PILOTS have been dazzled by people shining hand-held laser lights into the cockpits while they’re attempting to land at Cork Airport.
Sergeant Peter Murphy of the Garda Communications Centre at Anglesea Street said lasers shone into the cockpits of passing planes has been an ongoing issue in Cork, and that although the problem is not currently acute, one bad incident could be catastrophic.

Cork Airport.

“There have, in recent years, been a number of laser-related incidents reported involving alleged misuse of laser-pointing devices against both aircraft and motorists. Any such reports are serious matters, and are afforded a high level of priority,” said Sgt Murphy.
“While there are protocols for dealing with these occurrences, laser attacks are thankfully rare. The consequences of pointing a laser at a person in control of any craft or vehicle are immense and could put lives at risk. This type of activity should be discouraged,” he said.
The Irish Aviation Authority said pointing a laser at an aircraft can affect its safety, especially if the aircraft is at a critical phase, such as landing or take-off.
Pilots have reported flash blindness and glare, and most critically have been distracted at important phases of flights, according to the IAA, but they said the majority of reported incidents in Ireland have had a low safety impact.The activity is not exclusive to Ireland and occurs worldwide, and is the subject of initiatives and discussion in international aviation. States have been instructed to take initiatives appropriate to their own airports and operations.

The activity is not exclusive to Ireland and occurs worldwide, and is the subject of initiatives and discussion in international aviation. States have been instructed to take initiatives appropriate to their own airports and operations.
The IAA underlined its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of aviation safety and said that, where appropriate, they forward details of laser incidents to An Garda Síochána. Laser attacks on aircraft have more than doubled in less than a decade in the UK, prompting calls for the Government to restrict the sale of lasers. UK pilot unions and police have requested that they be classified as offensive weapons, and airborne police units are to be issued with protective eyewear to counteract the negative impact of lasers.
Philip Smythe, safety manager with Atlantic Flight Training Academy in Cork, said he was not aware of incidences where crew in Cork have suffered as a result of lasers, but it has been an occasional distraction.
“It is at least a distraction, and that can be very dangerous when a pilot needs to give their 100% attention to a critical stage of the flight like take-off or landing,” he said.
However, he added that the practice is fairly widespread in the UK, and he has heard anecdotally of a number of pilots experiencing laser-related problems there.
Mr Smythe said he knew of one pilot, who was blinded in the UK by a laser while flying, who subsequently had to have surface cataracts removed and could not work for months.
“Luckily we have not had any injuries in Cork,” he said.

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UCC’s on-campus bar opening hours may be under threat from Cork City Council.
The local authority is considering a move to limit the university’s opening hours during busy periods to curb anti-social behaviour on campus and in nearby housing estates.

Specifically, the proposal aims to restrict opening times of UCC’s on-campus bars to 5pm during Freshers’ and RAG Week. Currently, bars open at 12pm.
UCC has been criticised in recent years for the anti-social behaviour associated with these initiatives.
The proposal, which has the full backing of An Garda Síochána, according to one councillor, was debated at last night’s meeting of Cork City Council. Although many of the elected representatives conceded that curbing opening hours would not solve the problem, they added that it may ‘send a message’ against drinking culture and misbehaving students.
They said that problems tend to occur away from campus — in houses, or in city centre areas several hours after drinking has begun.
Sinn Féin councillor Stephen Cunningham — a UCC student — said that students would simply find other ways to drink if campus bars were closed. “There is a significant problem regarding drinking habits in Ireland,” he said. “This wouldn’t solve the problem but would drive it into the homes.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Martin said: “It may not stop it (the bad behaviour), but it will send a message to students.”
Independent councillor Mick Finn, who proposed the motion, urged closer scrutiny of bar licences for pubs near UCC.
Fine Gael councillor John Buttimer said the problem went further than students and more pressure needs to be put on landlords who allow anti-social behaviour and late-night house parties to occur in their properties.“If students are in sub-standard accommodation, you will get sub-standard behaviour. When you have landlords who don’t give a toss, you have students who don’t either. The problems aren’t happening in campus accommodation and campus bars. Why? Because they are well managed.”
Sinn Féin’s Thomas Gould said such anti-social behaviour is ‘destroying’ the communities near UCC. “Residents are moving out because of the behaviour of these landlords and students. It is destroying the fabric of the community.”

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CONSTRUCTION of flood defences in Cork city will be fast-tracked in the wake of recent problems, with work set to begin in early 2017.

Monahan Road, Cork City during flooding. pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Criticism of the proposed Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme had increased in recent days after flooding hit several parts of Cork city centre. Yet again, flood waters hit businesses and residents in Union Quay, Morrison’s Island, South Terrace, George’s Quay, South Mall, Proby’s Quay, French’s Quay and more low-lying city centre areas after heavy rain and spring tides on Sunday.
The Office of Public Works, which is overseeing the €60 million scheme —the largest in the country — last night confirmed that it is working to fast-track elements of the plan around Morrison’s Island. It will hand responsibility for its delivery over to Cork City Council.
A spokesperson said, “OPW and Cork City Council have agreed in principle to bring forward the design and construction of the defences on Morrison’s Island, which will largely deal with the tidal flooding problem which regularly affects the city.”
“Design work has already started on this and the council hope to bring these proposals forward to planning this summer with a contractor to be procured towards the end of the year which should enable works to be commenced in the first quarter of 2017.”
The OPW confirmed that work will start up-river towards Inniscarra and move in phases eastwards towards the city centre.
“There are likely to be four to five different phases in order to reduce disruption to the city and each phase may overlap with the preceding phase,” the spokesperson said.
It could be 2022 before the scheme is fully complete.
Last night, Cork City Councillors slammed the slow progress of the OPW in establishing flood defences in the city centre.
Independent councillor Mick Finn said, “Nothing has been done in six years — that’s the bottom line. People are fed up of talking about. The OPW needs to move on from its snail-like pace — it is long overdue.”
Cllr Tom O’Driscoll added, “The tendering system goes on and on. We will likely be waiting some years for what we all want to see happening.”

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OUT of 559 private rented dwellings inspected by Cork County Council in 2015, 524 failed to meet standards.
This included 178 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) units, with just one HAP unit meeting the standards.

Cllr. Des O’Grady. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Houses failed for not meeting standards relating to structural condition, fire safety, ventilation, heating, and electricity and gas.
In all cases, landlords were provided with a written schedule of requirements to be met in order to reach standards.
The scale of inadequate housing in the county was revealed at yesterday’s Cork County Council meeting, after a request from Cllr Des O’Grady, Sinn Féin.
“One HAP unit passed the inspection for minimum standards. That’s a 99.9% failure rate,” he said, adding that under previous schemes, houses were inspected before being occupied by council tenants.
“I’ve been in several houses where there was cold and damp, water running down the walls, and air coming in through the windows and doors, no proper heating. Some of them are an absolute disgrace, yet still, they are taking on the HAP scheme, and not inspected within the required time.
“There is an eight-month waiting time for an inspection to be carried out, that’s in the government regulations that an inspection should be carried out within eight months of a tenant taking up residency. This has happened in 58% of cases, so there is a 42% failure to live up to the requirement of government regulations,” he said.
In 2010, the council received €320,000 from the Department of the Environment to carry out inspections, but this dropped to €82,000 last year. In 2010 there were roughly 1,500 inspections carried out, dropping by almost two-thirds by 2015.
“At the same time, the government, due to their failed policy of not providing social housing, they’re forcing people into the private rental sector,” he said. Mr O’Grady said that this was forcing those on the waiting lists — 75% of whom are on social welfare payments — into the lower end of the rental market where standards were not being met.
His party colleague, Melissa Mullane, said that Sinn Féin had warned that this would happen when the HAP scheme was introduced. “Since the beginning of HAP we have told everyone that was willing to listen what would happen, and everything we have said has happened. The only way we can fix this housing crisis is to start building,”

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CORK County Council will “strongly recommend” that An Bord Pleanala reject a proposed incinerator in Ringaskiddy for the third time, following a unanimous vote by councillors yesterday.

Cllr Seamus McGrath.

A neutral report produced by the council’s executive officers advised that the proposed Indaver development met the requirements of local planning and environmental laws. However, councillors unanimously agreed to add a resolution proposed by Cllr Seamus McGrath, calling for An Bord Pleanala to reject its planning permission.
Mr McGrath criticised the neutrality of the report by council management. He said:
“After multiple attempts Indaver are back on the agenda with a project that, in my view, would have a catastrophic effect on the local area. Five years ago we had a similar debate, and at that time, the executive took a much stronger position. Essentially the report is an analysis of the application, but it does not take a negative or strong stance, and that is deeply regrettable.”
Independent councillor Marcia D’Alton said that the report showed that the proposal was in line with regulations, but ignored that it isn’t suitable for the area.
She said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that incinerators are unsuitable for areas on the coast, at risk of flooding, with high levels of limestone, weak or saturate soil, close to stationary populations.

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A farmer in Co Cork has said the auction of his herd of cattle yesterday was like seeing “your life burnt in front of you” and fears his son will move to New Zealand instead of staying at the farm.

Peter Kingston, 51, from Nohoval, Co Cork, broke down as he tried to explain the emotional effects of seeing his 1,000 cattle sold off, writes Sean O’Riordan of the Irish Examiner.

Mr Kingston cried as he listened to an auctioneer calling for bids on the herd being sold off after ACC Loan Management secured a €2.45m judgment against him.

As up to 100 protesters from the New Land League stood outside, Mr Kingston said it was particularly hard for his 77-year-old father, George.

“Two weeks ago he had to get stents in the heart. He’s aged by about 10 years. The weakest are those affected the most,” said Mr Kingston, whose family won the RTÉ series Ireland’s Fittest Family in 2014.

He said his father started the dairy farm in 1972 after he had made some money from beekeeping. “He always had a passion for cows. He worked all his life here and still lives on the farm.”

Peter Kingston started working with his father in 1983, when they had 120 cows. He said he had hoped his eldest son, Richard, 21, would keep up the tradition. But now he said it is likely Richard will “hop on a plane to New Zealand” to try his hand at dairy farming.

“Nobody has died, but to see your life burnt in front of you is very hard. The Phoenix rose from the ashes and I’ll do that too,” said Mr Kingston.

He said he is concerned he might also lose the family home. A number of private security guards and gardaí were present around the farm yesterday as bidders arrived at the auction organised by Sinead McNamara, sheriff of Co Cork.

One New Land League member, who had come from Wicklow, berated a foreign bidder: “Did you come here to buy some cheap cows? How would you like it if I came to your country and did that to you?”

League spokesman Jerry Beades said around 100 members had come to show solidarity with the Kinston family. He said he fears they are “an example of where Irish farming is going, because the government facilitated the selling of debt”.

TD Michael Collins said he was there to support the family.

“I’m a farmer too and I think this (auction) is very heavy-handed. There has to be another way and myself and Mattie McGrath will be raising it in the Dáil. A more caring society is needed.”

Cllr Alan Coleman, a dairy farmer in neighbouring Belgooly, said it was a sad day for the Kingston family and that more farm families may get into similar trouble.

“Legislation also has to be changed to allow some money from such sales to be given to unsecured creditors,” he said.

Con McCarthy, chairman of West Cork Community Alliance, said banks should work out long-term deals with such families.

“This type of sale is appalling,” he said.

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Concerns have been raised that Cork City Council is set to sell a landmark city centre building less than two years after buying it for use as a civic amenity.

Cork Savings Bank building. Pic; larry Cummins

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AN ARMED robbery at a betting shop in Douglas has shocked the neighbourhood, and gardaí are seeking witnesses to the incident.

A male — armed with what appeared to be a handgun — jumped over the counter in BoyleSports on the Douglas Road and took cash from the premises on Monday night.
He wore a black balaclava to conceal his identity, and dark clothing.
The intruder left on foot according to eye witnesses and crossed the Douglas Road.
The incident occurred at 9pm on Monday night, and a number of people were in the premises at the time who are believed to be traumatised by incident.
All witnesses are asked to contact Togher Garda Station on 021 4947120.
It is the latest armed attacks on a betting shop, and the first of its kind to target the south side of the city this year.

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SHAKING your baby can cause serious and life-altering head injuries, a conference at the Bessborough Centre will hear tomorrow.
The day-long conference aims to raise awareness about non-accidental head injuries and the need for preventative measures to protect both babies and parents in Ireland.

Stock image: Getty

Non-Accidental Head Injuries (NAHIs) are the leading cause of death and long-term disability for babies who are harmed, according to research.
The first year of life is when babies are at most risk of harm. In one Welsh study, babies under one were identified as being six times more likely to suffer physical harm than children aged between one and four-years-old.
Persistent crying is the most common trigger to abusive head injuries, and shaken baby syndrome has been described as a moment of madness which could have long-lasting effects on a child.
Pat Kelleher is a social worker with the South Lee social work department, and he has co-organised the conference. He has witnessed incidences where parents have stood by their babies in ICU after injuring them in a moment of impaired judgement, frustration and exhaustion. He hopes that the conference can help parents avoid reaching the point where they damage their child from a loss of control.
Prof Alf Nicholson, consultant paediatrician at the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, will speak at the conference. He estimates that there is at least one case a month in Ireland where a baby sustains a non-accidental head injury, and he said that this figure increased during the recession, which he believes reflects the extra pressure which parents were under.
He said that there have been deaths following the practice in Ireland, but Temple Street has seen less incidences of the abuse over the last two years.
He said that a major problem with the practice is that it can spiral into an increasingly vicious cycle. If a baby, who has been shaken sustains an injury and a subdural haemorrhage, they will tend to cry more afterwards, likely increasing their carer’s frustration and increasing the risk of a repeat offence.
An initiative launched in the UK, called Coping with Crying, was devised to reduce the risk for babies and parents. Sally Hogg, who led the programme’s development will also speak at the conference.

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COMMUTERS got a blast from the past yesterday morning as over 40 historical re-enactors boarded the Dublin train from Kent Station.

 The Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary with Cork Shawlies. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

The group, made up of members of the Middle Parish Shawlies and Cobh Animation Group were seen off by Lord Mayor, Cllr Chris O’Leary, as they headed to the capital, in full costume, for a two-day trip.
The visit, organised as part of the respective groups’ 1916 commemorations, included a meeting with the Moore Street Traders Association and a visit to the Garden of Remembrance. Today, they will enjoy a tour of Leinster House and lunch before being welcomed to the Mansion House by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh.
The visit was made possible by Iarnród Eireann as part of its community initiative, “The Journey’s On Us”. Under the initiative, 100 groups, including girl guides and scouts, schools, GAA clubs, community groups and choirs have won a free return group travel journey from Iarnród Éireann.

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“SOMETIMES I wonder if I’ve become tougher having seen cruelty regularly in this job for the past nine years — but what I saw in this case absolutely broke my heart.”
Those were the words of The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) inspector for Cork, Lisa O’Donovan, after finding three dogs on the brink of death, having been left in squalid conditions at a house in Youghal recently.

One of the dogs found emaciated in east Cork by the ISPCA recently.

The ISPCA is Ireland’s largest national animal welfare charity and Ms O’Donovan said she came across such scenes on a regular basis but that the little Yorkshire Terrier and two Chihuahuas were in such atrocious condition during the visit, that she found herself on the brink of tears.
On arrival, Ms O’Donovan discovered the dogs living in a filthy back garden, littered with debris and faeces, with no access to clean water or food. The only shelter available to the dogs was a cage with a dirty duvet inside. Inspector O’Donovan visited on a rainy day, and found the duvet was soaking wet. The male Yorkie was found with an intensely matted coat, in a state of collapse and barely moving. One of the Chihuahuas was severely emaciated and the other pregnant.
The three dogs were seized and transferred for immediate veterinary attention. The Yorkie, now named Benjamin Button, was found to be just a step away from death. He was severely dehydrated and emaciated, and underneath his matted coat was just skin and bone. The two Chihuahuas, now known as Bonnie and Clyde, received immediate care for dehydration and poor body weight.
Ms O’Donovan told the Evening Echo: “I nearly missed the Yorkie as he was curled up, terrified. My heart went out to him. To treat a little dog like that is beyond comprehension. It was horrendous. the smell was something like I’ve never experienced. I’ve seen a lot in my time but this really got under my skin. I want justice for dogs like this. They need to know that there are better days for them.”
Ms O’Donovan said the Yorkie was named Benjamin Button because of the fictitious character who ages backwards. “We thought he was 15 or so, he looked so ancient and weak. It turns out he’s only five or so. We are seeing a couple of dogs a day like this. They come in all shapes and sizes. They deserve much better.”
Ms O’Donovan urged members of the public to consider adopting rescued animals.
“I would love to see all mistreated dogs get a second chance in life. Benjamin Button is like a different dog now, he’s already dancing. All three are healing.”
To report cruelty to an animal, contact 1890 515 515.

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CORK CITY COUNCIL needs to build 10-times the number of houses it currently has planned to tackle the housing crisis.
That’s the view of one city councillor who said the local authority simply wasn’t doing enough to tackle the housing and homeless crisis in the city.

City Hall Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Current housing projects will deliver just 141 new units to Cork city by the end of 2016.
Sinn Féin councillor, Thomas Gould, said the council must do ‘whatever it takes’ to lessen the pressure on the housing market.
“More than 6,000 people are on the waiting list, and 361 houses are lying idle. These won’t solve the housing crisis, but they’ll solve it for 361 families. We should have all of these out by the summer — no matter what it takes.”
Mr Gould said he wants to see the construction of 1,300 houses in Cork city to help tackle the crisis, using funding allocated by central government for social housing last year.
To-date, the local authority has drawn down just over €25 million of the €124.4m allocated under the Social Housing Strategy 2015-2017.
City Hall officials say the balance of this funding will be spent in the delivery of units in 2016 and 2017. It is ‘an expected level of expenditure’ at this stage of the project, they say. Mr Gould said, “I want to build 1,300, they want to build 130. That’s where we are. All we’re doing is putting more people on RAS and HAP. This money should be spent on building houses and we’re giving it to private landlords.”
Valerie O’Sullivan from Cork City Council’s housing department disputed Mr Gould’s figures, adding that more houses will come under local authority ownership through other schemes, such as leasing, delivering a total of 1,349 units by 2017. Ms O’Sullivan said negotiations were underway to increase this number across all available schemes.
Elected members unanimously passed a motion last night to recognise the housing crisis as a national emergency which requires immediate action. Concerned citizens protested at Cork City Hall last night, demanding that the local authority return vacant houses to the housing stock as soon as possible.
Some 361 of these houses are currently on the Council’s books, which Mr Gould described as ‘a sin.’
“It is heartbreaking for families to see perfectly good houses boarded up. I can’t condone this as a councillor, but as a father, a husband and a man, if I had nowhere to live, I’d take down the shutters and move in myself. It is a sin.” He added, “Every meeting, I’m in here arguing with people about housing. I know the officials are working hard, they’re good people, but we have to do more and we have to eliminate it. I don’t care how we do it, but we have to do it.”

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Update 10.30pm: Glowing tributes were paid to Michael John Shinnick at his funeral in Glanworth, Co Cork earlier today.

Mr Shinnick is survived by his wife Marian and two daughters, Aoife and Emma.

Both of his daughters spoke at his funeral mass today, with Aoife thanking the congregation for travelling to support the family – while her sister Emma chose to perform a poem.

“Thank you all for coming to here today to celebrate Dad’s life,” said Aoife.

“We know that many of you have travelled long distances to be here to support us at this difficult time.

“Dad was always the organiser and yesterday and today was no different. Being a true Scout he was always prepared.”

Mr Shinnick’s brother-in-law and former Waterford hurling manager Michael Ryan said that in death Michael John had “returned home.”

“Michael John has observed, he has learned, he has grown and he has loved,” said Ryan.

“Now he’s returned home.

On behalf of each and every one of us, so long chief. Thanks for the memories. God bless.”

Earlier: The funeral of former Chief Scout of Ireland Michael John Shinnick has taken place in Glanworth, Co Cork today, writes Audrey Ellard Walsh.

Mourners from across Cork and Ireland attended the service given his long dedication to scouting in Ireland.

Mr Shinnick, who passed away on Sunday following a brave battle with cancer, is being laid to rest today in Kilcrumper New Cemetery, Fermoy, Co Cork, following a Requiem Mass at the Church of the Holy Cross, Glanworth.

Hundreds of mourners last night gathered to pay their respects at his removal.

Mr Shinnick, who spoke about his illness in a public letter of farewell to the scouting community in March, leaves behind a legacy of hard work and dedication.

Following his election to the role of Chief Scout in 2008, membership of Scouting Ireland grew by almost 25%, and Mr Shinnick presided over numerous large-scale projects, sharing his commitment that the organisation should be a constructive and relevant force in society.

According to colleagues, Mr Shinnick took great personal pride when Scouting Ireland launched a youth employment programme, known as Operation Lelievlet, in Limerick to address the challenges faced by young people following the economic crisis.

In a statement, Scouting Ireland said: “It is with a sense of great loss and sadness that Scouting Ireland announces the death of our former Chief Scout.

“Scouting Ireland would like to offer its deepest sympathy to the Shinnick family at this sad news. We hope they can take some comfort in the knowledge that Michael John will be remembered fondly by so many, as the soft-spoken Chief Scout who was loved and respected by all who knew him.”

Mr Shinnick wrote an emotional farewell letter to Scouts in the weeks before he died where he praised the organisation and its ethos for giving him many years of happiness.

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Nurses at Cork University Hospital are to ballot for industrial action today.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said that its members in the GB Radiotherapy Ward will vote on engaging in a work-to-rule in protest at “ongoing inadequate and unsafe nurse staffing levels” on the ward.

The INMO said that management have failed to produce a report on a wide-ranging review agreed at a Workplace Relations Commission Hearing in May 2015.

The INMO claims it has written to management requesting meetings and a response to the members’ concerns, but no meeting has taken place to date.

“It is regrettable that INMO members have to consider engaging in industrial action given that management are aware of the needs of the service and have failed in their commitment to honour the terms of the WRC agreement brokered in May 2015,” said INMO industrial relations officer Mary Rose Carroll.

“In addition, management have increased bed numbers without any increase in staffing levels.

“INMO members are extremely frustrated at management’s lack of acknowledgement and engagement on this issue.

“They are disappointed that their legitimate concerns regarding their ability to provide safe care are being ignored and have been further compromised by the placing of six additional beds on the ward.

“Moreover, management have not recognised, nor acknowledged, our members’ concerns with regard to patient safety, their professional registration and their well-being which is compromised as a result of working in this environment.”

The ballot will take place today.

The work to rule would allow available nurses to prioritise all care by ceasing non urgent clerical and administrative work.

The INMO remains available to meet with management in an effort to resolve this issue.

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While much of Cork city and many parts of the county came under pressure from flooding due to high tides and howling winds, it was the intensity of the waves and the sheer power of the sea that caused Garryvoe’s local infrastructure to succumb.

The promenade and footpaths at Garryvoe Beach, East Cork, have been extensively damaged in the recent storms. Some sections of pathway are impassable. Video: David Keane

Locals said it was akin to a small earthquake along the strand such was the intensity of the water and the damage caused.

A section of damaged footpath on Garryvoe Strand.
Picture: David Keane.

The walkways used by beachgoers was rendered unusable because of the damage with the concrete cracking and collapsing in some parts.

The car park used by beachgoers was affected so badly that cars could not go inside. Fine Gael TD for East Cork, David Stanton, said that it was a beautiful community asset that he hoped would be back in a state of repair before too long.

Cork County Council personnel working on the clean up operation on Garryvoe Strand.
Picture: David Keane.

“I expect Cork County Council will move quickly to restore the beach and the walkway with the summer coming up. It all depends on funding, which of course highlights the need for a new Government to be in place sooner rather than later.”

Funding of €26,000 was allocated to Cork County Council from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to meet the cost of repairs last October following storm damage. The total budget for the reconstruction of the existing slipway in Garryvoe was €35,000 of which the Department provided 75% of the cost on the condition that it was completed in a timely fashion.

Garryvoe has traditionally been one of the most popular beaches with holidaymakers in Cork for generations. The average daily visitor numbers to the beach in Garryvoe during the bathing season is estimated at approximately 500, with maximum numbers of visitors per day estimated at 1,000. The beach is bounded to the rear by sand dunes, car parks, the award-winning Garryvoe Hotel, holiday homes and a mobile home park.

A section of damaged footpath on Garryvoe Strand.
Picture: David Keane.

The bathing area is approximately 300 metres wide and is approximately three-square kilometres in size.

Meanwhile, the Office of Public Works is being urged to allow some funding to be released to Cork County Council engineers so that they can carry out interim prevention works to ease tidal flooding.

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A multi-million euro retail development planned for one of Cork’s most famed sites has been turned down by the State’s planning authority.
Ballyvolane Developments Ltd had applied for the development at the rear of the Fox and Hounds site in Ballyvolane, opposite Dunnes Stores. The plan was for eight units in two blocks, containing a restaurant, a community building and six retail service units at the rear of the famed Fox and Hounds site in Ballyvolane.

The Fox & Hound bar in Ballyvolane.

Tesco would have been the anchor tenant if the planning application ever came to fruition. It has now been turned down by An Bord Pleanála after a contentious and protracted battle with local residents who said the land was totally unsuitable for the size and scale of the plan.
County councillor Ger Keohane said: “This is a victory for common sense and it shows that people power can still be a driving force when a community is united. The local residents encourage development but only in areas suitable for it. It would have been a huge burden on their quality of life. The site just wasn’t suitable. Credit goes to the community people who fought so hard.”
Cork County Council granted permission for the plan last year but another element of the plan failed to convince Cork City Council planners. Because Ballyvolane is split between the boundary of Cork County Council and Cork City Council, it meant the developer had to apply to the city council for permission to construct a new entrance to the site as well as to the county council for the actual development. The city council refused that aspect of the planning application in August.
It then went to an oral hearing held by An Bord Pleanála. Following the hearing in January, the planning authority decided to turn down the application.
Residents in local estates such as Brookvale and Lios Rua vehemently opposed the plan, saying the area was not suitable because of flood risks, traffic disruption, and threat to local wildlife. They urged the developer to consider a “more appropriate” location for sustainable retail development in the area. Supporters of the development said the investment in the community was hugely desired because of the local employment that it would generate.
The developer said that hundreds of construction and permanent jobs would be created. They have also pledged to employ local people, as well as pointing out that healthy competition is needed for a side of the city that is under-resourced when it comes to retail.
Cork County Council has outlined in recent years the need for more retail balance to be brought to the northside of the city. In its draft local area plan for the Cobh municipal district, it points to Ballyvolane as a desirable area for development.

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IRISH Water has come under fire for taking two months to approve a ‘minor task’ to fix a faulty manhole cover.

County Mayor John Paul O’Shea 

Mayor of Cork County, John Paul O’Shea, told of his frustration that a request he made to Irish Water to repair a popping manhole in the north Cork village of Milford in February was only approved yesterday.
“I first heard about it while out canvassing for the General Election and I put in a request to Irish Water that it be fixed in February. It is a manhole for wastewater and it is popping up every so often. God help us if a child fell in while it was popped because there is a fair fall down. On March 2, Irish Water said they were looking into it following my request. Only yesterday was it approved. If two months is how long it takes to get approval for a popping manhole, then I don’t know what they would do with a burst watermains. I can only imagine how long it would take to get larger maintenance or capital works done.”
Mr O’Shea said he intended to make a formal complaint to Irish Water for the slow response to getting the matter in hand.
“Two months for approval on such minor works is simply unacceptable. If people are going to be paying water charges, then they should be able to expect a proper service. It is little wonder that Irish Water is unpopular. It seems that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing sometimes and Irish Water seems to want to put the responsibility with local authorities even though water is their remit.”
Mr O’Shea said that the incoming Government would have a decision to make on the future of the controversial utility company. Irish Water and the future of water charges has been one of the most contentious issues in Irish society in the past three years, costing the former Coalition dozens of seats at the 2014 local elections, including a meltdown in support for the Labour Party. Fianna Fáil campaigned upon a platform of abolishing Irish Water and suspending water charges for five years while Fine Gael is vehement about retaining it. It’s future is understood to be part of the negotiations between the two main parties as they attempt to thrash out a deal for a minority Government.
Irish Water apologised for the delay in resolving the issues and said it had now requested the work on the Milford manhole cover to be carried out by Cork County Council having been approved.+

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CORK City Council is “selling the family silver” by putting the former Cork Savings Bank on the market, according to Anti-Austerity Alliance Councillor Marion O’Sullivan.

Cork Savings Bank building. Pic; larry Cummins

The council has advertised the premises for sale with a guide price of €950,000, after paying somewhere between €750,000 and €850,000 for it two years ago.

Some councillors have defended the prospect of a sale as it could fund other council initiatives, but Ms O’Sullivan said that defence could be used for anything owned by the council.

“It’s selling off the family silver and selling it off for very little. They might even make a loss,” she said.
A month ago, councillors were informed that the council was seeking expressions of interest from third parties on what could be done with the premises, and that a sale was possible, but would require a vote at a council meeting. Ms O’Sullivan warned:“They are going to sell it. We all know that. What did they buy it for in the first place if they weren’t going to use it?” she said.
Council officials say that they are using the process of the sale to engage with potential occupants to find the most appropriate use for the building.
However, Fianna Fáil councillor Kenneth O’Flynn said that the building doesn’t have to be sold for the council to engage with others.
“I’m very disappointed the Cork City Council hasn’t paid time or attention to the former bank and really believe we should have put a more constructive policy committee together before inviting public tenders.”

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By Rory Craig

The youth band are busy rehearsing at St Finbarr’s Cathedral Hall, Cork, for their upcoming concert as part of the Life Long Learning Festival. Video: David Keane

A WEEK of illuminating and fascinating experiences with Cork’s 13thLifelong Learning Festival is drawing to a close, but there’s a few days left to savour if you haven’t taken part already.

Sunday’s events cater to a wide variety of interests. At 11am there will be a tour of Cork’s Butter Museum by the Firkin Crane theatre in Shandon.

Robert White, playing with the Barrack Street Youth Band at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Hall, as part of the Life Long Learning events.
Picture: David Keane.

Across the river in Blackrock at the same time there will be a guided walk along the Blackrock Walkway. Along the walkway will be a number of murals created by the Men’s Art Group from the Mahon Community Development Project. Meet at the car park next to Blackrock Castle.

Also going on at this time will be a swing dance class in the Mardyke at the Cork County Cricket Club, next to Sunday’s Well Tennis Club. Swing Dance Cork presents a pair of classes on solo jazz and Charleston dancing. No need to book, no partner required.

For the energetic types there will be a pair of walks on offer in the city centre.

At noon there will be a walk through the South Parish with local historian Ronnie Herlihy explaining the history of the area every step of the way. Meet outside Ford’s Pub near South Gate Bridge.

The other walk is an exploration of Shandon guided by Peter Foynes, curator of the Cork Butter Museum. This walk follows the red walking tour as part of the programme of walks put together by the city council. Meet at Daunt’s Square, Patrick Street.

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Chernobyl Children International founder Adi Roche is set to make history at the United Nations later this month.

She will become the first representative of an NGO to be granted the honour of speaking of the UN General Assembly during a country’s allocated time when she makes her address on behalf of Belarus.

Roche, the voluntary CEO of the charity, will be speaking at a special session of the UN General Assembly on Chernobyl in New York on April 26, convened to mark the 30th anniversary of the nuclear accident.

The Belarusian government made the unprecedented move recognition of the international role Ireland and the Chernobyl Children International charity has played in helping the victims of the catastrophe.

Ms Roche described the invitation as “the greatest possible honour to speak on the highest world stage about an issue that has been my life’s work”.

She is set to give her own first-hand account of the impact the world’s worst nuclear accident has had on millions of people in Belarus and neighbouring countries.

Chernobyl Children International is the only UN-recognised NGO working in the area.

She will draw particular attention to the heroism, the plight and the continuing needs of the 700,000 Chernobyl “Liquidators”.

These were the soldiers and civilians; the helicopter pilots, the firemen; the miners and the engineers – who were sent to Chernobyl to undertake the deadly task of trying to contain the leaking radiation from the crippled nuclear reactor.

Many died; others have had to live with radiation induced lifelong illnesses and almost all struggle with medical, psychological and financial difficulties.

During the General Assembly session, she will make a special appeal for additional global support to help meet their ongoing health care needs.

Ms Roche will also press for the speedy completion of the $1.5bn sarcophagus that is being built to make Chernobyl safe for the next 100 years.

Ireland has contributed €8m to this fund. Forty countries and international agencies are funding this massive project, which has been delayed many times.

“On this the 30th anniversary of the worst nuclear disaster in history, it is a chilling reminder that the effects of this catastrophic nuclear accident are far from over. The radioactive contamination is still having an adverse effect on the lives and health of the people of the Chernobyl regions. For many people 30 years ago is like reading ancient history, however for the victims it remains an unfolding tragedy,” Adi Roche said.

New research released shows that far from the Chernobyl crisis being over the rate of thyroid cancer has almost doubled since 2000 among Children of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe 30 years after the disaster, according to researchers in the Ukraine.

“Children exposed to radiation in 1986 still have a high risk of cancer and need continued observation,” said Dr Sergiy Cherenko, MD, of the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Centre of Endocrine Surgery in Kyiv.

“Children were most at risk at the time of the disaster as they absorb 5-6 times more radioactivity than adults due to their smaller weight, height and more active metabolisms.”

Adi Roche added: “Chernobyl is not something from the past; Chernobyl ‘was forever’, Chernobyl ‘is forever’; the impact of that single shocking nuclear accident can never be undone; its radioactive footprint is embedded in our world forever and countless millions of people are still being affected by its deadly legacy.”

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