Other news from around the country in brief
Cork radio producer dies suddenly
One of the best-known voices of Cork radio has died. Frank O’Brien (58) was best known for his work producing the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s 96FM. He died suddenly at his home on Lansdowne Terrace in Cork city on Sunday.
His removal takes place tonight at 7pm from Coburg Street Funeral Home to St Patrick’s Church, Lower Glanmire Road. Mr O’Brien is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Una and sons Michael, Barry, Frank and Colm.
Brosnan warns of bad decade ahead
Kerry Group founder Denis Brosnan, who heads a task force to tackle unemployment in the midwest, has surprised students and parents at his old school with his gloomy outlook.
“It’s not just one bad year, it’s a decade of bad years,” Mr Brosnan warned. He was at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, on Friday, where he was guest speaker at the school’s annual awards night.
Unemployment was now heading towards 400,000, and there were few places to emigrate to, he said. “How do we get out of it? Think of ourselves as smarter. We don’t need endless amounts of money, but of smart thinking and brain power to get ourselves out.”
The 1960s and 1970s were eras of high unemployment; things were bad then “and maybe even worse now”.
Fahey doubts on fisheries merger
Doubts have been expressed about Government plans to merge two regional fishery boards as part of a new inland fisheries structure after remarks by former minister for the marine Frank Fahey
Galway West TD Mr Fahey said he had “concerns” abut the proposals as he believed in “strong local management”.
He was speaking at Monday’s opening of the Western Regional Fisheries board offices, where he was deputising for Minister of State for inland fisheries Conor Lenihan.
Perfume theft not smelling so sweet
A shoplifter has been sentenced to nine months in prison after he was caught stealing nearly €700 worth of perfume. Vitalig Matiss (33), Murroe, Limerick, pleaded guilty to Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court yesterday to stealing the perfume from Debenham’s, Eyre Street, Galway, on March 18th.
Oil tanks removed for Galway Volvo stop
The waterfront stopover for Volvo Ocean Races is now almost ready for the international yacht race’s temporary “village” which is en route from Rio de Janeiro.
The fleet will stop in Galway from May 23rd to June 6th
The final two oil tanks in the city’s docklands were dismantled yesterday. The tank farm used by fuel retailer Topaz had become the focus for much angst about race preparations.
The farm would not meet updated health and safety standards in the wake of the Buncefield explosions in Hertfordshire, England, three years ago. However, Topaz delayed a move to a new terminal until Galway businessman and Topaz shareholder Gerry Barrett acquired the new storage facility.
The tank material is to be recycled and Topaz will acquire the old terminal site after the Volvo race departs.