France’s top honour the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur was presented to retired Church of Ireland clergyman Canon Robert Marsden.
Full report in Thursday’s Northern Standard.
Electricity Pylons beside a SONI/NIE sub-station in County Antrim Photo: Michael Fisher
The controversial plan by EirGrid for a North/South high voltage 400 kV electricity interconnector with overhead lines on 400 pylons from Meath to Tyrone is to be the subject of an oral hearing by two inspectors from An Bord Pleanála in early March.
Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne confirmed that the Board is set to begin public hearing sessions from next March. The hearing is likely to be held over a twelve weeks period in Carrickmacross, where a previous oral hearing took place in May 2010.
Senator Byrne is one of a number of public representatives who are strongly opposed to the project. He says he will be making a submission to the hearing to outline the serious concerns that residents in Meath have regarding the proposals.
“I’ve long held the view that this project is unworkable. There needs to be community consensus for the project and a far greater emphasis needs to be placed on upgrading existing infrastructure alongside ensuring that the new transmission line is placed underground,” said Senator Byrne.
“People in Meath feel that their concerns have not been taken on board by those pushing this project. They are not being treated equally as the development of new transmission lines in other parts of the country are proceeding with the lines being placed underground. However Meath residents are being told that the North South Interconnector has to be developed over ground. It’s unacceptable.
“Meath residents now have their chance to make their voices heard in relation to these proposals. I’ve been informed by An Bord Pleanála that the public hearing for the project will begin in March. I’ll be making a strong submission outlining why I think the proposals have to be cast aside. I encourage others with similar concerns to make a submission during the public hearings.
“In Fianna Fáil’s energy policy launched this year, we outlined that grid development such as planned under the North South Interconnector should be subject to a full economic review in light of our reduced energy needs. Fianna Fáil maintains that undergrounding the North – South Connector is the most preferential route along with upgrading existing infrastructure and this will form a key part of my submission,” concluded Senator Byrne.
Nigel Hillis of the County Monaghan anti-pylon committee said the fact the oral hearing is to take place has to be welcomed. He said a number of parties would be making a formal oral submission at the hearing. Formal notice of the hearing, including the agenda and the details of venue will be sent to all parties approximately two weeks in advance of the announcement.
In a letter to the 900 interested parties including individuals who made submissions (with a fee of €50) to the planning application submitted by EirGrid in June last year, An Bord Pleanála said that owing to the scale and complexity of the case, and the large number of written submissions received, parties are requested to indicate their intention to make a formal oral submission at the hearing, before 5.30pm on February the 4th.
Eirgrid Statement
“We welcome An Bord Pleanála’s decision to convene an oral hearing and note that it is likely to commence in early March. Each aspect of this process is managed by An Bord Pleanála. We await further detail from An Board Pleanála with regard to the upcoming oral hearing. Our offices in Carrickmacross, Cootehill and Navan will continue to be open in the coming weeks for anyone who has queries about our application.”
EirGrid’s plans to build the overhead 400kV power line from Woodland in County Meath through parts of Cavan, Monaghan and Armagh to Turleenan near Dungannon in County Tyrone were lodged in June 2015. Observations had to be lodged with the planning authority in Dublin by 5.30pm on Monday 24th August. Over 900 submissions were received and because groups of people got together to lodge a single submission, the names of over 1500 were submitted, most of them opposing the plan and calling for it to be put underground.
Monaghan County Council was one of the prescribed bodies notified of the application.The planning department made a submission to the Board including comments made about the project by Councillors at a meeting. Cavan County Council and Meath County Council were also notified and the Cathaoirligh of each of the three councils including Councillor Noel Keelan of Monaghan have joined together to oppose the plans.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys T.D. was notified along with her Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White T.D. The Environmental Protection Agency, National Roads Authority, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Fáilte Ireland, An Taisce, The Heritage Council, Irish Aviation Authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Health Service Executive, Commission for Energy Regulation, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, Railway Safety Commission, Northern and Western Regional Assembly, Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly and Irish Water were informed of EirGrid’s plans and given the opportunity to make submissions. Additional notifications were made to Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Peatland Conservation Council, and the North’s Environment Department.
According to the Bord Pleanála website, submissions were received initially from Dominic Halligan T.D. (Meath East, Labour), members of Meath County Council; Michael Halpin; Meath Farm Machinery, Navan; Sean Byrne; Cyril Darcy and family, Robinstown, Kells, Co. Meath; Noel Meade; Eugene Connolly; Fred Smyth; Navan Municipal District Councillors of Meath County Council; Scoil Bláithín Íosa, Ballynagearn N.S., Magheracloone and separately, All Saints National School Doohamlet and Doohamlet Childcare Ltd.; Patricia and Coleman Ryan; Hugh and Bernadette Duffy; Eamonn McNally; Irish Water; Kingscourt Stars GAA Club; Philip Smith; Michael Coleman; Fr Brendan Madden; Meath Cllr Ronan McKenna, Trim (FF); Meath Cllr Damien O’Reilly, Ratoath (FF); Meath Cllr Claire O’Driscoll, Ashbourne (FF); Brendan Doyle and Barbara Doyle; Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly; North and Western Regional Assembly; David Murray; Eugene and Rosemary Cunningham Corlea, Kingscourt; Meath Co Cllr Shane Cassells, Navan (FF).
The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign said it would continue to provide support to all individuals, groups and organisations willing to make a submission and has been working closely with 97% of landowners who are in complete opposition to the planning application and who favour undergrounding.
When EirGrid made its submission in June to An Bord Pleanála, it contained detailed plans to erect over 400 giant pylons along the route of the interconnector. NEPPC says communities across the North-East are being discriminated against by Eirgrid and by the government because there is no underground option under consideration, unlike the Grid West and Grid Link projects. It says Eirgrid has changed nothing of any material relevance since 2007, when the project was first announced..
The grid operator for its part says an additional high capacity North-South interconnector will provide multiple technical and other benefits. These include improving competition by reducing the constraints that are currently restricting the efficient performance of the all-island Single Electricity Market; improving security of supply and supporting the development of renewable power generation by enhancing the flexible exchange of power flows over a large area of the island. It says these benefits will accrue to all electricity consumers on the island of Ireland.
EirGrid has stated that the proposed interconnector will also provide sufficient additional transmission capacity in the North East area of Ireland to cater for growth in electricity consumption for many years and will also put the area in a good position if an even stronger economic recovery should emerge in the coming years.
The new interconnector will increase the capacity, and the reliability, of interconnection between the two networks. This will allow the two independent networks to operate together as if they were one system for the mutual benefit of residents and businesses in both jurisdictions.The increase in interconnection capacity will effectively eliminate current restrictions in cross border support in the event of a shortage of electricity in one jurisdiction, thus enhancing the security of electricity supply throughout the island of Ireland.
Operating the two networks as if they were one system will bring cost savings for all electricity consumers as larger electricity systems can be operated more efficiently than smaller ones. The increase in interconnection capacity will also facilitate further and greater connection of wind generation in both parts of the island which will help achieve Ireland’s renewable energy targets.
EirGrid’s counterpart in the North, SONI, also believes that the new link is vital to ensure the effective operation of an efficient all-island electricity market, to support the realisation of strategic renewable energy targets and to exert downward pressure on electricity prices for customers in Northern Ireland. It will allow the all-island wholesale electricity market to work more efficiently, enabling wider competition between power generators and electricity suppliers throughout the island, and therefore ensuring that future electricity prices will be as competitive as possible. It will enable more renewable generator capacity (mostly wind generation) to be connected to the electricity network. The governments in both jurisdictions have set challenging targets for the amount of electricity to be generated from renewable sources, 40% by 2020, and these targets cannot be met without additional interconnection.
Bailieborough Councillor Niamh Smyth confirmed tonight on her Facebook page that she has been added to the ticket by Fianna Fáil headquarters to contest the general election in Cavan/Monaghan.
Brendan Smith T.D.
Outgoing TD and former Minister Brendan Smith was the only candidate selected at a recent constituency convention, which left a shortage of a female candidate and also no-one from the Monaghan end, where Dr Rory O’Hanlon was once the vote-getter. It will be interesting to see if a third person is added to the ticket from the Monaghan end and my guess is that whoever is chosen will also be female (although Cllr Seamus Coyle had shown an interest at one stage). This would help FF to reach the 30% quota of female candidates they need to qualify for a handout from the state in order to bring more women into politics.
Election Poster from the Fianna Fáil archives. Times have changed a lot since then…
Northern Standard Thursday 14th January 2016 p.23
BT YOUNG SCIENTISTS EXHIBITION IN THE RDS DUBLIN
Two Monaghan Students Highly Commended for Project on Healthy Diet
Michael Fisher at the RDS
Simone Clerkin and Alison McDonnell, St Louis Monaghan, with their project on healthy diet Picture: Michael Fisher
Cupcakes with no sugar or salt and with a banana mix proved a winner for two young students from County Monaghan at this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition held last week at the RDS in Dublin. Simone Clerkin and Alison McDonnell, transition year pupils from St Louis Secondary School in Monaghan, were highly commended for their project on a healthy diet for children in the biological and ecological sciences section. Under the heading “Smart Substitution” the pair examined the need for healthy alternatives to high calorific ingredients in an attempt to reduce obesity in young children and increase their nutrition intake.
Their project was based on statistics in a 2007 Department of Health survey showing that 11% of boys and 12% of girls in Ireland are obese. Children who are obese are likely to be obese as adults. Nearly half (48%) of Irish people take snacks between meals. So it is crucial to provide a healthy, nutritious, low calorific snack. The students realised that immediate action was required to highlight the importance of healthy eating and regular physical activity. So they aimed to create a novel and nutritious recipe that would highlight the ease of smart substitution.
Simone and Alison came up with a new recipe for cup cakes. They baked cupcakes using a standard recipe of 113g sugar with the same amount of butter, 117g of flour, three eggs and salt. Then they made alternative cupcakes with a high energy value, using half the amount of butter, slightly less flour, no sugar or salt, two eggs, and a half teaspoon of lemon juice (increasing the level of vitamin C). The fat content of 113g of sugar was replaced with half the amount (56g) of bananas. They provide high levels of potassium, which is known to reduce blood pressure. A calorimeter was used to quantify the calorific value of both types of cupcake. The students then conducted a survey on a group of 11-13 year-old children to test the taste, texture and appearance of the cupcakes. An app was also created to enable children worldwide to access “A Smart Child’s Health”, supporting healthy eating by young children.
So how did the low calorie, wholesome, tasty recipe using bananas work out? Girls in the 11-13 category given samples of the two cupcakes were shown to prefer the taste of the original recipe, but liked the texture and appearance of the substitute cupcake. Boys in the same age group (from St Mary’s Boys National School) showed a much greater preference for the taste of the substitute cupcakes, as well as favouring their texture and appearance. In future Simone and Alison say they hope to investigate smart substitutes for a larger array of foods. They hope the application could be improved to include savoury ingredients and it should be made available on android and iphone devices.
Isabel Doyle, St Louis Monaghan, with her project on Alzheimer’s attitudes among youth Photo: Michael Fisher
Their school colleague Isabel Doyle also entered a project in the intermediate age group. Hers was in the social and behavioural sciences category. The St Louis student undertook an investigation into the understanding and attitudes of youth towards Alzheimer’s. She analysed the data, subsequently developing an app aimed at teenagers to increase their awareness of the condition. She has also set up a web page to promote youth education for Alzheimer’s at www.youtheducationforalzheimerdisease.beta.com
Aaron Quigley and James Cameron, Patrician High, with their project on homelessness Photo: Michael Fisher
The homeless crisis in Ireland prompted Aaron Quigley from Inniskeen and Drumconrath resident James Carolan from Patrician High School in Carrickmacross to come up with a way of tackling it on an individual basis. They developed a simple sign in the shape of a heart containing the message ‘Hope for a Heart’. Volunteers can hang this outside their doors to indicate to a homeless person that they are welcome to come in and get a glass of water or get a snack or use the bathroom. The homeless person is also provided with a yellow knapsack containing useful items such as a bottle for water, an energy blanket, hand warmers and a readymade all-day breakfast meal that can be activated by pouring cold water onto the pack. The students carried out a survey among 300 people in Dundalk, Navan and Dublin and say they got a great response to their idea, with 70% of the respondents reacting positively.
Colm Bermingham, Conor Greene and Paul McEntegart, Patrician High, with their project on video games and deductive reasoning Photo: Michael Fisher
Conor Greene and Paul McEntegart along with Colm Bermingham
Three other Carrickmacross students from transition year at Patrician High were represented in the same section on social and behavioural sciences. Conor Greene and Paul McEntegart along with Colm Bermingham displayed their project on computer games and deductive reasoning, entitled “Can video games make you Sherlock Holmes?” Deductive reasoning is the skill in which a conclusion is based on the agreement of multiple premises that are generally assumed to be true. The trio examined the deductive reasoning powers of test subjects who were chosen from years 1-4 at the school, at the start of the project and again after a five weeks period to enable them to measure any change. To analyse any factors relating to gaming they asked their subjects to complete a weekly survey of their playing habits. They used a small control group who played less popular video games to ensure they were covered. Players at the end of the test period showed improvements in the genres of action, creative, strategy and puzzles but a decrease in the field of sport. Over two-thirds (68%) of subjects improved their scores, 23% did not change and 9% disimproved. The students say the results indicated that deductive reasoning is improved through playing video games, especially playing strategy and puzzle games.
Project on lead levels in water by Niamh Ní Mhaolábhail and Aideen Nic Gabhann, Coláiste Oiriall Photo: Michael Fisher
The fifth project from Monaghan was submitted by Niamh Ní Mhaolábhail and Aideen Nic Gabhann from Coláiste Oiriall entitled: “Anailís ar Leibhéal Luaidhe in uisce ó áiteanna i n-údaráis áitiúla éagsúla” (an analysis of lead levels in water in different local
Authority areas). They wanted to investigate if the water supply people paid for was fit for purpose. During their primary research they discovered that the lead levels in drinking water supplied from group water schemes and private drinking water supply are 99.9% compliant with the EU limit at 10 micrograms per litre of water.
Their secondary research involved collecting samples of water for lead analysis from group water or mains water schemes where there was lead piping. Water was shown to have increased lead levels the longer the water was in direct contact with lead only.
Altogether 2048 projects were entered for the exhibition from 396 schools throughout Ireland. 550 projects were accepted for participation, involving 1134 students. Nearly three-quarters were group projects and just over a quarter were individual projects.
Jack Johnston, President William Carleton Society, at the Blue Bridge Emyvale Photo: Michael Fisher
William Carleton’s ‘Blue Bridge’ across the Mountain Water at Inishdevlin outside Emyvale was one of the points of note on a 5m walk this afternoon organised by the Clogher Valley Ramblers. It started and finished in Emyvale village, with cups of tea beforehand and afterwards at John’s Plaice.
William Carleton, a leading Irish writer of the 19thC came originally from the Clogher area. He wrote about life’s experiences and as he used to walk from his relatives’ house at Derrygola to Glennan for his education at the hedge school there (beside Glennan chapel). He always rested at the Blue Bridge. He has written in his Autobiography about its beauty and about the famous Fair of Emyvale.
Mountain Water at Inishdevlin near Emyvale Photo: Michael Fisher
The Emyvale Development Association organised a festival under the Banner of the Fair of Emyvale for a number of years while money was being raised for the Emyvale Leisure Centre. On Sunday, August 4th 2013 during the annual summer school, all came alive again as Michael Fisher, Director of the William Carleton Society, unveiled a Plaque commemorating William Carleton’s connections with the Blue Bridge.
This event was organised by Emyvale Development Association. In 1997, Monaghan County Council in conjunction with Emyvale Development Association erected a Plaque on the Bridge but weather conditions eventually rotted the plaque backing and it came away from the wall. A new Plaque was prepared and is now in place.
Clogher Valley Ramblers at the Blue Bridge, Emyvale Photo: Michael Fisher
Caitriona Balfe at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)
RED CARPET GLAMOUR IN HOLLYWOOD FOR CAITRIONA BALFE
Northern Standard Thursday 14th January 2016 p.1/2
NB that’s Hollywood USA, by the way, not Holywood in Tydavnet parish near Scotstown!
It looks like a busy year ahead for screen actress Caitriona Balfe from Tydavnet. On Sunday night in Beverly Hills, California, she attended the 73rd annual Golden Globes Awards. She had been one of five nominations for best actress in a TV series/drama for her role as Claire Beauchamp in Outlander. The winner was Taraji P. Henson for her role in Empire. Arriving on the red carpet, Caitriona wore a romantic gothic black gown with lace ruffle sleeves by Alexander McQueen, accessorised with Fred Leighton jewellery, a handbag by Christian Louboutin and Roger Vivier shoes.
Earlier this month the Starz series Outlander won a People’s Choice Award as favourite Cable TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show, with Caitriona receiving an award for Favourite Actress Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Outlander has also received five nominations in the Women’s Image Network Awards, due to be presented next month. Caitriona Balfe has received a nomination in the Actress Drama Series category. A second season of Outlander will start in April.
Prior to this series, Balfe appeared in films such as Super 8, Now You See Me and Escape Plan. She had leading roles in The Beauty Inside, Crush, and H+: The Digital Series.
Meanwhile the trailer has been released for the film Money Monster, Caitriona’s big screen debut. The former model joins a star-studded Hollywood cast of Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Dominic West in the film, which is due to be released in May. Balfe plays the head of PR for a company whose stock market fortunes crashed in the economic downturn. Her fortune, however, seems to be heading in the opposite direction and everyone in Monaghan will wish her well for 2016.
The casualty list is long. After the exertions of the European Cup match in France against Oyonnax which produced a great win, it’s not surprising that there are so many injuries. No further news yet on Tommy Bowe who was a spectator at the annual Christmas Day swim at Emy Lake near his home in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan. So here’s the long list and I hope it’s not too depressing for Ulster rugby fans…..
An injury update on Cave, Payne, Olding, Williams, Arnold, Herbst, Ludik, Bowe, Tuohy and Henderson…
Wiehahn Herbst has recovered from a calf injury and he is likely to feature against Saracens this weekend. Stuart Olding is recovering well from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered against Cardiff last March. He is in full training and is likely to return to competitive action in the coming weeks.
Arlene Foster MLA with her predecessor as First Minister and DUP Leader Peter Robinson MLA at the Balmoral Show in May 2015 Photo: COPYRIGHT Michael Fisher
It was a chance encounter in May last year at the 2015 Balmoral Show at the Maze when I passed the DUP stand. I came across the then party leader and First Minister, Peter Robinson MLA and then Minister for Finance and Personnel Arlene Foster MLA, who had taken over the portfolio a few days earlier at the start of that week. I had not seen either for a while and both readily agreed to have their photograph taken, which I used in an article I wrote for the Northern Standard. The way Peter put his arm around Arlene’s shoulder was perhaps an indication that later in the year she would become his preference for a successor when he announced he was standing down. Both were in very good mood at the time and I was fortunate to get a picture of them in an informal setting, rather than an office or the Assembly chamber.
NI First Minister Peter Robinson MLA with Michael Fisher at Balmoral Show in May 2015
Arlene Foster then turned the tables and very kindly offered to take a photo of myself with the then First Minister, proving her media skills! During our brief encounter, I did not ask Mr Robinson whether he was thinking about Arlene as a successor at that stage. But ten days later he was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack and was fitted with a heart stent. I assure you the timing was coincidental!
Arlene Foster grew up in Roslea, County Fermanagh, just across the border from Scotstown in County Monaghan. Her father, a small farmer, was a full-time RUC member and was injured in an IRA gun attack at their home in 1979. As a teenager in 1988, she survived an IRA bomb in Lisnaskea, which exploded under her school bus while it was being driven by a part-time UDR soldier.
Arlene Foster MLA then Minister for Enterprise with DUP MEP Diane Dodds in Clogher Photo: Copyright Michael
A qualified solicitor and former member of the Ulster Unionist Party, Arlene Foster has always been very courteous in dealing with media requests for interviews. I wish her well in her new post, in which she will share responsibilty for government in Northern Ireland with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness. She has written an article for today’s Belfast Telegraph in which she outlines some of her priorities. She says she wants to lead the North in the right direction and ensure that children grow up in a better Northern Ireland than she did.
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BT Young Scientist Winners 2016 with Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan TD
The winners of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2016 are Maria Louise Fufezan and Diana Bura from Loreto secondary school Balbriggan, county Dublin. Their project was on enzymes and animal feed. It was about whether industrial additives to animal feed are effective at eradicating roundworm. The winners were congratulated by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan T.D.
NI Education Minister John O’Dowd MLA at the exhibition at the RDS
The Stormont Education Minister John O’Dowd MLA also visited the exhibition at the RDS in Dublin to see some of the projects entered by schools from Northern Ireland.
Project on lead in water by two students from Colaiste Oiriall Monaghan
There were five entries from three secondary schools in County Monaghan. Two were from Patrician High School Carrickmacross and two from St Louis secondary school Monaghan. The third featured in the photo was from Colaiste Oiriall Monaghan. 2048 projects and 396 schools entered this year, the 52nd.
How I reported the closure of the Bose factory in January in The Northern Standard Photo: © Michael Fisher
Northern Standard Thursday 7th January 2016
Michael Fisher looks back on some of the main stories of 2015:
BOSE CLOSURE
It was the first major story I wrote for the Northern Standard when I began covering the Carrickmacross area on a temporary basis a year ago. The news came out of the blue, creating shockwaves in Carrick that are still being felt.
In a statement of 290 words issued by a public relations company in Dublin, Bose Ltd. announced it was closing its County Monaghan facility with the loss of 140 jobs. It was probably just a coincidence that the news was released on a Thursday afternoon, the day on which this weekly newspaper is published. So the coverage had to wait until the following week. But this was a decision that had been taken some time beforehand at the company’s headquarters in the United States, where a plant in South Carolina was also being shut down.
Workers at the BOSE factory in Carrickmacross react to news of the plant’s closure Photo: Michael Fisher
What offended the workers most was the way the news was relayed to them. They were called into the canteen at 4pm that black Thursday (22nd January 2015) and by video link were addressed by the company President. They thought it was going to be part of the usual quarterly update on company performance. Instead they were being told they would be made redundant in April.
After lobbying by union representatives and local politicians, the date for the shutdown was postponed until the end of May, in the hope that some workers might be able to find alternative employment. Some like Pat McNally had been with the company since it was established by Dr Amar Bose in July 1978. The plant provided final assembly for select home cinema systems and Wave radios for the European market, and some remanufacturing for the region.
Councillors pressed the IDA to find an alternative employer but so far no replacement has been found, although some clients have viewed the premises. In the aftermath of the closure it was discovered that the factory premises was now owned by a private group, following new arrangements regarding IDA leases.
The last day at Bose (May 29th) was sad for all concerned. The workers came in small groups to collect their redundancy payments. The car park gates were locked and a few days later, the plant and machinery inside the building were put up for auction, bringing to an end a 37-year history of production at the site.
As they left the plant, the workers again pointed out that this had been a profitable operation for Bose, and their Irish base in Europe had never been affected by industrial disputes. They said they had always shown their loyalty to the company and had generally been treated well by their employer, until the founder of the company Dr Amar Bose had died two years ago.
In the words of the Carrickmacross-based Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy, the closure of the plant was devastating for the local economy and community who felt they had been let down by the government. It was the end of an era and a huge blow forthe whole of South Monaghan and beyond.
Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys T.D. congratulates Frances Treanor on her winning self-portrait Photo: Michael Fisher
TEXACO ART WINNER
In April an art student from County Monaghan won the overall prize in the Texaco Children’s Art competition. A great achievement by my neighbour, Frances Treanor from Drumdart, Tydavnet. The 18 year-old was rewarded with a trip to Tokyo to represent Ireland in an international art exhibition, along with a cheque for €1500. Her self-portrait drawing done in black ballpoint pen was part of the 16th International High School Arts Festival along with some other Texaco award winners. Back at her home in Tydavnet she told me about her experiences in Japan, a country she said she would return to if she got a chance.
Her five days there introduced her to Japanese food such as tempura (fish and rice) for which chopsticks were used. She was served dishes of sushi and sukiakki and also got time to do some sightseeing. This included areas such as Harajuku, the Meiji shrine and Takeshita-dori street. Frances also visited a rural area a few hours outside Tokyo and saw a red panda being fed in the zoo. She noticed that the streets were very clean, as well as being busy and hectic. Everyone was carrying an umbrella, Frances told me, and there were special holders at the entrance to the museum where visitors could leave them.
The winning self portrait was completed by her in two weeks and was described by the chair of the judging panel, Professor Declan McGonagle, as having been executed “with the skill and delicacy of a master”. The talented Frances had featured among the prizewinners in 2012 when she won second place in her age category for her work “Lighting Up the Imagination”. She is one of seven children and is studying art at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, alongside her twin sister Maeve.
Frances was keen to thank her former art teachers at St Louis Secondary School in Monaghan, Teresa Mahony and Stephen Penders, who she said had always encouraged and developed her talent.
Electricity pylons beside SONI/NIE sub-station in Co. Antrim Photo: Michael Fisher
EIRGRID PLANS FOR INTERCONNECTOR
EirGrid has begun a fresh attempt to get permission for a second North/South electricity interconnector. It would involve the erection of over 400 pylons carrying a 400 kV high voltage cable across five counties from Meath to Tyrone, including Monaghan. There has been strong opposition to the plan, with over 900 submissions to An Bord Pleanála since the new planning application was submitted in June. The Board is expected to make a decision later this year on whether to hold another public enquiry into the plan. More details of the EirGrid response to the submissions and objections can be found on p.14 and the Northern Standard will continue to report on this controversial issue in the coming months.
Michael Fisher's News 