MITCHELSTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION UPBEAT ABOUT 2012 AS AGM APPROACHES

Despite what has been a difficult trading year across the board, the members of Mitchelstown Business Association (MBA) are looking forward to 2012 with confidence, as their AGM approaches on Wednesday coming, February 8th.

Speaking this week to The Avondhu, chairman Eamonn O’Brien urged members to make an extra special effort to attend, as all input is valuable in progressing the group’s agenda for the coming year.

“Despite a difficult...... . "

A.G.M. WEDNESDAY

It’s now time to reflect on the year just past and plan .... ."

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PUBLIC MEETING CALLED IN CASTLETOWNROCHE OVER DEPOPULATION CONCERNS

An important public meeting takes place this Friday night (3rd February) in Castletownroche Community Centre at 8pm to discuss depopulation concerns.

Despite recessionary times Castletownroche is one of the few villages in the region to retain the bulk of its key services (national school, pre-school, post office, petrol station, garda barracks, doctor’s surgery, pharmacy, supermarket, garage, bars, butcher shop and other food outlets).

Locals are fulsome in their ... .

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€30,000 CARRIES A HEALTH WARNING!

Following reports on the monthly town council meeting in last week’ss issue, Mayor of Fermoy, Michael Hanley wishes to clarify that the street cleaning budget has been reduced by €20,000 and that this saving will go ‘to top up the Housing Maintenance Budget’.

Referring to the proposed saving of €30,000 by replacing the town park contract gardener, Mr Hanley said ‘such a decision comes with a standard health warning’.

”If it is agreed by management and the elected, that the standard of ..... ."

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PARTNERS IN LEARNING PAY TRIBUTE TO JOHN MCCARTHY

Referring to a person as not being ‘the full shilling’, has always had very negative social connotations. The term tends to pigeon-hole people as somehow different, and not fitting the norm.

The genius of the late lamented John McCarthy, was to take the ‘full shilling’ concept and turn it on its head. John passed away recently at his home in Montenotte followed several years of battle with Motor Neuron Disease.

Founder of Mad Pride Ireland, and long an advocate for mental health reform, John McCarthy travelled to many parts of the world to bring his message of hope, addressing conferences and working with local community groups.

His own mental breakdown ..... .

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HIGH LEVELS OF CANCER-CAUSING RADON GAS DETECTED IN AVONDHU AREA HOMES

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) found 11% of Cork homes, recently tested for radon, to have high levels of the cancer-causing gas, according to figures released on Friday, January 27th.

The figures were also worryingly high in South County Tipperary, West Waterford and South East Limerick. More than 20% of the homes tested in Doneraile, Castletownroche, Glanworth, Clogheen and Ballyporeen are estimated to be above the reference level, identifying these towns and villages as high radon areas.

High radon areas were also identified in Mitchelstown, Ballyhooly, Kilbehenny, Galbally, Ballylanders and Anglesboro, where between ... .

‘SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM’

Commenting on the findings Mr David Fenton, senior scientist at the RPII said, “These figures show that Cork has a significant radon problem. ....... .

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FERMOY COUNCILLORS SEEK A TIMEFRAME FOR FLOOD WORKS

Fermoy Labour councillors Noel McCarthy and Tadhg O’Donovan have issued a call this week for a definite time frame to be put in place for flood relief works in the town.

Phase 2 of the Fermoy Flood Relief Plan was given the green light by the Office of Public Works in November with €6 million set aside in its budget estimates of the project, however no final details on a starting date or timeframe have yet been released.

Speaking this week, the Labour councillors said that residents and businesses in the town deserve some clarity so they can plan ahead for the works, which they say are guaranteed to cause at least some disruption of day-to-day life in Fermoy.

“We are calling for a timetable to be put in place to confirm where and when works will be carried out on .... ."

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