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info@eastcorkjournal.ie


Thursday, 4th


May 2017


Cobh Woman Collects Soft Toys To Help Naval Crew Calm Children Rescued in Mediterranean


by SEAMUS WHELEHAN


Senior Naval manage-


ment at Haulbowline are preparing for two further humanitarian missions to the Mediterranean this year. The LE Eithne is set to shortly on its


leave Port


second mission to the area, with the LE William Butler Yeats expected to depart in July. It’s understood Naval command are


ready to


deploy a third vessel un- der ‘Operation Pontus’ if they are called on again by the Italian Marine Rescue Centre in helping those fleeing their homes in North Africa. When the LE Eithne


departs its Cork Harbour base in the coming days it will carry a very special cargo, over 1,000 cuddly toys. The soft toys were col-


lected through a social me- dia campaign coordinated


by crewman John Buckley. A further 2,000 teddy


bears, colouring books and crayons were collected lo- cally by Cobh woman Rose Brien Harrington. The toys will be used by Irish Naval crew to calm agitated children they res- cue from the sea. The LE Eithne was the


first Irish vessel to deploy under Operation Pontus in 2015, since then Irish Na- val crew have rescued over 15,000 migrants. Mrs Brien Harrington


who rallied a number of friends around her, handed over their precious cargo last Thursday 27 April, which will be sent to the Mediterranean on board the LE WB Yeats later this year. The Cobh woman told


the East Cork Journal “I was watching the doc- umentary “the Crossing” and seeing the harrowing conditions these migrants endure, I knew I had to do something.”


“Seeing all these chil-


dren bobbing around in the ocean because of unprincipled people


and


brought on board by crew wearing special suits, gog- gles and face masks (for all the right reasons), it must be shocking for them.” “It’s such a small thing to do to calm them down, to hu- manise their first encoun- ter with the crew.” Mrs Brien Harrington


thanked the Church of Ire- land Christ Church Cobh for providing space to keep the toys and to Scoil Barra Ballincollig for providing many of the toys and col- ouring books. Almost


26,000


companied separated


minors


unac- and


children were


rescued in the Mediterra- nean in 2016 with nearly 2,000 rescued in the first two months of 2017.


• Presentation to the crew of le Eithne from PDFORRA of toys and clothing for their operation Pontius mission


Youghal Credit Union Sponsorships for April 2017 by DENISE FITZGERALD


Local Theatre, Sport and Cancer Research were


supported by


Youghal Credit Union at


their Sponsorship


presentation which was held last weekend. Colm Geary, speaking with The East Cork Journal, said they were delighted to con- tinue their sponsorships “which” he said “are to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and commitment


of local


Clubs and organisa- tions, and to help them continue


with their


great work in the com- munity”. Thanks were extend-


ed by Youghal Pitch & Putt Club, The Emer Casey Foundation, Youghal Little Theatre and Fr. O’Neill’s GAA Club for the ongoing assistance of Youghal Credit


Union, giving


support and encourage- ment to local clubs.


• Brendan Casey, The Emer Casey Foundation, receives sponsorship cheque Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


• Youghal Little Theatre, James Morey and Con Kiely, accept cheque from Colm Geary YCU


eastcorkjournal @eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


• Members of Youghal Pitch & Putt Club Ann O’Connor, Dave Hankard and Joan Hyde accept cheque from Colm Geary


• Cheque presentation to Fr O’Neill’s by Colm Geary. With Carrie Higgins and Bridget Murphy


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