An enthusiastic crowd numbering over 40 gathered on a cold and windy Youghal beach on Saturday (13th Feb 2011) to witness what was probably Youghal’s first ever release. Centre of attention was a young lady called Sammy, a grey seal pup who had been rescued by the local coastguard service last November, She had been discovered, apparently abandoned, near Redbarn, Only about four weeks old, she had borne several cuts and bruises and weighed just 12 kgs.

Volunteers Sarah Martin and Kate Hall from Dingle Wildlife and Seal Rescue Sanctuary had then transported Sammy- who had meantime been christened by a local schoolboy- to Kerry. Aside from a few weeks in isolation due to contracting the seal equivalent of chicken pox, Sammy had thrived very well in the Kingdom and a 12-week diet of herring and mackerel saw her returned to Youghal at a fulsome 48 kgs.

It is the sanctuary’s practice to return rescued seals close to where they were discovered.so Sammy arrived by road at Claycastle car park beach, about a mile from where she was found. She was transported by volunteers Sarah, Becky Smith, Roz Buckley and Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary owner Ciaran O’Sullivan.

A minute’s silence was observed for the victims of the Cork airport plane crash tragedy. Then, at 1 pm, Sarah opened the door of Sammy’s crate. The white baby-fur coat that had cloaked her on her previous visit had been replaced by a sleek, silky, brown-polka dotted number as the grey lady poked her snout out. She scanned her expectant audience with her big brown eyes and then, possibly mindful that there were canvassing politicians in town, retreated back inside.

Moments later she re-emerged and, cajoled by towel-fluttering members of Youghal Coastguard, belly flopped cumbersomely 20 metres to the rolling surf, pausing occasionally to flap a fin at some friendly face. One felt reminded of some desperate candidate lumbering towards that last constituency seat on the seventh count –excepte for the doting ‘ooohhs’ and ‘aahhhs.’

Sammy delighted her fans with a ten minute frolic close to shore, returned briefly to the water’s edge and then, fins fully flexed, headed for the horizon. She has been tagged in case of re-discovery but the assumption is that she will eventually surface amongst a colony off the Blasket Islands. In about three years she will be ready to have her own little pups. The crowds drifted from the beach, their faith in happy endings, sealed.

Click the image to see Sammy being set free – Pics: www.youghalonline.com

Thank you for your maturity

This weekend Ned Brennan, Chairperson of Youghal Tidy Towns Committee issued a press release to thank the responsible candidates from Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Labour and Independent candidates for not littering the town centre with election posters.

“Posters are unsightly and litter the town and are an insult to peoples intelligence in the current media age” Mr. Brennan commented.

He continued “at a time when the town is struggling economically, the last thing that we need is unsightly election posters which detract from the town centre’s rich heritage and archaeology”

“We need to stand up to political parties who litter the town with election posters and say – no this is not acceptable” The Chairperson concluded.

Ned Brennan.

Youghal Tidy Towns Committee

21st February 2011.

The meeting was preceded by a presentation from Managing Director of CARA ambulance Service Ltd., Conor McEvaddy and assistant Nessa Cashel from Youghal.  Conor, from Galway spoke of his wide experience in different business while testifying that his business partner and fellow Galwegian James O’Neil has had 16 years of involvement as a paramedic with the HSE, including three years as a training officer with HSE West and followed by two years as CEO with another private ambulance service.

Therein lies the background to CARA, established 18 months ago and with a base now at Foxhole.  The company choose the south of Ireland, Conor explained, due to a dearth of private ambulance services, with Youghal viewed as an ideal gateway to Cork and Waterford. Interestingly, comparatively low rents also influenced their decision to locate in Youghal.

A non-emergency response service, CARA currently provides a wide range of services to the HSE, private health insurance companies and event organisers of all kinds. All staff are fully qualified professionals, registered with Ireland’s regulatory body, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.

Medic-taxi

The managing director focused specifically on the company’s ambulance taxi service. These fully equipped, 14-16 seat, wheelchair accessible medic vehicles are designed to carry clients to all or any  medical-based destination. They are driven by a fully qualified paramedic, plus the option of a further medic in attendance. The driver may accompany the client throughout the appointment.  CARA also supplies medics, individually, to assist with any function or journey.

The taxi service operates at €1.20 per mile, while group hire reduces the cost per individual. A full ambulance & crew (for non-emergencies) costs €120 per call-out plus €3.60 per mile.

Events

The company’s brochure presents the following hourly rates for service at Events:  Emergency Ambulance €85 (Including two crew); response car €40; response bike:  €40: mobile medical unit: €30; Paramedic: €28; EMT (Emergency Medical Technician): €25.

Nessa Cashel added that the social welfare service “has facilities in place to reclaim a percentage of the medic taxi costs.” She elaborated also that the more successful the company becomes, the more recruitment the company would require. In response to query from the floor, she said CARA is currently negotiating with the VHI and other health insurance companies towards covering the taxi service costs.  Further details: (024) 85744; 1890-600999; www.caraambulanceservice.ie

Socially monitored alarms

PRO Sergeant John Sharkey said that in accordance with the government’s new scheme towards funding for socially monitored alarms, the group had ha to re-register, causing some delay in processing applications. At present, the only outstanding criteria was establishing a bank account as the scheme did not recognise credit union accounts for funding transfers. (Despite the shame on the banking sector, one might reflect!) Currently the group has about 40 alarm applications and the sergeant believed that funding would be granted for the first tranche of 15 in the coming weeks. The remaining applications will then be addressed similarly.

Murder Inquiry

Sergeant Sharkey referred to the recent murder of Michael O’Shea passed his condolences on behalf of the community alert group to relatives of the victim who were present. The sergeant praised the assistance given to the gardai by the townspeople as “fantastic,” through house to house inquiries, accommodation, witnesses’ co-operation and so on. “It all came together in a very early arrest and a man in custody at the moment, while the Book of Evidence is prepared for the DPP,” he concluded.   The suspect is due back in court in Youghal (for remand) on February 18th.

Appreciated

Relatives of the victim thanked the gardai sincerely for their handling of the case, before bestowing particular praise on Sergeant Sharkey for particular praise, for his ‘greatly appreciated” efforts that “went far beyond the call of duty.” Chairman Michael Beecher added that it was impressive to see the Superintendent and gardai displaying sympathy with the victim’s family through presenting themselves i n full uniform in the church.

Crime Figures

Sergeant Sharkey’s data on reported crime since the previous monthly meeting included one ‘assault causing harm ‘on the dance floor of a licence premises on Jan 16th. The victim required hospital treatment bit. “The case is progressing well,” he added.

Two burglaries included one at a business premises on Cork Hill at 6 a.m. on Jan 25th and probably conducted by a professional gang. The burglars arrived by car, were wearing balaclavas and having forced their entry via the front door, attempted to burgle a cigarette machine. However, they fled almost empty-handed when the alarm activated. A second burglary occurred at a private residence in Cork Hill on Jan 27th whereby a laptop and other goods were taken from a family who had been away.

Three criminal damages incidents included post stolen from communal post boxes at the Strand Palace on Jan 15th. Other crimes included theft of a battery from an electric fence at Lackaroe and a mobile phone from Aura.

Pub visits unearthed no incidents of late drinking, while there was one incident of underage drinking on the street. Eighteen on-street drug searches were conducted with one person found in possession and another in possession with intent to supply.

Scams

A more unusual crime involved a man –believed to be non-local- , who conned three financial institutions in the town on Jan 12th by passing off about 20 Thai Baht in bags pertaining to contain 100 €2 coins. “He made about €120,” reported the sergeant. It is perhaps testimony to the public’s present low regard for such institutions that sympathy amongst the attendance was largely for the perpetrator. “Let’s hope he wasn’t caught!”, someone voiced to much laughter.

The sergeant also described a crime whereby subsequent CCTV evidence depicted a woman failing to acquire money having used her bank link card. The user leaves with her card as the machine shuts down, before soon afterwards a man is seen to remove a silver cylinder from the bank slot, along with the mysteriously missing cash. “It’s called a cash trap, explained the sergeant, “but the machine turns of permanently once it happens and the bank replenishes the money to the customer’s account.”

Crime figures

The statistical figures for reported crime from January 4th to February 1st are as follows:

Assaults (1): Licensed premises;

Burglaries (2): Cork Hill and Gort Abhainn

Criminal Damage (4): Strand Palace, Upper Cork Hill, North Main Street, Summerfield

Drink Driving (1): Cork Hill

Drugs (2) North Main Street (possession), Unnamed apartment complex (possession with intent to supply)

Fraud (3): Post Office, Permanent TSB, Aib

Public Order Offences (6): O’Brien’s Place, North Main Street, Fishermans’ Dock, Strand Street, Chapel Lane and one unnamed location involving menacing phone calls.

Theft (4): Aura, Permanent TSB, Mill Road, Lackaroe.

Drug Searches (18) @ North Main Street, Catherine Street, Strand Palace Apartments, Cork Hill, Ballyvergan.

School raids and bicycles

A question from the floor asked whether the gardai were allowed to conduct spot checks in schools. Sergeant Sharkey said it would be a very rare occurrence and would in all probability be done in conjunction with the school or in accordance with specific information and under a search warrant. That said, the objective would be to avoid direct school involvement in drug investigations where possible.

Chairman Michael Beecher drew attention to groups of young people gathering at the post office, smoking and possibly drinking. He asked that the gardai keep “a close eye on their movements.” He also criticised the regular incidents of cycling on the footpath. The sergeant took note of his concerns, though he advised that young people in groups might feel accommodating but not be doing anything untoward. A speaker from the floor highlighted the danger to cyclists from motorists when they emerged from the shadows without lights, helmets or high visibility clothing. “If we do bring them home, “remarked the sergeant, “the parents’ attitude is often’ guard, have you nothing better to be doing?!”

Murder relatives upset by early disclosures

The meeting concluded with relatives of the late Michael O’Shea raising a serious issue regarding the aftermath of his murder in the flat complex at 85 North Main Street.  The speakers claimed that members of the public were aware, in considerable detail, of what had occurred in the location, before they had been disclosed to the victims’ family and relatives. Those thus informed included young children, amongst them relatives of the deceased, even prior to their reaching the school gates that morning, the meeting was told. They, along with the adult relations had been -and in several cases remained- very traumatised as a consequence of the manner in which news and specifics of the tragedy were circulated. The question as to how the details reached the public domain so quickly and so thoughtlessly was aired and it remains a matter of much speculation and considerable anger. “It’s a disgrace,” said one woman, with appropriate accuracy.

Information day

March’s Community Alert meeting will take the form of a coffee morning/information morning at the Red Store, North Main Street on Tuesday March 1st.  Secretary Kay Curtain said the company supplying the socially monitored alarms will address the meeting, while representatives of several other organisations will also provide first-hand information and advice on relevant community services. These will include Community Garda Peter Queally with an update on the successful Dial To Stop Drug Dealing project, the afore mentioned CARA ambulance service and the Care and Repair project. Meeting takes place at 11 am and all are invited. Inquiries: Sergeant John Sharkey at Youghal garda station (024) 92200 or Michael Beecher on 087-2349472

Sunday 20th Feb. 2011 - Press statement from DeValera street residents

Sinn Fein Election Candidate Sandra McLellan has pledged her full support to the residents of De Valera Street and says she will be “supporting implementation of the plan in its current form for a trial period”.

The pledge comes in a letter which was hand-delivered to a meeting of the residents in De Valera this evening (Saturday 19th February, 2011).  The Letter is co-signed by Sinn Fein Councillor, Michelle Hennessy.

The letter comes on foot of an earlier interview on Community Radio Youghal in which the Sinn Fein Election Candidate stated that she believed the Plan “would be implemented”.

The Letter reminds the residents that the Draft Traffic Management Plan is “a matter for the Members of Youghal Town Council”, and that as Councillors, both McLellan and Hennessy have “always supported the residents in the past”.

The letter goes on to state that the Councillors “have a few issues with the Plan around the turning area at the Doctor’s Surgery and Windmill Lane but that is something that needs to be monitored during the trial period”.

“Our position with regard to supporting the residents of DeValera Street has not changed” the letter states.

McLellan confirms that the Mayor has requested that the issue be placed on the Agenda for next month, and goes on to state that “It is my belief that with the exception of one or two, most Councillors are in favour of implementing the Plan on a trial basis”.

De Valera street residents have welcomed Sandra McLellan’s letter of support issued to them this evening.  “This is both timely and important” says spokesperson Lanson Kelly.  “Sandra McLellan and Michelle Hennessy have come out as strong supporters of the residents in our struggle to make De Valera Street one-way and safe.  We very much appreciate this strong statement of support” he says.

Lanson Kelly went on to say “We would also like to acknowledge the long-standing support of our Mayor, Mary Linehan-Foley, and Councillor Eoin Coyne, who have shown that they care about our situation”.

In a separate development this evening, Councillor Tommy O’Connell has confirmed his support to the Residents in a phone conversation with them, stating that they have endured 3 years of hardship and deserve to have one way traffic on the street.

This means that Five of the Nine Councillors are now backing the Residents ahead of the March meeting.  Residents are awaiting a formal invitation to send a delegation to that meeting.

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL has agreed to allocate funding for the Mall Lane, following some discussion on the issue at February’s Town Council meeting. The new surface will be dual purpose to cater for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The work will cost an estimated €30,000, to be provided from a sum of €195,000 provided by the Non-National Roads Authority for road repairs in the town.

Town Clerk Liam Ryan said the lane deserved “priority status” for repairs but urged the council to decide what exactly they want to do with the lane long-term in terms of opening or closing it. Cllr Tommy O’Connell said the lane was “totally unsuitable” for vehicular traffic, with bollards being “regularly hit by cars.” He challenged his colleagues to “stand there any Friday or Saturday afternoon and see the volume of traffic using it.”

Mayor Mary Linehan Foley recalled that the laneways was closed in 2004 as “an election tactic” amidst a general feeling that a long shadow, of some time past, was about to loom large again.   When Cllr O’Connell attempted to re-introduce the Mall Lane as a point of debate later he was advised to do so at a future sitting as part of the council’s set agenda. No doubt he will.

Ireland To Pay For Its Own Lighthouses
by Tom MacSweeney, Special Correspondent, Marine Times

The British Government will end its subsidy towards the cost of operating Irish Lighthouses within four years. The subsidy has been paid since Irish independence when the Free State was created in 1922. UK ship owners and operators have been lobbying for the end of the subsidy for several years. claiming that it raised the cost of ships calling to UK ports. They intensified their campaign when the British Government said it would increase light dues.

The UK Government announced the ending of light dues on Tuesday, January 18, stating that Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey, had agreed the change. This was  the day on which Fianna Fail was embroiled in its internal battle over the leadership of Taoiseach Brian Cowen and, as a result, the announcement escaped a lot of general media attention.

Dempsey resigned his Ministerial post in subsequent FF party disarray, following an announcement that he would not contest the General Election. The size of the subsidy has not been disclosed officially but is believed to be about €l2m. lt originated because ofthe involvement of Irish lighthouses in providing coastal navigational aids and thus safety protection for British vessels engaged in Atlantic trade. At that time UK vessels crossed the Atlantic and returned to Britain via routes across Irish waters and were thus accepted to receive protection from Irish lighthouses. Changes in trade patterns and navigational aids have resulted in the majority of vessels approaching the UK through the English Channel or the North Sea. according to the British authorities.

ln recent years also the Commissioners of lrish Lights has changed its approach to the operation of lighthouses, removing personnel as they de-manned the lighthouses and in January closed down the foghorn signals system operating from them. (CLICK HERE for ‘Termination of Fog Signals story)

The UK Shipping Minister, Mike Penning,announced on January 18 that he had reached agreement with Noel Dempsey, that Ireland would fund its lighthouses entirely from domestic sources by 2015-l6.”

“l am grateful to my Irish counterpart for his understanding of the concerns of those who pay light dues in the UK.” Mr Penning said.

Mark Brownrigg, Director General of the UK Chamber of Shipping, the trade organisation which has campaigned most strongly for abolition of the subsidy welcomed its scrapping.

“The shipping minister has committed a great deal of energy to the cause and we congratulate him on his success,” he said. “Abolition of the Irish subsidy should be a
precursor to an overall reduction in UK light dues, which will make Britain a more competitive place with which to do business.”

Ship owners have been campaigning for a reduction in light dues since 2009, when the previous British Government proposed increases in the dues which would have raised the fees paid by the largest container ships to visit UK ports by 67 per cent. The anger of shipowners resulted in the Government cancelling one aspect of the proposed increase which would have raised fees from stg 41p to stg 43p per net registered tonne in March of last year.

The UK shipping industry maintained that an increased fees structure would deter container shipping lines from routeing their largest vessels on direct calls to UK ports.They might instead have been served by smaller, feeder ships from major continental ports such as Rotterdam.

Light dues fund three lighthouse organisations – Trinity House. the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of lrish Lights – covering the whole island of Ireland.

British Shipping Minister Penning said he and Mr Dempsey had agreed that structure would remain.

People who know John Mulvihill will tell you that I am passionate about fighting for my area through politics.

When I have worked for change in the past, I have fought tooth and nail for my beliefs and worked across years to get results for East Cork. I have done this effectively in government and in Cork County Council.

We all know that we will soon be rid of this disgraceful government – but that’s not enough. We now have a great chance to change the way our country is run. I believe that the leadership of Eamon Gilmore and the policies of the Labour Party give us the best chance of re-building a great country for future generations.

And in East Cork, I’d like to be your passionate voice, fighting for the needs of the constituency and the good of the country.

So, who you vote for really matters. We now have 50 days to gain an extra seat in East Cork and do what has never been done before – to elect a Labour-led Government. A Government of One Ireland, that is driven by the concerns of the many, not the insider-few.

We are blessed in East Cork to have some great natural assets – from a world-class tourism product, to great farming resources to a proud tradition in industry. We must now get better at using these assets to get our people back to work.

Below are some of the issues that I am passionate about:

* East Cork Tourism – The great beauty of the coastline from Youghal to Cobh and the beautiful towns and countryside throughout the constituency are up with the best in the country. We need to step out of the shadows of other areas and deliver growth in tourism jobs in the area.
* Protecting the Environment in East Cork. I’ve long campaigned against changes that destroy our environment such as pylons. We can work together to work out sensible solutions that allow industry to progress without destroying our environment.
* Infrastructure – Throughout my political life I’ve been fighting for improved access to the area. The government blew the boom and projects such as the Fota road still lie ignored. We need access if we have any hope of growing jobs in tourism and industry.

If you have any issue that you are passionate about, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone, email or on twitter and Facebook

Go raibh maith agat

John

My name is Patrick Bullman, known to my friends as Paddy. I was born and bred in Youghal, County Cork. I started work with Irish Shipping when I went to sea at the age of 16 in June of 1972. At the age of 23, (1979)  I was among the many young people that emigrated to foreign shores. I lived in Sweden from 1979 until 1999. I was always an active trade unionist during my years at sea and always took an active part in politics. I spent the early years at sea in Sweden as an active agitator in the Swedish Seamans Union. The latter 10 years I worked as a Swedish Seamans Union Representative for the Stockholm area. So my political beliefs are firmly grounded in the trade union movement. I am a firm believer in the trade union movement as an important part of the political structure, which, in my opinion is sadly lacking in Ireland.

I returned home at the turn of the millenium and have been self-employed as a Tattoo Artist until recently. At the moment I am between jobs.

I am a firm believer in the Democratic Principle that any member of any society has the unquestionable right to partake actively in any decision made by that society. It is also my belief that this is only achieved when the State is subject to the Will and Decision of the People without restriction. This will not come about until the People of this country Empower Themselves to do so. I like to call it ‘People Power’.

If the people of Ireland are to be sovereign in their own country, then all affairs of State must be subject to the will of the People. This has always been my goal and will always remain so.

Good Democracy is the Best form of Government,
And only the Best is Good enough !

Paddy Bullman.

County: Cork

Constituency: Cork East

Phone: 086 2412202

Click below to listen CPPC General Election Candidate for Cork East Paddy Bullman talking to station manager Declan Gibbons on Youghal local radio CRY – Audio courtesy of CRY

Youghal Town Council is to invite a delegation from DeValera Street to address their complaints regarding traffic issues on their street to March’s Town Council meeting.

However in a move certain to infuriate many, if not most, of the street’s residents, the council will subsequently consider the delegation’s views at the meeting,  before forming a subcommittee to consider the traffic management issues in the area on a broader base. Effectively this means further discussion and assessment on the traffic management plan accepted by the council as a unit last November but not adopted amidst individual reservations. The good news, arguably, is that the council says it will on the matter at April’s sitting.

At February’s town council meeting, Cllr Tommy ‘O’Connell advocated the councillors, as one, walking the traffic plan route the better to comprehend the issue from a pedestrian viewpoint prior to taking  a vote in March. He was told the councillors had already, to some extent done this.

Mayor Linehen Foley in turn said she had intended calling for a vote on the traffic plan but had been advised by town clerk Liam Ryan that she would instead have to table it as part of March’s agenda. She quickly stressed her intention to invite a delegation before calling for a vote at March’s meeting. This initiative seemed to have common acceptance.

More deliberation

However, Cllr Barbara Murray the asked if further deliberation was needed, in each councillor had expressed and retained difficulties with the plan. The discussion resumed afresh, as Cllr Murray elaborated that there was “bedlam” at the top of Emmet Place as motorists availing of doctors’ surgeries and other services came and went. “It’s the knock-on effect and it’s obvious that Eileen Coleman (traffic engineer), not having local knowledge, didn’t take all the scenarios into consideration when she formed the traffic plan,” said the councillor, adding, “I think we should take the delegation and tease it out afterwards in an informal setting before we make a final decision that works for everybody. It’s not just about DeValera Street; it’s about the whole area.”

Trial basis

Cllr Michelle Hennessy echoed Cllr Murray’s views, as did Cllr Sandra McLellan. So did Cllr Liam Burke who concurred that “a special subcommittee meeting” be held, at which the issues would be “teased out on an informal basis in an effort to find a final solution.” It was indicated that the informal sub-committee meeting be held over coffee after March’s council meeting proper.

Town engineer Paul Murray invited himself onto the subcommittee, to unanimous acceptance. There was also wide agreement for Mr Murray’s suggestion that whatever solution evolved, it would be adopted on trial basis of six months or so. The mayor called for volunteers for the sub-committee but it was decided that the entire chamber could form the committee, albeit it would not function officially as a council in the process. DeValera Street residents will be hoping that the tea and coffee discussions don’t take the biscuit as well.

Paul Burke, Inch, Killeagh, Independent Candidate for Cork East

The country needs change and I would like to be one of those who can help to do it.

So, who is Paul Burke? I am an Australian who moved to Ireland in 1993. I have been a partner/owner of a Land Surveying business in Cork for the last 16 years. I am married to Margaret (from Wexford) and we have 3 daughters who currently attend local schools.

Margaret went to Australia in the 80′s in the last big recession. We moved back to Ireland to raise our family, believing Ireland was the best place to do this. Decent education, a sense of community and good standard of living were all good reasons to settle here.

Like many people over the last few years, I have become very disillusioned with the ruling political parties and the way in which they have been running the country. A few too many backroom deals and not enough honesty and openness with the people.

It’s Time We Acted Responsibly

Send the political parties a message. Vote me No.1 and let them know they are only your 2nd choice.

There has been too much of the “Pothole Politician”, more concerned with their own backyard than the health of the nation as a whole. Politicians need to be acting in the national interest, not just for personal gain.

There are so many things that need to be addressed and they can’t all be done overnight. We must reduce the size of government; it is much too large and expensive. We need to take closer control of the banking sector, after all many are nationalised and belong to us. We need to get on top of wasteful spending by government departments. The list goes on and on.

Where do we start? What can you, an individual do? The old saying “a new broom sweeps clean” comes to mind. Bring in new ideas, new people. Break the hold the current political parties have over who gets what job and where.

Over the years I have served on many, and varied, committees and councils.Charitable groups such as St Vincent De Paul. At a local level, I have served as Vice Chairman of Youghal Comhaltas. At a National level, I was both Vice President and President of the Irish Institution of Surveyors. At European level, I was the Irish Delegate to CLGE, the European Committee of Surveyors.

I have run a small business for the last 16 years. In the current economic climate, things are tough all over but hopefully we have turned the corner. Now we need to do the right things to get back on track and get Ireland moving again.

Email: vote1paulburke@gmail.com

Website: http://vote1paulburke.yolasite.com/

Text: 0858825893