Alice Leahy Trust Letters to the Irish Times, News and Press

State use of private data

Madam, – With widespread outsourcing of State services to the voluntary/private sector now taking place, questions need to be asked by all with a responsibility to care for some of our most vulnerable citizens (“Watchdog questions State use of private data”, April 9th).

We have been working with people who are homeless over a 30-year period, and find that people are now experiencing pressure to divulge the most personal details of their lives when accessing services. This includes unnecessary, invasive and intrusive questioning and being asked for their permission for the storage and sharing of that information.

This should be of concern to all of us. Many of the people we meet do not have the choice to withhold information and for some, informed consent is just a myth.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that everyone is entitled to dignity and respect, something we should not forget in these challenging times for all. – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director Co-Founder,
Trust,
Bride Road,
Dublin 8.

Alice Leahy Trust Nationalist Clonmel, News and Press

Hands off our hospital, 15000 in protest rally.

By Eamonn Wynne of The Nationalist

Hands off our hospital services – that was the emphatic, defiant message that a huge crowd, estimated at 15,000, sent out to the HSE and the government on Saturday afternoon at the march and rally in Clonmel to protest against the threatened removal of acute services from South Tipperary General Hospital.

The call to throng the streets was well heeded, as the event brought the town to a standstill. They came in their thousands from all over South Tipperary and beyond, men, women and children, many families marching together in what consultant surgeon Peter Murchan described as an unprecedented show of support.

A broad spectrum of community and political organisations, sporting clubs, representatives of business, commerce and trade and many other groups, as well as people from all walks of life, were well represented in a massive display of people power that was expressed in a turnout that far exceeded expectations.

The march gathered on Western Road, in the shadow of the hospital known to generations as St. Joseph’s and now known as the South Tipp General, before proceeding via Cantwell Street to Irishtown and into O’Connell Street.

There the crowds heard impassioned speeches delivered from in front of the Main Guard by a variety of speakers that included sporting icons Aidan O’Brien and Eoin Kelly; Alice Leahy, founder of the homeless agency Trust; hospital consultants Dr. Paud O’Regan, Peter Murchan and Caitriona Crowe; and Barry O’Brien, chairman of the Tipperary County GAA Board.

Bands from Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel joined the parade and Banna Chluain Meala’s opening tune, “Beat It”, could have been a message from the march to the HSE.

Banners were proudly displayed and hospital staff and volunteers went through the crowds collecting signatures for the petition supporting the retention of the acute hospital services.

On Tuesday afternoon Cllr. Seamus Healy, chairman of the Save Our Hospital Action committee, reported that the petition now has more than 45,000 names.

The fight to save the acute services was brought to Dublin yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, when a deputation of representatives from the area, led by South Tipperary County Council, met with Health Minister Mary Harney.

In a statement issued on Saturday the HSE said that South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH) would continue to be the acute hospital for South Tipperary and its environs.

“There will be no downgrading of services at the hospital.

Alice Leahy Trust Letters to the Irish Times, News and Press

Afraid to speak out and challenge

Madam, – “Why are high-achieving grown men and women with fine university educations and highly specialised training afraid to speak out?” asked Prof Tom O’Dowd (Opinion, March 12th). In posing this question he has done this country a great service.

In Trust we have been involved for 35 years in working with people who are homeless, and during that time we have witnessed the silencing of prophetic and challenging voices. On a daily basis we ask ourselves and others ask us: why are people afraid to speak out? The absence of whistle-blowers legislation and fear of losing one’s job or failing to gain a promotion all play a part together with the terrible fear of being isolated. At an organisational level fear of losing funding is all too obvious in recent times.

It is worth reflecting on the words of the late Pastor Martin Niemöller: First they came for the Communists and I didn’t speak up because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I was a Protestant so I didn’t speak up. Then they came for me. By that time there was no one to speak up for me. – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY

Alice Leahy Trust Nationalist Clonmel, News and Press

Alice Leahy the Grand Marshall of Clonmel’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

by Eamonn Wynne of The Nationalist. (11/02/2010)

Alice Leahy, the founder of the homeless agency Trust, will be the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Clonmel.

The Fethard woman will lead the parade through the town on Wednesday, March 17th, and will also be the guest speaker at the St. Patrick’s dinner at Hotel Minella the previous night, Tuesday, 16th.

A substantial donation will be made from the event to Trust, the homeless agency founded by Alice Leahy, a former Tipperary Person of the Year who for the past quarter century has been a friend to the homeless in Dublin.

The parade will leave Irishtown at 3.30 and the organisers are hopeful that it will be a bigger and more colourful occasion than previous years, while everyone will also be keeping their fingers crossed for a repeat of the fine sunny weather of last year’s celebration. Almost 20 floats have already been confirmed, including one from the Irish Wheelchair Association, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Music will be provided by Banna Chluain Meala and the Dr. Diarmuid O’Hurley Pipe Band from Cashel.

There will be other attractions, organised in conjunction with the Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, to keep the crowds in the town centre entertained before and after the parade. These include a food fair in Mitchel Street from 12 noon to 4pm and a display of crafts at the Main Guard. And there will be musical entertainment on the reviewing stand outside the Town Hall in Parnell Street from 2 o’clock onwards.

This year the St. Patrick’s Well Committee is putting the focus on Ss Peter and Paul’s parish, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary. With that in mind the traditional mini parade on St.Patrick’s morning will proceed to 12.30 Mass at Ss Peter and Paul’s instead of noon Mass at St. Mary’s.

The Papal and national Flags will be raised as usual at St. Patrick’s Well at 8 o’clock on St. Patrick’s morning and a jug of water will be brought from the Well for the celebration of the Mass to commemorate the continuation of the Christian tradition in the town for 1,500 years.

The festivities will also include a historical lecture at the Town Hall on Monday night, 15th March on the history of Ss Peter and Paul’s.

Anyone who is looking for further information or any organisation or group that wishes to enter a float in the parade should contact P.J.Long of the St. Patrick’s Well Society on 052-6121432.