Tuesday, 15 February, 2011.
Tuesday began with a two hour session meeting commuters outside Malahide Train Station beginning at a frosty dark hour of 7am. We handed out a four page comprehensive update on work and progress with various transport projects from extending the DART to Balbriggan to Metro to the cycle and walkway across the Malahide estuary.
Afterwards, attended a Carers’ Association meeting for election candidates as one of three who turned up. Darragh and Clare were there too but where were the Labour and Fine Gael candidates? Maybe they feel they are already elected! They missed a very informative presentation and useful discussion. The message to me was carers also need to be cared for. Their responsibilities take a toll in many ways and Government needs to support them for the sake of their own health but also because they save huge costs for the state by preventing mass-hospitalisation of elderly and infirm citizens.
Many many people I have worked with in Kinsealy Melrose area. Sadly others like Liam Rogers as a community leader and Rosaleen O’Toole as a marvellous event organizer for young people in the area, have now passed on at tragically young ages in each case. Their legacies live on however and the building work in the new Scoil an Duinnínigh and the soon to start work on the new Community Centre will provide the long-awaited facilities this community needs.
When a church group come to my Swords clinic and separately the community representatives, I thought these groups could achieve more if we all worked together for the common good. I am especially happy, therefore, that the co-operation of the community and a new church congregation Swords Baptist Church now working together are providing a shared facility which reflects tolerance, vision and a mutually beneficial resulting building for all concerned. John O’Brien in Fingal County Council tells me the public consultation six-week period is due to start soon so keep an eye on the local press or on www.fingalcoco.ie to have your say on this important development.
