Limerick s Elaine crosses the Macra winning post in first place
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ELAINE Houlihan, of Kilmallock Macra, has become the first female Munster vice president in 20 years.
She beat off stiff competition from Aine McCarthy of Killeagh Macra, Co Cork. Elaine, aged 25, is currently chairperson of Limerick Macra, alongside being PRO and very proud member of her home club of Kilmallock Macra.
Elaine joined Macra in 2016 after some encouragement from her parents Eamonn and Ann, both former members of the organisation. Since joining she has been active at club, county and national level. I am delighted to be elected Munster vice president and I would like to thank my family, friends and amazing campaign team for all the support over the past few weeks.
Ireland’s nurses went on strike on January 30 in a dispute over pay and staff shortages. There were three separate 24-hour stoppages and a planned three-day strike set for February 12, until the strike was suspended February 11 for three weeks as part of a recommendations by the Labour Court.
The strike was organized by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association. The INMO had requested a 12-percent pay increase, which would bring nurses in line with other health professionals, such as physiotherapists, and to the same level of compensation they received before their salaries were cut with the downturn in the economy at the end of 2006.