Newsletter

February 2002

Dear Residents,

As you are all aware by now, we have received an exemption to build our ball courts adjacent to the pool from Cork County Council.  This exemption means because we will not be charging a fee to use the Courts, we do not need to apply for Planning Permission.  However two members of the Community Council have forwarded a referral of the exemption decision taken by Cork County Council to An Bord Pleanala.  It could take until the end of May for An Bord Pleanala to make a decision as to whether we can all use our new court area or BULLDOZE it up.  We are very hopeful that they will make a positive decision in this regard.

We have been informed that the National Lottery received two letters and a phone call from as yet an unknown individual/individuals advising them that we needed planning Permission for our Ball courts.  If these letters were true then we would have lost the IR£10,000 grant money. The repercussions of this would mean that it would have bankrupted the Community Council and closed our fantastic Swimming Pool and Community Hall facilities.  We would have had to raise IR£21,000 approx. immediately to pay for the tarmacadam laid on our new Amenity Development as well as Insurance costs for the coming year, a feat as I’m sure you understand too tall an order for

any Voluntary Organisation. But I’m delighted to inform everybody that the Lottery people have come down on the side of right, and we have received our Lottery Grant IR£9500 this week. More fundraising needs to be done in the coming months but this grant is a good start. The past few months have proved a hard slog, but we are confident that Truth and Right will prevail.  I would like to thank the  many residents who have given their support over the past few months and with your continued help and interest, I hope all of us, Adults and Children alike, will be enjoying our new and improved Amenity Area this coming summer and for many more to come.

                           Michael Collins – Chairman, Carraignabhfear Community Council

ELECTION OF OFFICERS 2002

The Election of Officers was held on Tuesday last in the Community Hall.  We have included a full list of Community Councillors and the areas they represent.  If you have any queries or views on local issues, please contact any of the people listed below;

Chairman              Michael Collins                Gormlee                Seamus Forde               Coole                 

Vice Chairman      Dympna Geaney              Ballinaborta           Patsy Murphy                Lyrenamon

Secretary               Mary O’Sullivan              Boherard               Tony O’Donovan           Parkview

Assist. Secretary   Michelle Geaney              Gormlee                 Tom Howard                 DromboySouth             Treasurer              Con Cronin                      Ballinaglough         Ger Mc Mahon              Ballycaskin

Assist.Treasurer   John Burke                     Ballycaskin             Pat O’Brien                   Castle Manor

PRO                      Dan Lynch                       Lyre                        Ursula Hegarty               Gormlee 

                               Richard Sherlock               Ballinahina                Sheila McGinty              Laharn

                               Denis Begley                      Dunbollogue           Diarmuid Cronin             Ballyvorisheen

                               Len McCarthy                    Ballycaskin              Renske Hickey               Ballybrack

                               Brian Higgins                      Glashaboy              Tim Hegarty                    Lyre                                                       Dick Sheehy                       College Rd              Margaret  Geaney           Ballyvorisheen    

                               Michael Sherlock                Knockboy               Richard Coakley             Main Street

If any group or individual has any articles or information for the newsletter, we will be happy to include it

FREE OF CHARGE.  Help us to keep Carraignabhfear informed. Contact Brid Murphy Cronin, Ballyvorisheen,

on 4884602 or Mary O’Sullivan, Boherard, on 4884158. For sale/wanted ads; €1.50 each.

FEBRUARY’S  THEME; - ROAD SAFETY.

I thank CarraignabhFear Community Council for the opportunity to write in their bulletin and take the opportunity to address some issues effecting the community.

ROAD SAFETY; I want to appeal to all to keep high in your minds the need for vigilance and safety on our Roads. To pedestrians and cyclists, I especially appeal when out in the early evening and at nighttime to wear bright clothing and some reflective material.  I have noted an increase in the number of people wearing fluorescent jackets and I would recommend them to all walkers and cyclists.

Motorists wear seatbelts and control speeds!!  All drivers and passengers, including rear seat passengers should wear seatbelts.  The belts should be worn properly.  They do save lives and reduce injuries in accidents.  The old excuses of the belt hurting shoulders or of the risk of being trapped are not acceptable.  Certain sections of cars are designed to give way in an accident.  The seat belt is designed to keep you form being thrown out of the car and to keep you out of the area giving way and being crushed.  Rear seatbelts are designed to prevent rear seat passengers being thrown forward and perhaps killing the person in front.  Have no doubt that this happens and it is something we do not want to see happening on our roads.  There has now been sufficient publicity about this issue so all people should be aware of the law and of the consequences of not wearing them.  Not wearing seatbelts can result in a Fine on the Spot Notice. 
In relation to speed I ask all drivers to be aware of and control speed.  This applies not only to the speed limit areas in our villages but also to our roads in general.  Many of our country roads are certainly not suitable for high speeds and you could be committing an offence of dangerous or careless driving even if you do not exceed the general speed limit on them.  It is very easy to sit into a modern car today and sometimes not realise you are driving fast.  This might especially apply to younger drivers.  However it is the responsibility of the driver to be aware of the speed and to control the speed.  It is very easy to drive fast and any fool can drive fast but you cannot stop fast.

Another issue that comes to mind at this time of year is frost.  We sometimes forget when the car heats up and we get comfortable inside that the conditions outside can be very treacherous with frost and ice.  Do not forget when you warm up in the car the outside conditions do not change.  Be aware you can always hit that unexpected patch of ice.  Drive slowly and with care.

GARDA STATION OPENING

Because of the increasing demand for Gardai on outdoor duty and the increasing number of calls requiring Gardai away from the station, it is very difficult to maintain regular station opening times.  The person who wants something signed requires the Garda in the station while the person who reports something suspicious requires this to be checked out immediately.

If you call to the station with a non-urgent matter (form to be signed etc…) and find it closed, drop a note with your name and telephone number in the letterbox.  When we are back at the station we will contact you and arrange a time to meet. If you require gardai urgently then you should telephone Cobh Garda Station. Tel 021-4811333, or for an emergency use 999 or112.  If you use the emergency line you will be connected to a central control room.  Try to stay calm and answer any questions the operator asks giving your telephone number and clear directions.  When giving directions do not use local names.  Use landmarks such as church, school, pubs and well-marked crossroads and buildings.  Taking a few extra seconds on the call could prevent the patrol car going to a wrong location and save time in getting to the scene. 

 Finally, I want to wish all in the Community a very happy, peaceful and safe 2002.                    

                  Sgt. JIM CROTTY