.kofi-container {
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
margin: 2rem 0;
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
}.kofi-button {
display: inline-flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 12px;
background-color: #FF5E5B; /* Classic Ko-fi Red/Coral */
color: #FFFFFF !important;
text-decoration: none !important;
padding: 12px 24px;
border-radius: 100px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 1.05rem;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(255, 94, 91, 0.3);
transition: transform 0.2s ease, box-shadow 0.2s ease, background-color 0.2s ease;
}.kofi-button:hover {
background-color: #e54e4b;
transform: translateY(-2px);
box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(255, 94, 91, 0.4);
}.kofi-button:active {
transform: translateY(0);
}.kofi-icon {
width: 24px;
height: 24px;
fill: currentColor;
}/* Responsive adjustment for smaller mobile screens */
@media (max-width: 480px) {
.kofi-button {
padding: 10px 18px;
font-size: 0.95rem;
gap: 8px;
}
.kofi-icon {
width: 20px;
height: 20px;
}
}
/** * CONFIGURATION: Edit your IDs and settings here
*/
const tickerConfig = {
label: “LATEST NEWS UPDATES”,
sections: [
{ id: 1, count: 8 }, // Section 2 (e.g., Sports)
// You can add a third section here if you ever need to!
],
domain: “https://thisisardee.com”,
speed: “45s” // Higher = Slower
};async function fetchTickerContent() {
const tickerContainer = document.getElementById(‘automated-ticker’);
const tickerLabel = document.getElementById(‘ticker-label’);
// Build the list of API requests based on the sections above
const requests = tickerConfig.sections.map(section =>
fetch(`${tickerConfig.domain}/wp-json/wp/v2/posts?categories=${section.id}&per_page=${section.count}`)
);try {
const responses = await Promise.all(requests);
const dataArrays = await Promise.all(responses.map(res => res.json()));
// Flatten all arrays into one single list of posts
const allPosts = dataArrays.flat();if (allPosts.length > 0) {
tickerLabel.innerText = tickerConfig.label;
tickerContainer.innerHTML = “”;
allPosts.forEach(post => {
const tickerItem = document.createElement(‘div’);
tickerItem.className = ‘ticker__item’;
// Using .rendered to ensure special characters (like quotes) display correctly
tickerItem.innerHTML = `
${post.title.rendered}`;
tickerContainer.appendChild(tickerItem);
});
}
} catch (error) {
console.error(“Ticker Error:”, error);
tickerLabel.innerText = “NEWS”;
tickerContainer.innerHTML = “
Visit ArdeePost.com for updates
“;
}
}fetchTickerContent();/* Change the look of the bar here */
.ticker-wrap {
width: 100%;
overflow: hidden;
background: #1a1a1a;
border-top: 2px solid #0056b3;
border-bottom: 2px solid #0056b3;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
box-sizing: border-box;
}.ticker-title {
background: #d32f2f;
color: white;
padding: 12px 25px;
font-weight: bold;
white-space: nowrap;
z-index: 10;
font-family: sans-serif;
}.ticker {
display: flex;
white-space: nowrap;
padding-left: 100%;
/* The speed is controlled by the config variable above */
animation: scroll-ticker 45s linear infinite;
}.ticker:hover { animation-play-state: paused; }.ticker__item {
padding: 12px 60px;
font-family: ‘Arial’, sans-serif;
}.ticker__item a {
color: #ffffff;
text-decoration: none;
font-size: 15px;
font-weight: 600;
}.ticker__item a:hover { color: #ffeb3b; }@keyframes scroll-ticker {
0% { transform: translateX(0); }
100% { transform: translateX(-100%); }
}
Rural Housing Overhaul: What New Planning Guidelines Mean for Families in Ardee
*, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
:root { –red: #c0001e; –dark: #1a1a1a; –mid: #444; –light: #f5f4f0; –border: #ddd; –accent: #0b3c5d; }
body { background: var(–light); color: var(–dark); font-family: ‘Source Serif 4’, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; }
.breaking-bar { background: var(–red); color: #fff; text-align: center; padding: 9px 16px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em; }
.site-header { background: #fff; border-bottom: 5px solid var(–red); padding: 15px 24px 10px; text-align: center; }
.site-header .site-name { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif; font-size: 46px; font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: -0.03em; text-transform: uppercase; }
.site-header .site-name span { color: var(–red); }
.article-wrap { max-width: 740px; margin: 30px auto; padding: 0 15px 60px; }
.meta-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 900; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em; }
.meta-category { background: var(–red); color: #fff; padding: 4px 10px; font-weight: 900; }
h1 { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif; font-size: clamp(28px, 5vw, 42px); line-height: 1.15; font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: -0.01em; margin-bottom: 25px; color: var(–dark); }
h2 { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 900; margin: 35px 0 15px; color: var(–dark); border-bottom: 2px solid var(–border); padding-bottom: 6px; }
.lead { font-size: 21px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.5; color: var(–dark); margin-bottom: 30px; }
.info-card { background: #fff; border: 1px solid var(–border); border-top: 4px solid var(–red); padding: 20px; margin: 30px 0; }
.info-card h3 { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 900; color: var(–dark); margin-bottom: 12px; }
.tariff-panel { background: #fffdeb; border: 2px dashed #689F38; padding: 20px; margin: 25px 0; }
.adsense-container { display: block; width: 100%; margin: 35px auto; text-align: center; border-top: 1px solid #eee; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; padding: 15px 0; }
.adsense-label { display: block; font-size: 9px; color: #999; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 8px; font-family: sans-serif; font-weight: bold; }
.article-footer { margin-top: 60px; padding-top: 25px; border-top: 1px solid var(–border); font-size: 13px; color: #666; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 15px; }
.img-box { margin: 30px 0; text-align: center; }
.img-box img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 8px; }
.img-caption { font-size: 14px; color: #666; font-style: italic; margin-top: 10px; }
National Planning News
Housing
Ardee
30 June 2026
Rural Planning Overhaul: New Guidelines Aim to Streamline Building in Ardee
Families looking to build one-off homes in the countryside could soon benefit from new, simplified national guidelines that promise the most significant shift in housing policy in twenty years.
Advertisement
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Housing Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Planning John Cummins have presented a draft statement to the cabinet that could reshape the rural landscape. For many in Ardee and the surrounding rural districts, these proposals offer a glimmer of clarity in what has often been a frustrating planning process.
Minister James Browne with Holly (6) and Maria (11) of the Sweeney Family at their home in Ardee, Co. Louth. (Pic: Marc O’Sullivan)
Minister Browne emphasized that the goal is to create a consistent national approach. The strategy seeks to balance the necessity of supporting vibrant, thriving towns and rural communities with the imperative to protect the natural character and sustainability of the Irish countryside.
What the New Guidelines Mean for Ardee
The draft statement clarifies the criteria for building in rural settings, defining a “rural area” as any settlement with a population of less than 1,500 people. To ensure development is focused on those with a genuine connection to the area, the guidelines introduce specific stipulations for applicants.
đź“‹ Key Proposals for Planning Applicants
- Proving Social Need: Applicants must demonstrate strong local ties. This includes proof of having lived in the area for a significant period (up to ten years), with the intended site within 10km of their area of origin or current residence.
- Economic Need: Individuals whose employment—such as in local education or agriculture—necessitates living in a rural area can demonstrate an “economic need” to support their application.
- Protecting the Housing Stock: Homes built under these new guidelines will be prohibited from being used for short-term letting.
- Gaeltacht Requirements: Those seeking planning permission in a Gaeltacht area will be required to pass an Irish language proficiency exam.
Advertisement
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Speaking on the impact of existing regulations, a Mid Louth Councillor observed that while building a home should be one of life’s major milestones, the process has become “unnecessarily challenging” for local families. The uncertainty caused by outdated rules has long been a source of concern for residents in Ardee and the wider region.
The draft statement is now headed for an environmental assessment before returning to the government for final approval. Residents are encouraged to keep a close watch on these developments as they progress through the legislative process.
.ww-launch-card {
background: #ffffff;
border: 3px solid #689F38;
border-radius: 20px;
padding: 30px;
max-width: 500px;
margin: 40px auto;
text-align: center;
box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
font-family: ‘Helvetica Neue’, Arial, sans-serif;
}
.ww-launch-headline {
color: #FFC107;
background: #33691E;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 10px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
.ww-launch-card h2 { color: #33691E; margin-top: 0; }
.ww-launch-card h3 { color: #5D4037; font-size: 1.2rem; }
.ww-launch-card p { color: #2C3E50; line-height: 1.6; }
.ww-launch-btn {
display: inline-block;
background-color: #689F38;
color: #ffffff;
padding: 15px 30px;
border-radius: 30px;
text-decoration: none;
font-weight: bold;
margin-top: 20px;
transition: background 0.3s ease;
}
.ww-launch-btn:hover { background-color: #FFC107; color: #33691E; }
Website Now Live!
Welcome to Wiggle Worms!
Kids Gardening in Ireland
WiggleWorms Ireland helps schools and families start gardens, wormeries, and wildlife projects.
Turn Screen Time into Grow Time!
Let’s make little hands into creative hands. Muddy hands, big smiles, and green fingers—the ultimate guide to gardening with kids.
Start Growing Today
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Error: Contact form not found.
. . .
[the_ad id=”10746″]
