The Strand Hotel, Omeath - home for most of our meetings

MEETINGS

Meetings of the Cooley Environmental and Health Group, are held every two months or so, usually in the Strand Hotel, Omeath. Summaries of this year's meetings appear below with the most recent appearing towards the top of the page.


For meetings in previous years, please select one of the following links:


For reports on the Annual Workshops please select the Workshops link.

For information on the Cancer Conference follow the Cancer link.

The meetings of the Cooley Environmental and Health Group are open to all. If you would like to become involved in our activities, please come along. You will be very welcome.

No meetings are currently scheduled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The minutes are always carefully scrutinised before being accepted

Report on Cooley Environment and Health Group Meeting, Sunday 15th November 2020
This meeting was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Report on Cooley Environment and Health Group Meeting, Sunday 13th September 2020
This meeting was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Report on Cooley Environment and Health Group Meeting, Sunday 14th June 2020
This meeting was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Report on Cooley Environment and Health Group Meeting, Sunday 26th April 2020
This meeting was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Report on Cooley Environment and Health Group Meeting, Sunday 1st March 2020
Today's meeting began with a review of the 2020 Winter Workshop. A majority felt the Workshop was a success, but others felt that it had not adhered to the guidelines agreed at the January meeting and did now allow sufficient opportunities for alternative views. Given that it is not our intention to hinder freedom of speech, it was agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting to determine what lessons might be learnt.

Today's meeting doubled as the AGM. The Chairman formally opening the AGM, and after receiving apologies, the meeting heard a report on the Group's finances from the outgoing Treasurer Sean Crudden. Sean reported that the finances were in a healthy state in which income and outgoings were roughly in balance. Although the group recorded a small excess in income over the year, it was noted that the biennial charge for the website (one of our larger expenditures) will be due in July.

Nominations were received for each of the major Committee positions. Jonathan Larkin was re-elected Chairperson, whilst Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes was re-elected Treasurer. Aine O'Reilly was elected Treasurer, whilst the outgoing Treasurer, Sean Crudden, was elected to a new position combining the former positions of Vice Chairperson and Public Relations Officer.

The dates for future meetings were provisionally agreed as follows:
Sunday, 26th April @ 10am
Sunday, 14th June @ 10am
Sunday, 13th September @ 10am
Sunday, 15th November @ 10am
Sunday, 17th January @ 10am
Saturday, 23rd January @ 2pm (2021 Winter Workshop)
Report on Cooley Environment and Health Group Meeting, Sunday 19th January 2020
The meeting began with a quick overview of the Group's finances. Sean Crudden reported that he had received sponsorship from Bellurgan Precision, Brendan Rafferty, Cooley Distillery, Ready Mixed, and Strandfield - please see the sponsors page for further contact information. In addition, Louth Local Enterprise Office has promised us €250 as a contribution towards the Winter Workshop. This should be paid this week. Needless to say we are very grateful for all the support we receive, without which we would be unable to fund our activities. It was agreed to write to each of the about to express our thanks.

The main item on the agenda, as is always the case in the first meeting of the new year, was to finalise the details for the Winter Workshop, to be held next Saturday (25th January). Jonathon Larkin, Sean Crudden and Dessie Hynes reported that they had appeared on Dundalk FM radio to publicise the event. Although difficult to gauge in the absence of feedback, they felt the programme had gone well. Dennis Pringle is to prepare a flyer that could be distributed to further publicise the event.

It is hoped to begin the workshop with up to five keynote speakers, although there is still a degree of uncertainty about three of them. It is hoped to get firm commitments from each of them during the week. After a break for tea/coffee and biscuits, it is planned to break those attending into a number of discussion groups. Four possible topics, linked to changes in our central foci over the past twenty years, were identified. After each group reports back on their deliberations, the floor will be opened up for a general discussion.

Further refreshments will then be provided for this wishing to avail of them.