Latest news with #LongfordCountyCouncil
Agriland
18-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
National Famine Way roadshow goes on tour
The new National Famine Way roadshow, which is on tour this month and into June, will call to seven locations along the route of the long distance trail. The dates of the roadshow, which is presented by the Irish Heritage Trust in collaboration with the seven local authorities along the trail, are as follows: Monday, May 19: 3:00-5:00p.m, Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon; Tuesday, May 20: 3:00-5;00pm, Ballymahon Library, Ballymahon, Co. Longford; Wednesday, May 21: 3:00-5:00pm, Leixlip Library, Leixlip, Co. Kildare; Thursday, May 22: 2:00-4:00pm, Trim Library, Trim, Co. Meath; Thursday, May 22: 6:00-8;00pm, Mullingar Library, Co. Westmeath; Tuesday, June 3: 5.30-7.30pm, Blanchardstown Library, Fingal, Dublin 15; Thursday, June 5: 3:00-5:00pm, Charleville Mall Library, Dublin 1. Featuring talks and presentations by leading local and international famine historians, the event will bring a poignant part of history to life. Appropriately, the month of May marks both the anniversary of the mass departure of 1,490 emigrants from Strokestown, Co Roscommon and the annual national famine commemoration. National Famine Way The Ballymahon roadshow speakers will include: Caroilín Calleary, founder of the National Famine Way; Dr Jason King, academic co-ordinator of the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, and of the Irish Heritage Trust; and Martin Morris, Longford county archivist. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the experts, and everyone is welcome to attend. National Famine Way's Caroilín Calleary said: 'Touring with this roadshow gives us a chance to visit each of the communities along the route again, making the history of the Irish famine more visible. 'We hope to deepen the connections in each while honouring the memory of Strokestown's missing 1,490.' Strokestown Park House. Source: Colin Shanahan, DigiCol Photography. The National Famine Way is a 165km marked walking and cycling trail commemorating a heart-breaking walk of forced emigration that took place in 1847 at the height of the Irish famine. It begins at the memorial glass wall at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon and continues through six counties to EPIC, the Irish emigration museum in Dublin's Docklands. The route is marked by more than 30 pairs of bronze children's shoes, and the way and its associated stories can be followed through a free app. Chief executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said that the partnership highlights the collective commitment of local authorities to honour and remember the 1,490 individuals who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown during the famine. Mahon said: 'The roadshow serves as a poignant reminder of this tragic chapter in Irish history.' Longford County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Mark Casey, said that the national famine way roadshow offers a powerful opportunity to honour the memory of those who walked from Strokestown in search of survival. Cllr Casey said: 'It's a vital reminder of our shared past and the resilience of those forced to emigrate and it ensures their stories continue to shape our national understanding of history.' Registration for the events is required in advance by emailing nationalfaminewayroadshow@ National Famine Museum Meanwhile, the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park is set to host the 2025 Famine Summer School from May 29 to June 1. The theme of the 2025 summer school is 'Humanitarianism and Hunger', which focuses on international aid responses to the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. The programme will investigate how global communities, including those in North America, India, the Ottoman Empire, and beyond, reacted to the catastrophe in Ireland, often in contrast to the more limited or delayed actions of official authorities. The conference will also draw parallels with modern day challenges in humanitarian assistance, food insecurity, and climate-related displacement.
The Journal
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Ten legal actions initiated against landlords as thousands found in breach of standards
A TOTAL OF 80,150 inspections of private rental accommodation were carried out by local authorities in Ireland last year – marking a 26% increase on the year prior. Minister for Housing James Browne announced the record-breaking figures today. Local authorities' inspection teams have been allocated €10.5 million for 2025 to allow them to carry out further inspections. Overall, the number of inspections conducted has quadrupled in recent years. In the period 2005 to 2017, inspection levels were averaging out at 20,000 a year. Browne said that regardless of where tenants are living, it is important that their accommodation meets required standards. He said that he wants 'robust inspections' to continue. 'We want to ensure that rental tenants are afforded standards which ensure requirements such as adequate heating, ventilation, sanitation, and fire safety measures are met. It's the basics – and it is what renters should be able to expect from every landlord,' Browne said. Advertisement He praised the local authorities for the significant increase in inspections completed and said that the additional funding will help achieve the government's 'ambitious' inspection targets. The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations. These regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations. Cork City Council carried out the largest number of inspections – 17,559 – while Longford County Council carried out the least: 280. Of the 62,085 dwellings inspected, 37,800 did not meet the regulatory requirements on the first inspection. 55,310 Improvement Letters were issued to landlords for improvements on the property to be carried out, and 2,330 Improvement Notices were served on landlords. 210 Prohibition Notices were served on landlords, which means they are not able to let the property until the necessary improvements have been carried out. Letting a property while under a prohibition notice can lead to prosecution. Ten separate legal actions on landlords were initiated as a result of the inspections: five in Donegal, two in Dublin city, one in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and two in Wicklow. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
