Tonight I attended a meeting, which took place between Cork Chamber and the City and County Councillors. It is planned that the Cork region as a unit could be planned for and marketed more. I raised the question of organising a brain storming session so that priorities could be hammered out. This will be pursued once a meeting takes place between the City and County Mayors and Managers to address the proposal.

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of wearing the Deputy Lord Mayor’s chain for the official launch of Front Line’s photographic Exhibition.

Front Line is the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. Front Line was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk, people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Front Line aims to address some of the needs identified by defenders themselves, including protection, networking, training and access to international bodies that can take action on their behalf. Front Line seeks to provide rapid and practical support to at-risk human rights defenders, including through a 24 hour emergency response phone line, and to promote the visibility and recognition of human rights defenders as a vulnerable group. Front Line runs a small grants program to provide for the security needs of defenders. Front Line mobilizes campaigning and lobbying on behalf of defenders at immediate risk. In emergency situations Front Line can facilitate temporary relocation. Front Line conducts research and publishes reports on the situation of human rights defenders in specific countries. The organization also develops resource materials and training packages on behalf of human rights defenders as well as facilitating networking and exchange between defenders in different parts of the world. Front Line promotes strengthened international and regional measures to protect human rights defenders including through support for the work of the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders. Front Line seeks to promote respect for the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Kieran’s Speech:

Ladies and gentlemen. In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit; these men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles Underground. Today still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune, if you have a problem if no one else can help and if you can find them, then maybe you can hire the A-Team.

 As a child growing up in the 80’s I loved the A-team, they were defenders of everything good and were my heros for many years. the A-team fuelled my imagination – The principal characters all had valuable traits – Hannibal for his ideas, BA for his strength, Murdock for his quirkyness and Face for acquiring the missions and finance

For many of us, defenders of human rights are Hollywood heros or Hollywood icons – we see the stories through the medium of television or film. However, as my own life’s journey progressed I was brought to education and community programmes and I discovered new heros of the uncelebrated kind – those that stand up for their local community.

But in every corner of the world as noted by Front Line there are heros – human rights defender. There is the unsung hero not living in an action programme or action movie but living in very real life situations striving forward, pushing inch by inch, making a difference – providing a sense of belief and confidence in campaigning for rights and a better world and future

Society needs heros, defenders; it needs leaders who will justly rule and provide as many opportunities for development as possible. The individuals highlighted in the photographic exhibition are just a sample if the hundreds of human rights defenders around the world who put their lives on the line in defence of others.

 HEROS

Heroes are special – they are if you break the letters to reflect ideas – you get words like h for honourable – they stand for something, some important value of human nature.

E is for energy – their energy is usually enormous – charged with ambition, courage and dedication to defend a cause, to make a difference.

R is for the realism that heros debate, write and champion.

Perhaps O is the onus presented to us to listen, empatise and do our part to support a just hero.

 Too often we’re quick to take down the one that steps forward to help to lead.  But in the world we live in we need more good leadership than what appears in several countries in the world.

To defend life requires much energy  – life itself whether physical or on some imaginative plain is complex – sometimes the lines are blurred with participants not knowing any better.

 I welcome this exhibition which challenges us all to  think about all our futures and debates concerns and issues on life itself – what are we doing in our lives to make a difference?

By nature photographs (Mark Condren’s work) has the power to stop the viewer, impress, make one question, wonder, dream, remember, be disturbed, explore and not forget.

 I wish to congratulate all involved in the production of this exhibition and encourage one and all to keep going, plough on and strive for solutions.

Thank you

Last Sunday evening, I had the honour of deputising for the Lord Mayor at a special musical tribute night at the Everyman Palace to Eileen Nolan, founder of the Montforts. Eileen has done much for the arts, entertainment and drama education in Cork through a number of decades. I was delighted that she received Cork person of the month.

Kieran’s Speech:

Eileen Nolan and family, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a great privilege to be here this evening. Interestingly enough, the last time I stood here I was in an Eileen Nolan – Monfort production that of the Wizard of Oz

I played what I deemed was a key role – not the lion, tinman or scarecrow but a winged monkey working for the wicked witch of the west.

That production was my first production with Eileen – she stood in the wings, watching, praising, tweaking costumes, giving direction and also thanking. I remember after each night, she thanked all the cast for their energy and talent

 But for Eileen this has been the ritual for decades – promoting showbusiness, inspiring and educating students and development their creative talents. As a representative of the Lord Mayor, I wish to sincerely thank Eileen for her hard and tireless work. Some of the rich fruits of her work will thread the boards here this evening.

As a city, we are slow to celebrate our local heroes, which we need to do alot more. Eileen, you are a hero. You have wielded drama and its power to grasp inspire, provoke questions and the imagination and draw in the viewer and so much more. Eileen you have also given hope and have no doubt have saved souls.

Ladies and gentlemen there is so much to learn from Eileen – what we will see here tonight is a mixture of the veteran performer and the young and up in coming performing. All come to pay homage, all bring their own talents confidence self pride, self belief and a desire to entertain.

Ladies and gentlemen, in this world, we need more of such confidence, pride and belief – we need to mass produce these qualities, all of which Eileen stands for. Ladies and gentlemen, we need more Eileen Nolans – she continues to build a legacy and also continues to present us with the question

 – well what are we doing in our own lives to push forward?

I wish to congratulate Eileen plus all involved in this production from the Palace staff, the cast and crew, the directors Marion Wyatt and Trevor Ryan and to say to one and all break a leg.

Go raibh maith agaibh

This year Nasc has invited Cork City Councillors to attend three workshops for their speakers’ panel group during September. I chose to get stuck in and involved. The workshops attempt to raise awarenesss of immigrant issues especially around integration into our society. In addition, in the first workshop I learned a huge amount on why immigrants come to Ireland. I was particularly taken back by the harrowing outcomes of civil war in Nigeria. It was  a pleasure to talk about Cork and its social geographies and issues. It was also a pleasure to return at the end of the programme and represent the Lord Mayor at the launch of the country of origin artwork. Well done to all!

Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, is a Cork-based non-Governmental organisation that seeks to respond to the needs of immigrants in the Cork area.

Nasc’s mission is:

· To develop outreach programmes with asylum seekers, refugees and
immigrants in the Cork area;
· In consultation with asylum-seekers, refugees and immigrants, to identify
and implement a range of voluntary services;
· To liaise with relevant official and voluntary bodies in the Cork and
Munster region;
· To develop anti-racism education programmes, campaigns and initiatives;
· To participate in discussion and policy formulation on issues relating to
asylum and immigration policy.

  For further info on Nasc click on www.nascireland.org

 Kieran’s Speech, launch of Tony O’Connor’s artwork at the NSC in Mahon, Cork

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have heard it said that there are three people in this life, those people who make it happened, those people who watch it happen and those people who ask what happened. I am delighted to be on this occasion to be associated with Tony’s work, a man who has worked hard to make it happen.

I see Tony was educated at one of Ireland finest art college the Crawford College of Art and Design,here in Cork City, which has inspired many artists to develop their talents.  I see Tony has many family connections to the world of horses especially through the blacksmith’s side.

I can also reveal my love of horses being an avid showjumper over the past dozen years. I appreciate what Tony is trying to achieve. If you look at any of Tony’s work, you can see that horses are wonderful, genuine, honest creatures, whose power and a grace is so admirable.

Tony has I feel captured these traits and many others. They say that art has the power to stop, impress, make one question, wonder, dream, remember, be disturbed, explore and not forget – a whole series of emotions – all of which echo throughout the paintings here this evening.

To Tony’s eye, the horse is already perfect in nature.  He just tries to do justice to that absolute quality in his paintings. He highlights the natural physical perfection of the horse. His work results in a photorealism that is both unmistakable and unforgettable.  While these images speak volumes to the horse lover, the lavish use of the black medium gives Tony’s work a much broader appeal. Anyone who appreciates classic elegance cannot but be drawn in.

I see as well that this is Tony’s fourth outing to display his love of art to the general public. I understand this is Tony’s second time in this landmark building, the NSC in Mahon. It is highly appropriate that Tony be part of the centre of the community here in this building especially with his blacksmith roots.

Blacksmiths by profession are the centre of a community and perhaps at all times are up to speed on what is going on in their area. But the whole idea of a blacksmith being as the centre of a community can also be linked to the idea that art is something we all need to be of our lives. We need art to be inspired, to think outside the box.

What I love in Tony’s work is the creative thinking that was used, his innovation to display his work and to organise an event such as this. In the world we live in, the more people who pursue such work is admirable and very positive and presents us all with the question – well what are we doing in our lives to move forward?

Is there another artist in the room that has not being discovered yet? Is there an inventor in the room? Who are the next teachers? Business people? Ideas people? In this climate now is the time to stand and be counted? We need new leaders like Tony in every arts discipline? We all now need to be re-inspired and motivated to move forward. Tony, very well done on what you have achieved here.

Check out Tony’s website at http://www.whitetreestudio.ie/

Today, I was delighted and honoured to be given the Deputy Lord Mayor’s chain and headed off to Kilcrumper Cemetery in Fermoy to the annual Liam Lynch Commemoration. Liam Lynch was head of the first and second battalions respectively of the old IRA. It was this aspect of his life, the War of Independence side of his life that was being commemorated. Liam Lynch was also commanding general of the anti-treaty forces in the Irish civil war. From my own travels in the Lee Valley, the Civil War is still raw in the Irish pysche and rarely commemorated. I have met, interviewed and written about many people (in their 60’s & 70’s) in the valley whose fathers were involved in the turbulent times of the late 1910s and early 1920s.

Events commemorating martyrs and participants of the the War of Independence to me as a young person seem to be over political in terms of the marches and Republican flag. However, standing listening to the oration on the platform today, the attentive audience wanted Liam Lynch’s story re-told. His story represents an important part of Irish history, social memory and identity. The memory of Lynch recalls the efforts of many who fought for an Irish Free State. a history marred by success and much tragedy. Today in the oration the word hero was used to describe Liam Lynch. Much has been written about him, the good, bad and ugly side of his short life. He died at the age of 33. However, when the term hero was used, I couldn’t help but think that the Ireland of 2009 needs new heros and a new vision once again.

This year Nasc has invited Cork City Councillors to attend three workshops for their speakers’ panel group during September. I have chosen to get stuck in and involved. The workshops attempt to raise awarenesss of immigrant issues especially around integration into our society. In addition, in the first workshop I learned a huge amount on why immigrants come to Ireland. I was particularly taken back by the harrowing outcomes of civil war in Nigeria.

Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, is a Cork-based non-Governmental organisation that seeks to respond to the needs of immigrants in the Cork area.

Nasc’s mission is:

· To develop outreach programmes with asylum seekers, refugees and
immigrants in the Cork area;
· In consultation with asylum-seekers, refugees and immigrants, to identify
and implement a range of voluntary services;
· To liaise with relevant official and voluntary bodies in the Cork and
Munster region;
· To develop anti-racism education programmes, campaigns and initiatives;
· To participate in discussion and policy formulation on issues relating to
asylum and immigration policy.

 For further info on Nasc click on www.nascireland.org

Motions by Cllr. Kieran McCarthy for Cork City Council Meeting,

14 September 2009:

“As an incentive to boost trading in Cork City and to help traders, that this Council would offer 2 hours free parking in public carparks and on- street in the city centre on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a. m.– on a trial period between now and Christmas” (Councillor K. McCarthy).

“That this Council would support a motion to create an independent value for money audit by an independent examiner to identify areas where savings could be made – thereby preserving important front-line services in these challenging economic times” (Councillor K. McCarthy)