REVIEW OF THE YEAR - AUGUST

Future rail plan for Cavan

Governments north and south backed a multi-billion euro rail network plan for the island, to include a new connection from Cavan to Mullingar, and onwards to Armagh and Portadown.

The 160-plus page Final Report of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, published in August, was developed in the context of the “New Decade, New Approach” agreement.

Containing 32 strategic recommendations for rail development across Ireland up to 2050, it was approved by both the Department of Transport in the Republic and their counterparts in the north.

The local line through Cavan, the report states, will “reconnect” many towns and has the potential to “boost connectivity” between Northern Ireland, the Midlands, and the West of the country.

The strategic vision also aligns with net carbon zero commitments in both jurisdictions.

Community gets behind Dr Susan

A fundraiser for a much-loved former GP to receive potentially lifesaving cancer treatment surpassed €50,000 in just nine days.

From Sligo but living in Killeshandra the past 32 years, Susan Cosnett was diagnosed with an aggressive rare form of Acral Malignant Melanoma, a variant of the type Reggae legend Bob Marley died from.

The new treatment, known as Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes therapy, was available in Holland at a cost of around €150,000.

Along with husband Dr Greg Cosnett, Susan worked at the family’s GP practice in Ballyconnell at Donohoe’s Supervalu for over 15 years.

‘Best to have full churches and less Masses’- bishop

The Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes stated it is “best to have full churches and less Masses to have a wholesome celebration” in the face of dwindling priest numbers and attendances. He made the comments in the context of a reform of parishes in the Diocese and a reorganisation of masses.

Speaking from the pulpit at St Patrick’s in Drumalee, Bishop Hayes said: “We are grateful for those prepared to try their vocation to priesthood. We are overjoyed for those who, with God’s help, celebrate their ordination, and serve in our diocese. However, there are simply not enough ordinations to keep pace with the number of retirements, and ensure care for the well-being of our priests, with the current organisation of our parishes.”

He noted that there has been one ordination in Kilmore this year, in Jordan Mac Gabhann.

Bishop Hayes went on to highlight the critical juncture at which the diocese currently finds itself. Since the turn of the millennium, Bishop Hayes details there had been only eight ordinations and four incardinations, where a priest applies and is accepted into the diocese.

“That is an average of one new Kilmore priest every two years over the past 24 years,” he told the congregation.

While continuing to pray for vocations, he said: “We cannot continue to maintain a system that has become ineffective with the same schedule of Masses, less attendance, and less available priests. It’s best to have full churches and less Masses to have a wholesome celebration of the Mass with maximum participation to nurture the faith in each person gathered.”

By 2030, it was projected there will only be 27 priests left ministering.

Apology over missed cancer diagnosis

Representatives of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda apologised to a terminally ill Cavan woman over the delay in diagnosing her cervical cancer.

It came after mother of two Evija Rudzone (46) settled her medical negligence action against the HSE.

The HSE accepted it had breached its duty of care to Ms Rudzone by failing to diagnose and treat her cancer at an earlier point in time.

The Latvian native, who has was given just months to live, received a formal apology and “significant financial settlement” in the High Court.

“If more people talk about these problems then maybe there’ll be more people working on solutions. I know a lot of people get treated properly, who live long lives, but I see how many people die in Ireland from cancer. This can change, and maybe [my case] can prevent mistakes from happening again,” she said.

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

4.2BN

The amount in euro of record turnover reported by Kingspan for the first half of the year