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Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Late Wicklow man Dermot Cranny was courageous hero of Irish Red Cross
Serving on the central council and central unit control of the Irish Red Cross for years, Kilmacanogue resident Dermot was a founding member of the national training committee, introducing an instructor training programme in the 80s that still runs today. Under Dermot's leadership, membership in Wicklow grew to 250 across 12 units/branches, with the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue team. Training and development were Dermot's lifeblood and were recognised internationally. Before departing Ireland to serve with the UN and ILO as an expert in training and development, Dermot worked in AnCo, the Industrial Training Authority, where he developed a national industrial first aid competition for each AnCo centre. Under Dermot, Wicklow won seven All-Ireland competitions. One of Dermot's proudest moments came when the National Society recognised an act of bravery that saw Dermot and his colleagues in the Irish Red Cross Bray branch called to assist gardaí in a search for a car with two occupants that plunged into the River Dargle on the Dublin to Wexford Road on December 13, 1965. On a stormy night, and with the river flooded, qualified Irish Red Cross Water Safety instructor Dermot entered the icy waters in his pyjamas with a rope tied around his waist. Despite his best efforts, the car couldn't be located until the following day. On July 30, 2010, Tony Lawlor, acting chairman of the Red Cross, said Dermot's courage and commitment to the Irish Red Cross and helping others over the past 50 years were a wonderful example to every principle the Irish Red Cross stands for, including humanity, caring, commitment and voluntary service. Tony presented Dermot with the organisation's Medal of Honour and his 50 years' service medal at a function in the National Art Gallery. Dermot was a devoted husband of the late Martha (née Dempsey) and Ann (née McDonnell), a beloved father of Mairead, and brother to Alan, his Red Cross comrades and his neighbours. Both of Dermot's wives were also members of the Irish Red Cross. Ann was a registered psychiatric nurse and was a nurse manager at Connolly Hospital until her retirement. An active member of the Bray branch, Ann was involved in caring for the Northern Ireland refugees in Gormanstown, Glen of Imaal army camps and Fatima House, and was a major driving force in introducing the IRC Home Nursing course. ADVERTISEMENT Locally, Ann helped develop a training programme, 'The Field Hospital', on how to set up an emergency field hospital, which ran at the annual Civil Defence camp in Coolmoney, Glen of Imaal. This programme became a reality in Arklow in 1982 during the Big Snow. Ann passed away on December 23, 2024. Dermot's family wish to thank all Dermot's Red Cross colleagues and friends from the surrounding counties who provided the guard of honour and attended the funeral home.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Family that rejected six housing offers fails in court bid for emergency accommodation
A mother and their children, who turned down six offers of houses by Clare County Council, have failed in their High Court bid to force the council to provide them with emergency accommodation. Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger ruled that Clare County Council had lawfully discharged its statutory duties regarding the provision of emergency accommodation to the family, which includes seven children. The judge said the family members are not entitled to require the council to offer them emergency accommodation from housing stock earmarked for social housing. Martina Sherlock Mongans and her seven children, who are members of the Travelling community, sought to bring proceedings against Clare County Council, the Minister for Housing, the Attorney General and Ireland, claiming they should be allocated emergency accommodation in a three-bedroom unit that is part of the council's social housing stock. READ MORE The family now lives in a single room in a relative's house. 'Undoubtedly, the situation in which they are currently living in one room in a relation's house is appalling,' the judge said. However, she found that the council acted 'reasonably and lawfully' in making six separate offers of emergency accommodation to them. She, therefore, could not find the circumstances required to interfere in how the council exercised its discretion. The family was evicted from a rented council house in Lahinch, Co Clare, in July 2024 and deemed homeless by the local authority. Hotel accommodation was arranged for several weeks from July 31st, 2024. Setting out the background to the case, the judge said that, since August 2024, six different own-door accommodation options have been offered as emergency accommodation. She said each had been refused for various reasons, including concerns about safety, suitability and distance from the children's schools. The judge said it is surprising that this 'entirely unsatisfactory arrangement prevails in preference to the six houses offered to the family'. She said this is perhaps indicative of how strongly the family feels about the conditions and location of each of the houses offered. The judge said the family did not establish any cause of action or grounds for her to permit them to bring their case against the State parties. The judge said the family wanted accommodation in Ennistymon or Lahinch, largely because of one of their children's educational needs. The judge said she was satisfied Clare County Council assessed the particular needs of the family in a manner that was reasonable, rational and lawful when offering them six of the accommodations. The judge said that, in effect, the family asserted a right to emergency accommodation in a house that the council has earmarked for social housing on the basis of exceptional circumstances in which they are currently living. The family's refusal of six separate offers of reasonable own-door accommodation means the family is no longer homeless within the meaning of the Housing Act, the judge found. 'The family are living in extremely difficult circumstances and no one could be anything but sympathetic and concerned at that. However, they do not have rights over and above what is provided for in legislation or any enhanced rights to determine subjectively what is or is not a reasonable accommodation for them,' the judge said.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Master brewer who died in Cork house fire remembered as ‘gentle giant with big heart'
A master brewer who died in a house fire in Cork city last week knew the importance of time and 'put more into the life of others than he took out,' his requiem Mass has heard. Peter Lyall, who was remembered as a 'gentle giant with a big heart,' died when a fire broke out at his home in Hollyhill in the early hours of July 21st. The 57-year-old, who worked at the Franciscan Well brewery in Cork for over two decades, was pronounced dead at the scene. His beloved dog Charlie also died. His partner Anna Neville managed to get out of the property and was transferred to hospital. Fr Sean O'Sullivan told mourners at St Mary's on the Hill Church, in Knocknaheeny on Monday that Mr Lyall learned a lot about life from the brewing process which he said involves 'choosing the finest ingredients', blending them in the right proportions and then giving them the time to ferment. READ MORE 'Family, friendship, his passion for work, his love of basketball and coaching, his love of fun and a bit of craic – they were the ingredients of his life he blended them into something that, like his beer, will last long beyond them.' Mr Lyall had also been a coach at Fr Mathew's Basketball club in the city. Shane Long, founder of The Franciscan Well bar and brewery, said Mr Lyall was a modest man. He said Mr Lyall was 'instrumental in producing a beer called Sunbeam' and that he never took any credit for it. 'And when everybody else is gone from here, his beer will still be there, a lasting memory for the amazing man he was.' He also said Mr Lyall met Ms Neville, 'the love of his life', over three decades ago and adored her, their children and grandchildren. Mr Lyall's grandson Paul said he had an infectious laugh which could be 'heard across a room and maybe even through the walls'. Chanice and Kia said he was a 'magical' grandfather who made them feel safe and loved and always told them how proud he was of them. Mr Lyall is survived by his partner Ms Neville, his daughters Sarah and Johann, his five siblings, grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends.
