News Listing : General
There are children in Kinsale who could end up not being able to go to the only post primary school in their area unless action is taken immediately, warned Sr, Mary Donovan at a well attended public meeting to highlight the urgent need for an extension to Kinsale Community School.
Among the attendance at the conclusion of a very successful Open Day were public representatives, teachers and parents who agreed to continue lobbying and seek a meeting as soon as possible with Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe TD.
Sr. Mary said the school was opened in 1996 to accommodate 460 pupils but today, with 704 on the register, it was well on the way to having to cater for nearly double that figure with 12 pre-fab classrooms already on site.
In April 2007, the school was listed on the Department of Education's website as one of 56 schools (12 secondary) urgently needing either extensions or a new build and this was confirmed by officials at a meeting in Tullamore in May 2007 which she, along with the chairperson of the board of management attended. A site visit followed in June 2007 and it was agreed that the existing site could accommodate a two storey extension (comprising two science labs, two computer rooms, engineering, building construction and home economics rooms and 17 classrooms) plus a full sized gym to meet a projected enrolment of 850.
"We were on the list and all was going well but I became worried when after several months there was no response regarding the important next stage, the appointment of a design team.," said Sr. Mary. She referred to representations made by local Oireachtas members, as well as county councillor Kevin Murphy and others and quoted the Dail reply last April from then Minister Mary Hanafin to Christy O'ullivan TD, and others subsequently, which stated that the development was still at "an early stage" and would be considered on an ongoing basis.
Summing up, Sr. Mary said Kinsale was the only second level school in Kinsale. It' open enrolment and inclusive policy had been complimented by the Department inspector and there was already agreement that it had a projected enrolment in a few years of 850 (573 in 2005).
Unless the extension was given the go ahead, she warned, Kinsale Community School would have to consider limiting the availability of practical subjects from September 2009, when the school was likely to have over 720 pupils, because it had only one woodwork room, home economics room, one metalwork room, three science labs and a small sized gym, for which additional pre-fabs could do nothing to alleviate the pressure.
The principal further stated that limiting enrolment overall would have to be considered by the board of management from September 2010 which begged the question where students from the Kinsale catchment area including Belgooly, Riverstick, Ballinhassig, Minane Bridge, Innishannon and Courceys would go. The situation was that serious and the meeting called to inform parents and highlight the need for immediate action, she added.
An open forum followed in which Peter Fitzgerald, a parent, said describing the school as being on "band two" for urgently needed big projects was meaningless if the department said it was being considered on an ongoing basis. There had to be a definite time frame and with a downturn in the economy and in particular the construction industry, now was the ideal time for the project to be given the go-ahead and take people off the dole.
Town councillor Billy Lynch (Independent) suggested a deputation to the Minister for Education adding, "if it requires a hunger strike, then let's do it".
Parent Eamonn Judge said the over crowding in the corridors at lunch time had to be seen to be believed and he paid tribute to the staff for doing an excellent job in the circumstances. The status quo wouldn't so and they had to ensure the extension was on the list in the next budget.
Parents' Association chairperson and board of management member Maureen Judge asked how a school could be expected to fulfil its policy of enrolment if there physically wasn't room to do so. There was, she stressed, no choice here and children from the Kinsale area shouldn't be expected to travel to schools in Cork, Bandon or elsewhere. She concluded by paying tribute to Sr. Mary for her tireless efforts.
Nuala O'Reilly of the parents' association said it was important to establish where the school was on the list of the department's building projects adding that parents would be willing to go on a deputation to meet the Minister. The parents' association was also represented by treasurer, Judy Fitzgerald, Mary Broderick and Monica Broderick.
Mr. Jim O'Keeffe TD (Fine Gael), who held a raft of correspondence and five Dail questions on the issue dating back to the first application for an extension in 2000, said that as a member of the Opposition he couldn't make any promises other than to keep pressing at every level and ensure it wouldn't be go out of the limelight. He urged all present to do likewise and support the work of Sr. Mary and others because the case for an extension was unanswerable.
Senator Michael McCarthy (Labour) said it was just not good enough that the school was having to function at almost twice its capacity in terms of pupil numbers. More than ever, in the current economic climate, there was need to invest in education and help deliver the graduates of the future who could re-boot the economy. Urging a united approach, he pledged to leave no stone unturned for on a situation which had reached crisis point for the only second level school in the area.
County councillor Kevin Murphy (FG) said he moved a motion at County Hall and had referred back the response from the department asking "what does at an early stage mean"? The extension should be at the heart of the department's building programme and he undertook to continue the hard slog until it was delivered.
Sr. Mary acknowledged the attendance also of town councillors Tomas O'Brien (Lab) and Charles Henderson (Ind). She said invitations were sent and apologies received from Minister Micheal Martin (FF), Deputies Christy O'Sullivan (FF) and P.J. Sheehan (FG), Senators Peter Callanan (FF) and Denis O'Donovan (FF) and county councillor Alan Coleman (FF). She thanked the parents, board, staff and primary schools for their support and specially praised the students.
After the meeting, one student said that while she very much enjoyed going to the school, some Irish classes were held on the stage because there weren’t enough classrooms.
* Earlier that day, Kinsale Town Council, on a proposal by Mr. Henderson, seconded by Mr. O’Brien agreed to write a letter to the Minister for Education, stating its strong support for the appointment of architects and building of the extension as soon as possible as promised.
* Minister Batt O’Keeffe in the most recent Dail reply to Jim O’Keeffe on September 24th stated: “The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase - including this - will be considered in the context of my Department’s Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative time frame for the further progression of the project at this timeâ€. |
WILD GOOSE STUDIO, Kinsale is 40 years in business next year and to get the celebrations off to an early start, its all new and exciting 'Tosach' range was launched by chairman of the Crafts Council of Ireland, Gerry Wycherley at a function in Cronin's Commercial Hall, Kinsale.
Guests were welcomed by Mary Cronin, who said that in times of doom, gloom and meltdown, the only thing to do was have a party and Cronin's was delighted to do so with the launch of the latest range from the Wild Goose Studio.
Mary said she was very impressed by the loyalty of the Wild Goose Studio to Kinsale and the fact that it was an entirely in-house manufacturing and framing operation, buying locally where possible (e.g. Kinsale Tile Store) and employing local people. Overall, Wild Goose Studio was a very good company providing an excellent product and Cronin's Commercial Hall was proud to be a stockist over the past 40 years.
Gerry Wycherley said the WGS ticked all boxes as far as the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCI) was concerned. When he started his first business, Celtic Cottages in Rosscarbery 30 years ago, WGS products were used and he was only too aware of the importance of family and traditional enterprises in Ireland, especially in a place like Kinsale. He described the new 'Tosach' range as fabulous, wished WGS every success in its new beginning and paid tribute to Cronin's Commercial Hall.
Returning thanks, Jamie Fisher-McCarthy, managing director of WGS said it was an honour to have the home launch of Tosach in Cronin's from where it had sold its pieces from the start.
Kinsale has been very important to the WGS ever since Brian Scott-McCarthy and Kathleen Smyth settled on it as the base for the studio when they bought Kirby's, 66, Lower O'Connell Street in 1969 and when, I'm told, the town was a little different to what it is now.
We like to think that WGS has played its part in the renaissance of the town, providing many jobs over the years and, by mentioning the name Kinsaleon all our products, we have advertised it wherever they have gone, be it America, the UK, Australia, New Zealnd and every town in Ireland."
Jamie said that far from suffering a mid-life crisis, as might be expected on turning 40, WGS had been very busy evolving and developing over the last few years and the results were to be seen with the full range on display in Cronin's.
Some say that life begins at 40, so our latest range is remarkably appropriate. Tosach, as you know, being Irish for beginning, continued Jamie who paid tribute to the artists responsible for the beautiful paintings on the new works, Paget and Joanna, daughters of co-founder Brian Scott McCarthy, who were unable to attend. However, he was delighted that co-founder Kathleen Smyth and several WGS staff members were able to attended the function and other guests.
It is a series of delicate but colourful artworks on tile. Each original painting is faithfully reproduced onto a ceramic tile and then framed either in limed white or matt black with wooden frames.
Cronin's will also have an exclusive Wild Goose offer which runs until the end of October. |
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The Kinsale Primary Care Team (PCT) was officially launched on Thursday September 18th 2008 in conjunction with a celebration to mark the recent refurbishment of Kinsale Community Hospital. Kinsale PCT is an initiative involving all seven local General Practitioners based in two medical practices with locally based Health Service Executive (HSE) professionals. In addition to the existing HSE services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, community and public health nursing, home help, children’s speech and language therapy, podiatry, community welfare, dental, mental health and dietetics, Kinsale PCT also have additional services such as psychology, addiction counselling and speech and language therapy for adults. Building on the excellent professional relationships that have traditionally existed between the GPs and the HSE in Kinsale the PCT commenced a partnership approach to health and social care to serve the local population of Kinsale and its surrounding area in 2007. The PCT approach allows for greater liaison between all the health professionals and ensures more comprehensive care for local patients through regular clinical meetings. This multi-disciplinary team has helped prevent a number of people from the Kinsale area being admitted to hospital and through key alliances with the acute services facilitate early discharge from hospital to home. Gretta Crowley, Local Health Manager with the HSE said “I very much welcome this new initiative as the Kinsale PCT will provide easier access and better healthcare outcomes and will work as a building block for further existing developments for the area. This will ensure that people can receive as many services as close to home as possible from a team of professionals, working together to serve the population of Kinsale and beyond”. The Kinsale PCT is fortunate to have an excellent relationship with the Director of Nursing and staff of Kinsale Community Hospital. Many of the PCT services are currently based in the hospital pending relocation to a dedicated primary care facility where all health and social care practitioners will be based in the same building. This new facility will bring together all of the PCT on one site. This development will allow for a 'one stop shop' approach to primary care services for the Kinsale area. The facility will also accommodate diagnostic and procedure rooms to further enhance the services to the people of Kinsale and reduce the need to travel for additional healthcare services which is presently the case. Kinsale Community Hospital is also celebrating the completion of recent refurbishment works at the hospital. When the hospital started a simple refurbishment exercise at the end of 2006, dry rot was discovered in the main floor beams of two wards. It quickly emerged that other areas throughout the hospital were suffering the same fate. Having assessed the extent of the damage, a large section of the building had to be completely renovated. Maureen O' Donovan, Director of Nursing at Kinsale Community Hospital said, “The refurbishment was unexpected but ended up benefiting the hospital greatly. Our patients were at the heart of all our decision making and we did everything possible to make the refurbishment works interfere as little as possible with our residents and their care. The professionalism and dedication of all the staff here is very much appreciated and I would like to particularly acknowledge the ‘Friends of Kinsale Community Hospital’ who very generously contributed towards the cost of the refurbishment works. Kinsale Community Hospital is a 40 bedded community hospital which provides continuing, respite, palliative and convalescent care. Planning permission has recently been obtained for a day care centre on the grounds of Kinsale Community Hospital for which the local community have been actively fundraising. The day care centre will provide nurse-led care for older people in conjunction with physiotherapy and occupational therapy colleagues. Clients will also benefit from services from other professionals such as podiatry as required and social activities on a regular basis. |
The latest addition to the streets of Kinsale might cause you to question if you are in the right place or indeed seeing things, but no, the road train is up and running! The Kinsale road train, courtesy of Castlepark Marina, is managed by Tadgh Wright and driven by Mark Hickey, who says that it is proving very popular with both tourists and locals alike. The road train operates from Actons Hotel and runs every alternate hour to Charles Fort (Red Route) and Castlepark (Blue Route). Not having arrived until quite late in the season the train, though operating to schedule at present, is still in a development phase. Extended hours in the summer months is one idea, all these changes and other related information can be accessed on the web site at www.kinsaleroadtrain.com. For the winter months the train will operate only at weekends but is for hire for private parties, birthdays, corporate lettings and now even has a few bookings for weddings. We will also see the train in operation during the month of December as it is involved with the Kinsale Christmas festivities. The train looks splendid, the first carriage has formal seating while the second has seating along the sides with wheelchair access and this carriage seems to be the most popular with groups. Mark says that one of his most memorable trips this season was listening to a Welsh choir sing all the way to Charles Fort! Well done to everyone involved and they are thankful for the support of the Kinsale Town Council, Gardai and the Transition Towns Committee.
Jayne Barry |
Irelands first Surf Camp for children with autism took place in Garrettstown from Monday August 25th to Friday 29th August. 43 children from all over Ireland took part, 28 of whom were from Cork. Set up in January 2008, Surf 2 Heal is the brainchild of Nollaig Fitzgerald and Jon and Alayne Hynes. Their mission was simple: to provide surf activity camps for autistic children, allowing them to experience the joys of the ocean and its calming energy. Nollaig’s ambition and drive was one of key forces behind bringing this unique project to life. Fundraising campaign manager, Nollaig is mother of 5 year old Sean who has autism. She has first hand experience of the power and success that water time and surfing has given to Sean. “For a child where today's world causes sensory overload, the gentle sounds on a beach is pure release. A big open space where he can run unhindered, the freedom and the water release a joy in my child it is hard to describe.” She became interested in the concept after reading a newspaper article about one father's struggle to comes to terms with is son's autism and how a surf lesson on a cold winter day brought new joy and oportunities to their relationship. Jon Hynes is the owner of Gtown Surf School, based at Garrettstown Beach. Jon is an experienced surfer and has a vast range of outdoor skills, qualifications & expeditioning experience. He is known for his passion for water and surfing and his concern for the preservation of the oceans, environment and wildlife. Alayne Hynes also has a passion for the outdoors. She is a qualified psychologist and works with teenagers in alternative education. She brought together a strong team of land and water based volunteers and designed a programme of personal development and training so that they were all equipped with the skills neccessary to run the Surf 2 Heal programme. The positive effects of the camp far exceeded the organisers’ expectations. One girl who had been struggling for a long time to learn to ride a bicycle, succeeded in cycling the day after the surf camp. An unforseen effect of Surf 2 Heal was the dramatic effect it had on the volunteers. It was a great journey of self-development for them and has set quite a few of them rethinking their career paths. The week was also a wonderful networking opportunity for the parents of autistic children and it gave them a rest. Some of the particpants have since come back to rent holiday homes in Garrettstown. Surf 2 Heal is a unique opportunity for children with autism and their parents. Nollaig had been looking for a similar camp in Europe, to no avail. Until Surf 2 Heal was formed, she had been saving to take Sean to the US where the concept is successfully established. Nollaig, Alayne and Jon are committed to using Ireland’s great coastline, ocean and world famous generosity to make this breakthrough experience happen. Next year will see Surf to Heal expand to five weeks of activities in Cork, Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Sligo and Donegal. Recruiting of volunteers for summer 2009 starts next month. Sponsors are eager to create Surf 2 Heal camps in other countries in Europe, though it will be 2010 before that happens as the team want to be well established in Ireland before going international. Jon, Alayne and Nollaig extend sincere their thanks to everyone who donated or helped Surf 2 Heal in any way. So many people helped out in so many different ways it was impossible to put a number on just how many people contributed towards making the week a success. For more details see www.surf2heal.com
Niamh Prior |
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Smiths SuperValu Kinsale has just been awarded the prestigious Emerald Award in the Hygiene and Food Safety Programme run by Excellence Ireland (EIQA). This award is a reflection of a strong overall commitment to food safety and hygiene in the store. It also reflects a significant investment in structure and equipment and application of best practice in this store throughout the year. “I would like to congratulate the team at Smiths of Kinsale” said Paula Whelan who is the Food Safety Consultant to SuperValu Kinsale. The EIQA is an independent body which conducts hygiene and food safety audits on food premises throughout the country. These audits are random and are carried out without prior notification to the business. They involve a thorough examination of the premises and the store is examined under the following elements – Planning & Commitment; Approach; Performance & Review and Structure & Services. To obtain a Sapphire Award the business must achieve an overall score of at least 60%. The Minimum mark to achieve an Emerald Award is 75%. In his report the auditor stated that the premises had shown excellent commitment to hygiene standards and he noted that planning and commitment was excellent. “I am absolutely thrilled with this award and I would like to publicly acknowledge the hard work, commitment and team effort of all of our staff members right across all departments” said Michael Smith. |
Don Herlihy and Barry Moloney of 'Historic Stroll in Kinsale' have recently produced a colour 17th century map of Kinsale. On the reverse of the map is printed the history of Kinsale as told by Don. Don Herlihy has been running guided tours of Kinsale for the last 16 years. The map came about in response to the frequent reactions of tourists such as 'I wish I had you for history at school', 'where can I find a book that brings history to life like you do?' On the back of the 17th century chart, Don reveals his history of Kinsale, which is more colorful and important than many people may realise. His “Kinsale in the Winds of Change” is a wide ranging and gripping account of the story of the New World discovery which connects the dots in the wake of Columbus; the race for the treasure which followed, the spice wars, Spanish Armada and naval conflicts which finally brought about the Battle of Kinsale and construction of the Star Forts. Along the way we meet leading players in the story of Kinsale suh as Irish Chieftans O'Neill and O'Donnell, Cosimo de'Medici, Walter Raleigh, Daniel Defoe and Robinson Crusoe. After years in business abroad, the Historic Stroll is by far the most fun Don has had. Through it, he has formed friendships, gained insights and shared a common curiousity with thousands of individuals he has met along the way. Having taken a degree in physics, Barry Moloney came to realise his greater interest lay in people. In 2004 he became joint publisher of the Kinsale Literary Anthology and recently graduated with distinction as a Failte Ireland Approved Guide. The map, which measures 23x16 inches, is a copy of a black and white original 17th century chart which Don has at home. With the help of Barry's background in publishing the map has been beautifully reproduced in colour on heavy parchment style paper. It can be purchased for €20 from Don or Barry at the stroll, which leaves from the tourist office at 11.15 a.m., or online for €24.90, including postage, at www.historicstrollkinsale.com.
Niamh Prior |
Kinsale Arts Week to hold Art Auction Fundraiser with a twist
Kinsale Arts Week July 11-19, 2009
This October online shopping will meet the art world as Kinsale Arts Week hosts The Big Auction: an online auction of over fifty Art works by a selection of local and national artists. For regular collectors or anyone who would like to buy art but is put-off by the conventions of buying through galleries or dealers, this is a special opportunity. Potential buyers are invited to get into the fun of a bidding war and possibly even grab a bargain all from the comfort of their home or office, 24 hours a day. The auction will culminate with an auction party on the evening of Friday 24th October at the Coach House Gallery; Kinsale’s newest art gallery which has been established in the 220 year-old coach-house building at the pottery in Ballinacurra, Kinsale.
The aim of the Big Auction is to provide people with the chance to bid for art via a fun and accessible medium whilst raising essential funds for Kinsale Arts Week.
Bidding starts on Saturday 12th October and the art works will be available to view and bid on via an online Gallery at www.kinsaleartsweek.com for two weeks from that date. An exhibition of the works for auction will also hang at The Coach House Gallery during this period.
This is a fundraising event for Kinsale Arts Week 2009. Art Works have either been donated or provided at a commission by all of the artists involved and a portion of all sales will go towards funding the festival for 2009.
Kinsale Arts Week will run from July 11– 19, 2009.
1. Kinsale Arts Week was re-established in 2005 by a volunteer committee
2. Kinsale Arts Week Committee is:
Mareta Doyle (Chairman)
Maureen Tierney
Adrian Wistreich
Peter Carroll
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
PLEASE
CONTACT:
Kinsale Arts Week
Michelle Carew
T: 021 4700010
michellecarew@kinsaleartsweek.com
Michelle Carew
Manager
Kinsale Arts Week
Friars Lodge
Kinsale
Co.Cork
Tel : 021 4700010
www.kinsaleartsweek.com |
"Kinsale is a place which has carved out a particular niche for itself in Irish cultural life", declared chairperson of the Arts Council, Olive Braiden when officially launching at Charles Fort, the 4th Kinsale Arts Week (KAW) taking place at various venues in and around the heritage town.
"KAW possesses imagination and foresight and since 2005, has consistently presented festival programmes that while involving the local community and artists, doesn’t compromise on featuring the work of artists of national and international stature through visual arts, theatre, music, literature, film and dance.
"The festival organisers annually succeed in invigorating the town’s cultural life, particularly through their use of any and all potential spaces to be found through a kind of re-imagining of the mental geography of Kinsale in a way that opens up news perspectives and fresh possibilities." There were no better examples of this, continued Ms. Braiden, than the Anya Gallaccio Installation at Charles Fort followed by the ‘Fire on Water’ spectacular in the harbour on the opening night of the festival, both funded by the Arts Council. She also spoke of the importance of the festival for giving a platform to emerging artists, igniting a spirit of community and creating an impact that does not simply remain in Kinsale.
On the subject of Arts Council funding (which amounted to €55,000), she stated: "KAW deserves it and a lot more. It is a really wonderful festival which has set a very high standard," and in officially launching it, congratulated all involved led by director Deborah Dignam and fellow Sligo woman and chairperson Mareta Doyle.
Welcoming the large attendance at the opening reception on the green of Charles Fort, Mayor of Kinsale Dermot Collins congratulated the organisers and volunteers involved in a festival with over 80 events in just nine days and spoke of the importance of KAW in the social and cultural calendar of the town which was recognised nationally and internationally as a prestigious event. He wished it continued success.
KAW chairperson Mareta Doyle declared: "KAW has grown up and is now one of the top ten festivals in Ireland. This is due to the skill and stamina of the board, the committee and volunteers". She specially paid tribute to director for the past two years Deborah Dignam (who is moving to London) for her professional organisation and Maureen Tierney and Adrian Wistreich whom she described as the "heart and mind" of KAW respectively.
She also mentioned KAW team members and went on to thank main sponsor Howard Holdings, key funders the Arts Council, Cork County Council, Failte Ireland and all other sponsors and ‘friends’ without whom there would be no festival.
Mareta Doyle thanked the Office of Public Works represented by Minister of State Martin Mansergh, Karen Guerin and Bobby Wright for the use of Charles Fort for hosting the reception and various events, and Ridge Developments. In a festival with a distinctly Cuban theme she quoted its leader Fidel Castro: ‘It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and a plan of action’ said this embodied what KAW was all about and added: "this is your festival, enjoy it".
Minister of State Martin Mansergh TD said Kinsale was one of the jewels in the crown of Ireland which was worth visiting at any time of the year but especially during KAW which had developed so rapidly in just four years while Charles Fort, under the control of the OPW, was a wonderful venue. Such festivals were a great morale boost for towns, benefiting trade, service providers and tourism from home and overseas. State support for such events, through the Arts Council, had increased by 1,000% over the past four years, said the Minister.
Festival director Deborah Dignam said the reason they were all attending KAW was because of the artists. It was they who demonstrated that art is for everybody and that creativity and a platform to display this can make a difference and be a positive and life changing experience. She also stressed the importance of patrons seeing, experiencing and engaging in something new and different over "nine days of electric energy which will prickle every person". She concluded by thanking her KAW colleagues, especially Michelle Carew and Ed O’Leary.
Highlights of the closing weekend included the Elkie Brooks concert in Charles Fort on Saturday and the ‘Street Day’, a free Cuban style fiesta on the streets of Kinsale on Sunday afternoon featuring The Amani Acrobats, The Fanzini Brothers, The Dukesbox, mural artists, salsa dancers, stilters, drummers, face painters, balloon makers, clowns and other performers as well as Oxjamming photos for Oxfam.
Main Street, Emmet Place and the Short Quay were closed off to traffic and locals, holiday makers and day trippers alike enjoyed the vibrant, fun buzz that was provided by the lively entertainers as well as the delicious tastes and flavours of the Food Market at Emmet Place.
The Heterotypic Glitch, by performance artists Aideen Barry and Anne Ffrench, was an incredible finale to the festival and was enjoyed by an audience of all ages!
Congratulations to all involved in Arts Week 2008, from the Board right down to all the volunteers, you did a fantastic job once again, adding much needed excitement and colour to what has been a difficult year for the town. We can't wait for next year!
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Kinsale Farmer’s Market, held every Tuesday morning, was a fabulous facility but the condition its town centre venue, the Short Quay Plaza, was left in was the subject of many complaints, said members of Kinsale Town Council at their July monthly meeting.
Mayor Dermot Collins said that on Wednesday June 11th, he and outgoing Mayor Mary Evans received complaints about the "filthy condition" of the plaza following the market held on June 10th. "We inspected the area in the morning and found rubbish including stinking particles of fish left in the area. At the time, a TV crew from the Netherlands was filming there.
"I again visited the area on Wednesday morning, June 18th and found it to be generally clean except for a patch on the road near the Methodist Church that again had small particles of fish which were smelling.", said the mayor. Pointing out that the area had been power-washed prior to the Eucharistic Procession May 25th, Mr. Collins described what he saw on June 11th as "shocking" and said there was need for the council to monitor the location immediately after every market.
Mr. Michael Frawley said he was also contacted about the matter and agreed it had been left in a ridiculous state. At the very least, tin foil should be laid to prevent grease and other items staining the surface of the plaza which is also used for public events during festivals etc.
Mr. Darren Cotter said that everyone was agreed that the market provided a great service but it wasn’t the first time that the plaza had got into such a state which was a shame. He suggested the issue be referred to the litter warden.
In Concarnu, France, said Mr. Tomas O’Brien, the closing time of the market was strictly set and a crew arrived immediately to power wash the area. The bill for this formed part of the fee on the market licensees and he suggested the same be done in Kinsale where a lot of money had been spent by the town council on upgrading the plaza which was now a great asset.
The town clerk and engineer said that new conditions regarding cleaning and monitoring would be attached to the next licence for the market. Mrs. Evans asked that the council be furnished at its next meeting with the actual terms of agreement and conditions regarding cleaning.
Ms. Isabelle Sutton said it was important to Kinsale TC to apply for some of the €50,000 allocated to the county council for grants to be used towards tackling specific litter projects. The national total was €1.5 million.
Mr. Fred Treacy asked that the dog warden be invited to Kinsale due to the ongoing problem of dog fouling on pavements which was damaging to tourism. In another county town, replied the manager Mr. Mary Ryan, the traffic warden received training to also patrol as a dog warden. |
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