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Please Support Jim Corcoran Benefit Fund

Mr Jim Corcoran

All communities within mid Co. Tipperary, especially within the neighbourhoods of Holycross, Thurles and Littleton, are coming together to support a deserving local family with a benefit night, latter which will take place in The Dome, Semple Stadium on Saturday night, August 17th 2019, [8:00pm till late].

Mr Jim Corcoran, Ballyvoneen, Holycross, Thurles; originally from Littleton was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer in mid-May and now his many great friend and relatives have jumped in to support him, together with his wife Angela and their three children, Charlie, Libby and Poppy, by pledging to raise as much funding as possible to assist with Jim’s necessary treatment programme.

The oldest son of Mrs Nell Corcoran and her husband, the late Mr Patrick Corcoran; Mr Jim Corcoran has three brothers P.J., Mickie and Paul, together with two sister’s Trisha and Fiona. His wife, Angela’s family, whose parents are Phillip and Kathleen McNeill together with her brothers and sisters, are also supportive of her husband Jim at this time, with both families offering positive and reassuring support.

Aged 51 years old, Mr Corcoran is a skilled carpenter by trade, who formally worked in a number of locations, including in London; and building many of the scenery props and characters at Euro Disney, in Paris, before returning home to work in Erin Foods. In the past Mr Corcoran has survived testicular cancer in earlier years and has also overcome a heart attack just five years ago.

However, this latest blow came out of the blue, beginning with what appeared at the time to be a toothache. Further investigation however, confirmed that Mr Corcoran had tumours in the form of primary cancer in his lung and secondary cancer in his brain.
Mr Corcoran has been undergoing treatment since last May, under the care of Dr. Nadine in The Whitfield Clinic in Waterford. He is determined to fight and to do whatever has to be done, to beat his current diagnosis. He is a strong determined man, and together with wife Angela; both remain a very effective team, meeting this severe challenge head-on.

Live Performances

The upcoming benefit night on August 17th, at The Dome, in Semple Stadium, will have music by the ‘Jim of the Mill Group’, ‘Seskin Lane’ and friends, and DJ Martin Maher, all of whom will provide top entertainment on the night.

All of those involved in the event, including the venue; performers; ticket and poster production, etc.; are giving their services totally free of charge; a fact that is most deeply appreciated by the families and the specially formed organising committee members.

Committee Officers

The Officers on the committee are Ms Theresa Corbett and Fr. Celsus Tierney (Joint Chairpersons); Ms Teresa Hickey and Ms Dolly Purcell (Joint Secretaries); Ms Jean Ryan and Ms Vanessa O’ Dowd (Joint Treasurers). There are at least twenty other persons involved in the running of the event, ready and eager to assist the Corcoran family during this most difficult of times.

Tickets

Tickets for this worthy event will cost just €20, and are available from Holycross Parish Office (0504 43124), Ely’s Centre, MR Car Valeting, Sammon’s Pharmacy, Premier Meats, Annie Cuties Nail Bar, Mc Cycles, The Beauty Loft, Doyle’s Corner Shop, Boots Pharmacy, Village Takeaway Littleton, Crokes Shop Littleton, Sarsfields Clubhouse and from committee members including Ms Teresa Hickey (087 77433030), Ms Jean Ryan (087 6796764), Ms Samantha Breen (086 8441533).

Doors on August 17th next will open at 8:00pm and there will also be Prizes and an Auction; while people can also Donate Online via a GoFundMe page.

Thurles Credit Union – BIC: THCUIE21 IBAN: IE97THCU99109210805697. Account Number 36484.

Where possible we ask you please to support this very worthwhile cause.

Frustration Voiced With Regard To Mid-West Health Care Issues

Tipperary people being foolishly identified as brainless imbeciles by this Fine Gael government.
Fine Gael TD Mr Simon Harris (Minister for Apologies, Promises and Health Care, since May 2016.)

We reported on Tuesday last July 9th that seventy patients lay on surf board type trolleys at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), with a total of 456 patients lodged in similar conditions across the 26 counties of Ireland. A further 26 patients remained on trolleys at South Tipperary General Hospital, leaving a total of 96 patients or almost one quarter of the national patient count, waiting for a bed in just Co. Tipperary alone.

On the following day, Wednesday July 10th, last, University Hospital Limerick serving North Tipperary issued a statement through the UL Hospitals Group. They declared that 232 patients had attended their emergency department between 8:00am July 9th and 8:00am July 10th. They further advised people to avoid their medical facility, urging members of the public to consider attending injury clinics at St. John’s Hospital [Opening Hours 8:00am – 6:00pm]; at Ennis Hospital [Opening Hours 8:00am – 8:00pm]; and Nenagh General Hospital [Opening Hours 8:00am – 8:00pm]. They failed to state where patients should attend in the case of night time accidents or other emergencies?

We hasten to point out that these figures above stated can be viewed online and are confirmed by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

Following last Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, a joint motion from councillors attending, called on the Minister for Health Mr Simon Harris to make an ‘unannounced visit’ to Limerick hospital and then to immediately begin the process required to reopen the Accident & Emergency units at St. John’s Hospital (Co. Limerick), Ennis Hospital (Co. Clare) and Nenagh General Hospital (Co. Tipperary), and furthermore to upgrade Ennis Hospital to the status of a Model 3 hospital.

They also called for a meeting to be held with Mr Harris, inviting TDs from Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, together with Co. Councillors from the same stated areas. Their hope is to discuss the future of the health service within the UL Hospitals group.

Independent Cllr. Ms Anne Norton of Clare Co. Council claimed that previous visits by the Minister to UHL, saw trolleys hidden away and out of sight around the hospital. Cllr Norton also claimed that numbers on trolleys should be dropping during summer months, adding she believed we are experiencing the worst health crisis ever, across Ireland.

Independent Cllr. Mr Ian Lynch and Fianna Fáil Cllr. Mr Cillian Murphy expressed the view that the UHL model has completely failed, with patients feeling at risk being sent there and with none of the plans discussed being put in place. Cllr. Murphy pointed out that the current population for Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary was 400,070 and projections indicated some 18% of future growth. Keeping these figures in mind, he stated our health service is only going to further deteriorate.

Are Tipperary Co. Council totally asleep on their feet?

It would appear that those who attended at our own last Tipperary Co. Council meeting, had not heard of the ongoing problems being experienced at University Hospital Limerick or had forgotten to properly adjust their monthly secret agenda.

Still when you vote at local elections for “more of the same”, what do you get? Answer:- “more of the same.”

Meanwhile our Dáil adjourned officially on Friday last, July 12th, with no further business scheduled for discussion until the resumption of business on Wednesday, September 20th next.

Of the 158 members of our national parliament only one Minister and three opposition TDs remained within the portals of the Dáil (soon to be refurbished at a cost of €17 million), for the final debate, before the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seán Ó Fearghaíl, wished those not present a joyful, happy and relaxing holiday.

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s electronic key fob machine in Leinster House, like the CCTV system in Thurles, obviously no longer appears to be functioning.

People Advised To Avoid University Hospital Limerick’s ED

Fine Gael TD Mr Simon Harris Minister for Health since May 2016

Unless it is totally necessary, people are being urged not to attend the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), due to the acute overcrowding.

The UL Hospitals Group, in a statement, have declared that 232 patients have attended their emergency department from 8:00am yesterday to 8:00am today. In this statement they claim that the hospital was managing high volumes of patients, following a busy weekend in the department and a rise in the number of delayed patients being discharges.

The hospital which serves North Tipperary is urging members of the public to consider attending injury clinics at St. John’s Hospital (Co. Limerick) Opening Hours 8:00am – 6:00pm; at Ennis Hospital (Co. Clare) Opening Hours 8:00am8:00pm; and the downgraded Nenagh General Hospital (Co. Tipperary) Opening Hours 8:00am8:00pm; instead of University Hospital Limerick.

Where should people attend in the case of night time accidents or other emergencies?

According to figures supplied by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s Trolley Watch, 78 patients were on trolleys today at University Hospital Limerick, (eight more than yesterday), each and all awaiting admission to a bed within that UHL establishment.

We are aware of massive staff shortages being foisted on UHL; however, this begs a question; why are trolleys being used instead of beds, latter readily available in empty wards. Currently amazing talented nursing staff and doctors who are, work-wise, grossly stretched beyond all limits, yet still managing to attend and treat every patient confined to a hospital trolley (latter akin to lying all day on a surf board). Could this same work not be carried out using a bed, latter sitting in vacant wards instead of on a trolley in crowded, noisy corridors?

96 Patients On Trolleys In Hospitals Serving Tipperary

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) trolly ward watch figures, 399 patients are on trolleys in emergency departments and 117 are in wards around the 26 counties of Ireland this morning. In all a total of 456 patients wait on trolleys during the month of July.

There are 70 patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick, latter which serves North Tipperary, all awaiting admission to be assigned to a hospital bed.

Other hospitals seriously affected in the south and west are Cork University Hospital with 60 patients; University Hospital Waterford and University Hospital Galway with 30 each on trolleys. South Tipperary General Hospital also serving South Tipperary have 26 patients on trolleys.

It should be noted that this continuing situation is not brought about by hospital staff failures, but rather the failed responsibility of this present government, which continues to promote death by geography for residents of County Tipperary.

The Silence Continues.

Tipperary People Attend Dublin Pro-Life ‘Rally For Life’.

“Don’t give up! I believe in you all!
A person’s a person, no matter how small!
And you very small persons will not have to die
If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now and TRY!”

Extract from the Dr. Seuss’ 1954 classic, Horton Hears a Who!”

Residents of Co. Tipperary joined the ranks of a Pro-Life rally held in Dublin this afternoon, with the organisers of the ‘Rally for Life’ confirming the numbers of those attending / taking part at slightly over 10,000 people.

The Pro-life campaigners marched from the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, down to the Customs House, in opposition to Ireland’s new abortion laws introduced in May of this year, following the referendum on the Eighth Amendment; with those assembled today calling on the present government for another referendum on abortion.

Thanks to social media, Irish people have now come to the realisation that a baby whose form is hardly visible underneath the slightest curve of a mother’s skirt, can now be cruelly crushed to death and ripped asunder; in some cases to be sold as tissue for drug testing purposes. After all, while food and beverages do not contain any aborted foetal material, they may be tastier because of it, and some cosmetics – those pretending to grant users access to that mythical fountain of youth – is most probably developed thanks to foetal skin cell testing.

Please read the poem hereunder, twice, before commenting.

Unto Us

A poem by the late great British-Irish comedian, writer, poet, playwright and actor Spike Milligan (1918 – 2002).

“Somewhere at some time
They committed themselves to me
And so, I was!
Small, but I WAS!
Tiny, in shape
Lusting to live
I hung in my pulsing cave.
Soon they knew of me
My mother – my father.
I had no say in my being
I lived on trust
And love
Tho’ I couldn’t think
Each part of me was saying
A silent ‘Wait for me
I will bring you love!’

I was taken
Blind, naked, defenceless
By the hand of one
Whose good name
Was graven on a brass plate
in Wimpole Street,*
and dropped on the sterile floor
of a foot operated plastic waste
bucket.
There was no Queen’s Counsel
To take my brief.
The cot I might have warmed
Stood in Harrod’s shop window.
When my passing was told
My father smiled.
No grief filled my empty space.
My death was celebrated
With tickets to see Danny La Rue
Who was pretending to be a woman
Like my mother was.”

* Note: Wimpole Street is an area located in the City of Westminster, Central London, England, associated with private medical practice and similar associations.