Millstreet.ie » Politics

Millstreet Hospital to stay open … for now

Michael — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:36:48 +0000

From finegael.ie: Fine Gael Deputy for Cork North West, Áine Collins, has reassured Millstreet residents that their community hospital will remain open for now. Deputy Collins went on to say that the establishment of a local action group could go some way to ensuring the long-term viability of the Hospital.

Speaking at a specially convened meeting in the Wallis Arms Hotel in Millstreet recently, Deputy Collins said: ‘I am delighted to announce that following on from discussions I have had with Department of Health officials about the future of the Millstreet Community Hospital, I can confirm that it will not be closing this year under the recently proposed budgetary cuts’.

“According to the Department of Health, the future of Millstreet Hospital is safe for now. Obviously this is a situation which I will monitor closely, as the loss of the Community Hospital would have a huge impact on the local area.

“I have proposed setting up a action group to listen to and represent local interests where the future development of the Hospital is concerned.

“A local action group would be best placed to monitor the situation and ensure that the long-term viability of Millstreet Community Hospital is maintained. The group would represent the interests of those who live locally and who would be most heavily impacted by any changes. The provision of community care is essential to those who live in Millstreet and its surrounding areas. The hospital is an invaluable part of our community and, I am delighted to say, will remain so for the foreseeable future.”

Contact details for Áine Collins are at: http://www.finegael.ie/our-people/tds/aine-collins/

Local Communities must organise to oppose Hospital Closures

Michael — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:42:23 +0000

Local Sinn Féin representative Des O Grady is calling on people across Cork North West to resist plans by the HSE to close local Community Hospitals across the constituency. Speaking after it became public that all community hospitals with less than 50 beds were earmarked for closure O Grady said, “strong rumours are circulating in the area that Millstreet, Kanturk and Macroom Community Hospitals may be shut down as all are under the 50 bed limit proposed by Minister for Health James O Reilly. The Christmas Eve leak of the HSE’s 2012 service plan with the prospect of 900 bed closures and 4,500 medical staff cuts gave notice to the elderly and the ill in society of what lay before them in the New Year. It seems that the Government and the HSE now have an unwritten policy to close down public provision of nursing home care for older people in units of less than 50 beds and to hand them over to the private sector. If this HSE service plan is implemented it will simply mean that many older people will be evicted from their homes in 2012.This is a callous move and it will certainly have a detrimental effect on the health and well being of the elderly people involved. Last November thousands of people took to the streets to oppose the proposed closure of the 28 bed Abbeyleix Community Hospital. Subsequently the residents won a reprieve at the High Court forcing the HSE to quash the proposed closure in order that proper consultations could be carried out. People power is the only guarantee that these proposed closures can be halted. We in Sinn Féin will lend our total support to communities across Cork North West who are willing to stand up for themselves against these heartless and unjust proposals.”

The above is a News release by our Local Sinn Féin representative Des O Grady (6/1/12)

At the Presidential Inauguration

Michael — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:48:36 +0000

Seán Radley travelled to Dublin today to the inauguration of our new President Michel D Higgins in Dublin Castle. Though he was not in the castle, he was interviewed outside by an RTÉ News crew, stating that he had come up from Millstreet, Co. Cork for the inauguration. The interview later appeared on the 1 o’clock news, and may be on the news bulletins later this evening also. For the next week, you’ll be able to see the short interview on RTÉ Player, and it’s about 13:30 in the video.

Who will you vote for in the Presidential Election 2011?

Michael — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:04:43 +0000

To get an idea of the mood of people, here’s a quick poll to see who do you intend voting for in tomorrow’s Presidential Election 2011? It’s totally anonymous, and you can choose up to three candidates.
Note: Poll was closed at 9am on the morning of the election.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Denny Owen

Michael — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:57:28 +0000

Born and raised in Claraghatlea a mile from the Town of Millstreet and admired and respected and widely known
And though he had lived for years in Bandon we used to claim him as one of our own
And as a primary school going boy in the fifties to this day I can recall
When Denny Owen the Politician was a Minister in Ireland’s Dail.

In the murky game of Politics Denny Owen was a rarity
When he gave his word he kept it he was as honest as could be
And a favourite quote of old Den Looney’s was ‘we will stick by Denny Owen’
As a brother to Matt and son to Mary Annie he is still one of our own.

Denny Owen the Politician in north Cork was a household name
From Claraghatlea a mile from Millstreet he began his trek to fame
And as a TD and Cork County Councillor he became known far and wide
And we felt proud of the achievements of one from our own countryside.

In General Election times in Millstreet after second mass on sunday
People from the church at West End up through Main Street made their way
For to listen to the Politicians speaking in the old Town Square
Though back then the uncommitted voters one might say were very rare.

From the trailer of a lorry Denny Owen addressed the crowd
And as he revved up his supporters they clapped and they cheered him long and loud
He made some of his finer speeches in The Square in Millstreet Town
Close to where he spent his boyhood years before he knew of renown.

To these North Cork Politicians I still keep on harking back
To Denny Owen and Big Con Meaney, Donal Creed and Paddy Mac,
Dan and Eileen Desmond and Ted Linehan and Sean Moylan from Kiskeam
And Sonny Corkery and Phil Burton they too enjoyed their spells of fame.

Donal Moynihan and Tom Meaney and Thade and Mrs Hartnett from Knocknagree
Those great names I still remember they keep coming back to me
And Donal Crowley amongst others the flag for Duhallow flew
Yet in the field of career politics the winners seem so few.

Born and raised in Claraghatlea north he was still one of our own
And from my boyhood years in Millstreet I remember Denny Owen
In the rough and tumble game of politics great success he did enjoy
And though now with the departed his name and fame will never die.

by Francis Duggan

——-

Denis J. (Owen) O’Sullivan (5 March 1918 – 20 July 1987) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at his second attempt at the 1951 general election. He served as a Fine Gael TD for various Cork constituencies until losing his seat in the 1965 general election. He served in the Second Inter-Party Government of John A. Costello as Government Chief Whip from 1954–1957.

1951 (Cork North) elected
1954 (Cork North) elected
1957 (Cork North) elected
1961 (Mid Cork) elected
1965 (Mid Cork) not elected. Edged out by his FG running partner Donal Creed.

Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State at the Dept. of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Visits Millstreet Tonight

Seán — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:28:22 +0000

Pictured at the Wallis Arms Hotel tonight - from left: Cllr. Noel Buckley, Minister Brian Hayes, T.D. from Dublin and Deputy Áine Collins, T.D.. Minister Brian was very impressed as he noted the dedicated Local Lotto Committee preparing at the Hotel for tonight's Draw which has a jackpot of €11,200.00. (S.R.)

Commemorating the Hunger-strikers

Michael — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:11:11 +0000

30th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1981 Hungerstrike.

Millstreet, June 11th, Assemble at 7.45pm outside Dairygold Co-Op.

March to National Monument.

Speaker – Geno McCormack.

MacCurtain/McSwiney Republican Flute Band in Attendance.

All welcome/Fáilte roimh cách.

The above was submitted by Duhallow Sinn Féin.

Notes: Geno McCormack was one of the “Blanket Men“ interred in H Blocks of Long Kesh as a political prisoner, and refused to be treated as a criminal by refusing to wear the prison uniform.

Áine Reaches New Heights!

Seán — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:35:30 +0000

Fine Gael T.D. Áine Collins meets Family and Supporters outside Buswell's Hotel close to Leinster House in Kidare Street. Dublin on her historic first day in Dáil Éireann. We are presently preparing a full feature on the very special day in Dublin on Wednesday, 9th March 2011. This will appear on our website within the next few days.

Victory Parade Brings Cheer to Millstreet

Seán — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:14:35 +0000

Cllr. Noel Buckley addresses the large gathering in the Square on Sunday night during the Victory Parade for newly elected Fine Gael T.D., Áine Collins.

As Millstreet Pipe Band led the Victory Parade for Deputy Áine Collins, the newly elected Fine Gael T.D., through Millstreet town on Sunday night, 27th Feb. 2011 an uplifting cheerful spirit was very much in evidence. Here we share highlights of the historic parade.

LTV2 – Des O’Grady

Michael — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:20:51 +0000

In the run up to the 2011 General Election. LTV2 ran party political broadcasts from a number of the candidates in the Cork North West Constituency. The Sinn Féin broadcast has appeared up on youTube and can be seen below: