Plotting partition: The other Border options that might have changed Irish history Three plans were considered for the Irish Border before the six counties model was adopted
Fri, May 21, 2021, 16:08 Updated: about 5 hours ago Conor Mulvagh
A former customs guard hut is illuminated on the Irish Border in Ravensdale, Ireland. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty
The Irish Border is the defining feature of Ireland’s modern political geography. Established in law in the 1920 Government of Ireland Act, it was intended separate two parts of the United Kingdom that were to undergo simultaneous devolution. When the mechanisms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty brought the Irish Free State into being in December 1922, that boundary line became an international border. However, the roots of partition go back even further to before the first World War.
Sawmill group Glennon Brothers buys rival Balcas Deal unites leading names in Irish timber industry
about 3 hours ago
Sawmill group Glennon Brothers is buying rival Balcas in a deal that will merge two of the industry’s best-known names.
Glennon Brothers, owner of timber processing plants in Ireland and Scotland, has agreed to buy Co Fermanagh-based Balcas from owner SHV Energy, subject to approval from competition regulators.
Balcas operates a sawmill near Enniskillen, making timber products used in building, farming and packaging, along with renewable energy plants at its Co Fermanagh base and in Invergordon in Scotland.
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Glennon Brothers has sawmills in counties Cork and Longford and Troon in Scotland, which supply the Irish and British markets.
THE major environmental improvement scheme at the Diamond in Enniskillen town centre, just completed at a cost of £283,000, has been officially opened by the Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Mr. Caldwell McClaughry. Mr. Jim Foster, divisional planning officer with the Department of the Environment; Mr. Gerry Burns, the Clerk and Chief Executive of the Council, a number of councillors, businesspeople and other guests attended the special event which took place last Friday afternoon. The scheme, which involved the provision of paving, street lighting, tree planting, railings and a bandstand was briefly toured by the gathering with many of the guests exchanging personal views about the development.