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27th January 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 02 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Pictured having fun at the official opening of the Exercise Area at River Valley Park, Swords are County Mayor, Cllr Mags Murray, County Council Chief Executive, Paul Reid and local councillors, Darragh Butler and Joe Newman. See story on page 7
Major Upgrade Planned For Swords Library Managing Director of JC's Supermarket, Michael Savage, is pictured outside Swords Library.
A planning application for a major new development at Rathbeale Library in Swords, has been submitted by the owners, JC’s Supermarket, which includes refurbishment and renovation of the existing library. By Patrick Finnegan It is proposed to construct a new two storey extension to the front of the existing library building, to include a café/restaurant, as well as meeting rooms, cultural centre and multipurpose spaces. The application is for the refurbishment and renovation of the existing ground floor library (413 sq,m). Also included is the construction of a 1st floor extension (413 sq.m) above the existing building, to provide a cultural
facility/exhibition centre, which will include meeting rooms and multipurpose spaces. The plan also includes the construction of a two storey extension to the front of the existing library building, to provide a cafe/restaurant unit (262 sq.m) over two levels, within a glazed atrium space. The development also includes the provision of lifts, stair cores and all ancillary,
drainage and landscaping works. The planning application has been submitted to the County Council for permission to carry out the works, which are expected to have a major impact on the community locally. The library’s lease is up for renewal in about two years time, and the Council are now looking at all options at the moment, including whether to relocate to County Hall, or some other location. The County Leader spoke to JC’s Managing Director, Michael Savage, who was very excited about the new development, and we asked him what it will include. He said, “We are hoping
to keep the library on as a tenant, as they have been with us for over 30 years now. My late father, JC Savage had said on numerous occasions, that bringing in the library was one of the best things he ever did. It is a vital part of the community. We would love to keep the library here, and we are prepared to do what we can to keep them here. That is partly why we would love to invest in the quality of building that we’re hoping to put in,” he said. “We believe we can offer them an excellent civic building. I was very inspired by the library in Blanchardstown, which provides excellent facilities, and is a
great asset in the area. We propose to have a cultural section, where items of local cultural interest can be displayed. I’m convinced that this would be great for the people of Swords, where people could drop in and use the ultra modern computer facilities in the library, which would be a great place for students to study. We also propose to have a coffee shop, which would be a facility we have not had in the centre up to now, as well as meeting rooms, which can also be used for training purposes. However, the decision to stay will be entirely up to the Council to make, but we earnestly hope that they decide to stay,” he said.
Molly Prepares For Transplant Operation
Little Molly is pictured with Dubs star, Bernard Brogan, who paid a special visit to her, before she left to go to hospital for her transplant operation
Little Molly McNally, the six year old Balbriggan girl, is in the process of preparing for her bone marrow transplant. Last Friday, she attended her school in Balscadden, where a party was held in her honour. Molly’s father Gerry McNally told the County Leader about the scale of the battle that awaits little Molly in the coming few months. “Last Sunday, Molly went for her transplant to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. This is the first time that we are feeling nervous, even though Molly is such a great fighter,” said Gerry. The first week in Crumlin includes a full week of high dosage chemotherapy. There will be a total of 16 rounds of chemotherapy in just five days, which is more than she had in the first three months,: he said. The purpose of this, is to kill all red and white
blood cells and wipe out her immune system. She started her chemo yesterday (Monday) and next Monday, they will give her back her stem cells, which they previously banked. This is the start of the transplant process, which we all pray will be a success. Gerry continued, “After this, there is a seven to 10 day period to see if the white cells return. These are the ones that fight infection. Depending on how quickly the white cells develop, will determine the length of time she will be in isolation. This is a very dangerous time, due to the possibility of infection setting in, which will slow everything down, and prolong her time in hospital. “In an ideal world, if it went well and went according to plan, Molly could be out of hospital in five weeks maybe,” her dad said. However, Gerry and Emma have the utmost
confidence in Crumlin’s record in this kind of procedure. “Their record in doing this transplant is second to none, even on a worldwide level, and this gives us great confidence and hope. I’d rather see Molly in Crumlin than in any hospital in the US, such is our faith in them,” he said. Meanwhile, fundraising projects continue, and it is hoped that people will continue their great support for this brave little warrior. Next up on Saturday, 31st January, Balbriggan Social Network will hold a RIG reunion in O’Shea’s pub in Balbriggan, which sounds like good fun. Also on the same night, Clontarf Rugby Club are hosting a ‘Return to the Cricket’ evening, which will revive happy memories for thousands of people who went there on a Saturday nights. Memories of the Four Keys come to mind. It sounds like a night not to be missed for many, and it goes a long way to helping Molly.