Latest news with #ClannÉireann
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cost of living: 'Forgotten about' Lurgan parents rely on £20 summer scheme
"Forgotten about" parents are calling for more financial support for children's activities during the summer comes as research by Ulster University suggests more parents are cutting back on children's sports due to the rising cost of living.A number of parents whose children attend Clann Éireann summer scheme in Lurgan, County Armagh, spoke to BBC News costs just £20 a week and is able to keep costs low as it is run mainly by volunteers. Seana McConville, who volunteers at smaller sessions in the club that are adapted for children with additional needs, like her son, said if her child was going into childcare over the summer she would have to pay for one-to-one support for said families like hers were "forgotten about"."I'm a full-time worker and every other year I would have to work term time, which is less money throughout the year in order to be able to take off the summer," she said."But that's not good for me or my son, because we are then tied to just being in the house. "I miss the social side of being at work and the rest of the year you can struggle because your wages are less." The Clann Éireann summer scheme runs for two weeks and this year 180 children are Coleman has worked at the club for 30 years and is a classroom assistant at the local said it was a lifeline for many parents."We know people are trying to cut corners on food, clothes, for basic toiletries, that's the way it's going, like back in your mummy's day nearly," she told BBC News NI. School uniforms and PE kits Ulster University surveyed 855 research suggested 37% of parents reduced spending on sports and 35% said their child had missed out because they could not afford also found 30% of parents were unable to afford clothing and equipment needed for Science lecturer at Ulster University, Maria O'Kane, said at this time of the year researchers heard a lot about the cost of school uniforms and PE kits as families were beginning to budget for them ahead of the new school year."Maybe it comes at the sacrifice of a family holiday or a family day out," she said."We heard in the interviews even going for an ice-cream is a luxury they just couldn't afford any more." Mum-of-six Natalie Geoghegan said the sharing of Gaelic kits at Clann Éireann helps keep costs down."With football, you need the latest kit, but with this gear, it's not the latest - one from four to five years ago is just the same, you've got the badge and you're part of the group," she her family, holidays are a luxury that do not happen every year."You like to try and get away because life is hard and you like to get away in the summer, but you have to cut back in general on things like clothes and [use] hand me-downs," she said."When they're in school all year, there's a routine. I'm lucky I'm at home - I'm not working - but for me to entertain them in the house and run the house, it's mundane for them for me to try and do everything." While Clann Éireann is proving to be an affordable option for these parents, Maria O'Kane said summer schemes do not always suit working families as the hours can be quite short and they can be expensive."That puts another pressure on families if their child is expected to attend," she added. Single mum Nicola Fagan said she felt many parents were "left in limbo" over the summer."Not everyone has grandparents or family who are going to cater to your needs," she works overtime to save for the summer months and her children's many activities."I try my best to make ends meet so they can get to everything they want to do and their friends are involved in," she said."It's a whole lot of pressure because you don't want them missing out on anything that everybody else is doing."I come last all the time and I wouldn't have it any other way, because you aren't going to have your kids for a very long time when they are small so as long as they are happy I can do without for another couple of years." Summer anxiety She said the summer scheme had given her children opportunities and day trips that they would otherwise not have had."It would have been an anxiety for me over how much it would be and what you are going to have to cut back on," she said."Or are you going to be caught out in a week's time thinking, 'I shouldn't have spent that money because I need diesel in the car or extra electric because Finnian hasn't turned off his PlayStation overnight?'"It's stuff like that you need to think about when it comes to money and cost of living." The survey also suggested that more limited disposable income would mean siblings had different is the case for Claire King who said: "From my older child to my younger child, he doesn't get as many days to soft play areas or trips to the zoo, things like that."Between camps, feeding them, childcare costs - they've all gone up in prices, so it is definitely more expensive than it has been in the past."
Sunday World
08-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday World
Irish far right leader Justin Barrett suffers heart attack, says wife
Rebecca Barrett posted that her husband Justin is in 'good spirits' and will be undergoing angioplasty early tomorrow morning The wife of far right party leader Justin Barrett has revealed that he suffered a heart attack and will be undergoing surgery in hospital. Rebecca Barrett posted that her husband is in 'good spirits' and will be undergoing angioplasty early tomorrow morning. 'Just home from the hospital,' she shared in an update on X alongside a picture of Barrett in a hospital bed. 'Was able to bring the eldest in with me and he was so happy to see his dad and get another cuddle. 'Justin is still in really good spirits. Latest update is he's going for an angioplasty, early Friday morning,' she adding while thanking 'everyone for all the prayers and kind messages'. Justin Barrett in bed recuperating Ms Barrett had earlier written to 'friends, allies, supporters, both personal and political' in relation to a 'statement I want to make'. 'I make this statement to convey information, because myself and my husband have always been honest and transparent. I am however, personally, hesitant to share it for reasons I will explain in a moment,' she wrote. 'This Sunday, my husband Justin Barrett suffered a heart attack. He was brought to our local hospital after I called an ambulance. He is stable and in good spirits. He is still currently in hospital and will need more time to rest and recuperate. Barrett at the Michael Collins ambush site at Béal na Bláth in west Cork News in 90 seconds - 8th May 2025 'Thankfully though, and after many prayers, he has been told he will make a full recovery. This is an incredible blessing and we as a family are so very thankful. "He has told me he has no intention of going anywhere and leaving his loving family and his beautiful country behind. He fully intends to recover and get back to work.' She then shares that this 'brings me however, to my reasons for hesitancy in sharing a statement about this'. 'To put it bluntly, our enemies, and many who will call themselves our friends, will use this against him. They will call my husband 'unfit to lead' and make snide comments about 'physical incapability.' Justin Barrett, right, at a protest outside Leinster House last November. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins 'My husband is the strongest man I know. He has braved so much for this country and for his beliefs, and he has such strength of character and determination. I am in awe of him every day of our lives. 'He has been mostly concerned about myself and the children and how we are coping throughout all this, and he has also been concerned about letting members and supporters of Clann Éireann know why he might not be at the forefront of the goings on the Nationalist movement in the coming days.' She adds: 'I would hope that the number of those who will offer prayers, well wishes and their support, will far outweigh those who will use this as an opportunity to criticise and speak against my husband. He will make a full recovery, and he will continue to lead Clann Éireann as we fight to protect and defend our Ireland.' She signs off: Ar son na hÉireann – Rebecca.' Justin Barrett has long been a controversial far-right figure on the fringes of Irish politics, with strong views against abortion and immigration. Barrett, who has unsuccessfully run in national and European elections, fronts a group called Clann Éireann following his split from the National Party that was founded in 2016 on a right-wing anti-immigration and anti-abortion platform. In October 2023, the new 'leader' of the National Party described former leader Barrett as a 'tout' and 'informer' for going to gardai about €400,000 of gold bars owned by the party and members. James Reynolds also lashed out at Barrett for quoting Hitler and giving Roman salutes while leading the party and called him a 'coward' for not dealing with him directly. Mr Barrett is a former member of militant Catholic organisation, Youth Defence, and was in the past criticised for attending neo-Nazi rallies in Europe. He was the chair of the No to Nice campaign and ran as an election candidate. In September of last year, he declared Adolf Hitler to the 'greatest leader of all time' while posting an image of the Nazi leader in response to a question by Europe Invasion on 'X'. He has also appeared in a video unveiling a new 'protection unit' of his party called An Sciath Náisiúnta, (The National Shield), or the 'SN' as he described it, at the Michael Collins ambush site at Béal na Bláth in west Cork. Mr Barrett also said the 'protection unit' would act within the law but would also be ready to defend itself 'with as much violence as is necessary'. Wearing a dark black jacket, black gloves, a military-style hat, brown shirt and black tie, Barrett addresses the camera, a group of masked men all dressed in black hold tricolours aloft as well as the party's logo. Justin Barrett. Photo: Niall Carson/PA During his speech that was later posed on YouTube Barrett warned that while the SN is 'not here to create violence', he 'will protect himself from the foreign invader'. 'We in the SN are here for the determined will to see that Ireland's voice will be heard no matter who tries to silence us,' he declared. 'We will act within the law. We will act as peaceful as we can, but we will also be ready to protect ourselves and defend ourselves with as much violence as is necessary. 'Make no mistake, Ireland is standing up.' The SN has claimed that its 'units' had already been active in certain parts of the country to hand out literature and to 'protect' the streets. A Fine Gael councillor who was instrumental in securing a statue of Michael Collins in Cork City dismissed Barrett's 'mini rally' at the Béal na Bláth monument as 'absurd'. 'Justin Barrett and his followers are a bunch of buffoons in fancy dress,' Cllr Shane O'Callaghan told The Examiner.
