fifth freshers All- Ireland title in nine years early last year The DCU side that started in that victorious final against University of Ulster included Ratoath's Liam Corbett and St Peter's Jack Kinlough The Donegal man then joined Lar Norton's backroom team as a coach for Ratoath for the 2024 SFC campaign Gavigan is now set to succeed Norton in the hot seat for 2025 and will be hoping to guide Ratoath back to glory after a dissapointing quarter-final exit this year Mar 6, 2025 | , , More about Clubs & Facilities More about Coaches & Officials More about Get Involved More about High Performance closeMenu() { this.menuOpen = false; this.searchOpen = false; this.enableBodyScroll(); } this.menuOpen; this.searchOpen = false; this.menuOpen this.disableBodyScroll() : this.enableBodyScroll(); } this.searchOpen; this.menuOpen = false; this.searchOpen disableBodyScroll() { document.body.classList.add(...this.menuOpenClasses); } enableBodyScroll() { document.body.classList.remove(...this.menuOpenClasses); } Clonliffe Harriers AC (Men’s) and Ratoath AC (Women’s) claimed the AAI National Indoor League titles today (February 8th) at the TUS International Arena in Athlone Tokyo Olympians Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers) and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) also starred in the guest races held after the conclusion of the league Ratoath AC comfortably won the women’s league title with several impressive performances throughout the session Chief amongst them was the efforts of their 4x400m relay team of Niamh Murphy Katie Doherty and Aisling Stratford who combined to win that event in 3:55.32 The aforementioned Doherty was second overall in the 200m (25.05) Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC) winning in 24.98 The men’s competition was a much tighter affair with Clonliffe Harriers narrowly edging out fellow Dublin club Dundrum South Dublin AC Sean Cronin produced an impressive performance in the Men’s 3000m to finish second in 8:33.70 just behind Raheny Shamrock’s Juan Ignacio Pena (8:32.67) Clonliffe’s Niall Allen won the Weight for Distance with a best throw of 6.59m to claim an all-important victory for his club Tokyo Olympians Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers) and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) stormed to new indoor personal bests in the afternoon session who was part of the Irish mixed 4x400m relay team who won bronze at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas last May This moves him up to seventh on the Irish indoor all-time list for the event Lawler raced in the guest 200m and won his race in a new indoor best of 20.80 That moves the Carlow native to joint third on the Irish indoor all-time list alongside Paul Hession Over 60m both Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley AC) and Gabriel Kehinde (Nenagh Olympic AC) recorded two victories before lowering that time to 7.38 later in the day Kehinde’s two winning times were both 6.80 Laurence O’Toole AC) claimed victory in the Women’s 60m Hurdles in 8.38 In the Women’s 200m Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers) clocked 24.54 to win ahead of Aoife Lynch of Donore Harriers (24.76) Meabh Corkery (Midleton AC) was a convincing winner of the Women’s Pole Vault clearing 3.35m while the Men’s Triple Jump was won by Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC Sign-up for the Athletics Ireland E-Zine with exclusive interviews This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website the site benefits from dual frontage onto both Commons Lane and Fairyhouse Road At a time when the amount of land available for development for industrial and employment purposes in Dublin is dwindling a tranche of 21.2 acres has come on the market on the outskirts of Ratoath Coonan Property is guiding €250,000 per acre equating to a total of €5.3m for the lands They are zoned E2: General Enterprise and Employment in the 2021 to 2027 Meath County Development Plan which allows a range of uses The County Development Plan says the objective of lands zoned E2 is “to provide for the creation of enterprise and facilitate opportunities for employment through industrial warehousing and other general employment/enterprise uses in a good quality physical environment” the site benefits from dual frontage onto both Commons Lane and Fairyhouse Road and the latter leads to the M3 which in turn connects with the M50 The M3 motorway and Pace railway station are accessible at Dunboyne and the M2 motorway is accessible in Ashbourne Ratoath has over 10,000 residents according to the 2022 census and amenities in the town include schools Home to the nationally renowned Fairyhouse racecourse and Tatterstalls Ireland MSD and Kilsaran all have branches just outside the town The broader area has a proven record of industrial and enterprise use including the nearby Ashbourne Industrial and Business Parks Bracetown Business Park and Dunshaughlin Business Park Recent research by Cushman & Wakefield indicated that the quantum of available industrial and commercial space had fallen to just 4.9pc of the total existing stock Development activity continues to remain muted due partly to the lack of suitably zoned and serviced sites with just 99,600 square metres of space currently under construction – 38pc of this space is already pre-let Several factors are contributing to the shortage including demand for residential development and higher density requirements on lands located within Dublin city boundary the industrial sector has proven one of the strongest in the market Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel LEINSTER CLUB IHC Meath champions face daunting task long wait for a SHC in their own county Ratoath seek to break new ground when they embark on their inaugural Leinster Club IHC campaign in Aughrim on Saturday (1.30pm) - but the odds Mike Cole's side travel to take on Bray Emmets a team who have become familiar to at least some players from Meath in recent years Some of Bray's players have played for Wicklow against Meath in the past and in 2022 the Emmets overcame Trim in the Leinster Club Intermediate final Now the the Garden County champions will be looking to get the better of Ratoath who defeated the Trim men in the county final a few weeks ago to win the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 1963 The Ratoath players no doubt celebrated that achievement with gusto - as they had every right to do - but now their mindsets must be attuned back to the serious task of trying to make some inroads in the provincial competition They will certainly need to be in the zone to get the better of a very accomplished Wicklow side There's not only the fact they defeated Trim in the Leinster final two years ago there is also the reality that a month ago they won the Wicklow SHC - for the sixth successive year They might not be in the same league (who is?) of the all-conquering Ballygunner who recently won an 11th successive Waterford SHC crown but to bag six successive senior titles in any county context is one of those achievements that should spark alarm in the ranks of anyone hoping to do them down To score 23 points suggests too they have the players to land big scores from distance although they were greatly helped in chalking up their final victory over Carnew by one of their more experienced and accomplished performers - Christy Moorehouse - who helped himself to 12 points Every team needs an eagle-eyed marksman and the Bray side have such an asset in Moorehouse so Ratoath will need to be very cognisant of not coughing up needless frees - or indeed ANY frees Bray have a celebrated half-back line in Luke Maloney John Henderson and Daire Henderson but the fact they conceded four goals in that county final may suggest a certain vulnerability Can Ratoath make the most of such perceived weaknesses Mark Lennon and Ronan McMahon are just some of the other accomplished players the Emmets can look to when they need something to get themselves to the next level their own coterie of players capable of conjuring up big plays in pressurised situations with Podge O'Hanrahan the task facing the Meath champions compounded by the fact they have to travel for the game Emmets are hardened campaigners at this level and are most likely of the two teams to progress Golden Ticket hidden in one bar will win hamper and coffee prize at Café Novello There is a new chocolate offering in town with the official launch of Schwizz Chocolate at Café Novello in Ratoath Schwizz is a fun chocolate brand introduced to the Irish market by Ratoath’s own Michelle Regazzoli Stone and her family “We started as chocolate lovers who wanted something sourced in Ireland,” said Regazzoli Stone “The name itself was just a positive word a friend and I used to describe things we enjoyed - with Schwizz we just wanted to keep that positivity going” she continued The family-owned chocolate brand describe themselves as a company for chocolate lovers and also incorporates their renowned freeze dried candy balls Those in attendance at the prosecco and chocolate reception were some of the first to try the entire Schwizz Chocolate collection as Café Novello is now the first retail location in Ireland to stock the Schwizz brand The entire range of Schwizz Chocolates and ‘candies’ can be found on display at the front of the café Café Novello have collaborated with many locally owned businesses before such as the Meath-based Ariosa Coffee Roasting Company who supply Café Novello with their much craved-after coffee beans just days after being freshly roasted and the family-owned Kahuna Pops Ireland's original handmade popsicle company Café Novello also offers ‘Pizza Saturdays’ using locally sourced Batch #10 pizza dough produced in Ashbourne from Irish flour and ‘Açaí Sundays’ incorporating freshly prepared fruit with authentic Brazilian açaí The news that the family owned Schwizz Bars would now available in Café Novello was met with delight on launch night with parents and children alike raving about the chocolates and the freeze-dried candies Favourites with many customers were the Salted chocolate bar and the Poppin’ chocolate bar At the event the ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion was announced by café owner Russell Bailey One bar of Schwizz Chocolate sold at Café Novello from Friday 18th April will conceal an elusive golden ticket granting its recipient a Schwizz Bar Hamper featuring the entire Schwizz collection and a free coffee every day for a month at Café Novello “We’re looking forward to the excitement of working with a new brand and particularly the anticipation of someone finding the golden ticket” said café owner Russell Bailey With the number of positive reviews on the night of the launch it’s safe to say that Schwizz Bars at Café Novello will be going down a treat Jan 17, 2025 | , , , , resources permitting; Road at Newtownmoyaghey still under review by Transportation Planning and Design No further update available since September; Road sweeper contractor ongoing in the district; Culvert repaired on Kilsaran Road A controversial stoppage-time penalty decision went Ratoath's way as they were crowned Meath senior hurling champions for the first time since 1963 Referee Conor Ferguson appeared to signal for a Trim penalty in the 64th minute after James Toher was hauled to the ground who overcame Ratoath in the 2020 and 2022 deciders trailed by two points at that stage having fought back from a seven-point deficit earlier in the half But following consultation with his match officials referee Ferguson ultimately awarded a free in for Trim and whilst James Murray still had the opportunity to snipe a match-winning goal flew wide and Ferguson then blew for full-time clearing Ratoath to celebrate a two-point win and their first county title in 61 years Ferguson was booed by Trim supporters as he and his match officials left the field prompting Ratoath fans to respond with cheers of their own for the Kells club man It will go down as a famous win for Ratoath following losses in three of the four previous county finals Daithi and Gavin - all played central roles in the landmark win Team captain Jack hit Ratoath's first goal in the opening half helping the Donal Franks coached Brownstown outfit to lead by 1-10 to 0-7 at half-time Daithi struck their second goal in the 57th minute while Gavin Ratoath will play Wicklow senior champions Bray Emmets in a Leinster IHC quarter-final on November 16 Kerry will face Clare and Cork play Tipperary You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here The Ratoath Municipal District 2024 Pride of Place awards were conducted at Dunboyne Castle Hotel on Thursday The Cathaoirleach of Ratoath Municipal District expressed his honour in welcoming the thirty-six groups participating in the awards ceremony He emphasised the presence of various diverse groups and organisations throughout the district that selflessly offer a wide array of services across multiple sectors These entities play a vital role in supporting their respective communities and often provide essential services that the local authority may be unable to deliver conveyed her delight that the awards constituted her inaugural event in her new role She articulated the significance of the Pride of Place initiative noting that it fosters and promotes community engagement and development while facilitating collaboration between the Council and local communities Fallon commended the dedication and efforts of the community groups over the past year remarking that all nominated entities exemplify the strong community spirit prevalent throughout Meath each committed to enacting positive civic change within their locales She extended her gratitude to all groups for their invaluable contributions Feb 16, 2025 | , , A man with a Ratoath address has appeared in court charged with fraudulently claiming Covid PUP payments Ratoath was prosecuted by the Minister for Social Protection for providing false information on or about 22nd March 2020 about his employment status and earnings for the purpose of establishing entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance (known as Covid- 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments) for himself in contravention of Section 25(1)(a)(i) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 A lawyer for the Minister told Navan District Court that the defendant had earnings of €200,000 in that particular year the defendant had purchased three properties for cash during that year The total fraudulently claimed was €29,400 It was stated that he had no previous convictions Judge Eirinn McKiernan said that the offence was a very serious one The claims had been made by the defendant at a time when people were dying of Covid She said she would give defendant a short time to pay back the money and if he did not then he was looking at a custodial sentence She told barrister Maeve McCabe for the defence that her client would have to make a very considerable offer of compensation if he was to be left without a conviction More than 130 submissions were lodged with Meath County Council in relation to a controversial planning application for 141 homes at the Ballybin Road in Ratoath Concerned locals have also held a number of meetings in relation the plans by Marshall Yards Development Company Limited for the site which is adjacent to Fox Lodge Manor Residents of Fox Lodge Manor are opposed to plans to take down their boundary wall and amalgamate the open space in their estate with the open space in the proposed development Locals also fear traffic chaos if the existing roundabout which is relatively free-flowing is replaced with a signalised junction as proposed Other concerns include the removal of mature trees and hedgerows Meath County Council planners recently requested further information on the planning application and the applicant now has six months in which to respond Marshall Yards Development Company Limited is seeing permission to build 141 homes on a 13.5 acres site which is located to the east of the town centre with access proposed from the R125 to the south and the Ballybin Road to the east Also forming part of the proposal is the realignment of the Ballybin Road and the creation of a new signalised junction with the R125 The planning application seeks permission for the demolition of two houses and an agricultural shed and the construction of 141 residential dwellings with a gross floor area of 12,428 square metres in buildings of two and three storeys The homes include 117 houses made up of 57 two-bed as well as 24 duplex units made up of 18 one-bed units and six three-beds units Also included in the proposal are 228 car parking spaces; cycle parking spaces; communal amenity space and private amenity space (as rear gardens and terraces/balconies facing multiple directions); demolition of the wall at the north-west corner of the site interfacing with Fox Lodge Manor and the amalgamation of existing public open space in the estate and proposed public open space Residents in the area have objected to the proposal on several grounds and a total of 133 submissions were made Many are against the proposal to replace the existing roundabout with a four arm signalised junction fearing it will cause traffic congestion on what is a relatively free-flowing route while a plan to amalgamate the open space in neighbouring Fox Lodge Manor with the open space in the proposed development has also proven controversial Local councillor Gillian Toole is among those who made a submission She said one of the most contentious elements is the realignment of the R125 and the proposal to replace the roundabout at the entrance of the new Glenveagh site with a four way signal controlled junction She pointed out that the traffic modelling in relation to this was done before the Ratoath outer relief road opened and said that this has not been taken into consideration “Ratoath is also funnelling traffic from Skryne and Navan and North Co Dublin to Intel and there is a lot of commuter traffic so it is important that it flows.” She said there is also a very busy bus stop which currently has a slip road into it but it is now proposed to put it on the road which she said would cause traffic delays when the bus stops to pick up passengers Cllr Toole also said that a primary concern for many is the proposal to take out the boundary wall with Foxlodge Manor and merge the open space there with the open space requirement for the new development Many feel the housing density per acre is too high for Ratoath and that the infrastructure is not there while concerns were also raised in the submissions about the lack of passive surveillance in some of the open space areas Other points raised included the removal of mature trees and hedgerows the design of the houses and car parking provision Hot favourites Ratoath came away from Pairc Tailteann with a facile victory over Rathkenny in this Fairyhouse Steel sponsored Meath Senior Football Championship Group D Round Three game played last Sunday evening Last year’s beaten finalists stormed out of the blocks with a point after 48 seconds from Cian Rogers He followed this up with a major with less than two minutes on the clock the lead was extended to five points when Padraic Byrne sent over from play Rathkenny popped over their first score from a David Curtis free on six minutes From the resultant kickout Rathkenny turned over possession and Keith Curtis sent over his first of the evening Daithí McGowan added Ratoath’s third point of the evening before Charlie Cullen saved from a Ratoath attack Rathkenny then had a blocked shot from Max McKenna that Daniel Gavagan attempted to flick past the Ratoath netminder who reacted smartly to save Keith Curtis sent over on ten minutes for Rathkennys third point Charlie Cullen produced another good save for Rathkenny as he sent a ball out for a 45 Jack Flynn sent over the subsequent 45 and Ratoath were up by four with twelve minutes on the clock Keith Curtis sent over Rathkennys fourth point from a 14th minute free Ratoath’s Conor Rooney popped over his sides fifth point as the first quarter showed a four-point gap between the sides Keith Curtis sent over his fourth score of the day with a close in free Ratoath extended the lead through Cian Rogers on 17 minutes before Keith Curtis reduced the lead once more with a free Ratoath’s Padraic Byrne made it 1-7 to 0-6 before Rathkenny half forward Daniel Gavagan sent over a great score from 45 metres out on the right near the terrace to reduce the gap back to three with eight minutes left of the half Centre forward Glen O’Reilly made it a four-point game once again before Cian Rogers found the net for Ratoath ninety seconds later and the gap was out to seven points Keith Curtis sent over his sixth score of the half from a free with four minutes remaining in the half In those remaining minutes Charlie Cullen produced another great save before Eamon Wallace and Daithí McGowan sent over to leave it 2-10 to 0-08 when referee Padraic Coyle blew for the break.  Rathkennys chief scorer Keith Curtis reduced the arrears two minutes into the resumption from play before a blitz of 2-3 from Ratoath as much as ended this as a contest A Jack Flynn point was followed by one from Conor Rooney before Rooney then Flynn both found the net Daithí McGowan adding the next point and the lead had now been stretched to 16 Keith Curtis added his eight point of the day from a free before finishing his and Rathkennys account with a point from play on 42 minutes Ratoath then went on a scoring spree when adding 4-6 in the final 17 minutes Conor Rooney with the goals and Cian Rogers Eamon Wallace and substitute Bobby O’Brien with the points Following the draw for the Quarter final pairings Ratoath will play Dunshaughlin while Rathkenny will face Na Fianna in the relegation playoffs Rathkenny – Charlie Cullen; Sean O’Hare Subs – Niall Branigan for Corbin Jenkinson (h/t) Ratoath – Cian O’Farrell; Padraic Byrne (0-3) Cian O’Brien (1-0); Daithí McGowan (1-3) Dublin and Former Club Captain of Coolmine RFC) beloved husband of the late Maria passed away suddenly on the 20th January 2025 in Portugal Declan leaves behind his cherished children Erika Cremation / Burial.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: Lar Norton's Ratoath never looked like losing the second round contest GAA fanatics around the county who believed that Ratoath were dead and buried after their shock first-round loss should now be afraid The three-time champions bounced back with a 0-16 to 0-11 win over Trim on Saturday evening in Summerhill The score-line slightly flatters Paul Clarke’s Trim side and after Ratoath secured the first six points Trim failed to ever get within four points of last year’s finalists Ratoath crucially built up their lead early on and while they weren’t faultless they did on the whole manage the game well and always kept Trim at arms-length Trim were very wasteful in front of the posts and a significant wide tally was permeated by pure woeful attempts at finding the posts Many of Trim’s opportunities were gifted to them by Ratoath men being caught out in possession or running into trouble This is something that Lar Norton will have to address if Ratoath are going to regain the Meath SFC Ratoath were boosted by the return of Eamon Wallace and Jack Fynn Wallace in particular was hugely influential in the contest as Ratoath showed massive improvement in the space of two weeks They have risen from the dead and are still very much alive in the hunt for the Keegan Cup Bryan McMahon opened the scoring for Ratoath before Glenn O’Reilly expertly intercepted a wayward Trim pass and split the posts to give Ratoath an early two-point lead While Trim struggled to calibrate their aim Ratoath’s attack flourished and two Cian Rogers’ points came either side of an Eamon Wallace score McMahon put Ratoath six up before Sean Fitzgerald finally got Trim up and running in the 19th minute Further points from O’Reilly and Wallace extended Ratoath’s lead before the former traded frees with Aaron Lynch Jack Flynn found himself caught out in possession and this led to Trim breaking at pace before substitute James Murray finished the move to reduce the gap back to six Trim almost brought themselves right back into contention when some good link-up play between Sean Fitzgerald and Conor Quigley eventually led to Tadgh Carty finding the back of the Ratoath net the referee disallowed the goal for a square ball offence Lynch sent over his second free and third point before Ratoath responded with the last two points of the opening 30 minutes courtesy of Glenn O’Reilly and Conor Rooney Ratoath held a commanding 0-11 to 0-4 lead McMahon opened the scoring in the second-half before Lynch secured three points on the bounce in as many minutes O’Reilly then settled the ship before Trim reduced the gap back to four with two frees courtesy of half-time sub-David Lernihan The third quarter had proven to be a fruitful one for Trim and they had outscored Ratoath 0-5 to a point Two points from McMahon kept Ratoath ticking over though and they entered the final five minutes with a six-point lead over their rivals Ratoath were reduced to 14 men for the closing stages when the influential Eamon Wallace was given his marching orders for a second yellow offence Ratoath needed Ciaran O Fearaigh to pull off a fantastic block to keep a green flag from being potentially raised all Trim could muster up was two more points from Lernihan and a Ben McGowan point concluded proceedings Subs - Ben McGowan (0-1) for Darragh Kelly 42m Fairstone Ireland has taken another significant step in its expansion journey by welcoming Financial Architects into its growing network this strategic partnership marks Fairstone Ireland’s seventh acquisition reinforcing its position as a leading provider of financial planning and wealth management services across the country expressed his excitement about this latest partnership highlighting the immense value it brings to clients in Meath and beyond and the entire Financial Architects team is a pivotal moment for us This move strengthens our commitment to delivering top-tier financial planning solutions across Ireland and accelerates our vision of becoming the nation’s premier wealth management firm As the financial landscape grows more complex we are dedicated to providing expert guidance and tailored solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs.” joining Fairstone represents an exciting opportunity for both his team and their clients and client-first approach align perfectly with our core values This partnership empowers us to enhance our bespoke financial planning services and continue delivering exceptional value to those we serve.” Financial Architects has built a stellar reputation for providing personalised financial advisory services and businesses achieve financial security with confidence This collaboration builds on Fairstone Ireland’s momentum following a highly successful 2024 during which it partnered with six other broker firms Fairstone Group’s total Assets Under Management (AUM) now exceed €1.7 billion—a remarkable achievement that underscores its rapid growth and industry leadership Fairstone’s expanding footprint in Ireland Since its entry into the Irish market in 2022 through the acquisition of PAX Financial—the powerhouse behind the market-leading 'askpaul' brand—Fairstone Ireland has experienced unprecedented growth Through both organic expansion and strategic partnerships with Carey Financial the firm has firmly established itself as a major player in Ireland’s financial services landscape the Fairstone Group is one of the UK’s fastest-growing financial services firms with a presence in over 60 locations and annual fee income exceeding £130 million The group offers a comprehensive suite of services With a team of over 1,250 professionals managing £17 billion in client funds across the UK and Ireland Fairstone continues to redefine financial planning excellence With an ambitious growth strategy and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional financial services Fairstone is poised to set new benchmarks in 2025 and beyond The transformation of Financial Architects into Fairstone Ratoath is more than just a name change—it’s a promise of enhanced service and a future-focused approach to financial planning clients can expect world-class financial solutions designed to help them navigate an ever-changing economic landscape with confidence and clarity Paul Galvin will be a familiar sight on the sidelines in Meath during the coming season after the former Kerry star was yesterday confirmed the new manager of the Ratoath Senior footballers. The four times All-Ireland winner will have former Donegal player Nathan Gavigan working alongside him as team coach - Gavigan fulfilled a similar role last season under previous boss Lar Norton was most recently a coach with Kilmacud Crokes under current Meath manager Robbie Brennan He was also previously part of Glenn Ryan's backroom team in Kildare The new Ratoath boss will have the task of trying to win the club a 4th Keegan Cup following their previous successes in 2019 The triumphant Gorey Community School squad with their mentors Katie Hughes smashed home a 69th-minute winner as Gorey Community School claimed the Leinster Junior Girls Division 1 League title in Greystones on Friday The game appeared to be heading for extra-time with just 70 seconds of normal time remaining when Kate Hendy’s corner from the left evaded all Gorey attackers in the middle of the six-yard box before falling to Hughes SoccerWexford Football League: Two-horse race for the Premier Division crownPremier Division Mar 29, 2025 | , The death of a 68-year-old woman in a single-vehicle road accident in the centre of Ratoath last Summer was the subject of an inquest conducted at Trim Courthouse by Coroner for Co Meath Nathaniel Lacy Tara died in the incident on 10th June 2024 Dunshaughlin Garda Station told the inquest that on the date in question at 12.10am he was on patrol with Garda Moroney when they got a call on the radio about a serious single-vehicle accident in the Main Street They went to the scene to assist Ashbourne Gardai who were already there He said he found a black Volkswagen Golf on its side in the middle of the road Paramedic Liam Perry was there and attempts were made to resuscitate Ms Reilly Ms Reilly’s body was later identified by her husband Bernard The Garda said that the road there had the appearance of a chicane The first “strike” came when it appeared the car had failed to take the chicane In a statement read to the inquest by the coroner Bernard Reilly said that that day had been a very normal one for Patricia She had gone shopping and then was preparing to meet friends in the Sibin Restaurant in Dunshaughlin later in the day He said that his wife had been diagnosed with a heart problem in 2023 Professor Muna Sabah who carried out a post mortem in the deceased said that there was evidence of coronary heart disease She had suffered an aneurysm but she was unable to say whether this occurred before the accident or on the impact The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to natural causes and he and Inspector Alan Roughneen extended their sympathy to the family of the deceased Skryne came out on top over last years finalists Ratoath by two points Bookies favourites for the championship Ratoath were stunned by Skryne in round one of the Meath SFC in Donaghmore Ashbourne on Sunday afternoon Skryne were by far the better side throughout and fully deserved the two-point win Mick O’Dowd has made a huge impact on this Skryne outfit and his side has improved in leaps and bounds since the former Meath manager took the reigns when these two sides last met in championship action Skryne side defeat a Ratoath side that looked void of ideas and were not in any way reflective of the Ratoath side that we have come to expect over the last number of years Skryne got off to a flying start with points from Shane Smyth Conor O’Brien and a free from Neil Burke which gave the men in blue an early three-point lead Cian O’Brien eventually got Ratoath off the mark in the seventh minute Burke added two more points to Skyne’s tally on either side of a Cian Rogers score Dathi McGowan’s successful 45 kept Ratoath in touch before Darragh Campion rattled off two points in succession to send Skyrne in at the break with a four-point advantage Ratoath had a five-minute spell at the start of the second quarter where they had started to look a bit dangerous Skryne were playing much better football for the majority of that first half Glenn O’Reilly and Neil Burke traded scores early in the second half Ratoath had made some silly errors throughout the contest but the standout mistake came when the Ratoath net-minder Cian O’Farrell took too long taking a kick out and the ref blew for a hop ball From that Harry Rooney was able to win the hop ball and slot it over the bar to give Skryne a five-point lead he made amends a minute later when pulling off a brilliant save to deny Neil Burke a goal opportunity Ratoath started to make inroads at the start of the final quarter and they secured five points without response Cian Rogers and Conor Rooney both added two points to Ratoaths tally and half-time substitute Joey Wallace also added his name to the scoresheet Skryne had gone 20 minutes without a score but eventually Darragh Campion settled the ship and edged Skryne one point ahead once more The defining moment came a moment later when Campion got on the end of a well-worked Skryne move to finish to the back of the Ratoath net Skryne now held a four-point lead heading into injury time and despite the best efforts of Glenn O’Reilly Sunday’s contest completely changed the complexion of group D as many would have assumed that Ratoath would cruise to the top spot and that Skryne would be battling for second with Trim and Rathkenny Skryne are now in pole position to top the group after this massive victory Controversial conclusion to engrossing SHC decider After 61 years Ratoath were crowned SHC champions in Pairc Tailteann today Many believed that this final would be an absolute cracker and it certainly didn't disappoint A late decision from the referee could have gone either way but the fact that remains is that Ratoath are deserving winners of the clash having been the much stronger side for large parts of the contest Trim started the game well and held an early five-point advantage after 15 minutes Points from Gavin McGowan and Sean Corbett drew Ratoath level Podge O'Hanrahan and James Murray traded scores before Ratoath delivered a killer blow in the form of a Jack McGowan goal with eight minutes left in the first half Ratoath scored the last four points of the half two from Gavin McGowan and one apiece from Liam Kelly and O'Hanrahan to give themselves a six-point advantage of 1-10 to 0-7 at the break The sides traded scores again early in the second half with Murray and David Murtagh contributing for Trim O'Hanranhan and Corbett hit back for Ratoath but a mix-up with a puck out led to momentum shifting massively James Murray claimed Ratoath's puckout deep into their territory and drove at Gearoid Crowley's goal The ball fell loose and landed at the feet of Alan Douglas who buried it to the back of the Ratoath net to reduce the gap back to four Further points followed from Joey Cole and Conor Quigley before O'Hanrahan secured a settler in the form of a long-range free A long Ratoath ball landed nicely for Daithi McGowan deep in Trim's half and he burst forward to finish to the back of the Trim net to put Ratoath five up in the contest once more Quigley and Douglas brought the gap back to two with very little time on the clock Trim went in search of a goal and James Toher found himself very close to the Ratoath rectangle when he was fouled Firstly the referee signalled for a penalty the ref decided that Toher was fouled outside of the rectangle and a free was awarded Ratoath fans were delighted when Murray's effort from the free was blocked and the final whistle sounded which meant that Ratoath were crowned senior hurling champions for 2024 Subs - Gearoid Crowley for Colm O'Riordan 16m * SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE BIG GAME AND DETAILED ANALYSIS Prospective buyers in the new Wellfield development in Ratoath have spoken of their frustration over the lack of communication on when they will be getting the keys to their new homes and the stress the delay is causing them Some buyers put down deposits last November and were told their homes would be ready in July/August but there is still no firm date for when they can expect to move in The latest information suggests that the first homes will be ready in November one prospective buyer said they are being told multiple dates by multiple different people Wellfield is a new development being built by Kingscroft at Jamestown The same developer is behind the Bailey Hill development in Navan where prospective buyers experienced similar issues as highlighted by this newspaper earlier this year John Walsh put down a deposit last November on a three-bedroom semi-detached house costing €455,000 in Wellfield and said that initially they were told June/July for a moving-in date They are renting in Ratoath and John said they are"on borrowed time" and fear they could be left without a roof over their heads Our landlord gave six months notice last May as they wanted to sell the house and we told them we had a deposit down on a house and asked for an extension." John said their landlord had been very fair and gave them an extension- at that stage they thought their house would be ready in July and they had hoped maybe sooner The other headache is that their mortgage approval is due to run out in October producing more bank statements and making the application again John said he had been on to the agents and there were no updates Would-be residents have come together and set up a Facebook page Then someone got in touch with Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline and all of a sudden last week we had a phone call saying there was a delay due to labour issues because of the weather "Then we were told the ESB was the problem but someone was on to the ESB and they said they were waiting for work to be done before they could do their bit." Construction sources suggest it could be January before the houses are ready said communication from Kingscroft had been non-existent after his contract was signed and that while he understands there can be delays he said the lack of communication is "frankly unacceptable" I work locally so I have been living out of a suitcase during the week staying on friends' sofas and then going back to stay with my mother in New Ross at the weekends." He also fears losing his mortgage approval because of the delays Another issue for him is that there isn't a showhouse ready and he hasn't been able to get into his house to measure up and get a sense of the rooms to plan ahead and order furniture which generally has a long lead in time He said the whole process has been "mentally draining" Meath East TD Darren O'Rourke said: "It is hugely frustrating for the buyers I was up at the site on Thursday and there was very little activity on it It doesn't look like it is a busy construction site There has been some slippage in terms of the commitment given to the buyers For those who may be availing of the help to buy scheme Deputy O'Rourke added that there appeared to be a "bit of a pattern" following a similar situation with delays over the Bailey Hill development in Navan Kingscroft has been contacted for comment but had not responded at time of going to press Kilmainham headed for Ratoath on Sunday 13th April in good spirits after a good win in round three of the league They were up against a strong Ratoath second team Our lads couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match A penalty after 48 seconds after Michael Hoey was hauled down as he went through on goal Michael got up to expertly bury the ball to the Ratoath net The same man kicked two brilliant points shortly afterwards Conor Kilgallen then hit a brilliant point off his left to have us 1-3 to no score up Kilmainham were on top at midfield and playing well Ratoath hit their first point of the match after 6 minutes from a free Conor Kilgallen then hit his second of the day from a free with his left boot Kilmainham were in complete control and spurned two excellent goal chances that we deserved such was our dominance in that opening half Ratoath hit three points before half time to leave us four points ahead at the break A well-deserved lead due to a brilliant half of football from the lads A young Ratoath side started the second half strong hitting three points in quick succession to reduce the lead to a point Michael Hoey then hit a free for us on 6 minutes Ratoath then hit the next three points as they started to get the upper hand Larry Morgan got on the scoresheet for us with a good point Michael Hoey followed this with a good point from play Ratoath hit the next four points to keep ahead Kilmainham again spurned two good goal chances after some very good team moves Matthew Mullen hit a good point after his introduction as the ref and umpires debated whether it was over or not Ratoath hit them on the break to hit two 2 pointers followed by another good point to run out four-point winners with a strong finish to the match Our lads can be very proud of their performances today Every player gave everything to the jersey A failure to take goal chances proved costly in the end but the overall team performance was excellent with plenty to build on in the coming weeks Best for Kilmainham were: Michael Hoey Subs: Matthew Mullen (0-1) for Phily Mahon Mikey Cole led the Ratoath hurlers back to the summit of Meath Senior hurling after a long wait of 61 years Despite a late referee decision going their way the consensus among those in attendance at this year's SHC finale was that Ratoath were the stronger of the two sides and fully deserving of the victory The death has occurred of Marie Quirke Fairbairn, The Old Mill, Ratoath, Co. Meath and late of Ayle, Oola, Co. Tipperary. 21st January 2025. Suddenly, at home. Beloved wife and best friend of Alan, beloved mother of Dearbhla and Tiernan and daughter of the late Kitty and Martin Quirke. Marie will be sadly missed by her family, brothers Dick and Tony, sisters-in-law Su, Jane, Mary Ita, Jennifer and Amanda, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Reposing at Mc Entaggart’s Funeral Home, Ratoath (A85 DW27) from 5pm until 8pm on Sunday. Funeral Mass on Monday at 11am in the Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath followed by cremation in Dardistown crematorium at 1pm. Those unable to attend can follow Marie’s Funeral Mass and cremation on the links below. Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu to the Simon Community Ratoath 0-18 Navan O’Mahony’s 2-8 Ratoath are the Meath Minor Football Championship Division 1 winners for the fourth time in the club’s history with this four point win over Navan O’Mahony’s. This very entertaining decider was played in front of a large crowd in perfect conditions at Ashbourne. PHOTOS Michael Cooper got the scoreboard working for the winners Adam McEvoy replied for O’Mahony’s before the impressive Cooper added his second Bobby Gaffney levelled matters at the midway point before Ratoath took over For the next 15 minutes they outscored the Navan side 0-7 to 0-1 to set up a solid platform for victory County man Adam Ducie lit up the second quarter with five points Further scores from the  outstanding Eoin Feldman and Cooper gave Ratoath a 0-9 to 0-3 lead heading into injury time Just before the short whistle O’Mahony’s full forward Rian Porter who went into the game carrying a hamstring injury gave the Navan boys a lifeline with a goal Gavin Daly and Cormac Nugent exchanged points in the opening four minutes of the second half before Ratoath hit another purple patch Evan Dunne (2) and Ducie raised white flags to open up a 0-15 to 1-4 lead Most in the large crowd would have thought the Delany Cup was heading home with the boys in Blue and Gold but O’Mahony’s had other ideas Cormac Nugent hit three in a row from frees before Adam McEvoy was in for their second goal Porter followed with a point from a free and all of a sudden the lead was down to one with three minutes left on the clock Ratoath were having none of it and showing outstanding composure they hit the last three points to run out deserving winners After the game joint captains Rory McGrath and Robert Hayes were presented with the Delany Cup in front of their large following to complete a memorable six days for the club Nov 2, 2024 | , , The Venue Ratoath took on a festive air last night when Meath makers and creators showed off their wares in a pre-Christmas exhibition And the Meath Made collective of six crafts people Lucy O’Gorman Fabi Santos and Mary Duffy managed to have two aspiring Dáil candidates – Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Sharon Tolan and Cllr Gillian Toole present for the big event The exhibition runs today Saturday from 10am to 6pm and tomorrow from 10am to 5pm and is well worth a visit to view these local hand made arts and crafts LEO Meath engaged Verling Consulting to help with the establishment of a collective now called Meath Made in Co Meath Cathaoirleach Cllr Tolan was introduced by artist Lucia Errity Cllr Tolan said she was pleased to represent a region that was rich and vibrant in creativity and craftsmanship Since its launch in the Swift Cultural Centre in Trim Meath Made has been on an exciting journey providing a fine resource for people in Meath and throughout the country Joey and Jessica Doran with Cllr Gillian Toole and craft person Linda Menton at the Meath Made exhibition at The Venue Ratoath Cllr Gillian Toole and Cllr Sharon Tolan speaking with right with her mother Miriam and Lucia Errity at the Meath Made exhibition at The Venue Ratoath The arts and crafts collective had been showcasing its products right throughout the county The Cathaoirleach encouraged everyone to shop local in the run-up to the festive season She thanked the local enterprise office and the economic development section of Meath County Council for all their efforts for the county Cllr Toole congratulated the collective on their efforts She said their work was fantastic and she encouraged everyone to pay a visit to the multi-purpose multi-function Venue to see the wonderful products on offer The Dublin Airport Authority is looking at the possibility of installing monitors in the town centres of Ashbourne and Ratoath in a wider effort of tracking noise levels from the controversial North runway The possible installation was discussed at a meeting between DAA executives and councillors from both municipal districts The meeting between the authority and councillors had been sought by public representatives and was chaired by Ratoath MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Nick Killian Newly-elected Independent TD for Meath East Gillian Toole also attended It emerged from the meeting that while the authority will carry out a review of the runway they said that this will “take some time” and there will be no immediate changes The authority however has promised improved communication with the thousands of residents living beneath the flight path which has been a bone of contention since the runway opened Reporting on the outcome Cllr Killian said that a Bord Pleanala decision about the future development of the airport and the North runway was still awaited The original planning application was also to be considered.  he said nothing was going to happen in the short-term in relation to redirecting the flight path “It is causing serious noise for the communities There will also be ongoing consultation with the Ashbourne and Ratoath councillors “That was a positive development from their point of view in increasing communications with people The communications up to this has been diabolical Up to recently they have been saying ‘it’s nothing got to do with Co Meath They have kind of got over themselves on that It really has come down to the direction of the flight paths” He felt that progress had been made in relation to extra monitors While the councillors didn’t have a “shopping list” on locations where monitors should be placed individual councillors placed emphasis on higher locations in both municipal districts including Fairyhouse Racecourse and Ratoath community centre While everyone knew that Dublin Airport is a very important part of the local and national economy with a very high generation of revenue and strong employment content some councillors at the meeting were disappointed that DAA “had very little new to offer” It emerged from the discussions that the DAA is examining how airports at Liverpool Manchester and some European airports are managing their noise levels Cllr Killian said that noise level from the North runway were a deep concern for people with autism and those enduring dementia.  “It was all down to the flight path and noise levels and we really didn’t get a formal answer to that” The DAA promised to meet councillors again in the first quarter of 2025 SOCCER Luke Heeney looking forward to first year as a professional Bellewstown's Luke Heeney is preparing for a forthcoming League of Ireland season with a difference both for him and his club Drogheda Utd The 25-year-old only recently started life as full-time professional footballer It's all part of a new chapter the club has opened whereby they have signed a group of players on full-time contracts as they seek to consolidate their place in the top flight of League of Ireland football Heeney is one of three players from Meath who have agreed to one-year The other two are defender Andrew Quinn from Dunshaughlin and Conor Keeley from Dunboyne a centre-half and the brother of goalkeeper Josh Keeley who is on the books at Spurs but currently on loan at Leyton Orient Drogheda Utd have also moved their training HQ It's from there they have started their preparations for a season that promises much including the chance to take part in European competition European competition is one of the rewards for Kevin Doherty's side that won the FAI Cup towards the end of last season when they they defeated Derry City 2-0 crowd at the Aviva Drogheda played with far more conviction than their big-money highly-fancied opponents and deservedly claimed the famous trophy Becoming a full-time footballer is the fulfilment of a once cherished ambition Heeney harboured as a youngster An ambition he didn't think was going to happen as his career progressed He understandably feels performing as a part-timer as he and his colleagues were doing up to now left his team at a distinct disadvantage when it came to playing slick professional outfits like Shamrock Rovers "I always wanted something to do with football growing up and as a young lad you dream of life as a professional it gives us all a good chance to have a proper go at it Before this we were playing against professionals who were resting all day we train in the morning and get our proper rest." Heeney is currently in his seventh year with Drogheda Utd He attended primary school in Bellewstown before moving into St Mary's Secondary School in Drogheda He later went to St Patrick's Athletic before he was signed by Drogheda Utd's then manager Tim Clancy the Trim man who guided the Co Louth club from the First Division into the Premier in 2021 A midfielder or right-back Heeney won two u-19 caps for the Republic of Ireland but never got the chance to move across the Irish Sea to a club in England or Scotland - although maybe he shouldn't give up on that ambition either considering how everything has turned out for him in recent times but after Covid he landed a job working the night shift at Cadbury's Chocolate factory in Coolock driving a fork lift truck He combined that job with playing part-time for the Drogs as they sought to build on their promotion to the top flight and get a firmer foothold in the Premier "Working the nights was tough going but something that had to be done My nutrition was all over the place because obviously when I should be eating the proper meals and drinking water I was sleeping during the day Drogheda Utd struggled for most of last season only securing their Premier Div status when they defeated Bray Wanderers in a play-off that's the important thing but there were some forgettable days all right." Heeney says that he is "very grateful" to Cadbury's who have given him a year-long sabbatical ensuring his job is there should he decide to return As part of their preparations Drogheda have made available what the Bellewstown man refers to "as a chaplain," who the players can speak to on any issues that are on their minds In embarking on their new professional phase Drogheda Utd can take inspiration from clubs such as Sligo Rovers who have fielded a professional team for years on a tight budget It is understood at so far 1,100 season tickets for Drogheda Utd games have been purchased At around €300 a ticket that's already a sizeable income for the club who are about to embark on a season with a big difference