Speaking in response to the statement by Sean Sherlock yesterday asking for the postponing of the withdrawal of ambulance services in Youghal and elsewhere Cllr Michelle Hennessy has reacted with anger.

She responds “The position on the retention of our ambulance services in Youghal is not up for postponement. We in Youghal want the services kept as they are. The idea that some people are working away in the background needs to be brought out into the open. The people making the decision need to be in no doubt that the retention of the services is what the public want.

Sean Sherlock has on a number of occasions since he was elected not used his position in the cabinet to further the fight for ambulance services and the front line health services. He has sheepishly voted against motions under the protection of the whip system which directly were in favour of keeping our ambulance service. This type of politics is what people are sick of. What we want from our elected reps is a clear and consistent position on what they support. You can’t be appalled on one day and then vote with the government and HSE who are directly implementing the cuts the next.

I would also like to call on the Cllrs who are members of the government parties to put it up to their masters. This issue is only the beginning of what this government are planning to cut in the future and the grass root members need to make this a red line issue and stand up for their communities. The protest this Saturday is another way of showing that Youghal and its hinterland is very serious about the retention of its existing services and I am calling on everybody to turn up and support the event”

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Strength In Numbers Appeal For Save Youghal Ambulance Protest. – By Christy Parker

THE SAVE YOUGHAL AMBULANCE CAMPAIGN continues on Saturday next (17th December 2011) with a major demonstration against the proposed alteration to ambulance services in the east Cork region. The protest is scheduled for the Community Hospital, beginning at noon and organisers are appealing for a large turnout. .

In recent weeks The HSE has reaffirmed its intention to introduce immense changes to the ambulance system across Cork and Kerry, beginning with east and north Cork early in 2012. The plans are centred on replacing on-call paramedics overnight and a fixed-base daytime ambulance service with a first responder paramedic car, backed up in some rural areas, such as east Cork, by ‘roaming’ ambulance response crews. These crews may well have to travel lengthy distances when summoned.

Roaming

The roaming vehicles will comprise six ambulances removed from the 18-strong fleet that presently serves Cork and Kerry. The HSE claims that deploying these vehicles will cost less than 50% of the €200,000 it apparently costs to operate a ‘normal’ ambulance.

It has now also emerged that the first response vehicles –which will not be allowed to transport patients- will be largely crewed by “hundreds of volunteers”  trained in CPR and related care practices. The Executive believes this manoeuvre will enable the new system to meet Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) requirements for responding to call-outs.

Throughout, the HSE insists that the quality of service will not decline and, on the contrary, will improve at a reduced cost. Even without the HSE’s legacy of mistakes and failings, very many people remain sceptical of this view. Youghal GP’s have said it looks promising on paper but they remain unconvinced of its viability in practice as it currently stands.

Postponement call

Labour Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock, has called for the plans to be postponed, labelling them dangerous to the public as matters stand. Deputy Sherlock, who is also chairman of Mallow Hospital Action Committee, echoes the view that there are many details yet to be adequately processed, “particularly in relation to rural communities.” He adds, “It should be phased in on a trial basis first.”

Next Saturday’s protest marks the fourth public show of rejection against the proposals, following a public meeting and two street protest marches last August. Save Youghal Ambulance spokeswoman and Youghal Labour Town Councillor Tara O’Connell strongly urges the people of east Cork and indeed west Waterford also, to unite in strength on Saturday.

Enactments

The demonstration will include enactment of accident scenes and CPR demonstrations by way of exemplifying the crucial role of ambulance response times and procedure and the heavy demand on energy and stamina that a volunteer can encounter when administering CPR while an ambulance is en route. She encourages those attending Saturday’s event to bring banners and placards. A loud voice would also contribute towards conveying the message of rejection.

Save Youghal Ambulance Protest Demonstration is scheduled from noon to 2 pm at Youghal Community Hospital, Cork Hill.

BEAG will hold a fundraising art sale at the Rivergate Mall on Thursday December 15th. Further information on BEAG campaign from Eanna Dowling on 086-3315096 or BEAG line 089- 4210294.

B.E.A.G. is a non profit community group for the preservation and conservation of the environment through education awareness and action.

This is the fourth successful fundraising event organised by BEAG in their ongoing campaign.

BEAG meet on a Tuesday night.  If you have any concerns or would like to help in any way please contact us on….089-4210294.  You can also check us out on www.beag2011.com or our Facebook page Blackwater Estuary Action Group.

THE Minister of State for research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock, has said the HSE’s imminent ambulance changes for Cork and Kerry must be postponed.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, after senior health service officials revealed controversial plans to drastically alter how care is delivered by next month, the Labour TD said the move was dangerous to the public.

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A major protest is planned for Saturday next at Youghal Community Hospital. The protest is against the HSE’s proposed “reconfiguration” of the East Cork Ambulance Service. Beginning at midday on Saturday at the Community Hospital, continuing until 2 pm, the protest will feature demonstrations of real life accident scenes and it will show how CPR can be administered, showing how long a patient might last . Members of the public will have an opportunity to voice their concerns about the proposed changes at this protest. Banners and placards are encouraged at the demonstration at Youghal Community Hospital this Saturday from midday.

COMMUNITY RADIO YOUGHAL won three national awards at the recent CRAOL Community Radio Achievement Awards. CRAOL is the umbrella body for the Community Radio movement in Ireland. This year’s awards were presented at a ceremony held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone in Co Westmeath.

Community Radio Youghal (also known as C.R.Y 104fm) submitted entries in three categories, the maximum allowed.

In the Commissioned Programming category, Blackwater, Life and Lodgings scored very highly to scoop its award. The judges described the five part series about life on and along the Blackwater as: “Beautiful audio and scripting in a compelling programme”. They added that “the production values were superb and worth repeating on stations nationwide”. Edited by Justin Maher and narrated by Mervyn Scott featured historians, Kieran Heffernan and Frankie Mills and renowned navigator, Tony Gallagher. This is the second successive year that C.R.Y has won an award in the Commissioned Programming category.

Jazz on 104, presented by Tony Sheehan won an award in the Specialist Music category. The submission included a part of the programme’s Culture Night special. The judges said that Jazz on 104  was a “Great example of how specialist music can engage with the Community using an open mic night as part of culture night. Smooth presentation and well researched. This innovative programme was a pleasure to listen to”.

A new programme to C.R.Y in 2011, GAA This Week was a winner in the Sport category. GAA This Week was devised, produced and presented by Derek Kiely. In its first season on air, the programme reached out to every GAA club in the East Cork area, featuring club profiles, interviews, discussions and much more. The series ran the full GAA season from March to November. The judges said that GAA This Week was “Well presented. Great community involvement”. They also said it was an “excellent example of Community sports programming.”

C.R.Y Station Manager, Declan Gibbons congratulated everyone involved in the research and making of these award winning programmes. He said that the “success in this year’s awards scheme is further recognition of the excellent programmes that are being made by C.R.Y volunteers and staff in conjunction with local organisations and members of the community”.

Blackwater Life and Lodgings
http://www.mixcloud.com/CRY104FM/playlists/blackwater-life-and-lodgings/

GAA This Week
http://www.mixcloud.com/CRY104FM/gaa-this-week-season-review/

Jazz on 104
http://www.mixcloud.com/jazzon104/

13/12/2011
The Irish Greyhound Board are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. John McGrath as Racing and Commercial Manager at Youghal Greyhound Stadium with effect from December 19th next.

John who is from Cappagh, Co. Waterford joins IGB from Timac Agro where he is employed as a Sales Specialist. John previously held sales  and commercial positions with Nutec Limited, Southern Milling, Dairygold and and Lucey Feeds.

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Late opening: On Thursday 15th and 22nd of December the art galleries in Youghal will stay open until 8pm. We now have three art galleries in the town, which should make it fun to stroll about of an evening and enjoy the various shows. For book lovers Alan Prim’s Bookshop will stay open until 8pm. as does the local library. Thursday night is  music night in the tapas bar “Ole Ole”.

Gallery 126 is located at North Main Street, Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Gallery 126 promotes the work of professional contemporary artists, local, national and international.

Work by Gallery artists is on permanent display. Throughout the year regular exhibitions of work by new artists are held.

Portraits
Gallery 126 also has a photography studio specialising in portraiture.

Framing
Full framing service available.

Gallery Frida are running a raffle for one of artist Lora Murphy’s painting entitled ‘Setanta’. You may purchase a ticket to be in the draw for this wonderful painting at Gallery Frida, South Main Street, Youghal. 5 numbers for 5 euro and all money goes to the orphanage project in Uganda. The draw will take place at the Gallery on Christmas Eve.

 

Frida Gallery is named in honour of Frida Kahlo, an iconic early to mid-19th century Mexican artist renowned particularly for her surrealist self-portraits, depicting “pain and passion”, through intense, vibrant colours. Her work is highly celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition, and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form. “She was and remains a hugely inspiring figure.

Gallery Frida thank you -A message of thanks from Lars and Lora.

” I just wanted to thank you so very much for all the trouble and time you took to help us with the launch of Gallery Frida! We are delighted with the coverage you have given us.There was such a great turn out despite the rain .  Thanks to all the brave souls who came to support this new venture, your presence was greatly appreciated and we very much hope that you enjoyed your evening as much as we did  and of course, a thousand thanks to all the wonderful talented artists who are exhibiting with us , we are very grateful for your trust and wish you all every success! We also are very grateful to Barbara o Meara and John Rushe for their invaluable help over the last few weeks, and of course Eithne and Anthony Watson. Thank you both. Nor will we forget Sir Michael Beecher, who did great work for us too !! Thanks Mick!!

Thanks to Sergyv who has been there from the beginning and did excellent work !and finally , a thousand thanks to the town and people of Youghal ! What a wonderful community to be a part of , we are proud to be here! “We would also like to thank the Mayor Eoin Coyne very much for taking time to come and open our Gallery officially. We appreciate this support very much.”
Lora and Lars”

THE HEALTH Service Executive yesterday moved to reassure people that proposed changes in ambulance arrangements in Cork and Kerry will lead to a better service for the public. This came amid fears reorganisation will lead to a downgrading in some areas.Robert Morton, director of the HSE National Ambulance Service, said the move from the system of on-duty and on-call to a system where staff will be rostered solely on an on-duty basis will result in an improved service.

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