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Sophie Donnelly of Loreto Balbriggan who achieved 625 points in her Leaving Cert exam.
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Karen McMahon from Skerries Community College achieved 625 points in her Leaving Cert exam. She is pictured here with school principal, Kevin O'Riordan
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Megan Weston of Loreto Balbriggan who achieved 625 points in her Leaving Cert exam.
See inside for some more of the top achievers from schools around the north county. A registered newspaper at the G.P.O.
19th August 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 29 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
John Parrott, Salvation Army Chaplain is pictured receiving a presentation from all his friends at DAA from Gary McClean, Head of Operations at Dublin Airport
Farewell To Salvation Army Chaplain Dublin Airport staff and management recently gathered to wish a fond farewell to The Salvation Army Chaplain, John Parrott as he leaves for his next assignment in Northern Ireland. During his time at Dublin Airport, John has devoted his time to looking after airport staff, passengers and visitors to the Airport in any way he could – be it a helping hand or a listening ear. His job was to look for the story within a story, and he was quite the unique individual as each day he ‘people watched’ as he fondly called it around the airport, looking for the stories and lending a comforting hand to those stressed or aggravated. He did this completely free of charge. On call 24/7 in his role as Chaplain at Dublin Airport and as the only Port appointed Chaplain in Ireland and the UK, John’s work is varied, interesting and at times challenging. He was well known to many as the man to go to if one was feeling stressed or agitated at the extremely busy airport, as his tranquil and empathising nature was an instant welcome addition to any scenario. He has provided great comfort to those who needed a sympathetic ear or
simply just wanted someone to talk to. As well as being an Ordained Chaplain, John has a degree in Psychology and Pastoral Care and has various other qualifications in health and so on. He is also the only Salvation Army minister (there are seven in Dublin) who is a registered Solomniser. He was also an active member of Dublin Fingal Rotary Club. Gary McClean, Head of Operations Dublin Airport, personally thanked John for his support to the airport staff and customers: “You have touched so many people here at the airport and you have also been a great support to the management team. You will be sorely missed. From all of us here at Dublin Airport, we would like to wish John every good wish for his new role within The Salvation Army in Northern Ireland,” he said. In response, John said that between his time as chaplain at Dublin Airport and Dublin Port, he estimates he has had contact with some 23,500 people – the majority of them at the airport. In addition to working with passengers, he said he had been involved in some of the most sensitive times in the lives of staff at work and at home.
Renewed Hope For Light Rail System? The controversy over a suitable transport system for Swords rumbles on. An application for planning approval for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Swiftway route from Swords to City Centre is expected to be made to An Bord Pleanála early in 2015 . With the recently published tourism figures for the country showing a 10 per cent increase in visitor figures, the need for a world class transport system has never been more important. Given the fact that the vast majority of these very welcome visitors will enter the country at Dublin Airport, it beggars belief that the first impression they get is of a sub-standard transport system to the centre of the capital city. The fact that Swords is the third largest town in the country by population, and is only two miles from the airport, is another very compelling argument for a proper transport system, capable of competing for the hearts and minds of our new found visitors. Making sure that our all important visitors get off to the best possible start has got to be a priority for this government. Many believe that the proposed new Swiftway bus service, which includes the controversial ‘bendy buses’ will be a permanent replacement for the promised light rail system (Metro North), which was one of the key election promises of Fine Gael, prior to the last general election. Indeed, many believe that Minister Dr James Reilly was elected on the back of promises made to secure the much needed light rail system. In an effort to see if Fine Gael had completely reneged on their promise, the County Leader contacted new Minister for Transport and Tourism, Paschal Donohoe, to ascertain if he
By Patrick Finnegan held the same opinion as his predecessor, Leo Varadkar, that the newly proposed ‘bendy buses’ were not an option for Swords and the airport. His reply was not as definite as that of the previous minister, but he held out some hope that an appropriate light rail system may be viable for the area. He told the County Leader, “The National Transport Authority (NTA) is currently undertaking a technical consultancy (Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study) to assess the longterm rail transport requirements of the North Dublin/Fingal corridor, extending from Finglas to Malahide and including Dublin Airport and Swords. This review will examine existing proposals, including Metro North, as well as other options for a rail-based transport solution to meet the area’s needs in the long term. I expect to have a report on the outcome of this review by January 2015,” he said. He continued, “The NTA’s Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018 has proposed a Bus Rapid Transit Scheme as an interim solution to the short term demand needs of the Swords/Airport corridor. Despite the fact that Bus Rapid Transit would be cheaper to build, operate and maintain than
Transport Minister, Paschal Donohoe
rail, it will not on its own replace rail-based solutions, where a higher capacity solution is required in the long-term.” “Funding for delivery of these schemes, of which Swords/Airport has been identified as a priority, will be examined as part of the recently announced review of the medium term capital plan to take account of priorities to 2020. As a Dublin northside representative and resident, I am well aware of the needs of local communities. I will do my best within current constraints to deliver an improved public transport system for everyone,” he said. The fact that the new minister does not consider the Swiftway Bus Rapid Transit Scheme, as a replacement for the rail based solution, will come as a welcome new trend to many, and perhaps the recovering economy will raise all boats, including that of Metro North. We live in hope.
Victim Of Hit-And-Run Identified The man who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run incident on North Street, Swords in the early hours of Saturday morning last, has been named. Eamon Cronin (50) from Ridgewood in Swords, was killed when he was struck by a car, which failed to stop at the scene. Gardai launched a major investigation and a 29 year-old man has been apprehended. They are still looking for eye witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward. There was shock in Ridgewood estate, where his friends described Mr Cronin as a ‘gentle giant’.