Woman's body found in Bandon river

The body of a woman in her forties has been found in the Bandon river between Kilmacsimon and Ballinadee.

The woman, whose name has not yet been released but is not from the area, is set to undergo a post mortem at Cork University Hospital this morning to determine the cause of death, but it is not thought to be suspicious.

A major search and rescue operation was undertaken yesterday morning when the woman’s car was found abandoned on a stretch of road between Bandon and Innishannon.

Gardaí at Bandon, Kinsale and Youghal as well as members of the Kinsale Coast Guard, the West Cork Garda search team and members of the RNLI all coordinated the search which centred on a two-mile stretch of river between Innishannon back towards Bandon.

However, the search was later extended and upwards of 100 local volunteers joined in the search for the missing woman.

Poor conditions and a high tide hampered the operation but the dead woman was located at approximately 6.30pm yesterday before being airlifted to CUH.

Gardai in fresh appeal to catch killers

THE garda cold-case unit yesterday put the details of five unsolved murders on a website in a bid to jog the memories of potential witnesses.

The Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) placed the details of five cold cases on the garda website to jog the memory of those who may have information relating to the killings.

And they are pleading with people who were unwilling or unable to contact detectives in the past to do so through an email facility on the web page.

One of the cases they hope to crack is that of 17-year-old Raonaid Murray.

This year will mark the 10th anniversary of the Dublin schoolgirl's murder. She was killed at Silchester Crescent in Glenageary on September 1999.

The case of pensioner Eddie Fitzmaurice is also under the spotlight. He was found dead in his shop at Bellaghy, Charlestown, Co Mayo, in 1998.

Details relating to the murder of Kildare man Dessie Fox, who was murdered at Healy's Bridge, Prosperous, Co Kildare, on September 30, 1990, are also being sought.

Gardai are also attempting to crack the case of Lorcan O'Byrne, who was murdered at The Angler's Rest Pub in Dublin on October 11, 1981.

And they are seeking help with the murder of mother-of-three Nora Sheehan.The 53-year-old was found dead at Shippool, Innishannon, Co Cork, on June 12, 1981.She was last seen alive outside the South Infirmary Hospital, Cork, at 9.45pm on June 6, 1981.

To date, just three people have been charged in relation to the murders cited on the web page.

Speaking at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Harcourt Square yesterday, Detective Superintendent Christy Mangan said the website and email facility would be helpful.

"This is an investigation tool widely used by a number of other police forces involved in reviews of unresolved serious crime," he said.

Unwilling

"It is hoped that persons who may have significant information in relation to a particular unresolved crime, and who in the past have been unable or unwilling to contact gardai will now do so through this innovative process."

He said contact could also be made through the Garda Confidential line or through Crimestoppers.

The garda website is at www.garda.ie

Teenager loses battle for life after cycling accident

By Eoin English

Saturday, August 08, 2009

A TEENAGER knocked down while out cycling with friends on Wednesday last died from his injuries yesterday.

Jake O’Donoghue, aged 14, from Innishannon, Co Cork, was surrounded by his parents Sean and Ann and other family members at Cork University Hospital (CUH) when the decision was taken to switch off his life-support machine.
However, his tragic death will mean a new lease of life for several patients waiting for organ transplants.
Jake was out cycling with friends when an accident, involving a car, occurred at Drumkeen, a hill on the western outskirts of Innishannon village. He was taken by ambulance to CUH where he remained in a critical condition until his death yesterday.
Jake was described last night as a very popular boy and a valued member of the local Valley Rovers GAA Club where he played both hurling and football.
He was captain of the under-14 team which was due to play in the south east under-14 football final against Carrigaline tomorrow.
He was also on the Cork under-14 football panel.
Parish priest Fr John Kingston said the community is heartbroken.
"Jake was a very well liked and popular boy with loads of friends. He was very involved in sport and will be missed," he said. "It’s hard to say anything at a time like this because we don’t have the answers. But there will be great support for his family from the wider community."
Jake’s Bebo page was flooded with tributes from friends.
"I woz texting u da day before u died nd i was with u on monday nd tuesday its just so hard to believe ur gone ill never forget u jake u will always be missed and u will always be in my heart u ware the nicest friend anywone could ask for i love u so much hun," one girl wrote.
"Jakeee im gonna miss u soooooooo much u ware such a ledge nd so funny best game of knock and run in da hotel wit u ur so sound ur never gonna be forgotten you will al ways be in my heart rest in peace hun nd dont forget to clap, love you darlingg," wrote another.
Jake was a student of Hamilton High School in Bandon.
Garda road traffic collision investigators conducted a full examination of the accident scene on Wednesday.
Gardaí in Bandon are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 023-8841145.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, August 08, 2009

Eight locals convicted in Bandon after ‘seven minutes of madness’

A MINI-RIOT took place in and around a Bandon pub in what a district court judge called “seven minutes of madness,” the local heard this week.

Bandon Court heard that three separate fights took place in the beer garden of The Bridge Bar, Oliver Plunkett Street, Bandon, within seven minutes just after midnight on November 23 last. Tables were upturned, glass littered the floor and gardai who were at the scene were concered that those involved in the incidents would suffer serious injuries.

A total of eight locals were convicted of public order and obstruction charges in court, but the licensee, Larry Lawless, had two charges that were brought against him dismissed. Lawless was cleared of permitting drunkeness to take place in the bar on November 23 and permitting disorderly conduct to take place in the bar.

Judge James McNulty was critical of that fact that gardai didn’t try to locate CCTV footage of the incidents, which was available in the Bridge Bar, and that gardai did not notify Lawless that he would be brought to court to face charges. He said CCTV footage would have given Lawless the chance or prepare a proper defence.

There was just one barman on duty that night and no security at the door of the pub.

Sgt. Ian O’Callaghan told the court that the series of incidents in the bar began at 12.08am on November 23. He and another garda were on foot patrol near the bar when they noticed a man, who turned out to be Lithuanian, hitting a woman in the beer garden.

FIGHTING

They went and arrested the man, but when they brought him from the pub to the street a bystander told the sergeant that another incident was “kicking off” in the beer garden. When Sgt. O’Callaghan, who had radioed for assistance, went back in, he found two men, David McSweeney and Shane O’Driscoll, fighting on the floor of the beer garden.

There was broken glass and bottles around the floor due to the melee and the sergeant was concered that the men would be injured. When he broke up the fight, McSweeney ran off up Oliver Plunkett Street and the sergeant told O’Driscoll to leave the premises.

In evidence, Shane McSweeney said when he went to stop a fight in the pub O’Driscoll punched him. He grabbed him and both fell to the ground.

He said he was trying to hold him to stop the fight from escalating. He then left the pub because he didn’t want any trouble.

In the meantime, Garda Michelle McGrath had arrived on the scene and was trying to contain a number of women who were shouting and aggressive. Rosarie Lyons, who was drunk and aggressive, had to be removed urgently from the beer garden, because things were getting out of control.

She was taken to a waiting garda car on the street. Sgt. O’Callaghan stayed with her while three other gardai went to restore order in the beer garden, where the pushing, shoving and roaring continued.

The people in the beer garden filtered out on to the street and Lyons was taken to Bandon garda station.

Sgt. O’Callaghan said that a number of other public order offences then unfolded on the street, around 12.17am. Patrick O’Driscoll walked up to the Bridge Bar roaring and shouting abuse at the Buckley family, from Crossbarry, Innishannon. He challenged them, saying “I’ll take all you f..kers on.”

“These were very inflammatory remarks, regarding what went on in the previous ten minutes,” Sgt O’Callaghan told the court. It was suggested in court that the incident was a “Crossbarry versus Bandon” situation.

The sergeant arrested O’Driscoll, who resisted arrest and refused to get into the garda car. A number of people surrounded the garda car and demanded the release of O’Driscoll. They were very intimidating and the sergeant was concerned for the safety of all present.

He then released O’Driscoll into the custody of his father, who took him away from the scene in a taxi.

Sgt. O’Callaghan said there were 10 to 12 people in the beer garden that night, all of them drunk, and their behaviour was not rational. “They were out of control. They could have suffered serious injury from broken glass or somebody could have ended up in the river behind the low wall of the beer garden.”

CRASHING

Garda Michelle McGrath told the court that when she came into the beer garden she found Rosarie Lyons and Sarah Buckley pushing, punching and kicking each other. As she tried to separate them she heard glass crashing to the floor. Buckley’s brother, Damien Buckley, pushed Lyons away.

Garda McGrath arrested Lyons, who was drunk and abusive and brought her out to the garda car. Outside, Shane O’Driscoll, Lyons’ son, pulled Garda McGrath back and shouted abuse at her.

The garda went back to the beer garden to speak to Sarah Buckley, who was very aggressive and who shouted in the garda’s face. Sarah Buckley’s brothers, Paul and Damien, tried to interfere when Garda McGrath tried to arrest her and two other women were also aggessive, insisting that Buckley would not be arrested.

Garda McGrath said she felt under threat. “I pulled back, observed and took names and details. I feared for my safety, the safety of the people around me and the safety of the innocent people who were in the vicinity. The people in the beer garden were totally out of control,” she said.

Both Rosarie Lyons and Sarah Buckley denied that they had been fighting. Lyons admitted to shouting and roaring, but not to attacking Buckley. In evidence, Buckley said she was not drunk. Patrick O’Driscoll had got into a fight with another person and her brother, Paul, had intervened to stop it.

She then intervened on her brother’s behalf and, as she did so, Lyons grabbed her by the hair. She added that Garda McGrath asked her for ID and she produced a passport.

Buckley told the court that when Garda McGrath came back to collect her jacket and radio from the beer garden she said: “I’m sick of all you tramps.” Garda McGrath denied that she made this remark.

CROSSBARRY

The man who was working alone in the bar that night, Meleut Cuss, told the court that there were just four people in the pub up to 11.30 pm, when a crowd from Crossbarry came in.

He said he tried to contact the licensee, Larry Lawless, who was not working that night, but he wouldn’t come in. Cuss said he couldn’t be expected to “throw people outside the door”. He said most of the Crossbarry group bought a drink when they came in, but they didn’t seem to have a lot of drink taken.

He added that he didn’t expect such trouble on the premises that night. “It was a nasty night, it is not usual to have so many people fighting at once,” he said. There were normally two security people on the door at weekends, but there were none that night because Lawless was unable to pay them.

He said there were nine CCTV cameras on the premises that night, including two in the beer garden, but he was not asked by gardai if CCTV was available.

ELEMENTARY

Judge McNulty asked why that gardai had not examined CCTV footage from the pub. “One of the first questions to be asked in an investigation would be if there was CCTV footage available. This is elementary,” he said.

Inspector Brendan Fogarty told him that it appeared that gardai had not made enquiries about CCTV on the premises, because they assumed it wasn’t there. Gardai investigating other incidents in the pub had been told in the past the the cameras were not working at the time.

The judge said CCTV footage would have thrown more light on the involvement of some of the defendants in the incidents.

Lawless’ solicitor, Mr. Plunkett Taaffe, said his client should not be convicted of allowing disorderly conduct in the bar. “If trained gardai couldn’t contain the situation, how could he?” he said.

Judge McNulty agreed that there had been a mini-riot in and around Lawless’ premises in “seven minutes of madness”.

Mr. Taaffe added that Lawless didn’t know that a prosecution was coming down the line – if he had, he would have held on the CCTV footage, which is re-recorded after 30 days. Lawless was not asked for a statement and there was no subsequent investigation of the incidents.

Inspector Fogarty said Lawless didn’t have adequate security in the pub, which was frequented by a lot of young people, and the incidents should not have been allowed to happen. “Gardai are not security men,” he said.

Judge McNulty dismissed the charge of permitting drunkeness on the premises, because the evidence was not strong enough to sustain it. In relation to the charge of permitting disorderly conduct, he said it would be unjust to convict Lawless.

There had been two omissions by gardai: Lawless should have been told that there was a risk of a prosecution, to allow him time to gather evidence in his own defence. And the fundamental question regarding the availabilty of CCTV was not asked.

“CCTV footage would have assisted the prosecution, some of the defendants and Lawless himself. It was a significant ommision,” the judge said.

He added that there was evidence of poor management in the pub. “Is was lamentable that there was just one member of staff in the pub on a Saturday night.”

INTERFERED

Charlene Ryan (19) of 2 Clancoolmore, Bandon, who interfered in the arrest of Sarah Buckley, was fined €100 for using threatening and abusive words and behaviour on the night and a further €200 for refusing to obey a direction given by a garda.

David McSweeney (24) of 6 Knockbrogan Park, Bandon, who has eight previous convictions, was fined €750 for using threatening and abusive words and behaviour.

Raymond Ryan (44) of Clancoolmore, Bandon, who has 20 pervious convictions and was involved in trying to prevent the arrest of Patrick O’Driscoll on the night, was fined €200 for being drunk in public. Charges of using threatening and abusive words and behaviour and obstructing a garda were adjourned to the November 6 sitting of the court for a probation report.

Rosarie Lyons (37) of 16 Clancool Terrace, Bandon, was fined €200 for being drunk in public and €400 for using threatening and abusive words and behaviour.

Patrick O’Driscoll of 16 Clancool Terrace, was remanded in custody to the sitting of Kinsale Court on July 9 for sentencing. He is facing six charges under the Public Order Act.

Damien Buckley of Belrose Cottage, Crossbarry, Innishannon, who has eight previous convictions, was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment for using threatening and abusive words and behaviour and Sarah Buckley (19), also of Belrose Cottage, Crossbarry, had a charge of using threatening and abusive words and behaviour adjourned to the November 6 sitting of the court for a probation report.

Paul Buckley (25), also of Belrose Cottage, Crossbarry, who has 17 previous convictions, was sentenced to 90 days’ imprisonment for using threatening and abusive words and behaviour and a concurrent 90 day sentence for refusing to obey a direction given by a garda.

Cork pharma firm secures picket injunction

09/07/2009 - 17:37:37
Pharma firm Schering-Plough today secured an injunction at the High Court prohibiting picketing of its manufacturing site in Innishannon, Co Cork.
The company said the injunction was sought after a picket by electricians identifying themselves as members of theTechnical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) was placed at the site last Wednesday morning.
Schering Plough, which employs 570 people at the site, said the picketers were unknown to anybody at the site and that no notice of industrial action was served.
The firm has a number of TEEU members in its employment however it insists they are not in dispute with the company. 
While the company has used external electrical contractors it is not an electrical contractor and does not have any employees subject to the registered employment agreement for the electrical contracting industry.
The company sought the order because it has serious concerns that the picket will adversely effect production at the plant.
The injunction was granted by Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, who made the matter returnable to early next week. 

The march of the silent people

By Sincerely, Alice Taylor, Innishannon, Co. Cork.

Thursday February 12 2009

— ON Saturday I joined a support march for the Cork hurlers. It was my first time taking part in such a march as I am not by nature a protestor but like many of the other marchers on Saturday there was no other way to voice my support. When all is said and done we, the fans, are a voiceless majority. So, on Saturday, we let our feet do the talking and we made a loud statement.

As thousands walked along I viewed my fellow walkers. We were not a radical militant group. Included were hundreds of young men who were obviously players from clubs around the country. Weather beaten middle aged men who had lined the playing fields and driven young fellows to matches. 

Some of these men were accompanied by wives, who over the years had cheered on sons and neighbours' sons from the sideline. They had washed club jerseys before we had laundrettes. There were young mothers with babies in buggies, who had young lads playing on underage teams and these young lads were there in their red shirts. I recognised these women because I had once been one of them. 

Looking around at this group I knew that here was the grassroots of the G.A.A. edging itself along towards Daunt Square. 

These people were united by one vision and that was to get the 2008 team back on the field. They were not concerned with petty power struggles or verbal battles of media warfare. They were there out of loyalty and gratitude for the many great memories that these great players had given them. 

On a lovely summer's afternoon last summer I sat in front of the television and watched these Cork hurlers in action. For years I had been a dedicated Croke Park attender dragging bawling babies, crying children, yelling teenagers and, finally, just the two culprits of all the racket to every All-Ireland final. 

Now that I am on my own I have opted to become a T.V. fan. 

By choice, I watch games alone because there is no distraction. I am inside in Croke Park with the players. I am blocking balls, taking frees and scoring points from unimaginable angles. These Cork players have taken me and many ordinary Joe Soaps like me to peaks of sheer enjoyment that would otherwise be totally beyond our scope. 

On that particular sunny Sunday afternoon, having watched a sterling performance by the Cork hurlers and seeing Ben O'Connor, the quiet man of the team speak volumes with his hurley, I felt an unsupressable urge to capture this magic in poetry. Poetry is generated when the deep strata of the soul is stirred. 

The O'Connor twins 
We watch spellbound 
As they perform feats of skill 
Beyond our suppressed expectations 
They reach catch shoot 
Outrun the sliothar 
Arching into the air 
Swallows in upward curve. 
Then sure and deadly 
Swooping hawks In full flight 
They grasp their prey 
And jet it home 
Between the posts. 
An old man said "A safe pair of hands 
Those twin lads have" 
Birthed together and S 
till bound by 
Invisible strings 
They now play Silent Sliabh Luachra music 
Across the turf Of Croke Park 

A few months later I went to Dublin for a book launch and on that day did not get around to reading the paper. The following day I came across an article quoting Ben O'Connor from a previous day's paper. I sat up and took notice. This genius with a hurley who had, up to now, let his hurley do the talking had dropped his hurley and felt the need to make a statement. A thing that he would not do lightly. There had to be a good reason! 

Since that day I have read every word written by sports writers, players, trainers and G.A.A. experts. But when all the words have been written all I, as on ordinary supporters want, is our full Cork team back in action. These players who have given us so many years of pleasure should not be sacrificed for a solution. That these players would give up what they love most for a solution to this problem says a lot about their overall commitment. 

It was that commitment in the first place that made them such great sportsmen. 

The Cork hurlers 

Across our G.A.A. parks We have watched These fleeting deers Play out battles Of ferocious combat With balletic swoops Like warriors of old Blending together the fine art Of aerial flight And ground warfare They have plied skills Of gladitioral precision On their hurleys They have borne on high Minds of their souls Bearing us up into Realms of unexplored delight 

Should we now bring down these noble stags? 

Sincerely, Alice Taylor, Innishannon, Co, Cork 

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.