Archive - Is the River Nore in Kilkenny a dangerous health hazard? (1973)

A hard hitting attack on those responsible for polluting the River Nore and an appeal for an enquiry and urgent action from Kilkenny Co Council is made in a report by members of St John’s Cumann of Fianna Fail.

The Kilkenny City stretch of the Nore is described as a dangerous health hazard and stiffer penalties for dumping are called for.

These enterprising and civic-minded youngsters found that oil, refuse and untreated sewage floats on the river and that rats abound.

They also noticed carcasses of cats and dogs and bicycle frames lodged in the river. They are also worried about the danger to children.

“It is the opinion of the Cumann that the pollution content of the river is enormous,” they said. “We feel that the river at present is a dangerous health hazard to would-be swimmers and that a little more encouragement in the form of stiffer penalties and frequent prosecution would curtail unnecessary dumping.”

SOLDIERS PASS OUT
If the present rate of recruiting continues in A Company then no soldier will have to do an unreasonable period outside Kilkenny if he wishes.

This was the message Col CJ Burke, O/C Curragh Command, had for the men of the second platoon A Company 3rd Infantry Batt at their passing out parade at James Stephens Barracks. In all 23 soldiers passed out. Among those was a lone Kilkennyman, J O’Neill of Harristown, Graignamanagh.

ARMS RAID
Following the raid for arms at Waterford Military Barracks in the early hours of Friday morning a number of houses of well-known Republicans in the South Kilkenny district were raided by Gardaí and Special Branch officers in a search for missing weapons.

There were no arrests and nothing was found during the raids.

GORSE FIRES
Firemen in Johnstown and Urlingford have been very busy recently with gorse fires. There have been a number of blazes in the area but none have been very serious.

In Kilkenny City the firemen are having a fairly quiet time. For the past week they haven’t received any calls.

TOP WORLD SOCCER TEAM
The world’s number one ladies soccer team will be in Kilkenny at the weekend for a game with a Republic of Ireland selection.

Stade de Reims, with 10 French internationals, take on the star-studded Republic of Ireland at the St James’s Park greyhound pitch on Sunday at 3.30pm.

The Irish side includes four Kilkenny girls - Irish goalkeeper Anne Griffith, Kay Ramsbottom, Connie Jordan and Margaret Delaney.