Sunday, 18 November 2012

Mayor's Week Luan 12ú - Domhnach 18ú Samhain 2012



Mayor's Week Luan 12ú - Domhnach 18ú Samhain 2012


OPENING A BANK, SEWERAGE PLANT
AND FIGHTING FOR THE TOURIST OFFICE 

TUESDAY 13/11/2012
1.00pm Attended the monthly meeting of the Board of Management of Clonakilty Enterprise Board, which runs the West Cork Model Railway Village. The sitting Mayor of Clonakilty is an automatic member during the year of office.
These meetings are held during lunchtime at the Model Village itself. Like all tourist attractions, the year 2012 has been a challenging one too for the Model Village and the Choo Choo Train. Recession, combined with the horrendous weather we've had most of the year, have not helped. A number of items to try to attract more visitors for the coming year are being considered, and a special meeting of the board is taking place this week to look at marketing and promotion. I have been suggesting that greater use of Social Media should be used, with related competitions and promotions.
On Tuesday evening, I issued a statement welcoming the setting up of the new County Council Flood Text Alert system, which is now operational, and which I encourage everyone to sign up for.


WEDNESDAY 14/11/2012
12.45pm Did interviews with C103FM and RedFM News welcoming the Text Alert System.
1.00pm I was invited to open the new AIB School Bank at Sacred Heart Secondary School by it's Manager. The bank is run by six students who had to undergo interviews and training, but unlike the banks on the main street, these staff are volunteers! I thought it was a step in the right direction with banks closing branches in town, cities and villages all over the country, that they are opening branches in secondary schools. In my address I praised the initiative and wished the operation well. The concept of young people saving is a good thing to instil, and will give them a good sense of responsibility in later years when they are in college. I encouraged the students - and teachers, to make regular deposits regardless of how small they may be. I also took the opportunity to praise the Sacred Heart Secondary School, which has always placed a big emphasis on extra curricular activities, and encouraging all students to realise their full potential.
3.00pm I attended my weekly meeting with the Town Clerk. At these meetings, I go in with a list of items that are both ongoing and new ones. Sometimes there might be less than 10 items on our agenda, other weeks, there are well over 20! Amongst one of the items I've been discussing over the last few weeks is the Youth Café situation. After a lot of effort over a couple of years, the Youth Café eventually opened in 2009. Unfortunately, a combination of flooding and funding saw it's doors closing a couple of months ago. Behind the scenes, some people have been doing their best to identify and secure new premises, where a long term Youth Café can be set up. There was some good news on this at our meeting but because it's still not confirmed or formally secured, I cannot reveal the location at this time. However, if we secure it, it will be ideal I feel.
4.00pm Attended meeting of the new group set up by the Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce to fight for the retention of the Tourist Office which is being threatened with downgrading by Fáilte Ireland. The group is made up of two hotel Managers; Publican; B & B Owner; Restaurant Owner and myself as the Mayor. Fáilte Ireland have indicated that they will meet with the group sometime in early December, but we feel the situation is urgent and clarity needs to be brought to it, so we're lobbying for a meeting asap.
8.00pm Meeting of the Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage Group (http://www.duchasclonakiltyheritage.com/), where next Fridays launch of the Clonakilty 400 commemorative year was discussed. A huge amount of work has gone into the planning of this, and a beautiful calendar has been printed which will be on sale over the coming weeks.

FRIDAY 15/11/2012
3.30pm Had an hour long meeting with a person who's putting together an exciting programme for a "Taint a Bird" Commemorative Weekend in early April. This will be the 70th anniversary since the US Warplane crash landed at White's March (on the way to Inchydoney) having being blown off course. A crew of 10 and their monkey mascot called "Tojo" were on board. A little bit of info here... http://odonovanshotel.com/history.php . This will be a great weekend and further details will be revealed early in the New Year.

There was great news for Clonakilty too on Friday afternoon, with the announcement by Deputy Jim Daly, TD., confirming that the Dept. of Environment has approved €5.5 million to upgrade the Clonakilty Sewerage Plant. Sent this good news out to people who should be aware of it and sent thank you messages to people on the councils who would have been involved in the lobbying and engineering side of this over the last 10 years.

8.30pm As part of my "Community Engagement Programme", I visited the Clonakilty Foróige group who meeting each Friday at the Parish Centre. Around 50 teenagers and their adult leaders are doing great work. In my address I praised them for their participation, and thanked the Leaders for devoting their time to the young people. I also spoke to them about the upcoming 400th Year and encouraged them to participate in the events and to organise events themselves during the year. "Mol na h-óige agus tiocfaidh sé"

SATURDAY 16/11/2012
8.30pm Attended the Parish Centre where the St. Joseph's Workshop charity shop at Rossa St., presented  cheques totalling €11,000 to eight local charities. The charity shop is only open since 19th March last, and as well as the huge amount last Saturday, had already given €1,000 to the Flood Relief earlier in the year, as well as other donations to other local charities. On Saturday, the beneficiaries were: COPE; St. Vincent de Paul; West Cork Rapid Response; Kerry Life; Cancer Connect; St. Joseph's Young Priests Society; Community Care and Brú Columbanus. After the presentations, I was asked to say a few words and I took the opportunity to salute all the organisations who were recipients of the money for their great work, and the Charity Shop itself and the great volunteers who run it. It was an honour to attend and to have the opportunity to applaud this great work. We are lucky to have such volunteerism in our community.


NEXT WEEK
Events confirmed so far for the coming week:
Monday
2.00pm - Calling to Darrara National School, where students there are entering the BT Young Scientists Exhibition in January, with a project on the flooding, and they want to interview me about it.
8.00pm - Invitation to review meeting of the "Michael Collins Birthday Festival".
Tuesday
8.00pm - Meeting of the Clonakilty Community Hospital Action Group Committee (as Mayor I'm chair)
Friday
3.30pm - Meeting between delegation of the Hospital Action Group and HSE/Hospital Management
8.00pm - Official launch of the Clonakilty 400 programme and calendar.

Cuairt ar Foróige 15-11-2012

 As always, I would like to acknowledge and say "Go raibh maith agaibh" to my employers who facilitate me to attend Mayoral responsibilities during my work hours.
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