Strike over
Top Line: The former Debenhams workers have voted to end industrial action and accept the government package.
Details: The ex-Debenham workers picketed for 406 days and through three lockdowns before voting to accept the offer of a €3 million training fund. In April, we profiled Valerie Conlon who worked for 24 years at Roches Stores first and then Debenhams. Valerie talked to us for the podcast just after the news broke.
A top up
Top Line: Councillors around the country are in line for an €8000 increase from this July.
Details: Councillors currently earn €17,600 per year. We spoke with two councillors this week who were happy with the increase.
Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Independent, South East ward) said while it’s a part-time position, “you’re never really off duty” with council related activity. Kieran said he hoped the increase would entice a younger generation into local politics and that they would stick with it.
Cllr Lorna Bogue (Independent, South East ward) also welcomed the raise, but pointed out that it’s been a while coming. Last year, the coalition committed to the pay increase in its programme for government following a review of council pay in 2019.
“If the salary increase comes through it will be really brilliant,” Lorna said. “It means I don’t have to be so worried about my rent.” Like all councillors, Lorna works and it’s a balancing act combining the two roles. To judge from public reaction so far Lorna says she hasn’t come across much grumbling or annoyance.
“Usually when people are annoyed about it (a councillor’s salary),you’d ask them well how much do you think a councillor gets?”
“And usually, what they’ll say is something similar to what a TD is getting. Then you have to tell them, ‘well no actually.’”
For what it’s worth, the basic salary for a TD is just over €100,000. As with other public sector workers they received a salary increase earlier this year.
All for the hall
For more than 60 years Parochial Hall in Gurranabraher has been an anchor in the northside community, providing a base for basketball, five-a-side soccer, music circles, meals on wheels, discos and even exams. They launched a GoFundMe in mid May as the hall turned 63 to fund ongoing repairs and renovations to the hall.
Phelim Collins from Parochial Hall said he was “humbled, grateful and proud” by the response so far. “People who remember going to the Hall in their youth and groups/clubs who are happy to hear about the ongoing upgrades e.g. the natural light from the newly installed 36 windows will facilitate better photography.
“Much of what is currently being done won't be visible i.e. repairs to the roof, replacing the wiring etc and 'cosmetic' work will be further down the line. But we hope what is being done now demonstrates that we are committed to improving Parochial Hall for those who avail of it. We plan to do an update with a profile of some of the clubs at the weekend.”
All god’s pints
Another milestone this week: Shitlondonguinness.com turned one year old. Ian Ryan from Blackrock is the phenom behind the social media phenomenon that celebrities love to name drop. Ian’s also tearing it up in London town with sister site Beautiful Pints. Be great to see some of that merch on the Queen.
10 years on, we haven’t forgotten
It’s all (not so ancient) history at this stage, but Queen Elizabeth was in Cork 10 years ago this week. The council released a video commemorating the big event with some of the key people who were on hand to meet the Queen when she took a stroll around the English Market. “I don’t think she’s ever got a welcome that she got that afternoon from the people of Cork,” said Michael O Connell, former Lord Mayor of Cork, in a video the council made looking back on the day.
Tweet of the week:
The key to reimagining Cork - make it Italian.
Tripe+Drisheen long read.
If you missed it, Ellie’s long read this week profiled oVera Twomey and the lengths she is going to for her daughter Ava. You can read it here.
Contact us: If you would like to respond to one of our stories, or just highlight a matter of local concern, please write to us at jj.odonoghue@gmail.com or emailellieobyrne@gmail.com with further details.
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