Innishannon jockey wins in England

Aug 29 2008: Equestrian: Newmarket races return after 25-year absence

August 2008 FoI documents reveal complaints against nursing homes
From the Belfast Telegraph: A large number of complaints have been upheld against nursing homes in Cork, Donegal and Kerry in the past three years, according to documents obtained by Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd
The papers, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show that almost 50 complaints of abuse, poor care and neglect have been upheld against nursing homes in counties Cork and Kerry. 
Upton House in Innishannon in west Cork received 12 complaints over the past three years, with families unhappy about staff levels, poor infection control and delays in toileting. 
Another complaint concerned Fallcarragh Community Hospital, a HSE-run public nursing home in Co Donegal.
A family complained that socks were put on their father's hands and arms and then tied together. 
Nurses at the home admitted the incident had taken place. 
An investigation was carried out by the HSE and sanctions were subsequently imposed on two nurses at the home.

From The Iriish Times: In one instance in the Upton Nursing Home in Innishannon, Co Cork, an allegation was made in relation to dehydration, pressure ulcers and bruising on body, both new and discoloured. The “complete complaint” was validated and staff educated on relief of pressure ulcers and dehydration.

From The Examiner: Meanwhile, in west Cork, Upton House in Innishannon was the subject of 12 complaints over three years. Families had issues with their staff levels, wound care at the facility, cross infection and staff understanding of dementia. Management at Upton House were unavailable for comment last night but in a statement, the facility said they always follow HSE guidelines, recommendations and protocol.

If you have any concerns about Upton House click here for HSE inspection reports on the Nursing Home

The Blasket islanders had a saying, "Ar scath a chéile a mhaireann na daoine" (we live in the shelter of each other). This beautiful sentiment is the essence of Alice Taylor's sixth memoir and her first non-fiction book in 10 years, depicting life as part of a community defined by its parish in rural County Cork.

Taylor's first memoir To School Through the Fields, published in 1989, catapulted her to international success. Subsequently, she published four others, Quench the Lamp, The Village, Country Days and The Night Before Christmas, earning her the reputation of something of an Irish institution and selling in huge numbers (she is, according to her publisher, Ireland's best-selling author). The appeal is the nostalgia for better days gone by, when life in Ireland was simpler and somehow seemed to have a meaning and beauty that we have lost in the meantime in spite of all our success. And it helped, too, that her books -- particularly To School Through the Fields -- were written in lyrical prose that was a joy to read.

Her books have been translated into many languages including some perhaps unexpected ones such as Japanese and Slovakian, their appeal being in their depiction of a way of life that's becoming extinct, not just in Ireland, but in many other places, too. So they chime with the Small is Beautiful movement, with the growing realisation that local community is very precious and must be nurtured and preserved.

Taylor's latest book, The Parish, deals directly with this central idea. It's a benign account of the extraordinary things that the members of a close-knit community do for the good of their parish and ultimately for each other.

Family life spills out into the wider community and both are intrinsically linked within a micro-society whose inhabitants certainly live in the shelter of each other. Nowhere is this more evident than when death visits the parish.

Through a series of vignettes of life in her own village, Innishannon, Taylor explores the positive values of the social community that makes up the parish. Her story-telling ability lures us into a world of church fund-raising, Tidy Towns, local magazines, gardening and the myriad of activities at the heart of rural life. The book also tells a tale or two of personal loss and grief and the consolation that's to be had from a community coming together in collective mourning. Taylor paints pen pictures of local characters who leap to life from the pages. There's Con, the school teacher, who came to the Taylor household for a few days and ended up staying for over 30 years, and of course Gabriel, the author's late husband, to whom the book is dedicated.

She succeeds in capturing both these gentle characters so well that perhaps this is why, when they die, the reader feels a genuine sense of grief at their passing.

Alice Taylor's memoirs are frequently lauded as a written record of a vanishing Ireland that's slowly disappearing with the closure of each rural post office, and the replacement of the local village shop with a distant hypermarket, and all that is true. But there's another way of looking at it.

Being of rural stock myself, I found Taylor's account of life in The Parish familiar to the point of being mundane at times, the endless meetings, fund-raising initiatives, football training sessions, and so on. To anyone who has grown up in the country, what she writes about is not that unusual and reads like an account of a lot of our parents' social lives. So, is the parish and the rural way of community life dying? It's evolving certainly, as it has done with every generation. People said that rural electrification, for example, was going to change country life beyond recognition and so it did, but it didn't destroy it. The fact is that many of the changes are for the better. And many rural communities and parishes are vibrant and flourishing today.

Even so, there are aspects of the old way that we are losing and we will be the poorer for it. Who's left to take over from the Alices and the Gabriels and the other people in The Parish that made Innishannon a community rather than a just a geographical location?

Mar 29 2007

Plan for North Ring Road to relieve congestion in Bandon

Thursday March 29th 2007
A MAJOR plan for a North Ring Road for Bandon, which could significantly reduce heavy traffic congestion at the bridge junction and North Main Street, was unveiled at the March meeting of the town council by Mayor Pat Connolly and enthusiastically supported with a view to it being given higher priority in the new Bandon Traffic Study.

The proposal was submitted on behalf of one of the landowners on the route, Mr. Tim Holland, by Arup Consulting Engineers, Cork, the chairman and managing director of which is Bandonian Mr. Jerry Mehigan.

Described as “a vital link in the strategic road network of Bandon”, it will involve a second river crossing in order to link the Cork-Bandon N71 highway with the R589 Bandon-Crossbarry road and provide access to lands zoned in the current Cork County Development Plan. Aerial pictures of the route also show an option to continue the road towards the R586 Bandon-Dunmanway-Bantry main road.

“As there is only a single crossing of the river at Bandon Bridge at St. Finbarr’s Place, all traffic bound for the R586 serving Enniskeane, Ballineen, Dunmanway, Drimoleague and Bantry, has to enter the town centre to cross the river via the bridge. The junction at St. Finbarr’s Place experiences significant traffic congestion, especially at peak times as there is insufficient width on the northern and southern approaches to provide turning lanes.

Even though there is a right-turning lane on the eastern approach from Cork, it was noted that the queues can still extend for up to 300 metres. Existing traffic counts indicate that over 250 vehicles approach St. Finbarr’s Place from the Cork direction at peak hours and make a right turn over the bridge before heading west on the R586,” the report stated.

The purpose of the strategic review document, Arup continued, was to secure the line of the north-east section of the North Ring Road. It would commence on the N71 at a location approximately 1 kilometre east of Irishtown (Kevin O’Leary) roundabout, cross the river and proceed in a north-west direction to a junction on the local road between Bandon and Innishannon and continue to a junction on the B589 Bandon-Crossbarry road, west of Bandon Co-op Retail Store.

The initial junction on the N71 would be located east of all the businesses on this route. It could take the form of a roundabout and would become the gateway junction or landmark feature signalling entry to Bandon town. It would have a significant traffic-calming effect on a section of highway where speeding is a problem and would also serve to split traffic going north on the new North Ring Road and that using the existing southern by-pass route from a different exit at Irishtown roundabout.

A roundabout on the Bandon-Crossbarry (also known as Macroom Road) junction would also serve as a traffic-calming gateway and improve access for traffic from AIBP and the co-op to the N71, which currently has the choice of negotiating the busy streets and junction of the town centre or the narrow bridge over the River Brinny.

“The existing county development plan shows land zoned on Watergate Street. The only access for these lands is on to the very narrow street and back on to Bandon bridge. Equally, the existing Bandon Co-op stores on the waterfront of Watergate Street are also being redeveloped with access again back on to the bridge. The provision of a junction to the east of this street with the North Ring Road, which would link to the N71, would improve accessibility to these developments as well as relieve traffic on the bridge.

“Significant areas of land are zoned in the development plan for residential in the north-west quadrant of Bandon. Construction is proceeding at present on these. All of the eastbound traffic from these lands will travel via the narrow Convent Hill to Bandon bridge to access the N71. However, if the North Ring Road extended from the R589 through the western edge of Bandon Co-op Retail Store premises and continued north-west on the fringes of the zoned lands, this would remove the Cork-bound traffic exiting these zoned lands from the centre of Bandon town also.”

Overall, the report stated, the removal of heavy goods vehicles from the town centre would be a gain for the community as a whole.

Circulating the document at the monthly meeting of Bandon TC, the mayor said he understood Mr. Holland and other landowners along the route were prepared to enter negotiations with the NRA and/or Cork County Council. The route followed a natural glen and would open up all the land in the area for amenity and development. In his opinion, what was being proposed looked great.

The North Ring Road was a longer term objective in the Bandon Traffic Study adopted by the town council and endorsed by local county councillors but it wasn’t specific on the actual proposed route. Mr. Connolly proposed that the document be passed on to the Municipal Policy Committee (MPC) of the town council dealing with traffic management and if agreed, that it be incorporated into the presentation to be given to the next meeting of the county council’s Bandon-Macroom Area Committee by the consultants who compiled the overall traffic study, MHL. This was unanimously agreed by councillors, who paid tribute to Mr. Holland and others involved in drawing up the submission.

Ms. Liz O’Brien repeated the call for better road markings and signs to indicate the end of the fast lane and entry to Bandon town on the N71 road as this section was “an appalling dange”. She also pointed out that one of the 60 kilometres per hour signs was “looking at the river”. Town engineer Mr. Raymond Crowley said the speed limit was due to be extended out by a further 120 metres. It was agreed to write to the NRA.

The manager, Mr. Noel O’Keeffe confirmed that he had forwarded copies of the Bandon Traffic Study to the county engineer Mr. Edmond Flynn and to senior planner Mr. Nicholas Mansergh. He had also written to the county council’s infrastructure and development section seeking ?490,000 for short-term proposals in the study earmarked for this year.

These include traffic lights and extra lanes at the bridge junction, traffic lights at Sean Hales Place junction and upgrading of signs for the by-pass and car parks. It was likely the source of this would be development charges. The county council had no control over this.

Mr. Bob Deane asked what came of the ?1.2 million earmarked for the Bandon-Innishannon road and was informed there had been overspending last year by the National Roads Authority (NRA) on the Cork-Innishannon section of the N71.

In a report, town engineer Mr. Raymond Crowley agreed with Messrs. John Desmond, Andrew Coleman and Don McCarthy that an underpass at the by-pass serving Colaiste na Toirbhirte would be highly desirable but there wasn’t any funding available in the council office, while the manager said ?490,000 was already being sought for short-term measures under the Bandon Traffic Study. Mr. Coleman proposed the request for an underpass be sent to the NRA and this was agreed. The engineer added that the sign for Bantry at the Methodist Church would be turned in the correct direction.

Following a report by the Mayor, Bandon TC formally directed its MPC on traffic management to draw up a policy on parking, footpaths, lighting, heavy goods vehicles and how best to lobby the NRA and others to progress completion of the by-pass.


Mr. Barry O’Farrell was unanimously nominated to represent Bandon Business Association on the MPC after it transpired that a sitting councillor cannot represent another body. In this case, it was councillor Bob Deane, chairman of the BBA who will continue to sit on the MPC as an elected member.

© Southern Star

Valley Rovers honour players

THE Valley Rovers GAA Club recently held a function in Innishannon House Hotel to honour a number of players who had represented the club at county level with various Cork teams.
The officers of the club duly recognised their marvellous achievements in representing not only their county, but their club on the field of play, and made presentations to the players at a reception in the hotel attended by family, friends and club officials.

Club chairman, Joe O’Sullivan, added that it had been a roller-coaster year for the club, with two South East titles to their name last year, with the under-16’s taking the A football title, only to lose out in the county, while the under-21s retained their A football title and intend to make it three-in-a-row this coming season.

The intermediate hurlers contested the county semi-final, where no less than three Carrigdhoun teams were involved, but lost out to a late goal by eventual winners Ballymartle. The intermediate hurlers also contested the league final, but were defeated by Dromina in the decider, while the intermediate footballers managed to reach the county semi-final, only again to lose out to eventual winners Ballingeary.

However, such was the high standard of players currently in the club, a number of them were duly chosen to play for their division and county with a great deal of success.

These included Kevin Canty (Cork senior and under-21 hurling; under-21 football); Chris O’Donovan (Cork minor and All-Ireland Vocational hurling); Alan Quirke, Irish international ’keeper and Munster senior football; Fiacra Lynch, Cork under-21 Munster title; David Lynch, All-Ireland vocational hurling, and Michael Power, All-Ireland colleges football.

Tributes were also paid to John Hurley and Eoin Delaney who played for Cork in under-15 and under-14 respectively. In addition to players playing for Cork, Alan Quirke, Fiacra Lynch and Kevin Canty also lined up for the Carrigdhoun senior football team, managing to reach the quarter-finals of the county championship for the first time last year.

Club chairman, Joe O’Sullivan, also added that the club was currently developing facilities, with a new 5,000 square foot changing room development planned for Brinny to include five dressing rooms, storerooms, meeting rooms and referees room, and is part of the first phase of the upgrading of the Brinny site and ‘The Bleach’ at the Innishannon pitch.

The club has already applied for National Lottery grants and planning permission has already been granted for the development at Brinny, and work is expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2008 season.

Exciting times ahead for the club to keep up with the high standard of players and the influx of youngsters coming through the under age ranks of the Valley Roves GAA Club.

 

CORK and All-Star footballer, James Masters, is to be guest of honour at the 18th annual Bandon Opinion/First Active Community and Sports Awards, which will take place on Friday, April 13 in the Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon at 8 p.m. For the past seventeen years, the organisers have honoured the success of individuals, clubs and voluntary organisations throughout West Cork, in the fields of sport, culture, enterprise and community endeavour. Upwards of twenty-five awards will be presented this year in front of an expected attendance of 600 people, making it once again the social night of the year in West Cork. Some of the major award winners last year included entrepreneur John Fleming, who received the Person of the Year award, Theresa McCarthy, national president of Soroptomists and Irish Girl Guide Association, who received a Lifetime Achievement award, and Rachel Moloney, Courcey Rovers Camogie Club, who was deemed Sport Star of the Year. Bandon Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber was presented with the Community Award and Kilmeen Drama group won the Cultural Award. Other winners included Billy Good, Bandon Athletic Club (Hall of Fame). St. Brogan’s GAA Club (Club of the Year), Sean Lynch, Innishannon Soccer Club (Club Person of the Year). There were also a number of Achievement and Youth Awards presented. The final adjudication for the 2006 awards has been made and there is a huge sense of anticipation in the run-up to the ceremony.