Vandals put ETB course in jeapordy
VANDALS in Charleville have put at risk the future of a horticultural course organised by the ETB after a polytunnel especially erected for the purpose was severely damaged at their campus in the former Mannix College over the Christmas period.
The damage to the rigid polythene poly tunnel was discovered by the caretaker, Jim Hanley, who immediately notified the ETB course co-ordinator for the North Cork area, Brendan Glynn. He travelled to Charleville to view the destruction of the structure, which had holes punched or kicked in the skin, while a knife was also used to slit the polythene covering. At one corner of the 50ft by 30ft structure a traffic cone was driven through the heavy polythene wall.
The horticulture course, which has ten participants, was started last September in conjunction with the members of Charleville Tidy Towns committee and Charleville Men’s Shed. “This development will put the whole course in jeopardy as the damaged skin will have to be patched and this renders it less effective,” said Brendan Glynn, while the actions were also condemned by Paul O’Flynn, Mallow, who is tutor for the horticulture course for the past 18 years with the Cork ETB. He agreed that this was a major set-back for the venture.
“This was a major positive collaborative effort between the ETB and the two local committees and preparatory work for the course started last May.
The fact that the polytunnel, which was erected at a cost of €600, was the target for this vandalism could result in the putting the future of the course in doubt, said Mr. O’Flynn.
Members of Charleville Men’s Shed committee, who were also on site, were at a loss as to why this damage has been done to the polytunnel, which is located in the campus of the former Mannix College adjacent to their widely used playing field, and in full public view of people using the busy Old Buttevant Road that leads on join the main Cork/Limerick Road.