YOUGHAL NATIVE Catryn Power will be a guest on Noel Cronin’s  ‘Rural Report’ show this Saturday morning (10am – 30th April 2011) on Youghal Local Radio CRY 104fm. The Cork County Council archaeologist will be discussing with Noel the impact of the First World War on Ireland, the military service history of her grandfather Jeremiah O’Regan and how Youghal men fought and died in the ‘Great War’ as it was know.

Anyone with an interest in this conflict and its impact on Ireland or in military history should tune in to the live show at 10am. Catryn will also be speaking about the forthcoming  meeting aimed at establishing a Cork branch of The Western Front Association . The meeting will be held upstairs in the Rob Roy public house, Cork City at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 27 April 2011.

Internet listeners can visit Youghal Local Radio CRY 104fm website by clicking the CRY logo advert on the right hand side of this page or can listen direct by clicking on the link on the top right of this page.

 

The military service history of Jeremiah O’Regan

Introduction

Report prepared for

Catryn Power

County Cork

Ireland

Our thanks

We are very pleased that you selected fourteeneighteen/research for the project. It has been a great pleasure to undertake the work and we sincerely hope that you enjoy reading the report. Although we have tried to provide as full an interpretation of the documents as possible, please do not hesitate to contact us if there are outstanding questions or points you would like to clarify.

Starting point

You were kindly able to provide us with a good deal of information about Jeremiah O’Regan’s service from various discharge documents.

The contents of the report

Our report contains the following sections:

1. The results of searching the archives and sources of information

2.  A reconstruction of his military service history

3.  Some useful supporting information.

The results of searching the archives and sources of information

Army service records

The primary and most comprehensive source of information concerning a soldier’s military career is his service record. The various forms and other documents making up the record covered the entire process between enlistment and discharge. If they can be found they often provide personal, family and medical details, in addition to the facts of his training, postings to units, disciplinary record and so on. The service record is, for men who survived, the only source that is likely to mention the man’s address and next of kin.

There are three collections of Great War army service records, all of which are held at the National Archives in Kew. These are the WO363 (“burnt”), WO364 and PIN26 (“pensions) collections, which originally included between them the records of all men who were discharged from the army prior to 1922. Only some 30% of soldiers papers now exist in these collections as the remainder were destroyed by fire in the War Office warehouse where they were stored in London in 1940.

Regrettably, after a thorough search we could find no papers that could be identified as belonging to Jeremiah, based on the starting information. It may be that they have been destroyed. However the information that he was still serving up to 1922 means that his record may still be held by the Ministry of Defence and was not among the records of the Great War era that were released to the public and which we have searched. We give details about how you might obtain a copy, later in our report.

Medals records

The medal entitlement documents are a limited source of information, as they only give bare military details from the moment the man’s qualification began – which is when he first landed overseas. However, they are intact and the details of virtually all soldiers who qualified can be found. The records consist of an entry for the individual in a “roll”, which is essentially a list of men who qualified for the particular medal, plus an index card which provides a reference to the rolls in which the soldier is recorded.

We have attached copies of Jeremiah’s entries in the index and roll of the British War and Victory Medals.

Gallantry and other special awards

Gallantry and other unusual awards were invariably announced in the London Gazette, the official newspaper of British Parliament. This was usually followed a day or two later by a reprint in the “Times”.

Searching using his name, possible number and regiment, we could not find any reference to any awards other than the campaign medals.

National Roll of Honour and de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour

Both of these contemporary works were compiled on a subscription basis (in other words, the soldier or his family paid for an entry), which means that they are far from comprehensive although they do list many tens of thousands of men. Listings were often written by family members who may not have given correct details at the time of compilation and in consequence neither are not considered to be completely reliable. The publishers of the larger National Roll began to compile the volumes in 1920, but had gone into liquidation by 1922 having produced only fourteen volumes.

We could find no reference to Jeremiah O’Regan in either work. This is not surprising as coverage of Ireland was poor in both cases.

Operational records

All infantry battalions were obliged to maintain a war diary while they were on active service. Although they generally used a standard format and were under instructions giving the sort of information to be recorded, they vary enormously in quality and content.

We have searched the war diary of the infantry battalion with which he served, but without success in finding him mentioned. This is not unusual for men of the “other ranks” are very rarely named in these records.

A reconstruction of his military service

As will be seen, the medals documents provide only the minimum of military information. In this section of the report we take the facts contained in those documents together with others that are in your possession and reassemble them into a narrative. Where necessary, we have used some detective work and knowledge of how the army worked in order to recreate his story.

Enlistment and training

The absence of the 1914-15 Star from his medal entitlement tells us that Jeremiah did not go overseas before 1916. When he did, he was serving as Private 477 of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. On arrival in France he was posted to join the 2nd Battalion of his regiment. This unit had landed overseas in 1914 so it is evident that he was joining with a draft, coming to replace casualties.

The information you already had suggests that Jeremiah enlisted on 10 September 1914. He was certainly a volunteer, for conscription was not introduced by the British Government until March 1916 and did not apply it in Ireland.

From existing service record of other men from Cork who were numbered near to Jeremiah, it is possible to deduce that he was almost certainly enlisted into the 5th Battalion under the new terms offered by Lord Kitchener, for service of three years or the duration of war, whichever longer.1

The battalion, strictly named the 5th (Extra Reserve) battalion, was for men who enlisted into the Special Reserve (SR). The SR was established in April 1908 and was open to men who had no prior military experience, but former soldiers whose term of service had expired could also join it. The man joined the SR for an initial term of six years but could extend it to ten. It was a form of part-time soldiering. He was expected to commence with six months full time training and to attend for three to four weeks training per year thereafter. For this he was paid a small bounty, but of course it came at a price: he was obliged to mobilise for active service if called upon. Each regiment of infantry had a one or more battalions that carried out the administration and training of the SR men. In fact, the Munsters had three, and 5th (Extra Reserve) was based at Limerick. Once war was declared, the Special Reserve was mobilised and a large proportion of the 1914 recruits joined its units for training.

5th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, once its men had assembled, moved to Queenstown, going on in October 1914 to Bere Island and in March 1915 to Crosshaven. It moved again in May 1915, going to England at North Shields, returning in September to the Curragh and in August 1917 went on to Galway. It moved to Invergordon in Scotland in November 1917 and Fort George in April 1918, finally to Plymouth in May 1918 where it was absorbed by the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion.

Exactly when Jeremiah landed overseas is very difficult to tell other than it was after 1915 (and, as will be seen below, some time before September 1918). Drafts were sent to 2nd Battalion at frequent intervals and particularly during its fighting on the Somme in the summer of 1916.

Service in France

Later in our report we have given an outline of this history of the battalion.

We can only assume that Jeremiah served with the battalion without a break, other than for home leave (and that would not have been more than two or three times during the war) until he was transferred to the Labour Corps and renumbered to 634983.

The Labour Corps was in effect a new regiment, created during 1917. It was manned by soldiers who had been medically downgraded, usually after recovering from being wounded or sick, and who were considered well enough to carry out manual labouring work overseas but not for the front line. It grew into a great sprawling organisation, comprising several hundred different Companies, of somewhat varying size. Labour Corps records are very patchy indeed, reflecting an army attitude that treated it rather as a second-class affair. For example, those men who died are commemorated under their original regiment, with their Labour Corps details being added as a secondary line. Very few operational records of any Labour Corps units exist and the men’s units are very rarely given in the medals records. You are very fortunate in having the information that he served with 89th Company, but unfortunately no records exist of the role or locations of this unit. It is known to have been in France.

The war diary offers no specific clue about Jeremiah’s departure from the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers and a search of the casualty lines in the “Times” (using an online search facility) produced no result. It is possible that his medical downgrading was the result of illness, injury or physical deterioration rather than a wound, although the timing of his transfer suggests that if he was wounded the most likely time was in late March 1918 when the 2nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties. It appears that he was downgraded from the “A1” medical category required for front line service to “B2”.

Jeremiah’s new number appears to have been issued in September 1918. This is once again a deduction based on the existing service records of men numbered near to him.2

2 As an example, Private 634906 John Finlayson, who came from Montrose in Scotland. He was conscripted in March 1916, wounded in the arm while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders in July 1917, transferred to the Labour Corps in September 1918 and was posted to serve with 861 Area Employment Company.

Jeremiah was discharged from the army by being transferred to Class Z Army Reserve on 24 February 1919. This was the standard route out of military service for wartime volunteers and conscripts to the regular army. It meant that the soldier could return to civilian life but subject to being recalled if required, for twelve months after discharge. In the event, no Class Z men were recalled and the Class was abolished on 31 March 1920.

After the war

On 14 June 1919, he re-enlisted into the regular army. Once again he joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers and this time received the number 32438. It is most interesting to see this number given in his medals documents; strictly they should only cover up to and including 11 November 1918.

The army radically changed its method of numbering soldiers in August 1920. The old regimental systems were abolished and a new army-wide scheme introduced. The Royal Munster Fusiliers was allotted the block of numbers 7211001 to 7245000 to use for numbering its existing men and future recruits. Jeremiah became Private 7211755.

A variety of different terms of service were offered to men who re-enlisted after the war, but the most likely is that he agreed to serve for seven years. It appears that he did not re-enlist into the Special Reserve but almost certainly joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion before being posted to either the 1st or 2nd, both of which were units of the regular army. 1st Battalion was from 1919 in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation in the Rhine bridgeheads; 2nd Battalion was in Egypt.

Jeremiah’s campaign medals were sent to him automatically. It was not necessary to claim them. The British War and Victory Medals were usually despatched in 1921. They were to recognise that the soldier had left his native shore and entered a theatre of war, respectively.

By 1922 the British Government was taking steps to reduce its military commitments and also preparing for the disbanding of the Irish regiments. Jeremiah was discharged in these changes on 25 July 1922. The Royal Munster Fusiliers ceased to exist six days later.

It is this period of Jeremiah’s military service that ensures he will have some records held by the British Ministry of Defence. Due to proof of kinship requirements we are unable to obtain these records for you. We have attached the necessary form; a fee of £30 is currently required and if paying by cheque it should be made to “MOD Accounting Office”. Quote his number 7211755 and do not worry about the requirement for a death certificate, but explain he served 1914-1922.

With the Irish Defence Forces

Jeremiah enlisted once again on 30 August 1922, but this time into the new Irish Defence Forces of the Free State (Óglaigh na hÉireann), which is also sometimes known as the Irish National Army. We are unable to offer any advice on which units Jeremiah may have joined or which actions of the civil war he may have been involved in. We understand that some records may be available via enquiry at the Military Archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin 6, but that proof of kinship is required.

He was finally discharged on 12 December 1925 and was Sergeant 30032.

Supporting information

The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers

The 2nd Battalion, part of Britain’s pre-war regular army, moved very early to France as part of the crack 1st (Guards) Brigade in 1st Division, with which it took little part in the battle at Mons on 23 August 1914. Withdrawing from that place, it found itself on 27 August as an isolated rearguard at Etreux. The battalion was surrounded and effectively destroyed on this day, losing several hundred men, many as prisoners. It did not return to action until November 1914, joining 3rd Brigade of 1st Division after receiving drafts of new men.

The battalion went on to see action at Aubers, Festubert and Loos in 1915, extensively on the Somme in 1916 and at Passchendaele in September and October 1917. It was also taken to the Belgian coast in June 1917 to prepare for an amphibious landing further up the coast as part of the original plan for this battle, but in the event the opportunity did not arise – perhaps fortunately for the men involved.

In February 1918, the battalion was transferred to join 48th Brigade in 16th (Irish) Division – the 1st Battalion of the regiment also being with the Division at this time.

In March 1918, the Division suffered very heavy loses in defensive fighting against the huge enemy offensive on the Somme. The Germans attacked on 21 March, at which date the battalion was holding a sector of the front line. It was simply deluged with poison gas and shellfire, with the remnant of the battalion assisting in the defensive fight at Epehy before being ordered to withdraw.

After being virtually destroyed in the enemy offensive, the battalion was reduced to a small cadre and the surplus troops dispersed. It was not until July 1918 that it returned to action, by now as part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

Both 1st and 2nd Battalions were disbanded in 1922 when Ireland assumed independence.

The British infantry battalion in 1914-1918

The battalion was the basic tactical unit of the infantry of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918. At full establishment, it consisted of 1,007 men, of whom 30 were officers. It comprised a Battalion Headquarters and four Companies.

Battalion Headquarters The Battalion was usually commanded by an officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A Major was Second-in-Command. Battalion HQ also had three other officers: a Captain or Lieutenant filled the role of Adjutant (in charge of Battalion administration); similarly a Captain or Lieutenant was the Quartermaster (responsible for stores and transport); an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps was also attached.

Battalion HQ also included the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM, the most senior Non-Commissioned Officer) plus a number of specialist roles filled by NCO’s with the rank of Sergeant: Quartermaster, Drummer, Cook, Pioneer, Shoemaker, Transport, Signaller, Armourer (often attached from the Army Ordnance Corps), and Orderly Room Clerk.

A Corporal and 4 privates of the Royal Army Medical Corps were attached for water duties; a Corporal and 15 Privates were employed as Signallers; 10 Privates were employed as Pioneers (on construction, repair and general engineering duties); 11 Privates acted as Drivers for the horse-drawn transport; 16 acted as Stretcher-bearers (these often being the musicians of the Battalion Band); 6 Privates acted as Officers Batmen (personal servants), and 2 as Orderlies for the Medical Officer.

Companies

Usually lettered A to D each of the 4 Companies numbered 227 heads at full establishment. Each was commanded by a Major or Captain, with a Captain as Second-in-Command. Company HQ included a Company Sergeant-Major (CSM), a Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS), 2 Privates acting as Batmen, and 3 as Drivers. The body of the Company was divided into 4 Platoons, each of which was commanded by a subaltern (a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant). In total, the 4 Platoons consisted of 8 Sergeants, 10 Corporals, 4 Drummers, 4 Batmen and 188 Privates. Each Platoon was subdivided into 4 Sections, each of 12 men under an NCO.

If asked, after his name, rank and number, a man might refer to himself as being in Number 3 Section, 2 Platoon, B Company, the 17th Manchester Regiment. A Private soldier would also know the brigade his battalion was in, and certainly the division the brigade was attached to. It seems that most men identified first with their regiment, then with their division.

Also in the Battalion

Each battalion had, in 1914, a Machine-gun Section consisting of a Lieutenant, a Sergeant, a Corporal, 2 Drivers, a Batman and 12 Privates trained in the maintenance, transport, loading and firing of the Vickers heavy machine gun. These men made up two six-man gun teams. Also on the battalion strength were 8 Lance-Sergeants and 49 Lance Corporals (these being included in the figures already given above).

Each battalion had a detachment at its Base Depot, which did not take the field when the battalion was on active service. The Base Detachment consisted – in theory – of a subaltern, 2 Sergeants and 91 Privates to form a first reinforcement (to make good Battalion casualties or other losses); 4 Storemen, the Band Sergeant and the Sergeant Master Tailor. When the Battalion went on active service, it left behind the Bandmaster and the Sergeant-Instructor of Musketry, for service with the Reserve Battalion.

Equipment

Battalion transport consisted of 13 riding, and 43 draught and packhorses. The provided the power for drawing the six ammunition carts, two water carts, three General Service Wagons (for tools and machine guns), and the MO’s Maltese Cart. The Signallers had 9 bicycles. (Note: the Divisional Train also provided four more two-horsed GS Wagons for each battalion.

All ranks carried a rifle – which for the regular battalions (and after the early days when all sorts of older equipment was supplied to the Territorial and Service battalions, all of these were eventually similarly equipped) was the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE). The only exceptions were officers, Pipers, Drummers, Buglers and the five men in each Battalion who carried range-finding instruments. All those carrying a rifle, except the RSM and other Staff Sergeants, were also armed with the sword-bayonet.

Other battalion equipment, over and above that carried by the man, included 120 shovels, 73 pickaxes, 20 felling axes, 8 hand axes, 46 billhooks, 20 reaping hooks, a hand saw, 32 folding saws and 8 crowbars. There was also a plethora of minor stores and spares.

The battalion also carried a certain amount of ammunition, although this was backed up by the echelons of Transport at Brigade, Divisional and Lines of Communication levels. When added together, the supply per rifle came to 550 rounds per man. The Battalion Transport carried 32 boxes of 1,000 rounds, and each man could carry up to 120 rounds. The machine guns were each supplied with a total of 41,500 rounds of which 3,500 was carried with the gun, and 8,000 in regimental reserve.

The Labour Corps

Although the army was able to use some railways, steam engines and tracked vehicles for haulage, the immense effort of building and maintaining roads, railways, buildings, telegraph and telephone systems, etc and also for moving stores relied on horse and human. In August 1914 there was no formed body of troops specifically designed for this task. All too often the task fell upon fighting troops who were supposed to be at rest.

Formed in January 1917 once this problem had become recognised, the Labour Corps grew hugely and by the end of the war numbered some 389,900 men – more than 10% of the total size of the army at that time. Of this total, around 175,000 were working in the United Kingdom and the rest in the theatres of war. In April 1917, a number of infantry battalions that had effectively been used as labouring units were transferred to the Corps. It also absorbed 28 ASC Labour Companies then in existence between February and June 1917.

In common with the rest of the army, the labour units became increasingly well-organised. However, despite adding large numbers of men from India, Egypt, China and elsewhere, there were never enough men to do all the labouring work required even though the totals men engaged at the end of the war approximated 700,000 in the labour units alone. In many cases the men of the infantry, artillery and other units were still forced to give up time to hard effort when perhaps training or rest might have been a more effective option.

Units of the Labour Corps were manned and officered by men who had been medically graded below A1 but were fit enough to do some form of manual work.

Labour Corps units were often deployed for work within range of the enemy guns, sometimes for lengthy periods. In the crises of March and April 1918 on the Western Front, Labour Corps units were used as emergency infantry. The Corps always suffered from lack of transport, many inexperienced officers and troops of low physical grade.

According to the Official History: “..although some labour units were raised and eventually labourers from various parts of the Empire and China were brought to France, the numbers were never at any period sufficient for the demands of a great army operating in a friendly country”.

Transport and the lines of communication were the largest areas in which labour was needed. For example at the date of the Armistice, 41,000 men were engaged in labour on the roads behind the Western Front, 29,000 were on railway construction, 11,000 in the docks and 8,000 on other duties associated with transportation, making 89,000 men in all.

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County Council Seeks Investors For Youghal Marina. – By Christy Parker

YOUGHAL’S lengthy dream of a marina has ebbed a step closer with Cork County Council’s decision to offer 10 acres of land at the Slob Bank for lease or sale. The local authority invited tenders for the project in a notice in last Friday’s (April 22nd 2011) through the Irish Examiner.

The notice further encourages the provision of ancillary developments, including “a 150-200 bed hotel, with sea views and with conference, leisure and health resort facilities,” along with “a substantial area of high quality, public accessible amenity space” and “integrated urban spaces.”

For Youghal Town and Cork County Councillor Barbara Murray the news brings several years of effort and consultation to a milestone. The councillor has been quietly if persistently working with Cork County Council officials towards advancing the project and her initiative. The council adopted her initiative to offer prospective investors the option to lease rather than buy the land and this exercise in lateral thinking may now reap a revolutionary benefit for her town.

The councillor reveals that “there has already been strong interest from two quarters and who knows what other parties may now also decide to take an interest?”  Submissions close on June 10th.

Options and optimism

Interestingly, it is understood that the two considerations to date offer contrasting options, with one party envisaging a marina constructed outside the bank, while the second project suggests flooding the slob interior and building an enclosed marina. It is believed that either structure could accommodate up to 200 berths.

Unsurprisingly, the reaction in the town is one of contained hope and seeping optimism. Chamber of Commerce director Michael Farrell is quoted as saying that the site, close to Tesco and Lidl, is ideally suited and located, with “plenty of room for a large car park and ancillary services.” He adds that the recessionary price of land provides an added incentive for investors and envisages that a marina “would be worth millions of euro to Youghal.”

 

Youghal mayor Mary Linehan-Foley says the development is “very, very welcome” and hopes that in due course unsustainable objections will not be forthcoming. “As a council we are thrilled with this and I would wish to reassure potential investors that if there is anything we can do to help them they need only ask,” she adds.

There is a general, if reluctant acceptance in Youghal nowadays that some industrial benefactor arriving in town to solve its stark unemployment and retail problems is remote for the foreseeable future, if ever.  By consequence, the need to develop long-term self-sustainment by nurturing the town’s rich tourism and heritage potential is acquiring a growing focus. The presence of a marina would boost that aspiration a hundred fold. The light at the end of the tunnel would seem to be hope at the end of the harbour, it seems.

The Western Front Association

The Western Front Association was established in 1980 with the objective of furthering interest in the Great War of 1914-18, and its current president is the noted military historian Correlli Barnett. The association is strictly non-political and its focus is on education, research and remembrance, with an emphasis on the campaign conducted on the Western Front. Since 1980 the association has grown considerably and it currently has over 6,000 members worldwide.

An information meeting aimed at establishing a Cork branch of the association will be held upstairs in the Rob Roy public house at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 27 April 2011.

Anyone with an interest in this conflict and its impact on Ireland or in military history, are welcome to attend.

If you wish to find out more about the WFA you can do so by checking the association website at: www.westernfrontassociation.com

Concern as dogs injured by discarded fishing hooks. – By Christy Parker

YOUGHAL DOG OWNERS are urged to be alert as it emerges that an average of one dog per month is incurring injury from discarded fish hooks while exercising in scenic areas. Testimony from local vets indicate that each treats an average of three or four dogs a year for injuries sustained from discarded fishing tackle. Owners have incurred expensive veterinary surgery in incidents where hooks have become embedded in a dog’s mouth or, on at least one occasion, when an animal has swallowed a hook.

Youghal Town and Cork County Councillor Barbara Murray wants the county authority to erect signs advising anglers in Youghal not to leave fishing tackle or hooks behind them.

Kim Carey’s three year-old Labrador, Macy, has had two unfortunate encounters with discarded hooks at the Slob bank, a mile-long, scenic walking area alongside the Blackwater. “Last December my fiancé Alan noticed Macy was distressed,” recalls Kim. “She had a piece of fishing line protruding from her mouth and a vet’s x-ray showed she had swallowed a hook. It required an operation to remove it. More recently she got a hook stuck on her paw. I’ve met others whose dogs have had similar injuries and I’ve even got tangled in fishing line myself.”

Local man Terry Hurton’s black Labrador Allie had to have a hook removed from her tongue after a walk on the Slob bank. “It cost me €80,” says Terry wistfully.

Youghal vet Tom Kenneally says he treats “four or five dogs” a year for such hook-related injuries. “It happens in the Slob and on the beaches,” he says.  Other vets in the area report a similar average, indicating about one dog a month falls victim.

Many anglers fish in the area and angling club competitions are frequently held on the Slob bank. The Munster Council of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers has been informed of the issue but say they cannot comment at present.

Meanwhile Cllr Murray, herself a dog owner says she has brought the matter to the attention of county hall and will further pursue the issue. “I don’t think any angler is deliberately negligent but signage might urge them to double check they haven’t left anything behind,” she reasons. “And it might also remind dog owners to be alert to the danger.”

Queen Of The Skies Visits Youghal On First Irish Visit – By Christy Parker

AN EXOTIC species of hawk that visited in Youghal over the Easter weekend was the first of its kind ever spotted in Ireland. The historic sighting took place at Ballyvergan Marsh, adjacent to Claycastle beach, on Good Friday morning and brought an unexpected influx of birdwatchers to the town.

Owen Foley, a  29 year-old member of the Cork branch of Bird Watch Ireland was scanning the heritage-protected marsh at about 11 am and could not believe his binoculars when a Pallid Harrier hawk hovered into view. “I’m pretty certain it was a female,” recalls the Dubliner now living in Cork city. “She mostly eluded me for a few hours thereafter, due to a heavy fog,” he adds. “Then the sky cleared about three o’clock and she flew quite close to me.”

Topically, the Pallid Harrier is the bird world’s Queen of England in that both are strangers to this country. “This was expected to happen sometime,”  says Owen, adding further parallel, “as there had been some sightings in Britain. It’s an extremely historic event!” Measuring about 45 cm from bill to tail, the creature’s identity was assured by a distinguishable light collar and creamy undercarriage. It wasn’t seen to carry a handbag however.

The Pallid breeds mostly in Eastern Europe or Russia and winters in Africa. It is likely that the Youghal visitor –believed to be a young hen in its first plumage- somehow came off course on its return journey. Alternatively, it may have wintered in Ireland un-noticed, says Owen. A third option suggests that, like the eventually-spotted Callely, a cute hawk native to Dublin, she may simply have been visiting a second nest in Cork.

Twitching

In birdwatcher world, one who watches birds is ‘birding’ whereas a birder who responds to a significant find is merely ‘twitching,’ and is often considered something of a fair weather supporter. When word travelled (through Twitter no doubt!) of Owen’s discovery, Youghal became temporary home to dozens of birders and twitchers.

Over the weekend they flocked like, well, birds of feather from such diverse habitats as Wexford, Kerry, Clare, Dublin, Sligo and Wicklow. Amongst them was Molly, a three year-old black and white border collie from Clare, whose back was broken when run over by a car. She transported herself happily and energetically across the dunes by means of a two wheeled trolley attached in place of legs to her rear end.

Some of the of the birders and twitchers nested overnight in local b & b’s. Locals found them a very sociable breed, who happily crowed about such experiences as having spent “four hours in a Wexford bog in -14 degrees,” on the off chance of seeing unusual feathers fly.

Sadly for most, the feathers had already flown in Youghal. Dawn observers were treated to a Pallid fly-by. A second and glimpse was afforded about 11 am. It was adjudged to be heading towards Kilkenny –home of the Cats. Oh dear…

Click on image to enlarge

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL  MEETING APRIL 2011 – By Christy Parker

In reference to the town clerk’s report, Cllr Liam Burke asked how much of the rates shortfall was thought recoverable. Mr. Ryan said it depended on whether companies were in liquidation, examinership or whether individuals had absconded. “We’d hope to recover as much as possible but we are in uncharted waters,” he advised.  Cllr Sammy Revins asked if ‘strike-offs’ referred to idle factories or businesses that were gone bust. “A mixture of both,” the town clerk replied.

Congratulations:

Mayor Mary Linehan Foley congratulated Cllr Michelle Hennessy on her co-option to Cork County Council in place of Deputy Sandra McLellan. The chamber applauded Cllr Hennessy’s new standing and reflected their satisfaction that the seat had remained in Youghal. The mayor also congratulated jockey Davy Russell on his two Cheltenham and one Aintree winner recently. A letter would be dispatched.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Burke said weeds at the Ferry Slip needed clearing and light no. 10 remains amiss at North Main Street. He said he had been informed that the word DeValera was misspelt on that street’s car park sign.

Cllr Tommy O’Connell said many sandbags that had been issued with flood warnings some time ago remained on the street and were a hazard, with one woman suffering a bad fall due to them. He said they were an eyesore on laneways as well as on the main street and “a certain element” was kicking them around the place. He advocated having the bags collected and returned to the county council yard.

Cllr Michael Beecher said that as residents were now going to be paying to use the Fair Field car park (in lieu of the three-hour parking limit for non-resident permit holders), an effort should be made to install “even one light” there. He understood it was to be upgraded in time but said that meantime “cars are being damaged there because of lack of lighting.”

Cllr Barbara Murray noted that Dolphin Square car park was also to be upgraded but asked that the directional arrows on the tarmac at the entrance and exits re-painted.

Covert camera, risky railings and beach business

Cllr Eoin Coyne drew attention to illegal dumping on the top of Windmill Hill. He felt it was occurring on Sunday mornings particularly when the litter warden was off duty. The town clerk said the mobile and covert CCTV vehicle would be operating over the next four months throughout the town, including over weekends. Cllr Beecher hoped that errant dog owners whose charges foul the streets would also be targeted. Cllr Murray said CCTV was needed in Ashe Street as residents were incurring hefty expense in having to dispose of waste that was being illegal thrown onto their properties. Cllr Coyne also asked for an update on derelict site notices issued over the past year. The town clerk said that a formal reply to all items raised would be provided within two weeks.

Cllr Hennessy said two missing flagstones on the quay behind the snooker hall needed replacing, the ladder in the mall was rusted and a hazard to children and a lifebuoy was also needed at a corner in that vicinity, where children regularly bathed. She concurred with Cllr O’Connell’s concerns over sandbags, especially at the rear of the snooker hall, where tourist coaches converged. The councillor also asked that sharped-edged iron bars, that served no purpose in the vicinity of Meghan’s Corner’” as she put it, be removed.

Cllr Sammy Revins wanted the Front Strand railings leading to the beach removed or replaced because they were dangerous. He also asked that efforts be made to install disabled toilet facilities on the Front Strand. The councillor was critical of the strand facilities generally, noting that a packed beach that weekend was unable to purchase either coffee or a sandwich. He urged that contact be made with those interested in providing takeaway services by the beach if the council was serious about properly promoting the town asset.

Mayor Mary Linehan-Foley accepted that funding was scarce but she asked whether “a lick of paint” could be administered to the Lighthouse Hill railings.

Cork County Council Items:

Town Engineer Paul Murray delivered his report arising from the previous monthly meeting thus:

Work had commenced on gullies on the Quarry Road and Golf Links Road prior to resurfacing projects. Potholes were being filled on an ongoing basis. The pipes for the extension on the Front Strand were on site and the appropriate tides were awaited to commence work. An additional bin had been cited at Claycastle and all bins would be re-instated for the June weekend, having been removed because they were being used for disposal of domestic waste.

Cllr Murray said the Mall Lane pothole was “absolutely diabolical.” The engineer said the roads contractor had only arrived in town the day previous and he expected he would attend to it by the end of the week. Cllr Murray insisted it be addressed as “a matter of priority,” given the high volume of traffic accessing the lane. She said she had been “hearing about hot tar since January” and would “really appreciate” a resolution. (The pot hole has since been filled). The councillor asked that sand be removed from the path to the beach at Claycastle. Also at Claycastle, a subsiding, square section of road outside the pump station at Claycastle needed remedying, while two tyres on the town periphery by the planted boat needed removing. She also  sought a commitment that the county council empty bins twice weekly during the summer season.

Ban the buses and parking on paths

Cllr Murray also said asked the practice of buses parking on the Lighthouse Hill be halted. It was of constant concern to the Tidy Towns committee and the vehicles gave a poor first reflection on the town entrance. “You can’t see the hanging baskets for the buses,” she elaborated. Furthermore, they compromised parking spaces when there was a busy night in the nearby hotel. Cllr Murray argued that while some liaison might be undertaken with the bus owners, it was not the council’s remit to be providing parking spaces for either the principal users Bus Eireann, or private owners. She said Millennium Court or “our famous railway station” could accommodate them. “It was only ever intended for coach parking,” she concluded.  The councillor said the Tidy Towns was willing to contribute up to €2,000 towards the installation of built-outs.

Cllr Beecher said the pavement grid at the Bank of Ireland was protruding and was a hazard, despite being raised (no pun intended) at March’s meeting. He was also concerned that a dip in the road outside Tesco’s had been mentioned at previous meetings to no avail. “It couldn’t be nearer to the council yard,” he added.

Cllr Hennessy asked for a progress report on Priority 1 disability audit works. Mr Murray said there had been 23 Priority 1 road crossings, most of which had been done. The contractor was to finalise some areas which were not straightforward and he anticipated “another few weeks” before the projects were complete.  Cllr Hennessy further complained that the tar had broken up at the entrance to Springfield Court and asked if double yellow lines could be painted on the Golf Links Road, where driers were parking on the footpath in the vicinity of two schools, necessitating pedestrians to walk on the road.

Cllr Burke noted that a railing on the front strand had rusted away dangerously. He asked that gravel on the promenade and car park be cleared, before asking yet again that the ‘concealed entrance’ sign for Summerdale be provided. The councillor then listed “the usual list of broken footpaths, aka Tallow Street, South Main Street and the junction of Strand Street/South Abbey”, requiring remedy.

Cllr Coyne asked that a widening pothole on Hayman’s Hill be rectified. He also complained that the public toilets at Claycastle had not been opened the previous weekend, despite glorious attracting large numbers to the area. The town clerk said the Claycastle toilets would open, as traditional, from the May bank holiday weekends.

Funding and resources

The town clerk then explained that all issues raised are prioritised but without central government making adequate funding and resources made available to local authorities, there would continue to be problems. “Two years ago we had 20 staff available,” he proceeded.  “Now we have 12, which is less than we had in 1984, when the town was half the size that it is today.” He realised upgrading was vital in several areas and explained that the town manager and he had “gone out on a limb” to secure €300,000 for the main street resurfacing next September. Meanwhile the non-national roads grant funding from central government had been cut by over €100,000 each year for the past three years. “People need to understand that local government services are now at tipping point,” he stressed “and services can’t be delivered under current budget levels.” Insisting that the central issue was the future of local government and whether it was going to be properly resourced, he urged the members to convey their concerns to their political parties.

Cllr Coyne replied that he was only asking for someone to “turn a padlock,” such as had been done at the Front Strand. Mr. Ryan said Youghal’s was the only town council in Cork currently operating on weekends.  The toilets needed maintenance through April, he eventually Cllr Coyne, who accepted the point.

Cllr Murray acknowledged the town clerk’s efforts to meet requirements and observed that as a tourist town, Youghal needed greater input and flexibility from Cork County Council in meeting requirements. “Yet if anyone decides to do something voluntary we have World War Three over doing someone’s job,” she complained. Mr. Ryan added that health and safety legislation was also a negative factor where voluntary participation was involved. “There has to be a change of mind as to how things are done, at a national level,” he urged.

Cllr Revins said the promenade needed clearing of gravel, a wall at the back of the GAA pitch in Copperally was in danger of collapse and asked if anything was going into a “crater” at Summerdale Lawn “besides cars!”

Derelict library site

Mayor Linehan-Foley asked that a full report be sought on the state and standing of the North Main Street site (formerly Collins’s bakery) purchased by Cork County Council for a library some years ago. She said it was overgrown with weeds and people were dumping rubbish and it was becoming rat-infested.  “Any other owner would be ordered to tidy it,” she observed. The mayor also questioned the logic in the county council renting a “top dollar” location in the town while a property lay idle and neglected on the same street. “Surely the money saved on rent would pay off a bank loan to restore the purchased property,” she wondered. Mr .Murray agreed to seek information from the county council’s library section. Cllr Burke then said it needed establishing where Youghal now stood in terms of priority on the funding list for libraries, having been told several years ago it was at the top. “The Library Council of Ireland is not funding anything at present,” informed Cllr Murray, “and Cork County Council is renting libraries all over the place from its revenue budget.”  She added that there were “huge archaeological issues” regarding their Youghal property and suggested it might be better were it sold and a more suitable property acquired.

2011 Purchase Scheme for Long-standing Tenants:

The town clerk said the new Purchase Scheme for Long-standing Tenants: The town clerk said the new scheme (which carries a purchase price of minus a tenancy deduction of up to 45% i.e. 3% per annum for up to 15 years) was specifically designed for calendar year 2011 and any purchases made during the year must be completed by December 31st 2012. It was the adopted by the council.

Motion that the road at Cnoc Aobhinn, length 209 linear metres, be declared a public road due consideration having been given to the financial implications of same:

The motion was adopted.

Heritage Applications 2011:

Mr Ryan said he had made three applications pertaining to: i) Irish Walled Towns Day, for which €8,000 had been received from an application for €15,000; ii) Town Walls projects, for which €153,000 was sought, with provision for a scaled down project subject to funding availability. He was happy that the council had received €60,000, which was 10% of the entire national budget; iii) an application for €73,000 towards St. Mary’s Church was currently being considered. In response to Cllr Murray, the town clerk said the council’s contribution to grants was just an additional 10%, for which allowance was made in the annual budget. “People need to know that progress is slow because these applications are basically our only means of raising funds,” reflected Cllr Murray.

MARKETING, PROMOTION AND COHESION AMONGST PRIME ISSUES AT YOUGHAL CONCERNED CITIZENS MEETING. – By Christy Parker

Dozens of tour buses arriving in Youghal per week on the Rosslare to Cork/Killarney route make reference to Moby Dick as the only point of interest in Youghal, the most recent meeting of the Youghal Concerned Citizens group was told. Mr. Norman MacDonald, who is conducting research on the issue, also revealed that tens of tour operators on the same route bypass the town entirely throughout the summer.

Other issues to be aired at the meeting include a commitment to enter Youghal in a TG4 event for a €40,000 marketing award and a determination to bring cohesion to promotional events amongst the town’s diverse organisations.

The meeting, at the Red Store on Tuesday April 19th attracted a 20 plus attendance. With organisation and procedure becoming more fine-tuned by the meeting, the gathering processed the pre-set agenda with increased efficiency and purpose. Apologies were conveyed on behalf of PRO Noreen Hurley who was unable to attend due to minor personal circumstances.

The order of business ran as follows:

Opening address by Chairman Jimmy Flanagan:

Mr. Flanagan asked committee member Micheal De Buitleir for an update on a proposed parking a questionnaire to be conducted through Pobalscoil na Trionoide transition year. Mr De Buitleir said the school’s preference was to undertake the project in September. The Comhaltas Craobh Eochail chairman also informed that the group had missed the most recent “window opportunity” to contribute to the County Development Plan but that they would be consulted when the next seeking public submissions process arose. Planning and signage issues would feature on such agenda, he added.

Election of Treasurer:

Mr Flanagan said that the group would incur general running costs and responsibility for handling such finances was needed. It was agreed that donations (as against subscriptions) would be sought alongside a €2 contribution per member per meeting. The post of treasurer will be filled temporarily by group secretary Adrian Hyde. It was noted that one well-wisher had contributed €100 at the previous meeting.

Formation of a working group to examine issues relating to seaside development in Youghal and to formulate proposals for same:

Mr Flanagan successfully sought volunteers to investigate what needs attention in this area, whether it involve beach cleaning or more advanced projects. A Mr. Eoin Budds, from the floor, advocated efforts to develop the beach and river facilities as per other resorts, suggesting kayaking and festival-orientated beach activities as examples by which to maximise and market the natural beach resort. He undertook to compile a report for the next meeting.

Formation of a working group to formulate proposals for a central message or hook upon which the town can market itself:

The chairman recalled marketing manager Tim Magee’s impressive address at the previous meeting in which he stressed that while industry was welcome, Youghal’s focus should be on sustainable development of its natural amenities and local enterprises. It was conveyed from the attendance that Mr. Magee, despite his frequent business sojourns abroad, remains very willing to contribute to the group in whatever capacity is viable for him to do so.

Marketing catastrophe

Norman MacDonald diverted the discussion a little when he revealed that up to 35 bus tour companies operate on the Rosslare to Cork/Killarney throughout the summer and beyond. In an example of marketing deficiency, one of these, Seaways, conducts 47 seven-day and 25 ten-day tours through Youghal, amounting to one per week of each through Youghal. However the only point of interest they referred to in Youghal was Moby Dick, explained Mr. MacDonald.  He further revealed that many of the tour companies bypass the town entirely. He is now compiling details of as many companies as possible to quantify the dearth and potential of marketing within this sector.

Notwithstanding the good service it provided, through the pub of the same name, Mr. MacDonald felt strongly that Youghal had a lot more to offer besides the legacy of a dead whale to entice bus passengers to alight and to amble. There were many “treasures,” such as St. Mary’s Church, with walls dating from 600 AD, the River Blackwater and even murderous, marauding Cromwell if need be! He wondered of Comhaltas performers could greet arrivals, or if they might be induced to linger by older volunteers greeting them on arrival with pamphlets depicting Youghal’s many attractions.

The meeting also heard that only one of several cafés in the area showed interest in opening earlier in the morning to tempt such travellers. “We’re not being rude but we’re not being welcoming either,” surmised Mr MacDonald ruefully, adding. “You could show someone Youghal for a whole day and they’d still not see half of it!”

Mr. MacDonald then revealed that plans to acquire a unique model railway attraction from Dublin had been derailed as the owners had apparently opted to send it to a museum in Dun Laoghaire instead. A watchful eye would be maintained lest it became available nonetheless.

TG4

Micheal de Buitleir brought news that TG4 are launching a competitive ‘G-day’ event in which non-Gaeltacht towns will compete against each other to stage the best 24 hour Irish language and heritage festival. The contest carries a first prize of €40,000 towards marketing their area. “Even without winning, the competition gets you a lot of valuable television coverage,” he argued. It was agreed that Youghal would participate.

Cohesion, co-operation, clearing and Gavin

Mr De Buitleir proceeded that Youghal clubs and organisation had traditionally marketed themselves individually, whereas a joint and cohesive strategy would likely serve the town better. He also referred to ‘Painting Your Grey Area,’ a new promotion being run by Dulux in which the company will provide free paint for use on derelict public buildings.

Committee member Lil Danne remarked that several areas surrounding the beach and quays needed sprucing up and cleaning. She suggested that pointers might be garnered from viewing a Dirty Old Towns, a current television series in which gardener Diarmuid Gavin was applying his craft to improving Charleville. “He asked that they fundraise €30,000 towards the project and the entire town rallied behind it,” she observed.

Mr, De Buitleir reported that Comhalts Ceoltori Eireann had cleaned from the water tower to Magner’s Hill a week previous and said the town council were receptive to such voluntary ‘public realm’ initiatives. He urged that other groups consider similar projects. There subsequently emerged some discussion on the prevalence of unsightly sandbags in the town and it was agreed to remove them in a week’s time if they remained visible.

An unexpected revelation arose from Mr Flanagan when he produced a copy of the previous Saturday’s Irish Daily Mirror. It carried a feature on Youghal but, in stark contrast to the earlier Irish Times equivalent, it depicted a town laden with attractions and natural beauty. “It’s absolutely fantastic,” remarked the chairman.

Formation of a working to investigate the feasibility of implementing a strategy across all groups and organisations in regard to co-ordinating activities and events:

It was agreed that individual organisations were doing well in their efforts to promote the town from individual perspectives but that too often efforts clashed with those of other organisations, to the detriment of all parties and of the town.  It was recognised that the absence of representatives from local organisations at Youghal Concerned Citizens meetings did not facilitate improvement in this sphere. The meeting agreed to contact as many organisations and clubs as possible with a view to acquiring their views on the issue. A suggestion was made also that efforts be made to publish a calendar of events in the local media some weeks in advance to help avoid a clash between meetings, events, etc.

Youghal Lace

A spokeswoman representative Youghal Lace revealed that the group is planning to re-convene in the coming weeks. She said much plans for the future included tutoring interested parties in the art of producing the unique lacework. As regards exhibiting past creations, she was not in a position as yet to declare or elaborate on that.

As the meeting neared conclusion, there was consensus to ask the town council in writing for an update on the proposed restoration project for the Clock Gate, which was predicted to commence this month.

The final item concerned the old railway station. Two people in attendance expressed a willingness voluntarily to clean up the site. They were told that the town council has contacted the site owners, Iarnrod Eireann and were awaiting a response on a request to render it less unsavoury looking. Meanwhile the volunteers were advised to contact the company with any proposals.

Reports and progress on all the above issues will be processed at the next meeting of the Youghal Concerned Citizens’ss next meeting on Tuesday May 10th at 7 pm in the Red Store.

Imokilly Motor Club Rally Video Night

Calling all rally fans!!!!!!!!!!. On Friday night May the 6th the Imokilly Motor Club are hosting a rally video night the venue being the Thatch Bar in Ladysbridge. The night will commence at approximately 9pm with some on board footage provided by the overall winner of the opening two rounds of  this years Valvoline National Forestry Rally Championship Owen Murphy in the Hankook Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.

Owen will be there for the evening as a guest of our club so if its rallying you want to talk about this is the place to be while the videos will be worth watching its about a social night for the IMC and every one is welcome.

Following on from that we will also be showing some action from last months West Cork Rally and last weeks Moonraker Forestry Rally which was based in Lismore. Remember we at the IMC are always looking for new Members so we would appeal to anyone who has a keen interest in Motorsport to come along on the night as well as existing members in what promises to be a great evenings entertainment. Remember all are welcome and its free !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pic Owen Murphy who won the first 2 rounds of the Forestry Championship in 2011.

Five people were taken to hospital following a two car crash at Beanfield Cross near Redbarn, Youghal on Wednesday night, April 20th. All five were from Cork city and were occupants of a 02 registered Mazda which collided with a 04 registered Renault Megane with four occupants, at approximately 9.45 pm. Their injuries were described as non-serious. Fire officers used cutting equipment to free two of the occupants. Both drivers tested negative for alcohol at the scene. None of those involved were from the Youghal locality.

The Mazda was travelling on the Redbarn road towards Cork and the Renault was turning left towards Redbarn from Youghal when the collision occurred at the intersection. Five ambulances from Youghal, Midleton, Fermoy and two from Dungarvan attended the scene, along with Youghal and Midleton fire brigade units. Gardai removed both cars for examination and are appealing for witnesses.
Tele: (024) 92200

Address by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, at the INTO Congress

Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD

25th April, 2011
I want to start by thanking you for your invitation to join you at your annual congress today and for your warm welcome.

I’m delighted to be here.

I consider myself to have been given the job I wanted in what is, in effect, a National Government.

I am anxious to ensure that all of the education partners are in no doubt of the very difficult road that lies ahead.

In my opening remarks therefore I will set out the challenges we face as a country and what that means for the education sector.

My party respects the role of the trade union movement in this country.

I understand how an annual conference must discuss and debate the issues that matter to you, whether those are issues that concern you as individuals or issues that come from your concern for the primary school system generally.

In your classrooms you strive to teach children the truth.

I want to be equally frank about the resources that are likely to be available for education in the coming period.

I am not going to pretend that that the resources available for education can be improved, earlier decisions reversed or further difficult measures avoided.

The bottom line is that Ireland has to reduce its expenditure on public services and that means further difficult and painful decisions.

We must all come to terms with the extent to which our reliance on EU/IMF funding means that we operate without economic sovereignty.

The parties that have formed the new Government have done just that.

On the back of a historic election result Fine Gael could have sought to form a Government with the support of independents.

The easy road for the Labour Party would have been to take up the role of the largest opposition party for the first time in the history of the State.

Both parties instead chose to form a National Government precisely because the gravity of the situation demanded such a response.

The position is stark.

I have repeatedly made the point that the country is akin to being in receivership.

Ireland is unable to borrow in the markets the money that is needed to fund services and provide for capital programmes.

To put it bluntly, the money dispensed by ATMs to all public servants, including public representatives, to enable us engage in our daily activities and purchases comes from ECB monies provided to our banking system.

That money is made available to Ireland by the European Central Bank at fortnightly intervals.

Every two weeks, the Governor of the Irish Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, has to confirm to the ECB that Ireland is meeting the terms of the EU/IMF bailout as they presently stand.

Michael Collins, the State’s first Minister for Finance, had in 1922, more room for manoeuvre than Michael Noonan has today!

In forming a National Government we have one overriding objective – by hard work and carrying through difficult decisions, to regain our economic sovereignty.

Only when we do so can we return to the position where an Irish Government can make unfettered decisions.

My words sound harsh but it would be dishonest of me to diminish in any way the struggle that lies before us.

Let me also say very clearly that I fully realise that very many of you in your own lives have experienced the real impact of the current financial problems that have faced and continue to face this country of ours.

I know that you have all had to deal with significantly reduced income and living standards.

Many of you or members of your family have experienced and are experiencing negative equity and difficulties in making ends meet.

I also know that you are not insulated from the wider impact of the current recession on those children and families with whom you relate in your daily working life.

You see at first hand the devastation that the economic crisis has brought to families in your communities.

You meet the fall-out from struggling homes in the classroom every day – job losses, reduced salaries and crippling mortgages are all too common a reality.

I want to thank you for the very valuable support, encouragement and stability that you provide in the daily lives of children in your care at a time of great uncertainty.

You do so in the best traditions of public service.

PUBLIC SERVICE

I also want to take this opportunity to stress my own personal commitment to the concept of public service and to the role of the public servant in the life of this country.

More than ever it is vitally important that those of us in a position of political leadership affirm the contribution of public servants to the wellbeing of this country.

My first job was as a public servant in the housing architects’ department of Dublin Corporation and today as a public representative and Minister, I too am in public service.

I retain a tremendous respect for that calling and for all that is honourable and good in the concept of service to the wider community.

I also want to emphasise my strong view that at this time of national emergency it is vitally important that we look to unity across our population as opposed to promoting division and sectoral interests.

This is not a time for confrontation but rather of working together.

Times of adversity such as those that we now live in have the potential to bring out the best in people and can spur us all to make a greater contribution to the common interest.

The core purpose of the Croke Park Agreement is to allow us to manage better with less.

Because, make no mistake about it we have to manage with less.

I want to acknowledge the very positive and constructive approach of the INTO in relation to this agreement.

You were one of the first to conclude detailed and significant arrangements with the Department and are now implementing those changes.

I think that it is vitally important, and I am sure you will accept, that implementation must be real and meaningful on the ground.

It must be clearly visible to pupils and parents and the wider public and it must bring real value to our education system.

As you know a fundamental purpose of the changes agreed under the Croke Park Agreement is to provide additional time for schools and teachers to engage in essential activities such as planning without intruding on the tuition time of students.

This has been a major historical deficit within our system and one which we must now deal with for once and for all.

In saying this I do not for a moment take from the tradition of volunteerism among our teachers.

This strong tradition of our teachers contributing generously to the many out of school activities such as sports, music and the arts is one of the real strengths of our education system. It contributes greatly to the breadth and experience of the education given to our children.

UNION CONCERNS

I am well aware of your worries about a range of issues.

I know that your concern about maintaining services is not just one of self interest but that you also have the education of pupils at heart when you react to reductions in resources.

The reality is that the Government is equally concerned about the future for the children in schools.

But we know that we can only secure the future and sustain front line services if we can regain our economic sovereignty by being able to find lenders prepared to lend to us in the markets.

They will do so only if they are able to see that we have taken the difficult decisions and have made the necessary fiscal correction.

This is why the Government has decided to adopt the specific budgetary targets under the EU/IMF programme that must be met in 2011 and 2012.

The importance of meeting the targets cannot be overstated.

It is only by meeting those targets that EU/IMF funding will continue to arrive in this country.

It is only by meeting those targets that teachers and other public servants can continue to be paid and that those relying on social protection can continue to receive weekly support.

There are specific EU/IMF commitments and targets in relation to a reduction in the overall number of public servants on the payroll including teachers.

In the Education sector the task of managing our budget is complicated by the fact that enrolments will continue to increase over the next few years.

While the Government is committed to protecting front line education services to the greatest extent possible, we must not underestimate the challenge in doing so against rising enrolments.

The recovery plan provides for a net reduction in teacher numbers in 2011, notwithstanding the need to provide for additional posts to meet increased enrolments.

The detail on these measures was outlined in the 2011 budget.

These budgetary measures have been notified to schools and will be proceeding as planned to take effect from September 2011.

The recovery plan also provides for consultation with the education partners in relation to how best to achieve a further reduction in teacher payroll costs from 2012.

In the coming weeks my Department will be inviting the INTO (TUI/ASTI) along with the other relevant partners to work on identifying such savings.

I appreciate that the measures we have had to take this year to ensure that the primary teacher payroll costs remain within budget have caused concern and anxiety to young teachers who have held temporary positions or are seeking jobs.

But there is a trade-off here for members of this union.

The Government is prepared to honour the Croke Park commitment in relation to no redundancy for those holding permanent posts.

However, to deliver on that commitment means that this year we will need to redeploy teachers into positions that traditionally have been filled by teachers on fixed term contracts.

We also need greater flexibility in redeployment across panels and between schools of different patronage.

The reality is that we can no longer afford to leave a teacher surplus in one school while filling permanent or temporary vacancies in other schools by recruitment.

The normal panel process has been operating over recent weeks. There is a need to complete the redeployment process as quickly as possible.

This is only fair to teachers still awaiting redeployment and to deal with the anxieties of those seeking permanent or temporary teaching jobs.

It is only at that point that my Department can then allow schools to make those appointments.

My Department will continue to meet with your officials and with school management and patron representatives in order to finalise as quickly as possible the precise arrangements that will be needed to expedite the redeployment of any teachers that remain to be redeployed.

SMALL SCHOOLS

I am aware also of the concern among your members who teach in small schools about the Value for Money exercise being conducted by my Department on the resources provided to such schools.

Let me say that this study is part of an overall requirement across all Government Departments to have a rolling programme of such studies.

It was initiated last October and is not driven by any ideology.

The study is simply about ascertaining the facts to inform future decisions.

It does not mean that any policy decision has been taken at this point or that any particular outcome is sought.

In fact, under Brendan Howlin’s recently announced Comprehensive Review of Expenditure All Government expenditure and programmes will come under similar scrutiny.

I want to be honest with you today and tell you clearly where we are at as a country.

I need to set out the reality of the challenges that we must face over the next few years.

My vision for the primary system is not simply about saving money.

It is about making sure we deliver the best education we can for all our children.

And that is why I believe that improving literacy and numeracy skills is so important.

While the PISA results present a wake up call they should not be regarded by any party as a judgement on teachers.

Rather they challenge us all to refocus on the primacy of literacy and numeracy as the prerequisites for wider learning.

Being able to read and write is a vital life skill for every individual.

It is the foundation on which future learning is built and can fundamentally change a person’s life chances.

A person’s horizons are forever narrowed without that foundation.

I believe that literacy begins in the home and must be supported by the home.

Schools face particular challenges where this support is not available, for whatever reason.

Today, I’m asking each and every one of you to make improving literacy and numeracy skills a priority when you return to your classrooms.

And I want you to keep telling parents how important it is that they read with their children everyday.

I think that if we all make small changes we can really make a big difference over time.

PATRONAGE

Before I finish, I want to touch on an issue that the INTO has been calling on Governments to address for many years; that is the issue of patronage of our primary schools.

The sea-change in society in recent times has rightly made us question the basis of our approach to school provision.

We must aim to provide for diversity in our education system and ensure that different forms of patronage reflect the needs of our modern society and the choices of parents.

All of this must be done within the context of the restraints on the public finances, of course.

Aside from rapid social change, we must also address the continuing growth in demand for school places.

The tension between the growth in the level of demand for school places, the diversity of that demand and our current financial difficulties raises significant questions for our primary system.

One of the first tasks I addressed as Minister was to establish the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector to allow all stakeholders including parents to engage in open debate on change of patronage in communities where it is appropriate and necessary.

It was launched very successfully last week under the direction of Prof John Coolahan who started off his long and distinguished career as a primary school teacher.

It is clearly up to each local school community to decide whether they want to change patron.

The issue that we now need to address is how we can help to make this process work practically.

The focus of the forum will be very much on identifying the methods and processes by which schools can be identified for transfer and then be enabled to transfer.

THE FUTURE

I began by setting out the stark realities of our country’s current position.

Only by taking the difficult but necessary corrective action on our public finances can we create hope for the future.

I am confident that if we focus on our common objective – that of providing the best education for all children – we can make great progress.

You occupy that precious space of providing hope for the future for each child you teach by ensuring the best educational outcomes you can for that child.

You help shape and equip young minds to meet the future head on.

You impart the skills and preparation they require to make their way in a different world where higher levels of educational attainment will be needed.

Teaching is a noble profession.

You entered it to make a difference and you can do that every day in the classroom.

I believe that the best way to make that difference is through even greater attention to promoting literacy and numeracy.

I wish you well with the rest of your conference and above I also wish you well in your dedicated work in our schools in the year ahead.