Letters to the Editor: My mother had a happy experience of residential care
My mother's experience of senior residential care was happy. She felt safe there. My sister became her daily visitor, sitting with her and interacting with the staff and residents around her.
In quick time, we all knew whether anyone from our area worked there.
We knew what work the residents had done during their lives and how their families were noteworthy or/and connected to us in any ways.
When we visited, we were introduced to everyone in their turn and made use of to benefit the community. I was called upon to supply poetry notes for someone's child sitting State exams, a small favour my mother or sister asked of me.
In no time at all, a village atmosphere grew around us, with all the care and love that a village affords to its locals.
My sister's commitment to my mother was immeasurable. I am humbled; as her infrequent brother, I turned up some of the time.
Here, in Dungarvan, my father-in-law had an excellent experience of residential care. He was literally across the road from where we live.
One of his daughters works in that facility and spent all of her days working around him. My wife became his daily visitor, dropping in for hours in the evening and visiting other residents in turn while she was there.
His old school friends and dancing partners sat by the beds around him or made for lively banter in the day room. How they loved to party.
Staffed by people, known to his children, whose parents and grandparents were the backdrop to his life, his carers loved to listen to his stories. Workers from across the world were treated with the same lively fun and given the 'céad míle fáilte'.
Somehow, it became his personal and individual experience of being in care.
Con O'Sullivan, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Kindness in wake of Air India bombing
My mother, Barsa Kelly, was aboard the downed Air India plane in 1985. The anxiety of not knowing what to expect, combined with our terrible grief, was almost intolerable.
The compassion, sympathy and support that we received from the moment we arrived in Cork somehow made our ordeal more bearable. The people of Cork made us feel as if it was their tragedy as well as ours.
We were met by two wonderful ladies when we landed, a nurse and a sister — we think their names were Geraldine and Lorna. We met Garda Donal McCarthy at the then Cork Regional Hospital, and we will be forever indebted to him for his kindness and patience. His gentle way was a crutch for us. He later phoned us at the hotel to say how glad he was we had found my mother. We were extremely touched by this gesture.
We are also indebted to Donal Cullinane and Dan Lordan who went above and beyond their required duty to help us. Without their keen observation regarding the matching of the identification forms, we would not have found mom.
With their kind manner they made sure we were never rushed, yet everything they did was concise and professional.
We would like once again to thank the staffs of the Imperial Hotel and of what's now Cork University Hospital, as well as the taxi drivers who refused to let us pay them.
Not a person at the hospital passed me without asking if I needed something or just wordlessly put an arm around me.
The death of my mother will scar us forever, but we will always remember the exceptional kindness with which we were treated by the people of Cork.
We have never encountered kinder souls.
Lorna Kelly, Ontario, Canada
What's your view on this issue?
You can tell us here
EU's stance on Iran
An open letter to Ursula von der Leyen:
As an Irish citizen and, consequently, also a citizen of the European Union, I felt the need to write to you. I hope you will consider my following concerns, which I share with full respect.
Irish radio news reported this week that after Israel's attack on Iran and after your conversation with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, you reported, while attending the G7 summit in Canada, that, in this context, Israel has the right to defend itself, Iran is the principal source of regional instability, and Iran is the source of terror in the Middle East.
Naturally, I respect your right to have the belief that Iran is the principal source of regional instability in the Middle East. However, the events of history, including very recent history, also calls attention to the extraordinary source of terror and regional instability in the Middle East, which Israel's actions have so blatantly displayed.
Regarding the longer history of Israeli abuses perpetrated against the Palestinians, I refer to the eye-opening work of the internationally respected Jewish Israeli historian Ilan Pappé. I am not suggesting that one should necessarily accept or reject what Prof Pappé shares. But I am suggesting that it is important that people at least allow themselves to become aware of his historical research and then, after having done so, to make up their own minds.
Also, regarding what is occurring in the Middle East and beyond, I am reminded of Orwell's words from his book 1984: 'The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.'
It is not only a fact that Israel has the right to defend itself, but it is also a fact that every country (even Russia) and every individual person has the right to defend themselves. However, the manner of how a country or an individual carries out their defence of themselves is not only a different fact but also a very different fact, especially if it includes barbarity, war crimes, and maybe even genocide against thousands of innocent civilians.
In a radio interview I gave yesterday, the interviewer asked me to say something about the purpose of our Thinking Centre here in Ireland. I answered that one of our main objectives is to try to understand more deeply how prejudices (pre-judge) can so unknowingly take hold within our human minds and, consequently, unbalance how we perceive and speak about the events we encounter. I include myself in this as well.
During this interview, I also drew attention to those enduring wise words from the Bible: 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' However, in this conflict taking place between Israel and Iran, both sides not only throw stones at one another but also fall into that form of adolescent consciousness in which each side exclusively blames the other for the stones they themselves are throwing. I think outside forces strongly announcing too early the taking of sides of either combatant in this type of conflict can result in the unintended implication of injecting further energy into these 'adolescent' impasses.
In these very dangerous situations, such as this war between Israel and Iran, I think the primary responsibility of all those outside powers not directly involved in the conflict is to participate in a manner that helps de-escalate the crisis before it gets even more dangerously out of control. Afterwards, when peace and stability return, then representatives of governments and institutions can indulge in the luxury of expressing their personal views on who was to blame, or who was most to blame.
However, by so prematurely and so publicly announcing of the taking of the side of Israel against Iran, how can Iran be expected to listen, trust, or have any kind of constructive relationship with any peace initiative the European Union may later propose?
This is why dialogue, especially the spirit of dialogue, is so important because otherwise people tend not to notice certain adverse implications that their contemplated actions can lead to until after they have taken their action.
The words fusion and confusion are deeply linked. If over-repeated, this constantly repeated fact — Israel has the right to defend itself — can easily lead to perceptual confusion. It requires extra care and attention to avoid the illusion created by our human tendency to conflate two very different facts into the same perceptual space. Because this can so easily result in deflecting or obscuring our attention away from facing a fact that we are unknowingly trying to avoid fully facing. Or avoiding the uncomfortable responsibility of having to take the actions that are necessary for the preservation of integrity and overall justice.
Wishing you much future success in the important role you have been entrusted with.
Eddie O'Brien, Director of The Thinking Centre, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Welcome for Rose
Here, in Portland, our version of the Rose of Tralee is called the Rose Festival.
The new Queen of Rosaria, Ava Rathi, plans to attend Trinity in the autumn. Will the Government of Ireland demand access to her social media accounts? I kind of doubt it.
Bill Gallagher, Portland, Oregon, US
Read More
Letters to the Editor: Death trap food aid centres in Gaza
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Letters to the Editor: My mother had a happy experience of residential care
My mother's experience of senior residential care was happy. She felt safe there. My sister became her daily visitor, sitting with her and interacting with the staff and residents around her. In quick time, we all knew whether anyone from our area worked there. We knew what work the residents had done during their lives and how their families were noteworthy or/and connected to us in any ways. When we visited, we were introduced to everyone in their turn and made use of to benefit the community. I was called upon to supply poetry notes for someone's child sitting State exams, a small favour my mother or sister asked of me. In no time at all, a village atmosphere grew around us, with all the care and love that a village affords to its locals. My sister's commitment to my mother was immeasurable. I am humbled; as her infrequent brother, I turned up some of the time. Here, in Dungarvan, my father-in-law had an excellent experience of residential care. He was literally across the road from where we live. One of his daughters works in that facility and spent all of her days working around him. My wife became his daily visitor, dropping in for hours in the evening and visiting other residents in turn while she was there. His old school friends and dancing partners sat by the beds around him or made for lively banter in the day room. How they loved to party. Staffed by people, known to his children, whose parents and grandparents were the backdrop to his life, his carers loved to listen to his stories. Workers from across the world were treated with the same lively fun and given the 'céad míle fáilte'. Somehow, it became his personal and individual experience of being in care. Con O'Sullivan, Dungarvan, Co Waterford Kindness in wake of Air India bombing My mother, Barsa Kelly, was aboard the downed Air India plane in 1985. The anxiety of not knowing what to expect, combined with our terrible grief, was almost intolerable. The compassion, sympathy and support that we received from the moment we arrived in Cork somehow made our ordeal more bearable. The people of Cork made us feel as if it was their tragedy as well as ours. We were met by two wonderful ladies when we landed, a nurse and a sister — we think their names were Geraldine and Lorna. We met Garda Donal McCarthy at the then Cork Regional Hospital, and we will be forever indebted to him for his kindness and patience. His gentle way was a crutch for us. He later phoned us at the hotel to say how glad he was we had found my mother. We were extremely touched by this gesture. We are also indebted to Donal Cullinane and Dan Lordan who went above and beyond their required duty to help us. Without their keen observation regarding the matching of the identification forms, we would not have found mom. With their kind manner they made sure we were never rushed, yet everything they did was concise and professional. We would like once again to thank the staffs of the Imperial Hotel and of what's now Cork University Hospital, as well as the taxi drivers who refused to let us pay them. Not a person at the hospital passed me without asking if I needed something or just wordlessly put an arm around me. The death of my mother will scar us forever, but we will always remember the exceptional kindness with which we were treated by the people of Cork. We have never encountered kinder souls. Lorna Kelly, Ontario, Canada What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here EU's stance on Iran An open letter to Ursula von der Leyen: As an Irish citizen and, consequently, also a citizen of the European Union, I felt the need to write to you. I hope you will consider my following concerns, which I share with full respect. Irish radio news reported this week that after Israel's attack on Iran and after your conversation with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, you reported, while attending the G7 summit in Canada, that, in this context, Israel has the right to defend itself, Iran is the principal source of regional instability, and Iran is the source of terror in the Middle East. Naturally, I respect your right to have the belief that Iran is the principal source of regional instability in the Middle East. However, the events of history, including very recent history, also calls attention to the extraordinary source of terror and regional instability in the Middle East, which Israel's actions have so blatantly displayed. Regarding the longer history of Israeli abuses perpetrated against the Palestinians, I refer to the eye-opening work of the internationally respected Jewish Israeli historian Ilan Pappé. I am not suggesting that one should necessarily accept or reject what Prof Pappé shares. But I am suggesting that it is important that people at least allow themselves to become aware of his historical research and then, after having done so, to make up their own minds. Also, regarding what is occurring in the Middle East and beyond, I am reminded of Orwell's words from his book 1984: 'The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.' It is not only a fact that Israel has the right to defend itself, but it is also a fact that every country (even Russia) and every individual person has the right to defend themselves. However, the manner of how a country or an individual carries out their defence of themselves is not only a different fact but also a very different fact, especially if it includes barbarity, war crimes, and maybe even genocide against thousands of innocent civilians. In a radio interview I gave yesterday, the interviewer asked me to say something about the purpose of our Thinking Centre here in Ireland. I answered that one of our main objectives is to try to understand more deeply how prejudices (pre-judge) can so unknowingly take hold within our human minds and, consequently, unbalance how we perceive and speak about the events we encounter. I include myself in this as well. During this interview, I also drew attention to those enduring wise words from the Bible: 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' However, in this conflict taking place between Israel and Iran, both sides not only throw stones at one another but also fall into that form of adolescent consciousness in which each side exclusively blames the other for the stones they themselves are throwing. I think outside forces strongly announcing too early the taking of sides of either combatant in this type of conflict can result in the unintended implication of injecting further energy into these 'adolescent' impasses. In these very dangerous situations, such as this war between Israel and Iran, I think the primary responsibility of all those outside powers not directly involved in the conflict is to participate in a manner that helps de-escalate the crisis before it gets even more dangerously out of control. Afterwards, when peace and stability return, then representatives of governments and institutions can indulge in the luxury of expressing their personal views on who was to blame, or who was most to blame. However, by so prematurely and so publicly announcing of the taking of the side of Israel against Iran, how can Iran be expected to listen, trust, or have any kind of constructive relationship with any peace initiative the European Union may later propose? This is why dialogue, especially the spirit of dialogue, is so important because otherwise people tend not to notice certain adverse implications that their contemplated actions can lead to until after they have taken their action. The words fusion and confusion are deeply linked. If over-repeated, this constantly repeated fact — Israel has the right to defend itself — can easily lead to perceptual confusion. It requires extra care and attention to avoid the illusion created by our human tendency to conflate two very different facts into the same perceptual space. Because this can so easily result in deflecting or obscuring our attention away from facing a fact that we are unknowingly trying to avoid fully facing. Or avoiding the uncomfortable responsibility of having to take the actions that are necessary for the preservation of integrity and overall justice. Wishing you much future success in the important role you have been entrusted with. Eddie O'Brien, Director of The Thinking Centre, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Welcome for Rose Here, in Portland, our version of the Rose of Tralee is called the Rose Festival. The new Queen of Rosaria, Ava Rathi, plans to attend Trinity in the autumn. Will the Government of Ireland demand access to her social media accounts? I kind of doubt it. Bill Gallagher, Portland, Oregon, US Read More Letters to the Editor: Death trap food aid centres in Gaza
Irish Examiner
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Air India Flight 182: Cork photographer recalls taking iconic image of 1985 bombing tragedy
One of the most poignant photographs ever printed on the front page of this publication was that of the lines of dead bodies in the temporary morgue set up in Cork for the victims of Air India flight 182. A bomb placed on board the flight by militants exploded off the Kerry/West Cork coast on June 23, 1985, with the plane plunging into the Atlantic. Forty years on, photographer Denis Minihane can still recall second by second the lead-up to snapping that iconic photograph, which also showed a group of medics gathered in the background of the image. Now retired after spending 47 years as a press photographer, the then 26-year-old snapper had been looking forward to a busy afternoon shooting sports photos in Thurles for two Munster hurling games. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading But when news broke of the horror air disaster off the west Cork coast, Denis' day took a different turn. He was not to know it as he returned from Thurles to the offices of the Cork Examiner on Academy Street in Cork city centre but his image would become synonymous with the tragedy unfolding in the sea off West Cork. Denis's image from the temporary mortuary set up in the then Cork Regional Hospital was syndicated across the world, and was featured in the New York magazine, Life, which was very influential at the time. Former Irish Examiner photographer Denis Minihane's picture of the remains of victims from the Air India Flight 182 air disaster on June 23, 1985, in a temporary morgue at Cork Regional Hospital (now Cork University Hospital). The world exclusive photograph taken through a window was published in newspapers and magazines all over the world including LIFE magazine and won a news picture of the year award the following year. Photo: Denis Minihane Looking back, the Skibbereen-born photographer said: 'It was the most significant photograph I took in my career really. Sadly it was one of a disaster. Such is life.' Denis retired last year and recalls entering the photographic trade after seeing his father Michael work as a photographer with the then Cork Examiner. After his Leaving Certificate, Denis entered the dark room in the Cork Examiner in October 1976, not knowing that one of the most iconic images of Irish press photography history would his. He recalls: 'On the morning of the 23rd of June 1985, I was marked to go to Thurles to cover two Munster hurling championship games and the 11 o'clock news came on on RTÉ Radio 1 and it said that Air India flight 182 had gone down off the Irish coast. "So we came back to Cork and parked the car and came into the office and it was rather difficult to get into the photographic department because it was packed with photographers who had arrived in Cork from different countries around the world.' He says of himself that he was just a 'young fella' at the time, aged 26. Forty years on, photographer Denis Minihane can still recall second by second the lead-up to snapping that iconic photograph. Picture: Chani Anderson He continues: 'I went out and attended the press conference (at the Regional Hospital) and there was a huge gathering of photographers and camera crews at it. I managed, through enquiries, to find out where the remains of the people taken from the wreckage were being kept and it was a temporary morgue that was set up in the gymnasium. "I got as far as the door and I obviously was not able to get any further so I went around the back of the building and I could see that there was a very high window. "But it was just down to my level so I could just about see in and didn't know if I could get a photograph or not because there was a very high thick net curtain, full length, inside the window, down on to the window sill. "So I could barely see into the room. I was by the window for quite a while and it was getting late in the evening. It must have been 10.30pm, may be 10.30/11 o'clock at night and I saw someone coming towards the window with a ladder and I move, I step back around the side of the building. I thought I had been seen but obviously I hadn't because what it was was that somebody had gone up and opened the window to let some air in to the building. Seeing his chance, Denis decided to have another attempt at seeing into the mortuary and recalls: 'That's how I had a gap of maybe two inches to get the photograph through and I managed to get a few frames.' But even then, he didn't know if his attempt was successful, in a time when photography took more patience than today. He explains: 'In those days, you had to come back to the office and process so I didn't know whether I had a photograph or not and it was a nervous seven or eight minutes developing the film – an anxious wait. Anxious also because it was also an upsetting scene that I had seen. It was a poignant scene.' He recalls seeing the images develop and night editor Liam Moher writing the caption for his now famous image, which included the words 'world exclusive picture'. He says: 'I just didn't understand the significance of it I suppose. It was over my head. I had done what I had done because it was my job and he had asked me to go and do it but I didn't realise how significant the picture was going to be in the following days and years afterwards.' He is mindful of the pain and suffering of the families and friends of those who were lost in the Air India disaster. He continues: Looking back at the photograph now, it evokes memories of that awfully sad day and my heart still goes out to the families and friends of all those people who died so tragically in that awful disaster when the bomb exploded off the Irish coast. The flight was due to stop over in London's Heathrow before travelling to India for stops in Delhi and Mumbai. Passengers were primarily from Canada, but others on board came from India and Britain, as well as other countries. More than 80 of them were children. Two men accused of murder and conspiracy relating to the crash were found not guilty in March 2005. It was alleged that the bombing was plotted by Sikh extremists in Canada as revenge on India for its storming of Sikhism's Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984. Read More A selection of images chosen by the Irish Examiner picture desk
