Karen Downey

Stories by Karen Downey

Below are recent stories by Karen Downey

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 17:05

  Massive 17% cut in Portiuncula's funding

  Portiuncula's budget for 2012 has been slashed by a whopping 17%, the Westmeath Independent can reveal this week.

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 17:05

  Man suffers severe facial injuries during fracas

  A 21-year-old Galway man sustained severe facial injuries during a fracas between two groups during the early hours of Thursday last, January 19.

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 17:00

  Helping to turn puppies into guide dogs

  It's more than just puppy love that prompted locals Martin Finucane and Billy and Mary Gallagher to get involved in the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy walking initiative.

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 17:00

  Veteran doctor forced to cut outpatient clinics at Portiuncula

  Dr John Barton, a consultant at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe who has just entered his 21st year working at the hospital, has this week revealed that he has been forced to cut patient numbers at all of his outpatient clinics due to the increased number of patients being admitted at the hospital since the closure of Roscommon's emergency department last year.

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 16:45

  Independent People - A tourism ambassador

  While there may be a global recession, the tourism industry locally is bringing one man home to his family, ending a daily commute that he has undertaken for the past five years.

• Published: 18 Jan 2012 17:30

  No change in rates as row erupts over Buckley-Byrne proposal

  There was tension in the council chamber on Wednesday evening last after councillors had appeared to agree the budget for 2012.

• Published: 18 Jan 2012 17:30

  Fears mounting for 24-hour A&E in Ballinasloe

  Fears are mounting this week for the future of the 24-hour emergency department at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe

• Published: 4 Jan 2012 17:30

  Three objections lodged to date against massive Chinatown plan

  Three objections to the plans for the European China Trading Hub at Creggan, Athlone, have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála, with the closing date for submissions being Monday next, January 9.

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 09:30

  Future role of Custume Barracks under threat

  National move from three-brigade to two-brigade structure sparks fears

• Published: 7 Dec 2011 17:30

  Castle to open in middle of next year

  Athlone Castle is expected to open in the middle of next year with work due to be finished by the end of June, it emerged this week.

• Published: 30 Nov 2011 17:00

  Business call for postponement of M6 road closure

  Local businesses have called on Roscommon County Council to postpone the closure of the M6 westbound carriageway.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 17:30

  First female Town Clerk appointed

  Athlone's first female Town Clerk has been appointed in the past week.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 17:30

  Moate's Share A Dream house to light up for last time

  Moate's Share A Dream house will light up for Christmas for the last time this week, bringing to an end a nine-year tradition in the town, after helping to raise thousands of euro for the children's charity.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 17:15

  Local photographer to hold Glasson exhibition

  Local photographer Ann Hennessy is holding an exhibition of her photographs at Glasson Craft Gallery from today (Wednesday) until Christmas.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:30

  Chamber calls for 5% reduction in Athlone rates

  Athlone Chamber of Commerce this week called on Athlone Town Council to reduce rates for businesses in the town by 5% in its budget for next year.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:30

  'No guarantee' barriers will prevent flooding

  Athlone Town Council is as prepared as it can be for a flooding event, councillors heard this week, but there are no guarantees the flood defences purchased with OPW funds will be effective.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:30

  One night's gritting treatment costs €11,000

  It costs €11,000 per night to grit the roads of Westmeath during the cold snap, it emerged this week as Director of Services for the Athlone Area Barry Kehoe outlined the council's plans for winter maintenance.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:20

  Green light for RNLI lifeboat on Lough Ree

  The RNLI has given the go ahead for a lifeboat service on Lough Ree, an initiative the local branch of the IWAI (Inland Waterways Association of Ireland) has been working towards for some time now.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:30

  Only enough money left to pay staff at Portiuncula

  Fears that a 12-hour emergency department could be implemented in Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe are mounting this week

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:30

  Lebanon troops due home in two weeks

  Local troops who have been serving in Lebanon for almost five months are due home this month.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:30

  Liverpool plan won't impact on Creggan project: developers

  The company behind the plans for a Euro China Trading Hub at Creggan has said this week that a plan for an International Trade Centre in Liverpool which was recently given the green light by officials will not impact on the Athlone plan.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:30

  Westmeath and Roscommon voters back Michael D

  Longford/Westmeath and Roscommon/South Leitrim voters backed president elect Michael D. Higgins when they went to the polls last Thursday, with the Labour party candidate taking the highest vote in both constituencies after transfers.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 16:30

  Release all your aches and tension with a holistic massage

  A holistic full body massage can be a great way to combat stress, relaxing both mind and body as KAREN DOWNEY found out after a recent visit to Ache Busters on the Coosan Road in Athlone

• Published: 19 Oct 2011 17:00

  "Demoralised" Portiuncula consultant speaks out

  Consultant physician at Portiuncula Hospital Dr John Barton has said this week that he is considering emigrating due to the state of the health service in this country, branding what is happening in the western area at present as unsafe and bad practice.

• Published: 19 Oct 2011 17:00

  Locals to fill majority of first phase of China hub jobs

  The developers behind the Europe China Trading Hub (ECTH) planned for the Creggan area have said the majority of the estimated 1,500 jobs to be created in the first phase are to be filled by local people.

• Published: 12 Oct 2011 18:00

  "Who killed my father?"

  Moate man David Kelly confronted presidential hopeful Martin McGuinness on Monday while he was canvassing in Athlone, branding the Sinn Féin politician a liar and calling on him to reveal the names of those who killed his father, Private Paddy Kelly.

• Published: 12 Oct 2011 17:30

  Green light for South Ros wind farm

  Roscommon County Council has given the green light for a wind farm in South Roscommon, which will see a total of 14 wind turbines constructed in Dysart.

• Published: 21 Sep 2011 18:00

  Community involvement key to Athlone canal restoration

  There was a large turnout for Monday night's meeting on the restoration of the canal at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Such was the attendance that extra seating had to be added as people turned out to hear what was planned for the waterway on the town's westside.

• Published: 21 Sep 2011 18:00

  Still no end date for Glasson sewerage scheme

  Already two years behind deadline, there is still no definite date for the ending of work on the Glasson/Ballykeeran/Coosan sewerage scheme, it has emerged.

• Published: 21 Sep 2011 18:00

  Work on dual carriageway junctions to begin before year end

  Phase two of the upgrade of the dual carriageway, which involves installing traffic signals at three of the junctions, will begin at the end of October or the beginning of November and will take five to six months to complete.