20th January, 2000
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
A PLEA TO DOG OWNERS
I appeal to dog owners to stop their dogs from
fouling the footpaths. It's annoying and indeed distressing to
walk into dog's dirt. To make matters worse, you've usually
walked into the house
Or the car before discovering it.
Maybe the dog could be encouraged to use the garden - preferably
his own! Otherwise could the dog owner bring a doggie scoop and
clean up as necessary. As a last resort could the dog be nudged
to the edge of the road? Please do have consideration for
pedestrians who might like to commune with the world around them
and not be forever watching the ground. Have a special thought
for the people who are visually impaired and the elderly.
Finally to all dog owners - please remember most of us live in a
built up area and barking dogs are a great annoyance. So keep
your dog happy and your neighbourhood will appreciate you
efforts.
Moira Butler
FUMING CORK RADIO FAN
Dear Editor
I thank you for the space in your well read 'Weekly' for me to
let off some steam. I am fuming over the fact that Cork Local;
Radio will be axed in a week's time. I am an avid listener for
the past 25 years.
The head of RTE was on the Joe Duffy programme on Friday last; I
and many more people rang in before the programme. One person
from Cork was allowed air her views. I am totally disgusted with
Joe Duffy. I will not be listening to his programme again.
People of Cork you have a week to get off your Butts and lobby
your TD's. If this happens I will never vote Fianna Fail again.
After all we in Cork are paying our TV licences and I am now
beginning to wonder for what?
Cork Radio Fan
(Name and address with Editor)
SAVE THIS ‘ARCHITECTURAL GEM’
Brookfield House, near the Bon Secours Hospital
on the northern side of College Rd., is an architectural gem and
another piece of unique Cork heritage that is in dire danger of
being erased. This magnificent 1802 Regency edifice was built for
the Jennings family, who were for many years involved in the
production of chemicals. At one time they owned a vinegar factory
near Paul St. in the city. Brookfield is constructed of yellow
brick, a fairly unusual material for this city, and exhibits a
very interesting style that is in fascinating contrast with the
more familiar Georgian mansions of Cork. The University College
of Cork has acquired the property and has applied for permission
to demolish it, to make way for of all things, a car park. Where
on earth are the values of these people? Surely an establishment
of higher learning can offer better than this!
The building was occupied up until recently and is eminently
saveable. It could provide accommodation or be converted into
offices, but it must not be allowed to go the way of so many fine
buildings in this city which have been wantonly destroyed over
the last 30 or so years. One would hope that members of the
departments of Architecture, Archaeology and History (among
others) would be outraged by these plans. It would be a safe bet
that most of the people using any future car park would live
within 30 minutes or so comfortable walk of the place. Whatever
the parking problems of this area, this is not an appropriate way
to solve them. I call upon all people of good will to oppose this
piece of vandalism. It only takes a few minutes to write a
letter, or to pick up your phone and contact your T.D. or a
talkback radio program. We can use the tools of democratic debate
to good effect and try to make the faceless functionaries who
inflict their monstrosities on our community do some explaining.
Stephen Hunter, Cork.
BRIDGE OF TIME
I paused for a moment on the North Gate Bridge,
having paid my respects to a Marsh neighbour at O'Connors Funeral
Parlour. O'Connors and 'Nosey Keeffes' (was Nosey Keeffe a he or
she?), last of the familiar business people from days of my
youth. Jones Pawnbrokers had a branch next door to the funeral
home, with a second on the North main Street side of the bridge.
Employed by Jones in the late 50's and 60's, I witnessed at first
hand the sacrifices a generation of Cork womenfolk made to put
food on the table for their large families. No mod cons available
then. Clothes were washed by hand and women caught in the poverty
trap scrubbed floors for a pittance.
We the children of those selfless heroines, who in most cases got
no help from husbands too fond of drink, remember with pride
those who are dead, and look after others in the winter of their
years.
Brogues Hill was located behind 'Nosey Keeffes', the shortest
hill in Cork! Remember the pub quiz gag? Q. Name the shortest
hill in Cork? A. Seanie Hill the bread man! Five foot nothing in
his socks!
A blast of cold January wind woke me from my reminiscing. Pulling
my coat collar tighter about my neck I hurried past the edifice
of the gate cinema that had changed forever the landscape of
other days. I headed home to a warm fire and a loving wife.
Neil O'Donoghue
Douglas
PLEASE HELP WITH FAMILY RESEARCH
I am reseaching my father's family in the Douglas
area in the hope of finding some living relatives. Con Foley and
his wife, Betty were pictured in your 19 August issue. He was
described as a well known local historian. Could you tell me how
I could contact him. My father was Jeremiah (born in 1903) and
his parents were Patrick and Joanna(Mahony) Foley. They are
burried in the cemetery near St. Columba's church.
Any help would be appreciated.
Dick Foley, Estero, Florida.
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