February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Stephen McKinley
An Oylegate, Co. Wicklow, family are overjoyed at the news of the birth of triplets into the circle last Wednesday. The Enniscorthy Echo reports that Jimmy and Kathleen Freeman are the proud parents of the threesome — and the good news comes to soothe a recent tragedy. The couple’s only daughter, Rebecca, was killed in a road accident in February 1999, aged 20 months, an accident that also claimed her 18-year-old aunt. The Freemans run the post office and shop in Oylegate.
BALACLAVA BANDITS
Two balaclava-wearing robbers burst into a Wicklow store on a recent Sunday evening and stole cigarettes and telephone cards.
Gardai said that the two were not well equipped, reports the Wicklow People. "Neither of them was armed with anything, the paper quotes Sgt. Pat Geoghegan as saying. "They went in and began shouting and roaring and demanding things."
Geoghegan added that a youth had since been arrested, and was helping police with inquiries.
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OUT THERE — IN ROSCOMMON
If you live in County Roscommon, then RTE wants to know if you have seen any weird and wonderful lights in the skies. An upcoming documentary will look at alleged sightings of alien visitors near the Curlieus Mountains, and the producers are hoping to happen upon some fascinating stories, says the Roscommon Herald.
HITLER PLOTTER DEAD
The Enniscorthy Echo reports that a man who had plotted with others to kill Hitler died in Wexford General Hospital last week.
Peter Bielenberg, of Munny House, Tullow, Co. Carlow, had lived in
Ireland since the end of World War II. He and his wife, Christabel, were two of very few who managed to flee Germany when the 1944 plot to kill the dictator was unsuccessful.
Christabel wrote two books about her and her husband’s experiences, titled "Germany, The Past is Myself" and "The Road Ahead." They lived and raised a family in Tullow.
The funeral ceremony took place on Friday in St. Columbas Church, Tullow.
COKE DRAMA
An extra 15 pence was at stake in Enniscorthy — 15 pence extra was charged for a bottle of Coca-Cola at Rackard’s bar during the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in the town last year, according to the Enniscorthy Echo.
Under the Consumer Information Act and Retail Prices Display Order, the price hike was illegal. While menus read £1.20, customers were being charged £1.35. Defense solicitor John O’Leary described the episode as "a pure and utter mistake."
WINDY SLIGO
A huge wind farm is planned for 3,000 acres of common land on the upper reaches of the Ox mountains, about three miles from Cloonacool in the south of County Sligo, the Sligo Champion has learned.
The builders plan for 67 wind turbines, each with a hub height of about 62.5 meters and a rotor diameter of 80 meters, as well as a 62.5-meter-high meteorological mast. Because of the remoteness of the area, a 25-mile access road will be built as well.
The company behind the enterprise, Eirtricity Developments Ltd., says that cleanly produced, cheaper electricity is only to be welcomed. It also anticipates that 50 jobs will be created.
HOTELS FACE MELTDOWN
Hotels and guest houses in the border regions are alarmed that the foot-and-mouth crisis will devastate their sector of the tourist industry.
The possibility of large-scale cancellations and a bleak year in general has hoteliers cringing, according to the Anglo-Celt newspaper.