When you are going through particularly dark times, all you want is someone to shine a light and show you the way.
That is the theme behind the debut single from Drogheda singer/songwriter Kelley McArdle, whose song Shine a Light in aid of the Rape Crisis Centre, is released next week.
A former Voice of Ireland contestant, the new single is based on a very dark period of her life when she turned to the centre for support. I had just endured the worst year of my life when I wrote this song, and I know how scary it can be when you re going through it, and I went looking for a song for comfort, and couldn t find one, says Kelley. So, I put my thoughts on paper, and wrote one myself, and it really helped me to start healing. My hope is that this song resonates with someone who is struggling right now and shows them that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel .
We ve grown used to seeing them on every beach along our coast. Hardy swimmers - mostly women to be fair - voluntarily braving icy waters in all weathers, and seeming to actually enjoy what to many would be punishment for a heinous crime!
LMFM By Ruth O Connell Sinn Féin Cllr. Tomás Sharkey wants Louth County Council s housing policy to be re-examined
The Dundalk Municipal District is to write to Louth County Council s Housing Strategic Policy Committee to highlight that the area accounts for half of the housing needs in the county.
Sinn Féin Cllr. Tomás Sharkey made the proposal at the municipal district s monthly meeting yesterday evening, arguing that after COVID-19, it s the biggest crisis affecting people in County Louth with one in every two social housing applicants and half of those being placed in temporary emergency accommodation living in the Dundalk Municipal District.
There s been a huge upsurge overall in voluntary effort in 2020, which has been borne out by national research.
And the people of Drogheda have more than proved they are generous in heart and spirit when it comes to giving of timeand money, doubling their efforts during COVID. 2020 was a difficult year on so many fronts, however it was also the year that Irish people proved that local community spirit is alive and well, said Louth Volunteer Centre Manager Gráinne Berrill. Here in Louth we had a 150% increase in volunteer registrations in March and April; and there was an upsurge in volunteer supports to people within the community - whether that was local GAA clubs doing shopping for people in their local area or services like Boyne Fishermen s and Drogheda River Rescue collecting and delivering medication.