NOT only is the Netflix series Legends a decent watch but it also provides food for thought. The drama is loosely based on the story of undercover Customs officers in the UK who, with little resources and even less training, managed to infiltrate a drugs cartel and foil the importation of two tonnes of heroin.

A footnote to the final episode outlines the story of the real-life customs officers whose work in the 1990s to prevent class A drugs from flooding the country went largely unreported, until now.

Unsung heroes are at the very fabric of our society, yet for the most part their work goes unreported, unrecognised and unrewarded.

In West Cork there is, thankfully, a rich history of extending our gratitude to those whose efforts keep us safe including the Coast Guard, the RNLI and the Red Cross.

But that just makes it even more disappointing to see our ambulance workers forced to take their dispute to the picket line to force the HSE to enter talks at the Labour Court.

A planned 72-hour strike by National Ambulance Service (NAS) workers this week was stood down as was a work-to-rule which had been in place since May 11th.

The dispute centres around emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, paramedic specialists and paramedic supervisors who raised concerns around a 2020 review of emergency services.

That review six years ago recommended revised pay scales and a five per cent wage increase, neither of which have been implemented. The growing discontent has been widely flagged for more than two years so it’s almost inexcusable that it took such drastic action for the State to agree to talks. SIPTU members carrying placards on the picket line in Bantry earlier this month no more wanted to be there than a canary in a coal mine. But they felt their hand had been forced. Our health workers carry out their duties to the highest standards day in, day out despite a glaring shortage of resources for services which are groaning under severe strain.

Modern paramedics do far more than drive the ambulance to the nearest hospital and take your vital statistics. They can intubate you, shock you, medicate you and diagnose you – all before you reach the doors of the ED.

Yet while the service expanded and became more sophisticated the pay structures and staffing levels failed to keep up.  Now workers are serving the State with a long overdue bill. And if the HSE have any regard for our medical professionals or safeguarding members of the public who rely on them, they must pay up.

Patrol beaches

The brief heatwave we experienced this week led many West Cork citizens to one location: the beach. What better way to cool off than in the waters of the Atlantic with the breeze offering a welcome respite?

West Cork beaches were thronged, but the large crowds brought a sense of anxiety around the lack of lifeguards at some of our busiest shorelines.

Cork County Council’s lifeguard season begins in June, with lifesavers patrolling the beaches on weekends only. For July and August, they will have a daily presence from 10.30am to 7pm.

With post-primary schools finishing up and the sun splitting the stones, many people will be enjoying our coastlines, so why can’t the lifeguards begin the season earlier?

More and more tourists visit Ireland in the ‘shoulder season’; from mid-April to May, when there’s a good chance of fine weather, and the prices are cheaper than the peak of summer. It seems irresponsible that the beaches go unpatrolled as the many waters display strong and dangerous rip currents. The tragic drowning of 15-year-old Abbie Carmody‑Pepper in Dublin last weekend is a harsh reminder of the unpredictability and danger of the ocean.

Perhaps the council should reconsider the length of the lifeguarding season and increase the safety on West Cork’s beaches?

This bank holiday, enjoy the water but stay vigilant. Maybe the drop in temperature is for once to be welcomed as a reprieve!