DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Chris Clinton takes control of Dundalk FC Page 2
Dundalk Dog Rescue’s Paddy honoured at Volunteer Awards Page 6
Local Sports Partnership keeping Louth moving Page 10
Wednesday, 12th November, 2025. Vol. 18, Issue 46 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
‘Our world has been turned upside down’ By Paul Byrne
2025 started off wonderfully for Bay Estate man Darren White and his wife Nicola with the couple who got married last year finding out that they were going to become parents for the first time. The excitement and joy were curtailed however in June when Nicola took ill and was given a diagnosis by doctors of Stage 4 bowel cancer. The news hit the couple with Darren telling the Dundalk Leader that things just spiraled downwards very quickly. “It was a joyous start to the year when we found out Nicola was pregnant but when she got sick in June things just spiraled out of control very quickly. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the bowel in June
and then a month later she had to undergo major surgery and intensive treatment. “This was all while she was still pregnant and then in August while she was still recovering from the surgery it was decided by the brilliant team of doctors in the Mater Hospital that the safest course of action was to have the baby at 28 weeks in August. Jake was born on the 15th of August almost three months premature. We were hoping he would be brought to the Rotunda as it is only a few minutes walk from the Mater where Nicola was put in a high dependency unit after giving birth. Unfortunately the Rotunda was full and our newborn son Jake was cared for in the Coombe hosDarren and Nicola White with their recently born son Jake. The couple say they pital. have been overwhelmed with the response to their GoFundMe campaign. Continued on Page 2