Paul Murphy

Stories by Paul Murphy

Below are recent stories by Paul Murphy

• Published: 1 Feb 2012 16:59

  Golden handshakes contrast sharply with plight of local family

  Dear Taoiseach, I'm sure this is a busy time for you.

• Published: 1 Feb 2012 16:57

  Parents of Asperger's boy (10) say 'system won't help'

  The parents of a 10-year-old Kells boy with Asperger's Syndrome who have been refused a domicillary care allowance (DCA) for their son at a social welfare appeal hearing are to take a complaint about their treatment to the Ombudsman.

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 16:59

  Can a man still be brave if he's afraid? That's the only time a man can be brave

  This week, I'd like to discuss the concept of courage, bravery, heroism and dedication to duty.

• Published: 18 Jan 2012 16:59

  Public deserve more detail on new health service structure

  So, Taoiseach Enda Kenny owns a house and an office in Mayo, an apartment in Dublin - and a field at his parents' house.

• Published: 18 Jan 2012 16:56

  Council under fire from bloodsports opponents

  The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has expressed its "deep disappointment" at a motion passed by Meath County Council last week, calling on the government to reverse the ban on the Ward Union deer hunt.

• Published: 11 Jan 2012 17:00

  60,000 liable for household charge, county council reveals

  The 60,000 Meath residents liable for the government's new €100 household charge will not have the facility of paying by instalment and will have to pay over the total amount in an over-the-counter transaction at County Hall in Navan, Meath County Council said this week.

• Published: 11 Jan 2012 16:59

  A town that takes pride in itself has the upper hand in attracting shoppers

  Happy New Year and may the road and the troika rise with you.

• Published: 11 Jan 2012 16:56

  Council resists pressure from developers

  A major push by developers to have zoned residential land in Meath released in order to get housebuilding moving again is meeting with resistance in Meath County Council.

• Published: 11 Jan 2012 16:50

  Majority of Meath cllrs vote to reverse stag-hunting ban

  The vexed question of stag-hunting reared its head at Meath County Council's monthly meeting this week when Fianna Fail councillors were in full cry over the alleged failure of the government to reverse the ban on this form of hunting.

• Published: 4 Jan 2012 17:00

  Dramatic fall in Meath road deaths as county now one of safest

  The number of deaths on the road in Co Meath has again fallen dramatically - to just four in 2011 - making it one of the safest counties in the country for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and providing a major boost for road safety campaigners and officials.

• Published: 28 Dec 2011 17:00

  Blow for Navan special school as campus plan suffers setback

  Plans for a long-promised replacement for St Mary's Special School at Johnstown, Navan, failed to materialise during crucial talks about future educational needs in the town between members of Navan Town Council and officials of the Department of Education and Science.

• Published: 21 Dec 2011 16:58

  Good start to final week of festive shopping in Navan

  Christmas shopping in Navan has got off to a good start in the last week or so, according to a snap survey carried out by local independent councillor, Francis Deane.

• Published: 21 Dec 2011 16:56

  Kentstown road closure 'costing my business €1,500 a day'

  Shop-owners depending on local communities and passing trade for their Christmas business are being hard hit by a series of road closures outside Navan which have left them in "no-man's land".

• Published: 21 Dec 2011 16:54

  Junior minister refutes claims of school closures

  Claims that as many as 23 small primary schools in Meath could be under threat of closure or amalgamation with larger schools as a result of recent announced cuts to the education budget have been denied by Minister of State and Meath East TD, Shane McEntee.

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 17:00

  Fears that axe could fall on over 20 schools

  As many as 23 small primary schools in County Meath could be under threat of closure and amalgamation with larger schools as a result of cuts to the education budget unveiled last week.

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 16:59

  An austerity letter to Santa

  Dear Santa, I can't believe it's a whole year since I wrote to you. Doesn't the time fly? Of course, that's not to say that I haven't been thinking of you.

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 16:55

  Uncertainty now hangs over CE schemes in Navan and Dunboyne

  The future of community enterprise schemes in Meath has been thrown into serious doubt after materials and training grants were slashed in the recent budget.

• Published: 8 Dec 2011 16:59

  Electorate has heard straight talking; Eurozone colleagues must hear same

  When Dundalk Institute of Technology conferred honorary fellowships on four distinguished citizens earlier this week, among the attendance was 'the father of the nation' himself, Dr TK Whitaker.

• Published: 2 Dec 2011 09:30

  'New' ancient monuments come to light at Knowth

  New and exciting archaeological finds have been made at the Knowth tumulus over the last few months, according to archaeologists working on the site.

• Published: 2 Dec 2011 09:30

  RTE must learn lessons so it can still serve public interest

  In 1968, the RTE current affairs programme 'Seven Days', precursor to 'Today Tonight' and 'Prime Time', ran a programme on moneylenders.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 16:59

  Decriminalising drugs would make this trade much worse

  For those of us who have covered the district and circuit courts over many years, the parade of young people appearing before judges for unlawful possession of drugs can be disconcerting and sometimes upsetting.

• Published: 16 Nov 2011 16:59

  'Grand plan' to merge VECs may end up costing money, not save it

  In our quaint old Irish way, we clamour for action over this or that controversial decision which "just has" to be made. The "something-must-be-done" brigade come out of the woodwork, voices raised, hot words exchanged in a barrage of verbal gunfire spraying all and sundry with a rhetorical flourish.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:00

  Council comes to aid of TT group after grant aid is withdrawn

  The award-winning Moynalty Tidy Town Committee has run into financial rough waters over its borrowing of €150,000 from the local credit union to cover footpath enhancement works in the village.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 16:59

  Cherishing our heritage is important, but there needs to be some latitude

  High in the hills 29km from Rome lies Hadrian's Villa. It was built at Tivoli by Emperor Hadrian (of Hadrian's Wall fame) in the second century as a means of escape from the noise, but especially the smells, of the city in the high heat of summer.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 16:59

  Short stories don't cut it as Mickileen Láidir proves he is bigger than the rest

  So, we have our first male Irish President since 2nd December 1990 when the late Paddy Hillery vacated the office. And some would say that's a good thing.

• Published: 26 Oct 2011 16:59

  President will be the stronger after coming through this tough test

  During the RTE 'Frontline' debate by the candidates for the presidency on Monday evening, more than one candidate expressed the hope that they would all be truthful and transparent about their past.

• Published: 12 Oct 2011 16:59

  Promised referendum on children's rights has still to see light of day

  The results of a study published this week which shows that 15 per cent of adolescents aged 11-13 show signs of mental disorder is truly shocking and a wake-up call for all those who care for vulnerable young people.

• Published: 12 Oct 2011 16:58

  Michael D glides through three towns in one morning

  If presidential candidate Michael D Higgins followed the dictionary definition of 'barnstorming', he would travel around the countryside making political speeches, giving lectures or presenting theatrical performances.

• Published: 5 Oct 2011 16:59

  Council determined to get it right as another Arctic winter predicted

  Gird your loins. Prepare for Armageddon. Man your stopcocks.

• Published: 28 Sep 2011 16:59

  Minister needs to get a handle on overcrowding before winter sets in

  As of Monday of this week, the number of patients waiting on trolleys at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, was three and at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda (which now carries heavy relevance to County Meath) the number was 29 (according to the Irish Nurses' and Midwives' Organisation Trolley Watch).