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I have been in a state of shock since I heard the sad news this morning I have been so busy all day it's only now at 10.45 I am trying to come to terms with her huge loss. I met some of the animation team at Cobh golf club at the Annual mass for deceased members tonight and while Claire had never time to play golf we fondly remembered her She had a powerful presence in everything she undertook and you could never say no to Claire She even cajoled me to take to the catwalk at a recent fashion show. She was a huge support to me and everyone valued the regular contributions she made to Cobh News Condolences to family and friends I am truly privileged to be asked to officiate at her funeral mass in the Cathedral on Saturday at Noon Rest peacefully dear Claire the Great Island will never be the same without your inspirational presence Claire shared all my pics on FB these are just few

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Fab response to appeal for promoters to sell 10 calendars nearly 400 Gone now Brilliant response so thankful and grateful Fr Liam

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Just back in Cobh at Midnight after my first full day in a, month mind you i think most of my days are days off I enjoy each day so much. Spent the night at my home in Donoughmore took a good rest when I saw the day was too wet for golf which I was looking forward to my first game in month, after recovering from a knee injury. Spent 7 hours on my computer arranging pictures and working on my Christmas Cobh News special which I expect to be 64 pages. Took a break to watch Man City and Celtic game. Returned via Blarney and called in to Castle Hotel where the monthly music session was on. Great decision to go there. An old friend there Connie saw my calendar and she offered to sell them sold 40 and took another 40 this is fantastic now over 200 gone in 4 days and I did not put them in the shops yet. Yesterday morning got a phone call from Fr John Asanyire he was touching base hoping i would be able to help the starving Children, last year our fundraising raised enough to feed 7,000 children in the poorest country in the World Mali for a month. I would love to get 50 people to take 10 calendars and that would take care of another 500. Email me at liamkelleher44@gmail.com They represent great value at E5 when the printers who print Cobh News knew what they were for they printed them for E1.50 instead of E4 and if we sell them all E3,500 will go to feed the starving children and help my friend Fr John the only Priest in a parish the size of Ireland. These are the calendar pics

At the end of a special day privileged to officiate at 4 masses 8.am in Convent, 10 am in Cathedral, special Confirmation Class and Holy Communion family mass packed cathedral, wonderful youth choir got massive feed back which has been so encouraging, did not get to Hospital 11 am Mass till 11.10. Took a break after this mass and called to support the girls in the 7 a side football blitz and take some pics. Eight teams took part Erins Own won the Coral Leisure cup while our own girls won the shield. Got back to the cathedral at 2.30 and heard confessions until 6.50 over 4 hours without a break. The final mass with bishop Crean at 7pm finished at 8.15 and it took the huge congregation over 15 minutes to pass through the door that was opened a year ago by the Bishop to begin the year of Mercy. and closed tonight. We finished about 9 before going to Park Rd or well earned refreshments. Just wondering how many people in Cobh took the opportunity to pass through the door during the year and get the special graces for the Year of Mercy. Between Saturday and Sunday spent over 7 hours hearing confessions it was so uplifting to see so many making their peace with the Lord. Looking forward to 8am and 10am Masses on Monday morning

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This weeks Cobh News Editorial Comment Medjugorje and me I returned to Ireland in January 2013 after spending a year at Berkeley in California on Sabbatical. In January 2012, I had stepped down as PP in Grenagh after 12 years. I had always said I would do so, when I reached the pension age. Coming towards the end of my year at Berkeley I had noticed I was getting weaker, my muscles began to get sore and eventually I was barely able to walk. I returned to Dublin in January 2013 and went straight to the nearest hospital which happened to be the Sports Injury clinic in Santry where I had a hip replacement a few years before. I knew a few of the doctors and at the late hour of 11pm they had arranged to get scans, my condition was so serious. I returned with my sister to Celbridge, but could not even get up the stairs. I went to the nearest hospital Hermitage and was admitted straight away. It took almost a week after extensive tests and scans that I had the severest form of rheumatoid arthritis. I was fearful of getting it sometime, my uncle who was a priest in the diocese had to retire at 60 with the same ailment. The prognosis was upsetting to say the least. I was told I would be on meditation for the rest of the my life and I would never work again. I was in hospital when Bishop William Crean was being ordained bishop for our diocese. I consulted him when I went home and told him if I every got better and fit to work I would let him know. I went through agony for 3 months the medication was driving me virtually insane, if I had been 40 years younger I would have won the Olympic sprint, with amount of Steroids I was taking. I was determined to get better I double up on my 100% wholefood nutrition, Juice Plus, which I had been taking daily for 17 years consisting of 27 raw fruits Vegs and berries. I got in touch with another friend, Pat Roche in Dunleer in Co Louth, a huge believer in the nutrition and a well known homeopath. He tested me for various things and found I was between 5-10% in most of them. He advised me in addition to my nutrition to take a mixture consisting of 3 oranges, 3 grapefruit, 3 Lemons, Juicing them adding 2 ounces of Epsom salts and baking powder and take a glass everyday. That seemed strange because I was told not to touch citrus fruits again. Eventhough it was horrible to taste I took a glass everyday. I had joined a prayer group at Holy Trinity in Cork with Finbarr O’Leary and in May Finbarr invited me to lead a pilgrimage to Medjugorje which I was delighted to do. I did not take my mixture with me because I always travel with hand luggage even for the year I went to the USA. I got completely taken up with the atmosphere and spirit and peace of Medjugorje. I met some of the visionaries and witnessed a lot of healing and prayed for healing. I went to Dubrovnik for my nieces wedding in June and took my sister Esther who had brought me to the hospital lst day and being a nurse knew the state I was in, and her husband Joe on a day trip to Medjugorje. I was feeling much better after that and was invited again by Finbarr to lead a group to Medjugorje in September. At the end of August bishop Crean rang me to see how I was and to give him a call and he offered me the position of curate in Cobh and I gladly accepted. I came back a day early from Medjugorje to be in time for my first mass which was in Rushbrooke on the Saturday night and fittingly it was the Anniversary mass for an old friend Jim Hennessy a former teacher in Carrignafo, And who played a major role in her athletic career O’Sullivan when she was a pupil in the school Second Chance I was glad to get a 2nd chance and resolved to use every minute of the day to help as many people as possible. Somebody asked me what was my main ambition at the time and I simply stated if I got one person back to the church a day there would be 365 at the end of the year. I had noticed early on in Cob, that very few went to regular weekly mass about 10% and very few children. That saddened me and that is why I spend much of my time in schools and helping children in sport to give them a sense of direction. I enjoy my breaks to recharge the batteries and go to the US every January to attend the Carlow College Re-union and get some sunshine. I had an extra bonus this year deciding at the last minute to go to RIO for 10 days to my 10th Olympics. Then an offer came up to go to Medjugorje and despite my quota having being well exceeded, Fr John allowed me off to Mejugorge. And I used it as my annual retreat . I traveled with John Fitzpatrick and Billy Burns and John’s brother Kevin. John has an apartment there so it was ideal. The first morning I left the apartment to walk the short distance to the church for the English mass and could not believe my eyes when I saw Darren and his mum walking to the church. I had met them on previous occasions. Darren was always up at the front of the church in a wheelchair. Doctors said it would be impossible for him to walk again his mum had been bringing him to Mejugorje for 10 years sometimes up to 3 times a year. On the 9th of June this year after meeting the visionary Marriana, a miracle happened and Darren began to walk. This is still is still huge news everywhere. I would recommend everybody to look up Mary TV on the internet www.marytv.tv and log into this and it will change your whole life I have so much belief in it that I printed during the week 1,000 notes for the children in the schools in Cobh to give to their parents. I spent much of my time this year in Medjugorje hearing confessions nearly 4 hours some days and 90% were Irish parents who had gone there to pray for a miracle for their offspring, many of them had given up going to mass and not brining their children either and many other issues like broken marriages and untimely deaths. Last Sunday October 23rd was Mission Sunday I was privileged to officiate at 3 masses 8 am Convent 9.30 in Ballymore and 11 in the hospital. Before the 11am mass I called in to the finals of the street leagues and the field was thronged with over 200 youngsters. After mass I went to the Munster X Country championship races in Carrignavar to support the Cobh athletes although most of the younger age groups were finished when I got there. Then I came back to Cobh, to see the fab victory of the under 14 girls, to win the first Cup for the club ever in Ladies football. As I sat down that night after meeting friends whose wedding I am officiating at in Cobh on the 3ist of December. I reflected on the weekend the Friday night functions the wedding I attended in Youghal on Saturday of the daughter of friends whose wedding I officiated at 31 years ago when I was in Dromina. It was a very unique occasion the mother of the groom a Church of Ireland minster was officiating. That night on reflecting I wondered how many had attended the greatest banquet of all that week-end by giving thanks to their maker for the gift of life by attending holy mass. That’s why my editorial heading is “Mejugorje and me” Thanks to our Blessed Mother Mary for giving me a new lease of life. Miracles do happen if we believe Every blessing Fr Liam 087-8516984 Email: liamkelleher44@gmail.com his weeks Cobh ewa

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Amazing experience at Medjugorge Friday evening signed in to hear confessions fro 5pm-7pm Started at 5pm and continued non stop for 3 hours and 40 minutes without a break most wonderful experience I could tell from the face of each penitent if they had been in Medjugorje before they had a smile on their face those who were there for the first time came with a sad face apart from one, they had a story to tell some had not been to confession for 40 years. some has lost chldren at a young age some had to cope with suicicde. Thankfully most left with a smile on their faces. It was the feast of the Holy Rosary and Mary had guided them here to get solace forgiveness and strength. More than half were sad because their children had abandoned practice of faith and had given up going to mass regularly where up to 90% in many parishes in Ireland have done. One day in Medjugorge would change all that. I am full of hope and after spending more time in the confession box at the one time since I was in Midleton 40 years ago. Hopefully I can do the same for the next 5 days I am here. I am truly blessed to have the privilege.

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Cobh News in Shops Friday evening hoping they will be delivered Im on Pilgrimage in Medjugorge remembering everyone in my masses and prayers

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This weeks Cobh News done and dusted and gone to printers in shops Friday not as exciting as the Rio Special I have no copies of that issue left but there are a few still available in shops. until Friday we were the only magazine in Ireland apart from National Newspapers to be represented in Rio. Thanks for all the positive comments on the magazine and especially for the pictures and an up to the minute in depth look at the "Hickey Affair"

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a look at this weeks Cobh News Rio Special --now in shops.

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This weeks Cobh News now in shops huge coverage of Rio Olympics get your copy selling out fast The Good the Bad and the ugly --but for me its Rio Grande It is quite sad when the entire focus should be on the “clean’ Olympic competitors who have sacrificed so much to take part, that much of the media coverage has been directed to activities outie the fields of play. The ticket controversy is simply appalling, the boxing judging, the doping controversies, including the boxer Michael O’Reilly, the disqualification of teams and their reinstatement has really sullied the Olympic movement and if Baron Pierre De Coubertin was around he would be shocked. Before we get to the really positives especially from an Irish point of view lets get the negatives affecting the Irish out of the way first. The “Hickey Affair’ as it is now well referred to has been the biggest news of the games and a man who has done so much for the Olympic movement now languishes in jail here. Let me first say without hesitation Pat Hickey has done some fantastic work which cannot be denied but the his obsession for power has finally been his undoing. I have known him since 1972 from my first Olympic Games in Munich all of 44 years and I was not happy with the antics that happened in Atlanta in 1996 during the “Sonia saga” which again was well documented at the time. I was Press Officer for the then Irish Athletic organization BLE and was totally embarrassed by what transpired. I remember talking to the minister of the sport there a fellow Corkman Bernard Allen and he commended me for my approach which basically was that the we should not wash our “dirty linen” in public. I saw Sonia dragged to the press conferences after the gear changing controversy which must have adversely affected her performance and being acutely sorry for her in trying to give answers to the assembled media. What really transpired we will probably never know. I was hugely upset too and when I returned to Ireland I resigned my position as National Press Officer of BLE. I went on National Radio on the news at 1 with Sean O’Rourke. To explain my reasons. My great friend Frank Greally covered the issue with 5 pages on “Irish Runner” with title “ Pastor departs” It was written by Sean McGoldrick whom I met at the stadium in Rio I issued a broadside at the time on the Olympic Council of Ireland which made banner headlines in the papers and which I was castigated in many part for being way off the mark, but for people in the know I got huge support. I will quote it “The Olympic Council of Ireland are democratically elected by nobody, are answerable to nobody and dictate to everybody” So you can see the warning signs were there 20 years ago, if they were heeded. My outburst came at a cost, 4 years later there was no way I could get a press pass which had to be signed by the President of the IOC to cover the events for Marathon Athletics Magazine which I had been publishing since 1984 when I took over from Padraig Griffin. In Sydney I tried everyday for 6 days in a row with the help of Frank Greally Irish Runner and John O’Sullivan., but no joy. Tickets were impossible to get so I was resigned to watching it on TV. Two hours before Sonia was due to run I was with Frank Greally and Pat Hickey passed us by, Frank said now is your last chance, bury your pride and go and ask him , but I turned down Frank’s plea. We went again to the press accreditation centre , put a bundle of magazines on the table, and to her eternal credit the lady at the desk who at this stage must have been fed up with me, decided to ring the communication chief and he gave the OK. To my knowledge it was the only accreditation given out without the signature, of the President. There was still another problem access to the media was limited with the queen of Australian running Cathy Freeman due to contest the 400m final, so an additional pass had to be sought. We headed off to the stadium, Frank was getting checked, but quick as Bolt I was off and Frank arrived 5 minutes later, and the rest they say is history. I suppose if I were asked now about the Olympic Council, I would have mixed views. The obvious one has to be transparency, and too much power must never again be the domain of any individual. What do I think of Pat Hickey now? I genuinely feel sorry for him as I stated at the outset he did a fantastic amount of work, he moved in high places with people like Russian President Putin numbered as one of his allies. and goodness knows how many more, who can do little to help him now. He is obviously suffering huge trauma and distress and if we want to put it in terms of punishment perhaps this is enough and let him go free. He has paid a huge price already. Positives There were many huge positives, before I arrived the O’Donovan brothers had already made the podium in the silver medal position and had entered the folklore of Irish sport. Their honesty and no nonsense approach will live long in the memory bank they provided a huge uplift to the Irish nation. The tenacity of Analise Murphy our only other medalist on the water, shows what can be achieved after agonizingly finishing 4th in London. Ironically I arrived in Rio at 5.30am after flying from Dublin and Paris following my last minute decision to go, that afternoon Analise was on her final day after her grueling schedule. I went to Flamengo to the venue and arrived to be told there were no more tickets available. I was delighted when news came through that she had won the silver medal and pat Hickey was due to present her medal at 3.30pm. My charm did not work this time and I was denied the opportunity of witnessing his last time in the limelight. Track and Field in most peoples eyes with the swimming are the integral part of the Games the swimming was over which say Michael Phelps incredibly win his 22nd gold. From a Irish point of view the star of the show was Thomas Barr, plagued by injury al the year he exited the recent European Championship in Amsterdam at the Semi Final stage he raised eyebrows when after getting through his heat he upped the ante in the Semi Final to win it in a little over 48 secs a new Irish record. His time took him to 3rd place of qualifiers, raising high hopes of a podium place in the final. Despite running the race of his life and dipping under 48 secs he agonizingly missed out on a medal by 5 one hundreds of a second. He put on a brave face and a broad smile but with age on his side he will get another opportunity the Olympics come round just every 4 years . Thomas now has the world at his feet and he will be one of the favourites to garner gold in London next year. For his relatives in Cobh and for the sport in general it will again be a massive injection. Knowing Robert Heffernan so well we were hoping his recently acquired bronze medal from London would be turned to gold, but it was not to be, he produced his usual gutsy performance, but had to settle for 6th. It should be his final swan song at Olympic level now holding the Irish record of competing in 5, but who knows, but hopefully he will be around for London next year to add another world gold to his impressive collection. The spirit of the Olympic Games is participation but with difficult qualifying standards, it is a great honour even in this tainted era to be an Olympian. So well done to all the other Irish competitors who made it to Rio. Spare a thought though for the boxers they went into the Games expecting much more. Dodgy judging particularly in the case of Michael Conlan and Kate Taylor made it a real tale of woe and many questions have to asked why Billy Walsh slipped through then net and finished up in the Americans “CORNER” Apart from Michael Phelps Usain Bolt and Mo Farrah lit up the athletics programme and each time Bolt competed the hitherto half empty stadium was full to capacity, 9 track gold’s is incredible and Ireland can take a little credit with his manager Ricky Simms a proud Donegal man. The USA shot put winner has an Irish grandmother and that is as much as we can lay claim to. Ro is a fab city but he amount of poverty is disturbing many claim the Olympics should never have been here, on the other hand it crated huge employment and it gave the soccer mad country a huge uplift. People are very friendly and helpful apart for the Taxi drivers some who overcharge drive like lunatics and lights make little difference. My feet are worn out from walking having given up the taxi’s but public transport is excellent and despite the adverse comments read about before I came I had no problems whatsoever. I suppose the walk and golf venues were the exception being well over an hour from the hub of Rio but when one had clewed into the system travel times were reduced. Brazil is a very friend country to Seniors on won day alone 4 ladies vacated their seats and offered them to me a sign of my age and this never happened before. Travel is free which I found out to my cost after buying the weekly travel card. I had not tickets when I arrived and mindful of the London experience when a one day ticket for the track cost 400 sterling mind you it was for the final of Usain Bolts 200m and David Rhudisha’s world record in the 800m David defended his tile here much to the delight of his Coach Br Colm O’Connell. On that great day in London I went from the boxing gold of Katie Taylor to the best evening in the athletics, but I could get tickets for no more athletics. The first thing I did here was to pay E750 for tickets for the week, later I found out that I could have got them for half price as a Senior and even less at the stadium Tickets for the closing ceremony like the opening were like gold dust. On Sunday evening the closing ceremony was at 8pm I found a church for mass at 7pm arrived at the stadium at 8.30 it was pouring rain and eventually with virtually half the closing ceremony over I got ticket for 100R$ about 30 Euro I certainly made most of my good fortune despite the downpour and it brought me to a perfect end to a games I never thought I would have the chance to make it the perfect 10. See you in Tokyo as the final message rang out.

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Another reminder of public meeting at Commodore Cobh On Tuesday 12th July next at 8pm Re high incidence of cancer on Great island read this article I researched thoroughly it makes for alarming reading

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This is an indepth article I did for Cobh News citing the many reasons why there is such a high incidence of Cancer in Cobh. You can share it with whoever you wish Fr Liam How much more can we tolerate? On Sunday May 22nd a friend of mine in Dublin who I knew in Midleton 40 years ago ,sent me a very worrying post on Facebook, stating Cobh had the highest rate of cancer deaths than any town in Ireland. Writes Fr Liam Kelleher New research shows that people living in Cobh, Co Cork, are at a much greater risk for common cancers than anywhere else in the country. The study, conducted by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI), found that the harbour town has the highest rate for cancers in Ireland. The rate for prostate cancer is 71pc higher than the national average, while the rate for female breast cancer is 38pc above the norm. In the town, which has 12,000 residents, the rate for colorectal cancer is 42pc higher, blood cancers are 42pc higher, and lung cancer is 19pc above the average. A local GP told the Irish Sun that the town's industrialized past may explain the dramatic increase. “These heavy industries have been associated with carcinogens, like ship building associated with asbestos. "They have removed it but 30 or 40 years ago it was still being used,” said Colin Bradley, a professor of general practice at University College Cork. He added that the age of cancer patients in the town is striking: “I’ve seen more cancers in surprisingly young people than I would in previous practices.” The NCRI suggested that social deprivation may have contributed to the soaring cancer rates. Not surprised I was not really surprised, after officiating at many funerals, most of them cancer related since I came to Cobh over two and half years ago In the first Issue of Cobh News which I was instrumental in setting up in February 2013 , I compiled a very comprehensive editorial on all the potentially hazardous health dangers. The then owners of the magazine at the time thought it would be too controversial, for a first editorial and vetoed its publication. I raised several issues like the enormous number of high tension cables, communication masts, especially those in close proximiity to 4 schools, St Mary’s, Scoil Iosaif Naofa, Colaiste Mhuire and Carrignafoy Community College. I was not too sure what the impact of the massive wind trubines across the harbour would have on the health of residents of the Greater Harbour area, but it appears they were constructed with barely a whimper of protest. I have no doubt that the multiplicity of chemical factories have been a factor and this very week , there has been massive publicity that the huge number of cruise liners we have in our port each week during the Summer months are causing huge environmental damage. Again because of the adverse effect the banning of them would have on the tourist industry , despite the hitherto widely unknown implications, there will be barely a whimper of concern or protest. Currently we are faced with the possibility of an incinerator being foisted upon us at Ringaskiddy, despite the fact that planning has been rejected already shows the audacity and bullying tactics of Invader in trying to impose it for a 3rd time. Closer detail Lets examine in closer detail, what has gone on in recent years to decimate a beautiful harbour reputed to be the 2nd biggest in the world after Sydney. I have been to Sydney on a number of occasions and certainly their harbour has not been raped like Cork harbour has been. The Passage West, Ringaskiddy saga, Marino Point, the steel plant, the Methanol storage plant, the multiplicity of high tension cables, communication masts, wind turbines, chemical factories, the old shipyard etc---SCANDALS in my view and the impact they have had on the greater harbour area have to be a contributory factor in the highest rate of CANCER on the Great Island and surrounding harbour areas In the late 90’s the Hill Family, owners of Haulbowline Industries which specialises in Scrap Metal and Animal Feeds, applied for planning to covert the business to Residential, Retail and a Heritage Centre. Such a transformation of the Industrial Plant in the heart of the Town would have had a very significant and positive environmental impact for all residents. Unfortunately, the County Council planners refused permission citing the European Union’s Seveso Directive which prohibits an Urbanised development within a radius of a Hazardous Plant. In the Passage West case, it was the presence of Irish Fertilizers Industry at Marino Point on the other side of the River Lee. A Public Meeting was held and TD’s from both major Parties supported the Council’s planning refusal much to the dismay of the Public, who attended the meeting. IFI was producing liquid ammonia, a very hazardous substance which was shipped out by rail and by sea. The establishment of the IFI plant in the 60’s was highly controversial and objections by the residents of Passage West and the greater harbour area were overruled. A few years after the Hill Family’s initiative IFI closed due to sustained losses amounting to tens of millions. With a 51% shareholding by the Government the tax payer had to foot the bill. When planning was granted by Cork County Council to IFI in the 60’s a condition was that the 114 acre site was to be converted back into a green acre site in the event of closure. Almost 14 years later the site remains an eye sore and in derelict condition. Irish Fertilizer Industry, closed in 2002 and remains a derelict site. ATTACH PIC In the meantime Passage West was granted Urban renewal status and a very large number of houses and apartments were built. However, the residents of Passage West and residents of the Great Island still live within close proximity to a very dangerous and hazardous plant. The largest bulk storage for Methanol in Ireland is located at Marino Point by the company, Marino Chem. Methanol is highly flammable and highly toxic. It is classified and labelled as- and the substance is suspected of causing cancer. Shipments of methanol occur regularly, which I observed on Sunday May 29th and an accident during production or during transportation, would result in disastrous consequences for the residents of Passage West and the Great Island and its environs. Exposure to methanol will result in organ failure by inhalation. It will also cause severe damage to skin and eyes. .In addition to methanol, Marino Chem, has stainless steel reactors that provide for the manufacture of concentrations of Urea, which is yet again another hazardous substance. In Urea production the following major hazards may arise:- – Equipment/piping failure due to corrosion – Explosion hazard due to the formation of an explosive gas mixture – Toxic hazard due to NH3 release In addition to the hazardous plants at Marino Point there is the waste dump in Haulbowline Island after the closure of the Steel Plant and the planned Incineration Plant by Indaver, which has been criticised by Minister, Simon Coveney. And many others, how can it be even considered after it has been turned down already. Cruise ship Pollution Cruise ships have been described as "floating cities" and like cities, they have a lot of pollution problems. Their per capita pollution is actually worse than a city of the same population, due to weak pollution control laws, lax enforcement, and the difficulty of detecting illegal discharges at sea. Cruise ships impact coastal waters in several countries. All cruise ships generate the following types of waste: • "Gray water" from sinks, showers, laundries and galleys • Sewage or "black water" from toilets • Oily bilge water • Hazardous wastes (including perchloroethylene from dry cleaning, photo-processing wastes, paint waste, solvents, print shop wastes, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries) • Solid wastes (plastic, paper, wood, cardboard, food waste, cans, and glass) • Air pollution from the ship's diesel engines A 3,000-passenger cruise ship (considered an average size, some carry 5,000 or more passengers) generates the following amounts of waste on a typical one-week voyage: • 1 million gallons of "gray water" • 210,000 gallons of sewerage • 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water • Over 100 gallons of hazardous or toxic waste • 50 tons of garbage and solid waste • Diesel exhaust emissions equivalent to thousands of automobiles In addition, these ships take in large quantities of ballast water, which is seawater pumped into the hulls of ships to ensure stability. This water is typically taken in at one port and then discharged at the ship’s destination, which can introduce invasive species and serious diseases waters. A typical release of ballast water amounts to 1,000 metric tons. There is much food for thought in this article thoroughly researched by Cobh News. How much more must the residents of the Lower Harbour of Cork endure before our politicians take the necessary measures to safeguard the health of its citizens?