September

Final curtain for Covid restrictions?

The CEO of The Everyman Sean Kelly says he is eyeing a full capacity panto following new Government announcements regarding Covid-19 restrictions.

His comments follow confirmation that Ireland had entered the last leg of the roadmap out of lockdown with 22 October set as the date for the end of all legal restrictions.

In the meantime, as of 6 September, the public can finally enjoy indoor entertainment such as live music, cinemas and theatres at 60 per cent capacity, as well as increased numbers at outdoor sporting events.

Later in the year, restrictions are brought in for nightclubs to close and bars to stop serving at midnight while theatres see a 50 per cent capacity rule brought in.

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games get underway

There are high hopes for team Ireland as 29 athletes make the long trip to Tokyo to compete in nine sports over two weeks of intense competition.

Amongst them are three Cork athletes.

These are Carrigaline native Niamh McCarthy in the women’s discus, Pat O’Leary in the men’s kayak single 200m and UCC student Mary Fitzgerald in the F40 shotput.

The games come to a close on 5 September with Ireland sitting in 31st place with a haul of four gold, two silver and one bronze.

Mallow in shock

Gardaí investigate the death of a man in his early 50s who shot himself in a doctor’s surgery in Mallow.

The incident occurred at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Gouldshill just outside Mallow town.

The centre houses a number of GP practices as well as the Mallow SouthDoc service.

The man’s body is removed to the mortuary in CUH for a post mortem to be conducted.

Gardaí say they are treating the man’s death as a tragic incident.

SouthDoc reopens on northside

SouthDoc Blackpool finally reopens after more than 500 days of closure but reduced hours and staffing doesn’t go down well with local representatives.

The vital service had closed in 2020 amidst much controversy due to northside residents being forced to travel to the service on the southside for out of hours healthcare.

Commenting on the news, Cork North-Central Solidarity TD Mick Barry congratulates the city’s northside residents for never accepting the closure and says he is not satisfied with the decision to resume services with reduced hours and staff.

Outstanding!

A Cork granny turns age on its head by completing a perfect headstand before her 67th birthday!

Under the strict supervision of her yoga instructors, Eleanor Buckley from Crosshaven reaches her goal just in time for her birthday, raising almost €2,000 for the Peter McVerry Trust while she’s at it.

With a background in nursing, Eleanor is a firm believer that mobility is key to older people living full and independent lives.

Cork braces for mental health fallout

Experts say a multi-agency approach is key to tackling the issue of mental health as Cork sees a dramatic increase in the demand for services.

Executive Clinical Director for Mental Health Services in Cork Dr Sinead O'Brien confirms the increase in demand at a Joint Policing Committee meeting.

The doctor says Covid-19 restrictions have had various effects on people and as restrictions ease, people who did not present during the lockdown are beginning to come forward.

Lifechanging injury for ‘true gentleman’

A GoFundMe campaign is launched for Blackrock native Richard Murray after he slips from a wall leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

The accident happens just four weeks after the Blackrock native had put down a deposit on his first home with his girlfriend Gráinne.

Richard must now adapt to a whole new way of living which, unfortunately, involves significant costs including extensive modifications to his new home.

The money will go towards home and car modifications, a standing frame and exercise equipment for rehab, as well as other general medical expenses.

The campaign quickly reaches its initial target and as of December has surpassed the €100,000 mark.

Gardaí plan for protests Chief Supt. McPolin to retire

A senior garda on Leeside confirms that plans are in place should protests be staged outside of politician’s homes in Cork.

It comes after gardaí were called to a protest at Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s home in Dublin where it’s understood there were homophobic slurs and anti-vaccine messages.

At a Cork City Joint Policing Committee meeting, Fine Gael Cllr Shane O’Callaghan asks if gardaí on Leeside have specific plans to deal with such protests.

Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin assures the councillor that extensive plans are in place and explains that, though he hopes nothing like the scenes in Dublin will happen on Leeside, the gardaí are always prepared for it.

Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin announces his retirement after more than 30 years as a member of An Garda Síochána.

Many wish him well for the future including the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher who praises McPolin’s ethos of social inclusion and his service to the community of Cork.

Receiving an invite to become a board member at the Sexual Violence Centre Cork from the centre’s CEO Mary Crilly, McPolin replies: “I never say no to a woman, particularly in public forum, and of course I will accept your invitation to the board when I retire.”