November

Cork TD attends COP26 protest

Leeside Socialist Party and Solidarity TD Mick Barry travels to Glasgow to take part in large-scale peaceful protests at the COP26 climate conference. Before his trip, Deputy Barry tells the Cork Independent the Covid-19 pandemic is far less of a threat to mankind than the global climate emergency. Speaking at COP26 in Glasgow, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin pledges to more than double Ireland’s contribution to developing countries bringing the total to €225 million per year. Over 100,000 people come to stage peaceful protests at the annual conference demanding immediate climate action from world leaders.

Specialist nurse shortage

Calls are made for more nurse specialists in neurology to be employed on Leeside in line with the launch of a new campaign to tackle what’s described as a serious shortage by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) says CUH has four of these nurses but needs 20 based on local and international recommendations. According to the NAI, there is a national shortfall of over 100 nurse specialists in neurology in the Irish healthcare system.

Cork bus services to increase by a third

The National Transport Authority publish a new plan which aims to simplify Cork’s bus network while adding more connections to schools, jobs and services. The BusConnects Cork plan was developed by US firm Jarrett Walker & Associates in collaboration with Bus Éireann, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. The redesign of the bus network is one of nine key elements of BusConnects Cork that aims to transform the city’s bus system, making public transport more useful to more people. Under the plan, the level of bus services in Cork will increase by 36 per cent with shorter waits and more direct routes for commuters.

Rise in sexual crimes

“Why should a young girl think it's okay to be groped and say nothing just because it happens all the time?” That’s the question posed by the Director of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork Mary Crilly in light of a significant rise in reported sexual assaults and rapes in Cork. The rise coincides with reports of syringes being used to drug people in nightclubs and bars in Ireland and the UK. Ms Crilly tells the Cork Independent she and her staff have come across a couple of women who said they felt there were marks on their arms and their legs from a needle after a night out.

High Court victory for the county

Cork County Council’s High Court victory over a minister’s attempts to halt plans for a €100 million retail outlet centre in the county is hailed as a “fantastic day for local democracy”. The ruling sees Mr Justice Richard Humphreys reject Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien’s direction to annul a change to the Cork County Development Plan (CDP) providing for the retail outlet in the east of the county. The Office of the Planning Regulator had originally suggested to Minister O'Brien that the retail outlet centre should not be part of Cork’s CDP after carrying out an independent assessment of the council’s planning and zoning decisions.

Cork pirate lives again!

A female pirate born in Kinsale in the 1600s is brought back to life in the top-rated Caribbean children’s show ‘The Goombay Kids’. Anne Bonny was born in March 1698 and is widely regarded as the most well-known female pirate that ever lived. Historical accounts state that Bonny was captured in Jamaica in 1720. What became of Bonny after that is unknown to this day with some accounts claiming that she was eventually released and lived to be more than 80 years old, dying in Charles Towne, South Carolina. Bonny is played by Bahamian actress Madison Knowles in the show.

Locals protest sale of forest

A number of parties declare their interested in purchasing a parcel of woods near Riverstick in county Cork from Coillte. A petition is organised opposing the sale by locals who are worried that they will lose the use of a number of trails in the woods, which are hugely popular, especially during the pandemic. In a statement released by Coillte, the state-owned forestry business assures locals that the area proposed for sale contains no recreational trails used by the public. Coillte later meets locals to discuss the sale of a 9 hectare portion of Ballymartle Woods for a price of €120,000. The entire woods is around 40 hectares.

A Kian sense of style

The parents of a small boy who was born with an extremely rare genetic condition called Fox-G launch their own company selling footwear for children with special needs. April and Rob Mullen from Cobh had spent a long time searching for the perfect footwear for their son Kian who is non-verbal, non-mobile and tube fed. They needed durable and comfortable shoes that could fit on over their son’s orthoses supports. Their new company, Keeks, sells products from American-based company Billy Footwear which was the first company the parents found which ticked every box for their son’s needs.

Cork’s runway opens again

Cork Airport’s runway is cleared for landing once again after its €10 million reconstruction project was completed on schedule and within budget. The upgraded runway, which is the single biggest investment by any government at Cork Airport, is officially opened by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Joining the Taoiseach at the opening is Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, as well as a number of senior cabinet members and civic and business leaders. He says:“This project future-proofs a critically important strategic asset for Cork, the south-west region, and for Ireland for many years to come. The investment by the Government of €10 million in this project will ensure continued, essential, connectivity - connecting people and places, families and friends, economies and businesses; with enormous benefits for the city, the wider region and for the country.”