DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Make Way Day takes place in Dundalk
Fr Ronan finds inner peace
Aoife’s sports mission for local kids
Page 6
Page 8
Page 4
Wednesday, 27th September, 2023. Vol. 16, Issue 39 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888. | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
Creches close over pay dispute By Tamara O’Connell A NUMBER of local childcare providers attended a protest outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday for the first of three consecutive days of action against a number of issues facing the sector Up to 4000 people attended the protest yesterday asking the government to engage in meaningful dialogue. The government have claimed that they are spending €1 billion a year on childcare but that figure is refuted by childcare providers who claim only half of that figure is making it’s way into the sector. The manager of the Holy Fam-
ily Community Creche and Claddagh Treasures Pre-school, while supporting the protest, has decided to keep the Dundalk childcare providers open during a strike by other providers this week. Irene McCaffrey told The Dundalk Leader that “on this occasion we decided not to join the planned threeday strike by childcare providers”. “We are a community not-for-profit organisation. We do recognise that changes are needed for childcare staff, and that they are not being treated properly by the Government in relation to professionalism and increases in pay. Continued on Page 2
I love you my deer!
Alan Graham, owner of 23 Seats in Crowe Street, was out walking in Ravensdale Forest last weekend when he captured this beautiful image of two deer sharing a tender moment.