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7th October 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 36 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
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Residents Vent Their Anger A robust and at times, fiery public meeting was held in Balrothery on Thursday evening, 2nd October last, to discuss the implications of plans to construct ten units of social housing on a site in Ringfort in the village. Locals had hoped that the derelict site, which is owned by the local authority, would have been developed for use in the community. The meeting was held in the Heritage Centre, which was packed to capacity, was hosted by Balrothery Community Council. It’s chairman, Niall Keady said the public meeting was called, following many calls from concerned residents, who were anxious about the disposal of the Ringfort land. Local councillors, and a TD attended the meeting. It was claimed that residents of Balrothery were led to believe that this piece of land would be used for a community purpose; a people’s garden, a community centre, playground or open space. This is in line with the 2002 Local Area Plan (LAP), where many public and community projects and amenities were promised, but never delivered. Cllr. Quinn Local councillor, Malachy Quinn (SF) confirmed that, of the 10 houses to be built,
By Patrick Finnegan six would be for people with intellectual disabilities, and four for homeless families. The overriding feeling among those present, was that Balrothery was the subject of excessive development, which they claim Is ruining the village. Most of the people present had sympathy for homeless people, but they also asserted their belief
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Opposition to 10 houses in Balrothery in the middle of a housing crisis, is guaranteed to fail
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that community amenities for the area were also badly needed, and should be provided for at this site. A women in the audience encapsulated the feelings of all present, when she said, to loud applause: “I feel there is nothing here for
the children. Not every parent has a car to travel to Ardgillan Castle with their children and we badly need a playground here in the village. The question on everyone’s lips is why Balrothery and why not Malahide or Skerries.? Malahide, Swords and other places in the North County all have their playgrounds, but not Balrothery, which has nothing at all. We have only a pub Cllr. Maguire and one shop, and nowhere for children to play,” she said. This was echoed by a man, who said that he was born into the village in 1970, and when growing up, he was able to play in fields where there are now houses. “As children, we could play everywhere, but the kids now have nothing. I have seen the village grow out of all proportions in that time, but nothing has been given back, except houses,” he said. The attendance included a number of local councillors, who all shared the concerns of the locals. Cllr Gráinne Maguire spoke to the County Leader directly Continued on page 21
Enterprise Week Kicks Off
Fingal Enterprise Week 2014 got off to a flying start on Monday morning with the first event 'Future Tech Trends' at the Helix in DCU. Pictured at the event were Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Local Enterprise at Fingal LEO, Mags Murray, County Mayor, Paul Reid, Chief Executive Fingal County Council and Kenny Morgan, Manager Bank Of Ireland Swords.
Pictured are Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) members, Eileen O’Sullivan from Malahide, Joan Cullen and Matt Cullen from Swords, as they launched Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Week in Ireland recently. IPF Week aims to create an international network to support patients living with IPF. In Ireland, IPF Week consisted of support groups around the country meeting to take part in the 2,000 steps challenge and blow bubbles to raise awareness of lung fibrosis.
Beaumont Hospital To Become First Age Friendly Hospital The County Council Age Friendly Team were delighted to welcome staff from Beaumont Hospital and Dublin City Council to the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords. This is the first of a series of focus group meetings, aimed at older hospital service users from the North County. Beaumont Hospital recently signed up to the Age Friendly Towns/Institutions Initiative 2014. Last week’s focus group was one of several steps being taken by Beaumont, to enable older people to help make their hospital more age friendly. As part of the procedure to become age friendly, Beaumont with the support of Age Friendly Ireland, the County Council and Dublin City Council began a consultation process to enable older adults to have their say. The Age Friendly Hospital Initiative is embedded in an organisational commitment at the hospital to the development of comprehensive, integrated and patient focused services for older people around the locality. To start the work, the hospital undertook a walkability survey to evaluate the experience for older people getting around the hospital on Thursday 11th September. Following on from the Walkability Surveys, a number of public
By Jennifer McShane consultation days will take place in the coming months. Monday’s event, facilitated by The County Council’s Age Friendly group, was the first of these focus group meetings aimed at Hospital Service Users from the North County. Eithne Mallin, head of Fingal County Councils Age Friendly Team, explained: “Beaumont Hospital was supported by the Fingal Senior Citizen’s Forum who extended an invitation to all older people in the North County to attend the event.” “The Council Age Friendly team were delighted to see such a big attendance and feedback on the day was very constructive”, she added. “It was clear from the comments of older people around the table, that while there is a lot to be done to the signage, parking and transport to and from the hospital, hospital staff themselves came out on top and were seen to be very helpful and friendly to all hospital users including older people”, said. Assisting this initiative is part of the commitment set out in the Fingal Age Friendly County Strategy to make the North County a great place in which to live work and grow old.