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BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Dungannon Workhouse: Orphans sent to Australia remembered
On a quiet hill, overlooking the town of Dungannon, sits a memorial inscription reads: "To the memory of all those who sought shelter within these walls".Four pebbles were recently placed on top of it and the names of 21 young girls were read out was part of a remembrance service on the grounds of South Tyrone Hospital, the former site of Dungannon Workhouse. Each pebble represented 1,000 people who passed through its doors between 1842 and names belong to a group of young women from County Tyrone who were sent from the workhouse to Australia between 1848 and were part of a group that would become known as the Irish Famine Orphan Girls. A place of last resort In 1845, as poverty and starvation increased during the famine in Ireland, workhouses began to purpose was to offer succour and survival, but there was a saying that "the road to the workhouse was the road to death" - and for thousands it more than 100 years Dungannon workhouse was a place of last resort for thousands of men, women, and children who faced famine, poverty and who died in Dungannon workhouse are buried in a large-scale paupers' grave on the site close to what is now South Tyrone Hospital. On the hospital grounds there is a memorial garden in tribute to those who lived and died in the Southern Trust, which owns the land, recently refurbished the garden in preparation for a memorial event at the end of June to honour the history of the of Donaghmore Historical Society helped organise the MacGinty is chair of the said: "It is about honouring the lives of those who passed through the doors of Dungannon Workhouse and it's important to remember this is still very recent history, the workhouse only closed in 1948." 'I remember the workhouse children' Frank Shields is a member of the historical society who has memories of seeing children from Dungannon Workhouse at his in 1939 he said he remembers the young girls from the workhouse "vividly"."They wore these laced up black boots, like soldiers' boots, a grey skirts and dark coloured cardigans - they were dressed differently than everyone else."I also remember the young boys from the workhouse, they all wore these cut down grey trousers and often they had this brown paper bag with just a piece of bread in it, God help them." The Donaghmore Historical Society has also been working closely with another historical group in they have traced a number of girls who were sent from Dungannon Workhouse to were sent as part of the Earl Grey the scheme between 1848 and 1850, more than 4,000 young Irish female orphans left workhouses and were transported to Australia. The Earl Grey Scheme Earl Grey was secretary of state for the colonies and the aim of the scheme was to reduce overcrowding in workhouses and provide labour for Australia while reducing a big gender imbalance the 4,114 Irish Famine orphan girls sent to Australia, 94 were from County Tyrone and 21 of those girls came from Dungannon O'Neill lives in Melbourne and is part of the Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration Committee."The girls from Dungannon left in January during an Irish winter, spent three months on a boat and they would have arrived during an Australian summer, so it must have felt so alien to them," she said."It was a new colony so it would have been quite the frontier, many were treated with shame, but they were also very resilient and ended up raising large families and prospering."A tribute was paid to the girls during the recent memorial service on the site of the former Dungannon a traditional Irish ballad was played, the names of the young women were read out included the name of Eliza Addy. 'I'm humbly proud' Eliza Addy was born in 1834 in Dungannon and had worked as a domestic servant before entering the workhouse. When she was 16 years old she was chosen for the Earl Grey arrived in Melbourne on 10 January 1850 and would go onto work on a farm in 1854 she married and had nine children. She died in the western Victorian town of Stawell in of Eliza Addy regularly attend the annual Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration in Australia. Her great, great, great granddaughter Leanne Seignior still lives in says her family have been very touched by Eliza's inclusion in the Dungannon workhouse added: "It blows my mind to think about how much she went through and survived, from the famine, to the trauma of the workhouse, then the boat trip and to arrive across the world at that age."To find the strength and resilience to keep goingm raise her family and now all these generations later to be remembered in her home country makes me incredibly humbly proud." There has also been ongoing work to uncover more information about other workhouses in mid old building of Magherafelt Workhouse still exists in the form of Mid Ulster O'Brien from the Loup Historical Society was at the memorial event for Dungannon Workhouse. Seamus is asking people to come forward with any information on the workhouse, including relics such as records books."We're particularly interested in trying to find the old bell - it's about documenting this for future generations."A new memorial stone and information board at the main entrance to the former site of Magherafelt Workhouse is due to be unveiled at a launch event on 31 July.
ITV News
03-07-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Campaign group calls for public inquiry into cervical screening failures
A campaign group set up following a major review of cervical screening in a Northern Ireland health trust has said it is time for a statutory public inquiry to be established. The Ladies with Letters group said they are 'no further forward' in relation to their concerns being addressed after attending a meeting of the Stormont Health Committee which received an update on the Cytology Screening Review. Around 17,500 women in the Southern Trust area who were screened between 2008 and 2021 had to have their smear tests rechecked after concerns were first raised in a report commissioned by the Royal College of Pathologists. It emerged last year that the trust review showed that eight women went on to develop cancer after their smears were misread and another 11 women needed pre-cancerous treatment. At the time, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the review would be the subject of independent expert analysis after which he would decide on the next steps. At the committee on Thursday, Professor Lourda Geoghegan, deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health, updated MLAs on the next steps. She said: 'The minister's aim is he wants to understand very clearly what occurred in relation to this screening programme, particularly in relation to the service as it was delivered in the Southern Trust. 'He wants to understand why it happened, he wants to understand what the responsibilities are across it, he wants to understand that lessons have been learnt and that such matters will not happen again.' She said a number of further reports were coming to a conclusion which would be published at the same time. She said this included an expert opinion from outside Northern Ireland on the previous reports published, a report of a peer review visit undertaken by NHS England and a number of learning reviews involving patients. Ms Geoghegan said the new reports would potentially be published in August or September. The Ladies with Letters group was established by a number of women who received letters from the trust informing them their smear tests were being re-examined. Several members watched the committee proceedings. Their lawyer Enda McGarrity said: 'After listening to the questions put to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency by the health committee members, we feel, as we're sure the health committee do, that we are no further forward. 'No-one has taken accountability for the scandal that happened over 13 years and, as a group, we still have many questions that remain unanswered – how did this happen, why did it continue for 13 years and who is going to take responsibility?' Mr McGarrity added: 'Ladies with Letters has engaged with the Minister for Health on these issues for over a year. 'They have waited long enough, and their patience is wearing thin. 'Their request is a simple one – the minister should without further delay establish a statutory public inquiry with full powers to compel evidence, witnesses and which places those who have suffered most at the heart of its work.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Spina bifida: Pupils design walking aid for teacher's daughter
A group of schoolchildren in County Tyrone have come together to help design and build a specialised walking aid for their teacher's daughter who has spina treatment, spina bifida can sometimes lead to a range of lifelong issues such as problems with mobility, because of nerve damage, and in extreme cases it can cause McIlvenny found out early in her pregnancy that her daughter, Penny, had the told Claire she met the criteria to qualify for pioneering prenatal surgery for the condition in Belgium. "It was amazing what they were able to do, because before the surgery Penny would have had 10% chance of mobility and after it increased it to 50%," Claire said."Penny spent a few weeks in the neonatal unit and we were just so happy to have her here with us, but at the same time we didn't know what was ahead."It was clear early on that she was going to have mobility issues, but we could see for such a small person she was so resilient with such a big personality, and she was just determined to do things." Penny's story Penny, who has just turned two years old, has been attending child physiotherapy appointments in the Southern has limited mobility and mostly uses splints on her legs to help her stand and to help her practice part of her physiotherapy, Penny uses a walking stand, consisting of two parallel bars and a platform to help her strengthen her leg recently, she was only able to use the equipment every few weeks when she attended the Children's Development Centre in Lurgan. "The idea is to try to help Penny achieve those motor skills, so things like rolling, sitting up, crawling and now we've progressed to practicing walking with her," said Jayne Wilson, Penny's physiotherapist."This is mostly done with a set of parallel bars that she uses in the clinic, and she is such a motivated child and a delight to work with."She had been making great progress and one day Penny's mum and I were chatting after one of her sessions and talked about how it would be great if she had something like the parallel bars at home so she could practice with it daily."The next week, when Claire was at work in St Patrick's College in Dungannon, she recounted this conversation to some of her colleagues, and an idea was sparked among some of the school's culminated in a small group of staff and pupils within the school's technology and art departments combining their skills to design and construct a bespoke walking stand and parallel bars for Penny to use at said she was completely overwhelmed when they presented her with the piece of personalised equipment. "I just couldn't believe it," she said."I was very emotional to see it and I was just speechless."The fact that the school came together like this to help Penny along in her journey, just means so much."The walking aid was finished off with a special design of Penny's favourite cartoon characters, drawn by the school's art added: "How the girls decorated it was just fantastic and Penny just loved it, as soon as we got it home she went over to it straight away and she knew it was hers."She has been going from strength to strength and she's been taking more steps using it, she even dances on it now." Kyla, 13, one of the art pupils who worked on the equipment's design, said she really wanted to be a part of it when her art teacher told her about the project. "We really wanted to get involved and paint it, it made me really happy," she classmate Donatella also helped with the said: "I think our teacher knew we were good at art so she chose us to work on this special project, but it was just really nice to be involved."Clare has been taking regular videos of Penny using the equipment and showing it to school staff and pupils so they can also track her McGlinchey, a technology technician in the school, helped oversee the equipment's said: "It's just great seeing all the videos of Penny using it to practice her walking and even dancing it, It does your heart the world of good." "It's just been so lovely for the school to be involved in a project like this and for such a small gesture to make such a big difference," said principal Catherine several weeks of using the walking stand at home, Claire recently took Penny to an appointment with her physio Jayne."I was so pleased with the progress Penny had made, the number of steps that she is taking now before she tires has really improved and you could tell she was enjoying this new sense of independence," said Jayne."It is just so lovely to see the school community come together to support Penny."Just before the school year ended, Claire brought her daughter Penny into meet some of the students and staff who helped make her equipment."That was a really lovely moment, Penny was all excited to meet the girls who drew her cartoons and I wanted them to see the difference it has made to my wee girl's life," she said.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southern Trust Home Services marks 30 years of serving Virginia homeowners
Owner Ted Puzio looks back on humble beginnings, hard times and the journey to become leading Roanoke home services company ROANOKE, Va., June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Trust Home Services, a leading electrical, HVAC and plumbing company serving southwest Virginia, is celebrating 30 years of business — overcoming numerous challenges and landing big wins — on the path to success. Owner Ted Puzio says the road to Southern Trust's current iteration was bumpy at times, but he wouldn't have it any other way. "To say we started off small would be an understatement," Puzio said. "When I first opened shop, I was a single dad with two boys, and I was running the business out of our home. We lived on one floor, and the business was on the other. It was challenging, and it was tough keeping that balance between family life and the shop, but we made it work." Southern Trust Home Services has gone through a few changes since the days of working out of the Puzio home on its path to becoming the southern Virginia powerhouse it is today: Initially called TP Electric and focused on new construction, it wasn't long before Puzio realized the business needed to go a different route and focus on residential work, becoming Southern State Electric in 1997. In 2011, Puzio added plumbing services, and just three years later, he added an HVAC division. The new divisions made the company the first in its market to offer service across multiple trades. In 2015, the company rebranded as Southern Trust Home Services and moved to a large, commercial location in Roanoke. Southern Trust began to receive national acclaim when Puzio was named Contractor of the Year by Contractor Magazine in 2017. Additional recognitions include becoming a 2021 Contractor of Excellence by Contracting Business, multiple other honors such as "Truck of the Month" spotlights and placement on the Inc. 5000, a list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Puzio says the company faced hard times as well, but the challenges helped him learn, fortify his processes and services, and remain determined to become the best home service company in the area. "I've got multiple employees who have been with me for more than a decade, and in this industry, that kind of loyalty and dedication is hard to come by so we must be doing something right," Puzio said. "My team has put their faith in me through thick and thin, and together we've built a name and a place in this community that's welcomed us into their homes for more than 30 years. It wasn't always easy, but I couldn't be prouder of what we've accomplished." For more information, contact Southern Trust Home Services at (540) 343-4348 or visit About Southern Trust Home ServicesFounded in 1995 as TP Electric, Southern Trust Home Services provides residential plumbing, electrical and HVAC services and drain cleaning to homeowners in more than 60 cities throughout southwest Virginia. Trucks are ready and on stand-by for emergency services 24/7, and financing options and lifetime guarantees are also available. As Roanoke's first home services company to offer a lifetime guarantee on all recommended repairs, Southern Trust Home Services staffs dedicated, certified, licensed and insured, drug and criminal background checked technicians who provide timely, same-day services for a variety of home repairs, installations, and maintenance. An A+ Better Business Bureau accredited company since 2006, Southern Trust Home Services has financing available including 0% for 18 months, and Lifetime Repair Guarantee on stated repairs. To find out more, call 540-343-4348 or visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Southern Trust Home Services Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I was diagnosed with dementia in my 40s'
Dementia was not something Peter Alexander expected to be diagnosed with in his late 40s. It meant leaving his job and adapting to a new way of life. Now, aged 56, Peter is passionate about addressing the stigma around the condition often associated with elderly people. "I might not always be able to express it in the same way, but I'm still the same person I was, inside I'm still Peter," he told BBC News NI. Peter was 49 when he made an appointment with a neurologist and was sent for a scan. "I was starting to struggle to meet deadlines (at work), which had never been a problem before, and during meetings, I wouldn't be able to think of a word when speaking," said Peter, who is originally from England but has lived in Northern Ireland with his wife, Jill, for several years. "I remember the date very clearly, it was 14 January 2018 when the results came back and the doctor said: 'Peter, I have diagnosed you with having Frontotemporal dementia'. "I was basically told that it was no longer safe for me to work because I have diminished judgment and I was losing my filter, so it was a lot to adapt to." Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language. "People think when you have dementia it's only about forgetting things but it's more complex, it can manifest in different ways. "I don't want to be treated differently, it's imperative that people actually see the person, see beyond the condition. "Sadly for many people, the diagnosis can take an awful long time and that puts an enormous amount of pressure on the family unit." Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. Memory loss is one of the most common symptoms, particularly the struggle to remember recent events. Others can include changes to behaviour, mood and personality, becoming lost in familiar places, or being unable to find the right word in a conversation. It can reach the point where people don't know when they need to eat or drink. What are dementia and Alzheimer's and how common are they? More than 22,000 people are living with dementia in Northern Ireland, according to the Alzheimer's Society. The number of people living with dementia in Northern Ireland is expected to almost triple by 2051 to 60,000. The Southern Trust is expected to have the highest number of people living with the condition by 2032. While dementia is often seen as a disease of old age, about 5% of people with dementia are classed as having young-onset dementia. People whose symptoms started when they were under the age of 65 are often known as having young-onset dementia. The Alzheimer's Society estimates that there are more than 70,000 people in the UK living with young-onset dementia. In recent months, Peter has teamed up with other people in Northern Ireland living with dementia to make a film about their experience of everyday life. The documentary called Hear Our Voice primarily focuses on people with young-onset dementia. It offers a glimpse of what living with dementia is like, in the hope that it will create better understanding and empathy. Peter features throughout the film and narrates it. "Respect was granted to people who have dementia to make and take control of the film to help us get across the unique challenges we have," he said. The film features members of Dementia NI. The group was set up in 2015 by five people living with dementia, but 10 years on they now have 15 groups across Northern Ireland. The groups worked alongside the Southern and South Eastern health trusts when making the Hear Our Voice project. Dr Christopher Southwell, a consultant in Old Age Psychiatry in the Southern Trust, believes the film promotes a powerful message. "Dementia is a condition that has a big impact on patients and their families and sometimes as healthcare professionals we acknowledge that there are things that can be done better," he said. "When I got involved and eventually watched the film, it was important for me to be able to say to people like Peter and others behind the film that I do hear your voice and take on board what you're saying." Members of Dementia NI recently met Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at Stormont. They called on him to make reducing the time it takes to get a dementia diagnosis a priority. Shortly after the film was released, in a statement, the health minister said: "I congratulate the trusts and Dementia NI for developing this powerful documentary which I have no doubt will challenge existing stereotypes and will be an informative way to educate people in how best to support individuals living with dementia." Karen Kerr is head of engagement at Dementia NI. She said: "The members are really passionate about the importance of getting an early diagnosis and once you get an early diagnosis it opens up a lot of opportunities so that you can continue to live well with a sense of purpose and that's also what the film is trying to highlight. "When you hear from people like Peter, I think it demonstrates that people with dementia have a voice not just for themselves but for everyone affected with dementia." Peter added: "When it comes to people like me with dementia, please don't write us off, we have a voice, dementia doesn't define us." What is Alzheimer's and how common is it? Hi-tech dementia wristbands offer 'reassurance and comfort' 'I know I'm going to have early onset dementia' The old objects helping those with dementia remember
