Latest news with #CarlowCountyCouncil
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Post-mortem examination due on body of Carlow gunman
A post-mortem examination will take place this morning on the body of a man who died following a shooting incident at a shopping centre in Carlow town on Sunday evening. The body of the deceased man, 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald from near Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, was taken from the scene yesterday afternoon to Dublin, where a full postmortem will be carried out today by the state pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers. The deceased was out on bail on firearms charges, and the garda investigation will look at how he came to obtain the shotgun which was fired into the air at the Fairgreen shopping centre, before he died from a self-inflicted wound. At a press conference yesterday afternoon, gardaí said that the shooting incident was "a terrifying experience for every person that was present". Gardaí said it had received multiple reports of shots fired in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in the town and responded at the scene, where they were met with a large number of people running from the premises. An unarmed uniformed unit arrived, where they observed the suspect - a white Irish man in his 20s - exiting the shopping centre. The suspect then discharged a shotgun into the air. Another plain-clothed armed garda unit responded with their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardaí. No garda shots were fired during the incident. The man who has died was described as having a fascination with guns when he was granted bail for firearm offences last year. Gardaí told a court he had apparently obtained guns for recreational use and not with criminal intent. He was granted bail on strict conditions. Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman from the Eastern Region said gardaí now understand that the man had walked through the shopping centre and had discharged the firearm into the air on a number of occasions. She said nobody was injured by the shots discharged by the suspect. A young girl in the shopping centre with her parents sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the scene. Following the incident, gardaí implemented a cordon around the shopping centre and carpark. A bottle containing an unknown substance was observed by gardaí on the deceased, gardaí said. The army bomb disposal unit subsequently conducted examinations and declared the scene safe. Emergency services responded to the shooting shortly after 6pm yesterday evening An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer appointed to lead the investigation. A family liaison officer is providing support to the deceased's family, gardaí said. Meanwhile, Carlow County Council said it is supporting the HSE in the provision of psycho-social supports for people affected by the shooting incident. Further support is being provided today by the HSE at the Shamrock Plaza Primary Care Centre for those impacted by this incident. 'Gardaí have urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to gardaí at Carlow Garda Station. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who was at the shopping centre between 6pm and 6:30pm on Sunday night. They have also praised the management and business community at the shopping centre for their assistance, and they have said gardaí will work with the local community as it comes to terms with this incident.
Agriland
10-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Goats a catalyst for change in Co. Carlow
A small herd of Old Irish Goats attracted almost 2,000 visitors from across Carlow in the sunshine recently as people of all ages learned about the county council's urban pollinator foraging initiative and a little about fire safety on the cusp of wildfire season. The Old Irish Goats – Ireland's indigenous landrace breed now only found in remote mountain ranges, roaming in feral herds – will return to Co. Carlow in September. On that occasion, the council will work with some local retired farmers to demonstrate how to make cocks of hay, a scene that has not been seen in Carlow for many years, according to Shane Casey, environmental officer with Carlow County Council. In 2023, the Carlow local authority adopted a green infrastructure strategy, which includes the policy that no pollinator in Co. Carlow's towns and villages will have to travel more than 200m to find a food source. Casey said: 'To do this, we developed a unique urban pollinator foraging network map in Carlow town. This has since been advocated by the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan as an example of best practice for prioritising local resources.' The Old Irish Goats hitching a lift on the fire brigade 'In 2024, we commissioned Flynn Furney to contact all community and residents' groups in the eight largest towns and villages in Carlow: Carlow town; Tullow; Bagenalstown; Leighlinbridge; Hacketstown; Borris; Ballon; and Rathvilly. 'We asked them to map any community-managed open spaces, where there was a desire to do more for pollinators. Over 60ac in total were mapped and all individual sites were a minimum size of 0.5 ac, and were being mown regularly. 'The focus of the next stage is to encourage a change in management, to move away from regular mowing, saving time and labour and reducing carbon footprint, and towards long flowering meadows in these areas, significantly improving conditions for biodiversity and enabling enhanced ecosystem services,' Casey said. The environmental officer went on to explain the important role of the Old Irish Goats in bringing about this different approach. 'The goats are a catalyst for this change in management, rather than the sole solution, and we will be partnering with the Co Carlow Environmental Network in September to offer practical help to local residents who want to make such changes.. 'This will involve us helping to 'cut and lift' these spaces, limited to any green space which is a minimum of 0.5 ac in size, where a mown boundary strip is maintained throughout the summer, and where signs – which we will provide – are erected and maintained,' he said. It is anticipated that the 'lifted' vegetation will be used as part of a cultural event to demonstrate the skill of making cocks of hay. The goats stayed overnight in the parochial house in Bagenalstown. They then visited the green adjacent to Leighlinbridge church, and also took in the green areas of Brooklawns, Burrindale and Sherwood, before finishing up at Hacketstown fire station. Their shepherd, Melissa Jeuken, was on hand throughout the week, along with Casey, to deliver educational talks on pollinators, land management for pollinators, and the goats themselves, the subject of Casey's agricultural science undergraduate thesis. According to Casey: 'Also joining us throughout the week was our fire service crew, delivering fire safety awareness as we enter wildfire season. 'These were the same goats as seen on Howth Head, controlling gorse and scrub to manage wildfire impacts, an issue all too prevalent in Carlow as well. 'We also found time during the week to create a Carlow version of the classic 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' performed by local woman, Wibbly Wobbly Wendy, and posted on Facebook by the National Heritage Council.' Shane Casey and Melissa Jeuken with the Old Irish Goats
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Carlow Town to host the Pan Celtic International Festival for another two years – ‘It's an honour'
The decision was made following a meeting of the festival council, with representatives from the six Celtic nations present. The aim of the festival is to celebrate and promote the culture and languages of the six Celtic nations of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Carlow has hosted the Pan Celtic International Festival on a number of occasions over the course of the festival's history, including in 2023, 2024 and 2025, despite the fact that the festival usually changes locations every two years. 'The beautiful vibrant town of Carlow is a favoured destination among all the Celtic delegates and regular attendees of the festival for a myriad of reasons', said Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha, Cathaoirleach of the International Pan Celtic Council. 'Not least the heartfelt 'céad míle fáilte' we receive from the people of Ceatharlach, the excellent venues and facilities in the town and the generous support of Carlow County Council.' The Pan Celtic International Festival involves a broad programme of events, from storytelling and lectures to singing and dance competitions. The common language spoken during the five-day event is English, making it accessible for fluent speakers and beginners, alike. 'This exciting announcement is a significant step for Carlow that further establishes us as a cultural landmark on the Irish map,' said Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr Fergal Browne. 'Carlow town is an ideal location for this festival, it is so compact that everything is within walking distance, making it easy for all to navigate.' Despite not being in a Gaeltacht region, the festival brings Irish and Celtic language speaking communities together in the middle of Carlow every Easter. 'The Pan Celtic International Festival typically changes location every two years and after three successful years, we are proud to have been asked to host for two more years,' said Mayor of Carlow, Cllr Fintan Phelan. 'We will endeavour to bring this very special Celtic celebration from strength to strength over the coming years.' Speaking on behalf of the local organising festival committee, Bríde de Róiste said it has been an 'honour' to host the event on several occasions over the past fifteen years. 'With the Irish language on the crest of a wave in Ceatharlach, coupled with the tremendous support of the entire community and the backing of the local authorities, the town is a perfect fit for this prestigious festival,' she said. 'We know that we can rise to even greater heights in 2026 and 2027. Tá áthas an domhain orainn!"
