INSURANCE COMPANY PLANS LOCAL EXPANSION

As Acorn Life celebrates twenty years in business, the Fermoy branch is bucking the general recessionary trend and recruiting staff at the moment.

The company opened a branch in the newly developed Anderson Centre in Fermoy in 2005 following local demand from both clients and staff. It currently employs 36 people, the majority of whom are from the Avondhu region, and is looking to develop further its North Cork base.

“In 2005, the company identified that we had a significant number of clients and staff from this area, so it only made sense to open an office that was convenient for everyone,” explained Denis Kelly, regional manager for Acorn Life and a native of Mallow.

“The move proved successful as we continued to find highly skilled personnel and customers who are conscientious about their futures. At a time when other companies are failing and pulling out of the region, we are looking to recruit people and are confident about the future,” continued Mr Kelly, who has been working with the company for the past 16 years.

The need for more staff stems from the understanding locally that the current tough financial times is the most important time to protect our families, our incomes and our futures.

“Financial hardships was a concept no-one thought would come around again. Now that it has, people are warranted in their fears for the future and are ensuring that their loved ones are protected in every way possible.”

“Thankfully, however, many people in the Avondhu region have always been conscious of this necessity and Acorn Life are grateful to be here to provide what is needed.”

According to Pat O’Donnell from Ballylanders, a senior sales executive with the company since 2004, the importance of protecting your family has to be a priority.

“As a mother I know the importance of ensuring that our families are looked after. These times are so tough and unsure but we are still all vulnerable to getting sick, becoming disabled or sudden death. These are things we have to make sure our families are protected against.”

Since joining the company Mrs O’Donnell has progressed as a qualified financial advisor and represented her clients, company and country at the Million Dollar Roundtable convention in Denver, Colorado, a position attained by only 1% of financial advisors.

Acorn Life can help financially protect you and your family against death, serious illness and accidents or help you save for a more prosperous retirement or to cover college expenses for your children.

The company can arrange a free consultation with no obligation at a time and location that suits you best. The company are currently seeking to recruit people who are willing to work in the best interests of clients and have a strong commitment to providing quality and reliable service.

If you are ambitious, willing to learn about the company’s financial products and feel you are suitable to a career in financial services, Denis Kelly would like to hear from you on 025-40811.

RATHCORMAC CHILDREN LOSING OUT – NOT THE T.D.’S!

The controversy regarding Rathcormac school continues and this week a parent of schoolgoing children puts the following points asking “What is going on?”

“People are skipping around the real issue. Rathcormac needs a new school. End of story!

“There will be approximately 230 children in the school come September. Compare this to 6 years ago when there were 120 approximately and it should be remembered that the school was built to accommodate 60 children.

“The play area that was available 6 years ago has been halved due to more and more Portacabins being required each year. There are now 9 in total on the school premises.

“The cost of renting these is approx €84,000 per year (dead money) and likely to increase. Surely it would be more sensible to put this money towards the building of a new school.

“The children who use the Portacabins have to wear coats in the winter and these facilities are like saunas in the summer - not very healthy for any child, but particularly for those who suffer from asthma or varying chest problems.

“With employment at an all time low, surely the erection of a new school would benefit a number of tradesmen in the surrounding area, i.e. construction workers, electricians, plumbers, engineers, quantity surveyors – the list goes on.

“I myself will have three children attending Rathcormac school in September, I, like many other parents, am getting very annoyed when I hear comments from TDs like “I will not be helping the Rathcormac people because they didn’t vote for me”. How childish was that comment!

“Reality check – The Education Board, Batt O’Keeffe and any local TDs need to look at the basic facts and act upon them. It does not matter from what area of politics they originate. The real issue here is that it is the children of Rathcormac are the ones that are losing out and not the TDs.”

‘LARGE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL STOLEN’

- Store determined to ‘name and shame’ -

Shoplifters beware. In an attempt to curb the increasing incidents of shoplifting at the Centra store in Watergrasshill the owners have decided to ‘name and shame’ individuals who are caught shoplifting.

Manager at the store, Kenneth Ross, has seen a large increase in the number of people caught on camera shoplifting over the pass few months.

“We were shocked at the increase in shoplifting here at the store. And, it’s not just the odd item here and there, we have seen attempts to get trolleys full of unpaid for groceries out of the store.

”There has been a large increase in the amount of alcohol that has been stolen over the last few months,” Mr. Ross told The Avondhu during the week.

Anyone caught shoplifting at the Centra store in Watergrasshill will have his or her photo along with their names posted on a special board at the entrance to the shop.

“We felt we had to do something as the amount of shoplifting was getting out of hand. I don’t know if it is because of the recession or that so many people have lost their jobs but the increase is unbelievable. We are getting good support from the community for our ‘name and shame’ board and we will continue with this until we have deterred any shoplifters from our store,” Mr Ross said.

TEAGASC APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF FOOD RESEARCH AT MOOREPARK

Teagasc has appointed Professor Paul Ross as Head of Food Research at Moorepark, Fermoy.

Professor Ross, who joined Teagasc in 1993 as a senior research officer in the department of dairy quality in Moorepark, will have responsibility for providing overall leadership for the Teagasc food research and innovation programme which is delivered at the two research centres - Moorepark (Fermoy) and Ashtown in Dublin.

The food research programme has a budget of €18 million and is designed to meet the research and innovation needs of the Irish food industry. It covers areas of food safety, foods for health, food ingredients, food cultures, meat research, dairy technology and prepared foods.

As well as leading the Teagasc food programme, Professor Ross has responsibility for the day-to-day management of Moorepark Food Research Centre. He joins the board of Moorepark Technology Limited, a joint venture pilot plant, which offers facilities and services to companies in the food industry to scale up research and new product testing.

Congratulating Paul on his appointment, Teagasc director, Professor Gerry Boyle said: “We are determined to build on the successful Teagasc food programme, established by Professor Liam Donnelly, who retires later this year. Led by Paul, our researchers will work closely with our colleagues in industry and through our national and international research networks, to generate and apply new knowledge to develop the Irish food processing industry.”

Professor Ross graduated from University College Cork with a BSc in Microbiology/Biotechnology and went on to complete his PhD in Microbiology in UCC. Earlier this year he became a Doctor of Science at the National University of Ireland.

In the early nineties, Professor Ross worked at the Wake Forest University Medical Centre in the United States. He joined Teagasc in 1993 as a senior research officer in the Department of Dairy Quality in Moorepark, becoming head of that department in 1997.

In 2003 he was appointed as head of the Moorepark Biotechnology Centre and in the same year became a joint leader in the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, a joint initiative between Teagasc and UCC. Professor Ross’s outstanding research has been recognised over the years.

In 2005 he was ‘Scientist of the year’ at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. Two years later, his research and development contribution to the dairy industry was recognised when he received the ‘William C. Haines Dairy Science Award’ by California Dairy Research Foundation.

Last year, he received the ‘Lifescience & Food Commercialisation Award’ from Enterprise Ireland.

A native of Cork City and a past pupil of Colaiste Chriost Ri, Paul (46) is married to Catherine (nee Stanton) who is also employed by Teagasc, holding the position of Principal Research Officer. They have two children - Stephen (14) and Fiona (12).

Paul's work has been published in 214 peer reviewed papers and he currently has thirteen active patents. His interests include food and health research, particularly in the areas of antimicrobials and anti-infectives; gut flora and gut health; bacteriophages; and human, animal and gut pathogens.

As part of the Teagasc change programme, the food research and agricultural research directorates are being combined into a single unit to deliver greater efficiencies and synergies. The position of a new director of research is currently being advertised and an appointment is expected later this year.

INDIEPENDENCE TO GIVE €1M BOOST TO TOWN

With just two and half weeks to go to the August bank holiday weekend music festival in Mitchelstown, it has been estimated that the Indiependence event could give a €1m boost to the local economy.

The organisers are claiming that Indiependence could be the best small music festival in Ireland. And, weekend tickets at just €59, certainly seem to offer the best value in festival entertainment this summer.

Event co-ordinator, Shane Dunne told The Avondhu this week that ticket sales are going very well.

"The special offer tickets are almost gone while online sales are also very good. With the announcement of camping facilities this week we are expecting ticket sales to increase further.”

Shane added that it looks like the festival will get very close to its capacity with upwards of 20,000 people passing through Mitchelstown over the weekend.

“Local support has been vital in putting this festival together with over 100 businesses donating to the event. The main sponsors locally are pubs and restaurants.”

“The good news for the region is that a recent survey estimated that the festival boosts the local economy by up to a million euro on the weekend itself. But its overall benefits are even greater as it showcases the Ballyhoura region.”

On the opening Saturday the Bavaria Stage will feature Ocean Colour Scene in festival form, fresh from their main stage performance at Oxegen.

Dublin band The Stone Roses Experience are set to draw a large crowd as are Fight Like Apes, Ham Sandwich, Vesta Varro, Travega and The 202’s. The Chapters, who will also take the stage on Saturday, and are set to feature music from their newly released debut album, ‘Perfect Stranger’.

Meanwhile, the Red Bull Village will feature Mo Kelly playing a DJ set as well as Ollie Cole, Carousel and The Vital Spark. Also on Saturday the Cyprus Avenue Stage will host the every popular Mundy, with Messiah J & The Expert, Rarely Seen Above Ground and The Jades.

The programme on Sunday boasts the festival headliners, Super Furry Animals, alongside Irish bands like The Blizzards, Delorentos, Fred, The Hot Sprockets, 16 Layers, Nicole Maguire and Longford’s The Aftermath.

If that’s not your cup of tea The Red Bull Village will host Fish Go Deep (DJ Set), The Kinetiks, Le Galaxie, Grand Pocket Orchestra, Ian Whitty & The Exchange and Killer Chloe. Finally, the Cyprus Avenue Stage will see excellent bands like The Frank & Walters, Director, Villagers, Dark Room Notes and The Brilliant Things.

Music will start at 1pm and wrap up at 11pm each night.

CRIMINALS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE AS BUSINESS WATCH INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED

Business Watch – an initiative between the Garda Siochana and local businesses will be formally launched in The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth on Wednesday, 22nd July.

Shop owners, service providers, publicans, restaurateurs, night club owners, indeed, anyone involved in any aspect of business is welcome to attend the meeting.

Senior gardai will be present to highlight ways of improving the security of your work place and advice on how to deal with the threat posed by criminals, especially shoplifters.

At a press briefing in Fermoy garda station this week gardai urged as many business people as possible to attend the launch in Kilworth.

Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann said that in the current economic climate it was more important than ever that business people reviewed their security measures. Fermoy Mayor Cllr.

Noel McCarthy said the initiative was very worthwhile and he urged business people to get behind the concept. As an organisation, An Garda Siochana has a long and established tradition of fostering relations within the community it serves. Building and sustaining positive partnerships with all the stakeholders is the lifeblood of effective policing.

The concept of Community Policing allows An Garda Siochana to deliver an accountable, transparent and professional police service to the people of Ireland.

Business Watch is a vital part of this partnership. The re-launch of Business Watch within the Fermoy Garda District is part of a policy of renewal, reorganisation and restructuring across the whole spectrum of Community Policing.

The advent of new technologies, the change in the business environment and the need for a revival of a greater community spirit brings about this event.

Business Watch will allow for regular meetings between the local business community and local garda management, a sharing of information through crime briefings and seminars and a greater exchange of information.

Business Watch will embrace mobile phone technology, where businesses will utilise a database of numbers supplied by An Garda Siochana to contact and update fellow members of the business community of criminal and suspect activity. This will be supplemented by An Garda Siochana supplying regular information on crime trends and security advice.

The Business Watch scheme will strongly advocate the use of the Office of the Crime Prevention Sergeant, John Kelly. Sergeant Kelly can offer advice on all aspects of security from design through to retail security. Each business watch scheme will be assigned a liaison Garda who will interact with businesses on a regular basis.

All businesses wishing to join this scheme should attend the open night and fill in an application form or contact Community Garda Andrew Geary at Tel: 025-82100 or Email :andrew.p.geary@garda.ie