Round-table Conference on Cancer

November Meeting of Cooley Environmental and Health Group

Further plans were laid at Sunday morning's meeting of this small but innovative Group.

At Sunday morning's meeting of Cooley Environmental and Health Group held in The Strand, Omeath, Sean Crudden was instructed to e-mail Dr Dennis Pringle, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, NUI Maynooth, to see if he has made any progress with his latest (comparative) study of cancer incidence in Cooley.

The Group decided to try to convene, on Sunday 4 April 2004, a round-table conference on cancer in Cooley. It was provisionally decided to invite participants such as Dr Fenton Howell, Seamus Kirk T.D., Peter Savage MCC, Fergus O'Dowd T.D., Finnan McCoy MCC, et al. It is hoped, if this meeting materialises, to discuss matters such as setting up a scheme of comparative case studies of all human cancer occurring in the Cooley area (and hinterlands). The meeting noted the number of cancer related deaths in recent times in the local area.

The Group's Winter Workshop ("Fabrication, Machinery, Dundalk and the Environment") was confirmed for Saturday 31 January 2004 at 2.00 p.m. in The Strand.

The Group formally recorded thanks to Ollan Herr for his talk to the Group at the previous meeting on 26 October on alternative methods of treatment of domestic sewage. Mr Herr can be contacted at Herr Ltd., Phone 042 93 77689. The web-site www.reedbedsirl.com can be read by those seeking further information.

Concern was expressed about industrial action by some of the workers at Sellafield and it was noted that the possibility of a terrorist attack on the installation may have increased now that Ramadan has passed.

The Treasurer of the Group, Mr Sean Crudden, agreed to release funds (100 Euro) to pay for a short course on "Web-site Development" to be attended by two members of the Group. The course organised by Louth Leader is taking place in Ardee.

The Secretary of the Group, Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes OMA PhD, agreed to make a submission on behalf of the Group to "The Expert Group on Mental Health Policy" which has set up a process of public consultation on mental health services.

The next ordinary meetings of the Cooley Environmental and Health Group were fixed for Sunday 29 February 2004 and Sunday 25 April 2004. Meetings will start at 11.30 a.m. sharp in The Strand, Omeath.

The Group wishes all a Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.