Some weeks are busier than others
Well you can’t say it’s been a quiet week.
This week alone, Ireland has decided not to bid to host the America’s Cup in Cork, the Leaving Cert is set for major reform and the INMO warned the hospital overcrowding in Cork city is out of control. Covid-19 numbers are through the roof too. There’s plenty more too, some of it even sadder.
The war in Ukraine continues, and more refugees arrived in Ireland. The Russian army is not doing well and announced this week they will limit military activities around Kyiv and northern Ukraine. Four senior officials at the Russian Embassy have been also been asked to leave the State by the Taoiseach.
A pitch and putt champion from Carrigaline was stabbed to death at the weekend while his elderly father was hospitalised after also being stabbed.
Oh and Cork drew 2-2 with world number one Belgium in a friendly with goals from two Cork men. Man of the match Chiedozie Ogbene even crossed for Alan Browne’s late equaliser. John Egan and Caoimhín Kelleher also played in that game while five Cork players started against Lithuania on Tuesday night, with Conor Hourihane coming into the side. They won that friendly 1-0.
The hurlers beat Kilkenny in a thrilling NHL semi-final while the mens’s footballers beat Offaly to stave off relageaton from Divison 2 of the NFL, with a late winner. The minor camogie team also won a thrilling All-Ireland title.
Minister for Education Norma Foley announced substantial reforms to the Leaving Cert on Tuesday which will affect thousands of people. We won’t have space to cover it really. Neither will we have much space to cover the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s (INMO) call to sort out the situation in Cork city hospitals. On Tuesday there were 76 patients without a bed in Cork city. On Wednesday that number rose to 85. INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Liam Conway said: We have seen huge levels of overcrowding in Cork so far this month with 974 patients on trolleys since 1 March in both hospitals. This is completely unsustainable. “Our members are exhausted and completely burnt out.”
Permission has been granted for a strategic housing development that will see 205 houses and 70 apartments built on the northside of Cork city. Yesterday the preferred route for the N/M20 motorway between Cork and Limerick was announced. It promises 80km of new and improved dual carriageway road between Cork city and Patrickswell. Cork City Council say it “will address the existing road’s shocking safety deficiencies which contribute to a fatal collision rate four times the national average”.
It’s great to end with some good news.