Latest news with #OurLadyofLourdes
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Urgent call for blood donors this summer
The shortage has raised concerns at local hospitals including Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda and Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, where pressure is mounting ahead of the busy autumn period. The IBTS has warned that unless the national stock is replenished quickly, non-urgent surgeries could be postponed. Director of Donor Services at the IBTS, Paul McKinney, said the service needs an additional 2,000 donations over the next month to stabilise the supply. He pointed to summer holidays, heatwaves, and reduced donor clinic attendance as key factors behind the current dip. McKinney also encouraged more donors from diverse backgrounds to come forward, particularly individuals of African heritage, whose donations are essential for treating conditions like sickle-cell disease. In Louth, there is a long-standing tradition of blood donation, and one local man, Brendan Kelly from Dundalk, was recently honoured for his contribution. A painter and decorator by trade, Mr Kelly has donated blood over 100 times and was awarded the Porcelain Pelican Award earlier this year at the North-East Donor Awards in Navan. 'I donate because I can,' he said. 'If just one pint helps someone in need, then it's worth it.' The IBTS is encouraging people from all parts of the county to attend their nearest clinic, with appointments available throughout July and August. Donors must be aged between 18 and 64, weigh over 50kg, and meet standard health requirements. The process typically takes under an hour, and each donation can help save up to three lives. Local organisers and health officials are urging first-time donors to step up and regular donors to continue giving through the summer months. With blood stocks at dangerously low levels, the message is simple: Louth needs donors now more than ever.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
Community in mourning after boy struck by vehicle while getting off school bus dies
The community is mourning after a young boy who was hit by a driver earlier this week has died. CTV London's Bryan Bicknell reports. The Lambeth and area community is in mourning after learning a young boy passed away after being struck by a vehicle while getting off his school bus Monday afternoon. 'Dante was a joyful radiant child that brought joy to everyone around him,' reads his obituary on the O'Neil Funeral Home web page Dante Adriano Caranci, 7, was the son of Stefano and Jacqueline Caranci, and brother to Vincenzo. A member of Lambeth Lancers Minor Hockey, the association said in a social media post, 'Dante was a proud member of our U9MD2 team and will be greatly missed.' It also urged supporters to put their hockey sticks outside their front door to show support for Dante's family. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Delaware. The London District Catholic School Board chose not to issue a statement, citing respect for the family's wish for privacy. However, there has been no shortage of condolence messages from within the school community. Emily Jane posted on Facebook, 'The LDCSB is a tight-knit community, and colleagues, students, and families have all been reeling from this devastating news. In the coming days and weeks, please keep all of those impacted and heartbroken by this tragic loss in your prayers.' Ashley Marie posted to Facebook that her heart is broken for the Caranci family. 'Dante's smile will be greatly missed in our classroom,' she wrote. According to London police, shortly after 4:00 Monday afternoon, emergency crews responded to a serious collision involving a pedestrian at Longwoods Road and Murray Road in southwest London. All drivers remained at the scene. Caranci, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died the next day. 'You know with any fatal motor vehicle collision, that takes its toll on not only the families that are involved, and the communities that surrounds those families, but also on emergency personnel,' explained London Police Const. Matt Dawson. 'And you know in this unfortunate circumstance, it's no different, our thoughts are with the family and the community that surrounds that family, as well as all emergency personnel in the situation,' he added. Police have released few details about the crash at this time, and Dawson says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with dashcam or security video from the area of Longwoods Road and Murray Road at the time of the crash is asked to contact police at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Visitation for Dante takes place at O'Neil Funeral Home, 350 William St., London on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Visitors are being asked to wear their hockey jerseys for Dante. The funeral service take place Saturday. An online fundraiser has also been established for the Caranci family.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cruel' letter suggests teaching assistant pay cut
A letter sent to teaching assistants (TA) employed by a Nottingham-based school trust detailing a consultation on possible pay cuts has been described as "cruel". Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust wrote to higher paid members of staff on 3 June about a proposal to standardise TA payments and is not known how many people have received a copy of the letter, which details each individual's proposed annual pay trust, which manages 36 primary and secondary schools across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, said it faced "financial challenges" and "did not intend to cause any upset or anxiety", adding it had not made any decisions yet. Emma Roberts, from Unison East Midlands, who is representing TAs at the trust, said the consultation came "out of the blue". She added: "It's very unusual to give staff that level of uncertainty."What we would expect is for consultations to be done via the recognised trade unions and in a much more sensitive way."The letter also details plans to introduce "consistent job descriptions, including duties and role requirements" for TAs across three different pay Roberts confirmed there had been no formal proposal to change staff pay. The trust was formed in 2018, and a spokesperson said TAs from several local authority areas on differing terms and conditions had said the trust needed to establish "affordable, sustainable staffing structures". The spokesperson added: "Many of the TAs who transferred are still employed on legacy terms and this means TAs doing the same job can be paid differently."We also have different job descriptions and arrangements in place when TAs cover teachers."The spokesperson added the challenges had been shared with TAs and unions in an "informal way" to seek their feedback on suggestions for addressing them."Should a formal proposal be made, we would of course consult and follow a fair process," they consultation will run until 31 July.
BreakingNews.ie
05-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Priest calls for end to violent feud in Limerick as footage emerges of drive-by shooting
A priest is to hold an open-air Mass in Limerick, calling for an end to a violent feud in the city and to remember victims, including young people who have died of drug overdoses. Fr Richard Keane, co-parish priest Our Lady of Lourdes Church, said he is to hold the Mass outside the parish church at 7pm on Wednesday, June 11th, as his concerns grow that someone in the community will be killed in the escalating violence. Advertisement The feud has ratcheted up in recent months with petrol bombs and drive-by shootings becoming the norm in the local community – a stark reminder of when gang violence left 20 people dead in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Fr Keane said: 'I just want to pray for peace and for people to respect their neighbours. There are some fabulous people in the community and ultimately I just want people to appreciate their neighbours and put an end to any actions or anti-social behaviour that is putting our community in a bad light or having people in fear.' In one of the latest attacks, two masked men filmed themselves committing a drive-by shooting on Hyde Road, indiscriminately firing up to nine shots from a handgun at houses on the street. Fr Keane described as 'shocking' the latest wave of violence in the area. Advertisement 'Ultimately if it continues going the way it is going it will end up with loss of life, so anytime someone's life is in danger, no matter who they are, you would have to be concerned, especially for young people,' Fr Keane said. 'What happens then is that it turns into a spiral of violence then where there is revenge and retribution and you have a terrible cycle of violence so, you would hope that will be avoided and that this will stop before someone loses their life, especially a young person.' Fr Keane said his door is always open to anyone with concerns: 'Yes 100 per cent, I'm always here to listen to people and to pray for people and to support them in any way I can.' 'I just want every single person in the community to feel safe and sound and protected and happy to be living there.' Advertisement Holding out hope for a positive change ahead of the planned open-air Mass, Fr Keane praised community leaders at the local community centre, local sports clubs, and local schools who he said have tried their best to steer young people away from engaging in violence and anti-social activities. 'The vast majority of the people living in the parish are good, decent, people and they just want to live in peace.' 'At next Wednesday's Mass near the statue of Our Lady, at the back of the church, we are going to remember anyone who has died locally down through the years for various reasons – of course, a lot of young people have died from drug overdoses, so we are going to remember all of those people.' 'We are going to pray for a good community, for peace, and a good sense of togetherness and neighbourhood - We are trying to bring people together.' Advertisement 'There is a great community centre here with great community initiatives and the school has a brilliant principal and brilliant staff who work so hard for the area too.' 'They all have their hearts in the right place, they are committed in trying to give the kids in the area the best education and opportunities, and too allow them to discover their gifts and talents and to try to be positive in their lives – and that needs to be acknowledged too.' 'Obviously places have anti-social problems, and a situation like this is very upsetting,' Fr Keane added. Ireland Gardaí investigating arson attack at Limerick fill... Read More 'We know how it finishes up, its very cyclical, you can have an end of a feud and things are quiet for 10 years and then things kick off again.' Advertisement Fr Keane said he was a 'very much 100 per cent' proud Limerick native who wants 'to see the best for the city.' He called on authorities to continue to provide resources for young people to attack 'boredom' in their lives. 'If people are idle and have nothing to do, they can find themselves going down the wrong road, but if people have something to do or have something to engage in, obviously then there is less chance of them going down the wrong path.'
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Elderly woman pedestrian dies after being hit by bus in Co Louth
Gardaí have issued an appeal for or witnesses after pedestrian in her 80s was knocked down and killed by a bus in Dunleer, Co Louth. The woman was taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where she was later pronounced dead. The incident happened at about 12.20pm at Lower Main Street. The road was closed for a technical examination of the scene to be conducted and diversions are in place. Gardaí are appealing for any road users who were at the scene between 12.10pm and 12.30pm on Monday and may have camera footage to make this footage available to Gardaí. READ MORE Anyone with any information is asked to contact Drogheda Garda station on 041 9874200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
