Majority back ban on energy drinks for under-16s
Workers at the Kealkill store outside Bantry, Co Cork, were astonished when they found the World War One honours inside an old jacket.
The tattered garment had been earmarked for recycling when volunteer Steve Rosse found them – awarded to a Pte Patrick Ryan, who may have been from Tipperary.
Treasurer of the shop Ed Smith passed the medals to the Skibbereen Heritage Centre in the hope it could shed more light on them.
Expert Kevin Tomlinson was called in and the two badges were confirmed to Energy drinks be a Victory Medal and a 1914-15 Star. Mr Tomlinson’s research showed Pte Ryan most likely joined up as a volunteer in 1914 and was involved in trenchdigging during some of the bloodiest conflicts, including the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey.
He was not a conscripted soldier as the 1914-15 Star medal was not awarded to these men.
It’s also thought the brave Irishman may have served in the Balkans and Egypt.
Speaking to Patricia Messenger on C103, manager of the Skibbereen Heritage Centre Terri
Kearney said: “A volunteer ALMOST three-quarters of Irish people support a ban on energy drinks for under-16s in an effort to improve their health.
Around 72% believe the caffeine-rich liquids should be binned to tackle bulging waistlines in kids and young teens.
More than 1,000 people were at Kealkill Charity Shop, Steve Rosse, had been going through some clothes there and there was an old tweed jacket and unfortunately it wasn’t good enough for resale.
ON C103 YESTERDAY
quizzed as part of the national survey by ireach which found widespread support.
The last year has seen retailers such as Boots and Aldi introduce restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
The Government is yet to bring in similar proposals that would apply nationwide. In Britain the
“He thought the jacket was a bit heavy and when he checked he found the medals in the pocket.”
The jacket was among many other bags of clothes and the volunteers had no idea who brought them in.
Ms Kearney said: “They thought, ‘We have to find a home for them’. So they brought them to me. On the medals was P Ryan and his service number.
“I’m not an expert in his period but fortunately we have a lot of very able volunteers and one of them Kevin Tomlinson is very interested in World War memorials.
“On his records, he is cited for a Military Medal but it wasn’t awarded. So he did see active service and he did perform some act of bravery.”
Pte Ryan was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Munster Fusiliers and it’s likely he was evacuated from Gallipoli back to Egypt in January 1916.
In March that year, the regiment was shipped to Marseille and Pte Ryan subsequently transferred to the Western Front where he saw active service in June.
Records show he survived the war and received an honourable discharge but later re-enlisted in the army.
He thought the jacket was heavy and he found them in a pocket TERRI KEARNEY
government there has already stated it plans to introduce such a blanket ban in the coming months.
There is less confidence a sugar tax would make a positive difference with 45% saying it would lower childhood obesity rates.
However, just over a third of those polled are more positive about the potential impact of a levy with a huge variation across different age groups.
Just less than half of those between 18 and 34 support the idea compared with only 29% of over 55s.
And 89% of respondents think youngsters should do more sports in school.