21st November, 2002
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Re - Mick McCarthy
Dear Michael,
I refer to a few comments that you made in a recent edition of
the Douglas weekly in relation to Mick McCarthy. You spoke about
the influence of the media and I guess their ability to make or
break a person in the public eye and even compared the situation
to the fairytale "Hans Christian Anderson". I must
admit I am not familiar with this fairytale but one I am very
familiar with is that of "The Emperors Nightingale!"
I will briefly refresh your memory of such I tale, it is based
around a Chinese Emperor who comes across a beautiful
nightingale, the most wonderful nightingale that this world ever
knew, who sung sweeter than anyone could imagine yet the emperor
thought that he could do without this nightingale but he was
sadly mistaken! Personally I think this is a far better
comparison to the whole "Mick McCarthy saga"
Media, as you are fully familiar with, basically have their right
to express their opinion as do you on a weekly basis with your
publication and lets not forget here that Roy Keane was too
subjected to a bashing by the media when this whole sordid affair
became public but I guess it is only fair to say that Roy was,
ultimately "the better man" and as all fairytales go
"the truth will always out"
I am surprised, that you, who would seem to be somewhat of an
educated man still seems to refuse, even though you have been
presented with "hard evidence", to admit that Mick
McCarthy is wrong here, regardless of his "dignified"
manner on a TV show. I recently watched a program on the infamous
Bin Laden and I too was surprised by his "dignified"
and reserved manner, should that be enough to change my opinion
towards this murderer? Granted this is an extreme comparison but
I just wanted to highlight that regardless of someone's
appearance one can not sum up their personality or allow any of
their wrongs in life to be forgotten just because they "held
their own" at a certain time.
Surely if you are a Cork man and even if your not, but as an
Irish man you should be firstly proud that one of our own has
reached the top. That someone of our own has spent years of
"hard graft" getting to where he is. Please God, Roy
will be able to play for his Country in the next European / World
Cup and if he cannot then we will all know that one man Mick
McCarthy has forever ruined the chances of a young man in playing
and winning a major sports event for his country, that he has
destroyed the childhood dream of a, talented and moral young man.
Why Michael with your power of media have you not commended Roy
for his great sportsmanship? Commended him for believing in the
"family unit" even though he could have whatever he
wanted at the drop of a hat? Commended him for not forgetting his
roots as many do when they hit the "big time" and also
Michael why express discontent towards the media, they are simply
doing their job and after all you make your living in somewhat
the same circles except on a miniature level.
To end when you said, "there's more to life than winning!"
I don't think so. This world has no room for losers; Mick
McCarthy is exactly that. He was given the same, if not more
power by the media; he just didn't have what it took to succeed.
And you are right Michael, in saying that no one knows you when
your down and out, its then that you release who your friends
are, believe me I've been there, but as is evident in this saga,
the truth does always out and we all know now that Roy is and
always was right.
Regards
Emily O Sullivan, Cherry Gardens, Montenotte
Incinerator
Dear Editor,
A year has passed since Indaver applied for planning permission
to build their incinerator in Ringaskiddy, County Cork. During
that same year the bins continued to overflow and landfill space
continued to shrink. In the meantime Cork County Council has done
absolutely nothing to alleviate the growing problem of our waste.
Valuable compostables continue to be thrown out adding to the
greenhouse gasses. Recyclable paper and cardboard is also being
disposed of with total disregard to the raw materials and energy
that went into making these materials. We could have diverted at
least 50% of our waste from landfill in that year if the County
Council had done their job.
The Council might say that they have put an extra bottle bank
into a certain area or a paper bank, etc. They have also said
that they are going to bring in a charge for waste by weight. So
far all talk! Why can't they introduce pilot schemes whereby they
organise a kerbside collection as is happening successfully in
other counties? People are willing to recycle if it is more
convenient for them. In Cork people have to take time off work to
use the recycling facilities at the Kinsale road landfill site,
which close at 3.30 PM during the week, and operate for just a
half day on Saturday. The recycling rate is abysmal in this
country and isn't it any wonder with the authorities and
government we have.
Yours, Ann Kirwan
Badger Population
Dear Editor,
Ireland is to eradicate 30% of it's indigenous badger population
for it's unproven role in the spread of T.B. in cattle. Seventy
five killers have been employed by the Irish Government to carry
out this mindless slaughter.
The method of capture will be a barbaric wire snare which holds
the helpless badger in excruciating pain until the animals is
dispatched by gunshot, provided the animal has not agonisingly
strangled its beforehand.
Serious welfare problems arise when nursing females are snared
and shot leaving their cubs to die alone underground from
starvation.
An on-line petition has been set up http://www.petitiononline.com/dgm001/petition.html
to help the campaign to reverse a decision made without reasons
or foundation.
I urge readers and their friends to log onto this petition and
sign it to help protect this beautiful and much maligned Irish
mammal. Each and every signature counts.
For further information on the campaign to save Irish badgers
contact BadgerWatch @ Ireland/barrettb@gofree.indigo.ie
Yours sincerely.
Bernie Barrett
BadgerWatch Ireland - Co-ordinator
5 Tyrone Avenue, Lismore Lawn, Waterford :051-373876
DESTRUCTION OF HEALTHY
TREES!
Dear Editor,
It saddens me to see so many of our historic trees in the city
being felled by the Department of Education and the Vocational
Education Committee which has representatives from all the
political parties at the Cork City Council.
The former Cork Female Refuge and Penitentiary of 1849-1916 known
as Buckingham House and since 1963 used by the VEC as a Post
Leaving Certificate College. It's very sad to see that line of
100 year trees were all destroyed despite these trees being
confirmed to be perfectly healthy by Southern Tree Surgeons.
The row of trees on the west side added substantially to the
landscape and provided a home for the local songbirds. Obviously
the EU Habitat Directive is not taken very seriously in the
European City of Culture. The beautiful high stone wall that
match the limestone on the 9 Bay, 2 Storey Reformatory is to be
no more.
It's a pity that the European City of Culture can't embrace its
heritage. I understand many of those women were shipped off to
colonies in Australia.
It's a shame that the Minister for the Environment can't see fit
to protect our heritage.
Is mise,
Tomas O'Scannlan , Bothar Srutan na Coile
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