The little white piece of paper

It was just a little white piece of paper lying there on the coffee table as we lay on the couch watching telly on a Monday evening.

But it was taunting us.  It was an appointment card, a return to Holles Street on Thursday morning.  And we knew in our heart of hearts what that appointment would tell us.

We had been there just a week and a half ago and seen our little heartbeat on the scanner.  But tonight it was gone.

Ciara had complications in the late afternoon so we rushed into hospital and waited three hours to be seen.

We were seen at 8.15pm.  The heartbeat was gone.  But the doctor offered us a lifeline.  Nothing could be told for certain without another scan only we would have to wait till Thursday. But Thursday was three days away - three days of hell.

Why couldn’t we have the second scan there and then?  We didn’t even ask the question.  I don’t know why.

So home we went with our little white piece of paper.  And it taunted us for three days until we returned for the inevitable.  Lucky we prepared for the worst I suppose.

And we left again, our little white piece of paper replaced with six little tablets and our little heartbeat gone forever.

I can only imagine that our three day wait was because we arrived on a Monday evening and there was nobody qualified available to give us the bad news.

One of the stats they gave us as some sort of comfort is that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. One in four! I thought that was an amazing statistic.

But surely that’s an argument that there should always be somebody qualified available to give the bad news there and then and to save couples like us from the trauma of the three day wait with the little white piece of paper.

Anyway, I’m only guessing, I could be completely wrong.  But it seems like my way of dealing with this is to write about it. And now I’ve done that.

So to our little heartbeat on the monitor we say good bye.  We would have loved to meet you, take care of you, to bring you up and love you.

Standing down as Sinn Féin Public Representative

Having represented Sinn Féin in the Dublin South Dáil constituency and the Glencullen/Sandyford local electoral ward for nearly seven years now, it is with mixed emotions that I am standing down as our local representative ahead of the local elections scheduled for next year.

I am delighted however to announce that my good friend and comrade Chris Curran, with whom I have been working closely for the last two years, will be taking on the role of public rep in the Glencullen/Sandyford ward and that I will continue to work closely with Chris.

A mixture of work and family commitments has meant keeping up with local constituency work has been an ongoing struggle since my son was born in April 2012. And I am fully aware that these commitments would have grown significantly if I was to stand and win a seat in the local elections next year.

I am proud to have represented the party in the 2007 general election, the local elections in 2009 and in the Dublin South by-election also in 2009.

I am also proud of my work on local campaigns such as the Save Stepaside Garda Station campaign earlier this year, the campaign for a permanent school building for Holy Trinity National School, the Keep the 44 Bus in Ballyogan campaign and the many other campaigns I have been involved in over the years.

I have always tried to highlight the disgraceful housing situation in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and to help, as much as I possibly could, those in need of local authority housing.

I have worked directly with so many people over the years and I hope that I have been helpful to most of them.

I still strongly believe that this area needs to elect a Sinn Féin councillor to stand up strongly for the ordinary people and for those struggling most in the current economic crisis, the unemployed, the working poor and struggling mortgage holders.

I am therefore delighted that Chris has taken up the role as our public representative as I know he will work night and day in the interests of this community.

And I intend to work hard to have him elected to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

I will also be continuing my work in the Sinn Féin Press Office and playing a key role in the election of many new Sinn Féin Councillors and MEPs next year.

I want to say thanks to all the local Sinn Féin members in this area who have helped me over the years and who have accepted my decision with good will and best wishes.  I look forward to working with all into the future albeit in a different role.

Beirigí bua,

Shaun.

The Jack Crowe Memorial Dublin Mountain Walk

On Saturday 11 August 2012 Republicans in South Dublin held the inaugural Jack Crowe Memorial Dublin Mountain Challenge.

A group of nearly fifty gathered at the Blue Light pub in Barnaculia in preparation for a long day on the mountains and in respect and remembrance of Dublin Republican Jack Crowe who passed away in July 2010.

We were honoured on the day to be joined by members of Jack’s family and by republicans from across Dublin and from Meath, Westmeath and Cork. We were also joined on the day by three Basque comrades who enjoyed the day immensely.

The trek was 14 miles from Bohernbreena to Barnaculia taking in Bohernabreena Lakes, The Hellfire Club, Massey’s Wood, Tibradden Mountain and Two Rock Mountain.

While it was a long and hard trek those who took part on the day all said it was very enjoyable and a fitting tribute to a life long republican who many on the trek knew well.

The Jack Crowe Memorial Cup was lifted for the first time ever by Philomena Denton of the Preacáin team from Tallaght and it was presented to them by Séan (Jack Jnr) Crowe TD.

First man across the line was John Nugent, also from Tallaght while second and third places went to Darren O’Rourke from Meath and Donncha O’Laoghaire from Cork respectively.

The first team to get all its members across the line was the Basque team of Pablo Vincente, Ibon Murua and Imanol Hernandez and all three were presented with medals from Seán Crowe on the promise that they would return next year.

After the presentations and a few refreshing pints comrades dispersed to their respective constituencies and all promised to return with friends and family next year.

A lot of work and organisation went into making this a successful event and big thanks must go to Chris Curran, Sorcha NicCormaic, Grace Costigan, Ray O’Kelly, Seán McGrath, John McGrath, Keith Sweeney, Adrian Corr, Brian Byrne, Janette Kavanagh and Kain Phoenix.

On behalf of the Martin Forsyth Cumann in Glencullen/Sandyford and the Bob Smith Cumann in Dundrum I would like to thank all those who took part, raised money, sponsored someone or helped out in any way at all.

Special mention must go to the Crowe family for allowing us to remember their father in this way, for buying into the project and for showing up and taking part on the day.

Here’s looking forward to seeing you all and doing it all again next year.

For more information on the Jack Crowe walk visit http://www.facebook.com/SinnFeinDublinMountainChallenge.

The above photo show's particpants in the walk at the finish line in the Blue Light car park in Barnaculia.  In the centre is Seán Crowe TD with the Jack Crowe Cup.

Jack Crowe:

Jack Crowe

Once described as a father figure to Dublin Republicans Jack Crowe was a stalwart of the Republican Movement right up to his sad passing in July 2010.

Christened Joseph Crowe but known as Jack, he was born into a republican family in 1929.  His father Paddy Crowe was in C Company of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA, his uncle Nicky was in A Company and his aunt Alice was in Cumann na mBan.

Jack first became active in the republican movement in 1938 at the young age of nine when he joined Na Fianna Éireann.

He married his wife Nellie in 1949 and they had five children, two boys and three girls, and the family settled in Padraig Pearse’s neighbourhood in Rathfarnham where Jack lived for the rest of his life.

Sadly Jack was widowed at a young age and he was left to raise his five children on his own.

However Jack still managed to continue his republican work and the Crowe household put up many republicans including Gerry Adams and Tom Hartley.

Times were hard and the house was often raided but Jack remained a committed republican, worked hard, reared his family and never sought any recognition or limelight.

He remained committed to the vision of Padraig Pearse and James Connolly and did everything he could to advance the cause of Irish freedom.

Jack was also known as a real Dublin character and would often entertain those in his company with his great tales of adventures around the world down through history.

Sadly Jack passed away in July 2010 and, as his son, Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said at his funeral, ‘he left this world smiling’.

This year’s Dublin Mountain Challenge was the first of what will be an annual memorial to Jack Crowe.  It was an enjoyable day with a plenty of competition, lots of scenery and history and a lot of craic.

All funds raised will go towards the development of Sinn Féin in Dublin South and ultimately towards the campaign for a new united Ireland.

44 Bus cut from Ballyogan and surrounding areas

The 44 bus was recently extended to the Northside of Dublin to the benefit of most people on the route. However, it is the bus users from Ballyogan who have paid the price as the service has been cut from the area.

On learning that the route was to be cut from Ballyogan my colleague's and I collected more than 500 signatures on a petition to keep the service.  I have since sent this petition to Dublin Bus with a request for a meeting.

Unfortunately I have now received a reply to my letter stating that Dublin Bus does not intend reviewing it's decision in the short term.  There was no acknowledgement of my invite for a meeting.

The reality is that it only took little over five minutes for the bus to make the short journey in and out of Ballyogan.

And while the addition of the Luas Green Line to the area has been a huge advantage for the area, it does not service Sandyford Village, Stepaside Village or Enniskerry.  Nor is it connected to the Northside as the new 44 route now is.

While I understand that the use of the service has reduced since the introduction of the Luas, it is still a vital service to those people who do use it.  It should not be cut for the sake saving six or seven minutes on the new route.

Despite claims from Dublin Bus that public consultation took place throughout 2010 and 2011 the vast majority of people in Ballyogan had no idea that the service was to be cut and were fiercely opposed to the cut.

The least Dublin Bus could do is to accept my invite to meet with the residents in the area to explain its actions and I would call on them to do so.

Solidarity and support for the GAME workers

Last week computer games firm GAME closed all of its stores in the 26 counties and walked away from its 121 Irish staff refusing to pay them their redundancy entitlements.

The workers immediately occupied all of the stores and began a sit-in protest.

My colleagues in the Dáil Seán Crowe TD and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD managed to secure a debate in the Dáil on the issue and a delegation of workers came in to watch the debate.

Unfortunately all we got from the government was words of regret and very little action.

Yesterday I called in to my local GAME store in Dundrum Town Centre to meet the workers who are occupying the store and to offer my support and solidarity.

The man I met there was a very impressive person.  He told me that he understood that the fight he is involved in is about more than the GAME workers.  He has friends working in other retail outlets and he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t challenge a system that could see them also lose their redundancy packages and possibly their homes.

If GAME handed him all he is entitled to tomorrow there is no guarantee that the next company to close its doors will not walk away from its staff in a similar manner.  It is the system that allows this to happen that needs to be challenged.

I applaud this stance and the stance of the Vita Cortex workers in Cork, La Senza staff and others who have and still are fighting for their rights as workers.

The government has been very quiet on this issue.  We need to see strong words of condemnation of GAME from the government followed by legislation to ensure the rights of workers cannot be trampled on anymore.

Proper notice of redundancy and a fair redundancy package are basic rights for workers upon whom these companies depended on to make their massive profits during the boom years.

The GAME workers can be followed on twitter at @GameIREfight or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GameIrelandFight

Please show your support.

The GAME store in Dundrum Town Centre yesterday with its shutters down as workers occupy the store.

Samuel Beckett Civic Complex included in Council’s Capital Expenditure Programme

I have just received details of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Capital Expenditure Programme and am happy to report that phase one of the Samuel Beckett Civic Complex in Ballyogan is included in the plan.

Phase one of the complex will include a community centre and childcare facility, a library/sports building, a playground, synthetic and natural grass pitches and a skate park.

There were fears in the local area that this project was being long-fingered by the Council so today’s news will be warmly welcomed.

This facility will provide a much needed boost to the local community so it is important that the tendering process is completed as soon as possible so it can then proceed to construction.

I have urged the council to consider including a social clause in the contract to ensure that whoever is awarded the tender has to employ a certain number of apprentices on the project to help them complete their training.

These apprentices should be from areas in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown with high levels of unemployment such as Ballyogan.

The photograph below shows a visual of what the Samuel Beckett Civic Complex will look like.

Rally in support of Loughlinstown Accident and Emergency

A protest rally has been organised for Saturday 25^th February in opposition to the closure of the 24 hour accident and emergency department at St Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown.

The rally has been organised by Save Our Services Wicklow in conjunction with my colleagues in Wicklow Sinn Féin.  It will assemble at 1.30pm at the Town Hall on Bray Main Street.

The loss of the 24 hour accident and emergency at Loughlinstown will be a severe blow, not just to the people of Wicklow but to the thousands of people from the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown area who use its services every year.

I was there just last year when I had to bring my girlfriend in with what turned out to be very painful ovarian cysts.

The consequences of the closure of the 24 hour service will also have a knock on effect on the already over stretched St Vincent’s Hospital.

The closure is being dressed up as a reconfiguration that will remove people from the hospital trolleys in the corridors of Loughlinstown. The opposite is the case.  Cutting the A&E in Loughlinstown will simply compound the problems at St Vincent’s and will ultimately result in a deterioration in the level of service for patients and possibly deaths.

This is being done while billions of taxpayers’ money is being pumped into the defunct Anglo Irish Bank.  Just two weeks ago the government paid €1.25billion for an Anglo bond and €3.1billion is due to be paid to Anglo on the 31^st of March.

The government needs to get its priorities right.  The people need to stand up and demand a better way.

I hope to see a huge crowd in Bray on February 25^th.

The photo below shows my colleagues Councillor John Brady, Sorcha Nic Cormaic and I with others at a recent protest at St Columcille’s, Loughlinstown.