Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 11h

Yup!

Feljin Jose @feljin.ie · 11h

We're so screwed

Minister says climate costs warning is ‘back of envelope stuff’
Darragh O’Brien says he does not believe Ireland will face fines of up to €26 billion

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Reposted by Cllr Marianne Butler

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · 1d

Despite ambitious promises in their manifestos and Programme for Government, the Government parties have failed to invest adequately in childcare in this Budget cycle.

@rodericogorman.bsky.social speaking on RTÉ Budget coverage today 👇

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Reposted by Cllr Marianne Butler

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 22h

🏡 On this first ever #WorldVacantHomesDay, we highlight one of the biggest contradictions of our time: too many homes without people, too many people without homes.

🇪🇺 EU countries must prioritise renovating & reallocating vacant houses for social housing.

There is no place like home.
Yet too many of them are vacant.

It’s not only a housing crisis, it’s also a vacant homes crisis.” The graphic shows bar charts comparing the national percentage of vacant homes (yellow bars) and the percentage of vacant homes in capital cities (dark green bars) across several European countries. The countries shown are the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. A line marks 50% on the y-axis. Source: Housing Europe Observatory, 2023. Note: Data from countries with available comparable data.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 22h

🏠💚 It’s International Vacant Homes Day!

Know of an empty house in your area? Report it easily (and anonymously) on vacanthomes.ie and help turn vacant houses into homes 🏡✨

If you need any help with this, contact me directly.

#VacantHomes #InternationalVacantHomesDay #Louth #Dundalk #HomesForAll

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 14d

Great to meet politicians from both sides of the border today at the Narrow Water Bridge site.

The Carlingford Lough Greenway underpass opens tomorrow for cyclists and walkers.

Roll on end of 2027 when the bridge officially opens to traffic!
#Louth #Greenway #Carlingford #ActiveTravel

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 16d

Thinking of starting or growing a business in Louth? 💡

Join the Local Enterprise Office for a free Lunch & Learn session:

📍 Dundalk Library
📅 Tues 7 Oct
⏰ 12–1pm

A chance to hear about supports available + connect with others in business.

#Louth #Dundalk

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 19d

Congrats to Louth County Council on winning the Smart Cities & Urban Development Award at the Ireland e-Government Awards for their work on the #VARCITIES project 🌿💚

A real council-wide achievement supporting healthier, people-centred places!

David Hanratty, Louth CoCo, and Minister Jack Chambers with award.

Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 20d

At the Sept Dundalk MD meeting, I raised concerns about late-night noise, rubbish & habitat damage from vans parking on council-owned foreshores.

We need proper spaces for camper vans — but also clear rules on where they shouldn’t be. I’ve asked if prohibition orders could help regulate this.

Camper van regulations needed at busy Louth tourist hotspots – ‘It seems like everybody has one’

It’s an idyllic way to travel and explore the outdoors, but one Louth councillor has highlighted concerns around the impact of camper vans descending on specific locations.

www.independent.ie

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 20d

I have raised concerns about the slow pace of key road & Active Travel projects.

We held back work on the Dublin Rd to prioritise Active Travel, yet progress has stalled. The ‘Pathfinder’ scheme passed Part 8 last year but is still tied up in tendering.

Dundalk urgently needs delivery!

#Dundalk

‘We still haven’t delivered a major project’ – Frustration over delays to Louth Active Travel scheme

‘Frustration’ over progress on Active Travel schemes in Louth emerged this week as a local councillor said: “We still haven’t delivered a major project,” despite some being in the pipeline “for many y...

www.independent.ie

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · 21d

Thanks to Olivia Ryan for covering Louth CoCo meeting last week. I wanted to bring up the idea of a trailhead along the proposed Carlingford to Dundalk Greenway. I know the route has not been finalised yet but I want to get clarification about a trailhead in Dundalk.

#Dundalk #Greenway #Louth

Louth council-owned land at quay ‘ideal’ for controversial Dundalk to Carlingford Greenway

Council owned lands in Dundalk would be ideal for a ‘trailhead’ along the proposed Carlingford to Dundalk Greenway, councillors heard at their September meeting.

www.independent.ie

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Sep 2

♻️ LAST CALL: Dundalk Mattress & Couch Disposal Amnesty♻️

Drop off your unwanted mattresses & couches FREE of charge at:

📍 V&W Civic Amenity Centre, Dundalk (A91 X72W)
📅 TOMORROW 3rd Sept – 9:30am to 5:30pm
🕤 9:30am – 5:30pm

🚗 Max 3 items per vehicle
🏠 Domestic users only

More info: 042 9335457

Information poster from Louth County Council on Amnesty.

Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Aug 20

Thanks to the Dundalk Democrat for reporting my comments on Uisce Éireann's work plans, and the removal of Coes Road East from the roads programme.

Uisce Éireann planning major works in Dundalk & Blackrock

Inside: Plans for Dundalk & Blackrock; impact on roads programme; reaction from Cllr Marianne Butler

www.dundalkdemocrat.ie

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Aug 18

Louth County Council has launched the Active Louth consultation to shape the future of play, sport & recreation.

📍 Upcoming Information Events:
Ardee – Sept 1, 5–7pm
Drogheda – Sept 4, 5–7pm
Dundalk – Sept 9, 5–7pm

Surveys at link below 👇

louthcoco.ie/en/services/...

Information sheet on Active Louth Surveys.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Aug 18

♻️ Mattress & Couch Amnesty – Sept 2025 ♻️

📍 Wed 3rd Sept (9:30–5:30)
• Dundalk V&W Civic Amenity Centre
• Drogheda V&W Civic Amenity Centre

📍 Thurs 4th Sept (9:30–3:30)
• Kieran & McGee Ardee Livestock Sales Yard

⚠️ Dundalk & Drogheda collections are Wed only.

#Louth #Sustainability #Community

Information sheet from Louth County Council on Mattress and Couch amnesty.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · May 31

🚨 Louth CoCo plans CCTV in Dundalk (Williamson Place & Holy Redeemer laneway) to tackle illegal dumping.

🗓️ Submissions close on 13th June 2025

📩 Email your thoughts to: [email protected]

Or write to: Waste Management & Environment Section, County Hall, Dundalk, A91 KFW6.

Poster with Marianne Butler and image of illegal dumping.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · May 27

Just registered to vote in the next Seanad Elections! You can too at 👉 seanadvoter.ie

✅ Irish citizen
✅ 18+
✅ Degree from a designated college (incl. DCU & DkIT)

🗓️ Deadline: 26 Feb 2026

#SeanadVote #RegisterToVote #Louth #Dundalk

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · May 9

🚰 Uisce Éireann Mains flushing in Dundalk (14–30 May, 8am–3pm) may cause supply issues/discoloured water in Finnabair, Muirhevna, Bay Estate, Avenue Rd & more.

Traffic mgmt in place.

Use Ref: LOU00092741 on water.ie for more info.

Allow 3–4 hrs after works for normal flow. #Louth #Dundalk

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Apr 10

Special evening at County Hall in Dundalk tonight, honouring two of Louth’s most inspirational sportswomen – Kate O’Connor & Eve McCrystal – with a Civic Reception hosted by Louth CoCo 💚

They have lifted our county and inspired young people – especially girls – to dream big!
#Dundalk #Louth

Cllr Butler and Kate O'Connor at the reception tonight.

Eve McCrystal and Kate O'Connor being interviewed at the reception tonight.

Kate O'Connor being honoured at the reception tonight.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Apr 9

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️Best of luck to everyone taking part in the DkIT Dundalk 10k & 5k tonight! 🥳

There may be some traffic delays so please obey the stewards, especially at junctions - see images for more info.

#Dundalk #Blackrock #Haggardstown #DkITDundalk10k

Notice that there may be delays from DKIT Sport to Xerox to Sextons and the Rock Road tonight from 6.45pm to 9pm.

Promo poster for run - 7pm, Wednesday 9th April at DKIT Sport.

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Reposted by Cllr Marianne Butler

Malcolm Noonan @malcolmnoonan.bsky.social · Apr 5

Census 2022 found 163,433 properties (excluding holiday homes) sitting vacant across this county. 23,000 of those were vacant on census night in 2011. Heritage-led regeneration can bring those properties back on stream and provide much-needed housing in the heart of our towns, villages and cities.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Apr 4

🏪 Applications now open for Louth’s 2025 Shopfront Improvement Grant Scheme! Local businesses can get support to revamp their shopfronts ✨

📅 Scheme opens Mon, 7th April
📅 Deadline: Fri, 26th Sept
📩 Email for more info: [email protected]
🔗 Details & guide on louthcoco.ie

#Louth #Dundalk

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Reposted by Cllr Marianne Butler

The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · Apr 3

Am I too late to apply to boost my UK pension?

Effective deadline is just over 24 hours away so this really is your last chance to lock in access to a UK state pension or enhance the pension already paid into

www.irishtimes.com

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Mar 28

📢 Applications for the 2025 National Lottery Good Causes Awards are now open!

Over 310 Louth projects received funding between 2020-2024

📅 Deadline: April 4th, 5PM
👉 Apply now: www.lottery.ie/good-causes/...

Please share with anyone eligible.

#GoodCausesAwards #Louth #Dundalk

National Lottery promotional image for Good Causes.

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Cllr Marianne Butler @cllrmarianne.bsky.social · Mar 28

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Rolling Road Closures & Route Info for the Life Style Sports Dundalk Half Marathon & 10KM - Sunday, March 30th, 2025! 🏅

🌟 Best of luck to all participants and a huge thank you to the organisers, volunteers, and spectators for making this event a highlight in the Dundalk calendar!

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Reposted by Cllr Marianne Butler

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · Mar 25

Giving extra speaking time to backbench Independent TD's should not come at the cost of reduced scrutiny of the Government.

Any changes to Dáil rules should strengthen accountability - not weaken the House.

@rodericogorman.bsky.social

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