RSS 2.0 Feed - Cork Independenten-enCopyright by Cork Independenteditor@corkindependnet.comNewsChristmas parking extended this year Category: News
Cork City Council is to provide six weeks of incentivised parking in city centre car parks from 22 October. The scheme is an extension of the system run in November last year with a strong emphasis on generating more footfall in the city centre. From 22 October, Monday to Thursday 10am to 12pm, there will be free car parking in both Paul Street and North Main Street car parks.  On Thursday and Friday from 6.30pm to midnight, there will be free parking in Paul Street to encourage late night shoppers.]]>Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:49:00 GMT

Tunnel works continue this week

Category: News
Nighttime closures in the Jack Lynch Tunnel will continue this week. From 9.15pm to 7am, the tunnel will be shut each week night with the exception of Friday night. The tunnel will be closed at 9.15pm tonight so motorists should make alternate plans.The works are taking place due to an EU directive for additional fire protection, and are destined to enhance public safety and route protection.The work is expected to cost in the region of €5m.Email, SMS, Twitter, and a free phone number have all been set up so motorists can choose how to receive live and updated information on closures during the tunnel works  - scheduled for three months rather than the o]]>Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Seventh heaven for Cork ladies

Category: News
The Cork ladies football team recorded their seventh All-Ireland title in eight years yesterday in Croke Park over Kerry.  The ladies beat their neighbours on a scoreline of 16 points to seven. Just under 17,000 spectators saw the Rebelettes collect the Brendan Martin Cup, a team that has only lost one championship match since 2005.  Eleven of the starting 15 yesterday in Croke Park have now collected seven All-Ireland medals.  Meanwhile, the county titles in the intermediate and senior grades were also decided yesterday with Sarsfields and Ballinhassig taking the spoils.]]>Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:38:00 GMT

Two dead after taking heroin

Category: News
Two people have died in the past 24 hours after a suspected bad batch of heroin circulating in Cork. There are currently seven people in hospital who are critically ill and the condition of two of these seven is thought to be of a particular concern. Ambulances were called to nine incidents over the past 24 hours and although doctors in Cork University Hospital are awaiting toxicology reports, they have urged the public to issue an urgent warning immediately should anyone else be affected by this.]]>Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:20:00 GMT

Red hot jazz

Category: News
The 2012 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival was officially launched in Cork Opera House last night and it promises to be a fun filled festival which takes place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend from 26-28 October. Over 1,000 musicians from 22 countries will be travelling to the Leeside and will feature over 400 performances in more than 50 venues throughout Cork. This year's line up promises a eclectic mix of performers and some of the highlights will be Roy Hargrove, De La Soul, Gregory Porter, Beach House, Jean Toussaint and Natalie Williams.]]>Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Job losses announced at Cork Airport

Category: News
A minimum of 32 jobs are to be lost at Cork Airport, it was announced today.  The job loss announcement comes as part of the airport's cost management review and the redundancies are voluntary.  The initiative was announced by Cork Airport Director Niall MacCarthy and his management team to employees today following recommendations by consultants, Ernst & Young, for delivery of a sustainable business operating model at Cork Airport. Other measures in the review include a full review of existing structures, rosters and staffing levels, the alignment of remuneration and work structures with aviation industry best practices  and a ren]]>Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:00:00 GMT

30 jobs for Cork

Category: News
30 jobs are to be created in Cork after American company Hittite Microwave Corporation confirmed they are to establish two operations in the region. The investment is being supported by the Government through IDA Ireland. HMC is to establish 19 jobs in the company’s research and development facility while 11 jobs will be created at the company’s new international operations centre in the region. Hittite Microwave which designs and manufactures high frequency, analog and mixed signal electronics components.]]>Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:20:00 GMT

90 jobs to go at Merck Sharp & Dohme

Category: News
There was bad news for Cork yesterday with the announcement that 90 jobs are to be lost at the Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) plant in Brinny. Workers at the plant were informed of the news at a meeting called by MSD management at 2pm yesterday afternoon, where they were told that the global healthcare company will cut its workforce over the next six months. The plant currently employs 455 people and this latest development will serve as a particular blow as the company announced 70 new jobs just over a year ago in June 2011 as part of a €28 million investment in the plant.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Francis is on par at Ryder Cup

Category: News
Third time was a charm for Bishopstown man Francis Hynes who was spotted by millions enjoying a spot of golf in his Cork jersey last Friday at the Ryder Cup. Francis, who is over in Chicago for the week playing golf, made a chance TV appearance when he managed to get to the front of the crowd at day one of proceedings at Medinah much to the amusement of thousands who were watching at home in Ireland. “I had been at a couple of the practice days with my father,” says Francis, “but that particular day I was on my own, I didn’t even think about it to be honest with you.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMTMinisterial pensions revealed Category: News
Former government ministers from Cork received over €70,000 last year in pension payments from the Government, with only a small amount handed back to the State. The amount of money paid out was revealed in documents released by the Department of Finance last Friday. Former ministers receive a ministerial pension on top of their pensions as public representatives. Former Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen received €11, 157.83in 2011 and returned €709 of that to the Exchequer.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

UCC meeting hears bondholder payments 'necessary'

Category: News
“I voted for Labour and Fine Gael in the hope that they would not give another red cent to the banks, but I feel totally betrayed,” said Karen Doyle from Cobh at a protest outside AIB this week.  Over 50 people protested against the payment of €1 billion unsecured bondholders outside AIB headquarters in Cork on the South Mall. “I feel the bank bailout is unjustified, it is immoral it is wrong, it is taking money from the ordinary people of this country who are on their knees at the moment” said Ms Doyle.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMTAdministration changes for HSE in Cork Category: News
A number of changes are to take place in the administration of community schemes in Cork from next Monday. As the lease is about to expire on the premises at Abbeycourt House, George's Quay, and due to spending cuts, there will no longer be HSE administration or a public counter facility at Abbeycourt House. However, an information desk will be available in the Health Centre in Grattan Street. The HSE is advising the public that many application forms and information can be obtained from the HSE website hse.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMTSpecsavers Cork city centre’s big fit event! Category: News
Specsavers Cork City Centre will be hosting a ‘Big Fit’ event in association with Ciba Vision from 10am to 6pm this Friday 5 October. Representatives from Ciba Vision, who develop and manufacturer contact lenses, will be in Cork City Centre on Friday providing information on contact lenses and encouraging the public to visit Specsavers Cook Street for a complimentary contact lens fitting. For those who are new to contact lenses or have been wearing them for years are welcome in-store and the experts at Specsavers will be on hand to answer your contact lens questions and concerns.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Educational problems rife among homeless

Category: News
Many of Cork's homeless suffer educational disadvantages with low levels of literacy, numeracy and IT literacy common and 30 per cent having never used a computer. This is according to a recent report undertaken by Cork Simon Community which was conducted among 91 people using Cork Simon services over a four week period this summer. The report highlighted that rates of early school leaving are also more widespread among younger people with 75 per cent of 18-26 year olds surveyed leaving the education system without a Leaving Certificate.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Hope charity challenge

Category: News
Two of Cork’s leading ladies, Sandra Murphy, proprietor of the Rising Tide Bar and Restaurant, and Vivienne Kelly, managing director of Lockdown Models, co-owner of The Dress Bar, helped launch ‘The Hope Apprentice’ this week. It's a month-long charity challenge to sell as many Hope Butlers chocolate bars as possible and in turn win a trip of a lifetime to India. This is a fantastic opportunity for Hope, an Irish charity which has been working with some of the world’s most disadvantaged children and families in India for over 13 years, to give their biggest supporters the chance to travel to Calcutta and see where all their fundraising money has been spent;]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMTChild benefit cuts opposed Category: News
Opponents to cuts in child benefit have warned that such action would "hammer" middle income households, after media reports on the topic suggested a cut in €40 could be brought in on the universal benefit.   Socialist Party Councillor, Mick Barry, insisted that a proposal to slash child benefit would “hammer middle income households who need every penny of child benefit to pay for childcare and other essentials.” “Child benefit is not pin money, it is money that is absolutely essential to the running of hundreds of thousands of households,” said Mr Barry.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMTMind your mental health Category: News
MentaliTY, the city-wide mental health initiative, geared at transition year, youth reach and community centre students will begin workshops today. The workshops will run over two days in City Hall. Over 1,500 students are expected to take place in the workshops, the first of its kind in Cork city.  Frank Mulvihill, a guidance counsellor at Coláiste Chríost Rí, as well as a committee member of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, said that on a day to day basis about 60 per cent of the work he does with students is personal counselling.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Sminky fights for the girls

Category: News
Cork's best known animator, Jason Sullivan of 'Sminky Shorts' fame has put his animation skills to very good use and has designed a promotional video for Breakthrough Cancer Research in a new campaign called 'Fight For The Girls'. The idea behind the video campaign is to try and get men on board and make them aware of breast cancer and already it has received over 25,000 hits on YouTube having been only uploaded on Tuesday. "I was approached a few weeks ago by Hopkins Communications who were representing Breakthrough Cancer Research and they were looking to do something different for the launch of their new campaign.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Milford dog shelter facing closure

Category: News
A Cork dog shelter is at risk of closure as a result of lack of funds. Pauline's Shelter which is based in Milford in North Cork is struggling to stay open because of high veterinary bills and low donations. Pauline O'Mahony who runs the shelter voluntarily says that things are far more difficult in recent times due to the recession. "Our funds are very low at the moment. I get about 300 to 400 dogs through here every year. When we get a dog it goes straight to the vet to be vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped and I then have to pay for all that.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMTProperty register goes live Category: News
A Cork auctioneer has welcomed the publication of the new residential property price register, but warned that it should not be used as a house price gauge. “It definitely brings a lot of clarity,” said Kevin Condon, of DNG Kevin Condon Auctioneers. “However it is not a property guide that should be compared like for like. It is about seven months out of date, especially in regard to the June closing date to pay stamp duty. It doesn’t take into account the amount of stamp duty paid or deposits put down on properties either.]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT