CEREMONY AT ISLANDBRIDGE

11/07/2015 by borderroamer

Heather Humphreys T.D.
Photo: © Michael Fisher

Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Cavan/Monaghan T.D. Heather Humphreys has had a very busy diary of engagements since her appointment to the Cabinet just less than twelve months ago. Yesterday she was with An Taoiseach launching the new online search facility for genealogists at the National Library, where old Catholic parish registers that were on microfilm have been digitised.

Today Minister Humphreys attended the Royal British Legion’s annual ceremony at the National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge in Dublin. She read a lesson and also laid a laurel wreath. Tomorrow there will be a national day of commemoration at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham at 11am. Speaking ahead of the ceremony the Minister said: Speaking ahead of the ceremony Minister Humphreys said:

“This ceremony remembers the Irish men and women who died during the two world wars. Just last week I travelled to the Somme to mark the 99th anniversary of what was the bloodiest battle of World War One, claiming thousands of Irish lives.

“Through the World War One commemorative events, we have gained a much greater understanding of the scale of Irish sacrifice and suffering. Families have, for the first time, discovered that their relatives went to the Front to fight, and many of them never returned home.

“One hundred years on, Ireland is respectfully remembering its sons and daughters who served in what was a horrific conflict. Events such as this one help us not only to pay respect to those who died, but also to recognise how far we have come over the last century.”

Royal British Legion Ceremony of Remembrance

In the Irish Times, Marie O’Halloran reports as follows:

“The Sinn Féin Lord Mayors of Dublin and Belfast and the Sinn Féin Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly have laid wreaths at a ceremony in Dublin to commemorate the dead of the first and second World Wars. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys led the wreathlaying at a ceremony organised by the Royal British Legion in Ireland at the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge, Dublin. Members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, along with members of the Defence Forces, attended the annual commemoration, which was first held in 2006 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. It is now held on an annual basis on the Saturday before the National Day of Commemoration.

Ms Humphreys laid a laurel wreath at the cenotaph, as did newly elected Dublin Lord Mayor Cllr Críona Ní Dhálaigh and Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Arder Carson. Poppy wreath Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett laid a poppy wreath, while Speaker of the Assembly Mitchel McLaughlin laid a laurel wreath. Poppy and laurel wreaths were laid by representatives of the diplomatic corps and others from a number of states including the Vatican, Japan, Republic of Cyprus, the UK, the Russian Federation, Netherlands, Australia, India, France, Nigeria, Lithuania, Germany, the US and Kenya. In all more than 100 wreaths were laid during the ceremony, introduced by Lt Col Ken Martin, chairman of the Royal British Legion in the south.

He told almost 1,000 people in attendance that they were in a “garden of exquisite beauty” in the centre “of what can only be described as the finest national memorial to the sacrifice of a nation, in Europe”. They were there, he said, to remember the sacrifice for the defence of small nations. Archdeacon of Ferns Christopher Long said that every war was cruel, but the first World War “was unlike any other unspeakable carnage, the unbearable loss, the almost unbelievable bravery”. He said it was a conflict that spread from the western front to the deserts of the Mediterranean, from the plains of Poland to the frozen mountains of Austria, touching and ending millions of lives. Dismissed as ‘pointless war’ “Too often it is dismissed as a pointless war, wrought by people who didn’t know why they were fighting. I believe that to be wrong. Men signed up to prevent the domination of a continent, to preserve the principle of freedom that we cherish today.” He added that “we should never fail to cherish peace in our country, and never underestimate the patient work it has taken to build and to maintain that peace”.

Members of the Royal British Legion paraded at the start of the ceremony to the accompaniment of the Army No 1 Band, and during the ceremony as the wreaths were laid the band was accompanied by the Tramore Ladies Choir. The lament ‘Oft in the Stilly Night’ was played as wreaths were laid at the memorial. Ms Humphreys read a lesson during the ecumenical ceremony.

Head of the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Monsignor Eoin Thynne HCF

Head chaplain of the Defence Forces, Msgr Eoin Thynne read the bidding prayers for all those who suffered as a result of conflict. He prayed “for peacemakers and peacekeepers who seek to keep this world secure and free”. Minute’s silence The Last Post was played and president of the Royal British Legion in the south Major Gen The O’Morchoe read the exhortation: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” A minute’s silence was observed and the Reveille played and the dedication then read: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.”

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Ms Humphreys said: “So many thousands of Irish men lost their lives in the first World War…It didn’t matter whether they were unionist or nationalist, it didn’t matter whether they were Protestant or Catholic the bombs and the bullets of war treated them all the same. So it’s nice that we’re all here today to remember those who lost their lives in the first World War.”

GAA SAYS SAFETY RECORD IS EXEMPLARY

10/07/2015 by borderroamer

Casement Park GAA ground in West Belfast

GAA SAYS SAFETY ISSUES ARE PARAMOUNT IN NEW CASEMENT PARK PLAN

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 2nd July

GAA Ard Stiúrthóir Páraic Ó Dufaigh

GAA Ard Stiúrthóir Páraic Ó Dufaigh has told a Stormont committee that the Association has an exemplary safety record and it regards safety issues are paramount. He was giving evidence last Thursday to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly about safety fears which had been raised about the stalled plan for the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast.

A safety expert had claimed he faced “undue pressure” to approve the proposals and had accused Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) officials of bullying. Paul Scott claimed a proposed 38,000-seat stadium could not be evacuated safely and warned of a potential tragedy similar to the Hillsborough disaster in England.

Mr Ó Dufaigh said the GAA would categorically reject any assertion that its supporters would ever be put at risk at any of its games, or within any of its stadia. He said the Association’s partners would engage continuously with the stadiums project Safety Technical Group throughout all steps of the planning process to deliver a state of the art provincial stadium at Casement Park in Belfast for use by Antrim and Ulster. The Ard Stiúrthóir was joined at Parliament Buildings by Danny Murphy, Chief Executive and Secretary, Ulster Council GAA, Tom Daly, Chair of the Casement Park Provincial Project, Oran McCloskey, Project Director, HBJV and project designer Mike Trice, Senior Principal Architect at Populous, a globally renowned company that specialises in developing sporting stadiums.

A GAA statement said that during the session the Association had expanded upon its impeccable health and safety record citing its management of a large number of major provincial and county stadiums built to the highest specifications and conforming to all of the relevant health and safety legislation across Ireland and Britain. The Committee was briefed on the GAA hosting over one million people at its stadiums throughout the 2014 championship season, with fixtures drawing crowds of up to 82,300 for major games.

Ulster GAA chief executive Danny Murphy said the comparison with Hillsborough made at an earlier hearing of the Stormont committee was “wildly inaccurate, unfounded and hysterical”. During last Thursday’s hearing, Mr Murphy produced an email he claimed showed that the stadium safety expert Paul Scott had been largely supportive of the design for the new Casement Park.

Mr Murphy read out an email that he said Mr Scott sent to a Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure official in August 2013. In the correspondence Mr Scott wrote: “There appears to be a consensus that the latest proposals address the exiting concerns.” Mr Murphy said the GAA believed “that this confirms that everything we were doing was moving towards an acceptance that our plans were proper and correct”. It is unclear if Mr Scott was referring to emergency exiting or general exiting arrangements for the West Belfast stadium plans.

Commenting after the Committee session, Danny Murphy said:

“The GAA has reiterated that at all stages of the Casement Park Provincial Project the development had been scrutinised throughout the design process by the STG who signed off in principle, prior to the submission of the planning application. The ongoing work to date on the safety issues and exiting made progress and this is evident in a correspondence from the Chair of the STG dated 23rd August 2013 which states that as part of the developmental process, “there appears to be a consensus that the latest proposals address the exiting concerns”. At all stage boundaries, from outline business case to the appointment of the contractor the safety of the design was paramount and whilst some contingency planning were discussed, no red flag issues were ever raised with the GAA.

“The GAA examines all industry-recognised threats and develops contingency plans to allow safe evacuation of the spectators in 18 designated grounds within Ulster. The SGSA Safety Management guidance is a vital tool which recognises partial and phased evacuation dependant on the threat. We look forward to re-engaging with the STG to develop these plans with their full input as we move forward.”

Casement Park Redevelopment Group including Ulster GAA Secretary Danny Murphy (back middle) with NI Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín and (right) Tom Daly, Chair of Stadium Project Board

Tom Daly Chairman of the Casement Park Project board commented:

“In the near future the GAA will announce its programme for a fresh planning application for Antrim and Ulster’s new stadium at Casement Park. At that time we will also outline our plans for local engagement and it is our intention again to work constructively and pro-actively with all relevant stakeholders.”

He said the emergency evacuation did not appear in the risk section of the independent business case. “The Ulster GAA believe that emergency exiting was not a showstopper and never was,” he said.

Earlier Noel Molloy, former director of the DCAL stadiums programme, said there was a feeling that the STG’s Casement work was “inconsistent” with previous stadium projects at Ravenhill for Ulster Rugby and Windsor Park for the IFA. He said claims that the Casement design could have led to a Hillsborough-type scenario were “disrespectful and disingenuous” to the victims of the 1989 tragedy. “There is not a potential to have a Hillsborough scenario unless the (safety certificate) licence is given incorrectly,” he said. In December 2014, a High Court judge in Belfast ruled that the North’s Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan had acted unlawfully in approving plans for a new Casement Park stadium. The GAA is to submit another planning application.

TYDAVNET ART STUDENT IN JAPAN

09/07/2015 by borderroamer

Frances Treanor, Tydavnet, with some of the souvenirs including a gold medal from her visit to Japan Photo: © Michael Fisher

TYDAVNET ART STUDENT VISITS JAPAN FOR EXHIBITION OF HER WINNING SELF-PORTRAIT

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 9th July

From sushi to sukiakki and tempura, temples and umbrellas: all these were part of short stay in Japan recently by 18 year-old Frances Treanor from Drumdart, Tydavnet. The trip to Tokyo to represent Ireland in an art exhibition was one of the prizes she received for coming first in the Texaco Children’s Art competition in May, along with a cheque for €1500. Her self-portrait drawing done in black ballpoint pen was part of the 16^th International High School Arts Festival along with some other Texaco award winners. Around 400 works from fourteen other countries were included at the exhibition, namely Japan, Israel, Indonesia, Egypt, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Benin, Myanmar, Laos and Russia.

Frances was the guest of Japan’s International Foundation for Arts and Culture and was accompanied by her father, Sean. The exhibition ran from June 24^th to July 5^th at Japan’s largest art museum, the National Art Centre. Back at her home in Tydavnet she told me about her experiences in Japan, a country she said she would return to if she got a chance.

Her five days there introduced her to Japanese food such as tempura (fish and rice) for which chopsticks were used. She was served dishes of sushi and sukiakki and also got time to do some sightseeing. This included areas such as Harajuku, the Meiji shrine and Takeshita-dori street. She also visited a rural area a few hours outside Tokyo and saw a red panda being fed in the zoo. She noticed that the streets were very clean, as well as being busy and hectic. Everyone was carrying an umbrella, Frances told me, and there were special holders at the entrance to the museum where visitors could leave them.

Souvenirs from Frances Treanor’s trip to Japan for an international art exhibition Photo: © Michael Fisher

The winning self portrait was completed by her in two weeks and was described by the chair of the judging panel, Professor Declan McGonagle, as having been executed “with the skill and delicacy of a master”. Frances featured among the prizewinners in 2012 when she won second place in her age category for her work “Lighting Up the Imagination”, which also featured in the Tokyo exhibition that year alongside a number of other winning Texaco Children’s Art paintings. She is one of seven children and is in her first year studying art at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, alongside her twin sister Maeve.

Described as a showcase for the world’s best young artistic talent, the purpose of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture event is to provide an international platform for young people to engage in their artistic exploration of the world and to nurture a broader understanding of the experiences and events that impact on the younger generation across different cultures. Some 10,000 students annually from different countries submit works to the festival.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Japan Anne Barrington (left) with Frances Treanor at the exhibition of her self-portrait in Tokyo

At a reception attended by the Irish Ambassador to Japan, Anne Barrington, Frances had to speak about herself and her work. She said she was truly honoured to have had her self portrait selected for first prize in the Texaco Children’s Art. She said she felt privileged to have it exhibited on an international stage in Tokyo. She expressed her thanks to the Foundation of Arts and Culture for making it possible for her to be there to participate in such a prestigious event. She explained that for her self portrait she had chosen black ballpoint pen and that previously she had had very little experience of using this medium, therefore it was a particular challenge as every stroke she made was permanent. She said she had been pleased with the finished piece and as she had a keen interest in portrait art, this event had encouraged her to continue to perfect her skill. She conveyed her thanks to her friends and family, and to Texaco Art who had provided the platform for her to enter such a competition. Finally she thanked her art teachers at St Louis Secondary School in Monaghan, Teresa Mahony and Stephen Penders, who she said had always encouraged and developed her talent. Her next challenge, along with Maeve, is to design some artwork for the Tydavnet jamboree next month.

NAMA LAND REVISITED

08/07/2015 by borderroamer

The following article about NAMA’s interests in Northern Ireland was published here in February 2013. It is interesting that in response to a question at an AEJ lunch in Dublin, the Agency’s Chairman Frank Daly quoted a figure of €1.34 billion as being the market value of property it owned in the North in November 2009, representing 4% of its portfolio. At the end of 2012 NAMA had 143 parcels of NI land or properties subject to enforcement action. I am not making any allegations of inferences about what has happened in the intervening period, and will leave it up to others to do the sums. But no doubt readers will be familiar with the latest stories concerning the sale in June last year of NAMA’s 850-property portfolio (known as Project Eagle) involving debtors from Northern Ireland (book value of €5.62 billion) for around €1.5 billion to Cerberus Capital Management (based on exchange rates for 20/06/14). NAMA “is fully satisfied, having taken advice from Lazard, that the process delivered the best possible return that could have been achieved for Irish taxpayers”, and Cerberus says there were no improper or illegal fees paid, according to a report in The Irish Times. It was one of the largest transactions so far by NAMA and seems to be turning out as its most controversial one.

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Frank Daly

Meet one of Northern Ireland’s biggest property owners. Frank Daly is Chairman of the Republic’s National Asset Management Agency. It was set up by the Irish government in December 2009 to deal with 12,000 risky loans in Irish banking arising from the collapse of the property market. Five institutions particpate in the scheme: Allied Irish Banks (trading in the North as First Trust Bank); Bank of Ireland; Anglo Irish Bank (IBRC); Irish Nationwide Building Society; and EBS Building Society, now a subsidiary of AIB.

Mr Daly did not have an up-to-date figure to hand about the value of property securing acquired loans in Northern Ireland now controlled by NAMA. But he quoted a figure of around €1.34 billion, which was the market value of property in November 2009 and represented around 4% of NAMA’s portfolio. He said there had been extensive engagement with the Stormont Executive and that the Agency had developed a very good relationship with the Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson.

Sammy Wilson

When both men met in June last year, more loans must have been transferred to NAMA because it was estimated that their property portfolio in the North was worth over £3 billion. At the time Mr Wilson according to a BBC report stressed the importance of the Agency’s involvement in Northern Ireland. He said he was pleased with the finance being made available by NAMA for the development and purchase of sites there. He believed it would help to stimulate some much needed activity in the local property and construction markets and that its work was going to be very important for years to come.

NAMA publishes a list of land and properties subject to enforcement action. At the end of last year, it had a total of 143 in every county in Northern Ireland. The list includes (in a random examination) properties in Dungannon and Aughnacloy in Tyrone, Enniskillen and Lisnaskea in Fermanagh, Armagh; Dromore, Banbridge and Newry in County Down, and Coleraine in County Londonderry. In County Antrim, it includes areas such as Lisburn and Belfast, where some pubs are listed as well as the high-rise Windsor House office building.

Mr Daly told a lunch in Dublin organised by the Association of European Journalists that the Agency’s approach is the same on both sides of the border, namely to work with debtors to enhance the value of assets and to keep businesses trading. Its primary commercial objective is to obtain the best achievable return for the Irish taxpayer, he said.

Frank Daly addressing AEJ

The bad loan agency has generated sales worth €11 billion since its inception. Mr Daly said the Irish government’s recent decision to liquidate Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (formerly Anglo Irish Bank) and direct NAMA to acquire the unsold residual element of its loan portfolio would significantly increase the Agency’s workload.“Potentially, depending on the scale of loan transfers, the size of our balance sheet could increase by close to 50 per cent”, he explained. The liquidator has until August to decide what to do with IBRC assets. The overwhelming majority of assets on NAMA’s balance sheet are of a commercial property nature and if the Agency took on the IBRC’s mortgage portfolio, it would be a new departure for them.

The NAMA Chairman said it might be time for some entity at a national level to take a central, co-ordinating, policy development role in relation to the residential property market. He also announced details of their plans to develop new commercial and residential projects as part of a €2 billion investment programme in Ireland, including the development of significant additional office accommodation in the Dublin Docklands. He said the Agency was firmly on target to achieve targets for reducing debts by the end of 2013 by 25% and fully by 2020. The full script of Mr Daly’s speech can be found here on the NAMA website.

Dublin Docklands

MONAGHAN BUS INSPECTOR RETIRES

07/07/2015 by borderroamer

Bus Éireann Inspector Paddy Gollogly waves farewell to the Letterkenny express for the last time at Monaghan bus depot Photo: © Michael Fisher

Monaghan Bus Éireann Inspector Paddy Gollogly Retires

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 2nd July p.2

Bus Éireann Inspector Paddy Gollogly waved farewell for the last time as the Letterkenny express pulled out of Monaghan bus station on Tuesday afternoon. Since 1992 Paddy has been the Inspector at the depot, supervising all passing services at this busy stop, which is also used by Translink cross-border coaches from Derry and Armagh. After 44 years in the job, Paddy was hanging up his Inspector’s hat and looking forward to an active retirement.

Ulsterbus/Translink drivers from Armagh and Derry wish Paddy Gollogly all the best on his retirement Photo: © Michael Fisher

A native of Carrickmacross, he began work as a school bus driver in the area in 1971. He progressed to being a road passenger driver in Dundalk and Monaghan, earning promotion to the role of Inspector in Dundalk in 1990. After two years there, he transferred to his native county.

Drivers at Bus Éireann’s Monaghan depot say farewell to Inspector Paddy Gollogly Photo: © Michael Fisher

On his last day at work friends and colleagues gathered at the depot along with Paddy’s family to wish him well. They included Translink bus drivers from the services to Derry and Armagh. Several local Councillors also came to pay tribute to his courteous and loyal service over the years.

Paddy Gollogly is joined by his family including grandson Ryan for his last day at Monaghan bus depot Photo: © Michael Fisher

They were led by the Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Noel Keelan. Councillor Keelan said Paddy’s record of service was a fantastic achievement, in helping to transport people around the county and country for so many years. He always had a smile on his face as he dealt with passengers and this helped a lot when it came to dealing with any complaints, Councillor Keelan said. For Paddy it would be a change of life, rather than a retirement and he wished him and his family well. He complimented Paddy, a founder member of Carrickmacross Lions Club, on the huge amount of work he had done for charity. This included an annual Christmas swim at Creevy Lake in Carrickmacross, raising funds for various causes.

Keeping the passengers happy: last call for the Dublin bus! Photo: © Michael Fisher

Paddy’s wife Bernie watched as a stream of drivers and former staff came to greet him. His daughter Elaine brought her infant son Ryan (aged eight months) to greet his grandfather and was joined by her brother Pauric. It was a big day for Paddy but he was also conscious of the tragedy that had unfolded last week in Tunisia, in which a Bus Éireann colleague from Athlone, Larry Hayes and his wife Martina were shot dead, whose funerals will be taking place tomorrow (Friday). Michael McCormick, a Bus Éireann Inspector from Cavan said he had been told of the tragedy in a text message on Saturday afternoon and was also conscious of the suffering of the Hayes family.

He said he had a lot in common with Paddy, having started with the company in 1970 and he was the first port of call if he needed any back-up. He described Paddy as one of the old stagers and said they would all miss him. “Everywhere you went with Paddy, you had a laugh”, he said. Paddy was a great entertainer and he had enjoyed every hour of his company.

Councillor Paudge Connolly described Paddy as the very friendly face of CIE. Any time you met him, he was in good humour, he said. He did things for customers that went above and beyone the call of duty. He would be very sorely missed at this busy North/South hub and he wished him well on his retirement.

Staff at the Dinkin’s coffee shop at the bus station presented Paddy with a gift to mark his retirement. It was a portrait of himself painted by one of them, Goda Sirutyte, who is from Lithuania and has been in Monaghan for the past year.

Paddy Gollogly with the portrait painted by one of the Dinkin’s cafe staff, Goda Sirutyte Photo: © Michael Fisher

When news of Paddy’s retirement reached the councillors, they expressed concern that he was not going to be replaced as Inspector. But Councillor Sean Conlon said a lot of lobbying had been done and he was pleased to note that a replacement Inspector had now been appointed. The new man in the post is Jim McFaul, who is moving from Dundalk, where he has been Inspector. He has worked for Bus Éireann for 28 years and has also served in Drogheda as well as Monaghan. He said he was looking forward to the challenge but Paddy would be a very difficult act to follow. He said the issue of buses to and from Monaghan had been raised in the past, particularly the early morning service to Dublin Airport.

He would endeavour to keep them at the top of the agenda. He believed that many people were turning to public transport because of the cost of fuel and running cars and that if a guaranteed, frequent service can be provided, then people would use it.

Special cake for Paddy Gollogly’s retirement Photo: © Michael Fisher

It was a great afternoon of celebration for a popular Inspector who has always done his best to serve the public and the people of County Monaghan during his long career with the semi-state company. The celebrations will continue this Saturday evening July 4th at Corduff Raferagh Community Centre, where Paddy has lived for the past thirty years. A night of music and craic is promised, with refreshments. A buffet supper will be served at 10pm and tickets will be available at the door on the night as the local community expresses its gratitude to Paddy Gollogly.

Paddy Gollogly expresses his thanks to the passengers on the Letterkenny express, who gave him a round of applause Photo: © Michael Fisher

TALL SHIPS DAY FOUR

06/07/2015 by borderroamer

Michael Brogan skippers Mac Duach as she leaves Belfast Lough, followed by Naomh Crónán Photo: © Michael Fisher

On day four of the Tall Ships 2015 festival, it was time for the participants to depart and set sail for Portrush, where the race across to Norway would begin. I was delighted to get the opportunity to go to sea on board a Galway hooker, Mac Duach, which left York Dock on Sunday morning ahead of the main flotilla.

Passing the Stena Line ferry ready for departure from Belfast to Cairnryan Photo: © Michael Fisher

I had never been to sea on such a vessel before and did not know what to expect but skipper Michael Brogan from Kinvara and his crew made me welcome. There was a bit of rain as we left Belfast Lough but by the time we were off Carrickfergus, passing the Kilroot power station, we were in an excellent position to enjoy the aerial acrobatics of the Red Arrows display team.

Red Arrows in formation passing Kilroot Photo: © Michael Fisher

With the sails up, the boat reached a speed of ten knots and made good time past Islanmagee, where the Gobbins coastal path is being repaired, and near Larne.

Is that a plane I see above me? Red Arrows planes pass over Mac Duach in Belfast Lough Photo: © Michael Fisher

Eight hours after leaving Belfast, Mac Duach was rounding Fair Head and the small harbour of Ballycastle came into view, where the Rathlin ferry was about to depart. There was some puzzlement about the colour of the water as we arrived: a large brown slick covered the area. This was caused by the heavy rainfall which had washed away sections of the banks along the river and caused manholes along the street in the town to be pushed up, requiring the intervention of the fire service.

Isle of Man ferry heads towards Douglas Photo: © Michael Fisher

As we stepped onto dry land again, the sun came out and a rainbow could be seen above Ballycastle and also further away at Fair Head.

Ballycastle Harbour with Fair Head in background and Mac Duach in middle
Photo: © Michael Fisher

A nice end to a day’s sailing, marking a great maritime weekend.

Ballycastle Harbour with rainbow Photo: © Michael Fisher

TALL SHIPS DAY ONE

03/07/2015 by borderroamer

Cisne Blanco from Brazil moored at the SSE Arena drew the crowds on Day 1
Photo: © Michael Fisher

A great spectacle as the Tall Ships 2015 flotilla arrived in Belfast with crowds packing the area around the Titanic Quarter, over the walkway beside the Lagan Weir and across the quays past Clarendon Dock to York Dock and finally Pollock Dock, where the event was centred in 1991. Quite a contrast with the scale of this year’s truly international event.

Tall Ships 2015 Belfast Photo: © Michael Fisher

ULSTER CO-OPS VOTE TO MERGE

02/07/2015 by borderroamer

Town of Monaghan Co-op CEO Gabriel D’Arcy at Coolshannagh Photo: © Michael Fisher

TOWN OF MONAGHAN CO-OP SHAREHOLDERS ENDORSE PROPOSED MERGER WITH BALLYRASHANE

The proposed merger of Town of Monaghan Co-Op and Ballyrashane Co-Op in North Antrim has been strongly endorsed by shareholders of both Societies. There will now be a three weeks cooling-off period before the plans are put before the members again for formal approval. Both chief executives said afterwards there had been very good turnouts at the two shareholder meetings on Tuesday night in Monaghan and Ballyrashane. They said it was clear there was a resounding acceptance of the strategic fit between the two co-ops and that a merger would enable them to do things together that they could not do alone.

This development is one of the most important chapters in the history of the Co-Op since its foundation as the Town of Monaghan Co-operative and Dairy Society Ltd in 1901. Around 350 people packed into the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan on Tuesday. Of these, 263 were shareholders eligible to vote on the resolutions at the Special General Meeting.

At the start, the Chief Executive Officer Gabriel D’Arcy, who was appointed to the post last year, outlined his and the Board’s vision for the Co-op as it trades in an international market and following the abolition of EU milk quotas in April. He spoke about the crucial contribution that a merger with Ballyrashane would make in achieving that vision. Mr D’Arcy also outlined the benefits accruing to all suppliers both in the Republic and in the North as a result of the merger.

The meeting lasted three and a half hours during which there was an open and informative question and answer session with shareholders. When the first resolution, the proposed merger, was put to the meeting, it received overwhelming endorsement by 88% of those eligible to vote. A threshold of 75% was required for approval. At the meeting of Ballyrashane shareholders at the co-op’s premises, there was an even stronger endorsement of 97%.

Further meetings will take place at both locations on July 21st when a minimum of 50% approval will be required before a legal agreement can be drawn up between the two Societies. The merged entity will have a new name, but this has not yet been revealed. It would be a name that resonates with international customers and reflected the wholeness and Irishness of the dairy product. If approved, it would come into operation on September 1st. Based on current figures it would have a combined annual turnover of €320 million (€200m TMC and €120m Balyrashane). It would become the second biggest dairy processor in the province of Ulster.

The amalgamation would see TMC making up 85% of the new co-op and the other 15% Ballyrashane. The headquarters would be in Monaghan. Members of the Board of both co-ops (16 in TMC and 10 in Ballyrashane) would hold their current positions until elections would be held for a new Board in eighteen months’ time. Hugo Maguire from Clones will be the new Chairman and Roy Irwin (Ballyrashane) the Deputy Chairman.

Gabriel D’Arcy who would be the new CEO and his Ballyrashane counterpart Nigel Kemps who would be Deputy CEO of the proposed new co-op said the discussions had been a very positive process. They had moved through the various stages in line with the expectations and guidelines agreed initially by both parties. Both sides said they were delighted with the degree of co-operation and good faith that had been exhibited since the possibility of a merger was announced a few months ago. Mr D’Arcy and Mr Kemps said they were convinced that a merged co-op had huge global potential and would be good for the supply base, the staff and the dairy industry in general. Both co-ops have discovered that they have a similar ethos and culture and common values and this has enabled them to build trust during the discussions.

At the meeting of shareholders, the TMC suppliers were told that one of the main benefits of a merger would be the ability of the new co-op to pay a stronger milk price than would otherwise be the case. It would help to secure the existing quality milk pool and grow it to between 600-700 million litres annually (currently around 430 million litres). Ballyrashane sources its milk from 108 farms within a fifteen-mile radius of its plant, which is close to the Giant’s Causeway. Town of Monaghan’s range of great tasting products include 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.

Ballyrashane Co-Op is the oldest dairy in Northern Ireland and produces milk, butter and a specialist cheese for the Greek market. It has blue-chip customers, such as Marks & Spencer. Its butter plant is described as one of the most modern in the country. Town of Monaghan’s range of great tasting products include 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.

Both co-ops employ around 150 people. 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. An agreement would allow the new co-op to invest confidently up to €35 million in the TMC site at Artigarvan near Strabane in County Tyrone, introducing new processing technology to make value-added dairy ingredients such as butterfats and lactose free products for the international market.

Gabriel D’Arcy told the ‘Northern Standard’ he was very pleased and humbled by the support the merger proposal had received. The Chief Executive remained hopeful the plan would be progressed in conjunction with Ballyrashane in the months ahead. He believed the farmers who attended the Monaghan shareholder meeting were very astute and realised that times were changing. They wanted to take control of their destiny and to put their Society at the forefront of the agricultural industry. It was a big, brave move, he said.

CARRICKMACROSS PATRICIAN HIGH SCHOOL

01/07/2015 by borderroamer

Patrician High School Principal Joe Duffy and Deputy Principal Sean Rafferty Photo: © Michael Fisher

School Inspection Praises High Staff Morale at Patrician High

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Carrickmacross News p.42

The desks were empty in the converted gym when I visited Patrician High School in Carrickmacross recently. But over the next few weeks the hall will be full of students doing their Leaving Certificate. Principal Joe Duffy and Deputy Principal Sean Rafferty have been ensuring that all necessary preparations are made for the 73 pupils sitting exams. It has been a busy year for them. In January the school underwent its own test, a rigorous whole school evaluation of management, leadership and learning, carried out over three days by two inspectors from the Department of Education and Skills. The high staff morale and motivation of the 35 teachers was praised.

During the evaluation, the inspection team met the school’s board of management, in-school management, and groups of teachers, parents and students. Inspectors also reviewed a range of school documentation and responses to questionnaires and examined other data in relation to the operation of the school. A range of lessons in a number of subjects was inspected.

Patrician High School is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys under the trusteeship of the Bishop of Clogher. It has experienced a significant growth in student numbers in recent years and from a base of around 360 it now has a current enrolment of 507. Joe Duffy expects this will soon increase to 540.

The key findings of the inspection were that the teaching staff is motivated and that morale at the school is high. The senior management team provides effective leadership to the school and models the highest standards of commitment in all areas of school life.

Commitment to quality improvement is clearly evident among all partners of the school community, according to the report. The inspectors found that teaching and learning were effectively led by senior management and the quality observed in classrooms ranged from good to very good with instances of excellent teaching practice evident in many lessons. Finally, the report concluded that care of students received a high priority in the school and was managed effectively. The report made a number of recommendations, which the school is seeking to put into practice, including a review of the system for monitoring student attendance.

The report praised the senior management team for forming an effective partnership that modeled the highest standards of commitment to all areas of school life. A shared model of leadership has been established. According to the findings, “the senior management team prioritises an atmosphere of respect and good order as essential elements to providing optimal conditions for teaching and learning to take place.”

Staff morale is high, teachers are motivated and there is a high level of collaboration between staff and senior management, the report said. The dedication of staff to the provision of a wide range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities is noted and affirmed by management. Transition Year students have had successes in competitions such as the BT Young Scientist, Young Social Innovators, Enterprise Awards at county, regional and national levels and the Scifest in Dundalk.

In Joe Duffy’s office there is a framed note from the Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte. Addressing the young pioneers, he told them “Always work at being the best; You can be and then you will be a real success”. Two of the virtues the staff try to instil are timekeeping and smart appearance, including wearing a clean pair of shoes.

Past pupils have also gone on to be very successful in various fields. They include RTE weatherman Gerry Murphy, RTE Director General Noel Curran and his brother Richard, comedian Oliver Callan, who first developed his mimicry at school concerts, another comedian Ardal O’Hanlon, and local councillors Padraig McNally and PJ O’Hanlon.

The school provides a broad curriculum and management has reviewed and amended the choice of subjects in response to changing demands. An example of this is the expanded provision of science subjects which now includes Agricultural Science. The report said it was notable that the optional Transition Year programme attracted almost all students. Student care and welfare are school priorities and good supports are provided from within the school’s support structure and through developing links with external agencies.

The newly refurbished school building is very well maintained and facilities are provided to a very high level. A stimulating learning environment has been provided in teacher-based classrooms. The library is open to students at lunchtime and has been brought into greater use by timetabled access to link with the school’s literacy improvement plan. The staff room has been recently extended to include a preparation and corrections area. There is a canteen and lunch area for students and part of it is covered in murals which have been painted with the guidance of the art teacher.

When Joe Duffy spoke to the Northern Standard, he pointed out he pictures along the walls showing the vast range of activities carried out by students. In the field of civic, social and political education they have undertaken trips to the Dáil and the Northern Ireland Assembly. On the sports field, pupils like Stephen O’Hanlon have been successful in basketball and he is now on a sports scholarship in the United States. Others have enjoyed success in football with the local GAA club Carrick Emmets. Hurling is also being developed. More sports success has occurred in swimming and in soccer.

Overall Joe Duffy said he was very pleased with the results of the official school evaluation. He said it showed the great contribution by staff to pastoral care and teaching and the way they had developed a camaraderie with the pupils in a spirit of collegiality. Mr Duffy said he was very pleased with the way things were going. He pointed out the principal values instilled in students: respect, be on time, be prepared, follow instructions and participate fully. He hoped those five important points would continue to be fostered in the next academic year at Patrician High School.

INTERCONNECTOR OBJECTIONS

30/06/2015 by borderroamer

Checking the details of the EirGrid N/S Interconnector plan at the information meeting in Aughnamullen Photo: © Michael Fisher

ANGER EXPRESSED BY LANDOWNERS IN MONAGHAN OVER EIRGRID APPLICATION FOR N/S INTERCONNECTOR

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 25th June

Landowners in South Monaghan whose farms and property are along the route of the proposed EirGrid North/South electricity interconnector say it would ruin their livelihoods for generations to come and would cause the biggest destruction ever seen in Ireland. Many of them came to Aughnamullen social centre on Monday night to see for themselves the full extend of the EirGrid plans which were submitted earlier this month to An Bord Pleanála. The County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee had obtained a hard copy of the application and large folders were spread out over a long table with maps showing the route of the proposed overground line, including the section close to Lough Egish.

EirGrid and its northern counterpart plan to construct 401 new pylons carrying an overhead 400kV supply line across five counties including Monaghan, Cavan and Meath. 109 of the towers would be erected in Monaghan. The power line from Woodland near Batterstown in County Meath to Turleenan near Dungannon in County Tyrone and passing across the border at Lemgare near Clontibret into County Armagh would be one of the biggest infrastructure developments on the island and so it was designated a Project of Common Interest by the European Commission

There is now a ten weeks period of statutory public consultation, running until Monday August 24th.

The Secretary of the Anti-Pylon Committee Mary Marron said they had organised three meetings in Aughnamullen, Cremartin and Corduff during the week to enable landowners to see exactly how their properties would be affected. They were also able to advise them about making submissions to An Bord Pleanála and what they needed to concentrate on. The committee will be taking its own legal advice on the application, she said.

EirGrid documentation about the N/S Interconnector Photo: © Michael Fisher

The maps on the table set out how pylons would be erected in townlands such as Cornasassonagh and Corrinenty. Landowners continued to question why they were being treated as second-class citizens, because the underground option was being considered for two other major electricity supply projects. They claimed the project would devalue their land. They felt that the plans to erect pylons would turn their land into construction sites and questioned the methods EirGrid would use for accessing their property.

LOCAL POLITICIANS OPPOSE EIRGRID PLANS

Monaghan County Council has set up a sub-committee to discuss the interconnector application. It will meet in Castleblayney on July 13th and draw up a response. The Ballybay Clones Municipal District will also be making a submission objecting to EirGrid’s North/South Interconnector project.

COUNCILLOR SEAMUS COYLE

Fianna Fáil Councillor Seamus Coyle, a farmer from Latton, said the EirGrid proposals were totally unacceptable to local landowners. He claimed that the company had not gone out onto the ground and looked at the situation for individual farmers regarding access to their property for the construction work on the pylons. He said the project was contrary to the Monaghan County Council development plan 2013-19 and the sustainable development of the county. He told the Northern Standard it was important that councillors supported the concerns of local people in relation to this project. He claimed the local access roads needed for EirGrid construction work would be totally unfit for purpose in areas such as Corduff and Raferagh. He claimed that the electricity transmission company had not gone out onto the ground to inspect properties that would be affected, but had done an aerial survey instead. This was in contrast to the approach adopted by SONI in the North, where engineers had walked almost 97% of the planned route. He claimed EirGrid had not taken into account the implications for fauna and wildlife in the countryside as well as heritage spots such as ancient burial grounds.

MATT CARTHY MEP

Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands North West Matt Carthy called on the public to engage with the consultation process and to outline their concerns. He said:

“Unfortunately, due to the Strategic Infrastructure Act enacted by the Fianna Fáil government with the support of Fine Gael, the planning process for the North/South Interconnector is, in my view, flawed. However, that should not prevent interested individuals and communities engaging with the public consultation process during which time the public may provide submissions and observations to An Bord Pléanala. The consultation closes at 5.30pm on Monday 24th August.”

Mr Carthy said Sinn Féin representatives had been working closely with all those groups and communities in Counties Monaghan, Armagh, Cavan, Tyrone and Meath who have been engaged in a campaign since 2007 against the EirGrid and NIE/SONI plans to impose 400kv overhead power lines and associated pylons on their landscapes.

“The concerns are very real; there are genuine worries for health, our environment, the landscape, the economic development of the areas concerned. The communities concerned have made their position crystal clear: the North/South Interconnector can only proceed on the basis that it is undergrounded. Sinn Féin fully supports that position and we will be preparing our own submission to An Bord Pléanala on this issue”.

“This project, despite 97% landowner opposition, is the only EirGrid project that remains unchanged since 2009 following its exclusion from the EirGrid national review. Report after report, including one published by the government appointed International expert commission have clearly proved that undergrounding of the power lines is both possible and feasible. Indeed, many argue that in the medium to long term, undergrounding is economically beneficial. I am calling on the public to take this opportunity to outline their position on this project and ensure that their voice is heard”, the MEP said.

€5000 CHARGE FOR HARD COPY OF EIRGRID APPLICATION

Matt Carthy was also critical of EirGrid for charging members of the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC) €5000 for each hard copy of the planning application. The group had requested four copies of the application for their members and had also asked EirGrid to provide a hard copy to each landowner affected by the application.

Commenting on the correspondence between the NEPPC and EirGrid officials, the MEP said:

“It is completely outrageous that a full hard copy of this planning application costs €5000. I agree with the members of the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign that the astronomical costs involved in obtaining a copy of this application will put it out of the reach of many in the community affected by the proposed pylons.”

“The message from the local communities could not be clearer – they do not want overhead pylons blighting some of the most historical landscapes of this country and presenting a real danger to their communities. This is another slap in the face to the community who have had to listen to PR exercise after PR exercise from EirGrid stating their full commitment to engage with local communities on the proposed pylons.”

Mr Carthy went on: “While I acknowledge that soft copies of the application are provided on CD, many people need access to a hard copy for various reasons and it would be expected at the least that the landowners affected could receive a copy of the application. EirGrid cannot expect to be to be taken seriously on its claims of extensive public consultation while communities are effectively excluded from the planning process and I am calling on the company to make the application more readily available.”

SEAN CONLAN T.D.

The Fine Gael T.D. Sean Conlan attended the information evening at Aughnamullen. He said the County Monaghan Anti Pylon Committee deserved great credit for the effort they have put into organising the series of meetings this week to explain to the landowners affected in detail exactly what Eirgrid proposed to do on their land. He strongly encouraged anyone who wanted to find out further information in respect of the proposed route and how it affected their property and their community and who wished to obtain advice in relation to submitting a submission to An Bord Pleanála to contact the committee.

Deputy Conlan said: “The resilience and collective objection of the community as a whole to this application is paramount in trying to achieve our ultimate goal of having this project undergrounded. It is very important that the community continues to stand together to object to this new application by EirGrid to overground the North/South interconnector. By standing together as one the community stands the best chance of defeating EirGrid in their endeavours to put this project overground. It is very clear to me that the communities affected are more determined than ever that EirGrid are defeated.”

“I am available at any time to provide any advice or any assistance I can to members of the community and landowners who wish to make submissions detailing their concerns about EirGrid’s application and how it affects them, their families, their farms and their community. I want to reassure everybody in all the communities affected that I remain fully opposed to the overgrounding of this project by EirGrid. I will be making my own submission to An Bord Pleanála opposing EirGrid’s application to put the interconnector overground.”

COUNCILLOR EUGENE BANNIGAN

Fine Gael Councillor Eugene Bannigan also attended the information evenings. He told the Northern Standard: “Over the last number of weeks EirGrid have published their plans for a new application to an Bord Pleanála where they are looking to build 401 new pylons over five counties. However EirGrid have not walked the full route so they don’t know what damage they could do to wildlife and protected species in the surrounding areas.”

Councillor Bannigan went on: “The recent launch of new farming schemes shows certain requirements are needed in order to be granted acceptance to the scheme, and this means land will be let go wild for Gaming and Wild Bird cover. So if a farmer on the grid is planning to let some of their crops go wild in order to meet these certain requirements, then the Department of Agriculture must help out, and if several farmers along the grid do this then it can slow up the process with An Bord Pleanála, and on the other hand you have the Department for Energy trying to let this interconnector grid go up. It doesn’t make sense as on one hand the government is trying to help farmers and this means let land go wild, and on the other hand, the government is trying to let EirGrid go ahead. So it’s the government versus the government.”

Brendan Smith T.D.

BRENDAN SMITH TD

Fianna Fáil T.D. for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has criticised the Communications Minister Alex White for refusing to consider a motion by Monaghan County Council calling for the cessation of work on the North/South Interconnector so that the project could be undergrounded. The motion came on foot of comments made by EirGrid’s Chief Executive during a meeting of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, when he admitted that the undergrounding of the lines was technically feasible.

Deputy Smith commented, “I am extremely disappointed by Minister Alex White’s stance on this issue.  Despite submitting a range of Parliamentary Questions raising concerns about the fact that the underground option was not being considered, he failed to give any straight answers, choosing to evade the specific questions.

“The North-South interconnector is an extremely contentious issue here on the border. People have grave concerns about the fact that the Government appears to be content to press ahead with the overhead lines option, without giving due consideration to the possibility of undergrounding them.  This is despite the fact that the head of EirGrid told the Oireachtas Communications Committee that it is technically feasible to put the lines underground.

“It is extremely unfair that the Government is continuing to refuse a review of the North-South interconnector plans, especially in light of the fact that the other two Grid Link projects are being reconsidered.  People here feel as if they are being ignored by this Government, which is refusing to take their concerns on board, and is now even refusing to give credible answers to Parliamentary Questions, and has now effectively passed the buck back to Eirgrid.

“I am very disappointed with the Minister’s evasive and hands-off approach to this issue.  There has been a substantial reduction in the potential cost of the undergrounding project, yet Minister White is refusing to reconsider.  This is not good enough and the people of Cavan and Monaghan will simply not accept it. I will be continuing to put Minister White under pressure to review this project to ensure a safe and secure energy supply for people living on the border”, Deputy Smith concluded.

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent decision by EirGrid to submit a planning application for the North South Interconnector without consideration being given to the options of undergrounding this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Brendan Smith.

REPLY
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White)
In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link (GL) and Grid West (GW) projects. While the North South Transmission Line project (N/S) is outside the IEP’s Terms of Reference, the IEP did agree, on foot of a request by my predecessor, to provide an opinion on the compatibility of the methodologies, to be employed on the GL and GW projects with what had already been done on the N/S project up to and including 2 May 2014, being the date that the IEP decided to examine the N/S project.

Having considered and discussed all of the material, the Panel issued a statement on 1 July 2014, indicating its unanimous opinion that, in all material respects, what had already been done on the N/S project is compatible with the methodologies being employed on the GW and GL projects.

On 27 March 2015 EirGrid published a new independently peer reviewed draft Strategy which allows for the achievement of an optimal balance between the competing demands of publicly consulting on necessary network development, choosing the best emerging technology options for that development, and minimising new build. The draft strategy found that there remains a clear need for the North South transmission line, and that the existing proposal for a 400kV overhead line remains the most appropriate solution for the project.

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