Latest news with #MariaMcCormack
The Journal
7 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
Sinn Féin seeking centre of excellence for endometriosis care as women 'being failed'
WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS are being 'failed' and let down by the state, according to Sinn Féin, who are seeking that the government commit to providing a centre of excellence in order to improve care. Endometriosis is a chronic disease that sees tissue similar – but not the same as – the lining of the uterus grow in other places. It's usually found in the pelvic region, but can be found anywhere in the body. It is not a menstrual condition, but it's often triggered in girls when they begin to get periods, and it can cause intense pain that is debilitating in some cases and heavy bleeding during periods. The disease impacts an estimated one in ten women in Ireland, but the level of specialist care and assistance offered by the healthcare service here has often been criticised for being under resourced. The Journal Investigates last year revealed that more than 100 Irish women had to seek care in Romania due to long waiting lists and a lack of affordable alternatives here . Sinn Féin is now calling for the health minister to 'take this disease seriously'. Advertisement Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane and Senator Maria McCormack have drafted legislation which seeks to establish a centre of excellence in order to meet the level of capacity needed to deal with the number of cases here. Government previously committed to providing two specialist hubs and additional staff to reduce barriers to care for effected women. According to McCormack, there is currently a significant staffing deficit at the centres. 'We have spoken to many women who have attended these new centres, but they are not getting the treatment that they need,' she told The Journal , adding that there are at least 15 vacancies at one centre. 'I [spoke to] one little girl who attended one of these centres, and she was told she didn't have endometriosis. Then they went abroad for treatment, and she had quite extensive endometriosis lesions,' she added. Cullinane said that if there was one centre of excellence for care, the proper and full resources would be made available for women attending the centres and seeking treatment. 'We want, basically, every woman to have the same opportunity that they have in other European countries to gold-standard treatment,' he said. 'Far, far too long, as we've set out in our motion [tonight], women have been failed.' The Waterford TD said that the provision of 'second-best treatment' is not the fault of those currently working within the healthcare sector, but health minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill and HSE management. Related Reads Health minister announces 'see-and-treat' gynaecology services and 'advanced' endometriosis centre 'I just felt like I don't matter': Women forced to travel to Romania for endometriosis treatment 'Shame and stigma' mean women with endometriosis suffer in silence over painful sex He said that hospital staff want to improve healthcare for women, but claimed that pre-approved posts to help with this have been cut as a result of a cap on employment and cost levels in the healthcare system. 'Now they have to go back and start from scratch again,' he said. 'We'll be raising all of these issues and the need for that centre of excellence as a starting point with the Minster for Health.' A national framework for the disease is currently being developed and nearing completion, Carroll McNeill said last month . It will identify how care for women will be delivered at primary care centres, local hospitals and specialist complexes. It will be published once it is approved by doctors' union the Irish Medical Organisation, she added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Aurfest 2025 – all you need to know about Louth's newest boutique music and arts festival
Organised by a group of locals who are involved in Dundalk's thriving music and arts scene, the two-day festival aims at showcasing the best of local musicians and comedians as well as top Irish acts. Unlike many of the major festivals around the country, the line-up features a large proportion of female acts as the organisers wanted to address the gender imbalance in the music industry. The practicalities Gates open on Friday from 2pm and on Saturday from 10am. Bellurgan Park is just off the R173, about 4 miles north of Dundalk, with a separate entrance for campervans and caravans. Taxi's can be booked from Sevens o arrange a pick-up from the festival site both nights at 2am – phone 042 9377777. There will be food stalls and it's a BYO festival although there is also the option of ordering drink from the Dundalk Brewing Company via their website for collection on the site. Festival-goers are advised to bring cash, as due to the location of the site, cards might not work. The stages The festival takes place across two stages: the Aur stage which is the main stage and the Moo-Neyz acoustic stage. There is also a Singing in the Shower and DJ Caravan and, of course, the comedy stage. The acts Friday: The Aur stage – music from 5pm with Fat Rabbit, Needy Pet, Formorian, The New Normal, Negro Impacto, Jinx Lennon and Duke Special. The Moon-Neyz stage – music from 8pm with Maria McCormack, Bedside Community and Elephant Saturday: The Aur stage – music from 12pm with Freedom 355, Messy Avocado, String Ninjas, Killjoy, Pork Pie, Vankil Echoes, Moy M5, Arco Arena, Twisted Sisters and Ispini Na hEireann. The comedy acts taking to the stage are Emma Doran, John Colleary, Luke McGibbon, Sinnane Higgins, Breda Hegarty, Lisa Casey, Ellen O'Reilly, Alex J Byrne, James Downey, Kevin Larney, Shannon Braso Caul, Joe Dowling, Paddy Seery, Sophia Wren, Louise O'Toole, Dan Stephens, Elizabeth Redmond, Stephen Robert Walters, Dhruv Ghandi, Pete Griffen, Kat O'Hanlon, Vittorio Leonardi and more. It's not too late Tickets are still on sale from and on site. Day tickets for Friday are €55 and for Saturday €65, with a weekend pass for €100. Children under 12 free, while a weekend pass for 12 -1 7years is €50 or €25 for a day pass. A camping (tent) weekend pass is €110. There's an additional €25 charge for campervans/caravans and €5 for car parking.
Irish Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Post
Cork and Waterford camogie squads unite in condemnation of Munster Final postponement over skorts row
THE CAMOGIE squads of Cork and Waterford have released a joint statement condemning the postponement of the Munster Senior Camogie Final amid an ongoing dispute over skorts. The players had indicated on Wednesday that they intended to wear shorts in Saturday's decider, which are not permitted under current camogie rules. This prompted the Camogie Association to call a special congress for May 22, where a motion would be considered, which, if passed, would allow players to wear either skorts or shorts. However, the evening before the Munster decider, which was set for the Tipperary County Camogie Grounds at 1pm on Saturday, Munster Camogie said the game had been deferred. "As the committee in charge of the Munster Championship, we have reviewed the situation regarding tomorrow's Munster Final," read a statement from Munster Council Chairperson Christine Ryan. "As the current camogie rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in shorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved. "The details of the rescheduled fixture will be released in due course." 'We feel completely let down' In response, the Waterford and Cork panels said the late call showed 'scant regard' for the players' welfare. "As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today's Munster Senior Camogie final has been postponed," read a joint statement. "It shows scant regard for the preparation of players both physically and mentally to be ready for a provincial showpiece, to make this decision just 16 hours before the scheduled throw-in. "Anyone with any understanding of what it takes to compete in elite sport knows that this could never be in the best interests of the players. "We feel completely let down. Both panels had meticulously planned to peak for today. Training schedules and workload now have to be readjusted, while not even knowing when the game will take place. "There was an opportunity to take a step forward from the recent controversy. Instead, a provincial final has been postponed because we took control of what we would wear. "To us, that feels like a massive step backwards." 'Outrageous disregard for players' Following Saturday's postponement, Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack said she was 'absolutely disgusted' by the decision. "These women have trained for months, made sacrifices and looked forward to this moment only to have the final pulled from under them the night before over what they choose to wear. It's disgraceful," she said. "The Munster Camogie Association's decision shows an outrageous disregard for the players involved. "Let them wear shorts. It's not a complicated ask — it's about comfort, equality and being listened to. "We genuinely believed the Camogie Association was finally beginning to listen, especially with the vote now scheduled for May 22. But clearly, nothing has changed. "Instead of compromise, they've chosen to punish these women. "Why could these players not be allowed to play in shorts while awaiting the outcome of that vote? "The decision to call off the match sends a terrible message — that speaking up will be met with cancellation, not conversation. '"he players deserve better. They've earned the right to be heard, and to play." Also on Saturday, Dublin and Offaly players took to the pitch in shorts for their Leinster Camogie Minor A Shield Final at St Peregrine's in Blanchardstown. However, the game was not allowed to go ahead until after the players returned to the changing room to change into skorts. It mirrored scenes from the same ground a week ago when Kilkenny and Dublin were told their Leinster Senior Camogie semi-final would not go ahead after they originally lined out in shorts. See More: Camogie, Munster Camogie, Skorts Row
Irish Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Politicians urge camogie players to wear shorts in Munster final amid Skortgate
Camogie players taking part in this weekend's Munster Final have been urged to wear shorts despite rules demanding they wear skorts. The Dublin vs Kilkenny match was nearly called off last weekend after players initially refused to wear skorts, which are a skirt/short combination. Camogie Association rules dictate that players cannot wear shorts, despite years of campaigning for choice about what female players wear. Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack wore shorts in Leinster House on Wednesday 'in solidarity with the camogie players around Ireland'. She said: 'We have noticed a lot of kickback from the players. 83 per cent of the players said in a survey they were uncomfortable and unhappy wearing the skort. But yet they are still being forced to wear the skort. 'We're calling on the Irish Camogie Association to take this on board. 2027, 2026, is too far away. We need to change the rules for them now so they have the choice. 'As TDs and Senators, we have a choice. But everyone should have a choice.' When asked if she would encourage Cork and Waterford players playing in this weekend's Munster senior camogie final to wear shorts, even if the match faces being called off, Ms McCormack said: '100 per cent.' She continued: 'It's really down to the Camogie Association [if the match is called off]. This does not fall on the players. 'They're asking for this since 1969 and this is going on a very, very long time. 'At this stage they have no choice. So it's not fair in every other sport that we have females participating in, they're not forced to wear a skort.' Sinead Gibney of the Social Democrats branded it 'really shocking and sad that we are talking about shorts on women' and that rules needed to be changed. Ken O'Flynn of Independent Ireland also said he would "absolutely" encourage players to wear shorts. He said: 'The most important thing here is the sport.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Opposition parties rally around camogie players favouring shorts over skorts
Opposition parties have rallied around camogie players who want to be allowed to wear shorts when playing as opposed to hybrid skorts . The issue rose in prominence after Dublin and Kilkenny were forced to change into skorts to fulfil their Leinster semi-final fixture last weekend. Sinn Féin senator Maria McCormack said Laois camogie players would be coming to Leinster House on Wednesday and she would be raising the matter in the Seanad. 'It should be about the sport, not about the skort,' she said. READ MORE 'We're calling on the Irish Camogie Association to take this on board and 2027, 2026 is too far away, we need to change the rules for them now so they have the choice.' She said that 'everyone should have a choice, they shouldn't be forced to wear the skort'. Ms McCormack said she would encourage players in the Munster camogie final this weekend to wear shorts '100 per cent'. Cork and Waterford have indicated they will wear shorts. Sinn Féin said Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan and Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue should intervene with the Camogie Association. 'When such a majority of players are very clear on this, when we're in 2025, it should not be that we are treating our athletes in this way that it is going to take two years [for change],' said Social Democrats TD Sineád Gibney. She said that the progressive values of modern Ireland should be reflected in national organisations. 'Women in sports are routinely discriminated against, there's a huge amount of underfunding, we've seen large campaigns in the last decade to try and promote women's participation in sports.' 'The fact that we are talking about women wearing shorts to perform at the height of their athletic capability is really quite shocking when we have so much else to deal with,' she said. Independent Ireland TD for Cork North Central Ken O'Flynn said 'the most important thing here is the sport' and that he would back the players who chose to wear shorts '100 per cent'. 'If that's their choice as players, we should be supporting that,' he said. 'And we should be moving with the times, and if the players dictate that this is more comfortable, this is what they feel better, we should be accommodating that.' He said it would be 'an awful tragedy' if the match did not go ahead due to a conflict over the rules. 'Maybe sometimes people need to stand up for a cause you believe in, even if you stand alone at times.' His party leader Michael Collins said that camogie players need to be respected, and he called on the sporting bodies to make changes immediately and make sure the game goes ahead.
