GALLAHUE ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF LIMERICK COUNTY COUNCIL

The celebrations went long into the night last Monday as people came from Ballylanders and beyond to congratulate Fianna Fail councillor, John Gallahue on his election as chairman of Limerick County Council.

Music played and there were many speeches in Gallahue’s Bar in Ballylanders as the man of the moment’s achievement was celebrated. Hailed as a proud day, not just for Cllr Gallahue, but for the region, Limerick County Council’s new chairman exuded gratitude for his family and supporters on the night.

“It is a great honour to be elected Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, not just for me but also for my family. I am so grateful of the support I have received from them down the years,” Cllr Gallahue told The Avondhu, adding the significance of his election for the area.

“It is an honour for the people of this area of Ballylanders, Galbally, Anglesboro and Kilbehenny.

The last councillors from this area to receive such an honour were Matt O’Callaghan and Con O’Neill. It is a privilege to follow in their distinguished footsteps and I can only hope that I can do as good a job in the role as they did.”

Cllr Gallahue was clearly thrilled with the huge turnout of supporters and well wishers from all walks of life.

“It was a wonderful reception, we had a great crowd turn out. I was especially pleased to see members of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, the Irish Farmers Association and the construction industry on the night. The cooperation of these groups with public representatives is essential if we are to get over this economic blip we find ourselves in and return to the years of boom and prosperity we have enjoyed.”

“I have always received tremendous support in my own area and further afield, my supporters have always been top class, I couldn’t ask for better. I hope my supporters who campaigned so hard on my behalf, those who went the highways and byways of Limerick for me will feel they share this success with me. Without them it wouldn’t be possible.”

Jim Fitzgerald, vice chairman of Cllr Gallahue’s election committee said it was a proud day for everyone in the region.

“It’s a very proud day for John and his family and a great day for the Galtee area. The 6 parishes in the area; Ballylanders, Galbally, Glenbrohane, Kilfinane, Anglesboro and Kilbehenny have given him 1,100 cast iron votes every time he has gone for election. It is a proud day for his loyal voters.”

It was a happy day for all, a great community occasion and an emotional night with plenty of speeches on what was a long night.

FERMOY JOB PROSPECTS DEPENDENT ON LOCAL ENTERPRISES

Nick Mernagh, manager High Potential Start Up Division of Enterprise Ireland contended that future job prospects would, in the main, depend on the health of local industries when he spoke to the Fermoy Business Association earlier this week.

In starting, he outlined the differences between the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. While the IDA was mainly interested in getting foreign companies to set up facilities in Ireland, Enterprise Ireland was mainly interested in growing indigenous industry.

He pointed out that Irish manufacturing jobs will come under increasing pressure from cheaper foreign countries and that job prospects in the Fermoy area will become more and more dependent on indigenous enterprise.

The meeting concluded that Fermoy should be looking to its own in fulfilling this role. The need to create an enterprise friendly environment in the area was also discussed. In stressing that Enterprise Ireland wishes to work closely with communities, Mr Mernagh outlined what role the Fermoy Business Association can play in being a link between Enterprise Ireland and the Fermoy Communities.

Forming a limited company, with a democratic mandate and broad community involvement would be a very good start. It was pointed out that there are many grants available from Leader, Inter-Reg and Enterprise Ireland when this is the case. Mernagh felt that manufacturing jobs might not necessarily be the ideal way to go for Fermoy.

He said, “There are many opportunities in services, software, food, training and lifestyle industries.” It was pointed out from the floor that having 50 small companies, employing an average of three people each, could be a lot more beneficial and secure for Fermoy than one company employing 150.

It was agreed that an audit of available space for embryonic start-ups would be a very useful exercise.

It was also pointed out that high rent for available space was a big drawback for a start-up company.

APPEAL FOR HELP FOR BABY WITH RARE GENETIC CONDITION

- Father to take on mammoth triathlon -

A native Fermoy woman, now living in France, is appealing for help in raising funds for research into her baby son’s rare condition as her husband takes on a daunting “Ironman” triathlon.

Colette Swift (nee Dennigan, daughter of Jim and Kathleen) and husband Matt are hoping that the people of North Cork will do what they can for their son Joseph, who suffers from Leukodystrophy, a rare genetic condition which means that he may never walk or talk, amongst other things which most people take for granted. “Joseph was born on October 5, 2006, a perfect 8lb 5oz baby boy,” Colette told The Avondhu this week.

“After the first few months we wondered why he wasn’t doing things like other little babies his age, like putting his hand/fist into his mouth, holding onto something when you put it into his hand, catching his knees or feet, moving or kicking his legs about, cooing or babbling, smiling or laughing.

We put it down to the fact that every child is different and that you shouldn’t compare because all babies have their own rhythm. In our case we put it down to the fact that maybe Joseph was lazy and very laid back, like his dad!”

However Colette and Matt’s concerns grew over the following months.

“From 5 months of age he became more and more irritable - he didn’t like being touched or moved around and he cried a lot. Once he started on solids, it seemed like he couldn’t cope with either chewing, swallowing or digesting as he would end up coughing, refusing to feed and if he did eat, it would only be very small amounts and he would end up screaming crying for hours afterwards.

"At 7 months, the crying continued and we entered a vicious circle of Joseph not eating or drinking, not having any energy, constant irritability and crying. Alongside this, he was still not playing with his toys or showing any signs of rolling or sitting up.

"Our earlier concerns at the doctors were put down to us needing to ‘respect’ his moods and appetite and to work on stimulating him more. We thought we were hopeless parents.”

The concerned parents decided to take action and have Joseph examined.

“After many months of worry and probable denial, we went to our GP expressing our ongoing concerns. She referred us onto a paediatrician who specialises in working with disabled children.

"Joseph had his first assessment and the doctor immediately referred Joseph onto a neurologist. A long list of tests started. Soon after his neurological assessment, we had to admit Joseph into hospital as he continued to deteriorate and we were at our wits end.

"He also started having very jerky eye movements and what looked like spasms of some sort, as his whole body would contract and go floppy again. We spent the next 3 months in and out of hospital.

"Some of his tests included: an MRI scan, a lumbar puncture, 2 brain scans, a CT scan, brain test for epilepsy, numerous blood tests and so on.”

Finally the extent of Joe’s condition came to light.

“Three months later he was diagnosed with having Leukodystrophy.

"In simple terms, Leukodystrophy causes the white matter (or myelin) of the brain to be degraded. We all need this white matter to transmit signals from our brain to the various parts of our body so that we can ‘do things’; talk, hold things, etc. Without the white matter growing normally the signals from the brain may not get through.

"Think of a bad reception on a radio. Joseph has a form of Leukodystrophy of which there are only 50 known cases worldwide. It is called: Aicardi Goutieres Syndrome. There is no known cure or treatment for him.

"As a result of his Leukodystrophy, Joseph is unlikely to ever walk, crawl, sit or even talk.

"He needs constant care and he still has difficulty feeding. He is now being tube fed at night, which has been a great help in his growth and development. Despite all of his challenges, he is a lovely boy full of character and is able to express his many emotions with his face.

"He also has a great care team of experts and he has weekly treatments to help stabilise his condition, including a physio, eye specialists, psycho-motor work, speech therapy … the list goes on".

Colette grew up in Fermoy and went to school in Presentation Convent and then onto Loreto. She then moved to Dublin, spent 3 years studying in DCU and met Matt when she moved to London. Colette and Matt lived in London for 10 years and are now living in France, where Joseph was born.

Colette and Matt, who was born in London and who is a computer programmer for Sun Microsystems in Grenoble, in the South East of France, visit family and friends in Fermoy two or three times a year where they hope to find further support for Joseph’s fundraiser - a daunting Ironman challenge for Matt.

“Medical science is moving forward tremendously in terms of research for a treatment or a cure,” Colette explained,

“To help with their funding Matt has decided to try to raise some money for two charities related to Leukodystrophy: the Myelin Project UK and the European Leukodystrophy Association.

"To raise this money, Matt has been training hard over the last 6 months in preparation for the Ironman Triathlon competition in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday, 13th July, 2008. An Ironman is a very tough Triathlon. Matt will be starting off with a 3.8 km (2.4 mile) swim, followed by a 180 km (112 mile) bike ride all topped off by a 26 mile (42.2 km) marathon!”

It’s a challenge Matt has done before, Colette reveals, however some time has passed since he last completed the mammoth challenge.

“In his youth, Matt has completed two Ironman triathlons. The last one was in Roth in 2000, which was a long time ago. To do a marathon or other event just wouldn’t seem a big enough challenge for him so he felt that another Ironman would be just that bit more difficult - fitting in training around his busy work and family life.”

Colette hopes that the readers of The Avondhu can help Matt reach his target.

“Matt has set up a website with more information about Joseph, Leukodystrophy and his Ironman training at http://tri4joe.com. He is hoping to raise €10,000 by taking part in this challenging event to fund further research into Leukodystrophy. We would be very grateful if you could help him to raise as much money as possible by making a donation,” Colette concluded.

Donations can be made through the website at http://tri4joe.com/donate/ or sent to Jim Dennigan, Sierra, Ballinamona, Fermoy. Furthermore Colette’s aunt Joan Howard, MacCurtain Street, Fermoy and cousin, Marian, are also running a coffee afternoon at the Resource Centre on July 5, from 2-5pm.

All monies received will be for the European Leukodystrophy Association (medical research into finding a cure for Leukodystrophy).

UNTIMELY DEATH OF BALLYPOREEN PUBLICAN

The village of Ballyporeen was in shock on Wednesday with news of the death of one its most prominent publicans, Paddy Casey.Paddy had been unwell of late and had undergone surgery but his untimely death has come as a huge shock to the entire community.

Paddy and his wife Anne ran Casey’s Bar, an establishment that has always been welcoming and to the fore when it came to fundraising for many a good cause. He will be remembered as being larger than life, a great conversationalist and a man who was always good for a song or a story.

A native of Coolaprivane, he spent many years in England before coming back home to settle. His passing leaves a deep void in the business community of Ballyporeen. Funeral arrangements had not been finalised at the time of going to press.

To his wife Anne we extend our deepest sympathy.

ENTERPRISE BOARD OFFERS SECOND CHANCE BUSINESS DEGREES

The North Cork Enterprise Board are once again joining forces with the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) to explore the possibility of running their 8th business degree programme, to commence in September.

Rochie Holohan, Chief Executive of the North Cork Enterprise board, told The Avondhu of his delight that the Board could once again offer the programme at the launch night in Mitchelstown’s Firgrove Hotel on Monday night.

“We’re thrilled to be offering the programme again this September,” Rochie, himself a graduate and now tutor of the project said, “to have it confirmed for another consecutive year is exceptional.”

Supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland, FAS and the EU, the joint venture with the IPA seeks to offer working adults a second chance at a degree level qualification.

Briefing sessions on the programme will be held in The Grand Hotel, Fermoy and Hibernian Hotel, Mallow in September, and top national graduate Orla Murray, who will be on hand as a tutor, believes it is well worth going for.

“I did a BBS in accounting and it has given me one of the biggest boosts of my life”, Orla said.

“It’s a chance to do a degree on your doorstep. There’s an awful lot of people who were like me who always regretted not doing a degree and this gives you a chance to go back and achieve that goal. There’s loads of support there, from your group, from Rochie and there’s great support in Dublin from the IPA. The quality of lecturers there is just phenomenal.”

Orla has seen from both sides of the learning experience, the level of single mindedness that people exhibit when putting in the effort for the course.

“I went back tutoring and it is clear that there’s a huge level of commitment when adults decide to come back to education. They’re very dedicated and the results are showing.”

With work commitments to consider also, does this prolong the duration of a night course compared to the four years a full-time student may take to complete the degree?

“Absolutely not, it’s a four year course”, Orla reveals. “You have classes two nights a week then something like 7 weekends a year doing an intensive two days in Dublin, with classes all day. You are also constantly submitting assignments so it’s covered in the same time as a regular student would go to college.”

Orla’s final words to anyone considering returning to education are simple: go for it.

“It feels pretty amazing when you’ve passed your exams. It gives a boost not just to your career but to your confidence.”

Anyone interested in having a no obligation discussion on the Business Degree Programme offered by the North Cork Enterprise Board can call Joan Kelleher or Sheelagh Neville in strictest confidence on 022-43235.

Further information on the courses will appear in The Avondhu in the coming months.