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The Heart Of Shopping In Balbriggan Member of Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and Fingal Dublin Chamber
30th July 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 28 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Kind Hearted Cian Makes Jack’s Day In last week’s edition of the County Leader, we reported about how callous thieves had stolen leukaemia suffer, Jack McGuirk’s bike, thus spoiling a perfect week for him, after he had been chosen as a mascot for the Dublin team in Croke Park. This story elicited a wonderful response from local people, some of whom offered to buy a new bike for young Jack. One person even emailed our office from Canada, having read the story on our website, offering to replace the bike. Well, there is a really happy and heart-warming end to this story and it is a particular joy to be able to report that Jack’s bike has been recov-
A delighted Jack McGuirk is pictured with Cian Cronin, who found and returned the bike which was stolen from him last week.
By Patrick Finnegan ered and returned to him. Kind hearted Cian Cronin (14), who lives in Glassmore Park in Swords was out walking when he found the bike. Cian told the County Leader, “I was walking in the Jacko, which is near my house, when I saw the wheel of a bike sticking out of a bush. I investigated further and noticed it was a full bike. I decided to bring it home with me. My father who had just read the story in the County Leader, thought it might be the stolen bike.” It was then that Cian’s mother, Cathy decided to put in on facebook, with limited information in an effort to contact the owner. Cathy said, “There was no response, so I then decided to contact the Gardai. They then returned the bike to Jack. Cian paid a visit to Jack on Friday last and it afforded him a chance to say thanks. A delighted Jack said, “I’m really happy that Cian found my bike and returned it to me. I really never thought I would see it again. I was lost without it and I can’t thank him enough. It means so much to me,” he said. Cian was equally thrilled to have played such a part in bringing the smile back to Jack’s face. “It’s great to see Jack’s reaction. The smile on his face makes it all worthwhile,” he said. Jack’s mother, Catherine was full of praise for the civic minded action of Cian and she said that he should be proud of himself for his act of generosity and kindness, that made such a difference to her son. “If all people were as kind as Cian, it would be a better place to live,” she said.
Balbriggan Primary Care Centre Gets Green Light There was excellent news for Balbriggan, when the much anticipated Primary Care Centre was given full planning permission. The appeal to An Bord Pleanala by a rival bidder, who wanted to develop a Primary Care Centre near Millfield Shopping Centre, was withdrawn. Local councillor, Tom O’Leary (FG), a long time advocate of the new centre told the County Leader, “I am delighted that, finally, after more than seven years, Balbriggan will get a
An artists impression of the proposed Primary Care Centre
state of the art modern primary Care Centre, in a new 40,000 sq ft building beside St Peter and Paul’s Church. I am very
happy that the rival bidder has withdrawn his appeal. This is a much needed project for Balbriggan,” he said.
Karina Rooney with Mia and Ava Bethel decide it's time to do some farm work on the tractor at Ring Commons Family Fun Day.
O’Callaghan Exits Labour The announcement of upperhand in policy the resignation of making, particularly in former County Mayor, the area of healthcare. Cllr Cian O’Callaghan “The Universal from the Labour Party Healthcare model, is set to send shock which was favoured by waves around political Labour would have circles in the North been a much more County. cost efficient model O’Callaghan cited than the Fine Gael one, fundamental which is based differences on the Dutch with the Party model. The in terms of failure to pay inequality increase taxaand unjust tion on those and unfair most able to p o l i c i e s contribute and pursued by failure to tax Cllr. O’Callaghan his former appropriately party, as some of the our oil and gas main reasons for his reserves are things resignation. that I fundamentally He told the County disagree with. I have Leader, “I have been been a consistent thinking about this for opponent to coalition the past six months. and have disagreed The Labour Party in with it from the begingovernment has ning,” he said. broken steadfast elec- He also criticised the tion commitments, performance of implemented unfair Labour’s soft approach and unjust policies to developers, who he and made choices that claims are responsible have benefited the rich for unfinished ghost and powerful, at a estates, pyrite affected huge cost to everyone homes and derelict else.” sites, as well as a very He claims that Fine tough approach taken Gael has had the on families struggling
against home repossessions. When asked if he had support from
other Labour councillors locally, he said Contd. on page 14