Below are recent stories by Ann Casey
Published: 3 Mar 2010 17:00
€15.5m funding clears way for new Navan rail service
Commuter trains could be travelling back and forth from Navan in as little as five years' time, as funding has been secured to prepare a railway order for the Navan to Dublin rail line.
Published: 3 Mar 2010 16:57
Closure of Oldcastle head shop fails to halt protest march
The people of Oldcastle came out in force last Saturday to express their opposition to so called 'head shops' and the 'legal highs' which they sell.
Published: 3 Mar 2010 16:54
15 cars damaged as Kells vandals strike yet again
Up to 15 cars were damaged in a spate of vandalism in Kells in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Published: 3 Mar 2010 16:52
Nine personalities vie for right to lead Navan parade
Nine finalists have been nominated for the Navan Personality of the Year competition and the public are being asked to vote for the winner before Saturday 13th March.
Published: 3 Mar 2010 16:50
Athboy peer education programme a success
Athboy Community School were one of 14 secondary schools in Meath that took part in the recent South Meath Response Unit Peer Education Programme in Trim.
Published: 24 Feb 2010 16:59
'Lives will be lost' warning as road funding cut revealed
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey was warned this week that lives would be lost as the cut in funding for local and regional roads in the county this year would turn damaged roads into 'death traps'.
Published: 24 Feb 2010 16:58
Bord Pleanala delays Nobber incinerator ruling until April
Bord Pleanála has deferred its decision on the proposed meat and bonemeal incinerator near Nobber until 1st April.
Published: 24 Feb 2010 16:54
Kells man disrupts M3 work in protest
Work on the M3 at the Cavan Road in Kells was disrupted for a period last Thursday when a local man protested at the NRA's refusal to screen off the new road from his home and garden.
Last updated: 24 Feb 2010 16:53
Free Saturday parking proposal rejected by Kells councillors
A proposal to fund free parking in Kells on Saturdays by cutting out funding for foreign travel by councillors, was rejected at a meeting of Kells Town Council last week.
Published: 24 Feb 2010 16:53
Media scrum follows Cowen to Navan
There was a media frenzy at Tara Mines last Friday for the visit of an Taoiseach, Brian Cowen.
Published: 24 Feb 2010 16:50
Protest in Oldcastle to put pressure on local 'head shop'
A public protest against a so-called 'head shop' in Oldcastle is being organised by the Oldcastle Drug Awareness Group for this coming Saturday.
Published: 24 Feb 2010 16:43
Labour Party reflects on good year in Kells
The Kells branch of the Labour Party had a very successful year, holding two seats on the town council and increasing the Labour vote, chairman Joe Rourke told the branch's annual meeting recently.
Published: 17 Feb 2010 16:58
Generali expansion to create 50 new jobs at new Navan headquarters
Up to 50 new jobs are expected to be created at Generali PanEurope in Navan over the next 18 months following the announcement last week that the company has commissioned a new building in the Navan Business Park. The new premises will act as Generali PanEurope's headquarters and Generali International's Irish base.
Published: 17 Feb 2010 16:54
Ashbourne loses out in scaling back of county council offices
As Meath County Council prepares to move administrative services currently provided in the Ashbourne Civic Offices for the Dunshaughlin electoral area to its offices on the Drumree Road, Dunshaughlin, there have been calls to ensure the building is fully used by the local community.
Published: 17 Feb 2010 16:52
Bank of Scotland shut down sees loss of 14 Halifax jobs in Navan and Ashbourne
With 14 jobs on the line at the Halifax bank branches in Navan and Ashbourne, workers have vowed to fight tooth and nail to maintain their jobs.
Published: 17 Feb 2010 16:48
Fr Henry leaves Kingscourt with gifts and memories
The people of Kingscourt bid a fond farewell to their former parish priest, Fr Sean Henry, recently with a special mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a reception in Cabra Castle Hotel.
Published: 17 Feb 2010 16:44
Kells Resource Centre secures new premises
The Kells People's Resource Centre is moving to a new premises in the old Church of Ireland School building in Carrick Street next month.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:58
2009 pile-up proves Slane dangers still exist, say locals
Slane residents who were caught up in a terrifying accident in the village last year which involved two trucks and five cars have hit out at opponents to the route of the proposed Slane bypass who have pointed out that nobody was killed there since traffic-calming measures were introduced in 2002.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:54
Film's Oscar nomination breathes new life into Book of Kells campaign
A call for a concerted campaign to have part of the the Book of Kells returned to the town has been made in the wake of the Oscar nomination for the film, 'The Secret of Kells', which is seen as a major tourism boost for the town.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:48
Kells Gardai seize cocaine worth €14k in Kells raid
Gardai seized €14,000 worth of cocaine in a raid at a house in Balrath area of Kells on Monday night.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:46
Navan residents make over 100 submissions on access link
A controversial proposal to close the link between the Townspark and Beechmount estates in Navan was referred by councillors in Navan to the town's Joint Policing Committee.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:45
Broomfield walk raises over €3,000 for flood victims
The Broomfield 10k 'Walking Mini Marathon' on Sunday saw hundreds turn out to show their support, both moral and financial, for the victims of flooding in Ireland.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:43
40 allotments get go-ahead on Kells land
With up to 40 allotments expected to be available to Kells residents this year, the Kells Community Allotments Group will hold a public meeting next Wednesday (17th February) at 9pm in the Edmund Rice Centre.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:42
Momentum building in towns to close down 'head shops'
As concern at the number of so-called 'head shops' in the county rises, a special meeting of Kells Town Council has been called for Friday evening to discuss the recent opening of one such premises in the town.
Published: 10 Feb 2010 16:40
Poet's lecture to Colaiste Pobail students
The poet, Áine Ní Ghlinn, gave a talk to fifth and sixth class students of Colaiste Pobail Rath Chairn last week in Ráth Chairn library.
Published: 3 Feb 2010 16:59
Opposition builds in Kells as 'head shop' opens
There has been an angry reaction in Kells to the opening of a so-called 'head shop' in the town over the weekend.
Published: 3 Feb 2010 16:54
Major cuts announced to Bus Eireann's Navan town service
A substantial cut in the frequency of the Navan town bus service has been announced by Bus Eireann as part of the company's cost-cutting measures.
Published: 3 Feb 2010 16:53
TD's appeal to parents over Navan school places crisis
Navan parents who have been unable to secure a second-level school place for their child for next September are being urged to contact a local TD who is hoping to put forward a strong case for a new school to open in the town next September.
Published: 3 Feb 2010 16:47
Kells Waterworks project in the limelight at LAMA awards
The Kells Waterworks Restoration Project was honoured at the prestigious Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) annual awards in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday night.
Published: 3 Feb 2010 16:46
Belfast students to boost Julianstown design work
The ongoing village design work at Julianstown is to get a major boost this month with the arrival of over 20 students from Queens University, Belfast.
News from around the Midlands