Monthly Archives: May 2015

MONAGHAN ACTRESS AT IFTA AWARDS

by
Caitriona Balfe: official photo from www.OutlanderTVNews.com

Caitriona Balfe: official photo from http://www.OutlanderTVNews.com

CAITRIONA BALFE AT IFTA AWARDS IN DUBLIN 

Michael Fisher  Northern Standard  Thursday 28th May p.1 and p.2

Caitriona Balfe who is currently filming a second television series of ‘Outlander’ in Scotland was in Dublin last weekend for the Irish Film and Television Academy film and drama awards. The Monaghan actress, who is from Tydavnet, began a very successful career in modelling at the age of 19. She featured in advertising campaigns for many top fashion brands and graced the covers of magazines such as Vogue and Elle. In 2009 Caitriona returned to her initial career choice in drama. She moved from New York to Los Angeles. spending her first year in the city taking acting classes. She appeared in the films Super 8, as the protagonist’s mother, Now You See Me, as Michael Caine’s character’s wife, and Escape Plan as the CIA lawyer that hires Sylvester Stallone’s character. In 2012 she portrayed Alex #34 in The Beauty Inside, a social film divided into six episodes which narrates the story of a man named Alex (Topher Grace) who wakes up in a different body every day. The following year she starred in the music videos for First Fires by British musician Bonobo, and for Chloroform by French band Phoenix. The actress was part of the main cast of the Warner Brothers web series H+: The Digital Series, in which she played Breanna Sheehan, one of the executives of a biotechnology company that develops an implanted computer which allows people to be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.

In September 2013 Caitriona was cast as the lead character, Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser, on the Starz television series Outlander, based on the novels written by Diana Gabaldon. The series which was filmed in Scotland premiered in August 2014. She plays a mid-20th-century nurse who is transported back in time to the war-torn mid-18th-century Scottish Highlands. Both the series and her performance have received critical acclaim.

In December 2014 Entertainment Weekly named Caitriona Balfe as one of its twelve Breakout Stars of 2014.

In January it was announced that she had been added to the cast of the film Money Monster, directed by Jodie Foster and starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts. She will play the director of Public Relations of a company whose stock bottoms out, causing a man to lose all of his savings and subsequently take hostages on a live TV show.

In March 2015 she received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actress on Television for her work in Outlander, the second series of which is currently being filmed. The following month she was named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World”.

Caitriona was one of four to be nominated for Best Actress in a Lead Role Drama in the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards. The award went to Charlie Murphy for her performance in the RTÉ television drama Love/Hate. The Academy also announced that Caitriona would be among four talented new actors and actresses nominated for the Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Irish Film Board. The judges decided that the award should go to actress Sarah Greene for her performance in the film Noble. Last year’s winner was Jamie Dornan and Michael Fassbender won in 2009.

Caitriona was also invited to be a guest presenter at the IFTA awards ceremony last Sunday at the Mansion House in Dublin. Veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne complimented her on her appearance and her voice. The event was broadcast by TV3 and was hosted by Caroline Morahan.

Her parents, former Garda Sergeant Jim Balfe and his wife Anne, told the Northern Standard they were both delighted at the progress Caitriona had made in the world of film and television, and she had worked hard to achieve her objectives. At their home in Mullantimore they showed me a painting by Caitriona. She was then a 16 year-old student at secondary school in Monaghan, and her artwork won first prize in a Garda credit union competition in 1995, an early sign of her tremendous talent.

BOSE LOSS TO CARRICKMACROSS

by
Bose Factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Bose Factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

BOSE CLOSURE; THE EFFECTS ON CARRICKMACROSS

Michael Fisher  Northern Standard  Thursday 28th May p.7

Businesses in Carrickmacross are expecting to feel the impact of the Bose closure over the summer. Some of them have been speaking to the Northern Standard about the effect of the job losses. 

CATHAL O’GORMAN Market Square Shopping Centre

The loss of Bose will be a big blow to Carrick. The company employed many people since they left school. The weekly wages total of up to approximately €120,000 would now be lost to the town and surrounding area.

GARETH MARRON Butcher

This will take a lot out of the town and will have ongoing consequences. My uncle provided a courier service for Bose but has now retired. I have a van that was also used for courier work and it is now lying idle for most of the week. I hope a new business can be found for the Bose site in the next few weeks.

JIM HAND Carrickmacross Chamber of Commerce

The Bose workers were great ambassadors for the town. They were a credit to the company with their loyalty, which was highly prized but not often valued enough. They were a highly skilled workforce with excellent industrial relations and no disputes. Both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are actively looking for a replacement. People need to be patient and hope that something will turn up. The Local Enterprise Office in Monaghan is there to help anyone with a business idea. The Chamber will be supportive and will help in any way it can for any alternative use of the site. A “start your own business” programme is beginning shortly and the C-Tek premises will shortly be on stream in Carrick

BOSE FACTORY CLOSURE

by
Six of the redundant workers at the Bose factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Six of the redundant workers at the Bose factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

LAST DAY AT BOSE FACTORY 

140 Jobs Go as Production Ends after 37 Years

Michael Fisher  Northern Standard Thursday 28th May p.7

It’s the end of the line for production at the Bose factory. It brought great expectations to Carrickmacross when it opened in 1978.  The plant provided final assembly for select home theatre systems and radios for the European market, as well as some remanufacturing for the region. It was chosen by the US company because of the local expertise in furniture making. Bose developed wooden cabinets for their high-fidelity speakers and these were sourced in County Monaghan.

Today at 4.30pm the machines will be silent and 140 workers will clock off for the last time. People like Pat McNally, who was there on Day 1 and spent his working life there.

THE WORKERS

Pat McNally

They were good employers to work for, Pat McNally told me. You worked hard and you certainly earned your money. The US-based company and helped local people and they would miss Bose. The closure decision was announced without warning in January and was originally to take effect at the beginning of April. But following intervention by union representatives along with government Ministers, the closure was postponed for several weeks to allow time for talks on redundancy terms. Pat McNally said it would take a few weeks for the effects to hit home. It meant that 140 wages were no longer going into the local economy. It would also have a knock-on effect on suppliers and the likes of couriers who had benefited from contracts with Bose.

Five of his six family worked here: four daughters and one son, and his wife spent fifteen years in a job there. He felt there was a great family atmosphere in the factory, where he worked in the receiving goods section. As it was a ‘closed shop’ in those days, he joined the union just before he started (then the ITGWU, now SIPTU) and has been a member ever since. He says it has been a pleasure working in the place, with everyone looking after everyone else. Pat has been one of the main fundraisers for charity helping to raise IR£75,000 for the Childrens Hospital in Crumlin and then taking part in activities to help the Friends of Carrick Cancer. The Bose factory with the help of  very supportive management raised over €1.2 million so far for this charity, a great achievement.

Aidan McMahon from Inniskeen was among nine married couples working for Bose. His wife Sandra who is in quality control was there for 25 years and he was there for 16 years. The couple are in their 40s and have three children to support, two young boys aged three and five, and a fourteen year-old daughter.

Aidan told me Sandra had been successful in obtaining alternative employment in Dundalk, one of only 20 former Bose employees to have found a new job. He also told me that any hope of obtaining assistance for retraining from the EU globalisation fund, as had been suggested by at least one MEP, had now faded as it applied only to companied with over 500 workers. The SIPTU representative Jim McVeigh visited the plant on Monday to reveal the bad news. There was further disappointment for workers when they discovered that if they were successful in obtaining places on higher education courses, their social welfare stamps would be used up, although they had originally been informed that this would not be the case. This arose from a measure in the last budget.

Aidan McGarrell from Magheracloone is 31 and was a Bose employee for eleven years. A married man, he has four children between the ages of three and ten. A very young family to provide for and a mortgage to pay. He was a lead machinist at the plant and joined the US-based company after spending some time working on cars. He described Bose as very good employers and said everyone enjoyed working for them. He thought he had a job almost for life when he started work at the plant.

Jennifer Cassidy from Corcuillog in Carrickmacross joined the factory after leaving the St Louis Convent in the town. She was with Bose for 27 years, working initially on the factory floor and then in the training department. She has three children, a 14 year-old boy who attends a local school, a daughter aged 22 and another son aged 25. Over the years Bose has provided employment for her brothers and sisters, cousins and other relatives. She was annoyed at the way the announcement was handled in January and since then there had been a lot of broken promises about a possible replacement industry.

Mai McCarthy from Carrickmacross was a line operator at Bose for over 12 years. Previously she had worked at Lissadell towels outside the town (now Wrights). She finds it hard to believe that this is her last day. She always felt Bose was a great company to work for and she had enjoyed going in to her daily work. She has three children, a daughter and two sons, all in their 20s and living in Australia because there were no jobs for them in Ireland. She might have to consider emigration herself, if things do not work out.

Fánchea Keenan comes from Lisdoonan. She started on the production line in Bose 25 years ago in October 1989 and was a cell leader. She is married with two grown-up children. A daughter Emma who had cystic fibrosis died in 2011.  She says there was always a massive pride in working for Bose. When her daughter was ill she says the company had been very accommodating and the workers had helped to raise money for a CF charity. Fánchea said the founder of the company Dr Amar Bose had been very loyal to the workers in Carrick and had great respect for them. The team had produced very high quality goods. When they signed on for the firm they never envisaged they would have to look for work elsewhere.

Fánchea told me the Irish plant was being closed even though it was always a profitable operation. The very committed workforce had reached all their targets and even to the end had carried out everything asked of them, she said. But greed had got the better of the US-based management as the company wanted to make more profits. She said the Carrickmacross team had pulled out all the stops whether working overtime when asked to do so or during holiday times. Their orders were always delivered on time. But the management had not taken into account the loyalty of the workforce when it decided to shift production to the Far East.

All the workers expressed their annoyance that although they had been promised several things by politicians from various parties after the closure announcement, including the Arts Minister Heather Humphreys T.D. But they said they had not heard anything since the meeting with public representatives in the Nuremore Hotel in January. At the time Minister Humphreys said she had immediately contacted the office of her Cabinet colleague Richard Bruton and the IDA. But she warned it would be wrong to raise any false hopes for the workers in halting the closure, as the company seemed to have embarked on a cost-saving exercise.

Tomorrow (Friday 29th May), one by one, the workers will enter the premises for the last time to receive their redundancy payments. The plant and machinery inside the factory will be sold off by McKay Auctioneers in a fortnight’s time, leaving the building an empty shell.

Six of the redundant workers at the Bose factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Six of the redundant workers at the Bose factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

CLOCKING OUT AT BOSE

by
How I reported the closure of the Bose factory in January in The Northern Standard Photo: © Michael Fisher

How I reported the closure of the Bose factory in January in The Northern Standard Photo: © Michael Fisher

Clocking Out at Bose    Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 28th May p.1
Workers at the Bose factory in Carrickmacross are clocking out for the last time today (Thursday), bringing to an end a proud history of 37 years of manufacturing high quality sound systems. The multinational company unexpectedly announced in January they would be closing the plant in April, with a loss of 140 jobs. Following representations to the management at their headquarters in the USA, the timeline was extended until the end of May.

Bose Factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Bose Factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Despite attempts by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to find a suitable replacement, no new investor has so far been found. The plant and machinery at the factory are due to be auctioned in a fortnight’s time and the building will be left as an empty shell. The site is in private ownership, having been purchased by a consortium of business people fourteen years ago. See story p.7.

Bose Factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Bose Factory Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

PENTECOST SUNDAY IN CLONES

by
Archdeacon of Clogher and Rector of Clones Canon Helene Steed introduces the ecumenical service in Clones Photo: © Michael Fisher

Archdeacon of Clogher and Rector of Clones Canon Helene Steed introduces the ecumenical service in Clones Photo: © Michael Fisher

Pentecost Sunday Ecumenical Prayer Service in Clones 

Michael Fisher    Northern Standard  Thursday 28th May p.35

They set off from St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan early on Sunday morning. A small group of pilgrims on a “spiritual footsteps” walk. Others walked from the Church of Ireland in Ballybay. At Newbliss they had refreshments at the Presbyterian church hall, before resuming their journey on foot to Clones.

The walk was organised by the Knights of St Columbanus to mark the 1400th anniversary of the death of the saint. The pilgrims were joined by a group of around 100 others at the historic Round Tower site, connected with St Tiernach, who founded a monastery there in the sixth century.

It was a fitting location for the annual ecumenical prayer service organised by the Catholic and Protestant dioceses of Clogher to mark Pentecost Sunday. Previous settings have included Devenish Island, Lisnaskea, Errigal Truagh, Glaslough and Inniskeen, all connected with the development of Christianity in Ireland.

The service was introduced by the Archdeacon of Clogher and Rector of the Clones group of parishes, Canon Helene Steed. The opening hymn was Amazing Grace. The singing and music was led by students from Largy College in Clones. The Catholic Bishop of Clogher Dr Liam MacDaid and his Church of Ireland counterpart Right Reverend John McDowell participated in the prayers and readings from scripture. The Parish Priest of Clones Fr Dick Mohan read from St Columbanus on “Cultivating Virtue”.

Two students from Largy College Clones speak about their faith during the ecumenical service Photo: © Michael Fisher

Two students from Largy College Clones speak about their faith during the ecumenical service Photo: © Michael Fisher

Two students from Largy College, Christy Biji (fifth year) and Harry Cleary (second year) gave reflections on what their faith meant. Following the prayers of intercession and the Lord’s Prayer, the choir sang “Walk in the Light” to bring the service to a conclusion. This was followed by a talk on Saint Columbanus by Fr Billy Swan CC, St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy.

Fr Billy Swan CC, St Aidan's Enniscorthy, giving a talk on St Columbanus after the ecumenical service Photo: © Michael Fisher

Fr Billy Swan CC, St Aidan’s Enniscorthy, giving a talk on St Columbanus after the ecumenical service Photo: © Michael Fisher

He described how in 615 this much revered and travelled Irishman passed away at Bobbio in Italy, far away from the place of his birth along the Carlow/Wexford border in 543. Having studied for years on the beautiful Cleenish Island on Lough Erne, St. Columbanus made his way to Bangor Abbey in Co. Down where he lived as an Abbot under the guidance of St. Comgall. It was in 583, at the then relatively old age of 40 years, that St. Columbanus set out, along with twelve companions, to spread the Christian message across extensive parts of Europe. Fr Swan said the example of Columbanus showed the importance of the need for renewal in people’s faith. Refreshments were served afterwards at the Cassandra Hand centre.

Catholic and Church of Ireland Bishops of Clogher Dr Liam MacDaid and Rt Revd John McDowell at the ecumenical service in Clones Photo: © Michael Fisher

Catholic and Church of Ireland Bishops of Clogher Dr Liam MacDaid and Rt Revd John McDowell at the ecumenical service in Clones Photo: © Michael Fisher

CLONES ‘NOT BEING DOWNGRADED’

by
GAA President Aoghan Ó Fearghail at St Joseph's Boys NS Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

GAA President Aoghán Ó Fearghail at St Joseph’s Boys NS Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

GAA PRESIDENT SAYS CLONES IS NOT BEING DOWNGRADED 

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 21st May p.2

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail says the Association is not downgrading St Tiarnach’s Park in Clones, while at the same time seeking to redevelop Casement Park in Belfast. During a visit to Carrickmacross on Monday (18th May), the GAA President told the Northern Standard Clones had nothing to fear from Casement. He said Clones (where the Ulster Final has traditionally been played) provided a very vital infrastructure for the GAA over the years. He said the GAA in Ulster was also committed to developing Casement. But the planned development of a 38,000 capacity arena was stalled in December following a court case in Belfast. Planning permission for the expansion of the stadium was denied by the High Court after an objection from a local residents’ group They raised concerns about what kind of impact the larger crowds would have on the area. The GAA President said the Association always respected rules and decisions and would await the outcome of any further planning enquiries. He pointed to the situation at Kingspan Breffni Park, where Cavan take on Monaghan on Sunday in the Ulster Championship. He said ten years ago some people thought the stadium had reached the end of its existence as a GAA venue, but now after redevelopment it was one of the finest such stadiums in the country.

KIM WARD: HEAVEN TO HELL

by
Kim Ward, Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Kim Ward, Carrickmacross
Photo: © Michael Fisher

Running from Heaven to Hell & Back  Northern Standard  Carrickmacross News  Thursday 21st May

Kim Ward 

I’m 18 and I’ve lived in Carrickmacross all my life. My family are all from Carrickmacross, Donaghmoyne or the surrounding areas. I’ve always been drawn to working with children. I lost a close family friend  Lee when I was very young and recently lost his brother Ryan after a very brave battle against a rare disease. My beautiful godchild who is five also has Spina Bifida.  All of which has helped fuel my need to help childrens’ charities.

I completed a fundraiser as part of my 18th birthday celebrations for the Children’s University Hospital , Temple Street in Dublin, raising €3,000 and collecting over 70 toys for the children across the wards, because Ryan attended Temple Street and my godchild Ellen is still an outpatient.

I’m in the middle of completing my end of year exams for Nursing Studies in Cavan Institute and hope to study Children’s Nursing in Britain this September, depending on results.  I then hope to specialise in oncology nursing.

My inspiration for my career path first came when I saw Aoibheann’s Pink Tie on Secret Millionaire. It was set up in 2010 by Jimmy Norman and Mick Rochford after the passing of Jimmy’s beautiful daughter Aoibheann at the age of seven. In the words of Jimmy, ‘Aoibheann fought a very courageous battle against cancer’.

I watched a video not so long ago which interviews children who have cancer. They were all asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. Something one of the children said never stops playing in my mind: ‘I don’t know what I wanna be when I grow up, but I just wanna grow up’.

This is when I set out to complete both a mentally and physically enduring fundraiser for St John’s Ward in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin in Dublin and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie. Next month I’m completing the 10km Women’s Mini Marathon, a 10,000ft Skydive and the 12km Hell & Back, all in under three weeks. Every week four  parents in Ireland are told ‘your child has cancer’. That’s four families whose lives are put on hold while they begin to fight for their child’s life!

St John’s Ward in Crumlin is the national medical care centre for every child with cancer across Ireland. They provide the medical expertise and exceptional care needed for children faced with this cruel disease. The continuous funding has allowed for single isolation rooms for every patient. It has also meant that every patient has an en-suite and another bed for a parent or family member to stay for what can be days, weeks and even months.

Aoibheann’s Pink Tie is there for any kind of practical support for children and their families with cancer. Jimmy Norman wants the charity to allow parents to ‘breathe and go look after their children’. They provide Chemo Ducks for the children which is a cuddly toy with a ‘freddie’, pyjamas and a bandana similar to them which gives children the chance to understand their treatment in a child-friendly way.

They are also credited for providing children with Hickman Dry suits. A child can have a Hickman line (‘freddie’) in for years meaning they are not allowed to have baths or go swimming. These suits provides the children with the opportunity to do both. Costing €300 each for these specialised suits, Aoibheann’s Pink Tie supplies them to any child on St John’s Ward. Financial support is also provided by APT helping families pay for items such as mortgage bills, accommodation fees, and car park fees. Their support is endless!

Through this I’ve not only wanted to complete these events, I wanted to go out there and see what St Johns Ward and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie has meant for the children and their families who are going through these battles. I contacted  Susan Brown from Castleblayney whose beautiful two year-old son Ceejay was diagnosed with leukaemia in September. She explained to me her appreciation towards both charities saying: ‘When a child is fighting cancer they need to know they have a team fighting with them and for them. With St John’s ward and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie we know Ceejay has an army fighting for him every step of the way’.

These three events will put me through my paces but it doesn’t even compare to a day in the life of a child with cancer. Thank you to all who have supported so far including Vanity Nightclub who have covered all registration fees and to Sparkle Beauty Clinic for their continued support.

All donations welcome. Find the event on facebook or simply donate online at www.idonate.ie by typing in ‘Running from Heaven to Hell & Back’. Sponsorship cards are also available and we’re on the lookout for anyone who’d like to join our team for the Mini Marathon or Hell & Back. Contact me at kimwardcmx@gmail.com.

Because children can’t fight cancer alone!

CARHAIX STUDENT SAYS ‘ADIEU’

by
Sandrine Le Cocguen from Carhaix prepares to leave Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Sandrine Le Cocguen from Carhaix prepares to leave Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

CARHAIX STUDENT BIDS ADIEU

Michael Fisher

Sandrine Le Cocguen says ‘adieu’ to Carrickmacross this weekend after spending six weeks working in the town and trying to improve her knowledge of English. The 24 year-old is a student from Carhaix in Brittany, twinned with Carrickmacross. She came to Ireland at Easter and the twinning committee along with the Chamber of Commerce found her temporary employment and accommodation.

She is a second year engineering student at Nancy University in France and will begin her final year in September. She is interested in sustainable development and the environment and worked with other engineers on a project called “the garage of the future”.

During her short stay in County Monaghan, Sandrine worked with Emma Gollogly at Golo.ie and in Jim Hand’s shoe shop. She also gained some work experience in the office of an architect and at O’Gorman’s SuperValu supermarket, where she will finish tomorrow. She also helped the French teacher at Inver College on a number of occasions as students prepared for their oral examination. As we prepared to do this interview, one of the students came up to her and thanked her for her assistance.

Sandrine became friendly with Alicia Ehrecke, a German exchange student at Inver College. She accompanied Alicia to Dublin when she received a Hot Press award for a short story she had written. Both were given accommodation by Carmel Watts in Church Grove.

During her time in Carrickmacross, her boyfriend came over from France and they went on a tour to the North, staying in Belfast near Queen’s University, a building she admired. They visited the Titanic Centre and also made a trip to the Giant’s Causeway. They were impressed with the beautiful surroundings on the North Antrim coastline. Sandrine told me she had really enjoyed her time here and would recommend such a stay to others. The next phase of her trip to Ireland will be spent in Abbeyleix, County Laois, where she will work in a coffee shop until the end of July, in exchange for board and lodgings. She found the position through a free volunteer work exchange website, helpx.net.

Sandrine is the second member of her family to come to Carrickmacross with the help of the twinning committee led by Sean Egan. Her younger sister Céline who plays the harp visited with a group from Carhaix school of music last year. She stayed for four days with the Farrelly family in Magheracloone at the time of the Féile Patrick Byrne. So both are helping to strengthen the common Celtic bonds between South Monaghan and Brittany.

LAURA CROSSAN FUNDRAISER CORDUFF

by
Laura Crossan

Laura Crossan

CHARITY EVENT

This Saturday 23rd May in Corduff /Raferagh Community Centre there will be another fundraising event in aid of Laura Crossan, starting at 4pm. There will be a tractor run at 5pm, played out by the Corduff Pipe Band. Childrens’ disco and fun events including face painting and rodeo bull  5.30pm to 7.30pm. Armageddon will play in the marquee from 6pm to 8pm. Head shave, waxing and dye at 8pm, to include Laura’s father Jonathan, brother Dylan, uncles Donal, Declan, Noel, Gregory, Joseph, Nial and granda Joe. Laura’s cousins and many others will be there in support.

Entertainment in the Mountain Dew by Yesteryear. It promises to be a fun-filled evening for all and hopefully Laura can join in the evening fun.

The Crossan family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards and good wishes. The kindness shown to us through this whole nightmare really helps us each day and week, Laura’s father said.

LAURA CROSSAN GETS HER MEDICAL CARD

Michael Fisher  Northern Standard  Thursday 21st May

Laura Crossan from Carrickmacross is battling against a rare form of cancer. The 9 year-old is a pupil at Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa, and was diagnosed in January as having Ewing’s sarcoma, in which cancer cells are found in the bone or in soft tissue. Only two or three children in Ireland are found to have the condition every year.

Her father Jonathan contacted the RTÉ Radio Joe Duffy show recently and explained how he had been unable to get a medical card for Laura. He highlighted what parents in his position were put through at what could be the lowest time in their lives. The following day the HSE provided a card for his daughter and for the rest of the family.

Mr Crossan told the Northern Standard it was truly a shame that a 9 year-old child with cancer had to wait five months in order to receive a medical card. He also said he greatly appreciated the support the local community had shown in attending various fundraising events.

Laura is the second child of Jonathan and Sinead Crossan. She has an older brother Dylan and two younger sisters, Codie and Georgia. Laura’s condition was discovered after her parents became worried about a mark on her leg they thought had been caused by a bee sting before Christmas. Since then she has been in the care of the medical team at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin in Dublin.

Mr Crossan explained how their lives were changed for ever on January 23rd. “On a cold Friday evening at 4.30pm we were told our lovely Laura had Ewing’s sarcoma a rare form of cancer in her leg. The little lump on the bottom of her leg looked like a swelling from a sting and was not giving her any trouble. To say the least, it has turned our lives upside down and now cancer is in our lives. Our gorgeous wee woman now has a battle on her hands”.

“Laura is out of school for the year and battling chemo, which she receives every 21 days in Crumlin She gets four different chemotherapy treatments each day for three days and it is really hard on the wee woman. It changes her completely for the time she is on it”, he explained.

Mr Crossan said the only people Laura will let stay with her are himself, his wife, her grandmother Teesie and her uncle Declan. She has just finished her fifth chemo session and like all previous ones is now back in Cavan hospital getting new blood platelets and fighting an internal infection.

He says the staff  in Cavan general hospital have taken to Laura and she really loves them. “Myself and Sinead would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for the care and love they have shown our wee woman”, he said. “Family life has certainly changed for us all: Dylan aged 14 is at the High School in Carrick; 6 year-old Codie is in Bunscoil Lughaidh Naiofa and the youngest, Georgia (4) is in playschool. They are all in a new routine, being passed from pillar to post while Dad and Mum look after Laura in hospital”.

Laura has nine more chemotherapy sessions ahead of her so will spend most of the year in Crumlin and Cavan hospitals.

VISIT TO BALMORAL SHOW

by
McAree Engineering at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

McAree Engineering at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

OUT AND ABOUT AT BALMORAL SHOW
Michael Fisher Northern Standard  Thursday 21st May 2015 p.24
Monaghan was again well represented at this year’s Balmoral Show. Town of Monaghan Co-Op and Lakeland Dairies both had a presence to meet suppliers and to promote their dairy business. Among the thousands of visitors were several from Monaghan, who made the journey along the motorway to the new showgrounds at the former Maze prison, outside Lisburn.

Eimear Winters, Castle Leslie estate, Glaslough at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

Eimear Winters, Castle Leslie estate, Glaslough at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

But for some, there were long traffic delays, particularly exiting from the large car parks. It was the biggest Balmoral Show in history and the organisers, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, are determined to make next year even better.

Lakeland Dairies Stand: Peter Finnegan, Killanny, (agricultural advisor NI), Chairman Alo Duffy, Ballybay, and Group Chief Executive Michael Hanley Photo: © Michael Fisher

Lakeland Dairies Stand: Peter Finnegan, Killanny, (agricultural advisor NI), Chairman Alo Duffy, Ballybay, and Group Chief Executive Michael Hanley Photo: © Michael Fisher

LAKELAND DAIRIES
At the Lakeland Dairies stand, Group Chief Executive Michael Hanley was in upbeat mood about the future of the dairy industry. He told the Nothern Standard it was important to retain a strong dairy industry in Ireland for the next generation. The Group based in Killeshandra, County Cavan, processes about one billion litres of quality milk annually into a range of products. Lakeland Dairies reported a 15% increase in revenues to €625.8 million for 2014, yielding an operating profit of €12.9 million, up by 10% on the previous year.
The food service division uses automated, modern production technologies to make dairy products for use in food preparation and by consumers internationally. The food ingredients division extracts the constituents of fresh milk to offer a range of milk powders, proteins and liquid dairy fats. The Group is a leading provider of dairy produce to Ireland’s Kerrygold brand .
As well as the home market, Lakeland Dairies exports large volumes of dairy produce to the UK, Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and other international markets. The agri-business division is a producer-focused business supporting thousands of farmers with nutritional information and high performance products.
Mr Hanley was keen to point out that Lakeland Dairies had begun construction of a €36 million milk powder processing plant alongside its current operation at Bailieborough in County Cavan. As reported in this paper two weeks ago, the ‘Dryer Number 3’ is expected to come on stream in a year’s time. The farmer-owned co-operative currently produces 90,000 tonnes of milk powders a year and this will rise to 130,000 tonnes on completion of the new plant. The same site also produced 24,000 tonnes of butter and butter products.
The overall development will lead to the creation of 81 jobs across the Lakeland Dairies Group over a five year period. Up to 180 construction jobs will also be created.
Following the abolition of milk quotas last month, annual milk supply to Lakeland Dairies is expected to increase by some 40% to over one billion litres by 2020. The Chief Executive says the development is designed to ensure that the co-operative is well positioned to take advantage of all future market opportunities for its milk producers.
Michael Hanley said there was a growing requirement for high quality milk powders and functional ingredients in nutritional, pharmaceutical and beverage markets, where the company serves leading food manufacturers and infant formula customers worldwide. He said the Group saw a consistently growing opportunity in areas including infant formula, dairy proteins and health-related nutritional products including lactose and whey, among other categories.

The McMahons including one year-old Henry at Town of Monaghan Co-Op stand Judging in the cattle ring at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

The McMahons including one year-old Henry at Town of Monaghan Co-Op stand Judging in the cattle ring at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

TOWN OF MONAGHAN CO-OP                                                                                                                                             Town of Monaghan Co-op with its new Chief Executive Gabriel D’Arcy is one of the longest established dairy co-operatives in Ireland. It was founded in 1901 by a group of Monaghan farmers and business people, who came together in order to own and control their own business for the long-term benefit of its dairy farmers.

Over a hundred years later, it remains a farmer-owned and controlled co-operative, still based on the same values of long-term sustainability, mutual responsibility and equality and equity. With milk suppliers in the Republic and Northern Ireland, Town of Monaghan currently handle and process 500 million litres of milk annually from 1,000 farmers at its site in Coolshannagh, Monaghan and at TMC Dairies (NI) Ltd in Artigavan, near Strabane in County Tyrone.
Its range of products includes whole milk and skim milk powders, which are primarily for the export market as well as fresh milk, buttermilk, butter, yogurts and desserts all of which are marketed in Ireland under the “Champion” brand.
The Co-op, which reported net current assets of more than €34m in its balance sheet at the end of 2013, has been considering the best options for investment in development of its business.
MERGER TALKS
Town of Monaghan has been in discussions with Ballyrashane Co-Op in North Antrim, the oldest dairy in Northern Ireland, about a possible merger. It produces milk, butter and a specialist cheese for the Greek market. Both have reiterated their view that a new merged entity would create a powerful new market force.
They say their complementary geography and production facilities, technologies, and customer listings, together with the combined balance sheet strength offer the unique opportunity to create a true leader in the competitive Ulster dairy food sector, focused on innovation and competitiveness. Ballyrashane has blue-chip customers, such as Marks & Spencer. Its butter plant is described as one of the most modern in the country. Both co-ops employ around 150 people.

RUAS Chief Executive Colin McDonald

RUAS Chief Executive Colin McDonald

RUAS EXPANSION PLANS AT BALMORAL
Colin McDonald, Chief Executive of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, was delighted with this year’s show, which is estimated to have been attended by more than 100,000 people over the three days.
He told the Northern Standard: “This year’s show is ten per cent bigger than last year. It really has been perfect conditions for the livestock exhibitors, who have put a lot of time and effort into preparing their animals for showing.” He said the biggest factor regarding attendance was the weather, and that the sunshine until Friday afternoon had helped to bring the crowds out.
This year’s show was the third on the new Maze site, and included the new sustainable village. Next year’s show will be bigger again and unrecognisable with the new 6,000sq metre Eikon exhibition centre dominating the site.
Work has already begun on the building, with the concrete foundations finished just last week. The work was halted to allow the show to take place but is set to resume next Wednesday. The Eikon will be the biggest exhibition space in Northern Ireland when it is completed in September.

Patrick Corrigan, Jamie Corrigan, Luke Comiskey and Anthony Byrne from Monaghan town pictured at the Dale Farm stand at the recent Balmoral Show.

Patrick Corrigan, Jamie Corrigan, Luke Comiskey and Anthony Byrne from Monaghan town pictured at the Dale Farm stand at the recent Balmoral Show.

Mr McDonald revealed the RUAS had already received bookings for the new venue, which will host the Winter Fair later this year. A ‘green energy’ park is planned in the longer term, with a focus on solar power and the generation of electricity from biomass, windmills and solar panels. Asked about the timescale for expansion, Mr McDonald said the work was dependent on the flow of finance from the redevelopment of the show’s previous site in Balmoral in south Belfast.
The RUAS is retaining the front section of the site while the rest is being redeveloped, around half for housing and half for commerce, with the possibility of a major hotel group coming on board, Mr McDonald explained.
When asked about whether a new link road from the M1 motorway would be built to make the Maze site more accessible, the Chief Executive said that was a matter for the site as a whole, and insisted the show was able to handle its traffic without a problem. The flow of cars was even better than for a concert at the Odyssey arena in Belfast, he said.

NI Finance Minister Arlene Foster and First Minister Peter Robinson at the DUP Stand Photo: © Michael Fisher

NI Finance Minister Arlene Foster and First Minister Peter Robinson at the DUP Stand Photo: © Michael Fisher

POLITICAL PRESENCE
The main political parties were represented at the show, including the DUP and Sinn Féin. They have yet to agree on how the rest of the Maze site will be redeveloped. The North’s First Minister Peter Robinson blamed Sinn Féin for blocking the building of a new road to link the site with the nearby motorway.
But deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness hit back, claiming Sinn Féin had kept its side of the bargain by backing the move of the Balmoral Show to the Maze site. He claimed the DUP had let it down by not backing the creation of a peace-building centre at the site of the former high security prison.

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy with NI Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy with NI Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA

Mr McGuinness attended the Department of Agriculture’s traditional breakfast at the show, hosted by the Minister, Michelle O’Neill. They were joined during the day by party colleague, Matt Carthy, the MEP from Carrickmacross.
The Minister said the farming sector was facing significant challenges at the present time but was contributing to the economic growth of the North. She said her department had a vital role to play in opening new markets and supporting exports. She was hopeful that 2015 would prove even more exciting in terms of furthering new market access across all meat sectors. The Minister also highlighted her recent efforts to open doors for exports in China, particularly for beef and chicken. She hoped that further growth in dairy exports would hopefully play a part in helping to turn around the recent decline in milk prices.
Sinn Féín MEP Matt Carthy who is a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, said that an all-island approach to agriculture was required to address a number of issues affecting the agriculture sector. He told the Northern Standard:
“The past 12 months in particular have highlighted the impact of partition on our agriculture sector. First we saw the huge impact of the border on our beef sector when issues arose in relation to the label of origin on cattle reared in the south but finished in the North. Now we see a similar issue has emerged for sheep and lamb reared in the North but finished in the South”.
“I have spoken regularly with the Stormont Minister, Michelle O’Neill, who has engaged extensively with Minister Simon Coveney T.D., to have these issues addressed in a united manner. I have offered my full support at a EU level to any proposed efforts. The simple fact of the matter is that the issues affecting farmers in the North are the same as those affecting farmers in the South and our economy is too small to sustain partition”. Mr Carthy added:
“Whilst there remains a strong tradition of cross-border trade, it is vitally important if we are to promote agricultural produce effectively on the world stage that we work together on an all-island basis to overcome the challenges facing the sector. Moves towards a voluntary “Island of Ireland” labelling system are welcome. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that an integrated all-Ireland agriculture structure is required to ensure that Irish agriculture, North and South, not only is sustainable into the future but can reach its full potential”.

Two first prizes went to David and Kenny Boyd's cow Glaslough Miss Petra EX3 Photo: © Michael Fisher

Two first prizes went to David and Kenny Boyd’s cow Glaslough Miss Petra EX3 Photo: © Michael Fisher

SHOW RINGS
Once again it was a very successful show for Glaslough brothers David and Kenny Boyd. In the Holstein class, Glaslough Miss Petra EX93 won two awards, for mature cow in-milk (£80) and 50-tonne cow (£80) along with a special prize of £50 presented by Devenish Nutrition and the Craigbet Rosan Perpetual Challenge Cup, presented by Holstein NI. Another of their Holstein herd, Glaslough Miss Persia VG, took first prize (£80) in the senior heifer in- milk section.

Jersey cow Potterswalls Glams Elisha wins the dairy interbreed champion award at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

Jersey cow Potterswalls Glams Elisha wins the dairy interbreed champion award at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

Ashley Fleming from Seaforde in County Down won the overall dairy interbreed (champion) with his Jersey cow in-milk, Potterswalls Glams Elisha. It was her second Dairy Inter-Breed Championship title in a row. It was also the Flemings’ seventh Balmoral inter-breed championship, having done the double twice.
“We are truly delighted with today’s result,” said Ashley Fleming. “Elisha calved a few weeks ago and she really is looking tremendously well. What makes it all the more special is the fact she is home bred. We also bred her sire.”
The cow is currently giving almost 50 litres per day with milk solids exceeding 10%. “Jersey cows produce very high quality milk,” Ashley explained. This is a key attraction of the breed, which is growing in popularity with milk producers.

Lely robotic milking machine display at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

Lely robotic milking machine display at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

ROBOTIC MILKING
For the first time at the show, the crowds were able to see a robotic milking display using Lely machines. A temporary dairy was set up with forty cows from Draynes Dairies in Lisburn waiting their turns to be milked.
Fifteen years ago North Antrim milk producers Bryan Watton, and his son Mark, from Ballybogey near Ballymoney were the first farmers in Ireland to purchase two Lely Astronaut A2 robots. “Robotic milking was revolutionary at the time,” recalls Bryan. “Several of the household names involved in the manufacture of conventional milking parlours were trying to develop an automated system. By 1999 I had made up my mind that I was going to go down that route, and after studying the various options available I opted for Lely”.
Brian continued: “Most of the other companies were dabbling and trying to incorporate parts of a parlour onto a robot. I was impressed with Lely, as their engineers were new to milking systems and started with a clean sheet. In my opinion Lely was away ahead of the competition with its concept and design.”
The Lely Astronaut A2 robots were installed back-to-back, and have been working on-farm since 4th April 4th 2000. Town of Monaghan Co-Op told me five of their suppliers now use robot milking machines.
After 15 years both Bryan and Mark are still as enthusiastic about Lely and robotic milking as they were when they introduced the machines. “Robots transformed our farm, and there is no way we would even consider going back to conventional milking,” stressed Bryan. “In fact, we wouldn’t rule out purchasing a third Lely robot in the future”, he said. The father and son team milk 150 commercial cows producing an average yield of over 9,500kgs at 3.95% butterfat and 3.28% protein.

Geoff Taylor, Monaghan Mushrooms, receives M&S Innovation Award

Geoff Taylor, Monaghan Mushrooms, receives M&S Innovation Award

MONAGHAN MUSHROOMS AWARD
In the food hall, a Monaghan producer for Marks & Spencer was acknowledged for his excellence in innovation in the M&S ‘Farming for the Future’ awards. Geoff Taylor of Monaghan Mushrooms in Tyholland received a £1,000 prize and has been entered into an ‘Overall Farming for the Future Champion’ award for 2015, to be presented later this year. The innovation award recognises producers who are pushing the boundaries in their sector.
As Head of Product Development, Geoff has been key to co-ordinating and driving forward the progress of several exciting new business initiatives at Monaghan Mushrooms. Geoff said: “I come from a farming background and whilst agriculture will always be in my blood, I feel that product development is the really fun and exciting part of the food industry.
“One of the most interesting products I’ve worked on has been the development of Vitamin D mushrooms, which are now exclusively available in over 200 M&S stores across the UK and Ireland. With research showing that most adults in the UK are Vitamin D deficient, Geoff and his team of scientists and engineers set about developing a unique mushroom that could help reverse this situation.
With a passion for the environment, Geoff has also been instrumental in implementing changes to the packaging of M&S mushrooms. “Tyholland produces around 100 tonnes of mushrooms a week and because we are dealing with such large numbers, any small changes we can make to packaging really add up”, Geoff said.
A typical plastic mushroom punnet has now been redesigned to reduce its weight by 3 grams, which will result in over 5,700 kg of saved plastic each year. All punnet packaging material is now also completely recyclable and Geoff has even gone as far as to redesign the size of mushroom punnets to ensure that more can fit in each delivery crate, thus reducing the number of journeys needed to deliver the same amount of produce to store.
Geoff concluded: “The joy of product development is that there are always new projects on the horizon and things that can be improved upon. I am really passionate about my work and can’t wait to launch more of my new ideas in the future.”
Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at M&S said: “The Farming for the Future awards are now in their eighth year, acknowledging the dedication and commitment our farmers and growers are making towards the company’s ‘Plan A’ eco and ethical programme, and sharing best practice amongst the agricultural community across Ireland and the UK”. The plan aims to make M&S the world’s most sustainable major retailer.
Mr McLean continued: “Geoff is a very worthy winner and has proved this be demonstrating his innovative thinking, commercial success and social responsibility in the way he manages and executes his business. Our judges were particularly impressed with Geoff’s enthusiasm for creating new products with added health benefits, his commitment to reducing waste and passion for the environment”.

Taking the 'Chiecken Challenge' at Balmoral Show: (L-R) Lynsey Forde, Laura Louise Reay and Aoife Murphy from Monaghan town alongside (centre) Elaine Donaghy of the NI Food Standards Agency ©Brian Thompson Photography

Taking the ‘Chiecken Challenge’ at Balmoral Show: (L-R) Lynsey Forde, Laura Louise Reay and Aoife Murphy from Monaghan town alongside (centre) Elaine Donaghy of the NI Food Standards Agency
©Brian Thompson Photography

THE ‘CHICKEN CHALLENGE’
During the show, the Food Standards Agency in the North encouraged visitors to support Food Safety Week, which runs until Sunday 24th May, by undertaking a ‘Chicken Challenge’ and pledging to do the little things that keep their loved ones safe from food poisoning. Chicken is a traditional meal time favourite, whether it’s in a sandwich, a traditional roast dinner or sizzling on the barbecue. But there’s only one thing not to love about it. Chicken is one of the biggest causes of food poisoning, all because of a nasty germ called campylobacter. Among those who visited the FSA stand to learn more about food hygiene was a group from Monaghan town, Lynsey Forde, Laura Louise Reay and Aoife Murphy.

Irish Air Corps Alouette III helicopter of the type used on border duties in Monaghan: part of the Ulster Aviation Society collection at the Maze Photo: © Michael Fisher

Irish Air Corps Alouette III helicopter of the type used on border duties in Monaghan: part of the Ulster Aviation Society collection at the Maze Photo: © Michael Fisher

DIARY DATE
Dates have already been confirmed for next year’s Balmoral Show. It will be held at the Maze site on Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th and Friday 13th May 2016.

At the McAree Engineering (Ballinode) Stand at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher

At the McAree Engineering (Ballinode) Stand at Balmoral Show Photo: © Michael Fisher