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info@eastcorkjournal.ie


Rare Visitors Arrive in Cobh Ahead of Regatta Weekend


by SEAMUS WHELEHAN


A ‘flipping’ good time


is expected in Cobh this Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the arrival of a pod of dolphins to the inner harbour ahead of the Cobh People’s Re- gatta 2018. The playful creatures


have been spotted frolick- ing off the town’s Prom- enade, where the major- ity of onshore events will take place this weekend, 17-19 August. The pod of up to 10 bottlenose dolphins have been put- ting on a remarkable ma- rine display over the past few days. Sarah O’Connor (PRO, Cobh Regatta), said the spectacular exhi- bition of nature can only


add to the packed Regat- ta Programme, both on and off the water. “For anyone on the water this weekend it’s an add- ed bonus and a sign of good weather. Hopefully they’ll stay around to lis- ten to J90 and Clockwork Orange over the festive few days.” Padraig Whooley (Sightings Officer with the Irish Whale and Dol- phin Group) said “while dolphins are a regular visitor to the harbour, they are rarely spotted this far in. “There has been a resident group in the waters off Cobh for at least a decade, regular- ly spotted between Ro- che’s Point and Camden Fort Mayer on a weekly or daily basis. For the individual, it’s probably


unusual to see them in the waters off the prom- enade” he said. Scientists at the Irish


Whale and Dolphin Group are encourag- ing the public to report sightings, whether from land or sea. Porpoise spotters are asked to up- load a photograph and report time and location by emailing sightings@ iwdg.ie The 2018 Regatta will


start on Friday 17 Au- gust with a performance by the Sinead Shepard School of Dance, fol- lowed by Eithne Burke’s Mini-Oscars


dance


troupe. At 8:45pm the public will also get to see the 2018 Regatta Queen contestants. The Cassettes Band will also feature on the night.


On Saturday, 18 August there will be twelve full hours of nonstop enter- tainment from 11am to 11pm.Sunday 19 August sees the arrival of the cruise ship Royal Princess at 8am at the deep water quay, with live entertain- ment provided by the Molgoggers on the main stage from 10.30am. Water based activities begin at 1:30pm with Class 1 Cruisers Lipton Cup, Class 2 Cruisers Spotlight Trophy, Class 3 Regatta salver, Class 4 Cruisers Regatta Cup and Class 1720 Regatta Salver. This will be followed


by a monster fireworks display on Sunday night, traditionally marking the end of summer for the harbour area.


Thursday, 16th


August 2018


McCarthy Family Killeagh among Hundreds of Students left Stranded


by SEAMUS WHELEHAN


Continued from front page


before the new school term Lorraine, along with par- ents of second level chil- dren from Killeagh, Inch, Mount Uniacke and Cas- tlemartyr, received emails denying places on the school service. The pupils are not auto-


matically eligible for a seat as their nearest school is Pobailscoil Na Trionoide in Youghal. Under the Post Pri-


mary Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8km from, and are attending, their nearest education centre as deter- mined by Bus Éireann. Ms McCarthy said many


families are frustrated with a school transport system that tells them to send their children to Youghal when the only secondary school is at capacity. She said the latest de-


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Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie eastcorkjournal @eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


velopment is adding to the parents stress ahead of the new school year. “Many parents are


working fulltime and don’t know what to do. We are under enough stress get- ting books and uniforms ready and now to tell them two weeks before the


school year that they don’t have a seat is just adding to the stress.” The young mother, who


lost her job in November, says while she is in a posi- tion to drive her children to school at present, it may be a struggle for many others who are expected to find €30 per child per week to send their child to school with a private con- tractor. In 2017 almost 700 chil-


dren were denied places. However the situation was resolved for many prior to the commencement of the 2017/2018 term. This year the situation is


believed to be worse with Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth year stu- dents all being denied a place. There are a number of


discretionary seats availa- ble to students choosing to travel outside their catch- ment area. Bus Eireann says when


these are gone they are restricted, by Department of Education rules, from putting bigger buses on the route, at an extra cost to the State, to cater for the concessionary pupils. Labour spokesperson


for Children Sean Sher- lock, who is backing the parents, says more flexibil-


ity is needed in the school transport system. The Cork East Deputy


said “Every year this issue arises and every year the Government wrings its hands, expresses sympathy and waits for parents to be- come exasperated and give up the fight.” A review of the bus


service that costs the state €1million a day to run found that buses are only half filled with students who are entitled to seats. Deputy Sherlock said he


was very concerned over the reduction of conces- sionary places. “According to the Cen-


tral Statistics Office na- tionally over 60% travel by car to work or schools. Rather than increase ve- hicle numbers on already chaotic roads, extra capac- ity is required in the school bus network.” He said “We must create


a supply of bus seats with parents willingly paying for tickets, as they already are, to take cars off the roads and encourage pub- lic transport use.” The Department of


Education was asked for a response, but none was forthcoming prior to going to press.


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