Kilcummin man fighting wildfires in Rhodes

A Kilcummin man is volunteering with locals in an effort to fight the wildfires that have devasted areas of Greece in the last week.

Following a heatwave that has gripped parts of southern Europe and North Africa, 20,000 people, mostly tourists, were evacuated from houses and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes last weekend as wildfires ravaged mountainous forest areas in the centre and east of the island.

Kilcummin man Cormac Rowe, working as a diving instructor in Rhodes Town in the north of the island, has been helping locals in their attempt to bring the fires under control.

“Life is carrying on as normal in Rhodes town,” said Cormac, “But obviously there aren’t as many tourists around, so we’ve been travelling about an hour inland, to help out where we can.”

As aircraft waterbomb the larger blazes, those on the ground dig trenches to contain the fires, smother flames with soil and douse surrounding vegetation.

“Fires are popping up all the time. It’s pretty energy-sapping, but locals are handing out food and drink to keep us going,” added Cormac. Firefighting efforts have been hampered by daytime temperatures of over 40 C, and strong winds which are spreading the fire through tinder-dry undergrowth. With a tenth of the island burnt out and acres of forest devastated, Cormac described the situation as ‘like being in a war-zone. It’s apocalyptic.”

| By Sean Moriarty

Parents Steve and Teresa O’Mahony have been fighting government bureaucracy for months.

The urgently need a hoist fitted to their home to help them care for their daughter Alexis. She suffers from a pyruvate dehydrogenase, PDH, deficiency and she has a brain injury. She has cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, visual impairment, a subluxation of her hip and is at high risk of aspiration.

In recent months the family were dealing with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Department of Health, in an effort to get a grant to fit a hoist to their home.

None of the government departments were willing to commit to the scheme until political intervention by TDs Pa Daly and Norma Foley and Tralee councillor Jim Finucane.

It was announced this week that that fixed track hoists will be included in the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Schemes.

“It is a big relief that funding has finally been reinstated and a clear pathway now exists in the years ahead for those across Ireland that require ceiling track hoists,” Steve told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Access to the scheme without worry now exists and enables people with a disability to live day to day with their dignity and comfort protected. It should never have taken almost three years to get the legislation in place and a lot needs to be learned in terms of engagement and communication channels between government departments.

“Ultimately it is some of society's most vulnerable that suffered because of the impasse and it is also society's most vulnerable and their families and carers that will benefit enormously from the scheme.

A thank you to all Kerry politicians that engaged on this in various times."