The Northside News 16082023

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Airport noise quota ‘will increase levels’

Dublin Airport’s proposed noise quota system, which it hopes will replace the existing night-time cap on flights, will result in “many more air traffic movements” at night and a likelihood that “the overall noise will increase”, according to an expert analysis.

The analysis of the quota system – a kind of ‘noise budget’, proposals for which are being considered currently by An bord Pleanála – notes that the quota for Dublin “far exceeds the totals in Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stansted”.

Dr Eoin King, a lecturer

in mechanical engineering at the university of Galway, has argued that the airport’s proposed noise quota should be reduced and that it should be operated in conjunction with a movement limit on flights, according to the business Post. Without a movement limit, the airport’s operator, DAA, could potentially operate “unlimited” flights on certain categories of aircraft, he said.

DAA, which operates Dublin Airport, also wants to reduce restrictions on nighttime flights by expanding its unrestricted daytime operating

hours by an hour at each end, from 6am to midnight instead of the current system of 7am to 11pm.

Meanwhile, DAA has said it is actively monitoring taxi driver activity after complaints that few taxis are servicing the official rank in the early hours of the morning. While scores of people are standing at an empty rank, many taxis that are summoned using mobile phone apps may be waiting in a car park. Multiple flights are arriving from holiday destinations after midnight, and, on one occasion

Happy birt H day

Sadie

recently, there were 60 adults, as well as many children, queuing at the official taxi rank.

“There were no taxis. in the 15 minutes we waited, one arrived,” a source told the irish independent.

“However there was 30 taxis available via the Freenow app at the same time. They were accessible by walking a few hundred metres to the car park, where there was no wait time.” it appears that the issue relates to only airport-permitted taxis can access the rank.

Continued on next page

Sadie Kearns from the Mellowes area of Finglas who recently celebrated her 100 birthday

Noise and taxis at the airport

Continued from front page

Online taxi service are permitted by DAA to use the car park – but no-one knows they are available.

A spokesperson for DAA said: “Some passengers will occasionally face queues for a very short period late at night when there is extremely high demand across Dublin city for taxis, especially if there are major sporting or concert events happening.

“The Dublin Airport team always acts quickly, issuing telephone calls to encourage additional taxis to come to the airport, which helps clear the queues quickly.”

DAA insists that in the past month, nine out of 10 passengers queuing for a taxi at the airport waited 10 minutes or less at the taxi rank, and that the average waiting time was less than five minutes.

“That’s down from less than eight minutes this time last year,” the spokesman said.

“The DAA is working hard to reduce wait times even further for passengers. We have recently issued an additional 300 new permits to bring to over 2,000 the number of permits in operation at Dublin Airport. We are actively monitoring driver activity very closely to ensure all those with permits are operating a minimum number of journeys from the airport each quarter.”

Belvedere FC pitches vandalised by joyriders

A nOrth Dublin football club said they are “so frustrated” they had to cancel training recently after their playing pitches were vandalised by a car and scrambler motorbikes.

Belvedere football club, which has around 350 children in the club, train and play on Fairview Park pitches. however, pictures show the pitches have been destroyed in recent days.

Club chairman John hayden said the situation is disheartening as it is not the first time the pitches have been left in an unplayable condition due to vandalism.

“The pitches are getting destroyed with scramblers.

“Last night, a stolen car went on to them and absolutely destroyed them,” he said.

“The kids turned up for training and we had to send them home.

“We had about 180 kids due to turn up for training over two slots but we had to cancel the whole thing.

“The pitches are destroyed badly enough that we won’t have games on them this weekend.

“I don’t know when we’ll get

them back up and running.”

Mr hayden said as the club members were on the pitches inspecting the damage, scramblers were on the field again causing further damage. There are often syringes and broken bottles on the pitches as well, he added.

“The same happened last summer and on and off it has happened.

“not to the extent that it has happened recently, now it’s getting really bad.

It’s taking away the kids’ outlet. What’s most important is the social outlet it gives them,” he said.

“For the children from the north inner city, they might experience crime, poverty, or drug addiction or alcohol addiction in different ways.

“This is the outlet for them to stay on the straight and narrow. The truth is, even if it was fixed tonight it would probably be wrecked again tomorrow.”

Mr hayden said the club is seeking their own grounds in an enclosed area in order to ensure it can continue operating without further cancellations as a result of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Coolock’s Princess is a local champ

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), which represents organisations working with young people nationwide, has launched its Local Champions initiative, a campaign aimed at ensuring increased investment in young people and youth work locally and nationally.

eighteen-year-old Princess Graham from Coolock has been selected as the Local Champion for the Dublin Bay North constituency.

Princess is hoping to engage with representatives including TDs Richard Bruton, Sean haughey, Denise Mitchell, Cian O’Callaghan and Aodhan O’Riordan among others.

Princess Graham said: “I’m looking forward to meeting my local representatives as soon as possible to share my personal experiences with the Sphere 17 youth group. I want them to know how great they are and the good work they are doing in involving young people around

the community, especially us asylum seekers.

“I want to make sure that our local representatives have knowledge of this information to carry it to the national level, so that Sphere 17 in my area, and youth work around the country, get its fair share in the budget.”

To learn more about the Local Champions Initiative and NYCI’s efforts to advocate for increased investment in youth work, please visit youth.ie

Council announces new Ecargo bike initiatives

Dublin City Council has announced a range of new initiatives to boost the use of cargo bikes in the city.

The announcement comes on the back of a successful pilot scheme which saw more than 20 local businesses trialling electric cargo bikes over the past two years.

One of the new projects will provide electric cargo bikes to non-profit organisations such as community groups, charities and sports clubs. These bikes will be available for a loan period of up to 12-months, with the full cost subsidised by Dublin City Council.

The original Ecargo bikes for business pilot scheme has also been made permanent, meaning local businesses can trial an electric cargo bike for up to 12 months, with Dublin City Council providing a 60% subsidy on the rental cost.

The third project sees the launch of a new Community Cargo bike which can be hired for free by the public. The first of these shared cargo bikes will be based at The bike Hub in Eamonn Ceannt Park in Crumlin.

Today’s announcements are the continuation of a project

which began in September 2021 when Dublin City Council announced its Ecargo bikes for business pilot project. That scheme saw 22 local businesses trial cargo bikes for prolonged periods of six to twelve months, with 60% of the cost subsidised by the

city council. Those businesses clocked up a combined 34,691km over the course of the pilot - the equivalent of a trip from Dublin to Sydney and back again!

The pilot project also helped the businesses to avoid emitting an estimated 4,372kg of CO2

when compared to using a small commercial van for their transport needs. At the end of the trial 90% of participants indicated that they could see a use for cargo bikes in their business, while 40% of participants actually took the leap and became permanent

Luke Kelly still top of the charts

FOlk legend luke kelly is the person who best represents irish heritage, a poll has found.

cargo bike users.

The new projects announced today are aimed at broadening the appeal of cargo bikes and enabling more people to try them out.

The Community Cargo bike in Crumlin will be available for short-term hire, allowing people to test out their usefulness for everyday trips such as doing the weekly shopping.

“We used the original pilot project to identify some of the barriers to cargo bike use,” says Jennifer McGrath, Senior Executive Engineer in DCC’s Micromobility unit.

“One of those barriers is cost, which is why we’re making these cargo bikes available to try for free to non-profit organisations and the general public.”

“We were delighted that so many businesses became permanent cargo bike users after the pilot project, which was a big factor in making the Cargo bikes for business scheme permanent.

“Thankfully we’ve had strong support from the national Transport Authority from the very start which has enabled us to broaden the scope of the project as we went along.”

The late Dubliners musician, who died in 1984, received 23% of a public vote with Christy Moore in second backed by 21% of respondents.

The survey, which was conducted ahead of national Heritage Week, also found stew (29%) was voted the most traditional meal ahead of bacon and cabbage (19%) and a full irish breakfast at (15%).

The study, which was released by the national lottery and the Heritage Council, also found folk music was the activity most associated with irish heritage followed by the GAA.

The poll was published to mark national Heritage Week which runs until August 20 which has more than 1,200 free events and projects happening around the country.

Heritage Council chief Virginia Teehan said: “We are excited to partner the national lottery in what will be a fruitful collaboration and one which will be beneficial and spread awareness of heritage in all its forms.

“We are proud to be a part of the national lottery’s Good Causes awards every year through our heritage award.

“i encourage everybody to have a look at what’s on in their area and to enjoy what your area has to offer.”

TG4 All-Ireland senior Dublin ladies footballers Leah Caffrey and team captain Carla Rowe greeted by The Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste at a heroes welcome at The Mansion House. Pic: Conor McCabe

So who should we blame for this sham of a summer?

MICHAEL WOLSEY

WHAT an awful summer!

Empty beaches, flooded streets, crops rotting in the fields. Ice cream sellers are going broke while umbrella manufacturers flourish.

What further warnings of climate change do we need?

It’s time, and past time, that we mended our ways and got a grip, once and for all, on our carbon-emitting, earthwarming habits.

Trouble is, we’ve left it a bit late. For the summer I’m referring to is the summer of 1912, the wettest recorded in Ireland..

This year saw the wettest July on record and August has been nothing to shout about. But 2023 has not given us Ireland’s worst summer. It is not even a close contender for that sorry, soggy title.

The rain -soaked season now squelching its way towards autumn looks like being the third worst on record since the washout of 1912.

But Ireland’s records go back a mere 180 years – hardly a wet week, you might say. Before that they were recorded by Britain. The wettest summer in Britain’s Met archive was 1727 and it makes 2023 look like a soft day.

We tend to blame all extreme weather on global warming caused by human activity. But I don’t think it can be blamed for the floods of 1727. Nor for the Great Frost which struck Ireland, and much of Europe, in the winter of 1739, and the next two years, turning our rivers into roads of solid ice and our lakes into huge skating rinks.

Was it to blame in 1986 when Hurricane Charlie crashed like a wrecking ball through much of the country, bringing death and destruction?

Maybe. But what about Hurricane Debbie in 1961 which ripped up trees, knocked down walls and killed 18 people in Ireland? Nobody had even heard of global warming back then.

Nor is it likely that the burning of fossil fuels contributed to Ireland’s most infamous storm on the Night

of the Big Wind. That cyclone, which came blasting in on January 6, 1839, left hundreds dead and thousands homeless.

So if human activity did not cause extreme weather problems back then, why are we so sure it is to blame for them now?

When I have raised this point in the past I have been accused of denying climate change. Not so. Of course the earth’s climate is changing. It always has.

It was climate change that knocked this little island of ours into shape about 12,000 years ago when global warming ended the last Ice Age and washed away a land bridge that had formed between Ireland and Britain.

Low-lying lands were inundated as the sea rose; the land bridge was overwhelmed and salt water flooded what was then a freshwater lake, forming the Irish Sea.

Obviously human activity had no bearing on these events and I am not convinced that is solely to blame for the present weather changes.

I approve of reducing the use of fossil fuels. They cause pollution and damage our health. In any case, we will eventually run out of them.

I approve of curbing our reliance on plastic. It is getting into our food and destroying our seas.

I approve of cutting back on road traffic. It is making our cities unpleasant and , if it is not restricted, will make urban travel impossible.

I approve of changing our ways. But I fear the climate will keep on changing whether we do so or not.

Tess Mclnerney (4) from Marino at the Hugh Lane Gallery. Pic: Maxwells

Cannonball coming to Malahide Castle

Cannonball, the actionpacked supercar spectacle, is set to roll on September 15th-17th with proceeds to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and teh event will commence, once again, at Malahide Castle.

Cannonball, fuelled by milesPlUS from Circle K, is the largest organised road trip in Europe featuring the finest cars on the planet from the awe-inspiring power of Ferrari, lamborghini and Mclaren to the grace and elegance of Porsche, aston Martin, and Maserati. Cannonball has already raised €1,538,602 for Irish Charities and brings a unique and inimitable electric atmosphere to host towns all over the country making it a widely-anticipated free family event for spectators.

on Thursday September 14th, the Cannonball crew will roll into Malahide Castle to get set for another adrenalin fuelled supercar spectacle. The supercars are due to start arriving from 6pm with an opportunity for spectators to be captivated by their enviable fusion of engineering excellence and breathtaking design. on Friday September 15t at 10am, the gleaming convoy will depart

Hospital’s 1000th robo-op

THE Mater Hospital has reached an important milestone this month, as surgeons complete the 1000th robotics-assisted surgery.

Malahide Castle and will blaze a trail to Cavan for a lunch stop at the Slieve Russell Hotel and Country Club in Cavan. The first finish line and overnight stay will be in ballina and the cars are due to arrive to the finish line on the Quay at 6pm to help celebrate ballina’s 300th birthday. on Saturday September 16th the convoy will leave the Quay in ballina at 10.30am and travel to Salthill Hotel Co Galway for lunch at 1pm and then onwards to Pery Square limerick City for the second finish line and overnight stay in association with limerick City and County. on Sunday September 17th the supercars will leave limerick City at 10.30am, then fuel up at Circle K Fermoy and then onwards to Cork for lunch at Fota Island Resort before a big dramatic final finish line in Kilkenny City at 6pm.

This year the official charity of Cannonball is The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation - an Irish children’s charity that funds and delivers in-home nursing care, respite support and end-of-life care for children from birth to six years of age who have highly complex and life-limiting medical conditions.

The Robotic Surgical Programme is now in its fifth year, having been launched in 2019. Thanks to the generosity of the Mater Hospital Foundation’s supporters across Ireland, the hospital secured a state-of-the-art Da Vinci XI robot.

Since its launch, the programme has improved outcomes for cancer patients and their families and has quickly expanded to involve 16 surgeons across six specialities, including Urology, Cardiothoracic, Colorectal, Head and neck, Gynaecology, and Hepatobiliary.

as a national university training hospital, the Mater Hospital plays a key role in building robotics expertise for Irish healthcare.

Mr Greg nason, Consultant Urologist in the Mater Hospital who performed the 1000th surgery says, “The Robotic Programme in the Mater has been a great success thanks to the Mater Hospital Foundation’s generosity. The expertise that has been established within the hospital from a nursing and medical perspective has allowed us to offer a multi-speciality programme to our patients. Within urology, robotic surgery is now the standard for most major prostate and bladder cancers as well as many kidney cancers.”

Star urging coffee lovers to host fundraiser

Domhnall Gleeson is urging people across north Dublin to host coffee mornings next month to help raise €2million for ‘extraordinary’ hospice services.

The hollywood star is supporting Bewley’s Big Coffee morning Social for hospice, which has generated €43.2million since 1992. he joined hospice hosts and volunteers at the iconic Bewley’s café on Grafton

Street on august 2, and asked everyone in Ireland to host or support this year’s event on September 21. Both of Gleeson’s grandparents – his father Brendan’s parents - spent their final days in St Francis hospice in Dublin.

“my grandma (Pat) was only there for a few weeks and that was my first experience of being around a hospice,” said the harry Potter and

James Connolly plaque unveiled

JameS Connolly, socialist and signatory of the 1916 Proclamation, has been commemorated by a Dublin City Council plaque.

Born in edinburgh in 1868, to Irish parents, Connolly became a key figure in the Irish trade union movement and socialist politics, particularly after his return to Dublin from the United States in 1910.

From December 1910 to may 1911, Connolly and his family lived at 70 South lotts Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4, where the plaque was unveiled by the lord mayor. The house is one of only two surviving in which Connolly lived in the city Connolly then moved to Belfast as organiser for the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), where he saw

at first hand the sectarianism that blighted Belfast and the north east generally.

In 1912, along with William o’Brien and Jim larkin, and others on the Dublin Trades Council, Connolly was instrumental in getting the Irish Trades Union Congress to establish a political wing, giving birth to the labour Party.

Connolly returned to Dublin from Belfast during the 1913 lockout and after larkin left for america in 1914 he became acting General Secretary of the ITGWU and the leader of the Irish Citizens’ army.

Following the 1916 Rising , and badly wounded and unable to stand, he was executed at Kilmainham by firing squad, while sitting on a wooden box.

Star Wars actor, 40. “I was incredibly close to her and I was struck by the atmosphere of care and kindness. She had a rough journey before she got there - and all of a sudden, that difficult road seemed less punishing to travel.”

he recalled thinking she seemed as ‘safe and cared for’ as possible.

“It was such a relief,” he said.

“In terms of my granddad (Francis), we had been looking

after him for a long time, probably about a year, and didn’t think he was going to last that long in hospice, but he was there for months.

“The care was extraordinary, but he had a new lease of life, it (hospice care) gives their body the care it needs, and makes them feel special.”

“If you cannot host or attend one, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/ donate.”

Road deaths in the first half of year rise

The Road Safety authority (RSa) and an Garda Síochána have issued a stark warning that years of road safety progress is being undone as new figures reveal that road deaths in the first half of 2023 are the worst for six years. 95 road deaths have occurred so far this year (as of 26 July 2023), an increase of 9 compared to last year.

The RSa is warning the Irish public that, should current trends continue, as many as 168 lives will be lost on our roads this year.

Data made available from a Preliminary analysis of Road Traffic Fatalities by the RSa (as

of 26 July 2023) has highlighted a number of worrying trends, including:

Twenty-three young people aged 16-25 have lost their lives so far this year.

almost the same number of 16-25 year olds killed (23) in the first half of 2023 as with same period in 2021 and 2022 combined (26).

almost half (49%) of all deaths on the roads occurred at night-time (8pm-8am), when the roads are at their quietest.

Three counties (Galway11, mayo – 10, and Cork - 9) accounted for almost one third of all fatalities.

as of august 1, ) there have been 100 deaths on the road. This is an increase of 11 fatalities compared to the same date last year.

The RSa and an Garda Síochána are appealing to all road users to be more vigilant on our roads.

Commenting on the findings, Sam Waide, Ceo, RSa said: “The figures released today are alarming. Clearly, the progress we have made in road safety over the last number of years is at risk. The evidence suggests that as a society we are losing momentum when it comes to road safety - with tragic

consequences. If this continues, we could see 168 homes with an empty place at their table this Christmas time.

We all have a duty - all parts of society and every road user - to do everything we can to reverse this trend and save lives. I hope today can mark the start of a fightback from all of us to regain the progress we had made and make the second half of 2023 safer for all road users.”

assistant Commissioner Paula hilman, Roads Policing and Community engagement, said: “Road deaths are a tragedy for all affected.”

Inflatable pink flamingo sparks major sea search

A drifting inflatable flamingo sparked a major search operation off Portmarnock in dublin recently.

The Coast guard Operations centre was notified of an inflatable boat drifting off the shore at Portmarnock with nobody on board.

A multi-agency operation was launched involving shore crews of Coast guard personnel from Howth, life guards from surrounding beaches and local gardaí all searching the coastline.

Meanwhile the Howth rnLi inshore lifeboat searched the water and was assisted by other vessels in the area, while the Coast guard rescue 116 helicopter searched from the air.

The object was located and turned out to be a pink flamingo inflatable toy. A follow-up search was carried out and it was confirmed that there were no reports of any missing people. in a statement this evening, Howth Coast guard said: “We would encourage people not to bring inflatable toys to the seaside, as seen today they can drift very quickly away from the beach with an offshore wind.

“if you do something of

concern at the coast never hesitate to contact the Coast guard at 999 or 112.”

Ahead of expected better waether following the damp July, Water Safety ireland has issued a water safety warning along with some advice on how to reduce your drowning risk.

With the weather getting warmer and sunnier, more and more beach-goers go swimming in the water. However, according to the charity, warm weather does not mean warm water as water temperatures remain cold.

The warning reads:

“Swimming in cold water can result in the rapid cooling of muscles needed to swim and stay afloat. Swim within your depth, swim briefly and be mindful that any cooling of the muscles can make it more difficult to swim safely.”

• Swim within your depth,

Spending in capital continues to rise

stay within your depth and enter the water slowly to acclimatize as sudden immersion in cold water can result in “cold shock” which can lead to deep gasping, uncontrollable rapid breathing and panic.

• Swim at lifeguarded waterways this weekend –check out which locations are lifeguarded at the official website of Water Safety ireland.

• If you cannot get to a lifeguarded waterway, swim in areas that are traditionally known to be safe and have ringbuoys available for rescues.

• Never use inflatable toys in open water as they can be swept away by currents and offshore breezes.

• Children require close, uninterrupted, adult supervision at all times near water.

• Swim within your depth and stay within your depth. Make sure that the edges are shallow shelving so that you can safely and easily enter and exit the water.

• To escape a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and then swim back ashore. to read more about how to escape rip currents, go to the official page about it on Water Safety ireland here.

tHe value of retail spending amongst consumers in dublin continued on an upward trajectory for a ninth consecutive quarter in Q2 2023.

The latest MasterCard SpendingPulse™, produced on behalf of the four dublin Local Authorities, reached a new index peak of 150.3 in the quarter as growth rates of 1.1% QoQ and 4.7% YoY (SA) were recorded.

inflation, which remains at high levels, was a likely contributor, along with strong domestic demand.

entertainment spending was central to the overall QoQ growth in Q2. An expansion in this category of 4.7% QoQ is reflective of the robust performance of hotels, bars and restaurants since early 2022 – especially as international tourism has been rejuvenated post-pandemic. growth also accelerated in discretionary and household goods sales in the quarter, with respective QoQ expansions of 1.5% and 1.4%.

necessities spending remained on an upward path but the rate of growth slowed relative to Q1 – potentially related to the increased entertainment expenditure in the quarter.

The inflatable flamingo toy that sparked the search operation.

Photo: Howth Coast Guard

Construction starts at Lakeside Memorial Park

Construction work has commenced at Lakeside Memorial Park on Dublin’s northside.

Located between Malahide and Portmarnock, the site which is larger than St. Stephen’s Green, will provide a much-needed alternative to the traditional graveyard. The high-class memorial park will provide 3,000 traditional burial plots and 4,000 inground ash plots aswell as numerous interments options in the park’s stately columbarium walls.

Speaking on behalf of Lakeside Memorial Park, Niall O’Connor, Director,

According to the owners, demand for burial plots has been very strong since their on-site information office opened last month.

“We have had a tremendous response from the residents in Portmarnock, Malahide and other local areas such as Sutton, Raheny and Clontarf”

according to Mr. O’Connor who explained “Lakeside Memorial Park offers a new opportunity to Dublin’s northside residents who are considering their final resting place.

“There is now an alternative to the local burial grounds and of course there is now an ability to pre-purchase your plot, something which is not available in the local councilrun cemeteries.

“Notwithstanding it makes emotional and financial sense to plan ahead, the advance planning appears to be providing our clients with a wonderful sense of security and peace of mind.

“Although the park won’t be open until the end of 2024 or early 2025, our clients are delighted to be

said“Lakeside Memorial Park will be a truly spectacular place where we can honour and remember our loved ones in a dignified and tranquil setting.

“We are creating what will arguably be one of the nicest places for interment in Ireland.

“Our plans include the planting of approximately 1,000 native trees and the construction of a large lake.”

Another Director, Henry Wildgust, said “Lakeside Memorial Park will present more like a public park than a cemetery, in part due to our use of flat memorial plaques.

This is a public amenity, and we will encourage joggers and dog-walkers to come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, the water features and the artwork.

“Lakeside Memorial Park will set a new standard for interment in Ireland

and will redefine the traditional cemetery experience.”

The idea for Lakeside Memorial Park was born following the owner’s chance encounter with Rosehills Memorial Park in California, one of the USA’s most renowned

memorial parks. “Rosehills Memorial Park in California is a remarkable place and has won numerous awards for it’s gardens and buildings and we hope Lakeside Memorial Park will win it’sown accolades over the coming years.

“In addition to the highlylandscaped surroundings, the interment ceremony will also be first in class. A specially designed canopy will be erected on rainy days and seating will be available for the immediate family” said Mr. Wildgust.

able to choose their final resting place at this early stage.

“Choosing your final resting place is a very personal choice.

Some clients wish to be interred by our lake or near the river whilst others want to be beside the children’s play area and having these choices is what makes Lakeside Memorial Park so special”

Mr. O’Connor concluded.

Mr. Wildgust explained that having a children’s play area makes the memorial park a great place for the whole family to visit their loved ones.

“Lakeside Memorial Park has ultimately been designed to celebrate life. Whether it’s the sound of children’s laughter or coming across a jogger or dogwalker, all of these adding a wonderful ener-

gy to this beautiful place”, Mr. Wildgust said. Responding to our questions about the cost of the various plots in Lakeside Memorial Park, Mr. O’Connor told us that there are introductory rates currently available –traditional plots are available from €7,500, inground ash plots from €5,000 and columbarium wall niches ranging from €3,5000 to €9,000. “It is probably impor-

tant to note that we are also investing a portion of all sales income into a perpetuity fund, another idea we have taken from America. Having the perpetuity fund will ensure that the park is maintained to the highest standards forever, at no cost to our clients”, Mr. O’Connor told us.

“In respect to other burial options, as cremations now account for about half of all interments in Ireland, there has been particular interest in our in-ground plots, suitable for cremation urns.

“A lot of people don’t realise that cremation urns can be placed in the ground, but this option is available throughout Lakeside Memorial Park. “Our clients have told us that they are delighted with the size of these plots, most of which measure 2 metres x 2 metres.

“Offering this amount of space for a cremation plot is unprecedented, but our clients have told us that this will give them a greater sense of dignity”, Mr. O’Connor said.

Mr. Wildgust added

“There has also been great interest in our family plots which can accommodate up to four coffin burials and four urn interments.

“These plots are also large measuring 2.5 metres x 2.5 metres and bespoke pricing options are available upon request.”

According to the company’s website which can be visited at www.lakesidememorialpark.ie, the cemetery is bordered by St. Marnock’s Church, a wellknown local landmark.

“These lands have a wonderful history and once formed part of the Portmarnock Brick and Terracotta Works, part of the Plunket Estate.

“Of course, we are also beside St. Marnock’s Church, the Old Schoolhouse and the black-

smith’s Forge, some of these splendid properties all steeped in history and dating back to the 18th century. “These properties have existed for over two hundred years and we at Lakeside Memorial Park are looking forward to contributing to Portmarnock’s history for another two hundred years and beyond. “We are privileged to have the opportunity to work on such a special project and we are very grateful to the extended local community for their interest and support to date”, he concluded.

Further information is available on the website: www.lakesidememorialpark.ie or alternatively, you can arrange a consultation by calling 01 9602222.

The Sluice River runs through Lakeside Memorial Park

“Lakeside Café” which looks across 24 acres of landscaped park

On-site café boasting a balcony that sits on the lake

St. Marnock’s Church built in 1788 sits adjacent to the park

Jigsaw call for more funding for youth mental health services in wake of “most demanding year”.

July 26th, 2023 - Jigsaw, the leading youth mental health charity, has warned that the double-whammy of lack of funding and increasing demand is contributing to Ireland’s mental health support services being more stretched than ever before.

At the launch of their latest annual report, Jigsaw have highlighted new data that reveals the growing demand for its support. In 2022, Jigsaw’s community-based services offered their highest ever number of appointments to young people (36,360)1. This is in response to a consistent rise in the number of referrals that has seen an almost 70% increase since 2017.2

Jigsaw has also continued to see significant growth in demand for its online services, with over half-a-million visits to jigsaw.ie in 2022, a 104% increase on the previous year, and increases in the numbers of Live Chat and email-based support sessions.3

Laura Curran, Service Manager at Jigsaw Dublin City, says: “What is clear from our data is that we are working to

maximum capacity. In 2022, across our Dublin services we had 8,405 referrals and offered 12,455 appointments. Across Jigsaw’s services we are seeing an increase in demand, and as we seek to grow and offer more support our challenge is to keep up. Worryingly, this is part of a wider trend reflected across Ireland’s mental health support services, and put simply, it is not sustainable”

Jigsaw is concerned that, at a time when young people already face significant challenges to their mental health, growing pressure on mental health support services means that all too often young people are facing the additional anxiety of increasing wait times with limited support options.

Sophie Kathryn, recent psychology graduate and previous Jigsaw service user, says: “Jigsaw is so important

because it offers support early. It doesn’t make any sense that only 5% of our total health budget is ring-fenced for mental health in Ireland. Investment in keeping people well, rather than waiting until they are very un-well makes far more sense. The current approach is akin to only treating heart disease after a cardiac arrest – it’s short-sighted,

piecemeal and simply not good enough.”

In response, Jigsaw has pledged to continue to expand and look for new ways to offer its mental health supports. Jigsaw has plans for service expansion, growth in breadth and depth of its work with communities, schools, higher education settings, workplaces, sport clubs and online communities.

But, with the numbers of young people seeking support expected to continue to rise, the charity believes that this is not enough. There are serious gaps in Ireland’s mental health supports clearly highlighted by the Maskey Report – alongside cross-sectoral restructuring, Jigsaw believe funding is a central issue.

Jigsaw is calling for the government to act on its warning and ensure that there is enough funding and the plans in place for the mental health services and supports that our young people need and deserve.

Dr Joseph Duffy, Chief Executive Officer at Jigsaw says: “If we are to respond to this growing demand, something has to give. The current levels of funding, received from the HSE and the public, are simply not enough to maintain existing levels of service, let

alone support expansion into new areas or new locations. Increased funding for youth mental services must be made available in Budget 2024. Without it, our services, already stretched and under-resourced, will become overwhelmed,”

“The past year has highlighted, once again, that mental health services and supports in Ireland are under significant pressure. A shortage of multi-annual funding for mental health is stifling ambition and the development of sustainable solutions that are needed now.

“At Jigsaw, we are here to make sure that young people get the help and support they need and deserve. So we are urging the government to prioritise investment now to provide the standard of mental health support that our communities and our young people deserve.”

We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by