Worklifeissue33

THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

ISSUE 33 • SPRING-SUMMER 2016

RISING REMEMBERED

1916 Rising centenary

PUBLIC SECTOR PAY AND PERCEPTIONS THE PLOUGH & THE STARS DIGGING DEEP IN MANILA

ALSO INSIDE NEW UNION PROJECT. RISING FASHION. UNIONS AT THE MOVIES. KING TRUMP. FRONGOCH FINAL. SICILIAN TRAVELS. PLUS BOOKS, NEWS, PRIZES AND MORE.

www.impact.ie

In this issue

work &life Spring-Summer 2016 WORK

LIFE

12.

4.

PUBLIC SERVICE MARTINA O’LEARY visits the links day centre in St. Fintan’s in Laois.

6.

10.

14.

18.

20.

38.

34.

42.

IMPACT PEOPLE Meath man Stephen O’Hare has a double in Croker.

44.

OUR MAN IN MANILA

NEWS

YOUR CAREER Competency models and how they’re used to determine the right candidate for the job.

INTERNATIONAL King or Joker? LUGHAN ODLUM DEANE looks at the momentum of Donald Trump’s campaign.

Work & Life is produced by IMPACT trade union's Communications Unit and edited by Niall Shanahan.

Front cover: Actor Sarah Greene, as Dublin Castle civil servant May Lacy, in RTÉ’s five-part 1916 commemorative drame Rebellion.

Photo appears courtesy of RTÉ.

Contact IMPACT at: Nerney's Court, Dublin 1.

Phone: 01-817-1500.

Email: info@impact.ie

40.

40.

40.

Muno branch member Mark Crosbie’s mission in the Phillipines.

22.

24.

26.

PHOTO ALBUM Training, conferences and Easter fundraising fun with the Carlow branch.

THE PLOUGH & THE STARS NIALL SHANAHAN talks to the director of the Abbey Theatre’s production of O’Casey’s classic play.

NEW UNION PROJECT Three presidents gather to discuss the New Union Project ahead of their union conferences.

PUBLIC SERVICE PAY & PERCEPTIONS BERNARD HARBOR makes a welcome return to Work & Life and looks at the issue of pay.

TRAVEL Scintillating Sicily.

RISING FASHIONS PATRICIA O’MAHONY looks at an exhibition about the women of the 1916 Rising.

TRADE UNIONS IN THE MOVIES LUGHAN ODLUM DEANE looks at how trade union stories have been told in film.

41.

41.

41.

IMPACT EDUCATION CONFERENCE CHILDCARE NEEDS INVESTMENT – ICTU PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES – IMPACT CAMPAIGN SNA CAREER DEVELOPMENT ONE CORK PROJECT DEPARTMENT EXAMINE RETIREMENT

PRIZES

46.

47.

FOOD MARGARET HANNIGAN on how to nourish our immune system.

SPORT The other 1916 All-Ireland final, played behind barbed wire.

Win €50 in our prize quiz.

Rate Work & Life and win €100.

Work & Life magazine is a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports the Office of the Press Ombudsman. In addition to defending the freedom of the press, this scheme offers readers a quick, fair and free method of dealing with complaints that they may have in relation to articles that appear in our pages. To contact the Office of the Press Ombudsman go to www.pressombudsman.ie or www.presscouncil.ie

Designed by: N. O'Brien Design & Print Management Ltd. Phone: 01-864-1920 Email: nikiobrien@eircom.net Printed by Boylan Print Group.

Advertising sales: Niki O’Brien.

Phone: 01-864-1920.

Unless otherwise stated, the views contained in Work & LIfe do not necessarily reflect the policy of IMPACT trade union.

Work & Life is printed on environmentally friendly paper, certified by the European Eco Label. This magazine is 100% recyclable.

All suppliers to Work & Life recognise ICTU-affiliated trade unions.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

1

IMPACT AND THE RISING - FOUR LIVES

THE BIG PICTURE

In a new series to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, we look at the role played by four members of the various unions that form today’s IMPACT organisation. These stories have been drawn together in a new publication, ‘Four Lives’, written by IMPACT general secretary SHAY CODY, and was launched by IMPACT in January 2016 (see page 9). In this summarised extract, we look at the story of Seán Connolly.

That was then The 1916 Rising MONDAY On Easter Monday, Monday 24th April, about 1,200 members of the Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army and Cumann na mBan gather at several locations in central Dublin.

A joint force of about 400 Volunteers and Citizen Army gather at Liberty Hall and march to the General Post Office (GPO) on O’Connell Street, occupy the building and hoist two republican flags. Padraig Pearse reads the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

Photo by RollingNews.ie

TUESDAY

THE centenary of the 1916 Rising was marked by a number of commemorative events all around the country in March. Thousands of people gathered for the commemoration ceremony at the GPO in Dublin’s O’Connell Street. The event was marked by a minute’s silence and a reading of the Proclamation. The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, is pictured in preparation for the wreath- laying at the GPO on Easter Sunday.

STRANGE WORLD ARTHUR SHIELDS was 19 years old when he fought alongside Pearse and Connolly in the GPO during the 1916 Rising. Following his internment at Frongoch he continued to pursue an acting career. In 1936, John Ford brought him to the United States to act in a film version of The Plough and the Stars. Alongside his Oscarwinning brother, Barry Fitzgerald, Shields had a long career in the movie industry.

Shields played the role of the deacon, Mr. Parry, in Ford’s 1941 drama How Green Was My Valley.

Appearing alongside him, as Ianto Morgan, was an actor named John Loder. Loder was born William John Muir Lowe in London in 1898, the son of General WHM Lowe, to whom Padraig Pearse gave the surrender in Moore Street in 1916.

The young Loder, on leave from the war in Europe, stands next to his father in the famous photograph of Pearse’s surrender. He escorted Pearse to prison, instructing his driver to keep going until Pearse had time to complete letters to his family. Pearse, moved by this act of kindness, thanked Loder by giving him the badge from his cap O

2

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

BORN IN 1883, Connolly’s father was a sailor, later employed on the docks. The family moved to the north inner city shortly after Connolly’s birth. At school he became a fluent Irish speaker and, following his education, he became a messenger in Dublin Corporation. He was eventually promoted to a clerical position in the Motor License department in City Hall.

Lord Wimborne, the Lord Lieutenant, declares martial law and hands over civil power to Brigadier-General William Lowe. City Hall is taken from the rebel unit in Dublin Castle (lead by Sean Connolly) on Tuesday morning.

Connolly was also a part-time actor. A month before the Rising he played the lead role in James Connolly’s play, Under Which Flag, in its first performance at Liberty Hall. Reviewers praised Connolly’s performance.

Thousands of British reinforcements begin to arrive into Dublin. By the end of the week, they number over 16,000 men.

He joined the Irish Citizen Army after the 1913 Lockout, became a Company Captain and was a regular at the company drills in Fairview.

WEDNESDAY

He was on the clerical staff of Dublin Corporation and his family suggests he may have been a member of the Dublin Corporation Labourers’ Trade Union (later known as the Irish Municipal Employees’ Trade Union).

On Wednesday, 26th April, the patrol vessel Helga at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay begins shelling Liberty Hall. Guns at Trinity College begin firing on other rebel positions.

Helena Moloney, secretary of the Irish Women Workers’ Union and Citizen Army member, also worked with Connolly in the Abbey theatre. She recalled Seán Connolly leading a company from Liberty Hall on Easter Monday; “I, with my girls, followed Seán Connolly and his party. We went right up to the Castle gate, up the narrow street. Just then a police Sergeant came out and, seeing our determination, he thought it was a parade, and that it was probably going up Ship Street. When Connolly went to go past him, the Sergeant put out his arm; and Connolly shot him dead.”

Connolly ordered his comrades to enter City Hall. The roof offered a good vantage point, and their role was to keep the British Army under fire for as long as possible.

Dr Kathleen Lynn recalled the action at City Hall. “When I got in Seán Connolly said it would be better if some of us went up on the roof in case an attack might take place there. It was a beautiful day, the sun was hot and we were not long there when we noticed Seán Connolly coming towards us, walking upright, although we had been advised to crouch and take cover as much as possible. We suddenly saw him fall mortally wounded by a sniper’s bullet from the Castle. First aid was useless.

He died almost immediately.”

Connolly was the first insurgent killed in action during the rising. He was survived by wife Christina and three children. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin O

The GPO, Four Courts, Jacob’s Factory and Boland’s Mill are surrounded and bombarded. Snipers attack the position at St Stephen’s Green.

THURSDAY British troops, enraged at the rate of British casualties, break into houses along North King Street. and shoot or bayonet a number of unarmed male civilians whom they accuse of being rebel fighters.

FRIDAY Forced to evacuate a burning GPO, rebel forces make their way under heavy fire to take up a new position at 16 Moore Street.

SATURDAY On Saturday 29th April, from this new headquarters, Pearse issues an order for all companies to surrender, after realising that they could not break out of their position without further loss of civilian life. Pearse surrenders unconditionally to BrigadierGeneral Lowe O

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

3

IMPACT IMP PACT T people

A Double at Croker

Photo by Conor Healy.

O

Interview by Martina O’Leary.

X

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

5

1916 centenary

The Caustic and the Humane The Abbey Theatre’s new staging of Sean O’Casey’s classic The Plough and the Stars is part of the national theatre’s programme of events marking the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The play has never ceased to divide audiences since its debut in 1926, which partly explains its continuing power to draw an audience. NIALL SHANAHAN spoke to director Sean Holmes about his approach to the play and what the play is saying to a 2016 audience.

FIRST STAGED in 1926, a decade after the events of the 1916 Rising, Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars provoked riots and protest in the Abbey Theatre when it first opened.

Relatives of those who took part in the Rising, among others, took exception to their depiction by O’Casey.

WB Yeats took to the Abbey stage to admonish the protesters: "You have disgraced yourselves again; is this to be the recurring celebration of the arrival of Irish genius?”, a reference to riotous protests when Synge’s Playboy of The Western World opened in 1907.

Janet Moran as Mrs Gogan.

was suspicious of the sort of romantic strain of nationalism and how that strain seemed to influence Connolly and the Citizens’ Army,” he says.

Does staging the play in 2016 come with a weight of expectation or a certain amount of baggage? ”Obviously it does, because it’s the hundredth anniversary, and I’m English, so that’s an interesting thing. My grandad was Irish and I spent a lot of time here as a kid so I’m aware of the continuing, complicated relationship between the two countries, and of the closeness of that relationship too.

crafted was a caustic but also humane perspective on the 1916 Rising.”

Striking the balance between the caustic and the humane is a challenge for any director staging this iconic play, and some productions have collapsed under the weight of historical baggage the play carries with it. Sean Holmes is a native of Woking, Surrey, and is artistic director of the Lyric Hammersmith in London. He’d never seen a production of the play previously, something which may well prove to have been an advantage.

“On its own the hundredth anniversary is a really bad starting point to direct the play, because you could end up with a museum piece that’s not really investigating the play. I think if the play was an argument with Ireland in 1926, it’s really important that we’re true to O’Casey by making it an argument with Ireland in 2016,” he says.

Argument The writer’s job is not to provide the answers but to ask the hard questions and I think that’s definitely what O’Casey does in this play.

Photos: courtesy of the Abbey Theatre

I met with Sean the day before the play opened and asked him about his take on the play and his view that it was written from a place of anger. “I think the play is an argument with Ireland and is as much to do with 1926, and the first few years of the Free State, as it is to do with 1916. It’s also about the portrayal of what O’Casey hoped an independent Ireland might be.

“The title of the play refers to an alternate national flag and, therefore, an alternate society. The play presents a society that is very far removed from a socialist one. O’Casey has a socialist banner, the Irish equivalent of the hammer and sickle, and is writing from the point of view where the Russian revolution has already happened and there is a country in the world that has achieved, as he would have seen it at that time, something close to the ideal of what he might want. I think he ‰

Holmes does not claim to be the authority on the argument “But I’ve got a cast full of people who may be the authority. They’re mostly young and they’ve grown up with both the post-crash realities and massive changes in Irish society.”

Lloyd Cooney as Lieutenant Langon.

O’Casey’s play is, by no means, a simple telling of the Rising story. It reveals a complicated mix of grinding poverty, nationalist fervour, socialist ideals and the backdrop of war in Europe in the tenements of working class Dublin in 1916.

Historian Diarmaid Ferriter observes that O’Casey “was well placed to offer an alternative to the heroic narrative; what he

Modern vision

Nyree Yergainharsian as Rosie Redmond.

The latest Abbey production exists in a conspicuously modern setting, something that is bound to upset at least some members of the audience. But Holmes warns against the comfortable distance of a more traditional looking set. “If you present the play in a facsimile of a tenement house in 1916, it cannot have the impact that the play had when it was first continued on page 8

6

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

‰ 7

1916 centenary David Ganly (left) as Fluther Good and Mahnoor Saad as Mollser.

1916 centenary “The character of The Young Covey is, politically, closest to O’Casey himself and his vision of a world socialist revolution.

He’s also a complete dickhead, and maybe (like a lot of us on the left) has a lot of compassion for humanity and very little compassion for humans.

“The scene in the pub with Rosie Redmond reveals this. If there’s anyone a committed socialist should have empathy for it’s a prostitute, who’s likely to be a victim of economic circumstances and an unfair social system. Of course, he despises her and finds her revolting. So O’Casey’s very smart on skewering everybody in the play.”

Kate Stanley Brennan as Nora Clitheroe (right) and Eileen Walsh as Bessie Burgess.

Holmes (pictured centre) with actors Ciaran O’Brien and Ian Lloyd Anderson in rehearsal.

“The cast are mostly young and they’ve grown up with both the post-crash realities and massive changes in Irish society”.

staged. We all want to live in stripped back centrally-heated Georgian townhouses now. The aesthetic of a tenement house today is not too far from a trendy bar.

“When I say contemporary, there are no mobile phones in the play, but we’re not looking at it thinking ‘oh that’s what things were like then’ instead of ‘these things still exist now’. The production isn’t stuck in its period.

“There have been great productions of the play in the past that use the period in an interesting way. I think, at this moment in time, you have to find a way to challenge that.

What is Ireland now? What does it mean to be Irish? Was the promise of 1916 delivered or failed on? Are there still children living in extreme poverty? Are there still women walking the streets because they haven’t got any other options? Is there still a problem with alcohol?

Skewer The new production features some outstanding performances, including a comic turn by Ciarán O’Brien as The Young Covey, the socialist idealist who delights in his mixture of open scorn and mockery for most of the other characters in the play.

8

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

IMPACT’s Four Lives was launched in January and features the stories of Eamonn Ceannt, Seán Connolly, Harry Nicholls and Con O’Donovan, all members of the forerunner organisations that formed IMPACT. The booklet was compiled and written by IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody.

Ceannt, Connolly and Nicholls were workers and trade union members that played distinct roles in the events of the Rising.

O’Donovan was a student who later became an activist and was elected to the highest office in his trade union.

Similarly, Eileen Walsh’s superb performance as Bessie Burgess underscores the latent anger of those whose family members are dying in the trenches in Europe, while quietly demonstrating huge empathy for her tenement neighbours.

Shay Cody pictured with former IMPACT general secretaries Peter McLoone and Phil Flynn.

The launch was attended by members of the Ceannt, Connolly and O’Donovan families and launched by Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who was Minister of State for Culture prior to the general election in February.

Projection The greatest discovery, as it turns out, was his deepened appreciation for O’Casey the writer. “My admiration for him has really grown. I think he’s the equal of Chekov. His understanding of dramatic image, of irony, of contrast, of bravery, of challenge… it’s extraordinary.”

Éanna Ó Conghaile, grandson of Sean Connolly.

So what does he take away from the experience? “The longer I’ve been working in Dublin on this production, the more I realise that everyone’s got a different opinion about 1916. The centenary is a brilliant event for projecting your own point of view onto.

IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody, Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and IMPACT president Jerry King featuring the portrait of Harry Nicholls, one of the ‘four lives’ featured in the booklet.

“My point of view is that I’m being true to O’Casey’s point of view. His view was that the Rising was a complicated, messy, contradictory event and he’s challenging the easy pieties and the mythologising that surrounds it. That’s what I always try to do with any play. Because the best writers take our assumptions and say ‘this isn’t really true. We’re lying to ourselves’.”

Shay said the booklet is not a comprehensive account, rather that the four lives are a sample. “They were participants and witnesses to events that shook the nation and that also laid the ground for the turbulent years that followed. These were the years that would lead, ultimately, to the creation of an Irish state.”

The Plough and The Stars runs at The Abbey Theatre until 23rd April before touring to Cork, Wexford, Limerick, and Galway.

See abbeytheatre.ie for more details l

Copies of the booklet are currently being distributed to all IMPACT branches and copies will also be available at the union’s conference in Killarney in May l

Ed Penrose, Irish Labour History Society and member of IMPACT’s CEC supervisors branch.

Mary Gallagher, a grandniece of Eamonn Ceannt.

Seamus Fitzpatrick, retired member, Dublin City branch.

Stephen O'Neill shows the medals awarded to his grandfather John O'Neill, secretary of No. 1 Branch of ITGWU and a founder member of Irish Citizens Army. O’Neill fought at the GPO and was a prisoner in Frongoch after the Rising.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

9

Photos: Conor Healy

“The writer’s job is not to provide the answers but to ask the hard questions and I think that’s definitely what O’Casey does in this play.”

IMPACT recalls role of members in the Rising

Global solidarity

“In Dublin I drive a van and we empty the public bins around the city. Mel works in the streets in the area where he lives, and some of the streets are just a couple of feet wide, with market stalls and scooters all around you. We worked with a handcart that weighed like a Sherman tank,” he says.

Mark Crosbie had just returned from a family trip to Florida earlier this year when he got the call to join a TV documentary crew in the Philippines. At first he thought it was a practical joke by some of his friends in Dublin City Council’s cleansing department. What followed was a life changing experience as Mark found out what it’s really like to work in the world’s toughest place to be a street sweeper. He spoke to NIALL SHANAHAN.

Wading in – Mark takes a breather after raking out the sewage.

“I THOUGHT it was a wind-up” explains Mark Crosbie as he begins to tell his story. “I got a call from work. They said ‘we’re thinking of flying you over to Bangladesh for a job’. I thought it was a like a prank call from Gareth O’Callaghan on the radio.”

But it wasn’t a prank call. A TV production company were looking for someone with Mark’s background to go and spend some time with a family in Manila to find out what it’s like to work there as a ‘palero’ or street cleaner.

“A friend of mine Thomas Daly, also a member of IMPACT, had featured in Darndale on the edge of Town on TV3. The producers asked Thomas if he could recommend someone with an interest in social justice and who’d be up for a task.

“Tommy put my name forward without me knowing anything about it. He explained to me what it was all about. My daughter encouraged me to do it. I thought it would just be like my own job. They asked me if I’d be up for hard, physical work and I said yes, no problem,” he explains.

Main photo: dreamstime.com

The TV show, World’s Toughest Place To Be A... originated at the BBC and features workers taking on their own line of work in poorer countries, such as bin collecting in Jakarta, trawler fishing in Sierra Leone, and driving a bus in Manila.

Mel & Merly After receiving his inoculation shots for diphtheria and yellow fever, Mark travelled for 36 hours with the TV crew. After a night’s rest at a hotel, Mark was placed in a family home in one of Manila’s working class districts, Botocan in Quezon City (QC).

10

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Photos: courtesy of Motive TV

Our man in Manila

“The daily routine involved going out with the paleros and the film crew. Mel’s shift would start at 6am and he works until 12, six days a week. The idea was that he would show me his route and all the various jobs he has to do each day, then I would take over his shift for a day to give him a day off.

Valued Mark was struck by the attitude of the local population toward the paleros. “They really respect them, the six paleros in the Botocan district are valued members of their communities because they keep the place clean.

“Mel also deals with sewage waste, the sewers are open, like a stream, and waste drops directly from the houses into this stream. It can get blocked up so he has to rake it out at different locations to keep it flowing, sometimes the water level is higher than his boots so the water and waste gets in,” he explains.

Picking through the landfill for valuable recyclables at Smoky Mountain.

QC is the most populous city in the Philippines and the most populated local government unit in the country. Daily temperatures regularly exceed 30 degrees and humidity of 70%.

“I lived with a family of eight. Mel, his wife Merly and their six kids. Mel works for the local authority, for a salary of €60 a month. Their home was very basic, built with concrete blocks and a corrugated iron roof. The main room was about nine feet long and seven feet wide, with a ladder that led to a similar sized room above that.

I was staying in a room next door, through a hole in the wall with a cardboard partition.

Their living conditions came as a shock to me, it was something I wasn’t really prepared for.

“I was staying in a room next door, through a hole in the wall with a cardboard partition. Their living conditions came as a shock to me, it was something I wasn’t really prepared for.

The bathroom was separated by a curtain, with just a hole on the ground and a tap on the wall.

Mark didn’t shy away from the task, and kept the crew laughing with his unique sense of humour. “I was happy doing the work and I’d be cracking jokes with the crew saying things like ‘The beatings will continue until morale improves!’ while I was raking the sewage. I like to listen to the radio on headphones when I’m working in Dublin, and I turned to the crew and said, ‘Imagine being up shit creek and having to listen to Joe Duffy?’

“I was willing to do the same work with the same equipment the lads use, to show I was up for the challenge. But the TV crew had bought me a proper set of waders for safety, so at the end of the shoot we gave our boots and waders to the local palero crew.”

Mark also donated all of his clothes and travelling expenses to his hosts, Mel and Merly.

The Sherman Tank – Mel and Mark (left) working with their handcart in Botocan.

“The people I met have nothing, no luxuries, none of the things we’d take for granted, but they are so welcoming, they took such good care of me. They seemed genuinely glad to have me there.

“Everyone called me ‘Hey Joe’ around the neighbourhood, like the Jimi Hendrix song. I went to mass one morning and the local priest told the whole community who I was, and the warmth and hospitality was instant. The camera crew would leave us in the evening and the community and the family looked after me. It was humbling,” Mark says.

Smoky Mountain IMPACT’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) has approved a donation from IMPACT’s Global Solidarity Fund for one of the projects that Mark visited in Manila. KNK operates Alternative Learning System (ALS) activities in Payatasu or "Smoky" Mountain District, which is known for child labour in landfill heaps. KNK Children Centre offers educational opportunities to children in these locations who can't go to school, and educational programs that foster leadership and cooperation through volunteer activities.

Mark is also organising a fundraising event later in the year for the Smoky Mountain project.

Details of the fundraiser will be included in a future IMPACT ebulletin.

Community games – Relaxing in the evening with a game of darts.

Toughest Place to Be A Street Cleaner is scheduled to air on RTE on 18th April l

“Merly had a one ring cooker and she’d cook rice three times a day with a bit of fish or chicken. They had no dining table, just a bench. Some family members would eat standing up.

And you’d be very conscious of things like rodents and insects not too far away, they were like a welcoming committee! But the family were oblivious to it, it’s an everyday thing. ‰

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

11

Public services

Support, care and independence has been struggling with their mental health, with their life, as they are able to progress, as they are able to get more confidence, start to get more self-esteem and believe in themselves,” explains Joe.

St Fintan’s in Portlaoise provides a vital daily rehabilitation service for people in Laois and Offaly. The caring and active environment provided by the centre plays a key role in the delivery of mental health services by maintaining the independence of its clients. MARTINA O’LEARY paid a visit to find out more.

Fiona McGlynn is a sector administrator in the region. “The mental health service has grown and improved over the years, even since I came here, the community services are so much better, you can see the difference.”

Joe adds, “These facilities are so important to clients. A lot of the clients are isolated, it goes hand in hand with their illness.

If they didn’t have somewhere to come, they would find it very difficult, and they would relapse a lot more. It’s not just here, there are lots of places like this around the country.

Tina Kelly, Laois branch secretary, works in the hospital’s payroll section, catering to more than 400 staff in the region’s mental health service. “Most of my time is spent dealing with staff, because I’m in an open office. Clients are coming in and out, which is nice. The clients are involved in everything. It’s meant to be like a home from home and it certainly feels like it,” she says.

The links centre is a day centre for the rehabilitation service within the Laois-Offaly HSE mental health service. There are similar services throughout the country. “We have between 28 and 35 people attending here on a daily basis. They come in for review by the mental health team, for group or individual work, for active rehabilitation or for a chat and a tea or coffee with their friends”, explains Joe.

Workshop

Clients busy in the workshop.

Henry Hennessy is the IMPACT Laois branch chairperson, and works as the carpentry workshop instructor. This is just one of the services provided to clients at the links centre. The workshop is a hive of activity. The air buzzes with the sound of sanding equipment as clients are busy making high quality flower planters and garden benches.

management groups, and a social kitchen where the clients can learn how to cook different dishes, learn about hygiene, table setting and budgeting.

Clients visiting the centre range in age from 22 to 80. The service operates Monday to Friday during normal business hours. While they don’t open on Christmas or St Patrick’s days, they are open on some bank holidays, as long weekends can be lonely for some clients.

Clients from the links centre spend about two hours each in the workshop each day, explains Henry. “You won’t necessarily have the same clients every day, but I’d always have two or three clients at any one time. I do basic woodwork and crafts with them. We make a lot of garden furniture, window boxes and picnic benches. We also have a furniture repair service open to the public,” says Henry.

“A lot of our clients are long-term patients, living independently in the local area. There are different activities taking place in the links centre each day, anyone who wants to come out to the workshop is welcome. The centre also takes clients from the local department of Psychiatry. The centre is a step down from the dependency unit for some of our clients. They spend their day at the links centre, where there are lots of activities, and go back there in the evening. They are mainly young males, after being in hospital, they are striving to do something, but finding it difficult to get into gear,” explains Henry.

“They usually progress from small projects to bigger projects.

They will come to the workshops by themselves, they don’t need to be asked. Some are long-term patients, that may not necessarily make anything, but they come to the workshop for the social aspect, they come in and sit and watch,” says Henry.

Activities Frances Maher, Tina Kelly, Henry Hennessy and Fiona McGlynn, all working in St. Fintan’s.

12

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

The centre provides a wide range of activities to its clients.

These include hairdressing, chiropody, nail care, cookery classes, beauty therapy, art therapy, self-care classes, anxiety X

“People don’t fit into pegs, you have to provide a range of services. We provide a menu and a care plan for each client,” says Joe. “We have clients living at home who are stable for years who just need a little bit of support to keep them well. It’s the social aspect, it keeps them well. Because it’s a rehabilitation centre we have clients on a long term basis. We have people who have been in the service for years, they are part of the family,” says Joe.

“The value of day centres and hospitals around the country is underestimated, because these are the places that keep people out of hospital. If they were at home, they wouldn’t be seen. If they start to become unwell they might withdraw, or not come out. Because they are here, we know them, and we know when something’s wrong,” says Joe. “The whole purpose of the links centre is, as much as possible, that the clients can live a perfectly normally life in their own home by providing the extra support they need,” says Tina O

Rehabilitation “We have a cohort of young people coming through who are doing active rehabilitation.

They have been with us for a short period of time, we are hoping that those young people would move on to something else. Some have gone back to school or gone on to college or a different vocation. It’s not something that happens over a short period of time,” says Joe. “There’s no feeling like it, when you see someone who Henry Hennessy, instructor, (centre), with clients in the carpentry workshop.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

13

Picture by Michael Crean Photography.

THE FIRST thing that strikes me about the links centre at Saint Fintan’s is the fantastic atmosphere. Acting clinical nurse manager Joe Sheridan says while some stigma remains around the issue if mental health, it’s improving year on year.

“People have this image of mental health facilities being dull and not nice places, this is a bright open relaxing space for our clients,” he says.

New Union Project Photo: Conor Healy

All the presidents’ views The New Union Project is a proposal to combine the strength of almost 90,000 members of three unions representing members in the public service as well as the commercial sector and state agencies. NIALL SHANAHAN met with all three presidents of the unions involved to get their views on the potential of the project ahead of their respective annual delegate conferences.

PERSUADING THREE presidents to sit around the table to discuss the New Union Project was fairly easy. The real challenge surfaced when we tried to coordinate the meeting of these very busy union presidents, who are also full time public servants.

Tony Conlon (CPSU), Jerry King (IMPACT) and Maria Ryan (PSEU) are the most senior elected members of their respective trade unions at a time when proposals for a new union will be debated at each union’s conference during April and May. A special supplement about the New Union Project appeared in the winter edition of Work & Life. That document has now been developed into a conference paper and is available to download from the homepage of the IMPACT website (see impact.ie).

Tony is based in Sligo, where he works in the Pension Services Office, while Jerry labours in Mayo library services and Maria toils in the Customs service in Dublin. Tony and Jerry arranged to meet at the IMPACT office in Dublin, while Maria seized the opportunity to join us via Skype during a particularly busy day in customs.

Potential I began by asking them about their view on the potential of the New Union Project.

“My initial reaction was one of opposition, and that’s widely known,” says Tony. “I do see big potential in the unions coming together, but there are a lot of obstacles to overcome.

As the discussion develops, I can see the benefits of having one union dealing with public and civil servants and, in my own case, I would see us as an expansion of the clerical grade, which is currently very strong in IMPACT. I think if we can overcome the obstacles there is great potential for negotiating future agreements,” he says.

Jerry says the New Union Project is something he’d never considered before the initiative came from ICTU. “The more I think about it, the more I think it’s an excellent idea, and I think it’s the way forward for the future. I think generally there’s been a positive reaction to it within IMPACT. I hope that will be borne out at our conference, where we’ll make a decision on a motion about continuing with the process.”

14

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Maria feels that, within her membership, there’s a lot of openness to the idea, “Certainly since the first paper was distributed (in January) it has created curiosity about the project. There’s an openness to bringing it to a point where the members will make a decision on it. There are still a lot of questions on how sections would work and what it all means.

Those questions can’t be answered today or tomorrow, but we can elaborate on the intention behind the project - that it must be better than what we have now, it must be able to give better support and deliver better services to the membership,” she says.

Jerry adds, “I see the potential that’s created by coming together from mergers in other areas. In my own county of Mayo, I’ve seen the credit union services gain strength and continue to deliver the same levels of service to its members.

I think that size, in general, does matter, and it’s very important that we’d be able to have a greater influence generally.”

Tony agrees, “I’ve worked in the private and semi-state sectors and seen how unions operate. The bigger the trade union, the stronger its representation, and I think that’s the most positive aspect of what we’re talking about. As a large group of people, we can influence pay agreements for the benefit of a large group of members, rather than as smaller entities on the outside, with decisions being taken by bigger unions.”

Strength “I always refer to this as the New Union project because I see it, very much, as something new,” says Maria. “If we were starting from scratch, with no unions in the public service, what would we build? That it is something new, something that hasn't existed before.”

Jerry agrees, “If you were starting from scratch, you probably wouldn’t have multiple unions representing staff in the public sector, you’d have a single, larger body doing that work. For example, if we had been working together in 2009, would we have done better than as we were? We fought a good fight but could we have done better? That is a question that we must ask. It is about shared strength,” he adds. ‰

A presidential chat (L to R): Tony, Maria and Jerry, photographed at IMPACT's Dublin office.

The conference paper is available at www.impact.ie.

Debate All three are expecting, and hoping for, a robust debate at their union’s annual delegate conference. “I’m hoping for a good debate at the conferences, so that we can understand what the members concerns are. I also hope that the debate is conducted in a respectful manner, where everyone is heard,” says Maria.

Jerry says the most important views are from those who feel, for whatever reason, the project wouldn’t work. “There’s no point in going into something without considering all the possible pitfalls and consider those at this early stage.

“I recently visited Fagforbundet, the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees which has 315,000 members. I asked what they think about forming a larger union as they’re the product of a merger. They said that, at certain times, to pursue certain niche objectives, smaller unions can be an advantage. But ultimately, if you want to protect public services, if you want to shape society, if you want to have a position of great strength in the country, then a new union entity would be far more advantageous. They advised us, if you want to affect society, you should look to grow.”

Tony adds, “I’d be surprised and disappointed if there wasn’t a robust debate. I believe in getting your arguments out onto the floor. If we’re debating it on the floor then we’re all learning more about what we’re discussing. The early meetings about the New Union Project were robust and they settled into a very progressive and positive piece of work, with great contributions from everyone involved. I think that this could develop into something big.”

A decision for members Beyond the conference debates, Maria, Jerry and Tony are agreed that any change must ultimately be a decision for members.

“The crucial element in all of this is that it will be the members who ultimately decide, not their executives. That’s what members want to know. Whenever we get to the point where members can make a fully informed decision about it, that’s trade unionism at its best, working properly,” says Tony.

Maria adds; “The other important thing is that we are both providers and users of public services and we must work to protect those services. It’s not just about us, it’s about protecting those services, and we have a valuable service to deliver. It’s part of our ethos, part of who we are.”

Jerry concludes; “We should be building up the public service and striving for excellence, and sometimes we’re prevented from doing that when cuts are made. If they come along to do that again, will we be strong enough to resist them?” l WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

15

Opinion

Branch activities

Size and sustainability

Getting personal in Donegal

IMPACT member Kieran Rose is an urban planner and has been a vocal critic of revisions to the sizing guidelines on building new apartments. Here he outlines the case against recent revisions to apartment size guidelines, which he describes as “a massive leap backwards.”

The Donegal Health and Welfare branch of IMPACT continues its programme of creating additional benefits for its members, as part of the branch’s efforts to encourage members to become more involved in branch activities. Branch treasurer Dorothy Robinson, who works in St Conal’s Hospital in Letterkenny, writes about their experience of a series of personal development workshops last year.

The powerful opposition, however, never went away. It actually increased in recent years. Two new organisations, Property Industry Ireland and the Urban Land Institute, joined the longestablished opposition of the CIF. Their combined efforts to reverse the guidelines eventually bore fruit. In December 2015, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government published revised apartment standards that effectively directed Dublin and Cork planning authorities to reduce their apartment standards.

l 1 bed: 45m2 minimum

In 2006, Dublin City Council management put in place a process to improve our apartment standards and I was appointed to head up the project on a full-time basis. We engaged in a wide consultation and, while there was strong public support, there was dogged opposition from some property interests, such as the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).

Kieran Rose

Following the usual statutory public consultation the City Council adopted a Variation (No 21) to the Development Plan entitled ‘Achieving Liveable Sustainable New Apartment Homes’ in 2007. This stated that the key issue in relation to apartment housing quality/liveability “is the size or floor area of individual units. This is the envelope within which all the other qualities and facilities can be delivered.

“Designers shall ask themselves the question (and document the answer in the Housing Quality Assessment): "In very practical terms how does the proposed development accommodate satisfactorily e.g. a household of two adults and one or two children?”

The revised approach established the target for average floor area across a scheme of 85m2. The minimum floor areas were as follows: l 1 bed: 55m2 minimum l 2 bed: a range of 80m2 to 90m2 l 3 bed or equivalent: 100m2 minimum Other improved standards included a requirement for an increase in the number of dual aspect apartments, allowing for more light, in addition to usable balconies.

These improved standards were subsequently included in the Development Plans of Cork City Council and some of the other Dublin planning authorities.

16

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

l 2 bed: 73m2 minimum l 3 bed: 90m2 minimum Alarmingly, the department also introduced a new ‘studio’ or bedsit type unit, measuring just 40 square metres. The DECLG policy states: “it is a specific planning policy requirement that planning authorities facilitate the provision of studio apartment-type developments in certain specific circumstances.”

This is, sadly, a massive leap backwards to the 1995 standards.

The effect of the years of financial crisis has left colleagues feeling deflated and disillusioned. We wanted to do something that would help them feel more appreciated, and to find ways to motivate and inspire them. We also wanted to make sure that any activities would be accessible to members throughout the county.

Apartment standards may seem like an arcane matter but they have a huge and lasting effect on the quality of life for apartment dwellers. This significant reduction in apartment quality will affect the most vulnerable, particularly the elderly.

Alone, the voluntary organisation representing older people, said, “We would be concerned that it will be our older persons who end up living in these tiny studio apartments. Studies have shown us that older people spend more time in their home than any other demographic. The average 80 year old will spend 80 per cent of their day at home. They need a space that they can live in – not somewhere to just exist.”

There are two very strange aspects to this reduction in apartment standards. Unusually, for a planning policy, there was no public consultation. A Freedom of Information request reveals that the consultation, in this case, was private and confined to property interests and some professional bodies.

A very unusual feature of this reduction in apartment standards is that the department, in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2015, under a revised Section 28 (guillotined through parliament) gave itself extraordinary new powers. These powers allowed the department to make its policy decision unilaterally, without having to refer it to the Dáil and Seanad, as had been previously required. I have prepared a simple Bill that would reverse that decision and require consultation with the Oireachtas for such a drastic change in standards.

We proposed running ‘Personal Development in the Workplace’ workshops in four locations across the county, and our research led us to Talent Fusion, based in Galway. The idea behind the workshops was to assist members in preparing for interviews while, at the same time, provide training in some skills that would also be of benefit in their workplace roles.

Main photo: dreamstime.com

IN THE 1990s and early 2000s there was increasing public disquiet at the quality of apartment building. Often described as ‘shoe-boxes’, the minimum space permitted for a one bedroom apartment was a cramped 38 square metres. Interiors were often gloomy, corridors long and narrow and balconies were not a usable feature. Many argued that we were allowing the tenements of tomorrow to be constructed.

We worked with Ger Colleran to produce a tailored agenda for a one day workshop. We covered topics such as CV and interview preparation, public speaking, addressing expectations and confidence building. We hosted four workshops, catering for up to 20 members each, throughout September 2015, and were delighted to get a full attendance of members at each one.

day, and Ger summed up the approach with a reminder that “participation is encouraged but not enforced!” Ger’s engaging and relaxed style ensured everyone became involved.

Photos: Dorothy Robinson.

WE’RE ALWAYS looking for ways to bring benefits to our members and to help them become more involved in branch activities.

In recent years we’ve hosted information days, including talks on superGer Colleran, Talent Fusion with annuation, tax and finance Dorothy Robinson and Jerry King. and exhibitor stands offering advice on health insurance, holiday insurance, social welfare, pensions, investments, union issues, and included basic health screening to members at these events.

The new DECLG policy states that it is a “specific policy requirement” that the following reduced floor areas now apply:

Attendees with Ger Colleran at the Letterkenny Workshop.

We supplied handouts of in-depth notes and a certificate for inclusion in each participant‘s personal development plan. All in all, the venture was deemed a success, and the members’ feedback was very positive. The branch would like to acknowledge management’s co-operation with these events and for facilitating staff to attend where possible l

We were also delighted that IMPACT president Jerry King accepted our invitation to attend the first workshop. Jerry and I facilitated the session on union awareness, addressing members’ expectations and enhancing members’ participation locally. It was a very busy and full

For the department to set minimum housing standards is entirely right. In this instance, they have instead set maximum standards and have ordered Cork and Dublin local authorities to comply.

Kieran Rose is a planner and member of the Dublin City branch.

He is a board member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and co-chair of GLEN. He is a candidate for Seanad Éireann on the NUI panel, see kieranrose.ie l WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

17

Opinion

Pay, perception and public services BERNARD HARBOR looks behind changing perceptions of civil servants’ pay and the value of public services.

NEWSPAPER PRINTING presses didn’t grind to a halt at the news that half our civil servants think they’re underpaid. No editor cried “hold the front page” when confronted with the results of a survey, which found that barely a quarter of them believe they are adequately rewarded for the work they do.

Yet, with public service pay back in the news less than a year after unions negotiated the Lansdowne Road Agreement, policymakers, commentators and union officials could do worse than spend an hour studying the 2015 Civil Service Engagement While the issue Survey, which was published earlier this year.

Nevertheless, and despite the fact that the survey was confined to the core civil service, it reveals something about what public servants are thinking right now. This at a time of increasingly vocal dissatisfaction – among unions and the people they represent – with elements of pay and the structure of public service remuneration.

Our perceptions of whether we’re paid fairly are informed by a number of things, including the way earnings are set. And there’s little doubt that the recent history of public service pay determination is a huge factor in the perception – as well as the reality – of unfairness in public service pay.

Despite the initial and limited pay restoration achieved by IMPACT and others in the Lansdowne Road deal, the imposition of the pension levy in 2009, followed by pay cuts in 2010, still looms of low pay in large in a scarred collective memory.

parts of the public service The discontent was compounded for earning over €65,000 a year by It’s no surprise that, when asked, certainly needs to be addressed, those the additional temporary pay cuts – due most civil servants consider themselves underpaid compared to talk of a ‘two-tier’ system is not to be clawed back from next year – which formed part of 2013’s Haddothers who do similar work. It’s a especially informative. ington Road deal. (Incidentally, the subjective view rather than the sur vey is silent on issues like incoutcome of real pay comparisons, reased working hours, which also remain live bones of and a similar study of workers in virtually any sector of the contention for many.) ‰ economy would probably yield similar results.

That said, some of our perceptions on public service pay have become slightly skewed. For instance, it has become accepted as fact that there are ‘two-tier’ pay scales across the civil and public service, condemning staff recruited after 2010 to earn 10% less than their colleagues throughout their careers.

Such divisive pay scales were indeed imposed (not agreed) in the dying days of the last Fianna Fáil-led Government. But IMPACT and other unions successfully negotiated the end of the two-tier system on foot of the Haddington Road deal in 2013.

New scales introduced then mean that staff recruited to most parts of the public service since 2011 (the situation for groups like firefighters and teachers, where allowances are a standard element of earnings, is slightly different) move onto pre-2011 scale points after two years – less in some cases – and then ascend the same pre-2011 incremental pay scales as everyone else in their grade.

touch appear and reappear in virtually every advanced economy regardless of the shape, size, cost or performance of its State sector. But in 2009 Ireland it was cranked up a number of gears. I recall one extreme example in which a journalist described public servants as “inherently dysfunctional people” who were “averse to the joy of living” and therefore “cling to monetary advantage.”

This was just one in a series of grotesque caricatures that individual public servants – ordinary people with ordinary families, doing ordinary jobs, usually for modest enough wages – still struggle to understand.

The fact that just 15% – less than one civil servant in every six – thinks the public respects and appreciates their work should cause great concern.

The effect is that, for most grades, everyone is on the same pay band, albeit with up to two additional pay points inserted at the bottom of the scales. So, while the issue of low pay in parts of the public service certainly needs to be addressed, talk of a ‘two-tier’ system is not especially informative.

There was another telling aspect of the Civil Service Engagement Survey that should inform policymakers trying to judge the mood among public servants. The fact that just 15% – less than one civil servant in every six – thinks the public respects and appreciates their work should cause great concern.

The survey doesn’t dig deeper to explore the thinking behind this shocking statistic. But it’s very likely that the media, political and public opprobrium they experienced at the outset of the crash has intensified the belief that public servants are undervalued. Indeed, it’s a credit to civil servants that, despite this history, the survey records their huge enthusiasm (73%) and pride (78%) in their work.

The undeserved stereotypes of public servants as overpaid, underworked and out-of-

Six years later, the tone and content of the public debate is, thankfully, quite different. Barring one or two Hezbollah in the commentariat, there is none of the venom of the 20092010 period. It’s now broadly recognised that, like others, public servants were hit hard by the crash and worked hard to rebuild the country. Most accept that there is a case for public service pay restoration, over time and in the context of financial realities and other priorities in society.

The trick over the coming months and years will be to retain that degree of public understanding, especially as we aspire to accelerate income restoration and increase badly-needed investment in our public services. That means communicating a legitimate case in ways that don’t antagonise the majority that lives and works outside the State sector l Bernard Harbor is IMPACT’s head of communications. He recently returned from a career break. The Civil Service Engagement Survey, 2015, is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available on www.per.gov.ie.

A version of this article recently appeared in the Irish Examiner.

Photo: dreamstime.com

18

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

19

Your career

Competencies can help you develop your career Isobel Butler describes how competency models are now used during recruitment to find the candidate who’s the best fit for the job, and how understanding this approach can facilitate your career progression.

OVER THE last twenty years organisations have moved to develop and use ‘competency frameworks’ for ensuring employees have the expertise and skills needed to allow the organisation deliver on its goals and respond to its changing environment.

Competency frameworks are structured models outlining the knowledge, skills and attributes that individuals need to have to successfully undertake the range of roles within the organisation. Each role competency outlines the set of behaviours that anyone filling that role should have.

‘Competency models’ are used during recruitment, selection and promotion to ensure that the candidate who is the best fit for the job is selected. They also play a role in managing performance, succession planning and ensuring that training and development programmes are customised and focused on essential knowledge and skill.

Career development competencies

Illustration: dreamstime.com

How ‘self-aware’ are you? Do you have a realistic understanding of your own strengths and abilities? Do you know how you are perceived by others? How can you acquire this awareness? Feedback helps develop self-awareness so seek feedback from co-workers, managers and interviews for which you were unsuccessful. Be self-reflective, adopt a constructive yet critical stance, identify those areas that you are strong in and those where you need to develop your knowledge, skills or experience.

Do you know what motivates you in a job? What aspects of work do you find most personally satisfying? Have you a clear understanding of your workplace culture and of the goals and values that dominate the field you work in? Are you up-todate on how this field is changing? Self-reflection can help you identify what really motivates you in a job, empowering you to match your preferences and strengths to the most suitable roles. ‰ 20

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Realistic vision Develop a clear but realistic vision of where you want to be. Use the feedback and guidance you have received to set development goals for yourself to achieve your career vision. If you plan to stay in your current organisation, try and align your goals with your organisations goals. Look for opportunities in your current role to meet your development goals. Are there aspects of your current role related competencies you need to gain more skill in?

Don’t be afraid to take on a more challenging role if it will expand your skill and confidence. Sometimes this could be as simple as dealing with changes in the workplace.

Are there projects or opportunities that would allow you to get the experiences you need, and that would help you to develop role related competencies to a higher level? Keep an eye on aspects of the work that is changing and be flexible with your career development plan.

Identify the competencies needed in the role you aspire to by accessing the organisation’s ‘competency framework’. In the absence of a formal framework, talk to your manager, and someone working in the role, about what they see as the essential competencies for success in that role. Organisations often have common competencies such as ‘team-working’, ‘problem solving’, ‘leadership’, ‘decision making and analysis’ but the behavioural descriptors for each role may differ.

As you move to more senior roles the competency may require a more in-depth or broader type of knowledge and the context within which you may be expected to exercise these may be more complex.

Career management Career management is about planning and shaping your own progression, so be proactive and seek developmental opportunities to ‘stretch’ and develop those competencies needed in the role you aspire to. Don’t be afraid to take on a more challenging role if it will expand your skill and confidence. Sometimes this could be as simple as dealing with changes in the workplace.

Workplace projects, work delegated from a manager, temporary secondment to another area and acting up are excellent ‘stretch’ opportunities that also provide relevant examples to include on future job applications or interviews. If your current role or organisation provides no relevant opportunities for you to work in situations and contexts that will allow you to ‘stretch’ and develop new competencies, then a move to another role or organisation may be the logical next step.

Career progression is increasingly being shaped by individuals and competency models can facilitate this.

Those who have successfully managed their own career development and progression often share a common set of ‘career development competencies’.

Becoming more self-aware, developing relationship management and goal setting skills, being flexible and actively practicing career management are all essential career development competencies.

How good are you at building useful connections and relationships from which you can draw support and insight as you work on career development? Have you access to a network of people that you can talk to about what should be the next step in your career or how best to develop the competencies for the role you aspire to? From whom can you get guidance on how your field is changing and developing? Seek out and make contact with those who can give you this information and guidance. Many people who have successfully managed their own career progression are often willing to mentor people who are trying to follow the same pathway.

‘Com pe durin tency m o g and p recruitm dels’ are the c romotio ent, sele used n andid c ate w to ensure tion for th e job ho is the that b is se lecte est fit d.

In today’s constantly changing world of work, flexibility is an essential competency and it’s also helpful at a personal level to overcome the inevitable challenges and roadblocks encountered on a career pathway. Having a clear career vision and set of goals helps confidence and flexibility in finding alternative routes. Be proactive, use your network and knowledge of the field to anticipate changes and prepare for them by developing essential postchange competencies.

Successful career development can be guided by professional and organisational ‘competency frameworks’. Mastering the ‘career development competencies’ outlined above will help you successfully plan your route and overcome any challenges you meet l Isobel Butler is an independent organisational psychologist who works with people on a wide range of workplace issues including conflict management, dealing with change and solving problems. If there are specific issues you’d like her to tackle in these articles send them in via the editor, Work & Life magazine, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1 or info@impact.ie.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

21

Fashion

Rising Uniformity

Nancy O’Rahilly

Elizabeth O’Farrell

Mary Spring Rice

Margaret Skinnider

PATRICIA O’MAHONY takes a look at a unique student design project exploring the theme of uniformity, which reflects on the role of Cumann na mBan during the 1916 Rising.

Constance Markievicz

Jennie Wyse Power

Winifred Carney

Julia Grenan

Siu Hong Mok Nora Connolly O’Brien

Christian Iannelli

Diana Kazimagomedova

THE 1916 Rising is featuring in various aspects of our lives this centenary year.

Numerous exhibitions, television documentaries, dramas, plays and musicals are all celebrating the lives of people who lived, and died, during this crucial period in the formation of our state.

The recent RTE drama Rebellion (which features on the cover of this edition of Work & Life) received mixed reviews. However, it was strong on visual content and generated a lot of interest in things like the clothes worn by the characters. The stark difference between the clothes worn by the upper classes and the working people was remarkable too, highlighting the inequalities of the time.

Photos: Courtesy of Griffith College

Honouring the women of 1916 One exhibition, Uniformity was a collaboration between Arnotts and second year design students in Griffith College, Dublin. Inspired by the women of Cumann na mBan and the Irish Volunteers, the students were challenged to explore the theme of uniformity and, from this, develop a fashion collection. It consists of 12 costumes, based on 12 female volunteers, with all designs developed through a process of drape and flat pattern cutting on military green woollen fabric. The students successfully capture distinctive features, and allow these features to inspire their creations.

Damien Byrne, Head of Creative at Arnotts, said “We were delighted to collaborate with Griffith College to honour some 22

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Katie Byrne

Róisín Bowling

Natasha McGregor Helena Moloney

Rosie Hackett

Safiye Salih Rose McNamara

Megan Lynch

of the women behind the 1916 Rising. Given our close proximity to the GPO, we felt it was important to celebrate and commemorate this moment in history through the lens of fashion. We have always endeavoured to nurture the talent of young Irish designers and I know that our customers will enjoy the contemporary clothing design interpretation of some of the women from the Rising. Each piece tells the story of these heroic women.”

Alexandra Hunt

Aurelie Yolande Payet

Boya Wang

Cathy McEvoy

For example, the hole in the dress designed by Roisin Bowling reminds us that Margaret Skinnider was shot three times while she was leading an arson attack on the British occupied Harcourt Street. According to records in the Glasnevin Trust, Scottish born teacher Skinnider cried when her coat was cut open to treat her bullet wounds. She went on to become President of the the INTO, in the fifties.

Nora Connolly O’Brien, daughter of James Connolly, who worked as a dressmaker, before becoming manager of her father’s publication, The Harp.

Nancy O’Rahilly was born in New York in 1878 and moved to Dublin in 1909. She joined Cumann na mBan in 1914 and was editor of An Claidheanih Soluis, the Gaelic League paper.

Christian Iannelli’s design, in honour of Countess Markievicz, features a statement pocket, “large enough for her powerful revolver which she kissed goodbye to so fondly, as she handed it over to British soldiers upon surrender.”

Julia Grenan, was another dressmaker and one of the three women who remained in the GPO. Rose McNamara, officer in command of the female detachment led the surrender of herself and 20 others.

Rosie Hackett was born in Dublin and lived in Bolton Street, later moving to Abbey Street. She was a co-founder of the Irish Women Workers Union (IWWU). She was part of the group that printed the first 1916 proclamation.

Also featured are designs inspired by midwife Elizabeth O’Farrell, the trade unionist and suffragette who was, for a long time, airbrushed from history as she stood next to Padraig Pearse during the surrender at Moore Street.

Helena Moloney was a member of the Irish Citizens Army in 1916 Rising, and president of the Irish Trade Union Congress in 1937. She was with Sean Connolly during the ill-fated mission at City Hall (see page 3).

Winifred Carney, trade unionist and suffragist, was the only woman present during the initial occupation of the GPO, which she entered armed with a typewriter and a Webley revolver. She was James Connolly’s personal secretary and confidant. ‰

Mary Spring Rice sailed on the Asgard to collect guns from Germany to be used in the Rising. While maintaining her aristocratic façade, which is captured in Safiye’s design, she trained nurses and acted as an IRA messenger.

Jennie Wyse Power, another one of the forgotten women, was born in Baltinglass but her family moved to Dublin when she was two. She ran a shop and restaurant at No. 21 Henry Street, a regular meeting place for revolutionaries. She was a founding member and first President of Cumann na mBan. All information about the Women of 1916 is sourced from the Glasnevin Trust and the Womens Museum of Ireland.

Further information on the exhibition is available at griffith.ie/womenof1916 l WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

23

Trade unions Windrush unwittingly confirms the management’s fears – that Kite and the union leaders have told workers to do as little as they can get away with. The ensuing turmoil, though, is exactly what the owners have wanted from the beginning.

Secretly, they own a separate weapons company and plan on using it to poach contracts. The central message is essentially pro-union, and Fred Kite’s suspicions turn out to be justified.

In the movies

Norma Rae

(1979)

Featuring an Oscar-winning performance by Sally Field, Norma Rae is an unskilled worker at a textile factory in North Carolina. Norma is based on a real woman named Crystal Lee Sutton. Director Martin Ritt’s aim here is to point out that, despite progress, the labour movement had not rid the American workplace of danger by the late 20th century.

Rather, the film argues, the workplace remains blighted with danger and injustice.

Silkwood

The Molly Maguires

Directed by Martin Ritt and starring Sean Connery, this movie tells the true story of a secretive and violent proto-union at a coal mine in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the 1870s.

Sometimes a Great Notion (1970) Directed by and starring Paul Newman, this adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel tells the story of a logging union’s strike in Wakonda, Oregon. The film focuses on the hostile divide between union and non-union workers.

Blue Collar

Directed by Mike Nichols, and based on the true story of Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), a trade union activist and whistleblower campaigning to raise awareness of the health risks associated with handling radioactive material.

(1978)

Directed by Paul Schrader and starring Richard Pryor alongside Harvey Keitel, this film looks at the links between a union and organized crime at a Detroit auto factory.

Matewan

(1983)

(1987)

Directed by John Sayles, this is a film about coal miners in the West Virginia of 1920. The Stone Mountain Coal Company controls the workers’ entire lives. The company says that it will import new workers to replace anybody who joins the union. The majority of the replacement miners are black and, aside from the usual tension around ‘scab’ labour, the entire film contains undertones of racial tension.

Sally Field as Norma Rae.

Germinal

How Green Was My Valley (1941) Directed by John Ford, and set in a Welsh mining town at the turn of the century, this film chronicles the impossibly tough lives of workers in early 20th century Britain. Working conditions and miner safety are central themes.

It examines attitudes towards unions and public fear over the influence of socialist thought, concern around the mechanisation of work and the environment. It also features performances by Arthur Shields and John Loder (see Strange World page 3).

The Pajama Game (1957) Directed by Stanley Donen and George Abbott, and adapted from the Broadway musical, it tells the story of a dispute at 24

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Bread and Roses

the ‘Sleeptite’ pajama factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Workers demand a 7.5c per hour wage increase. Factory boss, Myron Hasler, hires Sid Sorokin (John Raitt) to restore order to the facility.

(1959)

Directed by John and Roy Boulting, this is a cynical and comedic take on the union–management relationship in midtwentieth century Britain. It satirises what it sees as the Machiavellian tactics of big business and the incompetence and corruption of unions.

Missile factory owner Bertram Tracepurcel (Dennis Price) persuades his stupid nephew, Stanley Windrush (Ian Carmichael), to take a job at the factory. When management decide to conduct a time and motion study, the outlandishly suspicious, communist union boss Fred Kite (Peter Sellers) instructs his members not to cooperate. ‰

(2000)

Directed by Ken Loach, this film tells the true story of two immigrants who become involved in SEIU’s Justice for Janitors strike in Los Angeles in 1990.

Sid, however, falls for the factory workers’ union rep, Babe Williams (Doris Day). The dispute threatens to destroy their relationship. After a long process of industrial action and negotiation, they get together. The film seems to suggest unions ‘getting into bed’ with management, literally and metaphorically!

I’m Alright Jack

(1993)

Claude Berri’s adaptation of Emile Zola’s 19th century novel (starring Gerard Depardieu) tells the story of French coal miners’ attempts at forming a union during the 1860s.

Writing about pay bargaining in Work & Life last year, Johnny Fox recalled Sylvester Stallone negotiating in smoke-filled rooms in the 1978 film FIST. It prompted LUGHAN ODLUM DEANE to dig a little deeper and look at how trade union stories have been told in film.

AS IT turns out there is a wealth of trade union related stories embedded in cinema history. Modern cinema continues to return to stories of ordinary people organising together to overcome the odds, though largely through the lens of history.

The recent success of films like Pride and Made in Dagenham have shown there’s still an audience for these stories, continuing a cinematic theme that may well have started on the deck of the Battleship Potemkin in 1925.

(1970)

Peter Sellers as Fred Kite in I’m Alright Jack.

On the Waterfront

(1954)

Based on a true story and directed by Elia Kazan, this film focuses on corruption in the U.S. labour movement. The film’s hero, Terry Malloy (played by Marlon Brando) is an ex-boxer and a docker who crusades against the abuses of his employer and his union.

Adalen ’31

(1969)

Swedish director Bo Widerberg tells the Oscar nominated story of a prolonged strike at a paper mill in small-town Adalen in 1931. It ends in tragedy when the troops move in, but sows the seeds for Sweden’s social democracy.

Made in Dagenham (2010)

Directed by Nigel Cole and starring Sally Hawkins, this film tells the true story of the women who sewed the fabric for Ford cars in 1960s England. The women form a union and go out on strike to protest at being paid less than men.

Pride (2014) Based on a true story, the film depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984. The National Union of Mineworkers was reluctant to accept the group's support, so the activists instead decided to take their donations directly to Onllwyn, a small mining village in Wales, resulting in an alliance between the two communities l WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

25

In the kitchen

Pick me up As we emerge from the dark and damp of the winter months, blinking hopefully into brighter days, MARGARET HANNIGAN gives us advice on how to repair and nourish our immune system.

THERE WAS a period at the start of spring, when every second person seemed to be just getting over the flu. In those three or four days around St Patrick’s Day when it finally stopped raining, and people came out of their houses for the first time since Christmas, there were two topics of conversation.

Firstly, when was it likely to start raining again, and secondly, whose flu had been the worst.

Everyone had their own particular pet ailment – the scratchy cough, the headache, the pain in their joints like they’d been walloped by Conor McGregor, or my own personal favourite, the lying in a clammy heap under a duvet and an extra blanket, unable to move with tiredness. This bonedeep tiredness seems to be the parting gift of this and many other viral illnesses, and leaves the patient longing for fresh tastes and wholesome goodness.

Immune system

Eating should make you feel better, not worse, and what you are eating should appeal to as many of the five senses as possible.

It’s the body’s way of asking you to top up with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and some good oils and fats, and most importantly, to make it taste good. Sadly, when stricken with a vile dose, the patient (ie you and me) is far too feeble for anything as taxing as wielding a vegetable peeler, or actually reading a recipe. But as soon as the power of rational thought, and the ability to walk as far as the kitchen again, are restored, it’s time to re-nourish that battered immune system.

Nourishment

Get making H ere are tw o recipes,packed w ith goodness;one forjuice,one forfast, butgood,food.

While even the best ingredients and preparation can end in disappointment for the keenest cook, there is some comfort in making the effort, and always a lesson learnt along the way, while a hollow feeling of defeat almost inevitably accompanies the unwrapping, and de-boxing of convenience foods. As a general rule of thumb, eat wholefoods – ie, foods that are whole and unadulterated when you buy them, shop locally and seasonally, and eat less meat and more plants and pulses.

A great cold-buster – Carrot, Orange and Ginger Juice

I don’t, as a rule, recommend gadgets. If you have a blender, try making smoothies. Be cautious with pre-frozen fruit, while cheaper, it carries a risk of Hepatitis A, and should be cooked before use. Punnets of fresh raspberries and blueberries, though more expensive, freeze very well, retaining taste and colour. Bananas can be peeled and frozen, but will turn to brown sludge if allowed to defrost. Many food processors have a juice extractor attachment, but to juice anything other than an orange or a lemon, you will need an actual juicer, and only you can decide if the expense and the cleaning up are worth it l

Broccoli with Garlic, Cashew nuts and chilli

Makes 2 medium glasses l 3 carrots, peeled l A thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled l 500ml freshly squeezed orange juice Juice ingredients in a juicing machine and pour into a large jug, add the orange juice and mix well – wakes up the most tired taste buds!

Serves 4 l l l l

500g broccoli 3 cloves garlic 2 fresh red chillies 2 tbsps. rapeseed or groundnut oil l Small handful of cashews l Hearty splash of soya sauce l 1 lime, quartered Cut broccoli into medium-sized florets and steam lightly until partly cooked. Peel and finely slice the garlic and chillies, fry gently until starting to soften. Add cashews and broccoli, and stir well to coat with oil and garlic, add soya sauce, cover and cook for a further 2 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of lime. This can be made more substantial by adding 2 fillets of salmon, or by grilling individual fillets for each person.

Photo: dreamstime.com

When approaching a project like this, try and avoid a quick-fix approach. The multi-million international food industry has spent an awful lot of money persuading us that it cares about our health and welfare, while making enormous profits from our ignorance and laziness. It has somehow sold us the notion that junk food is a delicious treat to be savoured when we want to feel spoiled, or celebrate, or take a break from the daily chore of looking after ourselves. How did we fall for it? How did we get to thinking that processed food sold in a box, or fast food over the counter is something we should look forward to? ‰

Eating should make you feel better, not worse, and what you are eating should appeal to as many of the five senses as possible. It should look, smell, and taste good, and have a pleasing texture. The smell of fresh bread, the gentle hum of simmering rice, the crunch of sliced vegetables, this is the real starter to any meal – anticipation.

26

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

27

Gardens

Breathe the alpine air ITA PATTON introduces us to the world of alpine and rock plants, the important distinction to be made between a rock garden and a rockery, and how to create some alpine treasure in your own garden.

SHORTLY AFTER starting to work at the National Botanic Gardens, I worked on our exhibit which travelled to the Alpine Garden Society shows in Dublin and Ulster. The theme of our entry was how to grow and display alpine plants on a small scale.

I was very impressed with the sheer professionalism of the alpine growers involved, their passion for gardening and the warm welcome newcomers received.

During my student days I once asked what was the difference, if any, between an alpine and a rock plant? The helpful answer was that, to be technically accurate, an alpine is any plant that grows on mountains above the tree line. However, when referring to alpine or rock plants, most gardeners and garden centres mean any dwarf plants that are suitable to grow in a rock garden.

Contrary to popular belief, a large scale rock garden is not necessary for growing alpine plants. Unfortunately, many gardens in Ireland have examples of really bad “rockeries” when people would pile up old unwanted rubble and bricks, infill it with poor quality soil and dot around a few large stones and rocks. The result would be far from a natural looking rock garden.

Preparation A little forethought and planning is necessary before creating a rock garden or rockery. First, be sure to kill off any perennial weeds as alpine plants just cannot stand up to thugs like bindweed, couch grass and the other usual suspects. A sunny south or southwest facing slope makes an ideal site.

Careful placing of the rocks at construction time is very important and provide a wide range of planting areas and rock niches to meet the needs of different alpine plants. Start with a layer of coarse rubble (broken bricks provide a useful base layer), about 15cm deep, and cover this with turves X

Ensure that the larger rocks are well supported by wedging smaller stones underneath. Then infill underneath and between the rocks and tread the soil down gently. The larger rocks need to be buried by a third of their depth to ensure complete stability. This is also crucial to achieving a more natural look.

Add a layer of alpine compost – equal parts loam, garden compost or leaf mould and sharp sand or grit. Take some time to position and reposition the plants before planting and then finish off with a final layer of stone chippings or gravel.

Small scale alternatives Of course it is possible to grow alpines successfully on a smaller scale. Stone troughs or old fashioned large sinks (‘Belfast’ sinks) are particular favourites since the famous and innovative alpine expert Clarence Elliott first realised their potential in the 1920s. Unfortunately, they’re very rare and very expensive for this precise reason.

Ceramic white sinks can achieve a realistic stone-effect finish with a coating of hypertufa. A hypertufa mixture consists of equal parts cement, sand and peat to which water is added to get the consistency of thick cream. Paint on a layer of adhesive before applying the hypertufa and when the sink is covered protect it with a damp cloth or sack. After a few days brush over it gently with a wire brush to soften the outline and round off the corners. An alternative is to make a completely new trough using the same hypertufa mixture using wooden shuttering as a mould.

Raised beds and terracotta pots are also ideal for growing alpine plants.

It’s not possible to do justice to the vast choice of alpine plants, as they can be anything from choice collectable treasures to tough sturdy filler plants for difficult places. If you have any interest in growing these delightful plants I would highly recommend a visit to the Alpine Garden Society Dublin Show on Saturday 23rd April in Cabinteely Community School from 1.30pm to 4.00pm.

Alternatively, check out a specialist alpine nursery, such as Mount Venus Nurseries in Rathfarnham or Timpany Nurseries, Ballynahinch, County Down O

season is th s b jo g in n e Gard

en. e in the gard e busiest tim th to do. is ed er m ne u Sum e jobs yo th of e m so Here are just lightly fork in bedding and g rin sp e ov d, rem g is planted 1. Once fade mmer beddin su re fo be r ze general fertili s to leave spberry cane ra orts er m m su t in to their supp 2. Thin ou r plant and tie pe 6 y el at im approx wn rtiliser to the la d killer and fe ee w d ne bi m 3. Apply a co hia bs, e.g. Forsyt flowering shru g rin sp ne ru 4. P d fungicide insecticide an d ne bi m co s with 5. Spray rose Photos by dreamstime.com

In the broader sense, there’s a very wide and diverse range of small plants to choose from. These include crevice plants, which cling onto vertical rock faces, desert and Mediterranean plants that enjoy the dry, free-draining

soils of the rock garden and, of course, bulbs – always a great favourite with alpine gardeners.

of grass placed upside-down. Dig out hollows for the larger rock and, if necessary, use a crowbar (or consider employing the services of a strong friend) to manoeuvre them into place.

Ita Patton is a craft gardener in the National Botanic Gardens O

28

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

29

At the movies Quiz Show.

2002). While Alfred Hitchcock, despite five nominations, never won an Oscar for Best Director.

Equally, contemporary stars such as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, in spite of their status, have both been nominated three times without winning. Consistent performers such as Annette Benning, Laura Linney, Ralph Fiennes and Samuel L. Jackson remain overlooked for Hollywood’s most coveted prize.

Conservative?

Oscar trivia?

Our film buff MORGAN O’BRIEN asks if we’re getting bored with the film awards ceremonies?

IN THE film Quiz Show Oscar trivia plays a significant role when John Turturro’s character is forced, much to his own chagrin, to incorrectly answer a question regarding a recent Best Picture winner. Such a gap in knowledge would perhaps be less glaring today. I’m unlikely to remember what film won even a few weeks ago. We are increasingly, and justifiably, jaded about the nature of film awards ceremonies.

The cynicism about awards is such that it came as a shock to nobody when Leonardo DiCaprio, after five previous nominations, finally snagged his long desired Oscar gong in February.The victory was viewed largely as a fait accompli with many seeing the award being as much for the actor’s body of work as his frantic and taciturn performance in The Revenant. Such were the stories circulated about the arduous production it would have been little surprise if he were also awarded default victories in the television show Survivor and World’s Strongest Man competition.

#Oscarsowhite To even the most casual observer the selection of Oscar winners can often seem, at best, arbitrary selections or, at worst, influenced by factors other than talent or merit. The lustre of the Academy Awards has been tarnished by the exposure of the behind the scenes manoeuvring that can help yield success. While this year also saw the emergence of the #Oscarsowhite movement, which has exposed the lack of racial diversity in the awards.

30

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

The Revenant.

To even the most casual observer the selection of Oscar winners can often seem at best arbitrary selections or at worst influenced by factors other than talent or merit.

While Hollywood might be viewed as a bastion of liberal sensibility, awards often reveal a far more conservative inclination. In 1994 Quiz Show was nominated alongside perennial favourites Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption, but all were outdone by the schmaltzy, reactionary Zelig-like fable Forrest Gump.

In a similar vein, the sentimental middle of the road Crash controversially won Best Picture in 2006; while few will look back on Shakespeare in Love, Chicago, or A Beautiful Mind as cinematic highpoints.

More recently Tom Hooper, somewhat surprisingly, won Best Director for his work on nostalgic chamber-piece The King’s Speech over the icy beauty of David Fincher’s The Social Network and the frenzied grand guignol of Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan.

Do the right thing

Overlooked

While we are unlikely to shed tears for stars failing to bag award baubles, #Oscarssowhite has highlighted more telling ways in which black performers and directors are frequently overlooked or ignored. However, with regards to the conservative bias of the Academy Awards this is not necessarily new. A case in point being in 1990, when Spike Lee’s incendiary tour de force Do the Right Thing received only an acting and screenplay nomination while the well-meaning, if gauche, race-relations melodrama Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture.

The slew of performers overlooked for Oscars makes an interesting list.

Prior to his victory this year DiCaprio was in good company with heralded stars of yesteryear such as Richard Burton (seven nominations) and Peter O’Toole (eight) going without Academy garlands (although the latter received an honorary award in ‰

Ultimately, awards are perhaps waning in significance for cinema audiences as our viewing patterns become more pluralised and the availability of range of choices becomes the norm. Equally, discerning audiences are well able to assess a film without having recourse to the fairly narrow views of Academy voters l

Elvis& N ixon (6th May) Famously preserved in photographic posterity, this film fills in the background of the impromptu meeting of then President Richard Nixon (Kevin Spacey) and Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon) where the latter sought to be sworn in as an undercover agent in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

ISaw the Light(6th May) Much to the annoyance of the singer’s grandson, Hank III, Tom Hiddleston stars as country legend Hank Williams in this biopic of the singer’s rise and fall.

A H ologram forthe King (13th May) Based on the Dave Eggers novel, Tom Tykwer directs Tom Hanks as an unsuccessful entrepreneur who travels to Saudi Arabia to attempt to win a lucrative business contract.

X-M en:Apocalypse(20th May) The long running X-Men series continues, in which the tensions between Professor X and Magneto becomes further pronounced with the arrival of the first and most powerful mutant Apocalypse.

Alice Through the Looking Glass (27th May) Tim Burton directs this sequel to his 2010 film Alice in W onderland, based on Lewis Carroll’s enduring tales of the fantastical.

Love and Friendship (27th May) Whit Stillman’s whimsical Damsels in Distress (2011) marked a welcome return for the director after a lengthy sojourn from the big screen, Love and Friendship adapts Jane Austen’s Lady Susan and stars Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny.

M e BeforeYou (3rd June) Romantic drama based on Jojo Moyes bestselling novel gets the big screen treatment, with Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin and Charles Dance.

The N ice Guys(3rd June) Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling star as private investigators in search of a missing girl. Writer/ directors Shane Black returns to the crime comedy genre he essayed so well in KissKissBang Bang.

W arcraft(3rd June) Based on the successful video game series, Duncan Jones directs this story of war between humans and orcs. Jones’s pedigree suggests this might hopefully be better than previous attempts to bring games to the big screen.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 31

Play it loud

Working class hero

Sing Street.

Never one for sentimentality (except where his beloved Arsenal is concerned) RAYMOND CONNOLLY has been wooed by this season’s feel-good musical blockbuster Sing Street. However, Connolly has a concern that, in the 25 years that have elapsed since The Commitments was released, there’s been a deterioration of the genuine Dublin brogue.

JEAN PAUL Sartre once beautifully said of scepticism “She didn’t believe in anything. Only her scepticism prevented her from being an atheist.” I was always sceptical about everything, particularly those fictional films about dreaming the rock ‘n’ roll dream, forming a band while falling in love and pursuing that rock ‘n’ roll dream.

For me, those types of movies suffer from a similar lack of substance as those ‘poor boy on the streets with not a sole in his shoe, dreams of being a footballer (whilst falling in love) and wins more trophies than Roy Race, once of Melchester Rovers’.

The difficulty, I reckon, in creating these movies is the subject matter itself. Music is the King of the Arts and so it’s difficult to capture non-biographical stories through the medium of film. In its own mad little way, football is an expression of art too. The stadium its theatre and the mugs who buy in Sky Sports packages (when they could be in the pub) are its global audience.

Michael Caine once said “If someone is very upper class you have a stereotype of him which is probably true. If someone has a working class accent, you have no idea who you’re talking to”. Author Jennifer Harrison continued “My voice falls into southern drawl when I am tired, drunk or in trouble. Too often my accent is attacked by all of these realities.” Like many other accents these days, the Dublin accent among younger generations is becoming blighted by American inflections and pronunciations.

Twang blight I was travelling home to Dublin on a train recently and one entire carriage was occupied by Scouts returning from a PEAK adventure (which is mountaineering skills in the McGillicuddy Reeks – I always wanted to get the words Reeks and McGillicuddy into this column). I honestly thought that the boys were American.

But hey, let’s risk some positivity here. On St. Patrick’s Day (and there is no way he rid Ireland of all the snakes) John Carney’s film Sing Street was released in Ireland. This movie seems to have struck deep into most people’s fluffy side and critics describe it as a wonderfully charming witty and entertaining couple of hours.

One lad loudly proclaimed “I always get my coffee in Starbucks” in the most Hollywood accent imaginable. Noel Purcell, Rashers Tierney and ‘Bang Bang’ all took a spin in their graves. This threat of a Universal Hollywood accent is a frightening prospect. I was disheartened to discover this new speak had infiltrated an otherwise marvellous little Dublin movie, especially since it’s set in 1985, when accents were accents.

Soundtrack

Barrytown

Given Carney’s consummate skill as a filmmaker, and as an observer of life, this is no great surprise. In any event, with a soundtrack that includes A town called malice by The Jam, Joe Jackson’s Steppin’ out and The Cure’s Inbetween days you can’t go wrong. But of course, there has to be a down side. Despite the brilliant performance of Ferdia-Walsh Peelo as main character (Cosmo) I’m very concerned about the Dublin accents in the film.

The other great Dublin film fiction about the musical dream, of course, was The Commitments, where the Dublin accents are good and proper. The Commitments, while never a cinematic masterpiece, has a good witty flow to it, a great soundtrack and most importantly the ‘hard luck at the end lads’ theme.

32

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

The only curiosity surrounding The Commitments’ phenomenal success in the West End is that the adaptation to theatre took ‰

so long. I don’t want too many to know this but, as a Dubliner (no I wasn’t in the original line up with Ronnie or Luke) I am quite proud that two out of the top five nonbiographical musical movies are set in Dublin.

than assessing his own age measures his life in seasons. That sort of anorak stuff doesn’t impress me!

What I love about HiFidelity is the fanaticism for music as an expression of despair: “Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?”

While neither The Commitments’ nor Sing Street are quite ‘The Blues Brothers’ (“what kind of music do you have here?… We have both kinds. We have country and we have western”. Sounds perilously like the IMPACT Biennial Conference) but they reside comfortably in the upper echelons of fictional movies about music.

Bizarre gardening accident For what it’s worth, my top two films in this genre are HiFidelity and, of course, This is Spinal Tap. There’s no bias on my part. It matters not to me that the creator of Hi-Fidelity, Nick Hornby, is a helpless devotee of The Arsenal, who rather

As for Spinal Tap, anyone who cares about the rock ‘n’ roll circus must see The Comm itments. this film. A review of Spinal Tap’s album proclaimed “this pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is enough to prompt the question, when the Lord created Spinal Tap couldn’t he have rested on that day too?” Absolute classic.

Now, I’m off to worry about the medium-to-long term future of the Dublin accent l

Winter-Spring 2016 Crossword Solutions

Spring-Summer 2016 solutions (From page 46)

3 2 8 9 1 5 7 4 6

4 6 1 2 8 7 5 3 9

5 7 9 3 4 6 1 8 2

1 5 2 7 3 4 6 9 8

6 8 3 1 9 2 4 7 5

7 9 4 5 6 8 2 1 3

9 1 5 4 2 3 8 6 7

2 3 6 8 7 1 9 5 4

8 4 7 6 5 9 3 2 1

Easy

6 5 2 4 8 7 9 1 3

7 1 3 5 9 2 8 6 4

8 9 4 6 3 1 2 5 7

1 3 9 7 2 4 5 8 6

4 6 8 3 5 9 7 2 1

2 7 5 8 1 6 3 4 9

5 8 1 9 4 3 6 7 2

9 2 6 1 7 5 4 3 8

3 4 7 2 6 8 1 9 5

Difficult

See page 46 for the competition winners from issue 32.

ACROSS: 2. Garden 5. Attic 8. Protest 10. Job 13. Dot 14. Camera 16. Thumb 18. A Pear Tree 20. Ulster 21. Tory 22. Tutu 34. Sun 25. Echo 27. James 29. Dear 31. Kiss 32. Larceny.

DOWN: 1. Copper 3. Ditto 4. Noon 6. Table 7. Bond 9. Estimate 12. Ladies 14. Cuba 15. Month 17. Halftime 18. Articles 19. Ear 23. Radar 24. State 26. Oval 28. Ski WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

33

Travel and trips

Scintillating Sicily PATRICIA O’MAHONY considers her continuing draw to the Mediterranean island of Sicily and asks if you’ve ever returned to a holiday destination for the beauty of the place, or just to avoid risking disappointment by trying out somewhere new?

Either way, Sicily keeps calling her back.

WHAT IS it about this place? The stunning scenery, the towns and cities steeped in history and ancient, beautiful architecture? Or is it that, in some places you’ll be the only person (tourist and local included) speaking English? Or is it the food? The freshest fish, pasta, vegetables and fruit. The people? Reserved but friendly and always helpful.

And that’s before I even mention the scenery, where sandy beaches stretch for miles, only overshadowed by rugged, majestic mountains. The almost perfect seasons and climate?

Sicily averages 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, with little rain in summertime, while the majestic Mount Etna is covered in snow for four months of the year.

I’ve holidayed in Sicily on three separate occasions, and the appeal simply hasn’t waned. Maybe it’s a combination of all these things, but there’s always plenty of good reasons to return.

This includes practical considerations.

Compared to the North of Italy, and most of Europe, Sicily is significantly better value for money.

Photos: dreamstime.com

The famed Lonely Planet guide captures the allure of Sicily very well, describing it as “the eternal meeting point between East and West, Africa and Europe, the gorgeous island of Sicily is a linchpin of Mediterranean culture and one of Europe’s most alluring destinations.”

34

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

With three different airports to choose from, you can explore each region singularly, and none will disappoint you. We hired a car on each visit, for which there are advantages and disadvantages. If you prefer for someone else to do the driving, a tour will give you a good flavour.

Sicily also rewards the traveller who’s prepared to go off the beaten track to feel less like a tourist.

We started in Baia de Mulina, on the outskirts of Trapani, and stayed in a hotel directly on the beach, where you could walk the beach into Trapani. Allow time to enjoy the sandy beaches before heading to the Egadi islands by hydrofoil, just a few miles from the coast.

Trapani is less of a tourist trap than other Sicilian cities. It’s known mainly for its seafood, tuna in particular. It’s full of medieval architecture with plenty of cafes and bars, and restaurants serving well priced food. The restored streets of Marsala are well worth a visit too, and while restore yourself with a drink of "vintage" Marsala, the city is famed for its fortified wine, similar to Port, Madeira and Sherry, which is mostly exported.

Medieval Erice The small enchanting medieval hilltop town, Erice, is somewhere you must visit if you are in the region. Make it a day trip at least. Perched on the top of Mount Erice, in the commune of Trapani and overlooking the city at 2,460 feet above sea level, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views, including the Egadi (Aegadian) Islands. ‰

I was misinformed that the only way to get there is by cable car, but enjoyed the panoramic 10 minute trip, despite my initial reservations. It’s full of visitors in the summer time, but when you get there you will see why. It’s closed midJanuary to mid-March. After savouring the exquisite views, you can explore the narrow streets and alleyways. Biscuits and pastries are what this town is best known for, but Erice has no shortage of churches worth visiting and has buildings dating back to the fourteenth century.

Taormina and Mount Etna Taormina, on the north east side of the island, is officially the most popular tourist destination in Sicily, and has been for a couple of hundred years. You will see why if you’re happy to share the beauty, during peak season, with hordes of other tourists.

Taormina is 210 metres above sea level. While there’s no shortage of pretty bays and sandy beaches to admire from on high, access is mainly by cable car or shuttle buses arranged by individual hotels. You will find most beaches are either private, or very crowded. As an added bonus Taormina has a very well preserved ancient Greek amphitheatre with live classical music concerts and other events taking place during the summer. You can enjoy the best views of Mount Etna here.

It’s advisable to book this in advance.

Sicily averages 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, with little rain in summertime, while the majestic Mount Etna is covered in snow for four months of the year.

Taormina has a reputation as an exclusive holiday destination.

Here you can choose from extravagant hotels, stylish restaurants and an endless amount of designer boutiques and exclusive jewellers. Everything is more expensive here, but there’s great shopping, great people-watching and close proximity and panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. There’s also commanding views of the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently 3,329m (10,922 ft) high, Mount Etna is a permanently active live volcano that can be seen smouldering over a vast area of Eastern Sicily.

Top Tips for Sicily l

Erice – Medieval hilltop town close to Trapani that cannot be missed.

l

Aer Lingus fly Dublin to Catania. Other airlines fly Dublin to Palermo and Dublin to Trapani.

l

Sicily enjoys 2,500 hours of sunshine per year

l

Etna is Europe’s highest volcano that dominates Eastern Italy.

l

Sample Sicily’s speciality of seafood, puttanesca, rice balls and cannoli.

I recommend travelling an hour’s drive east to the lovely seaside town of Cefalu. Near the inland town of Castellbuono you will find the Relais Santa Anastasia. Perched on top of a hill, with uninterrupted views for miles of their own private vineyard, and onwards to crystal clear waters this old abbey, it’s the perfect place to hide away. It offers an excellent restaurant, pool, horseriding and walks. Apart from that there isn’t much else to do here, except relax.

The South Eastern region is less explored by non Italians, but no less beautiful. Apparently this will change soon with more tour operators vying for business this year, and more flights available into nearby airports. You will not meet too many people speaking English in the Unesco-listed Baroque cities Modica or Ragusa, but this might only add to the charm.

While we enjoyed our stay at the Modica Palace Hotel, the limited menu is nevertheless very tasty. Modica is also known for its chocolate. I can’t wait to return! l

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

35

From the author

Book reviews

Clonmellon to Arabia

The ultimate sacrifice

The story of Thomas Edward ‘TE’ Lawrence, a British soldier who led Arab rebels in the First World War, captivated audiences on the big screen in David Lean’s epic ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

MARTINA O’Leary talks to Dick Benson Gyles about his book on Lawrence and his Irish connections.

Aodogan O’Rahilly (Lilliput Press, €16.00).

Michael O’Rahilly, better known as The O’Rahilly, was the only leader of the 1916 Rising to die during the action. The Rahilly family (The O’ was added later), were prosperous traders.

The book tells the story of the Clongowes’ educated O’Rahilly, and how he travelled to America to marry Nancy Brown, a young woman he met while she holidayed in Kerry.

Having worked in Nancy’s family firm, in New York and Philadelphia, and travels in Europe, the young couple returned to Ireland to live in 1910. By now Michael had a deep interest in politics and firmly believed that while Britain ruled Ireland it would always be in Britain’s interest that Ireland remain underdeveloped. He also believed that the British would only leave by force. He was a leading member of the Irish Volunteers and the Gaelic League and was in favour of the renewal of Irish language and culture.

There is much to like about this book. It’s not short on historical detail, but is also the story of a dearly loved husband and father, whose last act as he lay dying in a doorway in Moore St was to write a farewell letter to his beloved wife.

DICK BENSON Gyles’ fascination with TE Lawrence was sparked in 1962 when he saw David Lean’s cinematic masterpiece. The film hauled a bunch of Oscars, including best picture, and became a touchstone for a generation of filmmakers.

Kathryn Smith.

Women and 1916

Gyles recalls, “The combination of a charismatic hero and lots of action presented in the film was amazing, it felt like he was a kindred spirit. Nothing was the same for me ever again.

I felt somehow compelled to find out what the real man was like, and thus began my quest for the hidden Lawrence.”

Since Lawrence’s death, in 1935, there have been nearly 80 biographies written about him. As Gyles book The Boy in the Mask – The Hidden World of Lawrence of Arabia was awaiting publication, three more books on Lawrence were released.

Damage

Photo: Lilliput Press

Gyles is a Trinity College graduate and thought everything worth saying about Lawrence had already been said, then he made a discovery. “It turns out Lawrence’s father was Sir Thomas Robert Tighe Chapman, an Irish gent, living in a big house in Clonmellon, Westmeath with his wife and four daughters. Chapman had eloped with their nursemaid-governess, Sarah Lawrence. Having fled Ireland, they settled in Oxford as ‘Mr and Mrs Lawrence’ in 1896.

This information has been general knowledge for a long time, but Gyles’ discovery revealed more about the man.

“Lawrence’s illegitimacy, and his Irish family’s refusal to acknowledge him, damaged him far more deeply than had been thought. If it happened today there would be no story. Yet at the time, the whole event turned TE Lawrence upside-down.”

Part one of The Boy in the Mask – The Hidden World of Lawrence of Arabia tells the story of Lawrence’s lost Irish heritage and includes unseen photos of Lawrence’s father and the Chapman clan.

36

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

The O’Rahilly – A Secret History of the Rebellion of 1916

Initially TE Lawrence wanted nothing to do with his Irish ancestry, but over the years he softened. He began to embrace it and hoped to buy land near the Chapman family seat, Killua Castle in Clonmellon (where it is alleged Sir Walter Raleigh planted some of the first potatoes imported into Ireland). Gyles launched his book this year in the fully restored castle.

Gyles maintains that Lawrence embraced his Irishness to the point of expressing nationalist sympathies. He says that Lawrence met Michael Collins during negotiations in London, where Collins offered him the position of colonel in the new Irish Free State Army. While flattered, he declined the offer, opting instead to join the RAF. The second part of the book ventures east in search of Lawrence’s lost love, and a solution to the cryptic dedication to ‘S.A.’ in Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

Gyles presents new evidence that S.A. was Farida al Alke, a woman whom Lawrence had befriended. Other biographies have suggested that ‘S.A’ was a young boy of his acquaintance. Gyles describes the relationship with Farida al Alke as a “spiritual love affair.”

The Boy in the Mask – The Hidden World of Lawrence of Arabia, The Lilliput Press, is available from all good bookshops, €25.00 l

At Home in the Revolution: What women said and did in 1916 Lucy McDiarmid (Royal Irish Academy, €25.00).

I GOT a gift of this book for Mother’s Day, I’m so glad I did. We might feel a little ‘1916ed out’ at this stage, but Lucy McDiarmid deals with 1916 from a woman’s point of view.

She looks at incidents that are off the beaten historical path, from cooking with bayonets, arguing with priests, resisting sexual harassment, soothing a female prostitute, doing sixteen-hand reels in Kilmainham Gaol, or disagreeing with Prime Minister Asquith about the effect of the Rising on Dublin’s architecture.

At Home in the Revolution derives its material from women’s own accounts of the Easter Rising, interpreted broadly to include also the Howth gun-running and events that took place over the summer of 1916 in Ireland. These eye-witness narratives from diaries, letters, memoirs, autobiographies, and official witness statements, were written by nationalists and unionists, Catholics and Protestants, women who felt completely at home in the garrisons, cooking for the men and treating their wounds, and women who stayed at home during the Rising.

McDiarmid’s book reveal how these small incidents, in their own right, show how society was changing back in 1916. It is well researched, yet entertaining, as you picture Catherine Byrne jumping through a side window of the GPO, or Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh persuading Thomas MacDonagh to let her into the garrison at Jacob’s Biscuit Factory.

Martina O’Leary.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

37

International

He’s no Joker: Donald Trump could well be King As most of the world scratches its head in disbelief at the continuing success of Trump’s bid for the Republican nomination and the White House, LUGHAN ODLUM DEANE looks at the circumstances that have helped Trump get this far.

ASK A New Yorker what they remember about the early morning of September 11th, 2001, and it is the intense, cloudless blue of the sky. The two jets that wreaked havoc at the heart of the American Empire emerged, literally, out of the blue.

Three floors of One World Trade Centre were occupied by the investment bank, Lehman Brothers. The literal collapse of Lehman’s offices on 9-11 foreshadowed its financial collapse exactly seven years later. In the early hours of the morning on Monday, September 15th 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. US citizens woke to find themselves submerged in the deepest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Again, havoc at the heart of the Empire had emerged from thin air.

Fifteen years after 9/11 and eight since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, working Americans find their quality of life in terminal decline. The great American dynamic of hard work paying off no longer holds. They can work three jobs and continue to grow poorer. These US citizens have grown intensely suspicious of the political and corporate elite who seem immune to the decline.

When catastrophes emerge from out of the blue, people rally around figures who offer explanations. The narrative for US citizens feeling the pinch is that there is a conspiring, corrupt establishment. They long to bring the establishment down from the inside. Enter Donald Trump, out of the blue.

‘Climate of irrationalism’ US philospher, critic and activist Noam Chomsky said that the rise of Trump can be attributed to the fact that US citizens feel they are “victims of powerful forces that they do not understand and cannot influence.”

Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek, says that the public’s massendorsement of Trump’s anti-establishment populism “is not to be discounted as a case of lower-class primitivism” and adds “rage directed at faceless institutions that regulate lives in a nontransparent way is fully justified.”

In a time when the establishment has failed to deliver for Middle America, the collective suspicion is not unwarranted. As theorist Evgeny Morozov puts it: “it’s hardly surprising that the insurgent populist forces, on both left and right, have such an easy time bashing the elites.”

Photo: gettyimages.ie

For many US citizens, the fundamental dynamic of cause-and-effect has been suspended. They work harder but earn less, the economy is booming as they go to bed and bust when they wake up. Americans are afraid of what might next emerge from the blue, fostering what’s been described as a“climate of irrationalism”.

The complex matrix of modern life is particularly disorienting for Republican supporters, who idolise figures they regard as ‘straight-talking’. Trump’s policy proposals play directly into this. His ideas are framed in terms of direct cause-andeffect: “immigrants are flooding in from Mexico – build a wall to stop them; the cure for gun violence is to have a gun ready to directly shoot the shooter; if a few terrorists might be coming with Muslim refugees, just stop allowing all Muslims into the country”. The idea is that Trump and his cadre will make things simple, predictable, and comprehensible. ‰ 38

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Conspiracy theories Special interests buy election wins. It is in this context that author Thomas Frank says Trump has an advantage. Because he’s so wealthy, “Trump himself is unaffected by business lobbyists and donations.”

Larry Summers expands on this, he says people see Trump as “an outsider fighting for those who have been left behind.” Bernie Sanders, by using a microfinancing model, has also distanced himself from special interests. The two candidates, one a billionaire mogul, the other a senator, manage to be at once inside and outside of the establishment.

What separates Trump from other anti-establishment candidates is his willingness to propagate conspiracy theories. He has so far claimed that Obama was born in Kenya, vaccinations cause autism, 9/11 was an ‘inside job’, Hillary Clinton has stolen state secrets, Ted Cruz can’t be president because he was born in Canada, the recently deceased Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was murdered, protesters at his rallies are in ISIS, Obama is Muslim and that Muslims cheered when the Twin Towers fell. Politically, this is his most efficient tool. Anne Applebaum notes that “not nearly enough time has been spent examining his penchant for conspiracy theories”.

What separates Trump from other anti-establishment candidates is his willingness to propagate conspiracy theories. He has so far claimed that Obama was born in Kenya, vaccinations cause autism, 9/11 was an ‘inside job’ Applebaum says that “in its essence, a conspiracy theory is the modern equivalent of a myth: It’s a story that people tell to explain otherwise inexplicable events”. That story, she says, usually consists of someone “pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to manipulate events”. Trump has exploited widespread sense of insecurity to his advantage.

For a dispirited and depressed generation of US citizens, conspiracy theories prove useful in explaining away their failure to achieve the American Dream: as Applebaum writes, “it wasn’t me, it was the Freemasons/capitalists/ Jews/immigrants/murderers of Scalia who deprived me of success".

Policy in 140 characters Today’s media landscape provides fertile soil for Trump’s conspiracy theories. He is speaking to a whole generation of people who get their information from random online sources. Maggie Haberman argues that “Mr. Trump has exploited the news cycles of an Internet era in which rumors explode like fireworks”. Most of Trump’s main ideas can easily be expressed in the 140 characters of a tweet.

‘Old media’ also plays into Trump’s use of conspiracy theories. He addresses a “Republican base primed by Fox News to be ever-paranoid and forever gullible”. Or, as Pankaj Mishra writes: “mass media… manipulate the childlike need for psychological dependency, and fill up imaginative lives with a range of virtual enemies: immigrants, Muslims, liberals, unbelievers.”

Trump explains Americans’ disillusionment away with conspiracy theories delivered through online echo chambers and, in turn, suggests over-simplified policies that will fix everything. The question is, after a gruelling fifteen years, does the establishment have enough gas left in the tank to stop the Trump juggernaut? So far the gap is narrow, and the tension is beginning to mount. Neither Trump nor the establishment will budge. With Trump in the red corner, Clinton must emerge, all guns blazing, from out of the blue l WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

39

Union business

‘Childcare fallen off political agenda’ IMPACT HAS unveiled plans to work with employers in the early years sector to seek improved state funding, and to professionalise the industry so that staff providing quality services can be properly rewarded. Speaking at the union’s recent annual Education Conference in Dublin, IMPACT’s deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan accused politicians of abandoning the childcare issue less than a month after the election. He said his union would work with early years providers to keep pre-school services on the political agenda.

Kevin said the additional free pre-school year, announced by the outgoing Government in its last budget, was applauded by parents and providers alike. But he said the programme’s inadequate capitation payment was driving down wages because employers were being asked to provide services ‘below cost’.

A recent ICTU survey found that, although Irish parents pay dearly for pre-school care, early years staff – including well-qualified workers – could earn as little as €5,150 a year in an increasingly-casualised sector. Meanwhile, Ireland spends just 0.2% of GDP on childcare, compared to an OECD average of 0.8%.

Kevin added that low pay, poor career prospects, and long periods off-payroll during the summer months, were damaging service quality by driving staff out of the sector, with turnover rates for childcare professionals at 22%.

“The cost and quality of childcare was one of the biggest issues in February’s General Election. A month later, it already seems to have fallen off the political agenda. The issue has barely appeared on the priority lists drawn up by the mainly middle-aged men involved in discussions on the make-up of a Government. Meanwhile, Ireland lags behind most European countries when it comes to investment in early care and education. That’s why Irish parents face among the highest childcare costs in Europe, while staff in the sector – including wellqualified professionals– are among the lowest paid in our economy,” he said.

Respect Gina O’Brien, Chairperson of IMPACT’s Education Division, said the union had delivered better working conditions and “a new and deserved degree of respect” for similar groups of workers. “Most staff in the early years sector are experiencing the same problems as special needs assistants, school secretaries and others – groups that

Childcare needs investment THE IRISH Congress of Trade Unions has called for the introduction of new entry-level pay for childcare professionals at the Living Wage rate of €11.50 per hour and for investment in the sector to be brought in line with the 1% of GDP benchmark recommended by UNICEF, from its current level of 0.2%.

The report, Who Cares: Report on Childcare Costs and Practices, also calls for paid parental leave of six months and an increase in employer PRSI to 13.75% on the portion of salaries above €100,000, with the resulting funds ring-fenced for childcare provision.

The report’s main author, Dr Peter Rigney, said: “There have been significant policy failures on childcare that have led us to the worst of both worlds; high cost care provided by some of the lowest paid workers. Socially and economically this is unsustainable and will ultimately cost us in the long run.”

40

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

IMPACT has successfully organised and represented. Right now, the sector is largely characterised by low paid staff and struggling employers. This is not a foundation for excellence. That’s why we want to see staff and employers – mostly small business owners – working together to force the pace, and make the case, for first-class early years provision,” she said.

IMPACT has been working closely with the Association of Childhood Professionals since February to organise a series of information meetings, attended by hundreds of early years professionals.

Helen Penn, Professor Emerita of Early Childhood at the University of East London, who is an internationally-renowned authority on the professionalisation of early years services. She said that the EU recommended that early years staff should be well qualified staff with initial and continuing training that enables them to fulfil their professional role.

“They should be recognised as professionals and there should be common education and training for all staff working in early childhood education and care and they should expect supportive working conditions including professional leadership,” she said. Helen said workers in the sector needed a voice if they were to achieve improved working conditions. “In New Zealand, Canada and Denmark unions have taken lead role in articulating the concerns of childcare workers,” she said.

TDs urged to prioritise psychological services IMPACT HAS written to party leaders and TDs involved in discussions on the formation of a new government to urge them to include the expansion of Ireland’s educational psychology services in any Programme for Government.

The union’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) branch welcomed the fact that most parties contesting the recent general election included a commitment to expanding the NEPS service, which has been subject to strict staffing restrictions since 2008. The school population has increased by 50,000 since then.

TDs have been given a report, produced by the IMPACT NEPS branch at the end of 2015, which shows that Ireland lags well behind other countries in its ratio of school psychologists to students. In the most recent international comparison – carried out in 2009 – Ireland ranked 26th out of 33 countries with one psychologist for every 5,298 students. The average was one per 3,700 students.

The union says that demand has significantly outgrown supply. In the letter to all recently-elected TDs, IMPACT national secretary Andy Pike said: “Investing in more staff is essential to providing a service that can meet 21st century demands. Expanding NEPS would enable psychologists working in the education system to deliver a high quality psychological service to all students, parents and school communities.”

Training for SNAs recommended A REPORT published in January, The Role of the Special Needs Assistant has recommended that SNAs should be provided with opportunities to avail of continuous professional development training relevant to their work and similar to that of teachers.

The report, commissioned by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, undertook the examination of the SNA role. IMPACT made two presentations to the Oireachtas sub-committee last year, based on the experience and insights of the union’s SNA members.

Committee rapporteur Senator Mary Moran said the report compiles the common threads and issues which emerged from the consultation process, which involved thousands of SNAs. It contains thirteen recommendations which Senator Moran said “seek to address the inconsistencies that are present between SNA policy and the reality of how the role is administered in schools while keeping the needs of the student to the fore,” she said.

The report confirms that many special needs assistants (SNAs) for children in schools are being required to carry out extra roles in areas such as administration, teaching and therapeutic intervention, and recommends that the duties and function of the SNA need to be effectively, directly and regularly communicated to parents, teachers, principals and school staff.

The recommendation also states that professional development and third level education for principals and teachers should provide training on the management and appropriate function of the SNA role in the classroom and wider school setting.

IMPACT deputy general secretary, Kevin Callinan, welcomed the recommendation and said it’s an issue that the union has been highlighting to the Department of Education and Skills for a number of years.

“It’s important that this was recognised and addressed in the report. We also welcome the recommendation on continuous professional development for SNAs, and that SNAs should be provided with opportunities to avail of CPD relevant to their work and similar to that of teachers.

Kevin added, “The huge level of participation by SNAs in the consultation process shows the level of commitment they have as stakeholders in education delivery.”

ONE Cork launches A NEW initiative – ONE Cork – designed to organise workers, their families and communities to influence, change and create a better future, was formally launched in January (featured in the previous edition of Work & Life).

ONE Cork is a joint initiative between 20 trade unions working in Cork city and county, the Cork Council of Trade Unions and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and is the first of its kind in the country and offers a potential blueprint for similar initiative in other parts of the country. ONE Cork involves deeper collaboration between unions at workplace and societal levels to organise, campaign, educate, train and communicate with workers and wider the community.

IMPACT organiser Linda Kelly IMPACT general secretary and ICTU convenes the ONE Cork youth vice president, Kevin Callinan, said the and student working group. ground-breaking pilot project offers a blueprint for similar initiatives elsewhere in the country: “ONE Cork has been established to better equip and increase the capacity of the trade union movement in Cork city and county to deal together with the many different challenges which face workers and trade union members. It involves a much deeper level of collaboration between the unions – at workplace and societal levels – to organise, campaign, educate, train and communicate with workers, their families and the wider community.”

See www.onemovement.work for more details.

Group examines retirement IMPACT HAS welcomed the establishment of the interdepartmental group, led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to examine the issues arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors.

In January, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, asked the group to report on its assessment and recommendations for a policy framework aimed at supporting longer working lives.

The establishment of the group is in the context of the increase in the state pension age from 65 to 66 in 2014. Retirement age is set to become an increasingly significant issue as the age of eligibility for the state pension will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028.

IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody said that policy makers need to develop coherent policy around the conflict between contractual retirement ages and the increases in the age when the state pension applies.

For more news about IMPACT, visit impact.ie and subscribe to IMPACT’s regular e-bulletin, exclusive to IMPACT members, by contacting info@impact.ie WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

41

Photo album Training, conferences and Easter fundraising fun

Training Graduation, Sligo, February 2016

Training modules for IMPACT branch activists around the country.

Three more groups have graduated from the modular training programme since December 2015.

More than 500 IMPACT members have taken part in the training programme since 2011.

Training Graduation, Dublin, December 2015

Left to right: Nicholas O’Kelly, Dessie Robinson, Thomas O’Leary, Deirdre Johnston, Mary Bohan, Janice Margey, Terence Carlin, Caroline Hession, Chris Cully, Margaret Coughlan, VP and Training Officer.

Training Graduation, Dublin, April 2016 Left to right: Theresa Clarke, Karie Murray, Angela Cunningham, Philip Lambert.

Left to right: Brendan Phelim Donnelly, Una Maguire, Jacqueline Tunstead Clarke, Siobhan Mary Jacob.

ICTU Women’s conference

Left to right: Noreen O’Mahony, Mary McCabe, Deborah O’Connor, Patricia McGlynn, Josie Glynn.

Left to right: Gerard McGarrigle, Moel McCarthy, Kevin Corbett, Hilary Lovejoy.

IMPACT Education Conference

Congress hosted the Biennial Women's Conference in Mullingar in March. The conference 1916 – 2016, celebrating a Century of Women’s Struggle and History hosted 200 delegates from affiliate trade unions. Pictured are IMPACT vice president Margaret Coughlan (left), vice chair of the Congress Women’s Committee with ICTU general secretary Patricia King.

Bernie McNally, Department of Children & Youth Affairs and Michael Smyth, Education division, IMPACT

Photos: Conor Healy

Left to right: Thomas Gallagher, Derek Costello, Lynn Conlon, Louise Basquille, Mark McLaughlan, Rita Conway, Claire Boyle, Maire O’Boyle, Eugene Devenney.

42

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Delta Centre Easter fun

IMPACT’s Education conference, A Good Start: Professionalising Early Years Services, took place on Thursday 31st March (see news page 40). Over 100 delegates attended, including IMPACT members and speakers from the early childhood sector.

Left to right: Denise McQuillan, Jennifer Leavy, Declan Gaffney, Ciaran McQuaid.

Training Graduation, Sligo, February 2016

Left to right: Bernadette Mooney, Dympna Reilly, Sinead Fitzgerald, Suzanne Gunn.

Kathleen Doherty, School Secretary branch, IMPACT.

Teresa Heeney, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland.

The Easter Bunny (IMPACT organiser Deirdre O’Connell Hopkins) with Sean, Matthew and Josh at the Easter egg hunt organised by IMPACT’s Carlow branch on Sunday 27th March.

The event raised funds for the Delta Centre for day and residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

43

Sportt - 1916 Spor

Behind the wir wire e

Despite the turmoil of the 1916 Rising in Dublin, the GAA finals went ahead in Croke Park with showdowns between Wexford and Mayo in football, and between Tipperary and Kilkenny in hurling. Elsewhere that summer, in a field in Wales, another All-Ireland final took place. The game, played on a pitch dubbed ‘Croke Park’ for the occasion, saw Kerry face Louth. The players and spectators - all men - numbered 1,800, and were interned at Frongoch for their part in the Rising. KEVIN NOLAN looks at the final behind barbed wire.

Attendance was obligator y and posters adver tising the ‘Wolfe To one To ournament’ final match in Frongoch – between Kerr y and Louth – infor med fans that ‘admission was five shillings and wives and sweethear ts should be left at home’.

The match was played on a rough field in the shadow of the camp’s barbed wire, which the internees dubbed ‘Croke Park’. The game was close fought and, under the game rules that existed at the time, points were much harder to score than in today’s game. Prison guards at Frongoch were said to be taken aback by the level of engagement on the pitch, and were heard to remark “If this is how they play, imagine what they must be like to fight?” In the end, the Kerr y side was victorious, clinching it by just a point.

Documentary

Looney is a grandnephew of the great footballer Dick Fr To om Lo Fitzgerald who captained the Kerr y team in Frongoch. It was Fitzgerald who wrote How to Play Gaelic Football the first handbook of its kind in the GAA, and after whom Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney is named.

Kevin Stanley is the grandson of Joe Stanley, who acted as Pearse and Connolly’s press officerr, printing the Irish War News from the GPO during the Rising. During his internment in Frongoch, he kept notes of this unique football match and a repor t was published on it in July 1916 in his newspaper The Gaelic Athlete as well as other Irish papers.

A Frongoch centenar y commemoration is due to take place on 11th June in the villa ge of Llanderfel, and plans are underw ay for a football match to take place in the same field.

Between June and December 1916, batches of internees were per mitted to return to Ireland. Only those considered most dangerous were detained right up until Christmas week. Among the last batch to be released were Joe Stanley and To om B Burke O

A new radio documentar y All-Ireland Behind Barbed Wire was broadcast as par t of the 1916 commemorations on RTÉ Radio 1 at Easterr, and is available as a podcast (visit r te.ie/radio1/doconone). The documentar y is narrated and produced by Sarah MacDonald.

F Frongoch rongoch internment internment camp, camp, 1916 (courtesy (courtesy of Sarah Sarah MacDonald).

IN THE official history of the GAA, it’s recorded that Wexford beat Mayo 3-4 to 1-2 in the All-Ireland final in 1916.

In the same year’s senior A sketch sketch of Harry Harry Nicholls Nicholls hurling final, the seeds of a during his time at at Frongoch.

Frongoch. long standing rivalry were no doubt sown as Tipperary beat Kilkenny 5-4 to 3-2.

But these weren’t the only All-Ireland finals played that yearr.

A little over 140 miles from the Croke Park stadium on Jones’s Road in Dublin, Frongoch internment camp in Merionethshire, Wales was where 1,800 Irish prisoners were held in the wake of the 1916 Rising.

Among the prisoners was Harry Nicholls, who later led the Irish Local Government Officials Union (ILGOU), one of the T, and Harry’s story features forerunner organisations of IMPACT in IMP PACT’s Four Lives publication (see page 9).

Stafford Prisoners were shipped across the Irish Sea on cattle boats.

Irish internees were initially held at Stafford Jail before their transfer to Frongoch, and photographic evidence suggests that gaelic football was quickly established as a prison-yard pastime.

44

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

The camp was installed at an abandoned whisky distillery in Frongoch as a makeshift place of imprisonment during the First World Warr, r, housing German prisoners of war until 1916. In the wake of the Easter Rising, the German POWs were moved on and Frongoch became a place of internment for Irish prisoners until December the same yearr.

The documentar y features the granddaughter of Tom Burke, the man who captained the Louth side and refereed the first All-Ireland played for the Sam Maguire Cup in 1928. Burke is accompanied by Fr To om Loone ne ey and Kevin Stanley to see the field in Wales where the match was played.

‘The ‘The Ragballers’ Ragballers’ Gaelic football football team in Stafford Stafford Jail Jail Photo source: source: “My Gr Grandpa andpa the Sniper F Frank rank Shouldice”( Liffey Liffey Press Press 2015).

The internees were accorded the status of prisoners of warr.

Many felt they were much better off in the countryside of Wales than the other prison locations where Irish prisoners were held, including Stafford, Usk, Lincoln and Dar tmoor (where De Valera was held). Their time in Frongoch became known as Ollscoil Na Réabhlóide or the ‘University of Revolution’. Internees were able to network and learn guerrilla tactics, and it became a field of preparation for the War of Independence.

Other notable prisoners included Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy y, Te erence McSwiney, Sam Maguire and Ar thur Shields (see Strange World on page 2).

Games Spor t played an impor tant par t in the daily life of the Frongoch internees. Apar t from keeping them fit, the games kept their spirits up and forged close bonds of friendship. Many of the detainees had played inter-county football, so they decided to hold a GAA football championship as par t of an athletics tournament. X

Irish prisoner prisoners s pla playing yin ng ffootball ootball in Stafford Stafford Jail Jail before before their transfer transfer to Forngoch Forngoch (courtesy (courtesy of the GAA Museum, Croke Croke Park).

Park).

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

45

Win Win Win

Prize quiz

win

S UD OKU

The 2015 Civil Service Engagement Survey Found 1. 100% of respondents get love letters from the public.

2. 15% of respondents think the public respects and appreciates their work.

3. Most respondents didn’t respond.

IMPACT member Mark Crosbie recently…

1. Was nominated to be An Taoiseach.

2. Travelled to Manila to take part in Toughest Place to be a Street Cleaner.

3. Won best actor at the Oscars.

4

Who were the two inter-county teams who played the All-Ireland final in Frongoch in 1916?

1. Kerry/Louth 2. Dublin/Cork 3. London Rovers/Kilkenny Where would you find Europe’s tallest volcano?

1. Yellowstone, Caldera, USA. 2. Mount Etna, Scilly.

3. Mount Vesuvius, Italy.

What’s the movie featuring Arthur Shields and John Loder?

1. Trading Places.

2. Trade Off. 3. How Green Was My Valley.

The small print* You must be a paid-up IMPACT member to win.

Only one entry per person (multiple entries will not be considered). Entries must reach us by Wednesday 15th June 2016. The editor’s decision is final. That’s it!

1

9

5

9

2 9 7

8

1

5

9

3

3

8

2

4

2

8

7

3

1

7 8

€

6

9

1

9

1

2

3

4

9

1

6

5

4

3

4

7

9

2

8

DOWN 1. A high flying job (5) 2. Rescued (5) 3. Move idly or casually, to the unfaithful (5) 4. Exotic dress is there in salsa rite (4)

win

Difficult

ACROSS 1. STOPS can turn to mail (5) 5. Better be born this than rich (5) 8. Very hot sauce made from tropical American red hot pepper (7) 9. Revile drops a character to see this organ (5) 10. A tiny minute amount (5) 11. I Trap the co to reveal a fruit (7) 14. Late US President’s favourite toy, still popular (5) 17. Decided upon (5) 20. Chancer (7) 21. Hedge these or they can be all off (4) 22. .... Williams or Tom without the S (4) 23. Proficiency, competence (9) 24. The sauce is in some grape store (5) 27. She might have been originally Margaret (5) 30. These creeps sound like a Fab Four! (7) 32. A fine smooth cotton thread (5) 33. A point with area to reach the place of activity (5) 34. Cut off Albert briefly for many (7) 35. A lack of experience (5) 36. French painter (5)

€

PRIZE CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

50

WE HOPE you enjoyed this issue of Work & Life, the magazine for IMPACT members. We want to hear your views, and we’re offering a €100 prize to one lucky winner who completes this questionnaire.

6

We’ll send €100 to the first completed entry pulled from a hat.*

The survey

9

1. What did you think of the articles in the springsummer 2016 issue of Work & Life?

10 11

14

15

12

13

16

17

18

19

22 23

24

25

26 30

32

27

28

29

31 33

34 35

36

5.

6.

7.

12.

13.

15.

16.

18.

19.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

31.

5 across will be pretty handy with this game of chance (5) Information in the form of a table or graph, or patient’s notes (5) Produce, generate, to give way (5) Deep respect with veer crene (9) Belonging to or relating to heaven (9) Of this is critically important, often with vanilla (7) The sweet after (7) You will see this at the till (3,4) Making one’s daily crust (7) Michael from Monty Python fame (5) Raw seafood dish (5) Very overweight (5) Song from the Bible (5) Another name for 35 across (5) Rising agent for dough (5) A row or level (4)

The winners from competitions in the winter-spring issue were:

Crossword: Michael Foley, South Dublin HSE. Survey: Sinead Fitzgerald, Tipperary South Health and Community. Quiz: Catherine O’Loughlin, SNAs North Leinster.

Book competition: Billy Gallagher, RSA and Pauline Johnston, Cavan.

Lots more competitions to enter in this issue!

1 __________________________________________________

3 __________________________________________________ 5. What subjects would you like to see in future issues of Work & Life?

Excellent

o

Good

o

1 __________________________________________________

Okay

o

2 __________________________________________________

Bad

o

3 __________________________________________________

Awful

o

20 21

4. What were your least favourite articles?

2 __________________________________________________

7

8

Win €50 by completing the crossword and sending your entry, name and address to Roisin Nolan, Work & Life crossword, IMPACT, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1, by Wedneaday 15th June 2016.

We’ll send €50 to the first correct entry pulled from a hat.

Winners!

10

How do you like Work & Life?

Simply complete this short survey and send it to Roisin Nolan, Work & Life survey, IMPACT, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1. You can also send your views by email to rnolan@impact.ie.

2 9

6 4

6

8

8 1

4

5

7 3

5

3

1 5

n i w0

Easy

2

Crossword composed by Maureen Harkin

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government published revised apartment standards that 1. Effectively directed Dublin and Cork planning authorities to reduce their apartment standards.

2. Ruled that all new apartments should have a swimming pool.

3. Said new apartments should have their own individual gardens.

SPRING-SUMMER 2016

Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the digits 1–9.

There is no maths involved. You solve it with reasoning and logic.

€

YOU COULD have an extra €50 to spend by answering five easy questions and sending your entry, name and address to Roisin Nolan, Work & Life prize quiz. IMPACT, Nerney’s court, Dublin 1. We’ll send €50 to the first completed entry pulled from the hat.* You’ll find the answers in this issue of Work & Life.

46 46

HOW TO PLAY:

50

Just answer five easy questions and you could win €50.

Your view

Comments ________________________________________

6. What did you think of the balance between union news and other articles?

__________________________________________________

The balance is about right

o

__________________________________________________

I want more union news

o

I want less union news

o

2. What did you think of the layout, style and pictures in the spring-summer 2016 issue of Work & Life?

Excellent

o

Good

o

Okay

o

Bad

o

Awful

o

7. Any other comments? ______________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Comments ________________________________________

Name ________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

3. What were your favourite three articles?

__________________________________________________

1 __________________________________________________

Email ________________________________________________

2 __________________________________________________

Phone ________________________________________________

3 __________________________________________________

IMPACT branch ______________________________________

The small print* You must be a paid-up IMPACT member to win. Only one entry per person (multiple entries will not be considered).

Entries must reach us by Wednesday 15th June 2016. The editor’s decision is final. That’s it!

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

47