7th September, 2000
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
O'REGANS FIELD
Hello from sunny Myrtleville!
We have had a good summer. The holiday season is drawing to a
close with children returning to school and soon the beaches will
be empty. We ladies of mature age had our farewell Lunch as we do
each year. We jokingly call ourselves "The Golden Girls"
from O'Regan 's Field, my field, as I was an O'Regan before I
lost the name in marriage! In the conversation, mention of
Douglas Weekly came up. Everyone had heard there had been an
article about the summer residents of that field long ago and
they were all disappointed they had not seen it, including myself.
I had missed it that week. I gave them some names that I
remembered and stories connected with them. Some sadly have died
over the years. Your family, Michael, came top of the list, the O'Hanlons.
Those were happy days and we all got on well together. I got
plenty help in that little shop we had at the time. The cream of
Cork City came down at the time. Their grandchildren and children
come still. If we wanted to build a little house for a family
member no one would object to us. Ah for those lovely far off
days. At the end of the field a few residents erected a stone and
inscribed on it "O'Regan's Avenue". It created the
Grand Touch but I was pleased all the same because it perpetuated
my family name. A funny thing happened. Little children put
flowers on the ground near the stone, knelt down and said a
prayer because they thought my Dad; William O'Regan had been
buried there! I can imagine the laughter in paradise from that
humour-loving man!
Our farewell Lunch was at the Fennell's Bay Tea-rooms. It can be
reached along that path from the field to Fennel's Bay where
there is a lovely scenic view of yachts sailing on the sea and
nearby cattle grazing in lush pastures. It is a place of serenity
and peace, somewhere to forget ones troubles for awhile. I heard
it is closing for the winter but I must find out. The food is
"simply delicious", to quote Darina Allen.
May I say that Myrtleville has two B&B's. One "Mystic
Lodge" owned by Peter and Sandra Sheehan with a superb view
and "Bellevue" on Myrtleville Road owned by Mr and Mrs.
Ben Neff. Both are excellent. Bunnyconnellan Hotel and Pine Lodge
are also well known and a delight to visit.
Joanna O'Shea
BORN A CATHOLIC
Dear Editor,
I was born a catholic, have lived all my life a Catholic and in
spite of all the revelations about what was going on behind
closed doors over the past few years I have always believed I
wanted to die a Catholic. But now there is this, the controversy
that still surrounds Pope Pius 1X. He is known for calling the
Jews "Dogs", and for his opposition to Democracy and
Civil Rights. A Pope from 1846, he never accepted the
incorporation of the Papal States and of Rome in the kingdom of
Italy. He proclaimed the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception of
the Virgin Mary 1854 and Papal Infallibility 1870; his
pontificate was the longest in history. Originally a liberal, he
became highly reactionary, as papal territories were
progressively lost. He refused to set foot outside the Vatican
after the Italian occupation of Rome, regarding himself as a
prisoner, and forbade Catholics to take any part in politics in
Italy. He centred power in the Vatican, refusing compromise with
modern spiritual ideas. His devotion inspired a cult following
that continues to this day. The first stage in his canonisation
was begun 1985. It was suspended in favour of Pope Pius X11, then
when Pope Pius X11's Nazi collaborations were revealed it was
reactivated, although the Vatican denies that this was the reason.
It is considered by many that when Pope John Paul 11 asked for
forgiveness for the church's treatment of the Jews over the
centuries he was referring to Pius 1X. Now they are making him a
saint. There is a touch of the Hugh O'Flaherty case about all
this. I pray to God that they know what they are doing.
(Name and Address with Editor)
WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF CAREFREE DAYS
Dear Michael,
Arriving home from a holiday in Portugal last week - 6 copies of
the Douglas Weekly were waiting for me with "see page 5"
outlined on the front. What a beautiful article on O'Regan's
Field - what wonderful memories of carefree days.
An old friend of yours, and mine, Monica Lyons - now O'Byrne,
originally from Ballinlough also posted me a copy. A neighbour of
mine Maura Jones of Douglas Post Office also told me she has a
copy should I need it.
I bet you didn't know that the lower entrance to O'Regans Field,
where Drew Crowley and O'Regans live, is now known as O'Regan's
Avenue. There's a big sign up there, go and see it for yourself,
maybe "Field" is not good enough for everyone. "St.
Mary's" O'Regan's Field for sale -£75,000. I'm sure that is
the first bungalow in "our" row. £5 a week for the
ground rent, was what my mother paid Mrs. O'Shea, until she sold
the place seven years ago.
Many thanks for a great piece Michael, I will treasure it.
Regards
Betty Karwig (nee McKenna)
SEND YOUR LETTER INTO US NOW! CLICK HERE!!
