Ballincollig Sinn Féin Protest at Business Breakfast
Súil Siar: Window on the Past.
Leo Murphy 89th Anniversary June 27th 2010.
Volunteers in Ballincollig and
he helped to set up companies
in Srelane, Killumney and
Ballinora with further
companies being developed in
Aherla, Farran and Farnanes.
There being only seven
Volunteers in the village the
Ballincollig Section was
assigned to the Ballinora
Company and Leo became
Captain of this company in
1919. These six companies
Walter Leo Murphy was made up the 3rd Battalion of
born in the West Village the 1st Cork Brigade on its
Ballincollig on 15th Aug
1901. His father Walter who
formation and Leo Murphy
became 3rd Battalion
was a mason was also the Commandant in December
owner of the Pub now known 1920. He took part in many
as the White Horse Inn and his engagements against British
mother Kate was a school Forces and their agents in this
teacher in Ballincollig National area while he was on active
School. After attending the service from 1919 to 1921.
local National School Leo went These included the Viaduct
on to secondary school at the Ambush in Oct 1920, the
North Monastery in Cork City. elimination of three British
He left school in 1914, his undercover Intelligence
father having died, and became Officers, taken from the train at
an apprentice draper to Michael Waterfall Station in Nov 1920
Nolan at 56 North Main St. and the ambush on the
There he met another Ballincollig based British
apprentice Florrie O Donoghue Army Intelligence Officer
a nephew of Nolan. Captain Thompson on the
After the 1916 Rising both lads Model Farm Rd in the same
became interest in joining the month. He also took part in the
Republican movement and they ambush of RIC Sergeant
joined the Volunteers at HQ in Bloxham in Jan 1921 and in the
Sheare’s St., in early 1917. Leo elimination of several British
was assigned to Fianna Éireann spies during this period.
the Republican Youth Commandant Leo Murphy was
Movement because of his age shot dead on the night of June
while O Donoghue went on to 27th 1921 when a meeting of
become Chief Intelligence the Ballinora Company being
Officer of the 1st Cork Brigade held in the pub in Waterfall
IRA. Leo Murphy immediately was surrounded by two
began to organise a Section of carloads of plainclothes British
The Original Cross erected undercover officers. Leo made
in 1924 at the spot where a bold attempt to escape and
Leo Murphy died. fought his way out of the pub
and across the road. He was
shot dead however as he
attempted to get to safety over
the ditch on the far side of the
road.
Commandant Leo Murphy
was buried two days later in
the Republican Plot in St
Finbarr’s Cemetery. A
Limestone Monument to his
memory now marks the spot
where he died. He was only
nineteen years old when he
gave his life for Irish
Freedom on 27th June 1921.
Ballincollig Sinn Féin members
and supporters took to the street
at 7.30am on Friday 21st May
protesting at the proposed
privatisation of the new
Community Hospital in
Ballincollig. A function to
honour local dignitaries,
including Enterprise Minister
Batt O Keeffe, organised by
Ballincollig Business
Association was picketed as it
was the Minister who first
announced the handover of the
hospital last February. The
breakfast function was timed for
7.45am in the Oriel House
Hotel and those attending were
greeted by a picket line of
protestors in front of the
entrance. Some slight
inconvenience was caused
through delays but there was no
unfavourable reaction to the
protesters from those entering
the hotel. Reactions varied from
greetings to nods of recognition
with a small few stony stares,
just to keep things interesting,
being thrown in for good
measure.
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The Colonised Mind
A recent report in the
Ballincollig Today
magazine about a visit
made by Ballincollig
Heritage Association to
England contained a
strange and somewhat
enlightening sentence.
In a report of a visit this
group made to a now being discussed behind
g unpo w der mills in
Waltham Abbey in Essex
the following appeared;
“In the nineteenth century
Waltham Abbey had the
distinction of being the
largest gunpowder mills in
Britain with Ballincollig the
second largest.”
6ow maybe there are
people in Ballincollig
Heritage Association who
think that Ballincollig was
located somewhere in
Britain in the past.
Indeed maybe there are
some members who still
think it is part of Britain
today. They are mistaken
both Historically and
Geographically. British
history is one thing - Irish
History is quite another.
The British Empire is long
gone except in the minds of
some raving imperialists
and poor fools who still
hanker after it.
Obviously what James
Connolly said in the Irish
Worker in September 1914
still rings true in
Ballincollig today;
‘Yes, ruling by fooling, is a
great British art – with great
Irish fools to practice on.’
Ballincollig 0ews
Website: www.ballincolligsinnfein.com
July 2010
Community Hospital Shock
Did Secret HSE Group Privatise Community 0ursing Unit?
T he revelation that a
secret advisory board of
rich people exists to advise
the HSE in the Cork area,
exposes once again the
golden circle that runs the
show in this dismal and
corrupt little state. The
future of our health service is
closed doors by a collection of
property developers, medical
millionaires, horse trainers and
university presidents. It would
be foolish in the extreme to
believe that some of them
wouldn’t see it as their right to
benefit in some way from their
input. Chairing this group is
Ballincollig based property
developer Michael O Flynn
who has Dr Paddy Crowley to
keep him company among the
wealthy elite. More
disconcerting however is the
revelation that Pat Healy,
regional director of operations
HSE South, is also a member
of this secret group.
Public Announcement
It was Mr Healy who made the
public announcement lately
that Ballincollig Community
Hospital, built with taxpayers
money was being put out to
tender for a private operator.
This announcement came on
the completion of the hospital
at an event attended by
Minister for Enterprise Batt O
Keeffe, who himself first
announced the privatisation
plan on a Fianna Fáil website
in February.
This in itself is a little bit
strange for a Minister who
usually has a small army of
publicists working round the
clock on his behalf and who is
not known for making low key
The Voice of Ballincollig Sinn Féin
e-Mail: balsf@hotmail.com
Contact us at 0862409049 Volume 1, Issue 7
Des O Grady
Ballincollig Sinn Féin’s
Des O Grady also wrote to
Pat Healy, Director of
Operations HSE South,
seeking answers to the same
questions on 30th May. This
request has, so far, been passed
on for reply to two different
locations within the HSE but
we still haven’t received a
satisfactory answer.
Mary Harney is not the only
Government Minister who
seems to have been
disingenuous on this issue.
Enterprise Minister Batt O
Keeffe has issued several
Above : The New Ballincollig CNU. statements over the years on
announcements. Did the idea
of privatising Ballincollig ‘Both Mary Harney and Batt O Keeffe
Community Hospital emanate
have Questions to Answer as do the HSE’
from this secret group of
advisors by any chance and Officers decide to privatise
was Mr O Keeffe, a former hospitals and what role did the the community hospital and in
Chair of the SHB, made privy ‘secret advisory committee a newsletter issued before
to the decision back in play in this? Christmas he announced that
February? Three Dáil questions the hospital would go ahead as
were put to Health Minister planned. Up to that point he
Community 0ursing
Mary Harney about had never mentioned
Units
Ballincollig Community privatisation. However last
Ballincollig Community
Hospital is one of 12 such units Hospital by Caoimhghín O February he announced that it
being built across the state at a Caoiléan, Sinn Féin would be privatised, having
spokesperson for health, at the waited until the Hospital was
cost of €112 million of
request of Ballincollig activist built before letting the cat out
taxpayer’s money. Health
Minister Mary Harney says she Des O Grady. Harney used the of the bag.
has no general policy to recent industrial dispute in the How long was this move to
HSE to avoid answering the privatisation being planned and
privatise these hospitals. Who
questions beyond stating that who made the final decision
then decided to privatise the
she had no general policy of within HSE South? Both Mary
Ballincollig one? It is clear
privatisation. Harney and Batt O Keeffe still
from documents in our
Sinn Féin is now in the process have questions to answer as do
possession that the decision
of submitting these questions the HSE.
was taken within HSE South.
Since when can Regional HSE again as the HSE industrial Sinn Féin will continue
dispute is over. looking for them.

News and Views
Even More Water Charges
Traffic Lights for Another Green Party Tax
Ballincollig. Sinn Féin representative Des O
Well folks the so-called Green Party Minister John Gormley’s of water charges here as
Route has begun it’s final
phase with the removal of the
West Village roundabout. All
that is left now is the closure of
the access road into
Innishmore and the erection of
more traffic lights.
Sinn Féin is opposed to these
changes and the introduction
of even more Traffic Lights in will be allowed a certain
Ballincollig. However there is amount of free water and only domestic water charges and
little that can be done as
people weren’t prepared to get
out and protest at these
changes. Sinn Féin members
carried out a survey in
Innismore to guage people’s
reaction to the closure of the
access road. 87% of those who the householders expense.
responded said they were
against this measure. Some
residents assured us they
would call a public meeting to your electricity bill, and is
oppose this proposal but, for
whatever, reason it never took year. It won’t matter if you
place.
Face Book
A face book group called
‘Take down Ballincollig
Traffic Lights’ has been
campaigning on the internet
against the sudden surfeit of
traffic lights. They currently
have almost 1000 members but
despite their best efforts it will
take more than talk to bring
about change.
The work on the removal of
the West End Roundabout will
continue until September.
Their aim is to have the traffic
lights fully operational by
September before schools
return from their summer
holiday period.
The ’Green Route Traffic
Light Company’ obviously
want to get off to a good start
by annoying as many people as
they possibly can right away.
If it wasn’t so serious it would
be laughable.
If you want to help with or
support this campaign please
text or call 0862409049 or
e-mail balsf@hotmail.com.
to impose domestic water Call for a Ballincollig
charges and could also be used As well as this thousands of John Kelleher
Social Welfare Office Housing Crisis existing Local Authority 1st Anniversary
to create badly needed jobs by
replacing crumbling tenants are waiting months and
Ballincollig Sinn Féin even years for necessary
infrastructure.
Representative Des O Grady
Government Plans to Bail Out repairs to be carried out to their
has called on the new Minister houses.
It is also a matter of huge for Social Protection Eamon O Developers Again. At the same time there are
concern that Minister
Gormley intends to apply the
Cuiv to open a full time Social almost 300,000 vacant houses
Welfare Office in Ballincollig. in the state while thousands of
Grady has described Green German model There are thousands of people unemployed construction
from the area signing on for workers draw the dole. There
decision to introduce domestic German citizens pay among unemployment payments at the
water charges by 2012, as yet the highest charges for water in Cork City Office and that there are 96 ghost estates in County
Cork alone with more than
another crushing blow to the world. are many more locals dealing
ordinary families who are Water charges and water 50% of their dwellings
with the Minister’s Department unoccupied.
struggling to make ends meet. metering are the thin end of the on other Social Welfare issues.
wedge and will lead to This is a ludicrous situation.
Talks are taking place at The Government needs to
“The Greens are putting a privatisation and ever present between management
favourable spin on this new tax increasing costs for the appropriate vacant houses in
and Community Welfare the developments being A year ago Ballincollig Sinn
by saying that each household consumer. Officers (CWOs) in the HSE One of the 96 Ghost Estates in Co Cork. transferred to NAMA and Féin lost one of it’s greatest
Sinn Féin is opposed to about the Government either let them or sell them to friends with the passing of
proposal to transfer the The Government is planning to the Gov set aside €20 million tenants through a ‘rent to buy’ John Kelleher of Castlepark.
charged for water used above will be actively campaigning Community Welfare Service
this limit. against their introduction. spend €392 Million on leasing from the then social housing scheme where tenants would Originally from Rylane John
from the HSE to the Dept of houses from developers and budget for leasing unfurnished not have to secure a mortgage. emigrated at a young age to
Minister Gormley and the Social Protection (the new
However every householder Green Party should stick to landlords for up to 20 years private sector properties for In areas where suitable local work on the buildings in
name for Social Welfare). before handing them back terms of 10-20 years. Now authority housing does not London. He returned with
who has water supplied by a tinkering around with electric When these talks conclude it
Local Authority at present will cars and stop driving up the again to the present owners. they are investing a further exist unemployed construction his wife and family and
is expected that the lcal CWOs This disgraceful plan is certain €392 million into the scheme. workers should be employed to settled in Ballincollig in the
have a water meter installed at cost of living for over- will come under the remit of
burdened families that are to be another bailout goldmine 1970s and became one of
the Dept of Social Protection. it’s best lo ved and
struggling to make ends meet.” We are therefore calling on the for cronies of the Fianna Fáil/
Green Party Government.
“The local authority would be responsible recognisable citizens until
This will be paid for by a
standing charge — just like
Government to take this Under a new body called the for insurance, maintenance and repair of his death last year. John was
opportunity to open a fully
Present Garda comprehensive Social Welfare
Housing and Sustainable the property, and would return it to the a true Republican, who
expected to come to €400 a Communities Agency a Rental/ believed in equality, fairness
Barracks to be Office in Ballincollig. Leasing scheme is being landlord at the end of the leasing period.” and justice for all. He wore
introduced which will see the Easter Lily with pride
don’t use any water you will Demolished.
still have to pay for the rent of The present Garda Barracks in Garda
developers and landlords given Sinn Féin Policy build them. The Government and loved travelling to the
taxpayers money for up to 20 should also employ these Kilmichael commemoration
the meter. Ballincollig is set to be
each year. John assisted
demolished as soon as the new Response Criticised
years and then handed back the Meanwhile Sinn Féin is workers to carry out necessary
keys at the end of the term. campaigning for major maintenance on the existing Ballincollig Sinn Féin on
station is opened. The site
The local authority will act as changes in the way Local housing stock. There should be many occasions and is
where it stands will be levelled Garda response times in
the landlord for the rental term Authorities treat applicants a guarantee made to tenants pictured above handing out
and it will be turned into a car Ballincollig and the actual
and will undertake repairs to on waiting lists for Social that all repairs would be dealt leaflets on Main Street as
park. All the original buildings poor response of certain
Gardaí have been criticised by the houses when necessary and Housing. with within six weeks. These part of our campaign
on the barracks site have
a group of citizens of will pay the agreed rent even (a) We believe that a charter policies would not only against unemployment. He
national monument status.
Ballincollig who contacted us when the house is empty. The should be drawn up for both provide decent housing for the was a genial and
However the Office of Public
recently. rent of course will be paid a existing tenants and those on thousands of families who entertaining companion but
Works (OPW) which is in
Citing incidences of poor month in advance. the housing list setting out urgently need it but would with John his family always
charge of the development of
Conservation policing which occurred in Housing Minister Michael their basic rights and stimulate the economy by came first. To his wife and
the new Garda Station has
Sinn Féin supports water their areas over the past few Finneran is seemingly hell- entitlements in terms of creating jobs and reducing the family we again offer our
powers to override all such
conservation but we believe months these citizens have bent on pushing through this response times and treatment number of surplus houses on deepest sympathy. We will
regulations. They have decided
there is a better way to do it. been left feeling disillusioned leasing scheme which favours by council officials. the market. not see his likes again.
the building must go.
Current surveys have shown with the lack of response from developers and landlords rather
Old Ballincollig is fast
that up to 58% of treated, clean the local Gardaí and have than ensuring long-term (b) We also want a Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.
disappearing and we can ill Do you have a
water is wasted due to leaking afford to loose another part of asked us to raise the issue with security for local authority transparent points system
tenants. After 20 years of established so that people are problem or an
pipes and similar loss before it our history. Even though it has them.
even reaches the consumer. We are doing so on a living in a house a family will told exactly where they stand issue you need help Saturday 17th July
a link with the British
Therefore the cost of continuous basis. have no rights to what would in regards to their entitlement
occupation forces this is a
have become by then the to a house, their immediate
with?
producing over half of all historic building and on that
usable domestic water is being basis alone it should be family home and will be in prospects and the time scale For an immediate At the Darby Arms
If you have a problem with
wasted. local policing please contact us effect evicted when the term involved on the waiting list. response and full Ballincollig
preserved. If you wish to lend
The answer is not to place on 0862409049. expires.
your voice please go to
Local authorities are being Thousands Waiting support call
another charge on already
over-burdened households, but petition/
http://www.ipetitions.com/
We guarantee we will raise ordered to use their housing Des O Grady Spirit of Freedom
funds for leasing these houses There are currently 56,000 At 0862409049
to replace our antiquated water save_old_ballincollig_garda_ the issue with the local
system. policing authorities. We also and up to 9,000 houses will be families on Local Authority 9 pm.
station/ and sign the petition
Savings made in sorting out guarantee confidentiality. rented in this manner. First housing lists across the state.
before it is too late. Sinn Féin - on the
this loss would negate the need announced in February 2009, Some of them have been
waiting for years for a house. people’s side. Great night assured