UNLIKE other constituencies across Ireland, Cork North Central’s permutations and computations make it a political anorak’s dream. It is extraordinarily difficult to call every time the electorate goes to the polls, and this time it will be more volatile than ever.
Even the bravest gambler would have trouble predicting the make-up of the constituency, which takes in Cork’s northside, across the River Lee to Bishopstown and Victoria Cross, as well as the county, encompassing areas such as Glanmire and Blarney.
Sitting TDs are Sinn Fein’s Jonathan O’Brien, who topped the poll in 2011, as well as Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, from Labour, Fianna Fáil’s long-serving Billy Kelleher, and Minister for European Affairs and former Lord Mayor, Dara Murphy.

Fianna Fail TD Billy Kelleher. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Of the four sitting TDs, the only certainty, I predict, is that Mr Kelleher will be easily elected. Internal polling from all parties and analysts show him comfortably chugging along. Before 2011, Mr Kelleher was considered to have had an easy ride in politics, since first being elected, in 1997. He was on a winning side with a Fianna Fáil-led Government in the throes of the Celtic Tiger and he topped the poll in 2007, before the financial collapse brought the country to its knees. He was re-elected comfortably in 2011, even though the party was in national meltdown — however, this doesn’t tell the full story.
His former party colleague, Noel O’Flynn, was forced aside by the party to maximise the chance of a seat in 2011. Deputy Kelleher had to up his game while the party was rebuilding, and has had an impressive run since asking leader, Micheál Martin, for the health brief in opposition. He has risen through the ranks and was called upon to be Fianna Fáil’s director of elections this year. This, coupled with Mr O’Flynn’s decision not to run as an independent, is surely an indication that he is a safe bet.
It would also seem to be a fait accompli for Sinn Fein’s Jonathan O’Brien. Considered to be more comfortable in the colours of his beloved Cork City than in a suit, he should surely be regarded as a potential poll-topper, once again, among the people with whom he is most comfortable.
Not so fast. The party’s decision to add popular city councillor, Thomas Gould, to the ticket will dilute the Sinn Fein vote. Imposing, commanding and charismatic, Mr Gould’s booming and incendiary rhetoric will play well at the doorsteps. It has caused friction between the two camps of supporters.
Geographically close, Mr O’Brien’s supporters are unhappy that Mr Gould will cost their man votes in the heartland, while Mr Gould’s supporters are unhappy at the suggestion that he concentrate on that very heartland to allow Mr O’Brien to have a free run at retaining his seat. Yet there is also a school of thought that the constituency has gone so far against Government parties that Sinn Fein could take two seats. It seems unlikely, but not impossible.

Sinn Fein’s Jonathan O’Brien. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

That is where Anti-Austerity Alliance candidate, city councillor, Mick Barry, comes into play. Mr Barry has made no secret of the fact that it is now or never for him. Expected to do well in 2011, he didn’t make a serious dent on polling day.
He will do much better this time and will surely be there or thereabouts for a seat. Sinn Fein know he is a threat.
Mr Barry has outlined his belief, on the doorsteps, that Sinn Fein will enter an alliance with Fianna Fáil to be part of the next Government.
There has been no shortage of left-on-left barbs.
Labour suffered an unprecedented meltdown in the local elections of 2014, returning no city councillors, but Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch,has always had a good personal vote and will be hoping it turns out for her again. Privately, supporters have said she would not have decided to run unless she saw a viable way of retaining her seat.
One of the most intriguing elements is the internal fallout in Fine Gael.
But there should be enough votes in the city and county for a Fine Gael seat.
Along with former county councillor, Pat Burton, the party took 13,500 first-preference votes in 2011. However, Mr Burton outpolled Mr Murphy, who got in on transfers, and many delegates are unhappy that Senator Colm Burke was not added to the ticket, having performed admirably at the selection convention for the nomination.
Mr Murphy is not considered to have a strong personal vote, while candidates from the left-leaning parties have been at pains to paint him as out-of-touch and elitist — an accusation that Mr Murphy denies.
Canvassers for Mr Murphy have privately admitted that it is a hard sell in a constituency that has not seen much of the recovery claimed by the Government. Party strategists say Mr Murphy would have a much better chance if he was in Cork South Central and not north of the Lee.
The addition of 25-year-old barrister, Julie O’Leary, to the Fine Gael ticket, may help Mr Murphy. Largely seen as one for the future, with her glittering CV — stints in Washington DC, as well as a volunteer with the Free Legal Advice Centre in Blackpool Community Centre — Ms O’Leary would be an outstanding prospect in another election cycle.
However, her late addition and low profile will surely cost her. Yet scooping up a few thousand transfers from Ms O’Leary, at the southern end of the constituency, could see Mr Murphy over the line.
A wild card in the race is independent county councillor, Ger Keohane. The former Sinn Fein councillor has been one of the most active in his constituency, since being elected in 2014, and is building up momentum as a man ready to take on special-interest groups and party hierarchies, in the name of his constituents. His ‘man of the ordinary folk’ campaign is playing well. His stock is high in his Glanmire base, as well as in Ballyvolane, while he is originally from Gardiner’s Hill. That is three solid bases from which to work.
Green Party candidate, Oliver Moran, a software engineer, is articulate and one of the only dedicated centre-left candidates in the race.
His passion will gain him admirers, but, realistically, he is the longest of long shots to be elected.

Kathleen Lynch. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Wily campaigner, Ted Tynan, from the Workers’ Party, tends to play well in the local elections, but has never scratched the surface of what’s needed in a general election. Nevertheless, he could take a chunk of left-wing votes that may be vital to others. The old political cat may have one of his nine lives left.
Independent Thomas Kiely narrowly missed out on a city council seat in 2014, in Cork City South West, but, at the same time, never threatened the top candidates in the constituency, who outpolled him comfortably.
Little is known of self-proclaimed independent candidate, Aislinn Tongue, who has declined to speak publicly thus far.
Tomorrow: Alan Healy looks at Cork South Central.

A popular plus-sized model and blogger, Katie Higgins, has revealed how she has been left very upset and shaken after being verbally abused and “fat-shamed” by a man yesterday.

Ms Higgins, from Cork, was celebrating her 26th birthday with friends in Liverpool at the weekend when a man started making comments about her size.

She spoke to the Neil Prendeville Show earlier today on Cork’s RedFM and described the incident in her blog.

She told RedFM: “So this afternoon I met up with a friend and housemate I had in Australia along with my two best friends. We had dinner and giggled at stories shared.

“During the catch-up the booth next to us was filled with two intoxicated people 1 male 1 female. The male out loud said ‘check out the fat bird’ along with other comments which were ignored and I didn’t alert my companions to it either.

“The male continued to get louder as he shouted ‘nobody likes a fat bird’ continuously, the girl with him roared with laughter.”

Katie said that her friends were ignoring the jibes.

She said: “I did say ‘do ye hear what he is saying’ just in case I was paranoid and they assured me they did, every word, but didn’t want to upset me.

“I did let it get to me. I have a gorgeous group of friends to which I I have ALWAYS been the big girl but never felt left out.

“I dress well I present myself well I have an amazing support of friends.”

Katie then said that normally she is the life and soul of the party, but this time she felt that she had been a soft touch.

She said: “For once I felt let down by myself. I left kicked in the face. I did nothing wrong but be myself yet why was I upset?

“People commend me constantly for being confident yet I’m not. Yes I’m just me but I’m not confident.

“An insignificant creature had decided to pick me as his target to which I didn’t react but yet felt like I was nothing.”

Katie gets messages every day telling her she is an inspiration and how she instills people with confidence.

She said: “Yet I get assaulted verbally on a regular basis. Because you are big, small, short, tall NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO DISRESPECT OR ABUSE YOU.

“I’m extremely lucky to have parents, grandparent, friends who accept me for me and love me for me. I’m me – love it or hate it – it will never change.

“I’m lucky I’m comfortable with who I am, another person may not be so lucky and may be pushed to the edge.

“Be you be proud be wonderful. It’s not a pity post it’s a post to make people aware that even I get abuse regularly and have to plough through people (who) will always be like this unfortunately, so chin up and be you.”

MET Éireann has issued a weather alert for western and southern counties including Cork warning of strong winds and rain tonight and tomorrow morning.

“A combination of strong onshore winds, high tides and heavy rain brings the enhanced risk of coastal flooding overnight and tomorrow morning to exposed coastal areas,” Met Éireanmn said.

The weather is connected with the remnants of Storm Jonas which brought near record snowfalls to the US over the weekend.

The weather advisory is in effect from 3am tonight until 3pm tomorrow.

A woman in her 20s is in a stable condition at Cork University Hospital after suffering serious injuries when she was attacked by a pitbull mastiff in her home in Co Cork.

She suffered serious injuries to both arms when the dog, which belonged to her partner, attacked her at their home in Mitchelstown.

Gardaí had to draw their batons and repeatedly strike the dog to get him to release the woman after the attack.

She underwent emergency surgery to try and save her hands, which were badly injured.

Gardaí managed to get the dog to a secure area last night. It is being held until its owner returns home.

However, it is expected he will be put down.

DEMOLITION work began last night on the former Capitol cinema to make way for a new €50m retail and office development.

Interior of the Capitol cinema building on the Grand Parade.
Pictures: Denis Scannell

It marks the start of the first significant redevelopment of a city centre site since demolition work began in 2007 on Opera Lane.
Cork company Loftus Demolition, will take just over three months to complete the removal of the cinema, the former Central Shoe Stores premises, the former post office building and two units fronting onto Patrick’s Street. The former Oyster Tavern bar is a protected structure and will be refurbished and restored.
The Capitol is expected to take just over 12 months to complete and will support up to 200 construction jobs.

Mark Devereux, Director Corporate Development JCD, Roy Loftus, Loftus Demolition, and Diarmuid Singleton of JCD, at the Capitol cinema, Grand Parade. Picture: Denis Scannell

Once complete The Capitol will bring 60,000 square feet of retail space to Cork’s city centre as well as 35,000 square feet of new office space. The office element alone will be capable of accommodating up to 350 people.
The developers John Cleary Developments (JCD) said they are in discussions with a number of potential retail occupiers who would have the potential to double the footfall on the western end of Patrick’s Street.

Interior of the Capitol cinema. Picture: Denis Scannell

The redevelopment of the former Capitol cinema is set to have a major impact on Grand Parade and the western end of Patrick Street.

Demolition work got underway on the site yesterday starting with the former post office building to the side of the cinema.

The new development, from the JCD Group, will be called The Capitol, taking its name from the former cinema which closed in December 2005.

The site first opened as a cinema in Easter 1947. It was the second largest cinema in the city at the time, holding more than 1,300 people, and housing two screens, along with a restaurant.

The most popular film ever shown in the Capitol, The Sound of Music, ran for three months in 1967.

Diarmuid Singleton and Greg Canty looking at some old film in the interior of the Capitol cinema building.
Picture: Denis Scannell

The cinema was refurbished in the 1989 as a modern multiplex and renamed the Capitol Cineplex. However, the premises closed as acinema on December 1, 2005, with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Constant Gardener among the last movies to be screened there.

The site has remained vacant ever since becoming one of Cork’s biggest eyesores.

Developer John Cleary purchased the site a year ago and was recently granted planning permission to demolish the site and build a new retail premises with entrances onto Patrick’s Street and Grand Parade with offices overhead.

The JCD Group said they have a detailed liaison process in place with local business owners and traders from the English Market to ensure minimal disruption during demolition and construction.

The projector room inside the Capitol cinema. Picture: Denis Scannell

Martin O’Brien, Project Manager of JCD Group said: “This is a very exciting project in a unique location in Cork city centre.

“We have been hugely encouraged by the level of public support for this project and are in detailed negotiations with a number of potential retail and office occupiers.”

“Construction work is expected to take approximately 12 months with much of the large scale construction work due to be complete prior to the busy retail period in the run up to Christmas 2016.”

A detailed photographic and archaeological survey of the old buildings has been completed and submitted to Cork City Council to ensure an accurate record of the buildings is retained.

Martin O’Brien added: “The development also includes a food innovation area and the restoration of the Oyster Tavern which is being refurbished and restored under the supervision of an experienced conservation architect. We are working closely with our architects Wilson Architecture to ensure the development will be of a very high standard.”

A BLACKROCK man said he owes his life to Gardaí after they escorted him through rush hour traffic to make it to Dublin in the nick of time for a vital liver transplant.
Finbarr Murphy had been diagnosed with a life threatening lesion on his liver back in October of 2014. He continues to make an impressive recovery almost six months after the transplant which took place in St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. However, the major operation would not have happened without the intervention of fast-acting Gardaí.
The father of one was diagnosed with an aggressive lesion caused by fatty liver disease during a routine check up.
“The consultant told me that without intervention I would have just 10 to 12 months to live,” he said.
A phonecall during his darkest hour shone a light at the end of the tunnel for Finbarr.
He had returned from a holiday in Garretstown and felt so unwell he decided to begin planning his funeral arrangements.
“I can remember putting on the kettle and sitting down with my mobile phone. I was typing my funeral arrangements in the notes section when a call came through. When the transplant coordinator rang it was like hearing a voice from Heaven,” he said.
But with rush hour traffic, he feared he wouldn’t make it to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin on time.

Garda Finbarr Walsh and Sgt. Pat Harrington at Anglesea Street Garda Station in Cork with Finbarr Murphy who was provided with a Garda escort on the way to Dublin for a liver transplant. Picture Dan Linehan

That’s when Anglesea Street gardaí stepped in, and in the space of just 15 minutes arranged a Garda escort that brought him from Cork city at 6.15pm at St Vincent’s Hospital just before an 8pm deadline.

“We left my house at around 6:15pm before travelling through the Jack Lynch Tunnel at the height of the evening traffic. The same applied to the many junctions in Dublin. We were in St.Vincent’s University Hospital in an hour and 50 minutes, just before the 8pm deadline.”
Despite being just minutes away from surgery, Finbarr still found the time to thank the Gardaí for their heroic act.
“I went to shake their hands and they told me that helping people in this way is something they love to do.”

City councillors last night slammed an ‘attack on local communities’ after Mahon was left reeling with the shock closure of an employment outreach centre.
Staff at the Mahon Local Employment Service (LES), which is run by Cork City Partnership, were notified last Friday that the branch will cease to operate this coming Friday, January 29.
The service, which provides services to long-term unemployed people seeking to return to work, has helped thousands of people in the last ten years, according to councillors.
Currently manned by just two people, the shock closure is believed to be motivated by the impending retirement of one of the staff.
A motion at last night’s meeting of the City Council, tabled by Fianna Fáil councillors, called for the reversal of the decision to close the branch. It was met with unanimous support, as councillors criticised the move.
The Mahon-Blackrock area served by the LES has a population of almost 10,000, and has some of the highest unemployment rates in Cork city, according to the most recent Cork City Profile.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Terry Shannon said the service provides a ‘great lift’ to Mahon, adding that the LES is a vital service for reversing trends of unemployment in the area.
His party colleague, Cllr Nicholas O’Keeffe, expressed his concerns about the closure of the Mahon LES and, indeed, for other LES branches in Cork. There are seven in total, including Churchfield, Fairhill, Knocknaheeny and Togher.

Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary, who was among those expressing concern at the planned closure of Mahon Local Employment Service.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy criticised the measure, also expressing fears that other LES branches may suffer a similar fate.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O’Leary, added his support to a motion calling for a reversal of the decision to close the branch, and for Cork City Partnership to meet with local councillors to discuss the future of the LES branches in the city.

CORK was battered by heavy wind and rain this morning as Storm Jonas passed over Ireland.
Met Eireann estimated that Cork would be hit by 60km/h winds, with gusts of 110km/h.
The storm was strongest in coastal areas, with Cork coming under two yellow alerts from Met Eireann for wind and rain.
Surface water on roads caused delays to morning traffic in Bandon, while strong cross winds also caused danger in routes around Youghal. Surface water also caused issues on roads around east Cork, and near towns like Macroom and Clonakilty.
A fault with traffic lights being stuck on red also caused a tailback in Little Island.

However, the weather for the evening is expected to clearer as the heavy wind and rain pass, but there will be some raind overnight, along with lighter wind and potential gusts.

Picture: Denis Minihane.

A spokesperson for the Cork Safety Alerts website said that the forecast is variable and is subject to change, but it will be updating the site regularly thanks to forecasts from the Cork – All Things Weather Facebook page.

The crisis in the health service could be solved by dividing it into two separate Ministries, according to a Government TD.
Cork East TD Tom Barry said that he had raised the possibility with the Taoiseach about dividing Health into separate Departments, with one Minister looking after policy and another Minister responsible for day to day administration of health.
“We have a challenge in health, most certainly. I’ve often felt that the Department of Health requires what we did with the Department of Finance – it requires two Ministers. One for policy and one for day to day. We’ve done it in the economy with Public Expenditure and Finance. They managed together fine yet if you remember when it was first mooted, people said it couldn’t be done because two Ministers would not be able to agree on things. It has worked. I have made my views clear to the Taoiseach on this.”
The possibility of two Ministries in Health has also been mooted among Fine Gael’s Coalition partner, the Labour Party.

Cork East Fine Gael TD Tom Barry

THERE are 1,330 outstanding bench warrants across Cork according to figures released by the Department of Justice to Renua.
Most of these unexecuted warrants – which call for Gardaí to arrest an individual and present them to a court – are in the city at 740, while there are 130 in the Cork West district and 260 in Cork North.
Renua candidate for Cork North West Jason Fitzgerald revealed the figures obtained by party leader Lucinda Creighton, and linked them to the drop in Garda numbers under the current government.
“The depletion of Garda resources and the misappropriation of Garda usage combined with a dysfunctional bail system have resulted in rural crime spiraling out of control,” he said, adding that 117 Gardaí were lost in Cork since 2010, bringing the total down to 1,221.
Across the country there are 29,233 outstanding warrants, although this is down from 37,394 in 2010.
He said that resources meant that the Gardaí are unable to solve the problem of unexecuted warrants and rural Ireland was being put in danger.
“Unless resources are managed more appropriately, freeing up the Gardaí to place more boots on the ground and within the communities themselves; future promised investments will be of little consolation to those in Rural Ireland whom feel isolated and disconnected following local Gardaí Station Closures. The elderly and marginalised are once again victims not of circumstance, but of location,” he said.
Cork’s Garda Chief Superintendent Mick Finn said the numbers had dropped in the last five years, with 1,651 outstanding warrants in 2010. He added that figures may even be inflated at the moment as courts tend to push through cases before Christmas, leaving Gardai with a bulk of warrants to deal with in the new year.

A POTENTIAL reduction in courses at CIT and further cutbacks were some of the concerns expressed at a Daíl debate last night over Government plans to merge institutes of technology and to create a new technological university status.
Cork Institute of Technology and Tralee Institute of Technology are due to merge in a move towards creating a Munster Technological University.
Technological universities would add another educational rung to Ireland’s third level education system, and the technological universities Bill which would give effect to this is currently before the Dáil.
Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Jonathon O’Brien said that the new system would consolidate any courses currently offered in both CIT and Tralee IT into one course, taught on one campus.
“If you live in Cork now you can study virtually anything you want in CIT, but under this bill you would have to get rid of some courses in CIT if they were also taught in Tralee, or vice versa, so someone in Cork may have to travel to Tralee to access their course which was once available locally.” He added that this could prevent some people from going to college.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central Micheal McGrath said that CIT staff were very angry about the current situation and that there had been a failure to bring staff on board.

Sinn Fein TD Jonathan O’Brien.
Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Mr McGrath said that there were very serious concerns on both the impact on staff members under the new plan, and the impact on students.

A YOUNG woman is still in hospital where medics are working to save both her arms after she was severely mauled by a dog at her home in Mitchelstown.
Paola Sahovic, from Croatia, was badly mauled by the dog, a bullmastiff owned by her partner.
One of her arms has been saved and medical staff at Cork University Hospital are still working on her other arm. The dog has now been put down.
Gardaí at Mitchelstown called to a premises in Cork St, Mitchelstown at approximately 9.10am yesterday after receiving a call about a female in distress.
Gardaí entered the scene to find a dog attacking the woman, she was taken to Cork University Hospital with severe injuries to both arms.
Gardaí were forced to draw their batons to rescue the woman from the dog.

Paola Sahovic who suffered serious injuries after a savage attack by her dog (pictured) in Mitchelstown, Cork.

The dog was one of 11 restricted dog breeds in Ireland meaning they must be kept on a short lead by a person over 16.

CORK Education and Training Board (CETB) has confirmed its intention to apply for patronage of the new primary school in Ballincollig.
CETB is one of three bodies to applying for patronage of the new school, with Educate Together and Gaescoilleanna also bidding.
Due to open in 2017, the primary school is designed to meet the demands of Ballincollig’s growing population and the oversubscription to schools in the area currently.
The Department of Education and Skills is in the process of securing a site for temporary accommodation, as well as a site for the permanent school building.
CETB said it intends to create a non-denominational community national school.
It said the new school will follow CETB’s ‘Goodness Me, Goodness You’ programme, which is specifically designed to help children understand their own religious traditions if they have them, and appreciate what others value and believe.
CETB is currently patron of some 25 post-primary schools and colleges in the Cork region, including Ballincollig’s 1500-student post primary school Coláiste Choilm, and its Irish language unit Gaelcholáiste Choilm.

THE curtain came up on Cork’s 90th Feis last evening with a host of impressive performances in the instrumental music category kicking off the festivities.
Over the next eight weeks almost 12,000 participants will take to the stage in 314 classes and festival director Tim McCarthy expects the standard to be very high this year.
“Judging by the entries it looks like participants are challenging themselves at younger ages and taking the more demanding programmes,” he said.
The volunteers and stewards who have helped to make the festival an ongoing success have all returned for service this year however there will be one notable absence.
Former President of Feis Maitiú Br. Paul O’Donovan sadly passed away last September after 42 years of involvement in the festival. The Capuchin Friar has been credited with ensuring the longevity of the festival.
This year the festival is being held in Br O’Donovan’s memory.
The festival will now continue in earnest, with classes scheduled throughout the week – see your Evening Echo each day for results and pictures.

Michelle McCarthy from Blackrock performing in Class 126, “The Shanahan & Co. Perpetual Cup” Advanced Violin One Movement from a Concerto at the 90th Feis Maitiú.

Pic: Ger Bonus.

A LOCAL charity has lodged an application for planning permission for a three-acre farm employing adults with Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome Cork Chairman, Ray O’Callaghan came up with the idea for “Down Syndrome Cork’s Field of Dreams” about a year and a half ago after viewing a documentary which saw a group of young people with special needs work on a farm to facilitate their independence and development.

If planning is granted, it is hoped that work on the Curraheen site can begin as soon as possible, before an official unveiling in June.

The project was made possible by chairman of the Munster Agricultural Society, Gerard Murphy who allocated a plot of land for the project.

The farm will comprise of sensory gardens as well as prefabs where education initiatives can be rolled out for young adults with special needs. Members of Down Syndrome Cork will have the opportunity to not only grow their own produce but gain valuable commercial knowledge to nurture their professional skills. Companies have already contacted those involved with a view to sourcing produce from the farm when it is up and running in September.

Former principal of St Aidans Community College and Down Syndrome Cork education officer Liam Aherne said that ideally, horticultural students from universities will work hand in hand with employees of the farm as part of their studies.

He also highlighted the need for volunteers to help the project run smoothly.

* See downsyndromecork.ie for more.

Pictured is Aoife O’Sullivan, at the launch of Field of Dreams, a groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Ireland which will be dedicated to providing education, training and rewarding work opportunities for adults with Down syndrome in Cork.Picture: David Keane.For more information visit www.downsyndromecork.ie

MET Éireann has issued a level-orange weather alert for Cork predicting strong winds tonight.

The alert is in effect from midnight until 9am tomorrow morning.
“Southwest winds later veering westerly, will increase 65 to 80 km/h overnight and will gust 110 to 130 km/h at times,” they said.

It is the fourth weather alert issued for Cork this month.

GOVERNMENT Ministers are ‘hopeful’ that progress can be made on the Cork to Boston airline connection in the coming weeks.
Dara Murphy, Minister for European Affairs, said that the transatlantic link from Cork Airport is ‘long overdue’.

 Dara Murphy 

Mr Murphy stressed the importance of the flights in a meeting with Anthony Gardner, the United States’ Ambassador to the European Union, in Brussels yesterday.
“I’ve discussed the matter with Niall McCarthy in Cork Airport and Conor Healy in the Cork Chamber, and everyone in Cork and the South — we’re all in agreement — that it is long overdue that we have a direct connection with the east coast of the US.
“Hopefully we’ll see some progress on the US side over the next number of weeks so that we can get these flights off the ground.
“I stressed the importance for both regions, Massachusetts and Munster: both large population centres with very strong Irish-American links and a high level of business contacts.”
Mr Murphy said he had a ‘very good hearing’ with Mr Gardner, and added that his American counterpart is aware of how strong the desire to launch the flights is in Cork.
He added: “While it is, of course, a matter for the US Department of Transport to make a licence decision on, there is an Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US that does open the market for transatlantic flights, which is good for competition, good for passengers and good for business.”
Meanwhile, Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune highlighted the importance of regional airports for tourism, investment and job creation at a major aviation conference in Brussels yesterday.
Ms Clune urged airline chiefs to work with European authorities to generate more routes, lower fares, more choice for passengers and more competition.
She said, “For countries like Ireland, we depend almost entirely on aviation to drive tourism, investment and trade. If we are not connected, then we will be left behind. I continue to press the importance of regional airports in the EU in particular as drivers of economic growth in more rural and regional parts of the EU.”

OLIVER PLUNKETT STREET’S international recognition is ‘just the beginning’ for the city centre.
Speaking at a civic reception in Cork City Hall, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O’Leary said that confidence is returning to the city and that the coming developments of the Capitol Cinema and the Events Centre will add to this.

The Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary with Lawrence Owens, CEO Cork Business Association , Clodagh Daly and Val Finnegan Cahill co founders Plunkett Quarter  at the reception to celebrate the Oliver Plunkett street victory in the Great street awards at the City Hall last night.
Picture: Eddie O’Hare

“I think what we are seeing is confidence in the city centre. It is a domino effect — we had the Purple Flag, the Great Street Award, it breeds confidence and people will feel that the city centre is the place to be.”
More than 70 streets from the UK and Ireland entered the Great Street Award competition, with Oliver Plunkett Street claiming the overall prize last November, becoming the first street in Ireland to do so. The award received international recognition, with media coverage as far away as Canada and Australia showcasing Oliver Plunkett Street.
Mr O’Leary described the win as a ‘real coup’ for the city and said it is a framework on which other parts of the city can also strive for improvement. “This was the result of cooperation and collaboration. Hopefully it will be used as a template by other streets throughout the city.” He paid tribute to the traders and residents on the street, and all of those who were involved in the competition from the start. “Thank you for making our city the great city that it is.”

Youssef and Jamal Hoummane of Casablanca barbers at the reception to celebrate the Oliver Plunkett street victory in the Great street awards at the City Hall last night.
Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Chief executive of Cork City Council Ann Doherty said the award is proof that cooperation between the council and businesses can be very successful. “It is an absolutely superb award for the city and a very positive benchmark to build on going into the New Year. It is about working together and showing what we can achieve — and this is only the beginning.”
Ms Doherty said forthcoming developments will ‘change the shape of the city’ if the projects are done properly.
Laurence Owens, chief executive of the Cork Business Association, said they hope to see similar improvements in other streets in the coming months and years, and said that the CBA is open to working closely with businesses to achieve this.

Val Finnegan-Cahill, Ikon with her parents Michael and Eileen, her sisters Anne Marie, Niamh, Sinead and Majella at the reception to celebrate the Oliver Plunkett Street victory

Valerie Finnegan-Cahill of Ikon Hair Design and the Plunkett Quarter steering group said the timing of the award couldn’t be better.
“With the coming developments, we will be a gateway to the heart of the city.”

THE County Mayor has warned people to be vigilant for a dramatic phone scam that could cost them dearly.
County Mayor John Paul O’Shea said that he has been contacted by a number of people who have received calls which involve receiving phone calls from a number beginning with +247, the country code for the South Atlantic British overseas territory Ascension Island.

A person can then be heard screaming before the line goes dead.
“The natural thing to do is to ring back to see if the person is ok,” said Mayor O’Shea, explaining how the scam makes money.
“When they call back they are put on hold immediately to music.
“People on direct phone bills will rack up a big bill while those who are on pay as you go are losing lots of their credit.” The calls cost as much as €10 or €12 a minute.
Gardai are warning the public to be aware of the scam and to refrain from answering calls from such numbers, or from calling back.
In a statement issued by the Garda Press Office, they state that are aware of a small number of such calls and would advise those affected by same to contact their service provider.
“We would also advise people not return calls to numbers that they do not know.” They add that; “If a person believes that a crime is being or has been committed they should report the matter at their local or any Garda station.”

CORK has been excluded from a pilot flood defence scheme that is being trialled elsewhere in the country, despite calls from the CBA that the city be included as a matter of urgency.
Minister of State for the OPW Simon Harris has confirmed that Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh, in Kilkenny, and Crossmolina in Mayo, were being surveyed with the potential that businesses would be assisted in installing their own floodgates as interim measures before major works are carried out.

The river Lee  flooding the Lee Fields, Carrigrohane road last December.
Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

However, Fianna Fál TD Michael McGrath, who raised the CBA’s call for flood defence funding in the Dáil, was told that the pilot programme for smaller works will not be rolled out in Cork, where flood protection on the River Lee could take up a decade to complete.
The CBA had called for funds for localised flood defences in individual shops, given work on the major defences won’t start until next year at the earliest. CEO Lawrence Owens said: “There is no 100% fix without massive defences, but barriers would be a damn sight better then dropping off sandbags on the top of Oliver Plunkett Street.”
He said that he wants to see Cork businesses, many of which do not have flood insurance, assisted in installing flood barriers at their doors while the Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme is being carried out — a process he things will take longer then expected.
“It is a huge project and it will be done in phases. By the time every box is ticked it could seven or 10 years before it is done,” he said.
The project is still at the design stage, and may not be approved until 2017.
Deputy McGrath added: “Cork city would be an ideal candidate for this pilot project in advance of the major flood relief scheme.
“It looks like it will be 2017 at the earliest before the work commences on the overall scheme and it will take several years to complete.”In the meantime, this pilot project could provide a degree of protection to homeowners and businesses in the city against the risk of flooding and I would urge the OPW to examine the feasibility of extending this to Cork in the immediate short term.”