A round-up of other home news in brief
Joyrider damages new soccer pitch
A Co Galway soccer pitch developed after years of fundraising has been vandalised just three weeks after it was opened.
Gardaí are investigating after a joyrider did a series of manoeuvres on the pitch at Indreabhan, Connemara.
The incident is not believed related to similar vandalism at a Connemara golf course.
Members of Cumann Sacar Chois Fharraige must now raise further finance to restore it. Club official Pádraig Ó Neachtain said there was widespread anger in the community. “Údarás na Gaeltachta helped to fund the erection of a fence and a gate, mainly because there was a risk of something like this happening,” he said.
Waterford outlet centre would create 500 jobs, says firm
WATERFORD City Council is considering a planning application for a factory outlet centre that could create up to 500 jobs at a former pitch-and-putt course on the Cork Road in the city, writes Ciarán Murphy.
A spokesman for Parker Green International, the owner of the site, said yesterday the centre would create 300 jobs during the construction phase and more than 200 retail and supervisory positions when operational.
Retailers sell surplus or end of season stock at factory outlet centres, often at a discount of up to 60 per cent. The centre would include up to 34 stores. The spokesman said the Waterford project, which is being promoted by Junction One Investments Ltd on a site owned by Parker Green, is “set to draw trade from a wide radius”.
Mayor of Waterford Cllr Mary Roche yesterday described “news of any jobs in Waterford” as “very positive so long as it fits in with the city’s shopping policies”. Ms Roche said: “At the moment, this is being adjudicated on, and while I haven’t seen the latest plans, the site is one of the areas we have designated as a district centre.”
Women arrested on Border thefts
Gardaí in Meath confirmed that two women were arrested in relation to a series of thefts that took place at locations on both sides of the Border in a space of a few hours last weekend, writes Elaine Keogh.
It is believed the women first came to attention after a Mercedes car was stolen from Newry, Co Down, on Sunday afternoon.
The car was later found abandoned on the Dublin road in Navan. A white van was also taken, and was found in Ronanstown in Dublin on Sunday night.
Gardaí said thefts had been reported in Dundalk, Navan, Trim and Celbridge, and the vehicles were suspected of being used in them.