12th April, 2001
Notice Board


Many Part-time workers are
missing out on holidays



With one holiday period just finished and the May public holiday on the horizon many of us are benefiting from some well-earned relief from our daily toil.
For the staff at the Citizens Information Call Centre this holiday season has also meant an increased number of calls from both employees and employers who are not sure just what their public holiday entitlements are.
"For virtually all full time employees, no matter for how short a time they may have been employed it is quite straight forward" said Eddie McGrath, information worker at the Call Centre. "They are entitled to either: a paid day off on the holiday, a paid day off within a month, an extra day's annual leave, or an extra days pay, it is up to the employer to decide which”
For those people who work on a part-time or casual basis it can be a little more complicated and this is where we find the biggest area of confusion. Frequently we find that these workers and their employers wrongly assume that they have no entitlement to benefit from the public holiday, especially if they would not normally work on that day anyway, but this is definitely not the case.
Since the Organisation of Working time Act came into effect in 1997, all part-time and casual workers have a public holiday entitlement as long as they have worked at least 40 hours in the five weeks leading up to the holiday. If an employee would normally work on that day they should be treated in a similar way as a full time worker. If, on the other hand, they would not normally be scheduled to work on the particular day on which the holiday falls they should receive an extra payment of one fifth of their normal weeks pay.
A new information booklet outlining the rights of part-time workers is available by post from the call centre.
If you would like to receive a copy this or would like information on any related matters you may contact the centre on lo-call 1890 777 121 (at local rates). The service is free and totally confidential. Information is also available by email:
information@comhairle.ie


THE HISTORY OF DOUGLAS


by Con Foley Part 36 - Castletreasure

On the rising ground to the south of Douglas stood an ancient fortress bearing the curious name of Castletreasure. 'Castletreasure' is said by some to be a corruption of 'Castle Frizelle.' Smith believed that the "castle" was built by the Danes. It is an interesting speculation that Donnybrook, by which one approaches Castletreasure, was earlier called Danebrook which gives slight, if tenuous support to Smith's contention that the castle was 0f Danish origin. The site of the castle is doubtful but the oldest Inhabitants State that it was in a laneway immediately behind Delaney's farm, about 100 yards off the Carrigaline Road.
There is a legend in connection with the name 'Castletreasure.' It seems that during one of the many wars in past centuries, the owner of the castle was forewarned of an impending attach on his stronghold. Gathering his valuables together in a sack, he took them outside the castle walls and buried them secretly. He then prepared to defend the castle. Unfortunately he failed to do so and, he and all his followers were put to the sword. SO firmly was this story believed that up to the middle of the eighteenth century, 0rganised parties used to hunt for treasure. Early in the nineteenth century, Windele the archaeologist began digging in the castle area. The local inhabitants, knowing the legend, immediately assumed that he was digging for gold!
Croker himself was a witness to an organised local effort in search of gold. He relates: "Having on the morning of the 14th May 1814, left Cork soon after daybreak, for a walking excursion 'to cross the county' as it was called, to Carrigaline, in company with a medical gentleman named Carroll, about two miles brought us to the village of Douglas, at the early hour of five o'clock. Here we again struck of f from the main road, into what is called a bohreen or cart road, to a field, for the purpose of crossing to the Carrigaline carriage road; and to complete the advantage of our angular cut or gore, we had to pass over the hill of Castletreasure, so named it is said, from pieces of gold having been found there, and where a castle, built by the Danes, Dr. Smith says, Once stood. On the ground called Castletreasure, we were surprised at finding nearly a hundred peasants at work, somewhere about three quarters of an hour before Six o'clock, actively engaged in turning over the large stones, of which the farm presented a large crop. Mr. Carroll said to me - 'There is something not right in this kind of work, but we must go on; come what may, never do for us to turn back. You see the fools are under the command of that 01d woman;' and he directed my notice to a kind of Meg Merilie's figure in a ragged cloak, who, with a long stick or pole, pointed out now here and now there, and whose motions were implicitly obeyed by a movement towards the spot indicated. We stood for some time looking.
On at this strange scene and, at last, Mr. Carroll, who had much native humour and spoke Irish fluently, so far ingratiating himself into the confidence of one of the labourers, that he told him they had met there for no bad purpose, but in consequence of the command of Shelah the Dreamer, nodding towards the hag commandant who he said, had dreamed three times, three nights running (this was said very mysteriously) that for a certain quantity of tobacco and whiskey, she had the power of pointing out to those who gave it to her, a great heap of treasure, enough to make all their fortunes ten times over, which had been buried in a golden cauldron by the Danes, adding that she was afraid to undertake looking for it herself without a strong guard, as it was watched over by a fiery dragon and a black dragon. They had now, it appeared, worked on the hillside for three days from sunrise till nearly six o'clock, when they had to go to their labours in the fields; but no one had found anything bigger than a brass farthing and two or three old buckles that were not fit to hold the harness of a decent jaunting cart together.
"Mr. Carroll, who had evidently been taken for an agent or bailiff of the Castletreasure property, suggested that if they piled up the stones in a corner of the field, they might be useful for building and then, Mr. Carroll continued, whose speech had collected several inquisitive peasants around us, "when your pickings are all put up in that corner, the teeth of the harrow could go easily through the ground and they would be sure to turn up the little crock of gold for you, for as the Danes were obliged to run away out of Ireland in a great hurry, they could have had time to bury it more than a spade's length under the ground.'
continued next week


STRESS - You can beat it!

The Celtic Tiger has boldly crept into the lives of the Irish people. It has brought with it great opportunities, more employment, more cars and traffic on our roads, more houses popping up around us and unfortunately more stress in our daily lives. Our ancestors developed a “Fight or Flight” mechanism in the body, which gears up the body to take action to protect itself against wild animals and unexpected dangers. This stress response is innate in us but in today’s life the majority of stress that we are faced with, we can neither fight it nor run away from it.
Well, what is stress? Basically stress is anything that stimulates us and increases our level of alertness. Life without stimulus would be dull and boring. On the other hand, life with too much stimulus, is unpleasant, tiring and if prolonged can damage your health, well being and ability to perform effectively.
Where does stress come from? Stress can come from inside the person (e.g. anxious worrying about things, tense hurried approach to life, our way of thinking or relationship problems) or from environmental events (e.g. things like overcrowding, pollution, noise, trauma, life events and daily hassles).
We can be suffering from stress and not know that we are. What are the signs of stress? A person suffering from stress may start to indulge in comfort tricks like eating more junk food, drinking or smoking more than usual. They may have problems falling asleep at night or wake up early in the morning. Memory and performance are less efficient under stress. A person can become more anxious and irritable or even depressed. Your immune system doesn’t function as well as it should and you can be more susceptible to flu and colds.
So what can we do about? Well, here’s the good news. You can start today to manage your stress levels by doing the things that make you happy. Learn relaxation because you cannot be relaxed and anxious at the same time. Look at how you are using your time and see where you can use it more efficiently. Take up exercise and get those endorphins flowing and get rid of the excess stress chemicals floating in your body. Eat foods that make you healthy and strong and cut back on foods that sap your energy. Find a friend or relative who you feel really listens to you and talk to them. Do a stress management course and learn new coping skills.
You have the power within you to control your stress levels and to control your life. So start today by doing the things that make you happy, being with the people that make you happy and thinking happy thoughts.
Collette O’Connor.


MOTORING MOMENTS!


In 1979 the head of America's Chrysler Corporation Lee Iacocca said " Last year I spent $150 million on advertising and half of it was wasted - I only wish I knew which half"
Dan Dempsey's 24 hour rescue & Recovery , Kinsale 086-8217777


ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WELFARE

The Royal British Legion is a registered charity in existence to support people who have served in the British forces up to recent times. We in the Royal British Legion are here to assist you with any problems or queries. We may also be in a position to assist dependents of British ex-service personnel.
We have now changed our address with immediate effect:
Irish Life Building, 1A South Mall, Cork City. We are situated on the First Floor, C/o British Department of Social Security. A welfare representative is in attendance every Thursday from 10.30am to 12 noon and 2pm to 3pm. Telephone No.: (021) 4223958.
And a S.S.A.F.A. (Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen’s Families Association) representative is also in attendance, c/o British Department of Social Welfare, every Wednesday from 10.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.


CARRIGALINE LIBRARY

The Monthly Gramophone Recital will take place in Carrigaline Library on Thursday April 19 th. at 11.00 a.m. It will be presented by Mr Pat Lemasney and a great morning is assured . There is no charge and refreshments will be provided.


Labour Force Survey on

Economic Immigration and Childcare


Following the wide-scale success of the annual labour force surveys over the past two years, Cork Chamber of Commerce, in association with nine other Irish Chambers who are members of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, has agreed to participate in a Labour Force 2001 survey. It will focus exclusively on two critical issues of concern for employers, namely economic immigration and childcare.
A cross section of two hundred and fifty Cork companies will be contacted over the coming weeks and asked to complete a detailed questionnaire by phone.
The survey has two key objectives: to equip Cork Chamber with authoritative information to lobby and influence public policy on issues arising in respect of these two issues and secondly, to support the Chamber movement to assess the local needs of their members and, where relevant, design services to meet those demands.
The first part of the survey on economic immigration will provide detailed information on the experiences of employers regarding the recruitment and retention of non-nationals. It will focus on the challenges posed by the red tape involved in securing work permits and supports employers need to assist the integration of non-nationals into the workforce.
The second part on childcare will examine the impact an underdeveloped childcare infrastructure is having on employers efforts to recruit and retain staff as well as examining some of the issues surrounding employers efforts in addressing the issue of inadequate childcare services and the type of supports they need.
It is hoped that results of this survey will be published by the Chamber in May.


Comhaltas Jubilee Celebrations

To Mark the foundation of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann 50 years ago a number of high profile events are being organised by the Cork County Board of Comhaltas to celebrate the occasion. A jubilee concert will be held in the Briary Gap Theatre, Macroom on Friday 11th May to coincide with the opening of the County Fleadh Ceol. A full day traditional spectacular is planned for Saturday 1st Sept in Cork city when Comhaltas puts on an open air performance of the talented traditional musicians, singers, dancers and story-tellers from throughout Cork county and city. The highlight of the day will be Ceili Mor Chorcai in the City Hall with the scintillating Turloughmore Ceili Band from Co. Clare with guest artists Sean O'Se and Donnacha O'Muineachain, Fear an Ti. A gathering of Sean Nos singers and musicians for an Oiche "Amhrán agus Fonn" in October.


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