WILL Paris Hilton, American socialite and heiress to the Hilton Hotel billion-dollar fortune, will visit Monaghan at the end of this month?
With their tongue firmly planted n their cheek, organisers of the Flat Lake Literary and Arts Festival have claimed that she will. They say that the glamorous model, actress and singer cancelled numerous glittering parties to attend the Festival at Hilton Park in Scotshouse.
However the organisers say there are no rooms left for her in Hilton House! “Hilton house is currently overbooked with other talented artists. Neil Jordan, Sinead O’ Connor, Colm Toibin and Rhys I fans are all refusing to give up their rooms so we are busy trying to find a local B&B to accommodate Paris.
“A local bachelor, Bobby Brogan, has offered to build a special extension onto his farmhouse and has guaranteed it will be ready in time for her arrival – so we are looking into that,” said Kevin Allen, festival organiser.
Mr Allen is further claiming that the Hilton hottie also wants to investigate the rumoured ancestral link between her grandfather and oil tycoon Waylon Hilton and the Hilton dynasty.
The saucy ex-convict, who is fresh out of jail for a drink-driving offence, may even win a part in Fair City during the X Tractor talent contest, but will have to beat off stiff competition from the likes of Shane McGowan and his wife Victoria Clarke. The festival will take place on August 25 and 26, for further information visit www.theflatlakefestival.com

A PAINTING by the world’s most expensive living artist will feature anonymously in a charity auction to be held during the Flat Lake Literary and Arts Festival at Hilton Park in Scotshouse later this month.
Conceptual artist Damien Hirst has specially commissioned a painting for the ‘Hirst-A-Like’ auction which will be mixed among thirty other local artist’s paintings for local bidders and art collectors alike to try to identify.
Hirst was named the most expensive living artist last month after the sale of a medicine chest, Lullaby Spring, for £9.65 million stg at Sotheby’s in London. Hirst previously held the title of second most expensive artist after American Jasper Johns, with the sale of his iconic 14-foot tiger shark immersed in formaldehyde in a vitrine.
The valuable unseen painting was due to be flown to Hilton Park by Hirst’s personal Lear jet this week but the jet was refused landing permission on the estate. The painting is now being flown into Knock airport, where a private security firm will look after the painting before the festival takes place on 25-27 August.
Hirst will be joined by a plethora of other artists and writers on the stunning 500 acre estate for the first annual festival hosted by cult filmmaker, Kevin Allen, and writer Patrick McCabe. Visit www.theflatlakefestival.com for more details.

THE REST of Ireland queued to do the lotto last Saturday evening while the people of Monaghan were queuing in their cars on the road to Omagh in support of our fantastic Farney men!
At half past four on Saturday evening last, July 28, Monaghan cars kitted out with flags and carrying excited fans heading to the Monaghan v Donegal clash grinded to a halt almost two miles outside of Emyvale on the N2 – the first of many gridlocks along the way.
Further along the road, queues developed outside Aughnacloy and on the approach to the Ballygawley roundabout. Frantic fans did u-turns in the middle of the road and slipped up side roads bound for Augher and Clogher to dodge their fellow supporters. Some even went as far as sneaking past the queuing traffic in the hope of reaching Healy Park in time!
And boy was it well worth the wait! Luckily, throw-in was postponed until 7.15pm which allowed many of the remaining supporters to make it into the grounds on time. But with a 2-12 to 1-7 finish for Banty’s Boys, the chances are the whole county will be queuing again very very soon…but this time southwards as the blue and white army of fans make their way to Croke Park on August 12.
Monaghan team, you soldiers of football –WE SALUTE YOU! To read the full match report, turn to page 86 now.

MINISTER for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, spoke of his support and hope for the re-opening of the Great Northern Railway in Monaghan during a visit to Clones on Tuesday, July 31.
“I would advocate the re-development of the railway in Monaghan; I know there are a lot of commuters travelling from Monaghan to Dublin daily that would avail of a rail service.
“It would mean a big investment but, I believe it would support a large catchment area. I would encourage feasibility studies to assess the possibility of re-opening the railway line and perhaps then continuing it into Northern Ireland,” Minister Ryan said.
These comments come only weeks after the re-opening of the Ulster Canal was confirmed. “The re-opening of the Ulster Canal is hugely significant for Clones and the surrounding areas and it certainly had my full support,” said Minister Ryan.
The Green Party member was visiting Clones where he enjoyed a private lunch before visiting an environmental project in Cavan with fellow party member and Monaghan County Councillor VP Martin.
Minister Ryan also placed emphasis on the local entrepreneurial spirit “One of our best natural resources is the good entrepreneurs we have in the North East. It is very important that we encourage this business fervour for the future of Cavan and Monaghan.”
The minister also stressed the importance of fully utilising the spectacular landscapes of Cavan and Monaghan and further developing its tourism potential. The GNR was closed fifty years ago and will be commemorated across Monaghan during Heritage week this August.

A SECOND headstone has been found smashed to pieces in the graveyard of St. Patrick’s Church, Corracrin - only feet away from a headstone that was destroyed in a similar act of vandalism three weeks ago.
The shocking discovery of this scandalous act of vandalism last Saturday, July 28 comes only weeks after the Monaghan Post reported the destruction of a headstone in this graveyard belonging to a North Monaghan family.
The headstone that was found wrecked last weekend also lies in close proximity to the first headstone destroyed by vandals on the weekend of July 8.
Speaking to the Monaghan Post this week, Canon Sean Clerkin, Parish Priest of Donagh, said that both acts of vandalism were ‘very distressing’ for the families concerned and that it had also upset the parishioners. “I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious or who knows anything relevant to inform the gardai, even if seems insignificant,” he said.
Both incidents are being investigated by the Gardai. If anyone has any information about either incident, please contact Emyvale Garda Station on 047 87222 or Monaghan Garda Station on 047 82222.

AN ASYLUM Seeker was arrested in Monaghan last Friday and brought before Ballinamore District Court after his partner made a complaint about him to Gardaí.
However, when the judge ordered that the man to stay away from his partner, she protested, leading to the court to allow the man to remain in close contact with the woman.
Christian Nebbi whose address was given as 12 Beech Grove, Monaghan, was being charged by Garda Pat McCarthy with an offence relating to his behaviour towards his partner, Harriet.
Judge Sean McBride remanded the man in custody, setting bail at €200, which was paid by the man’s partner.
When she approached to pay, Judge McBride noted that “she is in considerable distress.” The woman told the judge that Nebbi had been her partner for five years.
Judge McBride imposed conditions for Nebbi’s bail, ordering him to abstain from alcohol, to stay away from 12 Beech Grove, not to molest his partner Harriet in any way, including phone calls and texts, and to sign on weekly at Monaghan Garda Station.
However, the Accused’s partner became more distressed, leading Judge McBride to delete the bail condition of no contact, allowing the man to have contact with his partner “but he’s not to molest her.”
The case was set for early September, and Monaghan solicitor Paul Boyce was assigned to represent Nebbi, who informed the court that he would stay at St Patrick’s Accommodation, Drumgoask. Monaghan.