Farming Award for Young Leitrim Man
Twenty-one year old Ballinaglera man, Shane McKeon, flew the flag for Lovely Leitrim recently at the F.B.D. Young Farmer of the Year Awards. They took place in the Newpark Hotel in Killkenny where he picked up the Special Prize for community involvement on the second of September. Shane, who is a cattle and sheep farmer, was competing against twenty-nine other farmers. The Special Prize goes to the farmer who is deemed to have made the greatest impact outside of his own farm in the wider farming community and the community in general. F.B.D. is Ireland's leading Insurance Broker in the Food & Agricultural Sector.

Tourism Boost for County
Tourism in County Leitrim received a boost at the start of September when it was announced that some of the county's angling spots are to become the subject of significant investment. Lough McHugh, just outside Mohill; Gullabo Lake, near Carrigallen; and Butler's Marina, Carrick-On-Shannon, will also receive funding as well as the famed Glenear Waterfall, where €1,000,000 has already been spent.

The Dock Nominated for Award

The Dock, in Carrick, has just been nominated for a regional award in the inaugural Live Music Venue of the Year Awards, which will take place in the Capital on Saturday, October fourth.

Funding for Carrigallen Business

Brian Gormley of Electrical Repairs in Carrigallen is to receive €4,131 in funding from Clár Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, announced recently. The Drumharkin-Drumrooske Group water scheme near Fenagh village recently benefited from Clár funding to the tune of €68,000.

Funding for Town Trails

The Minister for Sport, Arts and Tourism, Martin Cullen, has announced that there will be government funding for historical walks and trails in towns within the region.

New Tesco Store in Ballinamore

A new Tesco has just opened in the town of Ballinamore and it's arrival has been welcome by many local people.

Mohill Filmmaker Launches McGahern Study

Ronan Gallagher, who now lives on the shores of Lough Errew in Rynn, in the Parish of Gortletteragh, launched a new film based on Leitrim's most famous literary figure, the late John McGahern. The premier took place in the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-On-Shannon on the night of September eleventh. The thirty-minute film looks at McGahern from a very local perspective.

Dromod 'Cleans Up' at Awards Again

The results of the Annual Tidy Town Awards were announced at the start of September. Dromod once again coming in first within County Leitrim, followed by second place Carrick-On-Shannon and Cloone coming in third.

Workhouse Memorial Opened in Carrick
The official opening of the recently renovated workhouse attic in St. Patrick Hospital in Carrick-On-Shannon took place on Friday September fifth. This is a memorial to the thousands of poor people who sought refuge there during the Great Famine. The workhouse was built in 1841 at a cost of €11,000. There were two more workhouses in operation in the county during this very bleak period in local and Irish history in Mohill and Manorhamilton.

Leitrim Turning Green?
The Green Party has announced that three candidates will contest the 2009 local elections. Gerry Farry will go forward in the Manorhamilton area, Johnny Gogan will contest a seat in the Dromahaire area, while Garret McDaid will once again go forward in the Carrick-On-Shannon area.

High Praise for the Oarsman
The Oarsman Pub in Carrick-On-Shannon has once again been included in the Michelin Guide to Eating Out in Pubs for the fourth year running. The book is a very comprehensive list of the best pubs for eating out in Britain and Ireland.

U.S. Vice-Presidential Candidate Has Leitrim Roots?

U.S. Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, has strong links to Lovely Leitrim, as it has been claimed in the Rossinver-Kiltyclogher area. It has been claimed that Sarah is related to the Sheeran family. Apparently, a researcher is currently investigating Mrs. Palin's roots in the region.

Sculpture Centre Opens in Manorhamilton

Friday, September fifth, saw the opening of the re-developed and refurbished Sculpture Centre in Manorhamilton. The center incorporates a spacious gallery, production and design studios.

Mohill's Golden Girls
There was a joyous homecoming welcome on the street for the successful Mohill Under-13 Girls Basketball Team, who captured gold medals at the All-Ireland Community Games finals recently held, as usual, in Mosney, County Meath. The team is trained and coached by local men John Dugdale and Ciaran Moran. Team members include Geraldine Keegan and Michelle Beirne, who really covered herself in glory at the games as she also picked up a gold in her individual event.

Funding for Ballinamore School Shuttle
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keefe, has confirmed that the Department of Education will not only meet the shortfall in funding for the Ballinamore school bus shuttle, but will also meet the cost of service through to June 2009.

Let There Be Music
A Carrick publican (owner of a pub) has recently had his music ban lifted. John Cleary of Burkes Bar has been given permission to resume music inside his premises but the ban still remains on the playing of music outside.

Beautiful Business in Drumsna
Leitrim's All-Ireland winning captain, Sinéad Brennan, recently performed the opening of a couple of new businesses in Drumsna, namely Alma C's Beauty Salon and Icon Hair Designs. The two young local women behind the businesses are Alma Creegan from Cloone Village and Harriet McCrann from Mohill Town.

911 Hero Remembered in Keshcarrigan
A wreath laying ceremony took place during the month of September in Keshcarrigan to remember Father Michael Judge, who was killed in New York City on September 11, 2001. It is now known that he died while giving last rights to a dying fireman. Father Michael's father was born in Keshcarrigan and left Ireland in 1926. A few years back, a 'Peace Garden' was built in Kesh as a memorial to Father Judge. Padraig Lynch from nearby Kilclar also laid a wreath beside the lakeside memorial for his two cousins who died on that fateful day.

Junior Certification Results
As usual, the junior certification results were released during the month of September. About 430 students in Leitrim were tested in this years exams. Schools throughout the county have expressed satisfaction with the results.

Margaret, 'Angel of New Orleans'
During the month of September, American visitors joined in with locals at the townland of Tully, Carrigallen, to celebrate the building of a replica cottage at the birthplace of Margaret Gaffney. Margaret went on to become Margaret, 'Angel of New Orleans'. She is believed to have been born in Tully in 1813 but, while still young, she emigrated with her family to Baltimore. Not long after arriving in America, she lost her entire family to illness. Margaret got married and moved to New Orleans, where she would spend the rest of her life. However, tragedy struck once more when she lost her husband and first born to illness. After these tragic events, she volunteered to help with the city's orphanage. She soon set up her own bakery in aid of the orphans. She was to become a household name in her adopted city and, some years back, a statue was erected there in her memory. She is, in fact, regarded by many as a Saint. Margaret passed away in 1882.

Sinéad Plays for Life
Cloone girl, Sinéad Brennan, who captained Lovely Leitrim to Ireland ladies success in football, is now planning to run all the way to Africa in aid of charity. The Playing for Life charity was set up by well-known R.T.E. personality Tracy Piggot and has teamed up with the Ladies Football Association, Tesco and Sports Ireland News.

Official Openings
A number of official openings have taken place within the county during the month of September. Among them was Juliano's Italian Restaurant in Ballinamore.

65th Anniversary
Carrick-based drama group, Breffni Players, celebrated their 65th anniversary during September, with a function in 'The Dock' theater in the town.

Carbon Labeling in Leitrim's Tesco Stores
Leitrim's two major Tesco Stores, in Carrick and Ballinamore, will soon be introducing carbon labeling on a number of its own brands. Carbon labeling is a new type of manufacturing label system used to determine the amount of carbon used in the production, packaging and transportation of a product before its arrival on the supermarket shelf.

Good News for Drumshanbo
The town of Drumshanbo received some good news during the month when it was announced that local businessmen, Niall and Kevan McManus, have taken over the Ramada Hotel just on the outskirts of the town. This news follows several weeks of rumor and speculation that the hotel was to close its doors due to financial difficulties. The hotel employs about forty-five people, including well-known chef John Reynolds, who ran his own restaurant, 'The Soup Bowl', in Mohill for a number of years