Oyster farm proposed for Clonakilty Trying to make could pose serious threat to ecosystem sense of the Israeli and Palestinian Fiona Hayes outlines reasons for concern page 21 conflict page 11 www.westcorkpeople.ie & www.westcorkfridayad.ie June 4 – July 1, 2021, Vol XVII, Edition 226 FREE Old Town Hall, McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. E: [email protected] P: 023 8835698 LIFESTYLE pages 26-40 Ardfield NS sixth class girls relaxing after a day of surfing and orienteering at Inchydoney beach. (L-R; Julia Soden, Lucie Hodgins, Holly Murray, Erin Pettit-Mee, Shannon Griffin) Lombard calls for clampdown on idle Airbnbs NEW 3008 overnment must move “During a time when we’re facing Eoghan Murphy. Plug-in Hybrid swiftly to ensure enforce- a critical lack of supply of housing, “Under the 2019 legislation, people ment of Airbnb agents we can’t afford to have perfectly good who let a second property on a short- homes lying empty for over 50 per term basis have to apply for ‘change of CLARKE BROS LTD Goperating without planning permis- Main Peugeot Dealer, cent of the year. While tourists might use’ planning permission. The granting sion who are soaking up the rental ClonakiltyCLARKE Road, Bandon, BROS Co. Cork. want to book a holiday home for a of such planning permission is depen- market by limiting the availability Tel: 023-8841923 ARTS & two-week break during the summer, dent on the availability of housing in Web:(BANDON) www.clarkebrosgroup.ie LTD of affordable properties according local families are left struggling to find the areas, taking Rent Pressure Zones to Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard. a home at a price they can afford. (RPZs) in particular into account... Main Peugeot Dealer, ENTERTAINMENT Senator Tim Lombard welcomed pages 40-47 “For example, Kinsale has seen “The Minister committed to Clonakilty Road, work by the Housing and Tourism de- rental prices increase dramatically ensuring strict enforcement of this leg- partments on ensuring the enforcement over the past few years due to lack of islation to tackle vacant properties. He Bandon, Co. Cork. of legislation brought in by former supply in the local property market. At also stated that he’s currently working Tel: 023-8841923 Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy the same time, we’ve seen hundreds of with Minister Catherine Martin on which guarantees homes in areas of houses become available on the Airbnb plans to further regulate short-term www.clarkebrosgroup.ie high demand are not exclusively used website for holiday use. The majority lettings. for short term lettings. of these houses are in residential areas, “We have these regulations in Contact Ian Carey Senator Lombard said: “Airbnb and when they received planning place, we now need to ensure that 087 2624747 is effectively sucking the life out of permission it was on the basis that the they’re being actively enforced so rental markets in villages, towns and properties would be for residential use that local communities can feel their [email protected] cities across the country, leaving local only. tangible benefits. people locked out of accessing homes. “We discussed the impact of short- “We’re in the middle of a housing “An Airbnb property which is term lettings on the housing market crisis where supply of homes is our occupied for three months during the during the Fine Gael Parliamentary number one issue. We need to look at summer season can make significantly Party meeting last night when we putting a scheme in place to provide more money than a property rented heard from Minister Darragh O’Brien. alternative tourism accommodation out for 12 months. However, by letting The Minister agreed that enforcement and drive Airbnb properties back into HOME & GARDEN properties on a seasonal basis, large is needed regarding these lettings our residential housing market. Surely pages 48-52 amounts of homes across the country following the 2019 legislation brought our towns would be the better for it,” are lying vacant for the vast majority in by former Minister for Housing concluded Senator Lombard. of the year. Now that we can go further..... Add your business 83,000 unique website westcork.ie today! visits last year! explore 2 June 4 – July 1, 2021 Learning Last June, in the midst of a pandemic, the wheels were set in motion towards a very different model of education in West Cork. As the school year draws to a close, the West Cork Sudbury School Bantry – where students have an equal part in the democratic running of the school itself and where they decide what, when and how they learn – is celebrating all that has been achieved since its inception and, as it evolves, the many things there is to look forward to. Next September the Sudbury school year will begin with an increased cohort of stu- dents at a more suitable premises with lots of outdoor space in Coomhola. The mission of the West and older students may not Leaving Cert exams and col- Cork Sudbury School is ‘to have much interaction, Jessica lege. And if that’s not working provide a space for children says there are “these wonder- for you it can make you feel and teens to grow and flourish; ful times when you have the like a failure. where they experience their different ages mixing and possi- “We’ve seen youth, who voices being heard and valued bly interacting in a way they have been marginalised in and that they can be trusted to wouldn’t get to in mainstream previous schools because of be contributing members of education. Our older students their unique abilities and views essica Mason, a founder, she was homeschooling her two Jessica has worked in both their community.’ It is a model have the opportunity to be role of the world, shine with their trustee, facilitator and children. “I was immediately formal and informal education that embraces diversity and models.” abilities in the space they are parent of two children at excited and motivated to try settings, including running creativity. The school will see its first given at Sudbury. Jthe school says “the first year and start a similar school here school gardens, teaching There are currently 16 student graduate in June. “She “One of our students who has really been amazing, as the in West Cork,” she shares. After ecology, youth work, running students at the school, ranging is a 17-year-old who joined really struggled in mainstream seeds of the community and a series of public meetings, a summer camps and working as in age from eight to 17 and ten the school when she was education said he learned how culture start to germinate…. It core team of five formed and a class teacher in a Waldorf-in- more students will be joining experiencing a lot of stress to be happy in school here at is really fabulous to see the stu- started work on making the spired school in Goa, India. in September with a growing about having to make choices,” Sudbury. He has really thrived, dents start to realise that this is school a reality. Lots of vol- Other facilitators in the waiting list. “ says Jessica. “While at West as a result of being given the their school and how beneficial unteers with different skillsets school have experience ranging “We have a very dedicated Cork Sudbury, she completed time to explore and immerse in being seen as an individual is.” came on board and the school in settings from mental health group of pioneer families and an equine psychology course what really interests him. When Jessica first heard got its official charitable status to outdoor education. The it’s very new for everybody but online and is now going on to “One student, Archer Little, about the Sudbury model last December. skillset is varied and everyone we hope to keep growing grad- work with horses. after winning a board game through the success of the With a background in envi- is interested in learning through ually,” says Jessica. While on “Mainstream education is competition in lockdown last Sudbury school in Wicklow, ronmental and social activism, living. a day to day basis, the younger very focused on Junior and year, completed an online CNM Training Successful Practitioners The latest addition to the CLONAKILTY PARK HOTEL CHANGE CAREER SPECIALITY PIZZAS, GREAT COFFEE & A SELECTION OF LIGHTER OPTIONS Train to become a… such as our bruschetta, brioches & baps. Nutritional Therapist Herbalist Attend a FREE Acupuncturist Online Event Homeopath Health Coach Natural Chef Postgraduate & Short Courses Part-time studies OPEN NEW Study in class or online DAILY Colleges across Ireland and the UK 9am - 9pm www.naturopathy.ie Park Road, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, 01 878 8060 [email protected] | 023 88 36400 June 4 – July 1, 2021 3 through living ALBANY course in board game design. Decisions are made through over the year has the opportuni- He has since started designing consensus rather than majority ty to have a say in. SSkibbekibbereenreen his second game, a complex voting. “A decision is made “Several of our students civilisation building strategy based on people’s objec- have joined the School Meeting game, and is trying out his Committee, leading and facil- FREE BLINDS MEASURING SERVICE! prototype on staff and students itating school meetings with alike. His time at school has Decisions are made dedication, creativity, organ- given him the space to think isation, and humour; making and get creative and use his through consensus the meetings so much more talents.” rather than majority interesting than the facilitators No two days are ever the voting. “A decision is ever did!” says Jessica.