- NEWS
Martin wades into abortion debateAs the Dáil committee hearings continue on the abortion bill, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has waded into the debate saying it is important that Christian believers "be, and seen to be, on the side of life, especially when life is most vulnerable".
Payment cuts see families pay rent shortfallLimits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.
- WORLD
Anger as North Korea launches another missileNorth Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast, a day after launching three more of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said.
How Star Trek predicted the futureWHEN Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first dreamed up the concept of a television show based in the unexplored universe of Outer Space in 1964, the world was a very different place.
- BUSINESS
Warnings over future of eurozoneThe eurozone is heading towards a break up unless there are moves towards much closer political and fiscal union, according to chief economist with State Street Global Advisers, Chris Probyn.
Bruton defends corporate tax rateIreland will be able to maintain its current corporation tax code in the face of international pressure to prevent multinational corporations avoid paying their fare share of tax, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said yesterday.
- SPORT
Mayo’s statement of intentGalway 0-11 Mayo 4-16 Five minutes to go in Salthill yesterday and James Horan was still cajoling his men to sew it into Galway.
Wilkinson inspires Toulon to gloryASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16 Not for the first time this season, a matchday performance and the result have made a mockery of the statistics.
- LIFESTYLE
What Lenny did nextLENNY Abrahamson has directed three feature films: Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.
Clothes maketh you madTrying on clothes, said Ewart, produced "sensations which bring deep peace and perfect contentment" to the female mind.
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Breaking stories
Businesses lauded for coming back from flood brink
By Sean O’Riordan
In what are difficult times for most businesses, 22 outlets have been honoured for coming back from the brink after suffering the added problem of coping with a devastating flood.
Community leaders in Glanmire, Cork, have paid tribute to the businesses in the Hazelwood Shopping Centre, which were deluged with over 1m of water on Jun 28.In return, those businesses have praised the local community which rallied to help them clean up and stayed loyal ever since, choosing in many cases to wait until they reopened rather than go elsewhere.
Some businesspeople say they are still having difficulties settling with insurance companies, but all agree to a large degree of trepidation every time it rains — especially as it could take three years for the OPW to complete flood protection works in the area.
Paul McCarthy, who runs McCarthy’s Sportsworld, said he “came very close to closing” as his stock was virtually annihilated.
“We supply sports equipment and school uniforms. We found that people, especially the children, were prepared to wait until we reopened rather than shop elsewhere.”
Billy Black, who runs Spick ‘N’ Span dry cleaners, said people in his trade really helped him out, singling out LC Services in Mayfield for loaning him machines for free.
“It restored my faith in humanity,” he said.
Therese Holland, whose family run Glanmire Hardware, said she has been told by her insurers that they will not renew her flood cover.
“We were about a week out of business. There was muck and water everywhere,” she said.
Recovery rates varied depending on the type of business. Some were luckier than others.
At The Hairdresser salon it was nearly business as normal the following day. Manager Tommy MacMonagle said they ripped out all the timber and were fortunate to have a tiled floor underneath, which was power washed.
But like others he remains apprehensive every time there’s a lot of rain, saying: “We’re constantly watching the river.”
Don Murphy, auctioneer, had to clear everything from his office, but was able to relocate to a vacant premises in the adjoining Crestfield Shopping Centre.
The First Plus pharmacy suffered more than most, with losses estimated at hundreds of thousands of euro, including a Fuji laboratory which alone cost €200,000.
The businesses were honoured at a special function sponsored by Fitzgerald’s Vienna Woods Hotel.