STORIES OF THE WEEK: Tough start to Leinster MFC for Meath and Enfield house fire

Our most read articles of this week are listed below starting with number one:

Royals slump to heavy loss in Stamullen

There was little to warm the cockles of the hardy Meath supporters who braved the bitterly cold conditions at Stamullen tonight as they watched their side slump to a heavy 1-6 to 1-18 Leinster MFC loss to Kildare.

As is often the case at minor football it can be a venture into the unknown, but much more was expected of a Meath team that has worked hard under the guidance of Joe Cowley and his excellent coaches.

For more on this story click here.

Bridge over the River Blackwater will ‘transform’ Navan

Meath Co Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tommy Reilly has welcomed the commencement of works on the new bridge over the River Blackwater and says it will be a huge asset to Navan once completed.

He said the bridge, which is part of a new link road between the Ratholdren and Kells Roads, will bring significant traffic congestion relief, while also giving the public pedestrian access to Blackwater Park from the west side of the town.

For more on this story click here.

‘I just stood and watched as my life went up in smoke’

An Enfield woman who lost her home, her pets and her husband's ashes in a devastating fire has told of her “horrendous” ordeal and “gratitude” for the community who have been rallying around her.

Joan Shannon says she is blessed that neither she nor her two teenage sons were in the house when the blazing inferno took hold but described being “heartbroken” at the loss of her two dogs and cat.

For more on this story click here.

Residential and retail development plan for derelict Clonee site

A LONG-TERM derelict site in the centre of Clonee village could be transformed if plans for a residential and retail development get the go ahead from Meath Co Council.

Indus Properties Limited is seeking permission for a mixed-use building ranging in height from two to five storeys on the site of the former Joe Molloy's Bookmakers on Main Street, Clonee. The site has been derelict for many years and was added to Meath Co Council's Derelict Sites Register two years ago.

For more on this story click here.

Johnstown/Walterstown parish priest wishes nephew, Simon Harris ‘wisdom, prudence and right judgement’ in new role

Fr Michael Cahill, the parish priest of Johnstown/Walterstown and the uncle of Simon Harris, says he wishes the new Fine Gael leader “wisdom, prudence and right judgement” in his new role.

Next month Harris is expected to become the youngest taoiseach in the history of the State, succeeding Leo Varadkar.

For more on this story click here.